Author's Notes: Hey minna-san!!! I'm thankful for your reviews and reviews-to-be (is that a word?) -bows- So without further ado, I present to you chappie 9!!! -claps in the background-

Natsume: Tch. Didn't I told you to stop saying those cheesy lines?

Me: -ignores Black Cat- Hey do the disclaimer for me…

Natsume: I'm not a slave that you are bossing around!

Me: Shut up and do as I say…or else…

Natsume: Or else what?

Me: I'll tell Mikan that you loved her!

Natsume: Tch. She doesn't own GA and she never WILL!!!

Me: Good.

Natsume: Shut the hell up bird brain!

Me: What the- come back here you freak!

Natsume: -stuck out tongue and sprints away-

Hikari: I guess Kuro-Neko had gotten the authoress's nerves again. Well, read and review!!!!

Chapter 9

Mikan's Situation

Natsume's POV

I'm a bit freaked out by that snake with many scrolls on his body. I was really frightened by the thought of he will bite me. But I never thought that he would need my help. Anyway, I agreed because he gave me an item that would help me through my way. I can sense many infuriated and restless spirits lingering around the freaky, poison-filled misty and corrupted forest. I cannot use my fire to them because THEY are souls NOT humans.

"So, where and what kind of wicked creatures are the next riddle-giver? Err…not really wicked but…I got the word! Bizarre creatures!" I muttered triumphantly.

"Oh well, I better find out." I thought indifferently.

Then…an ear-piercing scream came out of nowhere and invaded my pain-stricken eardrums. I can see many crows flying around hysterically.

………………………...Inside the Castle of the Sorceress at the Forbidden Mountain……………………………………………………………………...

Mikan's POV

I woke up from my slumber and tried to get on my feet. Just then, my attempt failed. I realized that I was tied up at a wall. My hands are parted and my feet are tied together. If I was being watched from afar, I form the letter Y of the alphabet. I scanned the room with my big, brown hazel eyes. The room is big with a queen-sized bed and a lavender colored-comforter. The walls are in a deep color of red and a mat is lying freely on the floor. There is a lamp on a bedside table and a golden chandelier in the middle of the room. There are two sofas in the middle of the room and an oblong table at the center. I also notice a long sofa at the end of the bed. The sofas are pink in color. I was amazed at that sight. Then, came in a woman with green permed hair and emerald eyes.

"So how's your sleep YOUR HIGHNESS???" she mocked at me while emphasizing the word 'your highness'.

"Sumire! What have you done! Let me out of this disgraceful place!" I yelled my lungs out.

"Oh Princess Mikan of Sapphire Castle, it's been a while isn't?" she addressed me as if I am a real princess. Well, I am a princess but this damned witch destroyed my life!

"What do you want now, old-fashioned hag?" I asked while narrowing my eyes and glaring at her with my coldest, meanest glare that promises a tragic-filled death.

"Oh don't look at me like that. It breaks my heart so much." She cried, crocodile tears.

"Duh. Like it will." I replied dispassionately.

"Anyway, I'm going to put you down first and you eat your food." She said while she snapped her fingers.

The ropes that tied me loosened up. When I'm almost near the ground, I immediately pushed my palm on the floor and did a graceful back-flip to land safely on the carpet. Yeah, she tied me about 2 meters away from the cold carpet.

"Nice landing." She commented.

"Heh, unlike you who never knew some gymnastic moves." I said coolly. I can sense that she was pissed off by the mean time.

"Well, I'm being a little kind to you Princess. So, don't you ever disgrace my name, understand? Now, when you tried to open the door to escape, the ropes will get you and tie you up again. So better watch your moves." She hissed at me while I just glared at her.

When she left the freaking room, a young boy about the age of 13 or 14 with dark blue hair and sapphire eyes came in and bring me food. He has a blue star below his left eye. I immediately noticed that he was one of the villagers at the Sapphire castle because of the blue star under his eye.

People who dwell in the Kingdom of Sapphire had a trademark. Every person has a tattoo on the parts of their body. The color of the tattoo depends on the color of their eyes.

"Hello, and who might you be?" I greeted him.

The boy blushed for some unknown reason and he placed my food at the small dining table and walked up to me. Then I heard an empty and grumbling stomach. I know that it is not mine so I faced the boy. He blushed again and smiled at me.

"I supposed that it's your stomach that made noise." I stated.

