DISCLAIMER: Gakuen Alice isn't mine. sigh
Goodness! It's been ages since the last time I updated. Again, I'm sorry for the delay. My PC crashed. Anyway, here's another chapter of my story. Hope you guys like it. Oh by the way, thanks for the comments. Really appreciate it.
CHAPTER 5: The Girl from the Past
BOOM!
A huge explosion was heard coming from the Special Star's dormitory. Three beings leaped out from the window to escape the raging fire that was engulfing the room.
"Hurry! Put out the fire!" Mr. Narumi instructed the student who controls the rain.
A couple of yards from the incident, the three figures stopped from running to rest, all gasping for air.
FLASHBACK
"You're dead."
"Well, hello to you too Natsume." Mizu grinned mischievously. "Are you getting even with me for ruining your romantic scene back at the forest?" He held Mikan on the waist.
"Damn you…"
"W-w-wait! Just what the heck is going on with you two?" Mikan forcibly removed Mizu's hand on her waist.
"Oh it's just the way to show we miss each other… Right, Natsume?"
"Miss each other? My ass!" The girl sneered. "It looks like as if you're going to kill each other!" She turned to Natsume. "Put that out." She commanded the boy, pertaining to the flames on his hands.
"And who are you to order me?" The flame caster taunted, igniting more fire on his hands.
"Please…" The girl asked softly.
Natsume gave her a fierce look but the pleading on Mikan's eyes were enough to change his mind. "Whatever…" He grunted and smothered his flame.
Mikan saw him frowned at her then stared at the window as if avoiding to look at her. She sighed. "Honestly! You guys are acting like two spoiled little brats!"
She noticed that Mizu was grinning at her mischievously while Natsume was deliberately avoiding to face her; his face was pinkish which was very odd. She frowned and unconsciously stared herself on the mirror. She gasped as her blood rushed to her cheeks. The length of Mizu's jacket wasn't even enough to cover her legs. It wasn't even enough to cover her underwear!
The purple-eyed boy was no big deal since she had her swimming lessons with him wearing her bikini. But the other one was not! He's Natsume!
"Darn it, Mizu!" Mikan snapped to cover her embarrassment. "Lend me some clothes! No! I mean I'll go to my room first—" Wait if I leave these two; they might end up killing each other. "Heck! Never mind!" She zipped the jacket up to her neck. "Now, can somebody tell me what hell's wrong with you guys?" She sat on the couch, covering her legs with a throw pillow.
"Mikan, honey, Natsume just missed his best pal--"
"Shut up!" The raven-haired boy yelled. "Just what are you doing here anyway? Japan is beyond your jurisdiction. This is my territory! Are you really on training?"
"Training? Cielos! No, amigo." Mizu replied. He sat beside the girl. "I'm here for Mikan."
"Damn it! Quit fooling around!" Natsume shouted. "Whatever your business here, stay Mikan out of it! Leave her alone!"
Mizu raised a brow. "Leave her alone? Well, well, well… Jealous, aren't we?"
"Jealous? Hah! Why'd I be jealous? She isn't my type." Natsume sneered.
"Not you're type, eh?" Mizu held Mikan's hand and squeezed it gently when she was about to say something. "Then what's the big deal? Why are you so cranky? I'm not sure if I'm the only one who could see it but doesn't she look like the girl we used to know?"
What? Mikan puckered her brow. Girl they used to know?
The flame caster gave Mizu a sharp look. "You always say that to any girl you meet. Don't add her to your collection…"
"Natsume, my boy, why would you think I'd be doing like that? Besides, I'm talking about "her"." Mizu said emphasizing the word her. "And believe it or not, Mikan's different. I would never treat her as one of my collection nor let anything bad happen to her."
"What are you insinuating?" Natsume's voice suddenly became low and dangerously serious. Mikan could feel the tense getting heavier.
"I'm not insinuating anything." Mizu sighed. "Why did you leave Spain?" He continued with equal seriousness on his face. "Why did you decide to live here in Japan?"
"Stop it…"
"Why did you leave the organization? To escape and run from the past? Did you honestly think you could run from what happened back then?"
Escape? Run from the past? Mikan thought. What just happened to you in Spain, Natsume?
"You coward! She doesn't want you to be like this!" Mizu continued. "No one does!"
