Disclaimer: Gakuen Alice belongs to Higuchi Tachibana.

A/N: Thanks for those who reviewed and who favorited the story. I'm still focusing on Mikan's dilemma and feelings about the matter, so don't worry, I'll be putting their friends' insights too...soon :) Hmm... so I'll stop blabbering, go on and read. ^^

CHAPTER FOUR: DETERMINATION...AND FACADES

Mikan wailed in alarm. "Eh? I'm having detention at the principal's office?! What?"

The brunette and Narumi-sensei were treading the route down to the Hanahime Den after they separated ways with Hotaru and Ruka near the dormitories. The inventor told her that she'll be relaying Natsume's Alice Extraction issue to Ruka while Narumi goes with Mikan.

Narumi cackled, patting Mikan's head. "No, of course not. You really aren't having detention, it was just Hotaru's excuse so Natsume wouldn't get suspicious." Though I guess, he is, thought Narumi.

"Oh." The nullifier's face fell, finally getting where they were heading. "So, I was summoned by Hii-sama, right?" She sighed. "To talk about Natsume's…" she wasn't able to finish her sentence, extremely saddened by the thought.

The teacher sympathetically squeezed Mikan's shoulder. "Be strong, Mikan-chan. For Natsume's sake."

She looked up to see the face of the man who stood by her all through everything since she entered Alice Academy—the man whom she considered her second father. He was right—she needs to be strong for Natsume. This time around, she will be the one to save him. He had always put his life on the line to save her, now it's her chance to repay him for everything he has done for her. She needs to be strong. Because she's the only one who can save his life, and she had no right to hesitate.

***

"Nice to see you again, Mikan," greeted the middle school principal as soon as she and Narumi-sensei entered the hall. The lady, clad in silky purple kimono treaded with intricate gold linings, locked Mikan into place with her emerald eyes. She had the unwavering, piercing atmosphere around her, as usual.

The brunette felt terrible uneasiness, sweat trickling on her forehead. "Y-yes, Hii-sama. I-it's nice to…see you again." Nice, like hell, Mikan thought.

"You're scaring my niece, m'lady. Why don't you let her sit first?" a deep male voice filled the room…a voice so familiar that Mikan would never forget whom it belongs to. A voice she always wondered could have been the same as her father had.

"Uncle!" she exclaimed, dashing towards Yukihira Kazu, the high school principal, and her father's elder brother.

The gorgeous man with seemingly disarrayed blond hair gently smiled as his niece gave him a tight hug.

"How are you doing, Mikan?" Principal Kazu asked, shuffling the brunette's hair. Mikan giggled and pulled away from her uncle.

"Hmm, just fine, I guess. Well…" she paused, looking around the hall. Her eyes met the silent gazes of the new elementary school principal—Ichinose Yuujirou, Hii-sama, Narumi-sensei, and the new Dangerous Ability Class adviser—Demi. The anxious feeling back, Mikan looked up at her uncle. "I guess… we have something important to talk about, right?"

Principal Yukihira gave her a soft smile and ushered her to a seat between him and Narumi-sensei. Mikan had already been introduced to everyone present in the hall before, during the inauguration of Principal Ichinose after the Alice War; while she met Demi when she was transferred into the DA class. The man had an unapproachable and silent demeanor like Persona, however, Demi was someone who greatly cared for the welfare of his students in the DA class. Mikan personally liked the man—he had taught her much about both of her Alices.

When everyone was seated, Mikan looked at each and every one of the officials of Alice Academy, feeling very intimated about being the only student present—a normal middle student, for that matter. However, when her eyes met each person's stare, they acknowledged her with a nod—making her sigh in relief.

"Anyway, let's start," Principal Yukihira stated, looking at everyone with a serious bearing.

Narumi cleared his throat and started explaining the 'method' according to what Mikan relayed the night before. Occasionally, Hii-sama and the others raised questions, while Mikan struggled to give them answers to the best of her knowledge. After Narumi-sensei's explanation, Hii-sama commented that it was the same as what Yuka had told her in one of their conversations, and she believed that with the current situation of Natsume, it would be best to perform the extraction as soon as possible. Mikan's heartbeat stopped for a moment at this.

