Struck

Summary: In Alice High, a group of elite teenagers are hiding a terrible secret. When you put Mikan Sakura into the equation, there's bound to be trouble, especially when their leader takes an interest on her.

Note: Originally Oops, I Think I'm In Love.

Betaread by: SilencedByMidnight

Maybe it was just the bathroom light playing tricks on her eyes. It was unbelievable. She found it doubtful that it was herself that was staring right back at her. She touched the glossy mirror, her hand over its reflection, and continued to admire her features. Her backless, long, red dress shimmered whenever she moved. When Narumi first presented the dress, the brunette thought it was too revealing and unflattering on her. It turned out to be the complete opposite. She looked beautiful and elegant. For the first time in her life, she felt like one of those princesses in her storybooks—only that she was fierce and sexy.

From the mirror, Mikan saw Kuonji leaning against the doorframe, watching her with an unrecognizable expression. She felt embarrassed that she hadn't notice him before from her spot. She took a few seconds to study his attire for the night. Narumi had outdone himself. He had made Kuonji a black suit with a matching red tie that would complement well when next to his sister. He gave the impression that he was a prince—her own black prince. She still hadn't confronted him yet about her death as Sophie Puzo. Whenever she tried to imagine the scene in her head, it always ended up as a disaster.

Kuonji strode toward the girl. He was cursing himself mentally. It was a stupid move for him to introduce the girl before every one of their kind. She was his personal treasure and he didn't want to share her with anybody else.

"You look beautiful." he said as he slithered his hands around her waist. He suppressed the urge not to bite her neck with his fangs. The bite mark would give a bad impression on the girl, but it would provide enough proof that she already belonged to someone else—that she belonged to him alone.

Her lips curved into a sheepish grin. "Thank you," she said as she twisted to face him. "You, on the other hand, look dashing." She yanked his tie, pulling him closer, and planted a kiss on his lips.

He placed a kiss upon her hand and pulled her out of the room in a swift yet smooth glide. "Come now, we must leave."


The ballroom was decorated fit for the lone daughter of the prestigious Hyuuga family. The chandelier illuminated the entire room despite the fact that the wall lamps were had already been turned on. The designs were composed of blue, gold and silver—the three main colors of the Hyuuga crest. The party was exclusive for their kind alone. To keep the humans unaware of Aoi's secret, a separate party was to be held for them.

The birthday girl roamed around the room, greeting everyone she passed. She was eye-catching and lovely in her red velvet ball gown. Her hair was in a braided bun with diamond flower pins sticking on to it. Ever since the party started, she never stopped walking as if she was trying to find someone in the area. Aoi Hyuuga wasn't the only one acting suspicious.

Natsume Hyuuga's suspicious actions weren't gone unnoticed in the party. The other vampires weren't sure whether the lad was stalking somebody or just avoiding everyone who tried to greet him. For the past two hours, he had been wandering around the room, checking on every brunette guest in the area.

He was certain that they would come. After all, he asked the head maid to alert him if the Sakuras accepted the invitation. If she turned out to be lying, the cow would receive a free premium wring on the neck from him. When he finally realized that the Sakuras still hadn't arrived, he decided to save himself from the trouble of pacing around the room like a silly chimpanzee, and went to Hotaru Imai's side whom he had found hanging around the buffet table.

Hotaru wasn't pleased when she saw Natsume nearing her. The boy would always say the most inappropriate things in the most perfect moments of her life. Her yellow chiffon dress fluttered as she grabbed another twig of crabstick.

"You seem to be enjoying yourself with the food." Natsume eyed the platter that Hotaru was holding onto. All sort of delicacies were found on the plate and Natsume wouldn't be surprised if the girl got a stomachache later on.

The infamous Ice Queen shot a spiteful glare and put the plate away. "Prying as always…"

The raven-haired boy cleared his throat and settled to another topic that had been bugging him for days. "Any word from Koko?"

Hotaru shook her head. It had been two days since Koko had last contacted them. He had been searching for any leads that could point to where Sumire had disappeared to. They all thought that the girl was trying to scare them, but apparently they were wrong. The Shoudas seemed to be calm about the matter though, as if their daughter hadn't gone missing ever since.

"Have the Shoudas said anything though?" asked Natsume.

Once again Hotaru shook her head. It was indeed strange that the Shoudas were keeping quiet about this matter. When Sumire was separated from them by Izumi, they were making a big fuss. Now, they were silent as a grave. If only Sumire was born sixty years earlier, her absence would cost a lot of controversy since the Shoudas were at their prime on those years.

