AN: Thank you to ArtsyNinja3 and TheCrimsonFireFly for your continued support! and in answer to your question there is no Alice's in this story. You will find out why Youichi thinks he can talk to ghosts in a later chapter. Enjoy the chapter!

Over the next week it had become apparent to Natsume that Mikan had become a permanent fixture next to Ruka in their homeroom. In fact she seemed to become a permanent fixture almost everywhere he went. Every class she was there, giggling loudly, not doing what she was supposed to be doing, her loud, obnoxious voice grating on his last nerve. Even at lunch there was no escape.

"She's driving me insane," Natsume mumbled to nobody in particular.

"Did you say something?" Ruka asked, looking up from his egg salad sandwich.

"Yeah, that smells," he covered, pointing to whatever it was Koko was eating.

"Well," Koko started to explain, "I was going to have chicken and mayo but I couldn't find any chicken so I used sardines but then I couldn't find any mayo so I used caramel topping."

"You're insane," Natsume said with a stoic face but his eyes twinkled with amusement.

"How does it taste?" Ruka asked, slightly horrified.

"Not bad," Koko said with a thoughtful expression.

"I can't believe your brother broke up with Misaki senpai," Kitsuneme said as the girl in question walked into the cafeteria.

"He's not my brother," Natsume said sullenly, "and she dumped him."

"Do you think she'd go out with me?" Koko asked seriously.

"Not with your breath smelling like that," Kitsuneme retorted, waving his hand in front of his face, "you'll make her pass out."

"Then I'll catch her in my arms," Koko replied cheekily.

As his friends continued to argue about which of them was better for their beloved Misaki senpai, Natsume's eyes slowly drifted over to where Mikan was being slapped away by Hotaru Imai after she had tried to hug the emotionless girl, eventually falling on her ass. God she was an idiot.

He noticed that Ruka was looking at him and he refocused his attention quickly back to the conversation at the table.

"I don't know why either of you are even bothering to discuss that psycho, she's completely crazy," Natsume interrupted the bickering friends.

"Crazy beautiful!" Kitsuneme declared devotedly.

Natsume sighed, this conversation was going to be going on for a while.

"Oh great it's you," Natsume said as an impossibly cheerful brunette slid into the seat beside him.

"Careful not to choke on all that sarcasm," she said playfully.

"Why are you sitting here," Natsume asked bluntly.

"Uh, Hotaru...she asked me to leave her alone," Mikan mumbled, her cheeks colouring slightly.

Natsume snorted with laughter, "so now you are coming to annoy me?"

"Oh don't be like that," she said grinning at him, "you looked lonely. Besides there are no more chairs."

"Lucky me," Natsume continued in the same sarcastic tone.

"I can't believe how long you hold on to a grudge," she sighed, "why don't you like me Natsume?"

He scowled at the question and turned away. A few minutes passed before he finally responded.

"I don't not like you," he said shortly, "just like I don't like you. I haven't bothered to form an opinion on you."

She surprised him when she broke out into a wide smile. "You should try and lighten up once in a while. It wouldn't kill you to smile."

"and it wouldn't kill you to keep your nose out of other people's business," he said sharply before draping his manga over his face hoping she'd take the hint and shut her mouth but as soon as he'd set it there she snatched it off his face.

"Nice try Natsume," she said holding it away from him. He didn't even try to snatch it back.

"God you really are a sour puss," she huffed.

"and you're a pain in the ass...polka dots," he smirked.

Her face temporarily clouded in confusion before she started seething in rage.

"You looked at my underwear again!" she hissed angrily, "I thought you would've grown out of that you pervert!"

"I'm sure I wasn't the only one," he said unfazed, "You flashed half the cafeteria when your precious best friend knocked you over. By the way nice print, what are you five?"

She turned away from him with a huff and proceeded to ignore him for the rest of their lesson, much to his amusement.

When the final bell rang she ran out of the classroom to get away from him but Natsume followed close behind.

"Hey ugly!" he called out, "give me back my manga!"

She turned to face him with murderous intent clear in her eyes. "Don't come near me!" she yelled before running toward the elementary section of the school.

