Disclaimer: I do not, repeat do not, own Gakuen Alice… I wish I did though… Oh yeah, Demon and Angel are not Gakuen Alice characters; they're mine…

Summary: The academy's finally getting serious about dealing with Mikan's alices, and the Dangerous Ability Class is getting a new teacher in the bargain. What's going to happen next?


Chapter 50

Mikan and Natsume returned to the other side of the outcrop just as the most of the gang finished having their lunch. Mikan met Hotaru's eye in the distance separating them. Hotaru turned to Ruka and sent him on a little errand for her. Ruka smiled at his girlfriend, knowing she was sending him off for a reason, and left her with a peck on the cheek before running off to get what she wanted. Mikan also turned to Natsume, asking him to get them something to eat.

Natsume eyed her vacantly for a moment before uttering a "whatever" and walking away. Mikan smiled at his retreating back. Natsume was trying his best to be less possessive. She'll have to show him later on how much she's appreciating his effort. But right now, she has to have a long-overdue chat with her best-friend.

"So, you finally got Hyuuga to loosen up," Hotaru commented as Mikan approached her.

"No," Mikan laughed, sensing that Natsume had returned with their food and was currently keeping an eye on her and Hotaru. But he kept his distance, settling on their blanket and not interrupting them. "He is trying his best though," she added. "Let's take a walk around, Hotaru. We have a lot of catching up to do."

Hotaru nodded and followed her. They slowly walked the length of the beach and back, chatting with each other all the while. Both talked about what had happened to each of them during the past five years Mikan was away. When they arrived back on their spot of the beach, Hotaru heaved a sigh. "I guess I'll rarely get to use the baka gun on you nowadays, since it looks like you've finally grown a brain. Oh well," she shrugged, "I'll always have Ruka to use it on anyway."

"I'm sure you'll find the opportunity to use it on me again, Hotaru," Mikan sweat dropped. She couldn't help feeling a bit sorry for poor Ruka. "I'll see you later then," Mikan hastily departed before Hotaru thought of a reason to use that gun on her.

Natsume was waiting for her on their blanket, already opening one of the bento boxes assigned to them. Mikan plopped down beside him. "Natsume," Mikan called his attention. She waited for him to turn to her before she gave him a long, hot, lingering kiss that had his brain short-circuiting.

"What was that for?" Natsume asked once she ended the kiss, still shaking off its enduring effect.

"Nothing much," Mikan grinned as she picked out a sushi from his box and popped it into her mouth. "Just a little something for the effort," she said as she cuddled up against him. Natsume smiled down at her. If that was going to be his reward for every time he thumps down his possessiveness, he'll certainly be less inclined to be domineering of her. Mikan snatched another roll of sushi from his bento. "Here," she offered it to him with a smile. Natsume raised an amused brow at her before eating it out of her finger. He then fed her in turn, holding out a riceball for her to bite into.

"Aw, please stop all the sweetness and mushiness. It's bound to attract swarms and colonies of insects," Angel griped teasingly when they finished their lunch in such a fashion. "But really, do continue with the PDA. It's quite entertaining as you can see." She motioned towards the crowd who'd stop to gawk at the couple. Angel was evidently notifying them of the attention they were attracting.

Natsume glared that the crowd. "Move it," he snarled, throwing in a couple of flares for emphasis. The throng quickly dispersed, wanting to avoid the Black Cat's wrath. Mikan tried to stiff her giggles, but they were escaping her nonetheless. Natsume disbelievingly stared at her as she dissolved into piles of laughter.

"I'm sorry," she apologized in between sniggers. "But it's really quite amusing when you think about it." Natsume smirked finding the hilarity of the scene, too.

As afternoon progressed, the sound of an air horn cut through the din of the beach, drawing everyone's attention. "Could everyone please gather over here for this afternoon's activity?" Narumi's voice blared through the speakers. A ruckus was created as everyone proceeded to the middle of the beach were a stage had been set up. "Alright everyone, we're going to have a little competition this afternoon, and here are some of the prizes you can win." He pulled off the cloth covering a long table.

