Author's note:

Counting down the days of my mock independence...

5 left. Back to school when it reaches 0.

I express my gratitude to those who continue viewing/reviewing/following/favorite-ing this story.

SunBabyBoss: Intriguing. Involved... How? In what? I'm still scrambling for ideas, actually. Just like my previous work (not on this site), I'll be forever winging it. :)

I am not Higuchi Tachibana; I do not own Gakuen Alice.

IV: Caught In the Undertow

"There's something going on between her and Natsume Hyuuga. I don't know what it is, but I'm going to find out."

-x-

I now understand why this park was named after an extinct marine predator thrice or even four times the size of a great white shark.

"3...2...1...aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh! Oh my god! Oh my...waaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!"

That was me ripping my throat out screaming as I've been cruelly thrust into a grisly, spiraling 600-foot long vertebral column.

I flailed my arms uncontrollably throughout my descent, and cliché as it may be, watched my life flash before my very eyes like a movie fast-forwarded to the nth degree. The blood-streaked bones jutting out of the ceiling seemed to go on forever. I felt caged in a fearsome beast's jaws, barred from the outside by its vicious fangs.

I was aware that it was just a convoluted pathway that enabled travel from a certain height to a body of water situated at a lower elevation, I mean I could still feel, see, and taste the water gushing about me, but...

"Koko, I swear I'll haunt you when I die!" I shrieked.

How long have I been falling? How many times have I been rotated, twisted, shot through loops, and propelled up steep inclines only to have my heart dropping to my feet at the sudden change in concavity? I still had the wits to sigh. I've lost count.

I plunged into the five-foot pool while lying on my back. Liquid infiltrated my nose and my ears. I swam towards the surface, eyes locked on the hellish slide that had just spewed me out. To think that I actually survived that.

"Mikan, look out!" Permy yelled. Wait, Permy?

A click, a flash, and a painful collision with a swimsuit-clad bottom followed Permy's late warning. Her crash caused us both to sink deeper into the water. Rubbing my aching head, I helped her wade to the edge of the pool.

"Where. Is. That. Asshole. Kokoro Yome?!" Permy fumed. I backed off, dismissing my intention to reprimand her for not informing me in advance of her landing.

Where indeed? Where was our beloved sand-haired friend? No, no, I'm not mad. It's not like I'm itching to strangle the living daylight out of him.

"He never mentioned this place was Horrorland," I sighed.

A figure came barreling out of the chute like a cannon ball. Speak of the devil.

"Looking for me?" he had the nerve to ask. God bless you, Koko. God bless you.

"Come back here, idiot!" Permy shouted as she scuffled around the pool to chase him. "When I get my hands on you...!"

I flicked the wet fringes that were matted to my face as I watched Permy exact revenge on the whacko who pushed us into our deaths. In as much as I do not enjoy being driven to the point of almost pissing in my pants, I actually enjoyed the water slide of doom. I was slipping on my oversized Led Zeppelin tee when I heard another click, followed by a blinding flash.

"Hey! Why are you— Oh." I slowly raised my hand and waved it awkwardly. "Hello, Imai-sensei."

"Hello to you, too, Yukihira-san," she returned in a monotone. She was perched on one of the stone benches that were carved into shark jaws, with a camera in hand and a wide-brimmed sunhat over her head. Through her translucent lilac kaftan, I could glimpse a black single-strapped, asymmetrical top paired with a rather daring striped thong of the same color.

I gingerly took a spot beside her, careful not to impale my hindquarters on the sharp, concrete structures that were supposed to be teeth. "Wasn't expecting you here. What were you taking pictures of, if you don't mind me asking?"

She pressed a button on her camera, and out came a photograph. Of Permy and I. More specifically, of her butt on my face. A string of obscenities left my mouth, completely unfiltered and downright unladylike. Natsume Hyuuga wasn't the only one with a colorful vocabulary.

The photographer smirked wickedly at my reddened face. How can something seemingly harmless and atrociously adorable become so maleficent in a matter of seconds?

