Gakuen Alice: The Remake: Chapter 14

...xXx...

Ruka nervously began, "Imai-san, you don't—"

"I don't think Shouda would joke about them being kidnapped," Hotaru said as she picked up Mikan's medals that were lying on the floor.

"Mikan…" she muttered to herself. After helping Sumire during her attempt to chase after Reo's limo without being caught by the academy, she decided that she should check Natsume's room at the hospital. She didn't know what she felt when she saw the abandoned medals. She didn't know why Reo kidnapped Mikan.

Does it have to do with Hyuuga? She asked herself. She didn't know the details about Natsume, but she knew her best friend didn't have any problems with anyone. No one would have problems with her idiotic best friend. She blinked. Idiotic? No, her best friend was not an idiot, not anymore. She didn't know since when Mikan became more intelligent. No, it was more like she became less naïve and rash. She never got herself into trouble like she used to. It was proven from her star level that increased recently. How? How come she had never realised this fact sooner? She pondered if her best friend was hiding something from her. Mentally, she shook her head. Her best friend could never keep a secret from her, at least not for long. She knew this habit of hers perfectly. For minutes, she didn't realise that she had stood frozen with her mind running wild.

"Hotaru!"

She blinked as she was cut off from her train of thoughts. She glared at the blond boy that interrupted her. "What?"

Ruka was taken by surprise as she didn't object to him calling her by her given name. Realising this fact, he blushed. He didn't realise that his rabbit was looking at him strangely.

Hotaru, who saw his blushing face asked, "What are you thinking, Ruka?"

The fireworks in the background fired beautifully as he blushed redder. He quickly replied, "N-n-nothing!"

The redness of his face couldn't be compared with a steamed crab as it was ten times brighter and redder. Her intense eyes that stared at him also didn't help the situation. He quickly looked away from her. He shook his head to clear his mind as it was not the time to be happy or embarrassed. Again, he asked himself why his heart throbbed madly just by looking at her amethyst eyes.

"I'm just wondering what we should do now," he said after calming down, but then panic slowly seeped his body. He wouldn't admit to anyone that Mikan was as important to him as Natsume. Knowing both of them being kidnapped was enough to make him crazy with fear and panic. It was not that he didn't trust Natsume's ability to protect himself and Mikan, but he knew Natsume had not been feeling well for the past few days, and it wouldn't do well for the current situation.

"Where are you going, Hotaru?" he asked when he saw Hotaru walk away from him.

"Come with me, Ruka," she replied, still continuing on her way to the Faculty Room, and he quickly ran after her.

...xXx...

Smell of tide… Smell of rusted iron… And someone's… breath… Mikan slowly opened her eyes. She gasped silently as she immediately met with Natsume's face that was an inch away from her. She then looked at him worriedly as he looked like he was in so much pain. It was then she remembered what happened to her. She was drugged by someone, and obviously brought here. From her observation, they were in a warehouse. She scanned her surroundings quietly and gasped when she saw Sumire, who was lying beside her. She blinked. What she was doing here?

"Permy… Permy…" she hissed quietly.

Sumire slowly opened her eyes and they widened in seconds. Realising that she was tied, she shut her mouth so that she would not shriek loudly.

"What are you doing here, Permy?" Mikan asked as quietly as possible.

Sumire glared at her and hissed, "Don't think I'm doing this to save you, Sakura. I'm doing this for Natsume!"

Obviously, Mikan thought, rolling her eyes mentally.

Both were startled when they heard Reo's voice. "Hey, did the brats wake up?"

Hearing the footsteps that were approaching them, Mikan and Sumire quickly pretended to be asleep.

"Not yet."

Both silently listened to them.

"I made contact with the organization."

"What did they say?" Reo asked.

"Reo-san's action today was a lack of consideration. Therefore, the others were quite angry."

"That's what I told you, Reo-san. Our mission was only to research the school's present state."

"What do they mean by lack of consideration? This was a chance in a million. They'd have done the same if they had been in the same situation," Reo commented.

"What did the boss say?" he asked.

"He was not available when I contacted them."

"If he hears we got our hands on the Black Cat… I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of face he will make!" Reo said.

...xXx...

Mikan shook her head mentally as she tried to push away the lies from Reo's mouth.

"He's a dark operative of the shadows of Alice Academy…"

"He turned his entire home town into a sea of fire in just one night…"

Think, Mikan. Think! She shut her eyes tightly. Opening her eyes, she muttered, "Think of a way to get out."

"How?"

Mikan blinked. She had totally forgotten that Sumire was with her. She was looking at her with an expression that told her that she would cooperate with her. She was surprised that she would willingly agree with her. They had never come into terms since the day she was announced as double and, recently, triple. She quietly said, "I don't know… They said tonight at two, a smuggling boat was coming then… all of us… will be in even more trouble."

Sumire remained silent then Mikan quietly continued, "Don't know how many hours are left, but… we must think a way to escape from here!"