Author's notes: Thanks for all of those who left their review for my last chapter… I hope that you'll be enjoying reading this…
CHAPTER 9: the beginning of the Pinnacle of the game of Destiny
The most painful love there is, is the love left unshown
A love that cannot be expressed, affection left unknown
The love that withholds touching, afraid of what it would say
And the most painful thing about unexpressed love is... it never fades away
--Susan Polis Schutz
"How long will I keep on dreaming?" a young girl said as her amber eyes watched the night sky as she sat by the window sill, cold wind passed by her cheeks as her brunet locks was slowly taken by the wind… Neatly she tucked her flowing hair behind her ears….
The breeze of autumn was slowly leaving that night as a new season had entered. It has been weeks since she last that crimson eyed boy that hypnotized her and delude her to this dream…
"Mikan what are you going t give to Natsume this Christmas?" Anna said as she walked side by side with her friend, she glanced at every shop they passed by thinking or hopping of spotting a nice gift for the coming event…
"Huh? What are you saying Anna, Why should I give him a gift" she said as she nervously smiled at her friend…
"Of course you should moron!" Anna said as she tapped Mikan really hard at her shoulder "You are going out right? And he is your boyfriend" she continued as she gazes at her friend…
Mikan just smiled at her forcefully as a sudden thought came to her mind.
"Is there really something going on between us" she thought for a moment, as memories of the past event came to her mind.
Everything that is happening to her now, the standing point she is now is because of an accident, it started with a snatched kiss, a kiss that led to a sudden claim and a new feeling that is slowly sprouting out of her, which she neglects…
"Mikan" Anna called her
She was lost in her thoughts that she didn't hear her friend call her…
"Mikan" Anna called her attention again
"Eh! Anna… what's up?" she asked her in a shocked looked as she heard her friend almost shouting at her
"I'm asking you a while ago if you have decided a gift" she replied to her friend almost annoyed "You know you are spacing out, something the matter?" she inquired to her
"Huh? I am spacing out? Nope... Nothings wrong... you must've been imagining" she said not wanting her friend to worry, but the truth is that everything is not fine, her time is running really fast just like the sand in a sand clock…
"You sure?" she said doubting her friends answer
"I am totally fine" she confirmed as she changed the topic "Ah, Anna look over there, let's check out that shop, I think I saw something interesting" she said not looking at the shop where she pointed her finger as she headed that way and dragged her friend…
"Eh?! But Mikan that is a pet shop" Anna said as her friend suddenly stopped
Anna the glanced at her friend, she saw her staring at a cute black Persian cat. Slowly she walked beside her. She glanced at the cat then back to Mikan.
"Mikan, are you all right?" she asked her companion as she saw a wired glint in her eyes…
"Anna look, isn't it cute" Mikan said in a very cherry tone.
"Really, but that is a black cat, they say that it is bad luck" she said to her friend
"Really?" was the doubtful reply of Mikan "The black cat is a bad luck, I don't believe that" she said to her "It reminds me of someone" she said as he gave out a little giggle…
"I think I know the gift that I'll be giving him" she said cheerfully as she dragged her friend inside the shop…
"Mikan don't tell me that you are going to…" Anna asked her but she only received a childish smile from her friend…
Christmas, a season of giving, a season of sharing a warm feeling everybody that is important to you…
"Cheers" a blonde boy said as he raised his cup filled with red wine "Merry Christmas to all" he said
"Merry Christmas!" they all said in unison as they toasted for that special occasion.
Everybody celebrated that special season happily as if it was an endless moment for them. The snow began to fall freely from the sky…
"Natsume merry Christmas" Mikan said as he handed Natsume a large box that was covered by fancy paper, there was a small hole on its side… "Hope you'll like it" she said and gave out a little giggle. She then left him alone as she was called by Akira.
"What is this?" Natusme said to no one as he was surprised to the gift he just received. He then gazes at the brunet girl that gave him the box…
"Isn't that a cute kitten" Ruka teased Natsume as he grabs a little black Persian kitten inside the box
"Shut up" Natsume said in a very cold tone
"You know for some reason, this cat reminds me of you" He teased again "So who gave you the kitten" Ruka inquired as he sat down beside his best friend and petted the cat…
But fortunately his friend didn't reply he just glanced at the brunet girl, who is standing not far from them. Suddenly his eyes caught a glimpse of a very familiar bracelet.
