Dark Hood
Chapter 6
Disclaimer: I do not own Gakuen Alice nor its characters but this story is entirely mine.
"M-maid? Y-you got a maid?" I stammered.
Mother shrugged, "Why can't I?" She grinned up at her new doll, "Sakura-san, why don't you can sit down for some tea."
She smiled back in her usual bright way, "Yes please. That'll be wonderful to have."
"Mother, can I-?"
Before I finished my raged sentence, she cut me off and answered, "Yes. I'll talk to you in a second, dear. So Sakura-san, you're dating Ruka? And you're working in the same company as Natsume here?" she questioned.
"Yes. It's been brilliant," Mikan answered quickly. "Everyone's been very nice. Luna-chan has showed me around a little too!"
How come I never knew that? "Great. Then why'd you look for a job here?"
"I'm just looking for a part-time job I could do. Jii-chan isn't feeling his best at the moment..." she sighed.
"I see. So you've moved so you could find medical money for your Jii-chan," Mother observed for a second then jumped up, "Well then let's have that talk Natsume."
"What are you planning?!" I exclaimed, "Ruka's going to be angry when he hears about this."
She rolled her eyes, "Didn't you hear? She went looking for the job herself. I was just being a good employer and -"
"So that's what this is about? You want to use her to tell me you can use anyone I use? Mother, she's a person, not a puppet!"
"I never said anything about it," she smirked.
I growled, "But you're hinting it. She's Ruka's girlfriend and -"
"That's your excuse. She's your best friend's girlfriend? I know you have something for her, Natsume. I'm just waiting for you to admit it."
"Well, you're wrong!" I barked back. "I feel nothing for her. I'm just looking out for her in place of Ruka at times. Making her a maid of the Hyuuga house is plain crazy!"
"But you are no longer a member of the Hyuuga house."
"You were the one who said I was connected by blood," I spat out those words she told me earlier.
"Well I remember nothing of the sort." She returned to the dining room.
"You don't need a new maid!" I added angrily but she just ignored me...
The two of them sat at the back, chatting non-stop. Girls... Honestly, they never stop talking.
I pulled the car to a stop and Koizumi gasped, "Oh! Well time just flies by when you're having fun... That was great Mikan-chan. We'll have to go out again some time. Thanks for inviting me Natsume-kun."
"Same here. I enjoyed myself a lot today, Luna-chan. I'll call you tomorrow. Bye!" Mikan waved as Koizumi entered her house.
"Hn"
I started off again and we headed to the apartment. Maybe Koizumi wasn't so bad, but I don't want to do anything about it. She was nice, but boring.
"Natsume, why don't you just marry her?" suggested Mikan suddenly.
"What?"
"She told me you haven't even kissed her yet. Plus, your mother wants you to propose already. You're really nice and Luna-chan really likes you too," Mikan smiled sweetly.
I rolled my eyes, "No. You sound like my mother now. I won't marry anyone so just let me be."
"Then why'd you ask her out?!"
"Because my mother kept pestering me!" I yelled back. Then my saviour came back. The phone buzzed, "Hello?"
"Natsume? Are you free?" asked Ruka.
"Well your girlfriend is in my car annoying me. But what is it?"
"Oh! Is that Ruka?" squealed Mikan.
I glared at her and Ruka answered me, "I really need to go out for a drink tonight. The bar?"
"Yeah. Just wait for me, I'll be there in," I glanced at the clock. 1:05am... "Twenty minutes. Bye."
She had crawled up in front, "That's illegal, you know. Get a bluetooth!"
"Shut up!" I screamed at her.
"Still illegal~" she sang.
"I can still fire you," I reminded her strictly.
"So then you went all crazy," I sighed, shaking my head in disapproval. "I know I'm your best friend and all but I know that's completely wrong."
Ruka groaned as he finished his vodka, "You just don't get it! She's wonderful..."
"She's your girlfriend. I don't know why you have to resist," I replied and asked the bartender for a cocktail for me and another vodka for Ruka.
He stared at me, "Natsume. You know Mikan-chan. You know what she's like. So I don't know why you're telling me to go for it. It's completely irresponsible!"
"Hey guys. Want to dance?" asked the lady. She wore the slutty clothes like most the people in the club and she didn't seem... right.
"No. I'm good," I sighed, bored with her.
"Hmph. What about you?" she pressed her body against Ruka who just laughed.
"Sorry, I've got a girlfriend."
She pouted, "It doesn't matter as long as she doesn't know right? I don't see your girlfriend here."
"You'd think," someone barked at her. She was holding the dark jacket, her hair wild but she still answered angrily, "I'm his girlfriend. Problem?"
"Whatever. You aren't taken right?" The girl strutted over to me and I just rolled my eyes.
