Secrets: Unpacking

[vickygal]

Series: Secrets
Series Summary: At age eight, Natsume goes to live with the grandmother he's never met, Reiko. A series of shorts regarding various aspects of their lives as Natsume grows up. AU.
Prompt: The Book of Friends: Natsume Yuujinchou prompt by aishiteru for an AU wherein a still-living Reiko takes Natsume in.
Chapter: Unpacking
Chapter

Comments

[hokuton_punch]

Oh, how sweet - Natsume finally gets to settle into a place. ;o; Lovely chapter!

[ree_rhea]

Ahh all of the stories in this series are making me teary eyed! Takashi's childhood always makes me so sad... ;_;

[hikari318]

I really love this series of yours♥

The bit about Natsume and his aunt was very poignant. Poor little Natsume... But now he's finally found a home, though they've still a long way to go (especially Reiko, it seems). Anyway, lovely chapter; I can't wait to see more!

[sinnatious]

I just read all three chapters and they're incredible. I love the idea!

My heart breaks with each one, but it's a good kind of hurt, a bitter sweet taste to it. It's pretty rare for a fic to get this kind of emotional response from me, but your portrayal of Reiko and Natsume both - at stages of their lives we see so little and know nothing about - is so very vivid and compelling. It's an emotional rollercoaster of sorts, with the dips in Natsume's flinches and hesitation and Reiko's standoffishness making the highs of Natsume determinedly unpacking or greeting his grandmother home all the more satisfying.

I can't wait to read more!

[umeyume]

Takashi's life was hard, but when you put him together with Reiko, I wonder if that won't be the birth of some kind of melancholy youkai ;__;

"If Reiko knew he was putting so much thought into this, she would probably laugh that gruff, rude, lonely laughter of hers. The thought is - like Reiko herself - a little comforting, sad, and scary all at once, and it makes Natsume's chest feel too tight, his breath coming short." <- liked this part a lot.