Disclaimer: I do not own Gakuen Alice

Chapter 14

Natsume opened the door of his penthouse, slamming the door shut, he loosened his tie as he made his way to the kitchen he got a glass of orange juice. Natsume completely removed his tie around his neck and took a gulp from his glass. Setting down the glass on the table, Natsume walked towards the open door frame of his kitchen to this dining, he walked towards the living room all the while listening to the sound of his shoes hitting the floor.

Settling himself down on the couch, Natsume patted his black Labrador sleeping beside him. Releasing a bottled up breath. Pulling out his phone, Natsume dialed Ruka's number.

…

"Good Afternoon Ms. Kozumi" the door man greeted. The blonde woman ignored the greeting and strutted in the hotel lobby. She pulled out her phone as she made her way to the elevators.

Satisfied with her work, Mikan wiped off the sweat on her forehead and drew a bottled up breath. "I finished the whole floor by myself" she said in relief. When Mikan started to head back to the maids' quarters—

"Ouch!"

Both figures fell to the ground. "Oh my goodness! I'm so sorry!" Mikan started as she stood up and tried to help out the person but she was roughly pushed away. "Get your dirty hands off me!" the screeching voice sounded.

Mikan quickly stood up and apologized again only to be thrown stink eyes and harsh words. "—and don't you ever bump into me, ever!" With a small bow Mikan didn't say any more. She watched Luna Koizumi walk past her with another comment "I bet your salary can't even pay for any damages in any of my designer shoes and bag…"

With a raised brow Mikan countered in a low whisper "You're bound to bump into someone if you text people while walking…" she turned her back on the retreating figure "and FYI I know designer when I see one, too bad for you your so called designers are just imitations" then Mikan smugly marched off to the maids' quarters.

Inside the queen suite, Luna immediately fell on the large couch her eyes and fingers still stuck on her phone. After a few moments she stopped. "OMG"

A devilish smile swept across Luna's lips. ""Natsume Hyuuga is staying in this hotel and he's staying in the king suite…" she looked at the living room wall infront of her. "Which is on the other side of that wall". There was a pause.

…

"Keiji, I think someone is knocking at the door" Ruka announced as he got out of the bed room. There was another knock. Ruka looked around the empty hotel room. "Keiji?" Ruka called again. No answer. "He went out?" There was another knock. Ruka looked at the door and sighed. "Even the bodyguards aren't here, what happened to them?"

Once Ruka opened the door a strong smell of perfume surrounded his senses and outside stood a woman with long blonde hair and red lipstick. "Hi!" she greeted enthusiastically. With furrowed eyebrows, Ruka greeted back awkwardly and asked in a polite manner "How can I help you?"

Without waiting for an invite the woman walked in casually and settled herself on the couch comfortably. "I'm Luna Koizumi and I'm looking for Natsume" Luna stated confidently as she looked around the room. Still holding the door knob Ruka looked at the unwelcome woman. "Well, I'm Ruka Nogi" still staying on his spot at the door "and Natsume isn't here right now"

"Where did he go?" Luna in a demanding manner. Ruka rose a brow "Quite demanding aren't you?" With the roll of her eyes Luna lazily looked at Ruka "I don't have all day Nogi, where is he?"

"Look Ms. Koizumi, it's good that you came here to visit Natsume and all, but sadly he isn't here" Opening the door widely, "And since you welcomed yourself in our suite, it'll be much better if you welcome yourself out as well" Luna raised Ruka a brow before he added "Not unless you want me to call the bodyguards to show you out"

Abruptly standing up, Luna went straight for the door leaving Ruka a stink eye that the latter completely ignored and slammed the door. "Rude" Ruka commented grabbing a book from his bedroom and settling on the couch.

A few moments later, the main door opened again and came in running was a big black Labrador followed next was Natsume Hyuuga. Ruka looked at his best friend pouring himself a glass of scotch from the bar. "You could have arrived earlier" Ruka stated rather angry.

With a raised brow, Natsume looked at his best friend. "What mad you pissed and angry?" Natsume asked before taking a sip from his glass. Ruka fully turned to his best friend "Well, moments earlier one of your ex-girlfriends was looking for you"

"Really?" Natsume asked uninterested while leaning near the window.

Rolling his eyes, Ruka looked at his best friend rather dubiously "Said her name was Luna Koizumi—" Ruka stopped mid sentence when he saw Natsume choke on his scotch.

In a bewildered look Natsume stared at his best friend "Koizumi was here?"

"Yeah she was, and rather rude for my taste" Ruka commented lightly laughing at Natsume.

After drying his shirt, Natsume settled beside his best friend. "How the hell did that woman get out of mental?"

"What?!" Ruka turned to Natsume. "Mental?" He repeated. "You just love dating crazy women don't you?"

