Yuki: Uh… kinda early but… I'm in serious desperate measures! Omg… it's 5.45 am already?!!! (posts new chapters and started brushing her teeth.)

Chapter 9: Surprised?

It was shocking, though. Kaname's flight was in the same one as Mikan and Natsume. The worse part is, Natsume's seat was behind Mikan and Kaname's. Yeah, Mikan and her boyfriend are sitting together near the window panel. Youichi was asleep, sitting next to Natsume.

While Mikan was laughing happily with Kaname, it bugged Natsume's nap. He pulled her pony tail. Mikan was shouting in pain, while Kaname was furious with his actions. "Hey, let Mikan off."

Natsume glared at him, "She was making noise. I've warned her a lot."

Kaname understood what Natsume's true intentions. He smiled, "Is that so? Then…" He removed Natsume's hand from her hair. "I'm warning you not to touch my Mikan." She blushed, hearing what Kaname had just said.

Natsume's right eye twitched, after hearing what he said. He glowered at Kaname and laid his head back to his seat. He saw Kaname worrying about her condition. Mikan said she was all right. "Hmph…" A vein popped on his head. The long suffering flight has finally reached United Kingdom. Mikan was amazed because it was her first trip to Europe. She went to the United States, Argentina, China but never in Europe. Natsume snatched her hand from Kaname. "You'll be coming with me."

Kaname frowned and sighed in defeat. "Well, Mi-chan? I'll call you, okay? You'll have to stick with him now. So, see you!"

Mikan whined, "No, don't leave me with this monster!!" Kaname sweat dropped and bid his farewell as a limousine was waiting for him.

Natsume grinned, "Oh, you're calling me a monster after having your First Kiss with me? What belligerence…" Mikan blushed red and denied that their 'kiss' was a kiss. (Huh?)

Youichi said, "Natsume-niichan… I'm hungry…" He touched his stomach. "I want Mc Donalds…"

Mikan sweat dropped, her hand was still on his grip. "Ne, You-chan. If you're hungry, you should take a proper meal."

A stranger called, "Yeah, what Sakura-san said was true. You need a proper diet for your growth…" Natsume turned his head to the voice's direction. "I believe that you've received my letter, Natsume-san."

"Are you…" He tried to remember the name. "Yuu Tobita?"

The stranger took out his sunglasses and revealed his face. G-God, he's only a teenager!! Mikan pointed rudely to Yuu, "D-Don't tell me you're still a teenager?!! And you worked for Reiko-san!?"

Yuu nodded. "Yes, I'm a child prodigy. I've graduated from Oxford University last 2 years. I'm doing my PhD in medicine while working with Reiko-san. I'm here to help your days in London."

Natsume glared and ironically mocked, "A genius who works for my mom? That's funny…"

Mikan did not understand what PhD things as well as Oxford University. "Huh? I don't understand…"

Yuu smiled as he grabbed Youichi's hand. To Natsume's surprise, Youichi was comfortable with him. "Now, I'll take you to the hotel first…"

"N-no!" Mikan shouted, her hands were tied on Natsume. "I… I want to see dad! I meant, Narumi-san."

Yuu shook his head. "I'm sorry but he needs to rest after the operation. I believe you could meet him after 2 days."

"N-no way! I have to--" Natsume shuts her up by covering his hand on her mouth.

"Hey, strawberries…" He stared at her, "Don't make things hard for your dad. He's all right now. So, if you don't want to be a trouble to your dad, listen to what Yuu's got to say for now."

Her eyes widened and nodded. He released his hand from her mouth. Yuu and Youichi stared at them and laughed. "What's so funny?"

Youichi spoke, "Natsume-niichan and Mikan-neechan act like husband and wife…" He said pointing to Natsume's hand, which was still holding on Mikan's. "There… it's a proof…"

He immediately released her hand. "She might get lost, that's why. You two, stop laughing already! It's not funny." Mikan only blushed in embarrassment. "Yuu, lead the way." Natsume folded his arms and walked towards a 5-star hotel.

Yuu suddenly stopped when they took a step in the hotel. He suddenly slapped his forehead. "Jesus, I've just forgotten that thing!"

"W-what is it, Yuu?" Mikan asked worriedly. "Is it important??"

