readers: This is my first fanfic that's not one shot so I don't know how this story will go, yeah, but maybe I can figure it out with your reviews ^^ I'm trying to base it on the manga, so I hope I could control OOCness of the persons involved. (But I might too, for everyone's delight!XD)

*Italicized parts are either SFX, thoughts, or flashbacks. ^_^

disclaimer: I love Gakuen Alice, and if I could just draw, I'll make the anime by myself! Btw, GA belongs to Higuchi Tachibana. ^^

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Chapter 1: FEET WITH A MIND OF ITS OWN

Sigh.

It was already past midnight.

Sigh.

Mikan lost track of how often she sighed for the whole night. She felt like sighing could take away the burden in her chest right now. She sighed again.

It's been since late afternoon since she locked herself up in her room. After the long, tiring, and emotionally draining trip to the past with Noda and her friends, and after the painful and heartbreaking encounter at the high school principal's office with her mother, Yuka, once again, she thought she would die of emotional and mental exhaustion. And there were so many things weighing in her mind right now.

After all the apologies had been said, after their hearts understood each other's pain for being separated and losing one important man in their lives—Yukihira, after the long embrace between Mikan and Yuka, the latter pulled away and caressed Mikan's face.

"Are you going with me outside now, Mikan? It would be safer for you and you and I wouldn't be separated anymore…" Yuka said, her voice trembling.

Mikan went into a mild shock. She forgot about the high school principal's proposal to her before the flashback with Noda. That she has to leave the Academy with her mother so that she could get away from the elementary school principal's clutches and evil plans for her.

The truth all came crashing down on her. From this point, she must choose only one path now. To be with her mother, safer and protected, or to be with her friends but more in danger. Clearly, going with her mother was the positive choice, but, to leave her friends—

Mikan raised her face from the mild shock. Her brown orbs landed on a serious and deep pair of crimson eyes. She felt her knees tremble. All arrogance, naught and strength weren't evident on the face of the boy she was staring. Fear was written all over Natsume's face. He was staring back at her, and she felt… that he was afraid of what she would say. Everyone wanted her to leave for her to be safe. But...this man… his face…and his eyes…was crushing her ability to make the decision. She wasn't able to control her tears. She honestly wanted to cut herself in half just not to make the decision.

"Please don't force her to make the decision today." Hotaru said with a clear voice that interrupted the awkward silence. Her best friend seemed to read her thoughts very well. She knew that she was currently in a state that couldn't make any decision.

Tsubasa-senpai talked immediately after. "Mikan-chan is still emotionally drained after all the revelations and learning about the past and everything, she could use some rest first before she could make a decision about this."

Yuka's face creased with worry. She embraced Mikan again, hushed her tears, and faced the high school principal with her serious countenance.

The high school principal nodded. "Of course, we should let Mikan rest for the meantime."

Yuka turned to her. "Mikan, we're sorry for giving you a hard time, but please think that this decision is crucial. By leaving, it's not just you who would be safe, but also your friends. If the elementary school principal gets his hold of you, I wouldn't have the enough power right now to get you back, and that would mean he would use you for his greed in power. We all do not want you to experience and suffer that, that's why this is important not just for you or me…but for everyone."

Mikan nodded. She couldn't get the words to say. She just wanted to be alone for the moment. She felt like fainting anytime soon.

The high school principal stood up from his chair, patted Mikan's shoulder and smiled gently.

"Alright, please get some rest now. We'll rendezvous here after five days. Please make your decision by then, Mikan."

Mikan's mind was still in a blur after the hours that passed. Even the robot dorm manager who was checking on residents was worried when it saw her looking so down. She didn't know what to do. She loved this place, loved her friends and everyone, despite the danger that envelopes the Academy now. She wanted to be with her mother too, who was long separated from her. She knew how much pain Yuka underwent when she had to make the decision of leaving her as a baby to Jii-chan.

Mikan rolled out of the bed and put on her slippers. Though she was in her pajamas already, she wanted to immediately get up and out of her room. She needed to take a walk, even in the corridors or the lobby… just somewhere she could take a walk on. She suddenly felt a bit claustrophobic after spending a number of hours inside her room, thinking. It wasn't her style at all.

While taking her 'walk', she was still pondering on the path she would choose—to leave or not. This was crazy. Everything was crazy. She was just a nobody and then now, she felt like everything was up to her decisions and actions. She wanted to go back to the time when what she just worried about was Rabbits to buy Howalon, or being bullied, or simply to get close to Hotaru…things like that. She wasn't ready for these serious matters.

Her wandering thoughts suddenly halted when she stumbled while climbing the stairs as she missed half a step. Successfully stopping herself from hitting her head on the floor, she quickly balanced herself. Then she looked around to see where her feet led her.

Then she gasped as her auburn orbs grew wide as realization dawned on her.

She was at the boys' wing!!

Judging whether to proceed or not, she looked down the steps she climbed. She estimated…that she was at the 4th floor. Fourth….floor?! That was…. the room for special star elementary students! What was she doing here?!

Then she heard a machine-like sound coming from one of the rooms near the steps. When she looked at the label at the door, it said: BOYS' DORM MANAGER. Her face paled as the sound grew louder. He was about to get out of the room.

Trying hard not to make any loud noise, she randomly knocked softly at one of the other doors in the middle part of the hallway. Fearing that she was about to get discovered by the dorm manager of intruding the boys' wing at past midnight, she turned the doorknob of the room and rushed inside.

