By the way, remember! T for Langauge. Ok, just a heads up. Read on! :D

Just Try Natsume!
Chapter 8 - Something In Common PT. 2
By: MangaManiac6

"Ruka, I'm tired of this."

"Oh come on, Natsume! This will work. I know it will."

"No way in hell."

"Please?"

"No."

"For your best friend?"

"Damn you."

"I love you too Natsume."

Earlier that day...

"You have a plan?"

"Yep!"

"What I want to know," Imai murmured, "is if it will work."

"I know it will work!" Ruka assured them.

Natsume shook his head, "I donno. Sorry Ruka but I'm tired of doing stuff that are just making her hate me."

"Natsume, you know Sakura-san doesn't hate you."

She smirked, "Oh, I'm not so sure about that."

Natsume's eyes widened, "What?"

"Where... when did..?" he asked, gasping.

"You know Imai's kidding!" Ruka laughed. He pulled her by her sleeve towards him and whispered, "It is a joke, right Imai?"

Hotaru's smirk grew, "Ofcourse dummy. But it's fun seeing Natsume panic like that. I mean, look." She pointed at Natsume who was staring at his shoes and slightly, slighty, trembling.

Ruka almost bursted. He covered his mouth so his best friend wouldn't see the grin plastered on his face. He hated himself for laughing when his friend was so scared that Sakura-san hated him, but it was just to hilarious. "See?"

"I see." Ruka said, "But that's no excuse. Have some sympathy for the poor guy Imai!"

"Obviously you don't know me." Hotaru said as she pushed herself away from Ruka.

She was right. Ruka thought. I mean, she's Imai. Sympathy probably isn't even part of her vocabulary.

"Ruka!" Natsume yelled, his yell was so shaky, like he was ready to fall to the floor, "What am I going to do?"

"Relax Natsume!" Ruka smiled and winked, "I got a plan!"

Natsume growled, "This better be good Ruka."

Back to the Present...

"So," Hotaru murmured, "Let's go through the plan one more time." She pulled out a scroll and unrolled it. The blue print had every part of their plan.

"Is it necessary to go through all this?" Natsume groaned. All these plans were just insane, plus, none of them worked.

"It is Natsume!" Ruka said loudly, "Do you like Sakura-san or not?"

"Dammit." Natsume scowled, "Shut up Ruka!"

Ruka smiled. Natsume's reaction told him he was ready.

"Ok, Hyuuga." Hotaru said, pointing at the paper, "She'll be waiting for you here."

"The East Forest huh?" Natsume looked with a bored expression, "Wait, isn't that where that damn bear lives?"

"Relax," Ruka said, smiling, "He usually stays near his house. If he does come near you two, you can protect Sakura-san too! It's a win-win."

"Whatever, I'm not scared of the damn animal. I just hate that thing, that's all." He meant it.

"Ok Natsume, ready?"

"Like I have a choice."

"So true."

"I see Sakura-san."

Natsume felt his stomach churn. "Dammit."

"Get going!"

"No," Natsume said, "I- I can't."

"Oh now you turn to a kitty and run away with your tail between you legs. When everythings ready. Should we get Nogi here to take your place?"

He hissed angrily, "Watch your tounge Imai."

"Come no Im-"

"No!" She growled, suddenly serious, "You know hard it was to get Mikan to come to the East Forest. She kept quivering and saying 'But Mr. Bear!' 'But Mr. Bear!'. But I told her, 'That damn bastard will be there. So you have nothing to worry about'. That's when she said she'll go!"

Natsume looked down, his mouth moving towards a smile, "She's going there... cause I'll be there...?"

"Now now," Hotaru said, "I never said you'll be there."

Natsume's mouth immedialy turned to a frown as he rose. "Fine," he said, stepping out from behind the bush they had been hiding behind. "I'm going."

"Oi, Polka-dots."

"Oh, Natsume!" Three... Two... One... "Natsume you PERVERT!" She screamed, holding her skirt closer to her legs.

Natsume smirked as he approached the bench. She was so easy to guess. And slow too. "Well," he said, sitting next to her, "If you had a little more wardrobe, I might not guess what underwear you had. How many rabbits do you got, five?"

