Bittersweet Love
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-Sorry for bad grammar and tenses-
Disclaimer : I do not own Gakuen Alice
Chapter 19 : Comfort
Seeing Mikan and her state, Natsume's eyes widen and his sleepiness instantly flew away. "What's wrong Mikan? Are you okay? What happened?"
"I..I.." Mikan tried, but the words can't formed in her mouth, feels like all her voice sealed by her fear.
"Can I hug you?" Natsume ask her permission quietly, assessing her condition. Is it bad dream? There is no way it would be something related to criminal. He is sure as hell that his house is as safe as the president's house. Him being filthy rich is not just a title.
Mikan, being scared to death by the storm immediately nodded. She need someone to cling on so bad right now. After all, they already hugged for several times, adding one more won't make any difference.
Natsume swiftly pull her in his embrace, before guiding her gently to his bedroom, closing the door.
As soon as Mikan's body enveloped in Natsume's warmth, she instantly relaxed. Like her fear immediately being chased away by him, though her tears haven't stop. Yet. At least her shaking ceased at once.
Natsume bring her to his bed, covering her with his comforter, doubling it, and take a seat right beside her, on the top of the comforter. "What happened, Mikan? Do you want to tell me?"
Mikan fiddled with her fingers as her body unconsciously lean towards Natsume, searching for his warmth.
Seeing this, Natsume force himself to hide his smile. "It's okay though if you don't want to tell me."
Mikan slowly shook her head as she take a shaky breath. "Its... I... I am." She paused and take another deep breath. "I am afraid of storms." She whispered softly.
"Why didn't you tell me earlier? Did you face it all by your self from the start?" Natsume replied in concern, he can't see her in tears. No. Definitely not. Though it is not caused by him, he still didn't like it. A smile is what suit Mikan the best.
Mikan look down again. "I don't want to disturb you."
Natsume sigh as he pull Mikan tighter into his embrace.
His arms feels strong. Strong enough to protect her from her fear.
"You won't disturb me Mikan. No matter what you do." Natsume replied in soft voice as he gently wipe her remaining tears. "I'll be your protector, your strength, everything you wanted me to."
Mikan can't help but let out a soft chuckle.
Natsume arch his eyebrow. "Is there anything funny?"
Mikan smiled a bit and shook her head as she snuggle more into Natsume's chest, which earn her a bigger smile from him without Mikan noticing. "Your promise seems like we are already a married couple." Mikan finally giving out her thought.
Natsume follows Mikan's chuckle. "Well, I don't mind."
Mikan turn away, hiding her blush, making Natsume grin widely.
Silence ensued for half an hour after that, the only movement that is present are Natsume's hands making soothing circles on Mikan's back, nearly as if lullabying her into a dreamless sleep.
Natsume moves himself towards the head board, leaning his back and fixing his arm position so he can cradle Mikan more comfortably.
Her long hair spread all over his chest and other arm, as her stunning hazel eyes start to close.
"Natsume." Mikan sleepily called.
Natsume lift both of his eyebrows. This is new. She finally called him by his first name. "What is it?"
"Thank you." She said in nearly unheard voice, before her breath become soft and even, indicating that she already fell asleep.
Smiling, Natsume carefully put Mikan's head on one of the pillow and he fix her blankets, making sure that she still warm until morning.
After a few minutes watching her sleep peacefully, Natsume get up from the bed and rummage around his walk in closet, before pulling out another blanket which unluckily not as thick as his comforter. But it'll do.
He drag himself to the nearest couch and drop his body down, and putting an arm over his eyes as he sleep the rest of the night away.
Feeling a slight headache as she woke up, Mikan slowly pull herself into a sitting position, rubbing her swollen eyes.
"I am going to need a lot of make up today." She mumbled to herself, stretching her stiff body.
She blink once, assessing the room she is in, panic started to bubble in her chest before her sleepy brain finally kick into work, reminding the last night drama.
She blush, covering her face with her hands. Oh no. It is so mortifying last night.
She froze. Wait, isn't she in Natsume's bedroom right now.
Mikan quickly open her eyes and look around the room.
No sign of Natsume, at all.
Her gaze stop at a crumple of thin blanket on the long couch not far from the bed.
Did Natsume sleep there last night?
Her gaze move to her side, where there is clearly no trace of him sleeping there.
Well, this certainly make her feel guilty. Did she just kick Natsume from his own bed last night? Not to mention she barge in on his sleep, and more or less force him to comfort her.
Blush.
No way. What did she think last night? Was she out of her mind?
Knock, knock.
"Whose there?" Mikan called out, wrapping the comforter tighter around her body.
"Master Hyuuga is waiting for you downstairs in the dinning room for breakfast, madam. Young master is already in the dinning room too." An unfamiliar female voice, who is clearly a maid, answered from behind the door.
Mikan quickly jump to her feet and run to the bathroom. "Tell them to wait for 20 minutes."
"Do you need any clothes, madam?"
Mikan skidded to stop. Oh right, this is Natsume's room, not hers. "Just bring my suitcase inside. Thank you!"
Mikan grab a fresh towel from the towel rack and zoom into the shower while peeling her clothes on her way.
