I don't own Gakuen Alice. Anyways, enjoy the chapter ^^

Chapter 7

"U-Um, Natsume…." Mikan stated awkwardly as she was now standing in front of a huge mansion and she could see it from the corner of her eyes, a golden plate with 'Hyuuga household' carved on it.

"Yeah?" Natsume stared back at Mikan, sensing her uneasiness.

"Why are you taking me here? This is your house, right?"

"Yes"

"Then why?"

"Just feel so" He lied.

The reason was his mother, Kaoru Hyuuga, after hearing that Mikan came back and lost her memories along with her parents, wanted to meet her face to face. She threatened Natsume to bring her to the house one day. If not, she would throw his mange away. Not only that, Ioran Hyuuga (his father) and Aoi Hyuuga (his little sister) also wanted to meet Mikan again and talk to her.

Of course, with those reason, Natsume couldn't decline anymore. And now, here they were, standing in front of the Hyuuga mansion, just after their date.

"I mean it is okay for me to meet them?" She clutched onto his shirt. She was weird. Really weird. She knew that this was the first time she came here yet this place was so nostalgic. And she wondered why she suddenly felt so tense. It was not like she was about to meet mother and father-in-law. She and Natsume was not an item.

"They are my family. What would happen?" He said with a shrug

"B-But…" Mikan tried to protest. What would happen, he said. Just look at his mansion. It was like a palace and a huge garden with a fountain in the middle of it. And the gate? It was golden for goddess's sake and was like ten feet tall. Rich people. She scoffed.

"No argument. Come in" With that, he pushed her through the gate, into the mansion. As he opened the big wooden door, butlers and maids lined neatly on the two sides, bowed down.

"Welcome home, young master." They said in harmony

This startled Mikan as she hid behind Natsume. This was not comfortable at all even though it can bring a cozy feeling… Suddenly, she felt people staring at her with question mark on their heads.

"This is Mikan Sakura, my friend. Please treat her well" Natsume tried his best to say the word 'friend'. He wanted them to be more than friend. To tell the truth, he wanted to say 'girlfriend'

Yep, he could be mushy when he wanted to.

"Yes, Natsume-sama" The butlers and maids bowed down again then cleaned the way for master and his guest. Inside their minds, they were freaking out right now. Their master, the cold-hearted women-hater, brought home a girl. A GIRL. And he even told them to treat her well, meaning that girl was very important to him. Oh gosh, everything could come to the end as a disaster.

"What is with this commotion?" A voice spoke out on the top of the stair as she slowly descended down. Mikan looked up and her eyes went wide. The lady was so beautiful. She had long raven hair and sharp crimson eyes. And the way she walked was very elegant. But then Mikan wondered why she looked so familiar. She looked like someone she knew but the question was: who?

As Mikan was too busy with her thought, Natsume greeted the woman casually. "Mother, I'm home"

Mother? She was Natsume's mother? Mikan slapped herself mentally. Raven hair and crimson eyes. How could she forget that? Mikan sneaked glance between the woman and Natsume. So he was like a younger version of the woman. They looked exactly the same.

"Welcome home, Natsume" The lady welcomed him with a hug then she let her eyes wander to Mikan. Upon seeing her existence, the raven-haired lady's eyes widened. "Natsume, is that her?" She asked her son

"Yep" Natsume nodded his head "I bring her today like you said" He whispered the last part but his mother didn't mind it as she stepped closer to Mikan.

Okay, now she is officially scared

"G-Good afternoon, my name is Mikan Sakura" She immediately bowed down at the woman in front of her. She didn't know what to do anymore. Suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder as she looked up and saw that the lady was now staring at her with brimming eyes.

"You…I can finally meet you again." With that, the lady enveloped her into a hug. Mikan was speechless "It is like a dream come true. Your mother would definitely proud of you right now"

"E-Excuse me but you know my mother?" Mikan asked

"Oh gosh, I forget. My name is Kaoru Hyuuga. Your mother and I used to be best friend" Kaoru said, caressing Mikan's face "You have grown up into a fine lady, Mikan-chan. You are no longer a little girl anymore"

To say that Mikan didn't quite understand anything was a great statement. This was the first time she went to this place and yet, this woman in front of her talked like they have known each other for years. More importantly, she knew her mother. Could this day get any better?

