"If I love you, what business of that is yours?"

–

Being sad is not an option; it's an opinion that you never have to express.

–

I feel a nudge at my shoulder, as usual, I expect the irritating disturbance to go away. None of my expectations never seem to become expected; but it was worth a shot.

"Mikan," the gruff voice says. I mumble in response. A finger pokes me in the cheek, then my nose and a stab in the eye.

I shake my head completely out of the fingers reach. I raise my hand to cover my soon to be bruised eye. I'm half asleep, yet I'm still trying to glare and get hold of the vision of the person in front of me-

Kokoro Yome.

There he is with that cheeky grin plastered on his face. It makes him look innocent, but no matter how hard he tries, I want to stab him.

"I will stab you in your esophagus," I spat at him, still rubbing my left eye.

"Not the esophagus! Take my liver instead!" he dramatically gasps. He crosses his hands over his liver area to make more of an effect.

I giggle, that signifies that I forgive him.

"You know Koko, that hurts, really though."

"I sowwie," he says and grasps the childlike demeanor.

"Ish okay." I smile my original smile. "But because of that, you're carrying my bags."

"Awh, shoot," he replies as he snaps his fingers. "But that's okay cause, WE GONNA BE SWIMMING TONIGHT BABY!"

"Swimming?" I repeat, raising an eyebrow.

"Swimming," he repeats. He grins and nods his head up and down.

"Since when? I thought we were going to go swimming tomorrow," I state to him. "Apparently no," he replies lazily. "Well that's what I heard from Anna." He grunts and dismisses that conversation by opening the car door and walking out.

The car, or should I say van, stopped in front of a large gold and beige resort building labeled: Hoshi Hoteru.

"It's pretty," I mumble and continue, "But it could be better." I give a slight push to Nonoko signaling for her to move out of the car to help myself. She faintly opens her eyes, looks my way, and closes it back just the way it was.

"Are you serious?" I sarcastically grim at her. "Mhmm..," she vibrates her voice.

A little throb forms above my eyebrow. I suddenly feel pissed; I don't know why I just do. Maybe it's because I have a sudden urge to stretch and Nonoko isn't giving me that ability or it's just the fact that I have been paired up with Natsume; again. Something in my gut told me this was going to happen, so in reality I was mentally prepared for this.

I swear, my life is a cliché story.

Not that I hate Natsume, it's just – hard to –

"Explain?" the sun-shiny voice says. "Anna.." her head pops out from behind me and pokes me around my temple.

"You were talking to yourself again. I really should get..uhm..Koko to read your mind," she says. She hesitated; and I see the faint of hatred run across her eyes. I dismiss it.

"Yeah? Well no, you don't have to do such a thing," I shake my head at her. "You can just ask me directly, dummy."

"You don't hate Natsume right?" she asks directly. "You're so straight forward, Anna-chan." I giggle silently and continue, "I don't hate Natsume. I have a great disliking towards him."

I realize Nonoko had just gone out of the van and is heading inside the Hotel; yawning her way there. I push myself out of the van and head to the side to let Anna come out and continue the conversation.

"Quote, unquote. Have a great disliking towards him, sure Mikan, sure," she rolls her eyes to me and turns her back and heads for the back of the van. Offended by the sudden strike of sarcasm coming out of her mouth, I scatter my way beside her and her simple sun-kissed dress. "Anna," I say rather loud, "Don't keep using sarcasm when talking about the relationship between me and Natsume."

"Natsume and I," she corrects me. "Don't use grammar like that around a teacher like me."

"You shouldn't be a teacher in the first place," I say, "You should be a cook or like..baker or something. I never thought you would end up as a teacher." She takes a quick glance at me and opens the back hood of the car and searches for her luggage. "You practically work for me anyway," she says as she roughly tosses aside the colorful bags. She finds hers, pink and blue, so like her.

"Just because you have a part time job at your family's business, doesn't mean you can boss my around," I spat at her. She looks at me with pure utter disgust and gives me that smirking face.

"I have a sudden urge to carry your bags." And with that, I use all my might to carry the ten-ton suitcase. "Oh why Thank-you," she pleasurably thanks me and flips her pony-tailed fuchsia hair.

"Mikan!" I hear another sun-shiny voice call out to me. But this time, it was nice, firm, and definitely male.

