Struck

Summary: In Alice High, a group of elite teenagers are hiding a terrible secret. When you put Mikan Sakura into the equation, there's bound to be trouble, especially when their leader takes an interest on her.

Note: Originally Oops, I Think I'm In Love.

Alice High was a boarding school and naturally everyone could see their group all dressed up in their formal wear. Everyone kept on speculating on where their group was about to go. It was rare for the school chairman to release a permission slip to let the students get out of the campus. All sorts of rumors piled up, but none was right. Of course, nobody would expect that their little group was about to venture on a den full of bloodsucking demons.

"We're going to stay for ten minutes only." Hotaru said once she sat inside the limo. She was wearing a white vintage Chanel dress with matching black heels. She was grumpy throughout the entire day and no one could get near without getting a scowl from her.

Sumire frowned. "That would be such a shame," she said. "You're wearing such a pretty dress and you're only going to use it for ten minutes? You can't be serious." Sumire had the most glamorous dress among them all. Whenever parties were a concern, she would always step up in dressing up. Koko couldn't even avert his eyes from Sumire's black low cut Givenchy dress.

"There's always good food when the Conclave holds a party," Tsubasa cut. "All sorts of steaks are served."

"Raw?" inquired Koko.

Tsubasa grinned. "Only the best."

After seemingly an hour, the limo arrived in the hotel with a crowd of photographers and journalists along the entrance. It was to be expected when Japan's A-list crowd gathered together for an exclusive party of their own.

The Conclave had rented the hotel's function room for their use. It was a bit intimidating to see all sorts of prominent people in their own field to be inside the room. Designers, top models, renowned CEOs and a whole lot more. Sumire hooked her hands into Koko's arm and both of them strode to the room with poise and grace.

"I knew it," Tsubasa whispered to Youichi. "Ayumi Hamasaki was a vampire. I was right all along."

The young boy rolled his eyes and strolled away from his upperclassman. Youichi never got along well with Tsubasa. The two of them were very different individuals and they had none in common other than their loyalty to their own group.

"Ah, Nastume!" a voice called. Natsume glanced to the voice's direction and found his mother waving at him. Kaoru Hyuuga was Japan's diamond in the theater. Despite her old age, she still had many loyal fans who continued to support her up to this day. "You look dashing."

"Mother." Natsume greeted as he gave her a peck on the cheek.

"How many months has it been since we last met?" she pondered. "Anyway, have you seen your sister? She's around here somewhe— oh wait, there she is. Aoi! Aoi!"

His eyes tore away from his mother and spotted his little sister in the crowd. He had missed her. Unlike him, Aoi was homeschooled. Her lessons were mostly about conducts and vampires. She was being groomed into being a perfect vampire wife and he didn't enjoy it at all.

As soon as Aoi spotted her brother, she ran to his arms and gave him a hug. "I miss you!" she cried.

Natsume Hyuuga's weakness was his family. He had a soft spot for them. It was a risk he was willing to take. He loved his little sister more than anything. "How have you been, Aoi?"

"Terrible!" she replied. "Mother's urging me to find a fiancé."

Natsume scowled in horror. Aoi was too young for this kind of matter. She was only 150 years old in vampire age stuck in a 15 year old body. She was still practically a baby for him. "Mother," he turned to Kaoru. "What are you thinking?"

Kaoru waved her hand dismissively at her son's face. "Aoi's old enough to carry my grandchildren. Surely you cannot deny me of that. Plus it's already mating season, it's the perfect opportunity." Kaoru's words triggered an old memory from Natsume's past. There was a time when his mother was urging him to marry. It took her years of convincing that Natsume wasn't the marrying sort.

"Ladies and gentlemen," everyone stopped on what they were doing and turned to the stage. Before them all was a young man in a tuxedo. It was Izumi Sakura the Conclave's chairman. He was the most powerful man inside the room and he wasn't the type of man who would tolerate disobedience. "I thank you all for coming here tonight."

Everyone raised their glasses to him.

In the corner of Natsume's eye, he saw Hotaru leaving in haste. The woman could not stand being in the same room as Izumi, it was a mystery to all of them. It was a pity that the Imai clan's leader was a selfish woman who could not fulfill her duties well, Natsume thought.

"This event is the celebration of my son's betrothal." He announced.

Everyone whispered in soft voices. Confusion was evident in everyone's faces. Even Natsume was surprised with Izumi's declaration. The Sakura clan was aristocratic in the vampire world. They had been ruling Japan for centuries long. To have the future heir hidden was outrageous.

"Son? Izumi Sakura had a child?"

