Hey everyone! It's me again! I just want to say that I'm doing a little time skip! I hope you guys are fine with it! Also, I've decided that I will make this story Natsume's POV! And then, if you want, I will make a sequel to this except all it really would be is this story except in Mikan's POV! So, if you want this, at the end of this story, I will put up a poll to see how many people want this to happen! Any who, let's get this chapter started, ne? :D

DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own Gakuen Alice nor do I own its characters! They both belong to the awesome Tachibana Higuchi! I only own the plot and randomly created characters that I make! :D

Last time on Outside the Gates

(:D)

I sighed as Ruka and I got to our classroom: class 2-B. The two of us readied ourselves for hell, considering we heard the giggles and whispers of our fan club.

"Are you sure you're ready for school right now Natsume?" Ruka asked me.

I turned towards him and saw the worry in his eyes. I just rolled my own eyes and nodded my head. Ruka and I faced the door, our faces blank. Slowly, I opened the door, greeted by my class mates of many years.

Outside the Gates

~Chapter 3~

~Natsume's POV~

It has been a month since I've seen that little girl Mikan. I'm not saying that I don't have any missions. Actually, I've had exactly 13. And each time, I've had this urge to go and visit her. But, each time, I stopped myself, not sure what would be in store if I visit her. If I visit her during a regular mission, which is what I have been going on all this time, Persona would have been suspicious. Usually, a regular mission would only last for a few hours or a day at the most. But, I never visited her. But for some odd reason, I really want to see her again. And, just to let you all know, I've never, EVER felt this way before about anyone, much less a girl.

Currently, I was training with the evil Persona. It's still hard to believe that Mikan, the bubbly, kind girl was the little sister of the cold and unfeeling Persona. Other than their stealth, they have nothing in common. Okay, maybe they do have some similar facial features courtesy of the photograph, but that could have easily changed by now! I bet that picture was taken a year or two back! But, a year or two back, Persona would never smile. He would always be cold and stoic; nothing more, nothing less.

"Stay focused Kuro Neko" Persona said, hitting me with a random stick he picked up off the ground. Wait, what? A stick? He would usually use a whip or his Alice or something. What was up with him today?

I shrugged the thought off and did as he told. And after a few hours of training, we stopped. I had successfully kept away from his alice- the Alice of death- and survived training without a scratch. But something was seriously off with this guy. He was going easy on me. This had never happened before. He was always hard on me, physically damaging me so that I would get better. Now, he was going easy on me and not giving me hell if I let my guard down during our spars.

I stood up and walked towards Persona. Actually, he was more approachable today than he ever was. He raised an eyebrow yet he still allowed me to approach him. Hmm, he would have cursed me by now.

"You seem off Persona" I said, raising an eyebrow at him. "...What's up?"

I know, total change in mood towards this fucking bastard but what the hell? I was curious! What had gotten him so, I dunno, happy? Yeah, happy, that's the word!

I watched as Persona's eyes lit up behind his white mask.

"Well, I just met up with my little sister and brother and..." Persona got to his senses.

By now, I thought it was the apocalypse. I just witnessed the 'bubbly' and 'happy' Persona. I was pretty much showing all emotion...unintentionally. My eyes were wide, my mouth hung open a bit and I swear that I was going to go crazy until Persona pulled his act together and went back to his usual self. Oh, wait; I'm no longer sure what his 'usual self' is. Whatever, I'm fucking out of here!

I pulled myself together and started to walk away until Persona called me back. Reluctantly, because of how scared I was to face the 'happy Persona', I did as I was expected to. Persona motioned for me to come back to where I once was. And guess what? I did.

"I NEVER want you to tell ANYONE about what you just saw" Persona glared at me, his voice icy.

I nodded to him, not allowing him to see any of my emotions.

"And you will NOT tell anyone I have younger siblings, do you understand?" Persona asked, expression and tone still the same.

I nodded once more. Now, I have all the proof that Mikan and Youichi are Persona's siblings. I guess I have to visit my little Kohai later. I turned around and left the practice field, heading to my dorm to get cleaned up. It all only took me 15 minutes. And since it was only about an hour till dinner time, I went to Youichi's room. If I want to confirm my suspicions, I guess now's the time to do it.

