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A/n: Hi! I'm back. Thanks to those who reviewed and for the comments. I'm truthfully glad! Mwah!

But, I'm also very sorry. I have been gone too long. It's really because I attended the summer camp in Los Baños. And it lasted for a week! 5 days really but on top of that, it was the holy week. I've been really busy for the preparations for the trip. And after I was home, I wasn't able to directly encode new chapters for my stories. Writer's block...

I'm really very sorry! Gomenasai… I should've just left a note with my excuse but I didn't have time to open my account. I'm really sorry for having kept you waiting. Next time, I'll make sure to post a note. But sometimes, things happen without us liking the circle of events so… if I vanish for a while next time without a word from me, then I'll be explaining it the time I get back, ok?

But before anything else, pls. tell me if some one from there of all the Filipino fanfictioners has attended the summer science camp last April 9-13 in Los Baños. I would be eager to discuss the camp with you, from what sub camp you're from to blahblahblah. Who knows if we're cosubcampers of Chembot. hehe So if anyone from there who's a schooper from Supedemy gets to read this chapter, pls. tell me!

And now I'm back, I have also posted a new story. If you've checked my profile before, I've put some info in there. The title is Twin Hearts. Please, pretty please, read it! I work on my stories in front of the computer directly on Word but at one time, I couldn't get to use the PC so I got a notebook and a pen to draw or write anything. Unknowingly, I made it! I made a new story. hehe, I didn't bother to change my 1st draft for that new fic. I directly encoded it but people have read it already. I've let some of my school mates who came with me to the camp as school representatives and some classmates and do you know their rates? I asked them to rate from 1 to 5 and their rates were 4, 4.5. One even said 5.

So, I'm happy. Yehey! Hope you like Twin Hearts too.

Again, I'm very sorry! This won't happen again! And thank you also too again. hehe

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To babeemei

Thanks. I'm glad you liked it.

To Pink Fire 101

Hi! Thanks for the ideas you've sent. Yup, I think it would be better if Mikan and Hotaru would have conflicts. I hope you'll like my next chappie, which I'll be updating now.

To glenda23

Yeah, sort of. But she does notices that the things happening seem so true, no not just 'seem', really are true. She just tells herself everything's a dream prevent herself from panicking.

To SarcasticHeartlessAngel

Thank you! Yeah, I'm updating now. I hope this chappie will satisfy the readers. I'm really getting a hang of a block here.

To lysabelle

Hi! Persona didn't react, he doesn't care, he said he's not interested. Yup, they thought that Mikan was referring to the black cat when she mentioned Natsume-kun. Yup, it's like they've traveled though time, it will be further explain in the next chappies. Uhm about hotaru, maybe I'm putting conflicts and rivalry stuff but not actual enemies. Yup, I'm updating now. I hope u'll still like my next chapters.

To li'l kitty

Thank you so much for telling me! I didn't really realize that. How could one kiss some one with a mask on? I'm so silly. So I think I'll be changing that. Thanks!

Disclaimer: I do not own Gakuen Alice.

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Chapter 5: Neither enemies nor friends

"I want to go home! Hotaru! I would want a more pleasant dream of me being with Natsume-kun (she's referring to Natsuhiko since his full name is Natsuhiko Meiji)! Oh not in this dream, Natsume-kun, pls., I would like a sweeter one."

(A/n: Mikan was pleading dramatically with hearts as eyes. Of course, by this the black cat thought he was the Natsume referred by her. It's because of her pleading and she was facing him.)

"Natsume…?" He voiced out faintly with disbelief.

The guy stilled and grabbed the collar of her coat that made her—for the first time after they met—actually fear the guy.

"How could you have known the black cat's identity?"

She gulped. She even felt the surroundings' temperature increase.

'No way. What a dream this is!'

She nervously laughed, "Can dreams be reality?"

Some one interrupted the two.

"He knows who you are. You've got no choice but to kill the girl."

"Hey! What's happening?!" Did she hear him right? They're going to kill her?! No!!!!

"Persona, let me handle this."

No. 'Is he really going to kill me? I'm too young to die!'

She gulped instead. Not anymore having the power to speak even a word, she was silenced with fear of death. Dear, life is precious. Hers had been one.

"Are you from the AAO?"

".." She tried to open her mouth and say, 'I don't even know what that is!' but not even the sound of her breathing could be heard.

"Poor girl, good bye…"

She closed her eyes waiting for his hands to finish her life. This was it. Her end. Her death.

But nothing came up.

She made contact to the floor with a THUD.

The girl, … what is just happening to him? He had been heartless many times. He had caused deaths of thousands without conscience and sympathy felt but now, things don't seem to go how they went before.

