Ending and Beginning

Chapter 15 - no secrets will be kept hidden forever

"Code-name: Winter General, mission accomplished." A man's voice was heard in the small communicators attached to each of the agents.

Mikan's hazel eyes shone and her lips forming a small smile. "Good. Now that all of his clones are destroyed, we can start our plan. Winter general, go back to the HQ immediately."

"Affirmative." The voice replied.

The others sighed in relief and smiled.

Mikan felt a hand gripping her own. She looked at its owner and saw crimson orbs looking at her adoringly. She gazed back, after a little while, she smiled. "Finally….after a year and four months, we can finally start the greatest alice war ever written in the history." She announced, looking at her most trusted people and family. "We will face many hardships as we battle against the best DA students of all the academies but, with our goal as our strength, we will never be defeated."

The agents yelled together in agreement. All of them smiled at each other, some hugged, and some shook hands, some hanged out together, because for just a few hours they might not be able to ever see each other ever again. They all knew this but they still fought together with the four pillars of the organization, Yuka, Mikan, Natsume and Natsuki.

Their goals and the future of the next generation are the things which made them persevere everything. They did not want the youth to experience what they had. Also, they promised themselves to stick with their family, and their family is the organization. No one will be left behind.

Mikan looked at her family. "I guess, it's time to go back to the academy." She mumbled.

The room fell into silence. All looked at her.

"The plan is still on. Natsume and I will go back there. We will tell them that we had changed our minds and will willingly be in the DA class again." She said.

"What if the Elementary School Principal won't believe you?" Yuka asked.

Mikan looked at her and smiled. "We had reviewed this plan for millions of times. He won't be able to say no to me, after all I have the alice the same as yours, even more powerful. He needs me to take off the stones you implanted on him."

"I am still worried." Yuka said.

Mikan shook her head. "All of us will be sacrificing our lives to achieve our goal. Allow me and Natsume, as two of the pillars, be the ones to go head-on first so that if anything happens, we can immediately warn you and you all can escape. No matter what happens, we will achieve our goal." Her voice full of determination made all look at her in wonder. Her eyes filled with innocence and love. She wouldn't leave them in the middle of the war. They all knew that but….why do they have the feeling that she would not want them to do the same? Why do her words seem to say that at the sight of danger, they should flee? No! No one will be left behind. Their oath was to be together till the very end.

A young man, a year or two older than Mikan, stepped forward. He has long blond hair that ended on his shoulders, which curled around his face with adoring blue eyes and pale white skin. He was one of the agents Mikan founded first. He was from America and unfortunately for him, because of his unmistakable beauty, was being sold as a prostitute by his own parents. Every day and night, his world was filled with nightmares until he finally had enough. He unconsciously released his alice, an alice in which the person it was directed to, will experience pain, it will cause an internal bleeding, slowly and painfully leading towards death. No one explained to him these things that's why he thought of himself as a murderer, a freak, he was living as a criminal in the streets, battling every day. One would say that he had become a gangster but he has no gang. He only has himself no one else, until Mikan found him. She saved him from the darkness that surrounded him and brought him to a place where everyone accepted him. Where everyone became family. He looked at Mikan's eyes. "Please don't say that Mikan-sama. We all are willing to walk and die with you."

Mikan looked at him then to the others. They all smiled at her as they nodded their heads.

"You showed us happiness as we walked with you and we won't leave you for anything." He added.

Mikan smiled, her eyes filled with tears that shone. "Thank you, William and all of you. And please do not call me Mikan-sama. Mikan will do." She answered.

~sun~moon~dreams~

'It has been a year' Hotaru thought as she stroked Ruka's hair as he lay comfortably on her lap. Ever since 'that' incident, she had been gentler. Though she was as stoic as ever, she had let her friends in her invisible walls, she wanted to cherish the moments they were together because she knew that in a blink of an eye, everything will vanish. That's right, just like how her most important best friend vanished, without any goodbyes.

She wasn't angry at Mikan. She was just….sad…disappointed. She was her best friend! Yeah, even though she doesn't show that she care for Mikan but….she knew that Mikan knew that she cared for her deeply. When they were children….nobody knew why they were so close. They were polar opposites. Hotaru was like the moon, so cold and silent, but Mikan was like the sun….full of smiles and warmth that you can't help but go near her.

Yes, Mikan changed when they saw each other. Her warmth lessen but the light never did. Deep inside the cold exterior was the same Mikan everyone, even the most stoic ice queen, adored. She gave light to those who were left in the darkness….even that HYUUGA who always worried about him contaminating those around him with his darkness. Even that PERSONA. Hotaru knew of course…SHE is HOTARU IMAII. She has her ways….but only one thing she did not get. Only one thing she did not see nor know…..the reason why THEY had left.

The blonde shifted and looked up to his girlfriend. He knew that she had not recovered from the sadness and shock that she had felt when the two left the academy. No one got over it. Everyone is still waiting for answers.

He lifted his hand up and cupped Hotaru's cheek.

She looked down.

He gave her a heartwarming smile, so sweet and full of love that she can't help but smile back, though her stoic face only warmed a bit, both knew her feelings….she had accepted his reassurance. Everything will be revealed when the right time comes.

"I know…" she muttered. "I know…Ruka…but…"

"You can't help but want to know everything because you are not particularly fond of not knowing." He added. "I know. I also want answers but I trust both of them with my life. They're not the kind of people who abandon their friends, right?"

She nodded.

He sat up and pulled her into an embrace knowing that she will cry again. He too wanted to cry but he must be strong for her. Mikan and Natsume would want him to support the girl he loves. "Cry all you want, Hotaru, until you can go on without crying. I'm sure that soon we will know the answers to our questions. After all, no secrets will be kept hidden forever."

~sun~moon~dreams~~sun~moon~dreams~~sun~moon~dreams~

Author's Note: Hey guys! What's up? It's been a long time! I hope you enjoy the story! I want to thank so many people! Every time one of you leaves a review and I read it….my heart is always overwhelmed by your praises and I can't wait to hear more of it. It gives me motivation to continue. I know that I'm not the best when it comes to grammar and some might not like the story line but for every people that enjoyed my story, I feel blessed and not regret of writing the story.

It's obvious that the story is nearing its end so please stay tuned and I'll try my best to update and find the right words so that you can really feel what my characters feel.

The light of full moon
behold as the goddess walks
towards destiny

Her graceful presence
Her gentle eyes and warm smile
drives darkness away