Disclaimer: The writer does not own either Gakuen Alice nor its characters. The rest is hers.

Note: The contents of this chapter was couple of years before Mikan went into the Academy. Don't be confuse.

Lingering Darkness

Chapter 4: Truth Revealed

I watched them as they argue over me. It's not like I wanted it, but I have no choice. My opinions don't matter so I kept my mouth shut.

"She will just be here until Christmas. It's going to be okay, Sweetheart. Besides, aren't you feeling light that our family helped a child?" her father asked sweetly.

I dug in to my fingernails to restrain myself from attacking someone.

The look on the child's eyes palpably suggested that she doesn't agree. Not even the slightest bit.

"But she doesn't belong here!" she exclaimed as she eyed her father defiantly and fiercely. Her fists are clenched and her teeth is gritted.

A lump formed on my throat. That was enough. Enough. I ran as farther as my feet would take me. I don't care if I'm going to be lost. My throat suddenly tightened and I stopped. Tears began forming behind my hazel eyes. My knees trembled and they gave in, leaving me on the ground, slumped. I cried.

I don't belong anywhere. It's absurd to even think that people aren't the same because they surely are. They label another person without even knowing everything that happened. I've been branded murderer.

I put both my hands on my face when suddenly out of nowhere; a figure appeared in front of me. He wore a pair of sneakers and some shorts. I didn't bother looking up, but I know that it's a boy. Maybe he is here to do something to me, throw something on my face or the likes but instead, he offered a handkerchief.

I finally looked up and his eyes were the first thing I noticed. It's not something you see everyday, they are crimson. Rare thing, it is.

"That's to wipe off your smug look." He pointed to the hanky like I didn't know the use of it.

I reluctantly accepted it and swabbed my face with it. When I finished cleaning my face, I shook my head and stood up, turned away from the boy and started walking away.

I don't need another person to think I'm nothing but a burden.

"A simple thank you would suffice," he stated loudly.

I didn't acknowledge him. Until I heard him catching up then he grabbed my wrist. I felt electricity and creeps ran through my spine.

He stared at me piercingly, like memorizing my plain features. I was confused.

I looked down.

"I know you," he responded, not letting go of neither my wrist nor his eyes that was fixated on me. It felt like he is trying to look beyond me though I wasn't sure enough.

Of course he knows me, I'm a murderer, why wouldn't everybody know me?

When I didn't reply, he smirked.

"You're not mute. Why won't you talk?" he snapped at me.

Arrogant.

I tried to free my wrist from his tight grasp. My eyebrows wrinkled when I didn't achieved from doing so.

"You could have done better than that."

I groaned.

"What exactly are you trying to explicate?" I asked, feeling annoyed.

He seemed taken aback and abruptly freed my wrist.

I began to walk away again when he said,

"I've been watching you from school. It seems like you're not a bit interested in me, and now, I was proven to be correct."

I stopped on my tracks.

"Something simple as that bugs you?"

He chuckled.

"You could say that."

I merely shrugged.

He tried to catch up to me and accomplished from doing so.

We walked in silence to get out of the forest.

"Do you even know me?" he asked out of nowhere.

"Nope," I responded without looking at him.

He seemed to be processing my one word answer before saying anything.

"Aren't you even interested?" he asked again.

"Nope," I answered the second time without even batting an eyelash.

I felt his bloodred eyes on me for a couple of minutes.

"Cheeky," he mumbled.

"Why were you crying, anyway?" he has lots of questions, indeed.

"None of your business." I kicked the fallen twig that was on my way.

He smirked.

"Are you trying to annoy me?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at him conspicuously.

He smirked again. "Trying and succeeding."

My lips formed into a very thin straight line.

"Sa-ku-ra," he emphasized each syllable. I thought he was speaking to me but turned out I was wrong, he was gazing longingly at the Sakura tree just meters away from us.

He then turned to me, "That's your name, right?"

"Surname, actually," I pointed out.

"Right. Surname," he said, agreeing.

I stared at him.

He jerked his head to face me and snickered.

"Can't take your eyes off me, little girl?" he teased.

