Yay! This chapter is actually on time! Well NEWS: on my every changing profile, I have UPDATE DATES, which I shall constantly change to keep you informed of specific updates :)) (usually its a five day period in between but changed will be said there) Also, YAY i've already written the next chapter (one chapter ahead ftw!). That was because we went ot this thing and the line was 3 hours long and thus I ended up writing the whole of chapter 7. But for now, please enjoy this chapter.
Chapter 6: Natsume's chances... blown?
Ichigo began to hyperventilate. Hotaru and … Ruka? Ichigo suddenly only had three things on her mind. The first was... HOTARU & RUKA... A COUPLE! It's not that she didn't think it was cute couple. She'd get to that soon enough. A whole lot of random thoughts occurred to her at once. When did they start liking each other? Who asked who out? I never thought the day would come for Hotaru? So soon! I wonder how Hotaru treats Ruka? … Poor Ruka. Then it got a tad awkward, Didn't he used to like me? She shook the thought away as soon as it came and the blush faded. She was happy for them, she decided.
The second thought was... WHY DIDN'T SHE TELL ME? Hotaru had the opportunity. Sure, she'd never been the gossip girl or the particularly loud one, but she was her best friend. And this was a big deal! She should have told her.
Mind gone, she raced over to her friend, "Hotaru, why didn't you tell me?" Hotaru looked at Ichigo with mild shock, realised what she was referring to and then a look of death overcame her face. The sinister glare was enough to stop Ichigo in her tracks. Ice.
Ichigo was starting to wonder why the reception from her friend was this... cold, when Nonoko spoke, "Eh, Ichigo, you know Imai-san?" Oh... shoot. Ichigo's body felt heavy. The third thought occurred to her and threatened to consume her with helplessness... I JUST BLEW IT! Ichigo was rendered speechless. She blew it. She blew it all. She didn't know what to do, and thus didn't do anything.
Hotaru was swift in her actions. "Ichigo, I told you so many times, it's Hotaru-sempai! We're not back in Chiba anymore. Besides, why would you like to know about my relationships?" Ichigo's body slowly recovered movement. Hotaru had just saved her again.
"Oh, so you do know each other!" Nonoko said.
Ichigo tried to play along, hoping that the pill still worked, "Yeah, she was like a sister to me back in … Chiba," then she pouted, "but she never tells me anything!" Nonoko nodded in acknowledgement then giggled at bit. Ichigo let out a breath. Nice save. She saw Hotaru relax a bit too. But her best friend then proceeded to death stare her. It said something along the lines of, We'll talk later. Ichigo shuddered at the thought.
"Besides," Hotaru said, "you don't even know who I'm going out with. At least, you've never met them." It was dismissive. It also made important sense to Ichigo. Of course, Ichigo had never met Ruka. Mikan on the other hand...
"Students!" Narumi called to grab the classes' attention. "Alright, for the final activity. You'd think I would swap it the other way around and make the middle schoolers as the elementary kids questions, but you see, I don't feel like going by the book today." He had a sly and utterly irritating grin on his face. At least, it was irritating to Natsume.
Already, he was having a bad day. There was no progress whatsoever on trying to talk to Ichigo Hana. Any plans he had begun formulating were either too extreme or too based on chance. He figured he'd just wait it out. Misfortune just seemed to follow this kid around. He'd just have to cope with his rotten luck. He guessed it to be karma. Not that Natsume believed in any of that stuff.
"Frankly," Narumi continued, "and no offense to anyone, but I don't think there is any interest in having the big kids ask the little kids questions. Perhaps you aren't interested and perhaps it isn't interesting. The big kids have been little kids before and so, it really wouldn't be that enlightening. Either way, I simply don't feel like doing it." Half the class's sweat dropped at the last statement.
Actually, Natsume agreed with Narumi for once. He'd never say it out loud, though. Natsume wasn't in much of a mood for talking. Nor, did he have any questions to ask a little girl. He wasn't interested and that was fact. Sure, he was grateful to the girl, but having to ask her questions would either go two ways. Natsume would end up trying and failing, ending in complete awkwardness; or – the most likely option – he wouldn't talk at all. Narumi wasn't going to force him to do anything. But that would be awkward too.
