WHAT THE TRUTH REALLY IS…
Disclaimer: I own nothing of Gakuen Alice, if you want you can take it but I surely know that what you will get is only a lawsuit from the real author, which is Higuchi Tachibana. Therefore, if I were you, I'd rather not take what isn't yours, make just story out of it, but a fiction that is- just like mine! Read and Review please. (MY FIRST FIC EVER!).
The truth never seems to be true most of the time. It's always something distant and unreachable. Once you try to catch it- it disappears from your grasps- like a mist. It blinds you from your path but then it never was there in the very beginning, you never could touch it, but only feel it. If that is what truth really is, how can we know what truth is. Well… for starters, here's a story for you to find out.
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CHAPTER 2: FRIENDS!!!
Mikan woke up the very next day feeling vigorous and energetic as before. Looking at her clock, which was given to her as a present by Hotaru during her birthday a year ago, she saw that it was too early for any class and was feeling kind of heated. She went off from her bed and decided to take a shower, humming her way in and out of the bathroom tunelessly. Getting dressed, she looked once more again at the clock and noticed that she still got time for some stroll around the park. Hurriedly, she went out, turning left around the corner and out of the dormitory. On her way to the park, she met by chance Luca, an alice user with an animal pheromone.
"Ohayou, Luca-pyon!" Mikan greeted with booming voice just like she usually does. Luca on the other hand got surprised by her suddenness but had still managed to keep clam only that he was blushing. "Hey, wanna go to the park with me? It's still quite early for class, you know." Mikan grabbed Luca's hands even before the animal lover could answer. They ran their way to the park, and both gasped for breath upon reaching the destination.
"You ran so fast, Mikan…" Luca managed to say in between breaths as he catches for air. Mikan on the other hand, felt energized and her lack of air was already gone and was seated at the nearest seat at the park.
"Ne, Luca-pyon…" Mikan said as she looked at the animal lover in front of her. "Care for a seat. I think you need to rest for a while." Mikan beamed with her brightest smile making Luca blush more but complied with her request. He sat next to Mikan, their bodies some inches away didn't stop Luca from blushing even further. Mikan, noticing something strange bent down a little to face Luca. Their faces were some centimeters away. "You're face is red Luca…" Mikan said monotonously. "Maybe I shouldn't have dragged you all the way here." Mikan shrugged at her statement and stood up. "Ano, ne…" Mikan said quietly to Luca making Luca to look up at her and listen attentively. Her back was facing him, both her hand clasped together at her back. "Last Night… Natsume-kun, he wa-" Mikan stopped hearing the bell signaling for the first subject for the morning. "Oh no! We'll be late, Luca- pyon. We must hurry." She exclaimed, once again grabbing Luca's hands heading towards the Middle School Building. Chattering students were still around but the noise lessened as the two passed by. Though it was already rumored about Luca and Mikan becoming close friends already, it was still a hot gossip around the campus, especially that there are also rumors going around Mikan and Natsume.
"Mikan, you shouldn't run this fast you know. You might bump into-" Luca was stopped by Mikan's sudden stopping. He noticed Mikan bumping into someone and inched himself a little to the left to see it was. It was no other than-
"I'm so- sorry, eto..." Mikan looked up trying to know whom she had bumped. "Oh, what the- it's only you… Natsume- kun" her voice weakened. Mikan was already used to his attitude whenever he would meet her by chance and usually bump her. "Let's hurry, Luca- pyon. The teacher might be there already you know." Mikan, no longer bothering to look back at Natsume walked past him, her hands still holding Luca's.
'What was that all about?' Natsume wondered in disbelief as he saw the two retreating figures in front of him. Chatters became noisy again. There was some saying… 'Hey did you just see that cold attitude…' or 'Oooh, this is bad. Those two must have gotten into a fight or something.' And many other more versions about what they had just witness down at the corridor.
"We made it just in time, Luca-p…yon…?" Mikan stopped as she saw Luca blushing deep crimson. "Did you get sick or something?" Mikan asked worriedly as she placed her forehead to his, wanting to know if he was sick. This action only added more fuel to him as he blushed even more.
"Dai-daijobou, Mi-Mikan. S-stop that already, please." He stepped a little backward as he made his way to his seat leaving an inquisitive Mikan behind. From behind Mikan entered Natsume, hands on his pockets and, the same as what she did o him, ignored her as well.
'EH?' Mikan said to herself as she saw what had just happened. Noticing the teacher entering, she went to her seat and sat down, feeling quite grumpy all of a sudden.
