NATSUME NULLIFIED

CHAPTER 3: The Right Moment

When Natsume first handed me that list, I had no idea I was going to spend the next two hours tracking down complete strangers. Of all the things he's asked from me, this was definitely one of the weirdest. It wasn't hard really. With a few carefully directed questions and with the help of my eavesdropping crows, the whole task was almost too easy. Now I walked down the corridor to join my ever elusive best friend who was impatiently waiting for a status report.

Without so much as a preliminary hello, he said, "Well?"

I handed him back the list then recounted as he read, "First dude, after me that is, Tetsuya Mori, age 16, Alice is super strength. He usually hangs out at the field, throwing javelins, last spotted heading for the dining hall with his jock friends about an hour ago."

"I hate jocks. Go on."

"Second guy, Takeo Kanayama, age 17, Alice is remote hearing. He's a musician."

"What instrument?"

"Does it matter?"

"I thought you'd be more thorough than this."

I rolled my eyes, "Fine, violin and flute. Best bet, you'll see him in the music room during breaks." Natsume nodded at the information. "Next guy, Kintaro Hachiguri, age 16, Automotive Alice."

He looked skeptical, "What's that?"

"You know that race they held last year using ten first-rate, never-before-seen models? It was all his," I said then grinned suddenly, "He's a Technical type, just like Hotaru."

"Focus Ruka, focus."

"Right. He's usually at the garage after school, ripping apart some other model to put together one of his own designs," I went on. Natsume nodded again, absorbing all I was telling him. Then he frowned.

"You're missing a name," He said looking up from the list I had given him.

"Hang on," I said then on cue I bent down as Shiro, my little white ferret, ran up to us and scurried up my shoulder as I stood again. My constant companion has been this white ferret since late last year. It turned out to be the most convenient pet after the white rabbit I used to carry around when I was younger. Gently, I took the paper it carried between its teeth and unfolded it. "Rich boy Nakazato, age 17, Alice is x-ray vision that's been put to interesting use."

"What's that suppose to mean?"

"He's a ladies' man."

"Nakazato, Nakazato…" Natsume muttered. I watched his eyebrows knit as he struggled to remember something. Then suddenly fury ignited in his eyes, "I'll kill him!"

"What— why?"

"He's the guy who couldn't take his eyes off Mikan during their date," Natsume said furiously then suddenly he turned and stalked off.

"Natsume, wait!" I called after him in alarm, "You don't even know where he is!"

"I fail to understand how four boys managed to land themselves in intensive care, with you two within a three-meter radius of each of them. Too much of a coincidence, isn't it?"

"I didn't touch them."

"I'm pretty sure you didn't," Narumi told Natsume with an ironic smile. He sat down at the corner of his desk then regarded us sternly, "But I do believe you have something to say about this."

We exchanged a look. What could we say? Even I never saw such a thing happen before in the history of the Academy.

We found Takeo Kanayama first who was peacefully rehearsing a violin piece in the music room on the third floor. As soon as Natsume stalked inside, he stopped playing and rose nervously, as though he had always anticipated this visit. It wasn't much of a confrontation really because Natsume only had enough time to say, "You dated Mikan Sakura." It wasn't a question. It was a statement of fact. What could Takeo say to that? I don't know. But what he shouldn't have said was, "I— I—Mikan… date… past— I'm sorry Natsume!" Then he made a break for it. We were blocking the door so he turned the other way, which was to the window. He put one foot over the ledge and before we could stop him, he was gone.

The others on the list weren't any different. In fact, Natsume didn't even get to say the sentence because they already heard about Takeo. He was standing ten feet away from each and every one of them and suddenly they just turned tail and ran. In haste, one fell down the stairs, another ran into levitating stone sculptures and the last…

"Nakazato ran straight into a tree and passed out," Narumi cringed as he read off the report, "What a wonder…"

"So much for x-ray vision," I muttered and Natsume snickered.

Narumi looked at the two of us suspiciously, "What were you doing in the area?"

