Hello! This update is a little quicker than the others because I'm going on vacation for a few days. So here's the next part and I hope you all like it! Thanks for all the reviews! And please review this one!

Disclaimer: I do not own Gakuen Alice or any of its characters.

Natsume didn't know what to say. He was practically strangled for breath. Mikan wasn't looking at him since she was too busy enjoying her time with the rest of her friends. Hotaru, Inchou, and even Sumire were all surrounding her, blocking her view from who was watching from the sidelines.

But looking at Riku's arm placed so comfortably around her shoulders made his blood boil to the point where it seemed as if fire was churning through his veins. In his head, Natsume imagined himself marching over there and snatching Mikan back from the clutches of that damn bastard, but in reality all he could do was stand there and stare helplessly.

Luca noticed Natsume's response immediately and when he spotted the two, he unconsciously cried out to Mikan, hoping to ease his friend's tension.

Swiveling her head around, Mikan's flushed face broke out into a beaming smile when she saw who called her name. "Luca-pyon! You're here too! How are—?"

She froze as her eyes fell upon Natsume. In an instant, the cold she felt from earlier vanished as Natsume continued to gaze intently into her eyes. Mikan wanted to turn away, but she couldn't find the strength to. Her knees started to tremble and the last word she wanted to say was caught in her throat.

Realizing that Natsume had arrived, Sumire immediately jumped out of line and stood beside him. "You made it!" she exclaimed brightly.

But he didn't pay her any attention. He didn't seem to notice anyone anymore, except for Mikan.

Natsume slowly stepped forward, never breaking his gaze. But before he could say anything, Riku had stepped forward too and chuckled.

"I didn't expect to see you here, Natsume," he said with a smile that Natsume caught to be more as a sneer.

"I didn't either," he replied coldly.

Riku laughed and brought his hand down to Mikan's, lacing his fingers through hers. Natsume froze as Mikan turned her head towards Riku in surprise.

"I could never decline an invitation from Mikan. What kind of partner would I be?"

Natsume clenched his fists in anger. He had completely underestimated Riku before and now, he was paying dearly for it. This guy knew his every weak spot and was continuously hitting all the right places. Natsume wanted to open his mouth and say something, but he had no idea how to reply.

Satisfied with the silence, Riku pulled Mikan towards the entrance and said, "Come on, Mikan. It's almost our turn."

But Mikan wasn't paying him much attention. She turned her gaze back to Natsume and clearly saw how tense he was, especially when his eyes wandered to their intertwined hands. Mikan wanted to let go of Riku, but at the same time, she didn't want to hurt his feelings.

Shaking her head slightly, she extended her other hand towards Natsume and smiled. His eyes widened in surprise at her action.

"Come with us," Mikan said in a slightly breathless voice.

She hesitantly took a step forward. "Please."

Natsume didn't reply. He was stunned into silence. After all the cruel things he had said to her, she still wanted to be around him. He didn't deserve her kindness at all and yet, surprisingly enough, that didn't change the way she saw him. Mikan still cared.

But when he looked back at Riku's face, Natsume knew that he wouldn't last long being around that guy for another second. Putting two people with a Fire Alice in the same car at that height would be nothing less than a death wish. But what really set him off was the fact that if he joined the two of them, he would feel more like a third wheel than anything. Although Natsume knew that he was the one who pushed Mikan away, he had no intention of letting her be with Riku.

However even now, as she tenderly reached out to him, Natsume couldn't get himself to treat her the way she should be treated. Although he felt happy that she hadn't forgotten about him and had decided to forgive him for his harshness, he couldn't get over the feeling that she chose Riku over him. But nonetheless, Natsume was well aware of her innocently kind nature. Even when he didn't deserve it, she still reached out to him, as if nothing had changed between the two of them.

Yet, the frustration he felt as he stared at her and Riku was overpowering. He couldn't muster up the strength to reach out and grasp Mikan's hand. Because no matter how Natsume looked at it, Mikan didn't choose him. She chose Riku and him. And that wasn't enough. He wanted Mikan all to himself, no matter how impossible it may seem.

Knowing that he was going to feel the pain for this later, Natsume slowly turned his back on Mikan and shook his head. "I'd rather not."

And without another word, he walked away, leaving Mikan feeling more abandoned than ever.

Riku gracefully made his way through the crowd, apologizing every now and then when he brushed against a student too harshly. It took longer than it should have since so many people stopped him to say hi and ask him how he was doing. Riku was slightly surprised at how friendly everyone was. He never expected them to be this responsive to him.

He was used to people fawning over him, but the students here were more than just fawning. They were practically awe-struck. Riku smiled smugly to himself. He would never get tired of people fussing over him. It was the best feeling in his life.

"Well, not exactly," Riku thought as he finally saw the path towards the forest. Striding through, Riku's mind couldn't help but wander back to where Mikan was, staying with her friends on the dance the floor. He felt immensely guilty for leaving her when she was so depressed, but Riku had to go and meet someone before he went back to her.

Thinking back to what happened earlier, Riku felt highly satisfied with how things unfolded between Mikan and Natsume. At first, Riku was quite worried that Natsume would be a contender for Mikan's heart, but it seemed less likely every time he saw the two together. And even if Natsume was a competitor, Riku had no doubt in his mind that only he himself would win.

After all, Riku liked Mikan more than he had ever liked another girl before because she completely caught him off guard. She didn't fuss over him like the others, but instead respected and treated him like a human being. The way she smiled and her genuine personality only reassured him that she was truly his friend, not because she thought he was an amazing prize.

