Claimer: Madoka Katashiro and Kaiten Ikazuchi are my OCs.

The interpretation of Gakuen Alice and its characters presented in this fic is my own, and has been drawn up based entirely on the anime. I don't read the manga, so please overlook any inconsistencies with it that will undoubtedly turn up.

Read slowly and enjoy the suspense. :)


Lesson Two

The Willful Student

Misaki placed his files on top of the teacher's desk. "Good morning, everyone," he greeted, with a stern nod to his students. "Please take your seats."

He pulled out his lecture notes, frowning when a piece of paper fell out of his folder. The updated class list, he thought, recalling how Jinno had mentioned of it before he left the faculty room. "Before anything else," he started, unfolding the class list as he spoke, "I wish to call on the student joining our class today."

He looked over to the students in front of him, as if drawn to the direction where the High School Principal was seated. Kaiten Ikazuchi was quiet behind his desk, staring at his teacher with what seemed to be amusement.

Misaki furrowed his eyebrows, shifting his gaze to what used to be the vacant seat beside Kaiten. A young woman had taken claim of it, appearing very cozy where she was. She was smiling, her eyes flashing with such distinct contempt –

For him?

"That would be me," she said, her voice cheerful and oddly cold at the same time. She rose from her seat, giving him a perfect view of the curly, reddish-brown hair that framed her physique, its length just about reaching her waist. "Good morning, Misaki-sensei."

Misaki stared hard at her, swearing he must have literally missed a heartbeat when a pair of furious brown eyes met his own, making him freeze where he stood.

What…?

x ~ x ~x

Madoka cocked her head to one side, giving her teacher a defiant little smile. "I've just arrived from my vacation, which is why I'm only joining the class today," she started, keeping her tone light and polite. "I apologize for troubling you, Misaki-sensei."

If Misaki was surprised to see her, he gave no indication of this. He remained cool and composed where he was, regarding her with the same reserve as he had greeted the class earlier. "I understand," was all he said, his expression betraying no affect.

Madoka saw him glance over to the paper in his hand, stiffening when she realized that he was looking for her name. It was a few moments later that he raised his eyes to her again, those pair of dark browns without the faintest trace of recognition in them. "Miss Madoka Katashiro?" he asked, with just the right amount of interest and severity befitting him as her teacher.

She felt her smile falter at his businesslike tone, although she managed to keep it intact. "Madoka would be all right," she told him, keeping her tone conversational. "After all, you're not much older than I am, are you, Misaki-sensei?"

Misaki's expression was a mask of nonchalance. "I insist, Miss Katashiro," he simply said. Without a pause, he turned to what seemed to be his lesson plan, dismissing her trivial protest effectively.

Beside her, Kaiten struggled to keep the dark chuckle from escaping his lips. Madoka darted him a frown before returning her gaze to Misaki, unwilling to end the conversation just yet. "You're only what – twenty-five… twenty-four?"

Misaki shrugged, without even looking at her. "Twenty-two."

Madoka let an expression of surprise adorn her face. "How curious. I didn't know that the Academy accepted teachers as young as you are," she said. "Your scholastic record must have been very impressive, Misaki-sensei," she added, giving him a patronizing smile that completely offset her compliment.

Misaki glanced up at her, the slightest of frowns on his lips. "I would like to think that's the reason they invited me to be a member of the Academy's teaching faculty," he simply said, the words coming out so soft and modest that it threw her off.

Invited? she thought, unsure whether to believe him or not. That he was in the Academy was enough proof that the administrators accepted him, at the very least, but that he was invited was news to her.

Then again, he was Misaki, and that he would be invited to teach in Alice Academy was very likely. The man possessed intelligence beyond his years, and she knew that he was far more accomplished than any of his peers.

Madoka narrowed her eyes, throwing a glance at the inhibiters around her fingers. She was suddenly thankful that she hadn't removed the third ring yet. Her alice was dangerous enough without her emotions to trigger it. "May I ask what happened to Ryuuki-sensei?" she asked instead. Ryuuki Seijirou was the high school Biology teacher, and he was teaching Class A prior to summer vacation.

