I Love You: Chapter 13

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

To Subaru, watching his sister's face at this moment was heart wrenching.
"Onii-chan, please… please save them…" she pleaded while grabbing his white coat.

Even though he was not so close with his sister, his brotherly love kicked in and urged him to hug her. He tried to calm her. "Everything will be alright."

Subaru quickly checked both Mikan's and Natsume's bodies. Both suffered the same injuries. As he was about to give up, a name crossed his mind. "Help me call Ibaragi."

Mochu immediately used his Telekinesis Alice and went to call the senior.

Within minutes, Nobara was running into the room breathlessly with a few teachers in tow.

Nobara almost burst into tears when she saw Mikan's condition. She looked up at Subaru and silently asked him what she should do.

"Freeze them but keep the blood flowing at a slow rate," Subaru said seriously.

Nobara gulped and nodded her head to indicate that she understood.

Mikan opened her eyes slowly and met with Natsume's sleeping face. She blinked and sat up. After looking around, she turned to Natsume. "Natsume… Natsume… Please wake up."

Natsume's eyes slowly opened, but when he saw Mikan, his eyes widened. He quickly sat up and hugged her. "Stupid, you made me worried."

"Natsume… Do you know where we are?"

He blinked and scanned his surroundings. Breaking the hug, he asked himself, "A meadow?"

They were surrounded by many colourful flowers. Even though it looked so hot, both of them felt the opposite. They were quite cold to say the least.

"Do you remember what happened to you?" Natsume asked.

Mikan shook her head. "I don't remember anything after I talked to Mitsuki-san."

"You had a high fever for hours, and it became worse when I was talking with…" he trailed off and called out, "Natsu? Are you there?"

He received no response.

When he was about to call again, a voice interrupted him, "I see that you both are awake now."

Mikan and Natsume turned to look at the source and wereshocked as they stared at the figures standing not far from them. Both looked exactly like them except for the long black hair. To be precise, they were their demon sides in separate bodies.

"Greetings, Mistress," Mika greeted with a small bow.

Natsu followed suit. "Greetings, Master."

"Where are we?" Mikan asked at once.

Mika and Natsu looked at each other. After a few seconds of silent conversations between the two, Mika replied, "Our world."

Before Natsume could ask anything, Natsu beat him to it, "Don't worry; neither of you are dead."

'Yet…' Nastu added mentally and looked away from Natsume's intense eyes.

Natsume narrowed his eyes. "You're hiding something."

It was a statement rather than a question.

Natsu shifted uncomfortably as he hoped he could reply that question calmly. He looked at Mika to find help but only received a glare from her.

"We are not hiding anything," Natsu replied but his voice filled with uncertainty. He was done, that was what he thought at the moment. A growl brought him back to their current state. It was Mika. She glared at him furiously. He sighed and muttered an apology to her.

"I want an explanation, Mika." Mikan looked into her crimson eyes.

After a few moments, Mika sighed in defeat. "As you wish, Mistress. Both of you were brought here because of the black witch's curse."

Before Natsume could protest, Mika continued, "The black witch had planned this long ago. It's true that Master Natsume has paid the price for Mistress, but the curse is not that simple,"

"I think the black witch hates happy endings," Mika muttered to herself.

"What are you trying to say? Am I… am I going… to die?" Mikan interjected; her voice was so soft that it sounded like a whisper.

Mika wrapped Mikan's hand with hers. "I shall assure you, Mistress. I won't let that happen. Even if it happens, I will always be with you. You are not alone."

Mikan replied her with a small smile.

"What should we do now?" Natsume inquired suddenly.

It was Natsu who replied him, "It's a gamble actually. We don't know if it will work."

Natsume and Mikan looked into each other's eyes for a moment before nodding at each other. He turned to them. "Tell us. We won't know if it'll work unless we try it."

"I knew you would say that!" Natsu grinned.

Natsume raised an eyebrow at him. To be honest, he felt a bit unnerved to see the one who looked exactly like him. Though he could act as though Natsu were his twin, but still, these feelings were a bit… disturbing? He couldn't really name it. It was his first meeting with his other half face-to-face after all.

Mikan shivered in cold, and Natsume, who saw this, approached her. He pulled her closer to him. "Are you cold?"

Before Mikan could nod, Natsu told them, "It's normal since both of your bodies have been frozen by Nobara Ibaragi as we speak."

Natsume raised an eyebrow.

