Hello hello! I've been really facing major writer's block now that the end of the story is almost ending. Been trying to think of ways to keep you readers interested, so please forgive me for taking so long!

Do enjoy!

Chapter 32

Goshima has been observing Mikan's child for the entire day, but trying to hide from a 12 year old child was not as easy as it seems. Many a times, he cursed Keiko and Tetsuya for having so much energy, running around the palace as they please, hiding behind curtains and playing with the palace dogs. However, all that sweat paid off when he saw Keiko put the final sweet into her mouth.

"It is complete Kuonji-sama." He sent out a telephatic message to his master.

"Good job Goshima. It'll be over soon." Kuonji mentally replied.

"Yes, your reign will finally start. I am looking forward to continue serving you."

"See to it that no one interferes. If anyone does so, including Luna, finish her off."

"As you wish, sire."

Seeing the children run off to the royal library, Goshima returned to Luna's room to avoid any suspicion. Even though they were working under the same master, Luna had no clue that Goshima was on the same side as her, hence, she only treated Goshima like she would to any other guard. She tried to hide Persona's relation to her, but Goshima saw it all, and it was the one connection that would make her weak.

"Where have you been Goshima?" Luna asked as she looked up from her book.

"Around the palace, I've been observing how the palace guards in Firenze train so that I could better the practices of our own guards in Nula."

"I see…" Luna always felt something was amiss with Goshima, it was as if he was hiding something important from her. Deciding to dismiss the thought, she put down her book and scribbled a note, asking for Persona to meet her tonight. Instructing Goshima to obtain a homing pigeon, she attached the note and send it on its way.

She has not seen her adopted son for sometime and wanted to see how he was doing, especially since the results were going to be released tomorrow. More importantly, she wanted to know why Kuonji stopped sending instructions to her. Something was amiss and she did not like being left out of any plan.

Mikan sat on Keiko's bed and hummed a lullaby, stroking her daughter's hair as she drifted off to sleep. As soon as she heard the soft but constant breathing of her daughter, she pulled the blanket to cover her small body and left the room.

"She's growing up fast huh?" Narumi-sensei looked at Mikan and passed her a mug of hot chocolate.

Sipping the drink slowly, she sat down on a comfy arm chair and let out a sigh.

"Did I grow up that quickly?" Mikan looked at her guardian .

"Figuratively or literally? If it's literally, you sure grew slow… forever stuck in that small body of yours which can be so frail at times." This earned Narumi a glare from behind him.

"Good evening Misaki-sensei." Mikan greeted her other guardian. "Where are Tsuabasa and Misaki senpai?"

"They've gone to meet Serina-sensei and bring her back to the palace." The stoic teacher looked suspiciously at the mug Narumi was offering him.

"It's hot chocolate, stop staring at it as if I've put some pheremone potion in it." Narumi turned his attention back to Mikan, "We felt that Serina-sensei's presence would be of a comfort to you, since tomorrow will be… you know the last day with Keiko."

Sipping more hot chocolate, Mikan looked at the moon beaming through the window. "It's so fast… I can understand the anxiousness okaa-san felt when she had me. I think now I understand all the fears she had about losing me."

"Well… that's true, but she did have some great memories with you. Cheer up Mikan, at least when this ends, you'll get to know who the winner is. The palace servants are betting on you and Luna, and currently your odds are higher due to your personality." Misaki-sensei tried comfroting the 17 year old girl.

The trio were interuppted by a loud knock at the door and looking at the clock, they wondered who could be visiting them at such an hour. Thinking that it would be Misaki, Tsubasa and Serina-sensei, Mikan put her mug down and rushed to the door. Opening it, she was faced with Shiki-san leaning against the door, clutching his arm as he he tried to stop the blood from flowing.

"Shiki-san! What happened to you?" Mikan asked and supported the man into the room. Misaki-sensei got up from his seat and proceeded into his room to retrive the first aid box and his pouch of medication.

"I was suppose to report… to Hyuuga-sama… but… your room is closer and I can't…. hold out longer… with this much blood being… lost." Shiki's face controted with pain and Mikan tried to remove the clothes obsecuring the wound.

Narumi joined them with a basin of warm water and a clean cloth, placing the basin down, he began to help Mikan slowly remove Shiki's blood drenched shirt. Misaki-sensei examined the wounds closely before returning to his pouch and started preparing a salve for the wounds. Taking a cloth, Mikan used it to wipe the blood away from the wound on his arm, but the more she wiped, she realised that there were cuts even at his torso.

"Misaki-sensei…?"

"It's all right, the wounds on his torso are superficial. The more servere wound is on his arm, keep applying pressure there to stop the bleeding." Misaki-sensei instructed.

Doing as she was told, Mikan wrapped the cloth round the wound and applied as much pressure as she could. Narumi, in the meantime, used another cloth to clean up the blood at the other parts of Shiki's body.

"How did you get these wounds Shiki-san?" Mikan looked into the man's eyes and found them looking back at her.

"We were on a mission, to try to find out what Kuonji is planning…"

"Who are the we?"

"Imai, Nogi, the mind reading boy and I. We were tipped off by Tsubasa's spying a few days earlier… that… that Kuonji is planning something on the day where the results would be announced…" Shiki paused to cough out some blood. Using his free hand, he wiped his mouth. "Sorry I'm in this state… I had to get the three of them out as our identities were discovered…"

"Are the rest… are they safe?" Panic started building up within Mikan.

"They are… I got them out in time, but I wasn't… wasn't so lucky… We must be prepared… he's going to inflitrate the palace that day…" Shiki started to loose conscious.

"Mikan keep talking to him, I'm going to start applying the salve and it'll hurt a hell lot." Misaki-sensei nudged Mikan aside as he looked at the wound one last time before applying a gernerous amount of the salve on Shiki.

Shiki twitched in pain, "Dammit Misaki… it hurts. Be gentle could you?"

"Still humerous even though you could pass out from blood loss, I don't need to worry much do I?"

"Who did this to you Shiki?" Mikan pressed on.

"Persona… he's here in the palace… that's when I was attacked… we thought we were safe… but…"

Misaki-sensei wrapped the wounds up in a clean bandage and Shiki fell asleep. "Let him sleep, he probably dragged himself here to tell you this information. Why don't you go do some spying Mikan? As he said, Persona is in the palace and we all know where he'll be going. Go go, get ready." Narumi, wringed a bloodied cloth and indicated to Mikan's room with his head.

Standing up, Mikan looked at the blood staining her hands and she marched to her room, changing into her black outfit and finally donning on her velvet mask.

Luna paced around in her room, stopping occassionally to look at Tetsuya sleeping soundly on her bed. She noted that Goshima had been missing since this afternoon, but since he was not one of her main bodyguards, she did not really pay attention to the nagging feeling that she had. Glancing up to the clock that sat on her bedside table, she noted that it was 11pm. Persona was an hour late.

"Goshima, why can't I get this man's name out of my head. He was only assigned to me for this trial, so I've never seen him before that. Yet why does he make me feel so uneasy?"

Her thoughts were broken by a soft knocking on her window. Looking over, she saw a dark shadow and walked over to open the window, letting the man in. However, instead of the man climbing into her room, he collasped in.

"Persona!"

"Give me more of your alice Persona." Kuonji drawled on lazily as he sat on his armchair.

"Yes master." Persona obliged and began drawing out his alice, focusing on his palm such that a stone was produced.

Finally, when the stone was made, he handed it over to Kuonji. The 12 year old boy inspected the stone and spat, "The stones that you have been producing for me are growing smaller in size. Are you trying to let Mikan catch hold of me? Are you trying to ruin Luna's chances of marrying Natsume? Are you trying to destroy my aim of gaining back my throne?"

Persona shrudded in fear and remained silent. Although his master was physically much smaller than him, he never dared to go against his orders for he had seen how creully Kuonji tortures those who plotted against him. However, something inside of Persona did not allow him to draw out more of his alice. It was as if his body knew that if he drew out anymore, he could be in danger. Unknown to Kuonji, Persona had been feeling weaker each time an alice stone was demanded. He would go to sleep, but wake up with violent coughs, so much so that he coughed up blood. Trying to focus on an easy task such as watching over Luna from afar was proving to be difficult with his frequent dizzy spells.

