"I know, Crimson. I'm sorry," she whispered.
I sighed, pinching my nose and closing my eyes. "Sorry. I'm just...Mom, I can't keep putting myself in these situations. I'll do what you ask one last time, but after this, I'm done. I'll come to see you whenever you like, but not Father. I have anxiety and other issues to deal with. I don't need his stress and the burden that comes with it," I whispered.
I opened my eyes and noticed Uru was sitting quietly at my feet. I smiled down at her, crouching down to pet her.
"I understand. Just this last time..." she whispered.
I noticed the hesitation in her voice. "Mother, what are you hiding?" I didn't need to be in front of my mom to know she was hiding something from me.
"Crim...well... I shouldn't tell you on the phone," she mumbled.
"Is Father home?"
"No. He went out for a meeting," Mother assured.
"Then what's wrong?" I asked again in a stern voice.
She was silent for a few seconds before she began to sob.
"Mom, you’re scaring me. Why are you crying? Do you want me to come over?" I got to my feet.
I noticed Aki from the corner of my eye, leaning against the door frame. He tried to maintain a blank expression, but his eyes showed concern.
"Mom, please." If my father hurt her, I didn't care how weak or incompetent I was with magic. I would make sure he paid for it dearly.
"I'm divorcing your father," she announced.
I blinked, needing a second for the sentence to sink into my brain.
"What!" I shrieked.
"I can't do this anymore, Crim. I can't keep pushing you away. I've watched it for years. I've sat and watched you be isolated and I didn't have the guts to say no. I'm your mother. I should have protected you and put my foot down from the beginning. I don't know what happened. Ever since I had to marry your father and then losing Hotaka... I just didn't have the strength to fight anymore. But I can't afford to lose you too. We barely talk. I'm lucky to even have a conversation with you every three months," she cried.
I couldn't say anything as tears filled my eyes. I never knew my mother felt this way. I thought she supported my father completely. I had to bite my lip to hold back the sobs that tried to escape.
To think I lost out on having a real relationship with my mom because of my father. Aki walked over to me and soothingly rubbed my back. I gave him a small smile and continued to listen to my mom's explanation.
"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry for what I did. For casting you aside. You didn't deserve it. I love you no matter what you are. I carried you and gave birth to you. We should never have blamed you for being who you are. So, if there's any way you can forgive me..." she begged.
I closed my eyes, letting the tears fall as I absorbed her words. For my mom to acknowledge her mistakes and apologize meant everything to me. It proved to me that I hadn’t deserved the treatment I was getting. It showed that I deserved to have a childhood where I could learn the same things as shifters and play with other children without being looked down on. I deserved friends and to have birthday parties and attend family gatherings without ridicule. I deserved to be loved, even if I was human.
"Watashi wa anata o yurusu," I whispered into the phone.
I forgive you. She deserved to be forgiven. At the end of the day, even if she’d made mistakes, she had given me life and showed her love whenever she didn't have Father watching her every move. I could move on and love her and have a relationship with her again. She was my mom after all.
She continued to cry over the phone and I comforted her the best I could. When she finally calmed, I promised I'd come down for my birthday.
"I'll talk to you later, Mom. Yes, I love you too," I whispered. I hung up the phone and met Aki's gaze. He didn't say anything, just wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into a hug.
I cried in his warm embrace, needing to let the sadness go. Aki seemed to have become my outlet and the one I sought out for comfort. I still hated crying, but it felt nice to be in someone’s arms who could give you that support and reassurance that everything would be okay.
"You okay?" he asked when I calmed.
I nodded. "Yeah. Sorry." I bowed my head slightly.
"No need to apologize. That's why I'm here." He gave me a small smile before he yawned.
I smirked. "You didn't sleep yet, did you?"
“No. I was drawing," he mumbled before another yawn escaped him.
"Nap time," I urged him.
"Hmm... Fine. Urufu, come keep me company so Crim can concentrate." Aki gestured to my familiar who was curled around my feet. She glanced up at me as if asking permission.
"Go keep Aki company. I'm fine, I promise," I reassured her, petting her head softly.
"Woof!" She hurried over to Aki.
He smiled. "No more tears. Otherwise, the guys will come back and kick my ass," Aki joked.
"I'll try to hold off on the waterworks, just for your safety," I giggled.
Before he left, I told him the other side of the conversation with my mom. When he was sure I was okay, he went back to the bedroom with Urufu. Aki was a really good listener. Just like the other guys. You were really lucky Storm.
I smiled, turning back to the blank canvas.
"Let's try this again."
The sound of the door closing was what kicked me out of my daze. I took a step back to glance at the finished product and smiled in satisfaction. The image had come out even better than expected and I couldn't stop smiling in awe.
A.T. Green had been one of my first clients and I'd done a good number of commissions for him over the years. This was definitely the best piece I'd created in a really long time.
I looked over my shoulder and my smile quickly turned into a frown.
"You could at least try and look happy to see me," he mumbled.
"Hello, James. Sorry, I didn't know you were coming home. Are you gonna stay this time?" I asked, walking over to set my brush and palette down. I took off the apron I'd worn to prevent the acrylic paint from getting all over my clothes which there was good chance of with this 24” x 30” canvas.
When I didn't hear a reply, I turned and met his blank expression. "Please don't tell me you're here just to pick up laundry or an item or change clothes or something," I warned.
I was tired of his excuses. I knew he hated that the guys were here or that they were, as Quil said, 'hurting his male ego' with their presence. I wish he'd understand that the situation was only temporary. His friends had come and stayed over lots of times during my busiest work months and he didn't care. I asked for this one favor and it was like I’d asked him to give me his soul.
"Crim, let's break up."
I froze at his words, having to blink a few times and remember to breathe. What?
Before I could open my mouth he continued. "I can't do this. You aren't the person you were a few weeks ago. You've changed because of this group of guys who are just using you," he began.
'"Changed? Using me? And what made you come to that conclusion?" I kept my voice calm as I tried to calm the tidal wave of emotion that raged inside.
"You can't see it? You don't care that I haven't been here for what, two weeks? You don't text or call me. You certainly don't drink with me and we don't even fuck! You spend all your damn time with these guys who don't even know you. Not to mention, you disrespected your father like that when you knew he had guests coming over and forced him to change plans. You're screwing up our goals with your selfish needs and this Storm business that you're not even a part of," James snapped.
I felt my hand begin to twitch from pure anger, but I bit my lip hard, reminding myself that I had to stay in control.
"You're defending my father? After all the years of seeing how he's treated me, you’re okay with what he did?'' I demanded.
"Storm's case has nothing to do with you."