Love Twirl by Einsteinette
The more a thing is forbidden, the more it is sought-after. Like my idiotic sister. Tch. (Does not contain incest)
***
It's Einsteinette back for the second chapter! You know, I'm really excited to finish this story. I only have this summer to get it done with. After that, I'm gonna be quite busy. So expect quick updates.
Now, now... The previous chapter is some sort of an introduction. Meaning, the love story will gradually unfold so I ask for your patience. Still a long way towards that. And please, review and review. Thanks!
~Love Twirl~
by Einsteinette
***
Mikan never would have thought a day would come when Natsume would be far away…
Far away? Does it mean painful distance? Ask Mikan.
***
CHAPTER II:
Status: On Hiatus
In the usual room where conferences were held inside the mansion, Fujihara-sama, the five elders of Hyuuga clan, and the clan head's trusted advisers assembled together. They sat comfortably on the cushions and were served with biscuits and the best tea in the whole of Sky Country. Fujihara-sama told the servants to leave after distributing ample afternoon snacks, indicating the start of a confidential meeting.
The clan head situated himself near the altar of Buddha and was faced by everyone inside the room. If not for the lines under his eyes, the features of his face were almost flawless. He was a fine man with long, silky tresses in his forties. Seated on his left and right were his two advisers; the one on his left was Narumi-sensei who also tutored his children and on the other was Akira Tonouchi who was obviously younger. They were quite a bizarre tandem though – Narumi was more of a let's-play-safe type while Tono loved devicing his own methods in getting things. Even so, the two – perhaps for working for about 2 years already - were well-attuned in working with each other. Together, they also handled domestic and overseas matters in Fujihara's absence.
"Fujihara, have you thought of your future plans about Natsume-kun?"
Tono eyed the old man with salt and pepper hair who had just spoken behind a steamy cup of tea. Tss. What an old bat who's too straight to the point.
"I've thought of it for some time", Fujihara met the elder's pair of jade eyes and continued, "and I have been considering Chii-ba-chan's proposal."
Eyes turned at the old woman at the mention of her name. She carefully sipped her own share of tea and blinked artlessly.
Waah! That's nuts. He can't be taking in the words of a crazy, old bat. A bead of sweat dropped on Tono's temple. He swallowed a lump in his throat after seeing Chii-ba-chan's eye sparkle with intense delight at the master's words. He could also read a don't-cross-and-you'll-smell-bloodshed warning written in her expression.
After brief exchanges of whispers among the old people, the elder with bushy, silver beard turned to speak to the clan head. "So it means you are planning to send your son away to train with some sensei?"
"That would be necessary."
whisper, whisper, whisper
The master's crimson eyes fell upon his seatmate and said in unassailable tone, "Narumi, hand down the papers."
Anjo L. Narumi was tasked by Fujihara to gather brilliant alice-casters in the whole of Sky Country on a list; he had especially selected exceptional ones who are most suited to take the job of training the Hyuuga clan's heir. He took out five sheets of paper from his file and handed them to the to Fujihara, who handed them to the elders.
whisper, whisper, whisper
This time, it took the elders a few minutes before they spoke to the clan head again.
"We do not find anyone in the list who's competent enough to tame your son, Fujihara. And let me tell you one person apt for this special job." Chii-ba-chan glared at Narumi for a second then added, "A man named Persona from Midori Village should take the job instead. Besides, Midori Village is our ally."
The old people were all nodding in agreement.
"Y-you can't be serious!" Tono had blurted out before he even realized that he did and earned himself a dagger look from the old woman.
Persona??…Mark of Death?!
-
"I wish for my Natsume to explore the world beyond the walls of this mansion and be undoubtedly capable of taking my place. But if doing so puts his life at stake…" Fujihara paused and waited for rebuttals that never came and went on. "Why would I risk losing my successor to that Persona and his mark of death?"
-
A stern voice spat "We, the elders had agreed upon it. No one suits the work best but Persona."