I walked down the halls and to Youichi's room. Wait, what would happen if he found out I met his sister? Oh, that will NOT be good. So, I sighed and made my way to my room and just before I got to the door, Persona appeared in front of me.

"Kuro Neko, you have a mission. Meet me in the Northern Forest as soon as possible." And with that, he disappeared.

I sighed and went into my room. I didn't bother to change. We would D.A. spies would usually just wear their uniforms to their missions. All I did was grab my black cat mask and jump out of my window. I slipped the mask on once I was on the ground and jumped from tree to tree, trying to get to the Northern Forest.

I got there in a few minutes to find Persona waiting for me in the middle of a clearing. I jumped in front of him, watching his movement to see how he was feeling today. Honestly, I was hella scared due to the little show Persona put up not too long ago.

That's when I grew irritated. Couldn't this guy tell me that I had a mission when I was here a few minutes ago? What an idiot! When it comes to his siblings, he's so retarded. Wow, I never thought he had that side of him. Whatever, let's not think of this.

I watched as Persona pulled a manila folder out of nowhere and hand it to me.

"You need to go to secret base of the AAO and gather a blue print. It is laid out on a disk in room F-23. The map to the building is in the folder along with the other information. It is crucial that you get this blue print. You have 4 days to complete this mission. Dismissed." And he disappeared.

I looked down at the folder and started to read it. The building is actually pretty big. On ground level, it is only one story but the whole base is built underground. It had five floors in all and the blue print is on the floor deepest underground; the fifth floor. It showed that each floor was guarded by at least two hundred men but on the fifth floor, it contained maybe a thousand. Wow, that's a big difference. The location of the base was at the country side once more; meaning, I would be able to see Mikan again if I get the chance to!

My heart skipped a beat as I realized this. How much I've been anticipating this! I really want to see her. So much for not creating any personal connections to the girl. I read more of the document and studied the map until I was familiar with the area. At the bottom of the page, it read "Your mission starts at 6." I knew exactly why it would take that long: 1) If they expected me to walk, it would take a day for me to get to that area. 2) It was going to be a long ass time for me to get down to the fifth floor if the place had 300 guards each floor. 3) When you go to an AAO base, there are barely any hiding spots so I can easily get caught and captured. Right now, it was 5:30. I have thirty minutes to ready myself for this mission.

So, I went back to my room, had some dinner, warmed up for the mission, stashed some of my Alice stones that I had gotten from Persona and some of my friends in my pocket, and when I was finally done, I met up with Persona at the front gate. And I made it exactly on the hour of 6.

"Now, get going Kuro Neko. Don't fail me." Persona said, watching me start the mission.

"As if I ever had" I muttered under my breath.

I quickly and silently made my way down the street. When I could no longer feel Persona's presence, I pulled out my teleportation Alice stone. Then, I teleported to the outlining of trees of the AAO's base. I watched the guards' movements, familiarizing myself with how they patrolled the place. And when I was sure none of the guards were looking, I crept up to a window and carefully slipped through the opening in it, seeing as it was as big as me.

I quickly made my way down the fifth floor of the AAO. It wasn't easy though. This place was actually pretty well guarded. There weren't that many hiding places so I had to be quick in finding a new one once I was out in the open once more. I actually think it took me the whole night just to get down there.

Once I got to the room, I noticed that that there were a whole bunch of guards guarding a safe. I instantly knew that I would need to open that up WITHOUT any guards setting off the emergency alarm. I quickly slinked in when all the guards' backs were turned and hid behind a crate. I tried to formulate a plan that would be able to keep all of the guards from being able to hit that alarm. And once I formulated one, I instantly started it.

Once all of the guards where as close together as they could get, I put a huge ring of fire around them so that they wouldn't be able to escape without getting burned. Then, I quickly and calmly stepped into the ring of fire, not getting injured by it. All the guards pulled out their guns and started shooting at me. But, I dodged them easily, knocking out each guard one by one. Once I was done knocking them all out, I let the fire die down. I escaped the fight with only a few grazes of bullets.

