a/n: Well, a sweet one shot about Natsume and Mikan's 'beginning'. Yes, very cheesy, very fluffy, read at your own risk. And no, I do not own the song or Gakuen Alice. Wow. It's my first time doing a disclaimer. Ever. I've always been too lazy. I mean, it's FanFiction, everyone knows that you don't own whatever thingie you're writing for. Well, anyway, I'll leave ya alone to read it now.
:The Beginning of Trust:
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Shiawasena Samishisa o
Kamishime nagara
Ookina yume o sagasu
Dare datte Ayamachi o
Kurikaeshite wa
Otona ni natte Yuku no ne
Nagareboshi Ii koto ga
Kitto ashita wa
Okori souna ki ga suru
Kimi nara dekiru kara
Koko kara mitsumeteru
Shinjiru omoide wa
Mahou no nukumori sa
I stared lazily out the window, the soft spring wind blowing by, a few pure white Sakura petals falling on me.
Yes, I remember; that warm spring day when she arrived.
The day started like every other. Me waking up in my luxurious bed. After changing into my uniform, I joined my best friend, Ruka, down the halls to breakfast. After my meal, I went to class, with a comic stuffed in my pocket.
Girls squealed and blushed as usual when they passed us, and Ruka only lowered his head shyly, while I scowled with disdain. How irritating. When we reached the classroom, we both seated in our usual places—in the very back of the classroom.
But even as I listened to the usual chatter of my classmates and reading my book, I had this odd feeling in the pit of my stomach. Something was going happen. I didn't know what, and I didn't know if it was good or bad. But something was going to change.
That's when she arrived.
She looked like the average girl at best. With brown hair in pigtails, innocent trusting eyes, and a hundred watt smile to go with it. I returned my attention back to my book, only hearing a few catches of her introduction.
Before I realized it, the girl had come over, with that wide smile on her face. "Hi! I'm Mikan Sakura, nice to meet you!" She said cheerfully. I felt my mouth crease into a frown, and I studied her with disinterest.
If she noticed my disdain, she didn't show it.
Ruka noticed my scowl, and as quickly said, "Nice to meet you, Sakura-san." She smiled brightly at my friend. "Can I sit here?" Something nagged me at the back of my mind, but I couldn't tell what.
Then that stupid seaweed girl came over with that annoying voice of hers. "Hey, you, the new girl! You can't just stroll over and sit beside our Natsume Hyuuga-kun!" She said, shoving her aside.
For a second, hurt flickered over that innocent face of hers. But then she quickly smiled again and said softly, "I'm sorry. I'll find another seat." And she started to leave.
I saw the smirk on that seaweed girl and turned back to the other girl. What was it…? Mikan?
Something nagged me again, and I suddenly reached out and pulled at the edge of Mikan's uniform. She turned back, with an astonished look on her face. I could feel everyone's surprise. I kept my face expressionless and said, "You. You can sit here."
A wide grin broke into her face, and she sat down happily beside me. "Thank you!" I saw the twisted, angry look on that stupid seaweed girl's face and I wanted to laugh.
But when I returned my gaze to my book, I could sense the confusion from Ruka.
"What did you think of Mikan Sakura?" Ruka asked absently, stroking the fur of his rabbit. We were walking along the courtyard, to our usual spot—the Sakura tree.
"What do you mean 'what do I think of her'?" I said, looking sharply at my only friend. His blue gray eyes looked a little cloudy. "Well, you offered her a seat, so you must…" I closed my mouth into a thin line.
"I think nothing of her." I said stiffly, and I felt Ruka's doubtful glance. "Really…"
When we reached our Sakura tree, we found another person beneath it. It was that new girl. There was an awkward silence when we both stopped, staring at the girl. Mikan blinked and looked at us, and then said brightly, "You're the two friends I made in the morning!"
I narrowed my eyes. "Who are you calling 'friend'?" Now she looked confused. "Aren't you?" I heard Ruka laugh quietly. "No." I said tonelessly.
Her smile faltered, and it froze on her face. "O-Oh, really." Then she lowered her head and said, "I-I'm sorry." I saw the hurt and disappointment on her face, and I suddenly felt a strange feeling creep upon me.
I watched as she got up and smiled stiffly at us. "Well, see you later." And she left.
I heard Ruka inhale sharply, and then looked at me. "I think you hurt her, Natsume." I shrugged, as if I didn't care. Ruka bit his lip and said softly, "You know, being new is tough. Maybe we should be nicer to her." I gave him a sideways glance and said, "Whatever."
But that feeling kept nagging me.
I couldn't sleep. I put on a sweatshirt over my pajamas and crept outside. I took a breath of the crisp night air and walked over to a Sakura tree. I stood at there, staring at the twinkling stars that were embedded into the dark night sky. That's when I heard a voice.
