Disclaimer: I don't own Gakuen Alice!
This chapter is on the shorter side, but don't worry, I have a long one coming up! Again, sorry for the dragging on. I hope you enjoy! Please review it, you would make my day! (And motivate me to write more and write faster)
Also, I'm trying to come up with a new title for this story… I'm not really feeling the current one right now.
Natsume's POV
A man with a white mask that shielded his eyes stood in the distance—Persona. His midnight black hair blended into the bleak darkness. His mouth opened and he spoke, "Natsume, you are gambling your friend's life. You must destroy him at all costs; you friend's life is dependent on it. But if you are captured, you know what to do." The image faded into a dark labyrinth. I was desperately and hopelessly running around with no chance of escaping. "Ruka!" I called out. The shadows lurked behind me, trailing my footsteps. I heard a gun trigger and the next thing I knew, I collapsed on the ground. Suddenly, the darkness gradually began to go away. A familiar voice was yelling, a voice that I somehow longed to hear. A voice that was strangely annoying… A bright ray of light replaced the previous darkness. I began to make out a face. A girl with auburn hair tied in two pigtails. Bright brown eyes that lit up. An innocent smile that could only belong to one person—Mikan.
When I woke up, I could hear the soft and steady breathing of Mikan. Beads of sweat trickled down my forehead. So it was just a dream…
She was kneeling on the carpet, head rested at an angle on the couch. I realized that she was gripping onto my hand and smirked. I sat up, and a towel dropped from my forehead down onto my lap.
I can't remember what happened after I got into the limo. But I feel a lot better now.
I observed her sleeping face for a while and found myself slowly drawing closer. Her flushed lips seemed so enticing and pulled me in. I leaned down, face less than an inch away from hers, but then she flinched. I quickly returned to my sleeping position and closed my eyes.
It seemed that Mikan had awoken as she let go of my hand and placed it on my forehead. Her hands were warm—or maybe it was just my forehead.
"It's a lot cooler," she sighed, relieved. She placed a new, cold towel on my forehead and squeezed my hand. "Natsume, hayaku, get better…"
I opened my eyes, which took her by surprise.
"You were awake?" she asked. I nodded.
"How are you feeling? Do you feel any better? Do you feel any discomfort? Do you—"
"I'm hungry," I interrupted. She gently grabbed my shoulders and helped me sit up.
"I'll make you something to eat," she jumped up, and scurried off.
Soon, she was crouched down beside me with a large bowl of porridge.
"What about you?" I asked. She usually eats more than enough for a small family in a day. She should be starving by now.
"Daijoubu, don't worry about me," she assured. She moved closer beside me and mumbled, "H-Here… I-I'll feed you because you shouldn't move and strain your shoulder so much."
She picked up the spoon and moved it toward my mouth.
"It's hot," I said, "Blow on it."
"Do it yourself! I'm already embarrassed enough!" She jammed the spoon into my mouth.
"It's too hot," I complained, choking.
"Don't push it," She grumbled, and gave in and blew on the spoon.
"Thanks for the meal," I said, when I finished the bowl of porridge. She's not bad at cooking at all.
"Ne, Natsume," she began, "This… This isn't your first time getting shot is it?" She looked sullen.
I shook my head. "How did you know?"
"You seemed to know what to do. And you lasted so long without any antiseptics or proper gauze. And all those scars on your body…"
"Don't concern yourself with me and keep your image of the perfect Narumi-sensei and your perfect secret agent life." Mikan is far too naïve and innocent to be exposed to the kind of darkness I'm in.
"Narumi-sensei… daikirai." She explained to me what happened last night, not leaving a single detail out.
That's the second time this has happened...this kind of betrayal. Saying that he'll help someone and then turning on them. "Check outside. He did say he would send some supplies. The package is probably here by now."
Sure enough, there was a box with medical aid supplies.
