"it's been three years already. I guess its time already" Shiki reasoned "I guess now you both should be moved back to normal dorms. Everyone is old enough to understand your situations."
Natsume nodded, showing he understands his reasons but said otherwise. "hmm... We will soon move. But not yet."
"you guys are now going to be in middle school. I can't let you two be locked up from outside world till eternity. You need to learn and adapt to various circumstances." Shiki continued with his point of view.
"I know. I am not saying till eternity but some more time. Idiot" Natsume was getting really irritated with all this care and concern.
"well I can't do it. I have my own reasons and a promise to keep" Shiki said, looking towards a drawer.
Natsume followed his gaze for a second but then resumed his argument.
"so I guess you are also bound to fulfill your promise to me?" he asked.
"what promise?" Shiki asked, a little confused.
"my claim from last time." Natsume said. "my wish is I and Mikan live in that dorm of ours for few more weeks."
Shiki sighed. As expected of black cat. He is not that easy to be manipulated around.
Suddenly the phone rang. Tring~ Tring~
Shiki answered. "hmm.. Yeah... Fine I will be there." he looked at Natsume and continued "we will talk about it later. Right now I have some errands to run. You can wait in my office till I come back. " he said as he got up to leave.
When he was at door he said one last thing "think about it" before disappearing behind the door.
"hufh-" Natsume heaved and relaxed on his chair. He was looking at the drawer. "what he meant by promise to be kept?" he thought.
He blankly stared at the drawer.
Suddenly some rumbling sounded from that drawer. A shocked Natsume put an ear to the drawer to listen more closely.
"you...tor... U... Ft...mise.." came muffled sound.
He tried to open the drawer and much to his surprise it was open. He looked in for the source and came across an upside down photo frame. He took it and turned it to face it. And for a second he almost dropped it.
Inside it a well known face was screaming like mad, it was all red from anger.
"Shiki you traitor. You baka. You promised to take care of Mikan. Separate her from that pervert. I don't want him to influence my angel. Shiki dont run from me!"
The said person eyes were shut close and he was pointing a fist towards sky. His fist shook with anger. Behind him a girl was standing. She had placed a hand on his shoulder, reassuringly and was smiling awkwardly, her eyes were also closed.
Natsume eyes widened with shock at the livid picture in front of him. Then on second thought it was no miracle in world of Alice. So he placed the photo on table top and turned to his seat.
But due the sudden motion the characters came out of their rear and finally noticed the person in front of them.
"YOU!" somebody screamed.
And Natsume yet again turned to face the talking photo.
"you bastard stay away from my daughter. Don't even dare to lay a finger on my innocent angel. Else I will make you rot in hell. I would never let you two be together in any other life. You dare make my daughter suffer and I will make you suffer an excruciating burning pain that would make you wish you were never born in this hell of a world. I am warning you STAY AWAY FROM HER!" that guy screamed and screamed. Stomping his foot, throwing punches in air and sometimes glaring like he would just pop out of the photo.
Natsume stood confused. Should he reply to this photo? Would he understand?
Behind sensei Yuka stood with her hands behind her back. Smiling gleefully. Enjoying father in law and son in law moment.
"ummm..." Natsume poked the photo, just out of curiosity or might say to shut him up! He was so irritating, rambling like a fool just like Mikan.
"hey you thick headed! What do you think are you doing?! Are you even listening to anything I am saying?!" and another round of shouts started.
Natsume sighed. Guess it can't be helped then. He sat himself in front of the photo and heard Izumi ramble on.
Slowly slowly his anger subsided when he saw Natsume taking him seriously. And gradually all insults and screaming changed into teaching and guiding. Natsume too took it to nodding with sometimes a "yeah yeah" accompanying it.
"And NEVER NEVER forget to have your decency with my daughter. I won't bear it if you force yourself on her" Izumi said sternly.
That caught Natsume off guard.
"what if she asks it?" he asked, a little surprised at being blamed like that. He wasn't a despo.
"NO WAY. My innocent cute little daughter would never ask for something like that." he replied in a hyper active voice.
Natsume sighed. Why did he even asked such stupid thing in first place?
Yuka was still giggling after watching all this. She finally decided to come out from background and wrapped her arm around a jumpy sensei.
"don't worry Natsume. I trust you with my daughter. And I am sure sensei will soon understand it." Yuka said, copying the smile that Mikan used to give Natsume.
Natsume just nodded once. Lost at words after seeing the smile.
"nooooooooo~" a heart broken sensei screamed. His dear wife betrayed him.
Yuka waved her hand dismissevly at Natsume. Showing him it was gonna be alright.
Natsume nodded.
"sensei.." Yuka called.
"hmpf" Izumi pouted.
"sensei.. I know you are worried about Mikan. I am too." Yuka tried to soothe him.
Izumi looked at Yuka.
