"Half of the kidney stones were already melted by the drugs, and there's just only half of it remaining. I think you'll be good in no time as long as you take the drugs constantly. High sodium foods should not be taken especially those coming from fast food restaurants. You should take a lot of water and juices, but only fruit juices, not the iced tea beverage. No soft drinks allowed. Take a rest for a week, no stress and that's it, you'll be good as new, Ms. Sakura. You can be discharged now." Her doctor announced happily as he informed them.
It is their third day at the hospital today. Natsume leaves in the mornings, making sure the guards are at their posts for her safety and goes back in the evenings to watch her. He also hired a private nurse to watch for her needs while he's was furious when she heard about it, but what more can she do with his attitude? Her dog was brought to her and he stays obediently at her side, guarding her all night and day.
"Thanks, doctor." She responded as she watched him leave the room. Natsume stood up from his chair beside her bed.
"Wait for me as I ask my attendant to organize your papers so we can go home. I'll help you pack your things when I go back." He pressed his hand gently with hers then turned to leave.
"Na…Natsume!" She called abruptly, making him turn to her in question. She is handling him her ATM card together with her pass code again, "Please take these. It's not your obligation to pay my bills. I know my savings might not be enough, but I swear I'm going to repay you soon. Please, please take these." She begged desperately.
He sighed at her stubbornness as he got the card from her hand. She let out a contented pant as he took it.
He circled his arm around her torso as he pulled her close to him. Mikan was shocked by the sudden action. "A kiss won't hurt as a payment, babe." He proclaimed sweetly on her ear. He let go of the astounded girl as he placed her card back to her side table. He then left completely.
"PERVERT!" Mikan shouted as she got to her senses but he was out of the door already.
It's not more than five minutes when he gets back to her room. Mikan had packed all the necessary things that need to be brought home. Her dextrose was removed by the nurse while he was gone; it was now covered in gauze pad to prevent any infections. She's now wearing her casual clothes and she's ready to go.
"Thank you very very much for everything, Natsume…" She said sincerely as she stood close to him. She quickly covered his eyes with her hand as she blushed deeply. She quickly gave him a peck on the lips as she pulled away. "…that…that's all I can do for now." She was embarrassed by her own actions as she turned her eyes to the floor.
"That's not how you kiss, babe." Without warning, he pushed her body to his and encircled her in his arms. He smacked their lips together as she put her arms around his neck, responding eagerly to his kisses.
Natsume can live forever kissing her like that without any pauses but he knows Mikan has certain limits since she's fragile. Maybe sooner, he can kiss her for hours. He let her go and smirked when he noticed the red tints on her cheeks.
She looks away from his teasing looks. "See you soon, Natsume."
She held her medium sized bag with her clothes and toiletries in it. Natsume ordered some of his female assistants to go to her house and pick up certain things that are highly needed for her stay in the hospital.
"Wake up Toby, we're going home." She lightly pulled the dog's collar to wake him up and the dog obediently stood up.
Natsume snatched her bag from her hands as he handed it to his assistant. "Yeah see you soon because you're going home with me." He handed the dog to his assistant too so Mikan wouldn't have anything occupying her hands.
He knows she would protest so he just dragged her outside the hospital and to his chateau.
"Welcome back, my lord." It is his keeper again and the rest of the household staff, bowing to welcome him.
"Listen, I have an announcement to make." He said as he pulled the silent Mikan closer to him.
"This girl, Mikan Sakura, would be living here from now on. I order you to attend to all her needs and desires. Extend your utmost hospitality as you do with mine. You are to address her properly. Am I clear?"
The crowd just bowed and proceeded to their own businesses.
"I need to work on something, babe. I'll see you later in your room and perhaps we can have a hot night together?" He whispered at her flirtingly.
"YOU MANI-!" She was not able to finish her sentence when his lips covered hers.
"You tend to forget my rule honey: A word for a kiss." He smirked triumphantly as she closed her lips tight.
