…THANK YOU…
Pink Fire101, XxXMEOWxMeWxx, Star Sapphirex, Ai-chan13, SnowCharms, simplebutspecial, Umbreon Rawks, Cuna999, Chokoreeto-Hime, kagome's heart102, may520, TearsandSorrow, KrazyCandy, Aminatsu032, MoonLove Angel, Royal Goddess, lysabelle,jacksparrow589 & glenda23 for reviewing Chapter 13
Where's your soul now?
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Chapter Fourteen
A Disaster
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The weekend arrived.
"OHAYOGOZAIMASU!!!!" Mikan yelled, running to the dining room in her purple pajamas. She was extremely excited for today was the Parade & Festival in celebration of the summer holidays. Mikan twirled around the room with much joy and finally sat down, panting.
"Are you going with your friends, Mikan?" Jii-chan asked, raising his head from the morning paper.
"Yeah! Ruka-pyon & Hotaru-chan are going!" she replied, taking a helping of bacon & eggs.
"Why don't you take Natsume-kun with you?"
Natsume looked at her from across the table.
"He might piss me off with one of his dirty little tricks" Mikan replied, glaring at him.
"I told you! I'm not responsible for it!"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah…whatever…" the brunette said, rolling her eyes. "Just don't go hurting Hotaru-chan & Ruka-pyon"
"What are you kids talking about?" inquired Jii-chan who felt out of place.
"Oh nothing jii-chan!" Mikan said, her eyes sparkling with innocence and she swallowed a piece of bacon.
"OUCH!" she yelled, touching her chest.
"Daijobou?" Jii-chan said, putting down the paper.
Mikan had no idea why, but there was a burning sensation in the middle of her chest, she coughed several times for she had hardship breathing all of a sudden. Then, the painful sensation ceased.
"I'm fine" she coughed.
Natsume looked at her with much concern. He DEFINITELY knew that Mikan WASN'T fine.
He, himself had a feeling that something bad was going to happen today.
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"Cough! Itold you!! You're not coming! Cough" Mikan said, as she and Natsume walked towards Hotaru's house.
"I have to, you stubborn pig!" he replied.
"To do what? There's no need or a vampire to come to a parade & festival you know! Unless you want to suck someone's blood or something & if I'm right about that, I'm not…cough…letting you!!!"
"God, Mikan!! Why are you always accusing me??"
"Because, Natsume…it's obvious! Ever since you came, these weird paranormal things have been occurring so stop denying it! Cough!! Cough!!"
"Are you sick or something? You've been coughing since this morning!"
"I don't know! I've been feeling this weird burning sensation in my chest as if something's poking through my heart since this morning…but whatever…I'll see a doctor tomorrow"
They arrived at Hotaru's doorstep. Mikan rang the doorbell.
DING DONG
Hotaru answered the door. She wore a red shirt paired with a black skirt and some sneakers. Her hair was clipped and she clutched a red soft backpack with that stuffed toy rabbit thing hanging on the strap.
"Ohayo…cough…gozamaisu…" Mikan said and put her hand on her throat. "Ugh. My throat's so painful because of this dumb coughing…"
"The idiot's been feeling weird since this morning. I wonder who's responsible for it" Natsume said to Hotaru, looking at her in the eye.
"Stop looking at me like that" Hotaru said, with a hint of guilt in her tone.
"Cough…Anyway, guys…Ruka sent me a text earlier saying that he'll just meet us in the Parade so we don't have to drop by his house. Let's go!" Mikan smiled, and walked off.
"Imai…if you hurt her I swear I'll darken your days forever" Natsume whispered.
"That won't be necessary," Hotaru sighed.
"It is already darkened"
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The three of them got on a bus to go to the Summer Festival Parade.
Natsume was awfully worried for Mikan for she wouldn't stop coughing. Hotaru seemed rigid & her face was painted with much guilt since Natsume would glare at her every so often and Hotaru would do nothing but shrug.
"My throat is so painful…" Mikan said, her voice hoarse.
"Shut up or it'll get worse" Natsume replied, folding his arms.
What a wrong time for Mikan to get 'sick'. It was the Summer Festival Parade and she would wait for it every year. The floaters were splendid & their acrobatics were wonderful. Each year seemed to get better & brighter and more features would be added to the parade. And at seven in the evening, there would be a spectacular display of colorful fireworks that Mikan loved to death.
Apparently, she wouldn't be able to appreciate that much because of her condition at the moment.
