#01: Gakuen Alice (Natsume & Mikan)
...xXx...
...xXx...
Mikan took a seat on her comfortable couch after she was done cleaning the dishes. Her eyes caught sight of some music sheets under the glass table, and she stretched her hands to reach them. She flipped through the pages, feeling nostalgic. The last time she played a piece was her first time meeting Akira after they got engaged — Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven. She smiled upon the thought. It was a romantic music piece, but they were young and innocent that time. She and Akira used to push each other to be the best and made a bet on who could finish their grades first. She was glad that she did. Akira accidentally played his piece wrongly during the exams, so he had to repeat it.
Maybe I should play this while waiting for Aki-kun, she mused. She walked toward her black, shiny, elegant grand piano in the room at the end of the corridor of her room. She was still playing the piece, in moderato, then pianissimo and forte according to the piece. Her fingers gracefully pressed the wooden white and black notes professionally. The sound produced by this exotic black piano, which gleamed under the dramatic lighting of the room, was soothing. She was flying in cloud nine as the sound sang into her ears until she took a glance on the clock. She stopped playing as she began to wonder why Akira had not yet arrived to meet her. He promised her. She began to worry.
Then, a knock was heard.
Speak of the devil… that must be him! She ran towards the door and opened it, only to be greeted by a very pale Akira. "Aki-kun! What happened to you? Are—"
She was interrupted by his index finger which was pressing gently on her lips. He gave me an apologetic smile. "Ssshhh… Lower your voice, Mi-chan. You'll wake everyone else." He gazed at her with an affectionate look.
She blushed and exerted her eyes somewhere else. "I'm sorry." She took his hand and dragged him in. After she closed the door, she asked again, "Are you all right, Aki-kun?"
Clearly, he heard the worry in her tone. "I'm alright, Mi-chan."
"Why did you—"
"I need you to promise me something, Mikan," Akira interrupted as he stepped closer to her.
Mikan startled upon the way he had addressed her. Akira always called her 'Mi-chan' or 'Mikan-chan.'
Something's not right, she noted. Her probing eyes were fixed on his face as she tried to read it, but surprisingly, his expression was not as lucid as always. It was stoic. Unreadable.
"Mikan, are you with me?" Akira asked as he waved his hand in front of her face.
She startled, too absorbed in her thoughts. "Y-yeah, you can continue, Aki-kun."
She tried to cool herself down, trying her best to listen to whatever Akira was about to tell her.
"Mikan…" He took her hands in his, and his eyes were on her. "I need you to promise me that no matter what happen, you will never, ever give up."
Her eyebrows furrowed. That was seriously random. "You're scaring me, Aki-kun. Why are you saying things like that suddenly?" She tried to read his face, but again, she failed. He was hiding something and didn't want to tell her about it directly.
"Please, please promise me that you will never give up no matter what happens, Mikan. Please…" he pleaded solemnly. He brushed her fingers on his lips as he stared at her pleadingly.
She frowned, thinking hard on the possibilities of what he was hiding from her. Alas, she couldn't think of anything that was dreadful enough to make her promise. Finally, with a silent sigh, she nodded. "All right, I promise." The troubled feeling in her chest since before dinner was thickening. She was really scared now. "You know, Aki-kun…" Her eyes were still on his, staring earnestly into his eyes. "I have the feeling that you'll leave me."
"Tell me that you won't leave me, Aki-kun," she breathed out pleadingly.
To her horror, he went rigid, but a moment later, he gave her an assuring smile. He softly replied her, "I won't, Mi-chan."
He tightened his hold when he said it. Suddenly, he requested, "Can you take off your mask before I go back to my room? I would love to see your face, Mikan."
She blushed, but complied with his request. She took off her mask, which she laid it on the table beside her and gave him a smile as she gazed into his eyes. He stared at her intently, as though he was memorising her face in his memory forever and ever. How strange.
"That's the Mikan I know, the smiling Mikan," he gushed quietly with silent humour.
