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Chapter 9

Tension stuck to the tile, it littered the floor. Hugged the bulletin board, clung to the legs of the students and started climbing towards their heads.

RRRIIINGGG

The school burst into a chorus of obscenities, books and papers fell and students stumbled. These were the last exams that they are going to have, taking fifty percent of their final grade. Koko raised his head tiredly from his desk.

"Who's the second man on the moon?" he muttered tiredly but he was quite sure it will come out in their History and Science test. A few raised their heads nodding.

"I don't know." They all answered sleepily and with that, Koko gave up and slumped on his desk, determined to sleep the last thirty minute of his free time to sleeping.

The class was a chatter. Students were memorizing, mumbling acronyms, some were using mnemonics, the others reviewing each other by asking each other questions that would probably come out. He checked his watch. Twenty eight minutes to go before their first exam, English. Then next is Algebra coupled with Geometry, then History, then a practical test in Music on playing guitar, then Science then Drafting, then making a web page in Computer, then Home Economics. Then… they go home at five in the afternoon.

It was deadly.

"Koko, it's Neil Armstrong!" Kitsuneme shouted, proud that he was able to answer his long dead question after much thinking. Koko raised his head and propped his elbow on the desk.

"He's the first Kitsuneme."

The walk towards school was awkward. Awkward, considering that Mikan and Natsume have the same route and it was impossible to say that they didn't see each other, what with the two of them alone walking on the shortcut towards school.

Mikan wanted to say something. Natsume wanted to talk. They both turned to each other at the same time and looked away quickly. A few moments of silence…

"I'm sorry." Mikan stopped on her tracks and faced Natsume who instantly froze. He sighed, refusing to meet her eyes.

"I should be more sorry for being such an ass. But for some reason I'm not sorry at all for snapping at that Dylan." He replied shortly and Mikan raised both her eyebrows. Suddenly a coy smile appeared on her face and she stepped forward. Natsume too, raised an eyebrow but didn't back down.

"Can it be that you're jealous?" Natsume, due to his shock couldn't move. Mikan's smirk grew wider and stepped back to observe Natsume who was still frozen.

"What? You're blushing Natsume!" she teased and as soon as she said it Natsume felt heat creep towards his cheeks. Suddenly, the cold weather turned hot.

"Wha… The hell… No… it's..." he stuttered and turned away. Mikan burst out laughing and the passers-by stared at them. Natsume found his voice.

"You're crazy…" he muttered and narrowed his eyes at the brunette who was rolling on the sidewalk. Suddenly, an idea struck him. He reached his hand towards Mikan.

"Get up, you're embarrassing." He remarked in casual tone. Mikan, still laughing, reached for his arm when Natsume suddenly pulled her with such force that she landed on his chest.

Her laughs instantly died down when she felt his strong arm at her back, smelled his perfume and heard his heartbeats. After a few seconds Natsume pulled away and held both her shoulders to observe her. He bent forward to her eye level.

"What? You're blushing Mikan!" he laughed and released her. Mikan couldn't explain it but her cheeks felt like flaming and his voice sent a shiver down her spine.

"Whatever. You're crazier than I am, idiot." She said and started to walk forward. It didn't take that long for Natsume to catch up with his long strides.

"Oh so someone lost." He mocked upon reaching the gates of the academy. A few students looked at their direction and walked on, ready to spread the news that the "best friends" were back together. Mikan suddenly stopped immediately thought of a way to get back at him.

"Alright, alright I lost there. But now, I'm making a bet." She offered mischievously and Natsume inserted his hands into his pockets. He glanced at his watch. Twenty minutes before the start of class. He looked at her expectantly and she continued.

"I will be the top of our batch this year." She proudly said and raised her fist in the air. Natsume smirked.

"And?"

"If I do, you will wear a monkey costume and shake hands with anyone who passes by the school gate, introducing yourself as the Galloping Stag of Land Multiverse!" she exclaimed. Girls flocked to the side, carefully maintaining composure so as to not give away that they were still his fan girls. Natsume4ever fan club lived up to its name after all.

A girl giggled but was immediately slapped on the shoulder by her friend who was pretending to look at her locker for something.

"Land Multiverse? Idiot, you always come up with something so stupid. What if you don't get the spot?" Natsume challenged. The few of the other students who have "businesses" sighed, hoping that Mikan wins but also worrying for their grades. The opposing side glared.

