A/N: Yes! Winter break is here and with it a brand new chapter. Thanks for all the great reviews. And now finally making his appearance, the one, the only, Sonou Kaname-senpai!
Just for plot sakes, let's say that the tuition at Alice Gakuen is paid in quotas…
Disclaimer: I wouldn't be writing fan fiction if I owned Gakuen Alice…
Chapter 16 Hello Kaname-senpai!
(Normal PoV)
"You could always request a scholarship… With your grades it won't be a problem." Ruka suggests after the whole group listens to the explanation of what happened a while earlier at the principal's office from Natsume and Mikan.
"No, he needs a signed permit from his parents." Hotaru bashes yet another idea.
"I'm sure mom would be glad to, if it's for Onii-chan then-."
"Both parents." she emphasizes.
"Well I'm all out of ideas…" Tsubasa leans against a wall "I guess the only way for you to stay in this school is going back home as your dad says."
Natsume says nothing, glances over at Hotaru who just stares back emotionlessly and he starts walking off.
"Where are you going!?" Mikan walks fast trying to catch up to him.
"Don't follow me." He replies coldly making her freeze on her spot. 'I'm sorry Mikan, but there's only one way out of this...' He thinks as he walks away without looking back.
-Back at the principal's office-
Natsume sits down on a chair in front of the principal's desk, his eyes downcast staring at his feet.
"I wish there was anything else I could do for you." The principal says honestly regretful.
"You have done more than enough, sir. I'll have to take it from here, though I'd like to ask you to keep this from the rest of the students, especially Sakura Mikan."
"That's the least I can do for my star student. But, why would you want to hide it from her in particular?"
"Because I know she's gonna meddle to try and stop me and think of another way to solve this, and then things will get troublesome…"
"Well she'd be right to try and stop you…"
"I'll be able to come back to school right? If my dad signs the papers that is…" Natsume asks changing the subject completely.
"Yes, if your parents sign those papers then you'll be reintegrated to the school as soon as possible."
"That's exactly what I needed to know."
"Though, if I may say so myself, I think that the price you are willing to pay is far too high." He states bluntly.
"Well there's nothing else I can do, is there!?" he releases his built up emotions shouting at the principal and slamming his fists on his desk.
-Back with Mikan-
She listens intently to the conversation taking place on the other side of the door.
"There's always something else you can do Hyuuga-kun…" the principal's voice trails off.
"Well if you think of one do let me know because I can't think of anything else and I'm not about to leave this school now!"
She hears footsteps approaching the door from the inside.
"And please, would you call my father and tell him I'm coming home?"
Mikan freezes as her brain registers the words she just heard. The doorknob turns, the door bursts open and Natsume comes out.
He glances at her coldly for a second before starting down the hall.
He reaches the school gates and sees Hotaru standing on his way, her arms crossed over her chest.
"You're taking the fool's way out if you ask me…" she states watching the papers Natsume is holding in his right hand. "You endured it all this time and now you are just-."
"I don't recall ever asking for your opinion…" he retorts.
"But you wanted to… You want to know if I approve of this or not…" she stares at him with an unblinking gaze "I don't… But I doubt you'll change your mind because of what I think."
Natsume nods.
"I can't believe you're gonna give it all up just like that… If I were you I'd-."
"I guess we don't really think alike at all, you and I…" he smiles and turns his eyes towards the sky for some reason feeling a bit relieved.
"Well aren't you glad you found out before it was too late?"
Natsume quickly wipes the grin off his face "Wait so… You mean… YOU KNEW ALL ALONG!?"
She shrugs "It's my job to know everything Baka-Mikan does…"
"Why didn't you say anything then!?"
"I was actually trying to make you lose interest in me without having to turn you down." She explains. "Guess it's pretty useless now. You probably already lost all hope if not interest…"
After a long pause Natsume finally manages to put his thoughts in order and decides to speak his mind "You really aren't what I thought you were…"
"People hardly are, but you don't really need me to tell you that …"
Natsume's mind drifts to Mikan for whatever reason, he doesn't really know… And suddenly a thought strikes him. "Wait, if you say you know everything… then… About her stepdad too…"
Hotaru's eyes widen. 'Crap I shouldn't have said that.' Natsume starts panicking.
"Eh I mean um that she- and um-."
"You mean she told YOU!?" she asks with the utmost astonishment.
"Well one thing led to another and- Imai?" he looks confused as he watches her smiling.
"Maybe you can do it…" she mutters absentmindedly.
