***Chapter 8***
"Oi, Mikan. Mikan. Wake up." Natsume lightly tapped Mikan's face.
"Unnnn…" She groaned.
"Finally. I was—" He didn't finish his sentence. He was looking straight into Mikan's auburn orbs. They were tantalizing.
One of his hands was cupped at her pale cheeks. The other was holding her head up. His fingers were tangled in her silky coffee hair. Her head was resting on his lap. The two of them felt very comfortable.
They were centimetres away from a kiss. Natsume couldn't take any more suspense. He wanted her now.
No. Not now. In time. Someday.
Out of nowhere, flames erupted. They were at the school grounds. They were probably in danger now. Mikan looked franticly at Natsume. Her eyes were asking him.
"No. This isn't the work of my Alice. I don't control this fire."
Then suddenly, icicles attacked them. Natsume covered Mikan with his body. Better him injured than her was his thought.
The pain didn't arrive like he expected. He looked around.
"Hey, this place and event look familiar…" Mikan said from underneath him. He didn't notice he was hovering above her. He rolled away, letting his bangs cover half his face. He braked in time. He was 5 inches near being burnt.
"Odd, the flames don't hurt." Her hand was going through a flame. "It's an illusion!" Mikan called to Natsume. She walked through the flames and neared the shadow up ahead.
On the other hand, Natsume noticed some movement in the shrubs in front of him. He heard what Mikan said and strode over to the shuffling leaves. He was sure this was a memory of something. It was so goddamn familiar.
He closed in. He saw Mikan sitting there, white with fright. Now he remembers! It was that fight last night with the Ice Alice! How did she get there? Did she see him? Oh no! That boy in the middle of the flames was—
"NATSUME! He was YOU??"
He ran to where she was. He was livid. He saw what she was looking at. Natsume in the illusion was fighting the Ice Alice. Suddenly, the attacks stopped and he looked around. The silhouette was gone and Natsume darted past the walking Mikan who was too tired to make heads or tails of what she just witnessed.
"Why didn't you tell me you were there? I could have explained everything to you!"
"And then what? You'll just lie to me, too? You didn't even tell your best friend your problem! The more me! I don't matter that much to you, right?"
Wrong. You don't know how wrong you are.
"Whatever. What were you doing there anyway? That was in the middle of the night, for Pete's sake!"
"I couldn't sleep."
"So that was your great excuse?" Natsume said sarcastically.
"Alright already! I was scared of dreaming. I don't want to remember."
"Hn." She was that traumatized of the encounter at the lake? Or is it something else? There's no way to make sure.
"Fine. Don't believe me. I don't care anyway." She ran away, tears spilling in her eyes. There it was, that pang in her chest. It hurt. She darted to the exit.
"Great. Just great. What was that for, Imai? I didn't make her cry before you interfered!" He said to no one in particular. Though, he knew that she was behind all that. One plus one equals two. Who else would have known about that?
"Mikan told you about what she saw last night. You immediately deduced it was me. Well, you were right. Are you happy now?"
The exit brightened up and in came Hotaru with her dramatic entrance. Fog crawled at her feet. Dim lights shone around her slender body. She raised her hand and brandished her Baka Launcher 3000.
Natsume rolled his eyes and dodged. BAKA! BAKA! BAKA!
Hotaru rolled her eyes. "Show-off."
"Well?" He panted.
"You were right about everything. Except the last part. I'm not happy at all. She's not happy."
"What did I do?" He repeated.
"Because of that little episode you did that night at the lake, she couldn't sleep. Ever since that time, she's been having these bizarre dreams. I check on her often. Last night, I noticed her light was on. It was already past 12. I invited myself into the room with a duplicate key I made. Her bed had been slept on but she was nowhere in sight. I assumed she took a walk. The next morning I checked on her. She told me a most interesting story. That was what you saw earlier."
"What has that got to do with our deal? I didn't make her cry."
