Chapter 3 is here! The Final Chapter!
Title : The Unsaid Words
Summary : The school's pursuers found them, and all of them are engaged in a battle.
Please review. Criticism and positive comments are welcome. Enjoy reading!
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Gakuen Alice nor its characters, but I DO own this story
Forever, Always
Chapter III
!!! The Unsaid Words !!!
Over the next few days, Mikan had a wonderful time with her friends. Her mother had decided to stay for a while longer, and Shiki had finally come back from town. He had told something odd: the pursuers were growing less every moment and it seemed the academy had stopped chasing them.
"Why is that, I wonder," Shiki thought out loud.
"It could be a good or bad thing," Yuka said, deep in thought.
"How could it be a bad thing?" asked Ruka, confused, looking from Shiki to Yuka.
"Well," Yuka said, facing Ruka and the others. "It could be a trap set for us by the Elementary School Principal. Maybe, he expects us to show up any day now in town. He might have done it in purpose, guessing – or knowing – one of us had to be looking out out there."
"Then what do you suppose we – you – should do?" asked Hotaru.
"Stay longer?" suggested Mikan unsurely.
"But that could be just the very thing the Elementary School Principal's thinking about. That could increase our chance to be attacked," Yuka said.
"Then what should we do?" asked Mikan, looking from her mother to Shiki.
"I think we'd better get moving soon," Shiki said. "It's a lot better than to have cornered in this house. We would have a much larger space to hide and to blend. Besides, it will only be the three of us, so –"
"What – you're leaving us here?" asked Natsume suddenly.
Everyone turned their eyes to Natsume, and they could see the fire in his eyes.
"After everything we have done to get us here, you're leaving us?!"
"It's for the best, Natsume. Besides, you will have to get back to the academy soon," said Shiki.
"Yeah, and be punished," murmured Natsume. He stood up from the couch and stalked away.
"Natsume!" Mikan called him.
She was about to stand up from her own chair when Ruka grabbed her shoulder. "I'll handle this," he told her, and he followed Natsume out the door into the garden.
"Come on, Natsume," called Ruka, approaching his best friend, who was standing not far from the house. "We came here only to see how Sakura was doing, and we have done that. She's fine, and I know you know she can take care of herself."
"That's exactly what's bothering me," said Natsume under his breath. "She's reckless and she values others more than herself. I'm not saying that it's a bad thing, but she can get hurt because of that. Besides, I haven't told her yet," he added with a sigh.
"What? You haven't? Why not?"
"I just can't say it to her."
"Sooner or later she will know, whether you tell her or not."
"I know that! Did you think I don't know that?" snapped Natsume.
"Then why have you not told her yet? Your Alice is draining your life, even the doctors said your life is running out!"
"What?" gasped Mikan quietly, with Hotaru behind her.
Natsume shut his eyes. The moment he dreaded finally came true. He turned to look at Mikan. It didn't surprise him to see Mikan shocked.
"Was this what you wanted to tell me?" she asked quietly.
Natsume did not reply.
"Mikan," Hotaru said, trying to calm her best friend.
"Why didn't you just tell me, instead of lying and promising fake promises?" she asked again, ignoring Hotaru. There was no reply again. "I … I would have understood," she said, "and maybe there is something I can help."
"There's nothing you can do."
Cold shiver ran through their backs as they recognize the cold heartless voice. They turned and saw Persona standing not far away from them, with a group of Fuukitai and some of the Dangerous Ability Class.
"What are you doing here?" hissed Natsume, glaring his fiery red eyes at Persona.
Persona smirked. "It's been a while, Sakura-san," said Persona coldly, turning to Mikan. Mikan glared at him, and Persona went on, "You know, it has been a very long time while since we've searched you. Who knew that you would take shelter here? After all these years, we have finally found you." With a snap of his fingers, the Fuukitai and the Dangerous Ability Class' students rounded up around Natsume's house. "Now you don't have anywhere to run to," added Persona, grinning menacingly.
"What do you want?" asked Hotaru, shielding Mikan from Persona.
"Oh, my dear students, we want you back in the academy, of course," said Persona, laughing, "and of course, bringing your friend and her mother back with us. What else could it be?"
"Mikan, go into the house," Natsume told her.
"What? No! I want to stay here with you," said Mikan, shocked at the idea.
"Go now, and leave quickly," said Natsume firmly.
"But –"
"GO!" yelled Natsume. He conjured a firewall between their pursuers and his house. Hotaru took Mikan's hand and brought her into the house.
