Chapter 1: The Beginning Of High School: Natsume's POV-
It's been years since the elementary school principle tried to get Mikan. Yuka, her mother, took her away from the academy along with Naru. And with Narumi not around to stop Persona, he took me below the middle school where he held Aoi, and kept me there as a punishment for helping Mikan. He told me this was for the best, the basement of the Hii shrine forbid people from using their alice, so I wouldn't get hurt anymore because of my alice. He also told me it was to stop me from going on missions and such. He let Ruka visit me, and Imai, who chose to stay in the academy would go with him. Through the years they developed a relationship with each other, and asked me if I ever regretted not tell Mikan I loved her as soon as I found out. I never answered them, I didn't really talk to them at all in fact, I would just sit on the bed provided for me reading my manga and go "hm" or "hn" every once in a while. But deep inside I really did regret it, I wanted to see her again, and as soon as Persona let me out of here I would break out and find her. I was in high school now, I haven't actually attended class, but it didn't matter for me, I was of course Natsume Hyuuga, a special star in the dangerous abilities class. The school year just started and I was lying down on an old rusty bed in the basement. That's when Persona came into view.
"Natsume, it's your first day of high school, and I am letting you free" he said and opened the gate of the cell I was in. I sat up and glared at him. Why would he set me free now? "The elementary school principle can't use you any longer for missions, and also, the people in your elementary class are all in the same class now, I figured you would like it that way" he said and I stood up and shoved my hands in my pocket.
"How do you know I won't just break out?" I asked and he handed me a uniform.
"I don't" he said and turned around. "Go to your old room, everyone took their old rooms back, you can get ready in there, you might not want to break out right a way, stay a little while" he said and with that he was gone. It was still very early so no one was up as I walked to the dorms. When I got to the dorms I went to my room and looked around. It was the same as I remembered it. I looked over the uniform. They had long plaid tan pants, and a black jacket with tan trim, a green tie, and a white button up collar shirt underneath. They also had black shoes to match. I took the tie and threw it away then jumped in the shower. At first I just stood there and let the water glide over me. Did I even want to return to school? It was bothersome in elementary school, maybe it would be different. When I finished washing, I put the pants on and the white shirt, but I didn't button it all the way, I left three buttons at the top undone exposing my collar bone and a bit of my chest. While in the cell I stayed fit, so I was still strong and had a well toned body. My hair was still raven black in it's usual messy style that I had in elementary school, and my eyes still a crimson red, but I had a more adult body, toned and muscular, in fact I looked exactly like I did when we turned 15 with the Gulliver's candy in order to look for the person who stole the class reps alice. After all, I am the same age now as we turned that day when we were 10 for that simple mission to get the class reps Alice back. After putting the white shirt on, I put the jacket on, leaving it open, and slide my shoes on before shoving a manga book in my back pocket and heading towards the class rooms. I would be the last to get to class if I left now and I decided that was best. While walking some people made comments and then I remembered something. Persona said I would be able to use my Alice again outside of the dungeon. I lifted my hand and lit a flame at the tip of my finger before snuffing it out. I mustn't over do it. After years of not using my Alice, it was best to keep it slow. After wall in elementary school I would cough up blood after too much use, the few years I've had not using my alice has refreshed me, and I don't want to go back to that state..not yet anyways. Especially since it's been 4 years. Persona put me in the cell when I was 11, now I'm 15 and this is my first time outside of that small cell. I didn't want to over do it just yet, I've always imagined myself being dead by now, or close to hit, but thanks to Persona, I'm the healthiest I've ever been. And I wanted to keep it that way so I could find Mikan. Tsubasa was a senior now, and would be graduating this year. Would he look for Mikan too? Could I ask him to help me? When I made it to the class room I slide in like nothing ever happened. I saw Ruka and Imai sitting in the back of the room, Permy in front of them. But there was a seat open next to Ruka so I walked over and slide in the seat like I belonged there.
"Yo" I said and put my hands behind my head and Ruka looked at me before gasping.
