Threads to Life Chapter 10: The Path to Alice Academy, a Prince of Tennis + Gakuen Alice Crossover fanfic

Hi! I am back with the new chapter. Well, I hope you enjoy this… Domo…

sweetangel - tee hee hee... well, ito na ung next chapter?

Well, for now, I will not say anything. I don't want to spoil the story, do I? ;p

That's okay... oh and by the way, did I join the right group? I am not sure e? tee hee hee... and Ryoma-kun's inviting me to see him on the event. Tee hee hee... I don't know what to do now...

Well, thank you... ^_^

Chapter 10: The Path to the Alice Academy

Chapter Summary: She was invited to come into their world. She was excited and nervous at the same time. She would meet different people there too. She was invited but she was invited alone…

"We will bring her with us to Alice Academy."

They were rather shocked when she said her words. Sakuno would go to Alice Academy? She would be meeting different types of alice users out there too.

"I will go to… Alice Academy…"Sakuno repeated what she had heard.

"We will take you there and bring you to my brother." Hotaru continued and then looked at the others, "Please be reminded that we only have to take her alone."

"What?" Fuji and Momo said at the same time while Ryoma didn't say anything although shock was still visible to his face.

"How can we sure that Ryuzaki-chan will be alright there?" Momo said looking at Hotaru.

"She'll be fine," She said, "Mikan and I will protect her."

They looked at each other after she said that. They were still unconvinced about the whole thing.

"Fuji-senpai, Momo-senpai, Ryoma-san," Mikan called their attention, "I promise that we will protect Sakuno there besides, they are my classmates too. I bet that they will make friends with her."

"I see…" Momo nodded trying to convince himself at least.

"Ryuzaki-san is friendly. I guess it will be really fine." Fuji finally decided.

"Wait! Can't at least Echizen go with her?" Momo said not giving up the conversation.

Ryoma and Sakuno were shocked as they looked at Hotaru. But Hotaru didn't say anything after that.

"Okay, okay, she'll be fine with you guys, I know." Momo commented finally giving up in the end.

"It's okay…" Sakuno started, "I trust them… I know, I'll be fine because I am with them."

"She'll be away for a few days so no need to fuss about it." Natsume retorted.

"Watch your mouth, Natsume," Hotaru said eyeing him, "They are still your senpais here, learn to respect them."

Natsume only grunted. Ruka apologized for him because of his rude behavior. Fuji and Momo let it go. Ryoma remained quiet all the time and no one knew what he was thinking at that very moment.

"That's settled then," Hotaru said sighing afterwards, "We will go there tomorrow night."

The others didn't have a choice but to agree. All they could hope was for Sakuno returning back safe and sound in Seigaku.

Few minutes later:

They were just walking on their way home talking about random things. Sakuno and Ryoma were quiet as they walked together. Sakuno took a glance at the tennis prodigy.

I wonder what Ryoma-kun think about me going to Alice Academy? She thought as she looked ahead. I don't know how long I am going to be there. Will it still be the same?

"Ah, right, Sakuno, I am sorry!" Mikan said bending towards her clasping her hands in front of her.

She blinked at her actions, "W-what for?"

She looked up and peeked an eye on her, "For ruining your date with Ryoma-san."

Blush suddenly heated up to her face, "W-we are not dating!"

"Eh?" Mikan said shifting her attention to Ryoma, "Is that true?"

Ryoma looked at the corner of his eyes before he looked down to his arms where Karupin was, "We were with Karupin so it's not."

"Saa, if Karupin's not with you, then it could be considered as a date?" Fuji asked trying to prolong the conversation.

"I did not say that." He said closing his eyes in the process.

"But you are pertaining to it."

"S-senpai," Sakuno interrupted still blushing, "Please stop it!"

"So these two are dating?" Hotaru asked Mikan which the later shrugged.

"H-Hotaru-san!" Sakuno blurted out, "Mou! Not you too…"

Momo snickered while Ruka blushed as he smiled. Natsume as usual grunted at the scene while Ryoma kept ignoring them. The three remaining people continued teasing Sakuno and Ryoma making them blush at different shades of red.

A force made them stop from teasing the two. The alice users plus Ryoma and Sakuno became alerted. Several fast gun shots were coming towards their way and with an unbelievable reflex, Sakuno was able to block it with her barrier alice thus, protecting the others inside the barrier.

When the coast was clear, Sakuno had slowly released her alice and sensed the area. Natsume went ahead as they heard clapping of hands.

"Bravo, Sakuno-san, you can manage the alice now." A figure appeared from nowhere. They followed the sound and were shocked to see who it was.

