Yatta! It's been awhile since I continued this story. Yosh, let's get readin'

(wink ;)

Sunday morning came. Some students woke up early to study, some has things to do at Central Town and some were just lying around lazily being bored.

"Ne, can't we do anything fun today?" The brunette complained. "It's not like we don't want to do anything, we just don't know what else to do." Anna said answering Mikan. Nonoko nodded.

Anna, Nonoko, Kokoro, Yuu, Sumire, Mochu, Ruka, Hotaru and Natsume are under the Sakura Tree, doing nothing, well at least Natsume is reading his manga as usual, Hotaru fixing or more like upgrading her famous Baka gun and Ruka petting his bunny.

"Ne, Hotaru. Don't you have invent-" Mikan was cut off by Hotaru.

"No." Hotaru said flatly.

Mikan straighten herself and with a grumpy face. "Ho-ta-ru. You didn't even let me finish my sentence!" she said angrily. Ruka, Yuu, Mochu and Kokoro sighed.

"You were going to ask if I have any inventions that could entertain you, am I right?" after hearing what Hotaru had said, Mikan nodded, "So, why not?" she said in a pleading voice.

Hotaru kept silence for a few seconds while Mikan and the others except Natsume are still waiting for her answer, "First, it's too troublesome because none of you can pay for the inventions except for Hyuuga. Second, I do not invent such things to entertain other people except myself." Everyone sweat dropped anime style.

"Hotaru, can't you just do it for free. All of us are your friends you know." Mikan said and Anna and Nonoko agreed along with her.

"No. Friends aren't my kind of reason to do something." Hotaru said while looking at her Baka gun.

"Then, what's yourreason?" Mikan asked. Ruka looked at Hotaru who is still polishing her Baka gun. He gulped.

She looked at Hotaru who was still polishing her baka gun. "Hotaru! What exactly is your reason?" Mikan said almost shouting. 'Mikan-chan is sure asking for it.' Yuu thought and Kokoro heard and nodded. Ruka, Yuu, and Kokoro sighed in defeat.

Ruka looked over at Natsume who is emotionlessly reading his manga, not bothered interfering the "best friend's" fight. Natsume noticed Ruka was staring at him and gave him that I-don't-want-to-interfere-cause-it's-too-troublesome look and again, Ruka sighed in defeat. Then suddenly, Hotaru looked up at Mikan and an evil sly grin is on her face which made everyone shivers in horror.

"N-Nani?!" Mikan is also somehow horrified by Hotaru's sly grin and she saw Hotaru's eyes shinning with money sign in it. Everyone sweat dropped anime style except you-know-who didn't. Mikan sighed and plopped down beside Natsume and folded her arms.

"Tsumaaaaranai!" Mikan whispered under her breath. Natsume heard it. Sumire, Nonoko and Anna were chatting among themselves while Ruka, Mochu, Yuu and Kokoro are talking about something else.

After half an hour…

"Ahhh…Ohhh…" Mikan was going like a zombie. Nonoko and Anna were getting worried. "You're over reacting, Sakura!" Sumire exclaimed.

"Oi, minna! Nani shiteru?" That voice came from a building not far from the Sakura Tree where they were currently. Everyone looked over at whom was that voice from and it was Ai, heading towards them together with Tsubasa and Misaki. Mikan lighten up at once when she saw her senpais.

"Ai nee-chan! Yokatta. You're here." Mikan said while hugging Ai. Misaki and Tsubasa looked at the rest of them. "You guys look miserable." Misaki said. Tsubasa scratched the back of his head, "What happened? You guys look like Jinno just gave you a hard time labour. Did he?" Mochu stood up, "Well, all of us here are just bored today. Couldn't find anything better to do plus going to Central Town isn't the main idea since all of us went there yesterday."

Tsubasa sighed, "Yeah, you're right about that. What else can we do?" Misaki sat down on the grass trying to think of something to do with her thinking position. Everyone was waiting for her plan, Misaki suddenly reacted, "Ha!" everyone was really anxious to hear, "I've got nothing. Gomen". Misaki nervously laughed. Everyone grunted. Ai looked around and every single one of them is looking more miserable than before.

