Yay! Very happy! After a week of having to trail a connection cord up the stairs whever mum wasn't around, my wireless has decided to work again :D
I should just mention that, yes, Mikan will get her memory back eventually, I wouldn't have it any other way ;)
Disclaimer: I do not own Gakuen Alice
Thank you to all the people who reviewed the last two chapters, you all rule!
moonacre99
TheBlackSwallow
Lady Clark-Weasley of Books
JuSt To RaNdOm
Ichigo1010
bunnyjumps
Najika Tsubasa-chan
Cool Blue Sky
aniAngelxx
heya-gurl
Lady Clark-Weasley of Books
JuSt To RaNdOm
bluechibi
moonacre99
TheBlackSwallow -And yes, this story is just a continuation of the real Gakuen Alice, sort of like an alternate plot.
dangeralert
daylab
Najika Tsubasa-chan
bunnyjumps
Hana4Tsubaki
Lost and Forgotten
Chapter 6
Rapid Waters
Mikan was by the lake, her hair fanning out behind her as the wind blew.
"Are you still following me?" It wasn't a question, it was more of a statement.
"..."
"Go away, I don't know why you care so much about what I think, but Yui's gonna be here soon and I don't want her to see you." Mikan avoided Natsume's eyes, scared of the familiarity she'd felt before.
"Mikan," Upon hearing this one single word, Mikan froze, "The last year, what did you do during it? Do you remember?"
"Of course I remember! I was in hospital, recovering."
"Then can you tell me the name of the hospital? The names of the nurses? Could you tell me about the friends you made there, or the food you ate?" Mikan opened her mouth to respond, but closed it when she realized that she didn't know the answer to any of the questions.
"Let me guess, you don't know. Forgetting the name of the hospital and the food you ate isn't so unlikely, but I know you, polka-dots, and I know you'd never forget about the people you meet."
"You don't know me! Stop talking like you do!"
"I do know you though. I know that your favourite colour is orange and you love strawberries. You're loud, annoying and sometimes rude. You're terrible at anything academic, especially maths, but you love playing sports like dodge ball. Your best friend is Hotaru Imai, and although she treats you coldly sometimes, deep down she cares for you. You love making friends, and would do anything to help them, and hate seeing them hurt. Somehow, you have this ability to make people happy with your smile. And you have 8 different pairs of underwear." Mikan, who had been staring amazed at Natsume, suddenly blushed.
"PERVERT!" Natsume just smirked before handing her something.
"Huh? It's not my birthday, why'd you give me this card?"
"Just open it, Baka! And it's a card I got for my birthday, not yours. Which I know is on January the first."
"Stalker." Mikan said darkly before opening the card. The first thing she saw was a photo. In the photo were about 20 boys and girls dressed in the same uniform. In the centre was Natsume holding a young boy in his arms."
"Hyuuga, if this is to show off how great with children you are, just leave."
"Baka" Natsume pointed at a figure in the picture. It was a girl standing next to Natsume, a wide smile on her face. Mikan looked at the figure closely before gasping.
"I-it's...me! But I don't remember having this photo taken-" She was cut off by the sound of voices coming from the card. It sounded like a recording of a conversation.
"I bet you loved the present! But I think one of my handmade Mikan dolls would've been better, you liked my doll, right Hotaru?"
"No."
"Huh? But I thought you loved it! Hey, Natsume, don't just walk away!"
"Tch."
"Natsume-kun! Did you love the heart necklace I gave you?! I knew you would!"
"Look at Sumire, I think she honestly thinks that Natsume would wear that thing.."
"So, Natsume, who gave the worst present?"
"Polka-dots."
"Huh?"
"Oh, poor Sakura-san, has to be Ruka and Youichi's slave now."
"Ruka-this is your chance!"
"SHUT UP!"
"Natsume, why! My present wasn't that bad, was it?"
"It sucked. What do I need a card and a used up camera for?"
"But you got the picture! And it's a reminder of your friends! And the picture even has sound!"
The recording stopped. Although it was difficult to make out what happened, Mikan had heard enough to realize that she had known Natsume, maybe even been friends with him. She looked at the other side of the card.
Happy Birthday
I hope that you can look at this card and remember your friends and all the happy times!
From Mikan
That was definitely her handwriting, but she didn't remember writing it! But her picture, her voice, her writing! It would be too hard to fake!
