Author's Note: Second chapter up! Enjoy! :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Gakuen Alice or any of the characters I'm using.

Chapter 2

Mikan was running late. As in literally running late. And to add to that, she's also lost.

"Where is this café they wanted us to meet?" She asked no one in particular as she made her way running through the busy street. It's not that she's not from the city. She practically spent 8 years of her life living in the city. But she's not the type to go out much. Currently, she's in a street filled with different restaurants and cafes. Looking around, she wondered how on earth a single street can hold so many restaurants. Now, she just needs to walk along the stretch and look for their specific meeting place.

Suddenly, her phone rang. "Hello?"

"Hey, Mikan!" A male cheery voice suddenly came up from the other end.

"Oh, hi Ruka!" She greeted. "I'm really sorry I'm running a bit late! I seem to have gotten lost…"

She let her voice trail as she busily scanned the stretch of the street.

"No worries! Just take your time." He responded. "Listen, Hotaru and I are really grateful you agreed to this-"

"Yeah, about that, Ruka, I'm still not sure if-"

"It will be okay. Besides! Didn't you mention you needed that extra cash?" There's no stopping this guy. Or his fiancé for that matter. She thought.

"Hey, I think I see you already!"

Mikan looked ahead and indeed, she saw a blonde waving both of his arms at her, his phone supported by his shoulders to his ear. Both of them hung up as she approached Ruka. Events from the night before replaying in her mind.

The sky was painted with blotches of pink, purple, and orange. The sun was setting and it's a lazy Sunday night. Mikan was invited by Anna, her ex-colleague, to go shopping along with Sumire and Nonoko. But as usual, Mikan declined. She wasn't the type to shop for leisure. And it's not like she has money to spare.

Ever since the death of both her parents during high school, she relied on no one but her grandpa. The burden of raising a troubled adolescent has been placed on her grandpa. After graduating from high school and having been accepted at a community college in the city, Mikan decided that she would be a burden no more. She set forth on a journey to the city to pursue college to later on earn money to help her grandpa. Her grandpa did not know what to do to dampen Mikan's resolve. In the end, he conceded and let her go to the city. She went through sticks and stones during college, juggling studies along with two part time jobs to pay for rent and school fees. After four years of tireless labor and studying, she finally triumphed and graduated with decent grades.

She landed a job at small time law firm. It provided a good pay, enough to cover Mikan's monthly necessities and leaving a bit more for extra. After landing a job, she also found a small apartment within the city which is pretty decent considering the low monthly rent of the apartment. Mikan, the ever frugal since the beginning of time, jumped at the opportunity. Her life was smooth sailing. She got a good job, a nice apartment in the city, and she's saving up for her grandpa. She's almost there. She'll bring her grandpa to the city, get a place of their own; and her grandpa will never have to worry about anything after. She's almost there.

Almost. But, always, not quite.

One day, while she was eating dinner all by her lonesome, her grandpa called.

"Hi grandpa!" Mikan stood up from where she was, excitedly greeting him. It was rare that she got calls from her grandpa. Usually, it would be her calling him.

"Mikan, how are you?" She heard her grandpa's voice… and coughing. It sounded strained, as how voices of elderlies should sound. A surge of familiarity ran through her. It reminded her of home and past. She missed him. She missed their carefree days together. She was reminded of the days when her grandpa fetched her from school in the lazy afternoons. They'd go to the beaches and simply lay under the sun.

"I'm great, grandpa! I was just eating dinner. How about you? Have you eaten? Are you feeling alright? I heard you cough! You should be resting and drinking your-"

"I'm doing well too." Her grandpa responded, cutting her off. There was a pause.

"…Grandpa?" Mikan checked to see if her grandpa was still on the other line.

"Mikan, listen," Her grandpa cleared his throat. She knew her grandpa never used her name and the word 'listen' if he isn't serious. And that's when she heard another devastating news life, once again, threw at her.

Mikan's grandpa got involved with loan sharks. A few years ago, before Mikan got her job, the farm which her grandpa worked for closed down. With no other options left, he decided to start a small scale cropping business and borrow an amount from a few people. However, the business remained stagnant. It wasn't generating enough profit to cover up the investments borrowed from people. But still with hopes of the business succeeding through time, her grandpa borrowed more and more money. One thing led to another. Her grandpa, in the end, closed down the business, with shattered hopes and accumulating debts.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner, Grandpa?" Mikan asked, gravely concerned. "I should've continued sending you money I got then from my part time job."

