DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN GAKUEN ALICE.
Rent a Girl
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But I think it was cute. They way you hustled me out of the office was too fast that I thought the friction would set the carpet on fire.
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Mikan turned around in her bed, tucked her arms under her head and looked at the ceiling. She released a long sigh. It had been nearly a month and a half since Natsume had gallantly burst into her life and they still hadn't found a woman to take the award for him.
They'd made a lot of effort to look, but somehow Mikan had always managed to find faults at every woman they find. Like this one too plump or too slender. Another had small eyes and the other one had wrong coloring. There were two days left and they were no closer in finding a woman now than they have been in the beginning.
Guilt managed to seep inside Mikan's heart, and she sighed heavily. She begrudgingly admitted that one of the women they found would do, but the thought of another woman with Natsume and Youichi was enough for her to break out in hives.
She knew she had changed in the past weeks. While she enjoyed her duties as the student council president, the time she had spent with Natsume and Youichi was meaningful.
Her days in her school had gone in a snail's pace. Her life now seemed to revolve around Natsume and Youichi. She recalled what her life was without them.
Dull, she admitted. Her life had been dull and colourless and boring. She realized she had been worrying about rules and regulations and being rational or sensible that she forgot how to enjoy life as it seems. As Natsume quoted, Life was a banquet and she had been settling for crumbs.
For the first time in her life, she felt happy, enjoying herself and her life. And she knew Natsume was the reason.
And Youichi. She had been hopelessly in love with him and apparently the feeling was mutual. He had been so attached to her that going to school had been hard. He would cried for her that made her torn between wanting to stay home which she wanted to do and going to school which she had to do. She sighed again, she loved Youichi so much.
Love. It's been drifting in her mind for the last few days. Mikan knew by then in her heart that it was not only Youichi she had fallen in love with.
Her heart suddenly pounded with fear. She was in love with Natsume. She turned around again, eyes widened with fear.
How did that happened? When did that happened?
Her mind went to the good times they've spent for the past weeks. Natsume had kept her busy so much she forgot about her mother or the rules and regulations.
They had gone to night picnics and fishing. She'd squirm at the sight of a worm and he would tease her endlessly. They had built bonfire on the beach, roasted some marshmallows and hotdogs.
She would stroll in the city with Youichi strapped in her back and Natsume's hand intertwined with hers. Natsume even talked her into drinking Bloody Mary. Despite its scary name, it's quite good. But after drinking it, she suddenly felt frivolous. And she silently prayed that she hadn't done anything vulgar or whatever indecent.
Natsume hadn't changed. He was still reckless and outrageous. He could still make her squirm with delight under her charm and touch. But he was also warm and gentle, one of the kindest man she had ever known. He hadn't changed, she had.
And now, she had fallen deeply to him. It was so vivid that she didn't have any idea why she hadn't notice it before.
Her heart suddenly sank. Even thought she was in love with him, it wouldn't change the fact that they were different in many ways.
Natsume hadn't said so many words, but she wondered what he would do once he found a woman for him. Would he go back to his hometown? Those thoughts made her sad. In just a few days, he would go out of her life as swiftly as he entered it and she was left with only memories to console her.
The sound of thunder racked the room. She smiled a little. A good storm might help cool things off around the house.
"Onee-chan," she heard Youichi grumbled. She quickly left the bed, hurrying to the guest room that Natsume and Youichi shared. Tiptoeing softly to not wake Natsume up, she darted across the room, not daring to look at Natsume who lay sprawled on his back. The covers were like heap on the floor. His breathing was deep and stead and Mikan quickly directed her attention to the other male in the room who needed her attention.
"Onee-chan," Youichi whimpered. His eyes were red with tears, his lower left quivering. She scooped him from his crib into her arms and exited the room.
"Don't cry," Mikan murmured, "It's just a storm Youichi."
She buried her face in his hair and enjoyed the baby scent coming from him. She loved this child.
Rent a Girl
Cradling Youichi in her arms, she pushed her way towards the kitchen. Then she paced around the room, soothing him with her words and holding him tight. Then Youichi's eyes dropped closed in spite of his efforts to keep it open. She smiled in the darkness and stroked his hair with her hands.
"Don't worry," she muttered, kissing his cheek. "Onee-chan's here."
She pressed another kiss in his cheeks, lingering a little and smelled his scent. She would remember forever his scent. She loved Youichi. Her eyes were suddenly stung with fresh tears.
But she was going to lose him, Mikan realised. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she held him tighter.
She wanted to change the way things were but realised it was beyond her.
Natsume was who he was and she was who she was, very different; she with her rules and regulations and him with his life where rules and regulations had no apparent place.
Her heart ached. Life was so unfair. She had found love only to lose it. Tears fell out of her eyes again and a sob escaped her.
"What's wrong with Youichi?" Natsume asked as he pushed opened the kitchen door. He obviously just dragged on his jeans, the top snap was still open and the zipper was not fully zipped. His raven hair was in a mess, his crimson eyes looked tired and sleep, making him looked vulnerable and appealing. The sight of him made Mikan's heartbeat quickened.
"Shhh," she pressed a finger in her lips to silence him and brushed away her tears before he see them. "Youichi is fine. He was just scared of the storm."
Natsume looked at her blankly, rubbing one eye. "Huh? What storm?" he asked.
