NATSUME NULLIFIED
Author's Notes: Thanks for your support! Your reviews have been very much encouraging. For all those who have been following this story, I'd like to announce that we've hit the halfway mark. I've always intended to end this fic in ten chapters. That being said, only four more to go! Ü Also, there's going to be a shift in POV in the middle of this chapter, so watch out for it.
CHAPTER 6: In Your Dreams
"Okay, so it's settled? We're going with Nagisa's band?" Mikan asked, making a note on a pink slip of paper on her clipboard.
We were once again assembled in the gym and I watched my warmhearted but nonsensical best friend stick one more Post-it on the board that was already wallpapered with colorful pieces of paper, numbering at least a hundred. Mikan had insisted on systematizing our planning sessions by color and by shape. Orange clouds were about food, blue suns were about decorations and neon pink light bulbs were about music and band. All in all it produced a horrendous color and shape combination on the tack board.
Today, the topic of discussion was the band. We held auditions weeks ago but with the budget constraints and conflicting views, we were deciding just now. Apparently, Mikan felt that every argument and every opinion merited a Post-it and by this time I was so sick of neon pink that I was ready to agree to almost anything to get it off the panel.
"They're all we could afford," Sumire pointed out.
"They're pretty good though," Mikan commented not losing her optimism.
"Yes, they're the best our money can buy," I said deadpan.
"Oh Hotaru, they're wonderful." Mikan persisted.
So suddenly the band went from pretty good to wonderful. As always, she was looking at the bright side. There was a much better group that auditioned, which we all liked, however, as Nonoko was quick to point out, their talent fee was too high.
"So it's Nagisa's band!" Mikan confirmed, happily making another note on another pink lightbulb and cheerfully sticking it on the board. My temper snapped. Wordlessly, I stood up and began viciously taking down lightbulbs from her pretty little board. "Hotaru!"
"You don't need any of these other notes," I stressed, "We're going with Nagisa's band. We get it." Behind us, the other committee members started laughing.
"All right fine," Mikan conceded then she glanced at her clipboard, "Next subject, food. Apparently we also can't afford…"
I threw up my hands in exasperation then headed for the doors, "I'm going to get a drink of water."
"There's a fountain right over there," Anna pointed out.
"Yes, but there's a much cooler water bottle in my fridge back in my room," I returned, already having one foot out the door.
"You better come back!" Mikan called as I slid the gym doors closed.
Oh sure, I'll come back. And all we'll talk about is number crunching, I thought irritably. Since this was the first prom ever held by the Academy, the school board had only authorized a modest amount to fund it; a figure that was inversely proportional to Mikan's imagination. Most of the money had already gone to catering and equipment rental. As head of the Finance committee, I got two of my financial backers to support the prom. However, Mikan refused the third insisting that it was unnecessary since the cooperation and enthusiasm of the students would help us work around the budget we had right now. Well, we've got student body enthusiasm all right. Already, we were expecting more people than we could feed.
Yup, the prom committee was in a sorry state. And since money has been one of my priorities all these years, I was constantly concerned about financing while Mikan continued to spin her dream prom.
"You done?"
I looked to my left and found Natsume Hyuuga leaning casually on the wall. I gave him an amused look, "No, I'm just taking a break. I'd give them another hour and a half."
He looked irritated then glanced at his watch that showed it was nearly eleven, "How many freaking details do you have to decide on?"
"A fair few. Have you seen the board?" I walked up to him, noting the manga tucked under his arm, realizing that he was probably done with it and was getting bored waiting.
It's not that Natsume is here everyday. He just comes along when it seems like we're pulling extra hours. One time, our meeting actually hit the midnight mark and the emergency sprinklers inside the gym mysteriously went off forcing us all to adjourn. Everybody else believed it was a fluke, a blunder in the Alice Academy's state-of-the art fire prevention system. I was the only one aware that the fire couldn't have been more natural.
"Yes, you'll be here forever."
"Not forever if you can turn the sprinklers on again."
Natsume looked away, "Not tonight or else it wouldn't look like an accident."
There was a pause as I mulled over a few ideas about this ridiculous and utterly frustrating scenario before me. "Tell me something Hyuuga, now that the perfect opportunity to ask Mikan out without arousing suspicion has fallen on your lap, why aren't you taking your chance?"
"It's not that simple."
"I don't see what you're so afraid of—"
"I'm not afraid," Natsume cut in.
"You're right. Petrified more like."
He looked indignant, "Ruka was petrified. I'm not."
"Even Ruka managed to ask me," I reminded him and that made him snicker. I could kick myself for that comeback because we were now in a topic I did not want to discuss.