"Listen, the reason why you don't remember anything about the past year is because someone erased your memory and replaced it with the lie about you being in hospital! Try and remember!" Mikan closed her eyes, trying, but her eyes snapped back open when she heard someone calling.
"Mikan!"
"Huh, Yui! You're here!"
"Yup! Sorry for being late! What's he doing here?" Her voice was calm and neutral, but her anger showed in her usually peaceful eyes.
"He's-" Mikan was cut off by Natsume.
"We're having a private conversation, come back later."
"Natsume Hyuuga. If you know what's good for you you'll stay away from Mikan, because if you ever hurt another person I love, I'll kill you."
"Huh?" Natsume looked confused for a second before his expression suddenly changed to alert. Something silver, glinting in the sun. Fuck.
Natsume twisted his body just in time to dodge the dagger slicing through the air. With a quiet thump it embedded itself in the trunk of a tree. In his head, Natsume rapidly calculated the angle that the dagger had been thrown from. He took the blowing wind into account and his eyes narrowed on a tree on the far side of the lake.
The two girls screamed as the tree burst into flames. The fire was at such a high temperature, that after a few seconds it had already burnt out. The tree then stood, pale white, for a second before crumbling to a pile of dusty ash. Mikan looked from the tree to Natsume, then back again. A pleasant smoky smell wafted from the far shore.
Yui shrieked in horror and they turned to see her frantic eyes fixed on the lake. The surface was heaving, waves breaking over the shore and drenching them in water. A thin tendril of water broke free experimentally testing its movement before lunging at Yui and wrapping itself around her neck.
She screamed, trying to pull the tendril off her neck with her hands, but she couldn't get a good grip, her hands kept on slipping. Mikan ran over and tried to help, but it was too slippery. A flame appeared, surrounding the ropey water, but it wouldn't evaporate. Natsume cursed and was about to try to pull off the water as well, but before he could even take a single step towards the struggling girls a towering wave appeared.
He used his Alice to surround the wave with fire in an attempt to evaporate it. It hadn't worked on the water rope, but it was likely that most of this wave was just normal lake water. Steam rose, surrounding the lake in an eerie fog. What was left of the wave crashed down and Natsume realized just how much he had underestimated its destructive force. The wave picked him up and carried him a few metres before he could get back on his feet again. He looked around, noting that Mikan had avoided injury by grabbing onto Yui who was being held in place by the rope of water. Her face was starting to look blue, her hands still scrabbling at her throat.
"Polka! Use your Alice!"
"HELP! NATSUME, HELP HER!"
"Polka, you have the nullification alice, you can nullify the water alice that's being used against us!"
"HOW!?"
"You just need to want it! You can do it, I know you can." Mikan looked determined and closed her eyes, by now Yui was unconscious and had stopped struggling. She was limp, only held up by the rope around her neck. Natsume saw another wave rising, it stretched from one end of the lake to the other, towering about 10 metres high. He used his Alice again, focusing on the part of the wave directly in front of them. He pushed himself to the limit, using the full force of his Alice.
The steam blanketed them, it was impossible to distinguish anything, he had no way to tell if his efforts were enough. He made his way in the rough direction of Mikan and Yui, walking blindly in the hope of running into them. The wave was closer now, he could hear it on either side, roaring with forceful fury. He closed his eyes and tried to sense Mikan. A little forward and to the right. He grabbed her, wrapping his arms around her and bracing for the impact, there was no time to teleport, no time to do anything but hope.
The fog cleared and Natsume watched as the giant wave bore down upon them, a split second later came the impact. The full force of the wave crashed down, driving the air from Natsume's lungs. He tightened his grip on Mikan as they started to tumble, surrounded by water. He forgot which way was up and which way was down, it all seemed the same. Mikan was unconscious, her life in his hands. She looked almost peaceful, despite being violently carried by a giant wave. Her skin seemed ghostly pale in the half light, her hair flowing with the water, light shining on her face.
Light...Natsume started to kick, bringing them closer to light until he finally burst free. With one arm he held Mikan tightly to him, with the other he held onto a tree. He started to climb, trying to escape the turbulent waters below that threatened to wash them away. When he was finally clear he searched him pockets for the green Alice stone. Holding Mikan closer, he used the last of his strength to activate the alice stone. Then they dissapeared.
So, good? Bad? Too much action? I suck at writing action? Reviews are much appreciated!
If you have time and are bored, please read my other story, A Part of my World