Sakuno could recognize the voice and she wasn't imagining it. Reo Mouri was standing not far from them. She walked backwards while Ryoma covered for her and the others. Natsume created a fire to his palm and faced him;

"What do you want?" He hissed as he glared at him with his scarlet eyes.

Reo smirked at him and said, "You know what I want Hyuuga," He said and then looked at Sakuno, "If you could let us borrow miss Special Alice user here, we will let you go."

"You're crazy!" Mikan said leveling Natsume there. She could make a good use of her nullifying alice if Reo planned to use his, "We will never hand Sakuno or the alices to the likes of you!"

To their terrified situation, Reo gave them a wicked laugh and smirked at her afterwards, "To the likes of us? Do you know who you're dealing with? Think first before you act, Mikan-chan."

"You bastard," Hotaru said aiming her special gun at him, "Leave."

"You cannot just ask me to leave here," Reo said and then looked at Sakuno, "Now, be a good girl and come with us."

"I… I refuse." Sakuno answered giving the slightest firm tone she could give. Ryoma had entirely blocked her way, glaring at him.

"Hmmm," Reo said closing his eyes in the process, "You have trusty friends here. I wonder how long they will take this." He touched his earing and was about to speak.

"Don't even think about it, Reo!" Mikan activated her nullifying alice before he could speak.

Reo stopped and glared at them and then to her, "Why, Mikan-chan? Why go against us? You do know how important this mission to that person. Why are you stopping us?"

"Because this is not right!" Mikan said walking a little closer to him, "My friends are studying in the academy and I don't want you to destroy it! Because of that school, I met many friends and I learned lots of things there and I don't want some organization ruin it!"

"Even if I'll be the one to lead it?"

Everyone looked around to see the newcomer. The people from the Alice Academy were shocked to see the newcomer especially Mikan while the Seigaku students wondered about the person that arrived from nowhere.

A few meters away from them, an average lady stood there looking particularly at Mikan. She had a short brunette hair and hazel eyes just like Mikan and Sakuno's. They were looking at her as she did to them.

"M-mom…"

Sakuno was shocked when she heard what Mikan said. She looked at them alternatively and she recognized the resemblance. The lady in front of them looked exactly like Mikan.

"T-that's Mikan's mother?" Momo said couldn't believe what he was seeing.

"Mom," Mikan said walking a little closer to her, "What are you doing here?"

"Yuka…" Reo said but Yuka raised her hand telling him that it was fine.

"You know why I am here, Mikan," The lady looked at her and then to Sakuno, "If you want to spare your life, you better work with us instead."

Before Sakuno could reply, Mikan blocked herself in front of her still activating her alice, "You cannot take her away. Hotaru's brother needs her!"

"Mikan!" Hotaru warned her but it was too late.

"Hmmm," Reo reacted, "So it's that the time already? Yuka-san, do you think that we should pull off… for now?"

The lady looked at him and nodded. She looked back at them, "You really giving us a favor," The lady called Yuka said, "I just came here to say hi. I'll see you soon… Mikan."

With that, Reo and Yuka created a portal and went in. the area was quiet once again… or so they thought. Now that they were bothered by something, Mikan released her alice and looked down. Sakuno was staring at her and so the others. They never realized that something was approaching at Sakuno's direction.

Natsume was the one to notice it, "Look out, baka!" He grabbed her and pushed her down on the floor. But some sort of magic didn't stop there. It aimed at the both of them. Natsume was taken by surprise and the others were still shocked at the turn of events especially Mikan.

A tennis ball hit the magic-like thingy but it only avoided it. The magic had a mind of its own so it went back to Natsume and Sakuno's direction. Fuji and Momo saw Ryoma's reaction as he gripped his racket. The force was about to hit them when the tennis ball hit it by surprise, thus stopping it from attacking before it disappeared.

The guy who had shot them a while ago fired an unexplainable alice to them. Momo and Fuji seemed to remember the guy.

"You were the guy who hurt Ryuzaki-chan before." Fuji opened his eyes as he glared at him.

The guy smirked, "Just trying my luck," With that he, too, created a portal and immediately went in thus, leaving them behind.

Hotaru saw the whole thing. She observed Ryoma after that. The tennis prodigy sighed after that attack. Momo grabbed him and praised with the nice move. Hotaru just remained silent as he observed the tennis prodigy.

"Are you two alright?" Ruka walked closer to Natsume and Sakuno. The former stood up as well as her. She looked at Ruka and nodded, "We-we're fine," She turned to Natsume and blushed, "Thank you… for saving me."

Natsume just looked at her for a few seconds before he turned around, "Just be careful next time."

"H..hai." She agreed as she looked down. She was still feeling awkward facing him because of his attitude.

