Persona BLEACHED 4: Chapter 31

Chapter 31: The Giving Mood II
November 27, 2031
Earth-727.
The south side of Tulsa. A pleasant neighborhood, filled with white-and-brown houses.
The Jadefang twins and their significant others were close to one such house, with a flower garden in front. A light blue flag, with the words "UCLA Class of 2035" printed on it, hung from a window.
"There it is. Home sweet home." Barbara said.
"I can already smell Ms. Annette's cooking." Kibō added.
"....." Max was looking quietly.
"Ready to make her month, Sparkplug?" Ibuki asked.
"....."
"I'm L." Anna suddenly appeared behind Max.
"GAH!" He jumped.
"Yeesh, what took ya so long?" Anna drank from a cup reading 'LA's Best Boba'.
"Wow. That really was fast. Did you get everything?" Barbara asked.
"Yep. Here's yours...and yours...and yours." Anna handed everyone their travel bags.
"You got my passport?" Ibuki asked.
"Si, reina. It's in there with everythin' else. Not gonna leave ya stranded." Anna took notice of Max's body language. "Oye, caballero. Ya look like someone dropped your churro. Ya wanted to see your ma again, didn't ya? Why so glum?"
"It's nothing, it's just...I've seen her so sparingly these last couple of years. How am I gonna explain that I have to leave again after tomorrow? I've put her through too much already. I can't break her heart again." Max replied.
"Nuh-uh, you're not backin' out now. Ya gotta at least let her know you're okay. And that you're with us cuz you wanna be, not cuz you're bein' forced. Look, man. I'd give anythin' to be able to give my ma a hug again. Instead I gotta run my ass to the frozen nothin' to look through a sheet of glass while she's doped up on God-only-knows what kinda meds they're shovin' down her throat. You can do somethin' that I can't."
"Anna..."
"Drop the pity party, and go tell your Mama how much ya love her. Or I'm kickin' your ass right here and now. Comprende?"
Max's shoulders picked up. "Comprende."
"Good. Now move your ass, cuz I hate standin' still."
"Hold on. Let me and Keeb go first. I want it to be a surprise." Barbara urged.
"Whatever floats yer boat, princess. I'll go find a hole to jump out of and yell 'boo'."
"Woof, and people think *I've* got an attitude." Ibuki said.
Inside of her house, Annette Jadefang was finishing up her yoga session, garbed in a colorful outfit with her auburn hair tied up. The scent of a turkey cooking in the oven was present throughout her house, which was decorated with an assortment of Native American memorabilia. Annette herself was half-Cherokee, and was proudly reconnecting with her heritage after years of having it mocked by her abusive ex-husband.
The doorbell let out a pleasant tune, and she paused her workout stream. With her brother Davie working, she assumed that it was her daughter. "Someone got in early."
She opened the door. Barbara was there with Kibō. "Hi, Mama~." she chimed.
"Oh, hello, Moonbeam! Oh, come here, you..." Annette hugged her daughter tightly. "And hello to you, handsome boy." She gave one to Kibō.
"Hi, Ms. Annette." he replied.
"Now what are you two doing here so early? I wasn't expecting you for a couple more hours. Hence why I look like I'm in an 80s music video."
"Oh you look fine, Mama. I looked online, and a couple spots opened up on an earlier flight. Just wanted to surprise you." Barbara replied.
The doorbell rang again, to Annette's confusion.
"Speaking of surprises..." Barbara added.
Her mother opened the door. "Hiya, Ms. Annie!" Ibuki exclaimed.
"Oh my gosh, pretty lady, what are you doing here?" Annette hugged her.
"Babs said there was a party with turkey going on, and I couldn't resist. I'll fly as far as I need if it means some of your cooking."
"I'm flattered, hon, I really am. Funny that you show up right after these two."
"Yep, real funny. Hehe."
"Well, glad I made enough for a feast in case your uncle shows up, right Moonbeam?"
"You'd think there weren't any other cops in town with how much they work him." Barbara replied.
"Well, guess I'd better get...hm?"
Anna was now sitting on the couch. "Whaddup?" she uttered.
"Oh, Mama, this is Anna. She's...our Uber driver." Barbara said.
"Why's your Uber driver on my couch?" Annette asked.
"Her car broke down a block away and they're taking a while to get a tow truck over. So I said she could wait here for it."
"You're not a good liar at all." Kibō whispered.
"Just roll with it for a few minutes." Barbara whispered back.
"So, Ms...Anna, was it? How'd you get in without me hearing or seeing?" Annette asked.
"Stealth mode." Anna took a sip of her tea.
"...is she staying for dinner?"
Barbara shrugged.
The doorbell rang once more. Annette was dumbfounded. "We're busy today, aren't we? The rest of your friends stopping over?"
Barbara shook her head. "Not that they've told me."
"I wouldn't put it past Kitty Kat to pop in unannounced." Kibō said.
"Might need to run over to the grocery store again, Ms. Annie." Ibuki pursed her lips.
"Well let's see who comes through that door this time..." Annette opened it. 
The person on her doorstep rendered her speechless.
Max was looking away, himself overcome with nerves. He brought himself to look at his mother. "Hi, Mama."
Annette was frozen by the shock. Her hands went over her mouth. She started to tear up. "S...Starbolt?"
Max nodded, tears beginning to form in his own eyes. "It's me, Mama. It's really me."
She put a hand on his face, where his scar was. She wrapped him in the tightest embrace she'd ever given him. "Oh, my boy...my good boy...oh, I can't believe it..."
Barbara was crying as Kibō had an arm around her. Ibuki shielded her tears from sight.
