Black and White

I make this one longer than the usual, but I hope you would still enjoy the story ;D

-Sorry for bad grammar and tenses-

Disclamer : I do not own Gakuen Alice


Chapter 9 : Preparation

"Uncle?" Mikan called out in a small voice.

Ioran turned around and warm smile spread on his lips. "What is it child? Is something bothering you?"

"Nightmare." Mikan replied slowly, bowing her head. She felt ashamed, coming to her uncle just because her nightmare. She is already 18 for goodness sake! How could she still be running to an adult when she had it.

Ioran put down his paperwork and stand up, walking to the sofa while gesturing Mikan to take a seat.

"What kind of nightmare child?" Ioran ask with a calming voice.

"I-I.." Mikan gulped and closed her eyes, trying to face her fears with bravery. "I have had it since I'm still little, and I didn't have it anymore after moving here with you uncle, but this night, I have it again." She whispered softly a lone tear escaped from her right eye, as she look down again.

"Tell me about it. Can you?" Ioran ask gently. "I want to help you as much as I can."

Mikan nodded slowly, as she clasped her trembling hands and started to tell him all about her haunting nightmares.


"How do you feel right now, child?" Ioran ask the next two days after her last nightmare.

A slight smile appeared on Mikan's lips as she put down her dirty plate and started to wash it. "I feel great, uncle. Thank you so much."

Ioran nodded. "Thank goodness then." He said with a smile.

Mikan put away the clean plate and dried her hands on the napkin nearby. She took a seat beside her uncle who seated on the kitchen chair, looking at him with questioning eyes. "What is it, uncle? Why did you have that kind of facial expression?"

"I just didn't have the heart to tell you about it." Ioran sadly smile. "I have found out the reason of your constant nightmare all this time."

Mikan bit her lower lip, feeling scared, but she still asked anyway. "What is the reason, uncle? You can tell me." She said softly.

"It's the side effect your mother's power." Ioran said slowly. "Because you are a blend, you reacted differently to your mother's power which has sealed everybody's memories until you have your 18th birthday. Somehow her power remained inside you, and have a negative impact which take forms in nightmares."

Mikan was silent for a moment, before asking again. "How come? It's just because I am a blend?"

Ioran nodded. "Yes, it's pure because of that. It's only by your own mother's hand that can remove her power which reside inside you to make the nightmares gone."

Mikan knows that she should had been angry at her mother for giving her a gift like this. It felt like a curse, and a lifetime one since her mother wasn't alive anymore. But, instead of feeling furry, she just felt sadness and remorse.

"I can't be mad, uncle. Is it wrong?" Mikan ask in a quiet voice after a moment of silence. "I only felt grief."

Ioran let out a relieve smile appeared on his lips as he shook his head. "No, its not wrong at all, it means you have forgiven your mother and you are not blaming her for anything that's happening on your life, you are just missing her, that's all."

"I guess you are right." Mikan responded, holding back her tears.


"Mikan! Mikan! Look what I have here!" Aoi called out, waving around a piece of paper in front of Mikan's face.

Mikan, who has been playing with her Alice until just now, give a frown to the raven haired girl and willed her ice to vanish. "What is it, Aoi? You are so annoying these days."

Aoi chuckled and stuck out her tongue, while seated herself right beside Mikan on the sofa in the living room. "I've got you a message!"

The frown quickly dissapeared from Mikan's face as her eyebrow arched and her eyes brightened at the information. "Really? Is it from Ruka?"

After all these months spending her time in the Black Tribe's village, she didn't forget about her childhood friend and the Nogi family who are her savior and helper. She tried to contact them with everything she can since she's still remember Ruka's promise that he will catch up to her when he has done with his things, but until now, the fourth month, she still hasn't heard anything from him.

Aoi smiled and nodded. "Yes it is! Is Ruka Nogi your prince charming, Mikan?" She asked gleefully with sparkling eyes.

Mikan give a light punch on Aoi's shoulder while snatching away the envelope which contain the message. "I have told you that he is my childhood friend! Not my boyfriend!"

Aoi chuckled. "But you are blushing Mikan! You like him didn't you?"

Mikan tried to glare at the grinning girl, but she just couldn't. Instead she just make her hair covered her blushing face from Aoi's sight and started to open the letter.

"Hey, aren't you going to let me see it too?" Aoi teased while laughing.

Mikan stuck out her tongue childishly, but in the end, she read the letter with Aoi anyway.


