Phew. This was a really difficult chapter to hook up, but I'm finally done! Hope you enjoy!

XXX

Mikan stood imperturbably on the other side of the wooden door, waiting for the guests to enter.

A tall man, appearing to be in his early 30s, greeted them. "Thank you for having us."

Mikan was going to say something but her grandpa beat her to it saying, "We're happy to finally meet Natsume's family."

Mikan tried. She tried hard to find any sort of resemblance between this man and the crimson eyed boy standing on the back corner of the living room, but to no avail.

He must take after his mother, she thought.

For starters, their hair color was different. His dad's hair was a shade of brown compared to Natsume's raven hair. Mr. Hyuuga kept his hair tied leaving a short ponytail on the back of his neck. Aside from their appearance, their posture and presence seemed almost identical.

He wasn't being rude in any sort, but Mikan noted the way Mr. Hyuuga could barely keep a smile on his face for less than a minute. Just like Natsume.

The man kept one hand in his pocket while talking to her ji-chan. She almost giggled when she turned to see Natsume doing the same.

Her attention now turned to the little girl next to him. She's so cute!

Though she must have only been two or three years younger than her, Mikan couldn't help herself from adoring the girl's innocent features. She had short black hair and crimson eyes matching her brother's. What stood out the most was the bright smile that remained on her face.

"Natsume nii-chan!" The little girl gleamed. "I missed you so much!"

She ran and embraced her brother. Natsume, not saying anything, patted her head.

Mikan was deeply touched by the scene. She could see how much Natsume meant to his sister. She tried imagining how she would feel if she reunited with a family member she cared about.

Flashback:

"I'm sorry Mikan, but it's called a Mother Daughter dance, so mothers and daughters only," the five year old pointed, showing no benignancy.

"That's okay," Mikan replied smiling ever so brightly. She made sure no one could see the storm building inside her.

As the music played, each little girl waltzed away with their mother, while she sat there watching. They laughed as they twirled. It was a happy occasion for the families.

Her eyes averted to the vacant doorway. Though it was highly unlikely (more like impossible), she hoped…prayed…begged even, for the woman that gave birth to her to enter through.

Minutes passed by and tears spilled down her cheeks, but she did not stop waiting.

She told herself if she stares at the doorway long enough, her mom will enter. She has to…

.

It would be like that, she thought as she saw happy tears caught in Aoi's eyes while she continually talked to her brother. If my outcome was different that night, I think I would react like that.

Meanwhile, Natsume looked up in the midst of the reunion and didn't miss the look his father gave him. He knew exactly what it meant. We need to talk.

.

"Lets have dinner now," Oji-chan announced. Mr. Hyuga nodded. Oji-chan motioned everyone to move to the dining room.

Mikan linked her arm with Aoi. "Aoi do you like chicken?"

Aoi smiled, "I love it. Thanks Mikan."

Mikan was startled. "H-how do you know my name?"

She giggled. "Natsume told me."

Mikan turned to her seemingly cold hearted inmate in shock. "You… what-"

"Hmph" was his comment to the conversation, before he paced himself to the dining table.

.

XXXX

"What did you say?"

"Your mission has been reassigned. You may go back to Alice Academy."

Persona chuckled, then laughed so loud, the squirrels or any living creature nearby hid in fear. The blond male standing across, however, didn't. "May I ask why?"

"You took items from the academy illegally and sold it to civilians. That is not only hazardous, it can also-"

"Psshh. They're toys."

"Alice toys, and can potentially be used as weapons." The blond male's tone remained stern. "Either way, High School Principal ordered to have you replaced. I'll be filling in."

Persona scoffed. "Cause you've been doing such a great job so far right? It's been, what was it again, 15 months! 15 months since you were assigned to bring Natsume Hyuga to the academy."

Persona grabbed a leaf from the tree the blond man was standing by and deteriorated it to crumbs within a second. "I think you're unclear about who's replacing who."

The man's violet eyes narrowed.

"And another thing Narumi, I was assigned by the elementary principal. I will not be leaving until he, himself, orders me to.

With that, persona disappeared in a flash as if he were a part of the night sky.

Narumi sighed. He knew he didn't have enough power to fight one on one with Persona. This was becoming troublesome.

.

"How has he been?"

"He's been good. Really good considering the conditions he's facing at this age."

Dinner was over and Natsume's father and oji-chan were now conversing on the back porch, while the kids were inside entertaining themselves.

"I want you to take this." Mr. Hyuuga urged, passing an envelope to the oji-chan.

"What is this?" He asked while opening the envelope. He discovered a wad of cash inside.

"It's for taking care of my son."

Oji-chan's face looked disgusted. "I don't need this."

