Thanks for your reviews and for those people who read this story ;))

Disc: I don't own Gakuen Alice

Fixing someone's broken heart is much more like treating a sickness. No matter how hard you try if you're not the right medicine, you can never cure the pain.

"RALPH ALEXANDER ANDERSON!" Nobara yelled angrily. Her head were full of throbbing veins and her hands kept twitching. She really needed to punch someone at the moment.

"...hn, what?" Ralph lazily asked. He's a little frightened inside because 1) Nobara RARELY gets angry and 2) She called him by his full name.

"HOW DARE YOU PUT YOUR PERVERTED MAGAZINES IN MY LOCKER!" she snapped.

"Can you keep it down?" Craig asked irritatingly. They are currently at their favorite place in the campus, the unused music room in the 5th floor of the school. They put a leather couch, a wide plasma TV, stereo, playstations, and other gadgets that keep them from boredom. They didn't bother putting the violins, guitars, and the grand piano from the room because it might be useful to them someday.

"FYI, I did NOT put any perverted magazines in your locker. How am I suppose to do that if I don't even own them in the first place," Ralph shot back, glaring at Nobara.

"Then who the heck put these in my locker?" Nobara held the magazines. Suddenly, Tsubasa burst out laughing and Ralph and Nobara twitched painfully.

"So you're the one who put these magazines in my locker, uh?" Nobara gritted her teeth. Tsubasa stopped her laughter and saw Nobara's dark, menacingly aura. He gulped when she saw her grabbing two thick books and held up high.

"Uh... Umm.. Y-You know t-that... t-that bo-books hurt r-right?" Tsubasa nervously asked. Nobara smiled at him sweetly and nodded vigorously. She held the one book on her right hand and threw it across to Tsubasa like a Frisbee. Tsubasa fell backwards because of the impact and his head throbbed painfully. It formed a bump on his forehead and there was another book that flew across the room and landed on his head again. Nobara dusted her hands and her other friends applauded her.

"Bravo!" Craig and Leanne cheered.

"Nice one," Satoshi muttered with a smirk. Nobara blushed slightly and just smiled.

"You know, if I were you I would use the drums instead," Ralph said.

"Nah! I don't want to be murdered by his fan girls," Nobara said with a smirk. Tsubasa was still laying on the floor with two big bumps on his head.

"Did you know that he printed his picture on Craig's boxers?" Satoshi said, eyes were dancing in amusement.

"He did that?" Leanne gasped and stared in Tsubasa and Craig in disbelief.

"Shut up Satoshi," Craig hissed.

"And do you remember when he smudged Leanne's expensive, white dress with hot pink lipstick?" Nobara chuckled.

"To those who can put up with this moron deserve an award," Leanne muttered.

"Yeah, we should have an award," Craig said.

"Tsubasa sure is a troublemaker," Satoshi mumbled.

"Oh! Speaking of which, how's the nerdy earlier?" Craig asked.

"CRAIG PAUL OWENS!" Nobara yelled.

"...s-sorry, it just slipped," Craig nervously said.

"You shouldn't treat her like that. Can't you see that she's just alone... I'm concern about her," Nobara said, slowly taking deep breaths to calm herself.

"That girl somehow interests me," Ralph said. Leanna and Satoshi raised and eyebrow while Nobara shook her head. Craig looked at Tsubasa who was slowly rising up and walking towards them.

"Who interests you?" Tsubasa asked and then yawned.

"The new girl," Satoshi answered.

"Oh! That Mikan girl?"

"Yeah," Craig replied.

"She's different from your fan girls and also mysterious," Leanne said.

"Yup, I know~ But I know for sure that she's just keeping a façade," Nobara said. Ralph looked at her and he nodded slightly. She's just like me, hiding her true emotions with that cold mask, he thought.

"Why do you want to be friends with her so badly?" Tsubasa asked, eyebrows slightly furrowed. Nobara looked at him and smiled sadly.

"Because I think what she needs the most right now... is a friend."

Japan...

"Did she contact you?" Ruka asked.

"No, she didn't," Hotaru answered with no emotions displayed on her face but her eyes were full of sadness that quickly lessened when Ruka hugged her.

"It will be alright. She will come back," Ruka said soothingly. He caressed her hair and Hotaru finally gave in. She couldn't handle it anymore, she's so sad and desperate to find her best friend because it's already been 3 days since she was gone. She's worried that something might happened to her. She tried to asked and threatened Narumi or the principal but they wouldn't even budge. They just gave her a sad smile and a 'no'.