"Natsume! Persona let you out?" he asked and I just nodded. It wasn't long until Permy turned around to ask Ruka something and noticed me there.
"Natsume!" she screamed and everyone looked at me and gasped. It wasn't long until the entire room was crowded around me. "Natsume! What happened to you? This huge business with the principle happened and then you disappeared. Wait. Was Mikan with you? Is she coming back too?" she asked and for a moment I went rigid before putting my poker face on.
"Hm" I said and pulled my manga out of my back pocket and began reading. Most went back to their seats but Permy continued to stare at me.
"Please Natsume, tell me if Mikan is okay, I've been worried about both of you" she said and I looked up and saw she was sincere. I honestly didn't know if Mikan was okay, none of us had anyway of contacting her.
"I don't know anything regarding Mikan Sakura" I said coldly and continued reading. She pouted and started a fake cry like she did when we were younger.
"Natsume! You're so cold! But I can't help for have lingering feelings even though I've moved on!" she cried and then Mochiage turned around from his seat. Mochiage and Sumire started dating in middle school, at least that's what Ruka and Imai told me. In fact it was not long after Ruka and Imai started dating. Yes I was cold, but that's who I was, I never opened up to anyone besides Ruka and Mikan. But Mikan was gone now, and I only had Ruka. The door opened and the homeroom teacher entered and to my surprise it was Narumi.
"Eh? What's Narumi doing here?" Ruka asked and I looked at him then back to Naru. Narumi had left with Mikan and Yuka, what was he doing here? He smiled and walked to the center of the class and looked at me. I glared at him, I wanted answer, and I wanted them now.
"Good morning class, I am your new homeroom teacher, you all know me of course, but in case you forgot, I am Narumi. I'm glad to see your faces again; it's been a long time. But now I must hand you over to your new math teacher Akiro-sensei" he said and smiled before leaving. A woman walked in after him, she was tall and had grey hair.
"Good morning students. My name is Karin Akiro. I'm pleased to make your acquaintance, now first I will take attendance. Yuu Tobita?" she said and the class rep raised his hand. I listened as familiar names were called and familiar voices were heard then, when she reached my name, I simply said "Hm" loud enough for her to hear and when she looked over in my direction, nodded once. Just as I thought this would be very boring. I leaned back in my chair and pulled my manga over my face and fell asleep. Just as I thought, the teachers didn't bother waking me up. I slept through most of the class. While I slept, I dreamt of Mikan, of when we said good bye. She hugged all of us while she cried and hugged me last. She then told me that she will see me again, she didn't want to leave me since I never left her. She then hugged me again and took the hand of her mother. I didn't like seeing her cry; I wonder what she was doing right now. The bell woke me up and Ruka nudged me.
"Natsume wake up, it's lunch time" he said and I nodded and stood up and put my hands behind my head as we walked to the lunch room. I decided to go back to my room and sleep after lunch, so I ate and said good bye to Ruka and Imai before standing up.
"Natsume?" Imai called out to me so I turned around and shoved my hands in my pocket. "We all miss her, don't worry about it if you want to talk about it" she said but her face stayed expressionless like always.
"Pff" I said and walked out of the lunch room. While walking to the dorms I saw Narumi walking towards the teacher's room. "Hey Naru" I called out and he stopped.
"Ah Natsume, I see Persona let you out" he said and I glared at him. "How have you been these past years?" he asked and smiled.
"Bastard, you know exactly what I want to know!" I yelled and grabbed the collar of his shirt. "Where is Mikan, you were with her" I said and he looked shocked for a moment. After he collected himself he smiled.
"Calm yourself Natsume" he said and I felt himself start using his Alice. "Dammit! I was no use against his alice!" I thought as I felt myself start to drift deeper into a trance. "It amazes me that you remember her, but then again, you did love her, but don't worry, she is safe" he said and with that I was unconscious. I found myself in my room when I woke up.