Ignoring Ruka's comment, Natsume continued "Last time I heard about her she was sent to the crazy house a month after I broke up with her" He looked at Ruka "Don't know if it was true" Ruka's jaw dropped.

"Not that I care any way" Natsume added as he took another sip.

Ruka stood up and grabbed a glass of scotch for himself. "I don't know how you still manage to stay cool with all these deranged females running after you." Ruka commented.

Natsume laughed.

"Speaking of women how's your woman?" Natsume asked turning to his friend.

Looking back at Natsume. Ruka smiled at him sadly. "We haven't seen or talked to each other since our last meeting".

Raising a brow Natsume asked further. "What happened?" Slouching back on his seat Natsume browsed the book Ruka was reading.

Sighing, Ruka answered back leaning on the bar. "I don't really know, Mikan just stopped answering my calls and –"

The name running in Natsume head for the past days rang in his ears. "What?" Natsume cut Ruka off. "What's her name again?" Now fully paying attention to Ruka.

Looking a bit surprised, Ruka answered Natsume's question. "Mikan…Mikan Yukihara. The daughter of Izumi Yukihara and Yuka Azumi" Walking closer to where Natsume is Ruka asked back. "You know her? Have you met her?"

Ignoring Ruka's question, Natsume pulled out his phone checked his contacts and pulled out Mikan's name.

Mikan Sakura

"Natsume?" Ruka called. Natsume was still deep in thought. Mikan Sakura…Mikan Yukihara. It's just a coincidence. They just have the same name. Lightly shaking his head, Natsume looked up at Ruka. "I'm fine. I just remembered doing a business deal with her dad before."

Looking convinced, Ruka just nodded his head. Looking around the hotel suite another topic came into mind "Say, when are you planning to check out?" Changing the topic.

"Why?" Natsume asked casually sipping from his glass, fiddling with his phone.

"Nothing really. It's just that you already have that big apartment at the Upper East Side, so why stay here in the hotel?"

Shrugging his shoulders Natsume answered back "This suite is actually my timeshare property, I own it and I can use it for a period of six months every year."

Ruka looked surprised. He looked around the large 3 bedroom suite, and then at his glass of scotch thinking about how he sometimes forget that his best friend was a mega-billionaire, exaggerated but true. Ruka smiled to himself, But having a mega-billionaire best friend has its perks.

"What are you smiling about?" Natsume asked with a raised brow.

…

Mikan walked out of the hotel with Anna following closely behind. Checking her watch, Mikan sighed and shook her head. Time to meet up with her. "Hey Mikan, why the long face?"

With an exhausted smile, Mikan waited for Anna to fall in step with her before continuing to walk. "I'm just really tried, Anna" she gave a yawn. "We had a long day".

"I got just the thing to make you feel better" Smiling at Mikan, Anna pulled her by the hand. "Come follow me".

Stopping on her tracks, Mikan pulled Anna back to stop her. "Anna, I can't come with you today" Anna looked back at Mikan with a pout on her face. "Aww but Mikan…"

"I'm sorry Anna, I have to get home early to help out You-chan with his homework" Mikan reasoned with an apologetic smile.

Reluctantly, Anna let go of Mikan's hand. "I hate it when you use You-chan as your reason to bail out" Sighing but smiling none the less Anna bid Mikan farewell. Waving back at Anna's retreating figure, Mikan went on her way to met Yuka Azumi.

Looking down at her outfit, Mikan smiled to herself. At least I get to see her ridiculous look when she sees me in t-shirt and jeans.

…

"Do you have any dinner reservations Ms.—?" The french waiter eyeing Mikan with a raised brow obviously showing disapproval of her outfit and of her presence.

Looking at the waiter eye to eye Mikan smiled sweetly at him. "I'm Mikan Yukihara." The waiter looked surprised at hearing her name and there was a flash of recognition in his eyes as he looked at Mikan carefully. "I believe there is a dinner reservation here for me and my mother, Yuka Azumi"

Immediately regretting his treatment, the waiter lost his composure. Mikan smiled to herself. "O-oh Yes, yes…Ms. Yukihara i-if you please follow me to your table"

Sitting herself on the table, Mikan shooed away the rude waiter after he had been ginving her overly ridiculous compliments about her outfit, hair and smell. Looking at her hair at the mirror near the table, Mikan rolled her eyes. Amazing how much a name can affect one person. Mikan Yukihara. Am I really ready to come back and be Mikan Yukihara again?

Deep in thought, Mikan didn't realize the arrival of Yuka. "And I thought you would stand up and hug me" Yuka broke through Mikan's reverie.

Blinking three times, Mikan looked up and saw a woman in her early forties with shoulder length brunette hair and deep brown eyes smiling serenely at her. Looking exactly like the engagement photos on the billboards.

