Battle!
Chapter 1 - The Meeting
It was raining. One cannot see the moon. People were running to find a shelter, hoping that the rain will stop. The ones with cars were getting impatient. The rain always causes traffic. In this country, everyone has their own problems to solve. That's why; no one will care if someone is suffering. No one. Really?
A white limousine was suspended along with the other cars. It seems that there had been an accident. No car can move. To make matters worse, it's raining really hard. A little girl with auburn hair and hazel eyes sat inside the limo. She was observing the world outside. She wore a simple sleeveless white dress.
"Mikan-sama, are you bored?" A man with blond hair and amethyst eyes asked. He was a butler that achieved lots of achievements when he was in butler school. He graduated as the best butler and received a special award for his outstanding records. Of course, every butler wears suits and ties. He was no exception.
She shook her head. "I'm not, Narumi. And, haven't I told you to call me Mikan?"
Narumi smiled gently. "Forgive me, milady, but I like calling you like this."
She pouted.
He laughed.
After a while, something caught her eye. "Please stop the car, though it s not moving." She smiled at the confused faces of Narumi, Maria (a maid) and Taka (the driver). "I'll be going down." She could sense that the group will be giving disapproving answers. "Please?" she insisted.
The three sighed and let her go down. Narumi opened an umbrella while Maria did the same. Taka was instructed to park and wait for them. The two were sheltering Mikan with the umbrella.
Mikan went at the middle. Her two servants seemed confused by her act. Then they saw a running girl with raven hair. She was drenched, obviously, by the rain. She bumped into Mikan making the two of them fall.
Mikan looked at the girl who was breathless. As the raven haired girl looked up, Mikan saw a pair of crimson eyes. It was very beautiful and rare.
"Sorry." The little girl mumbled.
Mikan smiled. "Why are you running?"
Then as if answering her question, a middle-aged man came running to them. He stopped in front of them and the little girl froze in fright.
Mikan wondered. "Can we do something for you, sir?" she asked.
When the man finally caught his breath, he pointed towards the girl. "She stole two apples and four loaves in my store!" he shouted making everyone walking by look at them.
Mikan looked at the girl then at Narumi, who obviously wanted to butt in the conversation. She smiled at Narumi, signaling him not to interfere. She returned her gaze to the man. "Are you sure, sir?"
"Of course! I saw it with my own two eyes!" he became irritated.
Mikan went to Narumi and whispered softly. "Give him money."
Narumi sighed and nodded. He took bills out of his pocket and handed it to Mikan.
Mikan took it and gave it to the man smiling. "I believe that it is more than enough. I hope that now, you'll leave us alone."
The man went away.
The little girl sighed in relief.
Mikan went in front of the girl with a serious face. She knelt in order to look at her face to face. "Is it true?"
The girl nodded.
"You should not do that." Mikan said wiping the girl's wet face with her hanky. "It is bad."
"Aoi!" someone shouted.
The little girl looked at the speaker as well as Mikan, Narumi and Maria. They saw a raven haired boy with the same crimson eyes.
"Natsume ni-chan!" The little girl shouted.
The boy named Natsume went towards her sister.
Mikan stood and smiled. Then she noticed that the corner of his mouth had a bruise. She frowned. She wiped it gently, surprising Natsume. "You should take care of yourself, the two of you. It's raining pretty hard. You should go home immediately before you catch a cold."
The two did not answer.
"I'll take the two of you home. Where do you live?"
"We don't have a house." Aoi whispered silently.
Mikan looked at them. She saw sadness in their eyes. "Your parents?"
Aoi shook her head.
"What do you care?" Natsume asked a hint of anger in his voice.
"How dare you speak like – "Maria was cut off by Mikan's smile.
"Of course I care because you'll be coming home with me." She answered.
Their eyes widened in shock. "WHAT?" they asked in unison.
She chuckled.
"Milady!" Narumi and Maria looked at her.
"Don't defy me." She said gently and sweetly.
They both sighed. "As you wish, milady." They bowed in unison.
"Wait a minute!" Natsume said recovering from his shock. "You've gotta be kidding!"
"I am not. Now, please go in the car so that we may go. The sooner we get at my place the better because it lessens the possibility of the two of you getting a cold."
"You don't even know us!" he reasoned.
"Introductions will be done later in the car. Now, do you want to go?"
She went towards the car letting them decide.
The two soon followed.
She smiled.
"Taka, sorry, it seems that you'll need to dry this car tomorrow."
"I don't know what happened, milady, but it is alright."
"Thank you. Please turn the heater on. Narumi, please get the spare jackets and give one to each."
Narumi nodded.
Mikan continued wiping the water off Aoi's hair. "My name is Mikan Sakura, 5 years old."
"My name is Aoi! 3 years old!"
"Natsume, 5 years old."
"You don't have surnames?"
They looked down.
"Then, from now on the two of you are Natsume Hyuuga and Aoi Hyuuga. You will forget about your past and start a new life from now on. Ne?"
The two looked at her with surprised faces.
The trip continued in silence. The rain stopped.
Aoi fell asleep, her head on Mikan's lap.
Mikan woke Aoi up when they entered the huge gates of the mansion.
They entered the front garden. The flowers glistened as the moon shined on the raindrops that lingered on its petals.
The two children were in awe to see a large house.
When the car stopped, Narumi went down first then Maria. After them, Mikan, Aoi and Natsume went down.
They entered the gigantic doors of the mansion. Men and women wearing their respective uniforms lined on each side and bowed at them. "Welcome back, milady!" they greeted in unison.
"I'm back everyone! We will have a new member in our family!" She shouted cheerfully as they went inside. "Let me introduce to you, Natsume Hyuuga and his sister, Aoi Hyuuga! Please treat them well!"