I was right to assume the letter regarding my father's death would be arriving soon. The heart broken cried of my mother were still ringing out through the halls of our house. I was quietly placing my father's ashes besides my brothers. We had a small family memorial inside our home, we weren't overly religious but my father was of Japanese descent and enjoyed doing some of the more traditional things he recalled learning about through his grandparents.

The stories he told me about his parents weren't very interesting. Apparently they wished to leave everything from that part of their life behind and he was only exposed to his culture when they would make a trip to visit their grandparents once or twice a year. His grandparents would teach him what they could in secret as his parents would become infuriated if they discovered what they were doing.

His parents moved to Canada to escape any consequences of living there in case a war broke out and they lose.

My great grandparents had high hopes for any conflicting government that could win if a conflict broke out.

They died because of their own blind faith in humanity.

Japan was taken over by the Korean Republic. It has since become a walled country and anyone caught practicing their old traditions were executed.

My father had nothing from his grandparents to put at the shrine beyond a few well worn bracelets. I gently picked them up and placed them on top of my father's urn. At least this way they could embrace him one last time.

My father said he always enjoyed their hugs. They were warm and full of love, he told me that they were the best hugs he had ever experienced. Besides the hugs my brother, mother, and I gave. It's because we were his special people.

Gently clasping my hands together, I kneeled in front of the shrine and prayed for safe passage for my father, just like I did for my brother.

"Kei.." My mom called out softly trying to get my attention from her place by the door. I grabbed the matchbox, while trying to think of what to say. Opening it and lighting a match before lighting the incense sticks I had placed early this morning.

"I'm sorry mom. I don't really know what to say right now." I quietly replies my voice was rough as I felt my eyes beginning to sting as the familiar floral scent began to fill the room. It was reassuring, a familiar comfort that only my father was able to provide.

I could feel her eyes burning holes into the back of my head. She was a good mother, she loved me and cared about me and always wanted the best for me.

"Keigo." She said again, this time more firm in the way she spoke my name.

My mother was a woman of Asian decent like my father, but she was only half. Her mother was Japanese and her father was an American through and through.

My mother loved me she cared about me.

But my father was the only thing that really kept her from lashing out at me or my brother when he was alive when her feelings got the best of her.

But it's fine, she sacrificed everything for our family. It's understandable that she would experience such intense feelings when under stress.

"Keigo!" Her voice is raised as she steps into the room I could feel my body tense up in preparation. Silently begging our ancestors to forgive her for her actions, she was just stressed.

"Mom, I'm really sorry I don't know what you want me to say." I managed to force out as I began to feel myself curling inwards prepared for her to berate me.

"Keigo.." I could hear the disapproval in her voice as she placed her hand on-top of my head. She gently petted my head staring down at me in disappointment. Her petting got rougher with each passing moment as she continued to stare down at me.

"I've done so much so you and your brother could lead happy fulfilling lives. Your brother has gone and died and because of his death your father followed shortly after." She began her tirade and grabbed a handful of my hair yanking it back and fourth.
I kept my mouth shut and my hands in my lap as she continued to pull my head around as she pleased.

"I disowned my parents for this family and you cant even be bothered to comfort your own mother?" She questioned not really expecting an answer. She didn't like it when I gave her one even if she did want one.

"You'll be drafted soon enough Keigo, you know what that means right?" She pulled extra hard and I felt a small gasp slip past my lips from the pain. She froze and I felt the blood drain from my face.

"Did I say you could make noise you ungrateful brat?" Her grip on my hair became tighter and she began to drag me by my hair from the room. Her lecture was going to get worse, she was going to take out the spoons and make me kneel on their unforgiving wood, maybe she will take out one of the belts my father left behind? Will I get locked in my room for the rest of the day without food?

"Kei," She said glaring down at me in disdain, "I'll be sending you to the training camps from now on. Your grandparents reached out once they heard I have been widowed and wish to ensure the continuation of our bloodline.

She threw me to the floor and I clenched my jaw in an attempt to not let out another sound.

"You will become someone who can uphold our family lineage. I was a fool for letting your father talk me into raising you kids as we did." I looked around and noticed we were in the kitchen. My mother was going through drawers looking for something specific muttering under her breath.

"My parents had a very specific punishment for children that refused to be good to their parents." She reached into the drawer and pulled out a cheese grater.

"Your aunt experienced that punishment frequently. You remember Aunt Alice, don't you?" I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. If course I'd remember my aunt, she was such a kind woman with a big heart. She was devoted to my grandparents and their well being.

But Aunt Alice had terrible scars all over her arms and legs and god know where else.

I guess this is how she got them.

My mom approached me with the grater and flipped me into my stomach.

"You'll be a good son from now on after this punishment won't you? Id hate to ruin you like my parents did to that stupid girl." She spoke as she forced my shirt all the way up my back.

The cold metal of the grater caused my heart to stop.

----

I was sitting quietly on the loveseat in the living room, watching the news at the lowest possible volume I could hear.

The war was about to reach a climax it seems.

The threat of nuclear annihilation was prevalent on both sides. My mother was quietly humming to me as she ran her fingers gently through my hair.

"We should pack a bag soon darling." She decided before she got stuck on a tangled bit of hair.

"I'm sorry Hun, it looks like mama has cursed you with her poor genetics. Did you know my father has incredibly curly hair?" She told me as she yanked her fingers through my hair with as much force as she possibly could.

"See that wasn't too bad now was it?" She asked with a small smile on her face as she continued her ministrations. I nodded as a good son would and allowed her to continue what she was doing.

I felt numb.

My mother has never hurt me like she did yesterday. My mind has blocked the traumatic incident from my mind. But I can still remember the scorching hot agony.

"You have school in an hour Kei, is your bag packed?" She asked pulling her fingers from my hair and gently setting them down in her lap.

There was still blood under her finger nails.

I nodded slowly and looked up to her slowly moving my arm to tap my chin, asking for permission to speak.

She seemed to ponder my request for a moment before nodding and gesturing me to continue.

"May I pack some additional items as a precaution in case the bombs begin to drop?" I began hesitantly, unsure if this would even be allowed or if she would hurt me for this request, "I do not wish to lose them in case we have to go into the Shelters." She stared me down for a few moments before smiling and gesturing me down the hall.

"Help yourself darling, it's recommended for everyone to bring an addition bag with their most important things to work or school now."

I nodded, and quietly proceeded down the hall to collect what I needed.