Sacrifices for Good Reasons

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Gakuen Alice. My writing skills aren't as good as Higuchi Tachibana.

Hello minna-san! Sorry! I'm one day late! Do you guys like this story so far?

Chapter 2

Natsume's POV:

Everyone's attention was focused on the little girl and Polka. What did surprise me, though, was that Mikan didn't have her usual smile on. Her hazel eyes didn't have their usual happy glint in them. Instead, they looked dull and sad.

Not that many people noticed that though. The whole class, including Imai, was staring at the hugging pair with confusion, and as much as I hate saying this, so was I.

Who was that girl? How could her simple appearance make Mikan's cheerful personality fade to dust?

I have a bad feeling. Something was going to happen to my Mikan. Something that will change our lives forever…

Every time there was a visitor in the class, Polka was the first one to greet them with a smile. Her charms were able to lift the spirits of everyone, including warming my cold dark heart.

She had changed everyone in the class. Heck, she had changed the whole damn school!

She had saved me when Reo kidnapped me, telling me not to give up. Had helped in Imai's recovery when she was shot by the AAO, showing how much she cared about her friends.

I hated to admitted, but she had grown close to me. Her usual cheerful smile had always been part of her appearance, even in bad times. It scared me that right at this moment, her usual smile was gone. Instead, her face was clouded with sadness and remorse.

What had happened to Mikan to make her look so…guilty?

"Ahem!"

I was jolted out of my thoughts when Narumi's cleared his throat in effort of bringing everyone out of their thoughts.

I saw Mikan and the little girl looking at Narumi, their hug never breaking.

"Mikan-chan, mind telling you this little girls name, since you seem to know each other so well?" I heard Naru's gay voice. My eyes were focused on Polka, whose expression hadn't change the whole time. Instead, she adjusted the little girl in her arms into a more comfortable, before mumbling something I couldn't hear in the little girls ear.

I hated not knowing things.

The little girl looked at Mikan for a second, before turning her head towards us.

"My name is Nina Himarata. I'm 7 years old." She said in a soft voice. I could immediately tell she was shy, but her expression had changed from the stoic look she had when she first entered the classroom. Her face was now sporting a happy smile.

Mikan on the other hand, was the exact opposite. She had no expression on her face. Her eyes were guarded. I could no longer see what she was feeling. Instead, they were as cold as ice.

I didn't like that…

"Nice to meet you" Nina's angelic voice finished. Every girl in the whole damn classroom began saying how cute the little girl was. Nina in response to this, tried to hide her face into Mikan's chest, which I have to admit had grown since the festival a year ago. Not that I usually stare at her chest. Damn, that girl is lucky…

Mikan began walking back towards her seat, which was still next to me, when Permy stepped in front of her.

Here we go again…

"Come on cutie! Come to your real Onee-chan! Leave that ugly girl and come to me! The Queen of the academy and future girlfriend of Natsume-sama, Sumire Shouda!" Perms exclaimed in her sickly sweet voice.

"Tch." was all I said at her proclamation. She wishes she was my girlfriend. Too bad for her, I already had a person in mind for that position. If only I could tell her my feelings without putting her in danger.

"Nee-chan" Nina said. Her face now facing Permy's ugly face. "Why did ugly Permy girl called you ugly?" she asked innocently. And just like that all the classroom erupted with laughter. Even Imai and I smirked, laughing in our minds.

Mikan chuckled at the little girls question softly. So unlike her usual all out laughter.

"Permy is just being an idiot again. Don't mind her." all the laughter stopped at once.

Everyone stared, wide eyed, at Mikan, who was looking like she was bored. Mikan would never say anything like that to anyone!

"But Nee-chan isn't ugly! Nee-chan is really pretty!" I will agree on that. Not that she'll ever know that.

"Then you must be blind little girl. What kind of spell has that idiotic slut cast on you? Huh?" Permy replied. I was about to put her hair in fire, when Mikan said something that shocked the hell out of me.

"Shut the hell up Permy. You don't know shit about me. You don't know how we met, or my damn life. Don't come here acting as if you were the damn queen of this classroom. Don't talk to Nina. I don't want her to catch your slutty germs." Mikan's quiet, but deadly voice reached my ears.

My Mikan didn't say that. Hell, she doesn't even know how to swear. She would never say anything that would hurt someone's feelings. That wasn't how the Mikan Sakura I knew acted.

"Nee-chan. Why does everyone look so surprise? It's not like you have said something bad…" Nina said in a cute voice. I can't believe I just said cute…

"It's nothing, Nina. They're just admiring how cute you are, ne." Mikan said swiftly. Her voice holding a edge of tenderness that wasn't present when she talked to Permy. Since when did Mikan lied so easily anyways? Mikan knew everyone was surprise on how she was acting. She isn't that stupid.

"Nee-chan is cuter AND prettier than Nina! Nina is so happy to be with Nee-chan again! It was so sad when you left." Nina pouted cutely. Once again, I will agree on the first sentence, but Mikan never said anything about the little girl before.

"Aren't you mad at me?" I almost didn't heard Mikan's voice. It was so quiet and filled with sorrow. I had never heard her like this. It was always filled with happiness, the happiness that always lifted my spirit.

"It wasn't your fault Onee-chan! My parent's death had nothing to do with you! Anyways, I'm glad I met you! I'm really happy! It was the academy's fault they died." Nina responded, trying to sooth Mikan's pain filled eyes.

I saw Nina's little hand touch Mikan's cheek. Mikan didn't say anything. Instead of walking back to her seat, she walk out of the classroom, ignoring everyone's stare. As soon as she left, I looked around the classroom. Everyone's mouth was opened wide. Their eyes were wide with shock. Even the Ice Queen was gaping at the door.

I myself turned towards the place where Mikan and Nina had once stood. There was something that was bothering me.

Why had Mikan looked so guilty?

How did Mikan fit into that little girls story?

How did the academy fit into this?

And…

Where had the Mikan Sakura we all knew gone to?