"You can keep that," she said before proceeding to tinkering with her camera.

I cradled the snapshot in my hands. It wasn't a glamour shot, but it wasn't something Permy and I couldn't make a good laugh out of.

"Thank you," I chirped cheerily. When I failed to elicit a verbal response, I started narrating my near-death experience and elaborated on how hungry I become after being subjected to intense levels of fear and terror. What a blithering idiot I was. She listened to me quietly. Or rather, ignored my babble.

Her eyes abandoned her camera and fell upon me. "Are you going to the concession stands?"

She finally spoke. Not the reply I was expecting. Nevertheless, it was better than her cold silence. I nodded.

"Good. Get me a dark chocolate smoothie and a seafood platter. Make sure they have crab, or else."

I blinked in confusion. "What?"

"You're buying food, are you not?"

"Oh. Uh, yes. Yes, I am."

"Then what are you standing here for?"

Brr. I wilted under her cold, domineering stare. Who knew she was this demanding? "Dark chocolate smoothie. Seafood platter. Crab. Got it," I chanted as I committed the list to memory.

"Remember, crabs," she said in an ominous tone, "or there will be repercussions." Her camera produced another photograph, one which I never imagined to lay my eyes upon. I gaped at the photo in horror.

"Unless you'd like pictures of you two kissing circulated throughout Japan, you will satisfy my demand."

"How on earth—? I-it's not like that," I huffed in indignation. I could feel my cheeks flaring up. "We were NOT kissing!"

"You know who I am. Such can be easily arranged," she put primly. This woman is diabolical!

"We've come to an understanding, yes?"

"Dare I refuse?"

Remembering her ultimatum, I unhappily stalked off toward the concession stands.

"Strawberry Shuffle and Black Blizzard for Miss Mikan."

"That's me."

"Thank you for choosing Whorl'dWild! Next customer!"

Smoothie: check. Seafood platter: check. Hold up. Dammit. No crab! Clutching the smoothies and a box of chicken wings in one hand, and the thrice-damned no-crab seafood platter in my other, I marched back to the store marked 'Marine Emporium.' The owner met me with an apology and a detailed explanation on the misappropriation of their langoustine and crab stocks. That just had to happen today. Thanks a lot, universe.

I resumed my search. It, unfortunately, like my hunt for vacant tables at Anna's last night, turned up empty. However, surrendering was not an option, not with my dignity and a potential friendship hanging on the line.

Journeying back to the pool area, I came across a shop of preserves and other bottled goods. If I can't procure the fresh crustacean, I might as well settle for the preserved version. After all, there were no specifications provided.

I examined the shelves for anything 'crab.' Pickled herring, strawberry preserves, black olives, dill, and pig's feet. I shuddered in disgust at the last one. Gross, just gross. I decided to consult the salesperson.

The bubblegum-blowing attendant typed something into her computer. "You're in luck, missy. We've got one jar of crab brains righttttt...there."

I dashed to the corner that she directed me to. Bingo! I gripped the jar, only to find another set of fingers wrapping themselves around it.

"Let go, Polka." Ugh. Natsume Hyuuga.

"It's mine," I bit back while reinforcing my hold.

"I got it first, and you know it."

"That is based on you and your twisted time frame. Event A: Mikan Yukihira grabs jar of crab brains occurred first."

"Special relativity, I see. Isn't your frame distorted, as well?"

"Unhand the jar. Thievery is a crime, you know."

"A crime of which you are guilty."

"How is taking what's mine a crime?"

"Your ownership has never been established."

"Give me the jar, or DIE."

"Your luck won't help you this time."

"That lowblow I landed was not by luck. That's one dull genius, to actually believe in some force tilting things in or against your favor."

"I used the term 'luck' for your benefit, idiot. Not everyone can fully grasp the concept of probability."

"Um, guys," Luca intervened between us, "you're getting off topic."

"Shut up, Luca!" we chorused, making the poor guy retreat toward the opposing shelf.

"Quit copying me, Polka."

