Honestly…

I don't know what to do when you rush reviewing like that. At the rate you went, I should have uploaded yesterday! Haha. Fast reviewers are we? Thank you anyway!

So here you go. The next chapter!

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

Third Letter

The old woman peered out of her bedroom window as she inhaled the fragrant aroma of her tea, taking a sip before finally retreating back to the little living room her suite has. Everyone in the Palace was still sleeping. She snorted in disapproval.

Years ago, everyone would have been awake even before the sun rises but alas, the next generation of the Royals seem to be more and more complacent regarding the proper customs and traditions. They were too lenient that the ex-Empress couldn't help but judge them as unworthy of the noble titles they keep in their blood. Take the new Empress-to-be for example. The old woman narrowed her eyes in distaste. It takes the whole attention of the Palace to drag her out of the bed. What an insolent child.

She harrumphed in annoyance as her phone rang.

She picked it up delicately.

"Good morning, Mother," a voice from the other line greeted - a female one.

The ex-Empress simply mumbled a greeting. "What is it, Miyabi?" she asked in a cold demeanor.

"Mother, please," she begged. The old woman's eyes narrowed at her tone.

"Don't start on me, Miyabi," she muttered coldly. "Stop pestering me with your nonsense,"

"You need to come back here in England, Mother. The doctor said - "

"I am very well aware of what that man in white coat said. I do not need to hear it once again from you and you repeating it won't change my former decision,"

A sigh was heard from the other line. "Mother, at least take your medications,"

"What do you take me for? I am not opting for suicide in such a slow process. Do not take me as a fool. I am looking after myself without needing your assistance, Miyabi. I am not as old as you think,"

Silence prevailed on the other line. Taking it as a chance to take a break, the ex-Empress sipped another mouthful of tea to calm herself.

"At least come back here after a week, Mother," Miyabi said quietly.

The old queen massaged her temples. "Do not command me. I cannot return after a week. Perhaps after a month or so. I shall see things falling into place in this Palace myself,"

That seem to have made Miyabi pause for a while as there was regular breathing heard but no voice. Finally, "Are you taking things into your own hands again, Mother? After all these years,"

"This one is vital. Do not interfere."

"Didn't you find the new princess to your liking?"

"Whether I found her appropriate or not wouldn't change what shall happen,"

Slow breathing. "So you do think she is alright."

"I told you it doesn't matter. Stop poking your nose into my business, Miyabi,"

Another pause. "Mother," she drawled slowly. "I'm going there - to fetch you and stop you,"

The former narrowed eyes of the ex-Empress grew in surprise. Gathering herself for a moment, she began to retort, "Do not do that! Miyabi?" she called as she had seemed to left her phone on. "Miyabi! Stay there and help Richard with the th- Miyabi!"

But the opposite line already hung up.

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

"Mikan-chan, Mikan-chan!" The twins called at the brunette as they hung out on the rooftop - or more like, Mikan was there then the twins arrived. Hotaru had something else to do so she passed while Ruka had to look for Usagi who had seemed to run off somewhere so yeah. They left Mikan all alone during lunch break. Boohoo.

Or not.

Mikan already dug up her delicious meal when the twins came, probably hearing from Hotaru that the brunette was alone so they decided to show up. Only, it was really not a good time for them to because…well…let's say Mikan was into one of her most secretive stuff right now. One she wouldn't want to caught dead doing. Curious?

She was…

.

.

.

…stalking Natsume.

Mikan shook her head in disagreement. She just can't think of what she was doing as 'stalking' Natsume. It just sounds so…wrong. It's like she's one of his hopeless fangirls or something. That is just so so so so so disturbing on many different levels. Well, the lad also left her - or more like, avoided her today. In fact, he hasn't talked to her since yesterday that Mikan was finally having second thoughts whether to continue generously writing the letters for him. She catches him looking at her but when she finally looks at him, he would have had averted his gaze already. When Mikan has something to tell him, he just seems to busy or he wasn't listening. He doesn't bug her as he used to. The moment the bell rings, he heads off to who-knows-where.

Mikan sighed.

He's such a jerk. Mikan guessed that he's PMSing again. Well, maybe he's mad at her or something but the brunette absolutely has no idea why he would be. What? Was he mad because she pretended to be stupid in front of them? Mikan frowned. Oh wait, she didn't. They took it upon themselves to think that she was dumb. Ha. Look where that got him. In his face. But then again, he seemed alright during Sunday off and on camera. In fact, he was better than alright. He seemed drunk - love drunk that is.