"So, being the wonderfully marvellous teacher that I am," Narumi explained ("Marvellous my arse," Natsume scoffed), "I'm just going to let you all roam around and have a chat with everyone. Just make sure you're talking to at least one other division student."
Natsume snapped his head up. Anyone? He saw Narumi give him a knowing look and a smug nod. Natsume was both confused and peeved at the remark. Did Narumi know something? However, Natsume couldn't help but feel a spark of anticipation at the prospect. If it were possible, a few extra respect point were added to negative numbers about Narumi. This was his chance!
Natsume looked back around to Ichigo. He had been keeping tabs on her whereabouts the whole session. She had somehow made her way near Imai. Natsume fought the urge to race down the classroom. He really felt it weird that someone could make him this jumpy. It wasn't even Mikan. It was a complete stranger. Those thoughts tore away at Natsume innards, but it was true. Indeed, it was odd for someone he never knew to give him such a feeling. Such a familiar feeling...
Another cursed thought crossed him. How am I meant to approach? He couldn't just waltz down there without a decent reason. He knew no one there (acting buddy buddy with Imai was out of the question) and plus they were all girls. Using a sad excuse of an 'accident' would come off as desperate. Which Natsume was. Still, it was for the the greater good that no one should notice him this shaken up.
He looked for Ruka. No good. He was towards another corner. Natsume's heart plummeted. The first and probably only ray of hope he had was now rendered as socially impossible. He was foremost frustrated, but a myriad of other emotions were hurling themselves around inside of him and threatening him to implode.
"Here's your chance," a voice said out of the blue. "You really are in some dilemma there Natsume-sempai. Your emotions are making me feel weak." It was Yuri. He looked back at the grey haired girl. He knew she knew how he was feeling and that this was his long awaited chance, but she didn't know the implications. Or did she? "If you want, I can lead you over there, Ichigo is one of my best friends."
The dissipating hope inside of Natsume sky-rocketed once more. Yuri! What a great excuse! He was somehow glad that he got Yuri as an alternative to Ichigo. In fact, she'd helped him a lot. He really did feel loads better. Natsume tried to ignore his sinking dignity from being comforted by a ten-year-old. He was glad about it all the same.
Yuri carefully grabbed her sempai's sleeve and began to lead the way across the room towards Ichigo. Natsume replaced his carefree look and let himself be dragged away. A strange thirst for something Natsume couldn't name was already starting to be satisfied. Was that what he was hoping for all along? To have something – anything – to fill the void that a certain someone had left?
"Yuri-chaaaan!" Ichigo chirped as she spotted Yuri and Natsume heading over. Natsume had the most careless look on his face as he was dragged – seemingly not upon his will – towards them. Excited as she was to rejoin her one of her best friends, she couldn't help but spare Natsume a critical glance.
He looked the same. Same carefree attitude, same dark aura and same warmth emitting from him. It made Ichigo's stomach churn. The closer he got, the more that she noticed. His body was more muscular and more defined. Earlier, when she heard him speak, his voice was deeper, not by much, but just enough. His jet black mane was a tad longer, but hardly noticeable – to anyone but Ichigo.
All in all, Ichigo concluded, he hadn't changed much. But his growth had made him, she dared to say, more handsome. Natsume caught her looking at him and smirked. Suddenly, a twang of annoyance crossed Ichigo's features. That arrogant fool. He caught a stranger checking him out – not that Ichigo was, just healthy observation – and immediately he gets cocky. He really is still the same.
In the back of her mind, however, the feeling of annoyance was wonderfully familiar. Her heart stirred. Perhaps in some crazy other world, a third party would call this sort of playfully irritable interaction as a sign of affection.
But it was strange, wasn't it? For 'strangers' to feel so familiar. Ichigo was sure she looked exactly like Mikan but, that didn't change the fact that Ichigo and Natsume had never met before. He couldn't know, could he? Ichigo suddenly thought. She began to worry. She turned away, looking guilty and worried among other things.
