Chapter One: The unbelievable truth
"Natsume-kun!!"
Mikan…
"Natsume-kun!! Wait uppp!!" He smiled to himself and turned back, only to find a very irritated Mikan running behind him. She came to a halt when she realized her face was an inch away from his. She stood there, panting, her chest, rising and falling because of hyper-ventilating.
"You idiot! Didn't I tell you to wait up? I know that your brain is THICK, but no need to prove it okay?!" Mikan said, in an earsplitting voice.
Natsume simply looked at her; his piercing crimson eyes had a soft emotion within them. Mikan realized this, and blushed a deep shade of red. She looked right back into his alluring eyes.
What's happening to me? She thought.
Natsume took her by the waist, brought her even closer to himself and they ended up in a passionate kiss. He had come back from another one of his missions, tired, exhausted, and there was nothing more at that very moment, that he longed for, more than he longed for Mikan. Her bulging eyes stared into his intense ones, and then closed, experiencing the sweetness that lay in the kiss. When they finally broke apart, Mikan saw, for the first time, tears forming in Natsume's eyes. He covered his face with his long, beautiful bangs, but underneath the beauty, hid only what she saw.
After this brief session, they proceeded to their first class of the day. Natsume ignored Mikan completely, while she incessantly screamed at him at the top her voice. "And I said, hey—Natsume!!! You're not listening to me!"
"Hn", he grunted in reply. "Natsume!" Mikan called out again. He was lost in thoughts of Elementary school. It seemed as if time had flown by. He smiled to himself at the thought of good and bad happenings in the past years of Elementary and Middle school. They had grown up since then. Natsume was much taller, much more handsome, his bangs were longer, he wore fangs in his ears, and, of course, a change which even a blind man would notice: he smiled much more. Ruka was the same, he too, like Natsume had grown taller. Hotaru was a lot quieter. Her hair had FINALLY grown to her shoulders' length. In fact, she had started looking like a girl. Sumire, or "Permy" as she was known, was the same as ever, and the official representative of the International Natsume and Ruka fanclub. (It was international now, wow). Anna and Nonoko are as obnoxious as ever, and were officially in a relationship with Kokoro and Kitsuneme. Yu had grown much more handsome, with longer hair, and quite a number of "fan girls". Mikan was taller, slimmer, and her hair had grown longer. She was a three-star student and had special privileges. Being Natsume's girlfriend for over two years, she was very well known and popular around school. She had a huge mob of angry fan boys who were always disappointed to see her with Natsume, but no one dared to oppose him, as if they could anyway.
Mr. Narumi walked into class. It was an awfully cold day. Halloween was drawing near, and the students were growing keyed up. Besides, it was the perfect excuse to skip classes.
"Students!" he called out in his chirpy voice. "I want you to welcome a few new students in class."
The loud class fell to a complete silence. Natsume removed his manga from his face and looked intently at the door, as if someone he was expecting had finally arrived. Mr. Narumi cleared his throat and broke out again, "please welcome, our first student, Kusanagi Rayu."
The girls let out a shriek as the fine-looking boy entered class. His hair were as black as ebony, falling nearly onto his hawk-like eyes, covering his right eye almost completely. He was tall, slim, and muscular. His eyes were a deep shade of blue. He smiled warmly, at the students, specially the girls, and introduced himself. "Hey, I am Rayu." That's what he said. It wasn't a very formal greeting. Mr. Narumi continued. Rayu and Serena have moved to Japan from USA. So let's try and make them feel right at home." He chipped in. "Woops, I absolutely forgot, students, please welcome, Harada, Serena." The class was taken aback by the girl's strikingly gorgeous looks. She had beautiful almond-shaped eyes, in a stimulating shade of grey. Her straight hair touched her hips, and were a beautiful shade of black, with a single red streak, clearly visible. She wore Alice-controlling devices, including two fangs in her right ear and one in her left. Her figure was ideal. She had a well-built chest, with a petite, narrow waist, and beautifully curved hips. Her legs were long and slender. She wore her skirt very high, which made some of the boys blush. Her shirt was a perfect fit, revealing her curves. Her pierced belly-button was also slightly visible. (She looks like Hino Rei, of pretty soldier sailor moon, if you can imagine).
She walked straight into the class, with a cold expression on her face, not even bothering to introduce herself. "Well now, I want you two to take partners, an older student perhaps, who had been in the school for some time. Any volunteers?" said Mr. Narumi in a cheerful tone. Almost the whole class raised their hands, except for Natsume. "Hmm.. Mr. Kusanagi, you can be Imai, Hotaru's partner. And Ms. Harada, you can be partners with Nogi, Ruka." The two new students moved right up to their seats, without hesitating at all. Ruka blushed a deep shade of crimson on seeing the new girl. She sat beside him and looked at him for the longest time. He looked back into her eyes.
Her eyes, are deeper than all the oceans of the world he thought.
"Thank you." She said. She smiled at him. "Huh?" said a confused Ruka. Did she just read my mind? He thought.
