October 23, 2010: This chapter has been edited. The place of the dress on Google Images may change, so please read the description in this chapter first and then look for it once you type in the search words. Thank you.
I had a sudden spurge to write this chapter. I've been feeling so down lately. I'm going to start writing now before I go on complaining to you guys.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
***To see Mikan's dress, go to Google Images, and type in Pink Bubble Dress. It will be the third image there!***
Disclaimer: All ownership of this manga belongs to TACHIBANA HIGUCHI! Thank You.
Happy Reading!
Rush
By Tsuki's Angel
~Chapter 5~
-Feel the Rush-
Mikan walked to the classroom, feeling a ton better than she did yesterday. In fact, she was feeling so good she actually didn't notice the pain from her last mission. This day was going to be good, she could tell. Mikan threw the door open to her mediocre classroom revealing her mediocre classmates and took her normal seat next to the fire caster she knew oh so well ever since she was ten.
"Mikan! You have arrived just in time, my dear. I was just telling the class how we're going to change how I run this place," Narumi said. He turned his attention back to the class. "Now then, today we will be having class outside. I want you all to grab your winter coats so that you don't freeze and we'll be off. I expect to see you all in ten minutes in front of the building!"
Narumi has gone insane. He was killing her buzz. Who on earth would think to send their students outside for class in the middle of winter? An idiot, that's who. Maybe a moron, but definitely an imbecile. Mikan had the horrible feeling that she was going to get sick. She couldn't afford that. That unintelligent happy-go-lucky fool should know what she was up against. In fact, he should know why she was in this situation in the first place. He should know that it was all Persona's fault. That he was the one that made her make this choice, which the answer was so obvious to.
"Chop, chop!" he said, clapping his hands.
The class groaned and headed out of the classroom. Mikan looked around for Ivan and Isabella, but they were nowhere to be found. She wondered where they went…? After everyone left, she got up out of her seat and headed to her room. Once she was there, she got her coat, which again was different from everyone else's. She was happy she had it, though. The black coat with a hood that was lined with silver fur was extremely warm and comfy to wear. It reached mid-thigh for girls and at the waist for boys. On one side of the coat there was, embroidered in silver, a DA for Dangerous Ability. Mikan put on her hat, which was a black beret she got from Ivan for one of her past birthdays. Victoria had this insane rule that Ivan, Isabella, and she couldn't wear any other color other than black. Victoria thought that that was the only color that represented them—black. She said to them that they should wear what color their hearts were. Mikan hated her ten times more after that.
Mikan quickly put on her winter accessories and left the room. On the way out, she saw someone she didn't really want to see. Hotaru.
Mikan willed herself to just walk right past her, but Hotaru kept walking closer to her in lithe, elegant steps. Now that Mikan really looked at her…Hotaru was so pretty. Her hair was down to her shoulders and her eyes somehow were more like crystals than before. She was a devil hidden in an angel's body. Perfect way to describe her. She stopped right in front of Mikan and looked her right in the eye. Mikan stared at her, hoping with all her might that she would see that she still wanted to be her one and only best friend. She apparently didn't see anything because the next thing the brunette knew, she was walking right past her, but not before whispering something.
"I know," she said. Mikan's eyes widened. What the hell does she know?
"What do you know?" she asked, tersely and sardonically. Her neck suddenly started to burn. Mikan winced and took in a sharp breath. She tried to ignore it. She needed to listen to Hotaru.
"I know," Hotaru paused for a second. "That you are always going to be my one and only best friend," she said.
Mikan's eyes widened even more. She kept her mouth shut as she bit her lip. Why did she have the feeling that that's not all she knows? She is the Hotaru Imai, after all—the child prodigy. She knows everything. Mikan quickly walked the way opposite of her, which was the wrong way to the front of the building, but who cared? Not her.
Mikan quickened her pace as she turned a corner. Once she was out of Hotaru's view, she slumped against the wall and slid down until she sat on the floor. She hid her face in her knees and took even, controlled breaths. She tried to calm down. She couldn't know, right? Even if she did find out, it wouldn't be through her, so Victoria wouldn't do anything to her, right?
