Chapter 96 - Vol. 4: Mason To Haru - 96

Mason

“I’ll tell Noah and Mason about the guardians when the time comes.”

Mason listened carefully as Reo said, “Then hopefully, I can rest easily.”

“Everything will be all right,” Aiden said.

Mason felt something akin to fear stirring deep in his heart, that familiar feeling rearing its head, a feeling he had thought he had forgotten six years ago.

Turning on his heel, he headed back upstairs to his room. He had intended to join the two brothers for breakfast before going off to class, but when he happened upon them talking, he had involuntarily stopped in his tracks there in the hallway, listening.

Back in his luxurious bedroom, he slumped on the bed and then lay back, staring up at the ceiling. Reo and Aiden’s conversation kept playing in his head, and then just like that, he found himself back there again, that seventeen-year-old kid listening to his dad and stepmom arguing.

“You need to stop being so unreasonable!” His dad Michael had shouted. “They’re my sons. You can’t demand my sons live with you when we’re getting a divorce.”

“You don’t understand, Michael. Aiden, Noah, Mason, and Isaac can’t be separated from Haru. They’re Haru’s guardians. They’re meant to be together. Please, you have to understand.”

“The only thing I understand is you’re delusional, Sana. You need to get help. My sons are coming with me. And we’re signing the divorce papers tomorrow.”

Mason felt a sickening feeling in the pit of his stomach at the reminder of that day. He hadn’t meant to walk in on them arguing. He had happened to finish with his extra lessons with a private tutor early and returned home to hear them quarreling.

Their words of divorce had shocked him to his core, naturally, despite that he had expected it since that day he had walked in on his dad and another woman, and the fear inside him erupted into a frenzy.

Confused and frightened of what would happen, he had walked into his room to find Haru there, in his bed, crying his eyeballs out.

He had rushed in and took thirteen-year-old Haru into his arms and started soothing the boy with gentle words. But of course, Haru refused to be calmed as he chanted, tears flowing down his eyes, “We’re a family. I don’t want to lose anyone. I’m not going to lose you, right, Mason? Mom, Dad, Aiden, Noah, Reo, Isaac, you and me, we’re a family. I don’t want to lose anyone. We’re a family.”

Mason had nodded his head and told Haru, “No, you won’t lose any of us. We’re a family.”

His eyes large and full of tears, Haru asked, “Really, really?”

Mason nodded. “Mm-hmm. Really, really.”

Haru stared at Mason for a long moment and then buried his face against the brother’s chest, his arms tight around Mason’s middle.

“We’re a family,” the boy said. And then he closed his eyes, and soon, fell asleep.

Despite that he had managed to calm Haru’s distress and fear, Mason wasn’t able to slaughter his own. The uncertainty and apprehension of what the future might hold shook him, and he held Haru tightly in his arms.

Yes, he had been afraid of losing everyone. He had been very afraid of losing Haru, especially, and that very terror had paralyzed him that night.

Mason opened his eyes and stared up at the ceiling, his heart aching.

“Haru,” he said softly. “What would happen to you if your memory from that time returns?”

He had no doubt it would destroy the boy, for sure.

A few knocks came at the door, which drew Mason’s attention.

Isaac’s voice came through. “Mason? You up?”

Clearing his throat, Mason said, “Yeah.”

The door burst open, and Isaac came bustling in, Aki in his arms. “Guess what!”

“What?” Mason asked, sitting up.

“I’ve decided to skip classes today,” the boy announced, a bright grin on his face.

Mason chuckled, shaking his head. “Now, why did I have the feeling you were going to say that?” He got up and headed out the door, and Isaac followed behind him. Aki barked excitedly, obviously knowing he’d be getting his breakfast soon.

Mason chuckled as he reached out and petted the pup, who stuck his tongue out at the man.

In the open-plan kitchen, Reo said, seeing them entering the room, “Breakfast?”

“Yes, please,” Isaac said. “Is Aiden up?”

Chuckling, Reo said, “Up and gone.”

“Workaholic!” the boy said.

“He pays the bills and puts food on the table,” Mason said. “He’s a responsible oldest brother.”

“Yeah, I know,” Isaac said. “Aiden is awesome. I can never be like him.”

“A spoiled brat is what you are,” Reo said.

