Disclaimer: I do not own Gakuen Alice

Chapter 11

Mikan sighed. She served Youichi's hot chocolate by his breakfast plate and sat beside him, with her own cup of coffee in her hands. There was silence. Youichi picked up another toast from his plate and munched obnoxiously loud. Still ignoring the woman beside him. Mikan looked outside the window, the rain was still pouring.

"You-chan" Mikan started, but the boy got off his chair with the toast still in hand and went to the couch to take his bag. "I have school today, I'll see you later mom" he went towards the door while pulling on his jacket.

"It's raining, don't forget to use an umbrella okay?" Without giving another glance at his mother Youichi pulled out his umbrella from his bag and slammed the door shut. Mikan just stared at the door for what felt like hours until her cell phone rang.

Natsume Hyuuga calling…

Mikan sighed. "I blame you for this" she stated rather tired. She massaged her temples and rested her head on the table.

"Good morning to you too" Natsume commented on the other line sounding confused. "How…what did I do?" he continued.

Mikan groaned. As she sat up form her chair and watched her coffee "Youichi is giving me the cold shoulder" Shifting her eyes to Youichi's half finished plate she continued. "He called me 15 times last night and I didn't pick up" She sighed again and looked up the ceiling. "I feel like a bad mother"

"No, you're not" Natsume answered back confidently, Mikan furrowed her brows. How can he answer that confidently when he only met her two times? As if reading her mind Natsume answered. "I may have seen you act like a mother to Youichi once but that was enough to tell me that you are a great mother"

Mikan didn't comment back. Sometimes she asks herself why everyone keeps on saying that she's a great mother when if fact she feels the other way around. Shaking her head, Mikan brushed off the idea as she pulled on her black turtle neck from the closet.

May be teasing Natsume would help lift up her mood today. She turned to get her socks in a drawer. "So, Mr. Hyuuga—" Mikan started playfully. She heard Natsume grunt from the other line. A sly smile graced her lips. She could almost imagine Natsume roll his eyes.

"I thought I told you—" He started but Mikan cut him off.

"Care to tell me why you are calling me this morning?" Mikan continued as she pulled on her left sock, balancing her phone between her ear and shoulder. Natsume wasn't answering. She walked out of the bedroom looking for her coat. He still wasn't answering. Mikan opened her mouth to ask him until he suddenly spoke.

"…I just really wanted to hear your voice"

…

Natsume walked out of his room. Ruka and Keiji both turned to look at him. Natsume pulled out his own chair and sat comfortably. As Keji was serving his breakfast, Natsume was randomly playing with his phone glancing at the screen every 3 minutes.

When Keiji turned to leave Ruka gave him a questioning glance and he shook his head in return. Both had one question on their minds What's up with him?

Usually in any normal day, Natsume would have lazily walked out of his room and uninterestedly pass by the window. He'd have two buttons on his shirt undone and his neck tie would just stay slung under his collar. He would grab a toast on the dining table and head on to the study table to his laptop and paper works.

So his action today was surprising. He walked out rather happy, he looked outside the window for merely five seconds until the thunder sounded and his coat and tie was properly worn. He sat on the dining table waiting for breakfast. And what really intrigued Ruka and Keiji the most was that small smile he was wearing the whole time.

Ruka took a sip from his tea cautiously looking at Natsume. "Why are you so happy today?" He started.

Natsume looked at Ruka still playing with his phone. "Let's just say, I woke up on the right side of the bed this morning" he answered back glancing at the screen.

Ruka nodded his head but his questions were far from over. "Keiji told me you went on a date last night" as sly smile crossing his lips, Natsume just continued to look at him not giving away anything. "Was the woman that amazing that you made Keiji prepare a dinner date in 20 minutes?"

Natsume sat back comfortably on his chair, still toying with his phone. He grabbed a piece of toast and took his time applying butter and marmalade. Ruka just watched him rather amused. This was funny. Natsume usually gives a detail or two on one of his dates. But he seems to be pretty tight lipped about his date last night. Ruka kept a smile to himself.

"Do you have any plans for today?" Ruka asked as he took a bite from his breakfast. Natsume shrugged and concentrated on his plate.

Ruka wasn't going to leave the dining table without an answer. "Do you have any plans with that woman today?" Ruka asked again keeping a close eye on his best friend's reaction.

Natsume stopped chewing for a second and smirked. He still kept his eyes on his plate lightly shaking his head. Ruka mentally patted his shoulder. He was right on track.

"What's on your agenda?" Ruka pushed further, wanting to catch an answer from Natsume's reaction.

Glancing at his phone, Natsume looked at Ruka and popped the last bite of toast in his mouth. Ruka raised his brow. "So what's your plan?" he pushed further.

Natsume rolled his eyes. "Aren't you late for that Veterinarians' Conference?" he commented lazily.

Checking his watch, Ruka abruptly stood up and cursed. "You could have reminded me earlier!" he exclaimed. He ran to the door, taking his coat with him.

Natsume shrugged as he took a bite on a croissant "Thought you kept track of time" he chewed the buttery croissant. He looked at it interestingly. "This tastes pretty good" he turned to Keiji, who was standing by his right. "You made these?"

