DISCLAIMER: I do not own Gakuen Alice or any of its characters.

A.N. Thank you to all the reviewers of the last chapter! I so love you guys! Thank you for being so positive because I know the last chapter sucked… I'm failing this slowly (boohoo), I know but I intend to finish a series that I've started. Love you guys.

And YESSSSS! Mid terms is finally over with! Sorry for the long update. Our phone line is dead because of an alarming incident so I don't have internet access at home, (fire caught the telephone post outside our house boohoo) so here I am… in our school's computer café, typing as fast as I can just to post this.

For those who read The World Is A Vampire, the next chapter will be posted sometime next week. That piece needs a lot of editing still.

Thank you again. And don't forget to read everything till the last part. I'm conducting a… um… ehem… research.

Read and enjoy (I hope XD)!

Finally, the class was over.

Mikan faced the blackboard, took the eraser and started rubbing off the writings. None of the writings were school-related. They just played a guessing game today. The students were very happy and bubbly throughout the activity and Mikan knew that they were enjoying time spent with her. As she put the down the eraser and turned around, a shrill shriek escaped her lips. Seeing who the person was, she sighed and put a warm hand against the beating of her frightened heart. "S-sorry, I thought I was alone… Hope I didn't freak you out," she said with a blush.

"No, I'm sorry," the person replied, timidly blushing himself as he slowly approached the teacher's table where the young woman stood.

"Why don't you sit here?" she asked, touching the teacher's chair. "I have to close the windows. One of my students said that there would be a storm coming tonight. So I just want to be ready."

Youichi just nodded but he sat on the table's edge instead. He intently watched her as she went to one of the windows. It took a while before he spoke. "So… how are you?"

Terrible, she wanted to answer, but as much as she wanted to be honest to him and to herself as well, she remembered how Jinno-sensei told her of her limitations at his briefing of teaching: "Never put a student down! That means you don't tell students your problems and drag them down with you in your personal doldrums." Haha, she laughed inside her head at the memory. Maybe the old man changed his ways after all. Trying to sound cool and balanced, she replied, "Doing good. The students are behaving well lately; figured they're getting used to my presence. How about you?"

Youchi shrugged, though he knew she was not looking. "I'm just slacking off. Academics isn't very… appealing to me."

"How many stars do you have anyway?" she asked, looking at him this time. "Three stars?" she asked, wiggling her eyebrows with a teasing smirk on her face.

Youichi turned his face from her and blushed. "Would you believe it if I told you I'm a no-star?"

Mikan's eyes widened. She went to him and put her hands on his shoulders to show support. "Youichi Hugiri! Don't ever let that put you down!" Now she sounded so much like a very peculiar blonde teacher she knew. And loved. Who turned out to be gay. Ooh, she mentally kicked herself. Don't think about personal stuff now –remember to stay off the doldrums!

"I know…" he said, hiding his eyes with his bangs. "I know that you went through it pretty well."

Mikan gave his shoulders a squeeze and then let go. Taking a step back further from the table, she frowned as she touched her chin in thought. "Wait a minute. If I recall right, when I graduated, you were not a no-star…"

"I got in trouble so I'm suspended right now," he said as quickly as he could manage. Then he looked into her eyes, worry all over his face. "But don't read me wrong, Sakura-sensei-"

"Oh please, Youichi-kun," Mikan said, interrupting him. "I insist you call me by my name when we're alone. I'd feel too old…" She grimaced. "Mind if I return to my window chore while we talk?"

Youichi chuckled and nodded. "Okay then, Mikan… Let's just say I got identified with a few of my bad-ass friends and I had to pay the price with my stars. You know… high school. But I'll get it back soon enough."

"You should be with good company, Youichi-kun!" she exclaimed as she tried to struggle with a stubborn window. She tried to pull and pull but the window remained open. "You're too good for those kinds of stuff…" Though this young man had been mean to her when he was still a tot, she believed then that he had a good heart.

Seeing how distressed she was with the yanking, Youichi jumped off from the table and trapped her between his arms as he reached out to close the windows himself. The windows closed without sweat. Seeing the blush on her face, he drew back and smiled coyly. Out of perturbed introversion, he instantly scratched the back of his neck. "Do you mind if I tell you something I realized just now, Mikan…?"

