I'm going to keep this brief and short because I know you're aching to read this chapter. Yes! I've resurrected from the dead and I'm back with a long fluffy chappie! Not gonna hold you back longer, please read!
~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~
On Top of the World
"He is such a cheese ball." Tsubasa gagged as he rolled his eyes. "Ungh." He shuddered as he watched his cousin walk away through a pair of binoculars.
Misaki smirked. "Get over it, Mercutio. Let Romeo be. For once, I hope that story lands a happy ending."
"Whatever. I still think he could've cut back with the cheese. We're bound to have a rat attack here." He laughed. "It's even a miracle we could pull off this whole plan without being busted by the Palace."
"Thank your sister for that. Sometimes, I hope that she left some brains for you."
"Hey!"
The couple laughed as they watched Natsume walk away from them. Truthfully, Tsubasa pities the guy. He's been through an awful lot and he very well knows that Natsume doesn't deserve any of the shit – nor does Mikan, for that matter.
So when his sister called for him and started prattling about this crazy plan about Mikan and Natsume going on a date together, he instantly called in. Heck, he'd do anything for those two. He couldn't imagine he and Misaki under the same predicament. He wouldn't know what to do.
"Misaki," he called wistfully, still watching his cousin.
"Hmmm?"
"We're damn lucky."
"We definitely are." She replied sadly.
~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~
Natsume doesn't usually ask for favors.
That's because Natsume doesn't usually encounter any problems that he can't solve. Come on. He was born a genius. There's no meaning behind the word if he can't solve everything. He's supposed to be that good.
But when he finally does have to call for help, he has to swallow his pride really hard. Like hard. Because Hotaru Imai simply doesn't make people forget that they owe her. Ever. She'd be sure to rub that in hard until you cough up anything that could make up for her help.
Well, she does have special considerations for relatives. Whatever she says you owe her? Double that. And then, if your name is specifically Natsume Hyuuga, you should triple that.
So you can just imagine the shizz Natsume has to go through to plan this date for Mikan. He practically sold his soul to the devil. That's how much he loves her. And that's how much he's willing to give just to be with her for another day.
He just hopes she knows that.
And that it would make all the difference in the world.
~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~
He was already looking at her even before she saw him. She was standing there in the freezing cold, glancing at her watch from time to time.
"What an idiot," he muttered to himself as he watched her.
She was beautiful. Her long curly hair was loose freely on her back topped with a winter bonnet. She was wearing a simple dress over thick black leggings underneath that cute red jacket. And he loved the way she always wanted to be a little taller, which is why she'd always wear heels.
Her pink nose bobbed here and there as he watched her look around for any signs of him. Fluffy puffs kept on escaping her lips as she stayed under the frosty winter.
And with a final shake of his head, Natsume walked over to the brunette, gently tapping her shoulder as he reached her. She twirled in surprise, her hazel eyes widening a little as she saw him.
He breathed. She's even more beautiful up close. "Are you…" he started to say.
She looked up at him expectantly, her small lips curving up a smile.
"Are you Haruka?"
He watched her smile falter a bit only to come back, wider with her eyes crinkling cutely. "Yes, I am. Ryuu?" she acknowledged as she stuck her hand out for a polite handshake. Natsume can't help but roll his eyes mentally. Isn't there a better way to greet people? Like kissing her on the cheek? "Nice to meet you."
With a small shrug, he held out his hand and shook hers, resisting the urge to grab it and never let it go. "You do look a bit like Amanatsu."
Her eyebrows hiked up. "A bit? That is the understatement of the year." She smirked.
Natsume snorted naughtily. "Don't get ahead of yourself, please."
She gave a playful gasp. "Am I supposed to be offended?"
He smirked. "If you're sensitive." Mikan was about to retort that she was not but even before she could say another word, Natsume has already jerked his chin a little to the front to which the brunette focused on: The Amusement Park. "Is that where we're going?"
"Um, no." he smirked inwardly. Here comes the tongue-biting comment. "We're actually heading for the zoo. You know, which is about an hour away from here?"
"I see you speak fluent sarcasm."
"Ha!" Mikan smirked. "You don't see, mister. You hear."
Natsume shrugged gallantly. He likes his woman ferocious and witty. "We're not going in there." He said.
"What?"
He grabbed her freezing hand and pulled her close to him. "We're going Ice Skating." He smirked evilly.
~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~
"Favorite number?" Natsume asked as he glided away from Mikan who was barely holding up her dignity by clinging to the post. "Come on, Haruka." He laughed.
"I hate you!"
"Wow," Natsume shouted back. People are now actually stealing glances at them. He doesn't care. Why should you when you're with the prettiest girl in the world? "Those are not the kinds of words you say to a person you just met. I am offended, Haruka-san."
"Whatever! Would you please just help me get off this blasted hell rink?" she yelled frantically, making him laugh more.