Mikan chuckled. She had to admit that she wasn't as easygoing and cheerful as before when she went to the training camp. That happy-go-lucky aura disappeared as she trained harder to master her Alices.
"I only came here to tell you about that." He then gave a peck on her cheek. "Good night, Mi-chan."
She froze. Not that he had ever kissed her on the cheek before, he always did that, but it was different this time. He kissed her just right at the edge of her lips, with a tinge of a feeling of goodbye. For a peck, it was a little bit longer than usual. She was troubled by the emotion he had left on her. Although he told me he won't leave me, why do I feel worried about it? she asked herself sorrowfully. She felt like crying, but she held herself back. By the time she snapped out of her thoughts, he was already reached the door and opened it.
"Aki-kun!" she called out and ran towards him. She gave him a hug and held him tighter to comfort the feeling that was troubling her.
"See you tomorrow and good night to you, too," she whispered and broke the hug. She gave him another smile, which was returned immediately.
"Night, Mi-chan," Akira bid with a weak smile and walked out of her room.
She fixed her eyes on his back until he was out of sight. She hated the feeling that he had left on her now, misery.
I'm sorry, Mi-chan, he thought glumly. Half of him wished that he could told her the truth, but that would worry her even more. He couldn't take it to see her sad face, it was too heartbreaking. He couldn't take it to see that beautiful smile of hers disappear because of him. He couldn't. No. He just couldn't.
"Are you ready?" Subaru asked suddenly, bringing him back to his senses.
His eyes darted to him and then to his sister Hotaru.
"Yes, I am," he said confidently as he approached them.
He felt Hotaru's hand on his shoulder as he passed by her. "Don't give up."
Akira was still surprised to hear the rare sadness in her tone. He smiled. "I'll try my best, Ru-chan."
I'll try my best for Mikan, he thought and stood beside Yuka-ba-san. He held both of his hand up over her body in the air and closed his eyes, concentrating hard on one of his Alices. The next moment he knew was that he saw a flash of white bright lights before he met the darkness and drenched into it…
"Morning. Mikan, I need you to come with me now," Hotaru replied quickly.
Mikan was puzzled. She was already troubled by Akira, and now, Hotaru's tone was adding her misery. She stared hard on her emotionless face.
"Okay…" She entered her room again to take her mask with her. She locked her room and nodded. "Let's go then."
After walking for a short while, Mikan realised that Hotaru brought her to the hospital. She stared at Hotaru probingly while searching for an answer from her, but Hotaru ignored her completely and kept on walking. Did something happen? "Hotaru why—"
Mikan stopped mid-sentence when she saw Hotaru stop in front of her mother's room. She was perplexed as well as curious. Hotaru held a fist on the door and knocked. She froze as she heard her mother's voice from the room. Quickly, she entered the room and saw her mother who was talking to her younger brother Youichi. Her jaw fell open at once, and she immediately rushed towards her mother to hug her. "Okaa-san!"
Her mother patted her back gently.
"I really missed you, Okaa-san," she cried in her shoulder.
"I missed you, too, dear."
Breaking the hug, she asked, "How are you feeling now?"
Her mother replied with a smile, "Never better, dear."
"Onee-chan…" Youichi mumbled sadly.
"What is it, You-chan? Why are you so sad?"
He hung his head dejectedly, and her mother looked at her with sad eyes. "I'm sorry, dear."
"Why?" Mikan asked, confused. She didn't understand what had happened. Why was everyone feeling so sad? Why Akira asked her to keep her promise? Why Hotaru came so suddenly early in the morning… Akira… "By the way, where's Aki-kun?" she asked them as she just realised that Akira wasn't in the room.
Again, she was answered by silence.
"Where's Aki-kun?" she asked again.
The silence was killing her.
"Please, tell me. Where is he?"
"Akira-nii-chan is here, Onee-chan. He…" Youichi informed quietly, but he hesitated and hugged their mother instead.
Mikan froze when she saw tears run down his little pale cheeks.