Misaki barely glanced up from his records when he answered. "All I know is that Ryuuki-sensei won't be back for an indefinite period. Until he returns, I'll be holding Class A's Biology classes." He looked over to her. "Anything else?"

For a second or two, she only stared at him, meeting his eyes in an attempt to see something – anything, to help her make sense of what he must be thinking. It was only until Kaiten coughed beside her that she shook her head, both in response to Misaki's question and in a stubborn refusal to believe that he didn't recognize her. "Nothing else for now, Misaki-sensei."

Misaki nodded, seemingly satisfied by this. "All right," he said, holding up his records. "You've already missed one week worth of lectures, as well as the diagnostic test I gave the class last week," he stated, his calm so painfully absurd. "I'll assign you a study partner to help you catch up with last week's lessons, after which we can arrange the schedule of your makeup quiz."

Madoka frowned, in some distracted part of her mind cursing this one subject she never bested. "A study partner…?" she repeated, knowing she would hate Biology even more, especially now that Misaki was teaching it.

"Is there a problem?"

She fixed him with a careful stare. "Biology has never been one of my best subjects, and I think I'll need more than a study partner to help me with last week's lectures," she told him honestly, the smile on her lips twisting into a small a smirk as an interesting idea turned up in her head.

Misaki lifted an eyebrow at this. "So what do you suggest, Miss Katashiro?"

She flashed him the sweetest smile she could muster. "Would it be all right if I ask you to personally help me catch up with the lessons, Misaki-sensei?"

There was a pause, and in that moment that seemed to last a short lifetime, Madoka felt her heart skip a beat. She watched as Misaki's expression darken ever so faintly, and she clenched her fist at her side, only slightly calmed by the fact that he wouldn't be able to keep her away from him for too long.

Not when they were both in Alice Academy, and not when he was her teacher.

"All right, Miss Katashiro," he said, his voice coming out cold and reserved. "Please come see me after class."

x ~ x ~x

"Are you all right, Misaki-sensei?"

Misaki raised his head from the papers he had been blankly staring at for the last twenty minutes, forcing a smile when he saw Serina peering down at him from a distance. The woman stood a few paces from his desk, her arms crossed over her chest as she regarded him with concern. It was nearly five o'clock in the afternoon, and the two of them were the only ones left in the faculty room.

"I'm just thinking about… things," he muttered, when he found his voice.

Serina raised an eyebrow at his defeated tone, seemingly confused. "Like what?"

Misaki heaved a sigh. "Do you know Madoka Katashiro?" he asked instead, having decided that there was probably nothing wrong to ask another teacher about one of his students. Serina also taught high school Class A, and she had been in the Academy for almost a year now. At the very least, she should be acquainted with the younger woman.

Realization dawned on Serina's face upon hearing the name, and she smiled. "Is that what this is about?" she asked lightly, casting a glance at the class list that Misaki hadn't realized he had been holding. "I remember today is supposed to be her return from her vacation. I guess you've met her?"

Misaki nodded. "I have," he replied briefly, unwilling to elaborate any further. He wasn't about to tell anyone about Madoka's obvious intense dislike of him, or how bothered he was by the whole thing.

Serina shrugged. "Miss Katashiro can be quite a handful, but she's a good student," she said. "She's a student of Dangerous Ability, and one of the Academy's finest."

Misaki glanced up at Serina, an unwilling frown forming his lips. "So she goes to those missions, too," he said, knowing that being a student of Dangerous Ability required going to the missions, regardless of age or gender or even health conditions.

The other teacher nodded, turning on her heel to return to her own desk. "She's is one of the rare students who actually love going to missions," she said. "She's partners with her best friend, the High School Principal, Kaiten Ikazuchi."

"The principal?" Misaki repeated, remembering quite clearly that Kaiten was the reason he was teaching high school biology now. "Miss Katashiro is terrible at Biology," he muttered, sitting up when he realized what he had said. He glanced up at Serina, and saw that the other teacher was chuckling with amusement. "She told me herself," he quickly added, and found himself managing a hollow laugh.

"What did she do, exactly?" Serina asked, with a shake of her head.

