A/N: The characters are a continuation of Angel Weasel-Woman and I's brain-canon (see any of our Jyoumato fics). So here's a lowdown of the characters. Events will be referenced through flashbacks.

Yamato Ishida, now divorced from Sora Takenouchi. She isn't in the picture after she tried to kidnap her kids following a custody battle (for backstory on why, read Angel's "No Children"). The two children are from oldest to youngest: Hanako, a girl similar to Yamato, and Tsukuyomi, a boy similar to Sora.

Jyou was a single father with one child, Aiko, who is similar to him. He took Yamato and his kids in after the dispute and they have since formed a loving family.

Two years later, Yamato and Jyou have both entered the space program and are going on the first habitable mission to Mars...

Proprioception

Chapter 1

Yamato took a breath as he looked at himself in the mirror. He could hear his kids in the background, arguing over some asinine thing. He was going to miss it, but his dream was finally coming true. Still, leaving his kids with Takeru and Hikari seemed like such a burden, but with Sora out of the picture, it was his only option. His ailing father couldn't do it and his mother had passed two years ago.

Suddenly, two arms wrapped around him, "I saw breakfast. Thanks. Probably be the last real meal we eat in awhile."

The blonde laughed, "Yeah, well, I think you could live off space food."

"Very funny," Jyou frowned into the mirror. "Come on, the bags are packed... Just waiting on them to come pick up the kids."

The small group had gotten used to hearing 'the kids' and all rushed into the bedroom, crowding around the bathroom door. Yamato frowned, he was still only in his underwear. I wonder what Sora would've thought. Ha! The oldest as a little on the chubby side with blue hair and contacts. His name was Aiko Kido, thirteen. Then there was Hanako Ishida, twelve, who was a lot like her father. Finally, the smallest, Tsukuyomi Ishida, was nine.

"I'm so jealous. I want to go into space," said Aiko. "Still, I don't understand why we're with Uncle Takeru."

"Because Grandpa isn't feeling well and we'll be gone almost two years," Yamato pressed.

"Why do you both have to go?" asked Tsuku.

"Because they need us," Jyou said, hugging the kid close to him.

"D-Dad," Tsuku giggled and wriggled free. "I'll miss you."

"Me too," said Aiko. "I love you both."

Yamato watched Hanako who wasn't looking at either of them and instead at the spec of shaving cream on the floor. "Hana-chan?" he whispered. "Hana-chan, don't you wanna say goodbye to us? Uncle Takeru and Aunt Hikari will be here soon."

Like clockwork there was a knock at the door. Jyou smiled and shooed all the kids out like cattle. Yamato heard the pitter patter of footsteps as they all rushed down the hall. All except Hanako. He glanced over at her as he finished shaving and then gave in. "Hana-chan... it's not as long as you think."

"It's because Mom never let you go into space, right?"

"...well, that's one reason."

"You know... we never see her. Why can't we stay with her?"

Yamato grinded his teeth a little and set down the razor gently. "If she takes you, you'll never come home. Remember last time?"

"She was just stressed because you divorced her!" Hanako cried.

Yamato balled up his fist. Hanako, damn it. Why are you so much like me? "Go tell Daddy Jyou I'll be there in a minute."

She pouted at her Father and then stormed out of the room. Yamato breathed out, white knuckling the counter. "I'm sorry... to be selfish now. I just need to do this. I need one thing in my life to not revolve around someone else."

Hanako listened near the bedroom door and sighed. That was when Tsuku rushed up and grabbed her hand, dragging her down the hall. "Here's Hana-chan, Aiko!"

Jyou had opened the door and had been rambling on about the joys of space when he realized he hadn't invited them in, "Sorry, come on in."

"Thanks," Hikari said. "Come on Kazuki, Lucian. Go play with your cousins a minute while we talk to Uncle Jyou."

Takeru smiled and shut the door behind him. Hikari went to sit on the couch. Jyou and Takeru stood nearby, waiting on Yamato. Takeru watched the kids run down the hall, then noticed Hanako. "...she okay?"

Jyou glanced over with a frown, "She... wants to stay with her mother."

"Oh, poor thing," Hikari sighed.

"I still can't believe this is happening," Takeru said, folding his arms. "Yamato fought so hard for his kids and now he's abandoning them?"

"It's just two years," Jyou reminded, "Besides... since his father's been in the hospital, it's all he can talk about."

"It's like... he wants to get as far away as he can. And you're letting him?" Hikari questioned.

Jyou didn't answer. He believed in Yamato and knew that they were making the right decision. His husband needed this. "It's his dream."

"I feel better with you there, Jyou," Takeru smiled. "You always take care of my brother."

The blue haired boy blushed, "W-Well, I try."

Yamato meandered out of the bedroom in a suit, but it was all for the publicity. He had a year's worth of clothes packed- well, his interpretation of a year's worth of clothes. When he stepped into the livingroom, outside the kids' laughter and yelling, it was unusually quiet. "What, were you all talking about me?"

"No, we were talking about Jyou," Takeru laughed.

Yamato nodded, "Thanks again, Hikari, Takeru."

"It's really no problem," Hikari reassured. "It's just five kids... and besides, Miyako is over all the time with hers... it'll be like a mini-daycare!"

"Or Hell on earth," Takeru joked.

"Well," Yamato said, checking his watch, "We should get going, Jyou."

"Yeah, there's lots of prep to do before the launch," Jyou noted. "...and I'd like to avoid the press."

"First men to Mars," Hikari smiled. "It's a big deal."

"First gay men to Mars, for that matter," Takeru noted.

Yamato sighed. Of course, you had to point that out, the brother thought, remembering when that had been an issue originally. He never did understand it, but eventually they had came to some silent agreement. The older sibling figured that it probably had to do with how Takeru felt Yamato had betrayed Sora, since Takeru never really believed the truth about the mother, either. "Thanks again, T.K.," Yamato whispered as he passed him, carrying one of the tote bags. "And you, too, Hikari. Love you both."

"You just stay safe up there," Hikari pressed.

Takeru said nothing.

Jyou reached out to shake the blonde's hand and bowed to Hikari. "Please make sure they know that we love them."

Hikari smiled and Takeru helped the two take the remainder of the bags out the door, even though they could take care of it themselves. They said goodbyes yet again and headed down the stairs.

"Takeru," his wife pressed. "I don't care what you feel about your brother, but go tell him you love him."

"...I can't. Everything he's ever done is wrong," the blonde remarked.

"Takeru! What if he never comes back? It's space. Do you know how much faith they are putting in us to possibly permenantly raise their kids?" the wife hissed. "Now, go."

"Enough, Hikari," Takeru breathed, going back inside. "I have hope in them."

"Takeru," Hikari whispered. "You're afraid of losing him... just like you've lost your mother and are losing your father."