Author's Note: This story is set after Broken Reflections which is the sequel of White, Black, Grey. I don't know what exactly that makes this one. The sequel sequel? Anyway, if you haven't read the first two, go ahead and indulge. Of course you can just read this one first too, although it might not make all that much sense. But whatever you choose I hope you enjoy this.
Daiki didn't understand what was going on. His world had been turned upside down when Mommy had sat him down and told him Daddy was going away for a while. Daiki had simply nodded and asked when he would be coming back. He had been surprised and worried when Mommy had pulled him into a hug, her shoulders shaking as she cried.
"Mommy?"
"Daddy won't be coming back Daiki."
He didn't understand. Daddy always came home, always. Sometimes it took a while when he was really busy selling his paintings, but he always came back. So Daiki waited.
A couple weeks passed before Daddy came back. He looked like he did after he had locked himself in his studio for a while, tired with circles under his eyes. Daiki ran and threw himself into his father's arms, feeling the stubble on Daddy's face scratch his cheeks. "I missed you Daddy."
"I missed you too Daiki." Daddy's arms tightened around Daiki.
The door behind them squeaked open. Daiki smiled as Daddy released him and stood up. He turned to face his mother. "Daddy's home Mommy."
"Daisuke." Mommy sounded like she did when she was angry and trying not to cry.
"I'm sorry." Daddy whispered.
Daiki looked back and forth between his parents. "Mommy? What's wrong? Daddy?" He gripped Daddy's hand and tried to pull him toward the house. Daddy didn't move.
"Daiki." Mommy didn't look at him as she spoke, her eyes locked on Daddy's face. "Go inside sweetheart. Your Daddy and I have to talk."
There was something wrong, something bigger then he could understand. Daiki was suddenly seized by a fear that rooted him to the spot. His fingers curled around Daddy's hand tighter. "No."
"Daiki." There was the warning in Mommy's voice that only came out when he was being really bad.
Daddy knelt down. "Go on Daiki. I'll come see you after your Mommy and I have talked."
Daiki went.
In his room he couldn't interest himself in his toys. Instead he sat on his bed staring at the door. He could hear the low murmur of his parent's voices through the window then a long silence broken by a knock on his door. He jumped up off his bed as Daddy peeked around his door. "Hey Daiki."
Daiki just watched as Daddy came and sat next to him on the bed. For a while they sat, Daddy sighed once and Daiki felt that funny feeling welling up inside again.
"Daiki," Daddy said again. "I have to tell you something."
Daiki stared, the fear paralyzing him again.
"I have to go…" The rest of Daddy's words faded away.
"Don't go Daddy." The lump in his throat made it hard to speak above a whisper. "I'll be good, I promise. I won't make noise when you're sleeping and I won't bother you when you're working. Please Daddy, don't go."
"Daiki," Daddy sounded like he was going to cry as he pulled Daiki into a hug. Daiki grabbed hold of Daddy's shirt as tightly as he could in both his hands and held on, burying his face in his father's chest.
"It's not your fault Daiki." Daddy said, hugging him so hard he almost couldn't breathe. "It's me, there's something messed up with me Daiki. I have to figure it out."
"Don't go Daddy." Daiki was crying now. "Please Daddy."
"It's not your fault." Daddy repeated, rocking him back and forth. "I love you so much and I'll come see you whenever you want."
"Don't go." Daiki couldn't think of anything else to say. He was crying so hard that his tummy felt funny like it did before he got sick.
Daddy just held him and made shushing noises. "I love you Daiki." He held Daiki comforting him until his sobs degraded into hiccups. Daiki had no more energy to plead, he could only keep his fingers curled tightly in Daddy's shirt, refusing to let go until he fell asleep.
Daddy was gone when he woke up.