Hi everyone. I'm really sorry that I have not updated in so long. It's been almost 6 months. I have nothing to say except that school is really hectic, but now that it is almost over I think that I will have more time to update.
Thank you Chris (chris3169512) for helping me edit and to both you and shokolatte for bugging me so much.
Thank you to all my reviewers. Sorry it's been a long time..
Suzuka Harukaza - thank you!
littleazngirl24- hm..sorry then. i'll try to make it less confusing.
crimsoneyes44
xSapphirexRosexFanx - he is :]
chris3169512 - well who cares about that! haha. its even later this time.
shokolatte- you shall find out!
Black-Rabbit921
XKasumiX
Here we go!
Last Chapter:
Slap.
So sudden.
It was just like that.
Hard, cold, and bitter.
"I'm so sorry," he apologized afterward.
Everything seemed normal, and they were quiet and polite once again.
To make it up to her, they shared a passionate embrace before she had to go back home.
Still, she had to wonder, why?
She felt cold and small and tiny as if she was trapped in a cage. She was sure he had done it on accident, but she had to wonder…
She was scared…
--
Thoughts – Regular
Flashback- Italics
Dialogue-Bold
--
After nursing her swollen cheek, only a faint red tinge showed. Though it was not a major injury, she still felt the traumatizing affects of that slap. She felt it replaying over and over as if it were a broken tape recorder. Her legs felt numb, and could not hold her weight anymore, as she collapsed hungrily to the ground.
She felt shocked and ashamed of Ruka. He wasn't the same friend she had known.
Life felt dreary and odd nowadays. Hotaru, her ex-best friend, was gone. She was even more isolated from her friends than she had ever been.
At times like these, she really missed Jii-chan.
"Oh, sweet, dear Jii-chan." She thought blissfully, as her mind drifted to her childhood memories. Those days were so innocent, when she had been nothing but a little kid who had missed her best friend, Hotaru, and ventured out into the city to find her.
That adventure, however, had brought her to the strange world of Gakuen Alice. Before, the world AAO had never existed in her mind.
She felt so lonely… She had no friends, no family, no one to talk to… all but her oh-so-loving boyfriend, Ruka, who had just basically beat her up.
Brainwashed by Koizumi, even the teachers at Gakuen Alice were not the same. Narumi, her fatherly figure, had become more estranged from her than ever, and was no longer himself. Using her Nullification Alice, she had kept a clear mind.
Mikan crawled on her bed, on fours, no longer able to walk with her weak, feeble legs. Her stomach churned, and she felt sick from Ruka's actions. Outside of her dorm, rain poured in splattering sounds. The world was gray and dreary, resembling her feelings.
The rain was a strange thing.
It left the world clean and washed away. The bad things were gone, but with it also came the sadness. The rain had always made her nostalgic and sad. Staring at the window unleashed all her memories. And so she stared and thought. It remained that way for hours.
Thoughts rumbled through her head, questions dying to be asked, but of course, none could be answered.
She had never remembered Ruka as a physical type. He had always been tender, loving, and caring, especially with animals. If he was that careful with animals, shouldn't he also be like that to humans? Shouldn't you be more cautious with your own girlfriend?
She didn't understand what had made him lose his temper so badly. All she had done was tease him a little, and he should have known better than to think that she was actually being serious.
It all seemed like a dream, no, a nightmare. If only she could wake up from this mess…
However, she knew it was reality. The feeling of the harsh, cold slap was all that you needed to prove it.
Ruka's POV
Ruka sat on his comfy chair with a mug of coffee, staring at the rain.
The past few weeks had been a dream for him. He had liked Mikan for so many years, but never had the courage to confess his affections to her, because he knew Natsume had always liked her.
Though knowing that Natsume had confessed first, she became his girlfriend. He had been amazed.
However, it seemed that all would be lost. Why had he slapped her? Guilt washed over him, dripping like the rain.
"She taunted you,"a voice glowered inside his head.
"No, no," he thought, trying to justify her actions. "She was just teasing me…and she should be allowed to…"
"No! How dare she taunt the great Nogi Ruka!" the voice refuted.
"Argh!" he cursed, wondering where such a voice had come from.
Ever since he was little, he had vowed never to abuse his girlfriend, fiancé, or wife. As a child, he had watched uselessly from the sidelines as his father beat up his mother.
"I wasn't able to do anything", he thought regretfully.
