Hey guys! I can't believe that Learning to Survive has finished—well I still have to put the epilogue up, but I'll wait until later today to do that.
It looks like BITE ME is in the lead still, so unless that changes bite me will be my next story!
Enjoy this chapter you guys—it's the second last one! Sorry for the late update—I'm finally done school now 'til September *starts cheering*
Disclaimer: I don't own Gakuen Alice
Chapter 25:
*Natsume's POV*
"Hello Natsume,"
Grimly, I lifted my head and turned to look behind me—still holding Mikan's body close to me.
"Luna"
"I'm so glad you could join us," she smiled. "Let's get started, ne?"
She snapped her fingers and Mikan's body disappeared from my grasp. Slowly I stood up.
"Bring it on,"
I clenched my fists and stared harshly at Luna from across the room.
"It's so nice to finally see you in person" Luna chimed.
"I wish I could say the same" I responded.
"Ohh," she hummed. "Too bad…"
Narrowing my eyes, I watched Luna drag her finger across the wall as she idly made her way towards me. Her hair appeared to be growing red under the light of the hundreds of candles illuminating the room. I looked from the corner of my eye to where Mikan had been lying just a couple seconds ago. Blood still covered the floor.
"Where did you send her to?" I asked—looking back at Luna.
"Another realm," she stated, heading back towards the door. She looked back at me, "Don't worry she'll be able to leave IF you defeat me. Hopefully she isn't dead by then…"
Luna giggled at my dark expression. "Let's hope not, ne, Natsume? Only 3 hours left"
"Wh—"
Luna interrupted me, "And not even magic nor Alice can break in the realm!"
My eyebrow twitched and I squeezed the bridge of my nose to control myself from lashing out—which is just what she wants. Instead, I focused on Mikan and tried to use our bond to find her. The delicate silver thread—invisible to Luna—stretched out in front of me and headed towards the ceiling. My heart rate faltered as the tug of the silver thread was cut loose and it floated down softly to the ground.
The only time I really needed the bond…
"To have it not work" I breathed. Luna watched me blankly from where she perched by the door. I glared at her—what the heck is she doing?
"Let's do this already!" I hissed.
She clapped her hands and jumped up—stretching her arms behind her head. Her pearly whites flashed and I narrowed my eyes.
"I thought you'd never ask" she whispered sweetly. Swinging her hair over her shoulder as it began to grow and take on the color of a bloody red. Luna eyed me with striking ultramarine and bright scarlet eyes. The colors mixing into one and then reversing to her right and left eyes both the single solid color of the ultramarine and scarlet.
"Wha—" I looked at her confused. In the dreams her eyes were only ultramarine—but, why is one of them scarlet…?
"Hello Natsume~"Luna—I mean her other self said tilting her head to the side, her lips non-moving.
"Ahhh~ It feels so good to be out to play again!" She said again, still smiling.
This is different from the dreams. What am I missing…?
I studied Luna quickly—pale skin, each eye a different color, long scarlet hair. She seemed more like a monster then a witch. Maybe, her 'witch side' has another side too—
Slap!
Stunned, I quickly fell backward, staring up at the woman standing before me. I brushed my fingers over my burning cheek.
"Don't ignore me!" She screeched. She was grasping a narrow piece of solid wood, the little carvings in the wood drawing shadows against her fingertips.
Her wand I presume.
"Blathx!" Her wand snapped in my direction. My eyes widened and I rolled out of the way just as a giant ball of electricity was sent flying through the air. I pulled my foot back just as the ball landed against the spot I had just been sitting at. Once the flash of light had faded—I uncovered my eyes and stared at the burn mark in the tiles.
"What the hell!" I shouted at her. Luna stood panting; she narrowed her eyes and pointed her wand back at me. I jumped back again as she threw another at me.
"Fine, if you want to play that way," I called up my fire and both my palms lit up in a burning inferno. Joining my hands together, I sent the flaming ball towards Luna—telling it to grow hotter and stronger as it got closer to her. She tried dodging a moment to late, and I raised my hand to block out the explosion of bright light. The heat radiated back at me and I opened my eyes.