Mikan flushed at the memories of his stupid corny lines that made her blush. Somehow, she feels that she's extra-stupid for finding his stupid lines blush-worthy. Ungh, what is it with this excessive stupidity these days?

Anyway, yeah. She was 'stalking' - okay, researching facts about - him online. Because frankly, and honestly speaking to her own self specially, Mikan wants to know more about Natsume. At the rate where she is now, she feels as close to Natsume as a rock in a street. His fangirls knows more about him compared to her, the supposedly fiancée. Somehow, living with him didn't give her any advantage. She didn't know anything more about the lad - just that he has such a psycho mother, a weird father, an overly assuming littler sister and to top all that, a traumatizing grandmother. Forget about the rowdy bunch of cousins he has too, even without them, his main family comprises of out of the ordinary individuals even without that sky-colored blood they have.

Nonoko peered into Mikan's iPod on her left side while Anna trespassed on her right.

"Ooooh," they both squealed, leaving the poor brunette in shock. "Natsume-sama's profile huh?"

Mikan twitched. Didn't she just say she wouldn't be caught red-handed finding out more about the stupid jerk? "U-uh…I accidentally clicked it. And don't call that jerk 'sama'. Natsume-baka's more like it," she huffed.

Anna shook her pink head. "Shh, Mikan-chan. Don't call Natsume-ba-I mean, sama like that in school. The fangirls might hear you,"

Mikan pouted as she tried to close the app but Nonoko already grabbed her hand and stopped her. "That's right. Anyway, don't close it! We know that you really wanna know about the Prince," she smiled.

The brunette blushed while the twins smiled at her reaction. She was just too cute.

"So?" Nonoko asked.

Mikan twitched. "What do you mean by so?"

"What do you want to know about Natsume-sama?" Nonoko replied as she grinned slightly.

Anna grabbed Mikan's iPod. "Mmmm," she said as she scanned through the whole thing. "But these are basic information about him, Mikan-chan. I'm sure you already know these," she said.

Although Anna said that, Mikan couldn't help but cry inwardly. Well, the truth is that she absolutely knows nothing about the guy - even those basic informations Anna said. Yes, she doesn't know Natsume's favorite color, food and whatnot. Even his birthday okay? And somehow, admitting that to these two albeit that they were Mikan's close friends just pose as a very embarrassing option. She can just check on that page later right?

"Y-yeah…" Mikan mumbled silently.

Both looked up to her then at each other. Mikan hates it when they do that. It just means they're talking to each other without talking out loud. It just makes her so uncomfortable. Mikan frowned.

"Say, Mikan-chan…" Nonoko called. "When's Natsume-sama's birthday?"

Mikan froze. "Uh…sometime in November…right?"

"Specific date please,"

The brunette twitched more. "I - I'm sure you know it!"

Anna's eyebrows shot up. "Yeah, but we're not sure if you know it,"

"T-that's silly! Of course I do!" Mikan tried to fake a smile.

"Oh yeah?"

"Y…y…"

"You don't have to lie, Mikan-chan," Anna smiled. "We can tell you everything about him,"

Mikan pouted cutely, her face all red from embarrassment. "Sheesh! Fine…I don't know anything about him,"

"Anything? Nothing?"

Mikan nodded.

"Mikan-chan…it's like…"

"…you're marrying a rock,"

Mikan pouted more. "So teach me!" she burst. Although she kind of agrees with the rock part. Natsume's like a rock - sturdy, difficult to crush, unemotional and most of all the most tempting to throw off into the freezing lake! Or so Mikan thinks. But yeah, the analogy's pretty logical.

"Let's start with the basic information then, Mikan-chan," Anna smiled while Mikan readily grabbed her iPod and made a note specifically for the infos she's about to receive. "Natsume-sama's birthday is on November 27 and he's currently seventeen years old. His zodiac sign is Sagittarius and his favorite color is red."

"Roger that," Mikan muttered seriously.

Nonoko stifled a laugh. "He can speak multiple languages and is considered a genius. Some say he can really sing and maybe even dance but no one has seen for sure. Currently, he's the top student in the whole school and it wasn't even because of his royal status. He really is smart. Because of this, he has half of the school females as his fangirls and probably even the whole country. When he was in kindergarten, the Empress used to dress him up as a girl - or so the rumors say,"

Mikan laughed at this. "Oh…sorry, continue,"

"And one halloween, he was dressed as a black cat which stuck as his nickname. His best friend is also his cousin, Ruka Nogi although I hear he also hangs out with Kokoroyomi, Kitsuneme and that Mochiage. They're all CEO kids." Nonoko continued.

