Chapter 7
"Ruka, by the way where is Natsume?"Hotaru asked
"I don't know…Maybe at the Sakura tree or at the forest"Ruka replied
"That's what I thought, well, it's a good thing that I placed a transmitter in Natsume's collar while he's still unconscious" then Hotaru pulled out from her pocket a device that looks like a crab
"I could see that he's at the Sakura tree, we better hurry and we have to get Natsume out of there "Hotaru said
"But how? Mikan's probably arrive there by now"Yuu said
"I doubt that"Hotaru said
"Why?" Anna and Nonoko asked in unison
Meanwhile…
"That Hotaru, why does it have to be at the Sakura tree? Why not in her lab, or in Central town or at the Northern forest? I just don't understand people these days" Mikan was holding her huge bump on her head and was on her way to the Sakura tree when...
"Howalons! Get your free Howalons! For a limited time offer! Get your Howalons"exclaimed the salesman, who's been busy passing Howalon boxes to children
"HOWALONS! Oh my gosh! This is a chance of a lifetime!"Mikan joined the crowd and tried her best to get one of those Howalon boxes
At the Sakura tree…
Hotaru and the others were hiding under the bushes, across the Sakura tree where Natsume is reading his manga.
"Okay, he's there, now, how can we get him out of there?"Yuu asked
"Hmmm…I think..."Hotaru scoot herself behind Ruka and she pushed him out of the bushes
"Nyaaaaaah"Ruka came out of the bushes and surprised Natsume
"Ruka, what are you doing here? I thought you were at the Northern forest prancing with Piyo again"Natsume asked
"Oh…Natsume...Uh...You see Piyo was gone, I guess the middle school students is feeding him"Ruka said nervously
"Then why did you suddenly appear from the bushes?"Natsume said suspiciously
"Oh! You see, I felt like I wanted to surprise you and successfully I did! Hooray for me! Now Natsume let's go to Central park and buy something! Okay?!"Ruka suddenly dragged Natsume and he quickly rushed to the bus stop where the bus is waiting for two more passengers to go to Central town. Natsume and Ruka went inside the bus and in the flash, the bus is gone
"That was fast, now, Anna, Nonoko, go to my lab and ask Amanatsu to get the truth serum and my guitar"Hotaru commanded
"Ai Ai Hotaru!"Then the two girls ran away'Hotaru has a guitar?!'
"Okay, Yuu"Hotaru said
"Yeah, what is it Hotaru?"Yuu asked
"Go buy me a soda…I'm feeling kind of parched"Hotaru said
"Sure, just give me your money and-"Yuu suddenly stopped talking as Hotaru butted his sentence
"What do you mean 'give me your money'?"Hotaru gave Yuu a cold stare and Yuu's back felt a surprising shiver
"Oh! What am I thinking?! Sure Hotaru! I'm going then"Yuu rushed to the vending machine and bought Hotaru her favorite soda
"Here, Hotaru, your favorite! Grape soda"Yuu was panting
"Thank you Yuu"Hotaru immediately took the soda and she opened then sipped the cold fizzy drink
"Ahh...Much better, now, what is taking Anna and Nonoko so long?"Hotaru looked at her watch'Mikan's about to arrive in a few minutes'
"Hotaru! Yuu!"Anna and Nonoko ran towards Hotaru and Yuu while carrying the guitar and a bottle that contains the truth serum
"Good, right on time, now Anna, place the guitar at the Sakura tree, Yuu, buy me another soda, but this time, make it strawberry, Nonoko, give me that serum" Anna went to the Sakura tree, Yuu bought another soda and Nonoko gave Hotaru the bottle
"Okay, the guitar is in place" Anna saluted
"Here's the soda Hotaru"Yuu gave Hotaru the soda. Hotaru opened the soda can and poured the truth serum into it.
