Disclaimer: I don't own Gakuen Alice/ Alice Academy
Author's Note: Thank you for the reviews and sorry if my updates takes too long. i hope you like this chapter.
Chapter 14
"Narumi are you trying to get yourself killed?" Ms. Yamada worriedly yelled at Narumi.
"Narumi your going over board in helping that girl" Mr. Misaki added.
"I need to do this" Narumi stated without any sign of fear or anything.
"But…but… do you think Mikan would be happy if she finds out about this?" Ms. Yamada blurted out.
Narumi stopped in what he is doing and look straight at Ms. Yamada. "She's not gonna find out" he said as if giving a warning then he picked up his bag "I'll be heading out now" then he walked out.
Ms. Yamada and Mr. Misaki just sighed and shook their heads "We did everything we could"
"What a nice morning" it was already 10 am and Mikan just woke up, she hasn't notice the time though. She started to stretch her arms. I've never had such nice sleep for days. She headed for the bathroom to brush her teeth and take a bath. A warm bath in such cold day is just what I need.
She finished her bath and already dressed, she was combing her hair when she heard knocks on her door. Who could that be? She asked herself but of course she wouldn't get an answer unless she open the door.
"Itsuki?! What are you doing here this early in the morning?"
"Early?!" Itsuki slightly frowned "it's ten in the morning and were supposed to have a meeting at nine. Everyone's worried about you" he added.
Mikan took a glimpse on her watch and was shock to see the time "Oh my God, I didn't notice the time" with that Mikan came out of her door running leaving Itsuki outside her door smiling.
Mikan arrived at their meeting place panting and right behind her is Itsuki panting as well.
"You're late" Tsubasa scolded her.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry" Mikan kept on bowing her head as an apology.
"What happened?" Tsubasa asked her.
"I over slept and I didn't notice the time"
"Ok since you're here now, let's start the meeting"
The meeting took for about an hour and a half. They talked about all the necessary preparations like decorations, foods and others. It's lunch time when they finished so almost everyone went on their own way to have their lunch. Mikan was asked by Tsubasa to stay and have lunch with them. Itsuki knows that Tsubasa wanted to talk to Mikan about something so he decided to left Mikan and said that he would just inform the others that she won't be eating with them.
Mikan, as said, joined Tsubasa and the others in their lunch at the high school cafeteria. "Eat up Mikan, after this there's something I want to talk to you about"
"Ok"
After 30 minutes they were all done eating. Tsubasa, Misaki, Kaname, Tono and Mikan headed at Mr. Bears cottage. When they arrived there, Tsubasa started talking.
"Mikan, I want to ask you about the rumors" Tsubasa said with a serious look.
"What rumors?" Mikan was puzzled.
"You know what I'm talking about"
"No I don't"
"Poor Mikan always clueless of what's happening around her" Misaki said.
"Anyway, there's been rumors spreading all around the Academy that you and Natsume are together" Tsubasa stated.
"What?!!!" Mikan was shocked.
"That's not all, there's also rumors that it's you and Itsuki that is together" Tono added.
"What?!!!" Mikan yelled out again.
"Can't you say something else?" Tsubasa said getting irritated to Mikan's reaction.
"but…but… I don't know what to say. I have no idea about this rumors"
"ok, then is it true that Natsume, you and Itsuki went out together yesterday" Tsubasa curiously asked.
"No. no, of course not. We just went shopping together with our other friends yesterday, it just happened that the three of us stayed a little bit later because we're not done with our shopping. That's all"
"But I thought you and Natsume are avoiding each other" Tono said.
"And didn't I tell you to keep distance from Itsuki" Tsubasa added annoyed. He's just worried about Mikan. She's like a sister to him and he just wanted to protect her.