"Eastern Forest." Ai said.

"Huh?" everyone was surprised by Ai's sudden words. "What's with the Eastern Forest?" Tsubasa asked. "There's a lake somewhere in the forest. I've heard about it." Ai said flatly.

"So, what does it have anything to do with the plan today?" Sumire said snobbishly. "I'm suggesting we all could try finding the lake and have picnic together. It is still morning. If we move now and don't waste any time, we could make it back here in time for dinner." Ai explained.

"That's a great idea, nee-chan! What do you guys think about the idea?" Mikan said it more like shouting. "Agreed!" Everyone liked the idea.

"But you do know that that place is prohibited for students." Natsume actually said something after a long time. Hotaru and Ai both raised an eyebrow, "Since when do you care about prohibited place and obeying the rules?" Hotaru said emotionlessly. "I agree 100 percent on what Hotaru just said." Ai said looking at Natsume.

"Tch, whatever. I'm just saying. These other people, they don't know." He said it while glancing at his classmates and back on his manga. Ai chuckled, "Daijobu. That's why I said if we move now, teachers won't notice we're gone if we come back by dinner time." Ai said smiling at him.

"If, we get back here in time." Natsume added.

"Ano, Natsume. I trust Ai nee-chan's words. We'll get back before dinner. I promise." Mikan said in a pleading voice with those almost watery big eyes of hers. Natsume was fighting hard in his head then he finally agreed. He can't spoil everyone's day. They decided to meet up again under the Sakura Tree at 10 o'clock. Kokoro smiled at him as in Natsume made a great choice.

"Let's just hope that they won't regret this." Natsume said glancing at Ai. "We won't, you're part of this as well. Of course, you don't want someone to be alone, right?" Ai teased him. Natsume blushed a bit but well enough for Ai to see.

Mikan looked at Ai and Natsume a couple of times, "Someone? Who?" Tsubasa ruffled Mikan's hair and winked, "Someone really special to the Kuro Neko, of course. Well, Mikan-chan, you'll know, someday." Misaki nodded behind Tsubasa then grabbed both Tsubasa's and Ai's arms away. "Get ready." And she left him to her room.

Everyone gathered pretty much earlier than expected. "Looks like they all are really excited about this. Jeez, doesn't the academy have any place rather than the Central Town and the park? They really should construct a new place, a new lake or something." Ai said to herself.

"That's a good idea." Tsubasa joined her conversation. "And who were you talking to, Ai-sama?"

Ai went monotonous right away, "Urusai yo baka, I was saying that to myself." Ai said. Tsubasa's face lightened up with joy, "Since when do you start talking to yourself? Ara ara, you have an imaginary friend?" Tsubasa teased her.

"Urusai! C'mon, let's go. Misaki's there already, or she might get the wrong idea." Ai answered. "You're starting to sound like Misaki by the second." Tsubasa said in a boring voice. Ai smirked, "Baka." She whispered.

Everyone walked together until they reached at the boarder of the Eastern Forest. "Sugoi." Mikan said in amazement. "Baka na Sakura! It's just the forest. They look the same, nothing much to be amazed of." Sumire said grumpily. "Wakatteru. It's none of your business if I am or I am not amazed with this forest." Mikan sticked her tongue out, a vein popped out of Sumire's head, "Hmph, stupid Sakura!" Sumire looked away grumpily with her arms folded.

"Quiet or you'll get it." Hotaru said monotonously while holding out her baka gun. Sumire went beside Mochu and Mikan stayed beside Natsume who just smirked. "Yosh, we should divide ourselves into two groups to know you partners better." Ai said suddenly said.

"Sumire, Mochu, Yuu, Anna and Tsubasa will come with me." Misaki suggested to Ai and she nodded in agreement. "The rest will be under my watch." Ai said.

