Chapter 3

The Black Shark

Mikan's POV

''Quiet down class! I have something very important to tell you all!'' declared the teacher of Class C of Alice Academy America, Ms. Asami. ''We have a new student. Come on in!''

That's my cue. I twisted the knob and opened the door. I pranced enthusiastically in front of the classroom.

''Hi, my name is Sakura Mikan. Nice to meet you all!'' I declared joyfully with a smile.

''Is there any questions for Miss Sakura?'' Immediately hands shoot up in the air. She pointed to a student with ocean blue orbs and hair. ''What's your question Maya?''

''What's her Alice? What's her star rank?'' she asked in a curious tone.

''I have the Nullification Alice and SEC Alice which stands for Steal, Erase, and Copy. I'm a Special Star and I'm in the Special, um I mean, Dangerous Class.''

''Anymore questions?'' Ms. Asami asked.

''Are you single!'' one of the boys blurted out with clear hope and desperation in his voice.

''Umm…'' I uttered embarrassed and bushed furiously,'' Yea, I'm single.''

''Yes! Dibs on the new girl!'' boy number 1 declared.

''Hey no fair!'' shouted loudly boy number 2.

''She's mine!'' exclaimedboy number 3.

Wow, this is so much different than Alice Academy Japan. The guys there thought I was ugly and here, they are fighting over me. Weird huh?

''Would you guys shut up?'' interrupted one of the girls in the class.

''Please, settle down class!'' beggedMs. Asami. ''We need order here! Ord-''

Abruptly, the door flings open revealing a black-haired boy with shiny, hypnotizing sapphire orbs and scars all over his arms and legs. We stared at each other for a long time. He reminds me of Natsume. I spontaneously shed a single tear and it splattered on the floor.

''You are late for class Kevin Owens,'' Ms. Asami stated with arms folded.

''Whatever, old hag,'' he affronted with coldness and harshness before heading towards his seat.

Yep, he seriously reminds me of Natsume,

''Anyway, Mikan, you will be seating by Kevin.'' I gape at the empty seat next to Kevin which is by the window that has a great view of the looming, rich forest. I jiggled to Ms. Asami and hopped to my desk. ''Today class, we'll be learning…..''

Few Hours Later

I was parading, more like wandering, by myself near the edge of a medium-size lake in the forest. I was lost in thought not being fully aware of my surroundings.

''It is such a nice weather out here today,'' I commented out loud to no one in particular. ''I wonder if it's like this in Alice Academy Japan. I hope everyone is alright.''

''So you lived in Japan before you came to America?'' a mysterious voice uttered.

I twirled around to see the boy with the sparkly deep blue eyes and scars all over his figure. That's the boy in my class who came in late. What was his name? Um…oh yea! Kevin Owens.

''Yea, I use to go to the Alice Academy Japan. It's a nice school full of nice teachers and nice students who say nice words!'' I responded sheepishly grinning. Not all of the students say nice words though.

''Nice?'' he replied in a deep voice still with an emotionless face. ''Your name is Mika right?''

''Mikan. Mikan with an 'n' at the end.''

''Why were you,'' he paused for a slight second, but continued,''crying?''

''Crying? What are you talking about? I wasn't cryi-''

I suddenly remembered the single tear that splashed on the floor in class because I was thinking of that jerk Natsume or I should say Hyuuga.

''I wasn't crying,'' I lied. ''It's just that I'm allergic to…um cats! That's all especially to black cats.''

''Cats? There were no cats in the classroom,'' he stated with a suspicious look.

''Did I say cats? I meant...'' I exhaled heavily,'' the point is I wasn't crying!''

There was silence hovering over us. Awkward silence that is. Before it became more uncomfortable, I rotated and started to walk with my face down staring intensely at the ground. But then-

''Black Shark, who's the girl?'' an unknown voice spoke. .

I titled my head up. I witnessed a tall and slender man. A stranger with extensive, black as coal hair tied loosely in a ponytail wearing all black. Persona? No it can't be. This man has crimson eyes and long shiny hair unlike Persona. But he acts like Persona in a way. Could he be…?

''No one, Victor,'' he hissed sharply whiling marching closer to him and me, but still far behind.

''You missed your training today,'' he said deeply before smirking. ''Let's train right now, Black Shark.''

Black Shark? Is that some kind of code name for him? He's probably in the Dangerous Class! And this guy name Victor is the teacher! Black Shark? It's just like Natsume, but he's Black Shark. Ironic huh?

''We even have a little assistant to boast you're stamina and endurance,'' Victor uttered while simpering wickedly at me.

Suddenly, bombs started to shoot rapidly out of Victor's hands. I watched in bewilderment as they exploded in the air and on the ground, they looked like fireworks. Fireworks that you defiantly shouldn't be near. As they exploded, I covered myself with my arms and shrieked in horror. I felt my heart thumping out of my chest. I was ready for the impact, but…it never came. I peeked my eyes open and witnessed Kevin shielding my body from the bombs.