"You're the one copying me. And I have a name. Mikan. M-I-K-A-N."

"I'll call you whatever I want. Now LET GO." He yanked the jar, dragging me along with it.

"You let go." I used my other hand to pry his fingers from the container but to no avail. Hyuuga's grip strength was nothing to joke about.

For the second time, Luca attempted to pacify us. "Why don't you let her be the judge?" He was referring to the blonde woman behind the cash register. "She should suffice as a lab frame."

"Fine."

"Hn."

The woman in question conjured a bubble, popped it, and resumed her gauche open-mouthed mastication. "I don't know what you youngsters been yappin' about. Missy or mister, whoever buys it doesnt matter. Now fork over the dough."

"Not helping," Luca grumbled as he dramatically slapped his palm against his forehead.

After witnessing the cashier's astounding arbitration efforts, I decided to change my approach. "Hyuuga, this is really important to me," I softened to a pleading tone. "There's much at stake here. Could you please curb your cravings for now? I'll buy you crab brains next time. A whole crate, if that's what you want."

"What the fuck?"

"Let me have this one for now. Please."

"No."

Looks like I have to spill the beans. "Earlier today, Hotaru Imai asked me to buy her some food: a dark chocolate smoothie and a seafood platter. Crab was a must-have. But the Marine Emporium, or any other store here, for that matter, didn't have any. I thought 'since she never actually specified what she meant by crab, any sort of crab would do.' Then I found the crab brains. So, will you please let me have this jar? Because if I return to her emptyhanded, she'll spread a picture of you and me kissing," I blurted out in one breath.

Hyuuga's eyes widened slightly. Luca's mouth hung agape.

"You kissed her?"

"Don't be ridiculous," Hyuuga replied with a roll of his eyes. His eyes bore into mine with such ferocity, but I could sense his grip loosening. Seizing the opportunity, I wrestled the jar out of his hands.

"Thanks a bunch!" I beamed at him.

He watched me as I moved across the store to the register. "You're not just doing it for the pictures," he said flatly.

I sent him a questioning look. "What's it to you? I'm befriending her."

He scoffed. "Like you've got a chance with that witch." Shoving his hands into his pockets, he turned to leave. "Let's go, Luca."

Luca trailed behind him like an obedient puppy. "Ja ne, Mikan-san!"

I found Hotaru Imai browsing her emails on her laptop.

As I took my place beside her, I noticed a bespectacled man in a teal floral shirt and white boardshorts standing a few feet from where we were. He was eyeing me suspiciously. Weird.

Imai gave me an appraising look, and unscrewed the lid of the jar of crab brains. "You're late," she remarked tonelessly.

"Well I'm sorry people around here don't have crabs," I murmured unapologetically. I took out my own food and frowned. My once scrumptious, crispy chicken wings were now cold and unappetizing. They still tasted good, though.

"Do you know him?" I pointed at four-eyes with my toothpick.

"An acquaintance," she drawled. She flicked her wrist, gesturing the man to come over.

He approached us with long, dignified strides. "Forgive my rude behavior. I am Yuu Tobita."

I studied the man's features as he straightened to his normal posture. Hm, androgynous. His ash blonde hair, which was cropped right below the ear, was a bit messy like sex hair. His eyes were about the same color as his locks. Intelligence was plain in the way they glimmered, and it had nothing to do with the glasses.

He struck me as effeminate. Too kind, even when he glared. Not particularly threatening. Acquaintance? Maybe Imai fancied the submissive types?

"Mikan Yukihira." I extended my hand.

He shook it briefly, then turned to Imai. "If you'll excuse me, I'm going for a lap." He disappeared into the water with a massive splash.

"Mikan-chan!"

I pivoted on my heel and saw Anna jogging towards me. Following her were Nonoko, a slant-eyed guy who bore an uncanny resemblance to Koko, and Permy who was dragging Koko by the collar of his shirt. Judging by Koko's expression, Permy had given him quite a beating. Hah! Serves him right.