Dear Mikan,

How are you? Are you doing fine there in the Black Tribe? I'm really glad that you managed to found Uncle Ioran. See? I told you so that you would find him if you keep going :p

I want to apologize before for not replying to all forms of communicating you have been initiating for these past months. We have a hard time here in the city. The Queen is furious Mikan. She told us, me, father, and mother, that she would kill us if she found out that we are helping you in hiding. I'm glad that father and mother told you to run away instead of searching some hiding spot for you. I think its a good idea for them to think up and told you to go to the Black Tribe.

And because of that suspicion, the Queen assigned some guards to keep an eye on us, and luckily, all of your messages have been received by myself, not the guards, or else.. well, I really don't know what would happen and I don't want to imagine it.

So because of that Mikan, please, I want to ask you to stop sending me messages. It's not that I don't want to communicate with you, Its just that it's getting harder to get in contact with anyone outside the city because the Queen has restricted everything, and I don't want to risk my family's safety and your safety. I really don't want you to be found out by the Queen. It would be terrible.

I promise you that I will sent you another message as soon as the condition become possible, and I will go to the Black Tribe's village if I can get away from the clutches of Queen Luna. Please, just be patient until then, I really miss you too you know? I missed our old times, talking and laughing together. I hope I can meet you soon. Please take care of yourself, and be careful.

Ruka


Tears already running down Mikan's cheeks when she finished reading the letter.

Her grip on the paper tightened, as she furiously try to wipe away her tears.

Gently, Aoi take out the paper from Mikan's hand and put it away before it can be drenched with the overflowing tears, as she give Mikan a comforting hug, trying to calm her down.

"It's okay, Mikan. Everything will be alright. They are safe and sound. They are alive, aren't they?" Aoi ask softly while rubbing Mikan's back.

Mikan mutely nodded, still trying to stop her tears.

"So, stop crying. They are alive, Mikan, and it's not your fault that they are in the condition right now. It's their choice to help you, please, just don't blame yourself."

"But its my fault Aoi. They are in danger!" Mikan whispered, her voice breaking.

Aoi shook her head. "I know they aren't. They can take care of themselves. Just trust me on this one."


A few months later...

Mikan slumped herself down on her fluffy bed and let out a tired sigh.

She stilled for a moment, before rolling over and closed her eyes, wanting to take a rest for a while before going back to her practice.

It's been 18 months already since her first experience about her own Alice, and Ioran never stop trained her ever since. He kept up the pace every weeks, making it harder and harder for her to stay on her feet without shaking out of weariness.

But she could feel the fruits of her hardwork in these months as clear as crystal. She could see her own body become fit as her stamina increasing, so is her power, and her handling over her own Alice become more and more easier each day.

She is really glad that this is happening, she feels more powerful that way and make the burden in her heart a little bit lighter since she knows now that she could at least protect herself. Not being dependent to anyone.

Knock, knock.

"Dang." Mikan cursed under her breath as she force her sore body to get up and walk to open the stupid door.

Slowly, she opens the door while grumbling all the way. She really doesn't like to be disturbed when she is taking a rest, especially after the harsh training she has done in the morning.

"You look stupid." Was the first thing come out from the mouth of no other than the great Natsume Hyuuga.

Mikan's mood was already sour, and seeing the older Hyuuga really didn't help at all.

She take a deep breath to calm herself and give a vicious glare at him.

"What are you doing here?" She growled in a low voice. "If you have no reason to disturb me, then just vanish." Mikan pressed the last word as she is ready to slam the door on his smug face.

Swiftly, Natsume put his hand on the wooden door, making it stop with his strength easily. "Hag. Stop slamming your door. It will broke down since you have gorilla power." He said with a frown on his face. "I'm the one who made the door, don't you dare to ruin it."

Mikan stuck her tongue out. "Like I care about that! Just shut up and be gone!"

"Father told me to tell you to go out." He said nonchalantly with the I-don't-care attitude.

"Fine. Thank you very much, bully." Mikan spat in evident sarcasm before she finally could slam the door in front of his face.

To say that the relationship between her and the oldest child of Hyuuga improving is right, at least they are in a talking period although you could see clearly how the talking went. That's how they communicate everyday if Natsume is in a good mood.

Mikan shake her head to make the fury boilling inside her vanish as she started to strip while taking new clothes to the bathroom to take a quick shower.

After having a cold shower, she could feel her mood improving, since her body become fresher and all. She swiftly put on her clothes, putting away the dirty ones into the basket, and come out from her bedroom.

"Mikan!" A flash of black hair passed and bumped right into Mikan with a bone crushing hug.

Mikan stumbled a bit, but she hold her ground. "Aoi!" She scolded, looking down at the grinning girl. "Stop doing that everytime I come out from my room! We can fall down you know."

