Hello everyone :) Just dropped by to say that this chapter happens to be the second-last chapter. Thank you koolasapixels, Arahi Sakura, chocobangbang, Leenstarz, funny sakura, tinkerbellie, yunochii, iazuei, -rhan-louise-, blossomingtimmy, Somi-chan, yamishun, ladalada, XrandomgirlX, kishi.tenshi, wizardwitchgoddess, Nonoko-chan, cupidsangel, Lu ReiXi, xXxNana-cHaNxXx, gitsa lalala, viYanGka, aizuhime, Yukiri-chan, sakurajenn, -Noob-Author-, sarahpatrick, Pink Fire101, raindrops22, and wannabeawriter for reviewing the previous chapter!

-Noob-Author-, of course we can be friends xD

Enjoy:D

CHAPTER 16

Natsume Hyuuga quickly dodged the visible sound waves that were approaching him, and returned the attack swiftly.

"Like my new technique, Natsume?" Reo Mori smirked, dodging fire balls with equal speed.

"It's interesting," Natsume replied dryly, increasing his speed simultaneously.

"Thank you," Reo bowed slightly, evading one of the attacks neatly.

Natsume glared at him and stopped attacking suddenly.

Reo smirked complacently.

"Surrendering so fast, Natsume?"

"……" Natsume frowned. He could beat Reo easily by using one of his ultimate attacks, but he'd risk burning the envelope.

"I'm getting bored here, Natsume…" Reo cracked his knuckles impatiently, "Look over there, your girlfriend's trying so hard."

Across the room, Mikan Sakura stepped away from Yui Hana, panting heavily. They were fighting without using their Alices, since she'd nullified the latter's Alice.

Yui Hana grinned slyly.

"This would've been much more interesting if you hadn't nullified my Alice, Sakura." She drawled, playing with her silky tresses.

Mikan's fingers curled into fists.

Yui was too fast.

Wait a minute.

"This would've been much more interesting if you hadn't nullified my Alice, Sakura."

The only way to reach her was to have her let her guard down.

Mikan smirked.

"Alright, let's make this more interesting." Mikan deactivated her Alice, looking at Yui Hana expectantly.

Yui felt the restriction on her Alice fade away. Seizing the chance, she quickly lunged towards Mikan with incredible speed, raising her fist.

Mikan smiled triumphantly. She'd fallen for it.

As Yui approached her, she nullified her Alice swiftly, catching her by surprise. Mikan concentrated all of her strength into that punch, causing Yui to cry out in pain and stagger back, landing onto the floor.

She coughed violently and shot Mikan a death glare.

Mikan ignored her and proceeded to fight the other men across the room.

Yui Hana struggled to get up, but failed miserably. She eyed Mikan furiously, and slowly fished something out of her pocket.

A gun.

A special gun with a single poisonous bullet.

She winced.

Mikan was out of range.

But Natsume wasn't.

Yui didn't care anymore. She wanted them dead. Both of them. She had to shoot at least one of them.

"SAKURA!" She screamed.

As Mikan whipped around, Yui Hana laughed, making sure that she saw the gun being pointed at Natsume.

Mikan widened her eyes in shock.

Yui Hana fired.

Breaking off the passionate kiss, Ruka gasped slightly, catching his breath.

"Did you get that?" He panted.

"No." said Hotaru flatly.

"WHAT!?" Ruka's jaw dropped.

"It's your fault. You distracted me from taking any pictures," stated Hotaru impassively.

"MY FAULT AGAIN!?" Ruka exclaimed.

"We'll just have to do it again," Hotaru shrugged casually.

"……"

"This time, you take the pictures." Hotaru grabbed his collar, rubbing her cheek against his seductively. Ruka immediately blushed furiously.

What happened to the emotionless Hotaru Imai?

"And we're not stopping if we don't get a good picture."

Ruka smiled inwardly.

It would appear that he had the worst photographing skills in the whole wide world.

His body went rigid.

Mikan Sakura loosened her grip around Natsume's waist, allowing herself to slide down onto the floor.

She sighed in relief.

Natsume was… safe.

She'd managed to reach him in time.

How did she do it?

Mikan couldn't remember. Her mind was totally blank.

But why was she covered in blood?

Slowly, the pain began to spread across her side and her whole body.

Natsume opened his mouth slowly, but no words came out. Mikan Sakura lay on the cold and hard marble floor, in her own pool of blood. The gleam in her brilliant hazel orbs was fading, and her eyes were half-closed now.

Then he saw it.

Slowly, Mikan Sakura's lips were curving into a smile strenuously. She was staring at him, smiling so brightly.

A hot tear trickled down his cheek; he felt a tingling sensation on his skin.

Mikan…

Natsume gazed at her so intensely, willing her to look into his magnificent orbs.

Gradually, he mouthed three words carefully to her.

I.

Love.

You.

The eyes that were about to shut suddenly fluttered open and widened. Her vision was blurring, and the energy was being sapped out of her body slowly.

Natsume knelt down quickly, enveloping her gently in his arms. He lowered his head, kissing her forehead first, and then proceeded to claim her lips.

Mikan closed her eyes, droplets of clear liquid rolling down her cheeks. She could feel Natsume's lips trembling, the warmth of his body.

Pressing his lips onto hers, Natsume murmured so softly that only Mikan could hear.

"Mikan…"

Mikan closed her eyes little by little.

Natsume…

"Mikan..."

The current AAO headquarters was situated in the middle of a thick forest.

Tonight, the warehouse was engulfed by darkness, camouflaged by massive trees, which blocked the luminous moonlight from spilling in, hiding it well.

The building and its surroundings emanated an eerie atmosphere, the silence was almost unbearable.

Suddenly, a faint glow appeared in a window on the fourth floor. The radiance spread across the window, glowing brighter and brighter. Finally, a blinding flash filled the forest as light rays spilled out of all windows; the deafening sound of the explosion broke the silence in the forest instantly.

The warehouse had been blown apart.

Instantaneously, the warehouse was engulfed by crimson flames, lighting the whole forest up.

Then, an ear-splitting scream let out by Yui Hana was heard.

"Ruka…" Hotaru Imai pushed him away gently, as he stared at her in surprise.

"Hotaru… Why are you crying?" Ruka asked anxiously.

Sure enough, tears were flowing out of her violet eyes.

"I don't know…"

Something had happened- She was sure about it.

Mikan Sakura's smiling face flashed through her mind briefly.

"Mikan… I want to see Mikan…"

Mikan, baka… Wake up.

Wake up, and stop me from burning your hair.

Wake up, and scold me for calling you Polka Dots.

Wake up…

Baka… I have something to tell you.

Please……

Just open your eyes.

Mikan.

I'm begging you…

Because I'm not so sure that I can live without you.