14. Kyoto?
It took more than 45 minutes to see Subaru Imai back in the scene. Natsume felt his presence in front of him and opened his eyes.
"Congratulations Hyuuga! You're going to be a father."
Said Subaru as Natsume's eyes widened in terror. He felt as if he was on fire; his whole soul had started to burn down.
"Mikan?" Dropped from Natsume's lips.
"Yes." Subaru answered, looking directly at Natsume's burning crimson eyes. His voice was steady and stern, and his eyes had an accusing gaze in them.
Natsume was broken down, totally. His mind started to replay all the times Mikan had smiled at him, like the morning sun. His heart started to beat rapidly, racing like crazy. For one moment, he was scared that he'd go crazy for real.
What was he supposed to do now? How was he supposed to act from now on? He simply didn't know, but to him, one thing was clear.
"That bastard Kaname!" He thought as he gritted his teeth. Natsume wasn't sure if he should hate Mikan for her stupidity or he should find Kaname and shoot him right on the head for his ruthlessness. He could feel his brain twitching and twisting yet he had no time to deal with himself; he had to face everything before he ran out of time.
"You can go see her, Hyuuga. The tests are over." He could hear Subaru say, breaking his chain of thoughts. Making up his mind to play his new role, Natsume looked up at Subaru and nodded, calmly. Seeing his calm poise, Subaru looked a bit surprised, yet he led Natsume to the room where Mikan was. Natsume on the other hand, wasn't sure if he'd be able to make it, but had already made up his mind not to hurt her by any means.
Before he entered the room, he looked at the brunette who was sitting on the white hospital bed, resting her back against a pillow, through the plain round glass on the door. Seeing her staring at the empty wall on the opposite side, Natsume felt a huge pain inside his heart. How could he just go in and yell at her for her foolishness? He just couldn't.
"She doesn't know it yet." He could hear Imai's stern voice coming out from nowhere.
"Hn." Natsume replied and opened the door at once. He walked in and closed the door behind him, softly. Now, everything was up to him.
As he walked in, Mikan turned her head and looked at him, smiling faintly.
"What did they say?" She asked as she fixed her eyes on him, yearning to know the truth about her condition. Hearing her direct question, Natsume's ears bled. What was he gonna tell her now?
"Nothing much." He said in reply, cool and calm as ever. Good thing Natsume was always good at hiding emotions.
"Nothing much? Huh? Didn't they say I'm gonna die soon?" Mikan asked mischievously as she stepped down from the bed, adjusting her dress. Seeing her getting ready to leave, Natsume stopped in the midway, a few yards away from her. His gaze was fixed upon her doll face. To him she looked younger than ever that day. How could she become a mother to a child? There was no way. There was indeed no way! "Wait till I find you asshole!" Natsume thought as he pictured Kaname in his eyes.
"Natsume… What're you thinking about?" Mikan asked out cutely, looking at Natsume's dreamy eyes.
"Nothing. Wait here. I gotta talk to Imai before leaving." Natsume said and turned to leave the room at once.
"You aren't hiding anything. Are you, Natsume?" Mikan asked out of the blue, making Natsume stop in the midway.
"No. Stay right here." He said as he walked out of the room, his fingers forming a fist.
"It's too late for something like that." Subaru said. "She's suffering from malnourishment. Guess she's been skipping meals for a long time. So… in a situation like this, we can't risk anything." He paused and gave Natsume another accusing look. "The best you can do is to help her raise the baby." Subaru continued. "You should've thought of these consequences before you involve in such a deed." He completed his speech, making Natsume grit his teeth again. He was being accused for something he had never committed, yet he never wanted to tell anyone that it was someone else's fault. Helping her raise the baby wasn't a problem at all, but how would she manage to live with the shame she'd gain from this? That was Natsume's only concern. People may blame him, but, no, NOT her.
"She's of age. We'll figure something out. After all, it's my child she's bearing." Natsume said as he looked directly into Subaru's eyes, determined. His eyes had lost the fear and anxiety they had had before a few moments ago. They were no more restless; they were steady and focused instead. Even Natsume himself was surprised at the way he told Subaru that it was his own child she was bearing. He had become a universal liar, for the sake of Mikan. He could bear any disgrace, he could break any law in the name of Mikan.
"If you're this firm about your decision, why won't you tell her yourself that she's…" Subaru stopped as his eyes caught someone new, peeping through the door. It didn't take much longer for him to recognize who that was.
"Hi brother." The intruder spoke as Natsume's eyes widened in shock.
"Hello sister." Subaru Imai, replied in an emotionless tone. Natsume didn't wanna turn and look at the raven haired girl who was walking in the direction of where they were, for he already knew who was coming.
