Shironeko-pyon: Sorry (infinity times) for the oh so long wait! (bows) My computer's mouse wasn't working. Just imagine how I did it. (gets shot) Anyway, thank you so much to those who reviewed! Arigatou gozaimasu! XDD I heart you guys! (: (gives you all love) This is already the second to the last chapter. Gasp. Yes, the story's nearing its long-awaited end. At the last chapter, I'm gonna reveal who wrote the love books so just wait, m'kay? XD
Mikan: Who did, anyway?
Shironeko-pyon: It's a secret! You'll soon see. ;)
Hotaru: This lousy excuse for a writer doesn't own Gakuen Alice or any of its characters.
Shironeko-pyon: Hope you enjoy this chapter, shannaro! XP
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Kiss by the book
By: Shironeko-pyon
Chapter Eight:
The penultimate page
Running didn't seem to be this endless up to this night. The halls stretched in a never-ending path while she ran faster and faster. For some unexplainable reason, the more she ran, the farther the halls seem to lead. She could hear her rapid footsteps echoing through the gallery. It was as if she was running alone and the world was an endless road. Everything seemed to disappear.
They reached the hospital in a flurry of moments. The building was silent and only her footsteps and Yuu's were disrupting the stillness of the evening. Towering staircases were laid in front of Mikan but her legs never gave in. Pertinacious to see him, she didn't let tiredness get the best of her. As she reached the third floor, she could barely walk nor stand. Yuu was just behind her, clinging on to a pole for dear life.
"Mikan, could you please slow down?" Yuu huffed for the twentieth time, bringing his hands to his knees.
Mikan looked like she hadn't lost any ounce of energy at all though her legs wobbled as she slowly walked. "Yuu, where's Natsume's room?" She asked, examining the rooms on the floor.
Yuu was suffused in his own fatigue that he didn't hear her sudden question. The lass continued trudging through the floor, scrutinizing every room. She halted as something caught her attention.
It was a coffin being gradually pulled out from one of the rooms. It couldn't be, Mikan thought as her whole body trembled, it's not him. Nurses carefully dragged the coffin, a melancholy expression on their faces. Mikan heard someone wail a name and as it entered her ears, her legs gave way.
Please, this is not happening!
"Natsume!" a girl wept, hugging the closed coffin. Through her watery eyes, she could distinguish Sumire crying. Mikan tried hard to stand even with the pain surging through her weary legs. It was incredible how she ran to the coffin, shouting his name.
"Natsume!" She screeched, cuddling the coffin. Her tears ran uncontrollably from her brown orbs, soaking the casket immensely. "Nooo! How could you leave me? Why?"
Just when she was about to shout his name yet again, she heard someone call, "Cut!"
Sumire pulled her away from the coffin and gave her a stern look. "What's the big idea ruining my dramatic scene?"
"Dramatic scene?" Mikan asked, dumbfounded. A dramatic scene? What on Earth?
"Yeah! It's a scene where people cry, idiot. And, it was the scene I was supposed to be famous for before you ruined it!" Sumire screamed loud enough for Mikan to have a momentary hearing disorder.
"B-But, I saw you crying and I-I heard you calling out Natsume's name," Mikan protested.
Sumire couldn't stifle a witch-like laugh. "Silly girl! The character's name was Natsume. She was a girl and I'm supposed to be her bestfriend before she died! We're just acting for the upcoming Alice festival. This is the entry of the somatic types."
Mikan felt like she was melting from shame. All she could do was smile sheepishly before the movie's student director showed her out. The scene was redone again while Yuu approached her, his body still drained.
"Natsume's room is this way, " Yuu pointed out. He glanced behind Mikan and saw the somatic types shooting their movie. "I take it you already saw Sumire shooting her dramatic scene,"
Mikan brought her hands on her waist. "How come I'm the only one who doesn't know about their movie?"
Yuu smiled. "You never asked,"
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She slowly opened the door, careful of not making any noise. Tranquility wafted inside his room, amazing her for a brief moment. His bestfriend was there, sitting on a nearby chair with his tired head on the edge of Natsume's bed. He was asleep, too, like Natsume. It was a shame to wake him up at a time like this.