"There was an heir to the Sakura lineage?"

"If there was a child, who was the wife?"

The Hyuuga family was inside Izumi's circle of friends yet not one of them knew about this. It was scandalous in vampire history. There should be a reasonable explanation to why Izumi hid his child and the other Conclave members demanded one.

"I hope your faith in me as your leader didn't decrease," Izumi said. "I have a decent explanation for my actions in the past."

"Sakura!" the Hijiri clan's head called from the crowd. "What is the meaning of this?"

"The first ones who had known were the Azumis, Masachikas and the Serios. The three heads of those clans were vowed to stay silence about this matter. Do not blame them," he said. "The reason why I hid my son was for the intention of his safety."

"Doesn't the Main House have enough security?" one of the vampires asked.

"We do," Izumi bravely replied. "But not enough to stop the other Conclaves from taking him."

"Why would he be taken?" another vampire asked.

"The prophecy came true," Izumi said. Gasps echoed inside the room. Everyone knew of that prophecy, they had been studying it for years and to think that it actually came was quite unimaginable. Jinno, the oldest vampire in the room, suddenly went onto his knees and prayed in silence. Tsubasa stifled a laugh, he assumed that he was the only one who saw the old man kneeling. "It isn't only a son, I have a daughter too. They are twins."

Natsume glanced at his mother, just to see her reaction. Kaoru's eyes were wide open and she was carefully listening to Izumi's words. The children of prophecy had finally come true, a lot of vampires were waiting for them for centuries and finally they had come.

Twins were very rare in the vampire world. They were prophesized to bring power to the Conclave they were born into. This was Japan's opportunity to raise their rank amongst the other Conclaves. It was their time. It was known that one would be stronger than the other. That one would bring great fame and supremacy to the Japanese Conclave. Also, the Sakuras would definitely make those twins to breed, it was necessary in order to strengthen their influence and keep the bloodline pure. Indeed, they had already done it.

"I would like to represent my son, Kuonji." He introduced. From the backstage, a young boy emerged from the shadows. Everyone looked at him in astonishment. They could feel that his aura was different from theirs. Truly, he was powerful. He stepped down from the platform and roamed inside the room. Wherever he went, eyes followed him. He was smiling in triumph as if he had won a great battle, not until his eyes met Natsume's. His curve lips suddenly turned into a thin line. It was only for a moment though. Nobody had noticed it except for Natsume himself.

"Where is your dear sister?" an old woman asked.

His lips twitched into a smile. "My fiancée's terribly ill. She's a frail and sickly kid, but she would recover."

"What is her name?" one teenage vampire asked.

"Mikan." He replied in a sweet tone. Then it hit all of them. He was obviously infatuated with her. The sound of her name in his lips was the evident proof of it. They wanted to get close with him, this was the other vampires' chance to impress the young boy and to get his attention they have to direct the conversation to his sister.

Koko along with Sumire walked towards Natsume. The raven-haired boy couldn't help but notice the bite marks on Sumire's neck. The two were probably busying themselves in the most secluded area in the room. "They're fraternal twins." Koko whispered softly.

Natsume smirked. It was an advantage to have Koko on his side. He was useful in these sorts of situations. "He's plain evil and nasty, I tell you." Natsume cocked a brow at his friend. It was blasphemous for Koko to speak that way. "Deep in his thoughts, he's bored and wishes that he could get away from this party already."

Kuonji slowly made his way toward Natsume. He stopped as soon as he was a few meters away from him. Koko offered his hand for him to shake. Kuonji didn't bother shaking it, his attention was fully captured by Natsume Hyuuga. Koko's hand awkwardly dropped down to his side and he continued to stay silent.

"A pleasure to meet you." greeted Sumire with a smile. She admitted to herself that Kuonji was handsome. He had such a deep look in his eyes that if you continue to stare at it, you would find yourself swimming in it. He had cute dimples too, she thought, such a shame it didn't go well with his snobbish attitude.

"You too." He replied although he was looking straight at Natsume.

"Kuonji," Kaoru called, taking the young boy's attention away from her son's. "How old are you in vampire years?"

He smiled. "Seventeen, madam."

"If you do need a mistress or someone to pleasure you, my daughter is freely welcome for you to have." Kaoru mused.

"I assure you that my future wife would be enough." replied Kuonji. His smile faded and was replaced by a sour scowl. Kaoru had once again succeeded in pissing another aristocratic vampire. She wasn't the type to sugarcoat her words, she had a sharp tongue and she often used it.