"Hi there, Hyuuga." Hotaru Imai greeted as Natsume looked down and sighed, bangs covering his eyes.
"So what're you doing here, sister?" Subaru asked as he pointed his eyes on his sister and smiled falsely. Hearing his question Hotaru smiled back at her brother and turned to look at the crimson eyed lad sitting in front of the office table with his eyes half closed.
"I heard my best friend was secretly taken here by someone. So I had to come and check on the situation, you see." Hotaru said as she looked at Natsume sarcastically. But Natsume didn't bother to look back at her; he had his own personal matters to think about.
"So…what were you saying, brother?" Hotaru asked as she turned to face her brother again, concerned.
"Mikan's pregnant." Subaru Imai said without hesitating, as Hotaru's sweat dropped. Natsume still kept his eyes covered with bangs and didn't look up. His ears seemed to be used to hear those shocking words by then. This whole morning had been a shock to him, so there was no need to be shocked again.
Even before Hotaru could recover from her shock, their attention was caught by something else.
It was her, standing by the doorway, clutching her heart with her right hand. Natsume could see she was about to collapse, so he ran towards her and took hold of her shoulders.
"I told you! I told you to stay there!" Natsume said as he looked right into her teary hazel orbs, pissed off. Hearing his firm words, Mikan clutched his shirt with both of her hands and looked into his fiery crimson eyes, she could see they were gleaming with anger.
"Why… Why didn't you tell me Natsume! You lied to me! You liar!" She started to punch Natsume on his chest, crying hard and loud. Natsume stood there, still like a stone pillar, his eyes focused on her brunette hair.
"Why didn't anyone tell me! Why is it always me!" She said as she buried her head on Natsume's chest, her tears dampening his shirt. Natsume was brought back to earth by the cold sensation on his chest. As he felt her head buried on him, he couldn't help but press her some more into his skin, securing her with his arms wrapped around her back. His hands roamed around her back and finally reached for her hair, caressing it gently.
"This is gonna be okay." He whispered to her ear, unconscious.
Seeing what was going on in front of her eyes, Hotaru could feel her emotionless eyes getting damp a bit. But she was sure that it wasn't for Mikan. It was for Natsume. "You're such a guy, Hyuuga." She thought as she watched them hug each other with intense emotions.
It took more than a half an hour for them to make Mikan feel comfortable with her new position. If it wasn't for Natsume's convincing voice, Mikan would never have agreed to continue living.
"Stay here. Don't follow me, okay!" Natsume said before he turned to leave the room, leaving Mikan and Hotaru alone.
"Where are you going?" Mikan asked, tears rising in her already damp eyes.
"Why would I tell you?" Natsume said mockingly as he turned to face her again. "Stay right here, baka!" He added as he gave her a death glare and turned to leave.
"Don't worry Hyuuga, I won't let her come after you." Hotaru said as she patted her mini baka gun, staring at Mikan who was shivering by now.
Natsume just sighed and left the room, heading towards Subaru's office.
"Here's what you asked for." Subaru said as he handed Natsume a leaflet with some grids and pictures on it. "You'll find all the nutritional facts here. If you do what it says, nothing will go wrong with her delivery." He continued, pointing his index finger at the paper in Natsume's hand.
"Hn." Said Natsume as he took a brief look of the paper he'd been given.
"Check if she's skipping the meals again. If that goes on for much longer, she'll be in danger, needless to say." Subaru's stern voice spoke out again.
"She's in her third month now. Still there's a long way to go. Anything that would harm the baby will harm the mother as well. So don't let her take any misstep." Saying that he put an end to his speech, giving Natsume a bunch of instructions on how to be a better dad.
Giving him a slight nod, Natsume stepped towards the door.
"Don't let her know anything about this." Natsume said out suddenly as he stopped in front of the door.
"I won't. But you won't be able to keep this hidden much longer. Kaoru will get to know this, sooner or later." Subaru said, sitting back on his chair, focusing on his documents.
"That won't matter. For now, just keep your mouth shut." Said Natsume and walked out of the door, wondering about what Subaru had said earlier. He couldn't help but feel fatigued when he remembered of his mother. He couldn't imagine how she would react if she got to know that her favorite child was expecting her first baby. She would simply go crazy, Natsume could say that.
"Is your wife alright?" A cheerful male voice called out, breaking Natsume's world of thoughts into pieces. He turned his head to look at the intruder.
"This scumbag again!" Natsume thought as he gave a death glare to the blonde man who was standing beside him with his eyes sparkling with happiness.