"If you don't get the spot, I will claim your Star Wars, Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings collection for a year or more… it depends on whether I want to give it back… or not." He looked smug, as if he had won the bet already. Mikan's eyes were huge. She was collecting those items since she was three and if she loses, they are also gone forever. The odds now are against her and she instantly regretted what she offered. But no turning back now.

"Deal." And they both nodded, Natsume with a smug smile and Mikan with her game face on. Mikan looked at the clock above the lockers. Fifteen more minutes.

Fifteen more minutes before hell breaks loose, or in simple words, before the both of them try to distract the other.

It was Natsume's game.

ENGLISH

Question Number One is always the hardest. Or the Easiest.

In this case Koko stared hard at his paper. He had no idea what the answer is and the horrible grammar in which they should be able to understand to be able to arrive at the correct answer.

'Whom wonned the very first Noble Please Prize in Asia?' Koko cursed inwardly. He raised his head and caught Natsume and Mikan having a Distraction Contest. Natsume was kicking and kicking a small, but heavy stress ball towards Mikan who always got hit. Koko grinned, pleased that they were in good terms again.

"Ow!" Mikan exclaimed. The class looked up from their papers with forlorn faces, interested of Mikan's outburst. The proctor stood up.

"Is there any problem Miss Sakura?" he asked. Mikan smiled politely.

"I just stubbed my big toe at the corner of my chair Sir, nothing else." She replied. Koko suppressed a snort. Stubbed toe? At the chair? He heard a sharp intake of breath to his side and realized that Natsume was using all his willpower not to laugh out loud.

Mikan's glare could kill. And before she could say something, Kira raised her hand, getting the attention of the proctor.

"Ma'am, in question number one, the Noble Please Prize, what if there's really a Nobel Please Prize?" she asked, emphasizing her point. Koko nodded in approval, she's got brains. The proctor thought for a moment.

"And if there is, would we study about it? If there is, would you know the answer?" he asked with a condescending tone. Kira shook her head disappointedly.

"I believe you all understood the question but don't know the answer." He said. The students buried their noses back again at their papers and the proctor smiled triumphantly.

Koko slumped on his chair.

MATH

For the first time, the classroom was at peace, peace because the proctor left for something and was going to return after a couple of minutes. It was math, and Koko brought extra tissue and offered to those who… needed it. Needless to say, even thought the class was at peace the fact that the test was bloody seriously hard shouldn't be taken lightly. But someone chose to grab the chance, someone like Natsume Hyuuga.

He got out his phone and started texting Mikan… messages. Instantly, her ringtone, the original Nokia tone rang and it resonated towards the whole room. Students automatically stared at her, some with interest, and some with irritation for disturbing their concentration. Mikan smile apologetically. She looked at her phone and her head shot to the side to shoot another deadly glare at her best friend who waved smugly.

TIN TIN.. TUN TUN TUN

Heads once again turned towards her and she smiled apologetically, pointing at Natsume. Then she read the message. If looks could kill Koko will warrant that now Natsume is already triple dead. Natsume turned away and faced the black board, acting innocent. Koko shook his head at the unfolding scene but what caught his attention was Mikan typing something. Then she looked up, an evil grin on her face. That's when Koko realized that she may have silenced her phone.

Natsume dialed away and looked expectantly at Mikan who stared back at him. No sound. Mikan then stuck her tongue out, signaling that she won.

Koko's sure he'll fail this year because of the two of them.

MUSIC

"'Cause I remember at the sunset, I remember every word you said…" Koko was silently singing and strumming his guitar to the song when another scenario caught his attention again. It was again, the Natsume- distracts- Mikan plan where now, Natsume's staying close to Mikan and strumming his guitar in a loud and arrhythmic pattern that confuses Mikan who was biting her lip and clutching her pick like her life depended on it. It was quite the opposite, once Mikan lets go of the pick and the guitar Natsume will be gone.

"I'll be there in a heartbeat, oohh.." Mikan was singing silently and was trying to tune everybody out. Her Star Wars collection is depending on her, she won't give up! As to Natsume, Mikan was sure that this was his strategy, obviously, and she was determined to let him down. But that was proving to be a very hard task.

Guitars strumming at different paces filled the room as the teacher called for the next person to do their practical test outside.

"If you ever loved somebody put your hands up… " Yuu was doing another rendition of Nelly's song and strummed quietly.

"Fly, me to the moon and let me…" Sumire sang in a soft but sweet voice but then amidst all this, Diana, a transferee caught the attention of everyone.

"Hey, do you know the proctor's gay!" she exclaimed loudly that heads turned to look at her. Some were shocked, some were amused but because of her the class was silenced. Hotaru rolled her eyes and tapped her guitar calmly.

"Whatever news do you have else then Diana?" she asked in a bored tone. The girl immediately brightened.

"And do you know that the teacher in the-" she rushed but was interrupted.

"She's pregnant? The teacher? But I thought that it was girl in this room…" Natsume mused. Koko whipped his head and looked at Natsume. He was feigning an innocent look. But nevertheless, more than half of the class was intrigued.

"Pregnant? Here? Who?" A few muttered to themselves and shot Natsume looks. He shrugged his shoulder with his pretense innocence. Mikan was rolling her eyes and making faces behind him that Koko laughed. She pretended to be Natsume and punched her own face then lolled her head as if unconscious with her tongue out. Natsume noticed this and smirked.

"So you know after all. I just didn't tell you because she said that she will punch me until I'm unconscious with my tongue lolling out."

There was an audible crack as all the students turned their heads toward a certain girl who froze in shock.

"Oh." Natsume remarked, a glint behind his eyes that only Koko saw.

"WHAAAT? NOOO!"

What happened next was… history.

.

.

.

The wind was cold and the Mikan rubbed her gloved hands together to induce warmth, but to no avail. It was a pleasant Saturday and just like what she agreed to, she showed up in Koraisho Park at exactly one in the afternoon. But half an hour has passed and Dylan hasn't showed up yet. Looking at her surroundings, the people were just mindlessly wandering and most of the population has gone somewhere else for it was growing colder and colder. It was fall.

'Maybe he's just stuck in traffic', she tried to convince herself and sat down on one of the stone benches. But then, there is no traffic during Saturdays, another part of her consciousness urged on and she shuffled it at the back of her head. No use doubting Dylan now, maybe there was something that held him up and he's just going to appear around the corner and run towards her with and apologetic smile, stating his reason for being late. And she of course would forgive him.

She glanced at her clock. Two fifteen in the afternoon. She sighed and grinned afterward. Oh, he is going to get it when he arrives. What punishment should she inflict on him?

And such thoughts punished Mikan, entertaining her idle mind, although convinced, but still hoping. There was a rustle behind her and the auburn leaves flew up in front of her. Shocked but immediately recovering, she laughed.

"What the hell Dylan. Now you're going to be the one to clean up the mess you've done." She scolded and wagged a finger but the figure that arose from the leaves pouted instead.

"Oh so that's why you've been waiting for him for so long. Sorry to disappoint you though, Mikan." He remarked, standing up and removing the leaves stuck on his blonde hair.

"Ruka! How come you're here?" she chuckled and helped him take the other stubborn leaves.

"I just happen to think of you. Natsume told me that you're here, he didn't tell me why." He said and Mikan felt her cheeks burn at the first sentence. But it was suddenly quenched by curiosity and irritation when he mentioned his name.

"Really?"

"Yep." He smiled and Mikan smiled in return. After the slightly exhausting work of getting Ruka out of the sea of leaves he made, she slumped back on the bench. He did the same and stared at the trees around them and the growing silence in the park.

"He's not coming." Ruka said and Mikan whipped her head in his direction it hurt.

"What?"

"You're waiting for Dylan right? He just packed his bags and left for Italy. Turns out the guy is schizophrenic and bipolar or something. The news spread and he vanished. Poof." He explained and stared into her eyes that were wide with disbelief.

"He's a chicken then. Making me wait for an hour and a half." She grumbled and slumped more on the bench that she was barely sitting. Ruka chuckled and took out a sandwich from his bag. She raised an eyebrow incredulously.

"You brought a sandwich?" she asked as he took a big bite and grinned. His mouth was full and she can't help but laugh.

"Yes. Any pwoblem with that?" he slurred and continued chewing. Then Ruka started choking that Mikan patted his back anxiously and when he was alright again, she laughed.

"You look like a squirrel, Ruka…" –chuckles- "and I never knew you were like this." She finished and continued patting his back while he continued chewing. He swallowed.

"It's fun to be fun sometimes. It's tiring to be decent." He answered honestly and next took out a water bottle. He offered but she shook his head and he shrugged.

"Yes, boy scout... So you're saying that you're indecent now."

"I said this is fun. Why, do I look indecent?"

"Yes."

"Daft. Okay I'll switch back to perfect Ruka now." Mikan smacked him on the head and they both laughed.

"You're not perfect Ruka. And with that statement you're still indecent. Narcissistic, I guess." She remarked with a twinkle in her eye.

