Chapter Seven

~~~~~~~~With Mikan ~~~~~~~~

I stood, watching a man open a door. The man wore a black cape and a red waistcoat. I frowned. Who was this man? Where was I?

"Arg!" I scream cut through my thoughts and without thinking, I bashed the door down. The sight before me made me cringe and look in horror.

There was a woman, chained to a wall. She had short brown hair and brown eyes and wore a ripped white dress. The man who I saw earlier was carrying a whip covered in a red substance. Blood. My eyes widened in horror as the scene played before me. The lady was begging for mercy but the man continued whipping her, forcing the cars on her body to split open and blood drip to the floor. Eventually, the man stopped and stared at the lady with a look of disgust.

"I will only ask once more, where is she? WHERE IS SHE?!" He screamed into her face.

"I thought you said that you would only ask once." She snarled back at him.

"Ever the sarcastic one weren't you? Even in high school. Anyway no one can resist King Ioran! You will tell me where Mikan Yukihara is!" And with that, he left the lady and stormed out of the room, locking the door again behind him.

As soon as he left, I rushed towards the lady but as I reached up to touch her face, my fingers went right through her. Nevertheless she looked up into my face.

"Ah, so the connection worked. You look just like your mother…. but you have your father's eyes." Her voice was hoarse and raspy.

"You…know me?" I asked confused.

"I would be a terrible aunt if I didn't." She laughed before it turned into a hacking cough.

"Aunt? You're my aunt?" I asked.

"Ah yes, from your mother's side. Anyway I can't hold the connection for much longer. You have to trust Natsume! You and he are on the same side! Alone, neither of you will be able to overthrow the king but together you can reclaim the throne!"

"But-but he's the son of the bastard who took everything away from me!" I exclaimed.

"That was not his fault! His idiot of father did all this! You cannot judge a man by who his family is!"

Everything started to blur a bit.

"Mikan! You must trust him! You and your kingdom will die if you don't! Trust him!"

Everything faded away leaving nothing but the black infinite darkness.

Mikan gasped and sat up straight in bed. It was all a dream! Just a dream. No, more like a nightmare. It felt so real though. There's no way I could fall back asleep now. She looked at her clock. 1:02 Am. It was still way too early to go to school. Time for some exploring. MIkna put on her uniform and red cloak before leaving a note for Hotaru for whenever she would come into her room and try to wake her up. She tied her hair with small red pompoms in pigtails again before making her way out the door.

Mikan slipped out of my dorm and walked around as her mind replayed back to her dream as the full moon lit the way. Trust Natsume! That was what her aunt said. My aunt that was bleeding out in a dungeon somewhere in my castle. One of the many innocent victims that didn't do anything to deserve the treatment that Natsume's father did to them.

Before she knew it, tears were falling from her eyes, causing her to stagger as they blurred her vision. All the thoughts of people suffering all kinds of wounds pained her deeply. This was her kingdom and nobody deserved what misfortunes caused by what the king did. Mikan staggered a few more meters before she leaned down and grasped the trunk of a sakura tree. She leaned against it and tried to control her breathing.

"Hey? You okay?"

Mikan sprang away from the tree only to trip on a tree root. She braced herself for impact but instead, felt strong arms wrap around her.

"Hey! I'm not going to hurt you. I'm sorry that I scared you." The male told her reassuringly.

Mikan turned around and gazed into crimson eyes. Hyuuga. She quickly untangled herself from him and stood a few feet away.

"You okay? You were crying."

She instantly raised her hand to her cheek even though she knew she was crying and was surprised to find that her hood had slipped, revealing her face to the prince.

"Shit." Mikan cursed, raising a hand to put her hood back in place when his hand stopped her.

"Please don't. For what it counts, I think that you are very pretty." He said gently causing her to blush. He seemed so different from in class where he sassed the teacher. Maybe he was just trying to win me over. "Why do you where it?"

"….I can't tell you that."

He sighed, "Okay. Fine, it's alright. But would you mind me asking why you were crying?"

I sighed. There was no harm in telling him, right? "It's so stupid. Just a nightmare I had."

"Must have been some nightmare to leave you all rattled like that."

"Yeah. I guess it was." Mikan sighed.

"What was it about?"

Mikan turned to look at him and gave him an annoyed look, "You're really nosy, you know that? It was about my aunt." I hesitated. "She was dying…"

"That's terrible." He looked at her sympathetically.

Mikan felt her anger rile up. How dare he! If it weren't for what his family did, this kingdom, my kingdom, wouldn't have fallen into such despair. "Want to know how she was dying?"

"Hm?" he glanced at her.

