Disclaimer : I do not own Gakuen Alice
Mikan chatted happily all the way from the forest to the cafeteria, unmindful of the lack of response from Natsume. It was their usual routine after all and she simply liked talking to him. It occurred to her, suddenly, that he hadn't answered one of her questions. "Natsume! You never told me why you didn't have breakfast today!"
"Because it's none of your business."
She pouted, prettily. "Please?"
"That's not going to work. You look like an idiot." He stated, even as he cursed himself for weakening against her charm.
She stuck her tongue out at him. "Fine then. Don't tell me. But I'll find out. I have my methods."
"I assume you're referring to your ability to cheat?" He drawled.
"That wasn't cheating. If it was, then you were also cheating." She declared. Before he could respond,
"Natsume! Feeling better now?" Ruka, who'd been on his way to the cafeteria, joined them, concern in his voice.
"Feeling better about what?" Mikan queried. "Is something wrong, Natsume?"
"Yeah. A monkey decided to ruin my nap." He spoke lightly, but aimed a warning glance at Ruka to play along. Unfortunately, Mikan caught it and narrowed her eyes. "What are you keeping from me?" When Natsume simply assumed his poker face and ignored her question, she rounded on Ruka. "What's going on, Ruka? What's wrong with him?"
Ruka stepped back, stammering, "Umm, Err.. Well.. I don't really.."
"It's nothing that concerns you." Natsume spoke, cutting Ruka off. Ruka sighed in relief when Mikan glared at Natsume, forgetting about him.
"You're blocking my way." Hotaru's voice cut through the tension, startling them all. Hoping for some backup, Mikan started complaining to Hotaru. "They are keeping secrets from us, Hotaru. Natsume won't tell me why he skipped breakfast and Narumi Sensei's class but Ruka knows why and he won't tell me."
Ruka paled and began damage control, "It's not like I know all the details. I only know -"
"Ruka." Natsume cut him off again.
"You shouldn't pry too much Mikan.. The guy's probably humiliated that he had to pass out in a bloody mess. Or he's probably just upset that the blood on his shirt might become a permanent stain. Either way you should let him preserve his dignity. But I do have a prototype of a detergent that might do wonders for your shirt. Let me know if you want it, Hyuga, I'll even work out a discount for you. Now, if you'll excuse me, I wish to have my lunch." Hotaru walked past the gaping Mikan, furious Natsume and stunned Ruka without a backward glance.
Natsume glared at Ruka, "How did she know?"
Ruka put up his hands, defensively, "I swear it wasn't me! I haven't spoken to her in over 24 hours!"
"Damn that Imai! If she's having me under surveillance..." He clenched his fist.
"Umm, Mikan, Are you alright?" Ruka's words caught him off guard as he shifted his attention towards the girl he'd forgotten about. So much for keeping her from worrying.
Mikan raised her lowered head and he saw that all the shock and concern had been replaced with anger.
"A bloody mess!? When were you going to tell me?!" She screamed at him.
Natsume winced. "Keep your voice down. As for when I was going to tell you," he added, "I was never planning on telling you. If it wasn't for your nosy best friend, you would never have heard about it."
It occurred to him later that his statement hadn't been the smartest decision he could have made, as it only served to infuriate her more.
"Natsume, you jerk! How could you?! Fine, be that way. Don't tell me anything important. I won't tell you anything either!" She stomped off without a backward glance.
Natsume exhaled, then winced at the stab of pain from his gut.
Noticing it, Ruka asked, "Are you sure you don't want to go to the hospital to have it checked?"
"And get myself admitted, only to become the target of my so called admirers...? Not happening." Natsume replied.
"But what if we could get you a 24 hour guard? Or round the clock surveillance? Or -"
"Save it, Ruka. I'm not interested in making myself vulnerable. I wouldn't be able to trust the guard anyway." Natsume refused, cutting off Ruka's protests.
He thought of something else and added, "Ruka. Follow Mikan and make sure she doesn't do anything stupid. Wait, that's impossible for her." He corrected himself. "Make sure she doesn't do anything dangerous."
Ruka shook his head, "One of these days, she's not going to forgive you that easily and you will have to grovel. And when that time comes, you won't be able to ask me to do it." With that warning, he set off to do what he'd been told.
"There's only one more thing I have to do." He muttered to himself, as he set off to locate Hotaru Imai.