Story #10

Pillow Child

TakaAkatsuki7

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Small Note: I'm uploading this early because I feel bad to keep you guys waiting. I dind't have time to really edit it properly though because unfortunately my mother keeps breathing down my back and actually, she's sitting on the stairs right now glareing at me....So yeah.....

ummm, (working under Pressure here) Yeah, I wanted to post this up tonight, so I hope you guys enjoy it, yes it starts off slow and brace yourselves cause it's gonna be a really long story. Let me know what you think

WARNING: Please remember that this is the sad version to Ping Pong! If you have not read Ping pong then I advise you not to Read Pillow Child!!!!!!!!!!! Read Ping Pong first! I will place in proper warnings later.......

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Chapter One-Unmarked

(Sasuke's POV)

Every year I received the same cake-Strawberry Vanilla, with a different fixed amount of candles that I would blow after making the same wish I always made for the last two years. This year as I sat staring lost in the flames of five little candles, I wondered whether or not this would be the year my wish would come true.

"Make a wish and then blow out the candles."

I sat back taking a deep breath until my cheeks puffed out so much it began to hurt. I held it for three seconds for extra luck and then leaned back forward and blew out my candles. I watched as thin traces of smoke traveled their way upward. If fire had a soul, it would be smoke I thought. When fire dies, the smoke ascends. I hope it will be reborn into my wish.

My mother picked out the candles from the cake and threw them in the garbage. Apart from her, there was no one else here to share the moment. She came back with two small plates and a knife.

"Would you like to cut the cake?"

"Ok."

I sliced through the cake. It was a small dairy treat just big enough for the two of us. I was glad though. She smiled when I handed her a slice, but I was able to see through it. Just by glancing in her eyes I could see just how sad she was. I knew she regret not throwing me some little party. It didn't matter to me though if she didn't. It was not as though I had friends to invite anyway.

"Thanks for the cake."

I picked out a strawberry and tossed it in my mouth.

"You're welcome."

After the cake she gave me a soccer ball that had been poorly wrapped up in brown paper. While I practised giving the ball some light kicks, she warmed up some milk over the stove. The two of us sat on the floor across from each other on the floor rolling the ball back and fourth. There wasn't much to say. Every now and then the two of us would giggle silently when someone made a bad roll. Aside from the birthday cake, tonight was like every other night. When it was time for bed my mom pushed a small mattress leaning on the wall of our one room apartment onto the floor and then plugged in a small beaten up-but still working portable heater. The heating for room number twelve had been cut off due to unpaid bills. It was alright though. My mom and I snuggled under the blankets. The portable system supported us with all the heat we needed. The real problem began the following morning.

My mom was making eggs. I sat at the table trying to read the paper. Just like that, the lights overhead flickered and then shut off. I gazed up and heard something bang behind me. My mom was dressing into her robes. The bang I had heard had been when she slammed the pan down on the stove.

"Sasuke stay here."

She flipped back her peacock blue hair and left the apartment. I waited a bit at the table and then followed. I reached the main doors, seeing my mom outside through the glass arguing with some man. He was tall, skinny, though probably only in his twenties he appeared in his forties with a bad shave, bald head, and eyes to small for his oval shaped head. I pushed open the door a little and leaned against the frame.

"Please, just give me a few more weeks and I'll have the money."

"I've already given you more time than I'm supposed to-."

The man closed a small little silver box mounted on a tall wooden post and locked it. It was then that I realised that our electricity had been cut.

"-and if you don't pay your rent by the end of this week I'm sorry miss, but I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to leave."

"But I need more time! Please don't do this."

"I'm sorry."

He wasn't sorry at all. The words were just spilling from him like water spilling from a fountain. There was no emotion coming from him at all. His eyes met mine and for a second I felt paralysed. I saw something dangerous flicker in his eyes and then he posed my mom a question I found odd.

"How old is you son?"

"He's five."

"Oh? Why not offer him?"

"Excuse me?"

"You can always give your son as payment."

I couldn't see my mom's face, but her tone had changed from a beggar to someone who was insulted.

"I'm not giving away my son for money."

"I could be wrong but-"

He whispered the rest of his sentence. He leaned forward till his face was just inches away from my mom so I couldn't hear what he was saying.

"-Till the end of this week." He straitened up, "If I don't have my money by the end of this week you will pay whether you like it or not."

The man picked up his tool box. I moved to the side as he passed, this time avoiding eye contact with me. When I turned back around my mom was in front me.

"Mom, what's wrong? What did that guy say?"

Her eyes were already tearful and I think my question made it worst. She kneeled down in front me and embraced me in a tight hug. She cried into my shoulder and I hugged her back.

"It's ok mom."

She sniffed.

"Sasuke…we need to talk."

She picked me up and carried me back inside. The two of us sat on the mattress. She took her time to say what ever it was she wanted to say, taking deep breaths to calm her nerves. I hugged my soccer ball, patiently waiting.

"Sasuke…I don't know if you're aware but, every child has a code."

"A code?"

"Yes, a code that's given to them by the government."

"Do I have a code?"

She bit her lip.

