Here's Chapter fourrrr:D

AmBEr aka BDBH: Lol I have decided not to kill anyone. (I sound like a sadist -.- WHICH I'M NOT, but I'm sure you know that:D) And ahhha yes correct! NxM best.

MirSan.KouKag: HAHA YES. I think that being in Mikan's position would be like :D And thanks for the review and compliment(:

xxbabyxox: I won't be erasing any characters off because I don't think I could bear to lol. Thanks for the review!

Lady Innocence: Your review made me smile big big:D Thank you!

ayhartyuMikaTsume: And you too:D thank you for the review and compliment:D

Reviews make me happy:D So thank you those who have reviewed:D

"You said you'll protect me."

"I'm sor-"

"You said you'll be there for me, whenever I needed someone."

"Please…"

"You lied, Hyuuga."

Natsume jolted awake. He lay on his bed for a long time, looking up at the ceiling as he thought about his nightmare.

I won't let that happen. I promised her. I promised Mikan.

He sat up abruptly, remembering that he had to meet her that morning. He peeled off his perspiration-soaked shirt and glanced at the clock.

9.30 a.m. Might as well.

He pulled himself out of bed and into the shower. After completing his morning routine, he threw on a long black sleeve shirt which he rolled up the sleeves to his elbows and slid into a pair of dark blue denim jeans. He examined himself in the mirror and ran his hand through his hair, giving it a messy look.

And thus, he looked hot.

Leaving the dormitory, he glanced at the building next to it which was the girls' dormitory. He turned towards it and walked over briskly, thinking up of some excuse as to why he would be waiting outside Mikan's room.

The girls' dormitory

Natsume climbed up the staircase and turned towards the corridor where Mikan's room was. He stopped in his tracks when he saw her room door half open.

She can't be that stupid.

He dashed towards the door and flung it open. His eyes widened in shock as he surveyed the room.

KRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNGGGGG!

Mikan stirred in her sleep, stretching her right hand towards the nightstand, blindly feeling for the alarm clock. She pried her eyes open and saw the time: 9.30 a.m. Mikan didn't want to be late so she forced herself out of bed to get ready. After a quick shower, Mikan wore a pink spaghetti top with a white mini skirt. She let her hair down and combed it neatly.

"Oh that's sweet, going on a date?"

Mikan turned and faced the window, where to source of the voice came from. She gasped when she saw Reo Mouri standing on the window sill.

"I won't hurt you, I just need you as bait."

"Bait?"

"Yes, bait for the Black Cat."

Mikan's eyes widened in fear as Reo advanced towards her; she overturned the table and chairs to stall him.

"NATSUMMMME!"

"There's a sound barrier around your room, it's useless."

"Natsume…"

Natsume gritted his teeth, consumed by rage. He hurled his fist at the wall.

"My my, such angst."

"Mouri," Natsume growled.

"I'll see you in the Northern Forest, and don't you worry, we'll take gooood care of her," Reo grinned cynically before leaping out of the window.

The Northern Forest

Natsume sped through the Northern Forest, his eyes scanning his surroundings. Everything seemed peaceful and quiet. He wiped his perspiration off his forehead with the back of his hand as he ran and soon, he came across an opening. Two members of the Anti-Alice Organisation stood in between Mikan, who was bound and gagged, sitting on the ground. Reo stood a few metres away from them, arms crossed with a smirk on his face.

"I'm the one you want, so let her go."

"Tch. We have to take extra measures. I'm not letting her off that easily either. She punches like a b-," Reo vaguely pointed to a bruise near his lips.

"You'll pay," Natsume muttered, forming a fireball in each palm.

"Oh, be patient, you don't want your little beauty disfigured, do you?" Reo smiled, nodding at one of AAO member standing next to Mikan.

The agent nodded and lowered himself to face Mikan. As he drew a short imaginary line in the air inches away from her cheek, a cut mirroring the line appeared on her cheek. Mikan's eyes widened when she felt the sting and glanced at Natsume.

BAKA!!BAKA!!BAKA!!BAKA!!

