Author's note: Yep. I know I'm a weird writer; I created another fic without finishing the other two. But you know what? I like to do countless things. *evil grin* OOCs ahead. Brace yourselves, peeps!
Disclaimer: I hate to say this but *sighs* it's needed. I do not own Gakuen Alice nor any of its characters [or maybe not yet (;]. Its rightful claim only belongs to Higuchi Tachibana. Although this fic and all the OC's here are mine.
"If you have a book you wanted to read but it isn't been written yet then you must write it."
Once Upon a Time
Chapter 1: The Odds aren't in my Favour
The ashy clouds I was staring outside the windows in my room instantly vanished when the words that Gramps said earlier suddenly sink in to me. I don't know what to think of at the moment. I sighed. I'm just not ready to go. I don't have lots of friends that I hang out with everyday since my suppose to be best friend Hotaru, left but I do have some people I talk to in our school. I'm more like an indoor girl, appreciating the beauty of nature; we're living near the forest after all. That is perhaps the reason why I don't want to leave and go to some village where I barely know the people living. I guess the odds aren't exactly in my favour at this point in time.
I shut my eyes closed, reminiscing the conversation I had with him.
"It will be for the best, Mikan and she is not just some person I randomly picked to take care of you. You know that perfectly." He stated with a grim look on his face. He doesn't like it too, that much I can tell but that will not change the fact that he's leaving me all alone to that freaking house he is talking about.
I didn't respond and keep the bitter expression across my face.
"I will take you to your aunt's house where I will be staying once it's complete. Your aunt clearly said that." He coughed. "I'm getting too old to take care of you and sooner than you know, I will be dying." He smiled on my way and I can't help but feel my conscience at the back of my mind.
"But why do we have to move? It's perfectly fine here. I can take care of myself. See? I'm big enough." I suggested but from the look he's giving me, the plan didn't change. Not the slightest bit.
I groaned then made a deal with Gramps. "But only one week, right? The house should be complete by then. Only one week?"
He shook his head painfully.
"2 weeks? 3? A month?" I asked in my confused tone.
He cleared his throat before replying, "3 months minimum, Mikan. It's too long I know and I'm sorry." He pleaded.
I feel suffocated by the thought of staying to some stranger's house.
"That is so unfair, Gramps. I will definitely miss you but I guess I'll survive." I lied, knowing any argument is pointless.
"I'll miss you, too dear. So much. Thank you for understanding." He shot a smile at me before engulfing me into an embrace.
I smiled evenly at him after he lets go.
I heard footsteps thumping in the stairs.
"Mikan! Mikan, it's late in the afternoon and we must get going." Gramps voice startled me, drawing my attention back to reality. I flutter my eyelids and the rays of sun instantly hurt my awoken eyes.
"Mikan?" called his hoarse voice.
"Coming, Gramps! I'll just pack some... stuff." I yelled in response. My things are already neatly packed in the luggage. I just have to enjoy the last minute here in my bedroom. I scan my entire room and blink twice. There aren't much I can do with it, I thought. I stood up and seize my baggage. I started to lock the door but not before I had my last look. I walk downstairs and begin to tangle my auburn hair in pigtails. I smiled on my reflection in the mirror but my hazel eyes dictate otherwise. I walk away without taking another glance with the place I call my home.
I hurriedly run towards Gramps which I recall earlier that told me he's old enough to even take care of me but here he is. Ready to start the engine of the blue mini truck anytime soon. I place all my bags on the back of the truck and quickly sat on the front seat beside Gramps. I snorted and he turned his direction to me when finally starting the engine of the truck. I didn't meet his eyes instead I just stare in the side road, noticing every tree that we pass. I like trees, maybe love it. I feel satisfied whenever I climb up to it, feeling secured. I put my arm on the open window and positioned my head to be able to inhale and feel the fresh air that might be later gone when we arrive at the city.
"I don't want to remember you with your grumpy face on at least 3 months, Mikan. Lighten up. It's not that bad as you think." He guaranteed.
