Writer's Notes: Okay! So here's the 9th chapter of Manipulated! Sorry for updating late. XP
Haa…Haa…
Are you okay?
Not really. It hurts…
Your breathing doesn't seem normal.
I do have a heart disorder.
You're my conscience, you should know that.
…
Everyone's waiting for you.
I know.
…
I know…
"Mikan! Mikan!!"
Hotaru was shouting, at the unconscious body of the brunette, her best friend, as she was taken into the emergency room.
"Mikan-chan, say something!" Aoi called, tears running down her cheeks.
"…" Natsume and Youichi stayed quiet.
"Natsume-nii," The silver-haired boy said quietly, "Is…well…that is…Mikan-nee's…going to be alright, right?"
Natsume stared sadly at the boy. He could see the worry in Mikan's younger brother.
"Of course, Youichi…"
Youichi grabbed Natsume shirt and stared at the door. His sister was behind that, either getting better, worse, or staying in the same bad condition.
"Natsume-nii…would you happen to know anything about our mother…Azumi Yuka?"
Natsume stared at the younger boy again.
"Sorry, Youichi, I don't…"
The teal-eyes boy's expression was the same, worried and crestfallen.
"Youichi….why don't you tell me about your past? Maybe I'll know something," Natsume said gently.
Hotaru and Aoi turned to look at the flame-caster.
They all sat down on a bench near the emergency room.
"Well," Youichi said timidly. "When I was younger than I was now, Mikan-nee always took care of me, because I had a weak body…"
"Ah! Youichi, you should stay in bed!"
"But Mikan-nee, I wanna go outside…"
The brunette sighed.
"Fine, you can come out with me while I hang up Kororo-sama's laundry. Soak up some vitamin D!"
"Thank you, Mikan-nee!"
The younger version of both Mikan and Youichi walked out to the garden.
"Mikan-nee…"
"Hmmm?"
"Will I get stronger?"
"Of course you will, You-chan! Just try the best you can! Ganbatte! Fight!"
"…"
Everyone stayed quiet.
"I did get stronger, but I still wasn't that well, and so I couldn't find a job to help Okka-san, Otou-san and Mikan-nee. We were poor, you see. Plus, I wasn't old enough to get a job."
"…Then…?" Aoi said, her voice barely audible.
"Mikan-nee and Okaa-san were always treated like slaves, even when I was born. It was very difficult to support the whole family, especially since Otou-san was an alcoholic. He spent a lot of money on drugs and alcohol."
"By the way Youichi…" Hotaru said, her voice suddenly curious. "You mother's name was Azumi Yuka, right?"
Youichi nodded.
"Would you happen to know if she died, or if she's alive? There are several stories about her. I'd like to know the truth."
The younger boy thought for a minute.
"I don't believe Okaa-san died," He said, after a long moment of silence. "But there is one thing for sure—Okaa-san was kidnapped by someone. I don't remember who, though. They just came and took her without notice."
"Okaa-san, is this right?"
"That's great, Mikan! Just sew that a bit more—"
SCRREEECCH!!
"H-Hey! What are you doing?!"
"Okaa-san?!"
"Mikan! Stay back!!"
"Mikan-nee…Okaa-san?!"
"Mikan!! Take care of Youichi!!"
"Okaa-san?!"
"OKAA-SAAAAANNN!!"
"Then there was a rumor that she died of a car accident, because neighbors only saw a black car com up to our house. And I believe the woman next-door was using a can of red paint to do something—and when the men came out, they knocked it over, and people thought it was blood."
"Blood without the body?" Hotaru asked.
Youichi shrugged.
"Well, what can I say? I dunno what went on in their minds then…"
"…"
"Are you Youichi Sakura-san, Hotaru Imai-san, and Natsume and Aoi-Hyuuga-san?"
A woman dressed in a nurse's uniform come out of the emergency room.
They all nodded solemnly.
"Mikan Sakura-san seems to be alright now," the nurse said. "But she will suffer from side effects of the Death Alice. Her life seems to be more difficult for her than before, with her heart disorder to deal with as well. Please support her."
