The SUPER DUPER MEGA ULTRA late update is finally here…

MESSAGE:

Look, I'm really sorry for this VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY, I think you got the point, UPDATE of mine. You're used to the reasons guys… I wrote my first oneshot, MY POOR LITTLE GIRL, as a way of expressing my apology…

Plus, I made this chappie extra long for all of you…

Have fun reading!!!

Disclaimer: Not mine. Don't own it. Never will.


CHAPTER VIII: Howalons and Missions

"What do you want?" They said almost at the same time.

Persona straightened the folds of his black coat. His lips grew a smirk.

"My neko's seem to be on a bad mood today." He said to almost no one as he still straightened some loose folds on his coat. Neither Natsume nor Mikan answered. Instead, they just fumbled with their hands, readying their alices for any trouble.

"You both owe me something. Going out on mission trainings without my consent or permission. A high misdeed I must say." Persona said now directly at the two of them.

"Like we care." Natsume replied mockingly.

At this, Persona narrowed his eyes. A not-so-good feeling called fury was building up on him. Using his untarnished control over his emotions he calmed himself. "Shall we say, it's my business to deal with."

"Cut the crap Persona. What do you want?" Mikan said joining in the conversation.

"I'll let that mistake pass… for now. What I want Shiro-neko? The usual. Mission tonight, 12:00 o'clock by the Academy gate. You could use some of those trainings you did without my permission." Persona said in almost disgust.

"I'll go with Shiro-neko." Natsume said.

"That's not for you to decide Kuro-neko. Shiro-neko alone and no more."

"She'll not go without me." Natsume retorted

"Perhaps you could go with her. But that'll mean some new controlling devices for our Shiro-neko here. You have your decision." He said while retreating and disappearing from thin air.

"Natsume." Mikan said while looking at here. Natsume still looked at the spot were Persona disappeared. "I can manage. Besides, it's not like the first time I've been on solo flight. I'll be okay. Promise."

"I don't want you with any of those devices. But I don't want you risking your neck all alone."

"You just got to trust me."

Natsume sighed. "I guess so." He glanced at the digital clock beside the bed. It says 3:00 pm. An idea hit him. "Hey, wanna got out?"

Mikan looked at here almost comically. "Now you're asking me out."

"Better than sitting here being worried sick."

"So you're worried sick huh?" She asked teasingly.

Natsume poked her head. "What do you think?"


"Hotaru!!!" Mikan exclaimed as she saw her best friend coming towards them with her boyfriend Ruka.

Baka. Baka. Baka.

"Ouch! What was that for Hotaru?!? I didn't try to hug you!" Mikan said while rubbing her head that was hit by the Baka gun.

That's for NOT trying to hug me. "You're too noisy." Hotaru said in her monotone.

"Meanie." Mikan almost whispered.

"Oi Natsume!" Ruka called out.

"Yeah?" Natsume asked.

"What's with the sudden double date?" Ruka asked back.

"Ask the Baka. It was her idea."

"Hey pervert, it was your idea to go out you know!" Mikan exclaimed. "And besides, I miss hanging out with my best friend, and the best friend of my boyfriend. Mikan said emphasizing in disgust the word boyfriend.

"Whatever." Natsume replied.


The two couples went to central town. According to Natsume, Mikan was so annoying for the fact that she kept pestering him to buy Howalons every single hour and then pesters him again to try some for every box that he bought for her. Hotaru was practically dragging Ruka while ignoring the fact that her boyfriend was now carrying eight shopping bags and other grocery items that she bought. After persuading Hotaru to let Ruka rest for a while, Mikan directed them to a cozy restaurant where they drank tea and ate cakes. Poor Ruka though because in the end, Hotaru blackmailed him again to pay for the orders. Mikan heard Natsume mumble something that sounds like daughter of the devil.

After hours of nonstop shopping and strolling, Hotaru dragged everyone, specifically Mikan, into a movie house with a now showing sign of a horror movie. Natsume was positively annoyed yet again for Mikan was too scarred that she almost spent the whole movie clinging and burrowing her head to his shoulders while screaming everytime that creepy music plays. Natsume teased her endlessly as they got out of the movie house, Mikan though was now recovering that she managed to tease back. Finally, they ended sitting at a long bench by the sidewalk.

"Whew, that was fun." Mikan said, exhausted.

"Yeah, but you're still annoying the whole time." Natsume said while smirking.

"Why you-" Mikan was cut off.

"Right." Hotaru added.

"You too Hotaru!?!"

"See, you're annoying again."

"Waah! Do you really need to team up for that?!?" Mikan exclaimed.

"Shut up." Hotaru and Natsume said at the same time.

"Hey, don't be so hard on Mikan." Ruka said to the rescue.

"-Sniff-sniff-Thanks-Ru-sniff-ka-" Mikan managed to say.

"Err, welcome."

"This is pathetic." Hotaru said almost bored. Her cool eyes averted from Mikan to the bright sunset that was visible there at Central Town. Natsume smirked a bit before nearing Mikan while teasing her for being such a cry baby- that my friends is the closest possible way of Natsume Hyuuga comforting.

