Shironeko-pyon: Hey, guys! This is gonna be my very first serious Author's Note since Mikan is asleep. Anyway, thank you to all the reviews! I heart you everyone! XD To the The Fanfic Collector, Thank you for giving me such a critical review! Yeah, I really do need improvement now, do I? I'll keep your suggestion in mind! (salutes) and to the Amazoness Archer, I already worked on the descriptions. I hope you'll find them to your liking. XP And, oh, its still daytime to them. Remember that when Mikan was sent to the clinic, it was still the very first class. Although, it was with Mr. Jinno. And after his long homily, the students were given the whole day to themselves. And remember what Ruka said at the last chapter? "This is gonna be a long day" So it means, it's still daytime. Anywho, thank you for the review! XD

Mikan: (mumbles while asleep) Shironeko-pyon… doesn't… own… Gakuen Alice…

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Kiss by the book

By: Shironeko-pyon

Chapter Four:

Looking for Context Clues

Mikan Sakura stared in awe at Natsume Hyuuga's room. It was surely very spacious unlike her room, proving that Natsume really is one of the top students in the academy. She sat down on the enormous queen-sized bed opposite his huge couch. It was already lunch time and she still hadn't eaten a single bite. Mikan could hear her stomach grumbling as if saying, "Feed me, idiot".

"Hungry, polka-dots?" Natsume asked upon arriving from the kitchen.

He even has his own kitchen! Boy, this smug jerk sure is lucky!

Mikan looked down. "Yeah, kinda. Look, you don't have too feed me, I, uh…"

"Want to die from hunger? Don't be dumb," Natsume went to his kitchen, opened one of his elegant cupboards and approached Mikan.

"Here," Natsume tossed her a bag of chips as he sat down on the soft couch opposite her. "Munch on those,"

Mikan stared down at the food, Natsume just offered her. "A bag of chips?"

"What? Do you have any complains, idiot? As far as you know, you're inside my room and what I say goes."

The scared lass opened the bag of chips and started eating. "I can always cook for the both of us, you know!"

"And what? Poison me with your horrible cooking? Don't think so,"

"I do not poison anyone with my cooking!"

Natsume just shot her a bored look. "I don't want to be your first victim,"

Mikan, irritated by his egoistic sarcasm, started throwing chips at him. "URGH! You're such a moron! I just can't believe you!"

The fire alice wielder dodged the incredible amount of chips that were flying towards him. He stood up from the couch and approached Mikan while shielding his face with his right hand. Natsume grabbed her hands closing them altogether with the bag of chips.

He got one stray chip on the bed and carefully placed it in her mouth. Natsume smirked. "Chips are for eating, not for throwing, floral panties."

Mikan blushed and looked away. Natsume's smirk widened even more. "And don't talk with your mouth full. You look even uglier when you do that,"

The girl glared at him and stuck out her tongue. Natsume let go of her and shot her an icy glare as he received more chips from the irate lass.

The sound of someone knocking on the door made the couple stop their little war. Natsume brushed off some chips on his shirt and went to the door.

I hope it's not one of those deranged fangirls. Natsume thought as he made his way to the direction of the annoying knocking.

He opened it, only to be greeted by Nonoko, Anna and Kokoroyomi.

"What are you three doing here?" Natsume asked in a cold voice making the two girls shudder.

"We are just here to ask if you saw Mikan by any chance," Nonoko said worriedly as she hid behind a scared looking Anna.

Natsume just stared at them with an emotionless face. "I haven't seen that idiot,"

Kokoroyomi smirked and Natsume saw this. "What are you smirking about there, huh?"

The mind-reading lad just smiled. "Nothing,"

"We just figured she'll be with you since we asked Yuu and he said that you're the one with her," Anna continued still shuddering.

"Why should I be with that annoying girl?"

"Hey, Natsume! Why are you taking so long? We're still not finished with what we're doing!" Mikan's angry voice called out, crushing a chip with her left hand. All four of them heard this and Natsume sweat-dropped and just heaved a sigh.

Nonoko and Anna stared at Natsume with shock stricken eyes, their mouths widely agape. Kokoroyomi just stood there, his smile widening.

"M-Mikan's in there! What are you two doing?" Nonoko and Anna asked in unison, their faces still contorted by shock.

The hell? Why can't that idiot just keep her big loud trap shut? Now, these three are thinking we actually did something in my room.

Just then, an idea came rushing inside Natsume's big head. Or did we? He smirked devilishly.

