Flashback

Flashback

"Mikan?" he whispered again.

"Yes. Kazue."

End of flashback

The tree always made her feel safe. She loved cherry blossoms, and somehow, they always found their way to her.

The three of them stood under a sakura tree, in amiable silence. Mikan still had a dazed look about her, Kazue looked confused and Hotaru was busy with her can of crab soup. No words were uttered, but the question in everyone's mind was quite obvious.

"So, are you ever going to speak, or are you planning on just standing here like idiots?" Hotaru was done filling her stomach. She turned towards Kazue, who just looked back at her with a mix of amusement and knowing.

"And I'm the one who's supposed to?"

"Well you're the one who has the answers. Obviously."

Kazue looked up at Mikan, who was sitting Indian style, on the ground. "You?"

Mikan looked at him for a while, before she reached out and pinched him. Hard.

"OW!! What the hell was that for?" he said, rubbing his arm.

Mikan just grinned. "Just wanted to make sure that you were real. You are."

"Wow! You need to win the Nobel for that discovery!" he replied, sarcasm dripping in his tone, as he sat down beside her.

"What the hell are you doing here, Takashina?"

"I can ask you the same question, can't I, Hotaru?"

The two glared at each other, hard and long. Mikan observed the two in front of her, biting her bottom lip to keep her from bursting out with laughter. She managed to do it, almost, before she gave up. She burst out laughing, clutching her stomach and was surprised when another's laugh, Kazue's, joined with hers. Hotaru just smiled at both of her closest friends, happy to know that they were still together.

It's so much like the old times…

Their laughter subsided and eventually died. Silence fell again.

"I'm here because of my Alice… It turns out that my Invisibility is one.." Kazue broke the silence. "And the two of you?"

"I have the nullification and healing Alices. And of course, Hotaru has the Alice of Invention."

He raised an eyebrow at Hotaru. "Predicatable."

No one spoke again, for a short amount of time, before two of them burst out.

"But… What are you doing here?"

"I was told that if I join the academy, then they would spare you two from entering it. That's why I joined here."

"WHAT?? That's what they told me as well… I knew you'd never let me do something like this… so I thought that I'd just..,"

"Leave a note behind, which says' I'm really sorry, but I have to leave for good' and walk out? Do you have any idea how freaked out me and Kyoko were when we woke up and found your room empty? Kyoko almost called your grandpa and spilled the beans, you know. It's okay, I stopped her. Nothing serious happened." He added when Mikan panicked.

Mikan looked at him, disapprovingly. "I couldn't have just walked up to you and say 'hey. I'm gonna go live in a school, that's more of a prison so that your lazy arse could lead a happy life' right?"

"Forget it.. it's useless arguing with you. But you must have divulged some more information in that stupid letter of yours."

Hotaru watched the two argue, with dispassionate eyes. "The two of you are complete idiots."

They stopped arguing and turned to look at Hotaru. A pause.

"What?"

Hotaru sighed. When will these two ever notice the obvious?

"The two of you were tricked by the academy." Another pause.

"What?"

Hotaru glared at the boy and the girl who looked assuredly confused. Well, I guess, Never.

"Both of you were asked to join the Academy, both of you were told that your best friends would be kept away from here if you joined, both of you did. And both your best friends are here as well." She turned towards Mikan. "You didn't actually think they'll respect your feelings did you? You, of all people, must have known that their promises are fake. And you." She looked at Kazue, "Did your senses take a leave or what?"

Kazue was stunned. And Mikan gaped at Hotaru, as if she just suggested that they go to Mars for a holiday.

"But.. he promised…He said that you and Zue wouldn't have to come here if I do!"

Hotaru still looked dispassionate. "And who exactly is he?"

"The Principal. The high school Principal. He called me, on the phone, and gave me his conditions. I didn't have much of a choice, so I had to accept." It was Kazue who answered this time.

Hotaru shot a meaningful look at them. "The High School Principal."

