Presenting
©Alphaα & OmegaΩ©
"They say with every beginning, there's always an end
But can it also be with every end, there's a beginning?"
A Sweet Pix original
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Chapter One;
Apocalypse
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
[(uh-pok-uh-lips)]
A revelation or prophecy;
Comes at the end of world or time;
Comes from the Greek word for "revelation".
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Irritation gnawed at his belly as the figure by his side kept her silence. The silence was getting to him. His itching curiosity left him tickled and silently squirming. His fingers raked through his already messy raven hair, an unconscious habit of his which has more often than not proved to be a sign of the cholericness within. Patience was not one of the virtues he possessed. That is, if he had any.
Unable to resist no longer, he sneaked a glance at the petite girl alongside him. In her arms, she held that bulky children's book close to her chest, her arms wrapped around it protectively. Her gaze was set on something faraway while she pondered upon seemingly never ending stream of topics.
"Why do you bother lugging that childish book around with you? Fairytales were only stories spun by adults to deceive little kids into believing the world is simple and untainted. You yourself ought to know that!" his sharp words cut through the peaceful quiet that once surrounded them.
"I know," she uttered the two syllables in a tone so low that normal ears would not have heard them.
Luckily for him, he was no ordinary boy and thus, did not possess ordinary sensory organs either.
In his peripheral vision, he glimpsed of the young girl's impassive countenance. Her lack of expression was so complete, he begun to wonder if she deign to give further response on the matter, a doubt that had just transformed to conviction when she said in an undertone, coloured with hesitance, "It was my mother's."
Alert, he waited motionlessly, afraid that whatever he might do would stop her from saying more.
"She often read it to me when I was young, or so I heard. The only evidence I have of the statements are small fragments of long forgotten memories and even so, they are much hazy and unclear. As hard as I tried, all I could glean were an occasional voice, filled with static, and an accompanying muddled picture of a smiling face, looking down upon me, a book within the hands belonging." She blinked and her throat convulsed.
The slight show of emotion vanished as swiftly as it had appeared.
Awkward silence blanketed them, a remnant of the unexpected revelation before. It robbed him of his breath, leaving him taking quick, short breaths through his slightly parted lips. In the back of his mind, he was sure that his confusion leaked through to his crimson orbs while the rest of his mind was free to ponder upon the information he had just taken in.
"Fairytales represent the happy endings that will never belong to me," she murmured, an emotion very familiar to him surfaced from bottomless murky depths of her eyes.
Ahh. Hopelessness. Despair.
He felt the same emotion wash over him as he thought of his own fate. But for some reason, a fervent wish evoked within him, a wish for her to forgo plunging into the same hollow darkness as him. No. Just the idea alone was unacceptable. No. He wanted to give her a shred of something to cling on and avoid falling into that deep infinite pit of gloom.
"Why though? Why trouble yourself over things that have yet to be confirmed? Fate has managed to surprise and best us so many a times. Why not choose to believe in that possibility?" he reasoned, though his conscience was squirming in protest.
She kept her silence for a minute. Then, she replied, "You're right. Why not?"
The corners of lips lifted into a ghost of a once brilliant smile. His heart sung with pleasure at the sight of her smile.
He was no idiot, far from that. The happiness at the sight of her smile, the urge to keep it in place. He knew what it all led to.
He was undeniably falling in love with the girl before him.
No, love was too strong a word. 'Like' would be a better one, he reasoned with himself, though deep in his heart, he understood that that was untrue.
[~α&Ω~]
A persistent gaze was drilling holes into my back.
I resisted the urge to squirm.
The intense staring was only going to encourage my further refusal of sating the person's thirst for knowledge on my identity.
Yes.
Nothing else.
After all, Hotaru Imai is not one to show signs of weakness.
My own thirst and curiosity, however, heightened with every prolonged minute till I could no longer simply ignore. I pushed back the sleeve of my sweater, revealing a peculiar looking diamond-rimmed digital watch, with odd pictures replacing the traditional time and date. Pressing swiftly a few buttons on the side, I had my fly-camera turned on and all in tip top condition.
The creepy stalker was revealed to be a young girl whose age could not be much far off from my own. Her mahogany eyes held an air of mystery, yet not a single shred of emotion was to be found within them. Her rosy pink lips were slightly parted. Gazing at those unmoving lips, I found myself almost hearing them utter a silent plea for help. Long auburn hair was imprisoned in two tightly bounded high pigtails, not a single strand out of place. Her skin was a shade was pale that it was so close to transparency. One could almost see the rhythmic pulsing of her blood through her veins under pale, clear membrane. It created a false sense of vulnerability about her.