"Mikan's here"Nonoko said
"You three just stay here" Hotaru said to the three and she went out of the bushes and meets Mikan, holding a box of Howalons
"Hey Hotaru! I 'm so lucky that I've got the last box of FREE Howalons! Want some?"Mikan asked cheerfully
"No thanks"Hotaru replied straightforwardly
"Okay! Suit yourself! More for me! Ah"when Mikan was about to eat the delicious Howalon in her hand but Hotaru grabbed Mikan's hand and stopped Mikan from eating the Howalon
"What is it Hotaru?"Mikan asked
"Don't you feel thirsty Mikan?"Hotaru asked
"Hmmm...Come to think of it, I am kind of a little thirsty"Mikan replied
"Well, here"Hotaru gave Mikan the soda with the truth serum
"Wow Hotaru! Strawberry soda! My favorite! Thanks!"Mikan gladly took the soda from Hotaru's hand and Mikan dranked the soda
"Yum! That's much better"Mikan wiped her mouth
"OH LOOK Mikan, a guitar...This brings back memories isn't it?"Hotaru grabbed the guitar and showed it to Mikan
"Oh a guitar! It's been a long time since I played one of these"Mikan going to a flashback
Flashback
It was a hot afternoon at the Sakura residence and little Mikan was being taught by her grandpa to play the guitar
"Grandpa! The string thingies hurt my fingers!"Mikan sucked on one of her fingers
"Come on Mikan! Don't you want to pass the music test tomorrow? I've been practicing you to play the guitar for the last 3 weeks, by now you should have master it"Mikan's grandpa said
"I know grandpa, but it hurts so much"Mikan whined
"Don't give up Mikan! You could pass this test! Or else I'll won't allow you to visit Hotaru's house ever again" Grandpa said
"WHAT! NO WAY!"Mikan complained
End of flashback
"After those long, harsh guitar practices from grandpa, I've manage to pass the test"Mikan said
"Even thought your piece was the easiest, you know, HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY"Hotaru said
"Don't remind me!"Mikan whined
"Anyway have to go to the ladies room, I'll be right back"Hotaru said
"Okay!"Mikan said enthusiastically. Hotaru ran a few distances away and then she went back to the bushes where she saw the three students' playing cards
"Hey"Hotaru said
"Wah! Hotaru! You're back!" The trio replied in unison
"You're playing cards?"Hotaru asked
"Well, you see, we got bored…Hehehe"Yuu replied
"Whatever, now, Yuu, can you try and make an illusion for Ruka so that he could make Natsume come over to the Sakura tree?"Hotaru asked
"Um...I'll try. So where are they?"Yuu asked
"Looks like Ruka and Natsume are in the bus, returning here"Hotaru said
"Okay..."Yuu concentrated and think about Hotaru
Meanwhile, inside the bus, Natsume was sleeping and Ruka was staring outside the window
'Ruka' a voice was heard from Ruka's mind
"Huh? What was that?"Ruka asked himself
'Ruka! Close your eyes you idiot!' the voice said
"Why should I?!"Ruka asked
'Because this is important of course!' the voice shouted
"Okay! Okay! You don't have to shout!" Ruka covered his ears and he closed his eyes. In his mind, he saw Hotaru
'Hotaru! What are you doing in my head?!' Ruka thought
'Never mind about that! I just want to tell you that Mikan is already at the Sakura tree and she drank the truth serum, now, your mission is to bring Natsume back to the Sakura tree, hurry!' Hotaru said
"Got it!" Ruka said loudly, which woke up Natsume
"You got what?"Natsume asked
"Oh, nothing!"Ruka said
Back to the bushes...
"Okay, I've sent the message"Yuu said
"Great! Now, all we have to do is to wait" Hotaru sat down and shuffled the cards" now, who wants to play goldfish?"
"Oh, we do!" the trio answered then Hotaru and the gang played cards
At the buses stop...
'Okay we're here, now, all I need to do is to bring Natsume back at the Sakura tree...but how' Ruka thought
"Hey Ruka, I'm going back to the Sakura tree" Natsume said
"Heke?"Ruka made a small voice"Ahem...ahem...Oh, really Natsume, well, I have to go too, so see ya later"Ruka ran and went to a different route that will take him also at the Sakura tree.
At the Sakura tree...
"What's taking Hotaru so long?"Mikan said to herself' Maybe she's constipated...Oh I hope not!!'
"Maybe, I could..."Mikan took the guitar and she strummed it. The guitar produced a beautiful sound and Mikan can't resist it so…
In these eyes
More than words, more than
Anything that I've spoken
And the skies
Turn to grey, my heart's
Just about to crack open
So the story goes
There's something you should know
Before I walk away and I blow the ending
Then Natsume heard a familiar voice that is coming from the Sakura tree
"Hey...that's sounds like..."Natsume said to himself and he walked slowly and quietly
I never wanna be without you
Oh no, here I go, now you know
What I feel about you
There's no ending
Must've been wrong to doubt you
Oh no, there I go, no control
But I'm fallen so, now you know
'Mikan, she's singing. And she, plays the guitar?!'Natsume thought and walked slowly behind the bushes, near the Sakura tree
Feel so light
Cravin oxygen
All this truse leaves me empty
Will you run
Can you handle it
Cuz I need you to tell me
Maybe this seems bold
but I'm hoping you'll stay for the happy ending
I never wanna be without you
Oh no, here I go, now you know
What I feel about you
There's no ending
Must've been wrong to doubt you
Oh no, there I go, no control
But I'm fallin so, now you know
"Hey you guys, Mikan's singing!"Yuu said and the rest looked at Mikan from the bushes
'Oh Mikan, you never lost your touch to attract people with your voice' Hotaru thought and took out her video cam
"Hey you guys, I'm back"Ruka said 'Whoa, Mikan's singing, she looks so cute, as always'
No I won't look back when I tell ya what I think about you
No I won't look back when I tell ya what I think about you , yeah, yeah
So the story goes, yeah
You already know
So don't be a fool and go spoil the ending
I never wanna be without you
Oh no, here I go, now you know
What I feel about you
There's no ending
Must've been wrong to doubt you
Oh no, there I go, no control
But I'm fallin so, now you know
Natsume jumped up to the Sakura branch and a shower of cherry blossom petals flow over Mikan. Natsume stared at Mikan and tried to listen to every word that Mikan sang
I never wanna be without you
Oh no, here I go, now you know
What I feel about you
There's no endin
Must've been wrong to doubt you
Oh no, there I go, no control
But I'm fallen so, now you know
"Hey polka dots, not bad"Natsume said
"WAH! NATSUME!"Mikan gasped. Then the two stared into each other's eyes