Disclaimer: I don't own Gakuen Alice or any of its characters, but I wish I did x)

Warning: OOC-ness might pop more than often…

xoxoxoxoxo

Chapter 5: A Step Closer to You

xoxoxoxoxo

Natsume Hyuuga

My smirk progressively cracked its way on my tight-lined lips as the distant double doors finally shut close upon that man's leave. That man, if you may ask, wants to be my new teacher.

Wants. I want to emphasize that for that would simply stop there.

No more, no less.

His mere dream stops there since I will never let him be one.

Never.

I heaved a deep breath in, my smirk falling. Simply thinking of his unwanted appearances here had have happened insanely a lot a few weeks ago would irk me to no end.

Perfect example?

I gritted my teeth, annoyed.

Now.

I clenched my hands that were on top of an opened book, ignoring that I am also crumpling a page of it along the process. Why would I give a damn for a stupid page? Tch. I might even burn this any time soon. Anyways, that man kept on showing himself on every scheduled day of his to-be-discussed subject, and all of those ended up much like this. No, scratch that. All those ended exactly like this. His departure an hour or less from the time he had arrived and shortly talks about his book's content.

Unfortunately for his case, my skills are as sharp and reliable as always. I could have smugly scoffed at that, if it wasn't for another thing that came up my mind, resulting for my annoyance to spark once more.

That guy's persistence was sickening.

While placing that issue at the back of my mind, I clicked my tongue and smirked instead, I'll have him out and give up before this month's end. I'll just have to treat him like the previous ones.

I fixed my robe, Now, I then started to approach the nearby window, lending a hand would fas—

"Oniii-saaann!"

"Aww, my ears are gonna bleed," I groaned, closing my eyes for a better control of my still-present irritation and my fingers involuntarily contracted a movement. Boringly, I tore my eyes off the closed access and directed them towards the door.

"Aoi." I grunted. If she believed her angry, slightly red face could scare me, she had to ponder about that over and over.

Tch. It wasn't scary, I tell you.

Her eyebrows arched deeper downwards that I quirked an unaffected brow and fully-faced her with my arms now crossed loosely.

"What do you want." I blandly uttered that same question at her silenced state.

Just like that, my sister stormed her way in front of me, her eyes showing her fury, "Onii-san! You idiot! Will you stop doing that again and again?!" She angrily screeched.

"Watch you language, Aoi." I scolded, half-heartedly. It's a miracle I hadn't gone deaf with her loud voice.

Aoi puffed her cheeks, crossing her arms across her chest. "You are not listening to me!"

"You're one to talk." I pointed out, rolling my eyes as I found her words meaningless.

She growled.

"Oi. How about doing something new?" I suggested.

"What are you talking about?" She questioned, suspicion lacing her tone.

"I am giving you my suggestion, of course." I responded and continued, giving her no time to speak out. "As I was saying, how about trying something new, like not barging in here or in my room and pouring your anger on me, hm?"

The tips of her lips visibly dived deeper.

"For short. Leave. Me. Alone." I stressed those words out, narrowing my eyes on her. Though a second later, I found myself holding the urge as to not take those words back and had to reassure that my usual mask was on at the current display she was showing me.

Trembling, frowned lips.

Glassy with tears lining her crimson red eyes.

Slightly, red-tinted puffed cheeks.

"…"

She's about to start a fit of tears.

My fingers flinched but I resisted them from doing anything. "Aoi—"I begun, though I was right way cut because she ran toward the door. I snorted, instead and shrugged my shoulders. Well, leaving was rather for my convenience. Although, I just don't get her since I am aware that I had always said those words to her and they awfully had the same outcome.

I clicked my tongue, waving the thought off my head. Why am I even thinking about that if she was obviously not giving signs that what they meant had sunk in her head? I initially turned, picking up where I had left.

"Uwaaa! Okaa-samaa! Onii-san is being mean again! Uwaa!" Aoi screamed her whine. That alone, halted me on my own tracks.

Did she just—

"Natsume," Came our mother's voice, and at the same time, it answered my supposed yet unfinished mental query. I gazed at the general direction of her voice and I spotted her just by the door. Her eyes were narrowed, reprimandingly. "Don't make your sister cry."

