A/N: First off, I'd like to tell you how grateful I am to the people who showed interest in this story by subscribing to it, including it on their list of favorite stories, and those who reviewed in the previous chapter. To think that there are still quite a number of people who like this story in spite of its being on hiatus is remarkable, I must say, so thank you so much. Second, this chapter is rushed/not rushed. I didn't really have the time to edit it. I might as well look for a beta editor soon. Thirdly, as much as I want to update as soon as possible, I might not be able to do that due to the abundance of school work (future occupational therapist~ huzzah!) Anyway, I won't guarantee you that the next chapter will be posted in days, weeks or even months. So yeah, sorry about that. Here's chapter two though!

Chapter 2 - Death... in the Form of Natsume Hyuuga

Day 3 in Alice Academy: I wake up in a room with unpainted walls and cobwebs at the ceiling. Upon wearing my slippers, my feet glided towards the bathroom, only to be halted halfway when I heard the wooden floor crackle from where I'm standing, and I realize that I've added yet another hole to the floor. At times, I'd hear the subtle paddling of feet coming from the mice around the room, and spiders would make their unwanted appearances as well. Luckily, I'm able to enjoy hot water during showers since most of the students remain asleep around this hour. The lock of the doorknob is quite faulty that it'd take me a while to get downstairs.

After eating breakfast, I rushed to the kitchen and helped in cleaning the dishes so as not to be late for school. During that moment, last night's memory dawned upon me. I am aware that this school isn't like all the other schools because of that one trait that distinguishes us from the others: the possession of an Alice. Countless times have I reminded myself to expect the unexpected and that not all things are what they seem, in a sense that it's still a school. However, my encounter with this strange masked man was an exception—he threatened to hurt me if I ever made a sound, and all I ever did to him was show him my genuine concern when he seemed like he was injured and short of breath.

The whole thing just baffles me.

Entering the classroom, my eyes come across Yuu and Koko, who are seated next to each other by the rightmost desk at the front row, waving their hands at me with fervent smiles across their fair faces upon noticing my presence. Just looking at them makes me want to do the same.

I sat down next to Yuu after he offered me a seat simultaneous to my arrival. Koko started to laugh in a boisterous manner, stomping his feet and clapping his hand in the process, while Yuu's cheeks had already turned red as he began to raise his voice at his ecstatic friend to stop his banter yet the latter's amusement never wavered.

"What's going on?" I asked, my lips couldn't help but curve at the sound of Koko's laughter.

Yuu's head was arched forward, his eyes fixed on the desk before him as he moves his glasses that were slipping across the bridge of his nose towards his eyes. When I wasn't able to receive an answer coming from Yuu, I turned to Koko, whose hand was on his stomach as he makes an effort to suppress his laughter by taking deep breaths. Nevertheless, that silly smile of his lingers.

"We were just talking about this girl from Alice Academy Girls' School who's gaga over Yuu." Koko replied, making me look at Yuu for a second back there, and I noticed that he was quivering in his seat with his arms embracing himself, pleading for Koko to stop in a hushed manner. Koko then adds, "Her name is Nonoko Ogasawara. She has the Chemistry Alice, so she's able to make cool yet strange medicines and potions. Yesterday, when I was in Central Town, she handed me a bottle of this concoction that she made, telling me to give it to Yuu so that it'd make him want to study more, but Yuu wouldn't drink it because of what happened during middle school."

Yuu abruptly shouted. "Don't tell him!"

"When Yuu and I were in middle school, Nonoko gave Yuu this drink that would make him dance through the entire evening. That was during the Alice Festival Dance, and legend has it that if a couple dances the last dance together they'll become soul mates, which is probably why Nonoko took this as an opportunity to trick Yuu into dancing with her." Koko explained while Yuu, on the other hand, hid his face by laying his head on the table with his face against it. After hearing the reason behind Koko's joyful moment just now, I placed both of my hands on top of my mouth as I cackled, finding Yuu's incident with this Nonoko girl quite hilarious.

"Jin, not you too." Yuu whined, still unable to lift his head to face us in his mortified state.

"I wish that the Alice Festival were just around the corner." Koko exhales, his eyes staring blankly into space as if he were fantasizing over school dances at that very instant.

Teardrops made their way out of my eyes, although they were merely out of delight over our class president when the thought of him dancing had entered my thoughts. Sighing, I let a few laughs escape my mouth before I was able to relay a question to Koko. Nonetheless, because he has the ability to read the mind of anyone he chooses, Koko was quick to answer the question in my mind.

"There's an Alice Academy Girls' School. It's located next to ours. The girls aren't allowed in our school, and we're not allowed in their school. Well, that's unless they hold the Alice Festival either here or there, but because last year's Alice Festival was held here, chances are that the girls will be organizing this year's festival."

