Chapter 1: Persona's Malice
Natsume P.O.V.
I couldn't bear to see her being used like this. Mikan Sakura: klutz, a baka, Polka dots and the one person that could make me smile. The one girl I fell for. Sometimes, it makes me surprised. Three years since she first came and from those three years, I have changed.
My once cold and aloof nature that was only reflected in my crimson eyes was now warmer, friendlier and, there was no other way to describe it, loving. I fell for the girl that few people (mainly those annoying fan girls) had distaste for. Who saw it coming?
Certainly not her although she was the cause for all this change. No one could deny she was kind, caring and heart-warming but she was the densest person anyone could ever hope to meet.
But what Persona wanted her to do for him was beyond what I wanted for her. "My dear, Mikan, you understand why I ask Natsume here, don't you?" he asked, his voice filled with gloating malevolence. She nodded, her eyes registering fear and defiance.
"You always call on him for missions he doesn't want," she answered. Her elbow-length hair wavered slightly.
"Do you know why he always does these dangerous missions?" Persona pushed on. Mikan, don't answer, I begged mentally. "Tell me, Sakura. Do you understand why he does all these things?"
"So that neither me nor the others will be involved in those missions to make up for what Natsume can fulfil," she answered. Her voice was forced; I could feel it and it was tearing my heart apart.
"Exactly," Persona said. His smirk grew wider. "And Mikan, after all these years, what have you been doing with Serina, Noda, Narumi, Jinno, Misaki and myself?"
"Training."
"Exactly. And why?"
"Wait! I didn't know anything about this training!" I yelled. I moved to separate those two but Mikan grabbed my arm. She was muscular and strong. She pushed me back.
"Stay out of this," she said quietly.
"Yes, Natsume, stay out of this," mimicked Persona. His smirk was now a grin of malice. He turned to Mikan. "And are you going to use your training to do the same thing?"
Natsume was stricken. Please, he begged mentally, don't do it.
"Yes," she said almost silently, her auburn bangs covering her swirling brown orbs that were beginning to fill with tears, "I'm doing it."