"I'm sorry, dear. If only Okaa-san were more careful, Akira-kun wouldn't have to do this," her mother explained morosely.
For some reason, perhaps because of her mother's tone, her lips dried instantly. "What are you talking about? I don't understand at all. Where is he? I want to see him…"
She was terrified, thinking the worst… but no one answered her.
"Come with me," Hotaru piped up suddenly and waved her hand on her promptly.
Without saying another word, she stood up and followed Hotaru to Akira's room. She was sure that Akira was fine last night — though he was pale, but she didn't think it would be that serious till he had to be hospitalised. She stared at Hotaru sideways. "Hotaru—"
"For the past two years, Akira has suffered due to his Alices. After he met you last night, Akira came to the hospital to meet your mother, Mikan," Hotaru interrupted her. "You see, Akira has another Alice — an Alice where you can transfer lifespan to others, but once he/she used it, he/she will…" She trailed off.
I never know that Akira was suffering because of his Alices, Mikan thought quietly and shook her head in disbelief. Just then, she recalled back what Hotaru had said to her just now. "Wait, you said Aki-kun has an Alice that can transfer lifespan to others. When did—" She stopped at once as she remembered her mother was apologising to her just now. So, that's the reason why Okaa-san said that…
"Akira wants us to keep this from you, but I don't think I can do that when he's already in critical condition. He's trying his best to stay awake for you, so I think you should meet him, Mikan."
Hotaru stopped in front of a room and opened the door. "He's inside."
Mikan felt her stomach tied in a knot upon hearing the words critical condition.
Please… don't leave me… Akira… please… Mikan prayed mentally. She hoped that the worst wouldn't happen to him. Onegai, Kami-sama…
Hotaru closed the door after Mikan entered the room alone to meet Akira. She turned away from the door. It's time to call him…
Maybe I should play this while waiting for Aki-kun, she mused. She walked toward her black, shiny, elegant grand piano in the room at the end of the corridor of her room. She was still playing the piece, in moderato, then pianissimo and forte according to the piece. Her fingers gracefully pressed the wooden white and black notes professionally. The sound produced by this exotic black piano, which gleamed under the dramatic lighting of the room, was soothing. She was flying in cloud nine as the sound sang into her ears until she took a glance on the clock. She stopped playing as she began to wonder why Akira had not yet arrived to meet her. He promised her. She began to worry.
Then, a knock was heard.
Speak of the devil… that must be him! She ran towards the door and opened it, only to be greeted by a very pale Akira. "Aki-kun! What happened to you? Are—"
She was interrupted by his index finger which was pressing gently on her lips. He gave me an apologetic smile. "Ssshhh… Lower your voice, Mi-chan. You'll wake everyone else." He gazed at her with an affectionate look.
She blushed and exerted her eyes somewhere else. "I'm sorry." She took his hand and dragged him in. After she closed the door, she asked again, "Are you all right, Aki-kun?"
Clearly, he heard the worry in her tone. "I'm alright, Mi-chan."
"Why did you—"
"I need you to promise me something, Mikan," Akira interrupted as he stepped closer to her.
Mikan startled upon the way he had addressed her. Akira always called her 'Mi-chan' or 'Mikan-chan.'
Something's not right, she noted. Her probing eyes were fixed on his face as she tried to read it, but surprisingly, his expression was not as lucid as always. It was stoic. Unreadable.
"Mikan, are you with me?" Akira asked as he waved his hand in front of her face.
She startled, too absorbed in her thoughts. "Y-yeah, you can continue, Aki-kun."
She tried to cool herself down, trying her best to listen to whatever Akira was about to tell her.
"Mikan…" He took her hands in his, and his eyes were on her. "I need you to promise me that no matter what happen, you will never, ever give up."
Her eyebrows furrowed. That was seriously random. "You're scaring me, Aki-kun. Why are you saying things like that suddenly?" She tried to read his face, but again, she failed. He was hiding something and didn't want to tell her about it directly.
