Disclaimer: I don't own GA. ;)
Chapter Four: Risks of a Delinquent
He narrowed his eyes and turned his back against her. Mikan wasn't sure what emotion she saw crossed his eyes but she knew it wasn't positive. She wanted to ask him, if he ever thinks it was easy for her to do this since he knew that she had feelings for him before. Does he think she was just making this to make a fool out of herself and lose him? Does he knew her beyond what is she showing? But then, it didn't matter now. He faced her with cold eyes and pursed lips.
"Do it." She said well more of a command way than it. "You have no choice." She made her voice firm despite the tension.
He looks at her as if she is an alien, "Who told you I don't have a choice?" he challenged.
"Your parents agreed to do it with me. I think that my cousin will surely appreciate that I help you two as well. Everyone is in agreement. Don't ruin the plan with your stubbornness." She pointed out.
He smirked bitterly, "I just went away for a visit to someplace..I didn't walk out completely in your life." He said vaguely but she understood better than that.
She returned the smirk with a proud face, "Well, you might think you didn't walk out completely..but I believe otherwise. And now, Hyuuga please be reminded that when I shut you out..I meant that until I give my last breathe." And she turned to walk upstairs when he caught her wrist.
"Let go." She said coldly.
But he pulled her into a warm hug dissolving all the strength in Mikan. She collapsed on him like a jelly. It was as if he was that powerful to always get the best of her. He spoke, in an agonized beautiful voice that she had dreaded to hear in those years.
"Don't let me go." His voice was thick in her ears.
She closed her eyes and gathered all her strength to push him away, "Too late. I already did." She said dejectedly walking upstairs towards her room. She left the stunned Natsume alone with the words, "Lock the door when you leave. Thanks."
"Ruka, I swear if he didn't come I'll stash his head from his neck." Mikan cursed angrily, she was in the restaurant where Hotaru and Natsume are supposed to have lunch. She had included Ruka in the plan she's making to get Hotaru and Natsume together.
"Mikan, that's morbid of you." Ruka gulped watching her scary figure glared at him.
"Did you really tell him to meet with you today here?" she hissed.
"I did." Ruka answered back. "I wonder why is he late today..he was never one." He wondered.
"You probably didn't look convincing." Mikan said flatly as Ruka reddened.
"You're saying I'm a bad actor?" he glanced at her.
"I'm saying that you probably didn't shell him the truth. Who knows? Anyone can be a traitor." She said indifferently walking away towards the waiter to make arrangements.
Ruka looked down and felt himself guilty. How complicated was his role in this whole story. He had agreed to help Mikan with joining Hotaru and his best friend together, but he has promised Natsume his loyalty. He knew that Natsume was in love with Mikan. And he wanted her back. However; Mikan was too stubborn for the matter and she won't let Natsume get near her again. Ruka knew that Hotaru was merely just playing with this little game. She was in for money..and for Mikan's happiness.
Both of them had been a part of Natsume's plan on getting Mikan back. Hotaru and Natsume would play along as if they really want to be together. And Ruka, he will be the mediator. He'll act as if he was helping Mikan bridge the two when in fact he was helping Natsume into getting close back to Mikan.
Ruka sighed. He wanted the best for both of them. But he doesn't want to lose the trust of either. "I'm sorry, Mikan." He uttered lowly.
Hotaru has been waiting for five minutes already in the table looking impatient. But she had reassured herself that the bastard will come or else she'll have to tick him down. It doesn't mean that she agreed to his plan, he'll have full liberty of his time. He still has to apologize to her for calling late at night just for that proposal. Hotaru shook her head, remembering how he pestered her into agreeing in the plan.
Flashback:
Hotaru was preparing to bed that late night. She was weary dealing with clients her father had let her dealt with. They were stubborn fellows who wouldn't invest into something unless they'll get much from it. And she just used all her convincing powers to keep them at the company. No matter how bastards they were, the company needed investors to survive. And since she is Hotaru Imai, she succeeds in everything.
She tousled her dark violet hair before lying on her bed. But then just as she was about to close her eyes, her phone beeped.
"What?" she asked coldly not bothering to look at the screen. Her eyes were closed.
"Imai.." the voice made her cold amethyst eyes snapped open.
"What is it Hyuuga?" she asked bleakly.
"I need your help." He said.
"You don't need my help. You can have anything. So excuse me, I'm tired." She replied.
"I can have everything, you say. I won't bother you if I really have other ways to get this one." He said vaguely.
