Hi everyone!

The most awaited chapter 27 is finally here, including the mystery name! Well, it has been around the place: first planned to be chapter 25, then 26, then finally settling on 27, but it's great to have it published at last. It was supposed to be published at about 1,800 words (including the author's notes), but I just kept on adding scenes and POV's until I got up to 3000 words EXACTLY in the end, making it by far the longest chapter I have ever done (but still quite short compared to some other authors)!

I know I haven't got anywhere near my review target, but I'd finished writing this chapter, so I thought I might as well post it anyway! My old review target was 64, so that's what I'm aiming for before posting the next chappy! Anyway, please enjoy! I think this one is one of my better, and certainly one of my longer, chapters!

By the way, a huge thanks to Cometflare for Story and Author alerts, and also to for your lovely review! And I'm not forgetting all you wonderful people just reading this right now! You're just as important as everybody else.

Please please please don't forget to drop a review when passing by! Don't forget, 64 for the next chapter!

The Meepsta :) :)


Chapter 27- A new friend?

Normal POV

Mikan looked around her new bedroom in the attic. Already, she was missing her old special-star room, the snug purple four-poster bed, the beautiful view out from the stained-glass window, and all the presents over the years from her family and friends. Here, the bed was lumpy and the springs perished, the furniture was plain, and nobody had even bothered to bring her belongings. She was stuck, at least for tonight, with a wonky mint-green toothbrush, that had hopefully not been used by someone else before her, and an unappealing bar of gunky brown soap. Her only two welcoming presents to this pathetic place.

Charming.

But she would just have to make do with it for now. After all, if the ESP did keep his word, she would only have to stay here for a week at the most! Still, compared to this room, the hospital was Heaven! When she awoke yesterday, she was covered by white sheets, surrounded by white walls, white tiles, and even a cool white breeze coming from the fan on her bedside table. Everything was clean and sterilised to perfection. Completely the reverse to this place... yuck...


Mikan POV

Whoa! Is that a small doorway over there? But it's blocked by that old rickety desk, probably an 'antique', and extremely valuable. But I'm not in the mood today for two-hundred year old rotting fragments of wood. They annoy me.

Ha.

Argh! NOOO! I'm starting to sound like Natsume. Shock horror! Despair! That pervert has a bad influence on everybody around him...


Normal POV

Mikan clambered over the desk, determined to get to the doorway. Now here, I have to tell you that gymnastics was not our dear Mikan's 'forte'. In fact it was her worst subject at school, even including Maths and Science. This is really saying something! Mikan crashed into a frilly lampshade, this landing hard on her head making a luminous hat. She shook her head in confusion, the tassels wobbling and tickling her ears and neck, making her squeal like a tortured pig. All in all, she looked and sounded stupid. Really stupid.

Fail.


Mikan POV

Thank goodness Hotaru or Natsume aren't here to see this. Even the timid 'Prince Charming' Ruka might have a snicker, or his bunny certainly would. It's funny, after spending so much time with him, how I can understand what emotion his animals are trying to express.

Ugh... that was really stupid of me! I should have known not to do that after recieving my half-term report on my gymnastics progress...


Normal POV

In her annoyance, Mikan kicked the door, hoping it would magically glide open on first contact.

Another fail.

After the incident, she limped away with a throbbing ankle and a slightly dented, but still locked door. Hm. What now?

Then she noticed the unlocked window. The wooden frame in the winter cold had expanded, meaning that it did not close any more, and it was conveniently close to the balcony. If only she could stand on the ledge and jump...

"Hey. Girl. You." A masculine voice came from outside, making Mikan start and jump away from the ledge. "Need a hand? "


Mikan POV

Am I going crazy, or is there really a young man crouching on my window-sill at... what time is it.. ten o'clock at night?

How the hell did he get there? And why is he even here in the first place?

AHH! I'm scared!

Don't panic. Think of Hotaru. What would she say?


(Mikan POV)

Flashback:

It's just another breakfast at Alice Academy. Sigh. The rowdy students are at it again; squashing us and pushing in the line. Double sigh. Hey, what's Natsume doing... Natsume... argh! He was peeking at my underwear again!

"Spots today." He whispered into my ear, snickering.

"You... you... pervert!" I shrieked, hoping to make his ears bleed. I tried it again, " You... you...pp.. ARGH!"

