Disclaimer: Do not own Natsume and Gakuen Alice.

A.N: Sorry this is kind of short but hope you like it.

Chapter 6

After the confrontation at the restaurant, Natsume realized that he was being stupid. Hadn't he already resigned himself to watch over Mikan? Then why was he still interfering with her life you ask? He knew the answer of course, he was jealous. It wasn't easy to admit, but it was the truth. He had been dreading this day for years now, the day that Mikan grew up and started becoming interested in guys. He thought it'd be the worst day of his life, and you know what? He was right.

He felt absolutely miserable and Ruka's silent looks of "I told you so's" weren't helping his state of mind. Hearing the star freak confess his feelings to Mikan made his heart ache, but also made him envy how easy it had been for him to confess. He couldn't even give polka a compliment without saying something disparaging. He knew he made an idiot of himself today and by this time tomorrow he knew everyone would know about his reckless confrontation. But he consoled himself with the fact that he didn't completely embarrass or endanger Mikan. If their arguments had continued the way it did, he would have said something he would have regretted.

"Your mine Polka!"wouldn't have gone over very well, but he couldn't help but feel that, that sentiment was true.

Had he not always been protecting her for the last seven years? It was so Persona and the elementary school principal couldn't get their crummy hands on her. Wasn't he always buying her fluff puffs, and helping her with homework? Well, covertly that is, it wouldn't do to show Persona that he was still harboring some very strong feelings for her. But he still put up with her various shenanigans, and ignored her stupidity but most importantly, he was there for her.

Sometimes he wished that she wasn't so ignorant, that she could recognize and understand what he was doing for her. If he had hated her as much as he pretended he did, then he wouldn't willingly be spending time with her or let her find him. If the black cat didn't want to be found, he couldn't be. Every so often, he wanted to desperately publicize his claim, just so he wouldn't have to waste his time destroy- ahem, protecting Mikan from despicable, heart sucking leaches.

There were other times, that he almost told her how he felt. It usually happened when she gave him this looked, that made him feel like she felt the same way but he stopped himself every time. Tainting her with his blood soaked hands would be one of the most inexcusable sins on earth.

"He's married you know" Ruka spoke softly.

"What?" he asked inwardly confused.

"Andou-sempai, he's married."

"What!"

"Yeah, Hotaru just told me."

He didn't deign that with another reply but inwardly he was seething. If the star freak was married, it could only be with Misaki, she would have gutted him otherwise. Cooly, he recalled that they had gotten together their last year here. Apparently in his blind jealousy, he had forgotten that little fact. So if they had tied the knot, what had the shadow freak been up to? And why was he going on stupid dates with Polka? "More importantly what could he and Imai be up to? He knew for a fact that she was in on this because there was nothing in this academy that escaped her notice.

This was all staged, he thought. There is no other explanation. It was all set up to make him jealous, probably to get him to confess. The gang had been meddling in his affairs for a while now, but this time they had been close. The only question was if Mikan was aware of this? Recalling their argument he deduced that it wasn't. She wasn't a good enough actor to fake her anger for him, she was just too easy to read.

"Hn," was his only reply before he walked towards the dorms. He would have to investigate who else was in on it and what else they had in store for him. He had six months before graduation, he could last that long to insure her safety. Nothing they could throw at him would waver his determination.

"I'm sorry about Natsume Tsubasa-sempai, I think he's just been strained lately. His missions are getting harder for him, and he worries about the future."

Tsubasa watched Mikan out of the corner of his eye as they walked to the girl's dormitory.

"I didn't know Natsume confided in you like that. You two must be close."

Blushing Mikan turned her head away. "No, it's not like that. He doesn't actually tell me what he's thinking, but I can tell. Something's been bothering him lately and it causes him to be slightly anxious. It's been affecting him on missions, therefore resulting in more injuries. He doesn't let me heal him anymore, but from the hints Subaru-sempai drops…" she trailed off. "Whatever it is, there's probably a good explanation for his actions."

Subaru Imai, despite Tsubasa's insistence, had decided to stay in the Academy as a doctor. Tsubasa could understand wanting to protect his little sister and her friends with whatever little protection he could give, but he knew being under Principal Kuonji wasn't easy.

Tsubasa laughed. "Yeah, jealousy."

Mikan frowned. "Of what?" she asked.

"You."

"Do you really think so?" was her quiet response.

A little surprised, Tsubasa looked at someone he considered his little sister and realized that Mikan wasn't as naïve about love as she made others to believe. Her face was turned down but he caught the flashes of emotion on her face. The small tinge of hopefulness, sad resignation and pain.

It seemed that their little Mikan wasn't so little anymore, if she had finally realized her feelings. What he was curious about, was why she hadn't acted on it. It wasn't like her, not to steam roll her way into whatever she wanted. But then again, matters of the heart were a complex and delicate thing.

"So what's the plan?" Sumire asked.

Hotaru nodded her head at Misaki who was rubbing her hands in glee. "She has volunteered to lead the next mission."

"Great," Anna beamed. "So what's it going to be? Locking them in the closet, sticking their hands together with glue?..."

"Just like old times," Nonoko nodded.

"Dressing Mikan up in a bikini, a picnic under the stars?" she continued.

"No. No. No!" Misaki interrupted. "We need to do something big! Something subtle but effective, devious, and irresistible. Sexy and captivating but innocent. We need to seduce Natsume!" she finished in a flourish.

"What!" the girls gawked.

"Not us," she said annoyed. "I meant Mikan needs to seduce Natsume."

"Oh," said Sumire. She thought a moment before she smirked. "I like it. That's simply evil," she laughed.

"I admit it would be amusing to watch," said Anna, "but you girls are forgetting one thing."

"What?"

"We need Mikan to cooperate."

"I can handle that," Hotaru offered. "She owes me."

"No need to blackmail her Hotaru, she'll do it I'm sure. Besides, if you blackmail her, she won't be very cooperative." She turned to the window. "No, we need a fully cooperative accomplice to pull this off. Natsume is too clever to fall for another set up like earlier, but this, he would never suspect," Misaki smiled slyly. "Who would suspect dear innocent Mikan of seducing the awful perverted cat?"

The girls laughed, it would take some time to plan their next move, but they were determined to get those two together.

Next Time: Operation Seduction

The next plan for the gang is to get Mikan to cooperate on seducing Natsume. I have some ideas on what she should do and they're all typical things that others have tried before. I wanted to see if there was any unique ideas out there, things that you guys have done before or have heard have worked.

Constructive criticism is welcome, but please be gentle.