A/N: Wow, this is one long hell of a chapter. Reviews please?! And don't worry, I won't abandon my other stories for this. I'm trying a shorter story for a change, and I hope you like it. Let me know your thoughts! 😉😀

Disclaimer: I don't own Gakuen Alice.

Main Heroine's P.O.V (I won't reveal her name just yet!)

It's been a year now. Well, approximately, it's been 11 months and 9 days, but let's just say that it's been a year. I've been friends with BlackCat27 (That's his email username.) Pretty tacky for a username right? I thought so too at first... Anyways back to the story, I've been friends with BlackCat27 for a whole damned year and I still don't know who he is.

Confusing, right? I presume this is where I flashback to when I first, well, met him. Not technically, but, I guess you get the picture.

It all started with a very personal apology email I had to write to him, all due to the financial shenanigans my best friend was accused of. Of course, it's another thing that all the accusations were true and that she was fooling around and hacking into someone else's personal database just for the fun of it, hoping for any unauthorized data she could obtain and gain from.

But..., thankfully, BlackCat27 was a sensible man. He was more than content with a straightforward apology and an assurance that it doesn't happen again. Ever. No court cases, nothing. I didn't know at first as he replied through an email but BlackCat27 was a very... Intimidating man.

Anyways, trouble comes after I send the mail. "Dude, where in the world are you? I've been waiting for you for the past 15 minutes! I swear, if you waste my day off, there's gonna be hell to pay!" I shouted into the phone, as soon as someone picked it up.

It was then that I felt a light tap on my shoulder and I turned back to see my friend huffing and puffing heavily with no phone visible in her hands. "W-Wha? Wait, if you're here, then who is on the phone?" I turned to look at the caller ID, and written up, at the top of my phone was '(425) 555-0129' in white against the phone's black wallpaper. I got the shock of my life when I saw the unknown number on the phone. How did I- Then I realized, that the call was still going and I raised the phone to my ear in a hurry.

"Crap! I-I'm so sorry, uh? Who is this exactly?" I asked, feeling ashamed to ask him for his identity. A sharp voice rang in my ears, accusing me. "Not the conversation I was expecting when I heard that Imai Hotaru from Eros inc. contacted my secretary demanding a meeting."

"I-I'm really sorry mister! I guess I got the wrong number, so sorry."

"No harm done..." There's a succinct pause on the other line. "... Go easy on your friend." He added after a while. I didn't know what to say to that. "Um, okay? Sure. I guess it's your lucky day." I said glancing at Hotaru who frowned at me.

"Who're you talking to?" But before I could answer her, another voice appeared on the line. "Yeah, just a sec. Hey, Shizune, cancel all my appointments scheduled for today. Adjust them to tomorrow's meetings." The man spoke in a metallic tone to, I guess, his secretary?

There was a pause before he came on the line again. "Yeah, hello? I'm so sorry for the inconvenience again, mister." He replied back quickly. "No problem." He said. "Okay so, I guess, goodbye." I said and quickly hung up, feeling awkward.

That was 11 months 9 days ago. And I don't know how, but somehow, like how I got the wrong number and called him the first time, 2 weeks later, the same phenomenon occurred. I called Hotaru again to tell her the dreadful news...

"Uh, Hotaru... I know it's kind of crazy and really short notice, but I'm in desperate need of a job... So, basically, what happened was, I quit ClickIt. This time he went too far! The condescension, the harassment, the way he always twists my writing into something it's not, I've had it with him and ClickIt!"

"Oh, you should've seen the look on his face! He did not see that coming, I insulted him and his rat's ass worth of a blog company in front of everyone and I uploaded it in the blog as well! I got 2 million hits in just 24 hours! Can you believe it? Are you there? Hello? Hotaru?"

Someone on the other line coughed their throat loudly. "Crap! Not again... This isn't Hotaru Imai's cell, is it?" I asked as someone replied back. "Nope. So, we meet again, Ms. Caller. To what do I owe the pleasure?" The same man asked with an edge in his tone of voice. "I-I'm really sorry, I don't know how-" He didn't wait for a reply.

"You said you work at ClickIt?" He asked and somehow, I l got so caught up in the whole conversation that in the next 31 minutes that passed, I laid out my entire bio data to him, my geography, my biography, everything. "It was nice talking to you. Again. And I'm really so sorry." I apologized and hung up after attaining his email address to avoid any further such 'Wrong calls'.

