~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~

CHAPTER 12

Unimaginable Storm

"Tutor me," she said.

Tutor. Tutor. Tutor. Natsume repeated the word in his mind, which eventually translated into his own language. By that, tutor translates to more time alone with Mikan.

He stopped walking. No, he should decline. He's sick wasn't he? There's something wrong with him when he's with her so he must decline the offer no matter how tempting it actually is because more time with that annoying brunette would just worsen his state.

"Natsume?" Mikan called. How many times has she repeated his name this day? Natsume can't help but be annoyed - annoyed because his name sounds so perfect when it escapes her mouth.

Damn Natsume, he thought. You're crazy. It must be the scotch talking.

"Why did you stop walking? I thought we're going to treat my wounds. Hello?" she started walking back to him. "Hey, is something wr - "

"Stop," Natsume said. Why does he always say the wrong words?

Mikan halted. She looked hurt. Well, who wouldn't?

"Three meters," Natsume muttered, earning a disoriented stare from the brunette. What is he talking about?

"Excuse me?" Mikan asked because clearly, she has no idea what page they were in. One minute Natsume acts so caring and kind and the next he shuts up and acts so cold. What is wrong with this guy? Is he possibly PMSing? His mood swings are so extreme. No bookmark could possibly guide her to their current page because honestly? There will always be a strong wind to blow it off. For a moment Mikan entertained the thought of him possibly being bipolar.

"Three meters. That will be our distance," he said.

Mikan just stared at her fiancé. "Oh ha-ha," she started to say shakily. "Is that a joke? Tell me so I'll laugh,"

He said nothing and looked away.

The brunette glared at Natsume upon realization. He doesn't want her near. She's a nuisance. Damn, why did she have to ask him to tutor her anyway? Did he think she was trying too hard to get close to him? That she was already gradually transforming into a Natsume Fangirl? Ha! He wishes, Mikan thought.

"Right," Mikan said. "Natsume, you're such a jerk." she huffed and walked away.

"Wait," he called. "Where are you going?" He started to chase after her. She just walked faster.

"Shut up," she answered. "I'll go to Dr. Harada myself. Three meters remember?" she reminded him.

Natsume cursed inwardly. Damn. Did he just have a taste of his own medicine? "What about- "

"And about the tutorial? Forget it," she muttered and stormed away.

Natsume watched her retreating figure and cursed.

I'm so stupid.

~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~

The Emperor looked up from his paperwork as he heard the door open.

"Mother," he simply said without any trace of affection. "When have you come back?"

The older woman simply looked at his son as if he were just a business associate and nothing more - certainly not in any way that pertains of motherly love or anything of the sort. As far as she was concerned, the man standing in front of her is simply a barely successful project she had accomplished years ago when he ascended the throne after her husband died. Thus, keeping the throne in their family line.

She scoffed bemusedly. "Just this morning. Where have your manners gone off to? That's all you have to say to your mother who was away for half a decade? It seems like you were too ecstatic on the matter of my absence that you failed to inform me of the events in the Palace,"

Ioran scowled inwardly as he motioned the older one to sit. "My deepest apologies, Mother. Welcome back," was all he said in a voice much too cold for his own character as he lightly rang a bell, calling for a maid.

On cue, a slight knock on the door was heard in which after some respectful seconds, a helper entered the room and bowed, setting tea on the table for the two royalties.

"You have failed to tell me of the Crown Prince's coming of age," she said as he delicately smelled the aroma of the tea.

Ioran just looked at his mother. He hates how he never calls his son with his name, refusing to acknowledge that he has his own identity and is not just one of the many hundreds who have served the position of the Crown Prince. Well, actually that is just one of the reasons why he harbors ill feelings for this certain woman who has also brought upon many unpleasant experiences for him. Who can blame him if he indeed was in euphoria after his mother left the Palace? Twisted, he knows but he couldn't help it - even if he was the Emperor.

"Mother," the Emperor started. "You should be well aware of your grandchildren's birthdays," was all he said.

His mother simply looked at him sharply. "Do not accuse me of anything, Ioran. I have no obligations of remembering useless dates," she coldly replied.

That's right, the Emperor remembered. What she said was true because the woman in front of him right now is simply an ex-Empress and no matter how much one searches inside her - her soul, her spirit, her body - one would always fail to find a persona of a mother or a grandmother in her. What would one find? Simply a cold-hearted Royal.

"It is funny, Mother," the Emperor started. "How you can remember all the holidays and important dates relating to the nation but never the birthdays of the people related to you,"

"Stop chiding me. Remember, I am your mother and you're only my son. Hadn't I given birth to you, you wouldn't even live to see this world! You wouldn't even be sitting on the throne so don't you even dare raise your voice at me," she scolded.

