Sadz: Life… is tiring…

Mikan: Oh gosh, don't tell me Sadz! You're going to suicide!

Sadz: … are you fucking retarded…? Only idiots who have no life and are stupid and high and- you get it! Stupid retarded people suicide! I would never be able to take my own life away!

Ruka: Um… ok…

Sadz: Damn it, I need some orange juice…

Natsume: I need a manga to read…

Sadz: We are on the same boat here, my friend… *Fist Pound Natsume*

Mochu: Natsume! How could you?

Natsume: What's wrong with giving a fist pound to someone who deserves it?

Sadz: HAH! In your face, Mochu! *Evil Smirk*

Tono: Sadz does not own anything besides the story and ideas!

Sadz: Enjoy what the great Sadz of fucking evil awesomeness has to provide to you the readers of T rated stories…

"Talking"

'Thinking'

"Other person on phone line"

(A/N: … or just a random comment)

A Servant's Duty

Chapter 7: Love?

Normal P.O.V.

"Are you the stupidest person in the universe?" Hotaru asked after hearing Mikan's whole story, making the brunette form tears in her eyes.

"That's mean, Hotaru-Chan!" Mikan shouted out as Hotaru hit her once using her Baka-gun. "Ouchy!"

"Isn't it obvious you love the prince?" Hotaru asked as Mikan froze, staring wide eyed at her friend as she rubbed her sour cheek.

"Love?" Mikan tested the word as it rolled around on her tongue. The word sent a tingling sensation in her stomach. All of a sudden, an image of Natsume popped up in her mind as she blushed. "Hotaru, what have I done?" Mikan yelled out in horror as Hotaru hit her yet again with her Baka-gun.

"Shut up, noisy girl…" Hotaru stated as Mikan sat on a stool, rubbing her extra red sour cheek. "You're going to apologize to him, obviously…"

"Demo, how am I going to do that? He probably hates me now, and will never want to see me again…" Mikan trailed off, dreading the idea of not being able to see Natsume ever again. At the thought, tears started forming in her eyes as she started crying out rivers of tears. "What am I going to do now, Hotaru-Chan?" Mikan wailed out. A robot that looked like Mikan approached the real Mikan and handed her a tissue. "Thank you…" Mikan stated, not bothered or creeped out at all that there was a robot that looked like her twin in Hotaru's lab, before blowing her nose in it.

"Then just tell him you love him…"

"I can't do that either! He's a prince and I'm a peasant servant! No matter how much I would want, we can't be together anyways!"

"Be that way. Forget all that at the moment, that guy isn't important right now…" Hotaru stated as Mikan looked at her wide eyed.

"He is important Hotaru! This is serious!"

"What I'm saying is serious as well. What are you going to do about your job at the palace now?" Hotaru asked as she laid her head in between her hands.

"I… I don't know… I was fired, so there is nothing I can do now… so I'll stick to my five jobs and try to support myself and my father…" Mikan stated as Hotaru hit her with a Baka-cannon this time. "Ouchy~! Hotaru, stop that! It hurts so~ much!"

"Then stop acting like a Baka, getting that many jobs will just exhaust you to death…"

"Demo, I have no choice!" Mikan shouted out as Hotaru pointed her Baka-cannon at Mikan again. "Not again, I'm serious here!" Mikan stated as she stared Hotaru down. They stared at each other, neither of them blinking. Mikan's eyes started watering, and after resisting so much while Hotaru looked un-phased, finally blinked. "Ah~!" And with that, was hit was the Baka-cannon. "Hotaru-Chan~! I swear, if I had a coin for every time you hit me, I'd be filthy stinking rich by now!"

"If I had a coin for every time you cried, I'd be filthy stinking rich by now. The only problem is that who's willing to pay me…" Hotaru trailed off as Mikan just rubbed her eyes.

"So… now what…?" Mikan asked as Hotaru threw a paper airplane at her, hitting Mikan directly on the forehead. "Ouchy!" Mikan yelled out as she picked up the paper airplane and read it aloud. "Get out of here and stop polluting my air with your disgustingness…" Mikan read. She looked blankly at the sheet for about a minute before understanding what Hotaru was exactly saying and referring to her and not someone else. "Hotaru-Chan has no love in her stone heart!"

"Hi, Kitsu…" Mochu greeted plainly with a small wave.

