(Gakuen Alice Imai Hotaru)

++++Iron Butterfly++++

Synopsise: Yuu x Hotaru x Ruka and Mikan x Natsume. 1 year has past since Mikan has joined Alice Academy and neither Natsume nor Ruka have confessed their love for her. So, Hotaru takes things into her own hands, but what happens when her life becomes lot more than just creating machines.

Disclaimer: I do not own Gakuen Alice or any of their characters

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Author's Note: This FanFiction is written in from the Hotaru Imai's 1st person view. However if there is a change it will be noted. Also, I have now officially watched the full series of Gakuen Alice, so I do not have to assume what has happened. Thank you

Chapter 2: Into the Lion's Den and the Jaws of the Monster

I quickly proceeded to Persona's Office, while contemplating on a new and even better plan to get either Natsume or Ruka to confess their love towards Mikan, but without avail. I turned left down the familiar empty corridors, still lost in thought. If it wasn't for the most maddening announcement my original plan would have been a success: I would have placed a banquette of roses on Mikan's desk and a note saying

"To My Love:

You have been watching me,

and I have been watching you.

And my heart could not avoid loving you.

Endless Love from Your Secret Admirer."

Nothing too discrete or she wouldn't have gotten the hint, with the exception of the real brilliance in this simple plan. Knowing Natsume and Ruka are as easy to manipulate as pieces on a chessboard. I knew that they would not allow anyone to have Mikan before they did; therefore they would rush towards Mikan and destroy both the note and the roses. Then Mikan would ask in a childish rage "Why did you do that for? You Baka!" (Though I still inform her that I am the only person who is to tell other individuals that they are idiots, she never takes my advice and suffers for it). Then Natsume and Ruka would have to confess their feelings and reasons for destroying the note and roses. In spite of these unprecedented circumstances, my plan would have been successful, but now the banquette roses lies secluded in the hallows of my desk never to fulfil its purpose.

'PERSONA'S OFFICE' I read, large bold letters engraved on a metal tablet hanging in front of the door.

Knock, knock, knock

"Come in, Imai Hotaru. I have been expecting you," I heard a dark and mysterious voice that sent chills down my spine. I took a deep breath to calm my inner nerves, taking the handle of the door and pausing for the second time today. "Quickly now, we don't have all day."

I had to act professionally; I opened the door and saw the room hardly lit. Persona was sat behind his desk; the only light in the room came from a lamp, the light shone on his face at an angle that created sinister shadows. His white mask hiding any emotion behind the Blanc, he seemed to be starring me down, but I wasn't about to give in to anyone's demands.

"Miss Imai, do you know why I called you here today?" he asked calmly, leaning back in his leather chair crossing his arms.

"No, but I sincerely apologise if a have broken or acted against any of the school rules or if I have done anything that has offended you," I said in the same calm voice, I was myself surprised at how calm I sounded.

"Really? I thought the most intelligent student in the Academy would be able to figure out why exactly brought you here," he reached for his desk's drawer. I heard the wood surfaces drag against each other and the shuffle of papers, "Close the door and come closer, Miss Imai."

Looking at my long shadow against the light stretching from the doorway, knowing that here, I was vulnerable. I knew it and he knew it, I had no control of what will go on inside these walls. Slowly, hesitantly closing the door and approaching his desk, keeping an alert eye. He then placed a brown envelope in front of me and returned to his relaxed position in this leather chair.

"Open it, Miss Imai," I did and I saw the complete collection of Season #1 Natsume Cards, "do you know what this means?"

"Does this mean you want the Collectors Special Edition of Natsume, Season #1, obtainable only after showing me a complete set of this season?"

"No! Miss Imai," rising from his seat threateningly, I stood my ground expecting a brutal punishment. But instead he turned and walked towards the closed blinds behind his desk. "I have trained Natsume to be one of our best offences and defences of the Academy, I have taught him to be totally aware of his surroundings, alert of any movement around him and to attack anyone he senses to be a threat or spy – an ultimate defence. However, you have infiltrated his defences, and more than once I see, not to mention you have no dangerous or specialised Alice which allows you to do this. Do you know what this tells me, Miss Imai?"

