Written by – Unknown Pain & Rekindled Moroseness.

Disclaimer – I don't want to be a show-off or something, but.. I FINALLY do OWN— *gets slapped in the face by Rekindled Moroseness* … I-I mean, I and Morosé don't own anything.. -_-

A Bittersweet Pleasure

"Loving you is like trying to touch a star; I know I can't reach you, yet I can't help but try."

-Unknown Pain-

-Chapter I – What A Disaster-

I stared at my mother, too stunned to utter even a single word. Did I hear it correctly? Did she just say that she was getting married? Was I hallucinating or was she really moving on?

"Excuse me?" I asked, my voice an octave higher than normal.

Yuka, my mother, stared at me calmly, not even a hint of panic on her face. Her short brown hair was tucked behind her ears and her amber eyes were focused on my face. "I know I should have told you before. But, Mikan, you wouldn't have let me date anyone if I told you," she said.

"Mom! What about Dad? How could you?!" I screeched. "Did you even love him in the first place?"

Her eyes were fiery, a sign that she was angry. "Mikan Sakura! How dare you ask me such question?! Of course I loved your father! And I still do! But he's not here anymore! I deserve happiness too, Mikan! What do you want me to do? Mope around for the rest of my life?" she yelled, banging her right hand against the table.

I squirmed under her angry gaze, but I wasn't going to back down. "But, Mom! You're getting married? Without introducing the guy to me first?" I yelled back.

She took a deep breath, obviously trying to calm herself down. "I know, I was wrong. But, Mikan, he's a good guy, give him a chance," she pleaded.

"How do you want me to react, Mom? By saying 'oh, wonderful, I can't wait to meet him!'?" I said sarcastically.

"Mikan Sakura," she warned. I glared at her, I wasn't afraid of her at this moment. She was the one who did wrong; I was just reacting to her stupid news. I had every right to be angry with her.

How could she do such a thing? She's betraying me… She's betraying Dad! She always said that Dad was the only one and nobody else could replace him. That she loved him and nobody else! And this! She's getting married with a… random guy that I didn't even know. She didn't even introduce him to me. How did she expect me to 'give him a chance' if I never saw that guy in my whole life before?

I sighed mentally. Ugh, fine. Maybe she's a little bit right. Maybe she deserved some happiness. After the death of my father, Yukihira, five years ago, my mother was just a big, dark, gloomy cloud that was wandering through the streets and through our home. I always hated it to see my mother like that; every time if I saw her pained face or tears, I felt like someone had just stabbed my heart so many times that I began to cry.

When my father died, she never dated a guy anymore. Not only because I didn't want her to date anyone, but also because she never dared to do so. She never told me though, but I could tell. Her expression, her tears, her eyes: everything about her told me that she just was too scared to lose someone again.

But after she began to date again, she looked so much happier: her tears were gone and she began to grace me her famous, warm smile again. And if she's happy, I'm happy. So, maybe she's right about her deserving some happiness. I only wanted my mother to be happy, and nothing else.

But I had no idea who the guy she was going to marry was; she never talked about him or anything. What if the guy was a pervert who just wanted to bang her then leave her alone? She could at least show me a picture of him or she could at least say who he was, what his name was, etc. But no, of course not. She just had to say it like this, like it wasn't a big deal at all.

Well, it is obviously a big deal to me! She hasn't told me anything about that damn guy who she's, apparently, sharing her/his bed with nor about her getting engaged! I'm her fucking daughter! What's with her? Didn't she trust me or what?!

"Why didn't you tell me anything?!" I hissed, standing up from my chair, slamming my hands on the table. Mom stayed calm, her hands folded in front of her chest.

"Calm down," she began with a stern look. I frowned as a reply. "I wanted it to be a surprise, so that's why I haven't told you anything. I thought you would be happy for me."

I shot her a quick glare. "But that doesn't explain the fact that you haven't told me about that guy you're sharing your goddamn bed with!" My mother cleared her throat, her stern look still present. "I told you already, Mikan. I know it is wrong, and I'm sorry for not saying anything about it. But, you wouldn't accept it anyway. You wouldn't let me date him."

"Of course not!" I cried, slamming my hand on the table again, not caring that my mother was going to scold me. "Why the hell do you think I'm not letting you date anyone?! That is because you promised Dad that you would love only him and nobody else! That he was the only one for you, and nobody else! And now… he's dead. You're dating someone else, you're sharing your bed with him and you're saying the same things that you promised Dad! I'm sure of that! Maybe that guy who's banging you around is making you happy, but you're betraying us, Mom! No. Not me, but Dad. You're fucking betraying Dad!"

