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Chap 4: Loyal

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Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN GAKUEN ALICE

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Normal POV

Back to Class B….

Everyone was filing out of the room quickly and quietly. When they heard Narumi-sensei looking for Mikan, they felt that it was just so like her to rush out and follow Natsume. Everyone sweatdropped, but knowing Natsume, he wouldn't allow anything to happen to the brunette.

The class decided to go on and head to the Northern Forest. They wanted to run back and help Natsume too but they settled to do otherwise.

They knew Natsume did his missions to protect them, and them running into danger of their own free will was like a slap to his face and pride.

They knew that it was better to not get in the way. They should just let Natsume do what he was good at.

He was the sacrifice. They all knew, especially Yuu Tobita, who has become one of the academy's confidant and no longer a stranger to the things that Natsume was forced to do.

He felt like a traitor. He was leaving two of his friends behind. He looked back at the rest of the class and saw them hesitantly trudge towards the forest. Their faces full of worry, some of them shedding tears.

The position that they were in was the last thing anyone could have thought can happen to them. Two of their friends left behind to face the dangers that await them and the rest of them are running to safety. The irony of it all !!!

Yuu was also fighting against heavy steps when he heard one of their classmates speak up.

"We're a bunch of cowards!!! We should go back and help Natsume and the rest of the Academy!!!!" one of the students said.

"Yeah! That's right!!" most of them answered. Heads were then seen turning around and started to head back to the school grounds when they heard Yuu's voice.

"And what help are you able to give Natsume?!"

"We'll help him fight!! Even if it costs us our lives!"

"And would you think that that is what Natsume wants?"

"You're one to talk Tobita, we thought that you are one of his close friends? And yet here you are running with your tail behind your back!" the rest of the class gasped at what the boy said.

Yuu bowed his head. His blond bangs covering his blue eyes. He looked defeated, and for some, he looked guilty.

"You should know that abandoning my friends is the last thing I could do!" shouted a now angry Yuu.

"Do you think that going back there and risking our lives just for some rush of adrenaline is what Natsume wants? To risk our lives and to put Natsume's every effort in trying to protect us in vain?"

"Do you think that I take my responsibilities too lightly? And that is to protect the rest of you?! That was a direct request coming from Natsume himself years ago when he knew that someday, something like this would happen!"

"It breaks my heart to leave them, but I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I failed them!" tears started to flow from Yuu Tobita's cheeks.

Class B was in aghast. They never saw their class representative ever getting angry, much less breaking down infront of them. They understood why. It was harder for Yuu. Hard for him to turn his back and leave his friends behind. So hard for him to decide between friends and responsibility.

The group of boys that decided to go back now had their heads bent down. Yuu was right. There was no use in acting so harshly. They were not the only ones who felt that they were betraying their friends. It was more complex for those whom they hold dear.

Then they felt it…. Shame…. Shame for acting so selfishly. Shame for not considering the feelings of others. Slowly, they started to walk with the group again.

Yuu was still feeling angry. His blood boiled at the thoughtlessness of some of his classmates. His whole body shook as he fisted his hands at his sides.

He then felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up to see who it was. If it was one of those boys that were trying to go back was touching him, with all his anger then he might have punched those boys' lights out.

But as he looked up, he saw the worried eyes of Anna. He's blue eyes softened. He had always had a soft spot for the said girl. "don't worry Yuu, no one ever doubted your loyalty. They are our friends too and we have faith in them. So, let's get going shall we?" Anna said softly with a smile.

What Yuu didn't know was that the rest of the class was left trembling. They never knew that the polite, soft-spoken, and respectable Yuu Tobita could be so scary when he got angry. Everybody was having sweatdrops. Anna was the only one brave enough to get near him and talk some sense into him.

"Ok guys lets move on!" Anna shouted to everyone while holding on to one of Yuu's arms. She knew that Yuu was tired, physically and emotionally.

Narumi was again struck speechless by Yuu's heavy regard of his responsibility. 'He would become one of the Nation's leaders one day' he whispered to himself. He was also proud of the whole class. They were emotionally maturing. They are able to solve problems of their own now. He smiled at the thought.

On they walked deeper into the Northern Forest.

Anna looked to her side and saw Yuu's hand held up to his forehead. He's having a headache… the exchange of words from before took a toll on him. Anna decided to help.

"Hey Kitsuneme! See anything?" Anna shouted to the flying boy.

"No, nothing that's to be aware of!"

"How about you Koko, sense anything?"

