A/N : I have been waiting to write this chapter since a very long time.

It's my personal favorite.

Hope you like it.

Chapter 9: Confrontations

Natsume walked briskly through the garden outside the principal's quarters. This time he was determined to meet the owner of the house. He had made several trips across the garden that day but couldn't bring himself to walk into the house, every time he approached the threshold he would suddenly turn back and go back to his dorm. So by now he was well acquainted with the garden and could practically name every single plant growing there! He mustered up all his courage and raised his left hand to ring the door bell.

D i n g... D o n g...

A maid opened the door and greeted him. He replied to her greet " Konban wa *. I am Natsume Hyuuga. Can I meet principal Yukihara? " She nodded in reply and guided him upstairs. The house was big, it was more luxurious than Natsume's special star dorm! But Natsume hardly took notice of the furnishing, he was mused in the turmoil of thoughts in his head. He had planned to come there as soon as his father told him about his reason for being alive. Though he was discharged from the hospital just the previous day, instead of resting he kept on making futile trips to the mansion, in spite of meeting with frivolous rebukes . Now that he was finally in, he was thinking of how to best put the words he was meaning to personally convey to his benefactor all through the past week . He had imagined the whole scene numerous times in his head at the infirmary, it was his only means to kill time while sitting aimlessly there. Yet even at the final moment he was rethinking it all so that he gets all his feeling through.

The maid opened the door and made way for the guest. Natsume looked around ( for the first time) to find the person he was so anxious to meet. His eyes rushed to the king size bed where the principal was reclining. The time had done it's job on the old man lying there. The once most gorgeous man on campus was now reduced to a feeble old man. He was covered with innumerable wrinkles from top to toe. His light blonde hair had turned gray. His blue eyes were now hiding behind a pair of thick glass. A wheel chair was resting beside his bed, accompanied by a walking cane. He looked at least eighty years old.

Oh! Boy did I do that to him Natsume thought the most obvious thought.

"Ah! Natsume! What a pleasant surprise! Shiki told me that you had been discharged yesterday. But I thought you'd be resting, I didn't expect to see you here." Yukihara talked to him as calm as ever.

"I... uh... um...I..." After all that rehearsing he still found himself at loss of words!

Oh! Shit! Damn it Natsume say something! He told himself that in his mind.

"First day with new lips?" Yukihara tried to joke. " Why don't you sit down." He added pointing at a chair lying near by. Natsume helped himself to the chair and sank in.

" Would you like some tea?" Yukihara asked him.

" No, thanks..." he said, " I just came by to... a... um..." He trailed off again.

Come get to the point, you idiot! He nagged himself again. Then all of a sudden he stood up and took a deep bow. "Arigato Gozaimasu!" He remained in that position thereby showing his gratitude.

"Wow! Natsume I didn't know you are so polite." Yukihara mocked him again. " You are most welcome. Please sit down."

" Principal I'll forever be in your debt. If there's any way I can repay you please let me kno-"

"I didn't do it just for you. I did it for everyone. For Mikan. For your father. For Aoi... For my... brother." The old man continued, " I have spent many years in this Academy ,seen lot of horrible things and even overlooked them. I never raised my voice against it. But when Izumi came to the Academy, he taught me to value life, to actually live, to love and to fight for the ones we love. I was helpless at that time. I let him..." He took a deep sigh then moved on "... die. I had decided then and there that no more people would have to suffer the same fate as my brother. No more victims will fall to the ESP's hands. I had made my resolve that I would do anything in my power to protect the students and the ones I love. That's why I-"

"-That's why you resurrected me." Natsume finished the sentence for him. " So it's not just about me, right?"

"Sorry, it was about something bigger than both you and me."

Poor kid. He was so damn worried about the whole thing. Yukihara thought it. Mikan had told him about Natsume's worries during her visits in the past week. He was well aware of Natsume's guilt and wanted to help the poor kid finally ease up a little.

"I am glad." Natsume's heart was relieved when he heard that. He felt comfortable. A huge burden of guilt he had been carrying all through the week was lightened up.

"So when are you going home?"

"Otou san said that we would go home after three days. Mikan's going to her Jii chan's place tomorrow."

"Yeah she was really waiting to visit him since a long time."

"Is there anything I can do for you? I do owe you one after all"

"Come to think of it, there is a favor I have to ask of you." Yukihara straightened up with Natsume's help and reached the table beside his bed. He took out an old wooden box from it. And gave it to Natsume.

"This belonged to Izumi. He always kept all his precious stuff in there. I tried to peek into it a lot of times but he wouldn't let me. After he died I took it with me, but I never opened it. I wanted to give it to Yuka but I never got a chance to do that. Could you pass this on to Mikan for me? She'd be really happy if you gave it to her."

" Sure"

"Natsume, I know this goes without saying , but I still got one more favor to ask of you. Will you promise to keep Mikan happy and safe forever? She really loves you a lot. Please take care of her for me."

"I promise that, sir"

"That does not mean you have the permission to do that with her. No perverted business!"

"Wow! And I didn't know you are that funny." He smiled "I should get going."

"Okay thanks for the visit."

"Please take of yourself. Sayonara!"

"Kazu-nii!" Yukihara remembered the sound of his beloved brother's voice. "Izumi, don't worry. Our Mikan is in safe hands now." He said that to himself and closed his eyes for a much needed sleep.

Later that evening...

