It's been really long since I last updated… yeah… I'm having many crushes on male anime characters lately so it's kinda hard to concentrate on my work… (*mumbles something about Uchiha Itachi) Ok, I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Feathers of an Angel

Chapter 7

Day 2 of Alice Festival…

The attractions were still going on strong, and on the second day, three students stepped out of the Student Council meeting room to start their patrol. Yuki gritted her teeth slightly and jogged to keep up with the long strides of her two seniors. It seems like the first destination of the day was to be…

Technical Abilities Class…

Ah…

Of course, the technical class cannot be completed without accidents.

So…

CRASH! (Sound of falling objects) 'Kyaaa!'

'Not again…' the vice-president of the Student Council groaned into his hand. 'This makes it the 5th consecutive year that the Technical Class has experienced… accidents.'

Sakurano chuckled and shook his head. 'Why don't you go and resolve things on that end first? We'll meet you up in a few.'

'I got it,' Imai nodded and departed for the scene of the accident.

'Why?' Yuki asked.

'Why what?'

'Why did you let him leave on his own? Aren't you two supposed to do the inspection together?' Not to mention you're chancing an opportunity for me to be alone with you.

'I've got this intuition,' Sakurano replied, winking. 'Subaru needs some of his "own time" as well.'

'I see… Shall we go then?'

Sakurano took her hand and led her to the other attractions.

Flashback…

'Yuki-chan! We've got to go!' Mikan cried out frantically as she rushed to tie up her ponytails. Yuki sighed and brushed her long hair patiently on the bed, her pace not quickening one bit. Mikan said, 'Yuki-chan, if we don't hurry, we will be late!'

'You will be late if you don't hurry, Mikan-chan,' Yuki sighed.

'Eh…?' Mikan paused in her frantic preparations and looked at her friend. 'Why?'

'I can teleport to the venue, unlike you, who has to run to wherever Hyuuga-san is,' Yuki rolled her eyes behind the blindfold.

'Yuki-chan can teleport?'

'No, I was given an instant teleportation alice stone so that I can travel around easily. The hospital doesn't want me to visit them again… for the same reason,' She chuckled slightly while rubbing her leg where a fresh bandage was wrapped.

'Yuki-chan was injured again?' Mikan walked over and rubbed the patch.

'It's alright… And stop beginning your sentences with my name. Say… shouldn't you be going by now?' Yuki pointed to the direction of the clock. Mikan followed the finger and looked at the time on the clock.

'Oh no! I'm late~!!!' Mikan cried as she rushed to finish getting ready. In record speed, she pulled on her socks and boots and dashed off to wherever Natsume had arranged to meet.

'Really… She needs to be more responsible…' Yuki sighed. 'Turning to more serious business… Now that that girl is gone, you two can come in, you know.'

The door opened at the same time the window did, and a girl and a boy clad in Elementary division uniform slid in respectively. Yuki smiled and stood up, beckoning for them to come over. The two students came over nervously, taking in each other's appearance with slightly shocked looks.

'Honestly, I'm surprised. I'd never have suspected you two to be our agents… Is it from your parents?' Yuki took out the long black rectangles from her pocket. Both of them nodded. Yuki's expression remained stoic. 'You know why you're here. I have a mission for you two. They're different, but it's all for the same objective.'

'A mission… so soon…' the girl gripped her sleeves.

'That is to be expected… I suppose. I received word from our superior that… a higher-up will be coming?' the boy said.

'Your superior is well-informed. Who is he?' Yuki spun one of the sleek rectangles on her hand. 'Is it… Zero?'

'We don't know him by that name but yes, it is who you think it is.'

'I see. You two know why you're here. I've recorded your mission onto this. Take it back,' she threw it to them and both caught it expertly with ease. 'From now on, we will communicate using these. Other than that, we will treat each other like classmates. Is that clear?'

'Yes.' They answered in unison.

Yuki smiled, 'Good boy and girl. Oh, and if you see the other one-you know who-, please tell him to meet me tonight. I have something I want to talk to him about.'

'Sure. I'll find him. He will be going to the Somatic Class play. He told me that yesterday,' the boy said.

'Great. Well then, I must be going,' Yuki grabbed her necklace on the table and teleported away.

End of Flashback…

'Senpai…?'

'Yes?'

'Are you using your alice?'

'Ah… you noticed?'