He was about to strike her with a blow along with fire but then, drat the girl! She closed her eyes and put her hands over her face. One can tell how much she was afraid. From that, his hands involuntarily released her. He felt somewhat… No. This couldn't be real.

His mind was in turmoil. He can't. He doesn't know why, he doesn't care but he just can't. He can't kill this one. That was clear.

"Why didn't you…?"

Yes. Why didn't he kill her? By that, the problem of some one knowing his identity that put him into harm, including Aoi, and even Ruka could've been nothing more but a settled issue.

"I'm giving you a chance. If people know about me, you're dead for sure next time."

She thought that was it. Instead of pain from her supposed death, she felt pain from collding with the floor. Ouch. But that doesn't matter. As long as she's not yet dead.

But then, the other man, the one with a white mask on said, "Hmm… Interesting Natsume but then, if you don't do it, I will."

"I thought you're not interested." Natsume's irk at Persona doubled.

The other was the one finishing her off.

She wanted to lift her legs, to run out of the place, out of this nightmare, but she was feeling weak. She was petrified. Damn her anxiousness!

She shouldn't have rejoiced earlier when the younger guy didn't give her finish.

She should've planned something fast cause this time, by the looks of it, this white masked man isn't like the other one. She can sense it. His aura. Totally evil, he is unlike the other. Wait. Why did she even think the black cat masked guy was not totally a whacko? Wrong. Both of them are. Both are nothing but murderers. Doers of crime in the act of murder and slaying. And she was going to be their next victim.

Now, this was her end for sure this time.

Good bye Hotaru. Good bye Natsume-kun. Good bye mom.

Good bye, dream.

Good bye, world.

She did nothing but cry and didn't move a bit staring with blank eyes as arms with the intention to squeeze the remaining time of her got nearer. Closer.

Now, good bye.

"What was it that made you not kill this girl?" He said as his hands direly held her hair like that of a farmer uprooting weeds from his soil.

"You've got nothing to it, release her… I've already warned her."

"Do you think a simple threat from you will do? Better end it now than to have regrets later."

'I don't know but I know I'll regret it when I finish her off.'

Natsume just stared at the girl. Perhaps it won't bother his remaining conscience too much if he wasn't the one to kill this girl? Let Persona do it.

Persona circled his fingers around her neck loosely wanting to put an end to the brat with his Alice not from suffocation.

A minute……

Persona was stunned.

Could this mean that……….?

Persona grinned evilly

Natsume watched as Persona neared him with the girl, who was unconscious (again) on his hands.

"Good job, black cat. You've brought back some piece of jewelry. Now, we're going back."

Though he didn't know what he was saying, Natsume didn't voice it out.

"And don't even think about escaping. You know what you'll get." He continued.

"…"

"Now, to the academy…" Persona's face was eager. The head masters would be glad.

ööö

"Young master is here. Get the girl ready."

"Yes."

ööö

"Ouch… ouch….. ouch…."

Where was she again?

Mikan has just woke up. Again, for the 2nd time, she found herself in a room she doesn't know where.

And her body aches. Just like last time.

But this room was different from the other one.

And now, she's not being clumsy but it's already morning.

But wait, … she's not dead! Yipee!

No, don't rejoice yet… What if she was in one of the rooms of heaven? Ha…

And then she realized that she had new clothes on. Ha…… Thankfully. Bless that someone who had a heart to change her stinky attire into a fresh one.

She felt renewed. She must have been bathed.

The door opened and revealed a man with contrasting blonde features.

But then, wait… that would mean… this man was the one who dressed her? This man bathed her? This man saw her? The whole of her?

"Haaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!"

ööö

Narumi was going to visit the new girl.

When he opened the door, there she was awake. She was expecting her to throw a question of 'Where am I' and other loads of demands.

But she was squawking.

"Get away, hentai, he-hen, … cr-cross dresser!"

Odd. What now? Why was the perverted cross dresser crying?

"I'm ugly, huhuh, ugly!"

"Huh?"

Then he went over the door, opened it, and said in his crying tone that took her impression of him as a pervert seeming him gay, "I'm Narumi, you can call to find me next time. Nice meeting you, bye!" The door instantly closed.

"Huh?" Mikan can only repeat her expression with a puzzled look totally forgetting about the whole thing that caused her to shriek.

ööö

Natsume was walking in the corridors proudly despite his body feeling its lack of needed rest.

"Do you know? There's a new girl around. And what's suspicious is, she was brought in last night by Persona."

"Poor girl, I wouldn't want to be with Persona for anything."

"Yeah. And I heard, she's occupying a dorm room, don't just know where it is."