"Why do we have to split up into groups? We're basically going picnic not camping." Sumire said in arrogance. A vein popped in Misaki's head indicating she's getting annoyed by Sumire's attitude. "Look here Permy," A pair of grumpy Misaki's said towards Sumire which led her frightened. Ai and Tsubasa with the rest of the group sweat dropped. Ai puts her hand on Misaki's shoulder and gently shook her head, "Daijobu. I spilt us into groups because it'll be easier to watch over you guys. Besides, all of you are our very precious kouhai, desu ne?" Ai said gently.

Sumire was about to questioned some more when she felt Mochu's hands holding hers and so Sumire kept quiet. Mikan ignored the commotion because she was busy admiring the Eastern Forest, which much irritation to Natsume. "Little girl, stop acting too childish before I burn you." Mikan heard him clear but she kept ignoring him. Mikan still couldn't stay quiet; she was too excited to go into the forest. "Onee-chan, when can we go in?" Mikan said while jumping a little, you know, exactly like a little girl.

"Hai hai. Okay, everyone. Listen, once we get in, stay close, and don't go anywhere else without telling your friends." Ai explained. Natsume raised an eyebrow, 'What does she think of herself? A teacher of elementary kids?' and so he thought. Kokoro heard his thought and chuckled a bit. "Yosh, ikko." Tsubasa and Mikan said together, enthusiastically. With that, all of them stepped in to Eastern Forest.

"Takahashi-san, have you seen Yuuki-sama?" Narumi-sensei asked the robot which is working for the gakuen.

"Iie, I haven't seen her, not since this morning, Narumi-sensei." The robot replied.

"Souka, arigato, Takahashi." With that Narumi left searching for Ai and also Mikan. 'Where are they? Come to think of it, the whole gang is not here. Tsubasa and Misaki, I wonder where could they have gone to. I think I should check out Central Town. They would probably be there.' Narumi thought of that and went to Central Town.

The gang were still walking around in the Eastern Forest searching for the "so-called" lake inside of it. The girls were chattering while walking, while Mochu, Yuu, Ruka and Kokoro and talking about some things. Misaki was walking with Hotaru helping her with the forest, Natsume somehow missing somewhere. Tsubasa was walking alone with his hands behind his head and with a very boring expression while Ai is a little ahead from the group trying to figure out which path to take next.

"Ne, has anyone seen Natsume?" Mikan suddenly asked. The boys stopped talking and looked at her. "Ano, Mikan-chan, Natsume wasn't here about 15 minutes ago." Yuu explained.

"Eh?! Hontou? Doko da?" She asked while looking at Yuu, he shooked his head stating that he doesn't know where Natsume went to. Mikan ran towards Tsubasa trying to ask him where Natsume is and Tsubasa's answer was the same as Yuu. Mikan ran towards Hotaru and Misaki, "He disappeared out of the sudden. Daijobu, he probably has something to do." Misaki said.

Mikan still felt like something was wrong, she ran towards Ai, "Onee-chan, where did Natsume go? Why did he leave us without telling us? Isn't that just wrong? I thought he should tell us if he's going somewhere." Mikan's questions flowed out of her mouth. Ai smiled at her, "Don't worry, I asked him to check out the perimeter, he IS the Kuro Neko of the gakuen. He'll be back soon." Mikan is still worried about Natsume but she trust Ai's words.

After 25 minutes

The rest of the gang are resting at an empty spot under the trees. The trees are pretty short and quite shaddy even for fall season. Ai kept look for Natsume. She heard some noise nearing to her, she could take a wild guess that's him.

"Anything?" She asked. "I smelled water, fresh lake water with scent of flowers but I couldn't get through, there were Misaki's plants taking care of that place." Natsume explained after he jumped down from the tree. Ai saw a small scratch on his left side of his face. "I see, the fire didn't get through either, huh?" Natsume grunted. "Mikan-chan was worried about you and good job." Ai said while looking somewhere else. Natsume walked back towards everyone else.

"Natsume! What happened?!" Mikan said in panic when she saw the scratch on his face. "I'm fine, little girl." Natsume said in his usual arrogant tone.

"Baka" Mikan took out a plaster out of her pocket and put on his wound. "Wow, that's very rare to see you prepare such thing." Sumire said in mock horror.

