"Author's" note: Yipee! Done with chapter three. Finally. (Gives an exasperated sigh.) Reading back my chapters were fun, but tedious. Often times I found myself deviating to other stories instead. (Guilty looks). However, I managed to fully edit this over a large span of time. :D Most of it is unchanged, but I did tweak a little here and there. Once again, many thanks to all for enduring the long wait. :D Happy reading!
Disclaimer: I don't own Gakuen Alice and it's a fact.
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Chapter 3 – First impressions
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In history (though never stated), there had been a point of time that vampires were known to exist. Humans had despised them then, violently opposing to live harmoniously together with the vampires. There were plenty of name callings on either side. However, they persist to coexist in tolerance for the other species.
The humans separated themselves physically from vampires with stone walls, metal gates and all other materials available. The vampires, on the hand scoffed at the humans for being useless and unreasonable, regarding them as lower beings, but nevertheless they kept their distance. They built their own settlement far away from the humans, surviving on their own resources.
Vicious, nasty rumours were spread about the other species though it was never proven that they even existed, but there were some that were rather intriguing. From the vampires, there came the rumours and bedtime stories that humans were ugly brutes with no gender at all. They had skin of bright lime green and often turn out as the bad guy in a fairytale. Meanwhile on the other side, vampires were said to be large huge bats with hairy wings that would catch mischievous children who disobeyed their mothers, but of course, neither one of them have ever been proven true. In fact to each of the sides, the other species seemed like some legendary creature. Though measure had been taken for the two species to not meet, none of the sides could stop the brave and the bold from venturing out to discover these "unique" creatures. Forlornly, those who went, never return.
It was peaceful till a certain event which sparked a great war, the forgotten war between vampires and humans for a hidden motive, for a single item. Initially, it was domination and annihilation by the Vampires. The vampires had easily overridden the humans with great strength though small in numbers. They easily conquered lands and killed by the dozens. The tide turned eventually, against the vampires as the humans discovered means to destroy vampires in the form of fire and Alice. The damage on both sides was henceforth heavy. The war lasted generations after generations of humans till the descendents did not know whatever they were fighting for. Eventually, the cause of the war disappeared amongst the chaos, never to be seen again and hidden from both humans and vampires.
o.O.o.O.o
Violet observant eyes fixed its sight on the raven hair vampire who had just entered the classroom. Immediately, the noise ceased into a pin drop silence as the vampire walked down the aisle. A few respectful nods were directed at him, but he paid no attention to any. Soft squeals from his fans merely annoyed him.
Only giving recognition to his best friend and an inventor, he slumped down onto his usual seat and pulled out a comic just for the sole purpose of blocking out the lights. With both legs propped up on the table, Natsume proceeded to do a balancing act on only two legs of the chair (imagine him doing that...).
After a long while, the crowd seems to have gained back its confidence, starting out as soft whispers. The noise slowly, but eventually escalated as time ticks by, though it still remained at an acceptable level. After all, it doesn't do you good to offend a Hyūga whether you are human or vampire.
The inventor switched her attention back to her newest model. She had to get it ready before she comes or else the result would be chaotic. Although her nimble hands were working on the weapon, her mind could not help but wonder off.
It was considered typical of her distant cousin to turn up at the classroom when half the lessons had already flown past, but abnormal for him to come in during Narumi's lesson and he was a few minutes early too. How very queer indeed.
Putting the screwdriver she was holding down, she shot a threatening look at a certain blonde head sitting right next to her cousin, but received no other information other than the stiffening of his body and a shrug. It appears that none of them knew what was happening. Oh, what the heck, it was not really her business to poke into other people's affair. Wait, Imai Hotaru poking into other people's affair? That is just not right. She must be spending too much time with a certain annoying baka. With that last thought, she grabbed her screwdriver and burrowed her head into the machine again.
At the back of the classroom, the blonde head relaxed slightly upon noticing that Hotaru had returned to "work". For whom, that gun was for, he did not want to know. Stealing a glance at his best friend, he couldn't help but noticed how pale he was. Even if vampires are naturally born paler than humans, they couldn't be that pale. Why? He pondered, but immediately got his answer. It was probably because he had no slave. Signing, another "why?" popped up in his train of thoughts. He could only guess the numerous reasons behind it since there is no use forcing it out of his best friend.
