me: ...
mikan: well? lain chan are you alright?
me: ...oh right! you know the drill! i don't own gakuen alice!
natsume: tch... how igno-
me: shut it! get ready for later!
natsume: *sweatdrop*
mikan: huh? lain chan what is it?
me: i'll tell you...it's about *whispers*
natsume: errrmmm... chapter 20...
Chapter 20
The day for the long awaited photo shoot finally arrived! Everyone was looking forward to it, well, almost everyone, that is. All because of one girl, and that is mikan yukihara. It's now 7 am, three more hours before the said photo shoot begins. Is the world ending? She actually woke up early! But that's not the main point, she didn't even sleep a wink, actually, well, maybe one hour, she was still sulking about what happened yesterday…
flashback
"I love you mikan…? Huh? Wait… does he love me as a friend…or…." Mikan was in deep thought when the saleslady pulled her back to reality.
"miss….miss?"
"uhhh….ahh! h-hai! Gomen!" she exclaimed. The lady just flashed a smile and presented the necklace she picked for youichi.
"okay, wrap it up please." So the lady bowed and took her leave, making mikan step back to her thoughts.
"well, maybe as a friend…? Well, what I feel for him anyways?" mikan whispered.
'wait, to do that, why don't I just recall my reaction when he said that…. Hmm… surprised, shocked….mad….happy….wait, happy? Why do I feel happy? Urrgghhhh! This is all too difficult!' mikan bumped her head in her imagination.
"ummm…. Ojou sama…. Y-your necklace…" the lady muttered, who was now worried about her customer. Mikan just took it unconsciously and handed her credit card. When the lady came back, she took her card and dashed away, with one thing on her mind.
'maybe I could ask hotaru about this, she would know a lot better, right?'
End of flashback
"ughhhh...headache," she rubbed her temples as she started to get drowsy.
"ok, I'll just ask hotaru….who knew confirming your feelings for someone could be this hard!" she exclaimed as mikan plopped herself to bed.
"I'll just get some shut eye for now….*yawn*" with that, she closed her eyes and floated to dreamland.
I was hoisted upwards….i felt a safety belt around me.
As I was going up…and up… I heard a faint rumbling clink.
CLIIINNKKK CLLIIINNNKK
'what the heck is that?' I thought as I squirmed uncomfortably in my spot.
"okay honey! Just grab on one of those railings and look smoking hot!" someone called to me from below. I heard him but still, I can't focus because of that clinking sound. I looked around for the source of it, but it looks like it came from the ladder…? I just erased the thought and followed the instructions that were given to me.
CLINK CLLIINNKKK CLANK!
"kyyaaaa!" I shrieked as the ladder fell down… then I heard a loud crash at the bottom.
"are you all right?" someone shouted to me. But, I couldn't answer because of another sound bothering me! I looked at the rope, which is supporting my weight. So if this thing breaks, I'll be a model pancake in no time!
CRIKLE CRIKLE CRRIIKKLLEEEE
'OMG! The rope!'
I was dangling on the end of the rope with my hand tangled onto my belt, but still I kept on holding onto it.
CRAAACCCKKKLLLEEEE CRRAACCKK!
The next thing I know… I was falling as I screamed a name that I really missed.
"nat kun- NATSUME!"
"kyyyaaa!" mikan woke up with a start as tears began to drop. She then looked around and took note of her surroundings.
"good…. I'm still in my room…. Thank kami sama it's just a dream!" she muttered, quite relieved her dream isn't real.
BANG!
"kyyaa! Mikan chan are you all right?" anna exclaimed as she, nonoko, misaki, and hotaru barged into my room.
"yeah! Even though it was sound proof, and your shriek was muffled a bit, hotaru heard you and quickly woke us up!" misaki ushered to my side and hugged me tight.
"ummm…..mi…saki…can't breathe…aiiirrrrr!" I gasped while nonoko removed misaki.
"ehehe…gomen ne~ we're just super worried!" nonoko explained.
"ummm gomen for making you gals worry~! It's just that I had this very bad dream and-"
"what time is the photo shoot?" hotaru but in.
"umm 10 am. Why?" mikan asked, curious.
"look at the clock." Hotaru ordered, and so she followed. It read 9 am.
"ooohh…. 9 am…" she muttered carelessly as she plopped herself to bed again. Everyone sweatdropped as hotaru started the countdown. "let's have a countdown on mikan's stupidness.
5
4
3
2
And…"
"OMG! I have to dress up ASAP! Thanks for reminding hotaru!" she hugged her best friend, and fortunately, hotaru gave in and remarked.
