Author's Note
Thank you to the following people who reviewed…ahem: enrevolemina, little doggy, Star Sapphirex, o.Twilight Dreams.o, Natsumiyu, Natsumesama, rocketandroll, tomboy ninja 13, me, michiy0, Hikari the Keyblade of Hope, SasuNaru-Love, anitsirhc, anime-fangirl—o.0-vm, EzMouse, SnowMirage and winglessfairy25, facadephazzad and k3gh. Thank you everyone!! And hope you guys had a happy Christmas!!!
Oh by the way, if you have been wondering why Hotaru has been staying in Tokyo even though she isn't working for MFL…
Hotaru: Because I asked my school if I could stay in Tokyo to take some photographs for the Photography Club. I'm allowed to stay there for one more week.
And if Mikan asked permission from her grandpa if she can act…
Mikan: Yeah. When I agreed, they sent him a contract or something to allow me and stuff.
Sorry for your confusion!!! Enjoy the next chapter!!!!
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Chapter Nineteen
This is The Kiss
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
I stared outside Hotaru's bed room window. It was the homey Nagoya view. I didn't sleep in my own house because when I arrived around after midnight grandpa still wasn't there. I was getting extremely worried about him. Where was he? It wasn't like him to just disappear like that. Couldn't he just leave a message? Couldn't he just leave a note?
I stood up from the couch where I slept on. I removed the blanket and stared outside the window. Hotaru and I were neighbors. There was no car in my house's driveway. Grandpa hadn't come home. Or maybe he took the bus? No…grandpa doesn't believe in public transport.
Ruka and Natsume spent the night in Hotaru's house also. Of course not in the same room as us…because that would really be weird…they spent the night in the guest room. Hotaru's mother was extremely thrilled to have celebrities spending the night at her house. Of course, thanks to Hotaru's inventions – we were able to keep snooty fans out of the house. Well…hopefully.
After taking a shower, Hotaru and I went to the dining room to have breakfast. Ruka, Hotaru's older brother and Hotaru's parents were eating breakfast already.
"Ohayo" the two of us said and sat down quietly in the dining table.
"Help yourself to some pancakes…"
"Oh, Mikan – can you call Natsume from the guestroom? We're out of pancake mix and I don't want him to get cranky and get pissed that there's no more breakfast. I have to run to the grocery"
"Oh. Okay" I said, and stood up. I went to the guest room of Hotaru. It was a blue room with two futons. Natsume was sleeping on one. I watched him breathe as he slept and toss and turn.
A flash of last night's festival appeared in my head.
Could it be…
That I'm falling for him?
Suddenly, my wrist slipped and I fell on top of him on the futon. He yowled and saw me look nervously at him…inches away from his face…he turned away and I turned slightly pink, I sat up.
"I…I'm…I'm sorry… Mrs. Imai just told me that…breakfast is…"
Before I could finish, he stood up and looked at me menacingly.
"Whatever. Just leave and let me change"
I turned pinker. "Uh…I'm sorry" I said and ran out the door.
My heart was racing so fast. Why was I acting this way? I felt flustered and heat was rising on my cheeks. I've never, ever felt this nervous feeling before. I felt that my knees were weak and I was afraid to go further. I couldn't be falling in love with him. Because I made a promise to myself as I was watching My Favorite Loser episode 1 when I was fourteen…
"I swear by my eternal love for Ruka Nogi…that I shall not fall in love with that obnoxious, self-centered Natsume Hyuuga for the rest of my life. If I were to, it would be when I live on the Planet Uranus"
I even made a dance for that promise. But this feeling was too enormously intense to stop. I've never felt my heart beat this fast…except for the time I saw Ruka and fell in love with him the first time his face hit the camera…but this was different. It probably wasn't just a crush anymore.
Suddenly, the door to the guestroom swung open (I forgot that I was leaning on it the whole time). I fell on the hard wooden floor and my face fell flat.
"What are you doing here, apple-pie panties?"
I stood up and stomped on his foot. "NOTHING YOU PERVERT!!!!" I yelled and stomped off to the dining room.
