Chapter Eight

~~~~~~~~With Narumi ~~~~~~~~

Narumi quietly stalked the hallway. His steps were big and purposeful and his posture relaxed. This made him fit in well at the castle. Narumi was wearing the black robes that he had stolen from one of the ministers' laundry and had pulled the hood over his face. Every maid and butler he pass bowed to him as the others barely spared him a glance before returning to what they were doing.

Narumi turned into an almost deserted hallway and pretend to adjust his cufflink as the last maid left the corridor.

He turned to the nearest door and tried the knob. It was unlocked. He moved the door slightly and peek inside. After making sure that the room was indeed empty, Narumi moved inside and locked himself in.

He threw the black robe off him and placed on an armchair. Hopefully, the next person that came in here would only think that a minister had left his robe here and that they would be coming back to get it later.

Narumi peered around the room. It was full of books. The room itself was rather small, but the books in the selves surrounding all four sides gave it a bigger feel.

He removed one of the books and placed a small bomb inside. It wouldn't harm anything but it would provide a good distraction. The timer was set for ten minutes.

He placed on his second costume: a butler outfit. After he finished he pressed the device. The time was 9:34am. The race was on!

Narumi inconspicuously exited the room and set off at a fast past to the King's room. Our spies had told us that he was away for the day to visit one of his mistresses to do god knows what. Now was the time to act.

Up the stairs. 9:37 Across the corridor. 9:38 Through the door. 9:39 Up another set of stairs. 9:40 Talk to some of the maids. 9:43 Hide behind a statue of the King. 9:44

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

The castle shook slightly. People were rushing everywhere. Good! I'll fit right in! He darted quickly up serval flights of stairs until he reached the King's private study.

Using a lock picker, he opened the door and set to work on gathering information. The papers on the desk were useless; they only talked about the budget and info on other countries. Narumi tried the cabinet and all the draws. All but one was unlocked. This raised his curiosity as to why. The lock picker wasn't working. Was it sealed with an alice? He looked around. Was the key somewhere in here? A quick search of the study told him the answer: no. But whatever's in it must be really important.

Narumi checked my watch. The distraction would probably already be over. It would be suspicious to leave the study later. He quickly scanned the room again to see if anything was out of place when something caught his eye. The wall paper was different slightly on one part of the far wall. A quick knock test told him that it was hollow. Too bad there isn't any time left to see what was behind it.

After a swift exit from the castle, he made his way to his next mission. A young rebel possessed a Ghost type alice and was leading people in a rebellion against the King. A person like that might make a powerful ally.

We live in cities you'll never see on screen
Not very pretty, but we sure know how to run things
Living in ruins of a palace within my dreams
And you know, we're on each other's team

Huh? Where's that music coming from? Don't tell me….

I'm kind of over getting told to throw my hands up in the air, so there
So all the cups got broke shards beneath our feet but it wasn't my fault
And everyone's competing for a love they won't receive
'Cause what this palace wants is release


Narumi turned the corner and gazed upon a boy with silver hair and teal eyes. Youichi Hijri. Age:17. Alice of summoning bad spirits. Would be classified as a dangerous ability.

We live in cities you'll never see on screen
Not very pretty, but we sure know how to run things
Living in ruins of a palace within my dreams
And you know, we're on each other's team


He was drawing quite a crowd. One boy and one guitar. Narumi chuckled softly to himself.

I'm kind of over getting told to throw my hands up in the air
So there
I'm kinda older than I was when I rebelled without a care
So there

We live in cities you'll never see on screen
Not very pretty, but we sure know how to run things
Living in ruins of a palace within my dreams
And you know, we're on each other's team
We're on each other's team
And you know, we're on each other's team
We're on each other's team
And you know, and you know, and you know

Everyone clapped wildly. They seemed to love him.

"Ah. Thank you! I'll be performing again at Central Town on Friday. Feel free to come and support me again!" He beamed at the crowd.

Central Town on Friday? That's when the Anti-King meeting will be held. Smart kid.

Narumi waited patiently for everyone to leave and for him to finish packing up his guitar.

"You have a nice voice."

He looked up, his teal eyes assessing Narumi as a threat or not. He wasn't.

"I've been told that multiple times."

"Do you know what an 'Alice' is?"

Youichi narrowed his eyes. Of course he knew. Anyone who was part of an Anti-King meeting knew.

"I'm sorry. I really gotta go now. My mum wants me home before dinner."

"Don't worry, Youichi, you will be."

"How do you know my name?"

"The same way you know what an 'Alice' is."

"You're part of an Anti-King group?"

Narumi smiled slyly. "I guess you could say that."

Youichi frowned. "Which one?"

"Gakuen Alice."

Youichi's eyes widened. "And what would someone from GA want with me?"

"Gakuen Alice is a school for boys and girls to hone their powers with the safety of being hidden from the King. I've been sent by the higher-ups to get you to join us."

"No thank you. I already know how to use my Alice. I don't need some crack-pot to teach me something I already know. Save your time. Go back to school." Youichi set his guitar case on his shoulder and began to walk away.

"If you know how to wield your Alice in a battle then I'll let you go."

The boy looked over his shoulder. "In a battle? You're going to fight me?"

"Of course."

"That seems ridiculous and unfair." Youichi smirked.

Narumi grinned in reply, "If you plan be part of an Anti-King group, you should know how to defend yourself."

"And if I win, what's in it for me?"

"What do you want? I'll give you anything if it's within my means."

Youichi's eyes flashed. "All the information you have on the King and Anti-King groups."

"Hmm? That's interesting. But I'll accept it because I know you're not going to win. Don't say I didn't warn you."

"Don't underestimate me just because I'm still a kid."

"I won't"

"I doubt it."

All of a sudden, ghosts appeared out of nowhere and began attacking Narumi. Narumi stood still to evaluate what was happening. Two ghosts coming from the left, another pair from the right, three big ones from in front and four big ones from the back. A shadow fell on Narumi. Ah. And also one from above. This kid… just what is he trying to play at?

Narumi crossed his arms as the ghosts went straight through him. "Seriously?"

"Just checking. I wanted to know if you would go running at the first sign of danger. You know how many people have done that? It's been forever since I had to go full out."

"Is that so? I guess I better let you warm up then."

"That's not necessary."

More ghosts emerged from the ground. They were feudal Japanese men bearing Katanas, Daishōs, Guntōs, Kodachis and other Japanese weapons.

"Youichi-sama. What would you request we do?" One of them said.

"Severely harm?"

Another licked its lips. "Kill?"

"Nah. I don't want him dead. Just hold back a little."

"As you say Youichi-sama." They replied, sneering at Narumi.

Narumi smiled. "I guess I'll have to hold back a little as well."

Youichi shrugged. "Do whatever the hell you want. See if I care."

"You'll be caring once beat you."

"Fat chance."

"Fat chance, indeed."

Then they attacked.

It was impossible, but somehow, Narumi dodged and avoided every single attack. "I thought you wanted to beat me. I guess I was wrong. With attacks like that, it makes me wonder if you're even trying!"

Youichi narrowed his eyes. "Prove to me that I should." Damn! How did he avoid all my attacks?! Did he dodge them all?! Or did he-

Suddenly, all the ghosts disappeared as Youichi watched in shock. He used his alice again but none appeared. Sweat was brimming on his forehead as he concentrated hard but still, nothing appeared.

"What did you do?!" he glared at Narumi who smirked back.

"If you were in a battle field, against an armed opponent and your alice wasn't working, how would you survive. You plan to join an Anti-King group yet you can't defend yourself under these circumstances. Gakuen Alice trains people like you to become better versions of themselves." Narumi stepped towards him plucking a card out of his pocket.

Youichi glared at him. "That didn't answer my question."

"Nullification alice stone. If you want to actually be a part of a legitimate organisation come to this place tomorrow at 9am." Narumi smiled before walking away.

Youichi looked at the card and ran a hand through his hair. Should I really…