“That’s mean, Reo,” Isaac said.

After preparing breakfast for them, Reo headed out the door since he had an early morning class.

Alone with just the two of them, Mason asked, as they started their meal, “I was wondering, you know a bit about the Shrine Maiden and the guardians, right?”

Isaac raised his brows. “Yeah?” He smiled cheekily. “Don’t tell me you’re interested?”

Mason nodded. “I’ve always been too concentrated on my studies so... Anyway, tell me about them.”

“Only too happy to,” Isaac said. “You know, I chat with Uncle Jin a lot so I get extra juicy details from him, apart from what Mom Sana told us.”

The name Mom Sana made Mason’s stomach knot in dread. He pushed away the sickening feelings and said, “Go on.”

Isaac leaned forward and cleared his throat. Then he started. “See, there is a story behind the guardians. Not all of them appear in the Shrine Maiden’s life at the same time. Uncle Jin said that the golden dragon was the first, and he is the original Ono clan’s guardian deity. The Ono clan worships the golden dragon, and it is said that one child in every generation will be able to see and communicate with the deity. That child is named the Shrine Maiden. Eventually though, the Shrine Maiden acquired the fox, snake, and cat as well. Apparently, the golden dragon is one of a twin, with the green dragon being another. According to Uncle Jin, the golden dragon, the fox, and snake spirits are the Shrine Maiden’s lovers and there is a sort of fate that binds them together. Usually, the guardians don’t reincarnate, but in one of the era, there was a disaster, and after that, when the Shrine Maiden reincarnates, the guardians, too, will reincarnate.”

Mason absorbed this information quietly as his mind raced. He asked, “So according to Uncle Jin, Haru is the current Shrine Maiden?”

Isaac nodded. “Yep. The real deal.”

“And the guardians?” Mason asked.

Isaac shrugged. “It’s obvious, isn’t it? It’s us.”

Mason could only sit there and stare at his brother with a bewildered expression on his face.

Isaac said, “You look doubtful.”

“It’s...a bit too farfetched is what it is,” Mason said.

Isaac shrugged his shoulders. “I know it’s hard to believe, but Aiden and Noah are in love with Haru, so I’m one hundred percent certain they’re two of the three lovers.” He folded his arms across his chest and said, his face serious, “What about you? Do you love Haru?”

Mason noted the change in Isaac’s demeanor. The brother was usually playful, but now, he looked dead serious as he waited for Mason’s answer.

Mason said, “I do. I’ve already told Aiden this.”

Isaac nodded. “Then you understand that you are one of the Shrine Maiden’s lovers, right?”

Mason found this all too hard to swallow, this hocus-pocus Ono legend. He said, “I don’t know...”

Isaac pointed a finger at him and said, his eyes bright, “Don’t you run away from what and who you truly are, Mason. I understand it’s hard to believe, trust me, it’s hard for me to accept that I was previously a damn black cat, too, my spirit that is, but once you accept it, everything is awesome.” He did a thumbs-up. “I’m happy to be by Haru’s side until our old age. We’re brothers and best buddies so it’s going to be awesome.”

Mason chuckled. “Trust you to accept something like that so easily.” He raked his fingers through his hair and stared into the distance. “Isaac, do you remember that day when our parents died?”

“What the hell is this, Mason?” Isaac asked, frowning darkly. “Why are you bringing that shit up?”

“I don’t know,” Mason said. “Somehow, I kind of remembered them this morning.”

Isaac shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t remember much. Just that I was at school as normal. Although I don’t remember Haru coming to school with me. We usually have lunch and hang out even though we were in different grades.”

Mason nodded. “Yeah, Haru was sick, and I think Noah was looking after him since he didn’t have class at the university that day.”

“Thinking about that time makes me sad,” Isaac said. He shook his head. “I’m not going to think about that anymore. It’s in the past.” He gobbled down the rest of his meal and was done in a few moments.

Mason said, “What’s the hurry? I thought you’re skipping class?”

“I am,” he said. “And since you’re free this morning, you’re coming with me shopping.”

Mason raised a brow. “I have stuff I need to finish.”

Isaac waved that aside. “It can wait, can’t it?”

Mason did his best at refusing Isaac, but soon found himself downtown and in a fancy mall, shopping for Isaac’s new drawing tablet regardless.