And then, for the first time in five years, the Emperor actually smirked, finding what his mother said ridiculous. He owes everything to her? He wanted to laugh out loud. What an absurd idea! "Mother. I owe everything to you? Really?"

"And what are you implying, you ungracious boy?" she asked venomously.

"If you're really my mother then start acting like one!" the Emperor said. "And stop taking things in this Palace into your hands. Remember, Mother. You were already dethroned years ago. This is my Palace and you absolutely have no right to interfere with the matters here especially matters regarding Natsume's marriage. Remember that. You're dismissed."

The older woman stood up proudly, unaffected by the harsh words her own son uttered against her.

"We'll see about that," was all she said and left.

"Sebastian!" the Emperor called.

"Yes, Your Highness?" the old man answered, creepily appearing out of nowhere.

"I think it's about time to stand against that woman,"

~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~

"Yukihira-san," Dr. Harada greeted the brunette as she entered the clinic, fuming. "Are you alright?"

Mikan approached him and stuck both her hands out for the old man to see her wounds, not trusting herself to speak since she might just carelessly spout rude things. She's angry, it's true but it is completely out of the line to vent one's anger on other people. That much, she considers. She still can't get over Natsume's attitude. Right now, she just wants to slap him so hard that her hands would engrave their prints on his skin. She wants to wring his neck! He's that hateful.

"Oh my," Mikan heard Misaki's father remark and looked at him. "I cannot treat your wounds if you clench your hands that tight, Yukihira-san." he smiled. Well, still smiled, anyway. He's always smiling, remember?

Mikan mumbled a little sorry. She didn't realize that she was already clenching her hands in anger. But seriously, what was Natsume's problem?! And here she thought that he was actually changing. Turns out, he's still the same old jerk. What? Was he playing with her? Like maybe he planned on getting close to Mikan and then he will coldly establish his stupid three-meter-distance rule? Well congratulations. He successfully hurt her.

"Ow!" Mikan yelped in surprise as Dr. Harada started treating his wounds.

"Oh, I'm sorry. What happened to you, dear Princess?" he asked as he continued dabbing the alcohol-soaked cotton on Mikan's maltreated palms.

Can she tell him? That the ex-Empress whipped her hands because she committed some errors? Can she?

"Um," she fumbled. "I…well - "

He simply looked at her.

"It's alright if you can't tell me," he smiled.

Mikan fell silent.

"But you know, it seems that your physical shell is not the only part wounded," he remarked, catching the brunette off guard. But before Mikan could reply, he continued. "It's obvious when you frown like that, Princess," he chuckled. "Did something happen between you and the Prince?" he asked.

Mikan just looked at him and sighed. "He's such a jerk."

The old man laughed. That is a first. He never heard anyone remark negatively about the Prince - no other girl who's not related to him, at least. Mikan really is different. "Hmmm," he mumbled. "How do you say so?"

Mikan frowned. "I don't know. He's so annoying. He never treats me properly. One second he's this nice guy and the next it feels like he's stabbing you with a knife. What's wrong with him?! Did the Empress accidentally drop him when he was an infant?!" she shrieked.

Dr. Harada continued to laugh, making Mikan stare at him. Was what she said that funny? Hey, she was ranting wasn't she? What's so funny about that?

"No," he replied, spontaneously searching for band-aids. "I'm sure she didn't drop him. Rather, I'm impressed that you don't like the Prince that much," he said.

"Oh, you mean fall head-over-heels with him like all those fangirls? No, thanks. I won't fall for that jerk."

"You shouldn't say things too soon, Yukihira-san. You'll never know what could happen in the future," Dr. Harada said, carefully peeling each wrapper of the band-aids and carefully placing them on her wounds.

Mikan's eyebrows shot up but didn't say anything. Fall for that devious prince? Ha. Really, Mikan would gladly fall from a cliff instead of falling for that bastard. She's not a masochist okay? Falling for Natsume, she was sure would take a lot of tolerance for pain - too bad she doesn't have that. See? Simple alcohol that came in contact with a tiny wound and she whines - what more if she gets her heart broken in pieces? That would take a lot of time to heal and she doesn't want to take the risk.

"There," Misaki's father said as he put the last band-aid. "You're all set, Yukihira-san,"

"Please call me Mikan instead," the brunette smiled.

"Well then take care of yourself well, Mikan-chan." he smiled and waved goodbye to the retreating princess.

"Thank you, Dr. Harada,"

Mikan sighed as she made her way to her room. It's about time she answers that assignment of hers - with or without tutor.