She sat up and rolled her eyes, "Don't make me run in circles, Hyuuga. Spill." She said sharply.
"Meet me tonight." He rattled on.
"Shut the crap, Hyuuga. I can listen over the phone you know. I'm not dumb." She retorted.
She heard him tsk-ed before he answered her, "Help me with Mikan."
End of Flashback
And after agreeing into the plan, they had had few meetings with Ruka who had been also in the plan. Hotaru felt sad that she has to do this to Mikan but she believed that it's time to rearrange her cousin's ruined life. She hasn't been there for her when everything happened few years ago, and she wanted to make sure that this time..she'll be there to help her.
Just then as Mikan was about to give up, a clang from the entrance was heard and when she turned her head around, she saw the familiar built of a guy that belongs to Natsume's. She smirked and searched for Ruka's presence. He was behind the counter and he was looking at her back as if assuring that he's done his job well.
Natsume walked briskly towards the table where Hotaru Imai sat. He honestly looked attractive in his button up polo with few buttons more the collar undone. It was tucked-in into his expensive jeans. Natsume himself alone looked alluring, and with all the luxury he has, it made him even more gorgeous. He was holding a bouquet of carnations with him to Mikan's amusement. She crept on the side where she can't be seen by any of the two and went to see Ruka to seek answers on her queries.
"He knows that he's meeting Hotaru?" her voice was laced with indifference.
Ruka nodded meekly, "He did. I told him I arranged a date for him without your consent. I think he finally agrees to do it." He said in relief.
A small smile tugged across Mikan's lips but her eyes were grave. And it doesn't come unnoticed by Ruka. He wanted to feel sorry for her. In a while, Mikan managed to do all the things she needed to do to make the date perfect.
She glanced back at the two. Natsume was shoving the bouquet on Hotaru's hand who gratefully accepted it even without showing emotions. They started talking and Mikan wanted to overhear what they were talking about but she felt that it wasn't in her business anymore. She felt a pang of indifference with her current feelings and tried to shove it away by talking to Ruka.
Meanwhile, Hotaru and Natsume had been on for more like a glaring contest than talking. They are mouthing curses low for each other to hear. It's a good thing though that Mikan's position is quite far and won't be able to hear whatever they are talking about. Both of them knew that Mikan was there. And it was the perfect time to execute the first phase of the plan.
"Darn it Hyuuga. Didn't you know how long I waited here? My back felt stiff and I looked like an idiot in desperation." She growled.
"Tch. I made an effort to bring you flowers, Imai. Be grateful." He said smoothly.
"I don't look like kidding. My back really hurts for pretending to be eager at your arrival." She said dryly.
"She's here, looking at us." Natsume said after awhile, "Pretend that you enjoy talking to me." He shrugged.
"I know, I'm not blind." She said stoically before she thought of a plan herself, "Massage my shoulders. It felt stiff." She said suddenly.
"Are you serious? This is a restaurant!" he said in disbelief.
"Hah. Won't she think that it's sweet that you can make a fool out of yourself just to please me?" Hotaru said pointedly.
Natsume realized that she was right, "This will be the last Imai." He warned.
She smirked, "We're in for a show or what?" she mock-teased.
Natsume tried to cool his temper down before moving towards Hotaru's back and giving her the massage that she won't forget in her life.
"Aren't they just sweet? Natsume has gone to massage Hotaru's shoulders!" Mikan exclaimed. "My plan is working." She said more to herself than to Ruka.
Ruka watched as she rambled on about how sweet this date is turning into and Ruka wondered if she ever meant everything that she said. Mikan is making him worry by trying to cover up everything with perkiness that he hasn't seen when they come back. What had happen to Mikan again?
"Don't we look like stalkers?" Ruka said unsteadily.
Mikan shook her head and glanced at him in a way as if he sprouted a new head, "How do we know that the plan is working if we don't see it for ourselves?" she said.
"Do you always do it with all your clients?" he asked her curiously.
Mikan stopped in her tracks and faced him with an unreadable expression. She hasn't done it with all her clients. This is will be the first actually to be so hands-on in a job. She just usually gives tips and advices to make everything worked out. She has never been so into something until this offer came to her. She thought that the more immune she became, the more possibility for her to act normally towards Natsume.
"Do you always like to ask stupid questions?" she snapped.
"I'm sorry." Ruka said sheepishly.
Silence ensued as both of them stopped talking but after awhile, Mikan spoke.
