CHAPTER 21: kiss OR tell
Without second thought I teleported back to comfort room, I don't care if anyone felt my Alice... I have to get there and save this info that I just got. Nobara broke free and Hajime's left arm became ice when he tried to stop her. I'm now thinking that there's something wrong with that girl's sanity that everyone locked her up in that room, aside from the fact that she has one of the strongest alice, and they might wanna use her for their benefits like what they wanna do to Natsume.
I immediately pulled out the virtual device I set up and flinched when Dione showed up on the door.
"Oh, Mikan... you were here?" Yeah, she sounded to be surprised but well, she failed. "I need to retouch" I told her shortly. I looked back at her, and saw her face in horror-not just anything scary. "Dione, are you ok?" I asked her, a little worried because I can feel the same bad aura around, bringing me back to the fact that the ice-girl is out there.
"Excuse me..." she said, fright was obvious in her tone, and then she sprinted out of my sight. Keeping the stuffs safely secured on my cleavage (sorry, that's the safest area for me), I followed her. And to my own personal horror, I saw Nobara standing with her back on us, facing the party hall, and Dione unmoving on her feet, staring at the girl's figure with her hands on her wide-open mouth. This wants me to believe that this girl- is truly dangerous.
Trying to sound innocent of those facts, I approached Nobara, "Hello..." I greeted her. She faced me with this ragged appearance, with tears scattered on her lovely face. "Would you like to join us?" I cheerfully asked her. She nodded. I glanced at Dione's direction her face was still in horror. "No..." Dione whispered.
"Mikan-chan..." she called out at me. I looked back at her. "Don't... she's... she's..." she stammered. I looked back at Nobara, her face was pleading, but a little brighter, maybe from the fact that someone unfamiliar invited her in, and welcomed her. I wiped the tears on her face and some dirt on her pink, polka-red dress, which actually looks good on her, and still clean. But she's bare-footed, and I don't have spare shoes. I looked at my feet. My red pumps is not that high so I took it off, kneeled down before her and slid it under her soft feet. "No..." she sounded out, a little shy. I looked up at her and smiled. "I will not need that anymore, I already danced and enjoyed... And see? My dress is long, it will cover my foot." I winked at her and to Dione who was still looking gravely at us.
"You don't know what you're doing, Mikan..." she said, shaking her head. I pretended to be curious, like I don't know what she meant, though I actually understand her. "What are you saying?"
Hajime peaked from the door and took Nobara by the arm. "Onii-sama..." the ice-girl struggled, even if her brother's grip can't even hurt an ant.
"Listen, Nobara... please, it will not be good for you to go out... I'll make up to you tomorrow, but not here, please..." the brother pleaded.
"Excuse me..." I said, giving them space as I entered the hall. I looked back at the poor girl, and gave her a reassuring smile. I do pity her, and somehow, I feel like I want to befriend her, aside from the mission that I want to accomplish with a little help from her. But at least now, I now... I know who she is and where she is-that's a development.
Geez... This mission is really branching out so fast... It's getting on my nerves already. Sigh.
"Hey, girl..." Loraine greeted. "What's up there?" she casually asked as she pointed her glass of wine to Hajime, her crush's direction. "Oh..." I said, "Just a little bro-and-sis thing..." I told her. And believe me, her face went green.
"You said... 'sis'?" she asked in horror.
"Yeah... Why? What's wrong?" I sipped on my wine as I tried to get something, but she just keeps on opening and closing her mouth and then left without excusing herself to Dione's location. Oh my, what's wrong with them? By the way, where's the bastard?
"Hey, look at that girl... Isn't she Ibaragi?" an unfamiliar voice asked, not me, but the person with her. Chatting, obviously. I tried to ignore them but-
"She does look like that girl..." the other one said, pointing her cocktail glass to Nobara's direction. "Uhm... so here's where they hid her? She should be imprisoned. Just imagine those people that she killed..." Somebody added. Killed? It was not my plan to listen to them but still, this is part of my job.
I silently drank from my glass and continued listening. "And that's not all; it even looks like she stole something very important from the excavation in Egypt..." the first one murmured. Now it looks like they're really talking about Nobara, but why did they called her Ibaragi? I learned from her brother, Hajime that she was an archaeologist and I think this has to do something with the information we need for the moon island... because Tono-sempai's group is also there in Egypt, looking for it. Nobara knows something.
Just then, a loud crying voice was heard. "NNNOOO!" it was her. I glanced at the direction, but-
"Mikan..." someone just grabbed me so that we will hit the floor. The next thing I saw was a sharp ice crystal hit the wall where I was leaning some five seconds ago, and Natsume was on top of me, wincing on the pain on his bleeding head, still with little shards of glasses. Blood dripped on my cheeks, as I stared at his pained expression. "Are you fine?" he asked.