"Mother!" Aoi elbowed Kaoru on her side. "You're shameful! Let's get away before you do me more embarrassment." She curtsied at Kuonji before she pulled her mother away. She took one last look at him before going out of the room.

"Your mother is… bold." Kuonji commented as soon as he was sure that they were out of sight. It was clear to them that he was using terms that wasn't offensive to the ears, but Koko knew better. He could clearly read what was in his mind and in his mind were full of foul things that made Koko glower.

"Indeed she is." Natsume replied.

"I advise you to put a leash on her. She should know her place." He said suggestively.

Natsume's fists curled into a ball. He wanted to punch the brat's face. He had the guts to gaudily show his rude behavior over to someone who was a lot older than him. He was the one who should know his place, Natsume yelled in his mind. Apparently, Koko was the only one who could hear his mental outburst.

He gave one last smile before leaving them. He joined another group of vampires and he was clearly flaunting on how much he was enjoying the attention he was receiving.

Koko whistled. "Wow, I wonder what you did for you to deserve his resentment."

"He's a jerk," Sumire stated. "If he was a real gentleman, he would kiss my hand."

"What do you mean, Yome?" asked Natsume.

"As he was looking at you, he kept on sending mental pictures on different ways to torture you. Your mother added fuel to the fire as well. He was boiling in fury when she offered Aoi." Koko explained.

"I'm the one who wants to murder him." Natsume said. "I want to rip his tongue out."

"Just remember this, Natsume," Koko advised. "He's one person you don't want to make an enemy out of."

Natsume breathed. "I know."

A young girl of seventeen was sketching endlessly inside her room. Her drawings were scattered around the place. She didn't find it odd that she was relentlessly drawing the same thing for ten years straight already. She assumed that it started to become her habit. It started when she dreamt of his face in the middle of the night. He had allured her. He was a stranger to her yet it felt like she had known him for a long time.

The door opened and Kuonji stepped inside. He unbuttoned his shirt and went straight to his sister's side. He gave her a peck and sat on the edge of her bed.

"You should be resting." He said as he ran his fingers in her brown hair.

"I couldn't," she said. "I dreamt of him again in my nap. This time he was drinking wine. He's so graceful and wonderful and I just have to draw him. Don't you find him beautiful?"

"Only because you drew him." He replied.

Kuonji glanced at her drawing and scowled. The stranger in her drawings was no longer a stranger to him. He had hated him for years and he had finally met him. He wanted to rip his heart out in public, although that would bring shame to his family. He didn't know how much restrain he had. He was impressed of himself to last that long.

He couldn't forget his damned mother. How dare the woman offered her daughter when he had the best woman he could have by his side.

"How was the party?" she asked excitedly.

"Boring," he replied. "You wouldn't enjoy it. It's a room full of old, nosy vampires. I'm glad you didn't come, you would be bored to death."

"Oh," she pouted. He felt a bit sorry for her and regretted on what he had just said. "I won't be bored. You say that because you're not locked in a room for years away from other people."

"Father would surely let you out someday." He encouraged her, although deep inside him he had hoped that their father wouldn't. He wanted her to stay in this room forever. He wanted her here where he knew she would be safe and where she would always be whenever he returns.

She tugged his sleeves. "Could you convince daddy to let me out? I'm longing to walk in a park and even attend school!"

"School? Bah!" her brother mocked. "Try taking my place in homeschool then you'll know how hard it is."

He noticed the tears forming at her sister's eyes. He wiped them away with his sleeve. "Don't cry, Mikan."

"I'm so tired being trapped inside of this room," she complained. "I want to live my life the way I want to."

"Father wouldn't approve of your idea," Kuonji said. "He wants you safe and so do I. You're special to the both of us. Once you're in the outside world, a lot of people would use and abuse you. I don't want that for you."

She rested her head on his shoulder. "But I wouldn't be taken advantage of if you're with me," she said, much to his delight. "You'll protect me, won't you?"

He smiled at her. She was his angel and he would do everything to keep her by his side, even if he became the devil to do so. "I will."

"I'm thirsty." Mikan said. Kuonji smiled devilishly and tapped his fingers on his neck. She smiled back and sank her fangs onto his skin. He wanted more of her. He closed his eyes tight and plunged his fangs against her neck and both of them dropped silently onto his sister's bed. Her hands were on his chest as his was around her back. He loved her madly and it was enough that she was by his side.

One day the time would come where they wouldn't just be brother and sister, but man and wife. He was yearning for that day to arrive soon.

When he opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Natsume's face drawn beautifully by his sister. He reached out for the drawing and crumpled it into a ball.

Tonight he didn't want his sister to dream of him.