Thanks to my dearest buddy, truc.mi (V-G) who found my errors! I have fixed those mistakes!!
SO, a chapter based on requests from: dominiqueanne and mookiee (more mxn scene here!); maureenjade (your twist idea); IAmTheBattleMaiden(beach scene!); Caritate(a little bit of sibling rival);
I hope that I got the Alice types right! ENJOY THIS CHAPTER MINNA…!
MY FOE IS MY FIANCÉ?!
Chapter 7 Lesson 2: Trust me
Written by Sarah Patrick
Not so long time ago…
Seven masters stood among the sapphire silvery flames created by the power of seven type of Alice. Four of them were children at the age of four and the other three of the age of twelve. A tall handsome man in black strutted proudly, circling them. He had a malice look with a huge elegantly crafted crystal held in his palm. He cleared his throat significantly.
"Every Master of Alice has the ability to copy their kin type Alice. They are only allowed to possess Alices which are related to what Master Alice they are. If this rule is to be broken, the balance between these seven types of Alice would bring no good, but a dreadful disaster. The disobedient master would be abolished once and for all to restore peace between Alice and the non-Alice. New master would be elected," boomed the man whom was known to be the caretaker of the Alice flame. The ceremony of the chosen Masters was held on the seventh of July in the darkest yet in the full moon night…
"Be noted masters…" he whispered loudly as the wind of the night blew hard, whispering into the children's ears a gentle tune. The sound of the rustling leaves whistled as the Alice fire grew bigger. The new chosen seven masters held out their hand, awaited for their Alice stone—a symbol for their post as an Alice Master, to form. A whirl of the sapphire silvery flames burst out and formed on the little Natsume Hyuuga palm.
"Element," said the man as a blood red stone with a shape of a fire formed on Natsume's palm.
"Rare/Special," a tangerine stone with a shape of a tear or a water droplet formed on Mikan Sakura's palm.
"Pheromone/Active," a milky white stone with a shape of a phoenix formed on Ruka Nogi palm.
"Latent/Mind," an emerald stone with a shape of a crescent formed on young teenaged cherry haired girl's palm.
"Somatic/Physical," a sapphire stone with a shape of a crystal formed on another teenaged dark haired boy's palm.
"Technical," an amethyst stone with a shape of a sphere formed on Hotaru Imai's palm.
"… and Dangerous," a black stone with a shape of a star formed on a teenaged boy's palm, and the boy smirked. The Alice flame quickly extinguished before their eyes and only faint smokes emitted by the ashes. The seven masters formed a straight line; each of them facing the man, with seriousness beared on their faces.
"Remember… this is no game. Do your duty as the new chosen masters," said the man as his cold voice echoed the great hall. A bond of trust and oneness formed in seven's heart. The seven children nodded simultaneously as they see the caretaker of the Alice Flame disappeared into the shadow of the night…
The event, on the seventh of the seventh month of the year, still remained in the memories of every master. That was fourteen years ago…
Present—
Mikan giggled gleefully as Natsumi splashed the glistening crystal sea water at her pretty face. She patted him once on his shoulder.
"You're it!" she screamed excitedly and she then ran as Natsumi chased after her as they were playing 'it' game.
"PYON!!" yelled Mikan cheerfully as she waved at Prince Ruka Nogi who had decided to spend his holidays with the twins and Mikan. The prince smiled and waved back at her. He then knelt in the shallow water and his swimming trunks got wet, but he didn't bother. He touched the clear shimmering sea water with the tip of his finger and suddenly—
SPLASH!
Dolphins soared out of the water and sparkling driblets of water flew into the air. The sight was breathtaking. Ruka held his palm over the shinning sun to cover his azure eyes to get a better view of his dear animal friends as the dolphins splashed into the sea again.
"Again Nogi!" demanded a voice emotionlessly. Ruka scowled as he stared sideways at Hotaru Imai who was busy taking pictures of Ruka and his animal friends.
"What do you mean again? I have been doing this for twenty times and the dolphins might get tired already you know," he said as he patted the head of the hyperactive dolphins. The dolphins were excited to meet Ruka and cared by him.
"They look fine to me, Nogi. Now, I want the whales! Call the whales, Nogi!" ordered Hotaru as she held her super upgraded baka gun invention at him.
"Are you crazy?! The whales are enormous and they can't possibly fit into this tiny lagoon—" began Ruka, demonstrating the size of the whale and the lagoon with his hands, but Hotaru was ready to shoot him with a sharp click on her gun.
