Well, here we go again. Hope you enjoy!
Pen and Paper
Chapter One
It was a cloudy day in April, and Ashton Nia was almost finished writing the draft to her next story. The author was starting to get a good following with the media, and was now working on a project. She had wanted to write a samurai story for a while now. She wanted it to be the epitome of her career, and so far, it was turning into just that.
It was also going to be the end of a pen-and-paper interaction with her pen pal.
She smiled at the thought. The relationship started in high school - her class and one from across the country had to start writing letters to each other for some weird reason. Because of a shortage of girls from the class, she got the last guy that was on the list - the only one that sounded weird. She wasn't much of a fan of interacting with people when it started, and she - respectively - made that very apparent to him. It surprised her when he replied back and said the same thing and was relieved she wasn't trying to bullshit him by trying to be his friend first hand.
The letters continued, and they exchanged addresses because they actually enjoyed talking to each other. The two of them continued writing even as Ashton started getting published and he started going college to become a historian and mythologist. They were both published authors, and he was now a college professor.
Amber - Ashton's golden retriever - started barking at the sound of metal-on-metal. The mailman. Wonderful!
Ashton got up and went to the door. Her house was small, and was one you could rent instead of buy. It was a good amount of space, and perfect for her. Stepping out on her porch, she went to her mailbox and grabbed the mail. She went back in and sat down in her living room. Some bills, as expected, another letter from her parents - again - and there it was! Letter from Professor Yu Kanda.
That was first on her list. She had been working with Kanda on Japanese culture and traditions for about two years now, and the two of them were more than ready to finish it. Before sending it in, she wanted him to be the one who read it first - just to make the story and culture consistent.
She started reading and laughed.
"It's about time, Suzaku.
You get stuck on something and your letters get whiny without you even noticing...at least you try to stay open to reason unlike some of my students. I swear, some of these kids are too dense for their own good.
Anyways, I'm glad you found a way to end it - I'm curious to see what you've got. It must be something if you're boasting about it. You're always so doubtful about what you write until it prints - I hope this blows your other book out of the water. Half of them were clichés, anyways, so it won't be that hard.
On another note, I got your dates. The grades will be out to the kids by the 27th, so I'll be heading up July first. The usagi has been trying to drag me with the others for the fourth, as you know, so you may end up meeting them sooner than either of us would like.
Speaking of nuisances, how are yours? Have you finally gotten a break or are they trying to horn in again? I literally just got the last letter and I was stunned. I mean, I've got a bunch of idiots to deal with, but they at least give me some space. How the hell can they be that damn impatient with you on a project this so important to you? Not sorry to say, I don't feel like meeting them - especially now!
And how is life otherwise for me? Well, surprisingly calm. The Samurai of Feudal Japan is being released next week, so that's good. And my old man left yesterday, so it's been quiet. I can't fucking stand him! I'm twenty-seven and he's still as doting and worried since the day he adopted me. I'm grateful, but for fuck's sake!
I'll come up with a copy of my book for you. I know you said you wanted to read it.
- Kanda"
Ashton chuckled, a smirk on her face. She still wondered why he started calling her that. At first it was just "Onna," but after they graduated and sent each other their graduation pictures, he started calling her that. She didn't quite understand it, but she liked it. He knew, too. She took it up as her pseudonym for that very reason. When Kanda read the first book, he critiqued it heavily, but he said he liked her choice for an alias.
Sighing, Ashton turned to the letter from her parents. She'd occasionally read them, like she'd listen to their happy holidays message at the end of the year. "Did they change at all?" She asked herself as she opened the letter, Amber lying down at her feet. "Nope," she answered after a few lines. Her parents were controlling pricks and wanted her to take control of the family business, if not that, head off to college and become a lawyer like Karen - her older sister. They always questioned her motives, her finances, and the point of pursuing publication. They were the source of some very negative energy in her life.
Thankfully she had Kanda. He was more blunt than she was, and when it got to the point they started sharing personal facts and such, Kanda outright told her that she was right - them not supporting her was terrible. Them trying to control her was even worse. He told her to study the business and start publishing so she could get published faster. He was smart like that, and she was grateful. He got her to where she needed to be, to a certain extent. He was glad his breath wasn't wasted.
She had no reason to tell her parents who she was. They were never coming back into her life - she refused. As for her sister, she knew. She also knew what their parents were like, so she respected Ashton's wish to remain anonymous to them. And Kanda? Well, he didn't feel like it was any of his business at first, but he later said that they should actually sound interested in her chosen profession before they knew about any of her success.
After looking at the bills, she whistled for Amber to get up and went back to her office. She shredded the letter her parents sent her and went back to her rough draft.
Alrighty then! I can't wait to continue with this one, guys. Tell me what you think and I'll be sure to update asap!
Happy Holidays!
~ k. Fang-sama
