***Chapter 9***
Mikan woke up to find herself in her room. Odd, she doesn't remember getting in her bed… By the way, where's her jacket? The last thing that comes to her mind was seeing a shooting star then…
"Oi. Are you awake yet?"
"She sat up startled and looked around frantically for the source of the voice. She turned her head to the left and there sat Natsume. The lad was loitering in her sofa.
"What the heck are you doing here?"
"Tsk. Is that the way you thank somebody for bringing you back to your room? How ungrateful." He smirked.
"Oh yeah! I fell asleep… Hey, did you get any shut eye at all? You seem to be very comfortable there."
"It's none of your business. Your living room's a mess. Clean it up. You look like you live in a pig sty. The Academy gives you a decent room…" Again that same crooked smile.
Mikan wanted to change the subject. She was a bit uneasy with Natsume criticizing her room. After all, he was right. Even Hotaru said so more than once before.
"Hey, how'd you get in here anyway? Do you have the key?"
"How idiotic of you. The door was open."
"How'd I get on this bed?"
"I carried you here."
"How?"
"Do you want me to demonstrate?" He stood up and started to come nearer.
Mikan started to blush furiously. "Wha-wha-wha-what are you doing?" She inched back.
"Why? You asked me how. I'm just going to re-enact…" He smirked mischievously, going even closer.
"Don't come near me! PERVERT!" She screeched. The girl was now as red as a ripe tomato. Her index finger was pointed to him accusingly while the other hand was scrambling for the blanket, trying to cover herself.
Steps could be heard in the doorway. The twosome stopped in their tracks. They listened to the rhythmic sound. It was calm yet intent. It was ominous.
The door opened slowly, you know like in the horror movies wherein the victim forgets that she hadn't locked the door and now the serial killer was opening it. Mikan sweat dropped. Natsume braced himself. He already had a good guess who it was.
BAKA! BAKA! BAKA!
Shots from the Baka Tunnel 2.0 thundered to Natsume's direction. He dodged them with a tad of difficulty. He panted.
BAKA! BAKA! BAKA!
A second wave flew this time to Mikan. Mikan, who we know is an idiot, of course couldn't evade them. Not even a single chance. No hope for her.
"Imai, don't you think that's too hard on your best friend?" He was talking to the wall, hand across his chest, turned away from the door.
"No. That was not even close. She was too loud. You were irritating. That is all." She turned and left.
"Hn."
Mikan was too shocked to speak. She only recovered her voice when Hotaru was out of their sight.
"Oh. She went away."
"Get dressed. The festival ends tomorrow. Jinno is after my blood. He needs to see the two of us together. The Haunted House took much of our time in the dark." He threw to her the towel. Her face caught the damp cloth admirably. It hung on her messy head. Natsume sat back down. He was bored.
Mikan consented to his whims. What else could she do? She was under his reign. She sighed. She took her shower. The water was cold. Mikan shivered. When her body was wet, she lathed on her hair her favourite shampoo. She rinsed her head. Etc… After finishing her bath, she dried and covered herself with the towel Natsume flung to her. Her auburn hair lay limp across her bare shoulders. She stepped out of her bathroom to find Natsume sitting on her couch.
"Natsume, what are you still doing here?"
"You have a problem with this?"
"Uhmmm… No… I don't think so…"
"Hurry up. Sloths move faster."
"Hey, who are you to boss me around?"
"I have already answered that question. I don't have to repeat myself."
"Whatever. Just turn around."
"Why? What's wrong with my position right now?"
"Just as you said, I have to dress. Turn around or get out."
"I'll do nothing of the sort."
"I said turn around. Cover your eyes or something." Mikan's hands on her hips. She was a bit irritated.
"I'm not retarded. You don't need to repeat. Wear something decent." He callously waved his hand and headed for the seat in front of the window.
