Billion Dollar Bride
Curtains were overflowing with light, birds were humming, and maids were filling my room with some flowers I wanted. Only 2pm and I was near dead of boredom.
"Hey is there like… a gym or something in here, somewhere so that I could do some aerobatics?"
"Oh yes, Miss Mikan I'll take you there right away." A maid said, she set a bouquet of white roses on my dresser and led me to the aerobics room. I studied her, failing to start a conversation. She was shorter than myself and had curly pink hair, she looked so young…
"Um… how old are you?"
"14"
"…How are you working here…as a maid, I mean, you're so young."
"Heh, well my mom suggested if I want any form of 'summer vacation' that I work here. I didn't do the best on my grades and slouched too much in public. Oh, my mom is the wife of one of Master Hyuuga's friends." She smiled
"Eh…" was all I could even think to say. I fingered my own locks of hair; perhaps I should curl it as well
"What about you Miss Mikan, if you don't mind me asking… How old are you?"
"Oh I'm simply 23, not too big of a deal." We've been walking for five minutes and we still weren't there. At least I was getting to know my maid
She clapped, "Oh, you even sound and look 23 I'm impressed."
I stopped walking.
"Something wrong?" she turned back to face me, curiosity clearly shown in those hazel eyes
"..What's your name?"
"Ayne, A-Y-N-E; pronounced like Anne"
"Cute name, anyways Ayne… I'm really 23. I was born in 1986; I wouldn't lie about my age."
"Oh, well; I'm sorry it's a bit of a habit, most pretty ladies like you, wear so much makeup and pretend to be younger than they really are." Lying or not, this little girl did make me feel somewhat special.
I took a baby wipe that somehow managed to be there and wiped it all over my face.
"See, no makeup. Maybe some dirt but absolutely no makeup; besides if there's one important thing you should remember, it's that I wouldn't wear makeup unless out in public for something important… maybe when I'm going somewhere fun, rarely when I aim to impress a man… um I think that's it." I smiled and we just started laughing as we made our way over.
"Well, we're here. Please take care Mikan and just call me on your GPS- speed dial one- if you need or want anything." And she disappeared in the mansion
But sheesh it's so big that you need a GPS. I gazed at the theatre; the walls were a chocolate brown and was set up perfectly. The floor had trampolines of sizes and angles, the trapeze set down, all of them and a tight rope here and there- perfect for me to use. I headed towards the trampoline as I started the track.
--
Track: Who's that Girl?
Artist: Hilary Duff (A/N:Yeah a pretty old song but for Mikan, it fitted for what she recently has been through)
There were places we would go at midnight
There were secrets that nobody else would know~
There's a reason but I don't know why
Don't know why
I don't know why
I thought they belonged to me~
Mikan jumped and twisted on the trampoline. Flips and turns all on a perfect angle. She was glad to have taken gymnastics. With a trapeze nearby, she jumped and caught it.
Who's that girl?
Where's she from?
No she can't be the one
That you want
That has stolen my world
It's not real, it's not right
It's my day, it's my night
By the way~
Who's that girl?
Living my life…
Daring to not shed a tear, she ignored the awful feeling she had and continued the performance. Who she was performing for anyways, she did not know. Before she even realized she was jumping, catching, and simply going wild on her moves. Who cared about grace with such feelings and a song that so deeply connects with it? She then stood on a trapeze, still swinging and started a small ballet. Her leaps and jumps landed on a different trapeze.
Seems like everything's the same
Around me
Then I look again
And everything has changed~
The flashbacks poured in as she jumped back down to a trampoline. Where was this feeling coming from? The anger, the pain, the enjoyment, and even refreshment were all swirled into one ball of confusion. This wasn't good for a performance; she'd be embarrassed if someone was watching. She was alone, wasn't she?
I'm not dreaming so I don't know why
Don't know why
I don't know why
She's everywhere I want to be.
Who's that girl?
Where's she from?
No she can't be the one
That you want
That has stolen my world
Little did Mikan know, someone was watching. Eyes fixed right on her, every move, breath, and inch made by her were watched. Her eyes remained closed for all the performance; she hardly heard the door open or close. A maid or two even stopped by to look into what Mikan was doing.
It's not real, it's not right
It's my day, it's my night
By the way~
Who's that girl?
Living my life…
Now some maids stopped their work, some girls that were in the competition came to watch. The theatre filled a bit as they became entranced at the poignant yet beautiful performance. Meanwhile, Mikan jumped too high on the tightrope and dived for a trapeze, let go and flipped in the air as she fell towards the trampoline. Her face left a sad expression.
I'm the one who made you laugh
I made you feel
I made you sad
I'm not sorry
For what we did
For whom we were
I'm not sorry
I'm not her~
By this point Mikan's body and emotion took over. She hardly felt conscious as she moved rhythmically to the song, hardly a thought was made. Most people called this "a desperation hour" or a "point of no limit". With her eyes still shut she continued faster than before, each stunt getting more dangerous and spontaneous.
Who's that girl?