His line of thoughts was cut off by the incredible silence that had transpired, every head was now turned in the direction of the Hyuuga's majestic staircase. At the end of the stairs were two figures he had been waiting for the entire night. He felt his heart fall when he watched her link her arms with the boy beside her.


The sight before their eyes was too overwhelming. It gave them a burst of unexplainable energy and that was when they knew that the two teens before them would lead them to glory. The boy before them gave off once again a different sort of aura once again - the kind of aura where if he ordered one to jump a bridge, one would do it with no hesitation and would jump again and again. On the contrary, the girl beside him was very different. The only thing special about her was her heavenly beauty and nothing more. She didn't emit any sort of impression that would make you follow her bidding. In fact, you would even hesitate to obey her.

One, two, one, two, she counted her breathes in perfect unison. Even before she had stepped into the estate, she told herself that everything would go according to her plan. She played the scenes in her head. She would gracefully come down the stairs alongside her brother, would greet the guests and then she would enjoy the party. She believed everything would be on the right track, until she had stepped inside the mansion.

Every head poking out in the crowd was looking straight at them. She wouldn't have moved if Kuonji hadn't pulled her from her stiff position. Every step she took made dread creep to up her veins. She swore that as soon as she properly introduced herself, she and Kuonji would immediately leave.

She slipped her arm into his and together they walked towards a group of elderly vampires. It was nerve-racking that everyone wanted to shake their hands with her. Standard conduct was to be observed. Just keep on the smiling frontier, nod at everything they say, and keep speaking to a minimum. Perhaps if her knees weren't shaking this badly, then everything would be fine.

In the crowd of a few hundred, it was remarkable yet strange how she had spotted him. The color of his eyes was brought out by his white tuxedo. His then-messy black hair was now pressed into a clean cut. She tried to aim a smile at him, glad that there was a familiar face in the crowd, but he must have missed it since he left without turning to glance at her and went straight outside the spacious room.

"Goodness gracious," one woman cried as she studied Mikan. "You're quite thin. Have you been drinking enough blood?"

The brunette smacked her lips. Kuonji warned her that the guests would definitely try to get something juicy out of her lips. He made her promise not to talk much about herself and their private lives. She smiled before she gave a proper reply, "I'm afraid not."

Then she moved to another vampire and before she knew it she was talking comfortably even without her brother at her range of vision.

"Have you decided a date for your bonding with Kuonji?" one man asked.

Mikan stopped in her tracks. Bonding only meant one thing—that she would pledge that she would be Kuonji's other half and him as hers. In the human language, it meant marriage, but to the vampire world it was something more. When one would bond, the relationship would last for eternity—that they were willing to spend the end of their days with one another. They weren't just husband and wife. They would also be hunters, ready to give their prey for their bond mate's sustenance. They were soldiers, prepared to fight, protect and die for their bond mate. They were twins and that meant that the blood that ran in their veins was one.

Most of her conversations with Kuonji were about bonding. She practically grew up with bonding in mind. After all, unlike all the other vampires out there, she already knew who would be her bond mate.

"We haven't," she replied. "But as soon as we have agreed upon a date, we'll announce it."


The guests were crowding around him too much. If it wasn't for his chilling scowl that made them back away, he would have been crushed to death. He regretted losing his sister amongst their advances. He tried to search for her, but it was no use. There wasn't any girl in red that he could spot…

…but then he saw a billowing, red dress that went out of the room and turned to a corner just ahead of him. He followed it like a lost puppy, hoping he could get some time alone with Mikan. When he reached the marbled archway, only disappointment greeted him. The girl standing before him wasn't his sister, but was another's.

Aoi dusted her gown before she curtsied to Kuonji. She hadn't expected that she would finally be able to meet him. Just when she decided that she would take a short rest from her search, he finally came in the flesh. She didn't mind the disappointing expression on his face when his pitch black eyes met hers as long, as she would get him to herself. This was her chance to make him hers.

"Your Grace," she called him in the sweetest tone she could muster. She read somewhere that men enjoyed being revered and she decided to try it on Kuonji. "Quite a beautiful night, isn't it?"

The boy grunted in response. He didn't even bother to hide his obvious disinterest with her boring talk. He heard the same thing throughout the night and didn't want to hear it once again.

"I shall take my leave." He notified her, but soon halted when she made a dash and stepped in front of him, blocking him from the exit. He eyed the callous woman. Hadn't she notice how boring he found her to be?