If only your son wasn't an egoistic bastard…
The bewildered Fujihara stared at the faces of the elders before him. Why were they putting him in so much torture? First, his wife. Now, his son. Then who'd be next? They all called him the head of this house, the sole master of Hikari Village but in fact, he was totally toothless against the senile people before him. It was making him sick, making his brain secretly rebel against them.
Could Persona be trusted? By the looks of it, this man was strong. It made sense. But for the master's son to be away from him for years with some stranger? Was that supposed to be a pull on his legs?
"Do you think a stranger remains a stranger after the span of being with him?" The elder with mind-reading alice answered the question for him.
True.
Fujihara was too tired to listen. His mind didn't wish to hear more. He wanted this to stop. It was evidently him against the world - as if there was something he could do.
To end the tiring discussion, Fujihara simply put it at "I'll agree if and only if my son concedes to it."
***
All over the household was Hyuuga Mikan as she desperately searched for her brother, Natsume. She had been running throughout the huge mansion but there was no trace of him. She deemed that perhaps he was somewhere outdoors. Well, she was determind to find him even if she had to get to the ends of the world. As she turned to a corner on the wooden terrace of the mansion, she stumbled upon the lonesome but handsome Tonouchi. It was an unexpected encounter. She cheerfully threw herself into Tono and encircled him with her short arms.
"Nii-chan, you're here!" Tono gaped at the girl in surprise. He had been pondering about the meeting a bit earlier when Mikan suddenly interrupted his train of thoughts.
"Ah, Mikan-chan." Now back to his senses, he patted the girl's head.
Still tightly clutched onto Tono, Mikan lifted her chin to meet the eyes of the tall, long-haired man. "I have not seen nii-chan for awhile. I missed nii-chan!"
"Now I'm here, little princess. Want to come with me to the market?" He said this with hints of flattery but still he meant all about taking the girl to the market.
"Eh? But father might get mad – "
"Not to worry, it will be our secret, little princess." Tono winked and sheepishly smiled at the small child hugging him, eyes turning into slits.
Meanwhile, eavesdropping on the candid conversation at the terrace was the young master, Natsume. Hiding in the shadows, he leaned his weight on the cold wall and stood still to hear the trade of banters between Mikan and Tonouchi. He grimaced at the sound of the man's voice. He could very well recall this long-haired guy flirting with almost every female population in the Hyuuga household (except Chii-ba-san, of course). And it annoyed him very well whenever Tono dearly teased his sister. He, Hyuuga Natsume, alone, can tease his idiotic sister. He would make Tono pay one day. As the voices in the terrace faded away, Natsume shifted his weight to his feet and left the spot. Everybody could tell he had an oh-so-bad day after that.
Tss.
***
The upcoming training for Natsume was divulged to him three days after the meeting. Fujihara was devastated by his own son's ego and for not being cowed by the dangers the training could offer. Natsume, after all, was his son. He was sure as hell he used to be like Natsume: obstinate, egocentric and brave. And so things were settled. Natsume was going with Persona to Midori Village in a week.
"I'll be alright, old man. Just take good care of Mikan." Natsume coolly said.
Come to think of it, his son could actually tell those words. Was his Natsume trying to level his guts with that of grown-up men? Fujihara often laughed at it; though the fact that he was called old man wasn't very funny. He wasn't that old, was he?
At the moment, Fujihara couldn't help but wonder about Mikan's would-be reaction about the separation from her brother. Would she be alright? He knew that the moment she finds out, it would be a pain in the ass. He remembered well how Mikan adamantly bug him about their mother and he kept on telling the biggest, lamest lie that Hitomi was somewhere far away. Then she would show a pained expression as if the word far away was something that inflicted pain. After that, he would have to watch his child sob with a heavy chest. So now, what was the best thing to tell Mikan about her brother leaving? Should he say Natsume would also be somewhere far away then see tears gather in her eyes? He didn't want to. He didn't.
***
In a flick of a finger, a week had already gone by. Everyone in the household was gathered together at the kiosk to send Natsume off – the time for his departure had swiftly come.
