Chapter II: Flightless Bird

Now I'm a fat house cat

Nursing my sour blunt tongue

Watching the warm poison rats

Cut through the wide fence cracks

(Iron & Wine)

"If you don't tell mom, I help Ruka this weekend," Aoi pleaded to her brother. When he didn't acknowledge what she said she poked her head between the two car seats and prodded his arm. "Okay, Natsume? Promise?"

He put down his phone and sighed. "I can't do that. You have to take it with Ruka. And put your seatbelt on."

"No one over the age of ten wears a seatbelt at the back," she scoffed, but drew herself back and locked the belt in, anyway. "Also, I know Ruka will say yes. Funnily enough you're the one I'm concerned with."

"You had no qualms telling her over a text message that you invited a complete stranger in our home while they were away, but you're afraid to tell them you skipped school for two days?"

She regarded him patronizingly, trying to catch his eye through the rearview mirror. "Mikan's hardly a stranger to me and you know it. You're just embarrassed you thought she was a thief the first time you met. Speaking of," her voice took on a more compassionate tone, "Despite the fact that you were a jerk half the time, it meant a lot that you helped her out. Why didn't you do it yourself, though? Then you wouldn't have to pay your own firm."

"Hoshino and Usami are veterans in investigative work. I'm not presumptuous enough to think I can handle everything."

"Huh. That's new," she murmured, more to herself. Natsume ignored her comment. "I wonder if Mikan's seen her mom. She must be happy."

"Happy?" He repeated, his doubt evident from his voice. "Her mother left her. If my mother did that to me, good riddance."

"Because that's the kind of person you are, but Mikan… she's too nice, isn't she? Headstrong, for sure, but she wears her heart on her sleeve. I really hope it goes well for her. Say, is this your new neighborhood?" The road they were passing was narrow but the houses were a tad far apart, mostly because of wide front yards that were often rare in a metropolitan city. Aoi whistled low. "How much did you spend on this?"

"Still paying for it," he replied curtly, although not really regretting the choice. It was a good, quiet neighborhood, far from the main road. Finding his new place was a stroke of luck; it was cheaper than the other lots for sale in the area mainly because it had been uninhabited for quite a few years, bringing its worth down. Also, after successfully wringing the real reason from his agent, Natsume was told that the primary owner of the house died and his family went missing shortly after, which gave it a sinister reputation despite its otherwise modern design. Natsume didn't say it out loud but he still felt like it was another fib; after all, ghosts weren't real, and he was more afraid of losing clients than a mysterious death.

"I'll try to guess which one is yours," Aoi announced, pulling down both car windows. "Oishi, don't slow down on my account."

"I'm not up for playing games, Aoi," Natsume groused from the passenger seat, but made no comment once he saw the house from afar.

Predictably, she ignored him. "Left or right?"

"Right," Oishi informed her with a cheeky grin.

"This one's too traditional… this one looks like someone died in it… too many floors… too expensive… too masculine… too skinny… too pink… Can I get a clue?"

"We already passed," Oishi admitted. "Should I turn around?"

"Yes," came Natsume's abrupt reply. "If she guesses correctly-"

"Is it that one then?" Aoi pointed out, sticking her head out of the car and ignoring her brother's 'Get your head back inside' reprimand. "The one that looks tough. Something a single man would pick. Oh, look, you already have a visitor. Maybe not so single for long."

Natsume frowned, squinting. He noticed the girl earlier but thought it was the neighbor's guest since they were talking when the car passed, but now she was standing in front of his house.

"Wait a second…" Aoi's voice trailed, her eyes narrowed. Oishi parked the car on the side and Aoi was the first one out. "Mikan? What are you doing here?"

Mikan turned, her eyes glassy but perplexed. "What are you doing here?"

Natsume climbed down the car, trying not to show how bewildered he was that the same person Aoi put in a cab earlier found her way to his new house.

"I'm looking for my mom," Mikan reminded them. She spared Natsume a quick glance. "Did you follow me here?"

"No," Aoi began, "We came to see Natsume's house."

"Which house?"

"This house."

"This house?"

"This house."

"My house," Natsume confirmed, a little irate. "And you?"

"Visiting this house," Mikan said slowly.

Aoi blinked a couple of times, still confused. "This house?"

"We get it, Aoi," Natsume snapped, pinching the bridge of his nose. He held out his hand. "Can I see the address again?"

Mikan hesitated. "You haven't seen it?"

"I'm asking for it, aren't I?"

Trying to resist a scowl, (for Mikan had to remind herself the address was only in her possession because of him) she handed him a folded piece of paper from her pocket.

Natsume read the paper, silently urging himself to find what was wrong with it- but it was his new home address staring right back. This was an elementary mistake, one that would've cost Wakako Usami and earned her a probation, but he had to admit, even the best fell, and perhaps this was her first notable mistake.

He separated himself from the group to call the firm and asked to be redirected to Usami. However, the phone call didn't even last ten minutes; Wakako was able to confirm the validity of the information, much to Natsume's chagrin.

He walked back to Aoi and Mikan. "Change of plans. We're going back to Alice."

"Did you check the preliminary title report?"

"Did I check the- of course I checked! What do you take me for?"

"Roll back the attitude, Natsume," Ruka frowned. "I'm not your problem."

"Sorry," Mikan interrupted, "But what's a preliminary title report?"

Natsume sighed, leaning back. While his office was noticeably five times larger than his cubicle as a first-year associate some years ago, it was suffocating having a crowd of six surrounding him and his desk. "It's a document supposedly informing the buyer about the house, location, boundaries, including liens, encroachments, or easements." He took in her blank look. "It means I should know if anyone else has access or ownership of the estate."

"So you do know that this is where my mom used to live?"

He had to remind himself that Mikan didn't have any background about the legal system and held back the urge to snap at her. He wasn't particularly fond of explaining minute details to people. "No, otherwise I wouldn't have agreed to purchase."