She continued "yeah I know he is a little needy and greedy but he is Natsume Hyugaa. When Hotaru got hurt and when ESP was targeting her and when I came to academy to take her with me, he was her strongest support. Weren't you the one who told me that? And even when I died and on those lonely Christmas and ofcourse while fighting of ESP. He was the one who hold Mikan through all those difficulties. So I guess we can give him a chance. A little credit for all his bravery. Can't we? After all he is the one who in the end was chosen by our daughter. We can trust our daughter's choice. Right? Moreover I am sure he is just like Kauri senpai. Insensitive and insensible on front and caring and over protective inside." she smiled. Izumi stared for a minute, thinking of all the things that Yuka told him. Mention of one of the students name stirred something inside him.
All the while Natsume sat with his face facing the wall. His cheeks red and eyes irritated. It was like the couple has altogether forgotten that he was also there, LISTENING.
Izumi looked at Natsume for a while. Deciding on what to do. He noticed a faint pink on his cheeks that made him smile.
He finally stood and cleared his throat. Natsume once again gave him his undiverted attention.
"okay okay. You can go back to my daughter but NEVER forget to be EXTREMELY careful with my daughter. You got that? I never want to see her crying." Izumi ended, like a control freak father.
"that might be difficult, considering she is a crybaby." Natsume said with a shrug.
Izumi saw red. How dare he...!
Yuka patted his back to cool him down and said to Natsume
"no matter. I am sure you will figure something out." with a hesitated smile.
He shrugged. It wasn't like Izumi could have stopped him anyway. Hell with Izumi. Even Ji san, who was well and alive, could not stop him. Not even Shiki and not even HSP. He becomes an unstoppable force when it came to Mikan.
Door clicked and everyone froze. Shiki entered the room closing the door behind him.
"dont worry. I and Mikan will move after this semester. Alright!" Natsume suddenly said.
Shiki froze, then nodded. Unable to speak anything.
"good!" Natsume commented and reached for the door to leave.
Shiki didn't attempt to stop him. He was still too shocked to question him.
Door closed leaving Shiki alone in the room. Knowing Natsume he was sure it would take a lot more than just few minutes talk to convince him. Afterall he was quite a personality reader and knew people and understood their reasons.
He walked to the drawers. Feeling glad that now he can finally face Izumi. Still shocked but didnt really care, at that moment at the least. But much to his surprise the photo was placed on his table top.
His eyes widened for a second but then relaxed as realization sunk. A smile spread on his lips as he took the photo and placed it on the centre table, next to a flower vase.
Natsume entered his room and was attacked by Mikan's cheerfulness full on the face.
"Natsume you back! Why did uncle called you?" she asked, as she came running to Natsume's side, dragging Teddy along.
"nandemunai" he said, pulling of his cold attitude.
He heaved himself on his bed and laid down.
"amphf- tell me na..! What did uncle said?" Mikan asked a little excited and a little impatient. She sat on the edge of his bed.
"go away polka! Don't be so persistent!" Natsume said as he rolled over on his stomach.
"hmph-" Mikan pouted. Natsume was immediately reminded of her dad. He too pouted exactly like her.
"oye Natsume.." Mikan continued after a minute. She was a little hesitant which made Natsume to face her again. "I was t-think-king..t-to..."
"polka spit it out!" Natsume commanded, as impatient as ever.
"nan-nandemunai" Mikan uttered and then lifted her weight from the bed.
But before she could take two steps Natsume got hold of her hand.
"what is it polka?" he persisted in softer tone.
"ye-ah" Mikan mumbled.
"come on. It's written all over your face Baka. Tell me" Natsume commented on her idiocy.
"if it is so clear then read it yourself!" Mikan exclaimed as she stomped off her foot.
That was it. That was all it took for Natsume's little patience bubble to burst. He jerked the hand he was holding causing Mikan to fall backward straight on bed. He then himself got over her, pinning her to the bed.
"what. Is. It.?" he repeated slowly. As if giving Mikan chance to count her options which were none. Mikan glared in his eyes. He glowered back. But his stare was fiercer. Finally the later won and the former lowered her eyes.
"I-I wa-s th-hink-in-g t-to d-do... " Mikan sputtered. This time Natsume waited for her to finish. He didnt want her to change her mind yet again.
"ummm..anno... Ummm... T-to d-do wh-hat mum dad did!" she rushed towards the end.
"what?" Natsume asked, not believing his ears. After so much of hesitation and stammering she spouts this nonsense!
"what oka san and otu san did before he went to save Serio sensei." Mikan explained in small voice. Too small to hear if not for the pin drop silence.
Natsume stared blankly at her. Trying to clear his head. She must mean something else. But what else did those two do?!
Mikan couldn't lift her gaze. As embarassed as she was, she didnt had the guts to now look him in the eye.
But Natsume stared her. And stared her and stared her. Finally he raised his hand to her hairline. He trailed a finger from there to between her eyes, caressing her with a feather light touch. Mikan shuts her eyes at the touch, trying to relive it.
Then he joined his forefinger and thumb and then flicked her.
"awwwww" Mikan screamed at the sudden pain.
"baka! What are you spouting?! Have you lost it?!" he shouted back.
"why would you hit me like that?!" she too shouted. Persisting on her question being answered first.