"That's better than nothing… I guess this is the most I can get out of him…" Mikan said to herself. She proceeded in clothing herself. There were no classes for the whole festival so they get to wear civilian clothing. The brunette wore an outfit that suits her personality: fun and bubbly. She had a yellow sundress that ends just above her knees patterned with really cute flowers all over, yellow gladiator shoes, no bangles. As usual, her hair was in ponytails.
After checking her reflection in the mirror and thinking herself decent, Mikan sauntered to the living room and stopped dead in her tracks. Natsume looked at her head to foot. Then he shrugged and walked out swiftly. Mikan followed the raven after locking her bedroom door.
"Where are we going? You haven't told me anything yet." She was beside Natsume.
"Central Town. Jinno needs to see the two of us together or else we'll get detention." He answered with his voice and face devoid of emotion, hands on his pockets, walking in his own pace. (A bit fast)
"Oh. Sumire told me something about that place. Isn't that supposed to be the miniature city inside the school where they sell anything?"
"…"
"Is it that you don't know or you won't answer me?"
"Tch. I don't need to answer useless questions."
"Really." She was crestfallen. "And thought you were finally getting nice…" She pouted. And what a cute pout it was.
"Whatever." Natsume looked away.
"Natsume! There you are!" Ruka called from behind. The duo turned around and faced the blond boy. He was beaming. "Ruka-pyon!" Mikan greeted. Natsume just nodded in response. Upon hearing Mikan, Ruka blushed.
Mikan now turned to Natsume. "Hey, Natsume, why aren't you with Ruka-pyon? I mean, you two are always together…" She trailed off.
"That's because I'm here with you." It was now Mikan's turn to blush. Natsume wanted to cut his tongue. Damn his witty mind. Ruka sweat dropped. "Dimwit." He finished.
"Shut up! Pervert! And I thought you weren't going to call me names anymore…" For the second time she pouted. Natsume rolled his eyes. Ruka looked from Mikan to Natsume then back to Mikan.
"You assumed wrong." He stuck out his tongue. He continued on his way. Ruka and Mikan followed suit.
"I thought Natsume won the bet." Ruka wondered aloud. Natsume paused then stared at the thinking boy behind him. Mikan was flabbergasted. "How did you know that?" "I was with Imai-san." "Hotaru knows, too?" "Uhmmm…"
"Ruka, isn't Piyo going to wonder about you? Hey, the Howalon store is having a sale." He said out of the blue. Mikan forgot everything that Ruka said and dashed away to the Howalon store, leaving Ruka who was heading to the Southern Forest.
"The Howalon store isn't having a sale, Natsume." She said when they were in front of the shop.
"No? So than means they were giving out Howalon for free?"
"They weren't, either." She pouted.
"Go inside and try it out." He said, appearing bored.
"Alright." She did come inside, but only after clutching Natsume with her like a bag. She opened the grand looking double doors and peeped inside. The candy store was full of boxes of Howalon, box after box after box after box in shelf after shelf after shelf. There was strawberry, honey, vanilla, peppermint, apple… Every flavour you can think of! It was Howalon Wonderland!
"KYAAAA!!! Howalon!"
"Tch." Natsume rolled his eyes. "I'll stand by my belief." Mikan jumped from one shelf to another. She picked up one box and then the next. Poor Natsume couldn't do anything but tag along. This is the last resort. Mikan shouldn't know that Hotaru is in the bet. The more that Hotaru has a deal with Natsume. He groaned inwardly and continued to suffer his torture. "Hey, it's not like it's the first time you saw a store." "No… But it's still exiting!" Mikan beamed then skidded away to another sample.
Finally, Mikan made a decision. "I'll take this one." She said, pointing to a large cone with puff balls inside. It was strawberry. Typical. She grabbed one cone and dashed to the counter. Behind it was a jolly man in his middle ages. He looked amiable. This is probably the manager or the owner. He was smiling heartily at them.
"Welcome! What can I do for you?"
"Wrap this up please!" Mikan said with a smile. "Uhmmm, how much?" She took out her purse and stared at the pitiful content. She pouted.
"For the pretty lady, it's on the house. After all, it's not everyday couples go on a date, right?"