Koko had his back on the group. He and Mochu were at the last of the line. He was walking backwards and facing the trail they left to better focus his alice on anything that he could pick up.

"No, nothing on this end!" he shouted back.

"See, everything is fine Yuu. So don't worry ok?" Yuu gave a wary smile to Anna. He was glad she was there. He couldn't imagine what he could have done without her.

Just as when everybody was starting to relax. Nonoko started running towards Narumi.

"Narumi-sensei!"

"What is it Nonoko-san?"

"I can't find Hotaru and Ruka anywhere!" "I've been looking for them for the past couple of minutes but I can't seem to find them!"

"Ok, has any body seen Imai-san and Nogi-san?" Narumi asked the group of students.

"They're not here sensei!"

After hearing that, Yuu's headache became worse. 'I failed…' he thought.

Narumi saw Yuu's reaction. He placed his hand on the class representative's shoulders and said, "Don't worry Tobita-san. I'll get them back. You are not the only one with responsibility here." Then he flashed them a beautiful smile.

"Demo, sensei…." Yuu stuttered.

"Your orders are to bring these students to safety Tobita-san. I'll see you kids later. Ja!"

"Bring them back safe and sound sensei…. Please…."

Yuu straightened his back and his eyes were again filled with determination. " Lets go people! The hiding place is not that far."

Yuu glanced back. "Minna, come back safely……"

And they started their trek again through the Northern forest.

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Hotaru's POV

The AAO eh? Betcha they're after that idiot Natsume again. I guess that pervert knew just who they want.

He even dared to look at me and order me to look after the Baka. I knew what he meant. I'm not stupid. He's stupid on the other hand. He doesn't need to tell me that. Idiot.

So the AAO was able to infiltrate the academy huh? I told them to install the new invention I gave them for security purposes. Tch. Damn it! They're so slow!

I saw Mikan standing up. What's with the Baka? And what's with the wide eyes and jaws dropping? What Narumi-sensei was saying was just registering into that thick head of hers I guess.

I admit that she became good at school and all and gotten better with the control of her alice that earned her a three star, but she's still as dense and naïve as ever. I think her intelligence has that off and on switch on which she has no power over. Hehehe. Now, that was funny.

Then I saw her quietly stepping back towards the door. What was she planning on doing? Is she planning on following Natsume? Argh!!!! That Baka!!! How could she be so smart and stupid at he same time???!!!

Yup, smart enough to leave the classroom without anybody noticing her but dumb enough to head straight to danger.

I sighed. I guess I have to save her again, and I know I'm not the only one thinking that.

I looked across the room and saw big blue eyes that were filled with concern. Ruka Nogi. The unspoken guard and defender of Mikan. He was always there for her when I'm not around to save Mikan from her own clumsiness or idiocy. He was like a knight in shining armor. Although, I really couldn't put my finger on it why I think that he always seem sad.

I should be thankful of him though, for financing my experiments. Indirectly I should say, those pictures of him sell like hotcakes, and the sad look in his eyes disappear when he gets angry at me for selling his pictures. Better angry than sad I always thought.

He also saw Mikan exiting the room, and that made him worried.

I motioned my head towards the door and saw him nod. I gracefully stood up, not minding anyone and got out of the room and leaned at the side of the door. I was waiting for a good couple of minutes before I saw the blond sneaking out of the door.

"Oi! What took you so long Nogi?"

"I just wanted to hear the rest of what Narumi-sensei wanted to say, and the counter measures that were being devised." Ruka said hastily, and blushing at the thought of him and Hotaru standing alone at the corridor.

"Well….?"

"Ah… Well what Imai-san?"

"What were the counter measures Nogi?!"

"Oh! That! Narumi-sensei said something about a secret safe hiding place in the Northern Forest and Yuu-san saying that he knew how to get there. That was when I sneaked out."

"Good. Ask some of you animals to follow them.?

"Ehhh…. Why?"

"I swear Nogi I don't know why your brain's turning to mush right now but you better snap out of it right this instant!"

"Hai! Imai-san."

"Let one of those big scary animals go behind them so they wouldn't be followed, and let one of the smaller ones follow them to their destination and let it wait for us at the entrance of the Northern Forest so we would know where to go once we get Mikan."

"Right!" Ruka then walked to the corridor window and whistled. After a few seconds, a hawk landed on his right arm. I looked on as they stared eye to eye then Ruka whisked his arm and the hawk flew away.

I looked at him with questioning eyes.

"Its all taken care of Imai-san." He smiled at me.

I should remember to take a picture of him talking seriously to his animals like that. It would definitely sell.