Why false, though?
Never underestimate the capabilities of Hotaru Imai. My observation skills are definitely, and most naturally, that of a much higher level than your average human being, alike the other aspects of me, and I could tell from the hard glint most shockingly present in the girl's eyes that there was no such thing as vulnerability when it came to anything concerning her.
The girl turned her cold gaze to face directly at the camera, as if she knew of its presence. Instantly, I knew that she was special. Like myself.
Something was wrong. Definitely, horribly amiss. Because that COULD NOT be panic that was gradually surfacing in her eyes.
That was the last thought I had before everything became incoherent as I watched pale eyelids slowly slid over those disturbing amber eyes and the girl bit by bit shifted to oblivion…
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Seeing once again the same girl before me, I could not help felt wary. The once suspicious and guarded girl had transformed to the cheerful girl smiling brightly, seemingly free and without a care.
How could that hostile female have such a 360 degrees change?
Worse still, how had everyone fallen under her spell so swiftly? It was as though they had lived together and known each other for years.
But how could that be?
When I arrived a week ago, there was no such person by the name of Mikan Sakura. The one who claimed to be her grandfather at then was only a grumpy old hermit.
Nagoya was a small city, actually closer to a town rather than city. It was a place where everyone knew each other.
So theoretically, it was impossible for a person I did not regconise to abruptly sprout up, existing in everyone's memories but mine. Except I did regconise her, but just not in the identity she was assuming now.
Narrowing my eyes, I watched her laughing merrily those around her.
What I had thought to be true had now turned upon me.
I had thought of her as someone who shared my pain and solitude. I had thought of her as a prospect candidate for understanding me, for being my first friend.
All shattered now. They were all shattered now. Yet, all I could do was to watch and observe from the sidelines.
I could only wait and see…
[~α&Ω~]
"How is the princess?" a voice full of authority directed a question at Narumi.
"She's doing fine, Kazu-sama. The princess has her friends with her and I assure you that they will take good care of her. I cannot say the same for the elementary division principle, however. It seems that he would be making his move soon…" Narumi answered the question dutifully.
"There is nothing that can be done for that except for us to wait and watch over the princess. Moreover, the Black Cat would be by her side."
"Of course, Kazu-sama. But what about the prophecy?" Narumi expressed the doubt that he had long had in his heart.
"I have my own plans in store for that. For fourteen years, we've guarded this secret well and as long as it you do your job to assure that it remains so, all would be well." The high school division principal answered in a calm tone.
But for how much longer can they hide the truth?
[~α&Ω~]
"Hime-sama, Hime-sama!"
It was the same scene she was facing again.
"Who are you? What do you want with me?!" Mikan screamed into the total darkness that surrounded her, in a futile attempt to get some answers out of that eerie voice.
"Hime-sama, please hurry! Please hurry!"
Echoes of the last word rang in Mikan's ear incessantly, frightening her immensely with each wave of the echoes hitting her alike the force of a crashing wave.
"Hurry, hurry, hurry, HURRY!"
Mikan awoke with a jolt, throwing off her covers and sitting bolt right on her bed with a film of sweat glistening upon her face.
"Hurry…?"
Mikan cocked her head slightly, looking rather baffled.
She shook her head, in an attempt to clear her thoughts. Lazily, she stretched, glancing at the clock set on her bedside table. Her eyes widened at the time.
"7.50AM?!!!!!" Mikan shrieked, making her well heard all over the academy.
"Oh no, oh no! Jin-Jin's going to kill me!!! I've got to hurry!!" She rambled on as she hurried through her morning routines.
Running towards the classroom, she wondered about the lunch menu for that day when her train of thoughts was put to an abrupt stop as she fell most ungracefully onto the floor.
"Late again, Teddy-bears?" came the taunting voice of the ever-popular Black Cat.
She screeched as her slurred brain finally processed his words. Giving him a final glare, she turned her back upon him and continued her dash to the classroom.
Barging into the room, she immediately bowed and apologized, "Sorry, Jinno-sensei!"
When she received no response in return, she glanced up, only to shockingly realize that the classroom was completely empty.
