Okay, this story was originally planned for nineteen chapters. I might add an epilogue as the twentieth chapter.

I decided to switch the character death scene and the "how-Natsume-will-prove-his-love-for-Mikan" so it's character death here, and "love-proving" next chapter.

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Two Quarters And A Heart Down
17: Yellow
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Upon hearing such a despondent outburst from his girlfriend, a normal boy would've probably lost his wits. He would've desperately tried to deny his girlfriend's accusation, growing more frantic by the second. Or so I'd like to think.

Natsume Hyuuga was not a normal boy.

Far from it.

Natsume lifted his head and turned his cool crimson gaze toward me. His eyes were like liquid, though they gleamed to indicate that he was still lucid. His right hand brushed against my cheek, isolating a single teardrop. It lay on his finger wobbling, colourless, fragile and glistening like dew on a petal.

"How do you know that?" he asked quietly. His tone was not one of indignation, neither was it of resignation. It was quite gentle actually, with a genuinely questioning edge.

I chose not to answer his question. Instead, I held my chin up high, holding a stare that was every bit as icy as his. Tears continued rolling down my cheeks; I didn't bother wiping them away. To me, these tears were not a symbol of shame or confusion. They were testament to my suffering.

"Love is different for everybody," Natsume continued. "We may feel it but we don't really know what it is. You can ask a hundred people and you'll get a hundred different answers.

"If I asked you now, what do you think love is or should be, would you be able to answer me?"

I contemplated for a while. Did he get that out of a manga? "No," I admitted icily. "I wouldn't." I pulled my lips into a defiant scowl. "If love is different for everybody, how can two people, no, two individuals be compatible?"

Natsume tore his vague, hazy gaze away from me. His ruby-like eyes assessed the students roaming the campus. We were hidden from view by the sakura tree's innumerable flowers. "I haven't lived that long to give you an answer to that."

"And you may never live that long to find out either," I murmured quietly. I wasn't sure if he heard me.

I pushed myself away from the fire caster, swinging my legs over the branch to jump down.

"Mikan?"

I refused to look at him. His voice sounded so sad and lonely, as though pleading me to stay. Pleading with me so desperately. I could almost imagine his eyebrows furrowing slightly in disappointment, crimson eyes losing their sharpness for a moment to droop sadly. If I looked at him and saw that, I don't think I could ever leave.

"Find me," I stated, my voice ringing and clear. "Find me and tell me whenever it is you find what you seek." I placed my palms flat against the thick trunk, preparing to push off. I closed my eyes and smiled genially at the raven-haired boy one last time. "Goodbye, Natsume."

I only opened my eyes when my feet touched the ground. I began running. To where, only my legs knew.

A loud thud and a crack reverberated from the sakura tree, sending birds flying off into the sky. It was like a very frustrated fist had connected with the tree trunk.

I didn't look back once.

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Sixteen years' worth of memories were packed away in a suitcase on my bed. My clothes, a photo album and a framed photograph of Jii-chan adorned the case. It wasn't much but that's all my life amounted to.

I reached for the photo frame, rubbing the glass with my thumb affectionately. It had been ages since I last thought of Jii-chan. When I was taken away, the Academy informed my guardian that I had passed away in a car crash when I tried to escape from the campus. All lies, of course. I don't know what lies the Academy fed the families of my island compatriots.

I don't know how my grandpa coped with it. How was he doing? Was he still alive?

I placed the frame back in the suitcase, nestled between my shirts. If I wanted answers, I had my whole life ahead of me to find them. I wasn't going to play this game anymore, where I am always the last to know.

I never had any secrets of my own, so I didn't like it when others kept them from me. My departure wasn't a secret --- everyone was going to find out eventually. But they would think of it as an exchange programme. They wouldn't know the real reason behind it.

My fingers traced empty shelves and drawers, looking for anything left behind. I found none. I walked to my vanity mirror and sat in front of it. The same hollow olive eyes from my first day back stared at me. They were mocking; I am part of this world, a person living here. Yet, it feels like I was in a completely different universe where I need not know what was going on in the other world. I was alone.

The yellow barrette in my hair caught my attention. It was from Kenta. That was the first gift I had received from him, aside from his friendship.

I smiled wistfully, reaching up and gently sliding it out of the hazel tresses. I fingered it lovingly, thinking back to what had happened earlier today.

