Disclaimer: I don't own Gakuen Alice. I'm not that smart to write a masterpiece like that. :P

Chapter 3: Feelings Finally Reached

''Natsume-kun!''

I turn around and see Miki Takashi running towards me with her arms swaying back and forth. Miki was wearing a pink sweater, a pink knee-length skirt, a pink bow on her pink hair, and pink shoes.

''You really like pink, don't you,'' I say.

''Mhm!'' she answers with a bright beam.

''Whatever, '' I respond. ''Anyway, Miki I need you to concentrate.''

''Okay,'' she says with the nodding of her head.

''I need you to focus your Alice and find a barrier in the campus. Do you sense one around here?''

She closes her eyes tightly. In a few seconds, her Alice catches something.

''I'm…getting an image. I…see a barrier. It's very strong…I never seen one like this before.''

''Good, now where is the barrier?'' I question very pleased with the results.

''It's at the National Gakuen Alice HQ,'' she answers and then opens her emerald eyes.

(Author's Notes: Here is the Alice Academy Map. It shows where the National Gakuen Alice HQ is and other places. .com/manga/gakuen_)

''Ok, that's where we are heading now, Miki.''

We started to walk in the darkness of the night and the sound of the chilly wind. Since I started to lose track of the way to our destination, I lit up a flame in my hands. My eyes widen and body tensioned. A felt an injection of pain run through my body.

''Are you okay?'' Miki asks with worry in her tone.

My body condition is not in the best shape. I try to hide it from everyone that my condition is worsening. I started to notice even the slightest use of my Alice will hurt me. I'm afraid that a year from now, my heart won't be able to take it anymore. But I'm more afraid that I won't be able to protect that person from the darkness she is in. I never want to see her sad face ever again.

''Yea, I'm fine.''

''Natsume-kun, why are you so concern about the barrier at the National Gakuen Alice HQ?'' Miki interrogates with an innocent face.

''I need you to break the barrier there,'' I reply plainly and impassively.

''Why do you want me to break a barrier there?'' Miki questions in an inquisitive and interested tone.

''Because, that person is inside that barrier.''

''Who's inside that barrier?''

''Stop asking so many questions,'' I say with an indication of irritation.

''But these are important questions!''

I heave a sigh. ''Sakura Mikan is there.''

''I know her! She's really nice-''

''And a baka,'' I add with my famous smirk.

Miki giggles at the statement. I couldn't help, but join in a give a quiet chuckle as well.

Eventually, we were at the National Gakuen Alice HQ. We walked in trying not to make a noise. The security guards of the building were sound asleep and drooling as well. What a great security I thought in my head. Miki was leading the way since she knew where the barrier was. Miki came to a sudden halt that I almost bumped into her. She stopped at a dead end of a lonely long hallway.

''The barrier is right here,'' she whispered ever so softly.

I marched closer to look at the boring, plain wall. I stare at it. ''The wall is the barrier?'' I asked in confusion.

''No silly, the wall isn't the barrier. The barrier is right here, it's surrounding the wall,'' she confirms and points to the barrier, but it looks like she's just pointing at the air.

''I still don't see a barrier,'' I state with a hint of unhappiness.

''It is right here! Can't you see it!'' she shouts with her arms flapping like a rabies bird. ''Oh wait, I forgot only people with the Barrier Alice can see it. Hehehe, sorry.''

''Well can you break it down?''

''I can try,'' Miki says.

Miki puts her hands out and touches the barrier. It looks like Miki is touching nothing, but the air, from a point of view of a person who doesn't own the Barrier Alice. I can see sweat drops rolling down the sides of her face. She's really trying her hardest, I thought. Without warning, she stumbles back and falls to the ground panting.

''This,'' pant,'' barrier,'' pant,'' is,'' pant,'' really strong!'' she cries out.

''Damn it,'' I mutter.

''I can't break the barrier, but I think I can weaken the barrier just for a few minutes.''

