I don't own Gakuen Alice. Please enjoy the story ^^

Chapter 9

After the 'crying and hugging' incident, Mikan fell into sleep again. But this time, she wasn't afraid anymore. She knew… no, she believed that Natsume would be by her side.

And she was right. Because in the next morning, the first thing she saw was Natsume sleeping with his head on the bed and his hand intertwined with her hand.

She looked at him and smiled, letting her other hand roam over his raven hair. His hair was soft, she noticed that. And messy, too. She chuckled at the thought, realizing that Natsume was stirring in his sleep.

He slowly opened his crimson eyes and stared at her, trying to remember what happened last night. Not too long after that, he broke into a smile and squeezed her hand tightly.

"Are you okay now?" Natsume asked gently, caressing her face

"I'm fine. And thank you very much, Natsume"

"For what?"

Instead of answering that question, Mikan just smiled sweetly at him, making Natsume blush a little bit. He immediately turned his head away to hide his embarrassment.

'Calm down now, you freaking heart. How can you go ba-thump ba-thump like a girl like that?' Natsume thought, trying to get his blush away

At the same time, the door was opened harshly, making Natsume jump a little bit. The two turned to the source and saw the group standing there breathless. They all jumped to Mikan's place, tackling the poor brunette down and 'accidently' knocking Natsume to another place

"Mikan-chan~"

"You finally woke up"

"You don't know how much I worry about you"

Mikan just didn't know what to do except for accepting their deadly hugs and smiled for the days to past. She was glad that her friends still cared about her. She felt like she was the happiest person on Earth.

"Hey, that hurts, you know" Natsume grunted loudly as he massaged the bump on his head. They all looked at him quizzically

"Oh, I didn't know you are here, Natsume" Koko said with his goofy smile which made the room break into laughter

"Mikan" The room was now silent as a raven-haired girl walked to Mikan's bed

"Hotaru" Mikan said, almost tear up.

Hotaru extended her arms out "Come here, you idiot"

Just in a split second, Mikan was in Hotaru's arm, crying her heart out. Natsume just sat in a corner of the room, sulking

…..xXx….

That day, Mikan learnt about her grandpa's death, which she had already known. She also told Hotaru and Natsume about her dream – actually her memories. Hotaru looked quite surprised while Natsume was still calm as usual. However, inside his mind, he was glad that she hasn't remembered about him yet.

About a week later, Mikan went to her grandpa's funeral. It was a small funeral and only invited the neighbors and his old friends. The weirdest thing was Mikan went to Kana's house to invite her but there was no one at home.

According to Natsume, Kana seemed to be a ghost or a spirit that held her memories or something like that. Hotaru also didn't find any information about that girl. Mikan swore that Kana just like her sister and she also talked with the woman quite sometimes.

So now, the question was: Who is Kana Ueda?

After the funeral, the brunette went back home. She opened the door, hoping to hear a greeting like in the past. But there was nothing. Only an empty dark house. Mikan took out her shoes and went to her grandpa's room. It was still the same. So old.

She made her way to the drawer and saw that there were many pictures. There was the time when she was a child. Then the picture of her parents. She suddenly saw something on the table which was in the middle of the room.

She sat in front of the table and stared at the letter. 'Dear Mikan' Somehow, there was something inside her saying that she shouldn't read it. But out of curiosity, she took the letter and slowly opened it.

Dear Mikan,

If you are reading this letter by now then that means there has been something happen to me.

I'm sorry that I can't be by your side anymore. And I'm sorry for lying to you. Lying about your parents.

I told you that your parents were in a business trip in other country, right? But the truth is they have died in the incident happened five years ago.

I think you have known the truth about your parents and about your name, Mikan Yukihira through the memories. I should have told you sooner, Mikan. But after that incident, I saw that you could smile again and still as happy as ever so I can't bring myself to tell you. I want to keep this as a secret forever.

There is something I should tell you, Mikan. Actually, there is still a missing piece in your memories. You haven't remembered all of them. This memory is about the person you love the most. You can get the clue from the picture next to this letter. I think you can remember about him a bit.

But it will be okay if you don't want to remember about him. He will only bring sadness to you, Mikan. Please, just be careful, Mikan. I will forever wish for your happiness, even if I won't be by your side anymore.

Truly,

Your grandpa

As soon as Mikan finished reading the letter, Mikan couldn't help but felt water in her eyes. She dropped the letter onto the ground and cried on her grandpa's bed all night.

That day, she lost her last related person. The one she cared the most. The one who tried to protect her all this time.

Unknown to her, she failed to notice the last line of the letter.

P/s: Actually, about Kana Ueda and I…..

…xXx…

The next morning, she came to class like usual.

"Good morning" She greeted cheerfully. Some of them greeted her back while the other (fan girls) ignored her. Mikan walked to her seat then sighed.

"You are crying again, huh?" A voice said, making Mikan's head snap up only to meet Hotaru's gaze. Before she had a chance to ask, Hotaru commented "You eyes are swollen, you know"

Mikan was quiet for a moment then she opened her mouth to say "It's nothing, Hotaru. Everything is already in the past. I'm fine"

Hotaru just looked at Mikan then sighed "If anything happens, tell me immediately"

"Okay" The brunette answered with a smile. At the same time, the class door was swung open as Natsume and Ruka walked in. Ruka went to their seats and greeted Mikan as usual. But Natsume, on the other hand, just stared at Mikan and walked to his seat in silence.

