I'm finally back! OTL God, I'm so so so so so so SORRY for not UPDATING in MILLENIA! /FAIL
;A; Sorry okay? I had so much going on and had a minor writer's block that I wasn't able to update. FORGIVE ME! /creys. Anyway, I made this chapter extra long for you guys.
Please read and enjoy! ^^ LOVE YOU ALL! :*
~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~
MY FIANCE IS A WHAT? PART II (sort of)
The brunette sulked in the corner of the room, watching the purple-coated men assemble chairs and furniture around the place for the game they were about to play. Mikan loved games, really. But when you innocently waltz out of your bathroom undressed just to see another pervert guy staring at you and then your pervert fiancée comes to point out the pattern of your underwear, Mikan was sure you'd be convinced that the world was teeming with nothing but scorn and hate. And then you start to forget the things you love.
Mikan sighed then scanned the corners of the room. Misaki and Tsubasa were eagerly chatting in the far upper-right corner with the pink-haired girl whacking her fiancé at random intervals; the brunette thought that they were pretty cute. At least they bond unlike some supposedly couple she knows who spend their time trying to wring each other's necks.
Then, she spotted Youichi and Aoi at the other side, the silver-haired lad ignoring the girl who was fidgeting continuously beside him. Then finally, Natsume and Ruka. Like, again – all the time.
How many times had Mikan seen Natsume with Ruka? The brunette scowled, Right, I can't count. Why? Because my freaking fiancée is practically glued to his best friend. It's like he's his other half or something.
But then again she was also with Hotaru in as many times as Natsume was with Ruka so she guessed that it must be one of those best friend things. Besides, leaving Mikan and Natsume together is not a very good idea; they're bound to grill each other dead in five minutes.
Mikan scowled deeper.
"I don't know what you're sulking about but I'm sure Hyuuga would disintegrate into dust if you don't stop glaring." Hotaru commented beside her, tapping something in her laptop, probably some article she'd sell to the press for money, Mikan shrugged.
"Then better. At least I won't have to worry for my life whenever I'm with him." She muttered begrudgingly.
The black-haired girl glanced at her best friend then shifted back to her monitor. "Or you won't have to get jealous about him spending more time with Nogi than you." She smirked amusedly.
Mikan gaped at Hotaru in surprise then closed her mouth, setting it into thin line. "I – am – so – not – jealous. I don't even love him!" she burst incredulously.
Hotaru rolled her purple orbs. "Right," she said sarcastically.
The brunette pouted, then pursed her lips and finally cried, "Hotaru! I'm never gonna get married! What the hell am I supposed to do? It's that stupid jerk's fault!" she wailed loudly.
Her best friend raised her perfect eyebrows.
"He saw my panties!" she shrieked in utmost embarrassing clarification.
"Well good luck on your delusion Dummy. Last time I checked, Hyuuga's not fucking a monkey to produce a future heir to the throne. Why did you think they threw you in the Palace in the first place, to be a chambermaid?"
"But it's true!"
"And unicorns exist. Get over it, dummy."
Mikan was about to retort when the double grand doors of the parlor banged open, the Empress walking through it in a proud manner then finally stopping right at the middle where she scrutinized the positions of everything. Then she smiled satisfactorily.
Kaoru clapped her hands for attention – which she gratefully received by the youngsters who swished their heads in her direction.
"Okay everyone, gather around, we're starting the game!" she summoned enthusiastically, her crimson orbs glinting malevolently as usual.
Mikan thought she heard Natsume grunt on the way to the center where a pile of chairs were stacked in a circle manner, all facing outward.
When they all gathered in front, Kaoru flashed them her gleaming white pearls which Mikan thought was the most innocent smile she had shown since she had met the lady; not until the brunette spotted a flicker of triumphant smirk on her face. She shivered.
"Aren't you all excited? Ohhhh…I sure am!" she squealed.
"Spit it out Mother and let's get this over with." Natsume muttered.
