A/N: the last chapter, hope you will enjoy this one…
Anyways… Arigatou!:
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ENJOY! (.)
Chapter 20: Gifts for a Purpose
Natsume, Hotaru, and Ruka rushed to the hospital as soon as Mikan and the others were delivered to the hospital. Mikan is directed to the operating room since five bullets were shot into her body. Her three best friends started to pray that she'll be alright.
The doctors put a strong Alice control device to prevent her from using her healing Alice involuntarily. It takes six hours for the doctors to operate her wounded body. Her condition is critical since three of the bullets were shot near her heart while the other two bullets were shot in her shoulders. Luckily, Hotaru's older brother Subaru, were there, enough for him to do anything to save Mikan's life for his sister. After the operation he healed the wounds but not enough to heal it completely.
After the operation, she was delivered to her room. The three follow her, while she's still unconscious. They all decided to skip classes for the next day, they tried to remain awake for the whole night, watching, guarding, and praying for her safety.
"Na…Natsume…" said the brunette weakly, everybody sighed in relief when they heard her voice again; it was just last night when they all saw her almost dying…
"Mikan… you're awake!" said Natsume as he felt his energy coming back. He holds her hand tighter, since he can't embrace her because of the lifeline attached to her.
"Gomen… Natsume…" said Mikan weakly which make Natsume back to tears again…
"No Mikan, I must be the one to say…"
"Natsume…please…forgive me…for not…telling… you…that…I'm going out…in missions… I just don't…want…you…to be hurt again… just because… of me…"
"But…"
"Ssshhh…Natsume…kindly… do me a favor…"
"What is it Mikan? I'll do everything; just tell me what it is…"
"Be…before I die… please… forgive me…"
"I won't forgive you…I won't… unless…"
"What Natsume…"
"Live Mikan… LIVE! FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE….PLEASE…" Said Natsume were tears don't stop from falling…
"If… that will be the only way… for you to forgive me… I'll do it…"
"Yes…you must live…" said Hotaru as she kissed Mikan's forehead.
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-Flashback-
At Hotaru's room…
When she reaches her room, she cried all her angers out. Then someone came knocking and expectedly, it is Ruka which upon seeing her embrace her lovingly…
"What is really the problem?" asked Ruka which make her stunned for a moment
"Tell me everything, I may help to lighten up your heart even jus a bit…" continued Ruka and free her form his embrace to get some water for her to drink.
"It's been a month when she told me everything about her life. Though I've known her for so long, there's still some part of her life that remained unknown until she saved Persona. Narumi and Persona told her everything about her life. She was told that she's the grand daughter of the Academy's founder and the daughter of the AAO's founder. She then agreed to the Academy's decision to go into missions because she thought that she might convince her mother to stop the organization's kidnapping of Alices. And also, since she is the founder's daughter, she can't go into missions alone, so the headmaster assigned two dangerous ability students to guard her in every mission and inside the Academy premises too. Kano and Yayoi are the ones assigned for her security, which makes him and Mikan become friends while after some time, they're becoming closer, enough for Kano to fall for her. What Natsume didn't know when he saw the two of them under the Sakura tree is that Mikan's felt guilty again because Youichi died and Kano's the one who became her shock absorber whenever there are mission related problems. While Natsume being an idiot, thought that she's cheating on him because Kano kiss her on the forehead, little did she know that it just means loving understanding…" said Hotaru as she reach for her laptop, but saw everyone was in her room already, all silent, dumbfounded, on what they heard.
"Then why didn't you told me that a while ago?" ask Natsume staring at the floor, his fist clenched.
"Hn. Hyuuga, why are you here?" snaps Hotaru as she offered the rest of the gang a seat
"Answer me Imai!" shouted Natsume
"Why? If I told you that, will you listen to me?!" shouted Hotaru back and was about to slap Natsume again but Ruka stop her
"Hotaru, stop it. He had enough." Uttered Ruka…
"Listen to me Hyuuga! If ever my bestfriend died because of her lack of concentration in the mission, I'll just promise you one thing – that's it – to kill you slowly, enough to avenge Mikan, enough to let you feel everything that you've done to her." Said Hotaru which make Natsume step back.
"Uhmmm… Natsume-kun, there's something that I also wanted to tell you… you see… it is also Mikan-san… who convince Persona-sensei to bring me back to you…" interrupted Aoi and saw Natsume cry for the very first time.
"Your tears… that won't help." Said Ruka and offered him a seat too. They were all faced to a large screen which shows Mikan face to face with Keiko.
As they were watching, the room started to fill with tension. Then, they heard, five shots, five bullets, shot at Mikan's body. Tears started to fall from their eyes while Hotaru can't breathe easily...
