Title: The Bride of the Fire God

Summary: This is what human brides were made of, mere living dolls, just toys to be sacrificed for entertainment.— Mikan Sakura. "We sent the wrong bride."

Disclaimer: I do not own Gakuen Alice.

This story is un-beta'ed. Again, it would take a lot of time to publish this story if I did :'(

Word count: 4,074

Sacrificial Arc

Chapter 1: The Human Bride

Love consists in desiring to give what is our own to another and feeling his delight as our own.—Unknown

One change always leaves the way prepared for the introduction of another.—Niccolo Machiavelli

Thousands of years ago, there was a small village built with nothing but famine and draught. No rain, no hope. Just heat, only heat. Heat that caused plants to wither; land to splinter and people to thirst; even suffering. It was too much for a blessing. But one, single time, a priestess came to the small township to summon the fire god, the temperamental, intimidating and selfish god, the reason why water drained and utterly left the whole village with nothing but dried tears. Since this god claimed this city to be in his possession, he insisted that his land needed him, his power, and to that immature, clueless, one-sided thought, he poured and let his power reign in his poor old city for all the hopeful years remaining, that may perhaps come by.

Fire

Many people died, had risked their lives to sacrifice their souls to their only proclaimed god in exchange for good harvest and blessings. And later on, history became as old as age, beliefs were undeniably passed by generations, until one, just one, mighty old head village councilor had set a better solution to save and solve this dilemma, and that is to sacrifice young ladies as the fire god's bride. Yes, that was only meant to protect their village.

Time had validated itself, the sacrificial village needed to offer another new bride, rather a bait to bribe and deceive the fire god to let water enter their village once more. Yet, knowing the fact that the fire god couldn't get himself enough of it, tired and unsatisfied of his past brides. He wasn't contented of what his village could offer—willingly. Right now, he wanted a new wife, a better one, one with a brave soul, a human who could fulfill his empty and cold heart, one that could replace for the better, one that is worthy the cost of being protected by his strong arms. But still, in the end of the day, it was just him, making a fool of himself.

In present time, here she is, the new and soon bride-to-be of the fierce and obsessed fire god, the ever so brave and bold, Mikan Sakura.

"Little bride, it's already time!" One of the village's official called out, his voice riveted on the restrained air. Catching our little brunette's bare and innocent attention, although despite the seemingly muffled echo of noise subdued by other villagers, she merely asked for pardon and then, granted with a righteous answer.

"I'm right here!" Mikan waved a hand in the mid-air, not minding the fact that the official couldn't find his way to see her presence. Well, thanks to the movable tent that she was in which tentatively nullified to distinguish figures from synthetic walls and ceilings. "I'll be there in a minute!"

Having some time alone, Mikan heaved out a long, defeating sigh as she checked herself in the mirror, fully geared up; getting ready for the ceremony. Her long, waist-length brunette hair was tied in butterfly braids that which seemed to emphasize more on her dough-like hazel orbs. Her hairstyle matched perfectly with her red tight yukata. She always looked impressive and amazing and that may be the main reason why everybody adorned her.

Why do people intend to make others look so pretty, knowing that it's already their last day? Mikan thought one-sidedly, reciprocating another sigh. I could either be the fire god's wife or nothing, if he wouldn't like me, I'd surely be a dead meat. She grunted in dismay, fixing some of her hair stubs back in place using colorful hairpins.

"I am Mikan Sakura and…I can do this." She breathe in, moving out of the temporary shelter to wait for the next few minutes till the start of the ritual but what greeted her next was unexpected—something she didn't plan to happen even in the first place.

"Hey,"

Mikan smiled, placing her hands clipped on her back. "Glad you came here, Tsuba—", sad as it was, her trails of verbal interaction was subsequently interrupted when she, by chance, saw his midnight blue eyes lost its natural glow.

Mikan frowned, biting her lower lip. "You figured it out, yes?" She reassuringly interrogated, acting like he had known him for a long time.