"Please, please promise me that you will never give up no matter what happens, Mikan. Please…" he pleaded solemnly. He brushed her fingers on his lips as he stared at her pleadingly.
She frowned, thinking hard on the possibilities of what he was hiding from her. Alas, she couldn't think of anything that was dreadful enough to make her promise. Finally, with a silent sigh, she nodded. "All right, I promise." The troubled feeling in her chest since before dinner was thickening. She was really scared now. "You know, Aki-kun…" Her eyes were still on his, staring earnestly into his eyes. "I have the feeling that you'll leave me."
"Tell me that you won't leave me, Aki-kun," she breathed out pleadingly.
To her horror, he went rigid, but a moment later, he gave her an assuring smile. He softly replied her, "I won't, Mi-chan."
He tightened his hold when he said it. Suddenly, he requested, "Can you take off your mask before I go back to my room? I would love to see your face, Mikan."
She blushed, but complied with his request. She took off her mask, which she laid it on the table beside her and gave him a smile as she gazed into his eyes. He stared at her intently, as though he was memorising her face in his memory forever and ever. How strange.
"That's the Mikan I know, the smiling Mikan," he gushed quietly with silent humour.
Mikan chuckled. She had to admit that she wasn't as easygoing and cheerful as before when she went to the training camp. That happy-go-lucky aura disappeared as she trained harder to master her Alices.
"I only came here to tell you about that." He then gave a peck on her cheek. "Good night, Mi-chan."
She froze. Not that he had ever kissed her on the cheek before, he always did that, but it was different this time. He kissed her just right at the edge of her lips, with a tinge of a feeling of goodbye. For a peck, it was a little bit longer than usual. She was troubled by the emotion he had left on her. Although he told me he won't leave me, why do I feel worried about it? she asked herself sorrowfully. She felt like crying, but she held herself back. By the time she snapped out of her thoughts, he was already reached the door and opened it.
"Aki-kun!" she called out and ran towards him. She gave him a hug and held him tighter to comfort the feeling that was troubling her.
"See you tomorrow and good night to you, too," she whispered and broke the hug. She gave him another smile, which was returned immediately.
"Night, Mi-chan," Akira bid with a weak smile and walked out of her room.
She fixed her eyes on his back until he was out of sight. She hated the feeling that he had left on her now, misery.
...xXx...
Akira felt bad for lying to Mikan. He closed his eyes in chagrin. Hopefully, once he opened his eyes, the feeling would dissolve into the darkness where he momentarily was with his eyes shut tight. But, it didn't and never would. He opened his eyes just to realise that he had walked far. He had just reached on the doorway of Yuka-ba-san's room.I'm sorry, Mi-chan, he thought glumly. Half of him wished that he could told her the truth, but that would worry her even more. He couldn't take it to see her sad face, it was too heartbreaking. He couldn't take it to see that beautiful smile of hers disappear because of him. He couldn't. No. He just couldn't.
"Are you ready?" Subaru asked suddenly, bringing him back to his senses.
His eyes darted to him and then to his sister Hotaru.
"Yes, I am," he said confidently as he approached them.
He felt Hotaru's hand on his shoulder as he passed by her. "Don't give up."
Akira was still surprised to hear the rare sadness in her tone. He smiled. "I'll try my best, Ru-chan."
I'll try my best for Mikan, he thought and stood beside Yuka-ba-san. He held both of his hand up over her body in the air and closed his eyes, concentrating hard on one of his Alices. The next moment he knew was that he saw a flash of white bright lights before he met the darkness and drenched into it…
...xXx...
Mikan rolled over in her bed to get the most comfortable spot. To her annoyance, everything she did was wrong. She felt uneasy and greatly troubled by Akira's sudden action into making her to keep a promise. Just then, her alarm went off. She rolled her eyes in frustration. "Damn! I didn't catch a wink!" Sighing exasperatedly, she slammed her alarm shut. Then, a knock was heard. Who is it? It's so early. I wonder who that could be… She walked toward her door and opened it. She was surprised by the rare visit of her best friend Hotaru Imai. "Hotaru! Good morning.""Morning. Mikan, I need you to come with me now," Hotaru replied quickly.
