Just wanna say thank you for those who had reviewed in my last chapter. arigatou gozaimasu. please read this one...
Chapter three: the engagement
Finally, night time is here. Well, they all had their dinner which was prepared by Mikan and watched by Hotaru, who was just too lazy to do works. Hotaru had already planned to have sleepover at Mikan's place tonight. Eventhough there was just the two of them, the sleepover would just be great because they could spend their time together.
"Wow Hotaru, I never thought that you had decided to have a sleepover here tonight," Mikan said to her best friend in her room.
"Just be grateful, will ya? I can't believe that I'm stuck with an extremely stupid person on earth," Hotaru said coldly.
"You know, it has been a long time since we spent our time together like this," Mikan said while gazing lovingly and smiling brightly at her best friend.
"Yeah, I know," Hotaru's gaze softened upon seeing her best friend smiling at her.
"Things had changed, didn't they?" Mikan said and sighed.
"We should get some sleep now. Oyasumi Mikan," Hotaru said and she fell asleep immediately.
"Oyasumi Hotaru," Mikan said and she too fell asleep.
---The next day---
Mikan woke up like usual. She got up from her bed and looked around. 'Something is missing. I wonder what it is' Mikan thought. Then she remembered about Hotaru. She went to her bed to try and hug Hotaru, only to find that the bed was empty. "Ehh, where's Hotaru? HOTARUU!!! Where are you?" Mikan shouted for her best friend. She went out of her room, still wearing her pajamas, to look for Hotaru. She searched around, looking under the bed, in the kitchen and-simply everywhere, while shouting her name loudly.
After about 15 minutes of running and screaming around the house, she finally walked to her own room again. She looked around and saw that Hotaru's luggage was gone. Then, she saw a note on her table. It was a note from Hotaru. She read it and tears started to roll down her cheek. She was touched by what Hotaru had said or written.
Dear Mikan,
Thank you for the sleepover. I never felt so happy like this. Being with you for just one night really makes my day brighter. Yeah, things had changed, and so do I. I'll visit you some other time. I'm busy right now. Sorry for leaving without telling you.
Lots of love,
Imai Hotaru.
Mikan turned over the paper and saw this:
P/s: Now you owe me 500 dollars for making me write this note. Be ready to pay your debts whenever I came here again.
Mikan sweatdropped. 'I can't believe that you could still think about money right now. I still think that you did not change at all,' Mikan thought and sighed. "Well, I'm going to take a shower now and prepare breakfast."
During breakfast, everybody wondered where Hotaru is. "Mikan, where is that friend of yours, Hotaru?" Mrs. Hyuuga asked.
Hearing the question, Mikan popped a vein. "She left me this morning, only leaving me a note. She didn't even bother to wake me up," Mikan clenched her teeth, clearly showing that she is mad at Hotaru. Everybody sweatdropped.
After breakfast, Natsume walked to the sakura tree to take rest, having nothing to do except reading his manga. He brought a pile of it. When he was ready to climb the tree, a voice called his name.
"NATSUME!!!" He turned around and saw a lovely brunette running towards him.
"Hmph. What do you want?" He asked the brunette rudely.
"Natsume, do you want to milk the cows with me? I can teach you how," Mikan said and smiled.
"Why should I do that?" Natsume asked.
"Because you don't know how to milk a cow. And I can teach you. You know, you should take this chance to gain knowledge on living in a farm. This is a great opportunity. Come with me now," Mikan said.
"Hn. Whatever," Natsume said.
Mikan knows that 'whatever' in Natsume's dictionary means 'okay'. So she took his hands and ran towards the cows-to-be-milked. Natsume was very shocked with this reaction that he didn't shout at her to let go of his hands. He just let her drag him.
'His hand is so warm,' Mikan thought.
"Natsume, you like to sit on the sakura tree?" Mikan asked.
"Hn." Was Natsume's answer for the question.
"You know, that is my favourite tree to sit under," Mikan said.
'So we're same, although, I like to sit ON the tree, not under' Natsume said inside his mind.
Seeing that she doesn't have any question to ask him anymore, so she just shut her mouth. So Mikan dragged Natsume and teaches him how to milk the cows. But, unknown to them, 3 pairs of eyes are watching them.
'They look so sweet,' Everybody thought.
So Mikan and Natsume spend their time together milking the cows. When it's near lunchtime, Mikan head towards the rabbits barn. She wanted to feed them before she prepares lunch. So she skipped towards the barn, while Natsume was watching her with the corner of his eyes. She fed the rabbits quite quickly, not even bothered to talk with them. She ran back towards the house, wanting to prepare lunch quickly. But, when she opened the back door, she was shocked to see that the food was already served on the table.
"Huh? Where did the food came from?" Mikan asked to no one in particular.
"SURPRISE!!" Came a loud chorus.
She looked around her and spotted something. Her eyes grew wide as a saucer.
