How long has it been since I updated? Far too long. Sorry about that… School was way too hectic, but I've found some time to write this. Thanks again to all the reviews!
On a final note, before you start reading, this is the second last chapter. The epilogue is next, so this story is almost at its end. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Gakuen Alice
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A bead of sweat rolled down Mikan's temple, the court room so silent, Mikan swore she could hear every person's breathing. That is, if they were breathing.
"Why are you doing this, Shen?" Aoi asked, her tone calm, surprising Mikan.
Said man laughed bitterly, "I'm sick and tired of losing to you, Hyuuga! You took away everything I loved and now, I'll return the favour." Mikan couldn't see his face, but she had a feeling a dark sneer would be curled over his lips. What was this man talking about?
Aoi clenched her fists, "It wasn't my fault! She was a convicted killer!"
Shen pressed the blade further into Mikan's neck, causing her to gasp. His hand that was on her was sweaty. Her head spun, and she legitimately thought he was going to kill her. He just might…
"That's no reason; she didn't do it on purpose." Shen's voice was lethal.
Natsume fixed his eyes on Mikan's face, his hand on Ryuu's head. Concern, love and maybe some extreme rage was displayed on Natsume's face.
"She killed your son, Shen! All the evidence pointed towards her," Aoi said. "Let Mikan go, now. She has nothing to do with this."
"I loved her!" Shen screamed raggedly. "And this bitch has everything to do with it. I'll take her away from her son, than who'll have truly won this case?" Mikan needed an opening, of any kind, to get this psycho off her!
Out of the corner of her eye, Mikan saw the guards slowly inch towards Shen.
"What'll that accomplish, Shen?" Natsume asked, finally speaking. "Taking a woman away from her son? How will that fix anything?"
Shen's grip loosened on Mikan, the knife going lax against her skin, and she found her opening. She slammed her head backwards, hearing the sickening crunch of the bone in his nose shattering. He released her completely, howling and flew backwards. Guilt flooded Mikan… she'd never done something like that before and it scared her that she did.
The guards lunged, grabbing him, and Mikan stumbled forward, collapsing into Natsume's arms.
The court room was in upheaval and Yu was banging her gavel, "Order! Order in the court!" It quieted down, and the guards dragged Shen away, cuffing him.
Kenji hesitantly stepped up to the couple and their son, scratching the back of his head. "Listen, I know it doesn't mean anything, but I'm sorry. I never wanted any of that to happen."
"Thank you," Mikan says a small, forgiving smile on her face. She'd never forgive him for what he did to her son, but she could accept his apology about Shen. Kenji shuffled away, his head hung, back to his companion.
Natsume completely ignored the man, grabbing Mikan by the shoulders. "Are you okay?" Aoi wordlessly handed the distressed man a cloth she had in her purse. Natsume dabbed it against her neck, soaking up the blood.
Ryuu tugged on Mikan's skirt, looking up at her with large ruby eyes, "Mommy, are you okay?" Mikan had to giggle at the fact they both asked her the same question.
"I'm fine, really." She touched Natsume's hand, the one cleaning up her wound, and reached out to take Ryuu's hand that was on her skirt.
Kaoru reached them by this time, patting Mikan's shoulder, "I'm so relived you're okay, my dear."
Mikan blushed a bit, "Thank you." Mikan tilted her head in Aoi's direction, "What exactly was Shen blabbering on about?"
Aoi gave a heavy sigh, "Years ago, when I had just got into the law business, I was already very popular, since I worked for my family's Law Firm. I was given my first case, a murder trial.
"Shen at the time was an aspiring lawyer, and he had just graduated law school. He took up the case for the accused. She was his fiancée. When I heard about the case, I was appalled. She had drowned her son with Shen in the bath tub, and strangled Shen's child from a previous marriage. I couldn't believe Shen would try to help her. After I got all the facts, I knew she did it. She was trying to blame her father for the murders, but he had an alibi, he was out of town.