Class ended early in the afternoon, as the class was given free time for the remaining subject. Mikan quickly positioned herself next to Hotaru. Hotaru, at the age of 15, was something else already. Her hair was still sort just like before but her features were far different already. Her old, cold attitude changed into something better, and she was quite a talker already to everyone. The only thing that didn't change about her was her greediness in rabbit coins. Just like the usual, Hotaru was seated comfortable inventing something new again. This time, she was making a rabbit- like phone. Details about it aren't yet known as she was still improving and finishing it. Mikan looked at her imaginative friend with great interest.
"Wow! Impressive, Hotaru!" Mikan exclaimed as she tried to hug her friend but failed embracing the baka bullets instead that were fired at her with Hotaru's baka gun. This had sent Mikan flying to the corner of the room, next to the chairs of Luca and Natsume. Tobita Yuu, being him, worried about Mikan and hovered over her. Giving her a hand. "Arigato, Iinchou." Mikan thanked the illusionist.
"Mikan…" Hotaru said monotonously as she faced the little brunette. "I'm quite busy right now, and I really need to finish this at once." The inventor said monotonously again without breaking the eye contact with Mikan. Mikan took a step beck as she knew what her best friend said and it scares her far more even just remembering the times when it was the same as this one. She shrugged and took Yuu by the hand as they went out.
"Sorry for taking you abruptly. I just needed a companion. Hotaru's scary today."She shuddered at her own statement remembering what Hotaru can do to her when she's busy and is being disturbed by Mikan. It was a hell scary thing.
"It's alright Mikan, I know what you meant. I experienced that before." Tobita Yuu replied reassuringly. He smiled at Mikan as they headed down to the park. Hand in hand together they talked- not minding what others might think, especially Mikan, the naive innocent girl.
"I'll buy some ice cream. What flavor do you want, Mikan?" Yuu asked kindly, looking at the brunette, waiting for her answer. Mikan did not reply at first, she was in deep thinking. "Mikan?" Yuu leaned closer to her, wondering what might have happened. "Mi-" Yuu backed away, his body calm as he backed, while Mikan was blushing.
"Yo-ou startled me…" Mikan said in between breathes as she covered her mouth with her hand. Yuu just laughed at her. "Sorry. I was spacing out. What were you talking about?" Mikan quickly changed the topic as Yuu sat down looking up.
"I just wanna know what flavor of ice cream you want. I was going to-" Yuu was cut off as Mikan stood up and replied eagerly to him.
"I want chocolate ice cream, please!" Mikan replied energetically, the ice cream ringing to her ears. "So, who's gonna pay?" Mikan looked a him blankly.
"I will. Don't worry. Wait here okay?" Yuu smiled as he stood up and went to the nearest ice cream vendor.
Not far from the seats where Mikan was sitting was Natsuma Hyuuga together with Luca. Thy had gone down from their classroom, too curious on the reason why Mikan had dragged Iinchou, decided to follow secretly as the two just excused themselves out of the classroom, not really telling each other where they would go. But then, soon found out that they were going on to the same direction with the same purpose as well.
"Natsume!" Luca called out as he saw Natsume coming towards him also going to the park through the forest. "I didn't know you went out as well. Are you heading to the park?" He said as he walked towards him, greeting him.
"I needed air, the girls around the classroom were too nosy and noisy. What are yo-" Natsume stopped as he heard a familiar voice walking to the nearest seat in the park. He instantly hid himself and Luca followed. It was Mikan together Tobita Yuu… they were…
'Holding hands?! And smiling even at each other?' Natsume murmured silently as he felt a sharp claw pierce his heart. He followed the two and saw them sat down. The two were still talking.
"Natsume…" Luca moved closer to him seeing he was in deep concentration in watching the two. Hearing his name being called he looked at the caller.
"Luca. What do you want?" Natsume asked in a bit nicer way. He saw Luca half-smile and then look at Mikan. The two men were standing facing Mikan and saw he in deep thinking. Soon did they saw Yuu walked towards her and leaned down. Looking as if they…
"Na-Natusme? D-did he just kissed her?" The animal lover asked in disbelief to his best friend. Wanting to make it unreal. Just then, the atmosphere around them felt a little warmer- warmer than the ordinary days before. Luca looked at Natsume and saw that he was angry, a fire on his hand and was ready to throw the clump of fire to Tobita Yuu. "Ca-calm down. What are you doing Natsume?" Luca held Natsume's hand to prevent him from doing what he intend to do.