And then, there was the weird gay Narumi crying while running all over creating havoc among students, "She shouted when she saw me! I've been growing ugly these days! I've been developing wrinkles! Ha!!!!!"

"Freak." Natsume said as he went on his way walking. Now, where? He needs peace and quiet apart from his boring dorm. He kept on walking not his self unknowingly it was the way Narumi was from.

ööö

It was a while when Mikan finally let her gaze fall off the door the weirdo just went through. She saw a new and well ironed pair of uniform from some school she doesn't know.

Beside was a mirror.

"Better check."

Now, this was better. She looked nice and clean. But she just can't get out of this room wearing a sheet of silk as dress.

"Wearing a bra, it feels… (sigh) No choice but to wear the uniform."

Natsume was walking continually asking himself why he chose to pass in the lobby of the new dormitory instead. He should've gone straight to find Ruka back in the animal shelter. The right way was to pass by the old dorm to reach the shelter.

ööö

Mikan was about to open the door eager to get out and know the place.

ööö

Natsume noticed something by the rear of a door. Something stuck on the wall. He went nearer. Was Ruka carrying his pet animals everywhere except his bunny?

There was red-colored poo on it. Natsume thought it was blood.

But then…

BANG

ööö

She was supposed to change her attire but she decided to check the outside of the room first and after that, she can change into the uniform to get a walk outside and talk to the inhabitants of the place.

But did she just hit some one?

There was a guy lying on the floor.

'Oops…'

"Uhmm sorry, did I just hit you?" Only Mikan's head peeked out of the slightly opened door. She was wearing an exposing thing satin silk dress, remember?

The guy felt his lips and there was blood. And now, this girl asks if she hit him?

"What do you think,.." He stopped as his eyes fell on the girl's face. Familiar… and her voice…hmmm…, and he's got to admit that she's quite pretty but of course he'd die first before he'd voice that out. He continued quickly "…stupid?"

'Gggrr…. The second guy I met who has insulted me.'

"Well, I'm sorry, Mr. Whoever-you-are! It's not my fault. Why did you walk near the wall anyway? You're the one who's stupid. I think you know that there are chances you'll get hit by an opening door if you walked as if you love the wall too much. What's with the wall anyway that attracted you? Bricks, right?"

"Poo…"

'Poo?' "What? Weirdo… (her attention was not on him anymore) So, I must really be in a school or what like I've thought. I'm in a school dorm." She said as she noticed there were a lot of doors. Those doors opened to different rooms.

Mikan banged the door intended to shut him up.

She spotted the hanging uniform. She was about to lock the door as she was planning to change when it opened. It almost hit her. Thank God it did not. She was having enough body pains and aches for another hit. She wouldn't like another bandage on her.

It was the guy she unintentionally hit.

His eyes were crimson and, and, … Scary! His eyes looked murderous. He had raven locks, and he was physically beautiful from face to body. Only thing, he looked dangerous. Not the typical bad boy. Nope, definitely not.

"W-what are you d-doing here?" Mikan said as she tried to cover her body since her dress was see through. Her underwear's visible to the sight. Only it's not for free look out.

"Planning to get my payment for you hitting me."

"But I told you it wasn't my fault!" Mikan's stuttering was gone for her panic was replaced with anger for the guy.

"I'm not getting out without any imbursement."

"And what am I supposed to give you? I don't have anything! I don't even know where I am!" She started crying remembering her predicament. This dream thing has gotten too far. Wake up! Wake up! She misses every one back home.

"Baby…"

"Call me anything you want! All I know is I'm far away from home not knowing if I'm still on Earth; been separated from my best friend, Hotaru; and been almost killed by 2 mysterious men last night! So pls., can't you see what a situation I am in? Go away! Don't be an additional!"

'Hotaru? Been almost killed by 2 myster—so, she's he girl from last night?'

He just stared at her crying figure. She was really beautiful; she had auburn hair and olive green eyes. She was very fair in complexion and with the dress she was wearing, it revealed her beauty more.

He stepped nearer. Why was it like this? He has just met her plus this girl's a big time playing innocent deceiving 24/7 call girl. Why is he feeling like he wants to comfort the girl?

"Don't come nearer! Go away, don't touch me!"

"Now, for my payment." He said as he extended his fingers over her face wiping the tears from it.

Mikan was too stunned to object. This guy…

After a while, he stopped still with his hand on her face waiting if another tear should fall.

"You said not to touch you, and so that was my payment… by touching you."

'He's so… sweet.'

"Nice meeting you,… stupid."

'Maybe not.'

And the instant, he was gone leaving her touching her cheeks where a while ago the warmth and gentleness of his fingers lingered in a caress with the intent of drying her face from tears.

