Mikan

A new day started at Alice Academy as the sun beat down relentlessly on every part of the large academy; from the elementary branch to the high school branch, every inch was covered in sun.

Yawning, Sakura Mikan sat up in her bed and looked around, blinking her eyes several times to clear the sleep.

She stretched her arms above her head and looked at the clock on her bedside table. Her eyes grew wide and she all but fell out of her bed, tripping on her sheets.

"It's nine fifteen!" She squealed. Class started in fifteen minutes! She raced to her drawers, yanked open the bottom one and grabbed her school uniform. Once she'd pulled it on, she hurriedly brushed her hair and tied it back into pigtails, a look she'd had since forever.

Opening the door, she ran straight into Natsume.

"Hi, babe." He smiled, kissing her cheek. She didn't have time for this. She grabbed his hand and dragged them down the stairs.

"Sorry but we're going to be late!" She pulled him down the halls of the high school branch and into their classroom. Looking at the clock, she realized she had five minutes to spare.

"Made it!" She declared, a little out of breath. They sat down at their desk and Mikan left her hands in his.

"Sorry I didn't really say good morning. I was scared we were going to be late." She smiled, leaning her head on his shoulder.

"It's okay, you've always been one to sleep in. Rather, I expected it." She turned her head up to look at him and pouted.

"Meanie." He looked down at her and smiled. "Don't pout, darling." He said, leaning down to give her a short sweet kiss.

"Uh, really? You two are just so lovey-dovey so early in the morning." They looked up to see Ruka and Hotaru sit in front of them. Mikan giggled and wrapped an arm around Natsume's shoulder.

"Why is that so bad? You two aren't that far off our level." She smiled. Ruka and Hotaru looked at each other and Ruka blushed, shaking his head.

"No, we're way off from your level. You guys are all over each other twenty-four-seven." He pointed out.

"No we're not." Natsume countered.

"Fine, take your hands off each other and don't touch each other all through this class."

"Deal."

"Wait, wait, wait. I get a kiss first if we're accepting this." Mikan put her hands up. Ruka shrugged.

"Fine, hurry up." Mikan smiled triumphantly and wrapped her arms around Natsume's neck, pulling him towards her and locking her lips with his. It lasted for a few blissful moments before Ruka cleared his throat and Mikan reluctantly pulled away.

"Let the challenge begin love birds." Ruka smiled and turned back in his seat. Secretly, whilst looking away from each other, Natsume and Mikan touched their thighs together. Surely he wouldn't notice that. But not a moment later, Ruka turned around and glared at them. Mikan raised her hands protectively.

"Class hasn't started," She stated. "Not until the teacher gets here." Ruka sighed.

"Fine." He muttered, turning back to face the board. Mikan and Natsume looked at each other and grinned, their legs no longer touching.

"Actually, Ruka," Mikan said, tapping his back. "What's in it for us?" She asked smiling. Ruka thought about it and a light bulb seemed to click in his head.

"I'll buy you ten boxes of howalon."

"Deal!" Mikan nearly screamed. Ruka smiled and Natsume snickered.

"Mikan, you're so cheap, we could've got something more, I don't know, useful." Natsume said, leaning back in his side of the seat. Mikan swung her head around and poked her tongue out at him, raising her hand to bat at his chest.

"Uh, uh," Natsume said, even though his eyes were closed. "You'll lose you howalon, princess."

And with that, Mikan's hand fell to her side almost immediately.

"Meanies." She pouted as the teacher walked into the room.

The deal was on.

As hard as it was, Mikan managed to keep her hands off Natsume and as promised, Ruka delivered ten boxes of howalon later that afternoon.

"Thanks, Ruka." She smiled, shutting the door behind him. As she set the howalon down on her dresser, she looked at her clock. Five minutes till dinner.

"May as well go now." She said, changing out of her school uniform and putting on a pair of black jeans and a pink halter top, letting her hair loose. She opened her door and made her way down to the dining hall where she sat beside Hotaru.

"Looks like there might be a thunderstorm tonight." Hotaru said halfway through dinner.

This piqued Mikan's interest. Natsume hated thunderstorms. Giggling to herself, the rest of her friends watched her curiously.

"What's wrong, Mikan?" Ruka asked and Mikan waved it away.

"Nothing, nothing."

Finishing her dinner took longer than expected as she got caught up talking to everyone for so long that by the time she was done, the sky was dark and the storm was rolling in as Hotaru had mentioned earlier. Once she'd locked her bedroom door, Mikan changed into her nightgown and walked over to her sliding door that led out onto the balcony. She clicked the lock and left the curtains open, hopping into her bed.

The thunder cackled and lightning flew across the sky as Mikan tried to get to sleep. But just before she drifted off to sleep, she heard her sliding door open. I knew it. Instead of locking the sliding door that night, she had actually unlocked it, allowing the figure that now stood in her room a way to get in. Opening her eyes, she stretched her hands out and smiled at the figure.

"Come here." She whispered. Natsume made his way to her bed, kicked off his shoes and took of his shirt that was drenched before slipping in beside her, holding her tightly in the barricade of his arms.

"You are such a scaredy cat." Mikan giggled, kissing his hair.

"This is the one thing I can't stand, you have plenty." He replied, looking at her with scared eyes.

She gave him a soft smile and kissed his nose.

"Well then, what can I do for you?" She asked, pressing her forehead against his.

"Just hold me." He whispered. Giving him a small yet loving kiss, Mikan wrapped her arms around his waist and held him close to her.

"I love you." She murmured against his hair.

"I love you too."