I still can't believe I get reviews from you loyal readers when I suck at updating on time. I don't deserve it, really.

I've revised this entire story. Check it out! No doubt I made mistakes, but it is much better than before. You might want to reread or skim the previous chapters, just to refresh your memory.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything.

Happy Reading!

Rush

By Tsuki's Angel

~Chapter 7~

-Valentine's Day-

Natsume stared at Mikan's sleeping figure. He brushed her hair out of her eyes. She took in a jagged breath and let out an equally uneven one. Natsume's heart tightened. He knew she wasn't safe. The way she behaved. The way she acted like she was always being stalked by someone. There was something up. He didn't want to leave her alone, but he knew that he needed to find out. This was the only way without her freaking out.

Natsume kissed Mikan's forehead. She sighed in her sleep. Natsume's jaw clenched. Why was it her? Why couldn't it have been some other girl? It just had to be the girl he was in love with. Natsume sat on the edge of the bed and gingerly lifted Mikan to hug her. He wouldn't let anything else harm her. All he knew so far was that she was involved with the Dangerous Ability Class and more importantly, Persona. And if she's involved with him, then the only thing to do is confront said monster.

"I'm sorry," Natsume whispered into her hair.

He set her down and with one last kiss, he was gone.

. . .

Mikan blinked as she opened her eyes. She was in Natsume's dorm. She sat up and tried to remember what had happened. As her mind became less and less foggy, she remembered that she had decided to stay with Natsume for the night. She slapped her forehead. That was the worst decision she could have ever made in her lifetime. Victoria was going to kill her. She looked to her side, expecting to find Natsume sleeping there, but he wasn't. He wasn't there at all. Mikan's breath was caught in her throat. Did Victoria get to him already?

Suddenly, she heard the door open in the living room and two voices came in, talking. Two voices she knew all too well. Luca and Hotaru were heading in her direction. She could hear the voices get louder and louder. She got up out of the bed as quickly as she could, but it was much too late. Luca was standing in the doorway with his jaw dropped.

"Hey, why'd you stop walking?"

Hotaru's reaction was different from Luca's. She smirked and crossed her arms, seeing that Natsume and Mikan had spent the night together. Luca's face began to turn red and he turned his face away, holding out a book.

"Here!" he said. "I had to return it to Natsume before Imai and I went out to Central Town."

Mikan stared at the book. It was one of Natsume's favorite mangas. She slowly walked over to Luca in her—err, Natsume's—baggy clothing and took the manga from him. She spoke up quietly, "He's not here."

Luca was too busy wondering why on earth she was wearing Natsume's clothing. Hotaru sighed at her boyfriend's stupidity and asked Mikan the question that was lurking in the air, "Where is he?"

Hotaru could've sworn that Mikan's lip almost quivered, "I…think…"

"You think what?" Hotaru asked.

Mikan hugged the book and looked down making sure her hair shadowed her eyes. "He's…" Mikan looked at Hotaru and Luca. Luca's expression had changed to one of worry and curiosity. Hotaru was waiting for Mikan to reply. "I have to go. Now."

Mikan hurried and set the book down on Natsume's table. She rushed and got her dress from where she left it neatly folded and ran into his bathroom. As soon as she began to strip, she found a note attached to her dress.

Mikan,
Don't panic. I'm not dead.
I went to see Persona.
I'm sorry.
~Natsume

Mikan went ballistic. She didn't give a crap anymore! She quickly teleported to her room, and as soon as the white glowing haze disappeared she found herself facing Victoria herself. Her eyes widened and she shook her head. No, she thought, this can't be happening.

"I see you've enjoyed yourself last night," Victoria hissed.

Mikan blushed slightly, "It wasn't like that."

"Well, Mikan," Victoria said. "You've broken the rules."

"No," Mikan said. "I didn't."

"You got close to him," Victoria said. "You participated in Central Town activities. You deliberately ran away from your punishments."

Who wouldn't run away from the punishments you give? She wanted to say, but instead, she said, "So what?" Mikan contradicted. "I broke a few rules."

"Mikan Sakura," Victoria said. "You are in deep trouble."

"What did you do to him?" Mikan said, to the point.

Victoria smirked, "I don't know what happened to him."

