Last Chance: Chapter 4

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

Since Mikan told him to stay at home, he had gone to his study and buried himself in work. Mikan prepared his meals since she came here. If he didn't know better, he would think that she was acting like a maid. He had never hired one because it was too troublesome, and he loved to be left alone. Remembering what they were talking about the other day, he scowled. Although he didn't have any problem saying at home, he didn't have to like it. No one but his wife had demanded things from him before. His wife… He had called his brother two nights ago and found out that his wife was, indeed, with him. Strangely, he didn't feel any resentment towards the two. Sooner or later, the cat would have been let out of the bag…
Yesterday, he had already made a call to his lawyer to end his three-year-long marriage with his wife. The idea of having a child had turned into dust. Still, he wished nothing but his brother's happiness. No matter how bad his brother was, he knew his brother would always love his soon-to-be ex-wife. Once he signed the divorce paper, his life would return to how it was before he got married. He would be all alone in this big house. Shaking his head, he banished the depressing thought. After all, he had his guardian angel. Come to think of it, since she told him to stay at home, he didn't see her anymore. True, she made him meals, but it was always left before his door.

"Mikan?" he called out.

Silence.

Before he could try again, a voice came behind him. "Yes?"

He turned around, and unknowingly took a deep breath after he saw her.

Mikan tilted her head and gave him with a strange look. "What is it…?"

The child before him was Mikan, but somehow, she had grown a couple inches, and her hair was no longer short; it reached her mid back. How could this be? He didn't see her for only two nights, yet she had changed so much. It was as if… she was growing up.

Mikan knew what was running in his mind and smiled. "Does my new appearance bother you that much, Natsume?"

"You…"

Knowing what he had in mind, she affirmed, "I'm growing up."

He gave her a curious look. "How fast?"

She didn't know if she should tell him about this, but maybe if she told him, he wouldn't freak out the next time when he saw her adult form. "A year."

"…"

"For me, one night is equal to one year."

They remained silent for several moments.

"How long?" he asked while trying his best to conceal his mirth. If she kept growing up, wouldn't she become an old lady within a month?

Catching the amusement in his eyes, she narrowed her own. "If you think you are going to see me as a grandma, then too bad for you since it won't happen."

Looking away, he let out a small laugh and missed the awe look on Mikan's face. As he calmed down, he cleared his throat and gazed at her. "So?"

"It will be until my normal appearance is restored," she replied absentmindedly. "To be precise, it will be for the next seven days."

Sensing his sudden increased agitation, she turned to him. "You want to talk to me."

That was not a question.

Since he did not want to lie, he nodded. "Yes."

He took her silence as an answer to go on. "I'm going to court in two days."

A small frown formed on her face. She knew Natsume wouldn't stay put in the house like a good child. Well, he was not a child anymore. Also, she knew he had to go out to end what he had with his unfaithful wife. Since it would be too dangerous for him to go out alone, she would have to go with him. Her mission was to keep him safe, and she would. She let out a mental sigh. "Very well, but I'll come with you."

Natsume frowned. He didn't know what his wife would think if she came with him. His wife already met her before, but her appearance had changed and his wife would think she was not the same girl. On second thought, why would he even bother about such a thing when he didn't do anything with Mikan? Well, they did kiss, but that was because he was under her stupid spell. Moreover, his brother would come along with his wife.

Before he could think further, she eased his worries. "No one will be able to see me except for you."

"But…"

"Your wife could see me the other day because I allowed her to."

His frown deepened. If what she said was true then she made him kiss her just to drive his wife away. He glared at her. "You did that on purpose!"

Her lips formed a thin line as she refused to tell him anything. To pull him apart from his wife was her first day's mission. If she didn't break them apart, he would have been hit by a car that cost his life for chasing after his wife. Her main mission was to protect him from the death that would try to claim him earlier than the scheduled time within ten days. But of course, he didn't have to know this. Well, he would know only after she accomplished the mission.

"Is breaking someone's marriage also your task as a guardian angel?" he asked sarcastically. He didn't know where this sudden urge to snap at her came from.

"I did that to protect you, Natsume." Her voice rose an octave, an indication that she was not pleased with the way he was talking to her.

"And how long are you going to protect me? For your information, I'm not a child, nor do I need a child to protect me."

She gritted her teeth as she refrained from growling at him. "I can assure you, Natsume. Compared to my age, you're still a child who knows nothing."

"Oh? So you're admitting that you're older than me while you're stuck in this form? Should I call you grandmother now?" he mocked with furious eyes.

"Watch your tongue, human!" she snarled furiously. Not agreeing with her way to protect him was one thing, but insulting her invoked her anger. In five hundred years, he was the first human to even dare to insult her. Too blinded with her own anger, she didn't realize that her nails had lengthened into claws.

Suddenly, the sound of the doorbell echoed through the house and startled them both.

