Title: My Return to You

Summary: What if she left? What if she left after their trip back in time? What if she left without telling anyone? What if she came back years later? After years of separation, Mikan is back at Alice Gakuen. However, there is a bigger purpose for her return and who is this Izumi Sakura?

A/N: OMG! I know, I know! I should be punished right? For not updating on time? *cries* I'm sorry, it was pretty hectic last week and the past week too. Especially since last last weekend there was an anime convention that I was at for the entire weekend. X_X I've also been having trouble writing more chapters! *has major writer's block* but don't worry, it's slowly going away! I watched a movie and I got some inspiration and I bought the newest Gakuen Alice volume, which I re-read and got some more ideas.

I've realized how out of character everyone is! That makes me so sad! I'm determined to make them back into character... I hope! *cries again* =( I'm a very sad author right now! Especially since I spent a lot of money on manga! *cries harder!!!!* Someone please make me stop! =(

Anywho! I know this chapter is late! I tried to post it up as soon as possible. At first I was going to post up a short chapter but I want to make this a long chapter. *has a feeling this story will be kept short* As I already have somewhat of an idea to end it. :\ I'm not 100% sure yet. My ideas are feeling everywhere!!

SOMEONE asked me if Akira Yamato is Tono-senpai and the answer is NO!!!!! I didn't even realize Tono had the same name. *fails* I always went with Tono as Tono! =) Tono means lord too. *daydreams of Ouran Host Club now* OMG! Must concentrate on Gakuen Alice. *sigh* It's getting so hard! Ideas are everywhere so suggestions are loved!

So don't be shy guys! Ok, I'll stop my A/N now before you all come on a raging rampage to kill me!! T___T

Disclaimer: I don't own Gakuen Alice!!! =(

Now on to the chapter!!!

"So this is the new transfer student with the rare Stealing Alice." A mysterious voice boomed around a dark room.

The figure was sitting on his chair in front of a giant desk with papers all scattered. The room was consumed with darkness as the curtains to the window were a dark blue coloured. The figure was currently holding a picture an arm's length away from him.

"Yes. I met her earlier."

In front of the figure was Yamato Akira. He was knelt down across from the desk, looking down to the floor. Akira had his hand over their heart in respect to the figure in front of them.

"This is very interesting. She looks so much like them."

The figure slowly stood up from his chair, still holding the picture in his hand. He walked over to the window and drew the curtains an inch away to let some sunlight shine in. He grinned as he stared down at the passing students below.

"It's just a matter of time before she'll become mine." The figure gave the picture another good look before clenching it into a ball.

The voice was filled with so much thirst that it sent chills down the knelt figure's back.

"You're dismissed." The figure turned to look at Akira before sitting back down on his desk.

Akira stood up and bowed before leaving the room.

"I'm excited for our meeting, Izumi Sakura-chan." The figure started chuckling softly.

"Well, I haven't seen him this excited for a while." A new voice was heard as soon as Akira closed the door.

Akira lifted his head up to look up at the direction of the voice.

"Koizumi." Akira plainly stated.

Luna was casually leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, waiting for Akira to leave the room.

"Didn't know you were standing there." Akira turned his body to head towards the end of the hall.

"Yamato, no need to be so hostile. You knew all too well that I was standing outside this whole time." Luna looked at Akira and switched positions to stand in front of him.

"I honestly don't know what you're talking about." Akira put on a fake yet bright smile.

Luna slapped away his hand as he was about to reach up for her face. "You and your dirty lying Alice can stay away from me!"

"Lying Alice, eh?" Akira took a step back away from Luna and gave her a smirk. "At least my Alice makes everything seem like the truth to people but what does yours do? If mine is a lying Alice, what would you name yours?"

Akira started walking down the hall but as he reached Luna's side, he whispered, "Soul-stealer."

Luna clenched her fist to restrain herself from landing a punch on Akira's face. After a few seconds of calming down, she spun around to find Akira gone already.

"That bastard!" Luna punched the wall beside her.