The butler shook his head lightly. "No, Master. It was delivered by room service" he watched Natsume nod his head and smile at his phone as a text message arrived a second later.

…

Ruka ran out of the hotel, and stood by the covers. The rain was pouring hard, there were no cab available. This can't be happening. He told himself. He looked at his watch, he was late. Seeing no choice, Ruka ran under the rain. It was difficult to see, with the rain pouring as hard as it can, it was impossible to see through.

"Ruka!"

From the loud rain a familiar voice registered in Ruka's ears. Ruka quickly turned around and saw Mikan standing not far from him holding up an umbrella under a café roof.

Wearing a black turtle neck and a beige coat, Mikan walked towards him under the rain securing her umbrella over them. "Why are you running under the rain?" her voice trying to fight the loud rain drops.

With a shy smile, Ruka looked away. "I was late for a Veterenarians' Conference" he reasoned as he watched water drip from his bangs.

Mikan furrowed her brows. "Couldn't you just call a cab?" she asked again as she took out her handkerchief and hand it to him. "I don't now if you noticed but, you are completely soaked"

Ruka took Mikan's handkerchief, giving her a thankful smile and tried to wring his sleeves. Mikan laughed. "Are you still going to attend the conference like that?" she pointed at his current state.

Ruka looked at Mikan. She was looking at his clothes then to him. He laughed. "Well, I'm pretty late for that" he answered. "And I'm guessing they won't have any towels there to dry me up" he raised Mikan's handkerchief and wiped his face.

That familiar strawberry scent. Ruka caught himself smile as the scent of Mikan's handkerchief register in his senses. He looked at her. Mikan was trying to adjust the umbrella in her hand.

Realizing, Ruka took the umbrella from Mikan's grasp and guided her back to the café's roof. He looked at her again. She turned to look at him. "So where are you heading to?" he asked as he closed Mikan's umbrella.

Taking her umbrella, Mikan looked back at him. "I'm on my way to work" she looked out at the rain. "Just waiting for the rain to tone down a bit"

Disappointed. Ruka was expecting to spend time with Mikan again. Then the smell of coffee gave him an idea. "May be I could buy you coffee while you're waiting for the rain?" he asked, crossing his fingers behind his back.

Mikan looked at him for a moment. "I just drank coffee a while ago." She answered back with a sorry smile. Ruka's shoulders fell. "But, may be tea could help me warm up" Mikan suggested.

Smiling, Ruka guided Mikan into the café. "Before I forget," Ruka started, he pulled out his phone from his pocket. "Could I have your number?"

Mikan looked at him with a raised brow. "J-just…" Ruka cleared his throat. "Just in case, so we can contact each other" he looked away but still handing his phone to Mikan.

Mikan just stared at him. Just as when he thought, she wasn't gonna give him her number. Mikan took his phone from his hand and dialed her number in saying. "Sure"

Ruka felt like jumping up and down like a little girl.

…

"I wonder if Youichi is alright" Mikan looked outside the window. It was still raining and the streets looked dangerous. She arranged the curtains and turned to look at her partner. "Anna, what do you think?"

"Huh?" Anna's head popped out of the bathroom holding a brush. "What?"

Mikan smiled at her. "Do you think I should pick Youichi up from school?" she asked as she fluffed the pillows.

In a thinking position "Don't you have another date with Natsume Hyuuga later?" Anna answered back, a sly smile crossing her lips.

Mikan rolled her eyes.

Anna laughed. "I'm sorry Mikan! But you got to understand, you never went out with any guy since you adopted Youichi" she walked out of the bathroom approaching the brunette dusting the table tops. "Then here comes Natsume Hyuuga in all his handsome glory and suddenly I find out that you already went out with him for the second time!" Anna exclaimed as she sat on the couch.

That made Mikan think. It was true, how she never got interested in going out with anyone since she adopted Youichi, but that was because she committed herself to be a good mother so she never bothered herself finding a man to be with.

But in her mind Mikan has two definite reasons. One because she already has Youichi and she could never ask for anything else. Second is because somewhere deep in her heart, she doesn't want to end up like her parents. Divorced.

Then Natsume Hyuuga came. A name Mikan just randomly sees in the newspaper and a face she sometimes sees on telelvision. Never in her mind did she imagine having to meet him in person or let alone go out with him.

But Natsume Hyuuga was a different person from every other man she met. He wasn't that obnoxious person she thought he was although he may act like it sometimes. In fact, it was amazing how he managed to befriend Youichi in the first place and how his eyes, his smile, his touch affected her so much.

Mikan snapped out of her thoughts. She looked at Anna who was looking at her with a smile. She turned her back to her and looked outside the window. There was just something about Natsume Hyuuga that pulled her in. She smiled.

Then a thought hit her. This is not right, everything that has been going on between her and Natsume were all based on a lie. She wasn't who he though she was. This was all nothing but a deceitful relationship. And when the time comes that he comes to realize the truth, everything they have and will have will eventually fall apart.

"I'm afraid of what is going to happen" Mikan whispered to herself.

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