Warning: You will never know the joy of using this sentence: 'Her eye twitched, and she lunged towards him, sandwich at hand.' until you actually try it. I honestly can't stop laughing about it.
Jamie limped into the room a few minutes later, Jade behind him. "I brought you a sandwich since you didn't come to get lunch." He greeted, handing her a peanut butter sandwich. "Peanut butter makes everything better."
"…Okay? Thanks." Mikan replied unsurely. "What did you do to it?"
"Don't worry, it's safe." Jade assured.
She examined it closely, then took half of it and tossed it to Natsume, who caught it awkwardly and looked at her curiously.
"If you're trying to start a food-fight, I'll win." He said simply.
Mikan rolled her eyes. "You haven't eaten anything. And I would so beat you!" she lifted her half of the sandwich and aimed it at him threateningly.
"Put the sandwich down, Mikan-chan." A voice behind her sighed in exasperation. "I guess you're out of the hospital…"
Mikan tilted her head back and looked at Utau-sensei. "What? Did you actually think I would throw this peanut-buttery deliciousness at Natsume-kun?" she asked innocently.
She nodded. "Mikan, you've started four food-fights since I've known you – and those are just the peanut-butter involved ones." She shook her head. "Don't play the innocent act with me.
Mikan frowned. "Okay, so maybe I was considering throwing it him… but only if he insulted me!"
"Mikan, you need new excuses. You've used that every time…" she sighed again. "What could he possibly say to earn a sandwich in the face?"
"He… he could've called me polka-dots!"
Utau looked at her in confusion, and Natsume leaned forward smirking. "Pol-ka-dots."
Her eye twitched, and she lunged towards him, sandwich at hand. "This sandwich is going down the back of your shirt!" she let out an odd battle cry that only made his smirk widen in amusement.
"Mikan! Sit!" Utau snapped, pointing a bubble-wand at her. "Don't make me use this!"
Mikan slunk to back to her spot beside Jamie whilst whispering, "I will be avenged…"
Jade giggled. "Ooh, you got the bubble-wand pulled on you!" she turned to Natsume, probably sensing his confusion. "Don't underestimate Utau-sensei. It looks harmless, but if that gets pulled out, you know you're in trouble. It's like Ash from Pokemon twisting his hat back. It looks harmless enough but bam!"
Natsume looked far from convinced. "So you're telling me a bubble-wand is a serious punishment?"
"Precisely! It's her trick. She makes it so harmless and funny, then suddenly you're tied to train-tracks!"
"…I'm sure she hasn't done that."
"No," Mikan interjected. "She actually tied Jade to train-tracks. It took me and Jamie two hours to find her." He still didn't look convinced. "Try if you will to test her, but when you wake up in the middle of nowhere with a massive headache and no recollection of what happened, you will regret it horribly."
"If you have no recollection, how would you know it was her?" he questioned.
"Next time she sees you she smiles and greets you by saying 'Oh, so you made it out okay. Pity.'" Mikan scoffed.
"Stop spreading such rumors about me!" Utau snapped, glaring at them. "You guys are ruining my plans…"
"And she tells me to stop playing innocent."
"…I don't think teachers are allowed to do that kind of thing."
"They're not." Mikan replied. "But nobody really wants to test her…" she added after a moment, "She's got the binding alice, so she knocks you out, then brings you wherever, and you're tied up." Mikan shivered. "Never do I plan on letting her tie me up…"
Jamie leaned down to quickly whisper in her ear, "She knows you have troubles with that because of your past. She'd do something different."
"I hate binds…" Mikan whispered to herself, nibbling on her half of the sandwich. She looked at the clock. "Lunch is almost done…" she sighed.
"What, not looking forward to telling your senpai's your story?" Jamie asked, brushing his hand on Jade to get rid of the crumbs that clung to it.
Natsume leaned forward ever-so subtly and seemed to hang on the words she was going to say.
"I don't even know how to tell them anything. They wouldn't even let me say anything… and Tsubasa-senpai was so excited he didn't hear what I did say…"
He looked almost disappointed he wasn't going to hear more, and if he noticed Mikan clinging once again to Jamie's shirt, he didn't show it.
"I don't even know what I can say without having to go back to the hospital…" her throat tightened with anxiety, and sensing it, Jamie, for the umpteenth time, wrapped his arm around her. "They think I'm still the bratty kohai I was when I left; the one who didn't understand half of their jokes because they were rude, who was pure, innocent, saw no problem with the world. Jamie I'm not innocent or pure! They won't like me anymore because of my changes!" her chest constricted and she struggled for breath.
"Calm down," Jamie whispered, and she tried to relax some. "They'll understand what happened wasn't your fault. None of this was your fault, Mikan, and if they think otherwise you're better off without them for not believing in you."
"I don't care about what they think about me being raped!" Mikan hissed quietly so Jade wouldn't overhear. "I care about what they'll think of what happened after it!" her voice rose shrilly. "The pain from that will never compare to the pain I felt watching… watching…" her voice trailed off and her eyes clouded over.
