A/N: D: Does the last chapter suck THAT bad that I only receive two reviews? .w.
To Xxdarkness-angelxX: Thank you for being my 200th reviewer and my ONLY reviewer who practically reads and review every chapter / one-shot I made. Thank you so much :) I hope you like my one-shot Bittersweet Memory because it's dedicated to you. Thank you always :D
Chapter 18
Recap of last chapter:
"Neh, I have a question for all of you," Mikan said softly. Her friends looked at her because her sudden change of mood surprised them. She had her head lowered down as if she was interested looking down at her and her partner's shoes and she had a small but sad smile replacing that goofy grin she always had. "What happens...if...I were to die? What would you guys do?"
Silence.
When Mikan raised her head to look at Hotaru and Ruka, she was hit by her best friend's infamous baka gun.
BAKA! BAKA! BAKA!
Then, the tip of her hair suddenly was caught in fire.
"AHHH!!!" she screamed, breaking out of Natsume's grip and ran around her friends like a lunatic, forgetting the pain inflicted on her ankle while she did a little late morning exercise. Natsume and Hotaru was giving her those chibi eyes they always seem to do while Ruka just sweat dropped, trying to calm down the brunette.
"Don't ever mention a sentence involving you and death or else," Hotaru threatened.
"Oi," Natsume glared at her. "Don't EVEN think about dying while I'm here, Polka-Dots,"
"Sakura-san," Ruka said softly trying to calm down the chibi crying brunette. "We won't let you die, we promise."
Mikan stared at her friends. Tears of joy were trickling down her face when they replied to her question. She was truly happy that they won't let anything happen to her. She wants to protect herself and everyone else. However, she can't help but BE protected by the people she loves once in a while. She stood up with the help of Ruka by grabbing onto his hand that he offered her. Not letting go of his hand, she dragged him towards her best friend and her perverted partner and tackled both of them into a hug. Hotaru to the left, Natsume in the middle, and Ruka to the right. She looks like she was hugging Natsume the most but her arms were long enough to swing them around Hotaru and Ruka's neck while burying her face in Natsume's chest, some tears wetting his uniform. The three glanced at each other before shrugging off and returned the embrace. Hotaru's hand on Mikan's left shoulder, Ruka's hand on her right shoulder, and what do you know NatsumexMikan fan club? Natsume's arms were wrapped around her petite waist, pulling her closer to his body. All three of them looked down at the brunette, giving her a smile. Natsume who rarely smiles at all, had a small smile not quite visible to the human eye but was still count as a smile.
Mikan really did find a place to belong to. However, she knew the presence she felt when she hugged her friends wasn't her imagination...
End of recap
"Mi—kan..."
"Who's there?" a soft voice replied. Mikan was sitting down in a realm of darkness; no view, no air, nobody, nothing. She was all alone but there was only one person that was living in this realm of darkness. Someone she wanted to hug her so all of the bad memories will just go away. He's Izumi Yukihira, the father of Mikan. There was a sudden grip on both of the shoulders of Mikan. Her eyes were closed and she winced at the cold touch, refusing to look at him as if she was blind.
"Remember who you are," he spoke to her softly. "You are my daughter and you are the key to change this whole academy's ways,"
"I understand," Mikan confirmed. She narrowed her eyes and she stared deeply into her father's eyes. She saw a tint of loneliness and fear but it was all soon replaced with reassurement and hope. Closing her eyes and reopening them again, she gave him a smile. "I'll carry on,"
"Good luck," he whispered. "Mikan-chan,"
-
"Another fragment disintegrated on both of the crystals,"
"I sense danger soon,"
"I hope they remember soon enough,"
"They will,"
-
"Ohayou minna-san!" a certain brunette exclaimed cheerfully as she walked in her homeroom class. Her hair was neatly brushed and two of her favorite polka-dotted ribbons were tied to the side, making her look pretty yet cute. More than half of the students greeted her back with the same enthusiasm as she walked towards her assigned table, not forgetting to greet her best friend properly. She smiled at the boy next to her who had his feet on top of the table, his hands behind his back, and a manga covering his face. She smirked at him before she pulled off the manga off of his face, staring at the eyes which looked very annoyed.
"What polka-dots?!" he snapped.
"Mooorning Natsume-kun!" Mikan greeted cheerfully, ignoring the evil aura him and his glares. He gave a little 'Tch' before snapping his fingers. Mikan tilted her head to the side clearly confused but suddenly got it when she was suddenly in mid-air.