"Hey, Ruka." Mikan nudged him gently. The poor boy opened his slumber dazed eyes drowsily. "I'm here and I come to visit Natsume."
Through his exhaustion, the blonde still managed a faint smile. "All he'd been muttering while asleep was your name since he got here," Ruka muttered as he got up and motioned for Mikan to sit.
Mikan blushed but still regained her composure. She sat down and looked at Natsume's face. He looked so cute, she thought, almost like an innocent little boy.
Yeah right, he's anything but innocent.
"I'll leave you alone with him, okay?" Ruka mumbled then yawned. He sluggishly approached the door and left.
Mikan smiled before slowly raking her hand through Natsume's raven-colored locks. She secretly wished he'd be this peaceful every time, that way there'd be less bickering. Mikan halted her motions as a thought unhurriedly entered her. Natsume was always been quiet until she came along. She was the one barging in everyone's life. It was her.
She got up. She shouldn't be here. This was wrong. They're not even that, well, close to begin with. What's she doing suddenly stroking his messy hair?
"You're in love with him, darn it!" A voice abruptly reprimanded her. "You have every right to be here, idiot!"
No, she scolded back, I can't be here. I just can't. Her mind's telling her to go. Her heart's telling her otherwise. What was a girl to do? If only the book was here, she'd know what to do. It would dictate to her what to do in situations like this. Situations wherein she's in total confusion. In total perplexity. In total bafflement. In total…
"Hey, polka-dots, what're you doing standing there and looking all ugly?" A voice suddenly muttered.
It took all sheer energy for her to look at him. He was awake, well, barely. His eyes were half-open and his voice was still soft. There's some bandages wrapped around his head, proving his inevitable injury. All in all he was still like a weak little puppy. Instead of getting angry at his unexpected wisecrack, she started sobbing.
"Oi, why are you crying?" He asked wearily.
Mikan's lips curved into a smile through all her tears. "You're awake," She weakly stated.
"Tch, I can see that."
"Oh, Natsume!" Mikan wailed, flinging her arms around his frail body as she joined him on the bed.
Natsume winced. "Geez, not too tight. Can't you see I'm still sore?"
Mikan sat up beside him. "What have you been doing anyway, huh?"
"None of your business," He sat up, too, crossing his arms in front of his chest.
"You're still the same arrogant, obnoxious brat! Can't you see I'm worried sick of you, you moron! The least you could do is show some appreciation!" Mikan stuck out her tongue, crossing her arms as well.
"Who are you to be so worried, anyway? My girlfriend?" Natsume retorted.
Mikan's heart sank but she smiled nonetheless. She wouldn't be caught being depressed again. "Yeah, well, no." She got up and stood beside the bed.
"You might as well be," He smirked.
Mikan turned around. What was that he said? "Huh?"
His smirk widened. "Are you deaf? I said you might as well be my girlfriend, idiot."
The world is definitely spinning, Mikan thought as her mind went into total shutdown. Maybe this was all a dream. After all, it would be odd for him to say that even with the subtle insult. This was all a dream, right? Right?
"You've got to be kidding me," Mikan said, bringing her hands on her hips.
Natsume glanced at the wall clock. It distinctly read, 12:30 a.m. "Why would I be kidding at this hour?"
"I don't know. You're just plain weird,"
"And, you're wearing a ribbon imprinted panty, nitwit."
Mikan's face turned beat red. "How did you…?"
"I told you to consider wearing shorts, ribbon panties." Natsume nonchalantly teased.
"URGH! YOU'RE A HOPELESS PERVERT!" Mikan shrieked, pouncing on him with utter force. Natsume still had this smug look gracing his features as Mikan brought her face inches away from his. "And, that's why I love you, moron!"
"Geez, cut the mushy talk, polka-dots. It makes me itch all over," Natsume softly growled. He smirked yet again, irritating the young lass. She won't be giving in to his pestering anymore as she thought of a brilliant plan to wipe him off his feet. With this very helpful position, it would be a piece of cake.