Mikan kept asking herself these questions, wondering if Hotaru would be okay. She rubbed her neck with both of her hands, trying to soothe the burning sensation. She took in a deep breath and she calmed. She slowly got up, and went towards the exit for the back of the building. She could take the long way. It didn't matter, really. She would just be ten minutes late. Mikan walked outside, and noticed the sun wasn't shining. It was cloudy and there was a slight trickle of snow falling throughout as far as the eye could see. She started her trek towards the front.
As Mikan arrived, she realized everyone was still there, waiting. She raised an eyebrow. They were waiting for her? Suddenly, a girl with brown hair ran towards the class and waving her hand saying, "Sorry I'm late!" Of course. They were waiting for one of the normal ones. Mikan slowly walked over to the group. She ended up stopping a good ten feet away from the rest of the class. No way. She couldn't get too close. No one seemed to notice that she arrived.
"Now that we're all here, I would like to say that we are heading for a clearing in the woods. We are going to be writing about what you see," Narumi said. Mikan scoffed. What you see? Seriously? "I want you all to write with the passion that burns within you. Write about all of your feelings about it all. It could be that you hate winter or even the fact that you love it. It could be about someone you miss or someone that you love. Anything. Just include the scenery around you."
Mikan rolled her eyes. This was going to be fun. The class started to move toward the woods. She decided she would show up a bit late. She swiftly, but quietly walked along the woods until she found a bench. She sat down and closed her eyes, leaning her head on the back of the seat. What would she write about? Should she write that she loves winter because it was the season she was given birth into? Or should she write about the hard, cruel life she was living?
Mikan decided to go with the innocent fact that she loved winter. She didn't want to trouble Narumi, anyways. She would also get into trouble if she did anything of the sort. Mikan opened her eyes and looked around her. All she saw was the light flurry of snow, cascading to the ground in tiny little snowflakes. There was a slight wind, which sent a chill down her spine. She shivered and sneezed.
"Bless you."
Mikan didn't have to look up to know who it was, as always. She didn't reply. The burning sensation in her neck was coming back, even stronger than before. It was pulsing throughout her body, giving her an extremely uncomfortable and painful feel. She didn't even talk to the dude, and she was being electrocuted. Nice one, Persona.
"Hey, are you okay? You look pale," he said. Mikan ignored him and shot up off the bench, running around it and straight into the forest.
She stopped by a huge oak tree a little ways into the forest to catch her breath. She slumped against it and tried to wrench the damned necklace off her neck. She was just plain suffering. It was burning like hell. Never again will she go that near Natsume. Mikan's cool hands tried to soothe the pain, but it wouldn't subside. She knew that the going near him wasn't nearly as painful and staying away.
The thought that came to her mind gave her an idea. She knew what she was going to write about.
. . .
Mikan walked straight past Hotaru. She was getting nervous once Hotaru stated what she did. What did she know? Well, well. She does want to hide it. But why? Hotaru didn't want to cause her any more pain. So she won't tell her she knew. She just said, "I know…that you are always going to be my one and only best friend."
Hotaru knew where she went and how she got all those injuries. It seemed like little Mikan is as clumsy as ever. How sad. She could've at least improved over the time she ditched her best friend. Hotaru couldn't blame her though. She was madly in love with him. She knew this because of the way she pushes him away. She knew. Hotaru knew that Mikan left her all those years ago because she didn't want Natsume to die. She couldn't believe when she found out. She felt she was so stupid not to go to Koko in the first place. Of course he couldn't read Mikan's mind, but that doesn't mean he couldn't read the minds of those two goons she hangs out with. Hotaru hated them and their freakish accents. Mikan had the accent from being there so long, too, but Hotaru didn't mind it with her, of course. It was subtle with Mikan.
Mikan whisked away after their little encounter. She should have known that Hotaru does know everything. Hotaru specifically told Koko not to tell anyone else, or he would have to suffer the consequences. He took her seriously. He should. Hotaru went along out the front door of the building and met up with the class. They were waiting for the last of the students to arrive.
"Sorry, I'm late!" a girl yelled. Hotaru rolled her eyes. Nice job being late. She made her wait. Naru's voice echoed through the cold air.
"Now that we're all here, I would like to say that we are heading for a clearing in the woods. We are going to be writing about what you see," Narumi said. "I want you all to write with the passion that burns within you. Write about all of your feelings about it all. It could be that you hate winter or even the fact that you love it. It could be about someone you miss or someone that you love—anything. Just include the scenery around you. "
Jeez, this guy was a maniac. Hotaru hated the stupid writing assignments he made them do. They are all retarded—like the one time he made them write about how much they loved him. She thought she might have died from lying so much. She seriously hated that. Hotaru decided to go with the simple fact that she loved winter.