"It's my birthday," Kuonji hoped this wouldn't be too long. He couldn't bear if this woman dragged him to boredom. "I hope you could make it a special one." He cocked a brow, unsure whether his ears had been playing tricks on him or not. Her words stunned him.

He burst out laughing. "Have you lost your marbles?" He shook his head and brushed past her. "I need to find my sister and you're eating up my time."

"That sister?" she pointed out to the gardens where two figures were standing very close to one another. The sight made Kuonji's forehead crinkle, his fist curl into a ball and his lips press into a thin line. Mikan Sakura was with no one other than Natsume Hyuuga. The worse thing was that he was holding her close and she was letting him do so.


"Do you prefer milk or tea?" another vampire asked. It was infuriating that all they asked were a bunch of get-to-know-you questions. For the past minutes, she had been very polite to every guest, but this time she knew she had to back down and take a short rest. She felt a bit dizzy and wobbly. She felt light on her toes and was afraid if she were to have a black out.

"Excuse me," she muttered as she headed outside for fresh air. It was quite remarkable how she lasted this long without resting. She leaned against the railing of the veranda for support. Her eyes gazed upon the massive, beautiful garden of the Hyuugas. In the far end of the place was a huge hedge maze. In the middle of the garden was a huge pond with an engraved Hyuuga crest on a boulder as the centerpiece.

Mikan went for a stroll and made her way to the shimmering pond. It was a picture-perfect night. The night breeze wasn't too cold or too warm, the temperature was perfect. The moon was in its full bloom and its magnificent shape was reflected in the water. She sighed in appreciation.

"Who goes there?" a voice called out from the dark.

Out from the shadows, a young boy emerged. A huge shadow casted upon his face for the moon was behind him. Mikan didn't have to guess who he was. His pair of ruby red eyes and his physique that she had constantly dreamt about completely gave his identity away. It was Natsume Hyuuga standing before her.

He felt his throat run dry the moment he saw her. She looked absolutely stunning under the moonlight. He saw her eyes widening and he hoped it wasn't because she caught him blushing over the sight of her.

"You're here." his voice rumbled, low and smooth.

There were no other words that processed in her mind but, "I'm here."

"So," he scratched the back of his neck, trying to find the appropriate words to use at the situation. "What made you come here? Me?"

"Stop being silly." she uttered. "You know, you still haven't properly introduced yourself to me."

He averted his eyes from hers. This was the perfect chance for him to make everything right. And he wasn't going to let it pass now.

"Natsume Hyuuga." He said as he stuck out his hand for her to shake.

The moment her fingers grazed against his skin, she felt a tremor inside of her. It was surreal and uncalled for. Her hand fitted well in his. "Mikan Sakura." He shot a familiar look that almost made her grin. As soon as she gave it a shake, she instantly let it go and tucked her hands behind.

"What is the belle of the ball doing out here?" he asked.

"Belle of the ball?" Mikan repeated in incredulity. Her lips twitched up. "Your usage of terms is so… humorous."

"Glad to know I made you smile or at least what you're doing." he mused.

"You're awfully kind," Mikan noted, wary of Natsume's unexpected transformation of personality. "The last time we met, you had this awful scowl," she imitated the look. "On your face whenever our eyes meet."

"Some men have a change of heart." He told her.

"Most of those men have a hidden motive," she said. "What makes you any different from them?"

"Well," he shrugged his shoulders and flashed a smirk. "I'm Natsume Hyuuga and that makes me different."

Mikan rolled her eyes. The boy was ridiculous and he wasn't talking any sense at all. Ever since this party started, Mikan realized something important: that conversing was such a lot of labor. Before this event, there were only less than five vampires whom she had spoken to. Now, she had already spoken to almost a hundred and the boy before her wasn't making it easier.

Her startling cough broke the silence that followed right after their conversation. She bent low and kept on coughing. Her auburn brown bangs covered most of her face, making Natsume unable to see how sickly she looked at the moment. She found it irritating that she had to show this side of her to someone like him!

"Hey." He called as he placed a hand on her back. "Are you all right?"

"Yes." She turned up to him with a small smile etched on her face, hoping she hadn't made him concerned over something as trivial as her sickness and assuring him that she was still fine. He wasn't convinced though. She was easy to read and he knew that the girl had a weak body.

She knew all along that she was pretty naïve, but she wasn't stupid. She could read the expression he was making right now. She knew that he knew her body wasn't strong like her brother's. She was, after all, the weaker twin.

