She opened her eyes. She's at the hospital again.
She feels so dizzy, her whole world is turning. Then she felt a pain on both of her arms. She lifted it up to observe but it was covered with gauze pads, almost the whole of her arms. A bag of blood is connected to her and a bag of dextrose.
And then she remembered it all. The fight, the knife, the blood, her savior…
She tried to sit up but gentle hands beat her to it. She's pinned up to the soft mattress.
"Shhh… don't try to move, just rest okay?" The voice said. It was his.
"Na…Natsume…" She wants to see him, but her visions are blurred.
He gets her point when she roams her head from side to side searching for him. He adjusted his place so she could see his face. He connected their hands carefully. She calmed down when she saw him.
"I'm sorry for everything..." He stated scornfully as he kissed her hand. She sighed constantly as she heard his words, and then proceeded to sleep.
Three hours later, she awoken due to the soft voices she heard not far from her. Still with close eyes, she listens to it.
"Mikan really loves any chocolate food. She likes pastries, pastas, pizzas and of course anything that has dark chocolate in it. Though sometimes, she craves for something out of the blue." It is the voice of her friend, Anna. "Her favorite color is random, sometimes light blue, sometimes white but most of the time it's pink and purple."
"What is it that she likes to do often?" It is Natsume's voice. They are talking about her.
"Well, as for that, she likes to work, work and work. Though she constantly gets sick or injured every now then because of her body's weak resistance and clumsiness…" The two laughed from the thought. Mikan wanted badly to open her eyes and scold them but she's very sleepy.
"She can be adventurous at times too. When it's her day off, she explores places without fear…" Her friend added. All she said is correctly true.
"Thank you. I'm glad you shared these to me even though I've hurt her." Mikan wants to go to him and hug him to ease the pain in his voice.
"I believe every relationship has its own trials and problems to encounter, your majesty. It's not unusual. All you have to do right now is to make-up for it…" Anna gulped before continuing, "Your majesty, Mikan loves you very much… I can see that very well. Please, on behalf of her family, I want to ask you to treat her the right way she should be treated. She's gone through a lot, sir. I'm afraid that if she can't take the pressure anymore… she'll do something unexpected… so please. I'm begging you…"
"You don't need to beg Ms. Umenomiya. I've done enough damage and I'm not going to add up to it anymore. I regret hurting her. All I'm planning to do when she wakes up is-" Mikan did not hear the rest as her consciousness drifted to slumber.
She wakes up again after hours of sleep. This time, more energetic. She opened her eyes to meet crimson ones. She can't help but wonder how he stays so perfect every time she sees her.
"How are you feeling?" His manly voice spoke. She turned the other way so she won't see him.
"I'm going home…" She decides as she sits up and puts off the comforter.
"No. You're staying here until you're okay." He firmly pushed her back to the mattress as she let him do so. She stared at the ceiling afterwards.
"Give me space. I need it, please." She begged in a painful voice.
"I'm sorry. I'm very sorry. I'm willing to make-up for everything. Please." He pleaded, staring at her emotionless face.
"Not right now. I need some time to think." She stated in a straight voice. Natsume sighed, depressed.
"Okay. I'll instruct my assistants to take you home once you've fully recovered…"
"I don't need to be taken home!" She exclaimed. "Just let me be…"
"Fine. I'll go away for a week but I'll be back shortly to make you mine with or without your consent. You're mine, Mikan Sakura. I'll do everything to get you back." With that, he turned to leave the room as she watched in despair. Not long enough, her tears fell continuously.
It's been exactly a week since she pushed him away.
She stayed home all the time, only getting out to buy cheap and small amounts of food for her dog and hers. She did a lot of thinking. She weighs her situation. She listens to heart and mind. By now, all things seem clear. She knows what she wants. He did not really show up throughout the week. No signs of his existence, no guards, no housekeepers. Sometimes, she wonders if what had happened was real or she's just dreaming.
Her urinary tract infection is there again, since she's been eating fast food and salty foods every day. She's had an on and off fever for the last two days but she doesn't bother to drink medicine because it's expensive for her since she has no work. She should be thrifty enough until she finds it.
She took a bite from her plain rice, grimacing at the taste. She doesn't have money to buy Mc Donald's today as she notices that her money is gone short.
A knocked on the door was heard. She was startled for a moment, thinking who the stranger is. Could it be Mr. Tetsuya? No, right? If it is really him, he would just barge into the door without paying common courtesy.
Another knock was heard, this time, louder. She stood up from where she is as she started coughing. She opened the door.
"Hi." She came face to face with him, again. He handed her a bouquet of roses and a huge round box of high quality chocolates.
