§-- My Dreams...His Past --§

§-- Apologies --§

Minna-san, I am very very very very VERY sorry…for posting this chapter months after the last one…and to think this is just the third one! The fic has been ready for some time now...actually 2 months ago, but I haven't had the chance to type, and when I had, I was too lazy to do so. (Forgive the lazy person!! DX)In addition to my (cough) alibis, I had a difficult time deciding what song to use here...I already asked friends of mine to suggest, unfortunately, none of them were the right ones...I'm picky when it comes to using songs, I want a song with a calm and gentle melody and fits the specific mood of the chapter or maybe of the events of the story so far. I tried to make this chapter longer than the other 2 but I think there wouldn't be any difference. At least I'm able to post (smiles faintly)… Again, I am really sorry, some of you might even skip this so I guess I should start now…because this A/N is long and me saying that it's long makes it even longer so...(sigh) Dozo...

§--Gratitude--§

ありがと ごさいます!! (Arigatou Gozaimasu!)

For the Reviewers of Chapter 2:

Kuia

Ng Way Huck

eileene

Aireen Lacap

animenianshizuka1264

cutiebear14

lovely obsession

Midnight-Moonlight-Gal

Passion kiss

Banana Smiles

xhimesamax3

Nastusia is Miu

Choculate

dominiqueanne

JC-zala

For Reviewers of 'Tell Me!': (as of the time I last checked)

marshmallow-chan35

knackdesu

you dunno me

Aireen

sternenhagel

eileene

khatzie

mIkanNatsUme13

preciouser

Lycrea

natsumikan143

XKasumiX

cutie1314

tomboy ninja13

And To All The Rest Who Reads but Doesn't Review...

Not to forget to those who have waited so long for Chapter 3 to be posted...

(If ever I misspelled pen names or have forgotten to put in some who reviewed...GOMEN!)

§--Dedicated to--§

Kuia (for waiting :D and for bugging me to post it xD)

§--§

(drum rolls)

Presenting Chapter III

(After a long break…Sorry again)

§--§

Chapter III

Her Music

§--§

-- With Natsume and Ruka --

The two were presently under the Sakura Tree…

"Are you even positive about that? The picture I mean…" Ruka asked. Natsume nodded. "And yet you say you have no idea who she is…not even her name is familiar, am I right?" Ruka said, Natsume simply nodded yet again. "That doesn't make any sense!" Ruka said very confused. "I know I'm also confused myself…" Natsume said. "C'mon, let's go…" Natsume said standing up. "To where?" Ruka questioned, getting up himself. "Anywhere our feet will take us…" Natsume said as he walked on ahead of Ruka.

-- Back to the Rest --

On the way to the music room, they showed Mikan some parts of the academy that they happen to pass by, only SOME parts since the tour was supposed to be given by Natsume after all…

"I'm sorry Mikan but I don't know where your room is…you stayed in the guest room right?" Yuu apologized. "Nah, it's okay, we won't be passing by it I think…and I'm sure Natsume knows where it is, he's my partner after all…isn't he a Special Star Student(SSS) as well?" Mikan questioned. "Yeah." Yuu replied. "So that means my room is near his right?" Mikan concluded. "Well, it's highly possible your rooms would be next to each other..." Yuu stated. "How come?" Mikan asked. "Well, there used to be only two Special Star Students, or SSS if you want to call it that way, in the academy, and that was Natsume, together with Yumiko Konoe, but she already graduated so that makes Natsume the only on until you came. By the 

way, Yumiko-senpai and Natsume both hold the same alice...At first I thought that only Fire Alice weilders were to become SSS, but I guess your alice, I stand corrected, ALICES are actually really rare and special...Anyway, going back to the original topic, having 2 SSSs, your rooms ahouldn't be far apart, it's for emergency purposes, gathering students would be easier that way. Plus, when you need to clarify or need help with something, you can go ask him rather than having to exhaust yourself going all the way just to ask us." Koko butted in, seemingly high and mighty. "Ah...Souka...Wakarimasu..." Mikan nodded in comprehension. "So, Nii-chan and Nee-chan aren't SSS?" she cocked her head to the side, asking another question. "Uhm...They're Triple Start Students(TSS), just like Hotaru..." Anna clarified. "We're here." Hotaru announced emotionlessly as usual. "Kyaaaaaa!" Anna and Nonoko squealed, making the four cover their ears unless they want to go deaf.

