Love Twirl by Einsteinette
The more a thing is forbidden, the more it is sought-after. Like my idiotic sister. Tch. (Does not contain incest)
***
Hello it's Einsteinette! I so love reading Gakuen Alice! I got so hooked-up to it. Who won't? I'm hopeful for more MikanXNatsume hints in the upcoming volumes. And while waiting, I'm putting up all my fantasies to this story and I hope you enjoy reading.
The setting of the story is an AU – a land I call Sky Country – but the idea of alices and Gakuen Alice remains. Whew. Putting up the plot was quite a work so I'm positive that my readers will kinda appreciate it. This is romance, adventure and humor packed in one for you. Rated M for suggestive scenes and for mild limes.
~Love Twirl~
by Einsteinette
***
It is proven. Love could make the world go round; turn a masked heart around; and keep the head spinning around.
It bends. It pulls. It twirls.
***
CHAPTER I:
Hyuuga Family's Deepest, Darkest Secret
Among all the countries that existed once upon a time, one could tell Sky Country was best. People from all over were drawn to its mystical heritage that was truly unmatched. It was where phenomena of all sorts thrive; it was where the supernatural was the basis of every belief. It was, no doubt, a utopia. It was were people with and without alices blended well.
Sky Country was the cluster of six pillar villages, each very distinct from each other through their unique legends protected by people. These legends were the villages' treasures; the people of the village yearly celebrated them. The festivals were much anticipated in Sky Country.
As the protectors of their respective village, the head families were tasked to hold Sky Country altogether in unbreakable peace. In exchange for that, the head families could secure the respect and loyalty of their people. But inevitable competition among the head families had long established a mood that threatened the peace within the country. Among the six pillars, two had found firm rivalry in each other - the Hikari Village and Sakura Village. But to feign camaraderie, the two head families signed a pact that stated about the unity of Hikari Village and Sakura Village through a betrothal.
Fate, one day, incrementally unraveled a complicated set of cards with them.
***
Setting: Head family's old-style Japanese mansion in Hikari Village
A hooded figure with what appeared like a lump of rags in his arms headed his way to the Hyuuga mansion's front gates.
It was 2 hours past midnight; only the glow of the pale moon lighted his way to the guards awaiting him. Soon as the guards verified his identity, one guard led the hooded figure across the huge mansion's entrance.
Standing patiently under the array of trees along the path was a Hyuuga elder clad in heavy coat; it seemed that he had been waiting for the new-arrival. The hooded figure immediately approached the elder and abandoned the side of the guard the moment he was beckoned. He stared at the old man's face; it was almost entirely masked by bushy, white beard. It was also hard make out his appearance because dark, to add to that. Nonetheless, the hooded man rested his trust upon the old man to finish his mission in the village. In the blink of an eye, both had vanished without a trace.
His eyes fluttered open and he found himself inside a vast wooden room that barely had light. The hooded man tightened his grip on the lump in his arms as he tried to distinguish the silhouette of faces before him. One of these faces, he was sure, was that of the Hyuuga family's head. Just like what any vigilant worker would do, he strained his ears to hear even the slightest movment of feet to assure there were no strange movements against him. Remember, he was one against 6.
"Have you brought the baby?" said the booming voice of an old woman.
His breathing hitched before he could answer "Y-yes."
The lousy mound of fabric contained in his arms was unwrapped, allowing a face of a baby girl to emerged. Part of his work was to safely smuggle the baby out of Sakura Village into Hikari Village, no more and no less. He had escaped powerful Sakura Village's sentries in fifteen minutes - good enough for a greenhorn like him.
"Now hand it and take the baby boy away. Never dare come back."
He nodded. To come back was plainly ridiculous.
In no time, the exchange of babies was completed; the last thing he had to do was to sneak the baby boy safely into Sakura Village. And the following day, he would see this night like a far-off memory. It would soon be over without regrets. He tucked the lump of fabric in his arm, which now concealed a baby boy, and requested for Hyuuga mansion's alice barriers deactivated so he could use an alice stone to teleport back to the outskirts of Sakura Village. Few more minutes, he assured himself. Despite the wintry feel of the night air, a few beads of sweat dropped from his temples.
-
Left in the shadows of the mansion, Hyuuga Fujihara, the clan head, watched the peaceful face of the baby in his arms. He saw she was every bit of an angel, like she didn't belong to this imperfect universe. Watching her sleep at a time like this – at a time she being taken away from her true home – shook his heart in remorse.
Would the harmless angel in his arms loathe him once she discovered the truth?
And would his real son, whom he had just given away, still had room for forgiveness in his heart?
What was it that compelled him to do this unforgivable deed?
(flashback)
In the far-off village of Hikari, famous for its annual shower of stars, the Hyuuga Mansion was in total havoc.