Slowly standing up, Mikan didn't expect Yuka to pull her into a hug. "Oh I miss you so much my dear, dear girl" Yuka choked out and tighten the hug.

Frozen, Mikan didn't know what to do and she awkwardly patted Yuka's arms. She took a deep breath. That scent, she haven't changed her perfume. Mikan thought. It's the exact same perfume dad always bought for her.

At the exact same time Mikan was about to hug back, Yuka pulled away. Smiling warmly at Mikan she gave her a kiss on the forehead and motioned Mikan to sit down.

Now both settled in their seats, the waiter poured their wine and served the first course. On the second course Yuka commented softly "I missed having dinner with you". No words were said after that, just a little glance here and there, no more no less. When all the food was gone and just coffee and tea was served, that's when Mikan spoke up.

"I miss dad"

Yuka closed her eyes and solemnly nodded her head. Slowly opening her eyes, Mikan saw a glassy pond of tears threatening to fall from her mother's eyes. Yuka reached out to hold Mikan's hand and held it warmly around both her hands. "I miss him too darling. I miss him oh so much"

Composing herself, Mikan took a deep breath. "I was so mad at you" Yuka tightened her hold on Mikan. "I hated you" Yuka was just nodding her head lightly, tears already falling. "How can you do that to dad?" Mikan's voice turned into a whisper, her breath hitched tears threatening to fall again.

In a shaking voice, Yuka spoke up. "I know that what I did was unforgivable and stupid and reckless" Trying to keep her voice together, Yuka kissed Mikan's shaking hand "I love Izumi so so much, Mikan"

"Then why did you do it?" Mikan commented coldly, her voice dripping with pain. "You were both so happy!" Mikan unintentionally raised her voice.

"I was afraid" Yuka answered in a whisper.

"I knew about his condition" Yuka sobbed, "I didn't want to be alone. I didn't want him to leave me" Yuka wasn't letting Mikan go when Mikan was trying to pull away.

"You had me then, mom, you had me." Mikan cried, "I was afraid too, I didn't want dad to leave me as well"

Holding on Yuka continued. "When Izumi and I found out about his condition, I told him about my fear. I told him that I didn't want to lose him. That I didn't want him to leave me, to leave us"

"Then one night, he woke up with cold sweat, he was coughing out blood, and he was having this unexplainable pain I didn't know what to do. When I got out of bed to get his medicine—" Yuka closed her eyes tears still streaming down her face. "When I got back with his medicine and water, Izumi handed me a folder—"

Mikan was intently listening.

"Your father said he wanted to have a divorce. He wanted me to sign the papers. I stood my ground, I said I won't. But he kept on pushing me to sign the papers day in and day out, refusing to take in his medications, he was dying faster with what he was doing. Until one day, Izumi said words that I never imagined he would say to me. I didn't pay it no mind. I still wanted to stay and take care of Izumi but he kept on pushing me away."

"I cried and cried, I didn't want to burden you with what was happening so I shut you out, I kept you out of everything. I didn't want you to feel my pain" Yuka wiped Mikan's tears.

"I didn't have anyone, I was so alone." There was a pause. Yuka looked at Mikan behind the tears. "Then Shiki came."

Mikan took in a deep breath.

"He was just a friend. He was there when I couldn't take all the pain. He was always there. Shiki was always there. I didn't realize what was happening anymore. I didn't intend to have an affair with him." Yuka bent her head.

"When I signed the divorce papers, your father smiled at me for the first time after he pushed me away and told me to be happy again. That I'm no longer burdened, I'm no longer obligated to take care of him." Looking away Yuka couldn't keep her tears at bay "Signing that divorce paper was the biggest regret I have ever had"

"When I realized what he did I tried to go back to him, I tried to get back together with him, I tried to look for him. But all is done." Yuka looked at Mikan.

"After a week, when I finally found Izumi—he was gone. Izumi was gone."

…

Natsume and Ruka were both enjoying dinner in a small french restaurant. While Ruka was conversing with the french waiter in french, Natsume lazily looked up from his food and caught a glimpse of a brunette at the far corner of the room.

Yuka Azumi was tightly hugging another long haired brunette. Before Natsume could make out who was the other brunette Ruka abruptly stood up "Mikan?" and looked at the retreating figure walking out of the restaurant.

At an impulse, Ruka ran out of the restaurant. "Just a sec Natsume" and he was out.

Looking at the waiter Natsume asked. "Who was Yuka Azumi with earlier?"

Delightfully answering Natsume the waiter answered "Madame Yuka Azumi was with her daughter Mikan Yukihara"

With a blink Natsume turned back to his food. Mikan. Taking his glass of red wine, Natsume took a sip and thought to himself Mikan Sakura is brunette and Mikan Yukihara is brunette as well. What the hell? And Natsume finished his wine.

"Another glass Mr. Hyuuga?" The waiter asked. Natsume grunted.