Hope you enjoy it!
Chapter-13
"Why not?" I said with a smile as mischievous as his!
"Ummmm…so, Polka!"
"I have a name , Natsume!" I said unable to hide the edge in my voice, rather loudly
"We were supposed to have a non-verbal talk, remember?" his lips curved upwards in a small smile but they did not move
"Care to tell me how"
"Concentrate! Just like the time you used your alice! Close your eyes in deep attention"
Close my eyes while he was staring at me? Somehow I didn't like the idea! But still I did as he told…
"Now try to say something without moving your lips"
"L-ik-e th-is…"
I heard him snicker,
"Some what ok…."
I decided to ignore his laugh, let me use this chance for something better…
"Ummmm…Natsume, why don't you tell me about yourself…you know my past basically everything about me, while I know nothing about you…" I hesitated, carefully selecting my words
"I have been here in Alice Academy since I was a kid. It's more than my home , it's where I belong, my family…I have a sister Aoi, and there is someone,…" He continued telepathically after a few minutes pause, but it felt as if after a very long time he is opening up the feelings bottled deep down in his heart
"Someone…?" I tried to concentrate my eyes still closed tight
"Yes, she was fatally injured in a mission, I was devastated, I mean she was someone I had always looked up too, but then she …" he didn't go to the details but he didn't need to, a pain of some distant past mixed with affection was clearly etched in his face lines…
I opened my eyes…
"So, is she dead?" I said aloud without bothering to keep on the telepathic pathway, only to feel insensible a while later
"Nope~ she is still in coma…" he said telepathically but before he could continue …
"We are already at Alice academy! Do you guys plan on staying in the bus!" someone shouted
So, he has some special someone!
So?
Sooooooooooooooo?
What did my dummy head expect? That we are partners so that means we are somewhat bonded? I am such an Idiot! Nope, it wasn't that I had some feelings or anything but…hey! crush is not same as love right? , I pondered walking across the dim lit corridors towards the headquarters of D4…I tried to ignore as much as possible that Natsume was walking side by side beside me…
"The Alice Academy Welcomes You!" a thunderous greeting complete with the booming of crackers, welcomed us as soon as the doorway opened revealing dazzling ribbons , multicolored vibrant balloons enhancing the splendor of the magnificent star shaped hall, star studded with twinkling stars, quite like the snowing ones in the gateway, illuminating the vestibule in a neither dim nor bright velvety blaze…
"I KNEW IT! I DAMN KNEW THE FIRST TIME I SAW HER!" I could hear a familiar voice yelling at the top of her voice
"You can stop that Permy!" Natsume commanded while everyone in the room giggled
"Natsume! Is it true , Is she your partner?" Inspector Sumire snorted as though Natsume was her personal property…oh! Don't tell me she doesn't know about Natsume's special person
""Shouldn't bother you as you have already got Koko, right?" Natsume retorted half annoyed half amused
"That's it, Sumi chan" said a mouse colored wiry haired guy while placing a possessive hand round Sumire , while comically beaming at me...
"I am Kokoro Yome, Koko for short "he said putting his hand forward "Telekinesis Alice, Sub-Head, Japan Police Force, and also her partner" his eyes motioned towards Sumire , his grin intact.
"Pleasure meeting you, Koko chan" I said shaking his hands and beaming enthusiastically, only to realize that Sumire was glaring at me…
"Uh-" I pulled back my hands at once , while Koko chuckled looking from Sumire to me , certainly reading her mind if not mine…
"Are you guys staying for the party, Sumi chan" a bright pink haired lively girl enquired
"I think we can do better by running after criminals than attend some stupid party!" Sumire retorted
'Oh! Don't be a party spoiler, dear" Koko curled the tip of her hair in his fingers , moving her face towards his , his eyes sure conveying something in their mysterious language whilst Sumire gave a reluctant smile…
For a while I stood transfixed , staring at them, it was so obvious that they were in love…while I remembered with a stab of somewhat guilt mixed with pain that my partner was already in love with a someone else…
"Let's ROCK the night!" someone shouted …
"Natsume…" I turned around to find Natsume, but he was nowhere to be found, not at least in the crowd or the D4 hall room.