The windows were such a hustle but… Onegai, Kami-sama! Please do not let him confess something he'll regret when he's older, she prayed in her head. And the way he was acting all shy and blushing… Iie, Kami, kami, iie! Instead of showing her nervousness, she tried to smile bravely and answered with a shaky, "Yes?"

"I really like you, Mikan–"

Oh dear, she was going to faint! The blood bolted up and down her system and her knees were about to give out. And she was sure that though she was smiling, she was gradually turning green. Her heart was in a rollercoaster. And boy… she felt it coming… Now she was going to be like the peculiar blonde teacher who all along secretly desired his best friend's affections…! Maybe in the very near future, she'll find out herself the rumors were true that she was gay herself for being too obsessed with Hotaru when they were children–

"–but don't get the wrong idea," he continued, making all the gay thoughts disappear from her head.

False alarm. Whew. The drumming of her heart slowed down. Thankfully, she would not be admitted to the hospital because of heart failure…

Youichi faced her bravely, locking his eyes with hers. "I like you. As a sister, I mean. It really takes guts to say this because I'm picky when it comes to friends… And I…" he trailed off.

"Yes…?" she asked, quite out of breath.

"I can't find anyone else to talk to about certain feelings or someone, rather…"

"Who …?"

Natsume tossed and turned in his bed. He wasn't this troubled for as long as he can remember. All he could ask himself was why. Why did these things happen to him? Why? He did not understand why things went in such a complicated direction. Everything was his fault, and now he was suffering mental and emotional agony. If only he didn't trust Time with Ruka. When they were younger, he thought with so much hope that Ruka would grow out of his shell, grow up a courageous and brave man.

Or maybe it didn't have anything to do with Ruka at all.

Maybe it was simply Time's fault that these things were happening. He shivered in his sleep and he felt the coldness of the night get to him. If he did not practice years of so much self-control, he might as well have trembled violently. After a few seconds, ever so slowly though, the coldness disappeared and he knew she had walked into the room.

"Why couldn't you sleep? Something must be bothering you. You're keeping me awake, didn't you know?"

Though he could not see her, he knew exactly where she stood. Now she had her arms crossed as she leaned on the wall and she was eyeing him with so much concern. He shut his eyes close and took a deep breath. If there was another female who got through him, it was this woman. "She…" he replied with a hoarse voice. It was hard, he knew, to admit the truth. "She… doesn't know about me."

It took a while for her to respond to that. "Your friend failed…?"

He could detect the sheer shock and sympathy in her voice. She knew how important Mikan was to him. "No. I failed."

"Relax, Natsume..."

"I will try."

"Good." She sighed. "Don't worry, didn't you tell me she loved surprises? Surely she still loves you."

He did not answer. As she bade him goodnight and closed the door, he opened his eyes and stared at the darkness.

"She was with someone else, Natsume!" Ruka roared in return. He immediately covered his eyes, afraid of convulsing into sobs.

Gritting his teeth hardly, he clenched his fists. It was Time's fault indeed, that he did not know, wasn't sure of whether she still loved surprises… or if she loved him still…

The air was still and lifeless, the colorful room felt dim and bitter. At this hour, Mikan knew, the teacher's lounge was supposed to be crammed with either teachers or students alike. Today was absolute contrast. Silently, as if tiptoeing; creeping though no one was around, she slipped inside the room to get a few things from her temporary teacher's table. A shiver run across her spine as she made her way across the quiet room, a mixture of fear and question fazing her inquisitive mind.

How could she ever forget what happened in this battleground? Here, she knew, she felt like she lost her self, seeing Narumi lip-locked with a familiar antagonist. Narumi giving in to temptation vehemently cut open the scars that she thought were no longer embedded on Mikan Sakura. Oh this was more than a combat zone, alright. This place was more of a torture room for Mikan specifically. This place, she recalled, was also where she found out that Narumi lied to her about her letters for her Grandpa. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Shame on you, Mikan.

Yet the room's normalcy told her of his absence. Narumi did not go to school this morning. Did she manage to hurt him more than she intended to? Gods, she hoped she didn't! Ah! she mentally kicked herself. The man deserves the pain! No physical ache could ever measure up to a severe broken heart! Men… she sighed.

