Disclaimer- No, I don't own Gakuen Alice. if I did, I would bring Yukihara back from the dead. He's too adorable!

Chapter 10

Hot and Cold

Almost a month had passed since I first came to Tokyo. I was all but settled in my new life, studying at Alice Academy and spending time with Hotaru and Ruka. Even the rare moments spent with Natsume had become familiar, if not exactly comfortable. My afternoons however, were now spent with Narumi sensei, learning about Nullifiers.

Being a Nullifier was a grave responsibility. I took classes about their history, Nite history, Nite politics, about the Midnight Council, and most importantly, learning to control my powers.

"You will need a lot of practice before you can actually use your powers at your will." Narumi sensei told me on the day of my first class.

"Aw, and here I was looking forward to saving the world this evening." I said, rolling my eyes. Natsume's sarcastic streak was starting to rub off on me.

He chuckled. "No. But I believe your strength is actually quite high. You seem to be able to use nullification unconsciously up to a certain level. Remember when you first met Natsume-kun in that alley? Even back then, you had managed to resist his hypnosis."

"You mean that's what he was trying to do? Hypnotize me?"

"Yup! That's how I first got a hint that you might be a Nullifier." He grinned at me.

"By the way, is anyone ever going to explain to me about the masked weirdo Natsume was fighting?" I muttered.

"Ah, there's no need to worry about him, Mikan-chan," he chirped," Persona's already served his purpose in the story, and can now be conveniently forgotten. Now I'm Natsume's guardian too!"

" As for you, I think you need an offensive attack to fully tap into your potential." He tapped a finger on his lips. "Maybe we should ask Natsume-kun to help us out?"

I was horrified at the very thought. Natsume would kill me. He might have allowed me to stay, but that didn't mean he was any nicer to me.

"Oh, would ya look at the time." I said, glancing at my watch hastily, " I really should be getting home. Thanks a lot, Sensei. See you tomorrow!"

Unfortunately, we ended up training with Natsume anyway.

I sighed at the recollection, and stopped in front of a large, polished wooden door.

"Ohayo Minna-san!" I smiled brightly as I flung open the class door. As usual, no one replied. My class was mostly filled with Nite, unlike the others, which had a mixture of humans and Nite. All of them treated me a little strangely because I was a Nullifier, not to mention Natsume's fiancée. But it was all right most of the time.

I smiled at Anna and Nonoko as I passed them and skidded to a stop at Hotaru's single desk. "Morning Hotaru!" I greeted her. She gave me her customary greeting- an eye roll- and proceeded to ignore me.

Suddenly an unnatural hush fell over the class. I turned, hoping that Jinno-sensei hadn't decided to take an extra class. Narumi-sensei was our homeroom teacher, but he was always out on business, so usually homeroom was presided over by a substitute teacher who could never keep us in check.

Walking towards me was Natsume, of all people, followed by Ruka. Everyone was staring at him either like he was god, or the devil himself. "What are you doing here?" I blurted out in utter surprise.

He gave me one of his cold stares." I believe this is my class."

"Wait, you actually have to come to class? But I've been here for a month, and you've never attended a single class." People were starting to murmur. Probably surprised that I could address Hyuuga-sama so casually.

He ignored me and sat down in the long bench at the back. My bench, to be exact. I groaned, and he raised one eyebrow, as if daring me to complain.

School had suddenly gotten a lot worse.

The unfamiliar chatter of my classmates was difficult to tune out. I was out of practice, having come to class after such a long time.

"I wonder what brought Hyuuga-sama to class today…"

"He looks as handsome as ever, doesn't he? Kyaa!"

"Could it be… that he came to class because of her?"

I have no idea what possessed me to attend class that day, and had a suspicious feeling that I wouldn't want to know the true reason. Unbidden, my eyes found Mikan, who was now crying about her woes to Imai.

I watched as she tried to capture Imai's attention by grabbing her hand. Imai promptly pulled out her Baka Gun and shot her down.

Will she never learn? I thought as the corners of my lips twitched.