Unknown to Natsume, the brunette also glanced at him couple of times. She couldn't help but remembered about the letter and the picture that her grandpa talked about

In the morning, Mikan woke up. Her eyes were still red and tired from all those crying. She sat up and yawned. Remembered about the letter last night, Mikan looked to the table as she saw a picture on it.

It was a picture of a brunette girl with a bright smile on her face. Next to her was a boy who was about the same age as her. He had a raven hair, crimson eyes and a frown on his face. It seemed like he was not happy at all.

She looked a little closer and realized the brunette was the younger her. And the boy, according to her grandpa, was 'the person she loved the most'. But raven hair and crimson eyes, didn't he look just like Natsume?

There are not much people in the world with crimson eyes. Is that mean she has meet Natsume in the past? And Natsume was her first love? No wonder in her first day to class, Natsume hugged her and said that he would make her fall in love with him again.

The key word is 'again'. She loved Natsume?

But the question was: How can she find the last piece of her memories? The piece about Natsume….

"Good morning class" Narumi's gayish voice snapped Mikan back to reality. She realized she must have been a daze for the past time. But really, Mikan glanced at Natsume's seat, that child in the picture looked just like Natsume. After that, she let her mind wander outside again

"Today we will have a new student" Narumi clapped his hand together, announcing happily "Please come in"

As on clue, a boy with grayish hair and teal eyes walked into the classroom casually as the fan girls immediately squealed

"OH MY GOSH, HE LOOKS SO HANDSOME"

"HE LOOKS JUST LIKE NATSUME-SAMA"

"I LOVE YOU, PLEASE BE MY BOYFRIEND"

"NO, YOU SHOULD BE MY BOYFRIEND"

"QUIET DOWN" Narumi shouted as the girls sat down silently "This is Youichi Hijiri. He just transferred from America and he will be in our class from today onwards. Please treat him well." He then turned to Youichi who was having a bored expression on his face "So do you want to say anything, Youichi?"

Youichi just turned to the whole class. The fan girls all looked at him, expected something. However, what he said really break them down "Stay away from me, you ugly old hags"

Vein popped on the fan girls' forehead but they still tried to keep their façade with a smile on their face.

"Hahahaha" Koko laughed out loud "I like you, kid." Youichi ignored him again

"Okay" Narumi said, trying to ease the atmosphere "Now, it's time for partner. Who want to be Youichi's partner?"

As expected, the girls all raised their hands up, except for you-know-who. Youichi ignored all those hands and made his way to a certain seat and pointed at the owner of that seat

"I want her to be my partner" This caused the whole class to be in commotion again, even the Natsume Hyuuga looked surprised.

The said person just snapped out of her daze and looked around, dumfounded "What? What did I miss?"

"It has been a long time, Mikan" A voice made Mikan look up. This voice. She thought as she broke into a small smile.

"You-chan" She immediately went to hug him and smiled brightly "Gosh, I miss you"

Again, the whole class screamed in surprise as Natsume clutched his fist until his knuckles turned white with a dark aura around him. The temperature seemed to have risen up and people began to feel a shudder behind their spine.

"Hey, bastard" Natsume shouted as he pointed at the grayish-haired boy. "Get your hands off her" He threatened while glaring dagger at him.

Youichi seemed unfazed by his glare. On the contrary, he eyed Natsume then let out a smirk. "If I am right, you are that Natsume Hyuuga?"

"What if I am?" Natsume scoffed angrily. He could never let another guy touch his Mikan like that. He is already blinded by jealousy

Youichi tightened his hold on Mikan as his face darkened. He was no longer joking around anymore "I will never let you have her, Hyuuga"

Of course, Mikan didn't understand what was happening while the whole class paled. They could feel it, electricity sparked from their eyes and there was nothing that can stop them, even the teacher was too scared to walk in the conversation. Of course, Hotaru didn't miss this chance to video tape this.

'One thing for sure: Triangle love always brings me a good fortune. This will make me rich' She thought as her eyes shined with money sign in it.

Hello everyone.

it has been a long time, right? To tell the truth, I'm trying to finish this story. It will take about 14 chapter. That means 5 chapter more.

So continue rooting for me ^^

thank you very much for your support

Here are some previews for the next chapter 10th piece: Jealousy

"You don't have the right to say that"

"Well, I get that you haven't told her, right?"

"You are so stupid, Hyuuga"

"I don't care. I just want to get rid of that Hijiri"

"He said and I quoted 'I promise I will meet you again. So, wait for me'"

"I know you are worried about Sakura-san but why do I have to come along too?"

"A freaking 7 years and the first thing she said when she saw me was 'who are you?'"

"Do you want to come and live with me in America?"

"Who told you to speak, Hijiri? You don't have the right to take her to America as you please. She is mine."

"To stop you from fighting then yes, I have to do that"

"I...I'm sorry..."