He followed her at a slower pace, smirking as she looked over her shoulder at random periods to see he was still following her.

"Oh my god are you stalking me?" she accused, as he started to close the gap between them.

"Get over yourself, I'm picking up my sister," he retorted.

Well it was half true, Tsubasa usually picked up Aoi from class but it wasn't unusual for Natsume to meet them there.

"Oh," Mikan said, slightly embarrassed. "How old is she?"

"Six."

"Oh!" Mikan said excitedly, all her previous anger forgotten, "my brother is six too I wonder if they're in the same class."

"I hope not, for my sister's sake," he said, deliberately trying to press her buttons.

Mikan was so distracted my their argument that she ran straight into Tsubasa.

Tsubasa turned to face whoever it was that had just run into him and smiled when he seen it was a cute girl, a very cute girl.

"I'm so sorry," she said turning away embarrassed.

"Don't worry about it," he said smiling at her warmly. They looked at each other with interest until Natsume snorted in disgust.

"My name's Tsubasa Andou," he said extending his hand to shake hers.

"Mikan, Mikan Sakura," she replied shyly.

"Really it should be my brother apologising to you," he continued.

"I'm not your brother," Natsume spat at him before walking off to go find Aoi.

"How do you know Natsume?" Tsubasa asked as soon as he was out of ear shot.

"He's in most...actually I think all of my classes. Plus I knew him from before," Mikan said cheerily.

"What do you mean?"

"Oh I used to go to this school before," she explained. "When I was a kid, but I moved."

"But now you're back," Tsubasa finished for her. "I guess that's good for me," he smiled as they started walking towards their respective siblings.

"Well I guess I'll see you around," Mikan said waving happily to Tsubasa as she turned away, leading a little boy who seemed intent on kicking her. "Say goodbye You-chan," she tried to coax him but all he did was stick his tongue out at her before running away.

Mikan sighed before brightening up again, "Bye Tsubasa, bye Aoi...Natsume," she growled at the end.

"Polka," he replied just as coldly before leading Aoi away.

Tsubasa was startled when he heard a whistle from behind him. Turning around he seen Tono staring at Mikan's retreating figure.

"Who was that?" he asked Tsubasa wolfishly. "I need to sleep with her immediately."

"Get in the car," Tsubasa said rolling his eyes, well acquainted with his friend's vulgarity.

"Seriously though, who is she?" Tono asked when they arrived back at the house.

"Ask Natsume," Tsubasa said, reaching into the fridge for a drink.

"Who's who?" Natsume asked.

"That little vixen you and Tsubasa were talking to."

Natsume glared at the description. "She's just an idiot in my class," he said nonchalantly.

"Sixteen eh, not bad," Tono said thoughtfully.

"You're revolting," Natsume said, waiting for Tsubasa to leave the kitchen before he got himself a drink.

"She didn't seem to like you," Tsubasa grinned at the moody teenager before him.

"I told her I seen her underwear," he replied, forgetting who else was in the room.

"Ha!" Tono said pointing at him, "don't tell me there is hope for you yet."

"I didn't peek at them you idiot, she fell over and showed everyone. Plus I only told her I'd seen them so she'd shut up."

Tono ignored his explanation and turned to Tsubasa. "You should invite her over next Friday."

Natsume started to make his way to his room, not really caring whatever was happening 'next Friday'.

"Nah my Dad said he's having people over that night," Tsubasa said, "we'll have to rain check."

"Well why don't you ask your Mom if you can have it here?" Tono said quickly.

"What are you talking about?" Natsume said, now that it involved his house he was interested.

"We're having a party kid," Tono explained, "Operation: get Tsubasa laid...and Tono if we have time," he added in afterthought.

"He's just joking," Tsubasa said when he seen Natsume's angry expression, "we're just having a party. You can come if you want, bring your friends."

"Are you insane, he'll steal our women," Tono said half jokingly. "I don't want to spend the night competing with the kid."

Natsume glared, he knew Tono was just teasing him.

"Seriously Natsume invite your friends," Tsubasa repeated, "it'll be fun."