I went up to the vault and cracked the code expertly. Then, I opened the door and got out the disk, safely tucking it in my short's pocket. I noticed some movement behind me and I quickly turned around, only to get shot in the left shoulder. I clutched my shoulder as I set the guard's gun on fire. It was one of the men that I had knocked out. Apparently, I didn't hit his head hard enough. So, I ran up to him and punched him, knocking him out once more. I quickly checked the other guards to see if they were all knocked out. And once I was sure, I ran out of the room, closing the door and hiding behind the closest object big enough to do so.

I slowly made my way out of the AAO base, mostly because of the blood loss. When I got out of the base and safely back into the shadows of the trees, I noticed that it was the sunset of the first day. I finished this whole thing in a day. But, I had been rushing too. I really wanted to see that little girl again.

I started walking towards her little town, not using the Alice stone so that I would be able to use it when I needed it most. I snuck through her town so that no one would be suspicious after they saw me. If I were caught, I would be in deep trouble. When I got to her house, I peered in through her window to see that she wasn't there. Odd.

I jumped down and jumped the fence to her back yard. I decided to walk around town. I took off my black cat mast and just held it in my hand as I walked around. I kept walking around for about 45 minutes and then I noticed familiar light brown hair. I turned my gaze toward the person and saw that it was the girl I was looking for: Mikan. She was walking in the direction of her home, not acknowledging the stares she got from multiple boys as she held onto her school bag on her shoulder. I don't know why, but I felt sort of possessive towards her. I didn't like the way that other guys were ogling her. So, I did what any other overly possessive boy that barely even knows this certain girl but doesn't like those looks guys are giving her: I walked up to her and tapped her shoulder.

Mikan turned around and when she saw me, her eyes widened. After a second, they went back to normal and she gave me a huge grin.

"Why, hello stranger. Long time no see!" she said in her bubbly voice, grinning like an idiot. She had this weird sparkle in her eyes...I couldn't figure out what it was.

"Hn" I muttered, shoving my hands into my pocket but wincing at the sudden movement.

Mikan noticed this and looked at my shoulder; my left shoulder. And then, she gasped. She lifted her hand and brushed her fingers over my gunshot wound. I fought the urge to growl; I just shut my eyes tightly instead.

"Oh my gosh….what happened to you?" Mikan asked me, worry etched on her face.

"Nothing" I answered. These missions were classified. I wasn't allowed to tell anyone anything. Even if it were Persona's sister; though, I don't think she knows I know that Persona is her brother and so is Youichi. I don't think it's a good idea to tell her I know them either. I don't know why, I just don't.

"Come on, follow me. Let's get you patched up" she said, gently grabbing onto my unharmed arm and leading me the direction she was walking.

Mikan led me to her house and snuck me to her front door. She quietly unlocked her door and opened it up, peering into the house. Then, she grabbed my hand and pulled me into her house. She ushered me upstairs as she was peering down the hall, a nervous look on her face.

"Mikan! There you are! Come here now!" a snobby voice called out. The voice sounded furious.

Mikan winced and looked back to me. With one more push, she whispered "Go up to my room. Don't get caught!"

And with that, she was off, walking down the hallway while fidgeting nervously. I wonder what is wrong with her; I couldn't help the worried feeling I got for her. I shook my head and went up to her room, picking the lock when I got there. I locked the door behind me when I got inside and I sat on her bed, looking out of her window.

All of a sudden, I heard a huge crash and a whole bunch of yelling downstairs. But none of the voices were Mikan's. They must have been other people down there. I then heard feet running up the stairs and towards the room door. I heard the lock being opened and Mikan came in, slamming the door behind her. There was a whole bunch of yelling on the other side of the door along with banging and such.

"Shit" Mikan muttered under her breathe as she ran around her room, packing as many clothes and childhood items she could in a duffle bag she got out of her closet. She packed clothes, pictures, notebooks, etc. She put her wallet and a secret stash of money she had been hiding behind a poster into her school bag which was still slung across her shoulder. She grabbed her MP3 and its charger and put it in her school bag as well.

