Chapter 1
Alices
Losing a relative hurts a lot
~Mikan Sakura
[Mikan's POV]
I walked into the living room, going to sit beside Mum on the couch. Unfortunately my step dad was there. He got married to my mum a few years ago, when we first teleported here. He found us in the middle of the street, shaking and sobbing, mourning for Dad. He helped us, cared for us, just like Dad had done. But I don't trust him. I always felt some weird vibes coming off from him. Even now, at 13 years of age, I still felt weird around him. It was fine when it was just me and Mum, but with him, I couldn't stand it. Want to know why? Because he abuses us. He started that after a year of living with him. Mum still has the bruise from last week when he punched her, right in the face. I tried defending her, which also earned me a punch too. After that, I noticed that I started changing drastically. I don't talk at school anymore, I argue with the teachers, I fight and I'm even sarcastic. It's like I was never that bubbly, innocent Mikan Sakura. Because one thing that I'm not, is innocent anymore. Oh yeah, did I mention that I don't cry anymore? Yup, I started that new rule when he started abusing us. And my Alice? I don't know what it is yet, but Mum gave me a Nullification Alice Stone on a chain so I can wear it round my neck to control my Alice so I won't be given away. What was that? You were wondering how Mum got the Nullification Stone? She got it from Dad. It was a nice, orangey colour. To match my name, she said. I was just walking home from school one time when a sleek black car drew up beside me. The passenger window rolled down and I saw a guy with blonde hair and a big smile on his face.
"Hi there, are you Mikan Sakura?"
How did he know my name? I'm sure I've never seen him in my life. I gulped and nodded. Where were all the rules Mum and Dad drilled into me ever since I could walk and talk? They had taught me I was never to speak to strangers, no matter what, even if they knew my name. And now, here I am, breaking that rule.
"That's good. Can you please run home and tell your mother that the Academy's people are here?"
Suddenly, I felt very protective.
"What do you want?" I demanded. My voice came out cold, like a gust of icy wind. That started a pang in my chest, even after two years of becoming like this, because it reminded me of my old best friend, Hotaru. I missed her so much.
"Tell her we only want to protect you."
What? He is not being serious… is he? I just stared at him again.
"Narumi, tell her what she really is." Another voice said.
I looked past the person–Narumi–to look at the other person, the one that spoke, and also the one that was driving the car. He had black hair, as black as the night, he also wore black clothes, and had many rings on his fingers. I couldn't see his face though because a black mask covered it.
"No Persona… That is for Yuka to tell her."
"I already know what I am." The words slipped out of my mouth before I could stop them. Inside, I was horrified of what I had just said.
The two people stared at me for a long moment. I started to get uncomfortable and turned to leave.
"Very well… I will tell Mum that you are here. However, I'm going to give you very strict instructions."
"What might that be, Mikan Sakura?" The black haired guy asked.
"You's two have to stay in this car until I return. You are not to follow me, and if I have the slightest feeling that you are, you's will both die a very painful death."
The two people looked at each other before nodding at me. Satisfied, I walked away, looking back every now and then; just to make sure they were abiding by my instructions. When I reached home, I found that my step dad was away. Mum was cooking dinner in the kitchen. I dumped my bag under one of the chairs, and then sat down.
"Mum… someone talked to me after school today… Well, actually, two people…" I started, hesitantly.
Mum went very still for a moment, then turned and sat opposite from me.
"Who were they?" she asked softly.
I hesitated again before replying.
"Someone called Narumi, I think it was, and another person called Persona…"
"Oh God…" Mum went very pale.
"Mum, who are they?"
"Nobody, my dear… Just stay away from them."
"But Mum! They're just round the corner in the next street. They're in a black car!" I whined.
Mum's eyes went very round.
"You told them to wait?" she yelped.
"Of course I did! Mum, I want to know who they are. They said to me that I have to tell you that the Academy's people are here, and that they want to protect me."
"They're telling lies Mikan."
"But I still want the truth!"
"Very well…" Mum sighed.
Triumphant, I waited eagerly.
"Mikan, you know how I told you that you are an Alice?" I nodded. "Well, an Alice is somebody who has a very special power of some kind, and that's what an Alice is."
"But Mum… what is my Alice?"
"Your Alice is the S.E.C Alice, also my second Alice."
"Your second Alice?"
"Yes… The Stealing and Insertion Alice."
I turned this information around in my head, trying to make sense of it all. This was just so confusing!
"Mikan, run along and tell Mr. Narumi to come back in a year. You can go to the Academy then."
I nodded and ran off to deliver the news. Their faces were shocked when I told them, but they quickly recovered, nodded and drove away. I just stood there for a long moment before walking back home.
