Disclaimer: Gakuen Alice belongs to Tachibana Higuchi.

A/N: Here's the awaited NxM encounter. Enjoy.

CHAPTER FIVE: TRUST AND HARMONY

Feeling the warm sunlight on her face and hearing the constant chirping of the sparrows outside her window, Mikan was awakened from her slumber. As she slowly opened her eyes, the light coming through the curtains made her squint—her eyes were burning. She covered her eyes with her right arm, tempted to return to sleep, but failed when she felt a painful throb in her temples.

"O-ow…" she grumbled, slowly kicking off her comforter to get up from her bed. She pressed her thumb and pointer on each of her temples, applied pressure and massaged it. Terrible headache, she thought as she shuffled from her bed to the bathroom.

When the brunette reached the sink, she stopped to stare at herself at the mirror. She wasn't surprised when she saw her puffy, sore eyes and the circles around them. She sighed as she grabbed moisturized tissues from the nearby toiletries' box and softly applied them around her eyes. I hope I've already cried my tear ducts out last night, she thought to herself as the cold sensation from the tissues reduced the burning of her eyes and lifted a bit of the throbbing pain in her head. Feeling satisfied, she threw the sheets away, proceeding to brush her teeth. As she looked at herself in the mirror, she braced herself and chanted, I need to be strong. I have to stick to my decision…for Natsume.

As she went about her morning routine, she thought about hiding at Hotaru's laboratory for the whole day, before nightfall comes. She pretty much guessed Natsume would come looking for her tonight, most probably to talk about his Alice extraction. Because she let Youichi tell Natsume last night that she would be out on a 'mission' until later tonight, she can't be seen around. Good thing it was a Sunday.

He'll be angry for sure… he'll probably think I don't care at all about him losing memories, Mikan thought to herself, feeling nervous about the anticipated encounter tonight. She really wouldn't know what to answer him if he starts asking those kind of questions… since she, herself, wasn't that stable yet regarding her decision. Of course she wouldn't change it, it's just that…everything was theoretical. In her mind, she could say she could do it, she will be okay if Natsume forgets and leaves the academy… but if she starts considering the reality of it all, her determination crumbles easily.

She put her hair dryer down the table and brushed her nearly-waist length brunette hair. Soon after, she heard soft knocks on her door. She froze. Her eyes swiftly searched for the clock—it said 9:30 am. By this time, Natsume's discharge from the hospital should be occurring now. Her eyes widened. No, he must've gone here first to check on me, oh no, wait, he couldn't see me, he'll know I'm lying, waah, what should I do—

"Sakura? It's Ruka," said the voice from the other side of the door. Mikan sighed in relief, but was cut short when Ruka continued. "I'm here with—"

Panic raced through the brunette's head. Oh no, oh no, he's with Natsume! I'm done for!

"—Youichi," finished Ruka. Mikan's anxiety was drowned with relief when she heard it was not Natsume out there with Ruka. She silently laughed at herself for being too nervous. Maybe the effect of four hours sleep, she murmured as she strode to the door and carefully opened it.

When her hazel orbs met cerulean and olive ones, she smiled her best and greeted them.

"Good morning Ruka-pyon, You-chan!"

Both guys didn't answer—Ruka was gaping with shock while You-chan looked half-concerned and half-annoyed.

"W-what—" asked Mikan, confused by the boys' reactions. She looked at her clothes to ensure she wasn't being stupid and had them on, and yes—she had, to her relief.

"You look awful," answered You-chan, not taking his eyes off his onee-chan's face.

Ruka had apparently recovered from his shock already, planted a hand on Mikan's shoulder. "And y-you're so pale. What… what happened?"

Finally understanding what they meant, she faked a laugh while scratching her head. "W-well, last night was… rough, I—couldn't sleep at all. B-but it's okay, really, I'll just grab a hearty meal after and I'll be alright," she said. She stepped away from the doorway, ushering the two in and closed the door.

The guys continued watching her as she walked to her study chair, missing a few steps and almost tripping. She looks completely out of it, Ruka and Youichi simultaneously thought.

Finally sitting down, Mikan faced the two. "So… what brings you here this early?"

Youichi walked over to her couch and plopped down. "About Nii-chan… I heard—from Hotaru-nee and Ruka-nii..."

Mikan looked at Ruka, who nodded. "Hotaru told me everything about it yesterday when you went to the Hanahime Den."

Silence.

Both men continued to gaze at the brunette while the latter stared absent-mindedly at the wall of her three-star bedroom.

"What do you think?" asked Mikan in a soft voice after quite a while.

