Another Life Journey -6
Chapter 6--The next morning Mikan woke up quite happy and relaxed. She wondered why, she looked at her clock and saw it was still quarter to six. She sat up and noticed a neatly folded futon on the floor with a note on top of it.
You talk when you sleep, idiot
Natsume
Huh? What does he mean--? Mikan thought then realization dawn unto her, Oh yeah, I begged him to stay with me for the night. Darn, was I stupid last night.
She headed for the bathroom slowly, glad that it was Saturday. While taking a shower she recalled the night’s event. She can clearly remember that she cried on Natsume, telling him all about the dream and he was comforting her.
“Don’t worry, Mikan, Everyone will be fine, just believe in them” Natsume said in her head.
Yeah, everything will be alright. It will always be right. I just got to believe in them. Mikan told herself. She dressed herself up wearing her uniform underneath her black coat, and tying her hair in a high ponytail instead of her everyday style.
When she got out of her room, she become conscious of the fact that the line she keeps repeating on her mind, Natsume said her name. Then she noticed the whole night he used her name. Mikan smiled at this and ran out of the dormitory happily.
On her way to see Hotaru and the others, she bumped into Aya.
“Hey Mikan!” she called out “how are you doing?”
Mikan walked toward her, she was sitting alone on tree branch, just staring out at the endless view of trees.
“I’m good,” Mikan half-lied after settling beside Aya, “you?”
“Fantastic!” Aya exclaimed “this school is amazing, it’s huge especially!”
“Yeah” Mikan smiled remembering her first days at the Academy
They were silent for a while, just enjoying the view in front of them. Only now did Mikan notice that they were sitting on one of the highest trees in the academy.
“Don’t you miss you’re family?” Mikan suddenly asked
Silence.
“Aya?” Mikan looked at the girl beside her and noticed the spark in her eyes were gone now, but her smile was still plastered
“My parents left me when I was born, left me to an aunt of mine with a letter” Aya explained “My aunt has two kids, two boys, and they always pick on me and stuff. Only my aunt treats me like family there”
“Oh” was all Mikan can think of saying
Aya sensing that Mikan was stuck at words grinned and patted her on the back “Don’t worry about it”
“I’m sorry I brought it up” Mikan apologize
“I said don’t worry about it” Aya repeated, Mikan looked at her eyes to see that spark is back there already
“Hey what’re you going to do today?” Mikan asked
“I don’t know, maybe go to the library to catch up on my studies,” the other planned “what’re you going to today?”
“I don’t know, hang out with Hotaru and the others I guess,” she replied “want to join us?”
“Nah, but thanks anyway” Aya smiled, she looked out at the view once again and said, “I’m going to go now, start studying and stuff, see you around”
“Okay” said Mikan “see you around”
Aya started to climb down on a lower tree branch before jumping on the ground. Before leaving she flashed Mikan a grin which Mikan returned with a smile.
Mikan stayed there for a while after Aya has left. She moved her way to the tree’s trunk and rested her back on it, her legs stretched out in front of her. The branch she’s sitting on is wide enough to make her feel safe.
Mikan sighed and once again thought about the dream. She knew what Natsume said the night she had the dream was true, she’ll be the target. And her dream clearly states that.
“Don’t worry, Mikan, Everyone will be fine, just believe in them” a voice said in her mind
But believing in them isn’t good enough!, she retorted to the voice, I need to do something else.
She didn’t need to think for hours, the answer popped on her mind with in minutes. She jumped back to the ground with a plan on her head, heading to the opposite direction she was heading at before. Yes, she’s going to avoid them. Less pain for them and me, she said to herself.
--
Ruka walked out of the dormitory building sighing. Turns out, Natsume is going to spend this day in his room, resting.
Ruka headed for the fountain when he saw Hotaru already sitting there. She already saw him, so there’s no turning back now. No way to go now.
“Hey Imai,” Ruka greeted sitting beside her but on the edge of the bench in case she decided to attack him “what’re you doing here all alone? Where’s Mikan?”