'Yes, not only on you, but me as well,' Yuki rubbed her face. 'A… glamour alice?'

Sakurano chuckled, 'Well, if I go around with my original appearance, we'll hardly be able to enjoy the attractions. I'll remove the alice when we're done, so don't worry.'

'Is it really necessary?' She frowned, taking out her necklace and wrapping it around her palm.

'Yes, if I want to escape crazy fan girls.'

'Ok.'

'…Is there a problem?'

Yuki shook her head and said, 'No… it's just that…'

Sakurano glanced at her once and took her hands, leading her to a bench in a secluded area. He sat her down and took a place beside her.

'Senpai?'

'May I ask you something?'

'Senpai…?'

'Do you hate your own alice?'

Yuki froze and gripped her skirt. She turned away and dipped her head to her chest.

'Shirogane-chan…'

'I… it's not that I hate Alice. I hate seeing. Seeing is, to me, a terrible thing. All the ugliness of people and the world… if we did not see it, then perhaps the world wouldn't be such a terrible place. My alice lets me see. I can see everything, anything through this alice. But, the truth is, the thing I hate most is to see…' Yuki explained in a forlorn voice. She fingered the blue alice stone in her hand. 'But this alice is part of me, and it defines me. It can't be denied that the one who needs this alice the most is the one who can't see. Even so, the alice is my most needed, yet most hated. I don't hate alice, but I hate what it can do.'

Sakurano continued, 'Because if you hate alice, it would mean hating your own existence?'

For a moment, a look of agreement was reflected on her face. But that look was gone as quickly as it had appeared. Yuki smiled, 'Yes, and it would mean denying the existence of me, Mikan-chan, Hotaru-chan, and you, senpai.'

'Denying our existence, huh?' Sakurano laughed softly. He glanced at the very still girl. 'You know, I had a senpai who was very dear to me. She hated her own alice very much.'

'Sakurano-senpai's senpai?' Yuki expressed interest.

'Yes… She was very lively; it was as if she was a sun. But she hated her alice. It was a rare but dangerous alice and many people hated her for that. But then, our sensei said that an alice is determined by how the user uses the alice. If you use it for good things, then the alice can be seen as good, and vice versa. He was a really nice sensei…'

'Your sensei was very wise… I take it he's not here anymore?' Yuki asked.

Sakurano's expression tightened. 'No, he's not.'

'A pity… I would really like the chance to meet him. It seems to me that both your senpai and sensei were very lively people. They're like the sun, illuminating the days for us in the academy, much like what Mikan-chan does.'

'They were…' He patted her head. 'Do you still hate your alice?'

'I… don't know. But I think that I like my alice a bit more now, though,' Yuki smiled up at him. 'Thank you, senpai.'

'You're welcome, Shirogane-chan.'

With Mikan…

Mikan pouted as she followed Natsume through the haunted house. She whined, 'Natsume…. Can we go now? This isn't funny…'

'Of course not. It's a haunted house,' he scoffed. 'Are you scared?'

'Of course not!' Mikan said huffily, mimicking the way he said the three words just now.

'Where's Ruka, by the way?' He glanced around. 'Hm… did he get separated?'

'Eh? Ruka-pyon is alone?' Mikan looked around in concern. Natsume's eyes darkened a fraction but he just scoffed.

'Ruka will be alright on his own. Let's get this thing over and done with,' Natsume grabbed her wrist and dragged her past the dark corridors.

'Oi! Natsume, stop! It hurts!' Mikan winced as she was yanked forcefully away. There was a slight rumble in the building that only the two of them could catch, and before they knew it, the eerie lightings had gone out and it was replaced by total silent darkness. A slight creak was followed by the thunder of walls falling and dust clouded the area.

A fire blazed on Natsume's palm. Mikan looked around fearfully as she saw that the walls had closed in on them, and they were trapped in the darkness.

'Natsume… What are we going to do?'

'She didn't ask what happened, but what was the next course of action? That's strange…' Natsume sniffed and aimed his palm at the wall. 'Why not I blow it down?'

'No!' Mikan grabbed his arm and pulled it down. 'That's the hard work the Latent Ability Class did! You can't blow it down! And… and… Natsume, your fire alice is the fourth shape, right?' Seeing the stunned look was enough to confirm her thoughts. 'I don't want Natsume to reduce his life span like this… You can't!'

