Rival
Mikan Sakura was busy typing on her laptop in her office box when a man in a postal uniform came in with a large bouquet of assorted flowers. Every person in the room turned their heads toward the man that just entered. He held a small piece of paper in his hand and started to open his mouth.
"Package for Miss Mikan Sakura?" asked the man, Mikan looked up and was bewildered to see a man holding a large bouquet of flowers.
"She's here" said Nonoko smiling as she pointed to Mikan's office box which was right next to hers. The postman walked over to Mikan's desk and gave her the bouquet; he tipped his hat and nodded then left. Mikan was overwhelmed by the big assortment of flowers; they were so colorful and fragrant. A smile found its way creeping up to Mikan's face.
"Mikan-chan! You're so lucky! Getting such lovely flowers is it from your boyfriend?" asked Nonoko curiously.
"Mikan-chan, I thought you said you weren't dating anyone" said Misaki Harada holding a warm cup of coffee and towering over her to see the flowers.
"I'm not" answered Mikan, Nonoko and Misaki looked at each other.
"Then it's a secret admirer!" chimed Misaki and Nonoko at the same time. Mikan spotted a card and settled the flowers on her desk. She plucked the card out of the bouquet and opened it:
Dear Mikan Sakura,
Since we didn't get to dance with each other at the party, how about I invite you to lunch? I would love to chat with you more, here's my number +096XXXXXX
Please give me a call, would love to hear from you!
Sincerely yours,
Ryuji Karashima
P.S. I wasn't really sure what type of flowers you liked so I just ordered almost every kind of flower the store had, hope your not allergic to any of them.
Mikan found herself chuckling at the card while her co-workers watched her with interest, she noticed them staring so she coughed and regained her composure.
"So thinking of answering the guy?" smirked Misaki as she stirred her coffee and drank it.
"I have work right now" said Mikan trying to sound professional but in the inside she was giddy like a high school girl, the phone on Mikan's desk started to ring so Mikan picked it up.
"Konnichiwa" greeted Mikan.
"Oi baka, do you remember what time we are suppose to meet today?" inquired a very irritated voice.
"Hotaru! Gomene I'll be there right now, just let me get some things" said Mikan as she started to get a few things into her purse.
"Make it quick baka" and with that Hotaru hung up and Mikan put down the phone.
"Ara Mikan-chan, are you leaving for lunch break?" asked Misaki.
"I'm meeting with Hotaru about her wedding plans" said Mikan as she hastily grabbed her coat and stormed outside. She took the elevator and waited until she reached the lobby. She stepped out and on her way out she accidentally bumped into a woman at the spinning doors. Mikan's purse dropped spilling the contents on the floor. Mikan quickly gathered her things and bowed down to apologize.
"Be careful next time! People like you are an eyesore to have around!" spat the woman, Mikan was shocked at the impudence of the woman. She looked up and saw the woman had long silky black hair with big attractive midnight blue eyes. Her skin was very smooth and creamy and she had a very shapely body underneath her expensive designer suit with long legs to die for! Her hands were on her waist and she gave Mikan a very nasty glare "People like you ought to know their place!" she said swaying her hips past Mikan with her long hair trailing behind her. Mikan wondered if there was ever a person like that working in the same building as her. Feeling very offended she stuck her tongue out childishly and ran out of the building towards a nearby taxi.
The long haired beauty noticed she left and smirked as she looked at the business card that Mikan accidentally dropped on the floor. She took out her cell phone and dialed a number.
"It's Mikan Sakura and she's just a lowly magazine writer, nothing special about her. In fact I feel a bit insulted that I have to compete with her but it will be an easy win, after all…" the woman flipped her hair making the men around her swoon "Natsume Hyuuga will be mine!"
"Excellent Rumiko, make sure that the Hyuuga company is within our grasp" said an unknown person from the other line. The woman known as Rumiko hung up and made her way elegantly outside the building.
Rival
"Hey Natsume, its great you stopped by" said Ruka as they were in his office, Ruka was fixing up his things and took off his white coat hanging it by the coat rack.
"Well I was already finished with work and thought I'd hang out, so where are we going?" asked Natsume as he looked around Ruka's office. It was very white and neat, not a single speck of dust "Are all vets neat freaks?"
"So, uh, where is this colleague of yours?" asked Natsume with obvious distaste in his voice.
"Karashima? He's working on a patient right now, why? Threatened by him?" teased Ruka, Natsume just groaned and told him to hurry up. They went out of the building and used Natsume's car.
"So where are we going again?" asked Natsume as he was driving.
"We're going to meet Hotaru at the Windmill café, discuss some wedding details you know" answered Ruka, at the mentioned of wedding he groaned.
"Do I have to listen to your lovey dovey talk?" complained Natsume, Ruka just chuckled.