"Uwah!" she cried out. She glared at Natsume who was glaring back at her. Averting her eyes to the Levitation User, she stuck out her tongue at him. A vein popped up on Mochu's forehead as he swung his arm in a circular motion, amused how the brunette was also spinning round and round like a washing machine. The class was pointing and laughing at her as Yuu tried to calm the brunette down and Natsume picking up his manga on the floor and started reading it. This is how Mikan's bad morning started.
-
It was after school and everyone was rushing out of the campus, going to Central Town to buy things and what not. Just like everyone else, Mikan was pleading Natsume to go with her to Central Town. Even though she's a one-star, Jinno forbids her to go to Central Town without her partner. He always ruin everything for her and she swears even if she was a special-star (which she doubt it would happen but it's still a dream) he would still say to bring Natsume with her!
"Pleaaaasseee," Mikan whined. She was tugging on Natsume's sleeve as she was following him around the school grounds as if she was a lost puppy. He just shun her as he continued to walk with his hands in his pockets and directly looking straight with his chibi beaded eyes. Other people that they passed by was staring at them and Natsume just gave him an evil glare indicating to mind their own business. Mikan had this silly expression on face where her eyes were like a less than and greater than sign together (making a big X) and her mouth was curved into a puppy pout as she still tug on Natsume's sleeve.
"Oi, open your eyes," Natsume said coolly.
Mikan opened her eyes as she stared at where they are; Central Town. "How did...?" Mikan said in disbelief.
"You were in a stupid trance making the most idiotic expression that you didn't even notice where you ended up," he said nonchalantly. "Now hurry up before I change my mind and head back,"
She grinned. She lowered her hand from his sleeve until she came full in contact with his hand and pulled it out of his pockets. He growled. She stuck out her tongue. Giving his hand a vigorous tug, Mikan literally dragged him around Central Town with an annoyed look plastered onto his face. She practically dragged him around the whole Central Town (much to his dismay) until one store caught her eye. Once again, she dragged him into the store.
"I can walk on my own you know," Natsume growled. "Let go of me,"
"If I let go you will just run away," She stuck her tongue at him.
"Welcome!"
A voice interrupted the two from their silent fight. Mikan smiled as she waved at her while Natsume made a 'Tch' sound and looked away.
"May I help you?" she asked delightedly.
"I—We're just looking around," Mikan corrected herself.
"Feel free to ask me anything dear,"
Mikan walked around the store until a shelf caught her eye. She walked towards it and stared at the item in front of her. It was a necklace—no two necklace chains around a big heart locket. Amazed by this, she took the two necklace chains in her hand and held it so it was eye-level to her so she could examined it more. The heart locket suddenly broke in half, surprising Mikan. She grinned.
"So that's why there are two necklace chains!" she laughed. "It's actually two necklaces!"
Natsume stared at her stupidity. "Are you really that stupid?"
She glared at him.
"Ah! I guess that necklace caught your eye?" the same lady came by the two. Mikan nodded. The lady grinned.
"It's a perfect gift for couples,"
Mikan and Natsume looked at each other before turning away, making a 'Hmph!' sound at each other. The lady giggled at the two.
"How much is it?" Mikan asked politely.
"Well for you dear..." the lady rubbed her chin. "Free!"
"Oh no! I can't take something like this for free!" Mikan gaped.
"It's ok," the lady smiled. "A lot of people buys a lot of stuffs here,"
Mikan looked around only to find that the two of them are the only customers around. She was about to comment until Natsume tugged her hand and was his turn to drag her away/
"Uwah! Hey Nastsuuuume!" she whined. "Thanks a lot for the necklace! I'm sorry, I'll pay when I get the chance! NATSUME!!!!!"
The lady smiled.
"That girl is interesting,"
-
Once the two stopped by a nearby tree, Natsume let go of her hand and plopped down on the ground with his eyes closed and his hands in his pockets. Mikan was too busy glaring daggers at him and ranting on about why did he suddenly dragged her when she was about to pay the kind lady for the necklace.
"She said it was free," Natsume interrupted her ranting. "You shouldn't argue about it. Get it straight into your head,"
"But...But..." she whined. She pouted as she said a 'Fine!' to him. Then she suddenly smiled. Glancing down at her partner who was looking straight up at the sky with his eyes close, an invisible light bulb appeared on top of her hand. Giggling as softly as she can, she took one of the necklaces and removed the lock as she moved closer to Natsume. Feeling something cold wrapped around his neck, he opened one eye to see the brunette grinning stupidly at him. Raising his eyebrow, he looked down to see the necklace she "bought" on his neck. He sat up properly.
