Postman
...xXx...
So tired… Mikan thought as she opened the door of her house. She just moved to her new house, which was located quite far away from the city, a week ago. Right after she opened the door and turned on the light, she saw a few letters on the floor.
Bills? she pondered and grabbed the letters. She started examining them and blinked when she read the address. Natsume Hyuuga?
It's not mine… she thought as she looked the rest of the letters. She sighed in defeat. All of the letters were addressed to the same person.
"Stupid postman," she muttered in annoyance and grabbed her keys. Truth to be told, she had only one neighbor. And now, she needed to give the letters to the right person.
Mikan sighed after she read the name plate: Hyuuga. She pressed the doorbell and was surprised when the one who opened the door was a 5-year-old boy. He had silver hair and a pair of emerald eyes. She smiled and crouched down. "Hello, is your father or mother at home?"
The boy stared at her, and she sweat dropped.
After a moment he moved a little to the side and called out, "Otou-san, there's an ugly woman looking for you!"
U-ugly? Mikan thought in shock. She gritted her teeth in annoyance. This brat is…
But, she calmed down in seconds and sighed mentally. He's just a kid.
After a few minutes, a voice came from within the house, "Youichi, what have I said about opening the door?"
"Gomenasai," the boy apologized softly and moved aside to let the man open the door a little wider. Before the door was a raven-haired man with a pair of crimson eyes.
Mikan gasped silently as she realized how handsome her neighbor was.
They stared at each other for a few seconds.
"Yes?"
"Oh, I'm Mikan Sakura, I live next door. I'd like to give you these letters. They were addressed to you."
Natsume took the letters and examined them.
"Excuse me; did you also get the letters that were addressed to me?"
Natsume turned to look at her and nodded. He walked inside the house again and brought a few letters.
Mikan smiled as she took the letters. She slightly bowed towards Natsume. "Thank you, Hyuuga-san."
She smiled down at Youichi. "It was nice to meet you, You-chan."
"Ugly woman," Youichi replied impassively.
She twitched slightly, but she continued to smile. She looked at Natsume. "Have a nice day, Hyuuga-san."
With that she walked back to her house.
Natsume closed the door and stared at Youichi. "You like her?"
Youichi blushed slightly and looked away.
Natsume smirked. I like her, too.
...xXx...
Mikan opened the door. "Yes?"
She was not surprised to find Natsume and Youichi before her doorway. "Again?"
Natsume nodded.
"Hi, ugly woman," Youichi greeted her impassively.
A vein popped on her forehead. She smiled at Youichi as she reminded herself, Calm down… He's just a kid…
"Your letters," Natsume said while handing the bundle over.
She quickly took the letters. "Thank you. Please wait for a while; I think I got your letters, too."
She walked inside the house. While holding a few letters, she mumbled to herself, "Stupid postman. I should report this to the post office soon."
Unknown to her, Natsume heard what she said.
Mikan smiled as she handed the letters to Natsume. Right after he took it, she crouched down. "You-chan, I don't know what I did to make you hate me so much… but please don't call someone like that. I believe every girl is beautiful, and every boy is handsome… just like you."
Youichi looked away from her.
Mikan knew it was to hide his blushing face, so she just smiled at him.
She's good with kids. Natsume smiled inwardly. Without saying a goodbye or a thank you, they left. Right after they walked away, an expensive car parked in front of her house. A 5-year-old girl came out from the passenger seat. Mikan, who stood in front of the house, smiled and waved at the little girl.
The little girl smiled brightly before whispering to herself, "Mikan…"
"Kaa-san!" the girl exclaimed and ran to Mikan, who had already opened her arms. The girl hugged her tightly. "I missed you!"
"I missed you, too, Karen." Mikan laughed joyfully, returning the hug.
A brown-haired man came out from the driver's seat and walked towards Mikan and the little girl.
"Otou-san, you're so slow!" The little girl pouted.
The man chuckled. He looked at Mikan and kissed her forehead before walking inside the house.
Unknown to them, Natsume and Youichi watched everything. They also walked back to their own house in silence.
Youichi buried his face in Natsume's chest as a tear slid down his cute face. He had hoped to have Mikan as his mother.
Natsume sighed mentally. No wonder she's good with kids; she already has one herself.
Right after he put Youichi to bed, he grabbed his phone and pressed a set of numbers.
"Ruka Nogi speaking."
"Cancel it."
"…Natsume? Did something happen?"
"She already has a family," Natsume stated unemotionally.
He heard Ruka sigh. "Tomorrow, the mail will be back to normal."
Natsume closed his eyes before lying down on his bed. Truth to be told, it was his idea to place his letters in her mail box. The very first one was a real mistake, but the rest were his idea. He just wanted to get close to her and be with her even though it was just for a while.
Mikan gazed at the blue-eyed man before her. "Akira… I read your letter a few days ago…"
"Otou-san wished to see you…" Akira sipped his tea slowly.
