It's all so "Real" to me
~ Chapter Nineteen ~
~Roughly Twenty or Thirty minutes after they left the shrine that hosted their wedding ceremony.~
-Feeling as the dual-way connection to his elder brother Shiro snaps silent, Reiji frowns without thinking.
' But it was going so well, I wanted to see what happens next. Hm, I suppose he doesn't want to embarrass himself in front of me any longer.'
'Eh, it's probably for the best, he already won.
Surely after all those "Revelations" Kyou Uzumaki is ours now, I probably don't need to hear Shiro push any further with the dramatics.'
Reiji contents himself with a shrug.
"You're more silent than usual. Are... are you alright?" The sound of "Yuuki" his now wife's voice ensnares Reiji's full attention.
Turning to face her, Reiji manages a shaky expression. "Yeah, I think so."
"It's okay to talk Reiji, i'd never been more embarrassed, but this was your father. I can't begin to imagine how this must be for you, Shiroyuki, and Sakuya."
"Oh, thank you, I appreciate your worry Yuuki, but this is Shiro.
"Mark my words Yuuki, he'll have... that man, eating out of the palm of his hand."
"I imagine our Songbird is fine too, that Madara took her away for a few hours.
For some reason, she seems to like him and enjoys his company. Hopefully with his distraction she'll be alright."
"Fair enough, I think he and Sakuya were headed to the garden.
She also has Ruki with her too, and I suppose he's cute and cuddly enough to make anyone cheer up," said Yuukina, her tone still cautious.
"Right, you mean the "cub" who reaches well past her knees, and could eat the entire orchard in an afternoon? Oh she'll definitely be okay." Reiji murmured in jest.
"But seriously Reiji, you dodged my question, how are YOU handling this?" Yuukina insisted, determined to get an actual response from her now husband.
Sighing, Reiji decides to indulge her concern.
Still knowing he can't tell her what he truly thinks of today's ludicrous events, he settles for a shared memory.
"Honestly I'm really not that bothered. It was naive to think we'd never see Kyou again. A part of me probably expected it."
"I'd say I'm feeling more nostalgic than anything else.
Here we are finally married. It feels like an incredibly long time coming."
"It really isn't," Yuukina said playfully. Her tease is apparent and Reiji appreciates Yuuki's clear lack of malice.
"True, for a time, you had no intention of marrying at all... If you didn't propose to me, I'd have assumed you hadn't changed your mind...
"You were what seventeen Reiji? I was twenty two, of course I didn't take your words seriously." Reminded Yuukina.
"Plus, I was so focused on keeping my stand afloat, it's a good thing you let the topic drop or I'd have probably rejected you out of spite."
Reiji chuckles. "Ah memories, but say do you remember?"
"What Shiro told you? I mean back when you finished teaching him what you know about Ice Chakra?"
"Crinkling her brow, Yuukina sighs. "I see, you speak of his whole "It's better to be "Liked" by the public than "Right" speech."
"Honestly Reiji, I was insulted, it felt incredibly belittling.
Still to Shiro's credit it didn't take long for me to understand just how true that pompous sounding phrase truly is."
"Indeed. He was only trying to prepare you for the reality of life." Reji squeezes Yuukina's palm affectionately.
"Your pride was most unhappy."
"Oh it's not so bad," Yuuki murmured. "It never was."
"More humbling than anything, but I learned how to put their expectations to my advantage."
"Who knew framing my venture into independence as "training to run my future household" would make so many people eager to support my tiny stand?"
"It snowballed for sure Yuuki, a real eye-opener.
Not even three years later and that tiny roadside stand "The Icy Breeze" is a real establishment, employing six full-timers..."
"Don't oversell this. It's not that big a deal Reiji," the sincerity of Yuukina's humility catches Reiji. His cold heart fluttered at her smile.
"Don't sell yourself short. No business is "too small", that's six people who owe their livelihood to you alone. Not to mention all the part-timers"
"Flatterer", the pinkening of Yuukina's ear tips is all it takes for Reiji to pull back.
'Not here.' he reminds himself. 'It would reflect poorly on us both.'
Quenching his inner fire before it leads to him doing anything stupid, Shiroyuki takes Yuukina by the hand to the manor dining room for their awaiting formal lunch.
'Let's get these guest content and fed so they'll leave. I really can't wait for tonight, the sooner we get to Hot Springs the better.'
~
"Go away." Declared Shiro. "Get out of here, I don't want to be seen like this."
Staring at his shaking, exhausted son as he curls into himself, an "ugly cry" surely on the way. Kyou knows in his heart he can't leave this alone.
Overcome by a protective urge. Kyou says soothingly. "No, I understand things are... strained, but I want to comfort you. I...
