ermm this is my first fan fic. i don't know weather its going to be good but, i'm trying my hardest. so R&R please... ideas are also welcome :)

'dialogue'

thoughts

Summary; the kids are now in the ripe age of 17. Mikan is getting fed up with natsume's indecisiveness and hiding away attitude. what happens when she decides to walk away...

Disclaimer; I do not own Gakuen Alice.

The rain that took you away

The night was raining as hard as it can as if giving revenge to the hot 3 days before. The earth felt refreshingly cool while Natsume and Mikan were stuck together under a mercy shelter of an old worn down shed. They were in the woods after searching for Ruka's missing rabbit when they got separated from the others. The air was filled with silence and Mikan feeling uneasy with the situation tried to break the ice.

'Geez where did everyone go?' Mikan glanced around and realized they are surrounded by big scary trees. 'Umm... Natsume, can I get closer you?'

'Stay away little girl its already uncomfortable enough here. I don't need you to add it up' Natsume gave her a stare that says don't u dare!!

'Demo… ummhhh' drawing closer to Natsume 'its sca- arr- ryyyy… what if there's ghost?? 'She moved even closer

'Hey polka dots, the dormitory is only up front. You can even see the clock tower from here. If you're so scarred just run off there and get soaked. Don't involve me in your stupid ness don't come so near idiot. I might not be able to control myself.

'Really!! Ah... sumimasen I hadn't notice!!' Mikan put on her usual smile which changed in a single second when she suddenly realized something, 'wait WHAT did you called me you pervert??'

'Polka dots panties'

'YOU…' an index finger pointing at Natsume

'Oh is it strawberry prints today' Natsume smirked knowing he'd always win.

'YOU HENTAI!!' Mikan was going to attack Natsume but when the shed waver dangerously she stopped, thinking I'll just let it pass today.

'I guess you are not such an idiot anymore. Make sudden move and the thing will collapse' I win… again as always 'now keep quiet and sit still'

'Don't smug... I'm not the same no star anymore. I'm a three star, and my marks are just a little lower than you. Just wait, i'll surpass you in no-time.'

'Whatever..' Natsume imiginatively smiled to himself. He could still vividly remembered how dense this girl used to be. He would purposely say something and left her wondering just for fun. Those days are long gone. Before his very own eyes, he saw how much this girl bloomed. From a dense smiley polka dot panties little girl to a beautiful intelligent girl she is now. Of course he wouldn't admit that fact to a soul but himself. The same girl who used to get on his nerve has somehow manage to become a residence in his heart.

She changes a lot over the years both mentally and physically. He thought to himself as he eyed the girl who's playing with the water drops. Her body is not of a little kid anymore. It is not flat and has curves just at the right places. Her way of thinking is not as simple anymore either. He used to be able to read everything on her face... not anymore though. Somehow, her observation has became more sharp too...

He sighed... That's the problem. I can't seem to be able to hide my worries and sickness anymore. She changed, evolved but me... I'm still the same. I could not be honest with my feelings, still trapped... and still have to put on this facade...

'Ne ne Natsumi-kun, can I ask u something?' Mikan's question broke Natsume's flow of thought.

'Nani baka youjo? Your voice is hurting my ears' came the usual harsh answer.

Normally Mikan would've ignored it and continued talking but not tonight. She's feeling a little fed up to put up with his nonsense.

'Why are you always like that?' asked Mikan a little irritated

'Like what?' says Natsume still maintaining his manner

'Calling me names, being cold and cruel to me… do you hate me that much?'

Natsume was stunned by the question. Hate? How could I hate you? You're the only reason I'm still hanging in here.

'Why are u asking that baka?'

'Because no matter how hard I try u keep pushing me away.'

'That's because u are an annoying cheerful polka panties idiot!'

He smirked expecting a full energy retort from her. Instead what he saw was a silenced Mikan without her usual smile. Baka! Smile won't u! Get mad and smile.. Why won't u retort back??

