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

Seventh Letter

"Very well then," the ex-Empress remarked, signifying the end of today's lesson. "You did impressively well. Your research has gone very remarkable." Mikan almost smiled at the compliment. Now, it's not everyday that you hear the old hag generously showering you with compliments, yes? Maybe she's finally getting softer or something. "However," Or not. "I suggest you dig deeper into the bloodline of the Royal Family - learn more of the history if you must." she said. "The library will be of great sources of information,"

The brunette nodded obediently. "Yes, Your Majesty," she replied and started fixing the scattered papers all over the mahogany table.

It was a fine Saturday morning, a week after the old woman arrived in the Palace. Mikan couldn't believe how the days went by so fast - leaving her an ill feeling. Just another week before she disappears from this Palace. Just another week and yet the ex-Empress is still peppering her with this Princess crap. You know, it would have been logical if she would actually ascend the throne - but noooo. She won't. So why does she have to go through these loads of bullcrap?

Can't they just go, "Oh, I'm sorry. Your replacement will be coming in a week. You don't need to undergo these brain-tortures. Ta-ta!" but instead, they said, "Ungh, you are so not fit to be the next-Empress. Come, let's shape you up before the real one comes. You know, for torture."

Mikan sighed and slumped on her chair which must have been a pretty wrong move as she felt the sharp glare of the old queen creeping on her back and soon enough, her whip followed, inflicting a stinging sensation on the brunette's backside. The hazel-eyed lass alertly straightened up, her face stoic - as if the pain surging inside her doesn't matter.

"No slumping like a ragged doll," the ex-Empress muttered sternly, brandishing her black whip, her onyx eyes glinting. "It is unfitting of a Princess. Have you not learned anything, Yukihira-dono?"

Mikan's gaze darkened. Normally, she would have apologized and bowed, trying to force her mind to digest the ex-Empress' way of thinking, putting in mind that she has her own circumstances. Believe it or not, the brunette wanted to understand the old woman, to try to sympathize with whatever problems she has to deal with. Because seriously, no one can be this malevolent for no apparent reason. That's just plain psychotic for them to do so. But hey, even that simple wish takes the form of a very arduous task when that woman you're trying to help lashes at you mercilessly with her whip as if it's a legal hobby okay?

So maybe it's the one-week deadline egging her on, or her string of patience that was already tattered and near its end or maybe because of Mikan's utter stubbornness but the brunette felt the strangest urge to snap back at the old woman, to burst at her, question her and make her understand her side. She wanted to shake her so badly that her weak old state doesn't matter. And who was she not to abide by what her mind strongly wanted right? After all, she has behaved long enough and that wasn't a very famous trademark of Mikan Yukihira.

Mikan Yukihira simply does not behave.

The hazel-eyed lass stuck her chin up in defiance. "In fact, I have, Your Majesty. But I do not see the point of your actions. Why are you doing this?" she asked, eyes trained loyally to the older figure who feigned ignorance.

"You are dismissed. Leave," she said coldly, scowling at the brunette as if she doesn't understand why she was still under her presence.

Like a fire washed over by fuel, Mikan's temper flared even more, powering her to smack the poor table so hard the ex-Empress almost jumped had she not contained herself from the shock. "Why won't you answer m - "

"Manners!" the ex-Empress burst alongside, striking her whip against the table. "Where have they gone off to? How dare you raise your voice at me, you impudent, insolent - "

"That's right!" Mikan huffed, finding it hard to breathe after such an outburst. She can feel all sorts of emotions welling up in her chest that it contracted painfully. "Call me everything you want to call me! After all," she hesitated. "After all, I'm just nothing here. I'll be disappearing in a week. I am not worthy at all of all these crap. So, what were you going to call me? Impudent? Insolent? Trash? So unworthy to receive the throne? Unworthy of your grandson?" Mikan stopped then laughed bitterly, without humor. "Oh, I'm sorry. You don't have a grandson. Let me rephrase that, the Crown Prince, I meant."

