CHAPTER EIGHT

Mikan paced back and forth practicing what she'd tell him before she rang his doorbell. This was the most anxious she's ever felt in her life. She went here without any plan whatsoever. When she read Ruka's text that he wanted to see her. She immediately jumped ship and let everything go. He wants to see me! He wants to see me! She thought repeatedly.

She finally had the guts to ring him after practicing her speech endlessly. He opened the door and she was then met with his deep ruby eyes. His face had a couple of scars and all of Mikan's thoughts were clouded by how handsome he was. She felt shivers down her spine as she unconsciously bit her lip while looking at his. She couldn't help it, he's so hot.

Natsume felt a bit conscious of the way she was looking at him. He was not used to seeing her anymore, and it's not like he wants to… Well, sort of. He cleared his throat and asked. "You want to come inside?"

"I… I do." Natsume almost laughed. He picked up a dirty joke or two from there, but he stopped himself. No. Not this time. He meant business.

"You want anything to drink? Juice? Coffee? Tea?" Natsume asked.

"Or me?" Mikan joked, she wanted to lighten up the mood. He smiled before ignoring her completely. "I'll just get you water. Make yourself at home." Mikan's heart sank as she sat in his living room. She knew every corner of this place, now it just feels so different. She looked around his place up until she noticed an unfamiliar item lying around his couch. It was a cardigan, a girl's cardigan. Her head started going to different places. He has a new girl already? It's just been months! Should she ask? Can she? She hated it. She hated him. It's probably that girl from the office. Yes! That's probably hers. Homewrecker! She stopped her thoughts… he's not mine. He can date anyone he wants. She's probably a nice girl, it isn't her fault. It was all hers. She felt her heartache suddenly.

Natsume noticed her looking at the cardigan and got embarrassed at how dirty his place looked. He quickly pulled it off, completely clueless as to what Mikan was thinking. "Oh, my friend probably left it here when she visited. Sorry about that, I couldn't clean much."

Mikan just nodded and pretended to be uninterested when all she wanted to do was put him in a chokehold and ask him who the fuck is he sleeping with now.

She was deep in her thoughts when he cleared his throat. "I was told you want to keep the babies?"

"Ye- yeah." She replied nervously.

"I asked you to come here because there were a few things I wanted to clarify before proceeding with the custody case."

Mikan knew that tone. That was his professional tone. He never used it on her… she always made fun of how robotic it sounded. He always responded to her by saying that you don't necessarily need to make your clients feel at home. They're not family. It stuck with her. She's no longer family. God, it's starting to hurt her so much that her head is spinning. She really thought that they would start making amends, well technically they are. But this is just- why did she even think going here was a good idea?

He noticed the pained expression on her face, he knew she knew what he was doing. She can read him like the back of her hand. Now he wouldn't let her. This is purely business. It is what is necessary.

"I don't want you to think that you're getting the short end of the stick here, and I know that you don't have a lawyer. I don't intend to provide you one, because that wouldn't feel fair to you." She stayed silent and nodded. All she wanted to do was cry, to be honest. The sudden realization that she was not part of his life anymore other than a technicality felt like a fucking blow.

"So here is the list of things I wish to provide, including my demands, I want you and your lawyer to read them. If you have any other questions, I would appreciate it if you directed them to my lawyer, her number is listed in the file." He smiled forcibly as he handed her the files. "Any questions?" He asked.

"Natsume… is this… is this the only reason you asked me here?" She asked, obviously trying to hold back her tears.

"Yes." He said coldly.

"What about us?"

"Mikan, this is for us. We can't be good parents if we'd fight all the time, I don't want that. There's a line we need to draw." Mikan started to cry. He was taken aback. He didn't want to console her, that was crossing the line. So, he just waited for her to be over. "You said you love me."

He didn't know what to say. "I did. But of course, it's different now." He said emotionlessly. He did. Did. It's all in the past now. "Am I all in the past now?" She screamed.

Natsume kept his emotions in place. He didn't want to be angry, that's not what he learned in therapy. She needs to sort things out on her own, and so should he, even if it meant being apart forever. "I'd like to apologize. I invited you here thinking you won't be stressed out. I guess it was a lack of a better judgment."

"Fuck being polite, Natsume! I'm not your client! Who am I to you?" She challenged him before she grabbed his neck and kissed him. Natsume didn't know what to think, he was so confused. "Natsume, please." She begged. He just closed his eyes and let her do what she wanted with him. His hands held her by the waist and kissed her back, he couldn't help it, it's been too long since he last felt her warm and soft lips against him. She felt so delicate in his arms, it was like she was about to break any minute. He suddenly felt her baby bump and stopped what he was doing. Boundaries. They need boundaries.

