Author's Note: Yeah!!! I scream! I shouted! I –got a spank on my head by my brother for the noises I made that pissed him off while he's working- (Ouch…) I finished the second chapter! And I'm starting the new one!!!!

Hello everyone!!! I'm kinda off from my original schedule… I'm so sorry. As I promised before, I'm making the chapter longer this time ( )

By the way, the plot for this chapter was beta-read by my beta-reader CaffeineTolerrant-chan! She's a very helpful friend to and I dedicated this chapter for her (and of course to you all too!) Caffeine also had few words for her readers; she still busy about her projects and might have some troubles in updating her stories.

I've been busy in my school works now. The projects that the teacher had gave us trampled on me –splat- (T-T)

Anyway, this chapter will focus on –hehehe- read to find out. Let's go on with the story shall we? Don't forget to read and reviews! I feel inspired every time I received feedbacks from my readers!

Disclaimer: I do not own Gakuen Alice.


Chapter Two Can't Turn Back The Years

"So, it's a yes then…? Did my apologies reach you…"

"Yes"

Mikan brighten up. "Thank you!" and hugged Natsume. After that she let go and headed for Ruka.

"Um…mister, you sure are close to Natsume…who are you?"

-¤ ∞ ¤-

How come she does not…

"I like it…your blue eyes, they have warm feelings. Mister, is Natsume your friend?"

'He is'

Somehow, his tongue moved on its own. Straight to the point, both males were shock…

-¤ ∞ ¤-

She stared at him, wondering thoughts left unspoken and she knew the reason behind it. Ruka had come into her room a few minutes ago with a worried smile. She hate it when he did that, it annoys her.

"She's Mikan, and that's that" Hotaru can't always be fragile. She had to be stern sometimes.

"To be honest, I should have known that some consequences like this might happened"

What she meant is the fact that 'Mikan' did not have her past memories is doomed to happen after the AAO took her. Hotaru wasn't a genius for nothing.

Her brother told her before.

Subaru had a conversation with her this morning, telling the whereabouts of her friends and the strange phenomenon the day before. In his explanation, the fire-caster was saved by the girl they caught with him.

-¤ ∞ ¤-

"I'm asking a conformation, is she…"

"Mikan? Yes, I'm afraid so. But something is going wrong with her. It's like her memories had been corrupted. The agents won't say much"

'I should have known it better…'

The older brother gazed at his younger sibling, wondering his thoughts about her. A hand made its way to her head to pat her as he crouch eye-level with her.

"I'm sure she'll be fine. Try to cheer up okay?"

Those words were spoken with smile.

A caring personality of a brother who's affection showed not to just anyone.

For the past few years, Subaru has been very concern about Hotaru. Mikan's absent was a heavy blow to her.

He remember how close those two were, and how his little sister treasured it. After she was gone, Hotaru need reassurance and Ruka alone was not enough.

She needs a brother. She needs him.

'You two are not supposed to fight! Brother and sister should take care of each other!'

He remembers clearly the day Mikan scolded both of them.

Hotaru, although a slight blush was present on her cheeks, she still kept her calm demeanor with her.

"Don't treat me like I'm a kid"

Subaru laugh a little at his sister. This is the least that he could do for her after his long absent when she was very young.

"I know you're not"

-¤ ∞ ¤-

It pained him. It pained all of them.

Why can't she remember him?

His azure eyes set gaze outside the room through the window.

"I know what you're thinking Ruka"

She told him that there has to be a reason behind this. They already know who did it, but for what is remain unclear.

Hotaru steadied herself as she tried to stand up.

Before Ruka could say anything, Hotaru glared at him, "there's no way you're going to confine me here. I'm going outside"

With a sweat drop on his head, Ruka was left speechless.

-¤ ∞ ¤-

She knew she shouldn't get out from there, but he need rest…so the little girl walked silently from the sleeping man on the bed and closed the door as quiet as she can.

Her waist length hair followed her every step as she jog across the hospital dorms. Some passer-by called her cute or asked her name but she ignored them. Some just doesn't seem to pay any attention to her.

They all look so busy. The nurses, the doctors, even the people who passed by are catching up to something.

There's one person…

She looked so sad. Did someone bully her? Was she wounded?

Slowly but surely, the smaller one approached the girl who was sitting on the bench park.

-¤ ∞ ¤-

Hotaru's P.O.V

I walk through the empty hallways, towards the open door. Need some fresh air, what a dumb excuse I made though part of it was true.

These things are bothering me. Should I meet her?

I spotted a bench without anyone sitting there, it was under that shady tree. At least it won't be too hot. Good thing the hospital management decided not to make the park boring.

I'm outside the building area now. I let the breeze blew through my shoulder length hair. They seem a lot longer now compare to the first time I was here.

Now back to my problem.

I paused for a moment. 'She forgot everyone…almost everyone except him'

This is such a bothersome. And the funny thing is…I'm afraid of the truth.

Without noticing, a small dropped of tear escaped my eye. Had I been holding it? Or was it because I feel this pang of sadness and jealousy inside me?

I'm jealous of Natsume, because 'she' remembers him.

Quickly, I wipe the tears away.

End of P.O.V.

-¤ ∞ ¤-

A tear fall to her cheek and she wiped them with ease.

