Hi everyone! This is my new fanfic on the anime series "Alice Academy". I based [not entirely the storyline and title on the anime "Scrapped Princess".

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Alice Academy and Scrapped Princess.

Announcement: I'm on my way on creating the SEQUEL for Once Upon A September. Watch out for it:)

"Don't worry, I'm sure Hotaru won't let you get harmed… or worse, expelled from the Castle." Ruka assured her. "She will be the witness for yesterday's event, and the authorities do not know that you're best friends."

Mikan smiled. "That's nice!"

Ruka nodded. "We can always visit you here during your probation." He replied.

"But Natsume… he can't come to see me…" Mikan said sadly.

Ruka felt a little jealousy within him."You're so attached to him. Why is it that?" he asked.

Mikan blushed. "It's… It's because I feel sorry for him…" she muttered, "Because he does not know the beauty of things behind those walls."

Ruka sighed. "I don't really see another exception besides that. That would be anyone's feelings."

She looked at him. "Actually, I do not know why he's got a special place in my heart…" she timidly explained.

"Oh, I see…" Ruka said. "I have to go, Mikan. You see, I have to check on Natsume."

She suddenly smiled brightly. "You must take good care of him, ne?" she said. "And take these with you. I still have these…"

She got a bag of cookies from her stuff. "Hai. I will." Ruka said as he left.

"Hey, buddy…"

"Yo, Ruka." Natsume looked at his friend. "What's bugging you?"

He shook his head. "Nothing,"

Natsume got up from his seat and went near Ruka. "How's Mikan doing? Have you talked to her?" he suddenly asked.

Ruka nodded. "She's lonely there, but you know that girl."

"I can't believe they did this!" Natsume exclaimed. "Those stupid officials…"

Ruka took something from his pocket. "These… are for you. Mikan told me to give you this."

Natsume eagerly accepted the cookie bag. "She never forgets…"

He smiled. "When is the trial?"

"I think 2 days from now. That's what I've heard from Sir Jinno."

Natsume sighed. "I don't think she's going to make it."

Ruka was surprised. "Why? Isn't it Imai who's going to witness?"

He shook his head. "She is on the side of what she calls 'justice'." He opened the bag of cookies and ate one. "I don't think she'll take Mikan's side this time."

"But---"

Ruka went out of Natsume's room without prior notice…

The next thing Ruka knew was he's standing in front of Imai Research Lab. He's planning to talk to Hotaru. He had his fingerprints recognized and entered the secure door. "Imai, I'm here to talk to you about Sakura Mikan." He called out.

"Come in," and another glass door pried open.

Ruka looked around him and the place is unusually tidy today. She hasn't been working for new experiments. Maybe the King hadn't ordered her to do so, but even so, Hotaru always does something to keep her busy.

"Why are you not working?"

Hotaru looked at him in a puzzled way. "Is it wrong for me to take a day-off?" she asked sarcastically. "I'm not a machine like what I'm doing."

"Yes, you're absolutely right." Ruka muttered. "I was just wondering if you could tell me what you're going to do on her trial."

She rolled her eyes. "Her again. Her. Why do you guys find her worth talking about? She's just a loud-mouthed idiot who came out of nowhere, and now you're too worried about her!" she angrily bickered.

Ruka can't find the words to tell her. "I guess it's just that… I and Natsume lived our lives in this lonely place and that… she became the light of the dark world we've lived."

"You think so? She can do that? She's just smiling and talking nonsense all the time. She doesn't even know how to take care of her messes and sticks her nose upon others' business."

Ruka grabbed her shoulder and faced her. "So you want her out of the Alice Castle?" he asked her bluntly. "Would you want to do that?"

"If that's the case, then I should. She's broken several rules. She's going OUT."

"Listen, Imai. I know you understand her more than anyone. Do you know how much she treasures Natsume now?" he tried to explain in order for her to realize.

Hotaru shoved his hand away her shoulder. "I don't have time for this, Ruka."

"She's changed him. Even though I myself was hurting whenever I see them…" he began "I can't help but consider my best friend's happiness."

Hotaru could not believe that he has these feelings for Mikan.

