Title: A Letter to No One
Fandom: Natsume Yuujinchou
Characters: Natsume Reiko, Natsume Takashi, Nyanko-sensei
Rating: G
Words: 679
Summary: Reiko wrote a letter and Takashi, as her only remaining relative, is the one to read it after many, many years have passed.
Notes: Written for a prompt over at fic_promptly, and it had to be written in letter format, so I thought I'd give it a try and see how it went.

I'll write this down because no one else is ever going to get this. I've never written a letter before - never had anyone to write one to - but there's a first time for everything and I felt like writing one. So no questions, imaginary reader.

There's a lot of things I could talk about - like the color of the sky, or how nice the weather is, or how are you today? I'm doing great! - but I don't like the mundane. The ordinary. So let's talk about something no else can see. Do you know what ayakashi are? Yes, spirits, ghouls, beasts, goblins, beings that no one can see. Or no one, that is, except for me.

I've been an oddball since birth. My parents died when I was little, so I was an orphan that other people had to take care. I was a burden. It didn't help that I saw strange things that lurked in the shadows and my relatives thought something was wrong with me. They once had me institutionalized, until they realized they couldn't change me. Nothing could change me, because I didn't want to change.

So I endured the sneers and the laughs and the whispers behind my back, and I started to pay more attention to the things that only I could see. I challenged them to games, and I had fun. Every day was fun.

There are still people who look down on me, but that's okay, because I learned how to protect myself soon enough. Let's just say some kids - a lot of them, too - went crying home to their mommies. It was their own fault. It isn't ethical to pick a fight you can't win. I always, always fought knowing I would win. It wasn't worth the effort, otherwise.

I made myself a Book of Friends, you know. It's not much, but it's something. Sort of like a life ambition, or something like that. It's my goal to make the biggest one there is, not that I know too many people who list all their 'friends' in one book. Not that I know many people, either. Mostly, I look forward to interacting with ayakashi, because they at least acknowledge my presence. Some even fear me (they should!), but it's kind of weird to be called a 'harbinger' when all I've ever done is play games and tease them a little. Really, what's the harm in that?

Anyway, what I really want to say is … to all you imaginary people out there, who might actually care, who might know who I am … what would you do if you could see something you shouldn't? Would you run and hide? Would you cower and quake? Or would you stand up and face the life you've been given?

I like to think I've chosen that last one, but sometimes, I wonder if I'm not missing something I shouldn't be without. Even when I'm surrounded by ayakashi, who know me and recognize me, I can't help but wonder what life I would have lived if I was anyone else but me. Maybe, if I had been a little more frightened, a little less headstrong, I could have made a real friend.

Don't get me wrong. I don't care. Who needs friends when you can have minions? That's the better deal!

Want to be my minion, too?

Signed,
Natsume Reiko

Takashi folded the note back into quarters and placed it back in the box that contained his grandmother's things. "Reiko-san sure had a way with words."

"Are you kidding! She was horrible! And what was that, a sob story?" Nyanko-sensei rolled over, taking his sake bottle with him. "She could have taken some lessons from you. At least you have good handwriting."

"I'm not sure if I should be insulted or flattered." Takashi got off his knees and picked up the box. "Come on, Nyanko-sensei, we still have cleaning to do."

The lucky-cat grumbled, but he did help out. He wasn't going to let Takashi end up like Reiko - alone.