Hey, Hey! So this is my first fanfic and I'm just a little bit nervous... okay nervous is an understatement! Flames will be accepted but ,please, flame lightly!

This is set a few years after chapter 138 in the manga. They are all seventeen. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Gakuen Alice, because if I did things would go MY way!

17-year-old Natsume Hyuuga woke up on January 1st to the bright morning sun seeping in through his special star dorm room window. Today was his girlfriend, Mikan Sakura's, 17th birthday. He frowned as he remembered how strange Mikan had been acting lately. Of course, he didn't mind being told that she loved him at least twice everyday, but her behavior was strange. She never really liked the idea of public affection but for the past week she had randomly kissed him on the cheek when they were walking around or she would snuggle up close to him when they were sitting next to each other. Not to say he didn't like it though! No, that was DEFINITLY not the case.

Something was up. No doubt about. He shook his head, thinking about this would have to wait. He had places to go today. Getting up from his bed he headed to the bathroom to do his morning routine.

Fifteen minutes later he was out of the bathroom and ready to go. Natsume grabbed his black sweatshirt and room key and headed for the door, but, before he grabbed the doorknob, something white on the ground caught his eye. He leaned over and picked it up. It was an envelope with his name on it in… Mikan's handwriting? As soon as he saw it he knew something bad was in it. He wearily opened it while eyeing it suspiciously. He was correct to be weary of it, for inside was a letter that made his heart ache.

Natsume,

I'm sorry for not telling you, but by the time that you read this I will probably be gone. I couldn't stay any longer and I couldn't bring myself to tell you in person. The ESP was getting to much power and he probably could have taken over the whole school if I stayed. I can't tell you where I am going and I'm not sure if I'll ever see you again. Please know that I love you, forever and always, but I want you to move on and live a good long life. Smile for me Natsume, I'll miss you.

Love,

Mikan~

Tears trickled down his cheeks and landed on the letter as he read it over and over again. He knew it would be impossible for him to move on. Without caring if anyone saw him crying he started walking to wherever his feet would take him, still reading the object in his hand that he wanted to burn so badly, but at the same time wanted to keep just so he could remember her. He finally looked up to see the sakura tree which caused more tears to flow freely down his cheeks as memories flooded back. He sat down in his usual spot and cried his eyes out. He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't even hear the footsteps coming towards him until the person stepped on a stick, snapping it in half. Natsume looked up to see his best friend, Ruka Nogi, looking at him with a concerned expression.

"Hey man, are you okay? What happened?" Ruka asked concern laced throughout his voice. Wordlessly, Natsume handed him the letter. Natsume watched as his friend's expression changed from concerned to shocked. When he was finished reading his eyes were as wide as saucers. He didn't know what to say, she was gone and there was nothing left to do about it. Ruka sat there staring at his depressed best friend until he heard light footsteps approaching.

"Have you seen Mikan anywhere? It's her birthday and she still hasn't come over to my room screaming about what a 'wonderfully special' day it is.." Hotaru Imai trailed off at the end as she saw that Natsume had been crying. She looked at Ruka quizzically as he handed her the letter. As soon as she saw Mikan's handwriting her eyes widened. She slumped to the ground and tears made their way down her cheeks silently as she stared at the letter in front of her. Mikan is gone. And she couldn't stop her.

Two hearts broke that day in the academy. Two hearts that were once thought to be made of ice had been melted by one person, shattered when she left, then rebuilt themselves into their previous blocks of ice they had once been, only to stay that way until their sunshine returns and melts them once again…

(to be continued…)

Love it? Hate it? Either way reviews are welcome!