I try to look up, but the source of the voice was rapidly whipped with with the fuchsia pony-tail. In a split second, the Bubblegum hair disappeared within the revolving doors of the grand building, carrying the, what I call, a ten-ton suitcase.

It's Koko.

Again.

He stumbles towards me and rubs each eye every other step he takes. "Hey..itch..Mikan..itch.."

"Hmpf, that's what you get for stabbing me in the eye!" I cross my arms over my chest and make my back face him. "You planned that?" I felt a menacing aura emitting behind me. I could actually feel his joker-like smile.

"Here," he says and shoves, what I think is, the boys luggage into my hands; which surprisingly seems that it can be carried in one trip. "What makes you think tha –hey!" he picks me up over his shoulder and closes the van door. He goes to the side, bades the driver good-bye and thanks and starts heading towards the big Hotel. "Koko! Let me down! This is embarrassing!" I thump on his back with both my fists and the luggage; attempting to make him fall.

"Hold up, I see everyone," he says plainly. "Mikan..." I hear, what I think, Ruka. "Put her down." I gruff voice says. "Now," it continues.

"Natsume, calm down." I hear Yuu persuade him. "I don't think Natsume is mad about that." Ruka comes to him. "Hey Koko, let me see them," I whisper to him. I can feel him nod and turn around.

"Down now." Natsume's voice gets even fiercer, and commands Koko to put me down. "It's fine, chill bro." Koko says and puts me down and turns back around.

"It's not that!" Natsume barks at Yuu.

"Her freaking underwear is shown to every fucking guy in the world!"

Hotaru snickers, the girls giggle, Ruka smiles inwardly, and the boys laugh their heads off.

I'm there with my face flushed hiding behind Hotaru.

–

"You get this bed and I get this one!" I say and attempt to push the two beds apart even further. No attempt was made as Natsume plummeted onto the bed beside mine. I knit my eyebrows and bore holes into the side of his head.

He doesn't flinch.

I sigh heavily and climb over the light sunflower colored sheets of the bed and use all my force to push him off. He takes a quick glance at me and moves his body to face mine. Take note that I'm kneeling while he's casually laying there with no care in the world. "Move you buttface!" I groan at him and push him even harder; also attempting to get him mad by insulting him.

"No," he says. "Moving the beds apart is too much work for an idiot like you."

"Why you-!" "Besides, if we separate them, you might fall off the bed on either sides."

I struggle to push him off even more and say: "Like hell I would-"

"Or maybe," he says seductively then proceeds to push me under him like before "You can just fall in my arms when you sleep. There's no telling what my happen to me and my.." he drifts off and gets off the bed.

"Hormones."

I flush up, grab my suitcase full of my clothing, and run into the bathroom. Once I'm in there, I yell: "Dummy go to hell!" I put that in the nicest way possible even if I want to crush his soul right now.

"Meet you there, polkadots!" he yells back to me. I groan heavily.

–

I take a quick shower and head to bed, not forgetting to blow dry my hair before heading out. I walk out to see Natsume sleeping cozily in his black undershirt and the yellow blanket draping over his bottom half of his body. He looks comfy. I plan to disrupt his special sleeping status. I think of a plan to disrupt him and casually make my way to my side of the bed. Of course, both of the beds are one of each but just placed right beside each other.

I honestly don't know what I'm planning to do to him, but it wouldn't hurt to give him revenge after the past 12 years of my life. That's right, I'm 22 years old and he's 23. That raven haired crimson eyed fellow has been glued to me since I've met him. More like, everyone is putting us together and assuming we're a couple. I find that downright hilarious. No one in the right mind would date this guy.

He's got the looks, yes I know. He has the badass attitude, yeah girls dig that. Then everything just goes downhill with his terrible lack of manners, I've been told that turns girls on. But then look, I'm not falling for his charms and certainly not Hotaru, Permy, Anna, Nonoko or any other girl that I know personally. What is up with society today?

I squirm to overlook him from top view. He looks so...peaceful. Just his soft tanned face and muscular arms coming out of his shirt. He look, well right now, gorgeous. I can't help it. Even if he's my mortal enemy that I've always hated, I think, I can't lie about his features.

