DISCLAIMER: Disclaimed.

CHAPTER NINE

"Where will I sleep?" She repeated her words when he didn't reply back.

He let go the frozen pizza on top of the kitchen island and faced her, "On that room," he pointed deliberately, again, the room on the right, "unless you prefer the couch."

She panicked, eyes widened, "We're not going to sleep together!"

He smirked, arms crossing on his chest, "That's what husbands and wives do, sleep together," he said matter-of-factly.

"I-I... we-we..." She couldn't finish off whatever she wanted to say. Rather, she ran toward the said room but her attempts were futile. She slipped from stepping her gown, her butt roughly made contact on the cold floor. On the other hand, Natsume was amused. His eyes glinting on his own mischief but offered his hands to Mikan, in which she accepted suspiciously.

"First," Natsume started, "change your fucking clothes then let's talk afterward."

She scurried on her way to the bathroom, holding firmly on her murderous gown.

"Come on," Mikan monologued, "oh god, why won't you come out?"

She was currently struggling to remove her wedding gown. The zipper was stuck and her arms were not long enough to reach out for it.

She had spent an entire five minutes trying to figure out how to solve her dilemma but she was unsuccessful.

Defeated, she slightly opened the bathroom door, peeking, "Na-Natsume."

No answer.

She cleared her throat and attempted to call out a bit louder than before, "Natsume?"

The man's head popped out from the kitchen, his body half hidden. "What?"

"Can you-" she was embarrassed, "Can you please unzip my gown?" her words were almost inaudible.

He complied, coming in front of her, commanding her to turn around.

"There."

Then he went back to his previous post.

"Thank you." She said, shutting the door closed.

"Polka." Natsume called out behind the door. Mikan had been inside the bathroom almost thirty-minutes now and the heated pizza was getting cold again.

"Polka, are you still alive there?"

He heard a moaning sound from inside.

"Oi."

"I-I'm okay!" She answered back hastily.

"The pizza's getting cold again. Eat it already."

"O-okay!"

"If in five minutes you're still there, I'll enter." He demanded.

He heard another moan and groan.

He tapped the door not too lightly, "Seriously, what's happening there? Are you doing something perverted?"

"What? No!" He chuckled off her defensive answer.

"Then what the hell is taking you so long?"

"Uhm... I-I think I sprained my ankle so I can't stand up but I'll manage!" her words jumbled in a hurry.

"What? What are you? A walking disaster?" He mocked, standing firmly in front of the door, "I'll enter now."

"No!"

"Why?"

"I-I'm n-naked." He could imagine her getting all red from embarrassment.

"Then the more reason for me to enter."

"No!" Her protest was fiercer.

"I'm entering," he teased her. His hands on the knob.

"No! Please no!"

Mikan heard something clicked. Nervous that it was the door, and since it was, she took action immediately. Although having a hard time moving due to the sprain, she kicked hard the door when it opened so slightly and it hit something, rather, someone from behind.

"What the fuck?" She heard Natsume cursed from the outside. He was groaning from the impact of the door slamming onto his face.

"D-don't enter! I'm going to kill you!" She managed to rise up to her feet but was still in a panic. She forgot to get some house clothes. Hopping, she opened the drawer under the lavatory and found a clean towel to cover her naked figure.

She inhaled, her right foot hurting. She accidentally slipped again, "I'm going outside now." She announced. When no one answered, she slowly opened the door and tiptoed.

She sighed in relief when Natsume was not in the living room where she needed to cross on her way to the only bedroom of the pad. When she successfully reached her destination, she hurriedly closed the door and do her rituals.

Natsume heard the door from the bathroom opened and saw Mikan from the kitchen. She didn't notice him and made her way to the bedroom. He was currently aiding his poor head from the 'accident' he received a while ago. He unfortunately gained a small lump from the hit he obtained and was treating it with the ice pack.

He inwardly chuckled. He never thought Mikan would really take into heart his teasing. He had no plan to enter the bathroom. He just wanted to tease her but was hurt in the end.

He plopped himself into the black leather couch, tapping his fingers when the bedroom door opened. He crossed his arms and scooted a little making a room for Mikan. She took the offer carefully. Still suspicious of Natsume.

"Oi. I won't molest you. Stop acting like some virgin."

She threw him a death glare.

"Okay," Natsume began, "This is a bachelor's pad and a bachelor's pad is for single men. So, it is only proper that I only have one room."

Mikan absorbed his explanation before commenting, "Then where do your women sleep?"

