Disclaimer: I do not own Gakuen Alice nor any of its characters

If Only You Knew

by wontbiteyou

Chapter Two

"Hey Natsume, wait for me!" An 8-year old Mikan wailed as she stumbled behind Natsume. They were walking together towards the beach and Mikan was holding a small bucket for the crabs they were about to catch. She was scared to catch them alone so she asked Natsume to go to the beach with her. Natsume looked furious yet he agreed to come.

"Not my fault you're slow. You better catch up with me if you don't want to be left behind."

Mikan hurriedly followed Natsume, scared to have a huge gap between them. As soon as they reached the beach, Mikan watched in awe as hundreds of tiny crabs staggered on the sand. It was around 12 a.m. and the moon was high. The sand glimmered delightfully. Mikan had never seen such a beautiful sight and was glad she was witnessing it with Natsume.

"Mikan, hurry! They're about to leave," Natsume irritably pointed out as he rushed to catch the crabs. Mikan was distracted thinking how beautiful Natsume looked at the beach under the moonlight. She stared at him for a long time until she realized that the crabs were really about to leave.

"Oh no! Natsume, catch them! There, behind you," Mikan yelled as she tried to catch the crabs in front of her. After a few minutes, the crabs had been taken by the ocean and none were left in the sand. Natsume counted the crabs in the bucket. They were only able to catch 4 crabs.

"Mikan, you suck. You were the one who wanted these things but you didn't even catch one. Now they're gone." Natsume looked really pissed. He stayed up really late for this and all they got were 4.

"I'm sorry! You know I'm not as fast as you are Natsume. You can have them if you like," Mikan replied. She looked really sorry that she disappointed him. After all, she wasn't after the crabs in the first place. She just wanted to do something fun with Natsume.

"No thanks, you have them. I know you'll cry if you didn't have them. You're such a baby." Natsume sniggered. Seriously, he doesn't know why he even hangs out with a baby like Mikan.

"I am so not a baby," Mikan said as she looked like she was about to cry. Natsume saw this and immediately panicked. He really doesn't like it when she cries. He decided to cheer her up to stop her from bawling her eyes out. He knows that when she starts to cry, it would be really hard to make her stop.

"Okay, okay. I take it back. Just don't cry, ok? You look ugly when you cry." This definitely made Mikan stop. People usually say that she's beautiful, like an angel. Of course, only Natsume finds her ugly. This made Mikan sad but she stopped herself from crying in front of Natsume. She didn't want to seem upset about it.

"You always say I'm ugly. I'm so used to it, it doesn't even bother me anymore," Mikan replied and stuck out her tongue at Natsume.

"Did you even hear what I said? I said you look ugly WHEN YOU CRY," Natsume blushed as he said this.

"Huh? So? I don't get it Natsume," Mikan replied, looking really naïve. She really didn't understand him.

"Ugh! What is wrong with you?! Find it out yourself! I'm going home." Natsume grumpily walked away, stomping his feet on the way.

With that, Natsume left Mikan alone on the beach, still wondering what he meant by that.

Mikan woke up feeling really tired. She couldn't sleep that night. The memory of what happened last night still keeps on repeating inside her head.

"Even if I was here, you don't need my permission to go on any dates you want."

Natsume can really be heartless at times. Thinking about it only hurts her head so she decided to take a quick shower and go outside to distract herself. After taking a shower, she wore a pale blue shirt with a pair of cut-off shorts and tied her hair in a high ponytail. As she went down the stairs, she ran into her mom looking really busy.

"Oh Mikan, thank goodness you're still here! Are you headed somewhere? Can I ask you to run an errand for me?" Yuka asked.

"Sure mom. What is it?"

"Can you buy some groceries for me? I'm doing something really important so I wouldn't be able to do it. It's not much, just for dinner later."

"Sure. Just give me a list and I'll be back in a while."

"Thanks Mikan. You're a huge help." Yuka scribbled some things on a piece of paper. "Here's the list."

As Mikan got outside, she checked Natsume's house for any sign of him. She hopes she wouldn't run into Natsume today. She doesn't know how she'll act around him after what happened. As she headed for the market, she thought of how Natsume had been when he was away. Did he fit in right away? Did he find new friends? Did he do well in school? Was he able to write a lot? Did he have a girlfriend? Mikan had a lot of questions going on in her head right now and the thought that he found someone makes her really sad. What if Natsume already found someone and fell in love with her? I would never have a chance, Mikan thought. Of course, any sane guy would prefer those city girls who wear expensive garments and had modelesque figures than just a plain girl who had never been anywhere other than Washboard Point. I'll never compare to any of them. Mikan was so preoccupied thinking about Natsume that she didn't notice the boy headed her way.

"Hey Mikan! Where are… Oh, you look really bothered. Are you okay?"

Mikan looked up and saw that it was Ruka Nogi. Ruka used to be her classmate and now works with her at the yacht club. He is half French but had lived his whole life in Washboard Point. Mikan knew her since middle school but they only became close when they got to work together. He is a real gentleman and never fails to cheer her up.