After all, her best friend was born in the winter.
. . .
Mikan was still sitting against the Oak tree when she heard voices. It was her class. She got up and walked over. Nobody noticed her, again. Narumi was handing out notebooks for them to write in. She walked over and took one, this time, with everyone's undivided attention. She rolled her eyes and swiftly turned around to go find a place alone. She walked for a while until she found a secluded place with a little frozen pond. She sat down near the edges, slumped against a tree. She held her knees up, using them as a desk for her notebook. She began to write.
The scenery around me includes the grace of winter. The snow is gently cascading to the ground in subtle, yet noticeable flakes that has its own unique, intricate pattern. Winter is my second favorite season because I was born on a particularly snowy day in January. Do I absolutely love winter always? The answer is no. Winter can be a disturbance, also. It can get unreasonably cold and snow on the wrong days. Also—
The notebook was suddenly snatched from her hands.
"Who do you think you are?" she yelled to no one. She didn't know who it was, yet.
"Natsume Hyuuga," said he. She looked up to be met with a pair of ruby eyes.
Her hand instantly flew to her neck. His eyes saw this and he smirked, obviously thinking he knew what she was up against.
"I'm not going to steal that, if you're that worried," he retorted.
Mikan shook her head. He didn't understand—not at all! Her neck was on fire, damn it! She couldn't breathe. She whimpered and shook her head harder. She couldn't talk. She was going to die, there and then. She clasped her neck and started to sniffle. Everything was so wrong with this situation. She knew she could just get up and run away in a second, but she couldn't bring herself to. She wanted to stay. Isn't that mentally insane?
"Oi, Polka, are you okay?" Natsume asked.
Mikan wanted to cry at that very moment—not because of the pain, but because he used her old nickname again. She was never so happy in her life to hear that. Polka. Now that she realized it, it sounds utterly stupid coming from him. How old is he now? Eighteen? Geez, Natsume, grow up. Mikan almost laughed at her personal joke.
"Polka, just answer my question," he demanded.
Mikan noticed that he wasn't so careful with her anymore. He was rough, just like he was back then. He's being mean to her, and she couldn't be happier. She decided to answer to his question. She got up and stood millimeters away from his gorgeous face. She placed her hands on his chest and leaned towards his face, despite the fact that she was dying of the necklace.
"No, Natsume, I'm not okay," she croaked, before giving him a light kiss on his lips. His eyes widened and he stopped breathing. A smirk appeared on Mikan's face. She got him.
Mikan backed up from him, took her notebook from him, which was loosely held in his hands out of shock, and just walked away. She was surprised. She actually walked away. Mikan took another look at her sentences that she had written down. They sounded absolutely stupid now. She ripped the page out and set it on fire with her Alice, letting the ashes crumble to the ground.
"Ooh, fancy," Ivan's voice said.
Mikan turned around to find him. She broke into a smile. "Ivan—" she started before she threw a coughing fit and knelt to the ground. His eyes widened and he ran over to her.
"Mikan! Mikan, are you okay?" Ivan asked, frantically, patting her back. She shook her head 'no' pushing him away, but of course, being the worrier he is, he didn't move an inch.
"No," she rasped. Her neck felt all ticklish inside and it stung. She couldn't stop coughing and she was tearing up.
"What the hell did Victoria do to you this time?" he asked, irately.
"P-Persona," Mikan replied, coughing. She grabbed hold of her neck and tried to wrench the necklace off again. It wouldn't budge. She still stared at the ground.
"What's with that necklace?" he asked, touching it. Mikan breathed deep breaths. She was done coughing, and breathed in sharp, crackly breaths. It was excruciatingly painful.
"P-Persona…gave it…to me," Mikan replied, shaky, coughing a bit. "H-He…said it would…send an electric shock through me…w-when…I got near them."
"Why the hell do they keep trying to kill you?" he yelled, getting up. "I swear, next time I see them, I'm going to give them a piece of my damn mind! I'll—"
Mikan tugged on his sleeve and pulled him down next to her. She shook her head frantically. "You'll get it trouble, Ivan," she said, her voice crackly. "They could do the same to you."
