Thank you Yukiri-chan, jeje3693, z-line, may520, proffesional, -KateDominiqueXalice-, ladalada, musicandlyrics, natsumexmikan, Pink Fire101, Toki Hasegara, okaix, glenda23, and tinkerbellie for your awesome reviews:D

glenda23, i hope your friend is alright :)

-KateDominiqueXalice-, how are you, friend:D

Special thanks to may520 and Yukiri-chan, who reviewed all of the chapters in this story!

Thank you everyone! I hope you enjoy this story :)

CHAPTER 9

Natsume knelt down beside Mikan slowly. He stretched out an arm and touched her on the cheek gently.

"Mikan," he called out softly.

She didn't respond.

"I can't see your face behind that mask, but I believe I sense anger," Reo smirked, clearly amused. And danger, he added in his mind.

"It's a good thing your senses are still sharp," said Natsume quietly as he stood up, walking calmly towards Reo, "Because if they weren't, you'd never know what hit you."

Raging fire appeared in Natsume's palms, as he continued striding towards Reo. Reo widened his eyes slightly. He'd never seen so much fire appear in one shot. He stepped back slightly. Natsume Hyuuga was emitting a killing aura that had never been seen before. He was actually intimidating Reo.

"You're going to pay for hurting her," he whispered.

Natsume took one more step and stopped in front of Reo. Before Reo could predict his attack, crimson red flames erupted from Natsume's whole body and the last thing Reo saw was Natsume's mask falling off, revealing his devilish features.

The flames pierced into his body like a thousand spears, as Reo screamed and blacked out.

"Reo!" One of his followers stepped out bravely, and lifted him up, casting a fearful glance at Natsume for a moment.

Natsume immediately shot him a death glare, causing him to scramble up quickly and leave with the other men.

"Um, Natsume?" Yui stepped forward cautiously, uncertain whether to touch him. He had impressed her- no, shocked her by his demonstration of power. Natsume... He was no ordinary person. And neither was the girl lying unconscious on the floor. Yui Hana was starting to have doubts trusting them. They could kill easily with their powers.

"Trust us."

"Huh?" Yui snapped out of her thoughts, looking at Natsume questioningly.

"Trust us. We're the only people you can… trust…" he trailed off as he collapsed backwards, giving Yui no time to think as she rushed forward to catch him in her arms instinctively. She caught sight of his fine features and blushed slightly as butterflies fluttered in her stomach. He gives me… a different feeling. I've never felt this before.

"Don't blush…" Natsume panted as he stared at her, his eyes half-closed, "I'm… taken."

He closed his eyes slowly, uttering a few more words.

"Take my phone… And call Persona…" he coughed up some blood as Yui blinked, trying to register what he said moments ago.

"Trust us."

"Trust us. We're the only people you can… trust…"

"Don't blush- I'm… taken."

Wai-wait a minute. Don't blush!? Yui Hana stared at him in disbelief. What is he- An expression reader? She huffed.

"What the hell are you doing?" Natsume's crimson orbs fluttered open suddenly, "Didn't you hear what I said? Call Persona!" he demanded, coughing loudly.

Yui opened her mouth and closed it again, not knowing how to explain herself.

"Who's Persona? And how do I call him?"

"Take my phone and look his name up…" Natsume handed her a thin cell phone, as his hand slipped away slowly. He was out of strength. Yui caught the phone before it slipped out of his palm and stared at it blankly, searching for the keypad.

"You idiot…" said Natsume weakly, "It's a touch screen… Use the virtual keyboard."

"Oh," said Yui, her face flushed, "I knew that," she muttered under her breath as she focused her attention onto the phone once again.

"I'm going to pass out soon, just wait here for the reinforcements…" Natsume closed his eyes, his voice was faint.

Yui scrolled down the phone book quickly. Let's see… Persona…P… Aha! Persona!

She found something rather amusing under Persona's name.

Polka dots? She smirked. Who was that?

Yui selected Persona's name and took a deep breath, choosing the call option. She held the phone close to her ear, and waited for him to pick up.

"Yes, Natsume?" A deep voice could be heard.

"Um…" Yui was tongue-tied.

"Who are you?" He said sharply.

"Yui Hana."

There was a brief pause.

"Ah, yes. Miss Hana. May I help you?" he sounded more pleasant.

"Natsume… and the other girl fainted," said Yui, glancing at Natsume's sleeping form on her lap, "They need reinforcements."

"I trust that Natsume dealt with the Anti Alice Organization?"

"Huh?" Yui bit her lip, "I guess he did knock someone down…"

"Good. Reinforcements will be there any second. I'll see you in the academy, Miss Hana."

He hung up. Yui stared at the phone blankly. He's rude and creepy. She shuddered.

Well, at least she was certain of one thing. She didn't like Persona one bit.

"Natsume… huh," she murmured, turning her gaze towards Mikan Sakura, "That girl… She must be important to you…"

"Mikan," he called out softly.

"You're going to pay for hurting her," he whispered.

"Don't blush- I'm… taken."

"You remind me of… someone," she said softly.

"RUKA NOGI!!" Hotaru Imai yelled, loading her baka gun furiously, and aiming it at the poor animal lover.

"STOP IT ALREADY, HOTARU!" Ruka yelled back, dodging the incoming attacks quickly.

She paused for a brief moment. Ruka blinked at her, surprised at her sudden reaction.

"What did you just call me…?" she asked dangerously.

"H-Hotaru…" he gulped.

"Repeat that if you don't want to live anymore," Hotaru Imai turned away and started walking towards her lab.

A small smile made its way to her expressionless face. She touched her lip gently, recalling the kiss just now. It wasn't so bad after all.

"Hotaru."

She stopped short, turning back slowly. Ruka was staring at her, a serious expression on his face.

"Hotaru," he repeated, without blinking.

She stared back at him blankly, not knowing what to do.

"I love you," he whispered.

His expression never wavered, though his cheeks became slightly pink.

Hotaru widened her eyes in shock, taken aback by his sudden confession. Her mind went blank, and she couldn't think properly.

She found herself running towards her room as fast as she could.

Ruka stood there, watching her sadly as she slowly disappeared out of his sight.

Is that your answer, Hotaru?

"Natsume…" She lay on the ground, her shallow breathing could be heard. She was surrounded by a pool of crimson liquid and her whole body was covered by blood. She smiled weakly at him, her eyes shutting slowly.

"Nat…sume…" she whispered, "We did it… Our first mission… Together…" Her voice faded as she stared at him helplessly, her body going cold and numb.

"MIKAN!" Natsume Hyuuga sat up quickly, opening his magnificent ruby orbs in shock.

"Whoa there, calm down, Natsume."

He heard an unfamiliar voice calling out to him. Slowly, Natsume's gaze fell onto Yui Hana, who was sitting beside his bed, watching him.

"Where's Mikan?" he demanded. He looked around, finding himself in a private ward.

"Who's Mikan?" Yui looked confused.

Natsume got out of bed, not bothering to explain. He stumbled slightly, holding onto the bed for support.

My body feels so light and weak… I feel like all of my energy has been drained out of my body... Natsume closed his eyes, trying to get rid of his headache.

"Hey, the doctor said you need lots of rest."

"The girl who was wearing the white mask… Where is she?" said Natsume softly.

"Oh, so that's Mikan?"

"Answer my question," answered Natsume irritably.

Yui frowned at his reply. She had been trying to be nice since he woke up, but now her patience was running out.

"Why should I tell you?" she said coldly.

"Whatever."

Natsume stood up straight, ignoring the pain he felt in his body, and strode towards the door.

Mikan… Please be alright, he prayed fervently.

As he walked around, clueless of his destination, he heard a certain brunette's shrieks echoing through the long corridor.

"Natsume! Where is he!?" Mikan Sakura yelled.

Natsume sighed in relief. He started towards the direction of her voice, eager to see her.

As he was about to turn around the corner, someone rushed into him and he fell down with the person in his arms, knocking his head hard on the floor.

Natsume winced. OUCH! That was hard…I'm going to burn that clumsy idiot alive, whoever that is.

Just before he could start a flame, the clumsy person apologized quickly, "Sorry!"

Natsume recognized that voice immediately. He lifted her chin up quickly, and found himself staring at Mikan Sakura's auburn eyes.

"Natsume," she whispered breathlessly.

He pulled her into a tight embrace before she could react.

"You idiot!" he yelled as Mikan frowned slightly, "You could've got yourself killed! Why didn't you tell me your body was weakening!?"

He had realized at that moment she collapsed, that Mikan Sakura had the same type of Alice as him. Every time she used a large amount of her Alice, her life span would be shortened.

The thought of her suffering was unbearable.

"I'm sorry, Natsume. I wanted to protect you," said Mikan, hugging him back tightly, "I couldn't let you use your Alice- You could've died…"

"So what?" demanded Natsume, "Are you saying that you wouldn't have died using yours!?"

"I…" Mikan bit her lip, "I'd rather die in your place, Natsume…"

"……" Natsume fell silent.

"I can't lose you, Natsume…" she started sobbing.

"What makes you think I can afford to lose you…?" said Natsume quietly.

He held her so tightly that she felt like suffocating. Mikan smiled, fresh tears welling up her eyes again.

This time, it was tears of joy.

"I love you so much, Natsume…"

"Baka… Don't talk as if I don't," Natsume smiled.

Suddenly, they felt a shadow looming over them, as they lifted their heads and looked up. A pair of sapphire blue orbs was staring at them blankly.

"Ruka…" They whispered in shock.