Here's the next chapter! Over all, this one's a bit more lighthearted than previous ones. Hope you enjoy it!
Disclaimer: Nope…I don't think blackmailing Tachibana will make Gakuen Alice mine either.
"So, want to go to Central town with me today? I've got some shopping to do." Ruka asked the pair as they finished their breakfast. Mikan thought about this for a second as she finished chewing her last piece of sausage. She couldn't think of any reason why she shouldn't go. Besides, she was determined to be optimistic, at least on the outside. It did no one else any good if she was sullen and hurting all the time. And she had to take advantage of every moment she had with her friends. Who knew when something would take them away for good? At this thought her gaze shifted to Natsume before she quickly looked back at Ruka, determined not to dwell on that thought. Compartmentalize…isn't that what she heard someone call it? Well that's what she'd do. From now on, when she was with her friends, she would shove all her pain and worry into a little compartment in her brain and lock it tight. The happy, spirited Mikan was what her friends expected, needed. So that's who she'd be. She'd chosen this path…there was no use dragging everyone else down with her. Like that time with Luna, she had to be strong and not let anything show, for everyone else's sake.
"Sure, sounds like fun." Then Mikan recalled her state of dress. Looking down at her pajamas she grinned foolishly. "Guess I should probably get dressed first. I'll meet you back here in fifteen minutes?"
Ruka smiled and nodded before turning to his best friend. A simple nod confirmed he'd be joining them as well. With that, Mikan ran to her room and dressed at top speed. True to her word she was back downstairs in fifteen minutes flat.
"Ok, ready," she huffed, out of breath. Ruka chuckled and a smile twitched at Natsume's lips. She looked even prettier all flushed and winded.
"Alright then, after you," Ruka indicated to the door. And with that they were off. On the bus, Mikan plopped herself down next to Natsume without a word, instead rambling off at Ruka about how much Howalon she could by with her new allowance. As Natsume listened to her, he was impressed with how much her acting had improved. One could almost believe this was the same Mikan from a few months ago. But he watched her smiling face with discerning eyes and saw the flicker of suffering lurking just beneath. Yes, her acting had improved, but she still couldn't fool him. He knew his Mikan too well for that. Quietly, he slid his hand across the seat cushion and slipped it into hers, his heart skipping just a little when her fingers tightened around his, and she turned to look at him in surprise. He met her gaze steadily and after a moment she blushed and turned away, but as she did, he saw the flash of real happiness in her eyes. Don't worry, Mikan. No matter what, I'm here for you. We'll weather this together.
As Natsume thought this, the bus arrived at their destination. It had been a while since he'd been to Central Town. Absently, he wondered what it was Ruka needed to get here. Natsume had released Mikan's hand so that they could shuffle their way out of the bus, but now as they began making their way through Central Town, he snatched it back up, glaring at anyone who dared stare at the young pair.
Mikan's heart did flipflops as she felt Natsume's hand wrap around hers. She wondered how they looked to the other people in Central Town. Did they look like a couple? Now that she thought about it, were they? They'd both confessed to each other back before her disappearing act. Did Natsume consider them boyfriend and girlfriend now? She felt her cheeks go hot at the idea. She had to admit, she liked it. She realized Natsume was watching her with a curious expression, and she turned even redder. She probably looked like a tomato by now. Darn him and his powers of observation. Trying to get her cheeks back to normal, she turned to Ruka.
"Hey, what was it you needed to get here?" She inquired, curious.
"Erm…" Ruka's gaze shifted to Natsume. "It a secret…" he said, looking back at Mikan.
"Eh? A secret? What kind of secret?" Mikan leaned closer, trying to see if she could read it on his face. But she lacked Natsume's skills and was therefore no closer to revealing the truth.
"Um…well…" Ruka looked at Natsume again, then back at Mikan. Beckoning her to lean closer, he whispered in her ear, Natsume watching with a slight frown. "Well, you know, it's almost November…less than a month till Natsume's birthday. I was trying to get an idea what to get him. You should keep your eye open too. Maybe he'll give us an idea as we walk around."
Mikan's eyes widened. She had completely forgotten that his birthday was coming up. Nodding as Ruka pulled away, she looked back at Natsume, a thoughtful look on her face. Natsume rolled his eyes. As if they could be any more obvious. Ah well, he might as well walk around and see if he could find anything to help them in their dilemma. Besides, he was in no rush to relinquish Mikan's hand again anytime soon.