Ruka didn't get it. "What do you mean—"

She looked at them straight in the eye. "About me taking away Natsume's Alice… and his memories as well."

The animal lover fidgeted, while the gray-haired lad stared at her back. But no one answered.

Mikan stood up, strutted over to the window, and looked outside. "I know this just doesn't affect me, I mean… he'll forget everyone, all of us here in the academy. And I couldn't just say that this would only hurt me, because I know everyone who knows Natsume…has a special place for him in their hearts." She faced them with a sad smile. "Ruka-pyon, you have known him more than I do, and you've been through a lot together, and I know how important he is to you. You-chan too… Natsume had served as your father figure all along, and I know how much you look up to him. Everyone… everyone will be hurt when Natsume goes… when he loses his memories."

She felt the familiar painful lump on her throat again, but she calmed it down by taking deep breaths. I must get used to this, or else I'll falter and cry again…especially when I see Natsume later, she thought.

"Sakura…" Ruka called on to her, apparently feeling that Mikan would start crying soon. But she didn't. She put on a serious face.

"You may call me selfish… for deciding that I'd carry on the extraction, but—I know you'd agree with me on this," she paused, taking a deep breath. "All of us who love him… wouldn't want Natsume to die. He might forget about us, but he would be alive. That's what's important, right?" Her voice broke at the final word, but there were no trace of tears in her eyes.

Ruka, overwhelmed by Mikan's show of strength, managed to give out a sincere nod and a smile. Yes, he would be hurt if Natsume forgets about everything between them, but he would gladly sacrifice that for him to stay alive. And he knew that among everyone else, the one who will be hurt the most…is Mikan. If Mikan, despite the pain she'll be facing, was this strong—then he would be strong too, for Natsume's sake.

"Don't worry Mikan-nee… you're not selfish at all. When it comes to Nii-chan, you're the most selfless person I know," Youichi told her, giving her a timid smile—one very similar to Natsume.

Mikan mouthed 'thanks' and faced the window once more. She was glad they understood.

***

Mikan was heading towards Hotaru's laboratory in a brisk pace. The sun was too bright… she would've loved it, but with the continuous throbbing of her head, she felt she would faint anytime if she stayed under the sun.

Ruka and Youichi went to the infirmary to help Natsume on his discharge from the infirmary. She told them she would be staying at Hotaru's for the rest of the day. She explained that the High School Principal would be talking to Natsume later in the afternoon about the Alice extraction, and she expected Natsume would come looking for her as soon as the talk is over. Youichi encouraged her to do so, saying that his Nii-chan wasn't too pleased last night at the idea that she went off to a 'mission' without stopping by to tell him…and judging that the extraction issue would be talked over today, he would surely dash off to see her. Ruka advised her to get some sleep at the lab to cure her headache, since as far as he could tell, Natsume might be enraged and hard to convince when she'd see him tonight.

Even the mere thought burned Mikan out. She had no doubt that Natsume would be fuming in anger when he sees her. She sighed. Things are getting harder and harder for me, she thought to herself.

As Mikan approached the huge compound of mid-scale buildings proximal to the High School dormitories, she looked for the familiar gate-less white and unadorned construction that was Hotaru's laboratory. The inventor best friend of hers hated being disturbed in her laboratory so she had devised a contraption that would receive only invited guests—and let them in through the window.

When she reached the building, she fished out a cellular phone—courtesy of Hotaru—from her pocket and called her best friend. Of course, Hotaru Imai doesn't give out something without a reason. It's sole purpose was to call during visits and emergencies. If used for petty things, it would self-destruct. She laughed at the idea.

After three rings, her best friend's voice came from the other line. "Mikan."

"Hotaru, I'm—" she was cut off by the one on the other line. "I know. The lift is on its way," Hotaru said in her usual emotionless voice. The line was cut soon after.

Mikan looked up from her spot only to see a fast-falling contraption heading her way. Seeing she'd be killed if she didn't move, she instinctively dove to the ground and rolled herself away from the lift. The machine stopped a few inches from the ground—a space where a standing human could fit—before completely dropping to the surface with a thud. Her best friend's ways never failed to struck her dumb.

She got up from the ground and walked over to the lift to ride. As soon as she stepped both her feet on it, the contraption started to move and shot back up in an incredible acceleration. Mikan screamed in fear of the height and speed. "Hotaruuuuuu, you idiot!!!"

The lift skidded into a halt in front of a wide window where the inventor, holding a remote control, stood waiting for her equipped with her usual stoic face. Mikan, still clinging for dear life on one of the lift's pillars, stared at Hotaru…flabbergasted.