"baka. Just don't make us too worried, got that? And hurry up or you'll taste the fury of my baka gun to make up for that hug." Mikan just stuck her tongue out as she showed a peace sign.
"yeah got it!" she then dashed away in her bathroom as everyone took their leave and closed the door behind.
Meanwhile outside the park…
"okay… you know what to do right?" a girl asked her companion.
"hai. But, are you sure about this luna? I mean, why couldn't you just do this yourself?"
"tsk, because I have something to do, and besides, I know you hate her too, ne?" luna asked.
"well…." She hesitated for awhile.
"well what?" luna ased forcibly between gritted teeth.
"i…hate her…" she winced.
"good. Now get things done fast sumire. Bye." Luna said as she went out of the car, leaving her sulking best friend.
"great…just great! Once that you're in her clutches, you can't escape no matter what." She murmured.
"but still, I can't afford to lose a friend, she's my only one after all." So after that last thought, she decided to continue with luna's plans and left the car.
"this is going to be a heck of a day for you yukihara…" she muttered.
Hyuuga mansion…
"you're so sly natsume… I mean, you were pressured for god's sake! Of course you would tell her that! But…" natsume stopped in thought. "maybe I'm damn rushing into things, tch, we're from… or in a fight right now. What a brave move!" natsume chided himself. Yep, he too is bothered by what happened yesterday, and is now thinking of a way of how to explain it to mikan, who is soo dense when it comes to these situations.
"tch, well it's true, isn't it?" natsume smirked. "I bet she's sulking over it, too. Ughh who am I kidding? I should worry too! How would I explain to her? I mean, yeah I meant what I said, but judging from our situation right now…. It really looks like I'm rushing! And worse, she maybe is confused! I have a good guess that she doesn't even darn know what she feels towards me…. Ughhh…." Natsume banged his fist in frustration. 'what a bad move I made!' he thought over and over again. So without second thought, he put on a pair of jeans and sneakers, but kept his v-necked shirt and unruly hair. He dashed down to their garage and got his keys for his car.
"I'll just visit the love doctor then." He said with a smirk as he drove off, not even having second thoughts about where he's going.
BEEP BEEP!
"ah, that's my ride! Wish me luck!" mikan aroused with a cheery smile as she hurried towards everyone.
"'kay! Good luck!" anna and nonoko chorused.
"see yah later!" tsubasa winked as mikan waved goodbye and went to the door. But before she could go, hotaru stopped her and whispered to her ear,
"please take care baka." Mikan smiled reassuringly and hugged her.
"yep! I promise that!" so with that, she exit the mansion and got in the black car.
"ohayo gozaimasu, mikan sama! Ano…. I mean m-mikan." The chauffeur greeted her from behind the wheel. Mikan just giggled the way he stammered over her name.
"hai~! Back to you too! But since you're rather uncomfortable calling me that, you can call me mikan sama if you like to!"
"ano….e-errmmm… a-a-arigatou m-mikan sama! Now, we will be heading the national park, our estimated time of arrival will be 9:50 am." The chauffeur was now back to normal and mikan just smiled in return.
"hai~! Arigatou ermm-"
"mikan sama could call me rioku"
"arigatou rioku!" she cheerfully said, while rioku just returned the gesture and revved up the engine. Soon they were on their way towards their destination.
Just after about fifteen minutes of mikan's leave, a knock came to the door.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!
"oi, get the door yuu!" koko ordered as he tried to concentrate in winning the game tekken 6.
"yeah yeah like I'll let you win!" he said sarcastically. But too late, he already did.
"yeahhhh! Woohooooo! I won! In your face suckah!" koko jumped up and down as he pointed a mocking finger at yuu.
"just get that bloody door and see who it is will yah?" the irate yuu just sighed in annoyance.
"fine mr. loser!" and with that, he finally left the room, leaving yuu, tsubasa, and ruka in dead air, until they broke into fits of laughter.
"hahahahahaha! Nice one yuu!" tsubasa remarked as he did a knuckle touch with his chuckling friend.
"what? At least I let him win one time over twenty games, right?" he feigned innocence.
"yeah right! You just did that so he would open the door!" ruka laughed and laughed as he pats yuu on the back. But before yuu could say anything, a loud bang came from the door.
"h-hey guys…. It's…it's-" koko stuttered.
"just tell us who is it!" tsubasa shouted as he held koko by his shoulders. The latter just looked directly at him as he gulped nervously, tsubasa's eyes just widen with surprise and a smirk came to his face, meaning that he gets it.
