So the long awaited chapter is here. Sorry about the wait and I warn that it is mostly more ground work being laid for the next series of chapters that are sure to be a doozey.

RxExR

Chapter 17: Burn

It didn't take long for Natsume's return to stir up trouble. Physics tells us that an object in an unnatural state will return to its natural state. Natsume Hyuuga's natural state is wearing dark clothes, hanging out in the dim corner of the bar in the company of several women or shady characters, but as of late Natsume and Ruka have been inseparable. According to Hotaru, Ruka and Natsume's relationship had become somewhat estranged thanks to Natsume's after dark extra-curricular activities, but now Natsume seems to be acting more or less like his old self from about two years ago.

For some reason approaching Natsume alone is completely okay for girls like Sumire and Gretchen, but when Natsume and Ruka are sitting together having drinks and talking, the perfection overload at their table wards off possible invaders, even Sumire keeps her distance. They would much rather observe this phenomenon than take part. Like watching wild jungle cats laze about in their natural habitat.

Also according to Hotaru, Natsume's list of consorts and conquests is completely gone. She says the only thing that changes a man's sexual appetite so suddenly is when he becomes enamored.

I'm not going to lie; I had to look the word up to know what she meant.

Enamored (verb.): to inflame with love: to cause to feel a strong or excessive interest or fascination: to charm or captivate.

Upon reading that, I dropped my pocket dictionary as if it had spoken the words to me and collapsed into my couch. He's enamored? With me? On what planet?

But of course the evidence is mounting. He watches me constantly from across the bar. I can feel it because it makes my skin prickle and burn. Then he takes Youichi to school every morning, every morning. He stands outside of his car looking completely casual as Youichi goes to greet Aoi and climb into the backseat. When I declined saying that I have a personal driver that I shouldn't neglect, he didn't even argue. He just casted me this look and turned back to his car. When I get home after work he's in my apartment with a flushed Misaki, helping Youichi and Aoi do their homework. Then he scolds me about not being smart enough to pass my equivalency test and then forces me to study as well. After about two hours he'll complain about being hungry to which I'll respond with a snarky comment about going home to his five star chef and fine china to which he replies with a command that I prepare a meal for him where Youichi and Aoi also chime in. Outnumbered and outwitted I retreat to the kitchen and cook. He complains from start to finish about how much salt I put in the food or about the meat being too tough or the sauce being too spicy, but there he is three times a week eating my home-cooked meals.

Scary enough it seems to have become a very weird routine.

Luckily for me no one else seems to have caught on to Natsume's new behavior toward me. At work I keep it strictly professional and stay busy. If I find myself being idle for longer than a half-second I wipe down any surface I can reach, which leads me to offending a customer or two. I apologize profusely and banish myself to the washroom to load more glasses. I sit on top of the rambling machine and close my eyes pretending to feel the earth quake.

"I thought I'd find you in here." A voice calls.

I open my eyes to find Gretchen leaning in the open doorway, the thumping bass flooding into the room behind her. I hop off the machine and fix my skirt, "Were you looking for me?"

"Isn't it obvious?" she says letting the door close behind her, "We need to talk."

"Do we? We hardly know each other."

"We may not know each other, but I know something about you. For instance, you're not a French model. You're a waitress."

"I never said anything to the contrary. In fact I'm pretty sure you're the one that started that rumor."

"How was I supposed to know that Natsume-kun would go temporarily insane and ditch me for the likes of you?"

I simply shrug, "Maybe he got bored."

"Excuse me?" she says folding her arms across her semi-exposed chest.

"You're a brand in a place like this. Like going to a fine restaurant and paying a hundred dollars for some smelly fish that looks nice on a plate."

"What are you saying?" she asks not knowing whether or not to be offended.

"I'm saying there are plenty of expensive dishes in this place that basically all taste the same. Maybe he's just bored with the same old plates."

She opens her mouth to respond, but I think she's still processing the metaphor, "Are you insulting me?" she finally asks.

I repress the urge to laugh, "No, I'm just telling you a simple fact. If you eat something too often you get tired of it."

