a/n: Ah... I finally updated. It's been a month... It's the longest I've ever gone without updating! These weeks have been hectic. The change of semesters... final exams... club activities... basketball season... and I survived! After a few days of rest, I am back and pumped up for the second semester! Yeah!

Oh and about the chapter title,, I don't really know why it's called 'Clues'. I just have a feeling it should be called that. It doesn't really make sense, but if I spend any more time thinking of a better chapter title my brain cells will die faster than they already are.

:Clues:

"Hello, my name is Mikan Sakura. We're partners and I hope we can be friends."

Pause.

"Hey there, I'm Mikan Sakura. I believe we have met."

Pause.

The brunette turned from the mirror and faced her friend, who was reading silently, sitting cross legged on her spacious three-star bed. Mikan plopped down beside her friend, shaking her umber hair out of its pigtails, letting out a frustrated sigh.

"Hotaru, nothing I say seems to be right. I'm usually good at this… but…" Mikan played with a loose thread at the fringe of her skirt, and then looked up. "What should I do?" Hotaru didn't say anything, just flipped the page of the book she was reading. Mikan's lips formed a disappointed pout. "Hotaru, help me out."

The inventor looked up, her amethyst eyes slightly irritated. "Idiot. Why are you troubling yourself over a simple introduction? I think you should be thinking about what to say afterwards instead. But if you don't even know what to say in a simple introduction, I advise you to give up." Listening to this, a worried look formed on Mikan's face. "But I want to be Natsume's friend. He's new and he looks lonely." Hotaru closed her book and pinched Mikan's cheek, causing her to cry out loud. "Hotaru!" She cried, pushing her friend away. It only resulted a small nudge, and Hotaru rolled her eyes. "Well, if you are so determined, then just go. An idiot like you would come up with something."

Mikan didn't know to whether to take this as a compliment or not, so she decided to just leave it be. "Oh well, Hotaru, I'll stop bothering you now. I'm going to go see what Natsume is up to." And with that, she skipped out of the room. Hotaru stared after her, and then back to her book.

"Natsume Hyuuga, hm… I guess it's time to do some research."

"… Ah, Ruka-kun!" Mikan smiled as she saw the boy sitting in the library, reading. "Did you see Natsume-kun anywhere?" Ruka smiled softly and shook his head. "I'm sorry, Sakura-san, I didn't. But he's usually outside. He doesn't like to be cooped up." Mikan nodded, and her expression turned thoughtful. "You're really good friends with Natsume-kun. How long have you known each other?"

Ruka wasn't going to respond to her question, but a look on her innocent face and he thought maybe it wouldn't hurt to tell her. There was something… about her that made you think that you could tell her anything, and she wouldn't judge you for it.

"We're childhood friends." He said. "Our mothers knew each other; they were the best of friends. Everyone thought we were very different, but we were friends anyway." "Just like Hotaru and me." Mikan said, nodding. "That's right!" Ruka exclaimed. Never had he met a person that understood their friendship.

"What's this?" Mikan suddenly asked. Before he could protest, she took the book he was reading. Ruka's face turned pink for a second as Mikan read the title.

"Cinderella?" Mikan said, her eyes questioning as she looked at Ruka. "You're reading Cinderella?" Ruka shrugged, turning redder by the second. She probably thought he was a dork. But instead, Mikan smiled brightly and said, "I really liked this book. My mom used to read this…" Her voice trailed off, and something snapped in her eyes. Ruka looked at her curiously. "Sakura-san, is something wrong?"

Mikan stared at him for a second, then as if realizing where she was and who she was talking to, she shook her head and forced a smile. "Nope!" Ruka looked at her doubtfully, but said no more. "Why are you reading it?" Mikan asked, flipping through the pages. Ruka rested his chin on his hand and said, "Well, you know that prince in the book? Well, I always wanted to be that prince. To be that person who loved that girl despite the fact that she didn't turn out to be that beautiful princess that he thought she would be." He chuckled softly and said, "But of course, that's just a silly dream of mine. Of course that wouldn't happen."

But little did he know, when he returned his gaze to Mikan, her eyes were wide with fascination, and her cheeks were flushed. "Ruka-kun, I think that's an amazing dream! I think it's wonderful to love someone like that." Ruka's eyes widened as her face filled with excitement.