"to put some sense into that thick head of yours, ugly" he said in such a strong voice that Mikan shut her mouth.
She gulped a big one then after a second of recovering she said again, with confidence
"why not?!"
"because you are too small!" Natsume reasoned her foolishness.
"and you are not?!" she challenged.
"that's not the point!" he exasperated.
"then what is the point!?" she demanded.
"that you can't even ask for it properly!" he exclaimed.
.
.
Silence lingered.
Natsume exhaled through his mouth. He took a deep breath and started.
"just recently you were embarrassed of even kissing and now you asking for it? Believe me you are not ready."
"I am thirteen! I am old enough. I am a teenager." Mikan said like a stubborn child.
"exactly you are just thirteen Baka. And being teenager doesn't matter. You watching way too rebellious children movies" he said dismissevly, mounting from the bed.
"don't keep on calling me Baka, baka" Mikan said. Not satisfied with loosing the argument.
"ugly!" Natsume replied in that monotone of his.
"cold hearted" Mikan played.
"polka"
"argh.. Looser"
"heart print" Mikan blushed. Now how did he knew that print?!
"pervert!" she screamed.
Natsume just gave her a look. And that look was more than enough to make her realize that she was in no position to say that whatsoever.
So she scrambled off to other side of room, far from Natsume.
Natsume too relaxed. Seriously he can never have a moment of peace in this life. For eventhough he was now relaxing his mind was filled with Mikan. Really Mikan was a contagious disease for him which was corrupting his calculated well preserved mind into a corrupted wasteful perverted thing.
Mikan was pouting, drawing something on wall with her finger. She hadn't plan it go like that. She wanted to strengthen her bond with him but she failed, terribly.
They both hadn't realized it but the atmosphere was really awkward now. Even the air they breath felt heavy. Mikan prayed for Natsume to again say some nonsense, like he usually did whenever she was troubled. But he didn't.
After few more ticking of clock the awkward silence finally shattered.
"why did you even ask for that?" Natsume asked.
"what do you think, baka?" Mikan said in a small gloomy voice. But she was really grateful that he spoke but really ungrateful that he had to start on this topic only.
"I know you not that freaky needy type girl. Okay. Otherwise I wouldn't had to work so hard to get just a kiss" he said matter-of-factly.
Ofcourse blood rushed to her cheeks tainting them a good shade of red.
"ye-ah" she mumbled.
That made Natsume to shift his sight from ceiling to Mikan.
"what is it?" he asked.
She sighed. It was starting on same track already. My good god. Would they ever get over this argument? She thought to tell him on face but then thinking of the reason made her embarrassed. Her cheeks were burning and her blood was already at the boiling point.
She shook her head feverently trying to push the thought away. Natsume stared vividly. If he ever had any doubts about her sanity he was now completely sure that she was insane whatsoever.
"Mikan why are you overreacting? Just tell me and get over with it baka"
"you Baka. It's easy for you to say. But do you ever tell me anything?!" she accused with tears in her eyes.
It caught Natsume of guard. What was the need to cry in that? Was she that desperate? Oh boy these girls gonna be death of him one day. Nonetheless he went to Mikan and kneeled beside her.
"you self proclaimed Baka. You never tell me anything. I feel like I am being distanced from you. Like you are once again gonna fade. Why can't you just simply accept our company and friendship? Why do you always have to act brave lonesome hero? Why can't you just accept the fact that we are all here for you? That you are not alone? That you never were? Why are you always so afraid of people supporting you? I want to be there. By your side. In your darkness. In your happiness. Why won't you let me in?" she asked, her voice strained from too much choking. By the end she had grabbed Natsume's shirt in her fist.
Natsume sat there like ice, immovable. So that was all about this. She thought that if we had... Thing we would be more... Connected. Ewww. What the hell was she thinking. She seriously is such a child.
Natsume hugs Mikan as a silent apology.
"Baka it's nothing like that. Shiki called to convince me to move us to normal dorms." Natsume soothed in her ears. "that's it! And I made a deal to move after this semester ends. Ofcourse I would have eventually told you that. Dont you think?" Natsume asked. Again putting on that cold facade of his.
She sniffed, looking deep in his eyes. He too searched her eyes. Reaching her soul. Penetrating her very core.
She shys away. But Natsume still stare at her. Her cheeks reddens. Natsume still doesn't stop. In lightning speed Mikan wrapped her arms around Natsume and met his lips with hers in a passionate kiss.
Momentarily his eyes widened but then he too got taken into that kiss.
Far from these two in Shiki's office, in a photo a certain someone cried "keep that pervert away from my daughter. He is rotting my child's mind!"
okay the last chapter...! hope you all liked these one shots... :) the reason i decided to update today is because today is the biggest festival of the year in my country... :) happy diwali everyone... and anybody who wants to talk to me or complain to me for anything please send me a private message... i would love to reply... :) and pls pls pls pls RnR... do tell me how these one shots were... hope they werent too much fairy tale type... pls do tell :)
ps wait for my poem... i am almost done with it... i will post it as a completely entirely different shot... do read it too... :) :) :)