"So if we're all fish what are you? Diamond encrusted soufflé?" She scoffs.

I think about for a moment, "No I think I'm just a cheeseburger. Sometimes you just want a cheeseburger."

I pat her shoulder as I stroll past her, "Don't worry. Guys like Natsume would never commit to a cheeseburger."

A bitter smile graces my face as I get back to work. Did I want Natsume to commit to me? Sometimes it seems as if he is, but we've never been on a date or been alone together in an intimate setting, but his presence is constant. I always see him and he's made a habit out of hanging out in my apartment. I would never ask him in a million years how he feels about this. I'm still convinced that he's only doing this because he's bored with his typical routine. I do take comfort in the fact that if he's with me, he's not out doing something bad. It does make me suspicious. Reo was more than pleased to get Natsume in his little group. I don't think if Natsume wanted to quit, it would be that easy.

As for the excuse he gave me as to his disappearance, I tried to ask Aoi about it when Natsume was at practice, but she clammed up really quick. Her eyes looked like she wanted to tell me, but someone probably forewarned her about spilling the beans. I dismissed the question pretending to just be curious, but Aoi's typical smile had vanished for the rest of the day.

Needless to say, several red flags rose thanks to that occurrence, but I kept my mouth shut when Natsume showed up and Aoi was back to being herself. Part of me burns to know the truth, but another part of me is terrified to find out.

Shizune's bridal shower is taking place in a suite in The Ruby Plaza. I sat in the passenger seat of Hotaru's Mercedes cursing my luck. I thought for sure that this would be a Natsume-free day, but of course I end up coming to him instead of him coming to me.

"Stop pouting. Natsume's not even here. He and Ruka went to Tokyo with Ruka's mother." Hotaru said without me having to say a word.

"Tokyo?"

"Some favor she wants them to do. I think she said something about an auction, but Natsume and Ruka don't know that."

"And you do?" I ask with an eyebrow raised.

"I know everything." She says before exiting the car and handing the keys to the valet.

I exit the car after her clutching my small package. It's customary to bring a gift to these events, but what do you get someone that has everything? I take comfort in that Hotaru also has a small package under her arm. Maybe this won't be a big deal.

The party attire is elegant casual so of course Anna's help was needed to help me get ready. I bought a new dress just for the occasion: a silk-lace, pale orange glow knee length dress with a low scoop back. It hangs slightly off the shoulder giving it a very classy look. Anna lends me a simple necklace with a yellow jeweled sunflower pendant. I shove my feet into a pair of yellow pumps on loan from Hotaru's lavish closet. Anna works her magic with my hair with a few over-the-phone tips from Nobara who was on a weekend trip with her parents.

At a quarter to two Hotaru arrives to pick me up and assures me that I don't look completely hideous. I hold my neatly wrapped package in my lap and acted like this was something that I'm used to, but surprisingly even I am getting used to it. Sitting in front of Anna and letting her play beautician, raiding Hotaru's closet for shoes, and riding in cars that are more expensive than any house I have ever lived in.

I follow Hotaru past the doorman and through the lobby. Hotaru walks with purpose, like no movement is ever wasted or over calculated. It always catches me off guard to see how poised she is. In an aqua-blue cocktail dress and a brand new pair of cotton candy blue stilettoes from Chanel, she dominates the lobby. Everyone turns to stare and whisper and take her in. I feel like a frumpy two-year old compared to her, but out of everyone in the world this girl is my best friend. With that realization I can't help but smile and scurry to catch up with her. Her trench coat is draped over her shoulders like cape. I opt to carry my pea coat in my arms along with my small box while we wait for the elevator. There were several people waiting for the elevator, but when it arrived and Hotaru entered, no one followed. They all just stood staring at us in the spacious elevator. Hotaru told the elevator operator the floor number and the doors slid closed. I sat down on the couch-yes there is an actual couch in the elevator-and sighed.

"What was that? Do we really look that out-of-place?" I ask looking at my reflection in the elevator's polished chrome finish.

"They weren't staring because we're out-of-place." Hotaru states.

"Then why were they?"

