DISCLAIMER: Unfortunately, Gakuen Alice does not, and never will, belong to me. The only thing I'll ever own that is close (but still very far away) to it is the stories that I make off of obsessive addictiveness… XD

Selfless

~Chapter 10~

It had been 2 months since school started up once again. Her birthday had flown by without a hitch. All her friends and family were there to celelbrate. Mikan and Natsume decided that they should let everyone know that they were together. Of course, their friends were ecstatic for them, also knowing that it would have happened sooner or later. And her family was just as excited upon hearing the news.

Natsume's parents had gotten very far in the working world of the Sakuras. They moved through the rankings until they got to the very top. To Mikan's complete and utter adoration, they had gained their own section of the company to work over and keep intact.

Mikan was happy for Natsume and his family. They were slowly, but surely, getting to the place where any family could hope to be. Earlier that week, the Hyuugas were looking for a new house to live in.

It was true that Mikan would miss Natsume once he was gone. After all, they had shared her room and had gotten very close to each other for the time he had resided in her home. That room of hers would certainly feel empty for a while after he left to move into his own house with his parents.

Well, maybe he'd sleep over sometimes and he'd come to her house after school, or her to his. Yeah, that sounded nice.

Mikan smiled and picked up her pace to meet Natsume at their next class together.

Natsume sighed as he slumped into his hard, unforgiving desk. That morning, he had gotten some… bad news.

Well, it wasn't necessarily bad. But it wasn't really good either. It was great for his parents, just not good for him. Anyway, it was sort of bad… if that makes sense.

That morning, Mikan had to get to school for a meeting for the sport she had wanted to join that spring. So, he said that he'd go to school at a more reasonable time while she attended her meeting. His parents had used that time to pull him aside and explain the new living arrangements that they would be having within the next month.

They were doing fabulously amazing in their new jobs. The elder Hyuugas had gotten a new position in their jobs, but in a whole different division than they were in now.

They got promoted to the section of Sakura Organization in America.

They were leaving in a week.

And Mikan had no idea…

Natsume groaned as he let his head fall back. How was he supposed to tell her? How would she react? Honeslty, the thought of leaving Mikan for who knows how long made his heart ache. They had only just gotten together and they were exploring the new territory as of then. Why would fate tear them apart just when things started going well for him?

Natsume sighed, sitting up and getting his notebook and pencil out. He'd have to tell her sometime. And telling her as soon as possible would be the better idea. Keeping something from her until the last minute wouldn't be the smartest thing in the world.

Nodding to himself, Natsume sat back and pulled out his textbook and began the 'warm-up' problems assigned on the white-board as he waited for Mikan to join him.

Just as he was finishing the first problem, Mikan dropped her back and plopped ungracefully onto the seat next to him.

"Hey, Nat! How are you?" Mikan asked in her cheery voice.

"…Hn…"

Mikan's once happy expression morphed into one of concern. "Hey, what's wrong?"

Natsume avoided looking Mikan in her eyes. "Let's… we'll talk at home, 'kay?"

Mikan hesitated, but nodded her head none-the-less. "We have no work today, so we'll talk on our way home…?"

Natsume nodded, starting up on the next problem on the teacher's assignment.

Her concern grew the more she observed Natsume's odd behavior. But, she decided to let it go and wait until they were to speak that day during their walk home.

The first few minutes of their walk was silent. The both of them didn't have the courage to start the conversation they knew they should start. But, knowing that something should happen before they reached their destination, Mikan decided to speak.

"Hey… so what was it you wanted to talk about?" she asked hesitantly.

He stayed silent for a few more seconds before he decided to just get out with it, "I'm moving to America."

Mikan stopped walking, and Natsume did the same. They stared into each other's eyes for a minute before reactions took place.

"…H-huh?"

Natsume sighed and enveloped Mikan in a tight, loving hug. "We're moving to America in a week. Because of Mom and Dad's work… sorry."

Mikan slowly wrapped her arms around Natsume's torso as she tried her best to keep the tears from flowing. "N-no, I'm happy for you! I… I'm glad that you are getting into a better situation than now… and…I…"

Tears overflowed her eyelids and she found she couldn't speak anymore. Her throat constricted and she succumbed to her will to cry her eyes out. How could this be happening? Why were things being torn apart just when it became perfect? It shouldn't have to be this way! Things should just get better while Natsume got to stay next to her. Then, things will be so much better in a way everyone will enjoy.

Why did things have to be so horrible?

She lay her head on Natsume's chest as they got into bed. When the two had gotten home, they didn't say a word to anyone; just held hands and shared meaningful glances. Their parents didn't say a word about it, keeping Youichi out of their hair so they could get through the hardships they were facing. Mikan was happy for their help, but they couldn't keep her happy forever.

She sighed and wrapped her arms around Natsume, him doing the same to her. They stared into each other's eyes, blinking seldomly.

"So, you're leaving next week, right?" Mikan asked quietly, as to not wake anyone else up.

"Yeah," Natsume replied, "that's a week away…"

"Mm."

It was silent between the two for a few seconds before Mikan spoke again. "When you get to America, remember to give me a call, alright?"

Natsume cracked a small grin. "Of course. Wouldn't hesitate to."

"And don't forget to call me!" Mikan continued. "But you don't have to call every day if you don't have the time. At least once a week though, alright?"

"I'll stick with every day," Natsume said, kissing her nose.

Mikan giggled, but her smile slowly melted away. "…Don't… don't forget me, 'kay?"

Natsume's eyes went wide when she said that. "Why would I forget you? You're unforgettable! You'll be on my mind every second of the day for the rest of my life!"

