Author's Note: Gomene….I'm really sorry…please forgive me,
Disclaimer: I do not own Gakuen Alice
Chapter 9: Masquerade Ball...
The next morning…
Mikan woke up to start her training, she went to Northern Forest. When she arrived, she saw Persona waiting for her.
"Ohayo onii-chan!" Mikan greeted
"Ohayo." Persona greeted back
After their greetings, they started the training[the usual training. After the training,
"Onii-chan, um, can I tell Natsume about my training?" Mikan asked
"Yes, but only to Natsume." Persona said
"Ok. Thank you onii-chan" Mikan thanked
9 am…
"Okay now, we'll go to the elementary division for you to copy their alices." Persona said
"Okay." Mikan said cheerfully
They hide in a bush, where the field the children in the elementary division are playing in.
"Copy their alices and then go back to the forest." Persona instructed
After instructing Mikan what she'll do, Persona walked away.
After 2 hours of copying half of elementary division's population, she got tired and rest for a while…
After resting, she went to the cafeteria to eat her lunch. She went back to the bush and started to copy the elementary students' alices again. After another 2 hours she finished and went back to the forest. There she saw Persona waiting.
"Finished?" Persona asked
"Yes." Mikan replied
"Okay. Next, the middle school and high school division" Persona informed
They went to the high school division's gym area.
"Copy their alices and went to your room to rest. Meet me again on Friday" Persona said
"How about tomorrow?" Mikan asked
"I can't train you tomorrow because I have important things to do." Persona informed
"Oh, okay." Mikan said
Then, Persona went away and Mikan started copying the middle school and high school's students alices.
After 5 hours of continuous copying the alices of the students, she started to feel dizzy. Fortunate for her, she just finished copying the alices of the students. She went to her dorm to rest. While walking back, her eye sight became blurred that she can't see the path clearly, but she still tried to walk. Using the wall as her guide. After 10 minutes of walking, she really can't take it and then collapsed.
---Natsume---
Natsume's in his room, trying to get some sleep. He can't sleep, so he went out to take a walk outside. When he's in the stairs, he saw a figure lying. He didn't bother to see whose the person lying, but then his conscience told him to go to the lying figure and help him/her. So, he walked to the figure and was shocked of what he saw. He saw Mikan lying. He carried her bridal style and went to her room. When he reached her room, he forgot that he doesn't have her key. So, he doesn't have any choice but to go to his room. When he got there, he placed Mikan to his bed. He stared at her, he can't help but smile.
The next day, Friday
"Waaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Mikan screamed
"What the heck was tha-" Natsume said but was cut off by our brunette girl, Mikan
"Where am I? What am I doing here? Why are you here?" Mikan asked
"You're in my room. You collapsed last night, so I took you in." Natsume answered
"Why didn't you take me to my room?" Mikan asked
"Idiot, I don't have your key." Natsume said sarcastically
"Oh." Was all Mikan can say
"and thank you." Mikan said
"Hn" Natsume said?
"Here, take this. And hurry up; you don't want us to be late right?" Natsume asked
"Where did you get this?" Mikan asked about the uniform Natsume gave her
"From the front desk robot" Natsume answered
(A/N: I'm not sure with the front desk robot. What do you call the robot in the manga who led Mikan, Hotaru, and Yuu to Mikan's room???)
"Oh." Was all Mikan can say again
Mikan went to the bathroom and started to do her morning rituals. After dressing up, she went to look for Natsume. She found him in the kitchen, making breakfast.
"Eat" Natsume said or rather a command
Mikan sat on a chair and started to eat her breakfast. After eating, she first went to her room to get her things, and then to the classroom.