"Mmm," Mikan tapped on her iPod. "So Natsume's like that…but he still is a jerk."

The twins smiled at each other. "But Mikan-chan, did you know that both of you and Natsume-sama's names are fruits? That's why you're more known as the fruit couple!" both giggled.

Mikan twitched. "F-fruit c-couple? That's so gay! Ungh."

"Eh, but it's cute!" Anna muttered. "Anyway, what about the Prince's birthday?"

"What about it?" Mikan asked.

"Aren't you going to give him a present?"

"Why would I? He'd just throw it away and call me an idiot since his birthday's already two weeks ago,"

Anna giggled. "Mikan-chan, it seems like you didn't need to know those stuff about Natsume-sama anyway. You already know him,"

Mikan cocked her head to the side. "What are you talking about?"

Nonoko pouted. "Nothing! Eitherway, mou, Mikan-chan. That's no sweet at all! Come on, it's not too late. Buy Natsume-sama a belated birthday gift! I'm sure he'll like it,"

Mikan sighed. But that's just the thing. Nonoko was sure.

Mikan wasn't.

And between the two of them, Mikan seems to be the more credible for judgment.

Or so she thinks.

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

Mikan was right. Natsume was avoiding her.

In fact, every time he disappears after the bell startles everyone out of their heads, he rushes straightly for the large Christmas Tree in the campus yard. Well, actually, his favorite tree was the Sakura tree but since it's approaching winter soon, it decided to go bald itself so Natsume had no choice but to hide in the effervescent leaves of the seasonal tree unless of course, he'd still opt for the bald cherry blossom tree where he can be spotted 50 meters away tops. How pointless. So yeah, as Mikan was ambushed by the twins, Natsume meanwhile, was lying on his back on one of the branches of the said tree.

He was there, contemplating on his sudden actions, munching on an occasional apple.

He was sure that Mikan was already annoyed of him and his enigmatic temper. Yes, he purposefully ignored her throughout the class which is quite an arduous task indeed seeing as they were just beside each other and Mikan wasn't known as a girl who had a quiet mouth. On the contrary, the brunette was quite popular as the girl who swallowed a mic.

As for the reason for this sudden ignorance, anyone would have found it pretty stupid - or not so logical. But that's according to anyone besides Natsume. As for him? It's perfectly logical and the best action around.

He was sick and the bug that seemed to cause it was Mikan. He wrinkled his nose. Mikan who made him utter those disgustingly sweet string of words passable as punch lines in a block-buster romantic movie. Natsume Hyuga simply doesn't throw corny punch lines - not in front of the camera or anywhere else. And yet, he does and he's still pretty sure that his name is Natsume Hyuuga - unless, of course, if his whole life had been a lie. Somehow, Natsume wasn't as stupid as that. Anyway, since Mikan entered his life, he's done absolutely uncalled things - things he's never done before.

Let's see: he rescued her when she was bathing with tacos and milk in front of the whole student body. He broke a tradition to save her stupid ass and admitted that she was his fiancé. He slept with her on the same bed without much of a complaint. He kissed her in front of the PRESS. He just practically admitted that Mikan was his in front of the whole nation. He just thought that he smelled so addictive. He tutored her - for free. God, if he didn't know better, he'd say that he was falling for her.

Natsume scowled.

Which is exactly why he was avoiding her in the first place - because he doesn't want to admit that he's falling for the stupid brat. Not yet, at least. He sighed.

This is all so stupid. How can he fall for that girl? She's not that pretty. She's not that talented. Okay, maybe she's smart but as smart as he is? Nuh-uh. She's not as exceptional. But special? That's a completely different story.

Natsume threw the core of the apple away.

God this is so frustrating. Why can't Mikan simply just be a math problem? Natsume would've had the answer after 30 seconds, tops. If only she was as easy to undo as that. Sadly, no.

Why couldn't she have bee -

"Hey! Ouch," Natsume heard a very familiar voice and glanced downwards. There, by the foot of the tree was Tsubasa, aiding his head with Ruka who just caught his pet bunny. Natsume sighed. Tsubasa looked up. "I should've known better. Get down here Natsume," he called.

Sighing again, Natsume jumped easily off his branch and glared at his cousin.

"One does not simply throw an apple core from the top of the tree. Doth thou not knowest simple manners?" Tsubasa said mockingly, still rubbing his head.

