They say love hides behind every corner,
I must be walking in circles.
- Unknown -
You Can
Chapter 9
"You should get some sleep."
Mikan looked up and saw a pair of beautiful ruby eyes staring down at took a couple of moments before she could pull away from the man's stare ever since she realized that his eyes almost always have an effect on her. The color was so mesmerizing and so beautiful for her that she just couldn't take her eyes off of it.
"Yeah, um, I'll do that in a couple of minutes." Mikan whispered as she stared at the light coming from the door of the Emergency Room of Tokyo Hospital again.
Mikan and her fake/real soon-to-be husband, Natsume Hyuuga, quickly drove off towards Tokyo Hospital that night right after they had finished talking about the last details of the rather unusual deal they've made with each other. A deal which was something people would find rather unbelievable, immoral or stupid but something both parties who are involved would greatly have a clear advantage on.
Making a deal about marrying for one's own benefit wasn't something Mikan would've thought she would ever agree on. Since she's an avid fan of fairytales and happily ever after's... she couldn't quite make sense of why she quickly agreed with the kind of situation she had gotten herself into.
It was true that this deal would help stabilize her family's financial incapability's but other than that, she didn't know why.
But true to his words, the man Mikan was going to marry completely kept his promise. It was clearly understood that he would help her grandfather go on with his heart transplant operation but she never would have thought that he would be the one to initiate going quickly to the hospital to fix the processing of her grandfather's operation. And because of that, in just an hour's time, her grandfather was quickly sent in, inside the emergency room ready for the heart transplant.
Maybe she did made the right choice. This deal was going to change her life in a positive way. She can already see her future with this man. She'll fall for him and have his child and they wouldn't even have to go on to a divorce.
A happily ever after.
Mikan couldn't suppress a smile forming on her face.
"Hey. Thank you for doing the processing for my grandfather's operati0n."
Natsume Hyuuga leaned against the wall beside Mikan and nodded his head. "Hmm."
Mikan blushed. The air between them suddenly became awkward, she didn't know why. Maybe it was because of the fact that they just met again last night, after two whole months without seeing each other. They we're practically strangers! And then they suddenly were now engaged!
Mikan took a quick peek at the eternity ring, Natsume had given her. It dazzled against the dim light, the hospital hall was giving. It really was beautiful. Mikan slowly peeked at Natsume who looked solemnly at the opposite wall.
This was one of the only times she was able to look at his features without him staring at her. His skin was soft against the light and suddenly she remembered how it felt to touch it with her fingers. His nose was not that straight nor was it that crooked. And his mouth... it was slightly upturned and it made him look even more boyish. Oh, how she suddenly remembered the way it felt to have his mouth against her.
Natsume looked over at her and saw her smiling dreamily. What was the daft woman thinking about now? Then he suddenly wanted to tease her.
"If you're having lustful delusions about me, why don't we head out to the hotel and make those delusions of yours, real?"
Mikan woke up of her trance. She gulped. "I wasn't thinking of..."
Natsume smirked and decided not to go on with his teasing...not just yet.
He decided he'll tease her when she gets more than enough rest to recover from her lost sleep. "It's a couple of minutes already. Take your rest now. Your grandfather's operation will be done after twelve hours. Don't waste it all by just by staring at me." Then he winked at her.
Mikan blushed but forced a glare up to his face. Just when she thought he was being caring, he just needed to tease her in the end.
"Don't glare at me like that. Haven't you forgotten you needed to act like you're in love with me."
"We're not around people. I can show you a piece of my mind."
"You call that half glare of yours a piece of your mind? Hmm. Fat chance it scaring me. You look like a clown with no make-up."
That was it.
Mikan clenched her teeth. She stood up so that her 5'5'' height tried to go up against Natsume's 6'2'' stature.
It backfired, of course.
"You do-"
"Darling," Natsume unexpectedly pulled her and gathered her up into his arms.
A couple of nurses suddenly appeared out of nowhere and looked towards them. The nurses giggled.
Natsume had his back turned away from the nurses and Mikan had closed her eyes so that she didn't have to see the looks that were making this simple hug a lot awkward for her.
