Authoress's Note:

Hey guys sorry for the long wait! The mysterious nii-san will finally be revealed in this chapter ;) But maybe some of you guys already know who he is! Without further ado, enjoy this chapter!

Thank you for the favs, follows and reviews :)

Please review to tell me your thoughts too okay?

Disclaimer: I do not own Gakuen Alice

Natsume made his way to the sakura tree, where he found his lover silently sleeping at. He sat down beside her, and brushed a sakura petal off her nose. He stared longingly at her face, memorising every unique feature of it. She slowly opened her eyes, and saw that the first thing coming into her view was her favourite crimson orbs.

"Hey." She smiled tiredly at him as he caressed her cheeks with the softest touch.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" Just when I needed you the most.

"Waiting for you. I had a feeling you'd appear here." she rested her head on his chest, and snuggled with him. "So... everything okay?"

He flinched. How did she know? Was she psychic or something?

"No silly, I'm not psychic! I just watch you all the time. You and Ruka have been acting weird these days."

Holy shit. He didn't know whether to feel amazed that she could read his mind, or feel happy that she observed him. A little blush crept up his cheeks, but he tried to fight it back.

A moment of silence passed between them, and all they heard were the crickets chirping and the wind blowing. After what seemed like eternity, Natsume finally released the sentence that had been lingering in his mind all day.

"I...hurt Ruka."

.

He had never hurt Ruka before. That was something he couldn't forgive himself for. Ruka had been through thick and thin with him. He was his best friend, and his only family. He remembered the day when he first entered the academy, and everyone else avoided him and treated him as if he were plague. But Ruka was the only one who stretched his hand out to him and accepted him for who he was. The moment he grabbed his hand, something inside him came alive.

Ruka was his pillar of strength for his fragile young self that needed one desperately. They had a bond that he'd thought will never break, but now... he was unsure of it.

Mikan didn't say anything, and just embraced him comfortingly. As he looked up to the sky that was painted black, he felt dampness on his shirt, and on his face.

After he sent Mikan back to her room, he went back to his room. From a distance, he saw someone standing outside of his door waiting, with his hands stuffed in his pockets and head hung low.

Ruka... Natsume took slow unsure steps towards Ruka, thinking of what he should say in his head.

Ruka heard the footsteps, and jerked his head upwards. He raised his hand stiffly and gave an awkward smile, "Hey..!"

"Uh... Hey." Okay awkwaaaaard. The two of them looked everywhere except at each other. It felt as if someone was squeezing their throats.

"So..." Natsume said with his hand rubbing the back of his neck, his words choked up. There was a freaking tornado inside his mind, but he wouldn't let it show on his face. "Wanna come in?"

"Yeah...sure."

The two of them sat on the sofa, with an awkward distance between them. Neither of them knew how to bring up the subject. Seriously, after what happen, who would?

While Natsume looked outside the window, Ruka fidgeted with his fingers. Come on Ruka! Be a man! He gathered up what little courage he had inside him, "I'm sorry Natsume!" Maybe he said it a little too loudly.

The sudden break in silence caused Natsume's heart to skip a few beats and snap his head in the direction of Ruka.

"No...You have nothing to be sorry about." he said as a matter-of-factly.

"No, I pushed you away... it's my fault. I was immature."

"I should have told you, so it's MY fault."

"No it's not!" Ruka countered, insisting on his point.

"Yes it is."

The two of them glared at each other challengingly, and then broke into a fit of laughter.

"Damn, we just acted like six-year-olds," Natsume playfully punched Ruka on his right shoulder, another hand hiding his smirk.

Ruka chuckled, "Yeah totally dude."

Both of them were really glad that things were better now. It wasn't exactly resolved but at least the heavy load on their shoulders were removed.

"So no more avoiding?" Natsume held his hand out for a fist bump, and Ruka replied him back.

"Yeah no more." Ruka turned, cyan eyes looked directly into crimson ones. "Natsume, I decided to back away."

The raven-haired remained silent, because he didn't know what to say. But Ruka continued.

"However... If you ever hurt her physically or mentally," he gave Natsume his strictest look, "I'm stealing her away. Whether you like it or not."

Natsume lifted the side of his lip, "Yeah...Thanks Ruka."

"Well, they say horses are good friends."

A few weeks passed after the incident between Natsume and Ruka, and everyone was glad that they had really made up made up with no grudges or hate. Everyone was tense during that period, wondering what they should do. It was a relief that nobody had to interfere. With the exception of two girls.

Anyway, enough with the gloomy stuff. It was finally the school break and they could finally get out of school and venture into real full-human territory. Sure it was dangerous but at school, once alices turned sixteen, they would have been considered old enough to be able to protect themselves. That includes masking their own scents and blending in with the full-humans. For Mikan, it was okay because she was already a 'full-human'. And besides, she has a handsome overprotective hunk by her side to take care of her.

They weaved their way through the crowd in Shibuya, specifically Koen Dori (Park Street). The people were like schools of fish on the streets, and it seemed never-ending. The chattering was simply raucous! And that wasn't the only thing that overwhelmed their sensitive senses. There were big billboards featuring visual kei advertisements, and posters basically wrapping the buildings. It was a pity it wasn't night now or they would have been able to Japan's own city of lights.

The gang quickly entered a mall to escape from the mixture of noises that was making their ultra-sensitive ears bleed. They were visiting a few stores when Mikan suddenly stopped at a window glass.

"Beautiful..." She drooled at the necklace of her dreams. There were two yellow gold hearts interlocked with each other, and a red-orange diamond that sparkled brightly like a star. When she passed by the window glass, it was like the necklace called out to her, drawing her in without letting her resist at all. The beauty of the necklace was heart-stopping, but so was the price. The necklace screamed 'buy me!' but when she saw the price tag, her eyes came out of their sockets. She swallowed her saliva, and shook her head.

