Chapter 11

Once in a dream and I love you so

Disclaimer: I do not own Gakuen Alice or Alice Academy. However, Noah, Neil and Nami –the kittens are my property and result of my freakily over active crazy imagination. If you want to use them, you have to ask for my permission as under the rules of the www (dot)fanfiction(dot)net. Thank you.

All those people who review thank you and those who don't should do. It makes me happy people are reading my story but it makes me happier when you leave a review.

I'm so sorry for the late update. But I had a lot of problems like exams and writer's block etc. but I promise that this chapter will make up for my lazy ass…and the next.

Follow me on twitter. I go by Caramelgracious and my blog is www (dot)poemsbycg(dot)blogspot(dot)com. Those were a lot of dots.

Chapter 11

I feel a connection I have lost long ago

Then why do I feel it has grown so

Previously

Natsume looked at the retreating figure for a moment, unaware how to react. Suddenly, he realized that he was actually holding a girl and a bag of milk cartons unaware what to do next. The girl seemed deep asleep but from her ragged breathes he could make out she was not well. She had clutched his shirt tightly and seemed to fit perfectly in his arms. Not like mikan, but still perfect, like she was meant to be held by him.

He was shocked that he was hit by so many emotions just by holding this little girl. Not only was he feeling protective about her but he also realized that he was worried about her health. He quickened his pace to dorms. Maybe she could rest in her room until she woke up.

Hotaru was just outside the dorms when she saw natsume holding Na Chan. Even though she felt that somehow it was right, she still had to take her to mikan.

"Na Chan" she said. "Give her to me Natsume, Mikan is going berserk looking for her. "

Natsume looked at Hotaru questioningly for a moment and then tried to pass her the girl, unwillingly. He did not feel it was right. Na Chan had clutched natsume's shirt tightly and she whined in her sleep as she went to Hotaru. Natsume felt a little worried about that. However, he let her go and Hotaru carried her away from him.

Mikan witnessed this and she could feel tears brimming her eyes. She blinked a few times to keep them at bay. She quickly took Nami from Hotaru and hugged her to her heart. She was not doing the right thing hiding them from him. She had to act soon.

Thursday

Mikan woke up by a lot of banging on her door. The loud thumps early in the morning had already made her cranky. She had stayed up all night taking care of Na-Chan. Her little escapade in the mornings yesterday had made her restless and the whole night she had danced around the bed trying to find some comfortable condition. She had around so much that mikan had to put Noah and Neil on the pulled out bed from the coach in the living room. Na- Chan had finally fallen asleep due to utter exhaustion at 2 am and Mikan had soon followed her into the dream world. Due to lack of sleep Mikan had missed her daily jog and now some sick idiot was trying to wake her up at….. 8 am.

"Oh shit" Mikan murmured as she clambered up from her bed as silently as she could without waking up Na Chan. She almost kissed the floor once while she ran to get the door. Strange… it seemed like six years ago all over again. She smiled amused and guessed that either it would be the class representative or Hotaru at the door. She opened the door while wondering idly why the two little kits had not woken her up already. Maybe they were also too tired due to their sister's health.

They were too over protective of their little sister and saw too it always that she had best of everything, was safe and protected. They were always at a look out for any danger too her and didn't let anyone close to her. That was the only reason; she was not at a sleep over with any of her classmates already. Mikan wondered were they like this to only her or were older brothers like this everywhere. She would never know. But a sudden burst of an image of her favorite Tsubasa sempia reminded her that she had known it at least for a while.

She opened the door with a jerk almost hitting her in the face. Hotaru stared at the brunet with an unashamed amusement; she could not help herself from giving a smile at the apparent state of her best friend. A sense of déjà vu filled her. With a quick breath she retained her usual expression and said "you are late, Baka. Thank god I came up to get you or you would have slept in, again. Now, run and get ready for school."

