"Where am I?"
"You are finally awake! You are scaring me to death, damn it!"
"What's...going on?"
"The party is still going on downstairs. You suddenly fell unconcious."
"I think I ate well earlier."
His mind's suddenly thinking of another "Was your glass ofchampagne given by Misaki earlier?"
"Yeah. Why?"
He mentally slaps his forehead "Next time, don't accept anything from compromising person."
"But it's impolite to reject it."
"Listen," he sighs while holding both of her hands "I don't care if anyone else will judge you as an impolite woman, but I don't want anything bad happen to you."
She feels weird by his action. She can't explain it nor examine what the feeling is. She can only answer him while her heart beating faster.
"O..kay."
"Now sleep. I'll be here until you fall asleep."
"But we should head back to the party. Your grandpa will probably worry."
"I don't think he will" he frowns everytime someone mentioned his old man.
"By the way, where's your parents?"
"..."
As if she can read his mind, she says "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to—"
"It's okay. They died in an aircrash 7 years ago when they're going to fulfill the old man request." His jawbone gritted.
"That's why you hate him so much, isn't it?"
"..."
Suddenly she holds his hand softly "It's not your grandpa's fault. It's all ruled by God and he knows the best for us."
"..." in his silence, his eyes drifts to hers
"You were only ten back then. Now you are eighteen. You shouldn't hate your grandpa that long."
"Before that happened I've already hate his attitude. Nothing really change."
She smiles gracefully "He is your only family now, right? Don't worry, there's a lot of people out there that's having the same fate as you."
"How can you be so sure? How about you? How is your family then?"
She stuns for a couple minute "I don't think you'll interested in it."
"You owe me a story, since I've told you mine."
"..."
"That's an order."
"I don't know them."
"What?"
"I don't know who my parents are. As long as I remembered I was raised by a grandfather that's not even my family. But he's so kind, he treated me like his own granddaugher. One day, before he was taken away from me, he told me about my story. How my mother left me with him because she had a huge problem that is not safe to keep me with her."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"My grandfather died when I was five. Then his neighbour took me with them. His name is Narumi Anju and his wife is Serina Anju. Thanks God, they also treated me well, but when I was eight, their job required them to move to America. Since they don't have enough money to take me along with them, I requested to stay alone here. They felt guilty, so they entrusted me to their close family here. Rei Serio and Luna Serio. They have a bitchy daughter named Nobara Serio. They gave me their old clothes, actually that's all Serio's clothes. They gave me pig fat which is ewww, worst. Nobara is mocking me at school. The impact? I don't have friend at school. But that's okay since I don't need a fake one, though."
"..."
"One day, when I don't have anywhere to go after I ran off their house, I met a rich boy, the next owner of the biggest company in Japan, Natsume Hyuuga. He dragged me to his huge mansion and forced me to sign the deal he made. And that ends me here."
He doesn't notice himself smiling at her "You're one tough girl, Mikan. Really." He says while caressing her sweet scented hair.
"Thanks" her suddenly hoarse voice replies him. She holds herself not to cry in front of him.
"I'll be by your side as long as I could. Now, rest yourself. You've been doing good at the party. You impressed me more than anything. You gave me the best gift in my entire birthday."
Her eyes unblinked by his words "But I don't have anything for your gift."
"That's okay. As long as you are here, it's more than enough."
His last words make her heart beating even faster. She holds his shirt tighter. What is this feeling? Will he tell me if I ask him?
|Hotaruyuzuka|
She wakes up early and finds him sleeping next to her, not in her bed, but on the chair which he carried next to her bed. She stares at him for a moment.
"You are a very good guy, Natsume." She caresses his hair when she realized his temperature. He moans by her touch.
Suddenly he gets up quickly and run to the bathroom. She follows him worriedly.
"Natsume, are you alright?"
A moment later, he comes out from the bathroom with pale skin "I'm alright" he says
"Do you think I'm stupid? No one would believe your saying! Lay down, I'll take the compress"
"I'm fine—Ughh!" he runs back to the bathroom to vomit.
"Are you poisoned?"
"It was you! I'm just feeling unhealthy after finishing my whole job yesterday"
"Sorry then if I was poisoned by your bitch, but I think you need treatment right now."
