DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT own Gakuen Alice...! Because if I did, then I would've made it 52 episodes instead of 26...! XD

A/N: Yo! LoL! Haaaahh!! Sorry for not updating for a long time...! School is in the way...! LoLzz! Especially homework!! And exams are this week!! DX

By the way, Sumire might be a bit OOC in this chapter.

Okay! Hmm… I would like to thank everyone who reviewed!

Hiroyuki11: My personal critic...! LoL! Thanks for the... Uhmm... Criticizing...! P And for pointing out my mistakes...! I got mistakes in the first and second chapter... And tried to fix them in the third one... But I guess they just got worse... LoL! I can't find any other ways to fix them... so I guess I'll have to leave them like that... –sweat drop- Heheh! Sorry... And Tsubasa, Misaki and Kaname are in High School. And yah... of course I read my e-mail. I just don't have time to reply to them... I'm sorry... And Touya won't really be in the story... , Oh, and I'm not able to read your story... I'm sorry, I just don't have the time. I promise I'll read it once I'm free from homework.

Sonya: Haaaahh!! I can't breathe! LoL

ldalada: Well... I'm sorry... you said you hope that I update super fast... But I guess I couldn't... Sorry...

Serina Hikari: Hmm... About your review... I'm sorry... I guess you'll just have to read it 'til the end to find out...!

funny sakura: Sorry for not updating soon...! And don't worry... Mikan's coming back... But... hmm... well... Just read it to find out... Heheh! NO BAKA GUN PLEASE!! TT

Natsume18: Thanks...! Your review made me feel more confident!! LoL!

xXxNaNa-cHaNxXx: Hmm... Like my answer to all the others... Just read 'til the end to find out!! LoL!

And to the other Reviewers:

Sakura-chan0610

snowangels88

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-'neko-chikka'-

-KateDominiqueXalice-

RoyalGoddess

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jeje-chan

glenda23

orange

forchan

If your name isn't here, then I'll put it on the next chapter.

Okay I guess that's it, Enjoy the Chapter!!

The Thing Called Love

Chapter 4: A year Later: The Movie Is Out!

One year after Mikan left:

A wonderful Saturday morning at the Alice Academy. Everyone was rushing towards their friend's dormitories to watch a movie. Some were on their way to the auditorium of the school and cinema in central town to watch it in a 20-foot screen TV.

"What's everyone rushing for?" Ruka asked the raven-haired girl beside him.

"Today is the day when Mikan's movie is being premiered in theaters." She took a big bite from her sandwich.

"Really?? Then we better hurry or they'll run out of tickets!" He rushed towards the ticket booth but was stopped by a tug on the back part of his shirt.

"Not so fast, let's watch it in Natsume's room instead. He has a flat screen TV. And besides they're showing it on TV as well anyway." She pulled him towards the bus stop and they rode the bus until they reached the dormitory.

Knock, knock, knock!

The door opened, "What do you want?"

"Flat Screen TV or else." Hotaru pointed her baka gun at Natsume.

"Tsch." Then he tried to burn the baka gun.

"It's no use. This thing is fire proof."

"Fine then." Natsume opened the door wider for them to be able to enter the room.

They entered the top star bedroom and grabbed all the food and all the comfortable seats they could find.

"Hurry. Channel 32, that's where they're premiering it." Hotaru looked for the remote under all the food and finally found it, "There you are!" She turned the TV on, sat back down on her seat and switched it to channel 32.

"There's the interview!" Ruka stared at the TV, "They're interviewing her? What for?"

"For the movie, stupid! Now shut up!" Hotaru stuffed a whole lot of pop corn into Ruka's mouth.

"Mmmmmmppphh!! Mmmph!!" He was finally able to swallow it but, "Choke Choke! Are you insane?!? You could've suffocated me!!"

"I told you to shut up." She stuffed some pop corn in her mouth and turned up the volume of the TV so she could hear better.

"But—!"

"You want the baka gun?" She loaded it up and got ready to shoot.

"Iie." Then Ruka sat silently on the floor and watched Mikan's interview.

"Good." She let go of it and started to eat.

"So Miss Sakura, how do you feel now that your movie is premiering all over the world, in four different languages?" The reporter asked the brunette. She had a person who understood both Japanese and English to translate the questions for her.

