A/N: So this is a light fluffy chapter on our teenage gang. Enjoy!

Chapter 4: Teenage

Natsume woke up in middle of night, only to find the bed beside him empty. He panicked a little. "Mikan?" he called out. No reply. "Mikan!" He was louder this time. Still silence. He got out of his bed and could now view the light coming from the bathroom door. She's probably peeing, he thought. He knew she'd probably kill him if he sneaked in, but he just wanted to make sure she was in there. Regardless of how overprotective he felt, he knocked onto the door.

"Mikan?" he called out sleepily.

"What?!" she snapped back. He was taken aback. Why was she shouting at him in middle of night for absolutely no reason?

"Just wanted to make sure you're okay. That's all, no need to shout. "

"Oh yeah, I'm superb. Now go away! " She sounded annoyed. Was that even a hint of sarcasm? Since when was Mikan sarcastic? "And don't you dare take a peak!"

"Tch." He smirked and laid down on the bed. A few minutes later, Mikan joined him. She lifted his arm, placed it around her waist, and snuggled in his embrace. He mentally smiled.

.;.

"Good morning!" Mikan announced as she shook her fiance. "Come on, wake up Natsume! We have to go shopping." Natsume stirred in his sleep, obviously wanting to sleep longer. "Natsume..."

"Quit whining so early in morning. You're gonna tear my eardrums," he said with irritation.

"What did you just say to me?!" Mikan was furious now. She had waited long for him to wake up and now he was ignoring her, "I knew you would ditch me! FINE! I'll go with Ruka-pyon instead. He won't ditch me."

"Wait, what? Ditch you?" Natsume stood up straight. "What the hell are you talking about? " He said rubbing his sleepy eyes. "And why are you shouting for no reason?"

"No reason?! You think I'm shouting for no reason?!" She stomped out of their room. "Go ahead! You carry on sleeping and reading your stupid mangas. See if I care! I'm going shopping with Ruka-pyon." She slammed the door behind her. Natsume's mind was still trying to cope with the drama that just happened. "PISS OFF!" he heard her scream from outside their door.

"What the heck?" He was dumbfounded. He thought it'd be best to take her shopping. That would be the only way to calm her down. But what does she want to shop, anyway? They were on a scheduled mission to save her best friend's ass and she wants to go shopping?

He switched his pajama boxers from a pair of trouser, not bothering for a shower or a new T shirt. Bathed in a deodorant, he took the room keys and stormed off to Ruka's room.

.;.

"Eh? Why are you calling Natsume, Ruka-pyon? He's not interested in coming. " He could hear her loud voice from outside Ruka's room. Natsume swung the door open.

"Who said I'm not coming?"

"Oh, hey Natsume. I was just about to call you," Ruka greeted him. "Sakura wants to go shopping."

"Really? You'll come?" Mikan's eyes changed to sparkles. "Yay!" She clapped her hands and ran to hug him. She pecked him on the cheek as a sign of gratitude.

She was an erupting volcano a few minutes ago and now she's all lovey dovey? Natsume pondered. What the heck's wrong with this girl?

"So why do you want to go shopping anyways? You know we aren't here in Tokyo to have fun," he reminded her.

"I know that, but we're going to meet tomorrow right?"

"At 09:35:46 PM" Ruka precisely remembered. He was curious to see if they would really make it at that very moment. Paradox wasn't wrong about other stuff earlier, but still Ruka wanted to test his expertise.

"Yeah, so we've the entire day to ourselves. Let's go then!" she announced grabbing Natsume's hand. "Come on Ruka-pyon, you too!"

Sakurano, who was in the shower, heard all the commotion and sweat dropped. Natsume and Ruka hadn't had any experience with a hormonal teenage girl before. It would be interesting to see how they deal with Mikan on her period. He chuckled at the thought.

.;.

"Lingerie?" Natsume's eyes twitched in anger and a hint of excitement."You brought us all the way to this mall just to buy freaking underwear." Ruka reddened from head to toe.

"Hey! It's none of your business what I want to buy, okay?"

"Of course it's my business. I am paying the bills here," he reminded her.

"No one asked you to pay!" Her voice tone was getting higher.

"Why have you been yelling at me so much?" he asked curious. Given, they did fight an awful lot, but today she was being way too unreasonable.

"Ugh! You'll never understand! Neither of you." She marched into the store, clutching her stomach. She had been getting these cramps ever since last night. Seeing the pained expression on her face, he followed her. Ruka dared not to enter the store.