"Okay Gramps. Here. You see? I'm smiling." I force to look at him and smiled half heartedly then direct my attention again to the wildflowers growing at the side of the road. They are beautiful yet unnoticed.
I look at the clock which sits idly in front of me. It's been half an hour since we left. Gramps who drives directs his full attention on the road beyond us. The wrinkles on his face are visible and his hair is quite bald. His brown eyes evident of worry stared at me for a minute before looking again at the road.
"I'm sorry." I apologized though I, myself don't know what crime I committed.
He looked at me again with those bewildered eyes then he raises an eyebrow.
I look straight at the road he is looking, searching for some answer but then I didn't reply back.
He stopped the truck and I can see a big house before us. A mansion actually. He killed the engine then climb down, gesturing for me to do the same. I step down and take in the surroundings. My jaw dropped. Ohmyf*ckingGOD. I can't believe it. This house- mansion is very huge compared to our medium sized hut house. I stare at the mansion in puzzlement. The garden is symmetrical too. The flowers. Oh the beautiful flowers. Different array colours and different varieties. I gaze at Gramps in bewilderment, forgetting my anger and frustration before.
"Quite a view, eh?" he asked with one of his chuckles.
"Is this it? Is this really it, Gramps?" I questioned in a very excited and fascinated tone. He nodded and flashes a chuckle again.
"I knew you'd like it here." His tone almost mocking. I look straight to the front door and saw a raven haired woman with a very pleasing appearance approaching us. I stopped and watch the woman walk in a gracious way. She's beautiful. Her wavy hair falls perfectly in her shoulders. Her crimson eyes staring intently at us. She opened her thin lips and greeted us.
"Long time no see, Grandpa. How are you? " She asked. Gramps gave her a proud laugh then said, "Strong as ever, Kaoru." The both of them giggled while I joined in.
She looked at me curiously. "You must be Yuka's daughter, Mikan. You are beautiful like your mother." She complimented.
"Yes, I'm Mikan Sakura. I'm nothing compared to my mother but you're so pretty, like really pretty." I smiled at her, biting the inside of my cheek.
"Oh. I feel overwhelmed, Mikan." She chirped then turned to Gramps. "He changed the surname, huh?" raising her eyebrows at Gramps who gave a reassuring nod. What are they talking about? Adult matters I think.
"Kaoru Hyuuga, by the way. I'm a friend of your mother so you can just call me Aunt Kaoru and I guess we should get inside the house. All of your baggage will be taken care of the butler." She offered then from out of nowhere, an old man showed who appears to be between the ages of fifty five to sixty.
Aunt Kaoru led us inside and I can't help but feel thoroughly amazed. The antiques and the different painting of landscapes and portraits are... WOW. The wall is perfectly designed, too. This is just too much to be real. I look up and saw the gigantic lights hanging on the ceiling. I focused my eyes to the furniture ahead of me which is as far as I know really expensive. I can't help but feel amazed to every little thing in this huge house. I turned around, feeling a shiver run through my spine because I absolutely felt a shadow behind my back. Just then, Gramps called me and I came near him.
"I'll be going, Mikan. Your money and all your stuff is with you, right?" His voice evident with worry.
I dig into my back pocket and held it to him for him to see.
"Yes, here it is Gramps." I smiled and hugged him. My head on his shoulder, tears falling unexpectedly. He patted my head and utters something.
"You, cry-baby. I told you to not cry at such small matters like this. We will see each other on three months time."
I didn't respond though I know that he is only comforting me. I hid my wet face in his shoulder and cried harder. My hand tightened in his back, he will be leaving.
"I have to go, dear though I loathe saying that." He comforted, forcing to laugh a little.
Pushing me away from him, I look into his amber eyes. I bit my fingernail.
"Gramps. Just don't die while I'm gone. Not just yet." I kid in my mischievous tone. We laughed until we can no longer hold our stomachs while Aunt Kaoru waits patiently in the living room.
