Taken Away (Gakuen Alice)

31.) Letters

  Mikan

"Wait," I circled around the room trying to match up all the resemblances. If Natsume was her brother, that would explain her beautiful crimson eyes, the long raven hair, and the mischievous smirk on her face..The only thing that I'm trying to wrap my head around was the bunny stickers on the letters. Talk about good taste."Natsume is your brother?"

"You know him right?" She asked excitedly.

I was not ready for this, meeting someone that's in Natsume's life. Everything that I had gone through has not prepared me for this exact situation. I'm sharing the same cell as my own boyfriend's sister--who he never dared to mention. I became aware of the things I don't even know about him. We been so hung up on me and Persona that I never had the chance to ask if he's hurting, or how he got in the academy in the first place. With these thoughts racing in my head, I questioned my abilities as his girlfriend.

When I asked him to escape with me, I got selfishly mad at him without knowing the reason behind why he couldn't go. It was his sister. "I'm sort of dating him..." I said awkwardly. I have to own up to it. This was the sister of the man I want to spend my life with. The man who helped me go through this nightmare. The man who sacrificed so much for me. And now I'm given the chance to know more about him, despite the situation I was in.

Silence engulfed the room. If it wasn't for my genius idea to change the subject, there is no doubt in my mind we would still be in complete silence. "I can read you the letters," I offered. She looked at me and nodded cutely, returning to her taciturn self. I'm assuming she was not fond with the idea of sharing Natsume with me, or maybe it wasn't that, but that she might not like me as a person.

"I would like that..." She said. "I wanted to read them myself when my eyes got better, but the wait is killing me."

"I guess I can start with this one. " Out of dozens of letters sent to her, I chose the most recent one. My fingers traced the seal before I ripped it off, opening the letter inside. My eyes widen, this was not what I expected.

She blinked. "What's wrong?"

"E-Eh Nothing," My voice was shaky, I was always a terrible liar. I took in a deep breath. "He said that he loves you, and his greatest joy is having a little sister like you."

Aoi sniffed and smiled. "Really?"

"Y-Yeah." My voice choked up and gave her the best smile I could muster up.

"What else did he say?!"

"He said, um, " I clenched the letter in my hands. "That he's doing well in the academy. He made some friends, met a beautiful girl and fell in love..." I avoided eye contact. "He's really happy and can't wait to show you around the academy. He hopes you get better."

There was silence.

Through the silence, I waited with anticipation. When I glanced over at her small figure, her face became red and heavy tears started to fall. "I'm so glad." She cried with joy. Guilt immediately washed over me. "I was afraid he forgot how to smile...since mom. Since the accident." She searched for my hand and brought it up to her cheeks, hugging it. "Thank you Onii-chan."

"I-I didn't really do anything." My look soften.

"Do you love him?" She asked.

My face flushed. Love was such a serious topic, neither one of us had said we loved each other. The thought never came up. Does he love me? Out of everyone, only his presence was enough to make my heart feel like it's coming out of my chest. "I-I do." I nodded softly. "He drives me crazy."

Her smile widen. "Then you did something alright."

To sit here and watch this defenseless, sweet girl be lied to and given unexpected hope made me the lowest of low. I had no position, no power. If Natsume knew that Persona had her, then why hasn't he done something? Why hasn't he done anything?

Jose voice rang in my head, his words loud and clear.

Natsume was Persona's bi**ch.

"Aoi you need-" A loud clang interrupted my train of thought. Footsteps came closer, heavy breathing, and a tall figure. My eyes narrowed.

And with a smug smile on his face, he waved his keys around. "You're coming with me."