Somewhere I'll Find You Chapter 10: Reflections, a gakuen alice fanfic

AN: Yep, I don't own this series nor the characters…but I wish I did.

Note: Ok, I know now, that the alice of Mikan's father was the Nullification and her Mother was the one that steals alice. Before I did this story I didn't know about it. I'm sorry, please bear with me if Aoi still has her alice and the parents of Mikan have different alices.

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Hope this chapter would help you guys understand my story.

Somewhere I'll Find You

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." -George Santayana-

History: noun

It is the study of the past, particularly using written records

It is common to everyone that the term History is the study of the past, focused on human activity and leading up to the present day. This study is facilitated by the formation of a 'true discourse of past'. Events that happened in the past are written by historians or simple people who write down their own personal experience are history in the making.

It is written in the history books at the Alice Academy, it is said that in ancient times, those who had no alice treated alice users as disgusting creatures. They were treated as dogs and slaves. The emperor of Japan commanded that all alice users must be banished from the capital city or be burned alive.

So those who were gifted with the power of alice, did their best to hide it. They knew that it was best not to use their cursed gift. Until one day, a group of people who called themselves the Theta's, appeared and announced to the emperor that they would not accept the maltreatment they received from humans anymore, that it was time for those with alice rule, thus the rebellion began.

In a few months time, the leader of the Theta's, Kiyoshi Hijiri, was able to bring down the emperor and happily announced that freedom for alice users would begin. No human army was capable of going against Kiyoshi's, the Army of the Undead. As the emperor fled Japan, every alice user accepted when Kiyoshi was declared to rule the new golden era.

But what was thought to be the golden era, quickly changed.

For almost a year, alice user's agreed to their new lifestyle. Those who had no alice was now serving the alice user. But as the months passed by, the traits that they admired in Kiyoshi, quickly changed. Kiyoshi Hijiri had become hot tempered and ruthless. He sent people to jail and enslaved anyone because he wanted too, be it non-alice or alice.

As expected, people tried to assassinate Kiyoshi but none succeeded. As more people died because of Kiyoshi, the alice people formed an alliance with the non alice. Despite the darkness, a new beginning began to arise. For the first time, the non-alice users fought side by side with alice users in a battle. But as months passed without any success in winning a losing battle, five young men emerged and fought back against the Army of Kiyoshi.

Isato who had the alice of Illusion, Arihiro who had the alice of making inventions, Eisuke who had the alice of controlling people, Naozumi who had the alice of lightning and Takashi, the alice of stealing.

They were able to defeat the Theta group and its army by coming together and sealing Kiyoshi soul away. It was because of this event, everyone came together and accepted each other's differences. When the new emperor was proclaimed, he agreed that they would not harm people who had alice and would treat them equal as he will treat those with no alice.

The five young men built the first ever Alice school in Japan and those who were allowed must meet one necessary requirement, they must have alice. It was agreed upon them that the Head Master would me Naozumi, who was known for his great tactical and offense skills. They decided that students would be categorized into five groups, the Latent, Technical, Somatic Type, the Special Ability, and the Dangerous Ability.

And this system has been followed ever since. Naozumi's son became the next Headmaster and so did his son and his son.

This is what was written in the History books.

But not everything we read can be true.

Chapter 10: Reflections

Yuka Azumi

A woman was lying down in her bed, staring at her ceiling as if something interesting would pop out while silently listening to the chimes of the clock fade away. It was 2am. It was times like this, when there was nothing else she could do, she would allow herself to think about things she wanted not to think about. She could manipulate people, change objects into much dangerous things, kill a person without a blink of an eye but still she couldn't stop herself from the thoughts she didn't wish to dwell on. It was easy to kill someone physically but why couldn't the memories die with them. Why couldn't memories just fade away when we wanted them too?

Her father had told her awhile ago, to get some rest… not sleep but rest. How could she sleep peacefully when she knew someone important to her was in danger and it was all Azumi's fault why she was in dangerall they could do was wait and see how the plan would turn out.

Her bedroom was very simple. There was little furniture in her room because she was constantly moving. Accepting missions after missions, not caring if it were dangerous. In fact, she had secretly hoped that perhaps one mission would end her life. Funny huh. It was wrong to kill another human being and she never hesitated to kill her enemy or anyone that was in her way but she couldn't even have the guts to kill herself. She hated her life and she hated her father for making her choose that day. Her life had turned bitter once she chose her father and left the Academy…the home she once called. The place where she once felt at peace and happiness…now all she felt was anger.

She was angry at herself.

Because she could not help her daughter.

Mikan Sakura.

She thought that when she left her with the old man, her daughter would grow up without the knowledge of the Academy, but somehow as she was told by her subordinates, Mikan had found the Academy.

She wasn't worried at the beginning because Mikan didn't know about her alice or how to control it, because she never grew up with the same training she had when she was a child. The only thing that made her worry was the fact Mikan's father never knew he had a daughter. So she perfectly understood when Keisuke Asami came to her with great rage and had murder in his eyes.

"Is she my daughter?"

Yuka gave a small smile. He had said it so calmly, as if it was a regular question. But she knew that despite the calmness in his voice, his eyes spoke of fury and murder.

"I never want to see you near her or I will not hesitate to kill you Azumi."

Before her father's bodyguards were able to touch Keisuke, he was gone. But she knew the threat in his voice and she knew she would die if she came close to the Academy.

Despite the threat in Keisuke's voice, that did not stop her from learning how Mikan was being treated in school. She knew that the campus was well protected, so she had to rely on the weekly reports she got from her personal spies in the Academy. Somehow, it was easy to put her spies inside besides their main job was just to watch Mikan and report to her the things her daughter did. Just regularly reports. Very few in the AAO organization knew that she had a daughter which her father was glad about. Her father despised her for having an affair with Keisuke since from the beginning her father had told her not to mix with his crowd.

The only joy she had was reading those notes about Mikan's stay at the Academy. Some of the reports told her how Mikan loved singing and cooking but had a hard time with her academics. Or how Mikan thought everyone had magnificent alice powers. She had read the reports over and over again because even though she wasn't able to watch her daughter grow, the weekly reports were enough for Azumi.

One day, she learned from her spies that Mikan was beginning to train under Persona on her last year in elementary. Azumi then knew that Keisuke was going to make Mikan into an agent for the Academy which meant one day she would have to come face to face with her daughter.

Finally, when Mikan was on her third year at high school, one report said that Mikan was taking some dangerous jobs for the Academy. This made Azumi worry. But at the end of the report it said that she was often paired with the famous flame caster, a Hyuuga and a boy named Tsubasa who was known for his shadow skill. Azumi was familiar with the flame caster. He's name was always on the reports her spies sent her every week.

Regardless of how many times they would argue, the flame caster would always keep an eye of Miss Mikan…

Miss Mikan seems to be the only girl the flame caster would listen too…

Miss Mikan appears to be very loyal to the flame caster…

For some reason it made her relax. She knew the power of the flame caster and she knew that the boy would take care of Mikan…with his life.

Sometimes, she had wondered what it would feel if she was able to have one moment with Mikan. Just to talk to her, to tell her why she left Mikan with grandpa. Why she and her father became enemies. Why she couldn't be with her.

The moment came when she had just killed a friend of her daughter and Mikan was able to witness it.

Mikan was 16 years old.

Backflash

Her father's order was to kill a 9 year old boy, who was dangerous to society. The young boy was not capable of controlling his alice. He told her that the Academy had been trying to keep the boy well hidden and was to shift the boy somewhere in America, to another Alice Academy. The AAO couldn't afford to have the boy out of Japan, so her father told her to take over the mission. She knew that the Academy would be sending out some forces but she didn't bother to find out who it was.

She was trained never to look directly into the eyes of their victims or pity them. Once in battle she left whatever emotions she had. The group that the Academy sent out was really good. Her group was having a hard time getting rid of them. They were able to free their target but too bad for them they lost the boy. Azumi was able to track were the boy was hiding and just as she had finished nullifying the boy's alice into a stone, she would never forget the stunned look Mikan gave her.

Mikan had seen her stabbing the boy with a knife right through his heart.

"Mikan…I…I…" She said dropping the knife to the ground.

"He was just a boy…" Mikan barely whispered.

She slowly put the boy's body onto the ground and turned her back. "Then you should have been there to protect him" She knew it was a painful and hurtful statement but if Mikan was to become a slave of the academy, she should learn right now, that she couldn't save everyone.

"He was my friend."

For some reason that made Yuka stopwalking. Perhaps it was the way that Mikan told her she had killed her friend or maybe because of the anguish and hurt she heard in Mikan's voice, whatever or how Mikan said it, for the first time it made her feel like a brutal killer.

End Backflash

She wanted to say something, something to redeem herself or to tell Mikan why she had to do it but she didn't get the chance too. The black raven hair with crimson eyes was blocking Mikan from her, protecting Mikan from her.

As if she was going to kill her own daughter!

Even if she was a killer, she would never kill her daughter. She had turned away from them and left.

It was also the first time she saw the flame caster and understood why at a young age, grown men feared him. There was something in the flame casters' eyes that gave her a cold chill.

After the incident, she heard that Mikan continued her training. Azumi was amazed that despite the shock she saw on Mikan's face, her spies told her that her attitude never changed.

Lady Mikan is still the ever joyful and cheerful person, a loud mouth to her other friends and a pain in the neck to her teachers. But…there is one thing different with Lady Mikan. When Lord Keisuke heard about the incident, he has taken full interest with the missions Lady Mikan is given. I have heard from the other students who she trains with, that Lady Mikan has become very serious with her training and that when she's given a mission, Lady Mikan shuts off her emotion.

