Chapter 10, coming right up. Just as soon as I can get my head to read the pre-written chapter and not get mad at myself at all the stupid things I wrote.

No wonder you guys said I was terrible! The story was crap!

Chapter 10: Knowing the Unknown

"Reo! Listen to me! Leave her alone!" Natsume stomped his feet, trailing behind Reo.

"I haven't done anything yet you're already acting like this," Reo huffed.

"That's exactly the reason why I'm doing this. Why on earth would I wait for you to do something to have me getting mad at you like this later AFTER the fault's been done," Natsume said sternly.

"Hello, Hyuuga," Hotaru approached and greeted. She glanced and saw Reo. "And Hyuuga."

"What do you want?" Natsume asked. "We're in the middle of something."

"No we're not," Reo started to leave until Natsume yanked Reo's sleeve back.

"Yes. We are." Natsume folded his arms.

"Would you care to explain to me why Ruka Nogi ended up in your family tree?" Hotaru asked.

"Does that bother you?" Natsume asked. "You've never asked me things out of the blue like this."

"It does bother me. It's bothering me with what your dad is up to," Hotaru said and Natsume shuts his mouth.

"Yes, Uncle Kaito does have the tendency to play with others' lives," Reo snickered and looked at Natsume. "So now, what does your father have plan by adopting those two little people?"

"How should I eve-."

"SOMEBODY HELP! A GUY PASSED OUT!"

A girl came running from back stage and started panicking. The technical crew and a few staff ran back to see the commotion.

The girl started to frantically tell everyone she sees. "Lucy, what's going on?" Hotaru called her over calmly.

The girl called Lucy rushed up to Hotaru and breathed quickly. "The guy… this… who was he? That…That drummer from Natsume Hyuuga's band…"

"Koko? What happened to him?" Natsume asked.

"My mocktail service…I went to deliver some mocktails around to the artists," Lucy asked and Hotaru nodded. "Well, when that guy drank his drink, he started to waver a bit. And then a few seconds later he started choking and coughing really really bad! I think he suffocated or something and he just fell to the ground!"

"What?!" Natsume asked. "Where is he?"

"Your dressing room!" Lucy said and Natsume immediately rushed backstage. Reo merely stared at her and Hotaru did the same. "You have to call an ambulance. You gotta call someone!" Lucy said, looking desperate and afraid.

Reo placed his hand on Hotaru's shoulder and gave her a serious look. "It's her doing?" Hotaru asked and saw Reo giving a slight nod and a shrug. Hotaru turned her attention back to Lucy and grabbed her wrist tightly.

"Ow! H-Hotaru-san…" Lucy ended up staring into menacing purple orbs and her legs shivered.

"Now tell me again…who made mocktails under the catering service, Lucy?" Hotaru asked.

"M-M-M-Me," Lucy said.

"Right," Hotaru said. "And who serves the mocktails?"

"M-Me…" Lucy knew where this was heading and she was terrified.

"Correct… so explain to me why did you leave your station and had to 'deliver' that drink to him?" Hotaru asked. "I've never had you deliver nor have I ever seen anyone deliver mocktails in any of my events when I hired you. And let me tell you…I've had a lot of parties and events where you work for me."

Reo stared at Lucy's expression and he knew she'd spill. "I…I mean…s-she said you told me to deliver mocktails."

"And who is she?" Hotaru asked.

"K-Kanagiri-san," That name made Reo clench his fists. Hotaru's grip on Lucy's wrist tightened.

"Would you care to briefly explain to me how does your mocktail station work? Under the rules and guide by your catering service?" Hotaru lets go of her grip and folded her arms.

"I-I make mocktails according to the customer's preference," She said, stuttering worse.

"There is a special reason I hired you. You have a good eye into making good mocktails according to people you see, so now tell me, why would you make mocktails for someone who did not request for it?" Hotaru asked.

Still standing before Hotaru, Lucy finally gave up and started to cry. "S-She just asked me how to make mocktails, and we made a few together. Then she started making one of every kind and asked me to send a few mocktails to her friends."