"You're lying," Mikan said. "He was in his dorm. He left to go see Persona. He wouldn't leave just like that. Now tell me, what you said to him."

Victoria raised an eyebrow, "Oh? This is interesting."

"Where's Persona?" Mikan seethed.

"Oh, believe me, I would tell you," Victoria said, looking at her perfectly manicured nails. "But unfortunately, I really want to see what happens to your little contract with us." She glanced at Mikan with eyes of hate. "I want to see what Persona decides to do with your boy." Her eyes turned to those of amusement. "Actually, if he dies, I don't really think he has parents that would miss him. He's a lot like you, Sakura. No family and no place to call home but here."

"This is not my home," Mikan said, crossing her arms. "It's not his either. If you don't understand that by now, well, Victoria you don't know me as well as you think you do."

"Now, now, Mikan," she said. "Since when did you say such things? I think I know you pretty well by now. After all, I'm your DA class teacher."

Mikan took a deep breath. It was now or never. She had to stand up to Victoria once and for all. "For these past years, I've been enduring nothing but pain—following your every order, trying to keep my deal with Persona intact, and just trying to survive." Mikan's fists clenched. "I've tried my best in everything. I've excelled past my potential and now you think I'm just going to stand back and watch it all crumble down to ashes?" Victoria raised an eyebrow, whilst Mikan just scoffed. "Honestly, you and Persona have put me through enough. I'm done, Victoria. I want to live my life the way I want to." Mikan gave a small, small smile. It was barely noticeable, but it was there. "I'm not going to live it the way you want me to."

Victoria smirked, "Actually, Hyuuga's life depends on your obedience to us. Would you really just give up everything you worked for, for a life that you may not even be able to live?"

"I already told you, I'm getting out of this academy and alive too," Mikan said. "And I'm taking Natsume with me."

Victoria clicked her tongue, "Keep thinking that."

"I will," Mikan hissed. "It doesn't have to be now. It could be later. But what I know is that Natsume's my forever and I want to spend every moment I'm alive with him."

Victoria stared at Mikan for a long time. Mikan began to feel uncomfortable under her gaze. Victoria spoke up, "You do realize that we could murder the Black Cat at any time?"

Mikan's eyes widened, "You wouldn't…"

"Oh, we would," Victoria glared at her. "I will not tolerate insubordination. Mikan, if you dare run away from this academy, I will have agents sent after you."

A brief memory flashed through Mikan's head. She remembered when she followed Hotaru to the academy. She stood outside the academy, and there was a boy trying to escape. That boy was Natsume. And when he tried to escape, he blew up the wall. He didn't make it, though. He was beaten down, and he was only ten. Natsume survived, but he was punished. She realized that Natsume was much stronger than she would ever be. If she had been in that situation, when she was ten, she would've been scared to death.

Mikan couldn't handle this. She hated Victoria. She had to leave. She realized more and more that love really could make you do crazy, stupid, and outrageous things. This would have to be the mother of all of them. She completely ruined her own life to save another's.

Mikan began to formulate a plan in her head. She went to her closet and grabbed a DA uniform and quickly changed into it in her bathroom. She was planning to teleport to Persona—without knowing location. She had to change because Persona didn't know about her little episode with Natsume and she didn't intend to let him find out. Who knows what would happen?

Mikan shut her eyes and hoped what she did next would work. She imagined Persona's face. She hoped that a white glow would surround her. Even though she didn't know where he was, she hoped that his face would lead her to him and Natsume.

When Mikan opened her eyes, she was indeed surrounded by a white glow. She began to disappear, molecule by molecule and a brief picture of a clearing flashed through her head. She then knew where he was. Mikan imagined the clearing and she was gone within seconds. Victoria still stood in her room, shaking her head.

"Stupid, stupid girl," she whispered to no one. "What makes you think love would help you?"

Mikan, of course, didn't hear this. She was already dropped into a tree next to the clearing. She groaned. So there are even more side effects to that alice after all, she thought. She straightened herself up before gracefully dropping onto the ground. She dusted herself off and walked directly towards the clearing. She began to hear people talk. The voices were distinguishable.

"How unexpected," Persona said. "The one and only black cat wants to come back to its owner."

"Why the hell do you feel a need to associate me with cats?" Natsume spat. "It's damn disturbing."

