I do not own Gakuen Alice.

"To those who have given up on love: I say, 'Trust life a little bit.'"

—Maya Angelo

"""Thus you may understand that love alone

is the true seed of every merit in you,

and of all acts for which you must atone."

–Dante Alighieri – Purgatorio

You've barely left the hallway when you wish you could have heard Mikan's response, if there was any response at all. Why did you leave so abruptly? Springing down the steps two at a time, your mother and the brunette's image battle to dominate your mind. You picture the bubbly girl's sullen face peeping out of her apartment, pulling the door open slowly. You imagine her softly murmuring behind you, "I forgive you, Natsume. I forgive you."

Oh, you wish. You wish.

You arrive outside. The sun is creeping slowly up the horizon. The sky is painted a magnificent baby blue with tufts of assorted warm colors here and there. A soft breeze is blowing, playing with your hair and bending flower stems.

Scanning the parking lot, your car is nowhere to be seen. Your mouth twitches as you mentally slap yourself. You realize that the car is still parked somewhere near the bar.

Impatient, you hail a cab that happened to idle nearby. It seems to be waiting for something, or someone, but you dismiss the unpleasant thought with a shake of your head. Mikan's fine.

In a short, clipped statement, you have informed the driver of your intended destination.

Soon enough, the hospital looms into view. Too soon.

Your mom, for some anomalous reason, felt it necessary to abrupt her son's morning by going out for a drive in the early morning and miraculously decided to crash and injure herself severely.

You nod a hasty 'thank you' towards the driver and step out stiffly.

Slamming the door shut, you have mixed feelings regarding your mother's alleged "accident."

But Luna wouldn't lie. She considered Mikan family. She claimed so herself. Luna wouldn't outright lie to you.

Would she?

You stand there, in the middle of the parking lot, massaging your temples. In an effort to calm yourself, you stride towards a nearby tree, lean tiredly against it, and shut your eyes. The chilly morning breeze swirling against your bear arms and nipping at your tangled hair does nothing to soothe you.

None to unexpectedly, your phone buzzes insistently in your back pocket.

"Natsume!" A high-pitched voice shakes your eardrums awake, "Where are you? She needs you!"

For some peculiar reason, the brown eyes swimming in your mind has now been replaced by a set of sly, seductive orbs. Damn this girl. No. You have no feelings for her.

Absolutely not.

"If she were in trouble, your voice would not be like that." It takes an effort to keep your voice void of emotion.

It's false. Her voice is nothing but dust in the wind. The hint of genuine care she showed hours ago has been washed clean.

"Hm? Natsume, don't be like this!" She pleads, voice dripping with excessive honey.

Tired, alert eyes scanning the deserted hospital grounds, you mutter to yourself, "What the hell am I doing here anyway?"

"Natsume?"

You grunt into the receiver.

"Do you love me?"

You freeze against the tree as the corner of your mouth twitches again, this time in surprise. The hell? What is with her sudden question? She has already made it clear that she understood. You have already made it clear that she is next to nothing to you.

Or is she?

"Of course—"

"Really?" She's escalated.

"—Not." You can't believe her. What's wrong with her? She already knows full well what you think of her.

"Oh… well…" The tone has changed. It's once again sharp and chirpy. "Come up to Floor 7, Room 321 then."

You just snort and hang up. You are slightly amused with her response.

Making your way towards the sliding doors, you stretch and walk in.

Not once did Luna mention your mother's condition. Not once did her voice portray any hint of worry the way Mikan would. But Luna is Luna, and you'll just leave it at that.

Arriving at the front desk, you greet the sleep-deprived woman sitting up front. She smiles at you flirtatiously.

Back off, hag. You ignore her sickening smile. "Floor 7, Room 321," You say, not willing to waste your time.

Her eyes widen in surprise. "Why would you want to go there?"

"It's none of your business."

She's raises an eyebrow. "I have a right to know. You are after all, only just visiting, after all."

You scowl. "I don't have time for this."

"Then just declare your purpose."

"I'm here to visit Kaoru Hyuuga," You spat.