“I need to update my equipment, you know,” Isaac said. “Hayden asked me to draw some characters for him, and he said if he likes them, he’ll hire me to start a new project with him. Isn’t that cool?”

Mason nodded. “Yeah, that’s awesome.”

Isaac’s eyes were bright as he said, “Soon, I’ll be so busy doing what I love most, drawing illustrations, and of course, rolling in money. I won’t be relying on Aiden and Uncle Jin for a living anymore.” He proceeded to laugh loudly.

It was an hour later when they left the store, Isaac armed with a new drawing tablet set. They were strolling along window shopping when Isaac said, “I’m thirsty. Let’s have some coffee.”

Soon, Mason was sipping a cup of cappuccino and listening to Isaac’s nonstop chatter when a woman approached them and asked, “Excuse me, you’re Mason Davis, right?”

“Yes, can I help you?” Mason asked.

Isaac had stopped his chatter mid-sentence and looked from Mason to the woman.

The woman said, “I’m Rebecca McKinnon. Remember me? We’ve met a few times.”

Rebecca McKinnon?

The moment Mason heard that name, he felt his stomach knotting in dread.

He dampened down the sickening feelings and put on his usual masked expression by flashing a smile at the woman. “Yeah. Hi. You were at Mom and Dad’s funeral.”

She chuckled. “Yeah. I’m so sorry about your...parents. It must have been hard after...their passing.”

Mason worked hard on holding back his emotions from coming to the surface and forcing another smile. He said, “Yeah, but we managed.”

“Look, I would really love to catch up with you and... Anyway, I’m in a hurry. I have an appointment, you see.” She took something out from her handbag and gave it to Mason. “My business card. Can we catch up sometime? Another day perhaps?”

By this point, Isaac was more than a little intrigued and the brother kept shifting his gaze from Mason to the woman again.

“I’m...not sure about that,” Mason said.

The woman looked troubled for a moment and then said, “I know you may not want to considering what happened, but I have some of your dad’s stuff, and I really want you to have it back.”

Mason widened his eyes. “Oh, I see.”

“So can I have your number?”

“Yeah, sure,” Mason said. “But I’ll be away for the next week so...”

She nodded. “I understand.”

After jotting Mason’s cell phone number down in her notebook, Rebecca said, “Thanks. I’ll contact you within the next couple of weeks. See you later.” Then she was gone.

Isaac asked, “Who was that?”

“Someone Dad knew,” Mason said evasively. “She was at our parents’ funeral.”

“Was she?” Isaac said. “I don’t remember.”

Mason shrugged his shoulders. “There were a lot of people there,” he said.

Yes, there had definitely been a lot of people who had attended their parents’ funeral, but none had wanted to have anything to do with the children; that was for sure.

Then there was that Rebecca McKinnon, their dad’s girlfriend at the time. Oh, Mason had met her a few times before the funeral. His dad had only introduced her to him simply because he had walked in on them one day—kissing of all things.

He had been seventeen at the time and had stared at Rebecca coldly as he asked, “Who are you?”

His dad had stepped in and introduced her. “Mason, this is Rebecca McKinnon. She’s my girlfriend.”

Mason had shifted his icy gaze to his father and asked, “What about Mom?”

“We’re getting a divorce. Rebecca will be your new stepmother soon.”

“I’m so glad to finally meet you, Mason,” Rebecca said. “I can’t wait to get to know you and your brothers.”

Mason had taken a step back then as the woman approached him. He said, “You’re destroying other people’s family, do you know that?”

Rebecca’s face had turned pale as a ghost at his remark.

His dad had shouted at him. “Mason! That’s a horrible way to talk to your future stepmother.”

Turning to his father, Mason said, “Dad, I’ll be blunt. I don’t want a new stepmother. Mom Sana is my mom right now and that will never change. And don’t even think about separating Haru, Reo, and Mom Sana from any of us. We’re a family and that will never change, either.” With that, he had turned on his heel and went into his room.

Fuck, it wasn’t like he could do anything at that point in time to change his dad’s mind about the divorce, but he wasn’t willing to lose his family that he had come to love so dearly.

“Mason?” Isaac’s voice drew Mason to the present, and he turned his attention to the brother.

“Hmm?”

“Should we get going?”

Mason nodded.. “Yeah.”