"You have quite the vocabulary, as always," Persona mused quietly. "What was it that you needed?"

Natsume grunted, "I need you to stop Mikan. That idiot doesn't belong in the Dangerous Ability Class." He began forming a ball of fire in his hand. "I'm just as good as I was all those years ago. I don't care if I'm your mission dog again." The fire disappeared. "Just leave her alone."

Tears welled up in Mikan's eyes. "Natsume…" she whispered. She needed to stop him. She was going to yell out to him. "Nat—!" From behind, he mouth was covered by an ice cold hand. A hand with a perfect manicure. Victoria's hand. Mikan's eyes widened as she felt Victoria pierce her left ear with something extremely sharp. She heard a small click and she knew it was an alice limiting earring. Tears started to gush out of Mikan's eyes from the pain. Only her earlobes were previously pierced. She let out a muffled scream as it pierced the cartilage and shut her eyes.

"Try and escape now," she whispered. "I dare you."

They sunk into the ground. Victoria used her alice to manipulate her surrounding and Mikan found herself in a tunnel far beneath the ground. It was a secret passageway. The tunnel was lit with floating blue-white balls of fire. Mikan glanced around nervously. She didn't like the feeling this place gave her. Grabbing Mikan's upper arm, Victoria immediately led her down the passageway. Mikan followed silently apart from the occasional 'ouch' she gave when Victoria pulled too harshly.

Mikan's arm had gone numb once they reached their destination. Victoria let go of Mikan's arm and pushed them up and above the ground. As soon as she did, Mikan realized they were at a very unfamiliar location. She could tell that they were still on Gakuen Alice grounds because of the big star plastered on the building in front of her. Mikan saw the oh so familiar initials engraved into the golden star—DA. She paled visibly.

"W-where are we?" Mikan asked. Victoria scared her many times, but this time she was going over the edge.

"This is the Dangerous Ability Confinement," she replied. "Do you remember when you were ten years old and you spoke out against Narumi because he kept the letters you wrote to your Godforsaken grandfather?"

Mikan glared at her, "Don't speak ill of my grandfather. He has done nothing to you."

Victoria shot her an icy leer, "Answer my question."

Mikan could tell she was furious, but it gave her no right to take it out on those who have already passed away. "Apologize."

Victoria looked at her. The atmosphere around her wasn't very nice. The harsh winter wind gave Mikan the chills. The sky was grey and it was darker than it should be. The trees were bare and still. "What did you just ask?"

Mikan swallowed thickly. "I told you to apologize." Mikan clenched her fists. "Apologize to my grandpa!"

Victoria grabbed Mikan by her swollen ear, "I don't want to ever hear such a ridiculous request from you again. Understand?"

Mikan yelped in pain. She could feel the blood trickle into her ear. "No! I don't understand! Apologize to grandpa! Apologize! He's gone and he didn't do anything to you!"

"Stupid girl," she spat. "Why are you crying when it's absolutely useless? You're just wasting your tears." When only Mikan's sniffles could be heard Victoria repeated her question, "Do you remember that night?" Mikan didn't speak. Victoria pulled on her ear harder. She knew it hurt her immensely. "Do you?"

Mikan nodded stupidly, "Yes."

"I remember reading in your records that you got a detention that night," she said, letting go of Mikan. "You were confined in a dark room with no dinner." She scoffed at the lame punishment. "These confinements are very similar to that one, although there is one exception." Victoria entered a code into a keypad and the doors swung open, revealing a normal-looking dormitory. "You cannot use alices in any one of these rooms."

Mikan backed away. "What are you going to do to me?"

Victoria laughed, "You, Sakura, are going to be stuck in this dormitory for a long time with the exclusion of your missions. The rest of your life here is going to be in these here rooms."

Mikan felt like she was sick. "What about school? You can't take away my education!"

"You won't finish it," Victoria said. "I told you, you were meant to be alone. You cannot ever work with others. There is no point in finishing your education."

"No!" Mikan screamed. "I won't let you! I don't want to live like this! I want to—"

"Yes, I know," Victoria interrupted. "You want to live outside the academy and away from all this dirty work." She smirked. "I told you that's impossible."

