Preface

The steaming beads of water pricked Mikan's skin like blazing needles. She stared down at the water carrying mud and blood down the drawn. Not her blood, it was never her blood.

She could feel a watchful stare on her but she knew who it was-Natsume. She began to aimlessly pull her fingers through her lose tangled hair. As she waited for the water to loosen her tightened muscles she thought.

They were 17 now and graduation was fast approaching, but what was graduation to those in the Dangerous Ability class? To her classmates graduation was a ceremony that promised freedom, but to her and Natsume it was a punishment. They weren't escaping, instead they were losing what was dear to them.

After graduation they would never see the friends they made through all the years at the Alice Academy. The years full of joy, hope, fear, tears, dreams, love and many emotions that couldn't be put into words. For Mikan and Natsume graduation would take all of this away and force them into a life of killing.

Mikan heard Natsume shift his weight uncomfortably as a lost tear found its way down her face. She bit her lip and forced a reassuring smile that failed to touch her longing eyes. She longed to be able to show her weaknesses again, longed to be a normal carefree girl again. Even if they were released from this punishment, the day when they could lead a normal life would never come.

They were already far too scarred to lead a normal life. They would be haunted by whispers of those they killed and the loved ones hurt in the process. As they laughed they would hear the screams of terror-of pain-in the back of their head.

Mikan turned the water off slowly and for a while just continued to look down. She pulled a towel around her and shyly asked Natsume to turn around. Without a word he obeyed. He remained still and silent until he felt Mikan's damp arms around his chest and her soaked hair pressing into his back.

"I'm sorry..." Mikan whispered, "Just let me stay like this for a little while longer." Her arms tightened as Natsume stroked the back of her hand with his thumb. She knew that he didn't want the higher ups to know about their relationship, if they knew it would just be another thing to threaten them with.

"Mikan..." Natsume sighed, she flinched at the sound of her name passing his lips. He turned to face her, his eyes-full of concern-burned into her. She pulled her hand free and slowly brushed his face letting her fingers feel every aspect of his face. He gently grabbed her hand and held it to his face, slowly he bent his face to hers. When their faces were just inches away he sighed and dropped his head, letting her hand fall to her side.

"Natsume, I'm sorry." Mikan chocked out. Natsume could tell that she was close to tears and while he wanted to hold her in his arms instead to turned and began to walk out of the room. Mikan's head fell and she let a few tears escape. She knew why he didn't hold her, why he didn't kiss her. She understood perfectly, still, she couldn't help but feel slightly rejected like he didn't want her or just wasn't good enough for him.

She stared at herself in the mirror, carefully examining every detail of her face and body. She had hair that flowed to the middle of her back, her eyelashes her long and dark, her eyes were like fresh hazel nuts, large and bright. She thought about what she looked like when they first met, she thought about the similarities and the differences.

She touched the face that stared back at her in the mirror, suddenly it seemed like she was starring into the eyes of a stranger. She felt her legs give out from under her and in a matter of seconds all of her weaknesses and fears came rushing out of her. She held her hands tightly to her face as if trying to keep it all inside. She felt a scream ripping its way through were throat to get to the outside.

Only seconds later Natsume was back in the room starring at Mikan broken and helpless on the ground. He wrapped his arms around her and remained silent letting his presence comfort her. Seeing her like this filled him with regret, guilt, and a burning hatred. Hatred toward the people who changed her and hatred towards himself for not being able to help.

Mikan grabbed at Natsume's sleeves holding herself to him. She let her body fit into his like they were each simply incomplete without each other. Her tears slowly stopped as the minutes past but her grip on his shirt didn't loosen.

Natsume just continued to stare down at her as she relaxed into a deep sleep. Mikan's hands fell away from his arms and her head fell back. He lifted her into his arms with ease and brought her to his bed. He laid her down and pulled the blankets over her before tenderly kissing her forehead like she was a child.

Well thats it for the intro! Next chapter starts the real story so please stay tuned! Future chapters will also be longer but since this is only a preface it is only a small taste of what my abilities are!

If you have time and don't mind wasting it on be please leave a review!