She smiled warmly, and then disappeared down the hall.
The surgeon, or the doctor with the Healing Alice came out shortly after.
"We will be moving Sakura-san to room 207. You may question her as soon as she would like to see you, or when she feels well enough to talk."
"Sir," Hotaru said. "The nurse said that Mikan will suffer from side effects. What are those side effects?"
The doctor's eyes became extremely sad at the question.
"Sakura-san will not be able to move her legs for a few weeks," The doctor said. "She will have to use a wheelchair. I would be extremely happy if one of you could help her. It will last for about a week or so."
"Is that it?" Aoi asked hopefully.
The doctor shook his head, and continued.
"And she will not be able to raise her arms above her shoulders. This, I do not know if it will last for the rest of her life or not."
"…"
All four teens stayed quiet. How much worse could Mikan's life get?
"Please support her,"
Natsume looked up to see immense sadness in his eyes.
"She's been through more than you would have imagined."
Thirteen Days Later…
All the black marks were gone from Mikan's body, but she had been sleeping ever since.
"I really hope Mikan-chan wakes up soon," Aoi whimpered. She had been growing more and more worried with each passing day.
"Don't stress out too much, Aoi," Natsume said, sighing. "You're one of those people who get sick when they worry too much."
The fire-caster punched his sister's head very gently.
"…Mmmm," Aoi said, tears escaping her eyes.
"…DEMO, MIKAN-CHAN STILL HASN'T WOKEN UP!!" Aoi sobbed, her tears avalanching from her eyes.
"WAHHHHHH!!" The younger Hyuuga put her head on the desk and continued to cry.
"Aoi, don't cry," Someone said.
"How can I not?! Mikan-chan is a precious friend of mine!"
"But crying too much will make her sad!" The person said again.
"What do you know?!" Aoi shouted, still crying.
"I think I know quite a lot,"
"YOU-"
Aoi finally looked up in anger.
"…don't know anything…about Mikan…chan…"
Her voice trailed off as she realized who was speaking to her.
"Um, I believe I know a lot, since I am her after all…"
Everyone's favorite brunette stood in front of Aoi, smiling widely. Or actually sat, because she was in a wheelchair.
"MIKAN-CHAN!"
"BIG TROUBLE! MIKAN-NEE ESCAPED FROM THE HOSPITAL--"
Youichi came bursting into the room, eyes frantic.
"Oh! You-chan!"
"…Mikan…nee?"
"MIKAN-CHAN!"
"MIKAN-NEE!"
"MIKAN!"
"When were you released from the hospital?!" Aoi yelled, her eyes wide.
"Just now! But I wanted to see everyone no matter what, so I came here right away."
"You didn't escape from the hospital?" Youichi asked suspiciously.
"Um, no. It was a certain joke I asked the nurses to help me with," Mikan laughed nervously.
"MIKAN-NEE! YOU HAVE NO CLUE HOW WORRIED WE ALL WERE!!"
"Ahhh! I'm sorry! I should have known you would be maaaaddd!"
"Ano…" Mikan said quietly.
"HAA?!"
Youichi glared at his older sister.
"Eep! Gomen ne…I never knew you would be this mad…"
Youichi sighed.
"At least your better," He said, his eyes softening.
Mikan's face brightened up instantly.
The light! I can't look into the light!
"Thank you, You-chan!!"
The brunette hugged the silver-haired boy tightly.
"Don't squeeze me!"
You were worried?
Thank you.
The sixth chain, broken by Happiness.
Someone cares.
And they worried for you.
Someone to back to,
In times of hardship.
A mountain to lean on,
Someone to support you.
Thank you…
"So you're better now?" Aoi asked.
It was lunch time, and Mikan, Hotaru, Natsume, Ruka, Youichi and Aoi sat on a blanket outside, having their lunch outside in a picnic form.
"Mmhm. But of course, since the Death Alice is pretty serious, I'll be in a wheelchair for a bit. Oh, and I can't raise my arms any higher than my shoulders."