"Yamero…"
"It's been years! For Pete's sake, stop blaming yourself for Rinako's death! Get over it!"
"I said stop it!" Natsume's eyes blazed with fire and in an instant the room suddenly burst into flames.
Mizu grabbed Mikan as he covered themselves with water. He jumped on the nearest window just on time before the blast.
END OF FLASHBACK
"You idiot! You almost got us all toasted!" Mizu settled Mikan on a bench before rushing to Natsume. And before the boy could react, he gave him a left hook.
"Why you sonofa—" Before Natsume could finish his sentence, the silver-haired boy slashed him with an ice sword. He barely dodged the blow. He returned the strike with his fireballs.
Confused and still panting, Mikan stood up; her hands clenched tightly. "Stop fighting this instant!" The familiar blue light emerged from her body, nearly knocking the two boys, and dispersed their Alices.
"He started it!" Mizu said pointing a finger at Natsume.
"I don't care! Damn it, Mizu!" Mikan shouted. "This wouldn't even happen if you didn't provoke him! And you…" She turned to the other boy, "…you might have been killed with your own fire back there! I told you not to use too much of your Alice!" She sighed sharply. "I don't understand what this argue is all about. And who's Rinako anyway?"
Both boys became silent. Mikan stared at the two boys, waiting for an answer. "Well?"
"…"
"Hey Mizu, I remembered you called me by that name the first time we met. Now, answer me. Who's Rinako?"
"L-Look señorita, this isn't the time to talk about that." Mizu replied.
"¿Por que no?" (Why not?)
"Because it's not important." Natsume grunted. "She has nothing to do with you. Nothing at all."
Mikan managed to contain her gasp when he saw the coldness in Natsume's red orbs. "Right…" She said in above whisper. "Come on, Mizu. Let's go back to the dormitory."
But Mikan, my room's totally in ashes, thanks to the guy right here!" The double-plum sneered at Natsume.
"No problem." Mikan gave Natsume another fierce look before she turned to Mizu. "You'll be staying in my room for tonight."
"Great!" He replied while smiling sheepishly. Oh boy! I'm in big trouble. I could feel the heat coming from those red orbs.
"Let's go then," the girl walked towards the dormitory, passing Natsume who was gritting his teeth.
"See you later, Black Cat…" Mizu grinned at the boy and followed the girl.
xXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
/Faculty Room/
Mikan knocked a couple of times before slowly opening the door. "Noda-sensei?"
"Hai! Who is it?" The teacher replied. He was currently configuring his Alice limiter bangle. "Ah Mikan! What can I do for you?"
Nothing to do with me eh? We'll see about that, Mikan thought. The way Mizu and Natsume reacted told me the other way. "I… Ano… I'm here to ask you a favor." She walked towards Mr. Noda.
Back in her room, Mikan slipped a sleeping pill on Mizu's tea. I was from Nonoko. The idea about Rinako was still bugging her. She waited for Mizu to fall asleep before going to the faculty. Her speed and lightness helped her to be unseen in the school premises by the other students.
The way Natsume reacted… His eyes were so… different… so cold… and yet there was something else… Like pain and regret…
"Mikan? Hey Mikan, are you alright?" Mr. Noda asked with a worried face.
"Huh? Ah… yeah… I'm alright sensei…" Mikan replied and made a fake smile.
"So what is this favor you're asking?"
"Ah yeah… About that…" Mikan gulped. "I… ah… I want you to send me back in the past…"
"Send you back?!" The teacher exclaimed. "Goodness Mikan! I can't do that. Besides why do you want to go back?"
"I… I want to check something… It's important…"
"Look Mikan, I--"
"Onegai, Noda-sensei… Just this once. I won't be long," the girl pleaded. "I really need to check on something… Please…"
"But…" The teacher sighed. "Oh alright then. But be sure you'll be back before someone finds out you're not in the campus. Narumi will have my head if he finds out about this."
"Arigatou gozaimasu, Noda-sensei!"
"Now what year exactly do you want to go?"
"Let's see now…" Mikan thought. "About f-five years ago..."
"Five years? That long?" The teacher frowned. "Okay then…" He took something from the drawer and gave it to Mikan. "It looks like an ordinary watch but it's actually a gadget that will send you whatever time or year you want to go to…"
"You mean a time machine? Sugoi!" The girl said excitedly.
