Disclaimer: Gakuen Alice and its characters belong to Higuchi Tachibana-sensei.

Warning: My grammar sucks.

Just Like Cinderella

Chapter 8

[Mikan's POV:]

I looked at my younger brother who's wearing a bonnet to prevent his hair from falling. Recently, his hair started to fall. Yoichi seems to have a textmate because he's been texting ever since I arrived. It's the first time I've seen him use the mobile phone that I gave him as his birthday present before he was confined. Not to mention that he's been busy using it. He usually used his PSP. Well, I don't mind as long as he's happy. I then fixed all the things that were used when we ate our breakfast. It's still early in the morning. I was startled when he suddenly speaks.

"You're thinner and skinnier now hag. Are you taking care of yourself? Were you sick? You look like a living dead from my dead trigger game here in my PSP." He said, but he's not looking at me. He's still busy with his phone.

"What are you talking about stupid brother? Who's thinner and skinnier now? Isn't it you? Baka!" I retorted while holding Yoichi's head and rubbing my fists on it. I stopped when my phone rang.

"Hello?" I immediately answered after reading the name of the caller.

"Mikan-chan, I know you're on a day off, but can you please come here for a Sec? The chairman's here and Imai-san went somewhere. I can't contact her. The chairman wanted to see the monthly report. I don't know what to do… You and Hotaru are the only one who knew where it was." It was Yuu, who called. I can already imagine his frantically crying face. Sighs.

"Where did Hotaru go? Okay, I'll go there as soon as I can. Try to contact Hotaru again, okay? Ja." I ended the call and quickly grabbed my coat and bag.

"Of all the days that the chairman would visit, why is Hotaru missing? That baka! My precious day-off! You'll pay for this, Hotaru!" I cried. I looked at my brother, "Hey… I need to go to the office. There's an urgent matter. I'll come back as soon as I'm finished." I bid and walked out of the room.

"Hn. You should just go home after and take a rest. I'm fine here. It looks to me that you'll collapse." I heard him saying before I'm totally out of his hospital room. He's only ten and he's talking like a grown up man. A vein popped out in my head.

"This stupid brother needs a beating! Treating me like I am his younger sister… Tsk!" I tried to go back and beat him but…

"I'm sleeping now so you should go." He said. He was already lying on his bed while covering his body with the blanket. I sighed and just ignored him.

"I'll let you pass for now stupid Yoichi!" I walked out of the door and smiled. Yoichi don't look like it, but he really cares for me.

As soon as I arrived, I parked the car in the parking lot of ITC that was reserved for me. The car's not even mine. Hotaru let me borrow it since she has a new car. It's one of the latest models that was exported from the States. See how rich she is?

[Flashback]

"Baka, I already bought the latest model. Go use this one before I throw it out." She could've just sold this one if she doesn't need it anymore. She likes money as I've recalled.

"What? Why? This car's still new…" I a hint that she just wanted me to use it.

"Then, just pay it with your monthly salary." Hotaru said. No, this car is really expensive. I can't... But I badly needed a ride.

"I can't pay you for now. I still have something to take care of with my salary. Just let me borrow it for a while." I really need a car.

"Then… I'll give it to you… It's yours…" Hotaru said then walked away. My mouth gaped wide.

"I promise to pay you Hotaru!" She just ignored me though.

[End of Flashback]

[Normal POV:]

"I can't accept this expensive car. I promised to pay Hotaru, but when? I still need to pay for my younger brother's hospitalization and then I'm pregnant. Sooner or later, I am out of a job. Nobody's accepting someone who has a child, but not yet married! And it's a shame for me continue working at ITC with my condition. I don't want to ruin Hotaru's name." Mikan murmured. She quickly walked towards the elevator but she suddenly felt dizzy.

Not again! She wanted to hold onto something, but the walls are still far. She felt a spasm in her stomach.

My morning sickness! Urggh! She tried to reach the wall, but she felt that if she do, she'll kiss the ground. The world seems spinning. Luckily, she touched something in her second step.

I need to stay for a while to make my dizziness gone. She closed her eyes and stayed still. That something or should I say that someone she just touched speaks.

"Hey, are you okay?" He held Mikan's arm tightly so that she won't fall. She was startled after recognizing his voice. She looked at him after the dizziness was slightly gone. I was right! It's him.

"Nat… Natsume? I mean Mr. President, why are you here?" She quickly looked away after staring at his crimson eyes. He's giving her goose bumps.

"It's nothing important. You're pale. Are you alright? Are you sick? You're thinner and skinnier than last time." He said. Is he worried?

"Mind your own business Mr. President. I told you not to mind me anymore. I know how to take care of myself." She said while putting his arms away from her. She tried to be as cold as she can. Why is he even here in the ITC parking lot?

"Are you really taking good care of yourself? I saw you went out of Ibaragi's medical clinic." She clenched her fists after hearing him. Is he mocking me? How dare this bastard say that? It's his fault why I am like this. That's right, he knew it would happen. And because of him, I can't give Yoichi what he needed.

"If you get pregnant Ms. Yukihara in the next few months, or you became sick or unhealthy before the operation, we can't give your bone marrow to your brother. If that's the case, we should start looking for a donor as soon as possible. It's a one chance out of a million that someone will be matched with your brother's. That's why avoid unnecessary things like being pregnant or sick. You're the perfect donor for your brother."

"It's your fault…" She murmured furiously.

"… My fault?" Natsume repeated.

"It's your fault why I am like this! If you… if you didn't do that… if it didn't happen… I wouldn't be pregnant right now… if I am not pregnant… I can still give my bone marrow to my brother!" Natsume was startled after hearing that. Mikan gasped after realizing what she just spouted. She unconsciously stepped backward. They even didn't notice her phone keeps on ringing. Oh no! Why did I say that? What now? Baka Mikan! I have to chase him away!

