Chapter 14

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Mikan's POV

Okay, this is the last class… This is the last class… Behave…

Don't scare the teacher off… But he's already a scaredy cat so …

No, Mikan!...

I was trying to convince myself not to frighten another teacher while we were walking towards the music room.

Music was my favorite class back here. The teacher was a little bit weird but the class was alright.

It was a lecture hall. The instruments were neatly arranged beside the teacher's desk while we were sitting on the (uncomfortable I might add…) chairs and writing boring lessons.

The students were already there and when we entered, they stared at us strangely.

"Weird…" Trailed of Alice. She calmed down after being frightened almost to death by Mr. Bear. He has really changed. His brown "fur" was dusty and dirty, his axe had some scratches here and there and his filling was showing some places.

Like he wasn't taking care of himself.

And the axe… It's always shining (and I mean ALWAYS…) and he sharpens and polishes it every day.

What has that bear done to himself?...

"M-Mikan-s-san, please t-take a-a s-seat somewhere." The teacher stuttered and I nodded.

There were three seats at the back and I sat there, along with Alice and Jake.

Yep, he's how I remember him. The stuttering, the shaking is still there. I am surprised that he hasn't ran from us yet.

The other people were staring and boring holes in our backs.

I saw Natsume smirking at me and mouthing "Nice." But I didn't waste my time to argue with him. My notebooks were a little messy but I straightened them and opened the one that I write my violin pieces in.

The notes were filling half of the page and suddenly they were interrupted.

Of course by Jin Jin…

I wonder if he's still pissed of because of my comments…

I smirked.

"S-students, t-today we're g-going to write s-short poems. J-just four lines o-okay?" He said with a shaky voice and I sighed. When will he ever learn that we won't do anything crazy around him?... "After two minutes I-I'll pick two p-people that will s-say t-theirs to e-each other, o-okay?"

We averted our eyes to the blank pages of the notebooks before us. While writing I felt again a stare.

Who …?

I turned around and there it was again… That smirk from the person that irritated me the most.

In my anger I wrote something quick and smirked to myself.

"T-Tim's up." The teacher's shaky voice announced and the whole class raised their hands. He slumped on his chair, seeing so many students' hopeful eyes.

His gaze circled around the whole room until it stopped on me.

I sighed and stood up.

Saying that I didn't want to will give the poor man a heart attack out of fear.

"And N-Natsume H-Hyuuga…" He trailed off and with a smirk (He smirks a lot here… o.o) the idiot joined me on the improvised stage.

The man said that we have to face each other and he was grinning.

"I'll go first." He said and didn't wait for the teacher to answer.

"Roses are red,

Holes are black,

Just you wait,

I'm gonna get you back."

He finished with that annoying smirk.

I raised my brow while the whole class had their jaws dropped.

Alice and Jake had theirs to the ground and their eyes were going to pop.

"You have got to be kidding me…"Whispered Jake. No one heard him.

Except me, of course.

"I got just the thing to give back to you." I stated calmly.

My eyes were on the list and I had my mask on while I was reading.

"Roses are red,

Coal is black,

You go to hell,

And don't bother coming back."

His shocked expression was enough to make me smirk. I was still with my mask but inside I was satisfied. He's gonna get it.

My classmates gasped and started to whisper among them. Alice and Jake were smirking.

Without another word Hyuuga looked at his notebook and started reading.

"Roses are red,

Grass is green,

What happened to you,

Why are you so mean?" The last words he whispered. His eyed didn't have the slightest trace of irony nor did they have the spark that you see when he makes a joke or mocks.

His eyes … They were sad.

They… I've never seen them like that. His face was sad and I swear his breathing was shaky.

There was complete silence in the room. Those, who heard him, were holding their breath to see what happens next and those, who hadn't were quiet and were asking around them what did Hyuuga say.

My expression didn't change.

Only my eyes were widened.

For the first time since we got here he isn't using sarcasm, irony or his "cool" tone to talk to me.

I would've said something by now but I just couldn't get the words out.