"Maybe you didn't intentionally. Unfortunately, she cries at night because of you. So I had to tell her. You're lucky I didn't make Tobita show her the lake." She turned around and started to leave.
"Make?"
"I'll give you something as an appeaser. You might not want to know, but she calls your name while she dreams." She smiled and exited. "How adorable. 'Mikan'." She murmured while leaving.
"What the heck?" He was confused. Why'd she just say that? Weird. Hotaru and her riddles. Tch.
Mikan! Where did she go? He ran out of the Haunted House and searched for her. She could be anywhere.
Hn. An idiot like her could find trouble even if it was ten miles away. He chuckled miserably. But, he continued seeking Mikan.
Her room? Nope. Not there.
Bathroom? Of course not.
Mess building? Nah. She might be a pig, but this isn't the time to be eating.
Classroom? Natsume poked his head in like all the other places he visited. Not here.
SA classroom? No.
Central Town? …
Park? Nobody's seen her there lately…
Only two other places she would go to. Sakura tree or rooftop. Which one first?
He sauntered off to the Sakura tree. To get there, he had to enter the elementary school building. As he opened the cafeteria doors, he noticed Ruka sitting quietly eating his afternoon snack. The boy became aware of Natsume and called out to him.
"Natsume, how long have you been there? Sit down, have a bite. Are you looking for Sakura-san? She seemed upset, you know. Was it because of what Imai-san did? I'll have to speak to her about this. She promised Inchou that neither of you would be hurt. I guess she didn't mean that."
"She talked to Tobita? That's how she let Polka and me see. What the—you mean you were there?"
"Uhmmm… Yes. I saw everything." Ruka blushed. "I never knew you were so intimate with Sakura-san, Natsume. Were the two of you always this way?"
"Tch. Forget everything you witnessed. That Imai was just fooling around." He was annoyed. Damn it. Ruka saw what happened!
"Oh alright. Whatever you say, Natsume. You do know you're the winner right? Sakura-san is at the rooftop." He walked away without listening to what his best friend had to say.
Natsume stood up and pushed the table away from his being. Great. Now everybody would know what happened between Mikan and him. He knew Ruka. His friend wouldn't tell anyone, right?
Hey, Ruka said Mikan was at the rooftop. One of his guesses was right! Suddenly, the flame caster stiffened. He was aware of the presence of someone else. Natsume turned around and saw his adviser and 'coach', Sergio Rei. His codename is—
"Persona." Natsume spat. It wasn't an acknowledgement, it was a curse.
Natsume hated everything about Rei. Everything from his mask to his black over black get-up; from his Alice Suppressors to his Alice itself. Persona knows this but he acts like he doesn't care. He nodded in response. Rei was standing in the canteen's doorway, arms across his chest.
"For the second time in a few days, what do you want?"
"Nothing. It was just amusing that I would see you joining the school festival. Normally you would just sit by your tree and sleep. I never knew that the enrolment of that different coloured cat could change you so much." He stared at Natsume menacingly. As he spoke, he took a red rose from a vase and twirled it around his fingers.
"Don't you dare touch a single strand on her head."
"I wasn't planning to. Perhaps the boss would." He was speaking nonchalantly.
"Shut up." He was 3 meters away.
"You were the one who started the scathing."
"Whatever."
"Do remember that one wrong move from you and she's out." Persona curved those disgusting lips of his.
He turned around spun on his heel and rested his head to one side. The DA teacher narrowly missed the fireball hurled at him. The flame only singed his jet black hair. He chuckled lightly. "Just one." And then he walked away, tossing the crumbling rose near Natsume's feet.
"Go to hell."
Mikan saw everything. She was shocked.
Natsume turned the corner and got his share of shock.
"Mikan? What are you doing there? Is there something wrong? You look pale."
"Uhmmm… Natsume, I'm sorry about what I said earlier. I wasn't thinking straight. I must have been disoriented because of that scare. I-i-i-i-i—" Mikan blushed.
