DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN GAKUEN ALICE.
Rent a Girl
...
But the problem is he's a little worried. Youichi says that both of you came as a package deal. If I married him, you have to come along too. So what do you think?
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...
...
"Mikan dear, I think Narumi and I will go skinny-dipping in the beach this afternoon."
"That's really nice mom, really nice," Mikan said in a haze, not bothering to look up from the uneaten bacon she'd been pushing around in the plate. "Have a good time. I'm sure you'd enjoy your time with him." She looked around and noticed that the house is so silent without Youichi and Natsume around. The stillness is driving her crazy.
Yuka leaned down, frowning at her daughter. "I'm worried about you, dear."
"What?" Mikan stared at her mother. "Why are you worried about me?" Wow, this was a total switch. Usually, she's the one worrying about her mother.
"I just told you that I was going skinny-dipping and you told me to have a good time." Yuka set her hands on top of her daughter's. "What happened between you and Natsume last night?"
Natsume...
Mikan stared down at her place as unwanted memories came back to her, pushing her to tears. Her heart was broken by the first man she'd ever love. He had to go and she had to stay. He couldn't change who he was, and now she realized – a little too late – that she didn't even want him to change. She was the one who changed, and realized it a little late too.
Mikan closed her eyes as the pain came seeping in her heart. She never even had a chance to say she loved him, but it doesn't even matter now. It was for the better, she thought, even thought it wasn't. It was better to get it over with, to have them walked away from her life before she fell deeper in love with them.
"Mikan," Yuka squeezed her daughter's hand.
"Oh mom," she groaned, letting the tears fell down her cheeks. "I've..." She buried her face on her hands. Yuka stood up and went to her, cradling Mikan in her arms.
"Dear, don't cry." Yuka was silent for a minute. "You fell in love with him, don't you?"
Mikan nodded, wiping away her tears.
"Did you tell him?"
Mikan smiled wryly. "I haven't got a chance to tell him. Ever since he arrived in my life – I've been doing a lot of thinking in my life. Last night, I told Natsume I would accept the award for –"
"Well that's good! It's about time to get your heart rule over your head." Those words brought another set of fresh tears from Mikan. She shook her head.
"He turned me down." Mikan sniffed. "He said he couldn't let me give up anything I've worked hard for." She raised her face to her mother. "He hired someone to get the award for him."
"I see," Yuka uttered softly. "That explains everything, doesn't it?"
"It didn't explain anything at all."
Yuka smiled at her daughter. "Mikan, don't you see? He loves you. He's not about to let you do something you might regret later on. He probably feels that if you give up your position as the president of the student council – which is something you really wanted – you might hate him later on. He's a very special man, very proud but special. While he might not live his life with anyone's rules, you do. Now you think you're willing to do it, but what about later on? He's afraid to take chances."
"But mom, I told him that I finally realized that the school is not the only place for me. I loved what I do, but there are still a lot of avenues to consider. I no longer want the duties of the president of the student council. That's the point mom. I want something else in my life." She stared at her mother. "What should I do?"
"That depends on what you want in your life. You're the only one who can decide that."
"I want Natsume and Youichi."
"Then give him a chance." Yuka said softly. "He loves you. And so was Youichi."
Mikan smiled and gave her mother a kiss on the cheeks. "You're right mom."
"Wait a minute dear. Where are you going? You haven't eaten your breakfast yet. What about the ceremony this evening?"
"I'm not hungry." Mikan got her purse on the table and opened the front door. "There's still plenty of time for that. You get ready and I'll meet you up here later. I have to get to the school. There's a little matter at the school that needs attending to."
Rent a Girl
"But Mikan, you can't be serious?"
Mikan smiled sadly and brought down her resignation letter. "I'm serious. I can't be the president of the student council anymore."
"Is this about that Ruka Nogi? Are you going to transfer to his school Mikan-chan?" Anna demanded. "He's lured you away by his charms, isn't he?"
"No Anna-chan. I'm not even planning to leave the school. I just want to be relieved by the burden of being the president of the student council." She stared at her friend and smiled again.
"B-But this is not a rational move, Mikan-chan. It's not like you to do something irrational."
Mikan laughed. "Hearing you say that...I finally do something irrational on my own. I will miss my position and I will miss the council room. But I think it's time for me to do something on my own, not following anything, just going with the flow."
"This had something to do with that savaged man, who interrupted our school tea, have it?" Anna sighed. "How on earth did you ever got involve with someone like him?"
"It really doesn't have anything to do with Natsume. It has to do with what i want to live my life right now. I want to find out what I've been missing." She smiled dreamingly.
It was hard to give up the position of being the president but she doesn't have any regrets. She knew in her heart that it was the right thing to do.
"Mikan-chan, maybe in a way, I do understand." Anna gave her a grin. "I hope you and Hyuuga-san – I hope you two would be happy."
"Thank you Anna-chan!" Mikan hugged her friend, eyes brimming with tears. After quite some time they broke the hug. Mikan smiled one last time before opening the door of the council room, looking around, memorizing everything.
"Mikan-chan – uhm, you think you could get me a copy?" Anna asked.
"A copy of what?"
"Hyuuga Natsume's Shinigami Tales."
"Sure." Mikan smiled. "I will even get it autographed for you."
After one look around, she turned and exited the room. Her steps were light and her spirits were soaring. One part of her life was ending and the other part was just beginning.
Rent a Girl
"Do you see him mom?" Mikan craned her neck and looked around the auditorium. They were following an usher towards their seat.
"Here you are." The usher pointed two empty seats.
"Mom," Mikan began, "I can't see Natsume or Yoiuchi or Luna for that matter."
"Calm down dear. I'm sure they're here already."
