Hey guys! It's me BloodyFantasy! So this is chapter two of When the Sakura Falls! Hope you enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN GAKUEN ALICE OR ILJIMAE
Present Time, Mikan's POV
"Mikan! It's time for you to wake up! And don't take an hour like you did yesterday! Geez, I almost died of starvation because of you! You've got to make me breakfast! Hurry up! I'm not going to wait until dinner again! The sun is already high in the sky yet you are still half asleep!"
I groaned at the feminine yet masculine voice of my father, Narumi Anjo.
"Otou-san! Five more minutes!" I exclaimed groggily.
He didn't reply. Instead, I heard the door of my tiny room open and heavy footsteps. Suddenly, my bed covers were ripped out of my hands.
"Argh! Otou-san! Didn't I say five more minutes?"
"This child! I'll whack you with a broomstick if you're not careful!"
"Okay! Okay! I'm up! Just don't hit me please!" I pleaded as I jumped out of my bed with fear.
As soon as my father left the room, I dressed in a cotton shirt, some sandals and a skirt that was stitched up several times. I then quickly patted my hair down and walked outside.
Once I was finished eating breakfast with my father, I waved goodbye to him as I left the house and walked passed the familiar road. Finally, I could go out and be free again. Wander the streets that I call my territory! Where I can be Mikan!
I walked until I reached the market place, then stopped at the front of a small shop that my friend Anna, my childhood friend owned. A bakery to be exact. I visit every morning., though my memories of my youth are fuzzy but I can vaguely remember running around with Anna.
Though sometimes, I remember a strange place, where sakura petals fall. And a family, a rich family. But I can never make out their faces. I wonder where that fits into my childhood?
As soon as I stepped into the place, Anna's sister Nonoko greeted me with a huge smile on her face and started to talk in a speed no one could comprehend.
"Mikan! Guess what? The government is now allowing females to attend school! Now I don't have to study all these formulas by myself! I can be educated by proper tutors! How exciting is that?"
I nodded barely understanding her words but I finally caught on.
"What? They are? Oh shoot! My father will force me to go! He'll probably chain me up and deliver me in a box to the school if he really wanted to!"
"Come on Mikan! It can't be that bad! Though I really dread to learn mathematics! I saw my cousin's homework his tutor had set him and I saw letters! You don't need letters in math do you? At least that's what I have always believed." Anna laughed.
A shiver ran down my spine as I thought of the letters and numbers my Father would make me learn. He wanted to started tutoring me by himself since he was a 'highly commendable member of society' back in his day. I just laughed. My father's a locksmith in the village! How could a locksmith have been a 'highly commendable person in society'?
"Thanks for the support but I think I'll just hide it from my father. I would really appreciate if you didn't tell him about the news or that I was here." I smiled sweetly and walked off.
Oh no. Father would hunt me down. Perhaps I should catch the nearest boat and take off... No, that would be no good. Father knows all of the boatmen around here. They would definitely tell him where I had gone. What if I just hid out in the bushes and lived with the cats until I was eighty? Nah, the cats would probably eat me alive.
My deep thoughts were suddenly interrupted with a scream.
"MIKAN ANJO! Why did you hide the news that you were able to go to school? It's joyous news! Absolutely great news! I've already sent an enrollment letter to the school! Hopefully you can attend early of next week! I can't believe you didn't tell me!"
Ah crap. That was my father. I burst into a sprint, almost knocking the kind old lady next to me over.
But that old man was fast. He caught up to me in a second. Then he dragged me by the ear back to the village and started screaming at me in front of everyone in the market place.
"You thought I wouldn't know? The notice was placed all over the village board! FEMALES NOW ALLOWED TO ATTEND SCHOOL! I was shocked but so happy for you! But, you! You just try and hide from me! I would have eventually found out one day! You will be exiled to the forest for a day; without food! That is your punishment!"
"What? No food? Father, please! I'll get onto my knees and apologize! So please don't send me into the forest!" I begged.
He just shook his head and forcefully dragged me into the forest.
"I'm sorry Mikan. But you'll have to go to school. It's your father's wish." he said before he walked away, leaving me behind.
After a couple of hours, it started to rain. It was also getting quite dark and I ended up on the side of a small road, hoping someone would come by.
Hmph! I guess staying in the forest wouldn't be that bad, even though I'm getting rained on! I have the company of the animals! Yes! The possums and rats and bats... Okay, maybe I couldn't count on the animals.
Suddenly, I heard horse hooves from a distance slowly getting closer.
As they grew nearer, I could see a figure of a man and a horse. The man was dressed in a fine suit and wore a long, black coat. Probably made out of silk. He had piercing crimson eyes that looked like they could burn me if he tried. He glared at me and then stared at my wet and messy hair.
"What are you doing out here?" he asked.
"My father, left me here. Because I didn't want to school! I mean! You don't leave your own daughter out here in the forest because she doesn't want to go to school, do you? What's so bad about not going to school? My mother probably never went!" I replied angrily.
"You shouldn't be taking out your anger on me. Even though you should be left out here, I simply can not let a girl like you freeze. Here, hop on my horse." he offered.
"No! Why should I? I don't even know you! For all I know, you could take me to your house and then kill me!" I snapped.
"Hmph, I don't kill people. I'm Natsume Hyuuga. You probably know me as Lord Jinno's son."
My jaw dropped in realization.
"Oh! Um..Lord Hyuuga. Ano...I'd be honored to uh, ride with you. Thank you very much for offering."
"I'm not doing this because I usually go around helping girls. I'm just doing this because you looked like a wet and ugly puppy." he smirked.
"Whatever!" I frowned as I poked out my tongue.
Then, I stepped onto the horse and sat onto of the strange creature.
We didn't talk much. He would occasionally grunt but I just assumed he did that because he was an animal. But of course he probably wasn't. Because I could tell that he was a noble. He was Lord Jinno's son. His father was the Army Guard and serves the Emperor. He was frequently described as a man whose glance could pierce your soul. His eyes didn't exactly have that effect on me but they were kind of scary. I mean, who has red eyes?
Once we arrived back into the village, I bowed as a form of respect.
"Thank you for uh, taking me back home. Though I'm not sure what my father would say." I smiled.
"Hmph, your father must be invincible to put up with you. You seemed to be adoringly looking back at me every minutes while we were on horseback." he smirked, yet again.
"Why you-" I began but was cut off.
"What's your name?" he asked suddenly.
"Why should I tell you?" I asked annoyed.
"So that I can find you tomorrow. You can repay me tomorrow." he stated.
"What? You're really making me regret riding with you. But my name is Mikan Anjo. Now goodbye!" I told him as I stomped off back home. I wonder what father would say if he saw me back home?
Natsume's POV
Anjo? It can't be. He didn't have a daughter. His wife was killed when I left. So why did she have the same last name?
Just a coincidence, right? Probably.
I mustn't think too much about it. It's all in the past. I better get home. Father will probably scold me again.
So there it is! I hope you guys enjoyed and please leave a review! Last time I got plenty of favourites and alerts but only one review :(
Oh! And a massive thanks to my new beta: YuukiHarada2078!
- BloodyFantasy