Blame It On Me [Saikoro]

[Emma Lawrence]

Daddy Dearest - Emma
3x5 - Oliver

Over all this time, the reminder in the back of her head that kept her young was that her son still hadn't officially met his father. It was a guilt that laid heavily on her chest for years, but the inner conflict was never truly resolved--whether it was Cian assuring her that it was all right to wait, or even telling her now wasn't the time, or her getting too worked up and talking herself out of it, or even evaluating Oliver from a distance and determining that he wasn't ready--and she had put it off for what was coming up on nine years. What really did her in wasn't Oliver's age, or even seeing her own thin signs of aging start to form in the creases alongside her mouth or under her eyes. It was the birth and childhood of their second son, Jensen, watching him start to develop as an autistic little boy who clung so dearly to his father in times of despair and confusion. His world didn't make sense to him sometimes, but Daddy aligned it for him. She realized that she might have been robbing Oliver of that closure and fullness, and it was time for him to know.

Their conversation hadn't gone angelically, but it was better than she had expected.

They had sat him down in the living room, away from his siblings.

"Oliver..." Her voice had been shaky, uncontrollable. She felt the warmth of Cian's hand slide over hers. Emma drew in a breath. "Baby, there's...there's something we have to talk about. And I want you to react in any way you think you have to, okay? But you need to know something, and we think you're old enough to handle it now." The inquisitive glance made her stomach turn. "Ollie, you know you were born before Dad and I got married. And you've seen your baby pictures--Dad aren't in any of them. Well, baby doll... Oliver, you had a different father when you were little. Daddy--Cian--he's not your biological father." She kept going, trying to explain herself before a reaction was even ensued. "I was in a relationship with a man when I was very young, when I had you. But he wasn't a good man then, so I had to leave him. I met Dad," she rubbed Cian's shoulder, "and I knew he would be a good man to help me raise all of you. We still love you the same way, and you're still part of this family. We just didn't want to tell you until we were sure you were ready for it. We're still the same people, especially Daddy, just trying to help you put the pieces together. Are you okay?"

The emptiness of Oliver's dazzling sapphire eyes had her at a standstill. Then he turned his face to the floor, clasping his hands together. He whispered, "I'm not part of this family, am I."

Cian jumped in then, unable to keep his distance, breaking away from Emma reaching out to keep him back. He knelt by his son. "Course you are, Ollie. I love y' like m'own son, because t'at's what you are. I've seen y' grow up from an infant. Not'ing's gonna change that, Oliver Mason. Nothing." He tried to lay a hand on Oliver's arm. Oliver recoiled in fear and misplacement.

"I belong with him," he insisted, dropping his face into his hands. Then he shot up furiously at his parents. "Why didn't you tell me earlier! I've been a lie this whole time! They're part of your family," he gestured to the door behind which hovered Maura and Jensen, probably listening in, "that's why they know they belong here. You like them better. Do they know, huh? Do they? Why was I so bad that you didn't want me to stay with him? Why did you leave him, huh? You always say it was because you had me when you were in high school. Well that's just stupid. You were stupid. Both of you are stupid!"

He slouched against the chair, sobbing into his palms. "I hate you, I hate both of you!"

Emma had felt her heart shatter, expecting an explosion of some sort, expecting to hear those words, but they wounded her far deeper than she had ever imagined. "We still love you, Oliver. It was never our intention to hurt you. But I know how you must be feeling, and I knew this would all come one day. You will never be anything less than our son. Cian and I have been your parents since the day we met you. Oh, baby..." It was too much to see her son weep, and she went to him, gathering him in her arms at his side, stroking his hair and coaxing him into relaxation. Fifteen minutes, half an hour, an hour, two hours passed before anyone spoke again. Emma whispered, "Would you like to meet him?" Oliver only nodded.

So that day had come. Oliver was constantly checking how he looked in store windows, car doors, and bikers' helmets as they walked from the subway to Saikoro and Amarie's house. Emma had put herself together as well, but she wanted this to be Oliver's day with Saikoro. She had decided not to call Saikoro in advance, not wanting to cause a tumult at home with their six children; really not wanting to give him a way to escape. This was important to Oliver and she wasn't going to give him a reason to back out. He had a right to tie up the loose ends.

"Momma, how do I look?" he asked for the tenth time as they approached the door and she clung to her hand, squeezing with a force that almost broke bones, his Vigor kicking in. She tried to wrench away, but he only held on tighter.

