Disclaimer: I do not own Gakuen Alice

Chapter 13

When Mikan was sure Youichi was sound as sleep, she lightly kissed his forehead. Quietly, she walked out of the bedroom and closed the door behind her with a soft click following behind. "Youichi's asleep?" Mikan lightly jumped as she turned to look at Natsume leaning on the wall beside her, still holding the cup of coffee in his hand the other in the pocket of his nylon pants. "Yes he is" she answered back not looking back in his eyes.

From his space on the wall, Natsume watched Mikan gather her hair and hung it freely to her left side, leaving part of her neck exposed. Natsume held his mug tighter and he clenched his fist tight in his pocket as he tried to stop himself from kissing her then and there.

Natsume watched Mikan clasp her hand together and bite her lower lip as she looked at the opposite wall. Natsume gulped. Seeing Mikan in his shirt was one of the best things he's ever seen, paired with her messy bed hair and innocent look he almost swept her off her feet and carry to his bed room.

Now, with her innocent position and biting lips, Natsume wasn't sure if he could hold himself back. He took the last sip from his coffee and laid his mug on a self. It took all his will power to push away from the wall and walk away from Mikan.

Natsume was doing fine walking five step s away from her when he felt Mikan hold him back with her hand to his arm. As if all his restrains snapped, Natsume pulled Mikan by her arm and caged her to the wall.

Not giving Mikan any room to talk, Natsume swiftly captured her lips with his in a hot passionate kiss. Quickly losing her control, Mikan instinctively wrapped her arm around Natsume's neck and her other hand went straight for his hair.

Mikan gasped as she felt Natsume's muscular arms pull her close by the waist. He pushed her up the wall and pulled up her legs to wrap them around his waist. They both paused for two beats before Natsume started to kiss her again.

After what felt like a long time, Natsume regained his restraints and pulled his lips away from Mikan. Still in their position and catching their breath, Natsume leaned his forehead against Mikan's as they both just stared at each other's eyes. Then he remembered. "Are you hungry?" he asked breathlessly a boyish smile appearing on his face.

Smiling back at him, Mikan nodded her head. "That was actually the reason why I pulled you back" she answered back, a blush creeping on her cheeks. They both laughed and Natsume shook his head.

"Sorry about that" Natsume mentioned that boyish grin still on his lips. "I couldn't help it" he told Mikan honestly as his eyes drifted to her lips. He heard Mikan laugh and felt her lightly pinch his nose.

"Forgiven" Mikan answered with a smile as she gave Natsume a chaste kiss on the lips. Releasing herself from his hold, Mikan took the empty coffee mug from the shelf and pulled Natsume by the hand and to the kitchen. "Now, come on, I'm starved"

…

Natsume watched Mikan light up as he served her a simple plate of spaghetti with garlic bread on the side. He sat beside her on the dining table as he fondly watched her devour the food on the table. Then Mikan asked "How did you find him?"

Looking at his empty coffee mug, Natsume answered back. "He was walking at the street when my car passed him by" With his eyes still focused on the mug he didn't notice Mikan look up at him with a smile. She watched Natsume focus on his mug as a memory flashed in her mind, a memory of Natsume helping Youichi out with homework.

"Thank you for taking care of Youichi" Mikan reached out to hold his hand and Natsume looked at her hand before he looked back at her. Seeing how sweet and endearing the smile she was offering him. Holding her hand, Natsume raised it to his lips and gently kissed it. "It was nothing"

Mikan looked at him for a little while longer and couldn't stop herself from apologizing "I'm sorry if Youichi called you 'Daddy Natsume' a while ago"

Giving Mikan's hand a light squeeze, Natsume looked straight into her eyes and answered "I told him to call me that" He saw Mikan's eyes widen. He smirked and planted another soft kiss on Mikan's hand "I wanted him to call me 'dad' but he preferred to use daddy Natsume instead"

Speechless. Surprised. Two words to describe Mikan's current situation. This guy beside her was a perfect candidate to become Youichi's father. He was will to become a father to her adopted child. She couldn't express how happy she was with what he just told her. With one big smile, Mikan pulled a surprised Natsume to a sweet kiss.

When Mikan pulled away, Natsume asked her "What was that for?" Clearly surprised by the kiss but happy to be able to kiss her again, he watched Mikan take a bite from her spaghetti and just see her smile back at him.

As if sensing he won't be receiving any answer he just smirked to himself as he watched the woman beside him finish her late dinner. "Natsume?"

"Yeah?" Natsume focused his eyes on her. She had a sweet smile on her face as she continued "Could you get me a glass of water?"

…

Two days later, Sunday, Natsume took his time walking towards his kitchen. He opened the fridge and took out the glass of chilled orange juice. After Mikan and Youichi spent the night at his penthouse, he noted that he would always have a stash of fresh oranges and fresh orange juice in his penthouse since Mikan mentioned that it was her favorite fruit.

Taking his seat in front of the cityscape Natsume lazily leaned back on the back rest and closed his eyes. "Things are starting to look serious for you" Natsume smirked but didn't open his eyes. "She's that amazing huh?"