Natsume's interest was suddenly recovered, and he watched and waited for her to say something else to help him understand the mystery that had become her.
She jumped when the bell rang, signaling class was to start, and sat down at her actual seat instead of one of the desks.
The class filed in quickly, and soon all of the seats were taken.
"Good morning, class," Utau greeted politely. "I will be your new music and dance teacher – please call me Utau-sensei."
A couple of kids muttered out greetings where as most did nothing.
She smiled at Mikan. "I trained Mikan-chan here how to sing, didn't I?" she didn't wait for her reply. "So that's why I thought I'd let her come up here and sing!"
Mikan froze. "I don't want to."
Utau whipped a bendy-straw out of midair and pointed it at her threateningly.
"Oh shit, not the bendy-straw!" Jade dove under her desk, earning her some weird looks.
Mikan put her hands up in surrender. "Okay, okay, just don't use the bendy-straw." She walked up to the front of the classroom and motioned Jamie and Jade up. "But my band will be with me."
She pointed Jamie to the drums so he could sit, and Jade crawled out from the desk and grabbed a guitar, turning to her curiously.
Mikan smiled. "You wanted to do this song so much Jamie, so, here's your chance: Determinate."
Jamie smiled back at her, and she used her Music alice to start the piano. Without Claire here, they'd be without a pianist for a while.
"Trying hard to fight these tears
I'm crazy worried
Messing with my head this fear
I'm so sorry,"
She sent a glance at Natsume as she said those lines.
"You know you gotta get it out
I can't take it
That's what being friends is about,"
She sighed through her teeth at how some lyrics could fit so well, then moved a little to the beat, trying to get into it.
"I, I want to cry
I can't deny
Tonight I wanna up and hide
And get inside
It isn't right
I gotta live in my life!
I know I, I know I
I know I gotta do it
I know I, I know I
I know I gotta do it,"
Oh, yes, how unfair her life was…
"Gotta turn the world into your dance floor
Determinate, determinate
Push until you can't and then demand more
Determinate, determinate
You and me together, we can make it better
Gotta turn the world into your dance floor
Determinate, determinate,"
She jumped up and down with Jade then slid to the side, casting a look over at Jamie as she said the third to last line, and she pointed at him for effect.
"Hate to feel this way
And waste a day
I gotta get myself on stage
I shouldn't wait or be afraid
The chips will fall where they may
I know I, I know I
I know I gotta do it
I know I, I know I
I know I gotta do it,"
Her eyes looked over the crowd. 'How many,' she wondered, 'actually think I'm serious with some of these lyrics?'
Natsume seemed to be listening closer to them most people, but that didn't surprise her. Hotaru looked mildly interested, but furious at her for abandoning her still.
She turned to glance at Jamie, who nodded her way, saying in his way that he understood that these were serious lyrics.
"Gotta turn the world into your dance floor
Determinate, determinate
Push until you can't and then demand more
Determinate, determinate
You and me together, we can make it better
Gotta turn the world into your dance floor
Determinate, determinate,"
Mikan turned to Jamie quickly, waiting for him to start, grinning madly.
"It's Jamie and I'm heaven-sent
Use it like a veteran
Renegade, lemonade, use it in my medicine
Go ahead and try to name a band we ain't better than
Reason why the whole world's picking us instead of them
People need a breather cause they're feeling that adrenaline
Stop! Now hurry up and let us in. Knock!
Cause we're coming to your house and
People keep on smiling with the lemons in their mouths
I'm the real deal, you know how I feel
Why they in it for the meal I'm just in it for the thrill
Get down now I ain't playin' around put your feet up from the ground
And just make that sound right,"
His eyes never left her, caring only about her opinion of how he had done. She barely had a chance to flash a quick admiration filled smile before having to get back to singing. She caught a quick glance of squealing girls in the crowd as they watched Jamie, and she felt a flash of possessiveness, then pity for poor Claire who would be raging now.
"Yeah, yeah!"
Mikan could only wonder why Jade wasn't more confident about her voice as she continued from there.
"Gotta turn the world into your dance floor
Determinate, determinate
Push until you can't and then demand more
Determinate, determinate
You and me together, we can make it better
Gotta turn the world into your dance floor
Determinate, determinate,"
She jumped and slid with Jade again, who was smiling widely.
"Come on and, come on and
Come on and get it going
Come on and, come on and
Come on and get it going
On the dance floor
On the dance floor
D-d-dance floor
Determinate!"
She sighed as she finished, out of breath.
She gave Jade a quick high-five and turned to Jamie.
"You were freaking awesome." She paused and grinned wryly. "Claire would be furious to see so many girls squeal for you like they did!"
He blushed lightly and turned away to hide it.
"Can we sing another song?" she asked him quietly.
He shrugged and looked toward Utau questioningly.
