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AN: Okay, so first off I am really sorry it took me a month to update. I know how grouchy I get when I have to wait :( Do I have an excuse... well.. I am not sure. Does lack of real inspiration count?
Anyways, please recommend some good music. Maybe music that you think gives you a feel of this story, or even any of my other stories? That always ALWAYS helps me write :)
And I wil try my best to not take so long in my next update.
Chapter 25
Aurelia smiled slightly at the covert glances coming her way as she sat on the windowsill of Natsume's conference room. The table on her side was completely empty since no one wanted to give her their back. She found the vampire's distrust amusing.
Her nephew though was another matter. He was sitting at the head of the table, and he had drawn another chair for his woman next to him. It was that sign of respect and equality that bothered her. Kendiar respected Silver because she would have had his hide if he didn't, but Mikan had no power, yet Natsume respected her. Aurelia could not make out just where he got all this honour from.
"You won't be able to figure him out by frowning at him. He's confusing." Mikan told Aurelia with a grin.
Silver eyes framed with thick blonde lashes turned to her.
"Natsume isn't something you can figure out just by staring. I've tried. Doesn't work. Best way is to ask him, easier than to guess his convoluted reasons." Mikan explained.
"Maybe for you." Aurelia answered with a sneer.
Mikan laughed even as Natsume's eyes narrowed and he glared at his aunt. Everyone else in the room, which meant all his generals, Anna, Ruka and Hotaru were watching this exchange with open interest.
"Yes, for me. Which is why you are wondering why he kept Kendiar alive, why he wants to talk to you, what his plans are, is he your enemy? Some other things as well I am sure." Mikan was chuckling.
Aurelia smiled in spite of herself.
"You and I would probably have become friends in another life." She murmured.
Natsume's hand settled heavily around Mikan's shoulders but he stopped glaring.
"Will you explain your side of the story? We already heard Father's side." Natsume asked.
Aurelia stared at them for a long moment, again noting the way he treated his Mikan before she answered. "Sure. My life and magic is linked with your mother's since we are twins. So when she bonded with that fool, I knew I would get to live forever too. That was fine. Then because of him, everyone was killed, and my sister nearly died. He got there at the last minute and helped her do a spell that bound the time in the room she was in to keep her on the verge of death. Then he went looking for me to fix her. I was all for the plan till then of course, after all, I get immortality, and no vampire, and saving my sister was no hardship." Aurelia said it calmly, but a strange bitterness crept into her voice.
"I got there... and Silver was so badly wounded, and in so much pain. The spell to heal her could only be done at a specific time. So what did your brilliant father do? He transferred all her pain to me and locked me up in a dungeon until I could be of use again. I stayed locked up for three centuries. Then the time came to fix Silver." Aurelia smiled cruelly at the end.
" I ran away. I was too weak to do any damage, but I reversed the pain spell and I ran. So now she suffered as I had and through her, Kendiar suffered. Ever since I regained my strength I have been stalking Kendiar. I still haven't decided if I want to kill him or not. After all, indirectly, I do get immortality from him and it suits me."
Tono cleared his throat, and Aurelia stared at him.
"You're my Rasa. I figured I should let you know, in case it helps you decide." He said matter of factly.
Aurelia raised both brows while Hotaru gave a low chuckle. Natsume sighed.
"How exactly can my mother be 'fixed'?" he asked, deciding to ignore this new complication in his life, for now.
"It's a simple healing spell really. Needs to be performed at a full lunar eclipse by a Rasa witch. But other than that, there is nothing to it. After that first time, that eclipse happened twice more, but Kendiar could not find anyone to perform it for him." Aurelia smiled evilly at the memory.
"Then how can you perform it?" Ruka asked.
"Because I am someone's rasa." She glanced at Tono. "It was customary to check for that in our kingdom using the Castillo poison. The potential to be a Rasa is important, not the actual fact of being one."
"By the way, if Mikan were to perform it, she would probably die, since she is too weak magically. I would probably faint, and then wake up in a few hours hale and hearty. Kendiar knows this too."
"Thank you." Natsume inclined his head.
"One more thing. There is another lunar eclipse three nights from today." Aurelia casually dropped the bomb.
"The decision is yours Aunt. I cannot force you to do anything. I can only decide my own actions." Natsume answered calmly.
"Oh? And what are my options nephew?" Aurelia asked with a raised brow.
"Either you heal mother or you do not. Whatever you decide, let us know and we'll make arrangements accordingly." Natsume replied, refusing to get annoyed.
"I will heal her. I am tired of the games. Make your arrangements and call me when you are ready." Aurelia snapped and threw a piece of paper at them. Natsume caught it from the air.
"Won't you take one of us with you?" he asked innocently.
Aurelia's eyes flicked to Tono who was watching her, not even trying to hide his interest.
"No. Modern tech is better. Call me." She answered and then tugged open the window whose sill she had been sitting on and jumped outside. Mikan's eyes flew wide.
"We're on the third floor!" She cried out.
"Doesn't matter to her." Natsume replied with a sigh.
"So people, we have a lot of planning to do. Somebody get my Father. He's getting his wish so he'll cooperate. Might as well make use of the old bastard." Natsume ordered. Tsubasa and Ruka started for the door.
