Poll: Who Should Mikan End Up With?

Here are the votes right now! Did I mention you can vote for more than one person at once? And if you really want someone to win, you can vote for that same person every new chapter!

Natsume: 6

Koko: 6

Love Rivalries

So, basically, now that all the trouble indirectly caused by Hoshi is over, all Mikan needs to do is stop the curse. To stop the curse she must find someone she likes. She already has candidates in her mind (YOU GUYS CHOOSE WHO YOU WANT TO FIGHT FOR HER LOVE!) and so she is going to give these people chances to make her like them. Of course, they can't know she's going to choose them from how they're treating her or anything.

YOU CAN VOTE FOR ANYONE TO END UP WITH MIKAN. I'll be able to change the story from this point to match who you want Mikan to end up with. I only get to vote once completely but you can vote every new chapter!"

Summary: Mikan Sakura returns to Alice Academy from Alice Academy America after two years. Everyone is eager to see her again. Hotaru and Natsume have gotten ready for their past routine with Mikan. But now Mikan's different from before. She's cold, powerful, talented and smart. She is heartless. No longer is she the same girl people knew two years ago. Will the smiling Mikan ever come back?

Recap:

"I'll make you fall for me," Ruka stated. "And if I fail-"

"If you fail, I'm free to matchmake you with Hotaru, right?"

"W-well..."

"Well, then you have until Hotaru-chan comes back!"

Chapter 21: Love Rivalries and Realization

"Let's sneak out today," Mikan suggested to Koko.

"Eh?!" Koko's eyes widened.

"For a date~!" she exclaimed.

"I see," Koko chuckled. "So now?"

"No, at 5, silly!"

"Okay... For dinner?"

"What else?"

The two childhood friends laughed.

"It's hard to believe you accepted my proposal yesterday night..." Koko smiled.

Flashback

"So now that we're back in the real world... what do we do?" Mikan wondered.

"About that, I've prepared everything," Koko smiled gently, leading them both back to Heaven.

"How come you can come up here?" Mikan questioned.

"Well, they gave me access to this place whenever I want. I just have to think of it."

"Hm, they sure treat you nice..."

"And they don't treat you well?"

"Well they do, but they're not this kind... usually."

'About that, I had to undergo harsh circumstances,' Koko thought, crying anime tears inwardly.

"I have my ways," Koko said aloud hesitantly.

The two were served dinner, and then they went for a walk.

"Wow, the moon is actually still quite far, even from Heaven!" Mikan exclaimed, eyes shining with excitement.

Koko chuckled, but there was fear in his eyes.

"It's beautiful, but it lies in an unreachable place," he sighed. "Just like you..." he tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.

"Koko," a smile stretched upon Mikan's face.

"Mikan, I know we haven't even started dating, but I think we've had a good relationship in the past... And I honestly, truly love you... So please," Koko got down on one knee. "Will you marry me?"

Mikan took his hands and lifted him up. "Why not, silly?" she smiled. "Of course I will!"

Koko slipped the engagement ring on her finger. "You're mine."

"As you are mine," Mikan stuck out her tongue.

"But you know, you can still change your mind... I don't care too much..." Koko said, faltering in his words.

"I know... But I don't want to hurt you..."

"So did you say yes because of pity?'

"WHAT!? Of course not! After realizing everything you've done for me, I dunno... I just feel really warm inside... That feeling, it's appreciation, love..."

Koko tilted her head up. "I know..."

"I love you, idiot," Mikan murmured, before Koko captured her lips.

End Flashback

"So what's tonight? Wedding plans?" Koko asked.

Their date had already started.

"How did you know?" Mikan wondered.

"I'm a mindreader..." Koko stated the obvious.

"Oh. Right," Mikan blinked. "Well, that and some questions."

"Questions?"

"You'll see."

Mikan snapped her fingers, and the two were teleported into a dimension that Mikan had been working on.

"It's made with what you love- candy," Mikan giggled.

Koko was still in awe.

"It's a maze~ Can you find the way out?" Mikan smiled. "If you do, only then will we be led our dinner!"

Koko took two hours to find the garden where their dinner appeared immediately.

"Anna cooked it," Mikan stated.

The two began to eat.

"So um, did you recognize me when I first came to Gakuen Alice?" Mikan asked.

"Yeah.. but you basically just met me again, so I couldn't get too close with you. Besides, so many people were against you. I-I'm sorry, I didn't help you on your first day," Koko said. "And after that, others got close with you and I couldn't find the chance... And then you were so happy, I couldn't possibly confuse you. I knew that you'd be sad... But then you went to Alice Academy America. I definitely had no chance then. But then I joined the Dangerous Ability after you came back. I'd been planning to tell you, but you became so distant... and the Death Devils... Well in this future you guys were all happy and carefree and kind, but still... I know that side of you guys can't possibly disappear so easily."