It's not that Natsume and I talk like this all the time. Years back when Ruka and Mikan had gone steady, I was probably the only one who noticed that he'd become withdrawn. Our tentative friendship sprung from that. He's never admitted it to me but I think deep down he knew I already realized it. He liked my best friend. For that, I could give allowances for the weird way he showed it.
"You know Ruka's really happy you said yes."
"What other answer was there?" I asked impatiently, "If I had said no, he'd have to say yes to Mikan. Where would that leave you?"
He raised an eyebrow, "Oh, so you're saying you only accepted so that he wouldn't have to agree to go with Mikan?"
I glared at him. We were playing verbal tennis and I didn't enjoy it very much. "I did you a favor Hyuuga. This matter with Ruka is my own concern."
Natsume looked amused, "You're as stubborn as I am."
"Yes, but I have a date."
"Yeah, with my best friend," He paused, as though remembering, "Hey Hotaru, isn't that against the code?"
"What code?"
"Never mind," he chuckled then his gaze drifted back to the doors, "I suppose I could get Youichi down here and send in a couple of demons to scare them off. Would that work?"
"That's perfect," I smiled then gave him a light pat on the shoulder for saving me the trouble of coming back. Then before I walked away, I decided to plant a little seed of inspiration for his sake. I fished inside my bag, "Hey Natsume, I've got something for you."
"What's this?" He stared perplexed at the color swatches I handed him.
"Just in case you ever get the spine, that's her dress color. You should match her." Then I left him standing there with a thoughtful expression. Just as it was many times before, Natsume didn't thank me but I knew he was grateful.
"How was I supposed to know that Natsume could outdrink all of us?" I heard Mochu say down the hall. "I failed the pop quiz!"
"You failed a quiz," Yuu replied tersely, "I missed the morning half of school."
"I have a fuzzy memory of singing a love song to the bartender on top of a table near the Karaoke bar," Koko said sullenly, "Do you think it's true?"
"Could be. I think I was singing with you," Ruka sulked.
I tutted. So that's what happened. It's hard to believe but Mikan had been telling the truth. Yuu really had been drunk the night before he was absent. But why the four of them felt the need to discuss this in front of my bedroom door was beyond my comprehension.
"She's here," Koko hissed and they all scrambled to their feet.
"Hotaru!" Yuu greeted but I didn't return his cheerful grin, already wary of them.
"What do you want?"
To my surprise, all three of them shoved Ruka forward to face me and my dear prom date fidgeted as I stared. He bent down to lay Shiro on the floor and the animal obediently curled by his feet. Then he cleared his throat, "Hi Hotaru." I said nothing, waiting for him to continue. "Do you have a minute?"
"If a minute is all you need."
"Great!" Koko chimed in, "Let's talk in your room."
"No!" Ruka boomed glaring at all of them. "There's no way any of you are stepping in her room at this hour."
"Why not? You'll be there," I said then watched in amusement as he flushed.
"Out here is fine," He rubbed the back of his neck consciously, "We sort of need your help. See, we've been trying to get Natsume and Mikan together for the prom and we're running out of ideas after the sixth plan failed."
Now they got my attention. "Sixth plan? How long has this been going on?"
"For quite some time now," Yuu said then he spilled out the whole story. I would have laughed if I didn't think their schemes were completely idiotic.
"None of it worked," Ruka said when Yuu finished talking, "We figured that we were doing something wrong."
"Oh, you think?" I asked sarcastically.
Yuu ignored my response, "We need your advice Hotaru. What do we do?" That was when I realized that he was into this one hundred percent.
"And you're only coming to me now?"
I looked wearily at the four ridiculous men before me, though I did admire them for trying. Hyuuga is so lucky. So they had been trying to con the most cunning boy in school into asking the prom head. Trying and miserably failing, which didn't really come as a surprise to me given all the things they've attempted so far. Natsume likes Mikan but this prom is evidently not the moment he'd choose to profess to her so they were wasting their time trying to convince him.
"Natsume is never going to relent," I said at last, "You should talk to Mikan. Anyway, she said so herself, girls can do the asking."
"So Mikan should seduce Natsume into going with her?" Mochu asked eagerly.
I glared at him, "No, you moron. Get Mikan to ask Natsume."
The four of them exchanged a look. Yuu was nodding, slowly at first then more resolutely, "Hey, that's not a bad idea."
"Yeah," Koko agreed, "And at least with Mikan, we aren't in any danger."
"Well, my job here is done. I'm turning in now, if you'd kindly step away from my door," I moved towards my bedroom as they all mumbled sheepish good nights.
