Disclaimer: I do not own Alice Academy.

CHAPTER FOUR

The two stared each other for the longest time, Mikan, sitting on one of the swings, and Natsume, standing in front of her. Neither spoke. Bored of the wordless debate, Mikan moved; she appeared to be standing up from her swing. But she quickly jumped backwards and swung, her legs stretched in front of her. Natsume had no time to react to the girl whose feet were dangerously getting closer and closer to his stomach.

Thud. Natsume fell to the ground from the impact with Mikan's swing/kick. Cursing to himself, he stood up once more and faced Mikan.

"What do you want?" Mikan crossed her arms over her chest and glared at Natsume. He remained quiet for a few minutes, until he finally decided to speak.

"I want us to go back to normal. Be together again. This is killing me, Mikan, and I know it's killing you, too. Let's just forget this stupid fight and move on. Pleasse?"

Natsume's eyes were pleading. Mikan saw how much he had been hurting. She was hurting as well. But she had to stay firm. Otherwise, she knew, this fight will keep happening and happening again.

"Natsume, I love you. You know that. But please, try to be more sensitive. Apologize, and listen. That's all I ask."

"Haven't I said sorry with what I've just said?" Natsume asked incredulously. Mikan sighed.

"You never said you were. You just stated what you wanted from me."

"I'm sorry. There. Now please, let's get back together."

Mikan looked at Natsume and smiled sadly. She was being difficult, she knew. But… this was a fight she vowed to fight. She wasn't going to back down so easily.

"We were never apart, Natsume. We just had some differences. That's the thing. We never settle our differences, we just skip over them. I don't want to do that anymore. I love you, Natsume. In fact, I keep telling everyone who asks that you're the only boyfriend I have. But until you apologize to me sincerely, I can't start this again. It hurts me, Natsume. Your indifference hurts me. This is selfish of me, I know. But please. Try, for me. Please find it in your heart to apologize."

Natsume's face hardened. Mikan had to turn away as tears rolled down her cheek. She looked at Natsume once more, gave him another sad smile, and walked away.

"She walked away from me. Again. Why does she keep doing that?"

Natsume was lost. All he wanted was to get Mikan back. He did not understand what she wanted from him. He was starting to understand her words though. He really was insensitive if he couldn't even understand his own girlfriend's feelings.

Sitting beside him was Ruka. After his failed attempt to patch things up with Mikan, Natsume called Ruka to ask for advice. He really had lost it. He just wanted Mikan back.

"It's been hard on her too. Believe me. I live with her, so I know."

Together with Natsume and Ruka was Hotaru. They were all eating chips at Natsume and Ruka's dorm room. Ruka decided to invite Hotaru along because she knew Mikan better than anyone. This fact irked Natsume just a teensy bit, because it should be him who knew Mikan best. Well, given the pinch he was currently in, he really could not protest.

"Maybe she keeps walking away because there's something else you haven't done," Ruka said.

"Well if that isn't cryptic I don't know what is," Natsme replied angrily.

"Okay, chill. Look, you love her. Right? And she loves you. This will work out. It just has to," Ruka said calmly to Natsume. "Have you even figured out why she's mad?"

Natsume thought about their previous fights. "Well for one, she wants me to apologize truthfully. For another… something about being more sensitive or something like that."

Hotaru took a bottle of water and chugged it down all at once. "She wanted to talk to you about her grandfather. She got news that he was in a bad condition. She was looking for comfort," Hotaru said, looking at Natsume, "in you. Weird, I know. But she trusts you."

Natsume's face was grim. He did not expect that to be the answer to the question. He was so sure she was blabbing about something insignificant.

"It is my fault. For being an unhearing, indifferent jerk," Natsume finally said.

Ruka placed a hand on Natsume's shoulder, trying to reassure him. "Now that you know the reason, it will be easier to act, right?"

Hotaru shrugged and looked at Natsume once again. "Nogi's right. What you do with this information is up to you. Just make sure it's worth it. For the record, while you had your mistakes, this was not entirely your fault. I told Mikan this as well. You were angry that night. She shouldn't have pushed it."