"*sniff* Who started cuttin' onions in here? *sniff* Y'all oughta know I'm not good with onions..." Anna sniveled.
Everyone settled in shortly after. "...so, this girl isn't an Uber driver." Annette said.
"No. Anna's my, I guess you can say, my supervisor. They would only let me come back if I had someone looking over me. Making sure I couldn't run off, I guess." Max replied.
"He'd be back on his butt before he even thought of trying." Anna confidently said.
"I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but I'm only gonna be around for a couple days before I have to go back. I know it's not what you want to hear, but there's still more I have to do."
"...it's alright."
"Mama--"
"I said it's alright. It's no different from you being in Japan. I mean, guess you can't give me a call from there, can you?"
"Mama--"
"What else do you even need to prove?! I can see it in your eyes how tired you are! How much more punishment do you need to take before they let you live?!"
"Ma'am, I get why you're pissed off, but we ain't holdin' him hostage. My uncle was ready to send him back here a month ago." Anna responded. "He stayed put cuz he wants to fix what's batty about our home. And he's gone out of his way to mend fences in my fam. Sure he might be stubborn and way too happy to take a hit for somebody, but he's got a good head on his shoulders. Even if it might be made of concrete."
"Thanks...I think." Max uttered.
"Is that true, Starbolt? You're really there because you want to be?" Annette asked.
"Yeah. Knowing what's going on over there, I wouldn't feel okay with leaving. I'd be abandoning people that stuck their necks out to help me out of a mess I caused. As much as I'd love to come back and call you whenever I wanted...I can't just yet, Mama. I'm sorry."
Annette shook her head. "Old habits die hard. I'm not going to get on your case about doing the right thing, when that's all I've ever wanted from you. I just miss hearing your voice and knowing that you're doing okay."
"That's why I had to come here. And why I'm gonna bend over backwards to make sure I'm back for Christmas. I at least need to be here for Barb's performance."
"Don't get yourself in any trouble if you can help it. It'd make me so happy if you could make it, but don't go crazy trying to make it happen." Barbara advised.
"The right thing for the right reasons, Starbolt. Don't stress out your poor old Mama more than she already is." Annette added.
"You're not old, Mama." the twins both said.
"Heh, knew I raised you two right." She fanned her face. "Okay. I'm gonna wash up and get changed. Starbolt, I need you to check on the turkey in five minutes."
"Yes, ma'am." Max replied.
"After dinner, I'm gonna need you kids to help me bring the Christmas decorations down from the attic so we can put them up tomorrow. Ohhh, I get to put the tree up with both of my babies! It's a Christmas miracle!" Annette walked to the shower, a brightened spring in her pace.
"Not gonna say anything about the baby remark?" Ibuki asked.
"She's having her moment. Let her be happy." Max replied.
"She's over the moon, Maxie! It's been a real long time since I've seen her that happy. The visit's been made already." Barbara chimed.
"Your Ma's a real sweetheart, I'll say that much. How come she was so quick to have you check on the bird?" Anna asked.
"Cuz she knows if Barb opened that oven, the turkey'd spring back up and grow feathers just to get away." Max replied.
"Hey, I'm getting better in the kitchen! I haven't even blown ours up, right, Keeb?" Barbara asked.
"Plead the fifth, man, plead the fifth."
"If I'm bein' fair, not blowin' up a stove ain't somethin' to really be buzzy about." Anna chipped in.
"Spoken like someone that's never seen Barb in a kitchen." Kibō said.
"I'm totally getting better! Keeb, I made you dinner just the other night! Did you die?" Barbara demanded.
"I mean I felt bubbles in my stomach--"
"*But did you die?*"
"Well, obviously not..."
Max turned to Ibuki. "I'm gonna check on that turkey."
"Yeah, good call. I'm gonna get ready for din-din." she replied, and the two got up. Anna stayed put, watching Barbara and Kibō bicker with a grin on her face.
---
Inside his room, so filled with superhero posters and collectibles, Max adjusted his wear for the night, a dark blue dress shirt and pants.
"Here, let me help." Ibuki, wearing a black minidress and large hoop earrings, got up from the bed and adjusted his tie from behind. "That tight enough?"
"Yeah, that's good. Thanks."
"Look at you, handsome lad. Don't you look dignified. Almost like you're going to a wedding."
"Guess I'll have to keep that in mind when the right time comes."
Ibuki tilted her head. "Maxie Jadefang! Are you trying to tease me back?"
"Is it working?"
She kissed him. "Careful, I might start thinking you're being serious. Let's get us some bird, shall we?"
"After you, my lady."
The two walked out of the room. 
"Ah, look at that. We match."
Barbara was out of her room, garbed in a light blue dress with blue ribbons on either side of her hair. "Just like I thought we would."
"Maybe we should both try to change up our fashion sense." Max replied.
"That'd be jarring. I can't remember the last time she wore anything that wasn't blue." Kibō walked out in a gray dress shirt and pants.
"Like how I can't remember the last time you wore something that didn't make you look like that dweeby guy from that show about the drugs." Ibuki said.
"...'Breaking Bad'?" Max assumed.
"Yeah, that's the one. You doing your own kind of cooking, Keebles?"
"I'm not humoring that with an answer." Kibō replied.
Anna appeared in front of them, wearing a black button-down shirt and pants. "Oye, you girls gonna keep comparin' bra sizes, or are we gonna eat?"
"We're coming. Friendly advice, Anna? Try to keep that locker room banter to a minimum in front of my mom." Max advised.
"Eh? What's wrong with sayin' what I wanna? We're all grown, ya know."
"It's a respect thing. That and my old man was a sailor-mouth, and I know my mom hated that. Just be a little mindful."
