Chapter 5
Oblivion
By: tangerine kisses
Disclaimer: I don't own Gakuen Alice…
Can
you feel it now, Can you feel it now?
Nami
ni nomikomareta you ni
Pulling
on my heart, pulling on my heart…
Iki
wo tome te wo nobashite
She felt herself sweat, the tiny drops of liquid, sticking her unto the sheer blanket. She tossed and turned, her golden brown tresses struck stuck by her slim neck, her slender shoulders. Her wiry fingers crutched the thin white sheets madly.
The once cheerful amber orbs gone, trapped in endless agony. She furrowed her fine brows in distress. Her breathing was ragged and thronged. Suddenly, a lucid voice wrung through the cold air.
She awoke with a startled cry.
Her back sat straight on the pink divan. Unexpectedly, the windows clashed open, and a bitter wind gushed through out the room.
The abrupt effect, made the cherry curtains flow out torridly, making it weave up and down. Papers flew out, scattering by the tiled floor. The small lamp by the bedside grew dim.
Darkness slowly rolled into the room.
Rapid gasps of air filled her deprived lungs, the chilliness shocking her tense nerves. Her eyes widened frightfully, her thin lips parted.
Sweat trickled down her pale visage, down her lean back, her breast. Still the vivid image lingered in her mind. Immediately her lean legs swung by the bedside, her feet slowly touched the cold tiled ground.
She carried herself, feeling dead beat and light-headed.
'Natsume…'
A deep sigh escaped her parted lips. The dreams, no, nightmares had been almost too frequent. It was as if she was reliving life still in her dreams, his eyes were too clear, too impending, too much.
She turned on the lights in the kitchen, the lone sound echoed through the silence. She grabbed a pink mug from the cupboard, the coffee jar and sugar cubes.
The pink mug was sooner filled with boiling water, the brown cappuccino essence mingling with the sweetness of the sugar as it slowly melted.
She stared at the swirling contents, her thoughts unconsciously swirling with.
"I did what you asked… datte Aoi wa kashiete…!" (Return Aoi) Her voice wavered, yet remained determined.
Her eyes burned as her tears threatened to fall through. Her auburn tresses blindly flew with the gushing of the cold wind, twirling and whirling on her rigid form. She stood by the front of the table, her hands fisted by her side.
The old woman stared morosely at the unyielding figure up her front. Her grey eyes filled with resentment, her lips taunt and perturbing. She sat on the chair so strict, yet so laid-back. Her black hair primed in a tight bun. She looked reserved yet vigilant, her gaze thorough inspecting.
Slowly, she taxingly waved her pale hand backwards. As response from the action, the doors behind the brunette abruptly opened with a clash.
A man came in, restraining a scrawny child under the age of 13, her blue locks cascading none too elegantly.
Her crimson eyes reflected agony and despair. Just as she caught sight of the familiar brunette, it suddenly grew still and relieved.
Her stunning pools widened, as she squealed none too gently.
"Mikan-nee!!" (sister!)
Her brown pools flooded with unshed tears, as she caught the quaint girl on her arms. She buried her head by the neck, kneeling in front of her small form.
"Aoi!"
The once rigid woman, who sat by the chair stood up front, her pools showed distaste and revulsion. She steadily whirled back, and stared on to the glass walls beholding the cities contours.
The sky was clear, yet it rose with uncertainty. The familiar sun, held back from its customary light. The street were no longer filled with citizens, it dimmed from the typical Tokyo route.
The silent hushes lowed down, and the brunette stood up once again. She brushed the tears that had peeked from her pools, and lifted the quaint girl to her arms.
Her breath remained ragged, still her stand wavered not.
"We shall take our leave…" Her voice shuddered from fear and relief, as her eyes lowered from the intense gaze that held it.
She bowed her head slightly, as her tresses waved from the movement. Her back turned from the desolating figure. She walked with light and hurried steps towards the mahogany door, her body shaking from the strenuous look the people gave her.
