Chapter 11

Wither

Disclaimer: I don't own Gakuen Alice, Digimon or Shaman King

Author's Note: Hello again. I finally got time to write a new chapter. Never do nowadays. So here you go!

"I swear I'm going to strangle Tai Chi when I see him." thought a very frustrated Hitomi. Hitomi was stuck with the very grouchy and moody Natsume Hyuuga. The person who caused a fight in the first place and got them stuck with this punishment.

"Hey ugly…hurry up!" Natsume called behind him as he was meters ahead of Hitomi. He didn't even bother to stop for her and kept on walking. Hitomi wished she could just crush him into little bits for calling her ugly. This guy is obviously just plain rude no questions asked.

Hitomi was definitely not enjoying this. If Tai Chi didn't take away her partner then she wouldn't have been stuck with this brat. She just dreads the idea of spending the day with Mr. Hot-head not to mention doing the cleaning and fixing the forest. She can just imagine how she would be left alone to clean all alone because the-oh-so great Natsume would probably slack off. However Hitomi being Hitomi wouldn't take any of that type of action. She decided to make it clear to Natsume straight off and putting her foot down before he just dozes off. Once she decided she quickened her pace to catch up to Natsume who was still meters away and she then thought of what she was going to say.

Hitomi quickly walked towards Natsume, dodging the rocks and twigs of the forest. She lost sight of Natsume for a while though, as a cluster of trees blocked her view but she quickly evaded them in order for her to reach her destination, Natsume. She knew she would get to tell him off soon and was even tempted to run frantically when Natsume suddenly stopped abruptly.

Hitomi was surprised to this sudden act and from her pace slowed down in confusion until she finally reached Natsume. Not being able to stop herself from a jibe she said "Hey idiot if you don't know how to walk it's simple. You just start with one foot forward then…" and that's when Hitomi saw the forest. She didn't realize it but she was in a stand-still herself. Her eyes widened and she gasped at the destruction before her. It was no wonder that no one decided to help them when Mr. Jinno was punishing them. The destruction is just incredible. Although the forest may seem undamaged from the outer view, you can't imagine how huge the space is in between.

Hitomi fumbled for her map and when she took it out she took a sharp intake of breath. Everything around her, all the destruction was only hers and Natsume's portion to fix. She didn't understand. It didn't seem to be that big in the map. The destruction wasn't as big in comparison to the forest itself unless the forest is just really gigantic then that would make sense. She in the end just gaped and in doing so dropped the map in absence of thought.

Natsume simply stared along with her. He stopped and couldn't imagine how incredible the damage's extent is. He suddenly thought the unavoidable "Did he really do this." Natsume snapped out of his thoughts though once he saw Hitomi drop the map on the floor. He looked down at it and it didn't take long for him to realize just how much bigger the affected area is. He and Hitomi had to take care of this large mass however there were six pairs in charge of this. That meant that the forest was six times worse then what they saw. He couldn't help but imagine all those images from when he was eight. He remembered the village as it was in a sea of flames. Though people said it wasn't his fault he knew better. He should have stopped it. He should have been there for her and now he's stuck here.

Natsume caught himself in his thoughts. He didn't want to think about that, definitely not. It was in the past and no way is he going to open himself to such vulnerability. He was going to tell his hot tempered partner to get a move on and start working when he turned to see her. His eyes widened as he looked at her face.

Hitomi's face was definitely not a face he wanted to see. It was a face full of hurt. He watched as she looked at the fields that were now deforested. He saw her eyes dart back and forth and heard her sharp breaths that sounded more like sobs as time passed by. Natsume had no idea who this girl was however he knew deep down that this isn't how she usually reacts. He would get distracted by her loud tantrums that would compare to those of a certain brown-eyed brunette. He didn't need to know her completely to figure out she was the type who wanted to act strong. However those eyes and those expressions on her face betrayed her of whatever strength she was supposed to show.

Natsume didn't know how long he looked at Hitomi till she finally closed her eyes and took a deep breath. With that she opened her eyes once more and Natsume was surprised to see all signs of hurt completely gone. Hitomi's face went back to the normal strong and determined face. She then bent down and took up her map and started walking as if nothing happened.

Hitomi didn't bother to tell Natsume straight off like what she planned to do. It was needless. She was going to get this done whether he helps or not. With that resolution, Hitomi quickly found the materials needed for her to fix the area. She was surprised though to hear footsteps following at her heels. She took a quick glance and saw Natsume right behind her. She turned back, spared a small smile, took up the shovels and sacks and got to work, with Natsume doing the same.

