Thanks for all the reviews! I guess I will continue then! It's fun writing this story!

Natsume's POV-

I gently placed Mikan on my bed and covered her with a blanket. She had looked so agitated and scared when I found her. What did Persona do to her? Obviously he hadn't hurt her, but maybe he told her something.

"Natsume." I jumped up, thinking that she was awake but she was just sleep talking. I smirked. So she did dream about me. Ha! "No, don't." she murmured. "I won't let you do it on your own." I raised an eyebrow. What won't she let me do? I leaned over and glanced at her. She fidgeted and sweat dripped down her face. All of a sudden, her eyes snapped open and she sat straight up, almost knocking me off the bed in the process. She breathed in and out to calm herself down and registered her surroundings. Her eyes landed on me and filled with tears. Mikan flung her arms around me and hugged me.

"Natsume..don't leave me." I sighed and hugged her closer.

"I promise I'll never leave you. What made you think that?" I asked carefully, rubbing her back. She shook her head in a silent 'no'. I pulled back and tucked some hair behind her ear. "Do you want to go wash up?"

"Sure." she replied absentmindedly. Mikan slipped off the bed and padded out of my room, closing the door softly behind her. What was wrong with her?

If she won't tell me, then I'll have to get the answer out of Persona.

Mikan's POV-

I quietly went into my room and changed into some sweatpants and a T-shirt. Then, hopefully making no noise, I climbed down the stairs and vanished into the forest at 4:58 am. I quietly cut my way across the trees, reaching the back of the school, no later than 5:00 am. I sighed, thankful at being here on time. I heard a crackle and whirled around to find Persona standing behind me, wearing that infamous cold, smile of his.

"Your training begins today." I nodded. "I want you to run around the school 3 times in under two minutes. Then, drop down and give me 100 push-ups. Finally, I want you to do 40 pull-ups on any of the tree branches. I'm starting off light with you today since you're a beginner."

'This is light?' I thought as I started my routine. My breath became ragged and I was panting heavily by the time I finished my laps in 6 minutes and 43 seconds. Persona shook his head in disapproval and instructed for me to do the rest of the training exercises. This is pretty much how I was at the end of training: tired, panting, sore, bruised (i never knew tree branches would snap on your arms!), and wanting to hurt Persona very badly. Oh, and tired. Apparently, this was going to go on every day until I could do all of the exercises without breaking a sweat. Oh joy. (sarcasm intended).

"Can *pant I *pant* go *pant* now?" Persona nodded and dismissed me with a wave of his hand. I glared at his retreating back and sauntered back into my room to wash up and get ready for the day. I groaned as I thought about this. All I wanted to do was to take a long, warm shower and sleep for the next couple years! Was that too much to ask? After taking a shower and dressing in my uniform, I left my hair down and mustered up the most energy I could and skipped to the classroom. I did not need anyone thinking about why I was walking like a zombie in the morning.

"Ohayo guzaimas!" I called out and sank into my seat. Everyone glanced at me curiously and I straightened up. "What?" I asked innocently, hoping that no one would think anything was too wrong with me. Sure enough, everyone turned their attention back to the front of the class where Narumi-sensei was making a morning announcement.

Normal POV-

"Okay, so as everybody hopefully knows by now, finals are coming up!" Everyone, including Mikan, groaned. "So study hard class! Ta-ta!" and with that, he skipped out of the classroom. Sumire rolled her eyes and walked up to Mikan who was sleeping on her desk. She sighed and bent down to Mikan's ear. "WAKE UP!" A startled Mikan gave a big jump and rubbed her eyes.

"Did I fall asleep?" she asked, looking at Sumire.

"What's up with you? You're always so jumpy in the morning. You sound like my mom when she doesn't get her coffee in time." Mikan grinned sheepishly.

"I didn't get much sleep last night." Mikan was surprised at how easy the lie came from her lips. But obviously, it wasn't good enough to fool Hotaru. Ever since Mikan entered the classroom, Hotaru knew that something was wrong with her best friend. Mikan, who usually pounced on her the minute she walked into the classroom, went to sleep on her desk. And adding to that, she didn't even say good morning to Natsume! Hotaru waved after herself as she walked out of the classroom, gesturing for Mikan to follow her. Confused, Mikan walked behind Hotaru until they were beyond anyone's hearing range. They stopped under the Sakura tree and Hotaru, without facing Mikan, started talking.

"So, where were you this morning?" Mikan looked a bit confused. "I came into your room at 5:30 am to see if I had left my crab brain snack in your room. But when I walked in, there was no Mikan." Hotaru put her hands on her hips and whirled around to face Mikan. "Where. Were. You?" She demanded. And Mikan knew when Hotaru demanded something, she needed to give her answer fast.

"I was hungry so I went down to the kitchen-" Mikan's voice trailed off as she saw Hotaru pull out some pictures (gasp)

"Then how do you explain these?" Hotaru held up pictures of Mikan running, doing push-ups, and talking to Persona. Mikan's face colored and she bowed her head in defeat.

"I- I can't." she mumbled. Hotaru raised an eyebrow.

"Can't explain what Mikan? Huh? WHat's so hard to explain about these?" she was yelling now. Mikan turned her head away from her friend.

"I- I'll get in trouble." she whispered quietly. Her head suddenly snapped up and Hotaru looked at her in confusion. Mikan stared at something behind her and when Hotaru glanced back, she let out a small squeak. Persona stood in the shadow of the trees, watching the two friends quarrel. He stepped forward and Mikan positioned herself between the two.

"What do you want?" she asked as calmly as she could. Persona smirked.

"Since we've been caught by one, it's better to tell her the truth than let the others know. We wouldn't want trouble, would we?" Persona asked. Mikan nodded and Persona disappeared into the shadows as quickly as he had appeared. Hotaru turned to face her friend. Mikan looked up and sighed before starting. She told Hotaru everything that had happened since Persona had captured her the other day, including the threats.