"Damn that Narumi" I muttered as I sat up and rubbed my head. While I was unconscious I heard voices, most likely in a dream. It went something like this.
"Poor Natsume...he's been living in that cell for so long and while she was gone. He's had no idea where she was and now he sees me while I was suppose to be helping her" I heard Naru said then I heard foot steps running.
"Narumi- Sensei!" the person yelled and I could tell it was a girl, the voice was familiar but I couldn't quite place who it belonged to."Narumi-sensei who is that?" the girl asked and I heard foot steps and Naru put himself between me and the girl.
"Oh don't worry about it, just a high school student who must've fallen unconscious. I'm going to bring them to the hospital, I'll meet you in the office later" he said and I heard the other person's foot steps stop.
"Oh okay, don't be late, there are a lot of people we need to catch up with, and I need to find him...is he still here?" she asked and I waited for a response.
"We'll see" he said and laughed. Next thing I knew I was in my room on my bed. I didn't understand it, who was that girl, she sounded so familiar. Was she that physic girl from elementary? But who would she be looking for? Her boyfriend? It's possible. I sat up and rubbed my head. When Naru uses his Alice on me it always takes a big toll on me for some reason. Now what do I do? I haven't had a schedule in so long here. I decided to go to the sakura tree. I did my best thinking there and I had to find out how to find Mikan. I opened the window and jumped down to the ground and walked over to where the sakura trees were. I laid down in the grass and put my hands behind my head and closed my eyes. I could easily break out right now, but I don't think I could do that to Ruka. I lit a small flame in the air and sighed. How long would I last with my Alice? When I found Mikan, I could ask her to make me another one of her stones to nullify it for a while, but would she? She did give me her stone a long time ago and I gave mine to her, though she may not know it was mine. I snuffed the flame and took a deep breath. Sometimes I wish I could cry, I remember the night I went to Mikan's room through the window after Tsubasa disappeared she said she was crying in my place. I was close to crying that night. But not just yet. The day Mikan left with Yuka, I was close to crying too, closer then the other night. But I never did. While she was gone, I stayed strong for her. But I wonder when I would cry. Ever since she came to this school I've gotten softer, but was it enough to make me cry? Out of no where I felt myself not be able to move. Tsubasa.
"Is that you Natsume?" I heard him ask and then he was beside me. "Hey look at that, the elementary trouble maker had been brought out of his cage. You've grown huh?" he said and I looked up at him. I don't hate him anymore, sure I did get jealous whenever Mikan would hug him, but there was no reason to be jealous of him now. Though I might get jealous of them if she ever hugs him again.
"Hm" I said and he sat down, releasing my shadow. Tsubasa didn't change much; he grew a bit taller but other then that he was the same. He leaned against the trunk if the tree and looked at me.
"So have you heard the news? Not many people have, they're keeping it on the down low, but I figured you being the famous Natsume Hyuuga would know" he said and I just narrowed my eyes at him.
"I have heard nothing new" I said and he smiled and looked up into the sky.
"Well, I guess you'll learn soon enough, but I'm not telling anybody. It will be a surprise. Now I got to go, I'm hanging out with Misaki. Later" he said and stood up and walked away. So something was going on soon? Whatever, that's not something I need to think about. I stood up and headed back to my room I decided to take another shower, I know I took one earlier today, but I needed to relax. I turned on the hot water and let the water flow over my skin. I pressed my forehead against the wall and took a couple of deep breaths. This really was a nuisance, but I rather be out here attending classes then stuck in that cell all day and night. My hair fell over my eyes and face and I watched the drops of water fall from the tips of my hair. For some reason I thought of Mikan. Okay so it wasn't quite out of the blue, but still I didn't expect to think about her right now. When I finished showering I put on some sweat pants and boxers and laid down on the bed. I never wore shirts to bed anymore, I found it easier to wear pants and that's it, plus, being my Alice is fire I was never cold. I put my hands behind my head and suddenly felt very tired so I closed my eyes and like always, I saw Mikan's smiling face before I fell asleep.