OH MY GOD I HATE HIM LIKE HELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"STOP IT!!!!!" Ruka yelled, flailing his arms helplessly as Hotaru snapped away photographs of him falling into a bush clumsily. Ruka definitely knew that Hotaru wouldn't just stop taking photos like that, but it didn't hurt to try, did it?
"No." Hotaru responded dryly as she took ten photographs.
"This will be a hot seller in Ebay" she continued.
Natsume and I watched Ruka humiliate himself in front of Hotaru's camera. I haven't talked to Natsume since breakfast. I don't know what to say to him anymore, everything just seems so awkward. The only time I would speak to him is when he would piss me off. But now, whenever I speak to him – my heart just beats so loud that I can't even hear my own voice.
We got to the restaurant. It was more of a café. I ordered a fruit parfait as Mr. Yamida gave us photos of this resort.
It was a beautiful resort called Purple Island. It had crystal clear waters and white sand. It was so beautiful. I've never EVER, EVER been to a beach before. This would be my first time!!! I have a bathing suit and I've never gotten to use it (No, I'm just exaggerating. I've used it twice in Nonoko and Anna's pool parties).
"Purple Island is thanking us for acknowledging them in one of our episodes"
Oh yes. I remember episode 67 but then I wasn't there. WHO CARES??!
"So they're offering us a one-night stay in one of their executive cottages with VIP treatment"
AH…
VIP TREATMENT…
"So the jet is arriving in the airport at four. Be ready. We're expecting you to be thirty minutes early"
Ugh. You don't have to be so strict, Mr. Yamida.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Surely enough, we came to the airport thirty minutes early (after packing our stuff) and were ushered to our jet (with Yuuka and Krissy, because of course they are part of the cast as well). After waiting up to four o' clock, the jet took off to Purple Island. We're leaving Nagoya again…oh my…I didn't even get to see grandpa yet…
During the whole trip to Purple Island, my mind was extremely preoccupied with thoughts of grandpa. I miss him so much. I searched everywhere in the house for a decent letter from him but there was none. It was like he just vanished in thin air. He didn't even call the hotel (I gave him the number of the hotel) or call me in my cell phone. What was wrong with him?
By five, we reached Purple Island.
We got off at the landing ground, and we were lead to the real resort. IT WAS A WONDERFUL RESORT (Well, I've never seen one so there must be better than this – but who cares?). Palm and coconut trees were aligned, crystal blue waters sparkled in the heat of the sun, you could see exotic looking fish swim gracefully in the shore, children with buckets making sand castles and picking up sea shells, hot foreigners running ala Baywatch… ah…heaven on earth.
Before we could swim, we were lead to our cottages. Hotaru and I were in one cottage and Natsume and Ruka were in different cottages (they didn't expect Hotaru to be coming) so we had to stay in one cottage.
It was a pretty cottage that was made of bamboo, there were futons laid on the ground, a TV, a wardrobe and of course, an air-conditioner. The bathroom had a Jacuzzi bath tub, toilet (of course) and a sink.
"LET'S SWIM!!!" I yelled, after packing our stuff.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
I ran out of my cottage wearing my swimsuit, with a beach ball in my hands, sun block and shades. The wonderful feeling of sand rubbing against my feet was wonderful (except the fact that a crab pinched my toe, and it totally pissed me off)
I laid a blanket on the sand and put on sun block. I loved the sound of the waves and the birds. Hotaru came taking photos of the people, the beach, the fish and anything she could get her hands on.
Hotaru positioned her camera in front of the shore, and then an unwanted extra popped out below. Ruka.
"Move" Hotaru said.
"I'm just going for a swim" Ruka told her, Hotaru lowered her camera.
"Whatever" Hotaru muttered, then she didn't notice that Ruka accidentally tripped her as she walked closer to the shore and she tumbled down the shore and swallowed a bit of the saltwater.
She spat out some water in her mouth and shook her head. Camera film swam on the surface of the water. Hotaru stared at it in horror and looked at the astonished Ruka who looked at the film like a worried dog. Hotaru stood up and picked up her camera and the film. She hit Ruka's face with the film and walked off.
She picked up her camera and looked at it as if she had lost a loved one.
