Dreamwalker 13
AsaHi threw her arms around her son and hugged him in a relieved embrace. Not that she expected anything bad had happened to him. It was just good to see him, to comfort him and to comfort herself.
“Mother,” Fu hugged her in return, sounding more little-boyish than he had in a long time. “I thought I would not see you again.”
“Now, Fu… do you really think they can keep me from coming to see you?” she gave him a coy grin.
“I suppose not,” he smiled, just a hint of a smile, and it eased her heart all the more.
Nothing worried AsaHi more than thinking of the possibility of bitter anger. She knew her son. While he had a proper and gentle way about him, he also had hints of frustration that were easy to ignite. He was not always the most flexible limb on the tree, so to speak, and knew little more than his upbringing and schooling at home.
Still, seeing him dressed in the Manor robes was a strange sight. Something about it chilled her, as if the garb sealed the deal — now that he was dressed like them, he would never be able to leave.
Don’t be silly. I’m sure SoYa is still working on a way of getting him home.
When AsaHi woke that morning, SoYa was already gone. He didn’t leave a note, nor did he wake her. She assumed that he was already on his way back to the Manor to tackle the situation further. Not one to sit idly at home, AsaHi decided it was better for her to expend the energy to come to the Manor herself, if nothing more than to see how Fu was holding up and to reassure him.
Yet, SoYa wasn’t in his office when she looked. Nor had his books or papers been disturbed for hours. AsaHi waited a while before undertaking the quest to find Fu in the newcomer’s quarters.
I wonder where SoYa is… what he’s doing. I wish I could tell Fu something concrete.
“Was it hard to find me?” Fu asked, pulling her away from her thoughts.
“Hard? For me?” AsaHi teased and fixed his unruly hair. “Do you forget who I am?”
The boy smiled again, amusement lighting his eyes. It wasn’t as if he didn’t know how she was going to respond. AsaHi determined that he probably asked just to see his thoughts confirmed. She never knew if he was more amused by what she said or the fact that he knew she was going to say it.
AsaHi began to sort through his half-unpacked things. She gave a motherly frown, “Fu, leaving your clothes like this will just–”
“Make them wrinkled. I know.”
“You haven’t unpacked?”
“No. I did not want to. I thought maybe…”
She sighed and began to fold his mashed clothes properly, laying them on the chest drawers. “I know. Don’t give up the thought. But don’t let your clothes get all musty, either.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied almost subconsciously.
“So,” AsaHi attempted to make conversation without appearing too obvious, “Are they treating you okay here?”
Fu frowned a bit, “I guess so.”
“You guess so?” she echoed.
“It is just all weird,” he didn’t offer more details than that.
“What? The people or the place?”
“Both,” he sniffed.
“I bet it is,” AsaHi continued to sort through his things, placing a set of boots out on the floor. “Have you made any friends?”
“Why should I?” Fu frowned at that, sounding a little irritated. “I will not be here long.”
“Maybe not,” she approached it carefully. “But that doesn’t mean you can’t meet people.”
“They are weird.”
“Ah. I see,” AsaHi lifted her eyebrows. “That means you have met people, then. Or else, you can’t think they’re weird.”
“Well, maybe a little,” Fu replied finally.
“There you go,” she smiled to herself. “Tell me about them.”
“Just Bikk…” the boy paused as if not sure how much he wanted to divulge. “And his sister.”
“Sister?” AsaHi eyed him. “Is she cute?”
Fu’s mouth opened wide, “Mother! I just talked to her. Once… okay… twice!”
“Twice!”
“It is nothing like that,” he protested.
“Really?” she beamed a teasing smile at her son. “You being such a handsome looker?”
“I do not know if SHE thinks so!” he frowned with a slightly unsettled look.
“You want her to?” AsaHi busied herself with the packing again.
“Mother!” he protested again, flustered. When she didn’t answer, he finally admitted, “She is a little cute. I guess.”
AsaHi laughed, grabbing her son in a mocking hug. “My little boy… growing up!”
Fu just groaned, resigned to her gentle teasing. For a while after that, they just talked, unpacking and enjoying each other’s company. Somehow, they could push aside all frustration and confusion, discussing the simpler things. The things that they both knew and loved.
The moment was swiftly interrupted by the sound of the door opening. With no warning knock, SoYa rushed into the room. His eyes glittered with an excitement that AsaHi recognized as discovery. He carried a thin leather book in one hand.