~Middle School Building~

Mikan didn't bother following Akira after seeing him from her window because she knew she wouldn't be able to catch up. However, she still wanted to keep a look out for him. She left her dormitory as soon as she finished eating and making sure her face was fine from crying. Since she only knew that Akira also went to middle school section, she could keep a close eye on him. She practically ran towards the school building so she wouldn't miss him entering, ignoring all the passing students giving her a weird look. She has a feeling Akira wouldn't be heading for school first and her intuition was correct as she saw him 30 minutes later, entering the gates of the building.

Mikan found a comfortable spot on a tree branch near the entrance of the building while she was waiting for Akira's arrival. As soon as she saw him, she jumped off the tree, landing perfectly on the ground.

'Time to put my plan into action.' Mikan thought as she casually walked towards Akira, not being able to stop the small grin form on her face.

Just as Akira was about to open the door, he felt a hand on his shoulder. His instincts kicked it and it was only natural for him to push the 'attacker' away from himself. However, as soon as he turned around, the shock stopped his actions.

"Sakura...san..." Akira was at a loss of words.

Mikan pretended to be short of breath and trying to catch her breath. "A...ki..ra...sen...pai..." Mikan called out in short breaths.

After being able to 'catch her breath', Mikan stood up properly to start talking normally.

"Finally, I caught you. I'm so glad that I saw you before school started. " Mikan looked up at him with a smile.

Akira didn't know why but he couldn't help put a smile, upon seeing Mikan's. However, Akira remembered what happened earlier during the day and knew he would have to keep up with the act.

"What do you want?" Akira coolly brushed her away and began walking into the building.

"Matte! I wanted to properly apologize." Mikan jogged to catch up to Akira's pace. "I don't know what happened in the past to make you feel unsecure about your thoughts and Alice. But I promise that I wasn't using my Alice then. I really hope you'll forgive me and that we can continue being friends."

Akira stopped as he heard Mikan's apology. Mikan had stopped when she said 'promise' and bowed to say sorry to him. Akira turned around to see Mikan's position. 'Faster than I accepted, which is better news for him, right?' Akira thought in his mind.

"No." Akira sighed.

Mikan looked up with her bowed head in question.

"I should be the one apologizing. I overreacted and took out my anger on you which was uncalled for." Akira walked up to Mikan and lifted her head up. "So you shouldn't be bowing to me."

Mikan smiled seeing the tension between them go away. She stood back up properly. "Thank you senpai!"

Mikan held out her hand and Akira just looked at it. "Truce?" Mikan asked.

"Of course!" Akira took her hand and shook it, both with smiles on their face.

Suddenly, they both heard giggles around them. The two looked up from each other only to see a circle formed around them with on looking spectators. Akira blushed from being the center of attention while Mikan was sweatdropping from it.

"Well, maybe I'll see you during lunch." Akira nervously chuckled.

Mikan nodded and smiled before heading to class. "Sure. See you later." Mikan waved bye before walking to class.

'Perfect.' Was the thought going through both their heads as they separated ways from each other.

Unknown to both, there was a particular observer who was very unhappy with the situation he just witnessed.

"Natsume?" Ruka's voice woke Natsume up from his thinking.

"Hmm?" Natsume regained his cool and walked away from the scene as if nothing was wrong.

Ruka had caught Natsume in the cafeteria in a weird mood earlier before. Natsume entered with one red cheek and in a somewhat upset mood. Ruka had asked what happened but the obvious answer from Natsume was nothing. All Ruka could do was follow Natsume to make sure he was truly fine. After they finished eating, they headed towards the school building. On the way to school, they met up with Hotaru.

"Ohayo, Ruka. Natsume." Hotaru simply greeted.

"Ohayo, Imai." Ruka greeted back

"What's wrong with Natsume?" Hotaru didn't even need to see the look on face to know something was wrong.

"Don't know. He won't tell me." Ruka sighed.

Hotaru glanced towards the thinking Natsume and thought maybe something happened earlier in the morning. She thought that she would figure out one way or another to make him spill what happened.