~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~

Mikan stopped on her tracks. Leaning by her bedroom door was a very familiar silhouette.

What is he doing there?

"Natsume," Mikan acknowledged coldly.

The Prince peeled himself off the wall and faced his fiancée. "Hey," he said.

"Move," Natsume flinched inwardly. She's still mad at him.

He didn't move. He refuses to. He was a jerk and he realized that too late but it's never too late to ask for forgiveness right?

"No," he replied.

Mikan frowned at him. "I said move! Stop being such a jerk, Natsume,"

"Exactly why I'm here,"

"Ha-ha. I didn't know badgering me is considered as not being a jerk. It seems like we have different references," Mikan replied coldly, putting her hands on her waist.

Natsume balled his hands in his pockets. "I meant, I want to say sorry, idiot,"

"Drop the last word and I might consider your plea, idiot,"

The raven-haired lad simply raked his hand through his hair in exasperation. "Fine. I'm sorry I was such an idiot and I'm taking that stupid distance rule back,"

"Oh?" Mikan mockingly asked. "And why is that?"

Natsume looked at her.

Silence.

"Because I need you back," he said nonchalantly.

Mikan was taken aback and blushed. What was he talking about? Need her? Need her? Hello? He has tons of fangirls. Why would he need her, Mikan Yukihira, back who's as normal as a potato? What was this jerk up to?

"S-shut up," Mikan twitched. "Stop joking. I don't need any of your crap, Natsume,"

Natsume sighed in frustration. "Why the hell won't you believe me? Damn it," he cursed. "You drive me craz - " You're the only girl who does this to me.

"Shut up! Prove it," was all she said.

Natsume simply looked at her.

"Tutor me," Mikan smirked. "If I learn anything - you're forgiven. If I don't…go marry your stupid Distance Rule. Stupid,"

~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~

Mikan watched as Natsume slept on her couch.

He tutored her, alright. It was tiring that the moment he lied on the soft couch for some break as Mikan answered her assignments alone, he instantly fell asleep. Mikan was done with her homework now.

Well, actually she really didn't need any help. She understood the lessons perfectly well to accomplish the given extra work. She just wanted to be closer to Natsume because… well, because he's her fiancé. But even so, like Mikan thought before, she barely knows anything about him. Aside from that, they barely spend time with each other! Don't get her wrong, Mikan is absolutely not falling for Natsume. She just thought that it's about time she faces reality - she's going to be this man's wife and she wants to do a good job.

Natsume isn't a bad guy - she knows that. He's not some robot like what other people think of him. He's not perfect either. He's human.

Natsume Hyuga is human.

That's a fact that most people don't acknowledge about him. He has his faults okay? But he also has his good sides.

Mikan smiled at him and playfully pinched his cheeks.

"Natsume," Mikan called. "I don't get this. Why is there a letter in math?! X? What is this for?"

Natsume just looked at her. God, is she really this stupid? "You look for the 'X', Polka."

"What - I didn't know that the mathematicians were that stupid!" she remarked.

Natsume knitted his eyebrows. "What are you talking about?"

"I mean, math existed for who knows how many long and they still haven't found X?!"

The latter just stifled a laugh. Oh god, she's hilariously stupid. "Hey, Polka,"

"What?" she replied as she tried to solve for X.

"I have something to tell you,"

"Shoot," she muttered.

"Are you an X?" he asked.

Mikan remembered frowning at his stupid question. "No. Stupid, I'm not one of your ex-girlfriends. I'm your fiancée, remember?"

"No, damn it. You ask why," he muttered impatiently.

"Fine! Sheesh," she said. "Why?" stopping a smile threatening to spread on her face. Oh jesus, is Natsume Hyuga about to throw a corny punch line?!

"Because I've been searching all my life for you," he said seriously. Instead of laughing, Mikan thwacked him in embarrassment. He really must be drunk. He smelled of alcohol.

Natsume slapped Mikan's hand as she pinched him. The brunette simply laughed silently.

"Cute…" she mumbled but caught herself.

"What the hell are these lines for?!" Mikan whined again. They were still in Math.

Natsume pointed to them one by one. "These are parallel lines, idiot. They go on forever but never meet. These are intersecting lines. Obviously, they cross paths at one point but separate again. And finally, this is called an asymptote. It goes on forever. You might think at some point, it'll intersect the other line but hypothetically, no matter how far it stretches out, it'll never meet the other line," he breathed.

