So much for Friday, huh? Oh well, enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own Gakuen Alice!
Selfless
~Chapter 6~
Natsume relished in the feeling of soft hands in his hair as he woke up the next morning. He seemed to be in a nice, soft bed and holding something- or rather someone- in his arms. He felt completely comfortable as he lay there. He wouldn't have it any other way than to wake up every morning like this. But… where was he?
He didn't move when he felt the object in his arms move a bit. He sighed in content when the fingers in his hair gently pulled out just to go back in and repeat the process. He himself began to move as he rubbed the bare skin beneath his hand, caressing the waist in his embrace.
He opened his eyes only to be met with the slowly fluttering open eyes of Mikan. Natsume smiled sleepily at the girl. "Good morning."
She smiled her sweet smile back. "G'morning."
They lay there in each other's arms for a while, just repeating their movements and 'comforting' over again, not even realizing it. And they continued to stare into each other's eyes until they were impolitely disrupted. The door smashed open.
"Hey, you two sleepy heads! Wake… what are you to doing?" Tsubasa asked, walking over to the side of the bed.
Sitting up, they blushed and turned away from each other, fixing up their sleep- mussed appearances. Tsubasa cleared his throat awkwardly, shuffling on his feet from side to side.
"W-well," Tsubasa started, backing away towards the door, "I guess we should all go downstairs for breakfast." And before he closed the door, he looked at the two young teens and winked. "Don't worry, you two. I won't tell anyone."
And with that, he disappeared behind the door.
It was silent for a little bit as the two sat there quietly, none of them moving a muscle. They had no idea what to say to each other after such a rude, full-awakening.
"You know," Natsume started, breaking the silence, "if you wanted to touch me so much, you could have just asked instead of molesting me in my sleep."
He stood up and turned to Mikan, whose face was burning red.
"Shut up, you stupid perv!" Mikan stuttered, glaring at Natsume as she began to get up as well. "I should be the one saying that since you practically shoved your hand up my shirt!"
Natsume went wide eyed and turned red. Oops, he didn't mean to do that. Well, didn't that backfire? He turned his face away so that Mikan wouldn't see him. But it was already too late for that.
"Hey," she giggled, getting out of bed and turning Natsume's face towards hers, "are you blushing?"
Natsume's face went redder as he was found out. He sighed in frustration, not wanting to have been caught.
"You are blushing!" Mikan laughed. The look on his face was the cutest she'd ever seen on him. Soon, a small blush appeared on her cheeks as she began to coo over Natsume's appearance, "Aw, you're so cute! Look at you, all blushing and red! Ahaww!"
Natsume only got redder as she nuzzled his cheek with her own and hugged him to herself. "You're just too adorable!" she giggled.
"Sh-shut up, Polka dots!" Natsume stuttered, trying to get a grip over his darkening blush.
Mikan pulled away from him and pouted. "I thought you were calling my 'Mikan' now."
Natsume scoffed. "No. I just said it to shut you up."
Mikan crossed her arms over her chest. "So mean." She huffed. "Fine. Be that way. Now let's go downstairs."
Mikan led the way as Natsume trailed behind, feeling slightly bad for saying that to her. Of course, he didn't actually mean what he said. He actually enjoyed the way it felt saying her name. But he wouldn't lower his pride just to tell her after he had just said what he did. He sighed. He didn't know what to do. Well, maybe he did, but he just didn't want to do it. He gulped and took a deep breath. He might as well just do it.
Sighing, he stopped Mikan right before they passed Youichi's door and wrapped his arms around her waist. If he was going to apologize to her, he'd have to do it in his own way. He smirked. Placing his lips near her ear, his smirk grew as he whispered.
"I'm sorry, Mikan."
Mikan's heart pounded in her chest, feeling very embarrassed- although they were alone- that he was holding her that way and talking to her in that tone. But, she really did like the way it felt when he held her. Mikan turned her head to get a better look at Natsume, only to find that they were centimeters apart. She had the sudden urge to close the distance between them, to find out how his lips would feel on hers. How would they feel; soft? Or, maybe, they'd be more… she didn't know. She just wanted to know how it felt to kiss him and only him.
Mikan mentally shook the thought from her head and gave the elder male a soft sigh and smile. "It's alright, Natsume."
Natsume was caught in a daze as Mikan gently made her way out of Natsume's grip and started through the hallway and down the stairs. He tried to slow down his rapid heartbeat, crazed from the fact that Mikan's lips were so close to his and how she had let his name pass her lips. She was so… wow.