"What a cute couple!" A nurse whispered loudly to her group. "But don't you think the man looks familiar?"
"Let me look!" another nurse whispered. "Ohhh... his back looks like the back of the hotty Natsume Hyuuga!"
"HOMAYGAD. It is! Wait—wait! How come you know how his back looks like?"
"I saw it on the tabloids and I can smell him! Don't you smell him?"
"Oh, shut up Reina! How could a Natsume Hyuuga come here with that sort of woman? Let's go! Let's..."
Mikan went rigid against Natsume. What did the nurse mean when she said the thing about Natsume Hyuuga and the sort of woman she was? Mikan suddenly wanted to march towards the nurse and speak her mind!
Well, she was about to until she felt Natsume's grip tightened around hers. "Calm down, Mikan."
"But—" Mikan almost screamed when she heard the woman again.
"If I was to compare myself to that woman, if ever the man was Natsume-my-love, I think I'll be much more perfect for him that that woman! Hohoho!"
That was it!
Mikan cringed, tried to push away from Natsume, and almost screamed out her anger but Natsume quickly grabbed her ass and pinched on it and it only made Mikan want to tear the hair of the nurse. She tried pushing again but failed as she finally saw the group of nurses turning on the next corridor.
When the nurses were out of sight Mikan quickly hissed under her breathe, "Why didn't you let me go? They were already—damn! And the hell with grabbing my butt like that! Could you let go of me now?"
Natsume smirked against her ears and continued hugging her in his arms. "First of all, if I did let you go, I wouldn't know what you'll do to them. I'm thinking you're the type who causes trouble and the last thing I want right now is to cause havoc on a hospital on midnight. Second, do you want them to see me? Everything will be much complicated when they see me and we don't want that. Really. Especially on midnight. Third, I'm thinking this position's quite alluring and it actually is... turning me on."
Mikan blushed. "You pervert! What's with you and your name already? Is it a mystery I have to crack? And can you please let go of me already or I swear..."
"Swear what?" Natsume asked. He decided not to answer her question before. He'd rather tease her than talk about serious stuffs. He'll be serious later when he's done doing his recent favorite habit. Teasing her. "I don't think something's wrong with me having my arms around you. It's what husband and wife does most of the time and haven't you heard what the nurses said? We're a cute couple."
Mikan wanted to shave the man's hair with her teeth. She cried out in frustration when all of a sudden Natsume released her. She ended up staring at him blankly, her retort forgotten.
He ended up having a smirk on his face.
Mikan didn't know how else to react. She wanted to murder the man but then his smirk somehow turned into a soft caring face—where his eyes smoldered—and she just knew it was a smile.
The man was confusing her. He was like an expression toy! Expressing different emotions after every minute!
Natsume slowly pulled Mikan by the hand. "Come. You need to take a rest."
Mikan followed him silently, her fingers entwined with his.
"Would you like to go to the hotel again or would you rather stay here in the hospital?"
"I'd rather stay here."
Natsume nodded and they both headed towards room 409 in silence.
Natsume opened the lights of room 409 and quickly went inside. It was a small room with the hospital bed, a couch and a bathroom.
Was he going to sleep here too? Mikan thought then suddenly laughed at the idea that a man with the looks and attitude like Natsume would sleep here with her. That would be impossible; Mikan decided that he'd rather stay at the hotel suite than stay in here.
That's what Mikan thought and she almost let out an explicit gasp when Natsume suddenly turned to her and said the following words:
"Since there's only the bed and the couch, why don't you take the bed and I'll try to sleep... in that tiny couch."
Mikan stared at Natsume and the couch. The man wasn't kidding about the size of the couch. The couch looked a little to small for him but she was too shocked to realize that. She was even more shocked by the fact that he was willing to give up the bed for her.
She smiled. Maybe, she would give the man a chance again. Other than his teasing habits, he's wonderful.
"Why don't you stay in the bed and—"
"Okay. That's settled then. You stay there in the couch and I stay in the bed." And with the speed of lightning Natsume was on the bed, covered with the thick blanket and sleeping soundly.
