A/N: I don't own Alice Gakuen.

Melting


Natsume traced his finger along the map. He had bought the map from a man at the bar, and desperately, he tried to see how far along he was on his journey.

In the thicket of Alicea, surrounded by trees and shy spring flowers, it seemed almost bizarre to think that the front lines were a mere few miles away.

Karuiyaza, Karuiyaza, Karuiyaza... there! He tapped his finger against his destination.

It had been three days since he had left the Z Headquarters. He had made good progress, arousing no suspicion whatsoever. There was still time; the atomic bomb would not fall on Hina for another four days, and if he continued his pace, he should be with Mikan in Karuiyaza by tomorrow night.

He longed to see her. He thought of their child. But this, Hina, and telling Mikan what he knew came first. This would be his last and most important mission of the Great War.

He heard a man cry suddenly in indignation. Natsume looked up from his map, and could not stop a slow, small smile appear on his lips. Two elderly men were playing kamabuki, just outside the entrance. The losing man grumbled, whilst the winner laughed, his smile wide toothless. Natsume remembered how he played kamabuki all those nights ago with Anna and Mikan by his side.

It was strange to be in Alicea, posing as an Alicea once more. It was strange because it somehow felt like home. The low ceiling, the dirt roads, the clothes, the games, the food... this bar that he was currently resting in was more of a stopover point, selling alcohol, tea and noodles. He had just finished his bowl. It tasted dimly of Anna and Mikan's food. The very air felt comforting, with that faint smell of incense floating about. He felt as if he were back to where he was supposed to be.

But he knew that he had no right to call Alicea his home, after what he had done. It was offensive, it was not right. If anyone here found out who he really was, he was sure that they would beat him, hurt him, perhaps even leave him for dead.

A middle-aged Alicean woman at the counter was smiling kindly at him. He smiled back at her.

He was tired from his travels, but he had no time to dawdle at this stopover. He made to move, but then, they all heard a voice caw and cry from outside. Everyone halted; the men stopped playing kamabuki, other customers stopped eating and drinking, the woman at the counter stopped wiping teacups. Tensely, they waited. The voice was coming closer and closer, fast approaching.

"The radio! The radio! Ma, turn on the news!"

A young teenager rushed into the bar at full speed, panting heavily, still clamouring about the radio. The woman at the counter, his mother, after sighing in relief now frowned deeply at her son.

"Hiroshi! Why are you screaming? Do not scare my customers like that! Shouting like a silly—hey!" Her son hoisted himself up on the counter and reached for the old radio that sat high up. "You're getting dirt everywhere! Hiroshi!"

"Something's happened! In the South!" Hiroshi announced, "Something big!"

His mother stopped admonishing him almost immediately. Now, instinctively, she put a hand to her heart. Hiroshi's words ignited everyone to move: the men outside poured inside and along with everyone else in the bar, they gathered around Hiroshi who was now tuning the radio as fast as he could.

"What's happened, boy?"

"Did we win?"

"Tell us everything!"

Natsume felt a cold shiver up his spine; one of dread and disbelief.

No. No... it can't be... there were still four days left… It can't be…

He was frozen in his spot as he heard the crackle of the radio, and then, a voice emerged from the static.

"... In the early hours of today, Hina was consumed by a flash of light, disappearing at 8:15am ... I repeat, Hina..."

Everyone at the bar roared.

"Hina? What happened to Hina?!"

"What do they mean disappeared?"

"Flash of light?"

"What have Z done now!"

Everyone was shouting over each other, confused and angry, their expressions now hard and unyielding.

"Those wretched demons!"

Hiroshi spoke now, loud enough for all to hear, "Everyone's talking about it down in the village square! Z used a weapon of mass destruction! There are even rumours that Alicea may surrender now!"

"Impossible!"

"Preposterous!"

At that moment, Natsume, feeling incredibly faint, accidentally crashed into his table and sent his chair toppling too. He lost his balance and crumpled. Everyone turned to look at him, their frantic energy suspended momentarily. But to him, everything was spinning, he was gasping, but no oxygen seemed to be entering his lungs.

It can't be, it can't be—

"Hey, son, you alright?" A middle-aged man came to him, crouched beside him as he patted his back. Natsume was having trouble breathing normally; the man picked up on this and put an arm around Natsume to hoist him up.

"Let's get you outside. You need some fresh air. Not all this noise."

Everyone else had resumed their shouting, scrambling for the radio, turning the volume up, desperate for answers.

"Are you alright, son? Breathe through your nose,"

Words were trickling out his mouth, "It can't be, it can't be,"

"You're alright, son. You're alright."

"Hina... her parents..."

"Ah," the man lowered his head, understanding now. "Don't worry, son. It wouldn't be wise to believe everything said on the radio. I'm sure it's okay."