Kuonji sighed loudly to show his disappointment, "this will have to do for now. I musn't be so ungrateful, your alice has allowed me to sow the seeds of discord in this kingdom and I thank you grately for that. However, the next time I require your alice, ensure to give it all to me, I do not tolerate weak servants." He got up and immediately absorbed the stone into his body. Feeling the surge in power from this stone, Kuonji smirked at the weakening Persona and walked out of his room.

"Pity, I'm going to work you to death Persona."

Hearing the door click shut and Kuonji's footsteps growing softer, Persona grabbed the table in front of him for support to prevent himself from collapsing. He noted that the time was 930pm, and he had to meet Luna at 10pm. Urging himself to get up, he stumbled to the door.

"I must tell Luna what Kuonji is planning. I must convince Luna to stop working for him."

"Persona!"

Mikan who was climbing down the walls from the second floor heard Luna exclaim loudly.

"All right, I'm directly above Luna's room."

Tying the rope round her waist, Mikan ensured that the other end was securly fastened to the balcony on the second floor. Slowly absailing down to avoid dectection, Mikan could hear frantic movements and harsh voices within Luna's room.

"Persona, are you all right? You're having an atrocious fever! Come on get up, let's move you to another room." More stumbling were heard.

When Mikan's feet lightly touched the ground, she untied the rope around her and pressed her back against the wall. Looking around, she noted that she was facing the palace's gardens. Although similar to her room, Luna's room opened out to a fountain which worked to Mikan's advantage, as the sound of falling water would cover up any excessive noise Mikan makes.

"Luna… I… I have to tell you…"

"What's making you so weak? You're usually much stronger than this!"

Mikan peeked round the wall and she was now looking straight into Luna's room. Luna was seated on the floor and Persona's head was on her lap.

"I've been… giving my alice to Kuonji-sama…" Persona chocked out.

"What? I've heard the news that the dead was rising and I thought you unlocked a new portion of you alice. You mean you weren't the one that was doing it?"

"No… I never kenw I possessed that ability… Kuonji-sama… he has been doing some digging… digging into my… alice."

"Shh.. don't talk, let's get you to a room to rest shall we? You need your strength."

"Luna… don't serve Kuonji-sama anymore… become good… keep your hands clean, I'll… I'll dirty my hands for you…"

"What nonsense are you sprouting? Come on, let's move you to another room."

The sounds in the room faded off and Mikan saw the duo leave. The wall which she was pressed against had a window and the lights suddenly turned on. Jumping a few feets in the air, Mikan scrambled into Luna's room and peeked out again only to see 2 shadows, most likley Luna and Persona. She straightened her body and looked at the sleeping Tetsuya, "He really does sleep like a log. Not even waking up even though there's so much commotion in the room."

Then realising her drop in spying skills, Mikan chided herself, "I need to start training again. This is inexcusable, being frightened by the turning on of lights."

Hearng that Luna was walking back into her room, Mikan quickly scanned her room and doved under the bed which Tetsuya was sleeping on. Luna was looking for something, rammaging through the drawers till she found it and then left the room. Crawling out from her hiding position, Mikan hid herself behind the room's door so she could eavesdrop on the other room.

"Luna… He's planning to launch his attack tomorrow night. You must be prepared… you must make preparations. I've been watching you… Mikan and her friends… they're keeping you safe…"

"Mikan that insufferable brat?"

"Yes… do you know why you aren't getting any more missions from Kuonji? Do you realise that he hasn't been contacting you?"

"I've realised that, in fact I wanted to ask you that." Luna sounded puzzled.

"He has casted you aside. He feels that you are no longer useful to him, especially after you've grown more compassionate with the help of Tetsuya. He doesn't need people who feel. Mikan and her friends have probably realised this and are doing anything that they can to keep you safe."

"Then why is it he retains you at his side but does this to me?"

"I've actually been forbidden from making contact with you."

"How is it that you are able to meet me whenever I send the courrier out?"

"So happens I'm free during those times. We've been lucky Luna-san, but I don't think it will be for long. In 2 days time, this bride selection test will end. The results will either be you sitting on the throne beside Hyuuga and getting back in favour with Kuonji or…"

"Or I'll be assassinated by him if I don't."

There was silence in the room.

