Hey guys
Hey guys! As promised… I updated a week after my last update which was in May 28, 2008… Wednesday… and I bet you all know what day it is today right? I hope you do… okay… okay… enough with the trashy introduction… thanks to all those who bothered to leave reviews… it is greatly appreciated…
Here goes… chapter eight… hope you like it… don't forget to give some reviews… okay?
REVIEWS PLEASE!! REVIEWS PLEASE!!
Chapter 8: Conscience
FLASHBACK:
"how 'bout you?" Natsume asked out of the blue.
"what about me?"
"do you know it hurts?"
"hey! You're the one torturing my hand here… so don't you d--THAT"S NOT IT!" Natsume's cry didn't allow Mikan to finish.
Mikan was taken aback… she has seen Natsume pissed a million times but never has she seen him this dead serious that she just had to shut up.
Natsume was silent too but this time he was looking straight into Mikan's eyes. Mikan felt uncomfortable and tried to look away but couldn't. She also tried hard to retrieve her hand but Natsume just gripped even tighter. Natsume's eyes looked like a dark masterpiece. Filled with so much emotion that only a master artist could picture. Filled with pain, sadness, love… yet it was being held back.
"natsu-" she started but failed to finish when she noticed that Natsume's face was drawing closer. He was about to kiss Mikan but his eyes weren't closed. Mikan felt really uneasy but there was this soothing feeling that made her whole body disobey her mind's command.
Just when the gap was about to be closed, Natsume stopped and turned his gaze to the ground. Mikan finally got out of her trance and knew that she didn't have the need to pull her hand away from since he willingly but forcefully dropped it.
"you… don't know…" his masterpiece-like eyes turned into his usual dark, cold orbs.
"what do you mean?"
"quit the act… I know that you know…"
"now you may go and flirt with your chaperone… I'm going home…" he walked away.
Did I really-- Mikan's thought was discontinued and she just sighed.
END F FLASHBACK:
Natsume… do you really mean that? She thought. Then a voice from her head suddenly said, "I bet the hurt he was talking about was way more painful than the pain he caused your hand…"
"ugh!" Mikan yelled. She was already in her room ever since she got home fro the date. She felt terrible. The thing called guilt kept on bugging her BIG time. Her mission was to make Natsume mad and not sad. Those two are totally different things and I'm not just talking about the spelling here.
World War Three was already the main event in Mikan's head, the kind and humble Mikan vs. the proud and ill-tempered Mikan.
Apologize, damn it!
No way! You did nothing wrong!
Yes, you did!
Fine! But he deserved it! He's got acute attitude problems…
He does… but you went totally overboard…
Didn't… it was just enough…
No… you hurt him in there…
Nah…
He's hurt…
Who on the face of mother earth cares?!
You do…
Don't…
Do…
Don't…
"OH! SHUT UP!" she cried. She was completely messed up now. She couldn't focus on anything she does. Just for example was when she was supposed to wash her face but then she ended up just sitting on the toilet bowl and thinking and forgot to wash her face which was her initial intention. That incident was like a video that kept on playing in her head. Not only that, all the good things that Natsume did for her were playing as the background making her feel a lot worse.
Knock.. knock.. knock..
"come in…" she said while lying on her bed and looking blankly at the ceiling.
"Mikan-sama, dinner is served…" there butler, Seiki, announced by the door.
"okay… be there in a minute…" she answered lazily while trying to demagnetized herself from the bed.
After a minute, Mikan went down to the dinning hall as promised. There were her dad, mom, Youichi, the maids and the butlers… all waiting for her. But one was obviously missing…
Where's Natsume?? She asked inwardly. Her question was immediately answered when one of the maids announced, "Natsume-sama said he wouldn't want to eat… but would you want me to bring him some food, sir?" her question bound for Reo.
"later maybe…" was his answer.
What is he? On a hunger strike or something? Mikan thought while heading for her seat.
"Mikan, how was your day?" Reo asked when she sat down.
"um..." she couldn't think of a proper adjective for it other than, terrible, excruciating, horrible, ought to be forgotten, worst nightmare… but she believes that none of these would place her on her parents' good side.
I know Mikan was an idiot, moron and any other terms that tell you that she's stupid but she definitely hasn't reached the level of being imbecile. So I know that she has enough wits in her almost empty head to say, "it went well… so far…"
"oh… oh yeah… how 'bout Kaito-kun?" Yuka butted in.