"Mikan, why do you always wear that?" Hotaru asked, taking a sip of her hot cocoa.

"Oh, this?" My fingers immediately reached for the yellow accessory. "It was a gift from a very dear friend."

"Kenta Fujimori, isn't it?" Hotaru mused. Her amethyst eyes glittered in amusement.

"How'd you know?"

"It's the same colour as his eyes."

I didn't answer. I watched Hotaru take another sip from her cup. She continued, "Yellow is the colour of cowards, you know."

"What are you trying to say?"

"You shouldn't get too close to Fujimori. He might end up hurting you."

I smiled. "You're jealous, aren't you, Hotaru?"

"Maybe I am."

I twirled the petite barrette between my fingers. Kenta, a dear friend, huh? I guess I should tell him and Hiro the truth.

Don't get me wrong; it's not like I didn't want to tell them about my departure. Rather, they were finally back at the Academy, leading normal lives like they should. I was the only one that should be on the run. If I told them, I knew they'd want to come with me.

But on the other hand, they were both the survivors and my long-term companions on the Black Hole. Together, we survived the onslaught of harsh training and shared times when our hopes were completely sucked out of us. Seven of us went to that island; only three of us came back alive.

I kind of figured that the trainers had let me live somehow. Since I was part of the All-Seeing Eye's plan. Kenta and Hiro had no apparent role in the scheme. They survived, so they must have something special inside them. I don't know why they took the other four, though. It was a mystery in itself, but I was sure they weren't chosen merely by coincidence.

Something about them must have had a key element in bringing the Academy down. It wasn't my concern any longer, though.

Sliding the barrette back in place, I got up to leave. I was going to find Kenta and Hiro. Before slipping out the door, I shut my suitcase closed with a sense of finality.

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The two of them were together, as always. Bickering and fighting over sandwiches in the courtyard, Kenta and Hiro were a noisy spectacle to behold as always.

I sighed and marched over to the fountain. They were sitting on the ledge. A shove could easily land them in the water. Ignoring stares from surrounding students, I gave each boy a solid knock on the head.

"Ow! That's no way to treat your sempai, Mi-chan!" Kenta cried indignantly. He clutched his throbbing head.

Hiro did the same. "What was that for?"

"You two are always bickering," I stated simply. "Even back on the island, your fights and teasing were notorious amongst the trainers." My voice sounded far away even to my own ears. Oh, Kami-sama, I was going to miss this.

"Mikan?" Hiro and Kenta dropped their arms, letting them fall onto their laps. Two pairs of amber eyes were soft with concern as they gazed at me.

"Don't look at me like that," I scolded softly, sitting in between them. "I don't want to leave with regrets." I reached out and took each of their hands. I clasped them in my lap, enjoying the warmth they radiated. Was this going to be the last time I could feel such human warmth?

"So I guess it's true then," Hiro said quietly.

I looked up at him in confusion. "Huh?"

"Aoshi-san told us about it," Kenta said lightly. "We know everything. Whatever your decision is, Mikan, we're on your side."

A genuine smile found its way to my lips. Their grips tightened on my hands.

"So when are you leaving?" Hiro asked casually.

"Either tonight or tomorrow morning," I replied. A lump had formed in my throat.

"Well, I guess we better pack then, ne, Hiro?" Kenta stood up. He smiled down at me warmly.

"Eh?" My eyes were watery and wide with bewilderment.

Hiro stood up as well. "We're coming with you, Mikan."

"Why?" I demanded, rising from the fountain ledge. "You're finally free from the Black Hole! You can leave normal lives now!"

Kenta and Hiro exchanged a knowing glance. "You're really stupid, you know that," Kenta said.

"Do you know why we're always together, Mikan?" Hiro asked.

"No," I admitted, wondering to where this was leading.

"You're lucky," Hiro said, smiling, "that your old friends still accept you. No one wants to talk to us anymore. Most of them don't even remember us."

"But you, Mikan," Kenta interjected, "you're different. You remember people and they remember you. You're unforgettable."

"We've never had a friend like you before," Hiro continued. "That's why we're coming with you."

"Don't make it seem like the past six years of our lives were a waste. If there's anyone who can help you on your journey, Mikan, it's us. Even if others don't remember us, we know that you will. That's why we want to be around you."

"Please, Mikan," Hiro extended his hand out to me, "let us come with you."

Stupid me. I was never alone.

