Chapter 21
In a garden beside Narumi sensei's old quarters...
"We'll be back immediately, Mikan." Hotaru repeated impatiently to her persistent best friend. She can be really annoying sometimes.
"But where are you and Natsume going? Why can't I come?" Mikan pouted prettily at them.
"I already told you that it's a surprise." Natsume smirked at her.
"Can you give me a hint? Even a tiny one?" Mikan pleaded.
"No, it will ruin the surprise. We better get going. Stay here with Zan." Hotaru ordered sternly.
"Fine." Mikan glowered unhappily at them. What is the surprise anyway? Why are they suddenly starting acting so weird? Natsume and Hotaru, together? It's something she never thought that's going to happen in this lifetime.
Natsume merely patted her head and then gave her a serious and steady look. She already knows what it means. Stay out of trouble. He's really so protective. He barely even allows her to walk alone outside nowadays. She watched their figures go away and disappeared.
She sat down on a white wooden chair with table and ate some strawberries, her favourite fruit for that week. Only a few months from now, their little baby will be born. She can't wait for the day that she will be able to hold him or her in her arms. The little baby that she and Natsume created, the product of their love.
Little Zan is not far away from her, planting some flowers on the ground, his blonde head shining against the light. She smiled at she stared at his small figure. She walked towards him and watched as he used his Alice to heal a wilting and almost dead plant. The plant immediately starts to flourish and glow with life.
"Isn't that better?" He asked the plant gently while touching it lovingly.
"That is so sweet and kind of you, Zan." Mikan praised.
"My Alice is a gift." He smiled brightly at her. He picked up some yellow roses and offered them to Mikan. "This is for you and the baby."
Mikan patted his blonde head affectionately. "Thank you, Zan."
Zan continued to heal some plants while Mikan continued to watch him in glee. Heavy footsteps caught their attention and they turned towards the garden's entrance.
"So... this is where you have been these past few months." Toya announced angrily, his eyes focus at Zan.
"I can't believe we finally got away from her." Hotaru sighed as she and Natsume walked a little distance outside the Academy.
"I want to surprise her in our honeymoon." Natsume said.
"Knowing her, she would be shock." Hotaru announced softly.
When Natsume approached her about his surprise, she immediately agreed to help him out. Normally, they have different opinions about everything. But they finally found something in common to agree with... Mikan's happiness. Crazy as it may seem, even though she complained a lot, she loves taking care of her idiot friend. That's why she was able to do it for years. And now... she doesn't have to do it anymore, because soon, she will have Natsume. Something warm stirred inside Hotaru. She's going to miss her a lot, that idiot. She thought affectionately.
"I hope she likes the surprise." He replied. They continued to walk in silence, both lost in their thoughts.
"Hyuuga..." Hotaru suddenly stops walking. Their eyes met, violet eyes clashed his crimson ones. "Take care of her..." She said, her voice wavering a little.
Natsume stared at the ice queen, his soon to be wife's best friend. He knows that her words mean a lot. He understands her worry. Mikan and Hotaru are really close, even more so these past few years. They are practically sisters. It must be tough for Hotaru, even though she doesn't want show it.
"Don't worry. I'll guard her with my life." Natsume said quietly. He is hoping to assure her worries.
Hotaru nodded at him. If there's one person she knows that can take care of Mikan... it would be Natsume.
"You know, Mikan may not need your protection anymore, but the baby would definitely need you. You would be his or her godmother." Natsume assured her gently.
Hotaru's eyes suddenly gleam with gratitude. "I'll be the best godparent."
"And I'll try to be the best father."
They both grinned at each other. They continued to walk when a loud alarming beep suddenly pierce the air. Hotaru took out a computer about the size of a cell phone from her pocket.
"We have to go back. Zan and Mikan's heartbeats just increase drastically. They're in danger." Hotaru said in alarm.
"He is the one who killed my mommy." Zan whispered in horror while pointing at Toya.
"Well, look who's here. This is a nice surprise, a pregnant Mikan Sakura." Toya laughed cruelly. He advanced menacingly towards them.
"Don't come near us!" Mikan shouted in panic. She stands protectively in front of Zan.
"I really though we finally got rid of you. But you're really a stubborn bitch aren't you? Who's the unlucky father by the way? I bet it's the Hyuuga boy." He smirked at her.
"Please... I'm begging you don't harm us!" Mikan pleaded.
"Stop acting like you're the victim here!" Toya snarled angrily at her. He waved his hand furiously and Mikan flew towards the bark of a large tree!
"No! Please don't hurt her!" Zan began to run towards Toya heatedly. Toya snapped his fingers and Zan fell asleep on the ground.
Mikan began to take deep laboured breaths. She hit the tree quite brutally. A pain in her stomach starts to spread instantly. She tried to stand but failed to do so, her knees are trembling so much. Red liquid starts to run down her thighs. No, please God, No!!! She thought in panic. Please don't let me lose my baby. She prayed feverishly.
"This would never have happen if you didn't come back, you stupid bitch." Toya walked towards her until he is almost in front of her. He looked at her bleeding body coldly.
"Please don't harm my baby anymore..." Mikan cried brokenly, tears streaming down her cheeks. She placed a shaky hand above her stomach. She will die if anything happen to her baby.
"You will now know how it feels like to lose someone that you really love."
"What do you mean?" Mikan asked. The pain in her stomach is getting stronger. It feels like somebody is squeezing it very tightly.
"My real name is Leo Koizumi. I'm the brother of Luna Koizumi. Do you still remember her, Sakura? The girl you killed 7 years ago?" Toya shouted at her.
"But Toya... I did not kill your sister. Reo killed her!" Mikan announced earnestly.