"I didn't want to burden you, child. I know how difficult it is living in the city. But now,…" His voice trailed off.

"Got it, Grandpa!" She should sound strong. At least for her grandpa who's on the other line. "Don't worry about it! We'll fix this together." Her grandpa's all she has left. And she won't allow him behind bars. She'll save him.

From then on, she helped her grandpa and sends almost all of her monthly salary to him, with only enough amount to spare for rent and food. By the end of each month, her money's barely covering up her basic expenses and she's living from granola bars and water.

You'd thought it couldn't get any worse.

But guess what.

Yes, it did.

A few days ago, the company she was working for closed down due to an unresolved lawsuit with a big client. It's not as if they weren't forewarned about the matter. They were. One week prior to the closing down. All of the employees were enraged. Including Mikan, of course. And the company did not even have the nerve to give them their separation paychecks. The reason for this was because according to the company, they were bankrupt as well from the lawsuit. Bullshit. Mikan would hear most of the employees call it. Mikan did not think otherwise. She agreed. Life can be a load of bullcrap.

And from being the girl in the city with a job and a pretty apartment, saving for her dream reunion with her grandpa; now, she's simply the jobless, out of place girl in the city. And if she did not gather enough cash to pay for her rent by the end of the month, she'll be adding 'homeless' to the list. Out of place, jobless and homeless. Wow.

That's how she ended up with no money to spare for shopping. She's already become accustomed to this kind of lifestyle ever since 3 years ago. And the thought of shopping and spending money is simply revolting to her now (of course, unless needed). Especially now since she lost her job. Moreover, after the events of the night before, she wouldn't even dare step out of her apartment. And so, she planned to simply do nothing and just lounge on her comfy sofa with her favorite blanket and watch romantic comedies all night. But of course, nothing in Mikan's life always goes as planned.

The doorbell rang.

With a groan, Mikan paused the movie and stood up from her already comfortable position under her blankets to open the door.

Hotaru and Ruka were at her door. Hotaru was the heir of Imai Corporations, a huge law firm; also her best friend. As to how they became best friends coming from the opposite ends of the food chain, a miracle. Both Mikan and Hotaru have no bone of similarity in their bodies. But being paired up for a project during college, both just clicked instantly and have been close friends ever since. So despite Hotaru's nonchalance towards everything and Mikan's seldom misplaced enthusiasm and randomness, they jived. Well, that's how Mikan would put it anyway. According to Hotaru, they simply get along.

"Thought so." The stoic of a woman greeted her and immediately stepped in and made herself comfortable on the sofa adjacent to the blanket fortress of a sofa that Mikan was lying on a while ago. Recently, Hotaru have been very busy planning her wedding that it had been almost 3 months since Mikan has last seen her or heard from her. To say that she was surprised Hotaru was at her door would be an understatement.

"Hey! Long time no see!" Mikan greeted.

"It's good to see you again, Sakura." Ruka smiled.

Hotaru was focused on the television with her movie on pause. "I see you've never gotten over your immature obsession over your movies."

Mikan laughed sheepishly and rubbed the back of her neck. Hotaru really knew her best.

"Anyway, let's just cut to the chase. I know you need cash, right?"

"HOTARU!" Mikan, who was still unaware of how large her eyes widened, whined gritting the next few words out. "Not in front of Ruka!" She was not vocal to a lot of people about her grandpa's problem a.k.a. also her problem now. The two people who only knew about it were Hotaru and Anna. But it looks like there's an addition now.

"Don't worry, he knows." Hotaru stated.

"You don't have to be uncomfortable, I absolutely understand!"

While Mikan was absolutely comfortable with Hotaru, she's still not that comfortable with her fiancé. She only met him twice or thrice during the time Hotaru and him were dating. And now he knows one of her largest secrets, thanks to Hotaru. She racked her brain for a reply, but Hotaru, once again, cut to the chase.

"Mikan, the company you were working for closed down, and you need money. Am I correct?"

Mikan looked at Ruka who was also looking at her, and at Hotaru who was impatiently waiting for her reply. "Y-yes."

"So, we got a proposition for you."

Natsume looked at her. The name did not ring a bell.

She looked at him.

But it only took a moment before...

"YOU!" The brunette who was standing behind Ruka pointed a finger at him. She recognized him.

It took Natsume a moment to register who she is until he got a clearer look of her big bright shell shocked hazel eyes. Her hazel melting eyes.

That's when he remembered. It must be some sort of a twisted joke fate's trying to play with him. But he remembered clearly. Especially since it was just a few days ago that he met her. Met being the operative word there.