"Nervous, of course. I mean, who wouldn't be? The crew, I, and my co-actors and co-actresses have been working really hard on this movie, so we're all hoping that this movie would be great." Mikan walked towards the theater wherein she and everyone else would be watching their movie.

"It must've taken you guys a really long time to finish this movie, since they had to translate the whole movie in several languages."

"Yes, of course, it took about eight to ten months to finish filming the movie, and about a month or two to translate, put the special effects, and stuff like that."

"What made you decide to premiere the movie all over the world even on TV? Since usually, premieres are only shown in theaters."

"Well, I have my reasons. I bet there are a lot of people out there who won't be able to watch it because of big crowds around the cinemas." The pink shine of her lip-gloss sparkled as the thought of Hotaru and the rest of the gang came into her head.

"So are you excited about this?" The reporters asked once again, "I mean, since you've finished the movie, you're about to leave Hollywood and you'll be going back to Japan in a week, or so, right?"

Hotaru and Ruka who happened to be fighting over the last bit of chocolate on the table heard what the reporter said and listened closely to the interview.

"Well, I'd be leaving some of my friends here in the states, I was thinking of staying here a bit longer because of that."

This rather brought a small frown on Hotaru and Ruka's faces.

"But when I thought it over, I decided that since I haven't seen my best friends for more than a year, I decided to go back to Japan and stay there and finish my studies. And I just might come back here after I graduate High School or College there. I haven't thought of that yet though." She continued walking until she had reached her destination.

They smiled the moment they heard what she said.

"I guess you've reached the entrance of the theater, so would you like to say anything else to the camera before we end this interview?"

"Nothing really. I just want everyone to enjoy the movie. That's all. It'll start in 10 minutes, so better look for a good place to watch!" She smiled, and waved good-bye to the camera as she entered the building.

"Since the show is starting in ten minutes, there's a lot of time to wait." Hotaru looked at Natsume, "Natsume, she's coming back in a week, what are you going to do about Konaki?"

"What do you mean?" Natsume looked irritated.

"Natsume, you guys are pretty obvious, you know?" Hotaru said.

In Central Town...

"What the heck is this crowd for?" A pink-haired girl was going opposite of where the crowd was going as she looked for someone she could go to the amusement park with, "Anna-chan! Nonoko-chan! Ohayou! Do you want to come to the amusement park with me? I have four tickets, now we need one more." She looked around the crowd to see whom else they could go with.

"Sorry Konaki-chan." Anna interrupted.

"Doushite?"

"We can't go with you. We're going to watch Mikan-chan's movie in Central Town." Nonoko said, "But we promise to go with you afterwards, okay?"

"No need. I'll just go with Kinno." She smiled went her way to her brother's dormitory, 'Who's Mikan?'

In Natsume's Room...

"What are you talking about?" Natsume continued reading his manga.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about, Natsume." Hotaru got the last piece of chocolate from the table and gobbled it all up, "Ruka and I heard you and Konaki doing and talking about fishy stuff a long time ago, and after that, you guys have been really close."

"Nani? It's not like I like her." He complained.

"Oh really? You treat her the same way you used to treat Mikan-chan." Ruka butted in.

"You too, Ruka?" He put his manga aside.

"Of course. I mean, you love Mikan-chan, Natsume." He looked at him worriedly, "And I just don't know what to do whenever I see you and Konaki-chan together."

In Central Town...

"Kinno! There you are. I've been looking for you." She ran towards a boy who looked like her.

"Oh, hi there, Konaki. What's up?"

"I wanna go to the amusement park, but no one would go with me! Hmph!" She crossed her arms over her chest, "So I was wondering that since even you don't know who that Mikan girl is and since us both aren't interested in watching her movie, let's go to the amusement park instead."

"Sure." He smiled at her as they both went to the amusement park.

"Hey, look! It's Yuu-kun and Koko-kun!" Konaki shouted, "Hi guys!"

"Hey. Aren't you guys going to watch Mikan's movie?" Koko asked.

"Who's Mikan?" Konaki asked back.

"Mikan, Mikan Sakura. Don't know?" Yuu said.

