The Guardian of Gakuen Alice: Chapter 2

#06: Gakuen Alice (Natsume & Mikan)
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Ruka and Hotaru didn't catch a wink while going through all the information about the teachers and students in the Academy. She also searched through all the information since the school had been founded, but it was fruitless. They had found nothing about any student named 'Mikan Sakura.'

"Hotaru, are you all right?" Ruka asked worriedly. His girlfriend seemed restless since last night.

Hotaru closed her tired amethyst eyes and leaned in the chair she had been sitting on for hours. Opening her eyes slowly, she glanced up at her worried boyfriend. "Can you help me call Hyuuga?"

"Sure," Ruka agreed. On his halfway out of the room, he turned around. "Please take some rest while I call Natsume, Hotaru."

Hotaru replied with a small nod, and with that, Ruka was on his way again. Deciding to take her boyfriend's advice, she led herself to the fluffy couches and laid her aching back on it while her jumbled up thoughts wandering around in her mind. Why couldn't I find anything about her? Hotaru thought with her closed eyes. Her curiosity was killing her each second because she, too, wanted to know who this 'Mikan Sakura' was. She was also frustrated since she had never experienced being hopeless about this matter. Hearing the door creak, her eyes snapped open and motioned the two boys to sit.

Ruka served the three of them a relaxing tea and sat next to his girlfriend when he was finished.

"Are you sure her name is Mikan Sakura, Hyuuga?" she inquired and took a sip of her tea.

"You found nothing about her." It was a statement rather than an answer.

She stared emotionlessly at Natsume. "I can't find anything about this 'Mikan Sakura,' but I'm interested to meet her personally."

Far away from them, Mikan smiled sheepishly when she heard Hotaru's words. Softly, she spoke through the wind, "You won't find anything about me unless you search in the right place, Hotaru-san."

The words were carried by the wind to the three teenagers. The same shiver ran through Hotaru's spine when she heard those words. It sounded so sweet but cold at the same time.

Unknown to her, the two boys also felt the same.

Natsume became more intrigued to know who this 'Mikan Sakura' was. Being pulled by the curiosity that engulfed his mind, he made his way deep into the northern forest. Of course, he was followed by his two friends, but much to their disappointments, they found nothing. Surprisingly, he couldn't even find the 'Fairy Lake' either. More questions were flooded inside his mind. His two companions were bewildered as they were lost in their own thoughts. In the end, they decided to give up and left him alone.

"Who are you?" Natsume unconsciously asked out loud to himself while staring at the spot of the supposed lake.

As the night was falling to the world, the tree's branches rustled, and a voice answered him, "Is it really that important for you to know who I am?"

Natsume quickly turned his body around and was immediately met by the same soft hazel eyes. Somehow, the emotion beneath those eyes looked so lonely, despite the moonlight that shone her beautiful being.

They stared at each other's eyes and made a silent agreement.

Mikan sighed and closed her eyes. "I command you as the guardian of this land, reveal yourself."

The guardian of this land? Natsume wondered and noted his surroundings started changing with the magic light and formed the Fairy Lake again. This time, no magic tree and no fairies near the lake. Three stumps that were created near the lake didn't go unnoticed by him.

"I'm the guardian of this land, which is why you couldn't find anything about me, Hotaru-san," Mikan said while smiling at the direction of the trees beside her.

Two figures revealed themselves from their hiding spots.

Natsume raised an eyebrow questioningly at Ruka.

Ruka placed a hand to his head while laughing nervously. "Haa-haa, we didn't mean to interrupt…"

"I should have searched for the legend of the land instead of this school's history," Hotaru stated emotionlessly.

Mikan nodded in reply.

Tired for standing, Natsume sat down on one of the stumps that were prepared for them, and his two companions followed suit.

"Is there anything you want to ask, Natsume-san?" Mikan inquired with a knowing look which made the other two look between Natsume and Mikan.

Again, they stared at each other's eyes and made another silent agreement.

Mikan chuckled softly when their eye contact was released. She looked up at the almost full moon above them and whispered softly, "You are really an interesting human, Natsume-san." Her soft words were carried by the wind to Nastume's ear only.

Natsume was shocked to hear this.

His other two companions appeared bewildered and confused when they saw Natsume's eyes widen.

Mikan closed her eyes and walked passed them, towards the lake. When her feet had almost reached the edge of the lake, she became bare feet. She walked towards the centre of the lake like it was a normal ground. Once she opened her eyes, her long magic wand, that held a floating blue crystal at the top, appeared on her right hand. Turning around to look at the three pairs of eyes, she smiled. "It's been a while …" No … It's been centuries, she corrected herself mentally, "since I’ve had visitors. It's an honour to welcome you to my palace. Please wait for a while …" She closed her eyes again and started dancing while holding her wand under the light of the moon.

The three teenagers looked at her in awe as they saw the water started reacting and wrapping around her body from toe to head. Once it was wrapped around her body completely, she held up her wand vertically, and with that, the dance was ended. In slow motion, the water that had wrapped her being started dissolving together along with the wand. A bright magic light started circling her body from above her head to toe, slowly changing her appearance. Her hair colour had turned dark blue instead of brown. Her flawless face looked more mature and a teardrop symbol coloured the centre of her forehead. Her high school uniform had turned into a beautiful pale blue maiden's apparel.