"I'm stronger than the strongest bear alive, Mikan. But seriously, call me when you have a problem or anytime. Even if I'm old like this, you can always count on my help." He offered. Of course, he doesn't have a phone but the Aunt he's talking about does.
"'course, Gramps. Don't forget about your food, don't eat too much meat. Veggies are your only required food. No more, no less." I reminded him, giving him the look he doesn't want. HA!
"Okay, okay. If that's what my grand daughter wants." He sighed dejectedly. We walked to front of the house, Aunt Kaoru accompanying us. We bid goodbyes to him after giving him hugs. I wave my hand at him before he climb up the truck. He did the same and finally left without any turn backs.
"Isn't that depressing?" she asked, reading what's on my mind.
I didn't respond then she turned into her cheerful mode.
"Now, I guess it's time for you to meet my family." She offered. I sweat dropped. I didn't think about that.
"Yeah, sure. I'm certain I'd love that." I'm such a terrible liar.
We head back to the house and a small girl around the age of thirteen came running towards us. She stared at me with those crimson eyes her mother have. She is KAWAII.
"You're so cute!" I exclaimed. She took my hand and asks,
"Are you gonna be my big sis? I'm Aoi Hyuuga." she singsong with her cute little voice.
"She can be persistent sometimes. She doesn't have a sister, you see." Her mother muttered.
"Oh, then I suppose I could be your big sis then. I'm Mikan Sakura. Nice to meet you, Aoi." I stated with a smile and she shake my hand.
"You should meet Onii-chan, Mikan-chan." She suggested but her Mother was the one to respond this time.
"Not now, Aoi. Maybe some other time, he doesn't like much people. Completely different from his sister." She explained and I nodded but Aoi pouted. Then Aunt Kaoru suggested I should take a rest, I agree and Aoi guided me to my room, she told me that his brother named Natsume might like me because I'm pretty which I laughed at. But she's so determined that she told me I would meet him this dinner. I just nodded to her, giggling at her cuteness. She then let me take a nap in my room that's exactly the same size as our house back in the forest. I lie on the queen sized bed, letting out a small relief. At least, the people here are good like Gramps talked about. Gramps. Don't, stop it. Thinking about him makes my head and heart ache so I closed my eyes, thinking about nothing and fell into a deep slumber.
"Mikan-chan? Mikan-chan?" Aoi called. I open my eyes, hearing the knocking of a small girl countless times.
"Come in, Aoi. It's open." Just that instant, the doorknob twisted and the door opened, revealing a girl on a dress just above her knees, with a huge grin upon her face.
"It's dinner time. You should head at the dining room, Mikan-chan. I suppose you're hungry by now." She chirped with her cute voice, almost angelic.
I sat up, returning her sweet smile. "I'll be there as fast as I can. You see." Gesturing to my attire. "I just have to go get change." I added, wrinkling my nose.
"'Kay, Mikan-chan." She squealed then she waves her hand before leaving. How cute. Natsume. I wonder what he looks like. Opposite attitude from Aoi huh?
I take a quick shower from the bathroom in my room. It's complete of everything a girl would ask for. I don't think I'll get used to this house; it just kept surprising me every freaking time. What should I wear? I dig into my things and found a tangerine shirt that has an ice cream and other sweets design and short pants that reaches my knee. This will be okay, simple and comfortable. I walk towards the dining room after tangling my hair. I didn't notice it before but there is this huge piano by the living room untouched. The dining room is huge which I failed to notice earlier, too. They're already eating when I saw them; Aoi and Aunt Kaoru. Aoi motioned for me to join in and I sit beside her while Aunt sits reverse in ours. I eyed all the food and not able to pick any.
"Food will not move by itself, Mikan. You can pick any." Aunt offered.
"But it's so many and I don't know any of its names. My mouth is drooling just by seeing it." They both laughed at me. Then Aoi filled my plate with many foods, she decided to pick base from her favourite ones.