She smiled at him. "Very handsome," she assured him, pulling one stray hair out of his eyes.

Then she mustered up all of her courage and knocked on the door.

It opened.

Emma felt herself beaming. "Saikoro. It's good to see you." She nudged her son, giving him a reassuring look before locking eyes with Saikoro. "This is your son Oliver."

[Saikoro Kohana]

Sticky

Years had come and gone, and so had Amarie. Yes, Saikoro had to take care of six children and a dog and still manage to make ends meet. Today however, he had started the day rather later than he had expected and was stumbling around in the kitchen, making everyone waffles. Bernie had found a convent spot at Sai's feet. The instant that Saikoro heard the knock upon the door, he swiveled around from the counter, tripped over the dog and spilled syrup alll down the front of his shirt.

"Daddy, Sonny's throwing his food again."

"Sorry Molleigh, I'm a bit busy right now. Let me go see who's at the door." With a sigh, Saikoro snagged a towel and began to wipe himself off as he headed for the door, Bernie barking happily after him.

Carefully, he opened the door and was rather surprised to see her standing there. Emma! His face went pale and filled up with confusion as she spoke. "I......h-hello, Oliver." Saikoro stammered out, his shirt dripping with syrup. The air was filled with awkward silence for a moment until finally Sai blinked and opened the door a bit more. "W-Why don't you two come in....a-and eat...breakfast with us."

[Emma Lawrence]

He looked a lot different than Oliver had expected. He had pictured a short, lean man who held the explanation for his dandelion yellow hair, his explosive anger, and the reason he felt so left out in his family nowadays. But what he got was a tall, muscular, handsome man with hair almost the color of his mom's. He was perfect. Oliver wasn't sure how to respond. He didn't feel that instantaneous connection he was so desperately wishing for. He wanted to be able to say he felt at home now, he felt complete. But this man was still a stranger to him. He didn't make sense of his life. He only added another piece to the puzzle.

Oliver, now bashful, held up a hand in greeting. Should he call him Dad? Did he have that privilege? Did this man want anything to do with him? He tugged on his mom's hand, wordlessly asking if they could leave.

Emma sent Oliver some relaxing and reassuring emotions through her Empathy, and she felt his grip on her hand release. Tears filled her eyes they met Saikoro's. She hadn't seen him in what was maybe five or six years. He still held so much weight in her life. He was the first man she loved, the father of the child at her side. Always Saikoro. Always her first.

"Thank you," she said through the oncoming tears, suppressing the urge to throw him in a hug. "We've eaten. I don't want to trouble you." She took a deep breath. "I'm sorry I didn't call. I thought this was something Oliver deserved to experience, and...I just didn't know what I would say if I did call. I'm sorry if we're intruding." She looked around, taking in the wellness of the house. Where was Amarie? For that matter, where were the rowdy six kids?

She nudged Oliver forward, and he took an involuntary step toward Saikoro. "I'm nine," he blurted out nervously.

[Saikoro Kohana]

"I would hug you both, but I'd probably get you all sticky." This was all very sudden. He wanted to know the little boy standing there in front of him, but the boy was a stranger. After all, Saikoro had been forbidden to even see his own son and now, Emma simply just brought him to his door. He didn't know what to say or do for that matter. However, Bernie, who was sitting at Sai's feet, looked to Oliver with that doggish grin before barking happily and leaping up to greet the boy's face with slobbery Saint Bernard licks.

"No, you weren't intruding....I was just making the kids breakfast. Usually Amarie does it but..." His voice faded as he went to grab Bernie. Saikoro gave a friendly half smile and immediately apologized, "Sorry about that, Ollie. Bernie gets a bit too excited about company."

Ollie.

It was just a 2nd nature to call the kid that. He didn't even think about it, it just spilled out. "It's been a while then. Why don't you come in, and atleast sit down? I really should go change my shirt."

[Emma Lawrence]

Before he could react, there was a dog on top of him, lapping his face with a massive wet tongue. At first he leaped back in fright, but he caught the dog in his arms and started to laugh. "I like dogs," he assured Saikoro, rubbing Bernie's side affectionately, letting him know that he didn't do anything wrong. But that didn't mean he wasn't glad when Sai pulled him off. Oliver wiped his face with his sleeves, hoping he wouldn't smell like slobber for the rest of the day.