"well?" ruka asked impatiently as koko and tsubasa turned them and answered simultaneously.
"the leader's here."
The next moment they were running down the stairs to welcome the said person.
"hey nat! long time no see!" tsubasa said as he kunclke touched with natsume.
"yeah. It's because you didn't bloody invite me here in the first place." he pointed out like it was the most obvious thing in the world right now.
"eheheh gomenazai…" they all said simultaneously with grins on their faces, 'just like kids.' Natsume thought as he sweatdropped.
"well, not to be rude, but why are you here?" yuu asked politely. The guy asked just rolled his eyes in amusement and allowed himself inside the living room.
"nothing….just bored to death." He replied with a teasing glint in his eyes, right after he said that, ruka sensed there's something more than that.
"tsk, are you sure that's all?" he asked with a mischievous grin. Tsubasa soon caught up with what's happening and decided to tease natsume about it.
"heh, yeah right! You just probably want to see my couz!" he joked around as he playfully slapped natsume's back, which in turn showed a playful glare.
"tch, I don't have any plan to see her today…" natsume replied sheepishly, but later on, he chuckled at nothing in particular, which made his friends confused.
"oi, what are you chuckling about?" koko asked, worried.
"you look like a total madman!" tsubasa grinned.
"he totally lost it! Maybe because of mikan?" ruka remarked.
"I just remembered that I made a really bad move yesterday." Natsume retorted.
"to whom?" yuu asked.
"m-mikan." He replied as a little tint of pink came to his cheeks. Everyone has their eyes wide opened, except for ruka who formed an 'o' with his mouth.
"yesterday?" the three chorused, their voices stating that they don't believe him.
"hn, yesterday, you guys went on a date and left me in our house. How thoughtful friends I have." Natsume smirked.
"so… you arranged a date yesterday? Huh? Huh?" koko jumped up and down, only to be stopped by tsubasa's pulling. As koko piped down, the guy whispered something to his ear, which made koko's eyes widen in surprise.
"say WHAT?" he asked tsubasa, who in turn just nodded. Natsume and the rest became very curios of what's happening between the two.
"nani? what's going on?" ruka asked as he raised an eyebrow at them. The two just giggled like preschoolers and ignored the question.
"natsume! You're speeding up in your so-called relationship!" koko joked natsume. The latter just showed a shocked expression. 'did he know…?'
"you actually did it with her!" koko exclaimed as everyone started laughing their throats out.
"say what? Natsume you really did that to her?" ruka asked sarcastically.
"wow, I know you're wild, man. But to think you'll go to that extent doing it with her!" yuu just tagged along. Natsume just smirked and glared at tsubasa.
"nice shadow freak. You really did it this time." Natsume muttered as he punched tsubasa on his arm HARD.
"that bloody hurts!" tsubasa managed to show a grin.
"hn." he put on a poker face.
"you know what natsume?" ruka patted his back as he seated himself on the couch.
"hn?" natsume raised his eyesbrows at ruka, urging him to continue.
"one, the song poker face really suits you, and-" the boys stifled a laugh.
"and you didn't answer my question." Ruka continued.
"and what's the question…?" natsume asked.
"why are you really here." He answered. And all became silent.
"well….."
But little did they know that four pairs of eyes are watching them, listening intently to their conversation.
Hotaru's POV
"why are you really here." Bunny boy asked his insensitive excuse for a best friend.
"well….." as he started, his expression soften a bit.
"I… I just want to ask you a question…"
"about..?" ruka asked.
"about m-mikan…" everyone let out a silent gasp. 'tch, predictable'
"well… you're wondering what happened yesterday, right?" all of them nodded like little pups, except for yuu, who just looked up from his always-present-laptop 'god, where did he get that so quickly?'
"…it all started when aoi damn dragged me to the mall, when she disappeared inside this crazy store, I tried to find her, but later gave up on finding her, I sat on one of the benches outside and just read my manga. But it's so freakin' noisy that I couldn't concentrate on it! I just wished I could make all those people go away like little mice."
"well, you could actually, you own the place right!" koko suggested. Yuu sighed and answered the question.
"then, he'll be soo dead when his dad came back." Natsume just shrugged.
"no, it's just a waste of energy," he said, and so everybody sweatdropped, including us girls.
"what an arrogant jerk….." misaki muttered.
"back to the story, after about an hour, a heavily dressed girl, about my age, came out of the store and flopped herself on one of the benches across mine. I heard her talk to youichi…. Something about buying a necklace, but when she removed her shades, I saw a familiar pair of hazel chocolate eyes-"
"mikan." Ruka guessed, while natsume just nodded in affirmation.
