Hey guys! I read your reviews and I was touched. Thank you so much! *bows* anyway, I forgot to mention the characters' age. ^-^;
Mikan, Ntsume, Ruka, Hotaru, Nonoko, Anna: 15
Youichi, Aoi: 10
Tsubasa, Miasaki: 17
Persona: 25
"Persona-nii... are you here ?" a quiet voice slowly called a name at the woods.
"You're finally here, Mikan". Mikan saw a black figure standing behind a tree.
"Why did you summon me? Is it because of father ?" Mikan asked, her voice only above whisper. Finally, the figure walked towards Mikan, his mask behind a mask so she couldn't predict him. She prepared herself for the worst.
"Mikan... I'm sorry..." the voice turned soft, regret filled his tone. Mikan gave him a small reassure smile.
"It's okay, Persona-nii. I'm fine. Beside, you're still can't walk around freely yet. But someday, I promise, everything will end,"
Mikan could fell her throat thickened as she tried to comfort the older man. The man hugged the girl. Mikan only tensed for a moment before she returned the hug. She felt the man trembled slightly as he hugged her tighter.
"I'm sorry..." Mikan almost cry as she squeezed her eyes shut to stop the tears from coming out.
That's right. It was her fault. Because of her, the man in front of her had to pay the price. Everything was her fault.
Suddenly, she heard a bush rustling. In an instant, the man in front of her was gone. "Persona-nii..." Mikan whispered.
"Mikan-chan! What are you doing here?" a small feminine asked in shock when she saw Mikan.
"Oh! Hi, Anna-chan! What are you doing here ?" Mikan tried to avoid from answering her question. "Anna-chan! Wait up! Mou, you're too fast!" Mikan heard another familiar voice complaining.
"Nonoko-chan! What are you guys both doing here ?" Both of them grinned.
"Actually, we wanted to explore the woods far once but seems we were lost. Thank goodness you're here Mikan-chan! Maybe we'll finally get out of this creepy forest!"
"Mikan-nee..." a small voice made Mikan turned her head and saw a silver haired boy.
"You-chan!" the small boy broke away from Nonoko's grip and let himself being carried by Mikan.
"We kinda brought him along because he was persistent to come. We already said no but he kept pestering us. He really is a stubborn kid," Anna complained. Youichi only ignored them as he leaned to Mikan's ear and whispered
"Do you have to go again? " Mikan looked at him. Regret passed through her eyes as she nodded silently.
"Come on guys! We need to hurry! The sun is almost setting!" The four of them walked through the forest with Mikan in front of the group since she was the only one that knew the way out except for Youichi.
"We're finally out! Arigatou Mikan-chan! Hurry, Nonoko-chan or we'll be late. Gomen for troubling you Mikan-chan. See you tomorrow!" with a final wave, both of them dashed to their home.
"Mikan-nee... don't go..." the small boy pleaded. She gave him a small sad smile.
"It's okay, You-chan. I promise I'll come back tomorrow," the boy held out his hand, showing his pinky.
"Promise,"
Mikan wrapped her pinky around his.
"Promise,"
Youichi tugged at her hair.
"You don't have to wear that bow, you know. You look stupid with that on," he said bluntly. Mikan pouted
"Mou. You-chan! You're so mean!" Accidentally, Youichi touched her bruised cheek. Mikan winced as the events last night replayed inside her mind.
Youichi immediately took back his hand.
"I'm sorry," he said in a small voice. Mikan gave him a small reassuring smile.
"It's okay. It doesn't hurt that much. Now hurry home. It's getting late. Your parents will be worried,"
The boy reluctantly nodded . He got off from Mikan and with a last wave hurried home. Mikan could only watched as the figure got smaller and smaller until it finally disappeared. With a deep breath, she braced herself as the night loomed closer.
Mikan adjusted her slighty crooked mask. "Mikan Sakura , are you ready?" a deep male voice asked. Mikan nodded nervously. Soon, music filled the room. Mikan closed her eyes and started singing.
Chorus
Angel of darkness
Angel of darkness
The world is in your hand,
But I will fight until the end.
Angel of darkness
Angel of darkness
Don't follow your command,
But I will fight and I will stand.
When darkness falls,
Pain is all,
The Angel of Darkness
will leave behind,
and I will fight.
The love is lost,
beauty and light,
have vanished from garden of delight.
The dreams are gone,
midnight has come,
the darkness is our new kingdom.
Yeah-eah...
Chorus
Hunt goes on,
deep in the night,
time to pray,
down on your knees,
you can't hide from the eternal light,
until my last breath I will fight( I will fight...)
Now realize, the stars they die,
darkness has fallen in paradise.
but we'll be strong,
and we will fight,
against the creature of the night
Chorus
As soon as the music ended, Mikan squeezed her eyes. It was not long before her body flew across the room.
"Your tone was too high! How many times do you have to mess up to get it, right ?! You poor people are all the same! Everything is about money! But guest what, you're not getting any money as long as I'm not satisfied! Now, do it again and do it right this time!"
Mikan forced herself to stand. With trembling legs, she started to sing again. Behind her mask, a single tear escaped her eyes.
When will it end?
Mikan woke up with bruises everywhere. She dragged herself to the bathroom and striped off her clothes. She prepared herself for the worst. It was worse than she thought. Her whole body was covered in black and blue bruises. Some were too dark and too noticeable. She wasn't worry about that. She could easily cover them by wearing her school uniform. But when she saw her face, she almost cry. It was horrible. The swollen cheek from yesterday subsided a little but still noticeable. However, new bruises appeared and she knew she couldn't cover them with make-up anymore.
Mikan was torn between going to school or not.
"It's okay, You-chan. I promise I'll come back tomorrow," the boy held out his hand, showing his pinky. "Promise," Mikan wrapped her pinky around his. "Promise,"
Her eyes fell on the money on the table. She knew she had to go. Quickly, she got ready for school, being careful to not wake up the other abuser downstairs.
