AUTHORS NOTE

Hey! I'm glad you guys enjoyed the previous chapter. Thank you to the people who reviewed the previous chapter: simplebutspecial, -KateDominiqueXAlice-, younggem, tensai-Chibi, JC-zala, Caritate, melissa1995, Tangerine Princess, cute-azn-angel, Konnichiwa Minna, Glynchan, Fallen Raindrops, nikz135, Star Sapphirex, denii05, Lady-Von-Bielefeld! Your reviews made me happy, thank you! 

Sorry if the previous chapter lacked detail. I was in kind of a hurry when I was writing that and I was tired from school. Haha! And sorry if the plot or something is still unclear – I promise you guys that I will explain it as the story progresses.

DISCLAIMER

It's CLEARLY impossible that I will EVER own Gakuen Alice.

--

The Song of Flames

Written by Keiko Oda

Chapter Four: Blue Orbs

--

…And he held me close.

I couldn't see who I was hugging. I could only see the silhouette of a boy and the stars that glimmered above him. And I could feel the cold autumn wind softly nudge me. I closed my eyes.

I felt a tear stream down my cheek and onto his arm.

"Are we…are we going to die?" I asked, biting my lip.

I felt him shrug.

"Are we?" I asked again

"I…I don't know" he replied, with a tone of sadness in his voice. "I really don't know"

And then I woke up.

--

Mikan's POV

"Another dream," I groaned, getting out of bed. "I've been getting the WEIRDEST dreams lately"

No, seriously. I have.

I've been getting weird dreams that involved some "mystery guy" in it. In those dreams, I act as if I'm madly in love with that guy. And the setting is always probably in the times where people used to wear those kimonos and don't have TV yet. You know, the time with those samurais and stuff. I don't know what it's exactly called but those are my dreams. And they're really WEIRD.

I stood up and walked to the kitchen. It was another lonely weekend. A weekend with nobody to talk to, nobody to go out with, nobody to see…just NOBODY. I'm always alone during weekends. But I guess I've gotten pretty used to it.

I was lazy to cook breakfast for myself. I had cereal for breakfast. I really like the kiddy cereal. You know the ones that have high sugar content and have a plastic toy in the bottom. Especially Strawberry Cubes! They're so good! They also turn the milk PINK.

I had breakfast while I watched TV. The programs in the morning were pretty boring. But I watched them anyway. I was able to get hold of a comedy in channel forty-eight but it was too bad that it was the end of the program already. The next show was a debate about whether fruits were healthy for you and it was really boring. So I turned off the TV and did the washing up.

I took a shower after that and I took time in drying my hair. Afterwards, I read some magazines on my bed and then after that, I did nothing at all but stare at my pale pink ceiling – thinking about Natsume.

There was something about that loser that somehow made me want to think about him the whole time. Maybe it was those eyes of his. Those were one of his striking features.

Wait.

ONE OF his striking features?

So that means there are more!

I then gently bumped my head on the wall.

Get a grip. I thought, burying my face on the pillow. He's a pervert.

This is no use. I thought. I should probably go out and buy groceries. I couldn't buy them the last time.

I stood up and walked to my closet. I picked out my pretty velvet sweater that had tiny stars all over it and some jeans. I left my hair down since I was too lazy to fix it and I put on some sneakers. I took out my umbrella in case it would rain and I took some money from my money box and inserted them into my wallet.

I dumped all my essentials into a green bag and left the house.

I was quite hesitant to go to the subway after yesterday's incident so I walked to the bus stop instead. It had been a long time since I've taken the bus so it excited me.

The weather was colder than usual. And I made my walk more fun by kicking up the leaves and stepping on the frozen puddles. I slipped on one of them – I think I got a bruise.

I got on the next bus and sat in front.

I leaned my head against the window. And then I fell asleep again.

--

I had one of those dreams again. But now that I think about it, I can't remember. But I know it had something to do with white flames rising up into the sky, and I remember that there were people screaming. But I wasn't one of them. I clearly remember that I was surrounded by those white flames, but I wasn't getting hurt. I think I was the source of the white fire.

I got off the bus stop and walked to the supermarket.