Kaoru grimaced at her son. "Such a party-pooper but sure, I'll make this fast for the sake of your starving stomachs. But first, you have to guess what our game is!" she grinned.
Youichi smirked. "That's easy. With all these chairs, you'd be dumb not to notice the game is Trip to Jerusalem."
Kaoru shrugged. "Of course. Your answer's right…but not quite. Any more guesses?"
"I'm pretty sure it involves more suffering than landing flat on your butt." Tsubasa answered.
"Or being squashed by the person sitting on you." Misaki muttered.
"Well, it is pretty special."
"Special."
Natsume snorted. "I'm allergic to that word."
"Yes, special." The older lady repeated.
"What kind of special?" Mikan asked.
Kaoru grinned mischievously at Mikan. "Oh, it's nothing, nothing you can't handle."
"Tell me about it." Hotaru rolled her eyes.
The Empress shrugged. "Aww come on, it just involves some body parts to touch."
~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~
It just involves some body parts to touch, she said.
Mikan kept replaying the words that the Empress said. At first she didn't get it. Heck, she doesn't even wanna get it! It involves what parts to touch what? Is it just her, or everyday's getting pervert-er in the Palace?
First, the guys – yes all four of you, including you Natsume – sit on the chairs over there, the Empress dictated minutes ago.
Mikan stared at the four guys in front of her, flashing their own poses while sitting on the chairs, obviously bored out of their wits. Well, at least Natsume and Youichi were. The brunette couldn't believe how much they have in common. Then Ruka was busy petting his bunny – Usagi – while Tsubasa found the hobby of pestering Misaki.
Then, you girls go do what you do during normal Trips to Jerusalem!
'Which is?' Mikan remembered asking.
'You dance, silly." Natsume's mother replied in mirth.
'Or walk in circles.' Hotaru said.
'Whatever you prefer.' The Empress shrugged gallantly.
And so, the girls were positioned standing around the small circle of guys on the chairs, having the privilege of observing them squirm in boredom while they sit comfortably on their cushions and they on the other hand have to suffer standing.
Oh, what joy.
Not.
And there's no way Mikan's dancing in front of Natsume. No Way.
But the special thing is, before every round, I, your emcee will announce what body parts to touch with your partner's body part. For example, if I say nose to nose then your nose should be touching with a sitting person's nose when the music stops. But unlike in Trip to Jerusalem, the number of the people sitting and people standing are equal so that you will only be disqualified once you weren't able to perform the command.
"Okay, are you guys ready?" Kaoru asked merrily.
Misaki groaned. "I'll never be ready for this…"
"Remember, it's worth your breakfasts!"
Mikan sighed. She's willing to starve herself to death as long as it guarantees that she won't be touching Natsume in any part of his body – and vice versa. But then, there are also the chances of her not touching him throughout the game. She can always evade him and grab the person next to him right?
"Alright, ready or not, we're starting!" Kaoru announced gleefully.
Youichi face-palmed. "Remind me why I'm doing this again…"
"For the first round, I'll give you guys a warm up. Let's start with something easy shall we?"
Natsume snorted. "Easy my ass."
"I heard that, Nattie. Close your little mouth or I'll personally make sure first round'll be Staple Wires to Natsume's Lips. For Round 1, we'll go with…'Left Hand to Chest'!" she announced then snapped her fingers for the music.
Mikan, although dazed started to go in circles, her heart beat accompanying the music in the background. As long as she grabs someone's chest she'll be fine! No sweat…right?
She passed by Natsume and saw him piercing her through his stare as if daring her to touch him. Like hell she'll do that. Before vanishing from his view, she stuck out a tongue to annoy him which he ignored, much to Mikan annoyance.
It took three more turns before the music finally ceased and Mikan found her left hand connected to Tsubasa's smooth chest.
"Tsubasa-san, you've been working out." Mikan blurted out before she even knew what she was talking about. And when she realized what she had spit out, she wished she was dead. Right. On. Spot.