"Just give him the information," I said, "I don't want you to get reprimanded later. I'm used to this, so it's fine. The bullet didn't tear apart any vessels or bone or nerves, so no help is really needed." She took out a blood pressure kit, medicine, and some more antiseptics and gauze.
"That's what makes me so angry! You shouldn't be used to this. They have you risk your life for them and then when you need help, they ignore you?! I don't care if I get—"
"And I don't particularly care either if my life is taken."
"Baka! Don't say that! Don't you ever dare say that again… please…" She wrapped more gauze around my arm, circling the wound. Her sudden outburst surprised me.
"Someone like you would never understand," I said impassively.
"I get it, I don't understand. But life is precious! What about the people worried for you? Like your girlfriend, Ruka? You can't just—"
"Ruka? He's my best friend. Stu—pid."
Mikan's POV
For an unknown reason, I was strangely relieved when I heard that Ruka was just his best friend.
"I'm stupid? You're the stupid one! You can't be so willing to let go of your life! There are people that are worried about you… I don't understand why you—" I poured hot water into a mug and set it down on the table along with two medicine tablets.
"To the JIA, my life is a damn tool, nothing more and nothing less. When they need it, they'll keep it. When they don't, they'll just toss it away like it's nothing." There was a pause. "I'm going to rest now," he abruptly finished. Quickly, he threw the tablets into his mouth and swallowed it. He bit his lip and winced in pain as he lowered his upper body onto the couch.
"Sleep on my bed and I'll sleep out here. It'll be more comfortable." He shook his head.
I woke up earlier than I usually did for school. I wanted to check on Natsume, so I quietly crept up on him. I replaced the damp cloth on his forehead with a new one. I used the blood pressure kit that came in the box yesterday to read his blood pressure. Thank god. Natsume's blood pressure is slowly rising back to the normal rate.
I made a bowl of porridge and arranged it on the coffee table, along with a cup of hot water and two tablets. I shut the door quietly and rushed to school.
"Oi! Mikan!" Anna yelled, waving her hand. I forced a smile and waved back. Everyone seemed to be talking about the ball, even though none of them were actually there.
Nonoko-chan and Hotaru were trailing behind. I made direct eye contact with Hotaru, hinting that I needed to talk to her, but the bell interrupted.
We scrambled to our seats and listened to Jinno-sensei's announcements. The whole class time, I couldn't seem to concentrate. I was staring mindlessly outside the windows, thinking about Natsume. Is that really how the JIA treats its agents? If it is, then I…
When the lunch bell rung, Hotaru, Anna, Nonoko-chan, and Iinchou came and circled around my desk.
"Ne ne, Mikan, there are pictures of you in your dress being circled around! Someone managed to take a picture of you and sent it to everyone!" Nonoko-chan squealed, "And there's also a picture of you and Hyuuga-kun together!"
"Sumire and those girls aren't too happy about that though," Anna said, than stopped to examine my face. "What's wrong, Mikan?"
"I noticed that you aren't your usual cheerful self today," Iinchou agreed, "Did something happen?
Natsume. I'm so worried. It's all my fault. No matter what he says, I know it's my fault. There's no one to blame but me.
"Wha-What…" I trailed off, avoiding eye contact. I wanted to just talk to Hotaru alone, but with them here, I couldn't. "Nothing's wrong," I said weakly. That was so unconvincing.
Anna and Nonoko-chan exchanged glances. "Does it have something to do with Hyuuga-kun? He's not at school today."
At the sound of his name, I couldn't help it. I buried my face into my knees and shook my head. People in the classroom noticed and I could hear more and more people gathering around. Damn it… get a grip. Don't be so weak.
I was unbearably embarrassed that so many people saw me crying. Iinchou wrapped his arm around my shoulder while Anna and Nonoko-chan tried to get everyone away.
I heard the sliding door slam and the room grew quiet. I furiously wiped my tears away with my elbows and looked up to see what was going on.
