Chapter 11

It has been a few weeks since Sumire and I started working at the Hyuuga Cooperation's. It is not always see though working long hours, and then coming home making dinner for everyone, and looking after the children, but surely enough Sumire helps out. Ever since my encounter and confrontation with Ruka the other day, we have been avoiding each other unless if it were business then we would associate with one another. As for Hotaru and the others not much has happened, ignorance unless business related.

Since it is summer holidays for the kids they are always asking to go somewhere every other day. Mom takes them to the parks, events, fun fairs, arcades and other places, so she also has her hands full. I haven't gotten the chance to meet up with Anna yet, thus I have to make a plan to invite her soon. Even though she knows I am back we still hadn't had the time to meet. I called her couple days after I arrived, and I was happy to hear her voice.

Ever since we came back from California Sumire and I haven't spoken to uncle Shiku. He was called a few times but I was just not ready to speak, and neither was Sumire. I am not so sure about Sumire but I always though that family is first and everything else is second, but as always I am proven wrong, again. I guess some people just aren't meant to have a happy life, me being one of them.

"Mikan I am going to the store. Do you need anything?" Sumire calls out from the hallway. I am in the lounge watching over the boys playing games on the PS4 while Aoi is having a tea party with her dolls.

"No thanks, but we need some milk and eggs. They are about to run out." I say to her. She nods and was about to head out the door until Ralph said he wanted to come along.

"Okay. Hurry up and go change into your jeans. You have five minutes." He nodded and quickly ran to his room and got changed.

"Mom can I go to?" Retzu asked.

"No"
"No Retzu. Sumire is going to food market alone with Ralph. If I was going along then you and Aoi would come along." I explained and he nodded and went back to playing his game. In time Ralph was back, and both of them left. I left the kids to their time and decided to do some chores around the house.

A while into my work the house phone started to ring, I walked over to the phone and picked it up.

"Hello"

"Hello, can I speak to Mikan please?" the voice sounded very similar

"This is her, who is this?"

"Mikan! It's me Anna!"

"Anna! How are you?" I was so happy she called. It's been a while since we last talked.

"Good! How are you?"

"Good, did you change your number because normally your number appears on my caller ID?" I curiously ask her.

"Oh, I'm in the bakery. I was about to leave when I thought about calling you if you wanted to meet and catch up on a few things? Is that okay or are you busy?" she asked eagerly.

"Sure! How about now? At my house? Mom's out wither friends and Sumire is out to the market get some supplies with her son." I happily replied.

"Sure! I'll see you soon. Bye!" she says and hangs up. I quickly put down the phone and head over to the kitchen, to have some food and snacks ready for her arrival. I tell the kids to get ready and look presentable since Anna was coming over. They loved her especially Retzu since she brings him his favorite cake, double chocolate fudge cake. I hear Retzu running up the stairs, while yelling 'yeah!'.

"Don't run the stairs Retzu! You'll get hurt!" I yell out to him. I heard him shout okay and Aoi giggle.

"That goes for you to Aoi!" I yell out to her.

Sumire POV

I am in the store with Ralph, picking some supplies out. Walking down isles and taking a few things that were needed, while Ralph walked by me driving the cart. Of course I offered, but he insisted and told me to just focus on what we needed to buy. While we were walking I was noticing how silent he was, normally he would be talking and asking if he could get 'this' or 'that'. He would try to make a conversation, make jokes but right now not a word just looking around as if it is his first time in the market.

"Ralph is everything alright?" I ask him. He looks over at me and nods his head.

"Are you sure?" again, nods his head. Sigh now I know that something is wrong. We turn to the next Ile where the dairy products are placed.

"Ralph, what's wrong?" I ask again. He doesn't say anything for a while but then…

"Mom, can I ask you something?" he asks.

"Yes. What is it?" I ask while taking milk bag out of the fridge and placing it in the cart.

"Mom, I always got to me meet your friends, auntie Mikan's mother, her friends and uncles." He says and I nod and looking at him to continue, "Mom, what I want to ask is that… do you have any parents… or siblings?" he questions nervously and I stop in my tracks. My eyes widen at what he said. I couldn't believe what he was asking, not that it disturbed me but surprised me.