"How many minutes until we get there?" Hotaru inquired softly.
"Twenty" Mikan replied. "You'll enjoy it, Hotaru-chan. There are so much fun things to…cough!"
"Do you want to go back home?" Natsume asked.
"Of course not!" Mikan replied. "I always see the parade every year and I'm not letting some stupid cough stop me"
Mikan yawned. "Just…just wake me up when we get there, ok?"
And with that, she leaned her head against Natsume's shoulder and welcomed herself to sleep.
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When Mikan awoke, she suddenly felt much better.
She felt refreshed & hydrated. The cough had ceased and the burning sensation had disappeared. Oh, all she needed was a nap, that's all! How silly she was to worry about it! Now she had no trouble in enjoying the parade. It was going to be fine.
"Feeling better?" Hotaru asked, from the other bus seat.
"Yeah! I don't feel that sick anymore"
Hotaru gave a smile. "That's good"
"Natsume-kun…daijobou?" Mikan asked, turning to her right. Natsume was leaning on the windowsill, asleep.
"Hehe. He's asleep" she giggled.
"You two were cuddled up awhile ago" Hotaru said emotionlessly.
Mikan blushed. "W-were we?"
The bus came to a stop. They had arrived.
"We're here!!!" she screeched, standing up and twirling.
"Ugh. The idiot's back to her normal self!" Natsume said, stretching. He sat up and looked out the window.
The parade…
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The parade was as wonderful as Mikan described it to be, or even more.
Gigantic floaters & balloons paraded through the crowd of squealing people.
Elephants in costumes and dancing monkeys walked through as well as a marching band playing enthusiastic songs.
Acrobats and contortionists slipped in with their beaded leotards. They twirled in with vivid colored ribbons, magically prancing with flaming hula hoops. Flamenco dancers with thick makeup came, dancing with their partners in such grace and dexterity.
Girls in beautifully printed kimonos came in, stiff but still graceful and they danced to instrumental Japanese music; waving their colorful fans.
Young children came running dressed as folklore Japanese characters that symbolized Japan's culture. Oh, how wonderful the parade was! Mikan's eyes glimmered and shined.
"Isn't it great, Natsume-kun?" she said, tugging Natsume's sleeve.
The auburn-eyed boy just shrugged. "Whatever"
"Mikan-chan!"
Mikan turned around, it was Ruka.
"Gomen, if I'm late!! I had to do last-minute chores!"
"That's ok!" Mikan said, grabbing Ruka's arm. "Isn't it beautiful, Ruka-pyon?"
"Yup. Better than last year, that's for sure!"
"Let's watch the fireworks together, ne?"
Natsume turned green with envy.
"That's fine with me!!!"
Ruka looked around for awhile, noticing that Hotaru was nowhere to be found.
"Anou…Mikan-chan, where's Hotaru-chan?"
Mikan looked around. "I have no idea! She must've wandered off somewhere"
"I'll look for her!" Ruka said to Mikan and ran off.
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"You came to see the parade as well, Hotaru?"
"Master…"
"Ha! That insolent human girl came and told you: Oh, Hotaru-chan! Let's go see the Summer Parade together and we can look at the fireworks and dance to the rhythm of stupid Japanese music!!!"
"Well…"
"Stupid Summer Festivals!!!" yelled Hotaru's master. "Useless human entertainment"
"It looks quite lively though"
"Don't you dare disagree with me, Hotaru!"
"Gomenasai"
"So, have you activated it?"
"Activated what?"
"You stupid girl! Activated the pin!!!"
"Master, I believe this isn't the right time…"
"You believe! It's not YOU BELIEVE…You cannot make your own decisions you little stupid runt! You have to follow my damn orders!!!"
"Master, she's having such a good time…and Natsume as well…"
"So what?! This is the perfect time, you nincompoop! Get Kanashimi right now and activate it!"
"Master…"
"DO IT OR DIE!!!!"
"Hotaru-chan?"
Hotaru turned around and found Ruka standing behind her.
"What are you doing in this alley?"
"Tying my shoelace!" Hotaru responded.
"Well, it SURE is a funny place to tie your shoelace"
Hotaru just gave a nervous smile. "Won't you come with us?" Ruka asked.
"I'll catch up with you later…"
"Nah. I'll wait for you…"
"DO IT OR DIE!!!"
"Did you hear something?" Ruka said, turning to Hotaru.
Hotaru shook her head, and as if a puppet on a string – she took out her stuffed rabbit from her bag.