A lump began to form on my throat. What is he saying? I should ask him that question! Yes, my back is hurting due to the sudden fall, but look at him!
My hands involuntarily reached out to touch the sides of his face, with blood, as I stare blankly on his face. "Are you..." Geez! I can't say it... A waiter, who, I later recognized as Koko, came to help Natsume up. As soon as I was on my still-shaking feet, I don't know but I suddenly embraced him. "I'm sorry..." I quietly said, my voice was cracking in pain. I was surprised when he held me back. That was another near-death experience, oh my God.
Silence filled the hall. I remembered the thing! Flying away from Natsume's arm, I turned to look for Nobara. She was there on the same door; an apologetic look is clearly drawn on her face, while Hajime and another bulky guy were holding her on both arms. I want to go to her, to tell her that everything's fine, that it's ok but Natsume's hands are tightly wrapped around my arms. "Let's go..." he said, with much authority that will make you obey.
No way! We run out of Subaru-nii's alice stone. Geez... his wound was just on the side of his head but it won't stop bleeding. What should I do now? With my two hands folded on my waist, I worriedly looked at where he's sitting, pressing a bloody ice pack on his head. I sighed; maybe I should try harder to look for the first aid kit.
After some minutes, I finally found it! Yippee! I poured a little amount of Betadine on a cotton ball and cautiously cleaned his wound, and he winces every other time. "It hurts!" he exclaimed. "Of course it will!" I told him, standing and throwing the ice pack at him which landed... on his head.
Who the hell will not be annoyed, when you're trying you best to treat his wound, and then you'll just be shouted at? I am doing my very best, controlling myself and trying to be gentle. I was about to walk out, but then... I'm guilty. So I went back and kneeled again in front of him. "Sorry..." I humbly said, sighing in surrender.
"You don't have to..." he answered my apology, looking away. I felt the rush of guilt again. Why does he have to make me feel this way?
"Now, please... Just... endure the pain a little more... I'm trying..." I bit my lower lip and again, treated his wound. And for goodness sake, thank heavens! I did it! Now, I'm just fixing this bandage on that side of the wound to avoid infection, when he took my hand... and I'm staring at him, in the eye, surprised and well, I wanna freak out...
...BECAUSE THIS WEIRD STUFF IS ALL OVER ME AGAIN!
"Thanks..." he said. My heart just wants to jump out of my chest and my knees weaken. "Yeah... you're welcome..." I said. "Now...let's talk..." he said and I flinched. I remembered that reading-his-mind thing and his punishment. "What have you heard in my head?" he asked so seriously. At first I was just staring at him, but when I remembered those stuffs, like how much he's annoyed with Dione, and he's vexed when I'm with Hajime like he's jealous... But now, I'm not staring anymore. I have to look away, because I'm badly blushing, and I think my face would explode if I continue to look at him.
"I'm waiting... Pol—ka..." he said, still holding my hands. "No." I answered him stubbornly, swallowing the lump on my throat but it's still there, gosh. "One... two..." he counted in his warning but teasing tone. "I'm going to kiss you if you don't tell me..." he warned me, making my face maroon, instead of red, I closed my eyes and think-oh God, what should I do?. "I'm not kidding..." he added, vapour was coming out of my nostrils and ears.
I need to escape from his grip... it's just that... it's too tight, I can't... "Looks like you want the consequence... are you sure about that?" he asked, pulling me nearer to him, but I still resisted.
"Stop fooling around, you bastard!"
"Tell me..."
"Not now..." I pleaded, yes! Pleaded. "Now." he demanded. I looked at him nervously and then, geez... he pulled me nearer so that I'll be kneeling inches away from him. "Pervert bastard!" I hissed. "Eavesdropper brat." He answered me with a foolish smirk drawn on his well, flawless, red lips.
Right! STOP THERE! I SHOULDN'T BE LOOKING AND DESCRIBING HIS LIPS! Stupid Mikan, stupid! Stupid! Stupid!
I leaned my head on him, which actually surprised him, but sorry... I'm not gonna tell him, NEITHER will I kiss him! So I rolled a little to touch his wound and he recoiled. SUCCESS! I'm free!
"Do you really think I'm letting you off so easily?" he said, with a rather challenging voice. "And do you think that I will make you catch me?" I laughed deviously. "Never..." and I stuck out a tongue on him. And that's when we started running around the suite. He was never successful because I will eventually throw him anything that comes next to my hand, and he did the same.
Well, I think he doesn't really wanna kiss me. He just knows that I hate it, so he made it the consequence. But think about it... why in the world can't I tell him about those things that ran through his mind? It will not be my predicament anyway...
