Hey everyone! Here's chapter 12:D

Hope you guys like it. A big thank you to reviewers and all! Please review this too:D

Chapter 11

"Healing Alices won't work on her as the Curse Alice has to be removed from her system completely. What do you say, Hyuuga?"

"Let me see her. I know what to do."

"Save her and I won't kill you like I had planned to."

"Leave it up to me."

Chapter 12

Ruka dug his hands into his pockets as he stormed down the hallway, flashbacks on the 'conversation' he had earlier with Hotaru played in his mind. Sure, he was warm-hearted and a gentleman, but he regretted allowing a girl to talk to him in such a manner. Guys were guys after all, and their ego was probably their world.

Flashback

"… Think about it; you've got more sense than you think you do. Leave us."

End of Flashback

Ruka stopped in his tracks for a minute. He frowned as he felt a pang of hurt and regret as he recalled that scene; not because she had just insulted him, but it was more of the fact that he was the reason that Hotaru's eyes had seemed to be filled with disappointment at that time. He turned and glanced down the empty hallway before shrugging off the feeling. He shouldn't have felt that way because Mikan was the one he loved and nothing, or no one, else should matter... Right?

Ruka looked up and found himself in front of Mikan's private ward. She was transferred out of the Intensive Care Unit after Subaru Imai had managed minimize the amount of pain she was going through. He sighed before sliding the door open, wishing that he could do something to help her.
He would have done anything for her, just to see her radiant smile.

He smiled sadly as Mikan lay on her bed semi-conscious; her eyes were barely open and her face was pale. He slid into the chair next to the bad and held her limp hand.

"Mikan…"

Ruka paused for a moment as he felt her fingers weakly curl around his. He smiled fondly at her and stroked her auburn hair. Mikan's lips moved, as if she was talking. No words proceeded out of her mouth, but a certain word did.

"… Natsume…."

Ruka could have sworn he heard his heart shatter upon hearing that from Mikan. He finally understood Mikan's love for Natsume. That was the confirmation that he had dreaded as the years passed ever since he met her. He stood up and gently placed her hand back by her side before turning to the door to leave. He had to get out, to be somewhere other than near Mikan, to clear his mind.

It was as if he couldn't breathe.

Yuka stood along the shore of a deserted beach alone as tears streamed down her face. She closed her eyes as the wind blew, caressing her hair as she inhaled slowly. The chilly sea water reached her knees but she was oblivious to the cold. Her mind was focused on her life. It didn't seem fair to her. Nothing in her life had seemed to go the way she had wanted to. Everything that could have possibly gone wrong in her life went wrong. It just wasn't fair.

Her loved one had died before she could graduate and be together with him. Yuka blamed the Academy for his death. He was the only reason why she had painstakingly set up the Anti-Alice Organisation. She had wanted revenge and it seemed to be going according to plan, until she learnt that her daughter was enrolled into the Academy, the very same Academy that had caused her loved one's death.

She nearly killed her very own daughter.

The accusation repeated in her head over and over again. Yuka collapsed into water and covered her face with her hands, sobbing uncontrollably.

She remembered it all; her joy when she first held baby Mikan in her arms, her sadness when she had to leave Mikan with Grandfather to focus on the AAO and her anger when she found out that Mikan was the in fact, the infamous Shiro Neko. Most of all, she remembered the horror she went through the moment the icicles she had released to kill the Kuro Neko stabbed through Mikan. She remembered the Kuro Neko's struggle to stand up before scooping Mikan into his arms and bursting out the front door. The next thing she knew, her legs were bringing her further and further away from all that she had ever known; her daughter, the AAO, her life.
There was no use in helping the Kuro Neko in any possible way. The curse in Mikan couldn't be removed; it was meant to be that way. It was meant to be planted into the Kuro Neko's body, not her daughter. The guilt was overwhelming, and the depression had sunk in deep.

She had to end it all.

Yuka gritted her teeth and prevented further tears from falling as she picked herself up. She retrieved the hand gun in her pocket and held it up to her temple. Soon enough, she would make up for her misdeeds. It was definitely better that way; no one would have to pay for her mistakes. She was going to be responsible for her actions this time around.