"It's all that bastard's fault!" Hotaru cried out.

"Shhh... I'm sure Natsume will learn his lesson now. He's not really like that before but people change... they change, we change," Ruka said.

"If he didn't broke her heart, Mikan would still be here. And if I stopped her from getting closer to that bastard, she wouldn't leave me!" Hotaru sobbed. Hot, fresh tears rolled down on her cheeks and to Ruka's uniform but neither of them cared.

"I pity her... I mean, look at her," Yuu said. Yuu, Kitsuneme, and Koko were watching from afar. They also don't know what to do anymore. This problem is their friend's fault, it's all Natsume's fault and don't know what can they do just to make things right. But they can't, not anymore because Mikan isn't here.

They all turned away and left Hotaru and Ruka. They headed for their class but something made them really angry. They saw Natsume kissing another girl whom they don't really know. And truth to be told, they were disgusted and disappointed. They didn't expected that he would just ignore the matter about Mikan.

They sighed and continued to walk to their classes, missing the short glance that Natsume gave them.

America...

During the first week of Mikan's stay in Alice Academy, she was bullied and everyone was calling her a freak, or nerd and it's mostly from Ralph's fan girls. But that's not the thing that caused her to get irritated. It's because Nobara and her friends in DarkFallenAngels were trying to befriend her and always sitting on her table during lunch. She tried to get away from them but Nobara was just too persistent and she wouldn't stop until she gets what she wants. And it's to be a friend of Mikan which she really found impossible because she doesn't trust friends now.

"What. Do. You. Want?" Mikan asked, showing an impassive face but inside she's exploding in anger. Ralph was standing in front of her with his hands across his chest.

"Ms. Kira told me that you are going to be my partner in our school trip," Ralph said.

"What school trip?" Mikan asked, knitting her eyebrows.

"Trip to the Laguna Beach in California. We are going to stay there for 2 weeks," Ralph informed her.

"How did you know this?"

"Ms. Kira found out that I knew about this trip and she said that she's going to partner everyone up with somebody," he explained.

"Oh. And why do we have to be partner up with someone?" Mikan asked, raising one eyebrow.

"Just in case someone gets lost, and things like that. They said that we should have someone or a group to join with so we're not going to have any problems," Ralph said.

"O...kay."

"Don't even ask another question 'cause it's really starting to irritate me," he warned.

"Whatever," Mikan mumbled while rolling her eyes. She looked at him one last time before walking into her Math class. Ralph went to the other way where his Science class is.

"Mikan-nee! You have a school trip to Cali?" Youichi asked incredulously. Mikan just got home and went straight to living room where her family is and she told them about the school trip which was discussed by Ms. Kira in her English class.

Mikan nodded and took of her big glasses. She let her hair down and she took off her braces.

"You're so lucky! Mikan will be having a school trip! Your first school trip here in America!" her mother exclaimed.

"And in California too! Laguna Beach is one amazing place here in America! Hollywood and the Disneyland also located there!" her brother added with much enthusiasm. Not noticing the fact that he's reacting like a kid now.

"So... who are going with you? Any friends?" her father asked.

Mikan frowned and said, "An annoying group is following me and their leader is my partner so that means we have to stick to each other during the school trip."

"And who is this partner of yours?" Izumi asked.

"And what's group are you talking about?" Youichi asked.

"My partner is Ralph Anderson, he's the leader of the famous group DarkFallenAngels," Mikan replied.

Her mother gasped and her father stared at Mikan wide eyed.

"D-Did you just say Ralph Anderson?" her father asked. Mikan nodded and asked why.

"Their company ranked number 2 when it comes to business and industry. That means they are next to our ranking," her father said.

"You're kidding right?" Mikan looked at her father in disbelief.

"I'm not joking," her father said. Mikan clicked her tongue in annoyance and stood up.

"I'm gonna pack some of my things for our school trip on Friday," Mikan said, ascending the stairs.

"Okay, honey," her mother replied.

Mikan went to her room and packed some of her 'nerdy' clothes and her usual outfits, just in case she needs it. She packed some necessities that she will use for 2 weeks. After that, she went to her bed to sleep. It was full moon and she couldn't help but remember some things when she was in Japan.

~O~O~O~

"Hey baka," a 12 year old raven haired called out. She was beside Mikan who was sitting on her bed. Mikan wanted her to sleep over to her house because she didn't see Hotaru for a week because of a business tour.