Hitting something as soon as she stepped inside the room, she stumbled, together with what she hit. Mikan shut her eyes tight for she thought it was some vase or table that would make some real noise. But instead… she heard a low grunt.

Before she could open her eyes, a voice filled the room. "What the heck are you doing here?"

Mikan's eyes snapped wide open. That voice… A voice she knew so well. A voice that was always irritated, a voice someone would usually fear. But… she longed to hear that voice, yet she didn't know why.

Then just as she expected, what dawned on her are the deep dark crimson eyes of the owner of the voice and the room. His hair was a bit of a mess but it suited his features. He looked more handsome despite the irritated look. They were so close that Mikan could feel his soft breath on her cheek. His breath smelled sweet. Mikan blushed at the idea.

"Nat—"

Mikan was about to say something when she felt something odd about their closeness. She then remembered that because they stumbled together… she ended up lying on top of him. Natsume had no shirt on and was only wearing thin cotton pajamas. Her night shirt and pajamas too were so thin that she could feel Natsume's body warmth. Her cheeks gone deep red as she realized their positions. Her breasts were pressing on Natsume's chest and her pelvis was exactly where Natsume's was. Mikan's body temperature unconsciously shot up like a rocket launcher. She was about to open her mouth to scream when…

"Sshh, don't shout or we'll get in trouble." whispered Natsume as he immediately cupped Mikan's mouth before she could scream.

With the shift of Natsume's hands, Mikan's body pressed closer towards Natsume's body and hips. She knew she looked all red from the blushing but she couldn't help it. Their position brought something unusual to her sensations. And she didn't know Natsume smelled this….masculine. A soft hint of masculine odor…very fit for Natsume's mature personality.

After a few seconds that seemed like hours to Mikan, they froze in that awkward position, as they heard the machine-like sound of the robot dorm manager grow fainter. Then when they heard nothing anymore, Natsume released his hand from her mouth, and Mikan immediately pushed herself away from Natsume's body. The effects of the closeness were still lingering through her system. Her heart was beating faster and faster, as they stared at each other, with Mikan's eyes as wide as it could get, her breathing very uneven.

"Now tell me what you are doing here." Command was clear on the tone of Natsume's voice.

Mikan flushed. She would normally rant at Natsume but given the situation, she couldn't. She didn't know she was heading to the males' wing! She was really…an idiot. Also, what kept her unable to talk is because of the effect of the prolonged closeness of their bodies sent unexplained sparks to her body. She still could feel his breath brushing gently on her cheek, his chest and hips on her. It was driving her mad. She never felt this way about anyone or Natsume before. Even if Natsume always gets to be inches closer to her, peeking on her panties, looking at her breasts…this time, the feelings were a whole different.

"Oi." Natsume spoke again when she remained silent. Though, he never took his eyes away from her.

There they were, sitting on the carpet of Natsume's room, inches apart. With the small distance, she suddenly felt cold. She ranted herself for suddenly wanting to be closer to him again. Something was definitely wrong with her. Was it because she felt alone? Full of problems? Or… because she wanted to convey something to Natsume, in response to his upright announcement to everyone in the elementary school's principal that he was the woman he loves?

Unaware that she was making troubled facial expressions, Natsume seemed to read her thoughts that she felt something unusual about the positions a while ago and was troubled. He smirked and stood up from the carpet and sat on the bed.

"You're really an idiot aren't you? First, you intrude the boys' wing, then you barge into my room, and you nearly had us caught by the robot. And now you're thinking perverted things."

Mikan frowned. Was she really that transparent, that she looked troubled by their positions a while ago and her feelings?

"I didn't mean to barge into your room! And… I'm not thinking of perverted things! I'm not like you!"

His face grew serious. He seemed to ignore the 'perverted things' part and focused on one thing she said. "Oh, so you whose room where you planning to intrude then? Ruka's?"

Mikan was alarmed by his expression. He was always like that when it's about her and Ruka. She suddenly raised her voice in defence. "No! I… I just—"

"Stop shouting, idiot."

Mikan frowned even more. Natsume was still the same, stubborn and foul-mouthed, and unreasonable. Suddenly the awkward sensation of the thing that happened a while ago disappeared, and they were back to normal, shouting and arguing with each other. It was always like that… with him. If they go out, will it be like a cat and dog fight every day?

Not knowing it, she blushed. What was she suggesting to herself? She wasn't sure of Natsume's feelings anyway, or if what he said in the principal's office was true, since he was still the same, calling her idiot again and again.

Natsume sighed. "If you're just going to shut up there, you better get back to your room. You're getting in the way of my sleep."

See? He's still the same. There was no bother thinking about what he said that time… Moreover, he wasn't the type to be a good company when she's like this. But still—

"Nee, Natsume. Can I stay for a while?"

Mikan saw Natsume's surprised expression. Maybe she looked crazy and idiotic after all, barging in and everything. She looked at the floor with a sad expression. Natsume wouldn't understand her dilemma right now, and she knew he wasn't the type to hear others out. She was preparing to hear a rejection and an 'idiot' again, but…

"Take a seat." Natsume said, motioning the bed, beside where he sat.

Mikan looked at him with surprised eyes and unconsciously gulped. There was something wrong with her feelings today. And Natsume was kind of different today too. And she didn't know herself why she wanted to stay.

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Well, please review. ^^ I could use some suggestion for the continuation. Ehehe~~ ^_^