Obedience

:akima-yuki-chan

Chapter 10

She stirred in her sleep, seeing the sun's already high up in the sky. Her hair was untidy, clothes disarrayed. She sat up looking aroung her. She was shortly confused by her surroungdings but was able to remember everything that's happened. She moved aside, not noticing that she's already on the edge of the bed, so she toppled down the floor. "Ow," she gasped as she rubbed her back. looking around, she had a good look on the things around her. The medium-sized room had a small table on the left of the bed with a matching chair. There were flowers on top. The floral curtains on the window was tied loosely. The door to the bathroom was slightly cracked open. There was a painting of a castle on the wall beside the door. Slowly she stood up. She tidied herself first before deciding to go down. On her way, she heard voices arguing. She peered on the where the voices were coming from.

"I'll do what I want-

"It's dangerous-

"I don't care-

"Well you should. You wife wi-"

Natsu and Anna were having a heated argument until Anna saw Mikan looking at them. She looked surprised. She glared at the man in front of her first before standing up and greeting Mikan. "I thought you're still asleep."

"Uh I just woke up. I didn't mean to eavesdrop. Sorry," Mikan replied.

"No, it's okay. I think your husband wants to tell you something," she said then walked away.

Natsume was sitting steadily. She walked nervously towards him and sat on the opposite chair. "So is there really something you wa- "No," he cut off.

"You know you can tell m-"

"No,"

"Okay but y-

"I said no," he said harshly, slamming the table. He stared at nothing for about a minute. He stood up so sudden which made her bolt from the blue. Thus, she fell off her chair. "What is your problem, really?" Mikan bellowed while standing up. Natsume approached her immediately. He held her arm but she shook it off. "Your so hard to understand, one minute your caring, another minute and you want to throw me away. I'm just gonna ask if you've eaten and you.." she said stomping her feet before walking away. Natsume cursed. What have I done? He thought.

The door slammed shut as Mikan walked out. "Why is he like that? I'm just asking him what he's problem and he bursted like that. He's pissed off but he shouldn't take it out on me. I'm so cross! But why am I cross? I shouldn't be." She complained while walking to nowhere.

She felt the place went cooler. The wind blew a little harsher. Her surroundings were dimmer. She stopped walking and observed her environs. The whole place was creepy. Even if it's still morning the sunlight seemed o not reached this part of the town. The houses and shops were too glued to each other. The small passageways found between the houses looked like no person has ever gone through it. The people walking in the street wore dark coats and most of them wore hats. Uneasiness crawled inside her. "I really should go back now," she whispered to herself.

She turned around only to find herself blocked by an uncanny old woman. "Little girl, are you lost? Come with me and we'll find your way back," the woman asked sending chills down her spine.

"No, I'm alright thank you," Mikan replied then turned away from her. Once again she was blocked by the spooky people wearing dark cloaks. They are all asking her to come with them and that they will help her. Out of fright, she ran away subconsciously to the dark passageway, hoping they would not come after her. After seconds of running, she stopped and caught her breath. "Oh my, where am I now? I shouldn't have left the house. Natsu please help me," she thought.

Out of the blue, she heard a crack. Then a bundle of voices followed. Her heart pounded hard. Her body tensed. The voices got louder and louder as it gets nearer to where she is. As she was about to run, two hands covered her mouth and pulled her. "Shush," the voice behind her whispered. She held her breath and stood still. Feeling this, her abductor relaxed a bit. Moments later, the voices faltered until it's gone. Her captor released her and apologized. He introduced his self as Rui. Rui has dark blue hair and a stormy pair of eyes. He wore white long sleeves paired with a brown vest and black pants. "What are you doing in this side of town? Didn't you know that it's dangerous here?" He politely asked. "I-I-I don't kn-n-now. I w-was j-just walking and I-" she stuttered. "It's not safe for a girl like you to walk around here. It's really risky if you try to go home now. Come with me," he said then took her hand.

They passed numerous spine-chilling shops and alleyways. Alas they stopped in front of a pub named GetDrunk. The pub looked small outside but inside it was a big having an upper floor. The people inside were busy drinking their beers and chatting with each other. They didn't notice Mikan and Rui passed in front of them. On the far side of the pub was a door. Rui opened it and led Mikan to yet another small passageway. They continued walking until Rui stopped again in front of a hoary door. He knocked three times then it opened by itself. "How are you Madam Shin?" he greeted as he entered. "We have a guest."

"Uhm hello," Mikan greeted timidly, looking around for the so-called Madam Shin. Before long, Madam Shin appeared in front of them wearing a dark blue dress with a moss green apron. She wore half-moon eyeglasses. She eyed the brunette carefully from head to toe, sending chills on her spine.

"Here, sit here," Rui told her and went towards Madam Shin. She immediately sat on the worn-out maroon sofa. Rui didn't notice her reaction but it didn't missed the old woman's eyes. The table in the middle was made of oak wood. On top of it was a lit candle, standing on a glass dish. There were cabinets around the house, each made of different kinds of wood and in various styles and sizes. The floor was covered in an ancient looking fitted carpet. The whole room smelled of incense.

Rui and the old lady talked silently in the kitchen. Mikan thought they are arguing about something because she heard rushed whispers. Shortly, Rui materialized in front of her with a smile. "We've decided. You can stay here until it's safe to go outside," he informed her. She thanked him and the old lady though Madam Shin stayed standing eyeing her. 'Whoever is this girl? There's something odd about her,' she thought.

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Natsume walked to and fro the room. He was troubled. It's already dark outside and Mikan still hasn't gone home. Beside the door were Anna and her grandmother. "Whatever did you tell her?" Anna asked, arms-crossed. He just eyed her and resumed walking. "There's something that happened earlier that made the street more dangerous. The evil that's surrounding this place's stronger. She should not be out at this time, she might be killed," Ayaka stated matter-of-factly. "Granny's right. Who knows she might be dead at this moment or worse abducted," Anna added. Hearing this, Natsume stopped walking and with a heavy sigh, he ran away, out in the dark street. 'No she can't die, I won't permit it' he thought.

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"What are you staring at?" a certain blonde guy asked. He peered at the computer screen and saw at a picture of a boy with dark blue hair. "Who is he? Why are you looking at him?" he asked again. "The prince…" The raven-haired girl whispered. "This is bad, really bad."

~End of Chapter 10~