"Because they're morons."

"Or maybe it's because you're scary." I tease.

"Perhaps. My family name can be intimidating."

"But how do they know-" But I stop myself knowing that it is a dumb question to ask.

Her eyes, in combination with raven hair and that smothering air of power and authority could only come from an Imai. I hold her elbow and smile when she turns to look at me.

"Well you don't scare me." I say.

"You're too stupid to know to be afraid."

Shizune's bridal shower is taking place in one of the hotel's more intimate lounges. The double doors open and the scent of tea and cakes saunters out of the room. Two girls with matching blonde pigtails offer to take our coats. Their Lolita style dresses are modeled after the ace and three of hearts. They usher us into a brightly lit room with black and white checkered floors and a long table covered by a crisp white table cloth. Several tier cake stands line the center of the table and fine china tea sets with different designs are scattered around. Several women are already seated, chatting idly with each other.

I follow Hotaru to two empty chairs next to the head of the table. The other women glance at us and whisper amongst themselves. I can't help but roll my eyes. It's no wonder Hotaru isn't very social, even though they all swim in the same circle, they treat Hotaru like some pariah even though becoming friends with her would make them even more reputable then they probably are. One of the women I recognize from a series of movies and commercials.

"Where's Shizune?" I ask.

Hotaru sighs, "The bride is always the last to arrive that's why everyone else comes early."

"Oh. Is this a themed party?"

"Alice in Wonderland."

"I love that book."

"Utter nonsense."

"Okay Alice." I tease.

As the clock got closer to the start time of the bridal party, more and more women showed up. I guess I was under the impression that this would be a small gathering, but by the time the Ace of hearts announced Shizune's arrival, there were already 18 women in attendance.

Shizune walked into the room wearing a full gown modeled after the Queen of Hearts ensemble. Her jet black hair is pulled up into a high ponytail with a white ribbon embroidered with red hearts. A small gold crown with red jewels encrusted in a heart shape sat off to the side of her head.

She held a gold scepter in her hand looking as dignified as a real queen. She took her seat at the head of the table and all the women fell into silence and waited for her to speak.

"Thank you all for being in attendance for my bridal shower. As you can see the theme is Alice in Wonderland and instead of sitting around gabbing I want to play games. So we will pass around this top hat and everyone will pick the parts they will play."

I look at Hotaru for clarity, but she just stared blankly ahead. I turn back to Shizune who used her specter to usher the three of hearts to bring her tray which had little folded hearts on top. Each woman took one and unfolded it reading their parts aloud.

"March Hare." A brunette girl announces happily.

"Mine just has a heart on it." a red-head states with a huff.

"Those of you who receive hearts are a part of the Queen's court. Handmaids of sorts. You will receive a red jeweled brooch that you may keep after the festivities. Those of you who receive shields will be a part of the white Queen's court. The only other parts are March Hare, Mad Hatter, and Cheshire cat."

As she spoke the cards continued to move their trays down either side of the table and each girl took a red folded slip and read off their parts: some were disappointed, others intrigued. As the three of hearts finally reached Hotaru and I, I waited as Hotaru carefully took a slip with a perfectly manicured hand, unfolded and read-

"Alice."

I almost laughed at the coincidence. I reached on top of the tray and pulled the remaining slip off the tray.

White Queen

"The White Queen?" I say.

"The roles are just a way of keeping things interesting." Shizune says.

I am handed a white crown that looked more like a white lily in bloom than an actual crown. It's accented with turquoise jewels and a row of diamonds around the base. I want to ask if t's real, but at this point I know it would be looked upon as a dumb question. Besides it's all part of the game.

The three of heart helps my put my crown on so it doesn't slip. I can feel the eyes of the other party guest on me. As my insecurities slink up my spine, I fight the urge to tear the crown off my head and run from the room, but I remember my drama days back in high school and how the stares I am receiving now are similar to the ones I got when ever I got certain roles or got high raise from my teacher. He would always say "There are no small parts, only small actors" and then he would wink at me and saunter down stage to give us direction. It always warmed my heart to be praised. Most of my other teachers thought I was a know-it-all little snit who could use and attitude adjustment, but not Narumi-sensei. He could never see fault with me even if I butchered my lines and stepped all over someone else's cue. He would always put his hands on my shoulders and guide me through the scene and tell me that I'm doing great. I think on some level he knew what was going on in my house, but he never said a word, he just smiled at me as if he were just waiting for me.