"Hey…" Kitsu greeted back.

"What are ya up to?" Mochu asked.

"Work…" Kitsu replied.

"I see…"

"… Yup…"

"Did you read the newspaper today?"

"… Yup…"

"That's cool…"

"Can you guys get any more dull and boring?" Tsubasa asked them as they nodded, taking the question completely seriously.

"Damn it, this place isn't the same without that annoyingly bright idiot around!" Mochu complained as they all nodded in agreement.

"I miss my idiot…" Koko stated softly as he washed one of the king's many shirts. They were all in one of the many basements in the castle, which happens to be occupied as a laundry room.

"Miki…" Tsubasa sighed Mikan's boy name as he scrubbed a single sock.

"What are you doing here?" Kitsu asked as Tsubasa shrugged.

"Kenta-Dono told me to do this. Saying there wasn't enough man power down here or something…" Tsubasa explained as they all sighed.

"I say we assassinate Prince Natsume, and then we can get revenge for Miki…" Mochu stated as Kitsu looked oddly at him.

"If you kill the prince, you do know that we'll be joining him next then, right?" Kitsu asked as Mochu just shrugged.

"It was just a thought… but I do agree with gloomy-ass Koko over there, I miss the idiot as well…" Mochu stated as they all sighed in unison.

"… Then why don't we try and get him back…?" Tsubasa asked suddenly as all three of them looked strangely at him. "What if we find a way to convince the royal family to reconsider him being fired?"

"They would never listen to a bunch of servants that clean their dirty laundry, wise-guy…" Mochu stated as he held up a pair of boxers just to prove his point.

"With a little help, maybe we just can…" Tsubasa stated, smiling widely as he was starting to like his own idea.

"Yeah right, from whom?" Kitsu asked, making Tsubasa's smile grow even larger.

"I understand…" Koko stated, smiling as he read Tsubasa's mind.

"From the inside…" Tsubasa stated before getting up from his seat and running up the stairs. The three boys looked at each other before shrugging, thinking it was worth a shot, and then ran up the stairs to follow Tsubasa.

"Aoi-Hime, that dress looks great on you for the upcoming ball!" Yuu stated happily as the royal designer clapped her hands, approving of it as well.

"Yuu, I'm not in the mood for this…" Aoi stated solemnly.

"Demo, Aoi-Hime…!"

"The masquerade ball isn't even for another week, why must I find a dress now?"

"You have to be prepared!"

"Please leave for today; we will continue this another day…" Aoi ordered the designer and her helps as they bowed, took their things and then walked away.

"Aoi-Hime!"

"That dress was hideous anyways, so stop complaining…" Aoi stated as she sat on her bed with a sigh. Before she could think of anything else to do, there was a knock on her door. "Come in!" Aoi called out as Tsubasa, Koko, Kitsu and Mochu walked in and bowed at her. "Is there something the matter?"

"Aoi-Hime, if you could be kind enough to take out some of your time just to hear us out…" Tsubasa asked as Aoi motioned for him to go on. "I'm sorry for disturbing you Aoi-Hime, but we wanted to ask you a favor…"

"What kind of favor?" Aoi asked curiously.

"We miss Miki so much and we want to ask your parents if they could reconsider firing him, and we are asking for your help," Mochu asked pleadingly as they all bowed to her. "Please! We'll do anything!"

"There is no need for you all to bow and plead. I've tried asking them to do the same thing, since I care for and I miss Miki-Kun as well… but they won't reconsider it…" Aoi explained as they looked sadly at her.

"Why not?" Kitsu asked.

"They say it was my brother Natsume who fired Miki-Kun, so if Natsume would allow it then they'll reconsider it… the problem is that I've been avoiding my brother ever since he fired Miki-Kun, and I'm more then certain that he won't reconsider his decision…" Aoi stated as the others sighed.

"We all miss Miki-Kun, but I guess there is nothing left for us to do about it…" Yuu stated, pushing his glasses up as Tsubasa hung his head low.

"And this was such a good plan to!" Tsubasa whined.

"So all your saying is that if we can convince Natsume-Sama to tell his parents that he forgives Miki and that they should hire him again, then the king and queen would let Miki come back?" Koko asked as Aoi nodded. "Well then, leave it to me then!"

"What do you mean?" Aoi asked as Koko smiled at her.

