Dark Hood
Chapter 8
Disclaimer: I do not own Gakuen Alice nor its characters but this story is entirely mine.
His eyes never left me, I knew that. The intensity was shocking.
Still feeling parched, I looked down at the kitchen table... There sat a lonely cup of coffee. Not just any cup of coffee: a black tie.
It seemed to spur the devil that was urging me to ask Ruka to break all relations with that girl and have her all to myself...
"Natsume?" Ruka called me again.
"Oh, sorry... I think you -"
Ding-dong!
"Let's talk about it later then," Ruka suggested and I just shrugged. Inside, something was disappointed at my lost chance but something also rejoiced that I was saved by the bell.
Ruka headed over to the door and I snuck a glance. It was Imai. And she seemed... angrier than she usually looked like when she needed to talk to us.
"You must be freaking kidding me Nogi. You do that before you've even... I have the right to kill you right this minute for harassing my best friend," she growled, glaring at Ruka then turned to me, "Hyuuga. I hear you're giving the idiot a hard time."
"And that's a reason to kill me too?" I mocked, sipping the coffee. "She's the one who's giving me a hard time. Getting a secure job then suddenly deciding to quit. That could hurt my reputation you know."
Her face twisted in disgust then returned back to Ruka. "Listen here, Nogi. If you ever do anything like this again, not only will Mikan be taken from you..." She leaned in and whispered something into his ear.
It must've been a really bad threat because Ruka turned as red as he could be and then stomped into his bedroom again. Imai smirked and gave me a warning again. "Hyuuga, you're stepping on a thin line. It's quite easy to bring you down - since you are the outsider of the Hyuuga family."
"I could say the same Imai," I spat. No one has spoken of things like that since I became head. I've proven myself... haven't I?
"That's a completely different case. Do not think for one second we are alike. Just remember, if she comes crying to me about you one more time I will sincerely come to batter you." With a twist of her heel, she was out of sight again.
God, she's worst than a witch. Even if we tried to burn or drown or even stone her, she'll just come back worst than ever.
"Ruka, she's gone," I announced.
He came back out (still a little pink) and slouched on the couch. "Now I'm certain I'm the worst boyfriend in the entire universe," he sighed.
And maybe I'm the worst friend...
I returned to my apartment with the worst feeling. Betrayal...
I remembered what the Ruka said: '... You have to speak to them?... When they call your name, you get this fuzzy feeling?'
The thing weighing upon my heart just grew ten times worst. Why am I always teasing that girl? Is that because I have to speak to them? And a fuzzy feeling? I can't describe any feeling I have as fuzzy.
This is wrong.
"Kyaaaa!" yelled a voice from next door. Next door: Mikan's apartment.
Jumping from where I sat, I went over and knocked, "Oi, what's going on in there?"
"Um..."
"If you don't open this door, I swear I will -" But she did open the door. Silently, she invited me in and I entered with a bad feeling sinking in every second.
"Nothing was going on... I just... Um... Saw a spider!" she smiled fakely.
"Hn"
Then I turned to go. Every second it was getting stranger and when I turned, hanging on the door handle was that dark jacket.
"Hyuuga-san."
No fuzzy feeling. Just a little stab as if someone stuck a little pin through my heart. I could live with it, just not long.
"Please... accept this," she held out a white envelope. On it, the words: Resignation, was clear and blunt. "I know I haven't been working for long... and that I wasn't the best employee... but I really have to go. I'm really sorry! But Jii-chan is sick and I..."
It must be true right? Everything seems really empty now. The couch where we had the chinese food and watched TV was a while was gone. The TV itself had disappeared too. Once again, the boxes appeared and overtook the room.
"Whatever. Just hand it in tomorrow," I grunted and reached for the door.
"No! Natsume!" she yelled.
There it is, that fuzzy feeling. But still, I pulled the door open and went back to my lonely apartment. This is where I truly belong...
Alone in the dark.
The morning came and I went to work extra early to get everything back in order. The night was not the good kind. I stayed up listening to her packing her stuff. This morning I saw the moving truck come along.
Tobita was there as I expected and he was fumbling with pieces of paper - probably the stuff for the important meeting I'm having with the boards today. When he saw me arrive, he dropped them all. "Oh sorry! Hyuuga-san!"
I just looked at him. "M-mikan-chan came by today and told me that -"
"Whatever. Just start looking for a new employee to fill her space," I ordered emotionlessly.
