Author's notes: Thanks for all of those who reviewed my story… I mean the last chapter and I'm really grateful…and sorry for leaving it suspended last time… and sorry for the late update…any way please enjoy reading this chapter… don't forget to leave your reviews…
CHAPTER 10: A new player: The tricky Joker
Sometimes goodbye though it hurts in your heart is the only way for destiny
Sometimes goodbye though it hurts is the only way now for you and me
Though it's the hardest thing to say
I'll miss your love in every way
So say goodbye
But don't you cry
Cause true love never dies
-Chorus of the song "Say Good Bye" by S Club Seven
The snow fall endlessly from the sky that night, cold as ice, but soft as cotton… gently it landed on the ground painting it white… just like the snow two young hearts were falling endlessly….
"Tell me… do you love me?" he asked her this question…
After those words were gently spoken upon the young brunet's ears… she felt her heart scream inside of her… there was a deafening silence surrounding them… He then tightened his embrace upon her…
She then placed her hands crossed upon his arms that were enveloping her petite body, clutching it tightly…
"Natsume…" she finally said after a very long silence "let go of me…" she said firmly, no sign of love or hatred with in her voice…
With that his question was answered bitterly, it was like an arrow hitting straight with in his heart. Her voice pleaded him to let her free, free from his love… she knows deep inside the she fell for him, but it wasn't written upon her palm. She stopped her tears from streaming down her eyes…
Slowly… he loosened his embrace upon her, he did as she wished…he knew what she meant by those words, he felt his heart was shattered like broken glasses again, but this time no one can put them back to how it was…
"Natsume… I love you too…" was the words her heart screamed but her mouth wasn't able to say… they said that actions speaks louder than words, she hoped with that touch of hers he felt her love and didn't assumed it as a rejection but setting free…
Time flowed slowly between them… His crimson eyes watched the young brunet's back as she began to walk towards the door, her footsteps echoed through out their bitter tranquility and slowly her figure faded with the snow, his mirage disappeared… the last thing he heard was the gentle closing of the door…
"idiot" was the able to say "I should have known" he voiced out coldly as he clenched his fists… he felt like the world ended again, but this time it ended much worse… he wasn't able to understand what she did… all he knew was, he was rejected…
His voice echoed perfectly, as the wind took it with them…
"Gomen… Natsume" Mikan said as she leaned upon the opposite side of the door, hearing Natsume's words perfectly
This time she can't held back her tears… slowly and painfully it fell down on her cheeks, she then placed her hand upon her chest, directly to where her heart is located… she felt agony, just like needles slowly stabbing it… free from his love but caged upon her father's will…
It was proved that sometimes, actions aren't enough to say whatever you felt for someone and in the end, you must voice them out…
After shedding her tears, freeing her heart from his strings and partially cutting it… she began to make he way down the stairs, not giving attention to anyone she passed by… she was lost within her own world of sadness…
As she stepped down, she didn't notice… there was a boy who was standing just near her, who saw everything… who heard every word they uttered… whom understood what she meant by that touch… thinking that Natsume was a total fool, for not knowing what she really meant…his face was covered by his hair as he felt pity for the two person who were close to his heart…
Mikan walked back to Ruka's pad to take her things… as soon as she stepped foot in the room, she didn't said a word… nothing… except for good bye as she forced a cheerful smile upon her face…
"Mikan don't leave now" Freyer said as his arms were wrapped all over Anna
The young brunet looked back upon hearing her friend's voice, without a word but just a smile she turned her back and walked towards the door, she then reached for the door and was about to twist it… but stopped when she heard the name she doesn't want to hear…
"Mikan-chan, you're leaving" a drunken Akira said in a gayish tone "wait fro Natsume for sure he'll be happy to escort you" he said teasingly...
Little did they know Natsume was the last person that would've wanted to escort her back to her house…?
