Disclaimed

=pRiCe RaNge=

MIKAN

I didn't bother to finish the party. I knew I wouldn't find my 'prince' tonight anyway. My feet were so sore from the dancing. I think Hotaru and Ruka are still there. Hotaru's still probably eating. Poor Ruka, he hasn't even danced with Hotaru yet. I went to my room and removed the killer heels. I decided to take a hot bath to relive the stress.

While I was taking a bath rain started to drop outside. I wonder if Natsume's still outside. The rain became stronger by the second suddenly lighting and thunder started echoing outside my window. When I got to bed the wind was still pretty strong. Suddenly all the lights went out. A few minutes later I could hear Hotaru talking through a megaphone. "EVERYONE EVACUATE TO THE GREEN HOUSE. CARRY AS MUCH FOOD AS YOU CAN." She said it over and over again. Good thing my new pen had a light attached to it. I took my notebook and headed to the green house.

I thought the green house was pretty big but with everyone crammed in it and only dim lanterns lighting it, it felt a bit crowded. I found where Hotaru and the others were and sat with them. Even with everyone in the green house the weather still bought chills to my goose bump developing skin. I opened my notebook and pen...

As the rain poured its tears at me

I knew the truth that I wish wouldn't be

I knew I asked for something beyond my grasp

And that this hope would never last.

The rain seemed to say

Love again another day

I didn't even know if I could get through today

I wished that love would come to me

But it seems that love is something that will take forever for me to see.

By what I wrote it seemed like I was a loveless freak. I closed the notebook and decided to take a nap on the blankets that were set up on the floor. I slept on Hotaru's lap as she ate the shrimp chips.

When I woke up the rain was still blowing but everyone else was asleep. I was going to ask Hotaru where the water was but when I looked up I found a different face that was defiantly not Hotaru's. Natsume. When I was about to scream his hand came over my mouth. "Imai didn't want you to wake up so she asked me to stay with you while she made sure the staff at the mansion hasn't frozen to death." He explained in a whisper so he wouldn't wake up the others. Then he removed his hand from my mouth. "You didn't have to suffocate me!" I said in a sharp whisper. "You would have screamed if I didn't. I think you have been the centre of things during this trip enough." He said not looking at me directly. "I have never done anything that would make me sound like such an attention seeker!" I said sharply. He looked at me with those daunting crimson eyes but didn't say anything. "What?" I asked. "Nothing." He said then left.

What was that all about? I haven't done anything out of the ordinary. I thought that tonight I could just get a good night sleep. When Natsume left I found a cup of instant noodles to eat. I took a long, good sip of the soup. "Ahh..." Just as I was about to take another sip someone rushed by me and spilled my cup on me. "Oh I'm sorry. I can't see too well. I left my glasses at the mansion. I'm really sorry." The guy explained with great length. "It's okay." I said and forced a smile as I felt the hot soup on my clothes and skin. I looked for Hotaru who just came back and asked I asked if she has extra clothes with her. She nodded and handed me a pair of sweat pants and a white tank top. "Thanks." I said as I changed clothes under the comforter.

The tank top I had on seemed tight on me. I looked at the tag, 'S' Small. I was a medium. It being white doesn't help because I had on a black bra. My chest was barely hid my chest. It shows too much cleavage. I asked Hotaru if she had anything in a medium and she raised a see through night gown. Well better this tight thing than that. I thought as I shook my head. I went back to my 'bed' and looked if I brought anything that I could use with me. I poured out the contents of the small bag and there was nothing I could use. Darn. I went to get a cracker and when I came back to my place, there was a neatly folded black T-shirt. It was a big shirt; it seems to be owned by a guy.

There was a note on top of the shirt 'Wear it.' No name though. Well anything was better than this top. So I wore the shirt on top of the tank top. Do you know how sometime the things you own have a certain scent as well as other people? Well as soon as the shirt slipped through my frame I knew who's shirt I was wearing. Thanks Natsume-kun. This shirt must be 100% cotton because I feel so comfortable in it. What a weird thought. I laid down on my make shift bed and closed my eyes to get a bit of shut eye.

