At the northern part of the Academy, there exist a forest. The students rarely go there because it is rumored to be a sanctuary of beasts; and danger would befall to anyone who enters the woods, because of that, not a lot of people really know what hides inside that forest. The students call it the Northern Woods. Normally, at a night like this one, there is not a single soul that can be found in the woods but at that night, there was one.

In the heart of the forest among the dreary trees, a raven-haired boy struggles to walk his way out. He was tightly holding his side trying to prevent more blood coming out of his fresh wound. He could barely walk as he supports himself, holding on from trunk to trunk, after a few meters of walking his legs gave up so he decided to take a rest on the nearest tree he got a hold of.

Damn that Persona. He should have at least told me about the back ups. Natsume cursed in his thoughts as he slowly rest himself under the tree. Ahhhh, my eyes are blurring. I shouldn't have taken this mission. I can't stand anymore, damn this is so troublesome.

Natsume's vision started to fail him as his eyes started to close before it fully shut itself, light. I can see a light. Is someone there? Impossible this is the northern woods. My eyes won't open, well, I don't care anymore.

Natsume's POV

I want to be in a place… what? Who's that? A place we could all go. A woman. Who is she? What place is she talking about? Wait don't go! I blurted out when I saw her disappearing.

My eyes slowly opened as I realize I was dreaming. Who was that woman? I've never met her before, but why do I feel so nostalgic? Another realization I had was that I wasn't wearing my uniform and I wasn't in my room. It's not a very big room but it's neat with a very few furniture, a grand piano and a balcony just across the bed.

"Oh you're a wake." Someone entered the room, I casted a fire on my right hand and charged at the person on the door. A few inches away from that person I realized that my fire was gone and that I know this person. How could I forget? She was the one I was waiting for ten years.

I put down my hand and face her. Unlike before I'm the one know who's looking down on her. My hands are bigger, my limbs are longer, and I don't need to be protected anymore. I changed a lot; but she has not, not a single difference from ten years ago.

She smiled and walked towards the coffee table behind me along with her tray of cups and a pot I presume is for tea. My eyes followed her. "Is that how you treat your savior? Natsume?"

"Hn." I followed her to the table, sat on her opposite side and poured tea for myself. "Ha-ha" I heard her chuckled. "How very collective of you, as expected from the cold blooded prince." I ignored her remark before putting down my cup. "So what are you doing here? Mikan?"

She smiled before turning her gaze towards the balcony. Ah, how could I not realize, her eyes changed. It's warmer, gentler. She turned to face me, she was smiling but I could feel something more, as if she was lonely, no, more like despairing. "I told you right? Our fates are intertwined. You can't escape me Natsume."

8:30

I walked on my way to class, ignoring all the stares and the annoying squeals of the girls from other classes. Ruka ran to me when he saw me in the hallway. We went in the classroom and sat at the back. I wasn't really in the mood to listen to my annoying pink teacher, talking about a new transfer student, so I did my best to sleep putting my manga on my face.

After my conversation with Mikan she gave back my uniform all washed and stitched; my wounds are also patched up. She told me to go to class, but seriously, is this really the time to be going to class.

I was quite surprise myself when I saw her, I didn't expect that she would be here. What was she doing in the northern forest anyway? I've heard ridiculous ghost stories in the northern forest about a hunted house; that must be the place they were talking about. Even so, was she always there? If she was how come she never bothered to see me? I mean she was the one who brought me here; she should at least show her face time to time. Speaking of her face, why is it that…

My thoughts were cut off when I heard a familiar voice, I was hoping that I was wrong but then I took a peak from my manga and to my demise I was right. I don't often wish that I was wrong but this was one of those moments.

"Good morning everyone! My name is Sakura Mikan. My Alice is nullifying Alice, which means that I could cancel out any attempts to use an Alice against me. I just recently transferred here from the Alice Academy in England so I will be needing a lot of assistance." She said flashing a ridiculously optimistic smile. "Please take care of me." That idiot, what is she scheming now? And what's with that ridiculous smile?

"Okay everyone, she's new so be nice to her!" said the frilly monster. "Her partner would be Natsume, So Mikan you could sit beside him at the back." So this is what he meant by taking care of the new student. I could hear everyone murmuring is it all right, to be partnered up with Natsume? Isn't that dangerous? How stupid, meddling people.

Mikan walked towards my seat and flashed a grin before sitting down, "I'll be in your care Natsume." She said cheerfully. "What are you scheming this time? And what's with that pigtail?" she chuckled before saying "You're still as rude as ever. Why don't you just be happy at our reunion?" There is it again. Why does she talk like we've know each other for so long?

Lunch Break

I was walking with Ruka and his rabbit towards the cafeteria when I heard a familiar voice. "Ruka, go ahead." Ruka nodded and I went to the direction of the voice outside the school.

"Don't get too cocky you pigtails." Said a girl. "Just because you are partnered with Natsume doesn't mean that you could stick to him." Ah, this again. That's why I hate girls, how annoying.

Mikan just stared at them then she was pushed, I caught her just before she hit the wall. "Natsume!" The girls seemed surprise at my entrance. "Dare to touch this girl and I'll burn all of you." The three girls flinched before running towards the school building.

"And what are you doing getting bullied on your first day?" I said sounding really irritated. "Oh Natsume! What's up? Thanks for saving me." She giggled like nothing happened. "I'm famished, let's go eat." She said grabbing my hand, the same hand that held me at my sanity ten years ago. I tightened my grip on her.

"Hey." I called out halting my walk. "What's wrong?" she asked turning to face me, our fingers still intertwined. "Why do you not age?"

She smiled at me and looked at the clouds. She had that look again. A very sad look, as if she was about to cry. She turned to me before saying, "Aren't you the one who knows that, more than anyone else?" I could feel the chill in the gust of wind that had just passed us. I felt a sharp pain in my heart, as if my sins are resurfacing.