Chapter 13: An unexpected kidnapping and the sudden wedding plan

I woke up seeing nothing.

Before I slept last night, I was happy at the thought that I would finally be able to cook something at the very least was edible to people that was willing and brave enough to try and eat food I prepare. I had always had a complex regarding my inability to make anything humans could safely eat. I knew from the moment I had first touched anything from the kitchen that I was going to love cooking. I was just unlucky that cooking didn't love me, or at least like me.

Now, I didn't know why but having thoughts about cooking when I was panicking was an idea I would have laughed at. Only, I was in that kind of situation.

I realized after I scanned the surroundings that I was in a large room. It was still dark but I could see the outline of the room, the furniture and everything else that told me I wasn't in the apartment.

Again, after realizing that people took me – more like – kidnapped me from my new home to my old one, I was sort of surprised (I did expect something to happen.). The thought made me furious and nauseous. Nauseous because I've already accepted that I could and will live at that house… or apartment (as I said before, I really didn't know the difference.), and suddenly being forced out was kind of horrifying. Of course I wouldn't say that because I liked the sarcastic people who'd be living with me if I was still there. Furious because people who actually claim to care about me had absolutely no trust in my decisions and everything else that I wanted to do. I understood why they'd be angry though. If I was them and had a granddaughter who ran away from home because she wanted to be independent, I'd have spanked her butt to death until she had no butt at all. And I'm being contradictory in my own thoughts. Great. Just great.

Strangely though, I wasn't all that worried. I panicked, yes. But I wasn't alarmed or even scared about this place. It didn't take long for me to recognize my room, and I meant my room. I repeat, I was in my damn room.

I felt nostalgic, which isn't really justified because I was only gone for about a day or two. Hey, it did feel like I was gone for a whole long while. The experiences I'd had for that one/two days was too scary, embarrassing, horrific, humiliating and just about every word there is to describe the accidental assumed thievery, being wrongly accused of attempting to kill a rude, sarcastic child, fainting and being saved by an asshole (or not), biting supposedly delicious people, crying waterfalls in front of some strange-newly-acquainted-with-people and all the other things that had happened.

The stacks of books across the room were still there, untouched and not damaged in anyway. I was relieved they were alright. Comfortable couches in front of it were suspiciously not in the same place I remembered them to be. The huge white cabinet just a little farther to the left from the books was left open. I had no doubt that I had left it open when I hastily grabbed my clothes and other things and obviously, people didn't bother themselves closing it.

I had to see him.

Moving quickly, I reached for a pair of slippers that I knew would be there and ran to my grandpa's room.

My thoughts swirled in a spiral of redundant questioning as to why and how the hell I was back at home inside my brain. I thought of possibly contacting Hotaru but dismissed the idea since I was sure that my grandfather had gotten to her first. Mom and Dad wouldn't be able to help me if I needed one since they themselves didn't know that I ran away and again, I was sure that grandpa hadn't and wouldn't tell them anything about it.

I panted.

I was starting to dislike the large mansion. I was reminded of my NY-to-Paris-like-marathon just yesterday. Thinking back though, I didn't really know the reason why the heck I was hurrying off like that. Maybe I'd somehow known, unconsciously, that I'd be back home sooner than I expected? Thankfully, I wasn't in a vulnerable mood and I wasn't going to do something stupid and humiliating like cry just because I ran from my room to my grandfather's. I was still furious, I realize, that I was back home. I did admit that I missed this house, not mentioning I wasn't even away for five days, but that didn't mean that I regretted sneaking out to do what I want to do (that didn't come out right, I sound like a spoiled brat). I felt more than my fair share of shame for being caught so early, though I already expected my grandpa to somehow get me back.

A while later, I saw grandpa's room, I stared at the humongous door and stayed still. I was angry. That did not mean that I wasn't afraid of my grandfather. It's not like I could just slam the door open and shout – demand why the hell I was suddenly back home or even ask why I opened my eyes to find out I was never going to learn how to cook. In this situation, I worried about cooking, so what? It was pretty important to my future marital life since I planned on occasionally cooking for my future husband in the yet to come time.

Geez. This was scary as hell.

Grandpa was scary when he wanted to be and I doubt he'd be in his usual bubbly and smiling self and might not even talk to me. The best I could hope for was for him to be at least in his angry-but-still-reasonable-enough-to-talk mood.

I steeled myself as I determinedly open the door.

My heart thudded as I saw the door open slowly to reveal him and his precious dog.

My grandfather was in his suit, no doubt going to work in an hour or two. His gray hair was unusually messy, he didn't look like he'd paid much attention to his hair hygiene and I had no doubt that it was because of worrying about me. He was seated in his comfortable red couch near the gigantic bullet proof window, reading a book. I ignored the chocolate-haired June at his side and walked calmly in front of him.

I stared at him, not saying a thing, waiting for him to acknowledge me first.

