Natsume had fallen asleep during his watch on the offices, in the tall oak by the. His head was resting in his hand and his elbow was propped up on a convenient branch and drool was already staining his sleeve. This had never happened before

but on the other hand he had also never been so exhausted.

First, there was yesterdays' draining extensive fight with bear-kun. This had caught him at a time he was already exhausted from a down swing of his Alice's power. Second, he had planned on sneaking to the hospital later that day not parading there with the half of the class and an unconscious Mikan hanging off Imai's floating stretcher. Instead of getting his own treatment he had watched over Mikan in her sleep, anxiety and pride prevented him from leaving her bedside before the others. Mikan was such a baka. Only she would be foolish enough, innocent enough, and forgiving enough to save a teacher even though he was so obviously bait. Bait for her to become a tool, without freedom, without choice, to be become exactly like him. It was these thoughts that had kept him restless at Mikan's bedside.

Even later in the dormitory he couldn't sleep; he had been in the dorm bedroom too little in the past few weeks to be comfortable enough to just rest. He felt the eyes on his back now more than ever. There were traces of surveillance around every corner: the teachers, Moral police officials, that lecherous Luna, and that tiny and most dangerous principal.

So here Natsume lay, for the first time in a long time exhausted, defenseless, and completely dead to the world. He stayed that way for two hours.

"He looks terrible" said a whisper. Natsume woke with a start, his hand immediately following reflex and caught a slender wrist. An alarmed yell escaped his capture. "Whoa! It's just me, da-! Oh-um… Natsume-sama?" said the surprised little girl. "What do you mean: it's just me? Do I know you?" he snapped, somewhat drowsily. As he waited for an answer his eyes cleared and he really saw her for the first time. She could only be a year younger than him with a petit frame, dark hair, and shape of face that reminded him of his little sister except for a pair of innocent oddly familiar brown eyes. Only her shirt was part of the school uniform. She was sitting next to him, denim clad legs wrapped tightly around the branch for balance and the hand he had no caught was wrapped into a fist.

She licked her lips, her eyes adopting a very familiar look of anxiety.

"I guess you don't know me. I just happen to know a little about you."

One of Natsume's eyebrows jumped up in a silent question. "like what?"

"Well, you have a special fire alice wich has recently been draining your energy.

You haven't told anyone, not even Luca-pyon, because you don't want mo- er- Mikan to worry.

Natsume was about to protest; say that his reasons had

nothing to do with Mikan but the little girl plowed on.

She's currently in the hospital recovering from stealing a DEATH and Luca-pyon are worried

but Luca doesn't know the full story like you do. Which means that you worry more."

"I could care less about that brat!" he snapped. Regreting saying it as soon as he did.

the girl looked shocked. "Then why? WHY DID YOU KISS HER?"

Natsume froze. the girl continued.

"You kissed her on christmas, right? And you tried to save her from Persona. Than there

was that borrowing race. If you don't care, then what was that about?"

Natsume just stared at the girl in shock. She suddenly realized how bad she just sounded and blushed.

"Not that I'm a stalker or anything! I've just seen your files"

Natsume's eyes were narrowed in suspicion. "Which file told you all that?"

The brown eyes now held a panicky look.

"Oh! Er… which file? Ehhh… th-the school record!" she blurted nervously.

"I knew it!" Natsume spat. He twisted her small wrist until it was being forcefully

pulled upward behind her back. "Who sent you? What were you trying to do to me?"

She winced in pain. "N-nothing! Not a thing! I was only trying to help!"

"You weren't doing anything or you were trying to help? Which is it?"

"I , I mean we were worried! Oh! And we mean me

and my sister, who is older, and my brother, who is my-"

Suddenly a bright light blinded them from the base of the tree. When Natsume looked down the ball of light started to come straight toward them.

"N-no!" she screamed. She immediately slammed her free hand, which was still a fist, over his eyes just before the oak tree's branch was completely consumed by white hot flames.