16Chapter 2: Au revoir doesn't mean good bye
Technically speaking, au revoir is used as an expression of parting, but it DOES NOT mean 'goodbye'. I actually means 'until I see you '.
Where we were last:
"I wonder if I should tell them what happened in the office?" Mikan thought. "Maybe not. I think I'll just keep this to myself."
After lunch was over, classes resumed. But, since today was Monday, it was time for their alice type classes. Mikan, and the rest of the group parted ways, planning to meet up in Central Town after classes. On her way to the special abilities classroom, she began to think about what they were going to be doing in the special abilities class today and if Noda-sensei was going to actually be there to teach class today.
Upon arriving at the special abilities classroom, she was greeted by Andou Tsubasa, who said, "Yo! What's up?"
"Oh, um….. The sky?" was her reply, with her head looking outside the window. Suddenly, Misaki frantically rushed towards Mikan and asked with an extremely worried face,
" Is it true that you're getting transferred to L'Académie D'Alice in France next week? Please tell me it isn't, I'm begging you!"
"You know I can't lie to you, Misaki-senpai." ,Mikan replied. "Besides, if I didn't, both you and Tsubasa-senpai know exactly what would happen."
"Wait, you're transferring to L'Académie D'Alice? Why am I unaware of this?" Akira inquired.
"Because you never asked?"
"Oh, right. Then how come Harada here knows?" he asked pointing to Misaki.
"That's because, unlike you, I have connections. Oh, and one more thing, NEVER CALL ME BY MY LAST NAME!", was Misaki's response while simultaneously cloning herself and both Misakis kicking and punching Akira.
"Okay class, settle down." ,said Noda-sensei, entering the classroom. "I was just informed that our dear Mikan-chan will be leaving this school next week, so I would like for us to hold a farewell party for her, wishing her bon voyage. The party will be held two days before her departure."
Cheers erupted throughout the crowded classroom. As you can see, the Special Abilities class love parties.
After about two hours, the school day ended and it was time for Mikan to meet everyone at Central Town.
Central Town
Finally arriving at Central Town, Mikan heads to the howalon stand where she sees everyone.
"You're late, cherry print." Natsume says.
"Ch-cherry p-print?" Mikan stammers out while turning red. "You Pervert!"
BAKABAKABAKA! goes Hotaru's baka gun, firing three shots.
"Wha'd you do that for?!" Mikan said, half whining. "Yeah, definitely not telling them. It's not worth it'll I'll probably get is a baka gun shot towards the head and a comment on my underwear." She thought to herself. "It makes me wonder, will they even miss me once I'm gone?"
"To make you stop being annoying." , was her monotone reply.
"Howalon!" Mikan squeals after greeting her friends and runs to the back of line.
"Cute 3," Natsume thought to himself while looking at Mikan's excited expression." I did NOT just call her cute, right?"
"Um, yeah you did," replies Koko, reading his mind. "You even had a heart next to it!" Upon saying that, he received a death glare from Natsume.
Thankfully, today the line was a bit shorter and Mikan was able to have her beloved sweets in a flash. Then, she opened the box, took the first piece out, and ate it.
" I swear, I cannot live without this stuff." she says, still howalon-high. Next, she gives out one piece to everyone, including Natsume and Hotaru.
Out of nowhere, Youichi appeared holding his hand out and saying, "Howalon?" Mikan handed him a piece, and he replied with, "Arigatou."
…
Fast forward to the farewell party
"Bon voyage!" everyone in the Special Abilities class, and Narumi-sensei greeted Mikan as she walked about the room wearing baby blue strapless, knee length dress with four ruffle-tiers, elbow length gloves, and baby blue high heeled lace up shoes with white fishnets. For accessories, she was wearing a pair of pearl earrings and star-shaped ring.
"I still can't believe you're going to France!" says Misaki, who was dressed in a black with red dragon and flower embroidered floor length Chinese dress with a slit running up to her knee, paired with a white faux fur shawl, and black silk flats. "I mean, apart from the fact you're being forced to go, the food and shopping there is amazing!"
"Eh, really?" was Mikan's response. " Oh, and thanks for getting me this dress, Misaki-senpai~! It's so cute!"
[You, my dear readers, must be wondering what Mikan means by this.]
