A/N: Hey there, I am Zenophobiaz and 'recently' I have been addicted with Gakuen Alice fanfics so ever since 9/14/10, I have started planning on writing a new fanfic that would be fitting of what I wish. Basically, this story is where I make my ideas come 'true'. :D My most favorite pairing in GA is Persona/Mikan and yes I know, I have a twisted sense of favorite pairings (maybe), but I really love Rei aka Persona as a character and to me, I really think he's not cold hearted and cruel deep deep inside. I think he does have a soft and nice side, like the case with Aoi. Aoi described him as someone that was nice (or something like that, I can't remember her exact words), so yeah. I think this Persona I have in my fanfic is quite possible. Especially since this Persona has met and been with Mikan ever since he was 9. So he grew up with love and care. :) I hope you guys get what I mean. Almost all of the main characters in this fanfic is quiteOCC (out of character), especially Persona, Mikan and Principal Kuonji. Yes... Kuonji has a super soft side for Mikan. By the way, even if you don't like the Persona-Mikan pairing, this should still be a good story to read since the pairing is just sorta a side thing, even though one of the categories of this story is romance. :P But yeah, there are some Natsume-Mikan moments as well, since NatsuMikan is my second favorite pairing.

Summary: "An emotional attachment to one's captor as a result of continuous stress, dependence, and a need to cooperate for survival" is what Stockholm syndrome is defined as. But what is it called when it's the captors who become dependent on its hostage?

In this story...

1) I often refer to Persona as Rei, coz that is his real name (it was given by Yukihira Izumi). I will use Rei's sorta alias Serio as Rei's last name, coz it's easier to deal with a character who has an actual last name.

2) Mikan's last name will not be Sakura for quite a while. Because: 1) She was an orphan ever since she was one. It will be something I came up with myself, and it will have a connection to Kuonji and Rei. 2) She can't remember her last name. 3) She is basically adopted by Kuonji.

3) Even though Mikan is only a two-year-old at the beginning of the story, she is quite mature and can talk very well already. Because 1) As I said, she was an orphan so she had to fend for herself and be independent ever since she was young. You will find out more about that in this chapter. It might be pretty unrealistic though (:P) oh well. *shrugs*

4) This story is going to stay in the past for the first few chapters because I want to explain everything thoroughly and I don't want to rush things. The past lasts from when she was first adopted until she finally attends the Gakuen as an official student.

I think that's about it for now. Sorry for the long author's note. I wanted to give a background on the story first. The rest of the chapters author's notes shouldn't be as long.

Notes: (In case you guys didn't know):

1) Japanese way of the order of name is last name then first name, in case you didn't know. For example: In America, it would be "Mikan Sakura" (First Last), but in Japan it would be "Sakura Mikan" (Last First) without a comma in between.

2) "-otousan" is a honorific for 'father' or 'dad'.

3) "Arigatou" means "thank you" (informal).

4) "Hai" is "yes".

5) "Ojiisan" means "grandfather". I looked it up and ojiisan doesn't have to have a dash in between the 'ojii' and 'san'.

If there's anything you don't get, feel free to contact me. :)

Disclaimer: I will only do this for a few chapters, I think. But anyways... No I don't own Gakuen Alice. I wish I did. I also wish I lived in that world of theirs... where I can possibly have an Alice. :) Also, this story is my original story, it might have something similar to other stories. It's possibly that some of my ideas sprouted from other stories since I am very addicted with Gakuen Alice fanfics at the moment. So, I would like to apologize in advance if any of you authors out there find this similar. But this plot and fanfic came from me. :)

Enjoy!

Chapter 01 - The New Beginning

"Wh-Where am I?" A little brunette girl questioned as she rubbed her sore head. Knowing better than to move suddenly and feeling the effects of her sore head, she carefully opened her eyes and blinked a few times before the blurriness and white spots in her vision finally cleared. But once her vision was cleared, what she saw, or in this case lack of what she saw, confirmed her suspicion, she was in the dark.

She mentally sighed at her current situation. 'I am probably kidnapped or something, but I guess it's better than being out in that harsh world…'

Then she suddenly felt a new unrecognizable presence appear out of nowhere. "Who are you?" she bravely asked with a soft shaky voice, the result of her thirstiness and nervousness.