He turned to Youichi and sighed. "Yeah… About the room…"

"If you're saying that it's full… I'm going back to Japan…" Natsume snapped. Yuu sweat dropped.

"N-no, it's not that…" He smiled inwardly. "As you can see, Reiko-san told me to book a Presidential Suite. But there's only one suite, so…" He eyed from Youichi, Mikan and to Natsume. "I suppose, it'll be all right if the three of you share a room, can it?"

X

"N-NO WAY!!" She shouted out loud, when Natsume opened the suite. It was huge, almost like a condominium itself. "Y-Yuu!!! I… I don't want to share the room!!!"

"I'm sorry, but Reiko-san told me to. The bodyguards could guard you from outside. If you three separate, there might be a chance that you'll end up like your dad, Sakura-san…" When he said that, Mikan only stared at him. "Yeah, it will happen."

"I-is that so…" Mikan made a way for the bellboy to put their luggage inside the room. "A-all right…"

Yuu clasped his hands, "Thank you for your cooperation, Sakura-san."

"Hey, Yuu. Don't call me Sakura-san. Just call my name. It's weird having to be called Sakura-san since our age's the same…"

Yuu nodded. "Ah, I'll have to go and see Reiko-san now. I'll call you if there's anything wrong, okay?" He closed the door and left the hotel.

She walked in a zigzag and slumped herself on the bed. "I'm so tired… It must've been 8 am in Japan… I haven't got any sleep…"

Natsume came out from the bathroom to check on things. "Oi, you'll be sleeping on the floor, all right?"

"Ehh?! Why?!"

"There's only a bed, you idiot!" Youichi bounced on the bed.

Mikan straightened herself. She looked around. There's no other bed besides this king-sized one. "H-hey! You should treat a girl well, not for your own good!!"

"Oh, so now you call yourself a girl…?" He teased.

"Y-you!!" She gritted her teeth.

Youichi dialled the phone and said, "Yes, I want a dessert too. How about Chocolate Delight? Make that three…"

Mikan gaped and was pointing at Youichi, "H-he can t-talk E-English?!"

Natsume grinned, "Yeah, he excelled in English. You can't even speak one? How're you going to survive here?"

Mikan pouted, "Natsume, you're really weird… One minute you're kind, and another minute you're mean." She sat on the chair and said, "I wonder how dad is…"

"He'll be all right, how many times should I repeat…?" Natsume said. "Yuu will inform us about their condition, so chill out…" He grabbed the phone from Youichi and asked, "Hey, strawberries. Do you want to eat here or outside?"

"…" Mikan thought. "I guess it'll be fine if we eat here…" Natsume threw the Menu to her. "Huh?"

"What do you want to eat?" Natsume asked again. Mikan smiled and ordered the foods.

Minutes later, the excited child ran towards the door and opened it after hearing a doorbell. Natsume signed on the receipt and closed back the door. He stared as those two gobbled up the food as if they have never eaten before.

"Jeez, you're a girl. Eat like one, will you??" Natsume sat on the dining table and took his plate.

Mikan grunted, "I'm hungry too! Ah, you have prawns!!" She pointed to Natsume's plate. "Hey, Natsume!! May I have one?"

"It's lobster, you idiot!" Natsume snapped. Mikan begged one from him, in exchange of her dessert. "Fine, have it…" He passed the lobster on her plate.

"Oh, gee! You're the best!" She ate it, happily.

Natsume ate slowly, while looking at Mikan. I can't help it, but… I really like her so much… He was disturbed when Youichi was sneering at him. "W-what are you looking at, You-chan?!"

"Nothing…" Youichi averted his glare. "It's a rare smile I've seen from your face…"

"Nonsense, I was not--" Mikan suddenly appeared behind him, staring at his face. "W-what are you doing!?"

"He said you smiled!!" Mikan gaped at him, "Really, I can't imagine you smiling!!! What happened?! Oh, you were thinking of the girl you liked, huh??" She nudged him.

"Go and finish your food!" Natsume scolded. Mikan retreated from him and returned back to her chair. "Youichi, it's not good to stare at people when he or she's eating…"

"B-but…" Youichi pointed at Mikan, who was eating. "You were staring at Mikan-neechan…"

He winced, "No, I was not! Don't get those silly assumptions!" Youichi smirked.

