DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN GA.
CHAPTER 36: A little help from my friends
"If I am a baka like Polka, where would I go at this time of day?" Natsume asked himself while walking around the palace, looking for a certain someone. "Dammit. I've looked everywhere in this palace and yet she's nowhere to be found. Where the hell could she be?"
Natsume stopped for a while and then thought. "Knowing Polka, she would go to a place that she thinks would be cute or pretty. Where in the world of alices would I find a place that is cute and pretty in Polka's eyes?" He asked himself again. And then he suddenly remembered the words of the brunette.
"But thank you, Natsume. This really cheered me up. I didn't even know that there's a place as beautiful as this in this kingdom. How did you know this place?"
Natsume immediately ran outside the palace and took a short cut going there. "Polka Dots, you better be there. You should be there. It's the only place that you could go to as of the moment."
He ran and ran until he finally reached the valley where he took Mikan the day she fitted her wedding gown. He saw the brunette sitting under a tree, hugging her knees. "Could it be that she's still crying?" He thought and then went towards the brunette and sat down right beside her.
Mikan tilted her head to see who it was. And to her surprise, it was the flame caster that had a special place deep in her heart. "What are you doing here?" She asked.
"I should be asking you the same thing. Shouldn't you be back in the palace? Your mom said that you should give Queen Kaoru a warm welcome." Natsume said. "Judging by that tear strained face and red eyes, she has really been crying."
"I already welcomed her a while ago so leave me alone."
"You don't have to push me away that much, you know." Natsume said. "You just have to deal with someone as annoying as I am for about a week and then I would be totally out of your sight." He added. "Oh great. Me and my big mouth! I came here to confess and not to pick up a fight! Baka Natsume!"
"So you're really leaving?" Mikan asked in a serious tone. "Don't you care about the things that you would be leaving behind when you go back to your kingdom? What about Ayame-san and Toru-san?" She asked. "What about us? What about me?" She trailed off.
"Mom told me a while ago that I should worry about them because she will be the one providing their needs starting from the day that I would go back to the Fire Kingdom. It's her sign of gratitude for taking care of me. I don't really wanna leave but mom said that it's my duty as a prince to serve my people and the rule over my kingdom. She went all blabbering about responsibilities and all that crap. And I have to admit it's annoying. Being a royal is complicated."
"I see."
"Polka Dots, do you want me to leave?" Natsume asked.
"Would it matter if I answer? You would leave eventually whether you like it or not, right? Your mother said so herself." Mikan replied as she took a deep breath. "You have to be strong, Mikan. Don't let him see that you're crying all because of the fact that he would be leaving soon."
"You know, I can always find some things to make my stay in this kingdom worthwhile. But it seems that you don't even care if I leave or not." Natsume uttered as he stood up. "I guess that the point of me staying here is all pointless because the very reason why I wanna stay here doesn't even care if I'm gonna leave or not."
"Is he referring to me?" Mikan thought confusedly.
"Mikan," Natsume started. "You know, when mom told me that she would bring me to our kingdom when he leaves by tomorrow, I was really sad. I was sad for the fact that I wasn't able to be with the important people in my life for a little bit longer, and sad because I have to say goodbye."
"Huh? He called me by my name. Wow. That's the first time he did that."
"And the saddest part of all was that I have to accept the fact that I would be far away from the one that I love the most." He continued. "I like you, Mikan. No, I love you. I don't know if you would believe me but you were the only person who made me feel this way. And I have to admit that my life would be totally lost if you're not in it."
"I know that I still have a week to stay here in your kingdom. And eventually, I would be forced to go back to Fire Kingdom after that. And once I go there, there are high chances that we would never ever see each other. I love you, Mikan. And if you will tell me to stay, I would. Just say it. And if the week that I have here will be over, I will make my own ways just to be with you." Natsume said and then he looked directly into Mikan's eyes.
"Now, answer my question, do you want me to stay?" He seriously asked the brunette. But Mikan only kept quiet. "He loves me? Did I hear it right?" She thought over and over again.
Natsume sighed since he got no answer. He then turned around and then started walking away.
"Wait! He called me by my name again. A call. Oh my gosh! It's my third sign! Natsume's really the one for me!" Mikan finally realized. She then stood up and ran up to Natsume and then hugged him from behind.
"Stay." She whispered as she hugged him even tighter. "Stay, Natsume. Please. Don't leave me. I love you too. I can't imagine what my life would be without you."
A smile then crept into Natsume's face. He turned around and hugged the nullifier back. "I won't leave you. Promise."
"But what about your mother?" Mikan asked. "Let's not make simple things complicated, shall we?" Natsume said. "What's important is what we have right now. All I know is that I love you and there's no way that I'm gonna let you go."
"My mom told me to cherish every second while I'm still in this kingdom. And that's what I'm doing right now. So don't worry. I will find a way to see you again if ever the time comes that I would go back to the Fire Kingdom. If I have to beat the odds, I would do it." Natsume said as they both sat down under a big sakura tree.
"But why do have to go back? Can't you just stay here instead?" Mikan asked.
