This story sucks. The storyline, in some parts is quite good but it's scattered and not well though of. As a writer, I'm not yet skilled enough to put to words what I can see in my minds eye. So I apologize to those who have no interest in this fanfiction.


11th Grade – 16 years old (October)

Natsume scowled at his bestfriend as she opened the bathroom door.

"You took long enough." He growled at her, impatient and starving. He didn't wait as he walked out of her room.

"Perfection takes time." She called to him and looked out to her balcony. A flash of blond caught her eye and she watched as Ruka and Mikan entered the Academy barn. How many times did you need to feed those tiny monsters anyway? With annoyance she noted that they had been feeding the animals too often. Without another word, she stomped out to follow Natsume to the cafeteria.

They ate in silence around their friends, their eyes connected every few minutes and they spoke no words but had vast conversations behind the seemingly emotionless amethyst and red. Then the cafeteria door opened, and in entered her boyfriend followed by his girlfriend. Their eyes dropped and she played with her food as Ruka kissed her cheek with his every day morning greeting of, "Hey sexy."

Mikan hugged her boyfriend from behind and he gave her a half-smile before returning to the last of his bacon. Their large table of friends was part of the loud noise in the cafeteria and Natsume was irritated. Then once again his eyes connected to Hotaru's and the world slipped away, the noise dulled, and she offered him a strawberry from her plate. He felt much better.

Yuu Tobita called for silence, he shouted instead of using his commonly shy voice. The table stopped all conversation and a worried Sumire asked him, "What is it, Iinchou?"

"A building in town caught fire last night." Yuu flung a newspaper at the table. "Misaki and Tsubasa are dead."

1 Week Later (October 13th)

Hotaru and Natsume walked together, footsteps in a rhythm, through the Academy forest to the cemetery. Despite the current situation, Hotaru was dressed to kill. But she ignored the longing stares as her cold eyes stared straight at the coffins before her. They stopped by the crowd, a rose in both their hands, and listened as each person spoke in turn. When the wooden boxes had been lowered beneath the ground and covered with soil, Hotaru finally let a tear fall. Her boyfriend wrapped an arm around her waist but she stepped away from him. As the others were walking away for the burial reception, Natsume and Hotaru stayed back, still staring at the two mounts of soil and the gravestones.

"They would have gotten out of the fire. We've received enough training to be able to escape even the worst situations." She mentioned, her eyes darting around. Finally, a figure stepped out from behind the trees and she walked to him, barefoot with her heels in one hand. Natsume followed suit, eyes burning.

"They aren't dead are they?" He asked Persona. The man simply chuckled and held his hand out to a bush, watching the leaves slowly wither away.

"As partners, you must remember you place." Persona spoke softly. "You cannot fail your missions. And you cannot fall in love."

"Was it love then? Because dying from a fire is as unlikely a story as any!" Hotaru asked. He made a move to touch her porcelain cheek but Natsume stepped in front of her.

"In the Alice world, you're not an adult until you are twenty-one years of age." He reminded them. "That means as a woman, you must protect your reputation. The stupid girl, she tried to hide it. But a few days ago, we found that she was with child."

"But Misaki turns twenty in a few months!" Hotaru cried and he shut her up with a look.

"They have failed me in every way." He said.

"But are they really dead?" Natsume pressed, shaking with anger. Persona's eyes narrowed.

"They are dead to this Academy."

"How does that—" Hotaru's words were stopped by Persona. His slap echoed through the forest and she fell into Natsume.

"Why do you fight for me, Imai? Hyuuga?" He asked them. She looked at him with hate, Natsume's fists were balled.

"Because I can defuse an explosive within sixty seconds." He made to slap her again but Natsume pushed her behind him.

"That's enough! Don't you dare touch her."

"I didn't mean why I chose you to fight. I'm asking why you choose to fight for me." Person said, simply. She stayed silent, half hidden behind Natsume's form. Finally, Natsume spoke.

"Because we have nothing to lose."

"No, just the opposite actually. You fight for me because you have everything to lose. Remember that. And remember your place." He told them both before disappearing into the forest.


