He was angry. He didn't know why, but he was. Something stirred inside him whenever he saw the two of them together. Mikan Sakura and Kazue Takashina. It had only been a few hours when he saw the two of them under the sakura tree. His sakura tree, where nobody else was allowed. Nobody. It had only been few hours, and they seemed to be everywhere he went, getting on his nerves. He wasn't jealous. No he was not. Why would Natsume Hyuuga, the heartthrob of the Academy, be jealous over a girl like Mikan? He could get the best in the academy, with a blink of an eye.

But she's not like the rest… She's different.

He snorted. Sure, different. No other girl would have triple servings of everything available and yet have space left for dessert.

Sure has a nice body, considering the amount she eats.

Wait, he thought. Where did that come from?

Admit it, Hyuuga. The annoying voice. How he wished he could beat the hell out of it. You're attracted to her.

He snorted. Sure, attracted. What is there in her that could possibly attract me? She's ugly.

Though it is attractive, the way her skin glows in the moonlight, the way her eyes glow gold whenever she's angry, the way her long auburn hair sways in the wind, making you wonder how they would feel, tangled in your fingers…

He swore ripely, as he scowled at the closed door of their suite. There was no way, absolutely no way that he'd think about Mikan that way. It was as if he were in…

He swore even more as he opened the door to let himself in. She was in too, he noticed. Thinking itself best to just lock himself inside his room till his hormones were under control again, he trod across the living room, towards his room. But he stilled when he heard the voice.

"Stop it now… that tickles."

It was followed by a feminine giggle. Most probably Mikan's. He froze at his doorstep.

What tickles? Wait, is that water I hear?

Yes, it was water, along with more of Mikan's giggles.

Why do I care? I can't go into her room. She'll probably scream bloody murder. He thought as he approached her door. And stopped at the sound of her voice. Or rather, at her words.

"I need to get dressed you know, what if someone walks in?"

She wasn't dressed, he realized. Not dressed and with somebody in her room. In her bath.

His eyes flared up, as he damned manners and tried opening her door. He was surprised when it clicked open, but all sane thoughts left his mind as he stepped into her room.

He had absolutely no business there. Especially when she was fresh from her bath, clad only in her bathrobe. A thin ivory bathrobe. His throat went dry as he took in her appearance. Her hair was damp, framing her face. Her face was flushed, her eyes had a glow to them, making them look more gold than caramel. Her lips slightly parted, as she noticed him in her doorway, and the hands that were currently holding a towel, froze. He looked around the room, which, somehow was both immaculately clean and flawlessly messy. Books were scattered around, around with a few CDs. She had a good sense of colours, he decided, as he took in the sight of her room. Lots of pillows and cushions lay, everywhere. On the bed, the ground and one was even lying on the windowsill. The colours were bold, and vibrant. Just like her, he thought. Before he looked the other way and spotted the army. Of stuffed toys. In all colours, shapes and sizes. A purple pig? Exactly like her. He smirked because he knew that he was perilously close to laughing, and he knew, by the look on her face, that laughing would be the worst thing to do right now. She stood up, more furious than surprised. His jaw almost hit the ground when she bent down and scooped something into her arms. Something small and furry and fresh from a bath.

A puppy. He almost swore.

Jealous. Of a puppy. Not a good sign ,Hyuuga. He gritted his teeth as the beagle looked at him, giving him puppy-dog eyes.

Cat vs. Dog now, eh?

Mikan walked forward and duped the dog on her bed, while Natsume just stood where he was, watching her as she stopped in front of him, her eyes flaring and her hands on her hips. He could almost see the steam coming out of her ears.

"Explain."

One word. Delivered with such fine aggression, control and fury that Natsume had to give her credit. In his mind, of course.

He just cocked an eyebrow.

"You have a pup."

Mikan's nostrils flared, she took a step ahead, looking like a wrestler, readying himself for either a good punch or a tackle.

"What are you doing in my room?"

Anger bubbled inside her, almost blinding her totally. The nerve of him, walking into her room, just after she had taken her bath.

"Fine! I was just passing through and I heard… well, I heard noises so I thought I'll just come and check on you. Well it was just you and you pup. I'll just leave. "

And before Mikan could blink, he was out of the room, shutting the door behind him. She blinked for a minute, before bursting out in laughter.

"Well, that was some exit, wasn't it, Orion?" she said, wiping the tears that had formed in her eyes, before she looked at the furry bundle in her hand and love flooded through her. She nuzzled at it, causing it to yelp in pleasure.

Some things never change do they, she thought with a smile, before she got up to get dressed.

Damn, he thought. Almost destroyed his reputation, and for nothing.

Good thing it was only a pup…If it were something that walked on two legs and had a…

Wait. What was it to him if she were with a guy. Not his problem…unless he were…jealous?

He scowled at the thought, hardening his features and giving him a rather ragged look.

Absolutely no problem. I just don't want my privacy intruded upon. I'm not gonna have some guy over here doing…

He scowled even more. Doing what exactly? He would love to see a guy lay so much as his little finger on her.

Jealousy…not a good sign Hyuuga. You're acting like a lovelorn idiot.

"I'm not jealous." He told himself. "I'm just…concerned. The idiot is too stupid to notice any guy making advances at her. She'll probably let him…fucking hell." He swore as he realized what he had been thinking of. Not that it was his fault, she just looked so fragile and tender, like a flower…and so vulnerable, with her hair all wet and her skin still glistening from her shower.

He swore ripely when he found himself wondering if she liked her showers hot or cold.

There go hormones again…maybe I should just get a drink and read myself to sleep…

He looked up at the sky. The sky was glimmering with stars. He thought of her with him the last night, and of what she said about believing on wishes 'once'.

Who are you, Mikan Sakura? He thought. And what plagues you?

He frowned when he noticed a white object out on the balcony, which he hadn't noticed till now. He pushed open the doors and bent down to pick it, a sinking sensation in his stomach. He was not going to be getting his drink or the peaceful night, was he? The paper had only three words written on it, but there were no need for more.

Tonight. 10 sharp.

He sighed, weariness replacing the frown on his face. He turned back and walked indoors to prepare himself for the night that had only just begun.