Kiss of Fate
By: Esa MaRie
Chapter 5
Mikan was quite early that morning and was walking with Anna, Nonoko, and Hotaru towards their classroom and were just having a morning conversation when…
"Nee Mikan, how's it with Souma-kun?", Nonoko suddenly asked.
Mikan blushed. "Really Nonoko, why are you so interested?"
"Because we overheard Akira and his friend talking about you.", Anna giggled. "I think he's really likes you."
"What were they talking about?", Mikan asked curiously.
"Probably that you're such an idiot.", Hotaru muttered.
"We didn't hear everything. It's just that Akira's friend asked him about who's the lucky girl that he liked, then Akira asked if he knew Mikan Sakura of 2B.", Nonoko recalled. "But after that, it became noisy when Natsume passed that we were not able to hear the rest of the conversation."
"But one thing's for sure, Akira Souma really likes you.", Anna said excitedly. "Maybe you should give him a hint so that he'll confess his feelings to you."
Nonoka clasped Mikan's hand. "Then you'll get that first kiss you've been dreaming of."
"Ah.. hehe..", Mikan sweatdropped.
"Hmmm…", Hotaru was in deep thought. "I could earn a lot if that happens."
Anna, Nonoko, and Mikan sweatdropped.
"Hotaru, that's not nice.", Anna commented. "This should be a private matter."
"Whatever."
"Hotaru…!"
"Blah… blah…!"
While the three argued, Mikan walked straight ahead with a determined expression on her face. 'I have to do something to know what Akira-kun really feels towards me. If he really likes me, and confesses his feelings to me, then I will accept it. That way, Natsume will be out of the picture!', she thought.
She took a deep breathe and opened the classroom door. "Ohayo everyone!", she greeted her classmates cheerfully.
She sighed as she took her seat. She glanced at her left where Natsume is sitting, as usual with a manga in front of his face. She felt her heart beating rapidly again. 'Calm down, Mikan. Calm down. Just act naturally.', she said to herself.
"Ohayo Natsume-kun", she greeted her seatmate.
Natsume looked up from his manga and narrowed his eyes on the brunette at his side. 'Something is wrong.', he thought. He can be pretty sensitive whenever it comes to Mikan. And based on her tone, something is just not right.
The class went on. Mikan seemed to be concentrating hard on something that she didn't know that a pair of crimson eyes was aware of her every move.
The class had just ended for lunch. Mikan took her cellphone from her bag and checked on a message.
'Okay. I'll wait for you at the gazebo at the back of the auditorium. See you!' - Akira
Mikan sighed then smiled. 'Okay, I'm going to do it.' Then she noticed that someone's seemed to be behind her.
"Koko?"
"Ah…hehe… hi Mikan.", Koko said sheepishly, scratching his head. "I just went back to get Mitsui's book.", referring to their classmate that is seated behind Mikan.
"Oh, okay. Bye, Koko.", Mikan said as she stood up to leave.
"You're not going to eat lunch with Hotaru and the others?", Koko asked.
"Nah, I have something else to do. Ja ne!", Mikan waved to him then left the room.
"Well?"
"It seems she's meeting him by the gazebo for lunch."
"Tsk. That idiot.", Natsume kicked a stone to release his irritation.
"Umm.. Natsume…?"
"What?", Natsume turned his cold gaze on him.
"Mikan was a bit distracted a while ago, so I was able to use my alice on her.", Koko started. "She's planning to accept Akira if he confesses to her."
Mikan and Akira ate their lunch while sitting side by side under the huge tree near the gazebo area.
"Mikan… I….", Akira started.
'This is it!', Mikan thought. "Yes, Akira-kun?"
Akira took hold of her hand. "Mikan…" He whispered then stared at her eyes.
Mikan met his stare. "Akira-kun…"
"Oi."
Both turned their heads and saw a raven-haired guy with his hands on his pockets leaning against a tree near them.
"N-natsume?", Mikan then stood up. " Natsume Hyuuga! What the hell are you doing here!", she yelled.
Natsume raised his eyes to meet hers. Amusement was reflected on those crimson eyes, but with a glint of anger and hatred.
"Did you see the sign behind you?", he asked.
Mikan and Akira turned around, then sweatdropped at the board that was attached on one of the trees. Written on the signboard was:
'NO CONFESSIONS ALLOWED HERE'
"What the hell is that! That wasn't there a while ago!" Mikan yelled at Natsume.
Natsume just shrugged. "How should I know? I'm just standing here."
"Grrrr!" Mikan was really irritated at having her plan spoiled. She bent to pack her things then stood up. "I'm sorry Akira-kun but I have to leave now." Then she gave Natsume a cold glare, then left.
"Hey polkadots. Don't forget that we still have to finish our project later. Same place.", Natsume called out at her retreating back.
Natsume then turned to Akira who was also stood up and leaned against a tree. They stared at each other as if trying to assess each other's strengths and weaknesses. Two tall handsome young men, both leaning against a tree, and with their hands on their pockets, exchanging challenging glare at each other.
Then Akira bent his head, his bangs covering his face, then smiled. "You can tell your friend to climb down that tree. He has been hanging there for his dear life for some time now."
At that, Kokoryomi fell down the tree hold the sign board.
"Ouch!", Koko muttered as he massaged his poor butt, then turned his attention to Akira and Natsume.
"So Hyuuga, the rumor is true after all.", Akira said.
Natsume turned his back to leave, but answered back. "There are so many rumors about me. And I don't care about any of them." Then started to walk away but Akira's next statement stopped him.
"You're in love with Mikan."
"Believe what you want.", Natsume replied coldly.
Akira laughed. "Your actions just told me that." Then he turned serious. "So, are you going to send me to the hospital now that you realized I'm your rival for Mikan's love?"
"Damn you! Don't act as if you know everything!", Koko shouted at Akira, then he ran towards Natsume. "You don't know what happened! What right do you have to…!"
"That's enough Koko.", Natsume interrupted him.
"But Natsume…!", Koko tried to argue.
Natsume faced Akira. "Yeah, I burned that stupid Sempai. So what about it?"
Akira's face hardened. "Grow up Hyuuga. You're not going to win the heart of the girl you love by eliminating your rivals." He turned to leave. "I may not be as powerful as you but I'm not afraid of you. The one who's going to have the final say is still Mikan."
Natsume and Koko were left staring at Akira's retreating back.
"Natsume…", Koko started as he faced Natsume.
Natsume looked at him, then poked his finger at Koko's forehead.
"Your plan sucked."
Koko sweatdropped. "There was no time to stop them. And besides it still worked.", he defended lamely. "Natsume… you should have defended yourself.", he said seriously.
Natsume looked straight ahead. "It doesn't matter anymore. It already happened and I did cause all his injuries."
"But…!"
"Leave it Koko. That sempai deserved it. I don't care what others think…", Natsume said then walked away.
Koko stared at his back. '…as long as it's for her.'
Whew! Finally, I finished this chapter! Sorry for the delay, I was too busy this week. I hope you'll like this one.
Please review!
Minna-san, arigatou! Thanks for all your great reviews:-) Mwahhhhhh!