Author's Notes

Hi everyone! Please read and review!

My cousin asked me to write this story since she knew that I'm a regular here in continue my stories for my readers, and if ever I don't get enough reviews, I, more likely, would stop or worse, delete the story.

Please bear with me… And I promise you, I don't suck too much. Thank you.

Read and review everyone.

Prologue

"Here Mikan."

"Wow! Is this for me?"

"Yeah, isn't it obvious?"

The girl opened the envelope that was just given to her. "Oh, Hotaru! Your big brother's gonna have a formal party because he graduated with quite high grades!"

"It says so in the invitation, right? Almost everyone is invited." the girl with short hair nonchalantly replied.

"But it didn't say anything when it will be held."

"I think it's 6 months from now."

"WHAT? Isn't the invitation too early?" The girl with auburn hair exclaimed.

"Why? You got any problem with that?"

"Of course not. Hehe…"

First Chapter

Fraternal Flame

"It's that dream again." I whispered to my self. I just woke up in the middle of the night again. Palatably, this isn't the first time. But don't get me wrong, it's not a nightmare or anything; but mind you, it's really weird. Are my dreams trying to tell me something?

…Of course not.

How pathetic of me to think something like that? I'm not a ten year old anymore. I just had my eighteenth birthday last month. How could I neglect? Someone close to me escorted me in my debut. Ok, no time to talk about it. I still have classes tomorrow, ehem, I mean, later. I need more rest.

I rested my head on my pillow once more; and hopefully, I get a more pellucid dream this time.

'Rrriiinnnggg!' My alarm clock goes on. Ok, time to wake up! … Haah… Why is it so arduous to wake up every morning! Darn it! If only my dreams wouldn't bother me in the middle of the night then I wouldn't be experiencing exasperating torments every sunrise!

Oh well… Can't blame it all on my dreams, can I? I endeavored to pull my self upwards as if I'm a fat woman. No, I am not fat. I sat on my bed, trying to regain interest in going to class.

"Haah…" I sighed as I rub my eyes with my hands. That dream again. That dreaded dream again. If only they befall clear then I wouldn't be too negative on them. I don't dislike my dreams, but I don't like them either.

I go to my bathroom to take my morning bath. Oh, in case you're wondering, I tarry at my dormitory. The name is Mikan Sakura and I'm a double star Alice Academy student. I have auburn long hair and I don't tie them in pigtails anymore. I have mocha brown eyes, nothing special, but I like it the way it is.

(A/N: It's my fic so I say Mikan has two stars by now.)

I turn the knob and begin my shower. It's funny, really. Why do flames perpetually appear in my dreams? Like I said, it's not a nightmare. Why? Because I feel something different about it; it's as if I want to keep the flames. And there are times that I don't want to wake up just yet; I wanted to continue the dream so I'd find something out. I never really knew why.

I once told this to my best friend Hotaru. She said I should just forget it and dreams don't connote anything. Well… After that, I never mentioned it again to her since I, myself, wanted to forget it also… but sometimes, I don't- I liked to find what's the meaning of it all and why do I dream about it.

Well… There's only one reason to my avail… But I guess… It's not about him, is it?

"Good morning Hotaru!" I cheerfully greeted my best friend when I sauntered in the classroom.

"Morning…" She faintly replied. Hotaru Imai has purplish black hair that goes just below her chin and she also has amethyst purple eyes.

"Good morning Mikan!" a male voice greeted me once I sat on my seat. "You're not late today, huh? That's nice." He smiled and added, "Seems like your dreams didn't bother you last night."

"Well I…" Oh yeah, they did bother me but I'm sort of used to it I guess.

Then Hotaru said, "Don't push it Ruka." She began, "We all know dreams are needless."

"Hotaru…" he responded with a down tone.

Ok, the guy behind me is Ruka. He is blonde and has blue eyes. I can't assume if we're going out or something like that, but we're definitely close friends- along with Hotaru of course.