"Yeah. I got that from a friend in the future." The teacher replied. "He gave me that to help me whenever I messed up with my time traveling back then." He grinned.
"Mikan giggled. "Co'z you always ended up being in Jurassic era."
"Right." The two laughed at the thought.
"Noda-sensei, I'd better be going now." Mikan looked at her watch. The sleeping pill will wear out soon. "See you later, sensei."
"Wait. You mustn't intervene in the past, no matter what happen. Don't change anything even the slightest detail. You mustn't expose yourself to any person as it may change something in the future. And lastly, take care of yourself while you travel. Do I make myself clear, Mikan?"
"Hai! I will, sensei." Mikan replied and hurriedly rushed through the door.
Mr. Noda sighed as the door behind the girl closed. Sorry Mikan but I just can't sit here. Good thing I installed a tracking devise on that watch. I have to watch over her or Narumi will definitely kill me if something happens to her.
XXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
"The coast is clear," Mikan whispered as she surveyed the place. "Now lemme see… The time was five years ago…" She adjusted the time filed of the watch. "Now for the place…" She twisted again the crown.
"The brunette in haled deeply. "Here goes nothing." She pressed the start button and in a zap she landed on a tree. Good thing she had a good sense of balance and hurriedly grabbed the nearest branch. Her sweat dropped. "I think this is the Northern forest in Spain."
"Hey, where are you?" Someone shouted from a distance. Mikan gasped and hid herself in the branches. That voice is somewhat familiar…
"Come on now, quit hiding!" The voice sounded a bit irritated.
"I'm not hiding!" A female voice replied. "I'm over here…"
Mikan almost lost her balance when she saw the girl a couple of trees away where she was hiding. Shoot! How can I be so careless? Did she see me? Mikan held her breath as she concealed herself from the shadows of the branches. She let out a careful sigh when the girl didn't notice her at all.
W-wait… That girl… From Mikan's trained eyes, she watched the girl intently. She… She looks just like me! Except for her dark eyes, it's as if I'm looking myself in the mirror…
"There you are…" The stranger came out of the trees. "What are you doing here?"
Mikan's eyes grew wide when she recognized the owner of the voice. Natsume… Her heart thumped violently at the sight of the boy. He looks so young… He's so cute even when he was just a child…
"Hola, guapo. (Hello, handsome.) I'm reading the book you gave me," the young girl replied sweetly. "Come sit here beside me…"
"Why don't you read that in your room?" The young boy asked while he sat beside her. "You know that a cold place like this is bad for you…"
"It's quiet in here and so peaceful…"
Natsume smiled lovingly at the girl. "Yeah, I like this spot too…"
He smiled! His face is so peaceful…
The two kept silent for a moment while watching the cherry blossoms fell from the tree.
"I… I'll be out for a while…"
"What do you mean?" the young girl frowned.
"I have a mission with Mizu…"
So they were really comrades…
"What kind of mission?"
"We just have to escort an official who will be leaving the country."
"And who is this official?"
Natsume sighed. "The ambassador."
"No! T-that's too dangerous… Please don't go." The girl stood up. "The terrorists and the underground society are after his head! It's too risky!"
"Come on now… It will all be right. Besides, our friend Mizu is with me."
"No… Please turn down this mission." The girl started to walk away. "Wait here I'll go tell Mizu to—" She stopped in mid sentence when the boy hugged her.
"Hush now… We'll be just fine. You're looking at one of the top and finest secret agent." Natsume wiped her tears. "Mizu and I will be back here safely."
"Well then give me your seal…"
"What? Why do you need my--"
"Please… Just give it to me…"
"The girl held the emblem on her palm. Then she took Natsume's hand and put it on top of the emblem. "Heat it for me…"
"What? Are you out of your mind?" Natsume frowned at the girl.
He couldn't even raise his voice at her…
"Don't you trust me with your mark?" The girl smiled. "I trust you that you'll never turn my hand into ashes. I'll create a shield from the dermis so the heat would be contained to the palm only."
"B-but you don't have to do this—"
"Please… Besides, I have some of the healing stones here. Now do as I told you and then I'll explain the reason later."
