Okay so here is it! Chapter 9 is up you guys! Are you stoked? Lol. Well... I am! Eeep. I couldn't think that I would be able to continue on with this certain fic. Hahaha. But anyway! I have to thank all those who reviewed on the eight chapter. Hahaha. For those who found it good and not crappy as I thought, I thank you guys with all my heart! : ) Anyway, enough of that. Let's continue on with the story. Shall we?
DISCLAIMER. I DO NOT OWN GAKUEN ALICE.
Chapter 9: Unravelling the Surprise
Mikan Sakura has finally spent a night without thoughts of her childhood friend, Natsume or even Luna. She sighed happily at that. It was all thank to her uncle that finally, her tired mind have stopped straying into those thoughts. Although, she has finally moved on from the later problem, it was then replaced from another. Right now, the energetic brunette has her mind filled in with whatever surprise her uncle has in store for her. Really, she has her uncle to thank for finally getting her mind out of her childhood friend and Natsume but it was also thanks to her uncle that she is now filled with excitement.
The brunette twisted and turned on her bed as she thought about the surprise. Really now, she is that excited that sleep couldn't even visit her that night. She groaned as she tried her best to find the best position to lay there and finally sleep. She opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling before looking at her night stand and to her alarm clock. By now, it is midnight and she seriously need to catch some sleep since there is school tomorrow.
She spent another few hours tossing in turning on her bed before she finally fell asleep. And even though, she was so excited for tomorrow's surprise, she found herself dreaming of that usual dream. There she was again on her childhood with that same kid that looks exactly like Natsume... only it looked like a younger version of him. She dreamt of the past and even dreamt of Natsume and her.
The next morning when Mikan woke up she was sweating really hard. She groaned as she sat up on bed and leaned back on the headboard. She sighed softly. There it was again, confusing her. She sighed as she forced herself to get out of bed. She was too annoyed that she almost forgot about the surprise her uncle has stored for her. Immediately once she remembered it, her mode rose. She quickly did her morning routine and went down to the dining area without thinking.
She immediately looked for her uncle and when she saw him by the dining room drinking coffee, she grinned. She then went to him and smiled. "Good morning uncle!" she said in a cheery voice.
Kazumi Yukihira, who was engulfed in reading his newspaper, was startled. He looked up and saw his niece grinning like a mad woman and he couldn't help but chuckle at that. "Oh, what's with you being so overly happy this morning?" he asked.
"Moa uncle! I want my surprise!" Mikan said like a small child wanting her lollipop. She then pouted and looked at her uncle expectantly.
This made the older man chuckled. He patted Mikan's head like she was a small child. If it was actually a different person, Mikan would have flipped but it was her uncle doing so... so she was okay with it. "You just have to wait Mi-chan," he said. "Beisdes, good things come with those who wait right?" He then winked at her.
The young girl sighed as she took her seat beside her uncle. "How many times do I have to tell you to stop calling me that?" she said as she pout some more, sulking a bit as she ate her breakfast. After eating her breakfast, Mikan gathered her things. "Well then! I'll see you later uncle!" she said as she made her way to school.
That day, Mikan wasn't exactly as early as she was always. She just arrived in school just in time so she won't be late without rushing. She sighed softly and looked at her wristwatch. Oh well, she didn't mind at all at least she had some time with her uncle. On her way to her seat, she passed by Natsume, who seemed to be blocking her way. She sighed and looked up at him before looking away. "Morning," she said in a small voice as she tried to pass by him. And when she did, she felt a hand stop her.
Turning around she found Natsume looking at her. She stared back at his crimson eyes and as soon as she did, she knew that it was a bad idea. "You're avoiding me," came his silky smooth voice that just made Mikan's knees week like jelly.
She sighed and shook her head. "I am not," she said. She then tried to get out from his grasp which only seemed to tighten as she did. After a few futile attempts she surrendered. "Look, Narumi-sensei would come any minute now and I have to go back to my seat so what do you want?"
"I just need to talk with you," he replied. And although Mikan wasn't looking at him since she was afraid she would crumble and give in to his demands, felt his intense stare on her.
"No you don't," she said. "Besides... there is nothing to talk about."
And as soon as Mikan said that, she felt Natsume's hold tightened. She winced a bit. She was about to protest but as soon as she turned to face him, she saw his face moving closer to her. Quickly, a blush crept onto her face. She could Natsume's lips near her ear. "Oh but we have a lot to talk about Mi-kan," he said. His voice was seductive and it sends the hair on the back of her neck rise. It took her a moment to compose herself and think of a witty comeback. But before she could open her lips, the door of the room opened and Narumi walked in. In an instant, Natsume was nowhere near her and he was back on his seat.
