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 6: What's With Me?
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Clattering sounds could be heard inside the gymnasium as busy middle school students were scattered all over the place preparing the whole of the gymnasium for the biggest event and of course their last year as middle schoolers. They were scattered in groups as their head leader – Mikan Sakura – gave out instructions for each team. Imai Hotaru's team, which composed mostly of the Technical Ability students, were in charge of the lightings, music, and the preparation of the big stadium. Tobita Yuu's team, together with Shouda Sumire's group, took the burden of making the decorative designs to be placed all over the big gymnasium and for the performances biggest attractions. Kokoroyoumi and the rest of the boys, excluding Hyuuga Natsume and Nogi Luca, were in charge of decorating the tall ceilings. Anna and the rest were left as the cook for the main event and for the morning program.
The teachers found themselves busy as well preparing the rest of the students into various activities. Some got themselves involved in drama and acting, some in playing sports and some involved themselves in music. The whole student body was involved as classes were postponed only to resume the next year giving the students a merry and long vacation. Mikan rushed from left to right giving each and everyone inside the gymnasium pointers to remember and follow. Mikan, accompanied by the blondie Luca, sat down to the nearest chair facing the stage. Everything so far was clear and there were no problems occurring yet. Luca managed to grab a bottle of water and gave it to Mikan as the leader ushered words of thanks to the blondie which was soon replied with a no problem look. They were positioned side by side together, in a rather, too sweetly manner. Luca seated so close to Mikan, too oblivious to their positions, not even bothering of moving her chair and was as comfortable as Luca. The guys inside the gymnasium stopped for a while looking at the two who were seated. There were lots who sweatdropped at the sight, some losing composure, and some even lost confidence. The other guys even growled at the sight and especially towards Luca inwardly.They didn't dare say it out loud or they would feel his wrath.
Luca never was angry in front of Mikan Sakura and this oblivious girl did not even know Luca knows how to get angry. The boys knew- everyone does – especially those whom had practically lived inside the academy since birth. They knew that Luca is seriously scary when he gets angry.
It was one Saturday evening, during the time when Luca and the rest were only 8 years of age and Mikan wasn't around the school that time yet. As usual, Luca and Natsume were best of buddies and were inseperable. Of course to the middle schoolers, they look really cute together. A compatible pair. Now, it was around in the afternoon when that boys had wanted pick on Natsume for being too arrogant so they decided to bully Luca. Luca, as a kid looked so innocent and naive that thinking otherwise is just as bad as selling yourself to the devil. Natsume left Luca to get their afternoon snack when a gang of guys rounded Luca up seeing Natsume gone. Luca, knowing what to do was about to cry, when a guy his age cried.
"What's that? A crybaby, still?" He snorted at Luca and the boys together with him laughed. "Is he really the best buddy of Natsume?" He shrugged at his comment.
"I thought Natsume would look for someone better, someone who's not afraid to be bullied." Responded another, this time, drawing nearer to Luca.
"Nah, wouldn't it be better. Us hurting him, there will only have to reactions on Natsume's face: it's either he looses face and defend him or he might even be our slave begging us not to hurt him anymore." Replied their leader. The rest just laughed at his statement. Oblivious to their chattering, Luca laid there very silent. His head bent low that his eyes couldn't be seen anymore. The leader noticed his posture and held his chin up high to see his expression. "Guys he's cryi- woah!" The leader stepped back a few seeing his glare and his hand quickly shifted away from Luca's chin.
"You dare think you can bully me, eh?!" Luca stood proud in front of them. With voice high, he caught attention to the by passers and the elder students. "Just cause you're in a gang, doesn't give you the permission to bully." He said then with a plop, he sat down, ignoring them. This action angered the leader. Regaining his composure, he leaped towards Luca wanting to hit him. A few inches more and he could have killed- Luca that is, good thing that the leader stooped himself involuntarily.
What happened? As the leader engaged a punch at him with a few inches left for contact, Luca had his hand ready to kill- seriously. His hand had scraped a bit of the leader throat and left a small would that enabled little blood to gush out. This planted a fear to the leader's mind as he suddenly cried and ran away together with his gang. Just then, Luca' eyes widened his breathing became harder and tears flowed down from his cheeks. Natsume just came back from getting their afternoon snack when he saw Luca in such a state. He hurriedly went over him forgetting about the snacks that he dropped and ran towards him holding him in an embrace whispering… 'hush now, that was just a dream. Stop remembering… hush now…' over and over again. To those who saw this scene felt a brotherly loved and had even forgotten the fight that took place just a while ago. A few minutes later, Luca calmed down, his breathing even and eyes focused.
