Chapter 9
He was there…so close that the cells of her fingers tingled in excitement. He was so close, with that smile, mysteriously quirked up on one side. She reached out further, only to fall down with a thump and a surprised yelp.
It took her a moment to realize that she had fallen out of bed and out of a strangely irksome dream. She rolled over onto her side, dazed. After five minutes, she clasped her hands around her face and sighed.
"She tricked me, god damn it," Natsume growled as he tossed the empty envelope and the troll face printer paper (which was inside the envelope, done by yours truly-Hotaru Imai) into the trash can. "And to think I had gotten up my hopes to visit-"
He flushed momentarily at his own words but shook his head.
-Bloop-
Natsume jumped in surprise before blinking. He strolled over to his nightstand, where his phone was. Another notification sound popped up as he checked the perpetrator of the messages. His hold tightened.
Hotaru: Good morning.
Hotaru: This is your last chance.
Last chance? He stared harder at the screen before swiping across the screen, clicking away his password, and opening up Skype.
-Hotaru is typing-
Hotaru: Imai Airport in 1 hour, if you're determined.
Hotaru: I'll see you. If it is a yes.
The dark-haired male turned and stumbled a bit before steadying himself. The Imai Airport? What was going on? Did Hotaru not trick him after all? Did she have his plane ticket?
A billion messages overflowed his mind as he desperately kicked open a suitcase and began stuffing clothes inside. Whatever was going on, he knew he needed to get there.
His dad walked in and balked, "Is this some rebellious stage?"
Natsume spun around to face his father. "Dad, I need to get to the Imai Airport."
Mikan slowly stroked the screen of her laptop, drooling at the discounted clothes that flowed beautifully on the models. Her fingers twitched towards her credit card, but she slapped herself, momentarily shaking her head. She needed to save money.
She sighed and flopped onto the floor. Everything was boring. She wanted to be with her friends, but they were all on vacation. She wanted to spend some family time, but her parents were on a business trip. She wanted to be with her online friends.
Mikan blinked. It had been so long since she talked to them. Without the daily Skype calls and plunges into dungeons, she felt lonely. Her mind instinctively drifted to Natsume.
Was it worth it get mad? As terrible as it might have been, was it worth the effort to avoid the entire group?
The brunette bit her lips as she stared at the Skype icon. After moments of repetitive debates between guilt and self-defense, she slapped herself on the face. Her slender fingers brushed across the keyboard.
She logged on.
"Wait, why are we going to the airport again?" his father asked as they lifted the suitcase into the trunk. "I thought you said the ticket was a prank by Hotaru."
"She messaged me to go to the airport."
"Oh."
Natsume flicked open Maps. "Want me to give directions?"
His father snorted. "I've driven people there so many times. You think I need it?"
"I was just asking," he scowled.
The doors shut closed as the engine revved to life. The car slowly backed out of the driveway and into the streets. His father turned to him. "Natsume," he suddenly said. "Why do you want to go now?"
Natsume looked at his father, swimming in his own sea of confusion. Indeed, why did he? His mind flashed to the start of it all. He had played Gakuen Alice the moment it was released, and for many months, Ruka was his only friend - perhaps because he already knew the blond in real life. It was not long ago since rankings came out, resulting his name becoming widespread across the novel yet popular MMORPG. Only then did he finally meet the others - and last but not least, Mikan. He barely knew her, heck, he barely knew the rest-with the exception of Ruka. He was cautious of ever letting out his private information.
Until, of course, that blackmailing queen stalked every bit of his personal information. He let out an annoyed sigh.
The soft engine of the car puttered as they passed by streets, some that Natsume hadn't seen before. He lived in that house his entire life.
Did he become crazy at some point? Why was he going? Did he even think about the danger?
"I have no idea. I'm crazy," he finally replied.
His father laughed. It was a small chime, charming in its way. "It's good to take your chances. That's the only way for you to be at your fullest. Of course with precaution, since I trust Hotaru's family," he quickly said. He then paused for a moment. "Yet consequently in taking chances, Natsume, you can, of course...also be at your lowest."
A moment of silence. "Did you take a lot of chances?"
"Well," he chuckled at his son. "that's how I lived the majority of my life so far. Getting your mother took a lot."
A small silence again sat between the father and the son. There was a flash of white that flowed by their minds – the long, black box. The soft lullaby that his mother had always loved played. There was a dull ache in Natsume's heart. He wondered if his father's heart had faltered at that second.
