Almost a 4,000 word chapter this time. Ooh~

Awwwww You guys, your reviews were so, so nice to read and a handful of you made me smile my face off XD

To those of you who preferred the original: thank you for telling me your opinion and for reading the entire first chapter. Hopefully you will continue it and you'll end up liking the remake more...?

To my many Anons: e-mails don't show up if you just type them straight up in reviews you have to put spaces and stuff but I wouldn't recommend doing that either incase some weirdo got a hold of your e-mail address. Also if you are expecting and immediate reply you can't because you're an anon. So... yeah.

People demanding me to update: DON'T. A "please update soon!" or whatever at the end of the review (or as the review for some of you) is fine though. I have a life and I'm taking classes even over the summer for school. I update as I can, okay? I appreciate the enthusiasm but saying stuff like: "update already!" or "You need to update" will not make me move any faster. I work as quickly as I can.

Props to the people who reviewed all three stories: kat10kat2 and XxAoiTsukixX. You guys are awesome!

Extra props to: XxAoiTsukixX, KidTantei, Aquamarine Lacus, Viola Cain, and shiro-kuro neko-nya for wonderfully amazing reviews

Extra-extra props to: XxAoiTsukixX for not only being awesome but submitting what I am pretty sure are two of my longest reviews for two of my remakes stories so far. Also…. You're like my sister-that's-not. Yeah… I'm pretty sure that that made no sense to anyone but me ^^

Okay, I'm done blabbing now. On with the story :D

OooOooOooO

Chapter 2

9:00 a.m.

Class B watched numbly as Mikan's form disappeared out the window and Natsume dashed from his chair to look down from where she had jumped.

'This is the third floor!' he thought in alarm. 'And idiot like her would be killed!'

But instead of the bloody mess he was expecting to find at the bottom all that he saw was Mikan's petite form running away from the building and towards the Northern Forest.

Behind Natsume, Luna Koizumi stood up calmly, eyeing everyone with disgust.

"It's about time Mikan did this. Know your place, scum," she told class B with a sneer and walked to the front of the room, kicked Jinno hard in the ribs once before following Mikan's suit and jumping out the window, shoving everyone and everything in her way and cursing and glaring at anyone that approached.

It was then that class B returned to life and a team of four boys rushed over to their fallen teacher and lifted his body to rush him to the hospital.

Ruka's blue eyes were squeezed tight as he hugged his rabbit and called himself an idiot internally, blaming himself for the incident that had just occurred. If he had just spoken out for Mikan…

Hotaru Just sat in her desk. Shocked. Unmoving.

And Natsume was wondering what the hell had happened, much like the rest of class B. Then, 'I need to follow her. Whatever is wrong with Polka… I need to know.'

Natsume took the stairs.

OoOoO

9:07 a.m.

Mikan lay in the middle of a clearing on her back, eyes closed and arms and legs spread out. Soft grass tickled her cheek and brushed across her skin as the wind shifted.

The sound of rushing water filled her ears, coming from the nearby waterfall.

Her memories kept on shifting back to what had just happened.

They didn't help her, even though she had helped him.

'Why?'

Mikan cursed and sat up abruptly while thrusting her arm out in front of her and sending out a burst of electricity to a large boulder not too far away: the energy crackled around it and the massive rock exploded, pieces of it flying in every direction.

She just watched expressionlessly in response.

"Temper, temper Mikan," a voice chided wryly from behind her and Mikan stood up and turned towards it.

"Hello Luna." Mikan gave a small smile.

Her best friend just frowned in response, her eyes worried before shifting into one of forced enthusiasm.

"Today was awesome, you know? Jinno totally had it coming! And everyone's faces? Man, I wish I had pictures, you know?" Luna laughed loudly, but her cheer was short lived as her expression melted into that of concern and she asked the much-needed question, "Are you okay? I've never seen you lose it like that. Not since well… ever."

Mikan walked slowly to the edge of the lake that the waterfall poured into and stepped onto the surface, using a stolen water Alice to increases the surface tension of the water so that she did not sink.

"Show off," Luna muttered, and Mikan grinned in response before answering her question.

"I'm fine. Really. It's just… I'm sick of being a good girl just because... you know," Mikan lied to her friend smoothly; not wanting to reveal just how betrayed she was feeling.