Riku had to admit that he was slightly tired of people asking him to demonstrate his Fire Alice. It always seemed as if they were only acting as his friends because he was powerful. Although at most times Riku enjoyed the attention, he was also desperately looking for someone who was genuine, and Mikan was exactly the kind of person he had been searching for.

She never once asked him to ignite blue flames. In fact, he couldn't recall any time she had ever mentioned the word Alice around him. Mikan saw him as a person and that was more than enough.

"That's why I won't let you win," Riku murmured to the darkness as the forest became thicker and thicker. Knowing for a fact that he was in here, Riku bravely walked through the thickets of trees until he finally saw him.

Natsume was standing all alone beside the bubbling creek with his hands shoved in his pockets. Slightly smiling to himself, Riku noiselessly made his way towards him. Once he stood a couple feet away, Riku murmured,

"You seem troubled."

Natsume wasn't fazed. He knew Riku would come looking for him eventually and he was more than ready to meet him. It was time to let all the formalities drop.

"You can say that," Natsume said in an empty voice, even though he was writhing with anger on the inside just by hearing his voice.

Riku chuckled lightly and stood beside Natsume, staring up at the white, round moon. "Can I ask why?"

"I'm not here to amuse you, Riku."

"Oh, believe me, you've amused me enough," Riku said with a laugh. "In fact, I don't think I can take anymore amusement."

Natsume gritted his teeth together.

"Although, it doesn't seem like you're having as much fun as I am," Riku continued with a confident tone.

"Why are you here?" Natsume asked in a cold voice.

"I just wanted to make sure you were alright. You seemed distraught earlier."

"I appreciate your worry," Natsume said with hardened eyes. "But don't waste your time."

Riku laughed. "I don't intend to."

Natsume turned to face with him, confusion clearly spelled out on his face.

And like a switch, Riku's face had completely transformed. The twinkle in his eye had vanished and the faint smile had all but disappeared. He looked practically murderous and Natsume was his only target.

"I suggest you give up on Mikan, Natsume."

Flaming, hot blood coursed through his veins as he replied in a hard voice, "What makes you say that?"

"It's useless. Not only are you hurting yourself, but you're causing her unnecessary pain."

"And let me guess," Natsume said with a snarl. "You're here to protect her."

Riku chuckled and ran a hand through his icy blue hair. "You can say it like that. But I was thinking more along the lines of extinguishing a fire that's overstayed its welcome."

In a flash, a fire erupted in the palm of Natsume's hand as he stepped away from Riku until they stood face to face. Riku instinctively lit a flame as well as they both glared at each other from the bright light of each of their own fire.

"Do you think I'm scared of you?" Riku asked with a sneer. "You're not the only one blessed with flames."

Natsume glared. "Blessed? Is that what you think this is?"

"Of course. I'm proud of my power. Aren't you?"

"Not exactly," Natsume said menacingly as the fire within his hand burned with more intensity.

"But with fire, you gain friends like Mikan? Isn't that true?"

Even though Riku's tone of voice was still light, it was clear that his blue eyes had frozen over and that he wanted nothing more than to show Natsume what he was really capable of. But abiding his time, he waited patiently for Natsume's response.

"Mikan doesn't care that I'm a Fire Alice," Natsume snarled. "She doesn't give a damn about that."

Riku laughed coldly. "I guess you're right. Why should she? Since she doesn't care about you at all."

And in one huge eruption, Natsume's fire suddenly enveloped around Riku, forming a ring of hot flames that licked at his feet. Riku was at first caught off guard, until somehow, he managed to cover the ring with his own blue flames, making it safe for him to step out.

Natsume's eyes narrowed into slits. It seemed that Riku was more than just a confident talker.

"Bravo," Riku said as he clapped softly. "They weren't joking when they said you were powerful. That must take an immense amount of control."

Natsume glared.

"But you see, with control comes a price," Riku said quietly. "You may want to hold down the feelings you have for Mikan, but I don't. I have no intention of letting you snatch her away from me. You gave up the first day I came here and I plan on keeping you that way."

And in a flash, a bright, blue flame was shot straight at Natsume's face, but in one swift movement, he blasted it away with his own.

Riku nodded appreciatively as his flame died away. "I wouldn't expect anything less from you."

Turning around, he silently made his way up the path, leaving Natsume behind until he suddenly heard,

"Do you care about her?"

Riku stopped. He looked over his shoulder and saw Natsume's hard face.

Suddenly, Riku's confident smile had dropped and with a seriousness that Natsume had never seen from him before, he replied quietly,

"If I didn't, do you think I would be here?"

And before Natsume could reply, Riku had disappeared among the trees.

Natsume hadn't moved for a while. He continued to stare up at the dark starry sky, feeling his heart beat slower and slower by the second. Natsume felt as if the whole entire world had stopped and was crumbling to pieces. And there he stood, all alone, not knowing that the carnival had continued on without him...

...that Riku had already made his way back to Mikan…

…that he had held her hand as soon as he saw her face…

…that she returned his smile with a warm smile of her own…

…that they waltzed on the dance floor together…

…that Mikan laid her head on his shoulder for comfort…

…that Riku had suddenly leaned down low to her ear…

…that he whispered he loved her…

…that Mikan had raised her head in surprise…

…that Riku slowly leaned towards her and placed a kiss on her lips…

…that Mikan could feel her heart stop altogether…

…that as soon as their lips had touched, Mikan could only think about one person…

Natsume sighed heavily to the silent wind. He didn't know any of that at all.