"Natsume?" She pleaded.

"I don't want to."

Mikan suddenly had a change in expression, numerous thoughts went through her mind. "What, you have a new girl you fuck?"

"What?" He was bewildered.

"You don't want your old toy anymore because she's pregnant, huh?"

"That's what this is about?"

"Who is she Natsume?" She probed, she needed answers. "…Better yet, who am I to you?"

"What?" He shouted.

"You heard me, who am I to you now that you're done playing with me."

She was certainly getting on his last nerve. What was she talking about? He never played with her, she was the one pulling the strings the whole time. "You're one to talk, are you? Maybe, you're projecting something here? And so what if I have someone new, huh? What's it to you?"

Mikan was completely out of it, she was livid. "Who am I to you, Natsume!" She shouted one more time.

Natsume couldn't help it, he was so infuriated with everything. "You may be the mother of my kids, but to me, you are nothing! And I wish you'd start acting like a fucking adult!" As soon as she heard it, she started crying, he didn't care. He started lecturing her. "I'm sorry that I'm doing this. But we have to move on, Mikan. At least I do! As much as I honestly don't want you to be a part of my life anymore, sadly, you are. I'm going to be a dad in a few weeks and not even you can ruin this for me. I know I shouldn't be stressing you out, and I honestly thought this would make it easier, but good god you're so fucking difficult. You don't want to be with me, yet you don't want to let me go. What are you trying to do? If you don't have any more fucking questions, I'd like you to take this to your fucking lawyer, so we can settle this like fucking adults, so I can fucking be happy about being a dad without the thought of you driving me fucking insane. There! Not polite enough for you?"

Mikan's heart ached even more. She was honestly hurting. She really had a different feeling when she woke up this morning. Now that everything went south. She just started feeling dizzy.

"Mikan!" His scream was the last thing she heard as she suddenly felt unconscious.

"What the fuck did I tell you about making this pregnancy stress free for her?" Aoi berated his older brother in the hallway as all their friends and family watched him in silence.

"I just thought…"

"You just thought what? You wanted to kill her that bad, you should've just stuck a knife down her neck."

"Aoi, you're too much. I'm still older-"

"No, you don't get to play that card today. You're lucky it isn't that serious. Are you fucking stupid?"

He sighed as the doctor got out and gave them a briefing on her condition.

"…She's awake and requested Mr. Hyuuga to go inside."

He nodded and was about to go in when Aoi pulled him. "No way in hell are you going in without me, you moron."

He fucking wants to kill her at this point, but he knew he was in the wrong, so he just nodded as she went with him.

Natsume felt so guilty seeing Mikan so helpless. He would do anything to bring her back, but he knew he must establish boundaries. He wants to be good enough for the kids, something he won't be if he's still too emotionally invested in her.

"Natsume, I'm sorry for making you worry." She smiled weakly as soon as she saw him. His heart was starting to skip a beat, he was getting nervous, he knew this feeling. He hated this feeling. Fuck.

"You shouldn't really, he should be the one apologizing." Aoi interjected.

"Hi, Aoi." Mikan tried to get up, in truth, she didn't see her instantly, her eyes were set on one person and one person only.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that. I will push the talks regarding custody to next time. For now, I would be more than willing to do everything you say."

"I thought about this… but I'm not sure… you'd want it. But could you… would you… help me out with the kids?" She said nervously.

"Of course, anything." He replied.

"Like, live with me?" To say Natsume and Aoi were shocked was an understatement.

"Mikan, he stresses you out. I don't think it's a good idea. I can do it for you if you want." Aoi protested.

"I just… I get anxious at night if I might die and no one would notice, to be honest, you know? And I don't want to be a burden to anyone else, you guys don't live in my area, my family doesn't as well, and I can't move. He's near my place anyway, but I'm fine with it if he doesn't want to." Mikan looked at Natsume, Aoi shot him a death glare which probably translates to 'Are you two out of your goddamn minds,'.

Natsume gulped. He wanted to postpone answering the question, but he couldn't. He didn't want to, but he couldn't honestly neglect his future kids.

"I'll do it. It's fine." Aoi sighed in frustration. These two will be the end of her if she's being honest.

END OF CHAPTER EIGHT