"Don't tell me you forgot that we're supposed to be cleaning-up the Alice Type classrooms today?" the sound of Natsume's mocking voice coming from behind her.
Whirling around, she hollered mercilessly into his face, "Why didn't you say that earlier?!!"
Without waiting for his reply-although his smug expression had said it all- she stalked off crossly, muttering curses under her breath.
[~α&Ω~]
Panting heavily, she finally arrived at the Special Ability classroom.
Seeing her arrival, Tsubasa grinned, playfully reprimanded her, "Finally here, Mikan? We thought you weren't coming! What'cha still lazing around for?"
She shot her signature smile in his direction, and then set out on helping out as much as she could.
[~α&Ω~]
"Ah chooo!"
Mikan was sneezing as she organized the antique bookshelf in the Special Ability classroom. The seniors themselves had already mentioned that it has not been touched in years. The reason was probably that the bookshelf was hidden behind partition.
Seeing the thick layer of dust that had gathered and the messy pile of books upon the shelf, no one was willing to do the job. Thus, Mikan volunteered herself.
As much as she was rather sensitive to the dust in the air, the task at hand gave her much satisfaction, seeing the books cleared of dust and arranged neatly upon the shelves. Her grandfather had always said one would never succeed with a disorganized environment.
The sight of a rather ancient-looking book piqued her interest resulting in the sudden itch in her fingers. She fingered the spine of the book but once she came in contact with it, the text suddenly shone with extreme brightness, blinding the unprepared Mikan.
Her conscious was slipping; she was falling into an abyss of darkness.
[~α&Ω~]
Meanwhile, somewhere else on this planet...
Clutching the musical box in one hand, the petite girl winded it up with the other while locking gaze onto the twirling figurines fixated upon the platform. Her eyelids slowly slid over mesmerising olive orbs, humming along with the soft melody emitting from circular box within her hands. Locks of short topaz hair danced lightly in the gentle breeze. The musical box fell onto the soft mattress below with a thud as an abrupt jolt of electricity surged through her small form. Her eyes widened with raw shock as she drew a sharp breath through clenched teeth…
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Eyelids heavy with fatigue, were slowing drawing over pools of enthralling amber. His drooping head snapped up with one fluid moment as he rubbed weary orbs of amber. He eyed the workload of papers piled up upon his desk disdainfully as he massaged his temples in an attempt to soothe a splitting headache. The dim light of the lamp fell upon his angled face, accentuating his handsome features. Further loosening the dangling chequered tie around his neck, he let out a heavy sigh. Suddenly, he stopped, mid-action, while his other hand gripped the edge of the table tightly, his jaw slackening...
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A slivery laugh escaping her lips as she brushed off the pink petal on the tip of her slightly pointed nose, eyes twinkling with amusement. She lay on her back, propped up somewhat by her elbows at her side, watching petals of pale pink gradually spiralling down from branches laden full of cherry blossoms. Titling her head back, she allowed her eyelids to sheathe impish hazel orbs as she breathed in the sweet fragrance of the beautiful flowers. Tresses of shimmering copper swayed with her every movement. All of a sudden, her arms caved underneath her as her eyes shot open, disbelief evident in them...
[~α&Ω~]
"What… was that?" Mikan questioned herself, still rather dazed from before.
She reached for the same book again but this time, not only did the text gleam, the book also lifted off the shelf and hovered in the air in front of Mikan, while she could only stare with awe.
Mikan slowly stretching her hands towards the floating book, her line of sight completely focused upon it. The instant her fingertips brushed against it, a tingling feeling shot down her arm to the rest of her body, right down to her toes. The book felt rather cool to touch, somewhat akin to pouring iced water over your hand, although it seemed to be emitting warmth at the same time. The text carved upon the thick cover was very much alien to her. It did not look like modern Japanese characters, French, English or Chinese. Yet, there was a voice ringing in her head, seemingly telling her what was written.
"The Tome… of Apocalypse…?"
An abrupt zephyr came out of nowhere, flipping the unusually thin pages of the book which were yellow with age.
A poem was written upon the page where the book now opened to but before Mikan could unconsciously read it once again, her name was hollered into the small corner where she was, shattering the silence.
"Mikan!"
Instinctively, she looked for the source of the voice, finding a merry Tsubasa peeking out from behind the partition.
"Hey, Mikan, are you about done there? We have taken care of the rest of the classroom so we were thinking of going to grab some food since it's close to lunch time. We're all feeling kinda hungry so we're not gonna wait if you take your time over there..." A teasing tone laced his voice, knowing very well that Mikan Sakura would never refuse the temptation of food.