"Hey, what's the big idea," he growled. He reached back trying to find the latch and noticed he couldn't find it. Narrowing his eyes, he moved the necklace chain around until he finds the latch. Unsuccessful. He growled at Mikan who was still grinning stupidly at him. Pinning her down to the grass by putting his hands around her wrists and having her legs between his legs, he managed to stop her from escaping his grasp.
"What the fuck is with this necklace?!" he snapped.
"Only I can remove it," she said coolly. She reached out for the necklace chain and soon enough, the latch appeared. Before he could forcefully get her to remove it, she quickly put her hand back down to her side. Frustrated by this, he had a (brilliant) idea.
He smirked.
She gulped.
"Natsume, what's with the—" before Mikan could finish her sentence, she started laughing hysterically. Natsume managed to creep his hand under her uniform shirt and started tickling her stomach, watching as the brunette had tears in his eyes and was moving side to side uncontrollably. He smirked.
Click!
Hearing the click sound snapped Mikan out of her laughter as Natsume stopped tickling her. Looking down at her shirt noticing it was halfway up, she blushed crimson read before she stood up straight, pulling it down swiftly and glaring at her partner who had this Cheshire grin on his face.
"Never knew you had matching polka-dotted bra, flat board," he commented. Blushing uncontrollably, she quickly covered her chest with her arms glaring daggers at him who was looking at her amusingly.
"NOOOOOOOO! YOU PERVERTED BASTARD!" She aimed to hit him but he just dodged it gracefully. As she was about to give him another of her failed punches, the wind swayed by the two. Then she suddenly felt something cold around her neck as the wind died down. Looking down, she stared at the other piece of her necklace that she technically "bought".
"Nooooo!" she whined. "That was for Ruka!"
"Ruka?" Natsume raised one of his eyebrows. She nodded.
"I wanted to give you two a gift but you had to ruined it," she glared. "It would've matched on Ruka, not me. It's like a friendship necklace."
"Where in hell did you ever think that we are gay?" he growled. "Friendship crap are for girls!"
She stuck out her tongue at him again. "Are not!"
He rolled his eyes.
"Now remove this necklace from me!" she whined. He smirked.
"Never," he replied. "Now we're even,"
She pouted at him.
"Oh well," she sighed. "I guess it'll just show that we're partners, not couples,"
He smirked at the fact she was emphasizing the word "couples".
"Now what's wrong with us being couples?" he emphasized.
"Everything," she growled.
"Don't you ever mention a sentence involving me, you, and couple," he growled. Mikan tilted her head to the side in confusion. "It makes me itchy,"
Ironic enough, he was scratching the back of his neck. She laughed at him. He flicked her forehead which earned a scream from her. He smirked in triumph. Before Mikan could protest, she was suddenly pinned down to the grass once more. Opening her eyes, she was staring into crimson eyes which were staring deeply into her. She could feel the heat from her cheeks rising up as Natsume's breath tickled her face.
"Oh and you owe me a wish for bringing you here," he muttered. Mikan's mouth was hanged wide open.
"BU—!!!"
"Say it and I will never go with you to Central Town again,"
She kept her mouth shut. She started muttering on how she regretted ever being his "genie" in the Alice Festival. Natsume stood up and dusted out his pants and let out a sigh. He opened one of his eyes and glanced at Mikan who was staring at him on the grass. Rolling his eyes, he offered her his hand and she happily took it. She smiled at him and he stared at her back, both not noticing that they were still holding on to each other's hands.
"Well, well, well," a taunting voice interrupted the two. "Isn't this surprising to run into you, Sakura-san,"
Natsume averted his eyes towards the brunette who had looked shocked as he was and notice tears were forming in her eyes. She looked like she was in some kind of trance.
"I never thought I would've run into you again after what had happen in that village,"
A/N: I'm really tempted to change the title of the story from Beneath Happiness into Fragments of a Distant Memory but I don't know D:. You guys would probably stopped reading it xD. Let me know if you want me to change the title into that and I will make an announcement. Vote on the poll on my profile please!
I couldn't think of anything to wrap around the few bullet points I've made to progress the story forward so gomen ne. It seems another person came in search for Mikan...Tune in next time what will happen! (Btw, if you see some italic/bold words smushed together, please let me know. For some reason, the italic and bold words in everything I write is all smushed together. Maybe it's a bug? x.x)
Review!