Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Gakuen alice, only this story.
Mikan sat silently at her desk by the window, not paying any attention to what Jin-Jin was saying. She was daydreaming in her own little world, a small smile on her face, her eyes half closed.
As soon as school let out, she would be going to the piano store to play some of the grand pianos. The people there were very nice, and it was almost always empty so they told her she could play as long as she wanted to.
She'd played piano since she was very small, loving the instrument with all her heart as she had steadily progressed. When she had turned eight, she started going to a school that specialized in music, Alice Academy. Only trouble was, she had to learn other things too, like math. And everything else a school teaches.
The school bell shook Mikan from her daydreaming, and she got up with a leap and nearly bounded out of the classroom, hardly containing her excitement. She rushed out the hallway and down a flight of stairs, stopping at the large wooden door that would expel her to the outside world. Just as she was about to yank it open, however, a hard voice made her stop in her tracks.
"And where do you think you're going, Polka-dots, without you're partner coming with you?"
Mikan rolled her eyes and swallowed a groan. "Natsume. Go away." She turned around to face him, pouting. "Whenever you come, you only let me stay for an hour. You know I'm only allowed out once a week." Natsume smirked.
"Polka, that's only when you use you're lousy voice to accompany you're lousy piano." Mikan's cheeks flushed red.
"Whatever, Natsume! Just shut up and come with or I'm gonna change my mind!"
Natsume just smirked again, walking down the steps before Mikan even had the chance to follow. Mikan, used to this treatment, walked quickly next to him, soon forgetting her anger and talking happily about nothing in particular, sometimes earning a nod or a grunt of acknowledgement from Natsume.
"Ne, Natsume, guess what?" she continued before he had the chance to respond. "I'm going to enter in the piano contest, and if I win, I get to go to France with the prize money and visit my mom!" Natsume stopped in his tracks, staring down at Mikan. Her cheeks were slightly red, and her eyes were sparkling with excitement. Natsume, however, was not so happy, because if she went, he wouldn't be able to see her.
"How long would you be gone, ugly?" Mikan chose to ignore the jibe.
"About three years! I'm so excited, I can't wait!" Mikan laughed, skipping to keep pace with Natsume.
"And, to top it all of, I get to play at concerts while I'm there! Well, that is, if I win, but I've been practicing so hard that I might make it! Oh, Natsume, I'm so happy!" she twirled around, her hair whipping across her face. Excitement was coursing through her veins, making her head feel light and her heart all jumpy. She looked up at Natsume, trying to read his usual blank expression, but all she could tell was that he didn't seem too happy.
"Ne, Natsume, what's wrong? You don't look too happy." a worried expression took over her face. Natsume looked down at her, his face not portraying the fact that he would miss her.
"Nothing, Polka-dots, its just that you'll be depressed when you lose, and I'm gonna have to clean up your tears." He said flatly. Mikan scowled.
They were almost at the piano store after nearly half an hour of walking, Mikan getting more excited as they progressed. She was talking louder and louder, skipping all over the pavement, when she tripped on a crack. Natsume caught her before she hit the asphalt, but she tripped again coming up, and they both toppled over, Mikan landing heavily on Natsume.
Natsume's Pov
Ugh. Stupid clumsy Polka dots, landing in the worst position possible, tripping over thin air, and being an idiot. God, she landed so close to my face, I can practically see every movement her li-wait, what the hell am I thinking? Urgh, Polka, one of these days I'm gonna-
"Gomen, Natsume, I'm so sorry!" I hear her yelp out, struggling to get off of me. I just glare at her, trying to ignore the fact that she's pouting cutely, her eyebrows creased together.
I suddenly have an urge to rub the crease between her eyebrows, wanting to erase her worry. Instead, I just get off the ground and keep walking.
"Whatever, Polka, I know I have to deal with you're clumsiness whether I like it or not." I say, walking more quickly.
"Natsume! Hey! Wait up!" I ignore her, and I hear her running to catch up.
"Hey, Natsume! I told you to wait up! It takes me almost two strides to match up to one of yours! Hey!" I hear her complaints catching up to me, and just as I'm about to start running, I hear ugly squeal in excitement. I have to admit, it's an adorable sound.
"Natsume, we're here!" I hear the tinkling of a bell, and I backtrack and follow her inside the store.
I guess I can see why she likes to spend so much time in here. Aside from there being at least twenty grand pianos, they have other instruments, too. Cellos, violins, flutes… everything, or at least everything Polka seems to have a fascination with.
I see her run up to the counter, asking if she can play for a while. The person behind the counter is someone I don't recognize, and as soon as I lean forward to see what he looks like, I feel something burning in the pit of my stomach. It's a handsome boy, I guess, and he's totally flirting with her. And Polka dots, in all her stupidity, has no idea what he's doing, so she just smiles cutely.
I go up to the counter, donning my usual blank expression, though I'm sure some of my anger shows through.