"Nope. Not a clue." Konaki answered.

"If I'm not mistaken, isn't she Imai-san's best friend who left about a year ago?" Kinno asked.

"Hai, that's right? How did you know?" Yuu asked.

"I hear her talking to Ruka-san about her a lot." Kinno stated.

"Oh, that's right, you guys only came to the academy 10 months ago, isn't that right?" Yuu asked.

"Yeah, that's right. And?" Konaki looked curious.

"Well, about a month or two before you guys arrived, Mikan-chan left Japan to go to Hollywood, since there were people from there who came here looking for great talent, and Mikan-chan happened to be the one they were looking for." Koko answered.

"Hey! Koko, we should get going if we don't want to miss the movie!" Yuu interrupted, "Gomen. We really need to go."

"Sure. No problem. Enjoy the movie." Kinno smiled.

"We'll catch you guys later." Koko waved and they ran to the bus stop and to their dorms.

Flashback...

In the Alice Academy, a brunette suddenly flashed into Natsume's mind. It has been four months after Mikan left. And of course, he starts to miss the love of his life.

He heads towards the classroom and slowly walks in and he takes his seat on the usual place, the back. He stays quiet, but not until Narumi introduces new students to them.

"So class, we have a new student today. Actually two of them." Narumi calls the two students in and stood beside them, "Class, meet Hajiri Konaki and Hajiri Kinnosuke. As you see, they're twins. Why won't you guys introduce yourselves?"

The boy with red hair and dark light blue eyes smiled warmly at Narumi, "We'd be glad to, sir." He faced his classmates and introduced himself, "Hi, I'm Kinnosuke Hajiri, but you can call me Kinno. I have the wind Alice, I hope to get to know more about you guys, and I hope to make lots of friends." He seemed nice and he acted nice towards them, but his sister seemed very different.

"Okay, Kinno. You may sit beside our class president, since you're new and you'll need some assisting." Narumi suggested, "He can be your partner as well."

"No problem, Narumi-sensei." He smiled and sat beside Yuu, and they started to talk.

The girl stood there with confidence, light reflected on her shiny, dark pink hair, and her dazzling, yet cold-looking dark blue eyes, "Well, me? I'm Konaki Hajiri."

Kinno sat down beside Yuu and smiled warmly at him, "Hi, nice to meet you. Yuu, right?"

"Yes. Nice to meet you too, Kinno-san." Yuu greeted back, "So what part of Japan are you guys from?"

"We're from Ochikawa, Tokyo. Not so far away." Kinno put his bag down and looked at Yuu, "Oh, by the way, please don't compare my sister with me. Both of us are very different, she could be a bit snobby at times. I mean, I can't say that I'm perfectly nice and all, but in the previous schools we've been to, everyone kept comparing my sister to me."

"Huh? Oh, sure, no problem." Yuu smiled, "But why compare you two? I mean, you two are practically alike."

"Oh, don't speak too soon." Kinno laughed, "The teachers and students at our previous schools kept telling her, 'Why can't you be like your brother Kinno? He's nicer and more respectful.' or 'Why don't you be like your brother? I mean, you're twins anyway, right? It wouldn't be so hard to follow his example of being serious with your studies.' and other stuff like that. I mean, I know we're twins but it isn't easy to be so alike with one another. I know she could be a bit snobby, disrespectful, rude and sometimes bad tempered, she's a really good person inside, you know? She just can't show it. And since we're twins, then I think I can feel what she feels when they say those things to her."

"Oh." Yuu laughed.

"Well, my alice is hypnotizing. I can hypnotize anyone I want. But it would only be for that one thing that I want for that person. After I hypnotize that person, he or she will forget what happened five minutes before I hypnotized him or her. But once he or she is hypnotized, he or she wouldn't even give a single sign that they're hypnotized, they'd act normally, as if nothing had happened, they wouldn't even know that they got hypnotized. Nothing can break it, unless there's a person who has a power to cancel mine out. Sometimes, my eyes turn a weird color when I'm using my alice, but it doesn't always happen." She explained.

"Very interesting Alice. Is there anything else you want to say?" Narumi asked.

