Disclaimer: I do not own Gakuen Alice.
Chapter 12
The man who had caught Mikan had long black hair and deep-gray eyes. He was tall, and tilted his head to look down at her in his arms.
"My, what a cute face. Haven't seen you around before. Would you care to grace me with your name, My Lady?" he purred. Mikan looked up at him, stunned.
"M-Mikan," she stuttered. He took her hand and pressed his lips to her knuckles.
"That name is almost as lovely as you. My name, Sweet Mikan, is Tono."
"Hey, Pedophile." Tono turned towards the voice, and was beamed in the forehead with a pebble. While Tono was busy rubbing the new bruise and hissing curses under his breath, Mikan looked past him. There was Natsume, his hand still in the air where it had flung the pebble. And behind him were Ruka, Hotaru, and Koko. In the back of her mind she wondered where Kitsu had gone.
"You little brat!" cried Tono, shaking his fist at Natsume. Natsume just clicked his tongue in annoyance and grabbed Mikan's arm to pull her away from Tono.
"It's not my fault you like little girls, is it?" the red eyed boy drawled, lifting an eyebrow.
"I do not like little girls! I love beautiful women." Tono tried to put on a dignified air. His eyes drifted to Mikan. "Speaking of beautiful women, is this one an acquaintance of yours, Little Brat Brother?"
"Brother?" squeaked Mikan.
"Aw, yes, Miss Sakura. This is Prince Tono, Natsume's older half-brother," informed Ruka.
"Hey, Natsume," called Koko, his grin widening. "When are you going to let go of Mikan's arm?"
Sure enough, Natsume's hand still clutched Mikan's lower arm from where he dragged her behind him. Once Natsume seemed to realize this fact, he threw the appendage away from him like it burned. Koko started to chuckle, before red eyes turned to shoot daggers at him.
"Would anyone like to enlighten me as to why this little kitten is in our unworthy presence?" asked Tono, smiling at Mikan.
"She's joining the camp because she's had a spell put on her," filled in Hotaru, who had produced a turkey leg and was devouring it in a way that was strangely dignified. "Father probably wants to keep an eye on her because she won't tell us where's she from. He also seems to like her because she slapped Natsume."
"I'm loving this scrappy kitten more and more!" beamed Tono. He slipped past Natsume and took Mikan's arm in his own. "I take it you're coming to dinner with us. Allow me to escort you."
Tono made his way through the crowd, making sure Mikan was not jostled by passerby. The others followed. Eventually, a clearing retaining one wooden slab loaded with food was reached. Figures sat around the table, chatting. There were three of them.
One stood upon Mikan and Tono's arrival. He was wearing leather armor studded with metal across the shoulders, wrists, neckline, and waist. Black hair topped his head and there was a small star tattooed beneath one piercing blue eye.
"Who's this, Tono? Another lover?" asked the man. He seemed to be like an adult scolding a child.
"That would make the fifth this month," added one of the still-sitting figures. This one's black hair, violet eyes, and cold calm reminded Mikan of Hotaru.
"If she were another lover yet, it would be the sixth this month, Subaru. And all of my relationships were meaningful, just not meant to be!" Tono seemed offended. "This is Miss Mikan Sakura, and I was escorting her here on Natsume's behalf."
"Natsume!? That little brat!?" cried the first man.
"Who're calling a brat, Shadow?" growled a voice just as Natsume stepped into the light of the fire. The others were next to him.
"My annoying little brother, who else?" answered the man.
"You have four little brothers," called the last sitting figure. It was a girl with auburn eyes and deep red hair cut to her shoulders. A silver circlet looped around her head, dipping down on her forehead to dangle a blue crystal. She wore a red dress darker than her hair that went down to her knees but was slit open from the hem to her hip on either side, revealing knee-length trousers. The sleeves were long and flowing, belling out. The legs of the trousers met with knee-high leather boots.
"Well, all four of my little brothers are kind of brats, but especially the youngest one," returned the man.
"This is Crown Prince Tsubasa," began Ruka, gently gripping Mikan's shoulder to get attention while Tsubasa and Natsume glared at each other. "That is his wife, Misaki, Crown Princess." The red haired women waved and smiled at her. "And this is Prince Subaru, Hotaru's full brother." Ruka gestured to the violet-eyed man.
"Where's your congenial fiancé, Subaru?" called Koko.
"She was needed at the soldier's camp," Subaru answered evenly.
"Let's eat," demanded Hotaru as she marched towards the food.
Author's Notes:
Another chapter. I know it's short, and I'm going to try to write longer ones, but I won't be able to update as quickly. Sorry.