"So that's what it's all about isn't it?" the older woman said, unfazed.

Mikan looked conflicted.

"Yukihira-dono," she said. "Are you finally falling for the Crown Prince?" her eyes narrowed like a predator's before a prey.

The brunette quivered and looked away, her hands clenched, shaking. In fact, her whole body is shaking - from fear? From anger? From nervousness? She doesn't know. It's a flurry inside her, like the biggest hurricane known to man. "T-that's n-not…"

"An Empress doesn't stutter!"

This time, Mikan felt like she was hit with lightning, her body recharged with renewed negative energy so powerful it left her ears buzzing wildly. "CUT THOSE STUPID BULL!" she cried. "I'm not an Empress!" she shouted hysterically. "So you need to cut this bullcrap and start kicking me out of here! Why are you even doing this?! Was it fun toying with my feelings?! Lighting that stupid hope I dare kindle inside me?! Was it fun relighting my spirit with all these Princess Lessons as if I really need them?! Newsflash: I'm not going to be the next Empress so you can stop feeding me all these special treatment!"

The ex-Empress just stared at her with her black eyes, two pits of darkness, and flapped her fan. "Are you done?"

Mikan just glared.

The old woman sighed and shook her head. "What an improper behavior for such a person. You disappoint me,"

"Garbage, no matter how much you polish it and clean it up, won't turn to gold, Your Majesty - that is, unless you're an alchemist," Mikan muttered rather calmly.

The ex-Empress' gaze lingered at the young brunette. "Likewise, gold, no matter how much you tarnish and taint, will still be gold after all the damages it underwent. You cannot change that - even if you're an alchemist," she said, a glint of amusement in her expression.

Mikan looked at her in confusion. "What do you mean?"

But the ex-Empress was already on her way out. "Do your assignment and you'll unravel the answer to your questions." she said. "And as for your feelings for my grandson, all you need is a mirror and a bit of honesty."

And with those words of wisdom, the old woman disappeared, leaving an ever-confused brunette behind.

With a jolt, Mikan realized that it was the first time she heard the ex-Empress call Natsume her grandson.

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

Misaki looked over her book to where Natsume lay, fiddling with the strange pendant with the garnet gem in the middle, as usual. Lately, he's been like that - spaced out, toying with the poor pendant Mikan gave him for his birthday.

Natsume is missing? Easy. Just look up the biggest tree around and you'll find him twining the poor necklace around his fingers like a cat with a yarn. Natsume is missing? Check the rooftop and you'll see him gazing to who-knows-where, most probably to where Mikan is. Natsume is missing? Bet on him to have ran off to where Mikan is, probably thinking that she needs his mighty knight-in-armor-ishness.

And well, right now, the strawberry-haired girl isn't too surprised to see him in his current state either. Lately, he's been like that - always around Mikan, worrying about her, thinking about her -

Misaki grinned at the idea that popped in her head but maybe that has to wait until later. She needs other people for this kind of thing.

Right now, they were all inside the parlor, doing their own businesses. Initially, she was reading a book for her term paper, something about frogs and their usefulness. Frankly, she finds it horrifying to encounter this kind of book - only Jinno-sensei would find it very interesting as he always has that frog on his shoulder, croaking at his every sentence like a live punctuation mark. But she has to get through with it if she wants to pass this semester anyway. Ah, the things she does to graduate.

Tsubasa, meanwhile was comfortably snoring his head away as he welcomed his head on Misaki's lap. Currently, the left side of his head was leaning against her flat stomach, feeling all homey which the lass finds rather troublesome. But it's rare that she lets him do this and relenting sometimes doesn't seem to be so unhealthy anyway. So why not?

Looking at the farthest corner of the room perched the ever so stoic Hotaru, busily doing all her inventions in a flurry of noises which doesn't seem to bother anyone at all, well, maybe except for Ruka's pet, Usagi who ran around the room with the poor lad at its tail. Aoi and Youichi however, weren't present as they had extra-activity for school merits.