Natsume looked at Luca, his eyes burning with hatred towards Tobita. Luca backed some steps quite surprised and scared of Natsume. A little minutes later, they stopped as they saw Yuu left Mikan smiling. They looked at Yuu quizzically, wondering what might have happened that made him so cheery.
Mika, hummed tunelessly, waited for Yuu to come back. Just then, asshe looked towards the forest, he saw Natsume and Luca looking at her. She wondered as to why they were there and, standing up, she approached the two.
"Natsume- kun!" She waved at Natsume and she ran towards him. "Lu-ca-pyon!" Upon nearing she greeted Luca with her kindest words. She neared Luca and tugged her in the arm. "What are you two doing here?" She asked Luca, who just shrugged and looked away. Puzzled, he looked at Natsume, who didn't bother to answer and just left. "Natsume… -kun? Oi, where are you going." She, untying her arms from Luca, ran towards Natsume's retreating figure wanting to know the reason HE was avoiding her. "Why are you avoiding me, ne…" Mikan tugged Natsume in the arm as soon as she had managed to caught up with him.
"Oi, little girl. Stop clinging yourself to me." Natsume stopped and looked at her. Eyes filled with hatred and… what was that, a tiny bit of jealousy? Luca managed to catch up and went beside Natsume.
"Natsume…" Luca reminded Natsume, as Natsume stopped himself of what he was going to say and had just only managed to say 'let's go, Luca' which Luca followed and went off with him.
"What was that?" Mikan asked herself recalling what she had done to Natsume making him mad. "I did nothing, didn't I?I" She asked herself but no one replied.
From behind her came Yuu with two ice creams, each hand holding one ice cream a flavor different than the other. Yuu approached Mikan and just smiled. "Here you go Mikan, your favorite. Chocolate flavored ice cream." Yuu said handing Mikan the said flavored ice cream and ushered her to the nearest seat in the park. Mikan thanked Yuu but was still wondering on what happened to Natsume. The two talked at the park, loving the passing time and watched the birds flew by. Mikan loved the park. The park for her was like her little world where she can do what she want and be peaceful as well. It was also very sentimental to her.
Darkness soon fell, as Mikan was at her own dorm room washing herself and savoring the cold water gush out from the shower. It was a one hot night and she had decided to hit off with the shower to cool herself down. The cold water had managed to refresh the brunette and had cleansed her as well. Stepping out of the shower, she went over to her closet to get some evening clothes. After changing, wanting some fresh air, she decided to go to her exclusive veranda. Sitting at her most comfortable chair, she looked up at the sky and wondered what might have happened to Natsume. A smile sigh managed to escaped her lips and soon a masculine voice could be heard.
"Sighing because of Tobita, huh?" Mikan looked at the same spot Natsume was the night before and saw him, sitting on the same branch looking at him. The way he said the named of Tobita was a bit scary, and she wondered what could have Yuu done to make Natsume angry at him, the same as what could she had done for the fire alice to be angry at her.
"Aah! Natsume- kun!" Mikan smiled as she saw the fire alice and greeted him. "Konbanwa!" Natsume did not reply. Mikan was used to that and just ignored it. "What are you doing over there?" Mikan, though she knew why, asked.
"Tell me, LITTLE GIRL…" Mikan looked at Natsume wondering what he might say. "Are you the one who owned this tree, and judging from where I sit, this isn't yours, right. So if I were you, I'd better not bother other people's lives. Nosy girl." Mikan raised an eyebrow as she went near the rail of the veranda. Taking a deep breath, she managed to smile.
"It's alright. I was just kind of worried. But you know, it's better for you to just come here at the veranda. I've got chairs for visitors, you know." She smiled at Natsume offering him a chair at the veranda. Natsume, on the other hand, just looked at her. "Come on. The night's still young and I've got no company at all." Mikan said persuasively at Natsume, who shrugged but complied with her. What's wrong with him tonight? Complying with Mikan? Mikan smiled as she offered her a chair across from her chair. Sitting down… "Wait here, I'll bring you a cup of tea." With that, she rushed off to the kitchen to prepare some tea. Natsume, not yet used to his surroundings stood up and looked around the veranda.
