Authoress's Note:

OMG guys TT This is the second last chapter :((( It's been too fast! *Sobs* Thanks for the reviews, favs and follows guys! ^^

Disclaimer: I do not own Gakuen Alice

"Natsume!" Ruka grabbed the bars of the cell. He'd finally reunited with his best friend! The raven-haired guy was leaning against the wall as he sat on the bed. He had his legs crossed and wrists on his knees, like how meditators sat. Natsume slowly opened his eyes, revealing the same crimson eyes that blazed in the dark. But Ruka could also see the longing in his eyes. Poor guy, with no sense on time in this desolated dungeon, he must have gone crazy from the waiting.

When Natsume's eyes adjusted to the darkness, he could make out the face of his brother. His eyes widened.

"Ruka?" he grabbed and put his face near the bars. "What are you doing here?"

"I have no time to explain! Sakura is in danger!"

"What?" Natsume gripped the bars tight, a deep frown carved onto his face. I knew something was wrong!

"I'd appreciate it if there was less talking and more helping guys," Hotaru tried to fiddle with the darned lock on the door. She tried the classic method of using a pin but it was fruitless. Then, she took out a pen-like object.

"What's that?"

"Just some laser."

Before she activated it, Natsume stopped her.

"Wait. It'll backfire."

"What do you mean?" she was just seconds away from giving Natsume his freedom and saving Mikan, things couldn't get any worse right?

"If I forcefully broke out by tampering with the lock, the defence system will activate. It won't be pretty."

Hotaru clicked her tongue. She should have known how Gakuen Alice operated. They rarely left loopholes.

"Then what do we do? The longer we delay, I'm afraid Mikan will..." Ruka didn't finish his sentence. He was afraid that what he said would come true, and he didn't desire that.

They were cracking their brains for a solution when suddenly, somebody patted both Hotaru's and Ruka's shoulders, causing them to be startled. They quickly grabbed the hand and prepared to counter the mysterious person.

"Ouch! You guys sure have strength!"

"This voice..." Ruka mumbled, "Narumi-sensei?"

Hotaru held up the torch to confirm his identity. It really was Narumi. He sure hid his scent well. Or maybe it was the stench in the dungeon that covered it up.

"Hiya!"

"Don't 'hiya' me Narumi," Natsume said with an annoyed voice. "What the hell are you doing here?"

He motioned his hands, and Hotaru and Ruka let go of them.

"Is this how you greet your benefactor?" he pulled out a silvered key with a round head.

Natsume swallowed his words and the three of them remained silent as Narumi unlocked the door. Finally, Natsume was free. He wanted wings so badly now so he could fly to his lover, but it was too bad he was a land type of alice.

"The AAO invaded the school," Narumi explained as they headed for the exit. "You know what this means right Natsume-kun?"

"Reo..." his name left a terrible aftertaste on his tongue. If he had a sanitizer, he would definitely empty the bottle on his tongue. That bastard was evil. Who knows what he would do to Mikan?

Hotaru and Ruka didn't fully understand they conversation but that wasn't the main priority now.

"Narumi-sensei?" Hotaru called out as she noticed that their teacher was heading in a different direction.

"Go and find Mikan-chan. I'll catch up later." he shifted, and leaped away.

She felt so groggy when she opened her eyes, as if she just woke up from a thousand years of slumber.

What happened...? Mikan shook her head a few times to clear it up, I remember I was just at the sakura tree talking with...with... When the puzzle pieces in her head finally fit, she shot up from her resting position, but the strange thing was that she couldn't seem to move her limbs.

Damn it, I'm all tied up!

The ropes were cleverly bound around her wrists and ankles, making it impossible for her to untie herself. Her mouth was sore from being gagged and she hated the distasteful taste of the rag in her mouth. It was coarse and strangely bitter, and she didn't want to know what this rag was once used for.

She surveyed the room which was somehow familiar to her. There were audio equipment and a projector in front of her. Mikan then realised that she was in the broadcasting room. But why? Suddenly, the door opened and Reo walked in with his commanding gait.

"I see that you are awake," he looked at her impassively, "Did you miss me?"

A chill went down her spine, "Mmmff..!"

"I was just taking care of the fools outside." he said as he reached out his hand and tilted her chin, "Bloody idiots who don't know their place."