Victoria grabbed Mikan again and dragged her inside. Mikan struggled, but the alice limitation accessory she received made her feel extremely weak. Mikan was thrown into a teleporting elevator and they were at the top floor within seconds. She was thrown into a room at the end of the hall.

Mikan fell, crashing to the floor. She forced herself up and leaned on her right elbow as tears rushed down her face, "You can't do this!"

"Oh, but I am," she replied. "And nothing is stopping me."

"What about Natsume?" Mikan asked. "What'll happen to him?"

"He's most likely going to die," Victoria said. "I can tell you that much."

Mikan's eyes widened. Her heart stopped. Her entire existence began to crumble. Her life as she knew it changed, forever. "He's…going to…die?"

"Persona should have taken care of him by now and if he didn't, he will," she said. "He also knows about your night together and that you're being confined here."

Mikan forced herself onto her feet, "You promised me he wouldn't get hurt! You can't just leave me here!"

Victoria crossed her arms, "Watch me."

"Victoria, please!" Mikan said. "Please, I'm begging you!" Mikan sunk to her knees. Her world was collapsing.

Victoria raised an eyebrow. "How about we make this interesting, then?"

Mikan stared at Victoria with a perplexed expression, "Interesting?"

"Let's test Hyuuga," she said. "I want to see if he really loves you."

"Didn't you tell me he doesn't?" Mikan bit out.

"It's fascinating to test it anyways," she shrugged.

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to tell him we killed you off," Victoria said. "If he doesn't love you, he will probably go on living and eventually get over it." Victoria smirked. "But, if he's truly and sincerely in love with you, he will kill himself, and I won't have anything to do with it."

"Victoria!" Mikan screamed. "You can't do this! I'm sorry, okay? I'll stop being disobedient!"

"Hm," Victoria said absentmindedly. She turned around. Mikan was left sobbing. "Oh, and Mikan?" Mikan looked at her hopefully. Victoria smirked. "Have a wonderful Valentine's Day."

And she slammed the door.

Mikan heard a beep, and she knew that she was trapped. She ran to the door and struggled to pry it open. Have a wonderful Valentine's Day? Victoria knew damn well that Mikan couldn't do that without Natsume. She was just torturing her. It made her sick.

Mikan fell against the door and let herself cry so loudly, that she couldn't hear anything but herself. Her whole life has officially gone to waste.

. . .

Natsume looked around the clearing to where the noise was coming from. He saw Victoria emerge from the trees and walk towards him and Persona. She had a satisfied smirk placed on her face. It gave Natsume the chills. He couldn't imagine why she looked so happy.

"My, my, what do we have here?" she asked.

"The old black cat wants back in," Persona said, placing a hand on his chin. "But I already have myself such a wonderful DA student; I simply don't know what to do." He was faking the act.

Natsume glared at him, "Don't do anything to hurt her."

"I'd take him if I were you," Victoria said, walking around Natsume.

Persona smirked, "And why might that be?"

"Because Mikan Sakura simply doesn't exist anymore," she stated.

Natsume felt as if the wind was knocked right out of him. He grabbed the woman by the collar of her dress and yelled, "What do you mean that she doesn't exist?"

Victoria twisted his wrist so that he would let go of her. He grunted in pain and pulled his hand back. "What I mean is that she's dead."

Natsume's fist flew straight towards her face, "Liar!"

Victoria easily dodged it, "Don't believe me? Suit yourself." She directed her attention to Persona. "Definitely keep him. He's got that spark." She glanced at Natsume and back at Persona. "He's handsome, too."

"Looks like you're back on the team, Hyuuga," Persona said. "I will see you here at nightfall a week or two from now."

Natsume produced a searing white hot fireball in his hand and had it explode. The entire surrounding forest area was engulfed in flames. He was past angry. He was bloody furious. Natsume looked around set his victims on fire, but they were simply gone. Natsume yelled into the empty clearing and kicked a nearby rock with complete blind fury. Mikan couldn't be dead. He wouldn't let her.

Natsume sank to the ground onto his knees. He held his head in his hands. He didn't know what to do anymore. Where was Mikan? His eyes widened as he realized she should still be in his room. With slight hope that the two DA teachers were lying to him, he ran back to his dormitory.

