Another story! Yay! I hope you guys enjoy reading! This story came about many months ago but I couldn't publish it because of some certain reasons I'm too lazy to tell. Hahaha! I wanted to create a story where there's nothing supernatural but a normal story with a normal plotline. Then this was created. :)
Disclaimer: I don't own Gakuen Alice or any of it's characters.
Chess Pieces On A Chessboard
Chapter I (一): Prologue: Seven Years Later
They had just gotten out of the hospital. She successfully delivered twin babies. One girl and one boy. He stayed by her side through hours of delivery holding her hand, supporting her. They arrived at the mansion an hour ago.
"The boy's mine," he declared out of the blue shocking her who's watching the twins sleep with a smile but when she heard what he said, the smile vanished.
"What? You're gonna separate them?" She asked in disbelief.
"I don't need the girl. I need an heir not an heiress."
"But—"
"No buts. I'll let you keep the girl and the money while I keep the boy and your word that I won't ever see you again. Am I clear?" He said in a voice full of authority. She knew that the man isn't the type that should be messed with and there won't be a good outcome in disagreeing with him.
It breaks her heart to say "Yes." but she knew better than to go back on her words. After all, everything is part of their contract. Is it bad to think that such a man would want her even if it is just her wanting to think that way? Is it wrong to wish for him to love her even though she knew from the very beginning that he won't?
He had just stayed with her through the delivery and even held her hand. He took care of her while she was carrying the babies for months. He gave in to her sudden wants and needs without complain. He held her like she's the most important thing in the world. Was it all to get an heir?
What am I thinking? Of course it was.
It was all just an agreement. She'll bear him an heir and he'll pay her. It was all for that. If only she didn't need so much money in just a short time and if only she didn't agree to the stupid contract then she wouldn't have felt so broken. He's a businessman. His job, his company, are the most important things to him.
"I only have one thing to ask." She said in a soft whisper but enough for him to hear. His expression turned colder and harder than it ever was. As I expected she'll ask for more. Typical. Tch.
"You are in no position to ask for anything." He said in a cold voice that added to her pain but she had to be tough for herself and the babies.
"I know that. It shouldn't be that hard. Please," she said almost begging.
"What, you need more money? Tell me I—"
"No! I don't need anymore of that!" She shouted.
What does he think of her? Does he think that all she was after was money? Does he not have a clue on what she really wants? What a joke. She's getting angrier by the second but she hid it. She's asking for something and she is, as he had said, in no position to ask for something.
"Then what!" He also started shouting.
"Love him." She said that stopped him. "Just love him for me. That's all I ask." She said it with a strong look yet pain is etched in her eyes which he failed to notice.
She turned her back on him. She lifted the baby boy to her chest and hugged him. "I'm sorry I won't see you grow up. I hope you'll grow up wonderfully." She said as tears fell from her eyes no matter how much she tried to stop it.
"I hope you make your father happy. I love you." She whispered to the baby so he won't hear.
She kissed the baby boy's forehead and smiled at him for the second and last time. The first one when she first saw them. She put him down on his bed and she picked up the baby girl and walked out of his house without saying another word to him who was still frozen on his spot following her every moves with his eyes.
She admit that she's too exhausted to go outside but she didn't care. Every second she spent there pained her and she can't bear to look at his face anymore.
She didn't turn.
She's afraid of looking back and confirming that he didn't go after her. She inwardly laughed at her pitiful self. Why would he even bother to go after me? I am nothing to him. I'm just a girl who made a deal with him, bore him an heir and the girl he threw away soon after I've given what I bargained for. What a perfect life I have.
That was the last time they ever saw each other.
What both of them didn't know is that no matter how much they try to get away from one another, as long as there's even one thing connecting both of them, destiny would pull them together. No matter how cruel it may be.
That's how destiny plays it's game.
That's how destiny would play them.
Like chess pieces on a chessboard.
Then years later, the mischievous twin Knights would meet and take control of the game supported by the Rook who was always watching by the side. And not even the Bishops who are both beside the King and Queen would be able to stop them. Not even when they use the pawns to keep the important pieces by their side.
Seven Years Later...
"Finish you're food, Nami!"
"Yes mommy!" A raven-haired girl with crimson eyes smiled cheerfully at her mother. She looks so much like him.
"You know mommy my classmate told me that I have a beautiful and cool mommy. She said she wants to be like you when she grows up!" Mikan smiled at her daughter.
It's been seven years. Seven years since she last saw him. Seven years with a scarred heart that still hurts every time she thinks of them.
"The boy's mine." He said out of the blue shocking her who's watching the twins sleep with a smile but when she heard what he said, the smile vanished.
"What? You're gonna separate them?" She asked in disbelief.
"I don't need the girl. I need an heir not an heiress."
"But—"
"No buts. I'll let you keep the girl and the money while I keep the boy and your word that I won't ever see you again. Am I clear?"
It breaks her heart to say "Yes." but she knew better than to go back on her words. After all, everything is a part of their contract. Is it bad to think that such a man would want her even if it is just her wanting to think that way? Is it wrong to wish for him to love her even though she knew from the very beginning that he won't?
