Chapter 8
"Hotaru, I've heard what happened in your apartment. Are you okay now?" A man entered the room.
"I'm okay now brother. Thanks to Ruka. However, you should not worry about me. Please bother, go to other country." Hotaru said coldly.
"What? You want me to go abroad, but why?"
"I'm just afraid for your safety. You know what I did this past few months and I'm afraid that you will be in danger."
"Look Hotaru, I know that she is your best friend and-" he was cut off. "Don't say it brother. She is my best friend and I am willing to help her in every way I can even if it caused my life. So please, just save yourself and don't worry about me. Ruka is here with me and I know that I will be safe."
Subaru sighed. "I know. You just cut me off. What I am trying to say is that Mikan is also like a younger sister to me and I am willing to help her." he smiled.
Hotaru looked at him surprised. "What do you mean brother?"
"I know your current situation and Ruka told me about it. So, my friend Sakurano will be here in any minute. He will be the one to help us." just then, Ruka entered the room with the man Subaru told her. He introduced them to one another.
"By the way, I'm a police chief inspector and your brother told me about your situation. I must say that you are all in difficult situation. We need evidences to prove that they are guilty from the assault against you and possible scheme and bribery on the Sakura Company." Sakurano explained to them. "Furthermore, I will continue my investigation and I need your cooperation Ms. Imai. We need your statement about that night in your place and if you happen to have a security camera in your apartment, we can use it as strong evidence. Meanwhile, we need your statement and describe the man who sneaks into your place."
Hotaru's eyes lightened and a small smile crept on her face. "Yes, thank you so much for reminding me. I will soon go back there and check for the security camera and as soon as I have it, I will give it to you immediately. I will make sure that man will pay."
"But,- Subaru interrupted- What if they happen to bail for themselves and they threat us again?"
"Don't worry Subaru, I will assign police officers to protect you all."
"It was not that I worry about, Tsubasa and uncle Narumi are missing and I do believe that they are captured by them. We need to rescue them." She said.
"I will ask for the search warrant in their home and let us just hope that they are located somewhere in that place or else, we need to hire undercover agent to locate their whereabouts."
"Fair enough, thank you so much for your help and I just hope this will soon end." They continue talking while Hotaru is giving her statement about the incident.
It's been two days since Mikan and Natsume entered the forest. They were exhausted from walking through the forest the whole day to make it to the nearest village or town. They stopped several times to rest for a minute and eat, then continue their journey. The rest of the walk was full of teasing and occasional shriek from Mikan whenever they encounter large animals and snakes which Natsume secretly enjoyed because every time she did that, she will cling into him tightly.
Mikan was now very tired that she failed to notice a root on her way and she tripped. "Owww, it really hurts."
"You are so clumsy Polka. Will you be more careful sometimes?" He kneeled beside her and looked at her feet. He noticed that there is a wound on her left foot and is bleeding. She sat up and looked at Natsume who was now cleaning her wound and gently tied it with his handkerchief to stop bleeding. Mikan stared at him with awe and a deep blush was visible on her cheeks. 'Natsume was really sweet and caring inside. I'm so happy that he is with me throughout these problems. I really hope that at the end of this journey we will be happy together. I know that I will never love anyone but him and I want to spend the rest of my life with him. Oh, how I wish that my problem with that Mouri's will end soon.' She thought.
'Stupid Polka. She was really careless and look what happened to her. Doesn't she know how I care for her and hurt seeing her in pain? Idiot. She really loves to freak me out. Look I know I am overreacting with a simple wound but please, I really love her and as much as possible, I don't want a filthy insect or mosquito touched her. Argh, I'm really pathetic. This Idiot totally makes me look as overprotective as a mother to her child.' He thought as frown etched on his handsome face as he clean her wound. As he finished, he turned on his back. "Climb on my back and I will carry you. Who knows what may happen next to you for being an idiot. I swear, I won't feel guilty if you fall and roll on a cliff and die. It was your fault and not mine."
Mikan pouted. "Yeah whatever, say what you want genius. You love me so much that you are willing to carry me on you back just to make sure that I'm safe. You're so sweet." Mikan giggled and smiled at her victory for he knows that she is right.
