Flowers That Never Leaves

Chapter 2

As Hanae's thoughts echoed throughout his mind, a blissful sleep isn't happening. Seeing as how he can't stop thinking about the whole "Executive Almost Killing Him" incident, Hanae went down to the kitchen to get a drink. As he revisited his previous feelings, he didn't notice the dark, shadowy figure behind him until,

"...Hanae?"

Immediately, Hanae screamed which made the dark figure screamed too. Hanae quickly turn around and finally notice that it was just his Mom; his heart was thumping loudly as he tries to calm down. "Good morning, Mom..."

Looking equally shaken by the fright, "You startled me, Hanae. Good morning to you too."

Both Hanae and his Mom grin sheepishly at the funny situation. A sudden thought came into Hanae's Mom mind, "What are you doing up so early, Hanae? School doesn't start until another 2 hours. Are you getting sick again? Should I phone the school about it?" Hanae's Mom put her forehead against Hanae's own. "You don't seem to have a fever. Are you having headaches, chills, or coughs?"

Hanae laughs at her worrying and rubbed the back his head.

"It's nothing like that, Mom. I just couldn't sleep well last night." Frowning immediately as to why he couldn't sleep; Hanae wonders if this whole ordeal was affecting him more than it should. Hanae mentally slapped himself for the idiotic thought! Of course this was the big deal, he almost gotten himself annihilated by a scary-ass bird youkai! Thanks to whoever up there that Abeno-san doesn't have mind-reading powers or he would smack Hanae.

Hanae's Mom watched concernedly at her son's troubled features. It wasn't the first time she saw this ever since the beginning of the high school year. Biting her lower lip, she took the chance, "Hanae, if there is something wrong, you know you can tell your Mom. I know that teenagers don't often go to their parents about their problems, but remember I am right here if you need me." Smiling warmly, she pets her son's soft hair.

Hanae leaned into his Mom's gentle touch; he wonders what he can actually say to her without getting into more trouble than he was. Looking into his Mom's soft, kind eyes, he knows what to say.

"Mom, hypothetically speaking, if there was a chance I might hate humanity because of their wrong deeds or just because they are just humans, what would you say or think of me? If there was a point where I can't stand the thought of people or the sight of them?"

Hanae tries to be discrete as possible about the youkai hating every human.

A sudden hush of silence. Not a word was said after that. Hanae's Mom looked at her son in confusion, worry, concern, and wonder.

After minutes of dead silence, she said the words that made Hanae awe in wonder, "Hanae, if by some chance in the future that you might come to hate or even dislike people, then it is alright to hate them. I know it might sound weird, but that is what it is to be human. We are people who feel many things; love, admiration, worry, sadness, anger, confusion, hate, and even lust. It is because we are human that we can either love or hate humanity. We don't live in the perfect world, Hanae; this world has their problems that might take many years to overcome and it could be frustrating to just sit and wait. But you know, this is the world we live in; we can either love it or hate it. We can either grow or simply wither away. I know I love it because you are in this world with me. I thanked everyday for being able to be with you." She stroked her son's cheek and smiles. "And even if you come to hate humanity, I want you to know that it won't stop me from loving you. You are my most precious son, Hanae."

Hanae stared in shock and can only lowered his head. His bangs shadowed his eyes as he soaks in his Mom's wisdom and love. He truly has the greatest mother. She didn't even question why he would have asked such thing.

His mind flashes back to every memory about the Youkai World, the Mononokean, Fuzzy, the youkai and people he encountered, and especially the ones with Abeno-san. He tenderly smiles at the thought of the Master of the Mononokean. Hanae placed his hand gently atop of his Mom's.

"Thank you, Mom. There were so many things happening that I didn't know what to do or think. But I know what to do now." Looking up once more with eyes filled with passion, determination, and courage. "And I am going to need a bouquet of flowers!"