"Narumi's coming…and he got a real cutie too!" Kokoro, the mind reader picked out from one of the informers, but immediately regretted his actions for the next thing he knew, he was bombarded with questions.
A clearing of throat cleared the mob to Kokoro's relief as their blonde hair teacher stood at the front with his familiar idiotic grin.
"Now, class we have a new student with us today, so I want you to behave and show her the goodness of our school. (Narumi's eyes sparkled at this) You have to uphold the school values and missions. As you know, our school has very high hopes for all of you. For in a few months time, you would be the ones leading the school...blah and blah and blah... (Half the class is dozing off) You people, being so intelligent gifted and..."
"Cut the crap, just show her in," a voice boldly interrupted the teacher, snatching the whole class back from sleep. Narumi frowned; feigning hurt, but went out of the classroom nevertheless to the class's delight. He came back (to their dismay), however, with a brunette.
The class observed the new student with interest as she entered the classroom (well, with the exception of some people, namely our dear Kuro Neko). She was definitely not pretty considering the high standards of the boys, not a stuck up as she just doesn't have a face, not a goody two shoes considering how late she was and definitely not a nerd as her nose was missing of a certain metal tool. What is she then? There is no category that suits her here.
The newcomer took in a dramatic breath, before smiling goofily at her "audience".
"Everybody, this is Mikan" Narumi prompted kindly, receiving a nod from the brunette.
"Hi everybody, my name is Sakura Mikan. Please to meet your acquaintance," Mikan introduced herself and bowed deeply. As she rose, she was puzzled to see why everyone was glaring at a certain guy.
o.O.o.O.o
Kokoro laughed nervously as he read some of his classmate's dark thoughts. Unfortunately, none of them were complimentary. One that includes, "Koko, she is so not hot!" another went, "What the hell, she's a goody two shoes! Well...not exactly...but see that skirt?" Raising his hand, he requested to visit the washroom before he was officially roasted by their glares.
o.O.o.O.o
"Well, your seat is there, Mikan. If you need anything (pulls the poor weeping Fukutan aka relief teacher in) ask him. I have more important things to do, so...Ja ne!" Narumi bade his goddaughter goodbye before exiting the room gaily.
As soon as their form teacher "ceased to exist", a switch seems to have been pressed for noise immediately erupted from the untamed class. Female students strutted about the class, chattering and gossiping without a care for the pathetic teacher stoning in front. Mysterious paper aeroplanes shot out from all directions, zooming past everyone as if the class was an obstacle course. The most astonishing thing of all was that everyone was doing what they like.
Mikan gaped in wonder. It made no sense that this could even be a classroom. Wasn't a classroom suppose to be full of goody two shoes, full of stuck ups and jerks? Nimbly avoiding the aeroplanes, Mikan squirmed her way down the aisle to her seat. She blinked perplexedly at the scene unfolding before her. Loneliness crept in on her as she glanced around. For the first time, she unexpectedly felt rather vulnerable without the "protection" of her godfather, that was, until she spotted another person.
"Hotaru!" the brunette exclaimed, charging towards her best friend despite the several shock faces that the ice queen actually have a friend.
The ice queen narrowed her eyes as she spied the brunette heading for her. Clicking in the last screw, she aimed the gun directly at the brunette's forehead. Her finger placed on the trigger, ready to make the simple effort of pushing it to eliminate the threat. What happen next was inevitable as the ice queen never misses (due to the many practices she had with Mikan).
The class paused what they were doing, some due to the gust of wind that had rushed past them, others due to the commotion caused. All of them, however, winced as they watched the impact that had sent the newcomer sprawling on the floor. This kicked off roars of laughter from most of the class. It was definitely not everyday that they get to see something so amusing as this. The newcomer was certainly interesting.
Ruka turned away, refusing to watch the violent scene. Now that he knew what the gun was used for, he seriously pitied the girl.
"Itai!" Mikan groaned as she gathered herself up. She was used to this already, so she saw no reason why she should even avoid it except this time it was exceptionally painful. 'Hotaru must have upgraded it to welcome me' she mused happily, massaging the sore spots. It hurts alright...
An unanticipated hand reached out before her. Mikan beamed, grabbing it without hesitation. Looking at the helper, she saw a kind bespectacled face though missing out the tinge of red that flushed across his cheekbones.
