Writer: Kyoko-tan
Editor: Sakura- chan
Disclaimer: We don't own Gakuen Alice. If we did, Natsume will be ours- I mean, Sakura-chan's.
A Reply to angel1217 (Anonymous Reviewer): Read to find out! Heh heh, joking. XD; Uhhh... no not really, there are a couple spoilers in the omake from the manga, but I'm not going to tell you what! ;)
Recap of chapter 7:
"Get on the train."
"O-okay."
We were about to board the train, until I turned around, and my eyes widened once again. "Nobara, look."
We turned around, to see Mikan running towards us, and Youichi trying to persuade her to stop.
Uh oh.
Chapter 8:
I pumped myself to run faster. Behind me, Youichi screamed for me to stop. I was too concentrated on the target in front of me to hear the words Youichi screamed. My brown eyes clashed to a pair of crimson eyes, the one I have gotten to love and adore so much in the past.
Train 384 to Tokyo. Please clear dock, Train 384 is departing to Tokyo.
"NATSUME!" I screamed on top of my lungs. Tears of joy and sadness fell down my cheeks like a flowing river. Adrenaline ran through my veins and I was running at a speed much faster than I have before.
The doors of the train closed. I smashed my hand on the doors for them to open. Inside the compartment, I saw Natsume giving me a sorrow face. I was happy to know he's alive, however to see him within my arms reach and to slip away with Nobara was hard to bear.
Youichi pulled me away from the train and I saw the train departed from the station. My eyes that were burning with hatred never left those crimson ones until they were out of sight.
I grabbed his hand from my shoulder and turned him around. He was now pinned beneath me.
"You knew where they were," I accused him, "but you decided to help them! Have you forgotten our mission appointed by the Principal?!"
I was torn. The emotions that built up so much inside me unleashed itself. Youichi used this chance to escape from my grip and towered over me.
There was a long silence between the two of us. It's like time stopped for the both of us.
"Let's get back to the school," Youichi broke the silence. "Our mission was to bring Nobara back to the academy and she's already heading back herself. The mission is officially over."
I didn't know what to say. For all I knew, I was pretty much still shocked. First by my reaction and second for seeing Natsume and Nobara both together.
I numbly walked along side Youichi. I don't really remember the train ride back, but when I snapped back in to reality, I was in my room- once again, surrounded by the darkness. I looked at the clock beside my bed.
12:05 am.
The yellow numbers shone brightly in my dim room. So it's already this late. What have I been doing all this time?
I clutched my head as I rose from my bed. Was that all a dream- Youichi and I seeing Natsume and Nobara at the train station? Natsume betraying me?
The more I think about the event, the more it fades away from me. The event seemed so blurry to me. Maybe it was a dream. Even so, with all the thoughts in my head, it would be hard to fall asleep.
I stepped onto the cool wooden floors. I slowly crept to the door and placed my ear against it. The halls were silent. Good, the coast is clear. I walked into the night's warm breeze.
It wasn't long before I stopped in front of the Sakura tree. I placed my left hand against the tree's trunk and closed my eyes. My right hand rested over my heart. The wind lightly blew, and all was quiet. The night was so peaceful.
Being stuck inside a hospital room sucks. I know that for a fact. Ever since I came back to the school for the treatment for my arm, the doctors have been coming and going. It was only up until now I got some peace. Night had already fallen.
Luckily, no one – students – at the academy knew I came back. It would be much too noisy if they knew anyways.
Mikan.
Mikan running towards me, her angry screams. Everything was repeating itself in my mind.
I looked out the window. Coincidently, it was the Sakura tree. Beside the tree was a figure, a small petite figure. I walked closer towards the window to get a better view.
It was Mikan.
She had her hand on the trunk of the tree. The scene looks so serene and divine. The anger that I saw earlier today was gone from her face. She has reverted back into the old Mikan. My Mikan.
My lips curled up to form a smile. I gripped the window pane and leaped to the ground below.
Thud.
I took a few steps closer to her, closing the distance between the two of us. I instinctively wrapped my arms around her waist.
"Eh?"
I didn't reply. After the long month wait, I was finally back. I wasn't going to let anyone or anything to interrupt this moment we had.
Her face was turning scarlet. "N-Natsume?"
"Hn."
Mikan shifted from her position to face me. Our eyes gazed at one another. She then pulled me closer into a hug. Her face was buried into my torso.
"Natsume!" She cried into my chest. I was dumbfounded. "I w-was so w-worried."
I tightened my grips on Mikan. "You idiot. Worry about yourself before you worry about others."
"Oh," The figure spoke from behind the curtains, "what a scene I just witnessed."
"Sir. You called?" Another figure spoke from inside the room.
"Yes. I want you to escort Mikan here - to my office tomorrow before she goes to school." He stressed heavily on the word 'before'.
"As you wish. Anything else?"
"Also, make sure that black cat does not interfere."
"Of course," The figure bowed and left the room.
All that remained was one figure inside that dim room. His menacing eyes look down at the loving couples below, under the Sakura tree.
"I won't let you get in the way of my plans, black cat."
An evil laughter erupted inside the room.
