Band Aid
Sorry for vanishing for one month . Last month was kind of the busiest one ever, with my cousin getting married, and a lot of workload to do. Hope that this month, I'll be back to my usual pace. Thank you for staying with me :D
Please, enjoy! ;)
-Sorry for bad grammar and tenses-
Disclamer : I do not own Gakuen Alice
Chapter 11 : The History
"Whoa, you are really strong Mikan." Ruka complimented from his position on the floor of his home gym.
Mikan grinned happily as she slightly pant. "Do I get something from wiping the floor with your butt?" She ask cheekily.
Ruka smiled, pushing himself from the floor. "You should ask your teacher." He answered, tilting his head towards Natsume who has been watching the whole match in silence.
Mikan turn towards Natsume, full blown smiling. Her eyes sparkling with excitement and mirth, while her face showing enthusiasm which make her look so ethereal with the sweat and all.
Natsume can't help but slightly smiled seeing such an expression from his girlfriend.
"Yeay, I got something!" Mikan squealed in delight.
Natsume arch his eyebrow as he smooth out his expression into a cold one. "Who says that? You are not that good. Ruka hold himself back a lot." He said, emphasizing the last word.
Mikan pouted. "You just smiled! How come it vanished in just seconds? I thought you will praise me after all the hard work." She countered childishly.
Ruka chuckled. He knows that Natsume is proud of Mikan. He just doesn't want to show it. "You did great Mikan. I know. I was the one on spar with you afterall."
Mikan cross her arms in front of her chest. "But he doesn't think like that." She glare towards Natsume.
Natsume smirked. "You must impressed me more to get something, little girl."
"Hey! I thought the name calling has ended!"
Natsume shrugged. "I never said that."
"Ruka, he is so mean!" Mikan whined while slumping herself on the sofa nearby, pulling out her boxing gloves and put them aside.
Ruka chuckled again. "Let's just ignore him. Natsume is just in the mood of being mean. Are you hungry?"
Mikan glance at Natsume, staring at his impassive face for a few seconds before nodding in affirmative answer towards Ruka and stood up, following him upstairs.
Ruka has been discharged two weeks after Natsume. Since then, Mikan start to respectively trained by both of them. While Natsume teach her technique on how to use hunting knife, dagger, and a bit about guns, Ruka give her a few sessions of fighting to polished her martial arts skill and of course, build up her stamina.
Natsume and Ruka must admit that Mikan's progress is really good. In two months time, she already kick Ruka's butt for total three times from 10 sparring. While her handling in knives and dagger has been exceptionally good that she can be compared to Natsume's. Although in gun section she still lack a lot. But at least she is brave enough to shoot some bullets now.
But all of that come not without price. As his subordinates have said, Natsume's way of training is ruthless that it has successfully made Mikan cried countless times, and sadly to say, Ruka is no better than Natsume. He is kinder for sure, but he still pressed Mikan a lot and demand more than she can in every fight.
In the first month, Mikan nearly want to screw everything and step back from all the hardcore training, but in the end, her willpower to overcome her trauma win, and she was more than glad that she didn't gave up back then.
"Orange juice or milk, Mikan?" Ruka ask from behind the refrigerator door.
"Orange juice." Mikan answered while taking a seat on one of the counter, taking some cookies from nearby jar.
"Move aside, little girl. I'm going to cook." Natsume said, walking inside the kitchen with fresh t-shirt and black apron.
Mikan stick her tongue out. "No, I'm going to stay here."
Natsume sigh as he step closer towards her. "What do you want to eat, princess?" He ask, tucking a strand of hair behind Mikan's ear while giving her a half smile which she like so much.
Mikan instantly blush because of Natsume proximity and his husky voice. How come he switch between being a devil and an angel that fast? And he is not fair, using his charm like that to stop her from being upset.
"You are always like this." Mikan protested, pressing her forefinger on Natsume's chest accusingly. "You switch constantly between being kind and mean."
Natsume smirk. "Well, can't have you slacking off on our training, love."
Mikan pouted. "Can't you be like this on our everyday training?"
"You already heard the answer."
"Please?" Mikan give him an adorable puppy eyes.
Natsume chuckled and lightly kiss Mikan's forehead. "Still not working love. Now what do you want to eat? Or I will cook just for myself."
Mikan sighed heavily in defeat, ignoring Ruka's look of full of amusement from across the kitchen. "Whatever you want to cook, I will eat it." She finally answered and jump down from the counter before Natsume choose to do something and 'forcefully' remove her from her spot.
Natsume grinned. "Good girl. You know what would I do."
Mikan just rolled her eyes as an answer.
"So why asking for mercy, Mikan?" Ruka ask, taking a seat in front of her while sliding her glass full of orange juice in front of her.
"Thanks Ruka." Mikan replied, retrieving her glass and take a quick gulp. "Well, I'm just thinking that I deserve a breather after such a long and gruesome training in these past months."
Ruka laughed. "You still have a long way to go, Mikan."
Mikan look at her glass dejectedly. "I know. I just want to say my complaints aloud to relieve my stress."
