Of Life and Death

By Smiley Cool Dreamer

©2007

Disclaimer: I don't own Gakuen Alice

Chapter 2: Reunions Thursday August 9th 2007

Mikan age 15…

Mikan was riding on a black horse, wearing a black pant, turtle neck shirt, cape with a hood, a hat that wrapped her hair and head tight, a half black half white wooden mask with no holes for her eyes (she couldn't see anyways she was blind), she wore black gloves, black boots, and had a holster for black weapons. That's all she carried on her trip. It was too painful to live in her house. She kept having nightmares about the war, the time she killed, and her parents although she would never admit it to a single soul. Mikan was emotionless and deadly now. At age 15 she was even more pretty and intelligent than Mikan at age 12. So Mikan rode day and night for a few days. She didn't know where she was going but she hoped to find happiness. But more than anything she hoped to find her best friend Hotaru and a good family she could join.

'What are you thinking you silly little girl you'll never find anything like that. And in addition to that, your so called friend Hotaru Imai probably forgot about you. It's been like 12 years. How would she remember you? Just remember she doesn't have special powers and skills like you. A monster like you would never fit with a normal person like her.' Mikan's devil side argued
'Don't listen to that devil! Of course there's hope. I know you'll reach tour goal. There's hope in everything.' Mikan's fairy side yelled back.

Mikan just ignored them just stopped in a middle of a forest and made camp. After all she wasn't in a rush anyways. It wasn't like she had anywhere important to go. Mikan lied down on the bare forest floor. It was winter and all the leaves and poison ivy was gone so she had no worries. But as soon as she lied down she noticed someone else was here. And it was a girl. She was carrying weapons specifically made for assassination. And she knew the sneaky little devil was looking for the prey namely Mikan herself. So Mikan wanting to live another day in her life, charged forward at high speeds and pinned the clueless girl to the tree and let the snow fall on the assassinator. Mikan was not going down with a fight and she was going to find why she had people trying to kill her already when this was the first time out of her house and when she didn't do anything wrong.

"Who are you and why are you trying to assassinate me little girl?" Mikan telepathically said to her.

The reaction from the girl was not surprising. After all how many people in a life time do you meet that can use telepathy? It was totally understandable.

"I am Hotaru Imai and I come to assassinate you because you are a stranger in the territory of the Japanese." Hotaru found her self unable to stop her mouth because of the intense aura of killer intent that engulfed her. To tell the truth Hotaru didn't even expect anyone stronger than her. She ranked number 3 in the whole Japan, number 1 being Natsume and number 2 being Ruka. And they would never be here to attack her. They were the ones who sent out the order and Ruka was her boyfriend and Natsume's best friend. And Natsume was her first cousin.

Mikan almost gasped. Hotaru Imai, her one and only friend? Mikan quickly shot a hand out and pulled her mask off. She scanned her aura and to her surprise it was her. She could 'see' her growth pattern since 3 and it was definitely her. Mikan was so happy. She wanted to shout for joy. But sadly she couldn't. Her words had power. Just then she remembered her emotions had powers too. Mikan immediately calmed herself down and returned to her emotion neutral. She carried Hotaru to her camp and started the fire. Mikan placed Hotaru on a log to sit on and when she knew Hotaru wouldn't bolt. She took off her own mask, hat and hood hoping Hotaru had not forgotten her already. And as soon as she did Hotaru gasped.

"Mikan….?"Hotaru said softly. Hotaru's normally emotionless eyes became big with surprise. Honestly, Hotaru never expected to see her again. 'But what was with those scars all over her face and by her eyes and forehead?' Hotaru waited for Mikan to open her eyes and speak, but nothing happened. Just then Hotaru realized Mikan was blind and unable to speak.

Mikan felt the aura the sound waves and everything. She understood Hotaru just said her name because she felt it. After so many years of training she had senses that were very sharp.

"Hotaru, I'm glad we've finally met again. It was one of my wishes." Mikan spoke with sign language. Mikan's expression was neutral. Hotaru learned sign language for communication because in training to be an assassin you were always to be silent and when you speak it makes do much more noise, therefore you had to learn sign language. And Mikan knew Hotaru understood her because she knew how assassin training went and Mikan knew that Hotaru trained to be an assassin. "Where are you going Hotaru?" Mikan signaled after putting on the attire she took off. "Where ever you are going I wish to come with you. I have no place to go."

"Ok, you may follow me. Just be warned I am going to war. I'm going to help my cousin and my boyfriend fight the war" Hotaru stated as a matter-of-factly. "Oh and I have a lot of questions to ask later. So be ready to answer all of them."

"Yes I agree, we have a lot of catching up to do." Mikan signaled. "But I have a question for you now. What ever happened to my parents and the village?"

"Well what could I say? The village moved and started a new village. A little after she adopted a son named Ruka. Ruka Nogi is also my current boyfriend. When Ruka was 14 he left for war and so did my cousin Natsume. So now I'm leaving for the war. Soon after Ruka left your mother turned in to a trader and left Japan to go to the Mesopotamians. Then your father realized he was being manipulated and he went to find you he never came back. But we did get a letter and he said he found his daughter. We never herd from him again."

"And what year did he leave? May I ask?" Mikan signed

"I think he left around 1006.and the letter came around 1008" Hotaru continued "Why did you need to know this?"

Suddenly Hotaru heard Mikan have a sharp intake of breath. She heard Mikan taking long breaths as if trying to calm down. Then Mikan signaled with her hand to step back. Hotaru did so and that instant a huge wave of air came out from Mikan. She tried to stop it with her barrier Alice. But it didn't completely work and knocked Hotaru backwards. Hotaru fell on her bottom.

Hotaru just gawked at the power. 'I knew that Mikan was strong as soon as I saw her but I didn't know she was this strong.' Hotaru thought to herself in surprise.

"Sorry." Mikan signaled and looked down.

"Mikan what's wrong? And what was that you just did?"

"Let's just say it only a very little portion of my power. And my emotions control it. I haven't completely mastered it yet so yeah…I'll tell you the rest tomorrow." Mikan signaled.

Hotaru just nodded. "Ok let's go. We're going to the camp we'll be staying at for the war…"Hotaru paused "and…don't worry…I'm not afraid of you" Hotaru said this as if she had read Mikan's mind. Then she smiled at her genuinely. The tenseness of the atmosphere immediately released. And even though Hotaru knew Mikan would never be able to see the smile. Hotaru knew she could sense it…