She then felt her heart stopped from beating as agony filled it… hearing his name, pictured a boy that she can never ever have… with melancholy, she left the room, heavy hearted, each step she took was very hard to make…
As soon as Mikan was able to exit the building, she looked up and wondered if he is still standing there, thinking that she shouldn't stay more, she went inside her car straight and asked the driver to drive quickly, far from that place…
Tears streamed down her eyes again… She then gazed upon the moon, and stared at it blankly… she didn't notice that she have arrived back home, not until her driver reminded her… as soon as she stepped out of her car, she went straight to her room, not minding to take any dinner…
She slammed her door for the first time, as she threw herself on the soft cushions… crying really hard, letting go of all of her feelings… she then buried her head upon her feathered pillow, screaming but no one can hear her, for her scream was hidden inside of her… slowly her eyes got tired of crying, her heart kindly stopped giving her pain as she slowly feel in a very deep slumber, still crying a little… as the moon gave pity upon her and gave her face a little light within the darkness she was concealed…
Slowly the dark clouds were gone as a new but not so bright morning. Gently, the warm sun's rays touched upon her cheeks, traces of tears were quite visible, as she had fallen to her slumber deeply. But her peaceful sleep was interrupted, when a voice called upon her name…
Little by little she opened her half swollen eyes… her eyes laid sight on her faithful maid; Eloise… with a bright smile she greeted her mistress as she opened the curtains widely…
"Bonjour mademoiselle" greeted the young French maid said as she reached for the ribbon to tie the curtains properly…
"Good morning too Eloise" greeted Mikan in a voice that is less cheerful as she gave the maid a fake smile like everyday…
Knowing her for almost years, she knew that her mistress is having trouble; no fake smile can even fool her. She looked at her mistress, as Mikan rubs her eyes… she forgot to change her clothes since last night…
"Mademoiselle Breakfast is already served" she said politely to Mikan as she reached for the door knob…
In return Mikan nod her head as she began to stood up from her bed, as she was making her way towards her bathroom, she was surprised to the announce Eloise suddenly told her… she felt her body lost its mobility to move… as she attentively listen to her words…
"Mademoiselle, your father, Mr. Sakura have arrive last night" Eloise broke the news to her as she looked ay her mistress from her back "The Lord gave me an order to acknowledge you that he would be waiting at the dinning table and will be dining with you" she said…
Mikan in return just nod her head, saying that she'll be coming. After that Eloise bowed her head and left the room of her young mistress…
Inside the Sakura's mansion was a very huge dinning area, were at the center was a long table was placed… fine gourmet foods were served for breakfast, as every maid and servant was lined up near the table… Just like old European times, were the Lord of the house sits at the middle of the table and the servants line near the table and watch them eating, same goes for this house for he, Mr. Sakura love the elegance of the medieval period and liked to keep this rule whenever he is around his mansion…
In the middle end of the table, a handsome man was sitting, he has auburn hair and olive eyes, he was waiting patiently for a certain someone… at last, the one he awaits has arrived, gently he looked at the young girl who was standing in front of him… it was his daughter, it's been a year or two since he last saw her, he was too busy with his business… he was expecting a little girl, but to his surprise his eyes laid sight on now a sixteen year old girl, she was wearing a white long sleeved shirt paired with a checkered black and red mini skirt, she was wearing a black socks that reached just above her knees…
"Welcome back father" she greeted him politely, but no trace of closeness on her voice or even a little excitement within it…
"Ahhh…. Mikan" Mr. Sakura said as he gestured to her to take the seat on his right as his daughter obeyed him without any complains "you have grown up, you looked like your mother now" he complimented her
"Arigato, but I prefer not to be complimented that way, if you please" she said quite coldly but still keeping a little respect for his unknown father… as she neared the seat… a servant pulled her chair for her as she sat there uncomfortably…
"As you wish" he replied "Now that you are here let's begin to eat" his father said as he snapped his finger… and with that sign a maid poured down and prepared their drinks for them, and they began to eat their festive breakfast…
The whole house was covered by a deafening silence, as all can be heard was the slicing of the food, the two relatives were eating. Mikan didn't uttered a word to her father, she does not wish to talk to him, for to her, he is the most horrible person in the world for this moment… but that silence didn't last long, it was broken by…
"Mikan, happy birthday" his father said to her cheerfully
Mikan on the other hand was surprised, it was the first time his father greeted her personally, and she stared at the man for a moment with a glint of surprise within her eyes. She was used that his secretary is the one greeting her for him, and most of all she never knew her father knows about her birthday… no words were able to express her happiness as her faint hatred to her father was easily eased, by just small words…
"You might have thought that I have forgot your birthday" he said to her
She blinked twice
"I- I was just surprised, I thought you never knew my birth day" she said to her in an embarrassed voice that you can merely hear
He was happy to see that her daughter, some how showed some affection towards him, he then smirked at her…
"Of course, I would know, you are my daughter" he said to her all fatherly trying to get the heart of her daughter "and to complete your birth day, I would like to give you this" he continued as he snapped again his finger…
Two servants stepped forward as each was holding a beautiful gift….
