A/N: Konbawa! Thank you to my first reviewer cookiedoughicecream2 and all those people who favorited the story or put it on alert! However, to my silent readers: It is absolutely crucial that you leave a review if you read. I have 4 stories in-progress and I will not be able to update this one unless I have reviews. So please, don't be mean and if you read, leave a review, even if it's a small one! :-) With that let's see what's happening in the Alice world!

2. Bartender

"The minute I heard my first love story, I started looking for you, not knowing how blind that was. Lovers don't finally meet somewhere; they are in each other all along." –Rumi

Natsume's POV

I gazed upon the extraterrestrial beauty that watched me with inquisitive chocolate brown eyes, her lips were barely apart and her rhythmic breathing made my heart warm up. Her messy hair fell flawlessly till her waist, and lower. In all her beauty, she could not be compared to any other woman I had met, the innocence that lingered on her face made my heart feel lighter.

I touched her cheek with the back of my hand, enjoying the sight of her cheeks turning red, "Hey, how are you feeling now?" I asked her, trying to smile. "D-d-d-daijobou," she stuttered. My smile expanded, and pushed a few strands of her hair away from her face. "What's your name?" I asked her, as softly as I possibly could. "Sakura, Mikan!" she chirped enthusiastically. "Do you have a name?" she asked, batting those freakishly long and gorgeous eye lashes at me. Part of her charm, eh?

"Forget about my name, little girl, it's not important at all," I said in my usual monotone, suddenly appearing disinterested. She looked at me with a quizzical brow, and then lay back in the hospital bed. "Hmph, you don't have to tell me your name, I just wanted to thank you, for saving my life," she said solemnly. I chuckled, "I couldn't help it. It was raining Mikan Sakuras," I joked light-heartedly. "Hey!" she protested and sat up again, "I wasn't— well yeah technically, I did fall out of the sky," her expression became more morbid.

"Were you trying to kill yourself?" I asked, sarcastically. "Of course not," she snapped, "Technically I fell from the road above the road you were driving. I didn't slip or jump or anything." I could hear a sharp intake of breath, "I was…thrown off," she finished. "Hn," was all I could say. "Tell me what happened to you?" I asked, curious what kind of psycho path would want to harm a cute girl like that. Okay, I did not just think that. "It was just some drunken guys, I didn't know them. They saw me walking alone on the road, I was trying to reach a bus stop so I could catch the late night bus home, but the bus never came, and they did in its stead," her voice trailed off.

"Did they…violate you?" I tried to make that question as less painful as I could. She turned her face away and her eyes lost all their previous light. "Listen, I think I am alright now, can I just please leave?" she asked me, still looking away. Maybe that question was too much for her. Understanding, I got up from the chair I was in and walked out to get the paperwork done. Once it was completed, the nurses came in and took out all the needles from her hands, and arm. She gasped in pain and clutched onto my hand, and I don't even know why…I held it tightly, caressing it with my fingers, trying to comfort her.

"Well, that should be all then, you can take her home, " that stupid blonde doctor finished. "Thanks, Narumi," I nodded curtly. "Come on, I'll give you a ride home," I said, helping her up with my arm, which she grasped tightly. Her weight was probably so light I could support her entire body mass with just the pull of an arm. I chuckled. She looked up at me suddenly furious, "hey, what are you laughing at?" she asked, offended. "Nothing, little girl," I said and ruffled up my hair.

"Wait here," I said softly, "I'll get my car from the parking lot," She just looked at me, and then smiling said, "alright…" though I wasn't completely sure whether she'd be here when I got back or not, I ran towards the parking lot, unlocked my Ashton Martin and turned on ignition. By the time I drove back to the front lawn, she was gone with the wind, without leaving a trace.

I was just standing there. Where are you Mikan Sakura?

Mikan's POV:

I took off the ridiculous hospital clothes and changed into my denim shorts, pink tank top and pink ballerina shoes. I tied my hair into a high ponytail, leaving my bangs on my forehead. I was back home and I looked around as I inhaled a particular scent. I was not alone. Unexpectedly, I felt a pair of familiar arms wrap themselves around my waist. I smiled and turned around to face my boyfriend, who looked as gorgeous as ever.