"Shut up," She pouted, "I just got to be a one star. It'll take some time."

Natsume breathed. That was a close one. That comment about her money was kind of rude. Most girls would have punched him and ran off. "You know, you're not like most girls." He whispered, looking up at the leaves of the extremely tall trees of the East Forest.

"Huh?' Mikan asked.

"Nothing. Forget it."

"Oh, come on Natsume!"

"Forget it, I said."

"Please!"

"No."

"Pretty please?"

"The apperance of the 'please' won't change my answer. It's still no."

"Really Natsume, don't say stuff out loud if you don't want others to hear." Mikan returned to pouting.

Natsume leaned back and almost smiled. He turned his head to look at the bushes where Hotaru and Ruka waited. He could barely make out Ruka's face but he could see him mouthing, "The plan! The plan!"

Natsume nodded mouthing, "I know! I'm on it." He turned to face Mikan who was admiring a a small yellow flower a few feet away. "Hey, what's your favorite fruit?"

Mikan stared at him, "What brought that up?"

"Answer the question. But let me guess, strawberries right?"

Five... Four... Three... Two... One... "Shu- Shut up you!" Mikan cried, pushing her skirt closer. "And for your information it is not strawberries!"

"Then what?" Natsume asked, slightly interested. But just slightly.

"Um... I donno. I like all fruits."

"That's not an answer."

"I... I know."

"So?"

"Oranges." She said softly.

"Well, that's obvious."

Mikan look startled, "How... How come?"

"You do know what your name means right?"

"Huh? No what?"

She can't be this dumb! He thought, slapping his hand to his forehead, "It means 'orange' stupid!"

"Oh..." Mikan said thoughtfully, "I wonder why Mom wanted to name me that."

"Like I know."

There was a scilence, but it was kind of peaceful. Natsume felt it, this strange but peaceful atmosphere. He only felt it in one other place, up in the sakura tree. That was where he liked to sleep the most. But sleeping here wouldn't be that bad either.

"Hey, Panda-print?"

"What now?" Mikan asked, still pushing the skirt towards her legs.

"I..." He couldn't say it. It was too embarassing. It was even more so since he wouldn't have to lie, like he had thought he would have to.

"What?" Mikan urged.

"I... I like oranges too. Oranges... I mean... Their my favorite... Out of all the fruits the world can offer... I like them the best..." Natsume said softly, hoping it had been loud enough for Mikan to hear so he wouldn't have to repeat himself.

Luckily for him, it was. "Oh." Mikan said quietly, her cheeks turning a light pink, "That's interesting. I never knew we liked the same things."

The quiet came back, but it was nice. Natsume felt like he could sleep. It was that nice.

"I wonder though..." Mikan said, looking around.

"What?"

"Where Ruka-pyon is."

Natsume froze. He sat up straight and stared coldly at Mikan, "Who?"

"Ru- Ruka-pyon..." Mikan stuttered, scared by his dark facial expression.

"Wh... Why... are you looking for him?" Natsume asked, his voice shaking.

"Oh... Um... Hotaru said he was coming... He called hima very mean thing though... I wonder why...?"

Natsume felt tears would spring out of his eyes any moment. He turned away from Mikan to stare at the bushes. He couldn't see Ruka. He was probably questioning Hotaru that moment. He would tell him everything he found out later.

"That... bitch..." Natsume said, covering his eyes. He felt his entire body shaking, like an earthquake.

"Is... is something wrong Natsume?" Mikan asked. She looked nerously at him, she could tell that something, something, just wasn't right.

Before she could do anything else, Natsume ran off. Not towards the bushes where his partners-in-crime were waiting, but somewhere else. Even he didn't know where, but he had to leave.

So how was it? If you're freaking out right now, even just a little, I did my job! :3 You'll know why later.

So do you remember me? It's me, MangaManiac6! Yeah, you probably don't remember me. If you do, you're probably mad at me for not writing. I'm sorry! even when it's Summer Vacation (:D) I still have stuff to do. I'm also catching up on some anime like One Piece!

So how was it? You have to tell me! Please review! They make me happy. :)

Now, on to Chapter 9 - A Shoulder To Cry On!

-MangaManiac6