As he laughed hysterically, Mikan frowned. He was not the Reo that she knew. My kind brother...where are you?

He stopped laughing midway, "Why are you looking at me with those eyes?"

Reo grabbed her shoulders and dug his nails into it, causing her to wince. "Don't look at me with those eyes of pity! I have power! Wealth! I am no longer the naive fool back then! Those foolish alices won't take advantage of me anymore! And friendship can just go to hell!" he huffed as he flew into an outburst.

Mikan continued staring at him with sorrowful eyes. It's our fault that he turned out like this... If only we had explained it to him properly. Looking at him now...he wouldn't believe me anymore. I'm sorry Reo-oniisan...

"Hah!" Reo scoffed, "You should pity yourself instead! Poor Mikan, who will save the damsel in distress?"

What was he talking about? Now that she thought about it, if his motive was revenge, why didn't he just kill her? Why go through all the trouble to kidnap her?

"Or should I say," Reo picked up the remote to the projector and turned the screen on. "Damsels in distress?"

Mikan widened her eyes in shock when she looked at the screen. Iinchou! Anna! Nonoka, Sumire, Koko!

"Mmmff!" she tried to scream but it was fruitless.

It tore her heart to see her friends sprawled on the ground, all bruised and battered, bleeding from wounds that should never have existed. Mikan shut her eyes. She didn't want to see her friends in agony. And what was worse was that, it was all her fault.

Reo grabbed a fistful of her hair and pulled her head back.

"I want you to look. Look at your friends suffering! Feel my pain!"

Tears rolled down her cheeks one by one, leaving its trail on her cheeks. She screamed 'stop it!' loudly, but nobody could hear her pleas.

"Are you feeling pain little ones? Let me tell you... The hell you are facing is all thanks to your dear friend Mikan!" Reo spoke into a speaker for Iinchou and the rest to hear.

The man wearing a black suit in the video took out a whip and whipped Iinchou. She could hear the whip slicing through the air. Iinchou screamed out in pain, and then took in a deep breath.

"I don't care what you do to us but...don't hurt Mikan-chan!"

"Yeah...the only one allowed to hurt her is me! Her rival!" Sumire struggled to stand up, and she did, unsteadily.

"Oi Baka! If you are hearing this then...Don't worry about us! We're alices! We're strong."

Sumire limped towards the camcorder and destroyed it.

The screen was blank. The only thing linking her and her friends was gone. Sumire didn't want her to see them suffering, that's why she destroyed the camcorder. I'm sorry I'm so useless...you all are suffering yet you still have to look out for me... A million needles pricked her heart, and she felt like she was bleeding inside.

I need to save them. I will! Mikan willed herself to shift and almost did, but an electric shock went through her body and drained her energy.

"I used anti-alice ropes to bind you. Do you really think I'll let you escape that easily?"

She glared at him.

"You look like you have something to say." he contemplated for a while, "Fine, I'll let you speak. It'll be no fun otherwise."

Reo removed her gag and threw it on the ground. She swallowed her saliva to moisten her throat first.

"Why are you doing this?" her voice was laced with hurt and anger."

"Why?" Reo snorted in disbelief, "I told you, didn't I? This is revenge for Taka! I want you to feel my pain!"

Natsume's side

"So what's the link between AAO's invasion and Mikan's disappearance?" Ruka asked. Someone owed him an explanation to the crazy situation they are in now.

Hotaru kept silent and looked at Natsume too. She somewhat had an idea to what was going on, but she didn't get the full picture. Natsume sighed and explained the whole story to them.

"Wait...so you are saying this leader of AAO, who goes around killing shifters even though he's part shifter, kidnapped Sakura for revenge?"

"Hn."

"Oh no...We need to rescue her quick!"

"But we don't even know where she is," Hotaru added, "I can't pick up her scent."

Natsume closed his eyes and drowned himself in silence. He focused his thoughts on Mikan and her whereabouts, hoping that he could somehow find her. He wasn't sure why but something inside him told him that he knew where Mikan was. After a short while of intense concentration, he felt a strange pull, like a magnetic force, urging him towards a direction.

"Follow me." Natsume said.

Mikan's side

"Why?" Reo snorted in disbelief, "I told you, didn't I? This is revenge for Taka! I want you to feel my pain!"

Mikan.

She heard someone calling her name. But who?

