Author's Notes: Well, I'm sure you all probably guessed the reason for my absence is the same as ever. School, drama, school, homework, school, school, more school, some drama, and then some more school. Again, I'm really really really really REALLY sorry and as even more of an apology I worked really hard on this chapter for you guys and am planning on using Thanksgiving break to write, and post another chapter. So, thank you all of you who are still here for being so patient with me and waiting loyally. now, on to the story!

Read, review, and most of all, ENJOY!


Kiki

Chapter 8

Needing You

Finally. Finally, I was free. I wheeled out of my hospital room carefully, smiling as Hotaru and Ruka walked beside me, Natsume tagging behind with a scowl. Apparently he was mad –or disturbed, I'm not sure- that I was only allowed to leave on strict orders to stay in the wheelchair for at least one more week and two days. I was simply glad to finally be able to leave the hospital.

Everything had been going totally fine until we headed for the classroom.

"You've got to be kidding me…" I heard Natsume mutter, but I was just too shocked to even say anything as I stared at the stairs in front of us.

"Are you sure there aren't any elevators?" Ruka asked, looking pointedly at Hotaru. The raven haired girl glared at him, shot him with her baka gun, and then waited patiently until he stopped whining to answer.

"I'm sure."

"T-t-then….how am I going to get to class?" I stuttered out, even though I was staring at the answer straight ahead. But still, I refused to admit. There was another way, there HAD to be another way. I whimpered.

"Yo, Natsume, what are you guys doing over here?" Mochou, a boy from our class, walked up to us and I didn't even notice his companion until she let out an ear piercing shriek.

"Natsume!"

I groaned, not Sumire too! Sumire, or Permy as everyone said I used to call her, seemed to have something against me, I guess it had to do with Natsume or something, but I still couldn't figure out what it was. I dared to sneak a peek over my shoulder and sure enough, there she stood, glaring at me while trying to get Natsume's attention.

Mochou, seeing that no one was going to answer his question, glanced at me in my wheelchair and then up the stairs. Maybe he still couldn't figure it out, I don't know, because his eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"What's the problem?"

Hotaru stared at him cynically. "Oh, nothing, just that Mikan is kind of in a wheelchair and there are no elevators." Even though she kept her voice neutral I could still make out a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

Mochou was still staring at us blankly. "That's the problem?" He grinned. "Oh, no problem then, I can help." Before I could even try to think of how he could actually help he waved his finger towards me and, suddenly, my wheelchair lifted off the ground and several feet up and forward.

I shrieked, Ruka choked, Hotaru shot Mochou with her baka gun, and my wheelchair gave a jerk.

" What was that for?!" Mochou yelled, rubbing his forehead. His voice sounded smaller now that I was so far up. I gripped the arms of the wheelchair, my heart thudding painfully.

" Err, Mochou, you might want to put her down" That was Ruka's voice. Curious as to why he sounded so afraid I dared to lean over a bit and peek down at them.

Heat seemed to be coming from where they were, and Natsume was glaring vehemently at Mochou. In his hand was a fireball.

"Put her down." The fireball flew at Mochou and he ducked, momentarily losing his focus and making my wheelchair drop almost a foot down before regaining his composure. Now my heart felt like it was going to jump out of my throat and I couldn't help the little whimper of fear that escaped me.

I don't know if before I lost my memories I liked heights, but I knew that even if I did I DEFINITELY didn't anymore.

"Natsume, calm down," Ruka said, his voice pleading, but the hot head was too fired up. In a vain attempt to clam things down I heard him tell Mochou to just put me down, but I could tell from the other boy's jittery reply that he was too nervous from Natsume's suddenly dark mood to do any such thing.

But he still tried.

My wheelchair moved closer towards the top of the stairs then suddenly gave a tight jerk and my hands slipped from the armrests as I fell out. I was too afraid to scream so I just closed my eyes, wishing it wouldn't hurt so much. But I never felt it. Arms wrapped around me, cradling me against someone's chest.

I opened my eye's and stared into burning red ones.

"H-hi?" I croaked out, intimidated by the intensity behind Natsume's eyes. No wonder Mochou was too nervous to put me down, or even move me, if Natsume had this type of look in his eyes I didn't really blame him.

But why'd he have to come up with the idea to pick me up anyway? I pressed a hand against my chest where I could feel the rapid beating of my heart and breathed in slowly.

"Thanks for catching me," I mumbled, realizing that we were at the top of the stairs and that he must have rushed up just in time to catch me.

I expected Natsume to scowl and say something rude like he always seemed to do but instead he simply sighed, his shoulders drooping as though he were exhausted.

"Don't worry about it, little girl."

The sound of footsteps caught my attention and I shifted in his arms to look over his shoulder as Ruka, Hotaru, Mochou, and Sumire scrambled up and towards us.

I also couldn't help but to notice that Mochou sported three new marks on his forehead and Hotaru had her baka gun in her hand. I didn't need to be told what happened to piece together that she'd blasted the poor boy with her baka gun again.

"Are you okay- Mikan?" Ruka asked me, gasping for breath.