"I… I don't know if I can do it…" Mikan mumbled, but enough for everyone to hear. "W-we really can't just decide on doing the extraction without even letting Natsume know about this. And I don't know… I think he would be against it too, I'm not really sure about this…"

Principal Ichinose spoke. "Of course we're not doing this without Natsume Hyuuga's consent, but of course, everyone of us here believes that this is better than letting him die, don't you think so, Sakura-san?"

Demi, in a low voice, continued. "As the adviser of the DA class, despite his missions all in all being halted, I never looked at Hyuuga as a useless member of the group. As a former student of Persona myself, I am aware how much the Black Cat had suffered under his command. Sad to say, but the current condition of Hyuuga had been brought upon by the reckless era of the DA class and the missions, so whether who's to blame or what, I feel I have some responsibility regarding his matter." He paused, looking Mikan in the eye. "And I would gladly repay his hard work by allowing him his free reign…outside the academy, back to his family, and live a normal life."

Mikan teared up at her DA class adviser's words. Demi was right. Who was she to deny Natsume of having a normal life back with his family? She knew that before, Natsume's true objective to enter the school was to find Aoi and bring her back. Aoi had been rescued and sent back to their father, but Natsume chose to remain for Mikan's sake—so who was she to be selfish and keep him here when he could have his peaceful life back?

The brunette felt a tender caress on her back, comforting her. She wiped her tears away to see Narumi-sensei, smiling at her.

"Mikan-chan, truly loving someone is accepting what could really make him happy," he said, his words full of meaning behind it. Mikan knew. Narumi-sensei, no matter how much he loved Yuka, he accepted that she would be happy with Yuki-sensei, that's why despite his feelings, he chose to be happy for her.

Principal Kazu cleared his throat. "From what I could see with my Alice Detection, Natsume Hyuuga's lifespan has already been long used as fuel of his Alice, and according to the infirmary, his body may temporarily recover from the strain of his Alice eating his lifespan away time after time, but overall, it appears…" he paused, shooting a weary look at Mikan who was staring at him anxiously, "—that he's nearing the final stage."

The brunette's eyes widened, her brows creased with worry. "W-what final stage? Uncle—eh, Principal, what do they mean final stage?" she asked, fear lacing her words.

Before Kazu could open his mouth, Hii-sama answered Mikan. "When Alices of the fourth type reach the final stage, the damage caused by their Alice become permanent on their bodies. As Alices, we have our own regenerating system, which is why we could recuperate faster than normal humans. The major function of this system is to sustain our bodies with energy that we normally use up when we use our Alices." The lady peered at Mikan, ensuring she was listening…and was satisfied that she was eagerly waiting for the continuation. "However, each time we—especially the Alices of the fourth type—go beyond the 'normal' or 'prescribed' usage of the Alice, that's when the damage starts to affect our bodies. If this continues, the amount of damage on the body piles up, and that's when it comes to the final stage."

Mikan felt her hands go cold. Her feelings were all entangled—it was like listening to a doctor after a check-up, telling you or someone close to you had some fatal disease. "S-so…what happens when Natsume… enters the final stage?"

"Usually…the person dies," Demi answered in a quiet voice. The brunette expected the answer, yet she felt like her heart was squeezed by a large hand at the thought of Natsume dying. She felt her energy draining, she couldn't even raise her head up to meet the worried glances of the people around her. She curled her fists into a ball, desperately trying to not cry and focus back into the conversation.

But then she felt a warm hand enclosing hers. She slowly looked up…and saw Narumi-sensei's affectionate smile.

"He won't die, Mikan-chan. He won't," the teacher murmured to her, squeezing her hand tight. Tears started to form in her eyes, but the next thing that Narumi-sensei said stopped them from falling. "Mikan-chan, that's why you would do it, right? Take away Natsume-kun's Alice, and save his life by doing so."