Upon reaching the Music Room, a pink-haired girl in a high school division uniform was standing by the door carrying a box and was about to enter until she heard squeals, which made her stop from her tracks and snap her head towards the six middle school students, her eyes widened. "Ahh!" she panicked. "M-M-M-M-Mi-Mi-chan!! Y-You're h-h-here! Aren't you too early?" she stuttered. "Misaki-senpai! Konnichi wa!" mikan greeted. "Well, my friends and I wanted to come here earlier...although..." Mikan paused to check her watch. "it's 11:59 and 59 seconds...only one second to spare! Oh...it's gone now...making it exactly 12:00!" Mikan laughed. "You've made friends already? How quick!" Misaki tried to delay as she duplicated herself, gave the box to the clone, who in turn ran inside the Music Room with the eyes of the five, Hotaru excluded because of her knowledge of what would happen next, following her. "OUCH! That was my foot! What?! She's here?! She's usually late you know!" a voice was heard from inside the room. "Eh? that sounded like nii-chan..." Mikan said as she walked towards the door, Misaki blocked her. "Uhm...who are they Mi-chan?" Misaki distracted, sweating badly, luckily for her Koko didn't think of using his alice. "Oh! I forgot...Misaki-senpai, I would like you to meet Anna, Nonoko, Yuu, Koko...and I guess you already know Hotaru..." Mikan said as she softly laughed. "Hajimemashite!" Misaki greeted. "Guys I would like you to meet Misaki-senpai..." she introduced, "She's Tsubasa-senpai's girlfriend..." Mikan added in a whisper, but loud enough to reach Misaki's ears, making her blush deeply, with Anna and Nonoko giggling as a response. "H-Hey! How'd you know that?! Did tsubasa tell you this?! It was supposed to be a surprise! That guy! Sometimes I just wanna--argh!" Misaki said irritably, yet blushing all the same. "Uhm...Sorry to interupt but can we go in now?" Anna said excitedly, mixed with a hint of impatience as well. "Uhm..." Misaki said as she tried to think of a distraction.

-- With Natsume and Ruka --

The two just walked on, not knowing where they were going. Truthfully, Ruka didn't care, he just followed Natsume to wherever HIS feet would take HIM. Ruka was thinking about other important matters. Looking around, Ruka noticed that they were already inside the building, he was too occupied with his thoughts that he didn't notice the places they passed by, at least he knew that they greeted Mochu earlier...or did they? 'Ahh! Enough of the surroundings...back to what I was originally thinking about...Let's see...the picture...Sakura-san...Natsume...HIGHLY IMPOSSIBLE! I mean put it think way, Natsume doesn't know Sakura-san! I don't even think she knows him! Wait a second, the only possibility that she drew that because she knew Natsume...from her younger years maybe? But that's impossible as well! After THAT incident Natsume was found by none other than Persona and was taken to the academy! How could she have known him?! Unless--'

"Ruka...Ruka...Hey Ruka!" Natsume tried to get his attention.

"What?!" Ruka shouted unintentionally.

"Don't think about it too much...You're looking worried." Natsume stated.

Ruka chuckled nervously. "Think about what??" he faked.

"You know what I mean, just don't think about it too much...it's not of great importance anyway." Natsume said. 'Actually it is, but I don't want him to get involved...he might be in danger because of this...'

(Seriously, what's there to be 'in danger' for?)

"S-Sure." Ruka sighed in defeat. 'demo...'