So I take a subtle deep breath and let reality melt away as the curtain goes up for my performance.

"Okay now that everyone is dressed up we're going to take some pictures for the album and open the presents. Then we have a game of croquet set up and a wonderful lunch ready."

So we begun going through the motions as eagerly as we could muster. Many of the girls were still confused as to why they were in animal ears, but went along with it.

The pictures were taken in front of a green screen that would later have a background digitally put in to depict scenes from the movie. Shizune and her ladies in waiting went first, then myself and my knights, then Hotaru and the white rabbit, and then Hotaru again at the Mad Hatter tea party, then Shizune, Hotaru and myself on the battlefield, then Hotaru slaying the dragon, and then me being crowned by Chesire cat with the Queen of hearts crown.

As the rest of us sat around chatting and drinking tea out of strangely designed cups that were not uniform down the table at all, Shizune talked with the photographer behind his computer as she described how she wanted the scenes to look. I heard one of the women say that her photographer is actually one of the people who worked on the Alice in Wonderland movie.

After she was done withe the photographer, we all followed her into an adjacent room that was decorated to look like a croquet field, complete with fake grass and everything. The mallets are bright pink like flamingoes and the balls are brown with spikes painted on them. The girls were getting into the spirit of thins and didn't even realize they were having their pictures taken. They just laughed and smiled and played the game (rather poorly I might add). When it wasn't Shizune's turn she sat on a red cushioned stool and fanned herself with a collapsible hand fan. She was really taking her part to heart.

When a mallet was giving to me I politely refused. Shizune raised an eyebrow at me and all the girls seem to get a little nervous.

"Why won't you play Mirana?" she asked me in a high and mighty voice.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and smiled as innocently as I could, "How can you ask me to strike one creature with another Iracebeth? You know it is against my vows to hurt any living thing."

"Don't be ridiculous it is all in good fun."

"Iracebeth, you have my answer." I say sternly, but still managing to squeeze out a drop of sweetness with it.

Shizune simply smiles, but I 'm sure the other girls have all stopped breathing.

"Very well. I will concede to your vows sister dear."

I smile and bow my head and only then do the other girls chuckle nervously at our skit and resume their game.

After the Red Queen is declared victor we all return to the other room and gather our presents. We gather our chairs in a circle and gifts are given voluntarily. The first to step up is the white rabbit who hands over her gift eagerly.

Shizune hands her spectre to a handmaid and tears open the paper. The box is small and flat I thought it might have been a book.

A collective gasp fills the room.

Definitely not a book.

"It's brand new Himura tablet computer. They're not even officially on the market yet. This is the first one off the line. Serial number 00000000000001." The white rabbit says triumphantly.

The other girls crane their neck to get a better view as Shizune handles the box, glancing over the detail specifications and then she merely hands it off to the Ace of hearts.

"Thank you Asumi. As the daughter of one of the biggest electronics developer in the country I'm sure this wasn't easy to get."

The words, if written on paper, would've looked like high praise, but coming out of Shizune's mouth it was as if she hadn't been impressed in the slightest. Her lack of interest in her brand new stunning technology deterred the other girls from volunteering so as the sister of the groom, Hotaru went next.

Her box is smaller than Asumi's who is now sitting in a pout although she's trying to hide it.

Hotaru gives Shizune her box and looks as bored as ever as Shizune tears off the shiny lilac wrapping paper. It's a jewelery box and inside the most gorgeous necklace I've ever seen.

"Harry Winston lily cluster necklace. 4.87 carats cost me about 4 million yen."

I try not to choke on my drink at the price. All the other girls look at Hotaru in envy, but draw back their swords when a small smile graces Shizune's face.

"Thank you Hotaru it's lovely."

