Disclaimer: I don't own Gakuen Alice or any of the characters. Higuchi Tachibana does!
Hey everyone! Okay, so some of the things that are happening in my story closely resemble some things that actually happened in Gakuen Alice. For example, in the previous chapter, where Natsume says Mikan looks prettier with her hair down. I would like to think of this as an alternate universe. And sorry about this extra long chapter! I hope you enjoy it anyways! And please review it! If you do, you would make my day and it really motivates me to write more and to write quicker hehe
Mikan's POV
Wow. It would be an understatement to say that the entrance was grand. It was intimidating and excessively extravagant. And this castle-like building is owned by the headmaster.
I stepped out of the limo, clutching on to my dress. This dress is easy to move in, but it still makes me feel vulnerable. Natsume grabbed my arm before he stepped out.
"Here," he said, sliding it into my hand, "If you get into any trouble, just press this button." He paused, and then added, "Naru told me to give it to you."
Heh. Natsume is worried! "Thanks, Natsume," I smiled, sliding it into a hidden pocket in my dress. We walked past the front garden, toward the entrance to the ball, which was carefully guarded by two men.
"Invitations, please," the man said in a robotic voice. His eyes were drained of color and he forced a dry smile. I handed him the invitation and smiled back politely. Natsume handed his invitation to the man standing on the other side of the entrance. They opened the heavy glass door for us and we walked inside.
It was breathtaking. A large, grand staircase was placed in the center of the ballroom. It was draped with a red carpet and extended toward the rest of the room. Everyone was dressed elegantly, making light conversation with each other. All of the people here are filthy rich and have high authority.
A large table was placed on both corners of the room, covered by a gold tablecloth and various French sweets. My eyes widened and my feet automatically stepped forward in the direction of the food table, but I was stopped short by Hotaru, Iinchou, and Anna.
"Oi! Mikan!" Anna called, waving his hand.
"Oh, you guys!" I said excitedly, "Hotaru and Anna! You both look so gorgeous!" Hotaru was wearing a simple purple gown with thin straps and it poofed out near her waist. Anna was wearing a peach colored gown that hugged her body and had a slit through the side of her leg.
Hotaru stared blankly away, ignoring my compliment. "Arigato, Mikan!" Anna replied, "You do too! You are literally making eyes turn. You look like you just came out of a movie!"
I gushed, "That's not true. You are too nice!" I looked over at Iinchou. "Iinchou, what do you think? Hehe, this is my first time wearing a dress, so I feel a little embarrassed but—"
"M-Mikan! It looks really good on you!" he interrupted me, "You look wonderful. S-So please don't feel embarrassed!"
"That's so kind of you to say, Iinchou!" I smiled. He reached out his hand and invited me to dance. I graciously accepted and took his hand.
"I'll see you around," I whispered to Natsume, "Be careful."
I followed Iinchou to the center of the room where the thin gold platform was. The room was spacious, and it was certainly large enough to fit over 200 people. There were at least 50 pairs of people dancing on the gold platform.
"I'm not really any good at dancing," I apologized. I had to learn how to ballroom dance before I came to this school, but it's been so long… and I never really even got the hang of it.
"Daijoubu," he assured me, "Just follow my footsteps." He guided every step of the dance, but I still ended up stepping on his foot several times.
"Sorry, Iinchou," I apologized again, "I'm so bad at dancing!"
"You're doing fine, Mikan!" he said. Natsume suddenly barged through, breaking my contact with Iinchou.
"What are you doing?!" I asked. There was a group of young women fawning over him in the corner.
"He's danced with you long enough, right?" he eyed him.
"E-eh… yes," Iinchou sighed meekly, "I'll find you later, Mikan."
Natsume pressed me closely to his body and my heart started to race. That's weird. I didn't feel like this when I was with Iinchou. Why do I feel so nervous all of a sudden? Why is my heart beating so fast?
Natsume's POV
"Baka!" she said, "What was that for?"
"I just wanted to escape from those people," I nodded in the direction of the group of women.
"Still," she sighed, "You didn't have to interrupt Iinchou and I!"
"Were you really enjoying it?" I asked coldly.
