I do not own Gakuen Alice

Natsume's POV:

The look of torment on her face; how her petite figure shook violently, the blood drained from her face…and she didn't even tell me why. But she didn't have too.

I saw how she looked at him; she looked like she saw a murder scene right before her eyes. I knew he was no good, that mongrel using MY field. I don't know what connection he has to Mikan but I don't want him anywhere near her.

After Mikan ran off I released Reo from my grip and called out her name a few times but she didn't listen. I chased after her only to be stopped by Persona and some old geezer.

"Ahhh…Natsume, please go back I have an announcement to make."

"But coach I reall-"

"I said go back to your fucking team and wait there for me." He got in my face. If he weren't such a damn good coach I would have gotten him fired by now.

I suck up some air and walk back to the field. It's pointless to be here, I wont even pay attention to what this douche will even say.

Mikan Mikan Mikan Mikan Mikan Mikan Mikan Mikan Mikan MIKAN!

That's what is devouring my mind. I look at Koko who seemed to have been cooled off from the fumes before. Then it hit me…

"Koko can I have your phone please?"

"Why man?"

"I want to call Sumire."

"And why would you want to do that?"

Honestly, of all the times Koko wants to be a dick it has to be now right?

"Are you going to give it to me or do I have to take it from you?" I growled at him.

He looks at me wide-eyed obviously surprised by the way I was addressing him but gave me his mobile warily.

I pressed the call button knowing that the last person he must have talked to is most likely to be Sumire and press the call button.

"Hey babe, I was just thinking does red or pink suite me better? I cant make-"

"Sumire, it's Natsume."

"Hyuuga? Why are you calling me?"

I walk away from the team so I had some privacy, the fact that Koko's eyes were on me the whole time did not go unnoticed.

"It's Mikan, she ran off to I-wish-i-knew-where."
"Umm… Mikan likes to run off somewhere sometimes you don't have to worry about it though, she just wants to think."

"Sumire, if you saw the look she had you wouldn't have let her out of your sight" but I did…

"Why? What made her look like that?"

"I don't know, she saw me about to kill the shit out of this guy and she just buzzed off " I told her flustered with myself.

"Who were you gonna 'kill'?" she said like this topic had no importance and that ticked me off. But knowing that Sumire is her best friend. Maybe she might know more about Reo.

"It was Reo." I heard her drop something like a cup and then the phone went dead.

What the actually fuck? I kicked the ground and punched a nearby wall; not caring is my knuckles were bleeding over and over again. I hate not knowing what's going on, it makes me feel clueless and pathetic. Nothing I can do, this sucks.

I turn around to go back for the announcement when I see Reo standing next to that old geezer whom I assume if his coach and my eyes narrowed with loath. My teeth and fist clenched, I don't know why I hate him so much but I just know he is a demon sent to test my limits. I smirk thinking about how sorry he was going to be, how I am going to make him lick my shoe. You're a bug I'm going to squash like the rest of them Maori.

Mikan's POV:

I move my hands toward my face, wet. I wipe of the liquid present on my face and gently rub my eyes then pat my cheeks lightly. I look around trying to find out what happened to me. Well I was on a queen size bed with leopard print sheets, the walls were blood red but the ceiling was in a dark blue colour with those glows in the dark stars. I drag my feet off the bed but then it's like Zeus wanted me to suffer and bestowed a lightning of pain through my body.

I rub my temples hoping tat it would ease the pain. After I got a hold of myself my feet touched the carpeted ground and I had a bit of trouble standing up right. I see a dresser with shit whole lot of make-up; make-up I didn't even know existed was there.

This is Sumire's room.

"Hey girl, how you keeping up?" she creeps up behind me which made me so a little mouse jump. My body was trembling and I don't know why.

She gave closer and gave me a hug, the thing is when a person hugs you…I know it's warm and you feel euphoric. But this hug was more on the lines of trying to hold me together, like if she didn't hug me I would fall and burst like a balloon when it just touches a flame.

I didn't hug her back, I didn't want too. I didn't want to accept why she was hugging me.

She knew why and I am gracious she didn't say it out loud. Every part of my mind was trying to acknowledge what I had just seen or whom I had just seen. After all these years of building myself up to be obliterated in 5 seconds by him just simply standing there he managed to bring me to my knees.

It's moments like this I question Kami-sama why is he still alive? Or is it Akuma who feeds him to keep me within his acrimony?

I'm scared… like an abandoned little kitten with a broken leg. I clutch onto Sumire's back not caring if my nails left a mark. So many feelings all at once? I'm just a fucking teenage girl. Why does the high ups want me to go through hell?