Natsume found his stride when his lungs no longer hurt from running for such a long period of time. He burst into his dorm room to find it completely vacant. He ran to the bedroom with little hope left. The little hope vanished when the bed was empty, not even made.

Mikan was dead?

Natsume's legs gave out underneath him and he sat on the floor, staring blankly. Mikan was gone. The only person that ever meant anything to him was gone.

Natsume looked on his bed once again and saw something there he didn't notice before. It was a box of Valentine's Day chocolates. He pushed himself to go retrieve it. A note in Luca's handwriting said that it was from a girl who was much too shy to give it to him herself. Natsume crumpled the note in his hand and threw the chocolates at the wall, making the box break and chocolate go everywhere.

Usually, Natsume didn't care about Valentine's Day. It was a day where he just ignored every girl who gave chocolates to him. He did not care entirely. Not once did he even glance at how many chocolates he got. The only person in his line of vision was Mikan. She was gone, now. Natsume felt abandoned.

He now knew how it felt to be alone on a Valentine's Day.

. . .

It must have been hours since Mikan's moment of insanity. The room she was in was completely dark. There was no light. She felt alone, scared, and helpless. She sat on the cold, hard ground and crouched into a little ball, hiding her face between her knees. There had to be a way out. She absolutely had to see Natsume. They couldn't have killed him off yet.

Mikan had already found the window and felt for a latch. There was one, but it was locked. If she broke the glass, she would damage her hand beyond repair. The glass they made for confinements like these were made with special compounds that made the glass bulletproof. She knew this was common knowledge for someone like her. Mikan began to wonder if she really cared if her hand was broken. She could attempt to find something to break the glass other than her hand if her room didn't consist of only a futon and a mirror glued to the wall.

Mika tried to break the windows with her heels. Hope had spurred within her and she went to the window only to realize that it had bars on the outside. Mikan wanted to stab something at that moment. She couldn't use any of her alices on this barrier, and she couldn't break her way out! Damn it, did this place have any opening?

Mikan groaned and hugged her knees tighter, "Why does this happen to me?"

She sat on the ground for a long time. Her mind was beginning to numb and her eyes began to close. She forced herself awake and turned to her side, only to shoot up from the sudden stinging of her ear. She got up and looked into the mirror to find a black jewel-looking stud in the cartilage of her ear. Her ear was very swollen. She frowned.

She tore her gaze away from her sad expression. Her face was tearstained and she looked disoriented.

She was.

. . .

Natsume sat on a bench in the Central Town Square. Nobody paid any attention to him. He simply stared off into the distance and nobody could tell that he was severely heartbroken. Natsume had gone looking for Mikan everywhere he thought he could find her. He searched all of the classes they had and he searched through every Howalon shop through the town.

And yet he still wanted to believe she was out there somewhere. If only his heart would let him.

Natsume's expression remained blank and unmoving. He couldn't see or hear anything. It was like his world had just broken into a million pieces and they were much too hard to put together.

Natsume Hyuuga felt as if his entire existence was meaningless now. What was the point of living without her?

Sure, he had Luca. Luca was an amazing friend, but the attachment he felt for Mikan even though she was thousands of miles away from him all these years was stronger than any of the connections he had to anyone in his entire life. And on top the spiraling of his life downwards, he had to restart the missions for that goddamn joker Persona.

"Natsume, are you okay?"

Natsume briefly glanced up to see his best friend. "What are you doing here?"

"Class is being held in the Square today," he replied. "Narumi said something about 'observing the unobserved.'"

"Hn," he replied sadly.

"Do you know where Sakura went?"

Luca clearly noticed Natsume's flinching. Natsume's face lost a lot of its color. Luca grew worried when he replied. "I hope I don't."

"What does that mean? Is she okay?" No reply. "Natsume, you've got to tell me. She's my friend, too."

Natsume almost snapped. "She was more than that."

"Was?" Luca questioned. "What? Is she dead or something?"

With that last statement Natsume frowned visibly and bit out, "Don't ever say that, got it?"

Natsume's sudden mood change scared Luca. He decided that his friend needed to be alone, so he abruptly turned around and stalked back to his friends.

"What's wrong with Hyuuga?" Hotaru asked.

"I don't know," Luca said. "But I hope he lightens up. We're going to be here for the entire day."

. . .