Kids? Oliver picked his head up, urgently turning toward Emma again. There were kids here? He had kids? His heart dropped. His own father had forgotten about him. Moved on. Didn't want anything to do with him. Was Momma right? Was he really a bad man? Had he been? He refused to let his tears out, but they were building up without his consent and there was nothing he could do about it. It all made sense now. That was why he had been so frazzled to see him at the door. Because he didn't care about him. He didn't love him, and he didn't want to love him.

"Momma," he tugged on her pants, whispering, "can we please go home now? I don't feel well."

She bent down to whisper something in his ear that he couldn't make out.

Then Oliver was led over to the couch and forced to sit down. He felt sick to his stomach. He didn't want to be here. It was just another place where no one wanted him. Where he didn't fit in. How many other kids were there? For some reason, that seemed to be a reasonable way to measure how much Saikoro didn't love him. The equation was simple and logical: the more kids, the less love.

Oliver swallowed mucus that had built up in his throat from the tears.

[Saikoro Kohana]

"Daddy?" A voice shouted from the kitchen, soon joined by at least three others. There was the familiar sound of a chair being pushed from the table and then the patter of feet as Adalina walked into the front room to see what was up. Her eyes lit up when she saw Oliver. "I remember you! Ollie!" She immediately ran at the couch to hug him.

Saikoro, who had just emerged from the other room wearing a different shirt, not covered in syrup, looked to Emma. "Me and Am felt they ought to know about Oliver....despite him not knowing about them. I hope you're not angry. I thought it might make him feel a little more....welcome."

It wasn't long before Shea & Molleigh came running out of the kitchen to greet Oliver.

With a sigh, Saikoro rushed into the other room to get the triplets, managing to use some of his shadow ability to hold one of them since he only had two other arms available. If Emma's empathy wasn't too rusty, she'd surely be able to feel the frustration coming from Sai; though he tried the best that he could not to show it.

[Emma Lawrence]

The sound of Adalina's voice melted her heart. She'd always had a soft spot for the little girl, but this was something completely different. She was...older. Emma laughed at herself as she came to the realization that should have been obvious to begin with. She had seen herself age, but something hadn't registered that the kids were getting older, too. Even Oliver was still her baby boy. But Addy was barring on a young lady, probably sneaking up on adolescence sometime soon. A smile broke her solemnity and she watched the children file in.

He told her the children had been brought up learning about Oliver, and she was almost a little bit grateful. It saved her from a lot of undue embarrassment and explanation. "No, no, of course not," she assured him with a touch to his arm. "I'm sure he does. Right, Oliver?" She received a nod--an uncomfortable nod, but a nod nonetheless. At least he was still functioning.

Her smile grew when Molleigh and Shea came bursting through the door. She even let out a chuckle. "God, they're so big..." she breathed out in astonishment. The last time she had seen them, they were only just out of diapers and could use Bernie as a horse. Doing a double take, she held up a hand. "Hey, girls. Bet you don't recognize old Emma, huh? Do I get a hug anyway?"

Her Empathy started to buzz intolerably. Shifting a hand casually to her head, she tried to hone it in on its sender, pinpointing Saikoro as the feeler. She put a hand on his arm. "They're all gorgeous. You did good."

[Saikoro Kohana]

All the kids had crowded around Oliver as if he was some gift from God. They just were so happy to see him, even though they barely even knew him. However, Addy, Molleigh, & Shea ran up to hug Emma. Addy tugged a bit on her leg before looking up with big eyes, "Umm.....does Ollie get to stay this time? Please? Cause I tried to save him his waffle but it got moldy and daddy said I couldn't keep it. But we made a newer one!"

The triplets stared at Oliver with curiosity. So this was their older brother? A bit of the resemblance was definitely there between Soren & Oliver's rather bright hair. "Hi."Soren said as he climbed up on the couch and sat next to Oliver. "I'm Soren. And that's Sonny & Sparrow. Are you going to be living here because you'd have to sleep with Bernie....and he's itchy."

Saikoro let out a soft breath and rubbed his neck tiredly. "T-Thanks, Emma. It's been pretty busy with all the school fees, and working at the dinner.......and Amarie...? He paused, and then looked to Emma. "Emma, can we talk in the kitchen? I haven't......told the kids about.....yet."

[Emma Lawrence]

Oliver looked around with as much comfort as a man in a shark tank. He wanted to run away from all these people who seemed to know everything about him. Purposely propelling his emotions toward his mother, desperately wishing she'd pick up on them and do something about it, he couldn't keep his eyes from going wild as the children crowded around him. A boy named Soren came up next to him, sliding against him. "I'm Oliver," he replied nervously, fidgeting with his hands, swinging his feet, feeling sweat on his forehead. "No, I don't think so."