Can I just disappear? I want to runaway or just sleep until he goes away. He took away the only person who understood me, he took my dignity along with it and what more is there to take?

"What more does he want?..." my voice was coarse and pained.

"He won't get near you Mikan, I swear over my dead body that he will take nothing more from you" she tried to reassure me. I am so thankful that I have Sumire but I cant loss her too, not that way.

"He took everything Sumire! Can't you see that? What do I have left? For years I couldn't go out alone, the traumas, I almost lost my mind." I roughly pushed her away and yelled it out.

I rushed to the door ready to leave a shocked and helpless best friend. Before I walked out I took another look at her, she had tears about to fall from her eyeliner eye. I don't to hurt you was what I wanted to say.

"You never understood me anyway" was what I said.

I slammed the door harshly and left not looking back. I cant have her be hurt because of me. Knowing that asshole he'll hit me with what I value most.

I honestly don't know what to do now, how do you face someone who has ruined your life? Someone who has eaten and spat you out, leaving you barely alive. I want to curl into a ball and just die.

I didn't want to go home, which is stupid since it's probably the safest place for me right now. I didn't feel safe; I was alone and vulnerable there. I decided to go to that fountain at the park.

I half walked half ran there, I saw couples walking around in the park and kids playing on the swings with gleeful smiles on their face. I wish I were anyone but me right now.

I walked to the end of the park where the fountain stood. It looked so beautiful as usual. The way the trees surrounded it but a hole just big enough for the moonlight to shine upon her.

(Incase any of you forgot how the fountain looked like: It was round and had what seemed like a Greek Goddess at the center with water coming out of her hands, she was pearl white and her face was facing the sky as if she is praising God for all eternity. There were small penguins at her feet and two sea otters hugging each other.

I sat by the fountain taking in it's perfection and elegance. The sapphire water wasn't there though, I guess they drained it. I walk into the fountain and touch the penguin on the head. It's so adorable! I move on to the sea otters that look like their hugging though there is a little gap in the middle. There were 2 steps to reach the goddess.

I take baby steps, the tiles were still wet and I hope I don't slip. I observed the white statue and call me crazy but I hug it. Yes I hug it like it was an actual person.

Don't judge me, I hug her for a reason you know.

Years ago…

"Ayyyy Mikan! You go hide and I'll seek you" a flaming red head 6 year old said while covering her eyes facing a big old Sakura tree.

Mikan didn't waste any moment! As soon as the countdown started she ran with some superhero back ground music in her head.

Poor Mikan didn't realize she was running away too far that she got lost. Let's just say Mikan's sense of direction was not very good just like her father. She didn't feel the need to cry because deep down she knew Roxy would find her eventually. She just strolled deeper and deeper, she realized just how big this park was.

She heard running water and decided to follow her ears this time. She made her way to the sound and after a series of squatting, jumping and trying not to fall flat on her butt; she reached her destination and her mouth formed a big 'O'. It was a beautiful fountain that was circular and had a gold rim, the outside was pearl marble white. She huffed on closer to get a closer look and she was bewildered. The inside was even more heavenly! The inside had dark blue tiles and in the center was a goddess with a penguin and two sea otters trying to hug. Water flowed over the goddess's body that made her shimmer as the sunlight hit the water. She was tall and gorgeous praising the sky for it's greatness. The penguin looked happy to be in her presence while the sea otters just enjoyed each other's company.

She wanted to show Roxy this bazar place she had found. She was about to head back to the path when she heard someone fall down near by.

She went around the fountain and found a boy who had been hurt. From the looks of it he looked like he was beaten up! He had a bloody nose and scraped knees, like someone had thrown him across gravel.

Mikan being her innocent self went to his aid. She took out her hanky and dipped it in the water of the fountain and started to gently pat his knee.

"Go away ugly! I don't need your help!" he yelled quite rudely at her. But Mikan didn't care she was too consumed with making the bleeding stop.

"You need to cover this knee ok? I don't think it'll stop bleeding so put this hanky on it and when you clean it properly put this Band-Aid on it." She said while lightly pressing the wound which earned a groan of pain from the lad.

"Thanks… but this doesn't mean I owe you anything" he muttered.

"Cmon! The least you could do is be my friend right?" Mikan tried to argue with him.

"Fine…whatever" he sighed.

"I have to go now, see you around ok? And I don't want to see you like this ever again ok?" she said while running back the way she came through a cluster of tall tree trunks.

