GA originally belongs to Higuchi Tachibana….

A Faded Rose

Chapter: 8

"Did you hear that Persona's dead?"

"Huh, The Elementary School Principal's Puppet?"

"I heard that she was standing there in front of him when he was dying"

"Even worse, I think she's got the Death Alice!"

Mikan snorted as she walked towards the classroom, fully aware of the whisper that was constructed around her. It wasn't untrue though…

She entered the classroom, only to find that no one was there. She raised her eyebrow and was about to leave, when her eyes caught a piece of note lying on the teacher's desk.

She walked towards it and snatched it up. She rolled her eyes at the content written in the paper.

Mikan-chan,

The whole class has gone to the hall to decorate for prom. Do come and lend a hand!

Ja Ne~!

Narumi

"Gay idiot" she muttered as she left the empty class and headed towards her favorite sakura tree.

Oblivious of her, she was being watched by two boys, their faces beaming in anticipant.

"Don't worry, Natsume. I'm sure she'll pick you" A blonde boy said gaily, staring at the trotting figure.

"Let's hope so." He muttered under his breath.

.

"Okay, people. Let's decorate!" A voice shouted, as students of various Alice classes swarmed around the hall, activating their unique specialties.

The music began, whilst all the noise. Some danced away; some grabbed their partners while some proposed.

"Will you be mine?" Koko whispered in Sumire's ear as he knelt down, despite his knee injury.

She giggled and nodded shyly, binding his hands with hers and leading the way.

"Good luck, bro. This is one tough stone" Hishonimi whispered as he grinned at his best friend's date.

Despite all that laughter, some seemed….sad.

"Hey, Natsume! Won't you pick me?" A girl cried, looming over him like a tall tower.

"Shut your mouth, seaweed" He growled.

Well, in his case, jealous.

He was desperately waiting for his princess, to enter the ball and accept his love. But deep down, he knew she was never going to be his.

..

"Prom…..stupid" she mumbled as she stroked Phylon's hair. It purred an "I agree".

She smiled, genuinely as she thought about her previous days as a prom girl.

But those days faded like the sun's bright colors. She looked towards the sky, questioning their judgment.

Mikan sighed and slid down, preoccupied by her thoughts. A hand grabbed her arm and began towing her away.

She looked up, clearly unpleased.

"Oi, what do you think you're doing here, all alone?" The voice was familiar. She smiled.

"Tsubasa, I'm perfectly fine" Though the need for his blood was craving and unfinished.

"It's not going to work with me. You get your sweet little face in the hall and help the school" He said, still unwilling to let go.

Phylon followed, happy for a walk.

"But I HATE prom!" She whined, stomping her foot against the cold, bare earth.

Yep, Tsubasa was one of those lucky people who could see her smile. And wail, in this case.

"Geez, woman." He said, covering his ears and giving a pouty look. He pushed his lips further, acting like a small child.

She sighed and slapped her forehead, not happy.

"Fine" she muttered angrily. He grinned widely, flashing his Dracula teeth. She recoiled.

"Ugh…creepy" Mikan muttered, walking with him.

He dropped her at the entrance and bid her farewell. He sprinted away and stopped near a bush.

A blonde boy emerged, nodding. Tsubasa flashed a thumbs up and winked, smiling at him.

"Sorry, Mikan. But it's for the best" He thought grimly as he jogged away, towards his dorm.

..

"Why am I even here?" She screamed. In her head, of course.

Mikan was in the hall, wandering around aimlessly as she observed the students, working tirelessly.

Natsume caught her looking bored and smirked.

"Well, this is going to be interesting" he thought, making his way towards her, a plan organized.

"Have you taken your positions, Operation…Love?" He said, clearly angry at the last word.

"Sir, Yes sir!" The voices chorused on the walkie talkie, excited beyond words.

He mentally slapped himself. "What's so funny?" he spat as Nonoko giggled with glee.

"Ok, places people! Here she comes!" signaled a beaming Otanashi, perched on a tree top, with a pair of binoculars on her hand.

Anna quickly splashed a bucket of water on the floor and started wiping it with a mop. The others quickly followed.

Mikan entered the scene, confused about the new addition. She snorted and was about to kick the pail of water, when Iinchou stopped her.

"Sorry, Sakura-san, but this way is blocked" He said, not sounding sorry at all.