"Mom?" I snap out of my thoughts when Ralph called me. I turn to my son and stare at him. What do I say? Should I lie? What do I do?

"Mom, where is your family?" he as me in a low voice. I didn't know what to say. I never brought up my family infront of him nor ever talked about them when he was around. He never asked me about my family but he use to ask me about his dad a lot, but I also told him that he was busy and far away from us. He doesn't ask me about his father anymore, but what bought him the interest in my family.

"Honey. My family is here. They live in Japan." I say to him while walking towards the counter to pay for our food. His eyes widen. I take out the items and place them on the counter for checkout.

"You mean… your mom and dad… live here?" he asks and I nod. The lady at the counter gave me the receipt and I gave her the money. Ralph and I got the bags and headed towards the exit.

"Yes, they— I get cut off my accidently bumping into someone.

"Oh gosh! I am so sorry ma'am!" I say to her, "I wasn't looking where I was going! Are you alright?" I question her, worried. Her back was to me so I couldn't see her face, until she turned around. When the women had fully turned around I couldn't believe whom it was.

I gasped.

I was in shock.

She was looking at me, and I was looking at her. A lit older from the last time I had seen her. I couldn't believe it, after all these years.

"Sumire." I heard her call her out in a low voice. The women standing infront of me

was

my

mom.

Mikan POV

Anna and I were having a great time. we talked so much good things and bad. We talked about many things over tea, and she bought double chocolate fudge cake. Yup, the kids favorite. The kids were about to take huge slices until gave them stem look, then back down and waited for me to give to them in small amounts. Plus we had to save some for Ralph and Sumire they would love this cake just as much. I love it too but since it is so heavy my stomach won't allow me to have more than a slice. Anna told me how she broke her engagement with Kitsuneme and called the wedding off. After she found out that Kitsuneme was keeping the secret along with everyone else, she couldn't trust him no more.

"Anna. You didn't have to do that. You love him more than anything. Why didn't you tell me this before? Why did you wait so long to tell me?" I tell her. To this day she still does.

" Well, for a while I felt really sorry for you, but later I felt something. It made me realize that what if the same problem occurred to me. What if everyone was aware about other than me. When I found out that Natsume had cheated on you and everyone knew, even Kitsuneme I realized that if he was able to hide something huge like that from me, what kind of things would I be finding out after marriage. I didn't want to be in that type of situation, and to this day I still miss everything; my engagement, my fiancée, my wedding, everything. Another reason to why I did not inform of this to you before is because whenever you came back to Japan, it was for a really short time. It was either the winter holidays, or just two weeks. Within that amount of time you were with your mom and everyone else, I didn't know how to tell you plus I would also forget to mention or tell you about this." she explains the situation to me. Wow, I am speechless after her explanation. Her explanation holds a lot of value and has some really good points.

"I'm guessing my mother knows, correct?" I ask she nods.

"I told her a few days after your departure." She says sadly. I look at her and I still see the love she holds for Kitsuneme, and this is all Hyuuga's fault.

It's been two hours since Anna left, five hours since mom, and two a half-hours since Sumire and Ralph. Where is everyone? They all should have been back by now. I look outside and there is still time before it gets dark. I walk in the lounge area and see that the kids are watching television, SpongeBob Squarepants. God I hate this show and the stupid sponge's annoying laugh, it drives me crazy.

Suddenly the doorbell rang. Finally they are here, and it's about time!

"Finally you guys are— Hyuuga?!" I was shocked at the person who was standing in front of me. Hyuuga was standing in front of me at my house.

"Hyuuga, what are you doing here?" I ask. He just looks at me with a blank expression, his hands are in his pockets and he is wearing casual clothes since it is the weekend. He was wearing a black shirt, with a black leather jacket, devil black pants with converse. Damn he looked so handsome.

Regardless of his looks he seemed pretty cold due to his facial expression. I wonder what the matter was. He slowly walked in the house and advanced towards me. With each step he took forward I took I back. Soon enough my back made contact with the wall and Hyuuga was close to my face, way too close. I could feel his breath on my face. His glare was intense an I gulped.