"Natsume...thanks." Her face did not show any emotion as she let him in. When he stepped into the tiny room, he closed the door behind him. He noticed a little bowl of food from her rusty table.
"You eating?" He asks.
"Yes… Um, do you want something to eat? I'll go out and buy it for you…" She grabs her purse and coat.
"No need. You must not keep your food waiting. Eat up, it's fine." She returned her things and proceeded to her little dining area to continue eating. He sits in front of her, watching her every move.
Mikan took a half-spoon of rice and shoved it to her mouth, grimacing in the process. She coughs from time to time, her face burning up from fever. He did not say anything as he watched her.
She stood up once, eating the horrible food and cleans the utensils on the counter. After doing so, she hurriedly grabs her ripped jacket and puts it on. She rubs her arms to get some warm.
"Are you fine?" he asks worriedly.
"Yes. It's just a fever running on and off these last few days. I'll be fine." She stated assuringly. She seated herself again in front of him.
"Where's your medicine? I'll get it for you…" He roams his eyes around the room to look for it.
"Um, well… I don't have any." He stared at her with a 'what' expression. "I'm used to this. I don't buy medicine for myself because I can't afford it. The first time I've taken one once my family passed away was when you brought me to the hospital…"
He stared shockingly at her as she just stared at him.
"Hey, I remembered. I bought a hot chocolate mix last time. I'll pour it on for you." She stood up and proceeded to her little cabinet to look for it.
Just as she stood, he did also. He embraced her tight with her back facing his front. Mikan's eyes widened at the sudden action.
"Sorry. Please forgive me for what I have done, Mikan." He placed his smooth face on the crook of her neck and closed his eyes to feel her warmth as his arms tightened around her torso. "If I had known you're this miserable, I would have never let you go…"
Mikan was quiet for a moment.
She turned around to return his embrace.
"It's okay… Nothings your fault, you're just pressured. I know you don't mean what you've said. I forgive you, Natsume." When their eyes met, she gave him the sweetest smile of forgiveness.
"You're making me more guilty by saying that…"
"I'm sorry I pushed you away…"
"I promised to be back for you right? A prince's never turns his back from his words."
"By the time you were gone, I've realized that I cannot go on without you anymore, it hurts, realizing that I love you too much to feel this way…"
"As I do, and always will. Will you stay with me then?"
"Through heaven and hell, I will." He did not waste a single moment as he tilted her head and kissed her lips lovingly, holding her close to his.
She broke the kiss shortly as she remembered her situation.
"Natsume… I'm sick, you could be infected too…." She stated as she coughs hard.
"To hell with that," he smacked their lips again together that lasted for a couple of minutes.
"I've missed you, polka." He said as he smiled at her.
"Me too pervert." she exclaimed shyly.
"Let's pack your things…" He said as he looked around her room.
"But why?" She stated curiously.
"You'll be living with me from now on…"
"But…but…"
"You just said that you'd stay with me through heaven and hell?"
"But living with you on the same roof? I'm kind of old fashioned…"
"What's wrong with that, may I ask an idiot? Besides, we are not doing anything wrong yet."
"What do you mean by that?! You pervert!" She blushed hard at his thought.
He sighed. "I'm not going to do anything to hurt your 'old fashioned style', trust me, polka. So would you please pack now…" He stared at her pleadingly, she can't do anything but surrender as he began packing her things.
After thirty minutes, all things are packed in six big bags.
Mikan grabbed the two huge bags but he took it immediately from her.
"I'll carry everything, polka. You go on first to the car." Mikan stomped in annoyance.
"No. Give me back those! That's my thing! I'm supposed to carry it not the other way!" She protested as she tried to snatch it from him.
"These are your things but your mine, so for short these are mine too so I'll carry it." Without effort he carried the huge bags to the car as she followed him, carrying the gifts he had brought.
In less than a minute, the luggages is arranged neatly inside the car and her dog, Tsubasa, is laying on one of the seats comfortably. They are still standing outside the car.
Mikan 's face is all red due to the weather. It's snowing and her fever is not helping.
"Wear this." Natsume took off his leather coat and gave it to her.
"What (cough) about you (cough)?"
He chuckled at her. "Don't be silly, I'm not a human so the weather doesn't affect me much."
"No. Just wear it, just to be sure…" He circled his eyeballs teasingly as he put it on for her.
"Hey!" She protested.
"Shut up so that I can take you home already, polka." As soon as she felt his coat, she automatically pulled it closer to her. It has his scent and warmness though it's huge on her body.
He opened the car's door for her as he gently guided her in. Feeling the soft, warm seat, she instantly curled up to take a slumber as he drove them home.