This was an extraordinary girl indeed…

"I'm very sure that the girl you find will be very lucky to have you, Ruka-kun." Mikan smiled, putting down the book. "You have a very big heart." A big heart… me? Ruka widened his eyes. It was the first time he heard someone say that to him. "Oh well, I have to go now. Good luck with your dream." Ruka watched her leave.

No… I'm not the one with a big heart. You're the one.

"Oh yeah, Ruka-kun?"

"Yes?"

"You can call me Mikan."

Cinderella...

I wonder who the lucky princess is.

Mikan smiled. She was sure Ruka would find the perfect princess that deserves his love. I hope I get to meet her sometime. She giggled, and then returned her thoughts to her original mission-- to find Natsume!

"Hmm… I've looked in the library, looked in the classrooms and I checked the halls… where else could he be?" Mikan murmured to herself, stepping outside to the cool afternoon air. She walked around the building, noticing that the sky was darkening. Just when she decided to give up, she saw a ladder at the side. Curious, she stepped onto it, and noticed that it led to the roof.

After she managed to hoist herself up, she saw a figure lying there. She slowly walked over, and she saw that it was no other than Natsume. He was asleep. She kneeled down and stared at him for a second. He was good looking, that was no mistake. But when he was asleep, he didn't look angry. He looked peaceful. Mikan smiled vaguely. It was kind of like watching Hotaru sleep.

She felt herself reach over to his face. She withdrew for a second, fearing that he would wake up. But he didn't. So she once again reached over, and she touched his ebony hair. She gently brushed it out of his eyes, revealing those long dark lashes that lay under his closed lids. He really was beautiful.

Suddenly, his eyes shot open, and he caught her hand, which was in the middle of withdrawing. His eyes focused on her face, and then those crimson orbs narrowed, and his face no longer held the peaceful expression it had held when he was asleep.

"A-Ah… I'm sorry… I didn't mean to… wake… I-I have to… I'll be going now!" She stammered, and quickly stood up. But his grip on her wrist tightened, and she winced in pain. She was quickly pulled back down, and she found herself coming face to face with the fire wielding boy. Mikan stared at those fiery crimson eyes, and she found herself trembling. "I said I'm sorry…" Her voice faltered as his eyes narrowed.

"What were you doing here?" He demanded, tightening his grip once again. Mikan cried in pain, struggling out of his grasp. But he was stronger. "Were you trying to kill me?" "No!" Mikan immediately said, shocked at his accusation. "Why would I do that?" Natsume's face came closer to hers, his face angry. "Do you know who I am?" "N-Natsume." Mikan said quietly. "Do you know who my mother is?" He continued. Mikan looked at him in confusion. "No…" Why is he asking me weird questions?

Anger temporarily disappeared on his face, and then it returned, disgust also evident. He let go of her wrist and pushed her away roughly. "Are you really that woman's daughter?" He said. He seemed to be studying her face. "There is resemblance…" Finally, Mikan burst out, "What are you talking about? Who's 'that woman'? Why are you asking me so many questions? What's going on?"

Natsume's face turned stony, and he turned away from her. "It is none of your business. You're obviously not the person I'm looking for." But this only made Mikan even more curious. "Who are you looking for?" "Go away." "I can help you!" "Get lost!" "Come on!" She stepped towards him and grabbed his arm. "Tell me!"

The next thing she knew, she was on the floor of the roof, with Natsume on top of her, grabbing her wrists so tightly it hurt. "Don't. Touch. Me." He said through clenched teeth. His face was filled with hatred. "I told you not to pry!" Mikan struggled, kicking her legs. "Get off me! You jerk!" Somehow she escaped his grasp and she slapped him across the face, hard.

Natsume looked stunned for a second, but then it diminished into anger. "How dare you…" His voice was low, and it had an edge of threat, as if a volcano that was going to erupt. Suddenly, she felt something hot at her face, and she saw her hair burning. "What are you doing?" She cried, and she struggled even more.

"I told you to go away. Now I'll show you why you shouldn't mess with me!"