Flashback:
Nogi Ruka is six years old. A bird with a broken wing is in his arms. He watches as his parents argue over him, again. It is the fifth time this week.
"Why didn't you pick up him from school? I told you that I was far too busy to!"
"You never pay attention to your son! All you ever do is work, work, work!"
"The money that I earn supports you! Without me, you would not have food, money, clothes, or a house! Everything you own belongs to me!"
"Why must I do every single thing? Why must I always listen to you? Am I your servant or something, you selfish, conceited bastard!"
"What did you say to me?"
-punch-
"Mommy!!" he cried, running to stop his father.
"Get out of my way, kid!" his father shouted, knocking Ruka aside.
"I asked, what did you say to me?" he roared.
She gulped, despairingly, finally being able to stand up to him.
"I said, 'Am I your servant or something, you selfish, conceited bastard?'"
"Why, you bitch!"
He punched, and kicked, and threw, but Ruka was helpless to do anything from fear.
By the time he was done, she was no longer breathing. Ruka gasped, dialing 911. The paramedics came, but automatically pronounced her dead.
He ran crying to the paramedics man.
"Isn't there anything you can do for her?" he begged.
"Listen, kid. We see this everyday. I'm sorry, but she's dead. I am sorry for your loss."
And he wailed, watching the paramedics drive away.
End Flashback
Flashback:
It is a week after the incident, and Ruka is at her funeral. It is a small family gathering with only a few members from his mother's side of the family and his father.
They all are dressed in black, weeping into their soft, ebony handkerchiefs. His father looks solemn, but Ruka knows that he is cursing under his breath.
"That goddamned bitch, that goddamned bitch!" he hears.
Everyone thinks that she died from a heart attack. But if they checked closer, they would know that it was improbable for her to have one at such a young age, when she was perfectly healthy and had no family history of heart problems. The bruises and wounds that marked her body were remarkable as well.
The priest starts his sermon.
"{Ruka's mom} (1) was a good person. She was kind, and gentle, and beautiful in soul. She gave help to those who needed it. She worked hard, and gave love. Let her have her final rest."
Father of all mercies and God of all consolation,
You pursue us with untiring love
And dispel the shadow of death
With the bright dawn of life.
[Give courage to this family in their loss and sorrow,
Be their refuge and strength, O Lord,
Reassure them of your continuing love
And lift them from the depths of grief
Into the peace and light of your prescence.]
Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
By dying has destroyed our death,
And by rising, restored our life.
Your Holy Spirit, our comforter, speaks for us in groans to deep for words,
Come alongside your people,
Remind them of your eternal presence
And give them your comfort and strength
"Amen," everyone echoes.
They all drive home. Ruka is in the car with his father, cradling a ladybug he has found. Unable, to hold his tears in anymore, he bursts out in a wail, mourning. His father dangerously skids to a stop, slapping him.
"Get a hold of yourself! There's no need to cry for that bitch. And you! Stop playing with bugs! What is that thing?"
Picking the ladybug up, he cruelly throws it out the window, where an unknowing car will undoubtedly crush it.
The next day, Ruka gets a letter from Gakuen Alice. He is grateful to leave, though his father mumbles about stupid government-sponsored schools taking away all his tax money.
End Flashback
End Ruka's POV
Hotaru's POV
They told her to go on a mission to capture some stupid alice stone. The AAO seemed to be all about alice stones. Alice stones and nothing less! However, a mission meant that she was able to get away from their eerie headquarters, and away from the gay guy (or girl?) Serpona. Serpona eerily reminded her of Persona. She wondered if they were siblings…
She thought of Gakuen Alice, and the life she had left behind. She felt sad that Mikan had betrayed her, but in her heart, Mikan was, and always would be, her best friend.
She missed them all dearly. Though she acted cold and indifferent towards them, she loved them. She really did! No one really understood Hotaru as much as Mikan, and she hoped Mikan and the gang was doing well at Gakuen Alice.
She secretly wondered if Koizumi Luna bitch had anything to do with their sudden attitude change.
She doubted it. Koizumi-bitch was probably just a bitch. Nothing more, and nothing less. Anyways, she had to travel to find that alice stone. The mission was supposed to be really hard, and the stone, which could absorb people's alices, was very rare and beautiful.
Outside of the Alice world, they called it the Hope Diamond. It was rumored to be mystical, and every person who had owned it had had bad luck ever since.
