Aiko: Alright guys, so we're back and we're sorry for the late update…

Mina: We need to work harder to make sure our grades go up this last quarter so the next update after this will probably be during March…

Aiko: Oh yes, before we forget. This is Kagami. You can find out more about her in our profile.

Kagami: Hi everyone! We three would like to thank all the reviewers and all those who supported this story!

Mina, Aiko and Kagami: Here's another chapter! Happy Valentines Day everyone!

XOXOXOX

Disclaimer: We don't own Gakuen Alice.

XOXOXOX

"Mikan, I think it's about time we went back." Hotaru told Mikan who was still talking to herself.

Mikan turned to look at her.

"You can go Hotaru! I'll stay to look after Natsume."

"It's ok Mikan. I'll take care of Natsume." Ruka smiled.

"No really Ruka-pyon. I don't want to bother you."

"But Mikan-chan… You haven't rested ever since Natsume was in here."

At that, Natsume smirked. "Didn't know you cared so much little girl."

Mikan turned bright red and this gave Hotaru the cue to start snapping pictures with her camera.

"It's just..I.. I mean.." Mikan stuttered.

"Alright Hotaru! I'm coming with you! Take care of Natsume, Ruka-pyon!" Mikan stormed out of the room. Hotaru was about to follow when Natsume called her back,

"Oi Imai. I have a job for you tomorrow. I'll pay you 100,000 rabbits."

Hearing that, dollar signs appeared in Hotaru's eyes.

"Let's here it…"

Mikan stomped ahead of Hotaru and ended up in front of the hospital. Hotaru took her sweet time walking behind her. She was still planning how much she would charge for each picture; specially the one with Natsume's smirk. Suddenly, Persona jumped down from a tree just to the right of where Mikan was.

"I believe we were interrupted last time Ms. Sakura. So what's your final answer?"

Mikan shook with fear once again. Still, she knew she had to make a choice. She wanted to save Natsume but he was concerned about her. Besides that, he just confessed to her. Was she willing to take the risk for his sake?

'Of course I will.' She thought with determination.

"Persona-sensei, I will take on Natsume's missions."

Persona was about to reply but Mikan added something.

"I will but sensei, please promise me that you won't let a word about this reach Natsume. That and… If he does find out, promise me that you won't let him take missions anymore."

'Brave girl… Just like her mother.' He thought.

"Ok then. It's a deal."

They shook hands and that sealed the deal.

"You're training starts the day after tomorrow. You have one more day to let all of this sink in. Make sure to be in the Northern Forest right after dinner time. Good night Ms. Sakura."

With that, he left. Mikan stared at his disappearing figure and thought about what she had done. Her thoughts were cut when a certain cold voice said,

"So you're going to take over Hyuuga's missions, huh?"

"Hotaru! Please don't tell Natsume! I don't want him to know. I'm sure that he'll get mad at me for this and then he'll break up with me!" Mikan begged.

Hotaru raised an eyebrow. "You really think he won't find out about this sooner or later?"

"I'm not sure but I want to keep this a secret for as long as I can."

Mikan looked at the ground, waiting for Hotaru's answer. A long pause followed then came Hotaru's shrug.

"Do what you like but just make sure you don't get yourself killed."

Mikan attempted to hug Hotaru again. "Oh Hotaru! I knew you worry about me!"

But as usual, Hotaru didn't let her get close. She blast her with her baka gun and started walking away.

"Hurry up. You can sleep in my room again. Otherwise, I just know you won't wake up early tomorrow since you tired yourself out looking after Hyuuga."

"Hai!"

XOXOXOX

At Hotaru's room, Mikan was staring into space. Hotaru, on the other hand, was turning into bed.

"Turn off the light when you're ready to sleep," was all she said before going to sleep.

"Yeah."

"Hey Mikan. I guess my work is more or less done now."

"Really? But things are getting more complicated now…" Mikan groaned, burying her face in her pillow.

"You're together now. Besides, I'll still be with you always."

"Thanks." Mikan muttered before turning off the lights and slept as well.