"What are you going to do, Koko?" Kitsu asked as Koko's smile grew.

"Just leave it to me…" Koko stated before leaving a room full of confused and anxious people.

"Stop pacing already Natsume, you're going to put a hole in the floor…" Ruka stated as Natsume didn't stop his pacing, and just started to pace faster to piss Ruka off, which worked. "Natsume!"

"I'm trying to think on how I'm going to get Mikan to forgive me," Natsume stated as Ruka sighed.

"No duh, why is she mad at you anyways?" Ruka asked.

"I don't know…" Natsume whispered as a knock reverberated throughout the room, catching the two boys' attentions. "Enter!" Natsume called out as Koko popped his smiling face in.

"Hello…" Koko greeted as he entered the room and closed the door behind him.

"We didn't call for a servant…" Ruka stated confusedly.

"What is your business here?" Natsume stated.

"So how was your visit with Mikan?" Koko asked politely, getting straight to the point as Natsume scowled at the boy.

"Wouldn't you like to know…" Natsume countered as Koko smirked.

"She was that mad at you?" Koko asked as Natsume's eyes narrowed at the smiling teen.

"How do you know that she was mad at me?"

"She said she hated Natsume and never wanted to see him again…" Ruka stated as Natsume flared at the blonde.

"Ruka!" Natsume shouted out.

"Well, it all looks bad and you look like a nervous wreck, so good luck to you…" Koko stated, about to leave the room.

"Wait!" Ruka called out as Koko paused and then looked back innocently at them. "Do you know… why she was mad at Natsume…?"

"Yup!" Koko bluntly stated as the princes exchanged a look before looking back at the smiling servant.

"Would you please tell us…?" Ruka asked as Koko pretended to ponder on this.

"Why should I exactly?" Koko asked as Natsume was becoming impatient and annoyed.

"Because we asked," Natsume stated as Koko was having fun with his play.

"Demo, Mikan-Chan is my friend and I wouldn't want to betray her. If there was a valid reason that you want to know this kind of important information from me, then I would tell you…" Koko stated as Natsume sighed.

"Um… well…" Ruka didn't know what to say, so Natsume said it for him.

"Look, I really like Mikan and I want to know. I don't want things to end between us in this manner, or for it to end at all…" Natsume explained as Koko cocked his head to the side.

"So you love her…?" Koko asked as Ruka looked at Natsume with a raised brow and an all-knowing smile.

"Love?" Ruka asked in fawned surprise. "Oh my, Natsume? You never said a word about this to me! Oh wait, yeah, you did…" Ruka played around as Natsume glared at him.

"Well, since you admitted it indirectly, then I'll tell you. Remember that servant you fired not too long ago, Sakura Miki…?" Koko asked as they nodded at him, leaning in a bit to hear the important information. "Yeah, Miki is actually-"

"You want to get Miki back?" Kenta asked as Kitsu, Mochu, Tsubasa, Yuu and Aoi stood in front of him with pleading faces.

"Please~ Kenta-Dono! We miss Miki so much, and we all love him, and life isn't the same without him! We need him here!" Aoi pleaded as Kenta sighed.

"I miss him too, he is my grandson after all, but there is simply nothing I can do about it. It is the King and Queen's decision whether or not to re-hire Miki…" Kenta explained as Aoi puffed her cheeks angrily at him.

"Can't we at least try?" Aoi asked as Kenta nodded.

"Try all you want…" Kenta stated before walking off.

"It's like he doesn't want Miki back at all!" Aoi stated angrily as she stuck her tongue out at Kenta's retreating form.

"Don't say that Aoi-Hime, he cares about Miki-Kun very much, it's just that he has to do his job which is managing everyone else in the castle. That's a very hard job itself and he's probably under stress for his grandson and…" Yuu trailed off, not being able to find any other excuse.

"I guess your right…" Aoi sighed as silence fell upon them for about a minute or two.

"He said we can try all we want… want to go and ask the king and queen…?" Kitsu asked.

"Do we have to bow?" Aoi asked as they all nodded. "First time for everything!"

"Mikan! You're late! I'm docking your pay!" Shouda Sumire stated as she was blow drying a client's lush blonde hair.

"I'm sorry! I was caught up! Please don't dock my pay! I love you Permy~!" Mikan pleaded as a tick mark formed on Sumire's temple.

