"Author's" note: So sorry!! I know I'm terribly late (it's a Saturday  )and I didn't update last week. (Pouts guiltily) I did say I would update on my Birthday. But it was way too fast. I couldn't come up with this chapter in 2 days, could I? Haha. Anyway, the usual thanks for review and support. Happy reading!

Disclaimer: I don't own Gakuen Alice and it's a fact.

Chapter 10 – Kisses

"Did you hear?"

"Of course, I did. The small boy, he's suppose to be Hyuga's new ace, isn't he?"

"The destined heir,"

"But I heard the elders have no mercy when it comes to conducting the test for a worthy successor of the ace,"

"And there is still competition from other families,"

"Ahhh…but he is most likely to get it, after all, he is the only one so far who possesses the flame Alice. He has the edge over everyone."

"Shh…here they come,"

The hall ceased of murmurs and whispers as two figures strolled into the hall, a young charming lad clad in exquisite clothes and a fine elegant lady dressed in white. The boy though young had already shed his childish look to replace with a more mature and emotionless look. His hand was placed in the care of his mother as they threaded on the soft red carpet.

The lady stood by him, tall and proud, striding long steps such that the child had to quicken his pace to match hers. But each step she took was placed with much grace, unique only to her. The female vampires huffed with jealously as they watched her loose dress swept after her. Ryona Hyuga, current Ace of the Hyuga clan. On her face was the same stoic stare as her son, with features stunningly beautiful even within the vampire community. Her mark unmistakably blazed in a ring around her arm - an amour surrounded in flames. Together, both mother and son looked perfect as they briskly past the bowed figures.

Once out of the door, Ryona firmly held her son's hand, leading them towards an isolated area, where they could be alone. Ascertained they were not being watched, Ryona sagged against the wall, her back hunched slightly, exhausted by the events. Whatever performance they had put up, it was merely a façade.

Her lips pursed, pressed firmly into a thin line. She still had not informed her husband and the elders of her pregnancy. It had been hard to hide it from them, but she will as long as she can, for the sake of this child. It was best they did not know of it until the competition was over. She patted her stomach contentedly, but glanced at her other child regretfully. She could however do nothing for the child. He would have to go for the competition and she was definitely displeased with it, having had a taste of it herself. She wished not for her child to be like her, but even the ace had not much power to oppose the elders. Besides, Nii-san, the king, second in the clan had agreed that Natsume would compete, dashing her last hope of getting the child out of this predicament.

She muttered incorrigibly under her breath, wondering fervently whether it was because he had lost to her in the previous competition. What pettiness! But she would not badmouth her husband, though thoroughly unappeased by him. Did he not understand what the child will be going through? Had he no heart to involve his own flesh and blood in vampire politics? Foolish man! Stupid Nii-san!

Natsume was now fidgeting uncomfortably. His emotions were practically spilling over. He had obviously heard what those T10s were saying before they entered and was greatly disturbed. All the talk about the competition was making him nervous and unsettled. In the first place, he had absolutely no idea what to make of it. No one would tell him anything, no one seems to care about his feelings. What's more, his own mother was showing signs of anger, which he promptly deduced was because of him. His own father had "abandoned" him, leaving him to the mercy of the elders.

It was all too much for a child as young as him, regardless of his maturity, to handle emotionally. The only thing he knew was that his future would be paved with thorns, jutting out, scaring him as he passed, but that will not deter him.

Two hands covered his ears as the soft lips of his mother brushed across his cheeks, planting a chaste kiss on the poor confused child.

"Ka-san," he whined in protest, avoiding his mother's face out of embarrassment. He was still not used to the sudden affection his mother showed him now and then. Ryona released the child, merely chuckling at the blush her son harbored. A smile etched across her face as she cheekily teased the child.

"Ahh…Natsume's blushing,"

The young boy scowled, obviously disgruntled by his mother's actions. His mother smirked, ruffling that heredity raven hair of his. Perhaps she could do something for him even at the cost of her life. Turning her tone to a more solemn one, Ryona lowered herself to her son's level, her hands clasped over his ears for a second time.

"Natsume,"

The boy tensed, sensing the seriousness behind it.

"Hear not of their foolishness, son. Follow your own beliefs, have faith in your abilities. The future is yours to create, so walk down the road you pave. I will always be there for you"

Natsume nodded obediently. His face still shielded from his mother, hiding the stray tear of relief that rolled down his cheeks. Someone did care. He felt his mother's lips on his cheek again and the soft murmur that followed after.

"I love you, Natsume."

"Liar…" his voice murmured.

Ruby eyes flung open as footsteps approached the Sakura tree. His mood darkened considerably. 'Ruka' he groaned inwardly. This wasn't exactly the way he wanted to meet his best friend, but he knew it would come – the confrontation. It was just a matter of timing. Reluctantly, he slipped off the branch, landing gracefully at the balls of his feet before the blonde male.

