Final Letter

"Are we there yet?" a curious, high pitched voice asked at her side, struggling to keep up with their mother's footsteps.

Irina sighed in exhasperation, "You see those houses over there? We're almost there". She started walking faster.

Maku ran behind her, "Is that where Lachel lives?" their dark eyes stared at the town in front of them, as excitement grew on their grin. They hadn't seen their aunt in a good while. While she could be mean now and then, she enjoyed joking around with them and spoiling them with candy. Seeing her was always fun, even if she insisted on them getting better clothes or ones that weren't so out of fashion.

Sakyul trailed behind Irina with ease. He wanted to get all this over with soon so Irina and him could finally leave in peace.

"Why did she move here?" Maku continued, to Irina's annoyance.

"Because she wanted to". Irina answered sharply. Holding the letter tight in her hand, she glanced at it and nodded before walking with even more determination towards the town.

"But wasn't she living with grandma-?"

"Look, you can ask Lach the details, alright?" Irina interrupted them, trying to contain a groan. Like usual, the kid wouldn't stop asking all sorts of questions. Her mother had told her that was just how kids were but... man- it was driving her crazy. She couldn't help it; she just wasn't made to raise a child. "We're here anyways". She announced a she stopped in front of a door, waiting for Maku to catch up.

---

Lachellen sighed happily as she once again took a glance at her recently set, new living room. It had been a few days already, but she was still trying to get used to the idea of finally living in her new home.

Getting it wasn't as easy as she would've liked. Sure, her charms helped her to get people to work for her and move all her new furniture into her new place, but saving every single one of her pennies for so many years had been the hardest part. And her mother's constant nagging just kept pushing her to try harder and harder to get the independence she yearned for so long.

But it was worth it. She had managed to find a nice, calm place in a new-ish town for quite a good price, and the builders had done a really good job; everything turned out perfect. Anku and her could have a quiet life in a peaceful neighborhood, provided the neighbors were nice enough-

She heard a knock on the door. "That must be our new neighbors!" She smiled excitedly, "Anku, would you be a dear and go prepare some tea for our guests?" Lachellen glanced at her Dream before she jumped onto the kitchen counter and nodded.

This is it, Lachellen thought. The beginning of your new life is right behind that door, waiting for you with open arms and a warm, gift-filled welcome.

"Hello-!" Her excitement quickly sank at the sight of a tired, but excited freckled girl waving on the entrance. "Oh... It's you". Her sweet voice had turned completely bitter.

"Sis! I heard you had finally moved to your new place!" Irina hugged her sister, but backed away when she didn't receive the embrace back.

"Hello, aunt Lachellen!" Maku stared at the tall, short-haired girl. Their neck almost hurt from having to look that high, but they didn't care. They stretched their feet, tired from all the walking to get here.

"Hey, nerdface". Lachellen moved aside to let the two of them come in, Irina's Dream now holding onto her right leg. "I did. But I suppose you're not here to congratulate me for my achievements".

Maku pouted, "My face is not nerd", they grumbled. Lachellen had to hold her laughter, what kind of reply was that? This kid was so much fun to mess around with.

"Woah- hey! I- well, I did come to ask you a favor but- But I still want to know how my little sister is doing!" Irina tried to defend herself, nervously crumpling the letter in her hand.

"First, I'm taller than you. Second... please get straight to the point. Coming from you, I can only guess it has something to do with... them". Lachellen said with a snarl.

It was always the same; Irina would get a letter from her oh-so-called lover and go on a dumb quest to try and find them again. Then she'd come back a few days later, trying to act like everything was fine while she obviously felt like she was dying inside. It had been 8 years since the last time they'd actually seen each other, after all.

"Okay..." Irina glanced at the ground, disappointed. She knew both her sister and her mom hated it when she went away to try and find them but... they simply didn't understand. They didn't knew Lilit like she did. They didn't knew how much Lilit loved her and how much Irina loved them back. They didn't knew how much the both of them had been struggling to keep their relationship going after they found out she was expecting Maku. After Lilit refused to raise a childbut promised to wait for her for as long as they could.