"Well, then. Let's get rid of all that itchiness now, shall we?" Mikan seductively said, gradually dragging her finger up his shirt. Natsume's eyes were wide as he gulped. Who knew she could be this aggressive?
The lass carefully took off his shirt with a playful smirk on her lips. Of course, she wouldn't be having sex with him, oh no. That would be too sudden and too early. She would just be doing this for payback—a well-deserved payback.
Mikan rested her body on his, her hand playing with his bellybutton while the other playing on his chest. She could see how Natsume's too vulnerable due to his worn-out self. Mikan smirked. This could be a great advantage.
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"What exactly happened to Natsume?" Yuu inquired as he sat down and gave Ruka a bottled iced tea.
He opened his and drank as well. Ruka was too lethargic to even open his fill as he slumped down the bench. The two were talking about simple things outside Natsume's room to pass by the time. In a matter of minutes, both of them would be cruising their way to dreamland and there are some things that Yuu would like to clear up before that would happen.
"Yeah, well, he was rushed just hours ago. He was hurt from one of those darn missions again," Ruka said, half-conscious. His eyes were giving in as sleepiness was slowly taking its toll. Just a few more seconds and he would be off to his dreams if only somebody didn't snap him out.
"Oh, hey, Hotaru!" Yuu greeted as the raven-haired lass arrived in her usual calm manner.
Ruka sat back up with his consciousness back on track. "What are you doing here?" He asked.
Hotaru sat beside him. "I was about to wake Mikan up in the middle of the night just to make her pay all her debts but, I saw she wasn't there. So, I figured she'll be here."
Boy, she is smart. Ruka thought, staring at the girl beside him.
"So, where is Mikan?" Hotaru queried.
Yuu pointed at the door. "She's inside,"
Hotaru got her mini camera from her pajama pocket and prepared herself to enter the room. Ruka looked at her with disbelief. "What's with the camera?" He questioned the inventor who was about to open the door.
"You just might not know what you're gonna be seeing," She monotonously stated, a faint smirk playing on her lips.
Ruka almost fell while Yuu heaved a sigh. The animal-lover stood behind her, trying to stop his raven-haired tormentor. "What do you mean? It's not like they're inside making out!" Ruka replied all-knowingly.
Hotaru rapidly opened the door with Ruka just behind her and what they saw almost made the blonde's nose bleed. Mikan was on top of a shirtless and fatigued Natsume. What startled Ruka more was that Mikan's hand was playing with the hem of Natsume's pajama bottom while the other was swirling intricate designs on his chest.
Mikan heard the creaking of the door and saw the two. OH NO! THIS IS NOT WHAT YOU GUYS THINK!
"AAHHH! THIS IS NOT WHAT YOU THINK, GUYS! I, UH…" Mikan instantly shouted but, flashes from Hotaru's camera hurriedly cut her explanation.
Ruka stared at the two for a good five seconds before he fainted. Yuu saw this and immediately hurried to his aid. "What's going on?" He peeked through the door and he, too, went out like a light.
Hotaru was enjoying herself taking a lot of snapshots. Mikan instantaneously withdrew from her position but Natsume prevented her. "Typical, molesting me again when nobody's looking." Came the lad's riposte.
Mikan didn't know what to do as her whole body turned eighty shades of red. Her plan backfired now that Hotaru, Ruka and Yuu saw them in this uncompromising position. Now, with the help of her genius bestfriend, everyone would think they really did something and it's going to be because of her assertive attitude.
"GRAAAHH! I'M GONNA KILL YOU, YOU JERK!"
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The light passing through the hospital's glass window couldn't help but wake the brown-haired lass. She stirred before finally opening her sleepy eyes. She instantly saw an arm around her and when she glanced at her right, she realized it was Natsume's. The lad was still topless and his warmth radiating from his body kept her temperate throughout the night.
Just like before, Mikan thought.
