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

It had almost been a week since Aoi's party. The Hyuugas had managed to let the reporters believe that the damages were made by some lunatic stalker Aoi had, Natsume's leg healed just Wednesday, Ruka Nogi had been released from hospital confinement, and everything was back to normal.

…except in the Sakura household.

Ever since the party ended, Kuonji had been avoiding his sister like she was the plague. He even went to extreme lengths of asking Izumi to transfer his room to another wing of the mansion. Izumi believed that what his son was asking of him was preposterous so he lightly dismissed the suggestion. As for Mikan, she had been contemplating with the new changes in her life. When Izumi had been alerted of that disastrous night by his lackeys, he set out to train the brunette himself.

"Harness the power," he ordered. "Feel its energy and control it."

Mikan concentrated in directing the force in one location and she felt it prickling her fingertips. It was hard to describe the sensation she had felt. It was a sort of mixture between electricity and the softness of a cotton ball. When she heard the soft crackle echoing, she knew she had accomplished what Izumi had told her to do.

"You're excellent, my daughter." Izumi praised; his voice smooth and purring. "You just need to exert more effort in order to make the attack deadlier."

"Father," Mikan called. "I think we shouldn't just concentrate on attacking, we should consider improving my defense skills."

Izumi decided to ignore her and went on. "Have you and Kuonji have spoken already? The boy's giving me a terrible headache," he complained, his eyes locked with his daughter's. "Settle your arguments already. Both of you are fighting even though you're not bonded yet, what more when you become bond mates?"

Mikan's lips tightened as Izumi continued to talk more. "The Conclave's interested to know the date of your bonding. I've been relentlessly telling them to wait, but it seems they are anxious."

"I-I don't think I'm ready yet, Father." Mikan replied. "The bonding… it's too soon, I believe."

"Balderdash," Izumi dismissed his daughter's opinion. He deemed that the bonding had been delayed for far too long already. As the head of the Conclave, he had to see to it that the twins' bonding would push through. "If my children cannot decide for themselves, I'll take the matter myself."

Izumi noticed Mikan's brown eyes widening. He found it strange that the girl was being difficult. After all, she was the type who would surrender quickly to his whims. His brow arched and he leaned closer to the girl. "Is there any particular reason why you're being stubborn about your bonding?"

Mikan shifted around. She had known that Izumi could easily read lies and as of this moment, she knew there was no point in trying to deny it. "Have you ever felt a large hole in your chest?" she asked. "There's something missing in my life and I can't pinpoint on what it is. I need time—lots of it."

"Time?" Izumi repeated in incredulity. "Time for what?"

"Time to think about my life!" Mikan shouted, making her father take a step back. For many years, she had been hiding the frustration that had been building inside of her. All her life, everything was decided for her. All her life, she believed that she was just a spare. All her life, she was treated as nothing since Kuonji had always been there. He had always been the special one, the better one, and the stronger twin. Now, she had turned the tables on them.

"There's nothing to think about, Mikan." Izumi said.

'He's wrong', the girl thought. Actually, there was a lot to think about. Kuonji, her future, their future, her sudden flashbacks, her powers, and… Natsume. She felt a lump stuck in her throat. How could she suddenly think of him? Her thoughts directed her to that fateful night: him and her locked in a gaze beneath the moonlight, his arms wrapped around her cold skin, and his lips on hers. She shook the thought off. She had more important matters to think about; Natsume Hyuuga was just a nuisance.

"Actually," her voice came out in a soft whisper. "There is." Then she stormed out of the room leaving her father in a baffled state.


Kuonji sat on the chair in dead silence. His eyes followed the swaying trees just right outside of his window. For six days, he had been avoiding Mikan. He believed that he had no right to see her again. He had hurt her and the guilt was eating him. He had punished himself by not drinking any blood and not going out of his room.

The memories were very blurry though. Flashes of him rampaging in the party were what he remembered. The only thing vivid was the memory of him seeing his sister and Natsume sharing an embrace. He regretted notkilling the bastard in his rage—that could have diminished his anger and remorse.

The door creaked opened and behind the door was his sister. Her eyelashes fluttered as she called his name, "Kuonji?"

There was nothing to say so he did not bother responding.

She walked over to where he was and clasped his hand. "Kuonji?"

"Please leave, Mikan." he pleaded in a soft voice he could muster. "I-I don't know what I'll do if you're near me. Just go."

"Brother," she whimpered. "I want to talk to you."

Kuonji glanced at her and caressed her cheek. His action gave Mikan the slightest hope that her brother was returning back to his old self. "Mikan, why do you torment me so?"

She clutched to his hand and brushed Kuonji's hair strands away from his eyes. She halted when he slapped her hand and rose from his seat abruptly. "Leave me!" he screamed. "Leave!"