'She was able to sense me?'A black-haired boy dressed completely in black along with a white mask that covered the top half of his face took a step forward so that he was out of the shadows. "I am here to look over you."

"What's your name?" the little girl asked hesitantly. She could feel this 'danger-danger' vibe that the boy was giving out, but for some reason, she didn't feel the need to stay away or cower. Instead, she actually felt quite comfortable in his presence, it was a strange feeling… this want, no this need to help him and stay with him.

"Persona," he replied simply, knowing it was easier for the both of them if he gave her something to call him by.

"That's not your real name. Please tell me your real name." She didn't know how she can tell, maybe it was his tone of voice when he was saying his supposed name or maybe it was just her intuition.

'Persona' was quite shocked by the girl's blunt words. 'How did she know that Persona is not my real name?' Persona thought, mystified by both the girl and her words.

"I am sorry if I was being rude," the brunette apologized with a sheepish smile. "But I would like to know you real name instead of what I assume to be an alias."

"Why?" Persona was surprised at the words that came out of his mouth. It came out before his mind could even process what she had said, it was as if it was an instinctive reaction.

"Why? What a weird question…" the girl remarked and Persona slightly cringed because he thought so as well, but she answered nevertheless, "Because I want to know the real you, of course!"

Her answer was sincere and truthful, and her tone told him exactly how she felt. 'Such an innocent and naïve girl.'

"So… what's your real name?" the girl asked as she slowly rose up and steadied herself once she was up. A slight dizziness overcame her, but it would have been much worse if she had shot up like most people would have done.

"Serio Rei." He didn't know why he replied so truthfully, but he just had this urge to tell her absolutely everything. 'Just who is this girl? The ESP had his top agents fetch her and even had me watch over her… Plus, he even asked me to practically answer to her every wish and need. She must be very important.' He then remembered how she wasn't even the slightest bit intimidated by him. '…and special,' he added as an afterthought.

"Serio Rei…" The girl repeated and a small smile appeared on her face. For some reason unknown to Persona, he liked the sound of his name coming from this girl. "You can call me Mikan."

'Eh? What's her last name?' Rei thought to himself, the ESP didn't really bother to tell him anything about her, her name, her Alice… nothing. "Just Mikan?"

"Hai…" Mikan replied, her voice was laced with sadness. "I am an orphan, you see. I guess I used to have a last name… but I don't remember it anymore. I was after all, only one when I ended up in the orphanage… the only thing that I remembered is my given name and what I had witnessed, which was an underground gang crossfire that I had unfortunately been involved in along with my ojiisan. My ojiisan passed away during this unfortunate event."

'This little girl is really… mature,' Rei thought as he listened to her story. 'And how the heck does she even know so much, an underground gang crossfire and the word unfortunate? How old is she really?'

"How old are you, Rei-chi?" Mikan suddenly asked.

"Nine… how about you?" Rei replied, he didn't know whether he liked this new nickname she gave him or not. 'It does sound pretty cute coming from her though…' But then Rei mentally slapped himself before he could go any further with that thought, it was so unlike him to think like that.

"Um… around two?" Mikan replied unsurely with a cute tilt of her head.

"Around? What do you mean?"

"Well, the orphanage didn't know who I was or basically anything about me… and the police who found me on the streets tried looking me up, but they couldn't find anything about me. It was as if I never existed. And I didn't know my family name or where I lived.

'What a mysterious girl… and so young too…' Rei thought, pondering to himself how they couldn't find anything about her.

"Can I please have some water? My throat feels really dry… how long was I unconscious for anyways?" Mikan requested.

"Three days. I will be back."

A few days later…

Over the past few days, Mikan and Rei got closer with each other, learning more about the other along the way. Rei found himself spilling everything about him to her… even what an Alice is and his role in his sensei's death because of his emotions and Alice, but she wasn't scared at all. When he told her about his childhood, she didn't have a pitying look in her eyes or reacted badly like most people, she only hugged him and reassured him that she will always be there for him. He tried backing away from her in fear of hurting her, but what she said next touched his heart. "I know you won't hurt me." That phrase just kept running through his mind over and over again that day.

