Chapter 4

The Soccer Game

"The time has come, black cat. Be with us or everything that you care about will be lost with you"

All around him are people fighting, dying, and crying. He doesn't know what to do anymore. He tried using his Alice but it doesn't work.

"It's no use trying to fight, you can't win anyway. We're far more stronger than you are. You're worthless by yourself so be one with us."

"Never! No one can tell me what to do. I live my life the way I want.'

"You don't have a life. The Academy took it from you remember.

He fired at the person talking but he just avoided it. "Do you really want to fight" then he flew of with just on snap.

A girl came running towards him. "Are you ok? Don't you get it no matter what happens you will never get him on your side?" the girl bust out in anger.

"Stay away this is my fight"

"I'm just trying to help"

"I don't need your help"

"So, you don't need her help. She's just a hindrance is that it. Why don't we cut her out of the picture?" The Man said then moves closer to them. He lifted the girl then seconds later her body fell. It's as if he sucked the life out of her.

"What did you do? She has nothing to do with this"

"but she's no help either. She needs to be erased."

"Damn you" then he fired again and again but the man just evaded all of them. The man laughed. "See how worthless you are, you can't protect your friends and you can't even avenge them. Look around you this is what will happen if you don't get stronger and for you to get stronger you need to be on our side." Then the man left him laughing "I'll be watching you"

Natsume looked around him and his friend's lifeless body lying all over. He's angry but what anger him more is seeing the lifeless body of Mikan lying next to him. He carried her body to his lap. "Why can't I protect them? I tried. I tried to protect them but it's not enough. I wasn't able to protect the people precious to me. She even died protecting me instead the other way around" without him noticing tears are flowing out of his hold to Mikan is becoming tighter.

Natsume bolted up from his bed. "That dream again. How many times have I had that same dream? Darn it." The sun hasn't risen yet but because of that dream he can't go back to sleep or rather he doesn't want to go back to sleep anymore. "The dream, the fortune teller, the new students and now Ruka. What the hell am I going to do?"

It's their P.E. class today, Both boys and girls are playing soccer first set of the game is for girls so the boys are just watching, They were allowed to use Alice and as usual Mikan protested but there is nothing that she can do. Nonoko, Kaoru, Hotaru and Sumire are in the same team while Mikan is on the opposing team which make her protest even more.

They get on the game, everything is going smoothly and they are all enjoying until Kaoru got rough on playing no one noticed it though because soccer is a rough game anyway. She keeps on targeting Mikan only Hotaru noticed it so she keeps the ball away from Kaoru as much as possible but it's a team play so even if she don't give the ball to Kaoru she will get it from the other player.

They now came to the deciding point, they're giving it all they got. Mikan has the ball and Kaoru is guarding her. Kaoru was waiting for an opening when she found what she's looking She goes for it without second thought the next thing they know Mikan was lying on the ground shouting in pain. Her friends immediately run to her including the guys who were watching them.

"Hey Mikan are you ok?" Kaoru was the first one to ask her.

"Yeah, I'm fine. my leg hurts a little though"

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hit your leg."

"It's ok, it was an accident"

"are you sure you're alright Mikan" Ruka asked her.

"I'll take you to the clinic to make sure" Itsuki followed.

"I'm ok, I can go to the clinic myself. You still have a game to play."

"How can you go if you can't even stand up?" Natsume scolded her.

"well I.. I.." She can't find the right words to say

"I'll take her, it's my fault anyway" Kaoru volunteered.

No one argue anymore, they just watched Mikan and Kaoru go.

"I wonder if Mikan's ok" Itsuki said. He was standing beside Natsume who were looking the same direction as he does.

Natsume looked at Itsuki who were also looking at him. They were staring at each other when they hear the whistle for their game.

Natsume is not interested in playing so he just sits out. His friends are playing though including Ruka. They were on the opposing side of Itsuki. So far Itsuki was leading the game. He was fast, the way he tosses and kicked the ball he's like a professional soccer player. He's unstoppable. They were all boys so they want a fair game. No one uses Alice even though they were allowed to.

Natsume's brows twitched when the cheering got louder. He started to get irritated. Why can't these girls watch quietly. He then noticed that Mikan is already one of the girls cheering. He watched what's so good about the game that everyone's watching. He noticed the way Itsuki carry the game. He saw how tired his friends are but still their skills are no match for Itsuki.

Itsuki got another goal. He really is unbeatable. The crowd cheered, and then Itsuki looked at them he gave out a wink. No one noticed to whom the wink was for except Natsume. It was for Mikan. Itsuki looked at his direction as if asking for a challenge. Natsume looked at a self-confident smirk on Itsuki's face then he stood up from his seat.

They called for substitution. Since it's just gym class they can call for substitution anytime they want. Koko take the seat and Natsume get in the game.

Everyone was surprised yet excited. Itsuki's team has the ball. Natsume is guarding Itsuki.

"So you decided to play" Itsuki said teasing Natsume. Natsume didn't say a word.

Now Itsuki has the ball, his dribbling in a high speed, Natsume watch sharply for an opening. "You're skills are not enough" Natsume said and in just a blink of an eye he snatched the ball like lightning. He swiftly dribbled the ball across the field dodging Itsuki's every moves. He's still far from the goal line when he stopped. Without wasting time he kicked the ball forcefully. Itsuki tried blocking it but his effort was not enough. The ball went straight to the goal, swirled through the net then dropped through the ground.

Everyone cheered for Natsume including Mikan. She hasn't seen Natsume play soccer, because every time they play Natsume always sits out. Seeing how he played Mikan is amazed.

Kaoru who was beside Mikan was also amused my poor cousin, Natsume is better than you in everything even in your beloved game.

Itsuki felt humiliated. He hates losing for he never felt losing before. He glares at Natsume with anger. Natsume caught the glare and walked towards Itsuki "This game is decided. I'm sure you don't want to be humiliated over and over" he murmured to his ears. Natsume then left the field with girls running towards him.

Itsuki raged in anger. Natsume's words echoed in his ears. I never lost to anyone not even to you Hyuuga. This will be the first and the last time you'll beat me.

Mikan with her legs already healed walks towards him "Nice game Itsuki. You're such a fantastic player" after saying what she want she run to her friends.

"Still grieving for your lost dear cousin?" Kaoru walks towards her cousin to tease him.

"this would be the first and the last time I would loose and at least I played fair" he said.

Kaoru instead of getting offended she just smile towards Itsuki's reaction.

"Wow Natsume I didn't know you play that good in soccer" Mikan said that to Natsume like a proud mother. She and her friends followed Natsume and the other guys after the game.

"Yeah Natsume you look even hotter when you play." The Natsume-Ruka fans club president said while picturing Natsume being the hottest looking guy while wearing a soccer uniform.

"Get off my back idiots" he answered them coldheartedly. He turned around to give a deadly stare to the annoying girls but one of the boys accidentally bumped him. He didn't fall directly to the ground because he fell with the one standing in front of him.

Author's note: let's end this chapter here guys. Let's make it a little suspense even though I know that you already figure out who nAtsume fell with. 2 days for the next update. If it's late again I'll make it two chapters again.