Author's Note

Yay!! Another update!!! Christmas is nearing… I'm so excited. Haha! Anyway, thanks to the people who reviewed Chapter Fifteen…ahem: black cat girl 2006, winglessfairy25, cutegabrielle16, rocketandroll, chammel, rabid-pineapple-juice, emrevolemina, michiy0, DMPMG (oh yeah, I might use your suggestion about a new guy coming in, thanks!), pink cherry 6, Natsumesama, YingLang4eva, glenda23, icedprincess6063, Star Sapphirex, me, Orange Orange, Royal Cerulean, simplebutspecial. Hope you enjoy Chapter Sixteen!!!

Oh yeah, I changed the plot of this chapter from 'The Dare' to Topsy Turvy.

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Chapter Sixteen

Topsy Turvy

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I swear – I wasn't supposed to say Hotaru in the talk show when I was reading one of the fan letters. I was supposed to think of Mikan right? Ruka thought, as he paced across his living room in confusion.

Anyway, I don't love her. I don't like her.

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"I see, so you like Ruka" I grinned, after a two minute silence during breakfast. Hotaru looked up from her novel and glared. She spooned some cereal into her mouth and muttered "Shut up"

"Stop denying it. It's too obvious" I laughed as Hotaru shot another angry glare at me. Still, I believed that she really liked Ruka. I mean, it was too obvious already. There's no use denying it because it's too conspicuous.

"One more time of your childish thoughts and I'm going to HURT you" she threatened and went back to reading her novel.

"Yeah right" I grinned and took her book from her hands, at that moment – a pocket size photograph of Ruka flew out of the pages. Hotaru's eyes widened and took the photograph and inserted it in her pocket. She went back to eating like nothing happened.

"I SAW THAT!!" I yelled. Hotaru ignored me and continued eating her breakfast.

"I'm going to sell it" she responded quietly.

"Oh yeah, whatever. Sell it to who? You're book?"

"Shut up, Mikan" she answered.

"Then I bet…" I grinned, and stood up from my seat. "That you wouldn't mind us being boyfriend-girlfriend for one day"

Hotaru slammed shut her book and drank some water. "I'm not that childish enough to bet something that stupid"

"Oh, so you're scared huh?!?!" my grin widened, I raised my eyebrow and she gave me a i-wanna-kill-you look.

"No… I'm not" she replied dryly.

"If you don't mind us being boyfriend-girlfriend for one day, then I'll be your maid for the day"

"And if I do?"

"Then YOU be my maid for the day"

"It's a bet" Hotaru said calmly and returned to her delicious breakfast.

"Okay, let's go to the Celebrity Lounge after breakfast"

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When we entered the Celebrity Lounge, Natsume and Ruka were there watching Kaito's new music video in TV: I Think I'm in Love With Somebody Else. Natsume was cursing as they watched the video and Ruka just laughed at Kaito's super idiotic dancing.

"Hey! It's Polka-Dots and Hotaru" Natsume said, without turning around.

"YOU PERVERT!" I shouted and looked around. "Hey, where's Kaito?"

"Oh, he's doing some concert" Natsume responded coldly. Hotaru nudged me and whispered 'maid-for-the-day" in my ear. I twitched and looked at Natsume for awhile. What would he say if I flirt and act all…girly and lovey-dovey around Ruka? WAIT… I shouldn't care about his thoughts. I should care about whether I am going to humiliate myself by being Hotaru's slave for the day or not.

I shook my head and sat beside Ruka. "RUKA----PYONNNN!!!" I said, squeezing Ruka. Ruka stared at me weirdly and I just continued hugging him. I sat on his lap as Hotaru made herself comfortable on a beanbag, she watched as I ran my fingers through the confused Ruka's hair and she looked down a few times.

Natsume looked at me stunned and he would shoot strange glances at Hotaru that seemed to say: what-the-frikkin-hell-is-that-moron-girl-doing!?!? And Hotaru would reply: she's-in-her-stupid-mood-once-more.

Ruka was too shocked to speak.

