Author's Note: Oh well, since you ALL loved it so much, I decided to upload this fic first. Sorry for the long wait, I got lazy again. XP, anyway, thanks for those who reviewed in the previous chapter! You don't know how much it appreciates me! –hugs-

Oh by the way I AM BEGGING YOU TO PLEASE READ MY AUTHOR'S NOTES AT THE END OF THE CHAPTER, BECAUSE I'M GIVING OFF IMPORTANT NOTICES. That's why the authors have Author's Notes right? Please again I BEG you to read them. (Not only mine though, other authors author's notes as well.)

Another notice, at 'A Debt To Pay' chapter 8, I DIDN'T say anything that it was Natsume who saved her. So please don't get mad at me if you continue reading my story. Do not ever, ever forget that this Author LOVES jealousies, and yada, yada, yada… so again read the Author's Notes!!

Those readers who read another story of mine entitled Idiotic Teacher Please wait for a while because I'm on HIATUS on that. I'm forcing my ass off just to write at least one paragraph. But unfortunately, I'm still on hiatus. :P

A Debt To Pay

Tsubame Sakura

Chapter 9

Mikan's POV

Previously

"Hey, are you alright?" The guy asked.

'Na…Natsume?' I finally collapsed.

I opened my eyes weary, as I stared at the ceiling above me; the color of it was yellow orange, I guess its sun down already, I got up but didn't leave the bed, as I heard two voices.

Huh? I first thought, as I listened to their conversation.

"You should've taken your eye on her from the beginning you decided on making her your slave, or your girlfriend or whatever, she almost got killed back there!" I heard a familiar voice say.

Then I heard a groan, "It's not my fault that she let her guard down. She already knows that their dangerous, yet she still followed them." I heard another say.

Is that Natsume? I thought.

"She's so stupid." He said. I just know that a sudden trademark was placed on my forehead.

"Who's stupid, you bastard?!" I shouted pushing away the curtains that was blocking my view.

Great, I thought as I felt my lips twitched. They were looking at me with shocked faces and well… that really makes the situation more awkward.

"I see you're already awake, idiot." An arrow strokes me to the chest as I kept on holding back my anger towards him.

"Don't call me idiot, pervert!" I shouted back. Then I heard someone laugh, oh my God I totally forgot that we're not the only ones here.

Here? Oh that makes me think…

"Where am I?" great, I thought aloud.

"You're here in the infirmary, Mikan-chan." I looked at the person who said that… When I first laid my eyes on him, my expression would be... Oh my God! He's HOT!

"Uhh... umm, how did you know my name?" I asked shyly while blushing, as I had a chance to glance at Natsume after asking that question. For some reason he looks pissed. Humph, I don't know what his problem is though.

"Oh, I saw your Identification Card." He said as he smiled. Argh, killer smile! I thought as I blocked the light.

"In short, ID moron." Natsume said as he glared at him. While I glared back at him for being so rude, oh well, that's Natsume for you. (Well, isn't he always? XD)

"Natsume! You just met him and now you're being rude." I was able to mutter.

"Oh no, Mikan-chan…" The guy said as he smiled at me, "I knew him before I got here." He continued.

"Oh…" I said, but then again, "Haaa?" I unconsciously blurted out.

He laughed, I blushed in embarrassment, "You see my dad and his dad are kinda friends, and we knew each other since we were kids." He was able to say.

"You're really cute when you're embarrassed Mikan-chan." He continued, I blushed even redder this time.

"You're always like this, Ryou, being flirty? It makes me sick." Natsume said coldly.

'Aren't you a flirt too, Natsume?' I thought, glaring at him. As I recalled how I first met him.

He laughed again, "Is that how you treat your senpai, Natsume?" He asked as he looked at him, for a few seconds he now turned his head to face me.

"I guess your okay now, Mikan-chan. I'll be going ahead now."

"W-wait!" I shouted, "Are you transferring here?" I asked.