Ruka smiled. "We're sorry for pushing you over the limit. But you need it and you can do it. You are a natural. I bet in six months you are qualified enough to join our team."
"Ruka." Natsume interjected in reprimanding tone. He doesn't like it if Ruka mention anything that can connect Mikan to their team. She has enough bad memories. Natsume doesn't want to be the one to add it more. He want the opposite, giving good memories or if needed the best out of the best.
Ruka lift up both of his hands in surrender gesture. "I don't mean anything, Natsume. Of course Mikan won't do anything related to crime. I'm just using our team as a measurement."
"Chill, Natsume. I'm not thinking of anything related to your work." Mikan chimed in, calmly. Her boyfriend is such a worrywart, but well, that's why she loves him.
There is a tense air for a few moments, before Natsume continue with his cooking work and Mikan chat lightly with Ruka who keep taking a short glance towards the uptight looking Natsume.
"Hmm. This is really good, Natsume. You are such a good cook!" Mikan complimented happily after polishing two plates full of food.
Natsume smirk. "You sure eat a lot for a small girl."
Mikan frown. "What do you mean?"
"What do you think?"
"Stop teasing me!"
Natsume chuckled. "I mean literally what I say."
"You are being mean again." Mikan complained, crossing her arms.
Natsume ruffled Mikan's hair. "You are being childish, little girl."
"Hey! Stop –"
"Natsume." Ruka called, popping out from living room. His voice strained.
Mikan frown. She doesn't like the aura Ruka is excluding. Its like someone is in a grave danger. "Is there something wrong?"
The boys didn't answered her, they just stare at each other as if sending some messages telepathically, before Ruka vanish behind the door and Natsume approach her.
"Natsume. Please tell me, what happened?" Mikan grab Natsume's upper arm and stare at him with pleading look.
Natsume smiled as he take her empty plates with him and put them in the dishwasher. "Nothing. Can you do me a favor, love?"
Mikan's frown deepens. Natsume is acting strange. "Why can't you tell me what's wrong?"
Natsume shook his head. "Nothing's wrong. I just want to ask you a favor. Can you do it for me?" He ask, giving her his charming half smile again.
"I swear if you hide something important I will slash your throat personally." Mikan threaten viciously.
Natsume chuckled. "My girlfriend has turn into a fierce lioness in such a short time."
"Natsume." Mikan glared at him.
Natsume sigh and pull her closer by taking her wrist. His other hand cupped Mikan's cheek gently, his crimson eyes looks sincere. "Mikan. I'm going to ask you one more time, can you do me a favor? Please?"
Its Mikan turn to sigh. She can't be stubborn if Natsume has ask her like this. "Fine. What is it?"
"I am going to drop you off at my hideout apartment right now, and I want you to stay there until I get back and pick you up. It can be one day, but it can be one week too. I know it will be hard but can you do that for me?"
"Promise me one thing."
"What is it, love?" Natsume ask, caressing her cheek.
"You will pick me up. Alive." Tears already glistening Mikan's eyes.
Natsume slightly lean down, kissing away the incoming tears. "I promise, and you know that I don't break promises."
Mikan nodded as she bit her lower lip, bracing up herself.
"Come on, let's go."
"Is it Persona?" Natsume ask directly as soon as he step into the headquarter.
"It looks like it." Kitsuneme answered from behind computer. He is typing furiously as his eyes scanned the monitor like an eagle. "I have track his progression, and he is undoubtedly moving fast."
"What is he up to this time?" Natsume ask again, taking his place on the head chair while staring at the big screen in front of him which shows so much data about Persona whereabouts and current activities.
"It looks like he has been making transaction here and there while gathering information." Yuu answered from the corner of the room. He is sharpening his all time favorite dagger. "He has been moving quite a lot this past weeks, but today, its like he went haywire. He goes everywhere."
"Tono?"
"Yes, capt. He is following Persona from last week. He has successfully infiltrate Persona's gang and quickly becoming one of his trusted member."
"Koko."
"Yes, capt?"
"As soon as Kitsu found his motive, give me your possible strategies."
"I already found it." A familiar cold voice said suddenly.
All heads turn towards the door, towards the voice origin, and found Hotaru standing there with casual, all black clothes and a cap to cover her face.
"Hotaru!" Ruka said, surprised. "What are you doing here?"
"I found Persona's motive, and its not good." Hotaru answered, briskly walk inside.
"What do you mean, Imai?" Natsume ask cautiously. His eyes empty.
Hotaru throw a flash disk to Kitsu, who caught it effortlessly, and take a seat not far from Natsume. "Kitsu, open it." She said authoritatively.
Kitsu nodded. After a few clicks here and there a file opened on the big screen showing everything Hotaru has been researching until now.
"I wish my suspicion was wrong. I wish I was on false lead. But its all true." Hotaru said, pinching the bridge of her nose, trying to hold back an incoming headache.
The room fall in silence. They doesn't expect the outcome. Clearly they trust Hotaru fully, because she is the genius one, and she is never wrong if its something related to information.
"Wha – . Sakura-san?" Koko stared at the screen, gaping.