Mikan tilted her head. "That's sad. Parallel lines…it's relatable to being friend zoned, don't you think? I mean…you're in love with your best friend and she doesn't know it and then she falls in love with the other guy but you want to make her happy so you let them be. You'll always be important to her - will always be by her side but it will never be the both of you,"

Natsume simply looked at her. "And the intersecting lines? They met. Happy ending,"

Mikan shook her head. "It's when you break up with your partner. At one time, you'll meet this person and think…this is it! It's totally her. She's the one for me. But as both of you move, you realize that you're not really made for each other and eventually break up. Due to bitterness, both of you will try to move on…thus creating larger gap between you,"

"The asymptote then?"

"One-sided love," Mikan grinned. "But this time, you think that that guy is finally falling for you. This is the saddest of all. Whatever you do, even if how much you persist and chase after him, thinking that you're finally getting closer and closer - it just won't happen. You're simply tiring yourself out, breaking yourself in pieces because you have to face it. You have to give up before you even meet - because you can never meet,"

Natsume simply fell silent.

"Which one is us?" Natsume asked.

Mikan smiled. "None of the above," Because we're not lovers, Natsume, Mikan thought.

The brunette finally left Natsume alone and gathered her homework. She has to pass these before dinner to that old hag. Then she noticed a photo - the photo of her in middle school being awarded Salutatorian during graduation along with a certificate. Grinning, Mikan got a sticky note and scribbled on it.

Before heading off to the ex-Empress, Mikan left her note, the photo and her certificate on top of Natsume.

It's about time he wakes up from his dream.

~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~

The ex-Empress raised her gray eyebrows upon seeing Mikan.

"I have accomplished my assignments, Your Majesty," she bowed as she offered the papers with both her hands.

"Good, leave them there," she muttered. "Then you may go,"

Mikan did as was asked and bowed before leaving. She was about to close the grand doors to the Majesty's room when the old lady's phone rang and for some reason or force, Mikan froze in place. She couldn't move her feet, as if willing her to hear the next conversation.

"Hello?" she heard the old woman answer. "Why yes, thank you for calling, Luna." Luna? Who's Luna? Someone from the Royal Family?

"It's about time you return. I simply cannot accept that girl." Mikan swallowed her saliva. Who's she talking about? What girl?

"I know, I know, my dear Luna. We have arranged this years ago and I am not one who backs out of a promise." Promise?

"It seems like the Crown Prince was too young to remember that. I do not understand why he didn't choose you. You were in the videotapes weren't you?" Mikan felt her body go cold and numb. What are they talking about?

"Don't worry. I have my plans," she heard the ex-Empress say. "You will be the next Empress no matter what so long as you arrive here immediately and the plan may commence," she said.

Mikan wanted to run away at that moment. She heard something break inside her. She feels so bad no words could describe how much pain she was feeling right now. All along…all those things she experienced and all those people she met - all those for nothing? She shouldn't be here in the first place, at all, she realized. But her feet remained solidly on the floor.

"Too bad," the ex-Empress continued. "Two weeks then, I guess. We shall endure. Two weeks and it shall happen. Goodbye," she said and ended the call.

Then Mikan ran, sobbing, not caring where her feet may lead her as long as it was far from the Palace.

~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~

Natsume woke up with a start. Damn, did he just fall asleep?

His head aches a bit and he guessed that it was due to the bit of alcohol he consumed earlier. What time was it anyway?

He checked his watch. 9:16 PM. Damn, how long did he sleep? Five hours? Six hours? Dinner's already over. Why didn't Mikan wake him up? That idiot.

Natsume looked around, searching for Mikan. She isn't in her room - her papers weren't either so he was guessing that she went to pass them then deposited herself to Imai or Misaki for girly chitchats. The Prince rolled his crimson orbs then noticed something.

He picked up the photo on his stomach and stared at it. It was Mikan in her middle school uniform, in the middle of accepting a medal and her diploma. Natsume raised his eyebrows. Did she receive some kind of award? Like maybe the Miss Friendliest award or Miss Noisiest award? Anyway, he noted how she looked so young there and how she arranged her hair childishly. Seriously, who wears their hair in two high pigtails at this age?

He laughed then picked the certificate next, his eyes almost bulging out the moment he read what was written. Salutatorian? What? What is the meaning of this? Is this some kind of a prank from that idiot?

Natsume read what's written on the diploma about ten times, making sure he didn't misread a thing and checked if it was authentic. It is. He shook his head and read the note next afterwards.

Natsume smiled as he read it. It says,

Sleeping Jerk, wake up already. :P

I went to pass my assignment. Sleep well.

And I'm not an idiot. I actually didn't need any of your help in the first place. I was just pulling your leg.

Who knew that you'd fall for it? Ha-ha! :))

Natsume. You're the IDIOT.

-Mikan

~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~