Chapter 1: New Players

Little Falcon: Hey everyone! Thank you for the warm welcome. Here's the next chapter you've been waiting for. Read and review please…

Standard Disclaimer: I only own the idea that's all. If I did own this series I'll be the happiest person on earth!!!

"He's here! He's here!" everyday without her was like an unending nightmare- one where you keep running but don't get anywhere. Nothing in front of him and nothing behind. Just steady quiet darkness.

Through the years, a lot of students entered the academy. They remained clueless about what had transpired in the school years ago. It was better that way. Just like before she came… everything seems so insignificant. His crimson glance passed through everyone's faces as if no hint of recognition at all.

"Natsume-kun," his best friend, Luca, was always the only one who had the confidence to approach him even when he's giving off such a dangerous aura. His sapphire eyes still has that same look when they met when they were kids. They never changed even when they should.

Luca's growing relationship with her best friend, Hotaru was no secret to him. When she left, the Alice inventor was devastated. Probably, the same kind of feeling the animal lover had when he returned to his darkness. Abandoned and alone. Truthfully, he was thankful for Hotaru because she took the hand he had voluntarily let go. But it was just like Luca not to take his happiness to the next level. He preferred to be beside him than with her.

"Luca," the flame caster nodded a quick greeting before sitting on his usual seat beside his best friend. Their ever growing fan club squealed at the sight of them together. They're just like the guys in the magazine! The girls whispered to each other loudly, but the two paid no attention.

"Hey, look! The new magazine just came out!" one girl was waving a glossy magazine from another corner of the room. The fan girls rushed immediately, almost tearing the thing apart just to have a look.

"Kyaa! It's Gin-sama!" they stared at the famous male artist that was posing handsomely in a centerfold. His spiky short hair was silver and his eyes were like sparkling amethysts. His features almost god-like. No wonder it made any girl swoon.

"Ke, it's that damn pretty boy again huh," one of their male classmates spat as he placed his arms behind his head.

"Midou Gin, a world-famous singer and model who is the same age as we are," another added with a disgusted tone.

"He's been rumored to be together with Natsumi…" one fan girl gossiped to the other while the others immediately poured in the inquiries.

"Naisha Natsuki? The rookie female artist who reached the top rank in the industry in less than a year?!"

*Sigh* "Now there's no way we can compete with her. She's just too perfect," they shared a defeated tone.

"Yeah, she's great but… something about her songs makes me wonder if she's just singing it because of her job… or because she's sending someone a message," there was a moment of silence then…

"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?! GIN-SAMA IS TAKING A LEAVE IN THE INDUSTRY!?" their face almost entered the battered page as they tried to re-confirm it again and again.

"It's so noisy. I'm going out!" Natsume threw his legs back on the floor and stepped out. Luca just watched him leave. He knew when his best friend wanted to be alone. Moments later, the door opened and let it the teacher. Everyone went back to their seats as their charming pheromone-releasing teacher stepped on the platform.

"Today, we'll be welcoming a new student," his steps were light and quiet as he entered the classroom. His violet orbs not meeting anyone's gaze. Arrogantly confident.

"KYA!!! IT'S GIN-SAMA!!!" the girls immediately went on rampage but thanks to Narumi-sensei's alice, they were quelled instantly.

"I guess I no longer need to introduce him," Narumi brushed his fingers through his blond hair. How he hated not being the center of attention. "Ah, oh right. Gin-san, you need to choose a partner for you to be able to learn more about the Alice Academy,"

"I've already decided," the girls almost fainted as he finally let his amethyst eyes be seen. "My partner will be… Natsu… EH?!"

"HUH?!" everyone was surprised to hear someone hand pick the dangerous flame caster.

"So it'll be Natsume then," Narumi obviously found the turn of events interesting.

Again and again his eyes scanned each and every face in the room. ""Where the hell is she?" he turned to the clueless teacher.

"Who?"

"Natsuki! Her manager told me that she enrolled here!!!" his voice reflected his flaring temper.

"EH?!?!" again they class exclaimed.

*****

The sunlight peeked in between the interval of luscious leaves growing above him. His handsome face was conveniently covered with his favorite manga while his hands were behind his head carelessly.

"I see. I still know where to find you," his crimson eyes snapped open upon hearing her gentle voice followed by a light chuckle that echoed in his ears. Afraid that it was a fragile dream; his trembling hand lifted the open book from his face.

Her smile. Gods! It was what he like how he remembered it… only a hundred times more breathtaking. Even with her girlish pigtails, her feminine features developed exquisitely. Together with her honest eyes, he knew immediately that this was real.

Her face was just inches hovering against his. So close, he could smell her vanilla scent and feel her warm breath against his face. With an arrogant smirk, he roughly pulled her face to his to let their lips meet.

Strawberries… her lips tasted like sweet strawberries as he sunk his tongue deeper into her open mouth. He clearly felt it… the darkness that was threatening to consume him vanished immediately.

"Natsume," his heart soared upon hearing her call his name again. Seductively, she bit her lower lip as he placed his forehead on hers, trying hard not to engage in another breathtaking lip lock.

"Mikan…" the pain that was always there when he calls her name disappeared, it surprised him. "Mikan…" he repeated… this time with a smile that he only makes when he was with her.

Mikan now had the same smile as his. Hearing him call her name was just different. A lot of people call her by her name but when he does… it was as if he was calling her by some different, more special name. How she missed hearing his deep, rich voice.

"Natsume… you better not tell me that I'm still a lousy kisser," she pouted as her hand caressed his smooth cheek.

His crimson eyes widened in realization. "That dream…" the wicked smile on her face answered his unasked question. Mentally, he shook his head while he flashed his signature smirk as retaliation. "Ah, you still have ways to go," his thumb wandered to her swollen lips and soon after, his lips followed.

Little Falcon: read and review please…