Disclaimed Gakuen Alice is.

A Matter Of Time
By Koalas

CHAPTER 3

Hotaru eyed Mikan. They were in Class B's form room, and the bright girl was energetically recounting a silly story about an iguana, or some other reptilian creature. Hotaru wasn't listening to her though. Partly because her mind was on other things, and partly because Mikan was a terrible story-teller.

"…So that's how the alligator ended up in the soup pot!" Mikan concluded her story, then looked pensive momentarily. "Oh yeah, it was a toy alligator by the way!"

Hotaru rolled her eyes and completely forgot about Mikan and her stupid alligator story. The cold, genius girl had of course known the alligator was a toy the whole time, it was obvious, but the way Mikan had told the story meant that anyone lacking excessive intellect would think otherwise, and be confused by the whole thing.

But, as mentioned before, there were other things on Hotaru's mind. The 'other things' were occupied mainly by the events in the infirmary yesterday.

Hotaru was almost positive that there was more to the story, and the way Nodacchi had looked and the words he had said convinced her further. And when Hotaru is positive about something, it is nearly always true. She suppressed a sigh.

Nodacchi was crazy and completely desperate, the way he talked to Mikan, as if the end was nigh. Hotaru had reflected and interpreted them as someone being in danger, and the youngest Imai had a deep, deep feeling of who it might be.

O-O-O

"…And that's how the alligator ended up in the soup pot!" Mikan finished her story cheerfully. She was recounting another tale of her life to the Special Ability occupants. Unfortunately, her lack of story-telling skills left the audience slightly (a lot) confused, as a wave a puzzled groans and 'huh?'s raised from them.

Mikan thought for a moment before a metaphorical light bulb pinged into life above her head, and she added, "Did I mention it was a toy alligator?"

The class all together let out an 'Ohhhhhhh…' of comprehension and mutterings as 'It all makes sense now…' and so on.

Just then the buzzer rang, signalling time for break, and the students all hurried to collect their bags and left the classroom. Mikan felt someone touch her shoulder, and turned around to see Tonouchi, looking very nervous.

"Mikan, can I speak to you quickly now?" he stammered, "I have something to give you,"

Mikan nodded assuringly and followed Tonouchi to the cupboards, where he began to root through his satchel. Mikan's eyes brightened as her eyes landed on an envelope. Her mind instantly filled with elated thoughts of a letter from Grandfather, finally. She imagined it saying how wonderfully proud he was of her, and how he had persuaded Principal Yukihara to allow her to see him, and amazing scenarios of reunion.

But as she tentatively took the letter from Tono's hands, she felt herself extremely reluctant to open it. All she could hear was her own breath. Now that she had thought of all these wondrous possibilities, she had made herself so vulnerable to disappointment, and didn't know if she was strong enough to handle the buzzkill of it all.

Second after second ticked away, as she stood there, staring at the envelope, both her and Tono silent. The more she looked at the envelope, the more she brought herself to believe it couldn't be Grandfather who had sent the letter. The handwriting looked nothing like his; it looked as if someone had scrawled it violently in a moment of panic and hurry. She heard Tono say something but it sounded far away.

Mikan took a deep breath and flipped the envelope over. She brought her thumb to the corner of the flap, and slowly began to peel open the envelope.

When the flap was halfway open, a loud bang and some panting was heard as Tsubasa ripped open the door of the room and burst in, exclaiming, "Mikan! Tono! They've taken Noda-sensei! He's gone!"

The other two were horrified at Tsubasa's words, especially Tono. His eyes gazed through Tsubasa, like he was entranced, before he whispered, "Is this the time?"

O-O-O

A burly man in an anonymous black suit reached into his pocket and pulled out a chunky mobile phone. He pressed a single button, a speed dial, and put it to his ear as the connection started ringing. After two rings, the line was answered, and a deep, husky voice said, "What's happening?"

The man responded simply, "The mission was successful, we are now in possession of the one with the information."

A chuckle was heard on the other side of the line. "Are you sure no-one else knows anything?" the voice asked.

"Well, there were some children earlier who tried to speak to the subject, we stopped them but I'm not sure how far they got in talking to him, as in, how much he's said." the man said reluctantly.

The voice snarled, "Any risk is a big risk, you fool! You better track down those kids sharpish and make sure they don't get the chance to say anything!"

"How do I do that?"

"Offer them sweeties in exchange for their silence," the voice said sarcastically.

The man looked confused. "I'm not sure that would be very effecti-"

"Of course not, you idiot! Hypnotise them, string them up, I don't care! Just do whatever you have to do to shut…them…UP!" the voice spat down the phone, before the line went dead.

The man sighed, rubbed his face, and replaced the phone back into his pocket. He was having serious doubts about the mission, the one that had seemed so harmless when he had first accepted it. One thing's for sure, he was asking for a raise after this had finished…

O-O-O

TWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

The Colonel blows her whistle and sharply shouts "Commence drills! 1,2!" Around thirty Privates line up in rows of six, proceed to draw and replace their rifles, then pivot-march in a perfect square, before arriving back at their original positions to stand to attention, all to the sound of the Colonel counting loudly.