"Just so you know, she's always cries." I flatly reminded her with a controlled tone, the mockingly stuck out tongue of the brat, who was hiding behind our mother, didn't go unnoticed by my peripheral vision. Aoi had constantly been a spoiled, cry-fetish brat that she reached the extend of crying—though I categorized that as noisy, ear-splitting wails—on anything under the sun. Most of it involves of stuffs that she won't be having her way. At any right, I found that it is better for me not to understand her weird, complicated logic.

"Do you want to have a seat?" I gestured my hand.

"Noo! Spending time with a person like you is awful!" My sister again yelled. Isn't her throat suffering far too much?

"Aoi, don't talk like that. He's still your older brother." Our mother lectured, turning her scolding eyes on the brat. Taking this short time, I shot her a smug, ha!-take look at the time our eyes meet… but I was caught since a not-too-loud clearing of the throat resounded.

I looked at its source while knowing that childish, victorious smile that the brat has. I held my groan from slipping out as I grudgingly thought. I'll overlook that for now.

My attention, however, was drawn by a smile our mother was flashing me. I couldn't wave off that that sent unwanted shivers ran down my spine.

I got a bad feeling about the next words she's about to say.

"Do you want to go with us?" She offered. Her tone itself was simply intensifying this bad feeling of mine that I had kept beneath my indifferent mask.

"…where?" I asked after a few silent seconds, suspicion and politeness mixed within my voice. Clearly delaying her answer, she walked near the table and she then let her fingers glide on its smooth surface. Her smile never faltered.

She's got something under her sleeves.

With that, I narrowed my eyes. I hated the fact that I also don't seem to comprehend how her mind goes. Sure, I admit that I, one way or another, enjoyed accompanying them, but hell this two seems to find the joy of giving me headaches every now and then!

"You know where." She stated, breaking my train of thoughts. She lifted her head, causing of our eyes to meet, and I unmistakably pointed out an outstanding glow they have.

Mischief.

That wasn't new… however, they appeared to have doubled its force.

I raised a skeptical brow and voiced my guess, half-heatedly. "That garden?"

She shook her head.

I shrugged my shoulders, straight away giving it up. I am not once for lame guessing games. They're simply boring and time consuming. Wanting to do what I had previously planned, I spoke before bowing my head, "I'd love to accompany you but I have something else to do."

"Okaa-sama~" Aoi disrupted, voice in a wavering tone. "There's no point of persuading him. He never showed an ounce of interest on setting a foot in Gakuen Alice!"

My eyes blinked. Did I hear her right?

"Aren't you coming this time, Natsume?" Her mischievous smile was leisurely corrupted with a knowing one.

"Of course not. I see no reason for going there." Was my answer in a matter-of-fact tone.

She nodded. I don't know why I saw mockery on that movement of hers though. "May I know where Ruka-kun is?"

Instantly, realization hit me.

Hard.

I averted my eyes somewhere, uttering my reply. "Ruka had gone on a personal business." I disregarded that she had seen right through that.

"You sure?" She pressed, taking pleasure of throwing questions.

"Yes." I grunted. Why does she have to have that alice instead of fire like us? Tch.

Aoi then stood in front of her with her hands clipped at the sides of her hips. "Even if you would come, do not ever thing that I'll let you tag along. Surely, you'll only ruin my time with senpai!" She looked away.

I scoffed. "Do whatever you want for all I care."

The brat goes to the academy too. It just recently reached me that she goes there more frequently than she usually does—much to my dismay. And by the time she comes back in the Palace, her mouth babbles nonstop. One time, I think she had nobody to talk to… that when she saw me—of all available people around that time—my quality time flew out of the window as she chatted one-sidedly about the academy and her senpai.

I barely listened, nonetheless.

"Oh, you really don't?" Mother spoke, the tease hidden underneath her voice was too detectable.

"I meant what I said." I dismissively retorted before bowing my head as I announced that I am leaving. I have no intention of hanging with them much longer. I then reached the doors, but I casted them a last glance and spoke with a slight restricting tone, regardless of her known stubbornness, "Don't use your alice recklessly, mother." And I left, and once I was at a considerably good distance away, I let out a sigh.

Irritated and displeased.

Guess I'll have to trust Ruka on this. Was my decision… except that, I could merely push myself to stick at that as I couldn't shake this feeling that had been nagging me for these past weeks.