Mikan's giggle came back, a bit louder this time. "You're so corny…"

Letting a smile slip onto his lips, Natsume pulled her closer to him. Burrying his face into the crook of her neck, he said, "Well, it's true. And one day, I'll come back to get you again."

He pulled back to look into Mikan's eyes with a pleading look. "So don't forget me, okay?"

Mikan grinned devilishly as she moved her face closer to Natsume's. "Never."

And with that, she was the one to induce the kiss that they were both wishing for since the news poured out of Natsume's mouth earlier that day.

She felt as if she were in heaven as contact was made between their lips. She marveled at how sweet Natsume's lips tasted. And even though they were slightly chapped, the rough surface felt heavenly on her own. Heart fluttering, she could only pull him closer to her as their kiss rose in feeling.

Natsume practically pulled Mikan on top of him as things progressed. He ran his hands up and down her thighs as she straddled his torso. He didn't want that moment to end. He wished time could just stand still so that he could forever feel Mikan's lips on his own, her body held close to him. He wished things could stay as they were forever.

But of course, time moves forward even if it leaves others behind.

Natsume stood beside his parents in the busy airport as everyone said their good-byes. It was the day that he would start a new life in America. And he was quite apprehensive about it. All his friends stood around him, the ones he'd made with the help of Mikan.

Koko pat him on the back while Hotaru offered him a nod. Ruka and the girls had tears in their eyes and were trying their best not to let them spill. They were getting very emotional. And Natsume had to admit that it was hard for him not to burst out in tears with everyone here being so depressed.

"It's not like it's the end of the world," Natsume smirked, throwing his arm around Mikan's shoulders as she made her way to his side. "I'll keep in touch."

"Yeah, b-but," Ruka was cut off.

"No buts," Natsume said. His smirk grew as he said, "I'll have to make sure no one steals my possessions," as he stared straight at Mikan.

She turned a delightful shade of pink and turned her face away from him to hide her blush. Why Natsume was utilizing his remaining minutes teasing her was beyond Mikan. But, just so that he would be happy, she'd go along with his little antics. After all, he would be gone from her life longer than a week or two. And she's only done so for a month at the most. She was going to miss the boy next to her.

But she was excited to see the man that he would grow up to be.

"Ne, Natsume?" Mikan called as the group laughed for a reason Mikan hadn't been paying attention to.

"Hn?"

"Have you already learned English well enough?"

There was a silence between the group before Natsume spoke his thoughts, "It's not perfect, but it will suit me fine until I get better."

Mikan giggled. "Yeah, what better way to learn than through experience."

Natsume smirked, "Precisely."

The group laughed as they heard the boarding call for Natsume's plane being announced. And as quick as that, their laughter died down.

"I have to go now," Natsume said as his parents gestured for him to follow to the flight gates.

Everyone nodded their heads solemly.

Natsume turned to face Mikan and gave her a peck on the cheek before grabbing his carry on and making his way to his flight with a wave over his shoulder. He didn't look back, knowing that doing so would make everything all the harder.

But, he couldn't exactly not look back as he hear his name being called through the crowd of people separating him from his group of friends.

"Natsume! Wait!"

Natsume turned around just in time to catch Mikan who had resulted to tackling him to the airport floor. All people around them stopped to watch the display the two teenagers were putting on.

"Why'd you tackle me?" he asked, sitting up with Mikan on his lap.

He didn't get a reply; rather, he got an action. Mikan quickly pressed her lips to Natsume's in a last ditch effort on saying her own special good-bye. She buried her fingers in his dark hair as he pulled her closer and wrapped his arms around her waist. When they pulled away, the two stood up and blushed at the attention they got from the bystanders around them (who were actually applauding for said couple-who'd do that?).

"Sorry for tackling you…" Mikan said sheepishly, looking down at the rugged floor.

Natsume let a genuine smile rest on his lips as he tilted Mikan's head up to place one last kiss on them. Before he let her go, Natsume said, "I'll see you later, Mikan."

Mikan blushed as Natsume smiled a bit wider and turned away from her, walking down the aisles and, with one last look and smile back to Mikan, through the gates.

Mikan and the group made their way to the big window wall where they could watch the planes be boarded, brought in, and fly off. They spotted Natsume in one of the windows. All waved and shouted random and unheard comments to the level-headed boy. But, all attention he had was on the girl he loved the most.

Just before the plane started moving, Mikan whispered, "I love you," and waved to Natsume, knowing that he was reading her lips as she said it.

He smiled and returned the words as the plane made its way down the runway and soared high into the air before disappearing between the clouds.

It was silent for a while, all those who had seen Natsume and his family off looking at the last place his plane was before it had taken off. And one by one, they trickled out of the airport, leaving Mikan to be the last one staring out the window.

A tear slowly traced her cheek as she lightly touched the cold glass with her fingertips. "See you later… Natsume."

She reluctantly stepped away from the window and walked into the crowd, making her way through the airport and to her awaiting family so that they could all go home.

She just wanted to go home.

~Chapter 10 End~

Ah! It was rushed, and a bit suckish…

Okay, it really sucked! T.T sorry…

Thank you all for reading and reviewing! I really appreciate it! And sorry for not thanking you last chapter. I'm just super busy right now! DX

Don't forget I'm tired too. Haha! Well, I'm deciding to make a Code Geass fic! What do you think? Tell me in a review! I'd like to know what your opinion is for my selection in anime. :D

Well, gtg I suppose. Gotta work!

~xXPaintingRealityXx logging off, baby! XD