"…"
Everyone stayed silent.
"Of course, you guys have probably known that."
Mikan popped a rolled omelet in her mouth.
Mikan-nee…I'm glad you're back to normal again…Youichi thought.
She talked more, and was happier…if only she could stay that way…
But of course, the stupid guy just had to come into the scene.
"Sakura," Persona said, approaching their meal, his tone icy and cold as usual.
"I see you're better."
"Of course, Persona-sensei," Mikan replied, munching on an onigiri, concentrating more on the food than him. "The doctors here at the academy are quite good,"
Everyone, including Natsume and Persona, was surprised that Mikan was talking back.
Was it possible that she…?
"I will be giving you some time off from your missions," Persona stated, continuing. "As you are an injured personnel."
"I would expect so," Mikan shot back, "I would not expect Persona-sensei to be so coldhearted to let an injured girl in a wheelchair, who is still suffering from effects on YOUR Alice, be allowed to attend to matters that would be life-risking."
She put extra emphasis on "your', but she made it sound natural.
They could see the masked teacher twitch.
"Sakura," He said icily, but Mikan was unfazed. "You dare talk back to me?"
The brunette merely popped an omelet into her mouth, and responded.
"Of course. I'm tired, Persona-sensei. Extremely tired."
She glared at the teacher.
"Of following your fucking orders."
She stood up, and stabbed her finger into his chest.
"Did you think you could order me around like some kind of toy? I'm not your slave, bastard. I'm fed up with this, so go find some other toy to manipulate, instead of messing with both Natsume and me. Play with dolls, Persona, and get the fuck out of our lives."
Persona was stunned.
"Get out of my face!!"
As if the teacher was manipulated himself, he left, still in shock.
Mikan sighed after she could see him anymore, and collapsed on her knees.
"Ah…"
Her voice was wobbly.
"I can't believe I actually said that…"
"Mikan-nee…" Youichi said, shocked.
"I'm seriously fed up…I need to stop, ne?" She winked at Youichi.
The silver-haired boy hugged her tightly.
What a nice scene.
"...Oi, why are you walking? I thought you couldn't move your legs." Natsume asked, eyebrow raised.
"Oh um…because…I actually recovered faster than expected? and asked the nurses to lend me the wheel chair as another joke…?"
"…"
"MIKAN-NEEEEEE!!"
A seventh chain has broken.
"I don't want to."
Defiance.
I won't let you control me,
I don't want to be your toy anymore,
So.
Leave me alone.
Happiness.Light.
Has broken the seventh chain.
I'm a human,
I have feelings,
And I won't…
Let you control me any longer.
I am not a toy, I am not an object.
Persona stood behind a tree, smirking.
He was a bit surprised at the sudden defiance in the girl.
But there is one person you cannot defy, Sakura.
"Have you packed my bags, Yuka?"
"Yes, Master Reo. They are ready for your trip to Alice Academy in about a week."
"Good, Yuka."
"Thank you, Master Reo."
"…How's your daughter Yuka?"
"…"
Reo could see Yuka twitch.
How dare she have feelings?
He motioned over to a man dressed in black.
"Use your Alice on her," He whispered, as the man nodded.
"Please don't resist," He said, as he covered Azumi Yuka's face with his hand.
"Activate."
As he removed his hand, Yuka's eyes were blank.
"How is your daughter, Yuka?" Reo repeated.
"I don't have a daughter, Master Reo," Yuka replied. "Even if I did, I would not care. Master Reo is the only thing that matters."
Reo smiled, satisfied.
But there is one person you cannot defy, Sakura…
Writer's End Notes: Okie, so that ends this chapter.
Um, so, yeah…
There's still six chains to go,
But I have an idea for that. ;D
Please make sure to review!
-For People Who Are Wondering About Frogs and Toads- 2/9/08-
For Frogs and Toads, I might change the whole story all together…Sorry for people who really enjoyed the original story plot…
I'm going to delete the story and repost the new one soon…
I'm really sorry!!