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

Eighth Letter (Part I)

Mikan knocked earnestly on the Master's bedroom's door.

It was half past six in the morning and she was sure that the couple was still deep in slumber - or at least, the Empress was - and she was also quite certain that the lady wouldn't be in the best of moods because of the brunette's rude behavior. But when you discover that you were actually a part of the former Royal Family, then Mikan supposes you'd be doing the same thing she was in right now - which was waking the Empress from her sleep to get off early to meet her parents who can explain what the hell these things mean.

Besides, it's even a wonder that she was asking for their permission before she dashes right off to her parents like what she did exactly a week ago. She did consider the thought last night but thought better of it. She was sure that this lot would instantly call 911 if that were the case and bathe her with the whole nation's attention. They'll also probably tattle about her being kidnapped and so on. So, she tried the next best option - she called her parents. But they didn't answer or were too busy or were asleep. Either way, she didn't get the information she wanted.

Mikan knocked again. "Mom!" she called, as she was instructed by the Empress the first time they met. "Mom! Please wake up! This is important!" she called.

Goodness, she feels strangely stupid talking to a door. But she continued to knock.

"Mikan-chan-sama," an old voice caught her attention - Sebastian. "I am afraid that Her Highness is still asleep. I suggest you wait until she wakes up." he told her.

Knocking, she answered. "Yeah, I know that Sebastian, but this is really important…" Mikan trailed off as her eyes enlarged into two big disks of surprise.

Did she just see Tsubasa and the lot being carried off by the Palace guards - gagged and roped? And yes, she was certain Natsume was one of them, still sleeping but was thrashing. Misaki was also there, trying to kick her carrier but to no avail. Hotaru, meanwhile, was being shipped with the lot, her head covered with a weird egg-shaped helmet and the rest of her inside a weird…cocoon? Is that a cocoon? Yes. Poor Youichi and Aoi were panicked, also gagged and roped, probably thinking that they were being kidnapped by their own men. And lastly, Tsubasa who's in the same predicament. He was also fighting like Misaki but spotted Mikan and gave her a meaningful look - something like a warning.

Mikan turned to the ever so complacent Sebastian by her side, giving him a questioning look. "Sebastian, what is ha - "

The brunette's knocking hand thudded on something soft. Turning, she found herself face to face with a grinning Empress.

"Oh my," she sing-songed cheerfully, quite far from the expected reaction Mikan was thinking of. "What an early bird you are, Mikan-chan. Now, off you go too!" she smiled.

Mikan was about to ask what was up but before she can even utter a single syllable, she blacked out.

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

Being gagged and tied was one thing. Waking up in an airplane beside your fiancé without any idea what was happening was another.

"What…the…" Mikan muttered as she looked around. She was in a - yes, you guessed it right - private plane, probably owned by the Royal Family and beside her, looking grumpy and murderous is Natsume. "Hey, what's happening?" she asked him.

He just glared at her and looked at the other direction. Great. Just great.

"Oh, Mikan-chan, you're awake!" the Empress said enthusiastically. She was standing in the middle of everyone, looking all joyous as if Christmas arrived seven days early. "Too bad you missed half the fun but that's okay!" she smiled.

The brunette just looked at her quizzically as if she spouted a high-level math problem. The Empress has this amazing capability of speaking riddles as well, like the ex-Empress. What, is this a requirement for the title or something? Mikan's head swirled. Disoriented, she looked around her and found everyone in an amazing state of the sorts.

The seats in the plane were designed so that they were like beds and were deposited on both sides of the plane so that you can see everyone aboard. Tsubasa, Misaki, Hotaru, Ruka, Aoi, Youichi, Aunt Miyabi, and even the Emperor himself were present! But the most surprising of all, was the occupant of the last bed. There, crumpled on her seat is the ex-Empress, passed out, with an anxious expression on her face. Mikan was guessing that the Empress gagged and roped her as well like the rest of them.

From where she acquired the courage to do that, she doesn't know but she was pretty sure the Empress would get a lot of scolding from the old lady. Which is, by far, just alright with Mikan.

This is completely out of her schedule! She was supposed to meet her parents today, not fly off a plane to who-knows-where. And yet, here she was, in another unexpected turn of her life. Typical.

"What happened?" Mikan croaked. Finding a glass of water beside her, she grabbed it and took a sip.

Miyabi sniffed across her. "Kidnapped us and dug her own grave is what this idiot did, Mikan-chan," she answered, looking smugly at the Empress.

For a moment, the brunette was taken aback by what the female Hyuuga said. She didn't expect her to act cold towards the Empress nor was she expected to call her an idiot. Do they not get along or something? Somehow, Mikan didn't think they had this kind of relationship. She was thinking that they were more of the sister-bonding type.

