Here's the next installment. Hope you all will like it. :D

I don't own Gakuen Alice

Red Lining

The night went to a blur as Mikan woke up the next day with a stiff neck and a headache. She clearly didn't have a good night's sleep last night as she played everything that had happened that night in her mind like it was a box office hit.

"Now, tell me... tell me, we can't be together."

"We can't be."

Mikan sighed against her pillow. Was her choice correct?

It is.

But why do I get the feeling that it's wrong? That I'm going to regret it?

No, you won't because he's a rock star! His stay in the academy is temporary and in the future, he won't be there anymore! You'll only get to see him in movies and concerts. Both of you together... won't work out.

Mikan continued talking to herself as she took a cold shower, brushed her teeth, put on her uniform and walked out of the dorm, towards the Academy.

Mikan slowly came to a halt as she saw the gates of the Academy, spawned by people. She managed to see several TV station stationed around the gate, its newscasters and cameraman ready to shoot those who where needed.

As she squirmed her way through the crowd, trying to see what was happening; her bag almost fell to the floor as she soon realized that the news was centered on Red Lining. The band members were waving at the crowd but Mikan found that the band was missing someone very important.

Natsume...

Mikan sighed. He wouldn't be seeing him, after all.

Mikan turned her heels, ready to leave before anyone sees her but unfortunately Ruka spotted her first.

"Mikan."

Mikan turned around and smiled sheepishly at Ruka. "You found me."

Ruka observed Mikan as she tried to pull of a smile at him. He quickly pulled her out of the crowd and into the seclusion of the guards.

"Here." Ruka said as he shoved several crunched up letters in her hands. It looked like it were thrown out but somehow it was saved and in her hands.

"What's this?"

"Just read everything."

"But—"

Ruka looked at his watch and cut Mikan short of what she was going to say. "I guess you haven't heard the news yet."

"What news?"

"Our band is going to have a tour in States."

"When?"

"Three days from now."

"Oh." Mikan whispered. So, this was Red Lining's last day at the Academy. "When are you going to leave?"

"Right after school today."

"Oh..."

"Mikan, we're not going to come back as student's here again."

Mikan's heart tightened as if it was having a heart breakdown.

See, you won't be seeing Natsume anymore.

"I see..." She nodded.

Ruka sighed.

He wanted to wring Mikan's neck out. She was obviously saddened about not seeing Natsume again but she was trying to be oblivious to him.

"I heard what happened last night..."

Mikan looked up at him with questioning eyes. "Did he tell you?"

"No. But... Mikan, what happened?"

Mikan eyes darkened as she thought about the night before. "Ruka, Natsume and I are... we're not meant to be together. We know that he was just fooling himself. Please make him understand—"

"You know what, Mikan? You're the foolish one."

Mikan stiffened.

"Haven't you seen the way Natsume looks at you?"

Mikan stared at Ruka's blue eyes.

"Can't you see how much he tries to be with you, whether he knows his career's going to be in jeopardy?"

Natsume...

"Don't you see that he just sent you those 'blackmail pictures' to make you realize that what exactly you see in those pictures were really his true feelings for you?"

"You know about those pictures?" Mikan whispered.

"I do. I took them." Ruka confessed even though he knew that someday when Mikan's in her right mind, she will definitely spank him. "Do you know how much he gave up just so he could be there with you that midnight? He skipped the late night interview we should have at that time. He also gave up two hour's of his sleep just so he could see you."

"He... he did that?

"Yes. Yes, all for you. I'm his best friend, Mikan. He never did that to any girl. You're just so blind to see how much he loves you. Were you so oblivious to the way he stares at you at lunch, at class?"

"He... was?"

"Most of our classmates already knew that he's in love you. Totally head over heels in love with you and you just rejected him."

"But he..."

"You're the foolish one if you can't see how much he loves you."

"He didn't—" Mikan stopped as she heard the bell signaling the start of classes.

Ruka sighed. "We're going to have several interviews before we go to the airport. I suggest you go to class and start reading all of those now."

She wanted to ask more about Natsume but she was quickly pulled out and accompanied by a guard towards her classroom. She quickly headed to her seat as she apologized herself to her sensei, Mr. Narumi.

That's when Mikan felt the stares from her classmates. She couldn't paint their expressions but it looked as if they were disappointed in her, like they knew about Natsume's feelings.

"Most of our classmates already know that he's in love you. Totally head over heels in love with you and you just rejected him."

Suddenly Mikan felt as sheet of paper slipped on top of her desk. She knew from the handwriting that it was from her best friend, Hotaru.

She quickly but silently unfolded the letter and scanned it.

I told you last night not to do anything stupid.

Mikan tilted her head to the side and stared at Hotaru who sat two seats away on her right. Hotaru moved her mouth and Mikan read her lips, "Ba-ka."

Mikan sighed. Even her friend opposed to her decision. Mikan folded the letter again when another was slipped on her desk.

It was from Hotaru again.