Anna pulled me into a hug and complimented me on my swimsuit. "How cute! It matches my red velvet cupcakes, look."

Nonoko opened the container she was holding and brought out a maroon-colored cupcake studded with white droplets. Red with specks of white, just like my polka-dotted bikini.

"Anna's cupcakes? Gimme gimme!" Koko wriggled out of his shirt, much to Permy's annoyance, and made a leap for Anna's pastries.

"Koko's not having any." Permy swatted Koko's hand before he could even reach into the box.

"Hey, no fair! Don't listen to her, Nonoko."

"They're delicious," I commented as I helped myself to another cupcake.

"Aww, thanks, Mikan-chan," Anna blushed.

I approached Imai. "Wanna try?" I offered.

"Don't bother. She detests white chocolate."

"Hi, Sumi-chan, Mikan-san, and Koko."

Lo and behold, in all their shirtless glory, Luca Nogi and Natsume Hyuuga. If the hyperactive, hormonal fan girls were around, they'd surely drop like flies.

I hated Hyuuga's guts, but I had nothing against the overlying rectus abdominus, which was as well-defined as a Hersheys bar. And those pecs and obliques...just mouthwatering. Oh, impulse control, where art thou? Banish all forbidden fantasies of Hyuuga's heavenly body.

"Ogling, are we? Never took you for a pervert, Polka."

"H-how conceited," I replied in a feeble attempt to disguise my staring. Flushing crimson, I averted my eyes to my feet. "I did no such thing. The only pervert around here is you."

"Lying is bad, you know," he mocked. His eyes flickered to Imai, then to the jar of crab brains, and then to Yuu who was on Imai's right. "Who's he?"

Imai handed her crab brains to Yuu, leaned forward, and took a bite of my cupcake. "It's good," she said. The corners of her lips tugged slightly. It was minuscule, but it was the most beautiful smile I've ever seen.

Hyuuga narrowed his eyes at her, almost disbelieving. Imai broke off a portion of the cupcake and shoved it into Yuu's mouth.

A strange, stifling atmosphere was generated as amethyst met ruby. Sparks flew between Hyuuga and Imai, and those were not the romantic kind. Both were glaring daggers at each other, unblinking and unrelenting.

Before anyone could commit murder, someone interrupted with a "Natsume." Ever the pacifist, Luca?

Hyuuga arched an eyebrow at his best friend, and diverted his stare to me. "You'll only become a slave." He walked away, giving me a full view of his chiseled back.

"Thanks, Sumi-chan," Luca returned the cupcake that Permy shared with him. "Natsume, wait up!"

"How thrilling," Permy simpered as she plopped down beside me. "How goes sleuthing?"

I shook my head. "He just keeps discouraging me from making friends with her. What's his problem, anyway? And what was that about?"

"Hm," she hummed distractedly through the pastries stuffing her mouth. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think he was jealous."

I shrugged. "Let's worry about that later. I'd like to relax and have fun for now."

"If only." Permy sighed and fanned herself furiously. "Getting chased by robotic piranhas in a gigantic fishtank filled with blood red water is the definition of fun."

I swallowed inwardly. "They actually have that? More importantly, you actually went into that?"

"The perks of being friends with Kokoro Yome."

"You called?" the sand-haired devil interjected.

Permy smacked him on the head with her wooden fan. "Quit popping up like that, you numbskull. I've had one too many heart attacks today."

I nodded in agreement. "You failed to mention we'd be jumping out of our skin. Don't you have any normal rides?"

"Normal?" Koko questioned as he massaged his head.

"Yeah. The kind that won't scare us to death?"

"A ride, no." He looked around, doing a silent headcount. "There's nine of us here. Ten, if you count Imai's friend. That's a pretty good number for the game."

"Pardon?" Yuu looked at Koko quizzically.

"Tobita, you're joining," Imai stated blandly.

"Understood."

The rules were simple: don't get shot. Typical paintball.