The girl held on to her ground and did not budge. "Kuonji, I know what's wrong," she blurted. "I know that you find it hard to forgive yourself, but you must. You can't be like this any longer."

Mikan saw her brother hissed. In a spurt, he grabbed Mikan's arm and dragged her to his bed. He caged her with his arms and stared right into her eyes.

"Kuonji?" she uttered his name. The brunette was in a rather stiff position where she didn't know if she should escape or try to talk sense into him. She tried to avert her eyes from his, but he cupped her chin and jerked it at his direction.

He sank his fangs on her neck and she moaned in pain. The feeling was new to her. Kuonji had always been gentle with her and for the first time in her life his bite pained her. She writhed at his touch and she struggled to escape, but his hold on her was absolutely firm. The boy crushed his palms against her waist and sank his fangs deeper.

"S-Stop!" she groaned. "I-It hurts!" With the use of her sharp fingernails, she scratched his face down to his neck. It was only a few seconds after that when Kuonji had finally stopped. Spurts of Mikan's blood were all over the sheets and beneath him was his sister whimpering.

When he saw Mikan's pouring tears, he finally realized the gravity of his action. He was a monster, he silently thought.

"—Mikan." He called her name. She froze when his fingers brushed her cheeks. "I'm sorry. I… I just can't control myself when it comes to you."

"Brother, do you hate me?" she spoke.

"No, I don't," he replied. "I never will. Don't think that way, Mikan, please don't."

Honestly, she felt numb. It took her the last amount of the strength she had left to rise from the bed. When she was about to leave, she threw one last look at her brother. There was a new emotion swirling inside of her and it wasn't new. It was betrayal. She felt betrayed by the one person that she had thought would never betray her.

"Brother, I do not like lies." she said. "You're lying right now and you were lying then. You told me that I died of a disease, but it was you that killed me. I don't think I can trust you any longer."

Just like that she left Kuonji's room. The boy trembled in fear of what had just happened. He needed to explain, but would she even listen? He just couldn't let her go like that. He just couldn't let her get out of his life.

"Mikan!" he called as he chased after her.


"Where have you been?" asked Natsume sternly. His piercing glare could have made anyone tremble, but Sumire held her ground. The green-haired girl crossed her legs as she took a sip from her martini.

"Just a break, really." she answered.

"A break?" Natsume exclaimed. "Are you stupid? You made a lot of people worry about your disappearance! You didn't even leave a note!"

"It won't happen again." replied Sumire with a smile.

"I don't think you have learned your lesson yet." Ruka cut in sharply.

Sumire decided to ignore the blonde and kept her smile on. "I promise, it won't happen again." she rose from her chair and leaned closer to Natsume until her lips were a few inches away from his ear. "Next time, I'll leave a note." She patted the raven haired boy's shoulder and left the room.

"We should have kicked her out of the group when we had the chance." Ruka muttered. "The girl's cracked!"

Natsume turned to Koko who was standing in the corner of the room with a gloomy expression carved on his face. "Koko, where on earth did you find her?"

Koko fidgeted on his spot and shortly glanced at Natsume before he ran out of the room. Ruka raised a brow and shook his head in dismay. "Sumire's madness has finally rubbed on Koko."

"Do you have any idea where Tsubasa is? I believe he's going to tell me something important." Natsume said.

"Enough about Tsubasa, Nat," Ruka uttered. "How are things between you and the Sakura girl?" He flashed a sly smile at Natsume, much to the latter's chagrin.

"I heard the girl was a hero." Ruka continued. "My blasted mother vowed to give her allegiance to the girl. She was practically in tears when I got out of the hospital."

"D..Do you have any sort of news about the Sakura household?" Natsume inquired softly, trying to contain his interest. Ever since the party, he lost contact with the brunette. There was never a time when he hadn't thought of her. He, himself, couldn't believe that he had fallen for the girl.

"Damn, Nat, you really have fallen for her!" Ruka exclaimed teasingly. "Who could have thought that the high and mighty Natsume Hyuuga would be knocked down by the Sakura's favored child?"

"Now, you're just exaggerating." Natsume said.

"Well, it's just really new to me." Ruka admitted. "The idea of you being smitten has never passed in my mind."

"I don't like her, Ruka." Natsume denied, but the blond managed to see through his lie. Ruka's lip formed into a small smile which caused Natsume to be more aggravated. "Ah, fuck it. Yes, I finally admit it. I like the girl. Happy, you punk?"

Ruka threw his head back in laughter. "Oh, boy. I have never seen this side of yours. I like it."

"Shut up." Natsume hissed as he shoved his palm onto his friend's face. Ruka cracked into a series of laughter as he watched his friend's passive expression shatter into many pieces.

