Epilogue

A/N: I'm back! Because many reviewers stated story needed something more. You'll find out what. ;)

Disclaimer: Still don't own Gakuen Alice. I know; sad, but true.

Dedication: To an anonymous reviewer by the name of Lady from Mars for being my very FIRST reviewer! And for continuing to read most of my stories, I thank you. :D

The Next Day….

12:00 noon, Mikan's POV

In the silence of the cafeteria, I heard someone give a great big yawn.

I look around the room, searching for the guilty person.

…wow. Why's everyone looking at me? I thought they would all be looking for the yawn-er too…

Oh. Oohhhh…. Oh gosh. I'm the guilty person? Oh dear.

"Umm…. Sorry?" I squeaked out. Nobody's answering. They're all too busy staring at me like I'm a baboon. I moan. Maybe Hotaru will help...

I turn to her. She meets my pleading eyes with a sigh. "Mikan, you featherbrained idiot." Hotaru pat me. A really warm feeling comes over me. Tears well up in my eyes and I throw my arms around her.

Hotaru sighed. I wonder why she would do that... "Mikan, why don't you go get some rest. I'll take care of Narumi for the afternoon."

What? I can't do that! Skipping school isn't something I should do. My grades are bad enough as it is! Though... Well, the offer is tempting...

Another sigh from Hotaru. "I'll tutor you later okay? Or maybe Hyuuga will. Whoever it is, your grades aren't in any danger." Mentally, she added 'What with me as your best friend and Hyuuga as your boyfriend.'

Seriously? Hotaru, who I've been begging to tutor me for years, is offering? This is reeealllly unusual...

"Just go Mikan, before I change my mind."

Ah well. Screw math class.

I run out of the cafeteria with a quick "Thanks Hota-chan!"

Hmm... What should I do now? Get some rest I suppose. But where?

My eyes scanned the school grounds and landed on a certain tree.

I feel a smile tugging, and tugging hard, on my lips.

The Sakura tree, Natsume's and my sanctuary. Perfect.

I feel the rough, cool bark under my hands. I lean back and relax on it's trunk, closing my eyes. My mind giving away to daydreams.

They went from Natsume, always starring in my daydreams, to last night. That swung me into the direction of the biology project.

It had gone well. I'm sure I passed with at least a B, if not an A. Natsume had written a perfect paper, as expected.

Osamu-san seemed a little surprised when I told him I had finished it. I don't blame him, I was be too. It did hurt a bit though that he didn't trust me.

Another yawn escaped me and I stretched. The fresh air's getting me sleepy...

End of POV

Natsume Hyuuga strode through the school grounds. Last night still holding him in a very good mood.

Suddenly, he stopped, mid-stride. Somebody he just passed caught his eye.

"Oi! Osamu!"

A boy with too much pimples turned around. He froze when he saw Natsume. "Umm... Can I help you Hyuuga-san?" That dude was sweating buckets!

Natsume raised an eyebrow. Was he really that scary? Hm. Probably, by the looks of it.

"How'd your part of the project go?"

"Umm..." Osamu was confused. Surely Hyuuga knew he'd skipped out on his girlfriend. Maybe Sakura hasn't told him yet. If that's the case then he'd have to tell her.

A shiver ran down his spine. Shit! This is not good.

Natsume watched this display of fear, or, in his opinion, idiocy, from Osamu with amusement. Huh. Who knew the moron was actually a wimp as well.

"So?" Silence. Natsume was getting impatient. "Oi! Answer me you sissy."

"Uh... Actually Nat-" crimson eyes flashed with rage. "I mean...um...Hyuuga-san." Osamu fidgeted. Not so great now, are we Osamu-kun?

The fore-mentioned boy gulped and started again. "Actually Hyuuga-san, I had an emergency with my girlfriend and left the project to Sakura-san." he looked up at Natsume in fear.

Hyuuga was shell-shocked. Does this mean... Mikan had to write a whole freakin' 13 000 words by herself?

He lowered his head and only one thought occupied his mind; That bastard is going to get it.

"Umm... I guess I'll be going now Hyuuga-san."

"Stop right there you piece of trash." His voice was steady, but dangerous. His hand latched onto Osamu's shoulder bone, almost crushing it.

Osamu, slowly turned back, Natsume's murderous face met him. His teeth were clenched, his long bangs covering his eyes.

"Uh..." Osamu managed to stammer out, shaking uncontrollably.

"Osamu..." Natsume's tone was still steady, calm even. Then his head snapped up and Osamu caught a glance of his eyes. He gave a tiny squeak of fear.

They were crimson, as always, but different. There seemed to be a fire blazing in them. They looked murderous. They looked like hell itself.

"Prepare to die." The phrase was simple. It could've been a joke, but the tone in which Natsume said them in was anything but. He sounded like the Grim Reaper himself.

.:0...0:.

Far away from this particular scene, Hotaru Imai sat in the school cafeteria. Silently tapping on her laptop amid the happy chattering of students.

Suddenly, a shrill shriek of pure fear erupted the room. Everything turned silent and everyone stared, wide-eyed, towards the direction where the noise seemed to come from.

A chuckle broke the silence.

This surprised the students even more. Why? Because the chuckle had come from Hotaru Imai.

"Um... Do you know what happened Imai-san?" a brave girl asked.

"Yes." Hotaru grinned evilly. "Somebody should call an ambulance because the cat has just caught the mouse. And he probably murdered it in the process too."

.:0...0:.

Natsume walked aimlessly outside Gakuen Alice. Now that was refreshing. Ugh... But my hands feel sore from disarranging that bastard's face.

He clenched and unclenched his fists. I need a break.

His eyes wandered the field and stopped on a certain brunette. Natsume smiled, not a bit surprised. She always managed to appear and make his day when he needed it.

I've found my "break".

.:0...0:.

Mikan was dozing off when something brushed against her and she stirred. She sensed someone plop down beside her.

"Hnnn..." Mikan stretched and yawned, arching her back against the tree trunk. She saw a blurred figure of a boy beside her.

"...Natsume?" She rubbed her eyes.

"Hey." It was indeed Natsume. Mikan looked him over. Something worried her. There were bruises on his hands and some small cuts. His hair was messier than usual and his clothes were in disarray.

"What happened to you?" Mikan grabbed his hands, concern filling her face.

"Nothing big." He looked away.

Mikan studied his face for awhile and decided that Natsume was probably right. "Well, I'll give you this anyway. Hold on..." Mikan fumbled in her pockets. "I'm sure it's here somewhere..."

Natsume looked at her with amusement. "There!" Natsume followed her gaze curiously.

She was holding a band-aid triumphantly in her hands. It was really cute with it's pink bunny design.

Mikan stuck it on the small cut on Natsume's finger.

Satisfied, she leaned back and returned to her nap, yawning.

Natsume stared at her for awhile and decided to settle on her lap, using it as a pillow.

He lifted his hand up, studying the pink band-aid and revelling in the silence.

Yup, everything was right again.

A/N: Yeah, I realized too that it was a bit weird just leaving Osamu unpunished. Thanks to the reviewers who pointed that out for me. :3