Mikan whipped her head sideways, giving her uncle a confused look. "B-but the final stage you were saying…"

Kazu patted her head. "That's why we have brought up the method of extracting his Alice, right? Before his condition gets into the final stage, the method must be done, so that the damage wouldn't retain on him after the extraction." Her uncle gave her a reassuring smile. "I know it would be difficult for you, but you're the only one who can do that, Mikan. The only one who could save his life."

Mikan felt a stab in her heart at the words. They were right, no one else could do it except her… because her mother, Yuka, had already passed away. Her mother was one of the many casualties of the Alice War. And now she was the only one left with the rare Stealing Alice, the only one left with the knowledge of the method. And with no other methods left to save Natsume's life, she had no choice but to do this. No choice…but to take away everything he is right now too. No choice… but to make him an ordinary boy—no Alice, no memories of the past years he had been here…nothing, she thought bitterly, as tears flowed from her eyes. But it would be the best for him. No Alice to eat his life away, no harsh memories of the missions and Persona…

Hii-sama's voice filled the awfully silent hall. "You've decided about this already, right, Mikan? Like I told you when we met yesterday—"

Yes, she had already decided, and she didn't dare listen to her heart anymore. This is the best for Natsume, and she didn't want to be selfish…because she loved him more than anything.

Mikan looked at everyone with determination-filled hazel orbs. "I'll do it." For his sake, she added to herself.

The officials of Alice Academy each gave their looks of appreciation…and admiration for her sacrifice. Everyone in the whole campus, literally everyone, knew about the special bond between Mikan Sakura and Natsume Hyuuga. Their relationship was one of the good things that always remind people in the academy that living inside the institution wasn't so bad at all. It was as if every student with diminishing hopes, when reminded of Mikan and Natsume, would be secretly hoping that one day, someone would become their flame of hope through the inevitable sadness inside the academy. The determination and courage that Mikan showed just proved how deep their bond was.

The brunette slowly stood from her seat, interrupting everyone of their own thoughts.

"I… think I need to go now," Mikan said, her voice quivering. "I have one request from all of you though…" she added, her fists curling into a ball once more, fighting the lump forming in her throat.

"What would that be, Mikan-chan?" Narumi-sensei asked. He was worried about the girl, she was clearly fighting her own tears, and he struggled to refrain himself from gathering the brunette to his arms and comfort her. She was still a fragile girl after all.

"Please don't make me break this matter to Natsume… And when you talk to him about it…" Mikan paused, taking a deep breath, "—I don't wish to be present."

Principal Kazu gave her a knowing smile. "Of course, Mikan. We don't want to make things harder for you. I will personally talk to Natsume Hyuuga tomorrow, after his release from the hospital."

Mikan nodded and mouthed a soft 'thanks' before gathering her things and started running out of the room. Narumi wanted to follow her when Principal Kazu stopped him with a let-her-be-for-the-meantime­-look. The teacher backed down and let out a sigh.

***

The brunette had been standing outside the infirmary for almost two hours now. She was getting hungry and cold, but she couldn't move from the spot where she was standing. She had been debating all along with herself if she should enter or not—if she should see Natsume or not. She promised she would be back after the 'detention' and would wake him up, and she needed to make sure her boyfriend would be eating dinner too…but she just couldn't face him like this. Not like this. Not like when she felt she would cry as soon as she saw him.

Tears started to form again on the corner of Mikan's eyes. She silently cursed at her tears for not stopping, for not listening to her that she wanted to see Natsume but she didn't to cry in front of him and make him worry. But it was no use, she couldn't see him right now. She wiped her tears with her palms and turned around, facing the opposite direction from the infirmary.

The moment she took her hands off her eyes, she came face-to-face with a big-mouthed creepy-looking ghost.

Mikan being Mikan…should've shouted at the top of her lungs at the moment her eyes landed on the huge apparition. But today, it was different. Instead of screaming, Mikan stared—stared without any hint of expression—at the ghost.

