Longish chapter alert! (Double what I usually write) So yay for you guys (since my average chapter isn't very long)

As promised the new chapter comes out today :)

Please enjoy

CHAPTER 8: HIS REASON FOR LIVING

I was still buzzing with excitement as Natsume walked me back from the Dangerous Abilities class. There were no more classes for the rest of the day and tomorrow was the weekend. We walked hand in hand, enjoying each other's company. Nothing seems to have changed much since I got back which was, surprisingly, only last night. Until now, I still didn't want to let go of his warm hand.

"Have you arranged your dorms and accommodations with Narumi-sensei or your uncle yet?" Natsume asked casually. I registered the words and blushed because it was merely another way of asking are you sleeping in my room again tonight? "N-no, I mean I dunno," it was hard not to stutter, "I'm on my way to see him now..." I mentally changed routes to my uncle's office.

It wasn't too long until we reached High School Principal's office. I was still unfamiliar with the High School grounds but Natsume was there to guide me. I knocked and a friendly, muffled voice was heard from behind the door, "Come in!" I opened the large oak door and entered a large room. There were bookshelves across the walls and various other antiques and expensive, valuable looking paraphernalia decorating the space. Despite its grandeurs, it was very welcoming.

It seemed quite cliché that the Principal was sitting at a large desk in the centre-back of the room. I almost thought he'd say I've been expecting you, but he didn't say that. Although, it was quite obvious he was expecting us when he said, "Natsume. Mikan! Looking for a room now, are we?" He smiled warmly.

"Hello Uncle, and yes, I sorta need a dorm..." I replied. Natsume merely nodded curtly as a greeting.

"No problem! No problem! Of course, you probably slept somewhere last night, you may be able to sleep there again..." He looked up in asking, although I had a feeling that he already knew where I went last night. I spared a glance at Natsume but he was staring intently at a shelf of books, with no intention of answering that question.

"I..uh..well...um," I began but he interrupted me.

"It's alright. I think I may have been a little too cruel with that, no?" He chuckled softly then resumed. "Just one day here and you've been settling in quite well, already. Failing maths, succeeding in Dangerous Ability class and, if I'm not mistaken getting a boyfriend too." My jaw hit the floor.

"WAIT! Ho-how did you -? He-Natsume-my-maths-sempai's... Sempai!" Realisation dawned briefly on me as to how he acquired this information. Tsubasa-sempai was really cruel. Teacher's really are informed around here. Tsubasa-sensei must really be enjoying this teacher thing...

I looked over at Natsume who was still eagerly examining the furniture and determinedly excluding himself from this conversation. My uncle continued, "Well, I couldn't pick a finer candidate... I wonder how my brother would respond to this. That's out of the question for now. Congratulations, you two. You have my full support!" He seemed really enthusiastic. My smile twitched.

"Yes, well, we mustn't waste time in getting you a dorm, I'll organise it right away," he kept on cheerily. "Technically, it wouldn't be appropriate to keep you two in the same dorm again. Who knows what you could get up to." He snickered a little bit again as both my sweat and jaw dropped. The atmosphere just got ten times more awkward. I snuck a glance a Natsume who, although he was facing an ornately carved table, had a face turned to stone and a jaw clenched a little too tight. It relieved me to see that he was blushing a little bit too.

The high school principal burst out into a fit of laughter. "Oh...oh dear... I'm especially sinister today... I apologize for that. I guess I just couldn't resist teasing you youngsters... I've let Narumi know about it... you should go pick the key up from there..." He slowly recovered. "Anyway, Mikan you can go or wait outside. Natsume could you stay in here, I'd like a quick word."

I nodded to my uncle and hesitantly looked at Natsume. He nodded and I made my way to the exit, shutting the heavy oak door behind me. I leaned against it, but it was so thick that I couldn't make out anything that was being spoken softly about on the other side. The tone sounded sort of serious.

My eavesdropping couldn't progress any further however when I heard someone yell, "Heads!" I had no time to respond to this when something round hit me square on the head, making me topple backwards like a toy. As I fell to the floor I made out a figure running towards me.

As I pushed my torso away from the ground, rubbing my head, I saw someone pick up the projectile and crouch down beside me. "You okay," said a boyish and genuinely concerned voice. I looked up and I saw a guy, around my age, looking back at me with deep, sienna eyes. He had messy brown hair and a friendly, playful face that was so new, yet so familiar. He helped me up and I couldn't help but blush because, in truth, he was very handsome.

"Sorry about that, I was playing with some elementary kids and this Alice ball," he held up the ball bearing the Academy's star, "and, well, one of them could make things fly... I think you can guess what happened next." He grinned jokingly as three elementary aged kids came running around down the hallway.

"Souma-sempai! There you are," they uttered. They skidded to a halt beside me and the stranger. He addressed them kindly but pointedly, "Now, look what you guys did. That ball flew all the way over here and knocked this girl down. You guys have to be more careful next time so nobody gets hurt, ok? Now you should apologise to her."