"I heard of your financial crisis. Your retirement money won't take care of you forever. Just take it. I insist. You've done more than anyone would for a stranger."

"Taking your dirty money won't help me in any sort, and that boy in there is just as much my grandson as Mikan is my granddaughter."

Mr. Hyuuga chuckled. "Mikan? Is that her name? I see Yuka still hasn't come back, seeing her daughter remains here. Have you heard from her?"

"I haven't heard from her since the day she left."

"I wouldn't disappoint you like she did. This is why I want to reward you for your deed."

"Look, I may be old and dull, but my morals are as fresh and youthful as the day I was born. If this is all you came here for, then you may leave."

He gave a crooked smile. "You still haven't changed….Isamu Sensei."

"Neither have you, Kazuma," Oji-chan replied dismally.

.

Sensei? My dad and oji-chan know each other?

Natsume's eyes furrowed in bewilderment.

The raven haired boy had walked in moments ago to catch his dad offering something and his oji-chan rejecting it. He decided it wasn't the right time to interrupt and was going to walk back when he heard his oji-chan's voice. It was angry. His curiosity got the best of him, and so he sat behind a bush listening in.

.

"Even though you all were my students almost 20 years ago, I never forgot any one of you. I thought of you all as my children, and children are allowed to ask their parents for favors. When Yuka left her child with me, I wasn't disappointed. When you, without any explanation, told me to pick up your son from an abandoned alley. I may have been angry, no, furious, with you for leaving your son like that, but I wasn't disappointed. I knew you must have had personal reasons. The only time I was ever disappointed in you…is now."

Kazuma stood there at loss of words. He felt almost ashamed of his actions. Almost.

Natsume felt more than just a loss of words. The thoughts running through his mind were making his head ache. The day oji-chan found him and brought him in was planned?...by his dad?

.

"Mikan-chan do you want to want to see something cool?" Aoi chimed.

"Sure! What is it?" She waited patiently as the youngest Hyuuga searched through her velvet dress purse.

"Here it is." She held an incredibly unique stone.

"Wow," Mikan took the ruby like red stone, "it's beautiful. Where did you find this?"

Aoi shrugged. "I woke up one day and it was there. It always impresses everybody. I wanted to show nii-chan, but that was the day he left home. Aoi got really sick for a few days. When I got up, dad told me nii-chan had to leave and we had moved to a different house. That's why I brought this today to show him."

.

Natsume waited a few minutes after oji-chan stepped back in the house. He didn't want to make it obvious he overhead their talk and waited precisely for the perfect moment to walk in.

…Now

When he stepped in front of his dad, he cut to the chase and asked, "Why are you here?"

The alpha Hyuuga smiled. "I came here to see you, my son."

"Cut the crap and tell me why you're really here."

The fake smile he was trying to fool his son with obviously wasn't working so he dropped it, showing his usual cold face. "They're being really persistent. After that fire incident you caused, they just can't seem to let you go."

Natsume clenched his jaw. "You and I both know that wasn't me."

"We both also know you would take the blame in a heartbeat."

"So? I've been ...hiding away, just like you told me." He hesitated to finish that sentence because of the incident with Persona earlier today.

"Well, they seem to be getting impatient. They're even doing some research on your relations."

Natsume stood there distressed, not sure what to take of his father's words. Does he mean Mikan? Maybe persona wasn't at the store for him after all.

"Mrs. Nogi came over last week," his father added, shifting his thoughts and concerns to a different direction. "She was concerned about a certain letter she received. It was an invitation to Alice Academy."

Natsume felt his hands curl into fists. Damn those scouts. They're after Ruka now too?

.

"Aoi…how was Natsume at home?" Mikan wondered.

"Nii-chan and me fought a lot, but we always made up. He didn't like talking to me when he was in school, but if anyone ever bothered me he always stood up for me." She turned to her brother's inmate smiling and added, "I think he really likes you Mikan-chan."

She was taken aback by the sudden comment. "No he doesn't….he's always mad or annoyed at me." Mikan felt her face heating up.

Aoi shook her head in disagreement. "He doesn't say a lot in his letters but I asked him how you are and he told me you were different from other kids. You see, me and Natsume nii-chan had to move around a lot when we were kids. A different school and neighborhood every year was normal for us, so we never got to make friends. He only ever said this about one other person and that was Ruka-chan."

.

Kazuma placed his left elbow on the railing of the deck and shifted his weight on it. "They're also beginning to suspect that you may not be the only Hyuga heir with an alice. A year gives them a lot of time to think, you know." He sighed. "I won't force you, but I will advise you to take the offer before more get involved."

