This is more than double what I normally write and also the second last chapter (0.0)

I haven't put a disclaimer since prologue so here it is again:

I DO NOT OWN GAKUEN ALICE, THAT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIGUCHI TACHIBANA

I DO NOT OWN 'A WHOLE NEW WORLD', THAT IS THE PROPERTY OF LAINEY-CHAN (I ONLY THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY AWESOME! A FANFIC OF A FANFIC, IF YOU WILL)

CHAPTER 19: HEATING UP

Me?

They... were fighting over... me? Thanks to my now functioning brain – that was, in an attempt to figure out what was going on, now working overtime and better than usual – everything clicked into place. That's why Kiseki was always trying to spend time with me; always praising me; always smiling at me. That's why Natsume was so over protective; never mentioning Kiseki or my lessons; telling me he loved me with such emotion.

After shaking his head at the unfortunate scene on the playing field, Ruka looked over at me and with a concerned voice, asked, "Mikan? You okay?" I merely gulped. They knew about it too. The mind reading, the chasing, the filming. It was clear as day as to how we were in this situation.

Aoi knew, too. That's what she and Kiseki were talking about. That's how she knew. That's how Ruka and Hotaru and Koko knew. That's why I didn't need to explain anything to her. She didn't tell me about it. It made me a little angry but then I remembered how much of a comfort she was, and all anger faded away.

I was so thick. I didn't realise the obvious that happened around me. Now Natsume and Kiseki were about to get into an inevitable argument. Now me and Ruka (and Hotaru and Koko, no matter how they may act) were beside ourselves with worry. And I knew exactly why.

Choking back a sob, realising the tape around my mouth had disappeared, I managed feebly, "This is all my fault." Ruka seemed slightly shocked, but then put on a grave face. So you finally realised? His face seemed to say.

"Baka, it's because you're too likeable," Hotaru half scolded. I managed a weak smile. She had, in her own twisted way, just complimented me. They were rare. She, being my best friend, knew how to cheer me up. I gave her a hug. She enjoyed the first five seconds of it, but after that her glare undoubtedly said get off me.

"Um, sorry to be insensitive but..." Koko interrupted and pointed a finger to the field. We all turned our heads towards the two boys, who had since now, just been glaring at each other.

Kiseki was first to break the painful silence. He drew a deep breath and with a quick half-cringe, half-sob he shouted, "I TOLD YOU BEFORE, NATSUME! I'M SICK OF IT!"

Natsume showed shock at the outburst but then narrowed his eyes. To be honest, I was shocked too. This was completely out of Kiseki's character.

"All the time, over all these years, you've been the better one. The big boy of the family. Better than little old Kiseki anyday. Excelling in everything, soaking up all the glory." There was venom in Kiseki's words.

"I didn't -" Natsume said tensely.

"TO HELL YOU DIDN'T! You've been better than me at everything. You had the brains; the smartest kid in the street. But for some reason, you didn't think it was necessary to use them. But no, nobody put you down for that. In fact, it made you look cool. You even managed to attain a fan-club. I just don't get it. You don't give a damn and you still become popular!" I watched, horrified, as Kiseki spat it all out. He didn't understand. He didn't understand Natsume at all.

Natsume stood stock still – lips glued shut – and waited for him to continue, glaring all the while. And Kiseki did continue, with as much passionate rage as before, "But it wasn't only your intellect. No. What made you better than everyone else was your Alice. It was in your blood to be a Fire Alice. The feared and powerful Fire Alice. And what really ticks me off, is that it was in my blood too. And you ended up with the limitless one. The type that was, again, superior to mine."

The tears were pouring silently down my face. Hotaru wasn't complaining though. She was eagerly recording the exchange of words. I had no idea Kiseki felt this way. The feeling of contempt for the Dangerous Ability made sense now. It's not like he hated the people in it, just the fact that is existed and reminded him of what he wasn't. But then, that's not what it's for. How could he envy people who were classified as dangerous? Kiseki... you've got it all wrong.

Kiseki looked with burning eyes at his rival. Nastume, who was obviously affected by that last outburst, said tersely, "I never wanted this Alice."

"OH, PLEASE!" Kiseki screamed, shutting Natsume right up. "Don't give me that I-never-wanted-this-Alice noble crap!" I felt Ruka whimper slightly beside me. Natsume... why aren't you elaborating? Make him see why you act like this! He doesn't understand. I felt like yelling out when I realised the tape was somehow on my mouth again. My friends seem to think it best that I didn't get myself involved any further.