"No, sir," I was unaware of the conclusion he had come to and finding this visit a waste of my precious time.

"You have talent. To simply put it. Natsume may have fiery abilities, but doesn't have a great deal of natural born skill. You do though, and a great deal of it and this is what this organisation needs to gain an upper hand over our enemies."

I listened intently, but not in favour of it, "Your enemies not ours, I have nothing to do with your pointless feuds and missions, I- "

"I was not asking for your opinion in the matter Miss Imai, this is a demand. I will raise your ranking to the Special Star," he said interrupting me, "and increasing your allowance to 300 rabbits a month,"

"What exactly do I have to do?" I said now extremely interested at the prospects of this large allowance of Rabbits.

"You will be given missions, of course according to your talent, which mostly Enemy Infiltration. This will mainly involve collecting classified information, photos, building designs…"

"Yes, I understand what Enemy Infiltration is. To put it into baby language, you want me to do; what I do to Natsume and Ruka on a regular basis. It will be all too easy Mr Persona, but to all great prospects what is the catch?" I questioned knowing nothing it every this easy.

"Well I do not see this much of a catch, but more a necessary obligation." This did not sound good, and I began to become agitated while my fists clenched. "Training is required like Natsume, this will take up lesson time and free time." I knew it; the precious little time I have to myself will be taken up with training. "But as I said I wasn't asking you, you already are part of the rank."

He walked across the room to a metal drawer, reaching into his jacket pocket he pulled out a small key, which he then inserted into the hole of the top drawer. Turning the key, small clicks could be heard coming from inside the drawer until he removed the key. He pulled out the draw and picked up a small mahogany box. After closing the draw, he walked to his desk and sat comfortably on his chair still holding the box.

"Take off your stars and put them on the desk," he said not moving an inch. I did as he commanded, still wondering what was in the box.

When I had placed the last of my three stars on the desk, all I could do was wait and watch. Persona still did not move. The light shone on the polished surface of the box, the wood was engraved with a single star enclosed in a ring – it was the symbol of the Special Star rank and the school. Finally, he placed the box on his desk and opened it. Inside the box, I found a small collection of The Stars placed on a velvet fabric, specifically the same star Natsume wears. Each star was kept in pristine condition and the surfaces glimmered in light of the lamp. He picked one up and placed it on the desk in front of me, then quickly closed the box. He then opened his desk draw and the wood once again made a scratching sound as it opened and again there was a ruffle off papers. Placing another brown envelope next to the star, he relaxed into his chair.

"Take the badge and put it on, Miss Imai," I did without hesitation. "In the envelope there is the weekly timetable of your training schedule. Also, there is a list of activities which are outside or replace the regular training routine, for example a mission, extra lecture, etc, these normally are still training activities, but if otherwise proper information will be given to you before hand. On this list you will find that you do have a mission in 3 weeks, so I have gone through the trouble of writing a basic data account of what you will be acquired to do, etc." I starred at the envelope with mixed feelings; I did not know whether I should be cursing it for disrupting my personal time or embracing this with open arms. "You may return to your lesson, and remember this is all confidential Miss Imai."

I picked up the envelope and walked to the door. I paused before opening the door and looked at the new star, but then continued. The new found light from the corridor blinded me momentarily; however I quickly recovered and closed the door behind me.

I returned to the class room, it was a few minutes too early still for class to have begun, but the class room would now be packed with my fellow pupils. I gently gripped the envelope, I wasn't prepared to open it yet, but I had prepared a lie if anyone – Mikan, was to wonder what it was. Opening the door, I expected a loud cry of noise, but instead… silence. I thought that lesson had begun, but found no sign of a teacher. Everyone starred at me even Ruka and Natsume, but I kept my poker face as I sat down on my seat.

"HOTARU!!!" Mikan shouted while running towards me. I prepared the Baka Bazooka, but I thought that it would be far too cruel to knock her out for a second time this morning. "Hotaru, Hotaru! You'll never guess what! You have a secret admirer and they left a bunch of roses in your desk!"

I starred at Mikan wide-eyed as I realized that my previous plan has gone terribly wrong.