"Hahaha…"
I stared at Luna shocked—her eyebrows were completely burnt off, and her once designer dress had new patterns from the burn marks. It would have been funny if she wasn't laughing like a psycho or if her fingers weren't radiating electricity like one of those balls you see at the science fairs.
Before she could try anything, I sent another ball of flames at her and made a wall of fire so big my parents would be proud. I watched the flames for any sign of movement, but I couldn't see through. Muttering a bunch of curses, I walked backward until I felt the wall at my back.
"Haha…"
I studied the flame wall, trying to locate from where her voice was coming from. Movement out of the corner of my eye had me turning my head back to the space directly in front of me. There was a bright light breaking through the flames. I looked closer and saw a hand coming from the other side.
"Oh Shi—" I stopped mid curse as Luna began walking through the wall of fire—A bright light surrounding her. The wall of flames flickered out to nothing when she had completely crossed.
"Now that wasn't nice, Natsume" she smiled.
"I wasn't trying to be" I replied, lighting my hands with flames again.
"Well I guess I'll need to teach you a lesson!"
Her electric fingers pointed at me and I sent a wave of fire towards her. The electricity and fire mixed between us—crackling and popping, before it separated and continued to their original targets. I was jolted back against the wall as the electricity entered my body. My fists had clenched so hard; I could feel my nails tearing the skin of my palm apart. I grunted as the electricity finally grounded itself and I fell to the broken tile floor.
I could hear Lunas slowed footsteps as she walked towards me and I raised my head to glare at her. She tched and folded her arms across her chest.
"I thought you said you would beat me?" she said, "Poor little Mikan, alone, and dying—"
"I WILL beat you!" I growled. Shakily, I pulled myself up to my knees then grabbed onto the wall to pull myself to standing position.
"Well to me it looks like your losing" Luna shrugged.
"We're just getting started!" I hissed, "I'm not letting you win"
Luna smirked, "Well then fight me like you mean it!"
"Fine!" I yelled, running straight at her—fire curling up my arms.
*Mikan's POV*
"Where am I?"
I looked around at the faded grey colors of the space around me. It looked to be some kind of old swamp—there was a small pond to my left, with depressing trees sulking over the green water. Fog covered everything, to the point where I couldn't see past 10 feet in front of me. I stood up shakily, pulling the reeds off of my ankles; I looked around for a way out of the weird swamp.
The four moons are the only source of light, I thought looking up at the sky. Wait four moons? I stood staring at the sky, my mouth hanging open.
"Where am I" I breathed. The wind rustled the leaves and I started walking through the giant reeds, the feeling of them on my legs giving me goosebumps. I pushed past the first tree and stepped onto an old dirt road—it looks like it hasn't been touched in hundreds of years.
"Hello?" I called into the night.
No answer.
I looked at the road; either I go left or I go right. I peered into the darkness; I couldn't see anything down either side.
"Which way…" I gnawed on my lip. Maybe to the right, 'cause then I'm right… I laughed at my stupid joke. Then I stopped and shook my head.
"No time for being stupid, I need to know where I am," I started walking down the road; jumping out of my skin each time the wind would rustle the leaves. "Stupid Luna"
I turned around when I heard a twig snapping—I searched through the darkness of the trees for a sign of anything or anyone.
"It's just your imagination, Mikan" I whispered rubbing my hands together. My back tingled and I ignored the feeling of being watched. Continuing to walk along the road, I narrowed my eyes as I tried to make out any shapes in front of me. I turned around sharply when I heard another twig snapping; breathless, I searched the road and then the tree line—I didn't move until my breathing returned to normal.
"Doo de doo…" I nervously hummed.
"I take this road…" I looked around me as I picked up my pace. "…Towards you, doo de doo, doo"
"Don't know where I'm going but you'll be there… to hold my hand, I know you will" I gnawed my lip trying to remember the rest of the lines. I wiped the tear off my cheek—Dad would've been able to tell me, I thought. Sniffling, I continued along the path ignoring all thoughts of my dad's lullaby and whatever was snapping the twigs.
I stopped when I saw a dark shape in the distance in front of me. Slowly, I made my way as quiet as I could towards it. I felt like a legit ninja or spy or something—minus the scariness of everything. When I was about 30 feet away from it, I could make out the shape of a big gate. Cocking my head to the side, I studied it further, letting my eyes adjust to the dim lighting.