All the girls began staring at the items in awe. A locket caught Mikan's eye. It had an oval hinged pendant suspended on a thin gold chain. She could already imagine wearing it with a picture of her and Natsume inside. Angel also had her eye on a certain item. It was a cute stuff wolf that's similar to the one Mikan gave Demon on one of his birthdays, only this one had fluffy white fur and blue eyes. Hotaru's eyes sparkled at the sight of the latest edition digital camera that's the grand prize. She'd been saving to buy one of those for awhile now. This wasn't an opportunity she'll pass up.

Natsume frowned noticing something strange about the prizes. It was as if all the stuff had a specific person in mind. "Hey, why do the prizes look like they're only for the girls?" he bluntly asked Narumi.

"That's part of the game, Natsume," Narumi winked at him, making those around Natsume fainted due to the human pheromone alice. All the wink did to Natsume was to send a shiver of disgust down his spine, though he didn't outwardly show it. It was times like this that he was infinitely grateful that he now possesses a nullifying alice. "The ladies can't take part in this portion of the competition." The announcement sent all the girls who were already preparing themselves to a screeching halt. "The girls have to ask one of the guys to win the item for them." Every female eye shot predatorily towards the cluster of males. A few terrified gulps could be heard coming from the guys, who're currently feeling like helpless prey that were soon to be hunted down.

Narumi continued on with his announcements, ignoring the quandary of his male audiences. "If everyone could turn their attention to the buoy over there," he pointed out the barely-visible dot on the sea's horizon, "that's the marker the boys have to swim out to. Around it, they can find some floaters. Attached to each floater is the number of an item. The floaters are anchored to the bottom, so the boys have to dive down to retrieve the number." Every male in the crowd cringed at the bit of detail. This was getting more and more unpleasant for them. "Another thing, you aren't allowed to use your alices in this contest. So I suggest that anyone who doesn't know how to swim not to take part in this competition."

"Natsume!" Mikan latched herself onto her boyfriend's back. "Can you get me the locket please?"

"No. I'm not entering some stupid contest," Natsume replied, walking away from the crowd, not minding that Mikan was getting a free piggyback ride from him.

"Aw, come on, Natsume," she pouted cutely and gave him the adorable puppy-dog eyes when he set her down on their blanket.

Natsume turned away to resist looking that endearing face. She's bound to get her way if he falls for the cute act of hers. She might not know it yet, but he's a sucker for those adorable faces she makes. "No!"

"Fine," Mikan growled before heading towards a pack of boys. "Um, excuse me," she smiled stunningly. The boys felt a little faint upon seeing that smile. "But would you be interested in getting me an item in the competition for a reward?" she asked, not realizing that her request sounded suggestive.

Before she could even get a reply, she was pulled back, landing her in someone's arms. "She's mine," Natsume snarled at the group of boys in warning, before dragging Mikan away.

Mikan stared at Natsume, just then realizing how suggestive she sounded. "I still want that locket," she drolly stated, warning him that she's determined to find someone to get it for her.

"Alright, I'll get you the damn locket," Natsume grumbled before marching over towards where the other contestants where. He sighted Demon along the edge of the group and headed beside him. He felt a certain sense of camaraderie with the man when he saw the dark, annoyed frown on Demon's face.

"Women," they both spat out in unison before turning to smirk at each other. It looks like they've both been forced to join this little contest by their girlfriends.

The race started with the sound of dozens of feet splashing into water. Every male who joined to contest was eager to get the prize their special someone requested, well, almost every male. Demon stood lazily on the sand, seemingly not bothered that he was the only one left who hadn't started. Angel just looked on, totally exasperated with her boyfriend.

"What's Demon-nii doing?" Aoi voiced out the question on almost everyone's mind curiously. The other contestants were already some distance away from the beach.

"A handicap," Mikan explained with a smile. "He's giving everyone a head start just to be fair. He usually gives me about thirty seconds during our training."

