A/N: I don't own Alice Gakuen.
Together
It was quiet spring evening. Darkness surrounded the house, but above the canopy of trees, stars twinkled peacefully.
The War was over. Alicea had completely submitted to Z.
Peace was declared in Z. Defeat was announced in Alicea.
The atomic bomb dropped on Hina terrified every Alicea citizen. Stories of the lost city circulated with a wildfire force; the people cowered, terrified, horrified to learn what happened to Hina's citizens.
The city's infrastructure had all melted too. Nothing remained, the city was completed flattened - so said the rumours. Other rumours spread, of course, the most prevalent one being how Z soldiers came and took samples of the burnt bodies.
It was a time of distrust and misinformation.
With Kaname and Subaru, Tsubasa was sat on the porch outside. The three Alicean men were quiet, taking in the stillness of the night, their minds numb.
Accepting that Alicea had lost the war was hard. It caused all sorts of feelings, including anger and an incredible, wretched sense of loss.
Mikan opened the front door and peered her head outside to the three men.
"We're heading to bed. Good night,"
They heard Natsume bid them an echoing goodnight behind her.
The three did not answer, not even to Mikan.
She closed the door behind her.
"Is that really a good idea?" Tsubasa suddenly asked, looking towards Kaname.
"What do you mean?"
"Them. Sharing a room together. It's inappropriate."
Kaname smiled, "They are having a child together. They are way past that now, Tsubasa. In a few days, they will be parents."
"Well, they're not married. It's wrong," Tsubasa insisted grumpily.
Before Kaname could respond with a 'that's never stopped you', Subaru chimed in, "Tsubasa is right. It's morally wrong." He then added, "It's wrong for us even to be housing him. He should leave. They both should,"
"They say they will," Kaname said in a pacifying voice, "after the baby is born. They say they will."
Tsubasa, who truly did care for Mikan, had a problem with this too. "And go where? Mikan has nowhere to go. Where on earth is she going to go with a baby? Z?" He laughed cruelly, "As if I would allow that."
"Well, his family is from Z. It wouldn't be illogical if they moved there with the child."
Tsubasa stood up straight, angry at the mere thought of Mikan abandoning Alicea to live in enemy territory. "I won't let her. She can't go to Z."
"She'll be betraying us all if she did so," Subaru decided, his tone firm and cold.
Kaname did not like where this conversation was going.
True, Kaname did not trust Natsume Hyuuga in the slightest. He wanted him out of his house as soon as possible. But in the few months that he had got to know Mikan, he had come to care for her greatly. And right now, he was not sure if her family friend was being fair.
"Subaru," Kaname said, "I did not expect so much anger from you."
Subaru snapped, "How could I be otherwise? Our country is ruined. Our leaders are being executed. And," he closed his eyes, the sadness consuming his heart, "my sister. I have not heard from her in weeks. I don't know what's happened to her. If she's found by Zs, she will be trialed, deemed as a war criminal and executed, like the rest of them."
Tsubasa and Kaname could not say dispute that. They felt true pity for the Imai siblings, torn apart by war, with Hotaru's future bleak.
"How could I be okay? How could I not be angry? Especially when a Z Major General lives with us, eats with us..."
"He's hardly eaten..." Kaname quietly supplied.
"Do not defend this monster. He is a Z. And Mikan has picked which side she is loyal to."
"He saved Nonoko." Tsubasa softly said. He could not believe he was defending Natsume Hyuuga, but it did not sit well with him that Subaru was accusing Natsume of all Z crimes.
"He put her in prison in the first place. That is hardly what I call 'saving'," Subaru scathingly replied.
Tsubasa pitied Subaru. So much hatred was poisoning everything.
Subaru continued, "I have failed as a brother in every regard. I did not keep our home safe. I did not keep Mikan, her childhood friend, safe from the enemy. I broke all my promises to her."
"Soon they'll be gone, Subaru." Tsubasa sadly said, hating the divide that now existed in this very home, "You won't have to see them again if that is what you choose."
"Good riddance."
There was an unspoken distance between Mikan and Natsume. They were in bed together, but since his arrival, they had not touched once. They had not even held hands or shared a warm, comforting embrace.
Mikan was grieving. Natsume did not know what to say. All that came out of his mouth were apologies.
He was terrified. Every day, he was certain that today was going to be the day that she asks him to leave her.
They had discussed things. They had said that she will have the baby here and then depart together. But as each hour passed, Natsume was losing faith in this plan. First and foremost, he was unsure whether she and their child would ever leave Kaname's house. He feared he would be the only one to do so.
But if they did all leave together, where would they go?
The future was so unclear, but all he wanted was Mikan. And their child, of course. He wanted them to be together. He wanted to be their family.
Tonight was no different from yesterday. Mikan was in bed, quiet as a mouse, blankly looking at the ceiling above her.