It was very strange for her to read that. She knew somehow that her friends would start to notice the change in her daughter because even if one tried to hide their true feeling, real friends can see beyond the façade.

Every so often, she would watch Mikan's back from time to time. When she saw that someone was going to attack Mikan, she would take them out silently. She knew that Mikan knew, Azumi was watching her but Mikan paid no attention to it. Because Mikan would now look at her with anger in her eyes.

Anger that made her feel guilty.

This was the consequence she was now facing alone.

Anger from her only daughte, resentment from her former lover and disappointment from her father.

How lucky her mother died when she was just five years old. At least she was able to feel the warmth and love of her mother…unlike her daughter, Mikan, who was abandoned at a young age. Her mother must be disappointed with her too.

As the wind continued to gently enter her room, Yukai got up from her bed and sat down on her favorite chair near her window that faced the moon, who had decided to peep out from the clouds.

Would things be much different if she had chosen to live with Keisuke instead of believing the prophecy and her father?

Would they be living a happy life?

Yuka gave a soft smile and looked out of the window.

No. They wouldn't.

"We can make our own future!" Keisuke looked at her pleadingly with tears forming in his eyes. "Don't leave me."

Those words kept haunting her over and over again. This was one of the reasons why she hated sleeping at night. Why she chose missions after missions, so that she wouldn't remember how Keisuke looked at her, the look that torn her heart apart. She had promised herself that even if her daughter hated her, she wouldn't allow Mikan to feel the things she went through or the unbearable pain of losing someone important.

And then she received an urgent message.

Lady Azumi, come quickly! There's been an accident.

Maybe things would have been different if she listened to her father and to Keisuke not to come near Mikan. Maybe things would be normal, or maybe she would have then been able to fulfill her promise to herself. Because the moment she got herself involved on the night she had learned that her daughter almost died in a car crash, Mikan and her son would not be suffering right now.

Backflash

'Who would have guessed I'd be walking here again.' I thought grimly. It was already 1 am and it had taken her two days to discover where Mikan's friends decided to play hide and seek. 2 days since she summoned her magic and 2 days since Mikan had almost died…again. "Whoever thought of the idea to hide here must be really smart." I muttered

The group decided to stay were Mikan lived before, Grandpa's house. Azumi had heard that the old man died of a heart attack a few months after Mikan gave birth to her son and left the house to Mikan.

It was a smart move because the house was just an ordinary house. There was nothing special about it which was why the group was able to deceive whoever was following them. People like Azumi or the Academy would think of other places, more secured places because when you have a Hotaru Imai in your group, you know she'll be taking you into a safe place, perhaps her own version of a bomb shelter or even a Noah's Ark…er, I mean a Hotaru's Ark. By bringing Mikan and her son to stay at old grandpa's place, would give them temporary protection for awhile.

The place looked as if no one lived there. It was a warm night and you could sense that it was going to rain soon. Azumi approached the house but stopped after 5 steps.

"How were you able to find us?" A soft but deadly voice came from behind Azumi. A gun was being pointed at her. Azumi knew that one never messes with the technology of an Imai. The AAO knew how good Hotaru Imai's inventions were. The military tried to get Hotaru to work for them but she was stubborn as a bull. Hotaru once said in an interview that she would not be anyone's slave and the only boss she knew was herself.

Hotaru cocked the gun. "What have you done to her?" She asked again.

"Since when do you play with guns?"

"Since now." Hotaru said coldly.

I closed my eyes and half smiled. "If I were you Nogi, I would take your precious girlfriend with you and tell her to put the gun down…before I decide to kill her."

"Hotaru, that's enough." Another voice said sternly from behind me. "What do you want from us?" Ruka asked.

Hotaru ignored Ruka. "How did you find us?"

"Such an elementary question, would you want a kindergarten answer?" I mocked.

"We have no time for useless talk." Another irritated voice appeared. "What have you done with your daughter?"

"You must be the grandson of that annoying old man in the Academy. How soon is he dying?" I asked with feign interest. "Let me guess…tomorrow?"

I knew that when Shino shouted a war like cry, he was ready to hit me with his alice but I surprised him and Hotaru by disappearing suddenly, I grabbed the gun that I hid in my coat, knocked the gun from Hotaru's hand and now pointing the gun to Shino's forehead and the other to Hotaru. "I wouldn't do that if I were you." I said dangerously to Ruka who I knew was going to summon his animals. "I don't usually use guns in battle because it seems so cowardly to have one when we have our alice, but sometimes one has to use this device when necessary." I said calmly. "I'm not here to kill you-"

"You work for the AAO!" Shino said angrily.

"I might show you why I do work for them if you don't keep your mouth shut Shino." I said tersely, cocking my gun at Hotaru.

"That's enough Shino." Ruka warned with a dangerous tone and went to Hotaru.

"What do you want from Mikan?" Hotaru asked when she saw me lower my gun.

I roughly let go of Shino. "I'm trying to help her-"

"Help her?" Shino angrily shouted. "Your daughter is in danger! You put her in danger!"

