Chapter 4

The others were right behind me. I arrived on the beach seeing AAO operatives chasing after my brothers and sisters.

"Fuckers." I cursed. I drew my hand up to use some sort of powerful attack but it was immediately pulled back down.

"You've used enough of your alice today and the kids don't need to see it at such tremendous proportions either. Leave this to me and your brother." Natsume said. He walked up front with Rui next to him. Riku grabbed my shoulder and began to lead me back.

"No! I'm not leaving until I see that everybody is fine." I said.

"Just move back a little then." Mitsuki said. She had the barrier alice so she obviously was trying to put a barrier around us. The kids ran to our location while Natsume and Rui began fighting the hordes of operatives.

"Are all of you okay?" I asked. They nodded but there were tears in each of their eyes.

"Don't worry nii-chan and Natsume will take care of this. They wont let them come after you. They're gonna fight for you." I assured them.

"And so will I…" I muttered.

"You're not going anywhere." Riku said. I sat back down with the kids waiting for anything. But it didn't seem like it would end. Neither Natsume nor Rui were using their alice because of the kids. But when both fell down to the ground I immediately shot up.

"That's it Riku! I'm going!" I yelled. He grabbed me again trying to hold me back as I struggled to get out of his grasp.

"Mikan, stop struggling! There's nothing we can do right now!" Mitsuki yelled, also trying to restrain me. I stopped struggling and stood still.

"I'm sorry to both of you. I'm sorry to all of you. They would eventually find out about alices somehow and I didn't want it to be this way." I said, my voice void of emotion.

"Nee-chan?" Mayu asked. I elbowed both Riku and Mitsuki in pressure points, and gently put them down on the floor as they passed out.

"Ryoma, watch over those two. And no matter what I do right now, know that even if you hate me after what you see, I will always love you guys." I said, creating a barrier, since Mitsuki passed out, and making it visible for the kids.

"None of you step out of this barrier or I will not be able to assure your safety." I said. Ryoma nodded as I walked onto the battle ground. Every operative that was still conscious looked at me.

"There she is! Get her!" one yelled. They all came charging at me. I scowled. I saw millions of alices come at me, but I nullified them all and they vanished from my sights. The operatives stopped.

"Did you really think you could win against me?" I asked icily and threateningly. They didn't answer.

"Did you really think I would let your hurt my family and friends?! Did you think I would forget my alices and not use them?!" I yelled, harshly my voice rivaling with that of Riku's, Natsume's or Rui's. Nobody answered

"You were tremendously wrong." I said. They began to turn around to run away but I used my speed alice to reach them.

"I'm gonna kill each fucking one of you a different way except one. And the one who I pity enough to let go will be the one that tells the damn AAO not to mess with my family or I will personally go to their base and take them out." I said. To threaten them even more, I yanked all of my alice devices off. They were scrambling in fear now. I then began the torture. To kill them I did things like freeze their organs, take the water out of their body, choke them with vines, drown them in water, and used almost every alice I had. I walked back to the barrier carrying both Natsume and Rui on one shoulder each. The kids kind of backed away in fear of me. In fear of the cold merciless look in my eyes that I get after killing.

"I know you're scared of me. I'll teleport you home. The barrier is already set around the house." I said and saw them vanish. Once they were gone I dropped to my knees and cried. My own family fears me. That's something I deserve. They had to suffer watching their role model kill mercilessly and not even give that single person a chance to live. I killed all of them. There was no messenger to the AAO. They were all dead. I began coughing out blood and so as not to be found, I teleported away.

Next Morning Natsume's POV

I woke up and found myself on a mattress in Mikan's house. The kids were sitting around and all of them looked upset, mad, and depressed. In the mattresses next to me were Mikan's older siblings all asleep. The minute I had that thought, though, they all came to. The kid Ryoma walked in front of our four mattresses in the aisle.

"What is going on? Somebody please tell me that was just a nightmare." Mitsuki said.

"Are you four like her?" Ryoma spat.

"Who the hell is her?" I asked in a bad mood.

"The merciless killer we used to call our sister." he answered.

"If we're like Mikan?" Mitsuki asked.

"Yeah, her." he said. His voice sounded so disgusted.

"Why are you saying calling her like that? Why aren't you saying her name? You sound so disgusted." Rui said, rubbing his head, trying to remember anything from last night most likely.