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as a woman walked across the stage. Mikan squirmed in her seat, worried about Natsume and Youichi. Maybe something happened with Luna and she backed out in the very last minute. Or worst something terrible happened to Natsume and Youichi. Her palms grew moist with fear and her heart beat doubled over time.
"Ladies and Gentlemen," the woman said. "My name is Sumire Shouda and I'm the editor of the Modern Artist. I'd like to thank all of you for coming into the Modern Artist's fifth annual awards. First let's consider the smut genre for the manga. I know you'd be surprise for knowing the person who drew the successful smut manga. It's very uncanny for him to do this. "
"What is she talking about?" she whispered to herself.
"Well," Sumire went on. "Without further ado, let's give a warm of applause to Natsume Hyuuga."
There was a moment of silence from the crowd as Natsume, holding Youichi, walked out to the stage. The applause that went after was thunderous and Mikan held her mother's hand.
"Mom, what is he doing?" she muttered, her voice drowned by the cheers from the audience. She knew what he was doing, but didn't know why. He looked wonderful. He was wearing a three-piece black pinstriped suit.
"Ladies and gentleman," he smiled, eyes searching the crowd. When he saw her, he smirked. "My name is Natsume Hyuuga and I'm honoured to accept this award. I know I don't look like the person who drew this kind of manga. Hmm, maybe I'm really romantic at heart." He waited for the laugh to die down before continuing, "Honestly, when I heard I got the award I was scared. I'm known to write manga series of action and adventure that some of you might have heard off." The crowd cheered, acknowledging his books.
"Now don't get me wrong. I'm very honoured to accept this award. But I was afraid that if I accept this award – well I might lose my reputation of being a cool manga artist in the adventure section." Natsume paused and looked at Mikan.
"But something happened that made me change my mind. Someone special taught me that sometimes you have to let your heart rule your head and let the consequences be damned. This wonderful girl was willing to sacrifice everything for me." Natsume looked across the audience. "In fact her offer was so generous, so selfless that it started me thinking. If she had been able to risk everything, how could I do any less? That's why I decided to proudly and happily accept this award myself."
Mikan stood up from her seat, leading the applause as Sumire Shouda crossed the stage and gave Natsume his plaque.
"Mom, I'm going."
Yuka smiled at her daughter and nodded. "Go get him dear. Tackle him on the ground and give him a knee-weakening kiss."
"I can't do that with all those people!" Mikan flushed. "What are you thinking?"
Yuka sighed. "You're thinking rational things again. Just go grab him dear."
Mikan smiled and ran towards the stage.
But the crowd went towards Natsume, making it impossible for Mikan to get to him. Cameras flashed as the photographers and reporters vied for him.
Startled by the attention, Youichi began to cry. Mikan pushed forward and climb the stairs to the stage. Natsume and Youichi saw her at the same time.
"Mikan," Natsume muttered. She walked right into his arms. "Mikan," he whispered softly, pressing his lips on the crook of her neck. "I thought you're not going to come. I was so afraid. You know what, I really love you Mikan."
"Natsume," Mikan wrapped her arms around him and embraced him tightly. Tears flowed down her cheeks. "I love you too."
Squashed between the two of them, Youichi started to wail. "Down! Now, down!"
Natsume slid down his lips to hers and smirked. "I have to tend a few things here, but will you wait for me?"
"Yes," she murmured, knowing she'd been waiting for him her whole life. He was her dream, her love and her everything.
"Onee-chan," Youichi cried.
"Youichi, come here." Mikan took the weeping Youichi out of Natsume's arms and snuggling him close. She had missed him. "I love you Natsume," she breathed out and leaned forward to peck his lips. "You finish here. We'll wait for you behind the stage."
"Promise, you'll wait?" Natsume said, reaching out to touch her face. "Promise? I've got something to tell you."
Mikan nodded and turned around, walking off the stage with Youichi in her arms. She pressed her face on the toddler's. "I love you too Youichi," she whispered.
"Love onee-chan," Youichi repeated, winding his arms around her neck and clinging tightly. "Not leave Youichi. Not leave."
"Yes I would never leave you Youichi."
Rent a Girl
It was at least half an hour before Natsume was free. He had abandoned his suit jacket somewhere and his tie was hanging loosely around his neck. She'd never seen him look more wonderful.
He didn't say a word. He just walked to her and hauled them both into his arms.
"Mikan," he murmured. "I planned to come back after the ceremony. But I wanted to give you some time to think. I didn't want you to regret anything."
"What about Luna?"
"Luna who?" he repeated, nuzzling her neck.
"Bitchy Luna, the one you hired to accept the award."
"I lied." He grinned wickedly and leaned back.
"You what?"
"Lied," he repeated, covering her mouth with a quick kiss. "I knew I had to say something to you. I don't want you to do anything you'll regret."
"The only thing I regret..." she began, sliding her hands on his face softly, "...is that it took me so long to realize that you and Youichi were important to me." She pulled out of his arms and said seriously, "Youichi and I had a talk and he agreed to marry me sometime in the future."
"He did, didn't he?" Natsume smirked.
"But the problem is he's a little worried. Youichi says that both of you came as a package deal. If I married him, you have to come along too. So what do you think?"
"Seems to me you're getting a deal. Two men for the price of one." Natsume gave her a sly grin.
"Does that mean yes? Are you going to marry me in the future or –"
He sealed her lips with a kiss. "Idiot, I am marrying you. I certainly am, especially since you beat me to the punch with that question by almost five seconds." He gave her a wink as she towed her closer to him. "I will marry you in the future. Face it, Mikan. It's the only sensible thing to do."
Rent a Girl
Author's Notes: There's only an epilogue left. Thanks for reading. Please leave a review if you want. After I finish this, I'll be able to focus on my other stories.