Summary: They've been best friends since they were kids. They vowed at each other that they will always be best friends forever. Yes, forever.

Chapter Three

Mikan was disturbed when she suddenly heard a loud "ring" sound right beside her ear. She suddenly sat up and looked around while rubbing her eyes. She noticed something missing, rather someone.

"Natsu-chan?" Her eyes widened. Why is he not with her? Did he actually leave her while she was asleep? Or was that 'take care' thing just a dream?

~Flashback (Mikan's POV)

I felt myself being lied down on the matress but I didn't mind because my eyes were hurting and I can't open it anymore. After awhile, I can hear something ticking beside my ear and I thought maybe Natsu-chan placed it there so that we would wake up tomorrow together.

But then I heard him talking.

"Fine then. I will."

"Wouldn't you want to wake her up to say your goodbye?"

I thought I was just hearing things but I can hear someone tapping on our Tree House's wooden floor. Someone else is inside our tree house!

"No. I'm certain I would be back tomorrow."

"Tsk. Don't be that certain, Kuro Neko. Maybe you would regret saying no goodbye to your little kitty."

"Whatever. Get out. I'll catch up."

"Sure, sure."

Then there was silence. Maybe I'm just dreaming. That's right! Dreaming. I shifted myself, making my back lying flat on the matress.

I can hear footsteps walking this way and I thought it's Natsu-chan. He's going to sleep beside me. He won't leave me.

But then I felt something warm touching my forehead then when that warm thing parted from my forehead, I can feel breathing. Natsu-chan's breath! Natsu-chan kissed my forehead...

"Take care, aho."

Then silence again.

I smiled. Maybe Natsu-chan is asleep already.

~End of Flashback~

Mikan looked at the alarm clock. It says six o'clock. Mikan stood up and looked outside the window. "Maybe Natsu-chan is at home."

Mikan climbed down the tree house and rode her bike towards Natsume's house. She rang the doorbell then their maid answered it.

"Ohayou gozaimasu, Mikan-sama. It's early and you have school. Why are you here?"

"Hana-chan, is Natsu-chan at home?" Mikan peeked behind the maid.

"Oh no, Mikan-sama, he is not here. Have you tried the tree house?"

"I have been there, Hana-chan... But he's not there... Do you know where he could have gone?"

"Maybe he's in school already, Mikan-sama."

"Oh..." Mikan frowned. "Alright. Arigatou, Hana-chan."

"Thanks for dropping by too, Mikan-sama." Hana bowed and closed the door.

"Natsu-chan..." Mikan rode her bike towards her house and did her daily routine.

***

When Mikan reached the school, she hurriedly ran towards her classroom, hoping to see her best friend sitting on his seat but when she went inside, she saw no Natsu-chan. Mikan's sight started to blur as she ran towards the window and opened it. I'm sure Natsu-chan will come... I'm sure he will! She thought.

"Sakura, you're early."

Mikan turned around and saw Ruka placing his backpack under his desk. "Ruka-pyon, have you seen Natsu-chan?"

Ruka can't believe Mikan is actually talking to her but why does it have to be about Natsume? "No, Sakura. I haven't."

Mikan looked outside the window again and looked around but all she can see are birds playing and trees and roofs but no Natsu-chan. "Where are you?"

"Something wrong, Sakura?"

"Natsume's gone... Where do you think he went, Ruka-pyon?"

Ruka can hear her voice cracking and he knows Mikan's going to cry any minute now. "You're still calling me Ruka-pyon."

Mikan ignored what he said. "Natsume, where are you?"

"I may not know where he is right now but I know what he has been doing." Ruka lowered his head.

Mikan suddenly turned around with her eyes wide. "What do you mean, Ruka-pyon?"

"Natsume has been doing something important..."

"Important? Does he get hurt? Is it really important? Does he have to do it every night?!"

"That's all I can tell you, Sakura. He doesn't want you to get worried."

"Well, if I didn't know what he has been doing and that's all you can tell me, Ruka-pyon, I'll get more worried!" Tears started streaming down her cheeks.

"If you know everything, it'll get worse."

"I'm his best friend! Why didn't he tell me about that?"

"I'm his best friend too."

"It's still the same!"

"No, it isn't." said Ruka.

"That's not fair!" Mikan cried.

"That's right, life isn't fair."

Mikan turned around and saw Natsume getting inside the classroom using the open window.

"Opened this for me, Polkadots?" He said, smirking, referring to the window.

"Natsu-chan!" Mikan ran towards him and hugged him tight then she cried in his chest.

Natsume rolled his eyes.

"Where were you? Why did you leave?" She cried.

"There are just some things that's needed to be done."

"What things, Natsu-chan?! Was it the same with why you went away for three years?!"

"Yes."

"But... But..."

"I won't go far away anymore. Remember that, aho."

Mikan pouted as she faced Natsume. "Tell me if anything's wrong, alright?"

"Tch. You're not the boss of me."

"Yeah, I'm not your boss but I'm your best friend!"

"Whatever."

Mikan stuck her tongue out.

"Wipe those tears, aho. I don't want to see your crying face. You get really ugly."

Mikan wiped her tears and smiled. "There! Better?"

"Whatever you do, Polkadots, you're still ugly."

Mikan puffed her cheeks. "Meany!"

"At least you get to talk to Ruka."

Mikan's face dropped. "I... I did?"

Ruka placed a hand above Mikan's shoulder and smiled. "Yeah, you did."

Mikan turned around then she smiled back at him. "Alright!" (matching ^0^)

"Tch." Natsume rolled my eyes while he sat on his seat.

Mikan went to Anna and Nonoko when she saw them entering the classroom while Ruka sat beside Natsume.

"You feeling alright?"

Natsume started to breathe heavily. "What do you think? Damn that mask guy."

"You don't have to do it alone, Natsume."

"Shut up, Ruka. You almost told her about the missions."

"I'm sorry."

"Hn."

"You overdid it, didn't you, Natsume? Just so you can come back in time."

"I didn't make it in time. I was telling myself last night that I will come back before Polkadots wakes up but that stupid mission was really stupid."

Ruka looked at his best friend worriedly and Natsume noticed it.

Natsume smiled a little and said. "Don't worry, Ruka. As long as I know you're safe, I'll be fine."

"Okay then, Natsume. Whatever you say." Ruka smiled back.

~~~~~0o0o0o0o0~~~~~