"Yes, I did." She laughed very softly. Ruka gulped. "It's okay. You can trust me, sweetheart. I won't read your mind, promise." She said. The sound of her voice was so easy-going, like music. He felt … loved.
After 4 classes, the students worn out, proceeded to the cafeteria. Rayu sat with Hotaru, and they engaged in a quiet conversation. Natsume and Mikan sat on their trademark table. Ruka, sat with the two of them, searching for the new girl.
Natsume: What's up with you?
Ruka: …
Mikan: Didn't you see? (She said teasingly).
Natsume: See what, baka?
Mikan: The way Ruka was talking to that new girl. It's rumored she's your new roommate.
Ruka blushed madly at hearing this. He looked towards the door several times. His seventh attempt was successful. He caught a glimpse of Serena entering the cafeteria, accompanied by—
Ruka: Imai! Suuichi!!
Natsume: What?
He jerked his head up. Serena entered the cafeteria, with Sakurano Suuichi and Subaru Imai. Even Hotaru looked up. All the students in the cafeteria had frozen.
Mikan quickly looked at Ruka's expression. He was just as confused as them. She was afraid of how Hotaru would react to it. Hotaru looked bewildered.
More and more students started to notice her sociable attitude with both the Alice College Senior Prefects. In fact, when they left, most students noticed that Sakurano Suuichi had his hands on the girls waist, just above her hips. Rayu noticed Hotaru's expression. "What's up?" he asked, worried. "Nothing." She said. Her voice was a bit shaky. After this session, Mikan hurried up, all the way through the corridor to the grounds. She saw Serena standing by the river all by herself. She approached her.
"Ohayo Harada-san!" She said in her sweet high school girl voice. Serena looked at her inaudibly. "Hello Mikan. You may call me Serena." She looked at her very considerately. Mikan was surprised at this, as she expected her to be cold and distant. This is how the girls became good friends.
All the students had started to notice the new girl and Sakurano Suuichi. They walked noticeably close, with his hand on her waist. They looked at each other and smiled. They sometimes even looked at each other for hours without ushering a single word. He rested his head in her lap sometimes, under the beautiful maple trees. Sometimes, they were joined in by Subaru.
"Serena-san!!" chirped Mikan early morning. "I didn't think anyone would be awake at this time." It was 3:23 AM. Serena smiled. "I sometimes come here when I am lonely.." she said in a voice that was not her own. "Serena-san..I wanted to ask you.." She started. Serena looked at her for a while and then replied, "No Mikan, I do not miss my parents. For one reason, they aren't there. They died when I was just a child. I have no one in the world to count on, and I live on my own." Mikan was baffled by this unexpected answer. "I am so sorry to hear that Serena-san!" She said, tears forming in her auburn eyes. She truly felt sad for such a beautiful young girl to be so lonely. "It's okay Mikan." She said, reassuringly. Mikan hesitated for a while and said, "Serena-san, is it true that your Alice is mind-reading like Koko?" she said in an innocent voice. Serena laughed. "No dear Mikan. That's not my Alice." She stopped. There was a long pause. Then she said, "I have a special Alice. I see people differently. I see them not as humans, but rather as numbers when I chose to. I can manipulate any Alice in the world, and I can even remove Alices from the body of people completely." Mikan couldn't believe her ears. That couldn't possibly be it. "May I ask something else Serena-san?" Mikan asked sheepishly. "Anything" came the reply from Serena. "What is your relationship, with, Sakurano-san?" Mikan thought that she'd be offended by this question, but she simply smiled. "It is a relationship, which I cannot free myself from. Mikan." Mikan stood there confused. "Don't you love him?" She said. Serena smiled vaguely. "I wish I knew what it was like to love again. Keep Natsume close Mikan. Everyone isn't as lucky as you are. I know your intentions are good. However, I suggest you stay away from me. I cause people nothing but harm." Mikan couldn't hold her tears back any longer. "Don't worry Serena-san. I'll be there for you, always. I am always here if you want to talk to someone." Serena's eyes were also full of tears. She embraced Mikan. "Mikan, go to sleep. It's been a long day." She said, and walked away without another word.
Mikan and Natsume's Room
"Natsume.." she mumbled in her sleep. She could feel something at the back of her neck. "Natsume.." she muttered again. Her eyes stirred. She opened them slowly. Natsume was bending over her, kissing the back of her neck smoothly. She turned around, to find Natsume covering half of her body with his torso. She kissed his lips like a thirsty traveler lost in a desert, who had come across a river. Natsume kissed back, his hands caressing Mikan's thigh. She stopped his hand from moving any further. "Natsume," she said in a whisper. "Huh?" He inquired, his eyes were still heavy. "I don't want to lose you." She said, having what Serena said in her mind. "You won't.." He said. His voice was very deep and assuring. "Baka." He said and smiled. Mikan embraced him for the longest time, and then, snuggling close to him, she fell asleep.