"What's a gate doing in a place like this?" I questioned before I walked towards it. The old iron fencing felt rusty beneath my fingertips and I pushed lightly against the gate. It swung gently opening, slightly creaking in its hinges. I turned around studying the road from which I had came; before I stepped through the gate and listened to the click noise the gate made as it swung back into place.
Walking further into the mess of tall grass. The moons were beginning to set… I don't think that's normal. But I don't think I'm at home anymore—and the sky was beginning to light up, granting me better vision of where I was. I turned around and looked back at the gate. There was something written above it, but half of it was covered in dirt—I walked up to it and wiped the dirt away.
'Cherry Grove'
Cherry Grove, I thought. That sounds pretty. I turned around cheerily and the smile faded off my face as I stared towards the distance in front of me.
I was standing on top of a hill over looking one of the biggest valleys probably in the whole universe. From as far as my eye could see tall, beautiful sakura trees were blooming throughout the entire valley. I followed the valley with my eyes towards the horizon where a huge Palace stood proud. Where I was standing, I couldn't really see the details of the Palace, but it seemed to look like it was made of a pink ice colored marble, with gleaming towers that looked to be covered in green with small spots of color littering it.
"Wow," I breathed. I pinched my arm to make sure I wasn't dreaming.
"Owww!" I whined. "Not dreaming… but I should be dying right now, shouldn't I?"
That's right, Luna had that curse put on me. I probably don't have that much time left, so why do I feel like I normally do?
"Mikan"
I whirled around and came face to face with Oracle.
"Oracle!" I gasped, "You scared me!"
Oracle smiled, her pale blue eyes gleaming as she inspected me. I smiled back—it was nice to see a familiar face. She was wearing the prettiest pink dress I've ever seen. It was fitted to her curves and went down to her knees, the rest of her legs looked like a swirling ball of fog, forming into separate legs every couple of minutes then back to fog.
"I see you've finally unlocked the power inside you," she said floating towards me to press her finger above my heart. Her long silver hair was lying against her back, lightly moving with an invisible breeze as she twirled back around to face the valley.
"How did you know?" I asked her.
"I've been watching you for a very long time, Daughter Mikan" Oracle spoke, "Ever since your parents brought you into this world. I knew there was something special about you,"
"Do you know what it is?" She asked me.
"I don't know what it's called…" I began slowly, "but I can make stones—I mean Alice stones go inside me and use them. But I could also tell what they were by just touching them"
"What that is apart of is an Alice called S.E.C, you can Steal, Erase, and copy others Alices. But you can also insert them into yourself or others. Telling what each stone is, is just something that comes along with S.E.C" Oracle informed me. "What you've already experienced is the insertion"
"S.E.C Alice, huh?" I whispered looking out over the valley.
"Do you like it?" Oracle asked me, motioning to the valley.
I nodded my head eagerly. "It's beautiful"
"I've been taking care of it for years after I became ruler of this realm" Oracle murmured.
"Ruler?" I asked stunned.
"Yes, I am the Queen of Cherry, also known as Oracle. Welcome to my home, Daughter Mikan"
"Wow," I breathed.
"Thank you for helping me so many times, Oracle" I bowed to her.
I heard her lightly giggling at me and I stood up straight—slightly blushing. "No need to bow to me, Daughter Mikan. Now, how would you like to see my Palace?"
"I would love too"
*Time Skip*
I was standing outside of the huge Palace—and boy was it huge. The Palace was made from some kind of pink ice colored stone, and from the feel of it, I'd say it really was marble. The gleaming towers were covered in an overgrown vine of some sort, with beautiful flowers blooming all along it.
We stepped into the Palace and the smells of vanilla and sakura petals greeted me. I breathed deeply in and followed Oracle along the grey tiled floor, my reflection clearly visible. We headed towards the back of the Palace and I stared amazed at the wonderful artwork on the ceilings of each room—each of them telling a different story. Oracle led me through another big set of doors and we were once again outside.