Mikan's jaw fell open. Natsume didn't even let her finish what she was saying and just bunked on the bed.
God, it was all in his evil plan!
First he'd be good then he'll strike he's evil ways! Oh God, she was now taking everything back about saying he's wonderful.
Mikan glared at his sleeping form. Since she's too tired to fight him, she'll let him win this round. On the other hand, she'll try to get some sleep on that small couch without a blanket and without extra covering from the cold.
Oh, how she resents the man for this!
Natsume peeked from the blanket and saw Mikan trying to be comfortable in the couch. He smirked and tried to get some sleep as well.
Another hour later, Natsume slowly opened his eyes, waking up from a small dose of sleep. He peeked out at Mikan and saw that she was struggling and was rubbing her arms for heat. Since she was still in her last night's uniform with his coat and nothing was shielding her legs from the cold, it was apparent to him that Mikan couldn't sleep.
"Mikan?"
Mikan slowly opened her eyes and glared at Natsume's sight. "W-what d-do you w-want?
Natsume sat up on the bed. He didn't waste any time and extended both of his arms towards her. "Come."
"I-I'm n-not c-cold."
"Your teeth are chattering and I highly doubt that you can sleep when you're freezing. Come here. I'll warm you up."
The invitation was something she wouldn't take if she had another option but it was too inviting and she didn't have the power to protest anymore. With that, she slowly stood from the couch and ran towards the circle of his arms.
"Y-you j-jerk."
"Shhhh..." Natsume whispered as he rubbed her back while he shifted so that Mikan was now under him, and the heat of the bed.
"I-If y-you t-think I will t-thank y-you after t-this..."
"Shhh..." Natsume whispered again as he locked her legs between his. He felt her foot curl up around his.
"...I-I w-won't."
Natsume leaned up against his elbows and looked at her half-sleepy form. He continued rubbing her arms with his other hand. "I know you won't."
Mikan started to relax and the cold was soon leaving her. She moved against Natsume as she adjusted herself while her arms snaked around his waist. "I'm letting you off this time, Natsume and you better..."
"Shut up, Mikan." And with that he kissed her on the lips.
Mikan didn't fight him off but kissed him back just as fierce as he was kissing her. Natsume crushed his mouth over hers and silenced her with that. He left her feeling more than warm and when he ended the kiss, he saw a smile on Mikan's sleeping face.
Had his kiss sent her into blissful sleep? Natsume wanted to think that as he slowly kissed Mikan on the forehead and settled himself against her.
.
Takishiro Hyuuga leisurely paced through each of the marbled archway of the garden pathway leading to Tokyo Hospital's main operation building. It was one of the most secluded routes towards the edifice where most patients who were going to be or whom had finished having their operation (by some of the best medical surgeons of Tokyo) stay until they are well and ready to leave the hospital.
It was a rather a beautiful morning, Takishiro decided. He heard the trees rustling as the wind blew them ever so slowly, he saw a mother bird flying pass him carrying a couple of worms in her beak to give to her babies, and he inhaled what smell like freshly baked French breads. Yes, it was a very wonderful morning that he wasn't surprise to see a couple of patients in their wheelchairs talking and laughing with a cup of coffee in their hands.
He couldn't help but smile.
He seeing everyone happy makes his heart swell.
It was really a beautiful day and everything he had wished for was really taking its toll now.
He sighed in contentment.
Last night, his grandson finally decided what he wanted him to decide.
How did he know? Well, he had Hotaru telling him everything she knew.
Hotaru, one of his trusted sidekicks, quickly called him about Natsume's decision. It was rather a conniving plan he and Hotaru had agreed upon that whenever there is something to know about Natsume, Hotaru will quickly let him know.
Takishiro already knew that his childhood friends' granddaughter was the perfect candidate for his grandson and it was just the matter of executing his plan well without letting his grandson know that he was behind all the spying.
He had been guilty for a whole lot of months since he really wanted to help his dear old friend. But Hisashi keeps on insisting that he wouldn't take the money for the operation. He's friend was one stubborn mad and so what he could only do was to sit and accompany his frail friend on the hospital every now and then.