Mikan stood up, quickly stretched a little and resumed to her position as the leader. She, excusing herself from Luca, made a one last look around the gymnasium before getting out and heading towards the classroom. Luca, still fixed on his chair, followed with his eyes wherever the brunette went around the gymnasium until she left and was completely unseen. He sighed a little then stood up deciding to go find Natsume.
Natsume sat on his favorite spot, a branch of the cherry blossom tree, recollecting what had just occurred the night everyone celebrated the ice princess' birthday. A small smile crept on his face that soon turn to despair remembering the words Luca uttered after Mikan left them both. He sighed for about the umpteenth time already figuring out how he should react whenever he would see or come across him. Deeply lost in thought once again, the wind blew away some strands of his hair. He then came back to his senses when he heard a familiar voice calling from below him.
"Natsume!" Luca cried happily finding him above. Natsume forgot to react- scratch that- he did not know how to react. Dumbfounded he was, he only look at Luca who whistled to the wind that was soon followed by a strong breeze and a giant raven swooped Luca and escorted him to the branch where Natsume was sitting. "Glad to see you here. I was looking all over for you."
"Why?" were the only words Natsume had mustered under his breath. This shook Luca a bit, a small glint of confusion in his eyes.
"Why… you say?" He repeated, not knowing what to respond. He then knew why he responded coldly to him. "You are still thinking about it, right?" he smiled as he continued. "We're rivals in love and nothing else. We're friends in any other way, or if not… you may just shrug away what you feel to-" He did not stop, he was stopped by Natsume.
"Why don't you try doing your own suggestion and I'll try doing it after you've done it…" He replied directly. Luca smiled and patted his shoulders gesturing an I'm-just-joking-action to him. Natsume half- seriously took what he gestured and decided to cool off by leaving. "I'm not angry at you… just need to cool off mind away-…for awhile." Natsume then leaped from the branch and, with no second thoughts of looking back at Luca, went off. Luca smiled knowing exactly what he meant. Everything's back to its usual self except for a tiny matter yet to be resolved.
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It was nearing December already and the gymnasium was almost ready for it main event. Mikan Sakura went to different place panting very hard looking for something- or someone. Running in the hallways of every floor of the middle school building, briskly walking past the gardens and the grounds with her head sweating a lot. She wasn't really furious at the person she was looking for but was only a bit impatient in looking for him. She's got of things to discuss and judging from the way he reacted during the past month, with no interest or whatsoever with the event this December, talking some sense to him would probably be difficult, and with her wasting energy just for the sake of looking for him did no help at all. She came at last to the forest, walking a little bit further, she came to the lined up cherry blossom trees. Looking up as she walk, she came across the fifth tree where she saw the person she needs to talk to-
"NATSUME!" She cried loudly and abruptly, her hands resting on her knees, panting very deeply catching for air. Natsume quickly looked below upon recognizing the voice. "I've be…en…-" she stopped as she tried to calm herself to talk more clearly. Natsume, seeing her disarrayed look, went down and ushered her a seat on the grass. Once Mikan relaxed herself down, she talked. "I've been looking all over for you!" She exclaimed, with her look and the way she talked, Natsume wasn't oblivious to that fact. Instead of giving a snide comment, he just zipped his mouth and listened further to her. "Listen… I need your help in light up some of the torches that will be placed outside the gymnasium. You know at the center?"
"What's that for? And why do I have to do it?" He barked at her, not wanting to do any work related to that event.
"It's just for a night, after that you're free to do whatever you want." She said sounding as if she didn't heard his reply. "Also, there will be a ball held inside the gymnasium and the lightning of the torches would really suit the image that I was creating in my mind." She added, her eyes glinting with hope. "It would be just wonderful!" She said as she looked at Natsume, eyes full of eagerness and hope. Upon seeing her like that, he can't just backed away and say no to her request.
He took a deep breath and sighed. "I'm only lighting up the torches." He said with utmost defeat. Upon hearing his reply, Mikan jumped for joy, throwing her hands up in the air, as if she had just won a grand prize of a year worth of rabbit coins.
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"Ha! I've gotten Natsume-kun to agree in lighting up the torches for the main event! What can you can you say now!" Mikan proudly beamed at the rest of the class excluding Nogi Luca and, of course, the bait who knew nothing about it. The rest of the brunette' contenders sighed in defeat as they all knew that she would surely be able to persuade the black cat. Hotaru, sitting in her usual chair, did not bothered to look at the happy brunette, still focused on her invention that will be used for the program, she did nothing else but just half- listen to the conversation.
"Heck, who cares about that!" Sumire Shouda said half- heartedly and in a toned way feeling a bit envious of her. The rest of the ladies just sniggered at her comment silently and with Sumire and of course the naive brunette oblivious to their actions. Soon all were indulged into the conversation, laughing and were all exchanging funny statements about anything one would say. A few minutes later, the door opened and entered the bait, together with the rabbit. All quieted, Mikan who saw their entrance rushed towards to meet them.