"Ohayo minna-san!" Mikan greeted
"Ohayo Mikan-chan" everyone greeted back
"Ohayo Kourin-chan" Mikan greeted when she saw Kourin
"Ohayo Mikan-chan" Kourin greeted back and flashed a sweet smile
"Kourin-chan, would you like to join us to go to the Central Town tomorrow?" Mikan asked
"Sure, I would love to." Kourin answered cheerfully
"Tomorrow, 10 am at the bus stop. See you!" Mikan said
"Ohayo Hotaru-chan" Mikan greeted
"No hug?" Hotaru asked
"You can't fool me anymore." Mikan answered intelligently
"You really changed a lot now." Hotaru said
"Hehe" Mikan laughed
"Ei, why are you absent yesterday?" Hotaru asked
"A…ahm, I-i just need to do something important." Mikan reasoned
"And what is that?" Hotaru asked suspiciously
"Um, the principal just told me to do something which I can't tell to anyone." Mikan said
"Ahm, bye I need to talk to Natsume." Mikan said and went away
Mikan went to her seat which is beside Natsume's.
"Ohayo Natsume-nii-chan" Mikan greeted
"Hn" Natsume replied
Mikan saw Ruka and greeted him as well.
"Ohayo Ruka-pyon" Mikan greeted
"Ohayo Mikan-chan, um, what's with the onii-chan?" Ruka asked
"Well, I started calling him that when we're at the plane, but I think this will be the last time I'll call him that." Mikan said sadly
"Oh, okay" Ruka said
"Ahm, Natsume, can I talk to you privately?" Mikan asked
"Hn" Natsume said
They both went out of the room and went to the Sakura tree.
"Ahm, Natsume remember when I told you that tell me if you have missions?" Mikan asked
"What about it?" Natsume asked
"And I also asked you to continue telling me about your missions." Mikan said
"I'm getting impatient, just spill it out." Natsume said irritated
"Well, I just wanna tell you that I have more than one alice and I'm training. And also, later I'll be doing missions with you." Mikan spilled the beans
(A/N: I'm so sorry…Natsume didn't really know about Mikan's second alice. I'm sorry, in the 3rd chapter, I wrote there that Narumi told everything to them, well, the real thing is that Narumi didn't tell about the SEC or Mikan's 2nd alice. Sorry for the confusion)
"What?! When are you doing this? And what's your 2nd alice?" Natsume asked
"Well, I started for just a few days. My 2nd alice is the SEC." Mikan answered
"Who's your trainer?" Natsume asked
"Ahm, Persona-nii-chan" Mikan answered
"Stop this training. And why are you calling him onii-chan?" Natsume command
"Huh? Why not? I'm calling him onii-chan because you're not my brother anymore and I felt really sad." Mikan asked
"Persona is a dangerous person and I want you to stay away from him." Natsume said
"Huh? He's not that bad. And he treats me as a younger sister." Mikan said
"Whatever." Natsume said
"Thank you Natsume" Mikan said
They went back to their classroom,
"Ohayo minna-san!!!" Narumi greeted swirling around the room
Everyone sweat dropped.
"We will have masquerade ball! It will be on Sunday. Other information will be posted on the bulletin board later this afternoon." Narumi announced
And the room started to fill with murmurs and giggles.
"Okay, we don't have classes for today because the teachers need to hold a meeting for the upcoming event, and for you to have time to prepare for the ball." Narumi said
The room filled with screams.
Narumi went out of the room as soon as the students started to be wild.
Hotaru, Anna, Nonoko, Sumire, Ruka, Yuu, Koko, Mocho, and Kourin went to Mikan and Natsume's desk.
"Hey guys, you have anything to do today? Wanna go to the Central Town?" Mikan asked
"Sorry Mikan, I need to do my project." Yuu said
"Oh it's okay, don't worry" Mikan said
"How about you, Nonoko" Mikan asked
"I need to do the potions Misaki-sensei needed as soon as possible. Gomene Mikan-chan" Nonoko said
"Oh, okay" Mikan said sadly
"Anna?" Mikan asked hoping Anna would be free
"I'm also sorry Mikan, I told Nonoko that I'll help her. Gomene" Anna said
"Okay. Mocho? Koko?" Mikan asked
"Sorry, we need to go somewhere" Mocho said
"I need to finish my latest invention. Don't bother to disturb me." Hotaru said before Mikan can ask her.
Everyone sweat dropped
"How about you Ruka?" Mikan asked
"Um,-" Ruka was cut off
"He can't come with you; he needs to do something for me." Hotaru said
"Oh, how about you Kourin? Natsume?" Mikan asked hoping they don't have anything to do.
"Sorry Mikan-chan, I need to study to catch up with our lessons." Kourin said
"It's fine. Natsume?" Mikan asked
"Why do you care little girl?" Natsume asked arrogantly
"Why you!" Mikan screamed
"Hmp. So, I'll just ask Tsubasa-sempai to go with me. See you guys tomorrow!" Mikan said
Mikan was going out of the room when Natsume grasped Mikan's wrist and pulled her out of the room. Everyone in the room was shocked of what just happened earlier.
--Outside--
"Natsume what are you doing?! Let go of my hand!!!" Mikan screamed
Natsume ignored her and pulled her to the Sakura tree. When they reached the Sakura tree, Natsume let go of Mikan's wrist.
"What's wrong with you? PERVERT!!" Mikan shouted
"Shut up Polka. You're breaking my ear drums" Natsume teased
"Argh!"
"So, why did you pull me? And bring me here?" Mikan asked
"Don't ever go near that shadow freak" Natsume commanded "You understand?"
"Why should I follow you?" Mikan retorted
"Whatever" Natsume replied
Natsume sat down and leaned his head against the trunk. Mikan did the same.
"Why are you so cold towards me?" Mikan asked
"Because you're so annoying" Natsume answered
Mikan felt her heart breaks into pieces.
Why am I feeling this way? Mikan asked herself
Mikan unconsciously cried. She didn't know why. Her eyes just felt like crying and she can't control the tears falling from her eyes.
Natsume, looking from the corner of his eyes, felt guilty for telling her those harsh words. And out of nowhere, he snaked his arm around Mikan's waist and pulled her into a hug.
Mikan, who was shocked with the sudden contact of their bodies, can't help but cry out loud.
"Hey, Polka, you look uglier when you're crying." Natsume comforted
Mikan was stunned with what Natsume said.
Is this Natsume? Mikan asked herself
Natsume continue to hush Mikan, until Natsume can't hear her sobs anymore and her breathe evened. There was silenced, then Natsume can't stand the silence, looked at Mikan and saw that she fell asleep. Natsume can't help but stare at her angelic face.
Later, Natsume felt sleepy. He leaned against Mikan's shoulders.
Hours passed,
The sun sets and was replaced by the shining moon and twinkling stars. The blue sky turned into dark black sky.
Mikan who woke up first saw their position, and was going to shout when she saw Natsume's innocent face. She can't help but stare at him. Later did she know that Natsume was already wide awake.
"Falling for me? Polka?" Natsume teased
"Hell no!" Mikan shouted turning her head to the other direction, blushing
"Mikan!" Anna shouted
"Oh, Anna, why are you in a hurry?" Mikan asked
"Something happened to Kourin" Anna said
"What? What happened to Kourin?" Mikan asked worried of what might happen to Kourin
"I saw her lying on the ground when I was going back to my room to get something." Anna explained
"Where is she?" Mikan asked
"She's in her room." Anna said
They went to Kourin's room…Mikan went inside while the others stayed outside…
"Kourin, are you okay?" Mikan asked when she saw her lying on the bed
"I'm fine Mikan-chan, don't worry about me." Kourin said
"What happen to you? Why did you collapse?" Mikan asked
"I-uh…I'm sick" Kourin said
"What? What disease? Why didn't you tell us?" Mikan asked
"I have cancer. I don't want to worry you all that's why I didn't tell anyone." Kourin reasoned
"Kourin, next time tell us if you feel something. Don't worry about us. Worry about you." Mikan comforted
"Okay" Kourin said
TBC
Author's Note: I'm sorry for the super duper late update…and for my punishment…I made this chapter longer than my regular chapters….I'll update as soon as I can…
Please review….Please don't hesitate to tell me my errors...Opinions and suggestions are highly accepted…No FLAMES please…
karinielle,