"Get lost," I ordered another drink, chucking it all down.
She groaned, "You boys are no fun. Ciao~" Just like that she skipped off to find some other guys to play with.
"Ruka! How could you come to a club like this?!" yelled Mikan, "I want an answer."
"I-! M-mikan-chan, that's why I asked Natsume to come with me. Natsume?" he stared hopefully at me.
I smirked, "Ruka, you know you're my buddy and all but why do you want me to save you from a girl? Man up."
"Natsume!" he screamed.
"Ruka!" Mikan screamed back.
In the end, we had to leave. Honestly, I was starting to have a good night.
"We were drinking. There's nothing to explain. Ruka, I don't get why you like that girl..." I snorted.
"Natsume! You're being so rude!" she yelled.
"Whatever. I'm going home. Don't be late. Just because you've got more than one job doesn't mean you can slack off," I added before I left. I still heard from behind:
"Another job? Mikan-chan!"
But why am I so irritated in the first place? Having a job in the Hyuuga house has nothing to do with me right? Oh god, but Mother might force things out of her!
She'll know things inside my office. Fire her? No, I can't do that to Ruka...
I just need to make sure she says nothing to my mother right?
I hate my house. But I'm back again. Just because of some guilt I had, eating me up alive...
Damn my best friend and his stupid girlfriend.
"Ah, Natsume, here to see your lover?" asked Mother cheekily, poking my last straw.
"Mother, I suggest you to see a therapist, then go to apologize to Ruka."
"Someone's in a bad mood today," laughed the other parent in the house. I relaxed a little but I couldn't really with the intimidating woman smirking behind me.
"Father," I greeted, "When did you - ?"
"Spare me of your useless talk. I heard from your mother. So what's this about you after a maid?" he raised an eyebrow at me, bemused possibly.
I couldn't possibly tell. My rage was rising by the second, "I am not! She's Ruka's girlfriend and I need to talk to her. This is business concerned," I glared at them both.
"Well, go ahead. Sakura-san is cleaning up my room at the moment," Mother smiled creepily up at me, expecting me to explode, "Since she is my personal maid now."
"Excuse me then," I rolled my eyes once I wasn't facing them. This was the reason I moved. Endless torments from my annoying parents since birth.
"Natsume! What are you doing here?" asked Mikan surprised. She threw the dirty pile of clothes into a basket and smiled.
"I need to talk to you," I answered seriously. She wore the outfit that all the maids wore and it was disgusting. I've seen those since was in a crib...
"Oh! But I can't really while I'm working..."
I groaned, "I got permission. Anyway, you've got a job which (I think since Tobita is manager and all) is paying well. Why are you working here?"
"I thought you heard at dinner," she continued dumping the clothes into the laundry basket, "Jii-chan isn't doing too well and Kaoru-san seems to be a very nice person. Besides, I have other part-time jobs as well."
Fine, I'll ask about it another time... "So you haven't talked much to her have you?"
She grinned, "Your mother is very much like you. The interview went the mostly the same way. She teased me then I got the job - quite surprising really..."
"Mother never hires anyone unless... Nevermind. Just never talk to her about me," I looked deep into her hazel eyes which were nt content at looking at mine. "Even if it kills you, understand? All that stuff: cleaning up your apartment, the bar, the office papers. I don't want her thinking -"
"So basically our entire relationship," Mikan cut in, "I know that I'm not the best person in the world but I'm not that bad that you have to hide me from your family, am I?"
"You don't under-"
"Of course," she sneered with a face I've never seen before, "I'd never understand. If you excuse me, I better go back to work before I get fired for slacking off!" She grabbed the laundry basket and dashed out of the bedroom but she turned her head with a spiteful look, "But don't worry, I'm not that bad as to going around boasting about my relationships with my boss, Hyuuga-san."
She disappeared out of door quickly before I could comment on anything. Rubbing my temples, I wondered if what I did was right. But she won't tell right? I should be concerned anymore...
End of Chapter 6
I've been reading fanfictions... a lot. But only because I've been having trouble thinking of a suitable plot. Why, oh why, did I name you Dark Hood?! There must be a reason and I'm dying to figure it out. I'm going to be selfish... Review? Maybe? Just? No! I'll update soon but school and all... Although I have to point out:
riaanaa- Thanks a lot! Why do you prefer chapter 2? I begin to wonder...
nuro- Your support is awesome! So enthusiastic!
ToriChuck- It's nice to see you again! Thanks, I must like cliffhangers...
Anonymous- Haha, I just felt like I needed it. Cliffhangers are now my thing.
AnimeMango- I've seen you more than once! Thank you!
nix- I'm hoping you're the same person. But thanks! I'll continue!
mariaelennaella- Damn it. You're figuring stuff out faster than me!