"Ok, hold it. Hear me out first." Mikan cut the endless questions. "First, I am not together nor going out with either of them so the rumors are nothing but rumors, it's not true. Second, Natsume and I already talked and fixed whatever it is that happened between us and now we're back to being friends. Third, Itsuki is a great guy and hasn't done anything wrong so there's no reason for me to be avoiding him. Now, is everything clear" she finished explaining her side. "God, I didn't even know there's such a rumor spreading around"
The four whose been listening to her explanation sighed in relief. "ok, at least now we know what's the real deal" Tsubasa stated.
"Anyway, Mikan is your dress ready for the party? It's just three days away" Misaki curiously asked. The dress she was talking about is the dress that Mikan would wear in their class party because for the party for the whole Academy on Christmas eve is of course they would have a specific motif.
"Here we are again, girls and their dresses" Tsubasa murmured to the two boys.
"It's natural" Kaname said.
"It's exhausting" Tono added.
"Well Mikan, is your dress ready?"
"I already have dresses to choose from"
"You want me to help you choose" Misaki offered her.
"Ah, well, sure" Mikan said hesitating. She knows Misaki, she would be like a doll again with her.
After that little talk with Tsubasa and the others, Mikan felt exhausted; but while walking around looking for her friends she herself heard the rumors Tsubasa is talking about.
The rumors goes like this…
"Hey have you heard, Mikan and Natsume are together?"
"I thought it was Mikan and Itsuki?"
"I thought so too, because they were always together"
"but we all know that Mikan is the only girl close to Natsume"
"Yeah he changed a lot since she got here"
"It's so unfair, why does she always get the best guys?"
"It's not only Natsume and Itsuki, there are other guys who like Mikan but since most people here are afraid of Natsume, no one dared to get close to her"
"But it's no surprise, ever since she entered the Academy, there has been a lot of changes. Because of her students learn how to get along and everyone believed in the Academy again"
"yeah she's a nice girl. I envy her"
It took Mikan almost an hour before she found her friends. They were on the benches near the forest. "Hey guys" she said as she approach her friends.
Before Mikan could reach the others, Sumire came running to her with an angry face "Is it true that you are going out with my Natsume?!!!"
Mikan stopped because Sumire is on her way, the others look at their direction obviously curious of what Mikan would say. Mikan sweat dropped "I'm not going out with Natsume, ok"
"then your going out with my cousin?" Kaoru asked her next and she looks irritated
"No of course not." She answered directly. "I'm not going out with anyone. Satisfied? Gosh, how many times do I have to hear that question. Is there something wrong being friends with guys?"
Just as she finished her words, the two guy involved in the rumor came with the other guys.
"What's happening here?" one of the boys asks after noticing the different aura in the group.
"They were just talking about the rumor" Koko answered the question. Obviously he read somebody else's mind again.
Mikan approached Koko, everyone thought she's gonna scold him again for reading others mind but they were wrong. "Where's Little Bear?" she asked.
"Huh? How did you know I have Little Bear?" Koko asked in confusion.
"You just said you found him walking around"
"But he didn't say anything" Yuu said.
"I heard him say it'
"Maybe I slipped" but I'm sure I didn't say anything, but I was thinking it. From behind him, he held out Little Bear.
Mikan picked him up, he was holding a flower, the same flower Kaname gave to her when he first gave her Little Bear. "Is this for me?"
"Master asked me to give it to you" Little bear told her.
"Kaname?" he must be worried about me because of that rumor. He's so sweet.
How did she know what I was thinking? Could she have multiple Alice?. Koko is still bothered of how Mikan know what he was thinking.
"It's impossible. There's no such thing as having multiple Alice" Mikan answered his question, the question he was only thinking.
"What are you talking about Mikan?" Yuu asked her
"Koko just said something about having multiple Alice, there's no such like it right?"
"Your hearing voices Mikan. Koko didn't say anything" Sumire said to her. Mikan looked at everyone, she also looked at Koko as if asking if he said anything. Everyone shook their head, meaning no one heard anything.
"Really, then maybe I'm just exhausted, that's why I'm hearing voices" she said. But I'm sure I heard him. "I think I would take some rest in my room for a while" Mikan left the others confused.
"What's wrong with her?" Sumire asked.
"She wasn't like that earlier" Itsuki said.