"It's that well-built huh?" he said. Mikan looked at Misaki, she seemed pretty okay about it though. In fact, she rolled her eyes at Tsubasa's modest question then smiled genuinely at Mikan. Although, the brunette has no idea why the heck Natsume was glaring daggers at her.
"Oh, yeah, sure." She smiled at him.
"See, I told you it was easy!" Mikan heard the Empress chime in, smiling. "No one's disqualified yet. Now, let's proceed to the next round shall we?"
It was true. Everyone's left hands were somehow touching each of the guy's flat chests although different reactions ensued from each of them. And the moment they heard that no one's out of the game yet, everyone withdrew their respective hands from the males' chests – including Mikan – rather quickly.
"Shall we make the second round more exciting?" the older woman grinned.
Every one of them groaned.
"Alright, I'll take those noises as a yes," she smiled. "So for the next level, my command will be – lips to ear!"
"Ehhhhh?" the brunette tried to protest but to no avail. The music already started and she circled in a daze. Putting her lips on Tsubasa's ear was awkward, she decided. She was sure it wouldn't be so nice to Misaki but then kissing Natsume's ear was not something she was looking forward to either.
Mikan panicked inwardly as the music stopped so soon. And the only face she could see in front of her was Ruka's flustered one as his azure eyes met her hazel orbs. Unconsciously, she dipped her head deeper into his mass of golden hair, maneuvering her way to his red ear and touched it with her lips.
She thought he heard a low whimper but decided that it's just the blood pounding in her ears.
What the heck is she doing?
She must be crazy. Yes, that must be it.
"Damn. Natsume, you should stop wearing those earrings!" she heard Misaki swear beside her, her lips also touching Natsume's ear but unlike his cousin, he was completely nonchalant about their contact.
"AHHHHHHHH! Why the heck did you bite me, you brat?" Youichi screamed. The brunette tilted her head a bit for a better view of what's happening only to see Aoi's teeth sinking into the silver-haired lad's flushed ear. "Owww, get off me!" he squirmed.
Kaoru looked at the young couple worriedly. "Oh dear, I guess we have to disqualify you both then. I said lips to ear but my Aoi-chan ended up doing teeth to ear. I guess I have to teach her about our body parts again." She said, her fingers touching her lips in an anxious manner. "But oh well, off you go now, You-chan and Aoi-chan!"
Mikan stared at the two fourteen-year-olds sulk their way to the chairs beside the Empress with Youichi sending a fit of accusing glares at the poor raven-haired lass. She felt sorry for them but what can she do? She was not that daring to go against the Empress' antics. That would be too scary.
"Alright," the Empress chirped. "I'm making this the last round already." She alleged only to receive sighs of relief from everyone. "But, I'm warning you that it will be the worse." She grinned.
Everyone looked at her incredulously as if she was out of her mind in which she probably is at the rate she was going now. Mikan didn't wonder how Natsume ended up with his stuck-up attitude now, seeing as how he must have suffered under the torture of his mother.
"Mother, I swear I'm calling Dr. Harada to look into your brain one of these days." Natsume said.
Kaoru clicked her tongue. "Nattie dear, if you thought that that comment helped you make this game easier, you are badly misinformed." She grinned. Everyone glared daggers at him. He ignored them.
The music stirred Mikan from her heart-beating frenzy and automatically set her off going in circles. Her mind was so messed up that she barely heard Kaoru announce Lips to Lips as the new rule. And when she did, her mind was on fast rolling wheels.
Kiss.
Lips to lips, Mikan thought in panic.
She can't kiss Tsubasa, that's a fact. Of course, that is unless she wants her death to be painful and deadly under Misaki. That leaves her Natsume and Ruka. Natsume – as much as an irrational temptation, well, tempts her – she would have to say no. Dignity, Mikan decided was far more important to her than breakfast. While kissing Ruka...
Mikan shook her head. It would feel like abusing a small little puppy. She couldn't bring herself to think of it – let alone do it. Mikan was against Animal Abuse. Well, she guessed she would have to settle with her only option – it's to lose.
Besides, there's no way she's giving her first kiss to a stupid game. Never.
But that statement strongly contradicted what she felt afterwards. The music stopped. Mikan looked around in panic, only finding Natsume blood-red eyes boring deep holes into hers. She looked away. Ruka was occupied with Hotaru, so was Misaki with Tsubasa.
If they do it now, they won't have to lose. There's still chance. And all Mikan had to do was lean in and crush her soft lips into his. She does, anyway. Closer, closer, the idea of a warm breakfast tempting her. Closer, closer…
They were about to kiss – millimeters from it, in fact when Mikan decided it was a chance she wouldn't take. EVER.
She punched him. He was bleeding and she punched him.
They lost.
"What the heck are you doing, you bish?" he screamed as he clutched his streaming nose. Mikan remained frozen as she heard the Empress sigh.
She pouted. "And I was betting on you two," she heard her say. "But don't worry. I have something nice reserved for you two." She said but Mikan couldn't hear her. She was too preoccupied with something else; not Natsume's bleeding nose or the fact that they lost.
It was Hotaru. She kissed Ruka. She effing kissed Ruka.
"Holy Fishsticks Hotaru. You kissed Ruka – for food." The brunette mouthed zombie-wise, her voice monotonously shocked.
"Kissing is nothing compared to a stomach full of crab fat, Mikan, remember that." Her best friend said stoically. "Rather, I'm impressed you had the time to worry about me when you'll be the one suffering from Aunt's mercy."
She was right. Mikan was in danger. In grave danger because she had the strong feeling that their consequence doesn't only consist of nonexistent breakfast but something far – and worse – than that. She swallowed.
Kaoru grinned.
~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~
Sticks and stones may break your bones but chains and whips shall excite you.
Mrs. Hyuga apparently had been addicted to Rihanna. Chains – turns out meant handcuffs and right now, Mikan's left hand was handcuffed to Natsume's bed post and the only satisfaction she gets from her state was that he too was handcuffed to another post. So yes, they pretty much looked like dogs leashed.
Mikan sighed. "I never knew absence of dinners and breakfasts took a new definition - which is being leashed to a bed." She muttered as tried to free her hand from the cuff by tugging harder which apparently, only hurts her wrist.
"You should've known better, peabrain. If that woman doesn't see us kiss, she'll have to satisfy herself knowing we slept on the same bed." Natsume muttered as he clamped another towel on his nose which had ceased spurting blood a minute ago.
"Not if I get free," Mikan replied as she tugged on the handcuff which surprisingly sent her a shock of pain, making her yelp. Curiously, the brunette dipped her index finger in the inside of the metal cuff only to receive a stabbing pain and a punctured finger.
"Idiot," Natsume sighed as he crawled his way to her as far as the handcuffs allow him.
"W-what are you going to do with me? Stay away from me, you pervert!"
Natsume scoffed as he snatched the brunette's bleeding finger, inserting it into his mouth. It felt weird for Mikan to feel Natsume's tongue sooth her wound but weirder knowing that he's also sucking her blood.
He sucks, she watches. That must have gone on for ten seconds until Mikan couldn't hold it in.
"Natsume, are you a vampire?"
He looked at her, still sucking her finger like a lollipop, sending the brunette into a blushing fit.
"Oh my god! I knew it! Blood-shot-red eyes, pale skin, and you're always so gorgeous, you're a vampire! Why didn't you tell me?" she exclaimed in euphoria.
He still stared at her, a smirk followed. "You said I'm gorgeous. Finally falling for me, polka?"
Mikan blushed – both for the sake of the stupid nickname and her stupid loose mouth. "Stop being delusional okay? People in school just say so," she pouted. "And stop sucking my finger already! Does my blood taste that good? Stupid sparkly vampire."
He scowled. "I don't sparkle like your looser Edward crap, idiot. Go to sleep!" He muttered as he crawled his way back and lay down so that his back was facing Mikan.
