The Prince and the Cat
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Haha, it's really nice to open my mailbox and see review alerts. XD Anyway, here you go, chapter 6!
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Chapter 6: Decision
So that means… Someone is under that horrible spell again? Sheesh, stupid Persona, keeps abusing his students like that.
Bad memories of being a puppy flooded back into his mind- well, some good ones too. Apparently, Azumi had unknowingly exposed herself to Narumi, who was a pervert like Natsume back then. (A/N: She is Mikan's mom, for those who didn't read the manga XD)
Oh no…what if Mikan did that to the cat too? What if they take a bath together? What if they had ALREADY took one?
He turned his head sideways and blushed while the memory of Azumi scrubbing his back came back.
Ah, that will be bad for Natsume-kun.
He paused and took another sip of his coffee.
In any case, I should just do some research.
He put down the cup of coffee in his hand and stood up.
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- In the library-
"Hmm, it should be located…"
He took another step round the corner and a dusty old book caught his eye.
"Oh, there it is!"
He picked up the book entitled 'The curse and spell reference diary'.
This book, it's exactly the same as fifteen years ago. Sigh, how time flies.
He flipped open the book and turned to the content page, his index finger scrolling down the index.
"Human-animal spell- Page two hundred and five."
He turned to the page and began reading aloud.
"The human-to-animal spell is a unique type of spell which can be a curse yet a blessing at the same time.
It can only be applicable to males and a ring with a heart-shaped diamond shall appear once the spell is completed.
To break it, the spell breaker must wear the ring and kiss him." (A/N: Talking about kissing!!! O.o )
Oh, so that's how Azumi broken it… He recalled his first kiss and blushed. At that time, fifteen years ago, he was still a twelve year old boy. He turned to the book and continued reading.
"The spell can be broken easily as mentioned. However, only the one who found him and took care of him can do it, and within a period of twenty five days. If the spell is not broken within twenty five days, the victim will remain as an animal forever."
He sighed. Azumi was just in time that time, or else he would not be standing here today. He will probably be a furry blonde dog rolling on the floor.
"More details on the spell;
The victim, if he has an Alice, would be totally inapplicable when he is turned into an animal.
Next, by breaking the spell, it would mean that the spell breaker had agreed to a lifelong commitment of marriage."
Narumi let out a dry laugh, some marriage law it is.
Azumi still went with that teacher in the end, didn't she?
Just when he was laughing to himself, the dark figure walked in. Yes, he is indeed the spell caster who used an alice stone, to bring (mis)fortune to our dear Narumi and Natsume.
"I see you had figured out how to break the spell…"
"Persona…"
"That cat… who is he?"
"That Black Cat?"
Suddenly something stroke Narumi… The black cat? Isn't it Natsume's underworld alias? Don't tell me…
"Is he…Natsume?"
Persona paused. Then smiled.
"No, dear, my favorite student is on a one-month mission."
"Then…?"
The dark figure walked out of the library door.
"You'll have to wait until the strangely colored kitty breaks the spell. By the way, today is the twenty fourth-night…"
Narumi gasped. The twenty forth night? The book says…the spell has to be broken within twenty five days! One day left… and the victim remains an animal for the rest of his life! Oh no…
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-The next day-
The black cat sat on Mikan's lap and purred. It then tapped around a few little rounds before going on a comfortable position for a lap during Narumi's lessons. Mikan looked down at the cat peacefully sleeping, stroked its fur, and then smiled to it. Mikan had subconsciously grown attached to the cat. Perhaps, she already fell for him, who knows?
The cat opened one of its eyes, looked at the smiling Mikan and smiled back. Of course, Mikan could not see it. He woke up and licked her cheeks.
"Stop it, Natsume, you're tickling me!"
The mischievous little cat continued playing with his mistress, seeing how he enjoyed her smile. The past twenty four days was probably the best days of his life. He was close to the one he treasured, and was able to abandon his pride totally for he was a cat. And with his pride abandoned, he learned that it was all that was keeping a barrier within him and her. However, Natsume, if he was in human form, would probably have trouble choosing between his pride and Mikan. After all, he is a cat now.
The cat then turned his attention to the somewhat jealous Ruka. Ruka was smiling, but he could sense the envy for him, the black cat. Mikan turned her attention to Ruka.
Ruka then blushed and look away. I wish I was her rabbit…
Narumi ran into the classroom.
"Sorry, I'm late!" Narumi had studied and thought about the spell for the whole of last night, and thus, overslept.
"There would be no lessons today, because there is something important I need to announce!"
The class cheered.
He then walked towards Mikan's cat.
"Mikan, this – is not a cat."
Natsume stopped licking Mikan and looked at Narumi.
That pervert took long enough to realize that…
The class roared into laughter. Narumi, their teacher actually declared a cat- not a cat. What was going on?
