I Love You: Chapter 11

#07: Gakuen Alice (Natsume & Mikan)
...xXx...

They stared at each other in disbelief.
Mikan stepped away from him. "N-Natsume…? H-how?"

Natsume clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white. He looked at his father. "What's the meaning of this?"

"Where are your manners, Natsume? I thought you were properly trained to be a prince."

Natsume gritted his teeth. "Answer me, Father. What's the meaning of this?"

His father hummed and stood near the glass window. After some time, he said, "I think you should be the one to explain this, Shuichi."

Natsume looked at him in confusion. Shuichi was his father's name. Before he could ask a question, another person stepped out from the shadows. His eyes widened along with Mikan's. "W-who are you?"

"Like what you have heard, Natsume. He's your real father, Shuichi Hyuuga," replied the father he had known since he was a child. "Actually, I'm Izumi Sakura, Mikan's father."

Both teenagers stood in silence as both didn't know what to think.

Shuichi approached Izumi, and they stood side by side before announcing, "This was our agreement with the elders."

Natsume's eyes widened. Agreement with the elders?

"Personally, I don't like how the elders treated Sakura family," Shuichi began while looking at his son. "I asked Izumi to govern Japan in my place before you were born. Unfortunately, the elders found out about it two years later. Thus, Shuichi and I were forced to agree that both our son and daughter will only know one father so that they won't fall in love with each other in the future. The elders had figured out my plan to bring back the Sakura family through you and Mikan. The Forbidden Family sounded absurd to me after I met Izumi. In the end, Izumi had asked me to take the place as the father for both of you, but I refused. So, this is what's happening here."

"Why now?" Natsume asked after a few minutes of silence.

"Because you have made a pact with the demon," Shuichi replied with a matter-of-fact tone.

"What are you talking about?" Natsume countered in disbelief, and Mikan spoke for the first time, "Natsume didn't make any pact with…"

She stopped when she realized something, the price. Since Natsume had agreed to free her from the curse, he would be blessed with the demon side just like she was. Because of her, Natsume's descendants would be just like her family, blessed with the demon side.

"Mikan-chan," Shuichi called, and Mikan looked up at him. He kindly smiled. "Please don't blame yourself."

She was about to protest, but Natsume held her hands to stop her. "Remember what I said, so it's not your fault."

Tears started forming in her eyes, but she didn't let them fall. A bit emotional, she hugged Natsume, who returned her hug.

"I didn't foresee this turn of event when I forced both of you into my agreement," a deep voice said to them.

They all turned to look at the person who was standing not far from them. Their eyes widened in surprise except for Mikan.

"Elder Takashi," Shuichi greeted coldly.

Standing before them was a raven-haired man with a pair of emerald eyes.

"I can see that the prince has turned into demon now." Takashi glanced at Natsume. Slowly, he approached them and looked at Shuichi. "You have disgraced the royal families. There will be no discussion about your punishments. Izumi will cease to govern this country from now on. As for you, you will exile your only son from the family, or I will exile him myself."

All eyes widened in disbelief.

Shuichi was enraged. "Why do you ask me to exile my own blood? I won't exile him for you nor the other elders!"

"We will not repeat history. I won't exile the Hyuuga family, so I'll just exile your son, Natsume Hyuuga," Takashi said sternly.

Shuichi glared at Takashi in fury. "Repeat history! Are you trying to say that you just realized that you had made a mistake by exiling the Sakura family? It was because of you and all elders who had exiled them in the first place that this thing happened!"

Unknown to the adults, Natsume and Mikan were watching them with the same pair of crimson eyes. A six-pointed star was visible on their foreheads. Natsume smoothed his now long hair with his claws as he watched the adults with bored eyes. He sighed audibly.

"Just stop it already, will ya?" Natsume snapped.

The adults went silent immediately and turned to look at him. Their eyes widened in horror. They didn't realize that Natsume and Mikan had changed into their demon side. He flexed his claws as Mikan moved behind him and hugged him.

"Don't be so bold, Mika." He smirked.

Mika broke the hug. "No fair! You know my name already."

"Can I just call you Natsu-kun?" Mika tilted her head to the side cutely.

"Fine with me," he replied with a grin as he unintentionally showed his sharp fangs.

Now, it was the adults who stared at both teenagers with bored eyes. They were flirting. When Natsu kissed Mika on the lips, the adults gaped in shock.

"Both of you stop this nonsense!" Takashi exclaimed in anger.

Natsu broke the kiss but still continued to hug Mika. He tilted his head and raised an eyebrow. "Nonsense?"

"Yes, this nonsense!" Takashi pointed his fingers to him and Mika in fury.

Natsu smirked. "Too bad, this is who I am, and Master has left everything to me."

'I didn't leave everything to you,' Natsume voiced out.

Natsu sighed mentally. 'I understand, Master.'

"Ne, Natsu-kun. Don't you think we should do something about him?" Mika giggled while pointing her finger to Takashi.

Natsu smirked. "Elder-san, if you think you can deny our existence by exiling Master, then you are wrong. You are the leader, are you not?"

Takashi's lips formed into a thin line.

Natsu let go of Mika and chuckled. "You know what? You are the worst, Elder-san. All of you are just afraid that we might tell everyone about what have you done to us, the demons."

"I do not understand what you are talking about, nor do I want to understand," Takashi replied emotionless.

Natsu laughed. "It's okay if you don't want to understand. The others will understand what I'm trying to say anyways."

"What is this all about, Natsume?" Shuichi finally asked.

Natsu turned to look at him, "No, no, no. Just call me Natsu even though Master didn't name me that."

Before Shuichi could ask him again, Natsu began again, "We, the demons have made a pact with the elders a long time ago."

Natsu let himself sit on the sofa, and Mika followed him, sitting at his side. Mika purred quietly as he caressed her cheeks gently.

"A pact?" Shuichi repeated in disbelief.

Mika lay on Natsu's lap as she affirmed, "Yes, a pact."

Natsu began, "It was about—"

"I won't—" Takashi interrupted him, but unfortunately, he, too, was stopped when Natsu pointed his clawed fingers to him. Takashi was lifted into the air in seconds, and Natsu stared at him coldly. "Never stop me when I'm still talking, Elder-san."

Takashi struggled to free his throat from an imaginary hand. Since it wouldn't budge at all, he closed his eyes. After he opened his eyes again, the color of his eyes became lighter, and he gripped the imaginary hand tightly. Red light was emitted from his hand, and Natsu let go of his throat instantly. Takashi dropped to the floor immediately. Shuichi and Izumi stared at Takashi, who was coughing from the lack of oxygen in disbelief.

Natsu smirked. "Finally decided to use our power, Elder-san?"

"Just stop pretending, Elder-san," Mika added.

The two adults looked at Natsu and Mika in confusion.

Takashi stood up. "Are you suggesting a war with us, the elders?"

Natsu laughed before baring his lengthened fangs to him. "Me? Aren't you the one who's suggesting a war with us, the demons?"

Takashi glared at him and declared, "If you want a war, you will get a war!"

With that he stormed out from the room, and silence filled the room.

"Ne, Natsu-kun, are you serious about this?" Mika asked.

He glanced at her. "Do I look like I'm joking?"

She smiled then shrugged. "With you then."

"Will one of you explain everything now?" Izumi asked demandingly.

...xXx...

"A war?" Ruka repeated dumbly while staring at his best friend, Natsume.

Hotaru, Koko, Yuu, Mochu, Kazuma, Sumire, Anna, Nonoko and Mitsuki sat in silence. Natsume had explained what happened yesterday when the Elder Takashi came. Natsume was sure that Takashi, the leader of the elders, was serious about the war.

"How does it work?" Hotaru inquired.

All of them looked at Natsume and Mikan as they waited for an answer.

Natsume and Mikan looked at each other before nodding in agreement. They closed their eyes in unison. In count of seconds, both of them changed into their demon side.

Kazuma stared at them in awe. Even though it was not the first time he saw this, he was still amazed by their unique appearance.

"The only problem for us is that, we don't have enough hosts," Natsu began.

"Mistress is my host," Mika explained shortly.

The group nodded in understanding, and Natsu continued, "Mika and I could summon demon souls that will reside in the host. If all of you agree to be the host, it will be more than enough to win the war. Don't worry. It's just temporary since I'm sure all of you don't want to have a demon side."

After a few minutes of silence, Ruka asked, "How do you plan to win against the elders? I mean they—"

Before he could continue, Natsu raised his hands to stop him. "I know how many elders we are going to fight."

"How many of them?" Koko asked carefully.

Silence filled the room.

All eyes were on Natsu, whose eyes closed.

Suddenly, Mika giggled.

All eyes turned to look at her except for Natsu.

"Twelve will be more than enough for seventy." Mika smiled.

Instantly, all jaws, save for Hotaru's, dropped to the ground in shock. Ruka and Mitsuki stayed silent as both came from royal families, so they knew how many elders they were.

"Seventy?" Yuu exclaimed in disbelief. If it was true, they would fight more than one opponent at the same time.

"Well, if Takashi decides to fight with all his might then he will bring all of the elders to us." Natsu shrugged carelessly.

Yuu's face turned pale as he imagined how deadly their opponents might be.

Nonoko shook his shoulders. "Yuu, pull yourself together!"

All elders will be 150, Ruka thought deeply.

Koko, who accidentally read his mind, stared at him in horror.

"We will win," Natsu said to them nonchalantly and opened his eyes.

"We will not lose against those traitors," Mika continued with confidence.

We will take back what you have taken from our family, Souma, Natsu and Mika thought in unison.

Prev Chapter 1—The Mute Girl Chapter 2—The Black Witch Chapter 3—The Prince of Japan Chapter 4—The Special Condition Chapter 5—The Decision Chapter 6—The Unexpected News Chapter 7—The Forbidden Family Chapter 8—The Ancient Memory Chapter 9—The Other One Chapter 10—The Price Chapter 11—The First Pact Chapter 12—The Pain Chapter 13—The Endless Love Next