"Now, or I am going to sell these to the school," muttered Hotaru darkly as she held three photos of Ruka. One of them was a scene of Ruka out from the toilet after a refreshing shower as he ran his fingers through his wet blonde hair, only with a towel on; another one was Ruka blushing who was shirtless, he was leaning against the wall in a dramatic lighting room; and the other was a sleeping-position Ruka, also shirtless, he was staring seductively towards the unknown camera. (Ruka doesn't know that he was posing these ways nor he acknowledge the fact that he got his pictures being taken. He was acting naturally. That was how handsome and um… 'charming' Ruka was. That was the very reason why he too has a fan club). These pictures were taken such an angle that he looked very handsome and his pose was really manly, not to forget the word sexy too.
Ruka face turned scarlet at once.
"H-How did you get those, I-Imai!?" stammered Ruka at once. "Give it back!! Give it back!!" he demanded as he began to chase after her. Hotaru quickly took her duckling scooter and fled away…
Under the gorgeous forget-me-not blue sky with the sun shone brightly below them, Natsume, Natsumi, Mikan, Hotaru and Ruka had decided to spend their lovely weekend in one of The Hyuuga's private beach somewhere outside Japan. (Let's say, Northern Malaysia… Batu Ferringi, PENANG!!—XD)
"Your drink, young master," said a deep voice professionally. Natsume who was sitting on the large rock swiveled and saw one of his personal maids, Arata Akira (OC from 'The Ugly Duckling'/T.U.D). Natsume took his juice and took a sip. Even though he was staring at the horizon but his eyes were actual fixed on a certain auburn who was happily playing beach ball with his twin brother. She was wearing light tangerine swimsuit as she tied her hair in a bun with few strains of her hair lay loose over her shoulder.
"Natsume-kun!!" cried Mikan cheerfully as she waved at him. "Come and join us," Natsume ignored her and glanced away. Mikan scoffed. "Arrogant child," she cursed quietly. Natsumi approached her.
"Huh, 'Natsume-kun'? Since when did you started to call him like that, Mikan-chan?" wondered Natsumi out loud. Mikan blushed at once as she took the beach ball from him. Natsume crimson eyes squinted upon hearing Natsumi.
"Let's play volley ball instead with everyone, Natsumi-kun," laughed Mikan shakily as she walked out of the water. Natsume jumped from the large rock and dove into the water, after a few strokes, he swam towards Natsumi. As Natsumi had his cerise eyes fixed at Mikan; mesmerized by her smile on her pretty face, Natsume passed beside him as he too walked towards the seashore.
"She's mine, you know," he muttered quietly as he walked briskly in front of his stunned twin.
Natsumi just came back from Koko's house yesterday and he thought that Mikan had suffered three days living with Natsume alone in the mansion. To his surprise, he saw Mikan was actually talking to Natsume and she was calling him by his name. Natsumi bit his lips for he found the situation unfavorable to him.
I thought Natsume had always hated Mikan… why does he suddenly want her? Furthermore… those letters sent to Mikan all these years… Natsumi glared at Natsume who had just arrived at the shore and Mikan gave him a towel which he took it and hung it over his shoulder. I wrote those letters… and Natsume knows that!
--
--
The tropical sun in South East Asia began to set as the sky began to wash with purple and pink. Zephyr of the early twilight blew gently as the crickets recited their hymn to the forthcoming night. The sound of the leaves rubbing against each other and the sound of the wave crashed on the shore calmed any trouble heart who listened to them. It was a typical tropical paradise, dreamt by many to have their perfect holiday. Five Japanese teenagers were in their own cabin…missing out the beauty of the tropical sunset evening.
Among them was the Master of Rare Alice; Mikan Sakura, unfortunate for our auburn that her bathroom shower pipe burst when she was about to take her bath. Her scream pierced through the darkening evening, sending alert to all three boys and a girl. Natsume Hyuuga who had his cabin nearest to the auburn, burst into her place when she ran out of the toilet; only with towel on.
"Mikan!" he called out loud in panic; thinking that there were 'intruders' in her cabin. Mikan gasped when she saw him. His crimson eyes traveled from her fair bare legs to her perfect slim body to her pretty face… and he gulped in slight difficulty. Mikan's lips began to tremble in shock to see the shirtless Natsume… and she screamed again.
"PPPPPPPPPPPPPPEEEEEEERRRRRVVEEEERTTTTT!! (PERVERT!)" Mikan shrieked. She threw anything that she could reach to throw at him. Comb. Bottles. Vase. Pillow. Clothes. Keys. Fruits. Peebles. Chairs. Small coffee table. Laptop.
"Argh… my laptop!!" she gasped in horror. That laptop was precious to her.
