—Nastume's POV—
This is too confusing…
I feel the growing urge to bury myself and let all my problems pass by…
except…
I feel a want, what do I want?
I want…
I want…
I want to protect…
Someone.
I want to protect a girl…
Someone that is precious to me…who?
Pigtails.
She has pigtails.
Who?
I thought hard.
Soft chocolate hair…
A cheery smile.
I need to protect her.
Mikan…
'Nastume!'
Someone was shouting my name.
Is it her?
No, her voice is gentler.
'Nastume, wake up you idiot! We need to rescuer Mikan!' that voice called.
Mikan?
MIKAN!
—Hikari's POV—
Wow…he really likes her.
Ruka smiled.
He has such a nice smile.
The guy who strangled me woke up, yelling that girl's name.
That guy… who is my brother.
I am not believing this.
My brother was killed in a fire that destroyed our village.
Meroko-san told me that.
She was like a sister to me, she can't have lied!
I don't have any living relatives.
I am an orphan.
I looked at Hotaru, snapping away on her camera at that guy.
That guy.
He…he can't be related to me.
I felt so guilty, giving away confidential information.
Takuto-kun and Mistuki-chan will get in big trouble.
I bowed my head.
I will take the blame.
I won't let my precious friends get hurt.
'Mi-Mikan, do you know where she is?' that guy asked.
Hotaru nodded, 'Yeah, Hikari told us. A ship to transport her is going to arrive in 10 minutes from now so the only way we can travel is by teleportation. You can go first; because the teleporter I'm working on can only teleport once every 10 minutes.'
Nastume looked determined.
'OK, lets go Hotaru.'
He got up.
Hotaru turned to look at Ruka and then me.
'Ruka, Hikari is still weak. Guard her and don't let anyone see her. Keep quiet.' Hotaru instructed as she handed him a walkie-talkie.
'I will contact you on this.'
Ruka nodded silently as they set off.
Hotaru treats me like an object.
I hate everything about this stupid school…
Well I don't hate Ruka though.
He was the only one that treated me nicely throughout all this.
I hate almost everything about this stupid school.
I want to go back…
To Meroko-san …
Mistuki-chan…
Takuto-kun…
I want to return to my friends…—Hotaru's POV—
I've never seen Nastume so determined about anything.
I swear if a hundred kilometre high wall made of diamond stood between him and Mikan, that wall would be a pile of ash before you can say 'Natsume likes Mikan'.
I don't know if anyone else has noticed, but it's really obvious now.
Nastume ran silently in front of me to my lab, which fortunately is only 3 minutes away.
Takahashi looked at me, her laser face identification software (its just been installed) instantly set to action.
A second later she beeped and let us through.
We ran up the stairs and I quickly unlocked my lab.
Nastume looked around at my inventions.
'Where is the teleporter?' he asked.
I sighed and opened another door into a smaller room.
Nastume peered in.
I pulled off the white sheet revealing a giant glass tube surrounded by titanium and platinum laser wires and pipes.
I immediately went over to the control panel and turned the teleporter on.
—Nastume's POV—
I looked at the strange contraption in slight amusement.
It looks like something off a sci-fi movie, except the contraption is made to look like a giraffe.
Hotaru still hasn't lost her obsession with animals.
It lit up as Hotaru turned it on.
She walked over to me and handed me a sliver ring.
'This is a teleportation ring. It is one use so make sure you don't accidentally use it. When you get to Mikan, all you have to do is touch her and think of Gakuen Alice, preferably my lab, and say the password, which is 'Mikan is a baka'.
Make sure you yell it, or it might not work.'
She looked at me coldly.
'You're not the only one that worries about Mikan. I want her back safely.
Protect her with your life. If you haven't come back in 10 minutes, I will definitely teleport there to give you support.
Got it? Just touch Mikan, yell 'Mikan is a baka', think of my lab and teleport back.
You've got 5 minutes. Get inside that glass tube.' She instructed.
I smiled back coldly.
'Don't worry, I will. I know I'm not the only one that cares for Mikan.' I replied as I stepped inside the tube.
I watched Hotaru pressing some buttons on the control panel as I put on the ring.
It felt cold against my skin.
I closed my eyes.
I was there.
—Ruka's POV—
I looked at Hikari.
Her hair seemed to glow under the soft moonlight.
'It's a full moon tonight.' she whispered.
I smiled at her.
She is so pretty, even though she strongly resembles Nastume.
Is that why she is so pretty?
'Yeah, it is, I guess.'
Hikari continued on, staring at the slivery moon.
'Mitsuki-chan, who just sang at that concert told me she once fell in love with a boy who loved astronomy.
He used to say to her, that the moon is always watching gently over us, wanting to comfort us in times of misery.
The moon is always there, no matter how bad the world might seem. It is always shining in the sky.
Huh, I'm pretty silly aren't I, for believing in things like that?'
