Disclaimer : I do not own Gakuen Alice in any name, version or form
After scouring the cafeteria and the grounds for more than an hour, Natsume learned that Hotaru Imai had purchased her lunch and left the cafeteria with Mikan. So he finally made his way to Hotaru Imai's lab, where she was probably inventing more of her crazy techs that seemed more and more intent on satisfying her need for money. The droid at the gate asked him to pay an entrance fee of 50 rabbits. No surprise there. He paid the fee but entered her domain warily. After all, with Imai, you needed to be more careful of what she didn't say than what she did. She only allowed him entrance, not safe entrance.
As if on cue, a trap activated and sharpened arrows flew at him. Knowing he wouldn't be able to dodge them in his current state, he surrounded himself with his flames and walked ahead. He pushed open the door to the room labelled Hotaru Imai and glared at her.
"Was that really necessary?"
Her evil grin was in place already. "Just a bit of an experiment. Never mind that. What brings you to my lair? Do you want to try out that detergent?"
He didn't wait for an invitation to sit and simply seated himself in the chair across her.
Cutting straight to the point, "Are you tailing me? How did you find out about my wound?"
"Ah. Yes, I expected you to nag me about that. In answer, No, I'm not tailing you. I found out about your wound by viewing my surveillance footage."
"But you just said you weren't tailing me!"
"I'm not. However, your best friend is under my constant surveillance." She stared levelly at him, daring him to ask why.
"You're watching Ruka? What for? Oh." She watched comprehension dawn on his face and his expression became wry. "You know, In this day and age, people tell other people their feelings. They don't behave like creepy stalkers. I'm pretty sure what you're doing is illegal."
She didn't skip a beat, "Outside this academy, yes. But while inside, it's not. I checked. As for your theory, it's nonsense. I'm not stalking him because of any romantic feelings I may or may not have for him. I need to have evidence of all gossip that surrounds him to keep the fansite updated."
"You're neck deep in denial." He scoffed. Her eyes narrowed dangerously, and she pressed a button on her chair. He realized his mistake too late, as handcuffs activated and bound him to the chair.
"Shit! Imai!" His strangled voice only made her smirk.
"Not being very smart, are you? In my lair, at my mercy and still attempting to prove me wrong..." She pressed another button and this time a light electric current jolted him at his point of contact with the cuffs. "What the! Damn it, Imai! I'm not trying to prove you wrong. I don't care why you're tailing Ruka. Happy?"
"Not really. So... How was the jolt? Do you think it should be adjusted further? A little more of a shock? Or a longer sting?" She questioned, digipad in hand.
Natsume gaped at her in disbelief, "You just electrified me and now you're asking me for feedback?! What do you think I am? Your guinea pig?"
"Of course not. You're even better than a guinea pig because you can actually relate to human parameters and have the ability to speak. Now then, I'm still waiting for your answer."
"What makes you think I will answer? So you can subject me to more jolts of electricity?" He asked, testily.
"What makes you think giving me your feedback is an option? Who do you think is going to save you?" She countered. "I hear you messed up with Mikan too. Since you hurt her, she's hardly going to come to your defence. If I were to keep you confined here, nobody would be able to find you. Except Mikan, perhaps, and to her, I can simply point out that by doing so, I was helping you heal faster." Her matter-of-fact tone sent a few chills down his neck. He couldn't tell if she was bluffing or if she was serious.
Trapped, he considered the position he was in and attempted a compromise, "Just the one question, then. I answer that question and you release me."
Hotaru raised one brow, obviously seeing through his macho facade, "I thought people used the magic word when they needed help?"
Natsume closed his eyes, lowered his head, inhaled and resigned himself. "Please." His words were barely audible through his gritted teeth but Hotaru's face was the picture of smug satisfaction.
"Fine, answer the question honestly and you can have your freedom." Hotaru agreed.
Natsume sighed, knowing he was going to regret it some day, "The jolt's fine for subduing an ordinary human. But any trained individual will be able to withstand it for hours on end."
"I see. I appreciate the insight. I will make some modifications by tomorrow. Feel free to drop by tomorrow too. I could use some more input." He couldn't tell if she was joking or serious, but he glared at her. "There's no way I'm doing this again. Don't harbour any fantasies."
"We'll see." Hotaru's voice was dangerously mild, with the confidence that came from having more information than he did, as she continued. "You know, Mikan came by a while ago... She asked me to give her reports of your movements.. I told her she wouldn't be able to afford it, but now, however, I have to admit, the idea seems appealing. After all... You came here risking life and limb, despite the injury you've sustained, to ensure that I wasn't tailing you. What do you want to hide from me that badly? Or is it something you want to hide from Mikan?" Her eyes glinted.
"Imai -" He began, his voice desperate.
"Oh. Look at the time.. I have an appointment in a little while. You should leave now." She released him from his cuffs and opened the door.
Natsume stood, torn between getting the hell out of her territory and staying to argue the benefits of not tailing him, which were frankly too few... "Imai..." He tried again.
"Would you like me to show you out?" Something in her tone told him that he wouldn't like being shown out. He made his departure hastily, deciding to tackle Mikan and persuade her to forget about tailing him.