'What the hell just happened between that new girl with Yamato Akira?!' Natsume's thoughts were going wild as he walked angrily to class.

There were rumours going around the middle school section about Yamato Akira and how he was in league with the Elementary School Principal. If Izumi Sakura was truly Mikan, Natsume didn't want her to be involved with a dangerous guy. Yamato Akira was also known to be in the Dangerous Abilities class even though his comforting Alice seemed harmless. However, not everyone knows what truly happens in the Dangerous Abilities class.

Natsume walked into his classroom with his hands in his pocket. He didn't bother looking up to see who was in the class, not wanting to greet anyone. He just went straight towards his seat and sat down in his usual position, with his feet on the table. Before putting a manga book on top of his head, he caught a glimpse towards Mikan's seat to see if she was there. Surprisingly, Mikan was sitting there smiling and talking to other classmates as if the morning events didn't happen.

As Mikan entered class peacefully, a few students went over to her to greet her good morning. As she sat down, a few continued to talk casually to her. In the middle of her conversation, she felt eyes on her and took a quick scan around the room to see who it was without being noticed. Still acting like she was talking to her classmates, out of the corner of her eyes she saw Natsume's eyes on her for a few seconds before being covered by a manga book. Not wanting to think more about the morning events, Mikan decided to brush this aside until she could deal with everything later on. She had promised herself she'll focus on her real mission for now.

The school bell rang a minute later and everyone went to take their seats. The day went by uneventfully until the time arrived for the plan to truly start; the time for when the students wouldn't have their regular classes and have to be split up into different ability classes.

"Before I dismiss you guys for lunch, I'd like to make an announcement. Today, in the afternoon, are your ability classes. This is a reminder to you all and a note to our new transfer student, Izumi Sakura-san. I have a note here for you actually, Izumi-san. It's regarding your abilities class." Yuji-sensei looked through his pile of paper.

As soon as he found the letter for her, he unclipped it from his clipboard and walked over to Mikan's desk to hand it to her.

'A letter in an envelope? This is certainly different.' Mikan questioned, starring at the paper in her hand.

"That is all, class dismissed."

As soon as the teacher closed the door, the class mentally cheered and headed for lunch. However, everyone was very curious to Mikan and her stranger letter as no one was introduced into their abilities class like that before. Some were eager to ask her about the contents of the letter.

Mikan didn't really want to bother with opening the letter as she knew what class she would be in. She had discussed it with her uncle the day before and wouldn't think any changes would be made. She put the letter into her school bag without a care and started to leave. However, before she could leave, she was stopped at the doorway.

Mikan looked up from the ground to see who stopped her. She came into view of...

"Iin-chou?" Mikan blinked in puzzlement.

"Hi, Izumi-san." Iin-chou smiled at Mikan.

"You can call me Sakura-chan." Mikan smiled back at him.

"Okay, Sakura-chan. We just wanted to know what was in the letter." He asked innocently, although he was representing basically everyone in the classroom.

"The letter? You mean the one Yuji-sensai just gave me?" Mikan questioned innocently as well.

Mikan saw Iin-chou nod and his eyes go beyond Mikan's face. Mikan turned to look behind her and saw that there were a few students waiting for her answer as well. Those included Hotaru, Ruka, and Natsume.

"I don't know actually, I haven't opened it yet." Mikan simply answered not wanting more trouble. "Does it matter what class I'm in? I looked up the classes already and I'm in the Latent class because of my Mind-Reading Alice, so I'm sure the letter is just confirming that."

"Latent? That's the same class as me." Iin-chou smiled at this fact. "I hope we'll get along even more during that class."

"Really? That's great to know someone in my class. I'll be in your care." Mikan bowed at Iin-chou.

"If you have any questions, you can definitely ask me."

Mikan smiled at Iin-chou's same kindness.

"Are you sure the letter isn't anything special?" One of the other people in Mikan's way asked.

"Shoda-chan, I assure you that it's nothing special. Why would I get special treatment?" Mikan needed to leave fast before more questions were asked.

