Author's Note: Hello there! Tsk, I'm kind of piled up with school works yet I can't seem to start everything 'cause my mind is blocked with these crazy ideas that makes me itch to update. I DO HOPE AND PRAY that after this update, I can face the reality of being a student IN PEACE! Without that tiny voice in my head persisting to write this down :| Now I'm having second thoughts on why I choose my current school. Geez, I'm only 16 and I feel like I'm about to die already. College sucks. I miss my life already. Curse the university and their impossibly high standards. Anyways, I'm blabbing already. Just enjoy! And oh, thanks for the review by the way. That made my day :)
Disclaim: Gakuen Alice is not mine. Don't sue. XD
By the Sidelines
Chapter 2
Hyuuga's never cry.
Mikan shook her head in negation at the thought. She's a firm believer of that until the person who said that very statement made her think the otherwise. Who knew that the mighty Natsume Hyuuga poured his tears over a girl?
"He's human of course" She mumbled to herself as she follows the path of earth heading towards the playground. But still, never in her dreams she imagined that she would witness the raven haired lad in a state of vulnerability, let alone weeping because of love.
LOVE
What a stupid word she muses. That word made millions of people cry and wallowed themselves over self pity. Yet, ironically, that same word made millions of people experience the most exhilarating euphoria man has ever felt; the greatest feeling that philosophers and poets over time has been seeking inspiration.
Yet, she never truly believed. She let out a ragged sigh. She used to believe the silly thing we call love and even happy endings until 5 years ago.
"Nii-san! Look what I've draw!" A bubbly brunette bounces towards the house, desperately trying to find her brother. She sprinted towards his room, clutching a piece of sketch pad to show him something special.
She pushed the door open. Dim lights greeted her. A negative aura seems to envelope the older Yukihara's room. As she comes closer to her brother, she can hear the faint sobs. Her brows rose in confusion. What's happening?
"Nii-san?" Mikan inquired peeking quizzically at the brown haired teenager wrapped in a blanket. The same brown pools greeted her, but now, the usual specks of life seem invisible. A series of teardrops soon followed. She didn't notice how, but her brother managed to give her a bone crushing hug while pouring all his heart's content. She hugged him back, unable to resist her brother's invitation. Mikan stayed like that, hugging his brother while rubbing his back to sooth him. When the crying stopped, she let go and looked at him expectantly.
"Are you alright Nii-san?" She asked, unable to contain her concern for her older brother. Akira just looked straight to her eyes, hazel meets hazel. He looked down, contemplating to answer her truthfully.
"I'm… fine" Akira's voice broke, hoarse from the crying.
"No you're not!" Mikan contradicts his statement. She never saw her brother like this. He's definitely not okay. She heaved a sigh a plopped next to her brother.
" Nii-san, tell me. What's wrong?" She held his hands, looking at him as if she feels his agony deep inside that he's trying to conceal. Akira shakes his head, closing his eyes for a minute to think. But then, when
he opened his eyes, tears threaten to fall again. He looked down, burying his face in his palms. Mikan continued to rub circles on his back to comfort him.
"It's nothing Mikan. It will pass. I just need to let it all out." Akira responded while trying to hold back the tears. He smiled sadly at her, his hurtful expression unmasked. His serene expression broke her sister's heart. What does her nii-san did to deserve this terrible fate?
"What's wrong nii-san? Tell me? I can't bear to see you like this" Mikan pleaded. Her visit to her brother became a totally different situation now. She just wanted to show him the portrait she made. It's the picture of the family, beaming at each other. But now, it lay on the floor, totally forgotten because of the present scenario.
Akira smiled at her sister's concern. Would he tell her? He wouldn't want to break her heart because of the news. He can't endure seeing her in pain. He looked over her shoulder, only to see Mikan's purpose of coming over. He stood up, bent over and picked it up. She observed Akira as he traced the lines of the sketch. He scrutinized the picture while reminiscing some memories inside his head. Mikan glide her way towards him and was about to ask something when a sharp voice cut them from their trance.
"I never did something stupid!" Their mother's screeching voice was heard all over the house. It was then followed by the slamming of door from the opposite corridor, which happens to be their father's study.
"Really Yuka? Then what's this?" Mikan and Akira crept up towards the door. Through the small slit, they see the whole situation. Izumi is standing up, as he slammed the morning paper in his gigantic oak desk. Yuka glared daggers at the inanimate newspaper in front of her.
"That's bull Izumi! Are you actually that low to believe that crap?" Yuka raised her voice. Pointing her manicured nails at the source of the predicament. Izumi shook his head.
"Crap? I wouldn't believe it if it's not photographed. Really YUKA? Snuggling that guy over coffee? What we're you thinking? And don't start on that being "low" because you're the one who's making a fool out of yourself" Izumi banged his fists over the table, startling Mikan, Akira and Yuka simultaneously. Mikan was frightened at his father's harshness that she quivered and stumbled forwards. The door opened fully as the two adults widened their eyes at their children secretly eavesdropping.
"Mikan! Akira! What's the meaning of this!" His father demanded. Akira stepped up, protecting her scared sister behind his back. He glared at his father and mother for scarring her little sister's naïve mind.