……silence……
"Oka-Okaasan? O-Otousan? Wh-when did you get here?" Mikan asked, still shocked. Tears started to fill her eyes. Her parents stood there, waiting for her to hug them. She recovered from her shock and ran towards her parents. She stopped in front of them, before she hugged them tightly, muttering their names. "Okaasan, Otousan. I really miss you," She cried hard. Grandpa, who had been watching them joined the hugging scene, while Hotaru just stood there, watching them.
"We're a happy family," Grandpa muttered.
"Yes, we are, Jii-chan," Mikan said.
"Come on. Let's go to the living room. We have something to tell you, Mikan," Yuka, her mother said.
"Is it important?" Mikan asked.
"Yes. Very important," Mitsuki, her father said.
Mikan sighed. She wanted to spend her time with them. It's been a long time since her parents went overseas because they have business problems that needed to be fixed.
So they entered the living room and saw the Hyuugas, already sat there. Mikan, her parents, Grandpa and Hotaru sat on the unoccupied couch.
"Mikan, I assume that you already known the Hyuugas?" Yuka asked her. Mikan nodded and said, "Yes. They are visitors here and they will be staying here for a few weeks,"
"Well, you see, they are here not only to stay here, but there is something else. They want to take you as their daughter-in-law, wife to Natsume," Yuka said.
"For the meantime, you're engaged. When you are 19, that's 2 years away, a wedding ceremony will be held for you both," Mitsuki added.
"WHAT!! There's no way I'm getting married to that pervert!" Mikan exclaimed, shocked.
"Now Mikan, I know that you don't like him, but please take your time to get to know Natsume. He's a nice guy," Mitsuki said.
"Natsume, do you know anything about this?" Mikan asked Natsume, who had his eyes covered with his bangs. He shook his head.
"I know everything," He said. Mikan shook her head in disbelief.
"Hotaru! You know about this too?" Mikan asked her best friend.
"Yes," she said emotionlessly, even though her insides pitied her friend because she is the last one to know.
"I can't believe you guys! Deciding my future husband like that!" Mikan shouted and ran out of the door.
Hotaru and Natsume made an attempt to chase Mikan. But Grandpa prevented them. "She needs her time alone to think about this," Grandpa said.
'He is the same person I met with Mikan's parents, back when we're overseas. I can't believe that I forgot what's his name is' Hotaru thought.
A flashback played in Hotaru's mind. She still remembers it, just like it just happened yesterday. Her meeting with Hyuuga Natsume.
Flashback ( In Hotaru's POV)
I was coming out from the bathroom when my cellphone rung. It was Yuka.
"Moshi moshi. Imai Hotaru here," I said
"Hello Hotaru. I have something to talk to you about. Can you come to Sweet Café in 30 minutes? I'll wait for you," Yuka said.
"Sure. I'll be there, I have nothing else to do," I replied.
"Okay then, I'll see you in 30 minutes," Yuka said and she hung up.
After that, I put on my casual clothes. I tidied up my room a little bit because it's messy and then, I went out of my apartment. I had put on my shoes because I will be walking there, to save my money and I needed exercise, eventhough the place is quite far from where I live. I reached there 5 minutes early from the promised time. I saw that Yuka was already there, with her husband, waiting for me. I walked to them and sat. The table is a little hidden from others. I ordered tea from the waiter. I then started the conversation.
"What's the big news?" I asked Yuka, curious.
"Well, you see, we had found a perfect person to be Mikan's husband. He is such a nice guy. He will be here in just a few minutes," Yuka said.
"And who is the 'nice guy' you said about? What's his name?" I asked, worried, for my best friend, but I didn't show it.
"Well, his name is Hyuuga Natsume. He is the son of a friend of mine, from the Hyuuga Corporation. His parents already agreed with this engagement. Oh, here he is," Mitsuki said.
A guy walked towards us. He has crimson eyes and raven-haired, like mine. I stood up, and shook hands with him. I felt uneasy with him, but I just ignored it.
"Natsume, this is Imai Hotaru, Mikan's best friend," Yuka said and I just sat there, sending the boy my famous death glare.
So we talk and talk about the engagement. But the only thing that's been bothering me is how Mikan would react when we tell her that she is engaged to a person she doesn't even know well. When all the talk is finished, I shook hands with Hyuuga once again, and whispered something only he can hear. 'If you ever hurt my best friend, you will be living in hell and I'll make sure it stays like that forever' I guess that he was shocked to hear what I said, but then, he also has the expressionless face like me. I guess that would be my first meeting with him, not yesterday (last chapter).
End of Flashback
'That's the reason why I came back here yesterday. So that I could be near her when they told her the news about her engagement. And I was damn right that she would react like that.' Hotaru thought.
Meanwhile another flashback played in Natsume's mind, when he was told that he is to be engaged to a farm girl.
