Chapter 3 – the strongest will, wins.
7 months, 2 weeks and 4 days since my father's disappearance.
My 5 birthday pasted, I let no body make a fuss, since there were more important matters to contend with. Uncle Shiki's still in charge, however I now sit in on all the meetings, getting to know the clients and members of the family that lived far away. A minority thought my being there ridiculous and unnecessary, the rest however accepted my presence especially after they heard what happened to the minority that didn't. all I'm saying is I was in an extremely foul mood due to I crimson eyed pervert that I'm not going to mention.
When I'm not in meetings or training I spend my time with Hontaru, I asked her to teach me the fine art of spying and blackmailing, she was of cause happy to, but at a price. The thing with my best friend is, she loves money, even at our young age, if she thinks it's not profitable then she isn't getting involved. The only plus side to our arrangement is that she is charging me hourly and I'm a fast learner, at this rate I will only be in her debt for 10 or so years.
I hadn't seen my mother in over a month, and in the most recent visits she has been behaving curiously, she talks more about the outside world and acts as if I will be part of it very soon too, not only this she has been fiddling with her wedding band an awful lot.
We had another scheduled meeting today; I didn't really expect her to turn up, after all she hasn't done so in the last few.
When I arrived at the office – whose it is, is disputable at the moment, part of me still thought it should belong to my dad, but the rest of me agreed that since uncle Shiki was acting as the head, the offices is his, he however said it was mine as TECHNICALLY I'M meant to be the head, like I said its disputable- as I approached with the folders that I intended to look over once I decided she no showed. I started to hear the raised voices; it seems that once again my mother – who apparently decided to grace me with her presents - and uncle had found something to argue over again.
"I don't care what you thinks best for her Shiki. I'M her MOTHER, what happens to her is up to me." I stood outside the door listening since it was about me, and I knew for a fact that when I opened the door they would change the topic.
"I REFUSE to let you take her away, she BELONGS here, now more than ever, and her leaving would doom the family." My uncle retorted to her, I might have been in shock, but I listened carefully now more than ever, this conversation could change my whole life.
"I don't give a damn about this family, it took my husband away from me, and I'm not letting it take my daughter too!" her voice broke, for a second I truly believe she cared.
"Don't give me that rubbish, tell me something about Mikan, her favourite colour perhaps, you only want her so you and that waste of time can play happy families. Your HUSBAND who you care so deeply for, hasn't been missing a year yet, and your already replacing him" my uncle hissed at her, I could practically picture him frothing at the mouth in rage, and I was almost dense enough to contemplate that my mother was going to contradict him… I said almost.
"I don't care about her insignificant likes, and dislikes. Besides Reo and I think that it's best for her to see the outside world, it can't be easy for a little girl to have been locked up her whole life." Shows how much she really does know about me and my life, my papa snuck me out of the house all the time, we didn't go to really populated areas like beaches and swimming pools, but the parks and woods were so much fun. He even showed me a safe house, which only we would know about, this way if I ever needed to hide, I would have somewhere…
That's it why didn't I think of that before, if he's hiding anywhere it's going to be there.
I don't have time to listen to their pathetic arguing any more I have more important things to deal with.
"Mother I'm not leaving, that's final. In fact I have adoption and emancipation papers right here." I lied holding up the folders, in truth they were just some overseas accounts. But she doesn't need to know that.
"Now please remove yourself from the premises, I will be in touch soon with the finalised documents." I walked over to the part of the office that held the my desk – it's really just a coffee table, it was the only thing small enough for me – I sat on the small sofa chair and when I could see she was about to argue, I looked at her and raised my eyebrow, a handy little trick I learnt from Natsume.
"Do I have to call security to assist you out…Yuka. Or are you going to willingly leave." I let my eyes fall back to the paper which I was pretending to peruse, using her given name and not Mother must have really stung, because she turned and walked out like a robot.
"Nice going Mikan, that women irritates the hell out of me." My uncle beamed at me. Until he saw the serious look in my eyes.
"What do you need?" he replied dropping into his own chair, clearly haggard. Good that will make conversation short and easier to win.
"I need to leave the house… for a while." Thinking back it took my father and I approximately 6 hours to reach the safe house, using a few rounder about routes into Tokyo the house was on the out skirts of the city, and he said I should never go directly there.
"I would be gone, for maybe a day." I frowned that should leave enough time to dig around the house. And to make sure I'm not followed.
"How many men do you need?" His face and tone mimicked mine.
"None, and I'll know if I'm followed." I replied glancing up in time to see the shock vanish from his face replaced with a professional mask.
"I can't allow that Mikan, and you know it." He grimaced
"Fine…" I let the subject matter drop.
"Really…" it was obvious; his disbelieve about how easy he won. "You're not going to argue, and agree that I can't let you leave the house." I smirked. Another Natsume trait, I would never tell him but I think he looks cool when he smirks, hence why I'm copying it.
"Oh no, I was just agreeing to you being unable to allow me to leave, it was silly really, to even ask" I paused while his face looked relieved.
"I mean it is my house why would I bother asking for permission to enter and exit. I'm leaving tomorrow morning so don't expect me for breakfast." I smiled and shrugged as all colour left his face.
"Mikan" his tone was attempting to be authoritative, so I held up my hand stopping him.
"This isn't up for discussion Shiki" he scowled when I used his first name, why adults don't like that I will never know, I don't care that everyone calls me Mikan. "You always say I'm the true head, well now I'm evoking some of my power."
"Oh, so NOW you want to be head, you can't just pick and choose Mikan, if your head you take on all the responsibilities." He gave a thin smile knowing he had caught me there I'm not ready to take over yet, I still have a lot to learn before assuming command, but luckily my mother had given me a contingency plan.
"Okay, I'll have my mother come and collect me, and then I won't just be gone for 24 hours, but for good." I got up and made to leave.
"FINE" he shouted at me, for a second I thought he called me buff… well it was a half buff. But instead he said. "You have 24 hours, no more, if you're back by then or so help me god, I will kill you myself! And I need to at least know where you're going in case something goes wrong." Hmm if he knows where I'm off to, he can easily send someone instead of me.
Thank you my best friend
"I'll write it down, and place that piece of paper in one of Hontaru's inventions, exactly 24 after I leave it will rematerialize. Giving you my location" there all sides happy.
well i am at least and thats what really matters.