I smiled wanly. I reached out to take his hand, to feel that warmth again, to leave with my friends, when a bullet shattered my newfound hope.

Life seemed to go in slow motion as a speeding bullet pierced Hiro's hand. It ripped through his flesh, causing blood to spurt out.

"Aaaah," Hiro cried, closing his eyes in pain. He clutched his bleeding left hand, falling to his knees.

"Hiro," I yelled shrilly. The sun was setting, staining the sky a vivid orange. There were no more students hanging around.

I was about to rush to his side, but Kenta stopped me.

"Mikan! Watch out!" he yelled. He pushed me out of the way.

Falling backwards, I craned my head to see another bullet speeding towards him. "Kenta, no!" I screamed, reaching out for him. For a moment, I forgot about his Intangibility Alice. The bullet could go right through him, leaving him undamaged. But I forgot, and nothing could change that fact.

I grabbed onto the tailcoat of his blazer, meaning to nullify the attack, but instead it nullified his Alice.

When I finally remembered, I let go a little too late.

The bullet ripped through his flesh, but it didn't pierce his hand.

It went through his heart.

The impact sent him flying, wide-eyed, into the fountain. His body made a loud splash, but in my ears, I could hear nothing but the ringing sound of the bullet.

The bullets had come from a copse of trees not far away. The gunner was there. Ignoring whatever naked dangers I was putting myself in, I rebounded from my fall and leapt into the fountain.

The water was red with blood. Kenta's blood.

"Kenta!" I cried. The tears were falling again. I cry too much for my own good.

"Mikan…" he sputtered, opening his eyes a fraction to look at me.

"Don't talk," I murmured, sinking to my knees. I cradled his hand, stroking his cheeks to comfort him. "I'm so sorry, Kenta."

Kenta merely smiled at me. "It's not your fault, Mikan." His smile was so sad, full of regret.

It didn't make sense to me anymore. As a child, a smile meant a symbol of happiness for me. But now, why were we all smiling when there was only grief, not bliss?

"But it is," I denied vehemently. "You don't have to lie! Just wait, okay? I'll go get Imai-sensei. I'm sorry."

Kenta grabbed my arm. "It's not your fault, Mikan," he reiterated. "This was meant to be. You can't fight fate."

My eyes widened. Who was this boy? The Kenta I knew would fight against fate, never settling for resignation.

"You can't fight fate." Kenta's voice trailed off as his eyes closed. His arm fell limp and his head rolled back. Resignation.

I bowed my head, letting my bangs shadow my eyes. I lay Kenta down gently, and I stood up from the fountain.

I remembered Kenta's wild plans of escaping from the Black Hole when we were younger. They all failed, but some almost succeeded. He got into Godzilla-loads of trouble from the trainers and he gained a reputation for his rebellious streak. In a way, he didn't let us captives lose our hope completely on that island.

If the most defiant boy I knew was giving up so willingly, what chance did I have in escaping this evil scheme?

"Why don't you come out now, Aka-san?" I hissed dangerously.

A figure emerged from the shadows of the nearby trees. "Sensed my Alice, eh, Sakura-dono? But it's a little too late, ne?" The voice was mocking and cruel, as always.

"You will pay," I said evenly. Hatred coursed through every fibre of my being.

Defiantly, I looked up to glare at Hajime Aka, Persona's second-in-command.

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To be continued…

Dun-dun-dun... A new, "final" villain! More details about the malicious Aka-san in the next chapter.

Any die-hard Rurouni Kenshin otaku will know about the RKRC Awards (Rurouni Kenshin Readers' Choice). There are about 700+ Gakuen Alice fics out there. This anime/manga isn't very popular, even in Japan. I think we devoted writers/readers should help promote Higuchi Tachibana-sama's masterpiece (and sort of giving ourselves some credit) by starting a Gakuen Alice Readers' Choice Awards.

We can vote for our favourite GA fanfic authors (eg. Author of the Year award) and for the best GA fanfics for different genres. For example, someone can nominate WizdomGoddess' Persona's Secret Diary for the Humour category, and if someone else seconds it, it qualifies for voting. Sounds fun, ne?

The site has been set up and a few people have offered to help organize this. The URL is garc-awards (dot) livejournal (dot) com

The site isn't all that magnificent yet; layout and images aren't quite set. If the URL can't be seen here, go to my profile and click on "homepage". Nominations begin now (: