The Valley of the White Sand Castles
Title: The Valley of the White Sand Castles
Author: yeyell15
Pair: Yabunoo, Yuri Chinen (aka. Yabu Yuri)
Genre: Romance, Angst, Slice of life
Summary: “Someday dear, you’ll meet that one certain person who, despite of everything will still accept you because it is you. Someone who will look at you beyond what he could see. Someone who will lift you up when you’re down, someone who will scold you for being too much, and someone who will stay, not because he needed love and care, but because he needed you in his life, to be with him as long as he breaths, just that, nothing more and nothing less.” - Yabu Kota
Requester: ai_no_messeji
Choto STOP: Kei is a girl here!
“I-I don’t want you to leave…mommy…” little Yuri whimpered as his mother walks towards their door. “Don’t leave me…” he begged, yet no response and his mother continued to walk away from his and his father’s life. He sobbed like there is no tomorrow as he curled his frame into a ball in front of their door, then suddenly strong arms patted his head and whispered…
“Someday dear, you’ll meet that one certain person who, despite of everything will still accept you because it is you. Someone who will look at you beyond what he could see. Someone who will lift you up when you’re down, someone who will scold you for being too much, and someone who will stay, not because he needed love and care, but because he needed you in his life, to be with him as long as he breaths, just that, nothing more and nothing less. “Yuri looked up at his father and tilted his head signaling that he couldn’t get what he meant “-did mom hate you?”He asked innocently which made his father chuckle and kneel in front of him. “Yuri listen, mom and dad, couldn’t stay with each other anymore, I love her so much as I love you, but things didn’t turned out the way we wanted it to be…” a tear “-I’m sorry…”
That was the first time Yuri saw his father cry and be weak as his father, Yabu Kota, never ever cried in front of anyone, not even to his mother. But that time, his father let his tear flow and leaned on his 3 year old son. As Yuri grows, he slowly understood more so he thought he did what his father said, as he fell in love, he knew instantly how his father felt when the only person he loves so much left him.
“So it was like that?” Yuri mumbled and asked to himself as he watches his father work. “It’s been 12 years now…” wrinkles are already present into his father’s handsome face. “Dad, aren’t you tired?” he asked nonchalantly which made Kota look at his now 15 year old son. “I mean…aren’t you tired of…” he paused and looked down, Yuri wondered if he should still ask a question that might hurt his father again but he wanted to know, he has the right, he is their son after all. But what if he saw him cry again? He didn’t want it, “Tired of what Yuri?” his thoughts was cut off. Yuri looked up and saw his father staring at him, “-tired of loving mom?” he looked up anticipating a bitter expression on his father’s face but it wasn’t, a warm and dreamy smile was what welcomed him.
“Yuri, come here…” Kota asked his son to go to his side which Yuri obliged to do so. “What? Don’t pout you were the one who asked me that question.” Kota chuckled when his little one puffed his cheeks. “Yuri, did you get tired of loving your mom?” He asked which made Yuri frown “No!” Yuri said firmly, which gained a smile from the older. “And so as I…” Kota said in a gentle tone and then he reached for his pencil and started to draw something on his sketchpad. That was the end of their conversation, Kota didn’t talk much again as he drowned himself in his works. After that day, they never talked about it again. Yuri stopped himself from asking questions about his mother and all just so that he wouldn’t hurt his father again.
A letter from a friend arrived at their home, “Dad! It’s from uncle Hikaru!” Yuri called. “Bring it here!” and so Yuri obliged. Kota received the letter and it turned out to be an invitation into an exhibit. “Dad, what did uncle say?” Kota looked up and smiled at his son as he pass the invitation “A sand castle exhibit?!” Yuri beamed at his father, excitement present in his innocent eyes. “Are we going? Are we going?!” he nagged but his father ignored him “Dad!!!” he pouted which made Kota laugh, “Yuri, really you’re such a short tempered brat!” hearing those remarks from his father Yuri threw a pillow to Kota. “I hate you!” he growled and stomped his feet and walked away. “Hey! We’re going so don’t act bitchy okay!” Kota said and soon after, he received a hard tackle from his boy. “Yay~ we’re going to the beach~!”Yuri giggled as he snuggles closer to his father. “You’re not a kid anymore…” Kota reminded, “I don’t care, I’m still your baby~” and that remark made them laugh their hearts out not knowing what surprise awaits them.