She was about to tickle his fine body into waking him up when she comprehended that her left hand was enclosed by another. Mikan glimpsed at her left and saw Ruka gently holding it. The blonde was sitting on the chair and he was asleep too, resting his tired head on the edge of the bed. She smiled before carefully pulling out her hand from his grasp.
The boy stirred a little and continued on slumbering. Mikan smiled yet again. He's such a gentle young man, she thought. She looked around to look for any sign of Hotaru or Yuu but, they were nowhere to be found.
Oh, yeah, Hotaru left last night to develop those horrid pictures she took while Yuu returned to his room to have a good night's sleep. She thought as she mentally slapped herself for not remembering earlier.
Mikan slowly placed her hand near Natsume and gently tickled his stomach. She succeeded when he finally opened his piercing ruby eyes. "What's the big idea waking me up?" He softly scowled, pulling his right arm from her and placing it under his head.
"It's already morning, lazy pants." Mikan scolded. She turned to her right and stared at him.
Natsume closed his eyes. "Tch, I'll go back to sleep."
"Will a kiss wake my prince up?" Mikan pouted, bringing her face in front his.
Natsume opened his eyes and smirked. "Yeah, your unbearable bad breath will surely wake me up,"
Mikan glared at him. "WHY YOU!" She shouted.
Ruka stirred and fluttered his eyes open. "Oh, I see you two are finally awake." He mumbled wearily.
The couple sat up. "Way to go waking Ruka up, loud mouth." Natsume monotonously insulted.
Mikan clenched her fists in anger. "URGH! YOU'RE THE ONE WHO WOKE HIM UP!"
"I'm not the one with the loud mouth here, idiot."
"STOP CALLING ME THAT!" Mikan grabbed his shoulders and pounced on him, pinning him on the bed.
Natsume arched a brow calmly. "What? Are you gonna harass me again?"
Mikan gritted her teeth. "In your dreams, moron!"
"So, what are you gonna do?"
Nice question, what would she do, anyway?
"Since I have a bad breath according to you, this is gonna be torture!" Mikan placed her lips on his and gave him a mind-blowing kiss. On the contrary, Natsume liked the kiss that the moment Mikan did it, he kissed her back, too. It took a complete twenty-seconds before Mikan pulled back.
Realizing what she just did, Mikan's brown pools were wide as she stared at a panting Natsume. She didn't mean to really kiss him on purpose but, to give him some payback. It turned out that she loved it but the worst part was, someone actually witnessed it. She glanced at Ruka who was aghast beyond words. Oh boy, she really had done it this time.
Natsume stopped panting and looked at a shocked Mikan. He smirked. That was heaven. "You're not a bad kisser, ribbon panties. In fact, you're the worst,"
He didn't just say that, Mikan thought, oh no, he didn't.
"You'll regret you ever said that, you half-wit! You really are asking for another one!" Mikan fired back, slowly closing the gap between their faces.
Ruka stared at the couple with wide blue eyes. Oh, great. Here we go again.
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Shironeko-pyon: EEEPP! This is the shortest and sweetest chapter, I bet. XD (squeals) Another chapter to go and its bye-bye for this story. (wails) Yepyep, the last chapter's coming up. Le sigh. I'm gonna miss writing again. (wails even more)
Hotaru: And, we're not gonna miss YOUR writing.
Mikan: Oh, Hotaru, don't say that! I, for one, shall be missing Shironeko-chan!
Shironeko-pyon: Aww, I'm gonna be missing you as well, Mikan-chan! (hugs Mikan)
Hotaru: (points a sign at the two saying, "Idiots, this way")
Shironeko-pyon: I'm gonna be missing, Natsume-kun, too! (glomps Natsume)
Natsume: Let. Me. Go! (tries burning Shironeko-pyon)
Shironeko-pyon: Ha! I'm wearing fire-proof clothes! (continues hugging Natsume)
Mikan: While Natsume-kun is trying to get away from Shironeko-chan, please review. :D Suggestions, comments, constructive criticisms and friendly advices are welcome. XD
Shironeko-pyon: (gives Natsume a long kiss on the lips) See you on the last chapter, yosha! XDD
