The Guardian of Gakuen Alice: Chapter 7

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

Silence filled the room.

He pulled away from her. "Can you tell me more about it?"

After closing her eyes for a moment, she told him, "I've reviewed my journal, Natsume. The children of the main guardian can become a guardian if she/he is accepted by the remaining of the main guardians. In your case it will be Kazuma-sama, Kira and me. Since I'm the Guardian of Water Element, I can't declare you as one of my children. It should be Eri, the Guardian of Fire Element."

"In order for me to become a guardian, Eri has to declare me as one of her children and have the acceptances of the other three guardians?"

"Exactly," she confirmed.

He looked past her and pondered, What a troublesome rule ... I don't even know this Eri even though I've seen her. He lay on his back and stared at the ceiling.

She sat up and smiled at him. "If you're not so sure about becoming a guardian, then don't … I don't want you to re—"

She was stopped by a finger that was pressed on her lips. "It was me who asked you how, so I'm sure that I want to. I want to be with you, Mikan. Don't you want me to become a guardian?"

"Of course, I want you to, but …" she trailed off. She looked away and bit her lower lip.

He sighed and pulled her into his arms again. "Don't doubt me, Mikan. Can you tell me what do you mean by I have to leave everything behind?"

She pulled away from him and gazed at him. "Your mortal life."

He raised an eyebrow.

"You have to leave your friends and family behind, watch them grow old and die and never let the humans notice you."

He remained silent for a few moments before asking, "What will happen if the humans notice me?"

She looked away from him and didn't answer him.

After a while, he knew the answer. He sat up and made her face him, but she was avoiding his eyes. "Erasing their memories like what you did to Ruka and Imai?"

Her eyes widened and finally looked at him. "H-how did you know—"

He stopped her again with his finger. He looked at her lips and traced it gently. "Both of them didn't mention you after you guided us back from your palace. I have asked them, and they can't recall anything about you."

She sighed dejectedly. "I'm sorry. I had no choice about it. I had to erase their memories."

He leaned closer. "What about me? Are you going to do the same to me?"

She looked into his eyes.

He could see the sadness in her eyes. He sighed and pulled her into his arms again. Hugging her tightly, he told her, "I will leave everything behind for you. As long as I can stay with you, other matters are not important. We will get through this."

She closed her eyes, hugged him back and nodded. "Yes … We will get through this."

"I thank you for coming here," Kazuma said while making their way to the entrance of the palace.

Mikan gave him a small bow. "It's my honour, Kazuma-sama."

Before she stepped out from the entrance, he caught her wrist. She slowly turned to look at him.

He glanced away for a moment before facing her again. "Mikan…"

She turned her body to face him properly. Looking at his nervous face, she assured him, "Kazuma-sama, you shall tell me."

He looked into her eyes. "The law of the guardians has changed, and I want you to become my wife."

Her heart stopped beating for a moment, and her breath was caught in her throat.

He pulled her to his arms. "Please don't refuse me."

She was speechless. Of course, she had known about his feelings, but she just didn't feel the same. Love was something that she treasured the most in her heart. She treasured Shiro Yamazaki, her first love. And now … She wasn't sure yet, but she knew her heart would be his soon. Her train of thoughts was interrupted when Kazuma called her name.

"I’m sorry. I know that this is quite sudden," he said and broke the hug. "I hope you will think about it first, but please don't refuse me." He caressed her face lovingly.

Finally, she found her voice again. "I would appreciate that, Kazuma-sama."

"Please let me know your answer by the next full moon," he told her after giving her a nod.

She closed her eyes and bowed to him. "I shall see you again, Kazuma-sama."

She hugged Natsume tightly. She was still unsure if she had to tell him about Kazuma’s proposal or not. The next full moon would be less than 30 days. She was sure about her feelings and had prepared for the answer, but she was afraid that her answer would affect Natsume's situation.

"Stay for the night," Natsume whispered into her ears.

She hummed in reply and decided that she would keep secret about Kazuma for the time being.

...xXx...

"My deepest apologies, Kira-sama," a voice was heard behind the shoji door.

Kira didn't avert his eyes from the scroll before him as he answered, "What is it?"

"You have a letter from the Guardian Mikan-sama."

Kira stopped reading immediately. "Come in." A maid entered the room and delivered the letter to him. After he received the letter, the maid gave him a final bow and left. He opened the letter and read it immediately. After reading it, he put the letter on his desk and leaned against his chair while staring at the letter.

