OK, This isn't quite the promised omake for my previous GA fic, but that will come (ideas are moulding in my head and exams just finished). However, this is another GA fic and I do hope you enjoy it :)
I got the inspiration on halloween from the one word, 'candy'.
RE-EDIT (Jan 28, 2011): I stupidly forgot to put a disclaimer here so um. Disclaimer: I don't own Gakuen Alice or any of the original characters. Although, you all probably figured that out by now. But I own the plot, Yuri, Haruo, Makhiko and the bunch of little kids you see later on...
Chapter 1: A Ghost
Four years ago, a new transfer student came to Gakuen Alice. With silky auburn hair, that was always tied into pig tails and large hazel eyes that could speak her emotions for her, Mikan Sakura found trouble wherever she went.
Upon arrival, the eleven-year old caused quite the stir not only in her class but a good portion of the entire academy. The bubbly enthusiast was too likeable for her own good and hardly a year had passed and she had made quite an eventful life for herself at the wondrous academy.
She had made plenty of friends, whom more often than not, started out as enemies (bear, Permy, Natsume... you get the picture). Unknown to her, she had a knack for impacting the lives of anyone she met, in the most positive manner. Thus, the number of her friends grew larger and larger with each passing moment and the girl would never fail to acknowledge each and everyone of them as she saw fit.
However, there would always be that one person whom she had an extra large spot for in her heart. The quiet and seemingly cold, young genius... Hotaru Imai, her best friend. In fact, Mikan had her to thank for being at the school in the first place.
Most of the time, her adventures consistently involved a select few people. Almost always: Hotaru Imai, Ruka Nogi and Natsume Hyuuga. Upon occasion: Kokoro Yome, Sumire, Tsubasa Andou. From one in particular, Hyuuga Natsume, she had unconsciously stolen the heart of. Although, he'd never show it.
Mikan was undoubtedly stumbling through her school life in the most enjoyable way possible. She had her friends and everything she needed. All her misadventures seemed to be resolved in the end and she was content as could be.
That is, until that incident.
The two best friends Mikan and Hotaru had once again managed to find themselves in a situation. Let's just say that it involved a break in and lots of Gulliver candy, effectively doing the opposite of ageing them as appropriate for their mission.
An unforeseen incident here, a clumsy accident there and boom, Mikan Sakura was a nine-year-old, even without the presence of Gulliver candy in her mouth. The unfortunate side affect did not seem to take effect on her best friend who, as per normal, grew back to original age once the candy had dissolved.
For days, Mikan was detained to see if she would grow back to normal size. No one but Hotaru could see her. In fact, no one but Hotaru knew where she was. After a week and significant testing the results proved to be most displeasing.
The property of the Gulliver candy that changed the age was absorbed into the liver and proceeded into her bloodstream, effectively causing her to stay three years younger even without the candy in her mouth. This, however, did not hinder her growth. She was growing at an average rate, but from the starting point of nine years. Even worse, the doctors said that the chances of the Gulliver Effect (as they had called this rare case) wearing off was slim to none. And even if it did, it would take years.
Because hardly anything could phase this girl, she determinedly accepted her situation. "It's not like much has changed," she'd say. "I'll still know and be around my friends, I'll just be a tad younger." But that wasn't entirely the case.
The academy would land themselves in deep trouble if this incident became known to the public, especially the government who had always been sceptical of a facility full of Alices. Hotaru and Mikan were made to sign confidentiality forms, ensuring that they keep quiet about the entire incident.
Mikan was slightly disgruntled at the prospect, unsure what to do. How would she manage to keep it a secret if she was quite visibly...altered.
And so, a year after her initial arrival at the academy, Mikan Sakura was mysteriously transferred out of the school. Not a word was spoken to anyone about it in advance. It was like she simply disappeared. But time worked its magic, and after a while, the restless atmosphere of class B faded. They would no longer question the disappearance of their classmate... but they wouldn't quite forget her either. Some more than others.
Three weeks after the rapidly life-changing incident and the whole issue was very discreetly handled. It would be easier to ask any inanimate object than to ask Hotaru about what happened to Mikan or where they went before she disappeared.
In elementary class A, they would be having a new transfer student. With silky auburn hair, that was always tied into pig tails and large hazel eyes that could speak her emotions for her, Ichigo Hana made friends quicker than you could blink.
A few postcards from an apparently distant Mikan Sakura to the elementary class B, clearing things up, and all doubt was erased.
The issue was forgotten, new routines forged from old ones, and already, two years had passed...
Hell, Natsume thought as he swung backward in the chair of his middle school classroom, now that's one heck of a pairing. The news had just arrived to him that his best friend Ruka and the infamous Imai Hotaru had started going out.
He didn't really have a problem with it. Why should he? He had always been supportive of his friend. In fact, he was happy for him. He needed to get to know people other than Natsume. He sometimes thought Ruka's act of following him around everywhere was verging on masochistic. Natsume was hardly the easiest person to be around. Delinquent, dangerous, anti-social.
And yet, he had somehow attracted a fan club of his own. Speaking of which, the president of the said fan club was talking to him. He reluctantly brought himself back to reality at the highly irritating, constant nagging of the girl in front of him with permed, forest green hair.
