Threads to Life Chapter 3: The Start of Everything, a Prince of Tennis + Gakuen Alice Crossover fanfic

Hi! I am back with the new chapter! Thank you for reading this crossover fic of mine. Let's have a love square… shall we?

Chapter 3: The Start of Everything

Chapter Summary: Their lives would enter a new wave of experience. It was unexpected and both parties were adjusting to it.

Class 1-1:

Her heart was pounding really hard from her chest. He was in front of their class, casually standing there… looking at her way. She couldn't believe it, not at all.

"You can seat next to Ryuzaki-san."

"E-eh?" She blinked twice trying to register what the teacher said.

"Ryuzaki-san, please stand up so that Hyuuga-san here will recognize you."

Panicky at her seat, she silently agreed to her teacher's order as she was about to stand up but Natsume beat her to it and walked towards her direction.

"It's okay," He said closing his eyes in the process. His bag was slumped on his shoulder with his hand while the other was in his pocket. He continued walking towards her surprising the people around him, "I know her."

Her plans of standing up and greeting him were put to hold but look down to her lap instead. She just sensed him pulling his own chair and sat there beside her. Natsume didn't say anything after that. She took the chance to peek at him. He was just looking forward and boringly darted his attention at what the teacher was saying.

Her classmates were also murmuring. They were both surprised, shocked and admired the new transfer student in their class. Sakuno was aware about the looks and stares her classmates were giving to him.

Hyuuga Natsume was definitely a good looking guy, just like Echizen Ryoma.

Upon remembering the latter, her face turned red. Her eyes widened as she realized what she was thinking. She couldn't believe herself because of that.

"Meet me at the rooftop."

"E-eh?"

"We need to talk." Natsume said not looking at her.

The way he said it was really fretting her. His voice was pretty cold and unfriendly. Somehow, it was different from Ryoma's approach. Ryoma could be mean and rude at times but not as cold as like him. She didn't know if she could trust the boy. He attacked her the first time they met and no wonder that she would feel a little scared of him. She would rather meet the girl that he was with before.

"Don't panic," He suddenly said when she didn't say anything as if he read her mind, "I am not going to use my alice on you."

Her eyes widened when he said that. He was back with the alice thingy. It was weird at first but just like what she had decided last night, she would know the root of the disappearance of her necklace. Without a further hesitation, she slowly nodded at him and made sure that he saw it even though he was not looking at her.

Class 1-2:

Ryoma couldn't care less about the new transfer student who was being interrogated at that moment. Horio and the others were also inquiring about the cheery girl from the crowd. The teacher left them for a short while and would be back after a few minutes that was why they had the time to approach the girl.

"Echizen," Horio said as he went back to his seat which was next to him, "Sakura-san is such a nice girl."

"Un."

"Look everyone already likes her."

Ryoma boringly looked at her and saw how she smiled at them. Probably sensing him, she looked at his direction and surprised everyone inside;

"Konnichiwa, Ryoma-san!" She gave him a high wave and smiled at the same time.

Ryoma wasn't expecting that to her. He flinched a little as his eyes widened. Horio was agape at that moment as well as the others. Then, their classmates sweat dropped at the familiarity of the girl to him and bombarded her with another set of questions.

"How did you know Echizen-san?"

"Are you friends with Ryoma-sama?"

"Where do you live before?"

Mikan began answering their questions like they had just met yesterday due to coincidences and so on and so forth.

Ryoma recovered after that and returned his gaze to the window. Horio was saying something to him but he ignored him there. It couldn't get worse, could it? He hoped that it was just like that.

Later on:

She brought her lunch on the way to the rooftop. Natsume had strictly warned her not to bring anyone if she would meet him there. And since it was lunch break, she thought giving Tomoka an ailibi that she would look for Ryoma first and gave him a bento which she would be doing for the first time.

Her best friend squealed in delight when she said that. Tomoka believed her and let her go for a while. She would just eat in the canteen today and wished her good luck after that. Sakuno sighed as she slowly walked her way to the rooftop. She was nervous of meeting the boy in private but she must do it.

…To clear the uncertainties from everything.

She reached the door to the rooftop. She knew that there weren't enough students at that time especially that it was lunch time. Whatever happened to her might be taking a big risk. But she decided to trust the boy. With that thought, she opened to door and the light welcomed her.

"Sakuno!"

…And a voice.

"E-eh?" She looked ahead as she recognized the people there, "S-Sakura… san?... Ryoma-kun!"

Mikan approached her and grabbed her hands. She pulled her towards the others, "Come on, Sakuno, call me Mikan. I don't go with the honorifics except for Ryoma-san here and for Ruka-pyon… and our senpais."