You can't be the only one to decide that you and Natsume aren't meant to be.

Mikan pouted. How did Hotaru know that she was the one who decided?

As if knowing that Mikan would ask her that, she scrawled something under the sentence.

I know you, Mikan. And I know that you like Natsume, maybe even love him too. You're just not accepting that fact that you actually do.

Mikan sighed.

Now she was regretting rejecting Natsume and her conscience couldn't even help compensate what she was feeling.

She sighed as she decided to open one of the sealed envelopes.

When she was with Ruka, she silently longed that Natsume would come around and hug her just the way he did yesterday.

But she knew, that wouldn't happen.

Not anymore. Because she knew Natsume wouldn't forgive her.

She slowly unfolded the letter.

I can't seem to take you off my mind right now.
Your smile
The way you look at me
Makes me want to hold you tight in the circle of my arms

I want you
I need you
You've been everything that I've wanted from the start
You're my life now

Never let me go, Mikan.

Mikan's heart thumped loudly. Why was her name here?

Each second passing by
I want you always by my side
Always
I love you

Mikan heart beat crazily. Was this letters all for her?

She quickly opened the next letter that lay in front of her.

I wonder how it feels to have you alone within my arms
How I believe it would feel so good
Because I have all the love I need inside my arms
Mikan, when I'm not beside you, I'm always thinking of you.

I miss the way you smile, the way you laugh, the way you make everything around light up. I miss your touch, your smell. I can't stop myself anymore, because I'm in love with you.

Tears started spilling out of Mikan's eyes.

Why didn't she see it from the start?

She started reading another one which was different from all the other envelopes she held. It had a faint smell of tangerines, the scent she smelled when she was with him last night.

To my dearest Mikan,

I think I'm in love with you already. I never thought I would be until I kissed you on the parking lot of the mall. I just felt it. That feeling. I thought I was becoming stupid to even think that I like you. But that kiss changed it all. I need you, Mikan. I think I can't possibly let you go, now. I love you, for all the right reasons and I will still love you even if you think of wrong reasons. I know you hate my guts because I've been rude to you but I know I can change. If you just let me love you.

I know that we both come from different worlds. You are normal, while I write and sing my songs and share it through the world. There's no privacy. And if you become my girlfriend, I couldn't promise you that you'll have the same life as before. But I will try my best to make you safe. I'll kill anyone who tries to do something bad to you. Just, please, let me love you.

I don't care, anymore. But if you would like your normal life more than the life I have... I'll... I'll give it up. For you, I will... I would stop my career and live like you do. I'll give you what you want. I'll make you happy.

Just love me.

If you think we aren't meant to be, I'll promise you we're meant. Because I'm going to write it out all over the stars that you're mine and I'm yours only. I'll do anything in my power. I know you think of me foolish but I just want to be with you.

Natsume

Everything that she had reasoned out last night to him was here. How come he had all the possible answers in his mind already?

Natsume was serious all along. He was in love with her, all along and now...

Mikan started sobbing.

Mr. Narumi heard her sobs and paused for his lecture. "Mikan, is everything all right?"

Mikan nodded but she continued to cry. "Mr. Narumi... please... hiccup... go on. Nothing... hiccup... is wrong."

Mr. Narumi smiled at her. "Go along now."

Mikan stopped her sobs and looked up at Mr. Narumi. "Sensei?"

"Mr. Hyuuga's flight is an hour from now. You might be late."

"But Ruka said—"

"Mr. Nogi and the others will be having their flight later after class. Mr. Hyuuga was assigned to go first."

Natsume... he was the first to leave? He was going to leave?

Without another word, Mikan stood from her seat and ran out of the room leaving the class silent and surprised.

"So, where were we, class?" Mr. Narumi asked as if nothing out of the usual happened.

-------

Mikan ran and ran until she was in front of the gates. She found Ruka encircled by many fans and she quickly pushed her way to his front. "Ruka, help me. I need to see Natsume."

Ruka suddenly smiled brightly. Mikan heard her mutter silently under his breath that it was about time when he quickly pulled her towards the car and shoved her inside. "Wait for me, here."

"I can't. I need to see him as soon as possible. I need to..."

Ruka laughed. "I'll just tell the guards that we'll leave. I'll be fast."

Within minutes, Mikan along with Ruka drove off towards the airport.

---

Natsume quickly looked up at the large digital clock located at the center of the Japan International Airport.

He was going to States in less than an hour but his mind was somewhere else.

"Now, tell me... tell me, we can't be together."

"We can't be."

He should be angry at her. But he didn't understand why he still wanted to see her. He would do anything just to get out of the guards around him and drive off to the Academy and see her.

He hated her for rejecting him but somehow he knew that he would still love her even though she'd hurt him so much.

"Flight PRC232 going to United States of America now boarding. Please proceed to the entrance of the west wing. Thank you."

Natsume wanted to stay. He was hoping for someone to come as he quickly scanned the airport.