"What?" Hotaru and Ruka asked surprised.

"She is the reason why Mikan and all of us are starting to lose our memories." Shino furiously said. "And now you want to help?!" He mocked.

"I'm not deaf." I said coldly. "I'm here to warn you and the others."

This time I saw her friends look at me with a silent command 'explain yourself.' I wanted to laugh. The only person who told her what to do was her father and here was a bunch of young adults commanding her… more like ordering her actually. "Before you guys left the Academy, Mikan and a friend of yours were in great danger."

"How great?" Ruka asked.

"From the Theta Group." Shino flatly said.

Hotaru suddenly looked at Shino with fury in her eyes. "YOU KNEW ABOUT IT!"

Shino slowly backed away. "I just knew about it recently Hotaru, I was going to tell you 2 days ago before the jerk Nathan and his bastards attacked."

"Will you let me explain what will happen to Mikan if she won't wake up." I said crisply.

"How do you know that Mikan's asleep?" Shino curiously looked at me.

"The bright light that appeared suddenly was because of you." Another voice appeared. It was Youichi Hijiri, the boy that the Theta Group was looking for.

"Youichi why are you here? Who's-"

"Shino just shut up. Koko and Yuu are with the hag and Ryoichi." The boy's eyes looked dangerously cold at me. "So this is your entire fault."

It wasn't a question. It was a statement. "Because I cast a spell for her to sleep but before I explain why, do you know how to get to the Academy?" I asked calmly.

They all looked at me with a curious expression.

"We don't." Ruka said quietly. "Before we came here, we thought of seeking help from the Academy but we can't remember how to get there."

"Because I erased it." I simply said.

"What do you mean, how can you simply erase the Academy?" Spoke Hotaru.

"She didn't erase the Academy. She erased our memories of it." Shino explained and then turned to Azumi. "The Academy's order was for you to protect Mikan and her friends." Shino looked at me with disgust. "Not to erase her memories."

"Ok, you've got me confused." Ruka said slowly. "Our memories were erased by you? How?"

"Your working for the Academy, I thought you were with the AAO?" A confused Youichi asked also.

"I' am." I answered Youichi's question.

"Why were you protecting us?" Hotaru calmly asked but I could see her hand was forming into a fist.

"Ever since the Theta Group was declared active, you-"I pointed at Youichi. "Became dangerous to society and so was Mikan."

No one needed to ask what she meant about the Theta. The students grew up knowing about how dangerous the group was in the old days. On how powerful and sadistic they were just to gain great power. Mikan's friends groaned loudly when she mentioned they were active…except of course, Hotaru Imai.

"What does this have to do with me?" Youichi asked with surprise in his voice.

"Ask your friend Shino." Azumi said. "But I don't have time to listen to his tale, I'm here to briefly explain to you why this things are happening."

"Does the AAO and the Academy know your telling us this?" Shino asked.

"No." I said without explaining more. "The fact is, the Academy and my side temporarily have an agreement to aid one another to find out where the Theta group is hiding and who the leader is. As you know now, that my clan's alice is not just about nullification and to manipulate objects, we are the only ones able to conjure special things."

"You mean like spells or magic?" Ruka asked.

"Yes. The magic I was told to do was to make you forget about how to get to the Academy…except for Shino that is. He wasn't included with the package deal." I feigned a smile at him. "Because of the threat, we needed to hide you. The Academy allowed you guys to follow Mikan because they knew you would follow her… that didn't include you, Shino." I said sarcastically. "The Theta had inside access with the Academy, we just don't know who. And because the Academy lost a valuable asset – "

"You mean the flame caster?" Ruka murmured.

"Yes. By losing a dangerous alice user like him, meant the protection for Mikan and Youichi Hijiri would be in trouble."

"But there are more dangerous alice user-"Youichi said defensively

"True, but the Theta seemed to be really active when they learned the flame caster died."

"Were they afraid of him?" Hotaru asked.

"We honestly don't know. All I know is, the spell I used was to make your friends forget about your existence."

"But how is that-"

I sighed. Boy, kids nowadays needs so much evidence. I then murmured some words and suddenly a small piece of paper appeared out of nowhere and was floating in front of her. "Come and have look. Read what's inscribed on the paper."

Spirits of the darkness, Shadows of the moonless night, Invisible legions of the world without light, Gather ye now round that all may hear, Gather ye now round that all may see, Gather ye now round that all may be In accordance as one, Acting as guardians, Shielder's and protectors, Hiding them from the light of day, From the senses of the seekers, So that even whilst they search in earnest Lo, shall it not be found, Until the truth may be found

"It means that until we find out the truth only then will the spell lift. Till the truth is yet to be discovered, you shall be hidden from the world." I said.

"But our names have been listed all over the world. We've been interviewed thousands of time. Heck, Mikan is a well known singer!" Shino said bewildered.

"Because they don't see the real you…they see someone else and another name." I patiently explained.

