She knew that she shouldn’t have been surprised to get a reply so soon—after all, parents and her uncle were always on top of things—but she had never expected a package quite so large. Two packages, in fact—one was a smaller box, while the other was a rather large crate. There were scuffling noises coming from within, indicating that something was alive and moving in there.
Xiu wasn’t sure if she wanted to open that quite yet.
First off, the letters: there was one from her parents and one from her uncle. Xiu picked up the former first, eying it warily before sliding the envelope open. Might as well as get over with it.
- - - - -
Xiu-Ying,
Your mother and I were disappointed to hear that you failed your exam. However, as the task was not something a young ghoul like you should be doing anyways, we will let this pass.
We are also pleased to hear that you’re doing well in school, and that you are making friends of the same class as you are. Miss Elizabeth Baines sounds like a wonderful friend to have, as does Miss Junko. We hope that you will take positive influences from both of them.
Continue to practice your dream-diving. It sounds as if you are starting to improve. I hope that you’ve been keeping up with your cooking and baking as well, as those are two practical skills that anyone should have.
We are a little astonished that you managed to fall on a knife and injure your shoulder. Please be less careless in the future.
Finally, since you are now a knob and are allowed to come home for some time, we request that you do. We saw the article on your school and we’d like to talk about it and get some answers—please do not feed us that garbage about hunters to protect your professor. Call us to let us know when you are coming.
Thank you for the letter. Please keep in touch.
Sincerely,
Your mother and your father
- - - - -
”Always professional and to the point,” Xiu murmured dryly, putting the letter off to the side. ”Perhaps it really is best that I didn’t mention any of my other friends to them.” Or the fact that Lizzy and Junko weren’t the boring, demure ghouls who sat around chatting idly about the weather that her parents probably assumed they were.
She picked up the letter from her uncle next. Her tail waved expectantly as she pulled out the letter.
- - - - -
Xiu,
Sorry to hear that you didn’t do too well with your exam! Your parents were kind of upset at first, but after they continued reading and found out what exactly you were expected to do...well. I think they were kind of relieved that you didn’t pass. Something about it not being a ladylike task, and how the school could expect someone as delicate as you to take part.
Don’t worry, I haven’t told them about your training with that Levi ghoul. They might not approve, but I do—it’s important to know how to protect yourself, and I think it’s good that you’re growing more independent. Don’t let your parents’ feelings and beliefs influence your own.
How are your friends, anyways? You talk about them so much, but I don’t even think I remember all of their names! Though I do remember...uh, wolf girl, reaper-brother, valkyrie, cowboil (I think it’s awesome that you have a friend who is a cowboil), punk reaper, noise boil, spider demoness, mindflayer (you've written a lot about this ghoul too--you really look up to her, huh?), vetala...
Okay, so I don’t really remember any of their names off the top of my head...except Levi, apparently, and that’s only because you spent a whole page talking about her last time. It’s good to know that you have a big brother and big sister figure at Amityville, though.
In regards to your injury...Xiu, did you really fall on a knife? Something about that seems a little unlikely, and I know that you aren’t that clumsy. Does this have anything to do with the article about your school? I'll warn you right now: your mom and dad were discussing pulling you out of Amityville and having you transfer to another school. I'm not sure you want to come home right now, to be honest. I'll try to convince them to let you stay—I know you wouldn't want to leave your new friends behind—but it'll take a while. That being said...I'm not sure what's going on, but I trust you, so I won't ask. Please be careful, though.
Anyways, I’ve sent you a gift! Gifts, actually. Congratulations on making it to your second year! I figured that you’d be in need of a need outfit, so I made you something. I took the fact that you’re training into account, so I hope that it’s comfortable and easy to move in. I’ve also sent you two other little gifts—I’m sure you’ll recognize them when you get that crate open. I know you’ll take care of them.
Write back when you have the time!
P.S. Since I forgot to mention it: I’m sure you trust your friends very much, and I understand that...but Xiu, if you get stabbed in the shoulder with a blade, go to the nurse instead of letting your friend pull it out for you!
Love,
Uncle
- - - - -
Xiu grinned, trying not to laugh at the exasperated note at the end of the letter. Of course, she had kept quiet about what had occurred on the field trip so it had been necessary to twist the truth around a little.
Unfortunately, apparently the only excuse she could come up with was that she had--somehow--tripped and falling on a knife that was stick up blade-first. Her parents and her uncle were obviously skeptical, but they didn't seem to see much reason for why she would lie. They would, however, have accused her of lying if she told them the truth. Their reaction to the article--and the bit about the hunters--was proof of that.
Shaking her head with a sigh, the baku rose to her feet and started towards the crate, eying it a bit warily. How was she supposed to open it? She didn’t have a crowbar, and—oh, a latch with a lock. But where was the key? After a bit of thought, Xiu went back to where she had left out the letters, grabbing the envelope that her uncle’s letter had come in and overturning it. With a little shake, a small key fell into the palm of her hand.
Moving back to the crate, she removed the lock and flipped up the latch. Taking a deep breath, she slowly pushed the top open and peeked in. At first, all she saw was darkness, and then...
”Shu! Jian!” Eyes lighting up, she pushed the top open all the way, reaching in to pull out the two minis. ”So you two are the ones that uncle sent!” The pair had been her uncle’s minis ever since she was a young child, when they used to watch over and protect her (and prevent her from doing childishly stupid things like putting her hand on a hot stove). The fact that he would send them to her surprised her...but maybe, even though he didn't know what had happened here, her uncle had thought that she needed protection.
They wriggled happily as she held them—at least, Shu did, while Jian just looked mildly displeased instead of extremely displeased—but she put them down a moment later when Arashi came to investigate his new roommates. While they were getting to know each other, she turned her attention to the smaller package.
Her eyes widened as she opened up the box, revealing the present that her uncle had made for her. Like her current outfit, it had a reddish color scheme to it, but Xiu realized that aside from that, it differed greatly from the dress he had made her when she was first enrolled in Amityville. She finally understood what her uncle had meant in the letter—he had tailored the outfit so that it would be easy to move in while sparring, and yet he still kept that feminine hint that he knew she liked.
"You're the best, uncle." Xiu smiled to herself, picking up the box and heading towards the bathroom so that she could try it on. A new year in school, a new look, and a new goal. Being a knob was going to be hard work, but she was ready for it.