"True." Hotaru said monotounously.

Mikan's vein popped but she tries to keep calm. "Whatever!" She showed her tongue.

"Eh? Now where did Ai-senpai went to?" Nonoko asked noticing that Ai was nowhere to be found. Misaki looked at Tsubasa and they looked at Natsume.

The three had to spare an excuse to not make anyone else worry because the head of the group is currently missing without telling anyone. 'So much for the "it'll be easier to watch over you guys" that was what she said. And now, she's the one who is missing.'Tsubasa thought.

"It's okay, Ai just had to 'go'" Tsubasa made an excuse. Misaki raised an eyebrow. She sighed a little, 'Well, it's better that than nothing.' Misaki thought. "Yeah, Ai said she had to 'go'". The rest of them felt relief a little. Kokoro knew their plan and agreed since he himself can't tolerate with Nonoko's fuss.

"Minna, why not we fill up our stomach with these sandwiches I made. While waiting for Ai-senpai to come back, ne?" Anna tries to cheer her friends up.

The guys agreed except for Natsume, of course.

"I'm going for a walk around here." Natsume said emotionlessly.

Mikan looked at Natsume and ran to him, "I'm following you."

That's all she said and pulled him away from the group. She gave no chance for Natsume or anyone else to disagree with her decision. She didn't want to care anyway, she just felt something is weird. First, Natsume went missing a while ago without telling her, more or less, she didn't even see Ai talked to Natsume but then Ai covered for Natsume about something. Second, Natsume came back with a small scratch on his face. Third, Ai suddenly disappear, and again, without even telling her or anyone. Mikan is somehow getting fed-up. True, she is still dense but not that dense not to notice if there's something odd going on. (A/N: she IS a triple star.)

"Ano, do you think Mikan-chan will be okay?" Nonoko directed the question to Hotaru.

Even Hotaru herself sometimes can't stop the brunette from making her decision, especially when it comes to Mikan's senses that something is absolutely going on. Hotaru haven't been able to trick her as obvious as before, like when they were in elementary. As Mikan matures, Hotaru watched eveything. The way she changes. Natsume and Hotaru were the most likeable people to really really know her. She was still childish but at times, she can think like an adult too. Mostly everyone took Mikan being a child even though she was now 15. Mikan didn't care. Some way, Hotaru figured that ever since Ai came to the academy, Mikan had been very vigilence against her surroundings.

"She'll be fine. She is with Hyuuga." Hotaru said flatly. Ruka looked at her and held her right hand. Everyone just slightly nodded.

"Oi, baka. Where are you taking me?" Natsume said in an irritating voice to the brunette.

Mikan didn't answer. Instead, she kept pulling Natsume's arm and suddenly she stopped, letting go of Natsume's arms. Her back was facing Natsume and her bangs were covering her emotions.

"What's wrong, little girl?" Natsume asked.

"Stop calling me a little girl, already! Sheesh!" Mikan said angrily with that cute little face which made Natsume silently smirked. "If there's something on your mind, then talk. I listen, you know." Natsume made a statement.

"You know where Ai nee-chan went to right?" She answered. Natsume watched her emotionlessly. "Shiranai." Natsume leaned against a tree with his hands shoved in his pockets. "Uso." She said in a soft but strict voice and she is now facing Natsume.

Natsume sighed a little. He looked up the sky and breathe again, he exhaled, puff came out of his mouth, "She said there's a special place inside this forest. That place she said is a forbidden place. Persona once told me that the Headmaster forbids anyone else come here. Misaki's plant is taking care of that place, I had to guess. Ai is determined to get to that place. I guess she's there." Natsume had to explain to his burnette.

Mikan didn't want to believe but there's no way Natsume would lie to her. Mikan calmed down, "But why does she wants to get there and how did she know there's such place?" Mikan asked Natsume hoping to get answers, but the truth is, even Natsume doesn't know there's such place. He picked up one of Mikan's cold hands. He rubbed it between his own to warm it and the held up his lips and kissed it. Mikan blushed about it. "I'm not sure what Ai is planning to do or why is she doing this, but just like you, I trust her." Those words flows out of his mouth with a soft gentle voice. Mikan hugged him with tints of red still colouring her cheeks. "Arigato, Natsume. Let's get back to the group." Natsume and Mikan walked back to their friends.