"Why did you make her your slave, Natsume? You of all people should know the odds of it. This isn't the particular situation to take up a slave too. If you had wanted blood the others could provide for you, so why?"

Natsume did not reply. He too had no idea why he had taken that little girl as a slave. Perhaps it was the craving for her blood, the desire that he had not felt for a long time. He just allowed himself a moment of weakness and the whole world has changed. Damn! He wasn't able to finish the job either thanks to a certain blonde who had thankfully interrupted him, causing a whole lot of trouble for him.

Seeing that his best friend don't intent to answer, Ruka spoke on.

"Natsume, she has nothing to do with this. Do not complicate her with our affairs. There are many out to get her. She would become your weakness. You cannot do this to her," Ruka paused, waiting for his friend to speak, but once again Natsume disappointed him.

"The elders will not overlook it, Natsume. They are waiting to exploit you. All the resistance you have put up, is it for nothing? What will you do? Pretend it never happened? Even if you did order the erase of her memory, she will still be in danger. "

Ruka eyed Natsume, searching for an answer, but still the raven-hair lord refused to voice out. Misinterpreting his silence, Ruka narrowed his eyes.

"Are you going to kill her? Imai will kill you regardless of your status. I will protect her even from you if…"

"Ruka, I plan to keep it a secret,"

Ruka looked thoughtful for a moment. His mouth shaped in an 'o', before coming back in a softer tone.

"Can you?"

There was an awkward silence for a brief second.

"Have some faith in me, Ruka"

Natsume hissed so low in a mocking tone that Ruka almost missed it. Ruka smiled. His reply still hanging in the air as Natsume stalked away quietly.

"So be it."

Natsume will solve the problem by himself. He hoped so secretly.

o.O.o.O.o

Ahh…It's back, this dream…how familiar, how antagonising. The pain, threatening to rip me apart as it course through my body like a serpent. Heat radiated from my body, intensifying each time I move. I bit back my tongue, muffling a scream. It hurts. It really hurts. Tears squeeze past the lids of my eyes, dripping into the darkness that surrounded me. Once more, my hand inched towards my neck. The mark was there. A certain emotion seemed to grip me. Wait…there's a dim light. O…it's just my eyes opening. Huh? What is that?

I tumbled out of bed, landing with a hard thud and my face flat against the ground. Not a pleasant experience since my hand was stretched out in an uncomfortable position as if to gasp an invisible object before me. It was that dream…again, but why can't I recall any of it. I laid there, too lazy to move. My mind throbbed as I tried to recall that mysterious dream.

It wasn't easy though it was the same one that kept repeating for days. It kept slipping from my memory as if forbidding me to know of it. I frowned, frustrated yet curious.

My brain rammed harder against my skull as time ticked by, indicating it needed a break, so I succumbed to its will (if it had one) and resorted to mobbing my tear stained face with my blanket. Somehow, crying has become a trend in my dreams. I would always end up crying for god knows what reasons and I hated it. I had after all promised I would be strong for Ji-Chan (though it had seemed to be a one-side promise). I twisted my body to lie on my back.

I had gotten home pretty late last night. Last night's event was still clearly imprinted in my head. That stupid raven-hair vampire cornered me again, but this time I had his weakness. I beamed. There was nothing to fear. I wouldn't even care if I met him straight in the face. I could just simply use it to escape, but it is best to avoid him. I wouldn't want him to bite me again. My hand roved towards my mark. When will it come off?

I wonder what happened the last time. Why did he not suck me dry? There are so many things I want to know, but my head started to protest again. I sighed, it literally hurts to think.

I trudged towards the toilet, but paused when I saw the clock. I was going to be in the late list again. With one last shriek, I hurriedly got myself dressed for school. Everything was that stupid vampire's fault!

o.O.o.O.o

Mikan groaned. This was too much of a coincidence, fancy meeting the number one person she was deliberately trying to avoid early in the morning. Fate was definitely cruel to toy with her already screwed up life. What could possibly be worse? She really didn't mean it when she said she could meet him in the face. Argh!

There was only one thing to be comforted about though. She knew his "weakness". Worse comes to worse she would just use it to escape, right? Her chin squared and determined. Who was afraid of the big bad vampire? She could get through this easily. Yes. Well…She could…Her courage had started to fade at a rapid rate.

On the other hand, a very surprised Natsume stood directly opposite of her.

A gust of wind playfully lifted the hem of her skirt, bringing her attention back to the vampire.

"Neko, eh…" he cocked a brow, grimly amused. The familiar trademark smirk was poised on that gorgeous face of his.

