Struck by Realization

Disclaimer: No, I do not own Gakuen Alice. EVER.

Out of all words that Mikan had imagined he would say, all he said was:

"No."

"No? No as in 'no it's not true' or 'no I can explain'?" asked Mikan.

"No you're getting it all wrong."

"Which part?"

"Which? Funny you asked. Everything," replied Natsume.

"So what's it supposed to be then? A big Let's-go-annoy-Mikan game?" asked Mikan furiously.

"No-"

"'No'?! Haven't you have anything else to say other than 'no'?!"

"I do if only you let me finish," said Natsume impatiently. "No, it's not a game, and –by the way, eavesdropping is a bad habit," added Natsume.

"It wasn't as if I was- That's not the point!" said Mikan, looking quite flushed.

"Idiot."

"I am not."

"OK, OK. As you say. Anyway, actions do speak louder than words."

"Oh yeah? Well who got you out of the locked room?"

"You," responded Natsume.

"When I reminded you that you could actually teleport," he added.

"Well how about…How about…" Mikan couldn't think of anything else. Natsume continued.

"Well how about the time I told you that you had animal pheromone alice and you denied it even though you were already talking to a pig? Well, how about the time you weren't able to get my stick?" said Natsume.

"……. Or the time I didn't know I could teleport when just I did? Perfect reasons to hate me," said Mikan.

"For the second and last time, I don't. And certainly not because you were the one who forgot to use teleportation when you were stuck in a room, or because you don't listen in classes, or-"

Mikan cut across him.

"Ok, I think I get it-"

"-Or the fact that you didn't even realize that you had a number of alices, even when you already used them. And since you're so intelligent, do you realize…Do you realize what she might have done if I said that I did like you?" asked Natsume.

Mikan hesitated for a moment.

"But-But even if you denied, she was still doubtful anyway, and I still got into this condition-"

She made an abrupt stop.

"Natsume…That means…You …Do you… ..like… me…?"

There was silence between the two.

Footsteps could be heard from a distance, which appeared to be drawing closer. The nurse entered the room.

"…I thought I heard voices- I thought it sounded like there's argument going on. Sorry, please do not upset the patient. Doctor's orders," she mumbled apologetically.

"Perfect timing," thought Mikan sarcastically.

"You were that guy from last time, right? Did you tell her?" the nurse asked Natsume.

"Tell? Tell me what?" asked Mikan, looking from the Nurse to Natsume.

"Go have some rest," he said, finally deciding to leave.

"But-wait!"

Sandy was reading a book under a shady tree. It was a quiet afternoon, and the rustling of trees could be heard.

"You can come out now," she said.

"I knew it was you," she said quietly, as soon as Natsume appeared behind a tree.

"What did you do?" he asked in fury.

Quite surprised by the sudden question, she replied, "Me? I didn't do-"

In a swift action, Natsume shoved her to the tree, suffocating her.

"I guess I should've just asked why you did it. What you did was never really a question. I know you did it."

"I-don't know... what you're talking-…about!" said Sandy, coughing, as Natsume loosened his grip.

He set fire around her.

"… You denied that you liked her. Yet here you are- Obviously , she's so precious," she said serenely.

"Leave her out of this."

"Yes, you liked her. It annoyed me. I really hated her," said Sandy.

He hit her hard across the face.

"I can't change the fact that you hate her. But-"

An attack suddenly came from the left.

Hotaru appeared with another one of her inventions in hand.

"But hurt her one more time and I'll make sure you get more than that," she said, continuing what Natsume has said.

"Especially made to detect people like you and strike you when you're spotted. Meet the baka-detrackter," she said proudly introducing her new invention.

"...Why?" she asked, knees dropping the ground.

"Why...Why do you like her so much?"

And leaving her without a reply, Natsume had left.

Entering the room, he observed Mikan closely, making sure she was asleep.

He waited a few minutes before he spoke.

"Always getting yourself into trouble…..I know it's not your fault", he said, sitting down on a chair.

"At that time…What I really thought was...Why can't I-Why hadn't I saved you? I want to protect you…"

He was silent for a few minutes before he spoke again.

"You kept telling me I hated you…But… I… I hate myself."

FLASHBACK:

Knock knock.

"Who is it?" Natsume asked. Again, he repeated the same question. Annoyed that there was no reply, he opened the door slightly, only enough to see the unwelcome visitor.

(Change scene)

"Not…able…to…save…her!" he said banging the desk in rage. Yet there was only one thought lingering in his mind at that moment. Who did this?

"Why…? Sandy…" murmured Mikan beside him.

And in a matter of seconds, he quickly left the room.

Quickly telling them to conceal the fact that it was him who had brought her there, he left before Mikan could regain consciousness.

END OF FLASHBACK

"Who would have thought…Out of all rooms and of all people you decided to disturb, you chose mine? Pretty weird how your mind works…"

"Oh-Natsume," said Ruka who had just entered.

"I didn't think-Sorry," said Ruka, about to leave the room.

"No-you can come in," said Natsume.

"How is she?"

"She's fine. Just resting."

"Oh, I see," said Ruka, looking at the birds outside the window.

"I –have other things to do," said Natsume.

When the door was shut behind him, Ruka spoke.

"Sakura-san, how long have you been awake?"

At first, there was no response. After a few seconds, Mikan slowly opened her eyes.

"…How long have you known?" she asked, now moving.

"The birds outside told me. It seems you didn't realize that there were birds who witnessed everything the day you were attacked too."

"You mean they know-?"

"I asked them what happened. But Natsume Imai-san took care of her anyway."

"Hotaru and Natsume what?! And the birds told you all those?" asked Mikan, dumbfounded.

"Yeah…."

Suddenly, a thought hit her. One that she had spent a great deal worrying about.

"Sakura-san? Is something wrong?"

Mikan did not answer.

What Natsume had said filled her with guilt and all of a sudden, realization struck her…

"I want to protect you…

You kept telling me I hated you…But… I… I hate myself."

Mikan was now crying. How stupid she had been for not realizing.

Natsume had not really hated her all along.

(A/N: Finally finally finally. A chapter finished. I honestly thought I'd never finish this, when I made like 5 versions of this chapter on paper, but I couldn't decide what they should say. Ideas wouldn't really flow with writing, but it always does with typing. I really have no idea why. The computer also had to get fixed for like 4 days, so yeah. Don't forget to review! )