"The determination in the girl's eyes was strong. Natsume sighed. "This is really ridiculous but alright then… This is gonna hurt a bit." He held her hand firmly and started heating the emblem between their palms.
The girl winced as the pain increased. She could feel the heated metal burning her palm and yet she refused to cry.
"Now give me the healing stone!" Natsume grunted. "Darn it! Don't make me do such things again!"
He placed the stone on her palm. The wound healed perfectly and as expected the mark was etched perfectly as well. It was a flame azalea in its brightest red.
Just like the mark I have in my chest…
"You may think this is ridiculous… But with your emblem on my palm… It's like you'll always be with me… By my side…" The girl smiled fondly at Natsume.
The boy smiled back. "You didn't have to bear my mark. I could have given you my emblem instead."
"I know but this tattoo is much better… So no one can take it away from me…" The girl touched Natsume's face. "Comeback to me safely…"
"The boy held her chin. "This emblem is only use as passes on our missions… An ID… But if you put it like what you've said… Then I'm giving this mark to the person I care the most… The person I love the most… No one else… but you, my princess…"
To the person he loves the most? But why did he give it to me? The girl with brown eyes asked herself. Why? Is this mark just a mistake? She controlled her sob. Of course… I got over the line back then… I stuck my nose into his business… I got him steamed up… And in his fit of anger, he engraved this mark on me. She covered her mouth when another sob escaped. I wish… I wish he gave me this mark because of the same reason as that girl… Because he loves me… His only love…
Her thoughts were cut off when the girl spoke. "I told you not to call me princess," the girl blushed. "Now let's go to the chateau and –"
"But you are my princess. Te quierro, Rinako…" Natsume, still holding her chin, cut her off and inched closer.
From the shadows, Mikan gasped and before she could see Natsume's intention, she hurriedly left the place with caution. She couldn't stand to see Natsume kissing another girl.
Rinako… So that was her… Her thoughts where drifting as she walked out of the forest. She was… She was the girl Natsume cared the most…
"Rinako! There you are! Cielos! I've been looking all over for you!" A young boy with purple eyes suddenly jumped in front of the startled Mikan.
"M-mizu?" He looks so much younger with his hair cut short.
"¡Vamos! Let's not talk here." He grabbed her hand and walked towards the inner garden.
Mikan tried to protest but she saw a group of young girls with heart shapes on their eyes. Her sweat dropped. No wonder Mizu wanted to leave the place. At a young age, he already attracts lot of girls. Her sweat dropped more when she saw one of the girls fainted when Mizu winked at the group.
"Now I supposed Natsume already told you about our mission." The boy began then frowned at Mikan. "What are you wearing? Where did you get those clothes?"
"Huh? W-what's wrong with my clothes?" She unconsciously looked at herself only to gasp aloud. This time machine is really something! It turned me back to a kid! Then she winced when she saw her clothes. It didn't change my clothes that would suit this period though. She went on the man-made pond and stared herself on the reflection of the water. Come to think of it, I really do look like Rinako…
She was still in deep thought when she saw the boy's reflection on the water. "I… ah… Don't I look pretty on it?" She faked a laugh. "I saw this on a store and I r-really want to try a Japanese c-clothes so I bought it. A-anyway, forget about my clothes." She secretly let out a deep sigh. "What do want us to talk about?"
"You sure your alright?" Mizu moved closer. "You seem tense and… different. And when did you learn to speak fluently without the Spanish accent?"
"¡Cielos, no importa!" (Heavens, it doesn't matter!) Mikan waved her hand as a dismissal. "Now, spill it out."
Mizu sighed and then frowned a little. "I bet Natsume already told you about the mission and how risky it may be… And yet… You're not even asking me to convince Natsume to turn down the mission," He sat on the lounge. "…You usually panic whenever we have a mission… But now… It's as if you're totally a different person."
Darn it! You really are good in sensing things even as a kid! Mikan's sweat dropped. Must do something to convince him! She sat beside Mizu. "…Honestly, I'm tensed… and worried… and scared…" Her face became weary. "But I know that you guys will never turn down a mission especially if it means of helping others… All I have to do is pray for your safety and hope that you'll come back in one piece." She smiled. "Natsume and Mizu are tough… the finest… so I mustn't worry too much, right?"
