Chapter 27 – Summer Jobs at an Inn

The next day, people were packing luggage, preparing boxes to put them, and Ruka practicing on how to invite Mikan to stay at his house.

"Mikan, do you want to come to my house to play? My mom is actually a very nice person." Ruka practiced his speech in front of the door of Mikan's room, "A guy asking a guy about this? That is the strangest thing! Anyways, I only wanted to ask Mikan because he might not have anywhere to go… He can come to my house, that's for sure. We can play together, eat together, and take backs together… and maybe even sleep together.

RUKA'S IMAGINATION:

Mikan was in Ruka's bathroom, naked. Ruka was also there.

"Brother Ruka, should we take a bath together?" Mikan says to Ruka lustfully. Then, Ruka was giggling.

"Okay!" Ruka replied as he was having nosebleed due to the things that he's seeing, "Whatever you want!"

"Then come give me a hand. Come here," Mikan said lustfully, as Ruka continues to nosebleed on both of his nostrils.

END OF RUKA'S PATHETIC IMAGINATION……………………………………….. (YEAH!)

"No!" Ruka shouted, "I, how can I ask Mikan to have a bath together? It's not right, it's not right. It's not right. This… it's not a bad idea to take a bath together. I can help scrub his back for him." Ruka says, scrubbing in thin air as he didn't notice that Natsume was going to his room already (where Ruka was standing), "Scrub here and there. Maybe it'll spark something. Wait… it's not right," Then, Natsume was already behind Ruka, hearing things that Ruka was talking to himself, "Hey, this isn't going to be Alice Academy's broke back mountain. Right, good." Ruka was entering the room when Natsume surprised him.

"Hey," Natsume called to Ruka, "What are you mumbling to yourself about in front of my room? What is it?" Then, Natsume entered the room first, while Ruka entered the room second.

"Actually Natsume, I have something to say." Ruka said as he enters the room.

"How's the packing doing?" Natsume asks as he took out his manga as he went to his bed and read it.

"Almost done," Mikan replied, and then she noticed that Ruka was also there, "Oh Ruka, you're here. Did you have something to say to me?"

"Ah me, something to say… but I don't have something to say. It's not possible." Ruka replied, but Mikan doubts about it.

"Ruka, you've been acting strangely these days." Mikan said to Ruka.

"Strangely, how was I being strange? You were thinking too much of it. I wasn't acting strange." Ruka replied.

"Yeah you were." Natsume said as he faced Mikan, "He was just at the door talking to himself. I don't know what he was saying, but I heard scrubbing backs and fire works."

"DON"T TALK NONSENSE!" Ruka shouted at Natsume. Then, he tried to speak to them, "Okay, I'll say it," He took a deep breath after, "Um Mikan, I was thinking, if you don't have anywhere to go… if you wanted to…" Then, Ruka panicked inside, he started to talk very fast which Mikan and Natsume didn't understand; "Come live with me. I live in a rural area but even though it's not in the city, it's still near the school than your own house. And I have many vacant rooms in my house. Most importantly, my mother is a very nice person. She can cook; cook rice, shrimp noodles, fried oysters,"

"Ruka, Ruka, Ruka." Mikan said as Ruka stopped, "You told me that you had nothing to say to me, but you just told me so much. I can't even understand a single thing."

"Oh, actually there will be no barriers in my house… everyone's friendly there. And I won't ask you to take a bath with me." Ruka said which made Mikan and Natsume kind of bizarre, "No! I… what I mean that there are lots of bathrooms in my house. If you get scared, it'll be okay if you asked me to bathe with you. Right, when you'll come to my house, you'll know."

"Going to Ruka's house, what if I exposed my identity… What will I do? Never mind, I'd better reject him." Mikan thought. Then, she finally talked to Ruka.

"Thank you for being so kind Ruka…" Mikan said to Ruka. He thought that Mikan would be going to his house, "But I think it's better if I didn't go." Those words were bullets to Ruka's heart. He had never felt such rejection. He felt heartbroken inside.

"Oh, I was just casually asking. Treat it as it had never happened. Don't take it too seriously. That's it," Ruka said. No matter how many times he tries to smile, he can't due to the fact that he was rejected by Mikan. Then, Natsume noticed something about Ruka.