Ivan sighed and bent down next to her again. "Mikan, you know I wouldn't care. Remember that one mission Isabella and I followed you on? We got hurt, but at least you didn't die."
Mikan nodded and gave him a laugh. She remembered perfectly. She was to go to the AAO spies' hideout and get this one information sheet. She accidently set off the alarms, and she was in huge trouble. She would have been shot in an instant. Of course, now that she thought about it, that would have been such an easy mission for her now. Ivan and Isabella came along, and deactivated the alarms and shut down the whole building, causing a blackout. It was then that she went and got the sheet and they fled faster than cheetahs.
"I remember," Mikan said, leaning on him. She was exhausted. Ivan gave her a hug. "You were complete idiots. That night, I spent hours thinking about what would have happened if you guys got hurt even more badly than you did. I think I couldn't live with the guilt."
"Well, that's what friends are for, right? They help you so that you don't commit suicide," he laughed. Mikan laughed along with him. He was so easy to talk to.
"Mikan? Ivan? Are you guys okay?" Isabella's voice said. Mikan looked up from her position on the ground. She was standing there, worried, as always. "Oh my God! Mikan, you're so pale!"
Mikan scoffed and said, "It's because of this damn necklace, Bells. Chill. Persona gave it to me. If I get even a good five feet near any of them, I get an electric shock sent throughout my body. I might or might now black out. It sucks so badly. I almost died when I kissed Natsume."
Ivan and Isabella's eyes widened. They both bit their lips, and then burst out laughing.
"Dude! Nice one! Victoria would never live it down!" Ivan laughed, tears forming in his eyes.
"Think of Persona, Ivan! He would certainly throw a hissy fit!" Isabella scoffed. She mimicked Persona with a deep voice, and flaunting unnecessarily. "Oh, look at me, I'm Persona. I will give Mikan a big bad mission and get her killed, so I can torture Natsume! Muahaha!"
"Natsume would seriously die himself if anything like that happened to you, Mikan. And of course, that already did happen," Ivan said, still laughing a bit from Isabella's show.
"I hardly think so," Mikan said. "He's a big boy now."
Ivan and Isabella knew, of course, the whole reason behind Mikan's missions and injuries. They also knew that she was doing all of this to protect him. Sometimes Mikan wished that she could be carefree like she was back eight years ago, but of course, that's impossible now. She was wanted all over the world by the best Spy Academies and such. Don't forget the FBI—they want her there, too. Where will she end up after she graduated from Gakuen Alice? Mikan thought bitterly that she would most likely be dead. Her Alice is, after all, the fourth type. It eats away at her life as she uses it. Natsume will live happily, she hoped. She bet he could find a ton of jobs out there that require his wonderful ability.
Mikan got up and wiped the snow off her coat. She felt better now. She took her notebook and wrote two sentences in it. She thought it would describe everything about winter and what she thought about it.
After this class, they were allowed back inside. They actually got to go to Central Town today. Mikan was glad because then she could just spend time with Ivan and Isabella. She was surprised when Victoria said they may go. Isabella squealed, saying how much she wanted to spend all of that money she gets as an allowance. Mikan shook her head, actually laughing.
Ivan, Isabella, and Mikan walked to Central Town together. Isabella was ready to buy the whole place, if you asked her.
"Mikan, can you do me a favor, a reeaaalllyyy big one?" Isabella asked.
Mikan raised an eyebrow. "Sure thing," she said, shrugging. It was probably something like—buy some ice cream with me!
"Be yourself. Don't put on that façade like you always do. You don't have to be strong all the time. So today, just let loose," she said.
Huh? Mikan blinked. "Seriously?" she asked.
"Yes," she said.
Mikan stared at her, skeptically, and then shrugged again. "Fine, I'll try," she said. It's not like it's that easy to go from stoic to happy-go-lucky. Mikan actually thought that she might not be able to turn back to original self. It was almost like she might not know how.
They walked into the town. Everyone was so happy, walking around town buying Howalon, playing around with their newly-bought toys, and playing tricks on each other. Did she mention that they were buying and eating Howalon? It was a happy sight. Mikan remembered when she came here for the first time—she had to put on that pathetic play to get some money for Howalon. Now she gets so much money, that she could buy the Howalon store. But, alas, she won't do that. She was already under enough pressure. She didn't need to own a store.
