~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~

Second Letter

Sebastian was attending to the work in Palace when he was given the notice that a certain lady was demanding to see the Empress, claiming that she was her best friend - a thing that the old man found quite curious, very curious indeed. Well, let's say that the Royal Palace has an oversupply of delusional fangirls by its gates increasing per day, claiming that they were one of the princes' betrothed. But the Empress' best friend? Wow, that's new.

Seriously. It's either a) the fangirls have gone creative this time; or b) someone from the past has come back. Somehow, Sebastian isn't sure which one's better but he was sure he'd find out soon the moment he steps into the Palace Lobby.

Once in front of the doors leading to the said place, the old butler heaved a big breath and prepared himself for anything. If what his instincts say is true then he wouldn't be facing a crazy fangirl but will be reuniting with someone he knew from years ago, wishing to jump into the fast current of the present events in the Palace - and the only question that could determine the face of the coin is who is it.

"Sebastian!" a familiar voice greeted as he stepped into the big Lobby. The old man bowed cordially in response. "It's been some time since I last saw you," she greeted.

The old butler smiled. "It has only been a week, Yuka-sama," he replied kindly.

The lady laughed. "And yet it feels like such a long time ago. By the way, I'm sorry for trying to drag you out of the house. We thought you were there because of that matter,"

"It is understandable, Yuka-sama. No need for apologies," Sebastian said, smiling. "However, I am afraid that Mikan-sama is not present right at this moment. You see, it's Monday today and the young masters have school to attend to,"

Yuka shook her head. "Oh no," she smiled. "I'm not here for Mikan. I actually came here to see her,"

The old man eyed the middle-aged woman quietly. "I understand," he smiled, something twinkling in his eyes. "It's about time," he said as he assisted the lady to stand up and guided her inside.

It was not a fangirl after all.

~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~

"Ungh, crap," Mikan swore, looking warily at the crowd surrounding their limousine. "I forgot that it's Monday today," she muttered to no one in particular.

After everything that happened during the weekend, it never came across the brunette that she would still luckily see tomorrow - she thought she was going to die from embarrassment, frustration, irritation, fright and whatnot. Sadness. And it didn't help that she didn't have the best sleep around last night thanks to the disturbing interview she just did and her equally disturbing babbles and of course, the recent discovery she made. Somehow, she ended up bawling her eyes out until three in the morning which resulted to her excessive grogginess this morning.

So yeah, she completely forgot that it's Monday today. And what's the best way to remind her that?

Oh I don't know, maybe just some fangirls screaming bloody murder and the fact that the only thing holding her soul in place is a limousine door? Mikan sighed.

She couldn't believe that her life came by and will be gone too fast.

"Mikan-chan?" Ruka called. Mikan snapped out of her reverie only to find Hotaru, Ruka and Natsume already out of the limousine, miraculously body parts still intact. Somehow, the Palace guards made a fence around them for protection. How convenient, Mikan thought sarcastically. "Are you alright?"

The brunette gulped. "Coming," she answered as she nervously slid out of the sleek black car only to be welcomed by hundreds of glaring daggers.

They began walking. Scratch that, they began walking while Mikan dawdled awkwardly with them. How can they just ignore the swoons and random glares on their way? Oh right, because they've practically lived their lives like this. Born Royals, remember? Right.

The brunette sighed. "I swear, if looks can kill, I'd be a rotten corpse by now," Mikan said, looking nervously around her.

Hotaru raised her eyebrows at her. "Dummy, if looks can kill, you wouldn't even have a corpse,"

Ruka nodded pensively. "I heard that animals eat their enemies when they kill them,"

"E-eh?" Mikan shivered. Natsume won't be the shish kebab after all.

"Hmmm," Ruka mumbled. "As a sign of absolute victory or something like that,"

The brunette twitched. "W-well, it's true. If their looks can kill, I'd be as good as polka dots right now with all those glaring daggers,"

"Like your panty prints?" Natsume smirked.

"Pervert!"

~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~

Yuka marveled at the glorious structure of the Palace as she and Sebastian ventured the hallways to where the Empress was supposedly in.

"Ah, although we visited the Palace three years ago, we haven't gone this far then," Yuka said, still roaming her gaze around. "So much has changed. How long has it been?" she asked to no one in particular.

Sebastian glanced at her then shifted his attention back to their path. "About more or less two decades, Yuka-sama," he answered.

The older brunette mumbled pensively. Has it been that long? "When the deceased Emperor still ruled the nation, yes. Such a long time ago," she smiled. "I feel so old," she giggled.

The old butler simply smiled. Yuka was still basking under her memories when she noticed the old woman walking on the other corridor together with three other ladies-in-waiting. And somehow, that sight darkened her gaze.