Mikan was trying to break open the lock with her heel with over an hour now. It was a bit past noon. There was no sun outside, but Mikan felt it. The latch was beginning to loosen up. With one last powerful hit, the latch broke and Mikan lifted the window. Cold air hit her face. It smelled like winter and freedom.

Mikan sat on the edge of the window. The bars were still there but putting her shoes back on again, she pushed against one of the bars with all the force her strong muscled legs would let her. She was going to try and pry the bars far enough apart so that her body could fit through. The bar only had to be pried a couple of inches. She was skinny enough to fit through then.

Her legs began to feel sore after a minute of trying to bend the metal. "This is near impossible," she whispered to herself.

After a few more minutes, the bar began to move further and further apart and Mikan found herself able to slip through. With a relieved smile, she slipped through and began to climb down the building. She used the other window ledges as footholds. As she was about ten feet above ground, she jumped and landed into snow.

Mikan checked to see if she could use her alice, and after she had it confirmed she sprinted at top speed towards the dorms.

She decided. She was going to tell Natsume to run away with her. There was nothing here for them anymore. Mikan felt freezing but she didn't care. The idea of being with Natsume was warmer.

Mikan was guessing that Natsume was in class at the moment because it was still day, but once she arrived, nobody was there. The only other place they would go would be Central Town for one of Narumi's ridiculous assignments.

. . .

Natsume walked through Central Town again to cool his mind. He thought that he was just being absurd, but knowing that Mikan is dead made him realize that he was absolutely nothing without her. Life itself was absolutely meaningless. If he couldn't be with Mikan in this life, he would surely find her in the next. And that's what he was planning to do.

He started walking in the direction of the Square—towards the empty clearing he met Persona in. He was walking blindly, thinking nothing, feeling anguish. He was tortured. It was cold outside. And now she was gone. And he was alone. He used to protect himself from coming to harm because his life was just that dangerous but not now. He didn't find any need to protect himself from anything. Nothing mattered anymore.

The wind was like shards of glass hitting his face. He looked up to the grey sky. The clouds moved closer. Natsume took this as nature's way of making life on earth darker than it already was. He took a deep breath. His mind had lost direction. He wasn't sure of anything but the fact that he was ready. Wait for me, Polka, Natsume thought.

He walked into the Square at the same time he heard an angel.

"Natsume!"

Natsume turned his tired eyes up to the voice.

Mikan.

"Natsume!"

She said his name over and over again. Mikan was crying tears of joy. He's alive, she thought. He's alive! Mikan sprinted towards Natsume. Natsume's eyes were wide. Mikan jumped into his arms and kissed him full on the lips.

Natsume didn't respond to the kiss at first. He was in pure shock. The shock of his lifetime, really. Mikan was here. Kissing him. Natsume's mind shut down and found a direction. It was Mikan. He kissed her back with full force. The kiss they shared was passionate. Mikan's legs were wrapped around his waist and her arms around his neck. He held onto her tightly, never wanting to let go.

Natsume set her down gently. Mikan was crying tears of joy. This feels so right, she thought. I belong here. Natsume pulled back, breathing heavily. He kissed her forehead, her nose, her cheeks, and finally, her lips again. He leaned his forehead onto hers.

"Goddamn it, Polka," he said. "I thought you were dead."

"I'm right here," Mikan whispered, holding his face in her hands. "I'm never leaving you again."

"What about that guy of yours?"

"And you say I'm an idiot," Mikan said, sniffling. "It's you, Natsume." Natsume closed his eyes as Mikan rubbed her thumb gently on his cheek. "You."

Natsume's mind froze and everything sunk in. "You…left this Academy for me?" To say that Natsume Hyuuga was shocked would be an understatement.

Mikan avoided his gaze, "You would've died if I didn't."

Natsume's eyes showed so many emotions at once. He mouth was slightly open. His face portrayed so much affection for the girl in front of him but also anger at said girl. "Mikan Sakura. You are going to explain to me right now what the hell you've been up to these past years."

"Natsume," Mikan whispered. "We're making a scene."

Natsume stopped and looked around. The entire square was staring at the couple. They were shocked and some were blushing from the explicit make-out session that was shown to them. He spotted Luca's face and he was beet red. Mikan saw Hotaru's face—she was shaking her head, probably thinking, Morons. And just as quick, Mikan found Ivan and Isabella's faces. Isabella was worried, as always. Ivan was smirking, actually. Mikan shrugged in a 'what can I do? I'm in love' sort of way.