"I'm sorry, I won't do it again." He bowed at me several times until I tapped his shoulder and he stared at me with great pain and hurt in his sad blue eyes.

I immediately smiled at him and said, "Who might you be?"

"Tsubasa. Tsubasa Andou. And you're Princess Mikan right?" He asked with gleaming eyes.

"Y-yeah. I'm glad that you recognized me." I said with dropping a sweat.

I heard his stomach grumble again and he punched his stomach. I sweat dropped at the scene, grabbed his hand and brought him at the small dining table at the end of the room.

"Ok, here, we'll share meals." I said while looking seriously at his sapphire eyes.

"N-no I can't." he said while blushing.

"Come on, it's ok. Have a bite here." I immediately stuffed him with a sandwich.

"Ifs feally ofay?" he asked, the sandwich still stuffed on his mouth.

"Of course silly! I can't let my people starve, can I?" I asked while inching my face with his. Then he immediately blushed a good shade of red. I chuckled at the sight of his red face.

"Thanks." He said while flashing me a breath-taking smile. –insert fainting ladies-

As we finished our meal, he stood up and thanked me again. He said he should go back to work now. I pitied him because he was tortured at a very young age. I nodded in agreement and blessed him. He thanked me again.

"Thanks a lot Princess. I might've been dead by now because I haven't eaten for months." He said.

"Don't mention it. You know, I want you to call me Mikan. I hate being addressed as a princess ok?" I asked him.

"Ok M-Mikan." He stuttered. I can sense that he's not used to it.

"You'll get used to it by then ok?" she winked at him.

"O-okay." He stuttered.

"Whenever you're hungry, feel free to knock at my door and eat with me." I flashed him my brightest smile.

"Okay." He said while smiling too. Then he left.

………………………Back at Natsume in the err…freaky, poison-infused mist and corrupted forest……………………………………………………………………………

Natsume's POV

I stomped off angrily and the crows fly in fright when I glared at their hiding place. I was pissed off by that ugly spirit 3 hrs ago.

-flashback 3 hrs ago-

"So, where and what kind of sadistic creatures are the next riddle-giver? Err…not really sadistic but…I got the word! Bizarre creatures!" I muttered triumphantly.

"Oh well, I better find out." I thought indifferently.

Then…an ear-piercing scream came out of nowhere and invaded my pain-stricken eardrums. I can see many crows flying around hysterically.

Then, an ugly spirit came running towards me while she still screams. My eardrums are bleeding (not literally) at that time. I want to get out of the forest immediately. I run towards her while passing through her soul. She chased me and we go round and round the forest. Soon, I got pissed off her and glared daggers at her. She smirked.

"You're such a handsome boy. Finally! I found my prince!" she declared as she run towards me.

I stood there dumbfounded. Never in my life I saw a soul that can speak and the most bizarre thing is that she can love! I immediately snapped out of my day dreaming and watched out for the 'attack' made by the stupid ghost. But, it's too late. She threw her cold arms at my neck. I stiffened and I can't even move. My eyes widened in shock and fear. What the hell is this stupid ghost going to do to me!

"Hey get off me! Don't molest me! You stupid ghost!" I shouted at her.

"You can't get me off coz you can't touch me!" she said and smirked.

"Just get the damn hell out of here! Don't molest me! Don't you dare touch my skin! I hate coquettish creatures like you!" I screamed my lungs out.

She just smirked at me. Then she closed her eyes and she inched her face at me. As for myself, I keep frozen because of shock and fear. I can't believe I've been shut up by this ghost. Me, the great Natsume Hyuuga, been shut up by a ghost. I can't believe her. But then, what freaked me the most is that I can feel her cold lips in my cheeks. She was kissing me! I immediately backed away and surprisingly, she let go of me then she smiled.

"You can out me in the orb now." She stated. I immediately obeyed.

"Be careful ok?" she asked then she was sucked in.

I nodded but then she left a red mark on my cheek that pissed me off.

-end of flashback-

Then, as I was walking now, I saw a tiger.

Author's Notes: Well, i hope this chappie doesn't suck right? Oh yeah, Hikari is my own character. Hikari Kamigaoa is his name. I named her Hikari becoz it means light if i am not mistaken.

Hikari: -bows-

Natsume: Tch.

Me: -smirks- so do you love mikan?

Natsume: huh?

Me: oh my God! i'm going to tell mikan! -runs to mikan-

Natsume: Get back here you bird brain!!!

Hikari: they never change.

Ruka: right.