I cannot thank all my reviews enough! Thanks to all of you, I have reached 200 reviews! Arigato! *Special shout out to pinkpocket23 for being exactly 200* I love all you guys! Here's chapter 19 :D

Disclaimer: I do not own Gakuen Alice

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The doctor had rushed out of the room once he got a call from a nurse telling him Ryuu's surgery had been prepped and were waiting for him. He had left the couple in the room alone, letting them think over the situation for themselves.

Natsume's face was a mask, and he ran his hand through his hair. His eyes had drifted off to stare at the book shelves.

All the while, Mikan gazed at him with filmy eyes. She swallowed the lump forming in her throat, clenched her fists on the delicate fabric of her skirt.

She couldn't speak. Her wonderland was disintegrating around her, and she it felt like an icy cold hand clamped around her heart, keeping a firm grasp on it. She wet her lips, feeling light headed.

"Mikan, I'm sure—I know Ryuu will be fine." He told her, tugging absentmindedly at a raven strand of hair. Natsume gave her an odd look when she didn't say anything. "Mikan, what's wrong?"

Her mouth was dry again, "What about you Natsume? You have the possibility of dying! You have liver cancer! This is just as important as Ryuu."

Although it was extremely inappropriate for the situation at hand, Natsume gave her a mocking expression, "Not nearly as important as Ryuu's life. I've lived my life. He deserves it so much more than I do."

A rare moment of extreme resentment flooded through her towards the man she loved. She was on her feet, having knocked over the chair she had been sitting in and slammed her palm onto the desk top, "Damnit Natsume! Can't you see this is bigger than just that? Ryuu just accepted you as his father. He's lived two years of his life without a father figure, and you're telling me you're fine with dying so long as he can live? Do you see how selfish that is? Ryuu loves you Natsume, just as much as I do—did and that's what you say? I can't disagree you've had a long life, but damnit! He needs you. You can't just give up! I won't let you give up." Mikan's breathing was slightly strained, her cheeks a rosy red. Her eyes flared with a burning Natsume hadn't seen in a long time.

Natsume gave a ghost of a smirk, "I'm glad you still have it in you, polka."

The air around Mikan softened and she spoke in a whispery voice, "Please tell me won't die on me if you have liver cancer."

Their eyes connected, and for a moment, Mikan truly believed that Ryuu was healthy and Natsume was alive, loving her. In that instant, she wanted him to tell her he loved her and he would never die. The moment was fleeting, however. Natsume reached over and gently took her hand.

His touch was feather light and he smoothed over her skin with petal-like caresses. He brought her hand to his face, nuzzling it. Her breathing slowed and Mikan understood what it was like to be truthfully happy with the one she loved. He kissed her palm and her heart fluttered pleasantly in her chest.

"I'll do my best." Natsume finally promised, dropping her hand. The mood had turned bitter-sweet and Mikan had known it wouldn't have lasted anyway.

The two made their way back out to Hotaru and Ruka, Mikan faintly hurt by Natsume's actions.

"So…?" Ruka prompted, apparently over the sensei-student-situation. However, Mikan could tell otherwise by the look in his eyes.

"I signed the papers. They're having Ryuu's surgery now. I don't know how long it will take. The doctor rushed out before I could ask. Mama, Papa, onii-chan and Misaki will be here when they can." Mikan said tiredly, rubbing her swollen eyes. She stifled a yawn. The evening had yet to be over and Mikan already felt the effects of an all-nighter.

"Do your parents know about Natsume?" Hotaru let the question roll off her tongue, and watched with an acrimonious amusement as their faces turned to that of ones with equal dreadfulness.

Mikan's face paled, "No, damn, I forgot about that." She scrubbed her face roughly, muttering curses, worse than a sailor.

Natsume let his gaze wonder and Hotaru grabbed Mikan. "You need to go home. Come."

She resisted, jerking away violently, surprising Hotaru tremendously. "No! I need to stay here to wait for Ryuu's operation to pull through and to see Natsume's results!" Hotaru cocked an eyebrow and Natsume stiffened. "God, it's nothing. I'm not going."

A wide array of emotions crossed Hotaru's face so aggressively, Mikan wasn't sure half of them were real.

Before the two friends could continue fighting, Mikan's parents, as well as her brother and his girlfriend rushed into the hospital.

"Mikan!" Her family called breathlessly, and Mikan froze, then she somehow was able to stumble to her parents. Her father wrapped his arms around her and she let out chocked noises.

"Papa, mama, onii-chan, Misaki how—?" Her voice broke off as her father hugged her tighter.

Tsubasa rubbed her head affectionately, still maintaining his serious tone, "We all took the fastest flights out here. It's only been about five hours since you called me and it only takes about two and a half hours to get here from Tokyo." Her brother resided in Tokyo to finish his schooling, and her parents had taken to a conference in Kyoto, just a little farther away. Mikan didn't know it was possible to book a flight that fast.

Finally her mother asked the question Mikan had been dreading, "Whose that, Mikan?" Yuka was obviously referring to Natsume who had hung back. Yuka had most likely already caught on, not being able to disbelieve the spitting likeness between the man and her son.

Mikan stepped back, a cautious look on her face, "Now, don't freak, okay?" Worry etched itself onto her families face.