"There's something I would like to show you," Oracle said looking up at the sky. "After that I will explain"
She led me through a rose garden with about 3 dozen different colored roses. I went towards a rose the color of a lush yellow and smelled it.
"Are these real?" I asked.
"Yes, 100%"Oracle smiled.
"Wow" I said, walking away from the flowers back to Oracle.
We continued walking along a path until we reached an opening of a wide clearing. The only thing here was a giant, mystical Sakura tree. Breathless I walked up to it, Oracle trailing behind me. I pressed the palm of my hand against the rough bark and the wind wiped around me, covering me in a small sphere like shape surrounded by sakura petals. Holding my free hand out, I put it gently into the mix of wind and sakura petals. They caressed my fingers and I smiled softly.
"Does it remind you of anything?" Oracle asked, stepping inside the shell of sakura petals beside me.
"No—"I stopped mid-sentence.
*Flashback*
…My orbs widened when the wind whipped around us covering us in a shell of sakura petals. My hair hid my face and the heat above my elbow intensified. Then before we could say anything the wind stilled and nothing moved.
*End of Flashback*
I lifted up my sleeve and stared at the sakura tattoo. "What…?"
"Your grandfather may have marked you when you and Natsume were at his Sakura tree and left you with a tattoo of the tree from back home. But this tree is connected to you as well," Oracle said.
"You see, my realm and yours are perfectly aligned. Where this tree is here, is where Natsume's sakura tree is back in your realm. It's how I was able to leave my realm and come to yours, to watch over you" she murmured, "And this tree and your sakura tree will be the key to unlocking everyone's memories of you and Natsume in the past"
"No way," I breathed. I stared up at the tree watching the petals fall gently to the ground—I caught one in my palm and felt its softness between my fingertips.
"So I'm no longer in my realm?" I asked, "Is that why I don't feel any pain from Luna's curse?"
"Yes, to both of your questions. But Daughter Mikan…" Oracle's eyes softened, "you're still dying. You only do not feel it"
I gulped, "I know,"
"Is there anyway I can get rid of it?" I asked her.
She shook her head slowly; "You have to pray for Natsume to defeat Luna, it's the only way"
I lifted my head towards the heavens and closed my eyes. "Please Natsume…"
*Natsume's POV*
I grunted from the impact of the hard wall. My eyes widened when I heard the sick crack of my arm breaking—I cried out despite myself, coughing up a handful of blood in the process. I covered my mouth as I continued to cough up the disgusting scarlet liquid.
My eyes squeezed shut as I pulled my arm back to the front of my body—the bone sticking out at the wrong angle. I grimly looked at my right arm— it was definitely broken.
My left arm better be able to do the job…
"Giving up already?" Luna asked.
"Like hell I am," I growled wincing. Cradling my arm to my chest, I stood up with help from the wall.
Luna narrowed her eyes. "I see"
We stared at each other for a few moments—silence filled the room, the flickering of the candles the only noise. My eyebrow twitched as I realized; the candles were lit by fire.
Fire. This whole room is filled with fire…
I almost started smiling. Quickly, I connected myself to each tiny flame burning on a candle.
Wait 'til I say to come… I spoke to the hundreds of tiny flames. Luna started picking at her nails and I watched her closely as I rapidly tore my shirt off and made a sling type thing with the cloth—keeping my right arm squeezed to my chest. Ignoring the pain, I summoned a fireball in my left palm and watched as it grew into the size of two—I tossed it at Luna while she was still picking at her nails. The ball of fire was silent as it sliced through the air; I didn't dare breath as I told it to grow and it did—still making no noise, until it hit Luna with a bang.
"KYYAAA!" Luna screeched.
I tried looking past the bright explosion of flames but couldn't see anything. Stepping forward, I lit another fireball and sent it hurdling towards the spot Luna had been standing—which was now a giant burning inferno. The heat licked my legs and I backed up against the wall once again. I spat out a mouthful of blood and eyed the fire. My eyes widened when I saw a figure standing up from the fire. I inwardly groaned, as Luna stood up covered in flames, still not visible—but who else could it be? The figure lifted their arm and a bright light engulfed the room. I covered my eyes and opened them a moment later. Luna stood where she had been before—her bloody red hair almost completely gone except for random strands, her designer dress was completely ruined, holes were everywhere and it was barely covering her. The bottom of her dress still had live sparks flashing in and out. Her pale skin was bright red, and in some spots the skin was peeling or gone. I looked away from her body and to her face, which seemed to be the worst. All the hair on her face was obviously gone, and her whole face was peeling away.
