Black and White
Please enjoy the story! Hope you like it ;D
-Sorry for bad grammar and tenses-
Disclamer : I do not own Gakuen Alice
Chapter 3 : Of the Age
"Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday, Happy birthday, Happy birthday to you."
The song echoed through the Nogi's living room, while there are four people standing there. One of them was holding out a single chocolate cupcake with a light blue icing on the top of it and a single red candle stood proudly in the middle of it.
"Blow the candle, Mikan!" Mrs. Nogi squealed happily, clapping and cheering all the time.
Mikan laughed, pure happiness radiated from her face as she leaned down a bit and blew the candle on top of the cupcake which was held by Ruka.
On the other hand, Mr. Nogi, a sleek raven haired man with calm light blue eyes only smile on the sidelines, unlike his cheery wife.
"Happy 18th birthday, Mikan. I hope happiness will always be with you." Ruka said softly, as he put the cupcake away and gave Mikan a brief, friendly hug.
"Thank you, Ruka. Thank you for always being there for me."
"My turn, son. Stop monopolizing her each time she has her birthday." Came Ruka's mother's voice as she pushed Ruka away and give Mikan kisses on both of her cheek. "Happiest birthday to my pretty little daughter!"
Seeing Mrs. Nogi antics, Mikan laughes again, while Ruka grumbled about his childish mother. "Thank you so much, auntie. I don't know what I've become now if you are not there for me." Mikan said gratefully while bowing deeply.
"Happy birthday, Mikan. I hope all the best things for your future." Mr. Nogi elegantly said, as he smiled and gave Mikan a brief hug.
Mikan gave another bow to the head of the Nogi's family. "Thank you very much, uncle. Especially at the part where you gave me so many financial support."
Mr. Nogi let out a short chuckle. "It really doesn't matter, Mikan. I love seeing you happy."
Mikan bit her lower lip, her cheeks reddened hearing 's sincere words. "I really owe Nogi's family a lot." She muttered softly, looking at the happy family of three who have supported her so much.
"Don't feel indebted dear. Just think of them as our gifts." Mrs. Nogi said gently, giving her a motherly hug.
"Yes, think of it like that, Mikan. You will never be a burden to us." Mr. Nogi added kindly.
Mikan bow again. "Thank you! Thank you so much."
Mrs. Nogi laughes, waving her hand in a dismissing manner. "Don't worry about it, sweety. Now, why don't you go with Ruka? He has prepared something special for your birthday." She winked at her son while her lips curled into a naughty smile.
Ruka's cheeks tinted with a bit red as he heard his mother's words. He quickly grab Mikan's hand, and walk out, before his mother could tell anything absurd to his best friend.
"Sorry, about that." Ruka mumbled. Although the red on his cheeks already vanished, his pointed ears were still as red as tomatoes.
"No, it's okay. Your mother is always playful." Mikan laughed.
Ruka shook his head. "No, she is annoying."
Mikan's eyes softened as she said in a nearly unheard voice. "But she is there, Ruka. Your mother is there for you."
Ruka gritted his teeth, his heart filled with regret for reminiscing bad memories for Mikan. He squeezed her hand lightly, pulling her a bit. "Come on, Mikan. I want to show you something." He said in an excited voice, hoping that she would cheer up on her birthday.
Mikan gave out a sad smile, not noticing Ruka's effort to make her spirit up.
They keep walking and walking until they reached a wide meadow, which is really surroundings felt cool, because there were so many big trees with green leaves standing proudly on the side of the meadow, while thick grasses covering nearly all the ground in the meadow, and the one that was the most eyecatching is the water. The water look so calm, it's as if the water drawn you in, calling for you to dip in your feet.
Mikan breathed out, her eyes looked arround with sparkle in both of her eyes.
That Ruka sure know how to make our Mikan happy.
"It's so beautiful, Ruka. How did you know this kind of place?"
Ruka chuckled as he walked and took a seat under one of the big trees. "I just happen to know." He answered briefly, winking his eyes while saying that. "Come, take a seat Mikan."
Mikan laughed. "You are such a tease."
