SORRY! SORRY! SORRY! A BILLION TIMES SORRY!

Yes, I've been the biggest douche for not updating. Especially when I wake up at the end of the two week break from school and think, "Oh $#!%." Well, it went by really fast and was dominated by that same project that I've been working on for the past year (otherwise known as the reincarnation of pure evil... or ROPE). So I had been writing and I only had to do the last couple of pages on the Sunday (but I couldn't post it because, as you all know, ffn was being a big fat retarded cow). So yes, on the first day back for school, I post it here for you. I've got the plot for the next chapter so I HOPE that it will arrive to your computers soon.

I could make further excuses and apologize even more. But you wanna read right? So: I'm not dead. And this chapter is an okay length but I really have no excuse. The last couple of bits of it are written really weirdly. Sorry about that. It was just a strange style that enveloped me at the time.

Oh and... I'll probably be ending this story soon. Maybe a couple of chapters to go. It's because life's gotten really busy; exams are coming soon; and if I do it'll run the risk of discontinuation. So yeah...

Without further ado...

Chapter 16: Reminders and Research

Koko had never in his limited life of violating minds been this close to death before. He was sitting in the hospital wing, burns and grazes everywhere and to top it all off, a bruise sprinkled here and there. The one misplaced feature on the injured boy was the goofy grin that seemed like a stubborn child at the playground; it wouldn't leave.

Now, if you'd ever ask Kokoro Yome about Natsume, he'd say, "I don't get how that guy is so lucky. First he falls in love, then he gets the girl, then when he beats me up to get revenge for my cheeky words... he gets off the hook. Yep, just like that. He says he has a fever and his Alice went haywire and voila, no trouble, no detention, no nothing. It's a pathetic excuse and yet that Hyuuga... he's something else.

"Don't get me wrong or anything. He's a nice guy. Dangerous. Lethal. Freaking terrifying. But he's a nice guy. Why else would he be here next to my almost-deathbed and stay the whole day. To support a friend, of course! With the extra added bonus of skipping classes too... But anyway, I love that guy. You can't hate him; so I've forgiven him. I don't know if he's forgiven me, but hey... I'm pretty sure he's satisfied enough without actually murdering me..."

Yes, that is indeed what he would say. However, it was actually a fact that Natsume had visited today. You can bet it's sincere too. He sat by the bed and mumbled a brief apology to which Koko lightly accepted and that was that. A friendship with Koko was never complicated.

A comfortable silence ensued. Koko glanced over at the crimson eyed lad and his brows curled in curiosity. "Natsume Hyuuga, what are you thinking about?"

Natsume looked up from his seat and replied, "Nothing much. Just the future. Then again, I really don't have to tell you any of that. You can look through. I don't care. You always do, anyway."

"Mm," Koko acknowledged and welcomed himself into Natsume's mind. Natsume didn't seem to be bothered; he trusted Koko. It wasn't really awkward. "...Oh. You're birthday's coming soon, hey?" Natsume nodded. "Anything I could get you? That's in my budget of course?"

Natsume smirked a little and inclined his head, willing Koko to prod further.

"...You're shameless, Hyuuga. The latest volumes of Bakuman, Beelzebub and Soul Eater? I better start saving."

He heard Natsume chuckle. "You don't have to, Koko."

Sandy hair shook around, "No, it's okay. I want to."

"Noooo, Hotaru!" Mikan dashed after the floating bird-like contraption upon which her best friend was seated. "Wait for me!" It had been speeding just too fast in front of Mikan for a while now, rendering her unable to catch it and becoming more and more tired. This was, of course, to the satisfaction of her sadistic, genial friend.

"Please, slow it down! At this rate, I'll be too tired to get to class." Hotaru raised her eyebrow. "And when I'm tired I'll just end up bugging you," Mikan added as an afterthought.

She beamed when Hotaru slowed to a stop and hovered above the ground. "Get on, idiot," she ordered and flashed a ghost of a smile. Mikan gladly hopped on and the two friends floated down the brick pathway.

"Wait, Hotaru," Mikan managed to add as she realised something, "you're not gonna tax me for this are you? Because I'm running really low on the rabbits already and I'm just barely staying alive! You robbed me of almost all my money last week for your 'services'!"

Hotaru smirked but only briefly. "No, I'm feeling slightly kinder today," she said, to Mikan's delight. "But you can pay me back in monthly instalments." Mikan sweat dropped. At the same time, this was unusually kind for Hotaru.

"Uh, thank you, I guess, Hotaru..." Mikan voiced.

"Don't get used to it," the ebony haired business girl explained, "it's only because you might need it for other purposes."

This threw Mikan into a fit of confusion. "Other purposes, what do you mean? You usually wouldn't let me off the hook for anything like shopping or even food. What could possibly be that important?"

