Fan Fiction ❯ Satoru ❯ A New Home, A New Life ( Chapter 1 )

 

February 15, 2017

Sk8er9: what're you up to?

 

Satoru: I'm on a plane back to Japan to live with my birth mother.

 

Sk8er9: You never told me you we're an orphan

 

Satoru: It never came up

 

Sk8er9: So...your mom has custody of you. Must be weird. Changing families I mean.

 

Satoru: I never really liked it there any way, in America. I was put into foster care just six years ago, I remember her. The only good thing my foster parents gave me was this portocom, they didn't like me, and they didn't even put up a fight. Four years since I've last been in Japan though, I'm kinda rusty in my Japanese.

 

Sk8er9: Omae no kotoga sukida.

 

Satoru: what does that mean? You say it all the time when we chat.

 

Sk8er9: Maybe we'll meet in Japan one day and then I'll tell you.

 

“So how do you like it Satoru . . . I know it's not what you're used to but,” Kasumi smiled warmly as she held her son's shoulders, “it's ours.” Satoru shrugged as he glanced at the old looking apartment complex, it was kind of small and looked run down, but his mother seemed to be in love with it. “Say, I know, why don't you unpack your things and then I'll take you to the mall and get you some new clothes or somethin,” she squeezed his shoulders once more before hugging him, “we have so much to catch up on.” He looked at her for a brief moment, black hair and blue eyes shimmering in the light, when they'd lived with his dad, she'd never seemed so lovely. And he'd never dreamed of her so lovely when they put him in a foster home in America, she was just his half-English, half-Japanese mother who couldn't earn enough money to support her five year old son. She petted his face for a few moments, running her fingers through his dyed bangs, memorizing the different shades of temporary blue, before turning his cap forward. Satoru blinked blue eyes at her as she let him go, turning his cap back in the direction he'd had it before, she didn't seem hurt by the gesture, just smiling sweetly. She laced her arm through his as they walked toward the building, “so, whaddya wanna eat tonight, sushi sound good?” “Uh sure,” he smiled as they headed up the stairs, toward their apartment, “sounds good mom” “Kasumi . . . just call me Kasumi,” she smiled, not pushing him to call her mother or anything he didn't want to, “mom is so old fashioned.”

 

 

Satoru sighed as he unpacked his belongings, running a hand through dyed spikes; he looked around the small barren room he now called home. There was a tatami mat in the corner, a dresser, a closet, but not much else. “I've only been here ten minutes and I hate it already,” he murmured as he turned, an armful of shirts in his grasp, he almost dropped them when his eyes met the sad look in his mother's. “Uh . . .” he started before she turned and walked quickly down the hallway, he sighed before opening the drawers and dumping his clothes inside, “I'll get that later.” Satoru kneeled and then flopped down on his mat exhausted, it had been awhile since he'd had a permanent place to sleep, the last four years had been hell, for him and his mother, when they got the news that his father had died, she could finally stop running and they could be together. He closed his eyes briefly before he felt something nibbling at his foot, his face turned blue, `don't tell me we have rats now.' He sat up quickly and his eyes went wide when he saw a small white puppy tugging and ripping away at his sock, “uh, hey little guy,” he smiled, grabbing it with his hands and lifting it into his lap. “His doesn't have a name yet, I traded him with an old lady for a bag of cinnamon,” he looked up to see his mother standing in the doorway, smiling softly, “why don't you name him for me?” He looked at her for a moment, then to the puppy, who yipped happily before licking his nose. “I guess I'll call him Santa.”

 

“Oh my god, I can't believe it,” Satoru looked to the sides confused as his mother grabbed his hand and dragged him down the road, “I can't believe the fair's open.” Kasumi turned to him, smiling widely, “let's skip on the sushi tonight for good ol' cotton candy.” He smiled embarrassed, “uh, sure, I don't remember the last time I went to a fair, it would be fun.” His mother turned to him, smiling sweetly, “I missed you so much Satoru, and now, I can make up for it all, don't hate me for trying to give you a better life, you've already missed out on so much, but, let's think of your upcoming birthday as a rebirth, a way to start over.” Satoru starred blankly into his mother's eyes, not sure if she was being sentimental or bubbly before she smiled at him childishly, “come on, let's buy some tickets before winter starts all over again.” He smiled as she held his hand and led him to the ticket booth, her fingers clasping with his in a tight embrace, “I'm sorry mom...I mean Kasumi.” “For what?” she turned her head to him as she paid for the tickets, taking them in her hands, her face ready to be enlightened. Satoru looked at her for a while before shaking his head, “no, nothing, forget it.” Kasumi looked at him wide eyed before smiling softly, “let's get goin, I can smell the dim-sum from here, do you still like dim-sum, I mean, eleven's a big age, do you still have taste buds.” Satoru broke into laughter alongside his mother as they walked in side-by-side.

