Disclaimed
=pRiCe RaNge=
MIKAN
"Cut my sponsorships then." "You can't do that Ms. Sakura." I wore my best poker face to this meeting and I'm not coming out without the outcome I want. "I want to leave." I said. "We aren't people who let go of money- errr... talent easily." The theatre's rep said. "You weren't even supposed to know who was sponsoring you." "Well I know now and I want to quit this thing." The rep was fidgeting in his seat. I sighed. "Look I know that I have a lot of other shows that I promised to do and the ones that I already said yes to I will finish." He seemed to evaluate what I said. "Ms. Sakura there's just too much to lose. Either you stay or you leave, but if you leave there will be a law suit against you for your breach of contract." That won't be cheap, both on my money and time. "You can't make me stay." I said my breath seething with anger. Why did Xavier have to be my dang sponsor? The rep walked out for a while for a phone call. I recalled the things Natsume said. 'I really do love you. You aren't his Sakura anymore he doesn't have a right. Before you leave I hope you give me a chance to win your heart'. I slammed my fists on the table. I'm not letting out the tears. Not now. The guy came back in the room. "That was Mr. Stratford. He said he wants to be the one to talk to you about this." I grimaced. See Xavier again. How I would have wanted that a few years ago."Tell him to meet me at the McDonalds at the ground floor in an hour." I stood and left the man fumbling with the dials on his phone.
"All you have to do is face him again. One last time Mikan." I said to myself in the mirror as I reapplied my make-up. I took deep breaths. I'm not sure I let them out though. I went out of the comfort room and walked to McDonald's.
I sat down in one of the leather couch things in the back and ordered chicken nuggets. Comfort food. I was down to my last nugget when Xavier came through the door. "You're early." He said taking a seat. I swallowed and took a sip of coke. "Mikan can we go somewhere more private." I nodded and he steered me over to the door.
We were in the park. Sitting on a bench. I was trying to be professional. There was a grim silence. "Mikan, I shouldn't have told you that I'm you're sponsor." I looked him straight in the eyes. "Not telling wouldn't have changed the fact that you were 'sending your sponsorship.'" I didn't dare look at him. He disgusted me. He felt him slide closer to me on the bench. "Mikan I just want to fix this." I stared at him. "If you wanted to fix this. You would have never left me." "Mikan, you were never away from me. I was always thinking of you. Dreaming of you." He caressed my cheek. I slapped his hand away. "That's just it Xavier! You were just thinking of me. You didn't do anything. For years." "I've done so much good to you Mikan. Can't you see that?" He accused. This jerk! I didn't know how to react. He pulled my face towards him. Next thing I knew I was being kissed. I tried to push him away. I was scared now. He didn't let go. I tried to pull free. I pulled at his hair but he just buried his face onto mine. I was losing my strength. Then he let go. I wiped at my lip then pushed him away. I saw something moving near the bushes. I saw Natsume. He was walking. His hands were balled into fists. He saw Xavier and I- Oh no. Dear God no. "Mikan you don't have to deny that you still love me." I heard Xavier say. I looked at him with hell-like anger. I slapped him across the face. "I was hurt, I'll give you that Xavier. But you fell in love with the High School girl. You don't know me." He had his innocent face on. "but I really do love you." "Love me? Xavier I'm not the naive little girl anymore. I had records of you searched. I don't trust you." I threw the files at him. "You're married and you have kid Xavier."
He looked at me like I was crazy. "That's why you sponsored me. You thought you could play me again didn't you? " I screamed. "I was going to divorce her. Then we could be together."Xavier begged. "Divorce her? She's you're only source of income after your father's company went bankrupt last year. That's why you made sure I was a success before you met with me again." His eyes pleaded for mercy. "What were you going to do? Leave her with the child? I'm not you're rebound." "Don't tell my wife please." He begged. "I won't tell her of your schemes. I won't break a family just because you broke me, again." He looked relieve. I walked away. "Oh, I'm still leaving that theatre. No matter how much they sue me for." I said behind my back. I wiped at the angry tears.
_._._
I called Natsume's phone several times but I kept getting the answering machine. "Pick up Natsume. Pick up." I tried to texting him but he wouldn't reply. This is getting me nowhere. I dialled Hotaru's number. "Mikan? Any problem?" "Does there really have to be a problem for me to call you?" "But I have a hunch that there is a problem." There was a dead silence. "We'll you are sort of right." "I knew I would be right." "Can you get Natsume's home address for me?" "Hmm... What's in it for me?" 'Sigh' "I'll double the money that I'll be sending you this month." "Okay. His address is..."
Hotaru traced Natsume's location with his mobile number. Isn't what I was expecting. I thought he'd be staying in a mansion in a hidden place. Well he isn't Edward Cullen. I laughed at the thought. His location was at a pub. When I came into the pub loud music was blasting into my ears. I don't like this setting. I remembered what happened the last time I was in a place like this. The hair on the back of my neck started to crawl. That disgusting feeling was coming back. 'Find Natsume then get out.' I told myself. I looked all over for Natsume. I seriously doubted that he would be dancing. I wish I had ear plugs with me. I couldn't think straight with the yelling, the loud music and the tears threatening to spill down my face and... and then I saw him. He was drinking shots with a group of unfamiliar guys. A girl came to him, she sat on his lap and they started making out. My heart broke into a million pieces. Then the broken pieces broke into a million other pieces. Didn't he say that he still loved me just last night? I ran out of the pub. My heart was shattered just like that. I didn't have my notebook with me. No where to rant. No way am I going to cry. But what now?
I was still sitting outside the pub. I wasn't crying. Well inside I was. I felt dead inside not really sad. Why did he have to see Xavier kissing me. Xavier. That jerk! Coming back to my life just to bring in chaos that I was finally out of! "Get out!" I heard a man shout to someone. The bouncer threw someone out to the curb.
Natsume.
Well I couldn't leave him there. I drove him to his house. His house address which I got because of Hotaru.
When we arrived at his flat it was extremely late. "Natsume get up we're at your house." He was still out cold. I tried pulling him out of the car but he wouldn't budge. "This is getting tiresome." I huffed. I gave up got back in the car. I rolled down the windows. We're both sleeping in the car then."
When I got up at eight in the morning the passenger seat was empty. "Oh no you're not." I said out loud. I'm not letting Natsume walk away because of this crap. I marched up to his door. "Natsume open this door!" I knocked at it like my life depended on it. No answer. Typical of him. "Natsume please open the door. It's me Mikan. I just want to talk." Still no answer. I leaned on the door. Nothing is going the way I want it to." I just want to go back to the way things were before." I whispered. I stood up and took my leave. If he's done with it then so am I.
For the past few days I've been moping over everything that has happened. Xavier, Natsume, no more Xavier, no more Natsume. Well my life sucks right now. I finally do something smart and get Xavier investigated but Natsume just had to be there during that unfortunate death kiss. I blame myself. If I just immediately told Xavier what I knew when I saw him then Natsume probably wouldn't have seen any of that drama. I was sitting on my garden swing when the telephone rang. I let the answering machine get it. "Mikan, its Ruka. I heard about what happened from Hotaru. Just give him some time. He'll come around." I wanted to pick it up and cry out how hurt I was to Ruka but I already did that this morning when Hotaru called to check on the extra money I was supposed to send to her.
That entire month I heard nothing from Natsume. It was like he was in another country again. I mean maybe he is in another country shooting a movie or something. I stopped being so overly emotional right after Ruka-pyon's call. I needed to straighten out my life. My life isn't supposed to revolve around Natsume. I straightened out what I had left to do in that theatre before I officially leave. They purposely gave me all the hard roles but all were the protagonist. Since I started here I've never played an antagonist. Weird. I bought the house I was staying in with the money I earned from the book and the movie.
I filed through pieces of paper at home. Receipts, scripts, mail and unfinished poems. The highest pile were the unfinished poems. Some were long but had no sense and most of them were written after Natsume and I's misunderstanding. The poems were written on scraps of paper cause I couldn't find that dang notebook.