"W-wha—

"Why didn't you tell me?" he cuts me off, and asks me in a dark low voice. Scary but hopefully the kids won't hear. Should thank mom for creating a hallway before entering the lounge (family) room.

But what is he what is he talking about?

"W-what are y-you talking a-about?" I stutter it out. Dam my confidence!

"Is Retzu my kid?" he asks angrily. Oh no! How did he find out? I gulped. What do I say now?

"I asked you something Mikan?" he says a little louder, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"I-I-I—" I couldn't talk properly. I was so scared and terrified. If say yes, if going to take him away from me?

"Yes or no?" I tried to say something back at the moment but nothing came out. After a while I say something.

"Yes." I whisper. I felt his body stiffen at my answer. I look up at him, "B-but how did you f-find out?"

"Well, if you must know I…

A few hours earlier

Natsume POV

I am in my office even though it is the weekend. No one is here and right now I am doing a little digging in what Mikan was doing for these past few years. Not only her but also her fellow roommate and kid, I have a feeling there is probably some sort of connection. I had sent some of my private investigators to California to find some information about Mikan and her life there. I even had talked to the Shiku but he refused to tell me anything. Saying that his niece and 'like' daughter are not on talking terms, he doesn't want to upset them even further. Another reason is because it is not his story to tell.

So far, my investors have told me that Sumire Shoudia has studied Business Accounting and Finance at NYU as a full time student. She lived on rent, and had a part-time job to fill her bills and finances. However every month $6,000 dollars was deposited into her bank account every month. It also said that she was pregnant at the time and due to so much dress and exhaustion her baby was born premature, Ralph Shoudia. When her baby was born, she stayed home and studied online. She left the part-time waitress job and started work as a receptionist at a dental store near her home. She used to drop Ralph of at the daycare center during her work hours.

After four years, she got a job at Shiku's Cooperation's working with him as his assistant and sometimes manages the account and finance of the company. Ever since then she has been working with him, and this however provided her to get an apartment on rent and give good education to her son, Ralph shoudia.

Now I just received an email for my investigator, Neji regarding Mikan Sakura profile. I opened the email and was stunned with what I discovered.

Dear Natsume Hyuuga,

Here is some information regarding your wife Mikan Sakura Hyuuga during her time in US California. I also have sent you the children birth certificate and medical documents in case they in need for you.

Sir, during our investigation, my team and I discovered something unique about the Shoudia family. It would come out a surprise for you as well. I also sent those and I suggest you forward those documents to Kokoroyomi

I opened up the file he sent me, regarding Mikan and her kids. I forwarded the Shoudia documents to Koko. They were not my main concern

Name: Mikan Sakura

Age: 30

Mother: Yuka

Father: N/A

Status: Single, divorced

Occupation: P.A at Shiku's Cooperation's

Biography: Came to US California eight years ago and has two children. Her son is biologically hers, Retzu Sakura. Retzu was born nine months after her divorce and also when she came to the USA. However she adopted a baby girl Aoi Sakura when Retzu was five years old. They live in a small apartment in down town near their work, and lived on rent for the years. Recently purchased a new place for rent at $3,000 per month and were to move in near the end of the month, along with her roommate Sumire Shoudia and Ralph Shoudia. Her son is eight years old and her daughter is now 3 years old. Retzu is enrolled in a school and is in third grade while Aoi is in KG1. They all just moved back in Japan due to business deal, and unaware of her returns.

When I looked at the part where it said that Retzu was born nine months after the divorce and her arrival into a different Courtney, I opened up the document file, which held Retzu and Aoi birth certificate. I was shocked at what was revealed to me

Name: Retzu Sakura

Born: August 9th, 2006

Where: City Hospital

Blood type: A positive

Age: 8 years old

Mother: Mikan Sakura

Father: N/A

As I reviewed his bio status, more questions raised in my head, how can this be? Mikan left me the year he was born. Does this mean he…is…my kid? But she wasn't pregnant when she left me. Or, did she find out later on. Judging by the bio data everything matches me, and our separation. He was the year Mikan left me…so it means…that…

He's… my… kid…

Oh god! I scroll down and view Aoi file, but not much was revealed, but got me thinking.