Ten years, that is.

At a snail's pace, she straggled, approaching him with the same gloomy expression plastered on her face. She hadn't thought he'd be affected so much like this.

"I'm sorry…" Mikan apologized, her eyebrows creased down and her lips in a bitter frown.

Tsubasa shook his head, a small—forced—smile graced on his lips. "You don't need to, Mikan, I understand but..." He paused, tilting his head slightly to the side.

Mikan blinked her eyes once, nodding her head nonchalantly. "Go on. I'll be listening to you."

He growled, swallowing the lump in his throat as he focused his eyes on her. "You know that you're the only one left for me to cherish and prove that life isn't worthless at all. I don't want you to leave, Mikan. Just stay." Tsubasa, a guy who's likely recognizable with his messy midnight blue hair and his signature star tattoo under his left eye, unleashed a long, deep-sounding breath of depression. Losing his only family wouldn't be easy at all, it's like you're losing one part of your soul, losing another fifty percent of your self-confidence.

Just for Yuka. He thought, unmoving on his spot. She'll be safe with me and not with him.

The Fire God.

"But I thought you understand my situation and—" Before Mikan could even finish her sentence, he cut her off.

A vein popped on his forehead as he flew into a rage of annoyance. "You could just decline the offer and let someone replace you instead!" Tsubasa's calmness faded, replacing nothing but frustration and guilt, rough and scratchy pitch. With Natsume, she'll not be protected. "Why does it have to be you? There are a lot of beautiful and attractive women in this town other than your presence but why you?"

Hazel eyes. Just like her mother.

Mikan shrugged her shoulders as a disgraced scowl crossed her face and disobedience surfaced her whole being as she again, for the tenth time, pondered on how she became related to him in a matter-of-fact that they had nothing, even one bit, in common. Why is he being so protective? Yeah, it's natural for siblings to protect one another. But well, it's dissimilar and different for the both of them for they don't share the same blood, same characteristics and even perspectives but why does he appear to be like this, acting more than her brother. Could it be love? Certainly not. Tsubasa acts more childish than her, making her feel pestered when he's around and of how he was dependent on her. He shouldn't think much of a problem not his, but hers. He could be a prankster most of the time and one fourth of his life being dramatic but how did he ended up like this? Weeping for Mikan's sake? Oh right, he loved Mikan Sakura more than anyone else, more than a sister-and-brother love. So how was it? He just don't accept the truth that he's in love with his so called little sister since she's a part of his family, true, though you shall call 'foster family'.

Since the day he was dethroned t by the heavens, he had promised himself something.

He'll make her live a life of normality.

Mikan will exist.

"I don't know how I should address you for now but…"

"I'm your brother, Mikan." Tsubasa stated, his voice somewhat deeper.

Mikan nodded, quite uninsured. "Brother, it's not like you can replace me with others," She dropped her head down to the ground, breaking the eye contact. "This problem is assigned to me and I need to fix things."

Fix things and die—just like Yuka.

"Fix things? What the hell—" Tsubasa scoffed them hissed afterwards as he cursed under his breath while throwing his open palms on Mikan's guileless shoulders, "This is totally not your problem, Mikan." His nails dug deeper on her clothe as he shook her a little with the weight of his hands on her shoulder, "Why don't you let the councilor solve this problem on his own? You have done nothing against the law and surely, it's not your fault to end up being the lamb here. You don't need to suffer for us, Mikan!"

The councilor—a no big help geezer. A devil's prawn.

"That's not the point." Mikan furrowed her eyebrows, gently removing Tsubasa's hands off of her exhausted shoulder. Tsubasa cocked an eyebrow of confusion as Mikan continued, "This is what the prophecy has foretold. This is my duty and fulfillment is the key to a brighter future." She said through gritted teeth as she forced herself to hold back the hot tears that threatened its way to form a shallow river of her own on her eyelids. "It's not like I wanted this to happen anyways..."