She looked at the lad disbelief in her eyes as she did so. She then let out a soft sigh before going to her seat before Narumi could call her up. She looked at the jolly teacher in front who seemed to be bubbling about something. She was not really listening much and was instead replaying the words Natsume said to her over and over. "Oh but we have a lot to talk about..." She sighed and wondered what that was about and then her heart skipped a bit. Maybe it was about her childhood friend? Maybe it was really him?
The brunette was pulled back from reality when she heard Narumi say something about a couple of transfer students. Immediately, she straightened up and her attention focused to Narumi. 'Who would transfer in the middle of the school year?' she thought to herself. Curious, she looked at the door waiting for the transferees to come out. And when they did, Mikan's eyes widened in surprise.
Stepping inside of the classroom were two students. One was female with short raven hair and cold demeanour while the other one was a boy a few inches taller than the girl. His aura is clearer the opposite of the girl's. He has blond her and dazzling blue eyes and he has a huge smile on his face. The two new students stayed there for a while. Their eyes seemed to scan the room and after a while settle on a familiar brunette.
Mikan sat there bolt upright. She could not believe her eyes as she stared at the two transfer students in shock. She was pulled out from her reverie when she made eye contact with the two. She hold their gazes for a while before she finally found her voice. "What are you guys doing here?" she asked. Her shock was evident and by now she was standing up. Everyone in class who was mesmerized by the two transfer students, turned to look at her. They seemed to be in quite a shock since it seemed the three knew each other.
When neither of the two seemed to answer her question, the brunette frowned. She then looked at them and sighed. "You guys could have told me that you were going here," she said. "And here I am thinking that we are friends. I am quite disappointed."
The blond boy seemed to be the one to first react at the brunette's outburst. He let out a chuckle. The raven haired girl on the other remained stoic as if she didn't even hear a single thing that Mikan said. "Well, you uncle actually asked us to come here and surprise you," he said. "He can be a little persuasive. He even has mine and Hotaru's parents agree with this. Although I think Hotaru was already planning on following you here."
Mikan blushed a bit and looked at the raven haired girl, Hotaru. She smiled and immediately she stood up and hugged the girl. "Aww, I didn't know you cared that much," she said.
Hotaru looked away as she tried to get away from Mikan's hug. Although, if one would look closely she was blushing a bit. Mikan smiled and giggled at that. After all, her best friend isn't one to be honest on her feelings. She looked at the blond boy and smiled at him. "So I guess you're uncle's surprise for me?" she asked and in turn was answered by a nod. She giggled some more and went to hug the guy. Unlike the Hotaru, this time the guy hugged her back.
Upon all the exchanged, a raven haired lad remained silent. He stared mostly at the brunette who seemed to be acting way different than before. He could see that she wasn't as tensed and stiff as when the other two transfer students haven't come yet. Although he liked the change in the girl's actions, he doesn't like the fact that she was close to another guy. He glared at the blond as he tried to calm himself down.
Even so Natsume was trying his best to keep a low profile, the male transfer student noticed him. He turned fully to his direction once he let go of Mikan. The blond then smiled at him and waved a bit. "I didn't expect to see you here Natsume," he said. And as soon as those words escaped his lips, the whole class gasped in surprise. Even Mikan was wide eyed shock that her friend even knows Natsume himself. Well that just proves how small the word is right?
"Ruka," was the simple reply of the crimson eyed lad as he nodded his head in his direction. It was his own way of saying that he was listening.
There was silence after that exchange between the two. Mikan was about to ask Ruka how the two of them knew each other when she was cut off by Narumi. "Okay, okay now that we know that you know each, shall we have some proper introductions for those who does not know these two?" he said. He then turned to Mikan and smiled at her way. "Mikan-chan, can you please go back to your seat?"
Mikan nodded her head. And once she was finally on her seat and the class was settled down, Narumi cleared her throat. "Well, as I was saying a while ago. These two would be joining us from now on. And like Mikan, they came from the States so treat them nicely okay?" he said as he looked over at the class. "Now that's been said. Hotaru, Ruka. You may introduce yourselves."
Ruka was the first one to introduce himself. He stepped forward and smiled. His smile can light up the whole room and the girls sighed at the sight. "I'm Nogi Ruka," he said. "I'm actually half Japanese and half French. I hope we could all get along well!" Once after her was finished, he stepped right back up. The girls swooned at him. He was after all so handsome. And not to mention he is very much a gentleman.
"Hotaru Imai," said the raven haired lass. Her stare was as vacant and cold as ever. "And that's all you need to know."
After their introductions, Narumi pointed out their seats and lessons continued on as usual. Mikan sighed to herself as she tried to listen to the lesson at hand but somehow finding herself drifting off. Twirling her pen in hand she gazed outside the window. And before she knew it, the lunch bell rang. The pen she was twirling fell and Mikan snapped out of her reverie. She sighed and was about to get up when her path was blocked by none other than Hotaru.