Dumbfounded, Natsume's mouth was slightly opened, "Women?"

"Yeah. Women." She repeated, dignified.

Natsume smirked, "Ah. Of course, we sleep together. That's what men and women do when they stayed in a bachelor's pad with only one room."

"You didn't even deny. Gross."

"What, jealous?"

Her lips twitched, "Eew. I'm not. Why would I? Who do you think you are?"

"Woah. Easy. You don't need to be so defensive."

"I'm not."

He hummed amusingly.

Mikan ignored his irritating humming, "So I'll sleep in the room. You on the couch."

Natsume leaned forward, "Oi. That's unfair."

"That's only fair. You've sleep enough in your bed and it's about time you let me sleep there."

He smirked, impressed by her witty retort, "You can be smart sometimes, Polka."

She replied with a shrug.

He nodded a couple of times, his hand on his chin, "Let's play rock-paper-scissors. Whoever wins get the bed."

"...Sure. Let's do that."

"That bastard surely play well. Who the hell wins five times in a row?"

Mikan got all worked up and annoyed by the fact that Natsume got the best out of her. He didn't even give her a chance to win.

"Here. A blanket. You might catch a cold."

She suppressed her raging emotion not to attack him. She grabbed the blanket and ignored him entirely.

"Ugh. It sure nice to sleep in a comfortable bed after a long day." He said, stretching his entire body.

"You sure don't want to share the bed?" He teased smugly.

"Never!"

A pillow came his way but he laughed heartily. He never had fun like this before.

"Th-thirsty." Mikan said in between yawns.

Huh? Where am-

Gasp.

"Ah, right. I'm already married." She checked her phone to see what time it was already.

4:32AM.

"So cold."

She moved out of the couch and passed her way to the kitchen.

"Water," she felt happy having her thirst quench.

"Oh. His fridge has nothing besides water and beer."

She welcomed herself to pick a pack of chocolate she saw inside.

"WAAAAAAAH!"

"Fuck. You're so loud in the morning." Natsume said aiding his ears.

"Wh-when did you get here?" Mikan was still trembling from getting startled. Natsume's sudden appearance gave her quite a shock.

"I've been here since you drink my water."

He pushed her aside and snatched the chocolate from her hand.

"Don't eat my food. Buy yours."

She gaped, "What?"

She was ignored and her husband walked pass her while munching the chocolate enthusiastically.

Mikan tried to get any food from the fridge but Natsume slammed the door.

"Stop stealing. Stealing is bad."

"I'm not stealing. I'm your wife now so basically your food's mine."

"If you get any food from my fridge, I'll kiss you."

Her sinful hand froze mid-air.

"I-I'm hungry."

"Then pay me."

This was ridiculous, she thought.

"Just a chocolate bar is enough. There's nothing to eat here except those."

"That's why."

"That's why what?" her irritation was surfacing.

He posed his infamous smirk, "Pay me because these are my precious chocolates."

"I can't believe this!" She surrendered and left the scene defeatedly.

Her breathing exercise to calm her nerves was no longer effective. Hyuuga Natsume at five in the morning was her worst nightmare.

"God! I'm so pissed!"

Mikan could no longer return from her sleep. Her anger woke her up and her stomach kept on growling.

"Huh? What is that smell?"

She instinctively followed where it was coming from and the scent ended in the kitchen. There, standing so marvelously was Hyuuga Natsume holding a frying pan and cooking something that smells delicious.

I want whatever he is cooking.

The poor thing Mikan was desperately suppressing her inner desire to grab whatever food Natsume was cooking.

Huh? Who looks so damn good in an apron?

Wha-? Who do I think I'm praising.

She was busy battling her inner self when an omurice landed in front of her. She blinked.

"Oh. My omurice looks amazing." Natsume proudly announced.

Mikan pouted.

"I cooked too much. Maybe I can give it to someone."

Mikan's face brightened.

"...or not."

"Hey Natsume. Give me some."

He was shamelessly ignoring him.

"Natsume."

"What?" He was now sitting and eating his food.

"Give me some. You cooked so much."

"I'll eat all of these."

"You glutton. Just three spoonful. I'm super duper hungry."

"Cook yours."

"But your not giving me any food."

"Then buy yours."

"It's 5:15 in the morning. Where the hell I'm going to buy food?"

"Convenience store."

"I'm new here. I don't know where it is."

"Then search it up."

Mikan was getting annoyed, "You're smart, really."

"Ah yeah. I'm fully aware."

She gritted her teeth, "Fine! Eat everything. You selfish glutton! I hope you choke on your food!"