"Well, I'll go back to humble Ruka then." he replied and seriously considered it. Mikan shrugged and laid her head on the stone bench. The wind blew and the leaves flew a few meters away from them. She looked at her watch. It was three.

"Are there times when Natsume was indecent too?" At the sound of this name, Mikan was startled that she sat up straight and bumped her head.

"What the hell is that question for?" She muttered and looked at Ruka who was staring at her amused, and curious.

"Nothing." He shrugged. Mikan rolled her eyes. He was shrugging more and more lately.

"Of course. He's always indecent Ruka. If you'll notice and look closer. With that rude attitude of his…" she replied and in spite of herself, she smiled, remembering the time when they wrestled for whoever touches the dog first, the juicier hotdog that Aunt Kaoru made for Mikan that Natsume stole, the time when Mikan shouted back at her dad and was ordered to stay outside in their backyard in a squat position, and then Natsume came with a hotdog and sat down on the grass, entertaining her until it rained and they were both laughing even though they were dripping wet.

"He's decent too, sometimes I guess… You just have to know him..." She smiled and stared at the trunk of a tree, with Ruka all the while staring at her, content that he somehow made her happy but… jealous inside.

"Well, it seems that you really know him huh." He stated and stood up, stretching. Mikan didn't reply and was just content on watching him stretch. His muscles rippled and relaxed and she wondered how he got them that way…Maybe… The wind blew again, stronger this time and in that exact moment the rays of the sun reached him. And his hair looked like it was liquid, molten gold.

Mikan was glued…That is until Ruka caught her staring and smirked. She looked away hurriedly, furiously commanding her brain not to send heat waves on her body, but too late.

"Your hair looks artificial." She mocked and hoped he bit the bait. He smirked but then it turned into a smile. Mikan felt like butter under the sun.

"Your hair looks like chocolate under the sun." He replied and Mikan raised her eyebrow as if uncaring. She was about to compose another witty reply when he beat her to it.

"And I like it that way."

Realizing what he just said, what he had just confessed, he coughed and laughed awkwardly. Mikan joined him and they both look at different directions before turning to each other at the same time. Mikan turned away in embarrassment.

"Exams were really hard, weren't they? They say that the results are going to be posted on Tuesday. Well, good luck Mikan." He said and patted her shoulder. She snorted and met his eyes.

"Yeah. See you then, Ruka." She grinned. He smiled and started to walk away when Mikan garnered some courage.

"Good luck too! You really need it!" she yelled when he was a couple of meters away. He turned back and raised a sarcastic eyebrow. Then he laughed and jogged ahead. And before she could stop herself-

"I really had a good time Ruka." She said and instantly regretted it. She sighed in relief when Ruka didn't look back, signaling that he didn't hear her. She grinned. 'Heavens are still good to me eh?' she thought.

Ruka smiled when he heard her words.

Students were crowding in front of the bulletin board, both nervous and excited to see the results of their mighty and bloody exams. Natsume leaned at the gate and waited for a certain person to arrive.

Mikan rubbed her hands and looked at her smoky breath. It was the day. She clutched the small statue of Yoda in her hand, her lucky charm that she managed to save. Oh her beloved collections, she moaned.

Nor did it help her confidence when she saw Natsume waiting for her at the gate. She hoped that he was going to be stampeded by fans but unfortunately, fate wasn't on her side and she was left to stare at his smirk. She stared. 'Is it just me or is Natsume getting manlier and-' she stopped herself and shuddered. That was weird. Finally she reached the gate and walked inside, Natsume at her wake. Her footsteps sounded louder and the world seemed to be in high definition all of a sudden. She could suddenly see a bird's nest on top of a branch, the strand of white hair in Sumire's head and perfume of Natsume behind her. No, that wasn't right; she shouldn't be able to notice that… she scolded herself again.

Upon their arrival, the murmurings of the students near the bulletin board ceased and suddenly a way was paved for them. Tension and excitement was in the air…

Mikan kept her eyes on the ground and silently walked towards her goal. She stopped at an arm's length and raised her head the same time Natsume's footsteps behind her stopped.

"Oh My Gosh." Were the first words that left Mikan's mouth.

Thanks for reading and please please review!

By the way the songs in this are Summer Paradise, Just a Dream and Fly me to the Moon.

By the way, you can expect me to post another chapter this week. That is, if someone reviewed. Haha, joke. Please forgive me for the errors!

Y.M.H.O 3/19, 4 55 PM