The Empress dismissed her idea with a wave of hand. "Oh psh," she muttered. "Nonsense. What's happening is that we're going on a vacation!"

Natsume snorted mockingly beside Mikan.

"I heard that!"

"Whatever,"

"Vacation?" Mikan frowned. As much as she loved to have one, knowing her real identity is more important. "Where?" she asked. Besides, it's in the middle of winter - she'd love to make snow angels and have snowball fights while making snowmen by the Palace gardens. She hasn't even shopped for Christmas yet!

At this, the crimson-eyed woman beamed as if Mikan hit jackpot in asking that question. "Why, in Okinawa, of course!"

Miyabi smirked at this. "Digging deeper, are we?"

Kaoru glared at her. "Oh shut up," she grumbled.

Mikan looked around her in confusion. What the heck are they talking about?

Tsubasa blinked. "Wait, Aunt…" he said. "Isn't that where…"

"Grandma's mansion?!" Aoi supplied for her cousin.

Mikan frowned and pointed at the lying ex-Empress. "Grandma?" she asked.

Ruka shook his head. "Mikan-chan, Aoi-chan meant the Empress' mother."

The brunette blinked. The Empress' mother? Oh, right. Ruka told her about her. Hime…miya, was it? And she has a bad relationship with the ex-Empress so…why?

"At this rate, Aunt is about to launch an atomic bomb stronger than the ones dropped in Nagasaki and Hiroshima," Hotaru muttered, still wearing the eggshell helmet.

"E-eh?" Mikan squeaked. Well, she's right about that. What was the Empress thinking? She saw the rest nodding in agreement and the Empress pouting.

She crossed her slender arms. "Oh please. You'll be thanking me later, you kiddos. Especially you, Ruka, Hota-chan and Tsubasa. Your parents are included in this trip, you know. Subaru-chan and a friend, too." she said.

At this, the three stopped. Oh right, Ruka's parents are in France and Hotaru and Tsubasa's mom was somewhere else. This must be pretty good news huh?

Or not.

"Aunt, you must be crazy." Tsubasa said. "Are you serious?"

The Empress scowled. "No, I'm joking. You may laugh now. Of course I'm serious!"

Miyabi smirked. "Ahh, such an idiot. And you expect me to look after Mother? She'll be hysterical!"

Great. What's happening now?

"Well, that's your job!" the Empress huffed.

Ruka looked worried. Tsubasa groaned.

"Aunt, doesn't the ex-Empress dislike Aunt Lisette and Aunt Hiyori? Not to mention Subaru-nii's there…and Himemiya-san." Misaki said.

Hotaru looked at her Aunt sharply. "Forget about the atomic bomb. She's launching a nuclear bomb that can destroy the whole world. The world will be ending after all,"

"Hey!"

"Hnnn…"

All of them looked at the stirring ex-Empress, panic written on their faces. Crap.

"Aunt, you're on your own," Youichi said.

And as if planned, everyone else except the Empress lay still and pretended to sleep as the old woman woke up, disoriented and not in the best moods.

Through the darkness, they all heard the old lady mutter venomously.

"What is the meaning of this?"

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

Okinawa was…sunny.

It's a little difficult believing that Okinawa and Tokyo are from the same country. It's almost always cold in Tokyo and is even covered in freezing snow right now and yet, here in the southern part of Japan, the heat of the sun rules over the land. Just…wow. It's a first time for Mikan to spend Christmas not bundled in warm cozy sweaters. In fact, it doesn't even feel like December at all - more like in the midst of July or so.

And there, built in its all supposed marvel and glory is the Igarashi Mansion, looking over the vast blue expansion of the ocean. It was designed in a western way so that it looks so much like a marvelous Palace fitted for the family of the Empress. In fact, Mikan was so awed by its beauty that the thoughts of running away and catching the next flight to go to her parents instantly vanished. Besides, there was no way she'd get out of trouble with that kind of idea.

Meanwhile, everyone who had been cross minutes ago about this haphazard vacation brightened up at the sight of the grand Mansion and the sole soul who doesn't seem to like the idea very much and looked as though she'd really want to be in any place at all rather than where she stood now was the ex-Empress. In fact, she had been rambling since she woke up and wanted to decapitate the Empress on the spot had the Emperor not calmed her down. It seems that the calmest she can get is being a fussy sour old woman that she is.