"Well, yeah! Iinchou is my friend." This stupid scatterbrain doesn't get it. When we walked into the ball earlier, she had no idea how many guys had their eye on her.
"You idiot," I shook my head, "You are such a naïve birdbrain." I started to move my feet and she started to pick her feet up too.
"What's up with you always insulting me?" she demanded, "You've never called me by my name even once."
I pulled her in even closer, my arm gripped tightly around her waist. "M-Mikan," I repeated, "Mikan."
She was taken by surprise and didn't respond for a while. "T-That was so sudden," she said.
"Are you complaining now?"
The corners of her mouth slowly lifted into a smile. "Arigato, Natsume!" she grinned, "I bet I'm the first girl you've ever called by their first name, right?"
"Urusai," I said. How did she know? "You're really bad at dancing," I changed the topic.
"Well, sorry!" she pouted, "But Iinchou said I was doing well!"
"Do you like him or something?" I asked.
"N-No!" she stuttered, "What makes you think that?" I shrugged.
"It's weird though. I'm doing a lot better dancing with you. I haven't stepped on your toes yet." She smiled proudly.
"That's because I'm basically moving your feet for you." One of the guys that I saw earlier looking at Mikan, approached her. I took a closer look at him and realized he was the heir to one of the biggest business companies in Japan.
"Ojou-chan," he bowed, "Would you care to dance?"
Before she could say anything, I answered for her. "Sorry, she's mine," I said impassively, pulling her away.
He looked at me haughtily and sneered, but decided to walk away as so not to disrupt the sound level.
"I can answer for myself," she said, "What if I wanted to dance with him? What do you care anyways?"
"I don't. Who would care for a flat-chested gluttonous scatterbrain idiot ugly girl like you anyways?"
She scowled, "You big hentai! Whatever, I'm done. I'm going to go and snoop around." She stormed her way out of the dance platform. The room gradually quieted down when the headmaster began walking down the grand staircase. The headmaster was seldom seen, so there was an element of mystery clouding him. Though he was well on his way to his mid fifties, a young woman walked beside him, arms linked.
Her neck was adorned with a flashy diamond necklace and her lips were a perfect, bloody red. She wore a tight black dress that reached past the floor, draping behind her as she walked. She had Japanese features, but she wasn't fully Japanese.
"Thank you everyone for coming today," the headmaster said. His voice flowed with dangerous charisma. "Before my wife and I make a toast, I would like to introduce the top five students of the elite Gakuen Alice that were able to come here today because of their excellence in academics." He cleared his throat.
"Hyuuga Natsume." People stepped out of the way as I approached the staircase. "Please come up here."
"Imai Hotaru. Tobita Yu. Umenomiya Anna. Sakura Mikan." All of them followed up the stairs. We stood in a horizontal line, behind the headmaster.
"I would like to acknowledge these brilliant individuals for their exception academics and athletic abilities. To have gotten this high in one of the most elite schools in Japan is a very challenging and difficult feat. I am very proud to say that I have these individuals attending my school." Charisma radiated from the headmaster. He didn't speak with amity though; it was more assertive and controlling. I could sense his thirst for power. Suddenly, his eyebrows knit together, but quickly returned back to normal, so that it was almost unnoticeable.
I looked at his ear and saw a tiny earpiece. Something must've gone wrong.
I quickly glanced at Mikan. She was fiddling with her thumbs, obviously disliking the spotlight.
"Thank you all for coming," he said once again, raising his glass of champagne in the air. Everyone did the same, making a toast. We retreated back down the stairs and in the corner of my eye, I saw the headmaster talking to the air. He is communicating with someone through that earpiece.
I scanned my surroundings for Mikan. She was nowhere to be seen. Where did that idiot girl go? She was just here a second ago.
A hand tapped my shoulder. "If you're looking for her, she went that way." Imai Hotaru. She looked at me indifferently.
"I'm not looking for her," I replied impassively. She turned around and walked the other way.
Mikan's POV
Wai wai! Apple cider and macarons and éclairs and cream puffs! I grabbed a glass already filled with apple cider, picked up a plate, and put one of each dessert on it. I quickly chugged down the glass of apple cider and stuffed the desserts down my throat.