As she reached the door towards the end of the room the woman sat back down the black pliable chair. She rigorously stared at the guard positioned by the door and barked.
"Follow her..."
She placed the child onto the passenger seat, as she secured the seatbelt around her. She hurriedly drove the gear out, and rushed to the busy streets.
She surveyed the cup of warm liquid, as she sat by the small antique table. She was so into her train of thoughts that she hadn't notice the petite shadow lurking from behind her.
"Mikan-nee?"
The voice pondered her thoughts; she whirled back so suddenly that the cup of coffee on her hands spilled onto the table.
Light crimson clashed with dark amber.
Its was like replaying one of those moments, one of those times when he had always, always caught her un-guarded.
They exchanged a lift of their lips. "
"Aoi? You're still awake. Is something bothering you?" she questioned, as she stood up to grab a couple of draping white tissues.
She polished the spilled drink off the brown table, before she noticed her crimson eyes shimmering and sparkling, "I think a cup of hot chocolate would help me remember."
Her head nodded off as a smile played unto her pale visage. Mikan though felt unperturbed by her answer, still deemed impressed as to how much they were in similarity, after all they were siblings.
Aoi was wearing her nightgown. Her locks were free flowing, and darkened to cerulean beauty. On her feet, she had on quaint bunny slippers, one that she had outgrown on. Its ears were still kinda fluffy, cute.
Those were gifts, from Ruka when they were still 15. She carried a small teddy bear by her arms, its color was a unique hue of chocolate, the black beady eyes looked solemn and the miniaturize button for its nose was amber.
It was the last gift she received from her brother, the last memory she hopelessly tried to hold on to.
Aoi quietly sat by the next chair she had occupied and silently waited for her beverage, her thoughts jumbled. Mikan filled unto the counter; she peered unto the window by the sink.
The kitchen room was not much, but it was occasionally comfortable at night. It had the refrigerator by the corner, the sink by its side, and coincidentally a large window draped with colorful fridges in the center.
She stared at the glistening moon, it roundness encompassed the clear sky.
A smile tugged at the corner of her pink lips as she remembered how they used to sit atop the roof, arguing about insignificant things. She felt the usual nudity of the truth.
The painful truth that she did.
Miss him.
She hurried by Aoi side, stirring the chocolate little by little. She sat by the child's side noiselessly. She looked composedly calm and unruffled. Yet, inside she felt agitated, restless and troubled.
Suddenly the consequences of her acts reflected on her.
She acquired Aoi, without Natsume's permission.
She deliberately committed illegal child care. There was nothing else she could do.
'Oh… she was soooo dead…'
She tried to reflect on what she already had.
She had taken Aoi away from her abusive stepmother, regained control of her life, and what now? She heaved a heavy sigh, let it be.
Let it be for tonight.
She purposely tucked a strand of Aoi hair by her ear before the familiar twinkle peeked through her amber pools.
"So… Care to tell me why you're still awake?"
- - - - - - - - - - -
It felt weird as he sat by the lone rooftop they used to share. It felt odd not to feel her head resting on his shoulder. It felt disturbing not to hear her usual babbling.
Yet, it wasn't strange that she wasn't there.
He got the feeling of uncertainty of her presence and confidence on her absence. The indecision and resolution...
What was it that he wanted? Nothing…
What was it that he presumed? Nothing…
What in the world was his problem? Nothing…
Before he could navigate his thoughts, a high-sounding beep recollected his attention. His phone vibrated through his pockets.
He hesitated in taking it at first, but thought better of it. He pressed the blinking button without glancing at the ever so useful caller-id.
"What do you want?" his voice came in rash and decisive. Yet, the person who responded took his breath away.
His voice broke, his heart stopped. He felt the roof he was sitting on; seemingly give in, as if the ground he sat was swallowing him through.
He was waiting for the same voice to echo back to him.
"Nii-chan?" the voice was child like and steady, he heard it vividly. It was sometime before he answered back.
"…Aoi?" a repressed silence hung between them.