"well… he was fine… we had fun…" she said while trying to get the sight of an unconscious Kaito out of her mind.
"so it was fun, huh?"
"yeah…" except the fact that Kaito was K.O.ed and Natsume was totally upset.
"I'm glad that your relationship with Natsume is finally taking a step forward…" Yuka exclaimed while beaming a million-dollar smile.
Yeah… YOU are glad…Mikan thought while eating the roasted lamb meat on her plate.
"you really should adjust and learn to like each other…" Reo said
"I could've done it long ago if it was as easy as you made it sound…" Mikan said, the heat was rising again. Youichi was eating faster just in case his stubborn sister would need support for her grand walk out again.
"Time flies faster than you think it does, you know?" he reminded his daughter…
"the time for you and Natsume to live as a married couple would come without you noticing it…" Yuka explained. Mikan felt like throwing up when she heard the phrase "married couple" come out of Yuka's mouth.
"riiiiiiiiiggghhhhhtttt…" she said and decided to go before her parents decide to say absurd tings again.
Youichi was already standing by the door ready to get it for Mikan. "Mikan…" Reo called calmly and he sounded like he didn't have any plan of stopping her from leaving.
"what?"
"bring this…" he said while holding up a tray with food.
"I'm full…"
"for Natsume, I mean…"
"and why do y-- because I said so…" Reo beat her to it.
Mikan was about to argue but decided not to do so since Reo's face looked so determined and something that cannot be compromised with. She can't possibly argue with that face. Well… I wouldn't…
So she just had to conform to it… her whole body was cold just of the mere thought that she would have to talk to Natsume… she was so deep in thought that she didn't notice she was already in front of Natsume's room.
She gulped. "what the hell am I supposed to do now?" she asked herself knowing that she has to look confident and at ease when she sees Natsume or more importantly, when Natsume sees her.
Give him the food then give him a sincere apology…
No freakin' way…
Shut up and do it…
Over my dead body…
Be humble for once…
I am…
Not to him… swallow your pride for god's sake!
You wish…
Fine! At least give him the food…
Let him starve…
Pity him… he might die of starvation…
It's his fault…
You had the chance to save him but you didn't… won't that bug your conscience?
You think I have one?
I know you do…
Fine! I'll save him from dying of STARVATION… happy?
"okay… here we go…" she breathed in deeply then knocked three times. After the surprisingly gentle knock, she put the tray on the floor and vanished into her room like, POOF…
MONDAY MORNING:
The whole family except Natsume was already eating breakfast. Mikan on the other hand was also eating breakfast but if you would have lucky eyes to have witnessed it then it would actually seem as if she was eating her meal for the whole day!! Man! I can't imagine how she could stay skinny with that kind of diet…
Then Natsume suddenly showed up in the dinning hall and it seems like he was in a hurry. He was all set for school… his coat unbuttoned, his white polo half-buttoned, loose necktie, and his messy yet attractive raven locks. He just got an apple and he was ready to hit the road.
"how was Saturday?" Reo asked out of the blue… Natsume just turned and pointed a finger at himself with a you-talkin'-to-me? look. Reo just nodded while folding the newspaper he was reading a while ago.
"you could call it… a day for TWO…" Mikan choked with her bread upon hearing the word, two. Mikan immediately drank all the contents of her glass to push the bread down her throat.
"you okay, sweetie?" Yuka asked with concern. Natsume didn't have any reaction and Youichi was intrigued as if he knew that something was up. He knew his sister too well that she wouldn't react that way if nothing of Natsume's words hit her. But he also considered the fact that it was just caused by his sister's usual clumsiness and stupidity.
"uh… yeah… um… I'm going…" Mikan said trying to escape any interrogation especially with Natsume around she would definitely not be able to think straight to make up any lies.
Her day at school was anything but normal. All eyes were on her the moment she stepped into the school grounds. She was now known not only as the rich, extremely beautiful, heir to Sakura Ent., Mikan Sakura but also as the very first girl to see the interior of the detention cell. She also seemed to be Jinno's favorite student… always calling her to answer mathematical problems. Plus, she ended up spending all her cash because her best friend for all seasons loves business for all seasons and made her pay for every answer she gives to Mikan.
When she finally arrived home, she planned to go straight to her room to avoid any additional misfortunes. So she ran as fast as can be but unluckily, misfortune ran faster than her. Natsume was already right in front of her, looking at her ridiculously.