"YOU!" She screeched harshly. Her lips looked wrong and I lit my palm up again as she started advancing toward me. I wish I never knew what the smell of burnt skin smelled like—but now it was all I could smell as she stood barely a foot away.
I sent my fire at her but she reflected it with a quick flick of her wand.
"Oh crap," I gasped as my fire was sent back hurdling towards me. I called the fire off but it was no longer in my control. My eyes widened in horror and I dropped to the ground seconds before the fire landed against the wall. Candles fell down onto me and I stopped them from burning out quickly.
The wood crackled and I looked up a moment to late—a piece of the burning wall peeled off and fell down onto me. I struggled to get the heavy wood off me before I was burnt alive. Luna strode towards me and pressed her foot onto the wood holding it down in place. I grunted from the pressure—grimacing as the fire slowly ate away the wood from the inside getting closer each second to my bare chest. Luna laughed down at me and I pushed against the wood as best I could.
"Mikan only has a couple minutes left! Looks like you lost!" Luna cried out. I stopped struggling for a couple seconds as this dawned on me.
Mikan! I squeezed my eyes shut and called upon the candles.
Okay, come to me, I want you to surround Luna and stay on her as long as you can. I instructed the tiny flames. Opening my eyes, I watched as each flame left their candle and made their way towards Luna. In an instant the flames were all over Luna and she fell back flailing her arms. I rolled the wood off me, and kneeled watching Luna as she ran around the room.
I only have a few moments before she stops panicking and uses her magic again.
A gleaming object caught my eye and I looked down at my boots. My heart beat faltered for a second as I saw the knife in my boot. Quickly, I grasped the handle and pulled it out.
Luna doesn't know I have this, I have an advantage… My eyes widened and I quickly stood up. Grasping the knife in my left hand, I watched Luna pat herself where there were flames.
Don't hurt me I told the fire on Luna.
Ignoring my broken arm, I charged at Luna. She looked up and our eyes met for a second before I plunged my knife directly into her heart. Her eyes changed back into their normal azure blue and she slowly went limp in my grasp.
"Thank…you" she gasped before her eyes rolled back into her skull. I called upon my fire and let the flames eat away her body, leaving nothing of Luna. I dropped my arm to my side and breathed out deeply.
"It's over," I said staring around at the destroyed room. "Luna's dead…"
"Mikan!" I yelled out after realizing what killing Luna had meant. I looked around the room for any sign of her.
The thread had gone to the ceiling when I tried using the bond.
I stared up at the ceiling and my eyes widened as a tear in the ceiling appeared. Mikan's body dropped through a moment later and I quickly caught her with my left arm and fell to the ground. She lay limp against me and I stared at her still face.
"Mikan?" I whispered. She didn't respond and my heart beat faltered. Did I not beat Luna in time?
"Mikan?" I called again. I pressed my ear over her heart and held my breath, waiting to hear her heart beat—waiting… and waiting. Nothing happened. After a couple moments, I lifted my head up off her chest slowly. My fingers shakily brushed hair off her face.
"Mikan…" I said into her face, "Please… open your eyes, please"
My throat burned as I fought back the urge to cry. I dropped my head back down over her heart—begging inside my mind.
Please Mikan, I can't lose you… Please open your eyes. Mikan…
*Mikan's POV*
"Oracle," I said looking back at her.
"What is it, Mikan?" she asked.
"What happens if Luna isn't defeated?"
Oracle looked past me towards the Sakura tree. "Then… you wouldn't be going back—and you wouldn't be staying here"
I gulped and made a fist over my heart. "Then what would happen to me?"
"You'd be up in the heavens with your parents and everyone else…" Oracle whispered gently.
"Ohh—" I stopped and my eyes went wide. A bright light enveloped me and I cried out as it burnt against my flesh—then it was gone.
"What was that!" I cried. Oracle watched me with a worried expression.