What stopped me were his eyes.

They were mesmerizing.

His look was full of … pain and sorrow. He was hurt. The usual shade of red was now nearly black.

So cold.

So hurt.

"Why?" I thought, "Why is he looking at me like that?..."

"M-Mikan-san!" Only now did I hear the teacher raise his voice, saying my name.

I blinked a few times, breaking our shared stare, and snapped my head to the teacher making him flinch.

"I-I'm sorry M-Mikan-san b-but can you p-play something for u-us. Y-You're the one t-that didn't answer to Mr. H-Hyuuga's line so … "He trailed off and looked at the floor, kicking an imaginary pebble.

Hyuuga and I turned to face the class.

They were just staring at us while Alice and Jake had worried expressions on their faces.

I lifted my shoulders and my mask was back on my face again as I headed towards my seat to get my violin.

Natsume's POV

We were just… starring each other.

No words were needed.

While saying the last words I let my mask slip and my feelings were let loose for a moment.

Yet, she saw them that moment.

Those hazel nut eyes were looking straight at me, seeing my soul.

My hurt.

My pain.

I'll never forget the look in her brown orbs.

They weren't cold anymore.

They weren't the Mikan now.

They belonged to the old Mikan.

The one who had feelings.

The stupid teacher interrupted us and I silently cursed him in my mind.

I was having my moment with her and he ruined it!

Well, there were other people in the room but that's another matter…

Mikan was asked to play something and without a word she headed to her seat to take something out of a case beside her chair.

My eyes widened.

A violin!

She played!

How…? But, why…? When?!

When did she start to play an instrument?!

When did she start to play the violin?!

"What do you want me to play?" She asked the teacher and he thought for a second.

"H-How about … No, that won't do… Oh, maybe!... But I don't have the note sheet…" He trailed off and for once he didn't stutter. I raised my brow at him and he quickly shut his mouth.

"I just need someone to play the piano." I said and turned towards Alice, not waiting for the teacher's response. She was getting up from her seat and then something very unusual happened.

Hotaru shot up from her seat and sat quickly on the stool in front of the piano.

My and the other people in the room's eyes widened.

Hotaru never volunteered for anything unless there's money involved!

Why now of all times?

Koko had his mouth open and so were Alice and Jake's.

I sighed.

I guess that Imai will be my partner. The girl looked at me with her violet eyes and I saw that she was ready when I was.

My backpack was full of flying papers, either lyrics or notes on them.

My notebook was empty because I always didn't find the time to rewrite my melodies in it.

I searched among the papers and ripped pages for a particular piece until it slipped from the pile in my hand and flew away on a desk near by. I walked slowly to the direction the page flew and I ended up in front of Hyuuga's desk.

And the guy was looking at it!

I grabbed the piece of paper and headed to the piano, where Imai was waiting patiently for me.

"What are you going to perform?" She asked slowly and I put in front of her the sheet.

She nodded and I put my violin under my chin and awaited her to finish her part.

Natsume's POV

Mikan was thinking of a piece and then she went to her backpack to get something. Torn pages and flying papers filled the bag and she had a hard time finding what she wanted.

I was looking at her back and didn't notice a sheet flying towards me until it hit me on the nose.

It fell on my desk and while rubbing my nose I had the full intention of ripping it to shreds and throwing it in the trash.

Then, I noticed the notes, neatly written on the rows.

In the upper left corner were written the words "Sound of an Angel" and next to them was scrabbled Mikan's name.

So, she wrote it…

Then the lights suddenly were blocked and I lifted my head only to have the page grabbed from me by Mikan, who was walking toward Hotaru.

"So, Sound of an Angel huh?" I asked in my mind and prepared myself for the show.

The other students were in awe, they were exited to hear their favorite singer play her violin.

Hotaru started playing and after a few minutes Mikan joined in.

My mind went black as soon as I heard the first notes she played.

It's … It's the same as …

No, it can't!

The sound stopped two years ago!

Why would it play now of all times?!

