"That was a unique experience..." The young man was making his way back to his apartment block, half a mile from the transfer station. He had finally gotten all that fox fur off his clothes, although they seemed to get everywhere considering how he was attacked by a gang of foxes. Still, it could have gone worse; he could have died! Rittou Haku seems to be a man with no patience for lies, but considering how empty his household save for a fox den; Kagari wouldn't stand for any bull either. Still, Kagari was curious how the Haku household became such as mess. His mother running away was one thing, but Saburou? How does that person stoop that low? What about the two other sons? It seems only a single child remained beside his mom. Whatever happened, the Haku Clan is practically on the brink of destruction. Well, at least the one in Suna. Kagari figured there had to be more members of the clan elsewhere, right? Regardless, the meeting didn't go too smoothly. But, Rittou did seem to believe a little bit that Kagari was a descendant. He was going to test the teen, however, to prove that he belongs in the clan.
But what bothered Kagari more was how dismissive he was of his mom. She did run out on the family but, there seemed to be no love lost. Was he truly disappointed that his only daughter married a nobody? Maybe it was the grief that came when he learned of Saburou's fate. Even though he was the black sheep of the family, he was still his son.
Kagari rounded a corner and began to climb the fire escape, each step rattling the thin metal structure. As he got up to the 5th level, he opened the windowsill and climbed in. "Mom?" He called out, as he put down his bag nearby his desk. He ventured into the next room over where his mother was there, staring at a picture frame on her dresser. She seemed to be absorbed in it, not realizing that her son had called her. Kagari smiled, he'd seen the picture a bunch of times too. While it may not have given off the same nostalgia that her mother was filled with, it did give him the conviction to do something right for his mom. He wanted to make her happy again like she did back then.
He knocked on the wall separating her room and the living room, getting her attention. "I'm home."
"Oh good, you're back. I was starting to get worried." She placed the picture frame down quickly, as she brushed past her son going into their small kitchen. "Now, what would you like for dinner? I already ate but I saved this bento for you I got at the market." She took out a plastic bento and placed it on their table. It was Kagari's favorite, beef kalbi with rice and salmon.
"Sweet." Kagari sat down and got his chopsticks ready to chow down, not before his mom stopped him. "What do we do before we eat?"
Kagari sighed, closed his hands together and said a little prayer. Now that nothing was separating his appetite and food, he began to chow down. "So where did you go today? You came home very late."
Kagari froze, finishing his mouthful of food. "I...I got lost in one of the upper districts, the Desert Crown to be exact."
This time Yukari froze, staying still until she drank a cup of warm tea next to her. "oh? What were you doing there?"
"Looking for something."
"Looking for what?"
Kagari kept eating, finishing another mouthful of food. He put down his chopsticks and look into his mother's eyes. "Mom, have you ever talked about your family before?" Those words struck her like lightning; she almost spilled her tea on their table. She placed the warm cup down, not meeting Kagari's gaze. She sighed and looked into her son's eyes, noticing his anticipation for her answer.
"Well, I believe I told you that I met your father here in Suna. I'm from out of country, so my family is all the way back in-"
"Mom, stop lying to me." Kagari's expression was serious; he wasn't a kid anymore. Yukari felt a pain in her heart; she felt guilty that she tried to lie to her son, and got caught doing it. Kagari could see that his mom was uncomfortable with telling the truth, so he eased up. He continued to eat and relaxed in his chair, speaking softer rather than be harsh about it. "Mom, I know you're from the Haku clan. I know you ran away all those years ago with Dad."
"I know this because I visited the compound in the Desert Crown, and well; I talked with I guess my grandad." Yukari was stunned, all those years of running and trying to forget; were flooding her back to her in an instant. She sat still, unable to speak a sentence. Kagari softened his stern glare, realizing how hard it's been for his mother. Despite her youthful appearance, behind those eyes was years of hardship. Closing her eyes for a few seconds to collect her thoughts, she finally broke the silence. "What did he tell you?"
"Nothing much to be honest. It was me who was telling him about...all this." Kagari pointed his chopsticks to their current squalor. "About Dad, you and well me." She chuckled a bit, "I bet he didn't like what he heard."
"Yep, almost killed me." Yukari looked horrified after that, stunned that her father would try to kill her only son. Kagari's delivery also didn't help soften the blow. "Kagari!"
