REWRITTEN! Some aspects of the story have been changed compared to before. Whether you are a new or old reader, here is some background info

Natsume's backstory is based off the canon one shown in the manga. That means that he was living with his father and sister Aoi prior to entering Alice Academy. They had recently moved to the village where Ruka was staying. When Natsume left the village, Aoi was in the hospital, having suffered serious burn wounds that took away her eyesight.

My OC Himawari is their cousin who came to stay with the family. She is the same age as Aoi and is close to both siblings.

Prologue

Natsume sighed. It was that day again. The day he had come to Alice Academy three years ago when he was eight. The day he had been separated from his family.

FLASHBACK

The village was now just burnt ruins. It used to be a village of happiness, but it was all gone. The villagers were all staying in the hall on the hilltop that hadn't been burnt.

Eight-year old Natsume walked towards the limo waiting for him. He refused to look back, for he feared he would break down.

"Onii-chan!" a six-year old girl ran out of the building. She was small for her age, and fragile-looking. Her usually smiling face was covered in tears.

She wrapped her arms around Natsume's waist. "Natsume-nii-chan… Don't go… Stay with me…" she sobbed.

Natsume steeled his heart as he looked at the girl he viewed as a sister. Himawari was technically his cousin, but she had come to live with their family when her parents had passed away. They had grown close over the years, but now he had to leave. He couldn't afford to be kind at this point. He had to push her away. It would make the parting easier for both of them.

"Himawari, go back to Dad and Aoi," he said firmly, trying to control the quiver in his voice. He wrenched her clinging arm off him, and continued to walk towards the car.

"Natsume-nii-chan!"

The boy was almost knocked over by Hiwamari who hadn't given up and had tackled him from behind. She stubbornly clung to his arm, effectively locking him in place by digging her feet into the dirt floor.

Natsume sighed as he looked at the sobbing girl. "Himawari, let go. I can't stay."

"W-why do you h-have to go, Natsume-nii-chan?" Himawari just tightened her hold on him. Natsume could feel the moisture that was her tears soaking through the sleeve of his shirt.

"Go back." he repeated. When the girl refused to move, he roughly pushed her off and yelled, "Just go back!"

Himawari stood there dazedly, tears rolling down her face. "Y-you yelled at m-me…" she said in shock, "That was the first time nii-chan shouted at me…"

Looking at her tear-stained face, Natsume felt an urge to run over to hug her. To tell her that it was alright, just like he used to when she was bullied for her small stature.

There was perhaps one way that he could make her give up on getting him stay.

"Himawari, listen. I have to go away, and you can't change that. But can you promise me something?"

Himawari nodded, unable to speak through her sobs.

"You must be a good girl, Himawari. Take care of yourself. And take care of Aoi too, will you? Promise?"

"O-Okay, nii-chan. P-P-Promise." She buried her face in her hands, still crying.

Natsume reach out a hand to ruffle her hair as he always did but caught himself in time, his fingers curling into a fist as he withdrew it mere inches away from the top of her head.

He spun on his heel and started walking fast towards the limo. Walking towards Alice Academy, and dark days. Walking away from his precious family.

Looking out of the moving car, Natsume saw Himawari still standing in a daze, holding on tightly to a bracelet in her hand. The bracelet Natsume had given to her, made solely out of sunflower shape beads and red beads. Sunflowers, symbolizing Himawari, which meant sunflower. Red beads, symbolizing Natsu, Japanese for summer. Or, thought Natsume bitterly, the fire that had destroyed them all.

Ruka squeezed his hand, trying to comfort him. But Natsume couldn't even muster a fake smile before he leant his head against the seat of the cat, trying hard not to cry.