Mikan was still focusing on space with her fingers on a part of her cheeks with her eyes a bit opened wide from shock of not expecting that bastard could put a move like that. (Now, imagine that. I bet she looks cute. Kawaii! hehe)

She was startled back to reality when her back hit the wall hard. She slumped down the floor, eyes closed due to impact, stopping her teeth not to put a cut on her tongue or mouth.

ööö

'Why is Mikan here?' It was one of the few things going inside a girl's head.

ööö

Again… This could be another wound to tend to. So much for saving herself from more pain.

"Ouch."

Who was it this time?

Why does it seem that people are always intruding?

Mikan opened her eyes and the one-off blonde was staring at her worriedly.

"You're that…" Mikan wasn't able to continue what she was about to say when the blonde reacted.

"I knew it! Oh, I should've come here! I knew it! She was going to say, 'You're that ugly wrinkled blonde!'"

This time, the blonde hit the wall. It seemed that the same thing that hit her hit the blonde too.

Who hit them? For sure, she was going to demand an answer about this rude action.

The poor eccentric blonde spoke up weakly. "Hotaru-chan, I've developed enough wrinkles already to be called ugly, are you planning now to put scars on me? Why'd you hit me? A-and t-the girl?"

Mikan's POV

With the word Hotaru spoken, I turned my face to the person Narumi was speaking to.

A girl with raven locks.

She was carrying some sort of plastic gun. Was that what hit me? Us?

She looks like…

I quickly stood over my feet and ran to her. "Oh, Hotaru!!!!"

I was getting nearer…

A warm hug is all I want now.

"Hotaru!"

"Stop."

Typical Hotaru. She makes it look like she doesn't want a hug but I know she wants one. She needs it like I do.

"Don't worry, I'm still hugging you."

"I said stop."

I totally stopped dead on my tracks and faced her trying my best not to expose I was near crying. I was laughing a bit to make everything seem like a joke.

"Huh? Hotaru? This must be part of your being the 'Ice Queen'."

"Stop being mushy, baka. You can't just go near and touch me even a strand of my hair." She was the same Hotaru, still cold and monotonous.

But somehow, why was she different? Really… really different.

'Hotaru acts cold but I still get to read emotions from her eyes. Now, it seems that she's totally changed. Yes, the 2 of us have changed and transformed but only the physical. Why is it that it's like all of her is different to my senses when I know every detail about her?'

"But we're not enemies, right? We're not on a quarrel among 2 friends, I know that. Don't you miss me?"

"You 2 know each other?" The blonde that was still slouched on the floor said trying to move into our conversation. He wasn't minded.

"Yes, we're not enemies but…"

"But what?!" My tears fell, I don't mind now. Hotaru…

"We're not enemies but we're also not friends."

"What? Hotaru, quit your acting emotionless and cold!"

"Narumi, let's go." She said calmly.

Before the 2 were about to leave, she clarified what she just said that I thought would kill me cause it just broke my heart to hear that from my one and only best friend. I didn't expect her to go as far as this.

"Sakura, we're neither enemies nor friends."

I was there outside the room by the door, again for the second time, put my face in flood of tears. Where's that guy now? He should come now. I would love it if he does it again and have his hands act as a soft hanky.

"Hotaru.."

I didn't care if I was still on the silk dress, I didn't care if people or should I say students pass by the hall and see me with my underwear visible to everyone. All I care now is what just happened.

"Sakura, we're neither enemies nor friends."

"Sakura, we're neither enemies nor friends."

"Sakura, we're neither enemies nor friends."

"Sakura, we're neither enemies nor friends."

It ringed to my ears again and again.

'She did not call me by my first name, not Mikan. She doesn't treat me a friend.'

"How could've you done this to me, Hotaru?"

'No, this is a nightmare. Hotaru being that is impossible!'

I wet my face with my hands rapidly trying to settle down my sobs and sniffs.

"I've got to find a way to wake up. I'm going home back to the real me, to the real Hotaru, and to the real world. I'm going back to 2003." I said determined to my self loudly. After that, I closed the door back inside the room.

End of Mikan's POV

ööö

Unknown to Mikan, a pair of eyes was watching her since she was there outside.

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A/n: That's it! I've done it. I think it's my longest chappie so far… Yehey! I made a new achievement. I think I'll be trying to make my chapters longer this time. I hope you liked it so pls. review!!!!!!!

About this chapter for Loving Difference, I don't know if this gives you satisfaction and worth for waiting for weeks but I did my best and encoded everything I can think of. Sorry about my dumb thinking. I did what I can do. So, pls. review! Review! Review!

Next Deal: Chapter 6. Some one to help

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