"I'm docking your pay again now for calling me that ridiculous nickname!"

"Meanie! Stingy! You know I need money, have mercy!" Mikan begged as she grasped on to Sumire's leg.

"Fine, I won't dock your pay if you get to work immediately and never be late again as long as you work here, ok?"

"Alright!" Mikan yelled out happily as some of the older clients giggled at Mikan's bubbling childishness.

"Where were you until now anyways?" Sumire asked as she brushed her client's hair straight.

"I was with Hotaru!"

"Weren't you supposed to be at the clinic until coming here?"

"Subaru-Nii gave me the day off because he said I didn't look good, so then I went to Hotaru's house…"

"Are you feeling alright?" Sumire asked a bit worriedly and in a motherly tone as some of the other employees giggled at their boss.

"Of course! Well, now I am at least!"

"Maybe after your done here then you can go home and rest…"

"No way, I got to go and work at the library with Nonoko-Chan after this!"

"Then go away now so I don't have to pay you for today!" Sumire hissed at Mikan.

"Stingy~!" Mikan hissed back while sticking her tongue out at her friend.

"Whatever! I just know something bad is going to happen, and I don't want to be anywhere near you when that happens…" Sumire stated, and like on cue, something did happen. As Mikan was humming and skipping along, she suddenly tripped on a wire and crashed to the floor, taking an employee down with her. The employee was apparently holding a tray of super hot towels, so when Mikan collided with her, she threw the tray into the air making it rain burning hot towels. Chaos ensured as all the clients ran out the salon in a mess and the employees screamed and hid anywhere they could. As everything finally calmed down, they all came out of their hiding place to see the beauty parlor a complete disaster.

"Uh…" Mikan stated and laughed nervous while scratching the back of her head as everyone looked angrily at her.

"For the next three hours of your shift, you are going to clean this place spotless…" Sumire stated menacingly as Mikan nodded her head vigorously. Mikan quickly dashed for a mope and began her cleaning adventure.

"Are you ready?" Tsubasa asked as the rest of them nodded.

"Where the heck did Koko run off to?" Mochu asked as Kitsu shrugged.

"He said he'd take care of Natsume-Sama, probably got burned to ash by now…" Kitsu commented as they walked into the throne room. As they saw the king and queen acknowledge their entrance, they immediately bowed and greeted them.

"Mother, father, we have something we would like to request of you two!" Aoi stated as the king and queen gave her their full attention.

"What might that be?" the king asked.

"We want you both to reconsider firing Sakura Miki!" Aoi stated as Kaoru sighed and the king massaged his temples.

"Not this again, Aoi…" the king stated as Aoi puffed her cheeks.

"Demo, we want Miki-Kun back! Everyone loves Miki-Kun and we all miss him! He's a great addition as a servant here and has done so much for the castle! He doesn't deserve to be fired!" Aoi explained.

"How many times do we have to tell you this? It was Natsume's decision to fire the young lad, and if Natsume allows for it, then we'll re-hire the servant…" Kaoru repeated herself for the tenth time to her daughter.

"But Nii-Chan won't re-hire Miki-Kun! Please, as a request from me and these few servants representing the castle staff, we beg of you to let Miki-Kun back!" Aoi begged, and as she bowed the other four servants behind her bows as well.

"Please, we beg of you!" they all stated in unison as the king and queen's eyes widened.

"Aoi, don't bow like your some kind of low-class woman!" the king ordered, but Aoi kept her head low.

"Does Sakura Miki mean that much to you all?" Kaoru asked as they all yelled "Hai" in response. "What are we supposed to do about this?"

"Re-hire the servant…" Natsume informed, coming out of nowhere with Koko and Ruka by his side.

"Natsume? Are you serious?" the king asked in disbelief as Natsume just nodded.

"Then I'll inform Kenta-Dono to get his grandson back here…" Kaoru stated as they all shouted in joy. Kaoru called for a servant to summon Kenta then.

"Nii-Chan, thank you so much!" Aoi squealed as she hugged a scowling Natsume.

"Now you want to look at me?" Natsume asked.

"Yes, thank you so much!"

"I'll make you pay me back later for avoiding me all this time…" Natsume stated as he got out of her embrace and then walked away with Ruka behind him who smiled happily at the overjoyed servants.