The sun was about to set. The sky was painted in scarlet with the orange clouds texturing it. Mikan was standing in front of her parents' grave admiring the beauty of nature. She came there every single day and talked to her late parents.

"Oka san, Otou san... Natsume is finally discharged from the hospital. But he's really feeling bad about uncle Kazu. He keeps blaming himself for it. Today he has made more than a five trips already to uncle's place but he couldn't manage to go and meet him! I told him to get proper rest but he won't listen to me! I think he's really scared. I try to comfort him but he's still not convinced."

"Who are you calling scared?" Natsume walked up towards her. He put his right arm around her and stood there beside her. A bag pack was resting on his left arm.

"Natsume! Since have you been here?"

"Long enough"

"It rude to eavesdrop on people! How did you even find me?"

"I went to your dorm, but you weren't there. So I figured you'd be here. And I wasn't eavesdropping; you were loud enough to be heard down the hill."

" Why were you looking for me anyways?"

"I just wanted to meet you. If you don't want my company I'd be happy to leave." He raised his leg to move away from her.

"No, I didn't mean that. Stay with me." She grabbed his arm and pulled him back to her side.

"Actually I had come to give you this." Natsume took out the box from his bag pack and gave it to her, " Principal Yukihara gave it to me when I went to see him earlier this evening. It belonged to your father, your uncle wanted you to have it. Since you are leaving tomorrow I thought I should give it to you today itself."

"Thank you Natsume. It means a lot to me. I am glad you finally met uncle" She hugged him. " About tomorrow... Ne... Natsume will you come with me to see Ji chan? I want you to meet him."

"You want to introduce me to grandfather?"

"No, I already told him about you in my letters. I want to introduce you as my ... b..bo..boy...boyfriend " She blushed unnecessarily.

"As your Boyfriend! " Natsume burst out laughing.

"Natsume! You are making fun of me aren't you?"

"No, I am actually glad. Thanks for cheering me up." He kissed her right after saying that. They heard the footsteps coming up the hill so they broke apart with their arms still around each other.

" Oh! Am I interrupting something?" Rei asked. The smiled wiped itself off Natsume's face as soon as he saw Persona. He wanted to punch him then and there.

"Rei sensei! How are you? Are you feeling better? " Mikan freed herself from Natsume's hands and went to greet Rei. This added fuel to the fire.

"Natsume, how are you? I heard you were discharged yesterday. How is Aoi chan?" Rei tried to initiate a futile conversation.

"Hn. Since when do you care, Persona." Natsume avoided looking into his eyes.

Mikan gave a warning glance to Natsume, she then said " Rei sensei when did you get discharged?"

"I got discharged this afternoon. I came here to visit Sensei and Yuka san." He gave Mikan a friendly hug.

Okay, now he's dead meat! "Hey! What the hell do you think you're doing? Get away from her or I'll burn you alive"

"Natsume! " Mikan glared at him, "Quiet being so paranoid! We have talked about this earlier! Besides you don't have your alice now , remember?.Apologize."

Oh! Shit she's right. Dammit I had no idea I would miss it so much.

"Natsume I know we had our differences in past. But I want to have a fresh start now. Please let's just forget all the past wounds and move towards a brighter future. I know that you will never forgive me. If I were in your place I couldn't do it either. So I am not asking for forgiveness. I am just asking you to give me a second chance to prove myself. Please!" He was literally begging Natsume for another chance.

"What if I refuse?"

"Then I'll break up with you." Mikan had lost her cool now. She knew that this was the only way.

"WHAT? YOU WILL LEAVE ME BECAUSE OF THIS BASTARD? MIKAN HE IS A MURDERER. HE HAS KILLED YOUR FATHER!"

"As if that's different from what you are! You too have committed crimes during missions, right?" Mikan cursed herself for saying that. She knew Natsume hated when someone called him a criminal, worse a murderer. But that was the only way to make him realize his misconception. "Everyone has a dark past, they want to hide including you. Does that mean I don't love you? So no one should be judged from their sins, but from their desire to create a better tomorrow. Please Natsume, Rei sensei really wants you to second chance."

"Mikan!"Rei was moved by those words. So was Natsume. He could never forgive Persona, but he thought if he didn't even give him a second chance then he too didn't deserve one.

"I am s..s..sorry." He whispered.

"What's that I couldn't catch it?" Mikan said that on purpose.

"I said I am sorry for abusing persona"

"It's okay Natsume." Rei held out his hand. Natsume held out his and both shaked hands.

"I only doing this cause Mikan threatened to leave me if I didn't"

I knew this would work. Mikan smiled on seeing the two finally getting along.

"Group hugs guys" Mikan said this and she squeezed the two in for a tight hug.

A/N: Whew... This is by far one of the longest chapter I have written.

Oh! Can't believe it's 1 am! Bedtime.

Anyways as always please review...

Thanks.

P.S. I had this thought when I was traveling by train last weekend, I wanted to share it with you:

Similarities between Harry potter and Gakuen Alice

Hogwarts=Gakuen Alice

Magic=Alice

Snape=Narumi ( same sad shattered love story with the central character's mom)

Dumbledore=uncle Kazu

Hermione=Natsume

Ron=Mikan (Both are stupid and end up with the smartest one)

Fred and George= Tsubasa (the trougle makers)

Voldemort=ESP (duh! Evil)

Death eaters=Fuukitai

Ginny=Permy (Both have huge crushes on male protagonists)

Reader are welcome to add to the list in the review they write.

Thanks!