The air was cool and pleasant as they strolled about the town, a perfect autumn day. Mikan dragged them energetically from one store to another, looking for anything that peaked Natsume's interest. Natsume played along, picking up this, looking at that, but in truth he was too preoccupied to think about birthday presents. As happy as he was to see her smiling again, it bothered him deeply that she was hiding her true heart from him. Unconsciously, his hand tightened around hers. Mikan paused in the midst of her current rambling to look at him curiously, but when he said nothing, she turned back to Ruka to continue what she was saying.
They pasted the next couple hours in this generally peaceful manner, until they ran into some fellow shoppers.
"Hey! Shorty!" Tsubasa called, spotting them from a couple stores down. He, Misaki, and Megane walked over to join them. Mikan paused for a brief moment, trying to decide how to react to seeing her senpai again. She knew he probably had lots of questions for her. He was probably really worried. What was the best way to act to keep him from overreacting or being upset? Deciding to go with her earlier decision, she defaulted to how she would have acted before.
"Tsubasa-senpai!" Mikan grinned, running forward – releasing Natsume's hand to his great irritation – and wrapping herself around him in typical Koala-Mikan fashion. Tsubasa frowned briefly. He hadn't missed her hesitation, and on top of that she seemed overly cheerful. But for the moment, he went with it, picking her up and hugging her close.
"Hey, shorty, you had us all real worried there. We miss having you in the Special class." Tsubasa talked normally, but shot a worried glance at the two younger boys over her shoulder. Ruka simply shrugged, but Natsume had a killing aura as he glared at the older boy holding his girl so close. Tsubasa ignored him, despite the slight chill of impending doom he felt run down his spine.
"Well, no matter what your new class is like, we'll always be your coolest senpai, huh?" Misaki grinned, trying to keep things light. "Hey, don't start thinkin' you're too cool for us or somethin' now that you're a principal," she joked. "Don't forget your roots!"
"Yeah! Hurray for roots!" Mikan, Misaki, Tsubasa, and Megane cheered like idiots, pumping their arms in the air. Ruka sweetdropped and Natsume gagged.
"Bunch of hopeless retards," he muttered, still shooting daggers of death at Tsubasa. Taking a couple quick steps forward, he grabbed Mikan's arm and yanked her back to him. Don't keep touching what isn't yours, pedophile.
Tsubasa shrugged. Hey now, no need to be all tense. She came to me.
"Let's get away from these loser's, Mikan. Their idiocy is contagious." Natsume ground out, his annoyed gaze never leaving Tsubasa. He pulled her hand and turned to walk to a different store down the way. Mikan twisted around to wave at the older group.
"Sorry guys, I've still got some shopping to do. I'll come visit later! Don't forget me!" She waved a tissue in a dramatic farewell as Natsume dragged her away, Ruka following close on their heels. Once they were out of earshot, Misaki turned to Tsubasa.
"Well, she seemed surprisingly cheerful."
"Yeah, too cheerful. She's hiding her true feelings. Natsume's worried too…" Tsubasa frowned.
"Eh?" Misaki looked at him, confused. "How could you tell through all the death glares?"
Tsubasa shrugged. "Call it protector's instinct. We're on the same wavelength, him and I."
"I think he'd roast you if he heard you say that." Megane pointed out, thinking of the fire-caster's strong distaste for the shadow user.
"Ah, Natsume, why are you always so mean to Tsubasa-senpai?" Mikan whined as they walked into the next store.
"Because your idiocy doesn't need encouragement," Natsume huffed, still irked. Ruka smiled, leaning over to whisper in Mikan's ear conspiratorially.
"Don't worry. He's just jealous because you're always hugging and clinging to that shadow manipulator."
"EH?! Natsume's jealous?!" Mikan shouted in surprise. Ruka sweat-dropped as everyone in the store turned to stare at them, and Natsume's scowl focused on him.
"Stupid, what are you saying now?" Natsume grumbled. Ruka diverted their attention, trying to diffuse the situation.
"Ah! Sakura, look! There's the Howalon store." Ruka pointed to the store a couple shops down across the street.
"Eh? Howalon?" With that, Mikan was gone, making her way through the crowd to the Howalon line, Natsume's hand forgotten. Natsume sighed, shoving his hands in his pockets and shooting another scowl at Ruka before following after her. Ruka smiled a secret smile to himself, despite Natsume. This was almost like old times. It felt so normal. He laughed and went to join the other two as Mikan turned to beckon him excitedly.
So there it is! I see a lot of people are looking at this story, but hardly anyone is reviewing. :( Thank you, the few of you that have. Please review! Good, bad or otherwise, they are what I live for!