"hn, but when she finished talking to that devil, she stood up and walked away. But before she could go far, something inside of me just wanted her to stay with me….damn I sound very cheesy right now!" and every guy chuckled. 'good thing I'm recording everything…. I'm gonna get rich, again…' I thought, victoriously.
"yeah…." Ruka whispered, his voice, even though it's just a whisper, I could hear a proud and happy lining in it.
"a-anyways, I did just that… I grabbed her wrist and forced her to face me, and when she did, she was so shocked that she shouted my name, and as usual, those weird crazy fan girls came running towards us. But before they could crowd us, I wrote something on her palm, and ran for my life."
"what did you write?" tsubasa asked curiously. Instantly, I saw natsume hide his face, but I saw his face was as red as a cherry.
"i….i-I l-l-lov…" he stuutered, so koko hit him on his back, forcing the words out of him.
"I LOVE YOU MIKAN!" he suddenly shouted, which made the guys smirk at him in contentment, and the girls giggle at him in amusement.
"he finally said it!" anna shouted in victory… 'we're in trouble…' I muttered, but still wear my blank face nonetheless.
"anna?" yuu guessed as he followed the source of the voice, and unfortunately, he found us.
Normal POV
"heeeheee…. Ohayoooo~!" both anna and nonoko greeted nervously.
"so you gals were there all along!" tsubasa gasped. Misaki stomped to his side and hit him on the head.
"tsk, you didn't know? What kind of a boyfriend are you?" she started to chatter all the way. Ruka saw hotaru and quickly, his eyes bulged.
"where's the other pictures hotaru?" ruka asked nervously.
"tsk, most of it are sold already. Speaking of it," she stopped only to take pictures of his afraid and surprised face.
"these will work out just fine." She smirked to herself as ruka, on the other hand, blushed in embarrassment.
"come back here! Give me those!" and so their usual bickering and chasing was out. Yuu glanced at natsume, who just turned on the tv and started watching, like nothing happened.
"hello and ohayo to all! This is kiki ayukawa speaking, and now we're live here at national park! Where our famous mikan yukihara is having a photo shoot! Let's take a closer look, shall we?" the news reporter said, as she jogged to the set,
"hey, they're viewing mikan's photo shoot!" yuu called out, as natsume sat up straight and stared intently at the monitor, hoping to see mikan's bright face.
"hey mikan san! I'm kiki ayukawa from Tokyo today. And may I say, I'm a HUGE fan of yours! I can't believe I'm standing right next to you this moment!" the reporter squealed, making mikan, who's facing the mirror, wince.
"ehehehe….ohayo kiki san. Nice to meet you." mikan smiled wanly, as the girls giggled at kiki san.
"tsk, what kind of a excuse for a mature reporter is that?" hotaru pointed to kiki with disgust.
"well, you can't be too old to have an idol" ruka remarked with a grin.
"mikan san! You're up!" a guy called to her, and in a instant, mikan rose up, showing her braided hair, a fit, white polo, with the top two buttons undone, a pair of black skinny jeans, silver wedges, smoky make-up, and shades pushed back on top of her head.
"sayonara, kiki san! Wish me good luck!" she waved as she ran to the set, where a helicopter is waiting for her. The camera zoomed in and showed mikan, who is being helped by the staff to put on a safety belt (= you know, like for bungee jumping? The thing you wear around you waist?). The camera followed her petite body being hoisted up, and when she got closer to the helicopter, a ladder was brought down, allowing her to grab on it, but still,
"why is mikan sama not reaching for the ladder?" kiki asked. Then something happened that made natsume shudder in horror.
"kyaaaaa!"
mikan: soo that happened while i'm away...
me: yup! and now natsume...get ready!
natsume:...
me: you have to stay away from mikan for three days! (suggested by readers ;))
mikan: *giggled*
natsume: what the heck?
me: yep! that's just a simple sacrifice you know!
mikan: yeah! putting her story on the line was uncalled for you know!
me: so with that, only me and mikan will supervise this stroy while you're away! woohoooo
mikan: wait! don't forget hotaru!
me: ahh right! she'll be replacing you for three days!
natsume: tch whatever. lain you're soo dead.
me: ehehehe well, before my end, please do review! thank you for my readers who helped me out! *big hug* i'm soo happy to have you guys!
mikan: yep! if it weren't for them, this story is nothing!
me: ehhh yeah... i guess *sulking in one corner*
mikan: lain chan! i-i didn't mean it like that!
me: ...don't forget to review okay?