"No need. I'll go back to sleep."
"No! Let me treat you!" She forces him to the bed "Don't you dare going anywhere. I'll take the medicine and compress."
He can't deny her to do what she wants. A couple minute later, she comes back with washbasin full of warm water. Next, she sits next to him, squeezes the towel then places it on his forehead.
"Here is your medicine." She handed him a white pill.
"...Thanks."
"You're welcome" she replies "Now close your eyes. I'll keep watching you until you fall asleep."
"Don't treat me as a little kid." He says while both of his eyes covered by the wet towel.
"But you are childish sometimes" she giggles "Now be quiet!"
|Hotaruyuzuka|
It's good to see them recover in one day. Natsume has already called Harada Corporation to publish their heiress apologize request tomorrow morning or else, they won't be partnered with Hyuuga Corporation anymore.
"Is that a coincidence for us to fall sick at the same time?"
"Must be a fate that we have." He smirks
"Stop it, Natsume. That's scary." She laughs
"Since it's still Sunday, let's celebrate your recovery by going to the amusement park. How does it sound?" Koko says unexpectedly
"Sounds great!"
"Sounds childish."
The couple glare at each other.
"Relax, you two."
"Let's just go!" the spiky one who suggest it just dragging them to his car.
|Hotaruyuzuka|
"..."
"Let's go, Ruka" Koko drags Ruka once they arrived at the park "I'll see you soon, guys."
"..."
"..."
"I'll go by myself then" the girl walks away before someone grabs her hand.
"No you don't. You are going with me."
"You say you don't wanna go here."
"I've changed my mind."
The girl's smile widened "Nah, that's better" then she tooty smiles to him.
"It's been awhile since I see that smile of yours" he smiles secretly
"Natsume.. look." she pulls his shirt while pointing at the front. He follows her index finger and finds a child sitting on the ground.
"M-momma..." he burst into cry.
She let go of her hand and come approaching the little boy. "Are you okay?"
"M-momma -hiccup- and daddy is –hiccup- gone."
"Dear, dear" she wipes his tears "Don't worry, big sister will help you find them, okay?"
The boy stares at her with his round hazel eyes then he accepts her hand.
"Natsume." She motioned her hand, calling for him. "Do you know how to treat a child?" she whispers
"Hell, no. I don't have sibling."
"Same here" she gulps "So, what are we gonna do to him?"
"That's your fault to approach him at the first place."
"Then, stop following me if you're just gonna blame me on anything"
"..."
"Come on, little man, let's go find your parents" she walks while holding the little boy's hand meekly.
Suddenly, the boy's other hand is held by someone "I'm coming with you"
She surprised but then smiles "What a little boy" she murmurs
|Hotaruyuzuka|
They go whenever the little boy pointed at, but they didn't find a trace of his parents until the little boy cried because of exhaustion.
"Shush, little man" she tries her best to calm him, but seems the five years old boy doesn't understand "H-hey, how about ice cream? Do you want ice cream?" when the boy is silent then nodding, a wide smile creeped into her face "Right! Of course you want it!" then she carries him before walking to the ice cream counter.
"Two ice cream, please. What do you want, little man?" He points the pink colored ice cream "Strawberry and vanilla then, please."
"And one chocolate." The frowning man suddenly appears
"I thought you don't like it."
"Are you insane? Buying an ice cream for a little child in the middle of winter?"
"At least ice cream will raise his mood. I don't mind, after all"
"But his stomach will. What will you do if he got stomachache? Looks like he's just, let me guess, five years old?"
"But you buy it for yourself too! Are you sane enough?"
"Who cares. I just want it."
"Ma.." suddenly the little boy talks "Momma" he raises both of his hands toward the brunette.
"What? I'm not your momma, boy" she blushes slightly "Call me big sister."
"Ma?"
"Is he even capable to talk now? What kind of parents would leave their child in the middle of amusement park?"
"You are wrong!" suddenly the girl shouts "They don't abandon him" she hugs the clueless little boy "It's because it's crowded, they lost grip of him. That's it!"
"..."