"What is it Hotaru?" Mikan asked. Her hair was in ponytail and she took off her big eyeglasses but she had the braces on.

"It's full moon," she said. Mikan looked at her window and it there was indeed a full moon. She smiled and turned to look at Hotaru.

"Do you know that full moon is all about abundance and completeness?" Mikan asked.

"I'm impressed. I thought you were slacking off when Narumi was reading that idiotic book in class," Hotaru smirked.

"Mou! You're so mean! The class is so boring sometimes so it's making me fall asleep," Mikan defended.

"Yeah, right," Hotaru rolled her eyes and looked at the clock on Mikan's bedside table.

"Time to sleep now, baka," she said. Mikan just nodded and yawned.

"Oyasumi nasai, Hotaru!" Mikan said before turning the lights off.

"Oyasumi nasai, Mikan," Hotaru replied. They tucked themselves in and soon went to dreamland.

~O~O~O~

Mikan woke up with a start. She yawned and rubbed her eyes to remove her sleepiness. She went to her bathroom to prepare for her school today. After approximately 25 minutes, she came out with her nerdy disguise and went downstairs for breakfast.

"See ya later, mom, dad," Mikan waved goodbye at her parents and Youichi did the same.

"Be careful kids," their father said.

They walked out of the mansion and went into the limousine. After a few minutes, they arrived at their school. Mikan bade goodbye to her brother and walked into her class. Ms. Kira wasn't there yet so she went to her seat and Ralph was already there. She put her big backpack down and pulled out her binder. Ms. Kira teaches them the first period class, Art Course, and last period class, English.

"Good morning," Ms. Kira greeted. She put her bag on the table and got her stuff out.

"I want you to group yourselves into 5 for our project," she started. She picked up a folder and skimmed through it. She put it down and looked at us.

"You will work together to present a project in class, and it's going to be due after the school trip. You can decide if you want to do a portrait, landscapes, or photography," she said.

"About the trip Ms. Kira, can we change a partner?" the brown haired girl, Lizette, asked.

"No, Ms. Taylor. And as I remember, your partner is Ms. Lambert," Ms. Kira reminded.

"Okay," Lizette replied, her face showed disappointment, as she glanced to Ralph, and anger, when she turned her gaze to Mikan.

"So the day after tomorrow will be the trip. Make sure you have packed your stuff that you will probably need during our 2 weeks trip," Ms. Kira said. She looked around and added, "You may begin finding your groups now."

The class quickly went to their friends while Mikan and Ralph sat still on their seats. Ms. Kira went to her desk and arranged some things. Lizette went up to Ralph but he ignored her.

"Will you be my group mate, Ralph?" she asked, batting her eyelashes. Mikan shuddered in disgust and Ralph just turned to Lizette in bored expression.

"No," he simply answered. Lizette's face flushed in embarrassment and she quickly thought of an idea.

"Nobara will surely choose me as a member of her group and I'm sure that you will join her group, right?" she said with a triumph smile on her face. But that smile immediately turned into a deep scowl after a second when she saw Nobara, Tsubasa, Leanne, Craig, and Satoshi. She couldn't believe that they were heading to Mikan Sakura.

"There's only 5 members in each group," Lizette reminded them.

"Don't worry, 2 people won't hurt, right?" Nobara said with a sweet smile. Lizette turned her gaze to Ms. Kira.

"Ms. Kira, can we have more than 5 members?" she asked. Ms. Kira looked at her and then to Nobara.

"I would like to add Mikan Sakura and Ralph Anderson to our group," Nobara said. Ms. Kira stared at her thoughtfully and she smiled.

"Sure, Ms. Ibaragi," she said before going back to her work.

Lizette stormed to her friends angrily after giving Mikan a glare. Nobara pulled out a chair and sat beside Mikan. Tsubasa and Craig sat on desks and Leanne was cradled on Craig's arms.

"You're going to be in our team!" Nobara said excitedly.

"I'm not deaf; I already heard it alright," Mikan replied.

"We can take pictures in California and maybe... Ralph can draw a portrait or a landscape!" Tsubasa suggested.

"So in other words... we will going to do more than one?" Leanne asked.

"Yeah! Ms. Kira didn't tell us that we can just do one of those, right?" Satoshi said. Leanne nodded and Nobara grabbed Mikan's hands.

"What are you good at? Painting? Photography? Portraits?" she asked.