"Ruka, what are you doing here?" Natsume asked. Standing beside Natsume, Ruka watched his best friend. "Just dropped by to visit" Ruka answered "I haven't actually heard from you for two days" he looked out at the cityscape.

Natsume opened his eyes and drank from his orange juice. "I was busy moving in" he reason as he turned to face his best friend. Observing his blonde companion he raised a brow. "Let me guess," Ruka looked back at him. "You're here to tell me about your day" Natsume stated Ruka gave a smile.

Without a beat Ruka started yapping. "It's amazing how one good morning from her could your day, the best one you'll ever have." Natsume just watched from his seat. "During breakfast, I called her and she was just…" Ruka smile to himself and looked at Natsume.

"Natsume, I think she's the one" Ruka stated with finality "She's the one" Looking at his orange juice Natsume thought to himself. Mikan Hyuuga. He smirked. Sounds pretty good to me.

…

In a small café, Hotaru Imai sat comfortably on her seat savoring the exquisite taste of her coffee. She would take a whiff of the aroma from her cup and would take a small sip, this would have been a perfect afternoon if only she wasn't with her best friend who was currently talking in an uncontained high-pitched and shrilly voice.

"Hotaru! What am I gonna do?" Mikan asked as she covered her head with her arms on top of the table. Violet eyes watched Mikan carefully from the rim of her cup. Settling the coffee down, Hotaru sat perfectly poised on her seat as she focused on her best friend. "You're in love with him" She simply stated.

After a moment, Hotaru continued, "Honestly Mikan, I don't think starting a relationship with Hyuuga, right now, isn't such a good idea" Hotaru bluntly suggested as she reach for Mikan's hand. Mikan looked up from her arms. "I think it would be better if you fix the rift of your relationship with your family before having a fresh start with Hyuuga"

Mikan took a deep breath, tightening her hold on Hotaru's hand afraid of what she might say next. "May be it's time for you to have a talk with your mother" As if Hotaru said something taboo, Mikan immediately pulled her hand away, her eyes wide.

With furrowed eye brows, Mikan asked Hotaru "Why do you think so?" her voice sounding rough.

Sighing Hotaru, looked straight to Mikan's eyes and explained. "You said you don't deserve Hyuuga because you are a low class individual, a hotel maid that earns minimum wage and has other two jobs just to pay off the bills and is a single mother to a ten year old boy." Hotaru gave her a look of Are-you-kidding-me.

With a shake of her head she continued. "While Natsume Hyuuga, according to you," she rolled her eyes "Is a high society man, a well-praised business man, one of the world's top bachelors and is rich and famous."

Mikan only nodded her head. Hotaru raised a brow. "But you are forgetting, Mikan Sakura" Hotaru pointedly looked at Mikan "That you are also Mikan Yukihara. You are the only daughter of Izumi Yukihara and Yuka Azumi" Mikan flinch hearing the name of her mother. "Two of one of the most well known people in the country. You are the heir of the Yukihara Group of Companies and successor of your mother's fashion house. You don't like popularity but you are a well respected person. You're strong and independent."

"Okay…so?" Mikan asked still not understanding Hotaru's point. Hotaru continued. "If you enter a serious relationship with Natsume Hyuuga now, everything will go out to the press and what you'll eventually have with him might just lead to a complicated relationship if you don't straighten things out with your family, because you'll have difficulty explaining the issue to him."

Sighing Hotaru massaged her temples. "Mikan you've been my best friend since we were young." Hotaru started her eyes showing care and love, "I know your story." She gave emphasis, taking Mikan's hand from across the table.

Taking a deep breath Hotaru continued. "You run away Mikan," Hotaru stated with conviction "You run away and hide if you are hurting" A tear rolled down Mikan's cheek, Hotaru reached out and wiped it with her thumb. Mikan looked at her. Hotaru sat back on her seat.

"You created Mikan Sakura when you couldn't handle your life as Mikan Yukihara. And you ran away, far from your family. You shut them out." Mikan bit her lips and closed her eyes, now wishing to block her ears. "Mikan Sakura and Mikan Yukihara is just one person, Mikan. They are still you."

Hotaru watched as Mikan looked away with tears threatening to fall, but Hotaru still continued. "Fix everything with your family Mikan," Hotaru encouragingly told Mikan, holding her hand tighter.

"When you do, Mikan Sakura or Mikan Yukihara, you can be with Hyuuga. When that time comes that you explain everything to him, it won't be difficult and complicated anymore." Hotaru declared. "If this Natsume Hyuuga is as understanding as you say he is" Hotaru pulled Mikan to look at her. And when Mikan did, Hotaru continued "Then he will understand and he would love you no matter what"

Hi everyone! Were you able to understand the latter part of the chapter? It was a complicated write, to tell you honestly, I wanted to post another chapter today so yeah I tried to finish it as early as possible, so i endured all the distraction of the day just to finish this. Hope you guys like it! And don't forget to drop a review!

Thank you and enjoy! :D