After thirty seconds passed, Demon slowly walked into the water, not at all hurried by the delay. He ambled along until the water reached above his waist, then executed a dive. Everyone looked on worriedly when he didn't surface where they expected.

"He's already halfway," Angel answered their unvoiced question. Everyone glanced at the halfway point just as Demon broke through the water and began swimming. "He'll be passing the others soon." People began gaping as Demon steadily pulled away from the other swimmers with every arm stroke.

"I think we forgot to mention that Demon-nii swims like a fish," Mikan sheepishly commented.

Before long, Demon reached the buoy before the others, and dived down to retrieve the number Angel wanted. Natsume arrived just after him and dived down, too. A few minutes later, those at the beach could see Demon already swimming back. Demon walked out of the sea, shaking some excess water off of his body, and handed Angel a stainless steel plate with a number engraved in it. Angel grinned at him happily and gave him a big hug as a reward.

Natsume was the next one to get out of the water. Mikan ran to him with a smile on her face. "Here," he unceremoniously tossed her the number she wanted. Mikan's smile widened before she threw herself at him. "Troublesome idiot," Natsume muttered to her with a smirk.

Ruka came out of the water panting. Since Hotaru wanted the camera, which was the grand prize, he had the deepest number to dive for. It took him three tries before he got his hands on the stupid number. Add that to swimming the distance to and fro, and it equals complete exhaustion for him.

Hotaru took the number from him and gave him a peck on the lips. "Thanks, Ruka. You'll get the rest of your reward later," she whispered for her boyfriend's ears only. Ruka could only smile and sigh as he sprawled himself on the sand.

"What's so special about that locket?" Natsume asked as Mikan busily fidgeted with the necklace. "I could have just bought you one when we get back," he garbled.

"Nothing," she answered him, grinning as she finally popped open the pendant. "I just thought that a picture of us would look good in here," she smiled at him.

Natsume's eyes softened. He really couldn't stay annoyed with her when she gives him those sappy reasons why she made him do some troublesome things.

On a blanket adjacent to them, Demon amusedly observed as Angel clasped her new stuff toy. "You do know what will happen when Shadow sees that thing, don't you?" he smugly uttered. Angel stiffened and clutched the stuff wolf tighter against her, horrified at Demon's implication. "Let's find out, shall we." Before Angel could stop him, Demon released a shrill whistle. The two wolves came loping out of thin air. A glint entered Shadow's ruby eyes they landed on the white stuff wolf in Angel's arm. Angel hardly suppressed a whimper as Shadow padded closer with a very wolfish grin of delight. Helplessly surrendering the white stuff animal to the persistent black wolf, Angel feebly watched as Shadow lay down on their blanket and happily cuddled the stuff Lumi-look-alike.

"Your evil knows no bounds," she accusingly glared at Demon. Demon just smirked at her in return. Lumi laid her head on Angel's lap, trying to soothe her master and apologize for her mate's behavior. Angel smiled at her wolf and stoked Lumi's fur, mutely telling Lumi that it's alright.

Before long, Shadow carefully set the white stuff animal amongst Lumi's fur, then trotted away. The black wolf came back an instant later with a black stuff animal in his jaws. Shadow gently arranged the two stuff animals alongside each other amidst Lumi's pelt, before stepping away and studying the scene with a satisfied look. Lumi, calmly lying on the blanket, just rolled her cobalt eyes at her mate's absurdity. She was already used to Shadow's inane antics, and lets him have his way most of the time.

Mr. Narumi's voice boomed on the speakers again at late afternoon, reminding the students not to leave their trash on the beach, and announcing the surprise that there's going to be a band playing that night. The latter announcement got a loud cheer, and a round of buzzing speculation, from the student body. They were hoping for the same band that performed during the last Alice Festival.

As dusk passed and the skies darkened, the speculations were proven when a pickup truck pulled up near the stage. Female students started shrilling when Dare and Duke got out of the truck and winked at their direction. Duncan was the last to get out, shaking his head at the two clowns' ludicrousness.