"Your majesty," Greeted the butler as their prince came in with Mikan. He was supporting her weight.
"My lady, you're back." The butler said as he smiled at her. She smiled back.
"Hello, nice to see you again…" She responded warmly.
"Please prepare some aids for fever and cough." Natsume ordered as he carried Mikan to her room. The butler bowed.
As expected, her fever was on and off throughout the night. Though he never left her.
He is observing her, her breathing is raspy, sweat can be seen from her face. She is having a nightmare.
"Mikan…" he called out.
"KNIFE!" She screamed loud, her eyes blank as she stood up. "I NEED A KNIFE!"
He automatically put his arms around her waist. "What's the matter?" He asked urgently, not letting her go. The voice came to her senses.
She sobbed as he gripped his hands. "You're here… I thought… I thought you'd loathe me forever. I'm so sorry for what happened."
"Hey, nothing bad happened. I'm here…" Natsume said comfortingly.
"That day…Your eyes – they are very angry, staring right through mine, you hate me, you don't want me anymore…" She gulped hard and continued, "All I could think at that moment was to be at rest. I don't want to experience pain anymore… I don't want to be miserable especially if it's with you… so I thought if I just end up everything, I'd be free forever…from all the pain that is, and you'll be happy…"
She was talking about the day when their argument happened.
"When I saw you sprawled on the floor, half dead, you have no idea what I was feeling. Just the sight of you like that – it's breaking me apart… Don't you ever do that again, Mikan…" He sighed as she calmed down. "I'm really sorry for what I said, for what I did. I'll make it up to you. I'll show you how important you are to me… So please just sleep now. There's nothing to be worried about. I'm here…" He sighed again as he felt her relax against his arms and slowly drown into her dream land.
"Love you so much, Natsume." She whispered in a low voice before she truly drifted.
"Love you too…" He responded as he kissed her on the forehead.
Now was the only time he'd realize how greatly he can affect her, even with the slightest move.
It was just 5.30 in the morning when she woke up. She's feeling very energetic now with her sickness gone. He was not on her side when she woke up so she took a refreshing bath and went downstairs, aiming for the office.
"Um, Good morning sir," She greeted the butler who was facing his back on hers.
"My lady! It is still early, you should rest…" She blushed at his address.
"No thanks sir, I'm fully charged already!" She smiled at him as he smiled back. "May I know where I can fill up a bio-data here please? I really need it…"
"Of course, that would be the office. This way, my lady." He led the way to the said place. The chateau is truly huge. There are many hallways and rooms here and there. She is awe-struck as ever.
When she reached the office, there was no one there. But it's freaking big. There are lines of filings arranged at the side, many computers, papers, desks and more papers.
She started searching for a sheet of bio data.
"Where the hell is Mikan?" Natsume asked angrily to the butler. He just went out of her room to shower but when he came back, no Mikan was found.
"Ah… yes, Good morning to you too, your majesty," He glared at him as the butler trembled. "She's at the office sir." He hurriedly went to the office.
"Oh here it is! Yes!" She exclaimed as she found her needed sheet.
"Okay, name first. Let's do it. M-I-K-A-N-" she began answering the paper.
"Hey idiot," Someone entered the office.
"Good morning Natsume!" She smiled at him. He goes to where she is only to pull her up and embrace her.
"Hey…" She said in surprise. He kissed her lips passionately as she kissed back. Both of her hands disarranging his hair as his arms tightened around her. They broke away after minutes.
"What was that all about?" She questioned as she blushed hard. He let her body go.
"I thought you ran away from me again, polka."
"I didn't! See! I was here!" He kissed her again.
"Stop the kissing thing okay? You're weird… it's so early in the morning and you're like that!" She lectured.
"Sorry. I thought I'd get some morning kisses from you…" He smirked at her as she just sat back and continued what she was doing.
"Why are you filling that up?" He asked curiously as he saw the paper.
"Oh, this is for my job application…" She writes continuously, not looking at her back to see his expression. "I plan to inform you that I'll be going out today to apply for a job…"
He took the paper from her and crumpled it. He tossed it to the trash can.
"Natsume!" She exclaimed. "What did you do?"
"I don't want it," He said stubbornly. "You'll stay here without a job."
"But! What about my money for my personal needs? I need a job to live!"
"You're really a stubborn one. I told you I got you covered for all eternity, so please… stop talking about money problems here…" He said coolly.
"I hate you!" She said, planning to walk away but he gripped her to him and embraced her..
"Angry again aren't we?"
"Let me go!" She tried to unlock herself from his arms but to no avail.
"How about I show you to my kingdom, my lady?" He winks at her as he kisses her on the lips.