"Aww, ya really are a mama's boy, ain't ya?"
"You don't have to rag on me for that."
"Who's raggin'? Ain't nuthin' wrong with a guy that loves his Ma. I'll play nice. Pinkie swear."
"Why don't I believe her?" Kibō uttered to himself.
Everyone gathered at the dining table, which was covered with a selection of food, most prominent being the perfectly cooked turkey in the center. Annette sat at one end of the table, her hair down, wearing a blue jean jacket over an aqua-colored dress, and silver earrings resembling feathers dangling from her ears. "Hey, everyone! Aren't you looking wonderful?"
"You're the one looking fabulous, Mama~. Is that a new dress?" Barbara asked.
"Bought it just the other day. Come here, let me get a good look at the both of you."
Annette held Barbara's arm on one side, Max's on the other. "Ohhh, I keep picturing you two as those adorable babies I've got on my mantle. Now I've got a confident woman on one arm and a brave man on the other. I'm the luckiest Mama this side of the Mississippi."
"We only got this way from having the sweetest Mama in the whole world~. Right, Maxie?" Barbara asked.
"A hundred percent, Barb. Confident and brave and everything in-between." Max affirmed.
Hearts seemed to bubble up around Annette. "Heaven, I'm in heaven~..."
"I've been drownin' in sugar ever since steppin' in here." Anna quipped.
Ibuki jabbed her in the side.
"Yow! What was that for?!"
"You promised." Ibuki replied.
The twins sat on either side of their mother, their respective partners sitting next to them, with Anna taking the other end seat. They took their portions and began to eat.
"So, Starbolt, I don't know if your sister told you, but tonight we're giving thanks for a more...specific reason." Annette said.
"Yeah, she told me. We're letting the old man have it, right?" Max asked.
"Yup. And we got just the thing for it." Barbara affirmed.
"That nice, shiny new Louisville Slugger over on the couch. I know you'll appreciate the irony." Annette added.
"Whoa-ho-ho, time out! Are y'all gonna go bust somebody's head open?!" Anna questioned.
"Much as I would've liked to, hon, it's a bit late for it. My ex is already gone. We're just breaking whatever junk he's got left that I didn't burn after he left." Annette clarified.
"Oh...I gotcha. I can get behind that."
"Most of his clothes were already burnt, so whatever ones we had left, we burned last year. This year it's his trophies." Barbara said.
"I know how much you hated those things, Starbolt." Annette added.
"Oh, YES. They always had to be front and center, but anything we won got locked up in our rooms, like no one else was allowed to be proud of something in his house." Max replied.
"You're not that sort of Mama, Ms. Annie." Ibuki said.
"Those awards and photos are the first things you see when you walk in the house. My parents are the same way." Kibō added.
"That's how parents are supposed to be, Keeb. Everything I did was for these two. Whether it was being there for every contest, every play or every rehearsal, I was there because I knew for sure he wouldn't be. Nothing but a drunk brute, is what he was." Annette dictated.
"He cheated his way to all that silverware, anyway." Max stated.
"So what hurt comes in breaking stuff he didn't even earn? None, that's what." Barbara added.
"Y'all are really amped to see that stuff bashed to bits, huh?" Anna asked.
"I won't lie, it's going to be cathartic. But not just because of harsh feelings. It's about healing. Up until three years ago, it was constantly worrying about whether he'd hurt the kids, or if I'd end up with a black eye or worse. After that until last year, it was worrying about if he'd find me and what he'd do when he did. But now he can't hurt us anymore. Now it's about moving on and replacing all the bad with the good. I'm safe, my kids are doing good, and I can go for an afternoon jog without having to worry about a bully pulling up in his busted pickup to try hurting me. I can't ask for much else." Annette responded.
"You're a real winner, Ms. Annie. I wish my ma got to have that peace of mind."
"Got yourself some family trouble too, huh?"
"(That's as kindly as you can put it.)" Max thought.
"Don't get it twisted, most of my family's the bomb. That sayin' about it takin' a village to raise a kid is 110% true. My aunt an' uncle stepped up big when I needed it, cuz..." Anna looked down. "...Y'all don't wanna hear it. I don't wanna put a downer on your get-together."
"Hon, there's no place better to talk about family drama than the dinner table during a holiday. Feel free." Barbara replied.
"Well, if it's alright. My old man is...the worst of the worst. People've called him 'Satan-adjacent' in the papers back home. And when the day came that he snapped, it completely broke my ma. It took everything just to get her under control. Now they've got her locked up somewhere out in the middle of nowhere. All cuz of that freak I'm forced to admit helped make me."
"Guess tonight is the designated 'rip on our horrible dads' night." Max said.
"What do you mean 'our'?" Kibō questioned.
"Wasn't your old man a politician?"
"So? He's given that up for good. Now he spends his days sipping coffee and listening to Guns N' Roses on repeat while Mom jumps on the table playing air guitar."
"What the *hell* kinda house did you grow up in?" Anna asked.
"My dad was..." Ibuki paused. "He tried. Someone without a heart took him away. I'm sure we would've been happy if that never happened."
"I know you would've." Max reassured.
The doorbell suddenly rang. Annette raised her eyebrows. "Moonbeam. You said none of your other friends were coming. I can only make so many biscuits."
"Well unless Kitty Kat really *did* decide to crash the party..." Barbara replied.
Annette got up to answer the door. On the doorstep was a police officer, with tribal tattoos on his arms, short brown hair and beard. "Ma'am. I've gotten a call there might be illegal contraband in this house."
"What kind of contraband, officer?" Annette asked with a teasing smirk.