"We weren't going to do anything to them Sir," I said quickly.

"Yeah, it wasn't my fault they had something to be guilty about and ran," Natsume added and I sank in my chair. Way to dig a hole for us, buddy.

As bad as it was, part of me was relieved that they got away from Natsume. I still don't know what he wanted to happen on those encounters. Maybe he just wanted to know what sort of people Mikan had gone out with. Maybe he was going to ask them if they were planning to take her to the prom. Or maybe jealousy really was eating him from the inside out and he was going to burn those guys alive. If it was the last one, then it was smart of them to run.

"So you're saying these injuries were self-inflicted?" Narumi said in amazement.

I avoided looking straight at him. It wasn't that it was self-inflicted. It's not our fault they felt threatened by Natsume's mere presence. He was probably radiating danger fifteen paces away. I swallowed, "No Sir. They were accidents."

"Freakishly so," Narumi agreed. He stood, "Well, I suppose we're done here if there's no way to tie you to these events. You can go, unless… is there something you want to tell me?"

Yeah right, I scoffed in my head. As if Natsume would ever confide in him. We both shook our heads then left the office. Once outside, I slapped a jovial hand on Natsume's back, "Only you could come out of that unscathed. And those boys, you never even laid a hand on them!" I grinned, "So when are you planning on asking Mikan to the prom?"

Natsume frowned, "Why would I do that?"

I looked at him, utterly bewildered, "I thought the whole point of this was to stop them from asking her. Wasn't it?"

"I'm not asking Mikan."

"Why not?"

"I'm not going to the prom."

"Why not?"

"Ruka, stop worrying about my date and start worrying about yours," He interjected smoothly, "When are you asking Imai to go with you?"

"I'm getting there," I said, not sounding as confident as I'd hoped, "I'm just waiting for the right moment."

Natsume smirked, "Right, check on me again when you've asked her to the prom." Then just like that, he dismissed my question about Mikan.

I frowned. I could tell he was in denial. He wanted to go with Mikan but he wasn't going to take advice from someone like me who doesn't have the guts to ask out the girl he liked. Apparently, if I was going to have the right to guide Natsume, I have to step up and ask Hotaru. That's not a bad idea. Too bad it left me petrified.

"I just don't understand!" Mikan wailed, "All of them, all my prospects, shot down. They're in intensive care! How could this happen? It's too weird!" She buried her head in her arms and moaned into the table. Anna patted her on the back comfortingly.

"There, there, Mikan," she said, "There are plenty of other guys who would love to go with you." I glared at Natsume mutely telling him that I was not tracking down all those guys for him.

The gang was together again, this time at the tea pavilion, to catch some study time before seventh period. At the moment, however, everyone was distracted by Mikan who was telling stories about her suitors' accidents. Stories that I already knew too well but Natsume and I kept silent.

Hotaru stopped from gathering her things long enough to point out, "They'll be out by the time the prom comes around."

Sumire laughed, "Oh and I'm sure asking Mikan is their first priority after getting out of the hospital."

At that, Mikan groaned. Then suddenly she sat up, a look of defiance on her face, "This is ridiculous. Boys aren't the only ones who can do the asking. Girls can too." Then to my utter amazement she turned to me, "So how about it Ruka, want to be my date?"

I choked on my tea. I could practically feel Natsume's gaze boring a hole through me, "Uh… sorry Mikan, I can't."

She pouted, "Why not?"

Yuu, Mochu and Koko all looked at me in avid interest. Yuu grinned, "Yeah Ruka, tell us." I glanced at my best friend for help but he only looked bored.

"I already have a date."

"Oh? Who?"

I swallowed, cursing inwardly for being put in this position. Mikan was looking at me expectantly, waiting eagerly for my answer. I cleared my throat, "What I mean is I already have someone in mind." At those words, Hotaru stood up to leave for her lab. I panicked.

"Ooh!" Anna and Nonoko chorused, "Who?"