I rolled my eyes and quickly turned away, irritated that he caught me off guard.

"Don't be too confident," I remarked, and added, "and don't ever call me little girl."

"Why is that?" he raised his brows at me without stopping from walking.

"Just because." I simply answered.

"What am I suppose to make out of that?" he deadpanned, suddenly bewildered.

"Why are you following me, anyway?" I changed the subject, then stopped and eyed him suspiciously.

He stopped, too.

"Just making myself rest for a while. Don't ask," he merely responded and sighed dismally.

I crossed my arms over my chest. "You call this resting?" I gestured to the walk we had.

"You wouldn't even understand," he discouraged, lowering down his voice.

"Try me," I challenged defiantly.

He considered for a moment before answering and hesitated.

"Okay then. I've had enough of the project: bothering you today." Then he ran the opposite way.

I watched as his silhouette become smaller and smaller. I smiled at his retreating figure. One thing came to my mind: I don't know his name.

I sat on my usual chair on the classroom.

I remembered the boy the day before yesterday. Is he my classmate the whole time? He looks just like about my age. I'm intrigued. Very intrigued.

I was trying to look at the clock that hung on the wall just on the side when someone threw a crumpled paper at my face.
"That was a three points, dude! Great aim!" someone around the room exclaimed, everyone laughed and joined in.

The trash can is behind me, considering that I am the girl in the backseat.

Many people threw their trash at me; paper cans, crumpled papers, and boxes of many things. I don't care. It has always been the same everyday. It became their hobby, it's part of their routine. It's grown on them.

"What are you doing?" someone asked, I didn't look up and bother who it is.

"Oh, Natsume, it's you! Come on, join us!" he sounds much enjoyed of what he was doing.

I kept my head down, my auburn bangs covering my hazel eyes. I felt nothing.
"Join you?" the boy, Natsume, cleared out.

"Of—" he didn't finish his sentence, then I heard a loud thumping on the floor.

Shouts, yells, and curses were thrown into the air. I don't know what happened.

"What? Anyone wants a punch, too?" he announced, raging.

Silence.

Someone grabbed my wrist and forced me to stand up.

"Come on. Let's get out of here." His voice was full of worry, and sympathy.

I jerked my head up and saw the familiar pair of crimson eyes that I saw the other day. I didn't say a word, but I let him guide the way.

He stopped once we were far enough and let go of me. He scrutinized me for a moment.

"What are you doing back there?" he asked, concentrating hard on something.

"Nothing," I answered very quietly.

He narrowed his eyes at me. "Exactly."

Even if I did do anything against them, nothing would change. My reputation is bad enough as it is.

"There's no point in doing anything," I replied bleakly as I brush my palm against my arms.

"You. What are you doing?" I glared at him hard.

"Helping some poor girl," he stated sarcastically.

"Funny," I bluntly said then added, "If that is what it is then stop it. Forget that we even met. I don't need you to help me. You don't even know me," the last part was a mutter. I dug into my fingernails to restrain myself.

"You do need me and I do know you," he snapped at me.

I rolled my eyes then shook my head.

"If you know me, you would stay away from me. Do you know the talk of the town for lots of years now about me?" I gave out an incredulous sound then continued, "A murderer. I am a murderer!"

He stayed composed and seems to be not taken aback by everything I just confessed about me. "You're not. Anyone who'll believe that rumour is utterly stupid."

"That's the point. All of them are seriously stupid to the point that they believed I killed the only family I have left."

You're not.

He said I'm not. "How do you know I'm not?"

My heartbeat raced as I waited patiently for his answer.

His lips curved and formed coherent words. "Because I was the one who blew up your place."

My world stopped spinning and everything fell where they didn't belong. I breathe deep, hard breaths, trying to calm myself down. My throat and mouth felt arid until my vision become blurry and drips of hot tears flooded my face.

I looked at him as what he said played in my mind like a loop waiting to be torn apart.

[End of Chapter 4]

Yep, it's short. Reviews will be gladly appreciated. (;

Till next chapter.

Ask and guess.