Mikan didn't mind that though - not that she still has grudges for the Empress or what. But she does think that the ex-Empress needs this vacation from all those stressful plans that she is trying to commence albeit they may hurt her. She needs more time to enjoy her life more, if she even enjoyed it once. Besides, her wick is slowly burning away what's with her age and her unknown illness, there's no guarantee it'll be burning for long.

"Ahhh," the Empress' mother hugged her tightly, Mikan thought Kaoru would come off flat. "It's been so long, Benihime. I missed you very, very much!" she cried.

Himemiya has a really long hair extending until her ankles with the same color as her daughter's as well as the same crimson eyes Natsume and Kaoru have. Mikan also guessed that wearing long formal and hot kimonos were a knack in this family since Himemiya was also in one with that fan and weird hair ornament on top of her head making her look like an Empress herself. But there's one thing that bugs Mikan the most and it's the fact that the Empress' mother looks as immaculate as ever as though she doesn't age. And what's with that weird name she called her daughter?

Benihime?

Mikan looked at Misaki for answers.

"Aunt's mom is fond of nicknaming girls from flowers," she whispered. "And somehow, she hates guys." Then she looked all around them, punctuating on Natsume, Ruka, Tsubasa and the Emperor (and the rest of the bodyguards) worriedly. And as if on cue, Himemiya stared at the guys with disgust.

Covering her lips with her fan, she said. "And the man who stole my daughter away, I see you're well. Too bad." she muttered the last part silently although everyone heard it quite clearly. Yup. He hates guys alright. "And…my grandson - and his cousins. Very well, come inside."

She was about to walk in through the grand doors of the Mansion and Mikan was too happy to oblige since it was boiling outside but a cough was heard. Turning back, Himemiya's eyes widened at the sight of the old ex-Empress, being assisted by her servants. Great. Mikan yelped inwardly. She has a feeling that World War III is going to be launched any second soon and it will be starting in Japan again.

Both the elders eyed each other warily, Mikan thought it got hotter around the place - then finally, Himemiya turned to her daughter and narrowed her eyes, her face still covered by her fan. "I see you brought another unexpected guest." she said coldly. "I think I will have a word with you, Behihime. All the same, what can I do? Very well, come in."

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

Natsume's family is…huge.

Like seriously, Mikan can't imagine herself meeting the whole clan of Hyuugas. The people she's meeting now? They the main family - distant cousins not included. Just the current Emperor's branch of the family. They're not even into that part where she'll be meeting the Emperor's cousins and their offspring who are in line for the throne in who knows which number. Fortieth? Sixty-first? Mikan doesn't really want to know.

Right now, they were in the big living room and she was getting introduced to everyone. Well, she said introduced but it's more like they're hogging her or something. She strangely feels like a children's favorite teddy bear.

"Hi," a woman with short black hair greeted her. Mikan was guessing that she is Hotaru's and Tsubasa's mom, Hiyori. She seems regal, but kind. "Hota-chan, is this that dear friend you're talking about?"

Hotaru looked pointedly at Mikan. "If she's acting like an idiot, then no, I don't know her. Gladly throw her out."

Hiyori chuckled. "Don't be shy, Hota-chan. Hello dear. I'm Hiyori, Hota-chan's mom. This is your first time meeting me, right?"

Mikan nodded mutely. Guess what? She suddenly felt shy in front of the woman. She looks so kind but keeping into mind the things she went through when she was younger, somehow Mikan feels like she invaded her privacy or something - like she's not supposed to know her deepest secrets.

"How cute!" she laughed. "Oh, and Misaki-chan," she cried as Tsubasa and Misaki neared them, both strangely in peace with the other. Now that was a rare case. They're supposed to be bickering right now like what they always do.

Mikan watched as Misaki smiled brightly at Hiyori, hugging her as if she was really her daughter. "It's been so long, Aunt," she greeted.

Hiyori just smiled. "Yes, well, I liked it in Venice very much. But I'm glad to be in Japan again. I hope my little runt isn't giving you any troubles?" she looked at her son teasingly.

Tsubasa pouted like a kid, which Mikan found very cute of him. "Mom!" he protested. "We talked about this."

The older woman just knitted her perfect eyebrows. "Yeah, but I never agreed on you proposing to Misaki-chan during your last year in high school!" Then she turned to Misaki all sweetly. "Not that I don't like you for this little runt, dear." then back to Tsubasa who was now wincing playfully. "But I think it was too soon for you to be proposing to this sweet girl! What do you even plan on feeding Misaki-chan? Huh?" then she elbowed her son.

"Mom," Tsubasa whined again which is by now, turning into a really good comedy show. Now, where was the popcorn? "We also talked about this!"

Then Hotaru butted in. "Nii-san thinks there's nothing wrong with it since Natsume's marrying at 17 anyway."