Since then, we've built a rapport of sorts with each other and for privacy purposes; he never reveals his real name and always uses the email username BlackCat27. Well, I don't really care whatsoever. Having him in my life for the past 11 months has been sort of like a turning point for me.

"So, why not date him already?!" Hotaru asked me, pulling me back to the present day world, to reality and in reality, she's asked me this same question almost a zillion times now. And yet, I still stare at her for the utterly preposterous statement she's put forth even though I've heard it so many times. "Dude, like seriously? How many times do we have to talk about this? I haven't even seen him!" She snorts. "What?! I get busy!" I said hoping it would be enough as a reason.

"Mikan Yukihira, you are the owner of a blog on the internet and a page at GQ lifestyle magazine, you don't run the empire state building for Christ's sake! What you're saying makes no sense! I have a job too and I still have time for you and everyone else. You don't do half the work I do in my company, if you dare say that you get busy again, I'm gonna rip that tongue out and tie it around your neck." She said viciously. I rolled my eyes.

"That blog at the internet and GQ lifestyle magazine got 12 million hits last month, and not to mention the BlackBourne award for achievement in online media. I'm a legitimate player in the blogosphere. I don't have time for dating and besides, we're just friends."

"Uh-Huh. Just friends." She said as I rolled my eyes. "What part of 'just friends' do you not understand?" I asked her, putting my cell down.

"Oh, I understand plenty. What I want-" *Ting! You have a new message!* Flashes up on my cell. "You can keep rambling on all you want, I've got to take this." I said and left the room before Hotaru could even bat her eyes.

I relax at the sound of his voice ringing in my ears through the phone. "I totally get you. But honestly? It's not so bad at my new office you know... Not as much as yours anyways. What happened exactly?" I asked in the hope that perhaps I could lift his spirits but I guess it had the opposite effect.

"This is like the bloody 4th time! What is this, break all my plates day?!' Those cost me 100 dollars each!" He whined as I giggled on the other line. "It's not funny!" He shouted, clearly vexed by my laughing.

"It is actually. I don't even know what you do for a living! Do you own a event management company perhaps?"

"You haven't figured it out yet?"

"Well, I have a few assumptions like the event management but in the end, they're all just plain... Assumptions."

I could feel him relax a little on the other side. "I guess I could give you a lot of fancy terms but bottom line, you could say I'm in the culinary category of businesses."

"You own a restaurant?" I asked dubiously.

"Guilty as charged. I'm the current head of marketing at my family's Italian-Japanese based restaurant. We're currently working on selling a new blend of Eastern and Western food. We have extended our reach and have many branches in many countries worldwide and are ranked as one of the top restaurants in the world today. Information enough?"

I blink, trying to process what he said. "Whoa... Jeez man, you should've told me you were rich. I'd have been nicer to you."

He chuckles on the other line. "Don't bother. It's better this way. Hey, I gotta go. We're understaffed and they need someone to man the bar."

"Why do they say that? Man the bar? Can't you just say that you're the bartender?" I asked and obviously, he didn't have the time to answer me back. "I'll get back to you on that... After Chris comes back from his grandmother's place and takes his rightful place as bartender so I can go back to signing papers in my office." He replied sarcastically.

"Do you care about anything besides work?" I asked hopefully. "No. Not really and besides, I like what I do." He replied with blatant honestly that it took me a little time to process just what he said. "Damn. You don't mince your words, do you?"

"Never. Anyways, gotta go. Too many customers today." I rolled my eyes as I end the call. "Drama Queen." I whispered as I took off my shirt and pulled on a stylish turquoise cardigan and a white crop top underneath with ripped jeans and sneakers. "Hey Hotaru, I'm leaving! Don't forget to lock the door."

"And she's asking me to go out with him! I mean, seriously?" I poured out the story to Anna in hopes that at least she'll side with me. "I don't know Mikan... Maybe Hotaru's right. You're quite... Distracted these days..." Anna replied hesitantly. My eyes widen.

I couldn't believe my ears. "Not you too Anna! What's gotten into you people?!" And like always, Anna just stood there tongue tied while Sumire spoke up for her. The supposed voice of reason in our little group of girlfriends. "Will you chill out? We're not asking you to propose to him, just maybe, ask him out? You've been friends for ages right? It's high time you saw his face in real life." She said and this time, I stood tongue tied, not knowing what to say.

