Chapter 26: Violence isn't the answer

After the soccer game ended, Natsume walked back into his room. Ruka wasn't talking to him and Mikan was avoiding him. In fact, everyone was avoiding him. Well, actually there was one exception, which was Hotaru. Then again, she didn't really talk to him; she just found any opportunity to hit him with her Baka gun.

Natsume laid on his bed, looking up at the ceiling. He folded his hands behind his head, and started to think. A quick flashback played in his head.

Natsume loaded up his kick and was about to kick the ball at that guy's face when he heard Mikan's voice, "No, wait, Natsume, don't do it!"

Natsume rolled over, as Mikan's voice played over and over in his head. Why did she have such an impact on me? Why, when a million people were cheering my name, did I only hear her voice? Natsume sat up on his bed, And the worst is, I can't do anything about it….it's like has control over me! Natsume shook his head, and stood up, Why out of all the people to fall in love with, I just have to fall for her?

Natsume opened the door and walked out of his room. He walked into the school, feeling everyone's stares on him. He really didn't care though; he just wanted to find Mikan. He walked into the classroom, and saw Mikan, sitting at her desk, talking to Ruka. Immediately, the room silenced. Everyone turned to look at him. Natsume walked casually to his seat, next to Mikan. He saw Mikan, stiffen up. He felt Ruka's glare on him. Mikan had her back to him. He tapped her, on her back.

She shivered and without turning around, she said, "What do you want, Natsume?"

"I want to talk to you," Natsume replied.

"Can't it wait till later?" Mikan asked.

"No, it can't," Natsume replied, "I need to talk to you."

Mikan sighed and turned around to face him, "What is so important it can't wait till after class?"

"What I need to say to you," Natsume replied, with no emotion in his face.

Mikan sighed, "Fine, go ahead, say it."

Natsume looked around and saw his other classmates, listening to them. He turned back to Mikan and said, "In private."

Mikan sighed, "Fine." She was about to get up when Ruka grabbed her wrist.

"Don't you remember, Mikan?" Ruka asked, "Subaru said, I couldn't let you out of my sight, just in case something were to happen to you."

"it's okay, my shoulder's fine," Mikan replied.

"I know, but Subaru said-" Ruka began but got cut off by Natsume, "Who gives a crap what he says?"

Ruka glared at Natsume, "it's for Mikan's own good."

"It's okay, Ruka-pyon, it won't take long, right?" Mikan turned to Natsume.

Natsume shrugged, "More or less."

Ruka let go of Mikan, and turned his attention to Natsume, "Fine, but if anything happens to her, you'll be the one responsible."

"Yeah, yeah, I know," Natsume waved him off.

Mikan and Natsume walked out of the classroom. They stopped in the middle of a deserted hallway.

"Okay, so what do you want?" Mikan asked.

Natsume leaned against the wall, and mumbled something.

"What did you say?" Mikan asked, "Talk louder."

"I said, how do you feel when you see me hurt other players?" Natsume asked, looking away from her.

Mikan looked startled, but quickly recovered, "I didn't like seeing you or Ruka-pyon hurt other people. I was really happy when I saw that Ruka-pyon stop hurting other players, so then I thought that you would stop too. But I guess i was wrong."

Natsume felt ashamed, but he didn't show it, "I just wanted to get back at that guy for you."

"I know you did, and it made me really happy to know you were defending me," Mikan replied, "But I never asked you to hurt him."

Natsume looked at her, "I thought I was doing you a favor."

"I never said I wanted you to hurt him," Mikan said.

"But I thought-" Natsume began but got cut off but Mikan, "You thought? You thought what? That I would want you to hurt someone for me? I would never ask anyone to do that for me!"

"But he hurt you! Do you see your shoulder? He was the one who caused that! How can you forgive him so easily?" Natsume shouted.

"I didn't forgive him, i still really mad that he did this to me, but I would never hit him back!" Mikan shouted, "Because that would mean I'm no better than him!"

When Natsume didn't say anything, Mikan went on, "Just because someone does something to anger you doesn't mean, you have to get back at them. It's like saying, someone killed your best friend, and to get back at that person, you killed him. And that makes you no better than the guy who killed your best friend. It puts you on the same level as him. It would still make him a murder, just like the other guy."