"Because that person is disgusting. She slaughtered people like a killer. I'm surprised she managed to hide her true nature this long. I want an explanation about this whole alice shit right now. I saw her use vines and water and everything to kill people. It left half of us here traumatized and you guys unconscious. And that disgusting shit is not gonna step foot in this house again." Ryoma said. That snapped my nerve and he looked stunned when I slapped him right across the face.

"Don't you think you're the disgusting one?! That's your sister! She is probably fucking coughing out blood and dying because she protected you yesterday! You know how much energy it takes for her to do that with devices on! If she took out the entire group of operatives she even probably took them off! You know this house you live in wasn't free! It needs to be paid every month so that you aren't left homeless! Do you think anybody enjoys killing?! She had to train herself for years! Years, she trained to be able to get to a place where she would get enough money for you guys to live off of. And your father still manages to torture her every year and steal money that should be hers. That school you go to, the food you eat! She sends in the money! When I met her, nobody screwed around with her! It's already horrible enough that people refuse to talk to her because she is known for being strong! Then her fucking brother shuns her off! She talks about you guys so kindly! But all she ever really wanted was her own childhood! She hadn't been to a fucking amusement park in her entire life! She's turning 16 next month! How do you think she feels?! Oh yeah, you wouldn't know because you don't have to kill to feed a family. You don't wake up at six in the morning everyday to jog somewhere. She hasn't talked about anything to you guys so that you could go on with your lives not suspecting much and having fun. I have no doubt that you guys have gone on vacation before! She doesn't go on vacations! She goes on dangerous missions every night! If you think she's disgusting you're atrocious, or even worse." I yelled. I ran out of the house to begin looking for Mikan.

Mitsuki's POV

I was shocked at Natsume's words and when he smacked Ryoma. Ryoma looked even more traumatized at the moment than the rest of the kids who were just in a corner huddling together wondering what will happen next. I silently stood up from the mattress walked to the kitchen and got an icepack. I placed it on his cheek where Natsume slapped him. Riku and Rui got up and headed towards the door.

"Mitsuki, you handle them. Riku and I will help Natsume look for her. Without her alice control devices we don't know how bad she can be, or where." Rui said. I nodded as they walked out the door. I turned back to Ryoma. Instead, it wasn't just Ryoma, though, it was all of the kids and even the twins.

"Mitsuki-nee, is Mikan-nee-chan okay?" Mayu asked. I turned my head away as I held the pack to Ryoma's still swelling face.

"I don't know. Even if she is okay outside, she is probably really hurt on the heart." I said. It's hard to explain this to a four year old. Even if Mikan isn't hurt physically, though she probably is, I don't doubt that she is hurt emotionally. Ryoma pulled my hand down from his cheek.

"Explain." he demanded

"Mikan has an alice, like me, Riku, Rui, and Natsume. But alices come in different forms. Her alices are incredibly strong which is why if she uses it to much, she gets hurt physically. It shortens her lifespan and gives her bruises or it can even make her leave us forever." I said knowing that he knew what I meant by leaving. After explaining it to him, he had a tear in his eye. He hasn't cried in years taking after Riku.

"I want my onee-chan." he began to sob. The rest of them joined in as I hugged them all trying to convince them that Mikan was okay, but the tears streaming down my face weren't helping at all.

Natsume's POV

That disgusting kid. Turning his back on his sister and not even looking at her side of the story. He's lucky I didn't kill him. I ran onto beach to see if she passed out there or something. Instead I found evidence of worst case scenario. Every alice control device she had on when we arrived there was in the sand. I picked them all up and put them in my pocket. I ran off the beach looking for a park or something. But the only parks I found were abandoned. I saw Rui and Riku searching stores and forests. We agreed to meet back by the beach in an hour. The hour passed with no Mikan so I arrived at the beach. Riku and Rui were already there and Mikan was not seen with either of them. I sat myself on the ground and gripped my head. I could tell Rui and Riku were looking at me but I ignored them.

"Where the fuck is this girl?!" I yelled, aggravated.