This is my chance to know Mikan-sama's feeling about Kazuma-sama, he thought with closed eyes. He nodded to himself. Opening his eyes, he rolled back the scrolls he was reading just now. He then rubbed the letter for a while. After he released it, the letter turned liquid and vanished. He stood up and walked out from his study. He walked passed a few halls and finally stood in front of the entrance of his castle. He waited for a good minute, and finally, water started materialising before him and formed a figure. When the water turned solid, Mikan, who had her eyes closed, was revealed before his eyes.

"Welcome to my palace, Mikan-sama," Kira greeted with a bow.

Mikan slowly opened her eyes. "I'm sorry for the short notice, Kira."

"Worry not as it is my pleasure to welcome you here, Mikan-sama." Kira smiled.

She gave a small smile in reply.

While offering a hand, Kira said, "When you're ready, Mikan-sama."

She accepted his hand and within seconds, both turned into dust.

...xXx...

"Natsume?" Ruka called his best friend.

Natsume, who was reading his favourite manga, grunted in reply.

"Are you all right?"

Natsume blinked and turned his crimson eyes to his best friend and raised an eyebrow.

Ruka sighed. "I just felt that something's bothering you."

Natsume read his manga again before telling him, "Worry about yourself, Ruka."

If Ruka was someone else, he wouldn't get what Natsume was trying to say. I'm fine, don't worry. He nodded his head and asked no more question.

Ruka might have seen his calm exterior, but he was actually freaking out inside. He was worried. After Mikan stayed for the night, she didn't visit him anymore. She didn't even leave a message for him, and it had been a week. To be honest, he didn't want to be away from her for a long time. He missed her. Then, the bell rang, ending their homeroom. He closed his manga and walked out from his classroom. He needed to do something to calm his mind.

Right at the time he was on his way to the sakura tree, Persona appeared. "You have another task tonight. Be ready."

Before he could answer, Persona already disappeared. He felt something different about Persona. He was … colder than usual? Well, not that he cared. He continued his way to his favourite spot to rest for a few hours before getting ready for the mission.

Hours later, he found himself clutching his injured stomach. He tossed the item he stole from the warehouse to Persona.

Persona held the item and smirked. "Have a good night, Kuro Neko."

Too tired to reply, he ignored him and continued walking back to his room. His mission was not that hard but since his mind was somewhere else, he had injured himself. Just where are you, Mikan? He stopped at one of trees and closed his eyes. The blood kept flowing while he was walking. With a heavy and uneven breath, he slowly leaned on the tree before sliding down to the ground. He knew someone approached him. It was dark, and his vision was blurring, so he didn't recognise the person before him.

"Be sure to thank Mikan-sama for this, ungrateful human!"

He knew immediately who it was. His energy left him as he closed his eyes. Before everything went black, he whispered, "Fin."

Fin, who was obviously heard him has her eyes widened in surprise and disbelief. She stared at him for several moments. After remembering her task, she sighed. Her eyes surprisingly softened. I guess Mikan-sama really cares about you for a good reason. I doubt you will hold for much longer if this continues though. She knew he wouldn't be able to hear him. "I hope you won't make Mikan-sama cry like him, Natsume."

The rustling sounds of the tree branches and the singing birds woke him up from his slumber. He opened his eyes slowly. His tired eyes widened immediately when he met with a pair of small blue eyes. In reflex, he pulled away from the owner of the eyes.

"How are you feeling?" Fin asked while distancing herself away from him.

Natsume blinked and checked himself. As expected, he was healed even though he was still dead tired.

"Where is she?" he asked, ignoring her question.

She twitched and a vein formed on her forehead. Huffing, she flew away from him. "Mikan-sama is busy at the moment." Before she could fly far away from him, she was yanked back by the wings, caught by him. "Hey! Let go of me!"

"Where is she?" he repeated while staring at her.

She gritted her teeth. "I told you, Mikan-sama is busy at the moment." Since he didn't release her wings, she gave up. "Mikan-sama is at the Land of Earth Element."

The Land of Earth Element? He pondered thoughtfully. Her voice brought him back to reality, and he let go of her wings and stood up.
Fin was planning to attack him verbally but stopped when she heard an unexpected “Thank you” from him. She was momentarily speechless, and her anger dissipated instantly. After a moment, she looked at his back that was slowly leaving the forest. "I've done nothing but healed you because of Mikan-sama. You should thank her instead of me," she said before flying deeper to the forest with a smile.

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