Where's she from?
No she can't be the one
That you want
That has stolen my world (stolen my world)
It's not real, it's not right
It's my day, it's my night
By the way~
Who's that girl?
Living my life…
Mikan did her final pose on top the tightrope, breathing hard. She just barely opened her eyes when she felt dizzy. In some cases "The desperation hour" can turn into a "point of no return". Then it happened, her body gave in and her head fell back.
A tear, just one, came from her face. If it came from exhaustion, or the pain of her heart; nobody knows.
--
"Nihayo, my little princess." A voice called
My eyes opened up, we were in a bright room. I yawned as I stretched with my star-pattern pajamas. This place…felt so familiar. "Nihayo…" I said lazily.
"I had the maid pack your bags honey, go eat breakfast." He gestured to the little table in the room and I went over, in good time the maids came in and brought my favorite breakfast: blueberry waffles, toast, and strawberries.
I stared at my food, "Where am I going?" daddy usually didn't order my exact favorites unless I was going out somewhere… Nonetheless I stuffed waffles in my mouth and let delight fill within me.
"Well, daddy needs you to stay with the Imai family in Japan. I'll be in America for business."
"Aye wmanh fo gome fooh." I paused and sipped my strawberry milk and a maid wiped my mouth with a napkin. "I want to come too!" I exclaimed
"Sorry princess, but I'll come back soon. Make a promise with me." He kneeled by my little chair and grabbed my hand. "I'm making sure that the Imai family makes you the best you can possibly be, but I want you, my little princess; to wear something really special anytime you're in public."
Finishing my milk, I nodded and was escorted over to get changed. They put me in a yellow dress and daddy placed a very pretty necklace on me. I gazed at myself in the mirror for a while before asking, "What kind of flower is this daddy?"
And he responded saying it was a special flower called a rose. Then we got in the car and I fell asleep in his lap, but before I did, he was stroking my hair, "I have more jewelry for you to wear so that it fits any occasion, and they're Shana-chan only. However…You won't be my little Shana-chan for a while…" and I drifted off.
All that came into mind then was... a memory maybe? Of myself and a lady that looked a bit like me, on the swings in some pink tree. I…missed her for some reason. We stopped playing after a bit and then she left completely; whenever I asked daddy about her, he shrugged with a sad look and would say "I'm not sure right now honey, maybe we can look for her when daddy isn't busy." But daddy is always busy so we never did.
"Mikan." A voice called out, and I opened my eyes to see a purple eyed girl staring at me. I gave a small smile and closed my eyes again
"Mikan" this time the eyes weren't purple, but crimson.
"Oh she woke up…" he said and looked across from me.
"Thank goodness!" That was Ayne, for sure. (A/N: Sound like Project Sakura doesn't it?)
"Where...What…eh..?"
"You fainted after your performance." Ayne explained; her eyes filled with worry. "Are you alright Mikan?"
"Fine…just little dizzy." I placed my hand on my chest and noticed something missing "Where's my necklace?" I said a little too quickly "It was a very important gift." I added
Ayne gave me my necklace and I held it in my palm, staring at it. A diamond rose with a ruby in the middle…
"Interesting pendant, but can easily be replaced." I turned to him. Natsume Hyuuga, the richest man in Japan.
I rolled my eyes at him, not having the strength to go into a fully fledged war. "I didn't think a spoiled little Hyuuga boy would understand the meaning of an important gift." I got out of the bed in the hospital room and headed towards the door.
"See you at dinner, polka dots." I stopped, fixed my skirt then took my shoe and threw it at him. Unfortunately it missed and broke the vase.
"This hospital is yours isn't it, Hyuuga?"
"That's Natsume to you, and yes." I could feel his eyes burn through my back. Where did I feel this before? This wasn't the first time he stared at me so…intently that I could feel it.
"Well, guess you have something to clean up, Hyuuga. Don't expect me to call you so casually when you're such a jerk." And me and Ayne left.
In the hallway we passed a man in a business suit, but that's all I could make out of it because he had sunglasses on. What idiot wears sunglasses during daytime?
--
Mr. Hyuuga (A/N: Sorry for being too lazy to give him a real name) was a serious man and his son's wedding was vital for future plans. Slut, whore, he didn't care just as long as he had a wife. After hearing one of his contestants was in the hospital he came over, sure he didn't rush but he did come. Then she past, long brunette hair, wonderful eyes, just like…
"Who is she?" he asked his assistant
"Mikan Sakura, she was the contestant that had to come here- one of the most successful people around and could be very helpful if she was your son's bride."
"I see… Mimi, when we "unfairly" randomly choose contestants out of the competition today; ensure Sakura Mikan isn't a possibility, understand?" Successful or not, he was pleased to see someone who so strongly resembled the past love of his life.
"Yes master Hyuuga."
Wah, all done. Snowie-chan is getting better right~?
This story was probably the only story that has a clear plot to it (or at least has the clearest plot). Which is why I have writers block on most others. (I'm also just being obessed on wedding shows and stuff) Review please~