Mikan…Mikan, please open your eyes…
"Natsume?" I said wide-eyed—looking around me.
Oracle looked at me. "He's calling you. It's time that you go back to him now,"
"Natsume…? I can go back?"
"Yes,"
"But what about you?"
"I'll be fine, go now Mikan, you're worrying him sick. I'll always be watching over you…" Oracle smiled. She walked towards me and made a cross in front of me.
"Goodbye, Daughter" she said.
My eyes went wide as I was dragged up into the sky lightning fast—I watched Oracle, as she became a tiny dot on the ground in a matter of seconds. My eyes closed as I was covered in light once again. I opened them to see my body on the ground with Natsume; quickly, I was pulled down into my body.
Slowly, I opened my eyes and crinkled my nose at the smell of smoke. I shifted in his grip and looked up to see him lying against my chest.
"Natsume…" I whispered. He tensed on my chest and lifted his head up—our eyes locked and I gave him a tiny smile.
"Mikan…" he breathed. "Oh thank god, I thought I had lost you"
He squeezed me to him and I pulled him closer to me—ignoring the pain covering my body. He pulled back slightly, looking into my hazel eyes; I looked back at him, giving him a tiny smile. Natsume leaned down, pressing his tender lips against mine. We pulled apart and he gave me a dazzling smile, which I couldn't help but stare.
"What is it?" he asked me—confusion evident in his voice.
"Nothing," I whispered—giving him a small smile. I winced from the pain of doing so.
"Oww, forgot that I had injuries" I grumbled. I caressed my right rib with my tender hand.
"We have to get you back outside," he stated. He put his arm under me and went to lift me up—he took a sharp inhale and set me gently down.
"Wha—?" I slide carefully off his lap careful of my wounds. I could use my Alice but I'm not going to waste anymore of my energy. Then I realized he was shirtless and my cheeks went bright red.
"Hey why are you—" I froze when I saw the cloth holding his arm to his body. "Oh my gosh…"
I lifted my tired arms and gently untied his sling—I took one look at his arm and quickly turned my head away.
"Oh Natsume," I looked up at him—he kept his face completely blank to keep me from being scared. I looked back down at his arm and saw how wrong it looked—it was already starting to get badly bruised; he needed help…
Forget not using my Alice—I need to fix his arm!
I put my hands gently on his arm and called upon my healing Alice. My arms turned blue and Natsume's did as well—at least I'm getting something from this too…
"Wait Mikan! You're hurt, and using your Alice will make you more weak!" Natsume quickly said.
"Too late," I breathed—I squeezed my eyes as both of my arms started healing along with Natsume's broken arm. I heard the satisfying pop of Natsume's arm going back into place, followed by Natsume's sharp breath. Immediately, I turned my healing Alice off. My arms were still bruised, but they were too numb now to feel—I closed my eyes as my vision clouded with black dots.
"I told you not to do it," he whispered in my ear as he picked me up. He kissed my forehead gently, "But thank you"
"Now we don't have to worry about Luna or the Koizumi anymore," he murmured as he carried me towards the door.
"I'm glad," I muttered. We started walking along the tunnels, but we headed in a different direction then the one Shin had taken me too—
"Oh my gosh…" tears brimmed around my eyes.
Shin…
"What is it?"
"We have to go to the dungeons right now!"
"Why—"
"Please, Natsume" I begged him.
"Okay, we'll go there right now" he said. I stared into his crimson orbs and smiled at him.
"Thank you" We started towards another tunnel and I fiddled with my fingers.
"What's so important that you need to go to the dungeons—our soldiers are probably already letting everyone out" he said his voice echoing off the dirt walls.
"My friend is there, he helped me since I got here" I said softly. He didn't say anything for awhile and I comfortably leaned against his chest almost falling asleep.
"Then we'll get him out," he murmured. I looked up at him and studied his face—I leaned up and softly pressed my lips against his cheek.
He opened the dungeon door and we made our way inside the musty room. I looked around—movement ahead of us caught our attention.
