A/N: I think that updates will be frequent :) I'll try to hit about 5-10 short stories until the grand finale on the 25th! On another note, I'm open to requests (but don't be sad if I don't take it...)!

I hope you enjoy the second story! Happy holidays!


02: Snowflake

Summary: Little Natsume does not feel lonely anymore when he meets a little girl with two pigtails. Mild angst, fluff.


Little Natsume sits on his front porch, eyes cast to the white park across the road. There is light snow falling from the sky, and he catches one on his palm. He turns his attention from the shouting and screaming of happy children to the snowflake in his hand, watching in fascination as it slowly melts from something so, so beautiful and intricate— into nothingness, just boring old water dripping down his palm lines.

"It's time for dinner!" He hears his mother call, but he does not reply. Instead he sits and watches some more, as the children in the park start to go home and retreat back into warmth, and as the laughter finally dies out in front of him. When the last little girl, a girl with two pigtails, leaves the park, it is then that Natsume stands up from his spot on the porch and goes back in as well.


The next morning, Natsume resumes his vigil at the front porch.

He sits unblinking. Natsume is a little chilly from the cold morning winds, so he hundles tighter into the scarf around his neck and brings his legs closer to his chest. He rests his chin onto his knees, red eyes scanning the park before him. He spots the little girl from the previous day and watches as she laughs without a care in the world, her eyes lighting up and her dimples showing. Natsume oddly feels relieved as he looks at her, and contented warmth settles within him.

The little girl, just then, snaps her head in his direction, and hazel curiously prods into amber. Natsume breaks the eye contact by standing up and heading inside earlier than usual.


Natsume does not sit outside the next morning.

He mopes about the whole day because he has nothing to do. He feels antsy and downcast and he knows why he is so but refuses to believe it. Natsume decides to flip through his old manga and he spends the whole afternoon rereading all of his collection until he gets bored again.

With a huff, he heads downstairs and sits on the front porch. His heart feels lighter as he watches the children outside playing and shouting and screaming a fuss in the park, and snow once again falls from the early evening sky. The sky is orange with purple beginnings, and he feels that it is sort of representative of the situation. He's purple and the little girl is orange.

The girl is there, and she notices Natsume. Natsume does not budge this time, as the girl smiles and waves to him. He pretends not to notice.

Five minutes later, he heads back in for dinner.


Natsume oversleeps the next day. He drags himself out of his bed and brushes his teeth in a sleepy daze. He then trots downstairs, hair still messy from tossing in bed the previous night. It is only when he sits down at the dining table that he notices a girl with pigtails sitting across from him, grinning brilliantly.

"Ma," Natsume starts cautiously, careful to clear his throat before he speaks, "did you get pregnant again and not tell us?"

Natsume's mother, Kaoru, scoffs at her son and sets his plate of omelette in front of him. "Don't be rude, Natsume. This is our neighbour's daughter, Mikan." Natsume picks up his fork and starts jabbing the egg. "She said that you seemed lonely, so she's here to play today. Isn't that right, honey?"

The girl with pigtails, now apparently named Mikan, nods with enthusiasm and claps her hands in glee. "Yes! We're gonna have so much fun, Mrs. Hyuuga!" Natsume swallows down his mouthful of food (and his excitement). "Is it alright if I call you Natsume, Natsume?"

A pregnant pause hangs over the room before the boy mumbles with a blush, "Do whatever you want, pigtails."

Mikan responds by shooting him a smile as bright as the star at the top of the house's Christmas tree.


Little Natsume sits on his front porch, eyes cast to the white park across the road. There is light snow falling from the sky, and he catches it on his palm. He turns his attention from the shouting and screaming of happy children to the snowflake in his hand, watching in fascination as it slowly melts, and somehow he is overcome with a sense of loss when it's reduced to a small puddle of water.

"Come on, Natsume, let's go in for dinner." He hears a child's voice behind him and feels a little hand tugging at his sleeve. He stands up and wipes the water off his palms and onto his jeans. Natsume follows the girl's instructions and trots into the warmth of his home, heart as light as a snowflake.


A/N: Do leave a little review as it makes me happy and more so Christmassy :)

(I'm drinking some hot chocolate right now.)