Written by Lotus
Prompt: Box
Rating: K+
Summary: In which it was started with a box.
Disclaimer: We own nothing
It all started with a box. An ordinary, brown, cardboard box. A box that, in all honesty, was not even supposed to be there. Mistakes, it appeared, happened though, because there was the box, sitting on his doorstep when he got home from work.
Kanda grumbled, lifting the box from the concrete step and propping it against his hip as he fiddled his key into the lock and opened the door. He stepped into his apartment and toed off his shoes before moving into the kitchen. He set the box down on the counter and went back to the door to retrieve his key.
The door was shut and locked once more and Kanda almost forgot about the box in the kitchen as he went to change out of his work clothes and into something more comfortable. It wasn't until he walked back into the kitchen that he even remembered he had the damn thing. The thing was, he didn't remember ordering anything, and if Tiedoll had sent something, he would have called to tell him about it before now. Of course, if could have been from Lavi, so Kanda found himself checking for the shipping label.
It took a moment to find the right one as there were three. Kanda paused though, when he read the "from" name. Hakkai. That name certainly wasn't one he knew, so he looked at the "to" name. Gojyo. Well it certainly wasn't him. It took a moment of staring at the address to figure out how they could have screwed it up.
27 Bradshaw Street
Kanda groaned. He, of course, lived on 21 Bradshaw Street. The seven could be mistaken as a one, he supposed, but not really. He wondered if the postman was blind or something. Grumbling incoherently, Kanda put the box by the door. He'd drop it off on his way to work in the morning.
Kanda nearly forgot the box on his way out the door the next morning and had to go back inside to get it. He hissed in aggravation as he walked down the street, scanning the apartment numbers for number twenty-seven. When he found it, he placed the box on the doorstep and left. If he was lucky, next time the post man would get it right.
It was nearly a month and a half later when yet another box arrived unannounced on his door step. Kanda blinked in confusion, having nearly forgotten the first incident. With an exasperated huff, he picked up the box. It was heavier this time, and Kanda only paused to drop his briefcase inside his own apartment before heading down the street to deliver the box to its proper owner.
When Kanda arrived at number 27 he found he couldn't just drop the package and leave like last time as the person who owned the apartment was on his way out the door. Kanda and the man both froze, staring at each other for nearly a full minute in shock. The man had blood red hair, and eyes to match. It was slightly disconcerting, but seemed to suit him in a way.
"Can I help you?" the man said, raising an eyebrow. Kanda blinked before remembering why he was there.
"Your package," Kanda said. "It was delivered to my apartment by mistake."
"Oh," the guy said, looking down at the box in Kanda's arms. "Sorry about that."
The redhead descended his steps and took the box from Kanda. With a quick thanks, he went back inside and Kanda left. Both would still find the encounter to be strange for days to come.
Kanda was actually home the next time, but he failed to answer the door in time to tell the post man he had the wrong apartment. Kanda grumbled, debating on whether or not to leave the box outside since he was sick, but one glance at the sky promised rain and he hauled it inside anyway. This box was thankfully light.
It would be three days before Kanda was well enough to deliver it. He ran into the red haired man again, though this time through the virtue of the doorbell since it looked like it was going to rain again.
"You again," Gojyo said.
"You should tell your friend to write their sevens more clearly," Kanda said, handing over the box. The redhead smirked, chuckling a bit.
"I should," he said. "But then I wouldn't have you showing up on my doorstep now would I?"
Kanda rolled his eyes and left.
Kanda returned home from work the day after to find a small square box, about the size of a softball, sitting on his doorstep. Unlike the others it was black, and looked like a gift box instead of a shipping box. And unlike the others, it was addressed to him.
Kanda brought the box inside and toed off his shoes before carrying it to the kitchen and setting it on the counter. He returned to the front door to retrieve his key and close the door before returning to the box. He read the tag that had been tied on with black ribbon and raised an eyebrow.
"To the guy in apartment 21."
Kanda pulled the ribbon off and opened the box. Inside was just a piece of paper. Though more truthfully, it was a note. It read:
"You never did tell me your name, but I'd like to thank you for delivering my packages when they ended up at your apartment. Can I treat you to dinner? I'll pick you up at eight."
Kanda stared at the note for a moment before shaking his head, a smirk playing at his lips as he went to go change. It all started with a box.