Behind The Tree

He was hiding behind a tree again. The night was beautifully bright with stars, and music from the dance floor echoed all around the place, reminding him where he actually was. All students and teachers were dancing and having fun, celebrating the night away.

But he was still hiding behind this stupid tree.

He had plans of asking Mikan to dance with him The Last Dance, but the horde of his fan-girls practically attacked him before he even reached the girl. He escaped right away and now he was here, drowning in self-pity, convinced that he would miss the Last Dance and would have to hear about Mikan having danced with someone else at school on Monday.

''Dammit…'' he muttered under his breath and sighed.

It was no use. As soon he showed himself, one of the girls will attack him. He heard someone walk towards him, but the steps were slow and careful and he thought someone was hiding as well. But then someone stopped in front of him and Natsume glanced up, only to come face to face with an extended hand.

Natsume stared in surprise.

''Dance with me?'' Mikan, who was standing before him, asked with a soft expression. She was not really smiling, but she was not serious. It was something in between, and it made Natsume's heart beat faster than ever. If it were day, Mikan would have noticed he was blushing, but the stars of the night were not bright enough to shine like the sun.

Natsume gave her his hand and slowly stood up, making her follow him up with her eyes. She smiled then, a blush evident on her face, now that he was standing so close to her. He wanted to open his mouth to say something, but his brain froze and he simply let the girl lead him towards the dance floor.

The Last Dance began. And Mikan choose him to be her dance partner. And he accepted her offer. He could not believe it.

For a moment, they danced in silence, but then he finally found his voice again and smirked at her. ''Can't believe you asked me to dance with you the final dance.''

''Can't believe you said yes.'' She smirked herself, surprising him with her sharp tongue. He was proud of her.

''Of course I did. Who would I dance with, then?'' he pulled her closer, moving with the rhythm.

''Hm… I guess, you'd stay hidden behind that tree. I wouldn't hold it against you. That attack of the girls before…''

''They almost killed me.''

''That's why you have me.'' She whispered, staring into his eyes.

Natsume felt overwhelmed. She was serious this time. And she did not want to back off, it seemed. All right then. So be it.

''Yeah… You'll have to stay with me and help me fight them off.''

Mikan seemed surprised that he co-operated in her word-play. But she smiled then, leaning up on her toes, planting a soft kiss on his lips. ''Yeah, I will.''

Natsume did not let her get away with it and pulled her with him as soon as the song ended. He led her to his cherry blossom tree and helped her climb up after him. And then he showed her what a real kiss looked like. Several ones, actually.