Mikan started blankly at her best friend for few moments unable to understand the mutterings of her best friend and out of nowhere she was hit by the infamous Baka gun after almost four years. Mikan fell back and immediately assumed her fighting stance and dangerous gaze.

"What" Hotaru said, now unable to hide her delight.

"uhh! Nothing" mikan said her voice a bit rough from sleep. Mikan looked worried for a moment thinking about Nami and her state of sleep or rather her state of wake. If Nami woke up her eyes would be her original color. She had to distract Hotaru as soon as possible.

"uhh, Hotaru could you please wake up Noah and Neil and help them to Change in the bath in the living room. I'll go Change and help Na-Chan in my room" mikan said

Hotaru was quick to notice the two figures sleeping on the living room pulled out bed. She gave a quick nod to her friend and made her way to wake up the two boys. It seemed suspicious to her that the twins…err the triplets were always around Mikan. She too was too protective of them. Yes… they seemed to share features with her, but Hotaru had dismissed it earlier. Now, she had to do something to figure out if they were related. …yes, they were related. It would be apparent to anyone that was close to Mikan. Even Natsume seemed suspicious about that. She knew no one in the school knew. She would have to scoop around.

Breaking into the school records on the main system in the office appeared to be a good idea.

Mikan quickly changed into her uniform, deciding to shower after school. Mikan Changed Na Chan who was blissfully asleep. Mikan decided to carry the little girl to her class where she would wake the little girl.

Mikan made her way out to the living room laid Na Chan down on the pulled out couch and then warmed two glasses of milk for the boys. Taking out few cookies, she set them in a plate which she had recovered from one of the cabinets. She poured the milk in two mugs and then proceeded to check on the boys.

Mikan checked inside the bath and saw Hotaru kneeling over the small stool she had placed a few days prior. Hotaru seemed to be struggling with the little buttons on Neil's uniform. Mikan smiled at this.

Noah was crouched over the shelf, brushing his teeth, fully dressed. "Good morning mom" he mumbled with the brush still in is mouth. It came like "ud..nornin maam"

Mikan glanced at him and said her greetings. Thankfully, nor she neither Hotaru caught up with the slip up.

"I have warmed milk for you two. Run along fast or we'll be late." Mikan told the boys.

Noah finished brushing and jumped down and ran out to get his milk. Neil seemed almost frantic, tugging at his shirt…almost messing Hotaru's efforts to close it. Milk seemed a magical word. Finally tucking in his shirt, he followed his brother out.

"Thank you Hotaru" mikan beamed pleasantly at her best friend. Hotaru seemed shocked for a moment. It appeared that last few years had never ever happened. Her Mikan was still the same.

Hotaru locked the door and handed the key over to Mikan. Mikan was carrying Na Chan effortlessly and the two boys zoomed ahead, playing tag, till they reached the classroom.

"You were really worried about Na Chan yesterday." Hotaru commented.

"yaa, it was really scary. She been lost for an hour almost gave me a heart attack." Mikan replied clutching the girl tighter in her arms.

"Why?" Hotaru questioned simply. Mikan's worry about Na Chan was…. Maternal. Hotaru realized and her eyes widened in shock.

"Na-Chan is a dangerous type ability alice. Her alice type is the fourth one. It sucks her life." 'Like her father' Mikan whispered, she eyed the boys and seemed satisfied of their well been. "She also has asthma" she told Hotaru.

Hotaru gave a curt nod and her face hardened at the information. It was better not to divulge for any more information. This one had already affected Mikan and it was visible in her body language.

But the question was- what was her alice?

Mikan and Hotaru parted when Mikan started making her way towards the elementary school building. However, she was not even five minutes away from here dorm, when her phone rang. She was promptly informed about a meeting regarding the impending reunion at 11.00 and also that the students were given an off due to this. furthermore, the high school students were supposed to help with the decorations in the central town.