Name: Aoi Sakura

Born: September 5th, 2009

Where: California orphanage

Blood type: A positive

Age: 3 years old

Mother: Mikan Sakura

Father: N/A

When I finished looking over at this new information, my head hurts. I couldn't believe it. SHE DIDN'T TELL ME! I missed eight years of my son's life! Not one, or two or three… but EIGHT years!

I got up and collected my things and started to leave the office, until my phone starting to ring. At first I ignored it, but then it started booming. I looked at the caller ID and it said Koko.

"What is it?" I was not in the mood anymore, so had better speak fast. I heard him breathe hard over the phone.

"The file you sent me," he starts off as I nod and where my leather jacket. I put the phone on speaker. "Who sent it to you?" his voice was low and demanding.

"One of my investigators. I needed to dig up some information on Mikan, so he sent me this file and suggested that I forward it to you. I didn't open it." I got my keys and phone headed to car in the parking lot. I opened the door and got in.

"What is it about?"

"I found out some thing that I should have known long ago." He says and I can tell he is angry.

"What was it?" I ask as I start my car

"Tell you later." And wit that he hangs up. I put my phone on the holder in front of me, and dive off to Mikan's house.

Present time (Mikan POV)

I didn't know what to say to that and to be frank I am speechless. What can I say now? The only thing that I can think of right now is think…think of all the horrible stuff that he may do.

"Why didn't you tell me Mikan?" his voice was getting louder and I don't want the kids to find out he's here.

"Keep your voice down!" I whisper-yell at him, "and the reason I didn't want to tell you is because you cheated on me! You hurt me and betrayed me! I didn't want our son to go through that which one of the reasons why I hid from you!" I yell at him and my vision started to get blurry. I didn't realize I got louder but every time that time of day is mentioned, I can't help but grow weak and hurt.

"That is not a proper reason! I had the right to know! HE IS MY SON! I MISSED EIGHT YEARS OF HIS LIFE! He yells, and I flinch.

"And who's—

"Mom" I hear Retzu call out from the end of the hallway. I look over him and see a worried look on his face, while Aoi look scared and hid behind him. I run over to them and hug them while tears continue to drool down my face.

Sumire POV

Right now, Ralph and myself were riding with Koko to his place. As I was looking at him from the corner of my eye, he had a cold stoic angry face that was sending shivers up and down my spine. I was in the passenger seat while Ralph sat in the back. I can't believe the dramatic scene that was caused earlier.

Flashback

"Mom" I gasped as I see her. She looked older like a lady in her late 30's and early 40's. She had some gray white hair on her had, and also had a shocked expression as she saw me. But then I remembered, those years she ignored and gave all her undivided attention to my brother and sister. I now looked at her coldly.

"What are you doing here?" I ask her coldly. He looks at me sad and apologetic but I wasn't buying it.

"Sumire, I-I'm sorry." She says and her eyes started to get watery.

"You are many years too late." I say. I was not going to forgive her. After everything that she had done to me, she chooses this time to apologize? Unbelievable. I grab the bags that dropped in my hand, and took Ralph's hand in my others and walked past her. We continued to walk when we heard what sounded like a fast vehicle. I looked behind me and saw a blue Mustang speeding down the road. I quickly grasped on to Ralph and flew off to the side for safety.

The car took a sharp stop and the brake marks on the road were visible, meaning he was over speeding and could have gotten us killed, more likely my son! I told Ralph to stay put while I stomped over the driver to give a piece of my mind.

"What you do think you were doing!?" I yell. The person doesn't open the door just rolls down the window. THE NERVE OF THIS PERSON! I saw that it was a male and he was wearing black sunglasses.

"Hey what are you doing, posing in the car?" I point angrily at him. He turns to look at me. "Come out. I said come out?" he let out a sigh, and opened the door. I stood there with my hands on my hips, while he just looked down at me. I think.

"Don't you know how to drive? What if something happened to me? Or my son?" When I said 'son' he body stiffened. That's odd. The person took off his sunglasses, and it shocked to me who it was.