"No…you don't. Sasuke I…I never had you in a hospital. Please try and understand that kids are supposed to be born in hospitals, but I had you secretly."

"Does that mean I'm a secret?"

I didn't understand and trying to made my head hurt. Kids came from hospitals, but I didn't. Did it matter?

"Yes Sasuke, you are. According to the government, you don't exist."

"That's silly mommy. I'm right here."

"Yes, but they don't know that."

"Why?"

She sighed.

"I did it…to protect you from your father."

That broke the ice. Now I was beyond confusion.

"I have a dad?"

"Yes, but he's a very bad man Sasuke. You must promise me that you will never go looking for him!"

"Why?"

Again she sighed and her lower lip trembled.

"You read the morning paper right?"

"Yes, every morning."

It had been my mom who taught me how to read and write. Though I wasn't perfect yet, I congratulated myself for learning despite not going to school. I didn't have any books, so the paper was all I could read and I sometimes copied stuff I was able to understand.

"Tell me, have you ever read an article on "Pillow Children" or "Pillow Angels?"

"Oh yeah I have. A Pillow Child. A kid who doesn't feel anything."

She nodded.

"Yes that's right. Whatever article you read must've been a debate."

"What's a debate?"

"It's an argument."

"Why argue?"

"Listen very carefully Sasuke-" She pulled me on her lap and wrapped her arms around me tightly. "-Pillow Children are rare, so rare that the chances of having one are one in a million. Like you said, a Pillow Child is a kid born with the disability to feel. They don't feel pain, they don't feel hunger, they don't feel tired, they don't feel cold, nothing."

"Wow."

"And because of that curse, people fail to treat them as humans."

"What do you mean?"

"They abuse them."

"What does that mean?"

"Well let's just say they hurt them in very bad ways."

"Oh…"

I still didn't get it.

"The government that takes control over them if the family who had one doesn't want it."

"What? Why would a family give away their own child?" What does the government do to the kids?"

"Listen Sasuke, they sell them."

"Sell them?"

"You know how I bought you your soccer ball?"

I stared down at my ball and nodded.

"Well people do the same with Pillow Children."

Even though I still didn't understand, I had a feeling that it wasn't right.

"And because Pillow Children are so rare, people are artificially creating them."

"What do you mean artificially?"

"They're taking kids and illegally turning them into Pillow Children."

"What does illegally mean?"

"They're going against the rules."

"But mommy, you said the government stops people from going against the rules."

"Not all the time Sasuke. Unfortunately the government has been bought."

"People can buy the government?"

"That article you read Sasuke must've been about whether it's right or not for the government not making an attempt to stop people for artificially making Pillow Childs."

"But mommy, how do you make a Pillow Child without a child?"

"You don't."

"I don't understand anything!"

"They do use children Sasuke; they use kids unmarked by the government."

Judging by the way she phrased the sentence, I had a feeling she was hoping for me not to understand after all. Unfortunately for her, I understood what she meant.

"Kids without a code."

She rested her chin on top my head and for a while she sat there in silence.

"If the government ever finds out I have you they'll have full rights to take you away."

"But I don't wanna go away mommy! I want to stay here with you."

"Ok now I really need you to listen to me Sasuke."

She flipped me around to face her. I balanced on my knees staring at her in her eyes.

"No matter what happens I'll always be with you even if you can't see me."

"What do you mean if I can't see you? I'll always see you!"

"Sasuke, let your heart guide you."

"I don't understand mom!"

I began to cry. She pulled me back in a hug. I listened to her heart beat. The melody it played was sad. It was breaking.

"Mom?"

"I'm…" She struggled to get the words out. "I'm going to put you up for adoption."

"What do you mean?"

"You will be given a new home, a new family,"

"I don't want a new family!" I nearly screamed. "I love you mom, I don't want to be away from you! I wanna stay here in our home."

"Sasuke this is not a good home for you. You need a better home, you need to be taken care of and to go to school like other normal boys your age, you need to be given a code, I can't risk you becoming one of them!"

The two of us hugged in silence.

"What about dad?"

"What?"

"You said I had a father right? Maybe he's a good man now. Maybe we can find him and go live with him and-"

"That's out of the question."

"Why?"

"Sasuke, your father supports the idea of artificial creating Pillow Children."

"Oh…"

"I'm sorry, that's why I asked you not to go looking for him. Please promise me you won't."

"Ok, I promise."

She held my hands and kissed them softly.

"Sasuke, adoption isn't so bad. It will give you a code and you'll be safe. That's what matters right now. We won't be apart forever. When you're older you can always come back to me."

"I can?"

"Yes."

"You promise?"

I felt her fidget and for a moment she hesitated.

"Yes, I promise."

I decided to take her word.

"I'll go for adoption, but then I will come back to you."

We crossed pinkies. I really didn't like the idea of having to leave my mom, but not having a code was really making her worried and I had a feeling that something that man said to her earlier was bugging her also. So I decided that if I really wanted my wish to come true, the first step would be to go for the adoption and receive a code from the government. If I had known that day though that our promise would be broken, I never would've agreed.

TBC