The Mission

Natsume turned his back and walked away. Mikan frowned and decided not to follow him. She resumed her search for the DA classroom. Mikan wondered why ESP wouldn't take her directly to the classroom if he was going there too. After 10 minutes, she finally found the classroom. It was so well hidden in the maze of corridors and hallways. Mikan hurriedly pushed the door open and stumbled in.

The room was dark; all the curtains were drawn, blocking any sunlight, which managed to reach the room.

"As I have told everyone, this is my new favourite, Mikan," someone purred.

Mikan shivered, the room was freezing, she wasn't sure if it was from the darkness or from the cold stares of everyone. Mikan frantically looked around for Persona or ESP.

"Elementary School Principal?" Mikan asked.

"Here."

Mikan felt a cold hand slip into hers and lead her to the front of the room.

"Here, sit down."

Mikan obediently sat down into a seat.

"Can you see?"

"N-Not really."

"Natsume, please light the room a bit."

Suddenly, 3 orbs of fire appeared around the ESP's head.

"Not too close," ESP chuckled.

Mikan could see now, she looked around the room, taking in the faces of everyone. She could see Natsume leaning against the wall to her right and a pretty girl with curly hair standing beside a couple of tall boys. They all looked like they had their place in the class, only Mikan stood out and looked like she didn't belong.

"Mikan, welcome to the Dangerous Abilities Class, we shall start your activities in a weeks time," ESP said. Mikan nodded. "Mikan, make some acquaintances as they will be useful to you in missions. Also, feel free to call me Kuonji, Elementary School Principal sounds too…formal," he added before sauntering out of the classroom.

Mikan remained in her seat and made no sign whatsoever of getting up to meet the rest of the class.

"Hey, hey, what's your relationship with ESP? He lets you call him Kuonji! That's amazing!" a tall boy with shoulder length hair gushed.

"Don't mind Rui, he's just crazy, I'm Ando Tsubasa, call me anything you like," a boy with a mark on his cheek introduced.

"Do you mind leaving me alone? I prefer to be by myself, and I don't need anyone else to aid me on missions," Mikan snapped.

"It's true then, Mikan has changed," Tsubasa sighed before leaving her. For the rest of the lesson, no one talked to her and that was the way Mikan liked it.

"Hey, hey, did you hear? That Sakura Mikan who transferred here a few days ago, I heard that she got into some sort of accident while carrying out a mission for DA and lost her memory. Now she's come back to haunt us!" a girl whispered to her friend while walking to their classes.

"I know right? That's so scary! Oh, oh, what's Natsume's reaction? Weren't they like, dating before? I wonder if he feels rejected! I feel sorry for him!" the other girl squealed.

"Shut up, you two are annoying."

The two girls looked up and saw someone sitting on the tree above them. It was Natsume. Their eyes widened in shock.

"N-N-N-Natsume! W-W-We're s-s-sorry, goodbye!" they squeaked before rushing off. After they left, Natsume looked away. He couldn't tell what Mikan was thinking. Before, she was just an innocent and simple girl who caught his attention. However, everything changed on that day, the day where her time had stopped. If he could turn back time, he would do anything to prevent that from happening again. A sakura blossom petal drifted onto Natsume's outstretched hands. He promised himself that he would definitely protect her this time, even if it meant keeping that stupid promise with ESP.

"Definitely," he mumbled before sliding off of the tree and landing on the sakura covered grass.

The next day, Mikan woke early. The sun had not risen yet. She closed her eyes, urging sleep to come again, but it didn't. Sighing, she slipped out of her warm bed and slowly put on her uniform. Mikan glanced in the mirror and her eyes widened at the sight of her hair. It was like a bird's nest. Smoothing it down with her hands, Mikan slipped out of the Special Star dorm, intending to take a stroll.

The air was crisp and cool outside. A gentle, yet chilly breeze sauntered past her, picking up the leaves behind her. It was autumn and the leaves were red, orange or yellow. The scenery was so beautiful, yet Mikan didn't appreciate it. She stared blankly at the falling leaves and picked one up to examine it. It was a sunset orange and slightly crinkled.

Suddenly, Mikan heard someone walking near her. She frowned and walked towards the sound. Now that she was closer, she realised that the sound of walking, wasn't walking, but stumbling. Mikan hid behind a wall and pressed her ear against it.

"Here's a first aid kit, go to your room and fix yourself up."

Mikan's eyes widened, it was Kuonji-sama's voice.

"I'll be leaving now, be sure to attend DA class tomorrow."

Mikan wondered who Kuonji-sama was talking to. She walked into the building, but found no one there. Confused, she looked around, she was sure that Kuonji-sama and another person were here just a moment ago.

