Special Alice (Gakuen Alice / Alice Academy FF)

SA 59 - Curse

" It's freezing..." Misaki hugged herself as they dashed along the path Ruka had taken.

" What do you mean? I don't feel anything, Misa-chan," Mikan said, looking puzzled. While Misaki could turn water into ice, she wasn't immune to cold from other sources. After a few more steps, they spotted Hotaru, Ruka, and Natsume, blocked by fire.

The hallway was covered in a blizzard, and two people faced Ruka's direction.

" You two, it's dangerous," Hotaru exclaimed, gesturing for them to come behind the fire for protection.

Misaki stood beside Natsume as Hotaru explained the situation to Mikan. The blizzard was caused by someone familiar to the Hanahime-den, possessing the Ice Alice, which was in direct contrast to Natsume's Alice.

" Misaki, lend me a hand. We could escape if we work together with Mikan," Natsume stated. Both Misaki and Mikan nodded in agreement.

" Mikan, please use your Alice to stop that guy," Natsume added, his face deadly serious. The three positioned themselves in front of Hotaru and Ruka.

A blizzard suddenly rushed over them as Natsume extinguished his fire, catching them off guard. Mikan was knocked down to the floor.

" Ah, Mikan!" Misaki gasped, rushing to her side. Mikan's eyes were locked on the ice wielder, and her eyes widened as she recognized the person.

" N-Nobara," Mikan called out. Nobara's attention shifted to her, and her eyes softened. " Mikan..." she mumbled, dashing away from them, leaving Hajime, the one with the insect-controlling Alice.

" Nobara!" Hajime exclaimed as they watched her retreat. Nobara felt guilty and embarrassed, not wanting Mikan to see her like that.

" How foolish, not following orders, to think the Nullification Alice was effective against the trance cast on her," Persona said as he arrived at the scene. Misaki's legs quivered with fear just from hearing his voice.

" Nobara just now..." Mikan gasped, disbelieving her eyes after witnessing an unusual side of Nobara. Natsume explained that Ibaragi Nobara had a split personality that only emerged during missions or when Persona wanted it to.

" Ice Princess who shows no mercy, my cute doll," Persona shamelessly declared.

Mikan frowned at his words. " What did you say about her?" she roared as Persona approached.

She got up from the floor, but Persona attacked her. Ruka swiftly stood in front of Mikan. A mouse protected Ruka, giving its life for his safety.

" Persona's Alice," Mikan gasped. "Annoying mouse," Persona sighed. Natsume glared at Persona and was about to step forward until they heard a voice.

" Mikan?" They all turned towards the voice, coming from behind Hotaru and Ruka.

" Or is it Persona..." Aoi said, guiding herself along the wall.

" Aoi."

" Yuki Aoi."

Natsume's eyes widened as Aoi approached them, and he moved closer. " Aoi," he called out.

Aoi was startled. " Who a-are you?" she asked, turning in his direction.

" Remember, Aoi. He's the one who treasures you, your beloved brother," Mikan explained warmly.

" Brother?" she muttered, unsure what to believe.

" Yuki Aoi, come with me. Do not let your emotions waver," Persona spoke, capturing Aoi's attention.

" She isn't a robot, emotions can't be dictated by other people," Misaki frowned. Persona shot her a look, causing her to fall silent.

Suddenly, Hotaru, Ruka, and Mikan were stung by Yakumo Hajime's insects (bees), leaving them paralyzed for a while.

They fell weakly to the floor, losing control of their bodies.

" Aoi. Please, go upstairs and leave this place. This time... I will fulfill my promise," Natsume said softly, urging Aoi to stay away from Persona. He created fire in an attempt to block Persona.

" I will come and find you there. I won't leave you by yourself anymore," he reassured.

Aoi remained silent, her memories slowly returning after hearing Natsume's familiar voice and sensing his presence.

" Older brother..." she gasped. Natsume then turned toward Persona, bravely standing in front of the others.

Persona launched another attack, but Mikan acted quickly, using her Nullification Alice to block him, and she jumped in front of them, weakened.

" So close," Mikan panted as she sat beside the Hyuuga siblings.

" Come here, Aoi," Persona said, extending his hand over Natsume's fire, unaffected by it.

Misaki suddenly slapped Persona's hand away from Natsume and Aoi. " Don't you even try, Persona-san," she frowned.

Persona stared at her menacingly. " Little Misaki, what did I tell you before? You have to be good, right?" he taunted. Misaki gritted her teeth, but she pushed Persona back with force.

Persona and Misaki tumbled on the wooden floor. Unfortunately, Persona's mask fell off during the commotion, revealing his face. As Misaki touched Persona, she acquired a black mark on her hands and cheeks.

Misaki sat on the floor, staring at her marked hands in terror. " Rebelling like that, Misaki, you're going to die under my curse. That is your punishment," Persona chuckled darkly.

" Touching me without my mask, you're so unlucky. You can't be a hero in a place like this," he added before standing up.

Misaki didn't move, but she felt her body growing weak and stinging. Natsume and the others were shocked to see how easily Persona's Mark of Death had affected Misaki.

" Misaki," Natsume exclaimed in anger. Hotaru and Ruka were startled, Mikan was furious with Persona once again.

" I... I will never forgive you!" Mikan shouted in anger and glared at Persona. " I won't let you stand in between Natsume and Aoi. I will protect their happiness," she declared.

Persona looked at Mikan while holding his mask. " What a nice speech from a foolish Nullification Alice user. I'd like to see you try," he taunted.

" Persona, this is too much for a punishment. Everyone in the academy knows that entering a forbidden area doesn't guarantee the chance of escaping from it. Yet this is just an accident if anyone asks," Hajime stated, trying to make Persona reconsider his severe punishment.

" You... How can you call this an accident?" Natsume spat loudly, his body now engulfed in a blazing fire.

Ruka and Hotaru pulled Aoi away from him. Mikan crawled towards Misaki and held her trembling hands. " Get a hold of yourself, Misaki! You're not going to die yet!" she hissed, giving Misaki a quick slap on the face to snap her out of it.

" Argh," Natsume groaned in pain, crouching down slightly, his flames extinguished.

" Natsume, Misaki..." Persona said, but he was cut off as Hotaru pointed her Baka Gun at him. "You!" she shouted in anger.

Persona shot her a look and created a black cloud around his right hand. " No!" Mikan shouted, grabbing Persona's arm and pulling him towards her, accidentally knocking her forehead against his arm.

" Ah," Mikan winced, pulling her hands away. Since Persona wasn't wearing his mask, Mikan's hands and face were now covered with black marks.

" Sakura!"

" Mikan!"