"Impossible! So your telling me that the past 8 years, my clients and workers have been addressing me as someone else, and I've been hearing them perfectly calling me Hotaru Imai."

"You know things that are impossible for regular humans will remain impossible. But in our world, the impossible can be possible."

"But…"

"Just because you hear and see it means it's real. Air exists but we do not know how it looks like until we use our alice. This is what the spell does. It hides you from people who are looking for you and from where the spell was performed."

"Which is why we cannot find our way back to the Academy." Ryoichi said.

I nodded. "Yes. This is why your friends from the Academy hasn't come and see you yet."

"You said something about Shino not being part of the group who was going to follow Mikan, why?"

"Like I said, Shino was not supposed to be in the package deal, but unfortunately…" I smiled sarcastically at Shino.

"I was in the same room with Mikan that night." Shino said grumpily.

"WHAT!" Mikan's friend said.

"I was there just incase someone came and attacked. I swear I was sleeping on a chair!" Shino wanted to murder the legendary Azumi, he then looked at the rest of the group. "I didn't know about the dealings between the Academy and the AAO. I just knew about it recently when I found the Shin guy irritating since I met him at the party." Shino looked seriously at Hotaru. "My grandfather didn't give me the full details but what he said the spell Azumi's used, backfired when she used another spell that same night."

Everyone then turned to look at me.

"After the accident that claimed the life of the flame caster, I saw how Mikan terribly took the situation. She was burying herself in grief. Even if I was never a good mother to Mikan, and I don't need to explain to you why, any mother would wish her pain away. No child should endure the kind of pain Mikan felt at that time. So I did the only thing I thought would be best for Mikan." I said quietly. "Every spell conjured has a consequence. We are not allowed to use this spells unless if it is necessary. These spells are forbidden to use unless you are willing to sacrifice half of your life or something important to you."

"So how many more years do you have?" Hotaru asked.

"The spell of solace is considered as a powerful spell. It may seem such a simple spell but it's not. It's like taking drugs to temporarily make you feel at ease and at peace. I knew it was wrong to use it, but I thought whatever the consequence would be, it would affect me alone." I said without bothering to answer Hotaru's question.

"You thought?" Asked a bewildered Hotaru. "Mikan was almost killed by Nathan Shin and his war freak people, because of a mistake you made!?"

"People make mistakes." I said coldly."

"But your Azumi, the great assassin of the AAO, you never make mistakes." Shino mocked. "When did the Academy know that something wrong was happening-"

"Before I get more confused, let me get this straight." Ruka interrupted "You cast a spell at the school grounds one night, to protect us from the Theta group. The higher official at the Academy, which includes Mikan's father, knew about. The spell was to make our enemies and people who knew us from the school, temporarily forget our existence or to lose track of us. Thus, the ordinary/regular people who has seen, read and heard about us, sees someone else and is actually shouting another name. Correct me if I'm wrong?"

I just nodded my head once.

"The spell also includes… all of us forgetting how to get to the Academy. I understand everything but the only question I have is…What has this got to do with Mikan's son, Ryoichi?"

I looked at the house and studied it for awhile before I continued. "We are only allowed to use certain spells when it is very necessary. My father trained us not to rely on the spells but on my skills and alice. As I said awhile ago, every time a spell is used, our life span decreases. The amount of energy just to call upon it is very stressful, it eats up our alice." I then turned to face my daughter's best friend. "I assumed that it would take half of my life span. But I was wrong. The spell did give Mikan some peace but I didn't know that her memories of the flame caster would disappear. The reason why Ryoichi is slowly fading is because of Mikan."

"WHAT?!" They said in unison.

"As long as Mikan remembers the flame master, Ryoichi will exist in this world but if she doesn't then Ryoichi will cease to exist."

"But why?" Shino asked shocked written all over his face.

"I used two spells that night it somehow combined, that's why you are also losing memories of him. Because of my mistake… if I knew Mikan was then pregnant… I wouldn't have done it. She had a life inside her and when I used the spell…its exchange was her son." I said.

"Why didn't you inform us?! Or at least tell us about what you had done. You allowed your grandson to disappear slowly?" Hotaru shrieked. "Yes Mikan was filled with grief but she told us she'd get it over because Mikan had something to remember of the flame caster! You wasted a spell because you don't know anything about Mikan." Hotaru cried out. Her face was filled with anger. "No matter how many times Mikan would fall down, she would always find away to stand up again. Memories may sometimes hurt us but it can also give us the reason to smile. You had no right to interfere with Mikan's life!"

"Hotaru…" Ruka said softly.

I started to walk away from the house, turning my back away from them. What Hotaru Imai said was true… from the very beginning the truth always hurts.

"Wait…the blinding light that we saw…if it wasn't for that…Mikan would have died. I remember seeing lines on the ground, like a star shape. What was that?" Youichi asked breaking the tension.

