Oh no

Oh no!

Mikan cursed her luck. Of all the people, she had to fall on The Dark Lord. The goddess of misfortune appeared to be really mad at her. She had to be. If she wasn't then what on earth was she doing on top of this guy, one of her knees between his legs, her face so close to his that she can actually feel his breath on her face? Of course it was the fault of the goddess.

"Hey little girl, if you're so in love with my body, then I suggest we take this somewhere more private." The same voice. The same arrogant, lord brat voice. Mikan was incapable of doing anything but blink at him.

"Oi! Polka Dots!" That got her out of her stupor. Wait. I don't have polka dots anywhere in my uniform…Then why is he… NO WAY!

" PERVERT!! HOW DARE YOU PEEK! YOU NASTY LITTLE…"

"Whom exactly are you calling pervert? You are the one on the top of me, I daresay in a very compromising position." He glanced down at the tangle of their legs as if to emphasize his point.

Mikan tumbled off him, getting up with Yuu's help, as she continued to glare at the Lord Brat. Indecent brat! Peeks at my underwear and doesn't even bother to apologize. The perverted jerk! Little twe.. wait a second.

Mikan shut her eyes for a second. When she opened them again, there was a slight bit of amusement mixed with weariness.

"Is there a mind reader amongst you?" she asked turning towards the rest of the class. A boy with dirty blonde hairmade it forward. "Don't bother trying to read my mind. You'll not see anything I don't plan on letting you see." At the sight of his widening eyes she explained further.

"She has the nullification alice, which means that she can cancel out the effects of your alices. She's something like a walking shield."

Hotaru had finally emerged from her snail tent. She looked, if possible, even more unfazed of the fact that her supposedly dead best friend had just popped out of the blue.

"I think you still haven't made a trip up to your room. Your partner is supposed to take you there." She said, nodding in the direction of the…

"Lord Brat? He's my partner?" said Mikan, looking incredulously at Natsume, who just raised an eyebrow at her.

"Lord Brat? She dare call My Beloved Natsume Lord Brat! Why she's so dead!" squealed Sumire who just got the strength to get back on her feet. She advanced towards Mikan, trying to look menacing, when she was still recovering for the damage done to her brain by Hotaru's Baka Gun. But she stopped as she realized that Hotaru had taken out her Baka Gun again.

"We..Well! I think I'll spare your life this time. But if you dare call him names again, I swear that'll be the last thing you'll ever say."

Mikan just flashed her sunniest smile at Sumire, a smile that made must of the guys weak in their knees. "Sure thing. I'll not call Lord Brat names, Permy."

She turned towards where Natsume was standing, only to find empty space.

"Where the hell did he go?"

"Um.. Mikan? Natsume already left with Ruka. I think you'll have to find someone else to take you to your room." Yuu had finally decieded to speak up. " I can go along with you." He added quickly. "And I think Hotaru would like to join us too. Right Hotaru?" He asked, looking pleadingly at Hotaru. To the class's astonishment, Hotaru just pocketed her Baka Gun and sighed. "Fine with me. But you'll carry all the baggage." She replied, as she walked towards the door, Mikan and Yuu following her, both of them looking a bit lost.

The path was still deserted as most of the students were still having their classes. Dead leaves flew by, as the three of them made their way to Mikan's room. Yuu took the lead, knowing that the two friends wanted to speak with each other, trying to give them some space and privacy, which was pretty hard to get in the academy.

Meanwhile, the other two walked, draped in silence. Hotaru's expression was, of course unreadable, whereas Mikan was obviously not even aware of the world she was in.

"So, where exactly where you all these days?" Hotaru chose to break the silence.

"At the Takashina's. They promised me they won't let you or grandpa know that I was with them. It's not their fault."

"Grandpa's alright. I'm in running for the honour student award. I'll be able to go and meet him and the rest if I win it." Said Hotaru, answering an unasked question.

Silence descended on them. Both of them walked on, lost in their own memories.

"Why?"

One word. One word that made her think of all the mistakes she had made in the past few months. One word that made her feel guilty of all the pain that she left behind. One word that got back the sea of sorrow that she had been trying to suppress so hard.

"I.. wanted to get away. From.. From all of it. I needed some time alone, to reflect, to think, to… to try to live with it. It was too suffocating for me. I needed some space, to be somewhere where people wouldn't look at me with pity in their eyes. I needed a change of environment."

"That's not all, is it, Mikan?"

Mikan looked up at Hotaru. There were standing under a tree now. A sakura tree. Coincidence, eh? Thought Mikan, looking up at the magnificent tree. She laid a palm on its bark and closed her eyes.

"No that's not all." She confessed, after a few moments, her eyes still closed. "I didn't want you and Grandpa to see me in that state. You don't need to tell me anything." She said as Hotaru opened her mouth to object. "I know that I was pathetic. Actually I don't know. I don't remember anything at all. All that time, its just like a huge blank. Its as if I never lived during those days..." she opened her eyes, her caramel eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Its as if I felt nothing, those days."

Silence fell once more as both of them stood, amiably, side by side. A sudden sound rocked the entire place, a sound that resembled the sound made by …

"The giant chick, Piyo. Most probably looking for Nogi." Said Hotaru. "Say, Mikan. How have you been all these days? Health wise?"

Mikan chuckled softly. "My health is perfect, Hotaru." Catching the glint of disbelief in Hotaru's eyes, she sighed. "Fine. I do get the attacks every now and then. Its not that frequent though. And I'm already having medicines for it. So don't worry!"

She flashed a her biggest cheery smile at Hotaru, who wasn't unaffected by it. She returned the smile, though it didn't remain for long. She looked straight into Mikan's eyes, her own containing hints of knowing and sorrow, mixed with confidence.

"I don't know what your reasons for joining this academy were, but I think I know one." She spoke, as she watched the change in Mikan's demeanor. She straightened up and pursed her lips.

"I just want you to know that you won't be alone in it, baka."

Mikan smiled at her best friend of forever, a smile that was directed straight from her heart.

"Thanks a lot, Hotaru! It means a lot to me!"

Hotaru smiled one last time, before wiping all emotion off her face.

"You owe me more than that. I missed making a lot of money today. Because of you, I wasn't able to get more pictures of Nogi with the giant chick. I expect you to pay back."

There we go. Thought Mikan, as a wave of nostalgia went through her. The Hotaru we all know and love.

Yuu was waiting for them in front of the Special Star dorm. He had a distressed look on his face and was running his hand through his hair every few seconds. He jumped so high when Mikan announced their arrival, through her over-bubbly greeting, that he actually fell down.

"Are you okay Yuu? You look distressed, you know? Said Mikan as she helped Yuu to his feet.

"Aah.. Do I? Well.. hehe…" Yuu stammered as he found himself being stared at by two pairs eyes. "Well, you see Mikan, the problem is that, the number of special stars in the academy has increased over the years. So it's like, usually, well how can I tell you…"

"Just spit it out, will you? Or I'll have to make you." Warned Hotaru, taking out her Baka Gun.

Yuu paled instantly at the sight of it. He had seen the damage it had caused with his own eyes.

"Well…The number of suites has proven less. So now its like, if there are two special stars from the same year, then they have to share a suite. There are more than two special stars in some year, while there are none in some. There are four suites and three of them are already occupied, which leaves us with this one suite." He spoke as he led them to the second floor of the two storied building. "Two of the suites are here and the other two in the next building. But the problem is that the person who occupies this room right now is…The person in this room is… is.." He gulped. There was no way he can tell Mikan about this.

"Is who? C'mon Yuu. It's not as if the name is taboo or something." Said Mikan, obviously confused by Yuu's behaviour.

But Hotaru already had a fair idea. Only one person can invoke such a reaction.And if it is that person, then I'll be minting money. She thought at she smirked evilly at an oblivious Mikan. This is going to be very interesting.

"Care to explain what you are doing in front of my room?"

Mikan flinched inwardly at the sound of the voice. Realization hit her, hard, as her brain put two and two together.

She turned and looked at Natsume's smirking face.

Please let it not be true..please!

"Yuu… His room?" Mikan asked, hoping that Yuu would just shake his head in disapproval.

Yuu did shake his head. In approval.

"I have to share a room with…." She stared disbelievingly at Yuu, and then Natsume.

Realization hit her. Hard.

"HIIMM!!"

A/U- Hello everyone! Finally something related to the story has begun. Its my first fiction so bear with me.

You know those wonderful little rays of sunshine that they call reviews, i really love them and appreciate them.

Thanks to all you guys for reviewing!! You guys rock!

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