Sighing, Misaki put down her boring book and stretched, finding her attention back to the raven-haired prince. Glancing briefly to Hotaru who paused with her works to look over to the lad as well, Misaki decided that it's about time to clear something up.

"You've been acting weird lately," Misaki casually said out loud that for a moment, Natsume seemed not to hear. Seconds after, however, his crimson eyes began to move towards her direction and look at her stoically as if she said, 'The sky is blue.' After a while of awkward gazing, he went back to fiddling with the little trinket.

Misaki found herself annoyingly stumped.

"Ignoring me, are you, little runt?" she twitched and lunged for the sprawled figure on the couch.

One tip: If you're attacking the Natsume Hyuga, aim for his ears. I know, they're really difficult to aim at but hey, they're worth a try. One thing his fangirls don't know? Natsume's ticklish around his ears. Blow at them, hold them, or just breathe near them, he starts panicking. Now, you wouldn't expect that from the mighty little runt, would you? Guess not. But being the daughter of the Royal doctor has its perks. Somehow, this little trick reminds Misaki a lot of a cat. You know, cats and their ears. Scratch them, they purr. Natsume? Slightly alike.

Oh right, doing so might cause a lot of hissing, scratching and growling from the victim. Oh, and maybe a lot of wounds too - but that's where the 'My dad is a doctor' factor comes around, 'kay?

So yeah, Misaki did lunge at him, dropping Tsubasa in the process, which ended up as a nasty Tsubasa flat on the floor pancake and a cat fight by the sofa. Natsume's being attacked by a rabid Misaki who's being tickled mercilessly by him as well. I'm pretty sure you wouldn't want the details as they just mainly tried to kill each other to their deaths. After a while though, they both stopped and glared at each other, huffing.

"Just what is your problem, woman?" Natsume demanded, clutching his little trinket, his ears as red as Rudolph's nose. Misaki supposes, she can write a song entitled Natsume the red-eared cat now. Wouldn't that be lovely?

Tsubasa, who just got up from the floor scratched his bumped head and turned to his fiancée. "What he said. That hurt! Hey, learn to respect sleeping people, would you?"

Misaki glared at both of them but settled on Tsubasa instead who already got up and was stretching. "Well, who asked you to treat me as your pillow anyway?"

"Mmm," Tsubasa mumbled drowsily but brightened up after a few seconds. "Oh, I got a good one!"

"A good pillow? Yeah. I'm sure you got one - plump, with pink casing." Natsume smirked, looking purposefully at Misaki who was still beside him. She glared at him.

"No," the older lad denied. "No, this one's different. Hey, Misaki, did you know that whenever I'm with you, I feel like I'm in heaven?"

Misaki twitched. Ruka finally caught Usagi as Hotaru's noises finally subsided. Surprisingly, the Ice Queen was intent on listening to her stupid brother's antics. "I swear Andou, throw another of your stupid corny pick-up lines and I'm going to - "

"Goodness, woman. Just ask why," Tsubasa muttered under his breath.

Misaki sniffed. "Fine. Why?"

Tsubasa grinned stupidly - not a good sign at all. "Because your thighs are fluffier than the clouds above."

"Pft."

Misaki looked miffed. "Did you just call me fat?"

"No, I kinda called you chubby."

"Same thing!" and she smacked him.

"Hey. I called you fluffy - not fat! Stop smacking me - ow!"

Natsume sighed at the chaos around him. "Look, if you're gonna have another of your petty arguments then please do it on your couch - not mine,"

Both stopped.

"So what?" Misaki answered. "Right, so you can go back to one of your cat moments huh?"

Natsume twitched. "Cat moments?"

"You know," Tsubasa explained, quite understanding where Misaki was coming from. "Cats love to sulk about not getting something they want - like a saucer of milk or a big ball of yarn or," he looked at him maliciously. "Even a playmate. But considering the fact that you have access to all the cartons of milk in the Palace and you have that little trinket for a yarn, doesn't that settle us to the last reason?"

The crimson-eyed lad glared at both of them. "And what are you implying?"