The two simply continued to do their work in silence. The silence was broken though when Hitomi couldn't help but remark on the situation. "You know with you doing things like this your bad grouchy boy reputation will die out." She remarked smirking at him. However Natsume replied with a "hmph."

To Hitomi's surprise he kept on talking. "Let them think what they want." Hitomi then stopped what she was doing to look at Natsume fully. "Assumptions are all dependent on a person. It doesn't make it true so whether, jerk or kind I don't care. I know who I am and I don't need anyone telling me otherwise."

After his exchange Hitomi couldn't help but see Natsume differently. Maybe there was more to him. Then he had to continue talking. "Hey ugly, there's no need for you to slack off. At the slow rate you're going it will take forever." Hitomi felt herself snapping. She had to take some time to gather her thoughts on the supposedly nice Natsume before deciding to smash him into a pulp. In the end she simply didn't say a thing and walked farther away to resist temptations.

As she walked away Natsume couldn't help but watch her through the sidelines. He was curious with Hitomi. He knew Hitomi was feeling great pains and yet she wipes it away like it was nothing. He couldn't help but feel a connection in that aspect. After all he was doing it right now.

As Hitomi had her back to him Natsume stopped and glanced at his palm. His very own hands created fire that in the end caused such great amounts of destruction. How he remembered those who accused him of such things. They all believed that he was a person meant to destroy but he knew it wasn't true, however how can he say about himself now. Natsume thought of the chances that someone could have gotten hurt. He endangered lives for a meager reason.

Natsume scanned the deforested area and was bothered with thoughts of regret. He wondered constantly, was he actually the cause for all this destruction. Did he actually use his accursed power to do this? Natsume simply clutched his fist and gazed at the ground littered with the ashes and dead leaves. Everything just brought back those memories once again.

"I'm really sorry Meruka that I dragged you but I just didn't want to get stuck with Natsume." Tai Chi said as he and Meruka were on their way to their area.

Meruka however didn't reply and kept on walking forward. Tai Chi noticed that she wasn't much for talking. She hardly would talk and after the whole fire incident it seemed as if it got even worse then before. Tai Chi didn't even know that it was possible. "You know…is there something wrong? I know I kinda pulled you by force and I'm sorry for that. If you want we can try to search for Hitomi and I guess I'll just put up with Natsume." Tai Chi suggested despite the fact that he despised the very idea. To Tai Chi's surprise though he heard Meruka laugh a small laugh and her face cracked into a tiny smile.

She then faced Tai Chi and with the faintest bit of a smile and spoke to him. "I shouldn't be the one to worry about. Hitomi would try to strangle you." She said as her smile grew once again by the tiniest bit. Apparently it seemed quite humorous to her.

Tai Chi looked at her and smiled along with her. In truth he really hadn't spoken to Meruka like this. She was usually the quiet type. Not to mention he would never really see Meruka smile. Sure Hitomi also hardly smiled but Hitomi was the irritable type. She would glare and smirk evilly to show enjoyment. Meruka on the other hand seems like a person who kept to herself. Seeing her smile was really something that wouldn't be seen easily.

Suddenly Meruka stopped in her tracks though and Tai Chi watched as her smile died and what was replaced was a sad frown. He watched as her eyes widened and she started running. Tai Chi didn't understand until he looked ahead. They haven't reached their area yet but they were close enough to see from afar. Tai Chi in the end couldn't help but take a sharp intake of breath. He watched as Meruka ran towards the devastation. It was truly such a horrid sight that Tai Chi hadn't even realized that he was running too. He stopped at the very edge of the area and scanned the whole mass of land. The massiveness of it all shocked him and he felt his heart grow heavy as he thought of the fact that he may have been the one who did this.

Tai Chi took deep breaths, not realizing how quickly he ran to reach here. He looked at the debris that lined up in front of him. As he was scanning someone caught his attention. It was Meruka who was standing on the debris and bending down to touch the ground. Tai Chi saw the items needed to clean up and took them with him. He slowly walked towards Meruka and handed her the cleaning materials. When Meruka turned however to face him he was shocked to see not hurt or pain but simply nothing. Her head just looked up at him with eyes that seemed to be void of emotion. She stood up, took her stuff and carried on as if nothing happened at all.

