Chapter 9

Hotaru's POV:

The hospital curtains lifted in the air as the wind from outside swept across the stale room. I watched as Mikan shivered on her bed, pulling the covers up over her shoulders. I almost laughed at how ironic it seemed to be – how it was cold in the outer world but it could never compare to the ice inside my body now.

"The mission you got on the first day of school," I said to Mikan, remembering how she had bolted out of the room, picking Hyuuga instead of someone from our group. I took a breath before continuing, I didn't want to say the words. "Was it," I paused and looked at her eyes and saw them widen. "Was it to kill me?" She gasped and didn't reply for a few minutes. We both kept quiet for a few minutes before she answered.

She took a deep breath, averting her eyes and watching solemnly as the curtains rose and fell. Finally, she turned to look at me with a face void of emotions and said, "It was to execute you."

I felt a force hit my chest and I stumbled back from the impact, gasping for air in desperation as my lungs collapsed. I could practically see myself slowly sinking to the bottom of the lake of my questions. I slowly began to lose sight of Mikan, the sun blazing above the rough waters. My hands reached out to try to swim to the top but it was futile. All I could see and hear was my screams muffled by the heavy liquid.

"…Hotaru?...Hotaru…? Hotaru?" Mikan had stood up and was holding onto my shoulders, staring at me in concern. "Alice, the one who assigned it to me, is dead, Hotaru. I don't have to do it. And I wasn't going to anyways."

I took a deep breath, marveling at how two sentences could lead me back to Earth, safe and well.

After a minute of regaining my composure, I looked up at her and asked calmly, "Why was the mission given to you?"

"Well…I only think that was the mission," she said, trepidation lingering in her eyes.

I nodded, showing her I understood. Despite everything, I needed to maintain my composure. I never wanted to scare Mikan. Once my thoughts became lucid, I began to see rationally again and realized that she would never kill me. Then, a question formed in my head: who was Alice?

I shook my head; there was a time and a place for everything. "Why do you think that was the mission?" I asked.

Mikan settled down on the bed again. "Well, the way Alice looked at you. She acted like you were her mortal enemy and she glared at you all the time. I knew something was up when she called me; her voice wasn't as smooth as it usually was, but it quivered like she needed to let the secret out right then and there," she explained.

Again, I thought of that one question. "Who is Alice?"

Mikan smiled softly; glad to momentarily be off the serious topic. "She was my family's maid."

I narrowed my eyes, dubious of her story. "And she glared at me?"

"Yeah, but it was hard to see since she would fake a smile." Mikan replied, lying on the bed.

"Lets not talk about it," I said, shaking my head. "We have to finish the mission…assuming your stab wound would allow it."

Her eyes beamed brightly in excitement and she put her arms up to the sky saying, "Yes!" Then she winced in pain, slowly lowering her arms and laughing sheepishly.

I dropped the pile of clothes that I had brought for her onto the bed and turned around. "Get changed, idiot. We're going for a ride."

Mikan perked up behind me. "Oh? Where to?"

I rolled my eyes, reverting back to my renowned title 'Ice Queen'. "Headquarters."

Mikan's POV:

After two hours, Hotaru and I were back in my house where the gang stood with my uncle.

I smiled. "Kazu."

"Mikan?" he replied in confusion. "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be in the hospital resting."

I shrugged and sat on the sofa across from everyone. "The mission..."

They all waited patiently for me to continue. When I didn't, Kazu prompted, "Yeah?"

"The dagger…"

Again, they waited and again, he asked, "Yeah?"

"The dagger…was horrible!" I yelled in disbelief.

"I-Impossible. It couldn't have been a horrible one, I gave you a brand new one." stammered Kazu.

"They were about to stab me when the knife slipped from their hand. There was a certain amount of force to it but not much. All I have is a small cut that goes two inches deep." I shook my head and sighed. "Anyway, why did you call us here, Kazu?"

He grinned. "You'll see."

I leaned back against the couch, crossing my arms and sticking out my tongue in irk. Suddenly, the entire couch fell backwards. For a minute, I scrambled to stay upright, but it was no use. I fell back along with the couch and hit the wall.

I rubbed my head and grew red. "Kazu, you damn excuse for an uncle!"

Misaki, Anna and Nonoko came to my side and helped me up, all attempting to conceal their amused smirks. When I sat up, I found Hotaru staring brightly at her camera while Sumire laughed her head off. All of the boys stood there, shocked and not understanding what had just happened.