"Here is my gift for you" he said as one of the servants gave her a bouquet of tea roses
Gladly she accepted the accepted the first ever gift, her father gave her. Even though they are just flowers, it means a lot to her…
"Thank you very much" she said quite cheerfully as she sweetly smiled to the man sitting beside her….
"My pleasure" he said as he pauses for a while…
Mikan knew that he is about to say something, that she hates, that's why he first gave something to her just to cheer her up…
"And as for this lunch" he continued
"Lunch? What lunch?" she asked her father, she doesn't have a single idea to what his father was talking about…
"Ahh… yes… I forgot to tell you" is what he said "We will have lunch with your soon to be family and I hope that you'll get well with them and mostly to Mr.…" his father said as he was slicing the meat he was about to eat
But Mikan was too lost within her thoughts to even hear the name of the family her father mentioned, her high spirit and her happy thoughts quickly vanished with just as snap, as she felt sadness and disbelief…
"Mikan are you all right?" her father inquired to her as he saw her daughter having a stand still as he say, but it looked more like a spacing out…
"Huh? Uh…. Yes I'm just fine father" she said to him as she took a nibble upon her breakfast
"That is good to hear" he said to her…
His words made her wonder, if he really cares for her condition, or the condition of her upcoming engagement.
"Anyway, I ordered this dress from a top designer in Paris, I hope it'll fit perfectly" he said as on of the servant neared her, he was holding a huge box, it was wrapped in a gold and glittering wrapper, as a ribbon was neatly knotted above it… "Open it, as soon as you get back to your room and I would like you to wear that for this after noon" he said to her
Without a word of argument she agreed upon her father's wish. And again they began eating their food quietly… as soon as she was finished eating she went straight to her room, to prepare for her moment of truth, her sudden shot to reality; the engagement.
The sun is already in the mid sky, as its ray doesn't feel any hot at all, for it is still winter, snows were still falling from the sky, time on time…
As the clock was nearing to eleven, a young girl was sitting in front of a mirror, as a hair dresser, was styling her soft long brunet locks. Patiently, she sat there; she was staring at her reflection. A reflection where she can't look straight at…
She saw a girl, who had a light make up one her face, dazzling like a fairy, like the princess in the fairytales she read… but everything was just a mask, deep inside she was a pauper not a princess, for she doesn't have a freedom to be called.
"Is this me?" she asked her self as she felt she was slowly nearing to tears…
she doesn't know why but, she felt a very painful agony, residing within her… she felt that there was another person that was staring back at her, she was lost, not knowing the real her. But nobody will be able to tell who she really is, for she, herself doesn't know the answer. The only thing she knew was she was doing this, this engagement, for she was meant to be the one playing this role…
"After this day, my cage that once was open, will be locked for eternity" she said to her self as she sighed deeply as she compared her situation towards a bird who was once was living in a cage were it can freely flew in or out, but now it's cage was locked, totally no hope of getting out…
Ruka's Pad
"Hey! Ruka have you seen Natsume?" asked a boy with black messy hair and topaz eyes to a certain blonde haired boy…
"Yeah, why you ask Jacques? Something wrong?" he asked the boy back as he sat by the table and eat the food that was prepared before them…
"Nah… nothings wrong" Jacques replied back "It's just that… he seemed not himself… I mean he became more quiet and grumpy? Since last night" Jacques said as he remembered what happened last night… Natsume just entered the room and without a word, locked himself inside his room and didn't joined the celebration they were having
"Is that so?" Ruka replied skeptically
"Hey do you know wha-." Jacques said but he was interrupted by…
"What's up… what are you talking about?" Freyer said as he joined the conversation…
"Natsume" was a plain reply from Jacques
"Now that you mention it, where is he?" he asked all of a sudden
"Last night he received a call from his father, telling him or more of ordering him to attend an important lunch something about an engagement… I don't know I just eavesdropped a little, but I think he doesn't like the idea but he went there after all" Ruka replied as he began nibbling
"Don't tell me his going to be engaged?!" was the Violent and shocked reply of Jacques and Freyer
Inside the VIP room of an elegant Victorian restaurant were four people sitting patiently…
"Why do I even need to come in this stupid place" Natusme said coldly not minding that he was in front of his father and another visitor
"Because it is important, it's our family's business on the line" was the reply of a boy who is about the age of eighteen, he has ravened black hair and sapphire eyes…
"Thank you for your opinion… My so called brother" he said sarcastically to him