Strangely, Hotaru didn't take this chance to take a picture of Mikan. Deep down inside her heart, she already knew why. It was because Mikan had been so kind and generous to them, inviting them to visit her palace, in spite of being a guardian. And for that, she respected her.

When the magic light dimmed, Mikan opened her eyes, only to reveal a pair of deep blue eyes, which matched with the teardrop symbol on her forehead.

You are truly a beautiful guardian, Mikan, Natsume thought honestly.

The three of them were still staring at Mikan as she smiled to her small audiences. "Come." The word was like a spell to them that drew them closer to the guardian in front of them. When they were near the edge of the lake, they looked hesitant, but Mikan assured, "Trust me."

The three of them walked towards Mikan. When they were standing just in front of her, she swiftly moved her right wrist and the four of them started sinking down into the lake. Ruka started panicking, but Mikan calmed him with her smile. Within seconds, they were facing a traditional Japanese style palace. The palace was so beautiful. While Natsume remained cool, Ruka were gaping at the castle with his mouth open. Hotaru's eyes showed awe and surprise at the sight of the palace. Around twenty maids stood in front of them, in two perfect rows. All of them bowed together in respect.

"Welcome home, Mikan-sama," they greeted in unison.

Mikan nodded with a smile.

Suddenly, a girl with fighting yukata kneeled down and saluted, "Mikan-sama."

"In the study please," Mikan stated.

The girl looked up at her and replied with a low bow. "Yes."

Mikan turned her attention to her guests. "Please excuse me for a while. I have errand to attend to. I shall join you later."

The three of them nodded in reply.

Mikan turned towards the maids. "Please guide the guests to look around the palace and to the dining hall for dinner."

"Understood, Mikan-sama," they replied in unison, and Mikan made her way to her study.

The two guards opened the door of her study. She stepped inside and walked towards her table that was filled with many neatly placed scrolls. Once she sat down, the same girl appeared from the corner of her study.

After getting a nod from Mikan, the girl began, "The guardian of other element wishes to hold a meeting regarding the rules. The meeting will be held at the head of guardian's palace on the next full moon."

Three days from now. Mikan calculated as she glanced up at the moon from her window's room. Looking back to her informer, she said, "What's in your mind, Rin?"

"My deepest apologies, Mikan-sama. I’d like to ask you about the guests you have invited," Rin said hesitantly, afraid to make her lady guardian sad.

"They're the students from the Alice Academy." A sad smile appeared on her face as she closed her eyes.

Rin looked even more upset than before. She was about to voice her worry…

"Rin … thank you for worrying about my feelings, but I'm totally fine," Mikan interjected softly. Rin's head was downcast, and she assured her messenger again, "Please don't worry about it. You're dismissed for now."

"Understood," Rin replied and vanished in count of seconds.

Mikan smiled sadly as a piece flashback of the past played in her mind.

"Mikan, I wish to stay here with you." A pair of amber eyes stared at her pleadingly.

Mikan smiled sadly to the boy. "I’m so sorry, Shiro-san."

"I thought I told you to call me Shiro," Shiro said, slightly annoyed.

"Yes, yes, I’m sorry, Shiro."

"Why do you have to apologise?"

She grinned. "Because …" Without a warning, she immediately grabbed his face and kissed his lips.

He was taken aback by the action, but he grinned under her kiss and kissed her back. Nipping her lower lips, she let him deepen their kiss. Their kiss was sweet but more demanding than their other kisses. Upon reaching their limit, they broke apart. They smiled at each other while trying to gain their breaths. He slowly laid his head down on her lap and closed his eyes peacefully.

She, too, closed her eyes while enjoying her last moments with him for the last time. When she was sure that he was asleep, a tear dropped onto his forehead, and it slowly formed a teardrop symbol. She blinked her eyes a couple times, in an attempt to hold the unshed tears while gazing at his sleeping face. She brought him back to his room and laid him on his bed. Covering his body with the blanket, she leaned down and whispered into his ear. "I love you."

She kissed his forehead where the symbol was, and a crystal teardrop was created from the symbol. Then, she placed the crystal inside his desk. "Good bye, Shiro."

Mikan closed her eyes to hold back the tears that were threatening to fall again when a knock came from the door. "Yes?"

"Dinner is ready, Mikan-sama," the maid informed.

She stood up, opened the door and smiled at the maid. "Thank you."

"My deepest apologies, Mikan-sama. Are you feeling well?" the maid asked with a concerned voice.

She smiled. "You sound just like Rin."

"I’m sorry, Mikan-sama." The maid bowed apologetically.

She laughed quietly. "Don't apologise. You have done nothing wrong."
"As you wish, Mikan-sama," the maid replied with a smile as they quietly continued made their way to the dining hall.

Prev Chapter 1—The Unknown Saviour Chapter 2—The Land's Guardian Chapter 3—The Invitation Chapter 4—The Meeting Chapter 5—The Child Chapter 6—The Choices Chapter 7—The Requirements Chapter 8—The Ascendant's Memories Chapter 9—The Guardian of Gakuen Alice Next