Mikan was puzzled. She was already troubled by Akira, and now, Hotaru's tone was adding her misery. She stared hard on her emotionless face.
"Okay…" She entered her room again to take her mask with her. She locked her room and nodded. "Let's go then."
After walking for a short while, Mikan realised that Hotaru brought her to the hospital. She stared at Hotaru probingly while searching for an answer from her, but Hotaru ignored her completely and kept on walking. Did something happen? "Hotaru why—"
Mikan stopped mid-sentence when she saw Hotaru stop in front of her mother's room. She was perplexed as well as curious. Hotaru held a fist on the door and knocked. She froze as she heard her mother's voice from the room. Quickly, she entered the room and saw her mother who was talking to her younger brother Youichi. Her jaw fell open at once, and she immediately rushed towards her mother to hug her. "Okaa-san!"
Her mother patted her back gently.
"I really missed you, Okaa-san," she cried in her shoulder.
"I missed you, too, dear."
Breaking the hug, she asked, "How are you feeling now?"
Her mother replied with a smile, "Never better, dear."
"Onee-chan…" Youichi mumbled sadly.
"What is it, You-chan? Why are you so sad?"
He hung his head dejectedly, and her mother looked at her with sad eyes. "I'm sorry, dear."
"Why?" Mikan asked, confused. She didn't understand what had happened. Why was everyone feeling so sad? Why Akira asked her to keep her promise? Why Hotaru came so suddenly early in the morning… Akira… "By the way, where's Aki-kun?" she asked them as she just realised that Akira wasn't in the room.
Again, she was answered by silence.
"Where's Aki-kun?" she asked again.
The silence was killing her.
"Please, tell me. Where is he?"
"Akira-nii-chan is here, Onee-chan. He…" Youichi informed quietly, but he hesitated and hugged their mother instead.
Mikan froze when she saw tears run down his little pale cheeks.
"I'm sorry, dear. If only Okaa-san were more careful, Akira-kun wouldn't have to do this," her mother explained morosely.
For some reason, perhaps because of her mother's tone, her lips dried instantly. "What are you talking about? I don't understand at all. Where is he? I want to see him…"
She was terrified, thinking the worst… but no one answered her.
"Come with me," Hotaru piped up suddenly and waved her hand on her promptly.
Without saying another word, she stood up and followed Hotaru to Akira's room. She was sure that Akira was fine last night — though he was pale, but she didn't think it would be that serious till he had to be hospitalised. She stared at Hotaru sideways. "Hotaru—"
"For the past two years, Akira has suffered due to his Alices. After he met you last night, Akira came to the hospital to meet your mother, Mikan," Hotaru interrupted her. "You see, Akira has another Alice — an Alice where you can transfer lifespan to others, but once he/she used it, he/she will…" She trailed off.
I never know that Akira was suffering because of his Alices, Mikan thought quietly and shook her head in disbelief. Just then, she recalled back what Hotaru had said to her just now. "Wait, you said Aki-kun has an Alice that can transfer lifespan to others. When did—" She stopped at once as she remembered her mother was apologising to her just now. So, that's the reason why Okaa-san said that…
"Akira wants us to keep this from you, but I don't think I can do that when he's already in critical condition. He's trying his best to stay awake for you, so I think you should meet him, Mikan."
Hotaru stopped in front of a room and opened the door. "He's inside."
Mikan felt her stomach tied in a knot upon hearing the words critical condition.
Please… don't leave me… Akira… please… Mikan prayed mentally. She hoped that the worst wouldn't happen to him. Onegai, Kami-sama…
Hotaru closed the door after Mikan entered the room alone to meet Akira. She turned away from the door. It's time to call him…
UWAH!
ReplyDeleteok NOW your really going to kill me .
ah Akira-kun '[
*verge of tears...*
WHAT DO YOU MEAN WITH THAT EVIL SMILE!