Mikan was shocked to see her mother there. She gripped her hands tight as she thought about it. She flinched when someone grabbed her hand. Looking at her side, she noticed Hotaru staring at her.

"I-Is that the reason why… you came here?" Mikan asked her, "You knew that Mom was here?"

They heard what Mikan asked to her best friend. Hotaru was quiet for a while before sighing and made it clear to everyone, "Before I realized that my big brother was in danger, we already knew that your mother was here."

"…"

"We were trying to come here as early as possible but the portal was giving us a hard time to get here," Hotaru said and then looked at Sakuno, "Ryuzaki, we need you to come with us first hand before Mikan's mother gets you."

"I-Is that really bad?" Sakuno asked her, "C-can't I fight them instead?"

"You can only defend yourself," Hotaru said completely facing her, "The alices that you have are for defenses so you cannot do the attacking."

Sakuno looked at her and then looked away afterwards. It was pretty hard for her now that they were going to protect her and she couldn't do anything at all but to defend herself.

She couldn't do the attack.

She wasn't good at facing problems anyway so what was the difference facing the enemies? She just hoped that everything would turn out fine in the end.

"No matter what, don't let Yuka-san get you," Hotaru said intently staring at her, "Your life would be put to use if you fall in their hands."

She bit her lower lip and nodded. She knew what that meant. She had to be cautious to her surroundings… at all cost.

"Imai, I think we should rest," Ruka said looking at the inventor, "Everyone is tired."

"You are right," Hotaru nodded and then looked at Sakuno, "We will meet tomorrow night. Everything will be ready by then so don't worry."

"Hai…"

They parted ways after that. Ryoma, Fuji and Momo went together along with Sakuno while Natsume, Ruka, and Hotaru went home with Mikan. Both parties were thinking the same thing. Hotaru was thinking as well. After a few minutes of being quiet, she looked up and called everyone's attention;

"You guys go ahead," Hotaru said walking away from them, "I've got to do something."

"H-Hotaru," Mikan called up to her, "Where are you going?"

"I'll be fine. I'll see you in a few minutes!" Hotaru shouted loudly enough for them to hear,
Take guard Nogi!"

Ruka nodded as he got her message. Mikan watched her leave there and wondering what she was going to do. They just arrived there but it seemed that her best friend seemed to know the place. When she couldn't see her best friend anymore, they continued to walk home.

Later on:

Hotaru started to walk when she was not visible to them. Her thought was deep at that very moment. She wasn't imagining it, and her eyes were not betraying her at all. Narrowing her eyes, she finally decided to confirm it and went to that direction.

And just as she turned to a corner, her eyes flinched a little as she saw the person in front of her. She smirked as she stared at the person.

"I knew that you would come back," She watched the person who was seriously staring at her, "Echizen."

"I knew that you would notice."

Hotaru stared at him, "Say, that hit of yours…"

"…"

"Ne…"

She just looked at him when he said that. She had anticipated what he was about to say but she waited for him to say it and she wasn't mistaken.

"About Ryuzaki…"

Meanwhile:

They silently walked on their way home. Ruka was feeling awkward at that very moment. A lot of things happened today. First, he had witnessed his best friend kissing the girl. Second, the girl was worried when she saw her mother in the area.

He looked at the both of them and thought that they were thinking different things at that time. He wanted to ask Natsume but it wasn't really the time.

Sighing, he let the silence covered each of them.

xxx

"Rest for tonight," Natsume said to Mikan as he was about to close the door, "We will be on guard."

Mikan didn't say anything but she nodded. She gave him a tiny smile before she closed the door between them.

Natsume and Ruka were left to guard the door outside. No one said a word as they looked at the dark sky. Not until Ruka broke it;

"Hey, Natsume."

"What is it?"

"From what… we witnessed when we first arrived…"

Natsume looked at him, "What about it?"

"Are you… a couple?"

Natsume's eyes widened when he asked that.

Ruka blushed as he continued speaking his words, "Y-you were kissing so…"

"She's not my girlfriend."

Ruka looked at him only to see him looking elsewhere. The latter then continued talking.

"I just did that just to make sure that she wouldn't doubt about it."

"What do you mean?"

Natsume was staring at the dark sky as he continued, "I don't want to see her frown."

Ruka was just staring at him. His words were deep but somehow, he knew what he meant. He looked down and stared at his pet bunny. He narrowed his eyes before he prickly asked his question;

"Natsume," He started not looking at him but he knew that he was listening so he continued, "Do you… have feelings for Sakura?"

Silence erupted between them. Natsume remained silent as if he was surprised at his words. Ruka was rather feeling awkward now that he asked what was bugging him but the person beside him wasn't going to answer him any minute.

"Good, you two are behaving."

