Mikan was pissed. At nothing in particular, of course. There couldn't be a particular reason. She got angry when Ruka asked her to hold Usagi, his rabbit for him, so that he could tie his laces, she lashed out at Kazue when he ordered her coffee black in the cafeteria, hell, she even pounced on Orion for eating some of her cookies( which were meant for him).

Neither she herself or anybody else could think of a reason why her moods were in the underworld. All was perfectly fine throughout the week, she performed well, okay, excellent in her classes, she had her friends around and she had even contacted her grandpa and the Takashinas, and they weren't angry with her. Everything was fine, absolutely, except for Hyuuga.

She grunted. After that particularly awkward encounter in her room, he kept a safe distance from her. Meaning to say, he avoided her like the plague. And for the past two days, there was absolutely no sight or smell of him. He didn't attend the classes, she didn't see him in their suite and he didn't even bother reading the notes she had been leaving on the refrigerator for him. When she asked Ruka about it, he just gave her a mockingly cheerful 'oh! he's alright!', which seemed too much of a brush-off to Mikan.

Hell. Like I care what happens to him.

But it sounded fake, even in her mind.

Okay. Fine. I care for him. I mean, he's a classmate and a roomie.. of course I have to care about him..

But it sounded suspiciously as if she were convincing herself that the matter ended there. She sighed as she opened the door of the suite. She entered and had a quick look around. Nothing was different from the way it was, when she locked up in the morning before she left. She moved into the kitchen and found that the blueberry pancakes she'd made for Natsume were still there, untouched. Even the note she left was lying there. She frowned. Natsume might be holding a grudge against her, but she knew( somehow) that he had a weakness for pancakes and him leaving pancakes untouched was a big issue. She made her decision in a blink of an eye and within a moment, she found herself in front of Natsume's room. Hesitantly, she lifted a fist and knocked at the door.

"Hyuuga?.. Natsume? Are you in there?"

She waited for a few seconds, but no one answered. Concerned now, she knocked again, a bit more harder.

"Natsume, snap out of it! I know you're in there, there's no point hiding from me! C'mon get out, will ya?"

Furious now, she started banging the door.

"Oh fucking open it will you? I'm not gonna gobble you alive or anything! Open up, Hyuuga!"

There were still no sound from inside the room.

"Ok! That's it! I'm coming inside!" She turned the door knob, and only a part of her was surprised that the door was closed. She just sighed, and made a resolution that she'd avoid Natsume the same way he was avoiding her, before she left for her room. She had other business to tend to, she reminded herself. She was going to Central Town with Kazue in, oh 10 minutes and she had absolutely no time to ponder about Natsume's absence or whereabouts. But, again, it seemed as if she were saying this to convince herself about her, umm.. relation with him.

Alright. I can't let Zue think that's something's up without him torturing the hell out of me. So I'll just go out, have fun, come back and then wonder where he's gone.

And maybe wonder a bit more about him.

Mikan was impatient now. Her feet were aching like a baby bitch, but that was partly her mistake as well, as she chose to wear 1 inch heels. And she'd already been out for over three hours helping Kazue pick up souvenirs for her family and his. Well, she couldn't have avoided that, Zue's idea of a wonderful souvenir for his sister was a t-shirt in bright orange with 'Got Alice?" written on it and a picture of the Cheshire Cat. Or she thought it was the Cheshire Cat, though she'd never seen one in acid green before. She had to browbeat Zue out of the shop, before he bought the T-shirt, while fighting with him the same time.

"You have no sense. That was a wonderful Tee and Kyoko would have loved it!"

"Zue, believe me! Kyoko wouldn't want to be caught dead in that tee. And you wanted to buy it just because you wanted to impress the girl at the counter." She concluded, sipping her cappuccino.

Kazue snorted. Jesus Christ. She reads people like books.

"Me? Impress that girl?" he snorted again. "Believe me, sweetheart, I can have all the girls I want at the twist of a finger" he said, pointing his finger at her. "Though I have to agree that the girl did have some pretty impressive… assets." He finished, as Mikan gave him a disapproving glance.

"Oh yeah. Big butts were god's gift to mankind, eh?" she said, and chuckled when she saw him almost spit his Double Espresso out. "Boys. When will you ever stop thinking with your glands and start with your brains, Zue?"

His grin was quick and charming and had some of the girls turning back to look at him. "You think a bit too much with your brains, enough for both of us. And, anyways, my choice of women is excellent."

Mikan raised an eyebrow. "Sure you do. Excellent taste, both in women and in coffee." She said, wrinkling her nose at the use-and-throw cup that he held in his hands.

Now he laughed, richly and plucked her off her feet and kissed her with enthusiasm. "Jealous now, are we? Don't you worry, sweetheart. You'll always be my best."

She tried to be angry with him, for kissing her in the middle of Central Town, especially when rumours were already spreading around that she was double dating him and Natsume. But how could she, when he looped his arm in his, and marched about, proudly, as if she were the goddess of the moon or something.

Well, no matter what happens, I can be sure that he'll be here for me. She thought, before she closed her eyes, her lips twisted up in a slight smile, but was startled when it was not Zue's image that came into her mind's eye, it was somebody else's. Somebody with jet black hair and crimson eyes.

A/U: Well, hello! I have a hundred arguments in my favour for not updating.. but i'm sure none of you want to hear that...

Well, as usual.. read and review... it boosts the morale of the writer!! if you don't... maybe i won't update anymore!