A Night for the Birds (Introducing Hummingbird)

To hear that their mom had an encounter with Xuan's home of the Thieve's Guild,maybe there was some sort of perception set already.Now knowing where Xuan was from could sway Mrs. Shultz's thought about Xuan.After all,she was also a thief. "To me,they were as close as I could get to a family,yes.....But I left them behind and came here to Japan."

"I see," says Mrs. Schultz in understanding. But there was one thing she wanted to question Xuan about. "Since you left the Thieves Guild, do you consider them a family still or did you leave for the sake of abandonment?" She had to know for Xuan might need all the help she can get.

"To an extent I do.But the punishments were harsh if a mission failed to be completed.Living conditions were not very well,either." Xuan thought about it for a moment. "As of late,I havent considered them anything at all.Ive forgotten them and pursued....Other interest."

"Ohhh..." Mrs. Schultz now felt more sorry for Xuan. Her adopted family has trained her well and yet punish her cruelly if she doesn't do a good job. It pains her heart for any children to even BE abused by those that were supposed to care for her. "So in saying....you have no family now?"

She shook her head 'no' in agreement. "Nope.No family.I met Junko a few days ago in a....Match.After that,I invited her over to have her....Teach me some skills." Of course that night,Xuan wanted to get lucky and fool around with Junko,,,,,But no one needed to know that.Not even the Voice as it slept.

Mrs. Schultz looked over to Junko, who smiled and nodded to confirm that Xuan was speaking the truth. Then she would say, "She did? Hmm! I'm fascinated that my eldest daughter can make a good friend." She would also look to Hiro and added, "And how about my Hiroka? Hiro, for short. How has she treated you?"

"You've taught her well,Ma'am....Hiro beat me something fierce.Even with all of my experience,she was able to match me,then beat me!" She gave Hiro a smile.Xuan then shyly looks down,still a bit afraid.Their mom seemed so nice but,she didnt know about Xuan's attraction to the same sex.And that instilled fear deep enough in her that it almost sounded in her voice.

Hiro nodded to her mother before Mrs. Schultz had to do some thinking. After a little while, she would smile and say, "Well, Xuan...you may think me crazy when I say this and you have every right to be....but, how would you like to be part of OUR family? Both of my daughters seemed to have treated you like a sister and I feel that no child should be without a parent."

There it was.Just like Hiro and Junko said.Their mother had offered them a spot in their small family.Xuan didnt answer,but her answer was known when she walked up to Mrs. Shultz and gave her a big hug.A few tears falling from her shaking face and body.

Mrs. Schultz was waiting for Xuan to answer, but it came in a nonverbal response...a big warm hug. Smiling and wanting to cry again, she would hug the girl back and stroked her hair as she softly said, "Xuan...welcome to the family."

Junko and Hiro both beamed their smiles as they too hugged Xuan as she will now be a sister.