"Mikan, do you want some Howalon?" Ivan asked, glancing at her.
"No," she replied, simply.
Mikan stared over at the store. Koko, Kitsuneme, Luca, Yuu, and Natsume were standing there, lazing off, eating Howalon and laughing. Mikan remembered that she used to hang out with these people. She used to laugh along with them—like the one time they came to Central Town together and they bought eighteen boxes of Howalon and just sat around, eating them all day. She smiled at her fading memories.
"Mikan…?" Isabella said. She glanced over at the store. "Why don't you go hang out with them? Ivan and I could cover for you."
"Isabella," Mikan said slowly. "Did you not hear anything I said about my necklace?"
"Oh," she said.
"Yeah," Mikan replied, walking past the stand, making Natsume and the others go quiet and look after her.
"Oi, Mikan!" Ivan called after me.
She glanced back and smiled. "Come on, you slow losers! I know exactly what we can do!" she yelled after them. They both smiled and ran after her.
"Mikan!" she heard a different voice yell. She looked over at the Howalon store. It was Koko. Mikan felt a bit of a tingle on her neck.
"Mikan, let's go," Isabella said, probably noticing her wince. She took her hand and began to lead her away.
"Mikan, pet, where do you think you're going?" Mikan heard her dark voice say.
Mikan didn't turn around. She stared straight ahead at the empty, winter road leading towards the forest. Why the hell was Victoria here? She promised her she would let her come today. She promised her that she wouldn't follow her. She said that. She promised. She just came to ruin it for her—like she did with everything else in her life. She came to punish her, didn't she? Natsume and the others were watching Mikan intently. Victoria was going to punish her right in front of them! Mikan was instantly infuriated.
"You promised," Mikan whispered, her hair shadowing her eyes. "You promised!"
"What did I promise? I seem to have forgotten," Victoria's icy voice said.
And Mikan snapped.
"You dirty liar!" she screeched, turning around. She saw her smug face. "You promised you would let me come today! Why did you follow me? What did I do?"
"Why, nothing, my dear," she said. "I just came to tell you one itsy bitsy little thing."
"What?" Mikan said, trying to tame her temper.
"You seem to have forgotten the necklace Persona gave you. I suggest you remember why you have received that," she said sternly.
Mikan glared at her then whisked her head away. "I know why I got it," Mikan said. Victoria knew what she did. How on earth…?
"Then follow my orders," she said.
"I hate your orders," Mikan spat.
"Follow them," she snapped at her. "Your life is over anyways. It was over since the day you were born."
Mikan stared at the ground, her hair shadowing her eyes once again. Her life is not over, yet.
"I can still make it something worth living," she said. Mikan heard a menacing laugh.
"You keep thinking that, pet," she said. Mikan heard her walk up to her. She saw her feet in line with hers. She was wearing heels, and her midnight black dress flowed evenly to the ground. "But you and I both know that you'll die before you step foot outside the academy, into the freedom you've always wanted."
Mikan stopped breathing. No. She will not die. She was going to live—Victoria will see that. She was going to live. She was going to live and get as far away from this academy as possible. She was going to be free one day. Then she'll show Victoria.
"My life is not over, Victoria," Mikan said, lifting her head up to stare at her. "I will get out of this academy, and alive, too. Just you wait. The second I graduate, I'll ditch you and your damn Dangerous Ability class!"
"Think what you want, Mikan, but when all of that rubbish you talk turns downhill, you might want to reconsider what we both know will happen to you," she said. "Because you know that he's the reason you did this, right? How about we consider how he feels? Do you think he would care if you died?"
"Of course!" Mikan yelled. "I know he will! I know it!"
"Sounds more like you're convincing yourself," Victoria said, self-satisfied. "Do you have any proof?"
"He told me he loves me!" Mikan yelled.
"Oh?" she inquired. "Well, have you considered the fact that it might have been an illusion?"
Mikan stopped and started thinking. Could it have been an illusion? Could Natsume really hate her, like he did all those years ago? Mikan felt doubt and rejection all at the same time. She was feeling so tangled up. She was doomed to live alone, just like Persona said. He did hate her. The person she loved the most hated her. She was just too ignorant to notice. Even if he did say he loved her, who knows? Maybe he was just teasing her, like he used to. He always loved to do that. Mikan laughed, so that she wouldn't cry, even though tears were already falling rapidly down her cheeks.
