Disclaimer: I don't own Gakuen Alice or any of its characters, but I wish I did x)
xoxoxoxoxo
Chapter 4: Intentions Basked in the Moonlight
xoxoxoxoxo
Taking notice that her head was turning back to his direction, Natsume immediately sent an unspoken order towards the Palace Guard that said, 'Rephrase what you are going to say.'
Disagreement was stretched across the older man's face.
'This is an order.' He firmly warned. His irritation regarding those defying acts rebuked. Setting something on fire was what he could have done; sadly, that didn't happen as it faded through thin air.
Professionally, he masked his facial expression in time that her eyes met his.
He brushed off the idea that he was caught in the act since any signs of suspicion weren't present on her face.
She was starting to be readable.
Mikan blinked once before repeating the older man's few words in an uncertain tone, "…Your Highness?"
He suppressed an amused smirk from surfacing on his thin lips.
The brunette was indeed keen and sharp; however, her awareness involving important issues was incredibly turtle-paced.
Slow.
Mainting his impassive mask, his eyes drifted from her in the direction of the older man.
"What does he wants?" He inquired, monotonously.
Pushed to the corner to play along with the royalty's play, the Palace Guard inwardly gulped. Defying him much longer would simply provoke a punishment. Well, the raven headed prince was the Royal Palace's resident cold and ill-natured beast with unbendable decisions—it was unbendable, unless his father interferes.
"Hi-His Highness, Cro-Crown Prince, wanted to see your presence." He politely answered. Of all the royalty's lookers, he was rather unlucky to have found him.
Natsume cursed under his breath as he shrugged his shoulders. This was the outcome of walking with the brunette. He then grunted, "I'll be on my way."
He casually approached them and he halted. "Bring this lost girl to the Grand Hall." He instructed in an authorative yet flat tone. Evidently, it was followed by a command, 'I don't want a word about this.'
The Palace Guard nodded. He wouldn't dare violate that. He then faced the brunette who had been quiet from the whole time, "I'll lead your way, My Lady."
Mikan turned to Natsume. She smiled, "Arigatou Gozaimasu!" She said after bowing her head.
He smirked in return, ignoring that puny—yes, puny—warmth in his chest. His mesmerizing crimson red orbs stayed on her radiant hazel brown ones for an impossibly long second before he spun on his heel and walked off.
A ghost of a smile touched her pink lips as she watched his retreating figure.
Like what he was appointed to do, the Palace Guard led her through the halls and they finally arrived at the Grand Hall.
Relief rushed in her veins.
She had finally returned.
Though, that relief was short-lived since shock and panic had hungrily ate it.
The huge hall had few people. Further more, they're leaving. That made her realized that she had spent more time with the stranger than what she had roughly calculated.
While her eyes scanned the area, she clasped her clammy hands again. Her heart beat was picking up its speed
There was no sight of anyone she knew.
Only her eyes had showed her alarm, in contrast of the chaos she had inside.
They couldn't possibly left me here,
She swallowed, hard. They couldn't right?
Initially, she started to form speculation. Unfortunately, it was cut when she was pulled into a tight, warm embrace and an audible sigh of relief right after.
"Mikan," Yuka begun, concern and worry laced her voice. That placed a stop on the turmoil inside of her daughter. She broke the hug and asked, clamping her hands on her daughter's shoulders, "Where have you been?"
The brunette sheepishly grinned, a finger scratching her cheek, "…I got lost. Sorry,"
Yuka could only shake her head, forgiving Mikan on her mistake. She stood up and gazed at the Palace Guard. "Thank you for leading my daughter back here." She bowed her head and the man bowed in return.
xoxoxoxoxo
King Ioran Hyuuga massaged his temple using his right hand. His eyes were darted to his son who was in font of him, head inclined in respect.
"Do you know what you were trying to do again, Natsume?" His voice roared, reprimanding and authorative.
The raven headed prince restricted himself from rolling his eyes as he answered, "Yes, father."
In great hope of controlling his increasing annoyance, Ioran placed his hand on his forehead and tightly closed his eyes. This issue had been repeating itself and not much difference could be deciphered from the previous ones.
He opened his eyes again, bringing his hand down, "Can you not act like what is expected?"
After letting a few seconds of silence, he blandly responded, "I am doing my part." His forehead creased. He had known from the beginning that he had to be a model for his future people, and thus, free will and desires should be stored somewhere else.
He hated that.
But he had to stick with it.
He is the future king.
"In two weeks time, spend two and a half hours outside of your room." His father ordered, hoping that this could somehow knock more sense in his son's seemingly thick skull.
"Yes, father."