Hastily, I pushed back my chair and summoned all my courage to call out, "Hotaru, will you go to the prom with me?"

She halted and everyone held their breaths as we waited for her answer. It seemed like eternity then slowly Hotaru glanced over her shoulder and shrugged, "Okay."

When she left, I breathed again just in time as three hands slapped me good-naturedly on the back. "Aww, he has a date," Koko grinned wickedly, "So how long have you wanted to ask her?"

"This discussion is over Koko," I said irritably. Then the bell finally rang to signal seventh period and we all stood up.

"I'm so glad you're going with Hotaru," Mikan gushed sidling up to me.

"Yeah," was all I could say, smiling back at her. She waved happily then headed for her classroom. I joined Natsume at our desk who gave me an amused grin before the teacher came in.

He didn't say anything about my asking Hotaru but we both knew what it meant. I did exactly as he required. Now that I have a prom date, I can give him unsolicited advice about his dating habits or lack thereof. Then that last thought made me think. I had asked Hotaru to the prom. I smiled. This was turning out to be a great day.

For the rest of the week, I tried my best to change Natsume's mind. Nothing worked. He was as immovable as a rock and twice as disagreeable. My best friend, hardheaded idiot that he was, refused to ask Mikan to the prom. I didn't know why I was trying so hard. I just felt like it was right. Anyone would agree with me. Natsume has never let a girl get as close to him as Mikan has, which was why I was so frustrated that I couldn't get through to him. Having realized he wouldn't listen to reason, I resorted to more creative devices.

I coaxed Eikichi, a guy who had an Alice that could make people do things after they read the command that he writes for them, to help me. I had him write, "Ask Mikan to the prom" on a sheet of paper and delivered it to Natsume through Shiro. Unfortunately, that Alice can be neutralized when you destroy the paper, a fact that Eikichi never told me. Natsume got out of that quickly enough by reducing it to ashes while muttering, "Too easy, Ruka."

Next, I wheedled Naoko, who had a Maze Alice. She could create a series of corridors leading nowhere until the person trapped does exactly as she desired. I had her construct a labyrinth wherein Natsume would run into Mikan each time he turned the corner. Sadly, gifted Natsume escaped the labyrinth by laying his hand against the wall and walking backwards— the only key in beating the Alice. This time he said, "Nice try Ruka."

Twice more I tried to trick him. Twice more he outwitted me. I had no idea he knew how to diffuse so many Alices in school. I guess there really is a reason he's a top star. With a snicker, he even told me during dinner, "The training is finally paying off."

I glowered, "Natsume, you might as well just ask Mikan. I mean, you've already ruined her chances of getting asked by anyone else."

Before he could respond, across the dining hall, Koko suddenly stood up and slammed his hands on the table causing several people to jump. He pointed an accusing finger at the student next to him and shouted, "If you weren't such a jerk and apologize, you wouldn't be in this mess! Now stop thinking about it! You're giving me a headache."

The room burst into laughter. It wasn't the first time Koko exploded like that. It seemed that the prom was hurting him more than the rest of us.

Natsume returned his attention to his food, "Koko sure has brought together a lot of people this past week."

My head snapped to him thoughtfully, "Yeah, he has…"

We finished our meal then started to leave the hall with the others. The girls were still talking about their preparations when I saw Koko speeding out after us, his head turning this way and that as though he was looking for someone. The idea clicked, "Hey Koko!"

He walked right past me, calling back, "Just a minute Ruka!" Then he suddenly grabbed someone and shook him by the shoulders, "It's okay. Mokurayama's gay too! Just go ahead and ask him!"

The hall was deathly silent as his meaning sunk in. Then Natsume whistled, "Wow, Koko outted two people at once."

"I don't think they were ready," Mikan said worriedly.

"They'll be fine," I assured her, "It was only a matter of time anyway. Koko helped them out." I grinned at the scene, decision made. Tomorrow, I was enlisting Koko to join my team.