"Ice Skating Rink: the best place in the world! I told you. One answer, one glide over to you then this would all be over."
"Fine! Um, nine!"
"Ha. I don't believe you."
"Oh come on!" she sputtered. "Don't be such a drag! Come over here!"
Natsume laughed at her. How can she be so beautiful while she's all over the place. "Next question, please."
She paused, catching up her breath. "If you can do one more thing with Amanatsu, what would it be?"
Natsume gave a little chuckle at the question. "Are you sure you should be asking that? I can leave you here as easy as one, two, three."
"You're not a very good sport then, as easy as four, five, six!"
The lad wrinkled his nose. "Hinata didn't say his girlfriend's corny."
"So, what's your answer?"
Natsume smiled smugly at the brunette as he skated nearer to her. "I'd take her here."
"You'd take her skating? Wow, you're boring." She said as he skated nearer her still so that he could easily reach her.
"And what's your idea of a perfect date with Hinata?" Natsume asked, staring at Mikan intently as if he wanted to devour her.
She must've felt the intensity of his gaze so that her breath hitched a little.
"Over there?" he pointed to the Amusement Park which has now opened.
The brunette smiled knowingly at him. "Yeah. Up in the Ferris Wheel – where everything stops and nothing matters because it's just him and me on top of the world." She breathed, as if she wanted to be there right now.
He skated next to her. "What about you?" she asked him, as she looked up straight to his red orbs. "Why here?"
Natsume smiled warmly at her. "So that I can watch her fall all day…"
"Wow, you're a sadist." Mikan said airily just in time for the lad to continue what he was saying.
"…and I'd be sure to catch her when she does. Every time."
That caught her off guard, surprising her. For some reason, she found herself untangling her body from the post that has been supporting her. She wanted to pat that guy full of raw emotion in front of her.
Only, her body remembered that it doesn't function well on ice and so next thing she knows, she was already kissing the ice next to the raven-haired lad.
They both laughed.
"How was that for falling?" she asked him jokingly.
He inhaled a lungful of air and then answered. "Terrible." He whispered, laughing. Then he looked at her. "But at least I know I'm not falling alone."
~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~
"'What's your favorite number?'" Mikan laughed as she walked with a sopping wet Natsume out of the Raging River. "'143' and then whoosh! You swallowed dirty water." She laughed again. "Oh you're like a cat."
"And you," Natsume grimaced unhappily at his wet clothes. "Look like a wet chick."
Mikan stuck her tongue out at him and then shuddered.
"We need to change clothes."
"Oh, here!" Mikan pointed to a bazaar of clothes in the middle of the park. "Are they giving these away? A-aaaachoo!"
"Whatever. Just change into one of these." Natsume muttered as he shoved more clothes into her thin arms. "Go!"
"…"
"What?"
"There's no way I'm changing in front of you." She deadpanned. "OH MY GOD. WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Did he just remove his shirt in front of her and Oooh-lala, are those abs? Shut up, Mikan! She mentally slapped herself. "Pervert!"
She felt him smirk beside her. "Like what you saw?"
"Shut up! I'm calling 911."
"Because I'm too hot for you?" he laughed.
"No. Because there's a pervert on the loose."
Natsume faked a gasp and shoved Mikan inside the fitting room. "Quick! Hide!"
"Heyy!" he heard her scream inside as he let a low series of chuckles. "I meant you!"
"Hi sir!" a girl suddenly appeared beside Natsume. Crap. Have they been busted? She tiptoed, as if she was looking for someone. "Where is your partner?"
And as if on cue, Mikan emerged from the fitting room with her stunning choice of clothes. "Yes?" she asked. Natsume smirked. So they're partners now, aren't they?
"Oh," Mikan let a small gasp. "Are these not for sale? We could pay for them, don't – "
The lady laughed at them. "You're such a cute couple." She said. "You're up next."
"What?"
She blinked at both of them. "This is the couple competition. You're couple number nine, aren't you?" she pointed at the badges stapled on their clothes.
Mikan looked at Natsume in alarm.
"Oh no," the brunette muttered as she tried to convince the lady otherwise. She, however, obviously wasn't listening as she started to shove both of them on the stage. "You're mistaken!"
"Good luck!"
"W-wait!" Mikan cried, as she pounded on the closed door. "Natsume!" she hissed, tugging at his shirt. "Do something!"
"I can't." she heard him mumble.
"What? Why?"
And that's when she heard it – loud cheering. Crap. They were already in front of the crowd.
~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~
"Welcome, welcome!" An annoying booming voice greeted the two as they reluctantly walked over the center of the stage. "Pair number nine!"
The crowd cheered enthusiastically. This is definitely bad. At this rate, people are bound to discover who they are. The only things separating them from their instant fame are Natsume's thick glasses and Mikan's bonnet.