Emma chuckled at the inquisitive girls, shaking her head and coming down to their level for proper hugs. "That's some determination you've got there, Addy," she said with a grin, pulling her in for an embrace and pressing a kiss to her cheek. "Waffles are still Oliver's favorite. I'm sure he'd love to have one with you sometime." She turned to Molleigh, opening her arms. "And you! Baby girl. I haven't seen you since before you could say my name. C'mere!" She did the same with Molleigh as she did with Addy, giving her a little lift. "God, look how big you've all gotten. Stop growing already. You're making me old."

Saikoro caught her immediately, and she set Addy down, her face becoming grave. But Oliver penetrated her Empathy, and she couldn't resist going to his aid. She brushed a hand over his hair, purposely moving away just in time before he could grab her hand. "Be nice," she whispered to him. "They only want to know more about you. You're related, after all." Her lips grazed his temple before she went to Saikoro. "Sure," she said gently with a curt nod, following him into the kitchen.

[Saikoro Kohana]

Saikoro walked into the kitchen, making sure to close the door behind him. He then looked at Emma with a saddened expression. Swallowing the lump that was growing in his throat, he tried not to break eye contact. "Amarie....she left. It's been six months, and I haven't heard anything from her. I came home one day and she had packed all her things and was gone." He had to pause to take another deep breath. This was hard on him. It was obvious that he was tired and this subject was a pretty painful one to talk about. "The kids think....she's on a business trip around the world....and I write letters to them, pretending they're from her. I don't want to upset them, you know?"

He sighed and leaned on the counter, head in his hands for a moment before he put his hand on his chin and tried to hold back the tears that were building up from the stress of this secret. "She was becoming distant before she left.....and every so often, she'd get angry and leave. I don't know where she'd go. But she always came back a couple days later happy as ever. A month before she left, she.....well, she began disappearing every night or so. I figured out that she-she....was...seeing someone else during those days she'd leave. But I-I didn't say anything about it. I still loved her, regardless of her secret affair. I didn't want to upset her and I figured if I just acted as though everything was fine, she might pull through. She began to disappear for longer and longer times until that morning she packed up and left. A-And...I.....I...I don't know where she went. She left nothing....no note, no money, no signs that she might have left against her will. Nothing."

Saikoro looked to Emma as if expecting her to know where Amarie might be. But that look soon changed to the one that reminded one so much of the horrid state he used to be in. It was that kicked puppy look. "I thought....she might come back, and so I waited, but...it's been six months, Emma. I-I don't think she's coming back. And I....I can only take so many shifts, and the kids still need to be watched and there's only so much I can do at a time and...." Sai just broke down in a quiet torrent of tears.

[Emma Lawrence]

No matter what, it always seemed like anything good in Saikoro's life came back to bite him. And she couldn't understand why. What could possibly be so bad about letting a man have a bit of happiness that didn't get taken away? Then again, there couldn't be good without bad. Nothing good lasted forever--but then again, nothing bad did, either. Looking on with confusion at first, Emma couldn't understand why he had been abandoned. And with six kids? It didn't sound like Amarie at all. Neither that nor an affair was really in her realm of personalities, but...people changed.

She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Everything was splitting open. This wasn't what she wanted this meeting to be about. She wanted it to be well-rounding and wholesome for Oliver. But how could she escape a story like this? Conflicted but teary-eyed, Emma pushed up onto her toes and threw her arms around his neck. "I'm sorry," she said, muffled into his shoulder. "I'll help in any way I can. I want Oliver to be in your life now, but if it's too much stress... We're going to be a family now. I promise. All of us. The Lawrence's and the Kohana's. Everything's going to be good."

Giving him a reassuring smile, although she knew herself how weak and unconvincing it looked, she gave his arm a pat. "Amarie's been a confused woman from day one. Don't get me wrong, she and I were best friends--but a long time ago. I know you far better than I know her. And I know what no matter what life throws at you, you will handle it. I still believe in you."

Emma heard a feeble voice from the other room, and, passing a look to Saikoro that spoke up being unable to resist, she hurried back into the living room to answer her son's call. Oliver said, "I want to talk to him."

[Saikoro Kohana]

The hug meant something at least. Even though that love he felt for Emma once had died when Amarie came into his life, the hug was a comfort still. He couldn't resist hugging her right back as if she was the only lifesaver out in the middle of a raging ocean. But it was her reassurance and the tiny little pat that managed to inch a tiny shimmer of hope into those dark eyes of his. "I still believe in you."