This time, she arches an eyebrow. "Kaoru Hyuuga?" She looks down, scanning her clipboard confusedly. "We haven't admitted Kaoru Hyuuga. Do you know her? My, she's really famous! And beautiful..." She sighs dreamily.

You bring your face dangerously close to hers. As she blushes, you murmur venomously, "I just need to visit the room." My mom is there, you add silently. Still, you can't help but feel a pit in your stomach already.

Loosening the tension, you draw away from her. Pulling on a smirk, you drawl, "Think you can do that," You glance at her nametag, "Elise?"

She nods hurriedly.

As you turn to leave, she calls out to you.

"Wait!"

You turn around, irritated. "What?"

Hands dropping to her sides, she utters, "I'm honest when I say that we have never admitted a Hyuuga in our hospital. You won't find anything in that room." Head bowed, she turns away and stares at her clipboard.

You ignore her and step into the elevator. When the door slides open to reveal the 7th floor, there are nurses clad in pink and blue bustling about. They step out of the way as you pass.

You scan the endless corridors of doors. Finally, your eye catches on Room 321. Under the room number hangs a small "Do Not Enter" sign.

Disregarding it, you burst into the room.

You expect to be greeted by your mom lying on the bed. You expect to see Luna seated in a chair nearby. You expect to have burst in on a normal hospital room with all the knick-knacks a hospital room ought to have.

But this room has no "Mom." There is no "normal knick-knacks."

All there is, is darkness. Inside that little room, is a forgotten space and faded walls. At the opposite end sits a window with black curtains. Under that window is a single wooden chair.

Your eyes narrow as you take a suspicious step forward.

The room smells damp, but not hollow. It seems as if someone has occupied it before.

"You're right, you know." A voice behind you startles you.

You cock your head to the side, refusing to spin around. Voice level, you say, "I'm right about what?" Mentally congratulating your uninterested voice, you await the speaker's response.

"This room once was occupied."

A female. A female's voice.

"I bet so," You answer.

She chuckles humorlessly. "Mikan came here every day."

You freeze visibly. You know who this is. "You're lying."

"Maybe. Maybe not. Her grandfather died here."

Forcing yourself to keep calm, you lie through your teeth. "I know that."

"Really?" Another laugh. "That's good."

"She never spoke of it."

"Of course she wouldn't, stupid. She forced herself to leave this in the past."

You still refuse to turn around. "So what have you done with my mother, Koizumi?" You turn around slowly, deliberately, and face the strawberry-blonde.

She shrugs, gazing absentmindedly at a fingernail. "She has your phone. She'll come up with a story. Soon, Mikan will be no more."

You cringe as your hands fly towards your back pockets.

You've made a mistake. You've made fucking big mistake.

You left her. You left Mikan. Again.

And this time, you're afraid that a simple apology would no longer cut it.

Elise wasn't lying.

"As for your Mom, well… she'll convince Mikan, one way or the other, that you no longer love her."

"I don't have time for this, Luna."

She grins maliciously. "Oh yes. Yes you do, Natsume. Yes you do. Let's play a game, shall we?"

You shake your head. You blink. You shrug. "Sure. Go ahead."

She smiles devilishly. Tossing her strawberry hair back, she leans against the door frame. "I never considered Mikan a family. A friend, perhaps. Never family."

"And why?" Your voice is iced. "What are you two plotting?"

She shrugs again. "Just some fun, of course. Your mom has engaged you to me. Or should I say, she has engaged me to you. She loves me; my money, my looks, my fame." she snaps her fingers and smiles a sugary smile. "Just. Like That. Mikan just has to know that you no longer love her."

Luna Koizumi never cared for the brunette. And you made the mistake of believing her.

"This isn't Cinderella. Or else you'd be one of the step-sisters."

You need to get to Mikan.

Mikan. You need to get to her before your mother tangles this mess with your polka-dots even more.

Against all your morals, against your strong sense of pride and dignity, against all rules that you live by as a human being, you shove past the woman.

And you run.

My Sunshine

Author's Note: Let me know what you all think... What do you want to happen before I end this story line? Quite a few of you are hating Kaoru, and another bunch dislikes Luna. Then I gave Luna another "face switch." What do you think?

Too rushed?

Alex