Disclaimer: I do not own Gakuen Alice or any of its characters. All credits go to the creator, Tachibana Higuchi.

December 31st.

Three months have passed since Natsume has joined the Blood. The only thing left was his initiation which was supposed to be happening soon. Eric has been helping him on honing his fighting skills, and soon it was evident that he quickly became one of Eric's favorite. Everyone regarded Eric highly, and even considered him to be their "leader".

Natsume's birthday passed two weeks ago when he finally turned sixteen. He remembered Eric planning a big party for his 16th birthday, and for a moment; that was the happiest he had felt in the longest time.

It was December 31st, the death anniversary of his mother and sister. Natsume decided to travel over to where they were buried at. He was standing in front of the graves of his mother's and his sister, Aoi's. He placed a single rose on each of the grave.

"Hey mom, it's been a while huh?" Natsume began softly, "It's already been two years, and I miss you and Aoi so much. And now dad too. Even he's gone. But all of you are probably happily together in heaven. It's okay though, even if we're not together; I hope all of you are happy. I know I kind of am. I'm finally welcomed somewhere. And Dad, I'm going to finally be able to take revenge for your death."

"Natsume?" Roy interrupted.

"Yeah?"

"Sorry to interrupt, but Eric's calling for you. He wants to talk to you about something."

"Oh, okay. Give me a few minutes okay?"

"Okay." Roy said.

"I gotta go mom, dad, Aoi. If all goes well… then I'll come back and talk to you guys soon. Bye for now." Natsume said.

-o-

They were back at the meeting room where Eric was already sitting, reading papers.

"I'll talk with you later, Natsume." Roy said, before walking back outside.

"Ah, Natsume. You're back. Sorry to interrupt your moment with your family." He said apologetically.

"It's okay. Roy said you wanted to see me?"

"Yes. It's about your initiation. I believe it's time. Are you ready?"

"I've been waiting for this moment. When do I do this?"

"Tomorrow night."

Natsume nodded.

"You know, I have to admit Natsume, I'm surprised." Eric said, chuckling a little.

"Surprised? At what?" Natsume said confusedly.

"Not many people your age would be willing to kill a man and his family so easily without a care."

"Yeah well, I've been through a lot. And after a while, you don't care for anything or anyone but yourself and your own desires." Natsume said bitterly.

"Nicely said." Eric praised.

"You'll be going tomorrow night. And some of us will go tomorrow as back up, just in case anything goes wrong. So get a good rest tonight." Eric continued.

"Thanks, Eric. Anything else?"

"No, that's it. You can go." Eric said dismissively.

-o-

The following day came sooner to Natsume than it should of. He was sitting in the meeting room when Roy came out.

"Hey man, you alright? You look kinda scared." He asked.

"I'm not scared… I'm just, I don't know actually." Natsume chuckled, "It's like, I've been waiting for this moment for forever, but now that I think about it… I'm planning to kill someone."

Roy nodded, understanding the situation. "Don't worry; you're not the only one. I went through the same thing. Actually, all of us here had to undergo an initiation like yours."

"Really?" Natsume asked, "What about the consequences?"

"None." Roy smirked, "We kind of lay low, thus we never get caught. Only some of us are unlucky to get caught for being sloppy in what they do. Plus, Eric looks out for us."

Before Natsume can make a comment, Eric came in.

"It's nighttime. Let's go, Natsume." Eric said, with a group of people behind him.

Everyone got into the car, except for Eric and Natsume. The driver was already in the driver's seat, and everyone got situated in the car.

"Wait Natsume," Eric called out, holding out a set of black clothes. "Change into this, it'll conceal you better." He said.

"Alright." Natsume said nervously, heading back into the house to change. "Wait. This too." Eric said, handing him a Glock 20 Pistol. "You'll be needing this."

Natsume tentatively took the killing weapon into his hands. It felt cold, heavy and abnormal for him to be holding it.

They were outside the home of Izumi Yukihara, and Natsume could see the lights were on through the open windows. He saw a family of three, sitting around a table, while laughing. All the doubt and fear that he felt vanished, and replacing it was resentment for Izumi. He'll finally get what he deserves today, Natsume thought.

"You know what to do, right?" Eric asked.

"Yeah."

"Then good luck."

-o-

Natsume got out of the car, pulled the mask over his face, positioned the gloves over his hands, and placed the gun in its holster on the side where no one would be able to see it at first glance.