"The kind that's baked and ought to be in my stomach."
She gave the officer a hug. "Hey there, little brother. They finally let you off?"
"For now. Least until the next chucklehead tries peeing out their window."
"Hi, Uncle Davie~!" Barbara bounded over.
"Howdy there, Moonbeam!" The officer hugged her. "I dunno how you manage it, but you're prettier every time I see you."
"Oh, stop. I mean, don't, keep saying it, but y'know."
"Finally came to take me in, eh Davie?" Max entered.
Davie's eyes perked. "What in the sam hell are you doing here, Starbolt? I heard they knocked some sense into you, and then you went off on some kinda...magical vacation you wouldn't be back from for a while."
"I *wish* it was a vacation, otherwise I wouldn't be getting hit so much."
Annette plugged her ears. "Stop, stop, don't want to hear it, no no no no."
The two men shook hands and patted each other on the back. "Good to see you either way, kiddo. Your Mama's been worried sick about you." Davie said.
"You can say you missed me, man. Won't make you look sappy." Max replied.
"...why are the cops here and why are they huggin' him?" Anna asked at the table.
"That's their Uncle Davie. AKA the guy that was more of a dad to Maxie than his real dad ever was." Ibuki replied.
"In case you wondered where Max got most of his ideals from." Kibō added.
"So, Davie, any crazies running around tonight?" Annette asked.
"About as much as normal. Heard something weird on the radio a few hours ago. Something about people getting pantsed around a couple of bars around town." her brother replied.
"Some drunk college guys, probably." Max assumed.
"Weird thing about it, no one saw who was actually doing it. Like, they felt a bit of wind and then, poof. Pants on the ground. Strangest thing you'll ever see."
"Yeah." Max shot a glare at Anna. "Real strange."
She shrugged her shoulders. "No entiendo nada."
---
A short while later, dinner had passed. The Jadefang twins and their mother were out of the house, leaving the others to wait in the living room.
Anna sat on the couch. "So...we're just gonna wait until they're done? I wanna see 'em bust the asshole's junk!"
"Believe me, so do I. But this is something for the three of them to do themselves." Davie replied.
"I've lived with abusive bastards before. Any time you can show how little power they actually have is the best. They lived in fear of the old toad for about as long as Maxie and Babs have been alive. The sooner Maxie can start putting it to bed, the better." Ibuki said.
"Ditto with Barb. She carries a lot of guilt over how much punishment Max and Ms. Annette went through. She needs the closure." Kibō concurred.
"So what are we gonna do in the meantime? Play Uno?" Anna asked.
"We can give 'em a hand by getting all my sister's Christmas stuff down from the attic." Davie clapped his hands. "Hop to it."
"Ugh, I hear from enough drill sergeants at home..."
In the backyard, a bonfire had been started. Annette had white facepaint on her cheeks, and was applying it to her children. "There you go. You look like everything the old drunk despised."
"Exactly how I'd want to look." Max replied.
"Thanks to him, I barely knew what a Cherokee was or that I was one. He'd be cracking some remark about living in teepees right about now." Barbara added.
"You don't have to worry about that anymore. I want you to wear our heritage with pride." Annette turned to the fire. "Jim always said he'd put the fear of God in me if I raised an objection to him. But guess what? These flames that are going to burn away his memory, and the wind that'll scatter the ashes...*those* are my gods. Today they'll have their say in what he did to us."
She grabbed an aluminum bat. "Who wants to go first?"
"You go, Barb." Max said.
"You sure?" Barbara asked.
"Yeah. I...need some time to think."
"Okay." Barbara walked to the patio table, where a basket filled with trophies was. She took one out, a green one with a figure of a deer perched on it. She put it on the ground, then took the bat from Annette. "This is the one he got from that hunting competition when we were ten. He wouldn't stop boasting about how big the doe he got was. Of course it was a female deer he shot. Wouldn't surprise me it she had a baby or two nearby. Not like he'd care."
"And yet." Max poked the trophy with his foot, right where it read '3rd Place'.
"He was so absorbed with the thought of shooting a deer that he missed our dance meet. He never came to a single one. And we won first place that weekend!" Barbara turned to Annette. "It was always you, right in the front of the crowd, watching every minute of it. Knowing that you cared so much helped me pull through so many competitions when I was nervous." She turned to her brother. "And so did having a brother who didn't mind looking 'girly' so long as it meant helping me practice. Those were the happiest times I can remember from back then."
"I feel the same way. I didn't much care what other boys thought. I was happy to have a sister that was so good at what she did, and actually wanted me to help. It helped whenever the old man called me a sissy or weak." Max replied.
Barbara's hands shook holding the bat. "He cared about his own mediocrity over anything we did. And the worst part about it...was having to watch him hurt you two. Having to see him blacken your eyes or..."
Max consoled her. "Don't apologize for it. I don't regret taking the hits so long as it meant you didn't have to."
"And I wish so deeply that you didn't have to. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you when you needed it." Annette said.
"Neither of you should be apologizing! The only one that should be sorry was the one that hurt us, and he's getting his own judgement now. He doesn't have the power here. Not anymore. So...stand back." Barbara said, determined.
"Give him hell, sis." Max got out of the way.
She took a deep breath. "Here's what I think about your stupid 3rd place murder award, old man."
She swung at the trophy, the tiny deer flying into the air, before coming back down to earth and landing in the bonfire.
"And that's a pop-up. Tsutsugo would be shaking his head right now." Max quipped.
"Got it to where it was going anyway, didn't I?" Barbara turned her attention to what was left of the trophy. "Hyaaaa!" With a few more swings, it was nothing more than broken pieces of plastic. She was left panting after her effort.