"I was summoned, you're Majesties?" Kenta asked politely with a bow.

"Yes, Kenta-Dono, it seems we have come to an agreement with Natsume. Would your grandson like to come back and work here?" Kaoru asked Kenta who looked a bit surprised by this.

"I'm sure if I ask him then he might want to come back…" Kenta informed as Kaoru smiled at the old man.

"Please do…" and with that, Kenta bowed and left with a warm smile spread across his lips.

After everyone left to go back to the duties, Kitsu, Mochu and Tsubasa cornered Koko.

"Spill the beans Koko!" Kitsu stated as Koko kept smiling at them.

"I have no idea what you're talking about…" Koko stated.

"Don't play dumb! How the hell did you get Natsume-Sama to agree to let Miki back?" Mochu asked as Koko just shrugged.

"Tell us, we must know your secret!" Tsubasa pleaded as Koko's smile grew.

"I just told him something interesting about Miki, and then he was all for having Miki back…" Koko exclaimed before walking away with a smile on his face to do his work.

"Damn it, I can't believe this!" Natsume ranted as he got out of the closet while buttoning up his shirt.

"Natsume, where are you going? It's late!" Ruka stated as he put down his cup of tea.

"It's almost twelve, I have to go and see Mikan about this! She should be almost done with her shift at the library, if I remember correctly…" Natsume stated and then was about to jump out the window until Ruka stopped him.

"Are you trying to freeze yourself to death? A least take a jacket or something!" Ruka stated as Natsume stopped and sat down in a chair, waiting for Ruka to run out the closet with something for him to put on. Ruka came out of the closet moments later with a jacket, scarf and gloves for Natsume. "There! Now you are allowed to go off and do whatever you want!"

"What are you, my mother?" Natsume asked as he started to put on his jacket.

"No but if I, your assistant, allowed you to get a cold then she'll probably eat my head off…" Ruka stated as Natsume raised a brow at the blonde. "Plus you're my best friend and I can't let anything happen to you…"

"Thanks Ruka, I'm off! Wish me luck!" Natsume stated before jumping on the nearby tree and then climbed down it.

"And that is the end of today!" Nonoko stated proudly as she locked up the library front doors, and then dusted her hands like she just did some honorable hard work.

"I'm so tired!" Mikan whined as Nonoko giggled at her friend. "Anyways, thank you so much for everything Nonoko-Chan!" Mikan stated with a smile as she put a returned book away.

"It's no problem, Mikan-Chan. Anyways, are you sure you're going to be ok here alone?" Nonoko asked with worry as Mikan waved her friend off.

"It's no problem, I just need to put a few books away and then I'll be out of here also in no time! Go off, I can handle myself!" Mikan urged as Nonoko sighed.

"Just be careful," Nonoko stated and then walked away, leaving a pouting Mikan.

"Does everything think I'm a clumsy trouble-magnet or something…?" Mikan ranted to herself as she put away the last book, collected her belongings and then closed the alleyway door behind her with a lock.

"Hey…" said a mysterious voice behind her, startling Mikan. Mikan turned around suddenly.

"Who-?" Mikan was about to asked when she saw who it was. "Koko? Oh, it's just you!"

Koko smiled at his friend, but also had an inward smirk as he knew who was hiding behind the dumpster watching intently, eavesdropping on them. It was none other than the great prince Hyuuga Natsume, reduced to hiding behind a dumpster and eavesdropping on other people's conversations. How exciting, ne…?

He saw Mikan wearing a cozy jacket and gloves with boots and a hat with a furry pink puffball on the top of it.

"It's been a while Mikan-Chan, I've missed you," Koko stated as he gave Mikan a nice tight warm hug. Koko held in his laughter as he saw Natsume with killing intent in his glare toward Koko.

"I've missed you to Koko! How is everyone in the castle?" Mikan asked as Koko just smiled down at her.

"We've been… managing… anyways, how is everything with you going?" Koko asked, trying to divert the subject so she won't have to say anything unnecessary in front of Natsume.

"I'm tired! I just went through four jobs today! And then I'm starting a fifth one on Monday! Save me Koko, you're my only hope left!" Mikan stated dramatically as Koko played along.

"Don't worry princess; I will save the damsel in distress! For I am Prince Kokoro of Smiley-Ville!" Koko stated as they both burst out into fits of laughter.