X

Even though Mikan does not score well in English examination papers, she could understand the jokes in the television. She was laughing hard with Youichi on her lap while pointing to the screen. Natsume could not understand how she managed to laugh even though the jokes are not funny at all.

"I'll go take a bath…" Natsume said, while he was calling for Youichi. "Hey, You-chan. Do you want to get on the bath too?" Youichi stood up and nodded. He walked towards him. "Oi, don't try to enter the bathroom, all right?"

"Jeez, as if I would do those immoral acts!!!" Mikan yelled. He smirked and entered the bathroom with Youichi. Minutes later, Mikan suddenly needs to use the toilet. She stood up and knocked the door. "N-Natsume… It's urgent! I need to use the toilet!!"

He called from inside, "I've just got in. Too bad…"

"Hey!!" She knocked the door, banging it hard, "I-It's a nature's call!! N-Natsume!!!!"

The door opened abruptly. It was Youichi, in a child's bathrobe opening the door. Natsume only wrapped a towel around his waist with his wet hair. (Looks like he just got out of the bathtub. Try imagining him in that state… drools Oops! Sorry!) Mikan covered her eyes from seeing him in that state. "Idiot… Quickly finish your business with!" He got out from the bathroom with Youichi and sat on the chair, waiting for her to finish with her 'nature's call'.

The bathroom door opened, the very relieved Mikan came out and thanked him, "Natsume, thanks for letting me. I was about to die just then!"

Natsume told Youichi to get first. "I'll have to open it, or else you would smash the door…" Mikan blushed and immediately covered her eyes, realizing that he was in towels.

"Go and bath now! You're half naked!!"

"Whose fault is that?!!"

"Get in the tub, you… you pervert!!" She heard footsteps fading away. It meant that Natsume already went inside the tub. She peeked from her fingers, "Phew… That was close…" She sat back at her chair, facing the television. Just then, why was my heart beating fast? M-maybe he's in that state, that's why… Huh, I thought I was falling for him suddenly. GAAH!! What am I thinking?! It's a sin to even think about that!

After all of them had taken their baths, the main problem is…

"No, you sleep on the floor!!" Mikan pointed to Natsume, who was already under the covers with Youichi. "H-hey! Come on, Natsume!!"

"Nope…" Natsume said, while he shuts his eyes. "I'm not used to sleep on the cold, hard floor…"

"W-well, it's not a floor! It has carpet and it's soft…"

"Then you sleep there!"

"Fine!!" Mikan finally gave up. She grabbed the blanket and a pillow. She placed it on the floor, shut the lights off and drifted to sleep.

Youichi nudged closer to Natsume. "Natsume-niichan, don't be mean to Mikan-neechan…"

"Don't worry. You'll see…" Natsume smirked. After an hour or two, he woke up and walked towards Mikan. He tried to wake her up, but she won't open her eyes. So, he slowly carried her, in bridal style, towards the bed and placed her there. He covered the blanket and sat on the chair. He slept while watching them sleeping soundly.

The next morning, Mikan woke up first. Shocked to see that Youichi was next to her, she sat up straight to see where Natsume is. He was next to her, sleeping on the table. She was touched that he decided to give in. But one thing slips in her mind. How did I get in here?! D-did he just… gulp carried me?!

"Oi, don't get the wrong idea…" Natsume flipped his eyes open and yawned. "You were complaining in your sleep, about the hard floor and all!" Of course, he lied.

"I-I don't sleep talk!!" Mikan shouted back. The noise made Youichi woke up in a start. "S-sorry, You-chan!"

He rubbed on his eye. "There's something in my eye…" Mikan wanted to take action but Natsume was faster. He jumped on the bed and checked his eye.

"Come, I'll wash it for you…" The eyes from Natsume were different. Mikan noticed that he turned softer when it comes to Youichi.

I guess… he really loved his younger brother so much. Well, since their mother was busy 24/7, they tend to get closer. But… She watched as Natsume carried Youichi near the basin to wash the infected eye. He really is different… right now. Why can't he be much kinder to me this way? On second thought… No… He's much better in a scary mode.

"Thanks, Natsume-niichan…" Youichi said. "I want to take shower…" Natsume nodded and left him.

"Natsume?" Mikan asked.