"Are you okay?" the helper asked, his chestnut coloured eyebrows furrowed in worry. Mikan smiled warmly, nodding her head as the boy pulled her to her feet.
"I'm Yuu, erm, I mean...erm, Tobita Yuu. Nice to meet you...I'm the class president," Yuu struggled with his words as he hastily withdrew his hand. He played with his spectacles nervously, moving it up and down the bridge of his nose. You can't blame the guy though since this was the first time he introduced himself to a girl.
"Nice to meet you, Tobita-kun" Mikan replied with ease and suddenly Yuu was sent pondering on how ironic it was that this girl was friends with the inventor. But before Yuu could say anything more, a comic book hit specifically on its victim's forehead. Once again, we see the brunette collapsed (butt first) onto the floor.
"Too noisy, polka dots," a calm voice resounded above the noise, immediately taming the class. All eyes darted to their "prince" in respectful silence. None dared to utter a word, except for a low moan at the end of the room.
Mikan sighed, "Who was it this time?" Rubbing her forehead vigorously, she struggled once more to her feet. She has been "unexplainably" bruised all over today. Suddenly aware of her surroundings, she scanned the room to find that Yuu had backed away from her as if she was some kind of disease. She was even more surprised to find it awkwardly silent. A line of space seemed to stare back at her, giving her the prefect view of...
"You! Y..you! Why are you here?" she exploded, softly jabbering vulgarities under her breath. Her trembling finger pointed in the direction of an all too familiar face. Unfortunately for Mikan, all of the vampires in the room could hear her colourful vocabulary so clearly, such that, Mikan soon found herself being lifted by an invisible force.
Hotaru sighed. Of all the people in the world, why did she have to get involved with her cousin? Somehow her best friend had a knack of asking for trouble, but that was probably one of those "few" reasons why the inventor was attracted to her. Getting up from her comfortable seat, she blended with the crowd for a better view.
"How dare you curse Hyūga-sama! You shall be punished for your insolent behaviour!" a girl screeched furiously, her voice piercing both human and vampire ears causing all to cringe. The screeching girl stepped out gallantly, glaring daggers at Mikan. Her prominent curly green hair stood out terribly, just like the person itself.
"Hyūga-sama," she called the endeared name out as if the name itself was worth millions.
At this, Mikan rolled her eyes. Why in the world does Permy call the pervert called "sama"? (When one is called sama, it would mean that the person is above the caller in the social hierarchy)
Natsume rose elegantly from his seat as if responding to her call. His face betrayed no emotion as he walked towards the seaweed hair girl.
An unmistakably smirk attached itself to the Permy's face as she watched "her" prince coming towards her. Her heart thumped faster with every step he took. Was this it, the fruit of all her efforts to charm him after all the bitterness? Was this the end of her misery? And lastly was her hair in a mess? She could not help but wonder. Both hands instantly shot up to smooth the already uneven hair. As she was combing through her hair with her hands, she finally noticed that the prince had already walked past her. Her jaw dropped literally as if inviting the flies to make themselves comfortable. This was the hundredth time she was rejected.
Bending down, Natsume retrieved the comic he had just thrown, pausing to examine the damage done. Satisfied that his comic book was fine, he headed towards the door.
"Ruka, lets go," his deep matured voice sounded once more.
Ruka snapped out of his daze and hurriedly made his way past the crowd and out the door where Natsume had just left.
Mikan frowned.
"I wonder what his problem was? He really has a serious attitude problem. He should really try something else other than remain emotionless all the time," Kokoro smirked as he read out the brunette's thoughts. Glares shot from all directions towards her.
"I can read your mind, Mikan-chan," Kokoro grinned, playfully displaying a peace sigh to her.
Mikan's eyes widen in horror as she found herself being lifted higher and higher. Her back was pressed against the wall by an invisible force.
"Okay people, five points for the legs, twenty for the body and fifty for the legs!" a voice cried out from the crowd gathering around Mikan.
Immediately, all types of stationeries flew at her, each jabbing and bruising her skin. Mikan grimaced, desperately trying to shield her face with both hands. This was not what she had expected for on first day of school. Screams and shouts of joy and exhilaration filled the air, amongst it was Yū's voice as he tried desperately to command the class to stop, but apparently none of his antics were working. Squeezing the shutters of her eyes close, Mikan hoped for a sudden miracle to happen...
