Saturday, November 22nd, 2014

Isentan Mall

Mikan walked inside Pizza Hub with a young boy and girl by her side. The boy, that resembled Mikan, was happily grinning as he basically dragged his mother inside as the young girl, Ran, carried a knowing smile.

Mikan mentally kept on repeating to never make any promises to Kenshin just to make him happy, now instead of being home watching the afternoon movies and resting warmly under a comforter she was at the mall, taking her son and Ran for lunch and a movie.

But if she had known that her son would be in a fight, a month ago she would not have promised this. But kids have long memories and she pinky swore it.

It has been two weeks since the nasty encounter with Arata and her son happened, and Kenshin would speak nonstop about the new students, Isamu Hyuuga, and how he has been starting to become good friends with him and Ran. Her son spared no detail on telling her what they did every day at school: how they played tag and how fast Isamu was (and also how unfair that he wouldn't go after Ran, how Ran managed to trick both boys in hide n' seek (she was a champion), and also, he would talk about Ran's interesting facts.

Kenshin had also been smug about Arata not doing anything to them anymore. That part relieved Mikan the most.

"Mom, can we choose a table?" Kenshin suddenly asked as he looked around.

"Of course." She replied with a smile.

Mikan watched the two walking together and she nodded in approval when her son chose a booth by the middle of the restaurant, he had his mother's taste in table choice.

She walked up to them and placed her purse on top of the table, "So, this one?" she asked, receiving two adorable children nodding at her, proud that they picked a table on their own.

"This one is fine, right Ran-chan?" he sent her a grin.

"Right!" she replied, quite chirpily.

After settling down, Mikan ordered a family sized ham and cheese pie for the children to share, and a plate of carbonara for her. When finished with the order, the three start to conserve about anything that their mind would come up with, but occasionally Mikan would just sit back and observe the two chatting between themselves, she sighed peacefully, missing her own days of being a child and free of any responsibility.

Like taxes.

When the food arrived, the talking seized, and everyone started hungrily eating the delicious Italian food.

Ran however, kept on chewing her lower lip as she stared at her untouched slice.

"We should have invited Isamu…" the girl told her friend.

"Uh? Why? Kenshin asked as he stuffed his mouth with his own slice.

Ran pouted, "He's our friend…"

"But…" the boy gulped down his food, "We planned this before we met him!"

She frowned at him, "You're right, but…"

Mikan sudden chuckle interrupted the two, "Ran-chan, can't you see that Kenshin wanted you just for himself? He wanted to go on a date with only you and him." She teased with a wink.

Kenshin gave his mom an outraged expression as his cheeks darkened quickly, "M-MOM! NO WAY!" he yelled, causing some clients to curiously look at their table.

"Watch your tone, young man." Mikan scolded, half-embarrassed but highly amused.

Her son huffed and settled down, "Ran-chan may be cool, but she still has cooties! Don'tcha Ran-chan?" he asked her.

The brunette gave him one of her rare glares and looked away with a bigger pout.

"Eh? Ran-chan? What's wrong?" Kenshin asked confusedly.

Mikan gave him a fond expression, Kenshin could be so dense sometimes… he was really her son. When she was a child, Mikan was also very naïve about the adult world. If only she didn't remain like that when she met him.

The three returning to eating, this time more quietly. As Ran ate while looking distantly and thinking about sea creatures, her amber eyes widened at the sight of a familiar person walking inside the pizzeria.

"Kenshin, look!" she quickly tugged on his shirt and pointed at the entrance.

He looked annoyed about the interrupted meal, but the slice on his mouth fell back into his plate when he saw who it was, "No way!"

Confused, Mikan decided to also look to see what was causing the children to be so riled up.

"It's Isamu!" Kenshin exclaimed, loudly.

That got the attention of the two raven-haired males at the entrance, Mikan cringed. The adult man turned because someone had shouted his son's name and the boy, because he realized who that voice belonged to.

Isamu quickly approached them, dismissing his father, with a glint on his eyes, the adult almost couldn't keep up as his son wandered without his supervision.

"Kenshin?" his crimson eyes then looked at the girl, "Ran?" he also ignored the woman sitting with them. Or maybe he was secretly very happy to see his friends, "What are you two doing here?" Isamu asked as he casually slid his hands inside his pockets, "Are you guys on a date, or something?" he was teasing them, but there was a hint of alarm on his voice.

Unfazed by his teasing, both children pointed at Mikan and Isamu finally noticed her presence.

And he felt warmth. He could momentarily see sparkles floating around this woman. She was perfect, she was beautiful and the light shining above her, from his fantasy vision, made her look like the perfect angel he longed for. And when she sent him a smile, his jaw slightly dropped. He didn't even notice his father approaching.

"Isamu, don't you ever run off like that again. What did I tell you?" Natsume scolded as he looked down at him with a frown.

But he just kept staring at Mikan, making her a little uncomfortable and preoccupied.

"Is he… feeling all right?" Mikan timidly asked to the boy's supposed father.

Natsume blinked at her after she addressed him with such sweet voice. He gazed quickly all over he long, curly hair and soulful, chocolate eyes and he couldn't help to stare at her pink lips.

'Well, wow.'

Both adults were stuck, staring at each other as Mikan thought about how handsome he was. And those eyes… she felt nervous in a good way underneath them.

The children watched them, Kenshin looked at Ran for answers but she simply shrugged.

"Are you married?" Isamu suddenly asked.

The staring was shattered as the question remained in the air, Natsume gave his son a shocked expression for his rude question while Mikan blushed a little.

"Isamu! What kind of manners are those?!" he scolded him before turning to Mikan, "You don't need to answer that."

However, Mikan smiled, "It's fine! No, I'm not married, Isamu-kun."

The boy gave her a short, sweet smile, "Then, you're perfect."

"OI! What do you mean with that?! Leave my mommy alone!" Kenshin rose from his seat and slammed his hands on the table as he yelled at Isamu.

Isamu cringed at him, shocked, "She's your mom?!" he watched as the brunette nodded, "Then… why are you ugly?" he asked, confusedly.

Ran sighed, "Here we go again…"

Natsume started rubbing his temples, he had no idea what the hell was going on with his son's attitude nowadays. Is this what happened when children are sent to public schools?

Then it hit him, "Wait… Isamu, are these kids your friends?" he asked quickly.

His son sighed, "Yeah dad, they are."

"What's with the tone?! We can end that now!" Kenshin yelled again, and Mikan only had time to hush him quietly as she avoided the looks everyone around was giving them.

A/N: This was a short chapter! I couldn't fit in more!