She said slamming the table.

"That jerk. He is so childish. That is so unexpected of him." Mikan mumbled to herself. She was apparently walking by herself to the convenience store to buy food, "God, that was so annoying! And I'm going to put up with that attitude for the rest of my life?"

She was pitying herself.

"Oh. I want some onigiri." She checked the rack where most convenience store food were located. She was happily leaping on her feet taking her onigri and banana milk in the counter humming to herself. She had forgotten whatever rage she had earlier.

"That's 200 yen, ma'am."

"Thank you."

"Mikan?"

She automatically geared her head towards the person who called her. Her eyes widened, "Ruka-pyon!"

"Wow. What are you doing here?"

Her face turned sour all of a sudden, "I'm buying breakfast."

"Huh?" Ruka frowned.

She sighed, "Natsume doesn't want to share his food with me. All he has is chocolates and eggs and he doesn't want to share those. How petty!"

"Huh?"

"Hahaha! I'm making no sense, right? Anyway, why are you here? Do you live here?"

He scratched the back of his head, "Ah yeah. I live few blocks away. You know that pet shop there," he pointed the direction with his index finger, "I live there. On the second floor."

"Waaaah. That's amazing!"

"Haha. Yeah. I think so too. I'm also here to buy some food. I moved last week and I'm not yet doing some grocery shopping so I'm planning to do it today."

Her face shone, "Really? I'm planning to go to! Let's go together!"

He halted, "...What about your husband?"

"Huh? What about him? I don't care! He doesn't want to share his food so I'm going to buy mine."

"Uhm," Ruka felt awkward, "I think you should ask him to go with you since you know..."

Mikan was puzzled, "Huh? He won't come. That jerk!"

"But Mikan, I think it's inappropriate. You're now married."

She was shocked, "Ah... sorry Ruka-pyon if I make you uncomfortable. Yeah... I think you got a point. I didn't think this through."

"No, it's okay. You should ask him instead of me."

"I better go by myself than ask that jerk." She mumbled.

"What? Did you say anything?"

"Ah no. Well, I'm off! See you around."

Mikan went her way and Ruka followed her figure.

"What the hell are you doing, Nogi?"

He sighed and reprimanded himself.

"Gosh. I'm so tired. I better wash up."

Mikan surely took her time and enjoyed herself shopping. She went at seven and got back at nine. It was a good thing that the grocery store was ten minutes away via bus. She bought an amount of food good for a week.

"Well, I should tighten my allowance from now own." She almost teared up when her allowance almost got zero.

"Maybe I should start making bento to save up." She was making list on her mind and doing monologue when Natsume got out of the toilet with nothing but a towel around his waist.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" She shouted and accused him.

"...What did I do, idiot?"

"Why are you going out naked?"

He blinked, irritated, "What the hell? This is my house. I can do whatever I want."

"Well, you're no longer alone in this house!"

He looked at her, finding the situation ridiculous, "What's the big deal? I'm not totally naked and it's not as if you haven't seen someone naked before. This idiot making big deal out of everything."

"I haven't!" She flipped out. Totally lost it.

He blinked again, "...You haven't?"

"Yeah. I haven't! What do you think of me?"

"Okay."

"What? Okay? Are you making fun of me."

He smirked, "That was totally unexpected."

She was angry, she knew he was accusing her of something, "What is?"

He shrugged.

She walked past him and ignored his existence completely. She rummaged through her suitcase and picked up some clothes then slammed the door of the bathroom. She was angry and insulted but kept everything on her own.

"He's too much." She said while shaking in anger.

Mikan cooled down after a refreshing bath. It was a good thing that Natsume was not present so she had her peace. She arranged her grocery items on one of the kitchen cabinets and cooked a meal. She plopped on the couch and merrily watched the television not caring about anything.

SLAM.

She jumped out when she was startled by the slamming of the door. Her peace was again disturbed. Natsume just came home from somewhere and sat comfortably in the couch.

"What the hell are you watching? Give me the remote."

"Hey! That's rude. I'm watching first!"

He paid no attention to Mikan and changed the channel when his hand got a hold of the remote control.

"Hey! I'm watching!" She whined.

"Stop watching some idiotic dramas. That's why you're an idiot."

She bit her lips, "You know, it's rude to just do whatever you want."

"What are you saying? That's my television. I can watch whatever I want."

"But I'm watching first!"

He still ignored her.

"Natsume! Give me back the remote!" Mikan tried to snatch back the control but he was way too fast.

"Hey! You jerk!"