He smiled, "Yes, entering 2nd year high school. Oh my name's Ryou Rita; by the way, I'm glad I had a chance to meet you Mikan-chan." He smiled again, I blushed. It's the first time a guy has ever been so kind to me! Oh... I thank God!

"Don't you need to go to somewhere? You better leave." Natsume yet again shot a glare at him.

"Hai, hai, I'm going, I'm going, be nice, Natsume." He said, walking towards the exit.

"Bye, Mikan-chan, Natsume." He said as he shut the door.

When he left, there was an awkward silence between Natsume and I, fortunately I thought of something to talk about. It's better than nothing, right?

"Natsume… What actually happened? All I remember was being thrown by rocks and… crap" I said, as I remembered the previous incident, which made me sad, also mad.

I looked at my clothes and noticed it was stained in mud, "... err… Now that I realized it, I'm still covered with mud, haha wow, I look really… ridiculous." I was able to say, I don't know why… but my eyes started to get wet. I can't believe I was actually… crying. It was… a really painful experience…

End of POV

Natsume looked at her with widened eyes, then he lowered down his head, This… was my fault. He thought. He was still looking at Mikan, who was crying, her hands covering her face. He walked towards the bed where she sat and stopped in front of her.

Mikan continued to cry but she knew that Natsume was already in front of her; Natsume looked at her, and then unexpectedly patted her head, Mikan stopped her hands from wiping the tears from her face, but she still covered her face with them.

"I'm…" He said, then sighed, "...sorry." his hand is still placed on her head. She had a pause, then a few seconds she cried again.

A couple of minutes later

Natsume's POV

We walked outside the school silently, I can't even believed I agreed to walk her to her house, am I really that guilty?... maybe I am. Shit. I looked at her following my back, she was looking at the ground with her depressed eyes.

"…" I can't even say anything, damn, such a loser.

I can't even believe I can't take care of a kid. If these things keep on going I might not be able to save her like what happened earlier. I looked at her again, then I looked down, my eyes were covering with my bangs.

"Hey…" I said, I just know she looked at me. But I still didn't turn around to face her.

"On what happened earlier, I think you can't be my slave anymore." I said, "It was my fault that you were treated like this, so you don't need to follow me around." I said, I don't know why but my chest feels a bit heavy.

'Huh? What?' Mikan thought as she looked at his back. 'I-I can't let this happen! I still n-need to repay him... and... I think I'll--"

"So--"

"What are you talking about Natsume?!" I heard her shout, this caught my attention so I turned around, and she looked at me with narrowed eyes, as she was blushing.

"This was never your fault, Natsume! I followed them carelessly knowing something bad is going to happen! So don't think this was your fault, got that?!" She shouted as she pointed her index finger at me.

"I'm going to continue being your slave and your fake girlfriend, so there's no point in stopping me! I need to repay you, remember?!" She continued.

After hearing this, I smirked, "Fine, but you better not regret that it was your decision to continue, little girl." I said. I was a bit happy though. After I said that she smiled.

"You got that right! I won't regret, but you better not, also!" She said, putting her hands on her waist.

I smiled, "Whatever," I said as I extended a hand, not looking at her, my other hand in my pocket.

"Huh?" I heard her say.

"Hurry up, you might trip and fall again." I said, still not looking at her. My face actually feels a little bit hot.

She smiled, and took my offering hand, "Hehe! Okay!" She said happily.

"Humph, I do owe you." I said as we walked hand in hand. Though this doesn't mean anything, right? So it's no big deal… Humph, I suppose so.

Author's Note: Oh my God! So OOC! I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Anyway, I am happy to tell you that… there's no good news! Hahaha!! Oh well, sorry, the next story that I'll update is AHMM, well, that's what in my mind, I don't know, but I'll start on it! So don't get upset okay, dokie?

BTW: Ryou Rita is only a 'sometimes used' OC. Because Keiji-kun doesn't fit this flirty character so I'll be using that name (Ryou) in this story only. Those who doesn't know Keiji-kun (GASP! How could you?!) Please read my profile in OC's okay? Those who are lazy never mind what I said and just continue reading. :p