Miki uses the spotless floor as support and stands up again. She puts her hands on the invisible barrier once more. Suddenly, a sheet of light appears in front of me and then unevenly splits into half. The dead end transitions to another, but shorter hallway. I can see a large door in the distance.

''I w-weakened it.'' Miki stutters.

I hastily search through my pocket and get out a walkie-talkie.

''When you can't take it anymore, tell me through the walkie-talkie.''

''Ok, now go! Hurry, Natsume-kun! You don't have time to waste!'' she commands.

I nod my head and dash off to the large door. Adrenaline was running through my veins. The thought of seeing Mikan quickened my speed. It's been two years not seeing that ball of sunshine. Once I was at the door, I halted. I grabbed the door knob and twisted it.

''Crap, it's locked,'' I mumble peeved and vexed.

I knocked three times ferociously at the door.

''Mikan! Are you there?'' I screeched.

There was silence. I knocked even louder again. There was still silence. I called out her name once more and then…

''Natsume?''

''Mikan! It's me! Open the door!'' I cried out desperately.

''I can't, it's locked from the inside.''

''Damn it,'' I cursed silently.

''The key necklace, the key necklace I gave you. Unlock the door with that!''

I lifted up the key necklace which was tied around my neck the whole time. I positioned it in the key hole and twisted it. I heard a little click. My hand impulsively reached for the knob and opened the door. Once I opened the door, I saw her. The girl that I longed for everyday ever since she left was standing right in front of me. She grew taller, but of course I was still the tallest between the two of us. She grew curves which any model would be envious of. Her once silky, chocolate brown pigtail hair was now let down and it stretched down to her waist. Her hazel eyes shined brightly with joy, happiness, and of course surprise. And her smile was still as brighter than the sun.

Without thinking, I ran to her and wrapped my arms around her. We slowly kneeled to the ground without letting go of each other.

''It's not a dream,'' she murmured softly and tighten her grasp.

''It's not a dream,'' I confirmed to Mikan.

''H-How did you find me?''

''It's a long story. Let's not think about anything else. Let's enjoy the moment we have right now, Mikan.''

I brushed back a strand of her hair behind her earlobe. She reached for both of my hands and clutched it.

''I missed you so much,'' she murmured with tears running down her cheek.

I brushed her tears away gently with my thumb.

''Me too,'' I whispered and smiled a smile that I haven't had for a long time. ''I got your letter.''

''You did! Did you like the present I gave you?'' she question joyfully and ecstatically.

''I got better presents than this from my fan girl,'' I taunted with a smirk.

''You jerk!'' she mumbled. ''If I didn't give you the key, you wouldn't be able to come to this room and see me.''

''You can give me a much better present right now,'' I said having a devious thought in my mind.

''Huh? What?''

''Kiss me,'' I blankly answer.

She blinks once. She blinks twice. She blinks thrice.

''WHAT! You perverted moron! That's so embarrassing!'' she shouted with a red face.

''It's natural, baka.''

''But still. I don't think I'm ready! We are still too young! We are only 14! ''

''It sounds like you're talking about having sex instead of kissing,'' I blankly say with another smirk.

''NATSUME, YOU PERVERT!''

She aims for my face with a powerful punch however I grab her fist with my hand and gently push her hand down.

''Mikan...''

I slowly leaned in until my lips touched her lips. I missed her kisses. I remember the last kiss we had. It was when we were 11. We were standing on the tree that was standing in the middle of the ballroom. We debating and arguing whether or not the tooth-kiss was real or not. Unexpectedly, I pulled her collar and kissed her. She was completely shocked when I did that. Now, here we are, three years later after that moment.

Since we are humans and need air, we parted from each other.

''You perverted baka,'' Mikan mutters softly.

I chuckled and smiled. ''Didn't you have something to tell me? You said that once we meet, you were going to tell me something, polka-dots.''

