the shadows’ mother

megumi returns the hug, setting his chin on her shoulders and enjoying the soft tousle of his hair being played in. “it was okay. we played outside, and stuff, like usual. i got dirty,” recites the child, the latter bit of information as if it were an off thought. he wonders if it was ok to tell his mom he was playing with his shadows again.

after he explains, she leans back a little to look at him, one of her hands still on his shoulder and the hand that had been in his hair having slid around to cup his cheek. she laughs as she notices the dirt on him. "so you did!" her thumb comes up to rub gently at a smear of dirt on his cheek, wiping it away. "your dad didn't text me back about dinner... so you get to decide tonight. what do you feel like eating?"

[ hubby ] uhhh well [ hubby ] no it's not a joke [ hubby ] but it's pretty funny how i got here! [ hubby ] at least i think so [ hubby ] and not really. i think i'll have a black eye tomorrow but otherwise i'm fine [ hubby ] the police officers got me some ice so it's not hurting or anything

how his cheeks flush red hot. megumi loves his mother's attention, no matter how sullen and typically teenager he appears around her. a reminder of a simpler time. when he could be nothing more than a small child within the arms of his mother. held tightly and loved infinitely. there is too much responsibility laying on his young shoulders. a monster cased within the bones of a teenage boy. a show of good faith, and he moves closer to his mother on the couch. almost as if he is asking her for physical contact. ‟ i would like that. ” a lot. it is hidden amongst the tone of his voice. the finger holding the place in the book pushes open the pages, showing them off to his mother. ‟ look at this one --- sakurasou, it is the symbol of long-lasting love. isn't it pretty? ”

.。∙°˚✧ she notices his movement and she scoots closer without any hint of hesitation, an arm coming around his back to place her hand on his opposite side ' s upper arm. she leans her head on his shoulder and gives her boy a little squeeze. ❝ you know, you could invite your boyfriend yuji. he looks like a healthy boy! i ' m sure he ' d jump at the chance to go hiking with you and your family. ❞ she doesn ' t bother to lift her head away from her son as she looks down at the book at his indication. ❝ oh, it ' s kind of purple! my favorite color ~ ❞ she coos, lightly drawing her fingers over the page with her free hand.

.。∙°˚✧ yuri ' s eyebrows furrow in confusion as he steps away from her, and her dark eyes widen when he speaks. she looks at the ground, hands curling into loose fists. ❝ can ' t you just say you ' re sorry? ❞ her voice wavers a little, clearly trying not to cry. ❝ i wasn ' t even that mad about it . . . but it hurts me more that you don ' t seem to care about my feelings. you just want me to forgive and forget when you haven ' t even bothered to ask for my forgiveness. ❞

as much as annoyance cuts the creases of his face as her fingers tussle his hair, deep down he appreciates the contact. the kind of love a son can only get from his mother. his eyes soften as she mentions her own parents -- he wonders what it must have been like for her growing up. did she receive the love she so freely gives to him? megumi knows that she deserves that much. uncomfortable in her attentive gaze, he manages a soft smile before accepting the distraction of his reading material. ‟ oh. it's something i picked up from the library. ” flipping it over so he can show her the cover: a beginner's guide to japanese botany. his boredom always caused him to sponge information, no matter how seemingly irrelevant to his real life. ‟ i thought it would be helpful to know what plants are poisonous and which aren't. ”

.。∙°˚✧ she sees the expression he makes and it makes her heart clench a little -- just a little -- for times long past, when he was just a toddler and acted as if she hung the moon. yuri still adores her son with all of her heart, of course, and she has no doubt that he loves her, too. still, she misses being able to shower him in kisses all over his face without him getting embarrassed or uncomfortable. she takes in the sight of the cover and her eyebrows tick up a little. he seems to read her mind, because he explains the logic behind his choice. her smile is wide and bright and proud. ❝ that ' s so practical of you, 'gumi. you ' ve always been my smart boy; i ' m sure you ' ll pick it up quickly. ❞ with a thoughtful hum, she taps the pad of her index finger to her lips. ❝ should we go on a hike sometime, all of us? then you can show off what you ' ve learned! ❞