"Your daddy was torturing her like she the prisoners in the Ardward Prison." Venom was laced in her voice.

"Hey! I am nothing like the King! I hate it when everybody thinks that! People judge me on what the he did, on all the stupid decisions he made, and expect me to be him reincarnated!" He huffed.

Mikan was taken aback. I still can't trust him. He might just be saying that to earn my trust. But Mikan's didn't even seem to be convincing herself. It was hard to fake such intense anger and revulsion.

While Mikan was thinking about this, Natsume took the time to study her eyes.

Natsume squinted. Are they brown? It's too dark, I can't really see them. They might have gold rings or flecks. Either way I better be careful on how I treat her.

"Okay. So say I believe you. What are you doing to overthrow him?" Mikan cut through his thoughts.

Natsume thought about what she said. If I tell her that I'm searching for the lost princess, will she reveal herself to me? Better find out. "I'm searching for the last heir."

Mikan scrunched up her eyes. Really? He's searching for me? I'm definitely not going to tell him that he's searching for me. For all I know, he's only finding me to kill the last Yukihara. "Well, good luck."

"Wait! Can you help me find her?" he rushed out. Let's see how she reacts.

"Why? I don't trust you. I don't even know that much about you. If you end up killing the heir, wouldn't I become an accomplice?"

His face turned stony, "Why would I kill my last chance at freedom?"

"Are you bringing her back for the kingdom's freedom or your own?"

"Both."

"Then you're just being selfish." She stretched her arms up, unaware of her coat clinging to her skirt causing it to ride up.

"Aren't we all, Polka?"

Mikan frowned and let her arms fall back to her sides. "Excuse me? What did you just call me?"

"P-O-L-K-A. It's the pattern of your underwear." He smirked.

Mikan flush and secured her skirt before punching Natsume on the shoulder.

"YOU PERVERT! I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT YOU LOOKED!"

"Hey! Ow! Why'd you show it to me if you didn't want anyone to see!"

"How was a supposed to know that you had night vison?! And it wasn't on purpose!"

He looked at her before bursting out laughing. She couldn't help but blush again. His laughter was so handsome. Does that even make sense? What the hell am I even saying?

"I'm sorry but that expression on your face was priceless!"

"Gee, that makes me feel a whole lot better." Mikan muttered sarcastically, "Anyway, going back to a normal conversation, you've done nothing to me that shows me that I should be able to trust you! And you peeking at my undergarments is giving me even less reasons to. And if I can't trust you, I don't think the princess can either."

"Point taken."

"Trust is important if you both want to reclaim the throne. No trust and we won't be able to reclaim anything."

"Like what? Your dignity?" Mikan shot him a dirty look before punching is shoulder again. "You know what I mean!"

"Well, I was going to give her a love potion." He stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Though I suppose that's out of the question now."

"I know. Hotaru and I were watching you through her robot afterwards. She planted it on Ruka to see what you guys were up to. Really bad idea, trust me no one's going to trust you if you do that. Who's Tsubasa?"

"A friend of mine."

Afterwards they sat underneath the tree watching the sun rise. Mikan yawned and started to feel drowsy but she couldn't let her guard down around him. Hmm. Maybe he could prove it to me?

Mikan stood up and stretched her arms. "I've decided something. You have three days to prove to me three times that I can trust you." Natsume got up as well and they began walking to class.

"Isn't the fact that I didn't give her a love potion count as one?"

"You wanted to give the potion. Ruka told you not to, so no." He chuckled and Mikan let a smile escape.

She pulled up my hood as they reached the building. After they entered the classroom, her eyes started to burn and her vision swam. She slumped into her seat.

"Hey! Are you okay?" She heard Natsume shout. She felt him sit next down next to her.

"I'm-"her head started to droop and she slumped against Natsume's shoulder. "…fine…"

Mikan's last thoughts as sleep threatened to overtake her were those of Hotaru and the class and what they would think once they find them like this. If Natsume hasn't kidnapped me first, that is.

Natsume sighed at the sight of the girl sleeping on his shoulder. What am I supposed to do? I have to think of three different ways to prove to this girl that she can trust me in under three days. He ran a hand through his hair making sure no to wake up the girl next to him. He let his gaze rest on her.

It was hard to believe that the future of this kingdom relied on someone like her. She looked to fragile when she's sleeping. His neck started to feel hot. NO. I will not do anything to harm her. Hey! This could count for one! I can tell her that I didn't do anything to her while she was sleeping! Only two more left! His eyes started to feel heavy and before he knew it, he was deep asleep as well.