"How are you feeling?" Annette asked.
"...really good." Barbara nodded. "You want the next swing, Maxie?"
"I think Mama should have her go. I, eh..." Max mumbled.
His mother rubbed his shoulders. "It's okay. I know how much the thought of him makes you boil up inside. Right now is all about letting that anger out. I'll go if you need more time."
"Alright. Thanks, Mama."
"Right. Let's sort through the trash." Annette picked out a small, silver trophy. "'2019 District 1-A Coach of the Year'". She read off. She turned it around. "'Awarded for creating a culture of excellence and...' Pfffft." She snickered. "'...excellence and accountability in building young men up both on and off the field. Thank you, Coach O.'"
"Haaaaaa!" Barbara laughed.
"Oh yeah, *such* accountability. I remember him drinking with his players in the locker room after games. What an inspiration." Max chimed in.
"The things people will overlook as long as you're winning silverware for them. I wonder if knowing the number of black eyes he gave me over the years would've gotten him fired?" 
Annette grabbed the bat. "He had me fooled the same way as everyone else. I was young and naive, and he had me under his spell. 'Oh wow, this mature guy already has all this success going on. How could it be anything but a winning deal?' I didn't see it until it was too late. And over the years he'd be all 'You're making me do this, Annie'. And I believed it. 'Maybe I'm doing something wrong to make him get this angry'. 22 years old with newborn twins, why would I want to leave something I still thought could be saved? Then he pulls me halfway across the country, in case I ever felt like running back to Mom and Dad. How'd I never see what he was doing?"
"You were young, Mama. Don't blame yourself when he was the one playing pretend." Barbara insisted.
"Everything he did was textbook. It's not about anything you did or didn't do. If the old freak was really mature, he'd have known better. It's all on him." Max agreed.
Annette put an arm around both of them. "If there's anything I don't regret from the time I was with him, it's getting to be your Mama. You two are what keep me moving. And I couldn't be prouder of how you've turned out, in spite of everything."
"All thanks to the best Mama ever~." Barbara chimed.
The twins gave their mother some space. "If the backyard was a little bit bigger, I'd try out the old softball slap. Turning this piece of junk into a pancake's gonna feel good either way."
Annette brought the bat up, then swung down, denting the silver chalice in the middle. Several swings later, the trophy now more closely resembled a crushed can. She picked it up, and tossed it into the fire. She let out a content sigh. "That...felt good. Now it's your turn, Starbolt."
"....." Max looked at the bat.
"I know. Believe me, I know. You still have so much anger in your eyes. Are you afraid of getting upset in front of us?"
"Maxie...it's okay. Now's the time to get as mad as you want. You don't have to keep carrying it around. This is your chance to say everything you've wanted to and start moving on. Mama and I won't think any different if you get angry." Barbara assured.
"But...it was the old man getting angry that made us have to do this. And the last time I got angry, I almost..." Max responded.
"We love you, Maxie. That won't change, no matter what. Do this for yourself. Please."
"Let it out, honey. Don't hold anything back." Annette held out the bat.
Max looked at it again. At last, he took it. He grabbed a tall, purple trophy from the basket. "'2025 Division 1A State Championship'. The undefeated season. The one he never shut up about. I remember the speech he gave at that end-of-season banquet. How he was just *so proud* of the strong, athletic young men he had the 'honor' of coaching. Even back then, I could read between the lines. He was honored to do it because they were 'strong', and because they worshipped the ground he walked on. Things his own son could never hope to be. I was an embarrassment to him. The mama's boy who'd rather play house with his sister than bash his head into somebody."
"He always said he'd try to make me 'strong'. His excuse for why he'd throw his beer cans at my head. Or when he tied me to a tree and left me in the freezing cold for knocking his drink over. If I could just run a little bit faster, be a little bit stronger, would it make him stop? Or would nothing have ever been good enough? And those strong, athletic young men he had the 'honor' of coaching? They beat me up and tossed me into a dumpster after he got fired, then threatened to..." He glanced at Barbara.
"....." She looked down.
"They took after their coach. I hated him. No...hate doesn't cover it. I DESPISED him. I wanted to crush his skull with my bare hands! I sold my soul to make it possible! I could never stand up to him myself! I gave up EVERYTHING for the chance to make him squirm! And what did it get me? Suffering for the people I loved, and a year of fishing up salmon in the frozen nowhere! My conscience stained with blood, and at the end of the day, revenge stolen from under me! I just...I just wanted to win. I wanted to prove I was a better man than he ever was! And all I ended up doing was...was..."
His hands shook. He raised the bat into the air. "GRAAAAAAAH!" He brought it down with all of his might, and with that single swing, shattered the trophy into several pieces. He fell to his knees, dropping the bat. He looked down. "...I'm sorry, Mama. Sorry I didn't listen to you. I could've lived a normal, pain-free life with him out of it. I let revenge turn me into the monster I swore I'd never be..."
Annette got on her knees and consoled her son. "You're not like him, Starbolt. He never apologized for anything. Your heart has always been in the right place. You have your entire life ahead of you. The past can stay there. That's what I wanted to do this for. Let the fire eat up every last bit of anger and regret you have."
"She's right, Maxie." Barbara got on the other side of him and grabbed his arm. "No more regrets. He doesn't have a hold over you anymore. All you need to think about now is the future. There's a bombshell sitting in there who wants to spend it with you. It's okay to let go. It's okay to be happy. So, little bro, what do you wanna do now?"
Max's expression shifted from one of somberness, to one of contentment. "I want to break more of his shit."
Barbara smirked. She took the bat. "You'll have to wait your turn."
