Disclaimer:

I don't own Gakuen Alice. this Disclaimer goes for all the chapters in this story under one author

Chapter 1: The Promise

Setting:

Park, under the big tree, 10:45, 7/23

"Know what, Natsume?" Mikan asked, while swinging her legs in the air.

"No, but I bet you're gonna tell me." Answered Natsume coldly.

"I really like it here in the academy. I'm glad I came." She turned to look at the boy who was still reading his manga. "How bout you? You like it here too, don't you?"

"No." Natsume answered.

"What? Why?"

"Co'z I do stupid things here."

"So?"

Mikan crawled towards him and sat.

"Don't do stupid things then." Mikan said, with a tone hinting the obvious.

Natsume winced. He should drop the issue now.

"Hey, Natsume," the stubborn girl insisted. "Why do you do stupid things?"

"Zip it, girl. Can't you see I'm reading?" answered Natsume.

"Aww, come on!" Mikan leaned forward to Natsume's face. "Tell me!!"

Her usual whining left him defeated again.

"Because I'm stupid. There, you happy?"

"No!" Mikan said sharply, suddenly getting annoyed that the boy wasn't taking him seriously. "I don't think you're stupid. So there's gonna be a reason why you do those stupid things."

Natsume sighed and reluctantly looked back at her. Mikan's face had that weird way of remaining adorable no matter what emotion she projects, that aside from her irritating capacity to pull off the things she wants to get from people.

"Co'z I have to." The boy looked down, covering his eyes with his dark locks.

"Why?"

"I said I have to, can't you understand simple English?"

"No, I can't understand. Why do you have to do stupid things? What are these stupid things? Do you get in trouble, do you get hurt? C'mon! You didn't even answer the question."

Guess the girl's not as empty headed as he thought she was.

"Yes." Natsume whispered.

"What? You mean you DO get hurt doing those things?" Mikan was suddenly alarmed. "Poor Natsume." The girl began stroking his head, gently.

"Hey, I don't need your pity." Natsume shove away her hand angrily, though he was enjoying the feeling.

"I don't. I just feel bad about not having to make you feel better every time you do something stupid."

Natsume's eyes became wide with surprise. No one ever said anything like that to him before.

"Alright, Natsume." Suddenly she was inches away from his face. Natsume couldn't restrain himself from blushing. He was quite fortunate for Mikan's dense personality.

"I, Mikan Sakura, promise you, that whenever you feel bad, or hurt, or upset, or in any other emotion that causes your heart pain, I'll be there for you. You can pick on me, peek on my underwear, push me around, burn my hair, or any other thing that you wanna do, for as long as it'll make feel better."

Mikan then extended her pinky for him. Natsume looked at it quizzically.

"Am I supposed to bite that?"

"You're supposed to hold it with yours, stupid!" Mikan said, giggling.

Natsume couldn't but smile at the childishness at the moment. Though he admitted to himself that he was feeling very warm all over. With the said finger, he embraced the tiny flesh waiting for him.

"And you, Natsume Hyuuga, promise me that everytime you feel like it, you will come to me and let me make you feel a lot better. Promise!"

"You don't understand what you're saying, little girl."

"No, but I bet you do!"

Mikan's eyes were sparkling. She was committing herself to the uncertain, just so he wouldn't feel any pain. What a stupid thing to do, he thought.

"Alright," Natsume said, "I promise."

With that, they shook each other's finger, and the pact was sealed.

Deep inside Natsume's heart, however, was another promise he's giving to himself.

'I, Natsume Hyuuga, promise that this girl will never get hurt, will never shed a tear, will never run to emptiness, and will never leave my mind, for as long as I draw even the tiniest of breaths.'

"Why are you doing this?" Natsume asked, after seeing Mikan sat calmly beside him, rocking herself on the soft, thin grass.

"Hm?" Mikan turned to him with a wondering expression.

"Why? I mean, look at me. I'm nothing. I don't even exist in the eyes of the principle world. People look at me and they see only an empty shell. I'm a soulless thing." These words were casually said, as if he was used to saying them.

"Well, you're not to me." Mikan's response, however, was more casual, more natural, as if really intending to say it.

"Natsume, you mean a lot to me." Then, her face grew a bit sad. "Please, don't hurt yourself anymore. The world isn't picking on you, and you're not a shoeless thing…"

"Souless." Natsume corrected.

"Whatever. You should stop calling yourself names too, ok? Specially ones that I couldn't even pronounce right."

They shared a comforting stare for a while, until Natsume broke it, and continued to read his manga.

The beating of his heart was uncontrollably fast.

He was filled with so much happiness, he didn't know why.

But perhaps he wouldn't bother knowing.

Setting:

Park, 17:00, 7/24

You mean a lot to me, please stop hurting yourself.

Natsume contemplated on those words- words that came from a stubborn, little girl- a little girl who has been in his mind the whole day.

He couldn't get her off his mind. That, and he didn't want to. Everytime he'd think of her, he'd feel warm inside.

She had that effect on him that makes him want to repeat her words over and over again.

"Mikan…" whispered Natsume, smiling.

The sun was setting, and from where he sat the view was wonderful. From a single orange ball emitted rays of crimson, filling the academy with its soothing color.

It felt nice.

To be here, to watch the sunset, to think of her- it's almost perfect. If only Mikan herself was here. But he quickly shoved the thought away. Still, to have her there by his side, watching the day end, thinking about it gave him a sense of nostalgia.

He looked at his watch- 17:45.

Time to get back.

I just feel bad about not having to make you feel better…

But perhaps, dropping by her room won't cause much trouble.

He stood up and with a flushed face, began to run towards the dorm she's staying at. But then he stopped. What would he say? Why would he be there late this hour? She's probably asleep, or doing something else. Is it still alright? It's been a long day, she's definitely tired, though she's usually filled with energy. Will she think it's weird?

Nah… perhaps such are just trivialities. Besides, knowing Mikan she'd probably scurry him in her room instead of shooing him away or asking why he's there.

The boy felt all giddy inside. The old Natsume would've considered such childish emotions foolish, indicating signs of weakness, but he wasn't the same Natsume. He's changed. Now he wants something, something very important.

He wants to be with Mikan- that he knows for certain. He no longer bothered to act cool, at least now that his heart longs to be with her.

"Mikan, I'm coming. Please be there like you promised!"

End of Chapter 1