The look on his face just made her stop while Natsume just walked past her as if she didn't exist. It's your chance… go for it… she thought to herself.
"n-na-Natsume…" she called but Natsume didn't even hesitate to stop as if he didn't hear her at all. "hey! Moron!" Mikan called impatiently.
"look…" Natsume said almost not audible.
"one, you're the moron here and two, what is it? lastly, do it fast cause I barely have time for your stupidity…"
"i… i…"
"spit it out…"
"I… I… YOU'RE A JERK!" she yelled out of panic and pressure and ran as fast as she can wherever place she would end up. She was afraid that because of her stuttering Natsume would grow impatient and walk out on her.
Shoot! How the hell did I end up saying that?! She thought while running. For the first time she would actually, truthfully, sincerely admit that she is an idiot, moron, imbecile and whatever you wanna call it.
She went to her room and checked the messages on the phone. There was one, from the bitch… c'mon I know that you know who I'm talking about.
Hey Sakura… come over here… we're having a party it's absolutely fun… what do you expect… it's my party… okay… 7:30PM at the bar I love going to… ciao... then it was over…
"tsk… Luna…" she said disgustingly.
Oh… I could at least take my mind off all this crazy stuff if I experience a new atmosphere… he thought then sighed… going to Luna's party is much more like going into a filthy lion's den.
She looked at her watch. It was already 6PM she still has an hour and a half before the party. She immediately took off her clothes then got in the bathroom to take a quick shower. The water felt really nice. It was warm and it kind of washed off Mikan's stress.
She got out of the shower by 6:35PM. She didn't have a hard time picking clothes to wear. She just wore a simple, lose hooded shirt with her short shorts then some high-heeled footwear. She tied her hair up in a tight ponytail and her bangs were just falling carelessly on her face with no specific division.
It was the simple yet gorgeous look. Her curves and her silky white skin were emphasized, plus, her fair height added to her celestial appearance.
Mikan looked at her watch again. It was already 6:57. she sighed, "time to go…"
When she went down, she first thought of calling Tsubasa and asking him to drop her off the bar. But then, she changed her mind because if Tsubasa would drop her off, she couldn't trust him not to tell her parents where she was.
So she just snuck into there big garage which looked more like a parking lot in a hotel and drove off with their new BMW Z4 Convertible. (man! I like that car!)
It was a 30-40 minute drive to the bar but in Mikan's need for speed' type of driving it was just a 20-minute drive. God! If you violations she's committed… countless… I tell you… countless.
Beating the red light, over-speeding, counter-flowing, driving without a license, passing through one-way streets, parking in no parking areas and so much more… the list goes on… and one way to prove it is to see her old Porsche which is by now in the junk shop because of all the bumps, scratches, malfunctioning engine, over-heated battery, beaten up shock absorber, very dirty oil and poor air conditioning system… now how's that?!
She arrived at the bar and parked her car in the parking lot which was filled with so many first class cars. Thank god she was able to park her car without making the cars beside her scream. The last time she tried to park in the mall parking area, she left a very unpleasant message for the owner of the Mercedes-Benz which was on her right.
She locked the car and entered the bar. The interior was very Luna-ish… well, this is her party so what do you expect... almost everything covered in hot pink… there were loads of waiters and waitresses carrying drinks and food.
She saw Luna and her just as much as a bitch friends sitting on the most elegant, feathery, fluffy, hot pink couch in the center of the whole place. They look like they're spreading gossips again or backstabbing other people in their so-called girl talk. They all had a glass of champagne or something.
Mikan was still by the door checking out the whole place. The moment she started walking around, the people also started staring and guys following and offering her lots of things: drinks, roses, calling cards and seats.
Luna's girlfriends just rolled their eyes… envy visible in their eyes since only good for nothing guys try to woo them while Mikan gets all the guys… good for nothing guys and good at everything guys… all hers…
She didn't go to where Luna and her friends were. Yes, she came to the party but that doesn't mean she's gonna hang out with those freaks.
She just sat at the place where the bartender was showing off, throwing bottles here, there, and everywhere. She sat there while drinking the champagne she ordered. Man! This guy surely has gone mental… she thought while rolling her eyes.
The guy suddenly made a mistake with all his show off and hit Mikan with the bottle. Good thing, the guy launched carelessly and caught the bottle.