"Natsume-kun!" she snapped. "Are you even listening?"
He grunted in reply.
She took it as a sign to continue, even though Natsume really didn't want her to. "Well, as I was saying, you really should follow Ruka-kun's example. We are fourteen now and definitely at an age where dating is the norm. If there's a mutual relationship, the two should go out, correct?"
Natsume snorted but the nagging woman was ever persistent. "All I'm saying is that, someone with your social status especially, should be going out with someone. It's the trend, plus it will boost your popularity. That is, if you choose carefully. It should be someone that has authority and will suit your image. Frankly, I think the perfect choice would be yours truly. What do you say?"
She looked eagerly at him. He turned his gaze to her – making her exercise all of her restraint not to enter a fangirling fit at the intensity of his stare.
"Number one: I'm the kind of person who follows trends." He shut his textbook audibly.
"Number two: What do I care about my social status?" The bell rang and he slid his books into his satchel.
"Number three: I do not see a mutual relationship between us. If you ask me, it's pretty one-sided." He got up and stalked out the room, leaving a disgruntled and rejected Sumire still leaning on Natsume's desk.
As he walked outside along with a group travelling to the same location, Natsume found himself once again, lost in thought. He'd lost count of how many girls he had rejected since entering middle school. He really didn't show interest in them at all. He never did.
Except for that person.
Indeed, he didn't show interest in her in the first place. But it's funny how after a while, after spending some time with them, you let your guard down. Your defences cease to work and you just let them reach in and steal your heart away.
Sadly enough, Natsume's always only ever been in a one-sided relationship. Perhaps she treated him nicely, perhaps she always showed she cared. But he wasn't a special case. She'd probably do the same for a complete stranger.
And yet, he still fell in love. He still felt butterflies when she'd appear beneath the Sakura Tree and they'd spent moments in silent reflection. He still couldn't deny how she seemed to glow every time he saw her smile. In fact... he still loved her.
Natsume had come to accept that love wasn't something that would work out for him. The one person that worms their way into their heart and fills it up day by day... disappears. Actually, more like got torn away and left an empty space where they used to be.
There was no face-to-face goodbye. There wasn't even any indication of her departure. Just gone. He thought that she considered him enough of a friend to at least say goodbye in person. Only Imai seemed to know what was happening. It made Natsume envious, and it drove him crazy that it did.
He probably didn't deserve it. He'd always tease her, turn the cold shoulder, make snide comments. It was all in a desperate effort to conceal his feelings. To deny them. But he couldn't. He would always steal an embrace, a kiss, a moment. But what frustrated him the most was that he had to steal it in the first place. It was never given to him, nor was it ever returned.
Still, he wished he'd have seen her face one more time. In fact, the closest thing to a proper goodbye he got was from a postcard she sent to the class about a month after she left.
Hello everyone!
I'm really, really sorry that I left without telling you all. It was a very short notice decision for me too! They discovered that I have an uncle with an Alice who is apparently quite powerful in the Alice world. He requested that I come and study under him, and the Academy had to agree. Don't worry about me, he's really nice.
And since I didn't get to say a proper goodbye, here goes...
Anna, Nonoko and Permy: I had so much fun with you all and you have to keep in touch!
Koko, Kitsuneme and Kochiage: Keep yourselves out of trouble.
Ruka-pyon and Hotaru: I miss you both already!
And finally, Natsume: even though you might want to, don't forget me!
Send my regards to the rest of the class and the Special Ability class, too. I'll try to send more postcards soon.
Lots of Love,
Mikan
I don't really know why I have that memorised. The whole class decided to write back and forced my secretly-willing-self to write my bit. Silly girl, how could I possibly forget you. You've caused so much trouble. I think those were my exact words. Those were my exact feelings too. I could never ever in a million years forget her. Not even if I tried.
Every couple of months the class would get a postcard from her and we'd all reply. I had to always write my bit. Funnily enough, she'd always make sure to reply to everything I wrote, no matter how mean or insignificant.
Those occasional postcards were the only thing that kept her an active part of my life. Although I'd never say it out loud, it makes me glad. She wasn't gone. She was still there. She still remembered me, too.
We were walking through the elementary section now. I spared a glance around. It felt really nostalgic to be here again after a while. Elementary, he thought, she was still here in elementary.
As the party strolled past the hallway, they passed their old room: class B. Natsume was able to sneak a glance into their old classroom. He searched the contents of the room looking not for his old seat but for hers. Even as his eyes swept the room, he imagined her sitting, staring out the window with a vacant expression.
He finally found the spot and he saw who was sitting there. He stopped dead in his tracks. There, sitting next to his old spot, was an auburn haired girl with two pigtails... sitting, staring out the window with a vacant expression.
Natsume felt the blood drain from his face. Kitsuneme noticed Natsume stopping and asked with concern, "Natsume, is something wrong? You look like you've just seen a ghost."
A ghost... that was as good a guess as any for Natsume, right now.
YAY! I made my chapters longer. But then, I'll be updated slower (especially since I've hardly written anything past this) I hope you like the story. If you do, please review. If you dont, review anyway! They are much appreciated.