The three members of the AAO collapsed, wincing in pain. Mikan and Natsume turned towards the direction of the shots and saw Hotaru standing next to Ruka.

"The Baka Bazooka," Hotaru murmured to herself.

"Natsume! Now!" Ruka yelled.

Natsume created a small fire behind Mikan to burn the ropes, but nothing happened. He cursed under his breath.

Alice-prevention ropes.

Natsume surrounded Reo and his two agents in rings of fire before going over to Mikan to help her undo the ropes. As he loosened the ropes, something slammed into his head.

Hard.

Natsume cursed, placing his hand over the area on his head where he got hit and felt blood. His vision was blurred, with spots of black appearing in his vision, quickly taking over.

No, I can't pass out now.

Mikan tore the loosened rope off her wrists and knelt next to Natsume, cradling his head. She turned to look at his attacker and was surprised to see Reo standing behind them, smirking. He lifted his leg and kicked Mikan in her stomach. She shrieked in pain and collapsed onto the ground. Natsume growled and summoned whatever strength he had left to use his Fire Alice.

He writhed in agony.

He couldn't afford to exhaust himself any more, no, not when Mikan was still in danger, neither could he let the nightmare turn into a reality. He got on all fours with Mikan lying under his body, their faces barely inches away from each other, shielding her from Reo's blows. Blow after blow, Natsume remained in his posture. Tears streamed down Mikan's face when she saw blood dripping from Natsume's face and mouth. He gave a reassuring, almost unnoticeable, smile before brushing away strands of hair away from her eyes using his right index finger.

Natsume…

"That's enough…" Mikan whimpered as she felt Natsume wince each time Reo dealt a blow on him. She wrapped her arms tightly around him.

"THAT'S ENOUGH!"

A familiar bright blue light emitted from Mikan's body. But this time, it was massive.

The faculty room

"Narumi-sensei! Mikan! Natsume! AAO! Northern Forest!" Ruka yelled.

Narumi blinked in confusion. Stringing Ruka's sentence together, he left without a word after summoning Jinno-sensei. Hotaru looked out of the window and saw Narumi-sensei running towards the Northern Forest. She gasped when she saw the forest enveloped by Mikan's Alice.

A shockwave passed the Academy, and all Alices were nullified.

Mikan you baka.

The Northern Forest

Narumi raced through the forest, plotting a map in his mind as he navigated through the paths. He came to a familiar opening Ruka had told him about.

His eyes widened.

In the middle of the opening were Mikan and Natsume, who were now lying side by side, unconscious. Around them were the three agents from the AAO who were slumped on ground motionless. Narumi called for security to deal with the agents before attending to Mikan and Natsume who were out cold. He lifted Natsume to hoist him over his shoulder when he met a slight resistance. Glancing down, he saw Natsume's hand intertwined with Mikan's.

He smiled.

The Infirmary

"NATSUME!" Mikan shrieked and sat up quickly.

She looked around the familiar four walls of a ward in their school's infirmary. She racked her brains to remember what had happened earlier on. It all came whizzing back to her- Reo, the fight, the rescue, Natsume…

"Natsume!"

"Oi, keep it down Polka, I'm trying to sleep."

Mikan whirled to the right side of her bed and saw Natsume sitting on a chair by the bedside, resting his head on her bed. She felt a pang of guilt when she saw the bandage around Natsume's head. She nudged him gently but to no avail.

The pig was already asleep.

"Baka. You were out for two days and the other baka by your bed has been by your side ever since he was treated," Hotaru said in her usual monotone voice.

BAKA!BAKA!BAKA!BAKA!

"Itai…" Mikan murmured, rubbing her sorehead.

"Hotaru, she's recovering!" Ruka protested.

"That's what you get, for worrying me like that baka," Hotaru slung her Baka Cannon over her shoulder and walked out of the ward.

There was a moment of awkward silence before Ruka walked to the other side of the bed. He clasped Mikan's hand gently, who shifted about uncomfortably. Right at that moment, Mikan could have sworn she felt and saw Natsume tense up.