"What are you doing, Hotaru?! We can't just leave them there!" shouted Mikan.
Hotaru shut the door, and looked at Mikan seriously.
"What's going on here?" Natsume's father demanded.
"I'm sorry, Oji-san," said Hotaru, "but it seems that we have a little trouble outside."
"What trouble?" This time it was Yuka's voice sounding from the kitchen. She appeared from the kitchen with Aoi on her heels.
"We've been found, and Persona has brought many with him," answered Hotaru. "You must leave now! There is no more time we can waste. Mikan,"– Hotaru turned to her best friend –"you must do as Natsume told you. Go with your mother. We'll be fine here. We'll hold them off until you've finally escaped."
With a last look at her friend, Mikan saw the door opened and closed one more time, with Hotaru vanishing behind it. Through the window, she could see Hotaru ran across the clearing to where Natsume and Ruka stood. Then she noticed the firewall slowly ceased and their pursuers walked forward.
"We must leave now," said Yuka.
"What? But what about them?" asked Mikan, shocked at her mother's statement.
"I'll help them," said Natsume's father. He gave Aoi a kiss on her forehead, nodded to Yuka, Shiki, and Mikan, and left the house to join his son. The firewall vanished and the pursuers launched their Alices at the four people simultaneously.
"Come on, Mikan!" Yuka urged her daughter.
"But we can't leave them there by themselves! They're outnumbered, and who'll protect Aoi?!" Mikan shouted at her mother. Her eyes were filled with rage and tears. Her eyes burned into her mother's eyes for a very long moment before she ran away, joining her friends.
"No, Mikan, come back!" her mother called after her.
Mikan arrived at her friends' sides just when animals, big and small, came thundering from the woods. Ruka had called them using his Animal Pheromone and Mikan was relieved for only a matter of second, because then she was attacked by someone from the back: one of the Fuukitai.
She defended herself with her Nullification and she touched the Fuukitai's hand, taking his Alice out of him, turning them into an Alice Stone. The Fuukitai fell backwards and Mikan looked around. Ruka was fighting with the animals, communicating with them with his Alice; Hotaru were busy with a couple of the Dangerous Ability Class' students; Natsume's father was fighting side-by-side with Shiki; Yuka was stealing Alices in every chance she got. She was relieved her mother and Shiki had come to help, but she couldn't see Natsume. Where is he?!
Suddenly, ice flew past her face. Startled, she turned and saw one of the Academy's students, hands outstretched, and ice shooting from his palms toward her. She ducked and swerved, avoiding the sharp ice that were attacking her. One got her arm, creating a throbbing deep cut. One brushed her cheek, creating a thin stinging cut. She pulled out the sharp ice on her arm, screaming in pain as fresh red blood began coming out of it and making the wound bigger.
More ice came and she immediately used the Fire Alice Stone Natsume had given her once long ago. The ice melted instantly, but the boy did not stop. He only grinned and laughed as he continued shooting much more ice toward her. She kept using a firewall between her and the ice, and it was then that it seemed her surrounding became very clear. Everyone seemed to have backed away, revealing Natsume fighting Persona.
Mikan saw Natsume standing with a fireball floating above his right palm and Persona with his eyes narrowed and his hands in a fist. They were shouting words she could not hear above the noise of battle. Natsume sent fireballs toward Persona, which he dodged perfectly. There was something wrong, and Mikan knew it. Natsume's aim was out of focus and he seemed to be staggering out of energy.
Your Alice is draining your life … your life is running out …
Ruka's words echoed in her mind, and before she knew it, Natsume collapsed.
"Natsume!" she screamed.
Immediately, a burst of white light came through her body, engulfing everyone. Along with it was red strikes and she could hear people screaming in pain, but she did not feel anything at all. Her eyes were clear for a moment. She could see the Fuukitais, the students, and Persona screaming and fleeing. She could see her friends and her mother shocked at the sudden light. Then, she could only see blackness…
… … Where am I?
… … … Wake up …
What am I doing here?
… … … Wake up …
Who are you? I know your voice.
… … … You have grown to be such a wonderful person …
Who are you? Why is it so dark here?
… … … Open your eyes …
… … … I … I can't … Who are you? Where are you? I want to see you …
… … Sadly, you cannot … You do not belong here … Now open your eyes …
Mikan opened her eyes slowly. Her eyes needed some time to adjust, and when they had, she could see Hotaru, Ruka, and her mother looking down at her.