Sometimes, they would just sit next to each other, enjoying the comfort that the other's presence provided and this was one of those times.

"You do know that you are kidnapped, right?" Rei suddenly spoke up, interrupting the silence. They had been sitting with Mikan on Rei's lap and Mikan's head tucked under Rei's chin with his arms around her waist.

"Yeah, of course. Ever since I came out of unconsciousness," Mikan replied as she continued to relish in the comfort that she gets in Rei's embrace.

"Then how can you still be so relaxed?" Rei asked with curiosity evident in his voice.

"I would rather be kidnapped and here than be in the outside world. Plus, I get free food and housing."

"Why?"

"Why…?"

"Why would you rather be here than the outside world?" Rei wanted to know, the replies that Mikan comes up with are always so wise and truthful. "Wouldn't you rather be free and not trapped?"

Mikan replied with a shake of her head, "You know… I don't feel trapped here. But no, I would rather be here. The outside world is a harsh place… the powerful rule over the powerless and the people basically take everything for granted. They don't know what they have until they lose it and when they do, they just despair over it, how pathetic they are."

Rei was surprised at how harsh Mikan's words were, they were so unlike her, but he did find them very truthful.

Mikan then continued with a sad smile, "Only the unfortunate will understand the true meaning of fortunate."

"You are right as usual."

"Anyways… now that you brought it up, when's my kidnapper finally going to visit me? Even if I don't really mind the fact that I am kidnapped, I do wish to know why I am kidnapped."

"I am not sure. He hasn't really contacted me for the past few days… Only telling me to give him a report of how you are everyday. I think he's been busy."

"Oh, okay…" Mikan then looked like she was going to say something more, but the sound of a door opening some distance away was heard and they turned to look at each other with a knowing look. "Speak of the devil…" Mikan muttered uncharacteristically and Rei couldn't help but let out a chuckle as he got up and placed Mikan down on the bed.

"I should go out to greet him," he said as he walked towards the cell's door and opened it.

"Alright."

Mikan then heard Rei's greeting and the reply of an unfamiliar voice. While listening to their brief conversation, Mikan sat on the edge of the bed with her arms slightly behind and feet dangling, studying the floor. When she saw a pair of unfamiliar shoes in front of her, she looked up with a smile. "Hello, it's nice to finally meet you."

"Hello… Has Persona been taking good care of you?" The man, or in this case a boy, standing in front of her had cinnamon brown hair parted to the side and he looked to be in his early teens, but there was also this air of maturity and age surrounding him along with piercing coal eyes that spoke more volumes than his appearance ever could. Mikan also noticed that his eyes had this glassiness to it and it was devoid of warmth.

"He has, he is a very enjoyable companion. May I ask you a question?" Mikan asked, not intimidated by his presence at all. She also realized Rei was nowhere to be seen.

"If I deem it as answerable."

"What can I call you?"

"I am known as Principal Kuonji or the elementary school principal. You can call me either."

"May I ask what your full name is?"

"Why?" the ESP questioned. His face had a spark of surprise to it.

"Because… why does everyone have to ask me that question? Is it really that weird?" Mikan remarked with a pout.

"I… guess not," the ESP replied with hesitation. He didn't know why, but he felt like he should reply truthfully. "It's… Kuonji Kageri."

"Arigatou. If I may ask, why am I kidnapped?"

"You have three, or maybe even more, natural Alices. Do you know what Alices are?"

"Yes, a little. Rei told me a little about them. They are basically special powers, am I right?" Mikan replied with a small nod.

"Yes, you are correct."

"I assume I have these powers called Alices?"

Kageri nodded.

"Then what are my Alices?"

"Nullification and it's possible that you have the stealing Alice and the inserting Alice as well. Another possible one would be teleportation. With nullification, you can cancel out other people's Alices, meaning it won't work on you. With stealing, you are able to steal people's Alice in the form of Alice stones. With inserting, you can insert these Alice stones into compatible users."

"How do you know all of this? Who are you? Where am I?" Mikan asked with a thoughtful look.