Take those away and the crowd will be eating them alive.
"Oooh, we've got quite the good-looking couple here." The emcee giggled. "Why don't you introduce yourselves?" she said.
The brunette gingerly walked over the mic, as she dragged the silent Natsume with her. About a hundred pair of eyes were trained on them and she can tell that most of the girls are checking Natsume out. She suddenly had the urge to claw their eyes out.
Curious.
"Hi." She introduced glumly. "I'm Haruka and this is Ryuu. We're not really a couple."
Murmurs riffled through the crowd at what she said.
"Uh, miss?" the emcee cut in, laughing fakery. She pointed at the large backdrop, announcing the title of the competition. It says, The Best Couple Competition. Whatever. "This competition…"
"Yeah, which is why, I'm telling you there has been a mistake." Mikan said hurriedly. Darn Natsume for not even batting an eyelash when they're clearly in a pinch. "You see, he's not my boyfriend. He's actually my ex's friend's ex. Ungh, what am I saying?"
Blank stares kept on pouring from the crowd. Some of them already started booing and it wasn't helping the brunette's nerves. She just wants to get out of here fast.
"Anyway, I'm really sorry for the inconvenience – Hey!" Mikan called as Natsume walked away from her, down the stage. The booing came louder. "Ryuu, where are you going?"
"Aww, too bad. He was so hot." Mikan heard one of the girls say. She quickly threw her a glare that luckily shut her up.
"Ryuu!" the brunette called again through the mic. The crowd was already in chaos! "Ryuu, holy! What do you think you're doing?"
Natsume smirked at her as he emerged from the backstage, carrying a black guitar. "I can always sing for you, can't I?" Cue loud squeals from his instant fan girls.
Mikan was dumbfounded. She didn't know what to say. Oh wait, she knows what she wants to say. She wants to scream at him and shake him to consciousness. Hello? What is he doing?! He's not supposed to serenade her! He's supposed to devise a plan on how to escape this unwanted attention!
But instead, here he is, being a perfect hottie as he strums that guitar. Heck, she didn't even know that he could play a guitar. But what he did next almost melted her.
He smiled at her and it was the first time she ever saw him look at her like that. She felt so warm in the middle of winter. He even has the perfect voice.
"Well, you dawned on me and you bet I felt it" He winked at her as he sang, a smile playing on his sexy lips.
"I tried to be chill but you're so hot that I melted
I fell right through the cracks, now I'm trying to get back.
Before the cold done run out, I'll be giving it my bestest
And nothing's gonna stop me but divine intervention
I reckon it's again my turn, to win some or learn some
But I won't hesitate, no more, no more
This cannot wait, I'm yours"
Squeals emerged from the crowd as girls went crazy watching Natsume sing. Mikan, on the other hand, stood there on her spot, frozen. She's been listening to Natsume sing along with her beating heart, which feels as if it wants to run around the place. She's just so happy right now!
Then suddenly, someone handed her a microphone and next thing she knows, she was already singing the second verse of the song and Natsume was grinning at her.
"Well open up your mind and see like me.
Open up your plans, and damn you're free
Look into your heart and you'll find love, love love, love"
She poked him playfully on the ribs as he gave her a playful glare. The crowd went crazier!
"Listen to the music of the moment, people dance and sing
We're just one big family
And it's our god-forsaken right to be loved loved loved loved loved"
And then, together they sang the chorus of the song. She never knew that their voice could blend in so perfectly together! Had she known that both she and Natsume can sing, she would've spent some of their time less bickering and more into singing. Ha! As if she can ask Natsume to repeat this performance.
"So, I won't hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait, I'm sure
There's no need to complicate, our time is short
This is our fate, I'm Yours"
By the time they finished singing the song, the crowd was already uncontrollable and Mikan found herself catching her breath as if she ran a marathon. Natsume on the other hand seems like he still has things up his sleeves because suddenly, guitar strums were heard once again.
The brunette almost melted when she recognized the song. "Oh no," she whispered as she glared at the lad on the guitar. He, meanwhile, simply chuckled and then started to sing.
"Forever can never be long enough for me
To feel like I've had long enough with you
Forget the world now, we won't let them see
But there's one thing left to do
Now that the weight has lifted
Love has surely shifted my way."
Here it goes, Mikan told herself.
"Marry me
Today and every day
Marry me
If I ever get the nerve to say "Hello" in this café
Mm-hmm
Say you will
Mm-hmm."
Natsume lifted his beautiful crimson eyes to look expectantly at Mikan. He just poured his whole heart out in front of a big crazy crowd and it would definitely kill him if she says no.
"So, what do you say?"
The crowd cheered while the emcee's trying not to kill her self from giddiness and jealousy.
Mikan smiled shyly at Natsume as she laughed. "You already said 'Hello' to me in the café." She told him.
