No Matter Who Knows
Gently, he shifted so that she was cradled in his lap, her head resting against him. With a gentle touch, he began to stroke her white hair, trying to soothe her. "It doesn't matter who knows or not, Mum," he whispered, his voice tender and determined, "No matter what, you will always be the most precious person I have in my life."
Miori's frame shivered under his touch, and she raised her head to meet his gaze, eyes filled with a mix of love and sorrow. "I just don't want your reputation to be tarnished because of me," she whispered.
Ryomaru's touch paused for a heartbeat, his ice-blue eyes narrowing slightly in thought. Then, with a look of utmost seriousness, he said, "Miori Yuki. Since when did you become so silly?"
Miori blinked, taken aback by his words, but before she could reply, he continued, his tone firm and passionate. "I've always introduced myself as Ryomaru Yuki since I could speak, everywhere I go. Does Cloud even have a Yuki Clan? Their opinions, their perceptions – none of it matters. Not to me. The entire world means less to me than a single tear from your eyes, and here you are, shedding them for people who mean nothing to me."
There was a long pause, the weight of Ryomaru's words hanging heavily between them. Miori's eyes shimmered with tears once more, but these were different – tears of gratitude, of love.
She cupped his face, her thumb brushing away a stray tear that had formed in his eyes. "I'm so blessed to have you, Ryomaru," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion.
Ryomaru leaned into her touch, his young face reflecting a maturity and resolve far beyond his years. "And I am blessed to have you, Mum."
Miori shifted from his lap, laying down on her side with Ryomaru cradled in her embrace. The warmth between mother and son was palpable, and for a moment, the world outside ceased to exist. All that mattered was this singular moment, where they found solace in each other's presence.
Ryomaru's head was nestled close to Miori's heart, and he could hear the rhythmic beat, the melody that had always comforted him throughout his life. The gentle rise and fall of her chest made him feel anchored, grounding him amid the turbulence of life.
Miori's fingers carded softly through his raven-black hair, the sensation like a lullaby. She pressed a gentle kiss to the top of his head, her lips lingering for a moment. "You've always been my strength, Ryomaru," she murmured, voice soft and filled with tenderness.
He shifted slightly, moving his hand to caress her arm in a soothing manner, tracing patterns on her pale skin. "And you've always been my guiding star, Mum," Ryomaru replied, his voice muffled against her chest. The weight of everything they had endured, the challenges they had faced together, resonated in those words.
Miori's heart swelled with emotion, and she tightened her embrace just a fraction, ensuring he felt wrapped in her love. "Promise me," she whispered, "that no matter how tough things get, we'll always have moments like this, just the two of us."
He looked up, his ice-blue eyes meeting hers. The depths of his gaze carried an unspoken promise, one of enduring love and support. "I promise," he replied, sealing the vow with all the earnestness of his young heart. "Always."
The tranquility of their embrace was a stark contrast to the world outside, where politics and power plays were the order of the day. But within the cocoon of their love, such things held no power. This bond, built over the years and forged in the fires of adversity, was unbreakable.
They remained like that for what seemed like an eternity, drawing strength from each other, recharging their spirits. The connection between them was deep, a tether that bound them together, regardless of the distance or circumstance.
"Let's get you fed up," Miori said after a while, her voice gentle and filled with warmth. With the tips of her fingers, she delicately brushed away a stray lock of Ryomaru's hair, then pressed tender kisses to his forehead and cheek.
Ryomaru felt the coolness of her lips, a sensation that never failed to calm his spirit. "You always know how to make me feel better, Mum," he murmured, the corners of his mouth curving upward into a gentle smile.
Miori chuckled softly, her ice-blue eyes dancing with mirth. "Well, that's what mothers are for," she replied, the playful tone belying the profound depth of emotion behind her words. With a graceful movement, she rose from the bed, her white hair cascading down her back like a silvery waterfall.
Left alone, Ryomaru lay on his back, arms and legs spread out on the comfortable expanse of the bed. His gaze wandered up to the ceiling, tracing the familiar patterns he had grown up with. Despite the chaotic external world, here in this room, with his mother, he found solace. He smiled to himself, feeling the weight in his chest lift. He truly was blessed.
"You always know how to make things better," he murmured, his words imbued with heartfelt appreciation.
Miori's ice-blue eyes sparkled from the entrance of the door, mirroring her son's own radiant gaze. "Because I have the best son," she replied warmly thinking how lucky she was as she walked back just in time to hear her son's muttering, the corners of her lips lifting into a soft smile that held nothing but unconditional love. "Who wouldn't want to do everything for such a wonderful boy?"
"How about your favorite meal tonight?" she suggested, turning to look back at Ryomaru with a playful gleam in her eyes. "To celebrate us, our bond."
His ice-blue eyes brightened further at her suggestion, his smile deepening into an expression of sheer delight. "That sounds amazing, Mum," he responded, the joy in his voice resonant and pure.
Miori chuckled softly, the sound like a soothing melody in the room. "I thought it might," she said warmly. "We'll make it together, how does that sound?"
He sat up eagerly, the earlier tension now fully replaced by anticipation. "Perfect," he declared, swinging his legs off the bed and rising to his feet. He reached out to take his mother's hand, a gesture of affection that had remained unchanged since he was a toddler. "Cooking with you is always fun, Mum."
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