A loud bang boomed and a shriek answered her prayers as something or someone crashed into the wall. Mikan swore she heard Hotaru speaking with a frightening authority in her voice: "No one tortures Mikan Sakura except me."
At once, the throwing stopped, but Mikan suddenly felt herself being pulled down by gravity. Before Mikan could even figure out what was going on, she slammed into something soft. Namely...a certain teacher who loves toads and produces electric charges as he pleases.
For the fourth time of the day, Mikan groaned as she discovered who she had conveniently landed on - Jinno-sensei.
"What is happening here?" the teacher exploded, glancing menacingly in sequence at Hotaru who was holding the baka gun, Mochiage (the one with the flying alice) who was still embedded in the wall, Shouda Sumire who shrieked and lastly the new student, whose name was...Mikan Sakura.
"Who started it?" his voice shook threateningly.
All eyes turned to the newcomer, but none pointed the finger. Getting the message, Jinno placed his terrifying glare on the small figure before him - the problem and the cause of his now aching back.
"CLEANING, Sakura and no help," the fearsome teacher towered over the poor girl, leaving the girl no room for explanations, "and get back to your seats or you will get it from me!" The teacher shook his fist at the students who lazily returned to their seats. A croak from his favourite pet did not help ease the tension hanging stubbornly in the air.
Gulping down saliva, Mikan proceed to her seat, watching as the others got away Scot free, while she shouldered all of the blame.
Jinno walked to the teacher's table as if nothing has happened and resumed lessons, though particularly picking on the new student.
The rest of the day whisked past before Mikan, with lots of dislike and glares from her classmates, but other than that she got by. In her mind, she fumed over the cause of her problems – that arrogant guy called Hyuga. It was entirely his fault...well, maybe partly hers, but still his fault...He will certainly be in her list of those who pays for angering Mikan Sakura.
o.O.o.O.o
Natsume walked into the principal's office with ease despite the protest of the secretary. She was wringing her arms to no avail as Natsume barged into the office. The principal closed a file calmly, putting away out of sight. He appeared unsurprised and kindly waved the traumatized secretary away.
"New secretary? It seems we are getting too many new arrivals recently," Natsume said dryly and settled unceremoniously on a chair.
"Ahhh…so you're mad." The principal stated matter-of-factly.
"Evidently." Natsume quipped, "Who is she?" His voice lowered into a dangerously even tone.
Dark ruby orbs bored into contrasting eyes paling to the gray of artic ice. He was ticked off by the principal's irrational decision to admit a student into the school without mentioning a single word to him. He did have a right to know, as the main shareholder of the school.
The chairman appeared unfazed and impassive, meeting the cold glint in his eyes without much discomfort. Ruka sat behind Natsume quietly in a gentlemanly manner, playing the role of the observer.
"The daughter of a friend of mine," a voice, calm and deep replied him as if used to his tempers. The principal rubbed his temples disturbingly.
"In the year so late? You mock me," Natsume questioned. There was an unmistakably underlying sarcasm to his words.
"Well, there is a need to keep an eye over her and her Alice," once again the voice answered patiently, "she will pose you and your sister no threat."
Natsume narrowed his eyes, regarding the person before him with considerable suspicion. He had yet to test out the girl's Alice, thanks to the fact that the principal had entered her before he could. Sly old fox. His mind replayed in bits and pieces to what Narumi had earlier mentioned. The girl was important huh… For now, he would watch and allow things to play out. However, should there be a threat, he would certainly vanquish her. Instantly.
"I see, forgive my rudeness," Natsume replied icily before rising from the visitor's chair and started for the door.
"No, it is my pleasure to serve you, Hyuga-sama. I was in the wrong for not informing you." The principal stood, bowing as he left.
Natsume made no comment, leaving the room with Ruka trailing behind. Like a storm, Natsume came and went as he pleased. But before Ruka closed the door to the sound-proof room, he distinctively heard the seemingly docile principal said, "Now, this is going to be interesting" with a cheeky grin dancing under his words.
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Ending note: Mmm…I love Hotaru. She is really such a genius. Haha. Reviews are much loved.