hey! Here's chapter 2! It's short I know but the next one's gonna be longer I already have it all typed up. In case you guys haven't noticed, the characters are all kind of OOC. Just a bit.

Disclaimer: I forgot to do this in the previous chapter. There disclaimed. What's the use anyways, we all own nothing but the plot anyways.

RECAP OF PREVIOUS CHAPTER:

"All right, I'll tell you." I perked up at that and he saw it. His famous smirk spread across his face. "But not now." I huffed at him and turned to face away from him. He grinned wide and slung his right arm on my shoulders and pulled me close. I fought hard to hide my blush from him. Not that this isn't usual for us but what he doesn't know is that…

I like him. Very much.

Ever since Aunt Kaoru and mom introduced us back when we were 4 years old.

Up until now that we're 16.

I've liked him all this time.

I've liked him even though he liked a bunch of other girls, I liked him.

But, he never, not once, saw me the same way.

xoxo

What Happened To Us?

Xoxo

"Why can't you tell me NOW?" I whined and pouted at him. He kept his arm around my shoulders and leaned us back against the tree. Because of this, my head was tucked underneath his chin.

"Because."

"Because what?"

"Just because."

"What kind of reason is that?"

"My kind."

"Oh so now your own reasons."

"Yes."

"What the hell Natsume?!"

"Funny, you saying that. I remember how when we first met you chastised me for saying that. "

"Don't bring that up!"

"You started it."

"Yes I know but- Hey. You're trying to change the topic aren't you."

"Damn it. It was going so well too."

"Ha! You can't trick me that easily you know."

"Yes I know."

I sighed and leaned my head underneath his chin again. To any newbie, we might seem like some lovey-dovey couple shit, but no. I mean I've been wishing – DREAMING- about that but, no. The only thing he sees in me is a best friend, confidant, and a nagging mother. And that will probably be the only thing he will ever see in me.

I checked my wrist watch and saw that there was still two more hours before the bell rang. I poked Natsume's chest to get his attention.

"Hey, there's still two more hours. Go get some sleep. You look like a zombie. I'll drop by and wake you up later."

He checked his watch and I heard him mumble a 'really?'. He then stood up and ruffled my hair. "Thanks, I'll go do that. Later." With that, he turned and headed for the dormitories.

I watched his back as he left. I sighed again. I can't help it. Underneath his hoodie were numerous scars. I should know. I've seen them. Some were fromour missions while the other's I don't even know why they're there. And let me tell you, not knowing is killing me.

I leaned my back against the tree again and stretched my legs in front of me, crossing my ankles too. I stared up at the sky and watched the clouds go by. I can't help but think about how much Natsume's gone through, and how for most of those I've been right beside him, experiencing first-hand some of them. I closed my eyes and immersed myself in my thoughts.

Our parents died on the same day. There was a storm then. My parents were due to come back from a business trip abroad then. Never really knew what it was about though. Anyways, that was the day we got hit by the eye of the storm. Their car broke down in the middle of the road and the water level was rising very quickly then. They called Aunt Kaoru asking for help, saying that they were stranded. Aunt Kaoru immediately drove over to them, braving the storm to help mom and dad. I was staying over at their place then, since my parents decided not to bring me along on the trip. Natsume's dad was left to watch over us. Not long after Aunt Kaoru left, we heard screaming from outside. Natsume's dad went out to help whoever was screaming. He told us not to leave the house and not to let anyone in. Not one of them ever walked past the door again. Natsume and I were 9 years old then. Aoi, Natsume's little sister, was 5 then.

That morning, people from the Academy came to pick us up, and one of them was Narumi-sensei. They explained to us that we were Alices and bla bla bla. But the thing that they never knew was, we already knew what we were and what our Alices were. Our parents had explained everything to us in the case that something happened to them. They were training us in our Alices. I had the SCE and Nullification Alice from my mother and father and Natsume and Aoi had the Fire Alice from their father.

Ever since then, we tried our best to take care of Aoi. She was so young when it all happened. Granted we were only 9 but hey, we were older than her still. Natsume took it upon him to act as both father and brother to Aoi. He tried to fill in the gaps Aunt Kaoru left but I stepped in and took it from him. I know Mom and Dad would've wanted me to do that. The three of us were all we had left so we stuck together.

When the time came for us to attend school like all the other Alices, we had to be separated from Aoi, and she was to be placed in 2 grades lower than us. We weren't okay with it but what could we have done? We were still pretty jumpy even though a little over a month had passed then so you couldn't really blame us. Natsume and I were placed in the same class and seated beside each other. Rumors about me had spread, the girl with 2 Alices and, to top it all off, they were very, very rare. Rumors about Natsume and Aoi had spread too, but not like mine.

In the beginning we were cold and shun everyone out. I tried my best to be slightly friendly but it was hard with everything that had just happened. Over time though we made some friends and actually opened up. The Academy is actually a pretty okay place. We had a place to live in, food, friends and we had to worry about practically nothing. The only downside to it all was that we were to be admitted into the Dangerous Abilities Class. We had argued with the higher-ups about Aoi being placed there and bargained with the principal, who just so happened to be my Uncle, I know total 'What the Fuck' moment there. Going on, we argued and debated and fought and stuff for Aoi to not be a part of that. We really didn't know what the Dangerous Ability was but from the name of it we didn't like it. At all. The president, oh good 'Ol Uncle, finally relented but there was a catch; we had to be permanent members of the class (especially me because of my Alices) meaning there is no possible way out of it and we had to on-call for whatever they may need us for 24/7. Touch catches huh?