"..." Hotaru turned to look at her friend. She stared at Mikan for a long time. There was a mixture of meanings that were conveyed through the look and it could only make Mikan sweat. It was a cross between a I-can't-believe-you, a you-are-stupid, a you're-forgetting-something-idiot and a think-harder-if-it-even-works look. Mikan was nearly about to crack under the pressure.

When Mikan finally found the sense to start thinking, and look as if she was, Hotaru turned away. "Umm," Mikan stated her thoughts allowed, "What could be a major thing that would make Hotaru this lenient?" She had to put her mind in overdrive that morning because she knew it wasn't good to keep Hotaru waiting. She obviously wanted to remind her of something... but what?

"...Well, an event, maybe?" Mikan continued, "You let me off during the Alice Festival that one year... so definitely an event...right?" Hotaru inclined her head to confirm it – only slightly – but she was still letting off a cold and peeved aura. This is bad, Mikan thought, this is probably important.

"Well, if it's an event, Halloween is already done and the Christmas Ball isn't until ages, you'll have taxed me by then... and... there's really nothing else in November that I can think of..." Mikan continued to ponder. "Hotaru, I don't get you? Are you really just being randomly nice, because that's really out of character?"

Hotaru stopped the vehicle. Slowly and almost mechanically, her head rotated to face her clueless best friend. She gave her a look that would send animals scampering away and cowering in terror. The Ice Queen was cold as always.

Mikan was getting more and more scared. "H-Hotaru?"

"You are one of the biggest imbeciles I know, you know that?" Hotaru spat.

Mikan sweat dropped. "Yeah, I know that," she didn't argue.

"I shouldn't be remembering your important dates for you."

"What on earth do you mean? It's not like it's your birthday; that was last month! Ruka's is in March! And Natsume's is –" She stopped in mid-sentence. Her mouth formed a perfect 'O' shape.

"..." Hotaru continued to sigh at the girl's stupidity.

"Oh my gosh, Hotaru! How silly of me to forget Natsume's birthday! November 27. How could I forget that? I'm so, so stupid." She continued to mildly curse at herself.

"Yes, you are." She seemed a little bit more satisfied as she managed to restart the hovercraft.

"Erm," Mikan was always the subject to Hotaru's bluntness. "Thanks for reminding me..."

They were no longer floating in the open pathway but in under a roofed corridor. The doors, windows, shrubs and arches, flashed past in a cream and green flurry. Mikan enjoyed the scenery of the Middle School Division.

"So what are you gonna get him?" Hotaru finally asked.

"Uh... huh?"

"I do have my reasons for delaying your payments," she explained impatiently.

"Oh um..." Her face slowly moulded from thoughtfulness to helplessness.

"Well?"

"I don't know," she admitted in defeat. But this was followed by a bout of hysteria. "I DON'T KNOW, HOTARU! What do I do? I can't afford to buy him his favourite mangas even with your reprieve and I'm not sure if he'll like what I buy for him either! Remember last time, I thought it was a great gift but he said it was one of the worst."

"I'm not going to help you with that. What am I, your assistant?" Hotaru replied. "Besides, young Hyuuga was just hiding his fondness for you all those years ago. I'm pretty sure he'd appreciate whatever you give him now..."

"What?" Mikan's face flushed. "Don't say things like that. Besides, it still has to be special!"

"...Go find out yourself."

"Hotaru!"

"Shut up, we're here."

"Hey!"

"Class starts now. Stop talking to me."

"Hey, Ruka," Mikan appeared all of a sudden right in front of Ruka's face, "what are you getting for Natsume's birthday?" She leaned in closer making Ruka positively redden. It wasn't that he liked her that way. She was just... really pretty today. And dangerously near... yeah, that's it.

Mentally, he thanked the heavens that Hotaru was in another class at the moment. Though she's probably watching somehow anyway. Ruka frowned at the thought. As if she cares... Besides Mikan is no doubt in love with Natsume. Natsume even more so. I have no place in their relationship. Heck, I have a relationship of my own. I feel so dirty!

Suddenly self-conscious, his face exploded into a further blush. He guessed Hotaru would care more about selling photos of him right now than the fact that he's showing some sort of emotion towards Mikan. This thought only destroyed his ego further.

"Ruka?" Mikan's voice interrupted his thoughts. "Are you okay?" She leaned in further, rendering the poor boy immobile and red as a tomato. "Your face is really warm. Do you have a fever?" She placed her hand on his forehead and gasped animatedly. Ruka just sat and stared. He liked Hotaru. Only Hotaru. Mikan's a dear friend. She was only acting concerned. But we're alone, and her hand is on my forehead. What is this? Why is life so cruel?

"Ruka!" she exclaimed suddenly and pulled back - to his relief, "You have a temperature! Let's go, it's the end of class, I'll take you to the sick bay."

"Er, um," he stuttered, "it's okay..." But his wrist had already been grabbed by soft, warm hands and before he knew it, he was being dragged down the hallway by an extremely hyperactive teenager.

