In 1960's:
Mikan, Natsume and Bear are all blending in the village near the water. But it always feels like villagers are staring at them or near them. The three are confused but try to not mind it. They don't like how they attracted so much attention. Mikan is bothered by this the most; she just cannot take another evil glare from a villager so she asks in a moderate loud voice:
"Why do they keep staring at us?" Natsume shrugs as he's holding the black cat.
"Let's go to a market." Natsume suggests. As they walk into the market, a salesperson stops them.
"Hold it! Can't you guys read the sign. No. Wild. Animals."
"Wild animals? This is our pet cat." Mikan refutes.
"Wild animals are not allowed. I won't repeat it again." He mutters.
"Especially black cats; they have to stay outside. I wish no evil from them. I wish no evil from them." Mikan's more confused. She's about to disapprove when Natsume leaves the cat outside and takes Mikan's hand to enter the market.
"Ah! But Natsume! The cat!"
"No worries, I believe the cat will find us soon enough."
"But…"
"No buts! Let's not make a ruckus here." Mikan sniffs a bit as she seems like she's about to shed a tear. But she sees Bear dressed like a human child with a-need-to-pay-mask on. Mikan's bad mood vanishes and smiles. But when she sees Bear holding a Baka Gun, she gets suspicious of it and asks.
"Bear? Is that what I think it is?" Bear has no response. But other villagers who are inside the market giggle as they walk by the three.
"Did I just hear her call the kid, Bear? Is that really the kid's name?" Mikan starts to get frustrated. Fortunately, Natsume stops Mikan from exploding by kissing her lips. Mikan is astonished after the kiss and quickly becomes embarrassed.
"NATS-"
"Not in here. Besides, I had no choice but to do that… Didn't I tell you not to create a ruckus?" After saying that, Natsume inwardly smiled wickedly. All of Mikan's worries are forgotten and is focused on how Natsume can be so sly. Natsume confidently walked around the market a few times before buying the extra mask for Bear and some extra clothing. Bear hears a voice in his mind: Do not let Mikan see the Baka Gun anymore... This upsets her. He nods as if he's listening to the voice's instructions as he puts the Baka Gun into his pocket.
As they walk out of the market, the black cat is nowhere to be found, and the villagers stop staring strangely at them. Natsume thinks: I hope the cat is alright wherever he is. But I'm relieved that we don't attract too much attention on all of us. Right after he thinks of that, there is suddenly a strong gust of wind blowing all the dirt and dust around.
In the present day of the Northern-Eastern Forest:
The two Alice-hunters and Fukutan are finding Fukutan's partner near the portal. Already, the portal is gone and the three spent half an hour finding the partner. As the leader of the Alice-hunters gets frustrated, the three hear a loud sound.
"Who's there?" Fukutan shouts. They hear crushes of tree branches as they stare in the direction of poisonous bushes. When they see who it is, they all sigh in relief.
"Pon! I'm so glad you're alive!" A man that looks like the muscular Alice-Hunter with a dark black mask and lightning beam alice appears in front of the group.
"Yeah! Sorry. I don't really remember anything that happened." The leader of the Alice-Hunters doesn't like that response.
"How Pon? How can you not remember anything? Weren't you supposed to guard the portal?"
"Yes sir! I'm sorry. I was guarding it. But the Big Foot…" His expression communicates that it-was-impossible-to-face.
"Arggh! You guys are such losers at listening to instructions. We have to find the girl no matter what! So let's move out!"
"Yes SIR!"
Author's Note: Yeah! This is a short chapter... I wanted to write one in July but I just couldn't get into it. Now it's out! So hope you liked it.
Some questions to think about: Where do you think the Alice-hunters are going to hunt next?
And who is this fake muscular Alice-Hunter named "Pon"? Because you know that Alice-Hunter was taken away to the Alice Academy... so who is he?