The younger lad rolled his crimson pools. "Only idiots get hit by falling apple cores,"

"And only idiots throw apple cores from trees. Seriously, it would have been more logical if you were hidden in an apple tree…but a Christmas tree bearing eaten apples? Wow, how imaginative, couz," Tsubasa said mockingly.

Ruka sighed. Why is he here again? The two were about to beat each other unconscious when Ruka remembered something. "Natsume, why are you here?"

"Yeah. What are you doing here, Natsume?"

The raven-haired Prince scowled. "Blind are we? Perhaps you've only seen this first time in your lives. What I did a while ago? It's called eating an apple while up on the tree." he muttered sarcastically.

"Yeah, yeah. But for you, isn't it supposed to be, 'Eating apple sweetly beside Mikan-chan under the tree'?" Tsubasa asked.

Natsume glared at him.

"That's right Natsume. Imai had something else to do and I had to chase Usagi so we left Mikan-chan alone. I thought you'd eat lunch with her," Ruka explained.

"Look here," Natsume said. "I am that girl's fiancé, not that girl's baby-sitter. Don't expect me to stick to her 24/7 like a bug."

"But you'd make a really nice ladybug,"

"Pfft," Tsubasa chuckled. "Nice one, Ruka,"

The blond lad smiled while Natsume glared at both.

"Mmm, red and black."

"Lady,"

"Stop calling me gay, idiot,"

Tsubasa raised both his hands. "Too defensive." He laughed. More glares.

"Anyway, Natsume," Ruka said seriously. "You've been avoiding Mikan-chan recently,"

Tsubasa looked at the crimson-eyed lad. "Why would you do that?"

Both looked at their cousin in anticipation and for a moment there he seemed as though he was going to say something. But then...

Natsume sighed. "I'm going back,"

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

"Ioran," Kaoru called from her perch.

The Emperor flicked a gaze to her then back to his paperwork. "What is it, Ka-chan?"

"Yuka visited yesterday…about that," the ex-Empress replied, casually drinking her tea.

"Mmmm,"

"Do you think…the plan?" Kaoru mumbled silently, the rim of the cup placed steadily against her rosy lips.

Ioran continued to write on his papers. "It is going smoothly, Ka-chan. Do not worry,"

"I hope so, Ioran. I hope so,"

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

"Hotaru," Mikan pouted as they settled in in the limousine on the way home. The lass simply ignored her. "Hotaru, don't ignore me!"

"What?"

"Where have you been a while ago? I ate lunch alone," she pouted.

Casting a brief glance to the ever nonchalant Natsume, Hotaru replied. "Principal's office,"

"Eh? Did you get into trouble?"

Hotaru whacked her with her baka gun. "I'm not like you, idiot,"

"Mmmm," Mikan hummed pensively. "The Principal…what does he look like?"

"A human, duh,"

The brunette pouted more. "Of course! I don't expect him to look like a dog now would I?"

"If that were so, he'd be a very handsome dog,"

Mikan stared at her best friend. "Hotaru…are you…possibly…cru-"

BAKA BAKA BAKA

"Hey!" Mikan protested. "What was that for?"

"For you stupid ideas,"

"Anyway, I head he was called Kazu…Kami…something?"

Hotaru glanced at her back to her business. "Kazumi-sama,"

"Eh? Doesn't he have a surname?"

Ruka smiled. "Mikan-chan…no one knows what the Principal's surname is. But I heard that you'd see it on his name plaque,"

"Then Hotaru should've seen it!" Mikan said cheerfully, ignoring Natsume on purpose as well. "What was it, Hotaru?"

The violet-eyed lass simply looked at both of the eager faces in front of her.

.

.

.

"I didn't see it. He covered it with his documents,"

Mikan's spirits instantly flew out the window. "Eh! But I heard he's related to the Royal Family so could he be Kazumi Hyuuga?"

Hotaru looked at her as if she was an idiot for which she probably is taken for. "Idiot," she muttered and refused to face Mikan.

"Mikan-chan, we're related to the Royal Family but our surnames are different," Ruka said.

The brunette simply laughed shyly. "Oh right…sorry." she mumbled. "Ah! But speaking of Royal Family! The ex-Empress asked me to learn more of it so I was thinking," she faced Hotaru who flashed her a placard instantly saying, 'NO' in big red letters. "But…" followed by another placard. "I'M BUSY. TOO TROUBLESOME." Which made Mikan turn into Ruka instead.