"I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have said that. I don't trust anyone now, Ruka..but I'm giving you a chance for it. Please, be worth it." She said blandly, but he knows she was sincere with that.
"I'll be leaving first. I remembered I have something more important to do, "she glanced over her back and saw Natsume was already eating with Hotaru. They looked sweet. She felt like a jelly, with her knees weakening. Then she looked back at Ruka again, "Let me know if something happens." And with that she left.
Ruka watched her sullen retreating figure and wondered how can she stand seeing the man she loved getting involved with her very own cousin. Poor, Mikan.
Ruka walked to the table where Natsume and Hotaru were sitting once Mikan was out of sight. He made sure she was gone before he made his move. Hotaru was discussing business with Natsume when he came and his best friend looked so bored listening all stuffs with Hotaru.
"The act is over. She left." He announced as soon as he was before them.
Natsume slouched and looked grimly at Ruka, "How was the act?" he asked.
"She looked hurt." He broke in and sat on one of the chairs.
Hotaru looked away and when she brought her gaze back to Natsume, she was glaring, "Fix this, Hyuuga. I don't want her hurt longer."
"I need cooperation. We'll only be doing this until she's given up with this matchmaking proposal. We all know that neither of us is interested with each other. You don't want to be tied up to me forever, don't you?" he challenged.
"Mikan is the only dumb being who would want to be tied with you forever." Hotaru said icily but Ruka hammered in.
"And all the crazy delusional fan girls that caused all this." He stressed and felt that both Natsume and Hotaru emitted a dark aura in them.
"That would mean another plan." Natsume said at last.
"I'd like to be involved." It was Hotaru.
"It's a surprise Imai." Ruka said with amused eyes, "But we'll be glad to include you in the team." He smiled.
Natsume kept silent.
The clanking of stilettos towered the empty apartment. The woman in her early twenties went inside as if she owns the place. She wore a dark blue tank top showing a portion of her chest. She had it tightly fitted on her body. She also wore a short miniskirt that reaches three inches above her knee. A Prada bag was slung on her shoulders and she was wearing jewelries. A shiny large emerald necklace hung on her neck and she wore a white wristwatch on her right hand. The left was filled with beaded bracelets that vary in shape and color.
The certain green-eyed girl surveyed the apartment sharply. Where has he been? Her shimmering eyes looked deadly as she dashed inside towards the bedroom. But as it has been like the kitchen and the living room, it was empty. He has not been there. Not a trace.
"You cannot hide on me forever." She hissed in fury before storming out of the apartment.
That night Natsume received a call from Mikan. He didn't expect it of course, because he knows that she was trying to avoid him as much as possible. He was curious at the call so he answered her immediately.
"Hey!" Mikan started.
"What do you want?" he said coldly.
"I want to thank you." She said which made his brows scrunched in confusion.
"What for, little girl?" he asked perplexed.
"I know that you knew I was there in the restaurant earlier. You're not that dumb." She spoke, "I want to say that I appreciate your effort awhile ago. It may really take time, but you're going to be okay with Hotaru. I see you get along well. The stiffness will be over before you know it."
"You're sharp as I never thought you were." was all he could muster.
She chuckled softly, "I knew things far beyond what you might know. Don't underestimate me. This is my field, may I remind you."
"You're just making it hard for everyone." He told her, "You're pride won't bring you anywhere you know."
"How did you know me well?" she asked in amused curiosity, "But I'm not the impulsive little brat you've met before. I think well now, before I act."
"But you're jealous." He pointed out.
It took her awhile to speak, "Professionalism should never mix with personal reasons. And how could I be jealous when I'm not even interested in you?" she retorted.
"You'll never get it, will you?" he asked slightly annoyed, "I wondered why I even liked you.."
He was as surprise as she is upon saying those words, "Natsume.." her voice was stiff and cold.
"Onegai shimasu.."
"What are you saying?" he asked feeling hurt.
"Don't even try to bring it back. Because my answer will be same. It will be no. Just leave my life alone." Her voice wavered.
"You know I won't stop. Your pleads are useless. Whatever you do, this time I'll never let you go." He said firmly. He heard her control her sobs as she turned the phone off.
Crumpled Thoughts says: Hey guys! Sorry it has to be short. :"O I need motivation for continuing this story. Comments, Suggestions and Review about the chapter will be much appreciated. Help me through the story, okay? And sorry, the update was late. I'll be working on Music is Love. Inspire me! ;)