Now I need to go follow the headmaster. He definitely looked distraught by something. But how do I get to the second level without anyone noticing? I definitely can't just go up the grand staircase. There's far too many people.
I stared at the second floor. It was at least 20 feet up and a marble railing outlined it. I scanned the room again, and decided to look in the bathroom. The bathroom was unnecessarily spacious, lined with a large marble counter and gold bathroom stalls. I checked the entire bathroom for people—it was completely empty. I looked around and saw a window in the back of the bathroom. It was just big enough for me to climb through. If I can't get to the second floor inside, I'll have to do it outside.
I opened the window and tried to squeeze myself through, but the poofiness of my dress made it difficult. I tore two layers of the skirt of the dress off, which left the very last layer. I quickly climbed through the window before anyone could come and then closed it.
I found myself in the large garden in the back of this building. It was filled with every kind of flower imaginable. Large cherry blossom trees acted as the dividers between different types of flowers and benches were lined up against each tree. The garden was so big; I could see no end to it. I stepped back and looked up. There was a large open window above which led to the second story, but it was more than 20 feet high above the ground. I wrapped the torn off layers from my dress around my waist and decided to climb up the cherry blossom tree closest to the window.
The trunk was thin enough for me to easily wrap my arms almost fully around it. I slowly pulled myself up, using my feet to propel myself upwards. Damn it! These stupid heels are so hard to climb with.
I slid back down on the ground and kicked my heels off. I used the extra fabric from the dress and tied the shoes to my waist. I started to climb up again, quickly kicking my way up. I didn't dare look down from where I was.
I estimated five minutes to climb up to where the window was. There was a branch that reached out near the window, but it was too thin to support my weight. I glanced above me and saw a thicker branch. I continued to climb up until I reached it.
How high up am I? I must be at least 25 feet up above the ground. I steadied myself on the thicker branch and slowly began to crawl toward the window. I pushed the cherry blossoms out from my face and reached the farthest part of the branch that could support my weight and tied the two layers of dress so that it created a rope. I tied it two the branch and put on the heels again.
I gulped when I looked down. If I miss the window or this knot unties… I'm dead meat. I made another knot around the branch just to be extra sure and slowly leveled myself down the trunk. I climbed down the tree trunk, gripping on to my dress fabric rope with one hand until I was on the same level as the window. I reluctantly let go of the trunk with my other hand and quickly grabbed onto the fabric rope. I kicked away from the trunk and sent myself hurling toward the window.
My heart skipped a beat when the branch slightly lowered itself from my weight and the force of my swinging. Instead of flying through the window, I missed it and hurled toward the wall space just below the window. I immediately let go of the fabric rope and grabbed onto the lower rim of the window.
I was dangling off 25 feet from the ground. I was barely holding on and could feel my fingers slipping. I hurriedly kicked off the wall and lifted myself up and pushed myself in. I tumbled in and hoped no one was there.
This part of the second floor was the part that wasn't visible on the first floor, so this area shouldn't be as closely guarded.
I looked around, saw no one, and sighed of relief. I quickly scrambled to my feet when I heard footsteps.
"I thought I just heard something," I heard a voice getting closer. There was only one room to on the left. I thought back to the security map I studied beforehand. There are no security cameras in this room. I sneaked inside, shutting the door behind me.
"I swear I heard someone," a guard said.
"It's just your imagination," another guard replied. I heard more footsteps.
"The headmaster says that something went wrong in the transaction and that he's requesting more." He? Who's he?
"There's been a delay in the plan too. The bomb hasn't been prepared yet." Bomb? What bomb?
My ears perked up. The footsteps slowly started to fade. I have to follow them!
I waited until the footsteps completed ceased. I couldn't risk being caught. I looked around the room and found a vent at the top of the wall. I climbed on top of the couch and pulled myself through the vent. I moved myself forward with my arms until I heard the guards again.
I peeked through another vent opening and saw them in another room. It was a standard office, except a million times more extravagant. There was a large marble desk with a black wheel chair that sat on a patterned red carpet. There were several shelves that lined the room with books and expensive statues displayed. One of the guards was on the phone.
