okok...coz almost all the chapters were all so darn short...i made this long...hope you like it...oh yea...WARNING: if you havent read twelve yet...i uploaded two chappies at once so if you havent...you have to read that chapter 12...so...this is my last update for sometime...i might upload around two more chapters then...epilogue...oh yea...SPOLIER: inthis story...i do my first weddding scene...at the end of course...actually...its my second time...but they live this time...hehe...so bb!

Chapter 13: The Wandering Vagabond

Mikan's P.O.V.

I watched from a window as my body moved of its own accord. I wasn't moving, acting as a mere bystander, waiting for something to happen. I watched as Natsume was being pummeled by me. Pain hurt my heart. I don't know why. S'not like I'm in love with the guy…am I?

It hit me like a speeding bullet. After eight years of denying it, I realized what I was trying to bury. I loved him. I loved him even after I said I didn't. After I ran away, I kept loving him. Loved him through everything, no matter what. What I thought was a hatred, was a love that burned so bright, I hated him for it. But I loved him so much more.

I had to stop. The mirror that blocked my way from control of my body. I smashed my body into the glass but not even a scratch wrought itself into the mirror. I focused my Nullifying Energy into one single blast I was sure was going to kill me and save Natsume. "Goodbye, my love." I smashed the glowing ball that had formed in my hands into the glass and the shards scattered, showing the shattered mirror.

I was thrown back. The last thing I saw before I blacked out was Natsume's pale, pale face.

--,--,--,--,--,

When I'm frustrated with myself and biting my lip,

I try murmuring that name of yours in my heart

When it's as if I can't look at anyone and I'm wiping my cheeks

I secretly picture that smile of yours

You're my beloved, from the bottom of my heart

Natsume's P.O.V.

I watched as Mikan stood slowly, her legs threatening to give out at any second. I saw the signs of a weakening body from a mile away. Experience had it that way. She held her hands up in the air as if leaning against a wall.

She whispered incomprehensible words, impossible for even me to hear. Her hands glowed a faint blue, growing like a slight shield. It spread slowly, slowly engulfing the Academy in it warm glow. Everything, destroyed and burnt, for some reason or miracle, disappeared, returning the Academy to its original pristine beauty.

Her legs finally gave way, her will breaking with it. Her whole spirit seemed to be broken.

A broken puppet.

I'm lost near a summer that's continuing on to the unknown,
heading to a distant place
But me, I'm not afraid at all
I'll give you this, from the language of flowers

And this pale, pale jasmine,
there are strong, strong memories
Any time you look up, it says
"I'll always follow you"

There she lay in my arms, her life slowly ebbing away. There was a large chance to still save her if he had moved and not stood there gawking. "Mikan," I whispered, my finger lingering on her cheek as a small trail of blood drifted down her chin. "What happened to you?"

"Everything," she answered, her eyes opened now. "Natsume, I can't believe I lied."

"To who?"

"Myself and you."

"W-what are you talking about?"

"I hate you." Shattering was heard in my head as my heart broke. "But I love you…too much to hate you." My heart sang all the praises ever borne, flying back together.

"I love you too, Mikan." She smiled. Perhaps a true smile this time. She lay down to sleep. Calm and joy washed over me.

An ambulance came and took her to the hospital for immediate treatment. I gave my thanks to my fate that protected my angel. Always…

When I'm cold and hurting
and things suddenly collapse,
you're the only one
who still recognizes me then, right?
I think you're a kind person,
from the bottom of my heart

Mikan's P.O.V.

Night swirled around me. I didn't see anything.

Natsume, I said. My voice drifted around, nothing else inhabited the place I was in. I missed him. I wanted to see them. I traveled around this dark vortex, a wandering vagabond. Then, I saw grandpa. He was so beautiful.

His wiry body was cloaked in a light blue satin and he had wings sprouted from his back. I felt so lost in the light that he emanated. "Grandpa," I whispered.

He smiled gently. He sat in front of me, his arms akimbo. "Mikan," he said to me. He wrapped me in a fatherly hug. I began crying, if that was even remotely possible in this empty place. "How are you, child?"