After taking a quick 10 minutes shower, she quickly brush her teeth and put on some make up to cover any traces of her exhaustion from lack of sleep or crying for hours. She throw her wet towel to the nearby basket and zoom out from Natsume's bathroom, bringing her dirty clothes with her.
Consequently, she rummage around her suitcase before putting on a black dress short pants and a long sleeves, v neckline yellow shirt with flowers on it. She put her dirty clothes inside the laundry bag and stuff them inside her suitcase before locking it again.
After that she immediately go out, walking towards the dinning room where Natsume and her son already wait.
"Good morning Mommy!" Hiro greeted, jumping from his seat and giving her a hug.
"Morning Mikan. How is your sleep?" Natsume greeted in more calm manner, though his crimson eyes shining with mischievousness.
Mikan try to dampen her blush. That pervert. He is positively teasing her right now because of last night incident.
"Hello sweetie. Good morning to you too." Mikan plainly ignored Natsume's greeting and squat down, planting a kiss on her son's crown. "How's your bedroom?"
Hiro grin wide. "It is spectacular! I like it very much! I can sleep soundly last night." He turned towards Natsume happily. "Thank you so much dad!"
Natsume smiled, nodding. "You are most welcome, son. It is for my only child after all."
"But can I put one of your PS4 inside my room?" Hiro ask politely, walking back to his seat.
Natsume chuckle. "I already said no, and I know your mom won't agree either. There is no negotiation in this."
Mikan shook her head. Hiro and his games. Boys. It'll never end. "Yes, there is a place for everything Hiro. You won't study or sleeping properly with game console inside your room."
"I won't. I'll manage." Hiro begged.
"Your mom is right, kiddo." Natsume said again, this time there is no mirth in his expression. "I have a gaming station and all the consoles will stay there." He continued in final voice. Natsume's face is so serious that even Mikan getting chills from it.
That made Hiro quietly nodded and not arguing further.
Mikan unconsciously smiling approvingly towards Natsume, which make him smirk wide.
There are a lot of improvement in his and Mikan's relationship these days, which is delightful news for Natsume.
"Okay, let's start the breakfast then." Natsume break the silence in junction with one of the butler walk in with tray of food.
The breakfast is luxurious. All kind of food is there. From plain omelette, to buttery breads, porridge to noddle soups. They all make Mikan nearly choose to just not eat breakfast since the choices is too much.
In the end Mikan choose to eat cheese omelette with wedges, sausages, and a bowl of chicken soup, while Hiro, being the big eater he always has been, nearly ate all the food, sampling each of them, which make Natsume chuckle in amazement seeing the appetite the 6 years old has.
"Would you like any coffee or tea madam?" A maid ask, bowing slightly.
"Uh. I think I'll choose tea." Mikan awkwardly answer, still not accustomed to how they are treated in Natsume's mansion.
The maid casually pull out a tray full of tea. "Which one would you like, madam?"
Mikan scan the – she don't know, 30? 40? – Kinds of teas on the tray, before finally choosing her all time favorite, chamomile.
"It'll be served right away." The maid bowed again, vanishing behind the door.
"I'm guessing you are a coffee woman." Natsume commented lightly, sipping his black coffee. "But turns out I am wrong."
Mikan sigh. "I am not usually drink tea in the morning. You are right, I am a coffee person. But after," She pause for a while, glancing at Hiro who is still busy eating. "You know, I don't feel like drinking coffee. I need calming tea."
Natsume nodded. "How do you feel?"
"I'm good. Thank you."
"That's great to hear."
"Dad, Mom. Kou invites me to play in his house. Can I?" Hiro look up with puppy eyes while holding his phone.
"Hiro, how many times I must said that there is no phone on dinning table?" Mikan chided her son gently.
Hiro look away in embarrassment. "I'm sorry mom, but the phone keeps ringing. Just in case there is something important at school."
It is a hard decision for Mikan to gave a phone to Hiro. First thing first, he is still a grade schooler. He is still very young. She doesn't want her child to shut out everything just because a mere phone. But on the other side, she need to be connected with her child, because she is a working mother thus make the limited time for her to be around Hiro.
After contemplating a lot of times, seeing the maturity Hiro posses, Mikan choose to give him a phone with a few conditions that he has to obey or else she will take the phone. One of them is no phone while eating which clearly he break right now.
"There is no second time, Hiro." Mikan simply answered, her eyes gentle but her mouth set into a straight line.
"Yes mom."
"And you can go to his house." Mikan added, with a small smile on her lips.
Hiro immediately perk up. "Really? Yeay, thank you mom!"
"I'll tell Mr. Ken to escort you, kiddo. He is my chauffeur." Natsume finally chimed in after the tension disperse.
Hiro nodded, beaming brightly. "Thank you dad!"
"Now finish your food quickly so you can go."
Hiro finished his breakfast in a few minutes, as he quickly prepared himself, bringing his ever present backpack, a promise to always update his parents, and get acquainted with his new driver, he is good to go.
Watching the car disappear in behind the gate, Mikan turn, walking back to the mansion.
"What are we going to do?" Natsume ask, falling into pace beside her.
Mikan sweat dropped. This man won't let any chance slip from his hands. "Why are you asking?"
A brilliant smile emerge on Natsume's lips which make Mikan taken aback. "What do you think we go out and have a date today?"
That's all!
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Love,
Aquabluemarine