I wasn't sure the exact date I realized that my parents had stopped loving each other, but it must've been around the time I started elementary school. Komachi and I would spend almost every free hour we had together, I would relish the feeling of family, and she would enjoy spending time with her Gomi-chan.
While we were spending time with each other our parents would either try to be in separate rooms or try to limit interaction between each other as much as possible. Their travel for work had slowed down considerably; the company that both of them worked for had stopped branching out and they stayed near Chiba for the most part. So I tried to get them to spend some quality time with Komachi and I at night, when everyone was home. They would give in to spending time together as a family with enough pleading from us, but it always felt a little off, as if something wasn't quite right.
I had never met my first parents so I had no experience to go off of, but the increasing time spent apart and the lack of physical contact led me to believe that something had caused them to lose feelings for each other, perhaps it was the novelty wearing off, or maybe one of them was unfaithful, but I couldn't ask them flat out, for obvious reasons. I spent many hours worrying about what would happen to our family, to Komachi and I. Mother and Father still loved us more than life itself, I could feel it in my heart. But what about one another?
One day after school I came up to my Mothers desk on the second floor, and decided to find out the answer for myself, "Hey Mother, why do you and Father spend so much time away from home?"
She responded, "Oh honey, your father and I have to travel for business and work long hours, I know it's hard on you to have one of us gone all the time, but know that we both love you and Komachi so much."
"And each other?" I knew this was cheap, but I was determined to find out the truth, and I really didn't have any other ideas for ways to find out.
"Of course honey, now go get ready and I'll draw you a bath before dinner." Was her reply, looking remarkably composed even though I knew the question was a rough topic, the only sign being a slight wince.
"...Alright Mother." I replied, in shock, what did she mean "Of course honey"? With no hesitation she lied to my face, to me it was pretty obvious that they were more like reluctant friends.
Did she say that to spare my feelings? Or had I been completely wrong about them? She would have to explain it to us if they divorced, so why did she lie now?
xxx
Later that night I heard those hushed whispers I had come to dread, I had recently received my own room with a twin sized bed on the second floor when I started elementary school, so I was too far away to hear. I rolled over to the side of my bed, careful not to make too much noise as I slipped out from under the covers before walking toward my door.
I kneeled on the ground as I peeked my head through the small opening I made by pushing the door ajar, careful not to be seen, I could make out that the kitchen/living room light was on. Would they discuss what I said to Mother earlier? Or was this about something else entirely? I casted a listening charm so that I would be able to hear what they had to say.
"We already talked about this, Hachiman and Komachi would be devastated." That was Father talking, damn, it sounds like I already missed most of it.
"Are you absolutely sure? It would hurt less if we separated early on in their lives, they might not even remember it when they grow up. If this is truly your decision, then there is no going back." My mother said softly. They had already talked about separating? Why hadn't they done so then? Why were the both of them holding on to the marriage?
.
.
.
"Of course. For their sake."
.
.
.
I ended the listening charm before silently closing the door and falling backwards onto my floor, suddenly wide awake.
"Why?" I whispered to myself, voice cracking slightly, I could feel tears prickling the edges of my eyes, threatening to fall. My Father's words rang in my head, "Of course." As if it was obvious, as if it was the only choice he could make at that moment. I knew then that I hated those words more than anything before, not even Voldemort had managed to make me feel this way. The only thing I could compare it to was the loss of Sirius to the Veil, but at the time I did not truly understand why I felt that way. Knowing made it ten times more painful.
This family that had shown me what love truly felt like, My Family, the one that showed me what I had failed to understand in my last life, had been living and were going to continue living a lie.
This was the power Dumbledore had spoken of?
Love?
The power the dark knows not... was to lie to those close to you?
The power to be a faker for the sake of people you care about?
How long had they planned on acting like this for Komachi and I? 10 years? 20? 30? Was it really so worth it to keep things the same that you would put on a mask in front of your loved ones at all times...
Mother?
Father?
"I won't ever become like them. I can't." Teary eyes opened violently as I stared up at the ceiling,
"I will find something genuine, even if it takes the rest of my life."
xxx
AN: I initially had Hachiman apparating away from home to live on the streets, but that just seemed like too much of a stretch of character. Gah, this is so sad! But we finally have some motivation for the story. Sorry for the short chapter but this is pretty important so I didn't want to clog it up.