"All I want from this school is for no one to compare me to my brother, since that's what everyone usually does." Her face looked like she had no interest to smile at all, not really an emotionless face, but something like a permanent grouchy expression on it, "I was never interested in going here, but I always hated everyone comparing the two of us, so I thought this school might be different."

End of flashback...

Natsume's Room...

"Tsch. I don't know what you guys are talking about." Natsume stood up and went towards the door, "Here's the key to my room, don't forget to lock the door when you're done using it, and don't forget to clean up your mess." He tossed them the key and walked out of the door.

"Natsume..." Ruka looked worried, he turned around to sit how he was sitting a while back, "Hey! Who ate the last piece of chocolate?!?"

"You're just too slow." Hotaru wiped the chocolate that was left on her face after she gobbled it all up.

"You're just a girl who knows nothing but evil." Ruka glared.

"Thanks for the compliment." She grabbed a can of soda from the table and drank from it.

Outside Natsume's Room...

"What's all that noise inside?" Koko and Yuu happened to be just passing by when they heard quarreling inside Natsume's room.

They peeped inside and saw an arguing couple.

"Why did you get it anyway?!?" The blonde-haired boy asked a cute raven-haired girl in front of him.

"I was hungry, and besides, if you wanted some, you could've asked, and I could've given you some." She continued drinking her soda.

"Yeah? You could have given me some? Riiiiiight! You would've just given me a tiny bit that I wouldn't even be able to taste it."

"You're a smart one Nogi."

The couple continued arguing until someone interrupted, "Hey, you guys invaded Natsume's room?"

"No, not really. He let us borrow it, actually." The Hotaru grabbed the cookie Ruka was about to take a bite of and ate it.

"Hey!"

"Mind if we join you watch Mikan's movie? I mean, Natsume has a flat screen TV, and I bet it would be better to watch it here than in Yuu's small eight inch TV, right? Haha!" Koko laughed and made himself comfortable inside.

"Hey!" Yuu just stood there by the door.

"Hurry, Yuu! It's starting!" Koko called him inside.

"Alright then. I guess this place would be comfortable enough." Yuu took a seat beside Koko and grabbed a bag of popcorn.

"Ssshh! It's starting." Ruka shushed the two new comers and watched the movie.

After two hours...

"Wow! That was great!" Koko jumped up and down Natsume's black leather couch, "Let's watch it again! Let's watch it again! Let's watch it again!"

"We'd love to, but we can't," Hotaru stuffed the pop corn in her mouth, "they're only showing it once. We'll have to wait for them to release VCD's or DVD's."

"That won't be long will it? Hahaha! Koko left the room in a rush.

"Why'd he leave so quick?" Yuu turned around to see the mess they were about to leave behind, "Oh, that's why."

Yuu slowly headed towards the door and opened it, then ran quickly just like Koko.

"Great, now we're left here to clean this all up." Hotaru started to pick up the scattered pop corn and the candy wrappers just when she noticed something.

Ruka tried to sneak out of the room without even helping her out, but then something grabbed the collar of his shirt, "Aaah!"

"Oh no you don't!" She pulled him towards the mess and forced him to help her clean.

"Why me? Why me?!"

"You're just very unlucky is all." Hotaru handed him a trash bag, "Here."

"Sigh Doushite!?!?" He kept asking that same question until the room was spotless.

"Finally done." Hotaru walked towards the door, "Now, let's go."

"What time is it?" They left the room and locked it, "I have to be in Central Town at four o'clock."

"Well, then you better hurry up." Hotaru showed him her watch, "It's three thirty already."

"Okay then." Ruka walked away, "I guess I'll see you at dinner."

"No need, I won't be eating tonight." She turned around and walked towards her room.

"Okay then." Ruka exited the dorm and headed to the bus stop, 'Sometimes, I wonder why I even hang out with that psychotic girl. '

"Anyway, I should hurry and buy Mikan a welcome back present before the store closes." He entered the bus and then finally arrived in Central Town.

"Where did I find that store again? Oh right." He went towards the department store and to the girls' section, "Here we go. Now I better hurry before anyone sees me here." He got a pink colored stuffed toy, paid for it and went to another shop.

After a short while, he was now holding a beautiful present, wrapped in a cute violet gift wrapper.