Hard.

That is how life being created, the flaws and laws aren't symmetrical to how life be so damn joyous and festive, there will always be a turning point at every slice of happiness; a section of life were you fall and regret for things, and a new chapter of life to mold and change, not change bit to improve yourself and that's the stage where Mikan stands right now. Seeing her loved ones is enough to complete her sunken heart but is not surely part of the scheme, just a tragic coincidence that she had to face.

Drastic.

"Then if that's the case, why do you have to leave and go? I suppose that you should be here, by my side if you love me," Tsubasa tried to reason out, hanging his head loose on Mikan's shoulder. "You're being unfair."

Childish and desperate? Really a fruit of Tsubasa-ish.

Mikan stifled a boyish laugh, comforting her brother with a musical pat on his back, "Now you're gonna cry for me? Don't you like it? Your sister acting as the heroine? The main character of a story?"

"Yeah, a tragic story. After all, it's just an act. Why be so proud and happy?" His reply wasn't even for the best as his voice held sarcasm; Mikan mentally slapped herself for that before jabbing her fist forcefully on his swollen back.

"At least I'm doing stuffs for good and not for the worst." She did carefully picked the right words, one that could hit right through Tsubasa's thick skull and the ones that could open up his mind—apparently.

Tsubasa stayed sunk in eerie silence as he closed his eyes and familiarize the scent Mikan was wearing. Strawberries... He thought.

He rehearsed a smile under the shadows and decided to face her again. He pulled up a lopsided grin and softly planted a knock of his knuckle on Mikan's right cheek. "Gotcha'. "

Mikan puffed her cheeks and curtly removed his hand away from reaching her again as she took a step back, guarding herself away from danger caused by her brother. "Just try one more time and I'll knock you down with a big black eye." She warned, "With no mercy."

"Ha-ha." Tsubasa stuck his tongue out, putting his hands at the back of his head in a way that he's cooling himself a bit; lessening his stress thirty percent compared to resting on a mattress which is a hundred percent stress reliever. "Typical Mikan."

Mikan rolled her eyes.

"Does this mean that I have nothing at hand to make you change your mind?" He inquired, darting his eyes to her direction as he put his hands on his waist. Mikan irritatingly clicked her tongue and glared at him.

"Don't you get it? Final is final." And that was the cue for him to give up and surrender the fact that she's still be with her—until the very end.

Not.

"I'll support you with your stupid, irrational reason in one condition—" Tsubasa closed his eyes while placing a lifted index finger in front, tugging it like every beat of music. Mikan blinked her eyes twice, innocently giving him a baffled, puppy look. "—promise me you'll never fall for that half-assed, shit-like god." He said, partially lecturing and ordering Mikan.

A racial discrimination.

Mikan giggled with a semi-balled hand glued just in the same height as her mouth, "Sure."

"…and be mine." That was the last phrase connected to his undone sentence which Mikan badly missed.

"Why don't we make a pinky swear?" Mikan suggested which Tsubasa highly agreed. Their beams were impaired as they latched their fingers and made a pact.

Something that can destroy her future.

MIKAN SAKURA

"So uhmm…goodbye?" I cynically stated, trying my best to smile but grew out to be fake. I can't hide the truth from him. I'm scared. Frightened of losing him, so as everybody else in this village.

My brother enveloped me in one of his big sincere and loving embrace. I feel so safe and protected in his arms, but I know, these strong arms will disappear someday.

And I guess this would be the last time I'll be able to see his face.

It hurts me so much every time I think of this matter; leaving him behind and build a new life and even family of my own soon. Being a bride of an unknown person, especially to a god wouldn't be easy at all. It's not like I could visit everyone or even this village every time. Izumi-san, the village's head councilor, had already told me that once you get to that alternate universe, humans never stand a chance to escape in that world and get back here. It's either you live or die.