"Do you really want us answering that?" By this point in time, Hotaru had already set-up her camera, filming the whole thing.

Natsume glowered at the couple. "Did you know that fried lovebirds taste a lot like chicken?"

"I wouldn't know because we haven't - oh…" Misaki looked at her and Tsubasa. Right. Lovebirds. Fried. Not a good analogy. "But you'd really make a nice cat, Nat,"

"Or a ladybug,"

Misaki cracked a smile.

"Ah, but thinking of it, cats do love to hunt cockroaches don't they?" Tsubasa thought after a while and continue to prattle on about the pros and cons of both sides.

By this time, Natsume so wanted to grill him to death but Ruka seemed to be more inclined to do it. He had been looking at the three in a very annoyed manner.

"Tsubasa," Ruka warned sternly. Natsume can see signs of his other self already taking over.

And when Tsubasa finally noticed, he just had to say the wrong words to save him. That's just so like him. "Whoa. Ruka, hold your horses - oh crap," he cursed and took cover.

The blond lad was about to go on with his strangling frenzy had Hotaru not stabbed him with a syringe. Somehow, the three others were wondering whether they should call 911 for help seeing as they have a potential murderer - wait, no - two potential murderers in the house, one of them taking syringes as the new knife and a horde of psycho-lunatics. But they decided against it. If that were so, they should have called the moment they were born.

Hotaru sighed.

The two cowered behind the sofa - Tsubasa who was already twitching all over and Misaki who was laughing shakily. Ruka, meanwhile, slumped to the floor, completely slack. Natsume? He didn't even move.

Sighing, Hotaru faced the other two. "Idiots." she muttered and hid the syringe. "I didn't kill him. Just tranquilized the idiot. But if you want me using this to you as well, I would gladly oblige - with a fee of $200 of course."

She walked over to her desk and glanced at her cousin, Natsume.

"But if you ask me, the one over there is the most stupid of all. Running around the place, chasing after that other idiot, thinking that she needs him to protect her and when she goes back to normal, he avoids her but then sulks on top of some tree, waiting to freeze to death while toying with that trinket he holds onto like it holds his life or something. But then, like I said, he was an idiot so he doesn't know why he was acting so stupidly. Although if you ask me, I'd say it's inborn. He was born stupid. But of course, his stupidity increased when that other stupid came to his life. And now he's expressing his utter stupidity by being all cheesy and corny, saying some things like, 'Could we please stay like this for a while,' or 'I'd chase after you and bring you back,' What rubbish things to say when he can't even admit to himself that he's tripped and fallen for that girl but thought of it as a sickness. This is by far the stupidest thing I have ever encountered. I never knew such level of stupidity exists. But then again, maybe it's because both of them infected each other that they can't even realize their own feelings. Isn't that right, Hyuga?"

Everyone was frozen on their seats. That was - by far - the longest thing Hotaru has ever said. But most importantly, Natsume was stuck on the sofa, looking at his cousins with those cat eyes of his (like those in the manga), completely dumbfounded. Damn Imai for that. Bull's-eye! Err, don't let Ruka know that I said that.

"How did you…?" Natsume muttered slowly after a while.

"Am I not right, Hyuga?" Hotaru asked icily again.

The young prince flinched. "You're…right." he breathed.

Hotaru looked satisfied. "Of course." she muttered proudly and went back to work.

Those disturbing noises returned. Ruka woke up. Usagi ran around in panic and he chased after it as if nothing happened. Natsume also reverted back to his cat moment and tinkered his pendant more happily.

Misaki and Tsubasa blinked, looking at Hotaru to Natsume, both thinking of the same exact sentence.

What happened?

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

Meanwhile, as all of those frenzy commenced, in another room is another innuendo - a silent one in comparison anyway and rather more civilized which doesn't include the random spouting of animal analogies.

"How was this days' lessons, Mother?" Miyabi greeted the old woman as she entered the room. She had been waiting for her along with the usual tea and biscuits. Currently, she was fancying a nice cup and a long sip.