"This," Natsu pointed his six-pointed star. "is bleeding right now in the real time."

"B-bleeding?" Mikan stuttered in horror.

Mika nodded. "Yes, it's the side effect of the pain of the curse."

"Mistress, you should feel pain in all over your body, but because of us …" She referred herself and Natsu. "Both of you didn't feel any pain."

They continued talking about how the curse would work and what they had come out with as their solution to end the curse. The black witch indeed wanted Mikan to suffer until she died. Of course, the one who helped her paid the price would follow her. They would die together.

Natsume and Mikan didn't have any problems dying together, but at this young age? They couldn't accept that when they just finally got together. They wouldn't yield to the curse until they had enjoyed their lives together. It was totally out of question. They wouldn't let that happen if they could help it. They had planned their futures with each other, and they would do just as they planned before their deaths.

They had walked for hours through the meadow, but it seemed they were walking on an endless path that had no start and end point.

Natsu and Mika finally stopped.

Mika looked up at the sun that was still shining before gazing at Natsu. "This spot will do."

Natsu nodded and called out his power. Within seconds, a great wind started swirling before them.

Mikan clung to Natsume while he held her tightly as the wind divided itself into two.

Mika turned to the couple. "Please stay here until the wind calms down!"

Natsume and Mikan nodded in unison.

Natsu and Mika looked at each other. He leaned down and kissed her at the top of her head. "Good luck for the both of us."

After that they parted and faced the divided wind that was still swirling. They nodded at each other and joined the wind before them.

The group was restless. Even after Nobara had come to stop the bleeding with her Ice Alice, the blood continued to flow freely. The condition remained the same for hours. Their fight with the elders was in the early morning and finished around mid day. It was only a few hours after the fight ended that Mikan went into her unconscious state. It was already midnight as they witnessed what happened to Natsume and Mikan. Morning almost reached them, and their best friends were still not awake yet.

Natsume and Mikan watched the wind that was still twirling wildly as they waited. They had waited for hours, and the sun was already setting.

Mikan felt colder than usual. When she was about to ask Natsume, the winds were slowing down and revealed an exhausted figure that was sitting in the middle of the wind.

As the wind vanished completely, both ran to their other half. They both looked so exhausted, but they had no injuries on them. After a while, the four of them stood across each other as they faced their beloved.

Natsu and Mika looked at each other.

Natsu grinned. "I see that we both succeed with the first phase."

Mika smiled in reply then their right hands were held out for each other. They looked at each other again and nodded.

"Mistress, the first phase of making the magic circle is completed. After this phase, you might not be able to see me again," Mika said seriously.

Mikan nodded, understanding because her other half had explained to them how they were gambling with their lives to end the curse.

"It will take a few minutes after this phase, and if I'm not with you, you must complete the next phase."

Mika received another nod from Mikan.

They all looked at each other for the last time. Natsu and Mika cut the skin on their right wrists. Blood started flowing as Mika proceed to cut the skin on Mikan's wrist. Natsu had done the same for Natsume, too. After finishing that, they combined their blood and let it drop to the ground between them. When the blood touched the ground, everything around them turned white immediately as if shone on by a bright light. They shielded their eyes as the light was blinding them.

Everyone who was present in the room gasped in horror as a new wound was created on Natsume and Mikan's wrist. It looked like a cut. Even though it was just a small cut, more blood was flowing out from it.

"No. No more, please…" Hotaru stared at them in horror. She grabbed her big brother's white coat. "Tell me what's happening, Onii-chan!"

Subaru grimaced as he also didn't know what was happening.

Nobara was shaking as she tried to hold her tears. Mikan was like a sister to her, and she felt useless for not being able to stop this.

After a few minutes, the light dimmed, and the worst case scenario happened. Natsu and Mika were not with them.

Fear started seeping through her body. She looked up at Natsume, who also looked at her.

"We have to continue." His voice was calm.

She bit her lower lips and closed her eyes tightly. Opening her eyes again, she looked at him with determined eyes. "Yes."

As expected, the magic circle became visible on the ground where they stood. It was a six-pointed star in red that was floating above the ground. They moved to their right in unison and finally saw a long sword that was floating right above at the pointed star symbol. They passed by each other and took the sword.

Mikan gripped the sword's hilt tightly and turned around, facing Natsume.

Both of them were holding identical sword. The only different was the word that was carved on the sword. They approached each other.

Natsume closed his eyes for a moment and hugged Mikan.