"Hurry, or I'll send you back down," the raven-haired girl said, looking at the brunette with amused eyes.

Mikan, recovering from the shock, wailed at her best friend. "You didn't have to make the lift go up so fast like that! I almost died!"

The inventor, smiling timidly in amusement, led out a hand for the nullifier to hold on. "Come now, the food's waiting. I'm hungry."

Seeing Hotaru smile made Mikan forget about the issue at hand. She gleefully grabbed onto her best friend's hand and jumped off from the lift. Landing successfully on the floor of the building, the brunette delightfully clung on Hotaru's arm as both girls walked further to the interior of the construction to have lunch together.

***

Natsume was stuck speechless with what he just heard. There was no way in hell he would—

"Please understand, Hyuuga-kun. We only want what's best for you… Sakura-san wishes the best for you too, that's why she agreed to do it," said Principal Kazu in a convincing tone. He wanted the boy to understand and give his consent regarding the matter as soon as possible. The flame-caster didn't deserve to suffer from his condition any longer.

A cascade of feelings of exasperation, consternation and astonishment drowned Natsume's entire system. Mikan agreed to this?, he thought to himself, still couldn't bring himself to believe it. His girlfriend agreed to something that would clearly break them apart?

He clenched his jaws and curled his fists into a ball. He needed to talk to her. Now.

"I'm sorry, Sir…but I have to talk to Mi—uh, to Sakura about this," he stated, his voice grim.

Before Principal Kazu could say anything, the raven-haired lad had already stalked away from his office. He silently watched the boy's back as he heaved a sigh.

I'm sorry, Mikan. Looks like you'll have to convince him into it yourself, he thought as Natsume's figure disappeared from his view.

***

Natsume ran as fast as he could from the High School Division towards the dormitories. He glanced at the setting sun—Mikan should've returned from the mission by this time, if ever she really did go into one, he thought bitterly. He was right that something had been bothering Mikan since two days ago, but the idiot continuously denied it and covered everything with lies—something which irked him like hell. Sure it annoyed the hell out of him, but what pissed him off more than anything else is this—this thing with extracting his Alice.

He suddenly felt the usual burning pain in his chest, making him suddenly halt from running. As he desperately caught his breath, he felt like his heart was being stung by a thousand needles.

"Damn," he cursed, followed by a series of coughing. Shit, I've only been running for a short distance and I'm already this exhausted, thought Natsume grimly. He hated being weak like this.

He suddenly remembered the words of the High School Principal.

"You're already near the final stage, Hyuuga-kun. That's why for your sake, we have to get this extraction done as soon as possible. Or else, the permanent damage that your body would take…it'll cause your early death."

He mouthed another profanity. If the circumstances were different, he would gladly undergo some Alice operation like this without any hesitation. He had been living with this sickly condition for more than 4 years already, and he would be lying if he said he hadn't been wishing for this pain to go away. But now that the option for him to be free from the suffering is already here, he couldn't simply take that stupid extraction if it would take his memories away.

The image of Mikan, smiling brightly, crossed his mind. Natsume felt a tinge of a different kind of pain prick his heart. He wouldn't leave Mikan. He couldn't.

Natsume clenched his jaws and stood up. He needed to see the brunette as soon as possible.

***

"N-Natsume, wait—" Ruka called onto his best friend, who was angrily looking around the dormitory for Mikan. The raven-haired guy knocked furiously at his door a few minutes ago, asking where the brunette girlfriend of his was.

The flame-caster gave Ruka a hard look. "I know that the idiot didn't go to some mission. You know where she is, right?"

The animal lover started sweating profusely. "F-for the meantime, calm yourself down, Natsume… She'll be coming here soon enough, don't worry."

Natsume eyed him. "She's at Imai's place, isn't she?"

Ruka was about to answer him when a familiar female voice interrupted. "Hyuuga."

Both men turned their eyes to the source of the voice. Hotaru was standing with Mikan cowering anxiously behind her. When Natsume's crimson orbs met her hazel ones, the brunette's face paled.

"I need to talk to you," he said to Mikan, command ringing clear from his tone.

"N-Natsume…" she whispered in a quivering voice. She knew it would be like this, but…seeing Natsume's angry features made her tremble in fear and guilt.

Hotaru met the flame-caster eye-to-eye. "I won't hand her over until you promise me you won't hurt her or anything, Hyuuga."

"What a trifling thing to say, Imai," Natsume answered, scoffing. "You know I won't do that."