It was her fault that she was feeling like this anyway. It has been said that if you keep it on to long, one's act can become reality and over the years that slowly began to happen to her. If only a little. Small pieces of Mikan's persona had begun to seep into Mikan's true personality and she found herself actually enjoying herself around her "friends" sometimes when they weren't all being jerks. Which was rare, mind you, but it happened. Mikan had started to fool herself into believing that she cared for those people and that they cared in response.

Today showed her that she was wrong.

She was such an idiot.

Mikan tuned to look at her friend with a slightly strained smile. Luna, unable to follow her friend, waited on the edge.

"I lost control today… but I will never go back to what I was."

"Well…" Luna said slowly, "That's good then. I could tell that they caused you a lot of trouble and pain, you know? You're free! Isn't that great?"

"I know," Mikan agreed with a laugh and then paused to think. "Well, there is a lot of the day remaining and there's no way in hell that I will be returning to class today… do you want to go to Central Town with me or something?"

"Sure. We can-"

The teen broke off and both girls turned to look when they heard the sound of rustling and someone stumbled out of the forest.

Luna narrowed her eyes.

"You." She spat. "What to you want, Hyuuga?"

"Polka-" he began.

"Go away," the other girl said simply.

"I won't. I need to talk you…" he sent a glance in Luna's direction. "Alone."

"Mikan won't-"

Said girl held up her hand and Luna went silent is surprise.

"Mikan…?"

"It's okay Luna. I'll humor him. Go… fetch Persona. Tell him what happened, okay?"

"Tch. Fine. But if he's going to be a jerk?"

"I'll kick his ass. I know."

They both grinned.

"Have fun~!" Luna sang with a laugh and walked away.

"So…" Mikan said slowly. "We're alone now. What do you want?"

Crimson eyes searched hazel but could find nothing.

What was he supposed to say to her? How was he supposed to approach someone who was acting the exact opposite of their usual self?

The real question though was whether this person before him who wore Mikan's face but had a violent attitude and a cold expression… was it really her? Natsume wasn't sure that he wanted to know the answer.

"You look tired," Natsume said lamely after a moment.

Mikan snorted.

"That happens."

There was a silence between them, which, for once, Natsume broke.

"What happened today, Polka? You- Jinno- Just… What the hell was that?"

"I got tired of dealing with everyone."

"And so you tried to kill Jinno-sensei? And tired of what exactly?" Natsume asked in disbelief. "What the hell? This isn't you! You don't hurt people! You don't hate! You aren't a cruel person! So what the hell is going on?"

"Tired of what?" Mikan screamed at him. "Isn't it obvious? I'm tired of everyone treating me like trash and making fun of me and tripping me and just being ass holes in general! That's what! I don't even like any of you – I just deal with you freaks because I have to."

When she was done with her rant, Mikan's eyes went wide.

'What the-? How does he do that? Until today I have never lost composure and I had finally calmed down. But then he waltzes up, says a few lines and my composure flies out the door just like that?'

"What is that supposed to mean?" Natsume growled, unintentionally interrupting her thoughts.

"It means that it was all an act you idiot. I'm not a happy fool. I don't believe the best in people. I like to see you all in pain and I would love to be the cause of it. And you know why? I hate every. Single. One. Of. You.

"You all are condescending and rude and cruel and goddamn annoying. You all laugh at me and call me names – push me and burn my hair. Now tell me," Mikan walked towards Natsume and shoved him backwards. "Why wouldn't I hate you when you people obviously dislike me so much?"

Natsume steeled himself against her shove and grabbed her wrist, crimson eyes burning.

"But we don't dislike you. I don't dislike you."

Hazel eyes went wide and Mikan went stiff at his words.

'Liar,' she thought bitterly.

"You goddamn liar..."

Natsume tightened his hand around wrist and pulled her closer to him.

"I'm not," he whispered in her ear. "I'm definitely not, Polka."

Mikan clenched her teeth and ripped her arm from his grasp.

Then she punched him.

"Don't touch me!" she snarled, breathing deeply.

A faint blush dusted her cheeks and she cursed herself mentally.

Natsume watched her from where he now lay on the ground, holding his jaw in surprise.

Mikan… hit him?

"Yes, I hit you," she snapped at him and she clenched her fist as she tried to calm herself. She closed her eyes and relaxed. When she opened them, her expression was carefully blank and her eyes betrayed none of her emotion.

"You read minds?" he asked in surprise.

What next?