"Oh look, Ruka's expression looks more depressing than losing a soccer match." Natsume said.

"Losing a match? Who lost a match? I'm just letting them win, understand?" Ruka said like he didn't care. "Anyways, I'm not depressed at all. You don't even know the situation." Ruka didn't notice that there was a metal like think behind him, so when he turned around, he hit himself – hardly. Mikan was worried for Ruka.

"Ruka, are you sure you're okay?" Mikan asked Ruka, and then he released a manly face.

"I'm fine, no problem." Ruka replied as he headed to the door.

"Go rest early Ruka!" Mikan called.

After Ruka closed the door, he can still feel the pain of rejection. He puts his hands on his heart, and took a deep breath, kind of like the pain was the most painful of all. "Mikan, why did you have to reject my invitation? Why did you refuse to come to my house? This way, I'm really disappointed. What's wrong with my house? Then does that mean that we can never take baths together?" Ruka said with a sad face, hearing violin tunes in his head, a sad song to play his grief, and he bangs the wall and said; "NO!!!"

While Mikan was packing, Natsume created a conversation with her.

"Mikan," he says as he sat down on his bed.

"Yeah," Mikan responded.

"You… you must decided where you're going to stay huh?" Natsume asked.

"Yeah," Mikan replied.

"What if… do you want to come to my house?" Natsume asked. After Mikan heard this, she made her happiest face, "Besides, we're room mates. Then you won't feel uncomfortable. And I just called my mother. She knows that I'm taking a student with me so she's really happy."

"Natsume's house?" Mikan thought, and then she ran outside to the arena, running and running and running because of excitement. Natsume doubted about Mikan's sudden leaving.

"Yeah! Natsume's taking me to his house!!!" Mikan shouted at the arena, running. "Yahoo! Natsume's taking me to his house! I'm so excited! Woo! Natsume's taking me to his house!!!" Then, Mikan rolled herself onto the field, "Natsume's taking me to his house! YES!" But her happiness ended due to realization, "No way! Natsume can't take me to his house. Even if I want to go home with Natsume, I can't accept it. It's too risky." Mikan thought, and then she walked back to her dorm.

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Natsume looked at the clock. It was 3:03 in the morning and yet he's still awake. He was reading his manga book. Mikan was fast asleep, then she stood up, went down going to the restroom. She was sleepwalking then. Natsume noticed, and then Mikan opened the door, and went to bed – but not her bed because it was Natsume's. Then, Natsume noticed this.

"Mikan, why are you awake?" Natsume asked, but Mikan was sleepwalking so she went to his bed, and lied down.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Natsume said, but it was no use because Mikan was asleep. Mikan took Natsume's blanket and arm. "Hey, let go of me!" Natsume shouted but Mikan was fast asleep. Natsume tried to wake Mikan up, but she can't.

"Mikan, you're a girl. You should have some sense of danger. I… I'm a man you know! You must think of me too. Mikan," No matter how many times Natsume tried to wake Mikan up, she stays fast asleep, "If you won't wake up, I'll do something bad to you." Mikan stays fast asleep, "I'll really do something bad to you!" Mikan was holding Natsume's arm, and no matter how many times Natsume tries to get his arm from Mikan, she was too eager to let it go. Then, Natsume realized that there was no other way to wake Mikan up, so he just tucked her in with his blanket using his other hand.

The next morning, you'll be seeing black pentel pen surrounding Mikan's eyes. But don't blame me; Natsume did this as revenge for Mikan barging in his bed. Natsume stole a look from Mikan, and laughed. At last, Mikan finally woke up. She realizes that this wasn't her bed. And when she looked on the other side, she sees Natsume, reading his manga. Then, she sat down immediately.

"How come I'm here?" Mikan asked Natsume, panicking inside. Natsume laughed, but didn't let Mikan show that he's laughing. Mikan was too surprised that she was sleeping with Natsume; she fell down from the bed.

"Are you okay?" Natsume asked Mikan.

"Um Natsume, sorry! Last night, I was…" Mikan said.

"Last night you looked like you were dead and came here to sleep. I couldn't wake you up no matter what, so I left you here." Natsume replied, he was laughing because Mikan looked like she had a mask hiding her eyes.

