Chapter Title: Chapter 2:A Ripple In The Lake
Songs:

A/N: I added some japanese words in here, and I'm just gonna give a translation of them afterwards. This chapter might be a little dry since my inspiration has been drying away slowly. It's like a faucet dripping...eventually the water/inspiration runs dry. Yeah. Forgive me for my metaphor...or is a simile? I dunno. I'm tired.

Sugoi -- WOW!
Gomen/Gomenasai -- Sorry
Baka -- IDIOT!

That's all I think I'm using at the moment...

Also, I apologize if I abuse the japanese language. If anybody knows how to say blossom, flower, or anything like those words in japanese, please tell me!

THIS IS A TRANSITION CHAPTER!
xOxOxOxOxOxOxOxOxOxOxOxOxOxOxO

"Sugoi!" Mikan exclaims, leaning down to sniff at blooming red flower. Her eyes flutter shut as she inhales deeply. "It smells so good."

"It's called Ketsueki Blossom." (A/N: I'm really sorry for abusing the japanese language! -bows- I think ketsueki means blood, but I got that from a japanese-english dictionary, so...)

Mikan whirls around to face a boy about her age. "Ah! Gomenasai!" She bows hurridly.

The boy, a blonde with glasses, smiles kindly. "Oh. That's okay. Osamu-sama allows you the right to enter all grounds."

Mikan nods and asks, "Who are you?"

The boy smiles. "My name is Yuu, and Osamu-sama appointed me as your new bodyguard."

Mikan blinks and lets out a breath. "Oh..."

Yuu smiles again and changes the subject. "Do you like the garden? It was my mother's."

"Oh! It's very nice," Mikan says politely. "I like the smell."

"Yes," Yuu says. "My mother did too. In fact, all of the flowers in this garden have a strong scent."

"Mmmm. Are you going to be my escort to the garden party?"

"Of course, and the party will take place in this very garden."

Mikan nods and reaches out to touch the blood red blossom.

"Eh! No! Don't touch--"

"OUCH!" Mikan exclaims, drawing her hand back quickly. Blood is rapidly welling out of a cut she recieved from a spiky thorn.

"Eh! Oh no! Osamu-sama will kill me!" Yuu hyperventilates, running around in circles.

Mikan sucks in her breath and brings out Ruka's handkerchief, pressing it to the wound. Her eyes start watering. "I got hurt..."

Yuu immediately drops by her side. "No! Don't cry! Osamu-sama will kill me if you cry! Don't cry!" He moves his hand over Mikan's finger, and it stops bleeding.

Mikan looks at Yuu in awe. "Ahhhh..."

Yuu scratches the back of his head. "It's only an illusion...sorry..."

"Illusion...but it looks so real..."

Yuu smiles. "I'm a master of illusions. Only people stronger than me can see through them."

"Oh," Mikan says.

Yuu smiles and extends his arm. "The garden party is beginning soon. You need to get dressed."

"Of course," Mikan playfully says, latching onto Yuu's arm.

Later...

"Ah, Lady Mikan, you look stunning," Yuu says, kissing her extended hand. "I'm honored to be your escort."

Mikan nods and lets out a large smile. "It still smells good!"

Yuu nods, adjusting his glasses. "Let's go." He extends his arm. Mikan latches on.

They stroll around, Mikan making conversation with random people on the way.

Yuu tugs her over to orderly rows of seats in front of a make-shift stage.

"That wasn't there before," Mikan says, looking at the stage confused.

"Yes, we set it up so that a ballet could be held."

"A ballet..."

Yuu nods and tugs her into a seat. The seats were being filled quickly.

"May I sit by you?"

Mikan looks up to see a high school aged boy who looked surprisingly like Hotaru. "Sure."

Yuu stiffens in his seat and turns his gaze to the newcomer. "Hello...Imai-san."

"Imai-san?"

"Please call me Subaru. No need or such formalities. I'm Hotaru Imai's brother."

Mikan's olive eyes widen. "She's never told me of you."

Subaru laughs bitterly. "Yes, well we had a little falling out years ago. Haven't seen her since though I've heard she's grown up to be quite the young lady."

Mikan, still shocked, nods and says, "Yes. Hotaru is great!"

The light dims, and the chatter dies down.