"POLKA DOTS!!" yelled Natsume angrily as he caught the laptop on time with one hand. He panted quietly as he managed to dodge everything Mikan had thrown towards him. "Damn you! Put this on!" he gave Mikan her robes. Mikan was stunned as she took it and put it on. She felt guilty for calling him a pervert earlier. He was actually helping her…
"T-Thank you, Natsume," she muttered quietly. Natsume clicked his tongue.
"Tsk… It's not what you think, little girl… I just don't want others to see your body except… me," he snapped and gave her a smirk sideways. Mikan scowled as anger took her whole. She couldn't believe that she actually felt guilty for calling him a pervert. She was fuming. Natsume found it interesting to see her that way… "I didn't know you have a mole at your right chest though…" he smirked darkly. Mikan scoffed.
"YOU BLOODY BASTARD PER—" began Mikan but the door burst open again revealing two panting boys and an emotionless Hotaru who was sitting on her flying duck while munching on her favorite crab stick.
"What happened, Mikan-chan?" asked Hotaru impassively as she walked out of her duck invention. Mikan was about to tell her when Natsume slapped her mouth shut.
"It's none of your business Imai. Natsumi, call someone to fix the pipe," ordered Natsume. Natsumi nodded and left. He bit his lips as he doesn't like to be ordered; especially by the master of the Hyuuga family, his own brother.
"I remembered that I didn't ask you, Hyuuga," said Hotaru dangerously as she gave him two shots from the Super Baka gun 7000—'Only built for Natsume Hyuuga requested by my best friend, Mikan after she paid me ¥50,000'.
To Mikan's horror, since Natsume dodged the two shot, she, Mikan Sakura who was standing behind him, got the shot and was send flying across the room. Natsume was shocked to see the impact of the shoot was so powerful.
"MIKAN!!" whimpered Hotaru as that shoot was not meant for her. Super Baka gun 7000 was only meant for strong guys like Natsume, but Mikan was not even strong… she was fragile! 'THIS IS BAD!!'
Mikan was about to activated her Time Alice (ability to stop or control time) but she was too slow. Mikan passed out at once as the invisible fist from the baka gun hit her tummy. Rush of wind whistled in her ears as her unconscious body headed towards the hard cemented wall. By Hotaru's calculation, Mikan would get a serious injury; broken bones, due to momentum with the wall. They need to break the collision… fast!
For the first time in his life, Natsume Hyuuga, Master of Element Alice, activated his Air Alice and with a flash, a whirl of strong wind appeared before the wall where Mikan's body was about to collide, break the impact and he then controlled the wind to put her down on the ground. They ran towards her.
"Oh my god," whimpered Hotaru in alarm. She then turned to look at Natsume dangerously. "It's your fault, Hyuuga! It was meant for you! You shall pay!" she shouted and held the baka gun again.
"Imai!" alerted Ruka as he stopped her from shooting Natsume. "Don't do it. It's Mikan we have to worry now…" said the prince seriously. Hotaru paused as she glared at Natsume and nodded.
"W-Whatever," she snapped emotionlessly and she blushed lightly. "N-Nogi," began Hotaru without looking at him. "S-Stop using your A-Alice before I-I shoot y-you," she snapped again in difficulty. Prince Ruka startled.
"Oh… sorry," gulped the master of Pheromone Alice as he deactivated the Love pheromone Alice which he use against Hotaru to stop her from shooting Natsume. Jeez… she is still an Ice Queen even though I used that Alice on her. "What should we do about Mikan-chan? She can't stay here in this room…"
"I don't like sharing room," said Hotaru emotionlessly as she took a bit on her crab stick again.
"She'll stay with me for the rest of the holiday," said Natsume at once. Natsumi who just entered the room gasped inwardly as he heard him. He could even feel his heart was throbbing madly as though it was also angry and protest to what his brother had said.
"She's a girl. She'll stay with Imai," said Natsumi, entered the conversation.
"She's my fiancée and I said that she'll stay with me," said Natsume without emotion.
"She's not your wife yet," hissed Natsumi quietly.
"She's not yours to begin with," snapped Natsume at once. Natsumi lips thinned. He cannot argue on that matter. His cerise eyes narrowed in anger and frustration. The fact was bitter. Mikan was not his to begin with and it was true. She was Natsume's fiancée. The Hyuuga Master's fiancée…
"Tch… whatever," spat Natsumi and he left them. The silence was deafening. Ruka could swear he would choke with the air thickened dramatically like that.
"Come, Nogi… we have to continue our important business," said Hotaru as she walked toward her duck scooter and dragged the prince by force.