Yuka closed her eyes and smiled.

"Gomenasai… Mikan…"

The deafening sound of a gunshot was heard as Yuka fell.

xxx

"Okaa-san…" Mikan whimpered as her eyes flickered.

Natsume placed his hand on the wall of the hallway as support as he guided himself towards Mikan's ward. He didn't need directions despite the numerous wards located in the building; the school's infirmary was literally his second home. That was, until the Shiro Neko went on missions with him, reducing the amount of injuries sustained during missions and visits to the infirmary.

I haven't thanked her properly for that before…

As he neared the ward, the door of her ward slid open and Ruka stepped out. Natsume frowned in as Ruka ran towards the exit; that was a first.

"I think he's come to his senses."

Natsume turned and was surprised, though keeping it behind his stoic expression, to see Hotaru behind him on her duck scooter. She maintained her usual cold expression.

"Make sure he's okay," Natsume ordered.

"I would have shot you with my Baka Gun for talking to me like that," Hotaru retorted.

"You would have, but you wouldn't, because you love him."

Natsume smirked as Hotaru kept silent. Finally, after years of blackmailing and being humiliated by the photos she sold of his embarrassing moments, a hot favourite among fan girls, he had managed to checkmate her.

"Urusai Hyuuga. You save my idiot, I'll go after yours." Hotaru replied and drove towards the exit after Ruka, her duck scooter humming softly as it passed.

Natsume arrived at her ward, slid the door open and walked towards Mikan. She was in the same state as Ruka had last seen her, except for a single tear that streamed down her cheek. Natsume sat in the chair next to her bed and used his index finger to wipe her tear off.

"You look ugly when you cry, Polka."

At that moment, the curse acted up and Mikan writhed in pain. Her once peaceful face was now scrunched up as she gritted her teeth and her fingers were curled around the bed sheets tightly. It pained Natsume, knowing that he was helpless. He gently slipped his hand into hers and stroked her hair with his other hand.

"You're okay… You'll be fine… I promise you that," Natsume whispered.

Mikan's eyes fluttered open and she smiled weakly upon seeing Natsume by her side. Yes, she knew she was going to be alright, but only because Natsume was there, with her.

"You can be saved, but you need to be prepared and be strong. But knowing you, that wouldn't be a problem for you, eh Polka?" Natsume asked, flashing an extremely slight smile.

Mikan mustered her strength and grinned at Natsume.

"Hai…"

Ruka ran deep into the Northern Forest, hoping that Piyo wouldn't show up. Of course, he loved that gigantic yellow mutated chick, but now was not the time. He needed to be alone to for now. He eyed an oak tree and lay under it, his hands behind his head. Images of Mikan appeared before him as he stared blankly at the sky.

Flashback

"Ruka-pyon!"

Ruka smiled as he turned to face Mikan. He loved the sound of her carefree and bubbly voice calling out to him.

"Come on Ruka! Let's go get some Howalons!"

Ruka blushed as Mikan tugged his hand and dragged him towards the store. It was her small gestures and actions that made him feel special.

"No Ruka! I'll pay! I'm a Double Star now! I have enough," Mikan spoke quickly as she trailed after Ruka away from the Howalon shop.

"It's okay Sakura. It'll be my treat, for your hard work and promotion to a Double Star."

"Hai! Arigatou Ruka-pyon!" Mikan cheered as she hugged Ruka.

He couldn't have been happier.

End of Flashback

Ruka sat up upon hearing a familiar humming sound. Great, more blackmailing, that was exactly what he needed to heal his broken heart.

Not.

He saw Hotaru approaching on her duck scooter and nodded in acknowledgement as she got off the scooter in front of him.

"Gomenasai Imai. I don't wish to have my pictures taken and plastered all over the school walls and sold for hundreds of rabbits now."

Ruka bit his lip upon realizing his sarcasm and how hurting his words were. He finally mustered the courage and looked at the inventor in the eyes. She nodded briefly.

