The Devil's Proposal

by my NeverNever land

What can we take on trust
in this uncertain life? Happiness, greatness,
pride - nothing is secure, nothing keeps.

Euripides
Hecuba

Mind Over Matter

"Have you ever changed your mind?"

He heard her sighed. After a while, silence engulfed the moment between them.

"Y-yes." With her answer, Natsume smile warmly.

"So, you accepted my counter-proposal?"

The agitated feeling I had before I picked up the phone was increasing dramatically. My heart was pounding loudly like it will burst any moment now. "T-There are some parts that I wished to clarify."

"We shall talk about your queries then? How about an early dinner tonight?"

"O-okay."

"Same place as yesterday. Six."

"I… I'll be there."

"I'll see you then."

My hands were trembling when I hang up the phone. Last night, my mind was preoccupied with thoughts about his proposal. I had no option left but to go with the flow. I had a lot of questions that can't be resolved with just one night. The most important one was why he chose me to be the mother of his child, and he also stated about the connection we had. My pride and principles were irrelevant now. I was wrapped in my own thoughts when I heard the raindrops on my window…

Flashback:

"It may be good if you and Mr. Hyuuga will be for real." Hotaru said.

"That's the least thing to happen." I answered quickly.

"You'll never know. He's a good catch Mikan."

"That only happens in movies and in romantic novels, not in real life." I insisted.

"Baka. Stop reading nonsense novels, it only worsen your already dense mind. And most importantly, don't forget I will be your maid of honor." Hotaru smirked.

"It won't be a grand wedding Hotaru." I sighed. As the words escaped from my mouth, there was a hint of regret and sorrow.

I blinked my eyes several times.

Hotaru was right, if I will look it in a different light, he was a good catch but he's still a devil to me, he's my worst nightmare.

I stared at my reflection on the mirror. I wore a high-necked, ruffled lawn blouse with a full, knife-pleated skirt, both in a rain-washed shade of blue. My hair was neatly braided and coiled at each ear. The feeling of uneasiness was creeping again in my veins. I remembered again his eyes piercing into mine as if I was pulled by a powerful force. I vigorously shake my head to wash away the thoughts of him. The rain was still pouring heavily outside my window, thirty minutes swiftly passed.

I get my purse and with one last look in the mirror, I headed to the door.

Butterfly swirled at my stomach as I drove closer and closer to the restaurant. I checked the time on the dashboard, 5:35. Twenty-five minutes more before our appointment, I didn't want to be the first one inside and looked like a mannequin waiting for him.

I parked my car on the same spot yesterday. I gazed around the restaurant and it seemed that the people were lesser than yesterday, I guessed because it was Monday, a working day. I turned off the air-conditioned as the temperature slowly dropping inside my car. It was still raining outside. I stared at the sky, I remembered one of the movies I watched about the end of the world and the sky was so dark and heavy with massive lightning that covered the entire city. The sky this night was almost the same as the movie. I shivered at the thought of it.

I turned my gaze across the street, I saw people with their umbrella hurriedly making their way to their own destination. I saw a little girl clutching the hem of the dress of her mother while they were waiting for a cab. I smiled sadly. I didn't know what it feels like to have a mother, to hold her hand while crossing the street or how it feels to be kissed on the forehead when going to school. I always lived with maids during my childhood years. I didn't remember playing with other children along our neighborhood. Grandfather was always protecting me and securing me inside the house.

Flashback

Once, I tried to sneak out, my grandfather was on his usual place, the library. When I knew that everyone was busy, I went to the garden and stealthily went to the bushes, there was a small hole that my dog, Sebastian, dug. I crawled through the hole and saw the houses that I only saw from my window. I noticed there were no children playing around the area. Maybe they were on their schools. I walked along the street and not from afar, I noticed a park. I didn't know that there was a park near our house. I smiled warmly and ran to the park. I sat on the swing and pushed myself slowly. I laughed a bit because of the sensation I felt at that moment. That was the first time I laughed whole-heartedly.

I glanced over at the entire area. That was when I first saw him.

Sitting atop at a tree, was a boy. A boy that was older than me, he was staring right at me, watching me from a distance. He stood up abruptly and jumped from the tree. My eyes widened at how high and graceful he landed. I saw many handsome boys around my age on my school but this boy was beyond them. He had an expressionless face while staring at me. I stared at him in awe. I noticed his eyes was different from usual eyes, before I discerned the color, he turned around and walked like he didn't noticed me. He left the park without saying a word. I didn't even have his name. After a while, I left the park and went home before they noticed I was gone.

When I glanced on my wristwatch, it was already past six! I hurriedly got my things and went out of the car. I almost tripped as I walk-run the pavement, curse these stilettos. Luckily, I made it inside the restaurant without any scratches and accidents.

The same waiter approached me, he smiled widely when he recognized my face.

"Good evening, Ms. Sakura." He got a sharp memory or maybe he was trained to remember the faces of each customer. I wonder if the former or latter was the right answer.

"Ms. Sakura?" I snapped back to reality. I can feel my cheeks flushed.

"Sorry." I mumbled. But he just smiled at me.

"Mr. Hyuuga is waiting for you." He guided me to where he was. I hesitated at a moment, I took a deep breath and followed the path he leaded me.

It wasn't the same room as yesterday. The room was filled with a lavender scent. It has a floor to ceiling windows that you can view the garden outside. The garden was obviously trimmed and nurtured, the scenery was breathtaking. Like the room yesterday, it was carpeted from floor to the ceiling. In the middle of the room, a crystallized chandelier lit the entire area. The elegance and classiness were clearly seen.