"E-err…" W-who's Ruka-pyon? She thought but she never verbalized it. She looked at the other side of the rooftop. Natsume was actually there leaning at the fence at that moment.

"What are you two doing here anyway?" Ryoma said when she approached them.

Mikan looked at Ryoma and answered his question, "We're going to be your new classmates for the meantime."

Ryoma and Sakuno were shocked at that moment. They suddenly looked at each other then looked back at her.

"We have to do it because we need to."

"W-why?" Sakuno asked her. She really had a bad feeling about this.

"Sakuno, before you felt Natsume's appearance in this world, you sensed a bad feeling, right?" Mikan asked her which she immediately nodded, "That meant that there was an upcoming danger coming towards you."

Sakuno's eyes widened, "B-because Natsume-kun attacked me?"

Mikan narrowed her eyes to her partner and replied, "For the record, Natsume attacked me too when we first met in the Alice Academy. He likes attacking the first person that he meets."

Natsume grunted when he heard that from her, "Stop with the lame stories and get on with it."

"Shut it, idiot!" Mikan looked at him, "Why don't you help me and explained it to them."

Natsume looked at her and walked closer to them, "I won't hesitate to do that." He raised a hand and created a fire in his palm.

Ryoma quickly went in front of Sakuno and glared at him, "What are you trying to pull?"

"The reason you felt danger was because the alice was reacting to your body," The raven haired boy said, "The alices went inside you because they felt safe there. More on, you activated them at the same time."

"I—I don't understand anything. W-what are these alices for?" Sakuno said as she touched Ryoma's arm that was blocking her way, "W-What should I do to get them out from me?"

Natsume looked at them and then closed his eyes. His fire was still active from his palm, "You'll see." With that, he threw the fire to their direction. Mikan was a little surprised but she didn't do anything.

Ryoma and Sakuno's eyes widened as they saw the fire to their direction. The former just glared at it while Sakuno closed her eyes tight gripping Ryoma's arm in the process.

No! She desperately thought. Suddenly, a light quickly covered the two of them blocking the fire approaching them. Ryoma, Mikan and Natsume were shocked when they saw it. It came from Sakuno's body as she was glowing herself. Her plaits were gently floating from the effect. The fire diminished instantly as the light increased before it disappeared as fast as it came. She calmed down after that. She slowly opened her eyes and searched around. Ryoma was looking at her and giving her the curious expression on his face.

"That was the barrier alice."

Ryoma and Sakuno looked at Mikan who talked last. Mikan walked closer to them passing Natsume behind;

"With that Alice, you can protect yourself from any types of alices within range," The girl said, "Well, my alice is an exemption because I can nullify it."

"Hey polka, you can steal the barrier alice from her," Natsume said, "We can deal with the second alice later."

"You know I can't do that for now," Mikan said looking at Natsume, "Sakuno is at stake for the meantime. That's why we are protecting her."

"What do you mean by that?" Ryoma said glaring at them, "Just get the alices out from her immediately."

"Ryoma-san. I really want to but," Mikan said and then looked at Sakuno, "Sakuno is one of us now. If I force the alices out from her body, her life would be at stake."

"Can you explain that to us?"

"The second alice is the reason," Natsume said closing his eyes in the process, "It is refusing to leave her."

"W-what is the second alice?" Sakuno asked this time.

Mikan answered for her, "It's… the alice my best friend's brother has… the healing alice."

"H-healing alice?"

She nodded as she explained further, "I sort of stole a little of the healing alice from Subaru-senpai," She looked down as she fidgeted, "Because of a reason."

"You were forced to do it." Natsume said.

"But still—"

"We talked about this before so stop it," Natsume continued the explaining, "They explained as we went back yesterday that the alice liked the new vessel. If it is being pulled, the vessel would be at stake."

"The alice will drain your life if I force it out on you," Mikan said looking down, "I am sorry."

Silenced erupted between them. Sakuno was still adjusting at the knowledge that she just discovered.

"W-what should I do then?" She asked after the silence.

Mikan answered it for her, "Continue with your living. You cannot use the alice most of the time… especially the healing alice. You can only sense that there is some alice user nearby."

"What do you mean by protecting her a while ago?"

"The healing alice is also the reason," Mikan continued, "Someone wants to have it and getting it by all means is not a problem for them."

"Meaning…" Ryoma started which Natsume continued;

"They would get the alice from the person's body even though the life of the beholder would be at stake."

Sakuno's heart beat faster when he said that. Why did she end up in this mess? Why would she have to protect her life now? Why was she had those alices inside her body? Why would her life be in danger now? She couldn't get the answers at that very moment. She was worried for her own sake now.

"Don't worry, Sakuno," Mikan said grabbing her hands in the process, "That's why we are here to protect you until I could get the alices out from your body."