It resided at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington. Traveling on her duck, she thought of the obstacles she might anticipate on her mission. It was very likely that there was very heavy security there. She would need to use many of her inventions.
Baka Gun would be sure to be on the list. She studied the map while flying on her duck. Not paying attention to the sky, she crashed into a cloud. How delightful! What a wonderful journey it would be…traveling 6 more hours in sopping wet clothes.
6 HOURS LATER
At midnight, she landed in Washington. In a gas station restroom, she put on her invisibility suit, and armed herself with a baka gun, wings to fly, a lock pick, smoke bombs, gloves that got rid of fingerprints, and data about the Smithsonian's security.
Picking the lock easily, she flew into the Smithsonian, easily undetected, going to the Hope Diamond section. There were a few guards there. She could get past them, easy!
She flew quickly past the unknowing guards.
But little did she know… about the latest installed technology inside the museum. Motion sensors, she hadn't known! And there were traps as well, as she blindly walked right into them, tripping and falling. Her invisibility suit was ripped off, and the guards were fully aware of her now.
Oh shoot! Whatever was she to do? The scene must have looked odd to the guards. A petite teenage girl was caught trying to steal the Hope Diamond! Quickly, they handcuffed her, confiscating her belongings. Luckily, there was one escape for her yet! They hadn't caught on the earrings that the AAO provided. She could contact them later, when she was sure that she would be alone.
She was far too smart for a bunch of security guards. Her eyes glinted, smiling.
END POV
Mikan's POV
Feeling guilty, I rush over to a disgruntled Ruka, ready to apologize for my actions.
"I'm sorry for teasing you so," I apologize meekly.
Ensuring privacy, we meet under the willows, where no one can see us.
"You should be sorry, bitch." He whispers roughly, jerking my arm so hard that I'm sure his mere touch will leave bruises. Pinning me against the tree, he punches left and right in an angry manner. I feel like a helpless rag doll. Picking me up, he flings me up and down as if I were a toy. All over me, bruises have already begun to form.
Scared, I wonder what he's doing. He apologized before for his behavior, yet he's doing the same thing he did before, but in an even more extreme manner. To me, he is no longer the polite boyfriend I thought he was.
Staring at me blankly, he exclaims with an expression of horror on his face.
"What have I done…?"
2 DAYS LATER
Getting out of bed, I struggle, feeling my sore body resist, screaming out in pain. It is decorated lavishly in spots of blue, black, and purple. I am not a pretty sight.
Groaning, I dress in long sleeves and pants, trying to cover up my spots the best I can. Marching over to Central Town, I am determined to have a better day.
Having some coffee, I see Natsume over at the next table.
Going over to talk to him, I ask, "How are you, Natsume?"
"Hn. Polka," he replies wearily.
"You know, you really shouldn't call me that anymore. You have Sumire as your girlfriend."
"That whore?"
"Natsume!" I cry, shocked, "Don't call Sumire such words! You guys are together! I was you two kissing!"
"Hn. Bitch pushed herself on top of me."
"Don't you love Sumire?"
"Hn."
"What's that?" he questions, pointing to my arm.
Looking down, I find that he is pointing to a bruise, revealed by the movements of my hands. Nervously, I stutter.
"I was, um, clumsy and slipped on my way here."
Nodding, he seems to accept my excuse, until he notices another bruise at the tip of my collarbone.
"How did you get that one?"
"I…also slipped."
"Liar!" he cries, rolling up my sleeves to find a whole chain of bruises. "Who did this to you?"
"Tell me, Mikan. It isn't Ruka, right?"
Nervous, I don't reply.
"It's not Ruka, right? Right?"
Still, there is no reply from me.
"It is, isn't it? That bastard!"
"Mikan, if I were him…I wouldn't do this to you. I love you. Be with me. He doesn't deserve you…" he whispers into my ear, pulling the blushing me into a delicate embrace, careful not to press too hard onto my bruises.
I stay in bliss for a few moments, until a familiar blond-haired animal lover strolls into the shop.
Panicked thoughts came flooding into my mind.
"Crap. It was Ruka, alright."
1 – Unsure what Ruka's mom's name is
How did you enjoy the story? I don't think this chapter is as good as the last one, despite the {almost} six months. Sorry guys. I'll try harder!
Review please!
-omg . whoamiagain