"If it weren't true, why did it show up in Usami's research?" Hotaru asked testingly. She was standing against Natsume's window, arms crossed, almost as if she were hovering over him. It didn't make him feel any better. "Anna, call Andou."

Ruka noticeably balked. "You don't mean-"

"Hikari Andou," Hotaru rolled her eyes. "Of course I don't mean him. I'm not that vile. But you need someone from the Property division who doesn't hate your guts but isn't afraid of you either."

"Who doesn't like me?" Natsume mumbled to himself, not a joke but poised as an actual question.

"Focus, Natsume," Ruka rapped his finger against the desk. "We can't have you sidetracked with something like this. Your deposition is in an hour."

"I think I can handle two cases at once, thanks."

"If Takahashi is using Rei Serio this won't be a regular settlement. You have to be on your feet. Imai-"

"No," she said firmly, arms still crossed. "I'm not going to do Hyuuga's dirty work for him."

"Then what are you doing here?" an exasperated Ruka wanted to know.

"Celebrating," she gave a terse, unfriendly smile. "It's rare to see Hyuuga in a bind."

"Comes once every hundred years," Natsume intoned. "Take a picture."

"Sorry," Mikan interrupted again, "What do you mean two cases? Do you mean this? Why do we have a case?"

Aoi cleared her throat and reached for her friend's hand. "It's probably just an overlook, Mikan. You don't have to worry about it."

She turned and whispered hoarsely, "I don't have the money. I can't take this to court."

"Don't stress about it. Listen, why don't we just-" she took a quick look at the lawyers, "We'll let them go over it first. Let's come back later."

As soon as they were out the door, Ruka pushed himself down the vacated chair. "Hand it over to the Andou associate. She didn't get in here because of her brother. Narumi, make sure Natsume's ready for his deposition. I don't know about you, but I'm not ready for another Hatsuni breakdown."

"Since when did you start telling me what to do?" Natsume asked although without ire.

Hotaru pulled herself out of the corner just as Anna returned to the office, Hikari in tow. Having worked with mainly property law, and given that Natsume had a secretary and two paralegals at his disposal, Hikari didn't have a long list of work experience with him. In fact, what she knew about Natsume Hyuuga were solely from office pantry discussions.

"I need you to go over this residence," Natsume started, handing her a folder over the desk. "The owner recently purchased the area that apparently is co-owned."

"It's not owned by two people," Hikari pointed out after scanning the first couple of pages alone. "Just the current owner."

"That's not what showed up in a different research."

"Because they probably looked for a different person," Hikari explained, not looking up. "Inheritance law sometimes overlap with property law. I think your problem could be the lack of a declared benefactor but the possible existence of a marriage not honored. I say we look further into lineal descendants even though it's not customary with intestate properties." She pursed her lips, reminding herself that this was one of the esteemed, quickly promoted associates in the firm, and it would be bad if she wasn't careful. "I can be wrong. I'll go over this and have it back within the day."

Natsume glanced at his watch. The deposition may take an hour or two at most; he couldn't be sure. This was the first time he was meeting the defendant. "If you can get it to me in four hours, consider yourself paid."

"Paid?" Hotaru repeated disapprovingly once Hikari was out of earshot. "She looks like you just told her she made partner. You didn't need to incentivize her." She walked towards the door.

"Where are you going?" Ruka asked, halting her in her tracks.

"Back to work."

"You bet you are. You wanted to watch, you have to help. Find out about Yuka Sakura. Not where she's from, but who she is, and how she's related to Izumi Yukihara."

Ruka passed her out the door, too quickly for Hotaru to say anything else. She looked back at Natsume, who was signing a term sheet for a waiting Narumi. "Since when did he start telling me what to do?"

"You must be confused," Aoi started. She tapped light fingers against her cup of latte, feeling its warmth spread on her hands against the cold weather. While A.A. Tower boasted a wide-ranging food court, she didn't feel like being surrounded by sleep-deprived, work-obsessed employees that seemed to be plentiful in their building. There was a bistro five minutes from the firm; though it wasn't less crowded and was pricier, they served better comfort food fitting for the current situation.

"I meant what I said," Mikan said, trying not to sound as agitated. "I can't go to court. I'm flat broke. I can't get my things from the apartment until I settle my dues, and even if I work overtime for the next year it still won't be enough to cover that and my loan. One of these days you'll have more than just a house dispute over my head, I'll be thrown on the side of the road, dead."

"Stop being melodramatic. It won't be that bad, I'm sure this is just a system glitch." She lowered her voice to something akin to compassion. "We'll find your mom soon."

Mikan felt her eyes water again and forced them back- she didn't cry in public. She'd been maintaining a thick skin ever since she had to live by her own meager means, and she wasn't about to start now. "I can't do this again, Aoi. I already took way too many sick days in the past week. If I don't come to work tomorrow, I won't have a house, a mom, and a job."

"Well… if you don't go to work tomorrow but show up here, who knows, you might get compensation. I mean, not enough to get a new apartment, but it can keep you for a while."

"Do you really think what Wakako found was true? That my mom…?"

Aoi bit the inside of her mouth. "Technically, what Wakako looked into was where your mom lived- or used to, whichever you prefer, not if she owned the house. From what I understand, checking one record may not be consistent with another record, especially if, you know, your parents weren't..."

Mikan frowned. "Weren't what?"

"It's kind of a big deal, but were they married?"

"Of course they were," Mikan said at once, but then paused. "I think they were."

"If they were, it's a bit suspicious that your mother wasn't listed as a joint tenant under the national real estate registration system. It could be that your dad died intestate- meaning they didn't find a will or there wasn't a will- which automatically gives the rights to you, then your mom."

"But they didn't find my name. They found my mom's."

Aoi shrugged. "I forgot how the rank of heirs go, but if it didn't go to a lineal descendant, then it must have gone to a relative of his."

"That's not possible. My dad was an only child and his parents died before I was even born."

"Don't take my word for it, though, okay? If it's confusing to Natsume, it's a rubix cube to me."