"Everyone, leave," a voice demanded, "You're all an eyesore." Just like that, everyone backed away. He was taller than everyone, so I could see the top of his head—the raven- haired boy. Natsume… what… what on earth is he doing here?
His crimson red eyes caught mine—I could slowly feel the coldness of his eyes melt away. "I just didn't feel like coming to class today," he said coldly, not breaking eye contact with me. His right arm hung limply at his side, so he used his left arm to pull me up.
"Tell Jinno that Mikan doesn't feel well, so she left." He took the blazer part of his uniform off and covered my face with it. "Let's go."
He dragged me toward the door, but was stopped short. "What is this meaning of this, Natsume-kun?" A group of girls had gathered in front of the doorway.
"Move out of the way," he said, obviously irritated, "Do you think I'm obligated to tell you?" His voice showed little emotion.
"N-No… but—" Shouda-san stuttered.
"Then, move." He lightly shoved the girls aside with his injured arm and pulled me forward, past the door.
"Natsume, w-wait. What are you doing here? You should be at home resting. I still need to talk to Hotaru and…" I stopped my feet, but he continued to drag me forward and didn't say anything until we reached the front of the apartment.
"Where's your keys?" I guess I took too long to respond, because he took me inside his apartment. The door closed behind us and I felt his arms wrap around me. His back was against the wall, so he slid down until he was sitting. I hid my face into his shoulders.
"I came to school because I had a feeling you'd be crying. Turns out I was right."
"I've been crying so much lately, but I swear I normally hardly ever cry." Ugh, I hate for people to see me so weak like this.
"Hai hai, just if you ever need to cry, come to me. Don't cry in front of anyone else, but me." Did he really just say that?
I nodded, "But that's not going to be very often that I do cry."
I sat in between his legs; face still buried in his shoulders, and his left hand running his fingers through my hair.
"Why are you crying anyways, idiot?" he smirked.
"How was I supposed to go to school while you were in such pain? How was I supposed to focus when at any moment, you could be dying? How was I supposed to think when I know you don't treasure your life? What would I do if something happened to you? Do you expect me to just go to school like nothing happened especially when I caused it? Do you know how frightening it would be if something happened to you? Do you know how terrified and worried I am?" My voice faltered and I was trembling.
He didn't respond for a while. We sat there in silence, with nothing but the sniffling of my tears.
"I'm sorry," he said plainly, "I'm sorry. But I'm only alive because of you." I could feel his body warmth.
"I feel so vulnerable and raw and weak and helpless and like extra baggage…" I muttered, "I'm sorry."
He smirked, "You're only allowed to feel like that when you're with me. You look like an ugly baby seal when you cry, so stop."
It's odd. Even though we met not too long ago and we argue so much, Natsume… Natsume is actually very kind... He puts me at ease and is always by my side…
"Sorry for being so ugly," I sarcastically retorted, using my sleeves to wipe my eyes.
"If you really want to make it up to me. . . let me do things to you," he smirked, placing his hands on my chest, "And when are you gonna grow?"
I raised my fist, ready to punch him, but then he winced. "Who the hell do you think you are?!" I screamed, "Y-You stupid idiot pervert! I can't believe you just did that again! N-Natsume you pervert! I'm gonna get you once you heal!" I was beyond embarrassed.
"I had to take advantage of the situation," he smirked.
"You didn't have to take advantage of anything!" I scowled, "Hentai!" I was about to move as far away as I could from him, but he pulled me back down.
"I sent Naru that photo that you took," he said, "We'll be assigned our next task soon."
I was adamant about refusing to do what they wanted since they abandoned Natsume, but he persuaded me otherwise.
"Wait, Natsume, someone's at the door," I whispered. I sensed movement outside the door and tensed.
They tapped on the door a couple of times. "Natsume, it's me, Ruka!" the voice called.
Natsume gestured for me to open the door, so I did. There in the doorway, stood a boy with golden blond hair and intense blue eyes. He pushed me to the side and rushed down to Natsume's side.