Disclaimer: I do not own Gakuen Alice or any of its characters. All credits go to the creator, Tachibana Higuchi.
As we heard the voice, I felt Natsume grip my hand as he stood in front of me protectively. Even though the moon was shining in the dark night, the alley we were in weren't blessed with the moonlight.
"Who's there?" he demanded
"It's a shame that you can't distinguish who I am just by hearing my voice" the person said
Natsume took a tentative step back and whispered to me, "On the count of 3, we're going to run again okay?"
"Okay" I said shakily. I didn't know what was happening, but I knew it wasn't something good.
"I can hear you, you know" the unknown person said, "Don't run, it's me"
"Who's me?" Natsume questioned
At that moment, the moonlight shone over us, and it illuminated the whole alley.
"Tsubasa?" Natsume said
"Yup" Tsubasa said brightly
I heard Natsume sigh a sigh of relief. "… Who the hell hides in the end of an alley?"
"Well" he said, "Ruka was worried about you since you ran off doing something risky. So he called me to keep an eye on you". I felt Tsubasa looked pointedly at me.
"What'd you do?" I asked Natsume
"Nothing" Natsume said
I raised my eyebrows. There was definitely something.
"So" , Tsubasa said, "Handcuffs huh? Getting kinky or what" he winked
Natsume scowled. "Shut up. This idiot here," he cocked his head to indicate me, "dropped the key down the gutter"
"Sure sure" Tsubasa said. "Anyways, I think it'd be best if we got out of here, the people that were following you might come back soon to find you"
"Natsume" I whispered, "Who is he?"
"Don't worry, he's an old friend" Natsume assured me.
"Tsubasa Andou at your service, ma'am" he said with an exaggerated bow
"Mikan Sakura, pleasure to meet you" I giggled, despite the circumstances
"I know" he said simply
"How?" I asked confusedly
"Tsubasa, how do we get out of here" Natsume cut in
"Oh right, cmon. We just gotta climb this wall and the car is right behind it"
"…What the fuck" Natsume mutterered
"So, where to?" Tsubasa asked
"Ruka's. I need help getting these cuffs off" Natsume said
"Does Ruka have another key?" I asked
"Not exactly" Natsume said slowly
On the way back, I heard Natsume and Tsubasa talking about things that I weren't sure about. I would've asked about it, but at that moment I was so tired and so incoherent. Not to mention, there was school tomorrow as well.
"Mikan" Natsume said, as he nudged me awake, "Get up. We're at the dorms"
I nodded slowly, while getting out of the car.
"If you need anything, call me. Don't do anything rash, Natsume" Tsubasa called out
"Thanks for tonight" Natsume said in reply
Natsume and I walked into the dorms and headed to Natsume's room. Natsume was about to open the door, when the door suddenly opened with a very disgruntled Ruka behind it.
"What happened? Why didn't you answer my calls? WHERE IS MIKAN?"
I stepped in front of Natsume, "Right here, Ruka" I said
"Oh" Ruka said surprised, "Hi Mikan"
Natsume coughed pointedly. "My phone is in my room, and I need your help, Ruka. So if you can, can you step away from the door so we can get in"
"What do you need help with?" Ruka said suspiciously, then his eyes drifted towards our hands.
"Oh god, what did you do…" he said, "What if Hotaru found out… oh my god" he added
"Just go get your blow torch" Natsume snapped
Ruka came back with a face mask and the blow torch. "I never knew you would be capable of having these things" I said
"Well you see..." he said, "Couple years ago, I was partners with Hotaru for a school year. And during Christmas, it was customary to give gifts to our partners. And this was what Hotaru gave me" he said chuckling
I snorted, "Typical Hotaru"
"Now, to get started. Where do I put the pressure at, Natsume?" he asked
"Just the chain that's connecting us"
"What about the actual cuff? How are you going to get out of that?" Ruka questioned
"We don't. Mikan and I are going to have matching bracelets" Natsume smirked
I looked at him incredulously. "Are you crazy? I don't want a cuff as a bracelet."
Ruka just shook his head. "Extend your arms, you guys. Also, it might get really hot" he said as he put his face mask on.
Ruka barely turned on the blow torch when I felt the heat intensity. It was so hot; I could feel myself starting to sweat. I started to get scared, I thought my arm was going to get burned in the process.
After a while, Ruka finally turned the torch off. And I felt myself no longer chained together with Natsume.
"It feels good to move by myself" I said stretching
"What are you guys going to do about the cuff?" Ruka asked again
"Well, do you have something that melt it off?" I asked
"That would be too dangerous. I can't do that" Ruka said
"Oh well, I guess we got ourselves new bracelets, polka dots" Natsume said chuckling
"Don't worry, Mikan. It's only for now. I'll try to find a way to take it off" Ruka assured me, noticing my displeasure. "I think you have to go back to your dorm now though, Hotaru must be worried" he said
I nodded, "See you tomorrow then" I said
I walked towards the door and barely stepped outside when Natsume was by my side again.
"What are you doing?" I asked
"Walking you"
"Why?"
"Because I can get exercise this way. I don't want to be fat like you. When I lifted you onto my shoulder, I had to use all of my strength" he said with an exaggerated shudder.
"I am not fat" I huffed. "Just because you're weak does not mean you can blame me!" I said before running to my room, leaving Natsume behind.
I opened the door to the room and saw Hotaru sitting on her chair, reading a book.
"Hey Hotaru, why are you still up? It's nearly-" I paused to look at the clock on the wall, "It's nearly 1 AM"
"I couldn't sleep. But I can now" she said, as she got up from her chair
I smiled, "Were you waiting for me?" I asked
"No" Hotaru curtly replied
"Sure sure, off to bed you go now" I said, waving my hand
Hotaru looked at my hand, and I realized my mistake. "Nice bracelet" she said finally, "Did you barely get it?"
"Uh" I started stuttering, "Yeah. It's a new bracelet"
"Kind of looks like part of a handcuff though"
I inwardly groaned. "It's the new style, Hotaru."
Hotaru nodded before she turned off her light and went into her bed. "Night Mikan. Set your alarm to wake up at 8 tomorrow. School starts at 9. It won't be a good thing if you wake up late on your first day"
"I'll go shower first and then sleep"
When I finished, I no longer felt tired so I just laid down on my bed, thinking about what happened today. I turned rolled over onto my side and felt the "bracelet" pressing against my hipbone. I could tell that it was going to be a constant reminder of what happened today. And I decided then, that I would find out all the secrets that was related to this night.
Reviews&Constructive Criticism are highly appreciated!
Author's Note: I had a tough time trying to write this chapter, which is why it's a bit shorter :c The good thing is that I have a good idea of the next several chapters though ^_^