The supermarket was PACKED. It was full of moms – some were dragging along their toddler kids and some looked drained and exhausted. And there were grandmas too. I was the only teenager there. Probably because all the teens were out with their friends today – but who cares?

I was in the pasta section – debating whether I should get angel-hair or the fettuccini when I bumped into another cart.

"OH. I'm sorry! It was an accident" I immediately said. I looked who was behind the cart.

It was my batch mate. Imai Hotaru.

She was in III-A. I was only classmates with her once – when we were grade four. But I never really talked to her. She was always minding her camera and she's very quiet. She was president of the Photography Club. I've seen her photography work and it's really good. She's a pro. She also works for the school newspaper. And she's very smart. She gets straight A's all the time. I love her violet eyes. They're so pretty…but they look lonely too.

She tucked her short black hair behind her ear.

"I haven't seen you in quite awhile, Mikan. What have you been up to?" she asked, taking a pack of angel-hair from the rack.

When she said that, my heart simply stopped. What have I been up to? What kind of question is that?!

I began to feel anxious. I remembered yesterday's train event and the day I released Natsume-kun's phoenix. Was it possible that she knew about it? Did Natsume-kun tell her?!

I bit my lip, I could feel my heartbeat.

"I-I've been d-doing fine" I stuttered, clutching the handle of my cart tightly. I didn't answer her question!

"Is that so?" Hotaru said, giving a tiny smile. "I guess I'll be seeing you around campus"

I nodded vigorously, took a pack of pasta (I didn't care which one was it!) and dashed off.

I could feel Hotaru's dark purple eyes stare at me like I was an idiot.

Hotaru's smart. She's very smart.

And then that's when I started to worry. She probably suspects something now.

--

When I got home, I placed the groceries on the kitchen counter and plopped on the sofa. I removed my shoes. My feet were killing me!

All of a sudden, I heard a noise coming from the empty lot behind my house. It sounded like someone was testing explosives outside. I could hear a KABOOM! and a KABLAM! And I could smell smoke seeping into the house! I got my slippers and ran out to see who was up to this mess!

I went over my fence and found Natsume throwing blue orbs around the lot and watching it hiss like a grenade and then explode like a small bomb!

"Natsume-kun!" I yelled, running towards him.

He saw me and rolled his eyes. "What are you doing here?" he said, his tone full of annoyance.

"I live there" I said, pointing to my house. "But shouldn't I ask you the same question?"

Natsume raised his eyebrows. "I'm training"

"Training? For what?" I asked, peering into his bag. They were full of blue orbs similar to the ones he was throwing.

"Look, it's none of your business. Get out of here, loser!" Natsume hissed.

"NO" I said flatly and took out a blue orb and studied it carefully. "Tell me what you're doing"

"Jeez. You're so NOSY" Natsume growled. "I'm training. A warrior needs to train so he can remain fit and stuff, get it?"

"Yeah, I get it" I said, nodding slowly. "Can I train too?!"

"Train?! You're not even a damn warrior!" Natsume said, finding the whole idea ridiculous.

"I know," I said, giving a smile. "But I have POWERS. And I think I'm just like you. So that gives me a good enough reason to train, right?"

"Shut up"

He began jogging. UGH. It was so annoying.

I threw a blue orb at him and it exploded like a water balloon landing on a rocky surface.

Fire blazed out and surrounded him. "YOU IDIOT!" He yelled and ran out of the ring of flames.

"You don't even know HOW to use those!" He said, immediately zipping up the bag that was stuffed with blue orbs.

"I will KNOW when I practice!" I shouted.

"Who said I will even let you practice?! You unbearable little…"

And then I turned away for I saw something that looked more interesting than dirty old orbs. It was a golden bow and arrow. It was so pretty! The bow had some ethnic-looking engraving on it and it glimmered under the sunshine. The arrow was silver and the tip was blood-red. It was so amazing.

I picked it up and inserted the arrow into the bow.

"Don't do that!" Natsume yelled, running to me.

"NO" I said again and then let the arrow go.

I was frustrated. It just fell like a helpless toy.

"Stupid" Natsume said, rolling his eyes. "Fine, I'll teach you"

He then picked the arrow up and stood behind me.