I hummed to myself in awe. "That's pretty neat."

"The other place where we could maintain our sanity through means of socializing with girls…" Koko added, which I found quite amusing because of the position that I'm in, but as long as I'm with Koko, I have to hinder myself from thinking in that sort of perspective. "…is Central Town!"

"Central Town?"

"It's this place where Alice merchants sell all kinds of unique items to the students. Almost every product known to man in the market can be purchased. That's where your Rabbits come in handy."

In the middle of my conversation with Koko, Yuu has retained most of the dignity that he's lost—when he recalled what he considers a dreadful moment with a certain girl named Nonoko, having to hear it narrated by his dear friend once more—evident in the way he regains his composure afterward; the color of his cheeks have returned to their original hue, his eyes look relaxed, and the smile that he carries from the time I first met him has resurfaced although not completely.

"I was thinking of going to Central Town within the week to buy a new book. Perhaps you'd care to join me?" Yuu proposes.

"Sure, inchou!" I answered without a hint of skepticism, smiling.

"Hold your horses though, Jin." Koko places his elbow on the table. "You're a no-star, and academy rules state that a student with a no-star ranking must be accompanied by his partner, who will be assigned to him by his homeroom teacher at the beginning of the school year, and they must also inform one of the teachers regarding their departure to Central Town."

My jaw dropped in disbelief. "Are they serious? But I'm old enough to take care of myself."

"I guess it's just a matter of precaution, Jin." Yuu remarked. "Considering the fact that you're a new student and your past school records, the academy must be keeping a close eye on you. You're also under probation, so going to Central Town on your own isn't a good idea."

I sigh in disappointment, though I'm not entirely discouraged to go to Central Town. The name of the place had a certain ring to it that hauls you in, and as mentioned by Koko, various items ranging from the known to the unknown are gathered in Central Town. I can't afford to miss out this opportunity to head to Central Town, especially since I'd need some of those for those days and I thought that I'd be doomed in a few months.

"Well then," I uttered, my gaze focused at the two of them while my hands just balled into fists on their own. "So in order to get to Central Town, I need my partner who should be more than willing to accompany me, right?"

Yuu grimaced slightly, catching a glimpse of the floor. "Yeah, that's how it goes. You just have to convince him to do so, and for that, I bid you good luck."

"Why?" I asked. "Who's my partner?"

"Natsume-san!"

Our heads immediately turn to the back of the room, where a number of our classmates had rushed to the door upon realizing the presence of a certain boy with the tussled hair that parts on the side, its color resembling that of a raven's feathers, along with crimson irises that avoided the stares of others, and the look of resentment upon his face to top things off.

The moment he takes a step inside the classroom, our classmates by the door had parted like the red sea, paving way for this famous figure of theirs. Behind the aloof man was the fair-haired boy with the blue orbs whom I've had the pleasure of sitting next to him yesterday with indifference across his face, but not as strong as the other one. While walking, both were showered with praises and compliments, courtesy of our classmates at the back.

When they had sat down in their respective seats at the back, the former places his feet on the table as he leaned back, crossing his arms against his chest before his eyes shut close. The latter, on the other hand, tends to the white bunny in his arms, caressing its head before laying it on his lap.

Unable to comprehend the meaning behind their pompous behavior and why our classmates seem to worship them, I resort to Yuu and Koko.

"Who are they?" I whispered, glimpsing at the two of them before returning to Yuu and Koko.

Yuu leans closer, replying in a soft-spoken manner. "The one on the right is Ruka Nogi. He has the animal-pheromone Alice. Beside him is Natsume Hyuuga, who possesses the fire Alice."

Natsume—the name sounds familiar. To add to it, he has the ability to cast fire.

Wait a second—

"Yeah, he wears a black cat mask sometimes." Koko said, probably because he has read my mind yet again. "I know you can hear me right now, so I'm telling you to stop it!" He then added, "Alright, you don't have to be so harsh. By the way, are you still going through puberty?"

My mind chooses to disregard Koko's question just now, focusing on last night's close encounter with death… in the form of Natsume Hyuuga. The mere thought of it makes me flinch while the fear of probably getting burned to ashes finds its way back to me, recalling that he did threaten to kill me with the use of his Alice. Although I have become uneasy, a part of me has been concealing this desire to punch him in the face for what happened last night. And now, his majesty marches in the room like he isn't afflicted with guilt over attempting to take a person's life last night? Talk about having a conscience!

Overcome with anger and the thought that I've been wronged, I stood up from my seat and walked towards the man who is sleeping soundly in his place, his face bearing no signs of remorse over his actions and it disgusts me. His whole being disgusts me.

The classroom had become silent, and from the corners of my eyes, I could see that these people have theirs set on me, intently watching my next move. Nevertheless, I have nothing to say to them. This matter only concerns between me and this Hyuuga guy.