Stop it, Ruka's not gay nor overflowing with feminine side. He and his best friend have been our friends since we were ten. That's why Ruka's close to girls like us. And about his best friend? Well… A few say he passed away. But we don't deem so. We reckon that he's still alive… Although we haven't seen him for ages… And there's nothing much we could do about it…

And so… It was another lesson with Mister Narumi…

Before we knew it, the sun has inaugurated to set and our classes have ended hours ago. Here we are, the three of us are walking towards my dormitory since Hotaru's and Ruka's dorm rooms are farther.

"Well… Goodbye now! See you guys tomorrow!" I cheerfully said when we arrived at the bottom of the building of where my dorm room is located.

"Mm… Maybe I'll go up and see you off at your bedroom door." Ruka told me with his gentle tone. He is so nice. I like that about him.

Hotaru commenced walking off after that then she said to us, "I guess I'll leave you two love birds now. I'm going to my dorm."

"WHAT?" Ruka and I chorused. C'mon Hotaru, that's so embarrassing! Ruka and I aren't like that! Oh please! C'mon!

She smirked after seeing our expressions. It's as if she expected that we'd react like that. "Oh by the way Mikan, I hope you didn't forget, my brother's party is tomorrow."

After hearing what she said, I cooled down. "Oh! Don't worry about it! I'm ready for it!"

"That's good." She replied in her wonted emotionless voice. After that, she walked off.

Ok, here I am, alone with Ruka. He insisted on seeing me off outside my bedroom door. I don't get it. Did he think that something would happen to me when I wend up the stairs alone? C'mon, I'm not as clumsy as I were way back when I was ten.

It's been a silent maladroit long walk up the stairs. My room is on the seventh floor. "Finally!" I broke the silence when we reached the certain floor. "Well… Thanks Ruka." I told him when we reached room 704.

"It's nothing." He slightly replied. Hmm? I think there's something unusual in his tone.

"Ohh-key!" I slowly responded. "See you tomorrow Ruka!" I cheerfully added so that I could escape this awkward moment.

"Say Mikan…" he began as he looks down to the ground.

"Yeah?" I answered as I hold my door.

"I…w-was just w-wondering…" he was startling. I've never seen Ruka this nervous before. "W-well I w-was just…" He tried to continue as he plays with his fingers while still looking down. "Remember what Hotaru just said a w-while ago?"

"Y-yeah?" Now I'm also startling.

"W-well… Do you think w-we're… that w-we're like that?"

Huh? Ruka? What are you saying? "Like what?"

"Oh never mind." He said then he incrusted me with his deep blue eyes. "See you tomorrow."

"R-right… See you tomorrow!"

"Now what was that?" I whispery asked to myself as I close my door behind me.

Someone Else's POV

I took my maroon necktie that hangs at my closet door. I put it around my neck and tied it properly. Heck, I really don't like wearing suits like these. Though a lot say I look good in it. But do I really care about it? I never substantively cared that much… or did I?

Nevertheless, I have to impair formal coats on certain occasions anyways. There's nothing much I could do about it… unless I don't go. But what the heck, I look good anyways, then there's no problem, right?

"Haah…" I sighed in front of the mirror as I view my reflection. Eight years have passed and I still appear like ten. No, not really. My face had matured of course, but nothing more, I still look like me. So maybe…

She'll recognize me tonight.

Mikan's POV

"Hey, you look dashing tonight." Senpai complimented me. I'm just wearing a gray simple spaghetti strapped cocktail dress that goes to my knees. My hair is laid down and the indigenous curls at the ends of my hair do the styling.

"You too, Tsubasa senpai." I told him. Ok, senpai isn't his surname. He's older than me and he's in the upper level that's why I call him senpai. What he's wearing is common- just the usual black coat and tie. He looks good in it even if he's still wearing that gray bonnet. His tattoo that is shaped like a star near his left eye annexes a cooler contrive in his get up. Senpai is so cool and I'm so lucky I met him eight years ago.

He chuckled a bit and said, "C'mon, let's go to Imai's place."

"Let's go!" I exclaimed then we entered Tsubasa's car. He did the driving of course. There were three of us in the vehicle. The other woman is Misaki, she's the one with the Doppelganger Alice.

'Our song plays on… Our song plays on… Our song plays on…' goes the CD Player. Hmm… I think I like this song.

"It's not summer yet, Tsubasa." Misaki uttered.

"So? Does it have to be summer?" Tsubasa replied. I'm unsure what they're pontificating about.

