Café D'Amour

Author's Note: I aimed for finishing this chapter for the first of September, 2009. I failed like no failure has ever failed before. Thank you to all my patient readers :)

Chapter XIV: This is Good-bye

"Écoutez soigneusement." (Listen carefully.) His hundreds of loyal followers hushed each other and glanced up at him at the sound of his commanding voice. "Notre prochaine étape inclura un appel téléphonique. Puis, ce sera un 'blast.'"
(Our next step shall include a phone call. Then, it will be a 'blast'.)

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"Nii-san, I hope you know that this is not a very beneficial situation." Panicked, Youichi paced quickly within the room. "Nee-san will destroy us."

"You,"—Natsume pointed a rude finger at his younger brother— "shut up."

"But—"

"Not another word, Youichi." Youichi clamped his lips shut. "We're going to escape."

"Escape? Where in the world are we going to—" Natsume gave him a sharp look. Youichi shut up.

"Where did you see her?" Hearing no answer, Natsume glanced over.

Youichi was making a visible, struggling effort to prevent his lips from parting. "I'm asking you a question, Youichi; it is disrespectful to not provide an answer when you can."

"Outside. She was conversing with a tall boy—even taller than her, too!—with blond hair. I think the one who was with you when you stormed into the diner where Mikan-chan and I were—"

"That's enough." Natsume quickly touched his forehead to Mikan's. It was no longer hotter than his own. He kissed her forehead, no longer caring about his younger brother's presence because this may well be a last, solid goodbye. "Grab your belongings, Youichi, we're leaving immediately."

Youichi watched his brother move about the room swiftly, collecting what little personal effects he owned during his stay there. He felt his back pocket for his hat and then the front of his shirt for where he hung his sunglasses.

Natsume whipped up a small note and left it on the coffee table. "Ready?" Youichi nodded. "Good. Let's go."

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She studied the empty café and its down-turned chairs stacked on the tables. "Are you positive we are permitted to be in here when it is closed?"

"Positive. Sometimes I also wonder how normal it could be for an employer to trust his employees to this extent. You get used to it." He felt her smile and did the same. "So tell me more about 'The Treatment' incident you were talking about before."

Aoi watched him as he casually leaned backwards on the counter, his weight on his elbows. He appeared to be very comfortable with himself, so at ease that she couldn't help but be affected by his affability.

She enjoyed his company—especially because he did not know her by her title. To him, she was simply "Aoi," and not "Her Serene Highness Aoi de Castille." She felt the need to make sure it stayed that way.

"'The Treatment,' is, well, basically," How could she go about this story without exposing her identity as a princess? "Well, when I was young, I—uhm...you see, ah, my brothers..." she found herself gesturing wildly like a madwoman, looking for a bogus cover-up story.

Her Serene Highness Aoi de Castille did not gesture like a madwoman, she realized, and she certainly did not use fillers like 'uhm' and 'ah'. What has gotten into her?

Ruka sensed her dilemma. "Come on, I'll take you upstairs where everyone else is." Aoi seemed both pleased and relieved by his suggestion.

Instead of directing her where to go from behind, he led her by hand this time. She didn't seem to mind his method of guidance—something that would have been considered un offense royale (a royal offence) due to his lack of title and status.

Au contraire, she thought as the cool temperature of her hand warmed to the same temperature as Ruka's, j'aime ce type de traitement.
(On the contrary/ I rather like this type of treatment.)

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Youichi began in the direction of the door, but stopped, confused, when he realized that Natsume was headed towards the opposite direction. "Aren't we leaving?"

"Of course we are."

"But the door's this way."

"I can see that."

"So you're over there because..."

Natsume unlatched the lock of the window. "I'm going to teach you how to fly today, Youichi."

"Goody! I've always wanted to try hang-gliding but Dad didn't really approve of..." reality dawned on him when Natsume gestured grandiosely through the window. "Oh, Lord."

"Don't worry. We've done scarier things, have we not?" Natsume smirked arrogantly, "did we not jump off a plane together just last year? This is only a mere two stories high."

"But we had parachutes. PARACHUTES. You know, SAFETY GEAR THAT SLOWS US DOWN SO WE WON'T DIE?"

"Unless you wish to speak with Aoi-nee, who could potentially be standing right outside that door at this moment, I suggest you do as I do. Besides," he fixed both his hands and a foot on the ledge, "you should have some more faith in your athletic ability," and launched himself over.

"Why is Nii-san so reckless? That's my job!" Youichi walked to the ledge and assessed the height as Natsume darted into the forest. He looked back at the sounds of footsteps inside the café.

Youichi heaved a big sigh. "Monkey see,"—he gulped—"monkey do."

He obeyed and followed suit, undignified.

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Mikan blinked her eyes open to an empty room. Where was everybody? What happened? As she raised herself onto her elbows, she rubbed her head and tried to put her memories in order.

Only three words emerged: Prince. Royal. Felony. After awhile, another word came to mind: Mom. Then another: Natsume.

So she had committed a crime, kind of. Met a royal prince of her country, kind of. Dreamed of her mom saying something about...about what? Mikan touched her face to feel what was left of her dried up tears. She couldn't quite recall, but she did vividly remember what came next; Mikan dreamed that she kissed Natsume.

She closed her eyes to the memory that dominated her thoughts at the moment. His soft, masculine scent, the fit of their bodies, and his lips travelling along her face, gently kissing wherever they touched until he reached her lips...it didn't feel like a dream at all. Mikan pressed a hand to her chest, aware of her speeding heartbeats.

Mikan began to panic, "I hope this doesn't mean I'm as perverted as Natsume!" She wasn't sure when it began but every time she thought of Natsume, her heart would race so fast that her breathing would be affected. She questioned herself: that should only happen when I'm physically tiring myself out, right? Right, she thought as she answered her own question.

"This isn't good, then. Not good at all. Must consult for assurance..." she realized that she didn't have the money to seek professional help, "Must confide in someone...someone experienced...an adult? Narumi-sensei!"

"This is the employee's room."

Mikan jumped at the voice. Was that Narumi-sensei? Just when she thought of him? Freaky. She listened more intently:

"Actually, a friend of mine is resting in here, so we'll have to be quiet, okay?"

Ruka.

Plus someone else.

Instinctively, Mikan ducked beneath the covers just as the door clicked open.

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"Mikan?" Ruka peeked into the room. He let go of her hand as he moved in to check on Mikan. "She's still asleep. Come on in."

Aoi stood at the threshold, staring at her hand. "Ce qui est ce sentiment?" (What is this feeling?)

"Sorry, it is a bit breezy in here. I'll close the window." Where's Natsume and Prince Youichi?

"Non, celui n'est pas le problème." It took her a minute to realize that he understood her. "Vous n'avez pas mentionné votre capacité de parler français."
(No, that's not the problem/You didn't mention your ability to speak French.)

"Vous ne m'avez pas demandé."
(You didn't ask.)

She was very impressed until she caught movement at the corner of her eye. Aoi raised a questioning eyebrow at the bulge on the couch who was introduced to her as Ruka's friend. "Elle est endormie, oui?" (She is sleeping, right?)

"Oui," Ruka was puzzled at the question that asked the obvious, "pourquoi demandez-vous ?"
(Yes/Why do you ask?)

"She appears to be twitching an awful lot—in her sleep." She was amused at the sight. Clearly, this friend of his was irritated.

Ruka inspected Mikan, "You're right." He moved closer to her, lightly shaking her, "Mikan-chan? Mikan, are you okay?"

"ALRIGHT! I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE, WHAT ARE YOU PEOPLE SAYING?" Mikan popped up from her previous sleeping position, huffing with the effort of feigning sleep. She didn't know why she felt compelled to hide, but that was what she did. Now it just felt embarrassing.

Ruka was taken aback—he was close to her when she 'popped' up. He was a full two steps away from her until she swooned. He closed the distance to support her in an instant. "A-are you alright, Mikan-chan?"

"Yeah. I'm okay. Got up too fast." She waved a hand at his unnecessary support. "So what were you guys talking about? The French is killing me!"

Mikan's eyes darted from the girl Ruka was conversing with, to Ruka, and then back to the girl. Her eyes widened, her jaw dropped. She resisted the powerful urge to point a rude finger at the one girl she never thought she would meet in her lifetime.

Ever since the incident that created 'The Treatment,' Aoi had gained the skill of instantly spotting the early symptoms that led up to it. Aoi closed the space between herself and the girl. "Donnez-nous un moment, s'il vous plaît," she hoped he would understand without any questions.
(Give us a moment, please.)

He left the room obediently, albeit a little curious. Aoi was grateful for his kind nature.

"Listen, Miss Sakura, I am aware that…"

Aoi couldn't continue, not with Mikan staring at her like that. She did Mikan the favour of lifting her jaw up, so that her two lips met, and manually minimizing her enlarged eyes. "Are you quite alright, miss Sakura?"

"…" Mikan couldn't believe it. Aoi was even more beautiful in person than she was on the magazine she kept at home. Her Serene Highness Aoi de Castille TOUCHED MY JAW!

"I would appreciate it if you could stop staring at me like that."

"…you…my name…"

"Your name is Miss Sakura. Am I mistaken?"

"No…you...you know my NAME!"

"Yes, Ruka-kun informed me of it."

"I'm so…" Mikan's glazed eyes shone with joy, "SO HONOURED! This is such an amazing moment to be able to meet my country's princess!"

Then, as though she remembered her own status in comparison, she tried to bow awkwardly and said, "How do you do?"

