i know you guys are anxious so, here it is. the latest chp! prepare some food before reading cuz you migh need it.

(Still Mikan's POV)

"Hey mom. Look, I'm happy right now. I got all of what I need here with me. I've got friends, arch nemesis and all. The money you left me is till untouched. I know you want me to use it and now I am." Talking to mom like this is sad.

I know I have to be tough and live my life but its so hard when I know that now, I have nowhere else to go home to.

Nobody to go home to.

A tear almost escape so I wiped it off quickly. My friends probably notice. Huh. Sucks to my ego and coolness. Haha.

"Today is a wonderful day mom. For me, at least. I am on a journey on becoming a singer, dad just throw me away. I think he forgotten about today but who cares, right? Sorry about that though. I did gave him a clue though so I did my part."

And it didn't even work. Stupid, idiotic, arrogant father. I wonder why I still love him despite all that?

That's because, a love for a father or anyone for that matter doesn't disappear even though we hate them. We may think we hate them, and maybe that is true but really, deep inside, the love is there. Its only overshadowed by a stronger feeling.

Now your just making all warmy inside. anyway, thanks Yuuki. Really. If you weren't here right now, I would probably go mad eventually.

No problem. Hey, can I have a go and your mom.

…..

haha. Fine. our mom. My mom.

Now you can.

Thank you. Appreciate it.

Back on you, mate.

Okay…awkward…

And then, the vision in front got smaller as I watch her every move from the window.

(Anna's POV)

its still weirds me seeing Mikan changes into Yuuki. You gotta understand. I mean, you don't get to see people change hair and eye color at will. You just don't.

Yuuki caress the stone with Yuka's name on it. "Hey mother. I think your still surprised just as you were as always. Well, first, happy birthday. Your finally an old lady now. My old lady, at least."

Just like Mikan's, it had a lot of sorrow inside of it. Today really is a sad day. I looked and Anna and both of us kneeled in front of Yuka, beside Yuuki.

"Hello, Yuka. Its Hotaru. I'm fine. All of us are. Just to let you know, Mikan is still as clumsy as usual. She takes a lot from you." she gave a smile to her.

"Hey, Yuka. Anna here. Just as Hotaru said, I'm fine so dont you worry because from now on, I will protect Mikan and Yuuki from any harm or danger during her journey. Don't you worry about that part" I said. the sadness was filling me now.

even though Hotaru didn't show it, Hotaru was just as sad as any of us who knew her.

let me explain to you, why...

Yuka was ,simply put, our light. Before all the craziness happens, she was like our mother instead of our real mother. Hotaru's mother was obsessive and my mother is almost never home. I see her about 5 or 6 time a year.

Mikan brought us to her when she just suddenly got an idea to bring us to her. Easy enough, from there on, all of us were so happy and were always waiting and waiting when would we see her again.

Hotaru would always see her everyday with me and Mikan, of course. Sadly, as time pass, she got weaker.

The day she passed away, it was a huge blow on us. I remembered Hotaru wouldn't talk to anybody for a whole month. The two of us would just sat in the apartment my dad gave me as a birthday present.

we still visit Mikan everyday. That was also one of the thing we have to dealt with when Yuka died.

When Mikan got out of coma, the two of us were so happy that the sadness fade away a bit but after Mikan asked what happen when she was asleep, that's when the sadness filled in again.

The three of us just cut off ties with the outside world for a whole month. It stopped when I suddenly got up and screamed.

(flashback)

while I was weeping and torturing my self, the memories of us and Yuka flowed into my head. out of those memories, I remembered a promised we made with her. the promise all of us did.

That enough made me stand up, gather my courage up and scolded them. weird how I was the one who ended up picking up the pieces back up and not her only daughter(at that time). despite that, i understand why would her only daughter wasnt the one who would picked up the peices.

I throwed one of the pillows at the both of them.

"You guys! What are we doing here crying like little babies!? Mikan, Hotaru, stop all this crying! Yuka would have wanted us to go on with our life! Mikan, you know that better than anyone else!" I shouted at them..

Tears were still pouring but finally it stopped eventually after that. Mikan and Hotaru took in her words. They realize that Yuka would never have wanted us to be like this.