Who am I kidding? That necklace is a whopping five digits!

She sighed deeply, and reluctantly walked away, her eyes unable to tear away from the necklace. Natsume and Mikan re-joined the gang who were far in front waiting for them.

After leaving the mall, they headed for Yoyogi Park which was just nearby.

"Wow! This park is huuuuuuge!" Mikan said, while tugging on Hotaru. Yoyogi Park was one of Tokyo's largest city parks and it was amazing in all ways. There were wide lawns, ponds everywhere and even forested areas. The sakura trees were in full bloom, covering their entire view with baby pink goodness that could even melt the toughest man's heart. The beauty of the park seemed so surreal, and this was indeed what they called nature at its peak. They barely even stopped their alices from coming out to roll around in the soft grass! It would be mayhem if they did.

"Let's go find a nice quiet spot, away from the noisy people." Hotaru suggested, and they did so. When they finally found a perfect shady spot, they took out their bentos and started digging in, taking in the view while they ate.

"Oops! Looks like we're out of drinks!" Mikan said cheerfully, "I'll go get some!"

"I'll go with you. You need help carrying the drinks." Natsume said. Honestly, he was uneasy at the thought of leaving her alone. Who knows if some bugger might just decide to hit on her?

"It's okay! I can totally handle it!" she insisted, blowing him off.

Mikan was skipping along the path while humming her favourite tune, when her shoulders bumped into someone.

"Oh my god I'm so sorry!" She bent her back repeatedly, and apologised profusely with her eyes shut.

The person she bumped into chuckled with a bass voice, sending shivers down her spine. It was as if she had heard that voice before. "It's okay really." Where did she hear it? Her entire body trembled, and she was so afraid to look up. Something was screaming for her to run away, but her legs stood rooted to the ground, just like in her nightmares.

She forced herself to straighten her spine, which she did so with great difficulty.

"Why are your eyes closed?"

"I..." she said, her voice quavering. Should she open her eyes? It would seem weird if she just walked away with her eyes closed. The thing was, she couldn't even move her legs! Talk about walking away. Move damn legs! She begged her legs to move, but they were dead stubborn.

"Are your eyes okay?" he continued questioning her with his slithery-like voice.

She forced herself to open her eyes, feeling like she just entered a death-trap. When she saw his face, it was something inside her just broke.

Reddish-brown hair that shadowed his dark purple orbs. A sharp nose that made people envious. Thin lips that smirked dangerously at her. Her memories was like a film rolling in her head, showing her the missing pictures of her past. Everything made sense now, the nightmares and the flashbacks. The puzzle was finally solved.

"Hiya Mikan, I wonder where you have been?" He looked at her with a dangerous glint in his eyes, and his voice was not pleasant at all.

"R...eo...oniisan-" her lips trembled as she struggled to make out the words. He moved closer to her, and extended his hand.

Run Mikan! Run! Her mother reminded her repeatedly, but this time, there was no getting away.

She let out a bloodcurdling scream that could be heard even miles away. Natsume...help me please!

Reo flustered after hearing her scream, and he locked her neck with one arm and covered her mouth with the other hand.

"Shhh! Good girls be quiet Mikan."

"Mmmph-!" She could feel his large hand tightening over her mouth, not giving her room breathe at all. She clawed at his arm, desperate for oxygen in her system. But her efforts were feeble against the hulk.

"I've been looking for you so long you little bitch," he whispered in her ear, and she could feel his wet breath on her ear. "You're not running away this time!"

I...can't breathe..!

Black spots started appearing in her eyes, and her mind was blurring out.

YOU BITCH! YOU F**KING BETRAYED ME! DIE!

No! Listen to me Reo-!

...

Run Mikan... He's here!

...

Blood on my hands... everywhere..!

...

I love...you…

Different voices flooded her mind all at once, and she didn't know what was going on anymore. Her eyes were closing slowly like a curtain fall after a theatre show when another figure entered her limited view.

"Bastard! Let go of her!" he growled, lunging forward at Reo.

Natsume unleashed his claws, and swung his right hand at Reo. Reo let go of Mikan, who dropped on the ground, and moved backwards. It was a close call! Natsume nearly got his throat if Reo was one step slower. Reo grabbed the hand that swung at him and pulled him in for a hard punch. But Natsume saw that coming and swooped down, giving him a left uppercut to his chin.

Reo stumbled backwards, and held his chin. His face twitched for a split second but then reverted to normal as if nothing ever happened.

"Looks like your knight in shining armour came huh?" he mocked, giving them a wry smile.

"Dammit I'll kill you!" He was about to go in for another move but Mikan grabbed him from behind.

"...No Natsume!"

"Mikan! Let go!"

"Please...I don't want you to get..." Mikan slumped down, scaring him out of his wits. She went completely limp on him, appearing to have lost consciousness.

"Mikan! Hey!" He tapped her cheeks frantically, but it looked like she was out cold.

"I'll see you next time...Mikan."

When Natsume looked up, Reo vanished from his eyes. He didn't know what trick he pulled, but that was not something an average human could pull off. He remembered that face and smell. No mistaking it, it was the leader. This means that the AAO was already chasing after Mikan, and for the leader to personally handle it, he knew there was something deeper about this. And the answer lies with Mikan.

When he heard her scream, his heart pounded quickly, the fear in him spreading like wildfire. His first instinct was to get to her as fast as he could, and protect his mate with his life. When he saw her face contorting with pain, he wanted to send the bastard into the depths of hell, bring him back out, and throw him back in just to let him experience hell one more time.

He looked down at Mikan's unconscious face, which was twisted with pain. Shit! He berated himself, and lifted her up gently. I'm sorry Mikan...