Natsume hid his face under his bangs. Mikan still wasn't done yet, "And you know what Natsume? Violence isn't the answer to anything!" With that said, she walked back to the classroom.

Natsume stood there, letting everything Mikan said, sink in. He slammed his fist against the wall, making a dent. Mikan was right, everything she said was right. Why hadn't he noticed it before? He drew his hand down and walked to his room. He didn't feel like going to class. He walked into his room, and sat on the bed. He wanted to apologize to Mikan, but he didn't know how, He was never the one to say 'sorry'. He laid there, starring at the ceiling, until the bell rang. He got stood up and decided to try another attempt to get Mikan to forgive him.

He walked back into the school, looking for Mikan. He finally spotted her, walking with Ruka and Hotaru. He walked up to them.

Mikan looked at him, "What do you want now? You already told me what you wanted to say."

Natsume put in hand behind his head, and shifted from one foot to another, feeling a little uncomfortable, "Well, I…just, er…wanted to say….i kinda said a…uh…stupid words….I'm…." he trailed off.

Mikan, couldn't help herself, she smiled. She knew Natsume was trying really hard to say 'sorry'.

Natsume started to blush, "I…uh…..um….well…..i just…i didn't mean…"

Mikan giggled, "It's okay, Natsume, I forgive you."

Natsume was startled, but he managed to reply, "Er, okay, sure."

Mikan gave him a hug, "I didn't mean to yell at you, I just, got kinda mad."

Natsume felt himself hug her back, "No, you were right; violence isn't the answer to anything."

Mikan laughed, and Ruka grinned, "I knew you would finally realize it."

"With no help from you, of course," Natsume replied, earning him a glare from Ruka.

Suddenly the loud speaker blared up, "Natsume Hyuuga, please report to the office."

Mikan looked up at Natsume, who shrugged. Together, they walked to the office. When they walked inside, they saw Principal Himemiya and another woman, standing next to her.

"If you would please go," the women said to Himemiya, "I have some business to take care of with the boy."

"Of course," Himemiya said, and then she got up and exited the office.

When the door closed, the woman turned to Natsume, "You must be the Natsume Hyuuga."

"The one and only," Natsume replied.

"Do you remember the soccer game today?" the woman asked.

"Yeah, so what?" Natsume replied.

"Do you remember the boy you punched?" the woman asked.

"Let me guess," Natsume said, "You're his mom."

The woman nodded, "Do you know I could get you expelled for doing such a violent act?"

"What about your son?" Natsume held his ground, "Did you see what he did to one of our players?" Natsume pointed at Mikan.

"Ahh, yes I remember that," the woman said, "But that was by accident."

"Is that so?" Natsume asked, "If I'm not mistaken, I heard that he was told by his mom to 'hit the girl'."

The woman sucked in a breath, "And how might you know that?"

"I have my sources," Natsume replied, "So just try me and see what happens to you and your son."

The woman bit her lip, "this isn't over Natsume Hyuuga!" Then she stormed out of the room.

"Whoa, what was that about?" Ruka asked, "And what did you mean, she told her son to hit the girl?"

"She told him to hit Mikan, that's all there is to it," Natsume replied.

"And how did you know that?" Hotaru asked.

"Just like you have your sources, I have mine," Natsume said to her.

Hotaru glared at him, and he returned it. Mikan stood by, letting the conversation between, Natsume and that woman sink in. Finally she said, "Wow, moms are scary."

Hotaru turned to her, "Well, you can say that, but then again, not all moms are like that."

"Yeah, like my mommy!" Mikan said, and then she sighed, "I really do miss her."

"But she'll always be with you, in your heart," Natsume said. Hotaru, Ruka, and Mikan gasped.

"What?" Natsume asked.

"You actually said something smart," Ruka said.

"I always say smart things," Natsume scoffed.

Mikan giggled and said, "You really surprised me there, Natsume."

Natsume blushed, "Whatever."

Mikan took Ruka's and Natsume's hand and led them away. Hotaru watched Mikan, as she led the boys away. My Mikan's really growing up; Hotaru thought as a small grin tugged at her mouth, too bad she's too dense to see their feelings for her.

KK: So what did you think? Things are sure going to get more interesting… Okay that's all I'm gonna say…..for now…, so anyways plz review! B.H! .