"That's alright. More importantly, how come you remember what happened in the other past?" Mikan questioned with a more serious tone.

"I was the one who asked Kinomoto Sakurana and Itsumika Hoshiko to let me keep my memories. I needed to remember. Because along with those memories was the realization that you were the Mi-chi I knew long ago. Because things were to change, there was a chance I'd forget you. And then, there would truly be no way for us to be together... No way that we'd be the same," Koko explained. "I was also the one who asked Sakurana to teleport your siblings into Hoshiko's dimension..."

"One more question, how come you know their full names? Hoshi and Sakura-chan..."

"They told me they ship us... So they're rooting for me... And since you're basically the reincarnation of their sister, I'm like their brother-in-law somehow... So they told me to be less formal, and told me, that at least I can call them but their full names or full first names. It wasn't exactly polite to a god, but they gave me their permission..."

"Th-those idiots! Besides, I might not be with you... I do have some feelings for Natsume..."

Koko's eyes hardened. "I know. But I want us to be together. Dammit Mikan, we're getting married in a few months, you're still thinking about someone else?"

"Of course she'd still want me," Natsume's voice came.

Mikan was startled, "How did you get in here!?"

"Goddess Itsumika. She was extremely reluctant to let me come but she said even she wasn't to decide your future. She wants you to choose between us, Mikan. Now," Natsume stated.

"How do you feel about us, Mikan?" Koko asked. "We need to know."

"Well, I love you both... I love you both equally," Mikan said.

"I met Koko first. We're childhood friends since birth. There's a chance we were promised to each other before we were born. Fate may have tied us together. Maybe they wanted troubles in our relationship so our bond could also grow stronger... I don't mind. I may have forgotten him at some point but I know that I truly love him. He's been there for me for so long... protecting me from the shadows, without me ever knowing... I really appreciate what he does for me. He loves me, and I love him... He makes me happy, and he always has. He probably will continue to do so in our future together," Mikan touched her engagement ring on her left hand with closed eyes, a smile on her face.

Natsume took notice of that, jealousy evident in his eyes.

"While not remembering Koko, I'd somehow met Natsume first as well. I grew to have a puppy crush, and then like... and then love... He was really mean to me, but it was fun. And even though we fight, there are those times when we just know... we need each other... we can't fool around right now... We need to work together and fix this problem. He's there for me in dark times, and I am grateful I'm not alone when I'm crying. It makes me feel needed, like I'm apart of this world. He makes me angry a lot, but he also cheers me up when he knows it's needed." Mikan explained, putting her hands on her chest. "Koko, you're like the sun in my life, shining brightly everyday in my world. But because I gain happiness from the sun and love provided, there are shadows. But Koko, you protect me from those shadows without me knowing. You protect me in shadows of your own. Natsume, you're like the moon at night, you're there for me when it's a dark moment in my life. You're a light I reach for when I'm alone, you're the hope that I need... But you know-"

"Mikan," Natsume spoke up. "Are you marrying Koko?"

Mikan beamed, "So you noticed! Well for now, I've agreed. The only other choice is you anyway. But before that I need to pair up Ruka and Hotaru~!"

'I'll do my best to win you back,' Natsume thought, gritting his teeth. Physically, he'd lost to Koko. Emotionally, he didn't know yet. That was up to Mikan. Natsume left.

"Koko, you do know that you know me best right? You might have a hint of what my final decision is," Mikan turned to Koko as soon as Natsume left.

"I know, Mi-chi. I'll support your decision no matter what it is," Koko replied.

Mikan hugged Koko. "You've done everything for me. Natsume hasn't done much, and yet he's captured my heart as well. That's not fair..."

Koko looked away, "So you're choosing him?"

"I never said that, silly!" Mikan giggled. "There'll be two days before my final decision!"

"This isn't a game, Mikan... Feelings are at risk here. Deep ones," Koko sighed, leaving Mikan alone.

"W-wait!" Mikan exclaimed, a hurt expression upon her face. Her outstretched hand went back to her sides as she looked down. "In the end, I just can't choose..."

Me: So um, somebody voted for Ruka after Ch. 20... but by then he had already been eliminated. Wow, nobody ships RukaxMikan much, eh? Nobody reviewed on the last chapter :( Please review on this chapter...

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR 2,602 VIEWS THIS MONTH~! The highest was 2617, I wonder if I can break it with this chapter? This story got the most attention... I've had 2679 views to all my stories in total this month... A Different Mikan made up for over a third of it!

Oh yeah, if we don't break the tie of Natsume and Koko's votes, I won't be able to make an ending. It's your choice guys! Leave it in the reviews!