Hey guys. Been so long since I updated. XD Blame it all on my busy schedule~ Anyway, thanks to all those who reviewed! I received lots and I was truly overjoyed. Thank you!

For those who wanted to know but were anons so I wasn't able to reply, the answer to the riddle is always 'no' whenever Tono says the word Listen.

Anyway, I am warning you. The chapter ahead is really heavy and lacks humor so please put up with it. It might go on for the next two to three chapters but I hope you still stick with me.

I still recommend you follow my blog (krystalshine . tumblr . com) for updates and whatnot! ;)

Anyway, enjoy!

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

Unwanted Surprises and Death

Mikan didn't know what happened but the last thing she remembers was the feint touch of Natsume's lips on her forehead, which was like a spell, ushering her to a dreamless sleep. She was thankful that she didn't thrash through the night since she still feels undeniably anxious.

After all, she still couldn't remember the whole story of what happened to her the day before.

But the moment she woke up, she was conscious of the strands of raven hair on her cheek and a warm arm draped protectively over her tummy. Right. She was sharing a bed with Natsume. How can she forget?

Okay. That was a stupid question. The more appropriate question for her should be, 'How can she remember?'

Either way, she propped herself up as carefully as she can to avoid waking her fiancé up. She had the most peculiar urge going on inside her right now. She doesn't know why and it was the most illogical crave ongoing but she wishes to see the ex-Empress.

So, silently, she padded to the restroom for a quick shower and put on some comfortable clothes. Well, her little secret activity would have went on smoothly had she not spotted the clothes she was wearing last afternoon hanging neatly by the corner. Her eyes instantly travelled down to her body.

Overlarge shirt and striped boxers. This was sooooo not what she was wearing the day before.

"Natsume, you pervert!" she screeched and stomped off inside the tiled room without much of a glance to the stirring raven-haired boy.

With a string of curses going on inside her brain, Mikan quickly dolled herself up and emerged from the bath feeling definitely better than herself minutes ago. Dismayed seeing that the perverted cat isn't up despite her outburst a while ago, the brunette continued to pad out of their room to the ex-Empress' makeshift chamber.

The Mansion was eerily quiet and no one was seen up and about except for a couple of maids diligently tending on their tasks, which the brunette found queer. It was not awfully early for a futile expectation of at least one person awake. Something feels definitely off.

The gut sensation bubbling up from the brunette's pit quickly bloated into a heavier mass with every step. Did she miss something? Should she have woken Natsume up and asked him to help her go to the old lady's place? Of course not. He would have found it weird.

Of course he would. Even she finds it weird. Why is she even heading there in the first place? Because she simply feels like it? Well then what if she feels like stabbing herself with a knife? Does that mean she'll stupidly comply?

Mikan shook her head in panic, the sound of her heartbeat echoing inside her system louder by the second, sending panic waves. She quickened her pace so that she was already brisk-walking. She feels strangely parched. Her throat comes off with a sandpapery texture.

What had Luna told her the day before? The brunette squinted hard, as if trying to clear her vision of what was in front. Nothing. She can't remember. She fell. Then? Why did she fall? Was it because Luna pushed her? If she pushed her then why did she save her? And accident? Then why were they together in the first place? What did she want?

The dog died last night. Did the dog die?

The brunette stopped dead on her track, her pupils constricting wildly, her breathing ragged and heavy. And in front of her was Luna.

Smiling.

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

The strawberry-blonde girl peeled herself from the wall and stood parallel to Mikan, her left hand stuck on her hip. An annoying grin was plastered on her face, emitting unbearable amounts of disdain. Mikan watched as she composed herself.

"So," she started haughtily, travelling her gaze from Mikan's head to toe. "I see you're up and about. I suppose you feel better?"

The brunette didn't reply. She simply pursed her lips and rechecked her vocal chords. None.

Luna tapped her index finger impatiently. "Or perhaps you were rendered temporarily speechless?" she said sarcastically. "Pity. To think I was waiting to hear your utmost gratitude for my act of kindness."

Mikan couldn't help but roll her eyes. She opened her mouth but no sound came out. Frustrated, she stomped her feet and proceeded to walk past the snotty little bitch. Luna blocked her.

"How rude!" she remarked, offended. "We are not yet through. Learn your manners."

Mikan can't help but glare at her and slap her hand away. "Let me go," she whispered fiercely, hating the fact that her voice is chickening out. This feels really stupid.

Luna's eyebrows hiked up dramatically. "So you can talk."

She didn't reply. She tapped her foot impatiently on the polished marble grounds.

