So here's the next chapter. Hope you enjoy it.

03/25/10: Rewritten/Edited

Disclaimer: Not mine


Hotaru stared forlornly at the HAM caller. She had been here at this new place for three months now. She had half expected to receive a frantic call from Mikan before she had even settled into her room. But Mikan hadn't call. She hadn't called once in three months.

Hotaru had given her those rules of course, about not calling her over every little thing, but she hadn't actually expected Mikan to follow them. It was so unlike Mikan not to contact her even once. But then, Mikan hadn't confided in her about her and Natsume's scheme to run away. Perhaps the news that Hotaru would be leaving had been too much for her. Perhaps she was trying to distance herself so it wouldn't hurt so badly.

Hotaru sighed, picking up the gadget she'd been fiddling with and turning it over absentmindedly in her hand. More likely she's lost it already. As irritating as that thought was, it was also comforting. Hotaru's eyes travelled around her room. It was full of half finished projects. She hadn't been able to complete a single thing since she'd come here. She just had no inspiration for what to make. Nothing seemed worthwhile. Setting the gadget in her hand back down, she lay her head on the desk and stared at the HAM caller. What are you doing now, Mikan?

Natsume sat in his normal seat in the back of the classroom, feet on the desk, manga on his face, as the class waited for their math lesson with Jinno-sensei. To all appearances, he looked normal, calm. He was anything but. In his mind, he kept searching through everything he knew, looking for some missing clue, something that would help him find her. But he kept coming up empty handed. Ruka sat in silence beside him, absently petting Usagi. It was disturbing that not a single animal, not even a mouse, had seen where they'd taken Mikan. He'd asked every critter on the campus, and even had those animals communicating with animals outside the campus, but still there was no news.

Natsume heard the back door to the classroom open, but ignored it, assuming one of his classmates was going to the bathroom or some such thing. So it was Ruka that saw her first.

"Mikan?"

Natsume's entire body felt like it had been jolted with Jinno's electricity. Mikan? Mikan was back? Before anyone else could react, he vaulted over the back of his seat and ran towards her. She stood silently in front of the door as he came to stand in front of her, wide-eyed. His eyes scanned over her, looking to see if they'd hurt her. Physically, she looked alright, but when his eyes met hers, he felt a shudder go down his spine. They were so cold, empty, lifeless. He was certain he'd seen the same look in his own eyes mirrored back to him in the past. Grabbing her shoulders, he pulled her into his arms, hugging her tightly and burying his face in her neck.

By now, the other students had noticed her. Ruka had come to stand beside the pair, and also noticed the difference in Mikan. It was chilling. Like see what had happened to Natsume happen all over again. The other students watched Natsume and Mikan with surprise, so many thoughts going through the room. Mikan was back, but what had happened to her? And why was Natsume suddenly being so affectionate? Was it just because he had missed his partner? His friend? A few people in the room even noted how odd it was that it wasn't Ruka who was clinging to her. Iinchou had started to move toward her, but seeing her and Natsume, he felt somehow like he shouldn't interrupt. Instead, he sat back down, trying to swallow the sudden lump he felt in his throat. Nonoko and Anna had tears in their eyes as they watched they scene. They didn't really understand what was going on, but seeing Mikan and Natsume like that was heart wrenching. What had happened to their friend?

After a moment, Natsume let her go, but he kept her hand in his. The three moved to their seats in silence. There was so much to ask, so much to say. But now was hardly the time. Natsume wasn't sure who made the comment first, but soon whispers were spreading throughout the room.

"Do you see that? Look, there on her uniform."

"EH? Is that a special star?"

"When did she become a special?"

"Why? She's not all that amazing…"

Natsume had noticed it when he had looked her over, but hadn't been terribly surprised. Saddened, disturbed, yes, but not surprised. She was the principal's pet now, his precious favorite. Of course he'd give her a high ranking.

The front door of the classroom slid open, and Jinno-sensei entered. He looked over the room, his eyes falling on Mikan. Natsume noticed JinJIn didn't seem surprised to see her. Perhaps the teachers had been informed that she would be returning today.

"Sakura-san, how nice of you to join us. Class, welcome back the newest member of the dangerous abilities class."

The whispers, which had died when Jinno entered, reignited.

"Eh? Dangerous ability? Same as Natsume?"

"I wonder if that's why she is a special now…"

"What's so dangerous about her? What can nullification do?"

"Didn't you hear? She has the Stealing Alice too."

It was obvious that she would now be in the dangerous abilities class, but to hear it confirmed out loud made Natsume's heart clench. Everything he had wanted to protect her from was happening. The darkness that had blackened his soul was sucking her down too.

"Don't think that just because you are a special now that things are going to be easy." Jinno-sensei continued. "You have three months worth of work to catch up on and exams right around the corner. I expect to see you working twice as hard as everyone else."

"Wow…harsh." Sumire whispered.

Jinno turned to the board and began class. Throughout the class, Natsume kept glancing over at Mikan. She hadn't said a word, had hardly even looked at him, but she had a vice grip on his hand. Natsume could feel his blood boil. He would find a way to get her out of here, to get her where the school couldn't control her anymore, even if it meant giving her up to her mother Azumi Yuka, even if he might never see her again. He would make sure she was safe.


So, there's it is! R&R.