"What are you doing?"

Mikan gasped and turned around. Standing in front of the doorway, was Natsume. He had scrapes and gashes everywhere, giving him a dishevelled appearance.

"I said, what are you doing?" he impatiently asked.

"Nothing, I just heard Kuonji-sama's voice and came over," Mikan coolly replied.

Natsume narrowed his eyes before walking away, leaving Mikan alone in the building.

The bell rang and students filed into the homeroom classroom. Mikan took her seat at the back and busied herself in reading the book in front of her. She was annoyed at the homeroom teacher, also known as Narumi-sensei, as he was always late.

"Aloha everybody! I hope you had a good day yesterday!" Narumi-sensei exclaimed. He scanned the classroom. "Looks like everyone's here, except Natsume-kun, talk amongst yourselves and leave when the bell rings," he concluded before leaping out of the classroom. Her classmates immediately started chattering.

"Um...Sakura-san?" the boy who sat a seat away from her asked.

"Hm?"

"D-Do you remember me, I'm Ruka…"

"Nice to meet you, Ruka-san."

"I..um…do you know where Natsume is?"

"Why?"

"N-No, I was just asking."

"Is that it?"

Ruka awkwardly opened his mouth, but then decided against it. Seeing this, Mikan stood up and made her way towards the door and left.

Once outside the classroom, she peered at her timetable. It was the Abilities class now. She knew where the classroom was now, so she wouldn't get lost. Mikan confidently made her way down the long corridors, which twisted and turned. After 5 minutes of walking, Mikan stopped. She was lost.

"Oi, are you lost again? I guess your terrible sense of direction hasn't changed."

Mikan turned her head and to her dismay, she saw Natsume standing behind her, smirking.

"N-No, I'm not, it's none of your business anyways," Mikan stammered. She could feel heat rising to her face.

"Follow me," he snickered. Fuming, Mikan stumbled after him.

Finally, they reached the DA classroom. Natsume pulled the door open and entered. Mikan followed.

"Aha~ You know, Mikan, you always come at the right time," Kuonji laughed. "I was just announcing the missions, take a seat please," he continued. Mikan sat down in the nearest seat while Natsume leaned against the wall. "Nobara, you'll be going to infiltrate…and last of all, that leaves Natsume, Tsubasa and Mikan. Your mission is to steal Kori Meiji's Alice. Okay, now announcements are done, I shall leave, for further information, read the files I have on the table," ESP said before walking out.

Mikan immediately snatched the files regarding Kori Meiji and absorbed herself reading them.

"Yo, Mikan!" someone greeted. Mikan looked up and found the boy who tried talking with her the first day, Ando Tsubasa.

"Please don't use my name so casually, Baldy," Mikan said, still reading.

"Don't be so cold, I mean we have to work together to do this. Right, Natsume?"

Natsume looked away.

"Ok, I'm done with these files, who wants them?" Mikan asked. Natsume took the papers and walked out of the room.

"I'll go on ahead, I have some things I have to do too," Mikan excused. She too, left the classroom.

"Ehehe, I've been ditched," Tsubasa laughed to himself.

It was night time. Mikan was sitting on the windowsill, staring at the sky. Her face was a mask of indifference, her eyes blank. The clouds covered the stars and moon, blocking the light source, which Mikan looked for. Kori Meiji. Kori Meiji was girl who was in the Anti-Gakuen Alice movement. She was classified as a threat to Kuonji-sama, but Mikan couldn't understand why. She couldn't see the use in a Remembrance Alice. Plus, the holder of the Alice was so young, only 9 years old. Mikan shook her head; her emotions would not sway her and let it affect her actions. She would do as Kuonji-sama told her, she would complete the mission. She would steal that girl's Alice no matter what the cost is. Mikan closed her eyes and let sleep take her.

Natsume entered the dorm and walked towards his room. As he made his way down the always-empty corridor, a certain room caught his attention. Its door was slightly ajar, almost as if it was inviting him to go in. Confused, Natsume approached the door and peeked inside. Inside, he saw Mikan, sleeping on the windowsill, the wind ruffling her short chestnut hair. She looked so defenceless and like the Mikan he knew before. A smile tugged at his lips and he let it show.

Natsume walked to Mikan and carried her from the window into her bed. He then pulled out a blanket and covered her with it. He sat on the bed and watched her sleep for a while. It was fine like that. He was fine with watching and protecting Mikan from afar. Natsume would keep his promise with the ESP to stay away from Mikan and that would keep her safe.

"Hmm…Natsume…" Mikan murmured in her sleep. Natsume smiled.

"Here."

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Gakuen Alice -_-

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