"That's okay, little man, you'll find your parents together with big sister. Don't worry" he sees her eyes teary slightly while hugging the boy.
"Yeah, boy. You're lucky to find an idiot big sister like her." He says which earns glare from her.
"Ter—big sister." The little boy manages to say. She looks at him in disbelieve. Her smile widened.
"Don't you hear him? He called me big sister, Natsume! " she hugs the boy dearly "Yes, it's big sister. I'll definitely find your parents, sweet heart."
Natsume can't understand his own feeling now. He feels weird. Jealous? No, he doesn't want to admit it.
"Here is your ice cream, miss. It's rare for someone to buy an ice cream in this season. As a gift, I give you chocolate toppings for free."
"Thank you very much, sir. Here is the cash." Before the money is received by the seller, a certain raven haired man grabs her hand.
"No, I'll pay for it." Then he handed the seller his money.
"But—"
"Don't forbid me"
"...Thanks" she says finally after a long decision.
"Thank you for buying. Hope you'll have a lot of fun in this amusement park. A newlywed like you both sure is catchy" the seller smiles.
The brunette dumbfounded "No, we're not—"
"Isn't he your child? He has an appealing brown hair and eyes just like his mom."
"N-no, I'm not his mom."
Suddenly a boy cut their conversation "Then please don't flirt with my wife." Then he drags a dumbfounded woman who is carrying a smiling little boy.
The seller sighs "I don't believe that they're actually a real newlywed couple at that young age. I just want to impress that beautiful woman."
"How unlucky of you" the other employee suddenly talks.
|Hotaruyuzuka|
"What did you say earlier?" she shouts after they arrived on the indoor section of the park.
"Say what?" he licks the ice cream innocently just like the little boy on her lap.
"You said I'm... I am—ugh!"
"You will. Soon." he turns to her while smirking.
"If it's not because of the deal, I never ever want to be your wife." When she said that, a weird feeling crosses his mind again.
Suddenly she gasps "Natsume! Can you please buy me a wet napkins? He fell asleep and the ice cream in his hand is melting."
"..."
"Pleasee, Natsume. How about special please with cherry on top?" she begs wholeheartedly
"Wait a minute, okay?"
Not long after that, he runs back with a pack of baby wet napkins.
"Thank you very much, Natsume! I know sometimes you can be so kind." She says gratefully. Then began to wipe the boy's mouth and hands after throwing the ice cream to the trashbin.
He eyed her that is seriously wiping the boy carefully. After that, a long silence comes between them.
"This boy must be really upset. He's not playing together with his family in this park."
"Don't cry."
"Who?"
"You"
"Wh—"
"You look like it to me."
"..."
Suddenly he patted on her head "That's okay if you want to cry then. I'll be here for you."
She shakes her head "I thought you said I'm a tough girl" she smiles "I won't shed a tear. I am a man"
"That matter again?" he frowns "I'm the only man here, you hear me?"
She laughs "Don't be so mad, Natsume."
Suddenly, Natsume pokes her shoulder "Look."
She raises her head to see a woman crying on a man's embrace
"Calm down, Honey. We'll find him soon."
"B-but I'm scared if something bad happen to him. He's just five years old." She cries more.
"Umm, excuse me, Mam?" Mikan greets the woman politely "Is he your child?"
The woman eyes widened and soon hugs the sleeping boy "Jinno!" she calls his name, making the little boy opens his eyes.
"M-momma!" he chuckles cutely
"Thank you very much for taking care of our son. My wife accidentally lost her grip to him. The park was too crowded that afternoon."
"No, that has been my pleasure to take care of a cute little boy like him, sir."
"Thank you very much once again. What can I give for you to pay back?"
"No, No need for that. Bye, sir, mam. Take care of him." She waves
"Big sister!" the boy suddenly calls her while waving cutely. Her eyes widened then soon she waves more to him.
"Like what I've told you, right? There's no way parents would abandon their own child."
"You are right" he smiles secretly "I guess that means you'll take care of our child in the future well."
"Shut up!" she hits his arm while laughing. "Let's ride that!" she points the rainbow ride.
"I thought you don't like girlish"
"It's fun sometimes. It's already night after all." She pulls him "Let's go."
