Chapter Six: Happy Nights

Emotionless.

That's the word to describe Hyuuga Natsume as Mikan summarized her story.

When she got welcomed in the DA? Emotionless.

When she was told that she was to be put on mission patrola? Emotionless.

When she was training with Persona while Natsume and his partner were on their mission? Emotionless.

When she said she did this all just to protect him? Emotionless.

Even when she called him a dick for being emotionless? Bluntly Emotionless.

Mikan pursed her lips together. She had to admit that she hoped for him to bulge his eyes at some parts and hug her when she looked like she was about to cry. It would show that he cared, even just a little bit.

But as she approached the conclusion, Natsume displayed no hints of stopping to be robot-like. All he did was sit there, continuing to stare attentively.

"And," she breathed. "That's it. The end."

Hushed. Quiet. All that can be heard were the songs of the crickets outside.

"Natsume?"

No response whatsoever.

Mikan groaned. "Look, if that's all you're going to do, then go back. I told you everything you wanted to know, okay? We both have to patch ourselves up, so if you'll excuse me…"

She began shifting her legs so she could stand up, but at the most miniature motion she created, Natsume reached forward for her hand and slowly pulled her back down.

It took him a minute to convey sounds. "Is that it?"

"Huh?" She sat closer to him now; her knees scraped his foot.

"Is that the truth?"

She looked at him. "…Of course it is. I'm not smart enough to come up with something like that."

He laughed, barely, but it was enough for Mikan to catch it. It was the first sign in ages he showed to prove he's alive.

Bu it wasn't a light, happy one. Knitted between its meaning rang the echoes of insecurity, distress and self accusation.

She moved closer. She tried to meet his stare, but they were buried by his long, livid bangs. Mikan used her hand to brush them away, and once she did, she was drawn back by the sight of his gaze.

"Natsume…"

I'm sorry, Mikan. it's my fault. I'm the one who dragged you into all of this. Forgive me. Wait, don't. I can't even forgive myself. I'm so, so, so sorry, Mikan. I'm so sorry.

That is what his eyes seemed to scream at her when they met. She couldn't believe that those were the same pair that she always thought was Natsume's best shield; the ones that were strong, feral and unfaltering.

Those eyes of his reminded her so much of her Mother.

And now, they were weak. Vulnerable. He bit the bottom of his lips and scrunched his brows together. The great Natsume looked like he was about to burst into tears.

"Natsume," she spoke is a soft voice. She couldn't stand seeing his pained expression, and she began to feel like it was her fault. Without thinking anymore, she curled her hands around the back of his neck and pulled him into her. "I'm sorry…"

Her delicate voice came out as a whisper. Natsume clenched his jaw and buried his head deeper into the nape of Mikan's warm neck, ignoring the stench of dirt and nature that replaced her usual, sweet smell. He snuck his toned arms around her waist and drew her nearer. He didn't speak.

"I'm sorry…I'm sorry."

"Idiot," he muffled against her skin. "Don't cry."

"I'm not. I'm not." A drop rolled down from the corner of her eyes, soon followed by many others. "I'm not crying."

Natsume tried to lift his head away when he felt one of her tears crumble on his ear, but Mikan clasped it still, hindering him from moving.

"Don't. Don't do anything. Sometimes girls just have to cry," she murmured.

That only made him hold her tighter. He strengthened his grip each time she let out a whimper. He kept doing so until he felt he would break her if he held her anymore.

Cricket, cricket.

Cricket, cricket

Cricket, cricket.

Cricket.

"Why did you do it?"

Mikan buried her chin in Natsume's hair, and let its extensions wipe her eyes. She sniffed. "Do what?"

"Why did you let them easily take you into-"

"I wanted to protect you."

"I can protect myself," he urged. "I have been all this time."

"You can't do it forever." She pulled on the corners of her mouth slightly. "And forever is just around the corner."

Natsume jerked away forcefully, but his hands still on Mikan's hips, and hers still around his neck. "And you think you can?"

The puffy-eyed brunette lovingly secured him once more, making sure he would not break loose again. "I don't."

"Then why?"

She cleared her throat. "And I quote from Kuonji himself, 'You have no other choice, of course you're going to do it'."

He sighed. "I should've known."

