Chapter 21: Return of 'Box 497'
"Hotaru!" Mikan whined like a lost puppy at the bolted iron door blocking her from her best friend, "Hotaru come out!"
"Make me." Hotaru answered from beyond the door. Mikan puffed up her cheeks and angrily stomped away swinging her arms fast. Hotaru returned to her new machine. This one was different though. This machine was actually going to Mikan. She had to make it perfect or it could completely destroy everything they build up together. Hotaru quietly placed down her tools and walked over to the window and watched Mikan leave the campus that Hotaru lived on. With a smile Hotaru slowly pulled a hand under her chin and watched her best friend leave.
"Stupid Hotaru! Being all stuck up in her room all day and night!" Mikan madly whispered halfway running towards her campus building. Her cheeks still puffed out like they were ready to burst. But her eyes decreased in anger, and so did her cheeks. "Stupid Hotaru." That anger that filled her blood rushed away as sadness replaced it. Mikan closed her eyes and remincied about the past.
Suddenly a hand graved her shoulder making her open her light brown eyes and turn around. Mikan froze as Persona stood before her with a smirk like he always had when something was up his sleeve.
"What do you want now?" Mikan asked slapping his hand away from her arm and stepping a couple of steps back.
Persona quickly tossed a weird box at her. Mikan caught it and looked at it confused. Persona raised a finger and said, "I will warn you now before you go off killing yourself. 1: don't open it until it is needed. 2: Don't ever wear it for more than 10 minutes. And finally 3: If you loose it consider yourself dead."
Mikan stared at him with a weird look and slid a piece of the cardboard from the top over. Straight down in the box was a shiny necklace. A huge red stone stood dormant at the bottom while random colors formed the chain part. She hadn't seen anything like this before and she quickly awed and owed as she opened the box more. Persona saw her expression and smirked wide before taking his leave. "Make sure you go by those rules, or something WILL happen." Persona, of course, disappeared into the shadows leaving Mikan alone with the box.
Mikan put the lid back on and looked at the label she missed when he tossed it to her. Her amazed look washed from her face as the box labeled '497'. "Why did it get this back? I captured it for Persona's own dirty work. But why now and not months ago?" Mikan sneakily stuffed the box under her arm and ran as fast as she could towards her dorm.
She wished for the first time Natsume wouldn't see her nor Ruka. All she wanted was no problems involving them. Natsume would flip out and try to solve the problem causing more. Ruka would try to do something but wouldn't get anywhere. If they saw this box, they'd both worry.
Mikan pushed up the stairs as she kept her head down avoiding traffic. Shortly she reached the stairs leading her to her room and ran up those also. But once she reached the top her mouth dropped and she stopped in her tracks. Natsume was up against her door with both hands in his pocket. Mikan could tell in his eyes he was worried.
Mikan sadly tiptoed back down the stairs and out the doors leading into the outside lunch section. After she meant with the woods she felt guilty for leaving him alone. Quickly she started debating herself whether she should go back or stay put till he leaves. She decided that she'd watch from the special sakura blossom tree and wait till he retreated.
XxX
Natsume sighed as he checked the wall clock above him. He was worrying even more that his idiot hadn't came home yet. Usually she would be hitting him right now or something. Natsume leaned away from the door and started to walk down the stairs until he heard a loud bang inside Mikan's room. Natsume spun into action kicking the door open and rushing in. The room was dark but he could tell there was a figure there. Quickly he round house kicked the thing but it ducked jumping back up and soaring across the room.
Natsume formed fire in his hands and blasted it on the outline hoping it would hit him. Sadly the object made it's way closer to the door, but instead of leaving it flicked on the lights. Natsume covered his eyes with his hands waiting for his retina's to focus. Slowly he opened them revealing the object standing by the door. Long ponytails colored in honey brown while beautiful silky brown eyes stared at him.
"I'd thought you'd kill me!" Mikan whined shaking her hand as if it was burned.
Natsume was still in shock that he attacked her and most likely would of killed her unless she turned on the light. "What were you doing? Why didn't you come through the front door?"
Mikan shrugged and collapsed on her bed, "I got done waiting for you to leave so I entered by window hoping you wouldn't hear me."
Natsume rose and eyebrow and took himself a seat on the bed, "Why were you avoiding me?"
Mikan gasped and rolled over on her stomach pretending to sleep. Natsume raised the eyebrow higher making him look angry. "Oi little girl tell me!"
"Don't wanna." Mikan whined curling herself up. She hated this foolish act of hers. But it was for Natsume so he could stay safe all his life.
The room got very quiet as Natsume narrowed his eyes at the idiotic little girl in front of him. Quickly a thought came into Natsume's minding and he said it without thinking, "Is it about Persona?"
Mikan held her breath as Natsume looked down on her sadly. Mikan closed her eyes once more and slid under the blankets. Natsume knew right off the bat that he hit the target. He knew he also made her upset knowing he knew what was going on without him in command. Casually Natsume slipped under the blankets and held Mikan close. "Tell me tomorrow…please."
Mikan heard his whispered words and nodded. But Natsume wasn't the only thing on her mind. What was this box meant for and why did she have it?