Immediately the light in her eyes came back. She smiled at her. "Hey, I still can't believe you are here," she said in greeting as she grabbed her things.
"I couldn't leave you alone right?" she said. "Besides, how is it at home?"
"Argh, it's still as awful like before. Really, I can't even figure out what my dad found in that woman. And besides that..." she said and motioned to Luna and her goons. "That girl likes to pretend like she's some daughter of a rich man."
"I thought you're taking care of that?" Hotaru asked.
"I was... but right now I'm a bit distracted," she said. Unconsciously, the brunette's hand came up to her neck where the necklace she always wore is ever present. Seeing that, Hotaru sighed and just shook her head. "Come on, tell me everything about it while we eat," Hotaru said as she dragged Mikan with her towards the cafeteria.
"Eeh? But... where's Ruka?" she asked.
"He said he needs to talk to someone," was the plain reply of Hotaru. Mikan nodded her head as she fell silent after that. Minutes later, the two of them arrived at the cafeteria. They got their foods and settled in at a table farthest the lot so they could talk privately. Mikan took her time. And once she did, she told Hotaru everything that has been bothering her that she could not write down on her mails. She told her all about her worries, the dreams that she has been happening and above all... Natsume. The raven haired lass just looked at her and listened quietly. She took in everything that the brunette has to say. And once Mikan was done, she just remained silent for a minute as if gathering her thoughts and thinking of the best solution for such a dilemma.
The brunette looked at her friend expectantly. She waited patiently for what Hotaru would think she should do. Alas after a while Hotaru let out a soft sigh. She then shook her head and looked at the brunette seriously. "I could only think of one answer Mikan," she said. "Talk to him. Ask him if he really is."
Mikan's eyes widened and she shook her head. "Weren't you listening?!" she said to her. "I told you he already saw me wearing the necklace. If he really was this Nat-kun that was my childhood friend, shouldn't he react somehow when he saw it?"
Hotaru shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe he was trying to test you?" she said. "Besides, isn't it fishy that didn't he already say that he knows who you really are?"
"We-well, yeah. He said that but... maybe he was bluffing?" she said blushing a bit.
Their conversation was cut off when they saw Ruka going over to their table. Mikan was actually trying to figure out if she should also tell him about her dilemma since he was her friend anyway but then again, Ruka seemed to know Natsume. The two teenage girls looked at the blond as he made his way towards them. And then a huge frown came up to Mikan's lips when she saw who he was with. "Why is he with you?" she asked Ruka icily once the lad and his companion was with them.
Ruka was taken a back at Mikan's outburst while the raven haired lad just raised an eyebrow. "I thought I should introduce you guys," Ruka said as he offered a smile to Mikan and Hotaru. "By the way, this is Hyuuga Natsume. He's my cousin from my dad's side. Natsume, this is Mikan... but you two don't need any more introductions right? Seeing that she already knows you." He then turned to Hotaru and blushed a little bit. "And this is Imai Hotaru. She's my girlfriend."
"Hn," Natsume said as he nodded his head in Hotaru's direction. He then looked at Mikan and smirked but he didn't say anything.
Mikan let out a frustrated sigh when Ruka sat next to Hotaru and invited Natsume to sit on their table. She frowned a bit and looked at Ruka and then at Hotaru. "See you both later," she said to the two before grabbing her things and going off somewhere.
Later that day, Hotaru and Mikan were hanging out in Mikan's room whilst Ruka excused himself saying that he and Natsume had made arrangements that night. The two girls were talking once more about Mikan's dilemma. The raven haired lass was trying her best to persuade Mikan into confronting Natsume which the latter does not want to do so. They spent a good time debating on what was the right action at the time. Alas after a good load of persuasions Mikan finally craved.
The brunette let out a soft sigh and looked at her best friend. "Alright, I'll go ask him about it," she said. "But... give me time okay? I'm actually not ready. Besides that, the kiss made it more confusing for me."
"Take as much time as you need. But in the mean time do you want to get some distraction?" Hotaru asked. "We could join a club or something. I reckon Ruka telling me that he's planning to join the football team."
"I was actually thinking about that. What club do you think we should try on?" asked the brunette.
Hotaru then let out a smirk. Her eyes were glinting mischievously. "I saw this a while ago," she said. She then dropped a pamphlet in between the two of them. Mikan raised her eyebrows in a questioning fashion. "We're always been good at cheerleading and I heard Luna's the head. We could always arrange something and you can steal the lime light."
Mikan thought about it for a while. And after a few moments a smirk also was plastered on her face. "Sounds like a plan," she said. Her eyes were glinting with excitement.
I am so very sorry for not being able to update for a few days! :( I was actually stuck with this chapter. The creative juices run out as I was writing this one. So I am sorry if it didn't turn out that great! Anyway, thank you for reading it! I'll try to update as soon as I can. Please REVIEW!