Destiny

Okay, so I know that I haven't been updating lately...scratch that...I haven't updated in YEARS! Dx I'm very sorry for taking a long time to update, but I'm back now. I don't know how long I'll be back for though o: Well, please enjoy the first chapter that's been updated in a LONG time.

Italics - thoughts

Bold - Authoress speaking

Expect OOCness at all times

Disclaimer: I do not own Gakuen Alice in any way possible; however, I do own this plot.

Chapter 7: Promise

Recap

The five of them walked towards the Northern Woods with their class behind them. All of a sudden, a flight of stairs suddenly appeared and pure white feathers were falling from the sky and landed in each of their classmates' hands. After they passed a certain tree, their attire changed into their Godly attire. Mikan in her pure white strapless gown and her tainted black wings. Natsume in his cape and huge black wings. Youichi in his light blue shirt and light blue shorts and bunny ears. Ruka in his red cape and his left wing was tainted black while the right wing was pure white. Hotaru in her lavender dress that also reached the ground and her small bat wings. Everyone was crying and bid their farewells to Mikan and the others. After Mikan, Natsume, Youichi, Ruka, and Hotaru walked on the staircase towards the Heavens, everyone forgot about them. They even wondered why they were crying and why they were even in the woods for. They all didn't realize that the feathers in their hands were now ashes. Their memories of Mikan and the others were collected into the feathers and were replaced by new ones. Because the feathers were in ashes, their memories were also gone.

The wind was blowing out words, but no one heard it. The only ones who heard it were the trees. "Good-bye, Minna." were the words that the Gods had cried out to them by the winds.

End Recap

The birds are chirping happily as the sun was rising above the horizon in order to indicate the start of a new day. Atop a hill in the meadow was the Sakura tree that bordered the Heavens and Underworld. Not far from the meadow was a kingdom in Heaven where our view is zoomed into a certain room of the castle. In the corner of the room was a bed where a lump was shuffling underneath the blanket. Moments later the shuffling stopped as the lump sat up revealing a brunette with groggy eyes. Slowly and elegantly like the goddess she is, Mikan swung her legs off her bed as she walked to the bathroom hoping that a warm shower would wake her up. She opened the door slowly and the scene caused her to widen her eyes.

"Kyaa!"

Mikan's scream echoed throughout the halls inside the castle. Multiple loud footsteps were heard rushing to Mikan's room.

"Mikan!" cried Natsume as he opened the door to Mikan's room. His eyes searched her room to find that she wasn't in sight. Turning around, he was about to run out the room with the rest of the guards. Suddenly, he heard a familiar voice cooing nearby. Once again, he turned towards the room and realized that he had not searched the bathroom. Natsume was becoming confused as he walked towards the bathroom and pushed the door aside.

"Otou-sama!" cried Youichi in glee as he splashed the water around him in the tub. Natsume looked around the bathroom and raised an eyebrow in question as he asked his son "Where's your mom?" Through the corner of his eye, he noticed that the door was slowly closing towards him so he took a few steps forward and turned around. There he saw Mikan with her fist clenched tightly in the air as she gritted her teeth. He noticed that she was wearing a bath robe.

"Na-tsu-me. You hit me with the door!" she yelled as she was about to pounce him for hurting her. Natsume stopped her action by enclosing her into a tight hold.

"Mikan..don't scare me like that..I thought something had happened to you," he whispered into her ear. Mikan pulled back and looked into Natsume's eyes and saw worry and concern. Immediately her eyes soften as she closed her eyes and returned his hold.

"Natsume..."

Seconds later Natsume was squatting on the bathroom floor as he held in pain.

"Oi! Mikan! What was that for?" he cried out as he looked up at her noticing the pose she made earlier.

"Did you not listen to what I said? You hurt me with the door and that was my payback," she said in pure bliss. All little Youichi could do was splash the water around as he thought this scene was normal. Calmly, Mikan walked to the bathtub as she held her nose high in triumph.

"Besides, Natsume, I can take care of myself. Obviously I can beat up a demon, a prince more like," she huffed as she fell over Natsume's recently stretched arm.

"Natsume! What was that about?" Mikan pouted angrily as she shuffled to her feet and took Youichi out of the tub, wrapping him in a towel. Mikan took Youichi out of the bathroom after she hit Natsume once more causing him to groan in pain.

"Okaa-sama.." murmured Youichi as he placed his hand on her cheek. Immediately Mikan's eyes softened as tears were threatening to fall from her eyes. Using her free hand, Mikan roughly wiped the tears from her eyes and walked to her walk-in closet with Youichi in her arms. Natsume laid on Mikan's bed as he waited for Mikan and Youichi.

