Summary: I don't know how I didn't put the two together. How could I have not? When our eyes met, I automatically knew it was him. So what did I do? I ran, same as I did five years ago.

Disclaimer: I don't own Gakuen Alice.

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Different Now: Chapter Four

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I looked at the six of them from behind my sunglasses. Was my get-up necessary, no. But I didn't want to take the chance of them recognizing me. I saw Natsume on stage this weekend; he saw me. It didn't take long for him to realize. I'm sure he would eventually tell this was me too, but I had to get this interview for Andou and for myself. "Hello, you must be the journalist the Andou sent, Ibaragi." Yuu said shaking my hand. I smiled at him. That's right, Nobara Ibaragi. That's who they thought was interviewing them.

"Not much for words are you." Koko asked raising an eyebrow. "Or looks." He whispered the last part, but not very quietly. Kistu nudged him, giving him a look.

I coughed, trying to adjust me voice. "Ah, you see, everyone is pretty much sick at work right now." I sounded weird even to myself. "This is precaution so I don't get any of you all sick." I hope I sound somewhat sick. I was never one for acting. Natsume could always see through my lies.

"Oh, that's very thoughtful." Yuu said with a big smile. I looked around the room, taking in what everyone looked like now. None of them had changed much in the five years. Yuu still looks like his old, geeky-yet-cute self, but older. Kistu's hair was shorter that it used to be - it makes him look a lot older and handsome. Koko's hair still looks as shaggy and untamed as always which had always been a good look on him. Youichi, my little cousin, still as neat as ever with his hair and the was he dresses. Ruka has grown his hair out, for the rocked look, I think. He looked really nice. I couldn't help smiling at him. Then I turned to Natsume, gorgeous as ever.

Why did I agree to this? How am I supposed to sit here with Natsume for an hour?

Right, publicity. My name needs to be known. Or so Andou says. And my boss knows best. He and his wife are very famous, while I am not. If I get this interview, maybe I can be. The girl who dressed up in a ridiculous outfit as to not be recognized by her ex-boyfriend who is in fact the famous Natsume Hyuuga.

Yuu shifted uneasily. I hadn't realized how quiet I was until he brought me back from my thoughts. "Shall we get started?" I nod, and we all take our seats.

I use my fake, scruffy voice again. "I have questions for each of your separately and as a grou-"

"You seem very familiar." Youichi blurted. I froze. He couldn't have caught on, right? I mean, it's been five years since he's seen me. Plus, I've been in the same room with him for like a minute? Unless Natsume told the band about me being at the concert. But that still wouldn't let him assume it's me. Then again, he is my little cousin. We have known each other since birth.

"That's preposterous." I say, hoping no one catches on. That would be slightly awkward for myself. I'm not even sure where I would begin to explain this sitation. "I would remember meeting with you all before today." I give out a nervous laugh. Youichi raises a single eyebrow, but says nothing else. "As I was saying, I have questions for each of you separately and as a group." I sat the notebook I carried in with me on my lap. I opened to a black page, getting out a pen. "I'm going to start with the group questions; they can be answered by any of you or none at all." Three of the five band mates nod. "Are any of you in a relationship?" Natsume lets out a scoff – that would be my first question. As a true journalist, I would have never started to blunt, but I wanted them to think other of me.

"No, none of us are." Ruka answered. I jotted that down.

Koko stopped me. "Well, technically, Youichi has a-" Natsume and Youichi both sent the boy a death glare. I pretended I hadn't noticed, tilting my head at Koko. He just apologized, and asked me to continue. I knew exactly what he was going to say. Youichi and Aoi Hyuuga, Natsume's little sister, have been best friends since Natsume and I had. And long before Natsume and I dated, so did Youichi and Aoi, though you could never tell around them. They kept it secret from our families for a long time, saying they were just friends. That was until I caught them making out on Aoi's bed. I don't really know if they are together to this day, but judging from Youichi and Natsume's reaction, I'm guessing so.

I continue, "Did you always want to be a musician?" Natsume and Youichi stay quiet, as I suspected they would. Both seemed to be starring at me intensely. It was rather nerve-racking.

"I wanted to be an astronaut when I was younger." Koko half-joked with a grin. I wrote that down, not sure if it would come in handy, but I was asked to write everything down.

"He's totally kidding." Kitsu kindly pointed out. "When he was younger, he actually wanted to be teacher." I raise an eyebrow – that was something I never knew. "It last through about elementary school, but then our mother got him a drum set." He cringed at the memory. "After that, music was everything. To him and to me."

