Happy Mother's Day, minasan. Have you told your kaasan that you love her lately?

Gojyo: Trust me on this one--you should, Mother's Day or not, 'cause you never know when something could change.
M2000: Hai.

Disclaimer: Don't own Saiyuki, don't own copyrights, don't consider Kouka's name as canon, DO own Kouka's non-canon name and my fluffy muses (plus several delicious pics of the ikkou)

Akai Hana No Saigo

I had a father, his name was Sha Ren,
And mother (Shuu Juko); I did not just appear.
But I know naught of either; they did not watch o'er me;
That duty was Kouka's, the stepmom I feared.
I was a product of demon and human;
Wasn't it clear she resented the fact?
Eyes and hair coloured the shunned taboo crimson
Doomed to be hated right off the track.
Kouka was my guardian--well, in her hard way.
She bore my small presence eight years and a while.
But she always cried whenever she saw me;
I wanted to see, just once, kaasan's smile.
That chance came to me one warm Sunday morning.
Jien, my brother, was with my that day.
I wanted to buy our kaasan a present.
Jien had money. He said he would pay.
We stopped at the florist to pick out bouquet
When the most striking blooms did I suddenly see.
When Jien found out that his cash wouldn't cover it
The florist quite kindly gave us the bunch free.
We walked home, I and Jien. Then I quickened my steps
And ran home ahead, increased my pace more.
I showed her the flowers. She seemed quite receptive,
That is, till she threw them straight down to the floor.
I will not speak of the pain that she caused me
As crimson-hued daisies lay strewn 'cross the sand--
She took my small gift as a sly, mocking insult,
Red blooms for Red Flowers, from filthy red hands.
She raised up an axe to cleave me in two;
I was ready to die. But 'twas living I stayed.
Kaasan fell at my feet in a dark pool of blood
And I saw Jien gripping his sword's bloody blade.
Jien left home that night. I ne'er again saw him
But I never forgot how he fought on my side
Against his beloved mother. MY mother.
The woman for which I'd have willingly died.
If that's what it took for her to be happy,
I wouldn't have minded, and this I speak true,
But yet all I ask for my hungry young psyche
Is somehow, maybe, she could love me too?
Whether my eyes were as red as the sunset
Or, like Jien's, dark as an amethyst stone,
I just wanted a sign she did not really hate me;
A sign she would not leave me unloved and alone.
I had a father; his name was Sha Ren,
And mother (Shuu Juko); I did not just appear.
But I know naught of either; they did not watch o'er me;
Kouka's the mother I wish was still near.

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