"How do you know all this?" Mikan wondered.

Aoi gave her a playful smile. "Before Natsume had cable, I'd still go over his place to get away from home. You could say he didn't really have a lot of literary options. Also, this is the sort of thing you have to know when your, er, parents own a company."

In the initial days of their friendship, Mikan didn't expect Aoi to be the daughter of a wealthy family. While it was easy to blend in the background in their city, she had the tell-tale signs of a low-maintenance girl. It came as a sort of surprise when Mikan offered Aoi companionship during one particular evening spent scowling at everything and everyone after an argument with a well-dressed man in pointy leather shoes. Aoi, newly sixteen, heatedly explained over a slice of raspberry cake about the pressures of finding a university as good as the ones the rest of her family went to.

Despite the stark differences between the two of them, it was easy to feel pity towards Aoi. She had her family but Mikan couldn't imagine what it felt like to have someone telling you how to live your life. When Mikan stayed at the orphanage, there was a strict schedule that everyone adhered to: meal times, prayer times, rotation of chores, but the nuns didn't make them feel as if it were something they needed to do to get a seat on the dining table but as something they did to help, to co-exist as a family.

"I hope you're right," was all Mikan said. Aoi was a good friend- probably her only one since she first came here two years ago. If something were to happen with a house she didn't know about, she didn't want it risking their friendship.

Natsume was an impatient man.

At least, that was what everyone knew- everyone but his client it seemed. Because a meeting with another client was bumped ten minutes after the divorce deposition ended, he asked Yura Hatsuni to wait in his office where they could discuss about the hearing. Unfortunately, she figured this was the best time to head over to a jeweler and have a certain piece of jewelry appraised.

"I told you," he was saying, trying to keep himself in check, "You can't sell your husband's ring."

"Returning a gift is tacky, even when the gift costs an arm and leg. If you haven't noticed, my ex-husband-"

"Husband," he automatically corrected.

"Soon to be ex-husband, is not tacky- not to any of his women."

"His extra marital affairs are still in question, too. But that's not the point. You can't sell the ring."

"Why not? He gave it to me. I get to have a say about what I want to do with it."

"It's a family heirloom. You can't sell unless he's given his permission."

"I'm not going to ask for his opinion," she scoffed. "It's a pre-marriage gift, darling, and besides, his grandmother's dead. It's not like she can bite it off my finger."

"He gave it to you because you were getting married. It's not just etiquette we're talking about, he can sue you. Do you even have the papers?"

She frowned. "I think so… What papers?"

"Maybe in a prenuptial agreement? I'm sure you had it."

"Probably," she said, completely focused on choosing a 'breakup' ring, as she announced, seeing as her 'Breakup Birkin' wasn't due to arrive until the first month of spring. "I can't be sure."

Natsume paused in his tracks. "You can't be sure…?"

She waved a hand in the air, as if to say, it doesn't matter. "It was a thick document."

"You signed a prenup without reading it?"

"Of course I read it, just not as well. Why are you looking at me like that?"

"What about independent counsel?"

"Luna, sweetheart, can I try size 6 of this one?" she told the blonde girl manning the counter, before slightly inclining her head towards her irate lawyer, "What do you mean?"

"Did you have a lawyer go over the document before you signed it? Your own lawyer, not the same one your husband had."

"Yes. Figured if there was anything worth worrying over, he'd have told me. He said the agreement was pretty fair given my assets aren't even a third of Sora's. I'm not sure about this, Luna. Do you have something bigger?"

Luna took out a twelve-carat asscher cut diamond and gently pushed it towards the eager customer.

"Too gaudy, don't you think, Natsume?" Yura asked, showing her finger. "Maybe I should go down by a few carats. One that says, divorced but happy. Do you have anything like that?"

Luna was obviously trying to keep a straight face. "Not exactly. We can get you a marquise cut- this is eight carats, but the narrow shape makes it look larger than it is."

"That's something my great aunt would wear. Come over here, Natsume. I need your opinion."

"I don't want to help you choose a ring."

"If you want me to sign those divorce papers, you're going to," Yura sang, but Natsume refused to move. She sighed. "Just choose something, sweetheart. It's not going to kill you. Besides, at the rate we're going, you're the only one who'll see it on my finger."

Natsume sighed and took the few steps towards the counter, standing next to Yura. He peered at the choices she separated from a handful of rings before pushing forward a cushion box bearing a four-carat pear-shaped diamond ring that wasn't as conspicuous as the other candidates. Yura frowned a little, as if something ostentatious was exactly what she was going for. "You asked for my help," he said pointedly, "Hurry up. And don't bother getting an appraisal. I'll know."

Yura rolled her eyes as she handed Luna the lucky ring. "He's nicer when we're alone."

Luna gave a small smile before heading for the counter. "Are you getting married soon?"

"In six months if Natsume can get this settled before January ends." She handed a black American Express and dropped her voice into a quiet, mischievous whisper, "Add in the nine-carat, won't you, darling?"

Mikan wasn't intimidated by lawyers, but it was unsettling when they were there for you. Such was the case when she and Aoi headed back to the firm five hours later. Despite Aoi's insistence and low-key tantrum, she wasn't allowed inside the conference room while Natsume, Ruka, and Hotaru sat in with Mikan to discuss their findings.

"I hope this is okay," Ruka told her with a slightly apologetic smile. "It's not customary, but we don't want to risk anyone else knowing. Don't worry- I'll be as impartial as I can. We'll go over what we found and you can decide what you want to do. We'll start with the formalities after."

"You're acting quite formal right now for this to be just a sit-down matter," Mikan pointed out. Ruka held back a smile.

Natsume handed her a folder over the table. She gingerly opened it, then noticed that he was holding a similar one.

"Do you normally print two outputs of everything for a casual discussion?"

"Force of habit," he replied curtly. "Your father is Izumi Yukihara?"

Mikan hesitated. "I know his name is Izumi. I don't- I'm not sure if he was Yukihara. I just assumed I shared the same surname as my parents."