"I'll queue for the ticket. Can you buy me a drink?"
"Sure." She smiles.
|Hotaruyuzuka|
She push the cola button on the beverage machine, suddenly she hears a boy voice "Are you Mikan Sakura?"
"Yes? Who are you?"
"I'm Reo L Anju." He takes down his hood.
"Hold on, I think I remember..."
"I'm Narumi's cousin"
"Ah!" she shouts because of a sudden remembrance.
"Actually I'm a rising star band's vocalist. I presume you don't know it, looking at your reaction."
"Sorry, I'm not a fan girl type" she laughs.
"Narumi is still in America but when I came back to Japan, he asked me to find you so you can go there and be with them again. Lucky me to see you on the news about Hyuuga Corp's next heir's fiancee." Mikan sweatdrops silently "They really wish you would live with them again and meet his son, Youichi. If you need something, here is my phone number. I gotta go, the fangirls might catch up on me again. Bye." He says that hurriedly.
"Bye." After waving to him in confusion, she stuffs the card to her pocket then taking two cans of cola.
|Hotaruyuzuka|
"What took you so long? I almost ride it by myself."
"Sorry. Here." She hands one of the cola to him.
While they are on the ride, she looks outside excitedly while the boy looks at her secretly.
"Isn't it beautiful, Natsume?" she asks without turning her head from the night sky view.
He keeps looking at her "Indeed." He smirks.
She gulps her cola until it finished then she yawns.
"Are you sleepy?"
"I'm tired but satisfied"
"Same here" he places his head on her. She leans to his shoulder too. A moment after that, she's already fall asleep.
"You impressed me so much, weirdo." Then he closes his eyes back. They fall asleep after that, making the rainbow ride's employee should try hard to wake them up.
|Hotaruyuzuka|
"What's happened to her?" Ruka asks when they are gathered before heading home. Natsume is currently carrying Mikan.
"Too lazy to explain. Let's go home." He walks to Koko's car while the other two look at each other, confused.
|Hotaruyuzuka|
"Where is he?" the old Hyuuga comes to the mansion in a rush.
"Young master is going out with his friends since this morning, Sir."
Before the old man replies, three boys with a girl in one's hand arrive.
"Natsume, we need to talk."
"How unusual of you to call my first name." He frowns to the old man.
"It's about you and her." As if she can feel the upcoming problem, the brunette waking up.
"Where are we, Natsu—?" when she realized the old Hyuuga in front of him, she quickly jump out of his embrace.
"I am sorry, Sir. I didn't ask him to carry me, It's Natsume's kindness—"
"I just want to tell him an important matter involving both of you."
"Spill it." He can's hold his emotion for too long in front of this man.
"Your real fiancee is Shouda Family, not Sakura. So if you still want to be the heir of Hyuuga Corporation, You will meet the first daughter of Shouda Family tomorrow and—"
"What? Are you kidding me?" he says between shockness and angriness.
"Don't yell at me if you still want to be the heir of this Corporation and expel her from this mansion as soon as possible." He walks out from the mansion after saying the shocking news.
"Mikan." Ruka looks at her shock face.
"That man can't be serious of expelling her, right?"
"..."
"Natsume?" the blond looks at his friend.
"Get out of my house." He frowns "And you, pack your thing so you can go out from my house tomorrow morning." He glares at the wide eyes girl.
Ruka pulls Natsume's collar angrily "You've got to be kidding me, Natsume! How can you treat her like an inanimate object?"
He slaps his friend's hand "I'll do anything to be the official heir and don't you dare pick a fight with me" he glares at him then stomps his feet all the way to his room.
"Mikan, are you okay?" Koko asks the stunned girl worriedly.
"I'm fine, guys. It's his house after all. I guess I don't have anymore choice then"
"If that's the case, you can stay at Yome's mansion or mine." Ruka offers her
She smiles a little "You guys have been so kind to me. I'll reconsider it. Thank you very much." And she walks to her room. Once she closes the door, her body falls, together with the tears
"You jerk! After the kindness you are giving me, now you treat me like I was nothing?" her tears fall more "You've turned me to be a weak bitch that I always hate! Now I hate you more than anything!"
|To Be Continued..|