***Chapter 3***
"Mi—Polka, are you… BLUSHING?"
"I-I-I-I'm not! I'm red with anger! I-I-I-I mean, you took me out of the room for Pete's sake!! Who gave you authority to hold my hand? WHO??!!! " Mikan screeched indignantly, intent on explaining why she was so red. It would have been funny if people were actually there. She blubbered on…
(A/N: I can just imagine it… Hilarious!!)
She looked so funny.
Just then something unexpected happened.
He laughed. NATSUME LAUGHED.
Click.
Mikan was dumbfounded.
What was wrong with the world today?
Click.
What is wrong with that sound? Dunno, but it's just wrong. Wrong, I say.
Click.
Her face was so shocked. She was so stunned.
He was swallowed by another fit of laughter.
Click.
Now she was plain irritated. What's with that clicking noise?
The brunette raised her chocolate orbs heavenward. What she saw gave her the 3rd fright of the day. The third.
Hotaru was looking down on us from her invented flying robot duck, her favourite camera in hand, an evil smile on her face, eyes shining with the dollar sign. It wouldn't be exaggerating if her eyes were neon signs…
***When Natsume stopped laughing***
Natsume only stopped laughing when he noticed Mikan looking up.
His face kept the stoic look but inside, he was nervous. He knew what Hotaru could do. What Hotaru would do. If he does what she wants, she might even consider postponing the revelation. Yes, that's what she'll want. That's what she'll be after. Of course he'll know. He's not an idiot. She knows that, too.
The title "BLACKMAILING QUEEN" suits her perfectly as well as "THE ICE QUEEN"—mostly because of the emotionless façade she wears and the cold mercy she gives to her victims. She doesn't mind the titles, further raising her reputation.
(A/N: I MYSELF CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENED NEXT. EVEN I DON'T KNOW. THEY WON'T TELL ME. WHENEVER I ASK, NATSUME WOULD GIVE ME A DEATH GLARE, MIKAN WOULD LAUGH NERVOUSLY AND HOTARU WOULD INSTANTLY POLISH HER BAKA BAZOOKA 3000. WHAT WOULD YOU DO? JUST REVIEW ME LATER)
***The day before the festival***
***At the School Park***
"So… Tomorrow then? You know where to meet right?" said a nervous Ruka to a silent crowd. Silent AND nervous. The posse was enveloped in a negative aura. Everybody's wondering what happened after Jin-Jin kicked Mikan and Natsume out of the class in the middle of a lesson. (The three of them haven't told anybody yet.)
"Yep. At the front gate right? Until tomorrow." Mikan was the only one who could answer and break the awkward silence. The whole group of friends were there: Mikan, Hotaru, Natsume, Ruka, Yuu, Koko, Kitsu, Nonoko, Anna, and would you believe it, Sumire! Turns out she forgave Mikan and was even friends with her now!!
One by one, pair by pair, they left until only Mikan, Hotaru, Natsume and Ruka were left.
(BTW: RUKA KNOWS. HE WAS HIDING BEHIND THE TREE LINE AND KEPT HIMSELF HIDDEN UNTIL THE THREE PARTED WAYS. SORRY FOR TELLING YOU ONLY NOW. HOHUM… HAIRBRAINED ME… HAR2… T^T)
***The next day***
***Front Gate***
Everybody assembled.
"Yeah!! Let's start!! Wait, are you going pair by pair?" asked Mikan…
"Seems so," answered Yuu. "Nonoko and Anna are going around together, they said Anna had to check on her restaurant-stall(I KNOW, WEIRD, RIGHT?). Nonoko is going to accompany her. Kitsu and Koko and going to try the rides while Sumire and I will be watching to keep them out of trouble. If it's not too much of a bother, we six will to go our separate way from you four."
"Nah, it's fine. You guys have fun!!" replied an exited Mikan. She was dying to get her hands on those Howalon…
"Okay, then. Natsume and I will be heading out, too. Maybe we'll see you later, Sakura-san, Imai-san!" saluted Ruka. He was hurrying because Natsume had already begun walking after muttering "Let's go, Ruka."
Mikan dragged Hotaru to the Howalon store. It was a long line, but Mikan was determined to wait for her precious Howalon.
Meanwhile, Hotaru was still saying nothing. She was too intent on thinking about what would be happening later on. The money she'll get after that isn't far from the thought. She suddenly smiled. She was thinking about the plan she had agreed on with Natsume. (Perhaps it would be better if it stated she had FORCED on Natsume?)
***Hotaru's POV***
The baka was just blabbering there. Hohum. Nothing's fun around here. We've been waiting in line for hours. I'm not the kind of person that waits.
But if it's for money, I'll risk it.
Hyuuga was really a business minded man. Unfortunately for him, I'm way much better at the game than he is. I've been through it longer.
Since I was I child, I have always been goal-oriented. My dream is to be the most successful person in the world. If you think that's easy for a girl like me, you're wrong.
Facts to prove it's not easy:
First: My best friend is an idiot and constantly needs saving from fan girls. I happen to know for a fact that she unknowingly likes that Hyuuga guy.
Second: I am obsessed with this hobby of mine. You know, blackmailing. It's fun. Especially when I take a picture of Nogi. It gives me a feeling of something. I just don't know what.
Third: I may know everything about everyone and may have the power to squeeze the truth of their feelings out of them, but I can't seem to be able to express my own feelings.
Fourth: Hyuuga seems to be an obstacle in my way. He's rich and smart. If he wants to, he can. I don't need to give you an example. It would just be a waste of my time.
Back to the fun. I blackmailed Hyuuga to go near the baka. He has to, anyway. My blackmailing was just for fun. As you can possibly remember, Jin-Jin forced them to stick together during the Alice Festival. If you can't remember, don't come near me ever again. I might be contaminated by your idiocy. You must have gotten it from Mikan.
It seems like you remember. You are permitted to listen again.
I left Mikan who was drooling over the Howalon. She didn't notice my leave. I kind of anticipated that. For Howalon, she would do anything. I turned on a new gadget that I invented.
Let me introduce to you Invention 123: the SPY FLY. It follows the person that you want followed. It is complete with a GPRS and homing device. Its eyes are actually cameras that are connected to a wireless LCD that you hold in your hand. The LCD is touch screen and can serve as a cellphone.
So, I was letting my Spy Fly I dog Hyuuga around the festival. Spy Fly II was following Nogi. The two were together until Hyuuga suddenly looked at his watch and said "I have an appointment with somebody. See you later, Ruka." He ran off and left Spy Fly I behind. I summoned Spy Fly I and II and turned a corner to get to Nogi.
I had in my hand a picture of Nogi wearing a tutu complete with a curly blond wig.
"Come with me."
He knew better than to fight.