"If it's with Hotaru you would barely recognize it as lovey dovey" said Ruka.
Rival
"Hotaru! Sorry I'm late!" apologized Mikan as she bowed to her numerous times.
"You better have a good reason!" said Hotaru angrily crossing her arms and legs like an empress with a killing intent, Mikan nervously sweat dropped.
"There were some things that happened along the way" said Mikan as she remembered the ill mannered woman, the thought of that ghastly woman just made her want to scream. But shortly after that she also remembered the flowers that Karashima sent; she blushed wildly at the thought. Hotaru eyed her best friend and wondered if she should call a doctor to check up on the idiot "Anyway, so how's the wedding coming along?"
"It's been decided next year, that way we can have more time to prepare" said Hotaru sipping her tea.
"Is Ruka coming?" asked Mikan after she ordered some tea from the waitress.
"Yeah he said he's on his way" replied Hotaru.
"And you got angry at me for being late" stated Mikan, Hotaru just kept quiet.
Rival
"Take a turn here" pointed Ruka as Natsume took a turn and parked next to the café building.
"I guess pink would go well, I mean it would fit all of the girls" chattered Mikan as they were staring into a wedding catalogue.
"Hey hon" said Ruka kissing Hotaru on the cheek as he arrived.
"Hey Ruka" greeted Mikan as she looked up but then she saw Natsume and her face fell "I didn't know you invited a friend" said Mikan trying her best to smile. Natsume couldn't believe that Mikan was here, right in front of his eyes. He knew that Mikan would obviously be the bridesmaid but he didn't know he would be seeing Mikan so soon especially after the decision he made himself. Was there some kind of force that wanted him and Mikan to be together? (Yes that would be the author)
"Natsume also wanted to have some coffee so I invited him along" replied Ruka as he sat down next to Hotaru, Natsume also sat down across from Ruka making him and Mikan have a perfect view of each other.
"Well…this is something" said Hotaru noticing the tension in the air.
"Um well Natsume, why don't we order some coffee?" said Ruka, he called the waitress and ordered two coffees for both him and Natsume "Um so Hotaru, have you decided anything yet?"
"Still looking at the bridesmaid dress" said Hotaru holding up a magazine "Don't you think pink is the way to go?" Hotaru showed Ruka the catalogue and agreed with his fiancé.
"Yeah" said Ruka a bit awkward "Pink definitely suits any girl, Natsume what do you think?" Ruka and Natsume both got their coffee.
"I don't really care, I don't know much about weddings" answered Natsume, he glanced at Mikan who was drinking her tea "But if it's Mikan she definitely would suit pink" Mikan looked up and stared at Natsume in confusion.
"Um, why don't we check out the venue? There are some really great places!" said Ruka.
"Fine with me" replied Hotaru.
"We can all ride in my car" offered Natsume, Mikan paused for awhile.
"Yeah why not?" said Mikan, as they were all about to leave Mikan noticed a case left on the table they were using, she opened it and it was a sunglass case which probably belonged to Natsume she thought. She put it in her bag and went with the others to Natsume's car. There were four seats available in Natsume's car including the driver's seat. Ruka opened the door for Hotaru and sat in right beside her. Mikan had no choice but to sit in the front with Natsume.
"So where is this place you've been talking about Ruka?" asked Natsume as he rested his hands on the stirring wheel.
"Just go to Yume avenue across Shintani lane and head straight to Kawa, we should see a church there" explained Ruka, Natsume started driving and Mikan glanced a bit to Natsume every now and then. Natsume noticed the glances of Mikan and smiled to himself. Natsume was thinking about breaking the engagement while Mikan was trying to figure out what Natsume was thinking. The engaged couple shifted their eyes to both of them and watched them silently with interest clearly written in their eyes. Ruka wanted them so much to be together, he liked both Natsume and Mikan as friends. And he knew Natsume needed Mikan. Hotaru on the other hand wasn't so keen on Natsume, she much preferred Karashima for Mikan. Karashima was more gentlemanly and kind while Natsume was rude and stubborn not to mention persistent. She just wanted the best man that would treat Mikan with much respect and love. They arrived at their destination and the engaged couple were ahead of Mikan and Natsume. The engaged couple were so engrossed with their planning that Natsume was already alone with Mikan who was also lagging behind. He started observing her, her hair in a pony tail black dress pants and black heels. Her white polo shirt was tucked in with a black blazer over it. He noticed she was carrying a big bag and she was reviewing some papers. She looked a bit worn out and stressed.
"Don't you ever rest?" Natsume suddenly asked as Mikan was a bit jittery at the sound of his voice. She pulled away the loose strands from her face and put her things in her bag.