Mikan found herself sitting on Narumi's swivel chair, propping her elbows on his desk, leaning her head against her clenched knuckles. Why was he absent today? She asked herself again. Though the man cheated her right on the face, she was still decent enough to mind his well-being! Because you love him, baka… She frowned as she stared at his things. Oh yes, she did love him, that weird eccentric gay idiot. Darn, even his notepad was scented. The few roses on his slim blue vase had wilted, very much like their torn hearts. How cheesy, she told herself with a roll of eyes and a little chuckle.

She really did not have anything to obtain here at all, she remembered. This place was just an escape, she knew, because she was well aware that Youichi –that darn tall boy– caught her off-guard. How casually and friendly he stood before her, with that inhibited look on his pretty face, stuttering the words out… asking her if they could have a conversation about Natsume. It was unknown to her why she felt so taken-aback with such a simple statement; but she felt too much like being stripped naked down to the bone. There was something in Youichi's voice that warned her to stay back, rethink –she was just sure that Youichi was not up for simple chitchat. He was up to a real long session of heart-to-heart talk. So she had to pretend about getting something from the teacher's lounge, 'something important', and Jinno-sensei would be mad at her if she didn't pick it up. Thankfully, the boy did not have enough time to figure out the absurdness of her mumbling that he even thanked her for sparing him some time. She rushed out of the Special Abilities Class, trying hard to act blatantly afraid of Jinno-sensei's possible wrath. Poor Jinno-sensei, she thought, and he had nothing to do with anything.

How would she talk to Youichi if ever he approaches her again?

Certainly she spoke of Natsume's name a few times in the past without hitting a nerve (of hers, that is). But now, she was sure as she remembered the vision of him and his signature smirk, she was clearly not ready to talk.

"So, you think I should wake her up?"

"I don't know, what do you think?"

"Perhaps you should kiss her like a prince should do a princess…"

"And have Narumi as a nemesis! Kami, sensei, you must be crazy!" Besides, she's not my type.

"And I suppose I am?"

"Eh?"

"Er, nothing. So, we should wake her up, huh? I mean, look at her position. That will cause a major stiffed neck."

"Yes, I suppose."

"Okay."

"Oh and yeah, before you wake her up… yep. You're my type."

"Naniiii!"

"Heh."

"I… um… I…"

"Okay… let's just be quiet for a minute and just… blush."

Serena just nodded approvingly.

Narumi did not know what to do first. Feel jealous or feel angry. Or cry. Imai Subaru was indeed the 'Subaru' Mikan kept calling in her sleep and it did not help contain his possessive streak of Mikan. But when he realized the fact that Imai and Mikan shared one room slowly drove him close to mad. Impossible, he thought. She could not have gotten over him overnight! It was not possible! He would not allow it. Just because of a stupid mistake of trust with an old friend -damn it, he just misunderstood Reo's intention! God knows he would never ever settle for Reo! Reo will not be enough to break them apart. No. Never.

And he still could not believe that he was on their sofas, staring at the cup of tea Imai so forcefully made him out of politeness. He was waiting for Mikan and Imai was on the bedroom. This was insane, he thought. This perplexity couldn't be happening to me. What happened to my effort of living life so simply? How long have I fought for things to become clearer and now it's all eroding back to the gray side of life! Darn! What an obstacle Imai was! And he had been thankful Mikan was no longer obsessed with Imai Hotaru! And yet… He rolled his eyes.

The bedroom door opened and Subaru waked out, wearing his stern smirk. He sat across Narumi and raised a brow.

What was this –a staring contest! Kami, please, spare me! Narumi tried to break the tension by taking a sip of his tea. So much spirit of serenity had been needed to put the teacup back down without a pound to make it shatter to pieces. "So… You are Mikan's ex-fiance… I never thought the both of you would actually get together…" More like, I never thought she would choose someone like you. And I thought I was the one with pheromone Alice.

"You never know what the future holds, Narumi-san," he replied coldly. "I will pursue her again. You have hurt her. And I thought you had the pheromone Alice."

"Whatever happened between Mikan and I was just a misunderstanding," Narumi said calmly.

Subaru grunted and leaned back against the couch. He crossed his arms again and raised a brow. "It seems you're taken with her as well, huh? It is amusing isn't it, how a man would take advantage of such beautiful opportunity when it comes his way."

"What are you implying, Imai?"

