Hi there..sorry!! I updated late. But my other story Thread of Affliction haha..i've just updated it the other day..i was kinda motivated during that so here it goes: Chapter 3
" Alone? White kitty?" Mikan turned around to the source of the voice..of that deadly aura only to see..the cause of their mission..Persona.
Persona's face was a bolt from the blue to Mikan. She didn't know what to do that time not only that, she also had no idea what kind of feeling was emanating out of her trembling body. Was there a need for her to escape? No, the question should be: Was there a chance for her to escape?
She could just mutter under her breath.
" Persona…,"
Persona could just simper evilly at the palpable tension Mikan was feeling that even he could notice.
He daunted and taunted her even more.
" Terrified to see me? How pity," he gained more confidence when he detected that someone was not around..the one who served as the barricade before, the protector of Mikan, even if he was just forced to, Natsume. Now, he can smell the whiff of his victory.
Piqued by that remark from Persona, she snapped,
" Huh, you wish," Good thing, because of this incensed feeling, she was being able to overcome her nervousness.
Persona enjoying their conversation..he asked with a bantering tone, " Is that so?"
And then with a flash, Persona was already behind her, ready to touch her, to grant her the fondle of death. She knew she shouldn't be scared even if she had no dagger that time or anything that could kill Persona, because she's a Nullifier and a fearless one, but just the thought of Persona's Corroding or Death Alice just couldn't help but to transmit shivers to her spine. However, she finally made up her mind, she finally pacified her mind in turmoil. No going back, she needed to prove something to someone and this was the only chance. Still she was being coward but she didn't give a heck care, all that mattered was to fight for her survival, for her life, and for her reputation. She took few steps backward just to gain enough leg power, launch off towards Persona then attack him straight. But Persona was too fast, in a sudden, he had cornered her just before she was able to take few more steps.
Mikan fought him with her futile kicks and punches but Persona dodged them all. And now it was Persona's turn to attack, he kicked Mikan's stomach so hard that Mikan was like a paper blown away and fell onto the ground..worse..her head hit a rock. The brunt was really hard..but not that hard to break someone's cranium but an impact that can let crimson blood to ooze out of your head. Obviously, she became unconscious…like she was no longer waking up.
With an evil smirk..again, (so how many times does he have to smirk?) Persona started approaching her, ready to complete the last part of his plan, to lay his fingers on her and corrode her when a whip bean came slashing his abdomen part.
He looked for the source of the whip bean only to see one of his legendary enemies..and yeah, one of his strongest enemies if the tandem of Natsume and Mikan will be excluded, the protective teacher of our main casts, Narumi.
" Don't you ever lay your dirty fingers on my student, Persona!" he reproached him. He was really submerged into the swamp of hatred seeing that Persona almost killed his student, his precious Mikan.
Now, Persona was infuriated.
" Good timing!" he told him as he was wiping the blood from his mouth.
Narumi of course couldn't just shut up, he needed to start attacking him with his vicious words, if they can be compared and can compete with the vile doings of his fiend.
" Fighting with a student like that. You really are a killer, huh? C'mon fight with me!" he challenged him. Actually, he was now in a hurry seeing the crucial condition of Mikan but he just needed to finish Persona first so that this wouldn't be happening ever again as long as he is existing.
But thank goodness, Persona was the one who gave him enough time to save Mikan from being in the "departure area."
" Sorry, but my hands are only intended for killing that kitten and the black cat," he was actually intimidated with his condition, there was no way that he would have the one-hundred percent chance of winning, he could still fight, but it was just that it might risk his life. For him, his life must not be ended yet unless he had killed the two already, Natsume and Mikan, of course.
With that, he quickly vanished into the darkness.
Narumi scurried to Mikan as he cradled her into his arms. He saw deep line of blood flowing from the corner of her mouth as well as excessive blood coming out of her forehead. He carried her bridal style and ran to the hospital in a cheetah mode. He couldn't let the hands of death tap Mikan's shoulder. Never…as long as he's to protect her.
" Hold on, Mikan-chan," he told her worriedly though she was unconscious and though she couldn't hear a thing from the outside world. But Narumi didn't give up, he knew Mikan would hear it. She would feel it in her heart.
After Mikan had been admitted to the hospital, Narumi called Yuka and informed her what happened. Yuka came rushing like there was no tomorrow.
" Narumi, where's Mikan? I need to see her," she clutched on Narumi's polo..she needed a quick answer..every second counts. Tears were looming to fall.
Narumi tried his best to calm her down..she shouldn't be panicking, from his point of view, but maybe he could just never be able to feel what Yuka was feeling that time, because he is not a parent. He's just trying to be one. ..for Mikan.
" Don't worry, she's now resting, the doctor said she will be fine," he smiled tenderly to show that what he had just told was definitely true..that Mikan was already safe..no need to worry. And to at least help in easing the pain and the worry and the nervousness and all the feelings that a mother could feel at that point of time.
Yuka could just let a single tear to escape, that tear was the harbinger of her relief that time.. her feeling of serenity.
" Yukata! But what happened?" she could just really thank God for that great blessing. Still, she really wanted to know what happened. Narumi was in no time to tell her what happened when he phoned her. He just went straight to the point and told her Mikan is in the hospital
Narumi's expression suddenly shifted to being in anguish. How much as he wanted to lie to Yuka for it might just aggravate the uncomfortable feeling Yuka had that time, he was ready to state what happened. He knows very well that Yuka, as the mother of Mikan, has the right to know what happened.