He put one finger on her lips. "Shush. Don't say another word." Natsume smiled gently. Mikan blushed deeper. She couldn't stand his touch.
"Uhmmm… I-I-I-I-I—" Mikan stammered.
"I said no more. Now, tell me, why were you so worked up when you knew that I was fighting that Alice? I don't matter that much to you, right?" He quoted.
You don't know how wrong you are. Mikan blushed even deeper.
"It's because-- Uhmmm,—"
"Well?"
"Hey! What right do you have over me? Are you my master? Am I your servant?"
"Actually, yes."
"Oh right. No questions asked, huh?"
"I'm so surprised you remember!" Natsume said sarcastically.
"Darn. I guess I have no way out?"
"That is correct." He teased.
"So why do you call me Mikan?"
"You're straying."
"Well you can't blame me! What's with this position? I'm in your arms and you're hand is on my waist and the other is on my face! Who won't be intimidated?"
"Are you saying you're intimidated? I could always change the position." He shifted his arms. Both were now around her waist.
"I think I like this position better." Mikan blushed crimson.
"So, I have fulfilled your wish. Answer my question."
"Uhmmm, well… I was worried. You could have been hurt."
"Hmmm, you were worried?" Natsume flicked a stray strand of hair from her face.
"The hell you care." This remark was weak. In fact, Mikan's knees were starting to give. She clung on to Natsume's shirt.
"Oh I care. It's my life you're upset about." He looked into her eyes. She averted his gaze. If their eyes met, she felt like she would be sucked in.
"Uhmmm…"
"What can I do that you won't cry anymore because of me?"
"Just don't turn away from me and leave me alone again."
"Your wish is my command."
***Ruka's POV***
I should probably turn around. After all, I left Natsume there alone to ponder my last remark. I probably shouldn't have done that. Drat. Why'd I follow Imai's order anyway? She said she had something better to do and made me sit in the canteen.
Everybody's at the park today. I saw a black clothed man walk away from the school building. He's creepy. Way creepier that Andou-senpai and Harada-sempai together. Whatever. I hurried to the cafeteria. Natsume and Mikan-san were close together. Leave it to Natsume. Of course he'll hit on her. She's so pretty. Ugh. What am I thinking?
I hid behind the vending machine. I watched them both from a distance silently. I didn't hear everything—I was too far. I could see them clearly, though.
They both looked so intimate yet comfortable. Heck, they look like a couple in that potion! Queer.
I heard footsteps behind me. I turned to see who it was. Andou-senpai! What's he doing here? He's so loud! They'll hear him and then see me eavesdropping. Great.
"Oh, there you are Mikan-chan! Everyone's been searching for you everywhere! So this is where you've been all along?" He smiled.
"Tsubasa-senpai!" Sakura-san broke away from Natsume's 'embrace' and charged to the shadow manipulator. She jumped and hugged him. "I was so scared at the Haunted House! It was so creepy!"
"And here I was thinking that Hyuuga-san here wouldn't let you get scared. I'm disappointed in you." He chuckled. "I was so worried. Your friend Ruka-pyon was upset too!" He exaggerated then turned to me. Sakura-san lifted her head and looked at me.
"Ruka-pyon! Were you there all along? How long have you been there?" She was clearly full of anxiety. No wonder. With that act, every fan girl is going to kill her.
"I wasn't here long. I just happened to pass by." I lied. Well, it was half-true!
"Oh."
I looked at Natsume. His face was stoic but still I could see that he was concerned. He probably thought that I would tell. I smiled at him and came over. He was looking daggers at Andou-senpai.
"I think we should eat now. I'm famished."
"Hn."
Andou-senpai carried Mikan-san and went away after saying adieu. Natsume was still glaring at senpai's retreating back. I see it now! He's jealous of their intimacy! How odd.