Misaki put down his class list, heaving a pensive sigh. "Nothing, really. I guess I'm just curious," he said. "Her records show that her marks have been consistently topnotch, and yet she has only gone back home this summer, for three weeks."

Serina leaned back against her swivel chair, clasping her hands together thoughtfully. "Miss Katashiro hasn't used her one-week vacation ever since she was eleven," she said. "The only reason she left the school this summer was because the administrators told her to."

Misaki furrowed his eyebrows. "Oh?"

The female teacher nodded. "This year is a bit different from the others, since her guardian required her attendance in a certain family affair," she said. "I'm not sure what it was exactly, but it was of such importance that Madoka had to be sent away to be there."

Misaki thought about this for several moments, idly fiddling with the stack of exam papers that he still needed to go over. "Did she want to go?"

Serina shook her head. "She was furious when she found out that the Academy had already arranged for her to be sent back home." She flashed an uncertain smile. "Miss Katashiro has never explicitly said it herself, but it seems like she has never been fond of going home, much less partaking in any events that she's called upon to attend."

Silence ruled over them for the next moment or two. Misaki stared outside through the windows next to his desk, letting himself drown in his musings.

It was Serina who decided to break the quiet. "Miss Katashiro has always been a stubborn girl," she said, "and I've always thought that no one – not even the Academy's administrators, or her very own best friend – can make her do something that she doesn't want to. I was actually a bit surprised when she relented and went home as she was told."

Misaki lifted an eyebrow in query. "Perhaps this time she somewhat wanted to?" he asked. He had formally met Madoka Katashiro only this morning, and he was more than certain that he was in no positions to make assumptions about her.

Serina gave a small shrug, just as the school bell rang down the hallway. "I suppose she must have wanted to, somehow." She rose from her seat, arranging her instruction materials for the meeting she had told him prior. "Whatever it was, it must have been important enough to make her leave the Academy."

Without another word, the female teacher picked up her things and started for the door. "I'm sure you'll get along well with Miss Katashiro, Misaki-sensei. Just give it time," she said, and gave him one last smile. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Misaki watched the door close behind Serina, his unseeing gaze fixated on it for a long time. "Get along well with my student, huh," he murmured softly, a cynical half-smile falling on his lips at the irony of it all.

He had a feeling it would be easier said than done.

x ~ x ~ x

"What was that about?"

Kaiten looked up from his dessert, casually lifting an eyebrow at his best friend. "That Misaki is teaching high school Biology?" he asked.

Madoka took her place opposite him on their lunch table, noting the flicker of amusement that lit up his dark blue eyes. "What else?" she said, before taking a bite of the sandwich that she had bought. "You said you wanted to tell me something, and the next thing I realized was me looking at Misaki – who is apparently our new Biology teacher."

Kaiten chuckled. "What's the use of being the High School Principal if I can't even get you close to your childhood crush?"

Madoka groaned. "You assigned Misaki to teach high school Biology because you know him to be my childhood crush?" she asked, with a little grimace.

Kaiten shot her an incredulous look. "Don't be stupid, Madoka," he scoffed. "Misaki is a genius in his own right. His position in Alice Academy is something he acquired for himself, all thanks to his impressive scholastic records. I told him to take over the high school Biology classes because I knew he would do just as well as Ryuuki Seijirou did – perhaps even better." He smirked. "That he's your childhood crush is just a bonus."

Madoka chewed on her sandwich contemplatively, wondering if the young man would still be acting so smug if he knew what he had gotten her into. Kaiten Ikazuchi was an odd mixture of detachment and possessiveness, an individual who took the definition of 'overprotective' and personified it, especially when it was concerned his best friend in the world. She had no doubts that Kaiten would not hesitate to use his position as the High School Principal if he saw fit.

And he surely would, if he knew.

"You don't look very excited," Kaiten remarked, snapping her out of her thoughts. "And here I was thinking I'd cheer you up once you get back from your little vacation by having Misaki welcome you."

Madoka almost choked on her food. "Thanks, but I think you only made it worse," she grumbled, picking up her soda and downing about half of it.

Kaiten looked sincerely confused. "I did? You asked him to personally help you catch up with the lessons, if I remember correct."