I yawn to the point of my eyes watering and slowly descend to snuggle his back. I wake up before he does anyway. He won't know.

But, I can certainly lie about what time I wake up.

–

"Volleyball it is!" I hear Yuu yell elastically. He proceeds to take off his thin rimmed glasses and carefully places them besides his beach towel. "Mikan, can you watch out for that for me? Thanks," He says without letting me reply.

So after I just headed for a quick dip into the ocean, because we were suppose to go swimming today, my friends had told me we were playing volleyball in the sand. You know that feeling when you don't want to get sand all over your wet body after you had just gone swimming? Well that's the exact feeling I'm having right now. So I'm sitting out on the bench for this one.

I guess me sitting on the sidelines makes everyone think that I can hold their stuff and be held responsible for it.

That's stupid considering I had a rant yesterday about how I couldn't find my favorite necklace when it was around my neck.

I constantly hear my name getting called and to look up and find more things thrown at me to keep 'hold' of. Soon after, I'm surrounded by useless and useful things cared by their owners playing volleyball.

The game started.

It was good, everyone earning points hear and there, it was no kill teams or whatever. It was evened out pretty good. Until I had overheard Koko telling Nonoko that he was about to spike the ball when it's nearest to him. That kind of thought made me stomach churn. I don't like the idea of Koko hitting the ball so fiercely when he's joking around. Four players on each team, so I thought there really wouldn't be a chance for anyone to get hit, hard. Koko, Nonoko, Ruka and Hotaru on one side; and Natsume, Anna, Yuu and Permy on the other. I laugh to clear my troubled thoughts away.

"Here it goes!" Koko yells as the ball ascends to the top of the net and at the brink of a second, it pounds down onto Permy's stomach making her curse at Koko vigorously; threatening him about their relationship.

"YOU ASSHOLE. MY FUCKING GOD. I'M ON MY BLOODY FUCKING PERIOD YOU SON OF A BITCH. WHY THE HELL DID YOU TRY TO SPIKE IT TO ME?" she screams to get everyone at the beachs' attention. They turn back as they see the menacing aura emitting from Sumire's figure.

"Dear lord," Ruka groans as Koko tilts his head to hear more of Sumire's ranting. She clutches her stomach as if she had a baby and begins to fume at her ignorant boyfriend.

"Sumire, sweetie, I'm sorry," he apologized profusely and goes toward Sumire and her bruised stomach. Beads of sweat are trickling down his cheek even more than before when he was playing the volleyball game. Nonoko had gone over to Anna and is worrying like a mutt panicking about where his owner is. Anna, she stands there with her arms crossed with an indifferent face; but you can tell – she sincerely cares about Sumire right now. Yuu has his eyebrows knit with concern while Natsume has a blank expression soon turning into a smirk when he glanced at Koko.

"Ohshit, I'm sorry," he says sincerely rubs her stomach and gives her an eloping hug. I can't help but squeal at their cuteness. So I jump up and run to Hotaru to give her such a hug. "Awwh~!" Nonoko claims and clasps her hands together with a slightly smiling Anna by her side.

Koko gives Sumire a chaste kiss on her forehead then bending down to her stomach to do the same. After he puts his arm around her waist indicating that everything is all better.

"So cute!" Nonoko exclaims hugging. "You haven't shown your PDA in front of us in a while," Ruka leisurely states and maneuvers his way to Hotaru, putting a arm sloppily around her shoulder. Hotaru doesn't flinch and surprisingly stays in her place.

Yuu, feeling uncomfortable with all the sudden PDA, walks toward Nonoko and whispers into her ear rather seductively. Faint pink blotches appear on Nonoko's face; signaling what Yuu just whispered into her ear, made her blush ten folds. He intertwines one of his hands with hers, smiling greatly at us.

"You guys are together now?" Anna asks straightforwardly. She doesn't think twice about letting them answer before she could add her own comment. "Finally," she says and walks toward me and pulls me off of Hotaru so she doesn't have to be alone in between all the loving atmosphere.

"So let me get this straight," I start off, then continue giving a relaxed sigh, "Hotaru and Ruka, Nonoko and Yuu, and Koko and Permy." I give them a smug face showing that I don't like all the lovey-doveyness shown so publicly around me, a single person looking for her prince on a white horse.

