Author's Note: I was really glad with the reviews last chapter. I also could see that I have some new readers. Thanks so much guys Sorry for the late update. Won't happen again. Review!! Review!! Review!!

Chapter 21 – Troubled Feelings…

Echizen saw everything. He felt pain in his heart. Same as Natsume, he never loved anyone else besides Mikan. As much as he wanted to interrupt the moment Mikan and Natsume had, in his heart he wanted to but in his mind, something was stopping him. He saw Mikan… "Mikan…" he thought. He walks slowly behind the wall not to make sure they didn't see him. He leaned at the wall, closed his eyes. "Is it really destined for Mikan to be with me?" Echizen thought. "Or am I confusing her feelings or living in the past. Damn!"

---Back to Natsume and Mikan---

"Natsume…" Mikan whispered.

Natsume looked at Mikan and hugged her. How he misses to be with Mikan…

Just then…

"Natsume!" someone was shouting his name… Instantly Natsume and Mikan knew who this person was and immediately Mikan surprised by the shout made her stand up and have distance with Natsume.

Soon… Saya showed up and approached Natsume. "There you are. I've been looking all over for you." Saya said who got Natsume's arm. "Oh! Hi Mikan! Had enough fresh air?" Saya said sarcastically.

"Uhm… yeah… as a matter of fact I did. I better go now." Mikan said not even bother looking at the two.

"Before you go… I would just like to tell you that Mr. Narumi called and he would like me to tell you that you have a mission tonight with someone. They haven't decided yet who your partner will be. You'll be leaving tonight after dinner." Saya said still clinging on Natsume.

"Thanks" Mikan said coolly and left the two of them.

Mikan walked back at the apartment. When she reached the 2nd floor she saw Echizen waiting for her, sitting on the stairs.

"Echizen…" Mikan whispered. "Did he see everything just now?" she thought.

"Mikan…" Echizen said looking at her.

Mikan approached Echizen and sat beside him… "Waited long?"

"Not really" Echizen replied

Just then Natsume and Saya caught up with them on the stairs.

Echizen stood up as well as Mikan to give way to Natsume and Saya.

Natsume paused… stared at Echizen then to Mikan and said, "Just think about what I told you earlier."

Mikan nodded then heard Saya tell Natsume… "About what?"

"None of your business and can you stop clinging to me" Natsume said with irritation.

"Hmph! Fine!" Saya said pushing away Natsume's arm.

"What was that all about?" Echizen asked Mikan when Natsume and Saya already went inside the apartment.

"Oh that… well…" Mikan said not knowing if she could tell honestly.

"You don't have to Mikan." Echizen said cutting Mikan off…

"But…" Mikan said.

"It's okay…I don't want to hear it as well… Sorry for asking." Echizen said then stood up. "Do you have plans for tonight? Want to have dinner out?"

Mikan stood up and held Echizen's arm and said… "As much as I want to but I have something planned already. Let's just have dinner tomorrow okay?" Mikan replied. "I can't let Echizen know about the academy's mission." She thought.

"That's okay. Tomorrow then." Echizen smiled and was about to enter his apartment when Mikan didn't let go of his arms still… "Uh… Mikan?" Echizen said referring to his arm.

"Are we okay?" Mikan said sadly.

Echizen patted Mikan's head and let a small laugh out… "Tsk… you're really so cute when you pout like that… Of course we're okay. I'll see you tomorrow. I love you."

Mikan smiled then kissed Echizen on his cheek. "Alright then. See you tomorrow." Then Mikan went inside her apartment.

Echizen stayed for a while leaning at his apartment door… "I've never heard you say I love you back. Do you really want to be with me?" Echizen thought then sighed.

"Hey Lover boy!" Momo said teasing Echizen.

"Hn!" Echizen said and went inside the apartment slammed the door to Momo.

"Did I say something wrong?" Momo asked Hotaru who was with him.

"Obviously, your friend was not in a good mood and obviously if you see someone like that then that means it's really not a good time to joke around." Hotaru replied casually.

"That why I love you Hotaru, you're so bright…" Momo said hugging Hotaru childishly…

"And yeah, I fell in love with you too for your childish acts… Get off me!" Hotaru said sarcastically but was smiling.

"So you're finally admitting that you fell for me already?" Momo asked seriously this time which caught Hotaru's attention.

"Oh yeah which reminds me, I have to go now. Call you later. Bye" Hotaru said as fast as she could and kissed Momo in the cheeks then went inside the apartment.

"Tsk… same as always! Always avoiding the question!" Momo said laughing then went inside as well.

"Natsume! Phone… It's Mr. Narumi!" Anna shouted

Natsume got the extension from his room and answered. "What do you want Narumi?"