"Your mother is Yuka Sakura, correct?"

"Yes. Is this how we're going to be the rest of the 'discussion'?"

"She's right, Hyuuga," Hotaru drawled, sounding bored. "Stop sounding so condescending. Give her the facts."

"I thought you didn't want to help," Natsume asked irritably.

"That was before your friend here played alpha. Mikan, as the decedent's direct heir, you're entitled ownership to the house. As of now, we haven't confirmed whether your parents were really married- a request for records that span longer than fifteen years can take more than afternoon- which may explain why Yukihara may not have identified a beneficiary prior to his death. Regardless, you're his daughter. It's either you were unknown or missing at the time the deed was transferred.

The chain of title isn't very complicated, but shortly after the decedent passed, due to the absence of a lineal kin, the Family Court contacted the collateral kin for their decision, which was to sell the house through a third party. Now, there are instances that inheritance law precede property law. Despite Natsume's proof of purchase- that he has the deed to the house- as a direct heir, you are valid to contest your right to the property."

Mikan mused for a moment, trying to understand what she had just been told.

Next to her, Ruka regarded Hotaru wryly: "I thought you didn't want to do it?"

"You were taking too long. It's not like she's pressing charges. Do you want the house?"

"If it's my parents' house, of course I want it," was Mikan's instant reply. "But I can't afford it."

"The estate can- possibly- settle an existing mortgage, but that's pretty thin considering Natsume just made the purchase. You will need to worry about property taxes, home insurance, liability insurance, among other expenses."

Mikan regarded them acerbically. "See? I can't come up with that kind of money on a minimum wage job."

"What do you want to do?" Ruka asked gently.

"I- wait, you said something about a collateral kin. That would be family on my father's side, right? You mean, they're still alive?"

"Yes."

"Can they inherit it?"

"According to this disclaimer, they chose to- ah, refuse- on grounds that it increases their estate's value, meaning they'd have to pay additional estate taxes. We can contact them, of course, but it wouldn't be any use now, seeing as you're the one who'll be getting it through intestacy."

"They had money but they didn't take it?" Mikan asked, perplexed. "Sorry. I'm not usually this forward, but I assume everyone in this room but me can afford it, so you have nothing to be embarrassed about."

"Technically they do, but what are you getting at?"

"I… I don't know. I just," the tips of her ears turned pink, "I think it's nice. To still have family. But it also makes me wonder why I've never met them."

"It could be a family issue," Natsume supplied, speaking for the first time since Hotaru interrupted him. "Not a rare thing between families of old money."

"Do you know them?"

"The Yukiharas are one of our biggest shareholders. I've known them since I was younger, which is why Izumi- your father? His name is a bit unfamiliar. Then again, it's a big family."

She pursed her lips and considered the decision. "This is completely unrelated, and I'll understand if you say no but- can I meet them?"

"Hey, Natsume?" Aoi knocked on her brother's office door, which was partially ajar. He was on the phone and held a finger, and even though she didn't want to wait, she took a seat and stared down the contents of her phone.

Seen: Former supermodel Yura Hatsuni buying 9ct breakup ring

While there was nothing akin to defamation, the comment section was abound with comments- as was the case whenever a celebrity's private life became public property.

...

anonymous123: Maybe that's what her new boyfriend can afford

hakuryuu: What boyfriend

syoshi: Hey I know that guy, my friend went to law school with him

anonymous0x0x: marry me yura

user2841: i thought he's just a new bodyguard

thewongforyou: That guy a lawyer? Someone got a glow up

shihoe: killing it with those shoes!

ilyhatsuni: she lost weight

shihoe: SO? SHE LOOKS PERFECT

ilyhatsuni: Woman, I just said she lost weight.

mayumi_982: What happened to her husband?

yamamasofat: Isn't that her lawyer?

novoovo: i'd leave a billionaire for that guy

user0328: sex and the city tokyo version?

ggxx555: omg! Charlotte and Harry!

hanabisan: That headline tho

...

"What's up?" Natsume asked as soon as he hung up. "If you're running out of things to do, you can go home."

"I think," Aoi cleared her throat before gently placing her phone over a contract, "Going out this early is not an option."

His eyes ran down the online post, down to the comment section, before quitting halfway. "This is stupid."

"That's not all they're saying," Aoi said timidly. "Are you sure you don't want to-"

"I don't want to see it," was his pointed reply. Aoi's eyes widened in surprise. "It's a long day. I'm sure it'll be gone by tomorrow."

"Yes, but-"

"Natsume," Narumi said over the intercom, "Rei Serio, line 3. He says it's urgent."

Natsume made a sound of annoyance before intercepting the call.

"Hyuuga," Rei started, sounding way too amused for it to be just in Natsume's imagination. "Have you seen this small piece on The Star?"

"Figured you'd have seen it. You didn't by any chance orchestrate it, did you?"

"Now, now, Natsume. Let's not point fingers. Actually, I didn't see it but my client did and he's not happy. In fact, he wants to subpoena you."

With the threat of a subpoena hanging over his head, Natsume had no choice but to appear in front of the rest of the partners.

"I don't want to know the truth," was the first thing Jinno said. He sat at the head of the conference table, the seat next to him noticeably empty.

Natsume made the mistake of looking at Noda, who merely shrugged with a grin, "Plausible deniability."

"Am I the only one who's genuinely curious?" Tsubasa Andou asked no one in particular, sitting backwards on a chair.

"Why are you here?" Natsume scowled, before remembering that Andou was recently promoted to junior partner- yet just another reminder of how bad the year's started for him. When Natsume joined the firm, Andou was the senior associate who often took the mickey out of him for no other reason than to harass the newcomer.

"Natsume," Misaki ordered, and it made Natsume feel properly chastised. He knew that Misaki has been dealing with a ¥400B environmental class lawsuit since late last year; to have him attend a meeting like this was reprehensible. "Focus. What are you going to say?"

