illutia mist: (Covers head with hands) MIKAN! STOP THAT!

Mikan: (Emits an angriness aura around her) No.

Wonders what's happening? So, after illutia was chased by Mikan in the last Piece, now she was cornered in a valley. The poor freaky author, illutia mist, couldn't go anywhere again.

Iilutia mist: Mikan, don't lost yourself! Remember! You're kind, gentle and energetic!!

Mikan: (Glares) You're the one who has turned me into a monster.

illutia mist: (Surprised) Who is that behind you?

Mikan: (Throws a sharp glare) Not working for me.

illutia mist: But, there's really someone behind your back!!

And with that, Mikan turned her head to see what illutia saw. Five hundred meters from where she was standing that time, there were two shadows running to her direction. As she observed longer, she found out that those shadows were the fire caster, Natsume Hyuuga, and the sketchbook girl, Jacklyn.

Mikan: Looks like they finally found you.

But there was no reply. Mikan decided to turn her head back to the cornered freaky author just to find…

Mikan: WHERE THE HECK IS SHE?? (Veins pop on her head)

Jacklyn: (Pants as she approaches Mikan) Darn. It looks like she has escaped again.

Natsume: (Annoyed) Tch. That freaky author is really a nuisance. Just like her creation.

Jacklyn: (Glares at Natsume) My behavior has nothing to do with her.

Natsume: (Looks away) Whatever.

Mikan: Ok, stop it. There's nothing come out even though you two argue now.

Jacklyn: Agree. What we should do now?

Natsume: Find her. What else?

Mikan: Ok. (Smiles) So, good readers, while we're searching for that author, please enjoy this Piece.

Jacklyn: Hey. I thought I saw her there just now. (Points to a direction)

And with that, the trio ran to a direction, searching for the freaky author.

-x-

Small Pieces of You

-x-

7th Piece: Angel for a Day-part 2

Jacklyn woke up at 5 am. She couldn't sleep well.

How could?

The pair of white wings on her back made her feel uncomfortable. She couldn't move as she like. There's a right position so she could feel comfort when she slept. But then, when she moved a little, the wings would hurt her. She was really lack of sleep because of this.

She got up from her bed and opened her bag. The toothbrush, toothpaste, and the towel were still there. If her prediction was right, all of it should be gone when it was 7.30 am, the time when she created them.

She took all of it and went to the bathroom. She brushed her teeth first. When she looked at the mirror, she froze for a while at the sight before her.

'This is the first time I see an angel brushing her teeth. Not cool.' She giggled inwardly.

After she finished brushing her teeth and washing her face, she took a bath. After ten minutes, she went out from her bathroom and sat down on her bed, thinking about Mikan.

Yesterday, after the classes had been over, she heard Mikan knock on her door, asking if she was okay. She must make an excuse to prevent Mikan from entering her room. All of it was because of her so-called 'angel wings'. She hated herself for making her first friend worried about her that badly. Finally, Mikan gave up and went back to her own room.

She sighed after she remembered the event. She then recalled the time when Narumi visited her last night. Narumi knew about her alice, so she didn't have to be worried about the wings. Moreover, she needed someone to help her getting the permissions from the teachers for not attending the classes. She could see on the teacher's face, a shocked expression that appeared when he saw those wings on her back. She told him what happened 'in her version' and her prediction about her alice. The gay teacher said that she would be okay. He would take care of that permissions thing and an excuse for her friends.

She sighed again after the remembrance. 'Yesterday was very tiring. Today will be more tiring,' she thought.

She didn't have to think about her breakfast because Narumi had requested to take her breakfast to her room.

'I don't know if I hate these wings or not,' she thought again in submission.

She then heard a knock on her door. "Yes?" she asked, wondering who it was.

"Your breakfast, Jacklyn-san," a robotic voice said.

'Takahashi, the robot.' She walked to the door and opened it. She took the tray from the robot and smiled as she said, "Thank you."

The robot replied, "You're welcome." Then it went off to somewhere.

Jacklyn closed her door again and locked it for safety if there's anyone trying to bug her all of a sudden and finding out about those wings. She put the tray on her desk and started to eat her breakfast. She took a glance at the alarm clock that Narumi had given her yesterday. She didn't know the story behind that gift thing.

She kept on glancing at the alarm clock from time to time until she finished her breakfast. After that, she changed to her uniform.