"Yes. I do."

She turned and began to walk away.

"I don't have time to deal with you any longer," Mikan said coolly. "Don't ever speak to me again."

A cry of surprise escaped her lips when his large hand grabbed her shoulder and jerked her back. Natsume spun her around to face him.

"I'm not going to leave it at that. Why would you be acting? You really hated us all from the start?" He asked her and a certain amount of hurt entered his eyes at the end.

'You hated me?'

"That's none of your business, Hyuuga. And yes. I already told you that."

"And me?" he prompted.

"What about you?"

"You always hated me too?"

Mikan looked down and then back up again.

"Yes," she told him simply. "And that is the truth."

So why did she feel like she was lying?

"Now…" Mikan said in a low voice, eyes narrowing and locking on to the unwanted hand placed on her shoulder. "Leave me alone!"

A vicious knee landed a blow on Natsume's stomach and the teen doubled over, coughing with the wind knocked out of him, only to have his arm jerked behind his back and be pinned to the ground. It was so easy to catch him off guard... he still didn't expect for her to even try to hurt him, did he? Mikan stood up and looked down at him with disdain.

"The Mikan you know is dead and gone," she informed cruelly.

Climbing to his knees, Natsume watched her turn and walk away.

"Polka!" he shouted, trying to catch his breath even as he tried to stop her from leaving. "Wait!"

But she kept walking, ignoring Natsume completely and putting one foot in front of the other with out stop.

"Polka!" he tried again. No response. He clenched his teeth, breathing harshly and tried another tactic.

"Mikan!"

The call was loud and the sound of her name ripped from his throat as he tried to make her listen to him. Would she listen?

Mikan stiffened and faltered in her steps for a moment before she kept walking, but that falter was all that he really needed. A grim smile spread across Natsume's face.

"You're not dead," Natsume said to himself, standing on his feet. "You're still there, aren't you Mikan?"

Her form faded into the trees.

"And I will not just let you leave like this."

A dark chuckle rumbled from behind Natsume and the fire-caster's eyes widened in alarm as he spun.

"Oh," the low voice of Persona murmured. His voice was that of dead leaves scraping across the ground. Natsume suppressed a shiver. "But Natsume, the things is… you will. But not before you get proper punishment for what you have done.

"What the hell?" Natsume hissed in confusion. "What are you going on about you-"

"Oujo-sama spent many years suffering because of you and your friends. But I believe that it was you who she complained about the most. Tch. I never liked you anyway," Persona sneered in the same, foreboding tone. Only this time, his words were laced with threats and steel.

Hearing the threat in his "teachers" voice, Natsume tensed for conflict and was not disappointed when the black-garbed man threw a speed-blurred punch. Narrowly dodging it he leaped back, snarling out an aggravated, "What's your problem?" as he did so.

A noise of distaste.

The wind blew harshly.

Natsume tensed…

And then Persona moved.

A blur of black...

...An unseen fist...

…And then all that Natsume knew was pain and the horrible sensation of not being able to breath.

"My problem, fool, is you."

The grip around the fire-casters throat tightened.

A strangled scream ripped through the air.

OoOoO

The moment the screaming started, Mikan gave a full body flinch and was glad that no one was around to see her reaction.

Why was that her reaction?

She knew what was going on: her servant was angry, and was exacting his revenge on the person who he deemed had caused her trouble the most. And Mikan was all right with that.

Another scream.

Really, she was.

Sounds of fighting. Mikan could hear them even though she was a good hundred or so feet away, fully intending to go to her dorm room.

So what?

The next shout was one of pure agony. Mikan thought she heard a sharp crack that was most defiantly the sound of a bone breaking.

She didn't care though. Not one bit.

So why the hell was she running back to the clearing now?

Tree's blurred past her as Mikan ran: dodging, jumping, and flipping over and around any obstacles in her way.

90 feet.

80 feet.

70.

60…

…30…

The forest lightened around her, telling Mikan that the clearing was coming closer. The sounds of fighting continued and she quickened her speed. The trees thinned out and then eventually disappeared, and Mikan ran into the clearing and slid to a halt.

Persona, her servant, stood there, lips pulled down into a frown and two or three rips in his clothes. He glanced over at her and then back to the only other person in the area.

Blood ran down the side or Natsume's face, the color matching the violent shade of his eyes. He hugged his arm awkwardly to his chest and Mikan tried to ignore the fact that his uniform was ripped in many more than two or three places and he seemed to be limping a little and, were those the beginning of bruises around his neck?