"Stop being nosy and just buy your own telly."

She fell silent.

Natsume glanced from the corner of his eyes and observed Mikan. She was just seating her silently. The air made him uncomfortable all of a sudden.

"Oi. Why are you being silent all of a sudden?"

She didn't answer back. She just sat there silently.

Natsume felt guilty but didn't show it. He pretended not to care.

Mikan stood up from her seat without a word and left. Making Natsume guiltier that he was.

I was just teasing her. I think I went too far.

"What's with him? He's so childish." She was walking aimlessly around the area.

"Ugh. It's so chilly. I forgot to bring my jacket. I was too annoyed that I forgot." She was caressing her arms when a dog licked her feet.

"Waaaah. Hi sweetie!"

"Charpe-"

"Ruka-pyon!"

"...Mikan? What are you doing here?"

She cleared her throat, "Well, I'm walking aimlessly. Haha." She let an awkward laugh.

Ruka studied her, "Did you and Natsume fight?"

She didn't answer.

"...I'm taking a walk with Charper. He is a dog by one of my clients."

Mikan appreciated Ruka's way of shifting their awkward conversation.

"Really? He seems nice." She caressed his fur.

"He's nice."

They both went silent.

"...You wanna walk with us? We're going to a nearby park."

"Oh, sure!"

"What time is it? The idiot's already out for two hours and it's cold too." Natsume's conscience was eating him. "She's really is something."

"...I should take a walk." He said to himself and grabbed a jacket.

"He's too cute for his size!"

"Yeah. Charper's gentle." Ruka affectionately rubbed the dog's fur.

"...How's living with Natsume?"

"..."

"You don't have to answer if you're not comfortable, Mikan."

"Well, we're only living for a day but I feel so exhausted already."

"...Natsume's kind. He's having a hard time expressing himself but he's a good guy."

They were both seating on a concrete bench below a tree.

"...I'm not sure."

Ruka tapped her shoulder, "Give him a chance, Mikan."

She blew some air, "Hmm. It's been only a day. We've got more days and weeks and even years to spend. Sure, I'll give him a chance."

They both didn't say a word afterward. A breeze passed by.

"Oh. You don't have a coat or a jacket with you. Here, borrow mine."

Mikan was shied, "Ru-Ruka-pyon! N-no need! I'm okay."

He still removed his jacket and let her wear it.

"...I'm going to return this to you. Thank you."

He smiled warmly at her. Charper barked and the wind breeze continuously passed by.

Mikan and Ruka parted ways and exchange good byes.

"See you when I see you."

"Me too. Thanks, Ruka-pyon. Bye, Charper."

Mikan was no longer cold. Thanks to the jacket that was lent to him by Ruka.

"Oi. Polka."

She and Natsume both crossed path.

"What are you doing here?"

"...I'm taking a walk." He answered calculatingly.

"Okay." She then went on her way.

"Wait."

She stopped on her tracks.

"Hmm?"

"Whose jacket is that?"

Her eyebrows furrowed, "Oh yeah!" Her face brightened, "It's Ruka-pyon's. We saw each other earlier. Surprisingly he lives nearby."

"...Ruka?"

"Yeah. His clinic is there." She pointed out the direction where Ruka went by.

"What did you do?"

"We walked near the park. He was walking his dog. To be exact his client's dog."

"...I see."

Mikan looked at him, "Well. I'm going home."

"I'm going home too."

"...I thought you're taking a walk."

"...Yeah."

"..."

"Then let's head back together." Mikan suggested.

"Hn."

They were both awkwardly silent. Mikan set aside their dispute earlier while Natsume was feeling guilty.

"Why do you have an extra jacket by the way? Are you that cold?" Mikan finally noticed the jacket he was carrying.

He didn't answer. They were both not talking afterward.

"...You know, Ruka-pyon said to me that I should give you a chance." Mikan broke the silence between them. Natsume was taken aback.

She sighed, "He told me that you're a good person and I want to believe that since it's Ruka-pyon who said it. So, let's live harmoniously."

"I'll live my life however I want." His reply was firm and solid.

"Wha-"

"You can't tell me how to live my life. Who do you think you are telling me all that? We just got married because of some business transaction. Don't get the wrong idea here, Polka." He then left her flustered and confused.

A/N: And I updated after a looooooong time. I'm sorry. I was caught up with my life. Anyhow, thank you for those who continuously followed this story. I don't know if this chapter is satisfying enough but I thought well of this haha.

Don't forget to leave me a review. Thank youuuu~~