She walked to the window and opened it up. She looked towards me and motioned for me to follow. Then, she jumped. I followed suit and landed right next to her. The both of us hopped the fence and ran up the hill.

"I'm so sorry" she told me, not ceasing her sprint.

I nodded to her as she continued.

"This has happened before so luckily I have made a little house out of a shed I found. I just don't think I'll ever go back again." As she said this, she looked kind of depressed. My eyes softened at the sight but I kept quiet as she continued once more. "I'll help you out over there. So, don't blank out on me now, ne?"

The both of us kept running for about 10 minutes until I saw a small shack coming into view. When we reached the door, Mikan got out a different key from her school bag and unlocked the door. I decided to look around at my surroundings. There was a huge Oak tree in the front of the shack. The shack was small, made of sturdy wood that looked as if it had very high quality. But, it still didn't look like much.

When the both of us got inside, I couldn't help but be dumbfounded. It was huge! On the outside, it may look small, but once you get inside, it was huge! When we stepped in, there was a small kitchen to the left and to the right was a small, two person dining table.

"Follow me" Mikan said as she started down the stairwell.

I nodded and followed her. When we got down, there was a small hallway. Two doors were on the right and one on the left with a door at the end of the hall. Mikan opened up the door on the left and put down her bags on the floor, getting her first aid kit out first. Then, she opened up the first door on the left which was right across from what I believed was her room and led me into another room.

Inside the room, there was a twin sized bed on the left side, centered on the wall. It had red bed sheets with a white pillow. There was a small bedside table to the right side of the bed and a lamp on top of it. A closet was to the far right corner of the room. All in all, the room was small.

Mikan led me to the bed and sat me down, turning on the lamp. She started working on my shoulder, grabbing tweezers to take out the bullet.

"This is going to hurt a bit" Mikan told me as she positioned herself to take out the bullet. I nodded to her, signaling to get it over with.

Mikan started extracting the bullet. And as she did so, I hissed in pain, clutching onto my mask that I had totally forgot was there.

"S-sorry, almost done" Mikan apologized.

A few more minutes later of grinding my teeth, she was finally done. She sighed as she whipped the sweat from her forehead. Mikan put the tweezers and bullet away as she started to dress the wound, putting on some disinfectant before putting on the gauze. And when she was done, she sanitized the tweezers and threw the bullet away, putting away her tools.

"So, how does it feel?" Mikan asked me, out of breath.

"Better" I muttered. "Thanks."

"Your welcome" she said, smiling.

"So, how did you get this place?" I asked her as I followed her to her room.

"My brothers and I made it together, just in case I needed it."

Oh, so her brothers helped to make it for her. I looked around her room as Mikan adjusted her things, putting all her stuff away. Her room was arranged exactly the same as mine. The only differences was that her bed sheets were orange with pink Sakura petal designs on them and her dresser had the same picture of her and her family. As she was filling her closet, I couldn't help but ask her the question I had inside of my head: was she REALLY related to Persona and Youichi?

"Hey, who's your family? It's obvious that those people back there aren't them" I asked, pointing the way we had come.

Mikan looked back at me, closing her closet. And then, she sighed. Making her way to her bed, she asked "I guess I have to tell you huh?"

"...You don't have to..."

"It's alright. I owe you an explanation due to the fact I made you run two miles from there with a gunshot in your shoulder anyways."

Mikan sighed as she sat on her bed, motioning for me to sit down. I did. Then, she grabbed her picture of her family and showed it to me.

"This is, of course, my family. This is my mom Yuka Azumi" she said, pointing to the said person, "my dad Izumi Yukihara, my little brother Youichi, and my elder brother Rei."

Wait, now I'm confused. Persona's name isn't Rei.

"What happened to them?" I asked her.