A girl with long brown hair jumped on trees, having a battle with trees? It was Ai. She knew that place was beyond the trees. "Darn it, why does Aoshi had to ask Misaki for this troublesome plant?" She was cursing under her breath. She had to be quick in order to get back in time.

She made a giant human paper holding a giant paper axe. She controlled them carefully and cautiously not to make any obvious sign that there were students in Eastern Forest. She used the giant human to blocked the trees and the axe to cut through and made a path. She found the main root of the tree and destroyed it. She breathed heavily after the battle. She walked in that path. The closer she gets, the stronger the smell of flowers and fresh water. She found stairs. She trotted upstairs and there it was, that very place. She smiled, "Mitsuketa!"

'Okaa-san, arigato. I hope she figures it out. Guide me through this.' Enough said and she walked back to Mikan and the others.

At Central Town

Narumi walked around searching for his daughter and Ai or anyone from their gang. Bad luck must have surrounding him since he can't find their shadows anywhere. He sat down at a cafe. He sighed, 'Where are they?' He spotted Mr. Misaki and vice versa. Mr. Misaki greeted him, "May I join you?" and Mr. Narumi nodded. They ordered tea and cupcakes.

"You look troubled." Said Mr. Misaki.

"Why shouldn't I?"

"Did you take my whipped beans again, Narumi?" He said in strict voice.

"Ah, IIE!"

"Good, then what is it that's troubling you?"

"It's Mikan-chan and Ai. I can't find them anywhere. Have you seen them?" Narumi asked in a worried voice.

"Same as you, I haven't seen them. I was actually looking for Nonoko-san for a plant potion she made for me last week. I still need more of it. Thought that I could find her here with Anna. I guess, from what you said, none of them are here, huh?"

Narumi nodded and kept wondering where the kids were. "Come on, let's search for them. Before that, I need to go to my green house again, to check on the new plants." Mr. Misaki. Narumi nodded in agreement and left the cafe after paying.

Ai jumped down from a tree nearby the others and, "Yo!" Ai said cheerfully.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!" Sumire screamed. The birds in the trees flew away while Mochu and the rest of the gang covered their ears.

BAKA! BAKA! BAKA!

"You're loud" Hotaru said merciless. Mochu helped Sumire up. Mikan ignored what happened and went to Ai.

"Ne, onee-chan, where did you go? I was worried. Are you okay?" Mikan asked worriedly.

Ai smiled even more. "Pack up, we need to go now." Ai said anxiously.

Natsume stood up, "You found it?" he asked emotionlessly but inside him, he couldn't believe it. Ai nodded and pulled Mikan's hand.

"Where are we going, Ai-chan?" Tsubasa asked while holding Misaki's hand.

"..." No answer came from her except that Ai is being absolutely happy.

Everyone had to speed up to catch up with Ai's speed. When they got in front of that dead plant with torns which scratched Natsume's face and the plant that was defeated by Ai, all of them gulped.

"It's dark." Nonoko said shivering while tugging on Kokoro's sleeve.

"Ikko, minna-san" Ai let go of Mikan's hand and led the group towards the stairs earlier.

The rest of them followed behind. "I smell something nice." Ruka said.

"Yeah, me too" Kokoro agreed and so does everyone else. Natsume kept silence and wondered how did Ai's paper passed or more like defeated the beastly tree.

Mikan saw light at the end of the path way and up the stairs. "Where does this lead to, nee-chan?" Ai smiled sweetly and climbed the stairs.

Mikan followed, her heart is beating fast while her blood rushing like mad in her body. The anxious and nervous feeling making her feel butterflies in her stomach. As she gets to that place, her eyes widened. She saw a beautiful place. It was nothing like she had ever seen.