"But if that were so…I'm sure Natsu - " Ruka began to say, looking at the said cousin who continuously ignored the racket.

"NO NO NO!" Mikan screamed, shaking her head. Natsume visibly narrowed his eyes for a nanosecond.

Ruka was taken aback by Mikan's absolute negativity. "Please, Ruka-pyon? After school? Tomorrow? Someplace else? Ah! I know, it'll be like a friendly date, please?" Mikan grinned while Natsume invisibly twitched at the mention of the word 'date'.

"O-okay,"

"YAY!"

Silently, Natsume glared at the brunette then faced the window quietly instead, all the while with Hotaru observing him secretly.

Tch.

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

Mikan sighed as she crumpled to her bed.

Dinner and Princess Lessons were finally over and she was glad that she received less than five whips for today. Honestly, all these continuous studying's taking their toll on her. She got tired more and more as days passed. Slowly, she closed her eyes until she remembered that she had to charge her iPod since it was drained of battery due to excessive researching and gaming from the twins.

Gingerly, she dug for it in her bag and connected it to her charger. As it turned on, a page flashed on its screen.

WELCOME TO NATSUBARAFANCLUB!

Be one of the Summer Roses!

Register +++ Log-in

Curiosity getting the best of Mikan, she ventured more into this unknown fan page…her discovery sending her into a swirl of emotions. There, at the bottom of the headline is a very beautiful photograph of Natsume beside a breath-taking girl with dark curly hair and the softest dark eyes Mikan saw. She was so beautiful that the brunette felt sudden vanity crawling in her skin. It didn't help that she looked so good with Natsume who was supposed to be Mikan's betrothed or the fact that this was their fan page and so many girls ship them.

All in all, Mikan simply felt…insecure.

And the girl's name?

Nobara Ibaragi

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

December 13, 20XX

Dear Natsume,

Jerk.

Sigh. I don't know why but you continued to ignore me today. Hotaru and Ruka left me during lunch and with you running off to who knows where (I guess I know where though) I was left with only myself to eat a very lonely meal. JERK! Hmmph! You and your stupid PMS. Why are you ignoring me though? Is it because I fooled you? You thought I was dumb didn't you? Argh, but seriously, it wasn't my fault. Who told you to think of me as an idiot? Sheesh. Stupid jerk.

Anyway, Anna and Nonoko found me stalk - wait no - researching about you. YES. I was researching about you okay? Because I don't know who you are! I mean, okay, I know you're Natsume but you know…the basic stuff about you? I don't know any of them - even your birthday. If only I was one of your fangirls, I probably would have known these things by heart as if they were my own bible but no. I'm not. Thank goodness. Anyway, the twins said that I should buy you a belated birthday gift. I agreed. But now, I'm not so sure. I mean, with you ignoring me like that? Tsss. You don't deserve it!

But I'd buy it anyway. Tomorrow…with Ruka-pyon! That's why I asked him to go out on a friendly date with me. Haha. Because I figured that he'd know what you like…although I was hoping Hotaru would come. Oh, and I'd ask him to tell me about the Royal Family too. I thought you could tutor me but with you on your PMSing…Ruka-pyon would do. At least he's not a jerk like you! :P

But seriously, Natsume…why are you avoiding me? Did I do something bad to you? Are you mad at me? Since you ignored me, I've felt something heavy inside me. I feel so lonely. If I did anything wrong, tell me okay? Just don't ignore me. I'd say sorry. Don't just pretend as if I'm not there and avoid me when I come near because it kind of hurts. I thought we were friends? You shouldn't just leave me alone. I feel so sad. My time is running out and I don't want to spend my remaining days with you as if we don't know each other. Okay?

Sigh. It's only been a day but I kind of miss you. You're a stupid friend, you know that?

Wait, do you even acknowledge that we're friends?

You should. Anyway, I miss you. JERK.

Eleven more days Natsume. Eleven more letters. Eleven more messages for you. Eleven more days with you.

Love,

Mikan

PS: Who's Nobara Ibaragi? Is she your girlfriend?

PPS: I'm not jealous!

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

Another chapter done. Ahhh…we're slowly progressing. Oh-ho! What's Nobara's role here? Any guesses? ^^

Haha. Anyway, as for the Summer Roses, it's what the members of the NatsuBara are called…Natsu for Summer and Bara for Rose hehe. Did anyone get that?

Anyway, so how was this chapter? ;)

Liked it? Hated it? REVIEW! GO GO GO!