"If he doesn't admit to anything, there won't be any need for that," Shiki said sternly, making Natsume feel infinitely lesser than he already did. Out of the other partners, Shiki was the one he respected the most- even more than Jinno, who had been his father's right-hand back when Alice Law was just starting. "Who was it that contacted you?"

"Serio."

"Then it's not just a threat," Jinno concluded. "Unless you want to be suspended for professional misconduct, I suggest you find a way to object to being served. You are not going to be the first person in this firm to testify against your own client, Hyuuga, especially with something as silly as this."

"Do you want me to lie?"

Tsubasa snorted. "That answers the question we didn't ask."

"I'm not having an affair with my client," Natsume argued. "But I'm not going to avoid a subpoena that'll give them another reason to suspect it's true. You can't tell me that's not the first thing out of their mouths once I object."

"Don't you have a girlfriend?" It was the first time Kuonji spoke, which was also a bit unlikely. Among the partners, Kuonji had the reputation for being quiet but manipulative. Natsume's father himself told stories of a partner he mentored, one who had never lost a case, even (as was office pantry talk) at the risk of breaking the law.

"Who told you that?"

Kuonji didn't answer. "Make it official."

Natsume frowned, not understanding, but Jinno already stood up, buttoning his suit jacket. One by one, the partners left the room, save for Kuonji and Natsume. A palpably off-guard Tsubasa was pulled out of his chair by Noda, who hardly seemed as worried as the others. Shiki merely clapped Natsume on the back.

Kuonji wasn't his mentor, but dating back to his days as an associate, the older had been fond of him- as fond as Kuonji could ever be towards another living being, Shiki often commented. Natsume was the associate who was the receiving end of Kuonji's praises and complaints, and in his first year alone, Kuonji made sure Natsume never left the office before nine-thirty. Associates didn't usually come in with a mentor unless they were employed by a newly-made partner (which was one direction Natsume didn't go for despite everyone expecting him to). Kuonji treated him like a regular associate, but shortly he realized that it was exactly because he wasn't just another associate that Kuonji treated him as he did.

"That girl you brought in," Kuonji started as soon as the last person was gone, "The one with your sister?"

"Mikan Sakura."

"Why was Usami looking into her and your house?"

"By that tone, I suspect you already know."

"I want you to tell me."

Natsume didn't need to be told again; after all, it was because of Kuonji that Natsume developed the impatience of dealing with people who asked too many questions. "I bought a house recently through an agency- clearcut papers, no encumbrance, cheap, empty for years. The decedent turned out to be her father, but at the time the title was transferred, she was either missing or unknown."

"It would be a shame if the press came across this information." Natsume didn't say anything but he tensed a little, earning a mirthless chuckle from Kuonji. "It's like you don't know me, Natsume. I won't rat on you. But if I found out about it easily, so can anyone else. When's your hearing?"

"A week from today."

"They can file the subpoena as early as tomorrow. Whether or not it's true, the fact that allegations were made reflect poorly on you and the firm. Now, I have a suggestion, Natsume, one that could solve both your problems at once."

Is Yura Hatsuni dating her lawyer?

That's what everyone wants to know. Earlier this afternoon, Yura Hatsuni Takahashi, swimsuit turned fit model turned housewife, was photographed exiting a local jeweler with a shining new purchase on the same finger where her wedding band from business tycoon Sora Takahashi used to be. Hatsuni, 28, went to KOI•ZUMI DESIGNS for an appraisal, an unknown source said.

"She wanted to sell a ring that her husband gave her," said the source.

When further asked what the relationship was between Hatsuni and her male companion, we were given a somewhat vague answer: "They were discussing something pretty serious."

However, another customer at the time witnessed the exchange and expressed her doubts that the relationship was strictly professional. "He chose a ring for her. No one does that to their client. [Hatsuni] even said that only [Hyuuga] will see the ring on her finger."

We asked the store regarding who made the purchase but they declined to answer.

The exclusive photos were only up for a few hours when it rendered a large amount of comments online, speculating who the man Hatsuni was with and why she has an obnoxiously large ring on her finger just as she's about to lose a suspected 34B following the divorce.

People were quick to point out the identity of the man who has been named by Hatsuni many times before and had identified him as her lawyer.

Mikan blinked a couple of times. "Sorry," she said slowly, "Can you say that again?"

Natsume took a deep breath and changed his wording. "Do you want to get married?"

They were in a private room at a four-star restaurant, eating food she's never heard of and drinking alcohol she couldn't pronounce. After a particularly long discussion with Ruka Nogi in his office- one that even Hotaru Imai wanted to listen to- Natsume took Aoi aside and asked a question. Mikan may not have gone to law school but she knew they were talking about her. There was a lot of hissing in the hushed conversation, with Aoi looking very reluctant by the end. Afterwards, Natsume sought Mikan and asked her to dinner, which was why what Natsume just proposed sounded off.

"I thought you hated me?" Mikan said dubiously.

"Just engaged for a couple of months," he assured her. "Long enough for my case to finish and enough time for us to find a way through the co-owners situation. You can't afford the place, and I can't afford another one. Neither of us are in a position willing to settle this through an expensive property dispute, either."

"That's it?" Mikan inquired, though it wasn't what she wanted to do. What she wanted to do was throw her head back and laugh harder than she's ever done, because surely there was something comical- joking, even- about the situation, but she resisted the urge. Natsume didn't look like the type who enjoyed something as natural as laughing. "That's why you want to be engaged?"

"I have to admit, my reasons may go beyond what I just said, but not enough for me to tell you until you agree." He noticed the twitch in her mouth. "Just a precaution."

"And I'm holding off telling you the reasons why I'm rejecting you until you tell me exactly what you want me to get myself into."

"Why don't we discuss first what you could get out of it?" Natsume smoothly segued, refilling their glasses with rosé. "Tell me what you want."

"I want you to tell me what you think I'd want," Mikan threw back the question.

"I'll find your mother," he volunteered.