She waited for the two of them to make the connection, one she had noticed at the very beginning. She watched, as Mikan paled. And as Kazue gasped.

"Was…Wasn't he the one who…who ordered….?"

Hotaru nodded.

Kazue and Mikan looked at each other, looking into each others eyes, both pairs filled with understanding.

The other girl stood up, brushing the dust off her skirt. "I need to be going. I have other important things to do." Hotaru said, taking out a camera from her pocket. She left without a word, towards the forest.

Kazue sighed, as he sat down near Mikan, who leant against him, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. She closed her eyes as she felt his arms wrap around her shoulder. She tried to remember the number of times the two of them sat like this, giving and taking a little comfort, a little warmth. It was afternoon, a lazy one. The two friends just stayed in each other's arms, without feeling the need for words.

"You thought I ran away, again. Didn't you?" Kazue looked at her face. Her eyes were still closed, but the disappointment was written on her face. He cleared his throat. "I… um."

"Yes, you did." She said as she smiled up at him, before she turned serious. "I won't. I promise I won't. It doesn't solve anything at all, does it? I'm done being a coward."

He smiled at his friend of sixteen years. Sixteen years changed a lot of things, but yet changed nothing.

"IMAI!!"

Both of them jumped at the sound, which interrupted the peace and silence of the afternoon. They turned back just in time to see Hotaru, with her camera in hand, float by on her duck scooter, followed by Ruka Nogi, on a rhino.

"GIVE ME THOSE PICTURES BACK, PRONTO!!"

"She still has that scooter?!" Kazue looked at Mikan, with a look of mixed amusement and incredulity. She laughed at his expression and answered, "Oh yeah, she does. And the Snail Home too."

"Hasn't changed much, has she?"

"Hasn't changed at all."

"Neither have you." Kazue raised his head, to look at the sky. "You had another reason for joining the Academy." It wasn't a question. It was a plain statement.

Mikan lifted her head from his shoulder, surprised. She knew that he'd realize, but not so soon. He had known her for sixteen years; he could read her like a book. Maybe that was why that was why they were still with each other, even when all others drifted apart.

"Yes. I do have another reason. You know it, and so does Hotaru. I'm not backing off, Zue." She said, noticing the look on his face. "Don't you dare try and stop me. It's my battle to fight."

Still stubborn and impulsive as ever. He thought, before he replied.

"I understand. I really do."

She didn't question him, she just believed. She knew that he would understand that he was the only person who could. The only person who could actually know what was going on, inside her. She turned to face him, as he looked at her. She leant in and gave him a peck on the cheek.

"Thank You. For everything."

Kazue smiled softly, before ruffling her hair.

"You'd need my help though. Knowing you, you'd probably mess it all up." He grinned at the sight of her pout and laughed when she pouted more. He got onto his feet, offering her his hand.

"I have something for you. Something you forgot to take when you came here." He just shook his head when she shot him a confused look. "C'mon. It's with me. And you can tell me about the guy you're sharing a room with."

Mikan looked abashed. "Suite. Not a room. Suite. And stop hovering all around me, get it?"

Kazue grinned, fast and charming. "No, I won't, princess. But I'll break his limbs if he touches you."

The two walked away from the tree, holding hands, unaware of the pair of crimson eyes watching over them. A pair of eyes filled with something close to jealousy.

What does he think putting his hands all over her? And what the hell is that little girl think she's doing, letting him? And what's it with the 'another reason' and 'my battle'? What does Mikan have to do with the principal? Wait, why am I even concerned? It's her problem.

Natsume watched as Kazue and Mikan walked towards the dormitories. He smirked as he saw Kazue laugh while Mikan talked animatedly.

He jumped down from the tree he was sitting on and headed in the direction of his suite. Their suite. He thought with another smirk.

Now that was going to be fun.

A/U- Alright. so i am back. You can't blame me! I just joined a new school and then i had my exams and i just got a net connection today!! But i am back now! small chapter, but i swear the story is actually going somewhere!