The brunette pouted, feeling strangely alone without Natsume bugging her. God, did she just think that? She should prevent herself from being too dependent upon his presence. It's not a good attachment, especially if that person tends to kill you in anger. But Mikan still felt alone – and bored which is worse. There was no other person around to distract her and the back turned against her seemed so tempting to irritate – or get to know better.
Natsume was her fiancé, true but Mikan barely knows anything about him except that his eyes are red and that he's the annoying prince of the state. Except that, nothing. Heck, she feels weirdly such a big of a fail as a wife; because let's face it, she'll have to marry Natsume whether she likes it or not anyway and the possibility of this engagement to break is very slim. Why set your hopes up? Besides, he might not be that hell of a guy, Mikan thought hopefully.
So, she crawled silently closer to him and jabbed a nice finger on his back flesh, sending him in a slight jumping moment. He turned with an irritated expression plastered on his face.
"Didn't I tell you to sleep already, polka?" he glowered.
Mikan pouted. "But I don't wanna sleep yet!"
"Your problem then; leave me alone." He dismissed.
"Natsume," she called.
No response.
"Hey! Stop ignoring me!" she pouted.
"What?"
"Let's talk."
He rolled his eyes. "What do you think we're doing right now?"
"I'm forcing you to talk? Come on, please?" Mikan made sure that she put on her best puppy-dog eyes that even Natsume can't resist – in which he really wasn't.
"Fine." He sputtered.
Silence.
He glared at her impatiently. "Are we going to talk or not?" he asks.
Mikan sighed. "We are, we are, okay? Hey Natsume, I just thought…I barely know anything about you."
"So?"
"So…" the brunette drawled on. He obviously isn't making it any easier for her. Damn him, she thought. "Let's talk about ourselves. Tonight."
He paused. "You're aware that you're making me puke right?"
"Natsume!"
He sighed. "You're such a brat. Fine, ask me anything."
The brunette brightened up. "Really?"
"I hate repeating myself. Now ask before I change my mind, polka!"
"Right, right," she muttered in panic. She has no idea what to ask. "Oh, I got a good one. How many girls usually flung themselves at you everyday?"
He stared incredulously at her, baffled and quite amused at her stupid little query. Natsume chuckled. "Jealous are we?"
Expected reaction: She blushed. "No, of course not! Just curious. Don't get ahead of yourself, please."
He thought pensively. "About half of the female population in our campus." He said. "What, never had anyone throwing their selves at you, polka?" he teased.
Mikan snorted. "Not as much as you do, okay? But fair enough."
"Seriously? They must be blind."
It was her turn to glare. "No, they're not. I once had a boyfriend, you know. I had some other guys before you."
"Really." He said cautiously, feeling an irrational emotion at the pit of his stomach. "So you consider me your boyfriend." He stated, realizing how stupid it sounded.
Mikan looked at him then blushed. "No, not a boyfriend. We're engaged, you bonehead. How can I call you my boyfriend?"
He smirked in satisfaction. "True because you still owe me something." She said slyly.
"What?"
"Lean in closer."
Mikan gulped but obeyed and as she her ear neared his lips, she can almost hear the soft pounding of blood through her veins. She was not used to being this close to him – especially with their almost kiss earlier. Clearly, it was not helping.
"Closer."
She leaned in closer. Then it came. A soft blow which sent shivers down her spine. Clutching her ear, Mikan screeched in surprise.
"What was that?"
He laughed. "Go to sleep dummy." Then he turned his back on her and Mikan knew that the conversation they shared tonight will have to end already. But before laying beside him and assembling the army of pillows that would have to protect her, she smiled.
"Good night, Natsume."
"Hn," was all he said then whispered, "Good Night, Mikan."
~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~
Gawd, it's finished.
The long chapter is LONG, I know. But how was it? Was it boring? Were they OOC? OMG, it's been so long since I wrote I don't know how I did. ToT
Please forgive me, my beloved readers. But amma give you something good. 8D You can ask me anything about the story through REVIEWSREVIEWS and I promise that I will ANSWER YOU.
SO REVIEW? :D