Not a second later after I realized what I just shouted at my mother, I gasped loudly in shock and covered my mouth quickly with my two hands. Oh God... Did I just… say that?

I was staring at my mother with shock written all over my face. My mother was shocked as well, but her expression soon changed. "Mikan Sakura!" she scolded, looking furious. "How dare you to talk to me like that!" she yelled at me. "You know that it isn't true! I loved your father. I still love your father. And that will never change!"

Mom took a deep breath, before releasing it again to calm herself down. She cleared her throat and licked her dry lips. "I understand why you're reacting that way. It was wrong to tell you the news this way. It was wrong and I'm terribly sorry about that. And, I understand that it is hard to see another man around your mother who isn't your father. But you need to understand, Mikan, that I want some happiness too."

She sighed, her lips forming a thin smile. "This man is making me really happy and I haven't felt that way since your father died. What do you want me to do, Mikan, turn back into what I was after your father died?" I widened my eyes, pretending to be curious about the floor. "I know that I was hurting you back then, and I hated it. I don't want that. And when he came around, it all changed. He made me happy; he made me feel special again like how I felt when I was with your father back then."

I bit my lip. "He's a good guy, Mikan. Please give him a chance. I'll make sure you're going to meet him as soon as possible."

I sighed deeply, plopping down back on the chair. My eyes were still focused on the floor. I never… thought of it like that. "W-when… will the wedding be?" I mumbled, licking my dry lips.

"The wedding will be two weeks before the end of your summer vacation, so about a couple of weeks." I shifted my eyes to her, widening them as much as I could. W-w-wha—?!

My jaw almost dropped. I was staring at her with disbelief written all over my face. About a couple of weeks?! "B-but…! But summer will only last for six weeks!" I uttered. She nodded her head twice, smiling at me excitedly.

"We want to get married as soon as possible."

"Seriously?" Nonoko gasped in surprise, her dark blue eyes widening in surprise.

"That must suck," Anna said sympathetically, but she was still busy applying her eyeliner, which made her doesn't seem sympathetic at all. Meanwhile, Sumire, my other best friend, was busy eyeing a guy who was sitting two tables away from us.

I groaned. "Can't you two pay more attention to me? What am I? Chopped liver?" I growled in frustration. Anna put down her eyeliner once she has finished applying it and looked at me squarely in the eye. Sumire ignored me, still eyeing the guy.

"Permy!" I shrieked. "I am desperate here! Look at me and listen to me!"

Sumire sighed. "Don't make such a big fuss over it, Mikan. What's the big deal? Your mom is getting married to a rich guy, right? Isn't that good news?" she said, rolling her eyes.

"Definitely not," I said exasperatedly.

"Don't be such a drama queen," Sumire retorted.

"When are you meeting him anyway?" Nonoko asked.

"Tonight, apparently," I said matter-of-factly, not bothering to hide the irritation in my voice. How could she do that to me, really? It was just yesterday that she told me about her plan of getting married, and now I had to meet my soon-to-be stepfather? Awesome, Mom.

"Let's hope the guy has a hot son, that way you won't get bored," Sumire said, her eyes still glued on the guy sitting two tables away from us. I glanced at the guy Sumire had been eye-fucking for a while and had to admit that he was handsome. He had tousled raven hair and was running his hands through it. He looked upset for he was glaring at the raven-haired girl sitting opposite of him.

"Mikan, Permy, stop eye-fucking that guy." Anna giggled. I shot a glare at her; I was so not eye-fucking the hot guy. Sumire licked her lips and giggled. "Damn, that guy is so hot," Sumire said matter-of-factly.

"Girls, come on! I'm in dire need of help here!" I whined.

Nonoko sighed. "What do you want me to say, Mikan? Just be a big girl and get over it, alright?" Anna nodded in agreement.

I sighed inwardly and darted my eyes somewhere else, knowing that my friends definitely couldn't provide me with the answers I sought. My eyes immediately landed on the raven-haired guy that Sumire was previously eye-fucking. He slammed his fist against the table and stood up, leaving the café hastily. The raven-haired girl was left behind, seeming perfectly at ease. Maybe they were having a lovers' quarrel?

That inspired me; I should just throw a tantrum tonight during my meeting with my soon-to-be stepfather. Oh, yes, this should be interesting, I smirked inwardly.

My friends all stared at me bemusedly, obviously wondering what had triggered my sudden change of mood. I just shot them an innocent smile, not wanting to reveal my plan. They'd tell me that I was being an immature brat, but who cares?