The members of the clan sat inside the kiosk while the servants of the house stood right outside. While her left hand grasped his father's silken robe, Mikan mopped her tears with the other. That day, she was in her favorite mint green Lolita dress with her hair down. She wanted her brother to remember her pretty while he was away. But in the end she was a mess. Her face was now distorted (a/n: with matching tears and mucus) and the effort of tidying up was wasted.
"Natsume...He's going somewhere far away, too."
She never knew all about this till last night. Everyone in the household managed to keep the news of Natsume's departure from Mikan for a week. And she was obviously upset. A few days, she knew everything was going on smoothly. She was made to believe nothing's gonna be wrong. Why did they keep it from her? Did this mean she wasn't trusted? Did Natsume keep it from her because he really thinks she's stupid?
In vision marred by tears, she gazed across at the boy with jet-black tresses under a tree on a terrain that overlooked the mini-pond. His hair was ruffled by the blowing wind and his crimson eyes were fixed on her too.
Natsume isn't with everyone…
Mikan let go of her father's robe and speeded to the boy under the tree. Then, she stopped right before Natsume's feet and gasped for air to ease her painful chest. The straight-faced boy had his back against the bark and his manga on his hands as he watched her breathe fast.
Natsume, this fool…
Without any word, she grabbed Natsume's wrist and yanked him upwards. He then straightened to his full height and looked at her hand that wasn't letting go. Natsume cocked a brow at his eccentrically quiet sister. In an instant, she began to draw him into a run.
"Not even bothering to tell me you'd be away! It makes me sad, you know. I want to hit you flat on the face."
The two were dashing into the house and he merely followed whenever she turned. As they sprinted with hands together, he felt something wet touch his face and he knew it was her flying tears. She was hurt. She was sad.
He is sad.
"But I know… You are most sad. So I'll forgive you."
He doesn't want to go. But he knew he has to...for some reason.
-
The run was made into a halt and the two panted heavily. They were inside the kitchen and he couldn't help but wonder what Mikan was up to.
"Please don't leave." He was rendered speechless at Mikan; she never had this sad look in her eyes before. He didn't want to bring this memory of her with him.
-
"P-please?" He could hear her voice trembling as she fought her back her tears. "L-let's hide in the cupboard, Natsume. T-they won't see you in there. Then you won't have to go…"
Sigh.
"Really, my sister is an idiot."
Do you tell 'hide in the cupboard with me' just to anyone? A pervert could have done you, idiot. (He thought and Tono's face popped in his head)
He pulled her smaller body into an embrace and closed his eyes. He wanted to remember this warmth well. Mikan's eyes were already stinging and it was her turn to shut her eyes too. And her tears spilled onto the shoulder of his black shirt. He was holding her firmly; his arms gripped just right. For a moment, the tables, utensils, the ceiling, the counter, everything - they all seemed to dissolve away.
"Don't be lousy anymore. Don't be a burden to father, Polka."
She could only stare after he roughly pushed her from his chest. Telling her not to be lousy anymore… She perfectly knew he meant he wanted her to take care.
Natsume really can't say things properly.
"So Natsume is really leaving father and me…" Her lashes hung low as she looked at the feet before her own.
-
"I guess… Y-you take good care too, Natsume." she said softly and flashed a bittersweet smile.
The boy marveled at his sister's words - at her understanding. Perhaps, she was the only person in this world who had the closest idea to what was in his neurons. His lips formed a smirk, saying "Do you have to mention it, Polka?"
Both felt the mood light up. Mikan brushed the tears in her eyes with a finger, and barked "Hey! Quit the Polka thing, Natsume!"
"Why? Is it fruit prints today?"
"That's not it, baka! You baka, baka, baka, B-A-K-A!" She flushed.
"You're being noisy again." He corked his ears up, protecting them from her voice that sounded like a firing machinegun.
"It's because Natsume won't quit the Polka thing!" she argued with tears brimming on her gem-like eyes.
And so the endless bickering went on and on…
-
-
END OF CHAPTER
Yaay! Another chapter down! (Thumbs up)
Yeah right, Natsume's leaving and they'll meet again after some years. Haha. That will be the start.
Again, please review!;)
On the next chapter: Natsume's having ecchi dreams! Woot! The tension builds up on Chapter 3. Ja.