"You made mocktails with her?" Hotaru asked.

"Y-Yes, and to Mikan Hyuuga, she specifically made a special one. She said it's to honor their friendship and insisted I gave her that mocktail,"Lucy cried. "But then Mikan Hyuuga took that guy's drink and that guy ended up drinking the one Kanagiri-san made for her."

"That bitch," Reo muttered under his breath. "She poisoned that drink."

"Well, that girl has always been famous for doing cheap tricks like this to step on her competitors," Hotaru walked past the crying Lucy and both she and Reo made their way to Blacklite Wings' dressing room.

…

"Koko!" Mikan shook Koko's body harshly until Ruka came running into the room. "Nii-chan! Koko…"

"I know! I know! I heard! They're calling the ambulance now!" Ruka panicked.

"There's no time! We're far from the city's hospital! We need a car now!" Mikan then helped Ruka carry Koko onto the couch, more people started to crowd outside the dressing room.

"What happened?"

"Is everything okay?"

"Imai-san has called the ambulance! They'll be here in twenty minutes!"

Mikan's eyes widened and stared at Koko. "He was SUFFOCATING! HE DOESN'T HAVE TWENTY MINUTES!" Mikan shouted in anger and frustration.

"Calm down! It'll be fine!" Ruka tried to console Mikan but she jolted up and grabbed Koko's phone. "W-What're you doing?"

Mikan scrolled the phonebook and called a number. "Jii-san… It's Mikan," She bit her lips and stared at Koko. "Koko's in an emergency state! We need a car to the hospital!"

With that, Mikan shuts the phone and went back to Koko. "Jii-san has sent someone! He'll be here soon!" Mikan said to Koko's body and Ruka stared at her.

"Who did you call?" Ruka asked and just as he did, two men in full black suits appeared.

"Yume-dono," They came in and immediately grabbed Koko.

One of them carried Koko's body out on his back and the other walked up to Mikan. "What happened to Yume-dono?"

"He drank a mocktail and suddenly he fell," Mikan pointed to the shards of broken glass that Koko dropped just before he fainted.

The man bent down and took a small napkin to collect and wipe the glass and stains of dried liquid. "We'll have the lab see this through." He said.

"W-Wait! I'm following you to the hospital!" Mikan cried aloud and the man shook his head.

"We won't be sending him to a public hospital. The Yume clan has our own personal doctors to help treat this problem, I'm sorry but you won't be allowed in the estate as of this time, Mikan-san," The man bowed and ran out of the room just as Natsume arrived.

Mikan was standing helplessly as she saw Koko and his bodyguards left the dressing room without another word. "What happened?" Natsume asked.

"Koko fainted," Ruka said and pointed to the stain on the ground and the small glass shards.

"Poisoned actually," Reo came rushing in, breathing heavily. "Where is the boy?"

"His guards picked him up already," Mikan said.

"Guards?" Reo asked and looked at the three of them.

"He's the son of the Yume clan," Natsume said. "The troublesome one."

"You're friends with a yakuza's son?!" Reo asked, surprised and he saw Natsume pointed to Mikan.

"He saved my life, the least thing I could do was be his friend," Mikan said.

"Let's hope he's nothing like his father," Reo said. "They have the tendency to cause trouble in the Black Market."

"Koko is under his grandfather's watch," Mikan explained. "He's never met his father for a long time."

"Ah, the Grandmaster of the clan," Reo nodded. "He's a respected man to be honest, even if he was a leader of a gumi. But still, it's best if you stop getting yourself involved with them."

Mikan packed all her things and shoved Koko's phone in her pocket. "I'm going to the estate," She said and tied her hair up in a ponytail.

"A yakuza's estate? Are you crazy?!" Reo shouted and Ruka patted his shoulder.

"Don't worry, to the Grandmaster, she's family," Ruka said and the three of them saw Mikan leave the room in a hurry.

"What is their relationship?" Reo asked, curious. Natsume leaned on the wall, hoping for an answer to that question.

"Who knows," Ruka shrugged his shoulders. "They're the closest of friends I know."

