...THANK YOU…

kagome's heart102, lysabelle, Umbreon-Rawks, Pink Fire101, TearsandSorrow, SarcasticHeartlessAngel, Star Sapphirex, tinkerbellie, Crazy-Baka14, littledoggy, SnowCharms, MoonLove Angel, Rukaru-kun, anitsirhc, RoyalGoddess, Aminatsu032, li'l kitty, may520 for reviewing!

…NOTES…

I'm currently making a new fan fic which will be posted after this fan fic is done! Hope you guys like it when I post it!

…WARNING…

OOCNESS MAY BE FEATURED IN THIS CHAPPIE.

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Chapter Twenty One

His Forbidden Thirst

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Stupid!

Stupid Forgetting Syringe! Stupid Kaito! Stupid Hotaru! Stupid Ruka!! STUPID NATSUME!!!!!

She sat up from her futon, her eyes wet with tears. She stared at her alarm clock which read 3:00 am. She hadn't gotten any sleep that night for the thought of that evil Forgetting Syringe and the pessimistic vampires flooded her head with much disturbance. How could they just say that they'll leave her life forever just like that? There's always hope! But they can't see it because they're so…they're so…STUPID!

She fell back on the fluffy pillows on her futon, her mind in turmoil. She was just a human & there was nothing more she could do to prevent Hotaru's death and Natsume's capture. She had no powers, she couldn't do black magic or witch craft…she couldn't do anything. She was frustrated. She wanted to help them out so much but all she could do was do what a normal human does. It made her heart tear into pieces and it wasn't a nice feeling at all.

She rubbed her eyes which were now plentiful in tears and stood up. She opened the lights and opened the window. A cool breeze brushed against her cheeks and her chocolate colored hair. It blew away her tears and she sighed. She watched the stars sparkle effortlessly in the sky. "I don't want to forget you" she murmured.

The brunette definitely knew that it would be less painful if she would forget about Hotaru and Natsume but at the same time, she still wanted them to remain in her heart. Especially Natsume. Yes.

ESPECIALLY NATSUME!

He had made himself a little space in her heart and day by day, no…minute by minute the little space would grow deeper and bigger and she felt that it would take over both her heart and her mind. And though she thought it was a terrible feeling because it would make her face flush hotly, she wanted it to remain forever because the thought of Natsume made her feel warm.

She didn't know what this feeling was. It was bittersweet. She couldn't understand it. She had never felt this way for anyone before. What was this?

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Mikan found herself in a dark place, holding Natsume in her arms.

"Natsume-kun!!Wake up!!"

"Congratulations, moron…your wish came true...I got it back…"

"That's good…but why are you so weak?"

"It's overwhelming, I guess. My body's not used to it, I think this is the possible end of me…"

"But…why?! Natsume!! You're lying!!"

Natsume shook his head. "I have something to tell you…"

"What?"

"I…

Mikan sat up again; she felt eye bags forming below her eyes. Sweat trickled down her neck. She stood up and looked at the window, dawn was settling in and the window was decorated with frost. Mikan went out of her room to eat some breakfast so she wouldn't be late for school.

She went to the kitchen and put some water into a kettle to heat it up. She got some powdered hot chocolate from the pantry and spooned some into a mug. While the water boiled, she got some bread from the breadbox and took a piece and got some butter from the refrigerator as well.

"It was that dream again…" she told herself, as she spread the butter on the bread. Why did that dream torment her so? She didn't even know what the hell it meant but she was still bothered by it very much.

Jii-chan came out of his room. "Ohayo, Mikan" he said, giving his granddaughter a kiss.

"Ohayo, grandpa" she murmured softly, pouring the hot water into the mug.

"Are you feeling ok? You seem a bit gloomy this morning" Jii-chan said, slicing some fruit.

Mikan nodded. "I'm feeling fine, grandpa. Just a bit sleepy"

"Anything bothering you? Like nightmares?"

Mikan recalled the dream.

