A/N-
Hey-lo everyone! This is my first fan fiction ever! :D

I finally started and with none other than Natsume and Mikan! I love them to pieces!

So, this is an introductory chapter and it might seem slow. Well, it is a little slow but I need to set the story before building it, right?
I thought of the entire plot but I am not sure if I can write it well or not! Please help me! Review it and let me know how you feel about this and/or if I need to improve on something!

Without any further ado, lets start!

Chapter 1: She is here

The atmosphere in class 3-A was different today. Little would be an understatement for the excitement radiated by each and every soul sitting inside that room. Even though Misaki sensei was trying to catch the class' attention, he knew it was futile. The unuttered cries of happiness and relief had rendered the children incapable of anything save waiting for Narumi sensei's class. But because he had to, he taught. It was a testament of their happiness that even Yuu was not making notes. He sighed. There was nothing that could be done. After all, she was coming back.

The gossip duo, Anna and Nonoko were too busy talking to notice the building excitement. Koko, Sumire and Yuu counted the minutes left for the next class. Hotaru, contrary to working on another invention, sat absolutely still as if holding her breath. And Ruka, well, all he could think of was about the reactions of his long time best friend, Hyuga Natsume.

The said boy did not know how to react. It was as if time was moving too fast and too slow at the same time. The teacher's babble was a distant voice as he was transported to his own wonderland. Should he be happy? Should he be worried? Relieved? WHAT! All the emotions pent up inside him throughout the two years were anxious to find a release. He could barely control himself and sitting at one spot wasn't helping either. He didn't really care if the teacher, who had now given up teachings for the day, would be offended but was unsure what he would do once he could go out. So he stayed put. He tried to channel his thoughts somewhere else. Somewhere other than Mikan Sakura.

"Natsume!" His frenzy was broken by Ruka. He looked up and found the classroom lit with tiny fires all around. He snapped his hand away, shocked. He thought he had controlled these impulsive-anger filled outbursts but he was wrong.

Funny what just a name could do to a person, don't you think?
How wrong you are! This wasn't just a name to him or to anyone else in the room. This name brought smiles on their faces, warmth in their hearts and a yearning to look at her again. This name belonged to a bundle of joy who had managed to shine every nook and corner of this school named Alice Academy.

Welcome to Alice Academy. This is a special school for special people. People with Alice. For an observer, an Alice would just be the ability to perform one magic trick over and over. For the person, it was an ordeal. Or in the beginning at least. Taken away from their parents, never to be reunited, the children are brought to this boarding institution as young as a year old. And then that would be it. They would stay inside this city mirroring establishment and learn to use, control and hone their talent along with their studies till they complete their high school. But it wasn't all that bad. They had comfortable rooms (if their marks were comfortable for the authorities), ample allowances, spacious classrooms, warm and kind teacher and above all, friends. Because, you can't live with the same people for more than a decade and not be friends!

The Academy had been working since time immemorial but never had the words 'surprise' spoken by a teacher stirred such delight and excitement among the student. The ringing bell had never sounded so melodious to them. Misaki sensei collected his books and left, positive the homework would be pointless at that point.

"Will it be her?" Cat girl Sumire asked.

"I hope it is her. I hope it is her! She is finally coming back!" Anna and Nonoko clapped their hands together.

"But can we be sure it is her? I mean we could have easily misunderstood sensei." Yuu asked innocently not realizing that a certain raven haired boy was glaring at him for even considering this possibility.

"It has to be her. How many of our classmates have left us till now? Four. Tomoyo and Rika had lost their Alices and were bound to leave. Megumi is no more among us because of her life shortening Alice. That leaves only her!" Imai Hotaru commented calmly but no one could mistake the underlying warnings of a challenge.

Ruka peeked at his friend again. Rooted to his position, Natsume was struggling inside, he could tell. He saw his balled up fists, his questioning eyes and felt his darkening aura. He wanted to comfort him but knew better than that. Nothing had been able to put him at ease in the last two years and nothing would, especially now.

It was Narumi's horrible luck that he chose today of all days to be late to his class. He stood in the hallway listening to this chatter. "How much you affect every still, my little Mikan. How much you changed them in just a year." He thought and smiled. His entrance silenced the class. He could tell they were restless and it wasn't for the class' commencement. He made his way towards the teacher's podium and greeted them in his brightest voice.

"Good morning everyone!"

Silence.
Not one student greeted him. Yuu had the urge to reply but Hotaru stopped him before he could make a sound. Jino sensei would have been offended by this behavior and punished the entire class but Narumi was no Jino. He smiled again.

"So, what shall we do today?" he asked, winking at every one.

"Just end this act already Narumi! What do you think we should do today? We have been waiting since yesterday for you to tell us exactly who is coming back. No more games Narumi. Tell us when she is coming back." Natsume thundered.

"You're asking a 'when' and not a 'who' Natsume. Are you so sure you know who is coming back?" The smile never left Narumi's face irritating the Black Cat.

"Yes. Because you said she will be joining us shortly and there is no one else except her who can come back. So, just answer fire boy and tell us when is she coming back?" The Ice Queen replied.

"She entered Alice Academy premises about an hour ago."

No sounds were made. No murmurings, whispers, gasps or anything. Everybody sat fixed to their seats waiting for their teacher to continue.

"And she is standing right behind those doors." Narumi pointed towards the class doors.

Nobody was sure how to react but there was one person who immediately stood up and breathed that one name which he hadn't allowed to escape from his lips.

"…Mikan"

A/N- This is the first chapter. PLEASE DON'T KILL ME! There'll be more of story and less of the feelings the next time I write, I promise!
Please review!

-Kontan