"What do you want?" Ruka turns in his seat to face me, his eyebrows furrowed.

I clenched my fists. "I'd like to talk to Natsume alone."

His eyes fly open the moment I finished my request, and immediately, he brings his feet to the ground, though his arms still folded, leaning against his chair. My eyes come in contact with his crimson irises that served as a distraction that lasted for a few seconds before recalling the reason why my sense of anger had brought me here.

"Speak." His highness commanded.

I clicked my tongue in irritation. This man is getting on my nerves. However, I try to remain civil with him, and through gritted teeth, I replied. "I think it'd be better if we talked about it outside."

"Ruka, who's this?"

"He's a new student named Jin Hideaki." Ruka responds, focusing his attention on the rabbit sitting comfortably in his lap, though he remains alert and aware of his surroundings.

Natsume sighs as he rolled his eyes. "Can't we just talk about it here? Is it that important?"

"Yes." I spoke with full confidence, rage evident through the tone of my voice. "I demand an apology from you for what happened last night at the Northern Forest after you grabbed me by my wrists, drag me to a tree and threatened to burn me to a crisp if I ever utter a single word, all which were against my will."

That icy stare of his prevails in spite of what I've mentioned to him, obviously unfazed by them.

"I was in my bedroom last night and I didn't go to the Northern Forest." He counters, averting his gaze. "It must be someone else."

I grunted. "No, I'm certain that it was you since you have the fire Alice, and that someone was calling your name—,"

"That's enough." He insisted, his eyes narrowing at me.

"Don't try to hide it." I told him, reaching out to his left arm where he was injured, based from last night's memory. Upon gripping onto it, I gave it a little squeeze, in which he responds by wincing in pain. "You were injured last night. I could still remember it."

"Hey! The new student is hurting Natsume!"

"Oi, Hideaki, you sure have the guts to touch Natsume's arm."

"Who do you think you are, no-star?"

I've become uneasy with the hateful remarks they're throwing my way, and I was caught off-guard by the man in front of me when he forcefully removed my hand from his arm, scowling.

The feeling of having everyone's gazes pointed at you could be compared to a thousand arrows aimed at your very being—the tension and anxiety that's building up within the target, and the part where one falls down on his knees upon the first strike—only that I was bound to experience a social death.

Before I knew it, I was floating on air, much to my surprise. I try to look for whoever was causing me to levitate, but before I was able to distinguish him amongst my classmates, my body was going up against a wall at a very fast pace. Screaming, I closed my eyes, anticipating the impact from the collision, but shockingly yet fortunately, my body stopped moving. A sigh of relief escaped my mouth, though I'm guessing that it was too soon for that because once again, my body is being dragged by some kind of force towards the other side of the classroom in one swift motion. My bottom crashes against the wall, and soon, I fall flat on the floor, which my classmates find quite amusing based from the immense laughter that surrounded the classroom.

Groaning, I lay my hand on the wall for support as I attempted to stand up, and was successful in doing so despite sensing an estimate of a thousand bruises around my body from the fall, and that I can't make a move without having to flinch in the process.

"Mochu, he's still standing up."

At that very moment, my body wasn't on the ground anymore and no matter what I did, I wasn't able to put myself down. At a rapid pace, I was being lifted towards the direction of the ceiling. I was already expecting the worst since the pain throughout my body hasn't subsided, yet here I am again, and this frail body of mine has to put up with this sort of mess.

"Stop,"

Just when I had mentally prepared myself for the pain that I was up against, I heard Natsume's voice, and in a blink of an eye, my body has stopped moving in an upward direction and remained floating on air.

"Let him go, Mochu. I'm not in the mood to play games."

"Sure thing, Natsume."

Once again, my body plunges onto the floor.

I take my time on the floor as my eyes come across three pairs of shoes that passed me. One of them paused for a moment, his feet pointing towards my face as I lifted my gaze to see Natsume bending forward with a smug look on his face.

"Moron." He slurred before walking away, catching up with his two other friends who stopped by the doorway, realizing that he's taking his time to taunt me before leaving through the back door.

While I watched almost every person in the room laughing his heart out, Yuu kneels in front of me, moving his face closer to mine while Koko was standing behind him on the right. Their faces bear a trace of concern on them.

"Jin, are you alright?" Yuu blinks his eyes at me. "That was Natsume, by the way. He's your partner."

"His mind says no," Koko took the liberty to reply in my place, even though I was more than willing to speak.

Oh, agony.

A/N: Reviews, guys? Please? =))) I'd appreciate it from the bottom of my heart.

Almost missed this out but... SPOILER:

"Jin, I didn't know that you and Natsume are having a duel."

"Koko, what are you talking about?"

"What's this all about, new student?"