"I got it!" Nonoko exclaims then runs toward me and pushes me onto Natsume. I land on his muscular bare chest, looking up at his burnished eyes and my face heats up. I think quickly and push my weight off of him and scurry to a direction where all people are crowding around. I yell without looking back; "I'm going to get a quick drink!"

I can feel the grinning faces coming from them, even if my back is facing them.

–

I walk to a nearby beach hut that sold many beverages and such. I ask the cashier for a bottle of this tea, that I saw on the menu. He complies, looking rather shocked, tells me the exact amount of money and heads for the see through, what I think was, cooler behind him. I take the exact amount of money out of my shorts, then it strikes me. I'm wearing a bikini but I have shorts over my bottom bikini piece. I mentally face-palm myself for doing such a idiotic thing; and in public too!

Thanking the cashier for his work and grabbing the bottle from the counter, I quickly scurry my way back to where I came from. Letting my mind wander, I let my feet carry me wherever.

I wonder what might happen when I get there. Will Hotaru scold me? Or will she be happy that I'm back because she thought It was lost? I snorted at my own thoughts,

Probably not.

That's so cute, Yuu and Nonoko got together, that's way too adorable. I giggle how Yuu just straight out confessed to Nonoko. It could have been more romantic. That's new too, how Yuu just gathered all of his courage to confess to her in front of us. I laugh to myself quietly, hoping no one is thinking that I look weird. I applaud you, Yuu. Congrats, I say in my mind mentally congratulating Yuu and Nonoko's get together.

Hotaru and Ruka have been together for a while too, I wonder when I can be an aunt or godmother soon, I mentally ask myself forgetting the process of getting pregnant. Oh~ can't wait! I squeal. I twist open of tea. Usually Tea doesn't have bottle caps, more over I don't think they're sold in bottles. Weird.

I don't think anything about the suspicious tea and continue to quench my thirst. It tastes pretty funny. I wonder if I give this to Anna she can try to make a better taste. Oh wait, that's Nonoko's job right?

It has been awhile since the gang had left Alice Academy. Meeting everyone there, I miss those days. I look back at my memories of my first day there. Permy bullied me for sitting next to Natsume. And to think she had the Cat-Dog Alice, I think that's what it was called.. I smiled as I remembered the way Sumire had treated me back then. She bullied me, but soon warmed up to her cheerful personality. Ruka, he was cute. He always used his animal pheromone Alice to make me happy. I blushed, I always like Ruka at first, but I later found out that it was a brotherly love.

Yuu, he was so kind. He was always there to stand up for me. He later grew up to use his Illusion Alice to discipline us. I shuttered at the time when Yuu had given a grave nightmare to one of my classmates for not doing any homework all week. I thought about any of my other classmates, Anna and Nonoko they always stuck together..well, not in the bathroom. I recalled the time when I was told by Yuu that they were not related at all. Simply, just close childhood friends.

Nonoko always made the right drink to make my stomach feel much better. I think having the Chemistry Alice is so interesting. Then here is Anna, always there and ready to relieve my hunger problems. Cooking Alice, I thank you! I praise Anna's Alice in her mind. Hotaru, oh gosh where do I start?

Everything, I just love everything about Hotaru. I love talking about Hotaru, even to myself in my secluded mind. She was, of course, my best friend after all these years. But it wouldn't hurt for her to warm up to me once in a while. I pouts and continues to walk absentmindedly. Koko, always there to make me laugh. But I did hate his Alice! The right word isn't hate, I thought. More like dislike, it was helpful once in a while.

Then there's Natsume.. My mind went blank as I tried to recall looking over the memories that have been placed in the back of my mind about Natsume. I can't really say anything about Natsume.. I think I have this different..'feeling' for Natsume. Wonder what it is..

"You love him!" A freakishly high pitched girl voice shouts from far across her. "You love him, you love him, you love him!" the voice repeats. I try to get a glimpse of the person across the voice and realize it's a girl with long disheveled hair cascading over her body; her hands covering her face.

"The girl is crying.." I mutter, I quickly run toward and drop my Tea accidentally. Not minding about it, I speed my way over there to stop the girl from screaming at that poor girl..