"As hard as it was to believe her statements, the case took weeks, and I didn't, couldn't, sleep until she was put away. Finally, she was sentenced guilty, given two maximum lifetimes in prison.
"Shen blamed me for everything, that woman had him so tightly wrapped around her finger he blindly believed everything she said. His children were dead, his fiancée locked away forever. After the case, he cornered me and vowed he would do anything in his power to defeat me in court. This was probably his last straw." Aoi sighed heavily.
Mikan's face scrunched up, "That's horrible." What man would believe that bullshit? She swallowed the bile she felt rising for what he did. She did feel a little pity for him though, being manipulated like that then go to court to see a mother who loved her son when his fiancée couldn't careless? It's a cruel world, this place is.
"Is he f—stupid or what?" Natsume caught himself, still clutching Mikan's hand, his other palm on Ryuu's black curls. Mikan stroked Ryuu's cheek, knowing she would do anything to get the supposed killer of her son sent to prison.
Aoi shrugged helplessly, "I don't know. He's a sick man." Mikan had a feeling Aoi meant a double meaning for sick. Sick as in disgusting and sick as in need of therapy.
Kaoru nodded, "Now that this is over, I say we talk over lunch. There is so much I want to discuss with you, Mikan." She eyed the other two male look-alike Hyuuga's, "You two as well." Natsume barely covered up his wince.
Outside, Mikan sent a quick, mass text to everyone about the outcome of the case and froze in front of a limo Kaoru led them to.
"Um…" Mikan looked to Natsume for help.
"Mother, we came in our own car," He reminded her gruffly, crossing his arms.
The woman waved him off, "Then come back for it later, hurry it along."
Aoi slid into the limo, flashing the couple a grin. The limo driver folded up Ryuu's chair once Mikan picked him up, going to put it in the trunk.
Natsume sighed, scrubbing his face with his hands, "Let's just go." He helped Mikan and Ryuu into the limo, getting in after them.
Without the car seat, Mikan was forced to keep Ryuu on her lap, holding him tightly.
The ride was in one word, quiet. Natsume traced small patterns on Mikan's thigh, and she had to keep herself from shivering with delight. Kaoru flipped through a folder, God only knows the contents, Mr. Hyuuga's arm around her shoulders, gazing silently out the window. Aoi scribbled words down furiously into her note book, occasionally making a silly face at Ryuu which caused him to smile.
Ryuu of course, studied the faces of the people in the car with him, trying to pin names to them. Mikan ran her fingers through his baby fine hair, trying to calm down. Kaoru was an intimidating woman.
Once the limo rolled to a stop, Mikan was the last to get out, handing Ryuu off to Natsume who secured him into the wheel chair.
It was a large, over the top building. The building crept into the sky, the walls clear, completely replaced with windows, showing off the wealth inside. From what Mikan could see the insides were luxurious, fabulous seating, gorgeous chandeliers, the works.
"Wow…" Mikan whispered, amazed. Natsume took the liberty of holding her hand, allowing Aoi to push Ryuu.
Kaoru led them in, poised and regal, like she owned the place.
A long elevator ride to the top floor was filled with the sounds of back and forth commentary between Aoi and Ryuu. At some of it, Mikan couldn't help but laugh.
The waiter rushed up immediately to greet the group, and as it turns out, Kaoru did own the place.
"What can I say? I love food," Kaoru said, her tone light. The table gave of the most splendid view of China's landscape, the never ending buildings.
"So, what did you want to talk about?" Mikan asked nervously, gulping.
Kaoru didn't answer until after the waiter took their orders. She swirled the red wine around her glass, directing her attention to Ryuu.
"How long have you lived in China?"
"My whole life."
"Do you like it here?"
"Uh-huh."
"Have you ever traveled?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Dunno."
"A sharp boy like you should know. How would you feel about moving?"
"No."
"That's it? Just no?"
"I like it here."
"I see. So if you were to move?"