"It's not okay, it's not..." Natsume murmured, closing his eyes. He clutched his head out of sheer desperation. He had failed. He had failed Mikan, again. And this time, it cost him her family.

The man observed Natsume. Young, healthy, well-built. Good soldier material. But clearly traumatised. He assumed that this young man had seen a lot of the war. Feeling sympathetic, he asked him whether he needed some water. Natsume shook his head, his eyes sealed shut.

"Do you want to go to the village square? Will that ease your mind?"

"No, I need to get to Karuiyaza," Natsume finally opened his eyes, and suddenly sprung up, determined. "I need to tell her,"

"Karuiyaza, you say? That's a day's journey." He watched as Natsume got ready to depart, shakily pulling money out to pay for his food and drink. "You can hardly stand. You're in no shape for journeying on foot. Do you want a lift?"

Natsume halted and turned to finally look at this man. He noticed the scar just above his eyebrows. He was tanned and quite large.

"You have an automobile?"

"Sure do. You want a lift to Karuiyaza?"

Natsume seized this chance. "Yes, look, I'll pay you, please—"

"It's alright son. Go pay for your food. I will meet you out here in ten minutes. I'll bring the vehicle here."

"Thank you, thank you—"

The man put a hand up, taking Natsume's gratitude as he left.

Adrenaline was coursing through Natsume. He could hardly stand still. He felt sick; his vision was blurring at the corners, as if life before him were disintegrating at the fringes. He could not believe that Z had carried out the attack. He loathed himself with every passing breath: he had failed Mikan. He had failed her again. For the first time, he was terrified to think that he would see her soon. How could he look into her eyes without feeling total, crushing shame? And what scared him more: how could she now look at him and feel any affection for him at all?

Could this signal not only the end of the war but their relationship too? Was it severed forever now?

He thought of her family, vaporised in a single moment by the atomic bomb. Sadness and sincere remorse terrorized his heart.

And now rage consumed it; he thought of their President, Z, the army, Persona's leering cold smile... he brimmed with hatred.

He felt so disorientated by all these emotions, felt so sharply by him in quick succession.

"Fuck!" He swore under his breath, "Fuck!"


The man's name was Hirofumi. He didn't ask too many questions; he kept his eyes firmly on the road before him, as he drove Natsume to his destination. Hirofumi was curious by nature, so he did want to speak to this man, but something told him that he shouldn't. The energy Natsume silently emitted was turbulent and excruciatingly pitiful.

Natsume could not still his heart, or pinpoint his emotions - they were so frantic and mercurial, it was impossible to say how he would feel the next second.

He had shown Hirofumi the address, that had been provided by Tsubasa, and Hirofumi had said that the house would likely be up in the mountains. It wasn't a steep journey up, just very green, with little road.

"It should be somewhere north from here," Hirofumi said, his vehicle coming to a stop. "The path is a bit difficult for this machine."

"This is more than enough," Natsume thanked the man. He then rifled around for money.

"It's fine, son," Hirofumi insisted. "You don't owe me anything."

"Please," Natsume begged, "I don't know how else to thank you."

"Just get to your family safe. And stay safe. That's enough."

Natsume thanked him again. He left swiftly, and Hirofumi watched him climb up the path with a determination that would put any average soldier to shame.

Natsume heaved his way out, his breath ripping his lungs, panting deeply. He was sweating, out of breath, and the exhaustion of the past three days seemed to be hitting him at that very moment. He ploughed on; he could not falter here, not when he was so, so close to Mikan.

There! A house! That must be it!

He could not give up now! His breath rattled, he grunted, old wounds were aching, he felt faint, but Mikan was so close—

"Fuck!"

A bear, a real live bear, was bounding its way to Natsume.

His hands moved instinctively, reaching for the gun that was buried deep in his clothes. He pulled it out clumsily but aimed it perfectly straight. He was about to pull the trigger, a sure kill, but then—

"No! Stop! Stop!" rang a man's voice, "Don't shoot! He's my pet!"

A blonde, thin man was descending down the slope to meet Natsume and his pet bear. The bear immediately ran to the man, yowling affectionately. Natsume watched in disbelief; the bear was surrendering itself wholly to the blonde man, nuzzling its ugly snout into his arms.

"What are you doing on my property?" The man suddenly demanded, his eyes suspicious. "Who are you?"

Natsume stowed his gun away. "I—"

Suddenly, voices from inside the house, a mere few metres away pierced the air. "Mikan! Listen to me! You cannot leave in your condition!"

He knew that voice. It was Tsubasa.

"I need to see if my family's okay!"

At the sound of that voice, Natsume's whole expression changed. Every hard line softened and melted, all defenses fell, replaced by wonder and disbelief.

That was Mikan's voice. She was here.