Later...

Mikan wipes tears out of her eyes with a handkerchief. "That was the saddest thing, I've ever seen."

Yuu coughs and wipes the fog off of his glasses.

Subaru remains as emotionless as ever. "Mikan-sama, may I entice you into a dance?"

It was only then did Mikan realize thatthe stage had been turned into a dancefloor. She graciously smiled and said, "I'm very sorry if I step on your feet."

Three minutes later, the almighty Subaru Imai comes back limping with a beaming Mikan at his side.

"Thank youuuuuu!" she squeals. "It was funnnn!"

"Your welcome, Mikan-sama," Subaru winces. "Allow me to accompany you the rest of the night."

"Of course," Mikan chirps and turns to Yuu. "Do you want to dance?"

Yuu sweatdrops. "Ehehehehehe. Mikan-sama, I have to go...um...go meet some friends of mine!"

"Ohhh...Can I come?"

A big rock drops on Yuu, and his soul flies out of his mouth. "Uhhh...Mikan-sama, but...uhhh...I...me...you...friends."

Thankfully, poor Yuu was saved.

"May I have this dance?"

Mikan looks up to see the handsome blonde haired young man from the night before. She blushes prettily and nods, taking the hand.

Subaru watches them and turns to Yuu. "Osamu-sama is going to kill you."

"Huh?" Yuu asks.

Subaru glances at the dancing pair. "That's Kimiko-sama's son's best friend."

"HUH!" Yuu exclaims, freaking out. "NO!!"

Subaru mentally slaps himself as Yuu runs around in circles. Why did I have to open my mouth...?

Meanwhile...

"Uh...do..do...do you want your handkerchief back?" asks Mikan as she dances.

The boy smiles brilliantly. "Oh no. You can keep it

Mikan is dazzled. She gurgles something unintelligible. "...thank you..."

"No problem," the boy says, twirling Mikan around.

"What's your name?" Mikan suddenly asks.

"Ahhh. Ruka..."

A large smile graces Mikan's face, and Ruka finds himself at a loss of words.

"Can I call you Ruka-pyon?"

"Aa. Sure."

Another large smile.

Ruka fights the urge to smile back.

"Would you like to--"

BAKA!

Ruka is suddenly on the grassy ground clutching a growing bump on his head. "Owwwwwwwwwwww!"

Mikan turns to her best friend and scolds, "Hotaru! That was uncalled for."

Hotaru shrugs. "Nii-sama asked me too."

Mikan's mood abruptly changes. "WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME YOU HAD AN OLDER BROTHER?"

"Because I knew you would react like this."

"Augggggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhh."

Mikan turns to the boy on the ground. "Oh! Are you okay, Ruka-pyon?"

"Yes," Ruka groans, trying to smile. "Yes, I'm, arrrrgh, ok, arrrgh, kay."

"Now, what were you going to ask me, Ruka-pyon?"

"Would you like to come to a ball my friend's hosting?"

Mikan blinks. "Sure!" she chirps, pulling Ruka up off the ground. "It'll be fun, and we can dance again."

Only Hotaru notices that Ruka pales at the word 'dance'.

"Yes," he croaks.

Mikan smiles and skips away to find another dance victim --ahem-- partner.

Later...

"Ow, Hotaru!"

"Stop whining, Miss Mikan."

"But you're tearing off my scalp."

"I'm merely brushing your hair."

"...OW!"

Meanwhile...

"Stage 3 of the plan."

"Initiated."

"Good. Subaru Imai?"

"Our spy will take care of him."

"Good. Natsume?"

"Ready to initiate Stage 4."

"Ruka?"

"..."

"RUKA?"

"Ready..."

"Good."

Sccc...

"Bring out The Black Rose."

OWARI!

A/N: Again, this is a transition chapter, so it basically just builds up the plot. I like to take my stories nice and easy, so I can't promise that the next chapter will be exciting.

Some questions to ask yourself while you wait for the lazy author to update

- Who's The Black Rose?

- What's stage 3 of the plan?

- What's stage 4 of the plan?

- What will Natsume play in the plan?

- Who's the spy?

- Why isn't the author updating?

- Why did the person talking to Kimiko pause when she asked about Ruka?

- Who was the person talking to Kimiko?