ReplyDeleteWEll it was sad but good
this is getting interesting, update soon
ReplyDeleteupdate soon
O. M. G. this was so sad ( but awesome chappie! :) i can't wait what'll happen next? btw how come when you say thanks to the reviwers & you type their names, some are in bold texting?
ReplyDeleteyeah,
ReplyDeleteit's a sad chapter...
i wonder how will mikan
accept the fact
that akira asked
natsume to replace him...
especially that she thought
wrong about natsume's intention
when he kissed her
WAH! I want it to be Akira with Mikan T-T I feel more comfortable for Akira being with Mikan XD But Akira has to die! T-T
ReplyDeleteI hope you can update soon!
ah what a sad chappie...
ReplyDeleteupdate soon!
waa I dun believe it even after i have edited and all, i could still cry again reading this...
ReplyDeleteanyway, i didn't start chapter 16 yet... i need to update my story first, but i can't. Chapter 16 is so nice that i can't help to do the edit again!
I read till chapter 17 already and i dun believe it! you want to do that? hahahah!
ok. thanks for updating! you have so many reviews! wow! congrats!
ok. thanks all, neechan! love yeah! muax.
-imoto
editor note: please dun send chapter 15 for spelling check just yet! i got something to tell you to change. i just realized that i wrote one part wrongly. tell you on monday or whenever you are online...
Update soon please!
ReplyDelete., aww... what a sad chappie... seems like mikan really loves aki-kun... but what about natsume? who does mikan really love, is it akira or natsume? i'm confused but still i love the story...poor mikan, she doesn't know a thing that's going on around her especially since everything is for her... aw... it's really so sad... i'm looking forward to the next chappie... update soon... seriously, i want aki-kun out of the picture so it'll just be natsume and mikan... thanks for the update... )
ReplyDeleteXD i was really close to crying for this chapter lol thanx for the update! awesome work! -
ReplyDeletei wanna cry... (sniff)this is a sad chapter... but its a good one...
ReplyDeletehe's dying...
ReplyDeletei really hate people hwho breaks there promises...
now i realize that sometimes it's alright to break it...
even if you yourself now that you can't keep it...
just to keep them happy...
wow... it's a sad chap but it's really great...
it has taught an important fact about exemptions...
huhuhu the chapter is so sad...
ReplyDeletei end up crying...
i wonder what will happen next...
-sigh-
people do everything just to show their love for someone, even sacrificing their own lives just to make them smile?...
haiz... Aki-kun loves Mikan so much...
coz he even gave his life to Mikan's mom just to make her happy...
pls. update!
im so excited to read the next chapter...
-tAnGeRiNe-jUjUbE08-
Sad Chapter! :'( I love it!
ReplyDeleteNo, Aki-kun! I don't want him to die. A nice guy like him is too good to die. Mikan is a strong girl and I'm sure she'll never give up. But the pain of losing someone precious to you is devastating. It would leave Mikan in a state of great shock. I really felt sad reading this chapter. The words and the feelings of the characters are all natural and true. I was so drawn into it. The loving moment between Mikan and Akira was the best part here. Good job. Keep up the good work. The story is very promising and interesting. It's good to read stories with heavy drama once in a while. Hehe...
ReplyDeleteOMG! its so sad!
ReplyDeleteis he dead?
who did hotaru meet?
Please update soon! I'm sorry, but i can't hold the tears that much, but i'll try my hardest! Please update soon! Please please please! For the sake of Akira's life! So please update soon!
ReplyDeleteOkay?
sakurapetal246
This was also a really good chapter. Yes, I did cry. :( I can't wait to see what happens next. Keep updating. I'll be waiting. ;)
ReplyDeleteNO ARIKA!
ReplyDeleteUPDATE COZ IT'S SO GOD AND I CAN'T WAIT THAT LONG!
Very sad...
ReplyDeleteWhat happened to Mikan's mom again...?
great
ReplyDelete