"I - DON'T – WANT – TO – DO – IT – ANYMORE - IMAI!" whimpered Ruka in difficulty as he was dragged by his collar and he was gasping for air…
Within seconds, Hotaru and Ruka were swallowed by the dark night… leaving Natsume who was a little curious on what Ruka and Hotaru important business was…
He shrugged and stared at the unconscious auburn who was lying down on the shiny mosaic floor. He knelt as he caressed her soft cheek. His feature gentled to see the pretty auburn in this peaceful state.
A princess.
He could stare at her for hours and never feel bored about it. Slowly he slipped his hands at her neck and at her knees and lifted her gently without arousing her sleep. To his surprise, for a girl who loves eating so much, she was light.
Light as feather.
He held her closer as he carried through the cloudy night towards his cabin. He couldn't help it but to feel nervous. His chest felt tight and his heart beat faster. He laid her down on his queen size blood red sheet bed, but he accidentally slipped her off his hands.
Mikan woke up with a jerk. She whimpered as she held her stomach. Unaware by Natsume's present, she took off her robe a little and checked on her stomach, just to see a big blue bruise.
"Polka," called Natsume as he cleared his throat and blushed lightly upon the sight of almost exposed chest. Mikan gasped and held her robes tightly on her.
"W-What are you doing here, p-pervert?!" squeaked Mikan in fright.
"It's my room," he said curtly, not looking at her; congratulating himself for having long fringes to hid his blushes. Mikan looked around and it was indeed his room. "You have to sleep here from now onwards," Mikan turned to look at him with horror.
"WHAT?!" she screamed. "NO WAY!" she shook her head furiously and walked out of the bed.
Suddenly, a roar of thunder boomed, causing the lights to turn off in a loud 'thud'. Mikan screamed and jumped on Natsume and clung on him tight.
To Mikan, she was petrified and wasn't aware what she was doing. However, Natsume was a different story. He felt his heart stopped beating as heat crept on his face. He was gulping for he could felt her chest. Thanking for the dark night, Mikan wouldn't be able to see his scarlet face.
Or worst, his raging hormones having a war with his conscience was written all over his face.
"Let me go," he said curtly; hiding the difficulty in saying it. Mikan then let him go as she realized that she was actually hugging him.
'Eww…' thought Mikan in loath.
"I don't believe I just did that to you, Natsume. Sorry…" said Mikan. Even though she was aware that she doesn't hate him like she used to and already started liking him… just a bit, yet… that hatred feeling still lingered in her heart.
She only treated him as a friend, not a close one nor special but just a friend… that's all.
It was already accepted that she had to call him by his name, but to get stuck in the same room with him especially this time of the night?
"We can't stay in one room, Natsume. I'm going," she muttered as she was about to leave. Even in the dark, Natsume managed to grip her wrist at once. Natsume knew that she doesn't love him as how he felt for her. He knew that she doesn't trust him in anything.
He could still sense the distance between them… the thick barrier which prevented her from loving him. Her voice, even though she always sound cheerful, he could tell that there was still aloofness in it. She still hates me…
"Aren't you afraid of the weather, Mikan?" asked Natsume quietly. Silence came strolling in. It felt like a silence before a catastrophe.
"No," Mikan lied. All I have to do is to run to Hotaru's cabin. All I have to do is to run to Hotaru's cabin. She convinced herself by repeated those words in her mind. It was true that she was scared of thunder. The sight of the lightning itself frightened her whole. It reminded her of one of the worst punishment given to her, although it wasn't her who was at fault. Such pressure given to masters, especially to a girl like her, gave a deep scar in her soul. It was not a fun matter to be an Alice Master. It was from the very beginning, a heavy responsibility to carry.
FLASHBACK
A case of a three year old child who had illegally used his Alice to change the weather to the worst, belonged in the special ability class spread quickly in the Gakuen Alice, reached to the ears of the Elementary Principal.
His dark eyes stared angrily at the glass window of his room. The rain out of the window, pouring down as the droplets hit the glass hard and continuously. His lips thinned in displease. Noda-sensei, the teacher of Special Ability class entered the dimmed lighted room.
"Principal?" said Noda-sensei as he bowed tothe youngest principal in the academy. The boy turned his chair and faced the teacher.
"Get Mikan Sakura," he said sharply. Noda-sensei hesitated but he bow again.
"Yes, sir," said Noda-sensei and he left. The ten year old Mikan Sakura was in her special star room, she knew that the principal would bring someone to call her to his office. She sat on her bed uncomfortably as she bit her lips in worry.
That troublesome three year old boy was on her lap; sleeping soundlessly as he suck his thumb after he cried hard. The little boy was caught using his Alice unintentionally and failed to control his Weather Alice. Mikan as the Master of Rare and Special Alice came to the rescue to help the little boy… but it was too late. The news spread fast and her heart beat uneasily as she waited for the principal's call.
