Hey hey hey minna-san! Thank you for all the reviews you left on the previous chapter.

They are so inspiring. :3

xoxo lexi1989


CHAPTER 4: SO MANY QUESTIONS

AFTER 3 DAYS

NATSUME's POV

My head feels like it will split open any second now. I smooth out the wrinkles on my business suit and fix my tie. I thought about the cause of why my reflection looked like and why I, myself felt like shit. Tch. So much for getting answers. All of a sudden, Ruka's words come ringing in my ears.

"You know it's not her, right? Mikan Yukihira vanished a long time ago from our lives."

I knew. I definitely knew. Because Mikan Yukihira, my childhood best friend, disappeared from the eyes of the world fifteen years ago. After sending just one fucking letter, I never had any contact with her. And her family was also so hushed about the matter. Nobody knew where the Yukihira heir was now except her family. And I had thought, for a second, that it was her in that club.

I cringe as I thought about that night. What possessed me to do what I did to her at that club, I will never know. The only thing I do know is that it wasn't just about the bet. It wasn't just about getting her name. The past week had been torture for me. She was just so damn tempting. Being so close to her drove me crazy. I had this feeling within my gut that she was the person I have been searching and longing for these past fifteen years.

"You never give up, do you Natsume Hyuuga?"

I knew it was an improbability. That she and Mikan were the same person. There wasn't any hint of recognition in her eyes when she first saw me, or when she said my name. I had hoped that she was just playing a game the past seven nights when I was in her company. That she really is Mikan and she was just testing me.

When I proposed that bet, I only had the intention of kissing her, but it ended with me bringing her to completion with my tongue.

"Na- Natsume…" Her breathing was ragged and she was panting.

"Tell me your name first." I halted my fingers' assault inside her and only moved the tips that were curled and positioned at her G-spot at random times.

"Please…" She begged. I looked at her, all flushed with the color of passion, awaiting the final move to her undoing.

"Name first." I was relentless. I had to be. Otherwise, she would win, and I would not know her name. I teased her playfully with small licks, avoiding the pearl that I know would send her over the edge.

She had moaned and pleaded, and as much as I wanted to fulfill her wish, I knew I had to pull the reins a bit and control myself. When I decided, I couldn't wait any longer, I propped myself up, just slightly above her and looked at her.

"I'm waiting…" She squirmed underneath my gaze and I counted the seconds, watching her, knowing that she knew she was losing the battle.

"My –pant- na-name is –pant- Sakura Harada."

It seemed like everything froze when she said her name. I didn't know what to do. My mind was having trouble processing the information. The same phrase kept repeating itself in my head like a mantra.

'She isn't Mikan.'

If she didn't speak, I probably would have spent more time just sitting there with that stupid look on my face.

"Is something wrong?" Her voice brought my head out of the clouds.

"No." I dived back into her and just a few licks on her clit sent her back up and over the edge.

I clamped my hand over her mouth to muffle her scream of ecstasy as she came. And when I made sure she had come back from her high, I told her I had to go. She didn't want me to, but I felt like I had to.

We both got what we wanted that night. I got her name, and she got her orgasm but.. I ended up going home still disappointed. I left abruptly, feigning a forgotten early appointment the next morning. I couldn't bear to look at her when I did so. I just signed the bill and got away as fast as I could.


LUNCH TIME

I pick up my phone and dial a number I haven't called in months. I waited patiently for the three rings before I knew it would be picked up.

"Imai Investigators International." The voice that answered was sickeningly sweet and girly but smooth.

"I need to talk to Hotaru Imai." I had said on the phone. The tone of voice suddenly changed from sweet to suspicious.

"Who's calling?"

"Please let Ms. Imai know that Natsume Hyuuga doesn't like to be kept waiting." I hated to play that card, but I just couldn't deal with the third degree investigation right now.

"Yes sir. Right away Mr. Hyuuga, one moment." I knew how fast their computers could process in a single search. By now, they must have my basic data and any newspaper, magazine mentions from the past would be up on their screens.

"Hyuuga." The voice on the other end of the line sounded bored.

"Imai."

Hotaru Imai is one of the few childhood friends I had kept as a contact. We had a much different friendship compared to Mikan and Ruka, who were my girl and boy best friend, Imai was more of an acquaintance. She wasn't very friendly as a child and rarely expressed her emotions. But she was part of our circle. We were the heirs of our family's businesses. On many occasions we had found ourselves stuck on playdates, and as classmates when we went to school. She was the only one, aside from Ruka, who knew how I really felt about losing contact with Mikan.

"Why are you bothering me?" Now she sounded irritated.

"I have a job for you."

"You know you can call Tobita for that, right? He handles incoming cases. I am the CEO for Pete's sake." I can hear the rustling of papers faintly in the background.

"I know. And no offense to Yuu, but by far, you are the best and which is why I said I have a job for you."

"It's gonna cost you."

"I am already aware of that, else, I would go to Yuu because he would give me a discount."

"And since when did Yuu start doing that? He is so gonna be fired if I find out he's been giving away discounts without my knowledge." Oops. Sorry Yuu.

"Don't mind that, just triple the amount I owe you for this job and let Yuu keep his."

"What do you need?"