"Oh, there's a ghost," the brunette murmured, still staring at the white misty thing that was floating in front of her face.

After a few seconds, she ignored it and walked past it. Soon after, the ghost disappeared, while a gray-haired little boy with olive orbs walked out of the bush from the sidewalk. While walking, he transformed himself into a 14 year old guy—his features grim and his eyes focused on no one else but her.

"You-chan," Mikan acknowledged him in a soft, dead voice. Her heart felt a tinge of pain as the boy reminded him so much of Natsume…whom she decided to not see again for tonight.

As soon as the guy reached the brunette, he stared—err, rather, glared—at her, as if scrutinizing her face closely.

"You're not a fake. You're Mikan-nee," Youichi stated, peering at her. "—but you're weirder than usual."

When Mikan didn't retort or even react, the gray-haired lad suddenly embraced her. "Mikan-nee, is there something wrong?" he whispered.

The brunette, suddenly feeling familiar comfort at the arms of a very close friend, started crying once more. God knows she needed this. She clutched Youichi's shirt like it was her lifeline, as she sobbed her pain and worries away. As she did so, Youichi just hugged her tighter, letting her cry as much as she needed. He was worried… and bothered by the unusual state of his usually bright and cheerful onee-chan. He didn't like seeing her cry, he didn't like it one bit, but he restrained himself from asking questions. That would come later.

***

"Sorry, You-chan… for suddenly bursting in tears like that," Mikan mumbled, her eyes on the lemon tea can in her hand.

"No big deal," Youichi answered, his olive orbs still intent on the sad face of his oneechan.

The brunette sighed, then gulped her drink once again. Youichi noticed she'd been gripping the can harder than someone would normally do, the can was starting to have dents—and she was completely unaware about it. There's something definitely bothering her, he thought. He debated whether he should ask or not.

To his surprise, Mikan suddenly stood up from the bench they were sitting at, and slung her bag on her shoulder.

"I'm sorry, You-chan… I know you have plenty of questions but I don't think I could answer them. For now, at least," she looked at him, and smiled—a sad smile. "B-but… can I ask a favor?" she continued, the anxious look on her face back.

A favor? He sighed, still bothered by her actions. "What's that?"

Mikan looked at the direction of the infirmary, her eyes sad. "Can you go see Natsume in the infirmary for me? He's napping since this afternoon, and he asked me to wake him up when I return from… from detention, but I can't see him, so could you please go? And make him eat dinner too… and—" she sighed, bit her lip, and sighed again, "—and can you tell him I didn't make it tonight because I had some urgent… uh… urgent mission, yeah. So tell him I'll be back tomorrow evening, and I'll be at my room."

Youichi stood up and faced her. "You're telling me to lie to Nii-chan," he said accusingly. She was lying like it was the most normal thing to do, and he didn't like her lying like that at all. Seeing her hurting people during missions was one thing already, but this--lying... and on top of that, lying to Natsume-nii? What in the name of Satan--

The brunette averted her guilt-streak eyes. "You-chan, I wish… I didn't have to," she answered, her words full with different meanings.

The gray-haired guy held her on the shoulders and made her look at him in the eye. He had to make sure.

"You're not doing anything that would hurt Nii-chan, aren't you?"

Mikan stared into his olive pools, drowned by the sincerity and love that the boy had for his 'hero'. She smiled—this time, a heartfelt one.

"I won't ever hurt Natsume, You-chan," she assured him in a warm voice, "—I'm… saving him."

He didn't quite understand what she meant by 'saving', but he felt in his heart that his onee-chan was telling the truth. He nodded and let go of her. She gave her one last simple smile and started to walk away from him, heading back to the dormitories.

As the silhouette of the brunette disappeared from his view, Youichi turned around and headed for the infirmary.

A/N: Sorry for the absence of NxM moment, but did the YxM suffice for the meantime? :p Anyway, reviews please! ^_^