Natsume was about to start down the hallway himself, but saw the door beside him open slightly more than it already was. Wait… wasn't it closed before he and Mikan had their little conversation…?
Looking down, he spied Youichi's shy eyes peeking through a small space of the door and wall, looking up at Natsume with a slightly flushed face.
"W-what were you and Onee-tan doing?" Youichi said so quietly, it was almost a whisper.
Natsume was wide eyed as he stuttered an illiterate, "U-uh…"
Natsume cleared his throat. Wow, wasn't this awkward. Well, he didn't want to ruin a perfectly innocent mind, now would he? So, he just said, "Your big sister and I were just talking. Nothing more, nothing less."
"Oh…" Youichi opened the door fully and stepped out, grabbing hold of Natsume's hand and going downstairs for breakfast. "Okay. Let's eat!"
Natsume smirked, "Hn."
"YOU'RE WHAT?"
Mikan winced, bringing her hands up to her ears as Natsume sighed as he stood beside her.
"What are you trying to do? Make my ears bleed?" Natsume complained, rubbing his ears a bit.
"Mikan, what's the meaning of this?" Sumire asked, all of their other friends nodding in the back ground and eating their lunch as if this were a soap opera.
"You know the exact meaning of this, guys," Mikan said, bringing out her lunch as she sat down on one of the school's bench. "Natsume's living in my house along with his parents. What's not to get?"
"Everything!"
"Shut up Sumire," Patty said, making her way up to Mikan and Natsume's side along with Paula, Misaki, Anna, and Nonoko. "So, Mikan, how'd this happen?"
"They needed a place to stay," Mikan said. "Gosh, guys, it's only Monday. You shouldn't be causing us havoc so early in the week."
"Well, you're the one who introduced the havoc," Paula said.
Mikan looked at her and sighed, "Good point."
"Whatever, I think it's cute!" Misaki grinned.
"How's it cute?" Mikan asked, thoroughly confused.
"Oh, you know," Misaki sat down and so did the rest of them, Natsume taking a seat beside Mikan and Koko materializing on the other side of her, "you two being so close and living with one another. It'd be pretty cool if you two were an item."
The two blushed.
"But, he's not your best friend, right Mimi?" Koko asked, tears in his eyes. "You're my best friend!"
"Yeah, of course!" Mikan laughed as Koko hugged her and cried into her shoulder. "You'll always be my best-est friend ever!"
Koko gasped dramatically, looking up at Mikan with teary eyes. "Really?"
"Yup!" Mikan popped the 'p' as she giggled.
Natsume had to keep himself from punching Koko as said teen pressed an enthusiastic kiss onto Mikan's cheek. He felt himself burning in rage, but kept his dangerous feelings within his bubble. On the outside, it looked as if he wasn't thinking of anything at all.
"Oh, I see a green monster here," Misaki snickered, pointing to Natsume.
Natsume glared at them, happy that Mikan didn't hear what she had said.
"Well, are you guys used to the fact now?" Mikan asked. "You've had some time to dissect it now. You good?"
Their friends nodded.
"Good. 'Cause you have to be or else you'll be uncomfortable for the rest of your life."
After school that day, as Natsume and Mikan were heading out of the school so they could go to work, Natsume tried his best to ignore the glares he was getting from the male population of the school. He didn't know Mikan had so many admirers. Well, he's heard rumors about how many guys liked her. But he didn't think that there'd be this many. So much competition…
Natsume shook the thought from his head. He didn't like Mikan that much! Okay, he was lying to himself. He liked her since the second he first laid his eyes on her. So what? He sighed. Alright, competition for Mikan is harsh. So he's just going to have to give it his all to get her to like him the way he did her. And since he lives with her now, it should get easier, shouldn't it?
Natsume nodded to himself as he and Mikan crossed the street. Yeah, it will help. And he'd get Mikan to like him just as much as he did even if he were mobbed by a bunch of jealous, hormone crazed jerk-faces. No matter what; and that was a promise.
It's been a month since Natsume and his parents had moved into the Sakura household. Mikan and Natsume still roomed together, but they put an extra bed into her room. Tsubasa had to go back to his college so that he could resume his classes after the three day weekend. He had made sure to give Natsume a piece of his mind before he left. Luckily, Mikan wasn't there when it happened.
Natsume had gotten closer to Mikan during the time they spent together (which was pretty much all day every day), so they pretty much knew everything about each other. Everything except their feelings for each other. And from the time they had spent together, Natsume grew to like Mikan more than he had before. The feeling he got whenever Mikan was near him, every time she said his name, it sent his heart soaring above the clouds. He loved it. He loved her.
