Dark Hood

Chapter 3

Disclaimer: I do not own Gakuen Alice nor its characters but the story is entirely mine.

I was sick of it. Watching the girl and her new boyfriend - my best friend - heading out, mumbling sweet nothings into each other's ears and worse of all: PDA.

I would never say anything about them since I'm not single anymore either and apparently I should 'learn more from them' according to Mother. "Learning more," I scoffed to no one, "Like killing each other with their tongues." They honestly were disturbing. Some times Tobita had to tell them off - well, more like ask.

However Mikan was useful in many ways, she'd still plan the perfect dates for me and Koizumi, she'd try her best to make coffee, she's friendly towards everyone and she's just... a perfect employee. I would piss her off using that little bit about coffee though - for my own enjoyment.

"It's black," I stated, dropping the finished files into the cabinet.

"Yes. I can see that," Mikan answered me, grinding her teeth together. "What about it?"

"I don't want black." I grabbed a few more files out of the second cabinet.

"You never said -! Then what do you want?" she corrected herself.

I smirked, "I want a Black Tie."

"You've got one," Mikan gave me one of her shocked faces and pointed to the loosened coal-black tie around my neck.

I groaned, "How stupid can you get?" I dumped the new files onto my desk.

"Huh?"

"I want the coffee: Black Tie." Mikan wanted to know more about it but I stopped her from progressing, "I want it now."

After a very long time, she finally came in with a decent Black Tie and a disappointed face. Was it really that hard?

"Oi, it's too cold," I complained as she picked up the previous cup of black coffee.

"Sorry Hyuuga-san..."

"You're going to scare my cilents with that face. Just go home," I muttered.

She seemed to think it meant I cared about her (whatever) so she smiled and excused herself. "And also, Koizumi-san has cancelled her appointment with you." Then I was left alone in the office with no coffee. Since it was nine already - and everyone was dismissed - I decided not to work extra and head home.

Also, without Koizumi today, I'll finally manage to have a good night's sleep. Quickly switching off the office lights, I take the lift and go straight to the car park.

On the way down, I realized a got a text from Ruka: 'Usagi is sick so I cancelled the date with Mikan-chan tonight. Please don't be hard on her.'

The others were just my mother critizing my ways. Such as: 'Remember that the Koizumi's do have connections to us. One wrong move mister and I'll wipe that stupid smirk off your face.' 'You better be treating Luna-san all the time.' 'Don't get too intimate either.'

I just sighed at my childish mother and her stupid messages. I got in the car and drove off. Strangely, it has kept raining - since the first day I met her - and I didn't see Mikan even though I only left seconds after her. She must've put on that damned black hood again...

Finally, home sweet home... without keys to get inside.

Swearing savagely, I knew I had to go downstairs and ask for a stupid extra key from the annoying Sumire Shouda. I was on the stupid 13th floor - with no elevator!

"Hyuuga-san?" someone questioned me. Somewhere in my heart, I have to admit I saw this coming but I confirmed it by looking up and seeing her: Mikan Sakura. "What are you doing outside my apartment?"

"I live here," I pointed annoyingly to the door. She stood smiling next to me.

"What a coincidence! I live right next door! Although I just moved in..." she laughed, "Did you forget your keys? Anyway, why don't you come in?"

She had opened the door in a fashion that seemed almost invited. So I agreed and we both went inside. The first thing you would notice is that the design of the room was exactly like mine (not a big surprise), there were millions of cardboard boxes of all sizes lounging around and that nothing else was there.

"Sorry, it's a little bit of a mess. Hang on, I'll get you something to drink," she grinned although I could she her struggling to find cups.

"Let's just clean up," I sighed and threw my jacket on the floor along with my tie.

She seemed as though she was considering but then she smiled brightly and answered, "Let's!"

It was midnight and it was tiring. Somehow it was fun as well. I saw her childhood pictures and she told me about some of the little stories behind them - if they had any. And she'd start humming tunes that I immediately know the title of. Besides her humming and laughing, most the time was just her going: 'Hyuuga-san, over here please!' 'Careful Hyuuga-san! I don't want you to get hurt!' or 'Hyuuga-san! ...Oh! Nothing, I worked it out.'

Throughout the entire thing, I remained quite silent. I was observing and one thing that I was concerned about was the fact that the dark jacket and the boots were nowhere to be found. But I succumbed to the fatigue and didn't bother thinking anymore.

Everything was in place now except the fact that the walls were bare and torn. It was quite a large accomplishment in such a short amount of time. We both laid on the couch (that I moved), relaxing peacefully. However when her stupid grandfather clock chimed she gasped.

"Oh goodness, it's midnight already!"

"Who are you? Cinderella? And don't be so loud, the walls are very thin," I growled.

"Sorry," she whispered, "But Permy will be asleep now, you won't be able to go back to your apartment!"

"Whatever."

"I know! You could stay here tonight!" she offered. "Since you helped out and all. It's only fair, isn't it? I'll just get you some clothes. I think Ruka left some stuff here..." She went to rummage her room and returned victorious with a pair of trackie bottoms and a shirt. "He left these!"

"You do know I am his best friend and also your boss right?" I raised an amused brow and grabbed the clothes. "I'll be using the bathroom now."

I shut the door but only then did she curse, "Damn you Natsume Hyuuga! Don't just treat yourself at home!"

"My home is just next door!" I retorted. Then she grew silent.

I woke up quite relaxed although I was sleeping on the rough couch. After a little stretch, I sat up and glanced at the grandfather clock which told me I got up at...

What the heck?! 8am?!

"Oh! Hyuuga-san, I was going to wake you up." Mikan was looking over me, still keeping that freaky grin on her stupid face.

"Hn" I rubbed my eyes and checked the clock again. Was I dreaming? Nope... It's 8am.

"You wake up early by yourself Hyuuga-san. I got up at 7:30 only by my alarm clock. And sometime that doesn't even work," she joked.

"That explains your tardiness," I mumbled. "I'm going to go and change."

"Alright! You should hurry though, muffins are getting cold." Mikan smiled even as I walked into the bathroom.

My clothes were neatly folded on near the sink - that certainly wasn't me. And my phone kept buzzing. I had dozens of missed calls and thousands of messages and tons of voicemail that made it full as well. I scanned through them all but luckily none were from my cilents.

I shoved on my work clothes and stopped for a second...

Muffins?

End of Chapter 3

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