"Oi, Sakura! Hurry up already! We're not going to stay on the stairs forever!" Sumire shouted while still climbing the stairs but once she got up, she was mesmerised by the view herself. So did eveyone else including Hotaru and Natsume who always never give any signs of emotion. Ai smiled happily.

The place was filled with flowers of all kinds. Wild flowers, daisies, roses of many colours, carnations, sunflowers, Sakura trees, willow trees and the grass was even greener. The wind was blowing softly. The lake was like diamonds under the sunlight. "Ne, what do you guys think? Subarashi deshou ne? (Wonderful isn't it?)" Ai said while looking at the view with soft eyes.

Misaki and Tsubasa walked beside Ai, "A-Ai-chan, how did you find this place?" Misaki asked in a soft voice.

Ai smiled, "That's a secret," She said smiling with her index finger in her lips while winking very cutely.

Anna, Nonoko rushed by the lake, Sumire pulled Mochu running by the meadow, Yuu and Kokoro walked around, Ruka and Hotaru was viewing, more like Hotaru was snapping pictures. Mikan took a slow step towards the garden of flowers. Natsume just followed her. He found her under a Sakura tree, it was more like a garden that was made for a princess. The place was a prairie perfection.

Mikan stared at the bench under the Sakura tree. Her eyes was picturing a tint of sadness and confusion as well. Natsume held her waist, "What's wrong?" Mikan looked at Natsume and blinked twice. She shook her head slightly. She walked around and smelled the scent of flowers. She leaned against the Sakura tree and looked up the sky then turned her gaze over at the handsome young lad with raven hair and auburn eyes.

"I felt like I've been here before." She said in a soft voice. Natsume heard her and went closer to her. "Really?" He's encouraging her to remember. Natsume was really curious how Ai knew of this place when she is still new to this gakuen. Mikan closed her eyes.

"Chotto! I remember. This place. It's that place when that happened." Mikan said in a voice where at the last sentence her voice slows down.

"What incident?" Natsume asked in curiousity.

"I came here. In one of my dreams. There was a lady with brunette hair along with her sad expression, and there was also a another lady by name Kasumi. She has short dark brown hair, she look almost like Ai nee-chan and also, there was a man. He has black hair and I think he's romantically in a relationship with that lady named Kasumi" Mikan explained to Natsume. He listened to her story and started to believe that the 'dream' Mikan had was not dream. It was more like a message or a past. There are always reasons why the academy hid things. The academy is so full of secrets. Too much sometime it just unbareable for certain people.

"It's okay, Mikan." He called her name. Natsume hugged her. Mikan started to form tears in her eyes. "Arigato, Natsume" Mikan whispered.

Mikan and Natsume headed back to the lake. Anna and Nonoko set out the food and everyone enjoyed the time. Hotaru snapped a lot of pictures. She wondered to herself how Ai knew of this place. Hotaru glanced at Ai who was laughing along with Tsubasa, Misaki, Mikan and the rest of them. "It's strange, huh?" Natsume was standing beside her. "Hyuuga, you know anything?" Natsume shook his head. "All I know is that Ai isn't some ordinary girl but if you were to think she would betray us, I don't think so." He explained and left to his brunettte. Hotaru had to agree with Natsume. Ai is not that kind of person who would betray Mikan. Hotaru shrugged it off and joined Ruka with the fun.

"Where did you go?" Ruka asked Hotaru who just sat herself down beside him.

"No where."

"This place is gorgeous, ne? I wonder if Piyo ever came across this place?" Ruka wondered to himself. Abruptly, Hotaru took out a picture of Ruka hugging Piyo in the barn.

"Oi, where did you get the picture?" He yelled at her. Everyone stared at them.

"You want this?" She asked flatly.

"YES! Give it back!"

"Okay."

"Huh?!"

"What's wrong? I thought you said you wanted this?" She asked curiously.

"Yes, but... You agreed?"

"..." No answer came from Hotaru.

Everyone else stared at them and so did Ruka stared his black mailer. Koko read Hotaru's mind and smiled slyly, Natsume who saw this knew some crazy idea just popped out of the unpredictable black mailer.

"Kiss me." Hotaru said flatly while looking in his eyes.