"Escort her to her room." He ordered his staff as he left.
Mikan sighed in relief.
"This way my lady." She blushes again as he hears the way he addressed her.
They were halfway through the grand, long staircase when they came face to face with a gorgeous, tall woman. She is at least 5'7" in height, smooth white skin, perfect figure and a spotless white face.
Her assistant bowed as the woman nodded in recognition. She inspects Mikan from head to toe as she looks down.
"State your name." She said in a straight, firm tone that made Mikan nervous.
"It's Mikan Sakura, ma'am." She answered politely. The unknown woman smiled in delight as she hurriedly went to Mikan's place and embraced her warmly. She just stood there as stiff as the board, not knowing what to do.
"At last! I finally met you!" She let her body go as she stared at her happily. "By the way Mikan, I'm the enthroned Prince's Natsume Hyuuga's sister."
Natsume has a sister? Well, she can't blame him if he hadn't told her. They rarely talked about his family when they were together.
"May I please introduce to you the Hyuuga's Realm Countess of Earth, Duchess Aoi Hyuuga." The man assisting her formally announced.
His tone was so formal that she has to bow to the woman.
She slaps her shoulder lightly and says, "There is no need to be formal with me, Mikan! We're sisters now, you know…" She smiled wonderfully at her as she smiled in return.
He grabs her forearm as she leads them back to the grand living room. "So tell me how you and my brother met…"
And the long hours of storytelling began.
Mikan thought that Natsume's sister is the type of person she could not easily go along with. When you look at her at first, you may make an impression that she hates a poor person like her but no, she's wrong. She's a happy-go-lucky girl and she feels like herself with her. She's so beautiful, graceful and elegant like her brother. She then noticed the necklace she is wearing. It is very similar to Natsume's necklace, only a little smaller.
"Oh Mikan! That was an unexpected meeting and love!" The duchess exclaimed as Mikan blushed hard. Mikan has just finished telling the whole story of how she and he met at the mountain.
"It's not like that, ma'am." She said shyly as she munches on her snacks provided by the duchess which is known to love snacking. She demanded Mikan to eat half of the food and the other half for her which made her full.
Hell, these foods were all delicious!
"Stop calling me that… Aoi would be fine. Okay?" She responds sweetly. Mikan sighed, this royalty thing sure is hard to deal with.
"Okay, Aoi." The woman smiled. "Trust me! My brother loves you dearly!"Mikan blushed again as she shoved the last piece of the third large box of fries from her mouth.
"My majesty, I hate to interrupt but you have a meeting in ten minutes." Another new staff pops out as the duchess frantically gets up and kisses Mikan's cheek.
"Mikan! I need to go! See you again soon and enjoy your stay here. Take care of my brother will you?" She winks at her. "You won't be seeing me much since I'm always abroad or vacationing."
"Is that so? Then please take care of yourself too. Have a nice night!" She watches her as she quickly runs to the main door with her assistants.
Mikan wasn't feeling right again. Her fever is back and she felt nausea coming through her system.
"May I escort you to your room, my lady?"
"Yes please."
Her room is huge, it is her house ten times. It is complete with a queen size bed, side and end tables, a mini-living room, a room for clothes and shoes, a spacious bathroom and last not but not the least, a grande make-up table. The color combination is gold and white; well the whole house is designed with this elegant color.
"Your dog is with our pet care-taker. We assure you that he is in good hands. If there's anything more I can do for you my lady, please say so. We are pleased to help you anytime."
"Thank you very much for everything. By the way, what's your name?"
"You are welcome my lady. As for what you're asking, I'm afraid I can't answer that. We have rules to follow here, my lady. I'm very sorry."
"Oh, that's ok. But please can I ask you one more favor?"
"Of course my lady."
"Please stop calling me that. Just call me Mikan, alright?"
"I'm afraid that's also against our rules, ma'am. What our Prince's orders, we abide. No breaking of rules, no exceptions."
"Oh… I understand. Well, thanks again."