"I can't believe it." Kitsu whispered from the side of the room.
Natsume clench his teeth. How come it can be like this? It's the worst accidental things that could happen.
"You already have some suspicion? Why?" Ruka ask his girlfriend, slowly approaching her.
"I was the one who put Mikan's father in jail. So, of course I tracked all of his illegal doings to sue him in the court. I must know everything he did to make sure my pay back was enough." Hotaru answered, monotone. "I put two and two into one, connecting missing dots and bridging detached line. I didn't miss even a single stupid men who was involve in her father's activities. This is the conclusion."
The room was silent for a while, before finally Natsume speak up, his voice void of emotion. "So, its safe to assume that Persona knows Mikan's father, and now Persona's motive is to find Mikan. But why? What's use of her for him?"
"I can predict it." Hotaru replied, her eyes looking far away. "Its not strange if that bastard father leave some stupid message containing instruction to put back Mikan on 'her place'. Afterall from what I found, Mikan's father was Persona's senior."
"Shit." Natsume cursed vehemently while glaring at the floor.
"I'm sure he still hold some grudge towards me and Mikan, for putting him behind the bars. He threatened us back then. I thought he was all talk, I don't know that he has strong connection with one of your biggest enemy." Hotaru continue her explanation.
Ruka gently kneaded Hotaru's tense shoulders, working his way up to the back of her neck and back down. "We will manage. Mikan's whereabouts was unknown for them right now."
"I'm not leaving any traces that is possible to be tracked when I drop her off. She should be fine." Natsume start to talk again. "We need to annihilate him as soon as possible."
"I am thinking of two good strategies, capt." Koko said. "What do you think?"
"Tell me."
Its been four days since Natsume's abandonment. Well to be precise, him telling her to stay in an apartment that supposed to be a secret hideout till she is bored to death.
Sure there is a lot of food here, and a lot of entertainment too. Even there is a gym in the corner of the room which make Mikan can still built up her stamina and practicing her fighting skill and weapon handling. But there is a limit in everything, for human is made to socialize not to be alone.
Even if Mikan has problem socializing with male, she still has a lot of girl friends, which make her so not anti-social. She used to be in a group of people, and rarely be alone, especially after being scarred so bad that she need mental support from other people.
That's why staying in one apartment for days nearly drive her crazy.
She tried several times contacting Natsume and Ruka. But its futile.
She has tried Hotaru too, and the ending was the same.
Where is everyone? She keep asking herself these past days.
Knock, Knock
Mikan perked up at the sound of knocking at the door. A grin full of excitement bloom on her lips.
"Finally!" She said to herself and jump up, putting aside her gear for training and run to the door.
Mikan quickly tear open the door without checking who is the one on the door, for she is sure that no one would know Natsume's secret hideout and the fact that she is the one who live in it.
"Natsu –" The rest of her greeting stuck in her throat as she asses the figure who is standing in front of her door.
Its clearly not Natsume, or whoever she knows.
Its a male stranger, with all black clothes. He wear a dark sunglasses that she can't see his eyes, but she can see the rest of his face and from her gut feeling, that has been honed these past years because of dealing with criminals, told her that this man is not a kind one. Especially with a wicked smirk curling on the side of his lips as soon as he saw her.
Acting out of reflex, Mikan quickly step back and intending to slam the door shut, but he is faster than her.
A gloved hand hold the door with such a strength that Mikan can't move the door anywhere as the man step closer towards her, smirking wider.
"Hello there, Ms. Mikan Sakura. Its nice to meet you." The man greeted with slick and soft voice that immediately send shivers down her spine.
It didn't help the fact that she hasn't fully recovered from her trauma of men.
Mikan gritted her teeth and force herself to calm down. She can't have any relapse in grave situation like this. There is no Natsume now, or whoever that can help her. She must be strong.
"Should I know you?" Mikan ask audaciously. Her voice steady and clear. She hide all her emotion and smooth out her expression into a blank one.
The man chuckled darkly and pull off his sunglasses, showing black, cold eyes. "You should, after all, I brought an important message for you."
Mikan arch her eyebrow nonchalantly. "I bet its a lie."
The man chuckled again as he pulled out his phone and show her a picture. "Do you know who is this?"
Mikan's eyes automatically widen in shock. "No way."
"You didn't see wrong, Ms. Sakura. Its your father, and I come to deliver his message and complete the task he has given."
Wind of SilentBell : Yes! Well said hahaha it is indeed a devil's circle.. you like Rukaru too? Yeay ;D True, Mikan would be the greatest warrior ever lol thank you for reviewing as always XD
Newroz : Yes yes, that's true, I love their moments too! Thank you too for always staying with me XD and thank you so much! I'm doing great after all the hectic things passed hahaha hope you are at your best ;D
XxXxXx : Can't agree more! Thank you for reviewing ;)
Guest : I had read that a week ago when I saw your review, and yeah it got the same topic about PTSD hahaha funny how can it be so coincidental XD But, honestly, I think End point is far better than mine J
Kathy : Thank you sweetie ;)
See you in the next chapter!
Aquabluemarine