She nodded consent.
Mikan beckoned Jade over. "Me and Jamie are going to do another song, okay?"
She nodded excitedly and went to her seat while Mikan turned back to Jamie. "Franklin, Paramore?"
He nodded and grabbed the guitar Jade had set down, quickly tried out the strings by playing the Harry Potter theme song then smiled at her.
"And when we get home, I know we won't be home at all
This place we live, it is not where we belong
And I miss who we were in the town that we could call our own
Going back to get away after everything has changed,"
She flashed Jamie a pained look, and he almost looked like he was going to stop so she shook her head quickly.
"Cause you remind me of a time when we were so alive," Jamie sang quietly.
"Everything has changed,"
"Do you remember that? Do you remember that?"
"Everything has changed,"
"Could you help me push aside all that I have left behind?"
"Everything has changed,"
"Do you remember that? Do you remember that?"
Even Jamie looked like this was hard on him, and she suddenly understood why he had wanted to stop for her, if that was how much pain she looked like she was in.
But they continued, Mikan ignoring the tears that had formed at the corner of her eyes.
"So we stand here now and no one knows us at all
I won't get used to this
I won't get used to being gone
And going back won't feel the same if we aren't staying
Going back to get away after everything has changed,"
So perfectly did this song describe the two; trying to save each other from their horrible pasts, trying to go back to who they were, but knowing it was to hard too, and that things had changed. Trying to remember when they weren't haunted and were truly free.
"Could you remind me of a time when we were so alive,"
"Everything has changed,"
"Do you remember that? Do you remember that?"
"Everything has changed,"
"Could you help me push aside all that I have left behind?"
"Everything has changed,"
"Do you remember that? Do you remember that?"
The class stared at them in amazement, wondering why this was so painful, but they would never know why Mikan had allowed the tears to fall.
Hotaru looked troubled, and Mikan had to remind herself of what she didn't tell her former best friend.
Ruka was staring with astonishment, not knowing what to think of it.
Natsume, still trying his best to understand what was going on, was trying to figure out why Mikan couldn't choose him over Jamie, or Jamie over him.
If the tears they shared weren't enough to prove their bond, then nothing would.
"Taking up our time
Taking up our time
Taking up our time
It's taking up our time we can't
Go back, we can't go back at all
It's taking up our time we can't
Go back, we can't go back at all
It's taking up our time we can't
Go back, we can't go back at all
It's taking up our time, taking up our time,"
Jamie took a deep breath beside her, and Mikan wondered just how hard this was for him, who refused to cry unless she wasn't looking, to appear strong, but was actually just a broken little boy wondering how things had become like this, wanting to get out and enjoy life, but trapped in a dark past.
"Could you remind me of a time when we were so alive?"
How horrible both of their lives had become, so different from what they wanted when they were younger, when things looked like they could only get better, but somewhere along the line, there ships crashed, and they were the sole survivors of it, but much as they tried, they couldn't get to land to save themselves and send help for the others, and they didn't notice that everyday they were sinking just a little bit more.
"Do you remember that? Do you remember that?"
A few claps went up, unsure of whether to applaud or worry, and Mikan looked down, shoulders hunched and bangs covering the face of what used to be innocence.
Utau-sensei cleared her throat awkwardly and stood up. "Jamie, Mikan, can you two please wait in the hall for me?"
Mikan grabbed Jamie's hand and they walked into the hall, where Mikan finally let out a sob and clung to Jamie. He hugged her back, this time not only trying to comfort her, but himself, something he rarely needed to do.
"We're both pretty stupid, huh?" he hummed after a moment. "Now there's going to rumors like there was in America."
"Well, there probably would be anyways. So who cares?"
"We probably will eventually. Oh, there's something I-"
The door opened quickly and Utau stepped out interrupting Jamie. "Well, you've got a group of kids talking about you two, rumors spreading already, and lots of awkward looks."
"We figured as much," Mikan shrugged. "Let the rumors spread like wildfires, most of them won't be even close to the truth, and if one of them is, we can still deny it."
She sighed. "I know you guys have… troubling pasts, but scaring the wits out of the class won't solve anything."
"Don't flatter yourself, Utau, you're –our- therapist, but not even you know everything." Mikan snapped. "Theirs some secrets that me and Jamie even keep from each other."
Jamie nodded in agreement, arms folded across his chest. "You can't drag everything out. There will always be some horrors we can never tell you."
She sighed again, "Look, I know you'll never tell me everything, but I want you to know that you can trust me."
"We know." Jamie interrupted quickly, and Mikan was inclined to agree.
Utau turned to her. "Mikan, I need a word with Jamie, can you go back in please?" she paused before adding, "And I'll be gone for about ten minutes, so… distract the class. Play an instrument and tell them that Utau says to practice dance.
Mikan shrugged, sent a suspicious glance at Jamie, and strode back into the classroom, tears gone, defiance radiating off of her.
