I've finally finished chapter 1! this took me practically a month to complete... I got the idea for this story on our dear Ruka-pyon's birthday, so this is kinda like birthday gift for him. Gakuen Alice and it's characters belongs to Tachibana Higuchi, I do not claim to own any part of them.

I won't lose to you, Natsume; I'm won't be second to you in loving Sakura, I won't lose!

And yet he had already lost...

Ruka yawned as he heated up yesterday's leftovers for his breakfast, it had been two years since he'd graduated for Gakuen Alice, one year since he'd opened the veterinarian clinic he worked in now, but also one since he'd given up searching for Sakura and Natsume. Natsume had escaped the academy after middle school, obviously to be with Sakura; while Ruka had stayed 'til graduation. Ruka had spent the year after graduation looking for them, but to no avail, so he had decided searching was futile, and settle down at the clinic.

Once finished with breakfast, Ruka went down to the clinic to check on the rabbit that was currently there for treatment of a broken paw. He pulled on his white veterinarian coat as he entered the clinic, cages lined one wall of the clinic, though currently only one was occupied. He peered in at the bunny, its soft brown fur lay gently upon its skin as it slept; he could see it needed a change of bandages, though. Ruka remembered he just so happened to be almost out of bandages, so he hastened out the door to restock at the nearest store that had bandages suitable for animals. Unfortunately, the only store like that was 10 minutes away by train and he had only brought enough money to by bandages with not 10 yen to spare.

"Looks like I'm walking..." Ruka thought, and without further ado he was on his way. It was a rainy day, gloomy gray clouds blanketed the sky; Ruka scolded himself for forgetting a umbrella as heavy rain drenched his hair. Within ten minutes he was drenched, but as it wasn't worth running back after he was more than half-way to the store, he continued on. He wasn't paying much attention to the people he passed on the street, that is except the figure of a woman clutching a baby. He couldn't see her face at first, but she seemed strangely... familiar. There was desperation and fear in her eyes, her long brown hair looked even wetter than his own, like she had been out in the elements for... years.

"Sakura-san?" Ruka inquired. Her eyes grew wide as tennis balls, and maybe he imagined it, but there was a faint glimmer of relief in her eyes.

"R-ruka-pyon...?" it was more of a plea then an answer. He nodded in conformation, just before consciousness left her a ghost of a smile crossed her lips. he leaned in to catch her and was surprised to find her light as a feather, even with the weight of her child. Without hesitation he hastened to the nearest subway station, putting the thought of bandages behind.

He managed to catch the next subway traveling in the clinic's direction, he held Sakura, still clutching her baby, even in her unconsciousness. He put his hand on her forehead, although her hands were ice-cold, her head burned with fever.

"What happened to you, Sakura? You used to be so energetic... why were you living in streets?" Ruka wondered, but most of all he wonder why Natsume wasn't with her. He never would have left her side, even if his life depended on it. "So where's Natsume, Sakura? I know he couldn't have left you by his own will. besides, isn't that his child?" The subway pulled up at the station, he moved as quickly as he could with Sakura in his arms, as she was. But once he was out of the crowded station, it was easy enough to get to the clinic.

~Mikan's POV

I thought you said you weren't going to die Natsume-kun... I thought you weren't going to leave me!

When she awakened she was so warm and sleepy, all she wanted was to return to comforting arms of sleep; but where was Hiroshi? her son, all she had left of Natsume? Wild eyed, she sat up so quickly she almost fell out of the bed, frantically, she analyzed her surroundings. She appeared to sitting in a small single bed in a tiny one room apartment, it's few furnishings included a small stove equip with two burners, a petite oven and a microwave. Other than the bed and the stove, the only furnishings were a fridge, a tiny table and a single chair; one window revealed that this small dwelling was on the top floor of a building, at first Mikan was afraid because she couldn't find a door, but just then the top of a blond head emerged out of a trap door in in the floor.

Blue eyes confirmed recognition, she managed a little smile as he climbed up into the room carrying... "Hiroshi!" Mikan ran over and grabbed her baby from the the blond man before her.

"Are you well enough to be up, Sakura-san?" he asked with concern rooted in his voice.

"R-ruka-pyon.." Mikan faltered ignoring his question, "how in the world did you find us?"

"I was out getting bandages when i found you in the street," he answered truthfully, he continued gently as if he knew his next question might bring tears. "Can you tell me why Natsume isn't by your side? that's his child, isn't it?"

"Y-yes, Hiroshi is Natsume's son." Mikan faltered, trying to remain calm even though it was nearly impossible for her. "N-natsume isn't... here anymore, h-he... after Hiroshi w-was born." She couldn't say anything more, hot tear were already falling; she clutched her son tightly. Mikan felt Ruka's hand around her shoulder, he was crying too now; his voice was bearly audible but she still managed to hear it.

"I'm so sorry..."

That's it for chapter one! please review!^^