CHANGES & KISSES

Chapter 3

Depressed at what happened, Mikan went to her favorite Sakura Tree, then sat and leaned on the trunk. She always goes there whenever she was down or if she has something to think over with. She sighed thinking at Natsume's reaction a while ago.

Does he really hate me?, she wondered. He was always cold and unfeeling but she knows that he's not a bad guy deep down. Why else would he become friends with Ruka?

She was deep in her thoughts when she heard footsteps coming towards her. She looked up and saw Natsume coming near her.

"What do you want?", she snapped at him.

"Nothing from you. It's just that I like to relax here", he answered, then sat on the opposite side of the trunk and began to read his manga.

A long silence came over them.

Mikan felt awkward at the silence between her and Natsume. But before she could say anything, she heard Natsume asked.

"So, what's going on between you and Ruka?"

"It's none of your business.", she replied. "Besides, nothing happened."

Natsume was silent for a moment, then asked again, "So, being kissed by a guy is nothing for you, eh?"

Mikan blushed, Natsume saw it!

She could not seem to think of any excuse for what he had seen. She stood up to leave but Natsume's voice stopped her.

He also stood up and said, "Stay away from Ruka, Polkadots. He doesn't deserve an idiot like you."

Mikan turned around and stuck out her tongue at him. "Baka! You just don't understand anything."

Then she sighed "Ruka is such a sweet boy. He kissed me because he likes me, and that's no longer your concern. I don't know why he became friends with you. You're so annoying. Hmmphh!"

Then she turned her back to him and began mumbling "Stupid! Idiot! Moron!..."

Silence.

Huh? He doesn't have a retort? She sneaked a glance at him and saw that his head was bent. So, he was affected eh? Good for you, idiot!

"You're really a coward Natsume! You think you're so tough just because you've got a very powerful alice. But in truth, you're also concerned of other's opinion on you. You're just an ordinary boy, you know."

Huh? Still silence? She began to have an attack of conscience. She had said several unpleasant things to him.

She began to turn around and said in a soft voice.. "Natsume, I.. AAWWW!", her foot got tangled with the large roots and she began to fall but Natsume was able to catch her.

"Arigatou Natsume-kun…" she tried to step back from his embrace but his hold tightened. "Natsume?..."

She could feel his heartbeat as her head lay on the upper of his chest. Her heart began to beat faster and before she knew it, Natsume had already tipped her chin up and looked at her face. She felt hypnotized by those crimson eyes. Those eyes that had burned with anger a moment ago, seemed to be searching something in her eyes. His face came closer… and closer… until his lips touched hers in a soft caress. Their eyes closed as if to savor that special feeling that had been shared by them.

This kiss is different from Ruka's… Mikan thought.

Ruka? She opened her eyes and felt as if cold water had been splashed on her. She pushed Natsume with all her might. She was confused.

What's happening?

"So, how is it compared to Ruka's kiss?" Mikan heard Natsume asked.

She felt tears gathered into her eyes. She never felt so humiliated before.

Damn Natsume! So, he kissed her just to let her know that Ruka's kiss wasn't special at all. That anyone could have just done that at the spur of the moment.

Baka! Idiot! She wanted to kick herself for falling into his trap. She just turned around and ran.

"Damn!" Natsume fists connected with the large trunk leaving an ugly hole in the middle (caused by his fire alice). What the hell's wrong with me? Goddamnit!

Well folks, that's it for Chapter 3... Hope you'll look forward for the next chapter..

Thanks to Michiyosama7 for the review. I tried to shorten some of the paragraphs as much as possible. Hope it's okay now.. :-)