This is the fourth chapter of 'Goodbye is Definitely the Hardest Word.' I uploaded this one quickly so you could find out what happens! I hope you enjoy it

Disclaimer: I do not own Gakuen Alice or any of the characters involved.

Mikan's breathing faltered as she watched one of the most important people in her life walk out of the doors. She wanted to run after him, even if he would turn her away but for some reason her legs wouldn't carry her. It was as though a huge weight now lay on her shoulders and Natsume was the only thing holding her up anymore. The two of them had come to a standstill in the middle of the dance floor while the other couples continued to waltz around them.

Mikan couldn't stop thinking about Tsubasa as she stared at the last place he had been. The tears he shed while he stared at her broke her heart but yet she didn't even try to stop him. But the thing that hurt the most was he didn't even give her a proper goodbye. After everything they had been through together, he walked away as though none of that even existed. Ever since she started Alice Academy, Mikan had considered Tsubasa to be her elder brother but now she didn't know what she was to him.

Natsume felt the young girl in his arms stop causing him to stumble to keep his balance. Confused, he looked down at Mikan to find tears in her eyes as she stared at the doors to the hall. In that moment, she looked like a lost little girl just trying to make sense out of life. He had never seen her look this hurt before but he could feel the pain she was experiencing. Natsume wanted to wrap her in his arms so she would never have to face the horrors of the world but there was always something holding him back every time he tried to get close to her.

"Mikan?" Natsume brushed a strand of hair behind her ear on instinct but from the sudden contact Mikan's hazel eyes shot up to meet his. As soon as Mikan stared in Natsume's crimson eyes the flood gates opened and the tears began to stream down her cheeks. Her whole frame shook as she let her emotions flow and that was when Natsume couldn't hold back. He threw his arms around her and drew her in an embrace, whispering soothing words into her ear. Mikan was glad for the warmth of someone else while she let everything out. She had to admit that she was surprised that Natsume was the one to comfort her but she didn't complain.

Mikan glanced back to the fronts doors and knew that it was now or never. She slightly pushed Natsume off her but he didn't seem to mind although he was confused by her actions. Without thinking twice she headed towards a very anxious looking Tono who was caught in headlights. Mikan came to a stop before him and tried to make eye contact but he kept trying to avoid it.

"T... Tono-Senpai?" Mikan stuttered as she tried to control the tears and prevent them from falling but it was harder than she expected. Tono's eyes finally met hers and he crumpled under her innocent hazel gaze. He could see everything that she was feeling and he couldn't believe that Tsubasa had made her feel this way. This young girl thought the world of him and yet he had torn her into pieces without a second thought. Sure, he may be as upset as her but if he truly loved her he should have stayed and spent his last night with the one girl that mattered the most. However, Tono understood why he did what he did, it was all for Mikan. Tsubasa had given up his last moments with her to save her the heartache and tears when it was time to say goodbye but it had only made the situation worse.

"Where has he gone? Please tell me he's not..." Mikan's voice faded off as she saw the look in Tono's eyes and she knew that she was absolutely right, he had left her. She would no longer be able to see him and yet he had sacrificed their last night together so he could run away and not face the pain that she was now experiencing. The only thing Tono could do was to pull her into a hug and try to calm her down but Mikan was through with it all. She raised her hands and shoved him away from her causing him to stagger backwards leaving a perfect opportunity for Mikan to race through the doors. Her curls blew behind her as she avoided the groups of people huddled together in the halls because there was only one person she wanted to see now. Groaning, she came to a sudden stop so she could peel her heels off and threw them behind her without a care.

Mikan threw the doors to the Academy open and searched the night for any sign of him but everything was silent. That's when her eyes clasped on a dark figure walking towards the gate that led to the real world, the world that Mikan wouldn't see for another few years. She didn't even hesitate as her legs carried her towards the shadow because there was no telling if she would make it to him in time.

