The Guardian of Gakuen Alice: Chapter 5

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

Mikan stared down at Natsume and looked into his eyes.

Natsume let go of her wrist when she didn't answer him. He almost let himself smile when she caught his hand.

With a smile, she said, "Come."

He knew immediately that he was inviting him to her palace again. Together, they went to the Fairy Lake. When she stepped on the lake, her attire changed. Her eyes and hair turned deep blue as her hair grew longer. The teardrop symbol appeared on her forehead lastly. She turned and held out a hand to him. Of course, he took it. She chanted softly under her breath, and the lake started sinking them to the depth. He noticed that she didn't dance on the lake like the first time she invited him to her palace.

Knowing what Natsume was thinking, Mikan smiled. "Humans are prohibited in the guardian's palace. I have to do the formal ritual so all of you can come to my castle."

They finally arrived at her palace but this time neither maids nor greetings to welcome her.

She led the way while smiling. "I have dismissed everyone for the day." She didn't let a thought crossed his mind as she added, "As I have told you, no, I'm no mind reader."

He smiled inwardly as she understood him more than he had expected her to be.

She led him to her study. When they reached a shoji door, she slid the door open with a wave of her hand. She walked into the room, and he followed after her. The only light for the room was a few candles that were placed around the room.

His eyes grew wider at the sight that greeted him when she opened another shoji door. Thousands? No, it should be more than that!

Like always, she knew what he was thinking, and with a smile, she told him, "Millions."

Before him was book shelves that were nicely arranged one row after another. Each shelf might contain a hundred books. He was wondering where those books come from. On his left side, he saw a wooden table with a pair of chair that was positioned at the windowsill. A few scrolls were neatly placed on the table.

"Natsume?"

He replied her by walking towards her. He had stopped walking to look around the room. When they walked past the book shelf and reached another shoji door, he raised an eyebrow. How many doors left?

She chuckled. "Don't worry, this is the last door."

"Hn," he grunted in reply.

Once the shoji door opened, she let him walked into the room first.

Reading place, he noted mentally when saw a few cushions that was scattered around on the floor. The room was simple but elegantly arranged. He walked towards the balcony and gasped at the scenery before him. It was beautiful. No, magnificent would be the right word. There was a meadow, surrounded by mountains and wild forests. He didn't know how many hours had passed as he watched the sun slowly rise before him.

He was not even aware that Mikan was at his side until she whispered, "It's beautiful."

He darted his eyes back to her, and his breath was caught in his throat. He knew she was beautiful, but when she looked at the meadow with the sunlight that shone her flawless face, she looked even more beautiful. Unconsciously, he reached out and caressed her cheek. She closed her eyes and leaned on his hand. He stepped closer to her before leaning down and kissing her cheek. He placed his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to his body. He then guided his lips to meet hers. Kissing it gently, he started nibbling and licking her lower lips. She gave in by parting her lips for him.

When their minds were almost clouded with passion, her eyes opened wide suddenly. She broke the kiss instantly. As she broke the kiss, he just realised he had kissed her. He slapped himself mentally and looked at her. Hurt filled his eyes as she was looking away from him as if she didn't like it. Before he could say something, someone knocked the door. He turned to look at the shoji door and back to her.

She turned to look at him with a smile and answered the knock, "What is it?"

"I'm sorry for intruding, Mikan-sama," her servant replied her.

He raised an eyebrow at her. Did the servant know that he was here with Mikan?

"I wish to deliver a letter from the Guardian Eri-sama," the servant informed.

"You may enter," Mikan replied softly, and the shoji door slid open. The servant bowed at her and offered the letter. She took the letter, and the servant dismissed herself but not before giving her mistress another bow. She touched the fire symbol on the letter, and the letter turned into red flames. The flames formed a little girl.

"Mikan-sama!" the little girl greeted cheerfully.

Mikan nodded with a smile. "Eri-chan."

Eri smiled. "I wish to invite you for a lunch today, Mikan-sama."

Mikan hummed quietly. Natsume remained silent. He figured out that she would guide him back to the academy after this since she had agreed.

"I’m sorry, Eri-chan. I have a guest at the moment, so I don't think I could make it today," Mikan continued suddenly.

"Awww," she whined. She then suddenly looked around and furrowed her brows. She turned to look at Mikan. "Mikan-sama, I don't see any guest here."

