X-X-X-X

Chapter 8

X-X-X-X

I stared into space, petting Merlin while Ignis devoured a large plate of fried chicken. The three of us were eating before our hunt, but...the only problem is that I can't get my mind off the conversation I had with my uncle. Why would people target me? No, rather, what does he even mean by explaining everything? I thought glaring at nothing.

"What are you thinking so hard about?" Merlin asked jumping off my lap.

"...Real life stuff." I leaned back in my seat, sighing heavily. "Family matters mainly..." I stated tugging at some strands of my hair.

"Want to talk about it?"

"...Haah...My uncle takes care of me, he and I...aren't close."

"Argument?

"No...when I said we're not close...well, he took me in when no one else would. The condition was that I must take care of myself. That's probably the main reason why we're not all that close...he's always away on business and I never know what he's up to..."

"You get pissed at him for something."

"...No...confused. You know, a few years back, I broke my arm because of a bully, jealous older boy who thought I was stealing his girl. My uncle...he...never came to see me in the hospital..."

"That's..."

"I was only 13...crying my eyes out..." I snorted, embarrassed and slightly annoyed. "Worst day of my life...thinking I'll have someone there...when really, there was no one. That's why I care and am friends with Miwa."

"Girly boy the only one who was there when you needed it."

"Yeah."

"...I'm here too, if you want to talk. While I might not know you in real life, I don't mind listening to you once in a while. Just don't make it a habit."

"Thanks."

"We going or not? Ignis is full...and asleep."

"Yeah, let's go."

"You don't want to check out the tournament?"

"No. Besides, I know Miwa and his team will get to the finals no problem."

"You find out anything about the guy who replaced you?"

"Nope."

"Did you plan on asking?"

"Nope."

"...Do you even know what the prize was?"

"Yup."

"And you don't want it?"

"Don't want it...too much trouble. Besides, if Miwa ended up a lord..."

"Yeah, not happening."

X-X-X-X

"You hear anything from your uncle?" Miwa asked as I ordered some cakes.

"Yeah, before I logged in I got a call. He'll come get me tomorrow morning. I'll be out of school for...two weeks, give or take. My uncle already talked to the school, getting my schoolwork for that time. I'll get some help with it from his secretaries." I said picking up my cup of tea.

"Did he even say why he's coming to get you personally?" Miwa asked raising a brow.

"Just saying he has to make sure I'm safe. Don't really get it...but well..."

"You and your uncle isn't that close."

"Yeah."

"Where's that damn cat?"

"He said that he's logging in a bit later."

"Ming Huang, there you are." I glanced up to see a rather handsome man...although looks like an arrogant bastard. "Hm, who is this?"

"This is Yue, the one I told you about."

"I see, it's a pleasure. I am Feng Wu Qing."

"...Miwa...why is he looking at me like that?" I was a bit creeped out by the slight smile on his face. It's like he's picking a fight with me. "If he keeps it up, I'll bash his face in."

"Knock it off, Wu Qing. Yue is a girl, not a guy."

"What? That..."

"You say something about my body, I'll crush you." I know my chest is flat, don't point it out by looking there! "So this is the idiot you got to replace me?"

"It's not like you agreed to do it in the first place!"

"I didn't agree because I hate attention!"

"Yet you have your own brand in a game! Also, you still get pursued by dozens of women!"

"I get paid for it. Besides...even if I look like this I am a woman..." I began eating my cake, playing with my hair. "Hah...Even though my hair is long, I still get mistaken for a man..."

"That's because you're just unfortunate with genetics." I felt a slight weight on my shoulder. I didn't bother to react...despite the fact Merlin just ate the cake from my fork. "More."

"Don't be greedy, order your own."

"I can't use a fork. If I eat it like a cat, it'd get on my beautiful fur."

"Cough up a hairball then, you hairball! Stop making Yue do everything for you!"

"Yue likes doing things for me since I'm so cute."

"Your personality is shit!"

"Your personality is shit, girly boy."

"Stop fighting." I held Merlin in my tails as I pushed Miwa away with one hand. "If you annoy me, I'll shove some bombs down your throats and light them."

"What's wrong with you?"

"...I want to blow up stuff..."

"Just don't do it to us."

"Then I'll be heading out with Merlin, Miwa. Give me a call if you want help or something. Also, update me on what's going on at school for me would ya?"

"Yeah, sure. Just tell me what happened later, got it?"

"Sure thing."

I headed out with Merlin, fully intent on finding things to blow up. Ignis came out of my pouch, crawling into my shirt, making himself comfortable in my haori. If it wasn't for the sash around my waist he would fall out...but it looks and feels weird having something in my clothes like this. Merlin curled around my neck as usual, his tail lightly hitting my collar. Well, I felt better after testing a few dozen bombs and poisons...well, slightly, but not completely.

"By the way, the programmers are thinking of changing the finals." Merlin said gaining my attention.

"Huh, why?" I asked tossing some dried plants into a pot.

"It's messing with the usual gameplay. They don't know what to do though." Merlin said batting Ignis away.

"Battle royal?" I suggested lightly.

"Why?"

"Fastest way and it'd be interesting to see everyone duking it out. Some guys might make huge teams or something. I'll go if it's like that."

"I'll be right back."

"Huh, Mer-He's gone..." Ignis released a small roaring sound and I looked at him, offering him a spoonful of wild raspberry jam. "Want to try?"