Natsume scowled in the front door's direction. Before he could tell her to leave, he found himself alone in the dining room. With barely suppressed anger, he made his way to the front door. Once it was opened, he snapped, "What!"

"Bad mood, Onii-chan?" asked Aoi warily. She almost had a heart attack when she heard her brother's angry voice. This was the first time she saw her brother so upset.

Natsume sighed dejectedly when he realised it was only Aoi, his only younger sister. "I'm sorry."

He opened the door wider to let her in, and both made the trip to the living room in silence. After another sigh escaped from his lips, he sunk into his comfortable couch and closed his eyes. To be honest, he had never meant to be so angry with Mikan. Even though his marriage was hopeless, he didn't need someone else to break it for him.

Aoi watched her brother anxiously. After she heard everything from her third older brother Youichi about their sister-in-law's affair, she had been worried. Youichi-nii-chan had told her to leave Natsume-nii-chan alone for now, but she couldn't help wanting to make sure her brother was alright. "Onii-chan? Are you alright?"

Natsume opened his eyes and looked at Aoi. He knew she was worried. Aoi was quite the chatterbox, but when things got serious, she would become quiet. Offering her a small smile, he replied, "Thanks for coming, but I'm fine, Aoi."

Aoi gave him a bland look. "You are upset."

"Am I?" he murmured more to himself than Aoi. He sighed again. Maybe it was a good thing that Aoi came. If she didn't come, he didn't know what would have happened between him and Mikan. Their argument was more heated than the first one after all. And then, he remembered her nails. Though this was the first time he met an angel, he couldn't help asking himself, Do angels have claws?

He pushed the thought away as he would ask her about it later. Right now, his conscience was telling him to apologise to her for his harsh words.

When his brother didn't elaborate or say anything, Aoi sighed in defeat. Youichi-nii-chan was right; it was best to not bother Natsume-nii-chan for now because he had a lot to think about. Smiling sadly at her second eldest brother, she stood up. "Please call when you need someone to talk to, Onii-chan."

"I will," he replied and didn't bother seeing her off.

Once the door was closed, the house was dead silent, and his mind wandered to Mikan again, but he wasn't angry anymore. It seemed he had let out his pent-up emotions. When he thought about it again, he let out a dry laugh. Since Mikan came to his life, he had lost control of his emotions. Even his own wife had never made him this upset. Somehow, he could be himself whenever he was with Mikan. He didn't know what to make of their silly fights. They could barely hold a conversation without one of them hurting the other. The sillier thing was he was fighting with a child. Although she had admitted she was much older than him, he couldn't help but think of her as a child. He didn't know how long he stayed in the living room to mull over what had happened, but slowly, the silence of the house lulled him to sleep.

By the time he opened his eyes again, it was already midnight. Since the house was dark, a light from the front yard drew his attention immediately. Once he pulled aside the curtain, his breath caught in his throat. Before his eyes were Mikan, who was floating above the ground with her glorious black wings spread wide open. The soft white lights around her body made her look more ethereal. He couldn't take his eyes off of her beautiful form and watched in awe as Mikan's hair grew a couple of inches. All of a sudden, her body was engulfed with a bright light from which he had no choice but to cover his eyes. When the light disappeared and his eyes found her, panic filled his senses.

Without a second thought, he opened the door and rushed to her limp body. The green grass around her was sizzling with smoke. He almost jerked his hand away when he touched her body. It was so hot, but he ignored it and turned her around gently. Right at this moment, he believed Mikan's words, she was growing up. At this moment, she looked like a 14-year-old girl now. The cold night's wind brought him back from his musing, and he gathered her into his arms quickly.

Any other time, he would have laid her down on his couch, but today, he brought her into his own room. Gently, he laid her down and pulled the blanket around her. Even though her body was not as hot as before, he needed to make sure she was warm enough for the night. He brushed her bangs aside and found that the Sakura symbol had become more prominent. It seemed the color would darken as she grew older.

He didn't know what came over him, but he bent down and kissed the flower mark. Thankfully, she was asleep. Otherwise, he didn't know what she would say to him for kissing her. After glancing at her one more time, he made his way to his and his wife's room. He rarely slept in this room, which made him think that maybe it was his own fault that his wife sought his brother. With a shake of his head, he went to bed and fell into a dreamless sleep.

Prev Chapter 1—Prologue: New Charge Chapter 2—Day 1: House Arrest Chapter 3—Day 2: Changing Chapter 4—Day 3: Growing Up Chapter 5—Day 4: White Wings Chapter 6—Day 5: Affection Chapter 7—Day 6: To Know You Chapter 8—Day 7: Matter of Heart Chapter 9—Day 8: Beauty is a Curse Chapter 10—Day 9: Q&A Chapter 11—Day 10: See You Chapter 12—Epilogue: New Life Next