Mikan looked at Hotaru and then at Natsume, who were both glaring at each other. Ruka, who was beside Natsume, was fidgeting with the tension between his girlfriend and his best friend.

"I-it's going to be alright, Hotaru. I… I need to talk to Natsume too," Mikan said in a tiny voice, wishing to break the uneasy atmosphere between them.

Hotaru answered her with gentle eyes. The brunette stepped forward from the inventor's back and stalked towards Natsume. The flame-caster watched his girlfriend apprehensively walked to his side, his anger wavering for a bit. He didn't want to scare her, but…

"Natsume, let's go," Mikan called out, as she held his hand tight.

He gripped her hand tighter and stalked away from Hotaru and Ruka, with Mikan being dragged by him. Ruka sighed and walked over to Hotaru.

"Don't worry, he won't hurt Sakura," he said, ushering his girlfriend to go the opposite direction.

Hotaru shrugged. "I know. I just said that to ease his anger for a bit."

The animal lover, clueless of what she meant, just continued to walk side by side with her.

***

Natsume slammed the door of his special star room after hauling Mikan inside. The brunette, nearly tripping, held onto his bed for support. She could've easily stood back up, but suddenly, she felt her knees go weak at the thought of fully facing Natsume's anger. She slowly pushed herself on the bed and sat, her eyes landing on her boyfriend's frowning face opposite her. He led out a hand for her to stand up, which she gratefully held on to.

"Did you really go out for a mission?" he started, still scowling at her.

Mikan averted her gaze. Why doesn't he just get straight to the point, she thought guiltily.

"I guessed so," he said, followed by an exasperated sigh. He clenched a fistful of his raven hair in frustration. "You've been bombarding me with lies lately, and now you give me this stupid Alice extraction shit!"

The sight of Natsume in such infuriated state caused her tears to well up. She tried her best to stop them from showing, she thought she had braced herself for this, but she wasn't able to hold it any longer. She was afraid he wouldn't understand her decision.

Natsume looked at Mikan who shook in fear and cried silently. He was so frustrated… he just wanted answers. He didn't mean to hurt her, but God, he needed answers from her.

"Don't you care what will happen to us after?" he asked with a pained voice. "Don't you care…at all?"

His words cut through her heart like a knife, making her cry even more. If she told him the truth, her true feelings, wouldn't he be more discouraged to undergo the extraction? But…

Natsume strode towards her in three big paces, held her on the shoulders and shook her. "Mikan, answer me! Don't you care at all that I would forget everything between us after!?"

"I care, for God's sake!" she wailed back at him, unable to suppress her true thoughts. "Do you think this is easy for me? I had to choose between your life or us, Natsume! I love you so much and I want to be with you, but I don't want you to die!" She clutched Natsume's shirt and continued to weep. "I don't want you to die…"

Natsume held her closer to him. "You're more important to me…than my life, Mikan," he whispered to her, tears starting to form in the corner of his eyes. She was his life. He had endured every trial in his life in this hell of an academy because of her. He didn't want to leave her, he didn't want to forget her, he didn't want to hurt her like this. He cursed himself for being weak…for being one of the fourth type, for having an Alice that was killing him.

"Mikan… Rather than living without my memories of you and everything—I'd rather… die loving you," he mumbled, embracing her tighter. He meant it. He couldn't even think of a life without her. He had fallen in love with her more than anyone can imagine. More than he, himself, could even imagine.

To his surprise, Mikan forcefully pulled away from his arms. She looked at him with tear-stricken eyes. But what made him freeze in place was the determination in those hazel orbs.

"Don't," she started, stretching out to caress his face. "I want you to live… if not for yourself, live for me." Her gaze didn't waver. "If you can't, then I won't allow you to love me anymore."

Natsume felt his breath stopping at her words. He subconsciously raised his hand to touch Mikan's hand on his face. "Mikan, why…"

She slowly leaned over and planted a gentle, warm kiss on Natsume's lips. When she returned to meet his gaze, she showed an affectionate smile.

"Because… I love you more than anything else, Natsume. And I know—" she paused, intertwining their free hands and giving it a gentle squeeze, "—that we can surpass this trial between us. This won't be the end of us, I know."

Natsume felt his heart brim with different feelings—a whirlwind of emotions that only this woman could invoke in him. If she believed…if she decided to hang on to their feelings—then he might be able to take the risk.

He pulled her closer and sealed her lips with his own.

A/N: OOC? Cheesy? That's intended. :p Anyway, let me hear from you :) REVIEWS PLEASE!