"Did you...ever regret it?"
"I think everyone has regrets in every decision they made," his father answered. "I may have had some...I'd be lying if I said I had zero. But...well, I never thought of them because of the time I spent with her."
"I see."
They continued on their way in tranquility, sitting on their conversation.
None of them were on.
She rubbed her eyes. Even the infamous Tobito, who was famous for staying online 24/7, was off. Where were they?
As she waited longer, Skype notifications suddenly popped up into her chat box. Most of them – she had noticed – started from weeks ago. The most recent one was from Hotaru, and the second was from…Natsume.
She gulped but started with the earliest, which was Ruka's.
Ruka: I'm so sorry, Mikan.
Ruka: I'm not quite sure what to say other than I'm really sorry.
Ruka: I was an idiot for agreeing to that v-chat.
Ruka: I don't want you to stop talking to us. Please.
Ruka: I'm really sorry.
Ruka: You can just not talk to me since I was the one who did it.
Ruka: …So, the
Ruka: one who you saw was actually
Ruka: me.
Ruka: Just please talk to the others too. They really miss you.
Ruka: As well as me.
Ruka: TTT_TTT
The message continued for two days as Mikan's heart softened for the blond guy. So…the one, who she saw awhile ago, was actually Ruka. She sighed as her fingers drifted over the keyboard. She moved onto Tobito's (she was slightly surprised since he wasn't online at that time of the fiasco).
Tobito: Natsume was a jerk from what I've heard from Sumire.
Tobito: You're not on. :C
Tobito: Come backkk, Mikan DXDX
Tobito: I really miss you playing with us. :C
Tobito: Mikannnnn
There was a message for each day Mikan was absent from the group. Her lips slightly wobbled from Tobito's daily messages that came without fail. The only day that was missing was today's.
Then to Sumire.
Sumire: OMFGAAWFAWA MIKANN
Sumire: WAHHHH FAWOFADAWA
Sumire: THAT STUPID JERKFACE
Sumire: NEVER FORGIVING HIM.
Sumire: HOW DARE HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Sumire: I'M GONNA PUNCH KOKO
Sumire: SINCE I CAN'T REACH NATSUME.
Sumire: AND PLUS, YA KNOW
Sumire: HE'S MY NEIGHBOR
Sumire: I'LL PUNCH HIM EVERYDAY
Sumire: I HOPE THAT PAIN TRANSMITS TO NATSUME
Sumire: I HOPE YOU GET ON SOON.
Sumire: I MISS YOU SO MUCH
Sumire: WITH OUR DAILY GIRL TALK
Sumire: -CRIES-
Tears sprang out of her eyes as the brunette laughed her socks off. She wiped away a tear as she moved onto Koko's.
Koko: WHY IS SUMIRE HITTING ME?!
Koko: COME BACK MIKAN!
Koko: HER HITS ARE SURPRISINGLY PAINFUL
Koko: I'M GETTING QUESTIONED BY MY FRIENDS
Koko: THEY THINK I'M A MASOCHIST NOW
Mikan burst into laughter again – this time, she rolled onto the floor holding her stomach. They had to be a couple. It was unimaginable for them to be with anyone else.
She paused at Hotaru's and Natsume's. She wasn't sure which one to read first.
The mouse hovered over both. Hotaru. Natsume. Hotaru. Natsume.
After much dilemma, she clicked Hotaru's.
Her breath hitched as her eyes widened at the single message.
"You sure you'll be fine from here?"
"Yeah, I'm sure." Natsume hopped out of the car and dragged the suitcase out from the trunk. "I'll have my phone with me, so I'll tell if you I'm with them."
"Wait!" The teenage boy turned to see his father clip something onto his inside of his shirt.
"What is this for?" he asked.
"Tracking. In case one of them is a kidnapper." His father gave him a thumbs-up. "Give me a text every two hours or so, or I'm sending the police, alright?"
A small smirk decorated Natsume's face. "Didn't you trust Hotaru's family?"
"Well, easier said than done. Gimme a call if it was another prank. If it is, I'll actually have a talk with her uncle," he warned. After adjusting his son's shirt and checking off the list of needed items, he hesitantly continued, "Are...you fine...you know...going out like this?"
"What do you mean-"
"What's up with that boy?" A voice floated over Natsume's shoulder and into his ear. "Did you see his face?!"
His body stiffened to the point of ice.
Is he a delinquent?