“So you’re talking to me again now, are you?” Hotaru said not looking up to
“What do you mean again?” he asked, “I’ve always talked to you”
“Yeah right” she said with a tone that clearly states that she knew he was lying
“Yes, I’ve always talked to you” Ruka insisted
Hotaru pointed her baka gun at him and said, “Let me help you remember then”
Ruka gulped getting ready for the impact, but it didn’t come. He risked a glance and saw that Hotaru still hasn’t looked at him but the baka gun still pointed.
“Yesterday, we were partnered,” Hotaru started “I asked you what to do on the project, you clearly heard me but you didn’t answer, and your eyes are looking anywhere but me. Then another incident, during lunch I sold a picture of you wearing Mikan’s uniform to Sumire in front of you, I expected you to chase after me demanding the pictures back but you didn’t. Yes I intentionally sold it in front of you to talk to me, but instead you looked anywhere but me, you hear anything but my voice” Hotaru finished but still not looking at him, and damn it! Do you know how much that hurts?!, she wanted to add.
Ruka stayed silent ashamed of himself, but he doesn’t understand why she would like him to notice her.
“I’m your friend, Ruka,” Hotaru said, answering Ruka’s thoughts “and I don’t want to lose one”
“I’m sorry,” Ruka said “I’m really sorry, Imai”
Silence.
Ruka decided to start another topic, not wanting to leave her alone. “So, Hotaru, what are you doing here all alone? Where’s Mikan?”
He didn’t realize it at first but he soon he realized he used Hotaru instead of Imai. He decided to wait for her reaction.
“Who told you, you can use my first name?” Hotaru asked, monotonously. However, Ruka took it as sign of anger. This time he didn’t look at her. He ran away, once again.
He was only given 3 steps when he was pulled back by a mechanical hand. He tried to break free but, as Hotaru wanted it, he can’t. He was soon in front of Hotaru, who was now standing.
What he saw made him stop struggling. Her eyes were wet and tears were flowing from it.
“You can’t run away forever, Ruka” she said, still in a monotonous tone. Clearly her tone will never be affected by what’s seen outside “so what if you called me Hotaru, I didn’t say I had a problem with it—“
“But your voice was angry” Ruka reasoned whispering
“Really? I think the tone of my voice never changed, don’t you agree?”
Ruka flushed, “Yeah I noticed that”
“So now you know, you can use my name already,” Hotaru said “and what was that you said that night? Yeah you said I was beautiful, and you ran away! Damn it! If only you looked back at me you would have see how much you’ve hurt me!”
“How could have I hurt you—the great Hotaru Imai—hurt by Ruka Nogi? How? could you tell me why?” Ruka asked suddenly mad, but not because of Hotaru but because of himself. How could have he hurt Hotaru? He was especially careful about that.
“You never noticed, did you?” Hotaru whispered shaking her head and pressing a button, the mechanical hand let go of Ruka.
“Noticed what?” he asked, fixing his uniform since it got all wrinkled
“Do you know why I keep on blackmailing you?” Hotaru asked “It’s because, first I wanted to save money for my inventions but the second is really unexpected, it’s for you to notice me”
“Oh” was all Ruka could say
“And now I leave you with all the information you need to make a move, Ruka” Hotaru said. Hotaru sighed and left Ruka standing there.
As Ruka stood there, he didn’t notice someone creeping behind him. It was Koko.
“You know what I read in her mind, Ruka?” he asked sitting on the bench the two were occupying just minutes ago. Ruka shook his head. “She said go after her and tell her what you feel” Koko chuckled, “actually what was clearly on her mind was, ‘Why don’t you help the jerk, Koko? Tell him tell me how he really feels and don’t you dare read my mind ever again’”
Ruka smiled and ran after his beloved Hotaru Imai, to tell her how he really loves her and cares for her. He doesn’t expect anything of the girlfriend of the sort, but he just hopes that they’ll be close to that.
