Hey guys! from the moment i started the first word, i knew this story would be my favourite to write...but of course there's a problem. i noe what to write for the sequel but i dunno what to write for another totally different story...so for those who love gakuen alice, plz send in some ideas...like for instance Mikan tying the knot with some other guy whose NOT natsume...heh...sounds weird...so...i present the last chapter b4 the epilogue and the prologue for my sequel (line borrowed from DearJulie's absolutely fab. Two Quarters and a Heart Down...voila!!

I dedicate this chappy to my wonderful patron DearJulie...you really lightened up my day!!

Chapter 12: Prerogative

"Kuso!" the flame caster cursed. He just awoke to find Mikan gone…again. "Kami-sama! Why are you doing this to me? I repent! For just one day, could she not go ghost on me and disappear?"

On the bed, a small note sat where she had lain. It read:

The cherry blossoms

Hide a secret

He ran, no, he flew to the Sakura tree. Everything was in place. But…wait. Where was the knot that he hid all his emotions is? Where was the hole where he constantly stored secrets no one but her knew about? Instead, a small piece of wood shaped into a cork with a cherry blossom painted onto the front was fitted into the hole.

He pulled out the wooden cover and met with a wad of papers stuffed into it. Rain began to pour heavily.

--,--,--,--,--,--,--,

"You sure took your time," commented James as he and Mikan sat on a bullet train on the way to the airport. They were headed to Hokkaido to escape into the refuge of an old friend. "Geez, lover boy must have been sad to see you leave."

"Yea, must have," she whispered.

They left the comfort of the Academy and continued their chase.

--,--,--,--,--,

Hotaru glared at Natsume as he listlessly dropped a letter onto each of their friends' laps. He had this dull yet bright gleam in his eyes as he walked away. She heard surprised gasps echo from each of her friends.

She looked at the envelope. That curling handwriting, those heart-dotted 'i's. she dashed to the privacy of her lab to open the envelope.

--,--,--,--,--,--,--,

The moon never looked duller. Natsume watched as his memories played like the theatre, the stars as its actors. He tried to push her out of him mind. He had had enough. He was sick of worrying, sick of punching himself for what she did.

But he just couldn't.

He couldn't push her away…

He couldn't forget her…

He couldn't hate her…

He couldn't not love her…

He just couldn't.

Why? that little voice asked.

"Because I love her too much," he whispered. He remembered what the letter said. Five pages and she still thought he didn't love her. Baka.

My dearest Natsume,

Nothing I write, would be able to tell you how I felt. I don't know if I can ever give you the happiness you deserve. Haha. Funny isn't it? Just eight years ago and you would be the one saying that. I hope you find what you are searching for.

Ever felt like there was something you could never have yet crave for? Well, I have. But, as you read on, I want you to make my wish come true. Please, forgive me, protect our friends…and smile.

If only she knew he would crave for only one thing: her. Of course he would do anything in his power to ensure they would never be hurt. But what about her? Would she ever be protected?

Then, page four broke his heart.

When James and I were hiding in Italy, I met this girl in a quiet bar. She seemed happy and sad at the same time. We talked as James went to buy some supplies and gradually became friends.

She told me this tale. Her oldest friend and one true love had gone to Germany for the next four years. She was happy for him. It seemed as though it was all well. Until her boyfriend's friend returned to Italy. He told her, that apart from his guy friends, her boyfriend was miserable.

She couldn't take it. She went to Germany and told him to let her go. She gave him up for his happiness. She sacrificed her happiness for his. She is happier now. So much more happier that she had given him up and let him live for himself.

So, I learned something important. I learned for those you love, you must sacrifice something. Everything comes at a price.

That's why Natsume, I…

No, Mikan! No!

…am…

Don't say it! No!

…giving…

No! I wont listen!

…you…

Tell me you're lying!

…up.

She had given him up.

Please. Find someone who can love you. Someone who can give you the happiness and the sunshine you always thought I was. Please. Do. And then…I'll be happy.

I will love you till they take my heart away. I will love you till the end of recorded time. I will love you till I die. I will love you…until I see the day the world ends.

Aishiteru.

Mikan.

Enclosed in the envelope was a cd with their song. It would always be their song...always...never a doubt.

The paper was stained where her tears had smeared the ink. He would never forget her. Never. If he did, may he rot in the dungeons of hell. Maybe he would meet her again. Maybe he wouldn't. Who really knew? He didn't and maybe he never would.

--,--,--,--,--,--,--,

Over the few months leading up to graduation, messengers from all over the world, came surprisingly. Khalid from Saudi Arabia, Horace from England, Michael from Colorado and others, all victims of the AAO's climb for power and all rescued by his idiot.

They sent reports of Mikan, unbeknownst to the nullifier. Then, James came.

He was a young man of 21, handsome, chiselled features distorted by a scar on his right cheek. He stumbled out of nowhere, landing on Natsume. He had a charming British accent which, to no surprise, created a fan club right there.

"Hullo there. You must be this Hyuuga chap I keep hearing about," he said conversationally.

"Where's Mikan?" snarled Natsume, grabbing his collar.

"Easy there," he said. "We were in Paris, last I saw."

