CHAPTER 7: CROW-HEAD

Where should I start looking for that guy? I'm tired of walking in circles, just to confirm my foolishness. I took a deep breath and looked up.

It's a full moon, tonight, a blurred moon. In front of me was a body of water. Memories... are coming back. That night, when the moon was as vague as this and then became shiny, sparkly the next minute. He sure likes playing pranks on me, calling my silly names, flips my skirt, flicks my forehead, and takes me anywhere and whatsoever! He makes me laugh and forget my troubles after making me cry, and now, I can see my reflection on the water, smiling alone. Why do we never know what we've got until is gone? How will I carry on, if I'm missing him so much...?

"Why are you here, Mikan-chan?" Its Aoi's voice, I turned to face her. As usual, she has this cheerful smile.

"Nothing, just taking in some fresh air." I told her, not meeting her gaze.

"Really? I heard thoughts of Nii-chan in your head, sorry 'bout that..." She widened her smile. I remembered, Hotaru banned her from coming near me, there must be something...

"Mi..." she rattled on. I got her hands now. This way, I will know... And now I knew. Everything became so clear now---that guy who caught me in time was Natsume, his hair was longer... I smiled at the thought and shook my head. Still, I don't know why he did such a dangerous move. Or I am the crazy, paranoid, exaggerated and stupid brat to make that thoughtless move?

"He won't tell me why... He's good at hiding his thought and showing me a blank brain, I'm sorry..." Aoi answered after reading my mind.

"So he's here..." I calmly said, gently letting go of his hand. "I was so stupid... A while ago, making all of you guys worried. I'm sorry."

"I understand... you're just confused, so stressed, that's why you were not able to think normally." She comforted me.

"Now I'm fine, I shouldn't be bothering myself looking for someone who's already around, I'm just intrigued, and that's all. By the way, have you seen Ruka? I need to get something from him...?" Now that I remembered, that thing I slammed on Ruka's face was Hotaru's diary! And I'm dead if I can't give it back to her before she learns about this.

"Oh Ruka-kun, I saw him there, putting up something... I guess he's into something romantic..." she smiled again, playfully this time and turned to continue walking back to the venue. "See yah later, Mikan-chan!!!"

He should be somewhere near this place. Where are you Ruka??? So now I'm not looking for that masked, crazy dancer... I can't believe this! I'm now looking for Ruka to retrieve that diary I flapped down on his cute face. "Hhhhuuuhhhh", I sighed deeply. He's into something romantic huh? Maybe I'll do something hearty later at the hospital; I'll let Natsume rest a little longer. I mean, I can't grab him at the party; he hates crowded places, and the noise. But... I can't wait to see him now...

"Mikan." I froze. I'm looking for Ruka, please. Don't show up, Ho...

"Just where do you think are you going??" she started to interrogate. I put my two hands up, I know she's pointing something on me, I can feel it.

"Nowhere!" I answered her, tensed.

"Let's go then..." she said in a commanding manner making me understand that she's just worried that I'll be chasing after Natsume again. But just as I'm about to turn to face her, a fast thing grabbed me from where I stood and made me fly. I don't understand what happened not until we stopped.

"Don't just go grabbing me with you as you pleased!" I yelled at him. It was crow-head.

"So now, I'm the bad guy, when my intentions are clear." He answered back.

"'Clear' your face! I don't even know why you suddenly took me away from Hotaru!?"

"Well, she's pointing her stupid-gun at you... Are you that willing to be a target, huh?" he questioned me sarcastically.

"She's just preventing me from doing something reckless again." I said.

"You just did." Yeah, I did... when I went chasing Natsume, trying to save him. But should this guy know? Unless he thinks that making that daring move while dancing with him is reckless.

"Oh yeah, crow-head... I made that recklessness by simply dancing with you!" I hissed at him.

"Really?" he chuckled. "Well I that's an admirable, daring recklessness."

"And I'm so stupid to do it." I said sarcastically.

"Dancing with me is not stupid..." he said, smiling. "But trying to jump off that electric fence is so... stupid" he told me eye-to-eye, accentuating his last word. I flinched.

"What do you know?" I demanded.

"I know that you're looking for me." I froze. Oh yes, I looked for him a while ago, but not anymore.

"I'm looking for a blonde and a long, dark-haired guy." I told him calmly, looking away.

"And why would you look for him?" he asked.

"Because I need to get something from him, something that belongs to that girl with a gun, and she's gonna kill me, not actually kill, but almost..." I blabbered and panted. "...If I can't get that back."

"You still talk so much..." He laughed. His laugher is almost enchanting. Please, God, don't... please stop him from alluring me. "I'm talking about the later, that... 'Long, dark-haired guy'?" He quoted.

"It's none of you're business!" He smirked. "What?" I demanded again? Am I funny? "I'm sorry about earlier... about the dance, I'm just carried away..." why am I suddenly apologizing?

"I know, I sensed that..." He said silently, looking down.

I took a deep breath. "You should stop bothering me." I told him straight. He looked at me with surprised but worried eyes; I can't tell the mask is still on his face covering his eyes.

"Am I bothering you?" His tone became sad.

"N... Yes... And I don't want him to burn you..." to my surprise, he laughed heartily. So loud that I was left stunned at my seat on that branch. He laughed for about five minutes, and all I do was to look at his shaking body and he almost fall!

"I...I'm serious" I tried to warn him.

"Yeah, I know..." he said, still calming down him self. Is he crazy? What's wrong with him?

"Then... why..."

"Seriously, Mikan..." He just mentioned my name, smiling sweetly, like a he wrapped it in a caress. My heart wants to jump out of my chest and I'm staring blankly at him... like I know him... "Why would I burn myself?" And that very moment, my breathing and my heart stopped as he removed the mask from his face.