"What?" His usual eyes came back.

"You're really kind back there…" Mikan said. "I guess your main weakness is Youichi, am I right?"

He stared at her and sat on the study table. "I'll have to tell you something about Youichi…"

"Huh?" She sat down on the study chair, at his left. "What about him?"

"Youichi, he's not my real brother."

Mikan's eyes widened. "W-what did you just said?!"

"He's actually my mom's friend's son. She died when the baby was born. My mom was her best friend, so she decided to take care of him. Unknowingly, he became the part of the Hyuuga family."

"D-does Youichi knew about his past?"

He shook his head in denial. "No, I'm afraid to tell him. My mom said it's much better not to tell him. He might get hurt." He clenched his fist. "It's my first time having someone near by my side all this while… 7 years ago, I was alone all by myself. Ruka was there for me, but, I can't help being lonely at home…" He paused and decided not to continue his story.

"Natsume…" Mikan placed a hand on his arm. "I have no idea that you're that lonely…"

He realised that she was about to cry, so, he said, "Well, having you in my house is like a toy. An interesting toy to play with. So, you'll be useful when it comes to teasing."

"W-why you!!!" She stood up and mumbled. "But…" Her facial expression changed. "But, if I'm a toy to cheer you up… I wouldn't mind at all… Seeing you with a happy face is worth of being a 'toy'."

Natsume blushed and faced away from her. "Stop saying those sappy lines!"

Her cheeks grew hot when she realised that he was blushing. "H-hey, you're blushing!!"

"N-no, I'm not!!" Natsume avoided her. "Oh, Youichi?" The boy came out after having a bath. "You, strawberries!" He said pointing to the bathroom. "You go in first. I don't want an idiot banging the door like last time!" Mikan grumbled and went inside. He thought, that was so close!! I was about to express my true colours just now. That was dangerous…

X

The three of them decided to go for a walk, with Yuu Tobita. Mikan received a call from Kaname, saying that he might not accompany her today because of his works in the company. The relieved teenager, Natsume, walked inside the mall, namely Harrods.

Youichi surveyed the Children's area; he was hoping to buy some toys. He was practically running here and there, searching. Mikan was panting for breath, after attempting to stop him. "It's no use…" Natsume told her. "He'll get excited when it comes to this place…"

"R-really??" Mikan drank the water bottle. Right now, Yuu was trying to stop Youichi. "Look! Hehe, he's going to get one too!"

Natsume stood beside her and watched Mikan's expression at the corner of his eye. That smile… It warms me up…

Mikan and Natsume were walking around the department until she saw someone coming using the escalator. She gasped, "K-Kaname!"

The blonde widened his eyes and was shocked that she was here with Natsume. And next to Kaname was his dad, Sono Kazushi, who was talking to a business man behind them. When his father heard his son's name being called, he looked to the front. "Is that Mikan Sakura?"

Kaname shuddered when he heard his dad's voice asking about Mikan. He nodded and walked towards Mikan. "H-hey, Mi-chan…"

Mikan waved at him and pulled Natsume forward. "Morning, Kaname-chan. Is this your father?"

The blonde introduced his father. "It's my dad, Kazushi…" Mikan bowed to him, Natsume only gave a nod, while staring at Kaname, who was nervous about something.

Kazushi eyed at Mikan's face and said to Kaname, "Come, our partner's waiting…" He walked first, leaving Kaname.

Mikan touched Kaname's hand. "Kaname… Kaname-chan? Are you all right?"

"I'm fine." He said, "Yeah, sorry about not accompanying you today… I'll make it up to you."

"Oh, never mind me. Your role in your company is much more important than me." She waved at him, as Kaname rejoined his father. "That's the first time meeting his dad…"

"First time?" Natsume asked. "Your father didn't know who Kaname is?"

"My dad? No, he only knew that Kaname's my senior."

Natsume tucks in his hands inside his pocket. "Let's go and see what Youichi's doing…"

"All right!" Mikan smiled at him.

Back to Kazushi and his son, he said, "She looked just like Yuka…"

Kaname nodded and said, "Dad… do we have to do this?"

"Of course…" Kazushi smirks. "I'll have to see what will happen next…"

Kaname silently followed his dad and whispered to himself, I'm so sorry, Mikan…