"Yes" she muttered, mixing the hot chocolate very slowly. "Yes, nightmares…"

"Oh, shouldn't you be giving Natsume his breakfast by now? You're going to school later so you better get on with it"

"Shouldn't Natsume be more comfortable with us by now to prepare his own breakfast?" Mikan inquired, for she was very lazy to prepare some breakfast for the vampire right now

"He's still a guest, Mikan…"

"But he's like family already!" the brunette whined.

"Family, eh?" Jii-chan said, raising an eyebrow. "You've grown very comfortable with Natsume-kun already, haven't you? Are you two dating?"

Mikan reddened. "O-Of course not!! Natsume-kun and I are just friends!!!" she protested, taking out some bread to prepare his breakfast and then stopped. Her eyes widened. Just friends…somehow that term for the two of them didn't really work for her. She knows that she had used that term for her and Natsume for a long time now but suddenly it seemed so wrong.

"I'm getting the impression that you have a little crush on him…" Jii-chan said, giving a loud laugh.

Mikan reddened some more. "Don't be silly, grandpa!" she said, spreading some butter and jam onto the bread. She took some hot chocolate and poured it into a mug.

"Oh come on, it's natural for you to have some chemistry since he's been living with us for a long time now…"

It came to the brunette teen that Natsume REALLY lived with them for a long time now. He had came into her life from last year's spring to this year's winter. He had been under the same roof with her for quite sometime already. She had gotten so used to the sarcasm and insults of the raven-haired vampire that it seemed so heartbreaking for her to have the thought of him being captured and have herself take the Forgetting Syringe.

"I won't let you get captured!" she yelled.

"What?" Jii-chan said, turning to Mikan.

Mikan shook her head. "Nothing, jii-chan!" she said and walked to Natsume's room.

Natsume was still sleeping when she entered the room. Mikan bent down and watched his chest rise and fall as he breathed. She observed the way his black hair fell as he tossed and turned and how his eyes seemed so calm when it was closed, concealing those stunning red eyes. Wait, why am I admiring his features? Mikan thought and shook her head. "Wake up," she whispered.

"I've got your breakfast…"

Natsume didn't say anything.

"Wake up" she said again, shaking him lightly.

Natsume opened his eyes, but they weren't red anymore…they were like a faded red. They were…orange. He scanned the room as his face fell pale and his hair…his hair…was losing its blackness. It was becoming lighter. Mikan put her hand on his forehead and it was so hot that she had a sudden reflex.

"Natsume-kun…are you alright?"

Natsume gave a deep breath and shook his head. "I'm…sick…"

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I'm not going 2 school 2day coz Natsume is sick.

Ruka and Hotaru read the text message sent by Mikan. Hotaru spent the night in Ruka's guest bedroom since she was still avoiding her master and Ruka was nice enough to offer his guest room and his mother was kind enough to allow it even though Hotaru was a girl.

"Sick? Do vampires get the same sicknesses as humans?" Ruka asked Hotaru as the two sat down for breakfast.

"Yes, the contagious ones. But there is a very dangerous Vampire disease that wipes out the blood"

"The blood?? What are you talking about?"

"If a vampire doesn't have enough blood, he gets this certain sickness which has such a difficult pronunciation that even I cannot pronounce it…but anyway, if a vampire doesn't take that much blood…he begins to have high fever, breathing difficulty and even bleeding. The sickness wipes out the blood since the blood doesn't have that much magic anymore…it's very dangerous"

"It could kill him…"

"Is there a cure?"

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Ok. So this sickness is very difficult, I'm not going to be SOFT on you because you must know. This sickness can kill HIM. It wipes out the blood cause he's not having enough blood at all. Anyway, there's something called Moon Energy. Vampires are in their strongest form when night falls. You must take Natsume out during night and let him bathe in the moonlight. I dunno if that is REALLY the cure but that's all I know. Make him bathe in the moonlight for like, 30 minutes or so. It will make him stronger but I dunno if that will last long. Hope for the best. –Hotaru

Mikan read those words from her cell phone as if it were poison. It could kill him?!

A pool of blood lay on his futon as Natsume breathed with much hardship. His hair was now grayish black and his eyes were dark orange. He held onto Mikan for dear life and he coughed out blood. Mikan watched him suffer in terror.