I was awake unusually early the next morning. Everyone seemed to be asleep so I decided to take a walk in the gardens outside. As I was passing by the others I saw Hotaru and Ruka asleep next to each other, with Hotaru clutching Ruka's arm. It was weird seeing Hotaru this venerable with Ruka. I saw a camera slipping from Hotaru's bag and decided to take a picture. "Aw...so sweet." I whispered. As I was viewing the other pictures from last night I saw a series of pictures which were of Natsume putting his shirt on my cot. The thing that bothered me was he was only wearing an undershirt. It was so cold last night that I had to put my wasted clothes on top of the blanket for some warmth. I looked around the greenhouse for Natsume but only saw an empty cot. "Maybe he's outside", I mumbled. The morning air felt like needles on my skin giving me goose bumps. I found him petting a cat near one of the flower beds. He looked so gentle with the tiny animal. "Natsume-kun." I was surprised at the volume in my voice and the emotion in it as well. The look in his eyes as he looked at me felt like he wanted me to bear a hole in my head. I squatted next to him and smiled. The cat started to circle around me, tickling me with its tail. "You're a cutie." I said as I touched its soft fur. It purred in pleasure. I giggled at the cute thing trying to get more attention. "Natsume-kun where did you find it?" I asked as I continued to pet its fur. "It was getting drenched in the rain last night so I brought it in with me." He explained. "Oh." I lost my words at his display of sensitivity towards this small defenceless animal. I suddenly remembered why I was looking for him. "Thanks for the shirt Natsume-kun." I said as I removed the shirt handing it to him. I was only wearing Hotaru's tank top which reviled a lot of skin. I didn't realize that I started shivering immediately. "Baka(Idiot)." Was the shirt not his? He took the shirt and wrapped it around me horizontally. I handed it back to him. "You must be cold. You slept like that last night. And it was freakin cold last night Natsume-kun." He shook his head. Pointing to the cat. I doubt that the cat much of a difference. "I'm not THAT stupid Natsume-kun. I know well enough that you were uncomfortable last night so take the shirt back." He seemed unmoved. I was pressing the shirt against his bare arms. He took my wrist and looked me in the eye. "You need it more than I do." Was all he said then left me sitting there with the shirt and the cat. You are a really weird person Natusme-kun.

Natsume

I needed to straighten out my thoughts...and feelings. Mikan sends my sensibility off. Of course I knew how unbearably cold it was last night. I knew how much more comfort that shirt would have been to me. But it didn't matter. All I thought when she had that tight thing on her was to cover her up. The looks the guys around her were giving worse than the words they had to say. I could handle freezing for one night. I thought as I walked back to the green house.

Ruka

I woke up with my angel still asleep next to me. Although the position we were in was touching my arm was starting to ache. I tried to be as gentle as possible in removing her grip and slip out of the 'bed' to get a glass of water. While I was drinking I saw Natsume come in with satisfied look on his face. "Why so happy?" I asked after taking a gulp. He just looked back through the doors. Luckly we were in the greenhouse so I could see what he was looking back at. It was Mikan sitting outside with a shirt in hand and a cat on her lap. I wonder what happened outside. "Let's go outside for a walk Natsume." He followed me as I led him out the other door on the other side of the green house. We followed a worn path. When we were a fair distance away from the green house I asked. "What are your thoughts on cats?" He seemed to be thinking way to deeply for an answer to my simple question. "They're um... Mysterious." Was all Natsume said. "What are your thoughts on Mikan?" I dared to ask. That seemed to hit the spot. He stopped walking and sat down at the stump of a tree. Natsume was a person who almost never shows fear, confusion and most of all affection. "Let me rephrase my question. Who is Mikan to you an acquaintance, a friend, a charity cause or something more?" Natsume seemed to be baffled at my questions. After a few minutes of silence he spoke up. "She's more than just an acquaintance or friend, definitely not a charity cause but I'm not sure if she's something more." He said still not solving his confusion. "Do you care for her?"

"I don't know how I feel." (Natsume)

"Then let me help you figure out how you feel."(Ruka)

"Go ahead and try." (Natsume)

"Okay. Do you get mad at her?" (Ruka)

"Yes." (Natsume)

"Are you mad because she has been a nuisance?" (Ruka)

"No, I get mad because, because she hurts herself." (Natsume)

"So you get mad that she brings herself pain? (Ruka)

"I guess." (Natsume)

"Ruka, are you playing my psychologist?" (Natsume)

"Yes. And I'll be the one asking the questions." (Ruka)

"Hn." (Natsume)

"Are you in love with her?" (Ruka)

"Ruka!" (Natsume)

"Well answer the question." (Ruka)

"Maybe. I'm not sure." (Natsume)

"Natsume." (Ruka)

"What?" (Natsume)

"You look like a confused lovesick schoolgirl." I said after the weird conversation. "Hn." He said with a smirk on his face. "At least now we're a bit nearer to finding out how you feel." I said nudging him on his side. We both laughed. "Whatever. Your monster is probably awake by now. Let's go back." My cheeks were aching from smiling. Natsume looks so stupid whenever his feelings are discussed. But he was right I should be getting back to 'my monster' or she really will turn into one."

End of chapter

Love is found in the most random things...

Even in a simple gesture.

-Xiao wawa

Please read and review. I live for them. Well they inspire me to write more. I'll be posting soon.