Recap

"Persona-sensei, what is my other Alice?" as she leaned against Natsume for support.

"Ah, yes. We were interrupted last time, weren't we?"

"Just cut the crap, Persona." Natsume snarled.

"Fine then. Sakura-san, you have two Alices. One is Nullification as you already know and the other is the Alice of Life.


"The Alice of Life?" You mean, I can bring things back to life, like that flower?" Mikan stuttered in shock.

"Not only 'things', people too." But judging from your collapse last night, it seems to be the limitless type." Persona said this as if he was casually talking about the weather instead of Mikan's life threatening Alice. But there was a glint in his eye that Natsume knew too well. It was the same glint as when he was trying to persuade Ruka in doing missions. And he didn't like it.

"You mean it drains her lifespan every time she uses it? Natsume said calmly but his very white knuckles belied the calm tone.

"Yes, like you and your Alice of Fire, Kuro Neko." Persona said just as calmly. "Sakura-san, because of your new Alice is in the Dangerous Abil-"

"SHE ISN'T GOING TO TAKE MISSIONS!!!" Natsume shouted, losing his cool when he realized what Persona was getting at.

"Then I suppose you, Kuro Neko are going to have to take extra missions." He replied slyly.

"NO!" now it was Mikan's turn to yell out.

"Well, if you won't do missions and Kuro Neko won't do extra missions then I guess you two might as well say goodbye." He said with menace.

Mikan looked down, her auburn bangs covering her expression. Natsume however looked livid and was about to shout abuse and protest when a soft voice pierced the tense silence.

"I'll do the missions." Mikan said quietly, her face still covered by her bangs.

'Bu-" Natsume was stopped again by Mikan, this time not her voice but her expression as she lifted her face. Her look was determined yet resigned. It reminded him of a fallen angel. It was beautiful in a tragic sort of way but he would rather have her cheerful smile any day.

"Good, good. Since you're so against this, Kuro Neko, she'll be your partner. It's the least I can do."

"It's the very least you can do, you mean." Natsume murmured viciously under his breath. If Persona heard that he ignored it.

"Also Sakura-san, I would have put you in the Dangerous Ability class but as your Alice is to stay highly confidential…"

'Confidential?" questioned Mikan.

"Top secret. You're our secret weapon. Your Alice can also take away a life." He said his meaning painfully clear.

"I…I..have to…to kill?" Mikan asked faintly.

"You have to kill them before they kill you. If you leave them alive they will always come back for you or those that are close to you. I'm sure you wouldn't want anything to happen to your little friends."

"But the AAO has family and friends too. Why-" Persona interrupted her. "The AAO's sole objective is to sell and kill Alice users. Don't you think that wrong?"

"Well, yes but aren't we doing the same thing by killing them?" Mikan argued.

"We're not selling them, we give them a chance to redeem themselves but they pick the cowardly way out. Suicide." He said with obvious disdain. Mikan was about to rebut when Natsume squeezed her hand warningly and shook his head slightly, stopping her from continuing.

"Now that out little 'debate' is over, may I continue?" he asked, feigning politeness.

"Yes, you may." Natsume said in equal pretend politeness.

"Sakura-san, you will remain in the S.A. class. People will get suspicious and will draw unnecessary attention to you if you move. But because of that, you will have to have extra training." Persona stated, ignoring the angered looks he was receiving from a certain black cat.

"I understand." Mikan said quietly, relieved that she won't be moved to the D.A. class.

"Good, I won't train you tonight, as you can hardly stand on your feet." He decided, taking in the rare sight of Mikan leaning on Natsume and Natsume holding her waist protectively. (What a sweet picture. CLICK! Natsume: Give me that. Me: Give me 300 Rabbits first.)

"You made us go all the way out here just so you could talk?! Couldn't you have done that at the hospital?!" Natsume's face shone bright red in the moonlight.

"We could have been overheard by your nosy friends again or interrupted like the last time. Think of the exercise as a replacement for the training tonight." Persona's words lingered when he did not. Natsume sighed in relief at his going and began to pick Mikan up.

"Natsume let me walk, please." Natsume raised an eyebrow at the 'please' and said clearly "No."

"Let me try at least?" she pleaded with puppy eyes.

'Oh no, not the puppy eyes…I can never say no them…ARGH! I'm getting soft!'

"Fine, but only a few steps. If you fall, I'm carrying you whether you like it or not." He said, trying not to let his weakness show. Mikan smiled which made Natsume melt in the inside and she started to walk. At first were steps were strong but after a few more minutes, they started to falter. Natsume noticed this right away.

"Okay, that's enough, Strawberries." He scooped her up.

"Hentai!" she cried out as they jumped from tree to tree.


Back at the clearing they had just left, movement came from one of the tree's branches.

"Ouch! Let go!" a figure half jumped and half dropped from the branch to land with a hard thump on the harsh forest floor.

"Baka." Another figure dropped down, only more gracefully then her fallen partner.

"You didn't have to grip on to me so hard!" Sky blue eyes glared feebly into slightly amused violet orbs.