She was ready to meet Youichi now.

The clock showed 7.30 am. It was still a little early. She checked the toothbrush, toothpaste, and the towel. They were gone.

"So, it's really last until twenty four hours," she mumbled.

She opened her sketchbook and made some drawings on it. After she was satisfied drawing, she glanced at the alarm clock again. It was 7.45 am.

She took her bag and sketchbook then went to the opened window. She wore the hairpin and mask that she had created yesterday. She flew out and closed the window then flew to the Sakura tree.

On the way, she could see a few students walking out from the dormitories and going to the school buildings. She must kept flying on a certain height so no one would realize her presence there. It would be a big ruckus if there's anyone seeing her with those wings.

Finally, she arrived at the Sakura tree. She made sure that no one was there first.

'Okay. No one's here,' she thought as she approached the Sakura tree and sat on the branch, waiting for Youichi.

-x-

"Onii-chan!" Youichi called a certain raven-haired boy who was on his way to his class with his best friend.

The raven-haired boy turned and looked at the little boy.

"What's wrong, Youichi?" he asked the little gray-haired boy.

Youichi approached him, panting heavily after he ran for sometime, searching for his so-called brother.

"Are you okay, Youichi?" the blonde-haired boy, which was the raven-haired boy's best friend, asked him, concerned.

Youichi nodded and said, "I'm fine, Ruka nii-chan!" Then he looked at the raven-haired boy. "Onii-chan, I have a favor," he said in a serious tone. "It's important."

The raven-haired boy raised an eyebrow. "What is it?" he asked him.

"Please don't come to the Sakura tree until noon," Youichi asked. "Can you do it?"

Ruka had a confused expression on his face. He looked at the raven-haired boy.

"What is it about, Natsume?" he asked the fire caster.

Natsume just shrugged and looked back to his little brother.

"Why?" he asked him, curious.

"Just don't come. Please," Youichi pleaded.

Natsume stared at him. He obviously couldn't deny his junior's request.

"Okay. Don't come to the Sakura tree until noon, right? I think I can do that," he finally said.

Youichi smiled. He felt relieved and happy that his 'Onii-chan' granted his wish.

"Thank you, Onii-chan! I owe you one!" Youichi said happily and turned to his back. He was about to run again when he remembered something. He looked back at Natsume. "Onii-chan, please prevent anyone to come to the Sakura tree if you see they happen to go there. Just until noon!" he told him. Natsume just nodded. "Thank you very much, Onii-chan!" he said before he turned and ran again.

Natsume and Ruka stood there, watching the little boy's figure disappear at the corner.

"What's wrong with him?" Ruka asked curiously.

"He said it's important," Natsume said nonchalantly.

"Aren't you wondering, Natsume?" Ruka asked his best friend.

"Hn." With that, the raven-haired boy turned away and continued walking to the class. Ruka followed him.

And as usual, someone familiar bumped into him at the corner.

"Ow, sorry…" the brunette said and looked up. "…Natsume," she added.

"Watch out when you're running, Polka," Natsume teased her.

"It's not that I like to bump into you everyday!" Mikan snapped as she stood up and dusted her skirt.

Then Natsume realized that Mikan bumped into him today. One person was missing.

"Looks like you didn't come with that sketchbook girl today," Natsume said.

Mikan looked at him sadly. He raised an eyebrow, wondering what those look meant.

"Jacklyn-chan is sick. I have visited her yesterday, but she didn't let me in. She's afraid that I'll get sick too if I go near her," she muttered sadly.

"She's sick since yesterday?" Natsume asked.

"Umm, after the lunchtime, she didn't come back to the class. It has been hours until Narumi-sensei went into the class and got the permission for her," Mikan explained. "Talking about it, you didn't come to class too yesterday. Were you on a mission?" she asked, worried.

"No," the fire caster answered simply as he walked to the class.

Mikan followed him. "You're not on a mission? Then why didn't you come to the class?" she asked again, curious.

"None of your business, Peach," he said without looking at her.

"Wha-NATSUME!!" the brunette yelled at him while blushing furiously. Natsume kept on walking to the class with his best friend who sweat dropped at the scene.

-x-

"Miss Angel!" A little boy called. Jacklyn looked at the direction where the voice was heard. She saw Youichi running to her direction.