Moments later, Mikan and Youichi walked out of the closet in their clothes. Mikan was in a white sleeveless dress that reached to her knees. There was a thin pink sash on her waist which formed a big bow on her back. Thus the lower half of her dress was puffed out as there were layers of lace sewn on it. On her feet were a pair of white ballet flats. The only accessory that Mikan wore was her signature mask that warned others of her alias. Youichi was, again, in her arms as he wore a navy blue sailor outfit. He also has a sailor hat rested on his head. Mikan noticed Natsume laying on her bed so she pulled him to her feet as she smiled at him.

"Ahem." The three of them turned towards the source of the voice only to see Ruka and Hotaru at the door. Ruka and Hotaru fixed their eyes upon Mikan and Natsume's hands. Mikan followed their gaze and immediately blushed as she retrieved her hand from Natsume's.

"Mikan, we need you and Natsume in the main hall to discuss our wedding plans," Ruka explained as he ushered them to go out. Mikan and Hotaru had a brief silent conversation as they walked to the main hall. The five of them walked through the double doors that led to the main hall as they bowed to Shin who sat at the end of the long table. He smiled blissfully upon seeing his children appear.

"Mikan! Ruka! Come come! Sit beside me!" exclaimed Shin as he ushered his children to sit beside him. They listened to his wishes as Natsume and Hotaru stood beside them whereas little Youichi sat on Mikan's lap. "Oh you two..sit sit," he added as Natsume and Hotaru sat beside Mikan and Ruka. Shin's smile diminished as his aura screamed serious.

"Now, let's begin with my only daughter.." said Shin as he glared at Natsume who surprisingly shuddered in fear. Mikan and Ruka could only sweat drop at the scene as Hotaru remained calm. Youichi scrambled off of Mikan's lap and out the double doors as Mikan sent a look towards Hotaru who slightly nodded in return.

"I hear that you wish to take my daughter's hand in marriage..tell me. Is this true?" Shin asked as he leaned over the table.

"I hear that this was already an arranged marriage to begin with. I believe I heard this from you if memory serves me right," Natsume replied back with confidence as he sat back in his chair crossing his arms as he smirked. Shin, surprised, was taken aback as his mouth gaped open. Mikan, who was worried for her father, waved her hand in front of his face.

"Otou-sama? Are you okay?" she asked with concern. "Yes..yes..I'm fine, Mikan. You picked a splendid candidate," he said as he smiled at her.

"Did you not hear what I said? You arranged this marriage so how can she pick a good candidate?" Natsume asked raising an eyebrow in question. All Shin could do was glare at Natsume who once again shuddered in fear. Shin, who in turn, then moved his head and directed his gaze towards Ruka who suddenly flinched under the gaze. Shin smiled at Ruka and quite evilly too. Shin stretched his hand out to Ruka and patted his cheek.

"ITAI! What are you doing, Otou-sama?" Ruka yelled in pain as he felt his ear being stretched. In between Shin's index finger and thumb was Ruka's ear as Shin smiled in sheer evilness. Shin leaned his face closer to Ruka until they were close enough to feel each other's breaths while Ruka cowered in fear. For a second, Ruka saw Shin's smile twitch and he attempted to gulp out of fear, but wasn't able to due to the dryness of his throat.

"Ruka." Shin said as Ruka replied with a nod. Suddenly Ruka was thrown up into the air and landed on the ground behind Shin's chair. Shin sat back in his chair as he entwined his fingers. When he heard Ruka attempt to stand, and succeed, Shin turned around in his chair with the same smile on his face.

"Now, Ruka..why did you run away?" asked Shin as he narrowed his eyes on Ruka. Ruka opened his mouth to speak, but no sound escaped. He turned his gaze to Hotaru who turned away at the moment their eyes met. "Hotaru, why do you turn from me?" Ruka cried out mentally as Shin awaited for his answer.

"..I wanted to be with Hotaru," Ruka replied as Hotaru let out a soft chuckle. Shin stood up and walked to Ruka keeping a foot distance between them. He lifted his hand above Ruka's body as Ruka closed his eyes tightly.

"Good job, my son!" laughed Shin as he patted Ruka's back roughly. Ruka was left surprised as he saw Mikan laughing along with Hotaru and Natsume smiling. The moment was ended abruptly as the double doors opened loudly and a maid, who was panting heavily, entered the room.

"Shin-sama..there is a portal..on the other side..of the castle," exclaimed the maid as she held onto her knees for support. At the mere mention of the portal, Mikan ran, no, flew, to the portal's location with only one thought on her mind. "Youichi!"