The young woman frowned. "I wasn't expecting he'd say yes," she said. Her intention had been to provoke Misaki into showing even the faintest emotion, but she hadn't been prepared for his calm acceptance of the task to help her out with the lessons. She should have expected that a class valedictorian like him would not hesitate to take on an additional responsibility like herself, despite her obvious hostility.

Still, she had to admit that his agreement to her proposition gave her the perfect excuse to drop by the faculty room and speak to him before today day even ended – something that she never could have imagined to be possible in the last several days.

Misaki owed her answers, and Madoka was going to get them, regardless what it took.

"How long will he be teaching the class, anyway?" she asked, unwrapping the rest of her sandwich as she did. "He's only substituting for Ryuuki-sensei, isn't he?"

"Until Ryuuki gets back, Misaki will be teaching our class," Kaiten said, a frown tugging at the corner of his lips. "That man just suddenly disappeared and left Alice Academy to deal with all his bullshit. I told them to kick him out already."

Madoka chose not to comment on that. Everyone in the school knew of the animosity between her best friend and their original biology teacher. Both men were stubborn and arrogant to a fault, and neither wanted to acknowledge each other's authority in the school.

"That aside," Kaiten started, pushing away his glass of dessert, "how was your trip?"

Madoka stiffened at the question, remembering that she had yet to tell him about what happened – or at least, as much of it as she could tell him. "It wasn't as much of a deal as we thought it would be," she said tentatively.

The two of them had been both surprised when the administrators of the school ordered for her to be sent out of the Academy for a vacation. Such a thing was simply unheard of, especially when it concerned Dangerous Ability students. Provided with no other explanation but that her guardian stipulated it, Madoka and Kaiten were left to think that the 'certain family matter that required the young woman's presence' was something of such magnitude to the point that the Academy would let her go.

"So? What is it?" Kaiten prompted.

Madoka took a sip of her drink before answering. "Somebody in the family got married."

Even the young man had to blink. "…that's it?"

She almost laughed at his tone despite herself. "That's it," she said, fixing her gaze on the sandwich that was suddenly and very quickly losing its appeal. She shifted in her, feeling the beginning of agitation coming on, and put down her food in favor of clutching her soda in both hands. "Just that."

"So why did you have to be there?" Kaiten asked, lifting an eyebrow at her.

Madoka shrugged, keeping her tone leveled. "It was important because it was a business partnership more than it was a wedding," she said. "They needed me to be there so I'll know what's happening to the business. They've always wanted a merger, and they decided that establishing a family tie would be the best way to secure their positions in the company."

"To make sure no one cheats," Kaiten noted.

"Something like that," she said, eyes still fixed on her drink. "Although I think it's a safety net more for the other family than it is for us." She looked up at her best friend with a cynical smirk. "I don't believe my family is above cheating when it comes to furthering our interest."

Kaiten stared at her for a long time, his handsome features taking on a rare expression of concern. "I hope it wasn't particularly taxing, seeing them again," he said quietly. He was well aware of her almost nonexistent relationship with the family she had opted not to see in the last six years.

She offered him a smile. "Thank you, Kaiten. I'm all right. It was only a small ceremony, so I didn't have to deal with a big crowd," she said. "Besides, I've always known it was going to happen. Both families agreed on it a long time ago. It was just a matter of time."

Kaiten gave her a skeptic look, but made no further comment. Instead he gestured to the wall clock behind her. "I'd like to talk more, but it's past five. Shouldn't you be heading to the faculty room by now?"

Madoka glanced over her shoulder to look. "Right," she said, surprising herself with the weakness of her knees when she stood up. "I need to go."

"Do you want me to go with you?" Kaiten asked, the look in his eyes indicating that he didn't miss that little slipup.

She shook her head, silently cursing herself for being so careless. "No way." Biology wasn't even half the reason that she was going to see Misaki that afternoon. And even if it was, there was no way she'd take a genius like Kaiten with her to witness her fail the damn subject. "I'm not embarrassing myself in front of you."

Kaiten cracked a smirk at this, choosing not to argue. "Then I'll see you when I get back from the mission, Madoka."

x ~ x ~x

It was barely ten minutes later when Madoka found herself standing outside the faculty room, taking a moment to steady her breathing before knocking on the door.