The young purple-eyed boy smiled and held Mikan's hand. "Daijobu. I'll protect your amore for you. So I'm begging you not to come on the mission."
"W-what?"
"If I'm not mistaken, you're planning to come along secretly in the mission. You've been doing that for quite a while, my dear Rinako."
"B-but I—"
"Don't deny it. I usually see the White Tempest a couple of meters away from the target site during our missions. You can't hide your aura from me. You've been protecting us from afar." The boy became serious. "Those were just simple missions but this time it's different."
"Mizu-kun…"
"Listen to me, Rinako. Please stay here and don't come to the site. Don't make me tell this to Natsume. You'll just make him worry. You'll make both of us worry to death." Mizu stared her straight in the eyes. "You know that I love you. I've been always telling you that even if you love Natsume." He smiled and continued. "That sucks. But seeing you happy with him… I couldn't even get mad at that guy. As long as you're happy, that makes me happy too."
Mizu?! Mizu loved Rinako too! Mikan managed to contain her gasp. Both Natsume and Mizu loved the same person! Her heart started to constrict.
"Promise me, Rinako… Please don't come to the site… I'll take care of Natsume for you… I don't want you to get hurt by any chance… Now promise me…"
Mikan swallowed hard. Her bangs covered the emotions in her eyes. "I… promise…"
"Glad to hear that." The boy stood up. "Vamos. Let's find you're beloved boyfriend." He teased.
"W-wait. I forgot something in the forest. I-I'll just go back and get it. N-Natsume's probably in the chateau by now. Y-you go right ahead." Mikan uttered and rushed towards the woods.
"But Rinako—" Before he could finish his sentence, the girl was already out of sight. When did she learn to leap like that?
"The revelations are too much!" Mikan told to herself as she ran towards the forest. "I can't believe what I've just found out!" Unable to think straight, she sighed and sat on the roots of a tree. I hope the two wouldn't go around this way, she thought pertaining to Natsume and Rinako. I wanted to go here because I really want to know who she was. But I didn't think that I would found out about Mizu's feelings as well!
"This is… This is really… Oh! I'm so exhausted, I don't know what to think anymore!" Mikan groaned and covered her face. Sobs slipped from her lips.
"¿Qué ocurre? Puedo ayudarle?" (What's wrong? Can I help you?)
Mikan gasped and hurriedly turned to the owner of the voice. Rinako…
"Lo siento, pero—" (I'm sorry, but--) The girl moved closer to Mikan only to gasp aloud as well. ¡Hola! ¿Como se llamas? De donde es usted? (Hi! What's your name? Where are you from?)
Shoot! She saw me! What now? "I-I… ah… I…"
"Oh! Lo siento! Habla usted Español? Ingles? Nippongo? I mean I'm sorry, do you speak Spanish? English? Japanese?"
"A-Any of those languages will do…"
"Ah! So you speak three languages? Cool!" Rinako stared closely at Mikan. "Fascinating! It's as if I'm looking my reflection in the mirror…" She exclaimed when Mikan stood up and face towards her.
"You're not from around here, are you?" Rinako smiled.
"N-No… I mean I've been here… No, I mean—" Mikan stuttered.
"Calma. It's okay. Why don't we take a seat first?"
Oh no… What will I do? This isn't good! Mikan thought as she remembered Mr. Noda's words.
"So from what time did you come from?" Rinako asked excitedly.
"Eh?!"
"Oh, how rude of me! I haven't introduced myself yet." The girl lightly tapped her forehead. "Mi llama Rinako Yoshida. And you are?"
"M-Mikan… Mikan S-Sakura."
"I was right! I knew you were Japanese too! I'm half Japanese." Rinako giggled. "You know I've met a man before wearing those kinds of clothes so when I saw you, I already knew that you're not from this time. That man… He can travel through time…"
That must be Noda-sensei! But it can't be! "A-ano… Please don't tell anyone about me…" Mikan asked nervously.
"No problem. I won't tell. Promise!" She winked at Mikan. "But eavesdropping is impolite you know…" the girl teased.
"Eh? W-what?"
"I've already sensed your presence a while ago. But my boyfriend was here so I pretended I didn't noticed you."
"Y-you sensed me?" Mikan sweat dropped.