Mikan wasn't expecting an answer to her last question. She saw that she had gotten to Sumire and she didn't know how to answer Mikan either. Mikan took this opportunity to leave and handle another problem.

"Well, I'm off to lunch. However, I wanted someone to show me around and I was thinking that Kokoro-kun could show me around!" Mikan grabbed Yome's arm and walked off as quickly as she could before he could even say a word.

"What the?" Sumire looked out the door to see that Mikan and Yome were both gone. "Why did she randomly grab him and leave?" Sumire was getting mad at the new transfer student's attitude.

She didn't like how Mikan was acting like she was all friendly with everyone already and could just use them however she liked.

"Maybe because they both have the same Alices." Iin-chou put in. "Maybe she feels more comfortable with someone of a same characteristics as herself."

Not wanting to think too much about the situation anymore, the class just went with that thought and walked to the cafeteria.

"Uhh.. Izumi-san..." Yome was currently being dragged out the school building by Mikan as she was trying to get far away from people so she could talk in private.

She saw an empty bench beyond the gates of the school. She scanned the area around them and knew it would be a safe place to talk, at least for now.

"I'm sorry." Mikan apologized as they both sat down on the bench, tired.

"It's no big deal, just a little random." Yome looked at Mikan confused but waited patiently for an answer.

"Actually..." Mikan took her school bag and looked through it.

Yome blinked at her actions.

"Ah ha! Found it." Mikan seemed to be digging deeply into her bag to look for whatever it was she was looking for.

Yome looked at the object as Mikan took it out. It was a simple chain bracelet with a name tag connecting the chain.

"This is actually for you." Mikan took the bracelet out of the mini plastic bag it was in. "Hold out your hand."

Yome slowly extended his arm towards Mikan without fully knowing what was happening. "This is a special bracelet meant for mind-readers." Mikan explained as she was fumbling with the bracelet.

"There! It's perfect." Mikan slightly squealed.

Yome brought his arm back towards himself to look at the bracelet carefully. He looked at the part of the name tag and saw there was something engraved on it.

"Mind-Reader?" He ran out loud in question.

"Yup! It's a special bracelet meant for mind readers like us and they're called Black Rose. See, I have one too." Mikan tugged her sleeve back to reveal a similar bracelet except it was slimmer.

[A/N: HAHAAHAHAHAHA!!! Serenity, you get an honourable mention in my fanfic since you've given me so many awesome ideas! *runs off a happy girl*]

"That's cool. I've never heard of these." Yome was getting excited about this.

"Of course! They're privately made and I know the person who makes this type of jewellery. This line of Black Rose jewellery is rare and hard to make." Mikan touched her bracelet lightly as she started explaining again. "It's supposed to help our Alice but it's sort of still in an experimental stage. I'm not sure about all the features this bracelet gives. But we'll soon find out, won't we?" Mikan smiled, looking over at Yome.

Yome smiled and nodded. "Thank you, Izumi-san."

"I should be thanking you since a stranger suddenly told you to be a guinea pig."

"No, this will be fun." Yome smiled back at Mikan.

'I'm sorry for not telling you the truth.' Mikan weakly smiled back as she thought of this.

After a few minutes, Mikan explained that was the reason she dragged Yome out of class. Mikan told Yome that it's a secret weapon and he shouldn't tell anyone else about it either since she didn't want others to find out and want one too. Basically, the bracelet isn't really a weapon nor does it enhance an Alice. The truth behind the bracelet is that it was a specially made one by Shiki's friend for Mikan. While Mikan is wearing her bracelet, Yome won't be able to read her mind nor will she be able to read his. It does the opposite of what Mikan told Yome, as it nullifies his Alice on her. Since Yome would be a mind-reader that's always close by to her, she didn't want a chance of her mind being read when she was caught off guard, as he always seem to do before. With unknown mind-readers, she wouldn't have to worry because her guard would be up and she would have to be careful of what types of thoughts she thinks about. She wouldn't be able to use her Nullification Alice as people would find it weird that their Alices were ineffective on Mikan.

Yome parted ways with Mikan after she explained things to him. Mikan decided to just stay seated at the bench for a while longer. She leaned back against the bench to get more comfortable and laid her head back. She closed her eyes from the bright sun rays.

"Might as well take a little nap." Mikan softly spoke to herself as she drifted off.

Not even 10 minutes passed by and Mikan was woken up by a big gust of wind. Mikan's eyes shot up as she thought someone was nearby. Looking around and seeing the coast was clear, she sighed a breath of relief. Mikan hugged her arms and started rubbing them up and down as she shivered from the cool autumn breeze.

"Ah, that reminds me." Mikan stopped making herself warm as something popped into her mind.

Mikan took her bag again and looked through it for a second time. She found what she was looking for and took it out. She examined the letter she was given earlier and flipped it on both sides to see anything special about it. She held it up towards the sun to see if anything weird was inside. Seeing that it seemed safe, she opened the letter. Unfolding the piece of paper inside, Mikan quickly read it.

Mikan's grip on the paper started tightening around the paper as she read the contents. With each word she read, her eyes widened even more. As she finally finished, Mikan crumpled the piece of paper into a ball in her fist. She stood up with anger boiling inside her body. Slowly losing control, she felt a burning sensation in her fist with the paper.

"Itai!" Mikan yelled as she let go of the paper.

Once the paper landed, Mikan saw steam rising from the ball. Mikan bent down and examined it closely.

"Stupid me." Mikan sighed, knowing what happened now.

She waited a few seconds before poking the dripping piece of paper, making sure it wasn't hot anymore, before throwing it in the garbage. Mikan looked at her hand to make sure nothing was wrong with it. Seeing that her right hand was fine, Mikan left it and grabbed her school bag before walking back towards the school.

'Maybe I should talk to uncle right now.' Mikan thought long and hard for her course of action right now.

Mikan's head was lowered as she was walking towards the entrance of the school. Before reaching the gates into the middle school section, Mikan stopped. Mikan closed her eyes to concentrate.

'Two. No three, four people.'

Mikan sighed, still with her eyes closed and jumped up to land on top of the wall surrounding the school building. Mikan slowly opened one eyes to take a peek at her company. Not making any sudden movements, Mikan remained standing there casually with her school bag on her back. Her hands tightened the grip around her bag straps as this was just another uncalled event.

The four people below her were familiar face but at the same time Mikan wasn't acquainted with them either.

'To think they would personally send him out to get me. Then again this possibility did come across my mind.'

Mikan closed her eyes once she got a good glimpse of the people below her.

'Now if I remember correctly...' Mikan thought hard to try to remember the people.

"Izumi Sakura?" A voice broke her train of thought.

Mikan opened both her eyes to look at the speaker.

"Hai. To whom do I owe this honour to?" Mikan crossed her arms against her chest, looking down at them.

"Matsudaira Hayate."

"Amane Rui."

"Yakumo Hajime."

Mikan's eyes followed each voice as they introduced themselves to Mikan. However, Mikan's attention was far greater on the last person. Mikan didn't have to have him reintroduce himself to her since she knew all too well who he was.

"Persona." The familiar voice held a chill that ran all the way down Mikan's back.

Mikan's eyes were in contact with Persona's eyes even though they were hidden underneath a white eye mask. Mikan broke from the glaze and grin. Mikan jumped down from the wall, surprising the four which caused them to take a step back. Mikan landed standing but her upper body slightly bent forward. Mikan stood straight up before bowing back down.

"Izumi Sakura."

Mikan looked up at them before leaning against the cement fence.

"So what can I help you gentlemen with?" Mikan had her arms crossed once again and eyes closed with her head facing the floor.

Mikan had gotten a closer look at the four and started to remember her last encounter with them during the Hana Princess Festival. She saw that only Hayate had a school uniform on.

'Last time he was in a middle school uniform, so he's not in high school. But the other two...' Mikan looked up as thoughts started running in her head.

Mikan scanned the other two 'students' to see that they weren't in a uniform but in casual clothes.