I am an immature brat and I am so gonna throw a tantrum. Watch me, Mom.

"Come on, Mikan. Give it a chance," said my mother as she brushed her fingers through her brown bangs as a sign of frustration, before placing her hand back on the black wheel of the car.

I growled a low "humph' as I rolled my eyes. I was leaning my head on my hand, and my arm was leaning on the arm rest. I was staring out of the window seeing my reflection, making me curl the edges of my full, red lips into a smirk.

I was normally an immature, brave yet innocent and optimistic girl who always wore clothes that didn't show anything to anyone. But now, because I was clad in this clothes, I couldn't act like that girl, could I?

My long, brown hair was tied in a high ponytail with some brown locks of my bangs hanging at each side of my face. I had smoky-eyes and dark, red lipstick applied on my lips. I was clad in a black crop top with a very low neckline that would expose my breasts if I tried to lean over to something, and tight, black jeans.

My new "style" wasn't really helping me on keeping my "innocent" look, but I didn't really care… For now.

My mother and I were now driving towards a stylish, expensive restaurant to meet my soon-to-be stepfather. Before we left home, Mom asked me if I could wear something stylish because we were going to an expensive, chic restaurant. I knew why because it was really rare for us to go to the restaurant. I didn't want to go and thought of a plan: I went to my closet, to look for the clothes Sumire bought me once when she, Anna and Nonoko were planning to drag me to a night club.

I struggled to put them on, and struggled with my makeup but it was done. And even though I didn't like it, it was all worth it.

Mom wasn't, of course, happy with my appearance, but that was the plan. I planned to look like a skank, so that my mother would be embarrassed. The plan was that she wouldn't want to bring me to that chic restaurant and decide to bring me back home and so I wouldn't need to meet my soon-to-be stepfather.

I glanced over at her. Truth to be told, while I looked like a skank, she looked beautiful: her brown hair was tied up backwards with a big, violet clip to expose her silver earrings and she was wearing a beautiful, long purple dress with glittered hem.

Mom glanced back at me, slightly creasing her eyebrows. "I can't believe you decided to wear those. I asked you to wear that beautiful orange dress that I bought for you last year, not those. Remember, we're going to a chic, expensive restaurant. Not a night club." She sighed. "And truth to be told, you look like a whore now."

I frowned at her. Even though I wanted to look like this, I couldn't help but get angry at her because of what she said. "Tch, I don't look like a whore, Mom," I spat, turning my eyes back to the window. "But if you think I look like a whore, then turn the car, go back home and leave me there so you can go alone. It would be really embarrassing if I were to go with you in these clothes, am I right?"

I saw her smirking, making me blink. Why was she smirking? I turned to her. "What?" I asked.

"I know what you're doing, Mikan. But trust me, dear: your little plan won't work. You need to give him a chance. And when you have met him, you would know what I'm talking about,"

I narrowed my eyes while slightly pouting at her before I turned my gaze back to the window, grunting a soft 'humph' to let her know that I didn't really care.

We'll see about that, Mom.

The restaurant turned out to be a small yet exclusive Italian restaurant that was often featured in magazines. I knew that because Anna loved cooking and food, and often moaned about how much she wanted to eat in this restaurant.

The hostess had just refused to gain me access to the restaurant and Mom was definitely irritated. She talked to the hostess but the hostess just wouldn't budge, kept saying that my dress wasn't appropriate for the place. I just smirked at Mom the whole time, knowing that the wheels had turned to my favor.

"Give it up, Mom. Just go inside, I can catch a cab home," I said, trying not to sound too giddy.

She glared at me. "You wish, young lady." She fished for her cell phone and when she had it in her hand, she dialed someone's number. "Hello?" A pause. "Yeah, I'm here, but Mikan is trying to." Another pause. "What? No, I can't! . . . Fine, fine." She grumbled then hung up.

A moment later, an older gentleman came out of the restaurant. He was dressed impeccably, in an expensive-looking suit and he had a wide grin on his face when he saw Mom. That was the moment that I knew the guy was my soon-to-be stepfather. He wasn't ugly; I had to say that he was a bit attractive for a man his age. He waved at Mom, which made me cringe outwardly. Did he just act like a stupid teenage boy in love?

I looked at Mom and caught her wearing a Cheshire grin on her face, which made me want to yell at her even more. The man gave her a thumbs-up gesture and talked to the hostess. They seemed to be in a heated discussion before he finally slipped a bill to her hands. She smiled sweetly at him then he left the hostess to talk to Mom.

"You look beautiful tonight," he said to Mom.