Kaname saw these immediate changes. And suddenly, he knew exactly who this man was. "You're—"

Natsume left his side; he was now running straight for the house. "Mikan! Mikan!" He bellowed desperately, "Mikan!"

A stunned silence stilled the house.

Anna looked to Tsubasa, terrified. Tsubasa's mouth was agape, his motions frozen, his eyes turned towards the open front door. And then, like a ghost, Natsume Hyuuga appeared at the doorway, panting, his eyes wide and searching.

"Where is she—"

He saw familiar faces, and unfamiliar ones too. A redhead was staring at him indignantly, confused.

Then, Anna erupted, "Mikan! Come down now! Mikan!"

"Don't try to stop me either, Anna!"

Natsume heard the voice from above; she was upstairs. He bolted, striding towards the staircase, ignoring all the agape mouths and silent questions. He just followed the sound of her voice; and there she was, on the coming down the stairs, frowning, looking to her feet, her hands holding and supporting her large stomach. Behind her, Youichi trailed. He noticed Natsume first and squeaked, stopping dead on the stairs.

"Mikan," Natsume called her name.

She looked up and finally saw what everyone else did.

She could not believe her eyes.

Her heart pounded, her neck got hot, and she felt dizzy with ambivalence: exuberance pulled her one way and incredulity tugged her the other way, both with incredible force.

"Natsume..." it was a question, a delicate one, tears brimming her eyes, daring her to question whether she was actually just hallucinating. She was not imagining this. This was real. This was no ghost; Natsume was back in the flesh, standing before her, looking at her as if she were the most important thing in the whole universe. He was here.

"Natsume!"

She descended to reach him; he moved up the stairs and caught her half-way. He embraced her as gently and as lovingly as he could, as she knitted her fingers through his hair, saying his name over and over. She could not stop touching him, feeling him.

"You're here... oh, Natsume, you're finally here. You've come back to me... I don't believe it... oh gods, thank you..."

He could not say anything. While she murmured his name and spoke sweet whispers, he was absolutely silent, just taking everything in. He could hardly breathe. Here she was, finally in his arms, very pregnant with his child, kissing his temples and speaking his name.

Everyone else, however, looked away, not knowing how to react. It happened so quickly, so suddenly. Those who did not recognise Natsume now understood that this was Mikan's baby's father, the Z. Misaki felt anger and even disgust: their reunion so open for everyone to see. Had they no decorum? No propriety? And to do so, in front of poor Youichi seemed hardly right. Subaru seethed silently. Tsubasa felt nothing.

Natsume's hands found her stomach. His gaze fell to it.

"Oh, yes..." she laughed, her laugh watery, as she wiped away her tears and did her best to clear her throat. She placed her warms hands on top of his, and together they cradled their baby. "Hard to ignore, isn't it?"

Natsume still could not speak. He could not believe that her pregnancy was real, that he truly was to become a father in a mere few weeks. He did know it was possible to love Mikan even more than he already thought he did.

"I've missed you," he finally said, his voice so quiet and tender that only she could hear him.

She embraced him, over the moon to hear his voice once more. "You came back..."

"I'm not leaving you again."

Then, a little noise from above drew Natsume's attention upwards. Up the staircase, he saw Youichi. His heart clenched when he saw that Youichi really was missing an arm. He reached out to the little boy, but before he could say anything, Youichi sped up upstairs, looking absolutely terrified.

Natsume was momentarily confused; he loved Youichi, and he was certain that Youichi loved him too. He did not such a reaction from him, but before he could do anything about it, Mikan suddenly spoke.

She looked up at him, deep into his eyes. Her expression had changed slightly, and beseeched, "Natsume, you have to come with me! I'm going to Hina—this bomb that they are talking about—do you know anything about it? You must come with me! My parents and grandfather! I can't get a hold of them, and the reports on the radio are very vague and confusing—"

Fear and total despair gripped Natsume's heart all over again, this time more painful than before. They had reunited mere seconds ago, and now, he had to deliver the worst possible news and create a divide between them. He did not know if such sweetness between them would ever manifest again, after what he had to tell her.

"Mikan, we can't..."

"Tsubasa said the same. But I'm fine! I am." She patted her stomach for emphasis, "I'm stronger than ever! And my grandfather is very old; I'm sure they need all the help—"

Natsume felt absolutely wretched. "We can't..." he said again, his voice pleading. "Mikan... I'm so sorry."

He could not drop the news yet. It was ripping his heart out. And with this sombre apology, Mikan could now tell that something truly, truly awful had really transpired. She saw her parents in her mind. Suddenly scared, her arms left Natsume, and slowly, she descended down the remaining steps. Natsume did not follow her and stayed up on the stairs, his head hung low in shame and defeat.

Everyone's gaze returned to them now. The atmosphere was so thick, a knife could slice it clean open.