"I can be a friend too."

"I'm sorry. I'm just…" Ruka sighed.

"I understand. I was just making sure you were alright," Hotaru answered softly.

They stood facing each other in silence. Ruka averted his eyes and seemed to have taken great interest in the leafy green grass below his feet. Soon enough, he couldn't take the pain any longer.

"Imai…" Ruka started. Hotaru looked at him questioningly.

"Could I just… I'm sorry… I just need one…" Ruka walked towards her and embraced her tightly.

Hotaru's heart skipped a beat as she felt Ruka's arms tighten around her. Honestly, she liked it, but she would never admit it of course. She simply nodded and returned the hug. They remained in this position in silence for a long time before Ruka pulled away, blushing slightly.

"Gomenasai, but thank you for that Imai," he smiled.

"You're welcome."

They sat down side by side under the oak tree and chatted for some time. For the first time, Hotaru placed her pride and cold façade aside. Ruka was surprised, but delighted to see her chuckle and hear some laughter from her. As time passed, he realized that he wasn't in love with Mikan, but infatuated with her; it pleased him upon realizing this. Hotaru smiled slightly and turned to Ruka upon noticing the silence between them. She found herself staring into his ocean blue eyes for sometime before he smiled handsomely at her.

"You should be like that all the time Imai," Ruka grinned.

Hotaru felt her cheeks getting hot and looked away.

"It's only for you to see," she whispered to herself.

But oh, did Ruka hear that.

"I heard that."

Hotaru refused to look at him, mostly because she was blushing. The great Hotaru Imai never lets anything pull her guard down, not even boys. Further silence enveloped the pair and Hotaru shifted uncomfortably.

"I'll take my leave now. I hope you feel better," Hotaru excused herself as she summoned her duck scooter which reappeared from behind the trees.

"Hey, wait up." Ruka held her wrist and turned her around to face him.

"What is it, bunny boy?"

"Thank you."

"It was nothing."

"No, it was something. You helped me realize that what I felt for Mikan wasn't real. I was infatuated with her, really badly. I just want to thank you again for helping me get out of that and I apologize for acting like a total jerk."

Hotaru smiled and inched closer to Ruka, tiptoed and gave him a peck on his cheek before leaving.

Ruka smiled as his heart pounded harder than ever before. Not even Mikan had ever made him feel this way. Now this, this could be real.

Mikan listened intently to Natsume and nodded gravely. She understood his instructions and was ready to execute them, despite the fact that she knew her life was on the line. She reasoned with herself that it was better trying than simply lying on bed all day, waiting for Death to come take her away. Besides, she wasn't ready to give up. Mikan Sakura never gave up. Natsume tightened his grip around Mikan's delicate hand before signaling to her to begin when she was ready.

She closed her eyes and focused. A familiar faint blue glow emitted from her body as she clenched her fist tightly. She began coughing out black blood, but Natsume knew that was to be expected. Using her Alice on the curse in her own body would result in great stress to her system. She had to be strong.

All of the sudden, the blue glow disappeared abruptly as Mikan writhed in pain, coughing violently as more black blood oozed out from the corner of her lips. Not once did Natsume flinch or turn his back on Mikan, not once, not when she needed him by her side the most.

"Come on Mikan, you can do this," he whispered, stroking her hair. "I'll buy you Howalons when you get better."

Mikan's lips curved upwards and Natsume smiled. That's my girl. A familiar blue glow emitted from Mikan once more and it glowed brighter than before. She was going to be alright.

The blue glow faded off, but her right fist continued emitting the faint glow. Mikan's eyes shot open and she gasped. Her right fist uncurled and revealed a black Alice stone; the curse Alice. Natsume smiled a genuine smile at Mikan and removed the stone from her.

"Have some rest Polka," Natsume whispered and Mikan nodded in response to this. He pressed the call button and summoned a nurse to check on Mikan's condition, just to make sure she was alright. He stared at the dull Alice stone in his palm and smirked as it went up in flames.

Mikan closed her eyes; a smile graced her lips.