And now it looks like a game for us-running around, throwing things on each other, even knives... yeah, read it right... EVEN KNIVES... and we're even breaking the chair's foot just to have something to throw. And this is what you call a game. Like punching and kicking each other and dodge the other person's attack... really a game. But now... I'm cornered. Cornered here on the terrace, he closed the door behind him, and we're both panting.
The soft cold wind blew on my bare back giving me goosebumps. I have to shorten my long black dress by cutting it to allow me to run away from him faster while half of the buttons of his black long-sleeved shirt were undone, showing off some skin. Should I say 'hot'? Oh! Maybe not... I laughed at him while taking steps backwards. "You can't get me..." I teased him.
He just smirked, and I'm not paying attention to what I was doing, that's why I tripped and almost fell, but he caught me. "Loser..." he said, still with that smirk planted on his face-his handsome face with that red annoying but seductive eyes staring at me.
I'm not looking and describing his eyes, am I? Oh no... Why can't I help myself? GEEZ!
I tried to get away from him but he pulled me again when I was a little far. I was spinning back at him... like dancing... then he caught me and rested his hands on the back of my waist. "Thanks for the bandage..." he said, now his face was calm, but he made me spin again... and again... and again. I'm a little annoyed but I'm laughing...what's wrong with me? I mean, I'm like the ballerina on the music box that makes Michi sleep, and I'm a little churned up.
"When do you plan to stop this?" I asked him.
"Until you can decide if you want to tell me or not..." he answered. Then he started to hum Because of You, that one we danced with this afternoon, making me blush.
I'm actually grateful that I'm spinning, at least he won't notice. "How am I supposed to decide, if I'm confused?" I asked him again, but he just grinned and continued humming. Well, I can say that he should revive that song... It really sounds so good, you'll fell in love with the tune alone. Oh... but leave the singer alone, he's married!
WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME? WHY AM I SAYING SUCH FOLLISHNESS! CRAP, CRAP, CRAP!
He laughed. Yes, he laughed... like crazy! Seriously, this is my first time to hear him laugh so don't blame me for over-reacting. Now, turn the question around... What's wrong with him?
No-Not unless he heard my thoughts... No way, he's not a mind-reader... and if ever he is, it'll be nullified.
He stopped laughing and also stopped making me spin. "You're wrong..." he said with a smile. Now that's creepy! He smiled! It was crooked and nice but Whoa! That's not usual... Is he really Natsume?
Is he possessed by a better devil or something like that?
Wait, wait, wait...What does he mean with 'I'm wrong'? That he's not a mind reader?
Thump... badump... thump... thump... This is crazy... My heart's beating this loud. Did he really... heard my thoughts? Oh my-!
Another 'whoa' because everything around me is spinning so fast, and I lost my balance but again, this guy, got me. Yeah... he got me. I laughed, I don't know why... It's just a little happiness tickles me from the inside while I'm thinking about Colbie Caillat's song (You Got Me)... I closed my eyes to concentrate, still lying on the air, with just his arms to support me.
Then I felt him closer to me, and that's when I opened my eyes. He's really closer, leaning down on me-like we just finished dancing. "So, have you decided?" he asked, back to his serious tone and face.
"Yeah..." I smiled at him-even though I'm not yet decided. But gosh! I'm not letting him kiss me...duh!
This feeling... weird as it is, but feel so good even if it makes my heart burst, beating so fast, and making me catch a breath as he nears his face to mine. Those eyes... Red but gentle and uhm... if you'll look atit directly, it's... seductive. Why I'm starting to like seeing them... and him... all of him... this feeling's not weird... Not even me...
His distance from me, inches, was maintained. I'm looking directly on his eyes, and he's doing the same. I hope I know what's on his mind (Koko's alice inside me, well, expired already)...
My heart started to thump loudly again, but I can't move... He looked down at my lips, and again, everything numbed. "Should I?" he warned me, just to make me decide. I can't say anything. Remember? There's this big lump on my throat that prevents me from saying a word. I just blinked at him, blushing.
This nearness makes it harder for me to say something... Just... gosh! Is he serious? He's going to kiss me! Wait... ! Now, it's not inches anymore... it's centimetres, and his scent was there again, seducing me, little by little until I can smell his breath... then I can't move.
I... His lips will soon touch mine... and then... then...
Then...
OUCH!
A/N: Gosh it's already 2 am... I need to rest... There's a bunch of clothes waiting to be washed tomorrow plus additional lessons... I can't just leave this hanging or the ideas will fly out of my mind again... hehehe...thanks guys... I really appreciate your effort and time for reading, reviewing and giving comments and reactions... I love it... it really inspires me SO MUCH!
And oh- you might wanna guess again about that "OUCH!"... Just a game... hehehehhe=)
Please send me anything you wanna tell me again, okay? Even corrections... I'll take it... I need it...
CREDITS: You got Me Colbie Caillat
You've Got a Way Shania Twain
Something to Sleep To Michelle Branch