"I thought I already made myself clear about that."
"Mi-chan, Otou-san has accepted your decision to come back here."
"How's Kate?" Mikan asked, avoiding the subject.
Karen smiled. "Okaa-san is fine, Mikan-kaa-san."
Mikan smiled and patted the little girl's head. "Glad to hear that. She's going to give you a little brother, right?"
Karen nodded with a very bright smile. "I'm going to be a big sister in a few weeks!"
Mikan laughed and hugged her. "I'm sure he will be happy to have you as his big sister."
"Karen, it's time for you to sleep," Akira said and pulled her into his arms.
"Good night, Mikan-kaa-san!" Karen bid.
Mikan kissed her little forehead. "Good night, Karen."
...xXx...
"Are you sure you don't want to stay longer, Akira?"
Akira shook his head. "I can't."
Mikan looked down and muttered, "Gomenasai."
Akira hugged her. "Please don't give me that face, Mikan. I understand why you want to stay here. This country is where we grew up together."
She hugged him back. "Tell Otou-san that I will visit him someday."
"I will." He nodded and kissed her forehead. "Take care, Mikan."
Mikan turned to hug Karen. "Be a good big sister, Karen."
Karen hugged her back and nodded her little head. "Hai, Mikan-kaa-san."
After they broke the hug, Mikan looked at Akira. "Send my regards to Kate."
Akira nodded with a smile.
Mikan waved at them as they walked inside the plane.
It must be hard to handle a big company without me, she thought guiltily.
Magically, she had already arrived at her house while thinking about her family. She walked to her house but stopped at the front door and looked at the next house. It had been a while since their last visit. It won't hurt so much as to visit, right?
Mikan pressed the doorbell after she reached her only neighbor's house. After a few minutes, the door was opened by none other than Natsume.
He looked at her blankly. "Yes?"
She shivered slightly. Since when had his voice been this cold?
She gulped. "I'm sorry to bother you, Hyuuga-san. I just wanted to visit You-chan."
He looked at her sadly.
Mikan, who saw his sad face, worriedly asked, "Has something happened to You-chan?"
"He just has a high fever," he said softly.
She gasped and grabbed his hand. "Please lead me to him. I want to see him."
What is she talking about? Doesn't she have a family to take care of? he thought in disbelief.
In the end, she was the one who took care of Youichi as if he was hers.
Mikan sighed in relief. "His fever has gone down. I think he will be fine in the next two days… I know it's not my business, but where is your wife?"
"Youichi was adopted by me," Natsume stated as a matter of fact then offered her a glass of water.
She drank it slowly before putting the glass on the table. "Thank you."
He shook his head. "No. I should be the one to thank you."
She smiled. "You don't have to. I'm just used to taking care of Karen."
He blinked before asking her, "Karen?"
She nodded. "She is the little girl that came to my house a few days ago. Kate usually panicked a lot when her little girl got a fever, and Akira would immediately call me."
"Akira?"
She laughed. "Oh my, I've really confused you now. I'm sorry. Let me explain it clearly. Akira is my twin brother. He lives in New York with the rest of my family."
So… that guy was her twin brother… not her husband… Natsume thought with a smile. "I thought the girl called you Okaa-san?"
She hummed. "I don't think so… You need to hear her more carefully. She usually calls me Mikan-kaa-san."
"I hope I can have children myself," she muttered to herself.
He looked at her. "What?"
She clamped her mouth and laughed nervously. "Nothing, nothing at all."
As they arrived at her house, Natsume smiled. "Thank you."
She smiled back. "You're welcome."
When Mikan went inside, she looked at him, and he looked at her.
They gazed into each other's eyes. He then slowly leaned forward to her lips. It was a peck, but when he was about to pull away, she returned the peck. He pushed her slightly inside the house and kissed her immediately. Closing the door behind him, he continued to kiss her. As he pulled her closer to him, the kiss became more heated. It lasted for a few minutes before they broke the kiss breathlessly.
They smiled at each other before starting again…
One Year Later
"I'm happy for you, Mikan," Akira said as he smiled at her.
Mikan smiled back. "Arigatou, Akira."
Youichi ran in full speed to Mikan and hugged her leg. "Okaa-san!"
"Youichi, what have I said about hugging your mother?" Natsume said warningly.
"Gomenasai," Youichi muttered.
Mikan glared at Natsume and patted Youichi's head. "It's alright, You-chan. Don't worry about it. Okaa-san will be happy if you could do it more gently. You know that, right?"
"I know. I will be a good big brother," Youichi said and kissed Mikan's round belly.
Natsume kissed her lips after getting into position beside her.
"Mikan, you haven't told me how both of you came to know each other yet," Akira said while looking at Mikan.
Natsume and Mikan smiled at each other. They looked at Akira before saying, "Postman."
The End
Thanks for reading.