He was about to start again when, "could you just stop that?! If you hit me again, I swear I'm gonna juggle you in the air just like those bottles!"
Everyone looked at her because of all the noise. Luna finally noticed that her guest of honor was in the zone and so she approached her.
Mikan saw her and thought, oh man! Here we go…
"hi, Mikan…" she greeted. Girl, you're so fake… Mikan really wanted to tell her.
"oh, hello, Luna…" she greeted trying to sound so enthusiastic.
"what're you doing alone? Come with me…"
"n-n-okay…" she gave up since Luna was already dragging her.
While this was all happening, in the Sakura residence, everything was going haywire…
"MIIIKKKAAAAAAANNNN-SAAAMMAAA!!" this was the noise heard all over the house. They finally noticed that Mikan was nowhere to be found.
Reo was getting furious, Yuka was getting hysterical, Youichi's getting worried, and Natsume was going nuts for two reasons: 1) he's freaking worried and, 2) he's trying to hide it…
"HWAAAA! HWAA! HWAA!" Yuka cried.
"calm down, Yuka dear…" Reo said while patting her back.
"what the hell!?" Reo was a bit shocked of this answer from Yuka. "dear?"
"calm down!? My daughter's gone and you ask me to calm down!?"
"bu—just shut up, would you?" Youichi interrupted. Both his parents just looked at him. "you're shouting, doesn't help, you know…" he added.
Mikan's family were all worried sick in the living room, while Natsume was now pacing back and forth in his room.
Her parents decided to call Hotaru to see if she's with Mikan.
"hello…" a very frigid voice said from the other line.
"imai-san, is Mikan with you?" Reo asked earnestly
"do I seem like an orphanage?"
"no… but… thanks anyway…" he was about to hang up when Hotaru suddenly caught up with him.
"why do you ask?"
"well, she's nowhere to be found…" Reo answered.
"I'm coming over…" she informed then hung up.
AFTER 20 MINUTES:
DING DONG… DING DONG…
Seiki answered the door. There stood a girl about as tall as Mikan, with raven-black hair, cold and intimidating purple orbs. She just ignored Seiki and stormed in the mansion.
She reached the living room where the family was staying. "Imai-san" Reo said when he saw her.
"tell me… everything…" she ordered. "well, we were about to have dinner and when the maid went to Mikan's room she wasn't there and she isn't answering her phone… we're afraid that something might happen to her…"
"knowing how stupid your daughter is, I am 100 sure she'll get into trouble…" she told them while taking out her laptop.
"is there anything you can do?" Yuka asked while sniffing… she was just from another round of crying.
"I can do anything… now… Yuka…" she called. "yes?"
"do you know how many footwear she has?"
"yeah… she has about… 50 pairs…" Yuka answered. "count them now…" one of the maids immediately went upstairs to count the pair of shoes in her room. The maid was panting really hard when she came back after a few minutes…
While this so-called investigation is going on, Mikan was being quite entertained by Luna and her group of friends.
"here Mikan…" she said while offering her a glass of whiskey and Mikan gladly took it. drinking for her at that time was something she thought wouldn't hurt so she just drinks whatever there is to drink.
She didn't mind even if she was getting a bit dizzy. She just kept on drinking without even seeing what it is… man! How stupid!... she even had the guts to talk to everyone even guys…
"hey Mikan… want some?" Luna asked while holding up a glass of some more whiskey.
"sure… gimme that…" she said and drank the glass' contents in one gulp.
"hey, Mikan… let's dance…" a guy called her. How dare him call her by her first name like that… acting as if they were close or something but still, Mikan obliged and danced carelessly.
"ma'am, there –pant- are only –pant- 49 –pant- pairs" she said in between pants.
"what?! That ca-- she left without telling you…" Hotaru cut off Yuka's statement.
"huh? What do you mean?" Reo asked. "check the garage now…" she ordered again. Tsubasa flew to the garage as fast as possible and then back. "Mikan-sama's car is gone, ma'am…"
"I see… what car?" she asked while waiting for something in her laptop to fully load. "the BMW Z4, ma'am" "color?" "silver…" "plate number?" "NXM 143"
Then after a while of entering so many whatsoever in her laptop she finally said that she would know where Mikan most probably would be. She simply hacked through the system of Japan's transportation office. That office put hidden cameras along roads and took pictures of people who have violations and she has seen Mikan's car 3 times and in different streets… she knew that she would find Mikan that way if she drove the car herself since she is very prone to over-speeding and many more violations.