"None of your business. You three must leave, you're interrupting us in our little game," Natsume simply said and slammed the door shut, leaving the two girls shocked beyond words.

The three started walking down the hallways, still dumbfounded of what just happened. "I can't believe Mikan will lose her virginity to Natsume," Nonoko said, sniffing.

Anna comforted her. "Yeah, I know. But don't you think it's nice that they finally did it?"

"Yes, it's really obvious Mikan has hots for Natsume and same goes for that fire caster," Nonoko replied matter-of-factly.

Kokoroyomi knew everything all along but he remained quiet and just smiled sheepishly.

"Hey, Koko. You read Natsume's mind did you?" Anna muttered.

Nonoko brightened up. "Yeah. So, spill the beans! What exactly happened?"

The lad just smirked. "I'll tell you girls every move of love those two did if you two will treat me to lunch!"

The two girls sighed. "Oh, Koko!" They said in defeat.

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"Hey, Natsume! Who was that at the door? You sure took a long time! We're not yet finished with our war here!" Mikan asked upon Natsume's arrival.

The boy slumped down his couch lazily while he took a manga that's been lying beside him. "It's that stupid chemist girl, that annoying mind reader and the pink-haired girl," He said in a monotonous tone as he started reading.

"Nonoko's not stupid!" Mikan protested.

"Tch, like I care."

Mikan started yet again throwing chips at Natsume. "You're so rude! Take that back! Nonoko's not stupid!"

"Whatever. And, stop doing that. You're making a mess. Clean this up, will ya?" Natsume replied, not even bothering to look at Mikan.

"How can I clean when I can't even walk?"

"You'll find a way, nitwit."

"UGH! I can't believe I'm stuck with a smug brat like you! Of all the people! Why can't I just be stuck with Hotaru or Yuu or Ruka-pyon!" Mikan shouted in rage. She planned on throwing more chips at him but she's fresh out.

"Then go to them. See if I care," Natsume stated simply.

Mikan tried getting up but it was no use. She fell down immediately and inflicted even more pain on her knee. "Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!" She retorted as she started crawling on the chip-filled ground.

When she was about to crawl some more, someone grabbed her waist, lifted her and tossed her on the bed. "You're not going anywhere in that condition,"

"But you said… ARGH! I can't understand you, Natsume! First, you're all nice! Then, you let me crawl down the floor! Then, you said I'm not going anywhere! What's up with YOU? I can't understand you! I can't! I can't!" Mikan screamed in fury as tears came welling in the corners of her eyes.

"How do you plan to understand me with that empty head of yours that doesn't think much?" Natsume replied in a bored tone. He approached the girl as he slowly sat on the edge of the bed.

A stray tear fell down Mikan's eyes and followed by another. She gritted her teeth as she banged her now balled fists on Natsume's chest. "I hate you! I hate you! I hate you! I HATE YOU! You're one impossible—"

Mikan's angry rants were cut with a pair of lips against her own. Her eyes widened like plates as she stared at her captor, his right hand holding firmly at her chin. She tried closing her eyes but it wouldn't budge. Her body felt like its melting, probably because of his alice. Mikan didn't know what to do. After all, it's still her first time.

N-Natsume…?

He let go of the short sweet kiss, stood up and stared at a dumbfounded Mikan with his trademark expressionless face. Mikan just touched her lips with her fingers, her eyes still wide. She looked at Natsume, her face hard to paint.

"W-What was that for?"

Natsume smirked yet again. "To shut you up," He shrugged. "And I think it worked,"

"Is that the only reason, huh, Natsume?" A voice deep within him muttered, snapping him out of his reverie.

"Y-You didn't just kiss me, do you?" Mikan asked, her voice slowly shattering.

Natsume looked at the poor girl. He came to a realization that somehow Mikan didn't like the idea of him kissing her. It dawned to him that maybe, just maybe, it wasn't the most brilliant way of shutting her up or, though he hated to admit it, showing her how much she means to him.

"I just told you, that was to shut your huge annoying mouth," He looked away. The girl opposite him just sat there, her face still surprised.

Mikan looked at him with watery eyes as if they're made of glass. "You're my first kiss, you know. I just never imagined it'll be with you,"

Same here.

"I told you, that was to shut your enormous, whiny pie hole. Jeez, can't you understand a simple sentence? You really are a stupid head," Natsume spat, slumping himself again on his long black couch.

"Even so, it's still my first kiss," Mikan mumbled. She looked up and smiled. "Anyway, I didn't know your lips taste good, Natsume!"