"So she gave it to you" Ruka said in a little serious tone
Natsume then looked at him a little bit puzzled, as if asking for an explanation. But Ruka didn't give any instead…
"Natsume" he inquired in a serious tone "When are you going to tell her?" was his sudden question to him.
Natsume took the question seriously too, he was expecting this question from him, of course it is his cousin who are they talking about. A deafening silence then surrounded them as Natsume glanced at the window and watched the snow fall gracefully from the sky…
"After our coming concert, I'll tell her… that's for sure" was his reply to Ruka as he gaze back to him. His crimson eyes met his crystal blue orbs, as he saw his friend was happy about his reply…
"That's good" was Ruka's contented reply "So how will you do it" he asked him
"I have everything planned" was his reply as he began to tell his best friend about his plan…
Little did they know a pair of amber eyes was watching them. She then gave out a heavy sigh as she specifically locked her gaze on a certain raven haired boy…
The season of giving is over. Which only left as with one occasion on the line; New Year's Eve…
December 31
5:00 pm
"You ready?" Jacques asked his band mates as they began rehearsing for their concert.
"Just bring it on" was Freyer's reply to the drummer as he stood in his position as he gave a daring smile back to him…
"You remember the plan for tonight. Right?" Ruka asked his band mates before they began their final rehearsal…
The two boys gestured at him telling him that they didn't forget it. After that they began rehearsing for their concert…
7:00 pm
"Mikan, what took you so long?" an impatient pink haired girl asked a certain brunet girl who just came out of her room…
"Sorry, just got a phone call" she said to her friend apologizing for making her wait.
"Who's the call from?" she asked her as Mikan sat beside her,
"From my dad" she said in a very sad tone.
Anna looked at her in pity; she saw her friend trying to be firm but the truth is she is almost in tears. She is clueless of what Mr. Sakura informed or told her, but that made the girl looked down on the dumps. She then tapped Mikan on her back comforting her…
Flash back…
"Mademoiselle" a French maid said as she knocked on the door…
"Come in Eloise" a gentle girl's voice said…
The maid then reached for the silver door knob. As she then entered the room of a brunet girl who is facing the Mirror, she saw her mistress looking so happy. It was the first time she saw her being this happy ever since her mother had died. She began to hesitate if she should give the phone to her; she knew it will only wreak the smile painted on her face...
"What is it Eloise?" she asked the maid as she turned her gaze towards her…
"Mademoiselle, Mr.Sakura is on the line" she finally blurted out…
As soon as the young brunet girl heard the name of the caller her smile began to fade, gloomily she took the phone from Eloise's hand. Eloise then heard her mistress gave out a very deep sigh, as she gestured her that she can leave the room…Eloise then gave a last sympathetic glance at her mistress before shutting the door…
"Father, this is Mikan speaking" she said in a very polite tone
"How's my daughter doing?" was his greetings to her, he sounded very happy…
"I'm just fine father" she replied to him, she began to feel that this is the moment that she feared the most…
"That is good" he said to her "Mikan, as you know" his father said as he changed his tone to being serious. "Tomorrow is your engagement" he continued
"Yes father, I didn't forgot that" she said as grief began to envelope her surrounding
"I'm counting on you Mikan, Don't let me down, will I be able to count on that?" his father said "this is very important, the ties between business partnership" he told her
"You count on it father" she said after that his call ended.
Mikan then gave out a very pinning sigh. The news she feared and detest the most had come. It seems like his father cares more about their business rather than her. It was just the same as before, thought. A flash back came to her mind. She remembered the day of her mother's burial, it was autumn back then, even though she was little when that happened she can remember everything perfectly, it was clear as crystal to her.
She was crying in front of the grave of he mother, slowly the people around her began to disappear. She was alone back then, her father wasn't there to mourn with her, and he was away on a business trip.