"Go back to bed Natsume," she instructed shakily, trying to shoo him out of the room before he saw her tears. "I'll take care of Youichi and once he's fully asleep, I'll put him in the bed."
"Mikan," he moved closer to her, "What's wrong? Are you crying?" He lifted a hand to touch her face.
"No," she lied, glancing away.
"Mikan, what's wrong?" he repeated again, pulling out a chair and ignoring her alarm look as she tugged her hand and pulled her, along with Youichi, into his lap.
"Now I know why Youichi is crying," he growled, "But why are you crying? And don't tell me you're not."
His voice seemed tender. He caressed her cheeks and sighed. "Just tell me Mikan."
"Natsume," she whispered, dropping her head on his bare shoulder. She slipped one arm around him while the other held Youichi in place. Tears came and it dripped down her cheeks. She knew she couldn't tell him why she's crying.
She stayed like that for minutes, crying her heart out and Natsume cradling her closer to him.
"I'm sorry," she murmured, smiling weakly at him. She was supposed to help him but all she had done was to fall in love with him.
"No, I'm sorry because I don't have the faintest idea what's got you upset. Did I do something to hurt you?" he asked. She grinned at him and shook her head.
"No you didn't do anything." It was not a lie, she reasoned.
"Mikan," he said, "You were crying like there's no tomorrow. Tell me what's wrong? Don't tell me it was about your mother?"
"No," she answered. She wished her problem was really her mother but it was not. "We're just running out of time."
"Running out of time?" he repeated, "Time for what?"
"To find you a woman," she replied. And added mentally, time was running out for us too. He would be gone soon and Youichi...
"Is that what got you upset?" he asked, drawing back to look at her. She bit her lip and nodded.
"Mikan," he laughed and hugged her again. "You're sweet, did you know that?"
She pushed away from him, knowing she had to put some distance from him.
"I've let you down Natsume," she said.
"Mikan." He sighed. "You haven't let me down and you've got nothing to apologize about."
"Yes, I do," she admitted dully, "I-I deliberately found fault on all those women."
"I know," he smirked.
"You know?" she repeated blankly.
"I sure did," he laughed.
"Shh," she glared at him, clamping a hand over his mouth so he wouldn't wake Youichi. He pulled her hand away from his mouth and draped a kiss on its palm.
"I found it after that day in the theatrical agency. The day we ran into that, pretty girl, what was her name again?" Natsume trailed off.
"Bitchy Luna," she supplied.
"Bitchy Luna," he repeated, frowning and wondering where on earth she got that name. "I kind of figured it out when you told me that her nose was all wrong."
"I guess that was not sensible," she grumbled.
"And not rational or logical either," he smirked amusingly. He lifted a thumb and rubbed her lips. "But I think it was cute. They way you hustled me out of the office was too fast that I thought the friction would set the carpet on fire." He chuckled and Mikan turned red. She was grateful of the darkness.
"You're not mad?" she asked hesitantly.
"Does this face looked mad?" he said, giving her a wicked smile.
She looked at him for a long time and said, "No."
A clap of thunder boomed and Youichi moaned softly. She draped a hand over his hair to have him feel that he's secured.
"Shh...Youichi," she racked the child slowly.
"You love him, don't you?" Natsume asked, stroking her cheek gently.
"Yes, I love him," Mikan whispered. And I love you too Natsume, she said mentally.
"He loves you too Mikan," Natsume uttered. "You know, you've given him something our mother didn't give to him. You give him attention and affection. You've been wonderful to him and of course to me too."
Mikan shook her head. "No I haven't Natsume. I promised to help you and I haven't." She sniffled. "You kept your part of the bargain. You taught me to have fun. I'm afraid I didn't keep mine."
"Come on," he patted her back, "It's not the end of the world." He threaded his hand throught her hair and lifted her head so that she was forced to look at him.
"But Natsume...A woman...I..." He pressed a thumb in her lips to stop her.
"Mikan, you let me worry about those things. Come on now, let's sleep." He took Youichi from her arms and helping her on her feet. "I'll walk you to your room but only if you promise to not cry anymore, and," he smirked, "if you promise not to worry."
"I promise," she lied, giving him a convincing smile. Laying a hand over her shoulders, he guided Mikan into her room.
Rent a Girl
"Now promise," He said sternly, "No more worrying, and no more tears. I'll handle things." He tipped her chin and her eyes met his. They stared at each other for a while. Natsume lowered his head and closed the distance between their lips. His mouth was soft and gentle then his kiss deepened.
Youichi suddenly groaned and they jumped apart guiltily.
"Good night Mikan," he smirked.
"Good night," she opened the door of her room. She stopped and turned to him.
"Natsume, what are you—?" she stopped. She wanted to ask about his plans after the award ceremony but couldn't bring herself to ask.
"Mikan?"
She gave him a smile. "Never mind. It was nothing. Good night Natsume."
"Good night Mikan."
Mikan went inside her room. Leaning against her closed door, she let her tears flow down again as she realized that although she loved him, there were more than just a few walls and rooms separating them. She went to her bed, knowing they were separated by so much more.
Rent a Girl
Author's Notes: This chapter is so sad but sweet as well. Gotta love Natsume, right? Thanks for reading and please leave some reviews. Let me know your thoughts.