"Yeah." Rinako blushed. "I was… kinda relieved when you left just before my boyfriend k-kissed me… It was embarrassing…"
"Oh that! I… thought it was too personal so I left…" I couldn't bear to see Natsume kissed another girl that's why I left, Mikan thought. "Anyway… Don't tell him about me either."
"I promise!" Rinako raised her hand.
"You're… hand…"
"Oh this?" The girl with dark eyes lovingly smiled at the mark on her hand. "This is the mark of the person I love the most…"
"But that's too painful, right? I mean the process of having a tattoo…" Based on my experience, Mikan thought.
"Yeah. But I trust him with all my heart and I don't mind the pain…" You see I want to prove him how much I love him and that I can take the pain as long as he's with me… I know that he feels the same towards me too."
"Natsume…"
"Yeah—Eh? How did you know his name?"
"A-Ano… H-He's kinda famous at my time and it's also because of that tattoo on your hand." I have one too on my chest but with different reason, Mikan added on her thoughts.
"Oh that's wonderful! I know that he'll be famous someday." She giggled. "Wait, what are you doing here anyway? I mean traveling to this time means what you came for is really important."
"Eh? Ah, it's really nothing!" Mikan forced a fake laugh. "I just played with this time traveling watch and I happened to land on this time."
"But the way you leaped through those trees… It seems like you're adept in martial arts like Mizu…"
"E-Eh? Oh Rinako, you're just imagining things." Mikan forced another laugh. "A-Anyway, I have to go now."
"Aw, must you go so soon?" Rinako pouted. "I wanted to ask you a lot of things…"
"I… I'm so sorry but I can't stay too long." She was setting her watch when Mikan remembered something. "Rinako, please, don't follow your boyfriend to their mission… Please…"
"So you've heard our conversation…" Rinako sighed. "I've been hearing that from Mizu… And now even a girl from the future's telling me that too…" She smiled but it didn't reach her eyes. "Now I'm really curious… and tempted…" She grinned. "Just kidding, I already made a promise and I don't have any plans of breaking that promise."
"That's good…" Mikan felt relieved. "I better go now… It's a pleasure to meet you…"
"H-Hey Mikan… Wait…"
"Huh? What is it?"
Rinako hesitated. "W-Well… In the future… Will Natsume and I still be together?"
Mikan saw the eagerness in the girl's eyes. She went still for a moment. "What are you saying? Of course, you're still be together." She smiled at the girl. "And both of you are famous in my time."
"Really? I'm glad…"
"Sayonara…" Mikan waved at the girl.
"Adios, Mikan. Hope to see you again in the future." Rinako waved back.
"Yeah. Hasta pronto…" (See you soon…) You'll still be together with Natsume… I'll make sure of it, the auburn-eyed girl whispered to herself. That way, Natsume will no longer be alone… I'm sure he'd be very happy with you… I want him to smile and be happy even if I'm not part of that happiness…
And before Rinako could see the tears on her eyes, Mikan activated her watch.
XXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
"Con permiso, Señorita Rinako…" One of the top students, at the same time Rinako's agent, approached her.
"Si?"
"It's about Natsume…"
Rinako suddenly dropped the book she was reading. "Que pasa?"
The student swallowed hard when she heard the authoritative voice of her superior. "The transmission was cut off. I-It seems like the number of enemies are l-larger than we've anticipated. B-But we've already sent our backup— Wait, Señorita Rinako!" The student tried to stop the girl but she already jumped on the window and swiftly run to the site.
Oh shoot, darn that agent! She shouldn't have told Rinako about that! Mikan thought as she hid herself in the woods. She cursed again when she saw Rinako jumped to window. She then rushed to the site as fast as she could.
I've decided to stop Rinako's death even if it could affect the future… I know that it'll change a lot of what had happened but it'll all be all right… Natsume will be happy by then…
Mikan gasped when she saw the Dark Phantom fumbled to the ground when a stabilizer hit him. "Black Cat! Pull back!" He shouted despite the pain from a broken shoulder.
"No! We need to finish this mission!" Natsume shouted while throwing a huge fireball to the enemies. "Here, take the ambassador! I'll hold the enemies while you escape!"
"No! I won't leave you behind!"
"Do as I say!" The raven-haired boy yelled back. "Vamos! Take him to safety!"