Aoi let go of Mikan but her grin doesn't fade. "But you don't. Everytime I did it you never fall."

Mikan crossed her hands in front of her chest and huffed. "Well, I could be someday if you keep doing that."

Aoi chuckled. "Nah, you won't."

Mikan rolled her eyes and in a blink of eyes, she already ruffled Aoi's hair into a mess. "You little rascal, that's your punishment."

Aoi squealed in suprised and quickly take a step back while trying to fix her hair. "You are so mean Mikan! I spent 1 hour to make my hair this beautiful!" Aoi whined. "And I am clearly not little! I am older than you!"

Mikan laughed and let a smug smirk grace her lips. "You are only older by 4 months. How could that be categorized as older than me?"

Aoi pouted. "It doesn't matter, 4 months mean that I'm still older than you."

Mikan chuckled and shook her head. "Whatever you say, Aoi."

"You are a meanie!" Aoi protested.

Mikan smiled. "No, I clearly don't. It's just you the one that – "

BLAM!

The front door opened with force as it revealed a panting Ioran with sweat all over his forehead.

Mikan and Aoi quickly forget their light conversation as both of the girls approach Ioran in fast pace.

Aoi frowned. "What's wrong father? Is there something wrong?"

Ioran take a deep breath, trying to calm his ragging one as he strolled inside, taking a seat on one of the sofas. "Sit. I will explain."

Both of the girls quickly take a seat and waited anxiously.

"What happened, uncle?" Mikan ask carefully.

"It's the Queen. Luna. She sent an army here to search for your whereabouts." Ioran said pointedly with his gaze boring to Mikan's.

Mikan's face quickly lose its color when she heard that. She clenched her fists, trying to hide her shaking hands. "What will we do then, uncle? Should I hide? Or should I go?" She whispered in a ghostly voice.

Ioran let out a calming smile. "Relax Mikan. Everything will be okay, we, the Black Tribe will fight them while you go hide with Aoi and Natsume. Can you do that?"

Mikan's eyes widen in horror at the idea of all the Black Tribe risking their life only for her. "No! I can't do that uncle." She shook her head furiously. "I can't let them staking their life for me. It's better for me to run away or something, there has to be another way other than that." Mikan said pleadingly.

"You can run away child. That's another option, but what if they catch up to you?" Ioran ask in serious voice. "You want to fight an army by yourself?"

Mikan fall silent as she think about Ioran choices.

"Or do you want to run away forever?" Ioran ask again. "The army sent by the Queen are no ordinary army, child. It's a special force which would chase their prey until they catch it no matter what. They are skilled enough to do that."

Mikan look down, tears already gathered in her eyes. "I'm sorry uncle. I really burdening you a lot. You also take a risk of your children safety in guarding me."

Ioran pat Mikan's head gently. "It's okay, child. We are thinking of you as our family, not our burden. Family protect each other right?" Ioran ask, smiling. "Besides, I have faith in my children' power, I have been training them since they are 3. I don't think a few soldiers could take them down."

Mikan let out a small smile grace her lips although worry still shine through both of her hazel eyes. "Thank you so much, uncle. I really owe you a lot."

Ioran shook his head. "No, don't worry about that. It's okay, child."

"Come on then, Mikan. We couldn't waste our time." Aoi's eyes look serious, gone her childish and playful side. Mikan can see a responsible adult in this Aoi. "We should find my brother and go to a hiding place."

The three of them already standing and ready to go to their own destination places when Natsume emerge from the back door with deep frown etched on his face.

"I don't want to babysit father. I want to join the fight." He stated clearly, his face shows nothing but disagreement.

Ioran slightly smiled. "I know that you want to fight so bad, Natsume, everybody in the village do, they have been waiting for time like this." Ioran chuckled. "But are you sure you want to let your sister face the danger alone with Mikan? You are stronger than them, you already went into the war field thrice, and you already know how to fight soldier like them. Are you still questioning my decision?"

"Alright father." Natsume mumbled, walking towards where Aoi and Mikan stood.

"Good." Ioran smiled. "Now take care of yourselves, children. I'm going to prepare the fight with the other."


Derp1Derp2 : No.. I won't include the SEC Alice in this story ;) Because I specifically made the elves' power to be elemental =D *Chuckles* Let see if Mikan inherit the nullification Alice or not and how she will found out ;D Perhaps I will use your idea XD by the way, Thank you so much for leaving an amazing review for me! Love you to the moon and back! xoxo

Thank you to the readers as well!

Aquabluemarine

PS : Please leave some review for me ;D It would help a lottt :D Thank you!