"You are currently in the Hanahime Den of Gakuen Alice and I am the elementary school principal. I know all of this because…" He paused for a brief second and looked straight into Mikan's eyes before continuing, "…I have been tracking you since I knew of your birth."

Mikan was shocked by this new revelation and she knew it was the truth. She supposed she should feel scared that she has a stalker, but for some strange reason, she didn't. She continued locking eyes with the ESP and she could see so much in it, it was the depth of the abyss and she was sucked in. As seconds turned into minutes, she discovered this urge to help this man in front of her, to cure him of the loneliness so clear in his eyes and to keep him from sinking deeper into the darkness that she knew he was in. She found this man similar to Rei, they―

The man suddenly spoke up, interrupting her thoughts. "You are going to be living here from now on. Persona will also be your official caretaker. Whatever necessities that you need, Persona will take care of it."

"I understand. Will you be coming often?" Mikan asked with a tilt of her head, looking genuinely sincere and honest.

The expression on the ESP's face didn't change visibly, but his eyes showed the surprise and shock that he was feeling. "Y-You want to see me?"

"Of course," Mikan said with a bright smile. "Do I have a reason not to?"

Mikan's reply left Kageri unsure of himself and inside, he was trying to figure out why this little girl would want to see her kidnapper and why she doesn't seem intimidated by his presence at all. 'Maybe I should be harsher to her? But… why do I feel like I don't want her resenting me? Why do I even care?'

"Where is Rei anyways?" Mikan asked after a brief silence.

'Rei? Oh… Persona… she is calling him by his first name? And he lets her?' The ESP was surprised once again. "He is taking care of something right now, but I am sure he will return soon."

"Alright. Arigatou~" Mikan nodded with understanding.

This was the first time in a long long while that someone has thanked him, the ESP couldn't explain this choked-up feeling that he's getting, but then suddenly, he realized something. 'Are… are my emotions getting uncovered? Just because of this girl?' The ESP cleared his throat and muttered uncharacteristically to Mikan, "I should get going now. Bye."

"Byebye! I hope you will come visit again soon~!" Mikan called out cheerfully, causing the ESP to hesitate for a second before resuming his walk.

"We will see…" the ESP said mysteriously and then he was gone.

When Rei finally returned, there was a loud thud before he appeared in the cell with a look of relief when he caught sight of her.

"You… You are okay…" Rei whispered to himself and was still panting a little.

"Hm. What do you mean?" Mikan looked up with confusion before continuing to munch on the sugar cookie in her hands that she got from the cabinet of necessities.

"Eh… nothing really… it's just that Principal Kuonji can be a little… harsh and sadistic," Rei replied reluctantly.

"Huh… so that's why. But don't worry, he treated me well and he also told me that you are going to be my official caretaker and anything I need, you will get…" A mischievous smile appeared on Mikan's face and Persona couldn't help but inwardly grown. "…or something like that."

'Uh-oh… she is probably going to go all out on food and snacks… and dolls. Something that she has a particular fondness of, which means that she is going to make me buy them all and people are going to look at me funny… well I guess I can always order it or have someone else buy it for me… Imagine, the oh-so scary Persona is seen buying food like a glutton and buying dolls and stuffed toys like a girl. That's just gonna totally ruin the reputation I built up.'

"You are going to be really fat when you grow up if you keep eating like that," Rei remarked dryly and Mikan just stuck her tongue out childishly.

"Too bad for you then." Mikan looked like she just remembered something. "Hey, Rei-chi~!"

"Yeah?"

"Is there some kind of Alice out there that involves dolls and maybe, I dunno, making them come to life?"

Rei paled at this idea and Mikan, who was watching him closely, noticed Rei's reaction.

"So I take it there is," Mikan said with an up-to-no-good glint in her eyes.

"N-No, th-there isn't… what in the world are you talking about?" Rei lied and released a nervous chuckle.

"Liar." Mikan then changed the topic. "So what was that loud thud I heard before you came in?"