"I'm sending you a picture of a girl. Her name is Sakura Harada. Find out what you can –" She cuts me off.

"Hyuuga. This girl looks familiar. Don't tell me you are still on the search for Mikan."

"I'm not." I lied through my teeth.

"You are totally lying. Please remember, I've known you since we were eight. Plus, this girl looks similar to how I would imagine Mikan right now. Brown hair, brown eyes. But it's a shame because I can tell you right now, she isn't Mikan."

"What do you mean Imai?"

"Well for starters, if you had paid attention to your business conference, you would know that a rep from Yukihira Corps will be joining the strategic meetings this afternoon. Expect an invitation to a gathering for Mikan's homecoming."

"Homecoming? Where did she go?"

"That I don't know yet. You know how Yukihira Corps discarded my parents' services when Uncle Izumi and Auntie Yuka died. Rei invested their security protocols on Koizumi Investigative Security Solutions (KISS). KISS had been leading our industry before I came along and saved my family's business. KISS currently is second to my company now but Yukihira Corps felt it best to keep their current protocols in place. They run a very tight ship and even my best team can't hack into their system."

"Damn it." I cursed under my breath.

"Language Hyuuga." I flinched.

"Sorry. I just have so many unanswered questions."

"I have a few of my own." The curiosity was evident on her tone.

There was little that Hotaru Imai didn't know and when she doesn't know about something, she wouldn't stop until she gets the information, by hook or by crook. She was by far the leading investigator in Japan and she banked all her knowledge and skills into profiting from it. She updated the equipment and databases of her family's failing business and began to restructure it from the ground up. Now, Imai Investigators International or Triple I as we call it, is the leading investigation company in the world.

"I have to go" I didn't have time for more of her probing into my obsession with finding Mikan.

"Just humor me Hyuuga." She's that pushy.

"Ok fine. One question." I surrender and give her what she wanted. She won't stop bugging me anyway if I don't. Either that or I get billed four times the regular amount I should be paying her.

"Why is Sakura Harada wearing lingerie in the picture that you sent me?" Shit. I forgot I had snapped that during one of her more daring performances.

"She's a burlesque dancer." I figured if I got caught lying one time, she won't be as forgiving if I did it a second time.

"Oh. Didn't know you had a thing for the wild ones." She chuckled.

"Whatever, I have to go."

"Do you still need the info on this Harada person?" She was back to business.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"I said just one question Imai."

"Alright then. I'll send you a bill." I can imagine the dollar signs in her eyes now.

"I'd be surprised if you wouldn't." She hung up and I did the same, putting the phone in my jacket's inner pocket.


LATER THAT AFTERNOON

Ruka comes up to me with a smug look waving a couple of envelopes in his hand. I know what he had to say so before he could say anything, I beat him to the punch.

"Don't say it Ruka. I don't want to hear it." I glared at him.

"I told you so." He opened the envelope with his name after he handed me mine.

The envelope was a simple white with the Yukihira seal.

TO: MR. NATSUME HYUUGA

MR. REI SERIO AND MR. KAZUMI YUKIHIRA

FROM YUKIHIRA CORPS INTERNATIONAL

REQUEST THE PLEASURE OF YOUR COMPANY

AT A GATHERING IN HONOUR OF THE HOMECOMING OF THEIR NIECE

MIKAN YUKIHIRA

HEIR TO THE YUKIHIRA CORPS

TOMORROW NIGHT

AT THE RITZ-CARLTON CLUB LOUNGE, LOS ANGELES.

DINNER IS AT 6PM FOLLOWED BY DRINKS AND DANCING.

For the first time in three days, I forgot about the sexy dancer I had been so adamant on knowing. Because tomorrow night, I would be once again, coming face to face with the person I mistook her for. I would be seeing Mikan Yukihira again.

END OF CHAPTER 4


So, Mikan Yukihira is having a homecoming gathering. She's finally showing herself to the world after vanishing for almost fifteen years.

But then, who is Sakura Harada? What role has she to play in this story?

Stay tuned to find out ;)


Guest – you are welcome, and yes steamy scene, be prepared for more in the coming future chapters ;)

Anilissa – Well, Sakura Harada and Mikan aren't exactly the same person. And regarding how Rei brought her up, I'll give you all the answers to that mystery in the next few chapters ;) And yes, Natsume is a very persuasive and persistent man, his ways are, very unusual but effective, yeah? Hahaha

The Midnight Crier – Unfortunately she can't say that she is Mikan. And yes I'm on Wattpad. Haven't gotten around to putting my stories up there though.

RavenAcA3 - I meant to throw you guys off with that. But there is a purpose to it so stay tuned! ;)

Nikinora96 – No she isn't lying, sadly. You'll find out soon enough

xNatsuMikanx – hey my friend! Well, you know my twisted mind works errr.. uniquely? Haha and don't sweat it too much, I promise, there is a reason for all of this XD


Thanks to all who followed and favorite this story! And all the other ones too!

NEXT TO BE UPDATED IS 'THE GUY NEXT DOOR' then 'DELICIOUS TABOO' and then the cycle repeats ;)

I won't give out the whole speech, you guys might as well skip the next few lines hahaha

Read, Follow, Favorite and Leave a Review!

xoxo Lexi1989