"Same as before" Mikan said as she placed the phone down on her table and looked outside the window… The sun is up and it seems that the snow isn't going to come…
End of flash
"Mikan, are you alright?" Anna said as she placed her arms around her friend's shoulder
Mikan smiled at her friend, and painted a fake smile on her face, sadness was still visible but she keeps on hiding it under her smiling mask.
"I'm perfectly fine Anna, thanks" she said to her and gave her an assuring smile
Anna looked at her for a moment doubting her answer, but in the end she chose to trust Mikan's words.
"Let's go now, Akira is waiting for us right?" Mikan said as she stood up from her seat then took Anna's hand…
9:00
"I have been waiting here for eons!" Akira told them as they began to enter the stadium
"Sorry, it's my fault" Mikan apologized as she smiled at him…
"Whatever your reason" he said to her "we should hurry now, Ruka's concert is about to start" Akira said as he began to lighten up upon saying Ruka's name.
Mikan then sweat dropped on seeing Akira's actions…
"Hehe… then let's get inside" Mikan said as she led their way…
Mikan, Anna and Akira were seated near the stage were they can see the band clearly. The whole place was filled with raging fans. They have posters raised some were wearing or holding glow in the dark items; it was indeed a full house.
"The event that you are all waiting will be starting in just a short moment" the announcer said
The lights were turned on and focused on the stage, Smokes of red and white began to emit out from the stage, from the center of the stage four figures of boys began to rise up…
A dropping sound was suddenly heard as the sounds of jockey were followed. Thrashing of drums began to be heard as it was hear of strumming of guitars….
(A/U: Faint- Linkin park)
"Let us Welcome The band "Black Fire"" The announcer said as the smoke began to fade away slowly… revealing four handsome boys standing on center stage… as soon as they were visible the audience began to hear someone singing…
Ruka: I am a little bit of loneliness a little bit of disregard
Handful of complaints but I can't help the fact that everybody can see
these scars
I am what I want you to want what I want you to feel
But it's like no matter what I do, I can't convince you, to just believe
this is real
So I let go, watching you, turn your back like you always do
Face away and pretend that I'm not
But I'll be here cause you want what I've got
As soon as he began to sing, the crowd screamed endlessly…
"Natsume he looks handsome" a brunet haired girl said as her amber orbs stared at the person who stood in the middle of the stage "He looks different from the everyday person I've been with" she thought as the spot light was centered to them…
Natsume: (I can't feel the way I did before)
(Don't turn your back on me)
(I won't be ignored)
(Time won't heal this damage anymore)
(Don't turn your back on me)
(I won't be ignored)
Natsume began to walk towards the end of the stage, with both of his hands holding the mike tightly, his crimson orbs searched the whole crowd searching for his favorite audience…
Ruka: I am a little bit insecure a little unconfident
Cause you don't understand I do what I can but sometimes I don't make
sense
I say what you never wanna say but I've never had a doubt
It's like no matter what I do I can't convince you for once just to hear
me out
So I let go watching you turn your back like you always do
Face away and pretend that I'm not
But I'll be here 'cause you're all that I've got
It was just easy spotting them, with Akira yelling screaming for Ruka, it didn't gave him a hard time to find his favorite girl among the crowd…
"She made it this time huh" Natsume thought remembering the first time they had a mini concert for her school…
Natsume :( I can't feel the way I did before)
(Don't turn your back on me)
(I won't be ignored)
(Time won't heal this damage anymore)
(Don't turn your back on me)
(I won't be ignored)
"I never thought that he IS this famous among the crowd" Mikan thought as she glanced at the crowd behind her, they were all yelling up to their lungs… She then glanced back to the performer singing on stage…
Natsume :( Now)
(Hear me out now)
(You're gonna listen to me, like it or not)
(Right now)
(Hear me out now)
(You're gonna listen to me, like it or not)
(Right now)
Her amber eyes then met his crimson eyes; she was surprised to see that he was looking at her. Natsume then smirked at her, making her blush a little…
Natsume :( I can't feel the way I did before)
(Don't turn your back on me)
(I won't be ignored)
Natsume then glanced back to his band mates signaling them that he found her…
Natsume :( I can't feel the way I did before)
(Don't turn your back on me)
(I won't be ignored)