"Tsk. We're not dating." Natsume said grumpily.
"Oh… Denial stage. Don't worry, I won't tell anybody that the two of you are together." He winked and held out his hand for Mikan to place the purchase. A nerve popped in Natsume's head. "I'm pissed."
Mikan sweat dropped. "There there, Natsume. Calm down will you?" She patted him on the shoulder then turned to the man in front of her. "On the other hand, maybe I'll just eat it this way. Thanks anyway!"
"No problem! Come again!" He replied to the retreating backs. "Those kids look good together. Hehehe" (He must have a problem with his brain…) He said to himself.
"Why are you smiling at nothing? You look idiotic."
"It's just that somebody mistook us as a couple and you were pissed off. Hihihi…" Mikan replied while giggling unstoppably. Natsume rolled his eyes. "Be glad I didn't send him a fireball."
"Don't be so grumpy. You'll get wrinkles." She giggled again. "By the way, what are we going to do today? It's still early. I don't think Jinno-sensei will be here."
"Shopping." Mikan almost choked. "What?"
"Tomorrow's the Last Dance. You're supposed to wear your best. I already checked your wardrobe and nothing in there suits my taste. Imai agrees with me."
"Hotaru? I thought you weren't in good terms with her? Are you hiding something?"
"What's between your friend and me is between us. Mind your own business."
"But—"
"Shut up. Get in there." He pointed to the store in front of them. It was big. On its windows were dresses that looked really grand. "Pretty! Hey, Natsume, aren't you coming with me?"
"Sure I am. I'm not going to let you pick the dress alone. Pigs have better taste than you."
"I completely agree with you." A voice came from behind them. Hotaru had appeared out of nowhere.
"Hotaru! What are you doing here? And why are you with Ruka-pyon?" Mikan was shocked and puzzled. Hotaru doesn't normally mingle with guys. She usually hangs out in her lab, finishing her inventions.
"Well, Sakura-san, when you dragged Natsume with you to the Howalon store, I walked in the direction of the Southern Forest. I met Imai-san on the way and she told me to come with her. We found the two of you here by chance." Ruka explained. Actually, this was only a half-truth. Perhaps it would be more appropriate to change the word told to forced. Typical Hotaru. She had an evil glint in her eye. Mikan saw through what Ruka said and shuddered. Her best friend was creepy.
"You didn't answer my question. Why are you here? You said you were going to start a new gadget Hotaru. Aren't you supposed to work it out? Ruka-pyon, doesn't Piyo miss you? Wasn't that the point of the break up earlier?"
"Baka. You ask too many questions. Get inside. I'm getting impatient." Hotaru pushed Mikan and Ruka inside. She just glanced at Natsume. "You are going to pay." "I don't care. I'm rich." Hotaru rolled her eyes. "Hotaru? Natsume? What's taking you so long? Hurry up!" Mikan called.
"I should have brought Sumire with us. She would have given me tips." Mikan pouted. Hotaru sat on a comfy chair. Natsume was standing while Ruka took in the surroundings. The store called itself Pretty and Prim. The walls were powder blue with touches of baby pink. Furniture scattered here and there matched the motif. The floor was marble. Clothes racks provided wonderful garments. The store was well lit. All in all, it was good.
"I'd rather you didn't. Girls are noisy, especially you. Pick one and try it on." Natsume ordered. Mikan shrugged and randomly chose a dress. She then entered the dressing room. "It's a good thing this place provides matching shoes with the get-ups. How do I look?"
"You look fat."—Hotaru. Mikan chose another one.
"Ugly."—Natsume. After another dress…
"It doesn't match you, Sakura-san."—Ruka. Mikan went back inside.
This went on and on and on. Here's how things went out:
"I hate that colour."—Hotaru
"No tubes. Do you actually want guys to think you're easy to get?"—Natsume (At this remark, Ruka glanced at Natsume unbelievably. He couldn't believe he was that concerned about Mikan…)
"Tacky."—Hotaru
"Boring."—Natsume
"Shows too much leg."—Hotaru
"…"—Ruka
Finally, Natsume couldn't take anymore. "That settles it. You don't have any fashion sense. It's nearly closing time and you haven't found anything that suits you. Ruka, go on first. You shouldn't take this torture."