"Hotaru, wait," Ruka suddenly spoke up. He straightened as Shiro crept up his arm, "What color is your dress?" I looked at him blankly. "I need to match it." He blushed furiously. It was amusing to see him so flustered. "And I need it for the…" He gestured clumsily to his wrist.
"Corsage," Yuu provided.
At the same time Koko said, "Boutonnière."
"I don't know yet," I replied dismissively, "I have other things on my mind right now, which reminds me." There was a blinding flash as I took his picture with the ferret still perched on his shoulder.
"Damn it Imai!" He exclaimed, his hand flying to his eyes. I was back to Imai every time he was angry with me, "What was that for?"
"This should provide for a couple of ice cream cones in Central Town," I grinned as I fished out the Polaroid, "Good night boys." I entered my room then softly closed the door. Behind the wood, I could hear Ruka muttering complaints to his friends that only made my grin widen.
I was walking back to the gym to retrieve something I had left there. What that was exactly, I couldn't remember but something was pulling me to walk across the campus grounds. I felt a little scared though. After Hotaru left us last night, the committee had been mysteriously attacked by a bunch of demons that flew in from the window. They didn't really do anything. They just told us to leave so that they could play basketball. Anyway, it was enough to convince me to adjourn the meeting and all of us ran away, screaming our pretty heads off.
As I ambled on, I noticed Natsume lying down beneath the shade of a tree not far off. He seemed fast asleep. As if he sensed someone was around, he suddenly woke and sat up. He ran his fingers through his hair then it rested on his nape. With his eyes closed, he raised his head towards the sky and as if on cue a cool breeze blew past teasing the locks near his ear. My heart stopped. He never looked so gorgeous.
Abruptly his eyes popped open and he turned his attention to me, beautiful red eyes focused intentlyon me. Then, he smiled.
Handsome, isn't he Mikan? A voice said and I whirled around searching for the person who had spoken.
"What?"
His hair, his eyes, the way he walks, the way he looks at you… no other boy can ever be as dazzling. Just look at the way he's standing there…
I turned back to Natsume and sure enough he was standing, leaning idly on the tree, his hands tucked in his pockets as he stared off into the distance with an intense gaze.
He has such depth in his eyes that he only needs to look at you for you to feel protected. How wonderful it would be to be against his lean frame, gathered tenderly in his arms, basking in the warmth of his smile that could melt a thousand candles.
"But Natsume doesn't smile," I said out loud, "Not much anyway. And most of the time his gaze freezes me, not warms me."
Umm… the voice said suddenly losing some of its dreamy quality, His hands then… look at his hands…
Natsume pulled his hand out of his pocket to check the time and my gaze fell on his long, slender fingers. I croaked, "Nice."
Wouldn't it be great to have your hand in his, your fingers interlocking, fitting perfectly like pieces of a puzzle, believing he'd hold you forever…?
I swallowed and a blush crept up my cheeks, "That would be great."
He cares for you but he won't say it, the voice went on, elated now, so it's up to you. Ask Natsume to the prom.
I gawked, "What?"
Ask Natsume to the prom. The voice said again, Having him there with you would make it a perfect night. You can't be with anyone else but him.
"But I don't want to ask Natsume to the prom," I mumbled.
Ask Natsume to the prom. By this time, Natsume was stalking towards me, his stride almost tantalizing as he approached.
"But he doesn't want to take anyone to the prom," I backed up a step.
Ask Natsume to the prom.
"He's not even going to the prom."
"Mikan," Natsume said huskily and instantly my guard was up when he called me by name. I narrowed my eyes but he continued, "Was there something you wanted to ask me?"
"Yeah," I snapped, "Who the heck are you?"
Natsume's face fell, a look that I have never seen on him. He stuttered, "It's me. Natsume."
"No, you're not," I returned staring daggers, "You look like him but you sure don't sound or speak like him. So who are you?" I shouted the question and suddenly the strangest thing happened. Natsume shimmered and so did the world around us. Everything was distorted as though I was watching static on the TV screen. "Who are you?" I said again then the place settled.
My school uniform vanished and in the next instant I found myself in the nightdress I had put on for bed. I was standing in empty space. I glared at the person in front of me, "Who are you?" Natsume shimmered violently one last time and was replaced by one of Yuu's friends. "Hitomi Kanbei?" I uttered in disbelief, "Another shape-shifter?"
"Actually no," she looked apologetic, "I'm a Latent Ability. You're asleep and I'm in your dream."
"What?" That had to be some kind of violation, "Why?"