I clenched my fists. I felt insulted that I was left with no other choice but to send him…

xoxoxoxoxo

Where Ruka is…

Azure blue orbs followed, though they frequently threw glances towards the busy road, a certain white-feathered hunting bird that was exceptionally flying a roof-leveled length above the ground under the hot, beating sun. And whenever the owl would turn, that would call for him to hasten his pace as to not lose sight of the mentioned bird.

It was his only lead on tracking the fair maiden that had yet to be revealed her real identity since for the weeks he had have been searching… she'd been too difficult to grasp. Giving up never arrived on him as the mystery veiled on her entity had intrigue him on every angle he could think of.

"Fancy seeing you again, Ruka-san," A cheerful voice came, resulting for his focus' disruption and his azure blue orbs to travel to where the voice generally came from.

The blonde blinked, unexpecting the person before him. After a couple of seconds, he regained his composure and offered a smile, "I could tell you the same thing, Mikan."

The brunette chuckled. He sent a second-worth of glance at his owl that was now resting on a tree's branch.

His eyebrows crumpled a bit.

"Ne, Ruka-san," Mikan sheepishly said, though she but her lower lip like she even regretted speaking. Well, she really was.

"Hm?" His eyebrows rose in query, looking at her once again.

She apologetically smiled, "I think I'm slowing you down again, so I'll leave you now." She was well-aware that they paths had crossed while he was evidently doing a mission or something. He looks busy and occupied.

"But you aren—"He tried to explain as her words sunk in his head. She wasn't really slowing him down.

Mikan, however, cut him with a do-not-dent-it-its-obvious look. Subsequently, she beamed again before bowing her head, absolutely leaving no other choice but to return the polite gesture. She walked past him.

On the other hand, the blonde was about to take a step forward to carry out his temporarily paused mission—though, he abruptly stopped dead on his tracks at a sudden idea that popped in his head. A thought that was ridiculously not pondered by him, resulting for him to feel stupid for the thought somehow made sense.

He turned on his heel, "Mikan,"

Maybe, this might be the end of his search—his royal best friend's search.

Mikan spun on her heel. Then, her bright hazel brown orbs showcased question, "Yes?"

"By any chance, have you met His Highness?" He inquired, hope and vagueness lacing his gently voice. Ruka, asking won't hurt.

"Are you referring to His Highness, Prince Tsubasa?"

The blonde shook his head.

She nodded, comprehending who he meant without a use of words. "Hmm…" She mused, resting her chin on her delicate finger as she tried to recall any memories involving the matter. Soon, she placed her hands, one over the other, in front of her lap. She shook her head with an apologetic smile plastered on, "I'm sorry but I don't recall any meeting with His Highness."

He waved his hands in front of him, "It's alright. No need to apologize." He told her, paying no attention to the disappointment that she wasn't that fair maiden.

She chuckled and she grinned, "I'll be off then." She had to leave or she'd be late.

"Say me 'hi' to Youichi." He bowed at her.

"Sure, Ruka-san." She returned the gesture, and thus, she departed.

His gaze stayed on her back, way longer that he unpreparedly planned. Afterwards, she disappeared though the sea of people that made him glanced at his owl. He walked near its current resting place and he raised his arm, beckoning the white feathered hunting bird.

As the owl landed on his arm, he looked at the cemented low fence that the tree was planted in. He released a breath that he didn't know he was holding in.

He knew the family that reside in the place.

xoxoxoxoxo

"Mikan-san!" A cheeky voice cut though the mentioned girl's I-am-reading bubble, causing for her look up. A smile ran on her pink lips while she closed her book and stood up.

"Your Highness." Mikan acknowledge, bowing her head in greeting. However, meeting the cheerful young princess slash her kouhai called the—weird, in her opinion—question Ruka had asked her hours ago. She had no idea as to why, somehow, bugged her awhile ago.

"By any chance, have you met His Highness?"

That simple question had bugged her with a reason she was unknown of… but she was able to forget about that when she started reading… and now, it was regaining its previous works—pushing her to know the answer behind it. She didn't want to prod but…

A tug from her sleeve immediately pulled Mikan out of her almost-starting trance. She blinked before her hazel brown eyes met a set of enthusiastic crimson red ruby ones. She then mentally dismissed the topic of thinking of any possible answers concerning the question as she chose to spend her time with the raven headed young princess.

xoxoxoxoxo

At the Palace…

"How did it go this time?" Natsume monotonously interrogated, leaning his face forward and resting his chin on his knuckle. His impassive mask covered his other plan if ever the blonde's report isn't a bit satisfying.