"Bingo, tsume-nii… Hisashiburi ne?" the caller had this certain collected tone. It actually felt like he was hearing himself for the first time.
After a pause his buoyancy and calmness came back.
This was the real Natsume Hyuuga.
"Where are you calling?" he was sharp, and with out saying it out loud. He demanded complete cooperation and consistency.
"…Guess where?" there was resilience in her voice, as if challenging his.
"…I'm coming to get you now..." he was resolute in everything he did, especially in his decisions.
He was stubborn too, just like how she was. Just like that he heard the silent beeping of the line. He rushed back down; he rushed like he never rushed before.
And all you could see was his determined crimson pools.
- - - - - - - - - -
"I don't think that was a good idea…" she said, as she fluffed and crushed the sofa cushion, only to have it back to normal after a few seconds.
They sat by the chocolate colored sofa, cuddling with the frilly pillows minute by minute.
"I'm bored and tired," she released a sigh, "if I know tsume-nii, he's gonna rush here for sure. Then we'll have some fun." She tucked a strand of her tantalizing locks and clipped it with a red hair pin, which she snatched from Mikan, that day earlier.
Mikan released a groveled groan.
"That's the bad thing, you see… were not exactly talking-"
"Oh shut up! Mikan-nee!" swiftly she threw a purple cushion at her.
Ting! Ting! Ting! Nice shot!
"That's exactly what we're doing! Why would you think I'll call my annoying brother IN THE MIDDLE of the night for?" Mikan rubbed her sore head before she answered,
"Uh… coz you miss him?"
"NO WAY!!" she had this look on her face, which actually screamed for eternal rejection. She didn't expect the evil glint on Mikan's eyes that actually screamed revenge.
"You," Mikan prepared the huge cushion by her feet.
"Are." Then she walked towards the poor defenseless child.
"Such." She raised the humongous weapon above her.
"A BRAT!!" just as the 'Harmful' weapon came in contact with the 'defenseless' child. The doorbell chirpily rang. They didn't here the door opening, its hinges creaking.
Their laughs were so loud that the shadow had to cringe before turning on the lights. Their giggles were cut short as he stood by the side sofa.
He glared at the two girls who were only in their short nightgowns. Yet as his pools regained their usual shade of ruby red, hers only sparkled to golden-brown.
He stared at her like there was no tomorrow, he took hold of her scraggy appearance, her feet were bare, her hands were slim and clean. She wore a white lacey gown, leaving her shoulders bare, while it stopped above her knees.
It was lightly see through. And suddenly he felt the first knots of lust inside.
Her russets were messy, sprawled all over her shoulders, her arms. Then he caught sight of her luscious pink lips.
He caught his breath, back and up. But as he gaze her through, he couldn't help but notice the panic and alarm on her auburn pools. He caught sight of her lips, opening. But nothing came out.
"nii-chan? How did you get in?" he totally forgot about his sister, she stood there beside mikan.
Looking so innocent like, if you presume she's the little angel kind of sister, then your absolutely mistaken. This girl is one hell of a mischief maker.
Especially when she's with the sadistic blackmailer…
They stood still for a minute before mikan noticed the silver key; he was dangling in front of her face. Her spare key! She had suddenly remembered herself when she gave him that exact spare key.
He kept it all the time…
'Mikan! Snap out of it!'
"What do you want?" her voice felt like ice, it slashed the silence down the drain.
Earlier, her voice was laced with cheer and merriment, now it felt like lead.
Totally dead and lifeless.
She couldn't let her guard down now, particularly now that she just admitted to herself, how handsome and how dazzling he can be.
'Oh! Shut the hell up!'
She couldn't take her eyes off him, the way he stood, that lanky stance she loved. The way his hands rev up on the pockets of his trousers. That impassable stare, those luscious kissable lips, the way he stood by her sofa seemed so perfect and extraordinary that it simply felt mundane enough for her to never get tried with.
She felt the words stuck in her throat.