"Mikan, take care of yourself, you really had me worried there," Ruka whispered, "I don't want to see you hurt anymore."

"Hai…" Mikan smiled meekly, "Ruka, I would like to rest for a bit now."

"Alright then, I'll visit you again after school."

Ruka laid Mikan's hand down gently on the bed and headed towards the doorway. Looking back, he saw Mikan leaning forward to get closer to Natsume, her hand gently stroking his raven hair.

A pang of heartache; and he left.

Natsume gazed at the sleeping brunette. She looked beautiful, as always. He leaned back in his chair with his eyes shut. He turned his head sharply when he heard the door slid open.

"Leave."

Persona smirked. This was getting interesting; after training his favourite student for almost 6 years, he had never seen the Black Cat behave that way. No, not towards a girl. She had to be really something to tear down the cold wall around his Black Cat.

"So she's just your partner?"

"Don't you dare…"

"She volunteered herself. She wanted to help you. I turned her down. But judging by that day's performance, she'll do alright. Pass her the message, will you?"

That said, Persona left. Natsume turned his head back at Mikan, who was sleeping peacefully. His heart pounded and his mind panicked. Persona had to be lying. There was no way Mikan could have been so stupid to risk her life.

Stupid enough to risk her life, to help him.

To save him.

Natsume felt caged in; it seemed like the four walls of the ward was starting to close in. His breathing grew heavier. He had to get out, even if it was just for a short moment. He turned and walked towards the door.

"Natsume?"

He stopped without turning back to face Mikan, his hand still on the door.

"Why, Polka, why are you so stupid?" Natsume demanded, his voice composed.

Mikan gasped; Persona must have told him. She got out of the bed and stood metres away behind Natsume.

" I want to help you," Mikan answered defiantly.

"IDIOT! I'M THE ONE WHO'S SUPPOSED TO BE PROTECTING YOU. YOUR LIFE, YOUR WHOLE LIFE IS AT STAKE HERE, I CAN'T RISK THAT. CAN'T YOU GET THAT INTO YOUR HEAD?! I… I just want you to be safe, always."

Mikan stared at Natsume, speechless. Never once had she seen him lose his cool, never once had he yelled at her to that extent, never once had he expressed himself like that.

Never once had he showed her how much he cared and worried for her well-being.

But he just did.

Mikan took a few seconds to compose herself. She walked up behind Natsume and wrapped her arms around him from the back tightly.

"Yes, I know that Natsume," she whispered, leaning her head on his back.

He turned around and returned the hug. Mikan felt safe; she felt so safe in his arms.

"Then why?" Natsume mumbled hoarsely.

Mikan gently broke the hug and looked straight into his eyes.

"You have been risking your life for this Academy all these years, going on missions and even saving the younger children who had been kidnapped. You were in the darkness since the first time I met you. You isolated yourself from almost everyone because you didn't want to get them hurt. You saved them, at your own expense. Don't you think, Natsume Hyuuga, that it's time you let someone save you?"

Natsume stared at the girl standing in front of him, hardly believing what he had just heard. It felt unreal. This girl was taking the plunge. She was taking the plunge with and for him. She didn't have to do that. She had already done so much for him. Her mere presence lit up his life.

She had taken his hand and guided him out of the darkness.

She had shown him how meaningful life could be.

She was the reason how he had learnt to appreciate life.

She was the reason why Natsume Hyuuga had abandoned thoughts of suicide years ago.

He took a step forward and hugged Mikan again. This time, his arms were wrapped around her even more tightly and protectively; as if she could disappear like a stain of breath on a mirror, as if this was moment would be their last. Eyes closed, their heads rested on the other's shoulder.

This moment now, let it be, and don't change a thing.

"Thank you… Thank you Mikan Sakura, for saving my life."

I hope I did the scene at the Northern Forest alright.

I don't know when Chapter 5 is coming up, so just keep a lookout for it if you want:D But it might take awhile because it's getting a busier at school and all.

Review?:D