"Tsubasa-Senpai," Mikan cried as her legs felt as though they were going to give way from beneath her but she still pushed on. The figure turned his head to look at Mikan and his eyes widened as he took in the young girl sprinting towards him. Tsubasa seemed to be caught in a dilemma as he weighed up all of the options he had.

Mikan thought that she had finally caught up with him but a warm hand enclosed around the top of her arm causing her to fall back into the chest of the unknown man. His other arm wound around her waist trying to keep her from fidgeting but that didn't stop Mikan's protest as her cries grew louder. Tsubasa took this moment to make the ground he had lost as he walked away from the now crying Mikan but it felt as though he was leaving a part of him behind.

"How could you?" Mikan sobbed. This brought Tsubasa to a halt as the words echoed through the night. The grief in her voice was clear as day and he hated himself for making her feel that way. She should know by now that he loved her and that he would do anything to protect her so why was she acting as though it was the end of the world? Well, to them it was like the apocalypse. Once you graduate from Alice Academy it is very rare that you are allowed back in unless you become a teacher. That meant that it may be a few years until he gets to see her again but what about if she forgets about him? Mikan has friends here who could easily help her to block Tsubasa out of her mind so what would he do then?

"You were going to just leave?" Tsubasa looked at Mikan as she trembled in the grasp of Natsume and not even he could make her feel better. If only he had slipped out a little earlier then maybe this confrontation would have never happened.

"How could you? Tsubasa-Senpai, I thought you actually cared about me but by doing this shows that you couldn't care less," Mikan croaked as she stared him straight in the eyes. That was when Tsubasa snapped, he couldn't take it any longer.

"You think I don't care about you? You think I don't care?" Tsubasa roared as Mikan cringed away from him in fear.

"Mikan, ever since you started this school I have looked out for you, even when you didn't know I was I have always been watching your back. I would do anything to protect you because you are the most important person in my life. I love you Mikan, you're like family to me and I thought that this would be the best way for us to separate and I am going to stick by this decision. I am sorry if this is hurting you but it is hurting both of us. We will see each other in the future when you finally graduate, I promise Mikan," Tsubasa finished the last bit in a quiet whisper as he looked at the young girl. She was no longer fighting Natsume but the pain was still there and that was worse than the actual physical pain, knowing that she was hurting on the inside.

Mikan tried to find anything to say to Tsubasa who stood staring at her, allowing her to soak up everything he had just told her. There was too much information all at once and Mikan wanted to sit down and think about it but she knew she couldn't, now was not the time. She examined his face to try and find any indications that he was joking around with her but he was deadly serious. The agony and torture he was going through shone in his eyes and Mikan knew that this was not something that she wanted to do but he had no choice and neither did she apparently.

"But... I don't want to let you go yet," Mikan sighed; there was no way she was going to win this fight. That was her sign of giving up in defeat, it was better for the both of them if he leaved now so it would save the arguing and the fall outs but Mikan couldn't help but feel as though he had betrayed her because no matter what way she looked at it he had betrayed her.

A loud beep tore through the stillness disrupting the silence of the night bringing everyone back into reality and the situation that was at hand. Mikan's eyes noticed the outline of a car that was parked at the side of the road waiting for Tsubasa to get in so he could drive away and start his new life. She looked back at him to find him already staring straight at her. Her hand trembled beside her as she watched the tears fall from his sapphire eyes and all she wanted to do was wipe them away and tell him everything would be okay but even her naive mind knew nothing would be okay, not after this.

"I'm so sorry," Tsubasa murmured, shaking his head as he made his way over to Mikan who stood there utterly shocked by what was happening. She was already losing a loved one and she didn't if she could cope. Tsubasa placed a tender kiss on Mikan's forehead and looked at her one more time before he would have to go.

"Goodbye Mikan." That was the second time he had heard those words that night and she wasn't sure if she could get through this. Tsubasa turned away from the young girl and walked away, through the gate and climbed into the car that sped off down the road. And that was it; he was gone, gone from Mikan's life.

"What happened to you never leave family behind?" Mikan whispered into the night.

Was that okay? Please tell me what you think, leave comments!