He couldn't mistake those eyes.

"You know each other?!" Ruka asked? Looking as shocked as the girl.

-Flashback-

Natsume tried to get a hold of himself. It was 7 PM and he was at his office trying to get work done on a Saturday night. He knew he had to trim down work since he didn't show up yesterday when he found out about his condition. But he just couldn't bring himself to focus on anything. He was staring at the same paper works for an hour already and the words seem to just float around his head.

It took him another hour or so to finally give up. I need a drink.

He drove to a desolate bar situated at the border of downtown. He didn't need a rowdy night club. He needed space away from the rest of his world to think. It will take an ordinary driver at least twenty minutes to get there. It only took Natsume ten.

He entered the bar with only the thought of forgetting. The usual bell sounded as he entered. The bar was quiet with only the hum of soft jazz music from the speakers and the quiet conversations of people. Speaking of people, there weren't as many customers as he'd expected considering it was a Saturday night. Only three tables were occupied. All of the occupants seemed to be engrossed with conversations of their own. But then again, he chose this bar for the reason he knew it would be quiet here. He discovered this place just a few months ago when he was invited for a business meeting. And immediately developed a liking to the place for its low lying ambience and chillness. It gave him relaxation. He sat himself on the counter among the high stools where no one usually sat.

"Hey, Natsume!"

"Koko." He greeted.

"Still the ever one worded person that you are, I see." Koko grinned wiping a glass in his hands. He looked straight to the door as if expecting to see anyone tailing Natsume. Finally seeing Natsume's straight look on him, he said, "What, no ladies tonight?"

Natsume ignored the statement and placed cash on the counter. "Scotch."

"Very well." Koko went over to him to get the cash and prepare his drink while eyeing him cautiously. "Hey man, are you alright?"

"Don't ask." Natsume simply smirked at him. He's far from alright. He needed to get drunk first before he allowed himself to completely think of his situation.

After two minutes, Koko gave him a glass of scotch and the bottle of it beside. "Enjoy!"

Natsume downed the first glass and began pouring himself another. He was quietly observing the whole place as he did so. In front of him, there were various glasses of different shapes and sizes displayed. On top of the shelves are bottles of the drinks they offered. The display added to the novelty and class of the bar. Beside him were unoccupied stools which won't be occupied any time soon. He was alone. He liked it. He didn't. Did he? No, he didn't like it at all.

He filled his glass. But before he could bring his glass to his mouth for another down, someone bolted to the seat beside him and noisily shuffled to sit. Natsume's eyes trailed to whoever the person who was making the noise. He found that it was a girl with messy auburn hair. She was wearing a simple t-shirt and jeans. She looked younger than him by a year or two. What's she doing in a place like this?

Finding it weird that she sat beside him, he decided to ignore it and just go back to his drink. But he felt eyes boring on the side of his head. He looked at the girl beside him.

Crimson met hazel.

What came to his mind first was how those hazel eyes seemed to be melting. How on earth can eyes look like that? It surprised him he didn't acquire a hole on the side of his head with the stare she was giving him. She was looking at him as if she was contemplating on something, really hard.

"May I help you?" Natsume finally sighed. What the hell is this girl's problem?

"Why, yes. Yes, you may!" The girl replied, seemingly satisfied with how Natsume reacted to her stare. If Natsume was surprised, the look on his face did not give it away one bit. He just raised his immaculate brows. Natsume impatiently waited for an answer as the girl tried to come up with the best possible way to explain. But she seemed distracted, Natsume observed. With her elbows placed on the counter, she kept looking at her back and to the door as if she's anticipating someone with an attempt on looking discreet. Finally turning back to the front, she looked intently at all the rows of glasses displayed at the counter, face contorted to a frown, deep in thought. A bell sounded from the door signaling entrance of a person or two. Natsume did not bother looking behind. But the girl who seemed to be deep in thought a while ago was jolted from her thoughts.

Finally, she sighed. Defeated. As if what she wanted to say earlier did not matter anymore. As if she won't bother saying it anymore. This got Natsume curious. "Well?"

"I won't bother you anymore since you look all brooding and dark over this side." She said with a smile not facing him, as if she's talking to the glasses in front of them. And before Natsume could form any reply, she stood up. "Say, Broody, I might die tonight. I… I think I need help." She said it too fast, Natsume almost didn't catch it. She scrambled away. Her last few words hung in the air as if it was hitching on all the oxygen molecules in the air Natsume was breathing.