Her eyes narrowed towards his sheepish smile. She rolled her eyes and started walking towards the exit but was stopped by a groups of animals huddled around Ruka.

She clicked her tongue, but he paid no heed, singing a musical along with them.

He popped his eyes open and shrugged his shoulders at her. "Get away from the door, Nogi" she snarled.

"Sorry, Sakura-san. But this was the only available spot left for me to rehearse." He said, grinning slyly.

Mikan started tapping her foot. "But-"he added, raising his hand. Her head flipped towards him.

"-there is another way out from this hall. It's just around the corner, opposite to the Christmas tree." He said, nodding innocently.

She glared at him and stalked off, clearly pissed.

"Target is moving. Location acquired" he said, grinning as he spoke through the walkie talkie.

"I swear….if I see any of those scoundrels…I'm gonna-"

"Do what?" A husky voice cut off her death sentence. She peered through her contacts and groaned.

Not him.

Mikan glared at him…the bold man.

"None of your business, Hyuuga" she sneered, as she stopped in front of the X-mass tree.

"Don't you think it's getting a bit old?" He said, smirking.

Her eyes narrowed. "What?"

"Your it's-my-bloody-problem attitude?"

"Why do you even care? Leave me alone" she threatened.

"Trust me…I've tried" he thought, gazing at the contacts behind which hid a dangerous personality.

She caught him staring at her and raised her eyebrow. Why wouldn't he go?

"I said, scram" Mikan snapped. He smirked, catching hold of her hand and pulling her towards him.

"Only if you promise to dance with me." He whispered, his sweet scent lingering around her nose. She inhaled the musky aura and sighed.

He was tooooo…tempting.

"Another condition? No freaking way" She spat, though mesmerized by his fiery red eyes.

Unlike her bloody ones…..

"Suit yourself, then" he said, shrugging the fact off.

She was alarmed, but seeing it was Natsume, the bold…..knight she mentally slapped herself.

Aha…she was going mad…..sadly.

It was because she didn't act all cold and mighty in front of him.

Because he reminded her of warmth.

Hot, blazing warmth.

Dear god, what the HELL?

She tapped her foot for the second time, thinking of a brilliant plan.

Natsume gazed at her lips.

So…soft.

Like a rose…..

So…irresistible.

Like chocolate.

He suddenly wanted to chain her…so that he could have her forever.

Yes, his imaginations were quite brutal, owing to the fact of his crushing, overpowering love.

He was so lost in these thoughts that he didn't notice her sliding her arm away from his hand…until Ruka bellowed.

"Natsume, she's running away!" He whispered fiercely on the walkie talkie.

Natsume snapped out of his daydreams and concentrated on his love.

"OI!" He shouted as she yanked herself away from him, desperate to get out.

He followed her, blazing fire wherever she went. Mikan aced them out by her water Alice.

Alas, she stopped near the door, her fangs protruding out.

"Where the hell is Hakiro?" She thought angrily, as she blasted the door open by her laser Alice.

Unfortunately, he was chained to a store room, his hands and legs tied.

"I'll get you for this…..Natsume" he said, his voice muffled by the echo bouncing around.

She snapped her fingers and Phylon appeared, sprinting with her.

She muttered something in its ear and it nodded, losing shape at the same time. It transformed into a bird and caught hold of Mikan's hands, making her soar in the air.

Natsume looked up towards the sky, utterly bewildered. But since his best friend had the Alice of attracting animals, he smirked.

Through the message conveyed by the walkie talkie and eagle appeared, catching hold of Natsume's arm and leading him towards Mikan.

She clicked her tongue and Phylon dropped her down, landing on a tree branch in the Northern woods.

She glanced around, oblivious of a certain dark figure looming over her.

Mikan sighed and jumped down, holding her fangs.

She would not let him see her true nature.

Never in a million years…

Never.

This new determination was quite short-lived as her eyes darted towards an innocent, looking deer.

She lost control of herself, too thirsty and lunged herself towards the juicy animal, tearing every part of its vein.

A voice gasped, holding the tree tightly.

He saw her devour the creature pleasurably and staggered back, unaware of the eagle which was standing behind him, looking very scared.

The fiery red eyes widened.

It was Natsume.

.

Hey guys! Sorry for the late update!

I was not well….anyways do read and review!

Don't forget to enjoy!

Ja Ne~!

Burntjewels15