"What do you mean? What are you-?"
"Making her forget about him and bringing the old Mikan back…" she states wiping the smile off her face and becoming serious once again.
"Who-?"
"Listen to me Hyuuga, the fact that Mikan told you the truth about her family is proof that she trusts you over anyone else." Hotaru examines the boy in front of her with calculating eyes. "I have no idea why, when or how, but she does."
Natsume smiles proudly at himself but his moment of glory is cut short as Hotaru walks up to him and pokes his chest with her index finger.
"But so help me god if you dare betray that trust, I'll make you wish you were never born. Have I made myself clear?"
Natsume swallows the lump in his throat and nods stiffly. 'Definitely not what I thought she was…'
"Good." she answers simply.
"Hyuuga-sama!" a man's voice calls from inside a limousine parked behind them. "I'm here to take you back to the mansion."
Two other men in black suits get down from the back and grab Natsume and start pulling him into the limo. At that moment he remembers…
"Wait, Imai! Who is HIM!?" he yells at Hotaru before the door slams in front of him and the cars speeds away.
"Sonou Kaname…" she whispers to no one. She starts walking towards the school and smiles as she sees a pink Volkswagen Beetle speeding out of the school grounds.
-At the Hyuuga Mansion-
"I see, so he's coming back. I'm glad he's finally seen the light." Hyuuga Satoshi grins as he watches his son slowly enter his office "Yes, he's here. Thank you for you hard work Mr. Principal." He slams his cell phone shut.
"I hope you are happy for destroying your only son's happiness old man." Natsume glares at his father wishing he could set him on fire just by staring. (A/N: Too bad for him he doesn't have his Alice in this fic.)
"Now, now Natsume, there's no need to be overdramatic, is there?" Satoshi grins even more. "You'll thank me for this one day Natsume, when you are the richest man in all of Japan!" he exclaims proudly.
"Don't you mean YOU will thank ME when I am?"
"I'm doing this for your own good Natsume, not for my own profit." He tries to sound outraged that his son even considered that possibility, even though it was so true.
"Sure thing old man…" he rolls his eyes.
Satoshi scowls "Natsume if you wish for me to let you back into this house and Alice Gakuen you'll have to prove you won't pull one of these stunts again."
"What do you mean prove? You are my father! Shouldn't you have a little faith in me!? Besides if I try this kind of thing once again you can always-."
"After what happened last time I've learned I cannot trust you, not as long as you are acquainted with that insolent brat you call girlfriend."
Natsume clenches his fists, it wouldn't do any good if he stood up for Mikan now, he'd have to grin and bare it for now. "What do you want me to do then?"
Satoshi grins smugly "For starters you will break any bonds that tie you to her and accept your engagement with Luna."
"WHAT!? That wasn't part of the deal! You said I only had to come back home! That was the deal you struck over the phone!"
"I've said it before, haven't I? As long as you live under my roof you'll follow my rules, and if you wish for me to give you permission and money to stay at Alice Gakuen you'll have to remain living under my roof."
Natsume curses under his breath. The old man had certainly planned this really well. 'Not as well as I…' he thinks to himself.
As far as Natsume was concerned there were only two ways he could stay as a student at Alice Gakuen: the easy way and the Hyuuga Natsume way.
The easy way was to virtually sell his soul to the devil (a.k.a Hyuuga Satoshi) going back home and following his every order.
And the Hyuuga Natsume way was FAR more risky... He had to admit it was almost impossible.
School, money, forced marriage and a lifetime of being his dad's puppet… That was what he got if he went with the easy way.
But if he went with his way, it was just like gambling…
The stakes were pretty high and the odds were pretty low. Chances were that if he screwed this up then not only would he not be able to return to Alice Gakuen, but also the Hyuuga Mansion. He would end up completely empty handed.
'Yup, just like gambling…'
But with the other option he had a couple of things for granted…
So he'd have to marry Luna, and live like a puppet for the rest of his days and so life was gonna be a living freaking hell.
But hey! At least he'd get to stay at school and… Who the hell was he kidding? There was just NO way he was taking the coward's way out of this, not after he'd come this far.
'I came here with the intention of putting everything on the line and I'm not about to chicken out now.' Okay maybe he was being just a little overdramatic
'If I must lose everything and go down then so be it!' Okay maybe more like very overdramatic…
'I shall not give up without a proper fight! Let the people know I fought with my all until the bitter end!' Right… now he was just playing the crappy-Hollywood -movie-hero part which is just silly, but hey… a guy needs motivation, and there is no awesome action-movie background music playing so… he had to improvise.
