I told you I wrote the sequel like ten times, didn't I? Well there had to be some deleted scenes...

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DISCLAIMER: these are all DELETED SCENES, not part of the story! and there is no particular order to these scenes.

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It had to be fate. Or some weird voodoo coming after them to make them come across each other the same day.

Or maybe it was Ruka.

He peered around the corner where Natsume's apartment door stood. He was holding his phone in his ear, and listened as Koko spoke conspicuously, "Batman's heading to the cave, I repeat, batman's heading to the cave."

"Roger that," Ruka confirmed as he looked around.

"Ruka?" Natsume's voice came from behind him, causing him to jump in shock and fright.

"N-natsume! Hey! I was just looking for you!" Ruka laughed nervously, his voice strangely high and his phone in his hand, forgotten.

Natsume stared at his best friend for a long three seconds, then walked past him, "You're in the wrong hallway."

"Oh, pfft," Ruka waved at the air, "You know me, I always get lost here."

Natsume sent him a sideways glance, then turned to look at the door as he opened it with his keys.

When they entered his apartment, Natsume nodded at Ruka's phone, "I didn't mean to interrupt your conversation"

Ruka looked at the phone in his hand as if seeing it for the first time, "Oh, yeah, psh, we were just wrapping up," he turned away, muttering quietly in the phone, "Abort, you hear me? Mission abort."

He hung up quickly, turning around to smile at a suspicious Natsume.

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When Natsume walked in the diner at the usual time heading towards the usual table where he and Ruka always ate lunch together, he was not at all happy to find Mikan there.

He sat down just as she looked up in surprise, then confusion. He ignored her genuine body language, staring at her suspiciously, "Why are you stalking me?"

"That's the second time you asked me this today," Mikan glared back, "and I'm not stalking you."

When Natsume stared at her skeptically, Mikan continued, "Ruka was gonna meet me here, so if you'll excuse me," MIkan moved to get up, "I think I got the wrong table."

"No, sit," Natsume stated, then gestured for her to sit down, "Ruka told me he was going to meet me here."

Mikan sniffed at how Natsume ordered her to sit, but did so anyway, grumbling, "I'm not a dog."

Natsume ignored her, calling Ruka on speed dial.

Ruka, meanwhile, was sitting in the police station, next to Koko, grimacing when the phone call came. He threw it at the fellow officer, "Here it comes, Koko, you pick it up."

Koko threw it back, "No, you pick it up,"

"No, you,"

"No-"

"Oh, I'll do it." Mochu snatched the phone in mid-air, rolling his eyes at the antics of his comrades, "Hi, Natsume."

"Mochu, tell Ruka to get his pussy shut together and tell me why I'm sitting here with a girl."

Mochu's eyes widened, throwing the phone at Ruka, mouthing, "You set him up with a girl? Are you crazy?"

Ruka threw the phone at Koko, mouthing, "He's so pissed!"

Koko threw it back, mouthing back, "What did you expect him to be? Jolly?!"

Natsume, seemingly heard the struggle over the phone, yelled, "Someone pick up the damn phone!"

"Look, Natsume," came Ruka's voice, "Before you say anything, okay, you guys had a disagreement the last time you two ate together so I thought I'd, you know, let you fix the problem, so there's no loose ends or anything. I'm only looking out for you."

"That was yesterday," Natsume replied with gritted teeth, "And I did fix the problem, we were fine."

There was a shuffle, then Koko's voice came through, "I had nothing to do with this, Natsume, I swear!"

"That's a lie," Ruka's voice came back, "it was all his idea, I was just the sidekick."

"Okay, so maybe it is," Koko's voice came through again, "But Ruka did most of the work!"

"You're both dead." Natsume growled.

Mikan sat across from him with crossed arms, muttering, "So mean. Why do you even have friends?"

"He deserves it for setting me up with you." Natsume muttered back, sending her a look.

Mikan considered it for a moment, then leaned forward to yell into the receiver, "Ruka, of all the men in the world, why him?!"

Natsume sent her a look, "You're not so charming yourself."

"I can be charming when I want to be." Mikan replied snootily, "You, on the other hand," she tsked, "there's no hope."

