Crossover with Discworld

For an anonymous requester - Susan Sto Helit and Haruhi

"Susan-san, wait!"

The quiet one -- Haruhi -- was panting, her hands on her knees. She straightened up as Susan turned around. "I wanted to ask you -- "

"I do not want a cup of tea," said Susan dangerously. "I am not interested in compliments on the marvellous flexibility of my hair, I don't care if you keep it in the family as long as you keep it to yourselves, and I hate cake!"

"That's not what I wanted to ask," said Haruhi. "You said sometimes you met dead people."

Susan looked Haruhi up and down. "You believed me?"

"Of course," said Haruhi.

"You don't strike me as the sort of person who believes in ghosts."

"Oh, I don't," said Haruhi. "But I know dead people exist."

Susan blinked. It was, she thought, like stumbling upon a sane wizard. You found it hard to believe your ears.

"Good answer," said Susan. "What did you want to ask me?"

"A favour," said Haruhi. She handed Susan an envelope. "Could you pass that to my mother, if you ever meet her? Her name's Fujioka Kotoko. She looks a little like me."

"Oh." Susan stared down at the envelope. It was brown. "I don't think it's likely that I'd have the chance to pass this to her, Haruhi."

"I didn't think so," said Haruhi. "But ... just in case."

"What's in it?" said Susan, and immediately regretted it. "Sorry, you don't have to answer that -- "

"It just says thank you," said Haruhi. "And that I'm glad she was my mother."

"Don't you think she'd know that?"

"No," said Haruhi, surprised. "I never told her. People don't suddenly know things just because they're dead, do they?"

"They tend to be even more confused than they were when they were alive, in my experience," said Susan. She tucked the envelope away in a pocket. "I'll see what I can do."

"Thank you," said Haruhi.