"He…hates me," she said, her voice cracking.
"I'm glad you've come to your senses," she said."You can't escape."
"He…doesn't love me," Mikan said, blankly.
"And that means…?" Victoria pressed.
"…What…?" she asked, confused. Victoria sighed, tired of her.
"If he doesn't love you, then what's the point? Pet, it means, you did all of this for nothing," she stated. Mikan felt the air blown out of her.
Her world went blank.
Her efforts went to waste.
To think, that she could actually have a life. She could actually be happy. She then stopped in the middle of her train of thinking. How could she even say that? The whole reason she did this, was for Natsume! If she didn't do this, he would be dead! She did this for him, even though he doesn't know it. He's completely clueless. Mikan laughed to herself. She could feel her expression change from that of despair to realization with a tinge of hope.
"Victoria, I didn't ruin my life for nothing," Mikan said slowly. "If I didn't do this, he would be dead. I saved his life by doing this."
"How are you so sure? He might've lived," Victoria said.
"I did it for him, and I regret nothing," Mikan stated firmly. "And don't you dare forget that."
Victoria was speechless for a split second, and then her face turned into an expression of cool composure, like it always is.
"Whatever you say, Mikan," she said, poised. She walked right past her, towards the forest, but not before whispering something to her. "In the end, it doesn't even matter."
She walked away and when Mikan turned around, she disappeared. Mikan stared over at the Howalon stand. Natsume and the others were staring at her with absolutely stunned expressions. Mikan frowned. They heard everything. Her lip started to tremble as Victoria's words came back to her. In the end, it doesn't even matter.
When she leaves this academy, will it matter? Will it matter, when she only has such a short period of time to live? When she leaves this academy, how much time will she have to live? Five years at the most? The sun was beginning to set. Another day of her life was gone. This was what she was destined to do for the rest of her life? Eight years have gone by, just like that, here at this academy. She lost her Grandpa, and she didn't even know who here parents were. Mikan hated the thought. She was a coward. She ran away from everything.
Mikan ran away at that moment. She went past Natsume and down the path that led to the forest and turned at an alley. She walked down to the end, and leaned against the wall, till she was sitting on the ground next to a tall crate. She was hidden. Mikan curled up into a little ball and silently cried, thinking to herself, what was keeping her alive. What was keeping her alive? The answer was simple. It was Natsume.
Mikan lifted her head to see that the vibrant colors of the sunset were in the alley, creating a beautiful scene with hues of yellows and oranges. The alley wasn't dark at all. It was a little like her. You may think that she was all dark, but she was really bright. She had to admit—she was a bit mysterious, but that's only because she was extremely dangerous. That doesn't mean she couldn't have a life, though.
Mikan looked to her side and spotted a flyer. It probably blew there by the wind. It was labeled—Central Town's Singing Contest! It said a bunch of stuff about how it was testing for the best singers at Alice Academy. Mikan stared at it. This might actually be…fun. Maybe she could do this. It would totally spite Victoria and Persona. Get them riled up…defying rules…Mikan smirked. She was totally doing this now. She checked when it was. Her eyes widened. It was…now.
She sprung up and ran out of the alley. She was going to the center of the town, where the contest was held.
"Mikan, wait!" Isabella yelled behind me.
Mikan turned around. "What is it? I wanna go enter in this—" she started.
"I know! We're going to get you ready!" she said. She held up a dress. Mikan couldn't see what color it was or what it looked like. It was covered in a black dress bag. "Be every color that you are! You can't always wear black. Remember when I told you that before?"
Mikan nodded, biting her lip, trying to hold back a huge smile. They were such good friends. Mikan took the dress and Ivan took her hand and they ran into a nearby shop. It was a simple restaurant. Ivan gave Mikan a pair of shiny silver lace-up heels and she ran into the bathroom and into a stall. She opened the dress bag and gasped at what she saw. It was a pink bubble dress with a bow at its waistline. It was stunning. Mikan quickly took off her uniform and coat and swapped outfits, so that she was now wearing the dress and her uniform was in the dress bag. She put her coat back on, hiding most of her dress, and ran out. Mikan walked out of the restaurant where they were waiting for her. Ivan took the dress bag and Isabella took her coat off.