But luck was on his side. He found himself reading a file about a woman whom his grandson brought to his penthouse. He quickly used his connection to see who that woman was.
It was Mikan Sakura.
The granddaughter of his beloved friend.
That's when everything had fallen into place and he'd given the job to Natsume to find her again. And it really was destined for them to meet since why did God let them meet in the first place if they weren't meant, right?
Takishiro slowly slid open the door of room 409 and found the lights and curtains closed. According to the helpdesk of the Hospital wing, his friend was still in the Emergency room and would be released later in the afternoon. But he badly wanted to see the young woman that would become his grandson's wife and he knew that this was the place where he has 70% chance of seeing her.
As his eyes adjusted to the dimly lit room, what he saw made his heart want to burst with happiness.
On the bed were two figures. The bigger one was lying on his back and the other one was half sprawled on top of the man. They were sharing a blanket and the man was protectively hugging the woman to him while the woman had her face buried against his neck.
It was his grandson and his future wife.
He never knew how fast his grandson's moves could be. He stare in awe as he remembered those younger days he had.
Natsume adjusted himself comfortably as Mikan snuggled for his warmth even more.
Takishiro couldn't repress the happy feeling as the couple really looked good together. He took out his camera phone and quickly took a picture, forgetting the fact that the flash and the sound was still on.
Natsume quickly stirred awake. He couldn't believe that photographers could take a picture on such an early morning on a goddamn hospital room!
That's when he looked at his left and saw his grandfather, frozen to the spot with the camera phone on his hands.
Takishiro, with his knowing grin, whispered excitedly at the sleepy-annoyed Natsume. "I'll be outside in the garden. When both of you are ready, come see me." Then he quickly ran out the room.
Natsume quickly wanted to chase after him but he suddenly felt a figure heavily sprawled on top of him.
It was Mikan.
He suddenly remembered the events last night and how he couldn't stop himself from wanting to kiss the woman again. Mikan snuggled against him again as he found himself tucking the loose strands of her hair behind her ears.
Was this really what if felt to have a fiancé? That he felt that it was something he was going to love or was it the fact that everything the woman does seems so special and different from the women he had met in his life?
Was he supposed to believe that he'd made the right choice and he'll have a wife who will love him forever?
Natsume manage to push his thoughts away and quickly covered his face with his usual façade. He just can't believe in things like that. It would just never work.
"Oi." Natsume pinched the side of Mikan's face. "You're heavy."
Mikan just grunted and quickly snuggled her face onto his neck.
"Wake up!"
The sleeping woman just mumbled incoherent words against his neck. The only words he'd manage to understand were Natsume, balls and murder. Was the woman dreaming of murdering him with balls?
"Hey! Wake up!"
Mikan was surprised by the deep voice that grumbled under her that she violently pushed herself up into a sitting position. Mikan stared with eyes wide open down at Natsume. A couple of seconds came and Natsume thought that Mikan would quit straddling his stomach and leave the bed already when suddenly, instead of doing that, she fell down on him with a one big thud.
Natsume grunted from the impact he felt. "Damn it. Mikan—"
"You're warm." Mikan smiled groggily and snuggled onto his chest. "You're very warm and you make me feel safe."
Natsume went blank for a moment. Was she acting like this because of lack of sleep?
"Hey." Natsume exasperatedly grunted. "As much as I like your position now and how much you're stroking my ego, it would be best to continue this later and get it over with meeting my grandfather."
Mikan froze and her eyes flew open. "Grandfather? Your grandfather!"
"Yes."
Mikan's face suddenly was stricken with horror. "He's here? Why is he here? Oh God, this can't be. I'm not ready to meet him. Natsume, he's going to see right through me! He'll know we're faking it! He'll know I'm faking it and he'll—hmmmph!"
Natsume swiftly covered her mouth with his hands to stop her from speaking. When her attention was directed to him again and not to her worries, he smirked and spoke. "He's not going to see that we're faking it, okay? You just stay silent like a good puppy and I'll do the talking."