"Well," Mikan said. "I really had no other choice."

"You broke your promise," he replied, changing the topic.

"What?"

"The promise. You broke it."

"What promise?" She thought back to the times whenever she made such an arrangement with him. She laughed weakly and shook her head when she caught on. "I didn't break anything. This" -she touched her arm- "doesn't hurt. Compared to what you've been through, this doesn't hurt at all."

He stiffens and doesn't hold back on hugging her with everything he's got. When he lightly turned his head, he detected a bruise which swelled to a purple color resting just off the nape of her neck. He presses his smooth lips on it and shut his eyes tight.

"I swear…"

"Hm…?" Mikan asked, letting her eyelids droop as well.

I swear, I'll never leave you.

"Mikan, I…"

"Mikan?" Hotaru inquired as she opened the door without knocking. "Wake up, idiot. It-"

She stopped dead in her tracks as she spotted two people, who had an uncanny resemblance to special blockheads in her life, embracing like there's no tomorrow off to the side.

Natsume glared at her behind Mikan's shoulder, his lips still placed on her bare skin. He gave Hotaru the go-away-and-don't-interrupt-us-again look.

Mikan opened her mouth in shock as she saw who had entered. She was too surprised to cross the idea of releasing Natsume.

"H-H-H-H-H," Mikan stuttered.

Hotaru, exposing no emotions as usual, stared at Natsume, who gladly returned the favor with daggers. The brunette, only focused on trying to explain this, didn't notice the war they were battling telepathically.

"H-H-Hotaru, this isn't-"

Click.

Before she could finish, both Mikan and Natsume flinched at the sudden brightness of Hotaru's camera flash. The next thing they knew, she was waving a developing picture in her hands.

"I'll make sure to get this selling by tomorrow," she said. She turned around ready to leave, but then whipped back. They still, idiotically enough, hadn't let go of each other.

"Here." Hotaru threw a small, square and thin package at them. Natsume caught it smoothly. "Have fun with it."

When she left the room, Natsume held it between him and Mikan so they could get a good look at it.

"What is it?" Mikan asked, innocently.

The boy remained calm, even after he realized what it contained inside. "It's nothing," he answered. Not enabling her to examine it any further, he extended his arm behind him and threw it outside the window.

"Ah!" She exclaimed. "I didn't get to see what it was."

Natsume sighed.

Not yet, Imai.

Meanwhile, following "the package"...

"Ne, Tsubasa," Misaki said as she scooted closer to him. "It's getting cold out here."

"Mm, you're right." He coiled his arms around her, allowing warmth to seep through the two of them. "Let's go back to my room?"

She rested her apple hued head in the middle of her boyfriend's chin and shoulder, where it fit perfectly the most. "No. You'll do something."

Tsubasa laughed reassuringly. "I promise, I won't. You don't trust me?"

She looked up to him. Her slender jaw line and strikingly fine features bathed in the old light of the moon,making the shadow alice user blush.

God, I would love to know what i did to deserve her.

"You promise?" Misaki asked.

He gently kissed her forehead, and went down to her button-cute nose. "I won't try anything."

Just when they're about to leave the bench, something dropped right next to Tsubasa's pants pocket. In unison, they both looked down curiously.

"What the…"

Misaki grabbed hold of it and dragged it closer to get a better view.

Being a senior and all, it didn't take long for her to figure it out.

"Tsubasaaa…" she began, getting stone-faced. "What. The. Hell. Is. This?"

"Ah…wait!" Tsubasa exclaimed. He, too, realized what the silver cube was. "I-it's not what you think! I have no idea how it got there! I swear! All I have in my pockets are rabbits!"

Frantically, he shoved his hand in. "See?" As he held out his palm, all he could do was gape, for he knew he screwed up big time.

Misaki laid her eyes on an identical twin of the item she was already holding.

"O-o-okay! I may have brought this one on purpose, but I swear I have no idea about the other!"

"Tsubasa, you bastard…"

"Wait, Misaki, believe me! let me explain!"

What did Misaki do to Tsubasa? How will this affect their relationship? WHY DID HOTARU HAVE "THAT" WITH HER IN THE FIRST PLACE?

These are questions that will never be answered, so don't expect anything.(: Chapter 7 coming up soon!

Stay smexy!