It was awkward to see him concerned over her. She thought that he wasn't the type who would worry about other people. Apparently, he proved her wrong. Music from the mansion blasted through the wind and found its way to them.

Hey baby, what's that sound?
I make a few steps and I fall on the ground
It's a long shot but darling I couldn't love you more.
Come on, come on

"I need to… uh…" her words were cut off when she lost her balance. She expected her body to land in the pond. She closed her eyes and braced herself for the chilly water that was to follow, but the only sensation she felt was an electrifying touch on her back. She opened her eyes and saw Natsume holding her close.

Hey baby, give it a try
I can find an answer if you wanna know why
I know I'm a nerd but give another play to this song
Come on, come on

If they were a bit closer, it would have been an embrace. She wondered how it felt to be near him without any space between their bodies. He held her still and Mikan would have believed that time stopped if it weren't for the music.

How does it sound if we spend the night out?
How does it sound if we spend the night out?

Their eyes were locked in a passionate gaze. His luscious red eyes commanded her to succumb. And God forbid it was clearly working. The entire scenario was dreamy mainly because she was next to an attractive guy like him. As much as she hated it, she admitted to herself that Natsume Hyuuga had good looks.

"This seems to be familiar." she blurted.

"What is?" Natsume asked.

She closed her eyes and shook her head.

The raven haired boy was holding his patience. Damn, she just looked too goddamn beautiful at the moment. He studied her features slowly, careful not to miss anything. She had long eyelashes, eyes as brown as honey, two freckles below her left ear, and her lips were parted unknowingly. He was trying to conquer the urge to plant his lips on them.

Hey baby, what's that sound?

How does it sound if we spend the night out?
How does it sound if we spend the night out?

Wrong!, the word echoed in her head. Everything's wrong. She felt guilt devouring her entity. It wasn't supposed to be like this. Mikan knew that this was wrong. She shouldn't be in another man's arms. It was immoral, especially when she already had Kuonji.

She pushed Natsume away and averted her eyes from his. She felt tainted by his touch. It was unfair to Kuonji when he had always been loyal to her.

Hey baby, what's that sound
I make a few steps and I fall on the ground
It's a long shot but darling I couldn't love you more.
Come on, come on

"Mikan." he called her name. It was new to his tongue, but it sounded pleasant to his ears. Her ears perked and he knew he got her attention. "What's wrong?"

"Everything." she breathed. She massaged her temples in hopes that it would clear her head but it was no use. Her mind played one image and screamed one word. Natsume.

He watched her troubled figure in complete silence. He didn't want to trouble himself or her anymore. He just needed to do one thing to confirm what he felt for the brunette. If it turned out to be nothing, then he would move on and forget that he had met her. If it wasn't, then… well, he prayed for the former to happen.

Hey baby, give it a try
I can find an answer if you wanna know why
I know I'm a nerd but give another play to this song
Come on, come on

He lurched toward her in a quick movement, pulled her close until she was only a few inches away, and he leaned toward her until there wasn't any gap left. His hand was on her nape to set support, not that he needed any but the girl did. Their lips were locked in a furious, passionate kiss.

Natsume was a straightforward person most of the time. He ousted his shyness ages ago. When something was bothering him, the sole solution that he believed on was to confront the problem. This time, his emotions were troubling him and to solve everything he needed to identify what he felt for the girl.

How does it sound if we spend the night out?
How does it sound if we spend the night out?

"Get away from her, you fucker!" Kuonji snarled in rage. His fangs emerged; it was different from the usual. It looked sharper and bigger unlike the ordinary fangs that the other vampires owned. His hand twisted incongruously and his nails suddenly turned pointy.

Kuonji leaped toward Natsume in a flash, his fangs and hands ready to scar him. The latter swiftly dodged the attack and readied his self for another attack. He wouldn't be lucky the next time Kuonji lauched another move. He needed to think straight and plan ahead.

Hey baby, what's that sound?

"Kuonji!" Mikan screamed, but her shrilling voice didn't get through to him. Her brother was already in an unstoppable stage of uncontainable fury. The only person who could stop Kuonji Sakura was his own sister. But Mikan doubted if she had the strength to do it. The brunette swallowed her fears and dashed to her brother's side.


Hello, readers! It's been a while since I've last updated, you finally have reached the end of chapter seven, and I really want to know what you think. So before you hit the fav button or exit your browser, do leave a review. I want to know your opinion whether it's positive or negative or a bit of both. Throw a couple of suggestions, if you want to. See you next time on chapter eight!

- E