(A/N: Mikan is not really a farm girl, but she loves to live in the farm with her Grandpa, so, I just thought that 'a farm girl' is more appropriate with Mikan)
Flashback (in Natsume's POV)
(A/N: this occur before Hotaru's meeting with Hyuuga Natsume)
I just got back from college and damn I was flat on my feet. I saw dad and mom sitting on the couch at the living room, waiting for me. I sighed.
"Natsume, we have something to talk about. Go and get changed. And come down straight away," Dad said.
"Hn. Whatever," I said.
So I went upstairs and changed my clothes. After a quick glance into the mirror, I walked downstairs, and sat in front of my parents.
"Well, Natsume, you are aware that you are getting older every second, right?" my dad started. I nodded.
"You realize that we (dad and mom) are old enough to get a grandchild at this age?" I realized what he was trying to say. My body stiffens. Mom searched for something in her handbag. Found what she was searching for, she gave it to me.
It was a picture of a girl. She looked younger than me. She was beautiful, with the smile on her face. "What's this for?" I asked, pretending not to know.
"She would be your wife. She's Sakura Mikan, 17 years old, 2 years younger than you and she's the perfect one for you," mom said.
"But-" I started, but dad cut me off.
'There's no more buts in this matter. Think about yourself, you don't even have a girlfriend, to start with. And you are getting older, you ought to get married soon. If this keeps on, we would never have grandchildren of our own," he said desperately.
"Whatever," I said and walk the stairs into my room, still holding the girl's picture. I heard mom says "I guess that's a yes. Let's call Yuka and set everything with the Sakuras," I closed my door and looked around for my album. Once I found it, I put the girl's picture into the album and stares it. 'To tell you the truth, I fell in love with the girl already, the girl with the name of… Oh, crap! What's her name? How could I forget it already?' I thought to myself.
End of Flashback
'I never thought that this would be her reaction. I guess that she's that shocked, huh?' Natsume thought.
'Oh! How I wish that I could be right beside her right now,' thought Hotaru and Natsume.
So they waited and waited, for her to return, but alas, time is wasted, because she could not even walk properly, all she could do is cry more and more.
"That's it! I cannot wait any longer. I must go and find her," a certain person said and he walked out from the house into the open air, searching for the girl who had run away, from him. Nobody made any move to stop Natsume, for they too thought that somebody must find her soon, before she really is gone from their world.
So Natsume searched around, looking for Mikan. He was almost flat on his feet for looking for the girl, until he remembered something. 'The tree' he thought.
Meanwhile…
Mikan, who had run out of the house before, could be seen on a certain Sakura tree. Her eyes were red and puffy. She was crying her eyes out. "Why would they do this to me?" She asked herself. Tears strolled down her cheek every so often. She was hurt, badly hurt by the engagement, for she didn't want to be married with the person she calls 'pervert' for peeking her underwear every so often. She wanted to run, run away from the truth that she was already betrothed to Hyuuga Natsume, she wanted to run from this world, disappear into the darkness which the world held, never coming back, yet, she was stuck on her beloved sakura tree. She could not run away, she could only sinks in the truth that hurts her, badly. She wanted someone, someone who can comfort her, be next to her when she fell, yet the person is far, so far away from her. 'Ruka' she thought. "Ruka, where are you? When are you coming back to me?" Mikan said, sadly and emotionally. She continued her crying and sobbing, until she felt that she could not cry anymore.
She sensed someone walking towards her, but she didn't even bother to wipe her tears away, she just let it roll down her cheek. Her eyes were covered with her bangs. Natsume jumped on the tree, gave her his handkerchief and hugged her shoulders tightly. Mikan took the handkerchief and just let that person hug her, for she really needed the hug. Her mind was drifting somewhere else, or to be more exact, another person, Ruka. A word came out of her mouth, unintentionally. "Ruka" She said. Natsume's body stiffens upon hearing the name, but he just ignored it. Instead, he hugged her tighter. Her crying started to lessen and she became calmer. She looked up to see the person who was hugging her and she was shocked to see that it was Natsume.
"I'm sorry Natsume," Mikan said put on a fake smile and jump down the tree. But before she could run away again, a pair of strong arms grabbed her wrist. The impact made her turned around quite suddenly. She was shocked with Natsume for grabbing her like that, but even more shocked that Natsume suddenly is kissing her. She wants to get away from the kiss, but his kiss was gentle yet passionate that she was actually absorbed into the kiss. She closed her eyes and put her arms around Natsume's neck and he skillfully snaked his arms around her waist, pulling her closer to him. Mikan, with many things on her mind, snapped back into reality, only finding herself responding to Natsume's kiss. She pulled away, and quickly turned around, muttering "Thanks, Natsume" Natsume heard it. 'I'll always be there for you' Natsume said inside his head, because Mikan had already left him and walked towards the house.
Yay!!! chapter three is done... please review minna.. i would really appreciate it!