The goal was more challenging, considering the greater fluid resistance provided by water. To win, the team must retrieve a shark fin chained to the floor at a certain depth in an undisclosed location. The chains contained locks, which can only be opened by keys in the possession of the members of the opposing team. Don't get hit, steal keys, locate fin, unlock chains, and take fin. Simple, right?

Luca's hand shot up. "Won't the paint get washed off?"

"These, my friend, are not your average paintballs," Koko answered knowingly. "Nonoko here made a compound that stains all solid surfaces and can only be dissolved by another solvent of her creation."

"You guys will have to see me after the game," Nonoko reminded. "I've yet to install the decontamination units in the shower rooms."

The teams were as follows:

Red Team: Anna, Luca, Nonoko, Imai, and Yuu; and,

Green Team: Koko, Permy, Koko's twin Kitsuneme, myself, and Hyuuga.

And here I was, looking forward to turning Hyuuga into Swiss cheese. Bummer.

We were given masks and waterproof comm units with colors corresponding to our teams. I tested the paintball gun on the wall. Fluorescent green marred the rich royal blue mural. Neat. Nonoko will have to spray the poor wall later. I fastened the mask over my head and positioned the comm in my ear.

A gunshot. Game start.

I immediately ran through knee level water and took cover behind a tombstone. Morbid. What was I expecting? The field was designed to be an underwater graveyard.

I caught sight of Luca running between tombs whilst continuously firing at a target outside my field of view. He dove and rolled into a mausoleum, narrowly dodging a shot aimed at his head.

I slowly moved to the next tombstone, wary of any sudden blasts from Luca. Suddenly, something came tumbling down the rocky incline 45 degrees with respect to my position.

Panic overcame me. I pulled the trigger mercilessly. I didn't remember closing my eyes. When I opened them, I came face to face with the Hulk's rock hard abs. A hand came down on my head, hard.

"What do you think you're doing, idiot?" Hyuuga lowered his mask to his neck, revealing an angered expression. He was out of breath and dripping wet. With the distance I shot him from, his chest was bound to be covered in bruises.

"Oops."

"Stupid," he muttered irritatedly. "I found the fin."

Already? Impressive, Hyuuga. But I wasn't going to inflate his already bursting ego. "You have some use after all."

"I bet you haven't even fired a single shot."

"Guess again, genius," I motioned at his paint-splattered body.

He glared at me darkly. "You're not supposed to frag your troops, you dimwit."

"I acted on instinct. You could've been the enemy."

"Whatever. I can't believe I missed. Seen anyone with Luca?"

"So full of yourself. I dunno. He's in that mausoleum. Let's surround him, and then open fire."

"You're forgetting the minimum distance rule."

"Oh right. Got any plans?"

Just then, Luca Nogi and Hotaru Imai burst out of the mausoleum, unleashing a torrent of paintballs on the area. They split, running in separate semicircles, with Luca darting to the left and Imai to the right.

"Move," Hyuuga growled in my ear. "We're going to be surrounded at this rate. I'll take down Luca. You handle Imai." He pulled his mask over his face. I followed suit and swam in the opposite direction.

Underwater, I could see nothing other than bones, caskets, rotting corpses, and other deceased creatures littering the floor. Some fifty meters to my right, I noticed a pair of legs I presumed to be Hyuuga's, on the basis of his clothing color. Imai's black thong was nowhere in sight. I decided to resurface, only to discover that the owner of the red trunks was Luca. Christ, I'm dead.

The impact was more forceful than I had anticipated. There was something about the sensation that felt off. Paintball pellets are not supposed to have digits. Paintball pellets are most certainly not supposed to cup breasts.

"Were you sleepwalking?" Hyuuga dared to mock after relinquishing my breast. Damn perverted bastard!

"Pervert! I thought he was you," I retorted while crossing my arms over my thorax.

"34B. Not bad, not bad at all," he smirked.

"Warn me next time, will you?!"

"You're begging to be shot," he hissed. "Luca sprayed his pants. Must've been Imai's idea, that crafty bitch. Do you have visual on her?"

"Nope. Just Luca's legs and some shipwreck debris. You?"