Natsume regarded her silently. He said, after a moment, 'Very well.' The fire disappeared. He sat down heavily against the wall and didn't say anything else.

Mikan's lips trembled slightly in the darkness, but she sat down beside him.

Silence reigned.

And it continued to.

His eyes twitching, Natsume decided to break the ice, 'Oi, polka dots!'

'P-polka dots?' Mikan spluttered. 'You pervert Natsume! How did you-'

Natsume ignored Mikan's blabbing and proceeded to ask, 'Oi, Is the Shirogane girl really your friend?'

The question struck a nerve. 'What do you mean?'

'Are you, Imai and Shirogane really the best of friends like what you claim to be?'

Mikan huffed indignantly, 'Of course! We've been together for the past few years! We participated in concerts together, practiced our songs together and Hotaru-chan helped raise money for our personal instruments, though that all has been left at home! We were very close, you know!'

'Then why does Imai treat you on a whole different level?'

'Huh?' The confused, stumped look on Mikan's face was genuine.

'You remember Imai's lab, right? Why was she only building a robot of you, and not Shirogane?'

'That…' Mikan looked down. 'That…'

'Could it be… that she treats you as an important friend, but not her?'

'No… that's…'

'Perhaps she doesn't like her as much. After all, you are much closer to Shirogane, sharing rooms and all. You actually participated as her accompaniment in that competition thing, and you've been friends longer too.'

'Natsume, stop!'

'Is Imai jealous?'

SLAP! SLAP! Mikan slapped him on one cheek and backhanded him on the other. Even in the darkness, it was surprisingly accurate and it hit him straight in the center. Natsume felt the area where she had slapped him, shocked.

'Don't… don't ever say such things about my friends!' She cried out angrily.

Hot, furious tears escaped her eyes. 'You have no right to say that! We three are… we are what you and Ruka are to each other! Do you even know how devastated we were when Hotaru had to leave for the Academy while leaving us two behind? Do you know how hard it was for us to win that competition, just so that we could be on the newspaper? We risked everything- everything we had- just to get that front page article, just to get us noticed by the Academy! We-'

'Get noticed by the Academy?' Natsume's tone was sharp.

Mikan gave a sharp intake of breathe. 'Shit. I let out more than I know. How… how… Think, Mikan! Use Yuki-chan's brains, whatever you've learnt! What is the Academy to the outside world?'

'Oi, Polka Dots!'

'Don't call me that! We… at that time, we only knew that Hotaru-chan was in an Academy for gifted people. We thought that… if at we least exhibit the kind of talent that could gain the front page, then the Academy would consider taking us in. It was only later that we knew we were Alices, and what this Academy was for. But… the fact is that we have an unbreakable bond, just like Natsume and Ruka-pyon has!' Mikan grabbed his sleeve. Her heart was thumping heavily in her chest.

'Then how is it that you can control your Alice so well?' He yanked her fingers off his sleeve. 'Even I have trouble with it at first!'

'That… That was…'

'And Imai's robot?'

Mikan's eyes perked up. She smirked internally and said, 'You know, if it's one thing one can never imitate, it's the ability to play music the way the original can. My playing is average, plainly so, and only by pairing up with Yuki-chan can I produce a satisfactory sound. But Yuki-chan is special. She is gifted. Even though she can't see… she still plays better than I ever will, no matter how hard I try. Musical talent isn't something that can be duplicated easily. That's why… even though Hotaru-chan can make a robot of me, she can't do the same with Yuki-chan, because she will never be able to create a robot with skill equivalent to Yuki-chan. She knows that!'

'That still doesn't explain your alice, polka dots,' Natsume rolled his eyes.

'If I can't get away, then…'

'STOP CALLING ME POLKA DOTS!' Mikan pushed him to the floor angrily. 'I can't stand a pervert like you! If you look up my skirt again, I swear I'll never forgive you!'

'Tch, what an annoying flat-chest brat.'

'SAY WHAT? NATUMSE YOU PERVERT!'

'Shut up, polka dots.'

'NATSUME!' She grappled him and shook him violently.

CRASH! The wall holding them in fell and light shone on them. There were several gasps. Both of them looked up and saw Ruka, Hotaru, Iinchou, as well as a few other students standing there, forming the search team that were looking for them. And they apparently succeeded… except that it could have been more welcomed at a later time.

'Tch. Get off me, you female leech.'