''Kevin!'' I screeched in shudder.

''I…..I'm alright,'' he responded with slashes and contusions all over him.

''My my. I have never seen the Black Shark protect someone without second thought. This is going to be fun,'' Victor remarked with an evil, devilish grin.

Victor began to grow bigger bombs out of his palms yet again. Kevin shielded me from the attacks with all his strength. Unable to stand on the ground, he flew high in the air and harshly plunged into the lake.

''Kevin!'' I screeched in fright.

For the third time, Victor aimeds several bombs at Kevin; however before it can hit Kevin, I dashed in front of him and a rosy purple glow covered the area around us. When the light evaporated and I can see clearer, I shook his body rapidly, but no response. Before I could shake him again, I could feel my mind and body slowly drifting into unconsciousness.

Kevin's POV

As I opened my eyes, I see a faded purple-red radiance. As it fades away, I see Mikan in the water, just like me, with marks, bruises, and scratches and her eyes relaxingly shut. I deliberately, steadily get on my knees and began shaking her body. No reaction.

''I think that's enough for one day. That little girl is a great addition to the Dangerous Ability Class. I can't wait till I work with her Alices, Nullification and SEC, in the future. She is now your partner, Black Shark. Make sure you're going to your training lessons if you don't want this little mishap to happen again.''

''You bastard!'' I retorted with the little energy I have left even though he vanishedfrom my eyes right before I cursed at him.

I stared at Sakura Mikan. So her Alices are Nullification and SEC. Those are such rare alices. No wonder she's in the Dangerous Class. Wait, why the hell am I just sitting around here doing nothing! I have to cleanse her wounds before they get worse. I swiftly gathered her in my arms. Wow, she's light as a feather. I carried her gently out of the lake and onto the verdant, lush grass. I slowly do movements with my arms. I stole the liquid out of the garments and gradually, they start to dry. I have the Water Alice. I can manipulate water in any way I can want. Out of my pocket, I take out a small cloth and cleansed her wounds.

Mikan's POV

I soon regained consciousness and come back to Earth. My head felt like it's going around in circles. I felt like I'm going to throw up or faint again. Unexpectedly, I felt warm hands dabbing my arms and legs softly. I felt like a new born baby being nurtured. After I can see to my full ability, I see a young boy with deep sea blue pools and silky black mane. Kevin!

''Kevin! What are you doing? What happened to me? What happened to you?'' I questioned in a panicky, perturbed attitude.

Kevin started to explain everything. The bomb attack and me using my Nullification alice and passing out.

''Oh yea! I remember now. Are you okay?'' I ask worried about him as I gaped at his wounds.

''I'm fine. I deal with this every day unlike you as I can tell from how you screamed and ducked when the bombs were heading towards you,'' he noted with a smirk.

My face turned tomato red. ''I'm not fighting material as you can see.''

I shamefacedly smiled. He grinned at me and continued with the healing process. Few second later, I was all better. Still I had some marks on my face, arms, legs, but it was better than before.

''Thank you, Kevin,'' I appreciated his act of kindness. I then realized something on Kevin's face. ''Kevin! Your head is bleeding!'' I stared at the blood dripping on his forehead. Without hesitation, I snatched the small towel he dabbed my scratches with, soaked it in the water, and patted his bloody face.

''It's OK, I'm fine,'' he said in an annoyed tone and lightly slaped my hand away.

Kevin's POV

Unexpectedly, the little girl starts to tear up. Was it something I said? Was it something I did? Why the hell is she crying?

''Oi, why in hell are you crying?'' I questioned pretending not to be anxious, but I really am.

''Because,'' sniff ,'' I want,'' sniff,'' to help. I want to be helpful. I don't want to sit around and watch people get hurt. I don't want to feel useless. I wanna help out, so...please let me help you! Please!''

I watched in astonishment and wonder. This girl. She has such a kind heart. It's not even impossible for me to believe that there's a girl like this in the world. I watched Mikan as more tears started to flow out of her eyes. Leisurely, I lifted my hand and patted her head.

''Stop crying or I won't let you fix my injuries,'' I said and spontaneously smile. A smile. Me smiling? Psh, that's hard to sink in. The ruthless, emotionless, and heartless Kevin Owen just smiled. Wow, this girl has an effect on me.

She wiped her tawny eyes and exclaimed with a jolly beam,'' Ok! Thank you Kevin for protecting me!''

As my mind moved on its own, I placed my hand on her cheek. I felt my face heating up and by her redness too, I think she felt hot too. I felt my heart beating loudly like a drum. I leaned in. Her trembling, heavy breath smelled like sweet strawberries. Maybe she snacked on some before she came out here in the middle of the woods. Centimeters away from our lips from touching, there was an interruption.

Normal POV

''Krista! Wait up!'' pleaded Maya.

''Come catch me if you can, Maya!'' answered Krista in a teasing manner.

Mikan and Kevin pulled away from each other and faced the opposite direction with both colored face.

Mikan and Kevin POV

''What is this feeling?''