Sorry again for the late update..classes have just started so I need to focus first on my studies but I'm not abandoning my stories, I'll finish them as much as I could as soon as possible. But they would be updated once a month supposedly twice..but I have to divide my time between them..still..please..keep on supporting..thank you!

After having the thought, Natsume proceeded to his seat only to find Ruka there at his side..of course someone is missing, Mikan herself. He tried to deviate his attention from Mikan's unusual attitude. Why hell bother? It is not as if he were in an intricate situation. It's only about Mikan..nothing much.

Mikan's condition was also unreadable..all her feelings and expression she used to plaster in her face were now completely sealed. She just sat there staring by the window..with her eyes quite lolled..like feeling somnolent..wistful. Hotaru wanted to inquire if there was anything that is supposed to be out of place in Mikan's life. But she remained quiet, she had to give enough time for Mikan to think.

Narumi then entered the room and sauntered infront of the class. He paced back and forth, chin-up with his school attendance sheet on his side. Oh.. well..he just had that habit of modeling first before greeting his class. Anyway, he expected them to miss him a lot since he was not always there to be their homeroom techer..remember, he has his substitute. Hearing an eerie silence, like everybody was distraught to see him there, (except the background effects of the crickets, which he wasn't sure if they were glad to see him) he faced them with a wide smile and there his own eyes were exposed only to see the whole class staring intently at him with black clouds forming above their heads. But someone made a difference..Mikan who was still unaware of Narumi's presence. And then he recalled something.

Suddenly, Mikan reluctantly shifted her gaze towards the front and found Narumi. She managed to smile a bit and then she stood limply and whispered something to Narumi. Narumi just nodded slightly agreeing with what Mikan was saying.

After that, she went back to her seat. The class was waiting for any reaction or announcement.

" Okay, uhm.. Yui-san, sorry for the bother but I'm jut requesting if you could move over there, to Anna-san's place. Thank you!" Narumi ordered her gently and then he winked, somewhat using his Human Pheromone Alice.

Poor little girl could just obey him.

" Ha-hai! Sensei!"

Narumi continued," Hotaru-san, from now on, Mikan-chan will be your seatmate and also her partner," and then he tittered.

Natsume was soused into the pool of consternation.

"What ?"

Hotaru was neither happy nor sad. Perhaps, the unmentioned feeling between those two. Who wouldn't be happy to know that you'll already be sitting with your best friend? That will contribute to their close bond. On the other hand, who wouldn't be sad to know that something miserable is already going on yet you don't know a thing? That will change everything.

"So, now, Mikan, what's wrong and I still need to be involved?" she finally broke her silence and asked tersely though the emotion was not clear..plain voice was used.

Mikan didn't give any verbal reply. She meekly shook her head suggesting there wasn't something wrong. She should have expected this. She knew Hotaru wouldn't want this unless she would have Hotaru's permission. But really Hotaru didn't have to be drawn in her situation with Natsume. She knew nothing aside from the truth that Natsume and she are partners..no..were partners. And Hotaru's sharp, right? How about if she questions her and forces her to admit the truth that she's already feeling the vestiges of the rejection she's feeling from Natsume?..the hell pain? What's next?

Arggh..no one can help..nothing can be of help..because that is her own problem..the problem she never made..still she is suffering from it. She doesn't deserve 's not worth it. Can she not reflect it back to Natsume? Perhaps, in her dreams, Natsume never cared for her..anyway.

Gosh, why does she have to bleed that way?

She felt like she wanted to cry. But she's strong, she knows that..it's just that..her strength is not constant.

Good thing, Narumi caught her. He was the one who responded.

" Ah, Hotaru-san..don't worry I just decided it, I mean you know I would love it to see you girls bonding together since you are best friends, right? She has nothing to do with this, she simply reminded me because I asked her. I've got memory gap these days," he explained clearly without even thinking those words that came out from his mouth. He shouldn't show any sign of tailing off. He had to be careful when conversing with Hotaru. Know why? Because what he had just said was a complete lie.

Hotaru, however, didn't believe it. It was very suspicious. Still she pretended to succumb. Of course to acquire information later on.

" Oh well, what can I do?" she shrugged.

Now, Natsume wasn't getting any point. Ok..Mikan is mad at him or what..but is that so serious that even that thin connection should be broken by her? He could still accept if she would only be ignoring him as long as she is there because he knows..that would never last for so long. But now..without Mikan by his side..being not her partner anymore..there's no more to expect. Is there any solution? Hell, should he even do a move?

And worse, why should he care? That's her life..he shouldn't mess with her life.

Yet he couldn't control himself, he must do a move, he must fix everything.

It was imperative to ask her personally.

Classes ensued with Mikan being down to the dumps making the atmosphere very heavy. Every body could notice it even Jinno-sensei. And so he intended to at least made a crack to Mikan's silence. He intended this to be a hoax actually. He's still a teacher and being one means that he should care for his student's sake. He does care about them especially now for Mikan. He's rude and strict but he has his soft heart, too. And that's what everyone should know about him.