"Moron." Mikan spat at him as he pushed her off of him. "Fine! You do the talking! I don't care if he asks me things I don't know and I'll just tell him the truth."
"You wouldn't do that." Natsume taunted.
Mikan glared at him. "Oh yes, I will."
Natsume glared back at her. Damn, it was still early in the morning and the woman was getting on his nerves already. "Do you know how much I want to wring your neck out right now?"
Mikan smiled. "As a matter of fact, yes."
Natsume fisted his hands. He wanted to retort but he realized that he was out of words. Just a few minutes ago, the woman was damn too sweet and now she just turned sour!
Damn it.
That's why he hated women.
Women and their mood swings.
"Fine." Then he pushed Mikan and stalked out of the room.
Mikan wore a smug across her face. For the first time, she knew that she'd won against her own little game.
Round 1: Natsume = 0, Mikan = 1
.
"Hey! Damn it! Wait!" Mikan hissed as she tried to keep up with Natsume's pace. But, hell, the man was stubborn and instead he walked faster than ever, annoying Mikan who was already casting him fire daggers with her eyes. If only they could hurt him.
Mikan gave up. She walked behind him and muttered curse words towards him until he finally decided to turn around and look at her.
Mikan bumped on his chin and almost fell on her ass. Thankfully, Natsume caught her on both her elbows.
They were finally on the place of their destination. The hospital's garden.
Mikan looked up at Natsume. She suddenly felt self-conscious because of the look Natsume was giving her. "W-what? Is some—"
"We're going to meet my grandfather."
Mikan stared at him stupidly. "I already know that since you woke me up in a not so very good mood! Now can we just get it on and can you already let me go?"
Natsume ignored her and tightened his hold on her elbows. "We're going to meet my grandfather so I suggest you rub that fucking expression on your face and start acting like a..." Natsume paused and imagined what behaviors his perfect wife would have. "... a silent, submissive fiancée. A fiancée who says nothing until she's told to do so."
"You don't want a fiancée! You want a dog!"
Natsume ignored her comment and pulled her against him as he slipped his hands and held her hands against his. "Don't make a fool of yourself, Mikan. I don't have room for average actresses." Then he pulled her with him as he walked towards the benches in the garden.
Round 2: Natsume = 1, Mikan = K.O.
Mikan couldn't believe that Natsume had actually won on her own little game. Dammit!
How she wished she could shout this very words to him right now:
NATSUME HYUUGA, you're one BULL****!
Oh, she suddenly felt her heart thumping due to nervousness.
Fine.
She'll do the shouting after this.
Maybe later.
FAQ
Does Mikan's grandfather know about Natsume's grandfather's match making plan?
Secret. Haha. You'll find out sooner or later.
Natsume's face turned grimly. The woman had her parents with her until she was seven; she felt the love of having two parents with her while he never felt any of that love." Oh my gawd! Don't tell me he really is that heartless to not feel any sense of pity for her!
He is.
How did Mikan's grandfather and Natsume's grandfather met? Commoners and rich businessman don't meet often, do they?
That... will be in the future chapters. Everything will be explained soon enough. You just wait. :)
The numbers you use in every chapter... may I ask what language it is? My guess is French.
Your guess is right. :D
What is Mikan's educational status (high school? college? university?)?
This is very random. Haha! I haven't even thought of that until now. Since hmmm... she's a 22 going on 23... Let me just say that she's been studying in a college but then she stopped. She stopped because... just because. Hahaha. Nah... please wait for the next chapters. :D
I know, I know. It took me so much time to do this chapter. I actually had a hard time starting the chapter up until a couple of days ago when I finally had this idea. I'm really sorry for the delay. :(
This will be my early Christmas gift for all of you guys. Thanks for all the reviews and for having the time to read my stories. You guys rock!
I'll try to update the next chapter before the year ends but I couldn't do it without your help. :D just press that button down there and make my day. Haha at least give me some inspiration to finish the next chapter before 2009 ends.
Advance happy holidays. God bless. :)
khostar
P.S. Oh and just keep those questions coming in! It doesn't bother me in any way and I'll try to answer those you want to clarify. Thanks! :D
