Your Typical New Kid

by

Stars of Gold

Chapter 4: Natsume's Familiar

The night before, Emi had found out that Taiki was her other neighbour. It was only the three of them up there, and Taiki had been on a long mission, so she hadn't seen him in her class.

As Emi and Taiki chatted amiably, Natsume walked ahead, hoping to knock into Mikan again.

"Dan, watch this," Emi whispered, nodding to Natsume walking around the corner. Almost as if on cue, he knocked into Mikan and they both fell down in an extremely compromising position. "Why is it," Natsume commented dryly. "That you insist on walking straight into me every single morning?" Mikan scowled. "It just happens, okay! I don't know why, it just does," She growled. The two continued to bicker as they walked to the classroom.

Emi chuckled and Taiki gave an amused smile.

"TAIKI-KUN! NATSUME-KUN! RUKA-KUN! BE MINE!" The fangirls screamed, seeing as Taiki, Natsume and Ruka happened to enter at the same time. They all tried to give presents to each of the handsome boys; but Ruka, who was in a bad mood that morning, asked his rabbit to take a huge bite out of all the presents it could reach, then spit it out into the girl's face. Natsume burned all of his share and Taiki sweatdropped as Emi clung to his arm protectively. "Back off!" She snarled at them. "He's my best friend whom I haven't seen in years. If you want to mob him, mob him later." She said darkly, scowling at them. "I want to spend time with my best friend, thank you." The fangirls yelped and hid behind Nonoko, Anna, Koko and Yuu, all of whom sweatdropped.

Taiki was incredibly grateful to her. "Thanks, Jess. They're scary, especially that Shouda girl. Thank goodness she prefers Natsume to me." Just then, a bunch of boys came up to Emi. Similar crowds surrounded Mikan and Hotaru. "Please be my girlfriend, Emi-chan/ Mikan-chan/ Hotaru-chan!" They chorused. All three girls had different reactions. Emi froze them and pushed them into a corner to thaw out, then returning to chatting with Taiki and petting Michiyo; Hotaru shot everyone with her Baka Cannon; and before Mikan could react, the temperature in the room rose considerably. Each fan backed away immediately, noting the fierce look on Natsume's face.

"Okay class, let's begin!" Narumi said as he strolled into the class. He began to open his mouth to teach, but then he noticed the ice statues and the heap of unconscious bodies near the statues. "Emi-chan, Natsume-kun, if you would," He said, gesturing towards the boys in the corner. Emi sighed laboriously, but unfroze the boys. Natsume scowled, but lit a small fire under the others. They eventually felt the heat and immediately shot back to their respective seats.

"Narumi-sensei," Taiki called, raising his hand. "Yes, Taiki-kun?"

"May I change my partner?" Narumi blinked. "Why? What's wrong with Nanaho-chan?"

"She's a fangirl of mine, so it gets hard to do work together. Anyway, I was wondering if I could change my partner to Emi-chan?"

Narumi grinned. A chibi Taiki appeared over his head in a thought bubble. The chibi Taiki met a chibi Emi and a heart shape appeared over their heads. Then the two chibis kissed.

"Of course, Taiki-kun. I understand the problem you have."

"Thank you."

Mikan raised her hand.

"Narumi-sensei, do we still have to lead her around, since she's got a real partner now?"

"Well…should Taiki-kun be…ahem…absent for any reason whatsoever, you will take her everywhere with Natsume-kun. Otherwise, Taiki-kun will take care of things."

"Hai!"

"Hn."

"Right, so let's begin class…"

After Classes…

Emi and Taiki exited the classroom, Emi with a small smile on her face as she listened to Taiki's stories about his close calls with his fangirls. Mikan noticed the smile and blinked. "Nee, Emi-chan?" Emi turned around. "Yes, Mikan-chan?" She asked, the smile still evident on her lips.

"You're smiling! This is the first time I've seen you smile!" Taiki looked at Emi amusedly. "Missed me that much, huh, Jess?" Emi blushed slightly. "Urusai!" She said, punching his shoulder. Mikan paused, then blinked in confusion. "Huh?"

"Gomen, Mikan-chan. Daniel, or Taiki, as you know him, is my best friend, and has been ever since we were 10. He's that person who left me at 13 and never mailed me." She turned to Taiki.