Everyone was shocked, "EH?!" Mikan yelped.

"Nani?" Ruka said. Ai giggled, "Do it, Ruka" Ai encourage him.

Ruka sighed a bit and smiled which surprised almost everyone. He pulled Hotaru's sleeve and kissed her lips tenderly. Everyone was still quite surprised he did it with no hesitation. Ruka was not a very shy guy like he used to be. He gently released her from his kiss.

"Arigato" Hotaru said emotionlessly

"Hai." Ruka went back to his sitting position. Ruka knew Hotaru took their picture.

Mikan smiled after she saw the little happening. Anna and Nonoko giggled.

"Ne, Mikan-chan." Nonoko said. Mikan turned to her, "Yeah?".

"Ruka just kissed Hotaru. Why not you kiss, um.." Nonoko paused.

Mikan looked at Nonoko innocently, "Hn? What is it, Nonoko-chan?"

That got Natsume's attention who was reading his manga. He glared at Nonoko who just laughed nervously.

"Koko, take care of her before I get the both of you bu-" Natsume was cut off when he felt a kiss on his cheek from the brunette who is now blushing 30 shades of red.

Kokoro, Mochu, Ruka, Yuu, Tsubasa, Misaki whistled like wolves and the rest of them clapping their hands. Hotaru got their picture now and she smiled.

Natsume blushed but covered it with his manga on top of his face and lay down on the grass. Everyone knew he liked it and under that manga cover he was smiling. 'Arigato, Sakura Mikan' He kept that thought to himself. Kokoro read his mind and smiled. They continued having fun.

At Mr. Misaki's green house.

"Wait here for a while. And don't even think of taking my whipped beans." He said it again, with a strict voice. It wasn't the first time Narumi promised not to take the beans yet he kept taking it. Narumi nodded. He didn't feel like taking anything. He just scanned around if there's anything new. He went close to a colourful plant. He stooped near the plant and played with the petals with his hand then suddenly the plant bit his hand.

"ITAIIIIIIIII!!!!!!" Narumi-sensei yell.

Misaki-sensei rushed to where Narumi-sensei was.He helped Narumi-sensei pulled his hand out of the plants mouth.

"What in the world is that?" Narumi-sensei asked, with his puppy eyes in tears, pouting.

Misaki-sensei sighed, "That's the new plant I created with Nonoko's potion. It's for that place." He said in a solemn voice.

"What's wrong?" Narumi-sensei asked.

"Someone passed through that plant." Misaki-sensei said strictly but also in a worried voice.

Narumi-sensei could take a wild guess who caused that. "It had to be them." He uttered.

"Who? Yuuki-san and Sakura-san?" Misaki-sensei questioned and Narumi-sensei nodded.

"Should we tell the Headmaster?"

Narumi-sensei kept silence and then he shook his head.

"No, let them be. Let's just pray they get back here in time for dinner." They both agreed and Narumi-sensei left to his room while Misaki-sensei continued his research for his plant.

Back to the gang

"Hey, I think we better head back. It's already half past five." Yuu said. Ai looked at her watch and nodded.

"Yosh, let's clean up at go." Everyone started cleaning up.

Mikan finished and took a last look at the lake, "I really wish I could come here again." She murmured under her breath and it was heard by Hotaru.

"I'm sure you will, Mikan." She said to herself which was oblivious to Mikan.

"Kyaaaaa! We had fun today. Really! This is such a memorable place. I never knew that the academy had a place such as this." Anna said to Nonoko.

"Yeah." Sumire agreed as well.

They left the place and walked back to the academy grounds. 'I really have to find out about Ai. She knows something that I don'.t' Natsume thought to himself while looking at Mikan who was talking to Ai and two of her senpais.

Persona's P.O.V

I was searching for her and Kuro Neko all day today. I couldn't find them or their friends anywhere. Where did they go? I wonder where did she went off? I haven't seen her since last night. I knew she planned to go to the library this morning but she wasn't there.

Kuro Neko and that Nullifier isn't there as well.