This was not how either of them had envisioned the end of the war. Both of them thought it would bring them relief and stupendous joy, and that it would bring them back to each other. But Natsume had never felt so far away from Mikan than he did now; with her on the other side of the bed, mere centimeters away from him. Not that he blamed her.
Her country had lost the war, and terribly so. Thousands were dead, more missing. She, and every other Alicean out there, had lost so, so much.
Mikan's parents and grandfather, dead. Hotaru, her best friend, fled. The whereabouts of Sumire, unknown. Her friends here could no longer look at her. Not even little Youichi.
Youichi refused outright to converse with Natsume.
That broke Natsume's heart too.
Mikan's hand was on her stomach as she gazed upwards.
Natsume wished that she would look at him. A glance would be more than enough. He watched her silently, his head turned in her direction on the pillow.
Would tonight be the night she asks him to leave to Z and never return?
The room was dimly lit.
Then, to both Natsume's surprise and relief, Mikan spoke. Her words, though, made him grieve more.
"My parents... they wanted to me abort the child." She continued the gentle strokes on her stomach.
Natsume opened his mouth but shut it. He thought about reaching out to her, to their child, but he halted his movements too.
"And early on, when I found out I was pregnant," finally, she turned to face him too, with tears in her eyes, "I did too."
She cried as soon as she said her confession out loud. "I'm sorry, Natsume..."
He reached out to her. He touched her shoulder, and when she did not recoil, he sat up on the bed and let her cry in his lap. He stroked her temple and her hair.
Mikan had never said this outright and out loud, and now that she did, she could not stop crying. She also could not stop apologizing to her baby and to Natsume.
"I was so scared," she tried to explain herself, "I'm sorry..."
What have I done, Natsume thought to himself as he watched the woman he loved cry again. I have brought nothing but misery to her.
"I am so sorry for everything, Mikan," Do you wish you never met me? Should I go and never return? "It's all my fault—"
Using his knee as support, Mikan pulled herself up too. He was shocked when she hugged him tightly around the neck.
"I love you," Mikan promised, her cheeks wetting the crook of his neck, "I love you so much, Natsume,"
"I love you, Mikan," but I don't deserve you. I've ruined everything.
He did not divulge what festered in his mind; instead, he did his best to comfort Mikan in her time of need. Soon, with tears on her cheek, she fell asleep.
Natsume turned out the light and joined her in sleep. For the first time, he held her in bed as they slept.
Not three hours later, Mikan's eyes flew open.
"Natsume? Natsume, what's wrong?" her voice was alert.
Natsume was up in the bed, thrashing, gasping desperately for air. Acting as fast as her pregnant body would let her, Mikan lit a candle and came to his side of the bed. Standing, she held Natsume as firmly as she could.
He was having a panic attack.
"Breathe, Natsume, breathe..." despite her beating heart that was screaming in fear, she kept her voice as steady as she could, "It's okay, Natsume. You're okay..."
Natsume made a retching noise. But nothing came up.
She stroked his back comfortingly.
Soon, his gasping calmed into laborious deep breaths. A shaking, pale hand found hers. Natsume was cold. She held on warmly and now sat down beside him on the bed.
Her free hand cupped his chin, softly stroking it.
"Remember all those months ago," her voice was gentle, "when you had a nightmare?"
Natsume remembered that night well. It was one of the first times that he had opened up to Mikan, telling her about his family back in Whitehall. He remembered how she had calmed him down then, how she hummed sad songs to help him sleep.
"That night I spoke of my home in Z," he answered her; he looked to her and said, "Things were different then. Now you're my home."
"Oh, Natsume..." tenderly, she hugged him, touched by his words. "You're my home too."
His fear and vulnerability surfaced at her words.
"Really? Are you sure?"
"What do you mean?"
Finally, he voiced what had been haunting him these past few days since their reunion, "Do you want me to leave?"
"Leave?" She was shocked. "Leave to where? Leave me?" When he did not respond, she truly understood the depths of his worries. "Natsume, I never want you to leave me. I never want to leave you."
"Really?"
"I promise. You're mine. I'm yours. This child is ours." She did her best to reassure him.
He felt selfish. He should be the one comforting her. She was the one who had lost her family, and perhaps the relationships with some friends, all on his account. And yet, here she was again, like all those months ago, healing his soul so easily.
His mental wound continued to bleed, "I'm terrified that you are going to leave me. Maybe not today, but one day. That one day you'll wake up, realise you despise me and leave. And our child... Youichi can't even look me in the eyes anymore. Mikan, what if our child hates me too?"
Mikan teared up at his words. Her heart broke for this man.
"You've been harbouring these thoughts all to yourself?" She wept, loving him so much, "Natsume, listen to me. We're finally back together. I'm sorry if I've been distant—"
He rebuffed her apology immediately. "Don't apologise to me, Mikan, please. I'm the one who needs to beg for your forgiveness—"
"For what, Natsume? For an action that you did not commit? Oh, Natsume... I'm sorry if I made you feel that way. I know it's not you. Of course I do! I'm still grieving, that's all. I know you. And everyone else might not today, but one day they will too."