Ignis ate the jam I made, liking it quite well. I wanted to eat toast with jam sometimes...but the jam usually sold isn't to my tastes. I let Ignis have the rest when I found it wasn't as good as I would have liked. Merlin returned, looking all too pleased with himself. I got three more hours before morning...not looking forward to it as it is then when my uncle will have someone sent to pick me up.

X-X-X-X

"You going to be okay?" Zhou Ming asked as I played with my phone.

"I'll be fine...I think. I still don't understand why my uncle doesn't explain this kind of shit..." I muttered when it rang.

"Come on, let's go." Zhou Ming said grabbing my bag.

"You don't have to do that." I stated reaching for my things.

"It's fine."

The ones who came to get me...oh, it's one of my uncle's secretaries. Lee Xiao Xing. She's a nice woman...pretty too, but she scares the shit out of me sometimes. Her dark brown hair is always tied up into a tight bun and her silver eyes half hidden behind black colored frames. She's around my uncle's age, but nowadays it's hard to tell exact ages. Still, he said he would get me himself, not send one of his secretaries! Zhou Ming placed my bag in the trunk, giving me a pat on the shoulder.

"Tell me in Second Life how you're doing. You won't be in school for a while so I'll just give you your assignments there too." Zhou Ming said giving me a grin.

"Thanks. I'll give you address when I find out where I live too, later." I said giving him a wave.

"Young miss, after you." Lee Xiao Xing said holding the door open for me.

"Thank you."

I took a seat, staring out the window blankly. The woman beside me was silent, not saying anything...not that I had anything to say in the first place. She's not the type to speak unless spoken to and right now, I'm pissed. It was only when we hit the three hour mark did I began questioning...where the fuck we were going. Uncle didn't say anything about leaving the city...or where I would be living from now on. I thought with a small frown.

"Lee Xiao Xing, where are we going?" I questioned tapping my finger against my armrest.

"Your family's estate. With the situation as it is now...It was deemed necessary to train and teach you about the world you were born into." Lee Xiao Xing stated calmly.

"The world...I was born into?" I questioned looking at her in disbelief.

She didn't answer...probably under orders from my uncle. Considering my uncle is my father's younger brother...does it have to do with my father? I love my uncle well enough, but if he tries to hide anything from me...I might give him a good right hook. I played with my hair, slightly annoyed. I...was really ignorant of my father's side of the family. No one from my father's side came to the funeral...only my mother's side...I don't know my grandparents on my father's side, I knew nothing of his job, I knew nothing of my father's job, and I...I will probably find out everything when I see him.

X-X-X-X

"Do I need to wear a monkey suit...?" I questioned as Lee Xiao Xing styled my hair back so I looked more masculine.

"That's correct, young master." She changed the way she addressed me. "For your safety, please don't reveal the fact you are a woman to anyone within this household...there are many enemies within, you must be weary at every turn." Lee Xiao Xing stated silently.

"...You knew my father, didn't you?" The woman stared at me in surprise and I merely smiled. "I have a few memories of him and the way you're doing my hair right now..." I stared at my reflection in the mirror. My hair was left down for once...I looked like my father did when he was younger...my age. "I look like him."

"But you have your mother's smile. I never liked her, but...it was because of my own jealousy."

"You loved my father?"

"It is in the past, young master." Lee Xiao Xing offered me a box, opening it up to reveal...a wristwatch, a silver bracelet, a pair of rings...and...there is a pair of black sunglasses. "Please wear these."

"I hate fancy shit..."

"It may be fancy, but they're custom made...and your father's old belongings."

"..."

The watch is heavier than it should be...pure black with silver and gold...strong metal, but there's a few chips along the edges. I put it on my right wrist, adjusting it carefully. It's a lot heavier than it should be...but it was comforting in a way. The bracelet went on my left wrist and that's when I noticed the inscription on the inside.

"What is this...? Familia...Honoris...Animo...Viribus...? Family, honor, courage, strength..."

"Your father's code."

"Code..."

I put it on, pretending I didn't see Lee Xiao Xing staring at me...as if I was my father. The rings are next, a pair of plain silver bands...not chipped, but on the inside...each held one of my parent's names and the year they married. I played with them for a moment before asking if there is a chain necklace. The woman probably expected that, handing me a plain silver one, I slipped the rings through it, putting it around my neck and hiding it beneath my shirt.

"I feel like I'm part of the mob right now..." I muttered putting the sunglasses on.

"This way, young master." Lee Xiao Xing said already at the door.

I wasn't at the main estate...yet. This was apparently the house for the servants and I was merely here getting ready. It's a short car ride to the real estate and I was constantly told to mind my manners and...not to mention anything about being female. I wonder how many people I'll end up giving a heart attack to when it comes to me looking just like my father. While I sometimes cursed my genes...there must be a good reason for it...why my uncle never told me anything and is telling me to act like I am my father's son rather than his daughter. I won't show weakness...not so easily. I will get the answers I need...about who my family really is.

X-X-X-X

Chapter 8 Ends

The next chapter about who Yue is will be amusing~! Since Yue was already pretty masculine in appearance, it'd be easy to just adjust it a bit more so it'd be even more difficult to tell. While Yue would hate it, she's willing to do what she wants when she wants answers. Yue is pretty strong due to the constant fights she usually endures due to jealous guys. Not to mention she's a pyro so if she really wants to, she can just blow up some things. That's it for now so until the next time, bye-bye~!