"But—Natsume behind you!" The Dark Phantom's eyed widened when he saw a sniper aiming a gun at Natsume.
No! Mikan was horrified on what's about to happen. T-There's Rinako! I must stop her! But wait! She paused. If I stop her, then Natsume will surely die! Oh no! There isn't much time! There's only one thing to do!
She stood up and was about to run towards the sniper when two strong arms grabbed her from behind and pulled her back. "You're not taking your part of the bargain, Mikan. I told you not to interfere!"
"No-noda-sensei!" Mikan exclaimed. "L-Let me go! I must stop that—" A gunshot suddenly pierced the commotion.
RINAKOOOO!!
Mikan stood frozen… Eyes widened as her tears fell. Oh no! It… It shouldn't be like this… Her trembling hands were on her lips to contain her sobs.
"You bastard!" Natsume produced a huge ball of fire that almost burned his hand and threw it to the enemy ground. Mikan and Mr. Noda stoop down to the ground as part of the blast rumbled to their way. The enemies pulled back when half of their forces were wiped out with that single blast.
As the haze cleared, Mikan saw the Natsume cradling the nearly lifeless Rinako. "Hang on, princess…" The Black Cat tried to remain calm. "Y-You shouldn't be here. I'll take you to the hospital.
"I… managed to be here… on time," Rinako spoke hoarsely. "I couldn't… make a b-barrier to catch … the bullet… so I—"
"You idiot!" Natsume hissed. "You shouldn't have—Damn! Now, don't talk, save your energy. I'll carry you—" Rinako placed her forefinger on the boy's lips.
"It's alright… Don't worry… I'll be with you always…" The girl touched Natsume's face. "Now don't cry… You're making me sad…"
"Cielos! I'm not. Come on now, don't talk…"
"Natsume…" Rinako whispered. "Te… quierro…"
"I love you too, princess. Now let's get out of –" The boy felt her body went still. "R-Rinako… Hey princess, quit fooling around. Por favor, this isn't funny at all…"
"N-Natsume…" IT was Mizu, tears were falling from her cheeks.
"What the—Why the heck are you crying?" Natsume shouted.
"Natsume… Rinako's… She's d—"
"Shut up! Don't you dare say it!" The boy yelled. "What's wrong with you?" He turned to the girl on his arms. "Now open your eyes, princess… Please…" Tears starting to sting his eyes. "Damn it, Rinako… Open your eyes…" His voiced quivered. "Por favor! Open your eyes… Rinakooo!!" Natsume hugged the lifeless body as he shouted the name of his beloved.
This can't be happening… Not when I'm here… I… I should have done something… "Wait, that's it! All I have to do is to go back a few hours from now!" Mikan said to herself. She was about to set the watch when Mr. Noda stopped her.
"You're forgetting my presence, Mikan." The teacher said while holding her hand. "I'm sorry but I can't let you interfere in the past."
"But Noda-sensei—"
Mr. Noda sighed. "I know this would happen so I put a tracking device on that watch." The teacher sighed again. Listen Mikan, having the ability to travel through time isn't being used just to change certain events or experience in your life that you don't like. Doing that makes you a coward. It's like running away. You should learn how to handle things. Face your fears, Mikan… And move forward."
The girl with auburn eyes cried softly on her teacher's arms. "All I wanted to know who Rinako was… But when I saw how happy Natsume with her, I wanted to save her… I was willing to give up my life for her…"
The teacher wiped her tears. "You're such a good girl. I'm so happy to have a student like you. Don't you realize that if you lose your life here, there are a lot of people who mourn for your death… especially Hotaru."
"That's right… I promised Hotaru that we'd be always together…" Mikan wiped her tears. "When I get back to our time, I'll do my best to help and save other… I don't want to see any of my friends get hurt."
"Let's go back now, Mikan. Narumi will definitely have my head if he found out about this." Mr. Noda activated his Alice of time.
Mikan sadly looked at Natsume as they disappeared from that place. Even if you don't want me around you, I'll still protect you… I don't want you to get hurt like this again… Not if I can help it…
Aw... Ain't this chapter a little sad? Even Natsume cried. Don't worry guys, it'll all be alright because next chapter is kinda sweet. It'll be for Natsume and Mikan fans. Hehehe. Watch out for the next chapter -- The Beauty of a Moment