-- Back to the Rest --

"Uhm..." Misaki started. "Not until you...uhm...dance like a chicken!?" she said laughing nervously, still sweating badly.

"EHHHHHH?! What are you talking about?!" the group, except Hotaru, exclaimed, extremely surprised and confused. Suddenly, the door slid open, revealing the Misaki clone which nodded at Misaki. "Uhm, I was kidding! Let's all go in now! Ehehehe..." Misaki said leading the group into the Music Room.

Upon getting inside, they were greeted by darkness. "Eh? Why is it so dark in here Misaki-senpai?...Misaki-senpai?" Mikan asked but heard no reply. In the blink of an eye, the lights flashed on, revealing four people and a highly decorated room with a big banner which read 'Welcome to Gakuen Alice Mi-chan!'. "KYAAAAAAAAAA!" It's--it's--it's--" Anna tried to speak but failed to do so. "Nii-chan! Nee-chan! Tsubasa-senpai! Misaki-senpai! What's going on?" Mikan asked confused. "Welcome to Gakuen Alice Mi-chan!!" the foursome greeted. "So this is what everything was all about!" Mikan laughed, as the rest, except Hotaru, laughed together with her. "Mikan...remember?" Nonoko reminded as she nudged Mikan. "Oh! Right...Nii-chan, Mee-chan, I would like you to meet my new friends. Anna, Nonoko, Yuu and Koko. Guys, meet Aki-nii and Ai-nee." Mikan introduced as they all shook hands. "OMG! I shook both Aki and Ai-senpai's hands!!" Nonoko and Anna said in unison, as per usual. The group chatted for some time, laughing and getting along. There was an instance where in Tsubasa reacted violently hearing the excuse Misaki came up with just to delay the six from entering. "DANCE LIKE A CHICKEN?! What the heck was that Misaki?! Of all distractions people come up with, you come up with that one! You could have duplicated yourself and asked them to guess the real you!" he had said laughing so hard, that his stomach ached. "Well SORRY! I was under pressure! I couldn't think straight!" came Misaki's defense. Their chat could have lasted the whole day if Aki hadn't interrupted. "Okay, enough chit-chat everybody. Mikan, we prepared this special gathering for you, and we would like you to do a little 'something' for us. No excuses, you can't talk your way out of this one little monster..." Aki said. "Uhm...O-okay...but, what am I going to do exactly?" Mikan questioned as Misaki and Tsubasa made the rest, except Mikan, comfortable in their seats.

-- With Natsume and Ruka --

"How long have we ben walking Natsume? Ruka asked just because of boredom.

"Hn..." Natsume shurugged.

Out of the blue, they heard a piano playing, and a little while after that, someone singing.

"Eh?! Who's singing? Whoever it may be,she has a wonderful and calming voice...I wonder where it's coming from..." Ruka asked.

"Hn...Don't know, don't care." Natsume said.

"I think it's coming from a room further down that hallway." Ruka said pointing to the hallway, walking towards the sound.

"Tch, let's go Ruka." Natsume, in a way, demanded.

"Awww, C'mon Natsume...Let's find out who the voice belongs to. We're not doing anything anyway." Ruka said dragging Natsume.

"Fine." Natsume groaned boredly. "But this is just because we don't have anything to do..." Natsume said as he followed Ruka.

Following the voice, the two ended up outside the Music Room, peering through the single window on the door. There, playing the piano, together with the voice they had heard was a brunette, to be more specific, Natsume's new found partner..."Natsume look! It's the new student! And look who she's with! Yuu, Koko, Ogasawara-san, Umenomiya-san, Imai-san, the Sakura twins, and two other high school students I don't know...Hey, do you think she's related to the Sakura twins?" Ruka questioned, unfortunately for Ruka, Natsume wasn't paying attention to him, instead, Natsume was thinking hard about the brunette and the picture she had drawn some time in morning but he also listened to her music. Noticing that Natusme wasn't paying any heed to what he was saying, Ruka stopped talking and listened to the music as well.