"It must be that I ran too much last night. It was too tiring, too tiring." Mikan replied as Natsume nodded as his answer. Then, Mikan thought; "(GASP) Oh no, I didn't have my chest protector on. It can't be that I've already been exposed."

"Natsume, I'm sorry that I took up the space from your bed. Did it cause you any trouble?" Mikan asked.

"Oh, it was nothing. We're both guys right? That was nothing, really." Natsume answered.

"Um, yeah, right, right, right. We're both guys, nothing at all." Mikan replied.

"Hey, go wash your face and hurry up. We have to get ready for the closing school ceremony." Natsume said.

"Right, oh yes!" Mikan replied as she stood up and went to the bathroom. When she saw herself in the mirror, she screamed as Natsume continued to laugh.

"AH!!! WHAT"S THIS?!!!" Mikan screamed.

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Mikan was at the infirmary. She went there so Dr. Mei Tian could consult her problems.

"Teacher, I'm begging you! Cooking, laundering, cleaning, and any other household chores I can do. I'm begging you to late me stay at your house. Please, I'm begging! It's just two weeks, please… please…" Mikan begged to Dr. Mei, but he doesn't like Mikan, so he turned his chair around, not facing Mikan.

"I'm not going to accept. Anyways in your heart you know that you really want to go to Natsume's house. Why didn't you accept his offer? Do you know how many things can happen in one summer vacation?" Dr. Mei asked.

"But I already rejected him. Teacher, don't be like this. I beg you, please. Let me stay at your house." Mikan begged, but Dr. Mei stood up and told Mikan his reason.

"I'm going to start my romantic vacation tomorrow. And in my mind, I'm already thinking if I can have an exciting and sexy romance in a foreign land. I don't have time to take care of you." Dr. Mei replied, and then the two heard a voice calling Dr. Mei.

"Brother," a girl called. Dr. Mei was packing his things when he saw his younger sister.

"Oh Nikoru, shouldn't you be at school? Why did you run over here?" Dr. Mei asked his younger sister.

"No matter how many times I've been calling you on your phone or cell phone, I couldn't contact you. I ran from my school up to here just to find you. Didn't older sister want you to help her with her inn? Haven't you remembered it?" Nikoru asked.

"Why of course I remembered it. But it's not like you don't know that brother's very busy." Dr. Mei answered as Mikan sneezed. Nikoru noticed this, and saw Mikan.

"Oh, so there's someone here." Nikoru said. Then, Dr. Mei introduced Mikan to Nikoru.

"Mikan, this is my younger sister Nikoru. She's about the same age as you and still goes to school." Dr. Mei said.

"I'm Mikan and I'm pleased to meet you." Mikan replied as she bowed her head. Then, Senior Nanba came out and talked to Dr. Mei.

"Uncle Mei," Senior Nanba called. Mikan was surprised.

"Nanba-chan, you came here." Dr. Mei said.

"Senior Nanba?" Mikan said.

"Mikan," Senior Nanba also said.

"Did you just call Dr. Mei 'uncle'?" Mikan asked Senior Nanba. Senior Nanba nodded as his answer. "So, you're all in the same family?"

"BINGO! This jerk is my sister's son." Dr. Mei replied.

"Oh my god, one is gay and the other is a playboy. You're really one very funny family combination. So Nikoru is his aunt, right?" Mikan asked.

"Um, I don't want others to know our relationship. Please don't tell others! I beg you." Nikoru pleaded. Mikan nodded her head as an answer.

"Anyways, uncle, my mom keeps bothering me to bring you to her inn to help out." Nanba said.

Dr. Mei went closer to Senior Nan and said; "I'm not going. It's too tiring. Anyways, your mom is a thousand year devil. She's very dependant on my hard earned money every year to get her Botox injections. That's why she looks young and pretty. I'll let you guys be the judge. She traded in my youth for the sake of her beauty. Is there justice to this? Anyways, this year I'd rather die than help her."

"But my mom said that she already guessed that you would say this. So she's on her way to pick you up in about 10 minutes." Senior Nanba said. Dr. Mei widened his eyes.

"Oh, please say hello to your mother for me." Dr. Mei answered as he got his luggage and went to the door.

"Brother, you're… you're already going?" Nikoru asked. Nanba blocked him so he can't escape.

"Wait there," Senior Nanba said.

"Nanba-chan, you're not going to ruin your uncle's happiness aren't you?" Dr. Mei asked.