I stopped walking but didn't turn to look at them. "When Mikan's father learned about what I done…he threatened me to undo the spell. I told him there was a way but it would come with a high cost." I turned to glance at the house wondering which room Mikan was sleeping. "Mikan is in a dream world right now. If she is able to figure out the difference from that world and reality, then her memories of the flame caster would return. But so will the protection seal will disappear, which means the Theta would now be able to find you."

"Everything you've said, memories lost, people calling us different names. It seems so hard to digest." Shino sighed.

"In that world, she is to be tested by the god of dreams, Morpheus, he would show Mikan a world and make her want to stay there. He will entice her, use her own memory against her and if she accepts it, then Ryoichi will fade away." I softly said.

"Will we remember Ryoichi?" Youichi quietly asked.

"I'm not sure…but Mikan would never recall she had a son because every detail or evidence that Ryoichi was ever here, will also fade." I then looked at Hotaru again. "A warning…the dream god will not use the flame caster as bait for Mikan to stay in the dream world but will use other people."

"What do-"

I raised my hand for Shino to stop talking.

"If Mikan accepts the love of the guy and surrenders completely to the dream world then the guy's memory in this world, will jive with the memory of Mikan…meaning, he'd suddenly feel that he's in love with Mikan." I said

"It could be anyone…I do remember that there were a lot of boys fancied themselves in love with Mikan…Shino was one of them" Hotaru said coldly.

"Who else?" I asked.

No one pointed at Ruka, what was the use, Azumi was looking at him.

"Whoever Mikan falls for the person in this world would also change. Meaning if the guy worshiped the Queen of England, he'll find himself suddenly falling for Mikan."

"What kind of sick spell is that?" Shino said.

"It's the only way to get her memories back." I said then looked at my watch. It was time for me to report to the AAO.

"But she can't –"

"Don't be so defensive Ms. Imai, I only said it…to warn you…just incase. But you do know that if Mikan breaks the spell, then you guys are really vulnerable. The Theta's will know how to find you. Then death would soon be knocking in one of your doors." And with that I left them without looking back at the house again, the house which where my daughter was being tested and she couldn't do anything to help her.

End of Backflash

It had been almost 3 days since she met up with her daughter's friend. She didn't tell her father or Keisuke where Mikan and her friends where hiding. It was better off that way. It would give them some time to figure out what would be their next step. That night had been very stressful for her. So many times she knew that Mikan's friends tried to attempt to hurt her but stopped because she knew that they knew they would be over powered. Azumi stood up from the chair and sighed. All she could do was wait and see if her daughter would be able to break the spell. And if Mikan did, she knew Mikan would despise her even more.

"No one seems to be sleepy tonight."

Yuka opened her window and saw that Keisuke Asami was casually sitting on top of her roof as if it was regular thing to do. "You must be so confident of yourself to be able to sit so comfortable up there."

Keisuke boyishly smiled. "Since elementary you've always accused me of being so boastful, why should I stop now?"

"Because you might get killed." Yuka said while crossing her arms.

"Oh, how touching. Was that actually concern I hear in your voice, or maybe the moonlight must be tricking my good sense of hearing…because I recall, the great Azumi has no feelings at all." Keisuke said pretending to ponder on his statement.

"If you have nothing better to do, why don't you just drown yourself, stupid pig." Yuka said with a feign smile and closed the window but when she turned around she found Keisuke on her bed lying down. "Get out Asami."

"You are so grouchy. I'm just trying to have a casual conversation." Keisuke said with a tsking sound.

"We never did have a normal conversation since we parted ways. Were enemies remember?" Yuka said angrily. She saw Keisuke stiffen. He then got up from the bed and silently walked passed her.

"I do." Keisuke softly said. "You chose for us to be enemies…not me."

She wanted to say something else but she didn't because she knew Keisuke Asami, the only man she ever loved and hurt, was gone.

Keisuke Asami

"The stupid hag, who does she think she is." Keisuke muttered to himself as he closed the door to his favorite study room. It was his favorite ritual whenever he felt weary or angry. He would go to his study room, have a glass of brandy and think. "Hello Oda." He picked up the only living creature that always welcomed his touch. "Did anyone feed you?" The cat just meowed and followed Keisuke to his seat when he put the cat down. For some time, he just silently sat on the chair and rubbed his forehead. If he knew that being in charge of the Academy would be this stressful, he would have rather joined the circus.

When he was 8 years old, he's father told him about the Alice Academy and how important it was to protect the students who had alice. He told him that the power of alice started way back in ancient times. They were just not many of them. Those who didn't have alice feared those with alice, especially the Theta Group. The Theta abused their power. They didn't bother to take control of other countries because they were satisfied controlling the whole state of Japan. No one dared to mess with the Theta. The ruler of the Theta, Kiyoshi and his clan, was known for conjuring evil spirits. By using this immortal spirits they were able to cause havoc and fear over Japan.