"Is it just me, or has this backfired on Natsume," mumbled Koko. But then, when I looked at Natsume, I couldn't help but think there was a plan behind his silence. At least, I hoped there was a plan.

"I've been living in your shadow my whole life, Natsume! My sporting is the only thing keeping me from falling to the side. This whole time I've been okay with that. I was accepting of it. You were the better one and always will be – but that never stopped me from disliking you. But then Mikan came along. She was brilliant in every way. But it seems she fell right into your lap as well, didn't she? You could have any girl you want and I swear, if you're just using her Natsume... then that's the last straw."

I was beyond shocked. Did he think that Natsume used his status and popularity to make me fall in love with him? Come to think of it, I don't think he ever knew about me and Natsume before; how our relationship had to go a long way.

"She turned me down, Natsume. And I can't help but feel resentment boiling inside of me when I realise it's because of you. Everything. You have everything. Now you came here to punish me? What more do you want from me, Natsume?" There were tears trickling down his face, his composure out the window. He looked crushed.

Natsume examined him intently. Seeing Kiseki like this made me feel sick. Just as my emotions had gotten messed up, I'm sure his were too. Those hurtful words, he may have meant them, but when feelings have been toyed with too much, you say things, that you never mean too.

Natsume's face was a mask, only his eyes would give anything away – and right now, they were burning. I could see his fists trembling and had a sure feeling that he was all tensed up. He was restraining himself, a lot. I didn't know why, and perhaps it was best if he did, but how could he exercise so much restraint when I knew he was raging. His eyes flickered briefly, he was thinking hard.

Natsume's face seemed to relax, indicating that he had come to a conclusion. He didn't get mad. He didn't speak. Me and the rest of the eavesdroppers were expecting him to go on a rampage. He waited and looked expectantly at his cousin. Natsume's eyes trasferred a message to Kiseki. They bore right into the weeping boy. They could have been staring at each other for eternity. Gulping, Kiseki seemed to have understood. He looked shameful, guilty. After a few moments, and after regaining his composure and calming down a bit, Kiseki spoke.

"You know, Natsume, you are the only one in the world who could make me that enraged at my own family. And you're probably the only guy that could make me say what I'm about to say. I know you know that I lost it a bit there. But, I do feel that way about you. You act all cool and careless, you are amazing talented. It makes me despise you. I admit it, it makes me envy you."

Me and the rest of the party in the bushes were thrown into utter confusion (except maybe Koko, he looked as if he would enjoy eating popcorn right now). Why did Kiseki just calm down? Why was he addressing Natsume so... fondly? And yet he was saying how much he despised him. Natsume on the other hand seemed so calm, so understanding. Something had definitely happened in the silence after Kiseki's outburst. Natsume had somehow telepathically communicated something to Kiseki.

"I guess I just don't understand you, Natsume. It seems like you are that bastard that I described in every way. But, there's something in the back of my mind that defies it all. You frustrate me Hyuuga Natsume." So he knew he didn't understand. But then, what is he talking about?

"Say, Natsume," he asked. "Do you remember that week, when we were six?"

Natsume nodded slowly. Kiseki seemed pleased about it, but he decided to recount the story anyway.

"Your family was staying over at my family's house for the holiday. I had heard so many cool things about you. My parents and relatives would praise you so much. It made me jealous. I had decided to make you my rival even before you arrived.

"Then your family came. Aoi was great, I took to her right away. But you, you always kept yourself isolated. You rarely spoke to anyone but Aoi. You addressed the adults politely and accepted all of their compliments. I grew less and less fond of you.

"Everything changed on the second day of your stay. I was outside playing with Aoi. We were climbing the fence in the garden. All of a sudden Aoi lost her balance and fell. I, of course, exclaimed 'Aoi-chan! NO!' but I couldn't help her. Out of no where you appeared and caught her.

"She thanked her nii-chan and you told her to be more careful. Then you looked up at me. I started to feel scared. I thought you were gonna scold me for putting Aoi in danger. But you didn't. Instead, you said, 'You're nice to Aoi, I wanna be friends.'"