"BAKA. BAKA. BAKA." The Baka gun. OWWW! My 'best friend' obviously thought I was making too much noise. I hate her!

"H-O-T-A-R-U! Why? Why shoot me? Why?" I cried, upset by her sudden and cruel action. It was only going up for 8am in the morning, for heaven's sake! "I thought we were best friends!"I screamed deafeningly in her ear, getting my revenge. Oh, but I do love her... as a friend... obviously. I wonder if I could have a hug? She wouldn't shoot me again, would she?

"BAKA. BAKA. BAKA."


(Mikan POV)

OK, don't think of Hotaru. Then I start thinking of Baka guns and me being an idiot as usual. Not a cheerful subject!


Flashback:

We were having a snowball fight in my garden under the Sakura tree. It was the first snowfall of Winter, and flakes fell in my open mouth, tingling. It was a wonderful sensation...

"Hey!" shouted my little best friend from behind me. I foolishly turned around to face Hotaru, with my mouth still open, trying to melt some more snow-flakes... just to find three snowballs coming my way...

THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.

Ew. Yuck!

Half an hour later...

" What did I tell you, Mikan?"

"Sorry, Ojiisan."

"You'll get ill now, being hit by that wet slush."

"Sorry, Ojiisan."

"Can you say anything else except for 'Sorry, Ojiisan'?"

"No..."


(Mikan POV)

Ojiisan.

No, can't think of him either. Think of something else... ah yes...got an idea! What animal would this stranger be? Obviously he isn't, because he can talk, but anyway... I know! Surely he would be a black cat, as he is dressed in black leggings and a plain black shirt, and an ornate mask covering up all of his head except for his eyes. They sparkle and glint in the moonlight like two polished emeralds, twinkling with unheard laughter. It's really strange, weird, looking at them...

AAH! I now can't look away from them! But they're so beautiful, no other word to describe it. They're just beautiful. But somehow, slightly artificial...

Why on earth am I thinking that? Stop it, stop it! And talking about Black Cats makes me think of that perverted, idiotic, infuriating Natsume. His code-name for Dangerous Ability missions is 'Black Cat'... I've seen it on some of the notes he recieves in homeroom period...

Hey. I'm calling Natsume the idiot here, but just who is the idiot right now? After not talking to him at all, what must this mysterious stranger think of me now?

Baka.


Normal POV

The stranger shattered the silence by speaking again.

"Don't you seriously say to me now that you were trying to jump out of the third-storey attic window. Tell me, are you suicidal, have manic depression, or what?" The mystery person joked. After seeing him closer up, Mikan assumed that it was indeed a boy, probably a bit older than her. He was quite tall, well built, and very well-spoken.

"No I wasn't, actually." Mikan retorted. "I was trying to get to the balcony. You see, the door is locked and I don't have the key, but the window is jammed open."

"Here, I'll give you a hand. Trust me, I'm not going to drop you or anything!" He joked. "Looking at you, you're probably as light as a feather."

"I'm not, you know."

"Bet you are."

"Not."

"Are."


Mikan POV

Sigh. I hope this person is going to stop this little skirmish with me soon. He's like Natsume's identical twin... no... maybe his brother or cousin then...


Normal POV

"Not. Anyway, why are you here anyway? Just to annoy me? You're like Natsume, you know, Natsume Hyuunga. Know who he is?"

"Heard of him..."

"Not surprised, he's quite famous. Arrogant jerk. He even calls me names by my underwear pattern!"

"Shocking..."

"What's your name anyway?" A short pause.


Mikan POV

Why has he hesitated and not told me his name straight away? I would, if I was in his position! Does he not trust me or something?


Normal POV

"Akito. Amamori Akito. Yours?"

"Mikan. Sakura Mikan. Can I call you Atsumo?"


Mikan POV

I like the nickname Atsumo. It's sort-of cheeky, nice, and cute at the same time, but thinking about it does make me think of Natsume. I wonder what he is doing now, and if he is OK. Was he on a mission in the Dangerous Ability class session earlier? He won't have a clue why I'm ignoring everybody recently... I hope he's not annoyed, or thinks I'm annoyed with them. I don't want to have to nullify or temporarily steal his Fire Alice... that would make him even angrier than before. Plus, it would exhaust or injure us both. Who knows, he might even be worried for me right now!

Don't do anything rash, Natsume.