"I've already missed out on so much, I couldn't begin to forgive myself if I ignored you now."
Placing himself close, Kyou murmurs.
"When I was growing up they said adults shouldn't cry, but that's an ugly lie.
"What matters is the time and location. As your father, I promise there's no safer place. If what you need is catharsis then trust in me to provide it."
Pulling Shiroyuki against his chest, he reiterates his words.
"Please, I beg you dear one don't be foolish. It's okay to cry in front of me.
With me, you are safe, -from now onwards there is no safer place!"
~
' What an interesting reaction, this isn't going how I expected at all.' mused Shiro to himself.
'Ah well, I've come this far.'
Wrapping his pale arms around Kyou's waist with more force than necessary, Shiro ponders his many lifetimes worth of memories.
'I wonder, which will provide the "most viable source of emotion"?'
It doesn't take long for him to realize, he actually has quite a bit to choose from.
'All my doubts, all my inescapable fears, my uncertainties... So you too have value...'
Leaning further into the hug, Shiro is surprised. 'This is unexpectedly nice...
Oh... Such a dazzling sense of warmth."
~ As the boy sobs brokenly and without restraint in his lap, the silks of his garment stained by tears and unsightly fluids, Kyou Uzumaki barely hold back his own rising emotions.
'Yes, this is what I wanted most of all. What I always desired...
I put aside my wish before because Aika was adamant that Mito be our only child...
I couldn't bring myself to push her-"
Oh, that must be why I... divorced Aika.
'Going by the marriage certificate, and divorce records, Sora and I did not even meet until at least a year after.'
'the timing doesn't work any other way... that means I didn't betray anyone!
Not my vows or my marriage... All these years wasted.'
Concealed nearby, Kyou's nephew Wagamaru notes his "uncle" new found sense of relief.
The peace of mind in knowing his new found children couldn't possibly be the product of adultery.
Kyou Uzumaki's relief could be cut with a knife.
'
Hours Later.
Awakening to the feeling of his face on a cushion, Shiro, formerly White Zetsu is mortified.
The sound of a warm, affectionate voice makes it worse. "Good morning Sleepy Head."
Meeting his father's violet eyes, it takes all Shiro's efforts not to yank himself back against the temple walls in revulsion.
Keeping himself in place, Shiro asseses what's happening.
' I actually fell asleep for real? How pathetic.'
The implications of his actions and a budding genuine affection for the man called Kyou Uzumaki, are terrifying as they are inconvenient.
'It all backfired!' Shiro realized in panic.
' This doesn't match my calculations at all.'
'Kyou was meant to be disgusted with me.
Disgusted and thoroughly let down by that final display of weakness.
'I intended for that to be my public excuse for wanting Father at a careful distance.
You know have it both ways.'
'Only now... There were witnesses, the Shrine attendants, and that Wagamuru.
He had the decency to check in with Reiji and me a few weeks ago, but it seems he is here for Kyou.
'Smart man Kyou, credit where it's due. Still, you could have picked better.
You two are close but those are the eyes of a man hungry for gossip.
The second we are out of earshot, That Wagamru will be sharing these events to everyone willing to listen!
' Not necessarily a bad thing, it's why I didn't call out his attempt at hiding. Under most circumstances, such a chatterbox would be an asset.
'Only now... If I turn Father away after this... After experiencing such unconditional protection and understanding...
In the eyes of both Oasis and Whirlpool, it will only be ME who is looked down on.'
' Just another "Ungrateful" brat with a petty grudge fuelled only by worthless pride and ugly stubbornness.'
' And even the brain dead know that such "types" of people are very easy to justify hating.' Shiro cradles his face in his hands.
' It is that perception which turned them against Aika. And Mito to a lesser extent, but as of today's revelations she's gone from another "heartless evil" to "A naive fool who was manipulated by Mommy".
In other words, Mito's memory is officially worthy of at least a modicum of sympathy.'
' Still what's worse then my miscalculations is that I don't WANT to turn him away... Not even a little. '
It dawns on Shiro, that perhaps he was too vulnerable with him. ' Wait, I couldn't fake it ALL, I needed those truths to sell it.' Shiro attempted to justify himself.
Either way, Shiroyuki, formerly White Zetsu knows one thing. 'I can't kill him. Ever, this body is far too attached.
What should I do? Oh Reiji, you might have been right, but there's no going back.'
'Not from this... I can't let go of this warmth. I HAVE to find a way... Any way at all, to tie this into Mother's design.' Shiro knew it was so.
'Reiji... You can never know. You can never find out that me of all people have fallen prey to the "Talk-No-Jutsu.'