Reunion (Solo NK)

After years of lost contact, Salzem had finally gotten the opportunity to reunite with his mother. Despite the loneliness he'd felt, and despite the anger he held over her leaving him like this, now that she was within reach, Salzem was excited. No, he was ecstatic. No matter what kind of grudge he held before, no matter how much he'd blamed her for his misery, Salzem loved her deep down and wanted nothing more than to be with her again. He tugged at his necklace anxiously as he stared at the large wooden door to his mother's house, the large, round wooden beads knocking against each other gently. He had done some checking and had acquired her address after hours of asking. He raised his knuckles to the door to knock, but he stopped himself suddenly. What would he even say? 'Oh hi! I'm your son you've abandoned for over 5 years! Care to let me in?' No. The most that would get him would likely be a slap and a door slammed in his face. He stared at the wood for what seemed like hours, trying to think of the right words. Salzem growled in frustration and shook his head as his mind turned up blank. How do you say that you're your lost son besides just saying it? He didn't know. Finally, Salzem rapped his knuckles gently against the door and waited for a sound to signify that she had heard him. One minute later. Two. Three. Salzem was beginning to wonder if he should knock again. As he raised his knuckles to the door to do just that, it opened. Salzem's heart swelled in his chest as he gazed at the woman in front of him.

She was taller than him, about 5ft 11 with long black hair that rolled down her back with a strand falling over either shoulder. Her eyes were a deep ruby red, glowing with warmth and kindness, rather than the chill Salzem's glare delivered. She wore long, baggy black pants and a dark blue vest under a black cloak meant to repel the sun's fearsome glare. She appeared young, still looking like a new mother after all these years. She looked down at Salzem, waiting for him to say something, unaware of who he was. Salzem didn't say anything. Rather, he was physically unable, captivated at the sight before him. She looked just as she had the last time he saw her, only that her hair was longer. The woman leaned her self against the doorframe, waiting patiently for Salzem to say something, anything, to justify his presence on her doorstep. Salzem's daze breaking, fidgeted nervously before opening his mouth to speak.

"Uh.... Mrs. Alagahara...?" Salzem stuttered. The woman's warm gaze wavered for a moment, as if noticing something unusual. Something in the voice...

"Yes?" She responded, looking curiously at Salzem. There was something familiar about the boy that she couldn't quite place. Of course he looked a whole lot like her, but it was something else. Something of a more personal nature. Salzem was at a loss for words yet again. What was he going to say next? 'hi! I'm your son!' or maybe perhaps 'remember konoha? why did you leave me alone?' Salzem wanted to say both of those things, but something was keeping him from saying anything. A feeling. it started in his stomach and moved up to his chest, where it flourished. Butterflies. Light. It all danced inside. This was her... he dreamt about their reunion, mother and son, but now that it's happening.... it seemed so "real..."

"M-may I come inside...?" Salzem asked shakily. He didn't know whether his hesitance about this was the unbelieveability that it was actually happening or the fear that she might reject him. Regardless, the woman stepped inside, opening the way for Salzem to step through into her abode. Salzem stepped inside, shivering as he passed his mother. She still hadn't pieced it together that this boy was her son. It has been many years after all he could've looked like anything. The inside of her house was shady, but not necessarily dark. There was light, compliment of the windows, but no lamps or candles to serve as a secondary light source. It was a one room floor with stairs leading up to the second in the far right corner. The kitchen on the left, taking up about a third of the floor, the living room taking up the rest. two couches facing inwards towards each other could be seen in the middle of the room and Salzem made a bee-line straight for one of those. They both were going to need to be sitting down before Salzem confessed his identity. Salzem sat down on one couch and gestured to his mother to sit down in the other. She obliged him, still eyeing him, but now suspiciously. Salzem took a deep breath in, than out, removing the breathing mask that covered the lower half of his face. The pieces seemed to be falling into place for his mother. He could see it in her eyes. She recoiled slightly, eyes widening, putting a hand over her mouth. All she needed was for him to say it.

"My name is Salzem Alagahara..." Salzem said, almost in a whisper. "... mom." He added. She stared at him, knowing his words were more true than the idea of gravity itself. Salzem, however, felt as if the world had fallen off his shoulders. He felt relief having finally said those words. He smiled shakily, at his mother and got up from his chair and sat down on the adjacent one and next to her. Then, as if his body had a mind of it's own, he wrapped his arms around his mother's shoulders and squeezed lightly in a hug. He felt that familiar warmth one would feel when hugging someone close. He relished the feeling. He loved it. He felt his mother wrap her arms around Salzem's body as well, embracing him into her. He felt something drip onto his shoulders. He realized that they were tears. His mother was crying. Not in shame or sadness, but of joy. He could hear the relief in her tone as she muttered Salzem's name over and over between her sobs. Salzem felt a few of his own tears pour down his cheeks as the two embraced, reunited at last. The questions could come later. They sat there on the couch of that house for what seemed like an hour, just in each other's embrace before the moment was interrupted by a voice. A little girl's voice.

"Mommy...?"

Salzem and his mother turned quickly to the stairs. A little girl stood at the top, one hand holding the railing, the other holding a small teddy bear. She seemed to be no more than eight or nine, little more than 4ft. She had light red eyes that seemed to sparkle in the light. Her black hair was long, like her mother's, but with no strands over the shoulders. She wore a dark blue gown and black slippers She looked at Salzem's mother with an uncertain expression on her face.

"Mommy..." She spoke again. "Who is this person...?"

Salzem stared at the girl on the steps, but slowly, his gaze fell on his mother like a ton of bricks, demanding an answer. He didn't even notice when his arms fell to his sides, no longer latched to his mother. She too released her grip, gasping at the sight of the little girl.

"Asura!" She gasped. Salzem's temper flared suddenly. Asura? Who was she? Who was she? Who was she? Mommy? What did this mean? Was she here all the time and was never told? Why? Because she was a Sand citizen and would likely never meet her? The more Salzem entertained his possibility, the more his anger rose. He should have been happy, perhaps relieved to have a sibling, but seeing her here, now, after believing he'd been a single child and to a family of two, only made his body burn with rage. Perhaps he hadn't been lied to, but he had been left in the dark. Salzem's mother turned back to Salzem, a look of nervousness in her gaze. She hadn't been expecting her to come downstairs. She wanted go into this slowly. To explain. The best she could do now was to just introduce. Salzem's mother stood, clearing her throat.

"Asura..." She called down to the girl. She came down the stairs and hid behind her mother, likely to escape Salzem's burning gaze which was aimed at both the girl and his mother. "This is your older brother... Salzem." At those words, Salzem's rage spiked. So... it WAS true. She'd neglected to tell him! Damn the reasons! She should have told him!

"I have to go." Salzem said quickly as he marched toward the door. Liar. liar. liar. Salzem opened the door and slammed it shut behind him. He might try again once he'd come to his senses and thought out the situation, but at the moment, all he felt was a seething rage for having been lied to his entire life. He had a sister. One he never knew he had, nor did he want now.

WC: 1547

Claiming: 700 ryo