CHANGES & KISSES

Chapter 7

Natsume opened his eyes and found himself in an unfamiliar room.

Where am I, he wondered.

He started to get up when a pain on his abdomen made him wince. Yeah, I now remember what happened.

He was on a mission that night. It was dangerous but danger was nothing new to him. He would have gone home clean if the charm bracelet did not fell. He could have just left it there, but he couldn't. For the past months, the bracelet had become so important to him. He turned back to pick it up, and then he was shot. He managed to get away though but he lost consciousness on his way to his dormitory.

He laid back and something occurred to him. Was it just a dream or was Mikan really there with me last night? His hand automatically reached for bracelet in his pocket when he noticed that he's wearing hospital clothes.

Damn! Where is it?

He scanned through the room, hoping it was somewhere there. No! Where is it?

A knock was suddenly heard from the door. The door opened to reveal Ruka, together with his other classmates.

"Hello Natsume!"

"Thank God, you're awake!"

"Are you feeling better now?"

"Here, we brought you flowers and fresh fruits."

"Wow. You still look cool with all those bandages."

The chattering went on. Natsume thanked his classmates but his eyes were looking for one person he was hoping to see. But it seemed that she's nowhere in sight.

So, she doesn't really care, eh, he thought grimly.

"Are you okay, Natsume?", Ruka asked worriedly.

"Yeah. Just a little tired.", he replied.

"I think it would be better if we let you rest for now.", Ruka said. His classmates all agreed, then they left but promised to visit him again the next day.

Natsume sighed. She was never worried about me at all? He could have any girl he wanted but why did he fell for that idiot?

He was just lying there thinking that he should really stop his worthless love for Mikan. Yeah, he loved her. He finally accepted that. But what good will it do to him? I seemed to cause him even more pain. Maybe, he should just forget her and let her be with Ruka. But the thought alone was painful enough, how much more the real thing?

He heard a knock on the door. Then the door opened and a girl entered.

"Hi Natsume."

Natsume opened his eyes and looked at girl standing in front of him.

Mikan!

"What do you want, Polkadots?", he asked in his cold voice.

"Just want to know if you're okay.", she answered.

"Now you know, you may leave. I'm quite tired.", he turned his back to her.

"Natsume… I think t-this belongs to you…", she called out to him.

Natsume turned back and was surprised when he saw that she was holding the charm bracelet. Her head was bent and could not look at him.

His face darkened and said in an angry voice, "It's yours. I bought it for you. If you don't want it, you can just throw it away!"

"Why? Why did you buy this for me?", Mikan asked softly.

"Because I was an idiot!", he answered.

"A-and what about our names? Why are they written in this bracelet?", Mikan persisted.

"Shut up! I told you because I was an idiot! I was an idiot to fall in love with the likes of you!", he shouted.

A deafening silence came between them.

Damn! Natsume turned his head away from Mikan. Now, you know. Fine, I'm getting used to pain anyway.

Suddenly, Mikan threw herself on him and wrapped her arms around his neck, then she sobbed.

"Mikan…" Natsume was surprised.

"I… like it better… when you call me… by my real name, Natsume."

She lifted her face and looked at him in the eye.

"I love you too, Natsume."

Natsume lifted his fingers and lovingly caressed her cheek then pulled her head down and their lips met. The kiss was long and sweet, totally different from the previous time they kissed. Their feelings had been kept a secret for so long, and now that they had finally acknowledged it, they both feel content and happy with each other.

"I love you…", Natsume said, then he grinned. "…Polkadots."

That earned him a smack on the shoulder.

"Idiot Natsume."

Behind the door…

Ruka stood still with his back against Natsume's door. He went back to check on him when he heard Mikan's voice inside. And he heard everything…

Ruka fans, please don't kill me for hurting Ruka this way! And sorry for too much mushiness… :-)

Thanks everyone (below)for your reviews:-)

izuki, emrevolemina, Knight of Caeli, nikkiru