I think everybody just needs to learn that I might be naive, but I'm not so naive that I can't take care of myself. I know what I'm doing. Akito seems a very nice person, someone I can trust, someone I can like. I know what I'm doing. But why can I say this so confidently when I've literally only just known him for 5 minutes?


Normal POV

"Why?" He replied, slightly surprised by her question.

"It's 'Natsume' and 'Akito' mixed up. " Mikan explained to him. "It kinda suits you, and it's quite a cute name. You're so much like the real Natsume... but kinder and nicer of course!" She laughed. "And you don't call me Polka Dots or whatever it is..."

"OK, you can call me Atsumo if you want. That Natsume guy sure sounds interesting." Atsumo interrupted, chuckling.


Mikan POV

Why did you have to mention Natsume? I'd just got all thoughts of him out of my head, and now they're back again. Gr...


Normal POV

"He's annoying." That stopped the conversation.

"Fine. So be it. But there's probably more to him under the surface, you know."

"Yeah... probably."

"Now, do you want a hand to get out here or not?"


Mikan POV

I'm not that light, you know, and I most certainly don't want another trip to the hospital from a 3-storey fall... should I really trust him? What if he drops me? I might die, just because of my stupidity. But something...something in those emerald eyes... something so familiar but so distant... tells me that I can trust him. I can trust him.


Normal POV

"Yeah, OK..."

"Right! Don't struggle, and whatever you do, don't scream or anything. Ready?" Mikan took a deep breath.

"Yep."

"3... 2... 1..." Atsumo lifted her gingerly out of the window and sat her down on a metal seat outside.

"That was easy!" Mikan exclaimed, rather too loudly.

"Shh...be quiet, or we'll get in trouble."

"Sorry, Atsumo." Mikan hung her head.

"Cheer up!" Atsumo touched her chin with his long, elegant fingers, lifting it up slightly. "Your sad face doesn't suit you, you know."

"You don't know how much I've been told that!" Mikan grinned. "Tell me anything about you. I'm interested, you know. I know who you are technically: Amamori Akito, but who really are you?"

"I'm in the last year of the elementary division, probably in the same year as you. I am new to the school, and they hide me away because of who I am, and my Alice. I have no friends, and I allow nobody to see my face. All in all, I am a mystery. I am 13 years old, and my birthday is November 27th." A short pause. "That's all I'm going to reveal for now. Your turn."

"Looks like I'm in the same year as you, then. I'm in the Dangerous Ability class, Alices: Nullification, Stealing and Insertion, and Emotion. Best friend: Hotaru Imai since we were very young. Friends: Nobara, Ruka Nogi, Natsume Hyuunga, I suppose. I don't know when my birthday is, but I was found by my... um... Ojisan..." Mikan swallowed and started again, "...when I was very young on January 1st. I'm not very clever, and am pretty hopeless at all subjects except for Athletics. Recently become a Special Star. Is that enough information? Oh yeah, did you know that you share the same birthday as Natsume Hyuunga?"


Atsumo POV

Oh. Damn. That was not clever of me...


Mikan POV

That's a very strange coincidence! As well as he being similar in personality, but not attitude, to Natsume, he also shares the same birthday. Of all the days in the year... it's November 27th...


Normal POV

"No, that's funny! Just one thing left to ask you: why are you staying in the Middle School Building when you are an Elementary student?"

"Long story."

"I have time."

"A very long and boring story."

"You're not going to tell me?"

"No."

"Oh, OK then." Atsumo sighed. "You'll end up telling me someday: I don't think you're a very secretive person."

"You're probably right."

They sat side-by-side in silence for a moment, watching the stars. Atsumo broke the silence.

"I'd better be going now."

"Oh, you'll have to lift me back in again."

"Right. Here I go. 3...2...1... oof!" He plonked her down on the window-sill.

"Will you come and visit tomorrow?" She asked hopefully.

"Maybe, if I have time. I'll probably see you around though!"

"I'm so lonely! Please! Please?"

"OK then."

"Yay! Thank you!" She threw her arms around him, dismayed to find that they did not go quite all the way round. Like her arms never met around Ojii-san. And never will. They might not even go round his coffin...

"Sleep well."

His breath tickled her face, deliberately ruffling her hair so it went into her eyes. By the time Mikan had blinked the hair away, he was gone. Only a slight parting in the bushes told her of his departure.

The mystery Atsumo left as silently as he came.