me: You know, I pity myself for not having so many readers, (I think) and all those typos, I'm really sorry about that. I'm not saying I'm stopping this...but I'm kinda addicted to writing this and I just had a perfect plot set on my mind. So I'll continue writing! Now all I had to do is write. And all you have to do is review! Bwahahha!

DISCLAIMER: Duh...do you really think I can own an anime-slash-manga? I couldn't even draw a cat properly. Meow.

NatsuMikan383 signing in!! Yipee! Merry Christmas!

Chapter 6
Confrontations Galore

Mikan's P.O.V.

"Simply put, we were secret lovers..."

"...we were secret lovers..."

"....secret lovers..."

His words rang in my head momentarily. I can't believe it. One day, I woke up to realize that I never knew anything about myself, my surroundings, the worried faces staring at me that time...nothing. And now, I'm in a room--ALONE--with a stranger claiming that he was my secret lover. Could this be happening? And out of instinct, my reaction was, "WHAT?!" I saw a smirk creeping up to the raven-haired boy's gorgeous face. Er...just forget that use of adjective.

"Since when?" I asked absentmindedly.

"Since before...until now." he answered. I felt my jaw drop. I really never had to ask that question, and the answer was obvious. He said 'were secret lovers'...then he's saying, 'since then, until now.' Ugh! I don't understand. "I don't even know your name," I quickly contradicted him, arms crossed. His lips twitched and introduced himself. "I'm Natsume Hyuuga. Age 15, Alice of Fire. But you really don't have to think about alices now," he said, I nodded, as if I understood what alices were. For what I know, it could be anything.

"I-if we're s-secret lovers,"--I was disgusted to say those words, it's as if I'm too innocent to use that--"Then why did we have to hide it?" I inquired hesitantly. He looked at me straight in the eye. "Because you're ugly," he replied straight-faced. WHAT???! I fumed. Now why in the first place did I fall in love to such arrogant, sarcastic, jerk, and perverted boy like him? If he's saying the truth. It's impossible. He's impossible.

I realized all I can remember about love was a raven-haired...girl. Yeah, that raven-haired girl with purple eyes! But wait, LOVE...GIRL?! What, now? First, I have a secret lover, now I'm a lesbian? What's next? That my father's Zeus and I'm a fallen angel? Great. I don't have a clue about myself and this guy here seems to know things about my past.

I think I should trust him, for now.

He chuckled a little before saying, "I'm just joking, trying to make you smile. I never knew you'd take it seriously, though..." Grrrrrrrrrr. He's getting on my nerves now.

I said indifferently, "Oh, you're joking,har har..." I paused a little, feeling anger taking the whole of me. I was mad. Berserk mad. "Is that what you want me to say, huh?! Well sorry, it's NOT FUNNY!!!" I bursted out and tried to free my hand from the annoying needles that we're leashing me like a dog. My hands were curled into a ball of fists, ready to punch him right on his face. No, that was an understatement....I'm gonna kill this person!

But I was held back by the wires attached to my body. It hurt a lot if I moved too much like this. Stupid wires.

For a moment, the guy's crimson orbs widened before he took in what was happening and went back to being cold again. "Mikan! Stop it!" he demanded and made me stop my frenzy. His voice kinda soothed me though I would die before I admit that. And that somehow-familiar smirk plastered on his face reappeared to see me calming down, as I felt my hands releasing the fist I had clenched a while ago. He leaned into me and kissed me in the forehead. Was he allowed to do that? "We hid our relationship because of some circumstances" he whispered, his minty breath tickling my skin. Kinda gave me goosebumps.

My forehead wrinkled from the confusion. "What circumstances?" I asked as he pulled away, I was kinda sad for that.

"First was, I have some business that I wouldn't want you to be involve with. Some...fans will be heart-broken, too," he muttered something to himself, but all I heard was 'especially my bestfriend' and he continued, "I just want to protect you. From Persona, from everyone...."

At least he's got a sweet bone in him. Whoa, stop! Did I just compliment this stranger? Well...I have the every right to, since he's my boyfriend. I giggled at that thought. He raised a delicate brow at me, "What's funny?" I tried to stifle a laugh at watching his expression and kept a straight face. "Nothing," I replied coldly.

His words never really sank into me but a word--rather a name, caught my attention. "Who's Persona?" I asked. I felt his eyes became wary as he murmured darkly, "You wouldn't want to know him" Okay, I'm just asking! Why become wary all of a sudden...out of the blue, I broke in a fit of laughter. Confusion was clearly visible in his face now. Ha-ha, he looks ridiculous.

"Wait, you're not joking with me all this time, are you?" He frowned, maybe of disappointment. "I mean, maybe you're just taking advantage that I'm clueless." I shut my mouth up. That was harsh. What if he's saying the truth? He must be truly hurt right now. But then, what if he was really tricking me? He'd be disappointed that his little prank didn't work on me. So why is that annoying smirk still on his lips now?

"Do I look like I'm joking?" he said and leaned in again, closer, and this time, his destination was not my forehead. Damn it, he's gonna kiss me on the lips! "I can even kiss you now if I want to..." he trailed off as his lips neared mine. Oh my. My heart feels like it's gonna jump out from my rib cage! But I acted on impulse and...

SLAP!

The second slap from me. "Don't you dare, pervert" I warned him, eyes deadly. "Go away" I ordered as I looked away. I can't bear looking into those penetrating crimson eyes again. I'll melt.

He jumped up, and tried to keep a reasonable space between us. He shove his hands into his pockets, and silently marched towards the door. Then he stopped, turned around and said, "Whatever you say, Mikan..." His eyes were full of hurt, and something more, like a sense of mock. He left the room and left me pondering.

Maybe he really cares for me a lot. He knows his limits, I'm irritated by him. He went away...what is this strange feeling of needing him? And regretting that I sent him away? Why does it feel so new when in fact, according to him, I fell in love with him before? Did I really have a secret relationship with him before? Or was he just bluffing? NO. I decided. I'm going to trust him until the time my memories come back. If it ever comes back. I tried to rest once again so I laid down back on my bed.

But before I could, the door opened and in came the same amethyst-eyed girl carrying a basketful of fruits. She put it on the bedside table and sat down beside me. "I heard all of that..." she said calmly. That? You mean the whole secret-relationship thing? I'm shocked. Was she eavesdropping? Or she just had a habit of eavesdropping? Oh well, that just means the same. I showed no emotion at all, but deep inside, there was panic. What would happen if anyone would find out? Will it be for the better? Or for the worse? I'd go for the worse.

"Heard of what?" I asked bluntly, trying to maintain a hint of boredom in my tone to avoid her being suspicious. The girl's eyes narrowed, and she said, "Don't play dumb with me. I know your 'secret relationship' with Hyuuga" Ouch. She really knew. SHE KNEW! Right now, I just want to run away and never come back. But these cursed dextrose forbids me to. And I knew I had no escape. Maybe changing the topic will throw her off-course.

"You know, I remembered something a while ago," I said, completely launching my plan to escape the raven-haired girl's interrogation. I noticed her eyes widen when she asked, "What is it?" My mind went blank. I haven't thought of that part yet. But in favor to me, my lips involuntarily curved upwards and words started to slip from my mouth. "I found out that you were my bestfriend..."

I quieted down. Really? Was that me speaking? Was I being possessed by a spirit? What if that excuse wasn't true? Then she would know I was just distracting her.

"Anything more?" she asked, eyes full of worry. I closed my eyes slowly, trying to remember something, and when I opened my eyes, I saw her still looking at me with the same purple, former-lifeless eyes. "No...Nothing..." I answered her question. The raven-haired girl hung her head in disappointment. "Eat more. Maybe it can help you a little," she said to me and walked towards the door. When she reached for the doorknob, a name so familiar came out from my own lips unconsciously.

"Hotaru...."

She turned her head towards my direction, eyes almost watery. "H-how did you know my name?" she stuttered. I shrugged, "I just did," and smiled to her. She nodded in response and went away. I'm healing, little by little. All I need is time, was my last thought before I snoozed away.

Normal P.O.V.

Just as Hotaru went out the door, she saw the kuro neko leaning on the wall, making her jump a little, as she was preoccupied by Mikan's 'name-calling' to her. "I found you," the boy with raven locks spoke in a tone of relief and wariness. The ice queen raised an elegant brow at him.

"What do you want?" she asked. And after being reluctant for a minute, she added, "And was it true? That you and Mikan already had a secret relationship before?"

The flamecaster seem to be taken aback by the sudden straight-forwardness of Hotaru and why she was revealing the things she knew that can be for blackmail-material. "It doesn't matter now, I'm gonna do something for her, this time..." Natsume trailed off. "I've gotta find Niji Yuuki."

The inventor's incredulous stare didn't escape the black cat's sight. But then, as emotionless as ever, she asked, "Are you that desperate?"

She knew whom he was talking about. She knew, AAO's leader can restore Mikan's memory before it's too late. The crimson-eyed boy smirked mockingly to Hotaru, saying, "You better be thanking now, Imai. I'm doing a favor for you when you should be the one finding ways to heal Polka." He paused for a moment, and looked straight into the raven-haired girl's eyes. "Because you're the reason of all this mess. The root of things. The antagonist. So stop going around blackmailing my bestfriend because you don't have anyone to pick on anymore. Enough."

Her eyes saddened before looking away, still ashamed of the fact that she was the one who injured her bestfriend's head...and everything went downhill after that. She was careful, but not careful enough, because Mikan was human. And she was testing her inventions on robots. Because Mikan had emotions. Because Mikan was innocent and too kind-hearted.

With that final statement, Natsume stalked off, hands still in his pockets as usual. The amethyst-eyed inventor was left there, staring off to space.

"Mikan...just wait for me..." the flamecaster muttered before he leaped from the nearest tree he could jump to. And he leaped into another, and another, until he disappeared into the thick green forest.

me: So, okay. It was a Confrontations Galore. I love the title, after all, everything about this chapter is about confrontations. Really, I had fun making Mikan's POV as it gives us some idea of what she's thinking. And oh, I was inspired by the Twilight Saga so if you notice any OOCness of Natsume, maybe that was partly from Edward's attitude or whatever. Yeah, I love Edward Cullen, too. So better be reviewing my stories or at least Story Alert them, like, at least I know that some people are actually reading this.

NatsuMikan383 signing out!! Yipee! Merry Christmas!

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