'Natsume, what are you going to do now?' Ruka looked worried, 'I just hope you'll find a way out of the mess you've gotten yourself into.'

Flashback...

8 months ago...

A girl sat under the Sakura tree admiring the falling Sakura petals from the wonderful Sakura tree.

A boy walked towards her, wondering why someone was sitting on the spot where he and a special someone of his used to sit all the time, "Hey, what are you doing here? You do know this is my spot." He said emphasizing the word 'my.'

"It's not yours, I don't see your name on it." She gave an irritated look, "Besides, no one owns it but the academy, so technically no one owns it."

"Sigh You know what? You remind me of someone I know. Only smarter. And she smiles a lot." Natsume chuckled.

"I doubt." She frowned, "I can tell that you like this girl. Am I right?"

"I guess." Natsume smirked, "She's not here for now."

"Well, she's lucky to have someone like you, Natsume." She smiled.

Natsume was shocked, she smiled, she barely smiles, "Well, if you're looking for someone who'll make you happy, then you're looking at the wrong guy." Natsume said angrily.

"What are you talking about, Natsume?" Konaki smirked.

'This girl's nuts.' Natsume complained, "Look, I'm taken, so you can't do anything about that."

"Really, Natsume-kun?" She walked closer to him, her eyes, "You said she isn't here for now, so she's probably forgotten about you already."

"No... She..." Natsume tried to resist but she was too strong for her, 'No, she's using her alice on me. Mikan, forgive me.' Then Natsume fainted.

For the next few weeks, Natsume and Konaki grew closer to each other, they would be seen by their classmates under the Sakura tree sitting beside each other, sometimes embracing each other or sleeping on each others' shoulders.

Heck, even Permy got scared of Konaki because of her alice. Everyone got scared of the couple, not exactly the couple, but Konaki, yes, she's become very nice now, she smiles more often, she got kinder, and she seldom shows that frown, but what they're scared of is if they get in the way of their relationship, she'd use her alice on them, which they all find scary. Hotaru isn't scared of her, but she had her reasons why she didn't say a thing.

Four months later...

Kinno walked in the school hallways as he headed to the library. He walked silently until he bumped into a girl, which made her drop everything she was holding, "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to."

"Oh, hi Kinno." She gave him a warm smile as she got the books from Kinno, "Sorry for running into you like that. I'm in a hurry, I need to see Natsume-kun."

"No problem," he handed her the books and smiled, "See you around then."

"Sure thing. Bye."

'Konaki. I'm glad these people have changed you. Especially Natsume.'

That afternoon...

Ruka was walking alone in the silent hallways of the Gakuen Alice dormitory, but then heard something from outside the window, "What's that?" He looked outside and saw his best friend sitting under a tree with a girl, "That's Natsume. And who's that?" He couldn't see the girl because she happened to be facing away, all he could see was the wavy pink hair.

When the girl turned, he saw her, "Konaki?"

Konaki walked closer to Natsume and whispered something in his ear.

"Natsume, what's happening to you? I thought you loved Mikan-chan?" Ruka asked himself.

He continued watching the couple and then, shocked, Ruka saw something he didn't have to see. Konaki's eyes turned yellow all of a sudden.

"No. Now I know why Natsume's doing all this." Ruka looked shocked, "Oh my gosh! I need to tell Hotaru!!" He ran as fast as he could to Hotaru's room.

"Hotaru!! HOTARU!! Open up!!" Ruka banged on her door.

"What is it?! I'm working on my science project?" Hotaru asked through the door..

"You've gotta let me in! I have something important to tell you!"

Hotaru opened the door and looked at the tired Ruka in front of her, "Fine. But make it quick."

He entered the room and started to talk, "Konaki! And... Natsume!"

"What about them?"

"Konaki! Hypnotizing Natsume!" Ruka couldn't talk straight because of his panting.

"I know."

"You know?!? You KNOW?!?!?!? The why didn't you do anything about it? You didn't even bother telling me?!?"

"Yes. I knew. I didn't say a thing because I knew that this could be fixed."

"What do you mean?"

"Remember when Konaki said that nothing can break it unless someone has the power to cancel out hers?"

"Yeah. So?"