Aoi chuckled under her breath. What an interesting girl. "Fine, thanks. Do me a favour and do not reveal my identity to Ruka-kun. Please."

"You mean he doesn't know? Your Highness' face is on every magazine, every channel, and even on the internet! " Mikan was appalled. "HOW CAN HE NOT KNOW?"

"You should ask him that yourself—indirectly, of course." Aoi smiled. Miss Sakura was a very open girl who made her feel at ease. "And please, just call me Aoi."

"Oh, but I couldn't! You're a princess, you live in a castle, and, and, and, you're a prin—!"

"And in return, I shall call you Mikan. Deal?"

"It's a dream! It's as though I am close friends with THE princess of our country!" Mikan's hands clapped together, overjoyed. "What are you doing here, Your High—Aoi?" She changed the name at Aoi's raised eyebrows.

"Some information has brought my attention to this area. I am personally investigating it myself." Aoi's eyes darted around the room, searching for any information or indications of her brothers.

"Wow…" Mikan's eyes glazed over again, "you do so much for our country. It is such an honour to be in your humbling presence!"

The carpet was ruffled with quick and rash movement, there was a slight shoe-mark on the window frame, and…what was that piece of paper on the table?

"What is this?" Aoi's attention was completely concentrated on the note, which was addressed to Mikan. "It is for you."

"Oh, I don't know." Mikan received the note from Aoi and began: "'Sorry, Polka. Have to go. This is good-bye. N.'"

"'N?' Who is that?"

"Just another employee of Café D'amour." Mikan clutched the blanket and it bunched-up in her fists.

Have to go? she wondered, Go where? And why does his good-bye sound so…final?

Aoi noticed Mikan's distracted disposition and decided to leave the answer to the mystery of the name for later. She got up and examined the floor and window more closely. There were two different markings on the window, and just below it, the bushes were semi-destroyed; its leaves and twigs were strewn everywhere, but they also left an indiscrete trail into the forest behind the café. It was quite clear that someone had escaped through the window, and judging by appearance of the carpet, quite swiftly as well.

Could it have been her brothers?

A gentle knock sounded at the door, "May I come in now?"

"Come in." Ruka entered, and Mikan gestured to the note. "Do you know where he's going? Did he say anything? Did you talk to him at all while I was asleep? What's going on? Why is he saying good-bye?"

"What do you mean? He was in here with you the whole time you were unconscious. He didn't mention anything about leaving or going anywhere. And now that you mention it, I didn't even see him leave the café. Didn't he tell you anything?"

"I haven't seen him since I woke up." Mikan's heart raced slightly at the new information. He was with me the whole time? "He only left this message."

Ruka took the note and examined it himself. "It seems to be written in a rush. Well…although it appears to be a permanent leave, I'm sure he'll be back again. I've always known Natsume to be a rash fellow. And where's Prince Youichi? He was here with Natsume, if I remember correctly."

The familiar sound of a name broke through Aoi's concentration on her observations. She held up a finger as she turned her body in their direction. "Wait, excuse me. What were those names you just mentioned?"

Mikan suddenly made the obvious connection between Aoi and Prince Youichi. "I'M SORRY; I DIDN'T MEAN TO THREATEN YOUR BROTHER!"

"Your brother?" Ruka baffled face was directed at Aoi.

At Aoi's warning glance, Mikan cupped a hand over her mouth.

Aoi approached Mikan quickly, comforting her soothingly, "Mikan, are you okay? You just woke up from fainting, so you are probably not thinking straight. Not straight at all." She explained, to Ruka, "I'm sure she has me confused with someone else." Mikan nodded vigorously in agreement.

Mikan was afraid she upset Aoi by nearly exposing her secret. But Aoi's expression revealed only slight confusion and a subtle amusement.

"So tell me more about this…Natsume." Judging from the difference in their titles, she determined that their 'Natsume' may not be the same as the one she knows as her Crown-Prince brother. Her brothers had a lot to explain to both Ruka and Mikan. "And the famous Prince Youichi."

"It's a long story, actually…basically, Prince Youichi appeared out of nowhere and kind of kidnapped Mikan,"—he glanced at Mikan for confirmation (but she was too busy filling her head with the misunderstanding between her and Prince Youichi)—"but that still isn't clear, really. Natsume is just another employee of Café D'amour."

"Fascinating that you've met THE prince!" Aoi feigned the most common reaction in regards to the Royal Family. Interesting, she thought, It is as though I am giving my own brothers 'The Treatment.' How ironic. "And this Natsume…does he have black hair and ruby-red eyes?"

"Yes, actually, he bears a resemblance shockingly similar to yours. I noticed it immediately when we met."

In her mind, all the evidence in the room, and all the information and descriptions of her brothers, fit together quite nicely.

There was only one place they would go now, she knew. A slow, winning smile emerged on her beautiful features.

Check and mate.

Red Strings of Fate