"Whatever." She climbed on his back and he started to walk. "You know what polka; I suggest that you eat less. You're so heavy that could rival a weight of a pig." He said out of the blue. He was hit on the back of his head by Mikan. "You are really mean!"
It was early afternoon when Mikan got off him and walk beside him when the pain in her left foot subsided. "Natsume look!" Mikan suddenly blurted out and he gaze at the direction she pointed. He smiled. "We did it Natsume! Were on the road." She jumped happily like a kid.
"Will you stop that polka? It was really annoying." He held her hand and together, they dashed toward the road.
However, when their feet landed on the hard ground, they were shocked when several men dressed in black pointed their guns at them. They did not dare to move and when Natsume noticed her fear; he held her hand into him tightly. He gently squeezed it and gave her a reassuring smile. But, as quickly he gave that smile, it faded shortly after a car stopped in front of them. The man they were running to suddenly emerge from it and looked at them intently.
"I told you Mikan that you cannot escape forever to me. The play is over my lady and it's time to continue our wedding." He said as smirked evilly.
Natsume stood in front of her. "Never! Over my dead body, I will not marry you. I'd rather die than be tied forever in you." Mikan cried. Reo narrowed his eyes in the man in front of her. "Really?" he challenged.
Natsume interrupted them. "I will die first before you take her away." He said coldly.
"Tsk, tsk. Who are you? If you want to die then I can give you what you want. I will do anything to claim her." Reo snapped at him.
"I'm his boyfriend and I tell you she will never be yours. She is not either a price to claim or a thing to own. How dare you!" he tried to punch Reo but failed to do so since the people around pointed their guns at him ready to shoot him at any time. "Natsume!" Mikan screamed and held his hand. "Please do not. I don't want you to die!"
"I'd rather die than to see you suffer with him. I will try everything to save you even if it caused my life. I will hold this hand until the end and run away with you forever."
Reo made a sick laugh. "haha. How touching is that Mikan? However, I will also not let you run again this time. You will come to me whether you like it or not or else-" He showed them a picture of her family being tortured. "They will die."
Mikan's eyes widened and tears now freely fall from her hazel orbs. "Wh- What did you do to them?" she stuttered.
"I just use them for you to marry me so that I can already own the company including all your properties. Hahaha. You will come to me or they will suffer?" he said. "I will give you the company and all our properties just leave us alone. It was yours now so please let them free." Mikan pleaded.
"Haha. You think that I only want your money. Please, you must be that stupid not to notice. Ever since I landed my eyes on you, I fell in love with you and no matter what happen, you will be mine. So to make everything easy for them, come with me. As soon as the ceremony ends, I will let them live freely."
Reo extended his hand towards her. Mikan on the other hand cannot believe what she heard so she hesitantly stretched her hand to hold into him. However, Natsume smack away his hand and hold hers tightly. "No! I will not let you take her." he said.
"Persistent are we? Haha. I admire your courage young man but-" he snap his hand and in an instant, his men attacked Natsume. Mikan was pushed to the side while Natsume fight back. "Run! Run now Mikan. Save yourself!" He said in between pants as he fight five men. "But Natsume I cannot leave you here. Not in this kind of situation." She argued back. "I said Run now Polka. I will be fine."
"But-" She cannot form any words or her body can move of what she witnessed. She felt numb and collapsed on the ground crying. Natsume was full of blood and is continuously beaten to no end while he fights back. He cannot certainly win from five strong men. Natsume was punched to the face, stomach, chest and other area and blood was streaming down his nose and head. When he collapsed on the ground, he was kicked senseless as he could only shout in pain. Mikan had so much and she just shut her eyes and placed her hand on her ears. "STOP!" she cried loudly.
Reo on the other hand was enjoying the show when he heard Mikan shout. "You cannot take what you see Mikan? He wants it. It is because of you he suffered." He said as he put out something from his back. Mikan's eyes widened when Reo pointed his gun at him. "Say goodbye to your lover."
"No!" Mikan rushed to his side and pushed away the persons who beat him. She hugs him tightly and protectively. Luckily, Reo did not shot the gun. "Please do not kill him. I will do everything you want just please spare his life and my family. I will marry you and be yours forever just promise me you will let them alone."