"Natsume! Why didn't you take enough blood?" she said, shaking his weak arm.

Natsume swallowed. It was like he took up so much energy just to talk. "I didn't…want…to…hurt you…If I bit you…you'd become a vampire too and I didn't want you to suffer…a great deal of pain like I did…when I became…one…"

He didn't want to hurt me? The brunette gulped. Tears began streaming down her cheeks and she clutched Natsume's hand as if it was something precious. Her face reddened and she let the tears sting her eyes as she put Natsume's cold hand on her cheek for warmth.

"Natsume-kun…"

A tear rolled down on Natsume's hand and he looked at Mikan. "Don't cry you stupid girl…it will make you even uglier than you are now…"

"I…I'm so sorry Natsume…it's just that I had that STUPID DREAM AGAIN!!!"

"Oh that one…maybe…maybe it is true!!!"

"SHUT UP!" Mikan yelled, putting down his hand. "Why do you have to be so negative about things?! Sometimes dreams don't come true!"

"SOMETIMES" Natsume said, looking at Mikan weakly. "Sometimes they do…"

"I HATE YOU!!!" the brunette yelled, putting her hands on her face.

"Telling me that you hate me won't make me any better"

Mikan had to admit that it was true.

"You're so important to me Natsume-kun, and seeing you weak like this is so horrible!! It makes my heart shatter into a million pieces. You must get better! Because seeing you suffer pains me and I HATE the feeling!! Get back to your original self"

"You mean my sarcastic, insolent and annoying self?" Natsume said, giving a weak smirk.

Mikan nodded. "I like that YOU better"

"I'm a vampire… …I don't want to hurt anyone so I didn't drink blood…so I must face this obstacle whether I like it or not"

The brunette continued crying and squeezed Natsume's hand.

"That hurts"

"Gomenasai" she said, lessening the pressure. "Please feel better"

Natsume sighed. "I'll try"

"You shall bathe in the moonlight later so you can get better" Mikan said, giving a smile.

"Fine"

"I want you to live Natsume-kun…even if it means getting your soul back!"

"That's impossible"

Mikan stood up. "No! I'll fight Kaito! And the rest of the vampires, and I'll get your soul back and…"

She smiled. "You'll live a good life. And we'll be…we'll be together…ok?"

Natsume closed his eyes. That he could take. "Whatever"

"I'll go out for awhile and get some groceries"

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The brunette put on a yellow sweater, some warm velvet pants, black snow boots and a red scarf. She let her hair down because it was warmer that way and put on a bonnet. It was horribly cold and she didn't want to get sick. She promised herself that she'd stay healthy to tend to Natsume, and make him feel better. She took her wallet and walked out the door.

The afternoon was colder than the morning and when Mikan exhaled, smoke escaped out of her nose. She watched her neighbors shovel out the snow which was blocking their driveway and polishing their windows which was blurred with frost.

She wondered why she was the only one walking. Perhaps it was too cold? Maybe they took their car instead? No. The cars were blocked by a thick blanket of white so there was no point in driving and walking was much more sensible. But really, she couldn't be the ONLY one walking to the grocery now.

Suddenly, someone took her shoulder.

"Mikan-chan!!"

Mikan turned around. "K-kaito!"

She felt a sudden scared feeling creep down her chest. Her heart raced and she wanted to make a dash for it but she couldn't. She was with Hotaru's master but she couldn't run away or anything or he'll suspect that she knows!! She stiffened as he put his arm around her.

"Going to the grocery, eh? Me too! Mind if I walk with you"

YES. I MIND. Mikan thought.

"N-no, of c-course not!"

"Why are you stammering?"

"B-because of the cold weather…I really hate winter, you know!"

"Yeah. So cold and bitter…" Kaito said, and they came to a stop. He put his hands on Mikan's face.

"What are you doing?' Mikan asked.

Kaito smiled lovingly and ran his fingers through Mikan's hair. He pulled her close to her and slipped his hands on her back. Mikan felt downright awkward as he felt through her hair and breathed down her neck.

"What are you doing?" she asked again.

