Yay! Sorry for the late update!! A lot of circumstances happened… but anyway thanks to those who are continuously supporting my first fanfic..

Disclaimer: I do not own Gakuen Alice ( how I wish but never..ouch!)

I forgot to put this in the first chapter. :D

After that dire situation, she decided to trudge her way to her room. Yuka was currently there..waiting for her.

" So, Mikan-chan.. you and Natsume had an encounter with Persona, right? How was it?" she inquired her gently while combing her hair reaching below her shoulders but not that long.

Mikan was out of words. She didn't know if she would lie or not. Lie because it was bad…it wasn't what it was supposed to be ..it wasn't what is to be expected of her. Not to lie since Yuka is still her mother..no need to lie..and because there's nothing wrong..not that much..so why need to be scared of the truth.

And so she faced it.

" Uhm..fine..but we were not able to accomplish it mom..sorry..for the 35th time.. we're still unable to do that..because of…me," she just whispered the last word..She was really ashamed of herself. Yeah..that is the effect of Natsume's words..they are on the process of undermining Mikan's positive thinking.

Yuka wasn't sure that time what kind of feeling was she supposed to allow to dominate: the feeling of guilt since she knew very well that Mikan was not really convinced to do the mission, the feeling of sadness since she couldn't stand seeing Mikan being gloomy when she knows that her daughter is really cheerful, optimistic or the feeling of gladness because this only means that Natsume and Mikan would have more time to spend together and the chance of them being friends and eventually ending up together is becoming greater.

And she had more emotions that time but incapable of realizing the reasons of each emotion..Anyway..

" Iie, it's ok.. you have plenty of time, don't worry,"

Now you see.. she let the feeling of gladness to dominate.

As for Mikan,

" Oh..i know I don't need to worry..as long as Natsume is here,"

Then she screamed and quickly covered her mouth. She was unsure that time if she had spoken those words or she was just forming them in her mind..

"Hell, where did those words come?"

"Mikan,. What's wrong? Are you sick?" she asked worriedly and curiously. Nice combination.

Now Mikan knows, the words were just a fruit of her lunatic brain that time after being drenched in loneliness and disappointment. Nice to know.

With that, Mikan could just smile.. shortly.

" Nothing, mom.. I just feel like screaming suddenly," and then she chuckled.

Yuka was now relieved to see that Mikan has started recovering after that time of frustration.

Next day had come. .uncontrollably. .of course.

" Ohayou,. Minna! Hotaru, Ruka!!" she greeted like there is no tomorrow that she had to exert her best effort to greet them very nicely and jolly.

" Don't be so loud," her best friend answered apathetically.

" Oh, Ohayou, Sakura," Ruka greeted back with the gentlest smile.

Now, our fire-caster was annoyed by what was happening, by what was the ambience of the first scene of his day.. and irritated by the greetings of Mikan, know why? because she didn't even bother to greet him. He is her partner, for hell sake. That time, he wanted to stand and tell her again that he is her partner and that he is there.. he's not absent for the 5th time.

He waited impatiently but it never came.

" How could you say that so easily? It's not even good," he stated as a matter-of-fact.

" I did not greet you so don't answer back. We're not even close!" she retorted with pride.

Ok. Now she was really getting into his nerves.. any minute he could char her hair..all of it.. How the hell can she say that they're not close? Does she have any proof? He hopes none. Oh., why the heck does he care? Never in his life did he wish to be close with someone anyway..

All he could do was to glare at her.

Mikan, as indignant as she is, also glared at him.

And lightning sparked.

" Don't you dare, Ichigo-kara,"

Mikan stood there half-dead, how the heck was he able to see it?

" Na..na..natsume!!" she shrieked..flushing.

"Hn," thanks for his somewhat psychic mind, actually he never had the chance to peek at her since there was no wind passing by that time, so he could just guess.. and he was right.

He's indeed a precocious guy.

If Mikan is now in the mood of being in good spirits, Natsume is in the mood of getting pissed off.

After class, yeah..after class cause this time he didn't ditch, he eagerly went to his Mom's room.

" Mom, can we talk?" he asked casually.

" Oh,, Natsume you're here, good.. any improvement about the mission?" ignoring what Natsume wanted. She knew very well that Natsume would again insist her on stopping the hell mission.

Natsume took this opportunity.. anyway.. even though they're proposing two different topics, it would still lead to what he wanted. It would still be his win.

" What can you expect? With Polka-dots, there will never be an improvement even the slightest. Can we just stop this nonsense, mom? I can stay away from her, if you want, just to cease from arguing. I can do the mission by myself, she's just a complete hindrance," he reasoned out.

For the second time now, Mikan was the reason on why he had said that kilometric line.

Kaoru used that time to think.. at least she needed to pretend that she was thinking over the decision Yuka and she made.. for Natsume's sake.