"Are you bribing me with information?" she regarded him suspiciously.

"It's not a bribe if you give me something in return," he pointed out. "That's why I asked you. This is an agreement."

"And by that, you mean you want me to agree helping you avoid a subpoena, right?"

"When you put it that way," he mumbled, "Sounds exactly like a bribery. Why don't you tell me your demands?"

"Demands? Natsume, you asked me to have dinner with you to discuss the house and not-" she brought her voice down even though they were alone, "-to discuss an engagement!"

"It's not a big deal," he started almost defensively. "But it will work for us."

"The only thing I'm getting out of is a guarantee that you'll find my mother, but what happens after? What happens to everything else? Sure, you can move on from a broken engagement, you're set for life. I have to deal with that for much longer."

"It's not like I'm seeing someone else, either."

"Yeah, except your client," she scoffed, crossing her arms. They eyed each other for half a second before sharing smiles. "Okay, that wasn't fair. I know you're not seeing her, but it is funny."

Natsume wordlessly took out his phone from his pocket and opened the conversation thread under Kaoru Igarashi. He offered it to Mikan and signaled her to read, then sat back as he watched her expression morph into confusion, surprise, amusement, and back again.

She gave him back his phone. "I'm right. This is funny."

"Glad I could be a good source of entertainment," Natsume said under his breath.

Mikan played with the contents of her plate. The roast lamb was sliced in long strips, the meat pink and smoky. It wasn't something she was used to eating but it was an experience, much like Natsume's proposal.

She allowed herself the liberty of observing him. Natsume hadn't forgone the charcoal suit he wore at work earlier, but despite everything that happened that day he hardly looked like he'd been through a war zone. While he assured her upon entering the hotel's restaurant that she looked fine, Mikan felt underdressed. It was a good thing Narumi booked a private room, but even with a thin wall separating them from the rest of the dinerd, Mikan knew this wasn't a lifestyle she could sustain or even think of being a part of.

"Why do you want me to do this?"

"We need each other."

"No," she argued. "You can get anyone else to play princess. A better actress than me, for one."

Natsume agreed. "But she doesn't legally own the house I just bought. With that taken into account, I think you'd gain a lot from this arrangement- it's simple and lucrative, and can guarantee you comfortability while it lasts."

"You're using my current status as an incentive to agree."

"Must you twist everything I say?" Natsume groaned. "It's a mutual agreement. We both get the most of what we can."

"That's not your reason."

He frowned at her, wondering what she meant, until he allowed himself to consider an alternate possibility why a man chooses a woman, so he assured her with a hasty "I don't like you like that."

"That's not what I meant either," Mikan rolled her eyes. "There's something else you're not telling me, and until you make that clear, I can't give you an answer. You may fancy yourself persuasive, Natsume, but I assure you it's because you've never dealt with me before."

Natsume took Mikan back to his parents' home where Aoi stood on her tiptoes, peeking through the bedroom window every five minutes like she was expecting Hotei-osho to waltz in through the door with a sack of delayed Christmas presents.

"I have to admit," Aoi said once Mikan- through definitive words- relayed what dinner was like, "When Natsume asked me if he could borrow you for the night, I was a little incensed. I thought he was going to corner you into settling for monetary compensation."

"We discussed it," Mikan continued vaguely, "But not enough to settle into a decision. It'll take a while."

"Good. Knowing Natsume, he's going to want it done and over with, but that's probably because you've never met before."

Mikan gave a short laugh. "Funny, I said the exact same thing to him!"

"He deserves it. Natsume knows he can get anything he want as long as he works for it- which is better than thinking he's entitled to things, but persistent people can be annoying. Anyway, I'm glad you're here to stay- even for just one more night." Aoi threw her friend a quick hug.

There were perks to having a big house: quietude, hiding spots, parties, but the main downside was that it felt twice as big and empty when you're alone. With Natsume having his own place, Aoi didn't just run out of companions but things to do, as well. Lately, Mikan had been a welcome companion since Aoi's parents flew to Kobe for business.

"I could've gotten back to my old apartment if your brother didn't want to meet up tonight, but who am I to complain about one more night of comfort? Going back in this weather is like offering your life to pneumonia," Mikan added as a joke.

Aoi didn't say anything as she watched Mikan fluff the pillows on her side of the bed. "I can't imagine having to live like you do," she admitted quietly, "I can't even get myself up for school. How do you do it?"

Mikan turned to the lamp on her side to switch it off. Aoi did the same. They stayed, unmoving for a while that Aoi thought Mikan had gone to bed, but her voice filled the silence with an answer; "I got used to it."

"I know it wasn't sunshine and daisies at the orphanage, but surely compared to your life here…"

"At first, I wanted to go back. Even though I can't stay there anymore, I wanted to come back. I know what you think of most orphanages, and I can't blame you because you see them and they look the same- understaffed, dirty, overpopulated, unfavorable… but my mom, I guess she wanted to leave me. Not definitely, but long enough that she wanted me to be with good people. We didn't have a lot, the orphanage- even with the budget. Some of us were lucky that we graduated high school. I mean, we only had to finish junior high but even then some kids don't last. It's not easy going to school when everyone knows you live with thirty other kids, sharing beds and food because your parents aren't around.

We- the nuns, I mean- they try to make ends meet. Most days we get by rations, some days with donations. You have to learn how to live with the other kids, but you also don't want to get attached. Those who don't make it, or those who just quit, they do… well, they do bad things. But I guess, when you live that way for so long, the line gets blurry, you don't see things as good or bad, you just see another way for you to survive.

I can't remember what my childhood was like, back when I still had my parents, but I must have been very happy to not think ill of them. It's weird, everyone else that I know- some of them hate their parents, some of them wish they never even bothered to visit, because why would you give up your own flesh and blood? And it's just something I never related to because- Ken was right. I thought I was different, convinced myself I wasn't there for the same reason they were. So when I got here, and I found out how hard it was, I cried. Almost every night. Sometimes I wanted to cross the line, but then I hear Sister Anne- the one who took care of me- telling me not to. I picked myself up, but I started hating my mom. I hated her for leaving, for getting me to experience this- this life. This horrible life where you just get up everyday doing repetitive tasks just so you can earn enough to get food in your mouth and a roof over your head.