Koko laughed at Ruka and entered the dormitory building to see Natsume standing on the door way.
“Enjoyed the show?” Koko asked
“Never thought Ruka could be so stupid” Natsume said
Koko chuckled heading for his room, leaving Natsume on his own. He headed for the northern forest, off to my favorite place in this academy, the Sakura tree.
He arrived there and it was a magnificent sight. The sun high on the sky, winds hitting everything that goes there way, Sakura petals flying everywhere. He catches one petal and smiled remembering Mikan’s smile.
Just like the Sakura petal whenever it falls it will never die, it will always live, just like Mikan’s smile it never fades from her face.
“I wonder where she is,” he thought aloud. He let go of the petal from his hand and sat under the Sakura tree. He was just staring at the rising sun when he felt a presence near him, Persona.
“Another mission—for the two of you—making sure Kai Lie,” Persona said, “he’s a great adviser in the government, and he’s coming here to visit his Alma Mater”
“What kind of Alice does he have to have that position?” Natsume drawled
“Visions of the future” he answered, “Same time, same place”
With that said, he left, leaving Natsume all alone. Another mission, huh?
--
Mikan harshly pulled the handle for the shower, frustrated. Two hours from now and Mikan and Natsume’s mission will start. Mikan did not like it, she was supposed to avoid everyone and not get involved in anything.
She quickly but thoroughly washed her hair, scrubbing her skin and brushing her nails. After the quick bath, she dressed still not in a good mood. She looked out her window and saw that the moon was already out and shinning bright.
She ran out of her room and into the deep of the forest. She looked up and somehow her mood started to alter little by little. Then she remembered there was another mission. She screamed releasing her tension as well as her frustration. She knew others heard it and will be arriving some time soon. She quickly heard shuffling of leaves from her right. She sighed and jumped to a tree branch settling herself on it. She looked at her watch and saw there was still a good one and a half hour before the mission starts.
She looked down on the students that arrived at her place a while ago and saw it was Aya and Yuu. They must have been exploring in the forest when they heard her scream. Mikan thought, maybe I could talk to them.
When she was about to jump down, she caught Aya’s attention. Aya frowned then looked at Yuu’s direction. She shook her head and leaf the place with Yuu. Mikan didn’t understand why she would do that.
Mikan didn’t dwell a long time on Aya’s action and realized that if she showed herself to them she would probably break her promise to herself, avoid everyone. She sighed and was tempted to scream again but controlled herself; instead, she kicked the tree’s trunk. She jumped down deciding she can’t take it anymore, the silence.
She headed for the meeting place and napped there for a while. Soon none other than Natsume joined her.
“I want to thank you for last night, Natsume,” Mikan said
“Don’t mention it” he dismissed
Mikan smiled inside, this would be a good reason to avoid him. Persona soon arrived and he gave Mikan a mask. It was all covered with gold glitters, it was just like any other mask, its like the mask used for balls but hers is full.
“Does this mean she’s always on the mission?” Natsume drawled
“Yes, now start the mission” he ordered
Natsume nods and jumped to the nearest tree branch to another. Mikan sighs and puts on her mask; she jumps onto one of the branches and then jumped after Natsume, who was not that far.
Persona waited till the two of them got lost in the darkness. He was quite surprised to see Mikan jump from tree to tree. Seems like Natsume likes the girl, he thought, that’s a huge problem in the future. He sighs and looked at the moon, he felt his spirit lights up and he grinned. Yes, the moon makes him smile. He stayed like that for a while and decided that its time to go and do his business.
--
Natsume and Mikan never uttered a word during the travel to the highway. Natsume waited for Mikan to complain on how tiring it is but it never came, on the other hand, Mikan knew Natsume was waiting for her to complain.
Finally, they arrived at the highway and caught sight of the black limousine driving away from a big house. When the car was in front of them they followed it from the woods, jumping from tree to tree. So far, nothing has happened.
