Bittersweet Love

Please, enjoy ! :D

-Sorry for bad grammar and tenses-

Disclamer : I do not own Gakuen Alice

Chapter 17 : Family

"Hiro!"

Hiro perked up at the voice of his best friend. "Kou! Hi."

Kou casually throw his arm around Hiro's shoulder before giving him a bro toss. "These days I saw your father a lot. It seems like he is finally back from overseas?"

Mikan always said that her husband is on a trip overseas and rarely came back. Even if he came back its always on weekend so it is kind of impossible to have him appear in any school activities or pick Hiro up.

Hiro knew it wasn't right, though he didn't exactly know the reason either, even until now. But he choose to play along back then, believing that his father did work overseas and he occasionally saw his father on weekends.

"Yes. He is finally done with all his business and came back to Japan for good." Hiro answered with a happy grin on his face. Nevertheless the reason, he is glad now to have his father by his side.

"You know, my mother keep talking about your father." Kou whispered, nearing his mouth on Hiro's ear.

Hiro frowned. "Why? About what?"

"About how shameless all the mothers who approached your father like they don't have husbands or kids." Kou answered with a big, teasing grin.

Hiro rolled his eyes in annoyance. He continue his walk towards the school bus, with Kou tailing him, still grinning mischievously. "My father told me. That he experienced the same thing as me since primary school."

Kou look at Hiro in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Girls."

Kou laughed. "Are you saying that you are going to be like your father in the future? Flocked by married women?"

Hiro frowned. "What Kou. Don't put it like that."

Kou chuckled. "Well that's what you mean right?"

Hiro rolled his eyes again, but this time a smirk appeared on his lips. Exactly just like Natsume's smirk. "I am saying that I am handsome."

Kou pretended to throw up. "Yeah, sure. Whatever Hiro the handsome boy."

Hiro grinned. "You admit it."

"So... who would you choose? Sophie? Ai? Or maybe Kira?"

"I choose my mom, of course." Hiro answered smoothly, smiling at the gorgeous woman who is walking towards him right now.

"Oh." Kou following Hiro's line of sight. "Hello auntie!"

"Hi Kou." Mikan greeted as she neared the two boys. "Hello my handsome boy." Mikan drop a loving kiss which make Hiro quickly shyed away because Kou started to snicker secretly behind him.

Mikan arch her eyebrow seeing Hiro's act. But she choose to brush it off, because boys nowadays tend to be shy around their parents.

"Why are you here mom? Are you done with work?" Hiro ask curiously, looking around just in case his father tag along.

"Yes. I am leaving early." Mikan smiled seeing that Hiro clearly searching for Natsume.

"Are you looking for me?"

Hiro turn around really fast that surprised even Natsume himself. "Dad!" Hiro exclaimed, jumping on him.

Natsume chuckled as he hug Hiro back. "How's my boy doing?"

Hiro grinned. "We win!"

These days Natsume has been intensely teaching Hiro to play soccer seeing the interest in the white and black ball the kid has. Back in the school days, Natsume used to be the captain of soccer team, thus the reason why he is good at what he is teaching to his kid.

"You have to after being taught by the captain." Natsume said smugly, ruffling Hiro's head.

"I want to be taught by you too, uncle!" Kou suddenly joining the conversation. "I want to be as good as Hiro!"

Natsume chuckled again. "Sure kiddo. Just come to our home. Then I'll teach you together with Hiro. You two will make a good team."

Hiro grinned at Kou. "That sounds good!"

Kou nodded enthusiastically. "Yes!"

"Where is your mother, Kou?" Mikan ask, after a few moments of the boys talking.

"Oh, I am taking the school bus, auntie. My dad and mom both can't pick me up. I am going to take it with Hiro just now."

"Oh yes. I kind of remember mom said to take the school bus?" Hiro ask questioningly.

Mikan smiled. "Your father and I planned a family dinner. Should we go?"

Hiro instantly brightens up. "Yes please!"