Mikan's P.O.V (a week later)
I watched the effect of the dazzling bright morning sunlight drop down obliquely towards the mirror perfect turquoise blue lake leaving flashy star like imprints on its wavy surface. I put my hand forward and a small star landed on my palm, glittering delicately while I tried to compare its twinkle with the glitz of the small waves of the star studded lake…
Know what, it still feels like a dream, I never did imagine I would break free from that hell, I shuddered as I remembered my parent's death, Kounji, those mysterious stones…they felt like a part of a persistent nightmare…
The star in my hand stirred; as it rose to join the cluster suspended mid air across my splendid room. With the motion of my hands, the cluster huddled themselves, swiftly placed themselves into two large ancient looking lanterns beside my enormous bed just like mini gorgeous chandeliers … just as Natsume had taught me to…it was all a matter of concentration , he had said…
Natsume…
All this time, I had assumed that since he saved me, rescued me, cared about me meant he was interested in me. I was naïve enough to presume everything in my point of view never supposing that he might have someone ALREADY close to his heart…
Needless to say, I was disappointed, somehow hurt…I asked him where ever he had vanished that party night and he honestly replied he headed straight away to meet HER in the hospital…Somehow I was sorry I had asked him at all…
The next whole day I gave him, IF-YOU-THINK-I-AM-INTERESTED-IN-YOU-,-YOU-ARE-MISTAKEN looks. But time to time he would call my name out through telepathy, tease me, it kinda became difficult to ignore him at all. I smiled subconsciously as I glanced at my reflection in the mirror in my Alice Academy uniform, tying my hair into two low pigtails. He taught me how to control Alicetrix, the small stars which light the beautiful rooms of the Academy. I am glad I still have him as a good friend even. Someone I can rely on… even though not as a …
AND he isn't the only friend I made! Anna, Nonoko, Yuu, Kitsume… and off course Natsume's sister Aoi with her partner Youichi! She is so full of life and the couple together look adorable!
At last I felt I belonged somewhere. I felt I was home…
"Mikan chan! " Anna Umenomiya frantically waved, my lively bubbly friend with the cooking and makeup Alice, whilst I neared Persona's chamber.
"Hi Anna" I grinned "Is Persona in? I am supposed to get my first mission today!" I said with a rush of excitement.
"Uh-huh" she whirled around to push me toward a different direction "But before then dear, you need some makeup"
"What? " I asked so as to confirm I had not misheard
"You will see…Persona sensei's orders!" she winked
"Mikan chan! You look terrific!" Anna chan chimed "Open your eyes!"
"Cute" Nonoko Ogasawara, my other new friend with Chemical Alice said
"Frankly speaking, you look like a circus performer!" Hotaru retorted
I opened my eyes. Don't tell me I am going to like a circus artist in my first mission! What was Anna thinking when she asked me to dress up in a frilly beaded pink top with long even frillier skirt, high heels, long dangling earrings which looked like they had some kind of insect at the end! Moreover, my eyes were no longer hazel, they were GREEN and my hair was waist length RED with small tendrils escaping around my face! I CAN'T BELIVE THIS!
"Ummm…Anna chan! Are you sure this is my makeup? " I asked uncertainly
"Exactly as Persona had said!" she said
"Oi! Mikan, take this" Hotaru handed me a small bag
"What's this?" I enquired
"Since this is your first mission, there are some devices I made, might be helpful!" she tried to sound casual but there was a trace of concern she couldn't hide.
I gave her tight bear hug.
"Get going Mikan, you will get your instruction from Persona ! Good luck!"
My eyes toppled over as I saw Natsume!
"Natsume! Is that you!" he was all blonde BUT still had his crimson eyes, wearing a fancy jacket with baggy jeans, he still looked dead handsome
"You definitely look…" he didn't have to complete, his expression said it all
"Persona! Its Ok! I can manageon my own!" Natsume almost pleaded
"It's gonna be a lesson for Sakura! Hyuuga! And she is dressed this way on my orders!"
"Ummmm…Persona sensei, what's our mission in the first place!" I asked tentatively hoping it's got nothing to do with circus performance!
"Don't worry! Mikan! It's very easy, non-alice mission! Natsume, singlehandedly can manage it, off course! It will be a mere learning experience for you ."
"Ok…but is our mission" I tried not to sound impatient
"It's simple! All you need to do is rob the Development Bank of Japan"
WHAT! ROB A BANK WEARING THIS CLOTHES!
Ummmmmmm…Natsume has already got someone in his life while Mikan is head over heels for Natsume! And now they are going to ROB a bank? What do you think will happen next! For that keep reading and reviewing! The story is back in its racy pacey self :P
But I was wondering, do I give this story up? I mean it hardly gets any reviews even after …I fell as if no one reads it…perhaps it is not good…I don't know if I should update again…
Anyways dedicated to ~
Iris Petals- Tani! Thanks for the infinite times!
Snitchykun- Thanks!
Pwnageninja- hehehe~ they are mine too~ they will have more presence in the upcoming chapters I hope if I write more! :P
Well then, bye till next time! If there is a next time~
Keep reviewing!
P.S. – Can give my story *Shall We Break Up* a try