Natsume almost blushed but, knowing him, he gained self-control and prevented it. He got his manga that was beside him and started reading. "Yeah, well, yours tasted like vomit."

"WHAT DID YOU SAY?" Mikan screamed. She grabbed one of his pillows and threw it at him. The black cat dodged it without even looking up. He tossed his manga away, stood up, grabbed the pillow and went over to the irritating little girl.

The fire alice wielder smirked evilly. "You really are asking for a fight, huh, polka-dots? I'm not gonna go easy on you just because you have an injury there,"

Mikan smirked all the same. "Then, bring it on, Hyuuga!"

And, a pillow fight that lasted for almost three hours began.

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Central Town—a place filled with happiness and prosperity. Everyone shopped gleefully through its streets, squealing over exciting items and marvelous sales. It was a perfect golden afternoon. The sun was setting slowly, casting a magnificent golden glow through the land. Everything seemed to be painted with an exquisite shade of orange as the sun carefully bid farewell.

The wind blew strong, signaling everyone that nighttime shall approach anytime soon. All was calm. All was perfect. But, one boy dressed in a humiliating chicken costume wasn't happy at all. Happiness was hard to reach as his raven-haired tormentor approached him, her eyes as calm as ever.

"So, how much did you earn, Mr. Chicken?" Hotaru Imai asked, her voice as cold as the wind enveloping them.

Ruka Nogi shot her the deadliest glare he could muster. "I told you, STOP CALLING ME MR. CHICKEN!"

"How about Mr. Clucky?"

Ruka sighed. "Can I get my pictures now?"

Hotaru got her third bag of muffins for the day and stuffed one inside her mouth. "How much did you earn first?"

"Ninety-five rabbits,"

The lass shook her head, her face still blank. "That wouldn't do at all,"

Ruka glared at her. "B-But you said until this afternoon! It's slowly getting dark; we need to go back to the academy!"

"How? The bus already left an hour ago,"

"WHAT? WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?" The boy shrieked in horror. He got himself out of the pathetic chicken costume and threw it at her.

Hotaru tossed the ridiculous costume to the trash can and placed another muffin inside her mouth. "I figured you're doing a good job so I didn't bother you,"

The wind blew even stronger making Ruka shudder. Clouds gathered together in the sky, slowly covering the starlit night.

"I think it's going to rain," Hotaru said, stating the obvious.

Ruka glared at her. "You think?"

As the two headed for shelter under the huge tree in the park, a single raindrop spattered down the ground and another and another. Soon, rain fell down in heavy sheets, blinding everyone with its magnificence. Hotaru got another muffin and munched on it. Ruka just stared at her in disbelief.

"How can you eat at a time like this?" Ruka inquired in a distressed tone.

Hotaru looked at him with mellow eyes. "Don't worry so much," She got a muffin and stuffed it inside Ruka's mouth. The mere feeling of Hotaru's fingers on his lips made Ruka somehow blush. "There, eat. You need some nutrition inside that idiotic head of yours,"

"B-But how will we gonna return to the academy in this pouring rain?" He asked with his mouth full.

Hotaru got some little box from her skirt pocket and tossed it on the ground. The box grew bigger and it turned into Hotaru's flying swan complete with an umbrella on top.

"I always keep this in my pocket for emergencies," Hotaru said calmly as she stood up and walked over to her invention.

"You mean you have this all along?" Ruka asked, aggravated.

"Yeah. So, aren't you gonna hop in or what?" Hotaru muttered as she hopped on her invention.

Ruka stood up and sat behind her. Fortunately, Hotaru added a single seat on her flying swan or else he'll be walking under the heavy rain. Hotaru pressed a button in front of her and the flying swan kicked to life and took off.

Ruka looped his arms around Hotaru's waist and the boy blushed. He smiled. Indeed, Hotaru Imai is one unpredictable girl. The sound of rain spattering over the umbrella made Ruka somehow glad. Glad that he spent some time with Hotaru and seeing that this inventor is more than just black-mailing and fancy gizmos.

Maybe there's hope for her yet…

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Nighttime came in the Alice Academy grounds as droplets of rain came pouring down from the dark evening sky. Inside the black cat's majestic room, Mikan Sakura watched as rain droplets playfully danced through the window. She sighed. It's almost eight-thirty in the evening and she's getting sleepier every minute. Boy, was she tired from all the fight Natsume and her pulled. Mikan was still on his bed as she waited for him to finish getting ready for bed.