"Alright, Natsume. I need to see the animals of the forest anyway. Good luck with your search, Sakura-san. Imai-san, I'll be off. See you soon, Natsume." He smiled and left. When he was gone, Natsume turned to Hotaru.
"Imai, find something."
"No. Let this idiot suffer. It's her fault she can't find something satisfactory here. If not, you look."
"You'll let your best friend down?"
"You got that right. I fancy Jinno hasn't seen the two of you yet?"
"Afraid not."
"Take this idiot with you and go around the town. Jinno is here somewhere. You're bound to find him. He's bound to find you."
Mikan sweat dropped. These two were speaking like she wasn't there. "I'm still here you know." She notified them. The two drop dead gorgeous ravens pretended that they didn't hear her.
"Get out of here. I'll be around. No mischief, Hyuuga. Baka, stay out of his arms." She turned around and left without a single look back. In Hotaru's world, I'll be around means that she'll be watching and eaves dropping from afar. The two of them know this. Natsume isn't stupid. Mikan is stupid but she understands Hotaru.
So, under orders from Hotaru-sama, Natsume and Mikan wandered around Central Town. More than once girls ogled at the undoubtedly hot boy. Mikan didn't care to notice. It wasn't undeniable that a couple of guys took double takes when Mikan passed. These chaps backed away when it was Natsume who glared at them. They're sure to have nightmares for some nights.
Eventually the twosome arrived at the centre of activity in the miniature town. Everywhere they look seems to be in a flurry of motion. Nothing stays in one place for long, except maybe the stuff they sell. But even these are picked up then moved again from time to time.
Mikan was enchanted. She hasn't been to a place as excited as this other than the downtown market at her hometown. Before coming to the Academy, she lived in an out of the way barrio somewhere near the outskirts of civilization. Maybe that's just exaggerating, but where she's from is a far. Natsume, who has been in the school for quite some time, was not aroused in any way in any degree. He just rolled his eyes and scanned the area for Jinno. He set his eyes instead on a young boy with silver blonde hair and greenish grey orbs. Natsume saw the kid about the same time as Mikan did.
"Look, Natsume! There's a kid here, alone." She pointed. "I'm not blind. I can see him. What is he doing here?" The last sentence was said more to himself than to Mikan. The girl was a bit puzzled. What confused her more was seeing Natsume dart to where the boy was and pick him up. Then, he whispered something in the chap's ear. At first Mikan thought he had said something perverted or bad to the young boy until he smiled.
"That's Youichi. Natsume's not related to him or anything, but he treats the 3 year old lad like a brother. You-chan often comes to class to see his onii-san. Lately he hasn't visited. He's in the DA class with Natsume." Koko said. Mikan turned around to face him, startled. Beside the mind reader were their other friends from the classroom. "Ask Mochiage. He's close to Natsume. In a way. I'm not really sure." Koko shrugged and pushed a guy behind him to the front. He was a bit tall, with his jet black hair cropped close to his round head. He was lean and muscular, but not nearly as hot and cool as our dear Natsume. This guy's unbeatable, believe me.
"I don't really know much about Natsume. He doesn't open out to us. If you want to learn anything about Natsume, consult Ruka. Natsume tells him everything." Mochiage said in a deep voice. "Speaking of the devil, Natsume's heading this way with Youichi. Well, Sakura, we'll be going. You don't need any more people in your crowd." Kitsu laughed and hit him on the back. The girls giggled.
"Mikan-san! If you need anything, don't hesitate to find us. We'll be at the fountain. It's said that there'll be a show there tonight." The 'twins' said. "Mikan, why are you with Natsume? Can I come with you?" Sumire asked. "Uhmmm…" "Hey, Sumire, don't meddle with them, will you? They're on a punishment by Jin-Jin." Yuu reprimanded.