He shook his head, making his dark locks sprinkle me with water droplets. "Let's move. We still have some keys to steal."

We transferred to the adjacent protective surface, a half-buried, dilapidated speedboat.

"I've been meaning to ask, why do you hate her so much?" I inquired as I leaned against the cold metal.

He chewed the inside of his cheek, probably debating whether or not to dignify my question with a response. An unreadable expression slowly etched itself unto his features. "I don't," he said gruffly.

The characteristic sound of paintballs slapping against skin prevented me from prompting him further. Whatever. I'll have other chances.

At the corner of my eye, I glimpsed Kitsuneme receiving a vicious, machine gun-like barrage of paintballs from Luca. What a pitiful sight.

"Eep! Kitsu—"

"No, you dolt! Get back here!" Permy hissed as she pulled Koko back into hiding.

"Jeepers!" Koko exclaimed. "Imai must've tweaked their guns. That output was just insane." He grimaced at his slant-eyed counterpart who was now on his fours.

"Yome and Shouda can attack with their current range." Hyuuga pressed on the comm in his ear. "Yome, take two o'clock. Shouda, stay put. I'll take seven. Polka, on eleven."

"Copy that," Permy answered. "Anna's down. Nonoko escaped but we managed to extract her key."

"Tobita is MIA," Koko barked.

"Hn. Three more," Hyuuga said. "Now, open fire on Luca."

"When the hell—?! H-he-hey, you can't fi— Oh shit, my key!" came Koko's wails, threatening to blast my eardrums.

"Yome, report. What's going on?" Hyuuga demanded.

"To-to-to-Tobita!"

As if on cue, Yuu came somersaulting from Koko's location holding a...handgun. A real motherfucking handgun.

"Game over, guys, sorry," he said as he fired at an unseen target. "Please evacuate immediately."

A flash of midnight blue and bubblegum pink lulled me out of my shock. Nonoko and Anna were dashing at the northeastern corner, waving their arms and calling my name. Permy was being ushered to the exit by Koko, who was hauling a half-conscious Kitsuneme. Okay, good. They're safe.

The graveyard reverberated with the rhythmic symphony of rattling firearms and ricocheting bullets. Bodies fell, primarily of gunmen dressed in black suits. I retract all my comments on his sexuality or reliability; Yuu was quite the marksman.

"Has anyone seen Hotaru?" Yuu inquired hoarsely, panic evident in his expression. He cast aside his handgun for an Uzi.

"No. I haven't seen her since the game started." I looked to Hyuuga and Luca, who simply shook their heads and wrung their shoulders in response.

"You better leave now. While you still can." Yuu's voice was militant but his eyes told another story.

Hyuuga suddenly snatched Yuu's weapon, causing the marksman to draw another gun. He didn't even flinch at the 0.45 held between his eyebrows. "Luca, take Polka and get the hell out of here. I'll find Imai," he declared.

"Hyuuga," Yuu warned, still pointing the gun at the guy's forehead.

"But Natsume—"

"Go," Hyuuga rasped. "I'll be fine, Luca. Just go."

With a wounded look on his face, Luca reluctantly grabbed my arm, urging me to leave. When I refused to budge, he circled his arm around my hip and slung me over his shoulder as though I were a bag. "Put me down, Luca!" I drummed my fists on his bare back. "I wanna help, too."

"Idiots."

Imai emerged from the shadows of a shark skeleton, carrying a carbine type submachine gun. Blood trickled down her arm from being grazed by a bullet on the shoulder. Yuu wasn't alone after all.

She moved toward Hyuuga and splayed her fingers over the gun in his hands. "You've found me. Now let go of my property and leave," she said coldly as she looked into his eyes.

Frowning and slightly shaking his head, Hyuuga stubbornly held her penetrative gaze. "No. That's you, not me."

-x-

Chapter IV done. Yay or nay?

I'm not sure if the crab brains are preserved or what. God, the battle scenes are disorienting, aren't they?

Looking forward to your reviews.

TinyLaments