"Utau says to practice dancing, and if you know what's good for you, you will." She stated simply, grabbing a guitar on her way to her seat.
About half the class got up to dance, wither scared of Utau or her, and the other half stayed sitting and talked.
"Kimi ga ookkina ookkina koe de warattara
Sugu ni manekko isshoni waratta ne,"
It was just a quiet hum to herself, but Hotaru's eyes flicked to her, wide with disbelief. At the fact that she was singing, of all the songs she knew, Shiawase no Niji.
"Te wo tsunaide aruita michi
Kyou wa futari de kakekkoshiyou
Kimi to iru to donna sekai mo akaruku kagayaku yo
Sonna kimi no tonari ni iru
Konna chiicha na shiawase wo
Hitotsu hitotsu dakishime nagara egao ni kaeru yo
Jidensha de kugurinuketa ano niji no you ni
HAPPII na iro de iyou itsumademo,"
Along with Hotaru's odd look, almost all of the people that weren't dancing were now listening, and the people that were dancing were dancing to the song.
"Utsumuite aruita michi
Kyou wa futari de kakekkoshi you
Ue wo mukimasho donna sekai mo akaruku kagayaku yo
Sonna kimi no tonari ni iru
Konna chiicha na shiawase wo
Hitotsu hitotsu dakishime nagara egao ni kaeru yo
Jidenshe de kugurinuketa ano niji no you ni
HAPPII na iro de ite ne itsumademo
Kenka shita kokoro no kyouri wa
Monosashijya hakarenai
Korae kirezu koboreta namida
Futari de nugui aeba
Jidensha de kugurinuketa ano niji no you ni
HAPPII na iro de iyou itsumademo
Kimi to ookkina ookkina koe de waratteku
HAPPII na iro de iyou itsumademo,"
She turned to the door as Jamie wandered back in, going and whispering something in Jade's ear quickly, causing her to let out a small squeal and clapped a hand quickly over her mouth, glancing at Mikan.
He sat back on his seat beside Mikan, and she waited for him to say something. "What did you tell Jade?" she asked impatiently when he didn't.
He smiled wryly. "You'll see."
"Where did Utau go?" she persisted.
The grin stayed placed. "You'll see."
She stared at him evilly for a minute, before giving up and turning away to ignore him.
"Aw, you're going to ignore me. Whatever will I do?" he taunted, trying to get her to lose her temper so soon.
She hopped away from him, going back to the front of the class, spiting him bitterly.
"I can't feel my senses
I just feel the cold
All colors seem to fade away
I can't reach my soul
I would stop running, if I knew there was a chance
It tears me apart to sacrifice it all, but I'm forced to let go,"
Her music alice instinctively kicked in so there was background noise, and she ignored the shocked look Jamie sent her as she once again hurt herself through music.
"Tell me I'm frozen, but what can I do?
Can't tell the reasons I did it for you
When lies turn into truth I sacrificed for you
You say that I'm frozen, but what can I do?"
All these people, thinking she was colder now, but she was only protecting them, sacrificing even more of her happiness to keep her friends alive and well, because Kuonji, though not a principal here anymore, still had things here keeping them alive, and even though she hated admitting it, without him, she and her friends would be dead by now.
"I can feel your sorrow
You won't forgive me,
but I know you'll be all right
It tears me apart that you will never know, but I have to let go,"
Would they ever know how much she sacrificed for them to live? Probably not. When Kuonji let her go, he'd probably make it seem like she had nothing to do with it.
These precious people to her wouldn't appreciate her doing this, anyway.
"Tell me I'm frozen, but what can I do?
Can't tell the reason's I did it for you
When lies turn into truth I sacrificed for you
You say that I'm frozen, but what can I do?
"Everything will slip away
Shattered pieces will remain
When memories fade into emptiness
Only time will tell its tale
If it has all been in vain,
"I can't feel my senses
I just feel the cold
Frozen…
But what can I do?
Frozen…
"Tell me I'm frozen! But what can I do?
Can't tell the reasons I did it for you!
When lies turn into truth, I sacrificed for you!
You say I'm frozen… frozen…"
But the only one she was really concentrated on saving when she sacrificed so much was the boy she was staring at, willing to understand, but knowing he wouldn't until she finally told him everything; Natsume.
Someone opened the door and screamed loudly, bringing Mikan out of her thoughts and causing multiple other students to cry out in shock.
Jamie smiled and got to his feet and Jade ran towards the door as Mikan turned to look at who she was sure was Mitsuki, her best friend who was supposed to be in America.
She was right(Of course, who else would come to her classroom just to terrify her?), and she let out a cry of happiness. "Mitsuki-chan! What are you doing here?" she demanded the blue-eyed brunette.
Mitsuki ran towards her and tackled her into a tight hug. "Mikan-chan! I missed you so much! We had to come and visit, I couldn't handle not seeing you for even a day, and everyone was scared cause I was so sad!"