'But I don't hate you. So stop with that pitiful face of yours' now u should smile

'Who's making pitiful face? I'm just angry ANGRY!! And I definitely don't need your pity!!' She stood up and stomped her feet.

Much better.. I'd rather you scream and shout rather than keep quiet

'You know Natsume you are impossible to understand. We've known each other for 7 years now but I still don't get you.'

'You don't have to understand. It's better that way.' You are much too pure for the darkness inside me.

Flashback

'It's interesting to see you like this Black Cat. That girl with funny colors, she surely change that wild look in your eyes.' With a smirk on his face, he calmly whispers the words on the smiling Natsume making he jump from his daydream.

'Persona!! YOU… Don't you DARE touch her! Or…'

'Or what? Are you sure you want to drag her along in your darkness? You want her to find out exactly what you've been doing? And find out about her mother along the way?' the aura of darkness around him seems to suck in Natsume.

'K..KISAMA…' Natsume clenched his fist.

'Don't drag her in… you know what you have to do.' with that Persona disappear into the forest.

End Flashback

'Ne Natsume. You should open up a bit' Mikan said after a series of silence moment.

'What are you trying to get at?' he growled back at her.

'You should tell people your worries, your happiness, share with them so u wouldn't be so burdened.' She looked at the raven-haired boy beside him with hopeful eyes.

Natsume muttered something that sounded like, 'shut up. I'll do whatever I like' don't look at me like that!! He felt his heart jump a beat.

'There you go again. Why won't you just tell the truth? Always hiding always putting on that poker face of yours.' Mikan said absent mindedly.

'You don't know what you're talking about. Don't poke into matters that doesn't concerns you' Natsume replied with cold harsh voice. His eyes were dark and empty. Truth is always hurtful. You don't need to know.

'But that doesn't mean you should shut off people who cares about you!!' Mikan felt her blood boil with anger.

'You always ALWAYS dwell into your own darkness, your own pathetic problems to even realize that other people are worried about you. All our classmates especially Ruka-pyon cares about you a lot. And what did you do? You pushed us aside like we don't mean anything. What are we to u?' more importantly what am I to you?

'Nothing. Just pesky nosy people who doesn't know where their limits are.' Please stop asking. I can't lie anymore. You don't need and you mustn't know. I must protect you. No! I will protect you. No matter what.

'Is that how you really feel Hyuuga Natsume?'

'Yeah so what?

'Is it really what u feel?' her voice trailed off a little

'Are you deaf? I said yeah' Natsume answered with an irritated voice with the same cold look he always puts on.

After a few silenced moments he heard a reply from her.

'Natsumi no baka' the tone of Mikan's voice startled him.

He was expecting her outburst anger. But when he looked at her face there were soft tears on it. The kind he had never seen before. Then, she smiled, a really soft yet sad smile.

'Mikan…' Mikan moved away from him as he tried to touch her shoulder

'You… Why won't you lean on to others? Its okay to be weak sometimes, we're human. I have always been here, waiting for you to come to me, waiting for you to look at me without that poker face of yours or just simply say, hey, lend me a shoulder, I need to rest. Always, waiting… but you never came, never. It makes me feel… worthless' the tears on her cheeks are falling harder. Mikan stood in the rain in attempt to conceal it.

'I'm not that stupid 12 year old girl who confessed to you 5 years ago anymore. I've become stronger and wiser so that you could lean on me sometimes. You never returned my feelings if sometimes it seems like you did, you would always retreat back to that shell of yours. Leaving me hanging and waiting…'

Natsume started to move towards Mikan, unable to find the words to create an excuse. Damn!! Why can't I think of anything. Come on, comfort her!!

'Don't… don't come… I'm already too tired. I'm tired of my own feelings that never reaches you, tired of my own weakness... tired of… waiting…' her words turn to soft whisper as she runs away under the cold rainy night.

Mikan, I really can't even start to tell you how I feel. You should run away before the darkness engulfs you too.

That rain took you away from me

That smile says your goodbye to me

That tears took my courage away from me

And my heart is breaking slowly…