"Natsume-ouji!" a soldier of ours—I'm guessing— explained. He bowed to him. "We just started searching the castle for Sakura people, we just started searching the dungeons"
"Then continue please," he said walking past him. "Oh, can you radio in the group and tell them I got Mikan? Mine was lost"
"Sure thing, Natsume-ouji"
We walked along the dungeon searching each cell. We stopped outside one cell with a lone figure inside—Natsume lit his fire illuminating the cell and I pulled myself free from his grip when I saw the purple hair. I walked quickly to the cell and forgetting my injuries fell into the cell door.
"Owww!" I cried.
"Let me help" Natsume whispered in my ear gently. He picked me up once again, careful of my back and ribs. We entered the cell and he set me down beside Shin. Natsume turned him onto his back and I inspected him—the only serious wounds seemed to be his ribs and leg. I put my hands against his ribs and the blue light engulfed me once more.
"No!" Natsume yelled, "You can't use your Alice, not now! You can heal him fully later, right now we need to get you home and we'll get one of the soldiers to bring him with us"
"But… but Luna put a curse on him too!" I sniffled.
"Luna's gone, so are the curses she put on anyone" he told me gently. "He'll be okay"
I nodded in understanding and let him pick me up once again. We left the cell and Natsume told the soldiers coming in to make sure that Shin was taken back to Hyuuga Kingdom. I started dozing against his chest waking up every time he would stop to talk to a soldier.
"Hey, Mikan, wake up" he whispered in my ear. I took a deep breath and wiped my eyes.
"What is it?" I yawned.
"I thought you would've like to visit here before we left back home"
I lifted my head and looked at where we were heading. My breath caught in my throat as I stared at the doors to the temple.
"Why—"
"I thought you would've liked to say goodbye. We'll come back of course to rebuild, but not straight away, you need to heal first"
I grabbed his face and pulled him down to mine—our lips crashed together and I melted against him. Slowly, very reluctantly, we pulled away from each other. He pushed the heavy temple door open, and we stepped inside—he let me down gently right above their graves and walked back towards the door.
I pressed the palm of my hand against the cool stone and I cleared my throat. "Hi Mom, Dad"
"I wish I could see you…" I whispered. "I've been humming your lullaby a lot lately Dad. I can't remember all the words right now, but I'm going to keep singing it, and remember everything!"
"Mom… I wish you could meet Natsume. I love him Mom, and I want you to know that," I traced their names with my finger. "Oh! I finally got my Alice, or Alices. I met Oracle, who's been watching me ever since you guys left, and taking care of me in her own special way"
"I'll come back to visit again, maybe in a couple weeks after I'm all healed, and we come back to rebuild. Maybe we have people with Alice to build things," I giggled. "But I'm going to make sure everything doesn't change too much, it'll still look like the old Sakura Kingdom…"
"But for now I've got to go," I sat up "Bye Mom, Dad. I love you" I waited for Natsume to come and pick me up again. His cool fingers touched my arms and I lifted myself up so he could pick me up.
We walked outside silently and he set me back down on the grass. "What?"
"I want to say something quickly," he smiled. He headed back inside and I closed my eyes waiting for him to finish—a couple minutes later, he walked back out and shut the door quietly behind him.
"Let's go" he whispered gently.
"Okay!" I grinned. I looked out over the field and down toward the village. "It doesn't even look like a battle happened here"
"They're really good at cleaning," he chuckled.
"Must be…" Natsume picked me up and we started back down the hill to the line of carriages that waited at the Palace entrance. The soldiers had probably found them in the garage when they were searching for people.
We went to a carriage with no one inside, and Natsume helped me in before he sat down beside me. When the carriage started moving, Natsume pulled me onto his lap and I fell asleep in his arms—knowing now everything would be alright.
Ahh, soo close to the end—one more chapter! My first fanfic almost done *sniffles*
Remember to review and vote if you haven't!
Thank you's too;
Meryq- Haha I don't know :P Thank you for your review!
Karti- Don't worry I won't… well it's almost done—one more chapter left. But thank you very much:)
Xxxusui918xxx- haha, thank you very much!
SnowStar145- Thank you :D
MangAnimePrincess- I know eh, only one chapter left… Thank you for your review!
Akjupiter- aha, thank you for your review.
GAKUENALICEROCKS- sorry for the late update, thank you for your review!