Mikan took Natsume's hand in hers and shut her eyes tight. A white glow surrounded them and they both appeared in the room that they were in yesterday. Natsume's.

Natsume turned to face her. "Okay now tell me."

Mikan sighed, "There are…consequences, restrictions."

"And what are they?"

"If I told you, you might get hurt," she said. "I don't even know if my contract is still on or not. I don't want to risk your life and my own."

"I have a feeling we're already risking our lives," Natsume said. He dragged her to the couch and they sat down.

Mikan looked into his eyes and realized that he needed to know the truth. "Okay." Natsume seemed to relax. "I was in London, Natsume." Mikan took a deep breath and began her long explanation. "I was training. I actually had the Steal, Erase, and Copy alice. I stole a lot of alices. Some better than others when I was on missions."

"How bad were the missions?"

Mikan ignored this. She didn't want to make him turn into a scary demon. "I was in the Dangerous Ability Class at Alice Academy. You see, only the most dangerous alices trained there." Mikan glanced at Natsume. "It wasn't easy. I actually made a…deal…"

"A deal?"

Mikan avoided eye contact. "Yes. A deal."

Natsume's eyes narrowed, "What was this deal?"

Mikan sighed and tightly grasped his hands in her own. "I told Persona that I would take your place in your missions. In exchange for your freedom and safety, I've reduced myself to this."

Natsume was silent. He was trying to comprehend what he just heard. Take his place? Natsume fumed, "You mean you were protecting me this whole time?" He was yelling now. Mikan flinched. "All of the missions that I was supposed to go on, you took my place?" Natsume was standing now.

"Natsume, calm down—"

"I'm not going to calm down!" he yelled. "What if you were killed?" Then it hit him. "All those times you showed up damaged to class—you were doing it for me?" Mikan slowly nodded. Natsume threw his hands up into the air. "Why the hell didn't I see this?"

Mikan sighed and stood up next to him. She brushed his hair out of his eyes. He calmed down considerably. "Natsume, can I say something?"

"What?" he bit out.

"I'm in love with you."

Natsume's expression changed so fast, you wouldn't tell that he was furious two seconds ago, "Hn."

Mikan pouted, "I'm beginning to wonder what 'hn' means." She was smiling because in this case it meant only one thing—

I love you too.

"Why'd you do it?"

Mikan frowned, "I didn't want you to die."

Natsume's jaw clenched. "And what if I told you I didn't give a crap?"

"Then I'd question your sanity."

"What if I had none?"

"You'd be insane."

"And if I am?"

"Then you would kiss me senseless right now."

Natsume smirked and obliged. He led them to his bedroom and tackled her down. She laughed and her broken heart was beginning to fix itself. The same could be said for Natsume. Mikan wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tight.

"Tell me you'll stay," Natsume said, breathing in the scent of her. "Forever."

"I'm yours," Mikan said. "I'll have to stay. There's no goodbye."

Natsume smiled, "It's just you and I tonight."

"You and I," Mikan repeated. "Let's keep it that way."

"We have to," Natsume said, smiling. "We fit together perfectly." He leaned down and kissed her forehead. He hugged her tight. "Don't ever do something as stupid as that again."

"I probably will."

Natsume chuckled, "You're probably right." He was serous now. "Just don't ever leave me."

Mikan smiled sadly, "I promise I won't."

And to say that night was amazing would be a complete understatement.

. . .

Natsume woke up the next morning to find the girl of his dreams sleeping soundly with her back against his chest. He traced a circle on her bare shoulder and then moved her hair out of her face. She was completely gorgeous.

He wanted time to freeze. He wanted to remain in this content state for the rest of his life. He wanted to run away from everything. He wanted to run away with her. And he would tell her that when she woke up. But for now, he would just relax and enjoy the moment.

Little did he know that night changed his life forever in more ways than one.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. It's been a little under a year since I've updated. A long time. Forgive me.

I know this chapter's weird. It has a lot of different moods set into one. I've actually written this chapter about four times. This is the final product. If you're confused, just feel free to PM me or ask me in a review.

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