DISCLAIMER: I do not own GA.

CHAPTER 18: Birthday preparations

Ruka arrived at the place of Hotaru that day bringing Natsume along with him. At first, Natsume didn't want to leave the car and insisted that he'll just wait in there but Ruka was able to persuade him in one way or another to enter the house of the inventor.

DING DONG

The doorbell as Hotaru opened the door revealing his blonde boyfriend with azure eyes.

"Ohayo, Hotaru!" greeted Ruka while giving her girlfriend a peck on the lips. "Ugh. And that's one of the reasons why I didn't want to leave the car. Mushy stuff. Tch." Natsume thought.

"Ohayo. You're early." She replied while letting them come inside. "Mikan, we have visitors." Hotaru added while Mikan came out of the kitchen while wearing an apron.

"Oh, ohayo guys! What're you doing here?" asked a Mikan who was smiling widely.

"Well, we just came for a visit and to pick you up as well." Ruka replied. "Why are you wearing an apron? If I could remember right, Hotaru also has a housekeeper."

"The baka insisted on making breakfast this morning since she said that it's the least that she could do for letting her stay here last night. She's just as stubborn as her brother. Once she have thought of something, she will really do it." Hotaru explained.

"Tch. You better prepare some antidotes after eating 'cause she might have put some poison in it while you were not looking." Natsume said coolly.

"Hey! I heard that you meanie! Why would I even do that?! I'm not as mean and as cold-hearted as you are you pervert!" Mikan retorted.

"Whatever cherries. Just hurry up so we could go home already."

"KYAAA!! You really are a big pervert! Don't peek into my undies!" Mikan yelled.

"Baka. I'm not peeking. You're the one showing them to me." Natsume shot back.

After a few minutes, they all ate the food that was all prepared by Mikan. They were all silently eating since the food was so delicious that they couldn't even utter a single word. Once they were done, they hopped into Ruka's car and went the Hyuuga residence since Mikan wants to plan things for her birthday with all of her friends.

~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~

"I see, so you want a simple pool party?" stated Yuri as Mikan explained what she was planning for her birthday. "Are you sure about that sweetie? A sixteenth birthday is special. Don't you want something more special than a pool party here at home?"

"I'm sure about that okaa-san. It's absolutely okay if my celebration will not be too grand this year since I celebrate my birthdays every year. I just want it to be simple, fun and memorable. And as long as you and my friends are there, it'll surely be an event to remember." Mikan replied with a smile.

"As you wish my dear. But once you plan to have some changes or other stuff, just let me know."

"Okay then okaa-san. But I guess that would be all." Mikan answered and then Yuri left since she needs to do some paper works on their company.

~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~

"Hey, what do you plan to give Mikan for her birthday?" asked Ruka

"Dunno. Do I have to give her something? I don't give her anything every time she celebrates so it's not something new for her if she didn't get anything for her birthday this year." Natsume replied.

"But Natsume, she said that she wants her sixteenth birthday to be memorable."

"So?" he replied while cocking his eyebrow.

"What I mean is that you could at least give her something. Since it would be the first time that you'll be giving her something for her birthday, that gift will surely be memorable for her." Ruka explained.

"Whatever. And I don't even know a thing on what she likes so I don't have a clue on what thing to give her anyway."

"She will appreciate anything, Natsume. As long as it's from you, she'll gladly accept it. Are you coming with us?"

"Where?"

"Central Town. We will buy some stuff." Ruka answered.

"Naaah. It's too early. You go ahead. I'll just go there later if I'm not too lazy. And besides, I can't take it when you and Hotaru are way too mushy whenever you're in front of me. well, ja." Natsume said as he headed to his room.

~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~

After a few minutes of boredom in his own room, he finally decided to go out and head to Central Town to buy a gift for Mikan.

"Well, I guess buying a gift can't be that bad. Besides, she gave me one on my birthday." He thought as he was about to leave the house.

He was now walking at the busy streets of Central Town while looking at stall windows looking for something that would seem to be the appropriate gift for the girl that she loves the most. He was just walking and walking to where his feet took him until the time came that he was already tired from all of the walking and such.

"Geez. Now I know how Polka felt when he can't find a decent present for me." He thought. "I can't seem to find something for her. Tch. That little girl already has all the things that a normal girl could wish for. This is harder that I thought it would be."

He then sat at a nearby bench as Ruka's words suddenly struck him. 'She will appreciate anything, Natsume. As long as it's from you, she'll gladly accept it.' And with that, he stood up and went back home.

When he arrived home, he immediately went back to his room and then took out something that he thought that he would never be using in his whole life again – a sewing kit that he used to have when he was in the fourth grade. He was once had sewing classes when he was young in his class with Ruka. He hated that subject very much even though he was incredibly good at it.

"Tch. I never thought that this old piece of junk could still be of good use to me today. Well, let's see if I can still do this properly." Natsume said to himself as he pulled out some needle and thread as he started to sew something. "Tch. I guess I still have the hang of it. I better finish this thing today since her damn birthday is already tomorrow." He thought.