He darted across the street and knocked on the door 3 times.

"Hold on, I'm coming." He heard a lady say.

He gulped and knew what he had to do right when the lady opened the door. He placed his hand on the gun…

"Who is it?" the lady asked when she opened the door.

Natsume placed his other hand over her mouth and suffocated her until she went limp. He moved the body into the house while stepping into the house and closed the door.

"Who is it, Yuka?" Izumi asked.

Natsume stepped into Izumi's path.

"Who are you?" Izumi demanded, stepping in front of a girl.

Natsume then realized the 'Happy Birthday!' banners decorated around the living room. It must be this girl's birthday today.

"What did you do to my wife?" He demanded, "Yuka?" he called out.

"Don't make a sound. This is what you deserve." Natsume said coldly, pulling out a gun.

Izumi's eyes widened at the site of the gun. "Please don't do this." He pleaded, "I'll give you anything you want!"

"How about my dead father back then?" Natsume shouted, "CAN YOU BRING HIM BACK?"

Confusion flashed through Izumi's eyes, "Are you… that boy from before?"

Natsume took off his mask. His crimson eyes blazed with anger. "I'm glad that you remember." He bitterly said.

Natsume held the pistol at shooting range.

"You don't want to take this path, young man." Izumi warned, "It'll only bring you nothing but trouble in the future. You're still young. Don't be like your father."

"Don't you dare bring up my father."

Izumi was about to rebuttal with a comment, but he was interrupted when the girl behind him said, "Dad? What's going on?"

Izumi turned around slightly, "I'm not sure, darling. It'll be okay though. Don't worry."

Natsume snorted. "Oh no, you should worry. Everything's not going to be okay."

Izumi faced Natsume. "Please, don't do this." He pleaded again.

"There's a popular phrase that people say: 'An eye for an eye.' Or in this case, 'A life for a life.'" Natsume said, pulling the trigger after he aimed at the chest.

Izumi fell down immediately and a pool of blood surrounded his body. During this time, Natsume was able to fully look at the girl who didn't seem to be that much younger than he was.

She looked scared to death as she stepped away from the growing pool of blood. Her body was trembling while tears began to stream down, as she sat down on the floor.

Natsume placed his mask back on, and took a step towards her, while she remained where she was.

"How old are you?" he asked.

"Fourteen." She replied quietly, her voice shaking.

"Are you going to kill me too?" she blurted.

Natsume glanced outside the window and saw the car that Eric and the other Blood members were in. He glanced back at the girl's scared face which was streaked with tears that were streaming down her face.

"Kill Izumi Yukihara and his family."

Natsume knew that those were Eric's order, but he couldn't bring himself to kill this girl. He heard her trying to calm her sobbing.

"Until the car leaves, duck under the window, and when the car leaves, leave the house and go somewhere safe." Natsume said.

"The car?" the girl asked.

"Across the street."

"Why aren't you going to kill me?" she asked, "Aren't I a witness of the crime?"

"I don't know. I don't feel like killing you." Natsume said.

Natsume aimed at a flower vase on a nearby table, and pulled the trigger.

"Why did you do that?" the girl exclaimed.

"To make it sound like I killed you." Natsume said, walking back towards the front door, leaving the girl where she was.

He was about to open the door, and with his back turned, "I know it probably won't make a difference, but I'm sorry." He said earnestly. "And remember, leave after the car leaves. It'd probably be best if you wait a while too." He said, stepping out of the house and darted across the street to get back into the car.

-o-

"I assume everything went according to plan?" Eric asked.

"Yep." Natsume replied nonchalantly.

Eric smiled, while the others cheered. "Well, then you are now officially, a member of the Blood." Eric said.

"How did you feel, Natsume?" someone asked.

"It felt great, didn't it? To be able to finally get revenge." Someone said.

"Yeah…" Natsume said distantly, "Felt great." He repeated.

Over the next couple years, Natsume kept on following Eric's orders; killing various people for some absurd reason. And steadily, everyone in the Blood could tell that Natsume became a different person. No one ever saw him unless Eric called for him to do something for him. Natsume spent his nights alone, and no one knew what he did or where he was at.

After that fateful night at the Izumi's house, Natsume seemed to change into someone so cold; changed into someone that didn't even know who he was anymore.