"Sebastian," she called, the older woman still in her mind. "You failed to inform me of something," she said.

Sebastian simply glanced at her.

"Nobody told me she's back,"

~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~

"S-s…s…s…"

"Stop hissing like a snake, idiot," Hotaru commented from her desk, still occupied with her current work.

Mikan looked up from the school paper she so wanted to tear apart. "What's wrong with this school?! They said Natsume and I - note: Natsume and I - were s…s…s-s…"

"Sweet,"

Mikan screamed. "Which part of us indicated that we were sweet?!"

Hotaru raised her eyebrows and flicked something.

"She's an idiot," they all heard. Natsume stiffened then glared at his cousin.

"Imai," he warned. The latter simply looked at him nonchalantly.

"She's my idiot,"

The brunette flushed the darkest shade of red. God, was he that cheesy that time? Must be - because almost everyone squealed.

"…He's just human,"

"H-ho-Hotaru! S-stop! Hahahahaha. Seriously, stop it. I had enough. Okay, okay..we're sweet. Cut it out!" Mikan muttered in panic.

"Too late,"

"And I like him that way," Natsume smirked at her. Listening to their cheesy punch lines during the interview, if Mikan were to judge without bias…she has to admit that her statement was trice the sweetness and grossness compared to Natsume's.

"But you're right," Hotaru said. "You weren't sweet,"

Mikan livened up at the sound of that. "I told you!"

"You're disgustingly sweet," she said and went back to work. "Ants probably had diabetes just being around you two," Mikan flailed.

Ruka sighed from his seat. "Leave the poor ants out of this, Imai,"

"Ruka," Natsume said from his manga. "Don't you dare unleash that frustrated animal-defender version of yourself," he muttered. He wasn't still completely through with the Natsume's gay thing these bunch caused and Ruka's other self was partly on fault.

The brunette simply smiled at the three as they continued to ignore her. She felt a little sad seeing them like this, knowing that the days with them are already numbered. It aches knowing that in a few days' time she wouldn't be a part of this anymore and that this world they're living in will already feel alien to her. No matter what she does, she will always feel so detached once she leaves them. What's more painful is that she doesn't even have a say in the matter. Just like how she didn't have any say whether she wanted to enter their world, she also doesn't have any choice when or how she'll leave.

She never expected herself to fall in love with this world anyway.

Mikan sighed and rested her head in her arms, lying on her desk. Cut it out Mikan, she told herself. You decided last night that you're going to make everything worthwhile in your stay. Come on. Don't be sad. It's not part of your plan.

You can always fight, you know. You can stay if you want, a voice told her. She was startled.

I can't. She answered back. God. She must be crazy - she's talking to herself. It's okay. I don't belong in this world. Just meeting them is enough.

You know that's not the truth, the voice answered. You want to stay.

Mikan sighed. Why will I stay here? Why will I force myself to Natsume if he doesn't like me? He's better off with that Luna.

What if he loves you?

If I love him back. Then I'll stay. Mikan decided but in two weeks? That seems so impossible but then again, Mikan isn't sure which things are impossible in her life now.

~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~

Kaoru was still asleep when a series of knocks snapped her back to reality.

"Your Majesty, someone has come to meet you," her trusty old butler said on the other side of the door.

Meet her? What time do they think it is? Kaoru glanced at the clock. 9 AM. It's much to early for visitation - at least, in Kaoru's point of view. Besides, no visitors were supposed to be lead to the Imperial master bedroom. They're supposed to be led to the Parlor and even then, they must be very important people. Had Sebastian acquired Alzheimer's?

Kaoru muttered against her pillow. "Sebastian!" she complained. "I'm still sleeping…send he…or she…away…" she answered groggily.

"But Your Majesty," she heard him say. What does he want now?

"No Bu - "

"No, Yuka-sama - " the old butler muttered in surprise. Yuka? Kaoru shot up.

"Kaoru-sempai, you lazybutt! Wake up!" Kaoru couldn't believe it. Is she still dreaming? Why?

Well, that's because, there…in front of her is her junior and most trusted friend - years older, that is. But she's there, she was sure. It's her with her soft brown hair and hazel eyes like her daughter. It's Yuka.

"Yuka!" the Empress shrieked happily as she jumped out of her bed, rushed to the older brunette and hugged her. "Oh my god, I'm so happy to see you! It's been so long!"

Yuka hugged back. "Ah, ha-ha…I'm happy to see you too, Kaoru-sempai, or should I say, Your Majesty?"

Kaoru playfully slapped Yuka's shoulder. "Master is fine, thank you," she joked.

"Master? You? You haven't changed a bit, Kaoru-sempai," Yuka laughed.

"You mean I'm still gorgeous?"

Yuka thought of it pensively.