Flashback start:
"Tsubasa, you're in charge of decorations, keep in mind that this will be a formal party, ok?" ,states Noda-sensei. "Akira, you're in charge of decorations and food, while Misaki is in charge of making clothes for everybody. Misaki, you're budget is 3000 rabbits per person, and 5000 rabbits for Mikan, the star of the party."
"Hai!" say Misaki, Tsubasa, and Akira, who have never seen Noda-sensei take charge of the class in such a manner before today.
" Megane, you're in charge of the guest list, make sure to invite all of Mikan's teachers (except for Jinno-sensei) , anyone who she tells of her departure, and the hana-himes. " Noda-sensei goes on.
END FLASHBACK
"it's not a problem, remember that I was put in charge of styling everybody because Kami-sama knows that the boys in this class dress awfully."
Later on in the party, it was time for everybody to give Mikan their farewell presents.
Misaki gave Mikan an oval-shaped gold locket inscribed with the words "Never forget" in Edwardian script, dangling on a delicate gold chain.
"Open it,", she says to Mikan, who followed her instructions. Inside the locket was a picture of all of her friends, senpais, and favorite teachers.
"Arigatou!" Mikan says, tears beginning to well in her eyes. Next in the present line was Akira, styled in a tailored, charcoal three piece suit, who had given her a bejeweled bracelet with everyone's alice stones, including those who were unable to come to the party.
" In case you get bullied over there." He says, attempting to smile. Through teary eyes, Mikan beamed, and gave him a hug as large as an elephant on steroids. After him was Nobara Ibaragi, dressed in a white floral print dress (think Jesus Diamante), who she met during the preparations for the Christmas dance. Shyly, she gave Mikan an ice blue alice stone(Nobara's) studded butterfly ring in platinum(somewhat like the large one George made for Yukari in Paradise Kiss).
"Please, never forget about us. You were my first friend, remember that," she said, looking into Mikan's large and innocent brown eyes.
"I'll never forget, I swear." was her response. Then came Tsubasa, who was behind Nobara. He gave Mikan a wing motif hand bag (for those who don't know, the word Tsubasa means "wing" in Japanese). She smiled at the intended pun and started crying simultaneously. He patted her back and whispered, "Don't worry, you'll be back before you know it."
Somehow, Kaname was able to leave the hospital and attend Mikan's party, so he gave her a stuffed panda that moved and spoke.
"Oh, you didn't have to get me anything, Kaname-senpai." Mikan implied, knowing that gift had a bit of his life inserted into it.
"It's okay, I always wanted to give one to you." was his response. Mikan's eyes softened and she gave him a small smile, not wanting to further the argument. Behind him was Imai Subaru, Hotaru's older brother and holds the title of vice president in the student council. He gave her a brooch (much like the one Shinku had in Rozen Maiden, except the jewel is navy blue and does not have a silhouette) with his alice stone in it. After him came Sakurano-senpai, who gave Mikan a jewelry box with a secret compartment to hide her alice stone jewelry. Mikan opened the jewelry box's secret compartment and found a flower shaped ring with his alice stones in it. She then placed all the alice stone jewelry in the compartment and stowed it away in the wing motif bag.
Then came the teachers. High School Division Principal Yukihara, a.k.a. Mikan's uncle, gave Mikan a charm bracelet with two alice stone charms, one for his alice-detection alice, and one his life connectivity alice. Narumi-sensei, Hii-sama, Misaki-sensei, Noda-sensei, and the rest of the hana-hime den gave Mikan alice stone bracelet charms in various shapes and sizes.
Once all the gift-giving pandemonium was all over (as you can see, that took up A LOT of space), came the final dance.
"Eh? A dance?" Mikan asks, confused. "No one told me about this!"
"It was supposed to be a surprise." says Akira. "May I have this last dance with you?"
"Um…sure…" "It would be nice if Natsume danced with me one last time….." she thought to herself.
As they danced, Akira started to say, " Mikan, I have some bad news. Your departure has been mover up to tomorrow night. I'm so sorry."
"Well, at least I can still experience my last normal day of school tomorrow….."
"I suppose….."
After the dance ended, Mikan walked back to her room carrying all her presents in her bag, but suddenly, she stopped. She heard footsteps behind her and wheezing behind her, so she turned around to see who it was.