Then, Hotaru stood up too."Mikan, she's right. Yuka would not have wanted us to grief over her. She would have wanted us to continue living on her behalf. She even made us promise that we would. So, yeah. We should be stronger. We should" she viciously nodded her head.

Even so, Mikan was the last one to got up. Of course, she was her daughter and precisely because of that, she took the most blow beside her father. she was the closest to Yuka beside her father. She knew her best. She loved her most. And most of all, she was her mother.

We understand that Mikan was the last one to get her spirit back because of that.

But,when Mikan got up, it was like, definetely, the light of our life finally shined again. "You're right. You're right. Mom would never have wanted us to fall down like wimps. She would have never wanted us."

The both of us hugged her all night after. That was the last time we grieved so hard for Yuka.

(ends of flashback)

we still grief about her but not so bad anymore. But we know, deep inside, Mikan is still screaming her heart out.

Finally, Hotaru and me hugged Yuuki in front of Yuka again. She clutched to us like we were the boat she needed to clung on.

Strangely, Hotaru and I spoke at the same time, the same words together. "Don't worry, Yuka. We'll take care of her. This, we promise you. Rest there in peace."

The three of us chuckled a bit.

We were interrupted after that by the boys. And now, all of us were kneeling in front of the grave.

The raven haired Natsume was the first one to speak. "Miss, have no fear, even though your child is still wearing extremely childish underwear for a 17 year old, I will still take care of her." He nodded his head and retreat.

The bird boy took his place. "Me too, Miss Yuka. Your daughter is simply amazing. She have an outstanding talent in her. Don't worry, we wont use her for anything bad. I will protect her."

The last one was the seemingly gay guy. "Miss Yuka, my name is Narumi . I am your daughter's co worker. I will take care of her and make sure she has the best care in the world. So, rest assured up there."

All of us took a last look at the grave and stood up. All of us patted the dust and dirt of.

I wonder, with all this money, why didn't the Sakura residence didn't just put a chair for people to sit in? it would save us all the trouble very much.

I put my hand on Yuuki's waist and Hotaru put her hand on Yuuki's shoulder. we gave the stone with her name on it a last kiss everyone did. an i mean, everyone.

We turned and never looked back.

Although, I thought I saw Yuuki tried to look back from the corner of her eye.

We parked our car side by side with the guys car. Yuuki got in into the limousine first. Before I went in—Hotaru is already inside the car—I asked the guys something.

"Hey, you guys wanna eat or not? I'm famished here. You want?" I asked the bird boy.

He looked at the Natsume guy and the Natsume guy nodded. "Sure. We're hungry too."

"Cool. where do we meet?"

"How about we meet you at the Parfait Armour Café. You know where it is?"

I nodded. That's the café that we used to hang out at after school. Me and Hotaru go to different school than Mikan. Both of us go to Gakuen Alice. A school for the rich and the smarts and the talented.

"Sure. I know where it is. Well, I think that's all. Catch ye' later." I waved at them and begin stepping inside the car.

I was stopped suddenly by the Natsume guy's question. "How's polka's doing? Is she cracked?"

i was a bit pissed at first but when i took a deep breath and think rationally, I knew that under the joke, he was actually worry about them(Yuuki and Mikan). Interesting. Very interesting indeed.

"I think Mikan just wants some time alone so she's probably not going to come out soon. Why, have you fallen for her?" I just wanted to tease him a bit but I guess I just hit the jackpot.

His face turned flush red. Haha. Chuckle. "N-no. why wo-would I-I worry about that little gi-girl?"

I wanted to burst with laughter but I just hold it in. I gave him a nod and a small smile and went inside the limousine. I didn't see if he went in there too. I just told Kira to drive away.

Hotaru looked at me suspiciously. I think it was because I was laughing here and then.

Yuuki was oblivious to whatever happens. She's always like this when it comes to this day. And I guess it will never change unless a certain somebody breaks her shell off until she cant put it back to a piece.

The journey was awfully quiet. It was like hells freeze over.

When we arrived at the café, we were obviously welcomed by the Sakura people. Oh, I forgot to mention. This is a Sakura owned café. That's one of the reason why we would always come here. We didn't have to pay.

All six of us were escorted by man and a woman to a table far from other people. I wonder why??

