krystalkatzficz | My Demon Boss and Other Annoyances part 71

Nino was grateful that the hotel room came with a small, computer pushed back at the far side of the room. It wasn’t the most update piece of hardware that he had ever come across, but it had a USB port and that was all that mattered. He drank a foamy hot chocolate as he waited for the machine to come to life his heart resting against his voice box making it impossible for him to speak. Satoshi was standing behind him and thankfully he hadn’t told him that he didn’t need to do it. He already knew that, it wasn’t about needing to do it, it was about wanting to. He wanted to know what his mother had wanted to say to him.

“You have chocolate on your lip” Satoshi chuckled and instead of letting him wipe it away he leaned forward and licked it with his tongue. Nino flushed at the action and then rolled his eyes trying to ignore the way his heart fluttered uncomfortably. Satoshi placed his hands on his shoulders and massaged him slowly, his thumbs pressed into the tight knot that had formed in the centre of his back between his shoulder blades and he almost purred with the pleasure of it when it clicked back into place. The computer finally started, and Nino typed in the administration password. There were few programmes installed which made it rather speedy and eventually he was ready to put the small memory stick into the slot. His heart thumped slowly as his fingers almost pulled away wanting to say that he had changed his mind.

“I can do this” He muttered sliding the device home. The computer whirled and then a folder popped up onto the screen. Files, around fifty of them, were neatly titled with the first being done in capitals saying CLICK ME FIRST. “I guess I have to click that one first”

“Yup, it would seem that way” Satoshi agreed with a small chuckle and Nino swallowed bringing the mouse icon to hover over the file. It was a video, he could see that from the figure and he really wasn’t sure if he was ready to see and hear his mother again. Even now he could feel a painful sting in his eyes and his lower lip began to tremble slowly as he breathed through his nose. “I’m here, little tease, if it gets too much then we switch it off, okay?”

“I…Okay…” Nino agreed but he couldn’t bring himself to click the left button to bring up the file. Satoshi waited for a few minutes and then gently lay his hand over his.

“Let’s press it together, okay?” He whispered, his lips against his ear, and Nino nodded closing his eyes as they double clicked on the icon.

>Is it working? Yes? Right…Hello, Kazu, you can open your eyes you know< His mother’s voice ran clearly from the speakers and Nino squeezed his eyes closed even more tightly shaking his head and his onscreen mother let out a laugh that sounded full of life. >You’ve always been the same, ever since you were small. If you couldn’t see it then it wasn’t real. Sorry, kiddo, this time it’s real. So, open your eyes, okay?<

“I can’t. I don’t want to” He breathed as though the woman could hear him. Tears were fighting to escape but he refused to let them move further than his eyelashes before he wiped them away with one hand while clinging to Satoshi with the other.

>Okay, don’t, but I guess I should start…Congratulations! I’m so happy for you sweetheart, I knew that doctor was wrong. I told him so, but nope, he insisted that he knew better< Kazuko ranted, and Nino surprisingly let out a laugh. His eyes were still closed but he could easily imagine what she looked like right now as it was another of the expression that he had inherited from her. Jun and Masaki called it his smug face, but Nino thought of it as his knowing face. > I know that you’re probably terrified right now, ne? I was when I found out I was having you. It was so daunting. I had no idea what I was going to do. But…I’m gonna tell you, sweetheart, that the moment I saw you…No, the moment I felt you inside of me I knew that I was going to do the best that I could and, the truth is, that is all anyone can do. Nobody is the perfect parent Kazu, you can study it all that you want but in the end all you can do is be the best that you can. Your baby will help you learn to. You did. You taught me more about what it means to be a person than I could ever have imagined. I tried my best to raise you and I hope I did a good job…<

“You did, mama, you really did” Nino whispered in response opening his eyes and looking at the screen. His mother was in the hospital bed she had been in for the last stages of her illness. Her face was pale, and her eyes deeply shadowed. A flowered headscarf was covering her head, hiding the fact that all her hair had been lost in the attempt to save her. Her eye lashes were gone too, and Nino swallowed reaching out to the screen while still holding onto Satoshi’s hand. “You were the best. I could never be like you”

>I couldn’t be like me without you. I told you. Both parents and children start off knowing nothing. Then they learn together. I wasn’t alone though. I hope you’re not alone. I hope more than anything that you have somebody with you who is just as terrified and excited<

“You do. I’m terrified…” Satoshi agreed pressed his lips to his cheek in a slow kiss as his mother waved for Junichi to switch off the camera as she started to cough. Nino remembered that cough well and he didn’t miss it. He looked at Satoshi with tears clinging to his eyelashes saying;

“You don’t act like it”

“I’m not used to showing my emotions, Kazunari” Satoshi whispered with a shrug as the video started playing again. It seemed to have been recorded on a different day as she was now wearing a plan blue headband and was looking a lot calmer.

>Where was I…You can study pregnancy as much as you like but you will never have all the answers, Kazu, but I did make you a little gift. I was always certain that you were going to be a bearer, Kazu and I knew that you would need help! So, for years I’ve been making little videos for you! I never expected that I wouldn’t be there. But It was always just in case…< Nino swallowed nodding slowly. It had become something of a Ninomiya family motto after the death of his father. Just in case. Never go to bed angry…Just in case…Never leave without saying goodbye just in case…>They were all just random spur of the moment things, but Junichi has promised me that he will put it into order! It was always just in case but that just in case has come and I’m glad that I will be able to help my son and my grandchild…<

Tbc

A/N: Hmmm…I’m disappointed with the memory stick >.< but I hope the rest is okay >.< Sorry if its not its really hard to focus at the moment >.<

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

hsiahsirafzi

i'm almost tearing up reading this.
so sad i can almost feel it
well i hope it will bring more happiness than sadness
thank you for sharing as always

jkc80

I had a tear, so glad he has Satoshi by his side

daisukidesu3

So sweet, and yet so sad.
*crying*

mae74

This was just beautiful.....Nino’s mum is going to help him and be there for him 💙💛

pupilurker

｡ﾟ(ﾟ´Д｀ﾟ)ﾟ｡(つд⊂)ｴｰﾝ this reminds me of my mom...I wanna hug Nino...uhhmmm...that 'just in case'...it does make sense. I'll definitely keep that in mind. :) thank you.