"Mikan has a strong nullification Alice. She'll be able to handle this."

"Whatever you say."

End of Flashback...

With Hotaru...

"One week left, and Mikan's coming back."

One week later...

A limo arrived at the academy, and the first one you'd see to come out is a beautiful brunette.

"Miss Sakura, let me take your bags, I'll bring them to your room for you." A boy offered, "So that you can see your friends."

"Thanks Touya." Mikan smiled, "So I'll go ahead then?"

"Sure. After we drop your things off, we'll be at the guest rooms. Just look for us there if you need us." He took her bags and gave Mikan her cell phone, "We'll be staying here until tomorrow for a meeting with the headmasters and some of your teachers, but after that we'll be going back to the states."

"Okay. I'll see you guys off tomorrow then."

"Sure. Now go ahead. I bet you're excited to see your friends already."

"Thanks again, Touya." Mikan smiled and ran towards the elementary building holding a present wrapped in a red gift wrapper.

She entered the building and asked the office where Youichi's classroom was. The secretary welcomed Mikan back as Mikan headed to You-chan's classroom.

She stood there by the door and a girl about Youichi's age saw her, "Ah! It's Mikan-neechan!!" She ran to her and greeted her, "You-chan!! It's your mommy!!"

"Huh?" Youichi turned around and saw her smiling at him by the door, "Mikan!" He ran to her and hugged her as if he was back to being a pre-schooler.

The teacher smiled at them and Mikan noticed, "Ah, Gomennasai Serina-sensei. But may I borrow You-chan for a while?"

"No problem." She smiled.

"You-chan, you want to came see Bear-san with me?" Mikan smiled.

"Hai!"

Northern Forest...

Mikan and Youichi walked to Bear-san's house, "There!" Youichi pulled her there.

"Bear-san! Bear-san! Are you home?" Mikan asked out loud.

The door opened and Mikan saw a cute bear staring at her.

"Bear-san! Long time no see!" She ran towards him getting ready to hug. Mr. Bear held up a sign saying, 'Here's my welcome back present to you.' A quick 'POW!' and Mikan flew high up in the sky.

"Waaaaahhh!!! Bear-san!!" Waterfall tears flew out her eyes.

Back in the elementary building...

"Well, you better go back to class now, You-chan." Mikan grinned, "I'll see you at lunch."

"Okay." Then he ran back to his classroom.

Mikan went to the High School building next, 'I want to see Hotaru and the others at lunch, so I could surprise Natsume with his gift.'

Mikan, again, went to the office and asked for Tsubasa, Misaki and Kaname's classroom. She went there and peeked through the door.

"Hey look! It's Mikan!!" Misaki shouted as she saw Mikan by the door, "May I, Tsubasa and Kaname be excused, Misaki-sensei?"

Mr. Misaki looked at the door and saw Mikan, he smiled as he saw Mikan sweat drop [anime style, "Okay then, but make it quick."

"Thank you sensei!" The three stood up and went out of the room to see Mikan.

Outside their classroom...

"So, how's it been Mikan?" Tsubasa asked.

"Oh, I'm fine!" Mikan answered, "I think it should be me asking that question!"

"Well, we're all fine." Kaname answered.

"Well then, that's great!"

"We have to get back in there, Misaki-sensei might scold us. So where are you headed next?" Misaki asked.

"Well, I'm going to the middle school building to see my friends there. And also give Hotaru her present, since I missed her birthday. Wanna come?"

"We'd love to Mikan. But we have a project to finish. We'll catch up later." Kaname said.

"Oh, ok. No problem. Bye then. Catch you guys later."

"Is that the gift, Mikan?" Misaki asked pointing at the red box on Mikan's hand.

"Oh, no. This isn't Hotaru's. Hers is in my pocket. This is Natsume's" She smiled, "It's November 27. Didn't you know? It's his birthday today."

"Oh, okay. See you around then." Said Tsubasa.

Since it wasn't their lunch yet, Mikan decided to go to the Sakura tree, "Let's see. I'll go see Hotaru first and she'll probably be with Yuu and Ruka. Then I'll go see Anna, Nonoko, Koko, Sumire and Mochu. Then a bunch of other friends. Then Natsume will be the last."