SoYa… I’m not sure what you’re excited about. But I hope it’s the right thing.
“AsaHi! Fu!” he exclaimed, closing the door behind them.
“Where have you been?” AsaHi asked as he pecked her quickly on the cheek. Instantly, she wished she could take it back.
Some greeting that was from me.
But SoYa didn’t seem to notice. He looked about to overflow with something tremendous, “You’ll never believe what I found today!”
His excitement was quickly cut off by Fu’s grouchy scowl, “Father… I hope this is about a way to let me go back home.”
SoYa froze in mid-thought, mouth slightly open. His green eyes focused on his son for a long moment before he shut his mouth and swallowed in silence.
“It is not, is it?” the boy turned away.
“Fu… I’m sorry. I’m still working on it,” SoYa fished around in his pockets and pulled out a folded parchment. “I sent you a letter, but word was, you didn’t even read it. What was that about?”
“Why should I read it?” Fu’s lip curled upward. “I know what it will say.”
“Fu. Don’t address your father that way,” AsaHi said with a warning tone. Scolding him may not have been the best approach, but he was crossing the parental line.
“Mother, would you like to know what he did the night they brought me here?” was the boy’s reply. He turned and looked at her directly.
“Now hold on. My hands were tied. That’s what I’m trying to explain to you,” SoYa protested.
“Nothing,” Fu bit off the word sharply, ignoring his father’s comments. “He did nothing. He stood there and let them take me.”
“That’s not true!”
“Then why am I here?” the boy turned with flashing eyes. “What do you call standing in silence? I call it doing nothing.”
SoYa waved one hand through the air in frustration, “Because it was not the proper time to make a stand on the situation.”
“And waiting until after they have me here is?”
“No… of course not! I mean…” he shook his head and started to pace the floor. “I don’t approve of this or like this any more than you do. We just have to be careful. You don’t know the kind of people who run the Manor. The things they might do.”
Fu didn’t say anything in return. AsaHi decided it was the best time to step in and try to defuse things.
“Have you had any luck at all, SoYa?” she asked, folding her hands together.
“I…” he picked his words carefully, “I’m still trying.”
“He was not here all day,” Fu sulked towards the window. “This is the first time I have seen him.”
“Is that true?” AsaHi’s brows lowered towards her husband.
“I’ve been working on the appeal and…”
“You couldn’t spare a moment to come to see him?” she pressured, not sure how to feel about it.
“I sent a note,” SoYa winced, knowing how watery that sounded to everyone. Even himself.
AsaHi covered her face with her hands.
“I’m here now,” he tried again.
“Why are you here?” Fu retorted. “I know what you were thinking about. That book. And that book has nothing to do with me.”
SoYa looked down, quiet and abashed. “No. No it doesn’t.”
“SoYa!?” the word escaped her mouth before she could stop it. So frustrated. So accusing.
He looked awful, eyes downcast like a whipped puppy. Part of her felt miserable for him. Part of her couldn’t fathom what SoYa could be doing while his son sat, all hopes on his father to argue for release.
“I’m sorry,” he apologized. And meant it.
AsaHi wanted to comfort him. She knew he was going through just as much as any of them. Just in a different way. Caught between the pressures of his family and the dangers of the Manor, it may have been harder for him than any of them.
Except for Fu. The boy balled his fist at his side, eyes glinting in suppressed anger. She didn’t have to be a mind mage to realize that the boy was about to say something he would later regret AsaHi could see herself in him. She did things like that all too often.
“If you are sorry, then do something!” Fu motioned with both arms. “You come here to work for them, even though you do not agree with what they do. You just hide here and never stand up for what you know is right! Wait for the best time, you keep saying. But when is the best time? When will it be too late?”
“Fu!” AsaHi attempted to intercept. But it wasn’t going to happen.
“You teach me to use my power for good things, but you do not live up to what you teach me!” he grit his teeth. “People here are afraid of mind mages. But you act like you are weak and you have to hide. Except, if you hide this time, I am the one that has to deal with the consequences. How is that fair?”
“It’s not–” he tried to answer.
“I know it is not!” the boy snarled and slammed open the door with both palms, rushing out of the room before either of them could stop him.
“Fu!” SoYa made a move to follow.
AsaHi caught his shoulder, “It’s better that you let him go. Let him cool down.”
He breathed heavily from his mouth, just shaking his head in disbelief. His eyes swept over her face for a moment before he uttered one last apology. Then SoYa stiffly walked out the door.