"Look… What you've done Hyuuga!" shouted Hotaru from the bottom of her lungs…
"Oh no… this can't be…" said Koko worrily, he can't accept that a friend is dying while he can't do anything. Anna and Nonoko just cried while Natsume's hands started to look like balls of fire.
"If you just ask me or investigate of what really happened to her, this won't be happening, if you only kept quiet, she could have been focusing to protect herself, she could have activated her barrier alice to protect herself and the others, she could have been here safely, she could have not been shot… I really promise you this Hyuuga, I will kill you if you die… your days will be numbered… if she die!" shouted Hotaru again, still crying, she buries her wet face into Ruka's chest, envelop in his loving embrace.
"I… I am really… sorry…" uttered Natsume
"Sorry?! Then what?! You've already done it Natsume! And that won't change!" shouted Hotaru again
"But… But… I don't have any idea… that… she's…" uttered Natsume again
"See... I told you... you know nothing…" said Hotaru teary-eyed
Natsume clenched his fist, tears started to fall from his face while Hotaru dialed the Academy hotline to call for some back ups to Mikan
"Now what? Shout at her! Now curse her! Humiliate her!" shouted Hotaru while Natsume stares at the floor, he can't do anything now… what else can he do anyway when Mikan was almost lifeless…
"You see, loving is not all just loving… it's more on trusting…" said Hotaru as she tried to wipe off her tears that keeps on falling…
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KNOCK! KNOCK!
"Coming!" shouted an old man weakly as he started to unlock the wooden door.
"Are you Mr. Sakura?" ask a black haired man with spectacles
"Yes? Who are you?"
"I'm from Alice Academy, I'm Mr. Jinno.'
"Oh. Come in."
"Thanks sir, but I have to tell you this now. Your granddaughter, Mikan Sakura is in a very critical condition. She was shot five times while she was in her missions." Said Jinno while the old man started to breathe difficultly, for his old age, he can't bear that one of his precious ones will be dying.
"What?! Didn't I tell you to take care of her! Didn't you listen to my instructions?! What kind of bodyguards did you assigned for her safety?!"
"They were also with her too, but they were outnumbered, actually they were also confined in the hospital.
"That will not be an excuse! You should have assigned more bodyguards for her! Now tell me! How is she?"
"Sir, the Academy Hospital will do everything to keep her alive. We promise you that!"
"Be sure…" said the old man and started to faint, good thing, Jinno caught him from falling.
"Sir… are you alright?" ask Jinno and slap the old man's face gently…
"Here… give this letter… attached there is my last will… promise me… you keep my Mikan safe…" said the old man and take his last breathe.
Jinno was flabbergasted when he check the old man's body, who died in his arms. He brings him to the hospital as fast as he can, thinking that he might help the old man regain his life but he failed. He decided to cremate the old man's body and put his ashes into a beautiful elegantly designed case.
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Another day passed and Mikan is recovering fast making her condition better. The Alice control device was removed making her heal herself again. And also, she's gaining strength.
"Mikan-san, how are you?" ask the blonde teacher with a bandage in his head together with Persona and Yayoi
"Narumi-sensei! Persona-sensei! Yayoi-san! You're all alright!" said Mikan gleefully but her smile started to turn into a frown
"Why do you look sad Mikan/ I thought you were happy to see us okay?" ask Yayoi which have some bandages too in her arms from being electrocuted…
"If not because of me… you won't be hurt…" said Mikan and started to cry
"We understand you… don't worry… these are just minor injuries… don't think of us anymore… you should be taking care of yourself … or else, your discharge for tomorrow will be postpone!" said Narumi which make Mikan smile again upon hearing that she can go out…
"Really?! I will be going out tomorrow!" said Mikan as she hugs Narumi tight
"Yes Mikan-san, the doctor said that you're healing fast, so better be ready for tomorrow! Get well soon!" said Yayoi and bid her goodbye
"So... we also have to go now… still have classes tomorrow... better to attend those… so bye bye… see ya tomorrow!" said Narumi as he and Persona exits her room.
They were alone again, she and Natsume. It's already late but still insists to stay with her. The others already left because of classes, but he chose to skip his classes...
"Mikan, I'm sorry…" started Natsume trying to avoid the hazel eyes staring at him
"Sorry? For what?" ask Mikan confused on what her boyfriend said
"For accusing you of cheating on me…I didn't mean to do that."
"You did?! I thought you were just angry because I am going on missions…"
"Yes. It is because I saw Kano kiss you on the forehead."
"Is that so? He always does that to me anyways…"
"ALWAYS?!"
"Yes. Whenever I go out with missions with Yayoi only and whenever I cry my heart out to him…"
"Why didn't you tell me that instead?"
"I don't want you to worry about me always. I found reasons to live because of you, and I don't want that reason to be gone just because of me."
"Hn. Idiot."
"Huh?! Why?!"