"But still, let her have her way just this once," Ruka continued. "Just be the bigger man."

Natsume just listened to the words of the two. He really needed to do something, quick. It had been two weeks of this fight. However the two tried to say it, this one clearly was his fault. He would do whatever he could to fix his own mistakes.

Natsume looked at both Ruka and Hotaru with determination. Ruka was glad. He knew this time around, Natsume will succeed in winning Mikan back. Hotaru's face did not betray her emotions, but her lips were ever so slightly turning upwards.

It was the start of the week. Of all days, it had to be the day before Valentine's Day. Mikan sulked whenever she heard girls talk about making chocolate and confessing love. She wondered if she should make one for Natsume. She had been giving him chocolate every single year since elementary. Plus, she really did want to. Even with the current situation, she wanted to give Natsume her handmade chocolate. It just felt… wrong not to do it.

Mikan did not see Natsume the whole day. He cut all his classes. Mikan asked around, but even his best friend Ruka did not know where he was. Mikan was worried, but was also relieved. After the incident last week at the playground, she wasn't really sure how she'd face him. Granted, they'd been ignoring each other for two weeks now, but that did not mean she never stole quick glances of him. She decided not to dwell on it; tomorrow, she would find him, by hook or by crook.

It was the 14th of February. Mikan was very nervous. Deep inside her bag was a beautifully wrapped box filled with dark chocolate she made last night. Homeroom came. Natsume wasn't in.

A huge sigh of disappointment escaped Mikan's lips. She started doubting her actions as of late. She missed him so, so badly. She wanted to spend this day dedicated to love with him. Even if it meant giving up again, she would be willing do it, if only she can see Natsume. The past two weeks had been very long and very tiring. Mikan was reaching her limit.

The morning passed uneventfully. Mikan gave to and received chocolates from her girl friends. She even bought a chocolate snack for Kyou. But one final box of chocolates remained in her bag, and she was dying to give it.

She did not have any appetite for lunch. The rest of the class went out to buy food. Mikan was left alone in the classroom. She looked at all the empty chairs and sighed softly to herself. She decided to rest for a little bit. She was just about to close her eyes when a deep voice spoke.

"How long are you gonna stay there? Let's eat."

Standing at the doorway was Natsume. He was as handsome as ever. He had one of his hands in his pocket and the other one was hidden. Mikan immediately noticed.

"What are you hiding behind your back?" Mikan asked suspiciously.

Without saying a word, Natsume walked over to Mikan. He pulled a nearby chair and sat facing her. They stared at each other eyes for quite a while. Natsume finally broke eye contact and looked outside the window. Mikan waited.

"I give up. I can't do this anymore, Mikan. I can't stand not being with you. I miss you so much. Seeing you for the last week with that Agata was hell. I just want us to be together again. I want you. I need you, Mikan."

Natsume looked at her. He pulled out his hand from behind his back and offered Mikan a dozen red roses. Mikan smiled and took it. She was about to smell the roses when she realized that they were all made of paper. Each and every rose, plus the leaves, plus the stems were made of paper. The bouquet could have fooled anyone, it looked so real.

"Took me all day yesterday until this morning to finish," Natsume answered to her questioning look. "I know this is not much to make up to what I did to you two weeks ago, but this is my way of showing you that I'm trying. I will try. I will try my best to be a good listener and not be a jerk to you. I love you, Mikan. And I'm truly, truly sorry."

Tears were flowing down Mikan's cheeks before she even realized it. Natsume did not know how to react, but Mikan suddenly laughed.

"Natsume you idiot. I don't want you to change. I love you just the way you are. But making me feel special is making me really happy right now," Mikan said through her tears. She managed to flash a genuine smile towards Natsume. He couldn't take it anymore. He grabbed her hand and pulled her close, covering her body with his. He hugged her so tight, afraid to let her go again. Mikan's face softened.

"Thank you, Natsume." Mikan broke free from Natsume's embrace and went to her bag. She pulled out the chocolates she made for Natsume and handed it to him.

"Happy Valentine's day."