Behind her, she saw Natsume limping and holding his bloody side. He had just gotten back from a mission. She sprinted towards him like a cheetah, and helped him walk to his room. Once they stopped at his room, he unconsciously leaned in and gave her a deep, passionate, and decadent kiss. At first, Mikan was shocked, but eventually gave in. this went on for about five minutes before he collapsed into Mikan's arms. Mikan tried the door, and luckily, it was unlocked, so she dragged him into his room and thrust him onto the bed. (Non, non! Nothing happened, you wanton readers!) she left the room swiftly, and headed towards her room.
Next day,
Natsume POV
When I woke up, I had the most atrocious migraine as I recalled the night's events. "Oh hell no, I can't believe I actually did that!" I thought to myself as I remembered the kiss.
END POV
Mikan POV
When I woke up, I looked at the clock, and it said, 7:00 AM. Wow, that's a first. I actually woke up early! I got dressed, brushed my teeth, grabbed whatever I needed, and left the room, which now looks totally empty. I started walking towards the school building, stopping to admire the fresh, clean snow.
Once I got to the classroom, I saw Natsume with his Hikaru no Go manga on his face, which meant he was sleeping. Then, I recalled the previous night's events and felt my cheeks become as fiery as the desert sun. I sat in my seat, put my head down on the desk, and closed my eyes.
END POV
Natsume woke up upon hearing Mikan mumble the words 'Au revoir'.
"Eh? Doesn't au revoir mean 'goodbye' in French? Why is she saying that?" he wondered, before he realized she was sleeping. Then, he saw a small tear roll down her cheek. Impulsively, he hugged her. CLICK! went Hotaru's camera, snapping a photo of that scene, which, somehow, went by Natsume unnoticed. Good thing Hotaru's camera choice of the day was Polaroid, because she took the picture out, and placed it in Mikan's bag.
Mikan POV
Dream mode
Notre Dame chapel
I was in a chapel, you know, like the Notre Dame? I don't why, but I was praying. The Prayer went like, "Dear kami-sama, I'm sure I ask this of you almost everyday, but, please, protect my friends. Even though I'm a fallen angel, and the price I paid for their safety was becoming one, I can only hope that they're still safe. So please, answer my prayers! Help me so that when I come back, I can change all that is sinful in my life."
END DREAM
END POV
Mikan woke up to see all of her classmates entering the classroom.
"Ohayou minna!" she says.
"Ohayo Mikan-chan~" was everyone except for Natsume and Hotaru's reply.
"O-ha-you! Ho-at-ru-chaan!" greeted Mikan, running up to greet her best friend.
3, 2, 1.
BAKABAKABAKA! Out came three shots out of Hotaru's baka cannon.
"Why'd you do that?" Mikan asked, crying a waterfall of tears.
"Because," Hotaru replied, "I don't want any baka germs on me."
"Ah! Ohayou Natsume, Ruka-pyon!" Mikan greeted Natsume and Ruka cheerfully.
"Ohayou, Sakura-san." was Ruka's response.
"Hn," came from the anti-social(?) flame caster.
"Quickly!" Mochi said." Everyone sit down! Jinno-sensei's coming!"
Everyone quickly rushed to their seats.
Fast forward to the end of the day
At the end of the day, Mikan said, "Au revoir!" to her classmates for what may be the last time, oblivious to them at least.
Mikan went to her room, and recalled when she was first upgraded to a one-star. It was when she had woken up from the coma she had. She was surprised when she heard that Jinno-sensei had awarded the ranking to her.
Now, looking at it, it looks just like the way it did when she first came into this room, empty. She sighed, and left the room with her luggage. Outside her door, she was stopped by Natsume.
"What's with the luggage, Polka-dots?" he asked.
"Um….." she began. "Ugh, of all times, I what the hell am I supposed to tell him?"
"They're costumes for the Alice Festival." she quickly lied, hiding her eyes beneath her bangs. "Well, I gotta go! Misaki-senpai's gonna kill me if I don't get there soon!", she quickly ran from him.
At the airport
Narita International Airport was a lively and energetic place. In fact, it was a rare sight to see even one person sitting down. Various people were chatting on cell phones, others were fussing over how cute items were, and Mikan was quickly being ushered into a private charter plane.
Wow, this one spanned 6 pages in a size 10 font!
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