"We? You mean…?"
"Hey, babe." Arden greeted striding coolly into the room, green eyes sparkling mischievously. He opened his arms for an expected hug and she ran to him quickly. He twirled her in a quick circle and laughed, planting a small peck on her cheek. "Do you honestly think we wouldn't stalk you here?"
"Well, I was worried… they let you guys come? Is Claire here?"
"And why wouldn't I come if all the others came?" Claire's voice demanded as she entered the room, flicking her blond hair behind her head haughtily.
"Claire!" Mikan jumped away from Arden and ran over to her, and Jade instantly took her place in his arms, squealing in excitement. "I can't believe you're all here! Who sent for you?" she paused then turned to Jamie, who was smirking at her.
"I was going to tell you earlier, but it seemed so much more suitable to surprise you." She smacked him hard on the arm. "Ow. I was expecting more of a, 'Oh my God, Jamie you are the most wonderful person in the world, and I want to have your babies' reaction."
She smacked him again. "That's for not telling me. And yes, you are the most wonderful person in the world. But no babies for you."
He laughed and turned his eyes on Claire, who immediately blushed and turned away. He ruffled her hair with a laugh. "You really can't think of a better reaction than that? How about, 'I'll have your babies!'"
She blushed brighter and backed away from him, fixing her hair and trying to regain her dignity. "You wish! Contain your hormones you horrid pervert!"
Mikan laughed and Jamie grinned widely. "What, no hugs for me? Not even from you, dearest Claire?"
Mikan laughed harder and Claire turned in another direction once again.
"Aw, c'mon, you know you missed me! And I haven't gotten a hug from you in three days…" he pouted at her and added, "I missed you," in a whiny voice.
She didn't relent, instead turned her attention to Jade, who seemed to forget –like Mikan had- that they were in a classroom, and was clinging to Arden like a burr. "Oi, Jade, if you could let go of lover-boy for a moment, maybe you'd like to greet me?"
Jade turned to her, a mixture of annoyance and embarrassment on her face. "Hello, Claire, it would be better to see you if you didn't interrupt my happiness."
Mikan backed away from them and back to Mitsuki, who was watching with almost as much as amusement as she was as they started arguing.
"Oh, phooey," Mitsuki grumbled. "I forgot. Utau will be here soon… with Alexandria and David…"
Mikan's face twisted in disgust. "Why would they come? Ugh…"
"Alex wanted to steal some 'Japanese hotties' from you, and David… well, you know…"
Mikan groaned in annoyance. "If you even think about telling me he's here to ask me out again, I will go and jump out of this window…"
"Ugh, no, worse. He's here to boast that he's going out with Alexandria now…"
Mikan was silent for a moment. "Then why is Alexandria here to flirt with boys?" she asked, already knowing the answer.
"She still despises you." Mitsuki stated simply, looking around the classroom and examining the students. "Its weird to be back in Japan. I can't even remember living here when I was younger." She hummed quietly then turned back to Mikan, smiling coyly. "So, have you gotten a boyfriend yet, or are we going to be the two lonesome single ladies – again. Not that Claire and Jamie are officially together. They've both got to much pride to admit anything."
"You know I'm not interested in a relationship…" Mikan mumbled, blushing awkwardly as her gaze snapped quickly to Natsume, the back to Mitsuki.
"Yes, yes, so you say." Mitsuki said with a wave of her hand. "But, you just looked at a boy. With crimson eyes. As you said your fiancé had."
"I'm never sharing any of my private business with you again."
"Yes, yes, so you say." Mitsuki repeated. "So, have you guys rekindled your relationship and stuff?"
"He can probably hear us!" Mikan snapped quietly.
"Oh relax, we're using English."
"He's the smartest boy in the school. He knows English."
"Well, what's there to be embarrassed about?" she complained. "Don't tell me Jamie did something. I'll beat him."
"All Jamie had to do was exist," Mikan replied dryly. "Now, please, cut the romance crap. I have no interest. Except in getting Jamie and Claire together… still."
"I thought one of them would've confessed the day you guys left…"
"Well, it seems not." Mikan pointed to the two, both grumbling to each other, both clearly blushing, but neither of them making a move. "They're so slow!"
"Oh yes, because we work much faster." Mitsuki retorted. "Because it only took you a day to catch David's interest for four years."
"I don't like that weirdo!" Mikan snapped. "He's creepy, possessive of what's not his, and stalked me. It's creepy!"
"Yes, yes," Mitsuki said again. "Introduce me to someone; mine as well do something while we're here!"
"I don't know anyone here."
"So, you don't know anyone, even though you do?"
"Precisely."
"Well," she drawled, linking arms with Mikan. "Now's the time too!" she dragged Mikan down a few seats to where Natsume was sitting with Ruka and Hotaru. "Hi, I'm Mitsuki, and I like milk!" she greeted, sticking her hand out in front of Natsume's face expectantly. "Did Jade use that greeting too? She promised she would."