"You look stunning. Don't hide it," she said. Mikan laughed. Isabella wasn't worried that she would catch a cold? That was a first. Isabella turned her face towards her and applied some shimmer pink lip gloss to Mikan's lips. She them pinched her cheeks to bring color. It hurt. "There," she said when she finished.
"Go for it, Mikan," Ivan said, giving her a hug. "You look beautiful. You can do it. Don't worry. If anything happens, Bells and I will cover for you."
"Forget what Victoria said, okay?" Isabella said. "We know she hurt you. Don't listen. You will get out of this academy. We'll help you and make sure of it."
"I love you guys!" Mikan said, suddenly, giving them both hugs. "We'll get out of this academy together, okay?"
They nodded. Mikan knew that if Victoria found out what she was doing, she would be toast. She wouldn't live to see the next sunset, but…that didn't stop her. She wanted to break out. It was such a rush.
"Go, you idiot!" Isabella said, pulling away. She gave Mikan a CD. Mikan took it and sprinted.
She flashed past buildings and people who gave her odd and worried looks. She ignored them and kept on going. Mikan came across an odd rabbit in the middle of the path on her way there. She almost stepped on it, but she ran around it as she squealed.
"Who the hell left their rabbit in the middle of a road?" she yelled to no one, running again and earning more stares.
Mikan was out of breath when she reached the center of the town. She saw the stage and the announcer on it. It was Narumi…of course. Mikan made a face. Why Narumi of all people? He disturbs her because he's one of the few people who knew her condition. She didn't mind that Ivan and the others knew, but him…she just didn't know with the guy. He was just a sort of fatherly figure to her when she was little, and she hated having him know. She remembered when he said that she could call him Dad. Mikan just ignored the thought.
"Okay, then, any other volunteers?" Narumi said into the microphone. "Come on! Don't be shy! Anyone else want to take a whack at it?"
Mikan took a deep breath and ran into the crowd.
She jumped up and yelled, "I do!"
Narumi looked at the frantic brunette a bit surprised. Mikan waved her hand at him and jumped up and down, telling him that she was there. She wasn't any illusion. The crowd was beginning to silence.
"I want to try!" Mikan yelled, out of breath.
"Wonderful!" Narumi said. "Come on up, Mikan."
Mikan ran out of the crowd and onto the stage. Walking up the stairs was a bit of a hassle. She was already so tired. Her heels clicked on the stage. Mikan took a look at the crowd. It was frighteningly big. The sun was turning sky into a whole mess of colors. There were purples, blues, pinks, and oranges. Mikan took a deep breath.
"What song will the final contestant be singing?" he said.
Mikan paused. What song was she going to sing? She pondered for about two seconds and then she immediately knew the perfect song. It was the song she wrote back in London. It was for Isabella's birthday. Song writing was one of the few hobbies she had to do in the free time she had.
"A song I personally wrote," Mikan said, in a cool voice. She held her hand out for the microphone. He gave it to her and she gave him the CD. Mikan was positive that was the song on the CD.
"Good luck, Mikan," he whispered.
Mikan smirked. "Thanks," she said, then whispered so that no one but him could hear, "Dad."
His eyes widened for a split second, and then he smiled.
"What are you still doing on the stage?" she asked, keeping her poise.
"Nothing," he said and got off the stage to the judges table below and in front of it. But before that, he plugged the CD into the huge stereo system. Just as he sat down on the judges table, the song began, and Mikan started singing.
. . .
They had the lot of them together. Natsume growled at his best friend. And Hotaru was getting angry at her boyfriend for losing his rabbit. Who even carries around a pet rabbit anymore? It's abnormal!
"Luca," Natsume said. "It's been hours."
"I need to find him!" he said.
Luca had lost his rabbit…again.
"Are you sure the thing didn't just get run over or something?" Natsume asked. Luca paled. "Okay, okay. Don't worry. I'll find it."
"Okay," Luca said, breathing a sigh of relief.
Natsume heard a squeal. Normally, he would ignore it, but this one was all too familiar.
"Who the hell left their rabbit in the middle of a road?" her angelic voice yelled. Natsume turned to see a hurried Mikan running around Luca's rabbit.