"Yeah, but you're not a Crown Prince, you - " Hiyori was saying but Tsubasa already lunged at the cool Hotaru who was too occupied of her work to notice. So yes, he tackled her in a big brother hug.

"You called me 'Nii-san', like before!"

Misaki and Hiyori looked at him hopelessly. "Dork." they both muttered.

"Anyway," Hiyori looked back at Mikan, making her gulp but before she could even say a word, Mikan was knocked out and was attacked by a large French hug. (A/N: However that is. I invented it. Haha.)

"Lisette!" Hiyori pouted, her hands on her waist. Lisette?

Mikan looked up and saw a fountain of yellow strands over her face. What?

"Mikan-chan, enchanté!" someone said behind Mikan.

The brunette twirled to bow but before she can even do so, she thought she left her eyes somewhere. The woman standing before her now was so pretty that for a moment, Mikan thought the place suddenly became brighter than before. She was tall and lithe, exactly like those supermodels before their anorexic episodes, with perfect curly blonde hair like Ruka's and startling pools of blue for eyes. She was mesmerizing. Ruka, meanwhile, was hiding awkwardly behind her, suddenly ashamed of this wonderful person.

"I finally met you!" she said with a thick French accent as she hugged her again. "Ah, you are as pretty as Ruka told me." she smiled.

Mikan thought she saw Ruka blush behind his mom and Hotaru smirk beside her. Weird.

"Um, thanks." the brunette mumbled shyly. So Ruka had been talking about her huh? That's…nice.

"O-nee-chan!" Miyabi called behind her and hugged her half-sister, with Hiyori joining in. Somehow, Mikan felt touched by the scene. "Ohhh, I missed you!"

"I missed you too, my baby girls!" Hiyori said. "I'm sorry I wasn't around much!"

Miyabi crossed her hands. "Oh, yeah. You left me with Mother, thanks. Thanks a lot."

Lisette laughed and raised her hands in surrender. "Sorry, not my mom, not my problem."

The youngest sister turned to Hiyori to glare. She shrugged in response. "Bad memories. Can't help you. Sorry. Besides, Mother fancies you!"

Miyabi just frowned. "Right, because I married Richard and now has vouch for England's throne - whatever yadda."

The three laughed. It was nice watching them. Mikan guessed that this reunion is pretty rare seeing as how they all just froze in the room and observed the sisters as they have that conversation. Maybe it's good that the Empress was whisked away by the ex-Empress so the trio would have a good and open back together moment. And maybe, just maybe, that was the plan of the Empress.

"Io-chan!" Lisette and Hiyori both called to the Emperor as he emerged from the other room without his wife and mother. Seeing his sisters though, he opened his arms wide and welcomed them into an embrace. "We missed you!" they said.

"And I missed you too," he laughed merrily. "It's been so long,"

The blond woman crossed her arms and huffed. "Yeah, but Miyabi here beat us to the reunion. She went home days early! Cheater!"

"Well, I'm brilliant that way," the said woman joked.

"Are you still being bitchy around Kaoru? Poor girl," Hiyori said as she laughed.

Mikan thought she saw Miyabi pout cutely but she couldn't listen to their conversation any longer as people started to flood in - again.

Newcomers. And she didn't expect one of them.

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

"Shuu-chan!" Mikan cried as a familiar blond entered the premises of the Mansion with three other people - two guys and a girl, all with black hair so he really stood out.

Shuu-chan was short for Shuuichi Sakurano, her cousin who was studying abroad. He has blond hair like Mikan's dad which isn't really something strange since he's a cousin from the dad side anyway. He was always looking out for Mikan when they were younger and when he was still staying in Japan with their other cousin, Rui Amane. But since he moved to abroad for college, Mikan never really came in contact with him and seeing him here now, of all places, came as a big shock.

Anyway, the brunette ran to him and hugged him. She really, really missed him and perhaps, just perhaps, he knows something about their family's secret.

"Mikan chan - whoa!" he said as he half-carried, half-hugged the brunette, earning a glare from Natsume and wary looks from the rest of the guys. Whoa, indeed. What had he gotten into?

Even when Shuuichi released his cousin, she still clung to him like a monkey. "I missed you so, so, so, much!" she said, hugging tightly.

He smiled fondly at her, ignoring the rest of the hostile reactions. "Yeah, I missed you too. Anyway, come on, Mikan-chan. Release me now. You need to meet the rest of my friends," he chuckled.