"Come on, you will have dinner with us. Servants, prepare dinner now" She flicked her finger then dragged Mikan away. The brunette gave Natsume a what-is-happening stare while he just shrugged it off. His mother can be stubborn sometimes so there is no use in stopping her.

…xXx…

Mikan was feeling unease. She didn't know what she has done but right now, three pairs of Hyuuga eyes were staring intensely at her and one Hyuuga who was having a tick mark on his forehead. It was kind of awkward

"Mikan-chan, you don't like the food?" Kaoru asked worriedly

"No, …" Mikan shook her head lightly "It's just that…."

"She feels unease because of you guys." Natsume said, putting his fork down "Seriously, you are scaring her with all of your stares" Mikan blushed slightly.

"Natsume. You are not her guardian so you don't have the right to say that"

"Neither are you, mother"

"Hyuuga-san. It's okay. I just feel a little shy because I have never had a dinner with my family before except with my grandfather" Mikan stopped the two

"Wait, wait, wait. Hyuuga-san? You are making me old, Mikan. Call me Aunt" Kaoru demanded. I want her to call me 'mother' but just because of someone's fault that she has to lose her memories. (Like mother like son)

"Achoo" Natsume sneezed. Who the hell was talking about him? Hn…

"Aunt Kaoru." Mikan said with a blush on her face, trying to hide it.

"Oh my gosh, she is so cute." Aoi squealed "Are you sure she is not your girlfriend?"

"Hn"

"Mou, you always play with me" Aoi crossed her arm. Mikan giggled at this.

"What's wrong, Mikan?" Ioran Hyuuga, the head of the Hyuuga family, asked

"Nothing. I just think that it is nice to have a sibling" Mikan admitted easily

"Well then, you can have her. I don't need a sister like that" Natsume smirked

"Hey, how rude of you, nii-chan"

"You should know how many troubles you have caused me in the past"

"It's not my fault anyways."

"It is wonderful to have a family" Mikan mumbled to herself as she watched the Hyuuga sibling's quarrel with a smile on her face. Unknown to her, Kaoru was watching her through the corner of her eyes.

Seeing her happy somehow Kaoru should feel happy too but it was hurt that Mikan didn't know about her family. For her, it was painful. She guessed the death of her parents was too much for Mikan. It won't be long until she remembered about her past.

…..xXx…..

"You don't have to leave, Mikan-chan. You can sleep here for tonight" Aoi whined as she held Mikan's hand, didn't want to let go. Through the dinner, Aoi has found out that Mikan was actually a nice girl and she wanted to make her Natsume's girlfriend.

Mikan was the only person who can deal with Natsume's stubbornness. And heck, she even made his brother smile which was the thing she rarely saw in the past years. Moreover, she can see that they somehow similar to each other and can be best friend.

"I'm sorry, Aoi but I need to go back to my grandpa. I can't leave him alone" Mikan ruffled Aoi's hair which resulted her pouting.

"Mikan…" Kaoru extended her arm. Mikan understood it and ran to hug her "Aunt Kaoru…"

"You can come here anytime, Mikan. We all welcome you here. Don't be shy at all"

"Really?" Mikan asked as her eyes brimmed with tears.

"Definitely" Ioran said as he swung his arm over Kaoru's shoulder "Just come when you feel like it"

"Thank you aunt, uncle" Mikan smiled warmly at them. Kaoru's eyes softened.

"Mikan, you said that you didn't remember about your parents, right?"

Mikan cocked her head to a side "It's okay, aunt Kaoru. I-"

"Mikan." Kaoru cut her off "Just remember that your parents are the most wonderful person in the world. They are very nice to everyone. And you, Mikan are blessed with their kindness. You are the thing that they proud the most"

Mikan was on the verge of crying. She just hugged Kaoru tighter "Thank you, aunt Kaoru. I'll always remember this."

"Be careful on the way home. Natsume, take good care of her" Kaoru glared at the lad leaning at the door frame. "I got it"

"Even I won't forgive myself if anything happens to her" Natsume mumbled

"Goodbye, Mikan" The three Hyuugas waved goodbye at Mikan who smiled back at them happily.

As soon as Mikan and Natsume were out of sign, Kaoru heaved a deep sigh.

"What's wrong, dear?" Ioran asked, kissing her forehead

"There will be a time when she will remember everything. I wonder what I should do at that time." Kaoru admitted

"Don't worry, Natsume will take care of her"

"That's the reason why I'm afraid. What if the past repeats itself again? What if he will lose her again?"