She glanced at the two with cool indifference.

"Persona," she murmured. Her voice was soft, but the command in it was unmistakable. "What is going on here?"

Natsume watched with disbelief as the man swept himself into an elaborate bow, bending down on one knee, one arm behind his back and the other crossed against his chest with his head bowed to the teenage girl who was acting so odd today.

"Oujou-sama," he acknowledged solemnly, "I was merely teaching this boy a lesson."

Cold hazel eyes flickered to meet crimson.

"I can see that." Mikan gave a dismissive flick of her wrist. "Rise," she commanded.

"Yes, Oujou-sama."

Natsume gaped at the two.

"What the fu-"

"You don't need to waste any more energy on this one," Mikan interrupted Natsume smoothly, "he's not worth it."

Persona clenched his fists tightly before relaxing them, obedient.

"Yes, Oujou-sama."

"You may go."

"As you wish."

And he left.

Mikan turned to stare at the injured teen before her now. Harsh sunlight beat down on the two and made it glaringly obvious how badly he had been beat, if the amount of injuries the fire-caster had sustained were anything to go by.

"Hyuuga," she muttered.

"Polka, what was that?" he demanded angrily. "Why the hell was that guy obeying your orders like some kind of dog? Why was he calling you 'oujou-sama'?"

Mikan snorted at him and her lips curved into a cruel smile.

"Because that's what servants do."

Crimson eyes widened in disbelief.

"Servant?"

"Oh, are you deaf now? Or are you just too stupid to understand my words?"

Natsume's eyes narrowed.

"Nothing to say? Heh. How rude… You should be thanking me right now for saving your worthless ass and instead all that you do is stand there and just stare at me."

A moment of silence.

Mikan clicked her tongue. "Still nothing?"

"Hn."

Mikan sneered.

"Oh, yes. Because that was definitely is a proper response."

Natsume looked away, opened his mouth once or twice to say something, but then shut it again before any words were spoken.

Mikan simply stared at him.

"I don't see why I bothered…"

She really didn't.

"I should have just let him beat you."

But I couldn't.

"Then why didn't you?" The question was quiet, and Mikan doubted she would have heard it if the forest hadn't been so silent around them, the rushing sound of the waterfall excluded.

This time, it was Mikan who opened her mouth, only to not be able to answer.

Crimson eyes slid to hers.

"Well?"

"Because when one keeps on an act for too long, they become the act, if only a little. And even though I hate you, I don't want you to be beaten senseless. Even if you do deserve it."

The words were on the tip of her tongue, but Mikan didn't speak them.

"Hell if I know," she said with a light shrug.

"I don't understand you anymore," Natsume said softly.

His eyebrows were furrowed slightly but other than that his face looked calm. It was only his bloody red irises that gave his deep sadness and confusion away.

The two stared at each other, red versus hazel green, both standing on one side of the small forest clearing.

They were so different.

Mikan crossed the distance between them and Natsume didn't move at all as she came within a foot of him, took his uninjured hand in hers, and closed it around something smooth and cool.

She took a step back.

Natsume opened his hand to see a pale blue Alice stone the size of a large grape in his hand. He looked up at her in confusion and a little bit of disbelief, questions on his lips.

Mikan held up a hand for silence and spoke.

"Don't think that this is kindness on my part. I simply don't want for principal-sama to be angry with me for allowing one of his top agents to be as injured as you are and be unable to do mission. It's a healing Alice. Use it."

She said that, expression and voice icy and uncaring, but they both knew he could have easily gone to the hospital to be healed. Her gift was unnecessary. But she gave it anyway.

'Hell if I know why,' Mikan thought with a scowl.

Natsume snorted, a sad smile curving his lips. He shook his head slowly.

"I really don't understand you anymore."

Mikan cocked her head to the side and delivered a simple truth: "You never did."

And the sad thing was… Natsume was beginning to realize that she was probably right.

And yet…

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Yeah. So I'm gonna give this chapter an awkward cut off right about here ^^

So. What did you think~? For those who already know this story you should already be able to tell that hey: some things have changed! Don't be surprised, I told you this would happen ;)

Review review review! For anons I will start replying at the top of the story, so if you ask questions, you'll get an answer.

Thanks for reading! And once again: Review!

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