Natsume had gotten used to saying Mikan's name more. But, he only did when they were alone together. Usually, he'd call to her by using the regular 'Polka dots', or even the underwear print she was wearing. One time, when she actually wore lacy panties, he turned red after peeking (like he always did- how else will he know her underwear print?) and stuttered like an idiot. Mikan didn't let it go for a week and he was constantly teased by his friends. That whole week, he was too embarrassed to check her underwear and just called her 'Polka dots'.
Natsume sighed as he shut his eyes, folding his arms behind his head as he lay on his bed perched right beside Mikan's. Mikan wasn't in at the moment, talking to her parents downstairs about how her day went. He was waiting for her to arrive so that he could just get lost in her eyes as she did her homework alongside him. Of course he'd finish his own homework too. But, that didn't mean he couldn't get distracted.
Natsume was pulling out his homework out of his school bag just as Mikan burst through the door, an excited expression on her face.
He raised an eyebrow. "What's up?"
"Natsume, I just got the greatest idea!" she gushed, dropping her bag onto her bed as she sat on it, cross-legged.
"And what is this 'idea'?"
"Well," she started, leaning towards Natsume, "You know how you weren't able to do a lot of things during your childhood?"
"Yeah?"
"Well, we could do everything that you didn't do and make a list of firsts!" Mikan clapped her hands.
Natsume stared at her. "…A… list of firsts?"
"Yeah!" Mikan giggled. "Whenever we do something for the first time, we could write it down on a special list after we've done it! Doesn't it sound fun?"
Natsume shook his head and sighed. "Whatever."
She pouted. "Aw, come on, Natsume! Don't be like that!"
"How do I know this is actually going to be as fun as you think it is?"
"You never know until you try."
She did have a point with that. Natsume sighed once more and looked Mikan in the eyes. "Alright. Fine. We'll do it"
"Yay!" she cheered, flinging her arms around Natsume's neck in a tight embrace. "So, what will we do first?"
Natsume thought about her words for a bit as the both of them grabbed out their homework and began to write. Finally, he spoke. "I've never been to the movies."
Mikan looked up at him with wide eyes. "Really?"
Natsume returned her gaze. "Yeah, you don't have to look so surprised."
Mika looked down with a slightly flushed face. "Oh, s-sorry."
He shrugged and began writing once again. It was quiet for the next few hours as they finished their homework before they put their things away. And then, Mikan went into her closet and grabbed out some clothes.
"Change out of your uniform. We're going out," Mikan told him as she disappeared into the bathroom.
Natsume, finding that the smart thing to do would be to listen to her orders, did as he was told and changed into a pair of jeans, a long sleeved shirt, and a warm sweater with a scarf. He waited for Mikan to get out of the bathroom and when she did, started questioning her about where they were going.
As Mikan put on her own sweater, scarf, and hat, she looked to Natsume and gave him a grin. "We're going to watch a movie."
The two laughed as they made their way out of the movie theatre and into the busy streets of their small town. They stumbled down the sidewalk as they gasped for air.
"Th-that was so…" Mikan laughed uncontrollably.
"What was that?" Natsume couldn't hold in his laughs as well, beginning to turn red in the face as he was losing breath.
They took the time to stand still and finish laughing, catching their breaths. Although Natsume was the first to compose himself, Mikan was the first to speak.
"I think that was the best movie I've ever seen," Mikan giggled as the two began walking.
"Yeah."
"Dude, it was the only one you've ever seen!" Mikan laughed as she gently laced her fingers through Natsume's.
"H-hey," Natsume chuckled, feigning hurt, "that's harsh!"
Mikan giggled as they continued to navigate through the streets. "You know, this was so much fun! To be honest, it was the most fun I've had in ages."
"Me too. It was pretty awesome just hanging out." Natsume replied, grinning.
They walked a little ways down the road before Mikan spoke. "Hey, Natsume?"
He looked down at the girl walking beside him as she shyly avoided his gaze. "Yeah?"
"What… what do you think we should call… this?" Mikan asked, gesturing around the two.
"The street?"
"No! I mean… you know, the two of us hanging out, going to the movie theatre? What… what would that be?"
Natsume was quiet for a while, trying to catch up with her thoughts. And when he finally did, he blushed a light shade of pink. "What about… do you think this would be a date?"
Mikan turned red and nodded, trying not to look at Natsume. He smiled. "Alright then."
"You know," Mikan started, deciding then was the right time to look at Natsume, "this is actually my first date."
Natsume looked at her, obviously surprised. "Really?"