"T-tha... t-tha..." he stammered, never able to finish what he wanted to say.
"Hn"
I locked my office door and did what I was supposed to do.
Report to my annoying mother...
"Natsume? What a surprise. You never call," she greeted me cheerfully on the phone.
"You're the one always telling me to call. Anyway, you know th-"
"Mikan-chan is going overseas? Yep. I told her not to resign though. She was a very entertaining maid. Always cheerful and kind but she was slightly depressed for some time. That must be because of her Jii-"
"Mother! She's going overseas?"
"Well, I thought you would've known - since you're her boss as well... Oh no Natsume... Please don't tell me you accepted that damn piece of paper."
My silence spoke me and Mount Kaoru blew. "Natsume Hyuuga! That is the most disgraceful thing you've ever done in all your life!"
"Really?" I asked in a mocking tone. "Plus, why are you so... interested in that girl? She's Ruka's girlfriend and -"
"You always say Ruka's girlfriend Natsume. Have you not noticed a lot of things? She's the first girl you've ever taken notice of, she's the first you've ever called by her first name, she's the first you've ever helped, she's the first -"
"Mother. Aren't you the one who arranged for a marriage interview? Koizumi is my girlfriend."
"But I never see you calling her 'Luna', do I?" she asked. "In my defence, the interview was actually put off the day you asked her out. You're a free man Natsume."
"...Fine. But this is just for Ruka. Where is she heading to?"
I swear my mother is smirking this very second.
Damn it! She leaves today. And apparently Ruka (who already knew about her departure and never cared to mention it in front of me - best friend ever), was going with her.
She's at the port already. Very soon she'll leave Japan and never return.
But within a crowd of dozens of people, it's extremely difficult to find one person. I searched everywhere and even called Ruka but reception was horrible.
Just when I was about to give up - the clock said it was 4pm: the departure time - I caught a glimpse of a woman dressed completely in black. That was her! It had to be her!
Dashing towards the shadow of the woman, I caught up. My hand touched her shoulder and she flicked herhead around.
"Sorry sir, do I know you?" she asked with a confused face.
My heart sank. "Sorry. I mistakened you..." She walked off and I saw the cruise ship set off. Damn it! I slammed my fist against the metal pilllar and swore.
I missed my chance.
"Natsume? Did you come to say goodbye?" asked Ruka, smiling happily.
"Ruka..."
"Sorry, he already boarded."
I pulled my fist away, "He?"
"Mikan's Jii-chan. Isn't that who you -?" Ruka begin but was shortly cut off.
"N-natsume!" cried the girl running towards us.
"Mikan-chan, Natsume came to see your Jii-chan off. Shame he missed it though."
She looked me in the eye and smiled, "Thank you."
"Hn"
"Natsume... your fist is bleeding," Ruka added.
Turns out, I missed the important meeting with the boards and they assigned me to some place without my acceptance. Tobita took my place but he wasn't... convincing.
"Sorry Hyuuga-san," Tobita apologised for the millionth time.
"It doesn't matter. It was my fault I was late. Where's the notes?" I asked, ruffling my hair with my unharmed hand. The other was carefully bandaged by none other than Mikan Sakura.
"On your desk sir."
I nodded and headed off. But even from there, I heard Mikan and Ruka start an argument.
"It was my fault! And if I banaged faster maybe he could've made it on time..." cried Mikan, tearing up.
"No it wasn't... Yuu, can't we do anything about it?" asked Ruka.
"I'm afraid not. I tried my best to convince them but they wouldn't let me... But I'll try and call again. I cannot guarantee anything. You know how it is Mikan. You've worked here. Besides, Hyuuga-san has accepted." He scurried back to his desk.
I stood and stomped outside, "I'm going. You guys stop meddling. Plus aren't you moving?" I grimaced at Mikan who shrank back.
"No, she didn't not to go at the last minute. It'll take a while to fix things. So... can she have her job back?" Ruka asked.
"Whatever."
Fate is messing with me.
Now I know that I love her, I have to leave. Maybe this was right. Maybe when I come back after a while, I'll manage to forget about Mikan and Ruka can resolve things. This is my chance to clear out my mind.
End of Chapter 8
Thanks for waiting so long and thanks for reading! To my awesome reviewers: nix, AnimeMango! Thanks! And don't forget the amount of follows have gone up too! I won't be selfish and ask for reviews... Possibly...