"Well…" She began slowly, "A couple of people asked me for a favor this morning. I'm supposed to enter your dreams tonight—"
"So that I'd dream about Natsume?" I interrupted tersely, "All right, that's it. I want everyone who's involved in this, in here, right now!"
Instantly from the empty space above us, bodies began dropping in and lay unceremoniously at my feet. A couple of them groaned then when they realized where they were, they all hurried to stand up. Koko in pajamas, Ruka in sweats, poor Mochu in nothing but boxers and….
"Yuu too?" I said in incredulity.
"Hi Mikan…" Yuu mumbled, embarrassed, "How's it going?"
"You're the ones who asked Hitomi to enter my dream? What exactly did you plan to accomplish?"
"Well…" Yuu looked guilty, "She was supposed to plant a hypnotic suggestion while you slept so that when you wake up you would ask Natsume to the prom."
"How'd you break through the Alice?" Koko asked before I could explode.
"She nullified me," Hitomi put in, "She broke through the illusion and took control of the dream herself."
Yuu beamed, "Wow Mikan. You're really getting better at this. You're nullifying people in your sleep—"
"Save it Yuu," I said curtly, "Why? Why would you do this?"
It was Ruka who replied, "Because you two like each other but you're not doing anything about it. Natsume refused to ask you so we thought maybe you'd be easier to convince."
My chest flinched. So he refused, huh? "I will not ask Natsume to the prom." Four boys looked back at me in disappointment.
"Why not?" Mochu said in exasperation.
"Because I deserve better than that!" I exclaimed. Yuu hung his head in shame and I knew that he agreed with me.
"We're sorry Mikan," He apologized, "It was worth a shot."
"I'm sorry too," Hitomi piped up, "And I'd just like to say that everything I said, they asked me to say." My eyes widened.
"You guys described Nasume to possess a smile that could melt a thousand candles?" I said in shock. They flushed and launched into denials.
"Oh, wait the descriptions were mine," Hitomi said quickly then added with a sheepish grin, "Natsume really is gorgeous, isn't he?"
"Yeah, yeah, he's an utter dreamboat," Ruka said in a dispassionate tone, "We're sorry Mikan. We won't do this again."
"Thank you."
"Now can we go back to bed?"
"Technically, you're still in bed," Hitomi explained, "I just pulled you all in here while you slept. In fact, tomorrow everything will just have been a bad dream."
"I hope so," Mochu grumbled, cowering behind Koko to hide his near naked self. He glanced at Hitomi and me, "Can you please not tell Sumire you saw me like this?"
Despite everything, I managed to laugh.
When Hitomi finally let us go, I woke with a start even though it wasn't sunrise yet. I sat up, with a minor headache, a little side effect of nullifying the Dream Alice while I slept. Reaching over to my desk, I switched on the lamp. Then I sat back down, reflecting on what just happened. Tomorrow morning, I was going to tell Hotaru everything.
Actually, this incident explained a lot— the Shape-shifting Alice, the Drinking Alice— it had all been for Natsume and my sake. It was sweet of them to try. Still, I really didn't think it was their place to trick Natsume into asking me.
Trick Natsume. Yes, that's the part that bothered me the most. They had to fool Natsume into taking me as his date because apparently he absolutely refused to ask me himself. It was ridiculous to be hurt, I knew, since that was typical of the man. Still, his rejection stung.
With a morose sigh, I leaned forward and rested my chin on my up drawn knees. It was silly to be hurt and even sillier to be wistful. But now that they've brought it up I couldn't help but think, Yes, it would be nice to go with Natsume.
I strode through the corridor with my baka gun in hand, loaded and ready. Over breakfast, Mikan had told me what transpired the night before.
Those fools! I fumed. I told them to talk to Mikan not coerce her.Why is it that boys don't understand that talking actually works? A Dream Alice! How can they be so absurd?
I turned the corner and came down our hallway. Then instead of entering my classroom I headed for Class B. Mochu was standing near the front door so I got him first. He fell to the floor at once and Sumire shrieked. Without hesitation I entered the classroom and shot Koko even before he realized I was there. Ruka nervously stood up.
"Good morning?"
"Mine will be," I shot back then fired at him. My aim was perfect even from the front of the room and Ruka fell to the floor to Natsume's amazement. I nodded to him, "Hyuuga."
"Imai," he nodded back then his gaze fell on his best friend, "Ruka, what did you do?"
I turned on my heel as Ruka started mumbling excuses. They'd never tell Natsume that they tried entering Mikan's head last night. He'd flay them alive. With vengeance, I went inside my own classroom. There was one shot left in my baka gun and it had Yuu's name on it.