'NATSUME!!!!!'

Third Day of Alice Festival…

'One more day… one more day to the end of this madness…'

'… Shirogane-chan…'

'Ek!' Yuki turned around swiftly.

Sakurano chuckled softly and patted her head. 'I have to go now. It's the last day and we have the prize presentation to prepare for. Is it alright if you go onto the meeting venue by yourself?'

'Ah… that's fine. I'll make my way there right now,' she bowed and took her leave from the student council meeting room.

'So… no weird actions as of late?' Subaru commented, not looking up from the paperwork that was piled sky high on his table. Sakurano glanced at his own, and found his, unfortunately, plagued with the same situation.

'No, I'm starting to think that she really shouldn't be on the list at all. After all, she seems to hate her own alice. Why would she be the one behind all those…? No, I don't even think she has the ability to do that kind of stuff anymore,' He shook his head. Sitting down on an armchair close to Subaru, he continued, 'After spending the past 2 days with her at my side, it seems more to me that she's more of a strangely matured girl than the murderer most people tend to believe she is.'

'Don't let your guard down. There's still the last two days,' Subaru informed him, but didn't say anything else that opposed his statement.

Silence enveloped them for a moment.

'But its true… how could someone like her be a killer like Natsume?'

Last Day of Alice Festival… Evening, at the venue of the Last Dance.

'And Imai Hotaru-san has chosen… Sakura Mikan as her Last Dance!' the announcer announced in a slightly shocked tone. 'Oh my, they're both girls!'

Down with the audience, Mikan gasped in shock. Hotaru made her way down to the two girls standing side by side and smiled softly. Mikan stuttered, 'But… isn't the Last Dance reserved for lovers?'

'…That sounds wrong…' Yuki murmured. Mikan blushed a furious shade of crimson.

'It does,' Hotaru agreed. 'But the Last Dance is supposed to mean: Together Forever. So, I suppose it's alright if I dance with a girl. Ne, Yuki?'

'Mm…'

'Then… Yuki-chan?'

'Hm?'

'You… aren't you going to dance as well?'

'Yadda, I told you before, I hate any form of celebration, dancing included,' Yuki tapped her foot to emphasis her point. 'By the way, I don't think my leg is that ready…'

'Ah, the dance is starting!' Hotaru noticed as the music started. She grabbed Mikan's hand and led her to the dance floor. Yuki waved at the leaving pair, smiling.

'Saa… where are you, Kisaragi?'

'Right here.' A teen passed by her from behind. 'I'll meet with you in your room tonight, Angel-chibi.'

'Hmph, using funny names again, huh?'

On the Dance Floor, where Mikan and Hotaru were dancing…

Mikan twirled around, her ponytails whirling about dangerously. Hotaru ducked to avoid the incoming lock of hair and stopped Mikan from spinning around dangerously like a typhoon. Deciding not to waste her Baka cannon on that day, Hotaru flicked a finger towards Mikan's forehead and left a very pink and obvious mark there.

'Itai! Hotaru-chan!!!' Mikan whined, pouting and gazing at Hotaru with puppy-dog eyes.

'Dance, you baka,' Hotaru took Mikan's hands and began dancing. Mikan continued pouting but followed Hotaru gracefully.

'So…'

'What is it, Hotaru-chan?'

'How was the Alice Festival?' Hotaru smiled.

'Great! I had a lot of fun!' Mikan replied cheerfully. 'What about you, Hotaru-chan?'

'It was good investment. I have quite a lot of new sponsors now, so I think my research and inventions will have better quality, which in turn, of course, leads to more money,' Hotaru said, the money signs flashing in her eyes and the sound of a cash register ringing away noisily in her head.

'Aha… ha…' Mikan laughed nervously. They danced some more. Mikan then asked, 'Ne, why did you not choose Yuki-chan?'

'She's injured.'

'But she could always have done a threesome with us. Yuki's leg is almost healed,' Mikan said in a whiney yet firm tone. 'You didn't even offer.'

'Let's not discuss such things and enjoy the last dance, Mikan,' Hotaru gripped Mikan's hands tightly and steered her deeper into the crowd of dancers so that they couldn't leave the dance floor until the crowd dispersed a little.

'No, let's discuss it now; Hotaru-chan. Yuki-chan is our friend, right, Hotaru-chan?' Mikan insisted. 'We're the best of friends, right, Hotaru-chan?'