"The headmaster will call you later." The guard hung up and set the cell phone down. He hurriedly ran out of the room—probably to inform the headmaster.
From the vent, I spotted a security camera in the corner of the room. That's probably the only one since there is already plenty of security outside the door. The security camera moved back and forth, left to right. It takes five seconds for it to move from the left side of the room to the right side. It stays on one side for ten seconds. But that's only the first interval. I observed the camera a second time. The second interval, the camera stays for exactly 3.5 seconds the left side. It takes it 2 seconds to travel back to the right where it stays for exactly 3 seconds. I carefully timed my move. When it reached the right side of the room, I crawled out from the vent. I placed my hands on the tall cabinet below the vent and flipped off the cabinet, landing on my feet. I carefully looked at the caller ID on the cell phone and took a picture of it with my phone. Damn it. The camera's coming to face this way again. I dove behind a couch, and laid still. The camera doesn't have a view of this side. Aw damn it again. People are coming.
I waited exactly ten seconds and as fast as I could, I climbed back up to the vent and closed it. As soon as I closed it, the same guard came back in, his eyes suspiciously scanning the room, and then left. He heard me. Shit. But, he won't report it to the headmaster until he's sure.
I crawled back the way I came from. I checked to see that the room was clear of people and climbed down. I closed the vent, leaving it the way it was before and put my ear close to the door. There was no sign of movement or sound. I gradually opened the door and quietly shut it.
I could hear voices coming closer and getting louder. I need to leave now. I can't go back into that room. They're already suspicious. But how do I get back down? The branch is too far away. But I don't have any other choice. They're coming!
My mind was racing. Without giving it a second thought. I ran towards the window and threw myself out with as much force as I could, hoping to reach the branch.
Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to reach the sturdy part of the branch or the fabric rope. I was barely holding on with one hand to the weakest part of the branch and I could feel it slowly breaking off.
If I fall from here, I'll definitely be found out. I could end up dying or getting seriously injured. What do I do?
My palms were sweaty and my heart was pounding. The branch… it can't hold for much longer. Na… Natsume. Natsume! Natsume!
I searched my hidden pocket for the device he gave me. Shimata. I put it in the other pocket in the first layer of my dress.
The branch snapped. My eyes widened with horror as the branch and I started to fall 25 feet onto the ground.
"Natsume," I whispered, shutting my eyes, "Natsume!" I tried to suppress my scream. I prepared myself to lessen the damage of the fall.
I felt a huge whoosh of wind and suddenly, an arm grabbed me by my waist. What the…?
I opened my eyes and looked behind me. It was Natsume.
"N-Natsume! What are you doing here?" I was embarrassed and taken by surprise. I'd called out for him… and here he was. I was five seconds away from hitting the ground. Natsume had untied the rope from the branch up top and moved it down to the lowest branch. We were still petty high up though.
We swung back and landed on our feet on the sturdy branch.
"You're so heavy," he said impassively, "And you called out for me."
"Well, sorry!" I grumbled, "And I had no choice, so don't get ahead of yourself!" I realized he was still holding onto me and I rapidly pushed his arm away, but he tightened his arm around me even more.
"Wait," he said, "Be quiet." It was a good thing there were so many cherry blossoms partially hiding their view. Two guards peeked out the window and decided that there was an intruder.
"They're going to go check that every person who came is still there in that room. Security will be a hundred times tighter. We need to get back," Natsume whispered emotionlessly as he let go of my waist.
How is he so calm and impassive? My heart is pounding… but it doesn't seem to be because I'm afraid and anxious.
I untied the fabric of my dress from the tree and tied it around my waist. I looked up again at the window. The same two guards had come back. Natsume and I stayed still, backs against the trunk of the tree.
"Who's there?" the one on the left yelled, holding a gun. Both were wearing sunglasses, shielding their eyes. The one on the left had an ugly scar slashed down the side of face. The one on the right had a twisted grin, as if he was enjoying himself.
Somehow, as if he had the senses of a tiger, the one on the right sensed us and stared down where we were hiding.
All he can see is probably our feet since the cherry blossoms are in his view. Can he really see us? His grin slowly became more deformed, more twisted. Without hesitation, he reached for his gun, aimed it right in our direction, and fired.