"Um, can I help you? I'm kind of busy right now." I hear the boy state rudely, gesturing to Polka. I grimace.
"Yes you can, actually. You see, ugly there has been waiting to play the pianos for a week, and I suggest you let her, unless you're an even bigger idiot than I thought and insist on continuing to waste her time." I smirk at the end of my sentence, narrowing my eyes. The boy flinches.
"W-whatever. It's my lunch break anyway." I hear him stutter, walking to the back of the shop and going outside for his 'Lunch break'
I look down at Polka dots with a bored expression, when all I want to do is tell her off and say not to be such an idiot as to let random guys flirt with her.
"Hurry up and get playing, ugly, before I change my mind and drag you back."
"Thanks, Natsume! I will!" She chirps happily, smiling her brightest smile at me and heading off to pick out a piano. I hide a blush with my fringes, feeling incredibly happy that she would smile at me like that.
Normal Pov
Mikan forgot her slight confusion about Natsume as soon as she started looking for her piano, focusing all her thoughts on finding the right one. She was looking for the one that she always played, the first one she had seen in the music shop. It had the most amazing sound, and the best tune of any piano she had ever heard, at least to her loving ears.
"Ah!" Mikan exclaimed, finding the right one at last. She had been afraid they had sold it. Even though the store owners had said they would keep it for her until she had enough money to buy it, she was always worried someone would offer too much money for them to say no.
Mikan sat down lightly, easing the fall board open with gentle fingers. She sighed contentedly, playing a few scales to warm up, and easily changed the scales she played into a song by Chopin.
She played a sad song, the melancholy notes of it drifting around her, surrounding the shop with the delicate sound of her playing.
Whenever she played sad songs, she thought of her father, trying to conjure up memories of him. She tried her hardest, but she could only ever remember fragments, he had died when she was so young.
Across the shop, Natsume stopped what he was doing and listened. He'd noticed long ago that Mikan would almost never play happy songs. He'd also noticed that her face wore a gentle smile when she played, even when her songs were so sad that he felt like he wanted to comfort her and take away her pain. The only word Natsume could think of to describe her music, no matter how beautiful and uplifting it had the possibility to be, was bittersweet.
After Mikan finished the song she was playing, she decided to try her luck and played a song that would be accompanied by singing.
This song was sad as well, but had more hope than the previous one.
Mikan took in a deep breath, and started singing, her clear voice ringing throughout the shop.
Maybe not, by: Cat Power.
There's a dream that I see, I pray it can be We all do what we can Listen to me, don't walk that street We won't have a thing You've got to choose a wish or command We all do what we can But with your mind
Look cross the land, shake this land
A wish or a command
Dream that I see, don't kill it, it's free
You're just a man, you get what you can
So we can do just one more thing
We can all be free
Maybe not in words
Maybe not with a look
But with your mind
There's always an end to it
Come and be free, you know who I am
We're just living people
So we got nothing to lose
We can all be free
Maybe not with words
Maybe not with a look
But with your mind
At the turn of the tide, is withering thee
Remember one thing, the dream you can see
Pray to be, shake this land
So we can do just one more thing
We won't have a thing
So we've got nothing to lose
We can all be free
Maybe not with words
Maybe not with a look
But with your mind
Mikan finished, gently cutting off from the song. She had thought of something while playing, but she didn't know if Natsume would be willing to do it.
"Ne, Natsume… I have something I want to ask." Natsume, immersed in looking at cellos, was irritated at being interrupted.
"What? Tell me quickly, I'm kinda busy." He snapped, not taking his eyes off of the instruments.
"Well…" Mikan began, taking in a breath. "I was wondering if you would be willing to do a duet with me. For cello and piano" She held her breath, anxious for him to say yes.
Natsume's Pov
What was that girl talking about, a duet? It sounds like a bad idea. She's too big of an idiot for stuff like that.
"You don't have to decide right away!" She cut in hastily.
"I-it's probably a bad idea. I just thought it might be fun to try…and it might help win the competition, you're allowed to have a partner. And, if we did win, you'd get to come with me to France." She gushed, hopeful that I might actually say yes.
I have to admit, though, the last part was tempting. I'd be able to go with her, make sure she didn't get to cozy with another guy - not that I'd care. I'm actually tempted to say yes.
"We'll see, Polka dots, but don't get too hopeful. I'll probably say no." Mikan looked shocked for a moment, then rushed over to me, hugging me around the waist.
"Natsume, thank you so much!" She looked up into my face, smiling a ridiculously huge smile. I'm just so tempted to lean down and kiss her; I have to force myself to break away from the hug.
"Whatever, ugly, just don't go getting all worked up." I swear, this girl's too cute for her own good.
Well, heres the first chapter! It would be awesome if I can get some reviews to improve my writing, cause I could probably use some help. This is my first ever Fic, so if its not very good, I'll make sure to improve my writing skills! :D