It's been…what? Six months since I last updated? Whoops…sorry. I really meant to update, but my teachers-cum-torturers are after me again. Really really sorry.

BEWARE short chapter ahead. It should have been longer, with some natsume-mikan, but I slammed headfirst into a block in the middle of it all. Sorry. (hmm.. what's my favorite word?)

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"With all of us working together, we're sure to find that lake dancer!" she announced.

"Right!" her friends said in unison.

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"Why can't we find him!"

Various birds hurriedly took flight at Mikan's frustrated wail.

Her companions could only sigh.

"Let's just go back Mikan…"Anna suggested for about the umpteenth time today, each time with varying degrees of forced pleasantness, exasperation and outright pleading. This particular plea was uttered with a long suffering sigh while said speaker clung weakly to a just-as-exhausted Nonoko.

"Where do you get the strength to suggest?" Yuu muttered, his eyelids drooping from tiredness.

"But we haven't found him yet!!" Mikan wailed, causing Anna and Nonoko to flinch and Yuu to stick a finger in his ear as Mikan hit an aggravatingly high note.

"I agree with them Mikan. We should go home now." Ruka said calmly as he let the small birds perched on his outstretched hands fly into the darkening sky.

"But I don't –"

"Don't be stupid, Mikan." Hotaru said, a hint of hoarseness in her usually flat tone betraying her rapidly decreasing patience. "We're here in the middle of the forest, cold, tired and hungry instead of indoors doing what we really want to do, and all you can think about is yourself? You are so selfish." she finished savagely.

Mikan looked reproachfully at her best friend before letting her gaze fall on her other bedraggled companions. It has a week since they started the 'Mysterious-lake-dancer-search', and the group had steadily decreased. After two days of 'roughing it', the usually laid-back Tsubasa had thrown himself into their graduation preparations with startling fervor. Misaki went with him, muttering something about making sure Tsubasa wouldn't get into and trouble.

The odd thing was, Kokoroyomi was often with them. Apparently, Koko was a big help, though with what no one really knows. The fact that the new trio would disappear or have a pressing engagement whenever Mikan would so much as look at them with that determined look in her eye should have been a hint, but Mikan (being Mikan) didn't see through the effective ploy that their other friends both hated and envied.

It seems that all of Mikan's enthusiasm and determination was no match for hunger, exhaustion and cold.

The remaining seekers, or fools as Natsume called them, didn't stay because of some misplaced sense of loyalty, oh no. Anna and Nonoko wanted to see the guy who caught Mikan's attention ("He must be REALLY cute!"). Yuu stayed only because refusal was painful ("All right! Stop screaming, Mikan!"). Ruka was there because, well, Mikan was involved. ("Of course I'll help." Blush, blush).

And Hotaru? Well, Hotaru was paid. (ka-ching, ka-ching!)

Mikan might be many things, but heartless she was not. So, with great reluctance, she declared they call it a night. The groups' relieved sigh ended in a groan however, as Mikan fervently vowed they would be back tomorrow.

As they hurried back to the Main buildings, Anna tapped Mikan and asked, "Weren't you wearing a hat a minute ago?"

"Oh no!" Mikan exclaimed, patting her exposed head. "I must have dropped it somewhere!" With that, she ran back into the forest, her pigtails bobbing wildly.

"Mikan!" Ruka called out. Before he could run after her, Hotaru latched on to his arm.

"She'll be fine. Let's wait for her in the Academy." she said calmly.

"Ruka stared at the direction Mikan ran to, then turned to Hotaru with a scowl. "But –"

FLASH

Ruka blinked rapidly to rid of the red and blue dots dancing in his eyes. As his vision cleared, he saw Hotaru holding her camera.

"Gotcha." she said succinctly.

"IMAI !!"

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It's not much, but at least we all have something to go through before the year ends. Argh… I am such a sloth. I'll update…soon! Yeah. See yah!