I rested my back against a tree. I sensed some people and look at who it was. I sensed someone familiar. No doubt about it, it's her and Kuro Neko. All of them are there. They came out of Eastern Forest? What were they doing there? She has some explaining to do.

End of Persona's P.OV

Ai was walking with till they reached their dormitaries. "Hurry up and get yourself clean, okay? And we even made it before dinner." She said gracefully.

"Yeah, or else we might have got into trouble with Jin Jin, about this idea of yours." Tsubasa said sarcastically.

"Say what you like. Both you and I know you loved it." Ai replied.

"Whatever..." Tsubasa blushed a bit. He held Misaki's hand and went back to their room.

"Arigato for today, Ai-senpai" Nonoko, Anna, Yuu, Kokoro, Sumire, Mochu said their gratitude to her.

"No problem." Ai said happily.

"I got to go. See ya'll at dinner time." Ai was hurrying to go somewhere else. Natsume knew why she was hurrying even he needs to go. Natsume was about to leave when Mikan pulled his sleeve, "Where are you going? Your dorm is that way." She said grumpily. Natsume smirked, "I am to see someone important, honey." Natsume emphasized that last word which really made her blush. "Hmph. Just be at dinner hall by dinner." Mikan said that and ran towards Hotaru and Ruka who were waiting for her.

Under a tree in Northern Forest, a man with pale skin and black clothes is waiting patiently for his favourite sub-ordinates. He sensed two people heading towards him and crossed him arms. Kuro Neko came first and jumped down from a tree nearby. "Another mission?" Natsume got straight to the point.

"Calm down." Persona answered. They waited for another three minutes and...

"Yo! Sorry I was a little late. A girl needs to change her outfit." Ai said while winking her right eye. "What's up?" She leaned against a tree.

"You have a mission tonight at the usual details." Persona explained

"And..." Persona was to continue until Ai cuts him off.

"We went to the Eastern Forest which was said to be forbidden. And I found that place though it was really a rough battle with those moving thorn trees. I've to admit, they were fast. Even Kuro Neko got scratched." Ai blurted out everything in a very carefree voice of hers.

Natsume raised an eyebrow thinking that how could she explain something like was suppose to be a secret to Persona so easily? 'This girl, she said that so... carefreely?' he thought.

"Oi, how did you get pass that impossible tree?" Natsume asked.

"Oh, that. You find the main root and stop it but cutting or burning the mother root. Then everything go 'dead'" Again, she said it carefreely.

Persona was almost speechless. 'I know she's a genius like Natsume or even more than him but I never knew she could be so rebellious. She found that place which I was trying to get through ever since Aoshi forhibitted it to everyone. I wonder if Misaki knows? I'm sure he does. Well at least, she's okay.' Persona thought.

"There will be no punishment for this little happening. Come by the gate at 11." Persona went off.

Ai and Natsume looked at each other. "Don't you be late or on time. Be there earlier." Natsume warned her and jumped off to his room.

Ai sighed, "Persona..."

He came out of the back of the tree she was leaning. "You wanted to know how the place look like right?" She said while her eyes are shut very calmly.

"Find me when the crescent moon is up. If you're able to find me with all five senses of yours, that place I'm at is you reward." Ai opened her eyes and gaze upon Persona.

She smiled cheerfully and, "I'll try to be earlier tonight," she went off to her room. Persona looked up the sky and smiled inwardly, "Find her when the crescent moon is up, huh? That's interesting." he whispered to himself and disappeared.

Japanese to English

Subarashi - Wonderful

Iie - No

Ikko -Let's go

Minna-san - Everyone

Nani - What

Tsumaranai - Boring

Baka - Stupid

Hontou - Really

Doko - Where

Senpai - Senior

Kouhai - Junior

Itai - Pain

Arigato - Thanks

Chotto - Wait

Hai - Yes

Sou ka - I see

Wakatteru - I know

Sugoi - Amazing

Sensei - Teacher

Ano - A way to get someone's attention

Nani shiteru? - What are you doing?

Yokatta - I'm glad

Onee-chan - Elder sister

Shiranai - I don't know

Uso - Lie