"C'mon, you look definitely ugly when crying." Natsume said convincing Mikan.

"Whatever." Mikan said while drying her baby tears. She made a bright smile- the kind of smile she displays every time she sees Howalons. Yep, the big, goofy, cheery, childish smile.

"Let's go home." Hotaru said nonchalantly

"Yeah, I guess we better go back now." Ruka added. The other two nodded in agreement.


Mikan crouched behind a stock of big wooden boxes. She had just accomplished her mission- stealing some powerful alice stones from the AAO. Now- the only thing left to do was to get the hell out of there. Judging by her current situation, getting out of the enemy vicinity unscathed will be not that usually easy.

The whole building was echoing with police-cars-like-sirens. Men were scattered in every corner and guess what- she has to pass them all.

"I'm gonna be late for class if I don't get out of here quick." She mumbled slightly. Out of the blue, she suddenly remembered that little stupid and also funny promise she hurriedly gave to Natsume before leaving.

Flashback

11:30- half an hour before midnight; half an hour before Mikan's mission.

Natsume was quietly lying on the bed- Mikan's bed that is. His hands were on the back of his head, eyes absentmindedly staring at the ceiling. He looked at the messed up blanket beside him- that was where the idiot was sleeping before that stupid alarm clock did its annoying routine.

The bathroom door made a familiar clicking sound and right then, he knew she was ready for her 'academic business'. Mikan emerged from the bathroom wearing a full silky black suit. She tied her hair in a neat ponytail, wore a somewhat ballerina looking flats and carried her mask by her left hand. She glanced at the digital clock by the wall- 11:40. Great, she still got a few minutes for a quick chat. She silently walked through the room and stopped to sit at the edge of the bed

"Uhm..." She mumbled trying to start a conversation.

"…"

"Natsume…?"

"…"

Mikan now stared at him who is still staring at the dumb ceiling. "Do you want to say something?"

Natsume now looked back at her. "No." He answered flatly.

"That's mean." She retorted.

"You'll be late. Go."

Mikan sighed, hopefully, she thought Natsume would say something more, uhm, concerned.

"Yeah, I guess so." She stood up and headed towards the balcony. She'll just skip from trees to trees until she reaches the academy gate- walking is not a normal thing to do on missions.

"Polka." He blurted out.

Mikan stopped dead in her tracks. She smiled a bit inside.

"Be careful, and come back early." He said with a tone of –yes- concerned.

"Don't worry Natsume-kun. I'll be back and we'll have breakfast together, promise."

Natsume just looked at her with a smirk. She smiled at that, the first time his smirk made her smile.

End of Flashback

"Damn! I'm definitely gonna be late for OUR breakfast at this rate." She said cursing.

She used her invincible alice to get past through tons of guards. No need to watch over sensors- they're all viciously alarming. Just then, something hit her at the back.

'They could sense my alice, and I thought they were stupid enough not too.' Mikan thought as she bended feeling the pain all over her. Because of the pain, her body became visible again.

"A girl? Impressing..." She heard a masculine voice whisper. She looked up only to see a gorgeous tall male with copper hair and dark blue orbs.

With a sense of expertise, she quickly found out that the guy had for an alice- strength.

"You're from the Academy." He said as a matter of fact.

"None of your business." She said so casually while standing up, making a few paces between them.

"You screwed up with my business here." He replied coolly

"Sorry, but it's my business to screw up with other people's business."

His face made a smirk. "I like that. Anyway, why are you not using your teleportation alice to get out of here?"

'How did he know I got that alice?'

"I'm not that dumb not to know." He said.

'He's a mind reader too?' She asked herself confused. To save the problem, she scanned him again for any other Alice. It was positive- he only got the strength alice.

"I got my own sources." He said again almost knowing the confused look on her face. "And with you Shiro-neko always messing up with the AAO, it's no wonder how we got it."

"What do you want?" She asked cautiously.

"Nothing." He paused for a while. "Tight alice measures preventing you from teleporting?"

Of course Mikan knew about this. The AAO had a good alice nullifier for certain alices, probably created by her mom, but that's another story. The AAO won't really nullify completely all the alices in their area. Most of their powerful men are also alice users. So that's it, she can't use some of her alices because of that security system. She watched as the guy drew some electronic device out of his pocket and pushed some random keys.

He finished typing with the device and placed it back on his pocket. "There. You can teleport now."

Confused but happy for the chance, she found herself teleporting from the AAO base to the academy gate where Persona was waiting. After some fast talks, she headed back to her now empty bedroom. She glanced at the digital clock- 3:00 am.

Just enough for some quick nap and she could then fulfill her promised breakfast.

"Weird." She murmured thinking of the guy at the AAO building before falling on a deep slumber.

To be continued…


Thanks for reading BUT DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW…

Nothing much to say… Drop by my other fic anyway, you know what it is…

SO SICK INLOVE is already updated with Chappie V…

Ton's of MIKANTSUME thingy's I must say… That ought to make you happy…

Love lots,

-aiyensakura02