hey hye...this is chappy two of my third fanfic...this will be it for a verrrrrrry loooonnggg time coz i got exams...so sayonara for now!!!
Chapter 1: The Waning Seasons
One month before…
What is the definition of wait?
Defer action until expected events occur.
What is the meaning of love?
Affection.
Can Natsume Hyuuga be defined as love?
Maybe.
These thoughts formed themselves in my mind over and over again and I replayed the events of my late night revelation. It was cold and, how else would you put it, highly enlightening.
Flashback
I walked alone through the thick snow as I remembered her yelling fight with Hotaru. Actually, I had been yelling and Hotaru just coldly snapped back when she was offended. I felt like the sun would never come out ever again.
The night was freezing, even more so since I just ran from their fight with only a silk sweater and a short skirt. Not exactly winter wear if you get what I mean. So I trudged until I was basically a statue in the snow. I collapsed under a tree.
"You really are an idiot little girl," a voice lazily commented. I looked up and found myself staring into crimson eyes. "Running out into this freezing cold after fighting with your best friend. If they had an Idiot Pageant, you'd win hands down."
It was Natsume Hyuuga. Would this guy ever get the memo? I wasn't a little girl anymore. I was sixteen and so not in the mood for this. "If I'm an idiot, then just leave then, moron," I snapped back. I turned back to staring at the freshly falling snowflakes. I felt him jump from the tree to plop next to me. He was caressing a fireball in his arms.
"Come here," he said gently but with a rough edge. When I wouldn't, he moved in, sharing the warmth of the fire. Entranced with the fire's licking flames, I felt sleep taking over me. "So, what was your spat about?" I snapped awake and felt like I was going to cry again.
"Hotaru…nevermind," I said. "It's not worth relieving again."
"Polka, if you want to forget your troubles, talk about it. You'll feel better," he said. I thought I saw a blush creeping into his face. I smiled warmly.
"Thanks, Natsume," I said softly, giving him a brotherly hug. "I better go apologize to Hotaru."
"Yeah, whatever," he said dryly.
"You know, Natsume," I said over my shoulder, "you're awfully mean sometimes but most of the times, you're sweet." I left him sitting there as I skipped to Hotaru's lab.
End of Flashback
That was the first time I ever thought of him like that. Then, in Hotaru's lab, she seemed to not care about our fight anymore. Basic Hotaru expression. But I couldn't get over that feeling of warmth and anxiety that crossed me when I gazed into those eyes.
"You're in love, idiot," Hotaru said, her eyes glinting. "You smile like an oaf when's around, you always worry like a mother when he skips meals or when he's on a mission. Face it, idiot. You're in love!"
"You're delusional," I denied. But do I really, truly deny it?'
--,--,--,--,--,
Well…I was going to get my answer one way or the other…
As I walked down the path that was bordered by cherry blossom trees, I smelt the sweet smell of spring. All I thought was Natsume Hyuuga. Why couldn't I get him out of my head? He was like stuck there. Then, the subject of my mind battles was right there, sleeping under a cherry blossom tree. I couldn't breathe.
Instead of talking to him, I turned tail and started running. Why? I didn't have a single sane or logical clue. For some reason, I found myself in the library's quietest section, the encyclopedias. There, I clutched myself, whispering words of denial.
--,--,--,--,
"Are you going to tell her?" Ruka persisted. His blue eyes focused on Natsume as the flame caster glared at his best friend.
"Tell who what?" he snapped.
"Mikan!" Ruka practically shouted. Natsume pretended to go deaf.
"Hanging out with that little girl made you as loud as her, huh?" he teased.
Ruka rolled his eyes and kept on persisting. "Seriously, Natsume. When are you going to tell her you love her?" he said, lowering his voice to a whisper.
"Hmm, let me think…uh…never!" he said. "Who would like a girl like her anyway?"
"Uh…do you really want me to answer that?"
"Yes!"
"Fine…you!"
"Shut up, Ruka."
The animal lover stood and sighed. "You better tell her soon. I heard Kimura from the High School was on his way to ask her out." He started to walk away and stopped halfway. "By the way," he said, "Mikan is patient. But she's not going to wait forever. One day, she's going to give up on you."
"Fine," Natsume grumbled, giving up the fight.
"What?" Ruka said.
"I said I'll tell her!" Ruka raised his eyebrows. "But I'll need your help."
"Anything."
"Tell her to meet me at the Sakura Tree tomorrow night at eight."