Like Nike said, 'just do it', Mikan confessed, "That's Hyuuga Natsume, Ryuu's father." She chewed on the inside of her cheek.

Tsubasa cocked his head, "Wasn't he you're math sensei?" She nodded. "That bastard!" her brother exploded, pointing at Natsume furiously, "She was a minor you sick pervert! I already had an irrational hate towards you without a reason and now I know why! You impregnated my baby sister!" Tsubasa was snarling and Misaki held him back, trying to comfort him.

Izumi couldn't speak. He was immobile, jaw slack.

"Jeez, why does it matter? I had Ryuu after I turned eighteen, so that's legal right? Besides, mama and papa started dating when papa was a sensei. They have a TWELVE year age difference. I don't see the problem." Mikan huffed, but her thoughts drifted back to Ryuu. "We don't have time for this either. Ryuu's in surgery right now and here we are fighting about Natsume."

Tsubasa bit back more curses, "Alright, you win Mikan-chan. But I'm not going to stop hating that fellow." Yuka didn't comment, all she did was rest her hand on Mikan's shoulder.

Izumi nodded, "Fine. I think Hotaru should take Mikan home. It's six now and the operation most likely won't be done for quite some time now. You need rest Mikan. You," Izumi pointed at Natsume, "go get some rest. You look as dead as her."

Natsume shook his head, "I mean no disrespect, sir, but I have an appointment here this morning and it would be pointless to leave now."

"But—!" Mikan began to protest, but the stern looks all around stopped her. She sighed. "Fine."

"We'll stay here to watch out for Ryuu." Her mother said, although she appeared extremely exhausted.

"Are you sure?"

"Get out of here." Yuka gave her daughter a quick hug and this time, Mikan allowed Hotaru to drag her out of the hospital. God how she hoped everything would work out.

The car ride was quiet, and somehow Ruka had snuck in the back, claiming it was his only ride. Mikan didn't object.

At her old grandmothers house (after all the old women had passed away last year) and they barely were able to get the key in the lock considering how little energy Mikan had.

The house was deadly silent, until Ruka accidentally stepped on one of Ryuu's toys. The hazel eyed women sluggishly made her way up the stairs, pausing momentarily at Ryuu's open room. The walls were painted a deep blue, with pictures crudely hung all over the wall. His toddler bed was messy and Mikan vaguely remembered telling him to clean it up. She slumped to her own room, and the ring Natsume had given her gleamed on the table.

She scooped it up, cradling it preciously in her hands. She flopped onto the bed, groaning, and falling asleep quickly, the ring pressed next to her heart.

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Mikan awoke around eight-thirty, and dimly remembered to put the ring on her finger. There were little indentions on her chest and she brushed her face roughly with her hands, trying to wake up.

Hotaru walked in, "Mikan, Ryuu's operation is finished."

"Oh thank the heavens." She sent a silent prayer to the heavens, "How did it go."

"I don't know. The doctor refused to tell us anything until you got there." Hotaru gestured to the door, "Shall we?"

Didn't have to tell Mikan twice. She was all but stumbling to the door, trying to get her Jello-like legs to move down the stairs.

"Ruka left." Hotaru locked the door behind them and Mikan jumped into the car giving Hotaru a 'I see.'

The two best friends got the bustling hospital in record time, Mikan shoving through the crowd. She skipped speaking to the nurse and went right from the doctor's office. She burst in, and her family (plus Natsume) sat there.

"What happened?" She panted the whole ordeal only taking twenty minutes. Longest twenty minutes of her life.

"We don't know yet." Natsume said. Mikan knew automatically he hadn't had his check up just yet.

They waited, and moments later, the doctor walked in, poker face on.

"So, doctor, what happened?"

He hesitated, and Mikan swallowed her thundering heart.

"Well, Ryuu…"

And, cliff hanger for a god damned boring chapter with slight fluff. Gosh, I'm sorry about that… I've also decided I wanted to start answering reviews in chapters because, I don't know, you guys helped me reach 200+ reviews so I thought I'd start answering some questions.

kookiie~ um, yeah, I know I suck XD I like problems. Soap operas are awesome. Sorry we still don't know what's up Natsume. Next chapter, I promise!

notjjn~ UPDATED :D

turn all the lights on~ Omg, sorry! I didn't realize that would happen! Or, maybe I did a little. It was a pretty emotional (?) chapter.

Cararein~ I know! I'm sorry! I'm terrible… I'm glad you're hyped though. All in good time.

Vegie-1526~ I like twists :3 haha I'm glad you liked it

Crimson-Midnight-Moon~ Oh, I'm sorry. Honestly I wouldn't be offended at all if you stopped reading if the story goes in that direction (Not too sure myself) My condolences

pinkpocket23~ Yayy for being 200! Thanks so much. I like suspense? T.V? Books probably. I really want to give them that happy ending (Die hard NxM supporter here) but even I don't know where this story is going. I have multiple ending ideas. But have faith still! I won't do a gazillion more things to these guys. I can't have this story going on for bazillion chapters. Anyway, I'll try.

Ayee-Its-Vanessa~ I won't? Sorry, tried on this one. Can't give too much away ^^disregarding what I said above…

lovertime~ neither do I! Wait… but I'm supper happy you like it!

Thanks again to all my silent readers/anonymous reviews, I appreciate every single one of you guys! Love you all! *Huggles for all*

~Emerald~