(Time won't heal this damage anymore)
(Don't turn your back on me)
(I won't be ignored)
Seeing the signal, their plan began to start, each of the band mates looked at each other…
Natsume :( I can't feel the way I did before)
(Don't turn your back on me)
(I won't be ignored)
(Time won't heal this damage anymore)
(Don't turn your back on me)
(I won't be ignored)
"Will it be a success or a failure" Ruka thought, thinking of the outcome of their plan "Anyway he found somebody for HIM after two years; I guess this would work out"
Natsume: I can't feel
I won't be ignored
Time won't heal
Don't turn your back on me
I won't be ignored
Panting a little Natsume Smiled at the crowd and greeted them, like his usual doing…
"Did you enjoy our opening number?" Natusme asked the crowd in front of him
In return the crowd yelled answering yes, in different ways…
"Now the next song that we are going to sing is Lying from you" Natsume said as he gave the signal for the others to start playing…
Ruka then started the song singing his part… the crowd yelled once again and Akira who looks like he is going to faint any minute cheered for Ruka like there is no end…
The audience began singing with them… that song was followed by five other songs… in the middle of the concert there was a little performance done by other Singers…it was done so the band can rest even though for just a minute…
Now it was time for their final song the fifth one their finale… The drums began clashing as another song was about to begin… Natsume their vocalist began singing the next song as the crowd restlessly shouted and yelled for them…Thinking that this is their last performance for that night…
(A/U: Breaking the habit – Linkin Park "Last part only")
The song was sung. The crowd yelled for it is their last or their finale for the concert…
Natsume: I don't know what's worth fighting for
Or why I have to scream
But now I have some clarity
to show you what I mean
I don't know how I got this way
I'll never be alright
So, I'm breaking the habit
I'm breaking the habit
I'm breaking the habit tonight
The guitars and the thrashing of the drums ended their last listed song for the night…
"We have a little surprise for you" Natsume said to the audience as he took a bottle of water and drank first before continuing what he was about to say "That wasn't our finale…This is our finale…" he added
he then glanced back to his band mates… the song was led by the lead guitarist Ruka then followed by Freyer, Jacques then began playing the guitar softly, without any thrashing sound…
"This song is for the girl who change me when I thought every thing is going down, this is how I feel about you … this is for you" Natsume said…
As he stated those words, a spot light began to light the crowd it spotted a certain brunet girl on the crowd…
"Eh?!" Mikan shouted "this is so embarrassing" she whispered to her friends as his spot light was on her…
(A/U: Crazy for you- Sponge Cola)
Natsume: Swaying room as the music starts
Strangers making the most of the dark
Two by two their bodies become one
"Mikan isn't that sweet" Anna said as she giggled for her friend
I see you through the Smokey air
Can't you feel the weight of my stare
You're so close but still a world away
Oh What I'm dying to say, is that
"How he feels about me?" Mikan thought as she listens to the boy on center stage singing
I'm crazy for you
Touch me once and then you'll know it's true
I never wanted anyone like this
It's all brand new, you'll feel it in my kiss
I'm crazy for you
As the chorus was sung Mikan began to blush, little by little she gets the message of the song…
Trying hard to control my heart
I walk over to where you are
two by two we need no words at all
The crowd then squealed for they felt the song that was sung…
Slowly now as we begin to move
With every breath I'm deeper into you
Soon we two are standing still in time
But if you read my mind, you'll see
"This is how I feel for you" Natusme thought as he continued singing… he then looked at the girl who is sitting just near the stage …
I'm crazy for you
Touch me once and then you'll know it's true
I never wanted anyone like this
It's all brand new, you'll feel it in my kiss
I'm crazy for you
Natsume then smiled at her, Mikan blushed upon receiving this rare smile from the boy…
I'm crazy for you
Touch me once and then you'll know it's true
I never wanted anyone like this
It's all brand new, you'll feel it in my kiss
I'm crazy for you
His crimson eyes met her amber eyes…His song was a confession, the confession that they planned that night, that Christmas night…
When you know it's true, you know im crazy for you
When it's all brand new, you know im crazy for you
Yeah you know it's true, I'm crazy crazy for you
I'm crazy for...