"I'm in love with you" he said, and pulled a few inches from Mikan. "I'm in love with you, Mikan"

He then locked Mikan into his arms and cupped her chin with his fingers. He held her so tight that Mikan couldn't even move. He put his finger on her lips. "I want to kiss you" he murmured and crashed in to lock his lips with hers.

She couldn't move. It was as if she was frozen herself, she watched his lips near hers. Then, she felt his lips crash into hers, her eyes widened and then she felt a certain burning sensation in her heart. It was like someone poured kerosene into her soul and lit it. Then she felt something rise out of her mouth, it tasted like chocolate smoke. Oh God…IT WAS HER SOUL.

Then suddenly, Mikan saw a fist hit Kaito's cheek and the evil boy fell to the floor.

Mikan turned and saw Natsume panting, blood trickling down his lips and his fingers.

"Don't…

Touch…

Mikan…"

Kaito smoothed his pants and smiled sinisterly. "Dear me, dear me…it seems that my dear Natsume has fallen in love with this indolent human!! Well vampires can't fall in love with humans you damned creature!" he said and turned to Mikan.

"Your soul tasted good…but your stupid boyfriend intruded and it returned back to you!!" He said and held Mikan tight to give her another kiss. "I don't give up that easily"

Mikan saw a different side to Kaito. Instead of seeing his angelic disposition flutter about, she saw a monster. He still looked the same but his eyes flashed with yellow fire and fangs slipped out of his lips.

"NO!" Mikan yelled, slapping Kaito. "Natsume-kun…"

But Natsume was frozen as ice.

"What have you done to him?"

"Frozen him…" Kaito said, giving a sinister grin. "Now I shall take your life"

Mikan watched her feet glue to the ground with ice in horror. "NO! LET ME GO!!!"

Kaito put his arms around Mikan and smoothed her lips, in preparation for "the kill". "Keep quiet"

"NO!!" Mikan said, squirming about. "STOP IT!!!"

"DON'T TOUCH MIKAN!!!!"

Natsume used most of his power to get out of the ice that he was embedded in and lunged at Kaito. He punched and kicked him until he began to bleed.

In an instant, Kaito vanished in a puff of smoke.

"Is he dead?' Mikan said, walking to the spot where Kaito was.

Natsume locked Mikan into a tree and looked at her sternly. He breathed with much difficulty.

"Natsume-kun…"

"Kaito contaminated you…" he said.

And in that instant, he put his lips to Mikan who's eyes widened in pure shock. She didn't kick or squirm like she did with Kaito but let Natsume's lips sink into hers. The warmth of his lips against hers was so overwhelming that Mikan couldn't help but run her fingers through Natsume's hair. It was warmer than a bonfire and simply removed the cold winter feeling from her body. Oh, how wonderful this feeling was.

Natsume broke the kiss and put his hand on his lips. "N-Natsume-kun…what was that for?" Mikan asked, her face all pink.

"I wanted to see if he took your soul, apparently…he didn't"

Mikan sighed. It didn't mean anything, did it? Why did I even expect that it did?

"Oh…I see…"

Then, sunset began.

"Natsume-kun! The moon is about to arrive!" Mikan said, totally forgetting about what just happened.

They waited for a bit and then the moon rose. Natsume's cheeks flushed with color and his hair darkened.

"Hotaru-chan was right!!" Mikan grinned, turning to Natsume. "Are you feeling better, Natsume-kun?!"

Natsume nodded. "Much better!"

Mikan flung her arms around Natsume and gave him a hug. Natsume put his hand on her head and ran his fingers through her hair and buried his nose into the strands and smelled the delicious citrus shampoo scent that her hair smelled of. Mikan closed her eyes and smiled, savoring the momentas she and the raven-haired vampire held each other very tight.

I think I'm in love with you, Natsume.

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To be continued…

…NOTES…

Don't you just envy Mikan?

I hope you liked this chapter! Please review, I'd love to hear your thoughts! Hehe. Anyway, I hope you liked it! I'm kinda sleep already…and also SCARED since I'm alone in this room and I hate being alone in a room at night…anyway, I'll stop my blabbing now and I hope to see your reviews! Luv you!