KEEP BREATHING

[Kari-chan]

The old woman took a long drag of her cigarette, blowing the massive plume of smoke out her nose and watching it form into the shape of a dragon as it flew around the room and out the window. Giggling, followed by a small fit of coughing, the yama-uba looked down at her newest guests. A blonde girl and a brown-haired boy lay on two separate beds in the crowded room, their hitai-ate's up on shelves amidst a hoard of other junk the old woman had collected over the years. The boy grumbled in his sleep, his throat clearing and his hand lifting to rub his head. As his eyes opened he seemed fearful as he tried to gather his bearings. The yama-uba snickered quietly to herself, grinning a toothy smile over at the youngster. "Good morning, Sa-kun. Quite a situation you got yourself into, eh?"

[Issun]

What happened?

All that he could remember was an interrogation. Yeah, they were questioning that criminal they'd apprehended about why the Hidden Stone wanted him found and brought back. He was about to let on about something, and then... then an explosion. And then everything was a blur. So where was he now? Issun looked around from the cold hard floor he had awoken upon. He tried to sit up, but quickly found himself wanting to scream as pain rocketed throughout his body. A few moments passed before he gave it a second attempt at a slower pace, easing himself up.

He'd sensed the old woman from the moment he'd come to. This was almost second nature to him. He always sensed things around him whenever waking up to ensure nothing got the drop on him or his squad. Illusions or ambushes could spell death for the himself and people he knew. Hell, he might even like some of those people. It was just good business to make sure they were safe.

"So, old geezer. I assume you saved our asses?"

Always the astute observer.

"I could have just as easily only saved the girl."

"But then we wouldn't be having this colorful conversation, now would we?"

A smirk on both sides, the tension that Issun was forcing into the situation lessening as they exchanged witty banter. Another twinge of pain shot along his side.

"You're still as stubborn as always, Issun. I suppose you get that from your mother. She always was a feisty girl."

The surpise was plain, but Issun wasn't sure which shocked him more. "Wait... you know who I am? And you knew my mother before--" He cut himself off. As far as he could tell, Kari wasn't going to spontaneously wake up any time soon, but he wasn't comfortable airing something so private, something so dear to his heart. His mother.

The old woman caught on to his reluctance to let loose personal family matters with Kari around, closing her eyes and bowing her head in thought. "I was the one who delivered you. Her current condition is most saddening."

A moment of awkward silence.

Kari moved about here and there, small tweaks of pain causing her face to scrunch but nothing that required the woman's attention. "There's some food over there," she informed him as she motioned to her right with a wave of her hand. "You always were a big eater as a baby. Feel free to eat until you're full."

Issun didn't budge. He wasn't glaring at her, but it was obvious the angry sentiment was there. Not at her specifically, she just happened to be the only other conscious individual in the room.

"It ruined everything, you know. I was never really close with dad, and when she... when it happened, when he decided to have her locked away... I hate him, y'know? He's scum." Her face softened, the look in her eyes, if he cared to look, full of compassionate sorrow.

While interesting, there's a key detail that the girl laying on the floor who happened to wake up a few minutes ago is missing. "Hey butthead," Kari questions. "What's wrong with your mom?"

Issun sighs.

"A few years ago my mom kind of went off the deep end."

"I thought that was just called menopause?"

"Good one. But this wasn't natural, she just... couldn't remember anyone or anything. For no reason at all, she went from being perfectly healthy to having the mentality of a child. My so-called father had her put in a mental institution. She's monitored twenty-four seven."

"Oh... I- I didn't mean to be--"

"It's fine, Kari."

The three sit in silence for a few minutes, though it feels more like a few hours.

_________

ooc
idek if aoshi will ever reply to this
so yeah. ):