"It's not the end, Mikan, you're still at the starting line, the beginning of your long journey and I wish you all the best," Tsubasa started, a genuine smile on his face. I could feel a knot forming in my stomach right now. The worst day of my life EVER. "We'll surely meet again, someday." Touched by his words, it made me sob, having all the murky emotion. I'm shattering into pieces. I bit my lower lip, holding my tears back as it rise and form in the corner of my eyelids.

"See you…"

He chuckled at my response, snaking his hands tighter on my back and squeezed me, "I'll miss you..."

As I processed his last statement in my mind, I can't avoid the loneliness being filled inside of me. The way it rolled out of his tongue made me feel like breaking. Another heartache.

I gritted my teeth as big pearls of tears began to stream down my eyes, smudging all my make-ups. Of all women in this village, why me? Why am I selected in the first place? Right, I almost forgot that the 'fire god' preys women with 'hazel eyes' without any rational reasons. No one knows anything about his background.

Except for the head councilor.

Why does he keep everything a secret from us? Is that how gods made of? Too sensitive? Ugh.

"Are you okay?"

"Uh, me?" I broke the hug, skeptically pointing a finger to my chest. He nodded. "Yeah, though still tensed." I nervously laughed it out, rubbing some tears using the back of my hand. Okay. The truth is, I'm lying. I shouldn't feel pampered in this crucial state; this whole thing is killing me!

Tsubasa let go of me as the head councilor interrupted us, with all the rude and imprudent actions, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me away from my only left family. I struggled to free my hand from his grip but hence, granted by a sudden pause. Maybe this is what they've been talking about recently. The Risen Temple.

I was dragged into the huge temple and was pushed aside by the village councilor when I attempted on biting his ugly, fucking hand. I ruefully glared at his back while clenching my fists into hard stones. Ugh, the nerve of this old man!

NORMAL POV

Mikan stood up on the center of a mysterious-looking magic circle. She closed her eyes once, hoping that it was just a dream but it's not. She snapped her eyes open and studied the whole place. The temple was quite old in shape, even when you look at its structure. Huge rock pillars surrounded the magic circle with unlighted torches perched on top, the columns acted like boundaries that separated the world between gods and humans. There were large cracks on it too.

Mikan raised one foot and observed several lines that made in contact with each other, forming a perfect six-sided stellar with some random marks of weird hand script writings on it.

The church bell rang thrice, cuing that the offertory ceremony is about to start any minute from now and also, people coming from the sacrificial town gathered themselves around the temple.

As night fell in the small hometown, the sky painted a mixed color of heavy shades of violets and indigos. The wind slowly hummed as it rustled in trees and bamboos which caused an inexplicable whistling sound to be produced.

Villagers, who were noisy and inquisitive before, hushed when the grumpy head councilor spoke in. Faces that were hoard, lured around the area were of various sorts, some of them were frightened, some were angry and others, left uncounted were sorry; guilt was creeping all over their body for our poor brunette.

Mikan Sakura.

"Suzaku, the fire god, please accept our heartfelt offering!" The old councilor shouted in the most pleasing way as he stood right in front of the brunette.

The hell he's talking! Mikan yelled wildly in her mind, hatred and anger not leaving her once and never gone astray in the wind. She cursed under her breath, letting her tears dry on her cheeks; faint, dried marks were still left visible on her cheeks. Nervousness began to surprise inside of her; cold, frozen chest as far as she felt the chills. The wind began to blow harder and harder, changing directions every time the god's name being mentioned—called to be summon. Dried reeds effortlessly being pulled out of its feeble and scrawny roots. Mikan blocked the wind using her lower arm and same goes for the rain shower being carried by the uncultivated wind. Mikan took one step back, almost at the verge of escaping but was then, taken aback by the uncalled, flaring torches, burning the dire and cold temperature.

"What's going on?" Mikan fearfully asked no one in particular, taking another step back as she scanned her eyes around the dim-lighted surrounding. Gosh, she felt horrified after all the signs.