"We'll head back just in case she decides to head home today." Rui said. Both of them began to walk away, leaving me on the sand. I continued to look around the town. When night came I still hadn't found her. It began to rain and the water just made me more frustrated. It's fucking 11 at night, it's raining, and I cant find the girl I have a crush on! Damn! Am I always gonna be cursed to live a horrible life?! I continued looking around. At 12 I decided it would do me no good to wander around in the rain and dark where I cant see anything and decided to sleep in a cove on the beach that I saw but never went in. I walked there and the first thing I saw was Mikan's body laying limp on the ground. Of course she couldn't get far if she had used all her alices. I should have checked here first. I threw myself on the ground and checked her pulse. It was faint but there. I felt her temperature and she was burning up. She was shivering too. Picking her up in my arms bridal style I began to run to the house. I slowed down when it was in sight and so as not to wake anybody, I stepped in quietly. Everybody was asleep on their own mattress so I walked to kitchen and found a cloth. Wetting it with water I found in a bucket I laid her down on the only available mattress and placed it down on her forehead. I couldn't find any blankets so I laid myself down next to her knowing that since I had the fire alice I would be warm. As soon as I put an arm over her waist, her shivering slowed down. I tried to stay awake the whole night in case she wakes up.

Next Morning Mitsuki's POV

I woke up to begin getting breakfast ready. Not even looking around I walked to the kitchen and began making food for the family. I hope they find Mikan today. When Riku and Rui came home they still hadn't found her and I sent them to sleep. Once the breakfast was done I turned around to put the food on the table but almost dropped the food. Mikan was lying on her mattress and Hyuuga was sharing it with her. They looked like they were snuggling and cuddling! I put the food down on the table lightly, so that the plate wouldn't wake anybody. I walked over to Rui and Riku's mattresses. They were conveniently place right across from each other. I bent down in the aisle between the mattresses.

"She's back. Don't kill anybody." I whispered. Both brothers shot up and looked over at the only available mattress we had left last night. They looked like they were ready to kill.

"Don't do anything. He most likely brought her back. That was the only empty mattress and they would have had to share it." I whispered. They still looked pissed off. The kids started slowly waking up. I gestured all of them to keep quiet and gave them their breakfast. During the middle of eating Hyuuga got up and didn't say a word, took the cloth off of Mikan's head, walked to the kitchen, wet it, and walked back to place it on Mikan's forehead again. He sat on ground next to her and didn't talk at all. Seeing how much he cared for my sister almost brought tears to my eyes. I was about to get up and ask him where he found her until I heard something go off. It sounded like a cell phone and saw Natsume pull one out.

Natsume's POV

My phone rang and got me out of my depressed state for second.

"Hello?" I said

"Hi, Natsume. It's me Ruka." Ruka said through the phone line.

"Hey. What do you need?" I said, my voice clear of the depression I felt inside.

"Well, I just flew in from France. I'm attending Gakuen Alice with you. Your mom said you could pick me up because she was told you were out of the academy for a while." he said.

"Bad timing, but the airport isn't too far by motorcycle or car. If you don't mind not directly going to the academy." I said.

"Sure, I don't mind, but…" he said before I hung up.

I stood up from my position and walked to the kitchen where Mikan's family was.

"Something came up and I have to go to the airport. I'll be back soon though." I said. They nodded. I pointed to Mikan's older sister.

"I want you to be the only one near that mattress. The cloth dries up quickly so you have to wet it about every 10 to 15 minutes. She has a high fever and low pulse." I told her. I pointed to her bratty little brother, Ryoma.

"Stay away from her." I said, venom stinging out of my voice. He had a small look of fear and depression for a second but I paid no mind to it and walked towards the door. Just short of the door I turned to the three oldest siblings, but more specifically Rui and Riku. That's when I noticed that everything was in age order; the seating arrangement, the mattress order, but shook the thought out of my head.

"You guys have a car?" I asked. Riku shook his head.

"We don't have a car?" Miyuki asked.

"Don't be mean, Riku." Mitsuki started. I was confused about what they were trying to say. Do they have a car or not?

"Mikan taught him how to hotwire a car and how to drive. She also bought him one for his twenty first birthday. I don't know what kind of bat cave he puts it in though. Get it for Natsume." Mitsuki said. Riku shook his head again. His face was straight and showed no emotion, meaning he wasn't gonna budge.

"Riku, Natsume has made Mikan very happy now. You know how she would just stop and rest for a bit before leaving right away. And think of it as a thank you. Natsume, while you and everybody else was sleeping, was looking outside for our sister. And he found her and took care of her for the night." Mitsuki said. Something shot at my face which I caught and looked at. Car keys.

"Around the corner in the middle of the small forest." he said. He sounded grumpy and pissed.

"I wont get a scratch on it." I said as I walked out. I drove down the airport and looked for the terminal from France. There I saw one person waiting on the chairs.

"Ruka." I said. He turned around.

"Hey Natsume, mate. You've grown taller. Stronger too I guess." Ruka said.

"I'm guessing you're the same, except for the stronger. You're still pretty flimsy." I said. He smiled at me and then it dropped to a frown.

