Disclaimer: i don't own Gakuen Alice/ Alice Academy

Author's note: Thank you for reading and reviewing. i don't know all the birthdays of the characters so i just made up the others. Hope you like it.

Chapter 13

Night….

Mikan stayed awake on her bed while thinking of what she's gonna do tomorrow. We're going shopping tomorrow. I wonder if I will be able to find the right gifts. Let's see, I need to buy a gift for Tono, Hotaru, Ruka, Natsume, Youichi's b-day, and hmm, come to think of it I don't know when's Natsume's b-day. I've never seen him celebrate. I'll just ask tomorrow. Mikan continued thinking of the people that she needed to buy some present until she fall asleep.

Mikan woke just the right time for her to prepare for their shopping trip. It's going to be a long day. She guessed. It's 8 am now and she's all ready. She walked out her door and went straight to the bus stop. She's not late of course but there are already students there waiting for the bus, and waiting for her.

"Hi, guys!" she waved her hand while walking towards the others.

"Hi, Mikan" Itsuki greeted her first since his in front.

"you're gonna help me do my shopping, right?" Mikan asked Itsuki.

"Sure, as long as you'll help me, too" Itsuki answered back.

While waiting for the bus, the others just watched Mikan while she was chatting with Itsuki. One the bus arrived they all boarded with the same person beside them like always; Mikan with Hotaru, Itsuki with Kaoru, Yuu with Sumire, Anna, with Nonoko, and of course Natsume with Ruka and Youichi.

"Mikan, is Itsuki courting you?" Hotaru asked straight while they where traveling.

Mikan was surprised with the question but she manage to answer "No, he's not"

"then why are you two always together?"

"Because we're on the same class and you guys are to busy that we can't hang around much together"

"Is that all, then what about Ruka?"

"How did you know about that?" Mikan asked though she had a clue where she might have heard it.

"Ruka told me"

"Did he tell you the whole story?"

"Yes. But I want to hear it from you"

"Fine. He told me he likes me. It was an uncomfortable situation for the both of us when we talked just the other day we cleared things up for the both of us. I made clear with him that even though I like him the same way he does, there is someone I like more." She everything she could tell her best friend.

"and that's Natsume" there was anger in her voice.

"Yes" she answered without looking in her friends eyes.

"You're so stupid, you know that. You don't know who's best for you" Hotaru's really irritated.

Mikan was about to say something but the bus stopped and Hotaru walked out before her. She walked out the bus and stood there for s while sighing. "Did you two fight?" she someone asked behind her.

She looked back and though a little surprise to see who it was she answered "just a misunderstanding"

"She looked really pissed" Natsume added.

"I'll just talk to her later, I'll let her cool down first. Anyway where will you be going?"

"just look around, I need to find gift for Youichi"

"oh yeah, now that you mention it, can I ask you a question?"

"You already did, why ask permission now?"

"When is your b-day? I've never seen you celebrate ever since I arrived here" she asked curiously.

Natsume was surprised with that sudden question. Only Ruka knows when is his birthday. "I'm not the type who celebrate birthdays" he answered with no emotion at all.

"You celebrate other peoples birthday but you don't celebrate yours? Just tell me your birthday, please" Mikan begged while smiling at him.

Natsume blushed, not obvious though, when he saw Mikan smiled at him just tell her you wanted to tell her anyway, why stop yourself his mind was saying. "November 27" it just came out from his mouth.

"What? It already passed. Why did you tell me that only now?"

"Because you never asked. Don't tell anyone else about it." He commanded. "Where are you going anyway?" now he's the curious one.

"Itsuki and I need to look for something. It's for our class and I promised I'd help him shop."

Natsume sighed shaking his head. "I just told you to be careful with him and now you're gonna hang out him alone"

"I'm being careful" she said smiling.

Their conversation ended with Mikan's words. When they turned their look out of each other they saw their classmates and friends were looking at them with some weird look.

"Did we talk that long?" Mikan asked Natsume.

"Maybe"

After that they head to their companions.

"Are you coming with us Mikan?" Yuu asked her.

"No, I need to go find something with Itsuki, it's for our class"

"Is that so? We'll just see you later then."

"Yeah"

Mikan went with Itsuki just like she said. "Where do we go first?" She asked Itsuki.