"Mikan this is how I feel for you" Natusme said the whole crowd and the media was surprised by this…
It was a very shocking thing for a very popular celebrity and to mention that he is a playboy and known that he doesn't take a girl seriously… to confess in the middle of his their concert, the attention then was put to Mikan, as the press began taking pictures of her, it will surely become headlines…
"Mikan you are lucky aren't you" Anna said as she tapped repeatedly her friend on her shoulder…
No words were able to escape her mouth, she felt her heart beat rapidly; it was beating as if it wants to escape her body…
After that last song, the media immediately crowded the back stage were the band was staying, but to their luck, it was full security and no interviews were allowed by their manager… Only three people were allowed to enter the back stage, it was Mikan, Akira and Anna…
Slowly the crowd eased up, as soon as the media had left, the band rode their service which will take them to Ruka's pad, and it was a celebration…
At Ruka's pad…
All of them were partying and cheered for their successful concert, except for two people who were on the roof top…
"Got surprised?" Was Natsume's first question to her
"Y-Yeah kinda got the whole heck out of me" She replied shyly as she avoided the eye contact Natsume gave her…
Surprisingly, that same moment that Night snow began to fall from the sky…
"Aren't they beautiful" Mikan said trying to avoid any confrontation from Natsume…
She then went close to the balcony of the roof top and watched the snow and slowly she felt it touched her skin…
"Mikan" Natsume called her name seriously…
This Mikan felt that she can't avoid what is about to happen, she should have expected this coming, although it was a little bit sooner…
"Mikan" Natsume repeated what he said as he stood beside the girl "I love you" Natsume said…
It was the most feared words of the young girl, those three simple words meant a lot, after hearing those words, the young girl was quiet… they were then enveloped by a deafening silence…
"Mikan, Will you be my girl friend, and this time for real" was the confession the boy made to her as he held her on her hand, he then looked at her with his deep crimson eyes, wanting to hear an answer from her…
A smile crept out of her façade, as soon as she heard those words came out of his mouth, straightly…
"So this is what I really feel about" Mikan thought as she smiled, finally she figured out what is the feeling that she felt every time they are together, the feeling that she was neglecting became clear to her, she finally realized it…
But that smile didn't last long; slowly it faded away as tears began to fell from her eyes… she then gently took her hand away from the grip of the boy…
Her reaction surprised the raven haired boy, as he watched her with his eyes, he felt something is coming, something that he'll be surprised of…
"Gomen…" was her answer to him as she covered her mouth with her hand, her answer was like the snow that night, it fell of a sudden and once it touched your skin it feels cold, just like how those words touched Natsume's heart cold as an ice…
her answer echoed through out Natsume's head his face was then covered by his hair, it wasn't what he was expecting… but he listened to her as she continued what she was about to say…
"I'm… I'm sorry Natsume" she said, tears were flowing out of her eyes "But… but I'm going to be… engaged tomorrow" she finally blurted out… the last words she gave him was too hard for her to say… that fact broke her heart into thousand pieces…
Not wanting to see or to know what the raven haired boy was about to say, she decided to walk out from him, but something stopped her…
Natsume, quickly held her on her wrist, it was a very tight hold, as if saying that he doesn't care about the stupid engagement…
"Natsume" Mikan said as she looked back the boy who gripped her wrist
To her surprise the Natsume, all of a sudden embraced her from her back, and asked her a question, a question that she was taken aback…
"Tell me… Do you love me?" was his question to her….
Author's notes: I'm sorry but I need to cut it here, just to put a little suspense to the story… I hope you aren't mad at me…
Any way I hope that you'll be looking forward to my next chapter… I hope that I'll be seeing you there… let me remind you this… I have my reasons for those gifts… just like the bracelet and the black cat… they are going to play an important part on the story… so please don't forget them…
Can you guess what her answer is? What do you think it is? please…. Please send your reviews… please tell me if the story is getting good or bad, or if it is starting to get lame… please send your reviews… I hope that you aren't going to be lazy just for this once on leaving you review…
Love lotsz,,
Aeyteenicole