"Punishment? You call sticking with Natsume punishment? I say, Mikan that you're in a position any fan girl will die for." She said seriously. "I say, Sumire, come already! If we don't go now, all the good spots will be taken already! Hurry up!" Koko said. Sumire rolled her eyes at her best friend and then looked at Mikan. "Tell me everything. Oh man! The whole festival alone with Natsume!" She practically jumped in place.
"Uhmmm… I wouldn't say alone…"
"So Imai-san is with you huh? Tough luck, girl. You won't get any chance with Natsume-sama at that rate. By the way, hasn't anybody asked you out for tomorrow yet? You know what? Never mind. Somebody will take you tomorrow. Probably even Hotaru-san herself. But that could be weird. Nobody's done that before." "SUMIRE! Hurry UP!" "Alright, alright! I'm coming!" She hollered. "So I'll see you later, then? Bye!" She waved and dashed off to her impatient man.
After the gang left, Natsume made his way to Mikan, still holding Youichi. "Hi, You-chan! How're you doing? I'm Mikan Sakura." Mikan greeted. "I won't ask how you knew his name. Youichi, this woman's my partner. She's also my slave. Do whatever you want to her." He smirked. Youichi turned his queer eyes to Mikan.
"Old hag." He said. Mikan sweat dropped. "Oh." A bit crestfallen, Mikan pouted. "What are you pouting for? How childish. Youichi, go back to your dorm. You know the way. It's not yet very dark and the lamp posts will light your way." Youichi just nodded. He scrambled from Natsume's arms and scampered away. He seemed to be too old for his age. He didn't cry when he stood there alone in the middle of all the fuss. Mikan liked him. She smiled gently.
"I'll stand by my belief that you smile goofily at nothing." Mikan pouted yet again. Natsume was being mean.
As they stood staring at Youichi, Jinno suddenly appeared. Mikan had to stifle a shriek, his arrival was so abrupt. "Ji-Ji-Ji-Jinno-sensei!" She managed to whisper. Natsume rolled his crimson eyes yet again. Honestly, this girl's nervous and surprised at nothing.
"I see that the two of you take your punishment seriously. Very good. Now, about tomorrow night—"
"I'll take care of it. You don't need to succumb to Imai." Natsume said. Mikan couldn't make heads or tails of what they were talking. Being a newcomer and an idiot, she doesn't know anything about their celebrations.
"Alright, whatever you say. I hope you know what you're going to do." He left.
Natsume turned to Mikan. "Come with me." After that statement, he spun on his heel and started to walk away. Mikan, who was too stupefied, didn't follow him. "Oi. What are you waiting for?" Natsume said impatiently. The girl woke up from her dazed position. She then looked at the boy who had his hands across his chest. "Where are we going?" She asked.
"Somewhere where there's a good view. Now hurry up. The show is about to start." Natsume ordered. Mikan had no choice but to go after him. The two climbed a small hill. At the top of it was an old Sakura tree. From this high up, anybody could see the whole of Central Town.
As the twosome arrived at their destination, Mikan was out of breath. "Natsume, don't you think it's a little too far?" "No." Natsume was already seated with his back resting on the tree trunk. He was looking behind Mikan. The girl turned around to glance at what he was staring at.
It was Central Town. Lights glimmered and winked at them from below. From up here everything seems like it's not real. People were as tiny as ants. The hustle and bustle looked even more spectacular. The fountain was sitting smugly at the centre of the miniature city.
"Wow, it's so pretty!" Mikan was awed. She sat down beside Natsume and unconsciously held his hand. "Yes. Beautiful." Natsume wasn't looking at the view.
A few seconds later, the show started. Brilliant lights coloured the splendid waterfall. From afar, the sight was even better. Mikan oohed and aahed throughout the whole show. I will not describe to you what the fountain did with its magic. I think that that is way beyond my powers. I will instead trust you to imagine the performance.
All the while, Natsume was wishing not for the first time in his whole life: If only time stood still.