"Oh. Kuonji-sama told me to start home schooling you and training you. We are also going to get you a personal laptop for your foreign language study and homework purposes. I won't be going easy on you. Those were the books for you."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I won't forgive you if you go easy on me anyways," Mikan said nonchalantly before finishing off her cookie. "Are you going to be training my Alice as well?"

"Yes. But we are not going to start with my Alice…"

"I am not scared of your Alice. Haven't you noticed? Your Alice doesn't affect me. I mean, you hold me all the time and we are pretty attached, but you have never seen me going black and I am still alive, aren't I?" Mikan assured with a sigh and Rei's eyes visibly widened. "And I guess you didn't even realize. Well, don't you dare try to keep away from me now."

"H-How did you know…?"

"It doesn't take a genius to tell what's going through your mind, dear Rei," Mikan said with an unladylike snort.

"Are you sure you are really two?"

"Actually, I am not sure. The orphanage and police estimated I was two. I don't remember my real birthday or age," Mikan said with a shrug.

"Do you hear yourself? You don't talk or act like the two-year-old you are supposed to be! You don't even think like one!" Rei said with an exasperated look. "Sometimes I really think you are an old lady hiding in the body of a two-year-old girl."

"Hey! How rude! I never knew you were so stereotypical!" Mikan protested with a pout and crossed her arms across her chest, which made her look really cute. "You yourself aren't even ten!"

"Really, stereotypical?" Rei was fighting to keep a blush off his face. "When did two-year-olds start knowing that word and what it even means!"

"Then would me saying you are a pedophile make you feel better?" Mikan teased with a devilish glint in her eyes.

"W-what?" Rei stuttered, he was really shocked, obviously, but he also realized that he really is acting like a pedophile. 'I just blushed at how cute she looked… I-I am r-really a… a… a PEDOPHILE!'

Before Rei could pull his hair out or remorse about this realization any further, he was snapped out of it by a flick to his forehead.

"Ouch!" Rei brought his hand to his forehead and rubbed it. "What was that for?" Rei complained with an uncharacteristic pout.

"You were spacing out and you wouldn't answer my calls," Mikan explained as she took a hold of Rei's hand and pulled him towards the bed, grabbing a book on the way. "Let's read and then go to sleep."

"Alright, so what did you pick?"

"Romeo and Juliet."

Rei sweat-dropped at her choice. "Are you really sure you are a child?"

Mikan raised her eyebrow. "What do you think?"

One month later…

"Mikan, I am here," a voice called out gently as the sound of a door opening was heard.

"Otousan!" Mikan called out cheerfully as she recognized the voice and quickly placed a bookmark in the book she was reading. Rei was outside shopping, stocking up on supplies, and she wasn't too bothered about his absence since she knew he would return as soon as he can.

Kageri stepped into the cell and looked around the room with a frown of displeasure before turning to face Mikan with a small smile and arms open, ready for Mikan's expected greeting.

Mikan ran into Kageri's arms and wrapped her hands around his neck, burying her face in the crook of his neck.

"Hey Mikan. How have you been?" Kageri said with a twinkle in his eyes that is only there when Mikan is around and picked Mikan up.

"Good. I have started training in here and Rei started teaching me math and stuff," Mikan replied as she pulled back slightly to face her otousan.

Yes, Mikan calls Kageri her otousan, of course, he's not her biological otousan, but he's practically her otousan. After meeting her that first time, Kageri had this nagging feeling that made him want to come back and he did just that. Mikan welcomed him warmly after Kageri sent Rei away. Kageri kept trying to intimidate her with stories of his past and all the "evil" things that he does and basically anything that he can think of that could possibly scare her off and make her stay away, but instead of the desired effect, it only made them closer, much closer than he thought was possible for him. She was just so accepting and the warmth that she emanates is just so infectious. Without even knowing, he had opened up to her almost immediately after she showed him her whole-hearted acceptance. After he basically told her his life story and goals, she said something that really struck him. "There is no one on this earth who has not 'sinned' before; if one has not 'sinned' then it's not human nature itself."

Ever since then, Kageri kept finding himself coming back every few days and he wished he could visit every day, but that would have risen unnecessary suspicion and he had quite an amount of paper work that he had to do. He also found Mikan to be quite the perceptive strategist, she was also very intelligent and was quite a help with his paperwork. He tried out a few of the plans she suggested and they were all carried out successfully without flaw. He was of course amazed and decided to regularly deliver some of his paperwork to her for her to work on.