"Well your welcome Natsume" he said sarcastically to Natusme
Natsume then glared at his big brother deadly as his eyes were filled with hatred and anger towards his brother; in return his brother smirked at him, pissing Natsume more…
"Why you…" Natsume said as he was heating up
"Both of you Ryuu, Natsume, act decently; you are beginning to be a disgrace upon our name. Put this on your mind we have an important person sitting with us here" their father, Mr. Hyuuga said angrily upon them
Ryuu played the role of an obedient son, but Natsume, being the so called black-sheep of the family who always disobeys the family's rules and traditions grunted and brushed off their father's sermon…
"Forgive the rudeness of my sons" Mr. Hyuuga, a man with raven hair and crimson eyes apologized to the man who is dining with them…
"It's nothing… I quite enjoyed the seen" replied the man with auburn hair and olive eyes "they are brothers after all and boys will be boys… I wished I had a son but I have a daughter" he said still having that friendly tone that annoyed natsume so much… Natsume felt like he detests the fact that he had a daughter…
"By the words you have said, it seems like you hated the fact of having a daughter" Natsume blurted out coldly with his usual bored tone as he disrespectfully looked straight to the man's olive eyes…
"Natsume!" his father again yelled at him
"Whatever, I'm just telling what I can see" was his simple reply
With the words Natsume said, the man had a certain interest upon the boy's attitude or more like he enjoyed his behavior, natural…
"Natsume is your name?" he asked
"So what does it do with you" he flared back
"You know I liked what you said before" he complimented him with his rude actions "But I guess you are wrong… I liked the fact that I have a daughter, in fact I'm proud of having her, and she is such a good child" he said remarkably to him
"Whatever" was his reply
Suddenly the door opened, as a man in black suit entered the room, he then whispered to the auburn haired man's ears, and after that he left, as Natsume trailed off the man in black suit…
"Gentle men, finally my daughter has arrived" he said to them with a smile upon his face "I would Like you to meet my daughter" he said and with a cue the guards opened the door…
It revealed a beautiful girl; she has brunet long hair, as the tip up to the middle part of her hair was partially curled. She has amber orbs; that looks warm and gentle. She was wearing a beautiful short dress that is elegant.
Upon seeing the girl's face Natsume was surprised he wasn't expecting to see her, and most of all not in this place, he stared at her with his eyes…
"Gentle men meet my daughter Mikan" said Mr. Sakura as he introduced his daughter proudly…
"Your daughter is beautiful" Mr. Hyuuga complimented as he laid sight on the young brunet that seems like a princess…
Mr. Sakura who is very proud upon his daughter, saw that Ryuu and Natsume most of all was dazzled by his daughter's stunning beauty… as he smirked upon this
"Nice to meet you a-." she said but she stopped when her eyes first laid sight upon a raven haired boy who was sitting in front of her father, she saw him eying at her, she was too surprised to even notice that she was looking at him…
"Natsume" Mikan whispered as she saw the boy whom she broke the heart…
"Mikan, have a sit" her father said to him…
Obediently she obeyed her father's order and sat beside him, feeling a little uncomfortable about the presence of Natsume, she sat there quietly… After she arrived, gourmet foods were served before them, as each look exquisite…
As she take in each bite, she felt that she going to choke any minute, as she can feel that Natsume was staring at her, ever since she entered the room. Wanting to know for certain that he is really staring at her, she looked at him, planning to have just a glimpse, but it didn't turned out that way, as soon as she looked at him, his eyes locked upon her. She stared at his crimson orbs, as she can feel something weird inside of her…
"Is Natsume the one I am engaged with?" she asked herself as she can't take off her eyes upon the mesmerizing eyes of the boy….
"What in the world she's doing here…. Don't tell me that she's going to be…" Natusme thought but before he could ask the question to himself it was answered right away as if someone heard his thoughts…
"Mikan, I would like you to meet your fiancé" Mr. Sakura said
This caught the attention of the girl as she glanced back to her father…
"I would like you to meet Ryuu Hyuuga… he is the eldest among the Hyuuga brothers" his father said crashing the hopes she was feeling…
"Nice to meet you, I'm Ryuu Hyuuga" he said just like a gentle man
Author's notes: Hi guys, I'm really sorry about leaving the suspense of the story that long… it's just I'm not feeling fine but finally I have finished this chapter… I hope you'll like it….
Next chapter:
-Natsume's reaction upon the engagement
-what happened two years ago and someone's leaving?! Oops who is it and why???
And the next dong for the next chapter is "Say Good bye" by S club and "have you ever" by S club…
Hope to see you there again… Don't forget to leave your review... flames and commnets are accepted... see yah..
Love lotsz,,
Aeyteenicole