"Imai…" Ruka said as he looked at her direction, "We were just guarding this place."

Natsume just looked away. He didn't like it when she was around him but he had to endure.

She was Mikan's best friend after all.

"You guys continue guarding," Hotaru said opening the door, "Mikan needs some time alone and I do hope that you understand that, Hyuuga."

Natsume grunted when she said that but he didn't say anything. Not really admitting it, she really needed some time for herself.

They watched Hotaru enter the door until she disappeared from their sight. Ruka sighed after that. He knew that it was going to be a long night for them.

The Next Day:

Just like Hotaru said, everything was prepared for her 'vacation'. She would be away for a couple of days and be back as possible as she could. She didn't know when to return home at all so she was a bit nervous about it.

She would be entering the world of Alice tonight and she would be the different one there. She was nervous and excited at the same time because she would be meeting new friends at a different dimension.

She would be helping an alice user who happened to be the original owner of the alice that she was currently possessing.

Hotaru's older brother.

She would just hope that everything would turn out in the end.

xxx

Mikan was walking aimlessly on the corridor of the school. She was thinking about everything from where it started. From the moment she stole the alice from Hotaru's big brother until the appearance of her mother.

Everything was confusing to her. She actually didn't know what to do. Seeing her mother once again felt like a miracle to her.

"You look like a zombie."

She looked ahead only to Natsume leaning on a wall of the corridor.

"I am not!" Mikan said and then looked away, "I am just thinking things recently."

Natsume didn't reply to her instead he stared for a couple of seconds before he decided to walk closer to her. She watched him walk towards her without making any move. Her feet seemed to glue on the ground.

"Don't be bothered by it."

"What?" She blinked as she looked at his hazel eyes. They were pretty close to each other once again. Then she remembered what happened to them the other day.

Natsume kissed her out of the blue. Blush crept to her face when she remembered that. She looked away as she tried to busy herself with something;

"I am not…" She whispered as she bit her lower lip, "I was just… surprised that mom was here."

"…"

"Polka dots."

"Don't call me that!"

"Stop worrying things," He said leaning away from her, "You're creeping me out."

Mikan pouted as she called out to him, "Natsume no baka. Don't cheer me up with names." Then she realized that he just did. He had just his ways on how to make her respond. He was right after all. Whatever they were arguing for was something that they could solve in the future. She would just talk to her mother when she had the chance. Natsume waved at her as he continued walking away from her. She couldn't help but smile at that.

"Thank you… Natsume…"

Night:

She waved goodbye to her grandmother that night. Natsume and Ruka picked her up from her house. She introduced Ruka as her classmate even though Ruka was not even a student in Seigaku. Sumire teased her from the boys and she couldn't help but blush to it.

They walked away from their residence. She was going to miss her grandmother for she really didn't know when to come back home. Well, it wasn't just her. She would miss everyone in the school. Her best friend, her classmates and senpais…

…And him.

She wouldn't be able to see him for a while. She wanted to say goodbye temporarily but not a sign of him could be seen anywhere. She watched him play during practice but she never had the chance to talk to him. She didn't call him either. Not because she couldn't, she just didn't know what to say aside from saying goodbye to him.

Saying goodbye was pretty hard even though it would not be permanent. It was pretty awful to say it anyway. In the end, she thought that it was better this way.

They reached the garden where they planned to meet. Mikan and Hotaru were already there. Sakuno greeted the both of them which they nodded back at her.

"Are you ready?" Hotaru said to her.

Sakuno was nervous but she nodded. Her senpais were not even there as well. Just like him, she also thought that it was better not to see them at all.

It would be easier that way.

Hotaru looked at Ruka as the latter nodded. He opened the portal that would take them to their world. Not a minute passed, a large white portal appeared in front of them. There was a wind that was covering the entire area. Sakuno stared at the portal in front of her. She didn't know what would happen to her there but she knew that it would turn out fine.

Mikan held her hand and gripped it. She also smiled at her, "It's going to be fine. You're with me."

She looked at her and smiled back as well, "Un."

They both looked together in front of the portal. Gathering enough courage, she walked closer to the portal together with Mikan. The others had already entered the portal and they were the ones who entered it last.

As soon as Sakuno and Mikan entered the portal, it had immediately disappeared… taking them to the world of alice.

Done! How was it? I don't know what to say anymore. My mind was not fixed… Tell me your thoughts… Domo… ^_^

Reviews please! One word is enough for me… Domo… ^_^

For my 'Crystal Teardrops II' readers out there: I would like to inform that I'll be posting the Next chapter on Saturday, not Friday. I don't think I would finish the chapter in time so sorry for the day delay... I hope to see you soon domo... ^_^

Next Chapter: Not your Average School