"Relax mom; I didn't get hurt. Thankfully." She crossed her arms in response, and it was her turn to have a disappointed look. She was not happy that Kagari decided to poke the beehive. "I was saved by a fox. A little one, Byakko. He was cute, bright white fur with a red-"
"A red spot on his forehead." Yukari finished Kagari's retelling. Kagari was surprised, "It was...my mother's fox, your grandmother. After she had died, that was what was left of her. According to your great grandfather, our clan and the fox spirits have been together for centuries. When we pass, our souls are guided by the foxes into heaven, or so they say." Yukari recalled some of the bedtime stories she heard during her childhood. "Byakko is unique, isn't he? He always does things on his own rather than listen to its master. I took care of him after mother died and when I left...It broke my heart." Yukari's eyes began to form tears, and a slight smile emerged. The fond memories of a white fox were too much. "He never liked your father, though; maybe he knew that Takeshi was going to take me away from him." Kagari grinned, he was curious what the fox thought because he was the combination of both his mom and father. What did Byakko see in the teen?
"You remind me of Byakko sometimes. You were both independent and at times didn't listen but...Both of you always made me happy no matter what." Kagari wasn't sure how to feel on being compared to a small little fox, but maybe that's why the two of them got along. They were both kindred spirits. Yukari's smile faded away into a neutral expression, pausing a moment. "You know why I left Suna with your father, don't you? Why I left that all behind." Kagari nodded, "I figured it was because Dad wasn't what grandfather had in mind. Dad wasn't worthy of being with an "ice princess." She chuckled again, she never thought of herself in such a way. "Yes, you're correct, although I wouldn't put it like that. It's very stereotypical, to be honest. Your father, a working class hero and your mother; the noble girl looking for adventure in her life." She laughed again at herself.
a
"You know your father's work. A musician, entertainer, actor, and comedian. He worked at bars in Grand Palais; I saw him perform at one of the winter festivals in the Desert Crown. He was so..."
"Marvelous?"
"Hah! No way, he was so nervous that he ran off stage; playing for all the wealthy and noble families. I caught him off to the side, puking."
"That's how you met Dad?!"
"Yep. Romantic right? But despite that impressive first impression, he was different. Different from everyone I ever met." She paused, taking a sip of her tea. "Despite all the hardships, all the trials he faced to be with me; he always just moved forward. He never once faltered...If he had been a shinobi or something else entirely, I believe the world would be changed." Yukari closed here eyes, remembering all the "intimate" moments that they shared, some of them she wouldn't share with Kagari because they were very private.
"Your grandfather obviously had different plans. I had siblings if you saw the portrait I had three brothers. The eldest, Tatsu-Nii died in battle and Sabu...He was long gone." Kagari figured that the last one she was talking about was Saburou, by then he was already into human trafficking and prostitution. "So there was just Shirou-nii and me. We both were pure blooded and could harness Ice like all Haku's. Although, Shirou was a shinobi and trained hard to hone his gifts. I was only taught how to control it and defend myself if I have too, but nowhere near as powerful as grandfather and Shirou was."
"So, because there were only two of us left. We were to be married to others to ensure the line...The Haku clan, after all, are important to Sunagakure because of the desert conditions." She took another sip of her tea. "I was to be married off to some noble, and I didn't want my life to be decided, so I ran with your father...See, it sounds like something from a fairytale doesn't it?"
"After that, we never looked back. We had you and moved from town to town if you can remember. Until your father died..." Yukari had a somber look about her, Kagari too didn't like recalling those memories. "So then why did we return here? And why didn't you try to go back to the clan? Life could have been...easier mom."
"We returned to Suna because life in the desert was no place for you. Your father knew a lot of people in Suna, especially here in Grand Palais. I was able to find jobs because of his friends." She paused again, collecting her thoughts."
"Yes, Kagari life could have been easier if your grandfather took us in. But I was afraid, how would he treat you knowing that you were your father's son? You bear his resemblance...Would he have forced you to become a servant for some family in return for his care? Your grandfather could be so cruel sometimes..."
"But he misses you, mom! He truly does! He almost killed me for even mentioning your name." Kagari was standing up, trying to convince his mom to return home. "Maybe he does miss me but...That family...Your family isn't like others. They are capable of great things, but many of them are dangerous. If I returned, begging for my father's forgiveness to take us in...I don't know what he would do." Kagari sat back down, thinking about the encounter he had today.
The clan leader did try to kill the teen. Kagari did come at an inappropriate time, public news of Saburou's death was being spread despite he was being held in the dark levels of the Obsidian. What was that old man actually capable of? "So, with all that I've told you; what are you going to do my son?" Yukari's look was neutral, ready for her child's response no matter what it was.
"I-I don't know honestly..." Kagari sat back, confused and struggled to come up with an answer. Yukari smiled, despite her son's usually straight forward thinking he still was a young man finding his place in the world. She stood up, walked over to her son and hugged him, holding his head close to her chest. "No matter what you decide, you are my son, and I love you. You will always have a place here." Kagari stood still, burying his head deep in his mother's embrace. They stayed there for a minute, Yukari finally letting go of her boy. "I know what I'm going to do."
"What?"
"Tell Suna that it's about to get colder."
[Topic End]
WC: 2105
MFT
