hello there. how are you?...uh-huh. really...well, too bad nobody cares! haha. no, i'm sorry. that was rude and uncalled for. really, sorry. anyway, i found this old story i had forgotten about while i was cleaning up after the avalanche in my closet and decided to fix it up a bit and post it. its a little wierd and probably confusing and not all that great, but i enjoyed writing it up. so, enjoy then tell me all about what you thought of it. (ahem, coughreviewcough)

Disclaimer: no, I do not, in any way, own Gakuen Alice, and I never will. Which is why I decided to write this fanfic…to help me get over the depression.

Unlikely Friends

Prologue

Natsume Hyuuga sat under his usual sakura tree reading when someone approached him. He lifted his head, and was surprised to see who stood before him. It was Hotaru Imai; Mikan Sakura's best friend.

"What do you want?" the only reason Hotaru would go out of her way to talk to Natsume either had something to do with money or Mikan.

"I wanted to talk to you," she replied in an overly bland and obvious tone and sat down beside Natsume.

Natsume closed the manga he'd been reading. "…about what?" he asked in a similar tone.

"You…like Mikan, right?" Hotaru turned to Natsume, a serious look in her eyes. Natsume stayed silent. It was a Mikan topic after all. "I'll take that as a yes," Hotaru turned and stared off into the distance.

The two teens remained silent for a while. A mutual understanding filled the air around them. The silence was a comfortable one.

What Hotaru said next, no one could have expected, "Lets be friends."

"…huh?" Natsume was dumbfounded, hearing such impossible words come out of Hotaru's mouth.

"I said 'lets be friends,' baka," she glared, "Don't make me repeat myself."

"You…what's your motive?"

"My, you catch on quickly," she said in a flat, sarcastic tone, "I'll tell you later. That is, if you agree to become my friend."

"Sure, whatever," Natsume felt he was probably involving himself in something awful.

Hotaru got up and dusted off the back of her skirt, "Great. Come by my room after dinner. I'll explain myself then." With that, she walked off.

'"What is that girl thinking?" Natsume wondered aloud, and then went back to reading his manga.

Later that day, Natsume arrived at Hotaru's door. He knocked, and the door swung open not long after. "Hurry up and come in before someone sees you," Hotaru said in a stoic tone. Natsume stepped into the room.

"So… why be my friend?" Natsume asked as he sat on the edge of Hotaru's bed.

"Because Mikan is an idiot," Hotaru said and sat herself beside Natsume, "and I needed someone with the right requirements."

"Requirements?" what Hotaru had said so far had yet to make any sense to Natsume.

"Someone with at least a little brain, a mind not to go around spilling secrets, and not annoyingly hyper- namely, someone who's personality is nothing like Mikan's in any way," Hotaru explained, "Out of the people in our class, you were the most qualified. There were also some other factors that work into the equation that definitely help, but I don't feel like I need to mention at this time."

"Ok…so, why do you need someone like me?" Natsume asked.

"Because ever since Mikan and Ruka started dating, I've found myself in a situation where I am in need of a trustworthy partner."

"Partner? What for?" it almost sounded like she wanted to commit a horrible crime or something.

Hotaru took a deep breath and began to explain.

Time passed and Hotaru finally finished. "I see. That's some plan you've got there. So I guess it really does need to be me, huh?"

Hotaru nodded, "Yes." They both sat there for a while in silence.

"You like Ruka, don't you?" Natsume asked. Hotaru stayed silent.

"That's a yes, then," Natsume sighed, "Ok, I'll help you. Its not like I can say no, right?" he patted the expressionless girl on the head.

She swapped his hand away and pulled out her bakagun, "Watch it. I'm willing to be tolerant, but not that tolerant."

"Right," Natsume got up and walked to the door, "See you tomorrow then."

"Ah, wait," Hotaru called. Natsume turned his head toward her slightly to show he was listening, "Thank you."

"Yea, you, too," he waved, "Though I don't really see the need for a thank you. Bye."

Even if it was only for the sake of the plan Hotaru had cooked up, it seemed as though a pair of seemingly unlikely friends had been born.

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well? wacha think? lemme know. and also, if you thought of something or whant me to put something into the story, let me know, cuz i'm open to ideas. i'll try my best to fit anything into the story that works with where i'm taking it. so, if you read this and something is just screeaming for you to comment on and you think 'thats where the story should go', let me , i think i'm done now. please dont forget to review. please. anything is fine.