"Nii-san!" Mikan happily greeted Duncan before looking at her two other brothers. "Oh," she exclaimed with faked disappointment. "The two clowns are here, too." That earned her a major hair rumpling from the two said clowns.

"You guys are the ones performing tonight?" Natsume asked Duncan, ignoring that his girlfriend is currently in a double headlock with her hair getting badly tangled by a dual noogie.

"Yeah," Duncan flinched. "That Narumi guy's quite persistent. He had the three of us agreeing to play tonight in no time." Dare and Duke stopped hassling Mikan a shuddered, remembering what Narumi did to extract their agreement. The three of them pretty much agreed just to get Narumi to keep away from them. When you're a straight male, having the gay-like teacher slithering up to you was not a good experience.

"What are the three of you doing here?" Angel inquired, walking their way. She raised a brow when she saw the instruments they had with them. "Does Demon know about this?"

"No," a voice rumbled near the pickup. Duke and Dare yelped as they noticed Demon was just behind them. "Demon sure as hell doesn't know about this," Demon glared at his brothers.

"The three of us already said yes. We just need one more for it to be the majority," Dare reasoned out. "I'm sure Angel and Kana wouldn't mind performing. And…I'm shutting up now," he quickly amended when Demon glared at him.

Mikan chuckled. "Well, he's right. I don't mind doing a gig tonight. Sorry Nii-chan," she apologized.

Demon turned to Angel, mutely asking her opinion. Angel sent an apologetic smile to him in reply. Demon growled in frustration now that everyone, except him, had agreed to this. "Let's just get this damn thing over with," he muttered as he went to fetch his guitar.


Mikan lounged on one of their cabin's couches with her eyes close in relaxation, her hand lazily and absentmindedly stroking the head lying on her lap. The concert had gone well, barring the little stampeding incident that had trampled one of the security personnel. Thankfully enough, the guy was left with only some minor injuries after Angel healed a couple of his fractured bones.

Once Mikan began fondling his hair, Natsume had set his manga on his stomach and closed his eyes. The buzz of the rest of the gang around them seems to fade into the background as he entered into a deeper trance with every caressing touch of her hand. He emitted a soft grunt, resisting the overwhelming urge to purr like a content cat.

The resounding bang of the door hitting the wall had Natsume snapping out of his comfortable little trance. Before Natsume could growl at the one who disturbed his petting session, he was lifted off of the couch and found himself about six feet off the ground. He tried to struggle, but something was placed over his hands and feet. He looked up just in time to see Duke turn the towel into metal, stopping his limbs from moving.

"We'll be borrowing this guy for awhile, Imoto-chan," Dare said briskly before striding out the cabin with Natsume slung on his shoulder like a sack of flour.

Duncan held the doorway open for them to pass through. "The guys are welcome to join us, if they want," he announced, still holding the doorway in welcome invitation.

The boys looked at each other uncertainly before Ruka took the initiative. He gave Hotaru's hand a squeeze, smiled at her, and got up. But he waited for his girlfriend's nod of approval before he proceeded out the door. The rest of the teenage boys followed him out after giving their respective girlfriends a swift goodbye hug or kiss, leaving Youichi the only guy left who's still feeling apprehensive as to whether he should go with them or not.

"Go ahead, Youichi," Angel's voice cut though his indecision. "They're not going to force you to do anything you don't want to or shouldn't do," she reassured him.

Youichi glanced at Ayane who was sitting on the carpet beside Lumi. Ayane gave him a smile and an encouraging nod. That was all he needed. He stood up and walked towards Duncan who was waiting for him by the door. Duncan gave him a crooked smirk as they waited for Demon to join them.

Demon sighed from where his was seated beside Angel. He gave her a lingering peck on the lips before he got off the couch. "I'll come back with some drinks for those of you in here. Move it, Shadow," he said as he followed the others out the cabin, Shadow trailing behind him.

The brothers deftly smuggled the boys over the rock outcrop. Dare haphazardly dumped Natsume on the sand as soon as he stepped foot on the other side. Natsume hit the sand in a grunt. He glared at Dare, silently promising retribution.