Sakuno looked at her and bit her lower lip.

"Should we trust you?" Ryoma said getting her attention.

Mikan looked at him and smiled, "We wouldn't be giving the effort of explaining these things to you and steal the alices out from her body right away if you don't."

Ryoma looked away and faintly grunted.

"Besides, I am responsible why Sakuno is having a hard time adjusting to herself now," Mikan said giving her a sad look before recovering fast, "That's why I'll do my best to keep you safe."

"S-Sakura-san—"

"Mikan…"

"M-Mikan-san…"

Mikan frowned at her making her sweat drop.

"Mikan… chan…"

Mikan squealed in delight and surprisingly hugged her, "I don't know but you really are cute."

Sakuno couldn't help but blush at her words. A girl was complimenting her. She couldn't understand it. Sweat dropping in the process, she closed her eyes and tapped her back.

Ryoma on the other hand was registering everything that was happening right now. Good thing that he was there and he discovered what was really happening to the girl. So the girl could use alice to the other alice users just like the two. That meant that they would be meeting other alice users out there… probably in the future.

He stared at the two alice users. The scarlet eyes boy was a fire alice as he confirmed it a lot of times. Well, his eyes were hazel brown now; he noticed that they would turn red if he used his alice. The girl with him that she considered as her partner was a nullifying alice user. He had the hint that she used it before. It was when the boy created a fire and she nullified it with her alice when she touched his wrist. She also mentioned about stealing alice. That meant that the girl also had a stealing alice as well.

Seeriosly, just how many alice users in their world and how many alices one could possess? He didn't know and why would he bother about it. There was one thing that he was concerned about and he asked it to him.

"Ne…" He started looking at him. The scarlet-eyed boy looked at him and waited for his answer;

"Until when should we wait until she could get out the alices from her body?"

Natsume looked at him first and then looked at the two girls who started to giggle at their little jokes. He placed his hands to his pocket and said;

"There's no guarantee when, but she knows," He said pertaining to Mikan, "She told me it would be around six months to one year."

His eyes widened. That was too long. They had to guard her until she could get it out from her? Just how important the alices were that they had to wait that long?

"Relax," Natsume said as he read his thought, "The alice will get out from her itself if the situation wishes for it. And rest assured that we will protect your girl."

"She's not my girl." He immediately defended himself. He then blinked twice. Why did he say that? He then looked at her who was still smiling at the other girl's words.

Natsume stared at him and smirked. He looked down as he huffed, "I've been like that too." He whispered but Ryoma unfortunately didn't hear it for he was occupied with his own thoughts at that very moment.

"Let's eat lunch here." Sakuno suddenly suggested dropping to her knees.

Mikan smiled even more when she said that, "I like that and I am already starving."

Sakuno invited the other two afterwards. Ryoma casually walked closer to them while Mikan dragged Natsume to sit beside her. The tense between the four seemed to die down. Now that they explained the reason to the both of them, Sakuno felt at ease. Her life would change after that day but she didn't mind that.

She was worried but she liked to give it a try. It was a challenge for her anyway. Besides, it wasn't her first time, risking her life to others or to herself as well.

They stayed there for a few minutes before they heard the bell ring and decided to leave the area afterwards.

After School, practice:

"Gomen," Sakuno said catching up with her breath as she approached her best friend near the fence. Her hands were on her knees as she continued talking, looking up to her, "I was asked by a teacher for a favor a few minutes ago."

Tomoka faced her with a hand to her waist, "Geez, Sakuno. Learn to reject them sometimes."

"But they are our teachers, Tomoka-chan," She said finally getting the air to her lungs, "I can't reject them."

"Just make an alibi or something," She shook her head and then looked in the court, "You almost missed the main event!"

Curious about it, she followed her line of vision and stared at it. Her eyes widened when she saw what was happening inside.

Mikan was playing tennis… against Natsume.

"S-sugoi…" She whispered as she placed her fingers to the fence. Her eyes fixed at the two players playing inside the court. The regulars were watching them as well. Inui was writing the data that he just discovered.

"Sakura-san is amazing," Horio said catching their attention, "She must join the girl's team."

"I agree with you," Fuji said who was standing near them, "And the Hyuuga guy should join the ranking tournament as well."

"Senpai," Sakuno looked up to him, "H-how did you know them?"

Fuji looked at her and gave her his usual smile, "I don't. They come here and play."

"R-really?"

Oishi heard them and joined the conversation, "They thought that playing tennis was fun," He looked around and spotted a certain regular, "Hyuuga was staring at Echizen play a while ago and then he asked if he could play a game for a while."

"H-he did?" Tomoka asked him with excitement.