" She had an encounter with Persona and unfortunately, her head hit a rock. Good thing, I saw them, Persona was already on his way of corroding her. I'm sorry, if I could have just come earlier,this wouldn't happen,"
Yuka wiped her eyes to erase all the traces of tears that were forming lately. And then she smiled, that smile that Narumi grew to love ever since they were students.
" No, it's ok..don't worry.. Oh, thank you, Narumi for saving my daughter, I owe so much from you!! " With brimming bliss that time, she hugged Narumi. She couldn't have just imagined what worse could happen to Mikan if Narumi was not there..not there to protect her daughter. Indeed, he is really fulfilling his promise to her. She was really grateful.
" Nah, no problem, I promised, right? I would do everything to protect you and Mikan,"
And then he hugged her back and rested his head on her head. But he knew this hug was only a thank you sign, he never meant to take advantage of her, he can't.
After that moment, they decided to enter Mikan's room and Yuka could only see Mikan's head coiled with bandages. She felt very sad seeing that Mikan was kinda pale, no color of oomph she used to have.
She gently approached her and kissed her forehead.
" Mikan-chan, mommy is here," she whispered sweetly.
And then she proceeded to sit on the bench at the right side of Mikan's bed.
After a long silence between Yuka and Narumi, Yuka spoke. She was in a great need to cascade her feeling of guilt. And there was no other person there she could rely on than Narumi.
She faced him and Narumi sensed it.
" Anything you want to say?" he asked her lightly.
" It's….it's my fault for letting Mikan do the mission," she revealed.
"Eh? What mission?" Now he was getting confused. It seemed like the question was out of nowhere.
" Kaoru and I decided to let Mikan and Natsume do a mission to kill Persona so that in that way, they can get along and stop treating each other as mortal enemies and finally ending up together..i know it sounds childish..but we just can't let those two to be enemies forever when Kaoru and I are best friends," she spoke timidly. She couldn't imagine herself being so childish when she's already a mother..but anyway it's for her daughter.
Narumi could just chuckle with the idea. He could just picture Natsume and Mikan ending up together. Oh..that would be very romantic. To think that for about 8 years, he had witnessed nothing but their endless scuffles and then in the end, they would still be together. What an absurd idea! No, it can be possible.
" Oh..sorry..but you see, this kind of mission is really dangerous for both of them especially to Mikan. Natsume can somehow manage to attack him with his Fire Alice but Mikan can only protect herself. We're not even sure if she can, with the nullifying that had once betrayed Yukihira-sensei..and.." he still wanted to continue but he was unmindful of what he was saying, this could hurt Yuka and so he stopped.
But by just hearing the name of the one she loved very much..really brings her down.
" Oh..sorry..sorry..i didn't mean to.." he apologized very hard..he really didn't mean to.
" Oh..go on..it's okay..that fact just really saddens me," and she became even lonelier.
But Narumi continued for the sake of discussing that mission,
" Hai..and one more thing, they treat each other as enemies, so how could they possibly help each other accomplish the mission?"
" Yeah, I'm also thinking that,,that's why Kaoru and I are already forming a new plan..oh..but I really never thought this would happen… I thought they will be fine," her emotion that time was neutral. It was neither depicting happiness nor loneliness.
Oh..they will be fine..for sure..as long as they are together but this time..they weren't together right? Natsume was not there to serve as a barrier. She was left behind or maybe it was just accidental.
" Yeah, I understand..for the mean time, I'll try my best to protect them from Persona. Any moment, Persona will avenge," he reassured at the same time warned her.
"Thank you so much.." Now happiness and relief finally returned to her side. Thank goodness, Narumi is always there.
Meanwhile, Kaoru, running together with Natsume who was only walking at a fast pace not really running, hugged Yuka tightly.
" Now..now..Sorry for being late, where is she? What happened?"
Well, she was really late because when Narumi called she was not by Yuka's side. She was having her beauty rest somewhere else unlike before she was just there in Yuka's room. Yuka having no enough time to search for Kaoru just grabbed a piece of paper and scribbled on it:"Mikan, Hospital." And then, almost 30 minutes had passed before Kaoru returned to Yuka's room. And when she read that, of course she needed to take along Natsume with her but he was nowhere to be found, he was again spacing out or resting there under his Sakura tree, but Kaoru had no idea where was he, or even that Sakura thing, so she needed to wait and after 15 minutes Natsume finally arrived at Yuka's room seeing that there was no one there in her mother's.
And so they came running while telling him what happened.
Narumi replied," Well,she had an encounter with Persona and she hit her head on a rock. The doctor said, she's already safe from danger, no hemorrhage,"
(a/n: sorry, guys..i know with that impact..there should be a hemorrhage..but let's just consider it as a miracle, ok?)
Kaoru clasped her hands together," Oh, thank goodness!"
There behind her standing was Natsume, emotionless..if you'll judge it from his face, but deep inside, he was really suffering, wishing that it was better if he was the one in Mikan's position right now, if he was the one lying there in torment. If only he was there with Mikan during the encounter, to be her shield then this could never happen, this would never be an omen of the end..yes the end of everything, the end of their friendship, if it can even be considered like that, the end of everything they had and everything they were, the end of them.
Yeah..he just had the hunch that something is gonna change..eventually leading to the end.
Ok..there..sorry..there's no NatsuMikan moment..only a hint of them..but maybe for the succeeding chapters…uhm..the chapter after the next chapter..i still don't know. It depends on the length of my next chapter. Oh..and the last line there..talking about the "end,"Just try to decode it..ok??