"Of course Mikan, I promise. Now, let's go and we just leave him here. Sooner or later, someone will help him." Mikan tried to stand up but Natsume hold her hand tightly never wanting to let go. She looked at him intently and tears fall when she noticed his eyes full of love, sadness, vulnerability, and pleading her to never go. She closed her eyes and takes a deep breath. "I'm sorry."
She stands and walks away from him. Rain started to fall as it mixed with their tears.
Mikan entered the car and soon, it drove away. She looked back on his almost lifeless body from the back while he was looking at the car as it drove away from him, as Mikan was moving away from his sight. He tried to stand up and walk. He was limping wanted to follow them but, he was tired. With all his might, he called; "MIKAN!" and he lost consciousness in the middle of empty cold, wet and long road as his voice echoed along with the wind.
Natsume was awakened in a room where he recognized as a hospital. He looked on his sides and noticed the other patients laying on their hospital beds. He remembered what happened earlier in that day as tears unconsciously flow from his crimson orbs. 'I'm really sorry Mikan. I am not good enough to protect you. It was my fault that you were captured and is in danger. If only I am much stronger I could win against them and we can run away to them. I am so useless Mikan for letting you go. I love you so much that I am willing to give up everything even my own life but I guess it was never enough. But, because I do feel strongly for you, I will fulfill my promise. I will save you no matter what. I won't give up on you. Just please stay strong and wait for me. I will definitely come to save you.' he thought.
Shadows beside him cut off his thoughts and he looked up to the persons. He was glad on the inside but kept his cool when he noticed that Koko, Yuu, Anna and Nonoko staring at him worriedly.
"Dude, I really freak out when Anna told us that you were in this hospital." Koko said.
"Anna? So it's you who help and bring me to this place. Thank you." he said.
"No. it was actually one of my waitress in the café happened to help you. She informed me that you were lying on that side of the road and is bleeding profusely and when she recognized you, she called me immediately. What happened to you Natsume? And where is Mikan?" she asked worriedly.
Natsume replied stoically but pain and sadness was visible in his eyes. "She was taken away by that bastard." Silence shared among them.
Nonoko is the one who broke the deafening silence. "Excuse me but I need to call Ruka and Hotaru, they need to know." She dialed her phone and talk to Ruka.
Minutes later, the call ended. "He said that he will inform Hotaru. He also told me that they will come as soon as they can."
Meanwhile, Mikan was crying while staring at the dark sky. She was currently locked on a room beside his. 'This is it. I will go to hell in few days. I'm really sorry Natsume. I really love you but I need to do this for my family and you. You know what, I really cherish the times when we are together. He may have me but not my heart and mind. My heart will only beats for you and only you.' she continue thinking about him and he time when they argue, fight, annoy, comfort, kiss and love each other.
"I promise. I will not let anyone take you away and even if they did, which I don't want, always remember that I will save you." - Natsume
A smile was brought on her lips as she remembered Natsume told those words to her. Her heart begins to flutter and hope was seemed to grow inside her.
'Haha, funny how I want my life now is to be a fairy tale where the princess locked inside a castle to be saved by a handsome young prince. I know it will be. I trust you Natsume, you will never let me fall into darkness and save me from this monsters. Don't worry, I will wait for you. I will be strong because I believe that our love will bound us together someday. Just promise me one thing, take care of yourself and don't die. I still need you.' She dries on her tears and sleep peacefully praying and wishing for the next days to come.
Yay! Another chapter done. I hope you like it… but, I hate myself now for beating of Natsume. I make him in pain. Whaaa, don't kill me for this chapter. I love you Natsume to the highest level and don't worry because 2 to 3 chapters to go and I assure you that your soul will rest peacefully in heaven. (Haha. Just kidding)
To my reviewers: AliOrox, DarkyrawrXD, MiSaNaHyu, Summer Euphoria, xSapphirexRosesxFanx, Red- Petals, Crimson-Midnight-Moon, and SaKuRa-cHaN41, thank you so much for the comments and suggestions . Keep reading and reviewing please. Love you all!
And to silent readers thank you also!