In the classroom...

Konaki sat beside the window, so she could perfectly see the Sakura Tree from there. She was looking at the sky then her eyes moved to look at a certain brunette sitting under the Sakura tree, 'Who is that? Cutting classes? Who does she think she is?! That's mine and Natsume's Sakura tree. How dare she?! Ever since me and Natsume became an item, no one ever dared to go near that tree except for the two of us. Well, I guess we'll fix that during lunch when I see her.'

Back to Mikan...

Riiiiiing...

"Lunch time! Now I could see them!" Mikan stood up from her position and ran to the cafeteria.

Konaki went straight to the Sakura tree and found no one there, "Darn it!"

"Hey, what's wrong?" Natsume walked there finding a troubled Konaki.

"Someone was sitting here right before lunch, but she left before I could even see her face."

"Nah. I bet it was nothing." Natsume smirked, "Aren't you going to eat lunch?" He sat down and brought out his manga.

"No. I'm not hungry." She sat down beside him and lay her head down his shoulder, and he didn't even seem to mind.

In the cafeteria where almost everyone was, Mikan searched for her friends through the crowd, "Ah! There! Hotaru! Ruka! Yuu! Over here!"

"Hey look! It's Mikan! Hi Mikan!" Ruka shouted.

Mikan pointed to the garden close to the cafeteria, signaling them to go there.

They ate their lunch there, while Mikan watched them there, "Man! I miss how the food tastes here. And I miss Japanese food."

"Aren't you going to eat?" Ruka and Yuu asked.

"No. We ate lunch when we arrived." Mikan smiled, "Thanks for the offer though."

"Mikan!!" A girl from behind shouted, "Look guys!! It's Mikan!! Hi Mikan!!"

"Anna!! Nonoko!! Mochu!! Koko!! Sumire!!"

"Wow Mikan!! We missed you!!"

"Gasp! And you're not wearing pigtails!!" Nonoko shouted, "You look a lot prettier without them, Mikan! You should wear your hair like this more often."

"Thanks. Haha! I missed you guys too." Mikan smiled.

Now they were all crowding her.

After 20 minutes of catching up...

"Oh, guys. Lunch is almost over." Mikan stood up, "I have to go see Natsume and give him his birthday present!"

"Wow. At least you still remember, Mikan." Sumire smiled.

"Okay. Well, I guess I better get going." Mikan got ready to leave but then remembered something, "Don't you have a gift for him, Sumire?"

"Oh, me? No." Sumire sweat dropped.

"Why not?" Mikan looked confused.

"Well, let's just say I have my reasons." Sumire frowned, 'I have one, but I'm too scared to give it. That psychotic girl might kill me. I'm worried about Mikan, though. Konaki might yell at her.' She thought, "Are you sure, Mikan? Don't you just want to stay and do some more catching up with us? I mean, who knows what'll happen there?"

"What do you mean? I have to give Natsume his gift." Mikan said, "Come on, I'm not leaving again or anything, right? You're talking like you don't want me to go near Natsume. Haha!"

"Haha! Yeah, Sumire, don't say that." Said Nonoko, 'But really, Mikan. You shouldn't see him. You'll just and up being hurt.'

"Anyway, I have to get going. See you guys later." Mikan skipped happily towards the Sakura tree.

As soon as Mikan turned her back, all their smiles turned to worried frowns, "I'm going to see how it goes." Hotaru said worriedly and ran after Mikan.

"I need to see it too." Ruka followed.

"She's my friend, I'll be there for her." Anna stood up and followed and Nonoko followed her, "I agree."

"Mikan doesn't deserve this. I'm going to see how she reacts and whatever Konaki does to her, I'll be there for Mikan." Yuu stood up and ran after them.

"Me too."

"Me too." And the rest followed.

Sakura Tree...

Mikan walks to the Sakura tree and sees someone sitting there, "It's Natsume!" She whispered to herself. What she didn't know was that all her friends were following her.

She sneaked up from behind Natsume, but did not see that he was with someone, he was sitting on the ground, but not reading his manga, 'If he's not reading his manga, then what could he be doing?'