"Good morning, Youichi!" she shouted as she waved her right hand to him. Youichi smiled as he approached the 'angel'. "You're early, Youichi. Do you skip the class?" Jacklyn asked.

"Hehe," was all his reply as he smiled widely.

"I'm so sorry, Youichi. I forgot that you have a class too…" She felt guilty.

Youichi shook his head. "It's okay, Miss Angel. I want to see you more than attending the class," he said.

"But you don't have to skip your class. You can meet me at the break time," she excused.

"But you said, if I want to meet you again, I must come here today before noon," Youichi was a little upset. "You said you have to go back before noon. And I want to spend this precious time with you. Because…I don't know when I can see you again…"

Jacklyn felt guiltier. "Okay…but don't skip the class another time, okay?" she tried to cheer him up.

Youichi looked up and smiled. "I won't promise, but I'll try to attend the classes," he said happily.

"Is there any reason why you don't attend some classes?" she asked as curiosity engulfed her. Youichi nodded. Jacklyn tilted her head a little.

"First, the teacher leaves the class, so we can go anywhere we want," he explained.

Jacklyn chuckled at his answer. "I know about that one." she smiled. "So, if that's the first, what's the second?"

"I don't like the subject or the teacher," he stated.

"Then, how do you know what you will learn?" she asked again.

"I'll ask my classmate later," Youichi replied simply.

"Well, at least you still ask your classmate," she said. "Okay. I won't complain again. Now, what will we do?"

"Talking," he said as he sat down on the grass.

"Okay," Jacklyn just smiled.

-x-

"So, today absentee is Jacklyn-chan only," Narumi said before starting his class. Mikan raised her hand. "Yes, Mikan-chan?" he asked kindly.

"Is she okay? She didn't let me enter her room yesterday. She said that she'll be fine," she asked in a worried tone.

Narumi smiled. "I bet she'll be okay. Don't worry, Mikan-chan. She has said that she'll be fine," he convinced his dear student.

Narumi looked at Koko, who had a shocked expression on his face. Narumi threw him a 'don't-tell-anyone-about-her' look. He smiled but emitted a very dangerous aura around him. Koko gulped and nodded a little, showing that he understood.

"Okay, class, let's start the lesson," Narumi said then he started his lesson.

Mikan sighed and opened her book. She wasn't too sure about what the gay teacher had told her. She was still worried about her new friend.

A certain raven-haired boy, who sat beside her, glanced at her from his manga that covered almost all of his face.

'Why does she very care about that sketchbook girl anyway?' he thought irritatingly.

Mikan looked at the window then she blinked when she spotted something, or rather, someone.

"Natsume, Natsume," she whispered as she tugged her raven-haired seatmate's sleeve, still staring at the window.

"What?" Natsume asked, annoyed.

"There's someone under the Sakura tree. Isn't that Youichi?" she whispered as she pointed the Sakura tree that could be seen from their class.

Natsume lifted his manga from his face and put down his feet which were on the desk before. He looked at the direction that was pointed by Mikan.

'Gray hair…a kid…Youichi…?' he thought as he observed the person. 'Youichi did tell me not to come to the Sakura tree until noon.'

"It looks like he's talking to someone at the Sakura tree too," Mikan whispered, telling him what she saw, which she didn't have too because Natsume also saw it.

Youichi was looking up at the tree and talking. There's absolutely someone on the Sakura tree, but the person was hidden by the trunk of the Sakura tree.

Natsume observed in silence. 'There's someone at the Sakura tree, huh. I wonder if that's the reason why he forbade me to come to the Sakura tree until noon,' he thought as he smirked inwardly.

"I wonder who that is. Do you have any clue, Natsume?" the brunette asked excitedly as she looked at the raven-haired boy.

Natsume stared back at her. Mikan stared at him straight in the eyes, smiling widely. He turned his face away, hiding the pink tinge that appeared on his cheeks when the brunette locked her eyes with his.

"Natsume? What's wrong?" she asked, wondering why the crimson-eyed boy suddenly turned his face away.

"Shut up, Polka," he said as he went back to his earlier position and covered his face with his manga again.

Mikan twitched at the nickname. "Pervert." She stuck out her tongue at him.

When she focused back to the lesson, she smelled something burning. She searched for the source and found out that the burnt thing was…

"MY HAIR!! NATSUMEEE!!" she yelled loud enough to make a big quake at the Junior High School building.