The trio spent the next several minutes taking turns smashing the remaining trophies to bits. What remained of them was tossed into the purifying flames. With the last of the ill-gotten awards destroyed, they all sat around the fire, legs crossed. "Just one thing left to do." Annette took out a bundle of sage. "His stink is still in the air. Now while his memory burns away, these branches will purify everything around us." She lit the bundle, letting the smoke rise into the air. "Here's to a night of healing."
The sage eventually burned out. The three held hands as they watched the embers of the bonfire peter out.
The pain of years of mistreatment ebbed away with it.
---
Now in his sleepwear, Max lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling. 
"Still got a lot on the brain, Maxie?" Ibuki was seated beside him.
"It's still a lot to process. There was a lot I needed to let out."
"Bet it felt good to bash and burn his crap, didn't it?"
"Like you wouldn't believe. It was like every awful thought I've had in my life just...vanished. Poof, gone. It's finally sinking in that he's never coming back. I don't have to be scared of him breaking down the door and hurting Mama while I'm not here."
"You're free, dude."
"Yeah. I'm free."
"So, what's Max Jadefang gonna do now?"
"Well, in the immediate future, I'm going with Mama and Barb tomorrow to get a new Christmas tree. They didn't want to use the one Mama brought from our old house."
"New beginnings in everything, I guess. Gonna be crazy with everyone out shopping."
"Ugh, right. Black Friday. Traffic's not gonna be pretty, at least."
"Speaking of craziness, me, Keebie and the Bronx chick are on deco dutie tomorrow. That's gonna be a hoot."
"Oh boy. I haven't given Mama's decorations a good look-through. Hopefully it isn't *too* overboard."
"Well if Ms. Personality is as quick as she says she is, we'll be set. If she isn't Ms. Personality tomorrow, that is."
"Trust me. That is a big 'if'."
"Well, I'm glad you got your moment to blow off some steam. I'll see ya in the A.M.--"
"Whoa, hold up, where are you going?"
"Uhhh, to bed? I'm in the guest room down the hall." Ibuki had a realization. "Unless...you don't want that?"
"Well, it has been a while since we've been together like this. I'm only here for today and tomorrow, and then it's back to the other world until Christmastime at the earliest. I just...I want to be with you for as much as possible while I'm here."
Ibuki turned red. "M-Maxie Jadefang, are you being *forward* with me?! You're asking me to share a bed with you 110% seriously?! Without getting all jumpy and nervous? Is that what's happening?"
"It's not too weird is it? Sleeping in a nerd's room, I mean."
"Not when it's a nerd I'm head-over-heels for! Oh, Maxie...I'm gonna swoon! Gimme one minute to get my phone, I'll be riiiiight back!" Ibuki seemed to skip out of the room.
"Did I just...fluster her? And not the other way around? I should probably be more careful with this power..."
---
November 28, 2031
Something was weighing on Max's shoulder. His eyes slowly opened, taking a moment to adjust to the waking world. He made out something draped in front of him. He quickly realized the source: Ibuki, sleeping peacefully, had her arm over him, her hand just inches from his face.
"Yeah. Kinda figured you'd be a bottom."
Max looked to his doorway. Anna was leaning against it, a cheeky smirk on her face. "Buenos dias, niño sucio."
Max groaned.
"C'mon, your ma made biscuits. Might be all gone if ya don't pick up the pace." Anna walked out.
Max tried getting up. "Let's get up, Ibuki--"
Ibuki, without opening her eyes, reached up and dragged him back into bed. "I'm not done with you yet."
Max knew trying to escape from the grip of a former wrestler was pointless. And so he laid there for the next ten minutes.
After satisfying the affection quota for the morning, Max went to the kitchen. "Morning, sunshine. Did you have a relaxing night in your old bed?" Annette asked.
"That's one way to put it~." Barbara teased.
"Was everybody taking a peek in my room? Can't a guy get some privacy?" Max asked.
"Your sister took pictures." Kibō said.
Barbara nudged him. "Oh, shush."
Max took note of his mother's workout jacket. "You going for a run before we leave?" he asked.
"Already did. Got it in before y'all woke up." she replied.
"While it was still dark out? That's a little risky, don't you think?"
"This part of town's harmless. And your Mama can take care of herself just fine. Early bird gets the worm, you know. Speaking of, hurry up and get changed. Time's-a-wasting."
"But what about breakfast--"
"Grab some and eat in the car. You know how she gets. Laser focus." Barbara advised.
"Yeah, true. I'll go get dressed."
"Tell Sleeping Beauty we're gonna get goin' on the deco. I ain't doin' everything." Anna said.
"You'd better not be planning on pushing it all on us, then." Kibō cautioned.
"Hell nah, I ain't a bum! Tough talk comin' from a guy that looks half-asleep already!"
"Maybe because I literally woke up ten minutes ago?"
"How much of the house is gonna be left when we get back?" Max whispered to Barbara.
"Enough where Mama's home insurance can cover the rest." she replied.
---
The twins and their mother left, leaving Ibuki, Kibō and Anna with several containers worth of decorations. "Okay, here's the ornaments, so we don't gotta worry about those yet..." Ibuki inspected them.
"I don't know if she just wants us to do the outside for now, and leave the inside for when they get back." Kibō pondered.
"They probably wanna put that tree up ASAP. I can do the interior deco. Don't want anyone passin' by to see lights just poppin' up in two seconds." Anna said.
"Yeah, that's fair. Want to help outside, Ibuki? I can grab the ladder."
"Ladder schmadder. I've got an easier idea. C'mon, Kid Thunderbolt." Ibuki picked up a box of lights and walked out.