Natsume walks up to his dad's desk clenching the papers in his hands tightly.
"Looks like you don't leave me a choice." The younger Hyuuga says as he keeps approaching his father at a slow pace.
Satoshi grins triumphantly as he watches his son getting closer 'About time we ended this childish game.' He thinks rejoicing in his certain victory. (A/N: Where have I seen this turn of events before?)
The hand clutching the papers starts rising slowly as soon as he reaches the desk.
"I want to say something before you sign and I become a soulless puppet once again…." Natsume stops his hand midair and pauses for dramatic effect. "I just want you to know that
no matter what…" he places the papers on the desk while his father watches him intently 'That's right, keep your eyes on me…' he thinks as he stares back "I will never forgive you for trying to ruin my life."
Satoshi scoffs and takes a pen from one of the desk drawers. "For god sakes Natsume, you are almost 17 years-old stop acting like the spoiled brat you are and grow up! You have to understand you have responsibilities as a Hyuuga you must fulfill."
Natsume starts panicking inside as his father clicks the pen he's holding, but he doesn't let it show in his face 'Remain calm at all times, if you show weakness he'll crush you.' He reminds himself.
His breath becomes heavy and uneven when the pen finds its way to the papers lying on the desk.
Now came the risky part of the Hyuuga Natsume way, meaning the impossible part.
His father slowly starts turning his gaze to the white prints on his table making Natsume considerably nervous. Okay he was probably about to pee on his pants.
How on earth could he even CONSIDER his dad was gonna sign without looking at what he was signing!? He was a businessman for crying out loud! He was used to people trying to trick him with contracts!
But that was where his plan majorly FAILED. He started regretting not thinking this through but now he couldn't turn back. He was WAY beyond the point of no return.
"WAIT!" he shouts before his father can even look at the papers. Satoshi stares at him with an inquisitive look, or more like a now-I-know-you-are-up-to-something-look.
"What?" he asks impassively.
Natsume starts sweating "Well, I mean… I didn't get a chance to object to that!" he smacks his forehead mentally while he tries to look insulted on the outside.
The older Hyuuga raises an eyebrow at this. What on earth was his son trying to get at? "Well?" he presses for him to finish.
"Um… I haven't actually thought of a come back for that yet… But I just thought I had to say something…" What could he do now? His whole plan was based on distracting the old man… but he was out of ideas.
Satoshi shakes his head, sighs exasperated and starts turning his head towards the papers once again.
The world starts moving in slow motion for Natsume as he just stands there watching his own downfall on the make. 'God please send me a distraction, anything! If you help me now I swear I'll…' he struggles to think of a good sacrifice '…I'll kiss the next person I see, no matter who it is!'
As if on queue the door to behind him suddenly burst open and a loud -slam- echoed throughout the room.
'YES! THANK YOU GOD!!' he yelled in his mind when his father's head shot up to stare at the intruder.
He couldn't care less who or what was standing at the door right now, all that mattered was that his dad hadn't seen the papers yet so he still had a chance, and if he played his cards right he could still succeed.
"So that's it is it? You're just giving up? After all I've done for you this is how you pay me back, by sneaking behind my back and selling your soul back to the devil himself!?"
'OH! COME ON!' Natsume shivers as he recognizes that voice. 'Why? Out of all the people in the world god… Why did it have to be her?' he starts turning around but stops abruptly. 'I haven't technically seen her yet…'
"Well, well, well, impeccable timing. It would almost seem as if you had planned to come in at this precise moment…" Satoshi muses.
'You couldn't be more wrong.' Natsume starts regretting having asked for a distraction. "I didn't tell her to come; she shouldn't even know I'm here."
Satoshi hums not convinced at all with that "Well then, this is a perfect chance for you to prove you really want me to forgive you for running away…"
"What do you mean?" he had a pretty good picture of what his father meant.
"You know perfectly well what I'm talking about Natsume. Now stop playing dumb and do it!" the older Hyuuga commands.
Natsume stops to think about how to play his cards. This was possibly the last chance he was getting so he needed to do this right.
"I'll do it if you sign."
"I'll sign if you do it."
Both Hyuuga stare at each other both unwilling to take the first move.
"Do what? What are you talking about?" Mikan cuts in stepping closer to them.
"Stay back!" Natsume shouts at her "Don't get any closer."