Kaoru pouted. "Don't think, baka! The answer is automatically yes!" She laughed. "So, after about 20 years, you finally came back and I'm sure it's not just because of a reunion like this," she shrugged around the place, emphasizing that she was still in her sleeping robe and they were in a slightly messy bedroom thanks to the Empress' stray clothes - not the ideal reunion at all.

"Yeah, I was expecting to meet you in a Palace, not in a garage sale,"

Kaoru looked at her sharply. "Don't push your luck, Yuka." the laughed.

"So…back to our topic. What is it?"

Yuka's face grew serious.

"You're right. I'm here for completely different reasons,"

~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~

"Natsume-sama~"

"Ruka-sama~"

Mikan peered from the rooftop rails to where the commotion was stirring. As usual, at the very eye of the storm are the weird duo of a cousin and surrounding them is a stupid mass of fangirls. Seriously, what are those two doing? Mikan believes that Hotaru - yes, the Hotaru-sama who commands all people be it the Crown Prince or what- sent them to buy lunch because apparently, their lunch was still caught in a wild traffic jam someplace else and her best friend hates waiting, especially when it comes to her meals. Anyway, so yes, but as far as Mikan can tell, buying lunch doesn't involve being wrapped by a mob of rabid hormone-driven girls.

But then again, Mikan reminded herself, anything Natsume does involves being wrapped by a mob of rabid hormone-driven girls.

Mikan, sighing, decided to let the two poor guys be and sat beside the stoic girl instead.

Hotaru glanced at the brunette. "Spill," she muttered quietly that made Mikan look at her skeptically.

Spill? Spill what? "I'm sorry? Did you say something, Hotaru?"

This time, she faced the brunette with a frightening intensity of seriousness. Still looking at her, she raised her hand, a small chip caught between her index finger and thumb. "Do you know what this is?"

"A…chip?"

"A chip," she confirmed.

"Oh-kay," Mikan said. "I don't know what you're being so serious for, Hotaru but if you're being like that because of that chip because you can't eat it then I'd gladly be the first one to tell you that that's not the same chocolate chip found in your favorite cookies, okay?" she smiled.

Hotaru wanted to smack her. What does she take her for? Obviously, it's not the same edible kind. Hotaru sighed inwardly. Sometimes her best friend simply surprises her with the level of idiocy she possesses. "Idiot. What do you take me for? Of course, I know that,"

"Then why did you suddenly show me that thing?" Mikan asked.

"Do you know what this is?"

Mikan rolled her eyes impatiently. "A chip Hotaru, it's a chip. I thought we're through with the fact that that thing is a bloody chip?"

Hotaru glared at her. "It's a recording chip, idiot," she muttered.

"And?"

"Do you know where this was located?"

Mikan paused. Where is this conversation heading off to? "In Ruka's room?"

It was Hotaru's turn to frown a little. "Idiot, why would it be there?"

"Oh, I don't know - because he's your favorite victim? Or…" Mikan looked at her best friend maliciously. "You're checking if he actually watches porn."

"And why would I do that?"

"Because - "

"Nevermind, don't answer that. You and I both know, idiot, that that bunny boy only watches animals - not humans in their animalistic behavior. Now answer my question," Hotaru managed to answer stoically.

Mikan sighed. This conversation is already wearing off on her a little. "Okay. I don't know. Where?"

Hotaru looked at her meaningfully before answering.

"In the ex-Empress' bedroom the day you ran off,"

~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~

Kaoru was in the veranda when she saw the limousine. The children are finally home and it has been hours since Yuka left. Somehow, their conversation was put on replay in her mind. It has been almost twenty years since she last saw the girl - now a woman. She was just in her thirty-day trial period with Ioran then when things started happening in the Palace. Since then, she never saw Yuka or her husband for that matter - only received annual greeting cards during Christmas or birthdays. Other than that, it was as if they were dead.

That is…until Natsume found Mikan. Kaoru smiled fondly at the coincidence.

"You didn't tell me she's here," Yuka said seriously, sipping her tea.

"Is this why you're suddenly here?" she remembered asking.

The Empress' smile faded a little as she pondered once more regarding their little chat.

Yuka shook her head. "No. Although seeing her makes this visit pointless,"

Kaoru looked up from her tea. "What do you mean?"

The limousine now pulled up to the main entrance of the Palace and anytime soon, the children would deprive her of her own time for herself.

"Mikan went home the night before," Yuka stated somberly.

"That is common knowledge. What about it? The girl simply misses you, Yuka. I remember running off as well when I was still in the same situation,"

"It's nothing like that," Yuka answered.

Kaoru heard the grand doors opening from her perch, welcoming the kids inside. She can hear their footsteps right now although it is queer that Mikan's babbles weren't springing off from the walls yet.