Maku glanced between the two women. They were in one of their serious, boring talks again. They knew how things worked by now... but tey weren't at grandma's this time; did that mean they...

"I... got a new letter from Lilit". Lachellen groaned. "No, no! It's- It's different this time!" Irina tried to reassure her sister, but instead it only made her roll her eyes. "Lilit- T-They..." Irina tried to smooth out the wrinkled piec of paperin her hands, both her excitement and nervousness growing as she did so. "They sent me their address!"

"Wh- They did?!" Lachellen stared at her in disbelief. After all these years, they were... finally giving in? Something seemed fishy here.

"Yeah! It's right here!" Irina glanced at the letter, but didn't dare to open it.

Maku kept glancing between the two. They'd heard that name before, their mom would go on and on talking about them whenever the subject came up, and her eyes would shine like the brightest of... whatever those... shiny rocks were- when mentioning how great and talented that person was. They were their per, but Maku had never met them before. Irina said they had a busy life and couldn't see them often.

"For real?! So-" Lachellen glanced at Maku, "What's the plan?"

"I'll go meet them! Lach, I'm finally going to see them again!" Irina couldn't hide her excitement. She jumped up and down as she held her sister's hands. "Oh, it's gonna be great! The two of us, together again! It's..." She stopped jumping, her smile brighter and it had been in years. Lachellen almost felt happy for her. "It's finally happening, Lach".

"Mom?" Maku tugged their mother's pants. "Am I going to have to stay with Lachellen?"

Irina's smile fade away as quickly as it had arrived. She looked at Lachellen, a nervous wreck once again. "That's- ...It's okay, isn't it? It's just... I need to make sure- Please, Lach, I need to-"

"For how long?" Lachellen ruffled Maku's hair. Things couldn't be this perfect; she knew her sister would come once again in a couple of days, disappointed again, hiding her tears. But she was always stubborn, and refused to listen when the others told her that Lilit guy just... wasn't worth it. For now, she'd just let her be.

"I- Not long, I promise! Some weeks tops, perhaps? I'll send you all you might need and update you by letters, I swear!" Irina's eyes were bright and filled with life again. She felt another tug on her pants.

"Why can't I go with you?" Maku asked, curious. She'd always talked so highly of their per, they wanted to meet them too!

"Sh-" Irina knelt down, "Because- uh... because it's really far. Maye some other time, alright?" She felt the lie hitting her right on her back- or perhaps that was just Lachellen, hitting her with her knee. "Okay, look". She untied the green fabric hanging on her hips, "I'll give you this, so you can know for sure I'm coming back soon". She directed her gaze at Lachellen, reassuring her sister more than the child receiving the gift.

"Woah, really?!" Maku gasped as they received the piece of cloth. While they didn't have any doubts their mother would be back -and, quite frankly, had no idea why she was promising it to them in the first place-, they knew how precious this green fabric was for her. It was a gift from their per to her, wasn't it?

Irina stood back up, "Yes, really". She nodded seriously as she looked at her sister, her eyes filled with determination. "Thank you so much, Lach" She hugged her once again.

"Just come back soon, alright?" She patted her back and let her go. Irina didn't reply and, instead, held her letter close to her heart, excitement once again winning over all her features.

She walked towards the door and closed it, never taking her gaze away from the piece of paper.

Anku walked out of the kitchen. Tea is ready! she grinned at Lachellen.

...What did I miss?

---

Wow
oh boy
I've been wanting to write this for a WHILE now

but it's finally heeere!
Remember what I said back when I posted this?   Something about Lachellen raising Maku since they were 8?
Well, guess what happened after this!

I'm really excited to tell stuff about Maku's story, I hope you enjoy iiit!