"Oh… I mean no offence! Umm… I heard she's pregnant, isn't she?" The blonde man spoke without a halt, still in his cheerful voice. Hearing what he had said, Natsume's anger reached its peak.
"You overheard us, didn't you? Asshole!" Natsume said as he grabbed him by his collar, pissed off.
"Oh! No no no! Calm down kid! I'm just trying to help you." The blonde man said, utterly terrified. Hearing what he had said Natsume dropped him, his crimson eyes had started to burn with curiosity, mixed with anger.
"Help me? What for?" He asked, mockingly as he walked towards the blonde man who was trying hard to keep his distance from him.
"Listen now boy… I could see your situation right from the beginning. So I thought if I could help a young couple through such—" He was cut off buy an annoyed-to-death Natsume Hyuuga.
"Listen you old Jester! I don't have time to listen to your stories!" Natsume said in his most annoyed tone and turned to leave the scene.
"I can help you find a place to live hidden from the world!" The blonde man said out in his most convincing voice, as Natsume stopped in the midway. It seemed to have caught Natsume's attention.
"What did you say?" Natsume asked as he turned back to him, looking at his sparkling eyes, surprised.
"Yes. You heard it right. I can give you a place to live with her. I'm renting houses in a village far away from Tokyo. So I thought if you two could be my new tenants…" He stopped in the midway to see if Natsume was interested. As he was, he started his speech again, more cheerfully.
"It seems you're interested young man! Okay! Here's my card! Contact me whenever you want." Said he as he handed his card to Natsume and smiled like a gay man. Natsume just gave him a brief look of disgust and placed the card inside his pocket.
"Then! See you guys as my new tenants! Till then, bye!" Said the extremely happy blonde guy as he waved at glaring Natsume and left the scene.
After glaring at his retreating figure, Natsume took the card outta his pocket and read the contents.
"Narumi L. Anjou, huh." Natsume said as he flipped the card from one side to the other.
Some unknown hours had passed when they were finally on the road to their neighborhood. Natsume stopped the car in front of Hotaru's house and looked at Mikan, his eyes were serious than ever.
"Get down from here." Natsume said, his husky voice sounded too damn serious. Hearing what he had said, Mikan was dumbfounded. But Hotaru who was sitting in the back didn't get surprised. She could sense Natsume was up to something really serious.
"Let's go Mikan." Hotaru said as she opened the door and stepped down. She didn't know what Natsume was up to but she had silently vowed to help whatever he was planning to do, 'cause she knew Natsume was the only person on earth who could help Mikan get through this trouble.
"But… Why?" Mikan asked, as she looked into Natsume's eyes; her eyes widened with curiosity.
"You go with my plan or what?" Natsume asked, annoyed. His heart had been a total mess the whole morning, sorting things out, planning what to do and what not to do and now, she was asking questions? No, he couldn't bear that.
"C'mon, let's go baka." Hotaru jumped into the middle before Mikan could think of a reply.
"Umm okay." Said Mikan and struggled to free herself from the seatbelt. Seeing this, Natsume bent over and helped her out, slapping her hands away, gently.
"Now go and have something to eat." He said as he opened the door from inside for her to step down.
"Hai!" Mikan replied as she stepped down and smiled at his gleaming crimson orbs.
"C'mon." Hotaru said as she took the hold of Mikan's hand and led her way through the gates. Natsume's crimson eyes couldn't keep themselves from staring at his brunette until she disappeared from the door.
It took more than an hour for Natsume to drive back to Hotaru's house where Mikan was temporary kept. No one knew what his plan was till he himself mentioned it to them in simple terms.
Hearing Natsume's footsteps at the door, Mikan rushed outside with Hotaru behind her.
"Natsume! You're back! Where have you been?" Mikan asked as if she were a total lunatic.
"Let's go." Natsume said as he grabbed her hand and led her way to the car, leaving Hotaru alone in the doorway.
"Natsume! Where are you taking me?" Mikan asked as she was being dragged away.
"We're leaving to Kyoto."
So people! That was my 14th chapter! Strong and Long! Haha! ;-)
It's like this fic isn't gonna end anytime soon. It's getting longer and longer…
Do you like it people?
Anyway! Kyoto! What will happen in Kyoto?
I'll give you a hint! It's the place where their real ROMANCE will start! Haha!
Hope for the best!
And wait for my next chapter!
Tell me if you have suggestions about where this should go and stuff like that!
And oh please please review! I Love reading your reviews and they are the power that keeps me attached to this story!
So please! Review!
And oh!
xMikanNatsumex, newroz, cposcabee, HaCel and Timey Wimey Detecter
Thanks for your touching reviews babes!
Love you all! 3
-Awful Nightmare-