"For the next few days we became close. You never said much but it was pleasant to spend time with you. I could've sworn you were having fun, too. We were like brothers, that's what the grown-ups would say. You were very nice, you'd give me and Aoi your share of biscuits. You'd always look out for us. You became my best friend

"But then on the last day, that incident happened. I was running around in the backyard with you. I was saying something about playing a game by the tree which I was running speedily towards. But you pushed me over saying, 'That's stupid. You're stupid.' It took be by surprise, you saying that. You would never say that. Your parents were calling you to leave, you had no time to elaborate. You left me in tears shouting, 'I hate you, Natsume!'"

"I reverted to my old way of thinking immediately. You were just some glorified prodigy. A stuck up bastard. A few days later my dad discovered a bull-ant nest around the back behind the tree. Of course, I wondered whether you knew that. But I dismissed the thought. Why would you make me hate you for my sake. It didn't seem like the guy I made myself think was you.

"Sure, we'd see each other at future family gatherings but I made sure to stay as far away from you as possible. You made that easy, always keeping to yourself; never even trying to approach me. I decided that I wouldn't mingle with people like you ever again."

Silence. That was typical Natsume to do that. Ruka told me he always makes himself the villain for the sake of others. I didn't know they had such a relationship. To be honest, I was slightly relieved. I knew that bonds like that never disappear. They may fade but they never disappear. Nonetheless, I was getting anxious.

"Just tell me, Natsume," Kiseki said earnestly, "did you know that ant nest was there? Did you push me down for my sake? I need to know. I need to make a proper conclusion about you."

Natsume thought hard for an answer. He chose his words carefully, considering the outcome.

"Even if I did say yes," Natsume replied slowly, "would that change your outlook on me being a glorified prodigy or stuck up bastard?"

Kiseki's eyes widened, but then he smiled and said, "If you did say yes, I'd still think you were a glorified prodigy and stuck up bastard. But you'd be my friend and cousin, the glorified prodigy and stuck up bastard."

A smile played on the outline of Natsume's mouth, "Then maybe."

Kiseki's grin grew even larger, "That's good enough for me."

I felt so relieved. I never expected guys to be able to work out their problems like that. I sighed. Ruka's eyes were glistening, he was obviously proud of Natsume. Hotaru looked a little bit disappointed but then an evil smirk appeared on her face. I don't really want to know why. Koko's eyes were huge, this was ten times better than a movie for him.

"That's not all is it?" Natsume's face turned serious again.

Kiseki's grin turned into a smirk, "No, it isn't. I still don't know if you're just toying with Mikan or not. I can't let that slip by so easily."

Natsume's eyes narrowed, "Just what do you plan to do about that?"

Kiseki's eyes blazed with determination, "Fight me."

Natsume seemed mildly surprised at that outburst. So were Hotaru, Ruka and I. "Are you forgetting that I have a limitless Alice? Do you think I'll go easy on you? Because I won't."

Kiseki urged, "Beat me and I'll know you really care about her."

Was he asking for defeat? "I don't see how that will solve your problem."

"Oh come on, Natsume," Kiseki smirked again, "we're cousins. I'm sure you wanna burn something as bad as I do right now. Besides, we're guys, feelings of hate don't wear off so easy. This'll be the first step to letting them out."

Natsume smirked too. "Yeah, I actually do feel like burning your arm off right now, and you've just given me a reason to. You're on, Souma." I guess Kiseki was right with the hatefulness taking a while to go away.

My eyes widened in shock. Ruka's face fell. Hotaru's face seemed delighted. So was Koko's. They were gonna fight? I thought they put aside their differences?

Koko seemed so eager for action, "Things are going to heat up, literally."

Please, PLEASE don't hate me for that. I know you all find Kiseki 'annoying' (the exact words by many reviewers lol) but when I wrote it, I felt I just HAD to resolve it first. It's my first fic and also the longest thing I have EVER written. I suck at complications/climaxes so please be lenient.

I promise you'll get a good fight next chapter :D Also, as you can see, I wasn't mean enough to break Natsume and Mikan up... it IS a Natsumikan fic...

Next chapter will probably be up tomorrow (dunno, bit busy, but it should be)

BTW, this is random but I felt I had to say it:

For PERCY JACKSON readers! The first fic (how I discovered this site) I read here was called 'Broken Bow' by Xed Alpha. It's freaking epic. It's like a storyline of its own. READ IT NOW! GO! When you're done, read Broken Bow 2 and 3... and 4 (for the Artemis Fowl readers) SO GO READ IT NOW! ITS AMAZING!

Well, reviews please (I'm sure you're dying to comment/)