~~~~~~~~With Ruka ~~~~~~~~

Ruka entered Natsume's room but he was nowhere to be found. He shrugged and made his way to class. In the corridor he could hear whispering.

"What a cute couple!"

"I didn't know she looked so kawaii underneath that hood."

"I wish I was Mikan!"

"She's so lucky to be with such a hot guy like Natsume!"

"Natsume is such a lucky dude!"

Ruka's mind started to buzz. Did Natsume figure out who the lost princess was? But what does that have to do with Mikan? Did he do something to her?! Natsume! Ruka quickly threw open the door and the sight was not what he expected.

Mikan's hood had fallen showing her honey curls tied up into pigtails with small red pom poms. She was resting her head on Natsume's shoulder who was resting his head on top of her head with his arms wrapped protectively around her waist. They were both sleeping. Ruka began making his way towards them. Does Natsume even know what he's doing?

'Of course not! He's sleeping!' a voice inside his head drawled.

Just as he was about to wake Natsume up, a small pale hand grabbed his.

"Don't. I want to get a good picture." A quiet voice commanded.

He turned around to face Hotaru who was holding a camera in one hand. After a few clicks she stepped back.

'You can wake them up now, Nogi.' It was practically an order.

"Uh, Imai? I can't. You're still holding my hand." Ruka was fighting a blush and it was winning.

She looked down and her eyes widened a small fraction before she hastily let go. "So I am. Now wake them up. I won't ask again before you taste by BAKA Gun."

Ruka quickly woke Natsume up.

"Natsume! You have to wake up now! Natsume!"

"Hnn. Go away Ruka, I'm trying to sleep." He grumbled, turning away from me and clutching Mikan tighter. Ruka heard a couple more clicks from behind him. Oh god.

"Forgive me for this, Natsume." Ruka whispered before reaching into his bag and taking out a bottle of water. He saw Imai start to video and mentally cringed.

Ruka drained the bottle onto Natsume's head and leapt backwards as Natsume jumped into the air.

"Holy! What the hell, Ruka?!" He swore before rushing back to Mikan whose head was falling. After catching her in time, he gave him a scalding look.

"Mm." Mikan began to wake up. She looked up at them cutely before stretching into a yawn. All the boys watching started to blush. She looked at Natsume who was smiling down at her. Wait. Smiling? Click! Click! They heard Imai taking some more photos.

"One reason to trust me is that I protected you when you slept." He smirked. What?

By now, Mikan had regained her alertness. She looked down at herself before looking up at Natsume. "I'm wet." She replied simply. "Some protector you are."

"I wonder why?" Natsume gritted his teeth glaring at me before turning back to Mikan, "Anyway I can help." He lit a small fire and soon both of them were dry. Mikan yawned again and Natsume moved to his seat allowing Hotaru and Ruka to get to theirs.

Just as Ruka sat down he heard Natsume's cool voice from behind him causing him to shiver in dread.

"Just why, exactly, did you pour a bottle of water on me?"