Everything was way too much for a normal person like her.

"Suzaku, to thee, I call upon your presence!" The old councilman repeated, loud enough to be heard by the Heavens. "Suzaku, show me your power!" Now, his arms wide open and his eyes passionately closed, sensing the pressure being built by nature itself. Flames coming from the torches increased, seemingly touching the sky.

Not too long ago, a huge growl from a demon beast which mold in a form of a shadow came to view. From darkness, an unknown dimension where demon gods said to originate—Well, not all of them are evil.

MIKAN SAKURA

I loudly gulped and took much time to stare at his shadow rather than shouting for my life. I swear, it'll be the end of me if I did.

"Oh my Lord, I'm not worthy to call thy name but as a token of exchange for thee bountiness and protection, I offer you, my god—" Izumi-san politely bowed his head in honor for the said fire god and gestured a hand to me as he smoothly took a step aside, "—our little gift of gratitude."

My eyes widened in surprise and horror when my name was called, described rather. I silently gasped for air since it seemed to leave me dearly empty. I froze, not recovering from my normal state, even an inch.

Crap.

Crap.

Crap.

I blinked my eyes once before snapping back to reality and rubbing the blur out of my sandy eyes. If I'll die now, I wanna see his true form beforehand.

A white, two-tailed demon kitten with sharp, pointy crimson ruby eyes stepped out of the dark shadows of the dried and already dead, northern forest. His twin tails were burning with long, staggered and stubby flames so as his feet emerged with red and orange blazing fires and his cold, piercing eyes reflected my own self.

I remained flatly frozen like a rock. I'm burning my soul to hell. Somebody help, I mean, puh-lease save me! I shouted in my mind, still unmoved.

I tried to smile a little but was then quickly melted when he directly and without any shame, made an eye contact with me. In my own understanding, he's checking my eye color, yes? Yeah, maybe.

At the time he entered inside the magic circle, the lines began to glow red beams.

My heart pounded so hard against my chest when I, for the third time, saw his shadow grew bigger, towering his image. I took a step backward, and another, then followed by another until I tripped myself with my own carelessness. I helplessly fell, stumbled on the ground but despite the terror I hereby experienced, it never stopped me from struggling for life. I managed to stand up on my own feet, turned around but when I was about to run away, he caught me off guard.

Shadows began to eat my soul, along with my whole being. Starting from my toes, running to my upper body till it reached over my head. I could feel all the hot eyes on me. Attention, that is. I didn't look any good at all; unworthy to be praised with glory but looked as if like a pitiful mice.

I took one last breath and a round of the eye to scan the crowd, hoping to fill in, my terrified and whole-heartedly devoured self by fear, destroying little hopes and dreams. I saw my brother being blocked by two huge chaps. I initiated his gesture that he tried to reach out his hand towards my direction, pleading me back to him and I would surely accept it if I was given the chance but sadly, the time had stopped running for me. I smiled at him for the last time before my eyes flew close, tightly locked together and freely letting the shadows to completely eat me wholly. This is what human brides were made of, mere living dolls, just toys to be sacrificed for entertainment.

NORMAL POV

After our poor Mikan being swallowed by the shadows, the fire god disappeared as well and not forgetting the climate that quickly driven to ease, being replaced with a calm atmosphere.

"We're free from the curse!" One of the villagers shouted with glee, praising with his hands adorning the fresh air. Others began to follow her as well, rejoicing.

"No. Wait..." The councilman lifted a stopping hand, everyone stayed silent while others just lowered their voices, turning it into hubbubs. The old councilman traced his freckled, aged fingers on the almost died out light emitted by the magic circle's outer outline. "We just experienced a power shortage in the magic circuit which means—" He left his speech hanging in the ending as he stood up, faceing the up roaring crowd and eyed them with disappointment and fear, "We sent the wrong bride."

Purple Bubble Patch Coffee

First Submitted on April 27, 2012