"Maybe she's just really exhausted" Yuu added.
The ones left never talked about the rumors going around since they already heard what they want to hear from Mikan. They just talked about their preparations for the Christmas and are they planning to ask for the dance. As usual if there is a party, there would also be a dance; but not everyone are talking about the party because behind them, in one of the trees, Natsume and Koko are having different conversation.
"What's bothering you Koko?" Natsume asked Koko. We all know how Natsume is to his friends.
"Mikan can read my thoughts, or rather she can hear my thoughts" Koko said with his brows crossed.
"That's impossible. Her Alice is Nullification, she couldn't possibly hear thoughts. I've never heard someone having multiple Alice"
"I know that. But, remember what she was saying earlier, she said she heard me say it, but I never say it right, I was thinking it Natsume"
Am I hearing voices? I swear I heard Koko say it. "He did say it, right Little Bear?" Mikan asked the stuffed animal she was holding. Little Bear shook his head. "Really, he didn't? I guess I really need to take arrest then"
Mikan took a nap that afternoon, then when she woke up, she had dinner and started working on her gift for Youichi. He already forgotten what happened earlier.
For the next two days everything is going smooth for Mikan. In the morning she helps in decorating their classroom for their class party then they all have lunch together before they separate.
In the afternoon she hangs out with her friends. They watch how the others go frantic on making their preparations and doing their shopping. They've also seen the girls running around looking for the handsome guys to ask for their last dance. As usual the boys who gets much of the crowd are Natsume, Ruka, Kaname, Tono and Itsuki, because they are the most popular boys according to the girls. Tsubasa is also popular but everyone know his taken. It's a relief for Mikan knowing that the rumors about her, Natsume and Itsuki fades easily. As for the other boys, they just wait until someone asks them since it's the girls who gets to ask for their last dance.
In the evening, before going to bed, Mikan works on her gift for Youichi. On the third day, the last day of preparations, Mikan is starting to feel the exhaustion, but she's frantic running around chasing guys or anything like that, she just feel exhausted for some reason.
They finished decorating their classroom early, so they separated early. They need to take a rest because the big day is tomorrow. Mikan on the other hand is with Itsuki heading for their friends. On their way to their meeting place, they saw two figures, not too far from them, heading the same way they are.
It took a while before Mikan recognize who it was, but when she did for some reason she pulled Itsuki and hide to whatever it is she found that could hid them.
"Why are we hiding" Itsuki curiously asked her.
"ssshhhhh" she answered.
From where they were hiding they can't clearly hear what the two were talking about but they are sure that it is about the dance. Kaoru is asking Natsume to be her last dance. So she really do like him. Well that's no surprise, almost every girl like Natsume inside Mikan's head.
What are you planning this time? Itsuki is curious of what was his cousin planning.
The both of them didn't hear Natsume's answer but they saw when Kaoru jumped into Natsume and kissed him on the cheek. Mikan could not take it anymore she didn't wait for what will happen next, she just turned around and run, leaving Itsuki looking at her also stunned. Itsuki tried to follow Mikan but she was fast.
On the other hand, Natsume was shocked on what Kaoru did and by instinct he pushed her away. "What the hell do you think you're doing girl?" he asked angrily.
"I thought that might help you decide" Kaoru sounds surprised by the fact that she was pushed away.
"I'm not going with you. So stop bugging me girl" Natsume yelled at her really pissed.
"Is it because of that Mikan?" Kaoru's sounds really pissed as well. "What is it with that girl that you can't see in me?"
"Look in the mirror and you'll see" from that Natsume turned away.
"Damn you" Kaoru shouted to whom was that for, she's the only one who knows. Why doesn't he fell for my charm. I'll make him mine no matter what, just watch and see Mikan Sakura I'll take him from you.