"It's up to you, where do you wanna go first?" Itsuki turned to her.

"I don't really know." She said.

"I guess that means we just need to go around until we find the right stuff" Itsuki said smiling.

"I guess that's it" she smiled back.

They walk side by side, entered every store with interesting stuffs. They've already bought gifts stuffs that they need for their gifts but it's not complete though. It's time for lunch and their not done yet. Mikan received a call from the others and they say that they already finished doing their shopping and are heading back. She said that their not quite done yet and need to stay for a while, and so the others headed back without them.

Itsuki looked for a nice place to eat while Mikan was talking on her phone. When he saw Mikan is done, he walked to her and take her to the place he picked. Itsuki chose a simple yet cozy restaurant, Mikan liked the place so she didn't argue. They both ordered pasta and a fruit salad for dessert.

While they were eating Itsuki suddenly asked an out of the blue question. "What did you like about him?" Itsuki raise his head to look for her reaction.

Mikan didn't quite catch that question "What did you say?" she looked at him.

"I said what do you like about Natsume?" he rephrased his question. Mikan choke upon hearing him. "If you don't want to answer that's fine with me it's none of my business anyway" then he get back to his food.

"I don't know" she said. Itsuki looked at her again. "I like him but I don't know why" she said seriously.

"sorry for asking, I just got curious"

After they were done eating they asked for the chit. Mikan was handing her supposedly share but Itsuki didn't accept it.

"I'm the guy so let me pay for it" he said to her pushing her hands with her money.

"But…."

"No buts, please" he said. Mikan gave up and let Itsuki pay for their meal. Itsuki opened the door for Sakura.

"thank you" she smiled at him.

"You're very much welcome" he smiled back. When they were finally out of the restaurant, they saw someone and guess who it was….. Natsume.

Flashback…

It didn't took much time before Natsume could find the perfect gift for Youichi. Like always after he finished what he wanted he went back to the bus stop and read the manga he just bought. Before it reached lunch time he saw the others heading his way including Ruka and Youichi. He didn't have the gift for Youichi with him he just made a reservation at the shop, he doesn't want anyone to see it. While looking at the others heading his way he noticed someone missing.

"Where are the others?" he asked Ruka, though the others heard it as well.

"You mean Mikan and Itsuki?" Ruka asked back. Natsume didn't answer but he is giving Ruka a warning look.

"She said their not done yet and have to stay for a while" Kaoru answered him with an irritated tone. She sure hate it when Itsuki hang out with Mikan while she can't hang out with Natsume because of Mikan.

The bus arrived just in time. Everyone boarded or so they thought. They were already on their way back when Ruka noticed Natsume was missing.

Worried or jealous? Ruka asked himself, but the question was for Natsume.

Natsume on the other hand was walking all around central town looking for the two. "Damn that girl, I just told her to be careful" his starting to get pissed. He took out his phone and was about to call her when he remembered "Darn, I don't know her number" he was standing outside one of the restaurant thinking where to look next when he someone walked out of the restaurant.

End of flashback…

"Natsume!" Mikan called for him and ran towards him. "You're still here?" She asked.

"Isn't that obvious?"

"I was just asking." They were talking when Itsuki approached them.

"hey man" Itsuki said to Natsume. Natsume just not as a response.

Mikan can feel the tension between the two. She need to do something and fast "have you found a gift for Youichi?" she asked Natsume.

"Not yet" Natsume turned to her.

"Good, then you can come with us and look" she smiled at him sweetly. "It's fine right, Itsuki?" Mikan looked at Itsuki this time with the same smile.

Who could refuse you with that smile? Itsuki and Natsume's thought were the same.

"Sure" Itsuki answered.

"Great. Now let's go" Mikan held both guys in their hands. She didn't even wait for Natsume's answer.

How did I get myself in this situation. Natsume is puzzled with his own actions.

Everyone they passed by are looking at them. Who wouldn't? Natsume is pretty well known to everyone while Itsuki though he's just new here, his getting popular as well with his looks and now they're being drag down by a girl. It's already three in the afternoon. They've gone to so many stores already. Finally they stopped in a stuffed toy store. Mikan entered so the two boys have no has no choice but to enter as well.

They just watch Mikan having fun with stuffed toys. There are different sizes and everyone can do something especial. There are those who greets people, there are those who can clean, they were like Kaname's stuffed animals just a little different, because Kaname's has feelings.