"Well, after my parents died in a...an accident, Rei tried to keep me from going to Gakuen Alice, the school that both Youichi and Rei were recruited into when I was 16 years old. Somehow, they've come out of the school and visited me. I've heard that no matter how much you try, you cannot escape. But, seeing that Rei is now a teacher there, I guess he can get away with it. When Youichi was old enough to understand this situation, he helped in keeping me out of the school's clutches. So, we made this place so that I can run away from my aunt's house. So there you have it!"

Mikan had a smile on her face, but no matter how big she smiled, I could see the glint of depression in her eyes due to the separation of her family.

Mikan must have noticed that I had been thinking of this because all of a sudden, she said "But you know what's funny? My Rei-nii changed his name in the academy! He thinks it's a cool name but it really is stupid. His new name is Persona...But everyone knows that that name means 'person' in Spanish. Haha, how weird!"

Okay, now THAT made sense. Persona's real name is Rei. Huh, I guess she really is related to Youichi and Persona. She has the picture to prove it.

"I'm guessing you're 17 little girl?" I asked her playfully. What was wrong with me?

"I'm not a little girl! But...yes. I am 17." Mikan replied, pouting cutely.

"Hn."

"By any chance, are you hungry?" Mikan asked me.

I was about to reply when my stomach growled...loudly. My cheeks tinted pink and I hid it with my bangs. Mikan started laughing and I glared at her, hoping the blush was gone.

"I guess you are!" She got up and headed out of the room. I followed suit.

When we got to the kitchen, Mikan explained to me that this place was stocked with everything we would need. She let me know where everything was: the bathroom was that door right next to what she said was my room and the door at the end of the hall was the laundry room. As Mikan cooked dinner, I sat down on the counter, watching her run around the kitchen.

"You know" Mikan started as she was cutting up some veggies, "I can't properly make food if you just sit on a counter that I can use to cook."

"Hn" I answered, shrugging.

Mikan sighed as she finished up her work. "I hope you don't mind curry" Mikan said, setting up the plates as the said food cooked.

"I like curry" I said, overly enthusiastically. What can I say? I'm hungry.

Mikan giggled as she walked back to the stove, stirring the food. "Well, it's done!" Mikan exclaimed after a while of it cooking.

"Tell me when to stop okay?" Mikan asked. I nodded.

Mikan put some rice on my plate and when I told her to stop, she started with the curry. When I told her it was enough, Mikan set my plate on the table and got her own. I sat down as she did and nodded to her in thanks. Mikan smiled as if to say 'your welcome' and we started to eat.

When I tasted her food, I swear I was in La La Land! It was the best I had ever tasted! I couldn't believe that this little girl cooked this good!

"So, how do you like it?" Mikan asked after swallowing.

"It's great!" I said incredulously. I still couldn't believe in the words I said. Wow, I am REALLY out of character!

"Th-thanks!" Mikan giggled.

The rest of the meal was silent. But, it wasn't awkward. The silence was really comfortable. When we were done, Mikan cleaned the dishes as I helped clean up the table. Then, Mikan led me downstairs and gave me some clothes that I could wear so I could take a shower. Mikan told me that I could wash my clothes too if I wanted. I took a shower and washed my clothes as she said and Mikan took the shower when I was done.

"Do you need anything?" Mikan asked me, poking her head in through the door.

I shook my head, lying down on the bed with my arms under my head as Mikan nodded.

"Well, if you need anything, I'm right across the hall" Mikan said.

"Hn. Night" I said, closing my eyes.

"Night" she replied, closing the door.

I didn't know how exhausted I was until I closed my eyes; because instantly, I fell asleep.

~Chapter 3 End~

So, I've made a fast forward and Natsume and Mikan met again. And, as you've probably noticed, Mikan really is the sister of Persona and Youichi! I hope I really didn't disappoint you! And I hope to make another chapter soon!

I would also like to say sorry for not replying to reviews personally! I am reading every single one and they all make me feel warm and fuzzy! It's just that I don't have much time anymore! So sorry! But, I'll still put the thanks on here!

So, here's a thank you to all those who have reviewed! I'm sorry I can't put all of your names down! I'm just pressed for time! Please forgive me!

Anywho, thank you very much and I will see you all next chapter! See ya!

~natsumikanluverization697 logging off! :D