" Sakura, answer this! I know you've been hospitalized but that's not an excuse!" he berated her..though it was all pretense.

He missed Mikan's fidgeting whenever he asked her to answer his tricky math Questions.

But he expected too much for Mikan stood without any moan of panicking, she simply went there in front. As usual, she didn't really know the answer and stood there for two minutes, staring at the board..holding the chalk that was merely breaking to half.

Jinno continued his pretense.

" If you don't know the answer then you should have just told me! We're wasting time!" he told him curtly expecting her to cry or what..to panic..to comment..to react..Geez..to have her voice out!

With that, he swayed and flung his stick directing it to Mikan..not having the intention of any offense. But electric wave came out and hit Mikan's elbow as she was already going back to her new seat. For the first time, Mikan's own nullifying alice nullified itself. Jinno was taken aback..it shouldn't result this way.

With that, Mika jolted, she tripped down, clutching the affected area..still she decided not to give a yelp..not wanting to bother her classmates even for a tick. But with her classmates' great concern of her, they approached her fast..except for Natsume. He wanted to but he deemed that Mikan could be in much pain if he were to show there..so he quietly remained sitting, still wishing her to be all right.

That caught the attention of Ruka. He knew Natsume is deeply cold but when it comes to Sakura..he usually has somersault. After all, Natsume can't really hide his concern for Mikan. Note that, even your worst enemy would also be in a state of great disturbance if something happens to you. And that exemplifies Natsume's reason for being concern about Mikan. Because she is his partner yet enemy. No more.

Hotaru glared at Jinno. How could she show some respect for this teacher when he had just hurt her precious best friend?

" Sensei..you shouldn't be doing that..you know..she's still recovering!" at least she managed to utter the word..Sensei.

And now Jinno was trapped in words. How should he explain? Admit his mistake?

" Ah..i didn't mean that..my stick..it..," faltering to speak another word for it might intensify the anger of Hotaru.

Yet he tried to regain his calmness and well..pride.

" However, she should have tried to nullify it, what's the point of being a nullifier?" he said in a bit stern voice.

And Hotaru could just stop talking. She knew she shouldn't be wasting time having words with this teacher who didn't even understand a thing about Mikan's condition that time. She then turned around and kneeled to see how Mikan was doing. And she could see..immense pain was evident in her pallid face.

Almost all of her classmates were asking her if she was fine. It was hard for them to discern what she was feeling since she was not shedding any tears. Was she even hurt? Or could she have nullified it? But still, they were worried.

Feeling the heavy atmosphere engulfing the whole area, Jinno decided to approach her, thinking if he could something to amend his mistake. He needed not to deny it. He is a teacher, Mikan is his student. So, he has the responsibility to be worried of her.

However, he just had to own it up in a play-safe way.

" Sakura, want me to bring you to the clinic? Geez, next time..you should be more alert. Make good use of your alice," and there he stated it as outright as he is. His firm voice mingled with his concern of Mikan…and it was a success.

Mikan smiled recognizing something..the feeling of concern glowing from his teacher whom she had thought of being harsh to her until the day she graduates.

And then she gave a quick reply.

" Ah..I'm fine..sensei. It's okay! I can manage," not afraid of uttering the word sensei anymore. Breaking the habit of calling him Jin-Jin.

She then gathered all her strength, slowly moving her legs, loosening her grip of her elbow, hoping her whole body would cooperate with what she wanted to do..to stand. And yeah..she did.

But then, she fell backwards.

Jinno is aware of her stubbornness especially when it concerns her own good. He thought of another thing.

" Oh..in that case, I suggest you to just go to your room later and rest. You need not to clean anymore for a whole week, but once you recover, you will have to take the punishment of not answering properly the equation I gave you and…for not following my instructions," he commanded her again.

Oh well..Mikan is such a tenacious girl.

" Ah..sensei..no..i'll clean, this injury won't stop me form doing my responsibility. It's okay," and then she smiled. Actually, it was her token of gratitude for his teacher's concern of her.

Jinno had given up.

" Well then,if you insist,"

After that phenomenal scene, their classes resumed. Hotaru bringing her medical kit bandaged the injured elbow of her best friend. Mikan coulnd't help smiling seeing Hotaru taking care of her.

And Hotaru, having the astute senses, returned a look to Mikan.

" This is not the time to smile, baka," Straight-faced, she told her.

Mikan sweat-dropped.

Natsume fixed his eyes on her. He wanted to approach her and speak to her. He needed to ask her if she was indeed okay but he is really distant- which both means cold and too far from her now- so he couldn't. He is not also blind of the has-just-been-put-up truth that Mikan is ignoring him, he wanted to help her; he needed to stay away.

One more problem, why does it concern him? What's restraining him to stay away?

As it was expected, Mikan was left in the classroom cleaning. Hotaru somehow insisted to help her but Mikan knew..there would be a payment..and hell..it's money for sure. Mentioning the second reason, she is very indebted to her , she doesn't want to make it deeper- it 's quite too much.

Mikan was already cleaning the blackboard when Natsume appeared and startled her.