The veranda was small but welcoming. It has a shade of pink and shiny green that blended so perfectly together. 'Must be her favorite colors' Natsume said to himself as he looked around more. The rails were made of special wood that would not taint and the chair encircling a small table were positioned just right. Beside the chairs was the door to her room, the door where Mikan also exited. He entered the room and was quite surprised with the positioning of her things. Everything was in order, which had shattered of what he had thought of her room before- he, knowing Mikan as a clutz. Hearing footsteps towards the room, he immediately went back to the veranda, sitting down.
"Sorry for making you wait!" Mikan entered the veranda smiling at Natsume. Natsume stood up and took the tray Mikan was carrying and brought it towards the table. "A- arigatou." Mikan smiled at him again as both sat down and took their respective cups. "Natsume- kun… why were you angry… ano, the one at the park?" Mikan said slowly, she was still scared, remembering the facial expression Natsume had at the park.
"Nothing." Natsume said monotonously as he took a sip from his tea not looking at Mikan.
"Gomen…" Mikan said apologetically as Natsume coughed out the tea he had drunk. "Sorry for what I had done. Even if I didn't know what it was…" Mikan was looking down, a bit ashamed to face him, and not witnessing what Natsume had just did.
Wiping off the tea that he had coughed off and spilled, he replied. "You did nothing, right? So why are you apologizing?" Natsume said, doing something so he isn't looking at Mikan.
"Ehh?" Mikan stood up, startling Natsume making him look at the brunette. Noticing her actions, she sat down, her head bent down and her hands on her lap. "But, at the park, you were so… angry…" Mikan looked at Natsume.
"It didn't concerned you, alright." Natsume quickly dropped the subject off and took another sip of tea from his cup. There was awkward silence around then as no one dared to talk. Finally, Mikan cleared her throat and talked.
"Ne, Natsume… What were you doing at the park a while ago. I met you together with Luca- pyon right? What were you doing?" Mikan, too naïve that Natsume didn't really wanted the topic to be pursued, still asked Natsume.
"I needed some fresh air, and then we saw you. What's wrong with that? You saw us, we saw you. End." Natsume said offhandedly. He really wasn't in the mood to talk with Mikan about that matter. Of the topics they should talk about… it was that. well, that was a big deal for him you know, even I would make it as a big deal.
"Eh… are you angry?" Mikan asked, seeing Natsume's change in expression as his eyes avoided contact with her. She smiled, a caring smile. "You shouldn't hide those things, you know Natsume. Sooner or later people would know. Isn't it better for you to be the one to tell them to the open by yourself?" Mikan asked, she was smiling to him and encouraging him to be open.
"I don't need to tell these to people because I don't want to. You're just a nosy brat who wants to know everything." Natsume blurted out right in front of Mikan. "Though I am not really bothered if people know my secrets or whatever it is that they want know, I hate it when it affects other people just because of me." Natsume continued, one of his hand leaning on the table supported his face, looking away in a trance.
"Because you're a kind person deep inside, right? Nat-su-me-kun!" Mikan added as she smiled sweetly at Natsume who, cold as ever, did not bother to look back at her. "But, we are friends, right? Isn't it better if you tell me even only a tiny bit about you." Mikan pursued her quest on finding out about the real Natsume.
Natsume looked at Mikan and, his face expressionless, replied… "Iyada… There's no way in hell I'm gonna tell you." Natsume retorted as soon as Mikan finished what she had said.
Hearing what the fire alice replied, Mikan's face faltered and looked away from him. She stood up and leaned on the rails, her back facing Natsume. "You know… it's not that we're friends doesn't mean that I am entitled to know everything you hid, but it's that we're friends that you learn to be yourself and not to worry about what you should be in front of me." She stooped and turned around to look at him. She smiled. "Rather, you should act natural because, as a friend, I acknowledge you in whatever you say or do. Be natural when I'm around Natsume." She smiled once more.
Natsume, on the other hand, did not move. He sat there frozen on her seat not even looking at her.
"Natsu-"
"Friends! Friends, friends! I'm sick and tired of hearing that from you. Shut up, okay! You don't understand what I want from you. I don't like this kind of relationship within us!" He stood up, shocking the brunette, and left. Mikan stood there freezing and was still in the process of understanding what Natsume had just said. She fell down to her knees, as she embraced herself, crying.
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AUTHOR'S NOTES:
Quite a long one isn't it. Well… the story's just unfolding. I just hope I would still have the time to finish this fic!! Read and review!!! Now, what will be the atmosphere around the two??? It will be unfolded on the coming chappies!!!
Thanks Alex for that lovely review!!!!