CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT: ON THE MEND.
Following breakfast, as promised the old man leads Miyama-Kun and I through the garden towards the bamboo field beside the estate. The fresh scent of earth reaches me and I'm left paralyzed by the chains of nostalgia that wash over me and I close my eyes. Fear and emotions I thought I'd long ago given up on, tugging at my heart and I couldn't help but wish for Atlas' warm hands in mine. I don't know when she became such an important anchor for me but right now, at my most vulnerable I couldn't help but wish for her. The creaking as the bamboo trees dance in unison with the wind. The birds singing their early morning tunes. Mother loved these woods. Whenever it rained, she'd always come out for walks and sometimes she'd even take me with her.
"You remember don't you, boy." My eyes open to find the old man and Miyama staring at me, sympathy in both their eyes. I hate those eyes.
"I do."
"When she died, I knew I couldn't send her back to America you see. I loved her too much to part even after death," turning away he moves deeper into the woods, his hand touching each tree tied with a ribbon. "She loved this place, so I thought why not let her rest here. These ribbons were meant for you, you know."
"What do you mean?"
"You used to get mad at me a lot growing up. I can't really deny that I wasn't a terrible father. You'd run away and come here... She tied these ribbons so you'd always find your way home... so I could always find you..."
"I don't... remember..."
"That's because she was always the one to find you. I was always too busy to come to you, yet, here we are." We come to a clearing and a small shrine shits neatly, tucked away on a little hill.
"Why are you telling me this?" I give him a skeptical glare and he sighs looking from me to Miyama.
"Do you mind if we go in alone?"
"Not at all." Moving to sit on the bench stationed in the middle of the clearing he smiles at me warmly. He looks worried.
"This way." Turning away from Miyama, we continue up the hill to the shrine. As we enter, the smell of freshly picked flowers fill the room. An already burnt out incense stick standing at the altar. Removing it, he lights a new one and I follow suit. We stand in silence while we pray, I close my eyes and fight back the tears that threatened to fall.
"I'm here, mother." The words leave my mouth a whisper before I place the incense on the altar. Opening my eyes, our eyes meet and I reach out to touch her portrait. Her bright smile radiated even through the black and white photo and I can't help but smile back.
"Their smiles really are infectious..."
"I'm sorry... Yuzuki..." I whip my head around to stare at the man standing beside me, his eyes glossed but nothing falls.
"What did you say...?" I frown, staring at him skeptically.
"I said, I'm sorry. Separating you from your mother so soon... after her death was... I'm really sorry..."
"Otōsan..." His eyes leave the portrait and meet mine.
"Please understand that I didn't send you away because I didn't want or love you. Nor was it solely based on me choosing my position over you, I..."
"So what happened? It's been over fifteen years since I left the clan, why now? Are you searching for some sort of atonement?!"
"No! That's not..."
"I know you're sick, Father." His eyes widen at my statement and he falls silent. Guilt in his eyes as he looks away from me and back to her portrait.
"So, you knew?"
"Yes," I sigh turning back to her portrait as well, "Did you honestly think I'd drop my life and come here without looking into everything?"
"I suppose you really are your mother's son." He chuckles, his voice barely a whisper.
"How far along are you? It's gotten worse hasn't it, your dementia?"
"Why do you think..."
"You called me Bright when I arrived. And every time you call me or Miyama boy, it's because you forgot our names isn't it?" A defeated sigh leaves his lips and he sits on the cushions in front of the altar.
"You really are too much like your mother, Yuzuki."
"You've mentioned that before," Giving in, I sat next to him. "I'm prepared to listen." A sad smile flashes across his face before disappearing.
"I really did love your mother. She will always be the love of my life, maybe that's why my second marriage was such a failure," he sighs, running his hand through his hair, "mind you, I don't regret having Miyama with that woman, he really is a blessing. But, you, well that was another blessing in and of itself. Before you were born, your mother came down with the measles you see, so the doctors didn't even believe you'd be born and if you were then... you know. That's why the kanji that spells your name carries 'help of god'. You truly were a miracle of his. Of course, no one knew what illness she had. I feared that if they found out they'd use that to not only win against me but hurt you both. That's the main reason I made her move here so abruptly. That's when we hired Sakamoto-San. I knew they'd try to get to you so I told her to prepare two birth certificates..."
"One in your name..."
"Sakamoto-San." I cut him off and he stares at me dumbfoundedly for a moment. The fact that he actually thinks I would've flown to the other side of the world blinded is almost adorable.
"And another in Sakamoto-Sans, yes. I know from what you've learnt of your poor mothers' death it may not seem like an accident, but I promise you, on my life that it was. A terrible unexpected accident. Sakamoto, got to her before the authorities and everyone else and rushed her to the hospital but it was too late... but your mother wasn't the only thing he removed from the crash..."
"... the dash cam recording." He sighs again, a small smile forming at the corner of his mouth.
"Yes," Reaching under the altar he removes a small box, placing it in my lap, "You'll want to see it..." He seems to hesitate and I couldn't help the sympathy that tugged at my heart for him. After all these years of hating him, he's also been hating himself. From the look on his face even more so than me.
"You don't have to con..."
"I will. You deserve to hear it from me... before even I forget."
"I'm listening."
"After the accident, without the dash cam, even the authorities couldn't tell what happened so it was labelled an accident. However, Clan members started spreading rumors about being responsible..."