"What is the meaning of this!" He shot back. His father was taken aback by his son's rather rude and uncalled response. Yuka stood up from her seat and glared at him icily.
"You've been eavesdropping are you? Where are your manners?" Yuka taunt his son menacingly. Akira whipped his head towards her, not missing the angry glint and malice in her mother's eyes.
"I always kept my manners intact .Unlike a whore who snogs her lover in public." Akira countered
SLAP
Mikan's eyes widened in disbelief. Akira looked up while holding his swollen cheek, inevitably looking murderous towards the person he calls mom. Yuka out of the blue, dropped to the floor, shocked with her previous action. Crystal water starts to pour from her brown orbs.
"Honey, I'm so sorry." Yuka was raising her hand to cup his cheek and cooed him when Akira slapped her hand away.
"Don't touch me." The older Yukihara sibling responded callously. He looked down for a moment and by the time he lifted his head, the once lively eyes became dull and indifferent.
All this time, Izumi kept his gaze on his family. Out of the corner of his eyes, he can see his princess trying not to cry in front of them. She had her head bent down, slouching her back. He noted the small movements of her back, indicating his presumption is correct. He needs to step up now. He can't bear to see his children suffer like this.
"Enough Yuka! We do not need your presence anymore. You had the chance but you blew it." The man of the house gave his final verdict. Yuka was about to argue with him when he immediately rushed to Mikan and Akira's side, hugging Mikan in the process. Akira looked at him, apologizing for his past actions to answer him back. Izumi just nodded his head while cradling the fragile creature in his arms.
"Mikan…" Yuka mumbled, the girl lifted her head and astonishingly the same thing happened. The once glittering eyes lost its luster.
Then that's when Mikan Yukihara turned to Mikan Sakura we knew today.
"Pathetic life" Mikan mumbled to herself as she positioned herself to swing all by herself. A traitor tear escaped her eyes unannounced. She immediately wiped it away never wanting to let go further down her face.
"Why does that memory never fails to make me cry?" She wondered briefly. Nevertheless, tears started to fall again, but this time, she didn't wipe it away, letting the bitter tears touch her face. She looked down to control the flow and make it stop when out of the blue she heard a very alluring voice.
"And I thought Sakuras never cry." Came a mocking voice of Natsume Hyuuga. She tentatively looked at him, only to be greeted by a crimson handkerchief handed in front of her face. She took it and timidly wiped the tears away. All the time the brunette is drying her face, Natsume kept giving unsteady glances at her. By the time she's finished, she spoke softly and grinned at him.
"Thanks."
"And smile too! Wow Sakura, what a surprise!" He said deadpanned. But deep inside, he secretly admired the microsmile she gave him.
"Haha. Very funny Hyuuga. And to think that I thought Hyuuga's never cry and compliment others, but seems I was wrong" She smirked at him. He was caught off guard and unable to respond rightaway. He whipped his head towards the other direction, perfectly concealing his blush. (was it because of embarrassment or else?)
"That makes us in the same boat Sakura." He peered at her. He walked towards her back when suddenly, he pushed the swing away, with Mikan on it.
"Ahhhh. Hyuuga! Make it stop!" The brunette screeched. The wind slapping her face continues to blow. With her pleading, Natsume just pushed it harder, making the swing elevate to a whole new height.
"No, that's my revenge for making me speechless." He countered, seemingly forgetting his past predicament
"But you're always speechless! I actually thought you're a mute when I first got here!" Mikan answered back. He chuckled to himself. Mute? Really?
"See! You can also be a psycho! You chuckled out of the blue! Wahhh, Hyuuga! Make it stop!" She pointed out while yelling at him. Natsume couldn't control himself. He stopped pushing and sat down to the swing next to her. Clutching his stomach, laughter begins to erupt from him. Mikan shoot daggers at him.
"And what's funny Hyuuga?" She tapped her feet while throwing him a questioning look. He stopped momentarily and turned to look at her.
"You're crazy ideas makes me laugh." He replied shaking his head, trying to died down the laughter. Mikan looked at him innocently. He can feel the heat coming to his cheeks, he then put his bangs to use to conceal his blush.
"I was just being honest Hyuuga! You're the crazy one! You pushed me for nothing!" She blabbed. Wow, Mikan Sakura blabs? What a surprise! As she continues to blab, Natsume noticed something. He grinned impishly. Mikan seemed to sense his aura for she stopped and looked at him.
He pointed one long elegant finger at her. Tracing the finger's direction, her eyes fell on her flipped skirt, perfectly showing a small area of her knickers.
"Real mature POLKADOTS" Natsume voiced out. For the first time in her life, Mikan blushed bright cherry red. Natsume found it rather cute—oh, adorable (Hyuuga's never say cute). Mikan mentally counted from one to ten to control her temper. And by the time it took her, a rather witty remark reached her ears.
"You have to do better than that if I were you. A thong perhaps?" Natsume added amusingly.
Next thing he knew, he was face to face with the dirt, with a fuming Mikan Sakura walking away.
She pushed him out from the swing.
Figures.
That ends the second chapter of By The Sidelines! Hope you enjoy!
-tAnGeRiNe-jUjUbE08
:)