XOXOXOX

Valentine day was finally here. The sun peeked into Hotaru's window and woke Mikan up. She rubbed her eyes and gave out a yawn. She scanned the room trying to find her best friend but found the room was empty. She sighed and looked at the time.

"What?! Ten o'clock?! I'm going to be dead!" she screamed, running to the bathroom.

She got herself ready fast and was about to leave the room when Hotaru went in.

"Baka, we don't have classes today. Consider yourself lucky." she said nonchalantly.

Mikan breathed a sigh of relief.

"At least that means I can visit Natsume today." She breathed out dreamily.

Hotaru smirked.

"Oh so you finally confessed to him did you?"

Mikan turned bright red and Hotaru continued.

"I saw what happened last night. Haven't you learned that I can find out anything I want especially with my inventions."

A mechanical fly went in.

"Invention 149: The spy fly. It can inconspicuously take videos anywhere and everywhere depending on what you want. It can be controlled by remote control and buying a set of 20 would give you video coverage of up to about 100 kilometers. It is also water proof, shock proof and fire proof to protect it from hotheaded firecasters. For sale now at 50,000 rabbits per set."

Mikan sweatdropped. She was going to go out when Hotaru continued,

"Don't bother going to the hospital. He's out today. It's not like he can't walk. He just needs to watch those injuries on his chest."

"Oh. I guess I'll just look for him later then." She said disappointedly.

Hotaru heard the disappointment in her voice so she invited her to Central Town. This made Mikan cheer up.

"Fluff puffs…" she drooled.

Hotaru pointed her baka gun.

"Stop drooling on my carpet." She warned.

"Hai. Anou, Hotaru will you go with me to my room first I'm going to change into something a little bit more casual."

"Hn."

Mikan skipped happily to her room with Hotaru not far behind her. She opened the door to her room and her jaw dropped to the ground. Her room was filled with red roses; to be specific, her bed. She counted the roses while Hotaru sat down in a nearby chair with a smile on her face. Mikan ten had a puzzled look.

"Hotaru, what's the occasion? How come someone sent me roses?" she asked innocently.

"It's Valentines Day. Did you forget what sensei said yesterday?" she answered.

Mikan thought back to yesterday. She suddenly screamed.

"I CAN'T BELIEVE I FORGOT THAT IT'S VALENTINES DAY!"

"Stop fussing and count how many roses you got."

"Uh… Ok…"

…10 minutes later…

"97, 98, 99… Ninety nine roses!" she exclaimed happily, her eyes sparkling with delight.

'I knew she wouldn't get the meaning of it.' Hotaru thought looking at her best friend prance around the room. Mikan suddenly stopped when she stepped on something.

"Ooh… A letter. Hotaru, do you think the one who put this card was the one who gave me these roses?"

Hotaru's smile didn't fade.

"Most likely." She answered.

Mikan opened the letter and read it.

Dear Mikan,

Hope you liked my gift to you. Please join me for dinner tonight.

From,

Someone

Mikan was about to ask Hotaru who all these were from but before she could, she was knocked out. Hotaru called in Amanatsu and let her take Mikan to her room. It was time to carry out the plan.

-Flashback (at the hospital)-

"Oi Imai. I have a job for you tomorrow. I'll pay you 100,000 rabbits."

Hearing that, dollar signs appeared in Hotaru's eyes.

"Let's here it…" she said, smirking.

"I want you to put 99 thornless roses in Polkadots' room."

Hotaru raised her eyebrow.

'Wait. Ninety nine roses declare a person's undying love for someone. Thornless means love at first sight. So you've loved my best friend for that long, huh Hyuuga? Hm… I'm sure the idiot won't even know the meaning of things he's giving him.'' she thought while she stared at Natsume.

"If it's just to deliver flowers then your money's put to waste."

"I'm not done yet." He said. "I also want you to arrange a dinner for us. Make it romantic and all that other crap."

Ruka scoffed and Natsume glared at him Ruka gave a nervous laugh and turned away. Natsume then put his hands through his hair.