"And there's something else." Mikan whispered. Hotaru glanced at her with interest. "I have more than just the nullification alice." Now Hotaru was surprised.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, that I have more than one alice. I also have the ESC alice." Hotaru tilted her head in confusion. "Erase, steal, and copy." Hotaru's eyes widened.

"So, that's why..Persona..asked...you." she stuttered. Mikan nodded and burst into tears.

"I wanted to tell you. Really I did! But, but, I was scared. I don't know why but I-" Mikan threw her arms around Hotaru and hugged her. "Nobody knows except you and Persona. I haven't even told Natsume. Oh Hotaru what do I do?" she wailed as Hotaru held her. Sometimes, Mikan felt as if Hotaru were the only person who could really understand her. She was like her older sister. Always there for her.

"What's wrong? Mikan, are you hurt?" Mikan froze and turned around. Hazel met crimson. Natsume walked forward with a worried expression on his face. Mikan quickly wiped her tears and gave him a big smile.

"No..I'm okay. I just fell from a lower branch on a tree. Thank god Hotaru was there to help me." Hotaru rolled her eyes, thankfully not being seen by Natsume.

"Uh huh." Natsume nodded, unconvinced. He had never seen Mikan cry that much, ever! Mikan grinned again, hoping to deter Natsume from finding out the truth.

"Oi, Natsume! Where are you?" Ruka's voice called out from the school. Hotaru quickly scurried off, dragging Mikan, as if her feet were set on fire.

"Wait, Hotaru! Where are we going? HOTARUUUUU!" Mikan yelled as her friend dragged her into the dorms. Mikan stared at her friend who was writing down ideas for a new invention.

"Ruka alerter." Hotaru murmured. Mikan walked over and glanced at the diagrams.

"What did you say?"

Silence.

"Oi, Hotaru!" she called louder. BAM! Mikan flew across the hall and collapsed in a heap. "WHAT WAS THAT FOR?"

"For being annoying." Hotaru blew smoke off of her Baka gun.

"Meanie!" Mikan yelled, but Hotaru wasn't listening. She quickly walked into her lab and shut the door. Mikan grumbled and left towards her own room. Once there, she kicked off her shoes and collapsed on the bed. 'I never knew training was going to be this hard!' Mikan settled into her bed and fell into a deep sleep.

(Time Skip)

"Get up Mikan. NOW." The girl sat straight up in her bed and groaned once she saw Persona standing near the window.

"Why?" she mumbled, half-asleep. "It's only 12:00?"

"Because it's time for your first mission with Natsume. Your mask is sitting on the desk. Put it on and follow me." And with that, Persona jumped out of the window. Mikan sighed, slipped out of bed and walked over to her desk. Laying on her desk was a mask. It was black with white Sakura petals on the left cheek side. (Hopefully that makes sense. I'm not good with descrpitions. ;D)

Mikan placed the mask on her face, changed into her uniform, and jumped out of the window after Persona. Weeks of training with him had made her ready. 'And I'm not going to fail.' she thought as she ran into the night.

Natusme grunted and kicked a pile of twigs, scattering them across the clearing. 'What the hell could be taking Persona that long? I still need to talk to him about Mikan. He said that he was going to go get someone else..'

(FLASHBACK)

Natsume walked into the clearing and noticed Persona standing in the shadows that the trees created.

"Well, I'm here now. What's my mission?" he asked disinterestedly. Persona smirked.

"Just wait Natsume. I still need to get your partner. She will be helping you in your missions from now on." He walked out, leaving a very pissed Natsume clenching his fists in the darkness.

'Whoever this chick is, it better not be Mikan.'

(END OF FLASHBACK)

Mikan quickened her pace to keep up with Persona. She noticed Natsume waiting in the clearing just ahead of them. He hadn't noticed the two yet. Well, that would be better. Since Mikan had to act all cold in front of him. 'No emotions.' she reminded herself as Persona motioned for her to step into the clearing. Mikan put her foot forward and found herself face to face with Natsume. But, he looked different with his mask on. Colder, scarier, and more focused.

'Well,' she thought, a smirk forming at the corners of her lips. 'Let the games, begin.' Natusme looked at the girl disapprovingly. He turned to Persona.

"Who the hell is this girl?" Mikan glared at him and Persona smirked, again.

"She, Kuro-neko, is your accomplice in your missions. Why don't you introduce yourself?" Mikan stepped forward. Time to put her coldness into action.

"Names are not needed. I have the ESC alice. If you don't know what that is, which is quite disappointing if I do say so myself, it means Erase, Steal, and Copy." Natsume raised his eyebrows. "So don't mess with me unless you want to get hurt." She nodded and stepped back again. The team turned to Persona.

"Your mission is to breach the Anti-Alice Organization (I couldn't think of anything better. ;D) and delete their top two most important files from the database. They are labeled AANESC and IOMS*. But I must warn you now," Persona started, smirking, "all the guards have Alices. Don't take this mission lightly." Natsume and Mikan bowed and left Persona in the clearing.

They walked in silence. Mikan dared not say a word out of fear of revealing her true identity to Natume. About half-an-hour later, after covering 4 miles of land, they came upon an extra large tree. Both of them paused in front of it, not speaking. Mikan noticed a small camera, swooping overhead and pulled herself and Natume to the side, just as it scanned the area they had been standing not a second ago. Natsume looked at Mikan with anger and was about to shoot back a snide comment when five guards came out for patrol.

"It's showtime." Mikan mouthed, and off they went.

Phew! Longest chapter I have ever written! Please review and tell me if my work was worth the effort.

Arigatou!