Demon and Shadow arrived just as Natsume nullified the binds Duke placed on him. Natsume then proceeded to use Dare for fireball target practice. Dare easily slipped from shadow to shadow, avoiding getting hit. One thing he and Duke learned over the years of tweaking their family members' tempers is that you have to be ready for the consequences. A little bit of Natsume's fire alice was nothing compared to when they get Angel or Demon riled at them.

"Enough of that already," Duncan ordered. The command had Dare halting in mid-movement, allowing one of Natsume's fireballs to graze his clothing. Dare quickly patted the flame down before the fire spreads. Natsume smirked provokingly as Dare glowered at him. Two of them suddenly got a fist to the back of their heads. "I told you to stop it already!" Duncan roared.

As Natsume rubbed the lump forming on his head, he wondered how Duncan had sneaked up on him. "He's the family patriarch," Dare answered with a grin, apparently knowing what's currently on the teen's mind. "He's got to keep all of us in line somehow. Come on, Duke's opening the coolers that means it's time for a truce," Dare's grin widened, "for tonight at least."

As the boys each grabbed a can of beer, Youichi stayed by the sidelines watching. He was a little too young to indulge in drinking alcoholic beverages. He sighed. This is why he was having second thoughts in join the guys. He's staring to feel out of place since he was the only one who wasn't drinking.

A can suddenly appeared in front of his face. He looked up to see Demon holding the can of drink out to him. Youichi hesitantly took it, all the while staring at the can. It wasn't as if he hadn't had a sip of beer before, but he really didn't think it's healthy to be drinking at lot of it at his age. He was about to give it back when Demon's words stopped him.

"It's non-alcoholic." Demon impartially explained, taking a gulp of beer from his can. "It's what those two idiots drink for most of the night. It keeps them out of a stupor for most part of the evening."

Youichi took a look at the can again, carefully studying it this time. Well, there is a non-alcoholic sign printed on the label. He popped it open and took a sip. Surprisingly enough, the drink tasted like beer. "I thought you'll be bringing the girls some drinks?" Youichi asked, taking another sip.

"I already did," Demon replied. "I brought them two coolers full of beer, a bottle of tequila, and two bottles of whiskey. That should keep them busy for the night." Youichi sweat dropped at the amount of drinks.

As the night drew on, the boys started dropping off one by one. Even Youichi had dozed off at some point. By the time midnight arrived, only five of them remained conscious and seated on the logs around their bonfire, well, six if you count Shadow.

"Well, what do you know," Duke grinned, "looks like we're the only ones left. Should I call them, Duncan?" he asked. Duncan nodded in response. Duke's phone only rang once before Angel, Lumi, and Mikan teleported in behind them.

"Took you guys long enough," Mikan grumbled as she sat down on the log beside Natsume. "We're already dying of boredom. The girls were all out of it hours ago."

"You let Aoi drink?" Natsume questioned Angel. He doesn't think Aoi had ever drunk anything that contained alcohol before.

Angel sighed forlornly. "We have to remember in the future never to let Aoi drink out in public, especially without someone supervising her. She's bound to get in big trouble if that happens." She paused then grimaced, as if recalling something decidedly unpleasant. "Hell, as a matter of fact, I think she should be forbidden to touch, even look at, any alcoholic beverage."

Mikan nodded in complete agreement. They both then cringed, remembering again what happened after Aoi drunk just a single can of beer. Thankfully, everyone else had retired for the night when Aoi decided she wanted to try a drink. After Aoi polished off the can, she began groggily complaining that the room was too hot. Mikan and Angel would never forget their horrid surprise when Aoi began stripping in the cabin's public den. They had to bodily restrain the girl to keep her from pulling the rest of her clothes off and wait for her to enter into a drunken stupor for the night, before putting her in bed and being assured that she'll stay in it until morning arrives.

"Set things up," Demon uttered, pulling the two out of their unpleasant recollection. "Dare, Duke, and I will get the boys to the cabins." Mikan smirked as she helped set up the things they needed. She wondered how Natsume will do tonight.