-- Back to the Rest --

"Uhm...O-okay...but, what am I going to do exactly?" Mikan questioned as Misaki and Tsubasa made the rest, except Mikan, comfortable in their seats. "You're going to play a song for us..." Ai said smiling. "EHH?! Doushite?!" Mikan reacted violently. "Because we just miss the way you used to play at home, right guys?" Aki said, referring to Ai and Hotaru, who just gave a nod in reply. "Plus, it will be the first time Tsubasa, Misaki, and your new friends hear you play. Tsubasa and Misaki didn't have the chance to hear you play before we left our hometown you know..." Aki explained. "Okay, but...what song?" Mikan asked. "You decide..." he replied giving her time to think of the song she was going to play. "Uhm...How about...'Arigatou'?" Mikan asked waiting for Aki's reply. "'Arigatou'...hmm...What version though? It has several versions, actually several songs are entitled 'Arigatou'..." he asked back, raising a brow. "That's for me to know, and for you to find out." she said grinning. "Oh, no wait...how about 'Melodies of Life' instead? I think it's better..." Mikan suggested. "You're going to sing so you decide...we're just your audience." Aki replied. "Uhm...I'm sticking to 'Melodies of Life' instead." she decided. "Oh no wait...How about 'Amrita'?" another suggestion from her came up. "Will you please just decide already?!" Hotaru said in an angry tone. Mikan sweatdropped. "Uh.."-she laughed nervously-"I'm going to play 'Amrita' instead..." she finally decided after what seemed forever. "Okay, but I don't know that piece. " Aki stated."Own composition...You haven't heard it yet because I composed it just recently...Actually I was walking around the school the other day when I stumbled into a music room. I think the music room that I entered was in the other building. It seemed abandoned but the piano was still in tune. So I composed 'Amrita' there." Mikan explained."So that's where you were baka..." Hotaru said, arms folded. Mikan just sweatdropped in reply to this."So anyway, what instrument? Piano, Guitar or Violin?" asked."How do you expect me to sing while playing the violin, huh?" Mikan said, raising an elegant brow, hands placed comfortably on her hips. She sighed. "Never mind, I'll take the piano." she ended. "Okay, the piano it is." Ai said, pulling a black sheet off, the sheet which was on top of the piano. As it was taken off, Mikan's eyes widened. "It's beautiful..."Mikan said, running her fingers through the keys, she wasn't the only one amazed 4 other students were as well. It was a smooth white grand piano, and its keys were glossy. "It's yours." Aki announced. "EHHH?! What do you mean? Doesn't this belong to the academy?!" Mikan said in complete shock."Uh, no...the five of us earned money just to buy this one. This is going to your room little monster..." Aki explained, hugging Mikan from the back the poked her cheek. "Five? What do you mean five? I only see four senpais here..." Mikan asked, cocking her head to the side.

BAKA BAKA BAKA BAKA BAKA

"I'm one of them baka..." Hotaru explained as she hit Mikan with the new and improved Baka gun. "Ouch! Hontou ni?! Wait, do I have a violin and a guitar as well?" Mikan asked as her face lit up. "A glossy white violin and a glossy black electric guitar." Hotaru corrected emotionlessly. "Kyaa! Arigatou!" Mikan thanked her. "Hey! We helped too!" the four senpais pouted as everybody, excluding Hotaru, laughed. "Yeah! Arigatou!" Mikan, moving away from Aki's grasp, bowed thankfully. "So, uhm...what's going to happen now?" Koko interrupted. "Ah, gomene...I'm going to play now." Mikan said. When Mikan started everybody fell silent.

Listen and you can hear the distant sound

of someone humming a familiar song,

like sacred nectar, like a dream

Let me sleep surrounded by it

Listening peacefully, Aki closed his eyes. How he missed listening to her play before. He remembered, there were times when their mom would scold her for not taking her music lessons seriously. He let out a little chuckle at the memory. He then heard a sound by the door which made his head snap towards it.