Tai Chi simply watched her with curiosity. Meruka ran to the area so quickly. Tai Chi could see the ashes on the palm of her hand as she placed her hand on the ground. Tai Chi expected sadness and hurt and yet he was surprised somehow to see simply nothing. He knew though that Meruka wasn't simply feeling indifference. She wouldn't have run and wouldn't have stood in the middle just for no reason. She wouldn't have dirtied up her hands to simply adore the feel of ash. He saw her expression and he won't take it as nothing.

"Hey Meruka…you know what. I think you don't look so well. I suggest you better go back to the dorm and rest up. You might get worse." Tai Chi said to her. Though she looked perfectly fine Tai Chi decided that this area is affecting her more than she let on.

Tai Chi watched as Meruka bit her lip and clutched the rake used to clean up the products of the fire. To Tai Chi's surprise though Meruka quickly turned to Tai Chi and narrowed her eyes at him. "Don't think that you can make me go so easily." she said as she shook her head at him. "I know what you're doing but I'm fine. I'm not saying I'm happy but don't expect me to burst out in tears." Meruka then started walking farther away from him.

The boy simply narrowed his eyes at her retreating figure. "Please…don't think you can fool me either. You're obviously not fine. You can't hide that expression from me. I don't know who you really are but it's obvious that you're not taking this well. I don't know why. It may be some past experience or you may be some super nature lover but you can't simply say that you're fine. Don't bother hiding it!" Tai Chi said as he walked towards her and she turned around facing him. She once again narrowed her eyes at him.

"Like you have any right to say that. Didn't you do the same to your two friends? I could see right through you. You were hurt and yet you simply let them off. You hid your true feelings just for them." Meruka said. Tai Chi's eyes then widened in surprise and he uttered no reply.

Meruka continued to glare at Tai Chi until she saw Tai Chi's face turn into a face of confusion. Meruka then took a small breath and her face softened. She then turned towards her work once again. To her surprise though, Tai Chi spoke once again. "Man…Was it really that obvious." Tai Chi said and Meruka turned around quickly in confusion and was shocked to see Tai Chi saying it with a smile.

Meruka in confusion asked "So…you're just admitting it and happy about it nonetheless?" Meruka just looked at Tai Chi and Tai Chi simply chuckled.

"It's no big deal. So you saw it. It's fine. I just don't want those two figuring it out. Although I'm guessing they already know what I'm doing but it was worth a shot." Tai Chi said while smiling.

Meruka said while shaking her head. "You're weird you know that. I have no idea why you're all happy. You obviously are pretending for a reason and people can see that you are fake. You're just going to give up on that act so quickly?"

"Well…like you said. It's an act. It isn't reality. It's not something to be sad about. It's actually great you know. Just letting people see who you really are without anything hiding you. I personally would want to see that." Tai Chi said while smiling. "That's why I decided on something right now."

Meruka raised an eyebrow at what he said. "Oh really…and what is that thing you decided?" she asked in curiosity

Tai Chi then smiled and chuckled as he got Meruka's interest. "I can see it Meruka. You're hiding and I promise I'm going to see you for what you are. So be warned." He said and chuckled.

Meruka's eyes widened and she slowly shook her head as her lips broke to a small smile. "You might as well quit. I can assure you that it won't be possible." She said while turning and going back to her work.

Tai Chi couldn't help but smile as he saw her smile once again. He didn't know why but he enjoyed it. So Tai Chi was set on the task of knowing Meruka truthfully. He would have to spend time with her but judging about how this time went, he knew it would be interesting.

Tai Chi then started cleaning up and as a start he planned to sweep the ground in order to remove the ashes. He got the broom and a sack and started sweeping the piles of ashes into the sack. He was barely on his second pile when something caught his eye. He saw a speck of yellow just inches away from the pile of ashes he was cleaning. Tai Chi raised an eyebrow in curiosity and investigated that piece of yellow. He pinched the yellow to find out it was a flower petal. He was going to pick it up and when he did to his surprise more flower petals were uncovered. His eyes widened and he began to sweep away the ash near the flower. He took a sharp intake of breath as he uncovered a whole, live flower that was covered by the ash. Tai Chi turned his head around and the area around him was completely burned down. The next sign of plant life was meters away. Tai Chi simply looked at the flower that was still in full bloom. This frail flower had somehow survived the destruction. The question was how.