"Hey, are you okay?" Natsume asked softly as grabbed her arm and turned her towards him.

"No...I'm really not. It hurts Natsume." She started sobbing, "My stomach really hurts, and I'm really tired too." He checked her temperature. She didn't fever or anything. So what...?

Then all of sudden reality dawned on him. Her waking up in middle of night. The strange mood swings. And not to mention a trip to a lingerie store. He knew the next stop: The Pharmacist. He never paid attention in health class - he never paid attention in any of his classes - but he well knew what 'disease' these symptoms pointed out to. She wasn't just in the bathroom to pee that night.

"You're on your period," he said in astonishment. He almost laughed at the thought of that. His Mikan was a woman now. Of course. He held back his smirk, fearing another explosion from his fiancé. It was for the first time he was dealing with Mikan in her current state. Wait. What was he so happy about it? Now he would have to deal with this craziness every single month.

"Don't say that out loud,you idiot." She smacked him. Her tears and her cramps subsided by then. She shrugged off his grip and walked to the counter.

"What do you mean you don't have polka dot print?!" The sales lady was her new target. Natsume on the other hand couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"I am terribly sorry ma'am." She bowed down in apology.

"That's not acceptable! What kind of store doesn't have polkadot pattern?!"

"Sorry ma'am. We're out of stock for that one."

Seeing her argue with the sales lady, Natsume thought he should intertwine, lest something would break following which he'd have to pay the damage.

"Don't mind my ill tempered fiance. You see she's on her period."

"I told you not to announce it out loud!" she snapped at him. The sales lady sweat dropped.

"So, what other patterns you got?" He ignored her and carried on his conversation. The sales lady was astonished at the strange new couple. Boyfriend,husbands and fiances hardly ever visited the store, yet here he is. And weren't they a little too young to be engaged? Not to mention he was helping her in her time of complete need. He really must love her alot. A golden couple. How romantic! The flowers emitting from her were spreading in all directions. I wish I find a hot boyfriend like him.

"Hey! Hello. Other patterns please," Natsume reminded her.

"Ah! Sorry." She returned from her day dreaming." We've have floral, strawberry pattern, panda print, hearts, lined..." She said as she laid out the patterns on the desk for them to see and choose.

"We'll take the strawberry one," both Mikan and Natsume said in unison. They looked at each other. Mikan couldn't help but laugh at their similar choice.

Wow. They really are a golden couple, the sales lady thought.

"Next to polka dots that's my favorite," Natsume commented. Mikan couldn't believe he just said that.

"Natsume, you're such a pervert!" The lady giggled at them as she packed their 'item' for them.

"Here you go," the lady said handing over the bag to them. "Have fun tonight guys." She winked at them.

"We always do," Natsume replied with a calm aura. Mikan glared daggers him.

"Sorry to keep you waiting Ruka-pyon! " she sang as she walked out of the store. Natsume of course was unwillingly carrying the bags.

"Oh...uh...It's fine," was all the embarrassed guy could manage.

"Next stop Pharmacist."

"Umm...wasn't Sakura really mad a few minutes ago?" a confused Ruka asked his best friend.

"It's that time of the month," came the quick reply.

"What? Really? " Ruka turned redder than he already was. "Sorry man."

"You're gonna have to deal with it too remember," Natsume warned. He brought his fist up and gave Ruka a playful punch on the shoulder.

"Guys, hurry up!" Mikan shouted from in front of them.

"A box of tampons," Mikan demanded. "And a strip of Midol."

"Here you go miss. That would be 800 yen." Natsume handed over the money to the pharmacist and walked out.

"Done?" Natsume asked.

"Yup."

"Let's get out of this place. "

"It's already noon, why don't we grab lunch and go." Ruka suggested.

"No! My feet are killing me and not to mention this stupid idiotic cramps, ugh!" Mikan grumbled in frustration, "I want to go and lie down," she demanded.

"Umm, sorry Sakura...I didn't know that." Ruka never thought he'd live to see the day when Mikan utterly terrified him.

"Let's go back to hotel then." Natsume patted Ruka on his back as a sympathetic gesture. But it was Natsume that Ruka was more worried about. Poor Natsume will have to deal with this drama every month, now.

"Ah! Now that's what I call a lunch." Mikan burped. "Oops sorry."

"Hah! Looks like you had fun shopping today." Noda noticed.

"Yeah!" she said cheerfully.

'No' Natsume and Ruka mentally answered.

"Let's all have a little afternoon siesta and then meet up in evening to discuss tomorrow's plan." Sakurano suggested.