Her mother settled herself on the seat across her. Normally, a mother and a daughter shouldn't be this formal - but hey. They hardly live along the lines of normal, now do they? Nothing about their family is normal - if you call being the Royal Family normal, that is.

"Rather interesting," the older woman replied, taking a cup of her own. "That girl has guts."

For a millisecond, Miyabi seemed a little surprised. Now, when you grow up with a mother who rarely showers anyone with good words or speak at all, you'll find this very baffling. One of those rare moments, yes. But more than that, it was given to the least expected person.

"I take that as a compliment, yes?" Miyabi inquired hopefully. She thought she saw her mother's eyebrows move in response.

The ex-Empress set the cup soundlessly on the table and fanned herself. "A rare girl, yes - one who catches attention. A unique one," she mumbled pensively. "A very nice catch," she said again.

Miyabi frowned inside. Her mother always says that - that Mikan's a nice catch. But it doesn't make sense at all. Even before her mother left England, she had been interested with the Crown Prince's betrothed, especially when she heard her name. Miyabi knows why but the question is: What is her mother plotting?

"Mother," she called again, looking at her intensely. "Is there really no way to bring you back with me?"

"Stop being so stubborn, Miyabi. You know the answer to that foolish question," she answered monotonously.

Miyabi frowned. "Then, if you don't mind, just please tell me your plans." she said.

She knows she was being too hopeful. There's no way that her mother would just as easily reveal her plans - plans that have most probably been planned since a long time ago. But it wasn't bad to hope. Along with time, changes come. And change is not one even her equally stubborn mother can win against. Besides, she does seem a bit mellow compared to her youthful days or even compared to herself weeks ago.

"Another foolish attempt," Youko answered, sipping her tea. "I may be old Miyabi, but I am also wise," she smiled coldly.

Miyabi grasped her skirt. "Then, why do you keep on leading Mikan-chan to a path she won't be taking? Why keep on training her if she won't take over the throne counter to her husband's? Mother, even for you, this is too heartless."

Her mother had been a lot of cruel things - but a thing like this, she wouldn't commit. Sure, she was stern and strict but it had always been because of a just cause. But this? Where had her actions come from?

The ex-Empress raised her eyebrows delicately. "Strange." she muttered in amusement. "That girl said the same things. Perhaps you are more alike than what you know," she said.

"Then?" Miyabi continued, urging her mother on.

The old lady waved her hand delicately. "That girl has a different path to take, Miyabi. I have things under control,"

The black-haired Hyuga's eyebrows furrowed. "You mean…" she mumbled. "Is this because of her bloodline?"

Youko sipped the last of her tea and looked at it in a hungry manner. Setting it down, she stood up and made way to the door after mumbling small thanks for the tea.

"Mother!" Miyabi called, turning to stand up and run after her.

The elder looked back and replied. "The time awaits." And off she went, leaving another confused person behind.

For some reasons no one can understand, she seemed to love speaking in riddles, wrapped in enigma. And perhaps, just perhaps, it comes with being old.

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

Do your assignment and you'll unravel the answer to your questions.

Mikan was guessing that she would make an awesome miner someday. Why, she almost dug up the most ancient books in the Imperial Library and she still hadn't found what she needed. In fact, looking for a single book out of these thousands seems as good as saying that she's looking for a needle in a haystack. And being brought the news that the Library catalogue isn't working properly wasn't really the perfect energy booster around. All in all, the brunette was severely covered in must, dust and the smell of books.

Still, she looked around. She had to find a single book to answer her question. Frankly, she had a lot of questions jogging in her mind - a lot of angry questions. Why does she have to leave, for an instance. Why did Natsume even choose his bride-to-be if there was a girl for him after all? Why does the Empress continue to train her when she won't assume the title of the Empress anyway? Why? Why does she even praise her? Shouldn't she be discouraging her on doing well? It's just so illogical.

And how will learning more about the bloodline of Natsume's ancestors answer these questions?