"Are you pissed off that you had to pick me up?" he asked, moving around to see any emotion in my eyes.

"No I'm glad and happy. It's just that, there's a lot on my mind." I said.

"And that is…?" he asked.

"I'll explain in the car. The quicker I get back the better." I said. I led him to the car.

"I thought you had a motorcycle?" he asked.

"My motorcycle is at the academy. I borrowed this car." I said, getting in.

"Okay, so what's so serious that you cant even greet me properly." Ruka asked.

"I met this girl and…" I started until Ruka interrupted me.

"So this is about a girl? Do you like her?" Ruka interrupted.

"Yes, no and you know something like that wouldn't bother me. Well I visited her yesterday but her siblings got attacked by the AAO. Her brother and I got taken out and she killed every last one of them without her devices on. The next morning I find out she's missing and that her brother is badmouthing her and run out to find her. I found her and took care of her. You called me and so I left but I don't want her near that brother of hers." I said.

"She sounds troublesome." Ruka said.

"Yeah, but she's one of a kind. This girl is feared by my dad's entire pub and after working there she asked me to take her to the park." I said with a smile on my face as I drove.

"Are you sure you don't like her?" he asked.

"You know what, Ruka? I'm not sure. Let's drop the topic though. We're here." I said.

"Here where? This is a shack." he said.

"Don't say that in front of them. I know you are way more polite then me." I said. He nodded carrying his bunny in hand. I walked through the doors and saw each person on their mattress. I tossed Riku his car keys.

"It's out front." I said. Rui rolled his eyes.

"Another boy? Listen Hyuuga, I better not see my sister crying because she gets gang banged in the future." he said.

"I wouldn't do that. You assigned me to protect her not destroy." I said. Mitsuki stood up from her spot next to Mikan.

"Guys leave Natsume alone. He's already proved himself to be a great guy." Mitsuki started as I took her spot.

"Everybody, this is my childhood and best friend Ruka Nogi from France." I said. He walked over to Mitsuki and kissed her hand gently while she just giggled madly. He did the same to all the little girls and they did the same. Riku grabbed him and pulled him back giving Ruka a glare. Ruka stepped back in fear.

"Despite his looks, I don't think he'll hurt anybody." I said to Ruka to assure him that the house was safe.

"So this is the girl?" he asked walking up to me. I nodded.

"Mikan Sakura. I don't think she's gonna wake up too soon." I said. What I said had filled my heart with sadness but it had to be said.

"Mikan is tough enough to make it through this. She still has a pulse. She'll go on." Rui said. Ruka was looking around like thinking what hell was going on.

"I'll make quick introduction. From youngest to oldest are the twins Miyo and Ryo, Mayu, Ryu, Midori, Ritsu, Miyuki, Ryoma, Mikan, Rui-sensei, Mitsuki, and Riku. They're all her siblings." I said, pointing to each as I said their name.

"Well you sure picked a girl to find interest in." he said. Rui, Riku, and I all gave him a sharp look. Rui as if saying "what's that supposed to mean?". Riku as if saying "what interest are you talking about?". And I just sent him a glance that told him shut-the-fuck-up-her-older-brothers-already-hate-me. Turning back to Mikan, I changed the cloth on her forehead.

"Well Ruka, any friend of Mikan's is a friend of ours. And any friend of Mikan's friends is our friend as well. I'll find a few blankets" Mitsuki said.

"Not us." Rui and Riku said to the friend comment.

"Is it me or do they hate me already?" Ruka whispered in my ear.

"They're just over-protective. The family's gone through a lot." I whispered back.

"Hey, no whispering!" Ryoma called from far away. I gave him a glare and looked at Mikan for a sec. I checked her pulse.

"At least her pulse and fever are getting better. Yesterday I couldn't find the blankets and had to sleep with her." I said. Miyuki shot up.

"You slept with my sister?! She's too young for such womanly things!" she said.

"I don't mean like that. She was shivering. Since I have the fire alice, my body is always warm." I explained.

"Wat's wong wit her sweeping wit him? I sweep wit nee-chan." Mayu asked.

"You'll find out when you're older." Miyuki said, ending the subject. I rolled my eyes and looked to Mitsuki.

"What do you teach this girl?" I asked.

"I didn't want her to get tricked into things in the future." she answered. I didn't say anything.

"Well look at the time! 2:00. Looks like it's time to cook dinner!" Mitsuki said, rushing to the kitchen. Mikan didn't wake up for the day.