"What is he planning to do?"

"He's planning to use Mikan's child to extract the stone from his own body."

"If she refuses?"

"He'll kill her."

"How? Mikan and Natsume have been ensuring that security around that child has been tight."

"I have no idea about that. I've managed to gather all these information by spying on Kuonji himself."

"Where did you come from Persona?"

"From Kuonji's hideout."

Luna let out a sigh of frustration. She was caught in the middle. Right now, she did not know who to trust, which side to follow. If she turned back to Kuonji, her life may not be spared if she loses the selection test. Even if she did something drastic on that day, how much favour could she curry? Kuonji would have calculated the possibilities of her losing. He would immediately dispose of her to prevent tongues from wagging. However, did things look any brighter if she went to aid Mikan? If she told Mikan all that is being plotted against her? They would trial her and execute her for all the deeds that she has done while being the ruling princess of Nula, that would make the people of Nula happy.

"How am I suppose to choose Persona?"

Persona looked over at the woman who was trapped in this 17 year old body, he saw the frustration that were in her eyes.

"I'm sure Mikan would forgive you. She's not one to hold on to grudges. Her friends have forgiven you as well, judging from their actions. They're all waiting for you to realise that what you've did and what you've been doing is wrong."

"What made you change Persona?"

"I saw Izumi-sensei in a dream, if I can call it that. He was talking to me, telling me to let go of my anger. He clarified my doubts, doubts which you and Kuonji planted in me." Persona looked carefully into Luna's eyes, he wanted to see her reaction.

Luna looked away in shame. All those years, though she hated Izumi because he took away her only friend, but she could never forgive herself for corrupting the young Rei. But because she had already taken a step onto this path of destruction, she decided that it was useless to feel guilty over such a thing. Running away from it only brought it back to haunt her.

"I'm sorry. I knew how much it would hurt you, how much anger would be released, but it was Kuonji's orders."

"It's all right, I've forgiven you. Izumi-sensei opened my eyes to all the horrible deeds that I've done, but he helped me to repent. Luna, let's aid Mikan, let's end all this and aid her."

"But turning our backs on Kuonji now is suicidal."

"Agreed, let's help her out to the best of our ability if something were to go wrong tomorrow. By then, Kuonji would have no more leverage over us, your child would have disappeared and now you know that I'll always remain loyal to you."

"I agree. Rest now Persona. I'll wake you up at 3 in the morning."

"Thank you, I'd appreciate that. We must keep Kuonji's suspicion at bay."

"Good night Rei."

Mikan had heard enough to know that Persona was not the man who had attacked Shiki-san. She also heard enough to know that Luna and Persona were now on their side. Ensuring that no one was moving, Mikan moved from behind the door and stealthily to the window she entered from.

Trying the rope round her waist again, Mikan began her slow climb up to the second floor. Once there, she removed her mask and ran as quickly as she could down the stairs, pausing at intervals to see that nobody has spotted her, or was following her. Finally reaching her room door, she pushed it open and was greeted by Serina-sensei.

"Mikan dear, have you been out spying?" The older lady looked at Mikan with concern.

"Yes sensei. I was instructed by Narumi-sensei to confirm the purpetrator."

Narumi so happened to walk into the room and saw that Serina had a vein that was buldging out of her forehead.

"Narumi… what did I say about sending Mikan on missions at THIS point in time?"

"Oh that… you said that Mikan was to be suspended from all missions. You did that right Mikan? Absailing down from the second floor and being suspended." Narumi empahsised.

"Hai sensei… I thought it was weird since my room and Luna's room are on the second floor."

"Well see! We're following orders!" Narumi cheerfully exclaimed, earning him a blow to the head by Serina-sensei.

"You idiot! She could have been put in harms way. Can't you keep that spying urge of yours under wrap? There's only one more day till the results are announced!" Serina screetched.

"Er… can we keep it down? Keiko is easily woken by noises." Tsubasa sweatdropped and spoke.