-x-

Youichi showed a sad face all of a sudden. Jacklyn looked at him in wonder.

"What's wrong, Youichi?" she asked as she smiled.

"You have to go in a few minutes again…" he muttered sadly.

"Well, I can't do anything about it," the 'angel' said, a little sad. 'Except I reveal my true identity,' she added in her thought.

"Can you come again?" he asked. His eyes were filled with hope.

"I don't know. I'm not the one who decides it," she replied. 'I can, but I can't attend classes for a day!' she exclaimed in her thought.

"Too bad…" He bent his head down. "I haven't introduced you to Onii-chan."

'Heh! I have met that cocky boy, Youichi,' she grinned inwardly. "Maybe next time. If we're lucky, we'll meet again," she cheered up the sad little boy. Youichi smiled weakly at her. "Hey! Don't give me that smile when we're going to say goodbye! Give me a happy one!" Jacklyn said as she smiled sweetly at him. Youichi stared at her for a while then gave her his best smile. "That's a good one," she praised him.

"Miss Angel…" he called as he played with his fingers.

"Hm? What is it?" Jacklyn was curious.

"Can I…hug you for the first and the last time?" he asked as he blushed slightly.

Jacklyn smiled. She flapped her white wings and landed gracefully. She took a step forward and hugged the little boy gently. It's a quite long hug.

-x-

Mikan glanced at the clock. 'Ten minutes again! Yay! Lunchtime!' she chirped happily in her thought. She gazed her eyes to the Sakura tree. As she looked at the sight, her mouth opened a little and her eyes widened. "A…angel…" she said a little loudly.

All students' eyes were fixed on her.

Yes. All! Even Hotaru and Natsume!

Well, Hotaru was thinking about what her best friend's silly thought now.

"There's an angel there!" she said loudly as she pointed to the Sakura tree.

The students immediately approached the window, wondering at the brunette's words. All of them had the same reaction when they saw what she meant. A pair of white wings covered the figure, but not the skirt and legs. From the skirt, they know that it's a girl. She was hugging someone.

Mikan and Natsume knew who was being hugged by the mysterious 'angel'. They had observed the little figure for a quite long time, especially Mikan who got bored during the class.

"Natsume, the angel is hugging You-chan!" Mikan whispered to the crimson-eyed boy. "So, Youichi was talking to an angel the whole time."

Natsume stared at the two figures under the Sakura tree. 'So he finally met with the angel,' he smirked inwardly.

The class made an 'oh' and 'ah' sound. Shortly, it's noisy in there. Narumi couldn't do anything about it.

'Jacklyn-chan, you have fulfilled your promise. But they catch you in the act,' Narumi thought as he smiled, watching the two figures too.

Koko walked to him. "Sensei, is that really her?" he whispered, amazed by the angel figure under the tree. "She has made a big ruckus now even though she doesn't show herself in this class." Narumi just smiled at him.

-x-

Jacklyn could feel Youichi clutching her shirt tightly. She couldn't break the hug just like that. But finally, Youichi was the one who broke the hug. Jacklyn smiled at him. He smiled back.

"Thank you, Miss Angel," Youichi said, still smiling. Jacklyn nodded. Youichi took something out from his pocket. It was a feather with pure white color, the same color with her wings. "I still have this for memento," he added as he showed the feather to her.

Jacklyn fell silent. 'The feather will disappear too. He'll be upset,' she thought sadly.

Then an idea popped in her head.

She flapped her wings and sat back on the branch. Youichi looked at her confusedly. Jacklyn opened her sketchbook and drew something. She touched it and it became alive. Youichi couldn't see what she was doing because he was under the tree. Finally, Jacklyn looked at him.

"That feather will disappear after I gone," she said sadly. Youichi felt upset now. "But don't worry," she smiled, "I'll give you the new one."

She dropped the white feather that she just made. Youichi held out his hands and the white feather landed softly on it. Youichi looked at Jacklyn.

"That feather can last for 24 hours," she said. "Maybe I can't see you, but I'll drop a new feather everyday at lunchtime under this Sakura tree."

"So, I'll always have a memento about you?" he asked. A smile appeared on his face. Jacklyn nodded and his smile widened.

The bell rang. Youichi groaned in irritation.

"Lunchtime! That means I have to go!" Jacklyn said with a smile. "You too! You have to eat lunch because you're still growing up!"