"Get out," she simply ordered him. 'Stop this crap."

"Imai---"

She glared at him and turned her back. Ruka silently walked out of her lab…

Mikan spent another day at the farm. Ever since she's been there, Ruka had spent more of his time with her than the usual that he's with Natsume. Mikan obviously noticed this fact.

"Hey Ruka, isn't Natsume lonely back to his room?" she asked.

Ruka just smiled. "Don't worry about him. He's been trained to live alone for 18 years already." He answered. "Imai's his company. He'll be alright."

Mikan smiled. "Right. Hotaru would be just fine."

Ruka suddenly was saddened by what she just said. You don't know a single thing Mikan…

"What's the matter, Ruka?"

He shook his head. "I think the rabbits are just hungry. We should give them some food now, c'mon!"

"Okay!"

After that, they rest for a while. Mikan suddenly remembered about her missing Hotaru. "How's Hotaru now?"

Ruka looked at her, "She's not well. I think something worries her." He answered.

"What could that be?" Mikan said her thoughts aloud. "Can I help?"

"Yes."

"How?"

"Unless you reveal your true feelings for someone, we can figure it out."

Mikan was puzzled by what he just said. "You know what, Ruka… I am not good at idiomatic expressions…" she said shyly. "I actually don't get what you said."

"It's literal, Mikan. You show Hotaru how you really feel and she's going to be fine." Ruka assured her.

"Really?"

Ruka smiled at her. "Yes. It sure should be."

Hotaru was busy in her thoughts about her past. The past wherein she and Mikan live on the same village, before she was taken to officially work for the Alice Castle.

She could still remember her mother's words…

"Hotaru, listen… the Castle Authorities tried to get you when you were just a baby," she began. "Your brother--- he was there and we didn't even teach him the most valuable wisdom in life."

"What's that, mother?" Hotaru curiously asked.

"About love and friendship…"

"Love…" Hotaru thought. "…could destroy."

"Hi there! Would you like to share my lunch with you?" a cheery girl asked. "My name's Mikan! Sakura Mikan!"

Little Hotaru looked at the over-energetic girl. "What's your lunch?"

"Dangos!"

She smiled. "Sure. I love dangos."

"Mikan was always smiling, always cheering me up. But then, her smiles can make me upset too." Hotaru sighed. "As long as I remember your smiling face, I could not afford to see you crying."

"But then, how could I sacrifice love? Can friendship and love be applied all at once? Mother's not here to answer me. I should take this thing as something for my survival…"

She glanced at a picture frame on her desk. Mikan, I'm sorry…

The trial has been over, and 3 days had passed. Hotaru didn't say any word to Ruka. But Natsume was thereby informed about it through Persona. He just felt anger within him.

"No way!" Natsume shouted. "You can't expel her. You must go through me first…"

Persona laughed. "You can't interfere, Prince Natsume. It is your fate not to live… not to love someone…"

"Why you!" flames attacked Persona, but then he was able to absorb it.

"I've learned a lot from your attacks," he said. "Or do you want us not just to expel Sakura Mikan eh?"

Natsume cringed. "Don't do anything to her…" he muttered.

Persona left immediately after Natsume calmed down. After sometime, Hotaru came by. Then seeing Natsume's lonely face, she began to talk.

"Grumpy gestures won't do anything now, Natsume. You just have to accept it." She said.

Natsume recognized her voice and then he looked back at her. "Imai! Why? Why didn't you save your best friend?" he asked angrily.

"I only spoke of the truth. I don't want to protect what's wrong." She answered calmly.

"You're not considerate. You're a traitor!" Natsume yelled at her.

Hotaru was hurt by what he said. "Why don't you just stay away from her? Leave her alone! Can't you see the picture? You're the one who's causing her trouble!"

"Don't interfere with me, Imai…" he said, with his voice dangerously low. "I want to do what I want as long as I can. You don't care about her, then why tell me to stay away from her since I cause trouble? Should you be happier instead?"

Hotaru can't control herself and she slapped Natsume on his cheek. She stormed off and the next thing she knew, tears are trickling down on her face. At that time, Ruka was about to go and see Natsume too. On his way, he saw Hotaru crying.