Youichi took one last look at the halls of the castle as he slipped his mask on his face to prevent others from seeing the tears. He turned around and faced the portal and was going to take a step forward.

"Youichi!" a familiar voice stopped him from his action as he turned around only to meet with his mother, in the present, who also had tears in her eyes. The two of them, mother and son, were in front of the portal with their masks on. Even with their masks, their tear stained cheeks were still visible.

"Youichi, please don't leave me," Mikan cried out as she fell to her knees. In response, Youichi ran to her, occasionally stumbling until he reached her. He patted her cheek with her hand once more as his other hand held her hands.

"I must go back or our future will be in grave danger. I need to go back now, Okaa-sama. This time frame isn't where I belong, and you know this Okaa-sama. I have to return to the future. I hope that we'll meet each other soon, Okaa-sama," said Youichi as he walked back towards the portal.

"Youichi, don't say that. We'll meet each other, but when that time comes, will you stay with me?" Mikan asked as her tears fell. Youichi shook his head, sadly, in reply.

"I'm sorry, but I must go back to the past if that happens. I must go now and I'm sorry, Okaa-sama, for leaving you like this. Goodbye..and..I love you," Youichi said as the portal sucked him in to send him back to the future.

"Youichi? I love you too.." Mikan said as she was held back by someone.

"Why? Why aren't you letting me go with him? Why? I might not see him again.." Mikan asked sadly. She felt the person's hold on her loosened as his arms traveled to her waist and tightened once more as his head laid on hers.

"If I were to let you go now so that you can be reunited with him..what would happen to our promise?" asked the person.

"Promise? What promise?" she asked as she lifted her head to look at the person. Her eyes widened as they continued to let tears fall.

"Natsume," she said sadly, "how did you know?" she added as she fell unconscious. Natsume carried her to her room and closed the door behind him. He gently laid her on the bed and sat on the bed as he stroked her hair.

"How could I forget a promise like that? It was before you left me, Mikan," Natsume said as he kissed her forehead before he walked out of her room.

Flashback

"Kuro Neko? Are you here?" Fallen Tenshi asked when she reached the Sakura tree. She found him and her eyes softened at the sight of him sleeping. She sat down next to him and pushed his hair from his face.

"You look so peaceful when you sleep..If only I could see this side of you everyday," she said softly and gasped as his hand held onto hers and she found herself drowning into a pair of crimson eyes.

"Trying to rape me, are you?" he asked as he smirked. Fallen Tenshi immediately blushed as she turned her head away from Kuro Neko's probing eyes.

"N-no, why would I even think about that?" she said as she peeked at him from the corner of her eyes. He was smirking at her and when she turned to look at him, his face was serious. Fallen Tenshi raised an eyebrow in question as he pulled her to his chest. She pushed her hands on his chest hoping to escape from his grasps, but he was simply too strong for her. Eventually she gave up and laid on his chest as her blushing cheeks were visible to the world.

"Fallen Tenshi..promise me something?" Kuro Neko asked as he looked into the distance. Fallen Tenshi looked up at him in question, waiting for him to continue. He finally looked down at her and she saw that his eyes were filled with love and care. She knew it was all for her.

"Promise me that you'll always be by my side..no matter what happens..we'll always be together," Kuro Neko said seriously as he looked into her eyes. He knew that she would promise him the world based on the smile she gave him.

"I promise..anything to be with you," she smiled at him as she laid her head on his chest once more. Kuro Neko patted her head as she looked up at him with a pout on her face. He slightly smiled as he kissed her temple.

End Flashback

Mikan sat up on her bed and realized that she was in her room. She turned to her side and her eyes softened as tears fell again.

"Youichi.." she whispered as she remembered that he already left. A hand reached her face and wiped her tears away.

"Mikan..it's okay. We'll see him again," Natsume said. Mikan turned to him and hugged him as she cried into his chest. Outside the room, Hotaru and Ruka had their ears on the door as they listened to Mikan and Natsume.

"Hotaru, why can't we make a baby now too?" asked Ruka and was answered with a shot from the infamous baka gun which now has a silencer on it. She walked away as Ruka stood back up, rubbing his sore head. Instantly, he felt chills running down his spine as he slowly turned his head around and he jumped.

"O-O-O-O-O-Otou-sama!" yelled Ruka as he ran down the hall and past Hotaru as he ran away from Shin. Shin caught up to Hotaru feeling confused.

"Do you know why he ran from me?" he asked as Hotaru shrugged her shoulders and walked away leaving Shin by himself.

Well, that was the seventh chapter for this story :D I realized that some things may have changed the plot, but I believe that it's better this way. Well, please remember to review.