HAPPILY EVER AFTER
Disclaimer: Gakuen Alice and its characters belong only to Tachibana Higuchi-sama. I am merely a fan who would like to borrow Higuchi-sama's wonderful, wonderful characters. I can only lay claim to the original characters I have created to serve my story's purposes.
Author's Note: This story is set after they have already defeated the Elementary School Principal. Living conditions in the academy has greatly improved and students now have more freedom to contact their families outside of the academy. Although, students are still not allowed to leave the academy due to security problems (kidnapping threats and all), their families can come and visit them during school breaks and special holidays.
I have decided to set the timeline to a year after the whole ESP incident, which means that Mikan and most of her friends are already in their first year in Middle School. But as we don't know anything about the teachers in Middle School, except Nodacchi, I have taken the liberty to reassign their beloved Elementary School teachers to Middle School. Also, as the evil ESP is no longer in the picture, I have created a new character and assigned her the prestigious position. You will learn more about her as you read the story.
Anyway, it's just going to be full of fluff to satisfy my thirst for NatsuMikan scenes. But I do hope you would still enjoy reading it. Please read and review, everyone. Constructive criticisms will be welcomed, flames will be ignored and of course, questions will be entertained. Now, on to the story…
You're stuck on me and my laughing eyes
I can't pretend though I try to hide – I like you
I like you.
I think I felt my heart skip a beat
I'm standing here and I can hardly breathe – you got me
You got me.
The way you take my hand is just so sweet
And that crooked smile of yours it knocks me off my feet
Oh, I just can't get enough
How much do I need to fill me up?
It feels so good it must be love
It's everything I've been dreaming of.
I give up. I give in. I let go. Let's begin.
'Cuz no matter what I do,
Oh (oh) my heart is filled with you.
-You Got Me by Colbie Caillat
Chapter One: A Fresh Start
"Ohayou, minna-san!"
"Ah, Mikan-chan, good morning!"
"Good morning!"
It's the start of a new term—a new beginning and of course, new uniforms! 'Weeeee! I still can't believe it! We're now in Middle School!' It has already been a year since we defeated that horrible, evil principal. 'I'm glad he's gone! Hmm… wait! Now that he is gone, I wonder who would take his place.'
"Natsume! Ohayou!"
"Hn."
"Eh?" 'What's his problem?'
Unbeknownst to Mikan, Natsume had witnessed a scene that warranted his current attitude towards our beloved heroine.
Earlier:
Natsume was sitting on a branch of one of his favorite trees when he saw Mikan run up to Tsubasa and Misaki. Now, he is well aware of Tsubasa's feelings for Misaki but well, anyone who dares lay a hand, much more hug, his Mikan will not be forgiven. And of course, Tsubasa was once again hugging Natsume's Mikan. In addition to that, our daft heroine was completely oblivious to the sudden wave of murderous aura welling up behind her. Thus, warranting Natsume's current bad mood.
Going back to the present:
"Hotaru!"
Bakan! Bakan!
"Ow! Waaaaa! Ruka-pyon!"
"S-Sakura!"
"Alright, alright, everyone! Settle down now."
"Ah! Narumi-sensei! Why are you here?"
"Haha, Mikan-chan! I asked to be reassigned here because I knew Mikan-chan would miss me too much," Narumi said winking at Mikan. "Now, please take your seat."
Mikan looked around for an empty seat and belatedly realized that everyone seemed to have followed the same seating arrangement they had in Elementary School.
'Waaa! I wanted to sit beside Hotaru! Huhu… Why do I have to sit beside that meany again? Waaa!' And so, Mikan pouted all the way to her seat beside the meany, Natsume. This, of course, further irked our most irritable Black Cat.
'Why is he being so mean to me again anyway? Ignoring me… hmph!'
"Oi, Ugly! Why do you still have those pigtails? Didn't I tell you to put it down?"
"Y-you stupid fox! Don't call me ugly! And wha--"
"Mikan-chan, please calm down now. I have some things to announce so please," Narumi interrupted before Mikan can go on a full blown tirade.
'Idiot. Making so much noise so early in the morning,' Hotaru thought. Yet she was pleased that her best friend was being so energetic.
"Okay. First announcement: I will still be your Homeroom teacher. Second announcement: Natsume, you will now be joining the Latent ability class. Third and final announcement: the General Assembly will be at 10 am. Well, that's all. I'll see all of you later. Ja!" And with that, Narumi left the class in utter chaos.
'Ah, they haven't changed at all. Still as unruly as they were in Elementary school. Fukutan-sensei would still have his hands full. Oh well. Hehe…'
"Natsume, you're in the Latent ability class now! That's great! You'll be with Iinchou and Yo-chan!"
"Stop being so noisy, Polka."
"Why, you!" And Mikan, whose tirade was cut short by Narumi-sensei earlier, now resumed her angry ranting. But as always, Natsume ignored her. He leaned back on his seat, propped his foot up the table, placed an open manga over his face and pretended to sleep. He was still very much annoyed over the incident earlier.
'Where does that damn Shadow get off hugging Mikan like that? And this—this idiot woman! Why would she even want to hug that stupid man?!'
Two hours and 251-ways-of-killing-Tsubasa later…
Everyone was standing with their respective Ability type classes, making as much noise as they can while waiting for the General Assembly to start. Then a hushed murmur went through the crowd as the Principals from the three school divisions climbed the stage and sat down on their respective seats of honor. They were as stately as ever. Principal Yukihira was still dashingly handsome, Himemiya-sama was as young and as beautiful as Mikan last saw her and the last one—the new Elementary School Principal was quite pretty and surprisingly young enough to be mistaken for a high school student.