"Mother…" said Mikan faintly.
"Oh, thank god you're all right," Yuka said with tearful eyes. "We were worried sick about you."
"You've been out for two days, Mikan," added Ruka.
Two days? Oh right, we were having a battle, and then I passed out, she thought. "What happened?" asked Mikan.
Hotaru and Ruka exchanged glances. "You passed out, remember, just after you used a great amount of your Alice –"
"Oh yeah, my Alice," Mikan said. "How did it happen? How did I conjure such a magnificent amount of it?"
"Probably your will to save Natsume was so great that it effected your Alice," her mother replied. "We all know about his condition and about how much you care for each other. You want to protect each other and that must be the cause of your stronger Alices."
"Natsume …" Mikan repeated. She remembered how he had used all his Alice and then collapsed. "Where is he? Is he all right? I want to see him."
"He … he hasn't woken up yet," Ruka said uneasily. "The doctors said his body is very week at the moment. He's with his father and Aoi now."
"What?"
"Mikan, you must rest. You'll see him tomorrow," said her mother.
"Oji-san," Ruka said as he opened the door to Natsume's room the next day.
Natsume's father looked up as Ruka, Hotaru, and Mikan entered the room. He had been sleeping by Natsume's side all night, and it seemed that Aoi was there too.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I must have fallen asleep," said Natsume's father, rubbing his sleepy eyes.
"It's all right, Oji-san," said Ruka. "Come on. You need some breakfast," he went on. "Aoi too," he added.
Ruka and Hotaru left with Natsume's father and Aoi, leaving Mikan and Natsume alone. Mikan walked to the unconscious body and sat beside the bed. She watched him for a long time that seemed to last for eternity: his closed eyes that once burned in compassion, his calm face that once filled with hatred, his hands that once promised to her. He seemed to be sleeping in a deep slumber that not even the loudest sound could wake him.
Mikan took Natsume hand in hers as she said softly, "You big idiot. Don't you dare leave me now! I still have something to say."
… …Now here you are … in this wonderful place …
Where is this …?
… But your place is not here … You have to go back …
Wait, mother!
Natsume … please protect her …
… … …How …? I don't have –
Do you seriously believe what those doctors said?! Your life won't run out soon, Natsume … You still have much more time than you think …
… … I still have to leave her one day … …
So use the time until then to protect her …
… … …
Sensei, you're making him … … …
Now it's time … watch over her, won't you …?
Natsume opened his eyes to see Mikan's sleeping head beside him. Mikan woke up when she heard movements, and when she looked up, she could see Natsume already trying to sit up.
"You're awake," Mikan said, relieved.
"Mikan, where are we?" Natsume asked.
"We're in the hospital," she replied. "Don't worry about the others. They're all fine. They're just having breakfast. You know, Natsume, I –"
"I'm sorry," Natsume cut across her. "I should've told you about this. You're right, you would've understood, but I just didn't want you to burden this, seeing you already have a difficult life. But he's right; I shouldn't have believed something like that. No one knows when we'll die. Maybe it will be soon, or maybe it will be much, much later. But I always want you to know that someday I might leave your side forever; we'll be together no more."
Mikan smiled gently at him.
"Silly! You should've realized that earlier. You should've known that I have always known about that. When you're gone, I might be engulfed in darkness or I might not be able to be put a smile ever again, but I will not let that happen to myself. I might break down and cry, but I will always hold my head high and face whatever is coming next. I will stand my ground and be strong to protect everyone else, just like you did. But if you're not gone, I want to be with you and my live my life with you. Together, we can change the academy. No matter what happens, we will always be together forever … and that is a promise."
!!! The End !!!
Author's Note: I hope you've enjoyed reading this chapter. This chapter is my favorite among the three. I know -_- this is my very first fan fiction, and I guess that it's not really THAT great or anything near that, so please review.... thank you! ^_^ I'm really grateful to anyone that review my story, because, honestly, I'm not really confident about publishing any of my stories, so your reviews might be able to encourage me to write more.
Once again, thanks for reading this and for anyone who review this. I hope you've enjoyed reading this chapter/story.
Coming up next
Title : Eternity
Category : Anime/Manga -- Zodiac P.I
Summary : She's the princess and he's her bodyguard. There's a group of assassins on the loose, terrorizing and killing, and he was ordered to track them down and investigate what they want. But what will he do then, when he knows the princess' life was in danger?
