This whole report/essay is to be submitted (especially dedicated) to chainedheart999! XD Surprise!? Sorry for lying back there. I hope you'd like it.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Gakuen Alice. Story inspired after the song, Love in the Ice by DBSK.

Love in the Ice

By pseudonym08

It's not your fault those hands are freezing

Born from those childish days, you carry the scars

- DBSK/THSK/TVXQ, Love in the Ice

Page 01: The Introduction

Mikan Sakura

Ever since the day she was born, Mikan had always felt rejected.

By her subjects. By her friends. By her family.

For them, she was a complete disgrace, a failure—incompetent to run a throne. Then again, they were not to blame. After all, back in those days, most of the high ranks in society were run by men. There was no room for women in the business field, or in any of the fields for that matter, especially in politics. So when the highest rank of them all—the heir to the throne—was discovered to be for a princess, everyone began to question what would happen next.

They had doubted her capabilities and now in royalty itself.

Does she have what it takes to lead all of us? What can she do?

All of them, her father most especially, had expected a son. And so, when it was her that came out of her mother's womb, before she then died, the entire kingdom had mourned not just for the loss of their queen, but also for the loss of their future. Her coming was a complete abomination. Sure thing, they would still celebrate her birthdays. But, she'd always feel that they were only forced to do so.

Never had she felt that she was wanted. Especially since the time her stepmother came.

Then again, this whole story is nothing like the typical Cinderella one. She was well taken care of by her stepmom. In fact, if there was one person who treated her better than anyone else—it would be no other than her. After all, she was Queen Yuka's best friend. And every time they'd be alone together, she would always find time to tell Mikan stories about her late mother and how extremely similar they were in things other than the face.

But those were the only times when Mikan felt that she was not alone. Other than that, when her auntie would be out taking care of her newborn son or any other kingdom-related affairs, there was entirely no one to talk to. Despite being a princess, she was treated like she was nobody. Her presence was nonexistent.

Nevertheless, having that same carefree and kindhearted nature she inherited from her mother, innocent and pure Mikan Sakura never failed to smile at each and every one of them—all those people she met as she randomly passed by them. Even after receiving none other than a frown, or a look of indifference, in return. She would always try to look at the bright side of all those ill treatment they were giving. There would always be an end to this. She would say. But sometimes, it just felt… so hard.

As a princess, she learned to hide her true feelings from others. As a princess, she was ready to accept everything.

AS. A. PRINCESS.

But, as Mikan Sakura? No one really knows. After all, nobody even dared to know.

Not even her own father.

"What is it with you child that you do not know how to follow simple instructions?" her father, the king, would say, disappointment once again evident in his voice. They were both at his court that time, for the third time of the week, with the other servants walking to and fro inside. Nevertheless, the king didn't seem to mind embarrassing his daughter in front of every one of them. As always.

Upon hearing this tone, Mikan Sakura would only bow her head low. Her gaze directed towards the ground. Occasionally, she would clutch her skirt from sheer nervousness and hurt.

"I'm sorry, I-" she tried to meet his gaze. But upon having contact, she would cringe and look away, "I just thought that maybe it would be good if I could have a good view outside once in a while. I promised Sir Narumi that I would be back immediately." She fiddled with her fingers.

"So you're trying to say that the views inside the palace are no longer enough for you?" answered he, "Didn't I tell you how dangerous it is for you to be outside?"

"No! I mean, yes!" she bit her lip. That came out louder than she'd hope for, "But well, since you and auntie would go out frequently with Yuu-kun, I thought-"

"Thought?" the king scoffed, "But that's the problem, Mikan! You don't know anything. And how can you expect to learn anything from the outside when you don't even get and can't even follow my simple instructions inside the palace? I can't even trust you with these things and-"

"I'm sorry," she cut him off midway, trying to control her hands from forming into fists... and those tears from falling down her cheeks. He had said enough. And she can no longer handle anything more, "I'm sorry. It won't happen again." She smiled weakly.

Her father sighed. When she gazed up at him, the stare she saw was still in that same cold and unemotional manner; different from the warm one she would see every time he would look at his new wife and his son. "Go to your room and focus on your studies. I will be checking on your progress from Sir Narumi soon. And until then, you are not to leave. Do not disappoint me again," And his tone still hasn't changed even until now.

"Yes, Your Highness," she replied softly and bowed low. As she looked at her father once more, she tried to sustain the smile. Then, she turned meekly with her heels and walked away. From her periphery, she could see those servants whispering amongst themselves whenever they thought she wasn't looking. And the moment she closed the door to his court, she dropped the smile and ran full speed to her room before slamming the door shut.

She didn't care anymore what they would think. For the last fifteen years, all that she had thought of was what they would think. She gave her best in living up to their expectations. But whatever she would do, it was still not enough.

