Arcane Sequence: 1987 (WLW)

November 24th, 1987: Just Another Complication

This novella contains mature language.

Yua tried to contain her rising discomfort and fury, but it was at a tipping point and she could no longer stand it. Her parents coming was completely fine, sort of, but her brother coming was a totally different story. Add to the fact that his pregnant wife was now with them, Yua was so close to losing her cool she felt like a dam about to burst. It was hard enough on the car ride home with the four of them stuffed into the back, but spending the better part of the day with them was just a bit too much.

"A hotel would be better, wouldn't you agree, dad?" Her brother, Akihiko, declared as he stepped closer to his wife and placed a hand on her still flat belly. The uncharacteristically caring touches he gave her were setting the spark for rebellion in Yua, but she remained silent. "It would be better for Hina in the long run. She can get some good sleep in her own bed and have a place to rest if she gets too exhausted. During this time, her health is what's most important."

"No, Akihiko. She needs to be with family, as do you." Her mother piped in and gave him the shake of her finger. Now that gesture felt much more commonplace to Yua, but unlike the endearing habitual actions by her friends, her mother's only left her feeling rather hollow. "You will just have to say here. Your father agrees, don't you dear."

Her father turned his head from his newspaper and grunted his approval, then went back to his reading. Typical, Yua thought as she fisted her hands at her sides and tried to recall things that left her warm and whole rather than empty to her very core. So, he was still letting her mother reign predominate over every argument, every confrontation. Every discussion. Nothing about watching her family's actions sat well with Yua and she wanted to run now more than ever, but her mother's next words cut her in her tracks before she even had a chance to move.

"Yua will simply request her roommate vacate her guest bedroom for the next couple of days and that will be that. No more sleeping on that cot, or whatever it may be." Her mother glanced over at her and raised one eyebrow. "I suggest you place the cot in your own room and she sleeps there. Or perhaps she can stay with--"

"Absolutely not." Yua had put up with them back in Japan, but not here. Suddenly, her chest was finally flooded with feeling once more and that warmth for which she craved. Jaime would not be giving up her home, her safe place, in order to satiate her mother's need for dominance in any given situation. Especially this particular one. Yua may have lost her safe haven, but Jaime would not. "I think a hotel for Aki is for the best. His wife will--"

"Excuse me?" Her mother marched over to her and Yua tensed her shoulders, veering her gaze anywhere but her face. "Talk to your roommate. Let us know when you've discussed--"

"No."

Yua peeked out of the corner of her eyes at her mother and began to tremble at the rage shown back at her. Childhood memories flooded her mind, the warmth was cast from her inside left to drift away with the swipes of air sent throughout the room through the open living room windows, and she felt the smallest person in the world in an instant. She began to wonder how her mother could still hold such debilitating power over her after all these years. However, it would remain unknown for the moment.

The front door handle made a few clicking sounds and opened, bringing Jaime into the loft. Her grumbling could be heard from the entryway as she made her way around the corner, lifting a take-out bag into the air with a wide, toothy grin, but freezing as she caught everyone's attention. Jaime scanned the room with the slight swivel of her head, dropping the bag at her side, then zeroed in on Yua and her mother. She tilted her head as if telepathically asking Yua if she was alright.