"I had finally reached its conclusion, Your Highness." A smile threatening to surface on his lips.

"Took you a few weeks to reach that." The raven headed prince commented, in great contrast of his contented smirk. This was much better compared to the blonde's previous reports.

"Yeah, took me long enough. Sorry." Ruka casually apologized, a finger scratching his cheek. He didn't mean to take his time.

"I don't mind." The other coolly supplied.

The blonde then cleared his throat, readying his words. It was a given that the prince demands for a full report despite the excessive lack of words—Ruka just knew him. Also, Ruka was one of the few—very, very few—people within the Palace that could convince the notorious crown prince. Hence, he was the sole reason that Natsume had not sneaked out of the Palace walls for the past weeks. Well, the effort he exerted was not an easy task as the latter stood his ground, stubbornly.

"Everything was quite confusing since throughout the time, I always end up seeing two young ladies that belonged each to a respective noble family." Natsume quirked a quizzical brow. Ruka was aware he sounded like he was voicing his thoughts rather than a formal, report manner. "I am not sure if those were mere coincidence or not, but going back to what I said earlier, I have found her. But, do you mind if I ask you a question?" Outmost curiosity was stretched across the blonde's features.

"What could that question of yours be?"

"How are you able to meet her?"

A moment of silence engulfed the two of them before the royalty broke it with, "I presume you know her name." He blurted, changing the topic and his expression heavily guarded.

Ruka sweat dropped with a sigh escaping his lips. He slightly shook his head, He's not gonna tell. As much as he wanted to know… it was impossible for the other to speak up. He then nodded, an answer for Natsume's question, er statement. "Yes, of course, Your Highness."

After that, the blonde purposely paused, provoking Natsume's known short patience.

Revenge, you might say.

Not long, an eyebrow twitching was observed.

The blonde could have laughed at that, but he had had that settled in his throat. The rumors lingering around the crown prince were mostly true, indeed… though he also knows some of them revealed nothing but lies—and he won't speak a word to anyone about it.

"Sakura Mikan."He named the fair maiden, remembering the residence's owner that his owl had rested when he and the brunette had that chat. He gained nods from the other, and afterwards, Ruka asked, "Do you want me to ask her? Or do you prefer that I bring her here?"

"No need." Natsume coolly declined, smirking. Sakura Mikan, huh.

However, the raven headed prince resisted the urge of quirking a brow upon spotting something that served his confusion to take action. Is it just me? Or had that name ringed of so much familiarity? He mused, tapping his fingers on the table alternatively, and brushed the topic off. He'll ponder on that later.

On the other hand, Ruka stared at him, bewildered and speechless. He didn't seem to expect that rejection from the other.

Natsume then sat straightly, taking in the look his best friend had. "It had been weeks," He stated, his smirk widening. "With her name—"

"I think I know where this would end." Ruka cut in with a smile lining his lips. He found it necessary to say that.

Natsume scoffed rather in amusement. He could tolerate his intervention. "That said, we're leaving tomorrow." He flatly announced, his voice as measured as ever.

Ruka nodded in accordance, knowing that he could no longer interfere.

xoxoxoxoxo

Walking through a street in Central Town with no exact direction in mind, Natsume proceeded to plainly walk his way. Well, it would have been identical to his prior 'trips' in town… if it weren't for his evidently tight-lined lips and that displeased glint his crimson red ruby orbs held.

Today was the day he had finally sneaked out of the Palace, taking in that it was days delayed from his original plan days ago. However, he was rather torn between hating it and enjoying those days as somewhere there was when his older brother, Tsubasa, had arrived after his long journey. And being the person he was, Natsume gave him his usual treatment whilst the other was still enthusiastic and annoying. Other than that, Aoi, along with Kaoru Hyuuga, had constantly provided him his daily dose of headaches. He had left Ruka there as a distraction for both Tsubasa and Narumi. The blonde did put up a good fight on their 'talk' but was defeated somewhere there; also, Natsume knew that underneath Tsubasa's stupidity was his sharpness whenever he sneaks out and that mentioned trait would surface one a situation alls for it.