But even my hatred was temporary. I… I guess when I knew how difficult it was, I started thinking, what if I had a child, you know? And it probably wasn't easy for mom either, to deal with dad's death alone because I wasn't old enough to really understand what it meant. So I tried harder and then I dug out everything that I had of her, tried to trace the places she sent my letters from, tried to find people who could help me out, just so I can find her again and tell her that I… Are you still listening?"

"I'm awake," came Aoi's soft reply. "What will you tell her?"

Mikan took a deep breath. "That I don't understand, not really, but that I'd try because I love her. And I miss her."

Aoi reached for Mikan's hand in the dark and gave it a little squeeze, trying to comfort her with the small gesture. While this helped Mikan slip into a dreamless slumber not long after, it didn't mean that it continued to haunt her the next day.

It was six in the morning when Mikan left Aoi's house with her duffle bag and the settlement offer from Kagemori Ishida; she put on her uniform and worn-out sneakers, threw in the thermal jacket and thick, wool scarf Aoi gave her ("Have it, they're too small on me," Aoi had fibbed, before blushing crimson because Mikan pointed out, "Aoi, I'm two sizes bigger than you."), and headed for her morning shift.

That was, of course, if she still had a job, because Hīmemiya, at that moment, seemed apathetic to Mikan's mumbled explanations and apologies.

It was often said that when people were really mad, they develop the inability to vocally express their dismay so they choose to shut their mouths instead. That was the current case with Mikan's boss.

Hī was a beautiful, long-haired thirty-something who destined herself to a life of singledom for reasons unknown. More than once, someone would try to ask her out; more than once, she would heartlessly reject them. While she made her indifference towards men public knowledge, it made for good business, and on more than one account, an employee would bribe an innocent but persistent man the boss' phone number in exchange for a big unnecessary purchase and a hefty tip.

Things like these made the repetitive tasks more interesting than it was, and this was why Mikan stayed at Hana Hime Cafe longer than intended. Because people were close, it was difficult to lie.

Especially to Hīmemiya.

"Mikan," Hī said gently, "You're my best employee. You're the only one who actually enjoys taking overtime and holiday shifts, and because of that, you've easily become my favorite person. However, you can't skive off on your weekend shifts- shifts you insisted on having- over text, at a moment's notice. You don't even look sick. Were you sick?"

"No," Mikan replied timidly, all the while praying for an earthquake or an asteroid crash to take her. Forever.

"You know how I know? Because the last time you were sick, you still went to work, and I had to pull you aside myself lest you started sneezing on everyone's coffee. If you don't want to tell me yet, it's fine, but you will tell me if you want me to consider. Are we clear?" Mikan nodded mutely. "Go to work. We'll talk later to discuss how you'll make up for your shift. Just to warn you, Saki had to fill in at the last minute and she's not happy either."

As the first day of the week, there were expectedly more people ordering double-stitched espressos, and passing time wasn't difficult. As Hī warned, Saki gave Mikan the cold shoulder for the first two hours of their shift, but all it took was a peace offering in the guise of an extended lunch break. Mikan rang orders, made coffee, and wiped floors and windows in her attempts to push back the things she said last night.

Thirteen hours later, a haggard-looking Mikan slumped against the most uncomfortable seat in the world, but after being on her toes since nine in the morning it was pleasure on her toes.

Hī stirred her tea, waiting for the honey to dissolve in her cup of Jasmine. Mikan kept her tired eyes firm on the tedious task, noticing how the spoon never touched the walls of the cup. "Now why don't you tell me why you've been taking sick leaves every other day?"

It was well into the night when Natsume managed to come home, narrowly escaping a persistent tabloid reporter who disguised himself as a client. This led to Natsume finding out that Narumi had a strong right hook and the ability to threaten someone almost as well as Kuonji.

Despite his initial protest over being Yura Hatsuni's legal representation, Natsume reluctantly agreed to the case mainly because of how much money was involved with a high-net-worth and high-profile clientele. Ironically enough, it was Shiki who urged him to take the case. While senior associates didn't usually specialize on one aspect of the law, it was a perk that they can afford.

"I can handle it," he assured his mother through gritted teeth. Since he arrived, Kaoru Hyuuga called a total of sixteen times before Natsume begrudgingly picked up the phone. Now he wished he didn't and just dealt with his parents when they flew back to Tokyo.

"This is not handling it. There I was, sitting in a meeting with a potential business partner, one signature away from finalizing the deal I've been working on for weeks, and the first thing he says is that it would be a conflict of interest if he were to enter into a merger with the family of the person who's dating his family friend's wife!"

"It's a small world, mother," Natsume complained, rubbing his temples. "And it's not true."

"If it's not true then why haven't you released a statement?"

"Because releasing a statement when I haven't handled it would be a bad decision."

"You said you were handling it!"

"I said I can handle it. If you hang up now I can actually start handling it."

He heard Kaoru sigh deeply on the other side. There were mutterings, no doubt Ioran Hyuuga trying to placate his wife. "You're lucky we're not flying back until Wednesday. I can't have this frivolous rumor ruin a four hundred million business deal."

"Nice to know your heart's in the right place," he said wryly.

"I'd have been happy if you weren't seeing a married supermodel. Perhaps if you weren't such a private person, this wouldn't have happened. You kept too much of yourself. It gives people the liberty to assume things."

Natsume remembered Kuonji's proposition and Mikan's reluctance. "I'll fix it, mother."

"I hope so because if your grandmother were to know, she won't be pleased. Not after what you pulled last year."

Two hours and a half-empty tissue box later, Mikan headed back to her old apartment, holding a copy of the eviction notice and an envelope of payment dues on hand. Halfway through the journey, she crossed her fingers and hoped that her strict landlord would have a change of heart and allow her to continue renting the place.

