So, I was planning on withholding this for at least a couple days, but I decided, after getting, like, five reviews, that you deserved it. Thanks to everyone reading, and more to everyone reviewing! Hope you like this chapter.
I must have blacked out for a bit, no longer than fifteen minutes I presume.
Everything was groggy still, but I tried turning onto my back to help me decipher the room.
It was empty and a high pitched ringing was the only thing registering in my ears. Dismissing it, I coughed, groggily.
Hmm, where's the class?
I pulled out my cell and read aloud, "7:53," class starts in seven minutes and usually people would here by now.
The ringing didn't stop, but I felt less groggy. What is it?
I rolled onto my knees and stood to my feet.
I looked up and finally realized the red flashing lights. My still slow mind contemplated this as I grabbed the door knob, but I quickly pulled my hand back, yelping at the freshly burnt flesh of my palm. I stood on tip-toes to see out the little window of the door before gasping. A fire.
I looked around for some sort of escape. I ran to the window before realizing that I wouldn't survive a jump from the fifth floor. Shoot! Now what?
My mind spun as I scrambled for an escape.
I grabbed Narumi's thick jacket that was left hanging off of the back of his swivel chair.
I used it to twist the knob open before realizing my mistake.
The fire followed my feet as I backtracked quickly, coughing heavily at the black gas that filled the room.
I started pondering forlornly, would I rather burn to death or break every bone in my body on impact to the pavement outside this window.
Before I could over think these deaths, the drapes of the window caught fire, consuming the spot with flames.
I was trapped. My knees buckled below me as I coughed hard into my shirt. I need air.
Suddenly the flames lessened as a boy with beautiful crimson eyes and long black hair ran in.
"Shit, Mikan!" The fire didn't effect him, leaving his clothing alone and his hair un-singed.
He gathered my weak body up in his arms and I saw his eyes widen at my swollen and probably purple eye.
He quickly ran, trying to wrap his body around mine to protect me from scorching flames.
With another weak cough, I once again left this world for a black envelope of nothing.
Natsume's POV: (Earlier)
I walked out of the school and followed my well known path to Persona's favorite part of the forest.
His black boots were the first feature I saw, followed by his cloaked body and his smirking evil face.
"I believe you were looking for me. Don't you have class anyways?"
I looked into his dark eyes and said roughly, "Mikan shouldn't be doing missions!"
He chuckled, "Oh that mandarin girl is powerful, Natsume, she can handle herself. Why do you care anyways, is that little kitten yours already, black cat?"
I glared at him, "And remember, Natsume. Most don't leave the mission program unless they are dead or handicapped beyond repair. You wouldn't want her to join that list, would you?"
He stepped forward and a stick cracked loudly under his foot, "So many things are so easily broken, you would be smart not to leave them unguarded, Natsume."
I clenched my fists and he laughed while disappearing into the woods. I thought back to when I tried to rebel against Persona three years ago.
My blood lay shed on the ground in front of me. I would die if I didn't stop fighting him.
His merciless eyes pierced mine with a humorous enjoyment, "Remember Natsume, everyone is dispensable. Even you."
I slumped down with my back against a tree, wondering about my mixed up feelings on my polka dotted pantied girl. Wait, my?
I stood and punched the tree, noticing the scratches on my rough hand.
I guess I should return to the academy now. But I guess I don't need to rush, I hate that gay's classes anyways.
The second that I got there I saw everyone huddled outside the building.
I ran up to Ruka and immediatly asked, "What's going on?"
He looked at me with worried eyes, "There's a fire! Everyone in our class is accounted for except Mikan!"
I remembered dropping my tired roommate off at class this morning and clenched my fists before breaking into a sprint towards the building.
"Natsume!"
I didn't acknowledge the screams from Ruka as I ran through the halls and up the stairs.
Why didn't she leave? Is she hurt? How did this fire start anyways?
I finally reached the fifth floor and I ran down the halls towards our normal classroom.
Counting the doors on the way there, I dreaded the way that the flames licked my arms. Anyone without the fire Alice would be dead by now, but I won't think about that, or about the smoke slowly filling my lungs as I ran.
I entered the room to see a gagging body colapses on the floor. With closer inspection, I found my Mikan with bruises littered on her arms and a giant purple circle around her eye. I'll deal with that later.
"Shit, Mikan!"
I picked her off of the floor like a delicate dying flower before running out of the room with my body curved around hers in a protective position.
At some point during our descent from the building, she passed out, probably from the smoke and the heat.
I refused to let go of her, even when Narumi tried to take her from me.
I only parted with her, slightly unwillingly with Imai. He had the healing alice and he could help her better than I. I handed her to him and he carried her to the small medical tent that had been set up while I was retrieving her.
I finally realized that no one else knew that she was a girl and I probably looked a bit over protective of her. Luckily, most were just assuming that I had some sort of giant hero complex and I was fine with that.
Let them assume.
I turned around and saw a smirking Persona, "I'm glad that no one was severely injured from the fire, Natsume. In the future, we must watch our actions more carefully, or we might not be as lucky."
He dropped something as he walked away, and I picked it up to find an empty box of matches.
My hands clenched again, crushing the box. Persona.
Mikan's POV:
I rubbed my eyes, sitting up to see a white room that smelled of antiseptic. I waited for a nurse to check me up one more time before being released. The second that I left the building I was reminded of the terrors of the other night. I raised my burnt, right hand to my face to see bandages wrapped around it.
I didn't recognize the area very well so I pulled out my cellphone. I don't have his number.
Deciding to wander around the campus, I just started walking around, staying in the area of the yellowed paths and the grassy stretch. It's funny how this area looks so happy with daisies budding and a bright blue sky but right next to it is a forest that screams 'dark' and 'mysterious.'
As I walked, I slowly came up to a couple boys who were talking while eating what looks like breakfast at a sunny picnic table.
I asked in a low, yet not fake sounding voice, "Hey guys, where's the cafeteria from here?"
One looked up at me with navy blue hair and matching eyes and said, "Are you new or something? It's right down that path," he pointed to a path, "then take your first right and you're there." His curious eyes seemed to calculate me.
"Y-yeah, I'm new. Thanks."
I started down the road, careful not to skip or make myself look too girly.
My uniform still felt scruffy from not changing it, but that could wait until I found my room. Suddenly, I stopped at a flicker of movement out of the corner of my eye.
I turned around and watched as a bright yellow butterfly landed on my nose.
I probably went cross eyed trying to get a good look at it while staying still.
That's weird, they usually don't land on people like this.
I carefully raised my hand to scare it away, but it was no use. What kind of crazy butterfly is this.
I jerked my head a bit; nothing.
I suddenly jumped and the butterfly finally flew away, but I landed funny and ended up on the ground. (Mikan vs. Butterfly. Butterfly wins xD)
I sat up and found myself at a fork. Was it turn left or turn right?
I didn't remember what he had said so I just guessed and started running down a chosen path.
I finally saw the dining hall but then I realized that, for the third time, I missed breakfast again.
I blame butterflies.
Well, like always, I'm being a strange fluff ball of anxiety, but more so as I'm in my freshman year. Boys, teachers, homework oh my!
boys especially . wish me luck.
I could use all the support you could give and remember, I could kill off Mikan with one snap of the finger ^^
lovesies!
-Sweet Amethyst
