Kiss of Fate

By: Esa MaRie

Chapter 4

Natsume led Mikan to his mini library in order for them to start discussing their project.

"Hey, Natsume." Mikan called. "What time do you think we're gonna finish?"

"Since you're an idiot, it would probably take longer.", Natsume replied.

"Grrrrrr!" Mikan pulled a chair and settled herself. She picked up the sample copy of the project last year and read it. "Arrgghh! Narumi-sensei is so cruel!", she cried.

"Instead of talking nonsense, we should just get started.", Natsume said and grabbed the copy from her. "First, we need to decide on the topic..."

"Blah... blah... blah..." (Natsume)

"Blah...Blah..." (Mikan)

-- Conversations regarding the project, nothing important for you readers... because I don't know myself! Hahahaha! --- :-)

"That baka is really of no use.", Natsume grumbled as he typed the draft of their project into the computer. At first, they decided that Mikan will do the typing, while he do the research of the things that they would need and dictate to her what to type. But Mikan was such a slow typist that in the end, Natsume got so irritated that he pulled her out of the chair and did the typing himself. Mikan was left to do the research, although he was doubtful that baka could find anything useful.

After he was finished, he stretched out his arms and turned to Mikan. "Hey polkadots..." But he stopped when he saw her. Her head lay on the table. She was sound asleep!

"Tsk!" Natsume was pissed. He did all the work while the idiot girl was sleeping. He prepared himself to shake her awake when his eyes fell on her face.

Natsume sat across her and stared at her sleeping form. He was mesmerized at how pretty and adorable she looked while asleep. He shook his head. What the hell was he thinking? That baka had fallen asleep in the middle of their work and even though she was in a very uncomfortable position. Natsume picked her up and carried her (bridal style) and carefully lowered her on the bed.

He sat beside her and lifted his hand to caress her rosy cheeks, tracing her lips with his finger. He could hear the rapid beating of his heart as he stared down at the face of the girl he loved for as long as he can remember, back when he was still a 10 year old kid. If he was honest with himself, he could say that she was one of the reasons why he managed to live, to survive all those dangerous and life-threatening missions that were assigned to him by the academy. Because he wanted to see her again. Because he knows that she's waiting for him, or so he thinks. He smiled bitterly. He thought that there was something special between him and Mikan, that despite all those arguments and exchange of cruel remarks, Mikan cares for him. But now, he's no longer sure.

He bent his head and kissed Mikan softly on the lips.

"I love you... Mikan.", he whispered.

He then stood up and went back his mini library, but he turned one last determined glance at Mikan. I'll never give you up to Akira Souma!

"I love you... Mikan."

Mikan looked up and saw Akira-kun smiling at her. He opened his arms and she flung herself to him. Akira lowered his head and captured her lips in a kiss.

'My real first kiss', Mikan thought as she closed her eyes and drowned herself to the kiss. When his lips left hers, she opened her eyes and caught herself in the loving gaze of a pair of crimson eyes.

Crimson?

"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!", Mikan screamed as she woke. Mikan glanced around. 'It's just a dream. Huh? Where am I?', she wondered.

"So, you finally woke up... strawberries."

Mikan glanced at her left and saw Natsume leaning against the door of the library.

'Strawberries?' Mikan was confused.

She glanced down and shrieked as she saw that her skirt had hitched up to her thighs revealing her strawberry panties. "You perverttttt!", she yelled at Natsume.

"Don't blame me. You moved a lot when you were asleep. Besides, I was only enjoying the view.", Natsume said with a smirk.

Mikan's face turned bright red. Then she realized that she's on the bed. On the bed? Which means... Natsume carried her to the bed? She blushed even harder.

"It's late already. I think you should go back to your room now.", Natsume said. "We'll continue the project tomorrow."

Mikan nodded and quietly packed up her things to leave. She felt guilty. Natsume must be annoyed with her. He was the one who did almost all of the work and she even slept on him. As she neared the door, she decided that she should thank him at least. She suddenly turned around, not realizing that Natsume was directly behind her.