"RUKA…I WAS TOO SHY TO SAY THIS BUT….I'VE ALWAYS LOVED YOU RUKA PYON!!!" I said and turned to my best friend who was now twitching. Oh she cares doesn't she?!!? She just wants to keep her dignity, that's all!

"Um…okay?" Ruka said. I never knew Mikan could be this annoying.

"Oh whatever, you moron. Ruka would never go out with you! You're so stupid!!" Natsume yelled and stood up, he tugged one of my pigtails which made me twitch in pain and I glared at him.

"YOU'RE JUST JEALOUS!" I shouted.

"I'd rather go to hell and spend an eternity there, I'd rather be dragged by wild horses and eat rotten sashimi than be LOVED BY YOU!"

"SO JUMP OF A CLIFF - LOSER!" I said, sticking out my tongue.

Natsume glared at me and walked away.

"SO...RUKA-PYON!!! WHY DON'T WE GO OUT LATER?!!?!?"

"Okay…" Ruka was definitely sweat-dropping now.

"So meeting place is near the fountain in the park!" I said and ruffled his head. "Um…around noon time, ok?" I grinned. OH HELL YEAH, I'M GONNA WIN THIS BET.

"Come, HOTARU" I said, taking Hotaru's hang. "See you later, Ruka-pyonnnn – Natsume" I said, and waved my hand, Hotaru and I walked out.

"What the hell did just happen now?" Ruka asked, turning to Natsume.

"HELL" Natsume replied.

"Wait…I've got to talk to Mikan!!" Ruka said, running to the door. Suddenly, he heard to voices.

"I'm going to win the bet!!!

"Oh shut up. You're too stupid to win the bet, anyway"

"So you won't mind if Ruka is my boyfriend for one whole day?!?!"

"…."

"YOU LIKE HIM!!!"

"Oh shut up!"

Ruka looked back at Natsume and smiled sinisterly.

"I'm thinking, maybe I should date Mikan"

Natsume stared at Ruka. "WHAT"

"It's not like you care right?"

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Natsume watched Ruka get ready for his date with Mikan. Ruka was acting very strange. After leaning towards the door, he's been muttering things like 'revenge' and stuff.

Pictures of Ruka and Mikan kissing and hugging entered his mind. He felt angry as those pictures came into view. DAMN. He thought. Jealousy hurts. And it's not a good feeling. Because when you feel jealous, you probably like the person. And for Natsume, falling in love with Mikan is probably the last thing he'd do in his life.

He got his cell phone and called Hotaru.

"Hello?"

"Oi. Hotaru it's me"

"What do you want?"

"Ruka says that he's decided to date YOU"

"Huh? What do you mean?" Hotaru's voice sank.

"You heard me"

"Meet him in the park in the area with the cherry blossom trees"

Natsume could feel a smile form on the other end of the phone.

"Sure" she muttered and switched off the phone.

Ha. Ha.

"Oy, Natsume! Who was that on your phone?" Ruka said from the bathroom.

"Uh… It was Mikan"

"Oh! What did she say now? I love you Ruka?" Ruka said, coming out from the bathroom.

"No. She said to meet her near the cherry blossom trees instead"

It's making me feel guilty. But I can't stand seeing that dummy and Ruka walk together. Dammit!

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HOTARU

"Ruka…asked…me out…but how…about…Mikan?" Hotaru thought, as she left the hotel a few minutes after Mikan did. She remembered the other day when Ruka blurted that he liked Mikan. Hotaru looked at herself in the window which projected her reflection. She was wearing a violet shirt and a white skirt. She wore violet loafers and had her hair clipped with a sparkly barrette.

She had never dressed up this nicely before. Even in school parties and get-togethers. She felt strange. She felt as if there were butterflies in her stomach. But she didn't like Ruka. No. she didn't.

By the cherry blossom trees…

RUKA

"Give me a red rose" Ruka said, with an evil tone poisoning his usual sweet voice. The florist looked at him and nodded. "A-aren't you Ruka Nogi?" she asked. Ruka smiled at her as he accepted the red rose. "Yea. I'm going on a date"

"With who?"

