Freedom is mine! no more exams that means upload, upload and more upload!!! WHOHOO!!!!! oh yeaH! whose your mommy!????? okok...thanks to all you guys for your reviews and keep sending them plz! this one is dedicated to jeje-chan who has been so loyal(see...i remembered your new name...hehe) hope you guys like the next chappy!! bb!

Chapter 4: Right Around the Corner

Natsume's P.O.V

The sky never looked duller. Grey hung all around the Academy. Five years have gone by since the day Mikan left Japan. I sat under a certain cherry blossom tree, still trying to forget the girl I fell in love with but was so proud until I broke her heart.

I hated myself more after that. Once, I even tried taking my own life, trying to see if the world was better off without me. But Ruka stopped me. "Mikan wouldn't want to see you like this," he had said to me as he bandaged my slit wrist.

"Yes, she would," I replied sadly. "She hates me."

"Yes, I think she does," the animal boy said. My eyebrows lifted in surprise. Last answer I expected. "But I think she loves you more," he continued. "She's just given up on waiting for you. It's now your duty to fix this."

Naru was here. I swear the man spends more time flicking in the flower fields than he does in class. He looked happier than usual today. "Good morning, class!" he said oh-so-loudly that it hurt me oh-so-much. Yup…he was happy alright.

"Today we have an old addition to the class. Come one in!"

Mikan's P.O.V.

I missed them all SO much! Especially Ho-chan, Iinchou and Ruka-pyon! I even missed Permy! (I think…) Koko-kun still kept in touch, thank heavens!

But…when I think of him, I just felt…like I did all those years ago. To my old friends who I trusted thoroughly, I gave a realistic copy of my old true smiles and the impression that I was still warm-hearted Mikan. But what I really felt…was only a that: a copy. I gave other people who had hurt me the ice that I had learned to create. I could now cut deep into someone's heart with my eyes that had learned to lie.

I was currently dressed in my French Academy uniform which consisted of a black sailor girl outfit with a skirt so short you could almost see my panties, which I think would be entertaining for a certain someone. I have changed obviously. Other than hormonal changes, I, unbelievably became smart. Weird isn't it? I studied like crap back in France and now, I can even rival Ho-chan. I was armed. No one but a certain friend knew how strong and armed I really was. I did things I sometimes regret.

No time for that now. I heard Narumi. "Today we have an old addition to our class. Come on in!" I stepped forth into the light.

Koko's P.O.V.

I couldn't believe my eyes. A girl with a swath of coppery hair strode in. Her eyes, the odd mixed color of olive and mahogany, didn't sparkle but all the same, they were familiar. Mikan Sakura was back.

"Ohaiyou minna-san!" she said somewhat subdued. I was frazzled at her behaviour. Who knew something would finally tame Mikan Sakura's dazzling brightness. Her eyes, no, they weren't hers. They were in her but they looked far too old and sad to belong to such an obviously young girl. But her face was…lovely. Far different than the Mikan who had the face of an innocent child. I could already see a fan club forming itself. Record time if I do say so myself.

"Mikan, you'll be sitting with…" Narumi's eyes darted from the empty seats next to Natsume and Iinchou. His gaze landed on Natsume's side.

"Iinchou!" Mikan suddenly blurted. She smiled wanly and walked to Yuu's side as Narumi stuttered for all his life's worth. I thought Natsume was going to burst but he kept quiet. I saw a sad aura occupy his eyes. "Thanks, Narumi-sensei!"

After class, he and Ruka cornered her. This time, Hotaru was on their side. "Hey, Mikan, long time no see," Ruka said. She smiled slightly and bent down to the novel that sat in her lap. After some consideration, Natsume decided to smudge his ever so clean pride.

"What's up, Polkadots?"

Mikan glared at him. "What do you want?" I was shocked and by the looks of it, so were Hotaru and Ruka. How could Mikan, Mikan Sakura, have such…ice in her words?"

"…" Why wasn't he saying anything?

"If there's nothing, I'm going to Central Town," I heard her say coolly.

"With who?" Hotaru asked, that familiar glint appearing.

"A friend," she replied walking off.

For the first time, I didn't once hear Natsume snap back.

Mikan's P.O.V.

Darn. Always late. One day, I'm going to kick him back to France. Then, the subject of my curses waltzed in, in all his green-eyed-dark-hair-goofy-smiling glory. I smirked.

