A/N: Lookie what I made with vodka and a lack of sleep!
Zicke zacke zickie zacke! Hoi!
This is an in universe AU and I apologize for any grammar mistakes.
Tangerine Scent
1
Nami was very well educated, her status practically called for it. Yet in all the history lessons she had never heard of a noble household quite like hers. Her adoptive mother, an ex marine had created a successful tangerine business from pies to perfumes. Deciding she wanted her daughters to live the greatest lives they could live, she chose to live in a big city and market her products there. Once the nobles caught on, their family was allowed into high society and the woman's military rank only did them favors. Merchants often made the biggest name for nobles but no one would ever suspect tangerines to be their business.
Nami didn't remember much of her early life, but her earliest memories where of shiny things and being able to have the best everything. However; her sister, Nojiko, made sure that she wasn't a completely spoiled brat. Nojiko asked for little and usually gave Nami the things she didn't want. It was odd behavior for a young girl of such high rank to refuse gifts and have such a humble attitude, but it was her sister and Nami couldn't fault her for her personality.
So there they where, an all female, noble household that made it big off tangerines. Despite Bell-mère's rank, there was still negativity in the air for her age and how she wasn't married, nor of noble birth and her children were picked up off a battle field. But said nobles found themselves on the receiving end of a deadly glare from the female trio because family was family no matter where they came from. Bell-mère decided to call them the Mikan family. It was simple, childishly so. Yet no one complained and it just stuck.
Aeria Island wasn't extremely large but still housed thousands of people. The city being its one main attraction with plenty of grasslands for farming. The Mikan household even has its own land, several acres of tangerines that Bell-mère, Nojiko and even Nami would tend to along with paid workers who gladly took the job since other nobles tended to underpay their own. Despite being a commoner's task, Nami enjoyed growing the fruits especially when she had her mother and sister with her.
Though Nami held a fascination with maps and travel, she felt as though this as the best life she could have. Raised as a proper lady and a bit of a tomboy she wore her hair short, yet enjoyed skirts and cute clothes, but always kept a collapsible staff on hand even if she had to keep it in a purse. Bell-mère was proud of how she turned out, but she took pride in both her daughters.
After a long, abnormally hot day of field work, Nami returned to her quarters in the family household to find clothes for after a nice hot shower and bath. A hot breeze wafted from the window and Nami considered shutting it. Her room was rather high up in the estate they lived in. Bell-mère refused the offers for one of the fancier, five story homes and chose one of the smallest. She claimed, "There's no use getting lost in my own house." The height was still enough for the sun to bare its harsh rays depending on the time of day. But it gave the best illumination for her maps when she studied and drew them.
Deciding against closing the window, Nami entered her walk in closet to find something to wear for the rest of the day. After going a few steps in, she jolted as she heard a thud. Panicked, she whipped her head to her room.
"Is anyone there?" she called. The walls where pretty thick, so she seldom heard sounds from around the house. When Nami received no answer, she shrugged. The window was open after all, so it could have come from outside.
Come from outside.
Suddenly more alert, Nami speedily walked back into her room and looked around.
The light orange and white color scheme of her room looked just as it did a few moments ago. Sighing, Nami returned to the closet and picked out something simple. A light, pink dress to slip into so she could be comfortable until night time. Before exiting the room, Nami closed the window and gave one last look over of the room. Since her maps where intact and nothing seemed abnormal, she left.