"Training?" Kageri said with a slight crease in his eyebrows. He is the one who ordered Persona to train her because she was going to become his new secret weapon, but that was before he met her in person. Now that he was so much closer to her, he didn't want her getting hurt because of him. He still needed her for his plans, but she's not just a weapon, she's like the daughter he never had, as weird as that might seem to others who know him.

One glance at him and she knew the worries that are on his mind. "Otousan, don't worry. We are just working on push-ups, squats, pull-ups, running, obstacle course, and those other basics. I need to build up my foundation and agility before learning the more 'dangerous' things. If I started on that intense stuff right from the beginning, I would be long dead. Rei wouldn't do that to me."

"Just… just be careful, especially when you start Alice and combat training. I don't want you on a hospital bed."

"Don't worry. I will!" Mikan exclaimed as her hold around him tightened slightly to further reassure him."

"I will hold you to that," Kageri said as he relaxed and sat down on Mikan's bed. Then he glanced at the book on Mikan's bed. "So what were you reading?"

"Anthem by Ayn Rand," Mikan replied in perfect fluent English.

"Are you seriously two years old?"

"Why does everyone keep asking me that?" Mikan demanded childishly with a pout.

"Because you don't act like one. Two-year-olds are usually still reading children's' book and picture books, but you! You are reading chapter books like nothing and you are reading an English novel."

"So?" Mikan said with a shrug like it's the most normal thing in the world, but she inwardly muttered, 'Stereotypical.'

"So! You are nothing like a two-year-old, except maybe your physical appearance," Kageri complained uncharacteristically.

"And you are complaining because…?" Mikan questioned with a raised eyebrow. "You are the one acting like a child right now."

"I am not complaining. I am just questioning when two-year-olds started reading English novels."

"Whatever. So didn't you want to tell me something?"

"Yeah, I did… Hold on! How did you know?"

"I just do. So, otousan, what is it that you want to say?"

"I want you to move in with Rei at his house for a month or so."

"Why?" Mikan asked as she watched her otousan with suspicion.

Kageri replied, ignoring her look of suspicion, "I am going to have my people come into the Hanahime Den to refurnish it. I can't have my dear Mi-chan living in a place like this."

"I don't really mind and―"

"I do," Kageri cut in before Mikan could finish her protest. "Plus, you are my helper now, you need a proper place for work and with the rate your reading is going, you need your own library. I can't have you living in a place like this."

Mikan's eyes sparkled at the idea of her own personal library and Kageri can't help but inwardly chuckle. "A personal library? Really?"

"Yes."

Mikan's face broke into a smile that can rival the sun's warmth and hugged Kageri with an over-abundant amount of affections. "Thank you so much!"

"But you are going to pack up what you need and then I will have it teleported into your temporary room. Rei is at his own house right now cleaning up and stocking up. You will then come with me to the entrance and then we can teleport from there."

"Why can't we just teleport from here?"

Kageri became more serious when he said his next words. "Because we are in the Middle School Principal's territory. She has a barrier Alice that reduces the power of an Alice immensely within the barrier."

"Does she know I am here?" Mikan asked with a seriousness matching the one present from Kageri.

"Yes, of course. But at the same time, others won't be able to detect you when you are in the barrier. Once you get to Persona's place, I will give you several barrier Alice stones to hide your presence. We don't want the others within the school to know you are here."

"I understand. When are we leaving?"

"In an hour. I have a guard out front with the illusion Alice to conceal our appearance. But stay with me, okay?" Kageri realized something, he was afraid of Mikan being taken away and afraid of losing her. She was able to break down the rock hard shell that he had and now, he felt so at peace with her. He felt like he belonged with her.

"Of course, Kage-otousan!" Mikan then jumped up and started running around locating the things that she wanted to bring. Even though she has only been here for a month, she already had quite a lot of stuff, mostly books, but there were also a lot of stuffed toys that she had Rei get her.