The elders of said family were gathered on the tatami floor, facing each other under the light emanating from the candles set on the altar. There was also Hitomi-san who clenched her fist on her bosom, restlessly surveying the somber faces of the elders. She was alongside her husband, Fujihara, who plastered an impassive face despite the intensity in the room.
Fujihara scrutinized the veiled woman knelt before him with his intimidating stare. Her presence reminded him of the atmosphere in funerals and graveyards; beyond the fine façade, definitely there was filth. Definitely not good for his pregnant wife. Instinctively, he crinkled his nose as though expecting a foul smell to arise anytime now. Claiming she was a soothsayer, the woman barged into the mansion that evening with her news of the future. He could feel the weight of her ogles, like he was some crystal ball to her, and certainly it rendered uneasiness in his part.
Right then and there, everybody held their breaths as the woman with the alice of Divination started to reveal what she named the message of the heavens.
"My lord, I am grieved to pass this message to you and most especially to Lady Hitomi." Her shaky, nauseating voice echoed within the four walls of the room.
"On the coming season of winter after the sun had left the horizon completely, the child – no, children in my lady's womb are to first set foot in the outside world…"
As though seeing something invisible to everyone else, the woman gaped mouth-opened on a spot on the wall. If there was one thing to describe her, the word creepy was perfect.
"Oh no...Both shall be born males. This is an omen, my lord!"
"Just go on, alrig – "
"Never did Hikari Village have two heirs in history…And…And, great heavens forgive me, but the twins shall bring bad luck to the village."
Hitomi-san let out an audible gasp, her hands covering her mouth.
"Woman, you could rot in jail with your allegations!" an elder interjected.
But the veiled woman just went on. "And the Hyuuga clan would fall apart…My lord, you have no choice! The great heaven knows, my lord, I am just passing its message to you. Listen, everyone in this room! To save the Hyuuga family, my lord must give up one child…Just one child!"
Mouths were opened in gaps with everyone stunned at the woman on the floor. Before their own eyes, her eyeballs swelled; her nails raked on the wooden planks beneath her; and then her body violently shuddered. A few more minutes and the alice-caster of Divination collapsed in the center of the room - left sprawled face-first onto the floor. Everyone seemed too freaked-out that nobody dared to get near her.
whisper, whisper, whisper
The elders were leaning to each side as they circulated ideas about the sudden revelation. They were oblivious to Lady Hitomi's eyes that were brimming with warm tears. They were all nodding in agreement to what the veiled woman had said; Hitomi's heart could only feel hatred towards them. How long would they keep intervening? What about her feelings as the mother of the child they wish to dispatch?
Hitomi hands slightly trembled as she clutched her husband's arm and begged. "My lord, don't believe any word of that woman. You can't do that to your own child!"
Foreboding. Dread. These were jammed in her pleading voice. Her voice, Fujihara was sure, one day would haunt him. For a second there, Fujihara's mind was void of any thought as his brain tried to process the words of the veiled woman. It took long for them to sink in.
"We don't need two successors, Fujihara. I'm telling you, your wife is still young - other more children will come into your life!"
The tears of Hitomi trickled onto the sleeve of Fujihara's robe. He had been supressing the urge to avert his eyes towards her; to see her crying would only obscure his judgment. He shouldn't, or rather couldn't, let his feelings get the better of him. It had been instilled in his mind since he was young that the ruler of the house should put the prosperity of clan in top priority. he knew he had to decide not as a father but as the Hyuuga family's master.
whisper, whisper, whisper
"The heavens know what is bound and I can only bend to what it says."
(end of flashback)
What was supposed to be done was done; it was over for the time being.
-
In the quiet of the night, the clan head carried the baby girl into the room in quick paces. Right away, his crimson eyes scanned into the darkness for the form of his wife – only to remember that she, too, was gone like their child.
For months and months, Hitomi had been perturbed of what would happen to one of their sons. It wasn't healthy for someone carrying life in her womb and soon she had gotten frail. Fujihara himself had surmised that her giving birth to two babies would be a fatal blow - an instant ticket to deathbed. And so one cold winter night, just as predicted, his wife gave birth to twins but unfortunately didn't survive.
Fujihara knew better than lament over what was through; he had to brew over on the looming. Yet it was undeniable that as a human, he would never learn how to get used to Hitomi's absence. He was not afraid to spend a new set of everyday without her. Never. To stand this feeling in his chest that was beyond painful, to live for his son and this girl from now on…Maybe it wasn't so hard after all.