She sighed and let go. The pair's conversation, fortunately, went unnoticed by the crowd of dancers. Hotaru answered, 'We're friends, yes. But… Yuki is… how should I say this…'

'Is?' Mikan pressed.

One word escaped the raven head's lips.

'Dangerous.'

Something flashed across Mikan's face. 'She couldn't possibly know who we are, right? I shot down all the surveillance cameras that night…'

'Yuki… I really think she's not an ordinary girl like you and me. Well, at least not as ordinary as us alices can be. But… when we're close, I can feel the obvious difference between the worlds we both are standing in. Yuki… lives in a very different world from us. She's cute, smart, talented, and although a bit short, she is admired by many.

'On the other hand, I only have the Invention Alice and my hard work. You… are plain… not that smart, yet not stupid either… have a rather useless alice… You see, compared to Yuki, we are completely different.' Mikan winced as each demeaning term landed on her.

Hotaru continued, 'If it was only that, then I wouldn't be so worried, but… Mikan, Yuki is really dangerous.'

Mikan shook her head, 'You wouldn't know that. How dangerous can a blind 10 year old short stack girl be?'

'Mikan, please, just promise me. Don't go too close to Yuki, okay? If you play with fire, you'll get burnt!' Hotaru grabbed Mikan's forearms and said the words in an almost pleading way.

'Hotaru-chan…' Mikan looked conflicted.

'Please, Mikan. Yuki is not dangerous in the scary way, but dangerous in a way that makes you feel threatened about your own life. I don't know why, and I don't even think she can even do anything to threaten anyone's life, but the aura she gives out… Please, Mikan, stay away from her.'

'…Okay, Hotaru-chan. I'll try not to get too close to her from now on.'

That night, in the attic Mikan and Yuki once occupied.

The blue alice stone of water dropped from her fist and onto the musty floor. The dark hair framed her face, giving her facial features a cloak of shadow and a foreboding feeling.

'Saa… so in the end, the firefly wins over the frost, huh?'

'Of course, fireflies are cuter and much nicer than the snow.' The male voice was melodic, yet sadistic as the words made its impact on the young girl's face. He chuckled and hopped down from the window ledge he was perched on, making his way towards the girl. 'But unlike the firefly, the snow dominates and conquers. It is much more powerful than a lone firefly, Angel-chibi.' He caressed her smooth cheeks.

'…Flirting, Kisaragi?' Yuki glanced up at him.

The boy named Kisaragi laughed and backed away into the moonlight. Light brown hair stuck out in point locks, and two long side bangs reaching his collarbone hung on either sides of his face. (A/N: Think Cloud Strife hair… yes, the epitome of pointy-hairness… OK, if you've got a better way to describe it, then please include it in a PM or a review. Just remember to keep the two long side bangs.)

His face was nicely sculpted, with high cheekbones and sallow cheeks. His green eyes glinted, dancing in amusement. He was around Tsubasa's height, though he was much leaner. On his body was the middle school division uniform, though the shirt was untucked and the top few buttons were undone. His neck tie was untied and instead hung around his neck. The blazer was unbuttoned and showed off his lean chest, hidden behind the white shirt.

'So, how long have you been in the Academy?' Yuki got off the floor and sat on the bare bed.

Kisaragi picked up her alice stone and toyed with it, saying nonchalantly, 'This is only the second day. I haven't even been introduced to my class yet. By the way, I'm going under the name of Kirihara Kou. KK. Easy to remember, huh?'

'…And No.10?'

'He'll be coming… soon. I don't know when. He's taking his time, as usual, being the lazy ass he is,' Kisaragi snorted. 'I wouldn't be surprised if he came next year.'

'That is No.10's annoying tendency, though I think he'll be more serious on this trip. Then, the steps for the current mission… they're mostly done. All we have to do now is to guide the Academy to their impending doom.'

Kisaragi laughed, 'You're amazing, Yukiko.'

Yuki smiled, 'No, it's only a matter of reading people's minds and hearts, and then finding a way to utterly crush them.'

Hey! I've got nothing much to say… After all, I was smacked right in the face by some reviews from a reader, and I was kinda depressed for a few days. But, I'm glad that someone has said that outright to me. Hehe… perhaps I was waiting for that kind of review. Anyways, happy holidays people. Everyday's a happy day!

I wonder if i need to say it again… R&R!