I do not own Gakuen Alice or any of its characters! Next chapter will be uploaded later this week.

Natsume pushed Mikan onto the bed, smirking as she squealed. She shyly pulled at his collar and picked at the top button. He swept her up and placed her on her stomach instead, trapping the squirming girl on his lap. He blew at the base of her neck and gently smiled when he saw her shiver and stop moving.

"This is punishment, you know?" he murmured while tugging her skirt down. Her underwear soon followed. She turned to gape at him with a dark blush splashed against her cheeks and continued to wiggle. He smacked her rear. Out of shock, Mikan stilled, only to renew her efforts moments later.

"It hurts," she whimpered.

"Good, it's supposed to. This is for being such a tease and flirting with other guys around me."

"That's not flirting that's just being nice-"

Before she could finish her retort, he hit her again, pleased with the way her voice rose at the end. She whimpered again, this time panting hard.

"Mmm… do you like this Mikan?" he breathed, punctuating each word with another slap. She denied it vehemently, trying to stifle her gentle moans. He paused to run his hands against her clit, finding it slick with her arousal. He plunged one finger into her, watching her shudder as he worked his finger at a rapid pace. A second and third digit followed. Natsume could feel her tightening and at the last minute, pulled out and smacked her rear. She breathed heavily and crawled off his lap onto the bed. She rolled onto her back and pulled the thin bed sheets up to her chest, face still red from nearing a climax.

"Now who's a tease?" she muttered and pouted.

Keeping one hand firmly around both of hers, he pulled his belt off at the same time in one fluid motion. She flushed bright red and attempted to wiggle away, but was impeded by his legs on either side of her body.

The black belt looped around her wrists to secure her to the headboard. She writhed as he intentionally brushed against her breasts, her nipples pebbling at the touch.

"If you'd apologize, I might let you up," he told her, licking the outer shell of her ear. He bit her earlobe and she squealed. He continued to press hot kisses against the side of her neck as she breathed heavily.

One of his hands snaked down to press against the inner side of her breast where he could feel her pounding heartbeat.

"Why should I apologize, Natsume? I was just being nice-"

It was cut off by her moan. His fingers had found her nipple and twisted it mercilessly.

"You didn't think you did anything wrong?" he growled, "You were practically giving your number out to any guy who asked. You look like you're willing to kiss any guy who merely gives you a once over. Don't even get me started with all the time you've been spending with Ruka. Did you think I wouldn't notice you two going behind my back for who knows what? Are you that desperate?" Initially his speech was fueled by jealousy, but it gave way to anger. His touches became less tender and crueler. He manipulated his fingers across her breasts- pinching, pulling, twisting- and brought her to the brink of a climax before withdrawing once more.

Mikan sensed the shift in attitude as well. His words stung. Hands still tied, she turned her face into the side of her arm.

"Let me up," she whispered. It was almost broken. Natsume paused, wavering between comforting her and supporting his argument. Ultimately, his pride held victorious. He freed her hands and watched her pull down her shirt, gathering the sheets around her body.

"That's what this is about?" she breathed incredulously.

"How can you be so calm?" he demanded, "You're practically cheating on me."

"What do you mean? Just because I'm talking with Ruka doesn't mean you have to be jealous."

"I'm not jealous- I just can't stand having a girlfriend who's such a flirt all the time. I mean, you're leading him on."

~Flashback~

Mikan giggled, sitting next to Ruka under the trees. The fall weather was nice, and kept the two of them cool. She leaned in closer to the magazine he had on his lap.

"How about this one?" she asked. He glanced to where her finger was pointed.

"Yeah, he would like that," he told her, "You really love him, don't you?"

Mikan flushed brightly at this before throwing a smile at him. She leaned against his shoulder and sighed softly.

"I'm not sure he trusts me," she confided. Ruka looked at her, pity shining in his eyes. He was having issues with Hotaru as well. Mikan noticed Ruka's downtrodden expression and realizing the cause of his worries, smiled again.

"I guess we'll just have to find really great presents for them, right Ruka?" she cheerily announced. He smiled too, and they continued flipping through the magazine.

~End Flashback~

"LEADING HIM ON?" her voice rose considerably, making Natsume glad his flat was soundproofed, "HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT?"

He arched a brow and noted that she wasn't denying his words, per se. She was more outraged that she was caught, if anything. He kept his lips sealed and waited for her to collect herself.

"What about you then?" she asked, "You're always hanging out with Luna. For all I know, you could be cheating with her. But I didn't say anything because I trusted both of you." The last sentence came out on a high note, her voice cracking slightly. She breathed in deeply and blinked rapidly. Her eyes were starting to gloss over with tears, but she didn't want to give him the satisfaction of seeing her cry.

He faltered too. Maybe it was the tears. Mikan had stopped being a crybaby when she was eleven. Now at twenty, she rarely shed tears. Even now, Natsume could see that she was desperately trying to hold them back. But he remembered Mikan and Ruka sitting under the trees leaning in close and whispering to each other at the park. He remembered the vivid blush that she had. And he remembered why he was angry.

"I'm not going to take that from a slut," he callously spat out. Even after the words left his mouth, he regretted them. Only pride kept his mouth clamped shut.

Mikan visibly flinched. Something shattered in her eyes, and she turned to face the balcony. She wrapped her lower torso in the crisp white linen and moved off the bed; sheets illumined by moonlight trailing behind her like a wedding gown. He could see the shadowing silhouette of her legs trembling unsteadily. She swayed. He didn't make any move to help her. Mikan could see that and it burned. She wanted to fix the problem, but words failed to tumble from her lips. Shock rendered her in silence.

"Then that's it? We're done?" she almost pleaded for him to say something against it. She didn't dare turn to face him, but stood motionless by the balcony. The gentle autumn breeze pulled at the bed sheet and blew her tawny hair from her face. It curled in gentle spirals that traced the curve of her face, down her neck, and the slope of her shoulders.

"I guess so," he curtly bit out. Her shoulders gave way and she leaned heavily against the wall, breathing in and out for a moment of time. The silence hung suspended in the air and dragged the seconds on. She could barely breathe past the salty water that choked her up. The words set in and something triggered within her. She stumbled over her feet, dropping the sheet and pulling her skirt and underwear up in a fluid motion. Even still, Natsume could see the slight tremor in her hands. Something gnawed at him. Guilt? He pushed it down and watched her shaking hands gingerly reach out to touch the doorknob. Turning back, she stared at him, still sitting on the bed. His dark tousled hair and crimson eyes were highlighted by the moonlight streaming in from the balcony. He was ridiculously handsome. She offered a watery smile and left the bedroom. Footsteps faded into the distance and before he knew it, she left the house too.