-- With Natsume and Ruka --

Natsume and Ruka listened intently until someone had snapped his head towards them. Seeing who it was, Natsume gritted his teeth...'Aki Sakura' Natsume thought. Now, Natsume had, somewhat a grudge against him, but Aki never thought so... "Sakura-senpai's looking at us..." Ruka managed to say because he had stiffened when Aki looked at them. "Tch, who cares...let's--" Natsume stated but got cut-off when the door slid open. As the door slid open, the music stopped as well.

-- Back to the Rest --

Listening peacefully, Aki closed his eyes. How he missed listening to her play before. He remembered, there were times when their mom would scold her for not taking her music lessons seriously. He let out a little chuckle at the memory. He then heard a sound by the door which made his head snap towards it. He walked quietly towards the door, not wanting to disturb Mikan playing. Ai shot him a questioning look, he just shook his head in reply. Aki opened the door, as it slid open, the music stopped as well. "Ah! Natsume! And…uhm...Natsume's friend!" Aki stated smiling. "Ruka...his name is Ruka..." Natsume muttered. "Ah yes, Ruka...Come on in, Mi-chan just started playing." Aki exclaimed. "Mi-chan?" Ruka raised a brow."Yeah, my little monster over there." Aki said, cocking his head towards Mikan. "Oh, you mean Polkadots?" Natsume stated. "Polkadots?! Eh?!" everybody, except Hotaru, said in unison. "H-H-H-ow...? EHHH?! Natsume no hentai!!" Mikan glared. Natsume smirked. "What's he talking about Mi-chan? Unless...Don't tell me you're still--" Aki asked then concluded for himself. "It's nothing Nii-chan! Honest! Ehehe..." Mikan said sweating. "Nii-chan?! HE"-pointed to Aki-"is YOUR"-pointed to Mikan-"older brother?! Which means SHE"-pointed to Ai-"is YOUR"-pointed to Mikan-"is your older sister as well?!" Ruka said highly surprised. "You're so outdated Nogi..." Hotaru said rolling her eyes. "Well, i didn't expect it! They don't look related at all! Not even a little bit of similarity! It's like putting YOU"-pointed to Hotaru-"and HIM"-pointed to Natsume-"together!!" Ruka defended. When he finished saying this four irritated, more like enraged, students shot daggers at him, namely, Natsume, Hotaru, Aki and Ai.

"Uhm...so are you two planning to watch or not?" Tsubasa asked clearing his throat, trying to lighten up the mood even a little bit.

"No." the two newcomers said at the same time.

"Yes."(the two newcomers said at the same time.)

"I'll take that as a 'yes'." Tsubasa decided, taking hold of the wrist of each. Natsume grunted as he was being pulled by force to his seat. "You may start now Mi-chan." Tsubasa smiled taking his seat. Mikan nodded as a reply.

The piano started to play. The introduction started slowly and softly. It was a long introduction before Mikan started to sing.

Listen and you can hear the distant sound

of someone humming a familiar song,

like sacred nectar, like a dream

Let me sleep surrounded by it

Everyone seemed to be hypnotized by her voice. 'Is that her alice?' Ruka asked himself then continued to listen.

Why is the world being washed away in contradictions and helplessness?

At sunset,

we always watched the madder-red clouds together

but you can't be with me anymore

"It seems so...sad..." Nonoko noticed, whispering it to Anna. Nodding in reply she whispered back, "I wonder what made her decide to compose a piece like this." Shrugging her shoulders Nonoko went back to listening. As so did Anna.

When the silver rain began to fall,

I thought that it was a part of me

and I dried my tears

The shooting stars that rain straight down

on your body,

on your shoulders,

are amrita

Your heart can feel the nights

when the earth itself is crying

If your wounds are hurting you,

shoot your wish as an arrow up to the sky

'Somehow, this song is comforting...I have to admit, she's good.' Natsume thought, eyeing Mikan's hands as it gracefully danced along the keys.