"Well I got a big project going on and I needed to review something, it's a big thing" said Mikan, she pulled out her hair tie and started tying her hair again in a bun.
"Here let me help" said Natsume suddenly touching Mikan's hair; Mikan was a bit shocked that she couldn't move an inch.
"Since when did you fix a girl's hair?" asked Mikan.
"When you have a bossy little sister at home, you are forced to some things" replied Natsume, Mikan chuckled at the answer. Natsume started pulling away the hair around her neck and saw her creamy skin. He was a bit tempted to touch her and Mikan felt a bit nervous as Natsume came closer. She closed her eyes and bit her lip hoping to calm down her beating heart. She felt his breath all over her skin "Mikan" called Natsume's smooth voice "I'm done"
Mikan opened her eyes and felt her hair; it was in a neat bun which made her really impressed.
"Wow, you could be a hair stylist" said Mikan trying to hide her face from Natsume.
"Look I'm not gay, I thought we already clarified this?" said Natsume referring to the event in high school when Natsume was looking at some girly accessories in a boutique. Mikan had no idea he liked her yet and suddenly accused him of being gay. Natsume denied it but the more he denied the more Mikan thought his preferences were queer.
"But your so good at these things" said Mikan trying to taunt him a bit.
"You want me to prove it?" asked Natsume.
"Eh, how will you prove it?" asked Mikan smirking, Natsume started to smirk and grabbed her waist taking Mikan by surprise.
"By this" he whispered and landed his lips on hers and tasted her tender strawberry lips. Mikan felt the sensation and closed her eyes losing herself. Natsume pulled away and Mikan slowly opened her eyes.
"Why did you do that?" she whispered.
"To show you, that I am a man" started Natsume "In love with you"
And that did it; it was like a bomb crashed on the ground when Mikan heard those last words. She stared at Natsume wanting to cry but she couldn't cry in front of him now. She just slowly released herself from Natsume's grasp and looked at him with those teary eyes.
"Hey are you-"
"There you guys are" came Hotaru's voice. Mikan quickly wiped her eyes and faced Hotaru with a smile.
"Hotaru" said Mikan "You're here"
"Yeah and you guys have been missing for an hour" Hotaru looked at Mikan and noticed some shakiness in her hands; she glanced at Natsume and gave him a death glare which Natsume was unfazed at "Ruka's looking for you"
"I'll go find Ruka" said Natsume as he excused himself.
"Did he do anything to you?" asked Hotaru.
"What?" Mikan tried to stay in denial.
"Don't lie, your horrible at that" said Hotaru "Did he do anything?"
"Yes" replied Mikan "He's making me confused again"
Rival
"We get off here" said Ruka "Natsume, why not give Mikan a ride?"
"Oh no, its fine Ruka, I'm taking the bus" said Mikan.
"Alright then, let's go Ruka" said Hotaru dragging Ruka away.
"Bye guys!" yelled Ruka "Honey that hurts"
"Deal with it" muttered Hotaru.
"I can take you home, its no problem" said Natsume.
"Its fine" said Mikan getting out of the car.
"At least let me walk you to the bus stop" said Natsume catching up to Mikan.
"You don't need to"
"But I want to" Natsume started to grab Mikan's arm "Mikan I-"
"Nattie-honey!" yelled a high shriek voice; they both turned around and saw a very shapely woman with long black hair, the same rude woman that Mikan met earlier.
"Rumiko?" said Natsume with dread on his face, the woman known as Rumiko clutched unto Natsume's arm and glared at Mikan making Mikan raise her eyebrow.
"Dumpling cake, I was looking all over for you. I didn't see you at all today" said Rumiko in a seductive voice with a pout on her face "So who's your little friend?"
"This is Mikan Sakura, Mikan this is-"
"Nishima Rumiko, Nattie-baby's honey or in other words fi-an-ce!" said Rumiko kissing Natsume on the cheek with her dark red lipstick leaving a very subtle mark on Natsume's face. Mikan just coughed and gave a sarcastic smile to the couple.
"Well, you two seem to be having so much fun. Wouldn't want to get between this little lover's rendezvous as they call it, oh and Natsume?" Natsume looked up to Mikan in excitement. He knew that a little thing like this would not make her mad.
"You left your junk in the café!" he was wrong, she yelled throwing the case she found earlier at Natsume's stomach and stormed off mad with her face red in anger and her steps being very heavy against the cement ground, she could wreck the whole block with her temper.
"Honey cakes! Are you alright?" said Rumiko as Natsume was crouching on the ground holding his stomach in pain.
"R-Rumiko, what's with you today? You're acting different" said Natsume.
"I just realized how much I lo-oo-ve you apple cheeks!" she said hugging him to no end.
"Just great" thought Natsume sarcastically.