For he was summoned in for that matter, he was then dismissed. Currently, he was heading back to his room with Narumi tailing behind him. Thanks to Natsume, the blonde man was bailed out of any punishment that he could have received by now.
Natsume halted on his tracks and the other followed suit.
"Narumi, go get the ink I had requested from Umenomiya." He muttered. He had made a short stop over for that request before he met his father.
"Yes, Your Highness." Narumi said. He bowed his head and left.
No one was around—another perfect time for another escape. He could have taken the opportunity, if he hadn't laid out his plans.
He clicked his tongue before resuming his journey back to his room… unaware that a set of eyes were looking at him with outmost admiration displayed on them.
He went in his room, sat on his seat, pulled out a clean sheet of paper and a writing material in hand. Momentarily, he intensely gazed at the paper—gladly, he didn't burn it—and he begun to write something on it.
Minutes later, he re-read his work. Upon reaching its end, his eyebrows knitted themselves together. The words were formal yet disgustingly and frustratingly off for his very own good. Without further ado, he mercilessly crumpled it, placed it an arm away and set the thing on fire.
He re-did his previous failed attempt, and after a few sacrificial papers, contentment made itself known.
Finally.
This looks better than those. He mentally remarked, scrutinizing the letter.
A knock from the door, however, gained his attention that he lifted his head up towards the distant door.
"It's me Ruka." The person behind the door informed him.
"Come in." The raven headed prince permitted. A pleased smirk came running on his lips. Well, it was strange that almost everything was going on his wishes without him saying it yet.
Ruka entered and closed the door.
As the closure of the door resounded, it rebuked the royalty's earlier disappointment that he rested the paper on the table. The smirk had disappeared without a leaving a trace and his lips were set in a neutral line, "Father got me imprisoned here. I was planning on attending the ceremony, but it was ruined as well."
The blonde smiled, knowledgeable of the prince's way of apologizing. "It would be an honor to have you there, Your Highness. But, perhaps His Majesty had predicted that if you'd be there, then the ceremony would have been filled with young ladies from the nobles."
Natsume clicked his tongue, "It would be better if I did attend."
He had considered Ruka as his best friend and being unable to be there on the day that he obtained such recognition appeared to be his loss.
His crimson ruby orbs landed on his palms whose wounds were cleaned, causing for a different topic to re-occur in his mind. "Ruka, you were once a Palace Guard Apprentice, right?"
"Yes," He cued, "That was years ago. I was still enhancing my ski—wait." He paused. "Why are you asking, Your Highness?"
Certainly, it's not everyday that he would inquire on those and Ruka had found it best to ask while he's at it.
"Nothing in particular." He smoothly said. Then, he picked up the now folded letter. "I need you to send this."
A knock from the door restricted Ruka from talking.
Sure of who interrupted them, Natsume right away gave his permission. "Come in."
Narumi went in with a container carefully held in his hands. "Here's the special ink that you have requested, Your Highness." He gently placed the container on the table, and then, he stood beside Ruka.
That's quite a lot of paper. The younger blonde observed, rooting his eyes at a black, crispy mount of ashes near Natsume.
"Excellent."
Hearing that bland praise, Narumi beamed.
"Now, get out."
The beam instantly fell, "Bu-Bu-Bu—"
"Ruka's here. Narumi, do me this favor for saving your butt."
"Hai," He finally obeyed. He bowed his head and left the two.
The raven headed prince used a thinner brush, dipped its tip to the ink and wrote something on the letter. He then raised the brush as a smirk crept on his lips, satisfied. The ink did what he exactly wanted it to be.
He folded it again and looked at Ruka. "I changed my mind. Call me an owl."
Ruka whistled low. His royal best friend was doing this in secret. Not that this was new—but his tactics were rather fascinatingly stealth.
He approached the nearest window, opened one of its access, whistled, and not long after, a white owl came. The owl landed on his right arm and he pivot turned.
Natsume stood up and approached him. He tied the letter in a way that it won't be too crumpled around the owl's leg. Subsequently, he lifted his other hand where a clean handkerchief could be spotted. "Bring that to this handkerchief's owner."
Cracking another smile, the blonde shook his head. He had a great hunch of the receiver's gender. "Starting to fancy someone, Your Highness?"
"I'm only testing if this person is really smart." He emotionlessly reasoned out.
"Oh." It was torn between mockery and understanding.
"Let the owl fly." He commanded, stoically.
"How about that?"
"I'm keeping it for awhile." He monotonously responded before turning his back.
Ruka turned his head to the white feathered owl, used his alice and the owl flew. He then closed the window.
xoxoxoxoxo
Somewhere…
A midnight blue headed young man was sitting on one of the tables of a public cafeteria. He was about to munch on his lunch, but a little girl came to him—she actually stumbled on her wimpy knees. His midnight blue orbs landed on a pair of wary rose pink ones.
His eyebrows rose in query.
"Please, Mister. Hide me." The pink headed girl begged, clasping her hands together. From the looks of it, she was in her early 10's. She had dirt on her face, her clothing was dirt and tattered. Her sleeves ran down to her elbows, showing her skinny arms. Too skinny that it appeared that it was merely sticking to her bone.
Tsubasa said, offering his lunch's only bread, "Here."
She stared at him with wide eyes.
He smiled, giving her no other choice but to accept it.
Her small smile showed her reluctance that was also visible while she took the bread. Somehow, she blinked, not believing what she was seeing. "Mister… you're weird."
Her odd declaration caused for an ashen headed lady to momentarily gaze at the girl. Suspicion was displayed on her eyes. Consequently, she brushed it off and resumed on leaving the place.
"What?" He incredulously asked after he regained his cool from the shock her statement caused to him.
Instead of answering him, she again pleaded as she spotted her pursuers. "Please. PLEASE MISTER. Hide me," Alarm and plead were evident on her weak voice.
"Hide under the table."
"Arigatou," She sincerely uttered, bowing her head, and she went to hide.
"Don't call me Mister. You're making me feel old." He corrected, re-positioning himself to casually sit. He heard a faint, almost inaudible, 'Gomenasai…' from her.
One of Misaki's pursuers stopped and tapped Tsubasa's shoulder, causing for him to turn his head and a look of inquiry was etched on his handsome face, "What is it?"
Lifting his hands as a medium to emphasize his point, the older man said, "Have you seen a slave who might have run in here? She's this small, had shoulder-length pink hair, her eyes had the same color as her hair and she had fair complexion."
Tsubasa massaged his chin, feigning a recalling pose, "Hmmm…" After that, he grinned, pointing to a random dirty road, "I did and she went that way."
The older man nodded.
"She went that way!" The man shouted to his men, pointing to the given direction. His men passed by him and the man was about to leave as well; unfortunately, he caught sight of something under the table. It took him a second to recognize it.
Right then and there, he accusingly pointed a finger in the direction of the younger man, "You dare tricked us!"
His beam disappeared and the left tip of his lips tugged itself to the side. Discontented and irritated.
"Just when I wanted another peaceful meal for myself." He grumbled.
"We're tricked! She's here!" The older man exclaimed, stopping his men from getting any farther away from him. He then shot his hand to grab the trembling little girl, "Come here, you brat!"
"Stop right there." Tsubasa interjected as he swiftly swung his foot over his seat. He stepped on the man's shadow, freezing the man like a statue and his hand was only a few inches from the girl.
"Leave her alone." He edgily said.
"She's indebt to us. We gotta choose everything for her and not a complete stranger." The older man firmly opposed despite his visible difficulty. Other than his mouth, none of his muscles could make a move.
"Her suffering under your care was too much. Was that not enough?"
Seeing his men were behind him, he roared his order, "Punish him and get the girl!"
Tsubasa flicked his head to the group of men, midnight blue orbs glinted with authority and warning.
"Get HIM!" The men shouted in unison and charged at him.
Left with no other options, Tsubasa swung his foot, tripping the man through his shadow. He stood up and faced the group, head on.
He sent a powerful roundhouse kick that delivered the nearest man to the rough ground. Escaping a punch from landing on his face, he took a step back and sent another kick to that attacker.
However, as his back was off guarded, another man kicked Tsubasa, causing for him to take forward steps.
He hissed, arching his eyebrows downwards.
He spun around and punched the man.
A few minutes later, he clapped his hands in a manner to dust off his palms from any dirt. All of his attackers were now unconsciously lying on the ground.
While dusting his clothing off, he regained his cool. "Seriously, you accumulated dust. I wanted to head back clean…" He continued to grumble about looking clean and tidy.
Then, his rant was paused by a tug of his sleeve. He turned his head and it was the girl he had protected. He knelt down, hand resting on her shoulders, "Everything is fine now."
"Thank you, si-sir. I owe you my life." Misaki bowed her head in gratitude.
Tsubasa shook his head, dropping off the correction about her callings. He kindly grinned, "I just do what you asked me for."
He patted her head before he stood up, "Take good care of yourself, all right?"
"Hai, "She prompted.
Tsubasa left his payment beside his plate. "If you're hungry, take my food. Don't worry, only the bread was taking out for it." He offered, smilingly.
"Arigatou gozaimasu!" Misaki sincerely muttered, bowing her head.
He nodded and walked away.
She turned around. However, she clumsily bumped herself to someone, resulting for her to fell on the ground.
