CHAPTER I: THE PROMISE
Ruka-pyon… Ruka-pyon… I heard Mikan's voice whispering. I ran through the golden wheat fields and saw a small hill with a large oak tree at the center. I ran and ran and climbed up the hill. There I saw Mikan, the girl I like… with Natsume.
I hid a frown. What was Natsume doing there? "Ruka-pyon…" whispered Mikan as she held out her hand. I held out mine and was about inches from her when…
"RUKA!" cried Natsume, "Are you awake dummy?". He was banging on my door like every other morning. "Yeah. I'll be down in a minute," I replied. I sighed as he went away. I didn't like mornings, since it means seeing Natsume with Mikan all day. Ever since I came to Alice Academy, I wasn't this lonely, but I finally gave up on her and handed her over to Natsume. That's what best friends do right? Best friends… that word echoed through my mind and I suddenly remembered SOMEONE…
FLASHBACK
"RUU-CHAN!" five-year-old Misake Juri cried, "Where are you Ruu-chan?". I remember that we were playing hide and seek that day in the woods and I was pretty good in hiding behind a clump of bushes. I could hear her say, "Ruu-chan… where are you? I'm scared! Stop it Ruu-chan!". I hold a laugh. She didn't even know that I was merely two meters away! Misake Juri is my childhood best friend. Up until now, I could remember her dark brown hair that resembles Mikan's very much, her soft green eyes and those sweet sincere eyes… Yes, I admit, I had a crush on her since we were kids but I never said that to her.
"Ruu-chan…" Misake's soft voice turned into sobs and then crying. I grew pity and realized that I was going too far. Misake was always afraid of being left alone that's why she isn't very good in hide and seek. I emerged from the bushes and saw her hugging her short little legs and crying, her hair covering her whole face.
"Misake, don't cry anymore," I said as I helped her get up. "Ruu-chan…" she cried, her face was smeared with tears. Misake hugged me, crying. I embraced her as she sobbed quietly. That was a good thing; she can't see me turning red. "Don't ever leave me like that anymore…" said Misake, her face still buried in my shirt. I nodded, and then she looked at me with those pleading eyes. I wiped a tear on her cheek and said, "Don't cry Misake, you know I hate it when I see you cry,". Misake was silent, then she wiped her tears away and then showed me one of her big grins. "I'm not crying anymore Ruu-chan!" she beamed, "Because you're always there protecting me!". I blushed as she said that but then I smiled and said, "Okay, let's go home now, your mom's probably looking for you," and then we left.
Misake was grinning and holding my hand all the way home. She was talking about how much fun we were going to have this coming Christmas. I was happy for her and I can't imagine anything worst at that moment. I gripped her hand and said to myself, "I don't ever want to let go of this hand…".
END OF FLASHBACK
"Ruka, is something the matter?" it was Tobita, "You're smiling, are you thinking of someone?". I blushed madly and said, "N-no, I just remembered something…". Natsume stared at me and tugged Koko, the mind reader. Uh-oh, this is bad. I must not think of Misake Juri, must not think of her! I said that to myself.
"Oi, Ruka! Who's MISAKE JURI?" Koko asked as he smirked. I turned white and red at the same time. Natsume was glaring at me too. He might be angry that I didn't tell him about Misake. Everyone from the table was looking at me. "Who is she anyway? She sounds like a freak," I heard Koko say. "SHE IS NOT!" I exclaimed as I banged my hands on the table. "Ruka, why are you angry?" Tobita asked. I sat down and tried to calm myself. I was outraged at Koko for calling Misake a freak. In fact, Misake was the most beautiful girl I've ever met. "I don't like the way you talk about her. I don't ever want you to talk about her that way. I'm leaving," I said that as soon as I got up from the breakfast table. I decided to walk to the elementary building, who cares if I'm late anyway.
"He's pretty angry. I wonder who Misake Juri is," I heard the others as I left.
CONTINUATION of FLASHBACK: 3 days before Christmas
I remember that day clearly. It was the day when Misake told me one of her very important secrets…
"The snow's beautiful isn't it Ruu-chan?" Misake asked as she grinned at me. We were outside my house watching snowflakes fall while at the same time keeping ourselves warm.
"Ruu-chan?" Misake said.
"Yeah?"
"Can you hold my hand? It is very cold" she asked me shyly.
I smiled at her and hold her hand. Misake stepped closer to my side and pointed one finger to the sky. "You know what Ruu-chan?" she said, "You are like a snowflake. You are very special and different and almost impossible to find. But I still did found you. Thank you for the memories and for being my best friend," Misake said the last sentence like a whisper. I stared at her lively green eyes, but at that moment it was lonely and sad. I sensed something.
"Misake, is something wrong?" I asked with a worried tone. She was quiet and was about to say something when our mothers called us.