"I'm waiting Natsume, do it…" Satoshi points at the girl standing behind his son with the pen.
"Not unless you sign." He runs all possible things he could say to convince him to sign quickly and comes up with an idea he didn't think it was too bad. "It's only fair that you sign first, I'm the one that is more likely to be tricked rather than you."
"Break up? You mean… with me?" Mikan stares wide eyed at Natsume's back "That means you really are marrying Luna?"
After all the trouble they'd been through? After all she'd done for him? What about freeing himself from his dad? What about the speech of not being controlled he had given? What about Hotaru, the supposed love of his life?
What about Mikan? Didn't he care at all about her?
And why did she suddenly feel so betrayed?
"Have you ever considered how I feel about this? Have you even thought about what I-."
"WILL YOU SHUT UP!?" Natsume yells at her to everyone's (including himself) amazement. 'I'm sorry, but I can't afford to screw this up.' He points at the papers lying forgotten on the desk "Now will you sign the damn papers!?"
Satoshi flicks through the pages and places the tip of the pen under the words "Parents Signature" without sparing a glimpse to the rest of the document.
Natsume's lips curve slightly upwards. 'Almost there…'
"Those are the papers that'll let you back into Alice Gakuen?" Mikan stomps over to Satoshi's desk, Natsume looks away to prevent himself from seeing her.
"You have no idea what you're doing so just go away!" the other teen scolds her.
"Are you kidding? How can I just walk away when you most need my help?"
"I DON'T NEED YOUR HELP OKAY!?" 'Please go, we're both gonna regret it if you don't.'
"I can't believe you are giving up so easily… I guess you're not really what I thought you were…"
"People hardly are, but you don't really need me to tell you that…" he quotes Hotaru's words.
"Please… Look at yourself, you look pathetic. You don't even have the guts to face me!"
Instinctively he perks his head up and stares into Mikan's eyes. The moment he sees the hurt look in them he regrets ever turning his head and looks away once again. "Just go…" he mutters. "Please" he whispers for her ears only.
"Fine" Mikan walks to the door "I hope you are happy with your choice."
"Very much." He lets out unconsciously. He couldn't help it, he really was. Because now he was 90 percent sure his would get his way.
Mikan looks at him with a disgusted look on her face. "You're an ass…" she says before walking off and slamming the door behind her.
Satoshi grins wickedly and he finally starts signing the papers "Well who knew you had it in you Natsume… You really are a Hyuuga after all…"
Natsume tries to glare at his father but only manages to smirk. "Yeah, who knew…?"
Satoshi turns back to the first page of the document and catches a short glimpse at it before it gets quickly snatched from his hands. He gasps in shock when he reads the first three words written right under the Alice Gakuen logo.
"Scholarship Application Form" it read.
"Well I didn't know you were okay with me applying for a scholarship… But hey if you really want me to I guess I will…" he starts heading to the door.
"You…" Satoshi's jaw drops.
Man did Natsume like seeing that expression on his face.
"You tricked me…" Natsume is a little taken aback by the fact that he doesn't sound angry, more like amused.
"Just like a true Hyuuga would, right dad?" he takes a key holder from his pocket and throws it to him. "Here… You don't need to tell me, I won't be coming back anyway…" and with that he steps outside not bothering to close the door.
Satoshi grabs the keys and stares at them. "Unbelievable." He starts laughing "Like a true Hyuuga would indeed…" he picks up the phone and dials a series of numbers.
"You won this battle Natsume, but the war is far from over…" he starts laughing once more "Scholarship application… I can't believe I was stupid enough not to read before signing… He had it very well planned out…"
What he didn't know is that he didn't have it planned out at all… it was pure luck. But that's something he doesn't really need to know…
-Back to Natsume-
Convincing Yukiko to sign wasn't even a problem. He just had to ask her to and she did not bothering to ask what it was for.
Okay, now one problem handled, he could rest assured about school.
So he had to give up all the Hyuuga family money, so he had to throw away 16 years of coping with his dad, and so he was now out on the street with nowhere to go…
But at least now he had what he'd yearned for his whole life, freedom, and that was all that mattered to him right now.
Thank god Mikan barged in at that precise moment if not who knows…
Speaking of which…
'Oh crap! I forgot all about her! I have to explain to her what happened!'
Natsume starts running and finally catches up with her when she's getting on her car. He shouts for her to stop but she doesn't listen. As a response she starts her car and starts driving away.
'I can't let her get away.' Natsume sprints as fast as he can and jumps in front of her car making her stop abruptly.