"Grandpa, the first day at Alice Academy is finally over. But I still have lots more to go." I recognized the voice as Mikan Sakura's. She sat on the branch of the tree above me, in her pajamas. "I thought I made two friends this morning, since they were so nice to me." Then her voice dropped to a tone of disappointment. "I trusted them to help me out and stuff, but I guess I was wrong."
I leaned against the tree, silently listening to her talk. "But Grandpa, I think I can make new friends. Although not many people were kind to me…" Her voice was tinted with sadness. "But I trust them to like me someday…"
"You can't trust people too much." I said. Hearing my voice, she looked down at me with surprise. "Natsume-kun?" I ignored this and continued. "Trusting people will only get you hurt." But then she protested. "That's not true!"
I looked intently at her. "Trust no one. It's the only way to protect yourself. Don't trust anyone else; they'll only turn their back on you." Mikan frowned and jumped down from the branch.
"That's not true! There are lots of people you can trust. You just need time." Then she broke into a smile again. "I'm sure you have someone you trust. Like Ruka-kun, right?" I shrugged.
She grinned from ear to ear. "See?"
I looked at her air headed smile and suddenly felt irritated. What's there to smile about? Why is she smiling? Can't she see all this darkness? The darkness that could engulf her?
I wanted to slap that smile off her face. How could she continue smiling like that? Couldn't she see?
"Whatever. Go and trust people for all I care. But one day you'll get screwed over." I said, suddenly angry. "You can get hurt. Don't say I didn't warn you."
Suddenly, she burst into laughter. I watched her laugh, surprised. What the hell?
Finally, she stopped laughing and said with a big smile, "I'm sorry, Natsume-kun! But it's so funny, you know. You act so unfriendly and you say you're not my friend, but you care so much about me!" I froze. What the hell was this girl saying?
"You're actually a really caring and kind person, Natsume-kun." And then she took a step forward and hugged me. Shocked, I took a step back. Then she released her arms and looked up at me, her honey brown eyes twinkling innocently.
Damn it. The nagging was back.
"Natsume-kun, look!" She exclaimed, pointing at the night sky. I looked up, but saw nothing. When I looked back at her, she had her eyes closed, her hands clasped before chest, a soft smile upon her lips.
She looked so innocent. Then she opened her eyes, her honey brown eyes dancing with excitement. "Did you make a wish, Natsume-kun? There was a shooting star!" I shook my head. She looked disappointed for me. "That was too bad. You could've made a wish."
I shrugged, and she suddenly took my hand. My eyes widened as she said innocently, "Natsume-kun, I wished that you'll find someone you can trust someday!" I blinked, taking this in. Mikan smiled. "Although I hope one day you can trust me too."
A Sakura blossom fell from the tree and landed on the tip of her nose. She giggled, taking it off and twirling it between her fingers. I found myself smiling faintly. She was so innocent. Like the pure white Sakura blossoms.
Maybe I could trust someone.
And for once, not get hurt.
I reached out and gently touched a strand of her hair. She looked at me with a smile, her eyes full of wonder. Then I pulled her into a hug. I felt her surprise. "Natsume-kun?" She asked.
I released her and then searched her face. She searched mine too, with those wide honey brown eyes. We stood there in silence, just staring at each other.
Then I took her hand and pulled her closer. A small murmur escaped her lips, but I silenced it with a kiss.
Her lips were soft, and she tasted like peaches. I felt her trembling hands against my chest, and I could feel her shock and surprise.
I savored the sweet kiss.
Finally, I pulled away, and saw the surprise and wonder in her eyes. I pressed my lips against her cheek and then smiled faintly. "Good night, Mikan." And then I walked away.
This was the person I wanted to trust.
This was the person I wanted to protect.
To protect her from the darkness she couldn't see.
Maybe one day I'll have the courage to trust another person.
But now, this is enough.
kimi ga ookkina ookkina koe de warattara
sugu ni manekko issho ni waratta ne
kyou wa futari de kakekkoshou
kimi to iru to donna sekai mo akaruku kagayaku yo
sonna kimo no tonari ni iru
konna chiccha na shiawase wo
hitotsu hitotsu dakishime nagara egao ni kaeru yo
na iro de iyou itsumademo
utsumuite aruita michi
a/n: Well, whaddya think? I'm still practicing at one shots. But I don't think anyone's going to really like it, because it doesn't have any creativity. I mean, look at the title, and the story itself. No creativity whatsoever. I just thought it was sweet. And I rarely write in Natsume's perspective. It's kind of hard, actually. I mean, I tried this time, and he sounds okay, but still kind of OOC. But then I guess no one can possess the skill to make Natsume really sound like Natsume except the author who made Natsume. Haha...
Well, anyway, hope you liked it, and please review!