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Chapter 4

As the elevator doors closed; Youichi was excitedly counting the floors, his eyes were focused in the screen to his right. 7…6...5

Youichi heard a shuffling of heels, his eyes turned to look at his mother and their companion. He saw her looking to her side, her feet slightly shuffling the elevator floor. He then shifted his eyes to the man at his mother's left side.

Natsume had his free hand inside his pocket while his eyes were looking at his left. Before Youichi could turn his eyes away from the two, he noticed Natsume's eyes from the glass wall of the elevator. He's looking at mom.

True enough, Natsume was looking at Mikan through the elevator wall. Inside his head, Natsume was trying to understand what happed a while ago at the suite. This woman made him do the very things he promised himself we would never do anymore.

After a moment, the elevator tinged and Youichi looked up to see the elevator doors open to the lobby.

…

When the three got out of the elevator, Youichi turned to Natsume "Mr. Hyuuga can I go get Sachi now?"

Natsume smirked and nodded his head. Without another glance back, Youichi ran off to get Sachi while Natsume and Mikan stayed behind.

"I'm sorry if Youichi is a bit energetic" Mikan started as she glanced at Natsume. With a small smile Natsume just shrugged off the apology.

Both walking in synchronized steps, Mikan and Natsume followed Youichi's path. When they saw Keiji pass Sachi's leash Youichi asked if he could go ahead outside Natsume nodded his head and Mikan shouted "Be careful!"

"Just don't go too far" Mikan called out in addition, her eyes following the small boy and the big black dog as they vanished from the door.

As soon as Mikan saw the crowd of reporters, paparazzi and fangirls outside the hotel her nerves kicked in. Unconsciously slipping her hands from Natsume's grip, Natsume looked at her, and saw Mikan wear the sunglasses Anna gave her. She walked ahead of him, somewhat uncomfortable.

Natsume stopped for a second. I was holding her hand? he mentally asked.

"Yes you were, Master" Keiji replied a small smile on his face.

"That was a rhetorical question," Natsume looked at his butler, surprised "How did you know—"

The butler slowly nodded his head in return. "I know how to read Master"

Natsume cleared his throat "Let's go" he caught up with Mikan halfway through.

Once they were merely close enough from the hotel doors, Natsume felt Mikan tense more while his bodyguards covered them. "Are they all waiting for you?' Mikan asked as she stopped dead on her tracks. Of course they're waiting for him, idiot! He's a famous billion dollar businessman!

Natsume stopped beside her, his hand by her back. "They never leave me alone"

Mikan opened her mouth to say something but nothing came out. She was still looking at the crowd outside the doors. Natsume felt Mikan's tension.

"Sorry about this…" he murmured.

Mikan turned to him, confused. Natsume's bodyguards were surprise, because Natsume Hyuuga just apologized. He looked guilty, yet somehow irritated and angry at the same time. "We could pass by the back entrance if you'd like" he added as he glanced at Mikan.

She patted his arm and smiled. "I-Its fine," Mikan reassured. "I have these huge sunglasses on my face. So people won't even recognize me" she looked away whispering, "I just hope they don't bite."

Natsume nodded his head barely hearing her last statement. He turned to the bodyguards and they all moved away. Someone passed by Natsume and Mikan, wearing corporate clothes. Mikan's eyes narrowed, he looked like Natsume. She turned to him and he smirked. "Perfect timing"

"He looks just like you!" Mikan told him completely surprised.

Natsume shrugged. "Only with the shades on"

"What?"

Natsume explained. "He's a decoy. My bodyguards usually use them to divert the attention."

Half of Natsume's bodyguards guided his decoy out of the hotel and true enough the crowd in front of the hotel immediately vanished and followed the leaving limousine like a fish in a hook line.

The moment the coast was clear both walked out of the hotel and crossed straight to the park, Youichi was waiting for them alongside three of Natsume's bodyguards and an ecstatic Sachi.

"Mom, what took you so long?" Youichi asked as he crossed his arms, trying to look scary.

