There's no school today so I decided to post a new chapter! I'm trying to work towards longer chapters, but this one is still short, so sorry about that! Thanks for the support as always, and hope you enjoy!
"Welcome Mikan," Principal Yukihara began. Over the years the head of the school and I have gotten pretty close. It started when Jinno realized that sending me to detention didn't work in fixing my attitude towards him, it only made it worse, he decided to send me to the principal, hoping that he would talk some sense in to me.
Before that day I've never met the man before, and I was afraid of what I would find. I was kind of disappointed when I opened the door and I found a rather normal looking human in front of me. With all the mysteriousness that the three heads give out, I was kind of expecting something shocking. The only thing that was off about him was his military like outfit. But with his tall form he pulled it off.
When he heard the reason why I was here in his office, he laughed. His eyes lighted up and his laughter echoed around me. Pretty soon I was joining him, as he told me stories of Jinno when they used to be in school together and other hilarious gossips that he collected over the years.
From then on I made a point to visit Principal Yukihara frequently and I started to look up to him as a fatherly figure. When I was little, living with my grandpa, I would imagine what my real father might be like if I had one. But my imagination couldn't conjure up the warmth and the feeling I have when I'm with the principal. There was another person before him, aside from my grandpa, that made me feel that way, but I try not to dwell too much on that.
"So this is Natsume's new Aeterna. She doesn't look very capable," a hoarse yet strong voice directed my attention to the aging elder.
"Now father," the long haired man spoke. "you don't know that. I think she looks very capable." He smiled at me and I noticed that his eyes matched the ones I saw outside.
The old man huffed. "Then obviously you do not have very good eyes," he criticized. "Natsume doesn't need some lazy, ordinary girl who only does things half heartedly or for attention from a Hyuuga. He needs someone who is precise, loy-"
"Enough," growled Natsume. His voice was the lowest in the room and he sounded irritated. The old man looked offended and opened his mouth, but Principal Yukihara smoothly intervened.
"Gentleman, you're straying from the purpose of your visit," he said pleasantly. "I believe there was something you wanted to inform Mikan, Mr. Hyuuga?"
The elder cleared his throat. "Ah, yes," he began. "As you know, Natsume is turning sixteen next year-"
"Really? I didn't know that," I interrupted. I was provoked by the insults that he gave me after one glance, and his way of treating everyone as inferior to him was getting old.
He stared at me, mouth agape, like it was the first time someone that was not Natsume did that. Even the other man, who I now guessed to be Natsume's father, as looking at me as if I was a brave hero, while his son just gave me an amused look.
"Keep going Nobuki," the principal implored, winking at me.
Nobuki shook his head and continued. "As I was saying, Natsume will have his sixteenth birthday next year, and as he is heir to Hyuuga Corps. He will have to prepare to take over." He paused and looked to see if I was following, which I wasn't. "That means that he will have to start attending meeting that concern the company and visit head quarters more often for training."
I still didn't get it. "What does that have to do with me?" I asked.
"As his Aeterna, it is your duty to arrange his schedule, make sure he stays on top of his school work and work concerning the company, and accompany him whenever he goes outside of the academy." His face told me that he didn't believe that I could do any of those things.
"This is a very important time and I need to make sure that you can protect and serve him to the fullest," he finished.
Principal Yukihara saw that I was about to protest and remarked, "Those are the kinds of jobs that Aeternos are expected to do." I realized then, as I looked at every face in the room, that there was no way out of this. When Natsume named me as his, my life was sealed. Sure, I could quit and go back to being a one star, but I worked so hard to get to the top; to the me that I know today. I wasn't ready to go all the way back down. This wasn't just about my stars.
Quitting would mean that I lost. Lost to everything that I have been fighting against since I was born. And I hated losing.
Taking a deep breath, I answered clearly, "Of course." Oblivious to the internal struggle I just had, Nobuki nodded his head.
"I'm going back to the headquarters, I've been away long enough, Takashi, give her the stuff she needs." Without waiting for a reply, Nobuki Hyuuga walked out the door.
Takashi jumped out of his seat. He turned towards his son. "Natsume, can you go and wait outside? I want to talk to your Aeterna in private." Natsume shrugged and got out of seat. When the door closed behind him the brunette turned to me.
"I'm Natsume's father, Takashi Hyuuga. Nice to meet you." He held out his hand I shook it.
"Mikan Sakura," I replied.
"I apologize for my father-in-law's behavior earlier and his harsh judgment."