Somehow, all those just conjured a massive headache for the brunette. She hadn't had breakfast and it's nearly lunch. But she plans on skipping that meal as well just to find a stupid book that could possibly talk to her and tell her the answers to her question. Looking at the size of the gargantuan library though, Mikan was pretty sure her stomach won't be digesting a sumptuous dinner as well. But no matter.

Bloodline…bloodline….bloodline…

Before his father, I think another Royal Family ruled Japan but they were over-throned by Grandpa's family. I think we're still related though. They were cousins or something. Although I don't remember the surname of that Family. You can try researching in the Library, Mikan-chan. I'm sure it's there.

Mikan stood up in alert. Another Royal Family? Was that what the ex-Empress wanted her to find out about? But how are those connected?

She frowned, her eyesight doubling. Feeling dizzy, Mikan grabbed at the nearest thing she can steady herself upon which - surprise! - turned out to be a bookshelf. But instead of her hand landing on the ledge, it actually came in contact with a book, which fell out of her grasp. But instead of the shelf's flat back greeting her, there, hidden was a book bound by crimson metal, jades and gems adorning it.

Gingerly, Mikan took it and opened it.

The Royal Family Bloodline, it says. Mikan's vision cleared up in an instant with a sudden jolt. This was the book she needed. Swiftly, with her trembling fingers, Mikan flipped through the book. It contains details about the first ever Emperor of Japan who claims to have been descended from the sun goddess, Amaterasu herself, Emperor Jimmu, down to the present one, Emperor Ioran Hyuuga. Someone must have updated the book through the time. All in all, the book holds details about the Royal Family of the 125 plus Emperors.

Serving as the book's last page is a large folded paper. Carefully, Mikan unfolded it and was surprised to see the intricate Family Tree of the most recent Emperors. Even Natsume and the others' names were listed in it. Mikan was so awestruck that for a moment, her attention lingered on the lowest branches. But then, remembering her purpose, she slowly travelled up the tree.

There, resting before the name of Emperor Ren is the surname of the former Royal Family.

But Mikan can't believe her eyes. For a moment, she thought maybe she was still dizzy. Or that maybe she read wrong. There's just no way that that is the surname of the former Royal Family.

Because there, lying just on top of Natsume's Family Tree was…

…her own Family Tree.

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

December 17, 20XX

Dear Natsume,

I can't write properly. I'm still on shock over what I have discovered. I can't believe it. It's not possible. It's just not. Maybe there was a mistake. Maybe…this is all a hoax - a trick from the ex-Empress. Maybe it's the first of April today. Maybe…I don't know. But…how? Something tells me it's true despite how hard I try to convince myself that I am hallucinating.

Because see, Natsume? I can't be a part of the former Royal Family.

But I saw it. My name - in that list, just under Dad's who was under Grandpa who was under some Emperor Shin. It's just…impossible. Maybe that's why I am not meant for you - because they discovered that I am a descendant of the former Family who ruled Japan. Maybe there was some sort of feud between our family. I mean, with your family overthrowing mine, it doesn't seem to far-fetched right? Is that why the ex-Empress is so opposed to the idea of me being the next Empress? Because she doesn't want our family rising to power again?

Because see…me marrying you gives our family the same amount of power. A Royal blood wed with another Royal blood - that would be terrific. But with how your grandmother prattles about protecting the throne and keeping it to your Family, my idea doesn't seem so far-fetched right? She said…she said I'd find the answer to my questions once I accomplish this assignment. I have and some of my questions were answered. Which leaves me to just one - Why does she still train me after all this?

Honestly, I don't know. Because…what? Why? I must ask her. Things have come to the light. I see it now. We're not meant for each other. Our bloodlines say it all.

Natsume, you're not my Prince Charming. I'm not your Cinderella either. We're neither of the characters.

Because all along, we have been Romeo and Juliet - our families in a feud, minus the love part. Somehow, their situation is a reverse of ours - somewhat. But one thing's for sure…

If I fight and push my luck …we'll just be like them.

We won't have a happy ending.

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

Love,

Mikan

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