When the silver rain began to fall,

I thought that it was a part of me

Please stop the passing of time

The sound of raindrops echoes across the horizon,

something definite that,

in those days, was amrita...

When the silver rain began to fall,

I thought that it was a part of me

and I dried my tears

Shooting stars cascade straight down

and become the rain that falls on you...amrita

The song ended as gently and as peacefully as it started. The clapping of hands was heard, not so long after the song ended. (Obviously, our fire caster and ice queen didn't bother to clap (glares) hmpffft!) "Encore!" Misaki shouted toward Mikan. "Yeah! Encore! Encore!" Tsubasa agreed grinning. "I don't think so. You guys said I'm going to play A SONG not A NUMBER OF SONGS." Mikan stated, emphasizing her point. "Aww...Come on, just one more song please!" Misaki pleaded. Her pleading face looked funny, specifically, she looked more like a scary looking dog than a cute innocent puppy, which eventually made everyone laugh, except for the two stoned faces, one at the back and one in front, obviously trying to stay as far away as possible from one another. "No!-haha-I-haha-most certainly-haha-will NOT-haha-play another-haha-song..." Mikan said in between laughs. "Pretty please!!" Misaki still pleaded, this time with matching, batting of eyelashes, which made the rest laugh even harder, everyone's (except the 2) arms were tightly wrapped around their stomachs. "Haha! O-haha-Okay!-haha-Jus-haha-Just-haha-stop!" Mikan said laughing so hard, it was a miracle she was able to say anything at all. "Okay..." Misaki said. Everybody calmed down when..."On the second thought I think I won't." Mikan said taking it back. "Don't make me do it again!" Misaki threatened. As if on cue...

BRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINGGGGGGG!!

the bell rang as a sign of the end of Lunch period, making everybody stand for some reason, instinct I guess. "Yatta! Saved by the bell!" Mikan grinned, a fist raised in the air. "Darn!" Misaki snapped her fingers. "It's okay, that means she owes us." Aki grinned evilly. "Yeah! YOU owe US!!" Tsubasa childishly pointed out. "Yeah, yeah. " Mikan said, shooing them away(for no particular reason). "I wasn't even able to eat yet!" Koko whined. "Do you think any of us has eaten already?" Anna asked, hands comfortably positioned on her hips. "Are we not, like, free for the day because we have a new student?" Nonoko asked Yuu, looked to Mikan, then back at Yuu. "Actually, Nonoko's right, we're free for today." Yuu announced. "Yosh! I can eat all I want!" Koko rejoiced, his grin reaching from one ear to the next. "You guys can't eat in the canteen." Ai stated. "Why not?" Koko frowned. "It's empty by now." Aki explained. (Why don't they ever let Ai talk?) "Oh...so where do we eat?" Anna asked. "Central Town. Well, you guys do. WE have to get to class." Tsuabsa said, referring to the four high school sudents. "Riiight...What's a Central Town?"

END OF CHAPTER

A/N: Notice how I like using 'HER' in the titles, watch out because it's going to be 'HIS' sooner or later xD.The songs mentioned up there was only a small part among the total number of songs that I had to choose from. (sweatdrops). Anyway...this chapter wasn't as long as I was expecting it to be... I'm sorry for that...I left it hanging because the continuation of that is a whole different story...The song I used was lame, yeah I know(well that's what I think)...BTW, Amrita means 'immortal drink' (that's what's said in anyway xD) LOL Don't mind the 'hmpffft!' thing up there, just a random expression of mine. PLEASE REVIEW!(As I said before, please inform me of grammatical errors and uhm...misspellings :D I accpet critique but please, not TOO harsh) THANKS AND SORRY! D: Hope you like it guys! (especially Kuia :D)