"Huh? Oh hey Ruka. It's you. I'm fine, don't worry. Just a little preoccupied. What are you doing here?" Mikan was glad that she saw Ruka. He can distract her from thinking about Natsume.

"I'm headed to the market. I'm supposed to meet someone there. How about you?"

"I'm supposed to go there as well. I have to buy some things."

"Really?! That's great! Let's go there together. I have to show you something."

The market looked really busy today. People are rushing to the stalls before everything runs out. Washboard Point's market is quite small but everything can be found there. Mikan took out her mom's list –chicken, carrots, potatoes, oil, soy sauce and ketchup. There's not much on the list so Mikan can finish shopping quickly. Ruka searched around and immediately saw the girl he was looking for. She saw him and headed where Mikan and Ruka were.

"Hey Mikan, long time no see."

"Oh my gosh, Hotaru is that really you?!" Mikan cried as she ran and hugged Hotaru with all her might. Hotaru Imai was Mikan's only girl friend. They were both unpopular in middle school and immediately became best friends even if they had opposite personalities. While Mikan was cheerful and bubbly, Hotaru on the other hand was serious and stoic. She doesn't show much emotion except when around people she's very close to. Hotaru left Washboard Point almost at the same time as when Natsume did. Her father's company got relocated and they had to move. Hotaru, though unemotional, is Ruka's girlfriend. Others don't understand what Ruka sees in her but Mikan knows that her best friend is very thoughtful and giving to those she love.

"Yeah yeah, it is me. Now get off. You're embarrassing me." Hotaru hasn't changed at all, Mikan thought. Oh, how she missed her best friend.

"Aww Hotaru. You're so mean. I missed you so much! I felt really lonely when you left." Mikan cried as she held on to Hotaru, never wanting to let go.

"I missed you too dummy. My life had been very quiet when I left."

Ruka chuckled as he looked at the two girls. He knows how much her girlfriend loves Mikan. He's happy that they have each other. He also missed Hotaru. Miraculously, their long-distance relationship worked. They had been very patient with each other and endured the long time they were apart.

"Aww Hotaru. I love you too!" Mikan said this while wearing a very big smile. "Oh! Have dinner with us later. I'm sure my mom would be very glad when she sees you. You too Ruka," Mikan said, looking really ecstatic.

"Sure. We'll be there though Ruka and I have to go somewhere first. We'll see you later," Hotaru replied. "Bye Mikan. See you later," Ruka said, leaving with Hotaru.

As soon as they left, Mikan hurriedly bought everything on the list and decided to add some crabs as well. Mikan knows how much Hotaru loves crabs especially those from Washboard Point and that she's sure Hotaru missed them. As she was about to leave and head home, she saw a familiar head bobbing among the sea of people. She's sure it was Natsume's. She decided to hurry and leave immediately to avoid confronting him but unfortunately, Natsume saw her too and was immediately headed towards her direction before Mikan could even move an inch.

"Hm. What did you buy?" Natsume asked, peering at Mikan's groceries.

"Some stuff for dinner. What are you doing here?" Mikan felt really uncomfortable seeing him.

"I had a package delivered. Are you done buying? Let's go home."

"Uh, okay. By the way, Hotaru's back in town. She and Ruka are coming for dinner. You should come too."

"Hn. Okay."

Mikan knows that whenever Natsume doesn't eat with her family, he eats alone at his house. She feels really sad thinking about it. If only his parents were here with him. She hates thinking that Natsume is living in his big house all by himself.

Walking home with Natsume isn't something new for Mikan. Every day, during middle school, they walk to school and back home together. They also eat lunch at the same table. They even do their homework together. They had done almost everything together.

Natsume walked quietly beside her. Mikan looked at his face and saw that he was thinking intently about something. He doesn't even notice her staring. Mikan wants to know what he's thinking and rid him of all the problems and worries he has. Natsume had always been one who worries about others a lot. He may seem cold-hearted and insensitive to other but like Hotaru, Mikan knows who he really is – a thoughtful, considerate and selfless person. This is why she fell in love with him in the first place. Mikan knows that she would never meet anyone other than him. No matter how hard she tries, she can never get herself to like someone else. It just pains her that he doesn't feel the same way she does.

"Hey Mikan," Natsume said, suddenly breaking the silence. They were walking in a really slow pace.

"Hm? Yes?"

"I'm glad I came home. I really missed Washboard Point….. You too," Natsume looked away as he said this.

Mikan didn't know how to react or what to say to what she just heard. She just looked at Natsume and looked for any sign of teasing. Instead, Natsume just stared at her and showed one of his smiles. It was a really, really, really tiny smile but because it was from Natsume –someone who rarely smiles—Mikan was very happy inside. She just smiled back and continued to walk ahead. Mikan thought that the walks she had with Natsume are the longest yet the best ones she ever had.

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