Koko.

I looked at him and him at me, only blankly. He glared down at me. His eyes were showing how mad he was but it was being controlled. His face expression was sending me shivers and I felt my knee wobble a little the he got closer. I gulped. He averted his gaze from me over to Ralph intensely. Koko looked at Ralph analyzing and Ralph was doing the same. They both were looking at each other for a good moment. Then Koko looked at me, mad. Oh no!

"Is he mine?" he asked in a low scary voice that. I was amazed at his question, not why he asked it but where. We are in public, and choses this time to ask? Not aware if there is a time and place to ask this type of question.

"uh—

"I asked you something Sumire!" he yells and I flinch. At the corner of my eye I see Ralph running to me, fast. He gets between Koko and I. Ralph looks up at Koko, eye to eye.

"Don't yell at my mom." He angrily says to Koko. He stood their shocked. Now the entire block is looking at us. Koko looks back at me.

"Get in car." He demands, and leaves no room for discussion. I was about to say something back but he cuts me off, "Unless you want to cause a dramatic scene, I suggest you both get in quietly." I hesitantly agreed. Ralph was going to say something but I put my hand his shoulder to stop. He went in the back seat and I in the passenger. Koko got our grocery bags, placed them in the deck and sat on the drivers seat and drove off.

End of Flashback

"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked coldly. I look over at him and give an angry look. Does he deserve to know, after everything that he had done to me.

"You think you had the right to know? After everything you had done to me?!" I was outraged at his question. Why didn't you tell me? HAH! Idiot. I still remember the humiliation he caused that day when we were at school.

"That doesn't matter. I had the right to know! When did you find out you were pregnant with Ralph?" he asked, madly. From the mirror I see Ralph head shoot up at his name. Now that he knows that this conversation is about him, he is going to listen all the way.

"The day I found out your bet." I whispered to him. The day I found out about his bet was the same day we broke apart. He heavily signed.

"We are going to my house to discuss the rest of it." He says, leaving no room for argument.

Back to Mikan POV

"Sweetheart, go back to the room." I urge them to move, but they stay still. Retzu looked behind me and start to glance a cold look at Hyuuga, and then back at me.

"Mom why are you crying? And who is that man?" he asks worried. Not a second later Aoi speaks up, but quietly.

"Mommy who is that swcary man?" I look at them not knowing what to say, until I hear Hyuuga cold voice.

"Will you tell them or should I?" by the sound of his voice I know that he is behind me, and close.

Sigh, I get up from my crotched position and took everyone to the family room. I closed the television and urged everyone to sit on the sofa. The kids sat by my each side while Hyuuga sat in front of us.

Here we go…

"Kids, do you remember when you asked my where your daddy was? And I always told you that he is busy and far away," I start off and they nodded. "Well what if I told you that the man here, in front of us is your father?" I say. They both look at me with wide eyes and seemed shocked, however Aoi came out of it quickly and ran up to Hyuuga and yelled…

"DADDY!" she yells and jumps on him, however the sofa was big for her height thus Hyuuga lifted her up and hugged her. Aoi hugged him tight and not wanted to let go anytime soon, whereas Retzu stood in place he didn't move. I nudged him a little, "Sweetheart, aren't you going to say 'hi' to your father?" I asked him. he looks at me questionably, and then glancing back at the man in front of him. Then he said something that I was most afraid of.

"He is not my father."

CLIFFHANGER!

THERE YOU HAVE IT EVERYONE! AS I HAD SAID "200 REVIEWS AN UPDATE" WELL YOU ALL GAVE ME MORE SO IN RETURN I WANTED TO PRESENT A CHAPTER WITH A LOT OF DRAMA, EMOTIONS, PROBLEMS AND ACCEPTANCE PROBLEMS! THIS CHAPTER CAME OUT TO BE 13 PAGES LONG, AND I WANT TO SEE A LOT OF REVIEWS SO I CAN UPDATE THE NEXT CHAPTER.

HOPE YOU ALL ENJOY THIS CHAPTER

TIL NEXT TIME

TC

KITTYKAT96