I'd talked about this so many times to him. But he was not ready to blow his cover. "I told you, he's like super rich and he's not ready for a face to face meeting. It gets serious you know with all the spam mail and stalkers and the internet isn't safe anymore. They could track his emails, hack into his accounts and have it posted online for the whole world to see, you know how the media works. They live for scandalous information." I defended him and his privacy as much as I could.

Sumire sighed loudly. But before she could say anything, my phone rang again. It was a new message from BlackCat27. 'What're you doing this Saturday?' was the supposed message I received.

I blinked rapidly at the weird message. "That's... Odd." He'd never asked me about my schedule before. You only do that if you want to... Oh my god! Ignoring Sumire and the conversation we were having, I hurried to the bathroom.

'I'm free, why?' I typed the text, my heart pounding against my ribcage as I pressed my hand on the send button. Could it be? Does he want to...Meet up? I didn't know why but I was getting out of breath and kind of exhilarated for no reason. And even though I sent the text, nothing came back.

I stared at my cell phone for hours. In between my work, at lunch break, while going to the bathroom, you name it, my phone was always with me and I was carrying it around like a woman possessed. But, it was not until I went back home that I got a call from him. "Hey, I'm really sorry I couldn't text you before. Had to go to a meeting."

"No, no, that's okay." I tried desperately to hide the excitement in my voice. "So, I was just thinking if um, maybe you'd like to meet up?"

That was... Blunt. I thought that maybe this was what he meant when he asked what I was doing on Saturday but I didn't think he'd be so straight-up about it. Frankly speaking, it's kind of suspicious. BlackCat27 didn't beat around the bush but he was always so repulsed by the idea of us meeting. Whenever I brought it up, he would slyly avoid talking about it. Him of all people being so straightforward about this kind of sets me off. In a bad way. Is he joking with me?

I set the thought aside about him joking and ask him seriously what the deal is exactly. "Why after all this time? You're acting kind of weird. I asked you for your real name so many times and yet, I'm still stuck with your permanent identity as BlackCat27 and suddenly you want to meet up?" I was worried I'd been a little rude when he didn't reply, so I added: "I mean, I'm perfectly cool with your privacy issues. It's okay if you're doing this for my sake, you know..."

"No, I just know this great place and honestly? I think it's about time we learn each other's faces, don't you? I guess I at least owe you that much so that you don't get insecure and... I'd really like to get to know you better. Face to face." He got me with that line. And I didn't know what to do. I needed an excuse and fast. "Hey, um, could you just wait a sec? I'm getting another call and I need to get this."

He was quick to reply. "No, of course. Take your time. I'm sorry I just dropped this on you so suddenly." He said and I frowned. No kidding, dude! "Yeah, thanks." I replied.

I quickly dialed Sumire's number and initiated a group chat with all my girls. "He-He wants to meet up! I-I don't know what to say to him, you've got to help me on this." Obviously, everyone panics. "Calm down!" Sumire's voice was the loudest of all. "First of all, what did you tell him?" I tried to sound less nervous. "He's on the other line; I told him I was getting another call."

After a long discussion, we all agreed that I shouldn't go on Saturday. I should go on Sunday instead so all of them could come over to y house and help me get ready since I had horrible taste. "Ok, ok. Fine. Stay on line. I'll see if he's okay with Sunday." I said and got back to him.

"Hello? Sorry about that. That was my friend. And, I can't on Saturday. Something came up. I'm so sorry." I spoke into the cell. His voice came out a little panicked. "Oh? I-I see. That's okay." He said hurriedly. "I'm free on Sunday though. Totally free." I said in an awkward voice that surprised me as well.

"S-Sunday?" He asked, his voice picking up. "Is that not working for you?" I asked and immediately a voice answered. "No, no! S-Sunday's fine! Sunday's perfect!" He said and I chuckled. "You sound different today." I pointed out.

"Yeah, I know. Sorry, I'm just... Nervous. So Sunday? I'll email you the address." He said as I nodded. "Sure. Sunday." I cut the call and let out a massive breath of relief I didn't know I was holding.

Sunday was not easy. Not with 4 girls fussing over my entire body. "Perfection." Sumire said in awe once she was finished with me. "You look sick!" She said and walked me over to the life sized mirror in her room. "Check yourself out!"