3 Months Later
I opened my eyes. Wow. I wish everything was just a dream. "Stop thinking." I said to myself. I hate it. Everytime I think, I think of Natsume. Recently my hobby has become sleep. Sweet, sweet sleep. It takes away the pain from me for a few hours. I dream. I dream of him. That everything's alright. Even if they're not. I looked at my surroundings. I guess I fell asleep in front of the TV again. I also love the TV. Especially those dramatic novellas. Their lives seem worse than mine. Its sort of a comforting thought. But I try to distract myself. I go back to what I do most days. I just sit there and stare into space. I wonder. Has he eaten? Is he taking care of himself? Does he get enough sleep? Does he think of me at all? I'm not good at moving on. I never have been. I guess I'm back to being emotional.
I guess a walk will help me. I intentionally left my mobile. I don't need Hotaru to tail me today. As soon as I got out of the house I felt blinded by the sunlight. Has it been that long since I left the house? There wasn't any reason to leave the house. I walked into the local park. I really need the air badly.
After walking for a few minutes I sat down on a bench. I tilted my head back. "I miss you." I murmmered. "I really do." A stray tear rolled down my face. I wiped at it. I closed my eyes. I remember his face. His crimson red eyes. "This moving on thing really isn't working." I whispered. "It would have been fine to lose everything if I still had you." I screamed. A sob escaped my chest. I was crying finally crying. "Natsume...Natsume...where are you?" I repeated like a lost child. After a few minutes I stopped crying. I was walking back to my house. I'm glad I got all that emotion out. I was still a block away but I could clearly see someone standing outside my door. No. This had to be a dream. I continued walking. He was looking straight at me. I was crying again. He ran to me and held me tight. I held on to him like he was my life line. "You're back." I said. "Hn. Back for good." I cried and he held me. "You wouldn't let me explain what happened. And..." He kissed me. "Shh...I know. I was wrong. I'm sorry. I love you. You know that right? " I looked at him through my glassy eyes. "Yes. I know that. You know I love you Natsume-kun don't you?" He held me. "Hn."
I still couldn't believe he was back. I couldn't stop crying. I think I'm irritating him already. But we're just here on the sofa. He's holding me but not looking at me though. "Why'd you come back?" I asked. "Nosey Girl." I pouted. He smiled. "I guess I've hurt you a lot." He said with all the guilt buried in his words. "Natsume-kun I don't care about the hurt part. I just can't think about me without you anymore. I'm just glad you're back." I smiled. "So, why did you come back?" I asked again. He looked at me with a laugh in his eyes. "Imai came." My eyes widened. "She's here?"
"I am." A cold, soft voice said. "Hotaru-chan!" I ran to hug her. To my surprise she actually let me hug her. "Hyuuga was is such an idiot. I had to personally knock some sense into him." She said nonchalantly. I laughed. I really missed having Hotaru-chan around. Turns out she came to my rescue.
"Oi Baka, Have you lost something recently?" Hotaru said while we were eating lunch. I nodded. "I lost a notebook again." She held up my notebook. "Where'd you find it!" I was at Hyuuga's house and I found this lying on his coffee table." "NATSUME-KUN!" I screamed. "Why do you always have to steal my notebooks! Steal something else for a change!"
"Hn."
3 MONTHS LATER (BACK IN JAPAN)
"Hello welcome to McDonald's. May I take your order sir?" I smiled at the costumer. His face showed indifference. A perfect facade but I could see love in his eyes. "I'll have my order for take out." "What will that order be sir?" I pretended to push the buttons on the LCD. "I'll have you for take out." "Okay then that will be worth a welcome back kiss and and I love you." He jumped across the counter. Pulled me in his arms and drew me in for a gentle kiss. "I love you." I breathed.
"CUT! That's a wrap people!"
"Mikan, the I love you in the end wasn't part of the script but I loved it." The director said and gave me a pat on the back before going to the camera men. Natsume walked in step with me. He was still upset that I dragged him into this romantic comedy. He hated the stuff. I guess I can never go back to being the counter girl but at least I could play her as a character.
"I love that I get to kiss you on the job." I said to Natsume as we walked back to my trailer. "Hn. Well I love our off-cam kisses better." I giggled as he pulled me and kissed my head.