He caught sight of the baby boy on the futon in the room. He got down to his knees, his long mane curtaining his sober face, and laid the unfamiliar baby girl beside the boy to fill the space that was meant for his twin brother. With hands on the floor to support him, he was stationary as he stared at the two peaceful statures. The babies' chests rose and fell in audible breathing and unexpectedly, they looked good together.
"From now on, you are Hyuuga Mikan…You'll grow side-by-side my Natsume-kun." He told the sleeping baby girl and felt a bud of hope surface.
***
Lovely and demanding eight years of upbringing had flown by. And it all erased the poignant marks left by the melancholy past. Hyuuga mansion now resonated of sweet childhood melodies, of two opposite music in total harmony. To Fujihara, the blooming rose bushes of the front garden were better each day; the sky had a brighter dab of orange at daybreak than usual; and the humming birds sang more beautifully each passing morning. He never knew raising children was lovely. All the more, seeing them getting along well made him truly happy.
"Baka! Baka! Bakaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!" an eight-year-old girl in pigtails squealed with teary eyes.
"So noisy." Another kid, this time a boy, grunted with his face buried under a manga. Not to mention, an ecchi manga.
The girl bit her bottom lip and inhaled deeply to keep her tears from escaping. "W-where's Usagi-chan? Where did you hide her?!" (a/n: stuffed animal; a rabbit actually)
Hyuuga Mikan, the girl in pigtails, grabbed her twin brother's shoulders and shook him violently. Poor, poor Natsume. But wait, why did her skirt suddenly feel so hot? Like it was burning?
"Waaaaaaaaaaaahhh!!!" the little girl shrieked; smoke was emitted by her flaming skirt as she ran to and fro.
This fire alice is really handy, huh?
Oh yes. Fujihara couldn't help but think they were nice and lovely children. He was so happy to see them very fond of each other. He took a sip of his steaming tea, smiled at himself and continued to watch the two from afar. He failed to notice but the days with his children, especially with his angel, Mikan, had softened him much. And the absence of his wife, too, had incrementally pressed on the call for a more nurturing character.
Natsume was slumped in his favorite spot, under a tree, when his idiot of a sister disrupted his solitude with his dear manga. From the time he gained grasp of the world and even until now, he still couldn't believe that a stupid girl like her could actually be a prodigy's twin (a/n: he's aware that he's a genius). He blankly stared at the sobbing girl before him and smirked inwardly at the mess she was. Did he burn her skirt too much that it was entirely consumed into ashes? He did. He thought she was pretty amusing in her polka dots panties.
"What're you staring at?!! Nastume, such an asshole!" She grabbed the manga from his reach and shoved it straight onto his face.
"That hurts." said the muffled voice behind the manga (though it didn't sound like he was hurt at all).
Sending the manga flying, he glared at his sister, crimson against hazel brown, and pounded her head. "Watch your mouth, Polka. Old Jinno might hear you cursing and send you to hell."
"OUCH!" The teary-eyed Mikan rubbed the goose egg on her head.
And she remembered well the terror of Jinno-sensei...
It all started when their father hired excellent teachers who would educate them as early as possible within their growing years in the mansion; it was unfortunate that he classified Jinno-sensei as excellent, though. Fujihara especially wanted Natsume to be intelligent to evade questions and uncertainties of his capability as the successor of the Hyuuga family. Much to his surprise, Natsume exceeded his expectations so much; he had learned casting fire by heart at 7 and began excelling in academics at 5. What else can you be proud of than having a prodigy for a son?
Sigh
Natsume allowed himself to be engrossed to the manga again and forgot about the dirty and messy girl near him.
The girl pouted then sat beside Natsume in total defeat. Even if Mikan could say that her brother's heart was not a bit like his alice (a/n: fire is hot; meaning, he had a cold heart), she could happily say that they made great memories together. They would escape classes and end up hiding in the forest, leaving the mansion vibrating in Jinno's strident calls. They would run till their lungs would ache and he would carry her in his back whenever she got too tired to walk.
She had the hobby of making him colorful paper cranes, saying she would get them back when they get big. But actually, she wanted to test how much his brother treasured her by either throwing the futile paper cranes or not. But Natsume was as merciless and heartless as ever – for her he was a sadist that so loved persecuting her poor, poor heart. In spite of all that, Mikan cherished Natsume no less than how she cherished Usagi-chan. (a/n: what a weird taste in comparison)
Mikan never would have thought a day would come when Natsume would be far away…
-
"Oi."
She jolted her face towards him, a big question mark flashing beside her head. "Hmm?"
"You really like exposing that underwear of yours, huh?"
ZOOM!!!
She was beet red all over, like a giant tomato running in full speed into the mansion.
END OF CHAPTER
Yes! One chapter down!
Please review so that I know if it's worth continuing. Thanks:)
On the next chapter: Where is Natsume going??? A big W, H and Y...WHY???