New chapter... out on time (Y)

I hope this chapter makes up for the last cliffhanger :) Please enjoy

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Chapter 9: Mandarins and Strawberries

Ichigo was walking leisurely back to her dormitory, still buzzing from the words that she had just heard Natsume speak. He said it. He really said it. A smile crept on her lips. He felt the same way as she did and when he did those things all those years ago, she knew the reason. He cared, he really cared.

She felt her cheeks becoming warm as she remembered the words of praise he said about her. However, her smile was quickly wiped away as she remembered the melancholy thick in his voice when he spoke about not being able to tell her about it. His sadness really affected her; was it fair that she had the pleasure of knowing the feelings they shared when he did not?

But how was she supposed to tell him? She couldn't. Now, it was her turn to feel incredibly sad at the injustice of it all. For the second time in the past few days, she felt intense regret and helplessness at her current situation. She thought desperately about how she could at least imply the knowledge to Natsume.

And it was when she we wondering in frustration whether it could all be settled in a postcard that her body gave a large jolt. She gave a small yelp as her body was thrown forwards. She stumbled as she caught herself just in time to avoid falling over.

An uncomfortable sensation could be felt in every part of her body. It felt awkward to move. It felt awkward to stay still. Her bones felt like they were being crushed but at the same time it felt like there was an endless space around it, giving a feeling the opposite of claustrophobia. It seemed wrong and it sure felt wrong.

Suddenly she felt extremely dizzy, as if the messages from her brain had been caught up in snail-pace traffic. Everything felt slow-motion. She struggled to keep her balance. She looked down at her arms but her perception was hazy and confused. She closed her eyes in time to feel a single thing.

Pain.

It consumed her and threatened to take her over. As her legs finally gave way, all she could do was let out a single, bone-chilling shriek before everything went momentarily black.

The scream that he had heard less than seconds ago sent shivers down Natsume's spine. It was shrill and loud and was tainted with agony. The worst part was that it was brief. It was abruptly cut off and the empty silence that followed afterwards disturbed Natsume to no end.

He sprang upwards from his seated position and began to head to the source of the sound. He hadn't even begun to think about who it was or why it was triggered, he merely had to get there; the rest could be settled when he did. As he travelled, only then did he begin to comprehend the brief, passing event.

Two morbid thoughts were brought forth during this time. First was that the voice was familiar. Painfully familiar. The second was that he had not noticed anyone else pass by this area except for the girl he had just spoken to, Ichigo Hana. When he pieced these two thoughts together, his eyes expanded and he broke into a run.

A sweat broke – no, it was definitely not from the short run – as he turned a corner to reveal what was hidden behind the thick bushes. He curved the path and his eyes settled themselves on a single, unmoving figure face down in the middle of the path. His heart may as well have stopped beating then and there.

He raced forwards to the still figure. A tear in his gut that oozed anxiety seemed to gradually get larger as he analysed the body. It was female, that much was more than obvious. But the defining, long, flowing, auburn curls, tied in pigtails and spread out on either side of her head gave Natsume more pain than ever. It couldn't be... not the only person that was able to fill Mikan's gap.

He knelt by the girl with tear ducts that hadn't functioned in about a decade threatening to work again. He blinked the salt water away and his vision cleared. That was when he noticed subtle differences and one major one in particular that he should have regarded before. His heart went to work again, but at a rate faster than a person after intense exercise.

The long, soft, auburn locks that made him recognise the figure in the first place were at least three inches longer. The skin was paler and more firm. But most of all, the middle school outfit that the girl wore fit perfectly on her. She had long, slender limbs and was at least fourteen years old. No doubt, this was not Ichigo Hana.

As he realised this, he held his breath. Could it be? With trembling hands, he gently turned the girl over. He had no words and his brain couldn't think when he saw the graceful face of the girl cradled in his arms. Her face looked as delicate as porcelain yet as soft as cotton. Her eyes were shut loosely and extended into long, thick lashes. Her brows were furrowed slightly as the after-effect of the preceding ordeal and her lips were parted slightly and pulled into a slight frown.

Natsume's world stopped when he recognised the face. It was Mikan. There was no doubt in his heart or mind that this was the girl he loved dearly since the tender age of eleven. Mikan Sakura was laying in his arms. Oh how long had he dreamed of this day. However, now wasn't quite the ideal sort of situation.

He disregarded questioning why she was here or deciding how he felt about it and proceeded to treat her. Worry drowned the crimson of his eyes as he gazed helplessly at the unmoving girl. Unsure of anything better to do, he carefully shook her in attempt to nudge her awake. She made no movement.

As if acting upon instinct, he spoke without any restraint of overflowing emotion, "Mikan."

The voice was incredibly distant, but it was definitely calling her name.

There was so much feeling flowing out of words. She knew this voice. A part of her wanted to see the person whom it belonged to and it was this desire that brought her gradually back to life.

Her body still stubbornly refused to move, but with a great effort, she pulled her heavy eyelids upwards. The process was slow but it was constant. As her eyes were reopened she was able to distinguish a hazy image of two crimson orbs. They were filled with worry, disbelief and confusion. As the boy to which they belonged to saw her awakening, a look of shock spread on his face.

When her vision cleared and she confirmed who it was, she allowed herself a small smile. Somehow, she had found her way into his arms. She whispered, "Natsume." Perhaps it was her imagination, but she thought that she could hear his heart beating rapidly and feel his arms trembling.