Ruka laughed nervously. There was going to be hell for what he did.

~~~~~~~~With Tsubasa ~~~~~~~~

Shadows! Shadows! Shadows! Shadows! Shadows! I love shadows! Oh, look! A shadow pony! I wonder if it will let me ride it!

Tsubasa was pulled out of his sleep as he felt several hands start to punch him.

"Oomph! Ow! Cut it out!" He opened his eyes to glare at his attacker. Er attackers. He was surrounded by multiple Miskais? "Huh?"

"Wake up! Tsubasa! We've a long day ahead of us!" They smiled cheerily at him. He blinked as the thought processed. I must still be dreaming.

"Ugh. Five more minutes!" He growled turning back on his side.

Misaki took a step backwards before kicking his torso. "Get up you stupid moron!"

"Hey! Ugh! Fine!" He stretched his muscles whilst giving Misaki a sour look. So I wasn't dreaming… oh right, she has the Doppelganger Alice.

Thye had spent the night under a tree near the woods.

Tsubasa bent down again and Misaki climbed onto his back just as his stomach growled.

"Hungry now, are we?" She teased just as hers growled as well.

"I could say the same to you." Tsubasa smirked.

She slapped the back of his head, "Just shut up and keep walking!

After a few minutes a strange thought occurred to him.

"Misaki, you did kick me right?"

"Yeah, what of it?" She asked cautiously.

"How are you able to kick me it your ankle is sprained?"

She stared at him and then back at her ankle. She sweat-dropped, "Oppsie. Heh heh. You can put me down now."

Tsubasa sighed and knelt again so that she could get off, "You're a lot of trouble. You know that?"

"How exactly am I trouble?" she asked haughtily.

"If it weren't for you we wouldn't be in this mess!" He took a step forward and pointed his finger at her.

"What's that supposed to mean?!" she took a step forward as well.

"Well if you knew the way back to class we wouldn't be walking around aimlessly!" Tsubasa took another step forward.

"Well if you hadn't gotten lost in the first place, I would never have gone looking for you!" She took one more step as well.

"Yeah?! Well-!" Tsubasa was interrupted by a shout. He swung his head towards the source.

"MMMMMIIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSAAAAAKKKKKIIIIIII!" a boy in their year was running towards them with another one hot in his heels.

They stopped just short of running them both over.

"We've *huff huff* been *huff huff* looking *huff huff* for *huff huff* you *huff huff* everywhere!" the boy gasped for air and leaned hard onto the other guy with glasses who wasn't even out of breath.

He slapped his hand away from her shoulder, "Oh my god Tono! You're so unfit! I swear Misaki, if I am given the choice of whether or not to run with this guy I would say HELL NO! He was complaining all the way even though I was carrying him!"

"That is not true!" The two newcomers looked at Tsubasa and Misaki. "Oh. Were we interrupting something?"

"Huh? What?! OH HELL NO!" Misaki kicked Tsubasa away.

"Hey! Ow!"

There was an awkward silence that resonated through the grounds.

The two newcomers looked at Tsubasa. The taller one leaned on the shorter one's shoulder and pointed at Tsubasa. "And who, are you?"

"Well, Megane, Tono, I want you to meet Tsubasa Andō! He's new here!" She turned to him, "Tsubasa, I want you to meet my two best friends! Tonouchi Akira and Megane!" She smiled sweetly at him. Wow talk about mood swings.

"Guys! Lead me to the cafeteria! I'm so hungry I would consider catching Mr Bear and eating him!" Misaki suddenly announced.

And so they were off to the cafeteria where Misaki and Tsubasa somehow started an eating competition.

"I bet you can't eat as much as me!" Misaki challenged a twinkle in her eyes.

"Watch me!" Tsubasa replied stuffing food in his face.

CHOMP! CHOMP! CHOMP!

~Five minutes later~

CHOMP! CHOMP! CHOMP!

~Ten minutes later~

CHOMP! CHOMP! CHOMP!

~Half an hour later~

CHOMP! CHOMP! CHOMP!

~One hour later~

CHOMP! CHOMP! CHOMP!

~Two hours later~

CHOMP! CHOMP! CHOMP!

"Hey Megane, do you think they'll ever stop eating?" Tono sweat-dropped.

He gazed them busily eating through a bucket of chicken wings, "How am I supposed to know?"

"Hey, if you put your spirit into the chicken wings do think that they'd keep eating?" Tono asked excitedly. They shared a look. Oh no.

The chicken in Tsubasa's mouth start to talk as well as the one Misaki was holding.

"Ow! That hurts! Stop biting me!" the one in his mouth wiggled.

"Please don't eat me!" the one that Misaki held screamed.

Tsubasa and Misaki shared looks, their faces going green.

"I think I'm going to be sick!" they shouted in unison.

They both ran outside and upheaved everything they had eaten.

"Ew! I'm covered in puke!" Misaki complained.

"Join the club." Tsubasa muttered.

He felt Tono and Megane join them.

"I think it's time to take them back into the dorms."

"For once in my life, Tono, I agree with you."

~Time Skip~

Tsubasa's door opened with a bang and he groggily lifted his head and peered out of his covers to see who it was. Natsume. Shit the meeting. Tsubasa threw the covers off and opened his mouth but Natsume beat him to it.

"Where the hell do you think you've been?!" Natsume yelled, red eyes burning in fury. Tsubasa saw the rest of the gang enter the room and make a circle at the bed with Natsume. What was this? A séance?

"I can explain! I was-" Tsubasa began.

"I don't want to hear what you've been doing! Yuu! Brief him!" Natsume turned away from him and walked out of the room followed by Ruka and Koko.

Tsubasa turned to Yuu with a look of disbelief on his face.

Yuu gave him an apologetic look, "A lot of things happened today. Don't mind him. He's just tired. Why don't I explain everything?"

~Insert your version of what happened~

"Really? Do I have to do three things for her to trust me as well?" Tsubasa asked curiously.

"No. This is a test for just Natsume.'

"Well," Tsubasa began, "while all that's been happening to you guys, this is what happened to me."

~Insert your version of what happened again~

"Ow. That's a pretty rough first day of school." Yuu cringed.

"Trust me, I'd take getting wet from the rain in a classroom and being laughed at than getting wet outside, carrying a girl who thought she had a sprained ankle and got us lost."

"Mm. Me too. I'm going to go now. I'll tell Natsume everything you told me. You get some rest. We both know you're going to need it."

"Hn. 'Night Yuu." Tsubasa pulled the covers back over him and melted back into his dreams about shadows.

Hope you liked it! Special thanks to the following for reviewing:

mystery555

michan-natsu

Guest

Night's Warrior

Apokalipsiismybae02

A Clipped Wing

komaeda

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