"Yeah," he said. "That's why I'm asking you to marry me now. Or do you need another song for that?"
The brunette laughed at him. "I – "
"There they are!" a couple shouted all of a sudden. "They stole our clothes! Thieves!"
"Crap! Time to run! Come on!" Natsume swore as he put down the guitar and lunged for Mikan's hand. The crowd started to boo at the couple as they parted to make way for the running Royal couple, all the while telling them 'good luck'
"Natsume, wait!" Mikan gasped as both of them freely raced away from the event, not knowing where to go. The sun was already setting down on the far horizon and it's starting to get colder. "Hey!"
He looked back at her with a goofy smile on his face as he laughed, still running.
"Why are you laughing?"
Natsume grinned impishly at the brunette. "Sorry. I guess you just have to be a runaway bride for today." He said as they continued to run.
"Meh," she laughed. "At least the bride's running away with the groom." She winked.
~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~
"Get in," Natsume ushered to the brunette as they finally stopped running. Without any complaints, Mikan rode whatever it is that he led her to and sat down gratefully. Today was clearly not the best day to wear her high-heeled boots.
It was just when the attendant closed the door to the 'car' did she realize what it was that they were riding. And by that time, Natsume was already sitting across her with a smug look on his face as he crossed his arms.
"So," he smirked at her. "We're inside your ideal place. Welcome to the Ferris Wheel."
She smiled at him.
"Don't be shy. You can thank me now." He told her.
She rolled her orbs at him and looked out the glass window. Mikan pouted cutely. "This day sucks. And you're a terrible date." She told Natsume. "I see why Amanatsu left you." She joked as she stole a glance at the lad to see if that pissed him off.
Instead, she found him grinning at her as if he was offered a challenge. "Oh yeah? And what could've your perfect Hinata done?"
"Well, for starters," Mikan chirped happily. "We shouldn't have gone Ice Skating. I'm getting sore all over!" she complained as Natsume started to laugh at her.
"Continue," he told her when she threw him a dirty look.
"You should've taken me to the carousel first."
"Pfft." He muttered. "Seriously? How old are you?"
"Oh, whatever." She laughed. "And then…"
"And then," Natsume continued for her. "We should've gone to the Haunted House." He grinned wickedly.
"But I can't stand those! Why would we go there?"
"Because then you'd cling to my arms." He chuckled.
"Pervert!" Mikan cried as she turned red. "Anyway, then," she continued dreamily. "We should've played lots of games at the booth! And we'd win a lot of toys. One of those will be a very big black cat and I'll name him Mochi."
"Mochi."
"Yeah," Mikan chirped. "Like your cheeks. They're kind of fluffy – like mochi." She laughed as Natsume consciously felt his cheeks up.
He chuckled. "You got me there. And then?"
"And then, I'll give one of those toys to you! Mr. Bear! So you get to hug him every night when you're cold," she teased. "Or lonely."
"And why would I get lonely?"
The brunette's smile faltered a little as she averted her gaze back outside the cable car. She doesn't want to answer that. This is the Ferris Wheel, she reminded herself, where everything stops and nothing matters because she's on top of the world with Natsume.
Nothing should matter – even the fact that she's flying away tomorrow morning and the fact that Natsume will be marrying someone else tomorrow. Why should that matter when they have each other right now?
Mikan unconsciously crumpled the wrappers inside her coat. Frustrated, she threw the small ball at Natsume who jumped a little in surprise. Darn. She didn't hit him.
"What was that for?" he demanded.
She smiled at him sadly. "Darn." She cursed. "I missed you."
"W-" and then he understood. And he laughed and it was so nice to hear because she knew that he still understands her the way he only can. She watched him as he picked the wrapper up and throw it at her.
This time, it hit her squarely on the forehead. "What was that for?" it was her turn to ask.
He smiled at her. "I was hoping I'd hit you the same way you hit me." He told her. "Hard. And then you changed my world. Look outside, Mikan." He told her, just as the lights started to glow one by one as the sun finally bid its goodbye for the day.
It was breath taking, like watching something come to life. Every corner of the park was filled with yellow glow and on the dark night, something suddenly exploded, making Mikan blink.
When she finally opened her eyes, fireworks have already spelled out her name. And more are being launched to the sky with amazing colors, each one relaying a single message.
"Mikan,
I love you.
-N"
Just because they were in the Ferris Wheel where everything stops and nothing matters because it's just her and him, on top of the world.
~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~
How was it? We're really nearing its end! Can you feel it?
HAHA. I've put all my cheesy bits in this one so I hope you really like it! I know I haven't updated in a really loooooong time but here you go! Things have just been hectic and I got a major writer's block so yeah.
PLEASE REVIEW! I BEG YOU!
AND THANKS TO THOSE WHO KEPT ON SUPPORTING THIS STORY! I LOVE YOU GUYS!