…

A few hours later…

"It's Anego!"

"How did she get through the guards?!"

"Who let her in?!"

"Anego is here! Anego is here!"

Mikan saw all the staff and distance family members of the Yume clan running around and bowing to her. They really should stop calling me that. "Can you tell me where Koko is?"

"He's right around here, Mikan-chan," An old man standing next to a small pond smiled and waved to her.

"Jii-san!" Mikan's eyes brightened and ran to him. "It's been a while!"

"Yes it has. Now what has my grandson done to have gotten him to that state?" Jii-san sighed. "He's such a troublesome kid, just like his father."

Mikan shook her head and pouted. "It wasn't his fault, there was something in his dri…nk…" Mikan paused and started thinking. "But that drink…was meant…for me?"

Jii-san looked at her and silently led her back into the house. It was a traditional single floor house so large that they could fit at least two hundred people living inside. "Have some tea prepared," Jii-san said to a maid in a yukata. "Mikan-chan, have a seat."

"N-No, I have to see Koko…"

"If I am not allowed to see him, neither are you," Jii-san said.

"Why?" Mikan asked. "Why aren't you allowed?"

"He doesn't want company. He's talking to a few people right now."

"He's awake?!" Mikan asked and nearly stood up.

"Yes, the doctors found a drug to counter effect the poison he drank," Jii-san said.

"Poison?" Mikan asked and saw the old man nodding his head as he drank his tea.

"The gumi has learned to train our body to be immune to certain poisons, had he not, he would've never been able to speak," Jii-san said. "It's a kind of poison that effects the stomach and throat. An acid kind that corrodes the tissues and muscles but only for a short time as it's only a thin layer."

"We suspect whoever did this wanted him to lose his vocals and not speak," Jii-san said. "My grandson must've learnt some kind of secret of another yakuza or som-."

"No…that drink and poison was meant for me," Mikan admitted and Jii-san puts his cup of tea away. "That lady said the drink was for me and got a bit shaky when Koko drank mine because I took his drink instead."

"Have you caused any dispute with anyone, by any chance, Mikan-chan?" Jii-san asked; feeling really worried.

"I don't recall any…but I do tend to irritate a lot of girls with my weird personality," Mikan said.

"Yes, Kokoro has mentioned that before," Jii-san agreed.

The door to the room slides open and a tall man wearing a white robe appeared. "Nidaime, Kokoro-dono is doing fine now and he's currently resting." The man then looked at Mikan. "He wishes to have no guest visiting him as of now."

"Are there any bad side effects?" Mikan asked.

"No, though his throat is reacting negatively to the medicine, we will have the traditional herbs sent to us by morning, Nidaime," The man answered and told Jii-san.

"Very well," Jii-san said and stood up. "I apologize for saying this, but I believe you have to leave, Mikan-chan. I'll have some of the boys send you back."

"No, it's fine," Mikan said. "I can get someone to pick me up."

"Is that so?" Jii-san asked. "I never knew your brother has a car."

"He doesn't, but I now belong to a new family, and that family is capable of helping me in this situation," Mikan said, took out Koko's phone and left it on the table. She stood up and bowed. "That phone belongs to Koko. Sorry for the intrusion."

"You are always welcome here, Mikan-chan," Jii-san smiled.

The old man stood with his men behind the gates as after a while, they said their goodbyes to Mikan who got into a car with Natsume inside. In the midst of it, Natsume made eye contact with the old man from inside the car just before the car moved forwards and left the estate. "Have that car checked, and get details on that family."

"Is Anego going to that family, Nidaime?" A man asked and the old man knocked on his head.

"Don't go around calling her that!" Jii-san huffed. "Kokoro hasn't made any moves and I believe that she is not fated with us. But that boy, he has the eyes of the same as my dear Kokoro."

"He is Hyuuga Natsume, son of Hyuuga Kaito," The man said and Jii-san nodded his head.

"I see, a Hyuuga," Jii-san chuckled. "Oh my dear Grandson, you have caught yourself a troubling life."