Hisoka Asato. Born to an Italian-Japanese couple, he was natural guy-next-door with the charm of a prince and my best Parisian friend. Well…he at least was able to conquer French which I was cursed to never speak much to the chagrin of my French teacher who always had to translate the class into English. Oh well…. The coffee house I sat in smelt of a richly aroma I couldn't help but fall in love with. Pfft…love…what did it ever do for me?

"Asato!" I greeted, smiling slightly. He rolled his eyes and grinned like a Cheshire cat.

"Mikan," he said, "if your only going to smile half-heartedly, might as well not smile at all. Remember, your dismal face makes you--"

"Thirty percent less graceful to you?" I finished. "Yeah, I figured so. Been there, done that."

"How'd you know?" he asked, stunned.

"I've…heard it somewhere before," I said cheekily.

I'll have his head for using my line.

The thought strayed to me. I giggled. Hisoka leaned in closer. "Did they really think we wouldn't know they were here?" he whispered.

"They don't know the me that can kick butt," I replied.

"Geez, they're lucky," he said.

Damn, eavesdroppers, I cursed inwardly.

"Keep that blood pressure in check, Sakura," he warned.

I laughed a little. Thinking quickly, I spotted a secluded booth with a curtain you could draw for privacy. The coffee house was quietly bathed in a deep setting, romantically deepening. Oh, Natsume would kill me if he saw what I was going to do. Wait…why am I thinking about the bastard?

"Let's sit over there, okay?" I said gesturing to the curtained alcove. "Sure," was his reply. I quickly ordered two hot chocolates (our favorite) as he went to sit in the booth. I 'accidentally' dropped my hairclip and again 'accidentally' stepped on it. I heard Hotaru cursing in her mind. I smiled, satisfied, and gathered my order to the alcove. As I drew the curtain, I touched the veil with my Nullifying Alice to ensure no…prying Alices made their way into our conversation.

This time, I heard Natsume curse, loudly. I wasn't the same naïve little no-star who could barely control, let alone use, her Alice. I was all grown up. I smiled at Hisoka who glanced at me then at 'their' table. I heard Ruka snigger as Hisoka cast him a glance that went unseen by Hotaru and Natsume.

"So, what's the deal with them?" he asked, gesturing at the three spies. My eyes gleamed with amusement. I guessed I could take off my mask of ice now.

"I thought you'd know by now," I said, smiling wickedly.

He chuckled as I remembered the day he told me I lied on my last day in Japan. "Mikan, I read emotions, not thoughts and I'm seeing the cheerful Mikan finally coming out. Why didn't you act like that with them?"

"Some of them don't deserve to see it," I answered quietly. I smiled dazzlingly, shedding the demure state I was just in. He was the only one that got to see me smile anymore. But even, he has never seen me in pure happiness. Only artificial mirth.

"Seriously," he said, sobering up. "I felt some serious vibes about them."

"Hope you didn't get burned," I said somewhat mysteriously. Looking at me curiously, his eyebrows shot up and he stared at me like I was mad. "Nevermind. So, how's Japan for you?"

"Okay, I guess. I met some…interesting people."

"I take that they're girls?" He stared at me again, this time like I was some kind of psychic. "You're like an open book, Hisoka." This was true. He really did live up to his middle name: Romeo.

"So, who are the lucky girls?"

He grinned. "There's this girl, us, name's Sumire I think." I nearly spat out the hot chocolate I just sipped at the name. I laughed my heart out and I saw 'that group' turn at the sound of my familiar laughter. I snorted and choked.

"I think you'd better back off if you want to keep your life and your freedom." Looking at me oddly.

"Um, this other one's name is…um, Anna, I think?"

I sniggered. "Wait, are all these interesting people in class 8-B?"

He nodded. I laughed. "Sorry, honey, they're all taken, except for Sumire."

His jaw dropped. "Anna?"

"Mind-reader."

"Nonoko?"

"Illusionist."

"Misaki from 9-A?"

"Shadow manipulator."

"Hotaru?"

I glared. "Animal pheromone and best friend, me."

"Okay, okay," he said, holding up his hands in defeat. "Who do you recommend, then?"

"Hmm…" I mused. "I'll back to you on that." We laughed and our conversations continued through the night.

A/N: didcha like it? if you did, plz send a review...oh gawd...exams are over...now the results...ooooo...