Natsume's eyes widened and his face began to feel a bit warm. Mikan was being unfair. Why did she have to be like that? Did she want to torture him? First, she goes ahead and kisses him out of nowhere, and now she's wearing that dress—that amazingly sexy dress. What the heck was she trying to do to him? Is she trying to make him want her even more than he already does? His jaw clenched.
"Mikan looks good," Koko said. Natsume stared after her and he realized that was Luca's rabbit.
"Bunny!" Luca yelled, running to it.
"Finally, we found him!" Koko said, tired. Natsume followed Luca.
"Come on, Ivan! Let's go watch Mikan!" said a familiar voice. Natsume turned to see Isabella dragging Ivan in the direction Mikan went.
"I'm going! I'm going!" Ivan yelled back.
"I want to see where Mikan went," Imai said suddenly. Natsume didn't turn to face her. He stared in the direction Mikan went.
"So do I," Natsume said, running to Mikan.
When he reached his destination, he was in the center of the town and Mikan was on the stage. He made his way to the front of the crowd. She didn't notice him yet. The music began and she began to sing.
. . .
Mikan's hair gently blew with the wind, as did her dress. Her voice was like bells. It filled the air with a pleasant sound. The winter sunset complimented her dress. It made her glow. She would be lying if she said she wasn't cold, but she didn't really care. All she was thinking was, Victoria can suck it.
Come Clean
(Hilary Duff)
Let's go back
Back to the beginning
Back to when the earth, the sun, the stars
all aligned
'Cause perfect didn't feel so perfect
Tryna fit a square into a circle
was no life
I defy…
Let the rain fall down
and wake my dreams
Let it wash away
My sanity
'Cause I wanna feel the thunder
I wanna scream
Let the rain fall down
I'm coming clean
I'm coming clean
Oh
Mikan wouldn't let Victoria tell her that her life was over. She still had some years left, even though the quantity was few. She would make the most of it. Victoria will see. She will make it out of this place and she won't be able to stop her. Mikan just hoped that when she left, her hands would be clean. All of those lives lost because of her—she hoped that they were set free.
I'm shedding
Shedding every color
Tryna find a pigment of truth beneath my skin
Oh
Her pigment of truth—what does that mean? She does not have a black heart, she knew that. She was going against the rules that Victoria set for her. Isabella picked the colors she thought that described her. Mikan remembered at her fifteenth birthday party, Isabella told her that her true colors were orange and pink. Orange because that's what color her name represented. Pink because she gave everyone love. Mikan didn't know what that meant. How on earth did she give everyone love? Isabella told her that she had the power to affect everyone around her. She gave kindness to those who need it and she was sweet and kind.
If that was so, how did she affect them?
'Cause different
Doesn't feel so different
And going out is always better
than staying in
Feel the wind
Let the rain fall down
And wake my dream
Let it wash away
My sanity
'Cause I wanna feel the thunder
I wanna sceram
Let the rain fall down
I'm coming clean
I'm coming clean
I'm coming clean
I hear it
Mikan stared down at the crowd and her eyes bulged out of her head. All of her friends were watching her. From Isabella to Hotaru, and yes, that includes Natsume, Luca, and their buds. Mikan pretended that they didn't see her see them and just kept singing.
Let the rain fall
Let the rain fall
I'm coming…
Let the rain fall down
And wake my dreams
Let it wash away
My sanity
'Cause I wanna hear the thunder
I wanna scream
Let the rain fall down
I'm coming clean
Oh, I'm coming clean
Oh, I'm coming clean
Let the rain fall
Let the rain fall
Let the rain fall
I'm coming clean…
Let's go back
Back to the beginning…
Mikan had her eyes closed when she finished the last verse. She opened them and the crowd wasn't applauding. She grew nervous. Was she really that bad?
When she looked in front of her, though, she found out why they were silent. It wasn't singing.
Natsume Hyuuga was walking up onto the stage.
Ha! There you go! Cliffhanger! Ah, I'm sorry, my dear, dear, readers. I must stop here, though. I have already reached so many pages. Please forgive me.
Hey, I have an idea, maybe if you review, I will update faster, eh?
REVIEW!
Edited October 23, 2010: I changed the song, yes. Don't kill me if you don't like it. I just felt it cliché if I used the other one, so I changed it. Mistakes? They are most likely in there. XD
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