The door to his bathroom creaked open. Mikan turned around only to be greeted by a shirtless Natsume with only a simple pair of pants on. Her jaw almost dropped open with what she saw. The fire caster has an awesome body starting from his smooth chest down to his chiseled stomach and to his cute bellybutton.

"Enjoying the view, polka-dots?" Natsume smirked as he approached the girl and sat on the edge of the bed.

Mikan blushed and backed away. "You're not planning on harassing me, are you?"

"And why would I harass an ugly girl like you?"

"I'm just making sure, you know!" Mikan crossed her arms and looked away.

Natsume stood up, went to his big and glamorous closet and started looking for his already small pajamas. Upon finding it, he grabbed them and tossed them to Mikan. "Change on those,"

Mikan got the blue pajamas that smelled like a man's perfume. "And how am I supposed to change when I can't even walk?" She whined as she arched a brow at Natsume.

The lad just shrugged. "I'll turn around then, idiot." Natsume turned around, his back facing Mikan.

She started shedding off her clothes. "Don't peek!"

"Tch, why should I?"

Mikan grabbed the pajamas and began putting it on. When she closed the last button, there she realized the pajamas fitted her snugly except for some minor adjustments of course. "You can look now,"

Natsume turned around and saw the lass examining her new clothing. The boy smirked. Who knew the pajamas fitted her nicely?

Mikan looked up at him and smiled. "So, where should I sleep?"

"We can fit there in my bed,"

"WHAT? I'm sleeping with you only dressed in those pair of pants?" Mikan exclaimed, her face evident with fear.

"This is my room, little girl. What I say goes, got it?" Natsume sat on the edge of the bed and started moving towards Mikan. "This is my spot," He said nonchalantly.

The girl, frightened into not protesting, moved to the opposite side of the bed near the huge couch. She lied down and stretched her legs, resting her tired head on the pillow.

This is too awkward, even for me! I can't believe I have to sleep with a topless Natsume!

Mikan stirred around, facing Natsume. He was still awake, staring at the ceiling with his hands behind his head. He glanced at Mikan's direction. "Go to sleep, little girl."

"I can't sleep. It's a bit cold because of the pouring rain and the blankets aren't helping much," She mumbled.

Natsume released his left hand behind his head and carefully placed Mikan's left arm on his bare body. "There. Are you feeling warm now?"

Lost in her own drowsy thoughts, Mikan looped her left arm around Natsume's stomach and rested her sleepy head on his bare chest. Warmth from Natsume's body made Mikan smile. His alice is indeed helpful. She thought as she smiled.

"Don't drool on me, you dimwit. I'll flare up and you'll be burned down to cinders," Natsume scowled.

Mikan looked up at him. "How many times do I have to tell you that I do not drool!"

"Hn," Was the only response Mikan got from the boy. She felt his left arm encircle her shoulder, pulling her even closer to him. The nullifying idiot smiled. She remembered the third way to know if he's Mr. Right.

No. 3: When he gave something that is a part of him to you that you needed most in a situation.

Her smile broadened even more. I think giving off his alice to me to keep me warm is counted. She thought. Mikan looked around. Everything was bathed with moonlight after the rain stopped, making the surroundings kind of misty. She looked at Natsume. Even his body glistened against the moonlight and his face looked like that of an innocent little boy.

Mikan Sakura smiled once again as she let her eyes droop down. And as slumber took over her, she couldn't help but want to see the ferocious black cat in her dreams.

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Shironeko-pyon: (sniffsniff) That was just sweet! I hope I didn't go overboard and made the characters a bit OOC. Please tell me what you all think. XD I really work hard to make them believable 'cos I really don't like them acting up beyond their supposed nature and I appreciated those reviews telling me that the characters are believable and not OOC. THANK YOU ALL! (panda hugs)

Natsume: It's OOC, alright. I wouldn't share my bed to that idiot.

Shironeko-pyon: Aww, but you love her and just think if you're in that condition, wouldn't you like it if Mikan share to you her bed?

Natsume: (blushes a little) No, I wouldn't like it. In fact, I'll throw up.

Shironeko-pyon: Aww, Natsume-kun! You look so cute when you blush! (gives Natsume a hug)

Natsume: Hey, let go of me you delusional idiotic writer!

Shironeko-pyon: Say it first. I won't let go until you say it first. (tightens my hug)

Natsume: (catches his breath) Fine. Err, ILOVEYOU! Tch, happy now?

Shironeko-pyon: That's not what I'm telling you to say… but thank you, Natsume-kun! I love you too! (lets go)

Hotaru: Anyway, what this pathetic author was trying to tell Natsume to say is Please Review.