"You do realize," I started grimly, "that I just got out of the hospital, right?"

"Yup," he said, popping the 'p'.

"Then why?" I yelled furiously, sitting on the leg of the sofa.

"That, my dear, is a trap for the A.A.O. They know that you live here and are most likely planning to use that knowledge to their advantage. So, from now on, you'll be living with me. I'll have all the furniture replaced with these prototypes here, so that if anyone tries to enter they will just have to touch one piece of furniture and we will get alerted right away by my phone. " He held up his phone which showed a red flashing stop sign.

I shook my head. "No, that's too simple, the A.A.O. is much smarter than that. I have an idea but I'll need help so, I'll be leaving right now." I said leaving the room. I knew Kazu wouldn't be happy but it was only a matter of time before the A.A.O. figured out how to get here.

"Are you going to the hospital?"

"Yeah. I'll need the Porsche for this though; cause after I'm visiting Mina."

Kazu's eyes widened. "Mina? The traitor?"

I cringed softly. "Yeah, that Mina."

But Mina wasn't a traitor; she was forced to go against us and now she held that name. Mina told me the truth, about how it was the A.A.O. The girls however don't know this, they were already in America by now. They all still think that Anna was the reason Ikuto was killed.

I closed the door shut behind me before anyone could utter a retort and ran for the car. I jumped in and quickly pulled out, waving sweetly as Kazu opened the door and yelled, "Don't you dare!"

As soon as I had pulled onto the main road, I noticed someone was following me. I stepped fully on the gas and manoeuvred through the traffic, making sharp turns every chance I could to throw them off. Within a minute, they were gone, and I was off to the hospital again.

I parked the car and got out, pulling my shades on my head. I walked into the hospital and went to check in when I suddenly felt someone's hand brush past my hip. I grabbed it and turned around, ready for a fight, only to find Hyuuga standing there.

"Hyuuga!"I yelled, shocked. "What are you doing here?"

"Let go of my hand first," he snapped back.

I let go and crossed my arms across my chest. "Did Kazu make you come?" I asked, already thinking of how I was going to kill him.

"Yeah."

I thought for a moment then asked, "Was that you who was following me then?"

He nodded, shoving his hands in his pockets and looking the other way.

"I thought I lost you…"

He chuckled. "With that weak attempt? No."

I sighed and turned away from him, ignoring as he followed. He always seemed to find me no matter how much I tried to get rid of him so there was no point of making leave. We walked to my parent's room and when I peered in, I could see them trying to walk and regain their balance. I cracked open the door and smiled. They looked good but I knew the attack had left them defeated and horrible. I needed to be strong for them. They couldn't know about the mission end match or about my injury. That would only worry them more.

"Mikan!" Mom exclaimed as she hugged me. I hugged her back, glad she was okay, as she asked, "So what brings you here?"

"Mom, it's about Mina. Will you listen? Dad, you too?" I asked. Mom bit her lip and looked over at my dad. I looked at Hyuuga who shrugged.

Dad thinned his lips and then smiled gently. "Sure. We'll listen; but you know, Mikan, we already told you not to go near her anymore."

I nodded "I know but there's something that you should know." I took a deep breath and revealed the secret she had begged me to keep. "Mina wasn't a traitor; she was forced to kill Ikuto and while Anna may have given the final blow, it was Mina. But she had reasons for doing so, the A.A.O. said if she didn't they would kill her family. They blackmailed and used her. I'm not saying she's completely innocent but if we're going to play the blame game, it's more than just her fault."

"We don't have any proof of that, Mikan," Mom stated harshly.

"You have to believe her. Mina and I have been friends since we were born. Come on, she's basically your daughter!" I argued.

"Mikan, we know that, but for all we know she could be lying to you, she might have been working with the A.A.O. when you met her without our permission" Dad reasoned evenly.

"No she wouldn't!" I looked at them pathetically. How could they not believe us? Mina would never lie; I would never lie! They might have been my parents and they might have been injured and hurt right now but they seemed to be in perfect shape for arguing with me about this topic.

"Let's go, Hyuuga," I said, storming out of the door with the boy following me and trying to say something. With all of my anger pent up in my head, I couldn't hear a word he – or anyone for that matter – said. Mina was innocent; I knew it.