"Itai…" She grouned. Admittingly, her legs were wobbly and jelly-like because of her hunger and bumping unto someone had definitely rubbed that fact on her face.
She gradually looked up and her rose pink orbs met a set of eyes that had sharply pierced though her very soul and an ashen headed lady owned them.
xoxoxoxoxo
Mikan was having a great time with the company of her well-loved books, and if it weren't for a disturbing sound from her closed window, she could have savored the company in silence.
Well, the disturbance was annoying her.
She went to the window, opened it and her eyes widened in shock by a sight of a hunting bird looking at her with its large, sharp eyes.
A white feathered owl.
Her initial plan of closing the window roughly commenced since she spotted a white object around its leg.
She blinked, perplexed. A cultured owl?
Her shock was then overlapped with nervousness and hesitance as she reached for the owl's leg. Luckily, the white feathered hunting bird didn't but her, in spite that her action might look provoking in the bird's part.
Her pink lips slightly parted and she blinked twice, "…a letter?"
It was unexpected.
She stared at the owl, analyzing the little situation. This letter might be for me… if not, why would this owl be here?
She then glanced through the opened window, discovering that night had already arrived. She was unable to feel the time passed by.
Shaking that off, she squatted and unfolded the letter.
"Did you return to your parents safely?" She read.
She checked and found no indication of its sender. Yet, she had someone in mind. It was vague and was rather random, to her opinion.
The Palace Guard Appretice.
She casted a glance to where the owl was, and it was still there.
The brunette took a clean sheet of paper and wrote her reply, a smile gracing on her lips. Afterwards, she copied the tying technique on the other leg.
"Please send this back to whoever commanded you here. " She said, smilingly.
The owl flew and she closed her window.
Soon, her reading time was disturbed again.
This time, it was a knock from her door. She paused, looked up, saw her mother's head popped form it and she was informed that it was dinner time.
After dinner, Mikan went back to her room. She sat, opening the book on where she had stopped.
*Tap* *Tap*
The brunette's hazel brown orbs pouted and her eyebrow twitched. Another disturbance.
*Tap* *Tap*
In an annoyed manner, she snapped her book shut and half-stomped her way towards her window. She opened and was unexpectingly saw a seemingly round object.
A creamy white, smooth stone.
She blinked twice, eyeing the item.
Though, her observation time was short-lived because of an attention-attracting cough.
She craned her neck forward. Her eyes grew big before she uttered in a low tone, "…Your Highness,"
Tsubasa Andou Hyuuga boyishly ginned, waving a hand at her.
The stone was from him.
She took it in her hand with a raised brow. She looked at the royalty and noticed that he was holding a paper in front of him.
She squinted, "You… need that. It could… take away your… headaches."
"Huh?" She quirked her brow. She wasn't able to come across of any stones that possessed such ability.
Tsubasa gave her two thumbs-up signs.
The brunette nodded and flashed him a smile, "Thank you, Your Highness."
I'm glad to see you again. He wanted to tell her that while he fleetingly locked his eyes to hazel brown ones.
Finally freed from his trance, he waved his hand, telling her that he was already leaving and she waved back.
Mikan plainly watched him climb their cemented fence. The midnight headed prince appeared to have taken a liking on that than a common gate entrance.
She then lifted her head up for awhile and admired the beauty of the night sky. The full moon had shone brightly and the stars were patched on the dark sky.
xoxoxoxoxo
At the meantime in the Palace…
Amidst the cold, chilly night air, Natsume stood in the court yard. His hands were entwined at his back while no reflection was lurking in his head since it was drifted to a topic that was unrelated to his declared and repeated 'reflection'.
The coldness wasn't advisable for people to wander, especially him. Though, that was currently disregarded. He was tasked and leaves no more questions.
Narumi and Ruka were standing a distant away from him, keeping on watch.
'Yes, Thank you very much for helping me.' Was her reply, written in a neat penmanship.
"What are you gonna do next?" Ruka curiously asked, standing on his post.
Natsume folded the letter and shrugged his shoulders with a smirk plastered on his lips. "It depends."
As if he had read the raven headed prince's mind, the blonde had a mixed look engraved on his features. "Your Highness… you can't possibly be thinking that," He somehow trailed off.
"Who knows, "Was Natsume's cool reply.
Natsume looked at the sky, smirking.
Visiting Gakuen Alice would be nice.
xoxoxoxoxo
Author's Note: Thank you for reading this chapter! ^^ Sorry that I had taken a long time to update this… school was making me busy. Sorry*bows head*
Thank you very much for adding this story to your favorites, for the alerts and reviews^^
I know, having Tsubasa was rather predictable… but I had already chosen him before I had actually posted the previous chapters. I think he fits the place… ^^;