I looked at her.
She is so unlike Nastume.
'No, you're not. I never thought about it that way, but I would like it very much if the moon was like that.' I hastily replied.
She just smiled.
I watched in alarm as a small tear trickled down her cheek.
'Are you all right?' I worried.
She roughly wiped her tears away.
'No, why do I need to cry? I should be strong, like everyone else around me.' she sniffed.
My eyes softened at her, Hikari, who suddenly just appeared.
'Nastume…can you tell me about him? I only just met him, and didn't get a good first impression' she requested.
I closed my eyes.
'Hmmm… Nastume…'
—Hikari's POV—
'… he is best described as a clam.'
I giggled. A clam?
Ruka only smiled and carried on, 'He looks intimidating and scornful on the outside, often treating people meanly and is generally a bad boy, like how a clam looks intimidating and ugly.
Yet, when you finally, after much effort, frustration and hard work manage to open the clam, you are rewarded with a beautiful smooth pearl probably worth millions of yen.
The inside is soft, the outside is rough.
When you manage to open up Nastume, he proves to be a valuable friend that will protect you.
He is loyal to you and will always stick by you. He truly is a great friend.
You shouldn't hate him, though what he has done I still can't forgive him for.'
Ruka paused for a while, staring at the moon.
'Maybe one day you can forgive him. You must understand he did this in worry of something bad happening to Mikan.'
So it seems that guy actually likes someone.
I looked at Ruka.
'Do you like someone?' I queried.
Ruka face turned red.
'Well…since there's no point hiding it from you…I guess so.'
My heart plummeted down.
Apparently Ruka noticed this.
'Hikari-san? Are you OK? You look kind of…down,' he asked.
Yeah. I look down.
'Who do you like?' I answered with another question.
Ruka looked like a tomato.
'Well…this I shouldn't tell…'he trailed off.
'TELL ME!'
Oops…I think I lost my temper. Damn! Ruka looks very scared. He mumbled something.
I sighed.
'Gomen, I lost my temper. And speak louder, I can't here you,' I apologised.
Ruka turned a shade redder, if that's possible.
'Mi…' he whispered.
'Speak louder'
'MIKAN!! OK???'
I was taken aback.
Something struck me.
'Hey, isn't that the girl Nastume likes?' I wondered aloud, 'Have you fallen for the same girl?'
Ruka looked like he wants to dig a hole and stay in there forever.
I smiled. Hey, what am I so happy for?
'Umm…gomenasei for intruding on your private matters. I guess you've been nice to me and I now feel rude for putting you under pressure…' I muttered.
Ruka looked at me. 'Hikari, you've given Mikan a chance to escape. For that I'm eternally grateful.
Mikan is precious to everyone, and I must thank you so much for umm… betraying your friends. I'm so sorry, you must be in big trouble because of us,' he finished.
I sighed and bowed my head.
There was a rumour going around that this was Mistuki and Takuto's final chance after failing other missions to redeem themselves.
By God, I hope this isn't true.
I silently promised myself that I will try to take all the blame from whoever is in charge of Mistuki and Takuto (A/N: For those who haven't guessed Mistuki is Agent FullMoon while Takuto is Agent RouteL).
Ruka got up and strode towards me.
I'm feeling too guilty to care.
I looked down and felt something warm over my shoulders.
I looked up, surprised to find myself within five centimetres of Ruka's face.
I quickly looked away, blushing.
'You were shivering,' he offered as explanation.
I drew has jacket around my shoulders tighter.
I guess I didn't notice I was cold.
Something beeped.
I took off my earring and pressed the release button.
The holographic communication
Ruka stared at me, confused.
I sighed and spoke to the microphone installed in the earring/communication device.
'AAO: sub-ordinate Mizu. Who is it?' I whispered into the mike.
The screen flickered.
'AAO: Agent RouteL to sub-ordinate Mizu, Operation Nullification complete. We leave now. Co-ordinates of teleportation location should appear on screen. If you don't arrive in 10 minutes, we are leaving without you.'
'Wait!' I cried, completely ignoring the rules.
Takuto's irritated voice was heard clearly.
'Hikari, what is it? Did you blow your cover? Did you give away the target's location? Did you find your long lost twin brother? No. So come on!' Takuto replied sarcastically.
I can't help it. I burst out into laughter.
Mistuki's voice came on.
'Hikari-chan? Are you there?' she called worriedly.
I wiped away my tears of merriment.
'Gomen, but tell Takuto I managed to do all the things he said.'
A short silence.
'WHAT!!!!'
I had to hold the communicator away from my ears as Takuto yelled in surprise.
I looked at Ruka.
He gave me a smile.
Man, this is going to take a lot of explanation.
I'm so looking forward to this.
Not.
Thank you so much those who have reviewed!! Anyway...just passed halfway! Leave a review please!
I shall update after my review count reaches 15!