"Imagine if Permy sees us together, what would she think?" Mikan said as Koko just shrugged easily.

"What, Sumire? She wouldn't mind. She knows we're just two idiots that get along. Plus, she knows I go for the mature hot woman kind of type…" Koko stated as Mikan pouted at him.

"Then what am I supposed to be, if not that?" Mikan asked as Natsume felt like laughing out loud at this.

"Let me put this in a way in which you can understand Mikan. You are like my twin, while Sumire is my opposite. Opposites attract, while twins stick together like brother and sister. You're like my little sister Mikan, and I love you like that…"

"Aw, Koko, you're so sweet! I love you to!" Mikan squealed as she hugged Koko. Natsume felt like burning Koko to a crisp, but after the speech Koko made about Mikan being like his little sister, he held back.

"Anyways, I just wanted to see how you're faring and I can see you're in good shape at least…" Koko stated as Mikan nodded at him happily. "And to see my girlfriend who looks to be pissed off since you destroyed her beauty parlor today…"

"I fixed it up!"

"First you destroyed it, then tried cleaning it up, then made things worse and got everyone to help you fix it up with you…" Koko stated with his smile as Mikan pouted at him.

"Mou, you're a bully Koko! I'm going to tell on you!" Mikan stated as Koko gasped.

"Oh no Mikan, please don't tell! I'm just a little five year old boy who would just die if you told on me!" Koko stated dramatically as Mikan giggled at him. "Anyways, I've got to go and get out of this damn cold. Have a save trip home, Mikan, bye!"

"I'll see you later then?" Mikan asked as Koko nodded. "Yay! Bye Koko!" Mikan stated, giving him a final hug. Koko patted her head and walked into the alleyway.

"She's all yours…" Koko said loud enough for Natsume to hear but not Mikan, not looking at Natsume hiding behind the dumpster, as he walked out the alleyway from the other end. Mikan watched as Koko walked away with sad eyes as she realized how much she really missed everyone back at the castle. Mikan turned around and was about to walk away when someone grabbed her shoulder.

"Ah! A rapist! Save me someone! Koko! I'm going to die! No~!" Mikan yelled out, but a hand clamped over her mouth and dragged her into the alley. Mikan was about to start crying when the person pushed her against the wall and forced her to look at him.

"Hey…"

"… Natsume…?" Mikan asked in disbelief as she felt tears sting her eyes.

"Yeah, it's me…" Natsume stated as Mikan eyes widened and then she looked away from him.

"Ah, I'm sorry Natsume-Sam-!" Mikan was cut off by Natsume who grabbed her face and forced her to look at his angry face.

"Shut up!" he shouted as Mikan did just that. "Koko told me everything, about why you were mad at me…" Natsume informed as Mikan's eyes widened.

'Koko told Natsume that I'm actually Miki? How could he? Did he sell me out? Is that why he was here before, to have a final moment before Natsume confronted me about the issue? But… why Koko…?' Mikan thought to herself.

"Koko told me that Miki is actually your relative, and he was supporting himself, you and your father by working in the castle, and since he was fired you had to get more jobs so you could support yourself and your father while Miki went off to the Azumi region!" Natsume stated as Mikan's eyes widened. She was about to laugh at the lie Koko told Natsume for her, but kept it in and cough to clear her throat.

"So he told you that…" Mikan stated softly as Natsume nodded.

"Why didn't you just tell me that he was your relative? I wouldn't have fired him then!" Natsume informed as Mikan realized that 'peasant Mikan' just found out Natsume was a prince today.

"I didn't know you were the prince…" Mikan informed.

"Well, yeah but-… wait a minute… if you didn't know I was the prince, then why did you blame me for everything before…?" Natsume asked as Mikan's eyes widened.

'I'm so stupid! I didn't think this through enough! Damn it!' Mikan thought to herself as Natsume started glaring at her. "Uh… well… see…"

"You knew I was the prince all along?" Natsume asked angrily as Mikan shook her head vigorously.

"No! No! I didn't know the first time I met you! It's just that after that time… I found out the crown prince finally came back from abroad, and his name was Natsume, and you kind of looked like him… so I just put two and two together and…" Mikan stated, trying to lie but not lie at the same time.