Oishi nodded, "Tezuka for some reason agreed. But then again Sakura-san was looking for him and found him here. In the end, they played against each other."

"Eh!" Horio reacted, "These transfer students are really something."

"Saa," Fuji started as he looked at Sakuno, "I heard that Hyuuga is your classmate while Sakura-san is Echizen's."

"H-hai…" Sakuno nodded at him as confirmation, "They are pretty popular though."

"I see." He then looked at them.

A few minutes later, they saw Ryoma and Momo walked inside the court where they were playing. Ryoma was talking to Natsume and after a few nods from him, the latter walked to Mikan's court. They only realized what was happening when they step onto the court.

"A—a doubles match!" The freshmen trio said in unison.

The others gathered in that court to see the match between Echizen-Momoshiro pair against Hyuuga-Sakura pair. It was an unusual match.

Sakuno watched the game. She saw how much they enjoyed the game. Especially Mikan, the girl had no problem returning the hits back to the court. Momo kept praising the girl and even Ryoma was doing that. And as she was watching them, she could help but feel a little jealous about them.

Mikan was also a girl and she didn't have the trouble to handle the racket at all. She could join the girl's team as what Horio said a while ago. She even teamed up with Natsume for that. She was also a girl who played tennis.

…But not as good as the girl playing at the court.

She's… too good to be true. She mentally thought as she clenched a hand to her chest. Her heart pounded really fast at that time.

Still in the end, the experts had the victory. Ryoma and Momo used their doubles technique the 'Ah-un' strategy despite that they had to work on their pairing. They still managed to win. And the losers just like the usual, Inui presented them his medicine.

Natsume and Mikan wondered about it but since they lost, they accepted the punishment.

…Which was their biggest mistake.

Anticipating the result, the people who knew what would happen to them, silently prayed and wished for their health. Seconds later, two corpses—err—unconscious bodies were lying down on the ground.

"Inui, you should have spared them, nya," Eiji said approaching the data analyst, "They are not even members in the first place."

Inui just pushed his glasses to his nose, "That fact will change soon."

"Saa, I wonder about that." Fuji said hearing what they were saying.

Ryoma looked at them and smirked, "You still have a long way to go."

Everyone sweat dropped when they heard his catchphrase after that. There were things that would remain the same. And Sakuno would only think about that.

Later on:

"Will they be okay?" Sakuno asked after a few minutes of resting. The practice had already ended but Natsume and Mikan were not ready to go. Sumire was waiting for them to wake up.

"They are, I think," Sumire said massaging her temple, "I have to wait for them until they return back to their senses."

"I sse… I'll stay with you too, Obaa-chan." Sakuno said dropping her bag to the chair.

"Don't be, you have to make dinner tonight," Sumire said as she opened her record book, "I have to scold these two and it's their first day. You go on without me."

"B-but—"

"It's okay. You should go home," Sumire said waving her hand to shoo her away, "You can also eat without me."

"O-okay…" She slowly turned away to face the door not forgetting to grab her bag once again, "I'll prepare your dinner so eat too when you get home."

"I will and be careful on your way home."

"Hai…"

She immediately walked on her way home. She looked up and stared at the sky, "It's almost dark, huh?" She whispered to herself and then smiled afterwards, "I better get home and fast." With that, she changed her pace and thought of going home as fast as she could. When she reached the gate, she spotted someone leaning to a post and was indeed shocked to see who it was;

"Ryoma-kun!" She halted as she reached him.

Ryoma looked at her before he replied, "You're late."

"E-eh?"

"Sensei asked me," He immediately said before she could even ask him. He then started to walk away and headed towards her direction, "Let's go."

"W-what…" Her eyes widened as she couldn't believe what was happening. When he sensed that she was not following, he looked her way and told her to follow. Blinking twice, she ran up to him and walked beside the boy uttering a small 'thanks' to him.

Meanwhile:

The night was almost covering a particular side of the area. Suddenly, a light could be shown to a dark place and in that place, a figure appeared from that light.

The figure used some sort of device to make the light disappear. The figure looked around and analyst the location. When the coast was clear, a smirk was formed to its face and whispered;

"So this is where you are hiding," The figure said, "I can get to you in no time," The hand was holding a stone and gripped it really hard, "Special alice user."

Done! How was this chapter? I don't where this is going, really. I don't even know the plot yet. I hope I can get a better idea soon. Give me time and I'll fix this. Domo…

Let me hear your thoughts. Thank you very much…

And guys sorry for the grammar errors, typos and anything of the sort. I can only check my updates out when I have an Internet access on my mobile phone but it's temporarily down for a moment. It will take time before I could have it back. So please bear with me for a while. Domo... ^_^

Next Chapter: Momo and Fuji