It seemed a long time before he finally took notice of me.

"Mikan. Is there something you need?" he asked, his right brow lifting. He was angry. He did not close the book or even put down his arms. He was just waiting for me to speak up and finish whatever it is I was going to say. Thank god he was willing to listen though.

I wanted to ask him why he still wanted me back home. I knew the answer of course but still. I couldn't ask him how he knew where I was and how he kidnapped me right under two and a whole neighborhood of people's noses, cause I already knew how, or at least had an idea how he did it.

I waited for a moment before speaking. "Why am I here?" I asked, not revealing any emotion on my face, which is – I admit, a hard thing to do considering I also think I was also in the wrong and understood that it didn't mean they were right. I wasn't going to be apologetic and I certainly didn't want him to see that I was also just as angry as he was.

"This is your home." He said skeptically.

As much as I wanted to tell him 'Yeah, right.', I didn't.

"You want me to get married." I clenched my fist and stared at him, urging him to say something.

"Yes." That was all he said. I wanted to groan in frustration. Can't he say anything else? What about the whys, the how and the other questions that needed answers? He can't expect me to understand right? I didn't even know the real reason he wanted me to go off into the sun rise with some strange person I haven't even met yet.

There was whole bunch of things I wanted to say and ask but I fortunately got in control with myself and didn't.

"You know what I want grandpa, I won't do it." I said with conviction and determination, though really, I probably won't be able to change his mind. He's a really, really stubborn grandpa, a knowledge I sincerely wished was false.

"I know what you want, that's why I will give it to you." He said smiling brightly at me. At the sight of his bright smile, my anger and frustrations evaporated away and I wanted to apologize and hug him immediately. Who could blame me? I loved him very much, he's family. I controlled myself and continued to stare at him. I was confused. I'd already done something stupid (I won't deny it) – that was running away – and he would let me do what I want? I knew there was a catch and I wasn't about to let my guard down.

"What changed your mind? I thought you didn't want me to live on my own and let me have and do any work." I asked, now frowning. I still remember him scolding me about how we were supposed to be the ones who do the spending and that it was only natural since we were rich and that it was an insult to him and the others before him to let his children and grandchildren work at mundane surroundings. I always thought he was extreme with those reasoning. I glanced briefly at June, who was staring silently at me and returned to staring at grandpa.

"I still don't approve of your silly ideas but I can make an exception and let you be if you go through with the marriage." He returned to looking at the previously abandoned book and quite obviously began reading again.

The first thing on my mind was a question.

What?

No way.

"You know that isn't happening grandpa." I was sure my face was showing some pleading right now. Thankfully, he didn't see my face; though I wasn't all that sure I was thankful for it.

He returned to staring back at me and lifted a brow.

"As a matter fact, yes, I happen to know you wouldn't do something like marrying just to do something like work at a café. You've convinced me to let you have your way, with something to give me of course." He talked business. I couldn't believe it. Was this the same grandpa that spoiled me rotten till I got so sick and tired of it? He was a natural businessman and I knew it was in his nature to negotiate about things that could benefit him in any way. Question was, what would he gain by marrying me off?

He knew where I was and what I was doing, that was for sure. I was a bit upset that he made a deal that he knew I wouldn't take. The way he'd said it sounded as though the idea that I trade my fealty with freedom to do whatever I want was incredibly stupid. Despite the seriousness of our discussion, I couldn't help but imagine that grandpa had literal eyes everywhere instead of cameras and people to follow and discover me. I did have am absurd and outrageous imagination. Maybe I was touched in the head.

"Who is this person that you're so adamant that I marry anyway?" I asked, more like demanded. I was curious about it since I found out that he was gonna marry me off. I was also worried why he seems to be desperate about it too. Wasn't it just an idea that came over him when I argued about things I wanted to do? Now that I think about it, I was pretty relieved when my grandpa didn't lock me in up in my room as I'd feared, or any possible things that he could have done.

"You don't have to ask, you'll be meeting him tomorrow. And don't try to do anything senseless Mikan. I've already had a conversation with Hotaru and your parents. You won't have any contact with any of them and that means they won't help you do anything – as I said – senseless." Granpa said with such finality that I couldn't say anything, at all.

I gaped at him.

That was it?

Just like that?

Dread rose within my veins, my body growing hot with fear. My grandpa wasn't just angry, he was absolutely furious! What did he mean by seeing him tomorrow? I shook my head in disbelief. If tomorrow was anything like I was thinking then it was going to be a nightmare. I knew I was in for punishment. I was thinking along the lines of grandpa not allowing me out from home for maybe a year or maybe forbid me from eating my favorite snacks and my beloved shrimp for I-don't-know how many months or giving me some squid and octopus to eat. I was starting to think that maybe going through all those was better than the alternative.

Goosebumps rose in my skin at the thought of squids and octopuses.

