OMFG. I'm so damn sorry! Really!! .!! I haven't had the internet for a while because my computer, my computer - the computer I had been using was my dads, by the way - was being fixed, and my brother was being a complete dickhead and wouldn't connect the net to my PC!
And then? Then I had to re-write this chapter because all of the files on my dads pc got wiped -AGAIN!?!?!?- and i lost everything again! od damn them all .! Honestly, I quit -.- Not fanfction, of course, but my actual story - yeah, I was like, writing a book, sad, huh? - i quit that now, because i just lost it all again. I'm sick of rewriting :/

Well, anyway, I'm sorry! Here's chapter ten, and I'll try and finish chapter 11 real soon, too! Holidays are only a week away, so hopefully I'll be able to update heaps :D

Sorry:/ Enjoy! :)

10

Natsume, Hotaru and Ruka were standing outside of the almost-full, luxurious double Decker bus that was parked in front of the main building at Gakuen Alice. They were all waiting for Mikan – who would be sharing the back seat with Hotaru, Natsume and Ruka due to names being pulled out of a hat. All three of them were positive we wouldn't like it.

But what made them feel down was knowing that she'd play it cool and pretend she didn't give a rats' ass about who she was sitting next to. They'd all love to see her display an emotion – rage would be fantastic, because every member of the class thought they deserved to feel her wrath.

And they were right, they did. But of course, they all knew she wouldn't harm them, because she'd blame herself. Why beat herself up when she's already just about suicidal? Well, there was no way she'd commit suicide – if she was a normal person, she probably already would have.

In ten minutes the bus would leave for the airport, with or without Mikan Sakura. And if she missed the bus and didn't get to the airport on her own for the plane, she'd be expelled. It was compulsory, that was that.

No skipping.

It worried Natsume to think that she'd purposely get herself kicked out of Gakuen Alice just so she didn't have to put up with them anymore, but it didn't seem likely. Everyone at Gakuen Alice had figured out she's not a talker already, and moving schools would mean putting up with suck-ups all over again.

He knew she wouldn't like that at all, which was his only glimmer of hope.

"Maybe she's not—," Ruka cut himself off, biting his tongue when a black car with dark tinted windows pulled up outside of the gates and Mikan jumped out with two men tailing her holding two large suitcases. Sure, her suitcases were big, but they were nowhere near as big as all the other girls' suitcases.

She was wearing faded blue jeans and a plain white tee-shirt with a pair of blue glasses on. Instead of a little handbag she had a small back pack on. She was wearing a pair of black and white skate shoes. She nodded at Hotaru. "Hey." She said emotionlessly – her usual tone.

Hotaru nodded back. "Hey. I'll go tell the teachers you're here." She said, stepping onto the bus. Mikan shrugged and continued walking.

When she realized she didn't know where to put her bags, she reluctantly turned to Ruka and stared at him without saying anything until even Natsume felt uncomfortable – and he wasn't even the one she was staring at.

"O-over here, Sakura-san." He said, leading her around to the side of the bus to an open compartment that was filled with suitcases. "They go in there." He said, about to retreat.

Mikan tapped his arm and he turned around, surprised at the contact. "Thank you." She said before turning around and telling the men holding her bags to put them in gently and close the door. After that she followed them around to the door and marched up the stairs, only to be stopped by Narumi.

Narumi grinned. He was wearing a purple suit. With frills. Barf. Sure, he dressed like a complete gay and skipped around like a five year old girl with a new Barbie doll, but he was a total lady-killer. And he didn't have a bad personality, either. H=just the way he dressed crept Natsume out big time.

"Alright, Mikan-chan!" Narumi said, slighting through lists of names. "You'll be sitting in the back row on the second deck between Hotaru and Ruka. No buts, go." He waved her off, ignoring her murderous glare.

Natsume took his place at the window beside Ruka. Hotaru was at the other window and Mikan was strolling casually down the aisle between the chairs, ignoring all of the guilty looks people shot her on the way. Even the occasional 'sorry' was whispered quietly.

She sat down, pulled her bag off and stuck it on her lap, crossing her legs. It was silent as the bus took off, heading for the airport. Then Mikan, of all people to start a conversation, Mikan, nudged Hotaru and pulled her glasses off. "You told them." She said simply but with an edge that indicated that she only just noticed it now.

Hotaru nodded. "Guilty. They were pissing me off." She didn't bother defending herself or trying to pretend it wasn't her that told them – who else knew enough to tell anyone anything? Psh. "Are you mad?" she asked quietly.

Natsume half smiled when he saw Mikan eyebrows shot up briefly in surprise. "Are you a mornon?" she asked almost incredulously, holding Hotaru's face. "Of course I'm not mad. I'm furious." She muttered. "But it's okay, because it's you. Without you I'd have gone insane. You know that, Hotaru. So never think I'm mad at you. Understood?" Mikan pretended not to notice, but Natsume paid acute attention to all of the staring faces.

Of course they were going to stare. Mikan hadn't said that much in day all month, little own expressed emotion. They had the right to be surprised.

They spent the rest of the bus ride in silence, although chattering could be heard from the lower deck directly beneath their feet. Occasionally small conversations would break out amongst the other on their deck, too, but it never lasted long.