Mikan un-clung as suggested and blinked - because there, in front of her is Hotaru in a stare off with a guy who resembles her - only with glasses and who comes off as a guy. But yeah, the same purple eyes, the same black hair and yes, the same aura. But the guy broke it off and smiled at Mikan kindly.

"Hi. I'm Subaru Imai, Hotaru's brother. Nice to meet you, Yukihira-san." he said. "I understand that you are a friend of my sister, yes?"

Mikan looked at Hotaru who acted cool as always and an idea crept into her mind. She smirked. "If she acts like an idiot, then no, I don't know her."

For a moment, Subaru looked utterly confused - until he cracked a smile. "A very nice line from the cold-hearted sister of mine, yes. Very well played."

Mikan beamed at the comment and turned to the next person - the woman who has straight jet-black hair until her back cut in Cleopatra style. "I am Shizune Yamanouchi, Subaru's girlfriend and Kaoru-sama's niece," she said coldly but not unfriendly. The brunette thought she saw sparks lighting up between her and Hotaru. Her best friend, it seems, approves of her brother's choice of girls.

The hazel-eyed lass smiled anyway and bowed a little. "Nice to meet you too! I'm Mikan Yukihira."

And lastly, she faced the odd guy with the long black hair like a girl's. He was extremely good-looking (like the rest of the people here) and had a weird grin spread on his face. Oddly, he opened his arms and said, "Hi Mikan-chan. I'm Akira Tonouchi and I like you. Hug?"

"E-eh?"

Smack!

That was from Shuuichi while it rained glares from the rest of the guys.

"Pervert, as always, Tono," Tsubasa muttered. "You're hopeless,"

Tono smiled at Tsubasa patiently. "Yeah, I missed you too, kiddo."

But while all of that fuss was happening, Mikan had already turned to her cousin and whispered, "Shuu-chan, I know about our family's secret. We have to talk."

For a moment, Shuuichi seemed completely shocked but recovered quickly after. "Maybe sometime later, Mikan-chan. For now, you need to go to your room. And rest." he said.

"But - "

But she was already being whisked away by Natsume who followed the maids who guided them.

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

Mikan frowned at the raven-haired lad. "Hey! What's your problem?" she asked, irritated for being dragged away from her cousin. That was her chance! And Shuuichi seems to know the secret seeing as how he reacted. He must know something.

Natsume just sat on the couch of the room and glared at her. "What's your problem?" he countered. Why are they even in the same room?

"Don't you throw back my questions at me, mister!" Mikan huffed, occupying the only bed inside.

The raven-haired lad scoffed. "Well, I wasn't the one doing all the hugging-spree in front of her own fiancé."

Mikan felt furious. Great. So now she can't hug her own cousin as well? Is there anything she needs to know more about this stupid title she has? Which is…what? Princess? Empress-to-be? Stupid. That's all going to be taken away, like her identity. But something whispered in her ears, making her grin stupidly.

"Wait," she said. Natsume looked at her. "Are you jealous?"

His crimson eyes enlarged and Mikan thought she saw him blush. "You clearly need glasses."

"And you clearly need me!" Mikan laughed. Natsume so wanted to attack her. She was in a pretty convenient place, you know. But no.

He smirked. "Well, in fact, yes," Natsume said, standing up.

Mikan blinked. Okay. She didn't expect that. "You do?"

Natsume shrugged. "Yeah, sure." he made his way to the bed and flopped down next to her - really close.

Casually, he supported himself with one hand, which was behind Mikan's back and neared his face to hers also really close - close enough for his breath to tickle her. See? Convenient place.

"N-natsume, w-what do you think y-you're doing?" Mikan stammered, clearly blushing. She can feel the heat coming from his body.

She also feels him smirking. "Oh, I don't know," he whispered in her ear sexily. "Collecting some debt from the damsel-in-distress? I do need payment for that, you know."

Mikan blushed more as she gulped. Nearer, nearer, Natsume leaned in to her, his eyes closed. He was clearly going to kiss her and crap. She can't move! Mikan shut her eyes close, her heart breaking out of her ribcage. She can see it coming.

Then he laughed.

Mikan blinked, completely flustered. How many times had this happened to them?

"You should have seen your face, Polka," he smirked.

Mikan threw a pillow at him. "Pervert! What do you need?"

Then Natsume grew serious. Another bad omen.

"Be my girlfriend - for at least this day,"

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

Awoo! Hahaha. More NatsuMikan moment? What's with Natsume suddenly? haha. Anyway, I wrote this chapter like this to show the relationships of the other characters with each other - like who likes who and who hates who. Haha. Besides, you guys have to meet these interesting people.

Anyway…LIKED IT? HATED IT? REVIEW! I'll be waiting. ;D