"Mikan?" he said again, except this time it was a question.

The girl in question's smile was wiped off when she realised what he had called her. She brought her torso up to examine herself. A gasp was heard as she realised that she was indeed at least two years older. She carefully brought sore arms to touch her face and when she was positive that she had 'returned to normal' she let out a half sigh, half groan.

She then turned to Natsume again and nodded tersely. He gazed at her in bewilderment, "Mikan, what? How?" He seemed to use up a lot of effort trying to find the voice to say even those few words.

Truth be told, she was just as confused as he was. Coming to a conclusion at her situation, she decided that it was best to spill the beans and start from the very beginning. She glanced meekly at the raven haired boy, "I guess I have some explaining to do..."

"...next thing I knew, I was lying here in your arms," she concluded with a small blush.

It was a long explanation but Natsume absorbed everything intently. His mind worked hard to comprehend each minute detail to the best of his ability. It was mostly due to this that he didn't speak at all through the entire thing.

His questions were answered and his doubts erased. His genial mind clicked everything into place after a few stunned seconds. The only thing left to do was to react. "I see," he spoke, surprisingly calmly to Mikan, who was expecting a big reaction. She gazed up curiously at him as he coolly placed her down on the ground and brought himself up to a standing position. He had the most blank expression plastered on his face.

Mikan continued to look up awkwardly, waiting for something else. She was surprised to see a smirk form on Natsume's lips as he uttered slyly, "I guess you've become quite the liar, eh Polka Dots?" Every other feeling was erased from Mikan's mind except irritation and some glee. She produced her famous pout and was about to utter a comeback when he continued. "Or should I say 'Strawberry Print'? That sounds more appropriate, right Ichigo?"

"You big pervert, Natsume! And here I was thinking you'd actually changed for the better!" she screamed at him.

"Now, now," he mocked, "is that any way to treat your sempai? Ichigo-kohai, honestly where do you get these names? First it's mandarin, now it's strawberry... tsk, tsk."

"Ugh," she grumbled, "you sly fox!" She was in a low kneeling position now, arms crossed, cheeks puffed.

His brow furrowed and his tone changed at this statement, "You're calling me sly. Who's the one who swindled a full length confession from me without me knowing I was confessing for real! I'm sure she knows, my butt." He tried to hide it in a scoff, but there was so much to that statement. It was clear that he wanted to know how she felt about that whole episode and what she was thinking. Mikan searched his eyes, and his searched hers.

He then continued weakly, "That was akin to torture, you know... Admitting to myself how I felt and knowing that I did nothing about it." His handsome face pulled into a frown. Mikan wondered what the right words were to say. She wanted to erase all sadness from him, right now.

Feeling as though there was no other way than to say it straight, she stated, "I feel the same way." She noticed the startled expression on his face. Her cheeks were getting warmer but she continued earnestly, "I'm sure of it. I feel the same way that you do."

She stared determinedly into his eyes, intent on getting the message through. He stared back, searching her eyes for a definite acknowledgement. Emotions poured through the optical connection. The auburn haired girl kneeling on the pavement and the raven haired boy standing before her. After a decent few minutes, Natsume slackened his gaze, obviously satisfied with his findings. Though Mikan felt a little telepathically violated, she was glad that it had gotten through to him.

They both relaxed their positions. Natsume held out a hand. The girl looked at it and then up at his face. After a brief deliberation she inevitably took it. His hand was warm... as always. It felt good to be holding it again. She tightened her grip, using him as support to stand her weary self back up.

To her surprise, Natsume yanked her up. He used a little too much force than necessary and thus, the girl was shot to his chest and as if it were perfectly rehearsed, her lips met his. She thought she heard him say quickly, "Thank goodness," during the motion. Her eyes expanded while his closed. He poured so much of what had into the fleeting moment and upon realising the passion he exerted, Mikan soon shut her eyes too.

She was back, this was a definite symbol of it. Being here and able to reunite with each other was like a dream come true. Natsume even found himself wondering whether it was true or not. If it wasn't, this was one of the cruellest dreams he had ever had.

They parted, finally, and as if it was the most crucial thing in the world, he pinched himself. Just to make sure. And it hurt. That was probably the best pain that he had ever experienced in his life. Mikan seemed to notice this and giggled. They looked up at each other. Her with a beaming smile and him with a crooked smirk.

"That was for leaving me," he pointed out. He leaned forward again and placed a peck on her cheek which probably surprised her more than the previous kiss. "And that," he explained, "was for coming back."

"I'm glad," she stated as she nuzzled her head into his chest.

"Me too," he replied.

"Well," Natsume carefully put an end to the moment, "we really should get going. It's dark already and we sort of need to tell someone about your situation." They parted and Mikan nodded in acknowledgement.

"Okay," she answered, "but where to?"

Natsume sighed morbidly. "Oh!" he said with mock excitement. "I think someone," he pointed to her perfectly fitted uniform, "is expecting us."

I guess that that can be you guys' early Christmas present haha... Unless of course, I think of something better ;)

The title of this chapter, as I'm sure most of you picked up is to do with Mikan's names. Mikan means mandarin in Japanese and Ichigo means strawberries :)

I love to read your reviews, guys! Thanks for all of them from the previous chapter :D I'll try and reply if it deserves one :) So please, review!