Last Chance: Chapter 5

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

No one breached the subject about their little fight yesterday as if nothing had happened between them. They acted a bit awkwardly around each other until lunch. As usual, Mikan had made a meal for him. The difference was that she brought the meal to him herself. When she put the tray down on his table, they stared at one another.
"I'm sorry," they blurted at the same time.

With that the tension around them dissolved as both let out a small laugh. It was silly that they were both adults acting like children.

"Thank you about last night, Natsume…" she said, blushing a bit.

If he was someone else, he would have blushed, too. It seemed she knew that he kissed her last night. Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind. "Does growing so fast always put you in pain?"

"Will you believe me if I say no?"

"I will take it as a 'yes' then."

"…"

"When are you going to experience it again?" He wished to be there when she changed again. Despite everything that had happened between them, he was not a cold-hearted man who would leave her when she was clearly in pain.

Seeing no reason to hide, she told him, "Every midnight."

"…"

"I'll be there," he promised to her quietly.

Silence ensued.

As she had fulfilled her objective of apologising, she made her way out of his room and study.

However, before she could do that, he called out to her, "Are you going to have lunch by yourself?"

She stopped and gazed at him. "No, it's just that I don't eat human food."

Curious, he pressed, "What do you eat then?"

She smiled. "Affection."

He threw her an odd look that earned a giggle from her.

Flushing, she told him, "What you did last night was what I need to survive in the Lands of Humans."

With that said, she left him without further explanation. Honestly, she didn't want to let anyone know about this little secret, but since he had asked politely, she had no choice but to tell him. The affection he offered last night was not enough, but it would do for now. Moreover, Natsume was going out tomorrow. Since she would be tagging along, she could use that time to sate her hunger herself.

Natsume almost instantly realized what she meant. She could survive here with humans' affection. He was sure as hell that this was not the first time she came to this land, so where did she get the affection in the past? A thought about another male kissing her caused anger to suddenly erupt within him. He blinked. Why did he feel so angry about the idea? Violently, he shook his head in denial when an answer came to his mind. He didn't and wouldn't. She was just a child, a cute child who would become an absolutely beautiful woman. He groaned. The current situation was not good, not good at all. In a few days, he liked Mikan without logic, and now, he could feel he was slowly losing his head with her.

She's just a child, he chanted mentally although his heart was telling him otherwise. Think of your wife! You couldn't just love anyone before you divorce her.

His treacherous heart wouldn't agree with his logical mind no matter how hard he tried. A long sigh escaped his lips. Why should he fight when he knew he couldn't win?

...xXx...

Like usual, Mikan was sitting on the green grass of the front yard. The hot wind didn't bother her at all until it suddenly formed a small typhoon at her side. She immediately stood in fighting stance, ready for the new comer who broke through her barrier. She let out the breath she was holding when she sensed the familiar presence.

"You should have told me that you would come to visit, Akira," she scolded her older twin brother.

The wind was calmed once more, and before her was an angel. Although they were twins, unlike her, Akira had pure white wings. They bore the same Sakura mark on their brows, but his was a darker shade of magenta.

"My apologies, Mikan. I just wanted to surprise you," replied the handsome angel with a smile.

"You sure did," she muttered with a scowl. Yet, her face brightened when Akira scooped her child form into his strong arms. After he pressed her little forehead to his, she let out a relieved sigh. Akira had transferred some of his affection to her through their royal mark, which would last until her mission was completed if she didn't encounter any problems along the way. She wrapped her arms around his neck in appreciation. "Thank you."

Akira's blue eyes smiled as he looked at his twin sister's younger self. "I did not know this day would come."

Mikan glared at him. "I dare you to say it!"

Natsume blinked his eyes in surprise. After having his meal, he had returned to do his work. Knowing where Mikan was, he didn't bother to check on her. That was until he heard soft laughter coming from outside. Curious, he peered through his window and narrowed his eyes. A man who was dressed in unusual attire was playing with Mikan. He was about to go down and meet this person until Mikan spread her black wings and chased the man. What surprised him even more was a pair of white wings appeared behind the man's back. That man was an angel, just like Mikan. Though he was curious why the colors were different, he wanted to know why the angel came here.

While catching her breath, Mikan let herself rest on the soft green grass beneath her with closed eyes. She knew chasing after Akira in her current state was not a good idea. Still, it was fun to play with her twin brother in this temporary form. To be honest, she had never thought this day would come either. The day she would turn into a child to avoid the complications. She took the risk of not having her full powers and the pain during transformations just so that she could successfully complete this mission. Her eyelids fluttered open when she no longer felt the burning sun above. She smiled and held up her arms, prompting Akira to pull her up, and of course, he did.

Hugging his twin sister close, he faced the crimson-eyed man who was slowly making his way to them. He then pressed her forehead with his, giving her a little bit more of his affection and muttered, "Your charge is here."

A while later he let her down. "I wish you the best of luck, Mikan."

Mikan nodded with a smile. "Thank you, Akira."

No longer than a minute, a wind picked up around Akira as his blue eyes lightened. Spreading his wings, he gave one last look at his sister before flying up.

Mikan easily caught a white feather of her brother's wings in her hands. Clutching it slightly, she vowed, I promise I'll give my best to stay with you, Akira.

"Who was that?" asked Natsume, who stood beside her now.

Mikan spared him a glance before smiling at the sky. "Akira, the strongest angel in heaven."

Natsume remembered that name clearly. It was from her mumblings the other day. He wanted to know what their relationship was. Childhood friend? Best friend? Lover? Once again, the thought of her having a lover displeased him. Shaking his head mentally, he tried to remind himself that Mikan was not his, so she was not an option to him. Although he had admitted that he was attracted to her, she didn't know it, not yet at least.

Hearing a sigh from Natsume, Mikan looked over at him. "Are you alright, Natsume?"

"Hnn," he replied after a while.

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