"Look, I don't know how to plan that kind of stuff. Just do what you want and you can ask anyone to help you except for that seaweed haired girl."

"Does that mean I get to help to? I saw your little confession scene earlier you know." Ruka beamed.

Hotaru gave him a that-was-supposed-to-be-our-secret look. Ruka gulped. "Sorry Hotaru. I totally forgot."

Natsume gave Hotaru a knowing look. "Hotaru now, is it? Does that mean you and Ruka are together?"

Before Hotaru could object, Ruka put his hand on her shoulder.

"Yep. But it's not only us. Anna and Koko are another couple and Nonoko and Yuu as well."

A vein popped in Hotaru's head and she blasted Ruka to the wall with her baka gun. She blew out the smoke and said, "You and the baka could pass for twin idiots." before she left the two alone.

-End of Flashback-

Hotaru, with the help of Nonoko dressed up Mikan. Anna made the food with a little help from Koko. Yuu and Mochu were in charge of the 'special effects' so they got the venue ready with Natsume and Ruka. Mochu was sworn to keep this a secret from absolutely everyone. Otherwise, Hotaru would make him suffer and he knew she could make his life a living hell if she wanted to.

Now it was time to bring Mikan to the place. She had woken up right after the girls dressed her up so she had to be blindfolded.

"Ne, Hotaru, where are we going? I can't see. I can't walk in these shoes either."

'Great. She forgot.' Hotaru thought, rolling her eyes.

"We'll get there soon enough." She stopped. "Listen, I have to get something. When I get back, stop asking questions, keep quiet and you had better not have moved from that spot. Don't take the blindfold off either, got it?"

Mikan just nodded in response.

"Good." Hotaru said, leaving Mikan by herself.

That was the point where Natsume was supposed to get her. Mikan heard Hotaru's footsteps before they finally disappeared. However, Hotaru didn't leave her. Oh no. She would never miss an opportunity to get more pictures and videos. She got on her scooter and hid behind a nearby tree.

Mikan waited for a long time and got impatient. 'Hotaru where are you? I want to take this blindfold off already'

She heard footsteps again and she sighed with relief.

"Hotaru why'd you take so long?" she asked but no response. 'Oh right. I forgot. Hotaru said not to ask questions.'

Natsume took her hand and led her to another area. Hotaru of course wasn't far away. When they had finally reached their destination, Natsume took the blindfold off from behind Mikan. When Mikan's eyes had adjusted, she saw a river with a wooden bridge leading to another part of the forest covered but Sakura Trees. There were vines on the bridge and on the swing at the other side of the bridge too. The water seemed like it was sparkling. It reflected the moon and the stars above. She stepped closer to the river and looked at her reflection. She was wearing a white cocktail dress with a black satin ribbon tied in the waist. Her hair was down and she wore light make up. Then she saw another reflection beside her.

"Natsume." She muttered breathlessly.

"Beautiful." He complimented, looking into her eyes.

She blushed ten shades of red and muttered a "thank you". What made her even redder was looking at Natsume. 'How can a guy look good even though he's just wearing tux?'

"Can't keep your eyes off me?" he said with a smug look on his face.

"Maybe…" she blushed, looking at the ground.

They enjoyed dinner with some soft violin music courtesy of Yuu's illusion alice. They talked every now and then but ended up fighting. After dinner, it was time for the grand finale. The song "Can I Have This Dance" started playing. Natsume started dancing with Mikan. They danced toward the lake and to Mikan's surprise, they didn't sink when the touched the water. Then, some sakura petals encircled them. They slowly lifted into the air as they danced and stared into each other's eyes. When the music died down and they slowly drifted back down, Natsume kissed Mikan on the lips.

"Happy Valentines, Mikan."

"You too Natsume."

XOXOXOX

Mina: There was supposed to be more but I'm short of time and plus Aiko and Kagami vanished because they're with they're families so the part with Ruka and Hotaru will be in the next chapter… Please Review! And crimsoneyes, Aiko and Kagami would love to be friends with you… Happy Valentines everyone!