" Oh..so it's Pandas this time," he decided to have an introduction like this, referring to what he didn't really see. It might just catch the attention of Mikan and bring back what has been lost.

And yes..she would normally retort. But their scenario is distorted..not really abnormal..but just out of normalcy.

She stopped cleaning and quickly got her bag and made her way out of the room, passing by Natsume, pretending he never existed in her world.

" We're continuing the mission, tonight. Don't be late," he was a bit humiliated and irritated. Couldn't she just face him and give him a slap if that was what she wanted, not passing by him like that? It was hurting him terribly.

Finally, she seemed to hear Natsume's thoughts,so she stopped.

She faced her. Their eyes met. One begging for an attention that was once present in his life, and the other begging for the rejection that has been present in her life and still longing for it. They shared one thing in common, both living in pain.

Mikan started to speak," Since you can do it all alone, why don't you just do it yourself? I'm quitting," her tone was rigid, something was frozen. Yep, her longing of being near to Natsume was currently frozen.

Natsume was shocked in dismay.

" So you were daunted? As expected of you," he replied coldly..not really wanting to show any sign of being distracted or disturbed by this news.

Mikan just went away leaving without any further reaction. It was a must to break the conversation.

That night, Natsume continued the mission even without her. He was flaring up with anger. He wanted to avenge for her..for them.

Of course, Persona was aware of this, that in any moment they would launch off and have their revenge. He prepared. There was no way he would be intimidated by those brats. Since they were the ones who started it, they should be lectured..be punished to death..by him..only.

Then, he heard a thump. It was Natsume's feet.

They began a fight. Natsume had gone berserk. Because of Persona, Mikan was hospitalized, he was pissed off, Mikan's ignoring him, and he was fighting without her. It seemed like all the devil knots scattered in Natsume's rope of sanity was made by this sinner.

He reached his peak but he had to stop. He coughed blood. He was overusing Alice, he panted for air.

It was already the kiss of death for Natsume in Persona's view.

" Uh-oh, it's over now, Black cat. I thought you could be more excellent than that since I trained you. But I'm still far better than you," he gave him a deadly laugh.

Natsume tried to attack him again with his fire but he was really feeling weak that time. For the first time, he needed help as soon as possible.

Persona came approaching.

" Now, you will regret fighting me on your own, you will be like your partner, I assure you," stating a conclusion without any hypothesis.

Natsume could just want to run but he couldn't for two reasons: He is never a coward and his legs couldn't really be of any assistance that time. He felt like he wanted to give in, he just wanted to fall and become unconscious. In that way, he could be free from tasting his own death in the hands of Persona. How could he fight when what he was trying to fight for wasn't even obtainable?

Persona was now ready to touch his shoulder and corrode his body. They were only a meter apart.

Running with her legs trembling, pushing all her force to the limit, Mikan stood between them and pushed Natsume away from Persona. Since Persona had already conditioned himself to corrode someone, he had no reflexes to pull back his hand or even if he had, I doubt he would do that. And there, his hand laid on Mikan's shoulder instead. His alice was activated.

The moment was so fast.

Natsume was very scared to see that while Persona was very happy, and Mikan was emotionless.

They were waiting for the result when a big circle of intense power blew Persona away making him hit a tree with a large impact, he coughed blood, and blood was lining his forehead.

" This..is..not..the..end..yet…not..yet," he still managed to threaten them before getting away. He needed to recover. He promised himself, he would not be of sight for a meantime..to give them..a thrilling finale.

Mikan smiled with the result. She didn't know why..but with the course of events, she knew there was a reason for that. First, why did her legs bring her to that place? Was it a coincidence or simply inevitable? It was some kind of a premonition that something bad would happen to Natsume..to her heart.

Second, how come she was able to nullify such a dangerous alice when she wasn't even able to nullify Jinno's alice lately? Is her alice connected to her feelings? Maybe. Because this time, she had a strong sense of wanting to protect someone..not herself.

Third, why were they both smiling and looking at each other? Has it just mean a tendency of a new beginning for them?

Mikan then broke her smile.

Never, the rope connecting them has just been broken altogether, the gap between them has just been expanded infinitely.

Because..that was the end. They seemed to have the victory over Persona already. No more commitment should pursue. They reached the end.

If that's how they put it.

" Good, you are of help," Natsume remarked.

" Let's go back now," she just told him seriously.

Natsume tried to stand but he couldn't maintain his balance. Mikan saw him helpless. Pity crept up to her, as well as what?, so she assisted him. She put his upper limb and rest it on her right shoulder, her other hand holding Natsume's lower back. She helped him walk. They trudged their way back to the academy without any word to each other. Mikan was not bothered much by their proximity, it was just a gesture of assistance. But Natsume was enjoying it. He did nothing but to stare at Mikan..and smiling gently.

He must admit he missed her so much. He wished she missed him, too.

I actually don't want to leave it this way..but I'm tired of typing..it's already 1 am here. So there, next time, I'll make it longer to make up for my absence. But I'm already running out of ideas so it might take time. By the way, Yui is just a random name..can't think of something else. Sorry for the wrong grammar.