"Any of them," Mikan answered in a bored tone. Ralph turned to look at her and he raised his one eyebrow.

"You can do all of them?" he asked, clearly not believing what she just said. Mikan sighed and narrowed her eyes on him.

"So...? What if I can?" she asked.

"I didn't actually thought that you're good in art," he said with a smirk.

"What the hell is that suppose to mean?"

"I thought you're just one clumsy girl with who can't even hold a painting tray properly."

Mikan scoffed and glared at Ralph. "Can you do me a favor and go to hell?"

Ralph leaned into her with a smirk. He really likes teasing her.

"You're the Hecate herself so I'm already in hell."

"Shut. The. Hell. Up," Mikan hissed. Ralph suddenly chuckled that made Nobara and the others, except Mikan, to have their eyes bulged out of their sockets. They were surprised that they were actually hearing Ralph, the stoic, annoying freak as they say, was laughing. But Mikan's reaction was different; she was entranced by Ralph. Her heart beat wildly on her chest and she was suddenly overwhelmed by a warm feeling as she watched Ralph's dark brown locks fell on his slightly tanned skin as he chuckled.

Ralph stopped and smirked on Mikan who blushed slightly in return.

"Maybe having you as my partner is not that bad at all," he said. Nobara and Satoshi exchanged a knowing glance and they couldn't help but grin.

"So~ we will do our project during the trip! I'm sure that it will be great!" Nobara said. The others agreed while Mikan didn't comment. She's too distracted and confused at what she just felt a while a ago.

"What the hell is wrong with me?" Mikan asked herself.

All she found out is that she's feeling that strange feeling again and worse, with Ralph. She couldn't let herself to feel that... horrible feeling again, after what happened to her. Because it's the feeling that she felt to that certain... bastard.

"Mikan, it will be alright," she assured herself. She was sitting on the bench in the garden when a someone suddenly chuckled. It's familiar to her and she couldn't help but groaned in frustration.

"Now you are talking to yourself? What's wrong with you, woman?" Ralph mused. He sat beside Mikan and she flinched because of their distance.

"You know, I need what only you can provide," Mikan started, pushing her eyeglasses on the bridge of her nose. "Your absence."

"What's wrong with you?" he asked.

"You're here, that's what's wrong," Mikan replied. She stood up and started walking away but Ralph grabbed her wrist and pulled her on the bench again. Mikan didn't miss the sudden bolt electricity that shot on her nerves when her skin came contact with Ralph's.

"You're acting an unreasonable idiot," Ralph said. Mikan glared at him and pinched her arm.

"What the! That hurts, woman!" he growled and winced in pain. He rolled of the sleeves of his shirt and checked the spot where Mikan pinched him. Her nails carved slightly on his flesh and he hissed in pain when he touched it.

"Your skin is SO sensitive," Mikan commented and smirked at him. "Are you sure you're straight?"

"Oh, shut up. I'm not gay, homo, or anything like that. It's because of your nails! God, your nails are long," he said.

"You've got a problem with that?" she asked. Ralph looked at her and return her smirk.

"If you don't cut it, you'll scratch your face and it will make you 10 times uglier," he remarked. Mikan scoffed and turned away. She walked away from him with one sentence that made Ralph more interested on her.

"You don't know who I really am."

They day after, every student in the Class BlueMoon was talking about the school trip tomorrow. And it was also the same with the DarkFallenAngels. Nobara and Tsubasa were talking animatedly about the things that they should do in California that made Ralph and Mikan irritated.

"When will you zip your mouths?" Mikan asked. Satoshi snickered along with Craig.

"We know that these two idiots here won't shut up any time soon," Leanne said.

"Good morning class," Ms. Kira enthusiastically greeted. The students ran to their seats, but Nobara and the other members of the DFA remained in Mikan's row.

"Mikan, sweetie, you should bring your normal clothes, just in case," her mother, Yuka, reminded her. Mikan nodded and pointed to her black bag. They were packing for tomorrow's trip and her parents were very excited about it because it's her first school trip in America.

"We will going to send you off to the airport tomorrow," her mother informed her. Mikan nodded and her mother went out of her room. She sat down on her bed and pulled out her hair band, letting her hair to fall down on her shoulders and then to her waist.

"This better be a fun trip or I'm gonna strangle Uncle if I find out that I just wasted my precious time."

School trip to Cali will be in next chapter~ Stay tune ;)

CrimsonHazelEyes