"I'm sorry!" Mochou's voice rang.

"How troublesome…" Hotaru muttered.

"I'm sorry!"

"Shut up, Mochou!" Sumire snapped.

"I'm sorry-"

"Mochou," there was a hint of warning in Natsume's voice.

There were no more 'I'm sorry' ies.

"We have to hurry, or we really will be late!" Ruka set the wheelchair down beside Natsume and he stared at, and then at me, apprehensively.

"Umm, you can put me down now Natsume."

"Hn."

I scowled. "Natsume, put me down!"

"Shut it, polka dots."

My face flushed indignantly. I may have amnesia but Hotaru had made sure to tell me the whole history behind that nickname when I had heard Natsume use it and had asked her why he'd said that.

"Pervert!" I tugged on the collar of his uniform shirt and glared at him menacingly. Well, as menacingly as a girl can glare at the person who's holding her.

"Baka," he muttered, now turning the corner and walking down the hall. The rest hurriedly followed after.

"Jerk!" I bit back, this time tugging on his ear.

"Brat," he turned his face and lightly bit my finger.

"Ow! What'd you do that for!?" I shrieked and the baka actually smirked at me. Smirked!!

"Because I felt like it."

"Baka!" I squirmed in his arms, forcing him to stop lest he drop me. Taking my chance I pushed away from his arms and forced my self to stand.

Sure, I wobbled, but at least I was standing.

"Mikan," Hotaru called, something close to panic in her eyes. Natsume gripped my shoulders until I was steady.

"Hmph, I don't need you!" I huffed "I can take care of myself!"

Something flashed in Natsume's eyes, something like a mix of the panic in Hotaru and something else. Something I'd never seen in him before except for that night in the cave. Fear.

I stepped forward, testing out my legs, and after the first few steps grinned triumphantly and slowly walked towards the classroom door. Natsume hovered behind me while Hotaru and Ruka watched anxiously. Sumire, apparently peeved that I was getting so much attention, stormed past me and slamned the door open, stomping inside.

"Good morning!" I chirped, stepping inside. Narumi, our teacher, instantly turned towards me, worry written all over his slightly feminine features.

"Mikan? Are you alright, should you really be walking around so soon after leaving the hospital?"

I nodded, just happy to be back in class with everyone. Anna, Nonoko, Yuu, and Koko ran up to us just as Hotaru and the others entered from behind me.

"Oh, Mikan, it's so good to see you!" Yuu exclaimed, but guilt flashed from behind his glasses. "I'm sorry I couldn't go visit you! It's just that there's this upcoming event and all the class representatives need to meet up and discuss-"

"It's okay Iinchou, don't worry about it!" I smiled happily when relief washed over his features.

"Are you sure you're okay Mikan?" Anna crowed, hovering around me like a mother hen. As if Natsume wasn't doing that enough, I thought.

"I-" a shooting pain from my legs interrupted my assurance that I was and before I could even move my legs collapsed from underneath me. A chorus of shouts rang out around me as I fell back but now-familiar arms caught me once again.

"You idiot…" Natsume hissed, but I could tell from his voice the he was only worried and scolding, not angry. His voice lowered, eyes soft. "You do need me…"

I grinned weakly. "Maybe just a little…"

After my little accident and absolutely refusing Narumi's suggestions for me to skip class today so I could rest, everyone voted that I at least had to stay in the wheelchair.

I was beginning to hate this wheelchair.

Narumi talked to us for a few minutes about something, I'm not sure what though because I guiltily admit I spaced out. My mind wandered back to what I had dreamed of before waking up in the hospital.

That dream, about the grandfather and the little girl, had it really been a dream? The question refused to leave my mind. Suddenly, the bell rang, startling me out of my thoughts. I hadn't realized we he arrived so late to class.

"Hey, Mikan, we have a break before Jinno's class. Want to go get something to eat?" Yuu asked, Hotaru put in that she needed to buy something anyway. I smiled.

"Sure!" I agreed, then, catching something out of the corner of my eye, turned and called out to Natsume. He scowled at me irritably but walked over.

"What is it, polka dots?"

For once, I ignored the name. "Guess what? I think I remember something, a memory!" I chirped, oblivious to everyone's suddenly shocked faces and Natsume's horrified one. "I had a dream before I woke up in the hospital after falling down the stairs, a dream about a little girl playing with her grandfather in a field. Except, now that I think about it, I think I was the little girl, so I think it was actually a memory!"

I looked over at him excitedly but felt some of my happiness fade away at the look on his face. "What? What's wrong?"

"I-I have to go." He brushed past me, quickly walking out the door even as I turned and called out to him again.

"Natsume! Wait, Natsume!!" I reached out a hand helplessly but he was already gone. My heart gave a painful tug. What was going on?

Well, that was it! Chapter eight, hope you all liked it, I know I must be driving you all nuts with the mystery of how Mikan lost her memories but don't worry I'm getting there, maybe, just MAYBE, it might be in the next chapter. So, review and tell me what you thought of this chapter and what you think might happen next( or why, which ever you prefer)

Kiki