"I know you were having trouble at deciding what piece you wanted to wear at the wedding so I picked this one up for you. I figure it could be your 'something new'."

"You're absolutely right."

Shizune hands off the necklace and the rest of the gifts are passed in. I hold my breath hoping that no one notices I haven't volunteered my present yet. Unlike these girls I'm not the daughter of a company executive that can drop a pretty penny on a gift. My dad used to say that gifts from the heart are always the best, but obviously my dad has never been to one of these events. No one has topped Hotaru's 4 million, but several have come close. And with every passing box I'm getting more and more nervous.

"Mikan?" someone says.

I look up and all eyes are on me.

"We've saved the best for last." One girl says and all the other girls chuckle.

They knew there was no way in hell I was going to top any of their gifts so they all sat straight up and eagerly watched as I grabbed my box from under my chair and walked the several paces over to Shizune and handed it over. She didn't even wait for me to sit back down before tearing into the paper so I just stood in horror watching as she opened it.

"What is it?" someone asks not being able to see from behind me.

I step out of the circle so they can take a look.

"A picture frame?"

"An antique picture frame." I weakly defend.

"It's beautiful." Shizune said before anyone could start mocking me.

"What?" the white rabbit said.

"It's my something old." Shizune said.

"Yeah I found it in a really great store down town and I painted it with this really great paint that when the light hits it, it kind of sparkles. I even replaced the glass so that it's not so easy to break. I figure you could put your wedding picture in it." I ramble.

"How thoughtful Mikan. Thank you."

She even smiles at me and with that I can finally release the breath I was holding and go back to my seat. The rest of the party consist of eating delicious sea food, drinking wine, and even some karaoke and dancing. So much to Shizune's chagrin she ended having a bit of a bachelorette party in the end. Thank goodness a lot of the girls didn't drive here, but by the time the party starts to die down several girls have passed out in various spots: on tables, under tables, over couches. It was comical madness with Hotaru and I sitting in the center of it. With Shizune who tried to look more annoyed than she probably was, Hotaru who wouldn't stop eating, and myself who couldn't stop laughing.

"Oi."

I groan ad roll over. Some people are so rude.

"Oi."

I swat the probing finger away.

"Oi baka I can see your panties." A gruff voice says.

I sit straight up and try to take in my surroundings. Shizune's bridal party suite with half a dozen girls passed out everywhere. I'm sitting across several dining chairs with my make-up smeared on the seats and my dress tangled up around my waist and Natsume Hyuuga getting an eyeful of my underwear.

I leap out of the chairs knocking them over and yanking my skirt down, "You pervert! How long were you ogling me?"

"Long enough to know you're a horrible sleeper." He replies.

"Well let's see you try to sleep on a row of dining chairs." I defend trying to make my mane of hair look less like a typhoon blew through it.

"Let's go."

"Hm? Go where?" I ask finally getting myself in some kind of order.

"You can't go outside looking like that."

"Where's Hotaru?" I ask looking around.

"She left a while ago with Ruka."

"She left me here?"

"Yep."

Stupid Hotaru. How could she leave me here? And with Natsume no less.

"I thought you were in Tokyo." I say.

"Well I'm not anymore now am I? Let's go before your on slew of moronic questions kills my brain cells."

I grab my coat and purse from the closet as we pass out of the front door. We take the elevator up to his penthouse where there is a pile of my clothes waiting. Apparently Mr. Hot shot took a detour to my house where Misaki was making breakfast for Youichi. After telling Mr. Nosey where I was she gave him some clothes to bring me since apparently there was a bit of a frost last night and my tiny dress would surely give me another cold.

I go into the guest bathroom to change and my own reflection made me feel ill. My smeared make-up makes me look like a Picasso painting done by a drunk imitator. And this would be my appearance when I'm finally alone with Natsume.

Not that I want to be alone with him. But of course if the universe puts us alone together I would look like this. I use their fancy hand soap to scrub until my face is completely makeup free and readjust my hair into a better version of the messy bun I tried to pull off when I first woke up.