And then what he did was so…I don't know, uncomfortable?

He held me by the waist and then slipped his hand next to my arm. He took my hand and positioned it to the right angle I should be holding in it. I could feel his breath down my neck and it tickled my earlobe. I could feel my heart race like a horse but I tried to control it cause I surely didn't want him to feel it. It would be so embarrassing!

Then before I knew it, the arrow was soaring up into the air and went into the bark of a tree.

"There" he said softly. I faced him with a dumb expression on my face.

"Cool" I said, scratching the back of my head.

Then I looked at him for awhile and he looked down at me as well. And we both stared at each other.

I wanted to say something to him to break the silence. But I didn't know what to say or how to say it. Because I knew at times like these, I'd end up getting tongue-tied and making a complete fool out of myself.

I felt myself blush. Oh God, I'm so stupid. I don't even LIKE this guy. I don't even KNOW him very well.

"Uh…" I said, biting my lip. "Do you want to, you know – have lunch with me?"

I was expecting him to throw one of his blue orbs at me but he didn't.

"Whatever" he said, taking his bag.

"Is that a yes?"

Natsume smirked at my innocence.

"Well, it wasn't a NO"

--

The pasta boiled. I could hear the water bubbling and I could feel the heat of the water on my face. I stared at the pasta, looking so weak and vulnerable inside the pot of boiling water.

That was what Natsume was exactly doing to me.

I don't LIKE him but for some strange reason, he makes my knees weak and he makes my heart beat as fast as it could go and he makes my cheeks flush like an idiot. It's the same thing with boiling. Natsume simply BOILS me so much that it makes me want to just melt and fall into the bottom of it all. He's so weird and I don't know why.

I went out of the kitchen to fetch the rest of the groceries in the living room.

Natsume was there.

"OH MY GOD!" I yelled, putting my hands over my eyes.

Oh what a good time for that guy to change his t-shirt!

"What's the problem?" Natsume asked coolly, looking for a shirt in his bag. "I'm sweaty"

"Yes…but…EVER HEARD OF A BATHROOM TO CHANGE IN?!" I yelled, turning tomato red.

"YOU CAN'T JUST CHANGE IN A PERSON'S HOUSE LIKE THAT!"

Natsume didn't say anything.

I went for the rest of the groceries, one hand still covering my eyes and stormed back into the kitchen.

--

"So is it good?" I asked, watching Natsume pick at his pasta.

I made pasta with meat sauce. I found it really good. I even sprinkled parmesan cheese on it as I cooked it. But Natsume seemed bored with it and tossed it around the plate.

"It sucks" Natsume said dryly.

My face reddened. "JERK!" I yelled.

"Do you want me to throw my plate at you?!" I shouted, picking up my plate and standing up.

Natsume simply shrugged. "Go ahead. But I'm just saying, I don't have an extra shirt this time"

I then placed the plate down. I couldn't afford to see him LIKE THAT again. My cheeks flushed into a bright pink color. I think Natsume saw the way I flushed since he gave a sly smirk.

Natsume began eating the pasta. I kind of smiled.

That was his way of saying it was good!

--

After lunch, I did the washing up and followed Natsume back to training. He didn't complain when I tried to "train" a long with him too. He wasn't even paying attention to me. He was focused on twirling that giant sword of his around.

"Natsume-kun," I said, watching him toy with his sword.

"What's the Red Fire Clan?" I asked.

"The Red Fire Clan?" he said, still caught up with his sword.

I didn't respond.

"The Red Fire Clan is an ancient people that are fire breeders. You know, people who know how to manipulate fire and train beasts that descend from it"

"Uh-huh"

"There's the Blue Fire Clan" he said, looking at me dead in the eye.

"They're like us too. Only their phoenixes are blue and they're better in manipulating the blue flames. These two clans have been in war for such a long time. Because they're greedy. We're greedy"

"What made you guys fight?"

"Two people – they found phoenixes. A blue phoenix and a red phoenix"

"And each person claimed one phoenix. And they tamed them. And that's how the Blue Fire Clan and the Red Fire Clan began, but then we went to war because the other wanted the other's phoenix too. Get my drift?"

I nodded.