"Grandpa?" I asked. He tilted his head in question. "Are you really here? As in…not dead."

He sighed. "My dear granddaughter," he said to me gently. "I am sorry but my time has gone." A sob was wretched from me as I listened to him. "But I am always here for you in this place. In your heart."

"B-but, grandpa," I sobbed. "What happened to you?"

He breathed in heavily. "In the time, eight years since you left, I was attacked by these men in black and white. They told me…I was going to see my granddaughter again. I listened and lost my life. But I do not mind. As long as I am able to see you now."

"Grandpa," I still sobbed. "Why? Why you?"

"I do not care for life anymore, Mikan. It has been…hard for me. Only you…only you were able to keep me going. Keeping me strong and willful. All because of you. You have something that no Alice or power can ever match up to."

"What?"

"Your heart," he told me. "Your heart is stronger than anything on this earth. If you can believe that…then nothing is impossible. Especially if you are with the one you truly love. Remember my child, I will always be with you." He held his arms out in offering. I wrapped my arms around the man who had been my father all my life and would be my Guardian Angel. I felt him disappearing but the warmth and love he had showered me with was still here. I sat, contentedly in this dark vortex, the love of my dearest grandfather surrounding me, enveloping me in his presence.

I would love him forever.

We were showered with jasmines, the color of snow…. They were my grandpa's favorite and we had four outside our house back in Nagoya…

We would cherish these jasmines forever…

As we would our memories…. Tomorrow isn't a new beginning…

Just a continuation...of the tale started so long ago...

Yeah...just finishing what we started...so long ago...when you took me in...as your daughter...

Today is always scattering to the winds
and the path of my memories is fading
But me, I'm not lonely at all,
because that's unquestionable proof

The rain runs too quickly,
and the scent of the steamy air rises
to the impossibly,
impossibly far-off sky

I love you, grandpa...always...

--,--,--,--,--,--,

Light was a blessing after that ordeal in the dark. But the dark was a small price to pay to see my dearly beloved grandfather again. I would only have to close my eyes again. I smiled at the memories we had. All we learned and lived through together. He would always be part of my world and my heart. A special space reserved only for him.

My blurry vision cleared up and I was staring up at a plaster ceiling. I rose to a sitting position. The room was empty except for a figure sleeping next to mine.

Natsume…

I touched his head gently, caressing his raven hair. He stirred slightly. I smiled as I saw his ruby eyes focus on me. "Hey, little girl."

"Hey, pervert."

He stood, towering over me as I sat on the bed. "I love you." He leaned down, our face a mere inch apart. "You know that right?"

"Always had…never wanted to acknowledge it."

"I will," he whispered. His soft lips pressed against mine. I deepened it a little, causing him to do so a lot. I ran my fingers through his hair. He pulled back and rested his forehead on mine, breathing hard. "I love you. I promise…I'll never leave you again." I hugged him, burying my face in his shoulder.

"Never leave me to be a vagabond ever again, okay?"

He pulled away and looked at me curiously before planting another kiss. "I swear. I won't ever leave you to be a wandering vagabond. Never again…"

"Always…

I'll love you always…

Will you?

Of course…

Why wouldn't I ?

I'm no longer…

…a vagabond…

…with no purpose…

What's your purpose?

To be with you…

…always…

And these pale, pale jasmines will be our witnesses…

Because haven't you heard?

The end…

…is just a new beginning…"

--,--,--,--,--,--,--,--,

I'm lost near a summer that's continuing on to the unknown,
heading to a distant place
But me, I'm not afraid at all
I'll give you this,
from the language of flowers

In this white, white jasmine
there are deep, deep memories
At any time, at any time, it says
"I'll always follow you."

A/N:ok guys...this is goodbye for a while...i lurv you guys alot...so plz review my hard hard work...ciao! oh yea...if you want to know...this song is the translated version of the Tsubasa Chronicle song: Jasmine...its very pretty...try it...so...bye!