But I stop when I see that the screaming girl had pushed the other girl into the direction into a guy with a muscular back. From what I hear, I hear the disheveled girl confess to the boy. He nods and smiles, taking her hand, he kisses the girl.

"Love is what I want.." I accidentally let my mouth slip.

"If that's what you want, I'll give it to you anytime," a familiar deep voiced says; coming up from behind. I know that voice too well.

"Natsume, I don't think you can give me the love that I want." I spat at him, my back still facing him.

"Yes I can."

"No you can't"

"Yes."

"Stop, you're annoying me," I say, but I immediately regret it. "Oh? Well then.." he says making his voice drift off. The sound of his footsteps are coming closer. It stops when I can suddenly feel his abs touch my back. I flinch.

He picks me up like a sack and heads to the direction I was walking. I don't say anything because If I do, it would be useless.

–

"God dammit." I hear him curse. "What's up?" I ask him. "They're gone." "Who's go-" "Who do you think?" he barks at me.

"No way.." I push him off gently and land onto the silky sand beneath my feet. It seeps in between my toes. "They did this on purpose," I say to him and look up at his face.

He senses my sudden glance at him and looks down to me. He doesn't say anything but he's expecting something coming from my mouth again. "They left us alone together on purpose. You know how Hotaru made us sleep in the same room together? Well then-"

"I get it, lets walk to the hotel," he stops me from continuing on. "No, lets take a taxi! Walking is too much effort." I whine to him. "You have money?" he looks at me incredulously.

"Yeah! It's in my wall...et...Fudge." I silently sob to myself of how I was holding my wallet together with my bottle of Tea. "Never mind." I corrected myself. I'll look for it tomorrow, I determine myself.

"The hotel is this way," Natsume says to me and points into a direction.

So we're walking silently on our way. Just before I step foot out of the beach's sand a boy whistles and gets my attention by calling; "You there! With the hot pink bikini!" I look at him shocked. He winks and I quickly look the other way; sometimes taking a peek.

Natsume, on the other hand, suddenly grabbed my hand and showed it to the guy, glaring. He puts his hands up and defeats. He returns talking to his group he's with. Natsume brings our hands down but doesn't let go.

Maybe being alone together isn't as bad.

–

We walked hand in hand together into the revolving doors of the Hoshi Hoteru; not minding any of those faces I was receiving from people. Yes I know me and Natsume- Natsume and I are half naked walking around the huge and definitely grand lobby hotel.

A great chandelier hung from the center of the ceiling lighting up the huge painting on the dome of Greek gods and goddesses. There were marble pillars that connected the second floor and the main floor. Bulgarian Rose colored furniture placed carefully around a sturdy looking transparent tables with light white designs on the edges stood at the left and right sides of the hall. In the center, a vast garden of many stood straight and looking very beautiful, complimenting the whole aroma of the place. The scent? It smelled like a mix of light chocolate and vanilla cream.

To tell you the truth, I wouldn't even mind living in the lobby.

I feel Natsume tug at my arm and pull me towards the elevator rather hastily. "Natsume what's the rush? It's only like nine thirty-"

"Mikan~!" I hear a sun shiney voice call out to me. I turn around quickly to see who it is.

Misaki!

She was here!

Standing beside her was her ever so gorgeous boyfriend Tsubasa. Same as always.

I smile and unconsciously let go of Natsume's hand. And run to give Misaki a warm hug.

"Misaki! I miss you very much! I haven't seen you since summer!" I exclaim while hugging her.

"So you dropped the honorific?" Tsubasa butts in. "And where's my hug?" He opens his arms wide for me, smiling cheekily. I run to him, he wasn't very far. And I sensed that Natsume was coming to my side.

"Dropping the honorific for Misaki was difficult getting used to," I give him a ever lasting hug then continue, "If I try that to you, It's going to be hell for me!" He chuckles then he grips me tighter in our hug. "I blame Hyuuga for your language, Mikan." He snorts as I let go of him walking to Misaki's side.

Tsubasa glares at Natsume for a short moment before he looks at me and starts a conversation. "Mikan why are you here in Okinawa? Scratch that, why are you here with Hyuuga?" Tsubasa asks me then looks over to Natsume for a brief second. "Well we came here for a short vacation really; nothing else." I answer him cheerfully. "Wait," Misaki intrudes, "You're here with Natsume only? Are you guys together yet?" She abruptly asks me.