'Meaning that they're not students anymore, which makes sense since they were in the high school section 3 years ago. But why? Why are they still helping Persona?' Mikan wasn't happy with the 'fire power' she was started to see the Elementary School Principal have.

Mikan clenched her teeth. 'More and more problems have come up.'

"We have come to escort Izumi Sakura-sama to the Dangerous Abilities class. I'm an instructor for the class. We've been asked by the person in charge of the class to personally come get you." With every word Persona spoke, it just sent more chills down Mikan's back.

Suddenly Mikan gasped and opened her eyes. Her arms fell to her sides and she quickly ran towards the gate to the school building.

'Please let me be wrong.' Mikan was screaming in her head as she approached the entrance.

Mikan's eyes widened as she was correct. 'Dammit!'

Mikan looked back to Persona and them to see they were confused at her actions. Without wanting to waste time Mikan ran back towards the group.

"Take me!" Mikan yelled as she stopped in front of them.

"What?" Hayate exclaimed in confusion.

"Just take me right now!" Mikan yelled at them while giving them a glare.

"Very well. Your cooperation is much appreciated." Persona grinned at her cooperativeness.

Persona walked next to Mikan and looked down at her depressed form. "Trying to stay out of a sticky situation, ne? What a good friend you are." Persona slowly whispered loud enough for Mikan to hear.

Mikan stopped walking and clenched her fists. "I don't know what you're talking about." Mikan angrily whispered.

Persona stopped and turned around to face Mikan. "Really now?"

Persona started walking up towards Mikan, slowly. He stopped when he was in front of her. He lifted her chin up to make her face her. "Maybe you are new after all." Persona chuckled.

Mikan's eyes held pure hatred towards Persona.

"But your eyes tell a different story." Persona's face suddenly changed to a serious one.

"Maybe I should tell you, for future reference, about what happens to those who disobey or lie to us." Persona's hand let go of Mikan's chin.

His long slim fingers were moving towards her neck. Mikan gasped at the cold contact against her neck from Persona's many limiting rings on his hand. Mikan's face started changing into a scared one.

'If he uses his Alice on me now, I won't be able to stop it.'

Mikan was frozen by his actions as she wanted to slap his arm away or at least back away from him. Suddenly, Persona's hand moved away quickly, surprising Mikan. Mikan looked up with wide eyes at Persona.

"I think that was enough to scare you for now." Persona turned back around and started walking away.

Mikan fell a step forward from the shock. Mikan's hand went up to her neck and she was having trouble catching her breathe. Before Mikan's could have any time to calm down, she heard voices behind her.

'Shoot.' Mikan ran to catch up to Persona before letting the people behind them see her.

~Hotaru~

"Imai!!!!!!!" Ruka yelled while chasing Hotaru outside the door of the middle school building.

Hotaru was riding on her swan _____ trying to run away from Ruka. In her hand she was holding a bag full of photo albums filled with Ruka's pictures.

"Why can't I just peacefully make some money?" Hotaru plainly questioned.

Hotaru took out an album and flipped through it. Hotaru grinned as she looked through the album, proud of her photography skills. As she was hovering towards the gates, she caught a glimpse of Natsume sleeping on a branch in the middle of the yard. Getting an idea in her mind, she flew over to him.

"What do you want?" Natsume grumpily mumbled as soon as Hotaru was close enough to hear him.

His eyes were still close but he knew it was Hotaru. He also had heard Ruka's cries from earlier. He sat up and looked behind Hotaru to see a running Ruka slowly getting out of breathe. Natsume sighed and looked over at the bag in Hotaru's hands.

"At it again?" Natsume simply said.

"I don't know what you mean but I was wondering if you were interested in purchasing a Nogi Ruka photo album." Hotaru's eyes shined in dollar signs.

Natsume was a little creeped out by Hotaru's love for money. However, he wanted to help Ruka out by getting rid of the pictures.

"How much?" Natsume looked at Hotaru.

Hotaru grinned, "For you, 3000 yen (_____) for each album."

"3000! For one album!" Natsume looked down to see Ruka yelling at Hotaru while catching his breath.