Ryuu frowned, and didn't say anything more. Mikan knew he didn't like the idea of leaving.
"Even if it was to be with your father?" Kaoru pressed.
Both Mikan and Ryuu gave her startled looks. "What?" They chorused.
Kaoru glared at Natsume, who innocently twirled his fork on the top of the table top. Obviously she wasn't the type of woman to share.
"Never mind that." Kaoru let Aoi take over the conversation, who chatted incessantly with everyone at the table.
Natsume nudged Mikan and jerked his chin in the direction of the balcony. She nodded, an indication she'd go with him. Mikan kissed Ryuu's forehead, a sign she'd be right back.
He took her hand again, escorting Mikan to the balcony, opening the door for her. She wrapped her fingers around the railing, sighing.
"Can we talk?"
Mikan didn't even look at him, "Of course."
"Listen, what would you say to moving back to Japan?" Natsume asked, his voice gruff.
"What? Why?" Puzzled, she finally faced him, only to see him on his knee. Her face lit up, turning into what she figured was the shade of a ripe tomato.
Natsume wriggled the ruby ring Mikan had on her left hand, curling his fist around it.
He smiled at her, the smile he only gave her. "Remember when I gave this to you years ago as a promise?" He showed her the ring again.
She laughed, her heart thundering. "Yes?"
"I know this isn't probably the right way to do this, and hell, I've done it four times before, but this, I swear to you, is the one time I mean it all. Mikan, I love you, and I want you to know I will never do anything to hurt you; I won't let anything hurt you or Ryuu again. I will protect you." He took her hand, "So long as I never have to let this hand go, I want to ask you a question."
She couldn't speak, happiness threatened to burst her heart.
"Mikan Yukihira, my stupid, polka, will you marry me?" Natsume asked, offering the ring. She was so going to tease him about his cheesiness later.
"Yes," Mikan breathed, "A thousand times yes!" He put the ring back into place, standing up to kiss her softly.
The pads of his thumbs ran over her cheek bones, muttering against her lips, "Sorry about not protecting you earlier."
"It's okay," Mikan said. "I didn't know you could be so sentimental."
"Tch." She laughed, kissing him again.
"So about moving to back to Japan?"
"I take that as a yes?"
"Duh." They kissed again, the moment more perfect than anything they've shared so far.
Well, anyone excited for the epilogue? Or saddened? Let me know. I'll try to update sooner rather than later. Now for the replies:
LittleLiar666~ Totally random, but I love your pen name. Anyway, yes, my full blown bat shit is… wow. Nothing like that in this rated T story, but perhaps in future M rated stories. Thanks for the review!
kookiie~ Since when have Hyuuga's lost? Never I think. Her martial arts move was breaking his nose, good enough? :P
Vegie-1526~ I love me some twists. Aww, thanks so much! I'm glad so many people like my story, and I'm glad you like it so much. Sorry the update was slow…
xXclarecmlXx~ Once again, twists are great. Did Aoi's explanation help with that? Shen just has some severe mental issues, losing his sons and fiancée. But still.
Pink Freesia~ That's really flattering! Thanks! It makes me happy to know people read my things even when they don't have accounts : )
moonacre99~ He's probably there now, that or prison. Yeah… unfortunately I'm 99% sure there's no medical way for him to walk again, unless a magical fairy fixed him, but, you get it. There will be a happy ending, though, don't fret!
Brisken~ Complications are my favourite. : ) Updated
To those of you who reviewed other chapters then 22:
YouCanCallMe MrsMalfoy~ If only… Oh I could never leave Polka out, that's one of the best canon parts! Thanks for reading, and thanks for letting me get you addicted to the series haha.
PinkDoll~ Sorry about him being OOC, I hadn't really written him before. I've gotten practice now though! Did you like the drama overall? I did. Twists and turns are great.
Once again, many thanks to all the reviews, favourites and alerts! See you next time for the last instalment of My Sexy New Math Teacher!
~Emerald~