Natsume studied everyone uncertainly. Everyone was busily, but quietly, moving around, preparing for something. He can feel that that something had to do with him, but he had no idea what it was. The feeling increased twofold when Duncan and Mikan moved two of the logs to form a right angle to the one he's currently sitting on. And his anxiety skyrocketed once the three came back, and Angel manipulated the sand to form a makeshift table amidst them.

"Pick two amongst the six of us," Duncan issued to Natsume without any explanation or warning. Natsume raised a brow, covering his shock at the sudden order, and neatly picked out Dare and Mikan.

Dare groaned, already knowing that he'll be out of it after a few mouthfuls of liquor. Mikan's eyes sparkled with amusement. "This is going to be fun," Mikan smirked widely.

The first hour of the competition went on as predicted, with Dare going into a state of unconsciousness after his three shots of tequila. Angel rolled her eyes. "Dare really isn't getting any better at holding his liquor after all this time," she commented while Duke dragged their brother away from the table.

As her match with Natsume drew on, Mikan started feeling queasy and her head was starting to ache, but she thumped it down. They weren't allowed any breaks while the challenge was ongoing, whether it was to relieve themselves or throw up. You'll have to hold it in or else it'll be equal to a forfeit. But damn, she really shouldn't have partaken in the bottle of tequila Demon had brought to them earlier on. Well, she might be feeling the alcohol's effects, but at least she wasn't showing it yet, unlike Natsume.

Natsume was breaking out in cold sweat. He felt as if an anvil was resting on top of his head. Damn, if it wasn't for his pride, he would concede his defeat right now. But his ego isn't going to take losing a drinking contest to Mikan twice without at least a valiant effort on his side. A few shots more and Natsume's hands went numb due to the tequila. His fingers felt thick, as if smothered with a heavy layer of cotton. He forced himself to grip the shot glass with his deadened fingers and gulp down the contents.

Mikan carefully observed Natsume even as her vision blurred from the amount of liquor she'd consumed tonight. Her timing needs to be on the spot. She watched as he haphazardly tossed the drink down his throat. Slowly knocking back her drink, she saw Natsume's head lolled back. She quickly gulped down the rest of the tequila, then slumped over the table the same time Natsume did.

"I guess it's a draw," Mikan heard Duke sighed. "I suppose Dare and I shouldn't be so hard on him now that he can be considered as family," he said grudgingly. Dare, who has already been revived with coffee, also heaved a sigh in agreement.

"Wake them both up," Duncan ordered. Demon and Angel went about to rouse their respective godchild; Angel shaking Natsume into consciousness, while Demon just dosed Mikan with water. Mikan coughed out the water she'd unintentionally inhaled due to the shock, and glared at Demon. Demon just stared at her with an amused glint in his eyes. He definitely knows that she'd planned for it to be a draw.

It took another half hour to get Natsume sober, so that they can toast his entry into their clan. Angel, Demon, and Duncan carried out the toast with the traditional glass of liquor. While Mikan, Natsume, Dare, and Duke held up a mug of coffee, not wanting to imbibe anymore alcohol for the night.

Natsume might have been a little surprised when Duncan suddenly issued him a mandate to pick two of them, but he wasn't too taken aback after that. Mikan had told him some parts of how she'd gotten into this dysfunctional family, but she'd never told him about the initiation process and what it entailed. Natsume rubbed his aching head, now he knows.

"Now we have to think up a clan name for him," Duke declared happily with and impish grin on his face. Natsume stiffened. This clan name thing was something Mikan hadn't told him about.

Duncan saw how Natsume tensed up at the mention of clan names. "I guess Kana hasn't told you about the clan names, as she should," he guessed correctly. "The clan names aren't allowed to be discussed outside the immediate family," he explained to Natsume. "Now the problem is giving you a clan name." He rolled his eyes. "Hopefully it won't take as long as coming up with Kana's."

