this chapter...well, what can i say? natsume and mikan go to school. but, you dont really see much of them. sorry for that. and sorry for the late post. its been writen for a while, i just havent had the time to type it latley. well, on with chapter 8.

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Gakuen Alice.

The Circumstances of Life

Chapter 8

When I woke up that morning, my body ached with muscle pain. I had barely gotten any sleep the night before. I was too busy working on organizing the storage rooms for Master Imai's inventions to even use the bathroom. It's no wonder I doze in class all the time.

As usual, during breakfast I studied to books on nanotechnology Master had given me so that I could assist her in her invention process. It could be bothersome at times, but also rather rewarding in its own way. That was why I was there, after all. I looked up when the door squeaked open. In walked a boy and girl wearing the Academy uniform. The guy had abandoned his jacket, rolled up his sleeves, lose tie, a couple unbuttoned buttons, thick-rimed glasses, and black hair and eyes. The girl had the same black eyes and hair, a neat and correctly worn uniform, and thigh high, thick, black socks. I recognized them as the people called Natsume and Mikan. Of course, they probably had false names as well, knowing Master. After all, they were in hiding. At least…I think they were. Ok, ok. Now I was getting distracted. I turned back to my books.

Not long after the two new residents sat down, Tsubasa came in with his usual hat, lose tie, and unbuttoned jacket, looking sore and uncomfortable. He was probably up all night, too. You could also throw in the fact that it was a pretty cool night. Even if he did manage to get to sleep, it probably wasn't very enjoyably.

After breakfast, I was first out the door. I headed over to the cage with my rabbit in it. After opening the cage and feeding my rabbit, I lifted it up into my arms. They didn't allow pets in school, but for some reason they didn't mind me taking my rabbit. Weird, huh? It was probably Master Imai. Of coarse, why she would do it was beyond me.

Cradling my rabbit with one arm, I hoisted my backpack over my shoulder with the other. After biding my quick farewells, I walked to school. I wasn't very far, and I would be there early. I wanted to study for the history test I was having that day. Seeing as how I'd been asleep the last few classes, it was a miracle I even knew one was coming. I had Master Imai to thank for that.

After reaching my classroom, I engrossed myself in my studies until the homeroom teacher came into the room, calling for everyone's attention. There were quiet, excited murmurs when he told the class we had two new students that day.

"Let me introduce to you Natsume and Yukiaoi Hyuuga," the teacher announced as Natsume and Mikan entered the room. Mikan looked flustered and embarrassed while Natsume appeared cool and collected, "They transferred her due to family problems. Please take care of them."

The two were ushered to two empty seats toward the back of the classroom. The whispers increased as they walked past the rows of desks to their places. There were a couple squeals from the girls in our class that seemed to annoy Natsume and bother Mikan. She grabbed his hand and squeezed.

After they sat down, I noticed a neatly folded piece of pastel paper on the notes I had been revising. It had my name on it in neat, even cursive scribbled over the side facing me. My rabbit began to nibble at the corner. I pulled the note out of its mouth and unfolded it.

We need to talk. Meet me on the roof during lunch.

-H. Imai

Glancing behind me, my eyes met the deep magenta orbs of my master. I wondered what was so important that it couldn't wait until after school. She usually ignored me during the day. Her eyes narrowed and threw a crumpled paper ball at my head; I flattened it out and discovered three words in the same slanted writing as the last note.

Stop staring, baka.

I blinked before blushing furiously before crumpling the note back up, shoving it into my pocket. When had she written that?

After failing miserably on the History quiz and successfully dozing off during math only to be brutally woken up during science two periods later, therefore receiving yet another detention, it was lunch time. I fed my rabbit and went down to the cafeteria. I bought a sandwich for myself and headed up to the roof. The door was usually locked with a sign that read 'Students prohibited' on it. The door was unlocked, so I clicked it open and stepped out onto the gravel covering the floor of the roof.

As soon as I was through the door, something collided with the side of my face. Hard. I fell on the ground and slid across the gravel a little, "You fell asleep again. Now I'm going to have to stay up and wait for you before I can work. I hope you know you'll be cleaning all night again."

"Sorry," I apologized as I rubbed my sore cheek. It's not like she ever waited for me to get there before she started working, anyway. Why was she so upset? I wanted to point it out, but its best not to anger Master. She has pictures of me that make me wonder why I gave her the chance to take them in the first place, "So, what did you wish to see me about?"

Master sighed placed the contraption she used to hit me back in her bag and pulled out a brown paper envelope instead. She loved using those things. My master handed it to me and said, "I figured you might find this interesting."

I opened the envelope and glanced at the content. Inside was a thick stack of papers. I'd look over them during class, "I noticed you got a letter from The Master," I looked up and she stiffened, "Is he coming home soon?"

"Yes," Master looked away, her cheeks slightly pink. She must have been really happy to receive the letter. No wonder she'd been using cleaning as a punishment lately.

I placed the paper envelope down beside me on the hard, uneven ground. My pet rabbit jumped on it, "When is he arriving?"

"Tomorrow."

"What?!" I could just tell I'd be worked to the bone all night to prepare for his arrival; Tsubasa, too, probably.

"Now hurry up and eat already. Lunch is almost over," Master then spun on her heal and walked down the steps back to the classroom.

I glanced at my watch. Crap. There was only a minute left before lunch ended. Why were lunch breaks so short here?! I jammed my sandwich into my mouth as I dashed down the stairs back to the classroom.

When I got there, I saw Master already sitting at her desk, not showing any sign of having rushed. In fact, she was involved in a deep conversation with Anna and Nonoko, toe two students besides Master that had privilege to the Science Department. The 'Department was one of the most high-tech and well researched facilities for experimentation in the country; only the top scientists were allowed in. It was a great privilege and honor to be allowed to use it.

I made my way to my seat and placed my rabbit down along with the envelope Master gave me on my desk. I stared at it for a while and opened it after the second bell rang and class began.

As the teacher droned on about something unimportant, I glanced over the handwritten note paper clipped to the front of the stack of paper.

I researched on the matter regarding our guests and found something interesting. I thought you'd like to know. I also managed to pry some information regarding what happened to the girl this morning from the cat. I recorded it and typed it up for you and Tsubasa. Please don't scream too loud when you read this.

-H. Imai

How'd she manage to type all this in one morning? She really was amazing. I pulled the note away and slipped it back into the envelope. On the top page of the stack, Natsume's, or at least I presume its his, story began.

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well, how was it? review, please. and im going to japan later this week, i wont be posting for at least two weeks. dont expect anything before the 23rd of this month. thank you!