"WHAT THE HELL? ARE YOU TRYING TO GET KILLED!?" she yells at him getting out of the car to check if he's okay.
"Relax…" he says smiling goofily "I knew you weren't gonna run me over."
She helps him get up and immediately turns around so that her back is facing him. "I'm still pissed at you for being an ass."
"I'm sorry." He answers honestly.
"You gave everything up just to stay at school!"
"I didn't…"
"You could've thought of some other way!"
"I did…"
"Besides if you have to marry Luna what difference does it make if you are in Alice Gakuen or not?"
"What do you mean it doesn't make a difference?"
"You even agreed to it so there's no way out of it now…"
"Are you even listening to me!?" he shouts trying to catch her attention.
"WHAT!?" she snaps turning around sharply.
"I'm sorry. I didn't give up. I did think of another way to stay at school. I am NOT marrying Luna."
"But how did you get your dad to agree to that!?"
He shrugs "I tricked him into signing the papers for the scholarship application."
"H- How do you TRICK Hyuuga Satoshi into signing something like that!?"
"Actually the credit for that goes to you… If you hadn't made that scene-."
"Why couldn't you tell me about this before!? I could've helped you!"
"Well they say you have to fool your allies before you can fool your enemies… Besides I knew you'd try to stop me if I told you…"
"Of course I would! Are you kidding? It was a completely reckless plan! I can't believe it even worked!"
"But it did…" he counters.
"Yeah, but what if I hadn't barged in when I did? What would you have done then?"
"But you did… So there's no need to think about that." He smiles at her and suddenly remembers his promise. 'I swear I'll kiss the next person I see, no matter whom it is!' he blushes.
Mikan quickly turns around remembering she's supposed to be mad at him. "I haven't forgiven you for being an ass yet."
"I already apologized AND explained myself. I don't know what else to do." Mikan gets the feeling that he's giving her the kicked puppy face.
"So… I guess that your father is cutting you out for good isn't he?"
Natsume nods and mutters a yeah as he remembers she can't see him nodding.
"So the price everyone said you were paying actually WAS money…" she says more to herself than to him.
"Would you mind giving me a ride to school? I need to turn in the papers as soon as possible…"
Mikan sighs "I guess…" they both get in the car and she starts driving to school. "You owe me though…"
"I had a feeling you'd say that…" he says laughing and makes a mental note.
'List of people whom I owe to up till now:
Mikan
Imai
Ruka
God
Mikan (again)'
-At the Principal's Office-
"I don't know how you managed to make him agree to sign this…" the principal stares at Natsume's scholarship application as if it were some kind of extraterrestrial device.
"I have my ways…" he grins proudly.
"I don't want to know. As long as I receive no complaints from him I honestly don't care."
"You won't, trust me. He's got his pride to protect… And complaining about it would be like admitting that he made a mistake, god forbid..."
"You didn't tell him I had something to do with this, did you?"
"But you didn't have anything to do with it Mr. Principal. This was all one hundred percent my doing as far as the rest of the world is concerned."
"Well then Hyuuga-kun, welcome back to Alice Gakuen. Although you didn't have much time to miss it…" he chuckles lightly.
"That's a good thing!" he stands up from his chair "Now if you'll excuse me, I have an oath to fulfill…" And with that he heads for the door.
"I hope I won't have to see you in this office for a long time Hyuuga-kun."
"Me too..." he calls back.
Natsume walks down the halls and sees Mikan talking to some blonde guy. He gets close enough to hear their conversation, but far enough for them not to notice he's there.
"It's great to be back; I really missed you Mikan-chan…" the blond smiles sweetly at Mikan.
Mikan can only stare at him in awe thinking she might be dreaming or seeing an illusion.
"I have to go greet everyone else, but I would really like to talk to you later if you want…" he places a peck on her cheek and flashes a charming smile at her before walking away.
Natsume walks up to her and glares at the back of the guy who just walked away.
"Who the hell was that guy?" Natsume fumes. You can practically see the smoke coming out of his ears.
"Ka- Kaname-senpai…" Mikan mumbles blushing madly as she caresses the cheek he just kissed. A small smile creeps onto her face.
Kaname? Where had he heard that name before?
A/N: For some reason this was such a tricky chapter to write. I gotta tell you, I kept going back and forth changing the order of things and adding stuff here and there… But I gotta say I liked it, I'm pretty proud of it if I may say so myself.
Anyways hope you enjoyed it…
Ja ne minna-san!