"Anna, Hotaru, I'd rather you were not around Kendiar. He needs us, but he is never to be trusted." Natsume said calmly.
Anna opened her mouth to protest, but Yuu placed a hand on her arm.
"I'll fill you in later?" he asked softly and she sighed then nodded. Hotaru gave Natsume a long look then smiled.
"Before you would have simply ordered us to leave. Mikan has mellowed you." Hotaru observed before she swept out of the room.
Anna followed.
Mikan stared after them and then turned to Natsume with a quizzical look.
"He already has his sights set on you. Does not matter if we hide you." Natsume explained.
"Ah." Mikan murmured, before taking his hand in her and lacing their fingers. Natsume gave her a small smile and squeezed her hand in his.
Tono had watched all of this, and now he stood up and took a seat by the open window through which Aurelia had jumped outside. Mikan watched him but when she tried to say something, Natsume shook his head. Mikan nodded and settled back, letting the matter slide for now.
Kendiar nodded. "Yes, with this, everything will work and your mother will be healed."
"I want something in return for helping you father." Natsume said quietly.
"Anything to get Silver." Kendiar replied and no one could doubt the sincerity in his voice.
"You and mother both will leave me and mine alone once she is healed. Do you understand me?" Natsume asked.
"Yes. But what if she wishes to see her son?" Kendiar replied.
"She can visit me, but I will not tolerate any interference nor any harm done to my clan. Forget that and I will kill you." Natsume's voice was flat, and completely matter of fact, which made Kendiar agree more than anything else. Not to mention he had realized just how ruthlessly pragmatic Natsume was feeling when Natsume had told him that he would kill Kendiar at the first offense he made when he had entered the conference room, no matter if it would mean the death of his mother.
"Good. Then we leave for the Castle tomorrow morning. Tono, make sure my aunt is here on time. Tsubasa, keep an eye on Kendiar. Yuu make the arrangements. Ruka, the security of the mansion in our absence is your responsibility. Am I clear?"
All men came to attention.
Natsume nodded, and rose from his chair. Mikan rose with him. To Mikan's surprise though, he took her out of the Mansion, and to one of the best restaurant's in town.
Mikan smiled as she stepped out of the car.
"This place needs to be booked months in advance."
"What is the point of having all this money, if I cannot make proper use of it?" Natsume murmured, wrapping his arm around her waist.
Mikan smiled up at him. "You're pampering me."
They entered the doors. "Of course. I am the one with the psycho family."
Mikan chuckled, and then turned her smile at their Hostess who led them through the main restaurant to the private room that Natsume had booked.
Mikan started grinning once the doors opened and she got a good look inside. It was a large oval room, with pale gold walls, and a soaring ceilings. There were lounges and chaises everywhere, and the light was coming mainly from the two crystal chandeliers but it was muted, giving the room an ethereal feel. A table had been set up in the center, and there was a single candle burning on it, as well as a waiting bottle of wine.
"A waiter will be here soon to take your order." The hostess said with a smile, before leaving the room.
"You got me a ballroom." Mikan laughed.
Suddenly she was in his arms. "I'll get you anything that gives you pleasure."
She raised her hand to gently stroke his cheek and he turned his face into the caress.
Mikan opened her mouth to thank him, then shook her head and reached up and simply kissed him. It was full of every emotion that she wanted him to see, to understand. Her love, her care, her thanks, her pleasure, her joy, it was all there, and Natsume understood.
When they parted, they were both breathing hard.
"We'd better stop or that waiter is going to see something I never wanted him to see." Mikan whispered against his lips. Natsume chuckled, his breath washing over her lips.
"I can make it so he will not see anything, love."
"So tempting... but I would see him." Mikan's head fell on his shoulder and she pouted. Natsume laughed softly and picked her up, before carrying her to their table. He settled on one of the chairs with her on his lap.
"I am feeding you dinner though, my pretty lady."
"As long as I get to eat my dessert off of you." Mikan answered saucily.
Natsume laughed long and low. "I will hold you to that."
"No doubt." Mikan was laughing herself.
Dinner turned out to be a lot of fun, and dessert took them quite a few hours.
It was only when they were cuddled together on one of the chaises', that Mikan asked him.
"So, you're planning on leaving me behind aren't you?"
Natsume reached out and squeezed her knee.
"No. I was thinking about it, and then I realized that I want you close, no matter what. That's not why I took you out on a date."
"Oh?"
"Oh yeah. This is different and had you been patient, I would have done this more properly, meaning you would have had more wine in your system." Natsume murmured before sliding off the and kneeling in front of her.
Mikan's eyes widened, and then turned as wide as saucers when he pulled out a small black velvet box from his jacket pocket.
Before she could say anything, he opened the box, and she say the beautiful ring inside.
"Marry me?" he asked simply.
Mikan's hand fluttered to her heart, and before she realized it, tears were filling her eyes.
"Yes." She whispered in a choked voice.
Natsume gave her a heart-stopping smile and took her hand in his and slid the ring on. It was a deep burnished gold, set with a five carat diamond solitaire, ringed by rubies.
Then he was up again and kissing her with a mad passion that left her breathless and wanting more.
There was no stopping Natsume and she would not have wanted to stop him, not ever.