"If that happens then Natsume has to find his own way to bring her back"

"you know, it has been a long time ever since the last time I saw him smile so freely like that" Kaoru chuckled

"Because Mikan is Natsume's other half and Natsume loves her deeply. Without Mikan, I think he will be miserable."

"Of course." Kaoru nodded as they went into the house.

…xXx…

"Your family is so nice, Hyuuga" Mikan giggled.

"They are plainly annoying" Natsume, who was walking by her side, grunted to answer

"And they are so different from you. How come you are related to them anyways? I mean they are cheerful and happy while you are grumpy and pervert"

"I will take that as a compliment"

"And I see that you inherit those eyebrows from your mother" She chuckled again, making Natsume turn away in embarrassment "Tch. Why do you care anyways?"

"You are shy. Admit it" Mikan teased him then after that, no one said a word. Natsume was surprise. He thought that Mikan would blabber all the way but now, she was quiet. Too quiet.

"Mi-"

"Say, Hyuuga, what's the feeling when you have a mother and father?" Mikan cut him off

"Well, sometimes they are annoying, tell us to do this and that. But they care about us and sometimes, spoil us too much."

Mikan chuckled "That sounds just like aunt Kaoru"

"No doubt"

"So, my house is here. Thanks for accompanying me" Mikan smiled as she stood in front of the old temple. But when she was about to come in, Natsume grabbed her wrist and spun her around.

"I…U-Um…" He shuttered while Mikan just looked at him puzzled

"Here" He shoved a small orange box to her.

"What's this?" Mikan asked innocently as she opened the box and saw a silver necklace with sakura petal dangling on it. She was awe-struck. Never in her life has she seen something as beautiful as this. As she examined the necklace, she saw a letter 'M' craved on it. It was too familiar, Mikan knew that. She has seen this necklace somewhere.

"Do you remember the story what I told you at the sakura tree? About the girl who left me?" Natsume asked (refer to extra piece). Mikan just merely nodded

"Well, this necklace belongs to her. I waited for her to return then giving back to her…."

"Then why do you give it to me?" Mikan asked, already feeling confused

"Because I want to give it to my most important person and there is no one deserve it better than you, Mikan" Natsume said sincerely

"But I can't take something like this. What if she comes back?"

"She will never come back." Natsume answered. Because she is already in front of me. Then he took the necklace from Mikan's hand. "Turn around, I will wear it for you" Mikan didn't have a chance to protest as she turned like Natsume said. Her hair was longer, Natsume noticed and somehow, it still had the strawberry scent from it. The scent that he grew to love when he was young.

It was particularly a dead silence as Mikan was too embarrassed to say. Why did he give her his most important thing? And if he already had a person he liked so much, why did he even care about her? There was a sudden pain in her heart. It was hurt.

"Done" She heard he said as she turned to face him again.

Just like how imagine, Mikan. So beautiful. Natsume thought as he stared at the brunette in front of him.

"U-Um, can you move closer to me?" Mikan asked shyly and Natsume did what she said. Much to his surprise or his happiness, he didn't know, she kissed him on the cheek. The she looked at him with her flushed face "Thank you for today,…..Natsume. See you again tomorrow"

With that, she opened the door and closed it immediately, leaving a frozen Natsume outside.

She…she just kissed him…and called him with his name. Natsume touched his cheek where Mikan just kissed him. It still had some warmth lingered to it. He smiled secretly. After all those years, he finally heard his name being spoken from the mouth of the woman he loved. And it felt so good.

But deep inside, he knew, the moment he gave her the necklace, that means he would accept the truth when she remembered everything. He may hurt her again this time. He knew what he did was kind of unforgivable but if he waited until she remembered everything then she would never take the necklace back and their friendship can never be fixed again.

What he didn't know at that time was he would regret the moment he gave her the necklace as her memories would return faster than normal. The memories of her parents. And once again, she would experience this feeling. The feeling that she hated the most. Loneliness.

Hello everybody

It has been a long time ever since I updated the lastest chapter of this story right?

This chapter may not as good as the previous one but I will try my best.

I'm sorry for making you wait this long.

After this moment, I will try to update this story as well as 'The heart wants what it wants' frequently.

stay tune for the next chapter: 8th piece: Loneliness

Thank you very much for waiting and reading ^^