His apprehension turned to rage, against his dad. What he was feeling most, however, was betrayed. The one he'd expect to protect him was the one wanting to send him away. His heart became more and more dubious, and he found himself thinking there was no point to the effort he was putting to stay, when his own father didn't care. Natsume don't go. Don't leave me. I need you. An inner voice woke him from his turmoil. It was Mikan's voice. "No."

"No?"

"I won't leave. Not now."

"Not now? Don't tell me you're attached to these people."

The wistful look on his son's face confirmed his statement.

"Then tell me Natsume. Why are you here talking to me?" his father asked annoyed. "I know just as much as you that you would rather do anything but."

Natsume's face gleamed with conviction. "To make a deal."

"A deal?"

"...I won't go just because you told me. I'm making this deal with you now because I may not get the time if I ever make this decision."

"What is it?"

"If I ever surrender and go to Alice Academy, you will continue to protect Aoi,"

He nodded. That much was self-evident.

"You will make sure Ruka is never in any danger, and last of all, you will take care of Mikan and Oji-chan."

His dad felt hesitant to nod at the last part. "You don't have to feel like you owe them anything. I can't exactly explain it, but that oji-chan took you in as a favor for me. I'll repay him in my own terms."

"Regardless, I've felt more love from him and that girl than I ever did from you, my own father. In repayment for that, which is far more valuable than the shelter they gave, I want you to take them in the Hyuuga manor."

Natsume wasn't one to pry on other people's business, but it was becoming hard to ignore the debt collectors oji-chan chased out every month. Oji-chan always made sure to close the door before talking to them, so the kids wouldn't overhear and worry. Mikan was unaware of the situation but a kid as sharp and keen as Natsume, figured it out long before.

Asking his dad to take them in was his plan B. Plan A was to grow up, get a job, and pay their problems off himself.

"Do we have a deal?"

Mr. Hyuuga sighed, then reluctantly nodded.

XXX

"Thanks again for having us," Kazuma said, once again trying to hold out a smile.

This time, Oji-chan didn't respond and barely made eye contact.

"Wait!" Aoi yelled as her dad held her hand pulling her out the door. She ran toward Mikan and whispered something before leaving.

.

.

Natsume laid on the grass with his hands behind his head, staring at the night sky. The moonlight soothed him from the stress built inside him.

More than anything, he was relieved. Relieved he stood up to his dad once and for all.

Without him noticing, Mikan managed to sneak in sitting herself down next to him. She followed his actions and stared at the sky.

He stared at her and wondered how she could always keep such a happy expression on her face. After today, he came to realize she went through so many troubles of her own.

His dad mentioned her being left by her mom. Does she even know? He debated whether or not to tell her, but decided that it wasn't his business. This was between her and her grandpa. For all he knew, she may have already known.

He also thought about how his grandpa told his dad they were all his dear students, including the woman named, Yuka? Was it? That woman was Mikan's mother. That could mean their parents knew each other long before they did. He was still unclear about that mystery so he wouldn't even know how to tell Mikan, even if he wanted to.

"This is nice." Mikan commented.

"Huh?"

"Just sitting out here like this. I felt really bad for Aoi today. She had to go home alone without her brother. I think today is the day I am most happy you're living with us. Thank you." She smiled. She also wanted to thank him for what he said to his sister, but knowing him, she knew it was better not to bring that up.

His eyes met hers for seconds, before he finally turned away. "What's good about staying with me" he muttered.

She giggled in response.

The calm night gave them a peaceful setting. The nightlight turned her hair a few shades darker giving her a chocolate color. He wasn't sure if it was because of the way the moonlight glistened on her face or her hair being let down rather than tied in two ponytails, but she looked prettier today than other days.

"I showed our toys to Aoi," she said, interrupting the moment he was having by himself. "You know, my pillow and your card. We didn't open it so don't get mad."

"Why would I get mad if you opened that stupid card?"

"Because it's yours," she simply explained. She handed the card to him.

He stared at it. "4th of July in a card?" If that didn't sound ridiculous enough, there were instructions on the back. The card had freakin instructions. "Please open and leave the card at least 50 feet from any living being."

He stood up and listened to the instructions opening the package and putting the card down at the end of their backyard. "Move back." He grabbed her arm and pulled her back.

In about 30 seconds, fireworks began exploding from the card up to the sky.

Mikan's eyes lit up when she saw the enchanting scene. "Wow! This is so cool!"

She wasn't the only one surprised. Natsume stared in awe as each firework boomed up in the sky. Persona sold these items to them, which he got from Alice Academy. It led him to think.… What kind of different alices are out there?

XXX

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So there you have it. As you can see, there was a lot going on in this chapter. If you have any questions or comments, leave a review and let me know! I'm debating whether to have a carefree chapter next or to conclude the kid arc and move to when they get older. Let me know! I take all suggestions under consideration.