"Hm."

We started running towards the direction of the building's side entrance. We were abou to reach it when I heard Ruka shout.

"Watch out Hotaru!"

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Ruka's POV

I was running beside Hotaru.

Who would ever thought that this little blackmailer cared enough to risk her own life for her bestfriend. I laughed to myself. So, she really is soft on the inside. She's like a female version of Natsume! I laughed harder.

She must have noticed me smiling to myself because she brought out that Dear Hoof Glove of hers and said in a stern voice, "I won't hesitate on using this on you Nogi if you continue to creep me out with that smile of yours".

"So-sorry Imai-san" I said while smiling and scratching my head.

We were nearing the exit of the building when I saw the ceiling was about to give way. Hotaru was just underneath it and she didn't seem to notice. I ran faster and shouted her name.

"Hotaru!!!"

She glanced back. I wrapped my arms around her tiny waist and pulled her to the side in time. I twisted my body as we started to fall so that it was me hitting the cold hard floor instead of her.

Pain shot through my body. I cringed at the sensation. I was in a sitting position on the floor with my back leaning on the wall. Then I remembered something…. Did I get to her on time?

I looked down at my arms and felt blood and heat invade my cheeks. There she was lying on top of me with her eyes closed and my arms around her. She was breathing regularly. I let out a sigh. Thank god she's safe.

Her skin was lightly powdered with the dust the crashed ceiling blew. Even so, I still could see her smooth porcelain skin and her pink full lips. She's so beautiful I thought. She smelled of lavender and jasmine. It relaxed my senses.

He had taken a liking to the blackmailer years ago. Natsume teased him of having weird tastes in girls to be interested in Hotaru Imai.

Weird? Who would think it weird liking a girl like Hotaru? Just look at her! She's gorgeous! Not minding that she's a blackmailer, cold, stoic, and sadistic, and she's perfect!

I was reaching out to touch her cheeks and feel her smooth skin when she unexpectedly opened her eyes and threw me a menacing gaze.

"Planning on getting even on me Nogi? Or have some of those thoughts from your perverted friend finally rubbed on you?"

"No! Its not anything like that Imai! I was just… just…. Just trying to see if you were still breathing. That's all"

"You sure Nogi? Coz you know I don't mind selling more of these Cinderella pictures of yours." At that, she pulled out pictures of Ruka acting as Cinderella from god knows where and waived it infront of her.

Ruka sweatdropped. Not those pictures again! I thought she stopped selling those!!

"Yeah I'm sure Imai, now give me those pictures!" he snatched them from her hand. Hmmmm…. That was easy…. I think she's planning something else….

Baka. Baka. Baka. Baka.

"Ouch! Hey! I saved your life Imai, you should be thanking me!"

"That was for touching me." Then she turned around slightly to my direction and said, "And thank you for saving me." She smiled then started to walk away.

'Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh??????????????????????' was all my mind could think of.

Hotaru Imai thanked me and smiled?! I was still contemplating on the miracle that happened before me when I heard her saying "Oi! Animal boy! You better get up from there, or I swear if anything happens to Mikan because of your sluggishness, you're gonna taste hell"

She's still scary, I thought.

"On my way Imai!"

We got out of the building and the scene that we beheld was unbelievable. Alice Academy was in a state of riot. Blood and bodies were everywhere! At least not most of them are students.

I looked at my side and saw the ice queen shaking. She was shaking so hard that beads of sweat were sliding down her temples. Stoic and cold as she was, nothing could prepare her for the grim sight infront of us. I reached out and took her hand and squeezed it.

"You alright Hotaru?" I hoped she wouldn't be angry with me for calling her with her first name.

"Yeah, I'm alright. Just shocked." she replied. And I saw her regain her composure. She straightened her back and those violet eyes were once again fearless.

She recovers so quickly….

"Now, where's Mikan?" I said.

Not far away, we saw her. She was running towards us. Behind her we saw Natsume being surrounded by men in dark clothes.

I saw Natsume put on his Kuro Neko mask. We have to get out of here quick or its gonna be really ugly.

As Mikan was nearing us, we saw two of the men surrounding Natsume chase after her.

Why would they be interested in her? I thought, they only wanted Natsume? They could take any stronger student from the Dangerous Ability class but why are they putting effort on capturing her?

"Mikan!!" Hotaru yelled. She left my side and started running towards her friend.

"No!!!" "Mikan!!!!!!!" "Hotaruuuu!!!!!!!"

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Author's note: Hope you liked it .reviews still inspire me...