Natsume had only drunk one glass. Only one. And yet, he couldn't form any coherent thought regarding what the girl told him.

He downed his second glass, feeling the slight buzz in his head and the warmth of the drink filling his throat down.

What the fuck is wrong with that girl? He did not bother to follow nor look at where the girl bounced away. She looked old enough to go to places like these. But she did not look like she played the part. She looked,… her eyes looked a bit too innocent, Natsume thought.

But still. What the hell is wrong with that girl saying all those kinds of things to him? She doesn't even know Natsume.

And how dare she speak of death so lightly? Was she dying? Was she dying like him? How. Dare. She.

Natsume spent the better half of the hour brooding and twirling his glass. He still has a long night ahead of him. And it's Sunday tomorrow. At his periphery, he saw Koko attending tables at the side of the counter just five strides from his seat. And that's when he saw that the table Koko was attending to was the girl's. Koko placed the drinks on the table and went away with his usual smile. Natsume noticed that the girl simply ordered a can of cola. Just as he thought. He smirked at himself.

Natsume tried not to look as obtrusive as possible. Eavesdropping was also way below him. But he was curious of the girl. It looked like the girl was out with another man, an older one at that. The man was nearing baldness and he had a beer belly. Natsume never pegged her as a whore or a slut targeting older people, looking like the way she did, ordering cola, and all.

Society these days.

With nothing else better to do while drinking, curiosity got the better of him and he decided to 'observe'. The older man looked comfortable, maybe too comfortable. He had a devilish grin plastered on his face as he touched the girl's arms. The girl look unfazed at the man and continued their conversation. Both seemed to be talking about something serious albeit the man's face.

Natsume admonished himself. He wasn't supposed to look at them. He wasn't supposed to be thinking about her. He was supposed to forget about himself tonight. He poured himself another glass as his thoughts drifted again to the girl.

He downed another drink. This is his third? Or fourth? He couldn't remember. He's taking his sweet time.

"Say, Broody, I might die tonight. I… I think I need help."

If Natsume wasn't in this kind of predicament, he wouldn't have taken her words so seriously. He still just couldn't fathom how one can speak of death that way. Was she joking? Because it's not a funny joke to Natsume. Die? Seriously? Maybe she knew him from somewhere and she was playing a stupid prank on him. But how did she find out?

Her words still kept repeating on his head. His clouded thoughts couldn't seem to get it out.

Her melting hazel eyes boring through him.

Her eyes.

Nervous. Scared.

Then it hit him.

She wasn't playing a joke. She was asking for help.

"…I might die tonight. I… I think I need help."

She wasn't specifically asking for his help, but she was asking for any help she could get, from anyone, maybe.

"…I… I think I need help."

Those eyes. He was too fixated on the aspect of death that he didn't really hear her true words. But then again, it's none of his business. He shouldn't be troubling himself with these kinds of things. He already have enough troubles as it is, he doesn't need to add more.

But those eyes.

He led his gaze to the girl's table.

True enough, he finally saw it. He saw how the man was already a drunken heap with just thirty minutes after Koko served them. He was practically touching the girl, arms, neck, face, and all. The girl on the other hand was as sober as she can be. She was trying to make a steady conversation, but to no avail. She did not looked unfazed at all just as what Natsume thought he saw a while ago. At further observation, the girl was trying to look unfazed, and failing miserably. She was biting her lower lip, maybe to keep herself from screaming. And her hands were clenched on her lap.

The old man made a move closer to the girl and sat his chair closer. Natsume, on the other hand, strained his ears to listen.

The girl said something about 'loan', her 'grandpa', and something else Natsume did not catch. He doubted the old man in front of her caught it either. Seeing that the old guy was a bit too far gone now.

The older man kept downing his drink as the girl tried to compose herself.

Natsume looked away and focused his eyes on his drink. He's still not halfway through the bottle. And he's still sober enough. Maybe Natsume should just leave. It's not his business to begin with.

His brows furrowed with frustration as he clenched and unclenched his hand's grip on glass.

Maybe that was him before. But he won't take the thought of death lightly now. If anyone dies on his watch…

When he looked at them again. He saw an unsightly display of the older man pinning the now struggling girl's hands on the table as he pleasured himself with her neck. And…and..

His eyes scanned the room for Koko, maybe he can help. But he was nowhere to be seen. Where was he when he's needed? Before Natsume could grab hold of himself, he let go of the glass he was holding and purposefully and quickly strode to their table. Who knows what the man would do after he's done with her.

