Sorry guys that it's taking so long... my life is a bit of a whirlwind... plus I have no beta! I have no clue what to do without someone to bounce ideas off of...Hm. This chapter has strong Natsume/Mikan relationship development. I thought it was time to up the amp a bit more, considering this is a romance...
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Chapter Ten: Rendezvous
All everyone else saw were blank, twinkle-less, unnatural eyes. But Mikan saw blazing fire. Natsume had to have had the most expressive eyes Mikan Sakura had ever seen, but he hid them well with his shaggy black hair and his nearly almost slouched demeanor. His eyes were beautiful too. Two large sparkling rubies that always let her know what he was feeling. Always. She watched the next morning as his pyro rubies shined on Aoi and the worried face of the little girl reflected in them.
"Natsu-nii?" The girl said in a tentative squeak. This is a dream. Or a trick! A farce created by Persona! I would never see Aoi again unless I left Gakuen. Like I've been planning… has Persona found out! NO! I can only tell if this is real, only if she feels real, my little Aoi.. Natsume slowly lifted up a hand to Aoi's face and cupped her cheek, just holding his hand there. It wasn't Natsume who made the first move real move, it was Aoi. She slapped his hand off of her cheek and wrapped her arms around his waist, squeezing him tightly.
"What are you doing Aoi?" Natsume asked, dazed. He was standing still, as if not realizing Aoi was really there. "If Persona-"
"I'm free now. Mikan wanted me to be free ,and so I am." She muttered. Natsume's eyes darted up to Mikan and held them. Mikan listened for his mind.
How could she? Why? I don't understand how Mikan could possibly… Mikan shrugged. "My uncle is the Headmaster." She said. Natsume seemed to deflate in relief and wrapped his arms around Aoi too. Mikan quietly backed into her bathroom and locked the door. Perhaps this would permanently diffuse the theory of Natsume burning down- Mikan stopped her thoughts, turning on the shower. It was just a theory. Even if Ruka did,think Natsume would, Mikan refused to believe that Natsume would do such a thing. She simply wouldn't-
"Polka dots?"
"I'm taking a shower!" Mikan yelled over the water. "Don't leave the room!" The knocking abruptly stopped and Mikan continued showering, lost in her thoughts.
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Natsume blushed a bright red at Mikan's exclamation through the bathroom door. He turned to Aoi, trying to think of anything, anything besides Mikan in the shower. "Will you be going to classes soon?" Aoi bit her lip and shrugged helplessly.
"I don't think I can even leave the room right now. Mikan and Persona-sama are being very secretive about what's going to happen to me." Natsume's eyes widened and his heart skipped a beat. Since when was Mikan so familiar with Persona? Is he blackmailing her? No, then she would be doing missions right? But she only has the nullification alice and she hasn't been going on missions…This academy… it's so… He narrowed his eyes. Natsume was missing a very crucial piece of information. Something wasn't right. "But she gave me her bed to sleep on and these pretty pajamas! Mikan-sama is so wonderful isn't she?" Natsume nodded slowly. "Tell me about your life a bit, Natsu-nii please!"
"Well," Natsume paused and leaned against Mikan's desk. "My life is really boring right now."
"Why?" Aoi demanded.
"Why? Because I don't really know what to do with myself. I've been dropped from DA and my missions have stopped. I have all of this spare time and nothing to do with it. There's always Ruka and Imai, but…" He furrowed his eyebrows. "I'm friends with Imai because she's Ruka's best friend, and Ruka seems so caught up with Imai lately…" Natsume suddenly wiped the sorrowful look off of his face and turned back to Aoi. "Did you have breakfast?"
"Yes!" Aoi said. They lapsed into a comfortable silence. It was broken when Mikan stepped out of the bathroom, fully dressed in her school uniform and with wavy wet hair.
"Sorry for the wait," Mikan apologized, breezing through the room. She went to her dresser and picked up a pair of pearl earrings "Aoi you'll have to remain in my room until lunchtime alright? I'll take you out to lunch, under disguise of course." She said combing her wet brown hair with her fingers. Glancing at the clock she swore. "Great Abel! Look, you know where the remote to the television is, the cd player, I'll be back here at 12:10. Come on Natsume, we'll be late if we don't leave now!" She exclaimed before dashing out the door.
