Chapter 14: Wasting time
"Urgh!" Ruka moaned being thrown to the cold wet ground. His body bounced up against a tree. Ruka splinted one eye opened as he winced. A man dressed in black and sunglasses was now the one in soul passion of Mikan.
"Let Mikan go…" Ruka struggled out, but only being returned with a hit to the side. Ruka slid once more on the ground. He slowly sat up on his butt with support on his hands. His swollen eyes sadly focused on the limp Mikan resting in the stranger's arms. Anger made him stand up while he used his alice to all surrounded animals asking for help.
"Haven't you had enough yet?" the man asked with an edge.
Ruka put on an evil smirk and slapped his arm towards the man, "Nope." Animals pounced out attacking the man. Ruka looked at the ground until he found a thick stick to attack with.
The man jumped back throwing Mikan to the tree. Ruka gasped as he watched her body fall to the ground. Quickly he rushed over to her while watching the man dealing with the animals. The animals screamed through his head as they fell. Ruka bit his lip and wrapped his arms around Mikan before taking off once again.
"Who said you could leave!?" the man yelled graving Ruka's shirt and flinging him over the man's head and straight down onto the ground. Ruka lost his breath as he hit the ground hard. He tightened his grip on Mikan once the felt the pressure over whelm him.
Ruka rolled away coughing trying to breath, while the man walked back over to Mikan lying on the ground. His eyesight slowly started to fade as he watched Mikan being carried away. Suddenly totally blackness came over him. "Sorry Natsume…"
Natsume smacked the wall hard enough to crack it. He fell limp and coughed. Persona laughed and clutched Natsume's throat. Natsume gagged as he was lifted up off the floor. He carefully tried to peel off the killing hands.
"Not so powerful now Natsume?" Persona chuckled giving him a smirk.
Natsume struggled as the hands tightened around his throat. Another chuckle left Persona's mouth before he dropped Natsume on the floor gagging for air, "Sorry I can't kill you today, but you will soon." Persona quickly jumped out the window laughing.
Natsume gripped his hand into a fist. His eyes twitched with anger and fear. He struggled to get up, but he managed to stand.
"Natsume?" a voice asked.
Natsume turned and saw the whole class waiting outside the classroom doors. Narumi came running in and helped Natsume stand.
"Where's Mikan?" Narumi whispered making sure the students wouldn't notice the one noisy girl missing.
Natsume forced his head away from Narumi's and answered, "Ruka took her into the woods."
Narumi nodded and let Natsume sit down while he left the room. Many girls came running up to damaged Natsume offering to help him. Natsume refused and scared them off with a flame. He laid his head back ignoring the pain, "Ruka…Mikan…I hope you're okay…"
"He's only knocked out, no worries." Narumi happily sighed walking back with the rescue group with poor Ruka lying in his arms, "No sign of Mikan…we'll have to search later." Everyone nodded and ran away. Narumi followed sadly looking down at one of his students. Worry crawled into his mind telling him, Mikan wasn't going to be fine.
"Hey Natsume we found Ruka. Do you want to go see him?" Narumi asked sliding into Natsume's hospital room.
Natsume's eyes filled with shock. A neat picture rammed his mind, Mikan, was found and saved. Quickly Natsume followed Narumi down the hall and into a small room. Ruka sat there staring at his wrapped up hands almost crying.
"Ruka…" Natsume said softly walking up to the bed. Ruka looked up startled with tears in his eyes. "Hey, Ruka what's wrong? You saved Mikan right?" Ruka shut his eyes forcefully and turned away. Natsume knew right there and then. Mikan wasn't here. No one found her.
Natsume widened his eyes and he looked down. Narumi sadly sighed and left the two boys alone.
"Natsume…I'm sorry…" Ruka pleaded quietly. A tear jumped off his face leaving a wet spot on the covers, "I wasn't strong enough…I'm sorry…"
Natsume bit his lip and placed a hand on Ruka's shoulder, "Don't apologize…It's really my fault…"
Ruka shook his head and cried, "Mikan's hurt! All I did was watch her being took away!" Natsume chopped Ruka's head softly.
"We'll find her…we'll save her…believe me Ruka…I don't think we won't give up…" Natsume encouraged.
Ruka nodded and fiddled with his fingers, "I'm still sorry."
"Shut up alright." Natsume ordered walking away. He slipped back into his room and sat on the bedside with one hand covering his face. "Mikan…where are you?"