She didn't break their agreement. Not once did she ever went to see their son even though she wants to see him so much. What does he look like now? What is the color of his eyes, his hair? Does he look like her or his father? He must probably look identical to his twin. She wondered about this things always. Not a day goes by without her thinking of her son.
She hadn't change; her looks, her voice, her laugh. She just got more mature. According to her best friend, Hotaru, becoming a mother is good for her. It made her more adult-like. Is she really mature as they claimed her to be?
"What's wrong mommy? You look sad." Her daughter asked. Confusion written all over her face.
"Who's sad? Huh? Want me to tickle you?" She said as she held up her hands. Nami's eyes widened and tried to get away from her tickling mommy but got caught and tickled without mercy.
"Tell me who's sad. I didn't hear you baby!" She said as she continued tickling her daughter lightly.
"I... St..op... Haha... Mommy stop... Hahaha!" Nami said between her giggles.
Mikan stopped and looked at her daughter seriously. "What did you say, baby?"
"Okay, okay! Fine. I didn't say anything." Nami said and she walk towards the stairs.
"But I still saw my mommy sad!" She stuck her tongue out before she sprinted towards her bedroom upstairs and not forgetting to lock the door incase her mother catch up to her.
"Yukihira Natsumi, you cheater!"
It was always like that with the two of them. Sometimes her daughter would catch her making a sad face and she would tease her to make her feel better and she's very grateful for that. Nami grew up to be a very bright child like her father and very cheerful like her. She looks so much like him that she always remember him whenever she sees Nami especially when she doesn't smile.
And it's very hard for her.
"Mommy where is my daddy?" Nami asked her one time when she put her to bed. The question made her panic but she hid it from her. She knew she had to lie to Nami.
"Your daddy is dead, Nami. He... he died from a car accident." She said.
"Why didn't I see any pictures of him?"
"Because our house caught fire and all his pictures got burned. Good thing we are both out of the house that time." Mikan said. She was never a good liar but she hope Nami would believe her lies. She has to.
"Mommy, does daddy love me?" Mikan looked into her crimson eyes and gulped.
Mikan remembered his exact words that day to her. I don't need the girl. I need an heir not an heiress. She couldn't possibly tell her daughter that the reason she doesn't have a father was because he didn't need her. Her poor daughter.
"Of course, baby." Mikan tried so hard to keep her voice from breaking.
"Do you love daddy?" Mikan thought of that. Does she love him?
"Y-yes. I do." She didn't know for sure but she had to say yes to her. To make her think that she had parents who loves each other. A perfect family that would make any child happy.
Nami smiled as if pleased. Mikan thought that her questions would stop but she was wrong. "Does daddy love you, mommy?"
Mikan froze.
She couldn't answer that. That is the one question she couldn't answer with a lie. She mustered up an angry face and faced her daughter. "Nami, what's with all those questions? You should sleep. Now."
Nami's smile faded.
Mikan kissed her daughter's forehead. "Good night, Nami." Mikan whispered and went out of her daughter's room.
That's one of the things she doesn't like with the agreement they made. She had to lie and avoid her daughter's questions. She knew that one day she wouldn't be able to avoid her daughter's questions anymore. And she fears that.
Mikan went to Hotaru's house the day after that. She has to ask her best friend for an advice. Nami came with her but Mikan told her daughter to play games on her aunt's laptop. Something that the little girl loves to do. Hotaru really spoiled her niece too much.
"Hotaru, what do I do?" Mikan asked her best friend desperately.
Hotaru stared at her blankly, "We both know that you know what to do, Mikan. You just don't want to do it." She said.
"But Hotaru! How can you expect me to tell her that her own father didn't want her?" She yelled without meaning to. "I'm sorry. It's just that..."
"I know, Mikan. It's fine. But how long are you planning to hide it from her? I know that she's too young to understand that contract you made with that bastard but she has the right to know. She's young, yes, but not stupid."
Hotaru is mad at the person responsible for her best friend's suffering. The guy is her cousin but ever since the night Mikan ran to her, crying, she swore that if she ever see him near Mikan again, he'll experience hell like never before. Whenever they see each other at family parties and such she would bore holes at his back. She also never spoke to him again unless it's business they're talking about.
"I don't know. As long as I can? Or when we're both ready." Mikan sounded so unsure with herself. She too want to know when. When will she ever be ready?
Hotaru decided not to question her anymore. "This is just an advice, Mikan. You have to tell her the truth soon even if it hurts her. Hurting her is inevitable and I know you only want to protect her but she'll hurt more if you prolong the days. It's your family, you decide."
Mikan thought about what Hotaru advised to her and decided that as soon as she gather the courage she needed she will tell her daughter. It pains her to always lie to her daughter.
No mother would be able to continuously deceive her child forever.
End of Chapter
Dou da? What do you guys think? If you have any comments or questions then review or pm me. I would be sure to reply. :) Look forward to the next chapter! It's much better than this one. You'll also meet Nami's father whose identity is quite obvious already. Haha!
-MitsukaiYuki