"Damn you, stop saying lies! I have an Alice that can look inside a person's past and I'll kill you if you're lying to me!" Toya threatened her. It's not possible that his master killed his sister. Reo told him that Mikan killed Luna.
"Then look at my past, Toya. I have nothing to hide." Mikan proffered her hand beckoningly at him. Now she understands why Toya is willing to be Reo's puppet. He wants to avenge his sister's death, Luna. Damn you, Reo!
Toya took it hesitantly. Memories from the past rushed to towards him immediately.
Flashbacks
"Mikan, I'm really sorry for everything." Luna smiled sadly at her. The final battle has begun. A dozen students are already dead, about a hundred injured. It's everybody's worse nightmare.
"It's not too late to atone for your mistakes, Luna. Join us." Mikan pleaded her.
"I only did this for my brother, Leo. At first, I want to do this because we owed the AAO a lot since my parent's death. But I changed my mind because all you guy's showed me is nothing but kindness. But Reo blackmailed me, if I do not continue, he will kill my little brother."
"We will help you save your brother. I'm sure Narumi sensei will help you too."
"I do not want to fight anymore. I just want to be with my brother. Please steal my Alice, Mikan, so AAO can't use me anymore." Luna begged her. Mikan wavered for a moment then took her hand. She wants to help her friend get away from everything and have a peaceful life.
"Thank you." Luna's eyes are filled with tears of gratefulness.
"Luna!" Reo shouted angrily at her. He has been hiding behind a tree and he heard everything.
"I'm sorry, Reo. But I just can't do this anymore." Luna cried.
"You traitor!" Reo pointed the gun he was holding and shot at her heart. She was dead even before she hits the ground.
"No!" Mikan cried in horror.
End of flashbacks
"No!" Toya cried in denial. He stared at Mikan in shock. He can't believe his master killed his sister. He had served him with nothing but fierce loyalty!
"Now you know the truth, Leo. Your sister loves you very much." Mikan smiled dazedly at him. She's starting to lose consciousness, her vision starting to double. She already lost a lot of blood.
Leo Koizumi stared at her speechless. He feels shame and regret for the sins he had done. He needs to get away from here.
"I have to leave. I can keep Reo away from here but only for 3 weeks, be prepared. Are you going to be okay?"
"Yes, I'm sure Natsume is on his way."
"I'm sorry... for everything." Leo said, his voice filled with bitter regret. After that, he disappeared.
"Mikan!" Natsume screamed as he and Hotaru run nonstop back towards to garden. Terror seized them as they surveyed the scene. Little Zan is lying unconscious on the ground while Mikan... is surrounded by a pool of blood near a tree.
"Mikan..." Hotaru whispered with anguish as she studied her friend's deathly pallor. Natsume cradled her body gently; she seems to be unconscious as well.
"Imai, take little Zan. Let's take them to the hospital immediately." Natsume ordered her grimly. He embraced Mikan's body tightly, hoping to warm her cold body. Please, God, let Mikan and our baby be alright. He thought vehemently.
Hours have passed and no word yet how Mikan is doing. Natsume is waiting outside the doors of the operating room with Azumi, Hotaru and Ruka. Natsume never felt so much fury inside of him before. He wants revenge, damn it! If anything happens to Mikan and their baby... Just thinking about it is enough to fill him with dread and trepidation.
"Hotaru, you should go and rest for a while." Azumi said worriedly. Hotaru shake her head fervently.
"Don't worry Imai. We will call you immediately if we heard any news. Ruka, take her home now." Natsume instructed.
Hotaru hesitated briefly and glanced towards the emergency room. She nodded curtly and let Ruka support her as they walked towards the exit.
"I hope both Mikan and the baby will be fine. I can't believe it happened only a few days before the wedding." Azumi remarked miserably. Natsume nodded his dark head tersely, staring moodily in to space.
"I've been meaning to talk you. I don't want to burden you any further but there's something you should know." Azumi sighed heavily. Azumi began the story of how Narumi told them the story of the four elements.
"I see. He needs my Fire Alice." Natsume muttered.
"I know Reo, he will never stop until he get what he wants."
"If Mikan is with me, I will only endanger her and our baby." What a cruel trick fate is playing on him. He's back where he's started. Back then, he stayed away from Mikan to keep Persona away from her. And now... Reo will surely hunt him down until he catches him.
"Staying out of her life is not a solution, Natsume. You know better than that. I've been thinking these past week what to do. There's got to be a solution." Azumi insisted ardently.
"Now is not the right time to discuss this anyway. Let's wait until Mikan is recovered." Natsume said dismissively. He continued to stare moodily into space.
Toya reappeared in an old abandoned barn. He had time to think as he wondered aimlessly. There is still time to atone for his sins. He'll do it for his sister. Reo will pay for what he did to them.
Thank God that he was unable to do Reo's command a few months back. He was unable to kill this person because he has always been kind to him. He kept him in isolation instead and gave him a supply of food every once in a while. He refused to let him go then because he knows Reo will be furious if he finds out he's alive. He opened the lock on the door and walked inside slowly. A blonde man staggered weakly towards him.
"Toya?"
"Yes, I'm here Narumi Sensei." Toya smiled faintly at him.
Hi guys, PLEASE don't hate me!!! So what will happen in the next chapter? I'll give you all a clue. Will it be a wedding? A funeral? Or both?
I'm actually sad while writing this one. But it really has to happen in the story. But isn't it good that Narumi is alive? So sorry for the late update, but I'm really really busy at school. I'll be graduating soon and I have over load my subjects this term. Please try to understand.
Thanks for the wonderful comments! Please send more! It made me find time to write for you guys... the more the reviews, the faster the update.. hehe... I love reading your reactions... Til next time, Adieu!