Going back to the situation at hand, he evoked how his present annoyance started. The sensation manifested when he have had arrived at Gakuen Alice… whose gates were shamelessly closed. And it had drowned onto him that the day doesn't held classes.

Why?

It was a freakin' weekend. Fate's seemingly inability to apply great timing on events was to be blamed—according to him. And so that lead him no other option but to roam around the town… and that in some way, made his vain—perhaps futile— attempt on running across a certain someone who hadn't even showed up.

Unexpectedly, his train of mental complains broke as his feet abruptly stopped when his eyes caught sight of an auburn headed girl who just in time walked across the nearby intersection. His previous thoughts dispensed; and before he could grasp his actions, his feet had moved on their own accord and the next thing he knew was his hand was shoot up, aiming on one of her shoulders. He then grabbed hold of it in a firm yet gentle manner, causing for the latter to stop on her own tracks.

"Oi," He uttered but he grimaced upon hearing the tinge of shallow uncertainty on his voice. Why his voice bore that… he found himself not wanting to know its answer.

The auburn headed girl, who obviously belonged in a noble's family, slowly turned. Then, she looked at him with a confused and bewilderment stretched across her features.

Without missing a beat, he released her shoulder. "Wrong person." Was his short excuse that sounded more of a statement.

The brunette stared at him before she blinked, getting what he meant. Gladly, she overlooked it—the bright tint on her cheeks was either ignored or unnoticed by the other—and she inclined her head, flashing him a smile and she left.

Natsume linked his tongue in unambiguous disappointment, his annoyance rushing with a doubled force. Frowning, he took a step back and spun on his heel—but he found himself instantly frozen as something hit his chest and for his feet to intently do necessary steps.

*Thud*

"Aww!" Someone—another girl—half-yelped as her butt hit the solid, rough ground while a basket, that was most likely hers, was now lying on the ground as most of its contents were scattered. Wasted.

Being unaffected by the bearable impact, the raven headed prince was still standing on his feet—although he was immobilized. His eyes grew wide, but he blinked them before turning them back to their normal state, masking any emotions they might have showcase with impassiveness… or so he thought, for they had betrayed him. They hinted his shock whereas his mind was running blank.

These reactions were illogical that he felt damn stupid.

Her closed eyelids fluttered open, revealing those radiant hazel brown orbs.

It's… her. His jaw clenched, his eyes blinking once.

She lifted her head up. Her eyebrows were furrowed. Her eyes were narrowed, displaying a quite amount of irritation. In contrast of her reactions, Natsume was silently looking at her and standing rather awkwardly, slightly wondering if ever she had forgotten about him.

Just then her eyes glowed of outmost recognition, a smile tugging the corners of her lips, "Oh! It's you again!"

He did nothing but blinked. Somewhere in his mind, he hated to recognize that nervousness he had over the next words she was bound to say. With that, his fists unconsciously clenched themselves.

"It's Mr. Palace Guard Apprentice!" She said, smiling all too brightly.

Well, that entirely kicked him out of his reverie whereas his nervousness gone to waste.

"Wha-What?" Was his query as a muscle under his eye twitched. Had she not… tch. It's obvious… but for her not to know who I am really… is that a good thing? He couldn't help but wonder while he stared at her smiling face.

xoxoxoxoxo

Author's note: Waaaa! I took a lot of months to actually post this update… sorry, please forgive me*bows a lot of times*our computer is yet again not in a good condition and Our majors are taking much of my time, and who would have thought being a second year college student is a whole lot different than being a freshmen o.o despite that, there's some joy on every new challenges ^_^

That aside, thanks for the review! I appreciated it thanks also for adding this story in your faves, for the alerts and thanks for those silent readers *waves hand to everyone*

I think this is the longest chapter I had made so far in this story… anyways, Natsume sure loves to complain, doesn't he? xD I posted this now instead of last week as a present for Natsume's birthday! Happy Birthday, Natsume! :)

I hoped you like this even though I had to cut it at that… but in my first work their meeting would have been the next chap… though I changed my mind and made it at the last part. Sorry if ever there are some typos, I actually made this chapter while doing my assignment soo… please feel free to point out any mistakes and I'll correct it. Maybe I'll go over this one and edit… but that would be sometime later. I know I had taken much time on this but I hope you'll bear with me, ne ^^; I'm adding my own twist and how they progress on stuffs.

Thanks for reading! How 'bout sending a review?