"I wanted to be a veterinarian." Ruka said shyly. I already knew this. Ruka had been offered two or three scholarships to veterinarian school, but kindly turned them down. He couldn't leave his friends in the band. Of course, he never told me – the girl standing in front of him – all of this, so I could not write that all down. I just wrote what he said.

I tapped my pen on my notebook. I had gotten through the group and most of my other questions. The only one I hadn't talked to directly was Natsume – and I did that on purpose. I was kinda of hoping that after the group interview that he might just get up and leave. Sadly, that did not happen. So I decided I would pretend that I forgot about him. "Well, seems we are all done here." I said collecting my papers. Yuu smiled, putting his hand out for me to shake it. I smiled, pointed to my mask, and apologized. As we were all saying goodbyes, he spoke up.

"You didn't ask me any questions, Ibaragi." I winced behind my sunglasses. He was still sitting down in his chair, starring at me. He hadn't caught on had he? The rest of the group turned to him real quickly, seeming confused by his words, then to me.

I took a deep breath. All eyes were on me. "Oh, well, I figured you wouldn't be up to it, Hyuuga."

"Obviously, you don't know me, do you?" His voice was so emotionless, almost harsh. He couldn't know it was me. I haven't done anything to give myself away.

I stumbled over my words, trying to figure out what to say. "She was probably trying to avoid this, Natsume." Ruka said glaring at his best friend. "She probably knew what you are like and didn't want to be snapped at." He rolled his eyes, then looked at me with an apologetic look in his eyes. "And she's sick."

"You are free to leave whenever, Ibaragi." Yuu said standing up. He opened the door for me, and smiled. "I hope you feel better, as well as everyone at your firm. Please get better, and I can't wait to read what your write in the paper."

And with that, I was gone. I didn't stick around. It was almost too close.

Once in my car, I lost the mask and the hat and the sunglasses. I let out a sigh of relief. It was so awkward in that room with everyone. I was so scared that he was going to catch on. At the end there, I was sure something was going to happen. Luckily Ruka and Yuu saved me.

Back at work in Tsubasa's office, he was please. "You did good, Sakura." He praised me. "Nobara will be proud. I want you to write up a draft of everything that happened in there. Give it to me by tomorrow morning. Nobara will be back by then and review your work. She will edit it anywhere needed, and by the following day your first article will be in the papers."

I couldn't help but smile. I kept picture opening the newspaper to find Mikan Sakura written under an article. This was my first real article. Sure I had written others, but nothing had ever been published. I was a secretary for crying out loud. No one would read an article about nothing by a nobody. Everyone would read an interview with Crimson Flame though, no matter who wrote it.

Trying to write the actual article came to be more difficult that going to the interview. I couldn't concentrate with Anna and Nonoko singing karaoke in the living room on the play station. It was rather obnoxious. I didn't want to tell them to stop because that would mean I would have to tell them I was writing an article for work which would lead to them being happy for me, asking why and about what which would lead to them possibly being upset or mad at me for meeting with the guys after such a long time. Either way, I wasn't going to tell them.

I skipped dinner, locking myself in my room away from my house mates. Luckily, when they know my door is locked, it means I am deep in thought writing. I stare down at my laptop in front of me. It was less than half way done. Unfortunately, it was also one in the morning, and I still am not done with my article that was due in less than six hours.

In my article, was I supposed to say that I dated Natsume? I wasn't sure how to say everything. Sure I'd written many stories and articles, but for myself. No one actually saw them. Everyone would be reading this. I had to chose my words carefully and make sure every word was correct.

I glance over at myself in the mirror. This is so unlike me. My hair is up in a loose ponytail, my makeup is smeared, and I even have my glasses on. I look like utter shit in my opinion. I rub under my eyes, trying to remove some of the makeup. I need sleep, but I cannot until this is done. But how am I supposed to write this article when I cannot get him out of my mind? I stand up, grab my university hoodie and make my way quietly out the apartment. When I cannot think, fresh air tends to help.

Even though it's summer, it still gets chilly here at night. I sink down into my hoodie as the cool breeze hits the back of my neck. I make my way to the play ground and find myself on one of the swings. I close my eyes, thinking back to the interview. I had thought for sure Natsume caught onto me at the end. He wouldn't normally talk to anyone the way he had, unless he changed.

It was weird because part of me actually wanted him to notice me and call me out on my disguise. Because then that meant something – like he was still looking for me, right? Something like that.