Chapter 2 : Mayuri's Secret

One of the things Mayuri focused on in raising her son Ron was morals. One of those morals Mayuri taught her only son, Ron, was not to mess around or touch other people's things without permission. But right now, Mayuri sees something completely different.

"I suppose you have something to defend yourself with, right?"

Ron slowly looked over his left shoulder, responding to his mother's voice. It didn't sound angry, but her expression almost seemed homicidal. Or so Ron imagined. His mother was as dignified as she was caring, and he was aware that he was in trouble now, first because he had entered her room without permission and then searched through her things.

"Mum... I can... explain," he said, his voice a little strained.

Mayuri walked steadily across the old wooden floor toward her son. As soon as they were only centimeters apart, she saw what he was holding: the notebook... her biggest secret.

"So, you finally got your hands on it."

Ron was surprised by his mother's reaction, which changed from nervousness to calm. Even her voice was softer than it had been a moment earlier. His gaze was focused on her calm features, until she sat down beside him, still staring at the notebook.

She was so close to him, just a few inches between their shoulders, Ron felt there was something, something his mother was going to say, so he prepared in advance .

Mayuri's eyes, which had been focused on the notebook nestled in her son's palms, moved to face her son, eye to eye. She took a deep breath and sighed in frustration.

"Son, I didn't want to tell you this so early. I was waiting at least... at least until you finished your studies and found a job, so it wouldn't occupy your mind and make you absent-minded." She looked back at the notebook.

"This notebook holds my clan's legacy . I'm Japanese as you know." A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips as she spoke, her slender fingers brushing the cover of the notebook in her son's hand. ...

Ron is a young man. Like any other young man, he owns a phone. It's obvious he uses the internet to browse and study. Among the things Ron researched online was Japan and its history, since he has Japanese blood on his mother's side.

His previous search had been motivated by curiosity, but at this moment, what he'd been searching for out of curiosity previously was made clear by his mother's words. *

"Mother... on this notebook ... . You said it's your clan's inheritance? That means... that means you... that you..." The words weighed heavily on his tongue. He wanted to say it simply, but he felt that was impossible.

"Yes, son," she said with a bitter smile. "Although it's unrealistic but , I am, in fact, a ninja."

The truth was out. Ron hadn't reacted to this, but his mother had. She'd confessed her true nature to her son. He didn't want to believe anything like this, and even tried to form an idea in his head that his mother was joking with him. The presence of a ninja in this era was more like an unfunny joke. But his mother's expression, for the first time in a long time, was weak, unlike what he'd always seen.

"Sorry, son, admitting something like this is hard, especially... especially in a situation like this." She moved away from her son slightly and avoided eye contact.

"Well, Mom, I don't think it has anything to do with me. I'm... not directly Japanese. I'm European," he said in a clear tone.

"No, son, you don't need to be fully Japanese . You're a ninja too, son," she said in a soft, sweet voice despite her weak features.

"In our clan, the [Kamotsu] clan, inheritance is done whether the designated heir is fully Japanese or a blood relative of at least one of his parents, provided that the heir is a direct son and not a bastard. And here you are... my only son, the book in your hands is sacred in our clan." She turned to look at her son's face, flustered by the situation, and reached out to touch his cheek and give him a smile.

"In my name, Mayuri Kamotsu, the twelfth bearer of the clan's immortal legacy, here and now, I declare... the thirteenth heir and bearer of the Kamotsu clan's legacy, is you... Ron Kamotsu, my son." A hint of bitterness and distress was clear in her voice as she spoke, this could be noticed.

Mayuri understood how her son felt; he was confused and demanding an explanation, answers, anything! But at the same time, she couldn't explain further, looking physically and mentally exhausted.

Ron was intelligent, and she knew that, so she hoped he would understand her words, her situation and what she was going through. Suddenly, she felt his hand grab hers, which rested on his right cheek. Mayuri felt him lean into her touch, and at that moment, she realized that her son had understood, understood what she wanted him to understand, so she smiled softly at that.

"Sorry, son, but... I need to get some sleep. I'm really tired today, and I also need some time to myself before I go to sleep, so... if possible..." She wanted to blurt out her request, but Ron stopped her before she could speak.

"I know, Mom. You have this bad habit of always overexerting yourself. They don't give you extra money for that." He smiled at her playfully, and it was clear he was trying to calm her down.

She replied with a smile, "Don't forget that I'm your mother here. Watch your words."

"Of course, Mom. I'll let you rest now."

He took a few steps toward the door, notebook in hand. He remembered to wish her good night and a peaceful sleep, but she beat him to it.

"One day, you'll come to a turning point in your life, where you'll face a reality. Then... you must decide, and make sure that selfishness doesn't prevail in you, because it's a bad quality. Be wise and sensible. All right, son?"

Her soft, tired voice as she said this pierced Ron's heart, freezing him in place. The mysterious, profound words were being spoken by his mother for the first time. He didn't want to say more, so he cut to the chase and said, "Okay, Mom, I promise I won't forget."

"Good night, mom . " Ron said, holding onto the doorknob.

"Good night, dear," Mayuri replied in a soft, affectionate voice.

Ron then left, closing the door behind him. Mayuri was left alone, sitting and contemplating the just-closed door. Her features were now more fragile and delicate, as if she was holding herself together so as not to appear even more embarrassing in front of her son than she already was.

"Sorry, son, to burden you with this, but I'm optimistic. Ninjas in this day and age... no one needs them, and there's no place for them in these advanced times. he'll be fine, I'm sure." In her moment of weakness, a smile appeared, revealing more of her beauty as she struggled against the merciless times.

Ron was standing behind the door and heard her. He heard what she said, repeating her words in his head, "No one needs ninjas in this day and age." Ron sighed and headed to his room, opened the door, and then closed it behind him.

He placed the notebook on the bedside table and lay down on the bed. His last conversation with his mother kept replaying in his mind, and he thought, "Why didn't I say a word about what my mother said?" He felt like saying something at the time, but his mother's gaze made him weak, unable to speak.

He couldn't even ask her for an explanation, as he understood everything on his own, thanks to his constant browsing of the internet and his deep study of Japanese history. He also understood the gravity of what he now possessed.

"If this information fell into the hands of someone, anyone... it would undoubtedly bring disaster upon humanity. This feeling... almost suffocates me."

He didn't look happy at all. If anyone else had been in his place and learned that he was a ninja, he would have made the world and its inhabitants aware of it, or at least gone out to show off, especially in this day and age when such things are considered mere children's stories. But Ron... he knew things, things far more complex and dangerous.

To be continued ...