Thank you may520 for reveiwing:) Please take note, I rewrote the ending of Chapter 2. Made it longer just for AnOn Is ThE nAmE. :)

CHAPTER 3

"Mikan?"

Ruka was searching for her in the dark. Mikan and Natsume quickly broke away from each other and stepped back as the lights came on.

"There you are," Ruka sounded relieved as he walked up to her. Hotaru Imai followed him, eyeing Mikan and Natsume suspiciously as Mikan blushed slightly.

"Imai told me that you were afraid of the dark, why didn't you look for me?"

"I… I was too scared to move," said Mikan quickly.

Natsume remained expressionless.

He sure is good at acting like nothing happened, Mikan thought, slightly displeased.

"Are you alright now?"

"Yeah."

"Come here," said Ruka softly. Mikan walked towards him obediently, as he pulled her towards himself and cupped her chin, ready to kiss her. Mikan widened her eyes in shock. She couldn't imagine herself locking lips with Ruka. Think Mikan, think! How do I get out of this? She shut her eyes tightly, her shoulders tensed. Natsume turned away, looking for something else to focus on. He just couldn't bear to see her kiss his best friend.

Surprisingly, he saw Hotaru avert her gaze too.

Normally she would've been ready with a camera, thought Natsume as he frowned slightly, What's got into her? The kiss should be over now. He turned his gaze towards the couple once again.

Surprisingly, he caught Ruka kissing Mikan only on the cheek.

"I know you're not ready yet, Mikan," he smiled vaguely at her.

"Thanks Ruka," Mikan hugged him gratefully, causing a surge of anger to fill Natsume's body.

But still, he felt relieved. Relieved that Ruka hadn't kissed her.

Natsume left the hall quietly.

Natsume Hyuuga sat on the branch of the Sakura tree, thinking hard. It was midnight, and the quietness of the surroundings made it easier for him to concentrate. He was trying to make out what exactly had happened between Mikan and himself.

She nullified my alice, and hugged me.

Suddenly, he stiffened.

"What do you want, Persona?" he said coldly, landing onto the ground gracefully with a soft thud.

A tall figure stepped out of the bushes, smirking at him.

"Deep in your thoughts, Natsume?"

"None of your business."

"I have another mission for-" He stopped short, grinning wickedly. Natsume growled and cursed under his breath. Polka Dots, you IDIOT!

"Come out now, there's no use hiding," said Persona pleasantly.

Mikan Sakura stepped out from behind a tree, staring at him defiantly.

"What brings you here at this time, Miss Sakura?"

"Stop making Natsume do your dirty work," she replied coldly.

Persona chuckled lightly, as if it was a joke. He took a step front, extending his long and slender fingers towards her, threatening to dissolve her into ashes.

Mikan did not back off.

"It won't work. I'll just nullify your alice."

"Ah yes, I forgot. But I suppose you can't nullify…" Persona retracted his hand and drew a revolver out, aiming it at Mikan, "This?"

He pulled the trigger and a loud gunshot was heard.

Mikan opened her eyes slowly, finding herself standing on the same spot, unharmed. The bullet had been disintegrated into ashes. Mikan whirled around and stared at Natsume, bewildered.

The second gunshot caught them off guard.

A searing pain shot up Mikan's right arm, as blood started to spill out. She clutched her limp shoulder, wincing slightly, determined not to scream.

"Mikan…" Natsume whispered as he recovered from the shock.

Mikan turned back and smiled at him weakly, "I'm alright, Natsume."

He clenched his fists tightly and yelled, "You know you're not alright! Stop acting like you're so tough, will you!?"

His shoulders were trembling as he lowered his head. He had never felt so much anger in his life.

The revolver in Persona's hands melted instantly. Persona sensed danger and quickly opened his mouth, "I guess we will be discussing this mission some other day. Good night, Natsume." He jumped onto a branch of a tree, and disappeared into the darkness.

Natsume walked towards Mikan, debating whether to yell at her. Not giving him time to think, Mikan staggered and fell, her head rushing to meet the ground. Natsume leapt forward and caught her, hugging her tightly.

"Natsume…" Mikan's face was pale, and she felt faint.

"You idiot…" Natsume muttered, "What were you thinking?"

"I didn't want you to get hurt…"

"I feel worse now, thanks to you," snapped Natsume. Didn't she realize that he'd rather get hurt physically than mentally?

"Sorry... Can you bring me back to my room? I don't want the others to know," said Mikan, her voice fading as she slowly drifted into unconsciousness.

"Idiot," Natsume carried her light body up effortlessly, and started walking towards the dormitory.