Later That Night - Their Mission

"Hotaru!" Natsume called and pointed behind her. She quickly turned and shot the man. The bullet made no noise and she caught him before he fell to the ground. Laying the man down slowly, she turned to Natsume. With a nod they set off in a silent run, hearing footsteps close by. They ran through the forest until they entered Osaka, where they joined the crowd. Breathless, they reached a hotel and Hotaru pulled Natsume in through the door and into a restroom.

Facing the mirror, Hotaru calmly applied make up.

"Hotaru. What the hell?" Natsume growled, regaining his breath.

"Please Natsume, let's not use that word right now." Hotaru told him reproachfully, reaching into her small bag for her mascara.

"Fine..what the heaven?" He humored her, still confused.

Hotaru stared at her friend through the mirror while applying lipstick. She looked inside her small back and threw contact lenses at him.

"Take off your mask and your shirt, then put the contacts on." She ordered, covering her own eyes with blue and throwing in a blond wig over her hair. Natsume did as she asked and she flicked her strange blue eyes at his abs before returning to the mirror. Then she quickly tore of her own shirt and put it inside a box with Natsume's things before throwing it to the other side of the room, hiding it from view.

Hotaru jumped onto the sink counter and pulled her toned body into his, popping a mint into both their mouths. She barely had enough time to put her mouth over his before the assassins barged into the room. They stayed that way until Natsume licked her lower lip and his tongue entered her mouth. Her eyes flicked to the men standing by the door, uncomfortable and shifting from one foot to the other. Natsume had not noticed and pulled her into him, into his warmth. She wrapped her legs around him and his hands traced circles along her back, making her shiver. Natsume put one hand over her bra as the door closed with a click. By that time, Hotaru and Natsume weren't listening anymore. Natsume proceeded to unclasp her bra one handed while she kissed along his neck, biting into his collarbone.

He tipped her head up and their mouths met in a passionate kiss. She put her arms around him, one hand to his head, pulling him closer. Their tongues met and danced, their hands moved to feel each other. He kissed down to her neck and the valley of her chest. His hand reached up to the swell of her breast, thumb to a hardened nipple. She arched into him as his mouth made it's way to her other breast. Her hand lowered to the belt of his jeans, working it and pulling it off. Soon her hand was inside his jeans, feeling him. Feeling what he felt for her.

Her wig fell of and suddenly, their eyes shot open. They froze, realizing where their hands were. Flushing, Natsume backed away from her. Returning her bra to its proper place, Hotaru walked to the last stall where she had thrown their clothes. Natsume removed his contacts and took the shirt she offered him. Hotaru wouldn't look at his eyes as she pulled on her tanktop. Despite her covering it, Natsume could still remember the black lace. He pulled her to him and her lips met his in another heated kiss, then he let her go.

They walked out in silence.

Back in School

As they reached the dorms, they could hear what seemed to be a party. They followed the noise into the 2nd floor common room, where tables held alcohol and chips. Their friends were all sitting on the furry rug, a bottle in the center.

"What the hell?" Hotaru and Natsume said in unison, attracting the attention of the tipsy teenagers. Mikan stood up and ran to give her best friend a hug, bumping into her boyfriend instead. Hotaru walked to Ruka, who didn't care to ask where they had been in the past few hours.

"We figured, that Misa-chan and Tsubasa would have wanted to go out in a bang!" Ruka shouted into her ear, she flinched and pushed him away. Hotaru and Natsume were pulled in to play spin-the-bottle with them, sitting a few feet apart. She looked at him and he shrugged, passing her his can of soda. If they were going to stay with their friends, they were going to stay sober. The bottle stopped at Hotaru and his eyes drifted away, he didn't want to see her kiss another guy right now.

"Hyuuga." She called to him. "If you haven't noticed, the bottle stopped at you. So come here because there's no way in hell that I'm standing to meet you."

Natsume smirked and got up to meet her, eyes looking fierce and soft at the same time. When he bent down, she tipped her head up. Their lips met once again, familiar with each other already. The kiss was quick and chaste but when they pried apart, Hotaru wouldn't look at anyone and Natsume had to bite his lip to conceal a grin.

"I'm going to bed. I'm too old for these games." Natsume suddenly said. Hotaru reached out a hand and he pulled her up. They said their goodbye's and walked up to the 5th floor.

Their friends had already forgotten they were there.


To Be Continued