"Let's face it. You're getting old. You need change, excitement, refreshed fervor… It's the time in your life where other men settle down for marriage. And lucky you, the identity crisis is finally over with. Mikan was your finish line."

Narumi clenched his fists.

"But things won't be as smooth as you think they'll be, Narumi. Because guess what?" Subaru asked sharply, glaring at him. "I'm still alive and I will never let you have her. Her absurd infatuation with you has got to stop!"

"I can't fall deeper in love with you."

"She's not infatuated…"

"Do you know that she's being violated by an incubus?"

Narumi's eyes widened.

"Those nightmares weren't just 'bad dreams', Narumi, if that's what you thought they were. It seems you still need a wake up call, mister. Mikan is not a little girl anymore."

"An incubus…" Narumi whispered. So the dreams or nightmares rather, the secret withdrawal from reality, from happiness… "Why didn't she tell me…?" he asked himself, unable to keep it in a whisper.

"The incubus was rather strong, and hadn't I been around last night, it wouldn't have left her alone," Subaru said, his voice apparent of protectiveness over Mikan. He then glared at the older man straight in the eyes. "Or maybe she just can't find it in her heart to trust you."

Those last words hit him hard. The moment Subaru ended his speech of angst, he jumped off his seat and nervously rubbed his cold sweaty hands on his slacks. He felt loathe with himself and pure depression scorched his heart. Yes, she did not trust him. She did not trust him. He mumbled his farewell and thanks for the tea, tried to take firm steps towards the door, tried to look a bit stable. As he approached the doorknob and opened the door, he felt a hard grip between his shoulder and neck. He turned around to face the angry pair of eyes.

"Narumi," Subaru Imai called. "Of course I wouldn't forget…"

Narumi stumbled out from the doorstep holding a swollen right eye and as he fell down across to the wall, he found himself sitting down spread-legged, and listened to the harsh slam of the door.

"Narumi!"

The angel always returned.

"Narumi… are you okay?"

Melodic. Painful right eye.

"Narumi…"

Bliss. Softness.

"Ahhhh! Hentai!" that voice he longed for exclaimed and he suddenly felt something soft and cold whip his face, he opened his eyes. Towel. Numb fingers reached to take the cloth of his face and as he stared at her flushed face, his breath hitched. "I…I didn't m-mean to touch anything…"

Her features became somber. A sigh escaped her lips and she put a hand on his forehead. "How are you feeling?"

"Terrible," he quickly replied –his lone word and tone obviously woven with too much honesty. He hastily took hold of her hand and nuzzled it against his face. He shut his eyes close and hurriedly opened them again –he wanted to stare at her face. What if this was a dream? "Mikan…" There was a thickness on his throat that he could not get rid of.

"Shh," she whispered, placing a finger on his lips. "Please."

Narumi blinked back the tears, but shamefully they fell on his warm cheeks. He tore his gaze from her face and tried hard not to sob like a girl. "S-sorry… Sorry for what you saw. But you have to believe me, Reo and I… we're not…" He was not certain how she reacted, she was too silent and he was too fearful to meet her hazel eyes again. But when she sighed again, he sat up and gathered her in his arms. "Have I lost you, Mikan? Have I?"

"Honestly, Narumi," she replied in a hushed tone. "I don't know. I don't know."

A.N. Um. I don't have anything against the third sex, believe me. And I also don't have anything against reviews. Please tell me what you think! And yes, another mystery person, hohoho… Sorry if this had little Natsume and very little SerenaxMisaki.

And here's something I have to ask The Readers (that's YOU!).

Here's the directions:

1) Type me a reaction/ review. I prefer a positive one. wink-wink

2) For this fanfiction Forget Me Not, tell me, who do you want for Mikan?

Is it:

a) Narumi –the one who she thinks she's in love with, whom she caught kissing Reo heh

b) Natsume –the past love (go read one of previous chapters if you forgot)

c) Subaru –the determined ex-fiancé who loves her, yet he cheated on her when they were together

d) Ruka –a love that never took place… but there could be hope in this, who knows, eh?

Suvey warning: The results of this poll will not be the basis of the ending. I have already someone in mind, so I just want to know what the readers think. Please do leave a vote. And to disappoint you, the ending won't be too soon.

Thanks for reading!

Kindly participate in the survey, I mean er… research. The results will be posted the next update.

Sincerely,

Goshikku Seirei