Hello all, sorry for the late update, I did warn you that this story will update irregularly and I'm sorry for that. You might get an apology every chapter after this.

Disclaimer as per usual: I don't own Gakuen Alice but I do own the OC's in this story.

Before everyone knew it, a month passed. And shockingly, but as expected, the entirety of the elementary division opted out of the war. Rin and Hayate had been quite disappointed but took the ordeal in stride. For Nobara, Rui, Tsubasa and Persona, bonds were reforged and things between them were like the good old days. But for Mikan, she was going through quite the discomfort and Hajime had abandoned her to sort out the business he wasn't in any part of.

It was the last day of the month that it happened. Mikan was confronted by a large group of people after dinner. Her friends, Nobara, Yoichi (who volunteered to fight despite the dangers of the war), Tsubasa and Misaki took great effort in finding her just to ask years of unanswered questions. The ordeal lasted a total of four hours. The first one and a half was solely Q&A.

"Everything else about my current profession is classified. All you can know is that the Alice Guardians protects our kind."

Knowing not to push on that topic anymore, they moved onto emotional matters. Awkward (for Mikan) emotional matters. They asked of why she didn't say goodbye and why she went away.

"I didn't want tears and leaving protected all of you."

As clear as the answer was to them, it felt like a riddle. Mikan wasn't being completely honest with them and they knew that that was all they were going to get from her. Then they asked of her close relations with Persona and Rin.

"They're the only two people I completely trust with my life."

The statement hurt them harder than they liked and almost failed to see why Mikan felt that way. After all, they didn't know what happened in her four years of disappearance. After the questions were finished, bonds were rebuilt and Mikan listened to her friends' stories as she couldn't disclose any of her own.

When Yoichi yawned, all were reminded of homework and exhaustion and took their leave.

All except Natsume.

It was awkward, that much was true, and Mikan avoided eye contact with him because she knew that if she looked into those crimson eyes, she would get attached once again. Attachments made things harder and there was an unspoken rule in the Guardians that such indulgences were frowned upon because it only brought pain. But no words were needed between the two of them when Natsume's arms were suddenly around her. It was tight, warm, and desperate. Mikan relaxed and returned the hug. She could allow herself this one indulgence.

"Where you at, Mikan?!"

Natsume and Mikan reluctantly pulled apart. She called Rin and the older boy appeared in front of them in a flurry of snowflakes.

"Persona just got really important news."

Mikan immediately went into soldier mode. Without looking back, she bid Natsume goodnight and disappeared into thin air followed by Rin.

"No way…" Rin and Mikan breathed out in disbelief. Hearing the news in their shared living quarters from Persona was one thing, but seeing evidence was another.

The Alice Amendment Sector (AAS) of the Guardians HQ were successful in creating a cure for the fourth Alice type.

A lifelong mystery was finally solved.

And it only took half a century.

"When do you think they're shipping it out to the other academies?" Mikan asked.

Rin shrugged. "As earliest as they can, with the assumption that they don't want the enemy to find out about the cure."

"Hm." Mikan hummed. "Well, it's great to know I can live longer."

Rin and Persona looked to Mikan sharply. The brunette froze art their looks before giving a sheepish grin.

"What. Did. You. Say?" Persona enunciated each word slowly as comprehension of Mikan's implication became clear to him.

Mikan rolled her eyes. "Look, every time I steal an Alice, I also steal their Alice type. It just so happens that the fourth type is always with the Alice that can be used dangerously and at its most powerful every time. And, it just so happens that those powerful Alices is thirty-five per cent of my list." She explained.

Rin frowned and pouted. "And you didn't think to tell us?"

Mikan shrugged. "I forget?"

"Idiot."

"Okay, for today's lesson, we'll be teaching you about control." Mikan announced the same thing from Class A three hours prior to Class B. "After you have full control of it, we'll work on using your Alice with restraints on."

"Divide yourselves into pairs." Rin added. He joined Mikan and Hajime in teaching while Hayate joined Persona and Rui.