"A scare tactic."
"A failed one, but yes. They didn't know I had the dash cam so they each wanted to take responsibility. The elders however were feeding on this. They didn't like that I chose a foreigner over a Japanese woman and I feared they'd actually hurt you so I had Sakamoto-San take you away..." his voice breaks but he clears his throat attempting to hide it, "you couldn't even attend your mothers funeral and for that please don't ever forgive me. Blaming my cowardice on letting you go was because I was protecting you, I can't accept that." He goes quiet and a fragile silence looms over us.
"I suppose saying I regret not contacting you sooner is a bit useless now, right.""
"A bit?" I arch my brow sarcastically, a soft chuckle leaving my lips.
"I thought so." Silence falls again as we both process what's happened. I understand his reasons but no matter how hard I try forgiving him is impossible right now. Time. It's been over fifteen years...
"I'll try..." he looks at me with surprise in his eyes, "I'll try forgiving you. For the man who gave me such strong, independent names, and loved my mother even after death, I'll try to forgive you. I can't just forget or put the past fifteen years behind me but, after meeting Atlas… I somehow understand you," his eyes widen in shock, his mouth slightly agape before a smile forms, "plus, Papa Fairchild said he'd kick my ass if I didn't try and talk or sort out everything with you." That gets a soft laugh from him.
"I would love to meet and give my thanks to him for raising you into such a fine man. I have most definitely failed as your father but, Miyama was right. That girl really has changed you. Sakamoto sent me letters every year and pictures on your birthdays. You always looked so distant and detached, even when you smiled it looked painful, until... Until you met her." I smile at the mention of her and he slaps my shoulder huffing in annoyance.
"Don't grin so stupidly for a girl in front of your father, Yuzuki." We laugh, both turning as the shrine door shuffles open slightly to see Miyama peeping through the crack.
"Are you done eavesdropping?" I ask, arching my brow amusingly at him and he smiles sheepishly.
"How long..."
"Since you got there." He grins at me and I can't help but smile at his goofiness. Getting up, I walk up to him, putting him in a chokehold and he laughs as I ruffle his hair.
"You were that worried about us killing each other?"
"A bit, yes." He giggles and pokes my side trying to distract me but fails.
"Ha, I'm not ticklish..." we both freeze as the old man clears his throat from across the room. Releasing Miyama, we fix our rumpled clothes and he makes his way towards us. His palms touch both mine and Miyama's cheek, a warm smile forming along his mouth.
"My boys. You don't know how long I've waited for you both to be together like this." Silence. Miyama moves first, throwing his arms around him and I wrap my arms around them both. We stay like that as the minutes float by only breaking our hold when the old man's phone goes off.
"It's time for the meeting. Everyone's arrived." Miyama nods, making his way to the door and dad follows.
"Wait, I have a question," they stop, staring innocently at me and I clear my throat in order to stop myself from laughing at their synchronized movements, "why exactly was I asked to return? Miyama, you seem to be quite intelligent unlike the slow persona I was told to expect. Who wanted me here?" Everything I was told to expect was wrong, something was off. They're both different from what I was told. I already had my suspicions before coming here but I wanted to hear him say it.
"I did," Miyama, clears his throat and awkwardly steps forward, "The truth is, I've always wanted to contact you but because of reasons to do with the clan father advised me against it. And then out of nowhere you contacted us and well... umm..."
"Since I'd bitten the hook, you just reeled me in?" He shakes his head furiously, rushing over and taking my hands in his.
"I promise it wasn't like that. If they found out that dad or I had contacted you they would've hurt you and I couldn't let that happen. That's why I made a deal with you, for the transfer of shares, you come here... but I didn't... I didn't know I would be separating you from her..."
"Why are they so against me returning? Why are they still after me even after all these years?" He looks from me to father and he nods his approval of what Miyama was about to tell me.
"Father never changed his will, even after you left everything was still in your name, but, when I was born, he added a clause stating that if you were absent then I would inherit..."
"But only when he was married." Our eyes meet and he smiles at me, sadness in his eyes.
"I don't... I don't understand. Why didn't you change your will?"
"Yuzuki, you're my son. Despite what anyone else says or may tell you, you are my first born and natural heir." I know my expression mirrors my shock and I look at Miyama as he chuckles.
"And you, Married...?"
"Yeah. They've been trying to push me to marry someone they've chosen but..." his eyes soften and he looks dazed for a moment before he shakes his head meeting my eyes again.
"You have someone you love don't you." A sad smile forms at his lips and I pull him into a hug as his lips tremble."
"I didn't know who else I could ask for help... and then you..."
"Then I popped up," he nods, his arms tightening around me, "it's alright. Calm down Mi-Kun," taking his face in my palms I pull him away from my chest so I could look at him and a soft smile washes over me, "you know, you really remind me of Atlas."
"... so she's a crybaby little brother?" He arches his brow comically and I punch his arm.
"No stupid. You're both fighters. Stronger than me by miles and I can't wait for you both to get older." He grins up at me and I ruffle his hair again. God, I think I'm becoming William. I've converted to the Bro-con nation.
"I'd like to meet her someday." Father states and Miyama looks at him in agreement.
"I'd like for that as well. Now, shall we go kick some annoying old men asses."
"Ikou!"