Slicing through the Clouds
Disclaimer: I do not own Gakuen Alice.
Natsume finally felt relieved once his feet stepped upon the airport floor of New York.
'Finally. That flight was probably the worst flight I've ever encountered.'
However, even if Natsume wouldn't admit it, he knew that it was the most interesting. He almost wanted to laugh at what happened earlier on the plane after he heard the brunette snore, how rare.
Natsume sighed as he turned to look at his snoring seat mate, he would probably never get any sleep if he was always next to this sleeping idiot beside him. Wanting to wake up her up, he hit her with his manga book on her forehead.
"OW! What the hell, Natsume?"
The corners of Natsume's mouth slowly lifted, catching the brunette by surprise.
"H-hey! Why are you smiling? DID YOU LOOK AT MY BRA AGAIN?!"
"Idiot. You called me Natsume."
"We-well, I could always call you Hyuuga again! I was just tired, that's why I didn't call you Hyuuga. I don't want to say the first name of a jerk like yo-"
"Just call me Natsume, strawberry prints."
With that being said, he turned his head back the other way.
"Hmph! I still think you looked at my bra again!"
Unknown to Mikan, Natsume was still smiling, just like how Mikan was smiling as his back was facing her. That was a rare moment. When two strangers, who had only stepped into each others lives recently, began to make each other smile.
Mikan Sakura. The girl that was weird, obnoxious, a blabber-mouth, confusing, a pig… but she distracted him for a while that he was up in the air and not on good solid ground. The first half of the flight he saw her as a nuisance, but after watching her sleep for a minute he then realized that most of his thoughts about the flight was gone…However after she woke up she became a nuisance once again, but this time he respected her a lot more. For once in his life time, someone had slightly distracted him from his fear and from all his troubles. It's too bad that they would probably never meet; New York City was a gigantic place. Natsume inwardly sighed.
'Why am I thinking about that idiot anyways? I have better things to do.'
Mikan strolled her way through New York City, eyeing everything with curiosity and awe.
'New York is so beautiful… I wish to come here again when my heart is completely free of burden and sadness.'
The sidewalks were packed with people, faces from different places and experiences. The streets packed with cars, some honking at the especially long traffic.
She took out a small piece of paper with an address scribbled onto it.
Mikan smiled as she remembered the moments spent with this person, she surely couldn't wait to embrace the one she held dearly to her heart.
Natsume looked at his sleek-looking watch; time was ticking as he stood in the airport with his bags in his hands.
Soon enough, a blonde ran up to him and paused for a breather when finally reaching Natsume.
"N-Natsume! Sorry I'm late; Hotaru didn't like the crab brains I prepared for her so I had to make another batch."
"Imai? You guys are still together?"
Heat started to rise up to Ruka's cheeks, his ocean-blue eyes, shying away.
"Yeah, my feelings are very strong for her."
"Get married."
Ruka looked up with a bewildered face, "W-what?! Natsume, we're only 18!"
Ignoring this, Natsume gestured for them to start walking, "Let's go Ruka, I'm really tired."
"You were just on a long flight, Natsume. Didn't you sleep on the plane?"
"An idiot kept me up the whole time."
Mikan knocked on the white apartment door, tired and worn out from all the walking she did. She could've taken a taxi, but she wanted to explore everything by foot until she reached the apartment scribbled on the paper from earlier.
With a click, the door opened to reveal a short-haired girl with purple-colored eyes.
"HOOOTARU!"
"Idiot. Stop yelling or I'll let you sleep on the streets."
"Hotaru stop being mean! It's the first time seeing you after so long!"
"Come here, stupid."
The purple-eyed friend grabbed Mikan and hugged her tightly. Mikan could only smile and hug her tighter; it has been so long since she had been in Hotaru's arms.
"I've really missed you, Hotaru."
After a good two minutes, Hotaru and Mikan finally parted.
"Come inside and put your things away. Knowing you, you probably didn't even take a taxi."
Hotaru and Ruka's apartment was quite modern, but it had a comfy feel to it. Hotaru settled once again at the coffee table, sipping her hot beverage.
"Wow! Your apartment is so nice. Where's Ruka?"
"He's off picking up a friend."
"A friend?"
"Yeah, I hope you don't mind that you'll have to share your room."
"Of course, I don't mind! Thanks for taking me in Hotaru, I really needed this."
"Mikan."
Mikan looked up from a portrait of Ruka holding a bunny and Hotaru in his arms, smiling brightly. Hotaru was next to him, smiling slightly and her eyes shining with happiness.
"Hmm?"
"Are you okay?"
Mikan was at loss for words, but shook it off and continued to smile brightly. The smile didn't reach her eyes and Hotaru noticed it.
"Of course I'm okay! I'm finally by your side."
"Stop lying, I can see it in your eyes. Do you think that coming here will really ease your pain?"
Mikan's vision started to become blurry and her voice shook,
"No. I don't know when I'll become okay, but I know that everything here will be better than Japan. I know that I'm far away from it all."
"Mika-", Hotaru began, but Mikan quickly wiped away fallen tears on her cheeks and shook her head.
"Hotaru, where's the room I'll be staying in? I think I really need a quick shower!" Hotaru could only sigh at her best friend's actions. Here before her was a fake smiling Mikan, trying to change the subject.
"We'll talk about this later, idiot. Go down this hall and your room will be on the right."
"Thanks, Hotaru! May we talk about this the next time Ruka and his friend will be out?"
Hotaru smiled slightly at her, "Okay. Just get in the shower already, I can smell your stench from over here."
"Hotaru, you're so mean to me!"
"Dating anyone yet, Natsume?" Ruka questioned, however he knew what the answer would be anyways.
"No one."
Ruka laughed, "Of course. We're here now Natsume."
After sharing stories, laughter, and smiles, they finally reached their destination.
Ruka turned the golden doorknob of the door and welcomed his best friend in.
"Hello Ruka…and Hyuuga." Hotaru sipped her coffee and eyed the pair.
"It's been a while, Imai." Natsume stepped into their home, aching to finally lie on a bed.
"Natsume, you're tired right? The room is down this hallway and on your right. I forgot to tell you this earlier…but you have a roommate. Hotaru's best friend is here, she's also my cousin."
Natsume just nodded and headed towards the room with his bags. He couldn't even care less, his brain and his body was craving sleep.
He turned the knob of the wooden door and walked in. Instead of darting to the bed however, his crimson eyes were only on the hourglass figure in front of him…clad in only polka dot undergarments.
The beginning of this chapter is dedicated to fralala-chan! I hope that's enough fluff for you fralala-chan! I can guarantee you all that there will be more fluff coming as the story progresses. I'm always willing to take everyone's suggestions and try to put them in the story. Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter!