A long overdue letter...

[skylark]

Maria: Mommy, wait!

Reika couldn't hearher daughter's cries over the panic pounding in her ears. After all these years, that witch had finally found her... and who knew what she would do to those she loved if she was caught. No, Reika would not let that woman get her hands on Maria. She barely felt the little girl tug on her pant leg as she hurriedly packed her things.

Maria: Why didn't you read it, Mommy? It has a smiley face on it!

Poor kid. She didn't even know... and if Reika had her way, she would never know.

Yulie. She knew the name on that envelope was supposed to mean something important to her. Grandma had known it too. She had recieved a letter like it once... but she knew. She knew it hadn't been Yulie who wrote it, and because of that first letter, she and Darien had been forced to go on the run for months until first arriving on Lunar. She would not be fooled again.

At least, that's what Reika had thought until her daughter's words finally registered.

Reika: Did you say smiley face?

With that, Reika cautiously took the letter and scanned the writing.

Yulie... with the i dotted with two dots and a smile. Reika's eyes widened as she recognized her eldest sister's code. She knew their grandma was beyond prideful, so much so that the crone would never have dotted the i this way...

...which meant the letter really was from Yulie!

What could this mean, though? Had Yulie sent it from under grandma's nose? Or, hope beyond hope, had something actually befallen the hells-damned crone?

With trepidation, Reika opened the envelope, Maria watching her mother in wonder and confusion.

------------

Dearest Sister,

It's been so long since I tried to get in touch with you. I made a previous attempt to write, but that... person. Ugh. She caught me writing, and used the letter as an excuse to send people after you. I'm so sorry.

I really am. After Selena's suicide, then what that bitch tried to force Mom to do... None of us would have blamed you if you never wanted to come back... but now...

No, I'm just going to say it. Grandma's dead. Only a couple of years after you left, actually. You don't have to hide any more. Misha, our moms... we're all waiting for you to come home. Something tells me that you already found a new one, though... but I wanted to be sure, so I've been off-world for a couple of years now looking for you.

I... heard about Darien while I've been traveling. With the last the men finally dying off a few years back, knowing that you lost him hurts beyond words. Misha cried for weeks when I gave her the news. She really liked him.

Then I first set down on Lunar, and to my surprise, somebody mistook me for you... probably because they only saw my tail and not my face... though now that I think about it, it probably wasn't my tail they were looking at either. Typical, right?

That's how I knew where to send this letter. A shrine/motel in the middle of nowhere. You've turned into quite the little hermit since I last saw you.

I'll see you soon.

With Love,
Yulie

------------------------

Maria: Who's Yulie, Mommy?

Reika could only struggle to compose herself as she read through the letter. The phrase 'ding dong, the witch is dead' did not do what Reika felt as she read of her grandmother's death justice. She couldn't hurt them any more. She couldn't hurt anyone anymore. Which meant Reika was finally free.

Her heart clenched when Darien was mentioned. All three of Reika's sisters had been fond of him from the brief time they knew him.

But it was the news that Yulie was traveling that shocked her. Most Zilrandians never left their homeworld unless under strenuous circumstances. Wasn't she afraid of being a social outcast?

But wait. She had found this place? She had found the Motel? Yulie was HERE?!

At that moment, the doorbell to the Motel rung throughout the building... and then again... and again in rapid succession. Just like Yulie used to do when they were kids.

Leaving Maria confused and bewildered, Reika dashed towards the Motel lobby.

-----------

Techno rubbed the sleep from his eyes in the off-chance that doing so would stop the incessant ringing. Opening the front door revealed ginger hair, green eyes, pink ear fins with matching pink tail, and a wardrobe style eerily similar to Reika's where even a stiff breeze could potentially cause it to come undone.

Techno: *blinks*

Yulie Onin: Hi. :3

Techno: *mutters* Oh sweet Goddess, she's multiplying. *calling out* Reika! I think it's for you!

Techno only got a slight warning when the other woman pushed past him and dashed faster than he could have expected towards a surprised Reika. Without warning, the visitor envoloped Reika into a tackling hug, sending them both rolling across the floor. Seemingly lost in the throes of happiness, the two women nuzzled cheeks.

Yulie: Look at you! You've gotten so tall!

Reika: Gods, I missed you so much!

Techno merely blinked before heading back to bed. It was way too early for Zilrandian shennanigans.

Plenty of good doujinshi fuel, though.

[skylark]

To say that Reika was ecstatic would be an understatement. For some time since her 'unconventional union', she had been searching throughout the galaxy and beyond for a minister who would officially marry her to Lark and Schala. That search... had so far proved fruitless. Oh, there were priests out there who would ordain a polygamous union... however, it is apparently considered bad karma on countless world's to wed somebody to someone who's already married. Needless to say, that hangup had annoyed Reika for some time.

But Zilrand didn't have that taboo. Since Matriarch Jezebel (she refused to ever consider that woman family) was dead, Reika was now free to return home. She could have them meet her family as was custom, and have the ceremony before the Whale.

Unfortunately, events on Zilrand made her come across a different snag.

With Zilrand's last known male having passed away some odd years ago, there was now a massive gender vaccuum. If she were to bring Lark there, there was no doubt in Reika's mind that Lark would be swarmed and torn apart by the wanting masses. Still, she could bring Schala, and that could be enough for the moment.

Thankfully, the two of them had seemed to hit it off with Yulie quite well, though Yulie was understandably somewhat unnerved at first upon noticing the similarities between Lark and Darien.

Yulie: It's so weird.

Reika: I know, right?

Yulie had adored the kids, seeing Kalia as a sweetheart, and she made sure to let Reika know that she was going to spoil little Maria rotten.

Now, years later, the time was ready.

------------ Present Day -------------

Schala: Alright, so what am I going to be in for?

Reika: As soon as we step into the terminal, we're getting you a rosary. That way, people know that skinship welcomes are a no-go.

Zero, Kalia, and Caesar, who were in earshot, turned to the two.

Kalia: Hold on, Aunt Reika. Are you saying your people grope each other just to say hello?

Reika: Yeah. It's on instinct, sort of how dogs sniff each other's butts.

Lark: So many things make so much more sense now.

Zero: Ha! Knew your people had a rep.

Reika: Next, I'd stay away from public restrooms. It's one of the places where public nookie is legal.

Caesar: I thought that was propaganda...?

Reika: Nope. Sex is pretty much sacred to us.

Kalia: How the hell does your society function? D:

Reika: Hey, we aren't always deviants. In fact, we have a saying; We're good for a screw, but don't screw with us. You guys remember Seiren?

Lark: The hot spring planet?

Caesar: I was hoping to forget, actually. =<

Zero: *shudders*

Kalia: What happened?

Reika: It's gone.

Schala: Gone? What do you mean gone?

Reika: As in completely glassed, devoid of life, Yadda-yadda...

Everyone's jaw drops at Reika's words.

Lark: ...I'm almost afraid to ask, but how?

Reika: Well, considering how Seirens are so draconian in their prudishness, it's clear they had to absolutely hate us. My people have been in a racial cold war with them for years until a couple of months after Caesar left. The daughter of our Madam Minister managed to set up a meeting with Seiren's government for peace talks. As soon as her ship got into range, they opened fire. She didn't make it.

Lark: Holy shit...

Kalia: I knew those people had draconian attitudes, but cripes. Isn't that a war crime?

Reika: It was, and we responded appropriately. I know you probably think orbital bombardment is over the top, but if there's one thing Zilrandians cherish more than sex, it's family.

The mood is immensely somber after all that, until...

Zero: Hey Caesar, good news. We're absolved!

Caesar: *still wrapping his head around it* Hip-hip hooray.

Reika: *quickly changing the subject* So, anyone have any more questions?

Schala: *shakes her head*

Reika: Alrighty, I'll give you more of a primer on the way there. Kalia, could you make sure Maria's ready to go?

Kalia: *still a bit shaken* Yeah. Okay.

As soon as Kalia leaves the room, Lark immediately looks at Reika in concern.

Lark: Not gonna lie. After that, I'm less comfortable of you bringing Maria along. >.>

Reika: I figured she needs the chance to see her maternal side of the family just once. Besides, she did ask first. She knows enough to be careful.

Lark: *resigned* Alright. *To Schala* You gonna be okay with this?

Schala: Something tells me this is going to be quite a trip. Then again, I suppose it's nice having another chance to wear my wedding dress. Oh, I hope it still fits.

Lark: Well, in that case, bring me back pictures.

Schala: *slyly* Of the wedding or the honeymoon?

Lark could only sheepishly rub the back of his head. Letting out a soft laugh, Schala kissed her husband on the cheek. Offering her hand, she helped Reika out of her seat.

Schala: I guess this is it.

Reika: *waving goodbye* Don't break anything without us.

As he watched Reika and Schala meet Maria at the Shrine's front door, the latter carrying a rather large suitcase, Lark felt a grin form on his face. Now, if he could number Schala's smiles in order of importance, he knew that the one she had at their wedding would be number one. The one she had now as Reika put an arm around hers was the same as the one she had when Kalia was born. It was a testament to how important Reika had become to both of them.

Now, he only hoped that Reika wouldn't involve her in too many shenanigans.