The little kids all turned remorseful pouts on bowed heads towards me and said in unison, "We're sorry." My slight shock turned into a broad smile, "It's alright! Just listen to sempai here, be more careful next time." They nodded, grateful smiles now on their faces. The strange guy was chuckling and noogied one of the boys.

The kids pleaded, "Can we keep playing now nee-chan? We promise to be more careful!" He laughed softly and nodded. The kids started to stumble away and the guy jogged after. Before he disappeared, he turned around and waved, a carefree grin on his face. "See you around!"

I couldn't help but wonder who that guy was. He seemed like the playful, sporty, friendly type of boy. He was really nice. I wonder if he was in our grade, he seems around Natsume's age.

Speaking of Natsume, at that moment the oak doors opened and Natsume came out looking a little annoyed but otherwise normal. He closed the doors behind him and curiously followed my gaze in time to see the figure disappear around the corner. "You okay, Polka? Who was that?"

"Huh?" I said absent mindedly as I watched the stranger disappear. Once he was gone I turned my attention back to Natsume. "Oh, some kids were playing with and Alice ball and it knocked me over... it's ok though, they apologised and helped me up." Natsume nodded, eyes lingering for a while on the corner where the figures disappeared. He turned his head abruptly and snorted, "Just like Polka to get hit by an Alice ball in an empty hallway."

"Hey!" He always does this to me... but, its always harmless and ends up making me smile anyway.

As we walked towards Narumi's office which was on the other side of the building, I remembered that my uncle had kept Natsume in privately. "What was that whole conversation with high school principal about anyway?" I asked.

He shrugged. "He was just saying stuff about how I have to take good care of you. The usual. He figured it would be what your dad would have wanted him to say to me. I think I managed to convince him, though, that I wouldn't dare try to hurt my reason for living." He gazed warmly at me. My eyes widened in mild shock, once again I started to blush. I tightened my grip on his arm and hand and leaned my head on his shoulder. I felt him tense up briefly in surprise, only briefly. He too tightened his grip on my arm as we walked hand in hand towards Narumi-sensei's office.

A/N The following is kinda confusing. It's Mikan in her dorm reminiscing about what just happened when she was at Narumi's onwards.

I lay in the bed of my new dorm, staring at the one circular badge I held in my hand. It had a star engraved in it, differing from the usual star shaped badges that could be received in the ones, twos or threes. It was beyond three stars, it was the best you could get. "The Principal thought you deserved this, for saving the school and possibly the world and all." That's what Narumi told me. I could not think of anything to say at the time and though I could think of so many excuses why I shouldn't have accepted it, I took it anyway. I could've said that it wasn't just me, that I didn't do much, I didn't deserve this or that it was completely uncalled for.

A small smirk played on my face as I remembered what Narumi-sensei said that had stopped me from saying all that. "Don't you dare say that you don't deserve this, Mikan. Your part in this operation was beyond important, it wouldn't have succeeded without you. I watched you, I saw you grow, I was with you as you gave up seven years of your life to protect those you love. So don't you dare say that that isn't worth this small badge."

I took it wordlessly, bowing in thanks. The little bit of cool metal in the palm of my hand, the token reward for the years I spent on the outside. It was then that all the memories and struggles of the past seven years came back to me, all in one sudden burst of emotion. Seven years was a long time. But it was seven years filled with worthy moments, with my mother and Narumi and Shiki. I remembered the tears uncontrollably welling in my eyes as I stood there and before I knew it, streaming silently down my face. I remember trying to stay true to Hotaru's constant advice about my crying face as I choked out a sob, but I simply couldn't stop. Most of all, I remembered Natsume pulling me into a warm hug and whispering in my ear. "You're amazing, you know."

All those times, in those seven years were now represented by this badge. This badge would mean so much to me. I closed my fist and put it to my chest. Shutting my eyes I reminisced on all the events of today. Reunited with all of my friends and making new ones, too. Most of all, after seven years, I saw Nastume again. The one I loved, the one who loved me. I remembered walking back to my dorm with him.

"We're matching now," I smiled and pointed to the badge on his chest. He smirked. As I opened the door into my large, furnished, new room, he pulled me into a tight hug. Whilst he held me, he didn't fail to whisper in my ear, "Tomorrow at central town, ten o'clock by the tree I used to sit at, don't be late." With that he had left me in my room, casually saluting farewell as he closed the door.

What a day indeed. As I drifted off into the welcoming arms of sleep, I found myself thinking... but tomorrow will be even better.

Hehe, so will next chapter be a fluff chapter? Who knows! (I do, but I can't tell you)

From now on the original plot is in motion :D

Again, the next chapter will be up in the next three days or so...

Reviews are especially appreciated. I'm curious for feedback on this chapter in particular (the first one I wrote after my six month break :P)