Here's the next one!
Disclaimer: I considered a special ops mission…but I don't think that would make Gakuen Alice mine either…
Mikan grinned brightly as she juggled ten boxes of Howalon. Just as she was about to lose control of the tower of sweets, Ruka rushed forward and grabbed half of the boxes off the top. Mikan giggled.
"Thanks, Ruka. Maybe I overdid it a bit…"
"A bit?" Natsume asked teasingly. He had cooled off a bit as they had waited in line. That shadow user was irritating, but Mikan hadn't confessed to him now, had she? Though it did seem like a whole different life time ago when she had... "What are you gonna do with that many? Your teeth are gonna be so rotten you'll have to use dentures."
"Now, now, Natsume, I'm sure Mikan isn't just gonna eat them all in one night. Right, Mikan?" Ruka turned to the girl and snickered when he saw she had already stuff three in her mouth.
"Huh? Whaf er u ayin?" She tried to ask around her stuffed cheeks.
"And I thought Hotaru was the glutton…" Natsume rolled his, slapping her back when she started choking on them. After a moment, Natsume's eyebrows pulled down in a frown. "Um, er…excuse me…bathroom."
With that, he suddenly ran off around the corner towards the restrooms. Mikan and Ruka watched after him in confusion, then shrugged and went to set the boxes on a bench to wait for him.
Natsume rushed around the corner and made it to a secluded spot before he keeled over, coughing violently into his hand. Damn…it was getting worse. His chest ached; he could barely breathe. It wasn't long before his palm was covered in his blood. He couldn't afford this now. He couldn't worry Mikan any more than she already was.
As Mikan chatted with Ruka on the bench while they waited, she noticed something from the corner of her eye and felt the blood drain from her face.
"Erm…Ruka, I gotta use the restroom too. I'll be right back." And with that she was up and gone before Ruka could respond. He watched her go with an anxious feeling settling in his chest. First Natsume and now Mikan? What was going on?
Mikan rounded the corner and stood face to face with Persona as he sneered at her.
"What a good little actress you are. The elementary principal has been very generous, giving you time to get settled back into class, but it's time you returned to his plans for you. Come to HQ tonight at 11. I'll give you your instructions. I'm certain I don't have to tell you this, but don't try to get out of it. See you tonight."
With that, he turned and continued down the alley. Mikan sighed, feeling her heart sinking back into the blackness that lurked so near. But Ruka was waiting for her, so she smacked her cheeks a couple times, plastered a smile on her face and skipped back to the bench.
Persona walked around a pile of boxes and paused, smirking.
"It's endearing, isn't it. How hard she tries to protect you? All this, just so you are spared from using your Alice. And yet, it's so pointless. You fight against your fate and waste the precious gift she's given you. If you keep resisting, how much longer will you be around to protect her?" He turned his head to look at the fire-caster leaning against the wall, breathing heavily. Natsume's expression was black as he glared at the masked man. "Ah well, despite all her efforts, you'll be gone soon anyway. You should be grateful that the elementary school principal is looking out for her so well. Well, goodbye, Natsume. Do be a good boy, if you know what's good for you and the girl." With that, he was gone.
Natsume wiped the blood off his mouth and hand, his heart in turmoil. Was Persona telling the truth? Was Mikan doing all of this for him? All this just to keep his pathetic, weak body alive just a little longer? Even as he thought this, he felt it was true, at least in part. He remembered how she had been that night they had returned from the past. She was terrified of him dying. So now she was sacrificing herself to protect him? Natsume felt sick.
"Dammit!" He slammed his fist against the wall in desperation and rage. Why? Why could he never save those dear to him? Why was he always a burden? Maybe it would be better if he just let his Alice kill him. Then there would be no point in her sacrificing herself. But he knew that wasn't the right answer. Mikan would never forgive him for thinking like that. But still, he couldn't let her do this. He had to stop her, somehow. Schooling his face, Natsume walked back to where Mikan and Ruka waited for him.
The atmosphere was bleak and heavy around the group. Ruka watched the two, baffled. What had happened? Mikan noted it was getting late, so with that the three of them returned to the dorms.
Mikan shut the door to her room behind her and sighed heavily. The smile dropped from her face, and she felt just a little grateful that at least for a little while she didn't have to hold up the charade. Quietly she went around her room, getting ready for what lay ahead of her that night. She slipped on a pair of black pants and a black shirt and set about assembling her necessary items. She was so engrossed in her preparations, she failed to notice the sound of the window sliding open and then closing again. She was completely oblivious to another presence in the room until she felt a hand grab her arm. She started to scream, but another hand clamped over her mouth.
"Shhh…it's just me." Mikan relaxed at Natsume's quiet whisper. He dropped his hand from her mouth and nearly jumped in surprise as she whirled around to glare at him.
"What are you doing here Natsume? Don't you know it's impolite to sneak into a girl's bedroom?"
"I wanted to talk to you." Natsume shot back, facing her with determination. He reached out and grabbed her arm, looking her in the eye. "I overheard you and Persona today at Central Town."
Mikan's eyes widened, then she dropped her gaze to the floor. Futilely, she tried to shrug off Natsume's hand.
"Please, Natsume. I have to go. You should be able to understand. This is something I have to do."
"Why?!" Natsume shook her arm, trying to get her to look at him. "Why do you have to do this? For me? Are you doing this for me?"
Mikan shook her head, but still refused to look at him.
"Why won't you talk to me anymore? Why won't you tell me anything? Mikan, how can I help you if you shut me out? Please?" He pleaded with her, but Mikan wrenched her arm out of his hand, finally looking up at him. Nastume gasped as her angry, tear filled eyes met his.
"Stop it! Just stop! You don't understand anything!"
Natsume could feel his anger building again.
"How can I when you won't tell me anything? I thought you said you loved me? Is this how you treat someone you love? You shut them out?" By now he was practically yelling.
"Oh? You're one to talk. What about you? You keep trying to pretend you're okay, trying to hide how sick you are. Do think I'm stupid? Blind? Besides, when have you ever relied on anyone in the past? I thought of all people, you would understand," Mikan hissed, her eyes challenging.
Natsume pulled back his hand as thought he'd been stung. She couldn't imagine how much that had hurt. He needed her so desperately. Couldn't she see that?
"Mikan…" he whispered, not sure what to say. Suddenly, it felt as though there was a roadblock in his throat. Mikan ignored him, turning and walking towards her desk to grab a small bag off of it.
"I have to go. You'd better go back to your room too, before someone notices." With that, Mikan wrapped her hand around one of the stones on her necklace and was gone before Natsume could react. He stood there for a moment, his hand outstretched, watching the place where she had stood just moments before. He felt so lost, so useless, so heartbroken. Why couldn't he do anything right?
He dropped his hand, and walked in defeat back to the window to return to his room. Today it had seemed like they were finally making progress, like maybe they could bridge the gap between them. But with a few thoughtless, angry words from him, they were now farther apart than they had been.
He lay in bed awake for hours, waiting to hear the sound of movement in the room next door, indicating she'd returned. Worry and fear wrapped tightly around his heart as hours went by without a sign. Finally, sheer exhaustion overtook his already weak body, and he slipped into restless slumber.
Alrighty, there's the next one. Please R&R. I'll try to have the next chapter up soon.