"Natsume…" I turned to find Ruka staring at me in astonishment. Only then did I realize that I actually had a smile on my face.

I glared at him as I fought the blush rising to my face. Turning my glare on the bench, I seethed silently. Great. Not only did she incite a strange reaction from me every time I saw her now, I actually gave her advice and even smiled at her! What was wrong with me?

Mikan came and sat next to me, fuming. I deliberately turned in the other direction.

I didn't know what was going on, but one thing was for sure. If Persona had ever told me something useful, it was to not let too many people get close to me. I needed to ignore Polka, for my own good.

And hers.

I was hurrying to the grounds for P.E. class when all of a sudden I tripped and fell. Usually this was a normal occurrence, but this time I had been tripped on purpose. I got up to find myself surrounded by three huge guys.

"Ooh, boys, look at what just stumbled onto us! Hyuuga's little Nullifier." The middle one jeered.

I'd seen these three goons before. They were a year older, and known throughout the school as bullies. They'd gotten into trouble many times for using their Nite powers on human students.

I raised my chin and looked at them levelly." What do you want?"

"Nothing you can't give, girlie." He said, smirking horribly. The other two cracked their knuckles ominously.

I tensed. "Get out of my way." I was pretty sure I was strong enough to handle all three of them by now, but I didn't want to take a chance.

"Oh no, not yet. You see, me and my friends have a little problem." He narrowed his eyes dangerously. "We don't like filthy little freaks of nature who think they're better than us. Usually we like to show nullifiers just how much the world has changed since they last ruled. And we're not going to make an exception just because Hyuuga likes you."

I scowled at him. "You can't hurt me. I'd just Nullify you." I said, trying to sound confident.

He smiled at me. "Who says we were going to use our Nite powers?" he said, and grabbed my hands to haul me over roughly. I cried out in pain.

The next second he was on the ground, moaning. A fire flared up in a circle around me, cutting of the other two guys.

I stared in shock at Natsume, who had appeared out of nowhere to punch the leader. His eyes flashed a brilliant red.

"Hyuuga-sama!" All three of them bowed to him, a look of utter fear on their faces.

"The next time you touch my fiancée you're going to see hell." Natsume said in a frighteningly calm voice.

"W- we're sorry! It won't happen again!" Helping their leader up, they fled as fast as they could.

I looked at Natsume, who was watching them leave. My heart thudded loudly. His words rang in my ears. My fiancée. He had never called me that before.

My mouth was suddenly dry, and I swallowed before softly saying, " Thanks Natsume."

"Don't think I'll always be there to help you out, Little Girl." He said harshly, his back still turned to me. "As far as I'm concerned, you're just an annoyance. Remember, you're only here because the Council's forcing me. Stay out of my way."

My heart sank at his distant behavior, and anger rose instead. "I didn't ask for your help! I don't like staying with you either, you pervert!" I shouted at him without thinking. I growled as he walked away.

But my anger disappeared when he vanished from my sight, and I was only left with gloom. How did he manage to be nice one moment, and offensive the next?

"Stupid Natsume." I muttered bleakly.

With a sigh, I continued to my meeting with Narumi sensei.

Well, that went well. I resolve to ignore her, and end up jumping to her rescue like some fairytale prince. When it came to her, I really did behave illogically. At least I managed to tell her to stay away from me.

And no, the fact that I'm hiding in a tree spying on her class with Narumi doesn't make me a hypocrite. I was just here because I could learn something useful. It has nothing to do with her.

Come to think of it, how come I always find a convenient Sakura tree to scramble up whenever I need to spy on someone? Huh, maybe its one of my powers as the strongest Nite.

I observed Narumi pace the ground below me. He was worked up about something, and it was making me suspicious.

He straightened up as Mikan hurried up to him, a tense look on his face.

"Mikan-chan," he said without preamble, "I have a message for you from the Council."

"You have been assigned to a mission."

I nearly fell out of my tree.

A/N- I know. two months and yet another short and boring chapter. I promise though, the next chapter is going to long and action packed. plus, I'll update soon. Like, within a week or two.

So, anyway, review please?