Mikan was moving the bow gracefully on the four strings and the students all had big smiles on their faces.

Even doggy boy and his sister were looking kinda dreamy, like they would all fall asleep.

It was actually soothing and calming.

The kind of melody that would make you relax after a long and stressful day…

The way that I was relaxing when the sound was playing two years ago…

Two years ago…

Every day, mission.

Every night I would fall on my bed exhausted and angered that I couldn't do anything to make them leave me alone.

Every night I would go to the gym and punch for hours a sand bag until I get tired enough to sleep till noon…

Every night until I heard it…

After punching the stupid bag till it ripped and the sand covered the gym floor I went to my room again and stared at the sealing till I go to sleep.

Until I heard a calming melody playing outside.

I didn't know who played it.

I didn't care who played it.

Once hearing it, my mind cleared and my body relaxed.

The long day and the stupid thing I had to deal with every day flew away and all I could fell then was the slow melody, the notes luring me into a peaceful and deep slumber.

That night I didn't have nightmares.

That night I didn't dream how my whole life falls apart.

That night and any other night I could hear the slow and quiet sound playing outside.

Sometimes it played for a little, sometimes it played for longer.

I didn't care.

It always sent me to a dreamless and deep sleep.

Until one night I didn't hear it.

Waiting, staring at the sealing.

Nothing.

Not a sound.

I grew fond of the music and was disappointed that I didn't hear it that night.

The thought that I would get to hear it tomorrow made me feel better though. But, I was wrong.

I didn't get to hear it.

For two years I was waiting for the sound that never came.

For two years I was having those nightmares again.

Hoping that I was going to hear the sound again.

Longing for it to take me to a dreamless and peaceful slumber again.

But it never came.

Now, hearing Mikan play her violin I was reminded of the same sound.

Another question popped in my mind.

If… she could play… was she the one that was playing those beautiful notes?

Was she the one that was easing me from my sorrow and calming me, making me forget about every day's trouble?

"I'll ask her tonight." I thought, "But… I have to ask her quick because I got a mission. That stuck up Personna said that I'll have a partner tonight… I'll just wish her goodnight and then go to the stupid mission…" I decided and smiled to myself.

Now, all I wanted was to enjoy the melody.

Normal POV

Class ended and the bell rang seconds after Mikan ended her performance. The whole class shot up from their seats and applaud Mikan and Hotaru. They simply ignored them while thanking each other and Alice and Jake dragged the brunette to the mess hall to eat lunch.

The school day ended.

The teens in the corridor were discussing what to do for the rest of the day.

"Hey, when do you start recording again?" Asked Koko and Natsume and Hotaru sweat dropped.

"For the millionth time – I think its tomorrow!" Natsume said irritated. Koko was right now being an idiot, a complete and total idiot.

"Does Mikan know?" He asked again and Natsume was just about to shut his mouth up until the words sunk in. He paused and thought for a moment.

"The P. and Narumi haven't told her."

"I want to tell her!" Squeaked Koko but Hotaru stepped to him and he got a smack behind the head.

"Natsume is in the band and in the contest himself. He should be the one to tell her." She said a-matter-of-factly to him and he sulked while rubbing the sore spot where Hotaru's hand was.

Natsume smirked.

That night….

Mikan's POV

After eating some fries and watching TV I decided to take a nap before the mission.

I wonder who will be my partner…

I laid on bed but I couldn't sleep. Just … staring at the sealing.

I changed my position on the bed.

Now I was staring at my desk which was buried with note sheets, text books that I didn't need and empty notebooks.

I changed again.

The wall wasn't a good thing to keep me entertained until I go to sleep.

I changed my position for the third time and the sheets tangled around my legs.

Ahhhh, nothing isn't working!

I'm not falling asleep as I wanted…

Well, if I can't go to sleep so … maybe I could go and play something on my violin…

The roof sounds like a quiet and peaceful place and I went there with my violin.

The full moon was shining and lighting my way. The roof here was almost the same as the one in America. White pebbles and here and there it was cemented.