Mikan grinned and move to sit down beside Natsume. "It's not my fault it took you guys a year before you could think up a name for me. So," she affectionately huddled against Natsume, "how about we just call him Dragon and get this over with?"

"Aren't dragons supposed to be ancient, powerful, wise, and mature?" Dare asked skeptically. Duke nodded in agreement. They clearly don't think that that definition suits Natsume.

"How about a dragon that isn't fully grown yet? A drake to be exact," Angel suggested.

Dare and Duke grinned widely. They both have another definition of drake in mind. "That would suit him very well," they snickered.

Mikan frowned at them. She knows that the "drake" they were thinking about was a male waterfowl, a damn duck that is. They know she'd come to hate ducks after incessantly being called "D" for a whole year by the two idiots. "How about it Natsume? It's your choice if you'll accept it or not."

"Drake's fine," Natsume answered. "What with the clan name thing anyway?"

"Nothing much," Duke replied. "It's just tradition to get one when you enter the clan. And that it should start with the letter 'D'."

"What about those two?" Natsume asked motioning to Mikan and Angel.

"You've already heard me being called mine," Mikan pouted. "And most people don't call Nee-chan's hers because they think it might bring them misfortune."

Natsume had to think about it for awhile before he remembered some mercenaries calling her "Devil" in their first mission together. "That means you're Devil," he stated then critically stared at Mikan. "Suits you, he smirked, "especially when you're angry," Mikan barely resisted the urge to throttle him. "Her," he drawled out glancing at Angel. Angel drolly lifted a brow at him. "A name that might bring misfortune," he thought out loud. "There're a lot of terms starting with a 'D' that might bring misfortune. But think the one the suits you most is," he paused for effect, "Death."

Demon and Duncan remained indifferent that he got it right. But Dare, Mikan, and Duke stared at him flabbergasted as to how he knew that. "What can I say? My godson's a genius," Angel grinned.


Mikan stood at the second-story balcony of their cabin, staring out into the horizon where the sea met the darkened sky. It was the last night of their week-long school outing. She tried to take in everything around her as much as possible, storing it in the pages of her memories. The pale full moon reflected off the murky waters and cast an eerie light on the sand. It was a perfect night for a walk on the beach. Her eyes focused on two figures walking along the shore, doing just that. Since they arrived here, Demon and Angel had made it a nightly routine to stroll along the coast.

A pair of arms slipped around her waist. She propped herself against the strong, warm body behind her. Natsume noted that she'd swiped one of his large, cotton shirts again. He'd come to know that Mikan prefers sleeping in a loose, over-size shirt than a traditional nightgown. That is, if she isn't sleeping in the nude. He had to admit, he favors seeing her in her birthday suit than anything else.

He buried his nose just behind her ear, breathing in the scent of her hair. "You're watching them again," Natsume murmured to her ear.

"Yeah," Mikan whispered back. "They just look so good together. I like seeing them side-by-side like this. They seem to fit one another perfectly. It's as if they're created for each other, that they belong with one another and no one else." She squeaked when Natsume gave the side of her neck a long, lazy lick.

"Are you saying that we don't look good together?" Natsume asked gutturally, giving her earlobe a nip.

"N-No," Mikan moaned as Natsume traced the rim of her ear with the tip of his tongue. "I'm just saying that they do. But I'm sure we look very, very good together, too," she quickly added the last part in rectification when his teeth scrapped against her shoulder in gentle bite.

Natsume pulled back, studying her flushed face and the glazed expression in her eyes with satisfied smirk. "You're bad," Mikan pouted adorably upon seeing his smirk, but then nestled closer to him with a smile. A squeal coming from the beach disrupted the silence. Mikan and Natsume looked down at the shore below to see that their godparents appear to be playing tag. They didn't know if they should be amused or horrified.

Angel ran ahead trying to gain as much distance away from Demon as possible, but knowing it was a futile effort. She could beat Demon when it comes to long distances, since she has more stamina than him. But when it comes to short-distance sprints, Demon can easily overtake her with a burst of power and speed. Before Angel could take another step, she felt something hit her back like a ton of bricks, and then she was lifted off her feet with ease and spun around in midair. "Okay, I give," she yelped gleefully first before Demon placed her back down on her feet and gave her a bear hug.

