"Has that always been there?" Natsume asked, pointing to a freckle on the back of Mikan's wrist. The girl turned her attention to him, and then to where he was pointing.

"Huh…I don't remember having that…" She mused, reaching to rub it away with her other hand. But Natsume stopped her.

"Wait, don't touch it. This could be serious."

"Serious?" Mikan's face blanched. "How serious?" She leaned forward and joined Natsume in inspecting the harmless dot, glancing anxiously between the man and her arm.

Natsume's red eyes scoured her skin, turning her arm this way and that until he sat up and faced the girl again, grim-faced and somber.

"How bad is it, Natsume?" Mikan asked, trying not to let her voice betray her worry. She prayed that the boy would be able to help her; after all, he was in med school. If anyone could tell her what was wrong, he could.

"It's serious. You've got an MUD."

"An em-yuu-dee?" Mikan repeated. "What's that?"

"It's a skin condition. Left untreated it can spread over the whole body."

"Oh god! Oh god oh god! What are we going to do? Can we get it off? Can we cure it? Will they have to cut my arm off? Natsume!" Her hands flew to the front of his shirt and grabbed fistfuls of it. She pulled his face down to her level. "Natsume, am I going to die?"

Natsume chuckled to himself—Mikan missed it, thankfully—and pried her small hands from his clothing. "Lucky for you, I know just what to do. If we act fast, it can be cured with no lasting effects."

A look of relief crossed the girl's face. "Anything!" she promised. "I'll do anything!"

"Well, the cure for this particular disease," he said rubbing his chin as if in thought, "is a kiss." He looked back to Mikan, certain that she'd caught on to his jest by now. And he was only somewhat surprised to see that her face still showed worry and unquestioned trust. It was in his favor that she was so gullible.

"I have to find someone to kiss then!" She grabbed her hair and darted across the room before realizing that she was in the special-star wing of the dorms. There were few residents, and it might be a while before she came across another. She darted back. "You then!"

"Me?" Natsume pointed to himself in feigned innocence. On the inside, however, he couldn't be happier that his plan had gone smoothly.

"Yes! Kiss me Natsume, quickly!" And without waiting for a response she stood on tiptoe and pressed her lips to his…and she was amazed to find how soft and agreeable they were.

But before she let her mind wander, she pulled away.

"How was that? Was that enough? Am I cured?"

Natsume grabbed her wrists in his large hands and brought them both to her face. With one thumb, he smeared brown dot she'd been so fretful about.

It was made of marker, she realized, a bit too late, and her face flushed with embarrassment.

But Natsume grinned like a wolf and leaned a little closer, still keeping her hands captive in his own. "No, I think you need a little more."

She took her "medicine" without complaint, and he smiled.

A little sugar really did wonders.