His eyes widened with fury, and his pupils dilated. Mikan squeezed her eyes shut, and the next thing she knew, she heard a roaring sound, and then a deafening explosion. There was a shot of blinding light, and she felt something heavy in her chest.

When she opened her eyes, there was fire around her, and the air was thick with smoke. She coughed violently, then looked around and found Natsume before her, panting heavily, his pupils dilated.

"Why… Why… are you…" His voice was raspy, and he started to cough violently, shaking uncontrollably. "Are you okay?" Mikan cried, putting her hands on his shoulders. If he wasn't coughing and if he wasn't feeling so tired, he would've pushed her away. "We got to get out of here!" And with that, she put an arm around his waist and his arm on her shoulder. He was a bit heavy, considering that he was taller and much stronger than her.

The fire snaked towards them, and more than once she felt the flames lick at her skin, and she did the best she could to keep the fire from getting at Natsume, even if it meant that she was the one that had to get burned. It would be selfish of me to get him hurt and keep myself safe instead...

Finally, Mikan managed to get the two of them onto ground, and she felt her vision blur and her knees go weak. It felt as if Natsume got heavier, and he slipped away from her, unconscious, and it wasn't long before Mikan too, collapsed to the ground.

When Natsume woke up, he saw a girl and a boy hovering over him. It took him a few seconds until he realized it was Ruka and Hotaru. "Natsume, you're awake! We were so worried!" Ruka exclaimed. Natsume didn't speak, and he looked to the other side. He noticed a figure lying on the neighboring bed. Ruka followed his gaze and said quietly, "That's Mikan. We found her lying next to you on the ground."

Then, as if realizing something, his eyes became serious and he fixed his gaze on his friend. "Natsume, what happened? I was sure that the explosion last night on the roof was caused by you."

Natsume's thoughts drifted back, and he vaguely remembered… that idiot had bothered him, he had told her to get lost, she refused, and he got angry… and… and… he had caused that explosion with his Alice.

But… he had collapsed right after. How did… How did he escape?

"Natsume. I think we all need to know what you were doing last night. What did you do? It's obvious that the fire was started by your Alice. Did you intentionally try to hurt her?" Hotaru was trying to stay calm, but it was noticeable that she was shaking slightly.

Natsume's face was expressionless, and he said simply and tonelessly, "She provoked me."

"… You!" Now Hotaru really lost control, and she reached out to slap him. "Imai!" Ruka said, as he pulled her back. "That's enough. Natsume, that was wrong, considering that she even saved you. She suffered more burns than you!"

The last words seemed to sink in slowly, echoing through the room. She even saved you. She suffered more burns than you! That idiot saved a person who tried to kill her? What the hell was wrong with her?

Hotaru seemed to regain control, although she was still shaking slightly. "Do you understand now?" Natsume didn't speak, and he just closed his eyes. "That's all?" "Natsume!" Ruka said, as he saw anger flicker across Hotaru's face again. "Stop it! Enough is enough! Do you know selfish you're being?" Ruka didn't even look at him as he spun away and left the room.

Natsume felt an odd feeling in his chest. He had never heard Ruka say that to him. It was as if being slapped across the face. He didn't even notice Hotaru until she spoke.

"… I thought you were smart."

And that was all she said before she left.

What seemed like hours after they left, Natsume slowly climbed out of bed. He walked towards Mikan's bed. She hasn't woken yet. There were a few scratches on her face, and her wrist was bandaged.

How hard did I grip her hands?

He didn't even know. In the dimly lit and silent room, Natsume stood there, looking at that girl's face, and he felt, for once in a long time, calm. He was always angry and… vengeful. He had witnessed the destruction of his own Alice more times than he could count. Yet he had never really seen it.

You idiot. Why did you save me? Did you not realize that I wanted to kill you?

Natsume saw the strand of hair he had burned. He felt himself touching his own raven black hair. She had touched his hair when he was asleep… Had she watched him like this too? It was an odd feeling. He reached over and touched that burned strand of hair.

What's wrong with me?

a/n: I'm thinking of a Valentine special Fanfic. 12 days til' Valentines... oh... 12 days of Christmas... haha... ahem... sorry...

Oh well, I hope you liked this chapter, and please review!