I didn't hear the waiter leave. As I scanned the room, I felt someone staring at me. When I turned my glance on the room, my sight landed on a pair of crimson eyes.

I suddenly felt uneasy because of the way he gazed at me. I shifted uncomfortably and wishing he'd stop staring at me as if I was some sort of lab experiment.

The terror was building up inside my body. I hesitantly tried to step my foot across the room.

"Ms. Sakura, I believe our dinner has started ten minutes ago." His voice was low but deep. I sensed irritation on it.

"I-I'm sorry. I was caught in a…in a middle of a traffic." I lied. Although, it was true that during these hours, there were heavy traffics.

"Alright, I can accept your excuse. Let's eat." He said in a flat voice. I was stunned. The terror I felt was abruptly replace by annoyance. He was really a devil!

I sat at the chair across where he sat. We began our meal at the moment I sat down. We ate silently. I preferred this set-up, less talking, less time the better so I can get out from this lair.

From time to time, I glanced at him. I noticed that he was wearing a simple pale yellow polo shirt and a straight-cut jeans. This was my first time seeing him in simple attire. Even though, he still emitted an authoritative and dark aura around him but lesser.

As if sensing me, his penetrating, crimson eyes met mine. My breath caught and I struggled to remain calm, to not show my fear. His face remained expressionless as he watched me. We stared at each other, neither of us moving an inch. I longed to turn, but couldn't tear myself away, completely trapped, even from a distance, by his eyes.

But he tore the connection… I felt lost for a while.

After we ate our dinner, I breathed for a couple of times. There was only silence. Neither of us wanted to initiate a conversation. However, I wanted to finish this meeting as soon as possible. I clutched my bag and took out a brown folder.

He gave me an inquiry look.

"This is a contract marriage after all…" I started. "so we need a valid contract."

His eyes squinted a little but were still void of emotions as if telling me to elaborate more. So, I opened it and read the contents aloud.

"Rule #1: Each party need to respect each other's privacy.

Rule #2: Each party will sleep in a different bedroom.

Rule #3: Each party won't demand any physical intimacy unless if the both partners are willing.

Rule #4: The length of marriage doesn't exceed six months.

Rule #5: Upon divorce, the child will not leave Sakura Mikan custody until he/she reached his/her legal age. Hyuuga Natsume has the rights to visit his/her child as he wished.

Rule #6: After the contract signed, the debts of all Sakura Company will be paid by Hyuuga Natsume."

I dropped the folder after I finished reading the contract. I looked at him with defiant gaze.

"Any objections?"

He smirked, a devil grinned. He stole the folder, and began scribbling on the paper.

"Hey, what are you doing on the contract?"

"Making revisions." He said unequivocally.

I snatched away the folder after he has done writing and I was astounded by his OWN amendment.

CONTRACT

This agreement effective this day of 20XX, by and between Hyuuga Natsume and Mikan Sakura.

The premises and mutual covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree to the following:

Rule #1: Each party need to respect each other's privacy.

Rule #2: We will sleep in one bedroom.

Rule #3: Each party won't demand any physical intimacy unless if the both partners are willing.

Rule #4: The length of marriage doesn't exceed until Sakura Mikan bears the child of Hyuuga Natsume.

Rule #5: Upon divorce, the child will not leave Sakura Mikan custody until he/she reached his/her legal age. Hyuuga Natsume has the rights to visit his/her child as he wished.

Rule #6: After the contract signed, the debts of all Sakura Company will be paid by Hyuuga Natsume.

Rule #7: If this arrangement is revealed to a third party, it will become null and void, and the responsible party shall issue appropriate alimony.

The parties have cause these presents to be executed in duplicate as of the day and year above written.

Signed By:

Hyuuga Natsume

Sakura Mikan

NO! NO! NO! Why was it reversed the other way around? It was revised for his own selfish pleasure.

"I'm not going to sign this." I pushed the folder in front of him.

He stared at the folder then his eyes gazed on me. Our eyes locked on each other. I stared at him, hard.

"Sign it," he growled and I almost fell off my chair at the sound of his deep, gruff voice.

The very sound of his voice sent shivers up my spine. It curled my toes, made my heart thump against my ribs, made my mouth dry, as every hair stood on end and vibrated with the hot, deep rubble of his baritone. What was I thinking?

I shook in my seat as I stared at him and his eyes narrowed as if to again order me to sign the contract. Ugh, what am I supposed to do?

"I will not sign it…" I murmured.

He gave a puzzled eye. "Was it you who proposed it?" It was a statement not a question.

"Yes. I proposed it, but you changed it." I gritted my teeth.

"I didn't change it, I edited it."

"Though you edited it, it's only for your own selfish desire." I was furious by his answer. But he was more infuriated by my answer, and the way he looked at me was more intensified. I unconsciously clutch on the armchair. The atmosphere instantaneously becomes heavy.

"Ms. Sakura, let me remind you that we both agree on this arrangement, and as your investor and your future husband, I have the rights to change what is necessary." His facial expression was stonier than usual. "Now, pls. sign it."

I reached for the folder, my hands were still trembling from the tension but I managed to sign it. After I signed it, he took the folder and held out his hand to me. I stared at his hands then to him, giving him a look: What will I do with that?

"To seal the contract." I hesitantly reached for his hands. When our hands met, he squeezed it tightly, molding his hands into mine. It's mind over matter.

9/10/10

A/N:

It was almost a month after I updated. Sorry for the long wait. I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as I enjoy writing it. They are already bounded by contract. The story is just starting. Next chap will be there first day together. And the engagement party is on the list. Can they last long without hurting each other?

I hope I can update soon. Please support my story.

Thanks for all the comments.

~my NeverNever land