Malice Academy: A Clockwork Tangerine
By Henry J. Cobb
The Gakuen Alice characters and situation are the creation of Higuchi
Tachibana and this parody is not intended to cause any damage to that
property.
This fanfic follows episode eight of the anime (Ironically replacing
episode nine, but I couldn't resist the subtitle) and includes some
elements from later episodes, with my own unsubtle twists.
Chapter one: Shake. Now that's a good girl.
So they finally let her attend class again. She's been crying again, but
she's done a good job of covering it up. Just look at her forced smile as
she greets Hotaru. How dare they abuse her like this after they've
assigned the job to me.
"So your little escape plan failed, didn't it miss No star? Mr. Narumi was
sent to fetch you and you were so grateful that you slept with him and
called him Daddy."
"What! How did you know? It wasn't like that."
"If you want to keep secrets then you'd best learn to control your Alice.
Now shut up and come sit here." I patted the one always empty seat in the
classroom, the one to my left.
"Why should I sit next to a jerk like you?"
"Because you agreed to be my partner. Because you promised to do
everything I said."
"Hmph!"
"She promised to do everything we told her to."
"I'm the one who won that dodge ball game." One look was all it took to
silence the rest of the class.
Ruka watched as Mikan sat on the other side of me.
Sorry buddy, but you're too sweet on her. You can't be tough enough for
what has to be done.
Hotaru continued to read her book, but I could see in the tension in her
shoulders that she knew that something was up, but wasn't sure about what
to do about it yet.
The teachers were surprised at the new configuration with me in the
classroom and Mikan next to me, but none of them dared complain, except
Jinno. "Miss Sakura, why are you not in your seat?"
"She's sitting next to her partner. Has she been reassigned?"
"Very well Mr. Hyuuga, but anything she does from now on will be marked
against your record as well."
Like I care.
At the lunch bell Mikan ran to follow Hotaru.
"No star."
"What? it's lunchtime."
"Shut up and follow me."
Ruka glanced back a few times, but he walked beside me as I slowly made my
way to the cafeteria with Mikan three steps behind.
A hush settled over the students as I took my seat at the top student table.
"No star, go grab your lunch then sit here." I pointed to the seat across
the table from me.
The cafeteria staff scrambled to prepare the prescribed top student lunch
for me as Mika went to wait at the back of the line.
My lunch had just been delivered when Mikan started back. Mikan glanced
hungrily at my princely spread then picked at her simple bowl of rice.
"You won't have the strength for your training on just that. Open up." I
picked up a slice of prime steak with my chopsticks and fed it to her then
a mushroom for myself.
"That's like an indirect kiss!" Sumire rushed over. "Is she your
girlfriend?"
"No, she's my pet." I put down my chopsticks and patted Mika on the head.
"Doesn't she look just like a puppy dog? That's why I feed her table
scraps."
"That is unforgivable!"
I didn't look at Sumire as she stalked away with her usual catlike grace,
but instead caught Hotaru's eyes for a moment before she looked down at the
book she was reading during lunch.
Mikan missed this exchange as she was watching Sumire. "Why? Why was she
so insulted when you called me a dog?"
"I guess you haven't seen her Alice yet. Now shut up and let me enjoy my
lunch."
Mikan had her best meal to date as a prisoner of the Academy. She enjoyed
it so much that she didn't even seem to notice Sumire, Hotaru and Ruka's
furtive glances.
After classes Mikan again made a rush for the door.
"No star."
"What? I have to do my no star chores."
"Those can wait a few minutes. Follow me." I lead her out to the soccer
field. "Stand there." I counted off ten paces and turned to face her.
"This is your training for today. All you have to do is shake my hand." I
held out my right hand with a torch sized flame on my palm.
"Natsume..."
"What's the matter? Won't your Alice protect you? Isn't that all it's
good for, protecting a stupid no star?"
Mikan slowly walked up and waited a few seconds then put her hand on top of
mine. "Ow!" She jerked her hand back and blew on her palm.
"Are you burned? Show my your hand."
"No, not really, it just stung a bit."
"OK, we're done for now. Go do your no star chores."
Dinner followed the same procedure as lunch. Mikan had her simple bowl of
rice plus whatever I chose to hand feed her, until she looked up and saw
Ruka staring at her. Then she ran off and I didn't stop her.
I took a walk through the woods after dinner and Ruka followed.
"Natsume, why are you doing this? What's this game you're playing?"
"It's no game. Or maybe it's a very dangerous game. I don't think you
should be seen with me or Mikan again. We're not safe to be around."
"I don't know you anymore." Ruka shook his head and walked off.
That's it buddy, go play with your animal friends. It's safer for you and
me.
Mikan was sitting under the exact tree I had predicted. One glance was all
it took to send her running, no doubt to Hotaru. It made no difference.
Hotaru was doomed the moment Mikan followed her to this prison.
"What are you playing at?" Persona's voice drifted in from the darkness
behind me.
"Leave me be and find out, or reassign her if you're so frightened of her."
"She is nothing to fear, but if it makes you better behaved like this, you
can keep your pet. Do whatever you like with her."
"Whatever." I walked back to my room and that night in my sleep remembered
flames engulfed me as always.