"Yeah. I've never really… gone out with anyone before. Heh, this is another for the list of firsts!"
Natsume gave her a soft smile. "Yeah. That sounds good."
"What about you?" Mikan asked. "Is this your first date?"
"Would you believe me if I said yes?"
Mikan raised an eyebrow. "Only if you meant it."
Natsume nodded and looked ahead as they turned a corner. "Yeah, I mean it. This is my first date, too."
Mikan's cheeks were coated with a darker shade of red. "Hm."
The rest of the walk was quiet as they made their way home, holding hands and snuggling up to each other's sides. It was winter time now, so it was getting pretty chilly. She found that the fact that it was freezing cold outside that she could cuddle up with Natsume and he wouldn't really say anything but "you're cold" or something along those lines. She wouldn't get teased to no end and she could enjoy the feeling of warmth and safety Natsume seemed to radiate so much. She liked how his strong arms encircled her body whenever she was shivering, his gentlemanly gestures coming out into motion and sending her heart a flutter. She simply adored how he always seemed to make her feel happy with just his presence. She was completely hooked on him. She really liked Natsume. She liked him a lot. Maybe even more than just 'like'. Maybe even love.
Mikan's cheeks burned as she slightly shook her head and snuggled closer to Natsume, who in turn unclasped their hands and brought his arms around her waist for warmth, only to hold her hands once more in his.
"Better?" he asked, a small smirk on his face. "You know, you don't have to use the cold as an excuse to get close to me. I'll hold you whenever and however you want."
Mikan's face resembled a tomato after Natsume finished his sentence. She glared at him and lightly hit his chest, showing her slight anger towards him.
"Don't be such a jerk! It's not my fault that it 10 degrees below freezing! I should have brought a thicker jacket…"
Natsume sighed as his smirk changed into a smile. "Yeah. Me too." And then, he brought his cheek to the top of Mikan's head and rubbed in into her hair. "At least I have you to cuddle and keep me warm."
Mikan's blush cooled down, but was still evidently there as they continued walking down the street. "You know," she said, playing with Natsume's fingers, "you've been smiling a lot more often since you've moved in with us."
Natsume slowed down their pace. "Really?"
"Yeah," Mikan smiled. "It's kind of sweet."
"Hn."
Natsume turned the two into the driveway of their house and opened up the front door for Mikan. And once she was inside, he went in himself. Izumi asked them how the movie had been, and Mikan told him how funny the comedy they saw was. They talked only a little while, seeing as it was late and they needed to get to bed so that they could get to school on time the next day.
"Good night!" Mikan said as the two headed up the stairs and towards her room.
"Natsume, I'm going to take a shower. Are you taking one in the morning?" Mikan asked as she gathered her pajamas.
"Like always." Natsume replied, grabbing out his own pajamas.
"Alrighty then!" Mikan giggled. "I'll come in after my shower."
"Okay."
After Mikan left to take her shower, Natsume changed. He looked for the longest, prettiest piece of paper he could find in the art supplies and hung it up next to the door so that he and Mikan could see it every day before they leave. On the top, Natsume wrote in big lettering 'List of Firsts'. And then, he smiled as he wrote what had happened earlier that evening:
First movie- Natsume
First date- Natsume & Mikan
Natsume grinned at his handy work. After brushing his teeth in his parents' bathroom, he went to bed and fell asleep before Mikan even walked through the door after her shower.
~Chapter 6 End~
Hey, so how did you like this? I hope it was alright… Well, to start this off, I'd like to say thanks to all those who have reviewed and/or added me to their favorites/alerts. Here we go!
papaya1212- Haha! …Maybe… XD Thanks for the review!
XxpuffpuffxX- I'm glad that you liked it! Thanks so much! :)
12star98na- I liked your random story. :)
natsumexmikanforever (~ilovefun~)- This chapter is just as long, or maybe even longer. And I'm planning on something close to your thoughts. It's just going to take a few chapters for that to happen. Thanks for the review!
Mizuki Shin- Yeah, I guess it does happen to every author at some point. I wasn't able to see him so far this year. I'm kind of concerned. He hasn't shown himself anywhere in the school since the beginning of the new year! I'm worried… But thanks for asking. :)
Punk Heart
roylat1996
So, thank you all! And I'm sorry if I was unable to add a few peoples' names to the list. My e-mail is a jerk. :(
Thank you all once again, and I'll update next week! Oh, and don't forget to REVIEW! I always get them, and you don't even need an account! REVIEW! Pretty Please? :P
~xXPaintingRealityXx logging off! :)