Why? Why do I feel this way? What is it to me if Natsume likes Kaoru, it's not as if he's my boyfriend or anything he's just my friend. Kaoru is really pretty it's no wonder even Natsume fell for her. With that thoughts Mikan didn't noticed teardrops starting to fall from her eyes together with the snow which just started to fall. She closed her eyes stopping her tears and feeling the snow on her face. Mikan stayed in that position for a while until she heard someone walking to her direction. She slowly opened her eyes to see who it was, she was expecting to see Itsuki because she knows he followed her, but…
"Mikan? What are you doing here?" It was Natsume standing not too far from her looking at her with a confused look.
"I…I… I just want to feel the snow in my face. It's been a long time since I last played in the snow." She made an excuse and painted a fake smile on her face. "I was about to go anyway" she added the walked pass Natsume but before she could get far…
"Wait, I'll walk with you" he said the walked beside her. On their way back to the dormitory there was a deafening silence between them. Natsume walked Mikan to her room and before she could enter, Natsume broke the silence "Mikan, if there's something you want to talk about just tell me. You know I'll listen."
"yeah, thanks" then she walked inside, then she went straight to bed, she lay her back down and stared at her ceiling while she keeps on sighing. I need to finish my gift for Youichi, there's no time thinking about senseless things.
Mikan continued knitting, it was almost time for dinner when she finally finished. When she's done she throe herself to bed and held the finished teddy bear up. "Finally" she said then smiled but then…
"hello, Master" the stuffed bear talked.
The surprise Mikan bolted up from her bed and throw the bear into her bed. "W-w-what are you?" she asked stammering.
"You made me" the stuffed bear answered.
"I know I made you but you shouldn't be talking nor moving" she's starting to panic "what's happening? This couldn't be happening. I need to talk to someone, I need to tell someone, I need to know what's happening" with that thought Mikan grabbed the bear and run out of her room. The snow stopped falling so she went out of the dormitory trying to find whoever she can talk to, but to her luck no one's out. Everyone's probably preparing for the big day tomorrow.
She really need to talk to someone so she took her hand phone out and started calling her friends but most of them have a busy line and there are some who wouldn't pick up even Hotaru probably busy as well. She looked at the numbers on her phone, there's only two more numbers left that she hasn't dialed, Itsuki and Natsume. She has no choice she dialed one of the remaining numbers.
"who is this?" the man from the other line answered.
"This is Mikan. I need to talk to you now"
"Where are you?"
"Just outside the dormitory"
"wait for me there"
Mikan didn't wait long. She saw someone rushing out of the dormitory.
"What is it?! What happened?!" Natsume asked her worriedly.
Mikan handed him the teddy bear.
"What is this?" Natsume is confused.
"That's the gift I made for Youichi"
"You called me out here just to show me this?!!" Natsume sounds annoyed.
"Look at him, carefully"
Natsume did as he was told then from his hand the bear stood up and greeted him "Hello"
Natsume was shocked. "are you sure you made this?"
"Yes, that's the one I bought from central town"
"But why is it moving?"
"I don't know, that's the reason why I called you out here"
"Did you let that Sono guy touch it?"
"no"
"ok, ok, let's calm down. Let's as Narumi about this" Natsume suggested
"But he's not here. Ms. Yamada said he's out on vacation"
"Then let's wait until he comes back. For the mean time don't let anyone else know about this."
"Ok" Mikan shivers while saying this because she's starting to feel the cold since she forgot to bring jacket because she was in a hurry.
Natsume noticed Mikan shivering so he took off his jacket "Here put this on, you'll catch a cold. Let's go back in. It's time for dinner anyway"
They went in side by side. Mikan hid the bear before they enter the cafeteria. When they entered the cafeteria, there are already student's there and also some of their friends are there. It didn't enter their minds that another rumor might start when they see them together but now it just hit their heads.
While they were eating no one dared to ask anything but inside their heads there are a lot of questions like; why is she with him? Why is he with her? Is there really nothing going on between those two? Since when they started going out?. They have a lot of questions waiting to be answered. They also have different reactions, some are surprise, some are envious, some are jealous, some are angry and some are irritated.
Author's Note: the next chapter is about the most awaited Christmas party and Christmas Dance