The girl was now trembling and crying. She could shout, Natsume guessed, but then again, she might be paralyzed by fear, too frightened to do anything at all. Their table reeked with the smell of cheap beer. The man still has his eyes closed while working his way towards the poor girl's cheeks then-

Natsume grabbed the man's collar and punched him square on the face. The man was unconscious in a second. Knowing the amount of alcohol already circulating the man's system, it's no surprise that the man fell immediately after one punch. Then again, Natsume had always punched pretty hard. And now his right hand knuckles ached. He noticed that the girl's wrists were still trapped in the man's locked grip. And she was still crying.

Natsume sighed. He untangled the man's stubby fingers and released the girl. He then grabbed one of her wrists as he made his way out of the bar, dragging her behind him.

Cold air welcomed them both. He led them to his car. He was planning on dropping the girl off somewhere in the middle downtown far from this abandoned area. It's not suited for a girl of her kind to be in a place where they were in.

He first opened the door on the passenger side and urged the girl in. "Get in."

The girl, looking at him with wide, still tearful eyes, seemed to be contemplating on whether to trust him. Natsume did not break the stare. Finally, after what seemed to be eons, the girl sighed tiredly and got in the car, probably trusting her her instincts. Natsume inwardly praised the girl's exemplary instincts. He wouldn't take advantage of anyone. Heck, he wouldn't even probably hurt a hair on anyone, although his earlier actions betrayed him. He wasn't usually the type to start conflicts or issues. He wondered what on earth made him do what he did earlier. He closed the passenger door and strode to the driver's side.

He placed the key to the ignition and started the car. When he was about to step on the gas, he heard her voice through her sobs. "Y-you s-should-dn't drink and d-drive."

"So would you rather stay here? With him?" He did not intend to make his words slur. But it still did, and he heard it, no matter how unnoticeable.

The girl did not make any move to stop him anymore. And Natsume drove with a speed he couldn't understand why he did.

"I'm just going to drop you off in the middle downtown." He assured her in the middle of her hiccups.

That was the last sound they both heard aside from the car's engine. They drove in silence for another ten minutes until Natsume reached a curve with taxi cabs. He pushed the breaks as the car stopped.

The girl, seeming calm enough, realized her signal. She made a move to open the door before stopping again to thank him. For the first time tonight, she looked at him straight at the face. "Thank you. I owe you one." She said simply, and then she opened the door and got out.

Natsume did not make a move to release the breaks nor did he move his hands from the steering wheel. He sighed and ran his right aching hand through his face. It took him a moment before he realized he was holding his breath. He watched the girl get into one of the taxi cabs. He inwardly debated that he was merely waiting for the girl to safely get in on one of the vehicles and not that he was too flustered by her looks to release the breaks.

When she entered one of the taxis in line, Natsume quickly drove past it. Her words, clinging again on his air, were the only light as he drove through the night.

At least it's as effective as his scotch, he thought. It made him forget of his situation – feel normal, even – for a while.

-End of flashback-

"You know each other?"

What are those eyes doing here? What is she doing here?!

Natsume stared at her eyes for another moment. She looked a lot like she did the other night he saw her. With her messy hair down, she looked casual with her plain shirt and jeans, far from what he was wearing for work. She did not break eye contact although looking lost as he was, and almost uncertain. He was the first to recover from the tension which seemed to envelope the whole place and answered cautiously and slowly, not allowing his eyes to wander off from the girl, "Not technically."

"Well, well." Hotaru was amused. A slight smirk appeared on her face.

This is going to be a long meeting.

Author's Notes: This chapter is filled with flashbacks of Natsume and Mikan's weekend. I know that the pacing is a bit slow and there's not a lot of happenings in this chapter, but I promise that after a few more chapters, it will be quicker! I just gave the backgrounds of the main character so that we'll know where they're coming from! I appreciate those who follow and favorite this story. :) But I do hope you guys review and comment so that I will know what you guys think! Is it too dragging? Too cheesy? Too.. I don't know. Or maybe stuff that I can improve on! Tell me what you think! ;)

School just started for me last week. I guess updating will be a bit slower cause I will be busier. But I'm really determined to finish this although I think that this story still has a long way to go. I already have a plot in mind. I'm just trying to figure out the in betweens. :)

PS. By the way, if you still haven't, visit my tumblr blog! It's www . enilezah . tumblr . com (just remove the spaces!). You can submit prompts and I'll try my best to write something for you guys! ;)