He, Yuka and Narumi loved hearing those stories. They would joke around saying that Kiyoshi Hijiri would have been defeated if they were there at that time. He with his lightning alice, Yuka with her nullification, and Narumi with his remarkable human pheromone alice.

"Yuka…Yuka…Yuka…what am I going to do with you?" Keisuke sighed. He opened the drawer to his desk and pulled out a picture. It was taken way back when they were in high school. He had never thought he'd fall for Yuka Azumi. If she thought he was obnoxious, he thought of her as annoying and joyful, a trait which their daughter seems to take. Everyday they always insulted each other, so no one believed they were an item. But when they needed someone to talk too, to tell someone their fears and dreams, they always looked for each other.

But their relationship was doomed from the very beginning, especially when his father caught him kissing Yuka. He didn't embarrass Yuka, in fact he gave her a warm apologetic smile.

"Can I borrow my son for a moment, Miss Azumi?"

Yuka had immediately blushed at the spot and quickly said her goodbyes and left, that was the last time we had fun together.

My father had told me if I had told her my real surname, I quickly said no. I saw my dad sigh heavily and followed him to his main office. Back in school I was not known as Keisuke Asami but Keisuke Itou, the nephew of Jinno Asami, the frog dude as some students say. Father had told him not to mention to anyone about his true connection to the Academy so that no one would use him later on.

Backflash

"Father is something wrong?" I asked when we entered his private study room. I wanted finish our conversation immediately because Yuka and I would be celebrating her birthday at Central Town for dinner. They had been a couple for four years and since they had just graduated from high school, he had bought an engagement ring for Yuka.

"Sit down Keisuke." My dad said quietly and sighed once more. I found it disturbing whenever my father sighed. It meant something was wrong.

"Father…" I stopped at once when I saw my father put up his hand to silence me.

"I hate to do this…but…I forbid you to go out with Yuka Azumi."

I looked at him for a few minutes, waiting if he was going to burst out and say he was joking but he didn't. "Why?" I slowly asked.

My father sighed again. "I have nothing against Miss Azumi, she has good grades, she gets along with the teachers and the students."

"Then why?" I wanted to ask him so many questions but this was the only thing which summarized every question I had in my mind.

"Because Yuka Azumi…is the daughter of Hajime Azumi." My dad said.

"So?"

"He's the head of the AAO."

Silence.

For a moment I wanted to burst out laughing. "Yuka? Dad, you told me that the head of the AAO was Genji Suzuki."

"We were wrong. He wasn't the head. We just found out that it was Yuka's father."

"But…but…" I was to shock to ask my next question.

"Her father probably allowed her to stay in the Academy so she could give information to the AAO once she graduated." Father said sighing once more.

"What are you going to do to her?" I asked worriedly.

My father must have seen how panicked I was because he gave me an assuring smile. "Don't worry, according to my sources Miss Azumi does not know about her connection with the AAO…but I need you to stay away from her."

"No." I said firmly. "I'm not leaving her. I love her father."

This time my father looked at me seriously. "Keisuke, listen to me carefully. You can fall in love with any other girl you want except for Miss Azumi. There is no doubt that she might be the next head of the AAO. I cannot afford to have a spy in this academy!" He shouted. "We are trying our best to defeat that organization, and it is your duty to protect the Academy."

"NO! I will set my own course. I never wanted to take over the Academy. I want a normal life, father. Yuka and I talked about living like regular people." I said raising my voice a little while standing up. "You can't always tell me what you want me to be or who I should be with. I'm not a little boy."

My father stood up then slapped me. "Keisuke, I am not an immortal person who can live forever. I wish to die someday. But before I do, I need someone I trust who would take over the position I have. This position has been passed down from generations to generations and as my only son, you will have to take over."

"Why not Uncle Jinno, he is capable of being the Head Master, why not ask him?" I asked rubbing my jaw.

"Jinno does not want the position." My father said quietly. "I know you want a different life, that's the same thing my brother wanted…but because your grandfather told us that the Academy must be protected, Jinno decided to be a teacher that way he could help the students in he's own way. But this is not about your Uncle Jinno, this is about you." My father said. "Miss Yuka may one day become your enemy, if you break your ties with her now it wouldn't be hard for you to fight-"

"There will be no fights between us!" I furiously said. "Because I know that Yuka will NOT be joining the AAO!"

My father then studied me for a minute but to me it seemed like an hour. "Fine, I will not interfere with your life or whatever decision you want."

"But?" There was always a but.

My father went back to his desk and sat down. I waited patiently for he's answer. "Yuka Azumi must declare her loyalties with the Academy. If you are so sure about her love for you then she'll stay with you but if she doesn't, then you must take your place as the Head Master of this School." Father said calmly.

I got up from my chair and slowly walked out of the room. "She'll choose me." I said before I closed the door.

End of Backflash

Keisuke picked up the cat and put her on he's lap. "Your not going to leave me right, Oda." The cat just meowed at him and curled up on his lap. "I'll take that as a yes." He smiled.