"Listen to me- he is someone under a spell, which have to be broken within twenty five days…Today is the last day to break it!"
"Huh? Narumi-sensei, what are you talking about? A spell?"
Kokoroyomi at the back nodded. Mikan looked at Natsume.
"What happens…if we don't break it?"
"This cat… would remain as a cat for the rest of his life!"
Natsume the cat then looked shocked.
"So…how do we break it?"
By now the class crowded at their table.
"You'll need to put the ring on your finger…and kiss it…"
"Huh?" She looked at her cat- it should be no problem kissing it, should it?
"BUT, But if you break the spell, you'll have to marry him."
Shoda and gang roared into laughter. With Mikan married to a stranger, Natsume would ALL THEIRS.
"Kiss it, kiss it, kiss it…" The Natsume fans and anti-Mikan chanted.
"You guys are being very noisy…" Hotaru blew them off with the BAKA cannon.
Mikan looked around in confusion. In her heart, Natsume was more important than anything else. Yet, this cat was also important to her, she had grown attached to him. She did not know who to choose. Yet, no matter which one she chooses, both end up to be the same person.
"I hope…my cat is Natsume…"
"IMPOSSIBLE!" The vice-president chuckled. "No way such an ugly cat could be Natsume-sama."
"Yeah, he's not Natsume…Persona told me that Natsume was on a one-month mission… he should return in around 2 days' time…But if he finds out you kissed that cat…"
"Well, it's hard to say…" Kokoroyomi shrugged. Yet, everyone ignored his sentence, only focusing on the two sentences above, ignorant that this sentence was the truth.
So now Mikan's only light of hope is out. Between Natsume the human and Natsume the cat, she has to choose one.
Polkadots…Baka…
"I DON'T KNOW! AND LEAVE ME ALONE!"
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- Two hours later-
"Mikan-chan… Actually, to tell you the truth, Otousan was a puppy before…"
Mikan looked up. That explains the necklace…
Mikan took out something from her pocket- the necklace. "There, I believe it's yours…"
Narumi searched for the Necklace on his neck, realized it was missing, then took it from Mikan's hand.
"I understand the dilemma you're in. I feel sorry for Natsume-kun also."
Mikan chuckled, it was a sad laugh, and like those you would hear from people who just learnt that they became bankrupt.
"So, what is your decision?"
Mikan paused and everyone crowded.
"I choose…the cat…"
She then closed her eyes and a stream of tears trickled down.
Shoda and gang laughed in their hearts.
Ruka stood up, trying to defend his best friend, and perhaps half of the attempt was also for himself.
"But why?"
"You see… I'm the only one who can break the spell… I believe my cat won't mind me either… My cat needs me, Natsume don't."
What the…Polkadots…damn it, you better remember it.
What is worse than hearing the one you love and needed most, saying that you don't need her? He needed Mikan more than anything else, and yet…
The cat looked away, feeling very disappointed in Mikan not to have realized that he needed her.
"What do you mean Natsume don't need you? Don't you know that…" Ruka's eyebrow twitched.
"Natsume…"
Hotaru took a step towards her best friend.
"It depends on you. Do you need Natsume more or the cat more?" (A/N: What a selfish way of thinking! Typical Hotaru…)
Natsume…
"Of course I need my cat more!"
"Shhh…" Kokoroyomi whispered to her. "Not so loud, you're breaking his heart. You're lying, and I know that…"
Natsume looked even sadder. His heart was already broken.
"You see, I'm not worth Natsume… He's a special star, I'm a no star… we're just…worlds apart."
"Took you long enough to realize that, Baka!" One of the fan girls continued chuckling.
"But true love prevails all!" Koko smiled at her. He was reading all their hearts all this while, and declared that what they were going through was what they called 'true love'.
If you readers remember it, who was the one who tried to shield her from the lighting attack of evil jin-jin, and who was the one who tried to exchange a scar on her face for his life? What about the sleepless nights without each other by their sides? What about the unconscious love promise?
"You mean me and my cat…"
"It's the same anyway."
Now, Koko was being very ambiguous in everyone's mind, yet, everyone ignored the fact of his Alice.
"No you can't!" Anna and Nonoko squealed. "You might not know it, but we can see that Natsume has feelings for you!"
Mikan gasped. Natsume needs me too?
She doesn't know what to do, she's a poor lost child. If she believes in Persona and waits for Natsume for another two days or so, she would be able to know the truth, but by then, the cat's spell would be irreversible. Even so, she would still need to choose between Natsume and the cat.
"I'm lost…"
She stood up and ran outside, sitting outside their favorite cherry blossom tree, leaving the cat alone.
"Natsume…"
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Finally, the next chapter would be the last, I think. Well, personally I cried while writing, but I guess I'm not good enough to convey the feelings… haha, anyway, school's starting, but I'll try to complete the next chapter ASAP. XP
Ja,
Panda- X3