"Hey, I'm no girl!" Ruka quickly protested. "A tease is only applied to a girl you know, not a man like me!"
Mikan smiled. "I can applied that to a man like you and yes, you are a pretty boy, Ruka. Just please don't deny it." She said as she take a seat beside him, pulling her knees and put her chin on it.
Ruka sighed. "It's not my fault that my face is just like my mother, and its not my fault too that my mother is so beautiful."
Mikan laughed again. "Yes, yes. I know that. But your mother is indeed beautiful." She added in a softer voice, her eyes looked faraway.
"I bet your mother is really beautiful too, Mikan."
Mikan smiled sadly at Ruka. "Was, Ruka. For all I know, she is gone, just like father and grandpa."
"Hey." Ruka took Mikan's hand in his, squeezing it a bit to show his effort to comfort her. "No one knows right? Your grandpa said so, that your mother whereabouts is unknown until now."
Mikan shook her head. "Just let it go, Ruka. I have known somehow that she doesn't live in our world anymore." She stop for a moment, bitting her lower lip as if holding back her incoming tears. "Perhaps its for the best." She said softly. "Mother would be happy joining with father."
"Come on Mikan. Don't give up that fast. The Mikan I know isn't like this. The Mikan I know would never give up and keep searching."
Mikan let out a forced laugh. "Just forget it, Ruka. Somehow it just tiring to keep hoping from time to time. Perhaps if its God's will, we will meet someday."
Ruka sighed again. "This just isn't like you, Mikan. What's wrong? Just a few minutes ago you still look happy."
"Just another bad dream." Mikan blink back her tears. "I just remember about it when you said your mother is beautiful."
"Do you want to tell me about it?"
Mikan shook her head. "No, I don't want to think about it. Can we just .. just enjoy this scenery? I feel calm here."
"Of course." Ruka replied, almost automatically as he doesn't want to force the fragile girl.
"Thank you, Ruka. For everything," mumbled Mikan, leaning on Ruka's shoulder as she closed her eyes, letting her mind rest for a while.
"Mikan, Mikan! Are you in there?!"
Mikan groan a little, forcing her eyes to open as her ears caught the sound of someone pounding on her front door while shouting her name.
"Mikan? Are you home?"
Mikan groan once more, taking her alarm clock to see the time.
4.30 AM.
Who the heck is coming at this time? Mikan grumbled to herself, as she pulled away her blanket as she put her feet on the ground.
With eyes still half open, she dragged herself to the front door of her house, opening it none too gently.
"Mikan! I'm so sorry to call you this early in the morning." Mrs. Nogi's face pop out from behind the door.
Mikan blink her eyes and rub them a little to make the sleepiness go away. "Ah, I'm sorry auntie. Is there anything that I could help you with?" She ask, still with hoarse voice since she just woke up.
"I don't know how this is happening, but you are called to the castle by order of the Queen."
"Huh?" Mikan stare confusedly at Mrs. Nogi. "Queen? Her highness? Queen Luna Koizumi?"
Mrs. Nogi slowly nodded. "She has called you to her court today, the message arrived yesterday, but I just don't want to ruin your birthday with this." She said softly, patting Mikan's head.
Mikan blink once more. "But, what have I done?"
Queen Luna Koizumi, the ruler of Alice Land is known as a harsh and mean Queen. Although she came from the White Tribe – since all of the ruler from Alice Land must be from the White Tribe, – somehow she didn't inherited the kindness and gentleness all of the White Tribe suppose to have, just like her parents 3 years ago.
Mrs. Nogi shook her head. "I don't know the exact reason, Mikan. But the general of it, I can tell you, but prepare yourself first and come to my house, I will explain everything to you there."
Although all of it seems unreal and absurd, Mikan quickly prepares herself and go to the Nogi's house in 15 minutes.
"So, what kind of thing that can make Queen Luna call for someone like me?" Mikan ask without any hesitation as she sit on one of the sofas while Mr. And Mrs. Nogi sit on the other side.
