Approval

Summary: Natsuko attends one of Yamato's last concerts, at Takeru's behest. She doesn't like what she hears. One-shot.

Warnings/Pairings: None

Yamato stood near them in silence after the others had left, congradulating him on the successful set. Takeru and Natsuko exchanged glances.

"It was nice," Takeru tried, but Natsuko scoffed at him.

"Lying is bad, Takeru," she started. Yamato immediately made a face, waiting for her to continue. "Was that really necessary? I can't believe that came from you, my little boy."

"Your little boy," Yamato seethed, barely making the words audible through his teeth, "I don't understand."

"Since when do you sing about things like that? Since when have you started cursing and talking about holding a pistol to-"

"I don't need you to validate me," Yamato started, his chest aching. He hadn't expected her to approve, but he didn't expect her to tear him down. Also, he was her son, no matter how much he hated it, and he wanted her approval even if it was a futile effort. "You didn't like it, that's fine, but no one asked you to show up, no one asked for your opinion."

Natsuko wasn't sure how to explain her disappointment, "It's a little morbid, don't you think?"

Yamato laughed, "Well, what did you expect? I'd paint you a rainbow, but I'm sure you wouldn't approve of that, either."

"I just don't understand why you couldn't make something that gives back to the world... that song was too dark."

"Like listening to a mirror?" Yamato snapped, slinging his guitar over his shoulder. He wanted to get away, but Takeru finally broke his grip on their mother's hand to chase him down.

"You didn't have to do tha-" "-You didn't have to bring her here."

"She wanted to support you-" "By making me feel ashamed of myself. Sounds about right, sounds like what she's done to me my entire life."

"Yamato, stop it," Takeru ordered. "You could have played anything else, but you wanted her to know how you felt and you know what? She gets it. She knows you hate her. Why did you have to tell it to her again in front of the world, too?"

"Just go back to her. It's what you're good at," Yamato sighed, and continued back into the guest room.

Takeru shifted his feet and turned back to his mother. He held the rosary in his pocket and decided from then on he wasn't going to try and do the right thing anymore. Yamato would never listen to him. He would never be able to see the loving, caring mother Takeru saw, and Takeru decided that was fine. Everything was going to be fine.