I figured he would punish me but I didn't imagine this kind of a punishment.

This was serious!

No way.

No way.

There was absolutely no way in hell that I'll be marrying anyone tomorrow. How my grandpa managed to prepare everything so quickly, I had no idea. But I knew he could do it. He worked miracles before, there was no reason he won't be able to do it now.

I was going to beg him to do anything but marrying me off, but my pride have other ideas. Apparently, I had a really huge pain-in-the-butt ego. I turned around walking to my room, thinking about how I could possibly get out of the foreboding nightmare.

I thought about yesterday.

Being humiliated in that house and being embarrassed about my actions yesterday was nothing compared to what would happen to me tomorrow. I was lucky that that was all that happened to me, now that I think about it. I could have gone through the thieve-like way of getting inside the house and got arrested for breaking and entering. I could have lost all my control and killed some people that pissed me off to no end and got arrested for murder or attempted murder.

I got tired of contemplating what I had to do and thinking about ifs and jumped to my bed.

It was only after noon that I woke up screaming after dreaming of a wedding where I wore a black wedding dress and walked the aisle where a (hideously fat) guy was smiling an evil smile and I took his hand to stand beside him. I couldn't see the face clearly but things flashed forward and I heard the wedding music inside my head when the fat guy turned to me to give me a kiss. Thankfully my eyes widened and I nearly had a panic attack before realizing that it was only just a dream, or a nightmare, really.

Talk about a major headache.

I massaged my head to ease the throbbing on my brain when someone dashed or crashed my door open and came inside my room.

"Miss! Are you alright? I heard screaming?!" the intruder roared with concern.

It took me a minute to know that it was only Mrs. Rika that bulldozed her way to my room.

I sighed; relieved it wasn't someone to drag me to an unwanted wedding.

"I was just having a nightmare Mrs. Rika." I told her weakly. I didn't have the strength to be enthusiastic about her return considering my most recent nightmare.

"Oh, miss. Are you okay? You didn't fall out of bed and bumped into something did you?" she asked. I was touched by her concern. I'd know her all my life and I was grateful that she, at the very least, was on my side of things. She understood what I wanted to do and why I wanted to do it.

"No, I didn't. I didn't know you were back from your mother's." I inquired, still feeling a bit tired and groggy.

"I got back yesterday. And imagine my surprise when I found Anna crying in the kitchen and told me that you were gone. She was very worried about you, thought that you have been kidnapped again." I didn't miss her evident scolding voice. This was what I loved about her. She wasn't afraid of scolding me even though I was her employer's granddaughter. She was a fierce lady.

"Grandpa actually told you that I sneaked out then?" I asked her innocently. Of course she'd be informed. Mrs. Rika was in charge of taking care of me and my needs.

"Of course he'd tell me. I would have given him dead flowers on his room if he didn't." she harrumphed.

I laughed a little at what she said. Grandpa would complain to Mrs. Rika's mother if he received those flowers. Mrs. Rika often gives those to people she found acting childish and ridiculous or even unreasonable. The fact that her mother and grandfather were longtime friends was kind of funny since Grandma Sara, Mrs. Rika's mother, would smack grandpa on the head with her stick if she ever found out that he 'mistreated' her daughter in anyway. It had always been a mystery how and where Mrs. Rika gets her flowers whenever she needed it.

I sighed, remembering what would happen tomorrow.

I guess my face looked so down and miserable since Mrs. Rika asked.

"Are you sure you don't want me to send him 'the flowers'?"

I laughed.

NOT EDITED

AN: I re-read the entire story and realized that the story was moving at an adolescent turtle's pace (it was a shock). So I abandoned my original plan to let Mikan have a taste of the life she wants before getting married. I have to apologize to people that was looking forward to reading the part where Natsume would have to teach Mikan how to cook and for the sudden turn of the story. Honestly though, I wasn't sure where the story would lead to if I let it flow like usual. I do hope that this chap isn't too unbelievable (if you know what I mean).

Btw, I hope readers still find this story funny because I think I've been influenced and got the Harry-Potter-language disease and because this story was supposed to be light and humorous (I worked hard on making this a hilarious fic dammit!).

To GAotaku: OMG! I'm so sorry I let you feel like you were invisible! O.O I'm sorry if I'm over reacting a little bit but I get guilty easily and I really try not to offend people. Really sorry . and thank you for liking the story, like I said before, I appreciate people who takes their time writing a review. Btw, thanks for understanding that life is a big distraction to people like myself who gets easily distracted and not to mention, I'm an extremely forgetful person. Hope to know your thoughts about this chap and others^^

To MarSette: In response to your review in chap 8, Thank you for appreciating the humor^^ and although it's been nearly a year (?) since I last updated, I hope you could still go through reading this story. And, I am planning on making Mikan and Yoichi closer since I also find them cute. Hohohohoho \(^o^)/