"You really have such high standards when it comes to women," Ruka commented. "Kaoru has been throwing all sorts of female vampires at your feet, but you had never paid them any attention. You've chosen the most challenging one—a Sakura."

"I didn't choose her," Natsume grunted. "It just… happened. Believe me, Ruka, if I had a choice in the matter, I wouldn't pick her at all."

"Ah," Ruka cried as if he found something vital in Natsume's confession. "But you did have a choice and your choice was her. I have known you for a long time Natsume, we've met many girls—both human and vampire, but you didn't stay close nor showed interest in any of them."

Natsume raised a brow. "So, are you suggesting that I brought this upon myself?"

There was an unfamiliar twinkle in Ruka's blue eyes. "It's not a suggestion, Natsume. It's a statement."

"Shit," Natsume cursed. "If only she wasn't a Sakura."

"You could just steal her away." Ruka suggested.

"Are you mad?" Natsume bellowed. His crimson eyes were blazing in a mixture of anger and shock from Ruka's words. "What you are suggesting is treason. I can't stand between the prophesized twins. It would be an act of betrayal to the Conclave."

"Jeez," Ruka groaned. "Conclave this, Conclave that. When will you stop acting like the Conclave's dog? Just for once, think about what you want."

Natsume waved his hand dismissively. "You wouldn't understand."

"Oh?" Ruka pretended to be surprised. Natsume saw Ruka's forehead creasing as the seconds pass by. It wasn't a good sign. "I completely understand, Natsume. I understand quite perfectly that you're an idiot to surrender what you want for the Conclave's sake."

Natsume's hand found its way on to Ruka's arm and tightly clenched it. "Are you testing my patience, Nogi? I've never considered that you were a fool enough to try me."

"You're the fool, Natsume, not me." Ruka said as he pushed the crimson eyed boy away from him and left the room with only the sound of his footsteps echoing his departure.


"Mikan!" Kuonji called as he chased after his sister.

"What do you want?" his sister asked. Her question was actually good. What did Kuonji want? He wanted a lot of things but none popped into his mind when she asked. His only concern at the moment was Mikan.

"Look," Kuonji started. "Yes, I lied to you, but I have a good reason on why I did. It's far too early for you to remember, that's why I hid it from you."

"Hid what exactly?"

"The… truth," Kuonji replied. "The truth about us. About your existence. About this other woman's existence."

"I… I… I don't understand." Mikan stuttered. The girl was lost for words. Kuonji's sudden revelations had completely shocked her. She tried to utter some words, but no sound came out from her lips. It was as if the words she intended to convey had died in her throat.

"Mikan, you have to trust me." Kuonji said. "Will you believe me no matter how absurd the things that I will be talking about?"

The girl hesitated to reply. "I… I-I will."

Kuonji's lips drew into a thin line before he started talking once again, "Mikan, you are not the original twin. Before you, there was another."


In a dimly lit room, a woman was smoking her cigar. She sat tall and poised on the sofa as she took another huff from her stick. She turned her head at the door and just in a few seconds, it opened like how she had predicted it would. Behind the door were Sumire Shouda and Kokoro Yome.

"I've arrived as promised." Sumire said.

The woman smiled. "You really do keep your promises."

"As long as you keep your end of the bargain." Sumire hissed.

The woman crushed the cigar in the ashtray before she turned once again to Sumire who had now taken a seat across her. "I see that you've brought your pet." she eyed Koko who was standing behind Sumire's chair with his hands pressed on the green haired girl's shoulders. "You've won such a talented vampire. I'm impressed, daughter."

"You have no right calling me that, especially when you had abandoned me to the Shoudas." Sumire's knuckles turned white from clenching.

"I had to," the woman explained. "They wouldn't let you live, especially if they had found out who you really are. Plus, the Shoudas have done well in raising you. They gave you everything you wanted, I assume?"

"They did." Sumire replied.

"Good, no child of mine is going to be deprived of what they want."

"I want my rightful heritage." Sumire demanded.

"You'll have it, darling."

"The Sakura girl has awakened her powers. It will be dangerous." Sumire noticed her mother stiffened when she had mentioned the girl's name. "We have to act as soon as possible."

The woman tutted. "We have to stay vigilant, Sumire. We need to plan carefully. Right now, the twins' relationship is shattering and unstable. We need to crush them."

"But how? Fighting them head on sounds like a death sentence."

"We don't always have to be physical, Sumire. We have deception on our side. You've once mentioned of a Natsume Hyuuga, right?" When Sumire gave a nod, the woman went on. "We can use him."


Hi guys, ejo here! This chapter introduces (or more like of the beginning of the bigger picture) Struck's actual plot. It would be much more complicated in the future and I don't know if I could pull it off. Wish me luck!