Most of his fans were there but the one person he was trying to find wasn't there.

He rejected you last night, Natsume. She wouldn't come.

"Natsume, let's go?"

Natsume looked up at his Manager Tsubasa.

He turned and scanned the crowd one last time.

He stood up and nodded.

---

"How much time do we have left?"

Ruka maneuvered the car into a halt as he pulled out from his seat belt. He glanced at his watch and looked at Mikan. "It looks like he's plane is boarding already. You've got to run, Mikan. Now."

Mikan nodded as she pushed the car door open and sprinted over to the entrance of the airport.

Please let me see him.

Mikan ran inside the airport just as the speakers announced a flight number which she felt was Natsume's flight. She ran towards the west wing trying to find him when suddenly a guard stopped her.

"Miss, may I see your plane ticket?"

"I don't have one. I'm looking for Natsume—"

"Miss, you can't come here without a ticket."

"But I need to talk to him. Please I need—"

"That can't happen. You need to have a ticket."

Mikan wanted to kick the security guard. She panicked until she saw the room wherein the staff and crew of the airline announce things over the plane leaving.

She quickly ran towards the room though she knew the guard was following her. "Miss, you can't come in there—"

Too late. She managed to come inside the empty room and locked it behind her.

She looked at the controls and pressed the button for flight PRC232.

---

Natsume looked bored as he sat on the private section of the plane. He looked over the window just as the pilot started introducing himself.

He wanted to get out of the plane at once. He wanted to see her. He wanted to hold her in his arms. He wanted to kiss her. He wanted to—

"Mr. Hyuuga?"

Natsume looked up coldly at the steward and cocked his head to the side.

"Do you want some refreshments?"

"No."

"Or maybe some snacks—"

"No. Leave."

The steward blushed with embarrassment and left Natsume by himself.

Tsubasa looked Natsume over. He realized Natsume was become his cold self again. And as the manager of Red Lining, he didn't want his attitude to become like that again.

"Good afternoon. I am Ryu Kanzaki your pilot for this flight. Please remember—"

Just as the plane went silent to hear the pilot on the speakers, his voice suddenly was cut and a girl's voice came over the speakers.

"Natsume,"

Natsume senses came back as he heard his name on the speakers.

His face suddenly lit up.

It was Mikan.

"Please. Oh, God. I'm sorry. I don't know what to do. I'm wrong. And now I know you're never going to forgive me."

"Foolish girl." Natsume smiled to himself.

"I know I was wrong. I shouldn't have decided that we couldn't be together. I liked you. I liked you from the start. Ahhh... I don't know if you're hearing this but I know I'm in big trouble after this. Just please. Please..."

Natsume waited just as there was a pause in the speakers. Then he heard a sob.

Was Mikan crying?

"Please... I want to be with you."

Natsume's eyes smoldered. He wanted to see her and hug her so that she would stop crying.

"Please see me. Please come back to me. Please—"

Natsume had a questioning face as he heard another voice come into the speakers.

"We are sorry for the inconvenience. This will never be repeated. Please put your seatbelts on and Flight PRC232 is ready for take off."

Then the speakers were turned off.

Tsubasa looked wide eyed at Natsume. Natsume's face turned into a smile.

"Was that Mikan?"

Natsume nodded smugly to himself and he focused straight at his manager. "Can you do me a favor?"

---

"Miss, you just have violated the rules of this airport—" The security guard started but was quickly cut off by what seemed to be the head of the announcing department.

"It's okay, Ray. The girl had done no damage to the airport. And I believe that the passengers of the plane PRC232 didn't find her announcement boring and annoying. For in fact, it was romantic like that of the series I'm currently watching right now."

Mikan looked up at the older woman.

She quickly blushed. "I'm really sorry for what I did."

"Oh there's nothing wrong in confessing your love for someone."

"Thank you." Mikan giggled.

The woman leaned against her seat and looked at Mikan. "So, it's true. You're Mikan Sakura?"

Mikan looked up at her. "How did you know?"

"I'm actually close to their manager Tsubasa. Call me Misaki." The woman smiled. "I sometimes see Natsume writing whenever he has the time and he kept on whispering to himself your name."

"He was what?" Mikan blushed like a tomato.

"Yes, he did that all the time. He must have really cherished you."

Mikan nodded. "He did and I messed it up."

"No, I have a feeling that he'll be coming back to you just like you said."

Mikan looked up at Misaki again with hopeful eyes. "I hope he will too."

"Now, you must be tired. Why don't you seat here for a moment and I'll call for Ruka."

Mikan nodded. "Thank you, Misaki."

"No problem." The woman left.

Mikan stared up at the ceiling and before she knew it, her eyes closed and she fell asleep picturing Natsume coming back to her.

That was LOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGG. Weeeeeeeee! Compared to those last chapters I have written... :D

I'm predicting that there will be 2 or 3 more chapters coming and after that, the story will end. :(

This is so sad. :|

Please read and review!

Love you guys! :P

khostar