 

Crystal-blue orbs fluttered open slowly, the sun immediately blinding him, forcing him to turn away. Satoru sat up slowly, running a hand through blue bangs, “so . . . does that stuff wash out or what?” He turned his head toward his bedroom door to see his mother standing in the doorway, smiling at him sweetly, “if you're not too tired I'd like to have breakfast together.” Satoru nodded before thinking twice; “uh . . . can I get washed up first,” smiling softly. Kasumi nodded quickly before spinning around and heading to the kitchen, “I'll just wait so maybe we . . . can cook together.” Satoru exhaled deeply as he threw his sheets off, jumping up and heading toward the bathroom across the hallway. He hummed as he walked into the small bathroom, turning on the sink and starring at his face in the mirror.

 

“Wow,” Kasumi gasped as she placed her chopsticks down, wiping her mouth with a napkin, “I have been all over Japan but I have never tasted stir-fry that good. Who knew I gave birth to a cook?” Satoru blushed bright pink at his mother's compliment, skimming his own food lightly, “uh thanks.” Kasumi smiled softly as she stared at her son, blue eyes watching him, “so . . . where would you like to go today?” Satoru shrugged before placing his chopsticks down and shoving his plate away, “I'm not sure.” “How about you take Santa for a walk and when you get back we head to the mall for a bit-o shopping,” she smirked before gathering up the dishes, “are you not hungry Sato-“ looking up to see he was gone. “Sato-chan?” she placed the plates down, a feeling of fear running over her before she saw him, placing a leash on Santa's neck, “yes Kasumi?” She relaxed as he stood, heading toward the door with Santa trailing behind him. `I almost thought you were gone.'

 

 

“Come on Santa . . . good boy,” Satoru sighed as Santa finished his business against a tree, tugging his leash softly to let him know it was time to go. They strolled down the street slowly, Santa's puppy feet going as fast as they could as Satoru tugged him along. `”I wonder what kinda schools they have around here," he mumbled to no one in particular, starring at his feet as they drug along the ground. He gasped as he bumped into someone's chest, a girl; she smiled down at him softly before noticing Santa. “Oh what a cute puppy . . . what type is it?” she smiled sweetly, “a mutt I guess,” he snorted as the puppy wrapped around behind his leg. “Oh . . . well, what's your name cutie,” she sang, bending down, her chest hanging out of her flimsy tank top. Satoru grunted in disgust, averting his eyes, “Max.” “Oh . . . what a cute name,” she blubbered, as he shoved past her, not even noticing he was gone. “Huh, Max, Max, where'd ya go?” she looked around stupidly but Satoru was already down the road.

 

“How do I look?” Satoru groaned as his mother paraded in front of him in the hundredth dress she'd tried on for the day, slumping further down in his chair with the clothes he held in his full arms. “Fine I guess,” he muttered before his mother stopped dancing around, smiling at him softly, “I know what you need.” He gasped as she grabbed his hand and stood him up, straitening his shoulders, “you need new clothes . . . it's the only cure.” “The only cure for what?” Satoru's eyes went wide, “for your suffering sense of style,” Kasumi smirked. For the next two hours he was tossed about, into pants, out of pants, on with a new shirt, anything his mother thought looked cute. Kasumi finally stopped, placing her hands on his shoulders, “I have created a masterpiece,” singing happily. Satoru grimaced at his reflection in the floor mirror, a cute bow tie, a dress shirt, the list went on, it was too horrible to bare, and he felt like he was wearing paper. “Well, let's go buy these,” Kasumi smiled as she began undressing him again, taking all the clothes in her arms and heading out the dressing room. Satoru smiled as he finally had the room to himself, getting dressed in peace, `maybe this is what it's all about, bonding and embarrassing clothes. Maybe she's right and I should get used to the idea of being a happy family,” Satoru thought light hearted as he exited the dressing room. His eyes going wide at the sight before him, his mother, leaned against the cashier desk as a store clerk flirted needlessly with her. `How could she?' his heart raced as he, without thinking, bolted right out of the store. “Satoru . . . Sato,” Kasumi looked shocked as she saw him leave, “where are you- excuse me a moment.” She quickly ran out after him, her high heels clicking against the hard floor, “Satoru, wha-where are you going?” She finally caught up with him in a crowd of people, grabbing his shirt, “where do you think you're going young man,” her voice ragged, “look at me!” There was a pause before Satoru turned to her, tears streaking down his cheeks, “you-you're doing it again . . . all over again, you got us this far just so we could be hurt again, I-I hate you!” Kasumi was stunned as she let go of his shirt, watching helplessly as he ran away from her, through the crowds of the mall.

 

Satoru calmed his breathing as he lay on his side in his bed room, feigning sleep. `I can't believe I said that,' he groaned inwardly, drawing his covers up around his neck. He gasped when he heard his door open, a strikingly female shadow spreading over him from the dim light in the hall. The door closed behind his mother and she padded next to him before quickly sitting beside him, her breathing soft in the quiet room. Satoru squeezed his eyes closed as he felt her fingers slip into his hair, calming his breathing, “I know you hate me Sato-chan, and I know you blame me for everything that's ever happened to you, and I don't blame you. Maybe when you're older, you'll understand that . . . what I did was for the best. And there's no going back now . . . so just know,” he held his breath as she paused. She continued barely above a whisper, tears evident in her voice, “that your mom loves you very much, and that I'll never let anything bad happen to you, ever.” Her lips pressed against his temple softly before she got to her feet and left quickly, Satoru starring at his wall blankly.