"Well no…" Misaki slightly responded.

"Then there's no problem playing 'First of Summer'." Tsubasa replied. Oh ok, so that's what they're talking about. It's about the song. Geez, Misaki and Tsubasa argue about the paltriest things.

Pretty soon, we're in the party. The place is dim. There are diminutive lights, like Yuletide lights, that surrounded the beautiful garden. The tables and chairs are covered in red cloth. The people are in formal attire. Hmm… I wonder where Hotaru is.

"Over here." Misaki said and she preceded me to one of the round tables. The three of us settled ourselves. Soon, the other batch mates of Tsubasa and Misaki joined us and there are six of us now.

Before we knew it, the whole program thing is over. There's dancing in the front and chatting all over the place. The dinner is done and I sorta ate a lot. The awarding thing is rendered too… even the 'Thanking' part of Hotaru's big brother is over. And during those moments, I didn't get to perceive my friends. I've never seen Hotaru yet, even Ruka nor cat-dog girl Tsumire. Where are they? I spent most of the night here with the older kids. Don't get me wrong; of course I relish their company; we're all in the 'Special Ability' class after all.

I'm trying to make a beneficial conversation with the two guys here in front of me. Tsubasa, Misaki and the other one are out there somewhere. I'm left here with these two bozos who doesn't appear to mind my demeanor. What a drag…

It's getting boring, honestly. I don't have anything else to do. But there's this red candle in the center of the table. I wanna light it. But I can't… Hehe… I don't have a lighter… or a Fire Alice.

"Hi…" Somebody greeted abaft me. Wow finally, socialization is in! I turned around to see none other than one of my closest blonde friends. He dwelled beside me.

Before I could speak, the candle captivated my attention- it suddenly lighted. My brown eyes wandered at the new flame. Question marks are popping in my head and it seized all my attention. As my eyes gaze at its direction, a shadowy figure behind it came walking towards me.

I gaped up to see who it is. Then in a matter of seconds, I came to see a pair of red garnet eyes. It's so familiar.

Somebody Else's POV (Same as a while ago)

I lighted the candle since she looks interested in it. It's very easy for me to engender fire out of nothing. I'm fixed on her eyes that are standing out due to the flame of the candle. I tramped towards her. It feels different now that I procure to meet her again.

She gazed at me and confusion was painted on her face. I don't discern how to explain her expression, but it's not something bad I suppose. I didn't smile at her. I rarely simper in front of her face. It's not my habit.

I just stand here, our eyes did the 'hi' and 'hello, nice to see you again.' Though I'm fallible if that's really the conversation between the unsaid words. I noticed the man beside her. He was looking at her like he cares for her. It appears that he does. I'm precise that he's delighted to see me again but with the looks of what he sees now, I'm not reliable about that. Is he jealous? Is there something to be jealous about? …He's my friend… my best friend.

"Hey Ruka." I said, ignoring the girl. I sat at the empty chair beside her.

Mikan's POV

"Where were you these past two years?" Ruka asked him. He left without telling us when we were sixteen. I can enumerate that they're glad to see each other again. But the both of them aren't grinning.

"Sorry, I didn't tell you. I couldn't." Natsume answered. I'm relieved seeing him here and finally sure that he's alive. We almost believed that he passed away because he wasn't making contact with us.

"Can't you go back to the Academy?" He asked again. Hey! Why am I not in the picture?

"Natsume, I'm so happy your back!" I could almost cry after saying that. He looked at me with his garnet eyes but still, no sign of a smirk in his lips.

"I won't be here for long." He told me. He's gonna leave again? What's going on here? He turned to Ruka again. "I don't have to go back there. I don't need the Academy anymore."

"How can you say that?" I snapped at him. "All of your friends are there!"

It's good to see him again but I still haven't forgiven him for what happened between us two years ago. We were sixteen and so young. Then he left us. He left me. He left me just when I thought we were…

That we were something… something more.

I need to ask him. I need to know… I need to know before he leaves me again…

Author's Notes: Full of drama, BAH! More chapters to come (if ever I get enough reviews that is…). Please tell me if I'm at the right stir… so I would continue this. Reviews onegai.