“Uncle Hikaru!!!” Yuri waved at the resort entrance when he spotted his father’s friend. “Hey!!!” the latter waved back walking towards his special guests. “Welcome!” Hikaru patted Yuri’s head and Kota’s shoulder. “Is the trip that tiring?”He asked, “No!” Yuri answered eagerly like a five year old kid, “Of course you wouldn’t get tired, you were sleeping all the way” Kota blurted out which made Hikaru chuckle and Yuri stuck his tongue out. “Anyway I know you’re tired but my exhibit is starting so I would like to take you there now, and Kota, your son seems to be much more excited than I am…” the two older male smiled when they saw Yuri hopping his way to the sea shore where different kinds of sand castle were displayed. “Yuri! Don’t get too excited you might ruin those castles!” Kota warned his son “I’m not clumsy as you dad! Don’t worry!” Yuri answered back and continued his hopping. “He IS your son” Hikaru said, stopping himself from laughing “Shut up!” Kota glared at his friend and soon smiled “He’s too honest!!” Hikaru added “-just like his mom…” silence followed as Hikaru stopped from laughing when he heard those words. “Kota, I’m sorry…” Kota shrugged it off and walked towards his over excited son “don’t worry ‘bout it! Hey Yuri wait for me!”
They were strolling at the seashore looking at how beautifully the sand castles were made from those white sands. As an artist, Kota carefully scanned each of the castles features while his son was poking them, testing if it would budge then, “Kota, Yuri…” a voice which both of them knew so well called. Yuri turned to look for the owner of the voice, and his gaze landed on a pale lady who was standing beside those white sand castles and is smiling at them warmly and lovingly. “M-mom…” Yuri gaped; he couldn’t believe it, his mother his beloved mother came back. Yuri ran towards him mother and hugged her tightly, it was 12 years ago when she left them without any reason. He sought to be angry, but his father told him not to because she promised that she will be back. Kei hugged his son tightly, she missed him, and “You’ve grown so much…”she said “My baby is now grown up…”, “of course I am… “Yuri sobbed and tightened his embrace to his mother.
“Kota…” Kei released her son from her embrace. “Kota…” she called her husband, how much she longed for his touch, how much she wanted to be by his side like how they promised to each other years ago. “Ko-chan…I made it…” she said as she hugged her husband from behind. “-I’m here…”
“Kei…I’m glad…Kei…” Kota held onto his wife’s arms, stopping his tears from flowing. “I’m glad…really…”
“I know, thank you…” Kei sobbed “Kota…I missed you…” she said as Kota released himself from his wife’s embrace and faced her “I missed you too…” he cupped her face and wiped the tears that are flowing into her beautiful face. “I’m sorry for letting you fight alone…” He grimaced knowing that his wife suffered without him by her side. “No, no…I chose to be alone; you wouldn’t want Yuri to be left behind right?” Kei comforted her husband as she touched his cheeks gently “Kei…” Kota couldn’t help anymore but to release those stubborn tears which he had held for 12 years “I-I’m glad you’re alive…” he said as he trapped her into his embrace which he wasn’t able to do when she was away. “Thank you for believing in me…” she whispered as he returns the embrace. “I’m really glad Kei, thank you for coming back…”
Yuri stared at his parents as his father’s words came flashing back into his mind…
“Someday dear, you’ll meet that one certain person who, despite of everything will still accept you because it is you. Someone who will look at you beyond what he could see. Someone who will lift you up when you’re down, someone who will scold you for being too much, and someone who will stay, not because he needed love and care, but because he needed you in his life, to be with him as long as he breaths, just that, nothing more and nothing less. “
Yuri then understood fully what that meant; it wasn’t because of pure love which he knows when he fell for someone. It was more than that, sharing the pain even though they are away. Giving each other the courage to fight, and being each other’s support and believing one another, that what was his father meant.
*owari*
A/N: OMG I hope this turned out to be good…*A* But I like this myself so I hope you guys would like this too…sorry for grammatical errors…I didn’t re-read this… ;A; and oh, I don’t know if the story was connected to the title and all. Ai-chan I’m sorryyyyyy! *sulks*