He had been so sure that evening that Yuka would have chosen him because she loved the Academy and its people. She had told him how happy she was given the opportunity to come to study there and that if there came a time that she needed to protect the school she'd give her life. He stupidly and blindly believed her.

Backflash

After he's talk with his father he had spent the whole afternoon alone in the forest. By 6pm, he went back to his room to take a shower. Despite the conversation he had with he's father, he still wanted to propose to Yuka. At exactly 7pm, he went to Yuka's room.

When he entered her room, he found Yuka sitting on her bed and staring out the window. She was wearing her favorite white shirt and pants. Her hair was simply pony tailed. On her bed was one luggage bag.

"Is something wrong?" I asked half smiling from behind her. I quickly noticed Yuka's back stiffen. She got up from the bed and turned to face me. I was startled to find that her eyes were red.

"We need to talk." Yuka softly answered.

I tried to hide my panic and just nodded. She definitely looked as someone who'd been crying for hours.

"Sand got into my eyes." Yuka said trying her best to smile.

"Your such a klutz." I said after closing the bedroom door. "So what do you want to talk about?"

Yuka just looked at me for a moment then turned her back at me and went next to the window. "I…I…had a visitor today while you were talking with Principle Asami." She said without looking at me.

Suddenly I felt as If my throat was dried. "Really, how lucky of you."

Neither one of us spoke for awhile. I decided to run.

I turned to open the door knob "Hey Yuka, I forgot something in my room. I'll just go ge-"

"Father visited." Yuka whispered.

"-get it." I said stopping.

"I'm leaving Keisuke." She barely whispered.

I closed the door and turned around quickly. Where? You can't!"

Yuka started to cry but she brushed it away. "I've decided to come with my father and leave the school."

I went to her and hugged her tight. "No." I hoarsely whispered. "Don't leave me Yuka. I don't care if your father is the Head of the AAO."

"Keisuke…don't do this. Don't make this harder for both of us." She cried. She didn't hug me back instead she tried to push me away. "Keisuke please."

"Did my father tell you to do this?! I don't care about what my father thinks –"

"No, Principle Asami never once told me to leave you. This is my decision alone." She said now forcing herself to get away from me.

I then took my hands away. "How long did you know my father was the principle?"

Yuka shook her head. "NO! I never spied on anyone." She went over to her bed and sat down. "I didn't know about my father and he being in charge of the AAO… I only found out today.

I went to her and took her hands. "Let's just go Yuka. Let's leave this place and everything behind. We can live our own lives." I said brushing away her tears. "We'll be together. We don't have to be what our parents wants us to be. We can be happy."

Yuka's tears continued to flow. "I can't."

"Tell me why?"

Yuka looked straight into my eyes. "Because your father killed my mother."

I immediately took my hands off her. "What?"

"You never told me that you were related the Asami clan." She cried.

"I thought it wouldn't matter. It didn't seem important to me." I said confusedly. My father killed her mother?

"You would…because if I knew…then I wouldn't have fallen in love with you."

We then heard a knock on her door. "Miss Azumi, your father told me to tell you it's time to go now."

"We can make our own future!" I shouted, looking at her pleadingly with tears forming in my eyes. "Don't leave me."

I thought Yuka was going to stay because she hugged me tight and kissed me on the lips but then she got her bags and opened the door.

"I'm sorry." She whispered before she closed the door to her room and left me alone.

End of Backflash

He's world crumbled when Yuka left. He had blamed his father for losing Yuka. He left the Academy in anger, he knew he would be dangerous around the students because if he couldn't control his anger than he couldn't control he's lightning alice. For two years, he stayed away from his parents. He tried to blend with the regular people, he got a job, rode a bus to work, ate normal meals and had girlfriends but no other girl came close to Yuka. He had thought he would die a normal death like a normal human being except the AAO had to murder his parents.

He was horrified to learn that he's parents had been murdered. He may have hated he's father but that didn't mean he didn't care about them, especially his mother. It was Uncle Jinno who told him about their deaths and it was also Uncle Jinno who refused to tell him who in the AAO murdered them.

"It's better off you don't know."

That was what he's Uncle said to him. The students mourned for his father's death. It was when he was burying his parents he learned that so much people loved and respected he's father. Some young students were crying asking if they would ever see Principle Asami again. At that moment I decided to be the Head Master.

"I will be the Head Master, Uncle Jinno…but I need to know who murdered my parents." I announced quietly to him

"No matter who it might be?"

"Yes, I just need to know."

"Hajime Azumi"

When I learned who had killed them everything changed.

I learned to hate the Azumi clan.

Bringing the AAO down became my greatest ambition.

Reviving the Theta Group became my mission when I learned that I could have more power once I revived the soul of the great Kiyoshi but before I would be able to do that, I needed Mikan to remember her past.

Authors Note:

Authors Note:

Finally! Yippee, another chapter done.

The next chapter will be up next week.

Please leave a review!