Mikan decided it was better to go to central town directly, then first to reporting her friends in the class room. She went to the nearest bus stop, with the twins in tow. After a wait of fifteen minutes, a fairly empty bus took her the market area.

Two hour later, mikan could see her class mates helping around. Streamers and flowers and pieces of wood were strewn all over the place. Noah was following Ruka around who was directing few animals helping him build his side of the stage. Neil was spread all over the blue prints for some plans on which Hotaru was working. Mikan was supervising around with Na Chan still in her arms, blissfully asleep.

Anna and Nonoko who were busy in the café baking goods, had put in the last tray of the cup cakes and had drifted towards Mikan and Na Chan. Both of them started cooing and trying to cuddle her. They tried to take Na Chan from Mikan, but Mikan refused to leave her.

"Come on Mikan, just for a few minutes." Anna almost whined.

"Please" Nonoko added.

"She was unwell, yesterday. She needs her sleep, guys." Mikan said.

Both of the girls could not help but make puppy eyes to her, taking a page directly from Mikan's notebook. Mikan couldn't help herself and gave a little giggle. "Fine, you can I have her. I have a meeting in half an hour. You can baby-sit her for a while, then." Mikan said.

Anna and Nonoko proceeded to thank Mikan for giving her time with the cute little girl with promise of a strawberry cake. Mikan still had a sweet tooth, she couldn't just refuse. Half an hour later, mikan left for the impending meeting. However, before leaving she did reinstated her alice of appearance Change on Na Chan's eyes.

Natsume had been feeling miserable and infuriated since the morning. Not only did he wake up on the wrong side of bed, his routine glass of milk was finished. He did not have any! After that, when he decided to go to the class, the teachers declared the day off. Moreover, mikan did not even come to the class. So now, he was 'resting' on the sakura tree and there was something he felt he was missing.

He was apprehensive that he was supposed to be somewhere else, with someone else. There was need to protect someone, someone close. He had no idea what to do.

After Fighting with his feelings for last half, he decided to go where his friends were.

When he reached the area, he could see that half of the material was over and done with. However, most the girls, okay… fan girls were crowded near the edge of the stage. Suddenly, there was a frazzled cry amidst it. He was barely able to stop himself from sprinting towards it.

Nonoko had just picked up Na Chan in her arms when Sumire had made her way towards her. Sumire had started pinching Na Chan's cheek and cooing her.

"She seems so little and delicate" Sumire commented.

"Yaa, you are right. She seemed much better yesterday" Anna said.

"Really?" Sumire inquired.

"Yaa, Mikan had said that she had gotten ill after she reached the dorms." Nonoko said

"The poor thing has a tendency to fall ill" Anna whispered to her friends.

"That's really unfair. She's so cute." Sumire said.

"yes, she is cute." Anna exclaimed.

Nami shifted a bit in Nonoko's lap and murmured something which was oddly similar to hulf puffs.

"SO CUTE!" the three of them said in unison. They did not mean to be loud, but when they said it together, it got a little loud and soon a crowd of fan girls started to gather around them.

"yes, she is so adorable." One of them said.

"I just want hug her once" another one said pinching Na Chan's check.

This woke her up. Been surrounded by so many people startled her. When she noticed she was not been carried by Mikan, she started to panic. She wanted her mommy.

"Na Chan, calm down" one of her brothers thought towards her.

"Mommy will be back soon" Nail thought." Please don't cry or you'll get sick again"

"Yes please don't cry" Noah backed Neil.

"I want mommy" Na Chan thought and gave a strangled cry as soon as she felt someone touch her again. "Mama" she sobbed into Nonoko's neck.

Hotaru was startled when Neil suddenly jumped up from his place and started looking at the gathered crowd of the fan girls, frantically. "What are you…" her questioned was cut short by a cry from amidst the crowd. She realized that the girls had gathered around Na Chan. She quickly jumped up from her place and ran towards the crowd. She took her Baka gun out started hitting carefully at the fan girls. She did not want Na Chan to be hurt. By the time the crowd ran away half scared she could see, Na Chan was o her way to a flow blown panic attack and she was also having trouble breathing.

