Disclaimer~ I don't own Gauken Alice or any of its characters and all that stuff
Memories~Chapter 3
Time has just flown by! I still can't believe my daughter will be born in a month! That will be the best day I'll have had in a long time.
Hotaru and Ruka are dating now! I'm happy for them, but, in my heart…I feel jealous. Huh! Me, happy-go-lucky little Mikan, jealous of some of my best friends in the world! Never even thought that was possible… Seeing them together, so incredibly happy just to be in each others' presence, I can only think of how much better life would be with Natsume here. I just miss him so much…
But, I know he will come back. He will keep his promise.
~(One month later )~
"Mikan!!! Come on, just push!!!" Hotaru whispered loudly into my ear.
"What do you think I'm doing?!" I retorted. Usually, my reply would have been nicer, but under these conditions, I think my snappiness was understandable.
This had been going on for hours. I don't know how much more of this I can stand…
Soon enough though, I was sitting there holding her.
My eyes swelled with tears.
Aya…my-no. Our daughter.
She looks exactly her father. Midnight black hair, bright crimson eyes…
If only Natsume could see her…
~(Three years later)~
"Mommy!! Are we going to Auntie Hotaru's?" Aya's question jolted me out of my nap.
"Eh?! Is it that time already?" I rolled over to look at the clock on my nightstand. "Great! Now we're going to be late!" I sat up, still half asleep, and rubbed my eyes. Already late, might as well take my time.
I walked to the door, with Aya skipping along behind me. "Auntie Hotaru said she's going to teach me how to spy on people!" She cheerfully exclaimed.
"…Remind me to talk with Hotaru."
We reached Hotaru's house, which was only on the end of the opposite side of the street, but the walk seemed like forever to Aya.
"Mommy! I can't make it!" She cried. "Don't give up now! Your almost there!" I answered back positively.
She sat down in reply. "Too…tired…can't…go…on…"
"Aya, don't be so dramatic." I lifted her off the ground. "Let's go."
Finally, after taking much more time than we should have, we reached Hotaru's house.
I set Aya back down, then rung the doorbell.
The second the door was open, Aya rushed in to hug her favorite aunt. "Auntie Hotaru!! I wanna learn about spying!"
Before Hotaru could even reply, I said, a little angrily, "Hotaru, just what have you been teaching her when she's over here?"
"Trade secrets."
"I don't want her to grow up blackmailing people!"
Hotaru shrugged. "She has fun."
I sighed. "All right. Just don't let her get hurt."
After saying goodbye, I started heading back up the street, towards my house.
So busy, so very, very busy… Ok, I have to vacuum, pick up some more milk, the-
My deep thinking was interrupted by a car's honking. I glanced up and realized I had absentmindedly wandered onto the street.
"Get out of the road!!" The driver yelled furiously at me.
"S-sorry…" I stammered back at him.
The driver mumbled something I didn't hear, and then drove off.
Mikan, you baka!! Pay more attention. I scolded myself.
Sighing at my own stupidity, I continued on the short distance left to my house.
When I was finally standing on my porch, I saw someone turn towards Hotaru's house. Extremely curious, I sat down on my porch swing to watch. Probably just some salesman…can't wait to see how Hotaru tells them off.
When Hotaru opened the door, to my surprise, she appeared to just stand there, not saying anything.
Aya walked up, and, to my absolute horror, the person grabbed her. He started to dash down the sidewalk, Aya kicking and screeching the whole time. I was already hurtling towards the kidnapper when he saw me and skidded to a halt, still tightly gripping Aya.
"You filthy kidnapper!! Let go of my daughter!!" I snarled, about to leap at him, but, before I could, the kidnapper dropped Aya. She was in my arms in less than a second. I lifted her off the ground and turned, about to run back home and call the police, but they put their hand on my shoulder.
I leapt out of the grasp and snarled, "You touch her and I swear I'll kill you."
My blind rage was slowly ebbing, and I looked at their face clearly for the first time.
I stopped dead, and I swear I felt my heart skip a beat.
I-it can't be…
Natsume!?
Time seemed to freeze. In the back of my mind, I saw Hotaru run up to me, but I was only focused on him. I've waited so long for this moment, and now I can't even think of anything to say...
The first words I had heard Natsume say in four years made my head spin.
"Why do I feel like I know you?"
A/N~ DUN DUN DUNNN. Cliffhanger!!! I know everyone LOVES them. :) I don't know when the next chapter will be up, so have patience till then!!