"Luca- pyon! Natsume- kun!" She said as she rushed to them, eyes were glinting and dancing with joy. Luca smiled back at her and Natsume only gave a snort. From amidst of the crowd where Mikan left, arouse Cordellia, the lady who specializes in making dress and the couturier of the middle school students. She quickly went near Mikan, afraid of the two handsomely looking boys and their fans lurking out there to squash her.
"Now that you're here…" She started as she came behind Mikan, "we- I mean, I shall be starting off with you body measurements. I'm sure you two are used to this, right?" She said with a hint of laughter. Natsume hissed as Luca only nodded in reply.
"Natsume- kun agreed to light the torches and he surely must be dressed, right everyone?" All agreed in chorus as Mikan looked back to the crowd. "Luca too needs to be dressed, because seeing you're always with Natsume- kun, you haven't got the time to visit Cordellia for your measurements." Mikan smiled sweetly at her as Cordellia went over him first to get his measurements. It took only a minute or so to get his measurements that was soon followed by Natsume as Cordellia's alice did the trick.
"Now that everything's taken, I'll be going now to make the desired clothing for the two of you." Cordellia bowed in respect and went over to the doors, when the crowd mostly the girls called out to her, telling her to make perfectly made suits for the two. She just nodded back in agreement and left the room. The girls squealed in delight with her response and were all-eager for the completion of the suits. The two just ignored their expressions as they went over a silent corner and sat down. Why were they there?
Soon the squealing were gone as another topic was raised. "I want to be Natsume's partner!" One of Natsume's fangirls squealed in delight announcing her statement. Natsume only grunted in response as the other girls followed and even dared to come near the two idols. Mikan looked at the scene. Coming towards Anna, she sat near her and asked.
"How do you know when you like someone?" Mikan asked quizzically her eyes only looking for an answer to satisfy the question. Nothing more or less. Anna got puzzled by her question and as to why she had come up with that question. As if knowing the reason why Anna's expression was a bit off from her question, she replied. "I mean, look at the other girls saying 'I like, love you!' like that to the two. It just makes me want to ask."
Anna, being the most matured friend Mikan has, is the only person she could ask, excluding Hotaru who's right now too scary to be bothered or else face the entrance to Hades in a minute with no seconds thoughts of you returning back in one whole piece. "Well, when you constantly thinks about that guy…" Anna wasn't finished yet when Mikan replied with such naivety.
"I always think about lots of guys here… Yuu, Luca, Natsume, Koko… mostly all the time."
"It's not like that, it's when you feel a bit warmed by that person when you think, or talk to him. Sometimes you just can't help but see his weaknesses and things that you want to protect and know more about him, knowing mostly about his good traits that people don't. And it's when you're with him that you feel safe. Heart's beating erratic and all… you like that guy" Anna said confidently, being experienced with that kind of thing, really is also one of her specialty. Mikan was dumbfound- or kinda lost. She either understood and not understood but still took her question answered.
"Thanks." Mikan managed to utter word of thanks.
"So… who's gonna be you're partner?" Anna quickly changed the subject and saw Mikan's expression at once. "Eh? You've got none, still?!?!?" Anna reacted quite loudly that allowed other student to shift their attention to them, the two still indulged in their conversations, didn't noticed.
"I've got no one still. And I know no one would ask me!" Mikan cried out of desperation. The boys were all listening quite intently to them as the fan girls stopped their squealing and they too listened. The boys were eager to know who the brunette's lucky partner might be.
"I thought you asked Natsume?" Anna replied quite in shock. The boys took a step back and glanced a bit fearfully towards the raven haired boy. The girls stood in shock.
"No!" Mikan replied with enthusiasm. The boys and some of the fan girls sighed as they all heard her reply. "I did asked him, but not about the dance. The dance was the last thing on my mind when I was asking him about lighting the torches." Mikan replied clearing the misunderstanding.
"Oh…. I thought you did." She replied, this time slower and more quietly.
"I haven't and I'm not even sure if he would even think of being paired up with me. Being a partner's too much for him already, I guess. And also I've got my own problems as to how I could ask the guys out there who are willing and not just as a last resort." The boys cleared their throat waiting for the signal for them to talk. "Who would even-" Before she could even complete her statement almost or most of the guys came towards her asking if she could be her partner. All of them oblivious to the two idol sitting at the corner.
"You haven't asked her?" Luca asked in mock disbelief. He knew Natsume wouldn't involve himself into asking Mikan to the dance. "Well, I guess I can ask her." Luca said emphasizing the last four words louder than expected by Natsume, as Luca deliberately did so in order to catch the attention of the boys offering for a hand to ask Mikan to the dance. All of them stopped and were shock about Luca's confession. Natsume only grunted knowing that this challenge was directly given to him and not to the other boys. Mikan, who was so lost in thought, didn't got the chance to hear what Luca said. The boys that encircled around Mikan thinned as they all left one by one upon hearing Luca's temerarious declaration.