"We don't know how to tell you the truth actually, because we just remember it too." Mrs. Nogi started with doubt clear in both of her eyes as she give her husband a side glance.
Mikan frowned. "Excuse me?"
"You know Mikan, you have a mysterious past, your grandpa told you right?" Mr. Nogi takes over the conversation.
"Yes." Mikan quietly answered, nodding her head.
"No one knows about it, or to be exact no one remember about it since your mother tampered with everyone's memories 17 years ago. Your grandfather is an exception. Your mother let him have all of the memories needed to protect you."
Mikan is speechless. She really doesn't know how her feeling right now. Knowing that many people actually know about her past, the fact that her mother protected her, and so on.
Seeing Mikan's stunned expression, Mrs. Nogi totally understand it, but she can't wait for Mikan digest the stories fully first since the time is running.
"Mikan, I know you are confuse right now, but you need to get away from here as soon as you can."
"W-what? Why?" Mikan ask, still can't comprehend what's happening.
"Listen carefully Mikan. Many years ago, your grandparents from your mother's side were the one who ruled Alice Land, your parents suppose to be the one who inherited it, but your mother ran with your father, choosing to live peacefully on a secret place that no one ever know until now." Mrs. Nogi try to explain it in a composed version to her bestfriend's daughter.
"But.. then, my mother is a princess? Why did she choose to run with father?"
"Yes, she is indeed a princess. An amazing and beautiful one. She choose to run with your father because your grandparents didn't accept him since your father came from the Black Tribe." Mrs. Nogi replied in a soft voice, afraid that she would shock the girl.
"Black Tribe?" Mikan is flabbergasted. Information this much, she can't handle it. "Then... Then I am.. ?"
Mrs. Nogi nodded. "Yes, you are a blend Mikan. Half White Tribe, half Black Tribe."
Mikan's eyes widen in horror. "B-but, that's a taboo!"
"Yes." Mrs. Nogi said, her expression solemn. "Because of that we, my husband and I thought that the reason Queen Luna calling for you. I don't know what she is going to do, but I assure you that I don't want to see you suffering there."
"Now you should go, Mikan. Before Luna's guards come here to catch you. Ruka will escort you until the border of the city, from there you will be alone since Ruka needed to be here when the Queen choose to do some inspection." Mr. Nogi said, giving a small bag to Mikan. "This is for your supplies, we give you as much as we can without making you rising suspicion, hope this would help."
"Ruka! Ruka!" Mrs. Nogi called her son.
"I really don't know what to say, uncle, auntie. But thank you so much!" Mikan bowed, saying her gratefulness in a shaky voice. Perhaps she is way too shock for receiving this many information in such a short time.
"Are you ready, Mikan? Don't worry, everything will be fine. I will catch up to you as soon as the inspection done." Ruka said, holding Mikan's small hand.
Mikan nodded. She really doesn't want to say anything more.
"Mikan." Mrs. Nogi called.
Mikan look back, stopping from her steps to the back door of Nogi's house.
Mrs. Nogi smiled. "Being a blend is not a taboo. It's a special thing, I know it since I laid my eyes on you. Just please, be safe okay?"
Mikan nodded as she smiles a bit and waves her hand, vanishing behind the door with Ruka on tow.
Miamu-chan : Hmm.. what if Mikan doesn't have any power? ;D #just wanted to know what do you think lols.
CC : Perhaps I will pair them like that XD NatsumexMikanxRuka LOL
Newroz : Love seeing you here XD
Anilissa : I have put up the age :D Hope you can guess the rest hahaha. The grandpa sadly died =( I had to make it like that, otherwise it will be a hassle to include an old man in a run lol.
pennYnnep : Yeah, I agree with that XD the princey look will totally suited an elf Ruka Nogi *squealing* You will see the answers later ;D I'm sorry but I can't do spoiler =D
A bunch of special thanks for those people *up there* for leaving lovely reviews on my story! Thank you so much! xoxoxoxoxoxo
Thank you too for those who has read my story, or followed or favorited, love you guys!
See you on the next chappie I guess ;D
Toodles!
Aquabluemarine