Title: More Than Fake
Author: Etsuko O. Daikama

Rating: T
Category: Romance/Drama
Pairing(s): NxM

Disclaimer: I wasn't born where I live, it's not easy for me to receive from someone who wanted to give, I don't live in Dallas and I certainly don't own Gakuen Alice.
Summary: Her happiness was never fake; it was always real. Even though she had it hard. Her true happiness remains. NxM

Notes: May contain OCCness

18. Routines

It was always the same for Natsume in the morning. He would wake up, get ready, walk down the hallway and bump "coincidentally" into Mikan and see what kind of panty she was wearing. She would get mad and start yelling insults at him while he would easily shake them off.

Same, boring rountine. Most people would like to spice it up a little and do something different. Even if it was really minor like waking up a bit later than usual. Whatever it was, they wanted something different. Apparently, Natsume was going to try that today.

He woke up a few seconds sooner before his alarm clock started going off. He sat up and rubbed his eyes tiredly, adjusting his sight to the brightness that was coming from the windows. Note to self: get a darker shade of curtains.

Natsume pulled his blanket off him and started making his way towards his closet to set out his uniform. He opened the door to his closet and then his bedroom door flung open, revealing a worried-looking Ruka. "Natsume!" Ruka yelled breathlessly. "Sakura's hurt; she's in the infirmary!"

Natsume also noticed Ruka was still in his pajamas but that didn't matter right now. He had to see how bad Mikan was hurt. The two friends dashed together to the infirmary, worried about their long-time crush. They both had fallen for the auburn-haired girl; even though Natsume wanted Ruka to be happy, he still got worried if Mikan did get hurt in any way.

A picture of Hotaru standing outside a room came into view, staring at the door that said 'thirty-four' on it. The two slowed down, knowing that Mikan was close. Ruka and Natsume stopped at a good distance from Hotaru. The two started to pant from exhaustion.

"Nii-san said Mikan has a likely chance to die because she's internally bleeding," Hotaru said, not taking her sight off the door. "One person may go in and say their last good-byes; I did it earlier." Hotaru turned her head to stare at the shocked boys. Her eyes were near to tears; a new sight was seen.

Natsume gulped audibly and walked toward the door. His hand grabbed onto the doorknob and twisted it. "Make Mikan happy," Hotaru said, tears rolling down her face.

The boy nodded and pushed the door open, closing it behind him when he was done. He saw Mikan lying on a bed peacefully. She was still breathing. A quick sigh of relief emitted from Natsume's lips and he walked slowly over to the girl.

Mikan's ears perked up when she heard the footsteps. She slowly cracked her eyes open to see Natsume hovering over her. She let out a soft smile and said, "Ohayou Natsume."

Natsume stayed quiet for a moment to scan her if she had any viewable injuries. Mikan coughed with a hand covering her mouth. A small patch of blood fell onto her hand and Natsume saw it clearly. His lips started to quiver and he felt like throwing up. He didn't want to see her hurt.

He took a deep breath; it's now or never. "Mikan..." he whispered almost inaudibly. Mikan turned her head to look over at Natsume who had his bangs covering his face. "I--" Mikan started coughing uncontrollably and blood started splattering over the white sheets that she was tucked under.

Mikan's heart beat was going rapidly fast and everything was getting dizzy. Her vision turned to a color of red and her hearing was turning fuzzy. Her breaths started to go unsteady and her throat was burning.Sooner than expected, everything turned black and her breaths turned into nothingness.

"Mikan!!"

Natsume jolted up from his bed. Sweat was rolling down his face and he panted. The sun was slowly rising, he could tell from his bright-colored curtains. He looked around his room to see nothing has changed. He threw his blanket off and started to get ready for school.

After a few minutes of washing himself and getting dressed--an average routine before going to school or work--he was finally ready and left his room to walk down the hallways that showed some tired students. The students slouched and groaned, walking with their eyes slightly closed.

Natsume walked passed everyone and took his everyday route to homeroom. With his hands in his pockets, he watched which hallway he walked into. If he wanted to bump into her, he would have to take the right hallways.

A scream rang in his ears, "I'm late!" Natsume was nearing the corner of the hallway and bumped into Mikan, making her fall on her butt, giving Natsume a chance to check out what she's wearing under her skirt.

"Candy Cane?" Natsume questioned. "I never knew you would wear holiday panties when it passed months ago." Mikan stared at him with her mouth hanging wide open and her eyes as big as saucers.

One scream can be heard, "Natsume, you pervert!!"

Same, boring routines. People like to jazz it up but Natsume would prefer to have his favorite routine.

A/N: The heck did this come from? It looks more than rushed. This is a very disappointing chapter. D8

The answer to your question, ceres, well... it's just a random number I pick. Since it's a themed story; their ages in every chapter changes.

lynn.mkn.kat02, sure, I'll be your friend. I'll love to! 8D

I believe I'll update this sooner since I got another idea to write something down. I wished I made a funny chapter like the second one. It is categorized as a Romance/Drama. -shrugs-

- Etsuko O. Daikama