Youichi smiled and nodded. "Thank you for talking with me," he said. "Goodbye…Miss Angel…"

"You're welcome," she replied as she flapped her wings and flew high to the sky, hoping the sunlight could cover her figure.

"Bye-bye…" Youichi muttered then he turned away and ran to his 'Onii-chan'.

-x-

"Anna! Did you see it?" Nonoko asked enthusiastically.

"Yes, Nonoko! I saw it! You saw it too?" Anna asked back.

"Yes! I saw it!" Nonoko nodded.

"The angel!!" both of them squealed happily.

"You two are attracting the attention," Hotaru said with her stoic face.

They were now at the cafeteria. Koko, Yuu, Anna, Nonoko, Hotaru, Mikan, Natsume and Ruka sat on the same table. Anna and Nonoko were discussing about the 'angel' they just saw. Mikan stared at them. The rest were having their lunch.

'Good for her, they didn't know that she's the angel,' Koko thought, sweat dropping at Anna's and Nonoko's reaction. He had read Narumi's mind so he knew about the 'angel' thing. That was why Narumi glared at him before, threatening him to not leaking anything about her. 'Her' meant Jacklyn.

"Onii-chan!" a certain little gray-haired boy entered the cafeteria and ran to the fire caster.

Natsume looked at the direction of the voice. "Youichi," he muttered.

"Onii-chan! I have met with the angel!" Youichi whispered to him.

"That's good then." Natsume patted his little brother's head. "Is that the reason why you forbade me to go there?"

Youichi nodded. "I'm sorry, Onii-chan. I've promised not to tell anyone that we would meet there," he said, feeling a little guilty.

"It's okay, Youichi," the raven-haired boy cheered him up.

TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP!

A sound of running footsteps could be heard before a girl finally ran into the cafeteria. Mikan looked at the entrance door as soon as the girl entered.

"Jacklyn-chan!" she called her. The happiness was evident on her face.

Jacklyn approached the brunette. "I'm sorry, Mikan. I have made you worried, haven't I?" She felt guilty as she remembered yesterday's incident.

"But you said that you'll be fine! And now you're here!" Mikan said happily. Jacklyn just smiled.

Jacklyn then realized a familiar person was staring at her. She looked at Youichi. Youichi wouldn't recognize her. She's not wearing her hairpin and mask anymore. Her hairstyle was different without the hairpin clipping her long bangs up. But she recognized Youichi.

"Hello," she greeted him, smiling. Youichi stared at her a little longer then looked away without saying anything. 'It looks like he doesn't recognize me as the angel. Lucky,' she thought, inwardly sighing in relief.

"Too bad you came just now," Nonoko said.

"A few minutes before the lunchtime, we saw an angel!" Anna chirped.

Jacklyn was wide-eyed. "An-an angel?!" She was shocked. 'They saw me?! Oh no! I was caught in the act!' she shouted in her thought. She glanced at Koko hesitantly. Koko just smiled as he waved his hand. It meant, he didn't tell them anything and they didn't know that the angel was her. Jacklyn sighed and smiled at him, giving him a 'thanks' look.

Then a girl ran into the cafeteria.

"SHE'S NOT A HUMAN!!" she shouted as she pointed her index finger at Jacklyn.

--To be continued--

Jacklyn: Have any of you found her yet?

Mikan: (Shskes her head) Nope.

Natsume: (Irritated) Tch. That freaky author.

Mikan: I'm getting tired of this.

Jacklyn: Are you okay?

Mikan: I'm still fine.

Natsume: (Raises an eyebrow) But you say you're getting tired just now.

Mikan: (Twitches her eyebrows) I'm fine for now, but I have felt tired a little. Happy?

Natsume: No. You're not consistent with what you said.

Mikan: (Annoyed) Geez. What's with that attitude? It's really not nice.

Natsume: (Rolls his eyes) Whatever, Polka.

Mikan: (A vein pops on her head) PERVERT!!

Natsume: (Smirks) Ops, sorry. It's cherry today, isn't it?

Mikan: (Blushes furiously) YOU!! MANIAC PERVEEEERRRRTTTT!!

And the two of them kept retorting at each other.

Jacklyn: (Watches in boredom and sighs) It looks like they have forgotten our first purpose. Oh well. Thank you for reading this Piece and please review. This should be that freaky author job, but she ran away. We'll make sure we have caught her in the next Piece. See you later.