"With me, you'll be an outcast," he cried, "and our poor, innocent child too..."
Mikan was crying now too. Together they cried, fearful for the future. But Mikan, the stronger and braver of the two, pulled herself together so that she could help Natsume too.
"Maybe at first. Maybe until Alicea's wounds heal. But the truth remains that they will heal. All wounds do. And Natsume, we are finally together. All of us. We will work it out. Together. Alright?"
"Alright," his voice was uncertain, like a little lost boy.
She took his hand and brought it to her neck. She found her stone with the other hand, and brought it to his. Together, the held the stone that once belonged to him.
"This means forever, right?"
He looked into her beautiful eyes.
"I'm never going to leave you again," he vowed.
She kissed him on the lips, and then on his cheek. She told him that she loved him again, but then, a small kick turned her attention down to her stomach.
"Natsume, feel this," she took his hand again and placed it on her swelling stomach. Almost immediately, the baby kicked again, as if to say hello to his daddy.
"Isn't that funny?" she smiled at the wonderstruck expression on his face. "He's kicking. He likes to do that."
Natsume looked at her. "He?" Natsume looked startled.
Mikan wiped the tears away from his cheek as she nodded. "I think so, yes."
"How can you tell?" He wondered if mothers had an inexplicable connection with their unborn child; a secret that he was still unaware of and not privy to.
"I just know," Mikan replied mysteriously, "And also, only a boy can bring so much pain."
Natsume smiled at her. She smiled back at him. They laughed together.
Natsume's breathing had returned to its normal pace. All thanks to her. He marveled at the thought that she would be the most amazing mother to their child.
"What will his name be?"
"Anything you want," Mikan answered sweetly. She continued to paint a pretty picture of their future, hoping it would reassure Natsume further. "He will be just as kind and handsome as you."
"I hope he's nothing like me."
She stroked his cheek. "Don't say that. If our son is anything like you, I would be the happiest mother in the world. I'd be blessed to have two of you."
"I hope he's like you," Natsume insisted. "Brave. Resilient. Kind. Someone who saves people,"
"Natsume, you saved me too. You saved me in Hoshikuzu, and your letters saved us, when I was at my lowest point. Your words kept me so strong, and filled me with so much hope."
He still wished that their child would take after Mikan.
"I think we should all live in Alicea," he then said, his voice sincere and soft. "I think that would be best for you and the child."
Mikan was surprised to hear this. "I-I... I mean..." she did not know what to say. She didn't think she could live in Z. Not for another few years, at least. She did not have enough courage to move to Z, but if Natsume had told her that living in Z would be best for the child, in terms of education and livelihood, she would have conceded.
"Somewhere in the countryside," Natsume expanded, "somewhere safe."
"But for you? Is that what's best for you?"
Natsume was willing to sacrifice everything for Mikan and their child.
"What about your parents? Your sister? Your family?"
"You're my family now, Mikan," he promised her, "You come first. Our child too."
She kissed him and thanked him over and over.
But then, he tentatively added, "But one day, Mikan... when you're ready of course, and that can be in ten years' time if that's what you need, but one day, I would like you to come to Z with me to meet my parents and sister. And all my friends, too. I want to introduce you to them, and them to you. Would that be alright?"
He let her think; patiently, he waited for her response as he stroked her hand.
Mikan thought of her child. Her child, part Alicean, part Z. She wanted her child to love himself, and to do so, would mean that he would need to accept and love both countries. Both countries, both cultures would exist in this child. She observed Natsume's kind eyes. She loved him. She wanted to see where he came from.
She wasn't ready. She knew she couldn't shed the feelings she harboured towards Z in a day. It would take time. But she had time. And more importantly, she had Natsume.
"Of course I'll go with you, Natsume," she agrees. "Of course."
Thank God, Natsume sighed in pure relief and smiled in pure happiness. He knew it would take time for her. But he could not wait to introduce her to everyone as his wife, and as the mother to his child.
"Mikan, will you marry me?"
Mikan laughed. "Silly. You're already my husband in my heart."
He smiled and kissed her. "As soon as they lift the laws, let's get married."
"Let's do that."
Still, so much uncertainty and hurt lingered in the air for the couple, but a few words and kisses had sealed the divide between them. A few words and kisses gave them hope and faith that everything would be alright.
Everyone in the house might not understand the mystery of Mikan and Natsume, but it was very simple really. They loved each other wholeheartedly, and this kind of selfless love had the power to transcend anything at any given time. Love was their ultimate resistance.
It would take a few years for everyone to learn this. It would take some more than ten years to truly know of Mikan's courage and Natsume's compassion.
But in the end, everyone would accept that Mikan and Natsume were truly the only victorious ones during the Great War.
A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
Thanks for all your recommendations! I really appreciate them all. I've added a lot of shows to My List on Netflix thanks to you all. :)
One chapter and an epilogue to go!