Mikan!

Trying to source out for the voice, she looked around, but the only ones in the room were Reo and her.

Mikan...where are you?

This voice...it's Natsume's! But how? The voice was in her head, like telepathy.

Natsume!

Mikan! Is that you?

Yes! But how- what in the world-

We'll chat later, I'm coming to save you Mikan. Hang in there!

Mikan could feel the warmth in his voice. She looked at the necklace that was dangling on her neck.

'You will always be surrounded by the strength of my love'

That's right, I can't give up! I still haven't heard the truth from him. I must see him!

"Taka isn't who you think he is!" Mikan shouted, gaining Reo's attention. "He's a murderer!" One of the keys hung on his waist is probably to the room that Iinchou and the rest are trapped in! I just need to find a chance...

Reo's eyes widened in fury, and he grabbed Mikan by her jaws, lifting her off the ground.

"Don't you dare sully his name!"

The pain was excruciating but it was nothing compared to the pain deep in her. She chomped on his hand and bit it as hard as she could. A metallic taste spread in her mouth, leaving a bitter aftertaste. Reo groaned in pain and released her, and she took the chance to aim for the keys.

She stooped down like an eagle stooping on its prey, and used her mouth to pull on the keys. I need more strength... I guess I just have to try! Once again, she willed herself to shift. Reo noticed what she was doing and elbowed her. She winced in pain but she didn't care.

The electric current spread through her body, but she could feel that her fangs was making its entrance. Just...a bit more! I must endure!

Mikan finally manage to pull the keys, and she hopped towards the exit at maximum speed.

"Bitch! You really think you can outrun me?" He reached for her and pulled on her hair, causing her to jerk back.

"Urgh!"

"Let go of Mikan!"

A lithe figure flashed pass her eyes, and pounced onto Reo, causing him to release his grip on her. On top of Reo was a spotted black panther, one that she knew too well.

He came!

"Mikan!"

"Sakura!"

"Hotaru! Ruka-pyon!" she teared up. She wanted to hug them but couldn't do so.

Hotaru and Ruka quickly untied the ropes and set her free.

Mikan grabbed Hotaru's arms, "Please! You have to save Iinchou and the rest!"

"It's my fault that they're suffering...Please help them!" she squeezed Hotaru's arms.

Hotaru nodded and took the keys from Mikan.

"What about you?" Hotaru asked with concern.

The answer was obvious. Hotaru knew that Mikan wouldn't leave Natsume behind. She grabbed Ruka and went to her friends' rescue.

Stay safe both of you!

After Hotaru and Ruka left, she could finally concentrate on the situation at hand. Natsume, who was in his panther form, was struggling to keep Reo down. His paws were on Reo's body, and his thick claws extended. Reo struggled and held Natsume back, and with a burst of strength, he flung him off. Natsume regained his balance and landed on all fours. He stood in front of Mikan protectively, and lightly brushed his tail against her arm to reassure her.

Stay back.

No! I want to help!

He growled at her in disapproval. It's dangerous! Leave this to me okay? When I give you the signal, get out of here.

No Nat-

Reo shifted too. To deal with a shifter like Natsume, it took more than his anti-alice weapons.

It was a showdown between a wolf and a panther. Natsume growled and Reo howled, signalling the start of their battle. In a split second, the two of them were at each other's throat, rolling around on the floor. They snarled and growled at each other, and continued wrestling each other. The scene was happening so fast that she couldn't catch up. She felt so useless for being able to do nothing. Standing in her corner, being protected while other people get injured, was that what she wanted?

Now Mikan! Go!

Natsume failed to notice the onslaught of Reo. Mikan stood him in front of him, and braved the attack for him. She could feel Reo's claws digging into her back as he dragged his paw down it. It was just like how her mother defended her.

NO MIKAN!

Natsume used up the last reserve of his energy and took down Reo with one strike, leaving him at the corner unable to move. He changed back to human form, rushed to Mikan, who was bleeding profusely from her deep wound, and cradled her gently.

"Mikan...why?" his voice broke when he said her name.

"You've always been protecting me..." she coughed, "Now it's my turn."

Mikan gave him a smile that made his heart break. She was always so considerate. She was obviously hurt but she still thought about his feelings.

"Shh...You'll be fine. I promise." he took his shirt off and used it to stop the bleeding.