"Was Saya able to inform you that Mikan will have a mission tonight? I'm instructing you to go with her. It will be a task A mission. You would need to bring 1 student back from the academy. It seems that AAO has been active again with kidnapping students from school grounds."

"I see… Is there anyone else suited for accompanying Mikan?" Natsume asked

"Why? Is there something wrong? I'm afraid not Natsume. You two are fitted for the job." Narumi replied.

"I see. Details?" Natsume asked straightforwardly.

"Persona and I will pick you up after dinner and proceed first to the academy to discuss details." Narumi said then followed, "Have you been helping Saya out?"

"Yes I have." Natsume said then he hung up the phone. After their conversation, Natsume went down for dinner. He saw everyone getting ready to take a seat.

"What did Mr. Narumi tell you Natsume?" Yuu asked. "I heard from Anna that he called."

"He asked to go on a mission tonight with Mikan. They will pick us up after dinner, then bring us back to the academy for details." Natsume said simply taking a seat.

Mikan looked at him questioningly. "I see… So I'll be with Natsume tonight." Mikan thought.

Saya approached Natsume to bring him food. "I can do that very well myself Saya. You don't have to." Natsume said.

"But I want to… As I can see, no one is really taking good care of you!" Saya said loudly enough for everyone to hear.

Mikan knew who Saya was referring to. Mikan hardly touched her plate when she stood up and said, "I'll go get my things ready for the mission. Excuse me." Mikan said to everyone.

"Uh… okay Mikan!" Nonoko said worriedly. Nonoko hated for Saya always butting in to Natsume and Mikan's personal problems. If she just had her alice so she could make a potion to shut Saya up. She laughed at her thoughts which Koko noticed.

"You okay?" Koko asked and Nonoko just nodded. "Better check on Mikan." Nonoko said to Koko. "Yup, I will. After eating." Koko replied.

Ruka on the other hand was being bothered by Miyuki more than often now. He hated it. "Aww… come on Ruka… one more bite!" Miyuki said playfully. Ruka followed since he doesn't want Miyuki to get embarrassed as noted by Mr. Narumi to him to treat Miyuki well. "What the hell is that Mr. Narumi planning?" He thought. Ruka looked at Hotaru. Hotaru saw him looking at her. Ruka quickly turned his face to another direction. Miyuki saw this and got irritated.

"Hey Hotaru! Do you know how to cook?" Miyuki asked innocently. "Because as the saying goes… "Food/Cooking is a way to man's heart"…something like that"

Ruka quickly looked at Hotaru as well as everyone else, surprised that another girl can provoke Hotaru easily.

Hotaru stood up, got her plate and faced Miyuki. "That may be true Miyuki but I believe there is more to it than just cooking to get to a man's heart… Right Ruka?" Hotaru said sarcastically facing Ruka, making Ruka blushed then Hotaru got her answer, then placed her plate at the kitchen sink, soon then left the kitchen making Miyuki more furious than ever.

Koko couldn't stop himself from laughing as well as Mochu… "You got that right Hotaru!... Right Ruka?" Koko asked still laughing.

"Shut up!" Ruka said still blushing although he was happy to hear Hotaru referring to him. He then remembered… "Yup there is one thing… Blackmailing." Then he smiled to his thought.

Mikan was fixing her things when Hotaru went inside the room. Hotaru went straight to bed facing Mikan.

Mikan smiled and said, "Tired?"

"Not really. Just hated the atmosphere downstairs." Hotaru said casually making a tiny giggle.

"Just seeing your reaction, I guess something happened downstairs and I guess you've won again.." Mikan said who was still getting what she needed for the mission. Hotaru just smiled. "What are you looking for?" Hotaru asked.

"The first-aid kit. I don't know where I placed it. Natsume might…" Then Mikan stopped as soon as she realized she said Natsume's name.

Hotaru just continued to smile at her best friend. She exactly knew how Mikan was going through. She could understand her. She didn't say anything to Mikan because she would like Mikan to realize for herself. Mikan saw the first-aid kit and quickly placed it her backpack.

They heard a car's sound the horn signaling for them to come down. "Guess Mr. Narumi is here with Persona. I'll go ahead now, Hotaru. I'll probably see you tomorrow. You know how this A-missions go." Mikan said quickly went up the bed, kissed Hotaru at the cheeks and hugged her.

"Hn… Take care okay." Hotaru said. "Will do." Mikan said with a smile and went out the room.

On her way out of the room, she saw Natsume. "You ready?" Natsume asked.

Mikan smiled and said, "Ready as ever." And both went down the stairs at the same time.

It was the first A-mission given to them since they left the academy. Their friends bid them goodbye and told them to take care.

When they left the apartment and headed to the car, what Mikan didn't see is that Echizen was looking at them.

"So that was her plans for tonight… a plan to be with Natsume." Echizen thought with pain in his heart.