Mikan shook her head.
"…I'm going to kick her ass so hard Arden won't ever be able to make a perverted comment about it again…" she waved her hand in front of Natsume's face when he didn't shake it. "Hello! Shake my hand or I'll bite you!"
A couple of questioning glances.
"She's serious…" Mikan replied, rolling her eyes. "She did it with me when we first met. She has sharp teeth." She added, and Natsume hesitantly shook her hand, followed by Ruka and Hotaru.
"So," Mitsuki started again. "What are your names?"
"Give me fifty rabbits and they will be revealed."
"Okay, so you must be Hotaru Imai, the blackmailer with the invention alice." Mitsuki guessed correctly. "And crimson-eyed meanie is Natsume Hyuuga, and that leaves rabbit-boy to be Ruka Nogi."
"I've taught you well." Mikan replied dryly, trying to unhook her arm from Mitsuki's and failing.
"Where do you think you're trying to escape too?" she demanded. "I just got here and I want to meet your old friends! And fiancé! C'mon!"
Hotaru's and Ruka's eyes flicked to Natsume in surprise as she said fiancé, and Natsume looked down awkwardly.
"Is there something you've been keeping from us, crimson-eyed meanie?" Hotaru growled, baka-gun out and aiming. "Mind saying what fiancé meant?"
"…Well it means people are engaged…" Natsume replied, staring at the baka-gun in annoyance.
She cocked it. "And mind saying why she said it?"
Mikan face-palmed. "You didn't tell them that we met up four years ago, did you?"
"…No…"
"And here I was so sure you'd be parading around gloating."
"You've got three seconds Hyuuga."
He was silent for one of them. "So maybe we saw each other four years ago… and maybe we exchanged alice stones… and maybe I forced her to kiss me and say she loved me…"
Mikan snatched the baka-gun away before Hotaru could shoot, and Hotaru glared furiously at her. "Give me that gun. I've got business to take care of."
"Now, now, no need to horribly embarrass Natsume – no matter how funny it would be. We're not engaged anymore."
"You're not?" Mitsuki, Hotaru and Ruka blurted out at the same time Natsume asked, "We're not?"
"No. I threw his alice stone out." She lied, ignoring the shock all of them looked like they were in; and in pain, for Natsume. "I don't plan on marrying. Or dating, being engaged, or having a relationship."
"Liar." Mitsuki snapped, hands on her hips. "You always wore that damn thing around your neck or arm. And if I'm right –and I know I am- you have it on now."
"…Damn you." Mikan hissed pulling her sleeve down further to cover the necklace she wore as a bracelet.
"Stop trying to hurt your friends!"
"I'm not trying to hurt them! I'm protecting them from more pain, and you bloody well know that! You know what's going to happen!" she ripped her arm away from Mitsuki. "Natsume can have his stone back, along with all of his memories, because I want to forget them and forget him!" she took it off of her arm, though she didn't want to, and thrust it at Natsume. "It's this that ruined my life anyway!"
She dropped the necklace on Natsume when he didn't take it and stalked back to her seat, moments later joined by Mitsuki.
"I didn't mean to make you snap like that…" she whispered painfully. "I just want you to be friends with them again…"
Mikan sighed. "Mitsuki, you know I don't want them to be my friends anymore… You're the only one who knows the reason; I haven't even told Jamie! I just…" she shook her head blankly. "Just please stop. It's to painful for me."
"But you're putting them in pain doing this!"
"But I'm trying to save them from future pain."
"By doing this? They'll still love you Mikan, and you're just causing them pain now as well as later!"
"I don't want to discuss this anymore!"
Mitsuki let out a sigh. "Mikan, you're my best friend. I know that you believe what I said, but you won't acknowledge it."
Mikan stayed silent, almost thankful when the door opened - almost.
In stepped Utua-sensei, Alexandria and David.
Instantly Alexandria smiled at everyone, eyes scanning over the boys, choosing her prey. Mikan wasn't surprised when they landed on Natsume, who was now sitting by himself, Hotaru having dragged Ruka away to spite him for keeping a secret from them.
Then her smile disappeared as she caught Mikan's eyes, and she strode over quickly, smiling slyly. "Well, Miss Yuki-blah-blah, so nice to see you."
"Yukihara." Mikan corrected uselessly. "And we both know you're not happy to see me."
"So true. But I'm sure you have your ideas on why I've come?"
"Mitsuki and me agree that you want to flirt with the hottest boy in class. And it seems Natsume has caught your eye."
"Ah, is that his name? Lovely. Help me flirt with him."
"…What?"
"Well, I can't speak Japanese! You must do it for me!" She grabbed Mikan's arm and dragged her over to him quickly. "Tell him my name."
