Ryoma
As the woman, my mother, sobs into my shoulder, her arms protectively around me, I hug her, trying to comfort her.
"Oh, Ryoma, you have no idea how much we've all missed you," she says in Japanese, and I reply in kind.
"I've missed you too, okaa-san…" I say, but I trail off. I don't remember anything about my family. All the memories I have of before I was rescued have been shoved into the deepest recesses of my heart, even the ones of before I had been abducted. As it is, I can barely remember the woman sobbing in my arms, only a memory of her, looking young and beautiful and happy; and the lullaby she used to sing to me. Those are the only memories I have of her, but they are so precious to me. I would dig up everything, rip open my nearly healed wounds from so long ago, if only it would mean I would remember her…and the rest.
Pulling away a little, she smiles, and puts a hand on my cheek. As she leans in close, I flinch away on reflex. Then, after seeing the hurt look on her face, I immediately feel guilty. All she had wanted was to kiss me on the cheek, as any mother would do in this situation.
Her eyes tear up and I feel even guiltier. "O-okaa-san, I-I'm sorry, it's just…" I trail off because she's begun shaking her head, as if to say that she understands.
"I've already been told what's happened. You've been through so much, an I wasn't even there for you…" she starts sobbing again, and I don't know what to say.
Suddenly, I notice that Aly has come up to us. She puts her hand on my mothers back as if to comfort her, and a memory flashes into my mind of the first time I had met her. She had done the same thing to me then. I smile a little, because even though with that memory comes the bitter taste of fear, I also feel secure, knowing that I'm safe now, and that's all in the distant past.
"It's not your fault," Aly says in English and my mother looks up at her. "It's not your fault, or Ryoma's, or his father's. This is all the fault of those horrid people. Remember this, there may be no way to change the past, but that doesn't mean you don't have control over the future. Ryoma has already accepted that fact, and he's well on his way to healing. Your job now is to help him have a happier future and that will in itself make up for his lost childhood."
As she says this, Aly's voice is grim, but it has a mixture of hope, kindness, and a gentle sternness in it. Although I've heard her say this to many newly reunited parents and children before, it's come to have a completely different meaning to me now. I know why those children had all looked so happy afterwards. Her words brought the children and their parents hope that there was still a chance of having a relatively normal life.
I know that my mother has understood because she has a small, hopeful smile on her face.
Bowing slightly, she says to Aly in English, "Thank you very much, for everything you have done for my family until now. I have heard that you were one of the three people present when my son was rescued. So young, and yet so brave."
Aly smiles sheepishly.
"I'm not all that brave. I'm just doing what I know is right. No one deserves to be put through that, and the younger they're rescued, the better. I'm just glad that you and Ryoma have finally been reunited."
My mother smiles a little wider. "And you are humble too. You have a warriors spirit. We need more people like that."
Aly blushes once more, and then they both get down to business. The two of them begin talking, and Aly tells my mother about an organization in Japan that is similar to One Child. Aly has already seen to it that I would be able to go there and talk to a therapist at least once a month, and more frequently if need be.
After talking for a long time, and after all has been settled, it is determined that I will be going back to Japan with my mother, to slowly try to reintegrate back into society.
There is a tearful reunion between me and the staff at One Child, but the next day, I am finally on a plane with my mother, on my way back to my home and away from my nightmares.
Ryoga
I pace impatiently back and forth as my father reads one of his magazines.
My mother is returning with my long lost little brother today, and my father and I are at the airport, waiting for them.
"Where are they?" I ask impatiently. "They should have gotten here by now!"
"Calm down, calm down!" says my father, not looking up. "Their plane will be landing any minute now! Try to have some more patience!"
Though he says such uncaring words, his body betrays him. His hands are shaking in anticipation and his eyes rove impatiently across the page, not taking anything in.
Then suddenly, it becomes quite crowded and I see that passengers have already started filing in, meeting their friends and family.
I sweep my eyes quickly across the sea of faces and finally, finally, I see the ones I have been waiting for.
My mother is approaching us, a sweet smile on her face, and behind her is a boy I would recognize even after 8 years apart.
He has messy, greenish-black hair and wide, frightened amber eyes.
"Ryoma…" I say quietly, feeling as if my heart were going to burst.
SkyGem: Well, that's done! Please do leave a review and I will try to update as soon as I can. Also, I will be uploading the next chapter of Deceptive Love in a few hours, so those of you who are reading it, look forward to it, ne?