At that point, Ruka started laughing sinisterly.

By the cherry blossom trees…

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I'm going to win this stupid bet.

I waited by the fountain, I loved the sound of the birds and the flow of water as it flowed down and the way the fish would seem to dance among the ripples of water.

This was a dumb bet. Well, I made the bet in the first place. And losing to the bet you made yourself was as humiliating as being Hotaru's slave for the day.

I have to tell Mikan that Ruka cancelled their date. Natsume thought, after minutes of evil plotting. He ran towards the fountain, Mikan was sitting on the opposite side.

"Ah… Ruka-pyon, you're finally here" I grinned. The thought of the dignified Hotaru losing to my bet made me want to fly.

"Um…"

"RUKA-PYON!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!" I squealed and leapt into his arms, but it seemed I was too heavy and the two of us fell into the fountain, soaked. But that didn't stop me. Oh yeah, where's Hotaru anyway? She has to be watching from the bushes at this moment. I flew into his arms and ran my fingers through his…BLACK HAIR!?!?!?!?

I rubbed my eyes and saw the person looking down at me was…OHMYGOD!! IT WAS NATSUME!!

I immediately removed my fingers out of his hair and my arms out of his. I turned one hundred shades of reds as I realized that we were still holding hands.

"Oy, stupid. Come closer" Natsume said, pulling me closer, he examined my face carefully and I could feel his heart beat already. Yeah. We were that close.

He put his hands on my cheek. OHHELL WAS HE GONNA KISS ME?!!?!? But why wasn't I moving back?

"Close your eyes, dummy" he whispered. Of course, I didn't – I was too flushed to move. Then he moved his head near my ear and whispered:

"You have blueberry underwear"

At that point, I turned even redder. I stood up and splashed water on his face. "YOU PERVERTED MORON! I HATE YOU!!"

Natsume smirked and took my by the wrists. And then…he kissed me on the cheek.

OHMYGOODNESS

OH MY GOD.

OH MY CUPID.

"OH YOU MORON, NATSUME!! I HATE YOU LIKE HELL!! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU!! YOU'RE TRYING TO REMOVE THE DIGNITY OF A WOMAN!!! EXCUSE ME!! I'M NOT AS EASY TO PICK UP AS YOU THINK!!! I'M STRONG!!!"

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Hotaru waited by the cherry blossom trees. Her heart was racing very fast. Suddenly she heard someone come near.

"Ruka?" she muttered.

"Ah…you're finally here" Ruka said from the opposite side of the tree.

Hotaru didn't say anything.

"There's one thing I wanted to do before you left the Celebrity Lounge awhile ago"

"W-what?"

Ruka jumped from the other side and hugged her. Hotaru blushed but didn't return the hug. She felt his warmth and savored it at the moment. She hated cheesy moments like this. But it was probably OK if it was Ruka.

Ruka was about to crash in for a kiss when…

"OH HELL, YOU'RE NOT MIKAN!" Ruka yelled. Hotaru drew from the hug. She didn't know what to say. Again, she lost to Mikan being in Ruka's thoughts all the time.

"Yes. I'm Hotaru" she said quietly and began to walk away, sadly.

Natsume --- you tricked me. Ruka thought and watched Hotaru walk away.

"Oi, Hotaru!"

"I'm not Mikan" she responded from afar.

"WAIT! WE'RE ON A DATE, REMEMBER?" Ruka yelled. Hotaru stopped as Ruka ran towards her. He handed her the red rose.

Hotaru stared at it for awhile and took it. She smiled inwardly.

"Wait, there's one thing I have to do" Hotaru said, and she took her camera from her bag and snapped a picture of Ruka – candid.

"HEY! THAT'S NOT FAIR!!!"

And Hotaru thought, yeah – she wasn't Mikan and maybe Ruka doesn't like her. But hey, the moments count despite the fact that sometimes it could be topsy turvy or confusing. Yes, the moments count.

Especially the ones where she blackmails him.

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TO BE CONTINUED!!!!