I made a face. Mom caught me and immediately sent me a warning glare. "Back at you, Nobuo." Mom winked. What the heck? "Sorry for bothering you, really. This is Mikan. Mikan, this is Nobuo Hyuuga."

He extended his hand to me, but I quickly dismissed it by nodding curtly and taking a step away from him. Mom opened her mouth to talk, but I quickly cut her off. "Let's don't bother with courtesy, shall we? I'm not saying that I'm not gonna give you a chance to prove that you're a good man, but I'm still pissed at the fact that you dated my mother for months without me knowing. I'm angry at the two of you and I won't pretend to be civil." I huffed.

To my surprise, Nobuo let out a hearty laugh. "You'll get along with my son just fine, I believe," he said.

I scowled, annoyed that I didn't get the reaction I sought. I expected him to be as annoyed as Mom, or better yet, to be so disgusted at his soon-to-be stepdaughter and call off his engagement with Mom. That was mean but I was really pissed at the two of them, so my wish was totally justified.

"I'm sorry—"

"She was right, Yuka. We hid the fact about us dating from our kids: they have every right to be angry with us," he said gently, taking Mom's hand in his. Ew.

They continued their conversation and I tuned them out, not wanting to hear their sickening banters. I followed them into the restaurant, trailing behind them while my eyes were fixed on their intertwined hands. She really was in love with him and vice versa. It was the first time I saw Mom looking so happy and I didn't have the heart to crush her. But I was still pissed, so my logic wasn't in tune with my actions.

We were led to a booth at the far end of the restaurant and there, in the booth, was a guy: an insanely gorgeous raven-haired guy, a guy that somewhat looked so familiar. He was fiddling with his BlackBerry, typing furiously on it. Next to the guy sat a raven-haired girl who was giggling at him, saying something that made the guy groan in annoyance. He put his BlackBerry down on the table and seemed to snap at the girl, but she just shrugged. The girl too looked familiar, and even the scene looked too familiar to be true.

I blinked; I felt like I had just seen them earlier, but I couldn't figure out where.

Nobuo cleared his throat, causing the girl to look at us. The girl immediately smiled warmly at Nobuo and Mom, but when her eyes darted to me, she cast me a disapproving look. What the heck was her problem?

Nobuo put a hand on my shoulder and I immediately slapped his hand away. "Don't touch me," I growled in annoyance.

"Thank God, someone finally decided to put you in your place," the guy spoke, his crimson eyes trained on Nobuo. His tantalizing eyes moved to eye me and I suddenly felt exposed; he was practically ogling me. Oh, the nerve of the jerk.

"Have you ever heard of the term decency?" I sneered at the guy.

He raised his eyebrow at me. "Have you ever heard of the term clothes? You practically asked me to eye-fuck you when you're wearing that pathetic excuse of a shirt." He snorted.

"Calm down, kids!" Nobuo said while Yuka massaged her temple, stressing over my behavior perhaps.

"No," the raven-haired guy blurted out.

"Natsume . . ." Nobuo warned. Oh, finally a name to put with a face.

"Don't Natsume me, Dad. I'm sorry I can't be a fucking saint like Aoi and I'm sorry that I don't like the fact that you're getting married. I'm also sorry that I can't like your soon-to-be wife and her daughter. I'm sorry I'm a major disappointment and I'm sorry I look like Mom so much that you don't want to look at me sometimes," Natsume snapped at Nobuo. He got up, practically kicking the chair, making a scene in the chic restaurant. He walked past us and made his way to the entrance of the restaurant.

Oh, what a disaster, indeed.

U.P – And here it is: the newest story of Rekindled Moroseness and me, A Bittersweet Pleasure. Yes, this is my very first M-rated fanfic! Why you ask? Because I wanted something new, that's why. But… don't expect that I'm gonna write LEMON parts or anything. Nope, nada, nu-uh, no. Maybe I will write some kissing scenes, but that's it. I just leave the LEMON parts to the co-author of this fic, Morosé (Rekindled Moroseness), so you can just forget that thought of me writing LEMON. Okay?

Alright, now I have said that, I wanted to talk to you guys about the updating of this story: Morosé and I are both having a life to live. I hope that already explains you enough that the story is not going to be updated fast. So, please be patient, okay? ^^

I hope you all liked this chapter, and please review and please don't flame. Morosé and I won't accept any flames, only criticisms that is helping us to improve our story. So, only CRITICISMS and no FLAMES. I hope you all understood that.

So, again, please review and let us know if we need to continue this story.

Much love from both of us,
- Unknown Pain & Rekindled Moroseness.