Mikan slid away from the argument and entered her daughter's room. For the first time, she was able to see her child transform, from a twelve year old to a fifteen year old. Usually, she would wake up in the morning to find Keiko squeezed in her previous age clothes. But as soon as the clock striked the first chime of its tweleve, Keiko started to emit a silverish light. By the third stroke, Keiko was engulfed in the bright light and it being so bright that Mikan had to cover her eyes. Mikan struggeld to keep her eyes open, seeing that her child was changing in front of her. Keiko's limb's grew longer and her raven hair grew to mid-back length, with the same amount of curls Mikan had. At the stroke of midnight, Keiko was now a teenager, and the dress just barely covered her new found curves.

Poking her head back out, Mikan asked Misaki-senpai, "Senpai, did the palace deliver a box with Keiko's clothes?"

Somehow Mikan felt that she had saved Narumi's life as he was about to get beaten by Misaki-sensei and Serina-sensei at the same time.

"Oh that box, it's in Keiko's room, in her cupboard dearie." Narumi sang.

Walking towards Keiko's cupboard, she opened the box and saw in it, an orange silk gown. Lifting it up to help Keiko change, Mikan realised that her child would look almost like her sister if they did not know it was her child.

Laying down beside her child, Mikan fell asleep without changing her own clothes. She wanted to be well rested, to plan a counter attack, she needed to help Luna and Persona, she needed to do a lot of things.

Mikan awoke the earliest the next day and got dressed in her lime green sleeves sundress. Tying her hair into 2 small ponytails, she wrote notes to Hotaru, Ruka, Sumire, Koko, Aoi, Subaru and Natsume, asking them to meet her in the library. Sealing each note, she instructed a passing maid to deliver them immediately. Ringing the bell that connected her room to the kitchen, alerted the staff there to bring up breakfast for those in her suite. Knowing that it will take about 10 mintues before her food arrived, Mikan took a stroll in the rose garden.

However, her peaceful stroll was cut abrupt by girls cooing and screaming . She turned her head to see a handsome teenage boy with strawberry hair dressed in a translucent sky blue shirt and dark green pants. He looked peeved to be surrounded by girls fawning over his looks and glared at them with his crimson eyes. Running a hand through his hair in annoyance, he was surpirsed that the fans screamed a little louder.

Mikan chuckled at this sight, as it brought all too familiar memories of Natsume. Walking over, she greeted him. "Good morning Tetsuya."

"Good morning Mika-hime."

"I see you got yourself a crowd." Mikan motioned to the crowd who stood beyond the fountain.

"They're… annoying. Could you help me chase them away? Okaa-san is still sleeping and she looked very tired. I don't want them," he glared at the group again, "to wake her."

"Sure sure. Then could you do me a favor?" Looking up at the boy who was towering over her.

The boy nodded, "Anything Mika-hime."

"Could you spend the day with Keiko? I've got somethings to attend to with my helpers and there will be no one watching over her. We're all busy preparing for the ball tonight."

"Consider it done." Tetsuya bowed at Mikan and looked up again with more urgency in his eyes as he noted his mother stirring from her sleep.

Clearing her throat, Mikan walked with authority over to the maids. Apparently, with Tetsuya's frame, the maids did not notice Mikan talking to him and hence, they continued with their frivolous actions. Upon seeing Mikan they quieten and bowed in respect.

"Don't you all have work to do for tonight's grand ball? What are you all doing here, disturbing Tetsuya-sama and Koizumi-hime with your noises? Off to your duties please. Do not create anymore trouble for the Hyuuga family." Mikan instructed.

The maids dispersed and Mikan turned to face Tetsuya, only to see him bow at her once again before disappearing into his room.

"Very much like Natsume. He has become a boy with little words and a whole lot of charm."

Returning back to her room, Mikan found everyone awake and crowding around Keiko.

"Oh my…"

"She does look so much like Mikan."

"Her hair, as black as night."

"She has Mikan's beauty hands down."

"Hopefully not Mikan's brains."

"AH-HEM" Mikan loudly cleared her throat so that her party would stop fawning over her daughter who stood in the middle all shy. "Let's have breakfast shall we?" Indicating to the breakfast that was set on the table.

Everyone agreed and proceeded to help themselves to the food.

"Keiko dear," Mikan pulled her daughter to one side, "Tetsuya said he'll spend the day with you, so keep out of trouble and don't cause him to be driven up the wall."

"Yes okaa-san. What will you be doing?" Keiko looked innocently up at her mother.