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News about the great fiasco that occurred the day before involving Mikan and the two idols spread across the whole middle school building and dormitory. Most of the guys waited in anticipation for the arrival of the brunette, all having hopes for her reply. The guys in front cleared their throats as they saw her came in and were all about to come towards her when they saw another figure behind her. It wasn't that they weren't used to guys behind but it was he that they saw behind her. The news about the animal- lover's bold announcement really was true as Luca accompanied Mikan in almost all the places she went except for the loo.
"Geez, you don't have to follow me the entire day, Luca- pyon. I'm fine taking good care of myself." Mikan wasn't that irritated or bothered by Luca's continiuos stalling on her but she still minded him following her a bit as she was really concerned for his benefit. "I know, I've got lots to take care but you also got things to finish. Please, don't overwork yourself because of me!" Mikan protested only to receive a smile from the animal- lover. He bowed in a graceful manner as he left with an 'okay' with it. Mikan stared in disbelief. 'He acted a bit out of it'. She thought to herself as she shrugged of what she witnessed and acted as if it was just her wild imaginations running. Recollecting herself, she went off to the classroom to fix some things.
Holding the bulb up high and placing it at the socket, she moved uneasily as her arms were a bit shorter and the ladder did not helped raise her height. Tiptoeing, she managed to place the colorful bulb into the socket. Smiling to herself, she forgot to keep her balance as she wiggled left and right trying to keep her balance up. Trying in vain, she wasn't able to keep her balance up as she fell down the ladder and only inches away to hit the hard floor when strong muscular arms caught her in a graceful manner. Giving her rescuer a mouth of thank, she looked up and saw the most unlikely fellow to help her.
"Ar…- gatou-" She stopped dead shocked at the person she saw. "Natsume" she managed to say her rescuer's name in a quieter way as she didn't expected him. Their faces inches away from him from when she looked up to turn to him. She felt his breath on her as her cheeks flushed red. Natsume said nothing but only looked at her. The atmosphere tensed and there was dead silence. Something about Natsume's eyes made Mikan's stomach lurched a thousand butterflies fleeting inside and turning her stomach upside down. She couldn't resist touching his hair and aligning his eyes to her and close the gap within them. Noticing what she was thinking, she abruptly stood up, dusting the imaginary dust on her pleated skirt and smiled at him, the way she usually does. No words came out of Natume's lips, which was to be expected, and Mikan once again thanked him and left forgetting about the rest of the bulbs she have to replace with colorful ones inside. I'll just have to return later until I've sorted these things out. She stormed of out the building and headed directly to her room still thinking about the tempting eyes of Natsume's and his ever lovely raven hair.
"STOP THAT!" She shouted to herself once inside her room, flushed and panting terribly. She jumped towards her bed still replaying the event that surely had taken her breath away today. 'What's wrong with you Mikan' her inner thought voiced out inside of her. 'Nothing's wrong with his eyes and hair. Girl!!! Get a grip! What'd with the worrying over when you know he's always there for support.' Her inner thought continued as this time she managed to remember things straight. She knew Natsume's the person who's always there who had helped her without her asking for aid, the one who was there comforting her and not bicker with her and how-
"And it's when you're with him that you feel safe." What was that!? Mikan remembered Anna's words. "Hell, that's not true!!" Mikan disapproved Anna's words as she unconsciously thought again of the raven. 'He even knew how to humour me though people don't see it that way. Help others thought they might see it as nuisance, and even-
"knowing mostly about his good traits that people don't." She stopped- AGAIN, once again remembering one of Anna's godly advice. "Mou!" Mikan complained. "I'm starting to think about him. To hell with the incident!" She heard once again Anna's voice as she stopped talking thoughts lost and a new thought came into mind hearing those words… 'Well, when you constantly thinks about that guy…' Silence hovered the room as her erratic heart was the only sound she could hear and Anna's last piece of advice carved into her mind.
"Heart's beating erratic and all… you like that guy"
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AUTHOR'S NOTES:
Expect less from me to update this earlier… things in school just got a little- no too much for me to bear. Sports studies and even club activities diverted my attention and left me no time in updating this.
Oh yeah, if you would have noticed, there was less words exchanged in the entire chappie… got lost for conversational words AND left only for descriptions, but it's better especially for the last part… Hope you liked it! Please don't forget to review… The most awaited event's up in the next 2 weeks in GA and the next chappie will reveal Mikan's date. Just who's her date!?!?
PLEASE REVIEW!!!