Don't tell me she can't see me? Natsume's eyes opened wide in disbelief.

Mikan smiled. "At the moment, yes. This guest of mine will have lunch with me later."

"Is that so? Then, I won't bother you anymore." Eri sighed audibly.

Mikan smiled at her gratefully. "You’re not bothering me, but thank you for your understanding, Eri-chan."

"There's something that I wish to discuss with you, but I think I will just wait until you're free."

Mikan nodded. "I will visit you once I’m free, Eri-chan."

"Until then, Mikan-sama!" Eri nodded and smiled at her. The flames vanished in count of seconds.

So many questions flooded in his mind, but he couldn't bring himself to ask her.

Mikan turned to look at Natsume and smiled. "I will explain everything during our lunch if it's okay with you, Natsume."

"Hn," he replied and looked at the meadow again. Colourful flowers were scattered around the meadow floor. "Is this real?"

She smiled and brushed her hand against the balcony. Slowly, the balcony turned liquid and formed stairs that lead to the floor of the meadow. "Want to come with me?" she asked, offering a hand to him, and he accepted the invitation gladly.

He wouldn't admit it out loud he was happy that she had agreed to spend her time with him. They were having their lunch at the meadow after exploring the forest a bit. The temperature around the meadow was just right. He wondered if she put any spell for that.

She started, “Eri-chan couldn't see you because of the spell I’ve cast on you. Not all guardians are like me."

"Like you?" He repeated.

She smiled. "The guardians rarely tolerate humans, Natsume."

He thought for a while that it might be true. They ate with comfortable silence.

After a few moments, she broke the silence, "It looks to me that you wish to say something. Is there anything you wish to know, Natsume?" She took a drink and waited for him.

"Am I a human to you?" He looked away from her. He was afraid she might give him a pitiful look since she was a guardian.

"My mother, the former guardian had been frozen for eternity because she had fallen in love with a human."

Though it was not related with his question, but he wished to know what had happened to her mother.

"Before that happened, I was taught a lot about humans by my mother. You're not only a human but a friend to me, Natsume."

A friend who was allowed to kiss them, huh? He mocked himself mentally.

"But I guess that can't be entirely true either."

He looked at her and debated whether she would tell him the truth.

She gazed at him. "Before I continue, what am I to you, Natsume?"

He stayed silent. He did expect her to ask him back, but he didn't know how to answer that question either. Seconds became minutes, minutes became hours. He didn't know how long she had waited. When he was about to say something, she suddenly stood up and looked down at him with a smile.

She turned her eyes to the forest. "It's okay if you can't answer the question. I'll tell you my answer."

He waited no longer than a minute.

"You hold a special place in my heart, Natsume," she whispered softly.

He was speechless to say the least. After a moment or two, she took a few steps away from him. Suddenly, her garment changed to the high school uniform. Her eyes filled with worry as she turned to look at him. He was confused now.

"Something's happening to the academy."

He jerked up immediately and took her hand that was offered to him. Before he knew what was happening, he already stood at the entrance of the forest. Students were running to the dormitory in panic while he looked around, wondering what was happening. His unspoken question was answer when he looked towards the school building. Their school building was on fire. He quickly turned to Mikan, who stood not far from him and uncharacteristically asked, "Can you do something about it?" Unfortunately, he received no answer, and that was when he realised she looked like a statue as she was not moving at all. He almost called her again, but he stopped himself when he saw her eyes that were no longer hazel. He almost jumped in surprise when she grabbed his wrist suddenly.

Before he could say something, he heard a voice in his mind. Control the fire, Natsume.

He stared at her, confused.

Trust me, they will obey you. I'm still trying to block the AAO that was trying to invade the school.

The later words made him turned to look at the fire that was angrily burning the building. True, he could control fire, but it was a fire that was started by him. But this? He looked at her hand that was still gripping his wrist and turned to look at the fire. Stop! He commanded mentally. To his amazement, the fire did exactly what he wanted and now, his other hand was on fire. However, he felt no pain. He shut his palm and the fire disappeared instantly. She let go of his wrist when her eyes turned to hazel again.

"Everything is all right now." She smiled at him.

"How?" he whispered to himself, still awe. What he heard next made him stare at her in disbelief. "Natsume, you're one of the Guardian of Fire Element's children."

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