I posted this chapter earlier, as I won't have an Internet connection this Friday. :D

This is the longest chapter! I'm in a hurry, so I wasn't able to check for errors. Sorry!

Enjoy reading!

Chapter 11-Attack

Mikan stared at the shoes her companion was holding. It was a white bejeweled strappy pair of high-heeled shoes. Then she said, "Why not try it out? I think I can better imagine that with the dress. But it's beautiful on its own, Miku. No wonder it got your attention."

Miku gave her a big grin, and replied, "Oh well, I just want the most beautiful for my wedding."

They were at a mall, looking for the shoes for the wedding. It was Mikan who Miku invited to come with her, because, according to her, it was only the designer who knows what's best for her and the dress.

And yes, in just a matter of weeks, they've became friends. After all, Mikan wasn't holding any grudge against her former flame's bride-to-be, though there were times when the latter talks about her relationship with Natsume that Mikan feels a pang of jealousy.

"Most beautiful doesn't always mean most perfect, dear. Meaning, those shoes are very very pretty, but it may just be too much for your dress. We do not want to outshine the dress, do we?" Mikan said, as she turned her eyes on a pair of black lace wedges.

"Yeah yeah, I know. 'What we want is something that will compliment your dress'," Miku quoted, as she slipped on the shoes. Then she looked up to see her friend checking out some shoes. "Hey, I'm finished. What do you think?"

The designer riveted her stare to the shoes once again, and answered, "As I expected, it won't look good with the dress."

Then both women looked around as they heard the door of the shop open. They saw a man in a long coat enter. His head was bowed, and his face was hidden by the hat he wore. He had many scarves on his neck, thus hiding his lower face too.

Miku felt confused as to why a man like him would enter such a shop where most things are for females, but she shrugged the feeling off. 'Maybe he's here to buy a present,' she thought, as she went back to looking for another pair of shoes to try on.

Mikan, meanwhile, initially felt the same as Miku. But when she got a glimpse on the man's wrist, which he immediately put into a pocket the moment he saw her look, she felt her heart beat fast. Suspicion and fear clouded her mind. She never took her eyes off him from that time, and observed his movements closely.

"How about this, Mikan?" her friend said, as she felt a tug on the sleeve of her shirt. The designer glanced at the shoes, and at the exact moment, the man pulled out a gun and pointed it to the blonde-haired girl.

"Look out, Miku!" she exclaimed, as she pushed her friend aside. At the same time, a bang was heard. A searing pain crossed her arm as she felt the bullet graze it. Thankfully, both women didn't lose their balance, and so were able to look straight into their assailant. Meanwhile, they heard the saleswoman scream in fright.

Mikan stepped in front of her friend, ignoring the pain. She felt her Miku shiver in shock and fear that she herself was experiencing, but which she successfully hid. "Who are you? And what do you want?"

"Step aside, little girl. You are not what I need. I just want your companion," the man gruffly said. Then he raised the gun towards the sales woman, and told her, "Don't you dare call the police. Or else you won't get out of here alive."

"The others in the mall have already heard the gunshot, dimwit," Mikan said sharply. She took a step forward, seemingly unafraid of the gun that was pointing at her chest. "And you won't kill anybody except one person in this world. Advertently, that is, because the last time you did such a rampage you killed two policemen."

The gun shook, as the man himself was shaking because of shock and realization. He whispered roughly, "You?"

"Yes, me. You do know that I can pinpoint who you are even if I don't see your face, right? The tattoo on your wrist is enough."

He wouldn't stop from shaking, and for a few moments he stared at her. The women still couldn't see much of his face as the shadow of his hat covered it, but they could all see the bloodshot eyes. And then suddenly, he put the gun down and ran away, leaving the women and startling passersby.

"Miku? Miku, are you alright?" Mikan broke the silence. She looked around to see that her friend on the floor, cowering in fear. The designer turned to the saleslady and shouted, "Come on, snap out of it! Call the police!"

"Natsume~" Koko called out as he entered his friend's exquisite condo. The latter, who was drinking some coffee while doing something on his laptop, turned around to see him and say, "I know I told you you can come anytime, but I'm busy right now."

"Eh," Koko pouted, which elicited laughter from the other guy. Natsume said, "You're acting so childish, Koko."

"Well, can't help it. As of today, I'm all alone, since your fiancée took my girlfriend away. So I figured you're lonely too, and that's why I came. Let's have fun, ne, Natsume?"

Before Natsume could answer, he heard the ringing of his phone. When he saw the caller, a puzzled look came across his face, which Koko didn't miss. "Who is it?"

"Mikan," he answered, and took the call and had it on loudspeaker.

"Natsume, do you know the mall where we are? If you do, then come over quickly," Mikan's sharp voice came through. The two guys exchanged glances, and then Koko asked, "Why? What happened?"

"Is that you, Koko? Oh good, come over too. We were attacked by a guy with a gun," she replied, her tone never changing. Natsume's eyes widened, and he felt his heart beat fast and his mouth go dry. Meanwhile, his friend took his phone, stood up, and said, "Okay, we're on the way. We'll be there in five minutes."

He ended the call and looked over at the raven-haired guy. "What are you waiting for? Let's go! I know the place, so you can just follow me."

When they got to the mall they were directed to the office of the manager. There they saw the two women, Miku sitting, Mikan leaning on a wall, surrounded by policemen and security guards. The latter, who was facing the window, saw them come in through the reflection on the glass.

"Mikan, are you okay?" Koko said, as he approached her. She didn't even budge from her position; she just kept staring on the glass, watching Natsume hug and comfort Miku. She felt a pang of jealousy and pain. Then she spoke, "I'm fine, don't worry about me. It's nothing."

"No, you're not fine," he sternly said. That made her look at him with a glare, and replied, "If you already knew that I'm not fine, why did you still ask?"

He was taken aback by her reaction, and for a while, he was speechless. She, meanwhile, returned back to watching the other couple on their reflection in the glass. Her eyes didn't lose that hard look in them.

Only Miku's sobs and the words of the bodyguards explaining was what could be heard in the room. But when an officer asked how the assailant looks like, nobody could answer, not even Miku.

Except Mikan.

"He has a tattoo on his wrist," she said, with a slight hint of anger only Natsume and Koko were able to catch. She then faced them. She continued, "That's the only thing I could remember, as I was focusing on the gun he was holding. I didn't see his face much to give clear descriptions."

Then Natsume spoke. "Officer, let's talk about this later. I would like all of you to go out of this room, except Mikan, and Koko. Ah, and please bring Miku to a hospital. I'll follow as soon as I can."

But Miku resisted, and in the end, Natsume was forced to let her stay. When everybody but them was gone, he turned to his former girlfriend. His eyes had this very serious look that was equal to Mikan's. Then he whispered, "He has a tattoo on his wrist, huh."

Thanks to all who reviewed, made this their favorite story, etc.! :)

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