…

The ride back from the Yume estate was long as it's far away from the city. Mikan was quiet throughout the whole journey with Natsume writing in his journal silently. He glanced up once or twice just to check on Mikan. "Where's Ruka Nii-chan?" Mikan broke the silence and Natsume puts his pen down.

"He's back at home, attending to a few reporters that reacted to Koko's incident," Natsume said.

"The press found out?" Mikan asked.

"Well, there were media reporters hanging around us since our rehearsal," Natsume said. "They just blended in as staff or personnel workers."

"I'm hating this life even before we started," Mikan cursed.

"Then we can stop," Natsume said without another word leaving Mikan staring at him.

"But it's your dream isn't it?" Mikan asked.

Natsume stared at her and he felt warm looking into her eyes. This is probably the first time we're alone together like this…in this kind of moment, Natsume thought. "My dream isn't to have a band."

"It's to have your thoughts and feelings known, right?" Mikan asked and Natsume nodded lightly.

"You're not forced to do this, you don't seem comfortable with the press and media," Natsume said. "With this path, you're going to have to go through a lot of them."

Mikan played with her fingers and looked out of the window. "It's not me I'm worried about, it's Koko. Being the heir to his gumi…his reputation was already tarnished when he met me and got caught up in a scandal with me. The yakuzas thought I was one of them, and when Koko transferred into a public school to be with me, the media attacked him as his kind weren't easily accepted to our kind of school."

"It should be easy for him," Natsume said.

"What?" Mikan glanced.

"No, nothing, forget I said that," Natsume said.

"No, it should be hard. I've met his brothers, none of them had public education. And with Koko's way of studying, Jii-san decided Koko would be the next heir instead of his elder brothers…and no one goes against Jii-san's words." Mikan said.

"Aren't you afraid?" Natsume asked.

"Of what?"

"Being near them. They kill people, Mikan. They're killers," Natsume said. "The sole reason they're not accepted by the society is because of what they do and what they can do."

Mikan stared at Natsume. "A lot of people gets killed anyway, regardless if it's by the yakuza or not. I don't see how that matters."

"You have a very dark personality," Natsume said. "I never knew."

"It's not a side I'm proud of, but so many things has happened in my life that I thought death would suit best to those I know," Mikan clenched her fists and looked back at Natsume. "You have the kind of eyes Koko has when he hates someone, do you know that?"

"Eyes?" Natsume blinked and tried to see his reflection through the car window.

"Especially when someone brings up the name of your father," Mikan said and the mention of Kaito Hyuuga got Natsume's mood to change. His eyes were lightly glaring at Mikan and Mikan smiled. "Exactly, just like that. Those eyes."

"You know…I think it's better you never bring his name up to me in this kinds of situations again," Natsume said.

"What's the deal?" Mikan asked. "You-chan too! You guys…it's like you guys hate-."

"Drop it," Natsume said menacingly. There was awkward silence again and once they reached the Hyuuga estate, Mikan got out of the car. Natsume walked next to his driver and pulled him close to a whisper. "Get the car ready in the morning, I'm going out at 6."

"Very well, young master," The driver bowed and Natsume went into his home.

…

The next day, 7AM in the morning

"You have a guest, Nidaime," A man bowed as he approached the Grandmaster in the terrace.

The old man turned around to find a young man walking in with a formal suit, bowing. "Have a seat…" Jii-san gestured to the chair across the table. "Natsume Hyuuga-kun."

[By the way, I'll explain a few terms though I'm not sure myself. Gumi is what they call the group of people involved in a yakuza group. Family and external members. Anego is a term used to call the wife of the leader of the Gumi. Nidaime is a title used to call the 'Second Leader' of a gumi. Basically, Jii-san is the second generation of the group.]

That's the end of Chapter 10. Any confusion guys? Leave me a review or a PM. To those who has read the whole of Blacklite Wings before (up to Chapter 22), I just want to give a heads up that the storyline is changing a bit more than it should so the ending you guys read before…may have a little twist.

Thank you for reading. If you have an opinion to this story…like how the characters act or anything, do tell me so I can adjust appropriately.