"Why did you leave her?"

"Leave her? Hah!" he said, his friendly voice becoming harsh and angry. "Blame that blasted Teleportation Alice and that sense of over-protectiveness of hers!" He crashed onto the ground. "We were fighting off some AAO cronies when I got cut on the arm. Mikan being the Mikan she is, she shoved me and teleported me here, obviously wasting her energy reserves."

"Baka."

"Idiot is right," he commented. He noticed the surprised look on Natsume's face. "She told me all about your relationship." He rose and dusted himself. "Well, must be off. Need to go find Xander." Then, the Brit was gone, walking down the path, headed towards the administrator's office.

--,--,--,--,--,--,--,

Much to the displeasure of Natsume and delight of the girls, James tagged around him every second he had. His Memory Manipulation Alice earned him the rights of a three star.

But, nothing was worse than what happened a month after his appearance. He disappeared. On the bed he occupied, they found a note addressed to Natsume. It said:

Must be off, old chap. Found the whereabouts of the little girl. As slippery as an eel, she is. I promise to take care of her. Don't worry.

James.

--,--,--,--,--,--,--,

Graduation.

The idea seemed far off and magical. They knew it would come one day and with it, it brought surprises. Koko, Yuu and Mochu all confessed their feelings respectively to Anna, Nonoko and Sumire. And Ruka proposed to Hotaru, planning their marriage to take place four years from then. She gave him one of her rare smiles.

The night before graduation seemed the shortest of them all. They partied like they never partied before. Natsume lounged about as fangirls begged him for the last time to marry them. But he would marry only one girl. And she was not there.

Then, as they walked to their dorms, the girls shrieked. A dead body dropped from the trees. Natsume would always remember the face of Mikan's mother, former murderer and the second in command of the AAO. Kayo Aori was terminated.

Something in the trees shifted. A shadow moved and revealed the dearly familiar face of their little baka. Her arm was covered in blood, her face splattered with dirt and water.

"Hey, guys," she said weakly. "Long time no see." Then, her world swirled and the last thing she saw and heard was Natsume's face streaking with tears and his silent cry of worry.

--,--,--,--,--,--,

Everything was barred on their request. How could he do this to her? He knew that if he let her stay, they were all sitting ducks. She had to escape. While she was in this prison of a hospital ward, they were at their graduation ceremony. She had to get out now. Rio was most likely on the way with worst things with him...like Hirai coming along.

She knew that Kayo Aori had arranged for another protégé to be trained in Africa in case something happened to her. Rumors had told her that this Hirai boy was dangerous. And he was as good a fighter as Mikan. She had to get out.

She began banging on windows. She slammed her fist against the glass pane. Not only did her arm sting but the glass sent off an electrical current, sending her flying across the room, leaving burn marks on her hands.

"Damn you Hotaru," she cursed. She pressed her hand to the floor, echoing for a way to release herself with her Intangible Alice. But the floor grew a marble hand that swept her off her feet literally! "Blast that Alice!" She prepared to kick the door with the martial arts she had perfected so many years ago but as she slammed her foot to the wood, a hand caught it, burning it with his Alice.

"Trying to escape, idiot?"

"Let go of my foot," she gritted. She spun around releasing herself from his burning grip. She made a move to dash out of the door but Natsume's trained grip caught her wrist and pulled her into a kiss that sent her to heaven.

"Please, Mikan," he whispered. "Please don't leave me. I can't move on without you." Tears began to well up in her eyes. "I am nothing without you here."

"I have to go," she sobbed. "Nothing, absolutely nothing the Academy can do can keep me from Rio. He's out for blood. And if they can track down Teppe Mori, we are all done for."

"Whose Teppe Mori?"

"A man with a very short, very rare, very dangerous, very evil and very one-chance-only Alice."

"What is it?"

"What can he do?"

"He can reenact the dead. Rio and Hirai are searching the world for him. They are trying to bring back Aori. And this time, she can't be killed."

"But why do you have to leave?"

"I have to find Teppe. And someone else. You don't need to know about her. The less you know, the better."

"I won't let you leave!"

"I don't need your permission," she said giving him a glare. "I'm just as old as you and I won't let her die!"

"Whose 'her'?"

"You don't need to know."

Then, a buzzing grew in Natsume's ears. He saw the room tilt oddly. He heard the familiar ringing sound of a pheromone. A Voice Pheromone and a Human Pheromone. Practically impossible to resist. "You must let me go," she said, her voice so coy, sexy, sleek and persuasive. What man could resist? She kissed him lightly on the lips. "You'll go to sleep now, won't you?"

Natsume nodded dully and he fell asleep.

--,--,--,--,--,--,

Mikan looked back at the Academy for one last time. She turned her back on all she had known here and left the school.

A/N: There it is! THE BIG TEN!! who knew it would be here so fast? anyway, i want to thank all you people out there who pushed me to complete this thing! this is NO.1 thing i have completed and am so proud of! Arigatou minna for those in Japan and Thank you to those who speak English!! So...one more chapter eh??? seems so...fantasy...haha...so get ready for the sequel's whose name escapes me...what to name it????? okok: ... Epilogue: Sister