The words…
"Get OUT of my house now!" or the words…
"Leave me ALONE?!" especially the words…
"I'm sorry Natsume…" or "I love you Natsume…"
Her mind was slowly turning into mush; her heart felt like it was being electrified. Her knees felt like oozing jelly, and she was having butterflies in her stomach…
It was so the symptoms of common teenage crush…
'God damn it…"
She wasn't a teenager anymore; she was a full grown adult for Pete's sake! She couldn't even take control of her undeniable feelings towards natsume.
"I'm not coming with you." Her head swerve towards the unbending voice of Aoi Hyuuga. Aoi stood her stand so definite that she was almost so sure that she herself wouldn't have the chance to convince her.
'She's so much like him… so much…'
His eyes flickered towards her, before fixing unto his sister.
"Why?" his voice drawled, with absolute explicit.
"I'm staying with Mikan-nee tonight, tomorrow I'll be moving in with Hotaru-nee…"
Something flashed in between his eyes, something on the lines of desperation. His eyes stared mikan down. It signaled for her to follow him, a signal that meant she was in big trouble.
She turned towards Aoi, and swiftly nodded towards her before walking towards natsume. She purposely walked pass him and silently he followed with.
Exactly as they entered her room, he locked her in between the wall. She could feel his breath by hers, yet she couldn't see his eyes.
They were covered by cascaded of his dark locks. The room was completely dark; the only light came from the shards of the window.
"Why?" his voice was completely controlled, yet it didn't lack its sense of directness.
"Why what?" she replied, she tried to steer her mind from how close their vicinity were. From the jurisdiction on their relationship.
"Don't play with me sakura." she felt her insides tremble with fear, hitherto she felt no regret.
"She was being abused!? What else was I supposed to do?!" she felt her own tremble, shake, and shudder. 'What was she supposed to do!?"
"Is this it? Is this your plan on revenge?" she couldn't fight the tremor that was coursing through her body, her fear change into rage.
"Revenge?! Is that what you think this is all about? Did you think of me that low?" her voice was soft, slow, yet it carried the seething frenzy that was unfurling in her.
"Your cheap tricks don't work on me anymore. Tell me, was it my fame that you wanted? Or the money?" She felt as if he slapped her full force. His words were burning, that she felt the totality of his resentment.
"Cheap tricks…" her words were like whispers of death. Silent, unionizing, conniving…
Don't…
Stop…Mikan…
In all a fit of rage, her voice came in complete with pain, laced with freelancing anguish.
"It wasn't me who didn't show up in his own wedding! Not me who chickened out and decided to run away! No natsume! I'm not doing this for revenge! But if I did-"
Her brown pools were miserable and accusing. She stopped, and didn't continue. She knew she didn't have the right…
"Now that you have my sister, are you happy?" he paused, as he stared at her unmoving face, "Have you hurt me enough?" slowly her head rose leveling his stare, outside dark clouds rolled in, and thunder clashed through the once clear sky.
The stars were nowhere to be seen, the moon hidden by the ominous fog. Down the street, everything was empty. All the subways and alleyways were vacant except for the last street.
It was really a trivial thing to see, it was a black cat, filthy and grim. It sheltered from the vast crowds of intervening people, who judge a cat by its color. The cat mewed and called, yet none was listening. Its cries were unending, it's suffering far relenting.
Yet, no one paid attention. The sky crashed and thrashed. The rumble became louder and louder. With further warning, crystalline drops of rain poured from the sky. Her voice rung through the infinite silence, leaving nothing but traces of solicits.
"All I wanted was you…"
"Too bad… I'm just so far gone."
"Why are you doing this?" her voice was traced with sadness, wretchedness, the sorrow was so deep that her words carved desolation.
Yet, after a pause, his voice came back with utter malevolence.
"The same reason you're doing it."
SLAP!
Her tresses were in wild disarray, her eyes full of dismal tears.
Melancholic brown met dejected crimson.
And the only question that lingered far enough on their minds, were why?
Do
you feel me?
Do
you feel me now?
TBC