"Well, I suppose you're not the least bit curious as to what happened yesterday?" Luna smiled challengingly, crossing her lithe arms over her plump chest. She tilted her head. "Then you do remember everything that happened?"

The brunette's jaws clenched tightly. "I don't care." She lied.

The truth was, she cares. She wanted to know what happened. She hates that Natsume believes that there's something good in Luna. She hates the feeling of emptiness whenever she tries to reach out to her memory of yesterday – hates the feeling of incompleteness. She doesn't feel like Mikan.

And she hates it.

Luna shrugged gallantly. "You're not a very good liar," she grinned good-naturedly.

Mikan frowned. "I'm not lying."

Luna chuckled. "Tough, are we?"

"Persistent, are we?"

The strawberry-haired girl simply smiled. "Alright, alright." She said as she started to pack herself. "Your loss, not mine, Mikan Yukihira. See you later." She said as she opened the door to her room which was the nearest to the ex-Empress' but before she closed the door shut, Mikan though she heard her say that line again in her amused tone.

A tone all-knowing and sly.

"The dog died last night. Did the dog die?"

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

The door creaked spookily like it never did before as Mikan pushed it open, her head first, peeking to see what's inside. It was a normal room – with a king-sized bed, some couches, coffee tables and lampshades.

She has been outside the ex-Empress' room for at least ten minutes and had been knocking nonstop. An uneasy feeling had permanently settled itself in her stomach, which increased as she heard what Luna said. Somehow, the absence of the ever-present ladies-in-waiting amplified her tension.

Mikan let herself in carefully, whispering as she took one step at a time. "Your Majesty?" she said, her voice echoing in the chamber. The brunette swished her head for any sign of movement.

The room was quiet and strangely suggests the feeling of desertion. A huge lump was obviously sticking out from the canopy of the bed topped with the ashen but peaceful face of the old woman.

Mikan swallowed, consoling herself that she was simply asleep. She can even imagine her Majesty scolding her for rudely trespassing her room and for barging in without permission. Strangely, she doesn't feel the least bit of resentment towards the old lady.

In fact, she would feel really really really relieved if she jumps out of the bed and strangles her.

But she doesn't. She just laid there, limply on the bed, her hands artfully clasped on top of each other right above her tummy. She doesn't look as stern as she normally does. Mikan couldn't see the resemblance of the loathsome elder and this serene one.

Quietly, Mikan kneeled by her side and stroke her cheek. She has no idea why she did. She just felt like doing so – and she did, only for her touch to feel the startling coldness of the ex-Empress' body.

Mikan quickly jerked her hand away in panic, her breathing returning back to its ragged pace. Scrambling out of the room, feeling like she was being choked, she surprisingly found herself sobbing, on her way to their room where she racked herself with loud sobs, waking Natsume up.

"Mikan," he called as he carried her to the bed and tucked her tight. "Shh," he whispered, too gentle for his usual attitude that Mikan flinched. "What's wrong?" he asked, his eyes a melting pot of concern.

The brunette continued to cry. "I didn't do anything…" she whispered back.

"Shh," Natsume replied again, this time stroking her curls out of her face. "Tell me what's wrong,"

A series of hiccups followed after that as well as a couple of rolling teardrops. Mikan covered her face as she cried, wanting to hide herself from Natsume. "I'm sorry. I didn't do anything…"

The raven-haired boy pried the thin wrists away from the brunette's face and wiped her tears with his thumb, his own heart breaking. He hates feeling so helpless. He pursed his lips. "Tell me what's bothering you, Mikan." He almost sounded pleading.

"I – I saw her…" she whispered between sobs, her eyes shut tight as if remembering the moment. "I saw the ex-Empress, lying on her bed. Natsume," she said frantically, clutching his arms tightly. "I didn't do anything. I swear – I - I…I just wanted to see her. I had the weirdest feeling of wanting to see her so – so I hurried to her room and everyone wasn't around but…Luna, yes," she whispered so fast, Natsume could tell that she was palpitating.

"Calm down," he whispered soothingly as his hand went back to stroking her hair. "What did you see?"

Mikan let out a soft whimper like a hurt dog.

"I found the ex-Empress, lying dead."

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

Shu paced anxiously around the Royal Couple's room, glancing every now and then at Mikan's peaceful figure, passed out on the bed. Once in a while as well, a sob will be heard from Aoi from the corner, being consoled by Natsume and Youichi.

Everyone poses tensed as they awaited the news – some clarification that would sort things out. Perhaps they were waiting for Mikan to wake up or the Emperor to show up and clear the mist of misunderstanding. All they know is that they were all woken up by an emergency and were quickly led to Natsume and Mikan's room where they found the brunette looking pale and passed out.