Tonight was a memorable night. The stars were shining ever so brightly in the lonely night sky. And the moon also played its part in lighting the hours of darkness.
My head rested on his chest, while my tears overflowed with happiness and soaked his shirt. I can stay this way forever. I felt so relieved. I lifted my head from his chest for a slight second before he forced my head to rest against his chest again. It was soaking wet.
"I'm sorry! I didn't notice my tears – "
"Shhhh," He placed his finger to my lips. "you're really noisy, idiot."
"You'll catch a cold like this!"
"When the weather is this warm? Pfft No."
I raked my hand into my pocket of the school's uniform to find something to wipe the water from Natsume's shirt. However, my hand touched something hard and cool, yet somewhat warm. I pulled the object from my pocket.
"Eh?" A small sound escaped from my lips.
It was an Alice stone. To be exact, it wasn't just any Alice stone. It was my Alice stone that I gave to Natsume.
Just like how my mind unconsciously remembered the stone, the dream clicked into my head. Everything made sense again.
It wasn't a dream. It was reality, my reality.
Natsume betrayed me and left Gakuen Alice. I was sent on a mission to retrieve Nobara back. Him leaving with her on the train.
I stepped backwards, away from him. I looked at him right in the eyes. His eyes held as much shock as mine did. I continued to back away from him until my back touched the Sakura tree.
"Where did you get that?" The words stumbled off his tongue.
I looked away from his crimson orbs.
"Where did you get that?" He repeated his question and grabbed the stone from my hand.
"From the ESP," I said meekly.
"Who?" He leaned closer to my mouth to hear the words.
"From the ESP," I said whispered into his ear.
There was an awkward silence between us. Far away in the distance, I heard the clock toll once. I decided to break the silence. "Where were you when I needed you?"
I waited for him to say something. Something to rebut what the ESP has told me. However, with every passing second, my heart broke some more. "So what the ESP said was true,"
I couldn't face him anymore. I adverted my eyes from him. Tears fell once again. Why, oh why am I so weak? I stole a glance to see his face. However, due to the angle that he looked, it was impossible for me to see the expression. Regret? Sadness? Betrayal?
His hand reached to wipe the tears away from my cheeks. "And you believe his words?" Those words seem to be filled with so much sorrow as he said it. He lifted my face to look at him straight in the eye.
"Yes, no - No, I don't know." I was so confused. "My heart tells me to believe you, but how can I when you have no proof?"
"Proof, huh?" He grabbed me by the shoulder and pressed his lips onto mine. They were soft and sweet, just like how I remember them to be. Our lips parted.
"W-what was that about?" I blushed a dark shade of red. My fingers brushed against my lips.
"You wanted proofs," He smirked at my reaction. "It's late. I'll walk you to your dorm."
The walk back was quiet and soon we parted ways. I looked at the mirror. My face was still red from the sudden kiss.
I looked at my clock.
1:38 am.
I snuggled into my bed and stared at the ceiling. I closed my eyes and let the night's confrontation repeat. I smiled as I thought of him towering over me, leaning over to kiss. This was the best night I ever had.
6:42am.
Outside my window, I saw the sun shone brightly in the sky. The thought of seeing Natsume brought a smile to my face. I quickly rose from the bed to do my morning rituals. I should go surprise Ho-
Knock Knock.
"Who is it?" I leaned on the door.
"It's me." Great, Persona. I opened a small crack.
"What is it?"
"The ESP wishes to see you,"
"I understand, I'll make sure to visit him today."
"Immediately."
I sighed and closed the door behind me. "At least let me change my wardrobe."
"You asked to see me?" I bowed down to the ESP as I entered the room.
"I saw the little encounter you had with Natsume last night," I widened my eyes and continued to stare at the floor. He saw our meeting? Is he going to punish me?
"Punish, no." He answered as if he read my mind. I looked up at him in surprise. He took a step forward and grabbed my arm.
"Eh?"
"I just want to give you something," The ESP smirked. I looked down to see a bracelet clasped onto my wrist.
Suddenly, I felt something or someone was taking over my body. Two small pixie-like figures popped up in front of me. One was red devil and the other was a pure white angel.
"You hate Natsume,"
"I do?"
"No, you don't!!! Don't listen to her!"
"Who are you guys?"
"I am the devil within you,"
"And I am the angel, Mikan you mustn't give in to your hatred." She shrilled.
"Oh shut it, Angel!" The devil flicks the angel away.
"Wah!"
"Angel!" It was only me and the devil now.
"You hate Natsume."
"Stop it!"
"He betrayed you." Those words hit home.
"No! Stop it!"
"Embrace the darkness."
The devil stood looked down on me with her hateful eyes. Moments later, I was trapped in the darkness in my mind. The devil within me has taken over.
"You may return to your classes." The ESP said with a satisfying smile.
My eyes burned with hatred. My mouth formed a smirk. A new Mikan has been born.
"Just you wait," I whispered evilly to myself. "Natsume!"
I added a Mikan & Natsume moment in there to heat something up. Hopefully you like it. Reviews please!
~ Kyoko-tan