There wasn't a chair so with a simple snap and with the help of my Transport alice the one in front of my desk was now beside me.

I was in the mood for a slow, calming and a song that can make me sleepy enough for three or four hours before the mission.

To I decided on a composition I wrote when Alice got her heart broken and I played for her until she was sleeping.

My eyes closed mechanically and the bow started moving.

Natsume's POV

Stupid day, stupid day, stupid day …

Maybe if I repeat something over and over again I would bore myself to sleep…

That's what I thought at first.

Yeah, wrong suggestion.

For the past two hours I was repeating those words over and over again and my eyes didn't shut.

I growled.

This is boring but doesn't get me to sleep!

I closed my eyes and squeezed them.

Maybe I can go and punch that stupid bag again…

The gym teacher had it fixed so I can "train" until I exhaust myself to sleep.

I got up from the bed and headed to the door.

The sound of crickets singing in the night was heard from the window and instead of walking out the door, I leaned on the wooden frame.

There was a full moon and the other school and girls dorm were lit up.

Everything looked peaceful and everybody was asleep.

Everybody but me.

I looked around. There was the pain in the ass school, the girls' dorm and the forest.

The girls' dorm wasn't exactly fully asleep. There was someone one the roof.

I bet some girl was whining or something.

Then, a sound that I've been longing to hear reached my ears.

I froze in my spot, my heart pounding.

My eyes widened. My breath caught in my lungs.

There it was.

The melody that was my lullaby. The best thing about my day.

I finally get to hear it after two long years.

It was the one thing that kept my nightmares away.

Who?

…

How?

…

Where?

…

Those were the questions that raced through my mind and my eyes immediately searched for the source of the music.

I looked around outside.

The forest was a no.

Mr. Bear would've scared everybody there.

The school is closed.

The only thing left was the girls' dorm.

But I was sure that nobody there could play something.

The girls didn't have an interest for music.

Only one has.

And that was the girl I loved.

Mikan.

But… two years ago. She didn't tell me that she can play. I knew she snuck out somewhere but I thought that she was eating in the kitchen and left that matter.

What if I was completely wrong?

What if it was her?

What if she was the one that scared away my nightmares?

What if I misjudged her?

…

My mind was rapidly thinking, considering possible options.

Meanwhile the sweet sound was still playing.

I wanted to find out more.

I wanted to know to whom I owe my peaceful sleep.

I jumped out of the window end landed on of the trees underneath my window. On one of the highest branches I looked around again and draw a route to how to get on the roof.

Maybe that girl knew something about the music.

I jumped from branch to branch until I was under the roof.

I saw an open window and climbed on it. Then I jumped up and caught the railing. I jumped up again and landed on top of it.

Years of training and going on missions finally paid of.

The girl was still with her back facing me and it was dark I crept up behind her.

Okay, now I'm a stalker.

Watching someone sleep all night, keeping an eye out for her wherever I am and now I'm creeping up behind a girl.

What, the hell am I, a creepy psycho?!

I shook my head and sighed.

I really got to stop acting this way…

"Hey, who are you?" I asked when the girl stopped playing her … violin?

I know only one girl that can play the violin…

Mikan turned around but there was no one there.

At the last moment I decided not to show myself. She'll get irritated at me more.

"If you don't come out I'll make you." She stated simply and put her violin away in her case.

I smirked, hidden behind a big branch on a near by tree.

I wasn't going to let my cover blown.

I found out that she was the girl that not only was my one and only love but her playing helped me many ways and multiple times.

What more could I ask for?

I smirked.

Oh yeah, I'm totally not gonna let this chance slip by.

End of chappie 14 :)

I hope you liked it.

R&R please!

:]

P.S. The piece that Mikan plays is Johannes Brahms – Lullaby and the piece in class is "Sound of an Angel". You might wanna play for better effect… Sorry for telling you this just now … -.-

Anyways both compositions are very beautiful and calming and I recommend that you listen to them!