"I never thought I'd hear you say that." Saikoro said softly, seemingly pleased and perhaps feeling a bit stronger than before. He noted Emma's look and nodded, letting her feel free to leave the room. Sai took the opportunity to clean up the syrup spill and the half-eaten bits of food, as well as the dishes. The entire time, his eyes were fixed upon the picture of the Kohana's above the sink, and Amarie right there in the middle of it.

It never seemed to surprise him that every companion he made seemed to leave him. After all, first Emma...and now Amarie. Saikoro refused to think it was him though. He had done nothing in this relationship to warrant abandonment. If anything, their relationship had been stronger than Sai had ever felt for Emma. But maybe Amarie had never felt that way for him. He reached up and put the picture face down before returning back to cleaning the kitchen. If he stared any longer, he was sure he'd break down again.

[Emma Lawrence]

Moments of her past began to flash in her mind. She remembered the raging passion she and Saikoro had shared, those tender moments they had spent together, saving him from Azrael, being a family for however short it had lived. Making Oliver, meeting Oliver, raising Oliver... Which was why when their son requested that he speak with his father alone, she absolutely could not say no. Once the nod had released the tension in her neck, Oliver got up and made his way into the kitchen, checking his hair and straightening his vest. He wanted to look his best for his man-to-man talk.

He marched right into the kitchen strongly, but his knees weakened when he saw that tall, strong man standing there, vulnerable. He had never thought of his father that way, but he knew that everyone could have their moments of weakness... Announcing his presence, Oliver cleared his throat. "Sorry," he said, coughing, catching himself, not wanting to interrupt his thoughts.

His eyes started to well up with stress. He had so many questions to ask. He needed to get them out. But what could he ask first? What was the right thing to ask? What could he possibly need to know? What was okay to ask? What wasn't? He felt his stomach tumble. "Sorry," he muttered again, putting his hands in his pockets. "Just wanted to talk to you. You know, since I...I haven't. Ever."

[Saikoro Kohana]

Saikoro had just rubbed his eyes of the sorrow when the small clearing of throat was heard from the doorway. His head shot up and he grinned to see Oliver standing there awkwardly. God, the last time he saw that boy was the night he had....well....it didn't matter now. He was here...upon his mother's will this time.

"Talk? Hmm....alright. About what?" He asked, pulling out a chair for Oliver and patting it. Suddenly, it hit him how much Oliver wanted to make the best appearance and Saikoro smiled. "Actually, I really need to talk to you about those clothes. Those are some good-lookin' clothes." He wanted him to feel comfortable, and what better way to promote that than to compliment his clothing?

[Emma Lawrence]

Putting himself awkwardly into the chair, he flattened his hands onto the table, wishing he knew what to do with them. This was the first time he couldn't think of what he had wanted to ask his father all along. He had made a list of questions, but now he was drawing a blank. What could he ask the man who gave him life? But the man who was out of the picture of his life entirely? He swallowed, a tear dribbling down his face. He wiped it off.

A smile shattered the sadness. "Thanks," he choked out, hands pulling in and out of fists. "I picked them out when I went shopping with Dad." Then he caught himself, his bottom lip disappearing under the clamp of his teeth. "Mom keeps telling me I can keep calling him Dad. But I dunno anymore. Cause...I think 'cause I dunno who you are, either. So I was gonna ask you what I should do. But I don't know you. So I dunno if I should ask you for advice. But then...I think I should count on my dad--m-my father--to always give me good advice. That's your job, isn't it? To always give me good advice? Not just sometimes, I mean. And it's gotta be good, 'cause you're my dad. Right?"

[Saikoro Kohana]

Poor kid didn't know up from down and down from up. Saikoro felt guilty almost for not being there to sort these things out. He figured, now might be the best time to do that. Pulling out a chair, he sat down and looked at Oliver with honest eyes. "You're exactly right. We don't know each other, since your mother never let us have a chance to. But, now we can get to know each other, and I'll definitely give you good advice because that's my job as your dad. As for who to call dad, if you feel like it, then you can call me that. And you can call Cian that too. Or you can call him Cian."

With a smile, he paused and pondered for a moment. "You know, Oliver, Molleigh has two dad's too. And Shea & Addy are adopted. Think of it this way, you have more than most people....which means you can get twice as much good advice. And everyone here accepts you, Oliver. No one's excluded in the Kohana family, not even the dog."