"EH?! Sempai, don't leave me behind! I'm almost done here, just give me another minute!" Her reply was just as expected.
Tsubasa chuckled at the frantic movements of his cute kōhai, shaking his head at the same time.
[~α&Ω~]
"Persona, the time has come for us to carry out our plan." A cold voice pierced through the silence.
"Yes, my lord. It is time for us to bring that Sakura into the darkness," was the answering equally emotionless reply.
"I trust you will not fail me this time. Go, and bring that insolent brat with you the next time I call for you."
[~α&Ω~]
Nastume Hyuuga was at his usual haunt, lying upon a branch of a huge shady tree, snoozing lightly with his manga keeping the light out of his eyes. He did not stir when the bell rang, signalling the end of class. Neither did he awake when a young girl clad in the Middle School Division approached him, or so it seemed.
"Hey, Nastume! You are up there, aren't you? Answer me Nastume!" Mikan screamed up the tree, her patience thinning rapidly.
Gazing up at the leafy branches, she circled the tree, anger radiating out from her in waves with the earlier incident still fresh in her mind.
"Boo," he said in a monotone, appearing from behind her.
Mikan stumbled backwards at the sound of his voice, almost landing on her butt but thankfully, she managed to stabilise herself in time.
"Natsume no baka!!! You didn't have to scare me like that!!" she shrieked in his face, pounding against his chest with her fists at the same time.
Natsume deftly caught both her wrists in a hand and slammed her back against the sturdy trunk of the tree, a smug expression on his visage.
Shock engulfed warm pools of chocolate brown as they stared into piercing orbs of ruby.
She was getting more and more edgy by the minute. She was feeling immensely uncomfortable with her both her hands stuck above her head in that comprising position and she was starting to melt under his intense scrutiny.
"N-Natsume," she stuttered unsurely. "Someone might see..."
"Polka, do I look like I care?" he drawled out in that smooth, velvety tone of his, more of a statement than a question.
Dipping down, he kissed her full on the lips, holding it there for a long, passionate moment.
Mikan stayed still against his moving lips.
For one, she had yet to get over his sudden initiative.
More importantly, however, she had lost her control over movement when she felt that electricity pass through her the second their lips connected. She could still feel his lingering warmth and minty taste even when his lips had long left hers. Her heart ached for that same sensation again.
Still in a daze, she felt the pressure holding down her wrists gradually dissipating and her arms swung back to rest uselessly by her side.
Once she had managed to gather her wits back together, she found herself looking at the back of Nastume Hyuuga getting further and further out of her reach.
"Natume, you idiot!! Wait up!!!" she shouted, quickly running to catch up, while Natsume remained impassive to her calls.
[~α&Ω~]
"The prophecy has been set into motion. Look out for the others and send them here as soon as possible. Hurry, I'll be waiting." The screen flashed, and then turned black.
"Narumi, you heard that. I assume you know what that means," the compose voice spoke out an order.
Panic and worry was hidden within orbs of violet as they shifted to gaze at the wooden panelled floor. "Yes Kazu-sama. I will arrange for the search party and make the necessary preparations."
[~α&Ω~]
I edited this chapter. Again.
Not much difference though. BUT, if you guys notice, the first part of the story is in bold. And it is there for a reason. Make a guess, people. I won't be revealing anything soon. xDD
This chapter may seem kinda confusing but I really love to be surprised when I read a story; some unexpected twist or revelation, a story with suspense. So that's how I want my story to turn out to be and, also I wanna see if there are people smart enough to be able to read my intentions for this story. Don't worry; things will start clearing up in the later chapters.
I'm a new writer so I don't expect this story to be able to compare with works of writers like "My Hopeless Romantic .It's not perfect so I would be really happy if you could point out to me where you think is unsatisfactory as long as you don't take your anger out on me by making mean and non-constructive comments; I'm not your punching bag.
Most of all, I wanna thank KRISSY(aka crazygirl18) !!
Thanks a lot for encouraging me, giving me pointers and stuff! I love you to bits!!
Go check out her stories, by the way. They're SUPER GREAT! Anyone with sense would acknowledge that.
I'll end of with this:
Leave a comment or don't leave at all! MUAHAHAHA. (currently on sugar high)
Sweet Pix ©
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