She took her from Nonoko who looked scared and had no idea what to do. Even though Na Chan shifted easily, she did not relax. Hotaru had no idea how to pacify Na Chan and she was too getting worried. The fear in her eyes resembled Nonoko's and she realized the position that her friend had few minutes prior been in. she had pacified Nonoko's fear, but who will pacify hers.

Within seconds, Hotaru was surrounded b the twins but they looked as helpless as she appeared. With no idea what to do Hotaru too began too began too panic. She had no idea how to care about a baby.

Natsume saw Hotaru taking the little girl from yesterday into her arms. The little girl was having a panic attack. She was shaking uncontrollably and Hotaru had to sit down to make sure she did not fall from her arms. Two little boys were also there with Hotaru. Ruka came over after sending away the animals and then talked to Hotaru for a few moments. He ran away soon after. The little boys, they were twins, followed him. Natsume did not realize that he had walked over to Hotaru. And it was too late to stop him; the words had already left his mouth.

"Give her to me" Natsume said.

Hotaru frowned mentally. Why was Natsume asking for her? was he worried? He looked worried. He was tense and looked really anxious. Could he help Na Chan relax? Maybe he could. He had taken care of Youichi when he was young. Maybe he knew what to do.

Hotaru gave a stiff nod and Natsume hurriedly scooped up Na Chan into his arms. She was so light. What was her name? How old was she? Why was she so …scared? Natsume had no idea what to do. However, it was clear to him he should take her away from the crowded area. Every eye was still on him…er her. Natsume quickly moved to the edge of preparatory area giving anyone and everyone a hard glare who even glanced at him.

Hotaru followed him but he did not heed her. Her usually rigid expression was marred with a frown. Natsume also noticed the worry in her eyes. It was strange to see how the little girl had wrapped everyone around her figure in such a less time. Natsume had no idea when she had arrived, but he knew this much she was a new centre of attraction for his classmates.

Oddly enough the girl had stopped shaking by the time he reached his desired destination. She had wrapped herself in his arms in such a way that she was completely covered in his presence; seeking comfort. However she was still trying to catch her breath.

"It's okay little girl. I'm here. No one's going to harm you now. You're gonna be alright. You are safe" natsume murmured into her ears. Na Chan relaxed even more and her breath started to regulate. Na Chan gave one last dry sob and hid herself in natsume's shoulder. Natsume tightened his hold on her. "It's alright, sweetie. You are gonna be fine. You are safe." He murmured soothingly once again.

Na Chan briefly glanced up at the boy holding her. She gave him a small smile and quickly closed her eyes and fell into a peaceful slumber cocooned in his safe and warmth. Her tiny hands slowly fisted his shirt tightly

Natsume stared wide eyed at the innocent creature in his arms. He was amazed and had no words to say. She looked so innocent, like her. Why did he felt this overwhelming need to protect her? And was there a speck of crimson in her unnaturally green eyes?

Mikan rushed back to the site. Ruka had reached as soon as the meeting had ended. She ran to Na Chan who was been held by Natsume. She seemed to be sleeping peacefully. "Oh natsume"she thought. She knew if there was any other person on this earth that could relax her was him and he had proved her right.

She took Na Chan into her arms from Natsume whose features were marred with a frown as soon as she had touched the little girl. Natsume noticed the panic in her eyes but he did not want to Na Chan to Mikan. Why was she taking her anyways? Before he could question her, Mikan was already gone. He also noticed the twin boys following her.

Who were they?

Oh my god. That was a lot of work. I'm starting on the next chapter immediately. I'll update it as soon as my review total reaches 80.

Next chapter- Natsume and the kittens officially meet.

please leave a review, it is much better than waking up cranky in the morning.