~~~~~~~~At Gakuen Alice ~~~~~~~~

Mikan and Hotaru were talking quietly to each other and it was driving Natsume insane! It had hardly been 30mins since they left the field and he still didn't have any idea of how to gain her trust. Three days. Tomorrow, the day after and the day after the day after. Three different ways to earn her trust. Natsume ran a hand over his face and slumped in his seat at the cafeteria causing Ruka to look at him in concern.

"Ruka?"

"Yeah?"

"I think I'm going to need a lot of help."

"Hmm."

~~~~~~~~The Next Day~~~~~~~~

Narumi glanced at the silver haired boy standing outside the classroom door and smiled inside his mind. "When I give you the signal, come in."

The boy nodded and crossed his arms as Narumi opened the door. The teacher gazed at his students. Mikan and Hotaru were reading in the corner, Yuu, Kitsu, Anna and Nonoko were laughing at something Koko said, Sumire, Luna and Wakako were applying make-up and reading magazines and Natsume and Ruka were whispering reverently to each other while glancing at Mikan and Hotaru.

He ganged his books onto the table and gave a smile of satisfaction as everyone stopped talking and turned his attention to him.

"Good morning, class! Today we have a new student. I hope that you will all make him feel welcome. You may now come in, Youichi Hijiri."

I'm so sorry! I know I said that I would update again in September and it's nearly the end of October but I've been so side-tracked with school and anime that I haven't managed to find any time to write this chapter! I'm sorry that it's also a filler but I think that it may be important in the future! I'm sorry that it's so short but please bear with me! Also, about the three things that Natsume has to do to gain Mikan's trust, I've created a poll on my profile about what he should do! Please pick the option that you would like the most!