I glanced at the door. "Is he always like that?" I asked.
Takashi laughed weakly. "Lately yes. When Kaoru was alive he was nicer and gentler." Noticing my confused expression he clarified, "Kaoru was Natsume's mother; we kept her last name for the sake of the company. She died when he was five."
"Oh, I didn't know that," I said for the second time. Actually, I didn't know anything about him, I realized. Now that I was stuck in this job, I guess I would have to fix that problem starting now.
The father looked sad. "Yes, he doesn't like to talk about her; both Natsume and Grandfather. Which makes it hard for Aoi; she always wants to know more about her mother."
"His sister?"
"Yes. Kaoru died a year after she gave birth to Aoi, so she doesn't remember anything about her." He looked far off. "She resembles me the most, but her hair is the same as her mother's.
"Kaoru was the one who was supposed to inherit the Hyuuga Empire. She was the only child and she loved the company and was very capable of running it. But after her death, we didn't have a heir. Grandfather and I both knew that I wouldn't be able to take over, so the responsibility was handed to Natsume and Nobuki was forced to remain as head until my son was ready."
I wasn't sure why Takashi was telling me all of this, but I guess after all he has been through, telling a stranger was therapeutic.
Takashi smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, I was blabbing. You should have stopped me Kazu."
"I wanted to hear the story as well," the principal replied childishly.
Natsume's dad laughed. "Anyway, what I wanted to say was this; I know that my son seems cold and uncaring, but if you get to know him, you will figure out that most of the time it's just a mask that he puts on to hide himself.
"He's a good kid, that been through so much, and I think he just needs somebody that will understand him. Most of the Aeternas before you quit in the first month. You look different. No, you are different. I felt that since the moment you took a step in this room. I think you might actually be able to break down the walls that he has built around himself." He looked at me with pleading eyes. "I don't know what it is about you, but I believe you can do it."
My head was swimming with all the things that Takashi told me. He gave me a gentle pat on the head. "Sorry this must be a lot that I just pushed on you, but I wouldn't be asking if it wasn't important." I nodded, unable to form anything to say. We said goodbye to Principal Yukihara, who told me good luck, and went out the door.
Natsume was sitting in one of the chairs with the girl I met earlier. They were talking together, or more accurately, she was talking and Natsume was staring off, when we walked up to them.
"Daddy!" The girl cried and jumped on Takashi.
"Come on now Aoi," he groaned. "You're thirteen now." She giggled, while Natsume just looked disgusted.
"Let's go Polka," he ordered.
Aoi noticed us leaving. "Wait!" she called out. She got off her father and beamed at me. "I didn't get to introduced myself properly," she chirped. "I'm Aoi Hyuuga, Natsume's sister."
Her hyper activeness and lively attitude was contagious, and I found myself smiling widely. "I'm Mikan Sakura. Nice to meet you," I replied.
Suddenly I felt someone behind me, and I saw Aoi's smile dim when she saw who it was. I whirled around and came face to face with a vampire... sort of. But the man in front of me was pale, like he's never seen the sun, and his lips were almost purple. His eyes were a black abyss, matching his hair. It didn't stop there though. Even his clothes were black and he had piercings on his ears and jewelry dangled from his neck and wrists.
I felt chills run down my spine as our eyes met and a sharp pain exploded in my head. I had a nagging suspicion that I met this person before, but I couldn't place where. But I knew I didn't like him.
"Oh Rei." I jumped back, I hadn't realized that the Dracula impersonator's hand was raised and extended towards my face, as if he was going to touch it. I felt a new set of shivers rack my body. Natsume, who was standing next to me, gave the man a glare and pulled me slightly behind him.
Serio opened his mouth and a chilling voice came out. "I'm here to pick you up, Mr. Hyuuga."
"Sorry, I'll be right there." He hurried over to us. "Mikan," Takashi said. "This is Nobuki's secretary. You'll be talking and meeting him a lot for now on."
"Rei Serio." He held out a pale hand. Although I didn't want to, I made myself give him my name and grabbed his hand. It was ice cold. "I look forward to working with you." He gave me a smile that made him resemble a wolf hunting his dinner.
Aoi left the building with her father and Rei. As soon as they were out of eyesight, Natsume took off in the other direction and I ran to catch up to him. I had a weird urge to turn around and I did. There was a vase of live flowers decorating the hallway, and even though they were bright and blooming a second ago, all of them were dead.
Come back soon!~ :D