As we left for the mess hall, I whispered to him, "I'm not telling. Don't worry."
He just glanced at me and continued walking.
***End of Ruka's POV***
***Normal POV***
"Are you alright, Mikan-chan? You look a little red. Could it be because of that Hyuuga?"
"It's nothing." She hid her face. "You can put me down now, senpai. I can walk, you know."
Tsubasa chuckled lightly but consented to her majesty's wishes. "I know, I know. If he hurts you, I won't hesitate to—well you shouldn't hear what bad things I want to say." He smiled teasingly.
"Ugh. Senpai!" She was a bit irked. Tsubasa just laughed at her.
"Sorry, sorry…"
"It's fine. Don't tell anyone."
"Of course not. How could I? You're going to be murdered by his girls if that spreads around."
Mikan kept silent. If Tsubasa knows about the incident with the fan girls on her first day, there's no telling what he'll do. Her only resort was to smile.
After a few more minutes of small talk, they parted ways.
It was night. The air wasn't cold but it wasn't hot. The temperature was just right. Wind occasionally blew through the still trees. Light from the lit lamp posts along the path stood.
For Mikan Sakura, it was one of those nights when she couldn't sleep. Her mind was too preoccupied to rest. She needed to think things through. So, she took a walk once again.
This time, she headed to the Sakura tree. It was quiet and peaceful there. The park was just too…empty.
The brunette traversed the stone laden pathway to the place she wanted to go. She was dressed in a black overcoat over her warmest dressing gown.
Mikan sighed. It was an exasperated sound. She arrived.
"What are you doing here?" A familiar voice came from above the tree.
"I couldn't sleep." She wasn't shocked. She recognized the voice.
"Lame." Natsume jumped. He landed unharmed.
"Then what excuse do you want? I wanted to watch the stars in the sky."
"Dumb. It's cloudy."
"I wanted peace and quiet."
"Stay in your room, lock the door and sleep."
"I wanted to take a stroll."
"Take a stroll in the morning. There are way better things to see in the morning."
"I wanted to smell the fresh night air."
"It's too cold."
"Ugh. You're impossible."
"Glad to be of service. Now, why are you really here? I want the truth."
"I stink at lying. Sigh. I wanted to get away from something. I don't want to remember."
"That's the second time you said that."
"I don't care. You wanted the truth, there you have it."
An awkward silence enveloped both of them. Seeing that Mikan wasn't going to talk anytime soon, Natsume thought it better to be the first to speak.
"It's getting late. I'll take you back to your room." He said starting to stand.
"Oh. I see. I think I'll stay here for a while longer."
"No." His tone was firm. "It's nearing midnight. I want you back in your room."
"No. I want to watch the stars a bit more."
Natsume groaned inwardly. "So stubborn." He sat again.
"Oh look! A shooting star!"
"What's so great about a mass of dust particles and ice zooming across space? Honestly, I don't get it." He said emotionlessly.
Mikan wasn't listening to him. "Natsume! Hurry! Make a wish." She closed her eyes and involuntarily grabbed the raven's hand.
Natsume's eyes widened. He glanced at her hand on his. Flame boy hung his head and covered his face with his raven locks.
***10 Minutes later***
Mikan was starting to get sleepy. Her eyelids drooped. She leaned on to Natsume.
So warm… So comfortable…
Natsume just gawked at her action. He took of Mikan's jacket and covered it around her body. He circled one of his arms around her shoulders and hugged her close to give her more warmth. Then he looked to the sky and sighed contentedly (?).
If only time would stand still, just this once.
A/N: So actually, the end part, I really wanted that Natsume would say that sentence when he was having a great time with his friends. But I saw that I would do just fine here… So I just put it there… I had also planned that there would be a stroll between Natsume and Mikan under the moonlight but I couldn't manage to fit it… Maybe sometime in the next chapters? BTW, d'ya think t'was too cheesy? Please tell me and review. Thanks.