[Emma Lawrence]

So it was Mom who didn't want this to happen for so long. In a way, it made sense, because he was more confused now than he ever had been, but he also felt like he had been robbed of part of his childhood. Staring intently, trying to soak up everything his father said all at once, he leaned forward, folding his hands like the man next to him. "I think I'll call you Dad," he concluded with a nod, knowing that it would make him the most happy if he was able to do that. He wanted to be able to say that now with some conviction. Calling Cian Dad...it just wasn't right again yet. It needed time to settle back into the normal.

His mouth shifted to one side. "But see...the thing is, I don't really know Molleigh. I think it's a nice idea, but... I dunno. I can't relate to her, y'know? It's not the same thing. Not really." He sighed through his nose, relaxing into his seat. "That's good, I guess. But I want to know what happened exactly. When I ask Mom, sometimes I think she's not telling the whole story. And when I ask Dad, he says he can't tell me anything without my Mom there 'cause he's scared he'll get the story wrong. But I think you should tell me the whole story. Everything. Don't leave anything out. I want to hear everything. 'Cause, y'know, I think I should know. It's my life, anyway. I was there. I just don't remember it. But I think I oughta know."

[Saikoro Kohana]

"I think I'll call you Dad."
It put a smile on Sai's face to hear that. He was glad that Oliver actually wanted to let him into his life. All this time, Saikoro had worried that when this time came, Oliver wouldn't want to meet him at all. But this was not so; and he was very glad for it.

But the smile soon faded at Oliver's request. He had a right to know. But the story brought so much hardship to mind. Saikoro sighed and then stared down for a moment, as if trying to remember the beginning. Once he looked up, he began, "Before you were born, I...I was infected and it made me....dangerous. So when I found out about you, I knew I had to find a cure, so I could protect you and your mother. I had to leave for a little while, and you were born before I could come back. Your mother hated me for it, but I found a cure and came back to be with you both. We were going to be a family, I even bought her a ring. But your mother didn't want to be with me. She thought I was still dangerous, but I wasn't. She met Cian. One day, I took you to my house for waffles. That was the day, your mother, Cian, & Colette forbid me to ever see you again...and they took you away."It was the most he could remember. After all, Saikoro had tried his hardest to block most of the memories out, and over the years, they had faded.

Sitting up, Sai put a hand upon Oliver's shoulder, looking him in the eye. "Now, Oliver, understand that I never wanted that. I feel....so bad for not being in your life. But it's alright now. I'm here for you. We can even be a family again, and you're welcome here whenever you want."

[Emma Lawrence]

Oliver wasn't sure what to think of the story. For one thing, he had heard most of that before--but in very different words. So which was the truth? Could he be hearing two truths? He wanted to trust his father very much, but he didn't know him at all. So who was to say either him or his parents were telling him lies? He swallowed, reasoning that he'd have to figure it out for himself. Or believe the story he wanted to hear rather than the one that needed to be said. And right now Mom and Cian were sounding like very bad people.

His eyes narrowed as he stared at his hands, shaking his head. "But then you could've shown Mom that you were good, right? Why didn't she believe you?" As far as Oliver could see, there was nothing wrong with the way this man behaved. He had kids, too, that was always a good sign, right? He chewed on the inside of his cheek.

"I feel...so bad for not being in your life."

"But it wasn't your fault," he spat angrily, furious that his parents had built Saikoro into some monster. "Why did they keep you away from me? Are my parents bad?" Nothing was making any more sense than it had when he first walked into the place. He combed a hand through his hair in stress.

[Saikoro Kohana]

Saikoro frowned but didn't refuse to answer with the truth. "I had been gone so long, your mother was hurt by my absence and so she didn't trust me to take care of the both of you. She thought I'd get infected." He felt as though that might be too cryptic for Oliver to understand, so he tried to elaborate the best he could. "You see, when I was infected, a evil man was able to control my mind....and it made being around someone like me, very dangerous. But even then, I risked my life many times to protect you and your mother. I even lost my arm protecting Cian." Saikoro removed the glove that shielded his somewhat robotic arm from the elbow down.

"Why did they keep you away from me? Are my parents bad?"

"No. No, your parents are very good people. They just....weren't able to see me the right way. They saw me as if they were looking through murky water." He tried to put on a small smile and ruffled the boy's hair. "But you.....you see me through clear water. Which is definitely a good thing."