When we at the table, a waitress came at us. She was obviously flirting with Natsume, Ruka and Narumi. The body language said it all.

"What do you want to order, Masters and Mistresses?" she asked oh-so sweetly.

Natsume didn't looked up from his order and said "I'll just have the cheese cake and the iced lemon tea. Ruka, what do you want?"

Ruka looked up from the menu and gave a sweet smile that could probably melt any girls heart in an instant. "I would like the chocolate muffin and some cokes."

He took Natsume's menu, add it with his and gave it to the waitress.

Her eyes was definitely filled with heart shaped. And lastly from the boys group, Narumi. "I would like some blueberry cake with some hot coffee. That's all." And he gave the menu to the waitress.

The waitress, grudgingly I guess, looked away from the gorgeous trio and turned to us.

I gave her the three of us menu's and just said "We'll have the usual. Don't worry, the chef knows. Just tell him to make the usual for the Sakura lady and her friends."

The waitress bowed to the man and not to us, obviously, and went away…

(Normal POV)

Yuuki was still Yuuki. Nobody had anything to say. Natsume wanted to say something but after looking at Yuuki's face, he suddenly become's determine. For what?

After a short while, a new waitress came with their orders. Anna is eating some chickens tart and drank her hot tea.

Hotaru ate some crab brains and a soda. Yuuki ate strawberry cake and a strawberry tea.

Nastume decided to talk first. "Hey polka, since today is your birthday, here, a present for you." He took out two boxes from his jacket and gave it to Yuuki.

All of a sudden, everyone started to take out her birthday present.

They all put it in front of her so that she cant refused. Poor Yuuki/Mikan. Hotaru and Anna thought she would sulk but she did the exact opposite. She smiled so wide that her looked as if she was glowing.

Inside Yuuki's heart, even though Mikan was so tired right now, she still cried of joy when she saw the presents.

She slowly opened Hotaru's present first. Inside, there was a cake and the newest mp3 player. She hugged Hotaru until she had to smack her on the head.

Next is Anna's present. What made Yuuki and Mikan's heart tickled a bit is the design of the wrapping. It had big letters that spelled The Idiot Mikan and Yuuki. she gave her a mini lap top. it was the kinds that you can put inside your pocket or your school bag.

Ruka gave her a book called The Pursuit Of Happiness which I may add, earned him a hug, too. That made our little hero a bit mad and jealous.

Narumi's present was a bit weird for a girl. It was a pair of fingerless glove and it was black. Totally awesome. He got a peck on the cheek. The little hero was more mad seeing it.

And lastly, the mad little hero's turn. Yuuki was actually thinking if he had put a bomb in it.

she opened the present slowly...and was very suprised to find her meds inside it. her eyes were very muh wide opened now.

it took her a while to gain her compose back. her eyes were shield by her bangs. "So, you knew, from the start. i see. are you pitying me?"

he didnt say anything.

Yuuki took a deep breath and smiled again as if nothing happen.

well, for her, nothing did happen because when she was positive that he wasnt pitying her, her heart was filled with joy again.

"Well, just dont say it to anyone. anyway, lets opened your next present."

Hotaru and Anna just nodded their head.

Yuuki opened the next an last present slowly. to her suprise, again, she founds a bracelet. it took her breath away.

there was a music charm, a four leave clover charm,a star charm and an M charm.

"You didnt put any bombed here, right? lie if you did." Yuuki couldnt fine any other words to say.

"Of course, not, Polka. why would i do that?"

"I dont know. dont ask me. its your head" she said while trying to put the bracelet onto her arm without much success.

Natsume sigh and pulled her hand towards him and took the bracelet away from her.

everyone was too shocked to say anything. he gently gave back her hand after finishing putting the bracelet on her.

everyone turned their gaze on to Natsume.

he shrugged and said "She looked like a girl who's squeezing her head to answer a difficult math question. that's all."

they all snorted except Yuuki and Natsume. all of them were thinking the same thing. 'Yeah Right'

and thus, the day go on with Yuuki and Mikan happily enjoyed their birthday for the first time in a long time.

with some awkward along the way, of course.

and a future that awaits for them.

so, how's this chp????like it, love it? Reviews!!!

notes:Natsume still x know that Mikan is actually 14.