The two just follow Mikan's every moved and smiling deep inside. "It's nice to watch this way, isn't it?" Itsuki suddenly asked Natsume but he's still looking at Mikan.

"what's that to you?" he asked back without looking at him either.

"I like her" he said straight.

"You're not playing her, are you?" he's starting to heat up.

"No I'm not. I'm serious about her"

"Leave her alone" he ordered him.

"I'm not taking orders from you. Who are you to say that anyway?"

"I won't let her go to someone like you"

"who are you her father, you're not even her boyfriend so you don't have the right to tell me to stay away from her. She can be my girlfriend for all you care" he is really trying to provoke Natsume.

"she won't like you anyway" Natsume said plainly.

"why? Because she likes you. Don't be too confident because right now, we stand on the same ground. I can make her like me in no time. You see girls fall on my charms so easily, she's no different" Itsuki said boasting.

Natsume got irritated with his last words "she's different" he said in a very strong tone then walked to Mikan who is now in the counter paying for her choice.

Itsuki was left speechless. He stood there for a while. Damn, I know she's different that's the reason why I like her. Why did I say that? Darn it. Itsuki continued cursing himself when he heard Mikan called him.

"Hey Itsuki, lets go"

He walked towards then with an irritated look

What happened here? Mikan asked though not out loud. She noticed that the two are back to their serious mood and now every time they look at each other they seem to measure each others strengths, but her thoughts were cut out…

"Why do you have to buy that? You can but something that already made, it's much better since they can do something and their well made." Natsume asked her.

Mikan frowned for a moment then stick her tongue out. "I want to do it myself"

"You don't have enough time, and could you even knit"

"I'm a girl, of course I can knit"

"Well it's your choice"

"you're to tell me that, have you decided what to give Youichi?"

"Yes, and I'll just come back for it"

"Why not buy it now?"

"I don't want you see it that's why"

Itsuki don't know how to enter their conversation so he just listened.

They were walking back to the bus stop when something caught Mikan's eyes. She saw this silver charm bracelet. She stopped to look at it more carefully. It only has few charms in it but it still look nice. Beside the bracelet are other charms, there a lot to choose from. Wow it looks really nice, I want to buy it she was about to buy it but… but then again I don't really need it.

"hey is there something wrong?" the two boys walked back to her. They didn't noticed that she stopped so they continued walking until they finally noticed the silence and that's when they found out that Mikan is missing. They looked back and saw her standing in one of the stores.

"Uhm, nothing" she said when the two were back beside her. Let's just go. She can buy it if she want. But for she's not use to accessories anyway that's why she decided not to buy it.

They reached the bus stop the same time the bus got there. The two boys are walking ahead of Mikan but when they reached the bus they stopped at the door and let Mikan in first. (What a gentlemen) since there are three of them an the seats are for two persons only they decided to sit at the back. Mikan is in the middle of course. While on their way back there is an awkward silence inside the bus. They are not the only passengers but the other passengers are busy looking at their direction rather than talking to each other. When they got to their destination no one walked out of the bus until the three of them got out first.

It's a fifteen minutes walk from the bus stop to the dormitory. They walked together but for some reason no one dared to talk. It's only five so there are still students outside playing in the snow and some are just strolling around. They are in the same dormitory but in different floors. Mikan on third, Natsume on fourth and Itsuki on second, it's not according to stars but according to the rooms. Itsuki and Mikan are both three star but in different floors as for Natsume well everyone know he's special. They reached the second floor but Itsuki didn't stop he continued walking with them. When they reached third floor both Natsume and Itsuki accompanied Mikan to her room.

Mikan opened the door with her keys but before she entered she faced the two boys. "Thanks for the company" she smiled then bowed. When she lifted her head she added "I really enjoyed the day. I hope you did too" she didn't wait for any reply but when she was about to close her door…

"See you at dinner" the two said in unison again. Mikan smiled then closed her door completely.

"I'll definitely make her like" Itsuki uttered after Mikan closed her door.

"You don't stand a chance" with a smirk on his face.

"Say that if she's yours, and even if she is I'll still make her mine" he's very confident then he head back for his room.

Now it's Natsume who's left speechless but he's definitely pissed off with that guy. But his right, she's not mine.