We went inside and I was still wondering why Misake was sad. We gathered in our living room- Misake's parents and mine. "Ruu-chan, thank you for being very nice to Misake," Misake's mother stated, even she was sad, "But we have rather a sad news to tell you all,".
"We- I'm moving Ruu-chan," Misake said sadly as she stared at the floor and didn't look me in the eye, she was afraid that she would burst into tears if she did. Those three words stabbed my chest like a knife. "W-why are you moving?" I managed to asked, "Yes, and this is very sudden," my mom added. "You see," Misake's mom explained, "The government has requested to send my daughter into Alice Academy, it is a private school in Tokyo, since Misake has been considered as one of the 'GENIUSES'". I was silent and then I looked at Misake, she was still looking at the floor. "I see," my mother said, "This is very sad but we must accept it and understand, right Ruu-chan?" she patted my back. Tears were forming in my eyes and I was getting angry. "Why does she have to attend that stupid school?" I demanded, "Isn't there another way?". "Ruu-chan, please don't be angry! I have no choice," Misake said. "You do have a choice! You promised me!" I cried then went out of the house.
I was crying and running to our favorite oak tree, near the entrance trail of the forest. That was where Misake and I first met. She was crying alone there and I saw her.
I sat down and cried there. Not long after, I heard running footsteps. "Ruu-chan!" it was Misake. She kneeled in front of me. "Don't cry Ruu-chan," Misake said, her voice pleading. "How could you do this to me Misake?" I said firmly, "You promised me that we would never be separated by anything". She was silent. Then she held out her hand. I stared at it and a small flame emerged! "W-what is that?" I said, quite shocked. "That's the reason why I have to move," Misake explained, "Alice Academy is a place for people like me who have Alices. An Alice is a person with a natural born power. They are gathered by the government to receive proper training. I might not see you again Ruu-chan, but I will write every day,". I was stunned at what she said. Misake absorbed the flame and it vanished. "You promise?" I ask. Misake nodded. "Prove it," I said. She took a deep breath, lunged forward and gave me a kiss. A kiss that was the seal of our promise and the token of our friendship. Misake moved backed and said, "Ruu-chan, do you believe me now?". I nodded. I was turning warm and red again. "Don't ever forget me," I said. She hugged me, "We will see each other someday, and when we see each other, remember the kiss, the seal of our promise…"
END OF FLASHBACK
I touched my lips and turned red, even the very thought of it makes me blush. Anyway, I didn't forget the promise. I opened the double doors to Class B and went inside. Everyone was there, horsing around while the moment lasts. Any minute now, Narumi-sensei would appear. Narumi-sensei was our gay homeroom teacher. Not exactly gay but gayish. Don't tell anyone, okay? I think he cross-dresses.
"Morning Ruka-pyon!" Mikan greeted me as soon as I sat down on my seat. "Morning," I replied, I managed not to blush. Good, I was forgetting her now.
A little while later, Natsume, Tobita and Koko appeared. They looked at me but I turned my eyes away from them. Natsume sat beside me and said, "Ruka, is there something you need to tell me?". I sweat-dropped. I didn't want to tell Natsume about Misake since I was afraid something would happen if I did. I was about to answer when Narumi-sensei appeared, yet, in another gayish outfit. I told you he cross-dresses!
"Good morning class!" he said. "Good morning Narumi-sensei!" the whole class answered back with not much enthusiasm. "Anyway," Naru-sensei went on, "We have a NEW student today!". His words got the whole class's attention. "What's his/her Alice?" Sumire asked, "Where is the new student?" Tobita piped in.
Naru-sensei clasped his hands together. "Now, now," he said, "She will be here any minute. But I must warn you about her. Her Alice is FIRE," with those words, everyone gasped and looked at Natsume. "Like Natsume?" Tobita asked.
"That's not just her Alice, she has many Alices. She can do anything that you can and even be better at it." Naru-sensei added.
"Is there even such an Alice?" someone said. Naru nodded and continued, "Yes, but it still has no name. This girl wears a mask to control her powers. The WHITE MASK has very powerful powers, but she can still break it into pieces. And also, you would notice two black ribbons pin to two parts of hair, she has her hair down and it's very cute. But the point of those ribbons is to tell her emotions,". Everyone was silent as Naru wrote a few things on the blackboard:
Black- emotionless
White- scared
Red- love
Yellow- happy
Green- miserable
Blue- sad
Orange- nervous
Pink- embarrassed
Silver- Angry
Gold- very happy/extreme emotions of anything from the above
"When her ribbons turn to any of these colors, please do not make it silver. If she gets angry, she can unleash something powerful, she can either destroy you or herself," Naru said the last sentence like he was announcing a death row that made the whole class gasp in horror.
KNOCK, KNOCK, someone knocked on the door. As Naru went to open it, I heard many murmurs like, "She's very dangerous isn't she?". I turned my head to Narumi-sensei and my jaw dropped when he announced, "Everyone, meet MISAKE JURI!"
END OF FIRST CHAPTER