"As long as it's for you, my lady. Please have a good night."
Mikan took a short, warm bath and slipped into her worn-out pajamas. She let her body fall to the softest mattress she'd ever laid on. She feels more feverish now as she curled under the thick comforter.
She tried getting some sleep but her body won't listen to her. Spending three days at the hospital without anything to do but sleep is the cause of this insomnia.
The pain on her lower abdomen triggers again. It's just mild compared to the last but she won't wait for it to grow painfully hard to bear again. She hurriedly got up and put her slippers on. She gets some money from the pocket of her dusty bag as she tries her best to go out of the chateau and go to the nearest store.
Holding her trembling abdomen with her face flush in deep red because of her fever, she goes through the staircase then past the living room and the main door. She hasn't seen any housekeepers or any person.
She was in front of the main door as she froze to the cold winter air outside. It is indeed very cold. Her body was shaking uncontrollably as she walked through some short stairs again.
She was walking helplessly halfway through the golden gates of the chateau when a limousine entered. It's on its fullest speed as it goes in front of her, only stopping before it hits her. An angry Natsume goes out of the said car.
"What in the world are you doing here?! It's damn freezing!" He said angrily as he walked quickly to her.
"It hurts…" He observes her actions as she clutch tighter her abdomen. He caught her unstable body and carried her bridal style. "I…need…medicine…" and she blacks out.
It was not a second when they were inside the mansion again. She didn't know if it's her imagination.
"What the fuck did I tell you a while ago?!" He was shouting as she held her. The crowd of the house's staff appeared before him in a flash. They were silent.
"Didn't I make myself clear?! Are you all deaf or did you choose to ignore my orders?" They were all bowed down.
"I ordered you to make her comfortable, safe and protected… I was gone for not more than two hours and yet I found her sick, running in the cold?! What the fuck are you so busy about that you can't keep an eyes for her?!"
They bowed lower and said their apologies.
"You shall be punished… all of you…" He gripped her a little too hard so that she opened her eyes to witness his anger. She slowly touched his face as he looked at her.
"…don't…please…" She said stuttering. "…not…their…fault…" He relaxed as he felt her soft touches.
"Sorry babe, maybe next time. A prince never turns his back on his words." He embraced her tight as he walked her gently to proceed to her room.
"Bring me all the necessary aids right at this very moment." And the crowd frantically prepared his demands.
"I never knew you were this troublesome,polka." He mused as he gently slipped a few capsules of medicine inside her mouth. She gulped it as she drank water.
"I never knew you were this high and mighty, Mr. Arrogant." She smiled at him. "Thank you… thank you for everything. I don't know what I'd do without you."
"A kiss is enough for that." He stated teasingly. Mikan cupped his face closer to her as she kissed him tenderly on the lips. Their battle lasted for about five minutes when both let go. She blushed hard seeing him smirk.
"You know what? I'm really addicted to those lips of yours." He mused as he captured her smooth lips once again.
Silence lingered on the room after their lips parted. Mikan's expression is blank as she faces him.
"Natsume… I'm very very thankful for all of this but listen, you have to let me go, I have a life left behind..."
He knows very well what she's talking about. Of course she has unfinished businesses. Her work, her home, her debts, she abandoned it all.
"Not now, polka…" he answered as the atmosphere went serious.
"But when?" She asked dejectedly.
"A week maybe…" She gave him a horrified look. "I'm not letting you go until you are completely healed."
"Natsume… please I can take care of myself…" She gently touched his sturdy shoulder.
"We both know you can't," He said as he drew his eyes to the floor. Mikan went silent for a while.
Her medicine is taking effect now. She feels very sleepy.
"You should rest," She laid her body to the soft mattress without objection as he gently pulled the blanket to cover her. Her eyes automatically shut down as she felt the warm covers.
"I'm taking you somewhere when you recover."
"…kay…goodnight, Natsume."
"Goodnight polka." He kissed her forehead and promptly left her room.
