Disclaimer: I don't own Gakuen Alice.

Shadows and Flames

"If the butterfly wings its way to the sweet light that attracts it,
it's only becasue it doesn't know that the fire can consume it."

A collection of NaTsubasa drabbles, and an unspoken love that burns.

Puzzle

Mikan Sakura stared up at the boy in front of her, flashing him a small smile she hoped looked genuine. Calling the fifteen-year-old Natsume Hyuuga as her Last Dance was not turning out to be as dreamy as she had imagined it would be.

The brunette inwardly cursed herself when she stepped on his foot for the nth time in this three-minute dance, wondering what sort of devil must have possessed her and gave her enough courage to call him that evening. She shouldn't have believed everyone when they told her he liked her back – of course they were just being encouraging when they said that!

Mikan gave a sheepish grin, lifting her chin so she could look at Natsume squarely. "Err, Natsume – " she started, noting the detachment in his expression as they continued their disastrous dance. It was almost a surprise he was not complaining or calling her names. The look in his eyes was blank, like his mind was off somewhere else. "You don't have to do this, you know. I mean if you don't want to dance – "

"It's fine. Let's just finish this song," he said, making Mikan's heart soar. Over the years, she had come to realize that there was more to Natsume Hyuuga than met the eye, and it was the small gestures like these that ended up seizing the young brunette's heart.

"O-Okay," she murmured, blinking twice in succession when she felt Natsume go rigid not long after. She looked up at him, noting the grim expression on his face, and turned in the direction where he was looking at.

Hello! Tsubasa Andou mouthed cheerfully, giving a slight wave of his hand from his place in the audience. He was smiling at them both, seemingly amused by their dance.

Mikan could only return smile, barely able to take her eyes off her feet for fear that she would step on Natsume again. The next two minutes seemed to last forever as she felt Natsume's temper worsen, as if he was immensely displeased by the older man's arrival.

"Tsubasa-senpai!" Mikan greeted, running to the older alice as soon as the dance was finished. The master of the shadows enthusiastically welcomed her into his arms, easily lifting her as if she weighed nothing. "I'm so glad you could come!"

"Yes, well, being away from the Academy for a long time made me miss it," he grinned. "Graduating from this place isn't all that, it turns out."

Mikan giggled. "Is that so?" she asked, only to stop when she saw Natsume walk past them and into the crowd of people a bit far off. She followed him with her gaze, her smile slowly disappearing. "Natsume…"

As if on cue, Tsubasa put her down, his concerned eyes on the Black Cat. "Do you mind if I leave you for a while? I need to talk to Natsume," he said, sounding rather panicked.

Mikan blinked, a small voice in her head telling her that something was wrong. But in the end the understanding girl in her won, and instead she smiled. "Of course," she said kindly, giving a slight nod. "I'll be okay."

She watched Tsubasa run after Natsume hastily, and wondered why it felt like she was a piece in a puzzle that didn't fit.

end.

Hilaire | 05.12.13