I pull on my black jeans and opal sweater whose sleeves hang over my hands. I take a few breaths before leaving the bathroom. Natsume is standing by the window and doesn't turn or say anything while I put on my coat and stomp into my yellow pumps.

He turns away from the window and just looks at me as I stuff my dress into my purse.

"What?"

"Let's go."

'Let's go' in Natsume-speak means 'Get into my car and I'm not telling you where we're going'. So after twenty minutes of non-stop asking, he finally jerks the car to a halt and I find myself standing outside of a coffee lounge. One of those dimly lit places that only serves coffee in giant mugs and has a tiny stage where amateur poets and singers can get up and try not to humiliate themselves in front of a small attentive audience.

Inside is warm and smells like strong coffee bean. Natsume holds my hand as we make our way past a few people and into a booth in the corner.

"What are we doing here?" I ask unbuttoning my coat.

Instead of answering my question he orders two coffees from a passing waiter and turns his attention to the stage where a girl is sitting on a wooden stool with a guitar under her arm. Her dark brown hair is swept up in a black ribbon. Her makeup is a little too dark and she's wearing a black dress with army boots. She's in the middle of a beautiful song I've never heard before.

So we sit.

We sit and drink coffee out of giant mugs and listen to poetry and songs and don't talk at all.

I'll catch him looking at me and he'll return the favor, but we don't say a word.

Alone together? Check.

Intimate setting? Check.

Is this what it's like to date someone? Am I dating Natsume Hyuuga? I look at him over the rim of my mug and contemplate that question. Did I want the answer to be yes? He took off his leather jacket so his bare forearms are laying acrossone another on the tables surface. A silver and black watch dresses his left wrist a the faint trail of a tattoo pokes out from his right sleeve. He leaned his head forward and all his attention is to the stage. Disarrayed wisps of black hair covering his forehead.

I tear my attention away from him and back to the stage. Truth is I don't know what I want the answer to be because there's still a lot about Natsume I don't know and there's a textbook of things he doesn't know about me, but if he and I can stay like this even just for a little while. I'll carry this warm happiness with me all through winter.

After killing two hours sipping cappuccinos and bumping legs under the table (which happened to have escalated in a full blown kicking match) we left the coffee house only to find that it dropped several more degrees outside.

"Do you think it will snow?" I ask him looking up at the sky as we walk toward his car.

"Hn." Is his only reply.

I haven't deciphered if it's yes or no in Natsume-speak, but it doesn't really matter. Soon it will be spring, but I hope snow can fall before then. My grandpa used to say that snow brings the year luck and I need as much of that as possible.

"Are you getting in or what?"

I look down from the sky and at Natsume irritated face through the car window and just smile before getting in myself.

He takes the long way home and we both know it, but I don't say anything about it. The radio is down to a low hum and pass the same stop sign twice. He leaves his hand on the gear shift despite the car being an automatic.

"I'm cold." I say reaching for the heater button.

He swats my hand away, "Don't touch."

"Stop being a jerk." I scold reaching for the button again.

Instead of swatting me this time he holds mine hand. I try to use my other hand to break free, but unfortunately Natsume's one hand is bigger than both of mine so he is able to catch that one as well.

"Why are your hands so warm?" I ask forgetting my annoyance.

"Warm blooded." He says.

I roll my eyes, "More like hot headed and it radiates throughout your whole body."

He just smirks and says nothing and we sit there with both my hands in his getting warm from the contact and I forget all about the heater. Can he always be like this? Warm with good intentions?

Fires have good intentions I suppose. It provides warm and light, but when you get to close the results can be devastating. When I'm with Natsume it's like my whole body is on fire. Every nerve ending is on high alert, but all I feel is warmth even when he makes me mad.

What can I do?

What will I do?

Especially when it starts to burn…

You're disappointed I know. It's short and took forever for me to update, but understand I had to break this chapter and the next chapter up I was going to just continue going, I really liked the title Burn and the next chapter has a different title that wouldn't really fit. On the up side I should be able to update it before the weeks end so don't hate me!

You guys are the only reason I eve still continue writing fanfics!

Lots of Love,

Chi-chan