She hugged him back tightly and tears started forming in her eyes.

Still hugging her, he pulled her into a deep kiss. He caressed her cheek before saying, "I love you."

Tears flowed down her face as she replied, "I love you, too."

He leaned down and kissed her lips for the last time.

After they broke apart, they raised the sword together until the tip of each sword pointed to their heart. They paused for a few seconds before pushing the sword forward in unison.

No one could utter a word.

Nobara cried after releasing her Alice on Natsume and Mikan. The bleeding on their foreheads had stopped, but so had their hearts. Heartbeat could be heard no more, and the group fell into deep despair. They had lost their friends.

...xXx...

The moment Hotaru opened her eyes; everyone could tell it was dull with emptiness. It was not only her; the group and the class felt the same, too. Losing two of their most respected friends at the same time was a big blow to them. An hour after the bad news, the King of Japan, Shuichi Hyuuga had come to the academy. The news about Natsume as the Prince of Japan was also revealed. Not long after that, the inner family of Sakura also came because Mikan was the eldest daughter in the family. Shuichi had decided to keep quiet about his son's death from the country for the time being. News that the heir of Japan had passed away would cause huge chaos to the country.

During this time, something unexpected happened. Takashi Souma had withdrawn the law about The Forbidden Family and was willing accepted Sakura Family back again. Takashi had finally understood his father's will about not repeating history. His father had wanted him to fix the mistake of their Great Elders. Strangely, most of the Elders' member agreed to welcome the Sakura Family back into the royal families. Even after everything had been solved, no one had the ability to bring back their beloved one from the realm of the dead.

Two hours before the bodies were supposed to be driven away for cremation, everyone had gathered in the schools hall to bid their final goodbye. Students cried their heart out while teachers shed their silent tears.

Hotaru stared at the lifeless body of her best friend. Tears slid down her face. "Stupid Mikan… it's been a while since you got your voice back. I want to hear your voice again…"

Subaru pulled his crying sister into his arms and comforted her as best as he could. He couldn't bear to look at her grave face. He then let her scatter the Sakura petals she had gathered with her small bag around Mikan's body. Right after the last petal fell to the body, a bright light erupted from both Natsume's and Mikan's bodies.

...xXx...

"What happened to the girl, Otou-sama?" a five-year-old little girl eagerly asked her father who had a pair of crimson eyes.

Her father smiled. "The curse was lifted by the prince, of course."

The girl nodded her little head excitingly. "And then? What happened after that?"

"They faced another big problem from the evil witch, but they survived from it because of their other half."

"Does that mean their other half had sacrificed themselves for the girl and the prince?" The little girl looked at her father sadly.

"Yes."

The little girl's shoulders slumped.

"But before they parted, they had made a promise that they will come back again."

"They did?" Her eyes filled with hope.

"Yes. They did come back to them after five years later."

The little girl hummed cutely.

The man's smile grew wider as his daughter was a mini version of his beloved wife. He recalled the time when he looked at the photo albums of her wife. Their daughter looked exactly like her wife when she was young.

"Did they live happily ever after, Otou-sama?" the little girl asked while tapping her little chin.

Her father smiled. "Yes. They live happily ever after. They are blessed with a cute daughter who has the same crimson eyes as her father."

"What about her mother, Otou-sama?" The little girl tilted her little head, and one of her pigtails brushed her shoulder.

Suddenly, a voice answered the little girl, "The little girl has the same hair colour as her mother, Kisa-chan."

Kisa twirled around, and a big smile was formed on her cute face. "Okaa-sama!"

"It's time for your piano lesson, Kisa-chan," her mother told her.

Kisa pouted. "Already?"

"Already," her mother confirmed.

Kisa sighed. "Alright… I'll see you later, Otou-sama, Okaa-sama."

She kissed her parents before leaving with Rin, Kisa's nanny.

The crimson-eyed man smiled at his wife.

"I didn't think that you would tell her about us, Natsume." Her brown eyes were filled happiness as she sat down beside him.

"There's nothing to be ashamed of. It's our own fairytale after all," Natsume said and pulled his wife into his arms.

"Yes. It was our best fairytale," she agreed and let his arms engulf her body.

"Mikan…" he called softly.

She hummed with closed eyes.

"I love you."

She smiled against his chest. "I love you, too, Natsume."

Three words have united them.

Three words have given them strength.

Three words have become a part of their lives.

And they would never stop telling one another: I love you.

The End

Thanks for reading.

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