"I… I am aborting this baby…" I'm very sorry baby, I don't want to abort you, but I have to make him go away… Please don't hate me. "I hate this… I don't want any of this…" No, that's a lie… I don't hate you at all.

"You…" Natsume clenched his fists and tried to reach her afterwards.

"I don't want anything that has something to do with you." She tried to avoid his gaze. Natsume gritted his teeth.

"You really hate me that much as to abort the baby that you hate because I am the father…?" He said furiously. Mikan gulped.

Is he mad? "Y-yeah… that's right!" She answered. I don't know, but I suddenly became scared of his expression. It's like - he's ready to kill me. I felt goosebumps. Why? He should be happy because this is an unwanted child.

"That's mine." He was sure of it. She walked backward because he's walking in front of her. Damn! She was cornered. She can't run away because she was imprisoned by his arms next to her, his body in front and the wall at her back. Their faces are closer to each other and she can feel his breath lingering on her face. She swallowed an imaginary lump because he's making a scary angry face. He then continued, "I won't allow you to kill what's mine."

"…!" Mikan immediately covered her face when she saw him about to punch her. But he hits the wall instead. She gasped. It's terrifying!

"If you abort the baby, I'll kill you myself." He then walked away.

He doesn't look like he was kidding. I expected him to be happy… Why did he get so angry? I never mean to abort the baby and I will never ever do that. I just want him to go away…

She felt her legs has drained energy and her back slid down through the wall that made her sat on the floor. My knees are still shaking from his strong punched earlier. It made the wall crooked.

After a while, she heard her phone rang. She quickly gets it inside her bag and answered the call, "H-Hello?"

"Mikan-chan, where are you? You don't have to come here anymore. Hotaru just arrived. I've been calling you, but you're not picking up. I am very sorry to bother you!" It was Yuu.

"I-Is that so? It's okay Yuu. Bye…" She hung up. She hugged her knees whilst still sitting on the floor. She felt like crying again. What will happen now that Natsume found out? Please just go away and don't bother me.

The next day…

[Mikan's POV:]

I opened my eyes. I am not sleepy but I still don't wanna get up and do my morning routine. I am not lazy, but I don't feel like going to work. I still have my morning sickness. Sighs. After fifteen minutes of lying, I get up. Even though I don't feel like going to the office, I still need to. Mine and Yoichi's life depend on my salary as Hotaru's executive secretary.

After doing my morning ritual, I immediately prepared foods for Yoichi. I still need to send it to him to the hospital before going to work. I hope Subaru-nii-sensei can find a donor for Yoichi as soon as possible. I already told him of my circumstances.

As soon as I walked out of my apartment, I saw him outside of the gate standing next to his car. Why is he here? How did he know this place? I tried to ignore him while opening the gate to let my borrowed car out. I saw him walking towards me.

"Come with me, we need to go somewhere." He said and grabbed my wrist.

"Where are you taking me? I don't need to go with you! Let go!" I tried to break free, but he didn't let go of my wrist. My strength doesn't even make him budge. I was forced to get inside of his car.

"Put the seatbelt on if you don't want to fly." Before starting the engine, he made sure that I put on the seat belt. After doing so, he runs it fast like we're in a race. I suddenly felt wanting my life more than ever and put the seat belt on. Is he crazy? Is he trying to kill both of us?

I guess it has been half an hour when we started this ride when we stopped in front of a big establishment. At the top of the building was written 'HYUUGA MALL'. Natsume went out of the car and opened the door in my part. I didn't move an inch even taking off my seat belt. I am still dumbfounded.

"Tsk." I heard him. I saw him putting his head inside the car in front of me. He neared his head towards me like he was about to kiss me. I held my breath as my eyes widen. Just after my heart calmed down from that scary ride, it started to beat loudly again. What is he doing? I felt my blood rushing to my cheeks as he stared at me with his crimson orbs. It's hypnotizing me.

He chuckled as he put his head off of my face. "Let's go!" He said while putting both of his hands in his pockets. I touched my chest to let my heart to calm down. I noticed the seat belt was taken off. I bit my lip after realizing what he just did. I immediately stepped out of his car and followed him. What are we going to do here?

"Hey Natsu— I mean Mr. President, I still need to go somewhere and Hotaru needed me first thing this morning. I still have an appointment after that, and followed by a meeting with the investors! My schedule is full and I still have to— never mind. I have to go or else Hotaru will kill me! If you just wanted to go shopping then don't drag me with you. Ask your girlfriend!" I said panting while chasing his steps. But then give up and tried to walk out of the mall. Well, there's no point in me going after him. I should just go to wherever I need to go. The key word is tried because he immediately grabbed my wrist and dragged me inside a boutique.

"Good morning, Mr. President!" I heard the sales ladies said while bowing to him.

"Dress her." He simply said and then sat on the couch. He also stuffed his hands with magazines.

"As you wished." I heard the sales lady answered. She also called some assistants and then dragged me along in a fitting room.

To be continued…

Life is not about looking back and wishing that

Today is the same with the past…

Life is about moving on, accepting changes and looking forward

To what makes you stronger and more complete…

Because it's never too late to have a life,

And never too late to change one…

Author's Note:

~ Oh yeah, I remembered something guys. I know that Japan's not a monarchy. For the sake of my story, I made it monarchy. Hehehe! :D

To Chuckle: I'll continue that story. But I don't know when. I hope sooner? Well, as of now I'm still busy with other things. I don't want to leave my stories unfinished unless I died. I know how it feels to read an unfinished story. : )

Anyways, thank you for reading guys… Please leave a review…