"Look Uncle Mei, I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing this because if you go away, my mom will kill me. It's a pity for you." Senior Nanba said. Then, Dr. Mei tried to dodge him, and at last, he's free from Nanba. As he went to the door, he said to them; "Goodbye, I'll miss you all." Then, as he opened the door, there appeared his sister.

"Mei, leaving so soon?" His sister asked.

"Actually yes, so will you excuse me?" Dr. Mei said to her but she blocked him.

"You're not going anywhere. This year, you'll be helping me in my inn, okay?!" Her older sister said.

"But sister, I already have a date overseas. Can it be next year?" Dr. Mei asked.

"But your next year never comes. Unless you can hire a replacement for your job, I'll allow you to go overseas." Her sister said. Then, Dr. Mei showed her sister to Mikan.

"Hikaru, this is Mikan and Mikan, this is Hikaru. He could be a replacement for my job." Dr. Mei said to Hikaru. Hikaru went to Mikan and took a closer look.

"I don't know. He's as cute as a girl. Mei, are you sure he could be qualified?" Hikaru asked.

"Yeah, cooking, laundering, and cleaning – name it all and she can do it." Dr. Mei said.

"Hi, I'm Mikan Sakura. Nice to meet you Aunt Hikaru." Mikan said, and then Hikaru pinched her nose.

"Next time, call me Hikaru-chan okay?" Hikaru asked.

"Okay, Hikaru-chan." Mikan replied.

"Ok, I guess I'll be going now…" Dr Mei said.

"Wait Dr. Mei, are their supplies good?" Mikan asked.

"Yeah, food, drinks, everything you need will be there." Dr. Mei replied.

"Okay, you're qualified for my inn. I'll pick you up tomorrow." Hikaru said, then she called Dr. Mei; "Mei, Mei!" Then she noticed that Dr. Mei was gone already.

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Mikan was in her room with Natsume. As they were doing something else, Ruka enters the room.

"What's up guys!" Ruka said to the two.

"Hey Ruka!" Mikan called.

"You know what guys; my mother's company will be staying in Hong Kong this summer. I'll be watching dolphins there! How about you Mikan, where are you going to stay?" Ruka asked Mikan.

"I'll be staying with Dr. Mei's sister, Hikaru-chan." Mikan replied. Then the two were worried. Mikan asked them, "Why, what's wrong?"

"Nothing… It's just that Dr. Mei's sister is very creepy. I heard she's a thousand year devil." Ruka said.

"C'mon guys, housing, food and salary are included too if I worked there. It really suits my expectations, so I accepted it. Tomorrow, auntie- no, Hikaru-chan, Hikaru-chan is coming to pick me up." Mikan answered

"Mikan, don't do it. Do you know this summer vacation; my mom's company will be going to Hong Kong's Ocean Park? Let's go together." Ruka said.

"You already told me that. Ruka, thank you for your kindness, but I promised Hikaru-chan already." Mikan replied, and then Natsume began to worry about Mikan's condition if she stayed at the inn.

"Mikan, I'll go with you." Natsume said to Mikan which made the two surprised. "Um it's because I used up all my money and if I asked for money from my parents that would be embarrassing. Anyways, I wanted a summer job too." Ruka became jealous of this, he decided to come too.

"Yeah, it makes sense! I also think that I'm too old to go to that park with my mom, Seems a little childish. And I always ask my parents for money, it's not too good. How about we all go together? Right?" Ruka asked. Then, Mikan started to doubt about it.

"Hey, what are you guys up to? Hmm…" Mikan was being suspicious about them.

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The next day as expected, Hikaru-chan picked them up. She went down from her car.

"Hey, look at the ghost. She's not really as horrible as Dr. Mei described." Ruka said to Natsume.

"Ohayo, Hikaru-chan. Kochira wa Natsume desu. Kochira wa Ruka desu. They also want to work." Mikan said to Hikaru

"Ohayo Auntie Hikaru." Ruka said. Hikaru pinched his nose after.

"Call me Hikaru-chan or I'll be firing you. Anyways, you two are accepted." Hikaru said to Ruka. Ruka nodded as his answer.

"WOW! So cute," Hikaru said about Natsume's dog, "Is he coming too?"