"Mom said that there are some matters to be settled back at the kingdom and that it would finally be resolved with my help." Natsume answered. "And what are those matters?" Mikan asked again but Natsume only shrugged. "Mom didn't mention details about it."
"Oh, I see. Natsume, would you mind if I ask something?"
"You're already asking, baka."
"Mou, you meanie. What I meant was asking a different question."
"Hn."
"Why didn't you give me your alice stone in person?" Mikan asked. "I guess I still didn't have the courage to tell you about how I feel way back then." Natsume replied.
"But what how come you were able to tell what you feel by now?" The nullifier asked again. "I got a little help from other people. Hey, don't you wanna go back to the palace yet? They might be looking for you. Your mom would be crazy if she finds out you're gone."
Mikan shook her head and then leaned it on Natsume's shoulder. "I just wanna stay here for a little while longer. It would be sure that there would be a lot of stressful happenings in the palace as of the moment."
"Hn." And with that, they just stayed there in each other's arms and enjoying every moment that they have together.
"You called for me, your highness?" Tsukiko asked as she entered the royal quarters of the Sakura Royals. "Yes, please take a seat." King Isumi stated.
"Is anything the matter?" Tsukiko asked. "Well, go and tell you about it straight to the point, Queen Tsukiko." Queen Yuka said.
"As we all know, my daughter and your son are already engaged to each other, right?" Yuka started while Tsukiko nodded in approval. "But I know that you are aware of the fact that your son is not the original fiancé of my daughter." She continued.
"And now that we found out recently that the royal tutor is really the Fire Kingdom's prince, there have been some complications." King Izumi added. "You see, Queen Kaoru here, was talking to us about that matter."
"So what would be the decision be, your majesties?" Queen Tsukiko asked them.
"Now that I am sure that my son is alive, I would still want him to be the one to be married to the princess of this kingdom." Queen Kaoru informed the Shadow Queen.
"It would be causing my Natsume too much sadness just by taking him back to our kingdom for some matters to be settled. And I don't want him to be far from the one he loves. I want the two of them to be happy that's why I would do everything that I could for their marriage to push through."
"But how would that be impossible, my queen." Tsukiko told Kaoru. "You see, all of the preparations have been started for my son and the alice princess. You can't just call off their marriage just like that. Even the public already knows about it." She reasoned out.
"I wanted her to be here so that she would take the fire brat out of here and that the marriage of my son would happen without further hassle. Who does she think she is? She can't cancel their wedding. It's already planned!"
"Actually, it is possible." Yuka said while Tsukiko gave her a questioning look. Izumi then took out a piece of paper which has he seals of the Fire and Alice Kingdoms on it. "According to this contract of agreement, it is said that Princess Mikan Sakura of the Alice Kingdom would be married to Prince Natsume Hyuuga." King Izumi started.
"But that doesn't make any sense, our highness. You also signed a contract a few months ago that your daughter would be married to my son since the Hyuuga Prince disappeared that night."
"You see, Queen Tsukiko, King Izumi and Queen Yuka only signed a contract. They didn't put the kingdom's seal, unlike ours." Queen Kaoru pointed out. "And since we know that there are a lot of risks that could possibly happen in someone's life if you're a Sakura Royal or a Hyuuga Royal, there are some other aspects that has been added in our contract." She continued.
"It was true. It is further stated that if ever something unnecessary happens due to fortuitous events or attacks from neighboring kingdoms that results to damage, injury or disappearance to the said young royalties, the contract would only be void if there is a proof that the young royalties already passed away." Yuka explained.
"And it is further said in our contract, Queen Tsukiko, that if ever the real Hyuuga Prince would be found, the wedding would be cancelled between my daughter and your son." King Izumi declared.
"I know, your highness." Tsukiko replied. "But there's also a continuation to it. The wedding would be cancelled only if both Princess Mikan and Prince Tsubasa would agree to it. If one of them still wants to push through with the wedding, then it can't be cancelled."
"I am well aware of that fact, Queen Tsukiko. I have read your contract with this kingdom very clearly." Kaoru responded. "That was why we called for you because we would like to have a talk with your son and Princess Mikan as well all together with my son before I go back to Fire Kingdom tomorrow. I would just want to know the sides of Princess Mikan and Prince Tsubasa about the matter at hand."
"And I am definitely sure that they will love it when their wedding would be cancelled because they both love someone else. And if that happens, my son would finally be happy." Kaoru thought.
"Yes, your majesties. I shall be informing my son about this. What time are we going to have the talk vy tomorrow?" Tsukiko asked.
"Does after breakfast sound good to all of you?" Yuka suggested while Kaoru and Tsukiko nodded in approval. "Then it's settled then." Izumi declared. "We shall see each other again tomorrow after breakfast for another discussion. You are free to do whatever you please by now." He added while the other two queens left.
"This is easy. I would just tell Tsubasa that he should tell the Sakura Royals that he still wants to go through with the wedding. That way, the Hyuuga prince wouldn't have a chance. And when they get married, the whole kingdom would be under my control!" Tsukiko evilly thought.