Mikan smiled as she watched the couple below play around. Her Nii-chan's smiles were still a rare sight to her. But she did notice that he smiles more often when her Nee-chan's around, although those smiles were only for Angel's viewing pleasure.

Natsume laid his chin on the crook of her shoulder and nuzzled her neck. "You want to go inside?" he whispered in her ear seductively.

Mikan faced him and smiled. She was about to give an affirmative answer when they both heard a sound coming from somewhere on the balcony of the cabin adjacent to theirs. They turned to look at the balcony and found no one there. They were about to ignore it, but it was followed by a loud creak then a thump.

"Did that come from the sea-facing room?" Mikan frowned. "Isn't that supposed to be Ruka's room?" Natsume nodded just as they perceived a pained-sounding groan. Their eyes widened. "That sounded like Ruka," Mikan stated what was in their minds.

They both didn't think, jumping over to the adjacent cabin's balcony and barging into the bedroom without any thought. Both believing that Ruka was hurt, they rushed to go help him.

The sight that met them wasn't something that they'd ever want to see. It's considered acceptable to confer with your best-friend the more intimate moments you have with your special someone. But it's another thing to actually witness your best-friend's intimate performance.

Hotaru and Ruka turned towards Mikan and Natsume's direction. Both their best-friends seem to be frozen on the spot in wide-eyed shock. Ruka flushed beet red realizing that his best-friend and Mikan just caught him and Hotaru in a very, very compromising situation.

"Out of here you two perverts," Hotaru cantankerously growled from beneath very flustered Ruka and fired at them with her ever-present baka gun.

Natsume and Mikan reflexively dodge to shots, but it was enough to snap them out of their stunned state. They couldn't jump back out the balcony fast enough, as it is.

"Remained me never to burst in on Hotaru's room without knocking," Mikan muttered shakily when they got back to their room. Natsume wasn't listening to her. He was lying spread-eagled on the middle of the bed, still clearly in shock at seeing his gentle and timid best-friend doing it with the Ice Queen. She smiled at him sympathetically and nettled herself beside him. "Let it go, Natsume, or it'll follow you to your dreams later on," she teased.

Natsume shuddered. He never wants to see that image ever again! He doesn't think he can look Ruka in the eyes after tonight's incident. "Do you have an alice there that can erase a part of someone's memory?"

Mikan chuckled then laid her chin on the center of his chest. "Now where's the fun in erasing that part of your memory." Natsume glared down at her. "Even if I do have that alice, I'm not going to use it on you, Natsume." The glare turned into a why-not stare. "Because, whether they are good or bad," an impish grin bloomed on her face, "or considerably disturbing, a person's memories are infinitely precious."

"You're just saying that to get away from erasing that repulsive image from my head," Natsume eyed her skeptically. Mikan gave him a whack for suggesting such a thing, before she mercilessly started tickling him. Natsume tried to bat her hands away, but it was a futile effort. Her hands just kept hitting his ticklish spots. He resorted to going on the offensive, tickling her in return. And just like their first ever tickle fest, it finished with both of them naked and entwined on the bed.

Mikan ended up on top. She kept her lips locked with Natsume's as she slowly fused her body with his. Natsume produced a low, guttural moan as she slowly rode him to the brink of insanity before plunging both of them over the edge. It took both of them a long time to recover from the euphoria.

"So," Mikan propped her chin on her meshed hands that where on top Natsume's sternum. Her body still fixed to his. She sent a lazy and very sexy smile up at him. "What do you think happens to us now?"

Natsume stared down at her, eyeing her tousled honey-blond hair and her well-kissed lips, and smirked at her. Mikan smirked back at him.

Their smirks said it all. Their story was just beginning.


A/N: The epilogue's coming up as soon as I finish it. Read and review. Explicitly NO FLAMES. CONSTRUCTIVE criticism and suggestions are, of course, allowed.