Hotaru quickly sat beside her best friend and a look of pain instantly showed and vanished from her pallid face. She and her brother secretly passed discrete looks as if arguing on something. No one noticed.

Misaki bit her lip. "Do you think…?" she said silently. Tsubasa spared her a panicked looked.

He shook his head. "Don't."

And silence fell once again, only Mikan's breathing dispersing in the room.

Shuichi faced Natsume who was looking not so good, himself. "What happened?" he asked seriously.

The raven-haired prince took a sidelong glance at Mikan sleeping figure and answered. "She woke me up with her loud, hysterical sobbing. I couldn't talk to her at first but eventually she gave in. She said she saw grand –" he caught himself. "The old lady dead on her bed."

A sob escaped from his sister's lips, only to be hugged by Misaki.

"That's impossible." Tsubasa muttered, shaking his head again, for once the jolly look on his face absent.

Tono sighed. "No one said the old lady's immortal, Tsubasa. This was bound to happen sooner or later."

"So, you're saying that she died naturally? Of age?" Ruka asked for the first time, a worried and unsure expression on his face.

Tono looked at Ruka suspiciously. "Are you suggesting otherwise?"

Ruka simply shut his mouth and shook his head defiantly. "I was not suggesting anything."

"Grandma could have died because of her illness, you know." Youichi replied as he patted Aoi's head. "She could have had a heart attack late at night and no one noticed."

"Or suicide," Subaru suggested. Everyone looked at him.

"She's not the kind of woman to do that," Misaki said.

Subaru looked skeptical. "But it is still possible. We need more data to confirm but sadly, we are not allowed to see for ourselves."

"Mikan did." Hotaru said.

Natsume glared at her. "You're not dragging her more into this."

"She's already into this, Hyuga."

"She's emotionally unstable."

That made Hotaru's eyebrows hike up. "Is there anything more you wish to share with us, Hyuga?"

Natsume sneered. He was hoping to keep what happened the day before secret from others before he figures out himself what had happened. There was no way that the bitch Luna would help Mikan. He just knows it. So why? And now he was forced to spill everything.

"Tell us, Natsume," Ruka added.

He sighed then went on with the tale. When he had finished, no visible change in everyone's expression was evident. They all looked as blank as they had minutes before. He knows that no one could give him the answers he needed either.

"So you're saying that Mikan had an amnesia," Misaki said. "You should have told us, I could have called Father and ask him what could have been done," she said not accusingly, just full of bitterness.

"I thought you would know," Natsume told Hotaru pointedly.

The latter twitched. "Do not overestimate me, Hyuga. There are things I cannot do."

He sneered. "Big surprise,"

"Stop it." Everyone turned to look at the source of the voice. There, up and looking pale was Mikan. "Stop fighting." Shuichiro quickly went to her aid and whispered assurances. Mikan just nodded.

"We're not fighting," Natsume said as he looked away.

Subaru looked interested. "Mikan-chan," he called as the brunette perked up to shift her attention to him. "If it's not too much to ask,"

"Imai," Natsume growled. Mikan gave him a silencing look – a weak but a silencing one.

"Can you tell us how the old lady looked like when you saw her?" the older Imai continued.

The brunette looked paler but it was obvious that she was determined to answer. "She looked like she was sleeping," she whispered. "It didn't even look as if she was caught off-guard. She looked perfectly peaceful."

"So she died in her sleep?" Youichi asked.

"Or suicide," Subaru equipped.

"I told you, that's not – "

"Silence!"

"Your Majesty,"

The Emperor looked grave as he entered the door but no traces of true grief was plastered on his face. He waited as everyone calmed down before he made any announcements.

"Due to the unforeseen events that happened today, we will be returning to the Palace immediately." He said loud and firm.

Mikan swallowed. "The ex-Empress...is she – "

The Emperor looked at her with sympathy. "The ex-Empress, sadly, was found dead in her room a while ago as reports indicated."

Collective gasps were heard all-throughout.

"The cause of death?" Subaru asked, unshaken.

"She was poisoned."

Another shock.

"And we have confirmed the suspect."

The dog died last night. Did the dog die?

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

And it's done! Sorry for having it so heavy. ;D Oh right, guess the relevance of the riddle to the ex-Empress' death. By the way, for those who will review, I might put up photo replies on tumblr. ;) So watch out for them.

AND REVIEW TO TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK! I'd really appreciate it and I'll definitely reply! (unless you're an anon. :)

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