Bonten's Innocence

Chapter 52 - family reunion

Ino stood at the door step nervously with Kokonoi and Takeomi behind her, "go on" Kokonoi said putting his hands on her shoulders for encouragement, she nodded and slowly knocked on the door, after a few seconds they heard shuffling before a weak "who's there?" Being asked from the inside, "I'm here to see Mrs Yutero" Ino said anxiously almost holding her breath.

They heard shuffling again and after a minute the door was unlocked and slowly opened, an elderly woman with white hair and dull pink eyes cautiously peeked out of the half open door to look at them, slightly adjusting the glasses perched on the bridge of her nose she squinted her eyes before they widened, "hey Gran" Ino greeted awkwardly, "Ino my dear, is that truly you?" The woman asked opening the door more.

"Yes Gran..." Ino replied not sure what else to see, the woman used her hand to cover her mouth almost biting back her sobs, "I thought... I thought you were dead" she said crying out bitterly, Ino moved to hug the woman, "no of course not" she said softly as tears started to gather in her own eyes, "I've missed you so much" the woman said hugging her back, "I've missed you too" Ino replied through sobs.

The two males stood there awkwardly letting the two women have their moment without interruption, "what happened?" The woman asked, "I'll tell you everything, can we come inside?" Ino asked finally parting from the woman, the elderly woman turned to look at the males towering above her, adjusting her glasses to examine them more she turned to her granddaughter, "are they with you?" She asked, Ino nodded in response and the woman sighed, "come in" she said leading the way into her house.

They followed behind the elder as she steadily walked with her cane for support "make yourself at home" the woman said ushering the three into the living room "thank you for having us" Takeomi finally spoke up, "it's no problem, but I need an explanation" the woman said sitting down, "it's a long story actually, I'm not even sure I can tell you everything" Ino said with a nervous laugh, "I can only imagine, but tell me how you went from living with your uncle to being with..." The woman trailed of not sure of how to refer to them, "I'll tell you everything, but first, why did you think I was dead?" Ino asked.

The woman sighed, "your uncle said that you were taken hostage by some criminal organization and after that he couldn't find you" she explained, "that's rich" Takeomi scoffed, "Taken? More like sold" Kokonoi corrected, "My son would never do something like that, especially to his niece" the woman argued "right Ino? Tell me the truth" the woman said turning to the blonde "I'm sorry Gran but they're very correct, I was sold" she said plainly.

The woman was speechless "but don't worry, they're really nice to me" Ino added when she saw the shock on her grandmother's face, "if they were really nice they wouldn't have bought you in the first place, they would have returned you to your family" the woman said bitterly, "returning her to a place where she was constantly abused doesn't sound like a good plan" Kokonoi said plainly, "abused?" The woman said shocked, "what are you talking about?" The woman demanded to know.

Ino sighed heavily, "Gran I love you and I know you care for me, but the rest of the family hates me" she said, "what don't be silly, you have our blood, our eyes, you are your mother's only daughter" the woman said defensively, "it's the truth, I've suffered to much in their, I'm sorry but I can't go back" Ino said shaking her head in despair, "then come back to me" the woman said, "I'll take care of you" she said warmly, "ahem don't we get a say in this" Kokonoi cut in, "and why would you?" The woman scoffed, "oh I don't know maybe because we practically saved your precious granddaughter from dying, multiple times" Takeomi bit back almost ina brag.

"I'm grateful, Thank you, but it doesn't mean I'll let her go with random strangers" the woman said sternly, "Gran it's alright I'm not a child anymore you don't have to worry about me, I'm fine... I didn't even want to bother coming back into your life, but I came to ask you things about my father" Ino explained.

"Don't ever mention that man around me!" The woman snapped, "but-" "it's his fault my daughter is dead" she cut in bitterly "you could have told me he is alive" Ino mumbled, "and then what? You'd go with him to France, I won't let him have you especially after all he did to my family no matter how much he begs" the woman said desperately.

"Do you actually love her or is she your revenge plan?" Takeomi questioned, "of course I loved her, stay out of this" the woman spat defensively, "is it true he asked for custody over me when I was younger?" Ino asked, "so what if he did?" the woman scoffed, "I can't believe you've been lying to me all these years" Ino said painfully "you said he died hating me, do you know the kind of psychological effect that had on me as a child?" Ino asked bitterly, "it was for your own good" the woman fought back, "no, it was for your own good, I'm tired, tell me is there anything else I'm suppose to know?" Ino cried.

The woman looked to the floor guiltily, "listen-" she was cut off by someone walking into the living room, "good morning, why did you leave the door..." The voice trailed of once the man entered the living room, the tension grew thicker, "what are you doing here?" He asked