"I want a dessert," Mikan mumbled.

"Okay. See you guys later,." Ruka said while getting up from his seat.

"I want a dessert" Mikan said louder, but no one heard her.

"Let's go, polka dots."

"I said, I want dessert." She screamed at the four dumbstruck guys in front of her.

"Calm down Sakura, which desert do you prefer?" Noda politely asked her.

"No," Natsume stated.

"What?"Mikan hissed back.

"I said, no." Natsume glared at her. "Ruka and I have carted you around all day and you've done nothing except yell and boss us around. We get that you're in pain, but you're acting like a spoiled baby. We don't mind getting you the dessert, but don't scream for it. And go back to your normal self!" Mikan's eyes softened.

"I'm sorry guys," she mumbled. "I've really been awful all day, haven't I?" The men around her couldn't help but smile.

"It's okay Sakura-san," Noda said. "We like having you around." Mikan smiled her normal smile and ordered her dessert.

"Wait till she gets pregnant Hyuuga. I am sure you'll love it then," Sakurano whispered to him. Natsume glared at him.

The gang retired to bed only after Mikan had a satisfying dessert of chocolate soufflé.

"What are you looking at?" Natsume asked Mikan who was staring at his face for over 10 minutes now. The two were cuddling on the bed after the heavy meal, when all of sudden Mikan took a sudden interest in Natsume's face, particularly his chin.

She reached out her hand and touched chin, it was somewhat rough.

"You have a beard." She giggled at the idea. Natsume never had a beard before. It was her first time seeing him with one. She grazed her fingers over the small hairs.

"It's called a stubble idiot," he corrected her.

He didn't even have time in the morning to take a shower, how the hell was he gonna shave? And who's fault it was again?

"Well, that stubble needs to be shaved." She ran off to cupboard and grabbed his bag. She fished out his razor and hopped onto the bed again. "And I'll shave it for you."

"Forget it. I'll do it myself. Knowing your clumsiness you'll probably give me a scar."

"No," she protested. He knew it wasn't a good idea to argue right now.

"You'll have to put on shaving cream first."

"This one?" She took out a Gillette shaving cream can from his bag. He nodded

She carefully pumped out a foam and took it in her hands, she smeared it up on his chin from right to left. It was soft. It was smooth. It reminded her of fluff puffs. She giggled at the thought. After that she picked up the razor and gave a stroke, starting from his ear to his chin.

"Yay! I did it!"

"Hurry up and finish it."

"Hai! Hai!"

When the razor had shaved away all the stubble, Mikan examined Natsume. His chin was smooth for the most part, as she had missed a spot or two. Then she took it all in together. She couldn't help but blush at the upclose look of Natsume.

'He looks sexier upclose.' She panicked that she almost said that out loud. If she had she would never hear the end of it.

"You're really handsome, Natsume. You know that?" Mikan commented with a giggle to her voice. She pecked his nose and then placed a kiss on his lips. When they pulled apart, Natsume couldn't help but smile at her.

And so for the first time in their lives the two spent their time with each other doing "teenage stuff". They had grown up. They were now teenagers.

Unknown to our teenage heroes a pair of binocular eyes was eyeing them from the skyscraper. Scarlet smiled as she saw the two love birds cuddling. " Gotcha!" An inconfident Kenji stood behind her mentally preparing himself for the upcoming showdown.

.;.

"Is it true?"

"Yes Yukihara-sensei , we've double checked the sources. The AAO is back in action," the new elementary school principal, Jinno said. "In fact they were the ones behind Sakura's attempt kidnapping three days ago. Looks like they have picked up after ESP's clone; their former boss died. "

"It would be wise to call off the 'Finding Hotaru' mission for time being and call everyone back." Jinno said.

"No. I want Mikan to enter the time dimension as soon as possible. That place is safest. No AAO will get her there. Let's keep investigation low profile. And finish them off before Mikan comes back with Hotaru." The HSP said.

"We should call Sakurano for investigation." Shiki suggested.

"But shouldn't he be with Sakura? It would ensure her safety." Jinno pretested.

"No, Jinno sensei. My niece is with Natsume. She could never be in better hands," he assured. "We'll need Sakurano's help here with the investigation. We're low on forces."

"But we should prepare ourselves for a storm now," Shiki warned.

And so it had begun.

A/N: And done. Few fluffy moments...hope you all enjoyed! ^^ If you did, drop us a review and let us know what you think! This chapter was written by edwardelric108 and was edited by Sonic-keyblade007 and Neverlookback756.