She didn't answer and so did Natsume. Smiling, Mikan bent down. Youichi looked away. "You-chan, what's wrong?" she asked sweetly.

Youichi turned his back on her.

Mikan dramatically sighed and made as thinking position. "Sweetie could you look at mommy?" she asked as she patted his shoulder. Youichi didn't budge.

"Why?" he asked rather pissed but still cute.

She glanced at Natsume and he looked back at her. He was amused. "You got something on your face" Natsume answered back.

Youichi twitched. He had a hand go up his face. "Where? I thought I just washed that"

Mikan smiled sneakily "Ooh, there!" She pointed randomly at Youichi's face. "Right over there!" and she started kissing his cheek and forehead.

She caught him by surprise. "Mom! Mom, no! Stop it! Stop it mom! No! This is embarrassing" Youichi started to protest but was laughing along with it.

Pulling away, Mika ruffled Youichi's hair and smiled down at him. "Yup, that's just about it. I got it cleaned"

Youichi was glaring at her while blushing.

…

Natsume, Mikan and Youichi were peacefully walking around the park when Sachi pulled Youichi away from the two.

"Mom! Sachi wants to go over there, we'll be back in a minute" he called as Sachi effortlessly pulled him away into the grassy field.

Mikan laughed. Natsume looked at her. "What so funny?" he asked narrowing his eyes.

Mikan looked at him still giggling "It seems like your dog is walking my son, not the other way around"

He smirked at her. "Being in a leash isn't really ideal for Sachi" Natsume answered as he led them both on a park bench, he pulled off his jacket for Mikan to sit on but when he was about to lay it down on the bench, Mikan sat down comfortably.

Natsume looked surprised. Mikan looked up at him "Is there any problem?" she asked from her perch on the bench.

"You just sat on a park bench," Natsume started.

"Yeah?" Mikan asked rather curious. Checking the bench, Mikan looked underneath. What's his problem?

He cleared his throat "You just sat on a park bench, while wearing designer clothes"

"What?" Mikan asked rather unfazed. Natsume pointed at her clothes. Mikan stared at it and took a minute to sink in.

"Oh! No, no I'm not. Uh yeah, wait uh…" She stood up and embarrassedly looked away. Natsume chuckled and shook his head. She sat back down, blushing, and he sat next to her, giving them enough space.

He looked at her as if trying to read her, "It's just that, mostly, women would rather stand instead of taking a seat on a 'dirty' park bench while wearing designer clothes." Natsume explained as he took a glance at Mikan's dress.

"That's just crazy" she started. "I mean, it's just clothes, right? Whether it's designer or not, we still wear them"

"Aren't you afraid it might get dirty?" He asked again.

Mikan snotred and shook her head. "This is just a white dress. Just a dress, I could wash it" she retorted.

Natsume looked at her, rather amazed at her words. Then again he had a smirk on his face.

"That's ivory not white" he corrected.

Mikan stared back at him. "What's the difference?" she challenged.

"The spelling" he rolled his eyes.

"How did you know this was designer anyway?" she looked at him. He looked back at her and her dress.

"I have a good eye" he retorted back, looked away, then smirked "And I believe you don't"

Mikan was about to retort back when. Natsume asked.

"How long will you be staying at the hotel?"

She was caught off guard. She mentally answered I don't stay there, I work there. She turned her head to the direction Youichi and Sachi took trying to look for any signs of them. Natsume glanced at her. "How long?" he repeated.

He saw her bite her lips, he sighed "As far as I can remember, I'm still talking to someone"

"Really? Who?" Mikan asked rather impishly still not looking at him.

He looked at her incredulously.

Mikan sighed. Here goes nothing "I don't–…not really sure" she mentally slapped herself. Idiot you should have told him the truth.

He nodded. "You usually stay at the Alice Hotel?' He asked again.

Mikan thought about it, and her thoughts lead her to her father "The place has sentimental values…sometimes I consider it my home" she answered a small smile appearing yet again.

He gave a slight nod. Before Natsume could further ask, Sachi was running back to them with Youichi running after him.

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