I admit, I was looking pretty good but still felt a little off. "I'm just going to a cafe you know; I don't need to look so... Extravagant." And I take off the outfit and just to please Sumire so that I don't hurt her feelings, I go with a dress from her wardrobe.

"Much better," I said and turned around so that everyone could see me in my floral print off the shoulder shirt and denim blue shorts. I donned a slick ponytail, put on golden hoops and randomly chose a purse from Sumire's drawer. "Well, its okay I guess." She said, pursing her lips as I smiled.

I put on my ankle-strap sandals and headed for the door. I arrived at the cafe ten to fifteen minutes before the fixed time. I was feeling nervous, my hands were sweaty and I kept looking around in a daze, and looking at the door expectantly. I jumped every time that damn door opened.

This time, when I looked up to look at the door, the most beautiful man I'd ever seen was staring right back at me. Every eye turned to stare at him. Blonde hair, high cheekbones, a smile so sweet that it threw me off guard. And I decided then and there that this guy was so not him.

But such is fate, he smiled at me, walking towards me. No way! This is him? He was soo different from what I had in mind. "Hey, um, could you be Blush17?" He asked. I completely forgot. Blush17 was my email username.

"Y-Yeah. And it's actually Mikan. Mikan Yukihira." I said raising a hand. He took it with a dazzling smile. "I'm Ruka. It's... Great to finally see you. Wow, this is like super awkward." He said with a normal and calm air about him.

"Tell me about it. Anyways, take a seat." I said gesturing for him to do so. I stared at him a little. And I didn't notice before, but his eyes were seriously blue. Almost sickeningly blue - full on Prince Charming, field of cornflower, perfect, cloudless sky blue. Someone should name a crayon after the guy's eyes, they're so blue.

And he sat down smiling all the while. "You're more beautiful than I thought." He stated and I unconsciously blushed. He chuckled. "Your name fits you. Blush." He said.

I blushed again, running a hand through my hair. "You're... Really different from what I imagined. I mean, you sound so different on the phone..." I said in a peculiar tone. "It's important to keep up appearances when I'm outside Ms. Yukihira. I hope you understand." He said in a low tone.

There's a pause as I process what he means. I smile meaningfully once I grasp his words. "Riiight. Here I thought you'd turned into a gentleman out of the blue. Guess not. And please, just call me Mikan. Ms. Yukihira makes me feel like a school teacher. So, what can I interest you in?" I asked.

Of course, before I could even signal the waiter, a raspy and husky voice spoke out. "How about a ride home?" Ruka sighed. "I'm so sorry about this Mikan. I guess this is where you and I say our goodbyes." He said in a mockingly sad tone.

"Damn right you do." The husky voice spoke out again and this time I looked up to get a good look at him. Nothing. I have no words.

I'm staring at god's most gorgeous creation on earth. This guy could easily pass off as the Greek god of beauty, Adonis. A chiseled jaw, high cheekbones, not thin, nor full but the perfect rosy lips, a prominent nose, pale skin, and eyes like the jewels of the sea.

His eyes had this intense gaze upon them and as our eyes met, his drilled into mine.

His eyes were red, pure bottomless red, not soulless nor lifeless. Instead they were like two pristine stones of rubies that lit up with a scarlet orange flare when touched by candle light. His eyes were so dark and soo red, I felt like I was looking into an endless stretch of blood.

His eyes matched the way he felt. And right now, they lit up with an intense anger. They were dark and painfully bright at the same time. I couldn't strip my eyes from his. We were staring at each other so intensely, nobody in this cafe would've heard a thing, but, we were both experiencing what cheesy films call 'Communicating with one's eyes.'

Then abruptly, he stripped his eyes away from mine. Almost too quickly. I blinked in rapid succession, as though for a second there, I'd forgotten how to blink at all. My heart pounds against my ribcage, the same way it did when he called, asking to meet up. Blood rushes faster through my veins. A wave of sensation passes through my entire body. A tingling excitement takes over.

Abruptly, I shake my head, forcing myself back to the situation at hand. It's then that I grasp that the whole cafe has erupted in hushed whispers and excited murmurs. Their eyes turn, their fingers point to only one figure in the room. "Isn't that him?! Holy cow! What's he doing here?" I hear the girls behind chat excitedly as they click snaps of the red eyed figure.