"Andou," I greeted him auspiciously. He stared into my brown orbs with his jet black eyes, something I had always admired about him. I caressed his cheek and the small black mark on it, shaped like a star. He was a star, my star. I tiptoed, and quietly kissed him on the lips, wrapping my arms around his neck. "Hey hey," he said as we broke the kiss, "slow down, tiger," he said jokingly and kissed me back passionately. Everything about him was gentle, loving, caring. I would run out of objectives if I began to describe how easy going and beautiful his personality was. He made me comfortable, no matter how close we were.

"How's the case going so far?" he asked me, animatedly. I smiled, "It's going as planned, Natsume Hyuuga is probably out at the moment looking for me. Tonight I'll run into him at the bar, and then the whole plan will proceed from there as planned," she finished, decidedly. "That's terrific news, maybe you'll get him thrown behind bars sooner than any of us expected," he smiled at me as he gently stroked my hair. "He didn't manage to steal your heart, did he? Because then mine would be broken beyond repair," he added, trying to look sad with an over dramatic sad pout. I couldn't hold back my laughter. "He's more gorgeous than they described him back at headquarters, but he's not my type," Tsubasa felt reassured. "Good then, this case will be over soon and you can move back to my apartment, life will get better again," he said, grinning broadly.

"I can't wait," I said and kissed him enthusiastically. I felt him softly pull apart. I frowned, but he just laughed it away. "Look, I have to get back to headquarters before I get fired, I just came to check up on you, and since you can't talk to me much on the phone when he's around. But hey, if you need me baby, I am right here, alright?" he assured me in the best possible way. I knew he was a sincere boyfriend, yet something made me uneasy about him. He wouldn't be the first to kiss me, he'd smile too much, and he was anxiously waiting to leave. "It's alright, wish me luck, k'?" I tweeted, trying to be cute. And so, he disappeared into the fading light.

The sun was setting and I watched it in silence. The crystal clear sky had turned into a bright orange and pink and the horizon stretched infinitely. I smiled as I spent the last few moments of peace that I had to myself. At night, I had to get back to work.

Natsume's POV

I was looking for her continually, as if all of a sudden my entire life revolved around finding her. I don't know how many hours I had spent in my car driving unto roads that would never seem to end. Familiar and unfamiliar landscapes passed by as I came across many brunettes, but none were like her. As nightfall approached, I knew that I had to get back to work, no matter how important this brunette was she would have to wait until dawn. In a crappy, agitated mood I made my way into Café Reverie, one of the many café's I owned, but by far, my favorite.

I changed into more appropriate clothing for my meeting, and called in my mates to discuss the agenda for tonight. My blonde haired and blue eyed friend, my only friend, my closest companion from school days, Ruka Nogi smiled cheekily as I opened my laptop and started the video conference. "Talk about being a loser, tch," I said sarcastically to him. "What, Natsume?" he cried like a child. "Okay sorry for goofing around, lets get started then, shall we?" he asked respectfully. I never understood why he would make things so formal between us; we had known each other since we were in diapers. I rolled my eyes. "About time, blondie."

The conference begun as Ruka excitedly greeted the prospective investors and began the presentation from the other end of the world. Why is this doofus even in Paris? Can't believe he's proposing to that Queen of Blackmail Imai. IN Paris. That's the most retarded shit I have ever heard. I sighed. There were things that my best friend did which I was unable to comprehend. I focused all my energy on the presentation, chipping in ideas and taking control of the speech wherever Ruka would lose track of what he was saying or stray away from the topic. In all, the presentation was a huge success, as it always is when we are working together, and the foreign investors agreed to our new proposal of opening a new business.

When they left, I mentally high fived Ruka for being there, even though he was supposed to be on a romantic holiday. "So," he asked me casually, "anything interesting happen after I left?" he asked making conversation. "Well, I ran into— this," I began but was cut off by a voice in the background. "Who are you talking to?" a cold voice rang through the room, sending shivers down Ruka's spine. "Er, nothing Hotaru, coming!" he cooed. "Listen Nat, I have to dash but um," he looked up at me apologetically with those cerulean blue eyes, "Email me?" he presented the alternative. I chuckled, "Sure, nothing interesting happened any way," I comforted him. With that, he left and I made my way to the bar to grab a few drinks.

I stopped dead in my tracks as I realized who the bar tender was.
Mikan.

A/N: Hehe, sorry for a lousy chapter, at least it was longer than the previous? ^^' PRETTY PLEASE leave a review. It's really, really important to me because that's how I'll be judging the popularity of my story and continuing it. Don't be mean :-( Hope you enjoyed the read! Love,

XrossYuuki.