"I don't quite catch you,"

"Do you know what that girl said when we finally made her agree to come back to the Palace?" the older brunette asked with furrowed eyebrows, looking intensely at her cup of tea. "She said, 'I'll be back home again in two weeks'"

Kaoru stopped for a moment and thought about it. "Mikan-chan wants to come back after two weeks?"

Yuka shook her head in a grave manner. "Kaoru-sempai, would you please listen carefully? She said, back home, not come back and moreover, she said in two weeks. It's supposed to be three,"

The Empress laughed. "What a silly girl. With everything going on, I'm sure Mikan-chan just lost count, Yuka,"

"No. I know my kid, Kaoru-sempai. She seemed troubled and I guess I know why," she replied grimly.

Kaoru stopped for a moment, remembering her own time as the Empress-to-be. "You don't mean…"

Yuka nodded.

"Mom," Kaoru heard Mikan call inside although she does sound quite a little less hyper. "We're home," she said.

The raven-haired woman looked at the door and pushed her thoughts away for some moment. "Welcome home, Mikan-chan. Go to the Library for your lessons before you wash up, okay?"

"Got it,"

Kaoru scowled. How can such thing happen to this lovely girl?

~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~

"And for extra-work, do learn the Royal Family tree," Mikan barely heard the ex-Empress say as she taps her whip mildly on her palms. Mikan received at least five today and her hand stings a little but she endured. "You're dismissed,"

Robotically, Mikan stood up, bowed and made her way to the Library doors when she thought better of it. Doing an about face and plucking all her courage, she faced the old woman. "Your Majesty," she began.

Without looking up, the stern woman answered. "I believe I told you that you were already dismissed, Yukihira-kun. Any other concerns shall wait until tomorrow,"

Mikan stayed indignantly. "Very well, but I just thought you'd like to know that I heard your conversation with this certain Luna the night before, that's all," she said quietly.

The ex-Empress looked up and frowned. Any trace of panic or surprise isn't evident in her face. "How unbecoming. An Empress doesn't eavesdrop!"

"Well then, are you admitting that I will still be the next Empress?"

"I said no such thing. Now leave," she muttered coldly.

Mikan breathed a big lungful of air before answering for the last time. "I'd just like you to know that you're not going to make me leave this Palace that easily. See you at dinner, Your Majesty," she said and finally left.

Not bad. Not a bad catch at all.

~(*o*)~(*o*)~(*o*)~

December 12, 20XX

Dear Natsume,

As promised, I'm writing another letter tonight. This day was so tiring. Haaa…I'm tired. This day started out like many of the not-so-normal-but-considered-normal-once-you-enter-the-palace days I had. You know…I forgot that it's Monday and that I will be facing a multitude fangirls ready to burn me to ashes because of that stupid kiss you planted on my lips last Friday. Ungh, seriously, you're such a pain in the ass. But you're quiet today which is a relief. Is something bugging you? You've been avoiding me today too. Weird Natsume is weird.

Anyway, yes. I'm back to my cheerful self because I wouldn't want to sulk until my last day in this crazy Palace. I want to keep good memories that I can remember when I'm no longer around, okay? So I'm not going to be sad. I'll smile so that no one would worry about me either. Maybe if I smile…no one would be suspicious - then leaving wouldn't be as painful. Sigh, even though I say that…Hotaru knows. I didn't tell her though. It's because of that blasted chip. And you know what she said?

She said. "If this is really where it's going to go…Mikan, don't fall in love with Hyuuga,"

So…I'm not going to fall in love with you Natsume. I don't want my leaving to be painful for both of us okay? So you shouldn't fall in love with me either. Ha. Who am I kidding? Natsume? You? The devil prince fall in love with me, Mikan, an ordinary girl? I know. I must be dreaming. So yeah. I promise. I won't fall in love with you Natsume. But I'm willing to be your friend. So from now on, I'll be acting like there's no problem. Okay? You guys shouldn't know anything about my secret until I'm gone.

Oh right. I also told the ex-Empress that I know her little scheme. Don't worry. She didn't do anything to me…although I still received five whips for my stupid mistakes during the lessons. But…I told her that she's not going to make me leave easily. I don't know why I told her that either. It's not like I'm going to put up a fight. What do I have against her? Hmmm, I'm hopeless. A while ago, I told myself that I'd stay if you love me and I love you back. (Ah, what am I saying?) But Hotaru told me not to fall in love with you so that's void? But I told your grandmother that I'm not leaving easily?

I know. I'm also confused. I guess I'll just sort things out soon. But don't worry. I told you, I'm not giving up yet. Just that if I really really really have to go…for all your sakes, I'd go.

Twelve more days Natsume. Twelve more letters. Twelve more messages for you. Twelve more days with you.

Love,

Mikan