'Kage-otousan… that's a new one. She seems to have a new name for me every week. And last week's was Kage-chan, which wasn't a favorite of mine, of course,' Kageri thought as he watched Mikan skittered around her room and took out a suitcase that he didn't even know she had. He continued to watch her with a fondness that was nonexistent before meeting Mikan. 'She is becoming more and more important to me. She is going to become my weakness… my one and only weakness, but do I really mind it? No I don't… but because of me, she must become strong and be able to defend herself easily.' Watching her allowed the strains and annoyance that Kageri accumulated during the time he was absent from her presence to wash away.

When Mikan finished packing, they began making their way out of the den and Mikan was of course slightly curious since this is the first time she has been outside the Hanahime Den, but she was also a little scared of going back into the outside world. Even when she was training with Rei, she was inside the den, but she was perfectly fine with that. When she was out of the Hanahime Den, she was met with a traditional Japanese-styled porch with a walkway and began relishing in the fresh air that the outside world offered her, she loves the fresh air.

"Kage-otousan…" Mikan called out in a whisper. She was carried by one of Kageri's arm while he was rolling the suitcase with the other arm and her arms were around his neck.

"Yes, Mi-chan?" Kageri replied with a glance at the child in his arms.

"Can you get me a venting system to bring in fresh air in the new refurnished den?"

"Of course, whatever you want. Anything else?"

"A book catalogue so I can order the books that I would like in my library."

Kageri let out a chuckle, "Of course, should I also have a really stocked up fridge? Or maybe―" Kageri suddenly stopped in the middle of his sentence as he sensed the presence of the MSP in the room they were going to past. "Mikan, stay quiet for now, okay?"

Mikan immediately understood what Kuonji implied and she nodded her head. As they went past the door that would lead into the MSP's lounge, there was a slight opening in the doors and in the few seconds that it took for them to walk past that door, her eyes met with a pair of eyes that she assumed belong to the MSP and there was an instant connection there, she could feel it.

A minute or so earlier…

Hii was a little restless; she could sense Kuonji within her barrier. Even though the barrier repels men, that Kuonji and that kid always have a way to get in and it annoys her to no end, but lately, they have been visiting more and more… the kid comes here practically every single day and often stays down in that den for a few days before leaving. Kuonji was even stranger, he was coming in every few days and he seemed different. This all started when Kuonji brought in a child, a girl as far as she could tell, and the child stays down there. Just who is that child, a child that can bring forth such strange occurrences? Kuonji even came to see her a few days ago when he was visiting that kid and informed her that he is going to be refurnishing the Hanahime Den and his workers are going to be in her den for the month secretly. He also made her seal her mouth about this and she is going to listen, no matter how much she despises that man.

But back to the matter, Hii has a feeling that Kuonji is going to bring out that child today so that she would be away from the construction and the fact that he is down there is proof. This was why she had one of her himes leave the door open so she could see the child. Ah, there he is… the presence of Kuonji and a child, but the child's presence seems faintly familiar.

As Kuonji walked by at his regular pace with a slightly tense posture, he sent a glare at her, but she took no notice of it. Her eyes locked contact with the child's and she felt this immediate connection between the two of them. Those eyes also seemed familiar to her, the look of that particular hime three years ago. 'Could the child possibly be…? It is possible… But I will get to the bottom of this matter. Kuonji, you can't hide this from me, maybe from Yukihira, but not me.'

Thank you for reading this new chapter. I hope that I can get feedbacks from you readers so I can see how this story is doing. But even if I don't get good responses, I will still continue this story because I like it very much. All of my chapters should be around this chapter's length. Some might be bigger, others shorter. When I write, it just flows on its own and I have no control over how long it gets. But I will usually try to make it at least 3000-4000 words long. Hope you readers will like that. The next chapter will come depending on response from you readers, longest is a week or two from now, shortest? I don't know. *shrugs* depends. I am only writing the 4th chapter right now. Plus, I have another story to work on as well and I haven't updated that one since like July. so yeah.

I hope you liked this story. Leaving a review would be nice. :) Thanks.

~Zenophobiaz

Published: 12-11-10 Night.
Edited: 10-07-11