"We, everyone here except you, has to prepare for the ball tonight. I'll call for you if there is a need for a dress fitting, but other than that, stay out of trouble."

Breakfast was consummed at a speed of light, and soon everyone except Keiko made their way to the library as instructed by Mikan.

Opening the doors to see that her friends were already there, Mikan motioned them to sit around the table and began telling them of what she had found out from eavesdropping.

"Hotaru is this place secure?" Mikan looked at her friend.

"Yes it is. Hold on, Shiki-san is joining us with Kaoru-sama."

With that said, the doors opened again and everyone stood, bowing in respect of the queen.

"Okaa-san," Natsume greeted his mother, "Where is otou-san?"

"He's in charge of the ball and security right now. It's a bit difficult for him to join us in this meeting. Please do start, we only have a few hours before the ball commences." Kaoru took her place and the rest sat after her.

"All right, I was sent on a mission yesterday by Narumi-sensei," this caused Narumi to be pinched on the thigh by Serina-sensei who was sitting next to him. "I've overheard that Luna and Persona are no longer willing to serve Kuonji."

"It could be a trap. They could have said it, knowing you were there." Hotaru said.

"No… they didn't have a clue I was even in their room because Luna was tending to a very weak Persona."

"Weak?" Kaoru-sama spoke up.

"Yes weak. Persona has been giving his alice up to Kuonji for usage and this has caused him to become weak. Each time he gives up his alice, his life is threatened and as we know, Kuonji requires a large amount of his alice so that it will not be nullified by the stone within him." She looked at them and they stared back at her with eyes that said how do you know all this?

"This information was told to me by the priestess Otanashi in the final test. Kuonji has been using Persona's alice to raise and control the dead. It is one of the hidden properties which Persona himself did not realise."

Aoi who was sitting in the corner spoke up, "it is true. I've been reading books on alices and just as how I've got back my alice, Persona's alice is actually the guardian of the underworld."

The group nodded in acknowledgement and beckonned Mikan to continue.

"Kuonji is planning to strike tonight at the ball, before the results are announced. As a participant, I know that I cannot change the outcomes, but I would like to urge all of you to try and keep Luna and Persona safe as well. One of his plans is to use Keiko to try and draw out the nullification stone within him."

"We know all this already. We have been spying on him." Ruka spoke up.

"If so, why didn't anyone inform me?" Mikan looked at the group but they shifted uncomfortably in their seats.

"We didn't want you to worry about it just yet. Now isn't the time to be worrying about this, we must act swiftly." Shiki spoke for the group. "Serina-san, what are you able to see?"

"He's going to inflitrate the palace tonight by sneaking in. Using the unhappiness of the people, he will slip in unoticed."

"Ok that's a start, let's start planning."

The climax of the story is next. Do keep reading and reviewing! I really appreciate it. :)

Another poll: DO YOU WANT AN EPILOGUE TO THIS FANFIC? Do let me hear your views.

Now on to the comments!

Enigmasonatarocks258: heh heh, yes i'm going to kill 3 people. And I won't spoil the story for you, wait for the next chapter!

Shimmering: nope nope, not gonna kill them. Besides, if the main characters die, what story will there be left? :)

Blueberryxn: Nah it's ok. You still reviewed! :) Thanks thanks my loyal reviewer!

MistiLove: I won't consider it getting better for the next chapter or so... but it will. I'm sure you noted that the story took a turn, from being funny to sad and all angsty. It'll end soon!

RandomDalmatian326: I guess Mikan didn't teach her that. Frankly as a child, my mother never told me that and I based Mikan's parenting (not that she did much as it wasn't the main focus) on my own experiences, so I presume Mikan didn't either. Did yours?

Natikan: because no one expected her to turn out like that in the manga? haha. oh well, I'm already planning another fanfic, and I'll try not to make Luna the bad guy. :]

Lessthenthreeanime: haha, glad to hear that Tono is more amusing in the fanfic than the manga. You'll be seeing more of him in the next! Thank you so much for your compliments, they really keep me going.

ImmortalLovely: Have you caught up? heh. ^^

Equisiteshine: Hope you didn't have to wait long for this chapter. Thank you for reading!