"Am I that fat?" I asked, groaning.
"The opposite." She giggled and I hissed.
I eat what looks like a crab meat then another and the others, then at last, finishing all the food on my plate. Only then did I become aware of them staring at me.
"You have such an enormous stomach, honey." She responded to my unspoken question. I laughed.
"That's what Gramps always tells me." Wait, Aoi did say that I'll meet her brother this dinner then- "Where is he? Natsume, I mean. I thought I'd meet him this dinner." I said in a very disappointed tone, voicing out what's in my mind.
"Oh, I thought so, too. But he said he'd just have dinner in his room. It's okay, Mikan-chan!" she exclaimed loudly.
"I guess so." I smiled at her.
When we finished eating dinner, Aoi cheerfully said that it's time for the telling of feelings, I asked what that's about and Aunt Kaoru said that it's been their tradition back and back and back, always after dinner. Aoi was the first to tell,
"I felt happy when Mikan-chan came. Now, I have an Onee-chan that would go to school with me." She holds on to one of my arm.
"That's good. Speaking of school, did your Grandpa tell you that he enrolled you to Alice Academy?" she questioned, looking intently at me.
"Alice Academy?" I repeated. I heard of that school before, my classmates often talk about how they would love to go into that school but only prestigious families can go to that school. Oh! Hotaru's in there, I remember. But how on earth can Gramps afford that?
They nodded. "But we can't afford to go to that school." I stated reluctantly.
"It's alright, Mikan-chan. Mommy took care of it so no need to worry." Aoi clarified, flickering a huge smile on her mom which caused me to wince a little.
"But I can't pay you back. It will be only three months and after that I will have to transfer again. It will be bothersome for your part." I explicate, biting the inside of my cheek.
"That will be your school even if you don't live here anymore. Your Aunt's house is near the school and please don't worry about the expenses, I just helped my best friend's daughter, after all. You'll go to school tomorrow with Natsume and Aoi." She instructed. "and did I forgot to mention that you're classmates with Natsume." She asked but it rather came out as a statement.
"Yay! You're classmates with Onii-chan. Isn't that great?" She squealed excitedly.
"Yeah, it is." I replied, forcing to smile. Then all of a sudden, they both forgot about the telling of feelings thing and invited me to watch some show with them which I agreed to. I take a comfortable seat on the soft cushioned sofa. We watched a TV show called 'Once upon a Time'. The story tonight was beauty and the beast and I cried when Rumpel lied to Belle, about what he feels and I discovered myself cursing. When it ended, we found ourselves discussing it. Aoi thought the show was absurd because they didn't have a happy ending. Aunt comforted her by saying it's not the ending yet and me? I shared my opinion that it shouldn't have ended that way and you know what? I didn't know we got so tangled up with the topic and next thing I know, we are laughing about it. Then when it's almost 9 o'clock, Aunt said it's bedtime because we have classes tomorrow. Aoi offered that she will take me to me room but I wave my hand at her, disapproving, I said she should sleep and I can take care of myself. She just smiled and bid goodnight before heading to her room.
I walk toward my room and saw the identical patterns of all the rooms ahead of me. I should have accept her offer after all. I didn't know they're all the same. I sighed. Perhaps I just have to look in every room, it's not like there are people there, right?
"Yeah, that's what I'll do." I said, responding to my thoughts.
I already opened five rooms and it's not the room with my stuff. I just have to look more. Okay. I guess this is it. I opened the door then step in and what I saw shocked me or rather surprised me. There's a boy- no, a guy about the same age I am with a manga on his head. He grabs the manga and places it beside him on his bed and glances at the open door then locked me with those crimson eyes. I can't seem to run. He utters something that is loud enough for me to hear.
"Get out of here, Ugly Pervert."
-End of Chapter 1-
So what do you think? If it's bad then I'll just delete this fic. You know exactly what to do guys. REVIEW~ and tell me if there are any errors. Thanks!
-AnneHyuuga13 ~Logging out