Finally, Natsume delivered the news. "Hina is gone. Z dropped a new type of bomb. An atomic bomb. There's no way any civilian could survive such an attack."

Mikan steadied herself by leaning on the kitchen table. She closed her eyes, refusing to ingest Natsume's words, and breathed as steadily as she could from her nose. Everyone else around her though, positively erupted.

"What do you mean!"

"What new bomb!"

"What do you mean Hina is gone?!"

They swarmed him like bees. Then, the slurs began.

"Disgusting Z!"

"Get out of our house!"

Moving past the anger, Natsume walked towards Mikan, tuning out the noise that threatened to drown him. He hand clutched her arm, softly, "Mikan, I—"

She turned to him, her cheeks bright red, and tears streaming down her face. "What do you mean, Natsume? Are they dead? My family?"

Natsume could not bring himself to say yes. Instead, he diverged, "It is imperative that you don't go to Hina. The radiation could kill you and the baby—"

His tone was so, so desperate, but Mikan swatted it away, pushing him away. He tried to catch her, to beg, to plead, but then Subaru hand's grabbed him by the front and pulled him mere centimeters towards his own face.

"Your people used that? A radiation bomb?" Subaru demanded, absolutely furious, "Answer me!"

Natsume averted his eyes away, shamefully. "It was the last resort... a means to end the war..."

"On the account of an entire city!? Do you understand the consequences of your action?"

At the sheer loathing in Subaru's accusation, Natsume finally stood up straight in defense.

"I did not agree with it! Of course I didn't! I protested—why do you think I'm here? I left. I came to warn you," he spoke now in Mikan's direction, beseeching, "Believe me, Mikan, please,"

He realised then that he did not care if the whole world hated him; he did not care if he were to be crucified for a crime he did not commit, so long as Mikan knew that he was telling the truth. As long as she thought the best of him, he did not care if he were to become the most hated man in all of Alicea.

But she refused to look at him now.

He continued, "They were planning to drop it in four days' time. The plans must have changed. I'm so sorry, Mikan. I'm so sorry."

Subaru spoke again, his tone still acidic and full of hate, "You intended to tell her, so she could warn her parents? But what about the rest of the civilians? What about them? They all have lives and families too!"

"I can't save everyone! No one can! I've tried to do the best that I could! Mikan, please, I'm sorry! Forgive me!"

Anna tried to gently take Mikan by the shoulders, but she refused. She did not want anyone to touch her right now. She was consumed by anguish, remembering the last words that she had exchanged with her family. They hated that she was pregnant with a Z's baby... and they died so; they died hating her, the baby, and the baby's father. And now, there was no way to remedy this. There would be no chance for her to show her parents and her grandfather her wonderful child, or introduce Natsume to them, Natsume the Z, Natsume the man she loved…

Wiping her tears away, she turned back towards Natsume. She saw his lonely pleading, sincere expression, and everyone else's similar hateful expressions.

"Subaru, let him go,"

"But Mikan,"

"Let him go, please," she took Natsume's arms, and to everyone's shock, buried herself in his chest. For a moment, Natsume could not believe it either. But when he felt her quietly shake with tears, his arms held her.

"I'm so sorry, Mikan... forgive me..." he murmured to her, on the verge of tears himself.

Yuu exchanged looks with Anna. Kaname looked towards Misaki. Tsubasa looked towards the floor. Subaru glared at the two of them before him. It baffled every single one of them that Mikan would choose Natsume. Just because he was the father to her child? What else could possibly possess her? Was this Z magic? Some dark evil? Was she bewitched?

"I've failed you again, I'm sorry Mikan... I'm sorry."

"Was it..." she did her best to speak, "was it a painful death?" She peered up at him.

He looked at her. He could hardly blink. He did not what to say.

"Just a flash. Just a flash, Mikan."

She broke down again. She could hear the lie in his voice. Her cries turned into wails, and she clutched Natsume tightly. She felt as if she were being ripped apart. Her family was gone, dead, blasted away by a new bomb.

All she had left in this world of chaos were Natsume and their baby.

Everything else had melted all away.


A/N: Hey guys. How are you all doing?

It's... well, crazy times that we are living in. I hope everyone is well. On my end, I'm well, but I am getting quite bored self-quarantining at home. I know that's a total privilege, to be bored at home. If anyone has any recommended shows or books they want to share with me, I'd appreciate it! Something long and immersive would be great :)

So, honestly, I didn't think I was ever going to finish this. I wanted to, but life really got in the way, and I guess some part of me lost interest. But now seems like the perfect time to finish this, so if this story can help alleviate any boredom any of you may be feeling during lockdown, I guess that's the job complete! It's helped me too, just sitting at my desk, trying to tie this all together.

I've mapped out all the remaining chapters. There are three chapters and an epilogue left!

I'll update soon! Until then, stay safe and sanitised!