It wasn't a good apartment but it was livable, convenient, and cheap. She always had to wait ten minutes before the hot water kicked in, there was a rat who made a permanent home in a small hole by the stairway, and more than once she'd lost sleep because she could hear what her next-door neighbor did with his bed and his bordello. Although Mikan considered filing a complaint, it wasn't worth it. The apartment was better than nothing at all and if that meant pretending she wasn't bothered at all by the moaning and fake orgasms, so be it.

Her landlord, Kuma (affectionately but clandestinely referred to as Mr. Bear by half the tenants), was a short grey-haired man with an equally short temper. He often kept to himself and would only ever leave his apartment to tend to his small garden or to rap on doors demanding bi-monthly payments. Needless to say, Mikan was one of the special few who received fortnight reminders of a potential overdue notice if she didn't pay her rent.

This time, Mikan felt a little confident. Surely, in the past year and a half she's lived in this dingy old thing, Kuma would have developed a liking to her.

She was wrong.

"Didn't you read the eviction order?" Kuma demanded, wrinkled hands on his pajama-clad hip. "Seventy-two hours! And you didn't come back!"

"You said I can't come back until I have the money," Mikan cried. She bent down and read through the eviction notice and saw the clause that Kuma meant. "I thought if I could pay you back-"

"During the 72-hour window," Kuma clarified, sounding exasperated. "I went to check your apartment and found half your clothes gone. Thinking you took off isn't so absurd."

"I didn't take half my clothes, those are my only clothes!"

"Well, that aside, you missed the allotted time to claim your things. Consider yourself lucky your next-door neighbor pleaded in your behalf to not throw 'em away."

Lucky I didn't complain about the noise then, Mikan thought bitterly. "Okay, but I have the money right now. I can even pay three months in advance, just please let me stay. I can't afford anywhere else."

"If you can afford to pay six months' worth of rent then I'm sure you can afford another place. I'm sorry, Mikan, but I'm not renting you the apartment again. You've been paying your dues late and I can't have that, otherwise every other tenant will think I'm too soft. An old man like me has to get by somehow."

There were speculations that circled among the tenants that Mr. Bear was a widow who never had children. No one ever came to visit except a handsome-looking medic who always brought in a bundle of rape blossoms, and he never referred to Kuma as one would a relative. Knowing the old man was alone was one of the reasons why Mikan tried to be a good tenant, until she became broke, that is.

Despite her pleadings, Kuma's decision was final, and so with a heavy heart she asked if he had an extra corrugated box to pack her things properly, what with them haphazardly stashed in an open carton.

"You should tell your friend to stop coming 'round, too," Kuma related as he watched her pile her things.

"Which friend," she asked distractedly. No one except Saki and Mayumi had seen her apartment, who were both once too drunk to head home after a long, crazy night but they were probably still hangover the next day to even remember where Mikan lived.

"Tall man. Red hair. Drives a black coupe. He's been coming back for a week now, wouldn't believe me the other day when I said you weren't around so he started disturbing the other tenants. Some friend you got there."

"I don't…" she stopped and cursed, the box almost slipping out of her hand. "Red hair? Did he have a gold earring?"

"How am I supposed to know?" Kuma grumble, his infamous temper slipping. "Just tell him to stop coming by. He comes over late in the night when I'm already settled in bed. Do you know how difficult it is for someone my age to get back to sleep?"

Mikan didn't say anything but she hurried up her packing, randomly throwing her things in boxes. It was the first time she was thankful she didn't have much because it made the packing quicker. Once she was done, she sealed then with leftover tape and turned to Kuma, still waiting behind her with a sour expression.

"I know I'm not your favorite person right now, but if he comes back, don't answer, okay?"

Kuma's eyes narrowed in realization. "Got yourself in a bit of trouble, didn't you?"

"It's nothing serious," she tried to assure him with fake emotions, "But I don't want him beating up someone else for it. If he starts banging on the door tell him you'll call the police."

"Threatening him will make him think I'm hiding you."

"Well do you have a better plan?"

Kuma didn't get to say what he thought Mikan should do because there was a furious rap on his door. Their eyes met.

The medic with the flowers who visited Kuma never came at night.

He turned sharply and pushed the boxes further inside his apartment. Her duffle bag and clothes were forcibly pressed deeper in a laundry basket. The knock came again, louder and more urgent this time. Kuma put one finger on his lips, wordlessly telling her to be quiet, and then pointed at a corner window in his kitchen. Behind the apartment building was a narrow alley, the pathway too restricting for an average person to fit through, but it was one she knew well because it was the same alley she could see from behind her own window.

It was her escape route.

Kuma took loud obnoxious steps, consciously banging things as if he were in a hurry. He shouted, "Hold your horses" towards the door before turning back at Mikan to signal her to go through the window.

Without looking back, without a second thought, without even bothering to put back on her scarf, Mikan hurriedly slipped through the window and kept running, didn't stop running until she saw a cab slowly running at the edge of the road. She hopped in a breath and said the first address that came to mind.

Mikan was halfway through the trip when she realized she didn't have anything else other than her phone and the small wad of money still on her pocket. She wasn't as worried about her few possessions covertly tucked in Mr. Bear's apartment as she was with Mr. Bear himself. Austere or not, she didn't wish him ill.

At a record time of twenty-three minutes, Mikan alighted the cab. She hurried to a familiar black gate and pressed the doorbell, not stopping until a robed and irate Natsume emerged from the front door. He squinted his eyes, not recognizing who was mad enough to run out in the snow armed with just a jacket and a beanie hardly big enough to cover the back of her head thick with hair. It was three steps later when he recognized Mikan, so he rushed to the gate to usher her in.

"What are you doing here? Why are you dressed like that?"

"I do," Mikan blurted, her words coming out in gasps. She was shivering so much, from the cold and from what just happened, that it made talking difficult. "Your proposal. That's my answer."