"So you're really not as dumb as I thought…" Natsume whispered to himself, but Mikan heard it.

"Hey!" Mikan shouted.

"So why didn't you say anything?" Natsume asked her.

"Well you never said anything… so I thought either I was wrong or you wanted to keep it a secret. Both ways, we were friends and I didn't want to ruin it… and…" Mikan trailed off as Natsume raised a brow at her.

"And what?" Natsume asked.

"Isn't it obvious you love the prince?"

"Love?"

"You're going to apologize to him, obviously…" "Then just tell him you love him…" Mikan remembered her conversation with Hotaru and gulped. It was now or never, she should at least tell Natsume how she felt about him before she wouldn't ever be able to see him again, no matter how much she didn't like telling herself that.

"And Natsume… I... I love you…" Mikan stated, her face beat red as she looked away from a shocked Natsume.

"Mikan…" Natsume whispered as her cheeks were flaming red hot.

"Run away!" Mikan yelled out as she was about to dash away but Natsume caught her easily and pushed her back against the wall.

"Don't say something like that which I've always been wanted and waiting for you to say and then try and run away, you stupid little girl…" Natsume whispered hotly in her ear. Mikan felt a shiver go down her spin, but then heard what he actually said.

"I'm not a stupid little girl!" Mikan shouted. Ok, she didn't hear exactly what he was trying to tell her, but she got the last part of it at least.

"Baka~!" Natsume stated as he stuck his tongue out at her.

"Meanie!" Mikan screamed.

"Mikan… I'm going to tell you something I've never told anyone else before…" Natsume stated, becoming serious out of nowhere which freaked Mikan out a bit, but she still nodded her head. "Mikan… I'm mean, sly, arrogant, ignorant, teasing, perverted and I'm a prince, but I love you with all my heart, Yukihara Mikan…" Natsume stated as Mikan started crying, covering her mouth with her hands to muffle the noise and try to calm herself down. "So…?"

"Natsume… I'm clumsy, stupid, annoying, loud, short tempered, and crazy and I'm a peasant, but I really, really love you Hyuuga Natsume… Is it ok if I love you…?" Mikan asked in between sobs as Natsume smiled at her.

"Obviously, Baka…" Natsume stated before pressing his lips to hers. Mikan's eyes widened in shock, unfamiliar with the passionate sensation she's feeling. As Mikan finally responded to Natsume's kiss, he suddenly licked Mikan's lower lip, asking for entrance. Mikan, acting on instinct alone, parted her lips as their tongues began a little argument of their own. After a minute, which felt like hours to them, Natsume pulled away for breath but kept his forehead on hers to not be too far away. They panted and stayed in silence, chocolate orbs staring into crimson ones.

"Natsume…" Mikan whispered, her cheeks flushed as Natsume smirked at her.

"I love you too, strawberries…"

Sadz: *Evil Laugh* finally you two idiots confessed to each other!

Hotaru: In the weirdest way possible as well…

Sadz: Yes, true, but they still confessed and kissed so I'm not complaining.

Mikan: Why did he call me strawberries…? And he just said 'I love you too' like he just knew I was going to say it!

Natsume: Weren't you going to say it?

Mikan: I don't know! Sadz?

Sadz: You were too slow in saying it for Natsume's taste so he said it for you…

Mikan: Sadz!

Natsume: Sadz, we have a connection here, I can feel it…

NatsumeXMikan Fans: *Points their weapons at me*

Sadz: Whoa! Whoa! Settle down people, I'm also a Natsume and Mikan fan, remember?

Natsume: I meant it in a friendship way, crazy fan girls…

Sadz: Hey!

Natsume: You're not a crazy fan girl…

Sadz: But I still love you, so whatever…

Koko: Anyways! Sadz loves all of her readers and supporters! We hope you like whatever Sadz writes! R&R! Wait patiently for the next chapter and stay tuned until next time!

Natsume: Koko, there you are… *Fire appears on his hand* Now what were you doing, hugging Mikan so much from before…?

Koko: Uh… Run away! *Runs away*

Natsume: *Runs after Koko*

Sadz: I love you guys, if only Tsubasa was here to complete the 'loving surrounded by hot/awesome Gakuen Alice guys'…

Tsubasa: You called…?

Sadz:Tsubasa! *Hearts in my eyes*

To Be Continued!