Right?! That's what I thought when I saw it!
Haha, what if...
He forgot. He completely forgot. The adventurous excitement suddenly dimmed to almost nothing. Everything that had motivated him flew away. The spark was extinguished.
"SHH!" The second voice came harshly. "Don't say stuff. He might hear us." The footsteps quickly scurried away. His father glared in the direction of the speakers.
Natsume pressed his suitcase closer to his chest as beads of sweat trickled down.
How could he forget?
"Haha...ahaha...hahaHahaHAHAH! ...She's...kidding, right?" she asked in disbelief.
Hotaru: Make sure to clean up your house before we arrive, you cooped-up, overly-sensitive, drama-Queen, brunette idiot.
Mikan threw up her hands as she read the screen for the sixth time. "The string of insults was totally NOT necessary!"
She angrily stomped around before stopping in fear. Quickly, she ran over to the windows to close and lock them before scrambling back to the laptop.
"It's not what I think it is, right?" she muttered. "Door...gotta check if it's locked and bolted...Hotaru...SHE'S FRICKING CRAZY!" Her voice rang an octave higher as she blocked the door with chairs and tables. "WHO DOES SHE THINK SHE IS?! WHY ARE THEY COMING?!" Mikan crouched down in fear and shock. "HOW DID SHE KNOW WHERE I LIVE?!"
Mikan then cocked her head to the side. "That is weird. Did she ever confirm the fact that she knows my address?" After thinking, a relieved smile suddenly broke out on her face. "Thank god, And to think I believed that sneaky ice-queen."
She cheerfully went back to Skype, only to notice Hotaru had another message sent yesterday. She scrolled down.
Hotaru: I've confirmed that it is *** Strawberry Lane by the way. I wasn't lying about knowing your address.
A long moment of silence passed. Slowly, the brunette stood up, comically wobbled to her desk, and sat down on the office chair. She pulled out a drawer, picking out her diary, and took a pencil from the box.
She began.
Dear Diary,
I'm sorry, Mom and Dad. I think I'm going to be kidnapped.
"I...I...c-can't..." He gritted his teeth in frustration. "Shi-"
"Nonsense."
He swiveled around. A tall, slender girl with short, jet-black pixie hair stood in his view. He immediately recognized her with the sharp characteristics. Yet, there were still differences he picked up. She looked more...proper in real life; the posture and the aura that surrounded her figure transmitted the scent of a successful yet monopolizing businesswoman. Her icy, violet eyes gazed at him - possibly inspecting him the same way his did to her - before flickering to his father. She tilted her head in acknowledgement.
"Mr. Hyuuga," she said.
"Erm..." his father stupidly answered before his eyes brightened in recognition. "Hotaru! How are you?"
"Your basic attempt at social interaction is hereby acknowledged." She turned her attention back to Natsume (as his father blankly scratched his head) and asked, "shall we head toward security checks?"
"Look, I..don't think-" he began before she reached out and grabbed his hand.
"One book is not judged the same by everyone," she said and tipped her head to his father. "We have his ticket. He will now be under my uncle's care. We promise his safety."
"Oh uhm...alright. Err, Natsume. Gimme a call when you get there, alright?" He smiled and gave his son a thumbs-up. "Have fun for once, okay?"
"But I-"
He ended up being cut off when Hotaru dragged him inside the airport.
A/N: Alright. I think that's enough for one chapter. lol. I had so many versions of Chapter Nine written out, so it ended up being tough in choosing which chapter. Sorry if this chapter turned out weird. I can't think properly nowadays.
So many things happened over the span of one month. First of all, thank God AP's are over. Secondly, woot woot! High school graduation. Kinda nervous for that college life haha. Gimme advice pls.
Thirdly...well, I'd like to dedicate this late message to the Orlando shooting. It happened not too long ago. I just wanted to say I hope the families of the victims are well and never again have to experience something so tragic.
And lastly, another message dedicated for Christina Grimmie. I can't remember when I started watching her YouTube videos. I was probably pretty young. She was my role model and inspiration to continue singing through high school and...start choir and...yeah. It's not easy to express. I still can't accept the fact that she's passed on, since she has just started. The news hit me pretty hard. I want to tell her thank you for all the years of wonderful music she created.
Uhm...Yeah. Sorry this got awkward. Anyways, I'll have more time over the summer, so hopefully I won't procrastinate as much. Haha. Thanks to those who still follow and read this story.
-blessifier