"Hey, why didn't you mail me?" Taiki blinked. "Don't you know? Dangerous Ability types and rare Alices can't mail anyone back home." Emi's face took on a sad look. "Oh. That stinks."

She opened her backpack and Michiyo shot out. "Michiyo free!" She squeaked. Emi smiled and chuckled, picking Michiyo up and ruffling the fur on her head. "Kawaii!" Mikan cooed. "Emi-chan, what is she? She looks like a dog, but," Mikan tickled the little dog under her chin and giggled as Michiyo seemed to grin. "She's made of snow!"

"She's a familiar. Taiki has one too, see?" She put Michiyo into Mikan's arms and opened Taiki's bag. "Master wants Takumi's assistance?" The cat asked, jumping out of the bag and landing gracefully on the floor.

"Oh, I just realized," Emi said, snapping her fingers. "Hyuuga-san! Come here!" She called. Natsume scowled, but walked over as he saw Michiyo. "A familiar, huh, Ice Girl?" Emi nodded. "Persona wants you to try to make one as well. Your power should be sufficient." Taiki added.

"I never tried to make a familiar. When does he want it?" Emi tapped her chin. "I'm supposing as soon as possible." Natsume gave a nod. "You guys have to guide me through the process. I don't know how to make one. Every book I've read about them isn't specific." Emi gave a nod and Taiki smirked.

"Ah, I never thought I'd see the day the almighty fire-casting Natsume-sama would ask for help!" He cried jokingly. Emi hung her head and sweatdropped. "That's enough, Dan." She said, bonking him on the head. "ITAI! Don't do that!" Emi smirked. "Serves you right. Don't pick on people!" She scolded.

Michiyo and Mikan giggled while Takumi and Natsume looked on amusedly. "Master is overpowered by scary girl who beat him up. Scary girl." Takumi muttered. He glanced at Michiyo. "The familiar, Takumi's supposing, isn't as bad…" Michiyo heard this and jumped down happily from Mikan's arms.

"Arigato! You're Takumi, aren't you?" She asked cheerfully. "Hai. And you're Michiyo." She nodded vigourously. "Would Takumi like to be Michiyo's friend?" She asked. Takumi glared at her. "Takumi has no friends." Michiyo cocked her head. "Why not? It's nice to have friends." Takumi scowled and jumped back into Taiki's bag. "Takumi doesn't want to talk to you." He replied, muffled slightly. Michiyo hung her head sadly and sat at Emi's feet.

"Come, Hyuuga-san, Mikan-chan. You'll have to make a familiar, Hyuuga-san, and Mikan-chan will want to watch." Emi said, her composure returning. Her face remained expressionless as she walked to the Sakura tree.

"Close your eyes. Okay, now let your mind wander. Let it rest on an animal that appeals to you. Imagine it bursting into life in front of you. And…now…bring it to reality." A reddish-orange glow surrounded from Natsume's hands. An animal slowly formed in front of him.

Then there was a flash of orange and red. When the flash subsided, everyone could see that there stood a fiery lion, its reddish-orange mane blowing in the wind.

"…Well, that's interesting…" Taiki muttered.

"Master," It growled deeply. "I think I'll name you…Taishi." Natsume commented, setting a hand on his familiars mane. Mikan was looking at the lion with something like longing in her eyes. You could tell she wanted to pet it, but was too afraid of the fire.

Taishi nudged Natsume's hand, looking pointedly at Mikan. "Hmm?" Natsume looked up and saw Mikan staring. "Polka Dots," He said. "You want to pet him, right?" Mikan nodded timidly. "Go ahead."

"Eh?" She blinked. Natsume rolled his eyes. "Go on, he won't bite. Or burn you. I promise." Mikan nodded, smiling. "I trust you." And then she stretched out a hand and eagerly petted the lion. The lion, as promised, didn't hurt her. In fact, he did just the opposite. He purred, even, and rolled over to let Mikan pet his belly. Mikan giggled and obliged, silently thanking Natsume with her eyes. He looked away, mumbling, "You would've had that annoying look on your face all the time, and considering I'm your partner, I'll have to see your face every day…" Mikan grinned, but turned back to the fiery familiar.

Yep. Natsume's got a familiar, too. Hey, wait a minute! I haven't explained why Emi has such control over her Alice. Well, see, she used to help Taiki, so she picked a few things up from him. She meditates often, and that calms her and gives her further control over her powers, which, in this case is her Alice.

Stars of Gold