The Colonel praises them for their good work then orders them to do fifteen consecutive drills. As the start to do so, she wanders over the arches, where a figure with long dark hair stood watching her squadron do the drills.

"Brigadier General," the Colonel addressed the person, with the respect owed to an officer of higher rank. "What brings you out to the training fields?"

The Brigadier General had a naturally gloomy disposition, although only a select few could make that gloominess disappear, and be replaced by a surprised and reluctant happiness. The Colonel was one of those few. However, at this moment in time, the Brig. General had a sombre expression, as they answered the question.

"The Lieutenant General has just messaged me, Colonel. The General of the Army is flying in."

O-O-O

Mikan was confused and distraught, as she began to stutter an incoherent string of questions, at Tsubasa's news. Tonouchi hurriedly said, "We can't stay here, I don't think we're safe," before he grabbed Mikan and motioned Tsubasa to follow him.

The three of them rushed out of the room, and quickly but quietly slinked down the corridor, narrowly skidding around a corner. Mikan was close to squealing and Tsubasa was lost.

"Tono!" he said, "Why are we running?"

Tonouchi turned his head to him slightly and replied, "You say Noda's been taken?" Tsubasa nodded in reply. "Well I have an idea that someone might be after Mikan," Mikan started at these words.

"What are you saying, Tono? Why - but- who's after me?"

They reached Tonouchi's room in the High School Division Boys' dorm. He fumbled around in his pocket before taking out his key and hurrying the other two into the room. Locking the door behind them, he turned to Mikan and said in serious tones, "Mikan, have you spoken to Nodacchi since the incident?"

Mikan nodded her head faintly, before speaking up and saying, "We went to visit him in the infirmary yesterday. Me, Tsubasa, Hotaru and Misaki, I mean,"

Tonouchi looked very tense. "Did you guys see anything out of the ordinary?"

This time Tsubasa spoke. "Yes, we tried to speak to him, but these two big men rushed in, and basically told us to get lost. Noda was trying to tell Mikan something before that, actually. Right, Mikan?"

Both boys looked at Mikan expectantly, and she grew even more scared. Tonouchi asked her if she remembered what Nodacchi was saying.

"He said… something about, I need to hide or… and like drugs or something?" she looked close to tears, "Oh, I'm so sorry, I really can't remember!" Mikan cried.

"It's okay Mikan," Tsubasa soothed, whilst Tonouchi paced up and down his room, chewing ravenously on his nails. The others thought they heard him muttering to himself. Suddenly, he whipped his head around, and advanced on Mikan.

"The envelope!" he cried. "Mikan, the envelope was from Nodacchi, he probably explained everything in the letter! Quick, open it up,"

Mikan perked up instantly and clasped her hand- and immediately gasped in horror.

"I - I don't have the envelope," she yelled.

Tonouchi's eyes widened. "What do you mean you haven't got the envelope?" he shouted, "I gave it to you only a few minutes ago! Where could it have gone?"

"I don't know," Mikan began to sob.

Tsubasa hugged her tightly as he tried to calm her down.

Tonouchi ran his hand through his hair and over his face in frustration. "It must've been dropped somewhere in the hallways when we were running. Oh god, anyone could have picked it up by this time! I'll have to go back and search the halls. Meanwhile, you guys stay here!" And Tonouchi left the room, leaving the key with a worried Tsubasa, hugging a slightly less hysterical Mikan.

O-O-O

The sound of high-technology machinery finely whirring filled the school corridor, echoed and rang in the empty hall. The majority of students outside enjoying the weather, or already eating, meant a lone figure made their way towards the canteen.

Impulsively, the whirring stopped as the person spied something on the ground. They stooped down and carefully picked a slightly crumpled, half open envelope. They turned it over, studied it, then silently slipped it into the pocket of their blazer. This could prove to be extremely handy, they thought.

O-O-O

Another (late) installment of AMOT!
I am such a horrible authoress DX I am sooooooo sorry this took too long, it's a mixture of Writer's Block and laziness :( *waggles finger at self* -I actually did it too :) To make up for it, I shall write the next chapter so quickly you'll feel like you've seen a lightning bolt (hopefully without the blindingness, if my writing is that bad) And by quickly, I mean like, within the next two days, mhm.
Without making this sound like an acceptance speech, I'd like to give big thanks to all the silent readers, favouriters and alerters, you guys rock beyond belief \m/
And also, the ever-wonderful Winterberrytrillium, for her reviews and support xxx!

AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Apology for delinquency
[ x ] Check!
Thanks to all readers and reviewers [ x ] Check!
Selfish request for more reviews
[ ] Gasp! What am I doing with my life!

What are you waiting for, then? Hit that review button (and feel free to reprimand my neglectfulness (is that a word?), too)!

(an apologetic) Lisee xx