"he could be along these roads…" she said and gave them the pictures. The moment Hotaru handed them the pictures, someone grabbed it. it was Natsume. He's gone crazy and just when he decided to look for her, he heard someone say where she could be found and ran off.
God damn it! you idiot… where are you?! a very worried Natsume Hyuuga thought while driving his Mercedes-Benz. Then, he suddenly saw a car exactly like the one in the picture, silver, convertible, BMW Z4. he just had to get a closer look to see the plate number.
When he passed a bit closer, he saw the letters NXM and now he was sure that was her car. What the hell is she doing in a bar?! He thought then parked his car across hers.
He hurriedly walked to the entrance but when he was about to enter, two bouncers blocked his way and asked if he was invited in this party.
"look, I don't have time to fool around you guys… just let me pass…"
"sorry, pal…" the bouncer said and was shoving him away the entrance
"no… sorry, PAL…" Natsume said and punched the bouncers and fought his way in. the bouncers weren't able to stop him but they were still conscious they aren't as weak as Kaito to get knocked out with one punch… what a weakling...
When he got in, he saw that Mikan was holding a glass off wine… this time… oh lord! Her liver would go psycho with all those different alcohols she's drinking. Plus, there's also this boy who was pulling Mikan's arm as if wanting to lead her to some place.
"let go of me…" she whined although her dizziness and drowsiness is evident in her voice. "c'mon! just a second…" the guy insisted while there were other guys watching. This made Natsume's blood boil.
"let go of her…" he stated in a very dark and low voice.
"what? Who are you?" the guy just asked. "she's mine… now LET GO!" with that, Mikan turned her head only to see Natsume fuming with anger. "Natsume?"
Oh… I see… he's actually… HOT… the bitchiest girl, Luna, thought. She clung to Natsume and said, "let them do their business… let's have some fun…"
"shut up… you whore…" he got Luna's hand and threw it aside while glaring intensely at her.
"now give her to me…" he said. "dream on…" the guy mocked while his companions just smiled or smirked. Natsume clenched his fist… he can't control it now…
"I said, GIVE HER TO ME!" he yelled than attacked the guy. There were six of them and only one of him… he punched the guy who holding Mikan straight on the face and got her. The guys comrades attacked Natsume but they could never hit Natsume…
Their butts were handed to them by Natsume. They were scared of him now that they just ran away. After the fight, Natsume turned to Mikan and carried her bridal style. "hey… you ruined my party!!" Luna whined but Natsume just ignored her.
"I'm talking to you!!" she cried and held unto Natsume's sleeve.
"listen... you do this again and I swear it's not just your party that I'm gonna ruin… I might just include your disgusting face…" he threatened her then walked to wear his car was parked.
They reached home and he carried her again, but his time to her room. Everyone was shocked to see Natsume carrying Mikan. He passed by the shocked audience and said, "pick up her car at the parking lot of Cliché Bar".
Youichi and Hotaru just watched them. The maids giggled at the scene, seeing that Natsume cares about Mikan. The moment he got in her room, he put her on the bed then got a towel and a container with warm water.
He wiped Mikan's face and hands making sure that her hang over would at least lessen tomorrow. While he was doing so, he heard Mikan sleep talk again, "n-n-tss-me… n-nat-sme… n-nat-su-me… nat-su-me…" her words getting clearer and clearer… but then she never continued what she was saying.
Natsume just sighed… you idiot… he thought lightly… he now realized how much his words bothered Mikan… "sleep tight, mi-kan…" and then he leaned down to kiss her forehead.
When he went out of the room, he saw all those maids giggling and blushing… his cheeks heated up realizing that they saw what he just did… he looked at the floor and said, "just change her clothes and take care of her…" then he walked directly to his room, avoiding more embarrassment.
END OF CHAPTER:
Sorry if it's long… but I just had a hard time trying to shorten this but still having the right and sufficient contents… this is the best I can do in that length of time… but is still hope that you like it… the next chapter would be the chapter where Mikan and Natsume would get along… the first part of chapter 9 was supposed to be the ending part of this chapter but then it would be a lot longer. Thanks for the reviews by the way. Please tell me how long you want it be… and I'll TRY my best to do it or if this is alright with you…
REVIEW PLEASE!! REVIEWS PLEASE!!