Hotaru just ignored Ruka and continued with Natsume.

"I'll throw in a bonus for you." Hotaru's grin could be seen by Natsume and Ruka.

Ruka gulped not knowing what to expect from Hotaru. Hotaru hovered a little higher and with a bang a giant poster picture fell from underneath Hotaru's hover cart.

"I'll give you this too along with every album you buy." Hotaru yelled for them to hear.

Natsume and Ruka both looked at the picture rolling down. Once it was fully opened they both gasped. Hotaru smiled, seeing her plan a success. Fortunately for Hotaru, a bunch of students inside the building saw the picture through the window. Windows started opening and shouts were heard for orders of the poster.

Natsume's eyes widen as he saw what was on the poster. Knowing it was Hotaru that was revealing the picture he was expecting an embarrassing picture of Ruka. However, the picture before his eyes was a big surprise to himself, let alone Ruka. Not knowing how it was possible for Hotaru to obtain such a picture but it was true that she got it somehow as the picture was of Natsume, 3 years ago during the school festival play, dressed up as one of the dwarves' animal friend. Next to Natsume was Ruka dressed up as Snow White in the picture.

"IMAI!!!!" Hotaru could hear Natsume screaming after her as she started hovering away.

Hotaru look over her shoulder to see Natsume jump off from the tree and start running after her. Hotaru couldn't help but grin a little seeing the results of her plan.

"By the way, if you try burning this picture, you have to pay for it and also, I have many more copies elsewhere." Hotaru shouted back to Natsume, seeing him mad enough to burn the picture.

Natsume growled at what Hotaru said and started running even faster. Ruka was running a little behind but slowly since he was out of breath earlier. As Hotaru was nearing the entrance, she caught a glimpse of someone running away.

'That looks like Izumi-san.' Hotaru rubbed her eyes to double check her vision.

As soon as she was certain her vision was fine, there was no one at the entrance anymore. Hotaru decided to pick up the speed to see for sure. Once she reached the entrance, she quickly glanced both ways to see if there were any retreating shadows. To her surprise, she was correct and saw Mikan standing there for a while along with Persona.

"Persona..." Hotaru let a whisper escape.

Natsume and Ruka finally caught up to Hotaru. However, by the time they reached her, Mikan and the group were gone. Hotaru had landed on the ground and was deep in thought, looking out to where Mikan disappeared.

"Imai!" Natsume yelled, still short of breath.

Natsume and Ruka were both holding onto their thighs while catching their breath. Ruka looked up at Hotaru and noticed her attention elsewhere.

"Something wrong?" Ruka's question brought Hotaru back to them.

Hotaru looked over at them and plainly said with her icy voice, "I was waiting for you guys to catch up."

This caused Natsume to get angrier. "I'm sorry I don't fly like you!"

"Apology accepted." Hotaru replied before starting to hover again.

"Where do you think you're going now!?" Natsume roared, giving up on chasing her.

"I left something back in my room." Hotaru took off without giving a second thought.

Finally catching his breath, Natsume stood up with his hands in his pockets. Knowing he'll have to catch Hotaru another time, he looked at her retreating back before starting to walk off.

"Let's go Ruka." Natsume called out, getting Ruka's attention. "We'll get her later."

Ruka smiled, seeing Natsume in a better mood. Knowing Hotaru had something to do with it, he mentally thanked her. The two started walking towards their abilities class.

A/N: There's probably random things that don't make sense! I'm sorry. The last part with Hotaru, Ruka and Natsume was sort of weird for me. It was probably the hardest part about the chapter, there wasn't enough inspiration to write it out. I have lots of ideas of chapters to come, so hopefully I'll update a LITTLE faster. But this is a warning that I will not be updating weekly now. I have midterms coming up too in two weeks, so I'll see how my times are. Not that I study anyways! ==;;

Again I'm sorry for the late update, but I promised myself that I wouldn't update unless it was a LONG chapter. Well, it was long but hopefully it wasn't awful! T___T Well R&R guys! Hope you enjoyed!

~Yumemi~