In the corner of her eye, as he arrived, she could have sworn that he turned to face her. He had a look of disappointment (when she stopped looking at him?) and concern (for her strange actions?). Ichigo wasn't sure. She couldn't see him properly, but she could've sworn that's what he looked like. Again, why would he feel like that for a stranger? This is so weird.
After the slow and gruelling journey, Natsume and Yuri finally made it to where Ichigo was. He caught her looking at him before, examining him. For some reason it gave him an automatically smug feeling. When the inevitable smirk appearing on his face, she showed the same irritable face that Mikan would have. It only made the eerie resemblance between them even stronger.
Suddenly, she looked down and away, a look of distraught on her face. Natsume's face crumpled into surprise, confusion and concern. Why did she do that? He couldn't possibly have scared or annoyed her that much? She looked so troubled...
Realising he was making an obvious face, he composed his features just as they arrived. It seemed that she managed to do so too. She greeted her friend with great enthusiasm, "Yuri-chan! How are you? Did you have fun?" She sneaked Natsume a doubtful look but otherwise, anticipated her friend's response.
"It's been interesting, Ichigo-chan, and you?" Yuri replied calmly.
"It's been great!" Ichigo replied gleefully, "This is Nonoko-sempai, she's really nice, we had so much fun!" She motioned to Nonoko who waved. "Apparently, I look like someone she used to know." At this Natsume snapped back to attention. He wanted to say something, but another major problem faced him.
What should he say? He wasn't really the one to talk. Not only was he not expected to speak, but he really didn't know what to say or how to say it. How could he possibly start off that sort of conversation, let alone enter it. He wasn't the socially inclined type of person.
Natsume internally cursed. You're here, you've got the chance... AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY? It was true, he didn't even plan it, in any of his ponderings. What would he say to her anyway? How on earth did he plan to get information when he didn't know what he wanted to know, let alone what to ask?
"Ichigo, this is Natsume-sempai," once again Yuri came to his rescue, "he said the same thing." That was actually a smooth transition into the conversation. Natsume found himself thanking God for Yuri. Natsume grunted in greeting.
Ichigo furrowed her brows, "That's pretty rude, ya know, Natsume-sempai." She was addressing him. That was good. This was getting somewhere. Natsume turned to look at her, that sort of reaction was just the sort he'd expect from Mikan.
"Oh, and just what am I supposed to say?" Natsume raised a testing eyebrow.
She replied very animatedly, "You're meant to say 'Hello' or 'Hi!' or 'Pleased to meet you'!" She eyed him carefully. "You could even say, 'yo'. Don't just do that," she mimicked a grunt, "it's not nice."
"Psh," Natsume scoffed, "I'm not taking orders from a ten-year-old, especially one who looks scarily similar to Mikan." He just barely concealed the strong emotion that usually dripped from his lips whenever he uttered her name. He winced in annoyance as he noticed Yuri suppress a giggle.
"I'm twelve, for your information," she shot back. "Mikan, that's my apparent look-alike... what, didn't you like her or something? I can't imagine this person to be that bad, besides, you look more like the bad guy."
Natsume felt proud to have gotten some solid information. She was twelve and more importantly, she didn't know who Mikan was. On another note, she already found herself not liking him. Well, Natsume really couldn't care less. She had no relation to Mikan, so it didn't matter anymore. He felt content at finally settling that.
However, somewhere inside of him, something whimpered. One of his subconscious hopes were just crushed. Natsume didn't stop to think about it, but he felt guilty that he knew what it could be. Somewhere deep down, he probably hoped they were related, even better: that she knew where Mikan was.
Now, Natsume had to configure his reply. Truthfully, he far from disliked Mikan. It was the opposite. But no one but their closest friends could probably tell. His heart regretted his reply as he forced, "Like her? She was annoying." Ichigo's face fell. The expression on her face bothered Natsume. He wanted to say something to atone but he was interrupted. His luck really was cursed today.