"Kou, do you want to go with us? We'll drop you off at your house." Mikan offered kindly.

Kou smiled politely. "It's okay auntie, I'll just take the bus."

"No worries kiddo. We'll take you. You want to spend more time with Hiro, don't you?" Natsume chimed in, arching his eyebrow.

Kou look at Hiro.

"Come on, Kou. Let's talk a bit more in my car." Hiro said excitedly.

"I guess if its not too much trouble." Kou finally give in while hesitating.

"Its okay sweetie. Really." Mikan assured the boy, smiling all the way.

"How many car do you have dad?" Hiro finally voice out the question that has been swimming around his head from the first time they got into the car after dropping Kou off at his house.

Natsume look on the rearview mirror to see Hiro's face reflection and smirk. "Why ask, Hiro?"

Hiro scratch his head. "Well.. this is kind of the fourth car I have got into."

Mikan arch her eyebrow at her child's statement. She definitely doesn't know that Natsume has bring different car when picking up Hiro. "You are such a show off." Mikan muttered under her breath.

Natsume chuckled. He heard what Mikan said. "I think you will like this show off." He retorted back in hushed voice, effectively make Mikan flushed red.

"Which one do you like the most?" Natsume continued to answer Hiro's answer, as if the conversation between him and Mikan didn't happened.

"I think I like this one the most!" Hiro replied, grinning wide as he once more look around the car in contentment.

Natsume smiled. "I have one more in my house."

"Oh! I have never been to daddy's house!"

"You can ask your mother's permission." Natsume said casually, smirking.

"Mom, can I? You should come too! After the dinner!" Hiro started to jump up and down in excitement.

"Hiro. Behave yourself." Mikan chided sternly.

Hiro quickly quieted down and seated himself properly. "I'm sorry, mom. But can I?"

Mikan glance towards Natsume who's still have that stupid smirk on his face while casually driving. "Yes. Of course you can."

"You will come too right mom? We'll go after dinner?" Hiro's eyes literally sparkled with hope and happiness.

Mikan doesn't have the heart to break her precious child excitement hence the reason why she nodded slowly and answered with an absolute "Yes."

"What are you going to order, kiddo?" Natsume ask when they already comfortably seated on the table of four, skimming through the menu.

Hiro look through the menu in amazement. Although he know that his mom is definitely not poor and he has aunt Hotaru who is filthy rich, he has never been to a fancy restaurant before, and definitely not a restaurant in a hotel on the 72th floor.

"Are you sure it is okay to eat here? I mean I never brought him in restaurants like this. I don't want to spoil him." Mikan whispered on Natsume's ear.

Natsume silently smirk at Mikan's confidence of their proximity. Looks like she is getting used to his presence. "We are not going to spoil him, Mikan. Chill. Just think of this as one of the treats I gave to him as a father. For being a good boy. I have money to spent on my family."

Mikan quickly look away to hide her blush hearing Natsume's statement. It felt surreal. Like they are really a family.

"I don't know what to order dad. I don't even understand what kind of food are here." Hiro said sheepishly.

Natsume called one of the waiter, raising his hand.

"Yes, sir? Is there anything I can help you with?" The waiter ask politely.

"Can you help my son to pick the menu? Do you have any kids meal?"

"Of course sir. Let me help your son." The waiter nodded and bowed before turning to face Hiro and smiled. "Hello little master, what kind of food do you like? Asian? Western?"

Hiro look at the waiter with a perfect 'o' on his mouth. So this is what it feels to be a rich kid.

Seeing Hiro's expression Natsume chuckled. "You will make mr. Waiter waiting, Hiro."

"Oh, I'm sorry!" Hiro quickly said.

The waiter chuckled. "Its okay, young master. So what would you prefer? Asian or Western?"

"Uh, I think Western."

"Okay, so we have this." The waiter started to explain in detail about the menus they have.

"You keep staring at me. Is there anything wrong?" Natsume ask, looking back at Mikan who has been scrutinizing him.