"But there was a prophecy…"

I noticed that he had left one of his blue orbs on the ground. So I picked it up.

"Wait, before you explain the prophecy thingie – here, it might get lost and someone might find it"

Natsume took it and threw it into his bag.

BAD thing to do.

All at once, the orb exploded. No, not into flames like you'd expect. But a Fire Spirit.

It looked exactly like the one in the train but it had a blue gem on its forehead.

Damn! It's from the Blue Fire Clan! Natsume thought, when he saw the blue gem sparkling.

He took out his sword and pointed it at the chin of the spirit. "Kazami-kun sent you?!"

Who's Kazami-kun? I thought.

The spirit didn't say anything. It just stared at Natsume like he was something to eat.

"He did, didn't he?" Natsume said through his teeth.

The spirit's expression changed. A few seconds ago it looked angry. But now it looked FURIOUS.

It went for me. I could feel it zooming towards me, it's mouth wide open – showing off its millions of blue fangs. It had long white hair that ended in flames and its legs made up of fire as well. Its hands had long electric blue nails that looked like it could slice through metal.

It took me half a second to decide what to do. Stupidly, I just jumped.

But it wasn't an ordinary jump. I jumped ten times higher than I usually jumped. I could feel adrenalin invigorate my body as I looked down at the ground which was now so far away. I thought I was going to crash-land, I could feel small flames of blue fire nip at me like a small dog.

Natsume caught me. And he seemed to cradle me in his arms while he sliced through the spirit with his sword.

Natsume-kun…

The spirit regenerated and it grew angrier. Red flames shot up in the air like a propeller.

"How could it produce red flames when it was sent from the Blue Fire Clan?" Natsume muttered.

I had no idea what he was talking about.

He set me down and began to fight it once more. I ran for his bag and found the blue orbs. I took one. I hoped it wasn't another Fire Spirit or else Natsume would REALLY kill me (As well as the fire spirit!). But I had to take a chance.

As I took the blue orb into my hands, its color changed. It became white. It now looked like a giant pearl.

I didn't care. I couldn't waste any more time. I threw the orb at the Fire Spirit.

Huge white flames spun into the air, tangling the Fire Spirit within it. I could hear the Fire Spirit yell as it twisted and twirled inside the huge white top that the white fire created. The sky turned bright orange and the Fire Spirit flew into the sky, the huge top tailing it.

And then, I heard a thundering boom in the sky and it began to rain.

It began to rain small blue flames and small shards of turquoise glass that were probably the remnants of the blue orb.

Natsume looked up at the sky.

"Not bad, Polka-Dots" he said, stepping on the blue flames.

--

I walked Natsume to the sidewalk after we cleaned up the lot.

Before he left, he looked at me with a perplexed look on his face.

"What's up?" I asked.

"Nothing" he responded. "I just wonder…"

"Wonder…?"

"Who exactly are you? Why do you have powers? There are so many dumb things I don't understand about you"

I laughed.

"Natsume-kun, how should I know?! I should be asking YOU the question since you're the one who's the expert on the whole Fire-breeding thingy" I said, giggling.

Natsume felt dumb. I could sense it.

There was a pause.

"Natsume-kun, thank you for staying me today. This was one of, if not FIRST time someone actually spent time with me during a Saturday. I'm usually alone during weekends. My Jii-chan doesn't live here you see…so I'm alone"

And I sighed. "Not only on weekends, if I think about it"

Natsume stared at me so long that I began to think he was hesitant to even leave me alone. He had a longing expression, you know – the type of expression that you get when you want something so bad but you just can't have it. Yeah, that was his expression. But I didn't know why he had that. He was probably just tired.

"Goodbye, Natsume-kun" I said, waving my hand.

He nodded and turned away.

And the day ended.

--

MEANWHILE…(NORMAL POV!)

A blonde boy sat on the branch of the tree next to Mikan's house. He was stroking a white rabbit in his arms.

"Sakura Mikan…"

He breathed.

"I have come for you"

--

Haha! Hope you liked this chapter! Please leave a review! Thanks! Bye, guys! Love lots!

PS: Happy Birthday to one of my best friends, LuckywithToxic! Oh no! I have to get her a gift! XD