The boy didn't even have a chance to ask her what her name was. All he had was the Band-Aid.

Present:

I felt someone nudge me a bit. I slapped whoever's hand it was and turned to the other side. I was going back to that dream but then I felt him/her touch the hem of my skirt and tried to pull it down. Of course I bolted up and started hitting whoever it was trying to molest me. I didn't get a good view of who it was but didn't care. The person running through my mind was Red touching me…until I felt warm hands grab my wrist.

They were tight but help my hands delicately, like he didn't want to hurt me. I stopped my tantrum and see Natsume holding my wrists.

"How did you find me..?" my body gained back it's composure.

"I come here every time berry, I just wonder why you are here. Never really seen you here before." He released his grip from my hands.

I finally realize I had fallen asleep inside the fountain with my back leaning at the feet of the penguin and Natsume had his back now leaning on the inner wall of the fountain opposite me.

"This was the place I wanted to show Roxy but she was never really interested so I never came back." I said thinking about how Roxy always wanted to something else.

"Why are you here?" I gave him a questioning look.
He gave me a big smirk, but it gave me the feeling that he knows something I don't.

"I met a girl here when I was younger. I had just gotten into a fight and this was my refuge place. Anyway, she gave me a Band-Aid I told me to put it on so the bleeding would stop and…" I didn't let him finish.

"YOU! It was you! You are the one I saw at the fountain!" I pointed my finger at him like her was a villain in some batman cartoon.
"I gave you the bad-aid back and you still didn't realize?" he looked hurt and it hurt me to see him like that.

I reach into my pocket and pull out the Band-Aid. Now that I look at it closer, it looks old but well preserved.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I said while holding on to it.
"I wanted you to remember me, Mikan I never forgot you. You were the second friend I had after Ruka." He looked at me with such intimacy. His voice sounded so divine to listen too.

"How did you know it was me?"

"Your scent never changed Sakura, you still smell like strawberries like you did that day too. And God forbid but who could ever forget your annoying voice…" I kicked him playfully at his elbow. And he rubbed it like it really hurt.

"Natsume, what are 'we'?" the question just slipped out of my mouth.

"We are humans." Seriously…

"No I meant what is this, this relationship between us?" I pointed at him and then back at myself.

I could tell he didn't want to talk about it but things have been so messed up! I need to start seeing what's real and something I can hold on too and to make sure it's good for me. Plus this is the perfect opportunity since we were alone and we had the time, I think.

He didn't look at me and he looked a bit lost. He bit his lower lip like he wanted to say something but stopped himself. I could tell he was searching for the right words.

"It's not love." Was the first thing he said. Ouch, but we barely knew each other and I didn't love him either. I waited for him to continue.

"But it could be." And before I could react her came closer to me and kissed my forehead. Then I saw it, beautiful would be an understatement.

He smiled. Like showing both 2 decks of teeth smile not those side smirks that make my want to scratch a chalkboard. It was heavenly. He looked at me with playful eyes but his fabulous smile said something else.

My heart raced as expected and I just couldn't help but smile back. I didn't even want to fight the smile. For once we didn't fight, tease each other, fight over a stupid thing. We just enjoyed being next to each other and it was more than enough.

"Cmon, I'll drop you home" he said while getting up and dusting off his jeans.

"I can go home by myself" I defended.

"Babe, it's 2am."

"WHHHAATT?!" I yelled out!

MY MOM IS GOING TO KILL ME!

I didn't know if Hyuuga was following after me or not I ran like a lion chasing it's prey. My mom is going to hang my ass on the wall! Damn it! How can I lose track of time?

'Because you were with Natsume.' My inner voice said.

"Shut up" I muttered to myself.

I finally reach my main door after what seemed like 10 minutes. I open the door expecting the worst but hoping for the best. Natsume must have stopped following me when he saw me enter safely go into my lot. It's good since my mom wouldn't suspect a thing. She nags, a lot.

"Ahh Mikan! How was the group project?" she said with a smile while pouring two cups of tea.

"Ummm…" I was lost.

"Yes, Miki the project you went over to Sumire's house for. You were helping her am I right?" a voice came from behind me.

It's like my body shrunk and became very still, I felt the heat building up in my body and trails of fear crept to the back of my mind. I tried to act like it was nothing since my mom was looking at me peculiarly. I put on the faintest smile and turn to face the beast.

"How have you been Reo? It's been a long time."

I wont show him the tears I cried. He will never see me weak again.

Hey! I updated quite quickly aye? Let's just say 'Someone sent me a message and I got inspired to update more 3 hope you guys like it.

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