"Pervert," Mikan screeched back, her hands automatically at her skirt. She somehow got a feeling that the small "breeze" was manmade. But besides that, there was something different about the vampire today.

He was handsome, Mikan admit, far too handsome with such god-like features that couldn't have even existed. Then again, vampires should not even be on this face of the earth, but right in front of her was one.

The sun rays shone directly above him, highlighting his unruly raven hair, which framed his fair face with remarkable contrast. The light breeze fluttered past playfully, teasing his hair, rustling it ever so slightly. He doesn't seem affected when he stood out in the sun, opposing Stoker's theory. He was comfortable with it. Two bemused ruby eyes pierced through her as if reading her thoughts. He flashed a smile, exposing a pair of wolf-like canines. They were strangely larger than before to her, but that was beside the point.

'He is a perfect being,' she thought, though only in terms of appearance. His beauty was one that was incomparable to any other. But well, reality beats the imagination out of you, his personality is crap, there is no way for him to be prince charming. She glanced at him again, but could only perceive a faint outline.

In a flash of a second, Natsume was behind her, his breath tingling against her skin. He was much faster and for a moment, Mikan felt a wave of panic course through her.

"Like what you see?"

Mikan shuddered.

"No," she lied confidently, feeling outrageously bold, even when he was a hair strand away behind her. Her voice however trembled slightly, portraying her fear. In a fleet moment, she swung around to face him with both hands over his ears, slightly relieved and surprised to find that she had not been stopped. As expected, the unavoidable red flushed across his cheekbones, but what was different this time was that he had not turned away. Instead, his gaze still lingered on her, his smirk even more arrogant than before. This was not good. She gulped, she was in big trouble. Her traitorous legs would not move.

"You own me twice, kitty," his voice purred seductively as he lowered his head to her shoulder, disposing of the plaster that concealed his mark. He brought her closer, nuzzling the spot where he had bitten. His teeth gazing pass the spot affectionately, but froze as bitter realization struck him. His lifted his head, face in agony, but quickly masked it. Her blood was singing out to him.

"I…I will scream…"

With a blink of an eye, Mikan felt herself being released and the vampire a good measure of distance from her. Natsume snorted, composing himself. He was hungry, but the brunette was right. There were many looking even if it was a deserted part of the school.

"Why did you come here for, polka-dots,"

He needed her to leave. Partly because he wasn't sure how well his self control is, but mostly because she was in his spot. Over the months, He had grown exceedingly fond of this spot. After all, it had been quite a spot considering that no one ever comes here to bother him though there were occasionally "truth or dare" people whom he had expertly scared away.

"This isn't your spot! Anyone can come here!" the brunette pouted.

"Well, it is, so back off,"

"No, it isn't"

"It is,"

"You have no authority to mark it yours,"

Natsume raised a brow in amusement, appearing right behind Mikan again.

"Oh, is that so,"

"Get away from me,"

Mikan flung her hands back, but foolishly tackled the air instead.

"Remember your maid duties, polka dot. Today, after school at my place. You can try finding a job if you want, but you won't get it."

He grinned haughtily as he saw the brunette's head swung up towards the Sakura tree, her glare defiantly meeting his.

"I won't go,"

Natsume shrugged.

This was taking too long. His body was beginning to take its toll, but it didn't really bother him.

His mouth curved into an impish smile as an idea struck him. In a swift motion, he swung down from the tree, landing gracefully at the balls of his feet before the startled figure.

His finger traced the side of her face.

"I can make you,"

"No, you can't!"

Mikan started, but before she could utter another word, she felt a pair of lips crushed hers. Heat rose to her cheeks as she felt a burning sensation rippled through her entire being. Her hands felt like jelly, refusing to obey the commands of her mind. She could not push him away, instead to her embarrassment; she clung onto his shirt for support. Her knees were wobbling and threatening to buckle. It was brief, but enough to shock the brunette.

"So this is how kiss feel like," he muttered softly under his breath. A hand held his chin as he thought.

"You still own me another, Polka-dots,"

Mikan stood stunned. Her first kiss…was stolen just like that, by a bloody vampire.

"NATSUME!!!YOU BAKA!!!!"

A loud screech traveled throughout the whole school. With that, a very pissed brunette stomped away, leaving a very amused Natsume.

Natsume sagged against the tree, his fingers pressed against his lips. Somehow he had forgotten to do something important. His vision strayed to the plaster on the floor…

o.O.o.O.o

Mikan stormed her way to class. Stupid Hyuga, stupid Hyuga! Why did he go and do that?! As she turned towards a corner, she felt a hand clammed over her mouth and the taste of leather. A strong force tugged at her arm, pulling her into the dark room…

Ending note: CLIFFHANGER! It's been a long time since I had one. Ahahah..