"Really," Natsume replied, feeling as if challenged, "By the end of this date -"

Mikan narrowed her eyes, "My feelings are not gonna change."

At the same time, Natsume spoke. "You're going to be in love with me."

There was a pause before Natsume stated, "Wanna bet?"

"you. will. lose." Mikan crossed her arms.

Natsume turned back to the phone, "Guess we'll stay with the date, Ruka." Then he hung up, turning back to Mikan with a smirk, "Let's start at the beginning."

Ruka looked at his phone, seeing that Natsume had hung up on him, then looked at Mochu and Koko in bewilderment. "I think that worked out pretty well."

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When Natsume Hyuuga turned on his charm, he really turned on his charm.

"If it didn't work the first time, Natsume," Mikan smiled charmingly, "It's not gonna work the second time."

"Who says I don't want to just go on another date with you?"

Mikan smiled at him, patting him on the chest, "My answer's no."

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The next day, when Ruka turned around in his chair, and Koko and Mochu gathered around his desk. He glared at them.

Koko immediately read his look, "She rejected you?!"

"I knew she was perfect for this job." Ruka gloated.

Natsume glared at him, "You hired her to ground my ego?" He stood up, giving him an angry look, "are you my best friend or not?"

When he stormed off, and Mochu and Koko turned to stare at Ruka, he said, "I am."

"You hired an actress?"

Ruka rolled his eyes, "She's not an actress, and I didn't hire her. I set them up. That's all."

"So she really did reject him because she didn't like him," Koko replied.

"Any actress would've fallen for him in one date even if she was paid not to anyway," Mochu added, patting Ruka's back, "I never doubted for a second, man."

Koko nodded along with Mochu, "Yeah, I didn't think you'd go that low. Good pick on the girl though. I gotta meet her."

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Natsume looked up her address from his phone. Of course she lived in a rich area.

When she opened the door, he didn't let her voice her surprise before he accused, "I lost the bet because you were paid to win."

"Excuse me?"

"You just can't believe you lost, can you?" Mikan replied bitterly, "You're a real asshole. That's why I didn't like you. Maybe I'm not like most girls, but I don't care how charming or hot you make yourself to be. If you were actually listening when I introduced myself, I'm a reporter. I've met a lot of charming assholes, and I didn't like any of it. I don't like you, get over it."

Natsume was silent for a moment, then he opened his mouth. Then he closed it. He opened it again, mumbling, "That was a misunderstanding."

"No shit, Sherlock." Mikan crossed her arms, unimpressed.

Natsume turned to leave,"Yeah, let's just both move on -"

"I'm still waiting for your apology."

Natsume paused, "and I'm still waiting for flying cars, but sometimes not everybody gets what they want." He turned to look at her, just to see the door slam in his face.

He heard her scream "asshole" from behind the door. He didn't know why he was so amused.

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"Are you trying to seduce me?"

Mikan stared at him, "No?"

Mochu whispered to Natsume, "You're lucky she's stupid."

"I know."

"Excuse me?"

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"I have to go to work," Mikan told him, gathering her stuff. "can we talk about this later?"

"no, you can be late to work." Natsume was adamant, "I'm a cop."

"oh, that's a good excuse," Mikan retorted sarcastically, "so I'll just be like, 'you can't fire me cause I was talking to a cop.'"

Natsume looked down, but looked back at her. He didn't reply.

Mikan stops rushing around for a second to face him. Gently, quietly, she asked, "what do you want?"

"Who are you?" he blurted, because he didn't know what it was about her that made her different from the rest of his friends, "Why are you asking Ruka about me? Why...what's your motive?"

Mikan blinks slowly, looking away for a moment. But when she turned to face him, the look she gave him almost shamed him."Are we...friends? Or...am I just another investigation?" She searched his face, "Natsume?"

Of course Natsume had no answer to that. He couldn't even figure out what she is to him right now.

She exhaled loudly in frustration and disbelief, and showed it by throwing her hands up. She stalked to him, "There's a word that people in a relationship like to use," she paused for effect, and seeing his non responsive attitude, continued, "it's called trust."

She walked past him to the door. "help yourself out." She yelled behind her. She paused for second by the doorway.

Natsume lifted a hand half-heartedly, but no sound came out.

She sighed, refusing to look at him as she closed the door with finality.

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"alright if you two are going to keep bumping into each other might as well get to know each other." Ruka suggested.

Natsume and Mikan glanced at each other. At the same time, they turned back to Ruka and spoke, "no."/ "nope."

Ruka scowled, then turned to Koko, "well, I tried. It's your turn."

Koko clapped his hands together, rubbing them with an evil grin on his face, "How about we lock you two in an elevator! That seems to work for 89% of the fanfiction stories out there!"

With horror, the pair exclaimed, "NO!"

"I'm never taking an elevator with you in it, ever." Mikan told Natsume with wide eyes.

"What is an elevator? All I know is stairs." Natsume replied, his way of saying he'll never take an elevator, period.

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"When are you gonna stop fighting me?" Natsume scowled, though lightly. It really amazed him how stubborn she can be.

"When you stop making me fall for you," Mikan replied quickly, walking off to hide the blush on her cheeks.

Never, Natsume smirked as he trailed after her.

Mikan frowned at his lack of a response, turning to look at him – only to be met with a sweet kiss.

When they parted, Natsume flashed her a quick devilish smile that nearly melted her, then he spoke quietly, "better it be me than somebody else."

Mikan wrinkled her nose at him, "You are so full of yourself." But couldn't help the smile on her face as she turned away.

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Everyone in the station could tell when Natsume is in a horrible mood – which was usual, except for the mean and brooding cloud that hung around him, that made this worse than usual.

"It's a girl." Koko stated nonchalantly as he sat on the desk next to Ruka.

Ruka paused, and then turned back to work, "Natsume does not have girl problems."

"Fine, you go to talk to him, and when you come back and you can tell me I'm right."

"I told him I was done with him, if you're so curious, you go."

Koko clapped his hands together theatrically, "Aw, Ruka and Natsume broke up? Is that why he's in a bad mood?"

"No." Ruka glared at him.

"Alright, fine, if he comes after me, I'm coming after you."

Ruka sighed, "this is not my problem."

"So," Koko dragged the word out as he approached Natsume. Natsume didn't bother glancing at him or acknowledging his presence at all. Koko continued, "Got into a fight with the girlfriend?"

Natsume paused to glare at him, but didn't bother to reply.

Normally, anyone would be disheartened. But it was Koko, and he was counting on him not responding, actually.

"Sometimes, being in love means swallowing your pride." Koko commented in passing. Natsume looked up, only to stare at Koko's retreating back. Natsume turned back to his work, but failed to focus.

Koko bounced back to Ruka, grinned from ear to ear, "I was right, and you, my friend, has just been de-ranked from best friend status."

Ruka rolled his eyes, "that's fine, you deal with all his angst drama."

"I do not have angst drama." A new voice entered the conversation.

The two turned to see Natsume pass by, and watched where he was headed to see Hotaru stand stiffly at the front of the station.

"You wish you don't," Ruka muttered as he stood up to follow his partner. Natsume turned to give him a look. Ruka corrected cheekily, "I wish you don't."

Koko trailed after them in curiosity.

When the three were close enough, Hotaru stated curtly, "Persona is out, I want police protection."

Natsume frowned, but Hotaru continued, "I'm not moving anywhere, only some surveillance, and one policeman. Someone on the case, and someone you trust."

Natsume paused, thinking, and then turned to look at Ruka.

Koko hid a snigger behind his hand when Ruka's eyes widened to the size of baseballs. Ruka smiled politely at Hotaru, pulling Natsume aside. Koko followed.

"I think you forget that I'm your partner and I am on this case." Ruka growled at Natsume.

"I didn't forget." Natsume replied innocently.

"Har har." Ruka scowled, "I may not look like it but I have my own shit to deal with."

"No you don't," Natsume countered, "I'm pretty sure you said, 'the only shit I have to deal with is yours and I'm done with that.'"

Ruka inwardly slapped himself, "I did not say that," but was not convincing for Natsume gave him a look, "okay, I did, but you twisted my words!"

Natsume shrugged, "You don't have to deal with my angst drama if you go."

Ruka scowled, "I'd rather deal with that than babysit."

"It's not babysitting, it's blackmail."

The three men turned in surprise to see Hotaru smirking behind them. Natsume's face remained blank, Ruka shut his mouth tightly, and Koko grinned.

Koko was the first to speak, "blackmail?"

"Yes," Hotaru replied calmly, "I need someone on the case and that Hyuuga trusts so I can pass off information." Then she smiled, sending shivers down Ruka's spine, and Koko gulped. "I know you can't do without my information, hm?"

"Hm, that is blackmail," Natsume turned to Ruka, "Good luck." He patted his back as he went back to work.

Koko laughed loudly, patting Ruka's back in turn, "good luck," he winked.

Hotaru only smirked as Ruka muttered, "why me?" to no one in particular.

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"I believe 'slave' was not in your job description." Ruka muttered.

"What?" Hotaru turned to him.

Ruka only stared back at her innocently, "what?"

"Whiny, aren't you?"

Ruka's face changed dramatically, "I am not whiny!"

And Ruka being Ruka nearly made Hotaru laugh. But Hotaru Imai does not laugh, so she smiled chillingly, "we'll see about that."

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Natsume looked at Koko and Ruka suspiciously as they approached, "Why are you double-teaming me?"

"We're not-what?" Ruka looked at waved his hands in the air, looking around guiltily.

Koko kept a constant grin on his face. Steadily, he blurted, "because you need to profess your love."

Natsume stared them down evenly.

Ruka glared at Koko, muttering, "That is not how we planned it. I said slow and steady."

Koko only stared back at Natsume with his wide grin, muttering back, "This IS slow and steady."

Natsume only took a deep breath then went back to his work, turning to face his desk.

His two friends moved in front of the desk to face him again.

"Look, come on man," Ruka pleaded with him, "you've been - you two - I mean - this is like - she's - you two -"

"It's only been a year." Natsume replied evenly, not looking up, "that we've been," Natsume shrugged, letting the sentence trail, not willing to admit it.

"AN ITEM?!" Koko replied, "YEAH, EXACTLY. That is HUGE."

Natsume finally looked up, "What are you trying to say?"

"I mean," Koko waved his palms out, "not that you don't have game or anything uh, I mean-" Koko paused suddenly, "what do you even call yourselves, anyway?"

Natsume's look changed just slightly.

"NO LABEL?!" Koko gasped as if personally offended, "What! How can you do this to a girl? You know how girls think!"

"No," Natsume replied monotonously, "Actually, I don't."

"But - you - Of course you don't! Then you -"

"You are in love with her." Ruka interrupted impatiently.

Koko gave his "partner" a look, muttering, "wow. easy there tiger."

Natsume only stared at them, then looked at Koko, "Are you going to propose to Sumire?"

Koko sputtered, "I-we-just-FIRST DATE!" He huffed, "We haven't even, you know, first base or anything..."

There was an awkward silence as the three stared at each other.

Ruka rolled his eyes, "Okay, so you're trying to prove a point, whatever. It's a totally different situation."

"That defeats the purpose of proving a point."

Ruka and Koko looked at each other and sighed. They turned sulkily in their defeat.

But Koko couldn't help adding a last word, "If you're not going to tell her, and you won't put a label on the relationship, you're gonna end up like 500 Days of Summer."

When Natsume gave him a blank look.

Koko turned around, "Seriously?"

"Do I look like I watch chick flicks?"

Koko opened his mouth to say something, then changed his tactic, "point is, it's not gonna end up well. At all." Koko gave a few hand gestures to theatrify the scene, "the 'what are we?' 'are we just a fling?' 'are you serious about me?' 'am i just a call girl?' 'how do you really feel about me?' 'do you really like bananas or were you lying?' 'are you really who I think you are?'-"

"I get it. And I don't like bananas." Natsume stopped him, but Koko knew in his eyes that he heard him. Like, really listened to him. Satisfied, Koko left with theatrical bow.