Reunion! :)
"You ready?" Sasuke asked, squeezing my hand. I filled my lungs with a long, deep breath. Udon village was infront of us, our son possibly a few feet away. This was what we had been travelling for months to come home to and yet I felt so unprepared.
"No." I sighed. How could I be ready to face a child I hadn't seen for five years as a mother who knew nothing about him? I'd be very lucky if I could even pick him out of a line up of other kids.
"Good, that's the best way. Let's go." Sasuke started towards the village, his destination Grandma's house, tugging me along with him. We passed a block of apartments still being refurbished, a small rundown library and even a small bar before we reached an unfamiliar house. My worst fears became a reality in that instant- I didn't recognise a single thing. Sasuke released my hand for a moment to wipe the sweat from my clammy hands off onto his trousers. I was watching him, kind of embarrassed at how much my nerves were showing that I didn't notice the object hurtling at my head. With a great big thwack the football almost knocked me off my feet!
"Sorry!" A little voice called out, laughing at my obvious pain. When the focus in my eyes returned I stole a glimpse at Sasuke, expecting to see him looking as furious as I was but he looked stunned, his eyes steadily hovering over my shoulder at the little hooligan who had mistaken my face for a goal. Not much could take away Sasuke's breath, aside from me, but he was really lost for words.
"What the hell?" I frowned, following his trail of sight to a small boy that could easily have been mistaken for a mini version of Sasuke. The little terror had his father's trademark black spikey hair, just a little shorter, a similar natural scowl and even the makings of the same muscular build.
"Sasuke…is that-" Before I could finish my sentence the kid shot off out of sight shrieking for his Grandma. Had we scared him off already?
"Brace yourself." Sasuke mumbled as an elderly woman hobbled around the corner at a dangerous speed, followed by her great grandson. The old woman was kicking up dust, speeding across the several feet of open space between us. Even though I had forgetting ever knowing her, It upset me to see an old lady with wrinkled eyes so full of tears.
"I can't believe it…Emiko…you're.…" She sobbed, the smell of alcohol stinging my eyes.
"I told you, Grandma. I was right, huh? Is that my mum?" The little kid's face was lit up like a jar full of caught fireflies, he bounced around aswell just like manic trapped bugs. The old woman nodded sadly, tears flowing, snot running into her mouth. A wave of nausea hit me as the kid…my son jumped into my arms, embracing me with all his strength.
"I knew you'd come back!" he whispered excitedly right into my ear.
"Of course I did." I replied uncertainly, patting him affectionately on his head. There was no way I could break his little heart by shattering his dreams. Whatever Grandma had told him I would have to stick to.
Sasuke shifted uncomfortably behind us, he seemed anxious.
"Yoichi, show your mother and father inside, we have a lot to discuss." Grandma said and my heart swelled with love. Yoichi, that's what she'd named him. I couldn't have thought of a more beautiful name myself. Yoichi didn't look at his father with the same loving eyes he had shown me, I had no idea why that was but Sasuke did- Grandma had stuck to her promise and never mentioned a thing about him, our son knew nothing about his rare bloodline or the love his parents shared when they created him.
Inch by inch Sasuke closed the gap and placed a steady hand on Yoichi's head, a surge of pride rushing through him. The young man was the image of himself as a child.
"Our family is back together again." He grinned the same cheeky smile as Yoichi was as he ruffled the little guy's hair.
"That's right, Dad." Yoichi beamed.
It was the most surreal thing to be sitting at a table having dinner with my family- my husband, son and grandmother. It wasn't just because I had grown used to eating alone or because more recently I was accustom to eating naked with Sasuke between my legs but it was strange to be so surrounded by unconditional love. The kindly old woman refused to let go of my hand and Yoichi was chatting away to Sasuke about his day, tomato soup smeared round his adorable little mouth. Fortunately he was too excited and noisy to hear a word that us girls were saying.
"Emiko, what happened to you?" I shortened the terrible tale down as much as I could and left out anything too horrific about myself that could jeopardise her giving back my son. She didn't stop sobbing the whole time. From what Sasuke had told me, she'd practically raised me so I must have been more like a daughter to her. I could only try and empathise with what she was going through.
"Don't cry, I'm back now." I soothed.
"Oh I know, Emiko. I'm just so sad for you, robbed of every happy memory you've ever had and years of time with your son." She took another long swig from her large glass of wine, it seemed to calm her down so I filled my glass as well.
We stayed up into the early hours of the morning talking; Grandma was in her old comfy chair, Sasuke had his arm around me on the sofa and Yoichi was snuggled in between us. He was so happy, he never stopped smiling even when he fell asleep.
"You've done a good job raising him, thank you." Sasuke said, gazing down fondly at the little boy. To be honest, I was surprised. It wasn't like him to show emotion to anyone but me, especially gratitude.
The next day brought another lovely surprise. Holding Yoichi in one arm and my hand with the other, Sasuke led us deeper and deeper into the forest surrounding Udon village until we reached a big hollow tree stump. Yoichi's face scrunched in disappointment.
"This was what you wanted to show us, Dad?" Maybe I should have scolded him a little for being rude but I was laughing too much, he had read my mind. Sasuke sighed and rolled his eyes, dumped our son in my arms in leaned inside the tree stump. Me and Yoichi stifled giggles, his head had disappeared into the tree.
"This is what I wanted to show you!" Sasuke proudly spoke, standing up with handfuls of cash.
"Sasuke, where-" Actually I didn't want to know where it came from.
"We can buy a castle!" Yoichi cheered.
"We could but it's up to your mother where we live." His father replied sternly. I was astonished, I really was, Sasuke had our whole future secured and planned out the whole time. He never even doubted that he would find me and put our family back together again, did he? I on the other hand didn't have a clue. Honestly, I hadn't thought beyond finding Yoichi again.
"Errm…how about we decide together?" I suggested.