Taken Away (Gakuen Alice)

22.) Strange presence

Mikan's POV

Obviously many things has happened to me and it's hard to believe how I came from being a timid abused girl, bullied by everyone, ignored by my best friend that was like a sister to me, got my first kiss by a fairly handsome boy which is now known as my boyfriend. Keyword: Mine. Hands off. To actually being able to open up to someone again. Something that I've been emotionally abused to not do. I got to say, life's great except....that presence.

I've been feeling the same presence each night just lurking around. Like a wild hawk stalking it's prey. "Should I go check it out?" I asked myself with a quiet whisper, grabbing the nearest object I could find. A slipper. I quietly took small steps towards my window, where the sound of the bushes swaying was heard, having my slipper raised over my shoulders. The minute I slid the window open, my slipper was thrown at the moving bush. "COME OUT!" I yelled bravely, my legs shaking but it was barely even noticeable from where I was standing.

"Hey. What was that for!" Natsume yelled at me, and caught the slippers I threw at him by mistake, thinking he was the strange presence."Really? Bunny slippers." He added, pulling on the bunny ears. Simply looking like he was teasing me. "First polka dots underwear, and now bunny slippers." Natsume smirked over at me, throwing the slippers back at me."You are giving me lots of reason to-"

"Hate you? I know." I rolled my eyes, my face blushing red.

"No." Natsume smirked. "To entertain myself." He said looking at me. Once again, my slipper made contact with his face. My face already red, if possible. As I crossed my arms trying to get rid of my blush.

"Pervert. Jerk. " I mumbled at him childishly, also curious why he was around here this late. Until I noticed how beaten up he was. He had deep cuts, some blood dripping down from his arm, his cheek swollen a bit, and a scar across his forehead that was being covered by his raven bangs. His shirt tore a bit. "Natsume what happened?" I asked him worriedly, him shrugging like his injuries wouldn't a big deal to him. He made it look like he wasn't even in pain, and was the most normal thing to him.

"I fell." He lied, deciding to cover it up with a lame excuse. I might not be smart, but I'm not stupid either. All those brusies, the blood, the scars, the cheek, isn't a good excuse to be covered by something simple like 'I fell." Seriously who does he think I am? A idiot! Well, yes. But even a idiot like me, should know these kind of injuries isn't likely to be caused by 'falling.'

"Did you get into other fight with Jose?" I asked him, looking down at him, furrowing my eyebrow together. Hopefully that wasn't the case. Him and Jose been getting into trouble lately with recent fights. Sometimes, something simple like afternoon detention or something that annoyed Natsume like hell, his mask.

"No that's not it...yet..." He sighed heavily, and started to climb up into my window carefully. I didn't even see him wince once from his injuries, only something was different. His eyes. He normally would stare at me with a gentle and firm expression in his eyes. But now he looked at me different then he normally does. He had a hesitant look in his eyes. His eyes locking into mine. It was like he was looking for signs or reasons to not tell me why he was beaten up.

"Is there something wrong then?" Somehow, fear enveloped into me by looking at his serious expression on his face. I looked at him, and swallowed slightly, listening to those two words that came out of his mouth smoothly.

"Your father."

"......"

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Hey guys! I finally managed to update Taken away, and I'm sorry if the chapter or future chapters are going to be shorter then before because I'm focusing on my studies more and also, trying to get my other stories updates in. So please be patient with me ; ^ ; If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to ask them! (: Next update: Hopefully soon.

Question Time!

1.) What do you think happened to Mikan's father?

2.) Who was that mysterious presence?

3.) Why was Natsume all beaten up?