The class, which consisted of Mikan's friends since the age range was fifteen going on sixteen, easily split off. As expected, Natsume and Ruka were together, Hotaru and Yu, Anna and Nonoko, Kitsu and Koko, and Sumire and Mochu. Yoichi was taking classes with Persona since high school students could better look after themselves while training, therefore, Persona or the other two helping him could give their full attention to Yoichi.

"Alright." Mikan smiled. "I'll start with the most dangerous." She made eye contact with Natsume.

Hajime nodded to Ruka. "I'll work with the pheromone."

"And I'll bounce around I guess." Rin added as he eyed the four other pairs.

"That won't be necessary."

Persona's voice cut through their area and they looked at the man. Beside him was a nervous looking Nobara.

"Nobara has the Ice Alice. Rin, you're to help her. Pairs without an instructor, combat practice. We want those techniques second nature to you." Persona ordered before leaving Nobara alone.

Rin sighed. "Well, you heard tall, dark and bossy, combat practice. I'll try to get to all of you as soon as I can."

The pairs nodded and began their physical training.

"Alright Ntausme, what's the most you can do with your Alice?" Mikan asked as she took him a little further from the group for some space.

"Fireballs."

Mikan hummed in thought. "Have you ever manipulated its shape?"

Natsume, dumbfounded at the question, didn't answer. He hadn't ever thought of doing that. A fireball had always been more than enough to get the job done. But he guessed that with the upcoming threat, it wouldn't be enough.

"Let's start with shaping then. For example, a whip." Mikan held out her palm and a fireball appeared. Seconds later, it reformed into a long whip orange to white in colour. Mikan cracked the whip on the ground and a short line of fire burned. "Now you try."

Natsume mirrored her actions, but when the reforming came, he had difficulty. It didn't change the first time. On the second try, he concentrated harder and a strand of fire slowly protruded from the side before bursting into smoke.

"You have to will it and visualise it." Mikan advised. "Then you'll get the hang of it."

Natsume tried once more with a clear picture of a whip in his mind. This time, the fire in his hand changed into the handle of a whip and slowly extended. He smirked in triumph.

Mikan nodded in approval. "Good, now keep practicing while I go to the others. And take breaks."

Ruka's only problem with his Alice was effective uses and the strength of his manipulation over animals. Hajime advised the blonde that he could make for a great spy, tracker, and assassin. Ruka was appalled at the last occupation. Murder was something he didn't intend to do in his life, even if it was through an animal.

"When you control animals, you need to have an iron will. You have to give them clear instructions and supply a visual image." Hajime explained. "When animals are under your control, they're like ants. They need a leader."

Ruka gulped. He had never been much of a leader. It was always either Natsume or Hotaru.

"I want you to send a bird to the high school division, see what they're doing, and report it back to you."

Ruka nodded. He could do that.

"I want you to hold that control for fifteen minutes while I go help the others."

Ruka could not do that. Well he could try, but it would be difficult. His control never lasted that long.

"I'll try."

"Woah okay!" Rin yelled over the noise of the blizzard Nobara created in the ice dome he made so as not to hurt the others.

Nobara slowly let the blizzard die out before looking ashamed. "It's bad I know."

Rin shook his head. "No its great. The only problem is that you let it too loose, you need finesse. That's why we'll start off with the little things before getting onto natural disasters. For example, ice spikes." He stood beside Nobara and held his palm out to Mikan who was with Natsume once again after making her rounds. An ice spike formed and with a quick warning that caught everyone's attention, he threw the ice spike at Mikan. He smirked while the rest watched in trepidation when the brunette turned at the last minute.

An earth wall rose, the ice shattered, and an annoyed yell echoed throughout.

"I'm a little busy here!"

Rin shrugged and faced Nobara. "Small things like that."

Nobara nodded. Then her eyes widened at the sight behind Rin. In Mikan's hands was a bow and arrow made of fire. She let go and the arrow flew right at them.

Rin quickly made an ice wall and upon contact, the arrow burst into a fiery explosion. "And then maybe we can move onto weapon creation like what Mikan just did."

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