There was a brief pause, and then the sound of shuffling papers. "Come in," the muffled voice from inside called out, almost making Madoka pause when she recognized it as Misaki's.

Without giving herself the chance to hesitate, the young woman stepped inside, quietly closing the door behind her. It took her a moment to realize that the room was empty except for the man that she came for.

Misaki was still caught up in his work, barely even looking up from what he was doing to acknowledge her arrival. He was seated behind a dark mahogany desk near the floor-length windows, holding a pen in his hand – he was clearly grading some papers.

For a long moment Madoka remained where she stood, staring at Misaki silently. Her teacher was hunched over his desk, the look of concentration on his face indicating that nothing else mattered to him in that moment. He probably wouldn't have even noticed her if she didn't decide to speak.

"You look busy."

Misaki raised his head upon the greeting, blinking when he realized who he was looking at. "Miss Katashiro…" he said, the tone of his voice an obvious indication that he had forgotten the time.

Madoka approached her teacher without a word, stopping only when she was finally standing right in front of his desk. "Good afternoon , Misaki-sensei," she greeted, letting a cold smile adorn her lips. "I believe we have something to discuss this afternoon."

Misaki furrowed his eyebrows, as if what she said confused him. He put away the papers and his pen, rising from his swivel chair. "Please have a seat, Miss Ka – "

"I've had enough of your games, Misaki," she interrupted, earning a look of surprise from him. "You know I didn't come here to catch up on some stupid lectures." She watched her teacher stiffen at this, prompting her to smirk. Hah. At least she was finally getting through this bastard.

Misaki heaved a sigh before looking at her carefully, any trace of good humor disappearing from his expression. "I called you to my office to help you out with your lessons, Miss Katashiro," he said, the sudden coldness in his tone almost intimidating. "I don't appreciate you returning the favor by coming here and calling the lessons you missed 'stupid lectures'."

It was Madoka's turn to blink, watching him walk to another desk to pick up some files. It was obvious enough that her remark had upset him, but his reaction was still… far from how she was expecting him to react. "Misaki – " she said, only to pause when he suddenly turned back to where she was.

"If you're not here for the lectures, then please tell me what you want so I can get back to my work," he told her coldly, making her stop when she realized that he was holding a module that he had obviously prepared for her.

In that short span of time? she thought, unable to speak.

"We'll both just be wasting our time if I keep you here when you're not interested," Misaki added, tossing the folder on top of his desk.

Madoka stared at his serious expression for a while, suddenly unsure if she was hearing him right. Why was Misaki looking at her as if he was the one who had the right to be angry? Wasn't it supposed to be her? After all, he was the one who had done something wrong. He was the one who made her look like a foolish little girl who didn't know any better than to put her trust in some promise and some silly piece of paper.

The young woman clenched her fists at her sides, ignoring the erratic beating of her heart. "You're one to talk," she scoffed. "You're the one who won't stop playing games – from a game of cat and mouse to a game of let's pretend."

She took her time making her way to him, all the while holding his confused gaze. "I was very surprised to see you here today," she told him conversationally, impressing even herself when her voice did not break. "The last place I would have thought I'd find you in is Alice Academy, Misaki-sensei."

Misaki frowned at her, watching her decisively halt as soon as she was standing right in front of him. "Miss Katashiro – " he muttered, seemingly made uneasy by their sudden proximity.

Madoka allowed a mirthless smile fall on her lips. "Please don't be mistaken. I only came here to ask one question," she said, her voice now barely above a whisper as she stood on her toes and leaned in close – so very, very close that their lips were almost touching, and he could feel her breath ghost over his skin.

"Why did you suddenly leave me, husband?"

…to be continued…


The other day, while I was trying to sort out my folders, I stumbled upon this chapter. It was half-finished, and strangely enough, I felt compelled to finish it. I think it's mostly because of the fact that I adore side characters, and I don't like how the stories where Misaki shows up are stories about Narumi – stories where he remains a side character.

I really enjoyed writing this one, and I hoped you enjoyed reading, too. Review, maybe, and tell me what you think? :)

Hilaire
07.29.12