" Well, let me think about it," she replied calmly.

This somehow ignited a flame of hope inside Natsume.

" Nice to hear, mom,"

As when he was about to walk away, turning the knob of their front door. Kaoru was ready to respond.. after thinking..no she didn't even think.. not even a bit.

" Stay with her!!" she said with her sparkling eyes.

And this extinguished the small flame of hope. Tch.

" Oh..crap," he sighed and continued leaving, slamming the door shut. Shut… like he no longer have any intention of going back to that room.

Peeved of what had just happened, he slogged his way to his favorite spot, the Sakura tree. He rested there for awhile, enjoying the setting under the arms of the tree, feeling the cool breeze caressing his cheeks and the falling Sakura petals tickling his skin. Such an atmosphere invited him to take a nap, to somehow forget all what happened that day.. though it was still exactly 1 pm. He was about to close his eyes when…

" Natsume.." now,, heck.. he knew that voice. Can he just pretend he's sleeping? No, he can't.. for a reason he's still trying to figure out.

" Hn. Why are you here?" he asked her cheesed off.

" I want to talk to you," she just spoke plainly.

" So, we're not close, huh? Now, who's starting a conversation here, polka?"

With that thought, he could just smirk.

" Tch. What stupid thing are you going to do next?" he sent a deadly aura to her.

" I'm thinking if you want to build a plan," with her voice radiating hope and… I think.. that was hopelessness. What an irony!

" For what?" confused of what she was saying. If she wants to build a plan then why does he need to be involved? The hell he cares!!

" For capturing Persona," she said playing with her fingers. She couldn't face Natsume. She was blushing hard.. just because she was really diffident about what she was thinking.

So, now he knows. What on earth?

" You think that would work, huh? Well go on, think for yourself. Don't involve me. I don't need that," as he deduced, a conversation with Polka would always be nonsense.

And so, he started to walk away.

" Natsume, can't you just cooperate? If you're sick of this mission.. well..hell, I'm more sick of it! If you hate to be my partner then why don't we finish this as soon as possible? Isn't that what you want?" she told him in a straightforward tone.

Anyway, that's the fact. They're both sick of it. Natsume hates her. What else?

Finally, this line managed to prick Natsume's mind and heart. What polka said is definitely true. He didn't know Polka could be this real.. real in words.

They're both sick of it. He hates to be her partner. Still, it doesn't mean he hates her. Or does it?

He thought for awhile.

" Hn. For once, I've seen you making sense polka, but we don't need a plan," he replied surprisingly.

" Eh?" she was stunned.. jaw-dropped.

" All we have to do.. no.. you ..just have to use your brain.. so that you won't repeat your thoughtless action like that," he continued.. twitting her.

" But.."

" And be careful.. know how to protect yourself. You could die at any moment if you're attacking him like that, I hope you can understand that with that very simple brain of yours.,Polka," he ordered her.. like he is her boss.. but I think warn is the more apt term. He warned her because he's concern. Really? He still doesn't know.

" You're getting out of the topic," she snapped missing the hint of concern in Natsume's words and message.

" Whatever. Now, can you just go and leave me? I need a peace of mind. I still have 10 hours to enjoy, don't spoil it," tantalizing her.

" Mou.. Natsume!! Do whatever you want to do, jerk!! You know, you've just ruined mine! Hell.. I shouldn't have talked to you!" she pouted.

" Hn. Nice to hear," he simpered.

She shuddered in anger, completely losing her sense of calmness if she did have any. Swoosh.. she made her way away from Natsume. She swore.. she would never get close to Natsume again.. for that day.

" Ne, Kaoru, do you think those two will be fine together?" Yuka inquired Kaoru while folding some of her clothes. They were in her room.

" Oh, yes, lately.. Natsume asked me to stop this "nonsense" thing as he quoted it. I think they can't really get along with each other," she imparted her while she also folded some of Yuka's clothes.

" Yes, even this mission can't do a thing. It seems like each day, their situation is becoming worse and worse," Yuka shared her thoughts, losing hope.

" Thought of giving up?" Kaoru asked worriedly.

" Never! Let's try to think some better plans," she said with burning spirit. Oh.. she's really the mother of Mikan.

At that night, Mikan couldn't sleep. She was trying to conceptualize a plan. She was really fervent to prove to Natsume that it will make a difference.. even an iota. After squeezing her brain tight, she decided to take a walk in the woods. Anyway, post lights were lit so there was no reason to be scared of ghosts or any entity. And she believed she was already grown-up so she shouldn't be having those childish fears. And she wanted to be strong.. enough.. that she can no longer be called the worst.

When she was already in an unfamiliar place.. where bushes reign…

Someone spoke. She knew it.

There!! !! .. I really need some inspirations..!! and I'm open for suggestions..thank you!!