Natsume spent the trip waiting for Mikan to turn so he could get a glimpse of that face she'd been hiding from him for so long, but she just kept staring past Ruka and out the window. She didn't turn back until the bus pulled in at the airport.

They all piled out of the bus and made their way into the terminal to wait for their luggage to be packed and for the plane to be ready. Natsume and Ruka sat off to the side where there were only a few kids that didn't know how to communicate with someone like Natsume.

Natsume saw the captain talking to three tourists, shaking his head and giving directions. He shrugged it off and talked to Ruka until they were allowed to board the plane, where their seats and partners were once again draw by paper out of a hat.

Narumi gave a sly smile when he pulled the next two pieces out, keeping his eyes on Natsume before he briefly shot a look at Mikan. "Seat 67, Natsume Hyuuga, seat 68, Mikan Sakura." He called, clearly not surprised to receive Mikan's deadly glare. "It was chance." He said, sticking the paper in his pocket. "Fate." He muttered quietly.

Natsume walked to his seat, dropping down beside the window as Minkan sat in her place. They remained quiet for the entire trip, Natsume watching her again. He sighed, finally looking away to find that everyone, including the teachers, were fast asleep. He followed suite soon after Mikan's eyes slid shut.

--

They all woke up abruptly as the plane speakers switched on, the seat belt light flashing. "We're sorry to say, student of Gakuen Alice, that we'll be high jacking this plane and holding you all captive for a nice sum of ransom money. We have guns. Remain in your seats and wait there for further instruction, thank you."

Everyone was in a panic almost instantly, except for Mikan, who undid her seat belt, stood up and made her way to the front of the area. "Alright, listen up!" she hollered, instantly shutting up the chat. Narumi and Jinno rushed up the instant she waved them over, and she quickly told them something no one else could hear.

They both frowned, shaking their heads. "Miss Sakura, we can't—," Jinno started, but Mikan clamped a hand over his mouth, shutting him up.

"No time for that, idiot teacher." She snapped, turning back to face everyone. "You're all going to stay quiet. Very quiet, and we're going to follow whatever instructions we're given. Do not, and I mean this, do not mention anything about money or power. You're all going to follow my lead and try to pretend you're not stinking rich. Now, I'm going to go collect all expensive items you have with you right now and hide them in my bag."

She left no room for rebuttal. She went from row to row, collecting goods and about a minute after she took her seat three men – the three men Natsume had spotted earlier talking to the captain – entered the cabin with rifles.

"Greetings, little children. Remain quiet now and exit the plane. There will be guides outside to take you where you need to go. Don't be a hero. We will shoot you." The first man stated plainly. "Without further ado, you may exit – ah, ah, aahhh, not you teachers. Stay seated."

"We're not—," Narumi began following Mikan's plan, but he held a gun to his head to silence him.

Natsume followed Mikan out of the plane and through a fenced off pathway heading for a large hotel. They were lead to the bottom floor that looked like a car park of some sort. With quick inspection it was easy to see that there were no camera's.

"Now you'll all sit here. You can have a little chat if you'd like. Guards are stationed outside." He gave a satisfied nod and left the students locked in the dusty old room.

It was silent for a moment until Mikan spoke up, seeming to have made up her mind. "Alright. You're all poor. When he comes back, I'll get you out of here. No ifs or buts, this is just the way it's going to be. Stay quiet."

It was a good ten minutes before the three men came back into the room, looking a little discouraged. Narumi and Jinno were with them until they were pushed to the floor with the others.

"Are these men your teachers?" he asked harshly, glaring around the room when Mikan burst out in hysterical laughter. He pointed the gun at her.

"You people messed up so bad." She said, still chuckling to herself. "So, soooo bad." She giggled, shaking her head and standing up. "The Gakuen Alice plane left this morning. These commoners are from the public school on the others side of Tokyo, morons. Those guys were just freeloaders who needed to get out of the country. Do what you want." She smirked. "Or I could help you, let you know which ones are rich and whose parents can pay ransom…" she trailed of suggestively, shrugging a little. "It's your choice."

They chatted amongst themselves for a moment. Obviously, they recognized her. "You're that Sakura girl. Mikan, isn't it? With the strange memory?" she nodded. "We'll listen."

She nodded. "You might have figured that I'm a bit of a do-gooder. Hell, if these kids were the ones in my class I'd shut up and let you shoot them all, but they're not." She sighed. "If you let them all go home I'll stay right here, I won't fight or struggle and I'll even help you contact my parents on an untapped phone line." She was serious now, all business.

They spoke amongst themselves again, glancing at her occasionally. Natsume couldn't believe it – none of them could. After everything they'd done to her here she was, risking her own life just to get them out of danger. Again.

They looked at her and then at the kids before finally ending their chat. "You've got a deal, little girl." They stated. "You, commoners, up now. You'll be taken back to the plane. If any of you say anything about this we'll hunt you down with this girl's fortune."

Unable to protest and already being pulled along by classmates, Natsume reluctantly followed them out of the building and back into the plane. Nobody uttered a single word until they were safely off the ground.

Safely off the ground without Mikan. The thought echoed in his mind, banging against his sanity, trying to break through it.

Natsume finally cracked.

Dun dun duuun?!?