She bumped into Natsume and began to fall backwards but Natsume caught her hand and pulled her towards him. She ended up in his arms.

"You're such a klutz, polkadots."

Mikan could feel her heart beating loudly, then she pushed him away. "A-arigatou, Natsume-kun. G-good night." Then she rushed to the door and went out.

She ran as fast as she can until she was out of the boy's dormitory. She leaned back against the wall and tried to calm the rapid beating of her heart.

'What was that just now?', she wondered. 'What's happening to me? Why is did I feel that way when Natsume held me?'

Mikan looked up and stared at the stars. 'Could it be that I'm falling for Natsume?'

"Ahhhhhhh!!!!!", Mikan shook her head. 'No way! It's Akira-kun that I like!'

"Yo, Akira!"

Akira turned and waited for his noisy friend. "Ohayo, Taki!"

Taki grinned and slapped him at the back. "Hey, I've heard you were dating some hot chick from the lower years."

Akira just smiled. "Gossip really spreads fast."

"Is it really just a gossip?", Taki teased. "So, who's the lucky girl? What's her name? Do I know her?"

"You know Mikan Sakura from 2B?"

"Hmmm… sounds familiar. Is she really hot? Hehehe. You sure are a lady's man. This Mikan should really be something to catch your… WAIT! Did you say MIKAN SAKURA?!", Taki was incredulous. "Akira! You must be out of your mind! She…!"

Students began backing away as if giving way to someone. Akira and Taki glanced at the commotion and saw a tall guy with raven black hair walking in between the crowd. He was walking as if he has no care in the world, his bangs covering his eyes, and his hands on his pockets. He was indifferent of the reactions of the students surrounding him. Many of the girls were sighing with admiration, and the guys were either crowing with fear or in awe with his presence.

"Natsume Hyuuga…" Taki whispered.

Akira looked curiously at the boy that seemed to have caught everyone's attention. "So, he's the Natsume Hyuuga that I've been hearing about."

"You don't know him?", Taki was shocked.

"I've heard a lot about him but I didn't have a chance to really see what he looks like.", Akira explained. "Natsume Hyuuga – the only top star in the whole academy, a genius, holder of Alice of Fire and a dangerous ability type. Heck, even the teachers fear him."

"That's why you shouldn't get too close to Mikan Sakura.", Taki whispered.

"Huh?"

As if on cue, Natsume stopped and raised his eyes and glanced at where Taki and Akira were standing. His eyes narrowed when they met Akira's. Everyone seemed to be unaware but Akira felt the intensity and anger that seemed to flow from Natsume. Natsume then broke the stare then he continued walking forward.

"Akira?"

"What's with him, Taki?", Akira asked confused at the murderous gaze that Natsume had given him.

Taki sighed. "No one could really predict what that guy is thinking. By the way, I guess you haven't heard the rumor, huh?"

"What rumor?", Akira asked.

"In case you didn't know Natsume Hyuuga and Mikan Sakura are classmates. It was 2 years ago. They were still in middle school. A sempai confessed his feelings to Sakura-chan and really pursued her. I guess Sakura-chan learned to like the sempai and they began to go out often. Then an accident happened."

"Accident?"

"No one really knows what happened except that the sempai was hospitalized and he had several burns."

"Burns? You mean…"

"They say the accident was caused by a short circuit or something. But some said that Natsume Hyuuga did it. Although, it was not confirmed at all. There were rumors that Hyuuga likes Sakura-chan.", Taki then laughed. "Although, I don't personally believe that rumor. Hyuuga isn't the type to cause such a big ruckus over a girl. But many of the guys here began to feel cautious about dating Mikan Sakura. They're just too afraid to think what would happen if the rumors were true."

Taki turned to Akira. "So, you still interested with the girl?"

Akira closed his eyes and smiled. "Let's just hope that the rumor isn't true after all."

Whew! Okay, that's it for Chapter 4. Natsume is quite OOC here. Hahaha!

Thanks for all your great reviews! Luv you all!!!

Reviews please!!! -- :-) --