"Can he?" The three asked.

"Why of course. So, come on let's go." Hikaru replied as the three boarded their luggage, the dog house, and Yujiro.

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"Ok, we're here." Hikaru said as she stopped the car and went down.

"Wow! It's so big!" Mikan said.

"It's so high!" Ruka said. "Mikan, we're going to live here."

"This is too great!" Mikan replied.

"We're going to sleep together Mikan; we're going to sleep together…" Ruka said.

"Oh yes… I'm going to introduce to you someone." Hikaru said to the three as she called a worker.

"Ota Shino! Come here!" Hikaru called, and there appeared a guy. "Mikan, Natsume, Ruka, this is Shino Ota, a 4th year student. During summer vacations, he comes here to work."

"Ohayo, I'm Mikan Sakura, this is Natsume Hyuuga and this is Ruka Nogi. Please guide us." Mikan introduced the three.

"Good morning too, I'm Shino Ota."

"Oh yes, Shino, will you show Mikan the place where she could put the dog house?" Hikaru asked.

"Of course." Shino replied. Mikan was lifting the dog house, as Shino helped him. As he was lifting the dog house, he wraps his hand on Mikan's shoulder. Ruka and Natsume were shocked to see this. Mikan was uncomfortable with this, yet she just gave a fake smile at Shino.

"Hey, look at what that jerk is doing, putting his arm around Mikan. If he wants to put his arm around him, then he can do it tome." Ruka said to Natsume, very mad.

"Oh! You mean Shino? He works really hard. He really likes girls. But Mikan is a guy, so you don't have to worry." Hikaru said as this worried Natsume, "He must think that Mikan's cute and is playing with him." Natsume wanted to see if Mikan will be okay with Shino.

"Oh Ruka, you take care of the luggage. I'm going to take a look." Natsume said to Ruka, as he followed the two.

"Okay, hurry up and go." Ruka replied as he took out the luggage. But he likes Mikan (as a guy.). And then he realized that he's been doped.

Mikan was with Yujiro, Natsume's dog. Yujiro was drinking water while Mikan watched him sweetly.

"Yujiro," Mikan says, "Does it taste good? You're thirsty, huh? Yujiro, good dog, and so cute!" Later, Shino appeared without Mikan knowing.

"Which of the two guys is your boyfriend?" Shino asked which made Mikan shocked. She stood up firm on her feet, and proved to be a man. Shino went near to Mikan.

"Hey man, you must have made a mistake. I'm a guy. How can I have a boyfriend?" Mikan asked.

"You know what, you're very cute. Trying to talk to me as if you were a guy. Is it a trend to change genders today?" Shino asked while Mikan was panicking inside, "Then I must call you… Sakura-kun,"

"Uh, you know what; you've really made a big mistake. I'm 100 percent guy."

"Ah I know! The boss must have made you say that right? She must be worried that I may have eyes for you." Shino brags as Natsume was only behind.

"No, I'm really a…"

"Mikan," Natsume called, "Do you want to go to the room to unpack?"

"Oh, okay! Hey Natsume, I'm telling you that this guy is talking nonsense. He thinks I'm a guy- no, that's not right. He thinks that I'm a girl. Hehehe." Mikan said as she walks away. Natsume gave an icy stare on Shino, warning him to get off. He walked out after.

"She is so fun to play with. This summer is going to be fun. I have my eyes on you, brother Mikan." Shino said.

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PREVIEWS FOR THE FOLLOWING CHAPTERS:

Mikan was running, calling the two, until she pointed at someone, shocked to see.

"(GASPS!)" Mikan reacted. It was SHUICHI with a child. He saw the three and was also surprised that they were there.

"If I don't get a shower now, I'll be dead smelling my stink!" Ruka says as he enters the shower. Then he sees the naked Mikan, showering (she was facing at the back)

"Mikan," Ruka says.

"I totally thought that you and Mikan were dating." Shino says to Natsume, "I never knew that I made a mistake."

"I think that you have misunderstood him. Mikan is a guy." Natsume replied.

"A guy you say?" Shino asked.

"I've noticed that you're more interested in Natsume. Facing a fierce opponent as Natsume, and playing some tricks?" Shino says to Mikan. They were in a private area. You don't know what will happen! Oh no!!!

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END OF CHAPTER………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….