Flashback

"Mikan and Natsume are gone." Hotaru said calmly, as she pushed a few buttons on the viewer.

"GONE??? What do you mean gone?!" Ruka cried out, astonished.

"Just what I said. Gone, you baka." She continued fiddling with the viewer till it finally showed the missing couple jumping from tree to tree in the Northern Forest.

"Come on; call one of your pet eagles."

"Why?" Ruka stared at her, confusion written all over his face.

"We're going after them. I think there are one or two things they're not telling us." She explained, handing him the viewer. Ruka called one of his eagles without delay and flew where the viewer showed their best friends. When they reached the clearing they quickly hid in the tree's branches, where they can hear everything without being detected.

End of Flashback

"I can't believe it though." Hotaru turned serious as she listened to Ruka. (What a rare moment…BAKA! Owies.) "I mean, Mikan having that Alice, Persona blackmailing their relationship…Isn't it enough that Natsume does missions almost everyday???" Hotaru sighed at her boyfriend's naivety, ever so similar to Mikan before all this trouble started. She was as shocked as Ruka but for slightly different reasons. It was Mikan's changes that had shocked her the most. She was no longer as naïve as she used to be and wasn't as stupid either. But she still had some of her innocence intact. But for how long she didn't like to think about.

"We can't change it. But we can help." She said at last. Her voice surprised Ruka. It wasn't monotonous as usual, it was sad and caring.

'She really does care more then she lets on.' He thought.

"But if we let them know we know what they know then Persona will know we know what they know and punish all of us for knowing what we know." Ruka argued.

BONK!

"Repeat that in plain English, you baka." She said rubbing her hand, which she used to hit him.

"If we tell them we know about the missions and training, Persona will brainwash us again." Ruka said more clearly.

"Better. And who said we were going to tell them? I imagine it'll make more trouble then good."

"Then ho-"

"We help them behind their backs, you dolt!" she said, bumping his head for emphasis.

"Where's your Baka gun?" he asked, rubbing his head where she had struck him. It didn't really hurt but she had hit him in the same spot as his bruise.

"I left it." She said shortly. "I didn't think I'll see a baka, turns out I was wrong." She finished, shaking her head.

Ruka looked at her, grinning, which made even the Blackmailing Queen nervous.

"Wh-what!" she snapped.

The animal lover said nothing but walked towards her. Hotaru started to back away, not liking the look on his face. Plus she was in a dark forest in the middle of the night, too far away for someone to hear her scream. Oh yeah, and she doesn't have any handy inventions to defend herself either.

"Ruka." Hotaru said warily as her back hit one of the trees. He ignored the tone and crept closer till their faces were just a centimeter apart. He smirked and asked sweetly "Yes, Hotaru?"

'I never knew he had it in him.'

"Ruka, what do you think you're doing?" Hotaru asked evenly but her heart was racing.

"Isn't it obvious?" he asked back maddeningly.

"Whatever it is, stop it." Her voice shook slightly. She didn't like this. She was usually the one in control; she was the one usually on top, where's a Baka gun when you need one?

"The great Blackmailing Queen is actually scared?" he asked teasingly as he bent his lips to hers. It happened so quickly that Hotaru didn't react for a moment.

' I'm so gonna get him when I get my hands on my Baka gun!!!' was her first thought. But then as if Ruka sensed his impending doom-

Little bro: such melodrama.

Me: you're not even supposed to know that word yet!

Little bro: (sticks out tongue) I'm not your average little brother! Plus, I'm not dumb like you!

Me: Dumb, am I? Well then…(Shows picture to him) guess you don't care what dumb things I'm going to do with this picture. I'm sure I can get a lot of money from your fan girls or maybe I should put this on Ebay. (Evil grin and spurts devil's tail)

Little bro: What did I do to deserve a sister like you? (Glares daggers)

Me: What did I do to have a brother like you? (Glares daggers as well)

Natsume: Shouldn't we get on with the story? (Sweat drop)

Me: (Still glaring daggers) Fine. We'll settle this later, dear brother.

Little bro: (Still glaring daggers) Fine by me, dear sister.

-as if Ruka sensed his impending doom, he deepened the kiss by forcing his tongue into her mouth.

'Or maybe I'll let it slide, just this once.' She decided as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Both didn't care that they were sure to be late the next morning due to lack of sleep. All they cared about at the moment was the other.


Still really busy, so sorry!

Little bro: I wish she'll stop muttering "I shall hate physics for the rest my life, I shall hate physics for the rest of my life."

Me: Physics is evil, I tell you, evil!

Little bro: (Sigh)

Natsume: Whatever. Give me that picture.

Me: What picture?

Natusme: The one you took of me and Mikan!

Me: Sorry, already sold it.

Natsume: To who!??!?

Hotaru: To me. The money already been sent to your bank account by the way, Midnightblue123.

Me: And I also get 10 percent of the sales?

Hotaru: Yup.

Me: (Evil grin)

Mikan: What are we? Merchandise?!

Me: Don't take it so badly, you can have a copy free of change!

Mikan: YEA!

Everyone sweat drops.

Everyone: REVIEW!