'I know her. I've seen her before… Ah! I remember! That was her! The woman from before! She healed Natsume that time… She's the new Elementary School Principal? But she seems so young…' Mikan thought as she tried to place the familiar face of the new Elementary School Principal.
***
"Natsume! No!" Mikan shouted as she saw Natsume jump in front of her and created a circle of fire around them, protecting her. Everything to protect her—that was what he promised her. He would give his own life to protect her.
In one sudden whoosh, the circle of fire grew bigger and bigger, becoming a tornado burning everything around them, including Principal Kuonji. Then Natsume collapsed having used up every ounce of energy inside his body just to protect his precious Mikan.
Mikan ran to him and held his prone form. She saw the blood on his lips and knew the full extent of his sacrifice. He was dying. He knew using that much of his alice would kill him but he still did it anyway.
"Why, natsume? Why? Please don't… please don't die. Don't leave me," Mikan sobbed holding him close to her.
"Don't… cry… Mikan," Natsume managed to say before his body was racked with coughs.
"No. Please… no."
A strange lady approached them and knelt on the other side of Natsume's body. Mikan remembered finding her neat appearance very unusual. She watched as the girl brushed Natsume's hair away from his face and placed her palm on his sweat-beaded forehead. She took Natsume's right hand with her other one and Mikan saw a pale blue light glow around the girl's hands, gradually spreading, enveloping Natsume's body. It lasted a minute at most but it felt like a year as she watched Natsume's breathing slowly even out. Then the girl looked up, met Mikan's tear-filled brown eyes and smiled. She stood up and simply walked away as if completely oblivious to her battle-torn surroundings. And as sudden as she had come, she was gone.
***
"I hear the new Principal is actually older than the Middle School Principal."
Mikan was jolted out of her reverie as the whispered rumors reached her ears.
"Eh really? She's older?!" Mikan exclaimed skeptically.
"Yep. That's what they say," Misaki-senpai piped up behind her.
"Uh-huh. They even say that she's actually immortal," Tsubasa-senpai added.
"Wow! She must be really great then," Mikan exclaimed, getting all worked up again.
"—the Dangerous Ability Class is officially dissolved and its former members will be transferred to their corresponding Ability type classes. Those who have—" Goshima Hijiri, the current Student Council President, was announcing.
'So that's why Natsume's with the Latent Ability class now,' Mikan thought remembering Narumi-sensei's announcement earlier.
"—not been informed of their new Ability type class must ask their Homeroom teachers. Now, please let me introduce the new teachers for the Middle School Division: Sakurano Shuuichi and Imai Subaru."
The two former Student Council Officials formally greeted the crowd before Goshima-senpai closed the General Assembly and dismissed the crowd back to their classes.
"Hey, li'l brat," Tono-senpai greeted Mikan as he approached them.
"Ah, Tono-senpai! Is it true? Is it true? They say the new Elementary School Principal is actually older than Himemiya-sama?" Mikan excitedly asked.
"Yeah. I've even heard that they're related somehow."
"Oi, ugly! Aren't we supposed to be going back to class?"
"I told you to stop calling me ugly!" Mikan angrily shouted. But her protest was completely ignored as Natsume was busy glaring at Tono and Tsubasa.
"Come on, Polka." Natsume said, grabbing Mikan's hand and dragging her towards the direction of the Middle School Building.
Tono, Misaki and Tsubasa were left staring at their kouhais' retreating form. The two men merely shook their heads in amusement as Misaki mused aloud, "That boy is pretty jealous."
Natsume contined to hold Mikan's hand even when Mikan was already comfortably keeping pace with him and he didn't have to drag her so much anymore. They were both blushing but neither one of them wanted to let go of the other's hand. Mikan smiled, looking at their intertwined hands and Natsume caught it as he peeked at her face.
"What are you smiling about, Polka?" He asked trying to be gruff but ended up sounding affectionate. He was still quite annoyed with those two perverted idiots but seeing Mikan's happy smile somehow managed to take the edge off most of his anger.
Mikan shook her head and replied, "Nothing. Umm… Natsume, where's Hotaru and Ruka-pyon?"
"IMAI!!!"
Mikan looked up, startled. And what she saw caused a sweatdrop to appear on her head. Ruka-pyon was on his giant hawk chasing Hotaru who was on her Flying Swan.
"Well, that should answer your question."
*Bump*
"Eh?" Mikan was still watching the sky-high chase so she didn't see Natsume suddenly stop and become tense. "Natsume? What's wrong?"
The new Elementary School Principal had suddenly come out running from the woods bordering the path they were treading. She stopped in front of them and openly stared at them, her curiosity evident in her clear, gray eyes. Persona, who had been chasing the girl, stopped at the edge of the path and was looking quite irked.
"Come now, Eien-sama. You wouldn't really want to involve innocent students, would you?" Persona chided the girl standing motionlessly before them.
*Crackle*
Upon hearing Persona's words, Natsume held up his left hand producing a small flame. He still couldn't bring himself to trust that man no matter what Nobara said—not after all those times that man hurt him and threatened those who were dear to him. And here he was threatening another girl even though she was the new principal. 'Which is rather weird,' Natsume thought.
But the girl laid a hand on Natsume's shoulder and smiled at him when he looked up. She then walked over to Persona and held out her hand which Persona immediately grabbed and started pulling her towards the general direction of the Elementary School building.
"Wait," Mikan called out to the retreating pair. "I… I just wanted to thank you for—for that time… so thank you!" Mikan said bowing.
The girl grinned. "I don't know what you're talking about," she said winking at Mikan before turning around and walking away.
"What was that about?" Natsume asked.
"Umm… remember that person who healed you that time? I'm pretty sure that was her… but she said she doesn't know so… I don't know," Mikan replied very much confused.
"Hn. Let's just go," Natsume said taking Mikan's hand once more and pulling her along.