''Hmp!'' she reacted and put her hands on her hips. ''I was going to tell you, but since you won't say my actual name I won't. It was something really important. Something I wanted to say for a really long-''

''I love you, Mikan.'' I softly blurted out. ''I love you more than anyone else. I always have and always will.''

Mikan gazes at me with beautiful wide hazel eyes and a startled expression. She puts her soft hands over her mouth and starts to tear up.

''Idiot, stop crying,'' I utter and pat her head.

''I can't,'' she replies and hiccups loudly. ''I'm just so happy that you feel the same way I do.''

''What?''

''I love you too, Natsume,'' she reveals to me.

I wrap my arms around her again and comb her soft, silky hair with my hand.

''Mikan, let's run away together. Let's escape from this academy and live together, just the two of us,'' I said whiling clenching tightly her body.

I can feel her body jerk a bit before pushing me back and looking at me straight in the eye.

''I can't Natsume. I promised Uncle Shiki that I wouldn't try to escape from the academy, nevertheless here. If we actually do try to run away from the academy, there's a big chance we'll be caught and come straight back here. Then I'll be force to face punishments and consequences which would probably be taking out the Alice Stone my mother put in the ESP. I swore on my life I would never take the Alice Stone my mother put in him, so I can't. I can't run away from here, especially now.''

I stared at her with complete shock and astonishment. I didn't know this is what she felt. Her face, it's filled with determination and willpower. I always loved her determination and her never-giving-up attitude.

''I understand, but Mikan, I promise you that I will take you away from here, this place and the darkness, no matter what,'' I swore and caressed her cheek with the back of my hand.

''I know you will, just please don't push yourself too much,'' Mikan replied with a tranquil smile.

Buzzzz

I jolted a bit from the sudden movement in my pocket. It was the walkie-talkie. I took it and pressed the button.

''Miki, is that you?'' I question.

''Yes, i-it's m-me,'' Miki faltered.

''How are you doing? Are you at your limits?''

''Yes! I don't think I can hold it up that much longer. Please hurry back!'' she urgently pleads.

I turn off the walkie-talkie and shoved it back in my pocket. I stood up. Mikan followed.

''I have to go, I'm sorry.''

''I understand. I'm really grateful that you were able to come and see me though. It meant the world to me,'' she responds beaming with contentment and cheerfulness.

I smile back at her with just the quarter of her happiness showing since I can't show my feelings that well.

''I'll come back for you, I promise Mikan.''

''And I'll be here waiting. Please take care of yourself. Say hi to all of our friends for me!''

''Will do.''

I turn my heels around and head for the door. Suddenly, a grip on the back of my shirt stopped me. I turn around and see Mikan grasping onto my shirt.

''Before you go, I want you to have this,'' she takes out of her skirt pocket an orange Alice Stone and hands it to me,'' I know it's not even close to the size of the Alice Stone you gave me, but I think it's better than the one I handed to you before. I want you to have it. When you look at it, please think of me and know that I'm always waiting for you and that I love you so much.''

''Mikan…''

She tiptoed her feet, put her hands on my chest, and leaned in to innocently peck my lips.

''Go now Natsume, and take care of yourself,'' she advised while smiling cheerfully at me.

''You too, Mikan. I'll see you again soon.''

And with those final words, I started to rush back to Miki. Miki's face was pale and her eyes were tightly closed. Her breathing was unsteady and she was trembling.

''Natsume! There you are! What took you so long! I was holding that barrier for 18 minutes!'' she yelled at me furiously and peeved.

I looked backed and saw an image of Mikan smiling merrily before the barrier was back to its original state and there was just a wall.

''Even though, you saved me…..you owe me big time,'' Miki says before collapsing in my arms.

''I know. I'm really grateful. Thank you, Miki,'' I answered.

I pushed her onto my back and I softly, but quickly started to head out of the building.

I really liked this chapter. Can't wait to write chapter 4! Pursuit of Happiness signing out.