Hello children. :)

This one's for all of you who voted for and nominated me in GARCAs. I love you guys, and thank you so much for the support :)

Pulling an Anna with the "If at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried." :)

Bake or Broil

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"The next time you make me bake a cake with you, your head is going to be part of the cake batter."

"…Do cannibals eat cake?"

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Heartbroken Confession


It was the height of all foolishness, Natsume was sure of it. What could have possibly possessed him to agree to bake a cake with Sakura Mikan? Sure, being a special star, he had his own kitchen and was probably the only person who could have helped her, but the moron probably didn't even know the difference between baking powder and baking soda.

"Hey, Natsume." Mikan stared at Natsume with bright auburn eyes as a slim hand pulled an elastic over her long, wavy auburn hair. She pulled at the knot of her apron to check it was secure before smoothing it down with her hands. Clasping her hands together, she shot him the smile that on a normal basis made his ice-structured heart melt. "Thanks a lot for agreeing to help me."

The right corner of Natsume's thin, dark colored lips tugged upward lightly. Then again, maybe it was worth risking possibly his life (baking was a very, very dangerous task) if it meant being able to make her happy. God knew it was rare he could.

"So… is this salt or sugar?"

Or not. Natsume scoffed and snagged the two bags away from the brunette. Dangling the yellow bag in front of her cream-toned face and tucking the black carton of salt beneath his arm, he snarled. "This is sugar. I don't know why someone who can't tell sugar apart from salt would want to be baking a cake."

Mikan frowned and wrapped her hand carefully around the yellow carton, tugging it out from his grasp. "But it's Anna's birthday! Everyone else is making these epic presents," She explained as she measured out a cup of water. "I have to make her something!"

Natsume quirked a brow and searched his refrigerator for a carton of eggs. "Wouldn't that be challenging her alice?"

Mikan gasped and waved her mixing spoon threateningly in the air. "I would never! This cake is to honor Anna, not to instill some type of silly competition with her. You're always so competitive."

"Am not."

Mikan shot him a bland look. Cracking an egg into the bowl with one hand, she retorted, "Need I remind you about the time you scorched Ruka's flower arrangement into complete ash because it was prettier than yours?"

"Shut up! We were ten, and I did not do that because it was prettier than mine. His flowers were possessed." With a grumble he added, "Besides, his stupid flower arrangements would never be better than mine."

"You sound like a competitive five year old girl."

Natsume scowled. "Shut up before I kick you out of my kitchen."

Mikan giggled and measured out the flour. "My apologies, Chef Manly." She placed the bowl down and walked over to the oven. "Bake or broil?"

Natsume sent her a reprimanding glance. Mikan glanced up from her mix and caught his glance. "It's called baking a cake isn't it, idiot?"

Taking his glance as a challenge, she grinned as she hit the Bake button."What's with the glare?"

"Two strikes, Polka."

Mikan wiggled her eyebrows, clearly trying to provoke the raven haired boy. "Now, are you talking bowling or baseball?"

Natsume growled.

"Because you know. That would make a huge difference." She played with the end of her auburn ponytail and tweaked her button nose at an angle. "If it's bowling, then that'd be a good thing."

Natsume tossed a wet towel onto the counter and scoffed. "The next time you make me bake a cake with you, your head is going to be part of the cake batter."

"We're making a cake for cannibals?" Natsume didn't respond-- only glared.

Noting his lack of response, she continued. "…Do cannibals eat cake?"

"Polka. Just shut up."

She laughed and snagged a bottle from the counter. "Well--"

The writing on the brown bottle caught the corner of Natsume's eyes and he nearly got whiplash as he snapped his head around. "Stop!"

Mikan's eyes widened with alarm, jumping back, the contents of the bottle spilled all over the counter, leaving the pungent stench of vinegar. She grimaced and slammed the bottle on the counter. "What the hell, Natsume!"

"Are you a moron?" Natsume hissed, stomping over to her. With an easy flick of the wrist, the bottle snapped into his hand. "Vinegar? Really?"

Mikan pouted and fidgeted with her hands nervously. "Well. I wanted to get creative and--"

"A vinegar cake?" Natsume's nose cringed upward in disgust. "That's not creativity. That's just… wrong. And disgusting. Seriously, what kind of moron--"

Anger flashed in Mikan's amber colored eyes and she stomped her foot, snatching the bottle out of his hands. "Who asked you!" WIth one swift movement, the bottle of vinegar poured into the mixture of flour and baking soda before Natsume could do anything to stop it. She smiled triumphantly, flashing her bright white teeth in his direction. Moments later, the mixture began to bubble.

She blinked in curiosity and frowned. "What's the fizzing sound?"

"I hate you." Was all Natsume could utter before the two of them were coated in cake batter.

Mikan stepped back, appalled at the explosion. "What just happened?"

Natsume slowly raised his hand and wiped the yellow mixture off his eyelids. Clenching his teeth, he flung the batter off his hands and onto the floor. "You are probably the only person in the world I know that doesn't know what happens when you mix baking soda and vinegar."

She blinked. "It… explodes?"

"Congratulations," He clapped sarcastically. "You now understand grade one level chemistry."

"You exaggerate."

"Youichi made a paper mache volcano for his science experiment last year, when he was in grade one."

Mikan stroked her batter coated chin, and looked heavenward thoughtfully. "I always did wonder how they made those volcanoes erupt."

Natsume slapped a hand against his forehead. The smush sound of the batter against his forehead only served to anger him further. Mikan sighed and Natsume felt slightly guilty for being harsh when he saw the sorrowed look in her eyes. "Well. Looks like I'll just have to get her something else."

"Is that okay with you?"

Mikan shrugged, "There is this dress in Central Town she said she really wanted."

It took all Natsume's might not to kick her. It was unbelievable. Why did he even bother with her?

"Well?" Natsume's head shot up from the oven that he was glaring at. Mikan shot him a questioning look. "Are you coming?"

To Central Town, Natsume deducted. His ruby eyes narrowed. With an easy laugh, she waved him off. "Natsume, you're wearing a frilly pink apron. Your glare doesn't scare me."

At this, his lips tugged into a smirk and he threw off the pink apron. Her easy behavior reminded him why he put up with her antics. Because no matter how hard he pushed her away, she was the only one who could laugh him off. Because she was the only one who could convince him to wear a frilly pink apron.

Throwing on his shoes, he inquired, "What are you going to do with the cake batter all over my kitchen?"

She chuckled and her glossy pink lips pulled to her ears innocently. "If at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried."

Because she was a breath of fresh, easy-going air in his stuffed up and dark world.

Sorry if that sucked. Like my pudding. Oh, my pudding. :(

Yours Truly,

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Jai