"Where's the Mikan look-alike?" It was Sumire. Cursed woman, Natsume thought. "Oh! Natsume-kuun!" Gawd, she get's over rejections quick.
She reached the little group and began to fawn over Natsume. She took a look at Ichigo and gasped, "They weren't lying when they said you looked like her." Ichigo greeted her happily. "Geez, you even have the same level of enthusiasm." She said it with a bit of distaste but, accepting it wasn't the loathed Mikan, she was alright with it.
"Natsume-kun, what are you doing here," Sumire demanded, "I thought you didn't like Mikan, so why would you be with her look-alike." That last bit was more a of a hope. Natsume motioned to Yuri and Sumire understood. "Well, my kid's over there near Kitsuneme." She pointed to a runny-nosed boy with a stupid grin. It was evident why she ditched him. But knowing Sumire, she would've ditched him anyway.
"Students!" Narumi called once again, "Time's up; I hope you enjoyed that!" Natsume looked around in alarm. He wasn't able to make up for his harsh words. Why he wanted so bad to cheer Ichigo up, he didn't know, but he felt obligated. His chances, again, were ruined. "That's the end of homeroom period. You are all dismissed."
Students began to file out of the room, some busily chatting, some in a hurry to leave. Natsume felt jittery. He was desperate not to leave it at that, after having said such words about Mikan. But he didn't know what else to do or if he would ever see her again.
He felt someone tug at his sleeve. He turned and, as expected, he saw Yuri. She beckoned him to lean in so she could whisper something to him. Natsume did so. "You should go talk to her later. I'm sure she wouldn't mind. Besides, you wanted to make up for those things you said, right? It's the best way, I'm sure of it." When Natsume looked slightly doubtful, she insisted, "Please trust me, Natsume-sempai."
Natsume sighed as if to say, I'll think about it, okay? Yuri let go of his sleeve. He nodded farewell and she raised a hand in goodbye. A telepathic conversation (prompted by Yuri's Alice) ensued. Thank you, Natsume thought. Thanks a lot.
Yuri smiled and mouthed, Your welcome, as he walked away.
Yuri watched her new-found sempai leave. It was certainly interesting to talk to him. It was even more so to think that the infamous Natsume Hyuuga had such feelings. Yuri was completely sympathetic. She was a very aware child. Natsume probably had to shoulder it all, in order not to worry anyone else. Thus, she was determined to help him out. It seemed she did, so she was content.
Those words of advice she gave him, she really meant it. She'd sensed for a while now that Ichigo had been hiding something. Her friend had the Nullification Alice, so most of the time she couldn't read her emotions. That was fine by Yuri. She wasn't the one to pry.
Also, she'd known something was up as soon as the middle schoolers came. Ichigo was buzzing with more anticipation than usual. Yuri could also sense some mild anxiety, which happened to disappear gradually across the day. All of these feelings were very slight, her Alice did a good job. Today, she could sense them a little more clearly.
But the most significant instance was towards the beginning of the period. Her emotions jolted the moment that the bespectacled boy initially stepped in. However, it was the most surprising a little while after that. The second that Natsume had introduced himself, Ichigo's emotions soared sky high for the briefest instant. Even with her Alice, they were loud and clear, even moreso than a person without Nullifaction.
Yuri didn't quite know what that was all about. After speaking with Natsume, things began to piece together, but she didn't quite know how. She had a hunch and intuition. She highly trusted her intuition and it was that that lead her to tell Natsume to see Ichigo. Yuri stared at Natsume's back as it proceeded out the door.
Just what is it that you have been hiding, Ichigo?
Aha! i bet out of all the character you didn't expect Yuri to be the one to catch on! Thanks for all the reviews and feedback for last chapter, as always, it's highly appreciated. Finally, that class if over, 3 chapters on it hehe, didn't expect that. Well, Reviews as always are highly highly appreciated! So Review and I may just post that next chapter early. I'll say, as soon as I get ten reviews I'll review right away. Of course, it'll be up withing five days as usual.