"You broke my camera"
Before Ruka could reply, Hotaru picked up a handful of sand and threw it on his eyes.
"It's unforgivable" she muttered.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"I HATE YOU!!!" I yelled at Natsume, looking angrily at him as he smirked at the destroyed sand castle I made. It was now just lumps of sand once more, and a few broken shells.
"DID YOU KNOW IT TOOK ME THREE HOURS TO MAKE THE SAND CASTLE?!?!?!"
Natsume just smirked.
It was already sunset. I spent the whole afternoon playing with my beach ball, making attempts to provoke a nearby crab, swim, catch fish and then return them, hunt for starfish (I accidentally swallowed a seaweed and I gagged for a few minutes then I spat it out after Natsume hit me on the back).
Before I knew it, night time greeted us. After having dinner in the restaurant, I forgot my beach bag on the beach.
I ran back to the beach. I saw I had a missed call in my cellphone. It was from an unknown caller. Suddenly, it started calling again. Before I could answer it, it started raining. I ran to the shade and answered the call.
"Hello?"
"Hello? Is this Mikan Sakura?"
"Uh…yes?" Was this a stalker?
"I'm a doctor from Nagoya General Hospital. We've been trying to contact you for a long time, but your hotel phone was out of order and your cell phone was out of area. So…"
A doctor from Nagoya General hospital?
"Your grandfather Mr. Sakura is here right now in room 802 because he suffered a heart attack the other week and he's still not recovering – although he's still hanging on…we thought you'd like to know"
I dropped my cell phone.
Grandpa…had a heart attack? And I didn't know?
FLASHBACK
5 year old Mikan…
"GRANDPA!!!!"
I ran and hugged my grandfather. I loved him so much. Both of us sat down for dinner which he prepared for the two of us.
"Why don't I have parents, grandpa?"
"Because, my dear Mikan – they have turned into angels and become one of those million stars in the sky"
"Will you become an angel, grandpa?"
"Of course not…not as long as you're with me. Grandpa will stay with you as long as you live"
END OF FLASHBACK
The rain hardened. I started crying. Grandpa had a heart attack. And while I was having the time of my life in Tokyo…he was suffering a heart attack. This can damage his nervous system and so on… I picked up my cell phone. The doctor was still talking.
"T-thank you doctor" I muttered and turned off my cell phone.
I'm such a bad granddaughter. I should've stayed back in Nagoya if I had known better. Grandpa is very old. I should've known that he cannot be left alone without someone to care for him. But he told me before I went
"Don't worry, Mikan!!! Grandpa is as strong as could be!"
And because I believed him, I was careless and got on that airplane. I even had a fight with him before I went on that airplane…whether to wear a jacket or not. I'm such a bad granddaughter. I hate myself.
Maybe I should go back to Nagoya
I crawled to my cottage, memories of my grandfather swept across my head. I collapsed on my door mat and hit my back several times against the hard, bamboo door. I hate myself.
Suddenly, my cottage door swung open. Apparently, it wasn't MY cottage. I looked up, and Natsume was looking down at me.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
I stood up, my hair and my clothes drenched of the downpour. I leaned my head on Natsume's chest and started crying.
Even though I hate Natsume, I wanted to be near him right now. It was as if he would make me feel better.
He closed the door and I collapsed on the floor and started crying again. I could feel his heart beat which was now racing. The two of us were kneeling on the floor of his cottage. He watched me cry as I poured out tears which stung my eyes, I looked at him in blurry vision. I could feel my eyes reddening, and I was coughing already.
"N-Natsume" I whispered. "My…my…grandpa…"
He put his finger on my lips.
I rubbed my eyes and I saw him clearer. He glared at me and took me by the shoulders.
What was just happening?
Everything occurred in slow motion. He grabbed me by the shoulders and pulled me to a kiss. I was so surprised. I felt his lips sink into mine as he put his palms against my cheeks. My eyes widened as I felt my cheeks flush into a scarlet color. What was happening? Was he kissing me? This was a dream right?
Before I knew it, I relaxed into the kiss and finally closed my eyes. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I put my arms around his neck.
And we just sat there…kissing.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
TO BE CONTINUED!!!!!!