When the car was just a street away from Alice Academy’s grounds three suited men appeared in front of the car and aimed there guns at the car. Natsume quickly set their guns on fire and they let it go. The car swerve lightly but it didn’t get off the lane. It continued headed for the school’s ground but this time faster than before.
Natusme and Mikan jumped on the ground fighting the three men, to be more specific Natsume did all the fighting. While Natsume was busy with the three, another two swooped down on Mikan. The two aimed their guns at her but she screamed, they staggered at the unseen force Mikan used. Natsume and the other three felt it too but they only flinched, as Mikan’s scream was directed at the other two. Natsume grabbed Mikan’s arm and the two jumped to a tree. When the five composed themselves, the two of them were out of the sight. Mikan gasped, when she saw Natsume’s arm bleeding, making the five point there guns at their direction.
Natsume wanted to smack Mikan then, but he decided that protecting themselves is the priority one. He made a fire barrier on the five. When he was done and the five men were trapped, that was the time he smacked Mikan hard. She only winced and rubbed the back of her head.
Natsume started to jump to another tree not taking notice of his injured arm. Mikan wanted to call him back to put away the flame he ignited that was keeping the five men from escaping. She looked at the five and noticed that the fire was gone and the five men were panting on their knees. Mikan grinned and followed after Natsume.
Natsume and Mikan arrived at the meeting place and saw Persona standing there.
“Good work, now go back to your rooms” he said then walked away
Natsume walked away while Mikan stood there fighting with herself. Should I help Natsume? He’s hurt. She reasoned, but if I help him that would get him close to me, I don’t want that.
Mikan didn’t follow him, instead she ran to her room as fast as she could and get her personal kit of first aid. It’s specially made from Nonoko, so that whatever chemical there is that makes it sting won’t sting anymore and the process of healing is much faster. She run next to Natsume’s room and leave it at the door with a note that says, use this, it’s one of Nonoko’s potions. It won’t hurt one bit and it heals much faster. She didn’t write her name cause that would be too suspicious. She knocked at the door incase he got there first, and then she ran away. Not sensing someone hiding in the shadows.
Natsume smirked at Mikan’s retreating back and picked up the kit she placed. He entered his room and placed it on his bed. He took a shower first then put on his pajama but only the pants.
He sat on his bed and started to apply the cream on his wound, it’s a half-inch open wound not to deep though. Natsume agreed on Mikan, it didn’t sting one bit and heals much faster. The wound started to heal itself little by little. Natsume wrapped it with a bandage provided by Mikan and put on his pajama shirt.
He lay on his bed staring at the ceiling and thinking about what Youichi said, Natsume ran to Youichi’s room first before he came back to his room. Every mission when he comes back to the academy he visits him first to assure him he’s fine. This time Youichi noticed that he got injured. He said to Natsume, Be careful, Onii-chan, I don’t want to lose you.
When he said that, Natsume saw again why he was still alive and doing the school’s work. It’s because of these people, he thought, Youichi, Ruka, Mikan and the others, they are the ones I live for. I haven’t killed myself yet for them. I want to watchthem grow up and know their achievements.
“You won’t lose me, Youichi” he whispered then he fell asleep.
While the students sleep, the teachers work overtime. Narumi and the other teachers greeted Mr. Kai Lee to the Academy. They had a small welcoming dinner for him and let him go to sleep. In his room he sat on his beige leather couch and called someone on his phone.
“How’d it go?” asked Kai on the phone
“Pretty good, they’ve given her a mask” the person replied
“That’s good… that means she’ll be working for the Academy from now on” he grinned
“It’s all working out as planned”
TBC
---
Did you like it? Pls. review. Sorry if this chapter kinda sucks. And I know I’m not good at fighting scenes. I know this chapter is kinda useless sorry about that.
Thank you everyone for reviewing. I hope my reviews reach up to 60 .I just wish. Not demanding though.
Read my other fics:
One way or another NxM
Exam frustration RxH
posted by ~*april*~ @ 9:55 AM
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