Her back pressed on the door. He will never understand! I will never understand any of them! She fell down on the floor and hugged her knees as she cried the entire afternoon.

.

Natsume Hyuuga

A man with jet black hair and crimson eyes sighed as he sat on the stone cold pavement and wiped his sweat with the towel he had.

If it weren't for his rugged clothes and too messy hair, there was no doubt that he would be able to catch the attention of the females nearby. But then, he was too busy with his work that he hadn't had the time to check his appearance, not even remotely interested with the words 'looking good'.

Though, he still looked undeniably good even without doing such tidying. Then again, that was if one would only give him a chance and look more closely—which most girls won't do. Just one glance at his unkempt figure was already enough to shoo them away anyway. After all, in this kind of society, looks always go with what you wear and of who you are. These three things are inseparable. And with his state, in his case, the females have much better things to do and more better men to admire than him.

Not that it all mattered. Whichever the case or whatever society this was, flirting with females was always the last one on his list, unlike most of the men in town. He had never thought of anything else besides work. But of course, no one can blame him. As young as he was when he was still seven, Natsume Hyuuga was already forced to carry the burden of earning a living—ever since his parents died.

No one wanted to adopt him back in those days. With child labor, seven year olds were already old enough to work and sustain themselves. And when he had found a decent place by the pier, along with the other kids like him, he was pretty much settled already. He had found a job with a mining company, forced to carry cargoes and other things with only seven pieces of gold coins a day.

Then again, knowing that this is Natsume Hyuuga—the unexpected hero of this unexpected documented story—he had somehow managed to survive through the bitter years. He had saved enough to buy himself a good place, and being accustomed to hard labor, was able to improve it on his own. Now, he was working under a shipment corporation, and was doing well with more than twenty pieces of gold and five silvers a day.

"Hyuuga, you should get back to work before the old man sees you again," one of his co-workers said, nudging him by the arm. Immediately, he slung the towel on his shoulder and stood up, following the man inside to get more stuffs.

But you know, even with this situation, not once had Natsume Hyuuga complained with his life. He was the emotionless, silent kind of guy. He only speaks when necessary. And more than anything else, he was a simple hard worker, doing his best to serve and protect the people close to him, and even those others who were not.

He would just do his job—as simple as that. Then, by the end of the day, would stop by the chain of cafeterias along the way to buy some food. Even before the sun had fully left the sky, he was already back in his home, sitting by the fireplace and eating his dinner.

Wait! That was supposedly the usual case. But then, this day was one of those very few ones with an exception. Natsume Hyuuga… had returned home quite late. There were a lot more things to do back at the office. Most of the captains had decided to set sail before the expected storm arrives the next month. Thus, more ships were needed to be loaded than the usual.

And when he had indeed finally reached his place, after deciding to eat outside, he wearily ran a hand through his wet hair. Then, he took off his dirty and wet white shirt before hanging it at the back of a chair to dry itself. The rain had already been going on and off these past few days and unfortunately, it had caught up with him while he was walking back home.

He sighed. Well, not that it would make much of a difference.

He was about to go to bed and sleep. It has been a tiring day after all. He needed as much rest as he can for another tiring one the next. However, when he was about to do just that, a loud knock was suddenly heard across the room. Sighing for the second time, he turned around, put his shirt back on and headed for the door. When he opened it, hazel eyes beneath a brown hood stared pleadingly at him.

"Please," the woman began, "it was raining hard and I had nowhere else to go. I asked a couple of people back then, but no one seemed to want me inside." Those last few words were said rather softly. But Natsume understood. He opened the door a little wider for her to come in. "Thank you," he heard as she walked past him. Then, he closed the door.

The moment the woman stepped inside, she had done nothing else than observe and look at every nook and cranny she could possibly find inside the house. She still hasn't removed her cloak, nor even drop down the hood. The hem of her dress was even dirtied by the mud. Natsume placed his hands inside his pockets, taking the time to observe the stranger he just allowed to come in. Her hazel eyes would occasionally widen, he noticed, and her naturally red lips slightly parted. He raised his brow, not quite understanding the point of excitement at seeing such an extremely ordinary house. Then again…

She had probably felt his heavy gaze on her that she stopped her own scrutiny to look at the man before her. And as the same story goes—her hazel eyes clashed with crimson ones.

"Oh I'm sorry, sir, if I have in any way so rudely interrupted your peace," she clutched her skirt and fought the urge to fiddle with her fingers, "By tomorrow, the moment the rain would stop, I promise that I'd no longer bother you and would then be on my way. I just needed a place to stay for the night."

She tore her eyes away from his, and found amusement at observing the little insects trying to get too close at the burning lamp. The silence persisted. When she thought that he had already ignored her and was back at doing whatever business he was at before she came, "Why are you running away-"

Those words took her by surprise. She was forced to look back straight at him. "I had no idea of what you are talking about, kind sir-"

"-Princess?"

So, reviews?