Natsume jogged to Aoi, tenderly kissing her forehead. "I love you Aoi. I'm glad you're finally here." I'll take it one step further and we'll escape. You'll be truly free. He pulled back then and left, leaving Aoi with a grin on her face.
"It was all worth it, because I got to see you again." She whispered, staring at the closed door.
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"Did you enjoy Paris?" Hotaru asked Mikan over lunch. Mikan shrugged, keeping one eye on the other side of the courtyard.
"Most of it was spent in the Mansion." Mikan said. Hotaru frowned.
"I apologize. I wasn't thinking-"
"No Hotaru!" Mikan sensed guilty feelings arousing in Hotaru. She didn't want her best friend feeling guilty. Especially over Mikan's lies. "I love Tamaki's family, I love them like they're my own." Hotaru stared at Mikan, and it took all of Mikan's inner strength to not use her telepathic alice to rape her friend's thoughts. They're personal Mikan. But what if she's judging you? What could Hotaru be thinking? Then let her judge you. Everyone has an opinion about you, Mikan. You better get used to it. Hotaru shook her head, picking up her lemonade and sipping on it, averting her eyes from Mikan. Mikan jerked as she heard Yoichi's laugh travel across the courtyard before smiling. Excellent, she thought, looking over to Tamaki and Yoichi smiling and talking. They'll do fine.
Flashback
Yoichi looked between Mikan and Tamaki as they slipped away from the Academy in a large limo. "You're my Mama and Daddy now?" He asked cautiously. Mikan's heart jumped to her throat and her tears blurred her vision. Luckily Tamaki, who knew her better than she ever could, answered for her.
"Yes Yoichi," He said, grabbing both Mikan and Yoichi's hands. "The three of us are a family now. You are our son. But we have one condition."
"Anything," Yoichi breathed. His face was flushed with pleasure and emotion. The boy seemed overwhelmed. His father, He thought. I have a real father. He's handsome and nice…and I have a Mommy too. She has the prettiest smile… they're perfect…
"You cannot use your alice anymore my dear child. It's Draining you." Yoichi bowed his head.
"I…" Don't want to give up my alice.
"Please Yoichi!" Mikan exclaimed, finally bursting into tears. She wrenched her hands from theirs, wrapping her arms around Yoichi's little body. "I love you so much little one, we can't have you die on us!"
"I know it will be hard Yoichi, and that you've never really had real parents before, but I would love to try to be your father."
Yoichi put his hand on his Okaa-san's head and smiled at his Otou-san. He loved him already.
End of Flashback
After all, they have three years until Tamaki graduates and can adopt him. Her smile curved into a smirk. Again.
"You stare at Tamaki a lot." Hotaru snapped. Mikan returned her gaze to her best friend as her mind raced to find a response.
"You stare at Ruka a lot. Care to explain that one?" Mikan asked leering. Hotaru blushed and once again returned her attention to her drink.
Yet another thing to add to the whiteboard, Hotaru thought. That snarky behavior. I better call Ruka and Natsume over. Yes, something is strange with Mikan.
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It had been new seeing Natsume among the Special Abilities students that afternoon, but it made her heart smile all the same. He's safe was the first thing she'd thought. When the rest of the members were occupied with their alices, Mikan slipped away to join Natsume, who was sitting by himself in a corner. He quickly moved to hug her. Mikan froze, startled and then turned bright red.
"Thank you for Aoi." He whispered lowly. Mikan nodded and held him closer.
"I'm glad I can make you happier Natsume," Mikan said, happy that he couldn't see her blush.
"I'll repay you, whatever you want-"
"Just don't leave." Mikan said emotionally. She'd done all she could to thwart his absence. She'd diverted Imoto-sensei's attention from him and she'd given him back Aoi. Natsume still (and would always) have a strong resentment against the academy, but Mikan just hoped that his anger wasn't so deep that he'd leave. She'd taken away his reasons to leave.
What Mikan didn't know, was that Natsume had his eyes closed as he held Mikan, breathing in tangerines, day dreaming about Mikan and the future he wanted to have with her. Mikan, you're the greatest friend I've ever had. He thought blissfully. But I want more.
What Mikan didn't know, was that she'd given Natsume Hyuga a reason to stay.
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