"I don't like the sound of that..." Kibō grabbed a box and followed her.
"Okay, let's see if we can work the kitchen first..." Anna checked the boxes.
She thought she heard a noise. "The heck was that?" She looked around. "Probably nuthin'."
Outside, Kibō and Ibuki finished moving the boxes. "Alright, got the lights, the inflatable, and anything else that screams 'outside'." Ibuki said.
"I'll see if I can find a plug for the inflatable. Might need to find an extension cord." Kibō replied.
"Can't believe we're seriously already at Christmas. Wasn't it *just* Halloween?! Sheesh."
"Just a few more weeks until Barb's big performance. And then everybody's off the Tokyo. Holidays at the Hinotama house. How's your sister preparing for it?"
"Well it's the first time the guest rooms are getting any use. It'll be the biggest get-together we've had since the housewarming. I think she's more nervous about me moving out after the holidays. It'll be the first time we've lived away from each other since I've been alive. We're setting everything up so she'll be okay, and Kanae-chan can be her ears."
"It'll be tough at first, but it's what you want most, right? A nice apartment in a nice area close to your job."
"Yeah. It probably won't feel like home til Maxie comes back for good, but I'm gonna do my best to make it one worth coming back to. Then maybe him and I can--"
"AYE, SANTA CLARA!" 
The two's attention was diverted back to the house. "What the hell?!" Ibuki exclaimed.
"Oh, this can't be anything good..." Kibō said. They went inside.
Anna was squatting on the couch, mortified. "No puedo, no puedo, aye mama, ya no puedo más con esta mierda..."
"What's wrong with you?" Kibō asked.
"Un mapache..."
"A...what?" Ibuki questioned.
"Un mapache saltó de la caja..."
"No comprendo."
Anna pointed to the kitchen. "TRASH PANDA!"
Sure enough, perched on the kitchen counter, eating a biscuit, was a raccoon.
"Aw, hell! How'd that furball get in here?!" Ibuki asked.
"Little bastard was hidin' inside that box of kitchen stuff! Scared the everlovin' bejeezus outta me!" Anna exclaimed.
"Well we're not gonna let it run around the house. We're gonna have to catch it." Kibō suggested.
"I ain't goin' near it! Fucker probably has rabies! Shoot it with an arrow or somethin'!"
"I can't do that here." Ibuki replied.
"Whaddya mean ya can't do it here?!"
"She means the spirit energy concentration is too low here. We can't use our powers everywhere." Kibō explained.
"Not like I'd feel good about shooting him when he's probably just hungry." Ibuki added.
"We'll just have to come up with--uh-oh."
The three had looked away for a split second, and the large rodent had vanished.
"Coño! You've gotta be screwin' with me!" Anna complained.
"Maaaybe he went outside on his own?" Ibuki suggested.
"All the doors and windows are closed, though. Which means..." Kibō replied.
"No no no no no no, ya no puedo, aye mierda..." Anna shook her head.
"Guess we're going hunting." Ibuki said.
"Really getting into the holiday spirit." Kibō added.
---
Across town, the Jadefang trio arrived at a field with a large, white tent. "Can't believe they're still here after all these years. I remember coming here with Mom and Dad when me and Davie were kids. We used to run around the trees so much we'd get lost." Annette reminisced.
"Didn't you say you used to stuff pine needles down his shirt so he'd get all itchy?" Barbara asked.
"And now you know why your uncle wouldn't come with us today."
Max listened intently. "Is that a...trumpet I'm hearing?" 
"Oh, yeah. The owners are fans of live music. Helps to bring out the festive spirit. Wonder if it's the same man from when I was little..."
They entered the tent, inside of which was a large assortment of Christmas trees.
"--omigawd, STOP! How many times do I gotta tell you?! More feeling!"
"Huh?" Max looked. 
A shorter man wearing a makeshift Santa suit and hat, his pants pulled up past his stomach, was lecturing a group of teenagers all dressed as elves, all holding trumpets.
"I'm sorry sir, I'm trying my best--" one boy protested.
"Your best is worse than the clog in my toilet! You know who you're trying to argue with?!"
"He's not in the holly jolly spirit, is he?" Max asked.
"Probably best if we go looking away from here, Mama." Barbara advised.
"Yeah, good call." their mother agreed.
"--but, sir--" another teenager spoke up.
"No buts! You're *nothing*! You're all self-consumed, no talent, mediocre pieces of shit!" the man ranted.
"He *does* realize there's little kids around, right?" Max whispered.
They started away from the raving trumpet man, and started looking through the trees. "How about this one, Mama?" Barbara asked.
"Might be a bit too tall for the living room, Moonbeam. The star might end up scraping the ceiling." Annette replied.
"What do you think, Maxie?"
Max was clearly listening to something else, and trying not to laugh.
"Are you still focusing on that trumpet weirdo, Starbolt?" Annette asked.
"I'm sorry, you have to hear this. I haven't been this entertained in a long time." Max replied.
"You don't know who you're backtalking to! In 1985 I walked Bob Dylan up on stage, who the *fuck* are you?! You're nothing!" the trumpet man ranted.
The trio tried to sustain their laughter. "(What a conversation this guy and Dr. Hai Phin would have.)" Max thought.
"Alright, alright alright alright let's get back on track. We've got a tree to pick out." Annette advised.
"They all mostly look the same to me."
"There's an art to picking these things out, you know. It's like any decoration. It has to enhance the room." Barbara said.
"Do you have to make *everything* sound dramatic?"
"Nope. But it's fun."
"Wasn't your professor a plant girl? Maybe we should call her up for some advice." Annette suggested.