Is this person…someone she knew? Because the feeling she had inside her felt so warm and familiar, as if they know each other for so long.

The girl with light auburn hair stood next to the bench and asked, "Are you okay…Miss? Did anyone bully you? Are you hurt?"

Wait.

That voice…

Her questions shocked her or rather it was her appearance at this time. She hoped to meet her, but not here and definitely not now.

Hotaru ignored the little girls wondering state and just continued on, sulking silently. Unknown to her, this little girl sat on the empty space next to her. Don't know what to do; she just let her do as she pleased. They gazed at the same thing but with different things in mind.

"Can I know your name?" the little girl asked innocently.

"What about yours?"

She should have expected this but Hotaru can't help but felt a slight anger at her. How could she forget?

"Mine…it's Mikan"

Silence followed.

"I'm sorry, I feel like I've known you before…but I can't recall anything about you…"

Why did she apologize?

Her eyes got those empty look on them, telling people that the holder of this eyes are soulless…

Wait, since when that she's being selfish again? Was it…since 'she' left her…or the feeling already lingering long enough without her knowing.

'God, I look like a total idiot…'

Mikan read her think, subconsciously, since her mind-reading Alice had been activated all the time. For what she does not know, they weren't specific orders given to her. Those thoughts that she's been hearing were left as nothing but whispers.

There's no need to comprehend with other people business unless they're close to her and this person who sat next to her had some connections with her.

Was it 'friend'?

Sighing, Hotaru closed her eyes for a moment and opened them later, with sense of assurance in them. "It's…Hotaru. My name is Imai Hotaru"

The girl named Mikan looked at her and she can feel her smiling although there isn't a trace on her face, "Nice to meet you…Hotaru"

Simple and straightforward, there's no formality or cute addresses to her name, just a mere call for a person name. Hotaru was not sad by this, she's just…astonished.

The weakness she had before this during her absent has weared off somehow when she sees her today.

Somehow…

"Small fireflies…"

"…"

"Your name…it reminds me of fireflies though I do not know when I met one" Mikan bow her head down, her face still had their innocent look just like 7 years ago…

'Just like when she first came to the academy…'

"You see them…in your hometown"

It was true that, back when they were young, sometimes Mikan's grandpa would bring to the empty field near the town corner just to see fireflies. Mikan always put those silly smiles on her face when she's happy. As her best friend, Hotaru smiled too, not as big as hers, and these were times they would enjoy happiness.

"Hotaru. Are you okay?"

That snapped her out from spacing out. 'She' looked like she had something to say.

"Can you tell me…if there's something bothering you?"

There are so many things that bothered her. First it was all the happenings before, the disappearance, the incident…then 'she' showed up…meeting 'her' right now is also the least of them.

"Actually, there is. Long ago, I lost a person so dearest to me…"

"Was it your lover…?"

"No. She was my best friend"

Mikan nodded which gave Hotaru a sign to continue.

"After she left, I was so frightened. Then, few days before, I meet her back…And I, don't really know how to express my feelings"

She was overwhelmed…because the person is right next to her.

She felt relief…because she was not dead.

She was angry…because she did not remember a thing about her best friend.

How can she interpret all this?

"I think there's nothing wrong if you have many emotions inside you…sad, anger, joy…because, you had your friend back didn't you?"

"I'm sure she felt that too. And she'll stay with you again, right?"

After much thinking, Mikan decide it, she wants to be her friend. She felt the familiarity through them. Slowly, she felt sleep has overtaken her.

Hotaru felt a small weight shift to the side of her right arm. She leaned her head against it. "Um…I feel so sleepy…" and she dozed off.

A small faint smile was visible on her lips.

She felt so much relief, no tears because she remembers saying meaningful words to someone a long time ago.

"Mikan, I'm so happy you are here. And you matured too, stupid baka…"

She hasn't talked this much for many years and it surprised her that she did. It was Mikan who she can reveal it to. Even if she can't remember, at least she had come back.

"I promise to you that I will be here with you, as your best friend…" and she closed her eyes, sleeping soundly while sitting on the bench park under a shady tree.

-¤ ∞ ¤-

She felt happiness when they meet again, although it felt like a mistake that their meeting is like a right thing under many wrong circumstances.

Since she had forgotten about them, she'll make her remember it one by one and piece by piece.

If she can't, they just have to make new ones…

The happy times…

The sad things…

The other times that they emotions mixed…

And more importantly…memories that make her remind who she is…

After all…we can't turn back the years…do we?


Author's Note: Again…I know…I'm evil for not updating sooner…I can't help it…I just played a MMORPG called 'Mo Siang Online'

They're so nice! And the bad thing about it is…IT'S TOO ADDICTING! So far, I manage to hold off for 2 days, and they left me with sleep depression…

I put poll in my profile and I hope you'll have the time to take a peek at them

If there's any problem/ question/ uncertainty, please write them in your review! (I can't tell you the plot though…) Also, if you spotted any mistakes, let me know!

Have you read the chapter's title? Sounds familiar? If you know what it is; this is my question for you all! As you can see, both chapter titles are the original title from a song. For anyone who can guess the singer for this songs and the album title, I will give a you a special surprises!!! Write your answers in reviews okay!

Okay, that's all for to day. Have a nice day all! ;)