The sun was gradually making its way up as its sun rays scattered throughout the room.
Mikan woke up to a startle, but she didn't even remember falling asleep. All she knew was that Natsume's arms were around her when she woke up on the couch, next to him.
"Go back to sleep," he said, smoothing her hair.
She rubbed her eyes slowly, letting them adjust to the light. "You didn't sleep?"
"I did, I just tend to wake up early."
"When did I fall asleep?" Mikan asked.
"Late last night." He replied, "And then in your sleep, you were muttering how you would protect me from everything." He added with a smirk.
She shifted in his arm, turning her back towards him.
But as she turned around, he saw the embarrassed expression on her face which made him smile softly.
"Thank you for believing in me." He whispered against her neck.
"You're welcome." She said in return.
Her phone rang suddenly so Natsume unwrapped his arms around her so that she could move about.
"Hello?" Mikan answered.
"Mikan, you need to come into office now! There is so much havoc here and there's too few to hold off the people that are trying to get in!"
She knitted her eyebrows in worry when she heard yelling in the background, "Calm down, Anna. Why are there people trying to get in?"
"You didn't hear? Ruka was accused of murdering the Shori family. And this morning, there's more evidence that shows that he's responsible for the murdering of the Hatori girl. So there are news reporters and protestors outside." Anna hysterically said.
Mikan froze, but regained her composure.
"I'll be there soon." She said slowly.
"Hurry!" Anna demanded before hanging up.
Natsume saw the complex expression clouding Mikan's face.
He reached towards her but she stepped away.
"Mikan?" He asked, "What's wrong?"
She only shook her head in reply, "I need to go to the office." She said as she was already gathering her things.
"I'll go with you." He offered.
"No." she said a bit forcefully, "I mean," she backtracked, "It's okay. There's something I need to do alone, either way."
He nodded slowly, "Okay then."
She finished gathering her things, "I'll see you soon?" she asked.
"Of course." He replied.
When Mikan got to the office, she saw a horde of people in front of the building with Anna and other security guards trying to keep everyone out.
"WE WANT ANSWERS."
"LET US SEE RUKA NOGI."
She knew it'd be impossible to try to push through the crowd, so she went in through the back, a path where only few people had known about. Once she got in, she still saw Anna and the others struggling and decided whether or not she should help them, but decided otherwise. She had things she had to clear.
Mikan made her way up to Tsubasa's office. As she was approaching closer to the door, she was stopped by his secretary.
"Good morning, Ms. Sakura." Suzuki greeted as she stood up behind her desk, "Is there anything I may help you with?"
"There's nothing in particular, Suzuki. I was just going to talk to Tsubasa."
"I'm sorry to say that Mr. Andou is in a meeting with Ms. Imai at the moment. He has given me specific directions as to not let anyone in."
"They're both in there?" Mikan questioned aloud.
"Yes, they are." She responded with a confused look.
"Perfect timing. I can kill two birds with one stone." Mikan said.
"Pardon me?" Suzuki asked.
Before Suzuki could do anything, Mikan rushed the door opened.
She saw Tsubasa widen his eyes as Hotaru's body stiffened as she narrowed her eyes.
"Ms. Sakura! You cannot be in there." Suzuki cried after her.
Hotaru relaxed once she saw who barged into the office.
"I'm very sorry for my lack of attention, Mr. Andou. I didn't think that she would barge in." she apologized while bowing in a complete ninety degree angle, "Please leave this room, Ms. Sakura, or I will have to call security."
"It's okay, Suzuki. We were waiting for Mikan either way." Tsubasa reassured, "But if anyone is looking for me after this, just tell them I'm not here."
Suzuki nodded, "Very well then." She turned around and right before she closed the door, "No hard feelings about the calling security on you, Ms. Sakura." She added.
Mikan waved her hand dismissively, "Don't worry about it."
The door then closed with a click.
Without waiting a second, "Where is he?" Mikan demanded, "I know that he wouldn't be in the actual jail cell where people believe him to be."
"He's in one of my safe houses, under the highest protection." Hotaru calmly replied.
Mikan released a heavy sigh, "You guys didn't tell me that you were going to go through with this."
"Would your reaction have been any different if we did?" Tsubasa asked.
She remained quiet.
"It's not like we wanted to do this." Tsubasa continued, "But this is all we got. And we would be fools if we were to let this pass by."
"Then let us be fools."
"You don't get it, do you?" Hotaru snapped, "Ruka is doing this because he understands this is the only opportunity we may have in bringing down the Blood. We don't know anything about its members and if Ruka can get in then he can be a double agent for us."
"It's like equivalent exchange, Mikan. You can't get something if you don't give something." Tsubasa explained.
It seemed like everything paused for Mikan as she allowed Tsubasa's words to sink in.
"I want to see Ruka." Mikan said softly.
Tsubasa and Hotaru shared a look before Hotaru spoke.
"We'll take you to him."
Natsume stayed in the house for a bit after Mikan had left. He remained sitting on the couch as he let his thoughts drift back to yesterday night.
"Are you in the Blood, Natsume?"
Why would Mikan ask that out of the blue? He thought. If no one had approached her then… the only possible person that could have told her about it was…Narumi.
In an instant, anger flowed through Natsume. How dare he talk about these types of things without his consent?!
Natsume stormed out of the house as he quickly made his way to the ramen shop, where he knew Narumi would be at.
He aggressively pushed open the door which startled Narumi.
"Natsume!" Narumi said pleasantly, not noticing the anger in his eyes.
He took small steps towards Narumi before reaching for his shirt, "Why the hell did you tell Mikan about me being the Blood?" he spat, "That wasn't your information to give out."
Narumi smiled sympathetically, "I agree, it wasn't my information to just tell her. But I thought that she needed to know."
"She doesn't need to know anything!" he shouted, "Why are you making her involved in my affairs? She doesn't need this." He added.
"Maybe it's a better thing if she's involved in this, then maybe she can help you-"
"That's what I don't want. I don't want her help; I don't want her to be involved with this Blood affair. She's going to do everything she can to try to help me get out of this mess because that's who she is. She always worried after people without worrying for her own safety."
Natsume released his hold of Narumi.
"Did Eric offer you anything?" Narumi asked.
Natsume eyed him warily, "Yes."
"You… Don't tell me you're going to go through with it?" Narumi asked, alarmed.
"Are you fucking kidding me? Who do you think I am? I'm not like you, sacrificing Yuna-"
In an instant, Narumi's face was close up to Natsume, "You will never speak of Yuna. You will only taint her name." he said darkly.
"Okay." Natsume said evenly.
Narumi pushed Natsume away as he tried to regain his composure.
"I only did what I thought would be best for you, Natsume." Narumi started as he made his way to the back, "It's up to you whether you believe that."
A/N: I apologize for another slightly short chapter, but finals and SAT's are now over! :D Which means, I have more time to update and the whole shebang.
Ty to those who have been reading and reviewing.
-M