Author's Note: Hello, people! I'm so sorry I haven't been updating. I've been watching some Korean stuff. So I will now update, especially since I want to hurry up and finish all my fanfics.

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Gakuen Alice

Chapter 2: Helping Hand

That night, Natsume went to the main building of the school, seeking Persona with the intention of getting some answers. He walked out of his room at around 9 p.m., walking casually to the main building, with a dark frown on his face. Before he even reached the main building, Persona appeared in front of him smirking. "Need some answers?" he asked.

"Yeah." Natsume said. "Who's stalking Mikan?"

"No one really. Just... let's say... Reo." Persona told him calmly, not caring at all for Mikan's safety. "What are you going to do about it?"

"Reo? Why would he be stalking Mikan?" Natsume glared, getting angrier as well as confused.

"Reo? Did I say Reo? How about Kei? Bring up some memories?" Persona asked, smiling slyly.

"Kei? What about that hobo?" Natsume asked, even more confused.

"You don't know?" Persona asked. "He's working with Reo. So what are you going to do now, Natsume? You've got missions to complete. You've got no time on hand to watch over your poor girlfriend."

"You think? I'll MAKE time." Natsume scowled. "I'll never leave her alone, unprotected. Especially since there are now 2 crazy hobos out, strolling around and about our school."

"Quite a girlfriend, isn't she?" Persona asked, smirking. "She's got you totally wrapped around her finger... You're such a toy, Natsume."

"Shut up. I'm going back now." Natsume growled, turning and walking back to his room.

"Natsume." Persona said with a serious tone. "Don't forget about missions."

Natsume scowled. "I won't." he said with a dark face, walking back.

"Of course you won't." Persona said into the dark, quiet night, just before vanishing.

The next day, early in the morning, Natsume went over to Mikan's room, a few minutes before class started. He came to pick her up, worried Reo or Kei might come again.

"Hurry up, Mikan." Natsume sighed, urging her to walk faster.

"I'm trying!" Mikan huffed. "By the way, why did you come to pick me up today? You don't usually pick me up."

"I went to Persona yesterday, and asked who was behind this mess, and he told me Reo." Natsume started to tell her. "Reo and Kei has teamed up. So, if you see any of those two, you better run away fast."

"Kei-kun? Why would he team up with Reo?" Mikan asked, baffled.

Natsume sighed at her stupidity. "Don't you know yet? It's pretty obvious when you think about it." he said. "Reo would get me and Kei would get you. Nice trade for them, isn't it?"

"Hm... Now that you say that, I guess it does make sense." Mikan noted. "But how would Kei get into the school anyway? He's not a student here anymore."

"Reo." Natsume told her. "Reo's popular among the students. Kei could just follow him in here, pretending he was one of Reo's back-ups."

"I see... Well, whatever! We'll just have fun for now, shall we??" Mikan smiled, not the slightest bit concerned.

"I can't believe you're still so laid back." Natsume sighed. "Would you still act this way if you get captured?"

"Huh? I don't really know." Mikan told him truthfully. "I've never really been in this situation."

"I guess so." Natsume said. "Just be careful, alright?"

"Of course!" Mikan chirped, smiling happily, grabbing his hand as her face changed into a panicked one. "HURRY! We're LATE!"

"We were late a long time ago!" Natsume told her. "Why don't we just take our time then??"

"But I don't want to be even MORE late!" Mikan cried, racing to class, wailing.

"You're always late anyway. What's the difference??!" Natsume cried, not understanding her.

"But I don't want to be late anymore!" Mikan shrieked.

"You're just going to be late tomorrow anyway!" Natsume sighed, racing along with her.

"Maybe I won't be!" Mikan cried.

"I think you will!" Natsume insisted.

Mikan huffed, puffing her cheeks out. "Mou! Whatever! Hurry!"

Natsume looked at her and sighed. "Alright, already!"

When the two of them got to class, they were told that they were 15 minutes late. Mikan frowned sadly, looking at her new record of lateness. Natsume, for one, didn't care. He just walked to his seat cooly, as if he was never late. Mikan apologized to the teacher and went to sit next to Natsume at the back of the class.

Later on, in the afternoon, after classes in the classroom, Mikan and Natsume informed Hotaru and Ruka on what was happening, when everyone left. They received a gasp from Ruka, and a blank face from Hotaru, as always. "So?" she said. "Why don't you just have a robot around Mikan, set to attack any boys that aren't Mikan's friends?"

"Easy for you to say..." Mikan sighed. "I can't invent things..."

"Then I'll make one for you." Hotaru said. "Just 1000 rabbits."

"1000 RABBITS?!" Mikan cried, nearly falling out of her chair. "But that's SO MUCH!"

"Why are you so cheap?" Hotaru asked, staring at Mikan blankly. "It's JUST 1000 rabbits."

"It's not JUST 1000 rabbits, Hotaru." Mikan sighed. "That's a lot. You know how long it took me just to save up 5000 rabbits?"

"So? I don't care." Hotaru told her. "Now it's 1000 rabbits, or no robot."

Natsume stared at the two of them arguing. Then, he asked, "Are you certain this robot you're talking about will work?"

"No. If it doesn't, I'll give you back 500 rabbits, because it can still protect her from the crazy fans out there, who would LOVE to get near Mikan." Hotaru said casually.

"Then we'll take it." Natsume said, getting out the money, but being stopped by Mikan.

"No, Natsume. I'll pay myself." Mikan told him, shaking her head. "After all, this is for me."

"Are you sure? You're going to go broke." Natsume told her, looking at her with a slightly concerned face.

"I'm sure! I'm not that poor." Mikan grunted. "Do I look like a hobo or something?!"

"Don't worry, Mikan." Hotaru told her. "You don't look like a hobo. You're very cute. When you smile, anyway..."

Mikan smiled at Hotaru brightly. "Arigato, Hotaru!" she cried, happily, as she handed Hotaru the money, who gladly accepted it, grinning.

"Well I better go back to get started on your robot." Hotaru said, getting out of her seat and walking towards the door.

"Do you need any help?" Ruka asked, as he finally spoke, after all this time.

"No. You'll only get in my way. But, thank you." Hotaru told him, giving him a small, but genuine smile.

Ruka smiled back. "Okay. If you do, you can always ask me."

"Sure."

With that, Hotaru left, leaving the three of them together. Ruka faced Natsume and asked, "Natsume, with this problem, what are you going to do? Are you going to stay by Mikan or complete your missions?"

"Both." Natsume told him. "Even if I don't have much time, I'll make time."

Ruka smiled. "You've got a great boyfriend, Mikan."

"I know!" Mikan smiled, hugging Natsume closely.

"Shut up, you two." Natsume growled, embarrassed.

"Aww! He's embarrassed!" Mikan cooed, look at Natsume's blushing face. "So cute!"

"Shaddup!" Natsume grumbled.

Mikan laughed, "It's okay, Natsume!" she giggled. "I can't wait to see the robot."

Soon, Mikan and Natsume left, a few seconds after Ruka left. They went back to their rooms and just relaxed for the rest of the day.

Author's Note: Man... I wish I could be like them and relax... xD Anyways, please review now that you've read. And I'm sorry for the short update, with a long wait. Gomen. I'll try to make it longer and update faster next time!