Two knocks on the door startled her.
"Come in," she called after that. Noda-sensei entered her room. He felt sad for her.
"Mikan-chan… he calls for you," said Noda-sensei bitterly. Mikan nodded as she hid her worries with a smile. Slowly she tucked the little boy in her bed and left with the teacher.
That night, every student in the academy could hear the whip sliced on Mikan's back. Her scream pierced through the night. By the principal's order, she was told to modify the weather to a thunder storm… the worst raging storm written in history. As lightning struck, she got a whip. Roll come the thunder, she got another. For such a little problem, these masters were unlucky to have a Hitler principal to work under with.
"You should still be under the Hyuuga's generation slavery, Sakura!" laughed the principal as he gave a whip on her when the lightning flashed. Mikan cried in pain.
"Such troublemaker like you shouldn't be allowed to be a master!" he said again and gave her another whip. Mikan knew… the principal actually jealous as he wanted to be the Master of Rare/ Special Alice. Out of envy, he hated Mikan whole as much as he liked her. Everyone knew that he had a crush on her… as well as hatred…
END OF FLASHBACK
Mikan was so afraid of the thunder that she felt numb all over. A flash of lightning struck, brightened the dark room entirely. Mikan hazel eyes widened in horror before she let out a horrified gasp and ran into Natsume's tight embrace. Another loud roar of thunder boomed; slashing the quiet darkness as the gale started to blow hard, screaming through the night.
That trauma… frightened her… tremendously…
"Trust me," whispered Natsume as he held her tighter. "I'll protect you," he added. Mikan was shaking. She hated the weather. Since the weather occurred naturally, she, master of Rare/Special Alice was not allowed to change the weather with her Alice. It was forbidden to go against nature.
Flashes of lightning struck again and more often this time, Mikan closed her eyes and dug her head into his chest.
"O-Okay, N-Natsume," she said finally as she hugged him tighter. She has no choice. Natsume smiled in the dark. In order to make Mikan to fall in love with him, he should do things slowly.
One step at a time, Natsume… just one step at a time… he told himself over and over again.
"I don't think the electricity would come back until the storm is over," infromed Natsume as he yawned. "I want to sleep," he told her as he slipped into the comforter. "Good night, polka dots," Mikan hesitated as she bit her lips.
Sleeping one bed with Natsume?! No way… Flashes of lightning brightened the room again. Mikan gasped. On the second thought, I think it is not a bad idea…
Natsume, who had his back facing Mikan, smirked as he felt Mikan too went on the bed. Another roar of thunder, and Mikan quickly jumped and hugged him from the back.
"N-Natsume," she squeaked in fear. Thanking the dark night for hiding his smile, he turned to face her.
"Tch… just go to sleep, polka," he snapped as he hugged her. He was glad that she wasn't protesting.
"N-Natsume?" called Mikan in the darkness. For that moment, Natsume could swear that he could feel the barrier between them started to crumble down slowly.
"Hmm," Natsume grunted, pretending to be annoyed with the whole situation.
"Don't leave me alone. I'm scared," she said quietly. Natsume paused as his crimson eyes darted open staring at the shadowed wall. He could smell the nice citrus shampoo fragrance on her silky hair.
"Trust me. I won't" he assured.
One step at a time…
TBC!
I am in reading mode now, so less updates from me. Many of you readers found me reviewing every chapter of your story… haha! It's my bad habit but hey… I love to review!
Some GA stories to recommend you now…
'A prince for Mikan' by Esa Marie --my first fav author!
'Illustion of the heart' by Shiori's Notebook
'Ugly Façade' by swapai bakawaii – dearbuddy…
'The Devil's contract' by babycakes24/ My Hopeless Romantic -- dear buddy and most fav GA author
'Not a laughing matter' by Hide then Seek
'Beauty Pageant Woes' by Caritate –dear buddy!
'How to write a bad Gakuen Alice story' by ZombieSlayer -- this one is hilarious one shot!!
'Alice Alteration' by truc.mi --dear buddy!
'To Be Admired' by Yuki's-lil-sis/ Purplehime
'Light in Darkness' by takari love
'The Promise' by maakuchan
There are many fanfics to recommend you. Their plots are brilliant. Bloody brilliant. Find these stories in my fav stories listed in my profile to get the link if you want.
Uh-Oh, Thanks to those who reviewed! ARIGATO GOZAIMAS!! I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter too!
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REVIEW MUCH APPRICIATED!
-Sarah Patrick