"If you die… what would you think will happen to me?!"
"You'll be alright."
"Well, I won't be! I'll better be dead… if I lost you."
"Then why do you suspect me of cheating on you?"
"Sorry! It's a mistake!"
"Here's a thing to remember. I am yours and you are mine. FOREVER." Said Mikan and kissed Natsume --- the same deep passionate kiss.
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Two days passed when Mikan was discharge from the hospital, she was allowed to go to school, and unexpectedly, she was not late again.
"Ms. Sakura, again, thanks you for risking your life for the sake of the Academy." Said Jinno as everybody cheered and clap their hands in appreciation of her heroic actions…
"Arigatou, but still, I want to say sorry, if not for my weird family, we may not be suffering…" said Mikan as tear started to form in the corner of her eyes.
"You must not feel sorry Mikan. Actually we are also ashamed of you, since you choose to save us rather than joining your mother." Said Yuu
"Sakura-san, here's a letter from your grandfather, he told me to give this to you before he died." Said Jinno as he hand her the letter
"Oi. Mikan. Mind to read that aloud?" ask Hotaru while everybody looks at her pleadingly.
"Okay. I'll read it now."
To my ever dearest Mikan,
Upon reading this, my life has ended. I wrote this letter because I feel sorry for myself for not telling all the missing part of your life.
I have two daughters and they are Yuka and Keiko, Yuka is your mother, regarding your father, all I know that your aunt killed him out of jealousy. Yuka and Keiko are the AAO founders, though I tried my best to stop them from doing so but they are just hard-headed enough to turn their backs away from me. Me and your grandmother was so frustrated, and worried for the Alice's safety, so we formulate a rule that students will be assigned to go on missions to stop the AAO from kidnapping other alices and their plans for bringing down the academy. After four years, Yuka came back to us, with a baby; she said that she leave the AAO because she realized that what she did is wrong. The baby was you Mikan. She wants to protect you from your aunt, Keiko who's trying to kill you too, upon hearing that from Yuka, your grandma got sick and eventually died.
When you go away, I am really worried in your condition, worried that Keiko might have found you and kill you, much to my surprise, you were there studying to the school we've build for you and people who are like you and that's it –ALICES. We are the founders of the school you're studying to right now –Alice Academy. That school is especially made for Alices to be protected from heartless kidnappers that are using Alices for their own senseless and selfish motives. Then the AAO was formed, they became the number deliverers of Alice to the big companies to earn enough money which I don't know what their reasons is. There's just one thing that I've heard from Keiko that really contradicts the Academy's mission for all of the alices- that is to be greater than ordinary people and use them like slaves. The academy was not build for that principle, instead it was build for alices to learn how to use their divine gifts into an effective way, enough to help the society, enough to bring peace for the whole world.
Upon reading this, I hope and expect you that your eyes will be lighten up that this academy is no prison- it is just a training ground that if ever you face the real world, you'll know how to survive, and you'll know how to live harmoniously with the people around you.
Attached in this letter is the will that entitles you to be the new owner of the Academy and all of the Sakura family assets which are spread all around the globe. May you share this blessing to all.
Love,
Grandpa
After reading the letter, the class was all flabbergasted on what they heard – Mikan is a billionaire.
"Congratulations Mikan!" cheered the whole class, and unexpected as it may seem, no dollar signs can be seen on Hotaru's eyes, just pure concern, pure happiness.
"Okay, so we will be asking the board of trustees to celebrate and to commemorate your grandfather's death." Said Jinno.
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At the celebration, Mikan was entitled for a speech:
"…From this day on, there will be new rules that I shall impart for the academy. Yes three new rules that will change the academy. First, letters are allowed to be sent and be received from outside the school premises to keep in touch with our loved ones, and for your safety, we will only be accepting letters from your parents and guardians. Second, the Dangerous Ability Class will be allowed to participate in every Academy's events; also, they will not go on missions from now on. Third, your security is also important, that's why, and we've decided to hire professional security agents with Alice to guard each and every one of us.
Before I end this speech, I just want to repeat what my grandpa has said to me in his last letter… Being an Alice is a gift, it is not just a gift to make us feel higher than everybody, but a gift to help everyone. Hope these values shall be imparted in our hearts forever.
Thank you very much."
And everybody clap their hands in agreement.
Meanwhile, all of the AAO's connections, in or out of Japan, were all cut and everyone connected were arrested and punished in accordance with the law. Regarding Reo, he was sentence for life-long imprisonment due to crimes like kidnapping and massacre; he did not resist the police but followed what it is in the law. He did not dare to escape since he just wanted to live normally.
-----FIN----
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A/N: sorry if the ending is not really good.
Arigatou!
Disclaimer: I do not own Gakuen Alice, just the story, WHEN SHE DIDN'T SMILE AT ALL.