"Ruka-kun…" Hotaru said, cold sweat dripping from her forehead.
"Yeah?"
"Tell Mikan…I'm sorry!" she whispered and pushed Kanashimi's ears foreword like a controller.
"What are you talking about?"
The sky darkened.
Rain began to fall.
"Hotaru-chan! We have to get inside!! It's raining!!"
"Leave me here, Ruka!! Just…tell Mikan I'm sorry!!"
"What for?? You didn't do anything!!"
Hotaru shook her head. "I can't tell you why…"
It begins now…
"MIKAN!!!!!"
"Wasn't that Natsume's voice?!" Ruka said, his voice drenched with confusion.
Hotaru shook her head once more. "I…"
With that, she ran out of the alley and disappeared into the frenzied crowd.
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What's happening? Mikan thought. Her mind was in turmoil as she pinned Natsume to the ground.
Everything was going well until the burning sensation returned…and…
"HELP!" Mikan yelled, but the crowd was too busy running to get to dry ground.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING MIKAN!??!" Natsume yelled.
He was pinned to the ground and Mikan had her pocket knife against his throat.
"I DON'T KNOW!!!" Mikan said, tears streaming down my eyes. "WHY ARE YOU POSESSING ME, NATSUME-KUN?!?!"
"I'M NOT…IT'S HO---
"WHO IS IT?! I'M SO CONFUSED!!!"
"I CAN'T TELL YOU!!!!"
Her eyes were now generous in tears.
"NATSUME, IM GOING TO HURT YOU!!!!"
"TRY TO FIGHT IT!!!"
"I'M NOT STRONG ENOUGH…"
"DAMN YOU, MIKAN…UGH…"
The pocket knife moved to the side of his neck, ready to cut it.
"I DON'T WANT TO KILL YOU, NATSUME!!"
"THEN DON'T, MORON!!!"
She had an intense headache and that burning sensation was spreading throughout her body. What was happening? She couldn't think for that sensation had reached her head and was telling her to kill Natsume. But she didn't want to!! She couldn't!!!!
And she won't let whoever is poisoning her soul to get through to her.
Mikan took her own hand, whilst cutting her own skin. Blood trickled down her hand and she let go of the pocket knife. It was kicked by the screaming crowd.
"Get it out of me, Natsume" she whispered. "It's hurting me…"
Mikan started coughing once more. He sensed no power coming from her heart like it would with the other victims, but instead it had risen to her throat. What could he possibly do? The power was unbelievable.
Natsume decided.
He took Mikan by the shoulders and dragged her lips into his. Yes, dear reader. He dragged her into a kiss.
Mikan turned red and fell to the floor, unconcious. Natsume himself was redder than ever but it was the only possible way he could think of into getting the pin out.
He spat out the pin from his mouth and sighed.
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Sunset…
Mikan opened her eyes and found herself lying on the top of a building, with Natsume's cape on top of her.
She felt weary, her hand was painful. She looked at it and found that it was bandaged with his sleeve.
The Parade was a disaster. She looked below and saw confetti and balloons lying on the pavement and street cleaners sweeping them away.
Oh, this day was so…
"Awake now?"
Mikan turned around and saw Natsume sitting on the edge of the building.
"Natsume-kun…gomenasai…"
"Whatever. Everyone tries to kill me, so it's no big deal…"
"I didn't expect it to happen so…"
"Just…keep quiet ok?"
"Very well"
"The Parade was a disaster"
"Obviously. I wonder if they'll postpone the fireworks"
"Yeah they did…I heard the parade manager talking to some employees"
"Oh…I was…I was looking forward to it"
Natsume took the pin out of his pocket.
"What's that?"
"It's the thing that told you to kill me"
"WHAT? That small thing?"
"Yep…but it can have good uses, you know. Like this…" he said, removing the head of the pin.
"What are you going to do with it?"
He threw the head of the pin into the sky and it burst into colorful lights.
"It's so beautiful!!!"
"They're fireworks of souls"
"Hey, Natsume-kun...how did you get that thing out from me anyway?"
Natsume sighed. She didn't remember, did she? Oh well...
"Heh. It's better if you not know"
"But..."
"Keep quiet. I'm watching" he said, turning back to the fireworks.
Yes. It was much better if she did not know about how he got the pin out of her.
Maybe it would be better if they would savor the moment.
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TO BE CONTINUED
...Notes...
MORE SECRETS WILL BE REVEALED IN THE FOLLOWING CHAPS! 3