Mikan jumped out from behind the tree and grinned at Natsume, "Happy Birthday, Natsume! Here's your—" Mikan could barely breathe because of what she saw. A couple kissing in front of her. The couple stopped kissing and stared straight at her, 'Am I talking to the wrong person? No... This really is...'

"Natsume..." tears fell out from her eyes as her heart shattered to pieces.

"Mikan?" Natsume spoke silently.

"Natsume! That's the girl who was sitting here a while ago! She was sitting on OUR spot!" Konaki stood up angrily.

"YOUR spot?!" Mikan asked, "Natsume what is she talking about?" More tears flowed out of her eyes as she felt the pieces of her heart shatter to smaller pieces.

"Mikan...!" Natsume then felt something weird in his head, "Aaahh!! My head!" Then it was all gone. He felt someone clinging onto his arm and saw Konaki beside him, "Get off me!"

"What?! So now you're pretending that you don't like her just because I'm here already?!" Mikan cried even more, "Get a life, Natsume! And to think that you're my boyfriend?! It's over, Natsume!" Mikan ran away as fast as she could.

Konaki couldn't believe what she heard, 'Boyfriend? What have I done?'

"Mikan, wait!" Natsume ran after her leaving Konaki behind. He grabbed Mikan's arm and forced her to turn around.

"Let go of me! If you want your gift, then here!" Mikan threw the box at him and tried to run away again, but she failed, "What do you want?! You've got her don't you?! So why do you need me?!"

"Mikan, listen! I don't love her! She—" Natsume tried to explain but Mikan was just too stubborn.

"I don't want to hear it! You're a jerk Natsume!" Mikan finally got away from Natsume's grip on her arm.

But before she ran away, she turned around, "Here's something that comes with that gift." She slapped him hard on his left cheek and ran to her room.

All Mikan's friends walked passed Natsume and looked at him with disappointed looks, even Sumire. He looked at them, but couldn't show any emotion because of what happened. He stood up and ran to his room with tears in his eyes.

In Mikan's room...

"Mikan, let us in." Hotaru knocked on Mikan's door, and all of Mikan's other friends behind her.

Mikan opened the door and let everyone in, all her friends, Hotaru, Ruka, Anna, Nonoko, Yuu, Kokoroyumi, Mochu, Sumire, Tsubasa, Misaki, Youichi, even Mr. Bear was there with Narumi. Mikan was lying on her bed with a pillow on her face, crying her eyes out.

"Mikan, are you okay?" Anna asked.

"No, I'm not!! He's a jerk! I come back from another country after less than a year and that's what he gives me?!" Mikan cried, "I was supposed to come back after one more month, but I told them that I wanted to come back earlier, just so I wouldn't miss Natsume's birthday! And now this is what I get?! I hate him!"

Several hours passed...

"Easy now, Mikan." Narumi comforted her, "Maybe he's just not the right one for you. That happens a lot."

"Yeah. Sure it does." Mikan said sarcastically.

"But if he really is the right one for you, then you'll just have to wait and see if everything turns out okay." Narumi continued.

"Oh." Mikan slowly stopped crying, "But wait. Is it right to actually take advice from your gay class adviser?" Everyone laughed after hearing this from Mikan.

"Gay?!" Narumi looked dumbfounded, "Well then, I guess I better get going. I have a meeting with the headmasters." Then he left the room, still concerned about Mikan's condition.

"Well Mikan, it's getting late. We should go get some dinner." Ruka suggested.

"No thanks. I'm not hungry." Mikan sat on her bed, "You guys can go ahead. I'll see you guys in the morning."

"Okay then. See you, Mikan." Then they all left the room and shut the door for her.

"Natsume..." The thought of him made Mikan cry once again.

End of Chapter

Well, guys... wanna know what happens next? I'll tell you...

...In the next chapter!! Haha!

Anyway, sorry for some OOCness... I have my reasons for doing that...! And sorry if this chapter [and so with the rest is corny and stuff... I just don't know how to improve them... Sorry... Sweat drop

Well, I have to update this thing quick and review for my exams... So I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter!

You see that button on the screen? You know? The one that says "GO"? You don't have to click the arrow and stuff... just click the "GO" button and I'll love you for that. ;)

Flames are accepted...! ;)

Ridley