'He can speak English you batty cow!' Mikan wanted to scream. Instead, speaking Japanese she spoke to Natsume, "This is Alexandria. She wants me to help her flirt with you because she can't speak Japanese and she's too daft to listen when I say that you can speak English. Please humor her, she's rather stupid."
He stared at her, eyes emotionless as he fiddled with his alice stone necklace in his hand. "Tell her I'm not interested."
"He's not interested." Mikan stated in English to Alexandria.
"Ooh, what did you say to him?" she demanded furiously. "You probably insulted me to turn him away! Say something nice about me!"
"You heard her," Mikan said to Natsume. "So what's your reply?"
"Tell her I'm engaged."
"We've just discussed this Natsume." Mikan said, gritting her teeth.
"Tell her anyway."
"He's engaged." Mikan repeated to Alexandria.
"Liar! What did he say?"
"Tell her I'm engaged to you." Natsume said, staring down at her. "Say we're engaged, properly. I want to hear it clearly, and I want it to come from your own mouth."
'You bastard! Saying something like that, repeating the words you said four years ago! How am I supposed to say something different when you put it like that!' "Persistent bastard." She retorted angrily.
"Tell her. I'm right here listening, and I could tell her." He paused and she didn't say anything. "If you regret saying what you said earlier to me, say it."
She glared at him, and the words slipped out of her mouth uncontrollably. "Natsume is engaged to me, only to me, and will always love me and I him, he isn't and never will be interested in you, you idiotic woman." She paused before adding, "Dammit, Natsume…"
Natsume smirked triumphantly.
"You're lying! You are! What is he saying!"
"He can speak damn near perfect English and has heard everything you've said, and if he wanted me to say something different, he would have told me, hag."
"Then tell him to say something in English!"
"Mikan's right." Natsume stated. "You're an idiotic hag. And she said what I wanted her too."
Alexandria's mouth fell open, and she glared at Mikan. "So then he's fine that you and Jamie slept together almost every night, and you were just dating him?" she asked bitterly.
"Jamie and I are, have been, and always will be friends. I know it, and you know too. Does Jamie honestly look like he's interested in anyone besides Claire?" she asked, looking over Alexandria's shoulder at Jamie and Claire, who were both still blushing and talking.
Alex's head whipped around and she stared at them unbelievingly. "You- so what! You two were all over each other in America!"
"We get along, relate because of our pasts, comfort each other when we're down, and on occasion flirt because we're bored. Sorry for being close, I'll lock myself in the attic."
"What about David!"
"He followed me around like a love-sick, stalker weirdo. Congrats on scoring him."
Hearing his name, David walked over, smiling charmingly at Mikan. "Mikan, lovely to see you again." He greeted, kissing the back of her hand.
Natsume swatted Mikan's hand away from David protectively. "Don't touch her."
Mikan wiped the back of her hand off on her shirt. "Don't kiss me, creep. I don't want the germs of an idiot that has failed four grades touching me. You know I'm not interested, and despise you because of what you've done."
Natsume looked at her curiously, and Alexandria's eyes flashed in confusion.
"I'm sorry for loving you." David hissed, eyes growing cold. "But I don't think I can learn to stop." He grabbed a strand of her hair gently, smiling oddly. "We've known each other for four years exactly now, you know."
Mikan stepped back so she was standing right beside Natsume, and his arm snaked around her waist. "I don't want you touching me. I don't want you coming near me. If I so much as see your face again, I will scream for help, and this time I will get it. Because David," she leaned forward so just him and her could hear her. "Natsume will save me this time."
His eyes narrowed then flicked to look at Natsume, and he grabbed Alexandria's hand and stormed out of the classroom, leaving Mikan stare after him in silence, leaving the threat that didn't need to be spoken aloud. "You can't run away from me; you're already mine and have been for four years."
Natsume's grip tightened around her waist. "What did he do to you that was horrible enough to make you cry?"
'I'm crying?' she thought blankly. She broke away from him and ran towards the door, feeling sick. His footsteps followed hers.
"Mikan?" Jamie's voice asked in shock as she ran by him blindly to get the door. "What happened? Where are you going?" he demanded, and he chased after her too.
She ignored him and kept running, turning corners absently, before she slammed into a vacant room, cluttered with dusty furniture.
She locked the door and shoved a chair under it just as someone tried to shove it open. "What happened?" she heard Jamie's voice demand Natsume.
"I don't know! She just ran off after some weirdo named David did!"
"David…? What on earth is he doing here…?"
"You know why he's here," Mitsuki's voice came. "He's got some twisted fetish for Mikan." She paused then there was a small knock. "Mikan-chan, please open the door. What's wrong?"
Mikan didn't reply, searching through the room absentmindedly.
"You have the mind-reading alice, what's she thinking!" Jamie snapped, trying unsuccessfully to open the door.
There was a moment of silence then Mitsuki shrieked. "Get the door open now! She's going to hurt herself!"
Instantly the door burst into flames and Natsume barged in through them, and Jamie put them out and followed with a wide-eyed Mitsuki at his heels.
"What do you think you're doing?" Natsume demanded, grabbing a piece of shattered glass that she didn't remember picking up, out of her hand.
Mitsuki gasped suddenly, and Mikan's foggy eyes turned to her. "He…was the one…who…?" she slid to the floor and sat beside Mikan.
"Who did what? What are you talking about?" Jamie demanded impatiently in a shaky voice.
"David…" Mitsuki's voice cut off sharply, and she breathed heavily before continuing, "David was the one who raped Mikan…"
Jamie's eyes dilated in horror, before he let out a raspy laugh. "That's… not possible… David was in America…right?"
Mitsuki burst into tears. "She had to see him everyday in class! No wonder she hated him so much!"
Mikan looked at Jamie blankly, waiting for him to say or do something, and when he didn't, turned her gaze Natsume, who was looking down, bangs covering his eyes so she couldn't see his emotions.
She stood up. "It doesn't matter!"
Jamie grabbed her hand as she started for the door. "Doesn't matter?" he repeated coldly, and Mikan almost flinched. "Why didn't you tell me something so important?"
"It doesn't matter! It's in the past! I'd hate him anyway!" she yanked her hand away from him, backing towards the door, then cursed when Natsume grabbed her other hand to prevent her from leaving.
"You should have told me!" Jamie repeated painfully. "I thought you trusted me!"
"I do trust you!" Mikan snapped weakly. "But I don't tell you everything…"
"What haven't you told me?" he practically screamed, eyes boring in hers so she had to look away.
"You know everything about me now, except one thing! Can't you leave it like that? I know you haven't told me things!" she breathed deeply. "Mitsuki knows about the rape, and the one thing you don't know; Utau knows about the rape and the murder; Natsume knows about the rape – you're the only people that know these things! Can't I keep one thing away from you?" she paused, almost expecting him to reply, then added in a calmer tone, "You tell me the thing you've been keeping from me, and I'll tell you."
Jamie looked down, jaw clenched. "I can't… I've tried to tell you lots of times, but I'm not ready too…"
"And I'm not ready to share either. When the time comes, I will tell you. But it isn't now."
He smiled bitterly. "Of course it's not. But," He draped an arm across her shoulders and pulled her away from Natsume's grasp, into one of his awkward hugs. "I expect you to tell me everything else important that happens to you from now on."
Mikan sighed, half relieved, half annoyed. "Deal."
He backed away and patted her head. "Okay. So, because this is relatively important, and you have to tell me the truth, I want to ask you something; do you really love me more than Natsume?" he grinned cheekily, and she pounced at him furiously.
"How is that important? You already know the answer!" she whacked him in the chest, ignoring the curious look from Mitsuki, and the emotionless one from Natsume.
"Okay, okay, no need to be violent." He coughed, shoving her away so she wouldn't hit him again. "But answer me this, then; do you still want to be marry Natsume?"
She did a flying jump kick she remembered trying to use on Hotaru years ago on him, this time successfully hitting him in the stomach, and he crashed to the ground. "Must you change the awkward-sadness in the room to perverted—awkwardness?"
"Yes. It's my duty." He paused, getting to his feet. "That hurt, you witch!"
"You deserved it, you bastard!" she retorted and laughed. Only Jamie could change the mood in a room so quickly.
He huffed, irritated. "Well," he drawled, putting his arm around Mikan again, ignoring Natsume's death-glare. "Shall we get back to class before Utau gets to concerned?"
She nodded, and they walked towards the door, but not before Mikan grabbed Natsume's hand to pull him along, and she smiled reassuringly at Mitsuki, who followed obiedently.
"So… do you still want to marry Natsume?" Jamie repeated when they were halfway back to class.
Natsume's hand tightened around hers, and she knew he wanted her answer too.
"Do you like Claire?" she retorted instead of answering.
"…Okay. So if I said yes, that would mean that you mean yes too?"
"…Did you just admit it?"
"No. I'm checking."
"Well, no."
"Okay. Well, I'll stop asking so many questions now."
"You better, bastard."
Lookie, another chapter!
17 pages, over 7,000 words.
Songs:
Determinate, Lemonade Mouth
Franklin, Paramore
Shiawase no Niji, the ending theme to the Gakuen Alice anime.
Frozen, Within Temptation
Now, for a small shout-out to Amai Youkaiko, and all other mind-readers. If you can guess what I'm thinking right now, I will freak out.
I plan on using a couple of other Within Temptation songs (Amai, you mind-reader, you can be thanked for this.)
I want to say this: No, Natsume and Mikan aren't together. Still. Sigh.
Natsume still hasn't gotten his question answered, even if Mikan is making it painstakingly obvious. But he will soon, no worries. There is hope for them being together, even if it is for a short time.
Yes, I did hint at something there.
Please review! Pretend I'm a hobo that needs money for food. Except I'm a writer, and you have spare reviews.