"Sa-sakura...!"

At the sound of her name, she whipped her head around, "What's with you today? Calling me by my surname? It's Mikan, Ruka, Mikan! Get it in your feverish head!" Ruka was at a minor loss for words. That is, until she flashed him one of her divine, angelic smiles.

Anyone else watching would have probably observed Ruka's head act like a steam pot right before he lost it. The last two thoughts running through his head were:

The cruel, cruel fate of hormonal teenagers.

And

What's Hotaru gonna do to me?

Probably the latter knocked him out.

"Eehhhh?" a familiar and slightly childish voice squeaked. "Ruka, you suddenly got heavy! Wh- RUKA! Are you okay? Hey, wake up!"

Dark brows raised in interest. A boy of around seventeen neared the source of the commotion. He was slightly amused by the topic that seemed to be of the matter. Kids these days, he thought.

"Ugh, Ruka, you're so heavy," said a strained voice, "how am I gonna take you to the nurse now?"

The boy walking down the corridor knew who Ruka was. And he had a vague idea who the girl was. Although no matter how much it fit in, it seemed like a wild idea. That person moved away years ago...

But he had been hearing strange rumours in the teachers' department. It might be possible after all.

He rounded the corner and discovered the situation that had presented itself to the owner of the voice. A middle school girl was trying - and failing - to drag a blonde boy lying in a heap on the floor.

The star shaped tattoo on the high schooler's cheek shifted upwards as his mouth curved into an amused grin. The boy on the floor was, of course, the poor and unfortunate soul that was Ruka. That kid was always the victim. In fact, he even heard that he was dating the queen of blackmail, Imai-chan.

Now the girl; she had long auburn hair tied into a long ponytail to the side. The whole frame was quite familiar but what truly convinced him of her identity were those hazel eyes that turned to see who was coming. The innocence and brimming variety of emotion displayed at all times for the world to see in them was unmistakable.

"Mikan... is that you?" the midnight blue eyes belonging to the boy expanded in realization.

It was her. His long lost kouhai from all those years ago. "Oh my God! Mikan! When did you get back?"

If his reaction was deemed as surprised, then Mikan's was fifty times this. Her face perked up and shone. She dropped Ruka without thought. Before she knew it, she had bounded up and leapt into the barely ready arms of her senior.

"TSUBASA-SENPAI!" she shrieked.

However, no longer was she a small, light ten-year-old. Even for a senior, a fourteen-year-old was quite too heavy to handle. This fact successfully made them both topple over.

Tsubasa sat up from his fallen position and patted his kouhai's head. "Nice to see you too, kid."

She beamed up at him, "Tsubasa-senpai, I missed you so much! I just got back last week; my uncle let me come back. I'm so happy. It's great to see you! Wow, you're a senior now. You look so way more important now. Haha, but you're still wearing that beanie. Of course, that's so like you, senpai!" She gushed for quite a bit as she was helped to her feet.

Tsubasa chuckled, "I heard rumours that you were back. How long has it been, huh? Two years... three years? Well, well, kiddo, you've grown up a lot. You'd even give Misaki a run for her money when she was that age." Mikan blushed and thanked him for the compliment. She still wasn't so used to the sudden growth spurt. "Anyway, looks like you're having a little trouble with Ruka here. Need some help?" Mikan complied and he lifted Ruka over his shoulder.

"Eh, where is Misaki-senpai at the moment? Usually she's always with you? Say, have you two started dating yet?" she questioned as they travelled to the school clinic.

"Oh, she managed to grab herself a leadership position in the high school department; she's over there right now. I figured I'd catch up on some memories and wander down to the middle school while I was waiting for her. Then I bumped into you two."

"Oh wow, a leadership position in the high school. She's really amazing, Misaki-senpai." Suddenly, her face turned cheeky. "But you think so too, don't you, Tsubasa-senpai. You haven't answered my last question yet."

The high schooler's face turned a light shade of red as he mumbled, "Uh, yeah. We've been dating for two years." Mikan's face looked triumphant. "...and she is pretty amazing. That's why I love her."

So there you have it. I ended it a bit earlier because I felt it best there. You're gonna have to bother me with reviews (*wink*wink*) to ensure I write this instead of spend my free time reading Bakuman =P. I'm hoping to get the next chapter out in a couple of weeks. Bare with me guys please.

PS. HAVE YOU GUYS READ CHAPTERS 143 AND 144 OF GAKUEN ALICE? I'll try not to spoil you, but for someone who's been following this series since she was ten... I was pretty dumbfounded. I think it actually diagnosed me with schizophrenia for a bit there XD. I had the urge to weep, laugh and scream very very loudly at the same time. I could probably ramble on and on and on about it for weeks (it's actually been a couple days since I read it but I still spaz out whenever I remember it) but I'll spare you all.