I opened my eyes and sighed again. We've been through so much and all this time my feelings for him grew to dangerous levels. As smart as Natsume is, he never did notice my feelings. He's dumb that way. Hell, even Koko and Kitsuneme found out before him. Of course Koko hadn't read my mind; I was trained by my mother to always have my Nullification up around myself. That was one of the few things that she and Dad had managed to teach me before their death.

I checked my watch and found that I only had a little over 30 minutes left. I can't believe day dreaming about the past could take up so much time. No wonder it was one of my hobbies.

I stood up and brushed whatever dirt that had stuck to my shorts and walked back to the dorms to wake up Natsume and get ready for another day with Jinno.

-line break-

"I'm so tired!" I cried out as I jumped on the bed. "So soft!" I bunched up the comforter on the bed and cocooned myself in them. Natsume just chuckled and went to the mini kitchen.

"Hey Natsume can you get me some soda?"

"Get your own."

"You meanie." I poked my tongue out at the direction of the kitchen. A few seconds later Natsume peeked through the door and poked his tongue out at me.

I buried my head in his comforter and wrapped it more tightly around me. It was lunch time and we were in his room. The group had wanted to go to Central Town to eat. We had told them we'd follow them after we had picked up Aoi. Ever since we arrived, we made it a point to eat with Aoi. I checked my watch and saw that it was about time that we headed to Aoi's classroom to pick her up and head to lunch. They were understanding of course. After we had discussed where to meet up we had headed our separate ways.

I threw the covers off of me and went to the mini kitchen. A soda came flying my way but I easily caught it. "I washed it already." I went ahead and popped the cap and drank. "Come on, it's about time we went to Aoi's." I turned my back and went to the door.

As we took the familiar route to Aoi's classroom in the elementary division, we were covered by the usual comfortable silence. Even though it had been years since we came to this school, the elementary kids still stare at us whenever we pass by, especially the really young ones. There is this one kid with wild gray hair that keeps following me, my own little stalker. He started all this a week after we started the routine of picking up Aoi every lunch time and up until now. He tries to be discreet but a kid can only achieve so much. Still he's a cute kid and doesn't bother us so I let it be.

We reached Aoi's classroom a few minutes before her teacher dismissed them. As soon as they were allowed to leave kids started rushing out of the classroom. Aoi walked towards us and we left for Central Town.

We had left the building and as we rounded a corner, I saw a group of kids beating up some kid a little ways from us. I saw a glimpse of wild gray hair underneath the arms that desperately covered his head. I headed their way with every intention of stopping. Aoi had tugged on Natsume's sleeve and they stopped to watch.

"Freak!"

"You're such a weird kid!"

"No wonder your mommy left you here!"

As I got closer I heard the kids screaming this at the kid. It fueled my anger and made me walk towards them faster.

A kid had stopped down to get a rock the size of his hand from near his feet. He raised it high above his and I could tell he intended to beat the kid with it.

"You should just-"I grabbed the kid's wrist holding the rock and that had gotten his attention and his friends'.

"Didn't your teachers ever teach you that bullying another was bad?" I said. I glared at them with such intensity that the kid started to grow pale. Probably recognized me as a DA student, we're kind of popular.

"What's it to you?" He struggled against my grip but I only held him tighter. He gritted his teeth and let go off the rock. He had brought up his other hand and started trying to pry my fingers away from his wrist. His friends had stopped kicking at the kid, started to back away a bit and stared. The kid that they were beating up had peeked from beneath his arms.

"Because" I gripped him even tighter and he screamed out. His friends tried to run away but I stopped them using the Shadow Manipulation Alice I had copied from Tsubasa-senpai. "Bullying is bad." I threw the kid towards his friends. I knocked them against each other then they crumbles to the ground.

"If I find out that you kids are doing this again to anyone else I will come back for you." And with that they ran away. I huffed and crouched down to help the kid. "Hey, are you okay?" He nodded at me with his head bowed down, not meeting my eyes.

"You sure?" I inspected his arms that had taken the most damage. He merely nodded again. I looked him over.

"I know you've been following me around you know." He froze up a bit. "Don't worry about it. I don't mind. What's your name?"

"Youichi." He had whispered. I hummed to let him know that I heard him. I stood up and brushed my skirt. "Well Youichi we were just heading to lunch, would you like to come with us?"

He looked behind me to see who 'we' are. I could tell he mulled about it over but he nodded. I helped him stand up and walked him over to Natsume and Aoi.

"He's coming with us to lunch." Natsume had just stared at me and Aoi looked ecstatic to have someone with us for lunch. "I'll pay." I added. Natsume shrugged and ruffled up Youichi's hair.

"What's your name kid?"

"Youichi."

"Hn." Natsume crossed his arms behind his head and walked towards the bus that will take us to Central Town.

"That means his fine with it." I whispered to Youichi and winked at him. "Come on before he leaves us." I grabbed his hand and jogged over to catch up with Aoi and Natsume.