"You work as a CEO?" Mikan inquired, arching her eyebrow.

"For my company yes, and several other things." Natsume answered calmly, sipping his wine.

"Like?"

"Investing in several business that has grown over the years."

"Why would you want me?" Mikan ask incredulously. "I am just an average girl. Nothing special."

This time it is Natsume's turn to arch his eyebrow. "I think this kind of conversation can't be held on over dinner, especially with Hiro."

Mikan huffed in annoyance, but didn't say anything since she agreed.

"I'll answer everything when we arrived at my home." Natsume offered kindly.

"As long as you answer." Mikan replied offhandedly.

"Dad, I think I'll choose this." Hiro said, pointing at on of the pictures in the menu.

Natsume nodded. "Then I'll have my usual."

"Of course sir. How about madam?" The waiter ask while writing down as fast as he can.

"I'll just have tenderloin steak with mashed potato. Medium well please."

"Yes. I'll be back right away with your drinks. Meanwhile please enjoy the appetizer." The waiter said in junction with another waiter approach them holding a tray of mushroom soups.

"I don't think we order this." Mikan commented as the soups are served, frowning.

The waiter smiled. "These are complimentary from the hotel. As Mr. Hyuuga is our regular costumer and our owner's close friend."

The waiters bowed respectfully, before walking away.

"Wow, dad. You are so cool!" Hiro stared at Natsume with stars on his eyes.

Mikan can't help but smile seeing Hiro is star-struck. Well, maybe she really does have to move on forward, seeing that the happiness Hiro get by having a father. She has chose to trust him too after all.

Natsume chuckled and gestured to the mushroom soup. "You better eat the soup kiddo. Before it gets cold. The mushroom soup here is famous. You don't want to miss trying it while its hot."

"Really?"

Natsume nodded, smiling. "Try it."

Mikan decided that Natsume is filthy rich after seeing the house, no, more like mansion he owned as a place to live. Maybe on par with Hotaru or richer or maybe a little bit under Hotaru, she doesn't know, because Hotaru only have a two bedrooms penthouse since having a house is too much hassle she said, and a car. Though it is a limited edition sports car.

When Natsume arrived at the front gate, he casually produce a remote to open the gate automatically, which made Hiro awing with rounded eyes.

They drove around 2 minutes on the paving road, with pine trees standing beautifully on both sides of the road.

When Natsume finally step on the brake, they arrived at the front door of his mansion with fountain, statues, and all, before he ask Mikan and Hiro to step down first and wait because he is going to park the car.

"Why not chaffeur?" Mikan ask as she get out from the car.

Natsume smirked. "This is our family day, why ruin it with a stranger?"

Which, magnificently earned Natsume another blush from Mikan.

"Mom, mom." Hiro pull on Mikan's blouse as he watched Natsume zoomed away to park the car in the garage which who knows where seeing that the garden is humongous.

"Yes, sweetie?" Mikan replied, smiling.

Hiro's eyes still round and in awe. "Dad is super rich!"

Mikan frowned. "Its not a good thing to say Hiro. It is not polite."

Hiro cast his look downwards. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it." Pause. "But dad is REALLY rich! I can't wait to see what it looks like inside the house."

Mikan sigh. She thought being around Hotaru is enough for Hiro to see fancy things. But looks like it wasn't. "Please behave yourself, Hiro. I taught you to be a well-mannered boy not a troublemaker."

Hiro pouted. "I'm sorry." He muttered softly.

Mikan squatted down, swiping Hiro's bangs aside and look at her child intently. "Yes your father does have a lot of money. But that doesn't change anything. He is cool because he is your father, not because of the money he has."

"I know. I didn't mean like that. You know what I mean mom."

Mikan smiled softly as she embrace him briefly. "I understand. Just a short reminder."

"Mom. Can I ask something?"

"Yes, sweetie? What is it?"

"I love dad. Can we live as a complete family?"

Hiro finally ask the question!

What do you think? Please kindly review XD

Much love,

Aquabluemarine