"I think she's more of a flower lady than a tree one." Max replied.
"She *was* born under a tree, though." Barbara pointed out.
"Yeah, and we were born in a hospital room, doesn't make us experts on depressing wall colors."
"Yeah, fair. So what should we be looking for, Mama?"
Their mother had gone elsewhere.
"Mama?"
"Please tell me she's not going near the trumpet aficionado..."
The twins walked around, finally finding Annette looking at one particular tree with curiosity. "There you are. Thought you might've gone off to take trumpet lessons." Max said.
"...this one." Annette said.
"Hm? What about this one?" Barbara asked.
"This one's speaking to me. I think we've got a winner."
"This one? Um...it looks a little...I don't know..."
"It looks kinda dark. Trunk looks a little scratched up, too." Max noted.
"Wouldn't you want one a little healthier-looking? Feels like it'd bring the room down."
"The scratches give it character. And it might look a bit worse for ware, but it's nothing some tender loving can't fix. In all honesty, it reminds me of someone I know." Annette winked at Max.
"Heh. I wonder who that might be." Max replied.
"Guess we'll never know. I'll go grab one of those poor teenagers away." Annette walked off.
Barbara uttered a teasing giggle.
"What's with the look?" Max asked.
"Don't think I don't see you blushing. Mama still knows what buttons to push with you~."
"She's the only woman that can say something like 'this tree is like my son' and not sound corny." He sighed. "Leaving again is gonna be even worse, I know it."
"You'll be back in a few weeks, hopefully. Knowing you're doing okay has to make it easier. These last couple of days helped her a ton. And me. Until you get back, she'll have this...lovely tree to remind her of you."
"...it is kind of a creepy tree, isn't it?"
"Hopefully she's right about the 'love can fix it' thing. If it worked for you..."
"I'm not a tree."
"She's gonna start calling it Starbolt. You know that, don't you?"
"Uggggh."
The tree was paid for, and helped into the back of the family van. "Hopefully the ropes are enough. Fifteen minutes between us and the house to find out." Annette said.
"It's either these or nothing. Nothing, you're nothing!" Barbara mimicked the trumpet lord's voice.
"In 1972 I put Bob Dylan's tree up on stage, who the fuck are you?!" Max followed suit.
Annette laughed. "I'll excuse the F-bomb just this once. Let's get Treebolt home."
"PLEASE don't call it that..."
"Well ain't this a happy little outing."
Davie approached. "Well howdy, stranger. Out tree-hunting?" Annette asked.
"I wish. Got a call about some wacko disturbing the peace. Something about--"
"A trumpet, and Bob Dylan?" Barbara replied.
"He's in there." Max added.
"Got it. Thank you for your service to the community." The officer walked inside.
"Should we stick around?" Annette asked.
"The fuck are you on about, you know who I am?!" the man could be heard yelling.
"I think we've contributed enough." Max replied.
---
"Ummm." Barbara uttered.
"So our day's been a little...exciting." Ibuki said.
Inside the living room, Anna was sitting on top of an overturned laundry basket, underneath which was a raccoon. "See where you're at now, Rocky?! That's how Bronx gals get it done!" she boasted.
"Aw, not again! Move it." Annette urged her off the basket. She lifted it. "Go on, get!"
The nocturnal rodent fled out the door, the youths all moving out of its way.
"We could've just...opened the door and let it run." Kibō uttered.
"Homegirl wanted to make it into a hat." Ibuki chimed.
"And I'd do it again!" Anna exclaimed.
Annette sighed. "Kibō, hon, could you help Starbolt get the tree out of the van?"
"Yes, ma'am." Kibō replied.
"Watch out for any woodland creatures." Barbara cautioned.
"Grrr..." Anna grumbled.
---
"And here...we go." Annette put one last ornament up, a photo of herself and the twins when they were younger, surrounded by a heart frame. "Not so spooky anymore, eh?"
"Well it doesn't look like the Krampus is gonna come for a visit, at least." Max replied.
"Pure, happy thoughts only. It's definitely got its charm. Scratches and all. Right, Ibuki?" Barbara asked.
"Mmhmm." Ibuki nodded.
"We're still talking about the tree, right?" Max asked.
"Sure, Sparkplug. We're talking about the tree."
"A hard day's work calls for a nice reward. I'm gonna make up some hot cocoa." Annette said.
"Need a hand? It's been a while since I've helped you in the kitchen." Max asked.
"Nothing would make me happier, hon. One last little happy moment before you're gone again, and I get to show Ms. Ibuki all those baby photos I've been keeping around."
"Oh, Mama, noooo..."
"Oh, Mama, yeeees!" Ibuki chimed.
"Hmmmhmmm~." Annette hummed as she went to the kitchen.
"Mama, Mama, I think we can discuss this, she doesn't have to see everything--" Max followed after.
"Well congrats, Ibuki. You're officially in the embarrassing photos part of your relationship." Barbara said.
"I've dreamed of a day like this." Ibuki replied.
"Y'all can go from depressin' to bubbly in two seconds. I thought it was just a Starbolt thing. Y'all are crazy." Anna said.
"And you're the picture of sanity?"
"Hells yeah! I'm as cool as cool can be!"
No sooner did Anna say this, that something drooped over her shoulder. The familiar, bushy tail of a raccoon.
"GYAAAAAAH!" She sprinted off an inconceivable speed.
"...I was just showing off this cool hat I found." Kibō was wearing a coon-skin cap.
The girls had a laugh at this. Annette overheard it from the kitchen, and smiled. She'd longed for a house filled with warmth and levity. For today at least, she had what she wanted.