"What? No! Don't always assume I'm in a relationship with Natsume!" I blurt out quietly. "Well you're always together so.." she looks to Tsubasa and nods. Their un-talked conversation going through their head made me curious. But I pushed that thought away when my stomach made me feel a bit queasy.

"Uhm, I'll leave for a sec," I say to no one in particular. "The tea is coming back to me." I hang my head down and head to a nearby restroom forgetting that I'm still half naked.

"Oh, if you guys are ever done with the conversation when I'm back, Natsume please stay here." I turn my head as I say so and look at him, pleading. "Please? Thanks." I smile at him then head to the bathroom.

–

Misaki turns back to Natsume with a devilish smile and says: "Well Natsume, we are all tired of this." Natsume is still looking at the direction where Mikan had gone to; he blinks then switches his eyes to meet Misaki's Burgundy eyes and Tsubasa's Azure ones. Natsume doesn't answer. Instead he crosses his arms and grunts for a reply.

"Natsume, when are you going to ask Mikan out?" Tsubasa goes and grips his shoulder fiercely and looks deep into his eyes. "What are you talking about? I don't like that idiot," he says and looks to the direction of the bathroom wondering why Mikan is taking so long.

"Uh huh, oh sure," Tsubasa barely agrees. Misakis elbows him in the side telling him quietly; "Don't make him irritated, we need to make this confirmed." Tsubasa nods soon after, looking irritated.

"I don't," Natsume repeats looking at them sternly, "I'm just here to make sure she doesn't get in serious trouble." This time, Misaki snorts at his cover up. "Natsume, make up your mind," she retorts seriously. "I want Mikan to live a good life with a loving husband, she's like a sister." She smiles at the day she met Mikan. Flipping her dull pink her before continuing: "She told me you always bullied her and she wanted a guy she loves to protect her from you. That of course when she was young. But she's not stopping until she meets her prince charming."

"And besides," Tsubasa pipes in, "You already destroyed every guy you don't no personally within a five meter radius around her. Seriously Hyuuga, just marry her already." Tsubasa lets go of Natsume's shoulder and smirks at him, Charcoal colored hair covering his eyes and tattoo. You can still feel the smirk forming on his lips.

"Or I can just get a new boy toy for her, so you better make your move."

"You didn't. You wouldn't." Natsume growls at him, "You can't."

"Just remember, alright?" Misaki says to stop the inner war happening between them.

–

"Natsume!" I yell across to grab a hold of his attention. I slow down as I reach the group, noticing the sudden tense air between. Afraid of asking what they were talking about, I just clutch Natsume's arm and tell him I'm getting cold and want to go to our room. He nods and I attempt to say goodbye to Misaki and Tsubasa-senpai.

"Misaki and Tsubasa-senpai, I'm taking my leave! I'm getting a bit chilly so I'll try to meet up with you tomorrow. Bye-Bye!" I tug Natsume's arm and head to the elevator. Excuse me, I tried to head to the elevator. But I was stopped when a slender arm slipped through mine and pulled me back. It was Misaki

again.

Misaki pulls me away from Natsume and walks to the elevator with me. "Tsubasa, Natsume! I'm going to be sleeping with Mikan in her room today! Have fun!" She turns around and winks at him. Tsubasa groans reluctantly, obviously not happy about what's going to happen tonight.

–

Tsubasa and Natsume head into Tsubasa's suit. "You know I didn't plan this right? So don't get any ideas," Tsubasa says not looking at Natsume.

"And you say I'm the immature brat. I wasn't even thinking."

"Shut up and sleep on the couch, and here," Tsubasa replies and throws him a shirt.

Natsume grunts and pulls the shirt over his body. He heads to the Dark Cyan colored couch in front of the TV. He intertwines his hands and places them behind his head, closing his long eye lashes.

"You should know I can't make a move on her when you do things like this."

–

11 pages of writing. :D longest chapter. And i'm truly sorry. Seriously. If you don't like how I updated in like months, please stop reading this fanfic. I feel really bad.

Other than that, I'm happy how I updated this. Please forget about any mistakes or so, I rushed at the end. And I didn't look this over when I finished so please don't mind.

..