"We're leaving. Now." And that red eyed figure was all too well aware of this, threatening Ruka in a menacingly ominous voice. "Get in the car." He half dragged Ruka out the cafe as onlookers stare and some of the customers come out to stare at him.

"H-Hey wait a second! How the hell is this guy?" I asked although I knew all too well who the hell he was. I guess I knew the second his eyes met mine? Or because of his voice? Or perhaps because of what he said to me in reply: "You know all too well who I am." He replied, the red eyed man.

His voice, his body language, his conduct, his lack of basic ethics and especially his eyes, my heart was screaming to me it was him. But my mind refused to believe my heart. My mind required actual conformity of the fact. I wanted to hear him say it.

"Oh, do I?" I challenged him, crossing my arms over my chest, staring him down. He wasn't one who's subject to intimidation, I know now. He stared me down with a EVEN MORE intense stare. "I don't befriend people easily but when I do, I don't think I'll trust a complete stranger without knowing their background. Should I start with where you live?" I stare at him, my mouth left hanging, his words gotten the best of me.

He smirks and leans down to my ear, whispering in a low tone. "Or perhaps, with your choice of undergarments?" He said as I blush, tinting my ears a faint pink. "!" I'm too shocked for words. He smirks again. "Your friend's a good influence on you. The red lacy one is my favourite by far."

My cheeks flush, my jaw drops. His words bother me a lot. A whole lot. "Should I tell what you're wearing today as well? White-"

"Stop! Just... Stop! I get it already! So, just stop!" I almost shout out as he smirks that annoying smirk again. "Good. And you. Into the car." He glared daggers at Ruka who smiled at me. "W-Wait a second! If you're-" I turn to look at the red eyes man and turn my gaze away almost immediately the second his eyes meet mine.

"Then who is he?" I asked pointing towards Ruka. "Ruka Nogi. My business partner." The man replied. "And his best friend." Ruka added. So that's it. I frown at the statement. "Honestly. Best friends. Can't live with them, can't live without them." I whispered but rude, red eyes heard me.

"Finally, you and I agree on something." He said as he pushed Ruka into the car. "I will be looking forward to meeting you and Aoi later. Prepare yourselves and don't even bother denying it. I know she put you up to this nonsense."

I stand there, uncomfortable with the countless stares as they continue with their heated argument. "Will you both please stop it? We're in the middle of a street and you're both acting like children!" I pointed out finally.

Ruka had the grace to look ashamed. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean any inconvenience." He said as I smiled thinly. "Please, just leave? We can sort this out later..." Ruka being the sensible man, got into the car with an apologetic smile.

And I sighed, shaking my head as I set out for home. "Where're you going?" The red eyed man asked. I didn't turn and kept walking. To my surprise, he walked by my side. "I could just drop you home, you know..."

Something in me snapped but since I didn't have the energy to argue with him, I kept walking without a word. "Look, would you just get in the car already?" I turn to look at a Mercedes Benz in all its glory standing there. I ignore him and the car as I keep walking. I hear him sigh.

And when I'd assumed he was gone, I find him walking next to me. "I'll come with you then." He said. I scoffed. "I don't think the bus would match your status." I said unconsciously. He smiled. "Then do me a favour and get in the car already." Wow. He still had the nerve to order me around.

"No. YOU do ME a favour and go home like a good boy. It's way past your curfew anyways." I replied sarcastically. "You're disappointed it was me?" He asked, his hands in his pockets. Something snapped. "Disappointed? I don't even know you!"

"And believe me, it's for good reason." He replied. "I don't care what reasons! That doesn't give you a right to stalk my every move to the point of knowing my-" I cut my words short and bite my lips in exasperation.

"You know what that makes you." I added instead. "A person who has your best interests at heart?" He replied with a smirk as I feel my fingers clench into fists. "No! A pathetic, creepy stalker or worse, a pervert!" I shouted as everyone turned to look at me.

He sighed, "Would you get in the car, everyone's staring." I looked around nervously and everyone was. I sighed as he opened the door for me. "I can get home by myself." I said confidently, not wanting to ride with him in his overly expensive car.

"I'm sure. But let me drop you this once." He said stressing every word. I crossed my arms. "Fine. But on one condition." I said. "Done." And he ushered me inside without even bothering to learn my condition.

Well, he's in for a shock then.