Hm... maybe more words will get a response...


Kyoko hummed to herself as she finished putting the last touches of dinner on the table, happier now than ever. Sure her mother emancipated her and Sho was still a brat, but now that neither was tying her down, she was finally living the life she always envied. In a month she as going to marry her fairy prince and officially have a king and queen as parents. Her 'Rookie of the Year' award next to her diploma shined nicely on the shelf next to Kuon's 'Best Leading Actor' awards (he had one from each ceremony). In two days they might have her 'Best Supporting Actress' award to join them, especially with all the praise she was getting for her role as Mina in Wandering Hearts. And then there was…

Giggling to herself, she could recall perfectly the look on Kuon's face when she told him the good news. To think three years ago she was so against the idea of love and family, and now she was more than eager to have one of her own. Her prince was the perfect partner for her, and she loved every minute she could be with him.

Behind her she could hear the door open and close, exciting her immediately. Instantly she was on her feet, racing to greet her man. "Welcome back!"

Her excitement wilted the second she saw Ren's face. He was withdrawn, like he was whenever he had a nightmare and she wasn't there when he woke up. His eyes were on the ground, his back leaning heavily against the oak door behind him. Defeat and grief was all she could see in the dark hole around him. Worry crept into Kyoko's heart just looking at him.

"Kuon?" Caution oozed from her every word as she slowly approached him. "What's wrong? What happened?"

He twitched slightly from hearing his name, looking up for a brief second before his head fell further down, closing his eyes in pain. Terror started to grip her chest as she started assuming the worse for their relationship. Was he tired of her? Did he suddenly hate her? Maybe she should have… "Did I-"

"I got the test results today." Kuon's voice was small, pained by every breath, but still keeping her attention. He was not going to let her believe she was the cause for his mood. No, he would never let her believe she was the source. He cared too much for her to give her that kind of pain.

She started to breathe a little easier, but not completely. She'd been worried about his health for a while now. For the past few months he had dizzy spells and vomited for no apparent reasons. His low blood pressure in the mornings was getting worse and he was forgetting some small things. Two weeks ago he fainted on set, and that was the last straw; he finally went to a doctor. And he did a lot of tests. "Oh. So… what is the problem? An ulcer? Vitamin deficiency?"

Clenching his fists, the actor found it hard to answer. Instead he raised the hand holding the now wrinkled reports out to her to read. Cautiously she took the papers and started to read them. After a minute or two, she gasped, understanding and horror filling her mind. No… it couldn't be… "Kuon…"

"It's terminal." Sliding down the door to the floor, the once great and proud actor shivered in the cold harsh reality of life. The love of his life started to do the same, tears already forming in her eyes. He still couldn't look at her in his grief. "He said if I came in earlier, there may have been a chance. But my damn work ethic… I really have worked myself to death."

"Kuon…" She fell to her knees next to him, trying desperately to get him to look at her.

"I can't ask you to stay with me Kyoko." Her heart froze completely hearing him. No…

His hand covered his face as tears started to come down his face, traveling lines that were being formed the entire afternoon. "I've been trying to think of a way to let you go ever since I found out, but… I can't… I don't know how… how I could go through his without you. Either option… I know… I knew I would hurt you in the end."

"Don't say that!" Kyoko grabbed onto his arm and hugged it tightly, not letting him go. "I'm never going to leave you Kuon! We'll find a way! You'll beat this! I know you will!"

"This isn't something you can defeat princess." Kuon's green eyes finally glanced at her from behind his dark hair. "All they can do is soften the blow, make the most of it."

"Then make the most of it! Extend your life!" She was not going to lose him too! This was one she'd never get over.

Gently his free hand stroked her tear stained face, a sad smile forcing its way through for her to see just how much he loved her. "Believe me, if I could I would. But as it is…" He shifted his gaze and hand to her belly. "I won't even live long enough to learn the gender of our baby."

One month. They only found out last week she was expecting, and only because Ren insisted that if he was being tested for something, so should she. Her growing nausea and exhaustion was troubling him more than his dizzy spells. The tests came back fast and positive. One month pregnant. Just that morning they were discussing names.

"Yes you will!" She demanded his full attention, seeing all the grief in his eyes more clearly now than she had when he told her everything about his past. "You're going to live to see him grow up! And his brothers and sisters too!"

A bitter laugh escaped him. "I wish I had your hope."

"Then I'll hope enough for both of us." Their eyes connected once again before their lips did. She did her best to reassure him that everything would turn out alright, that she would never give up. He though only transmitted how deeply, how wholly he loved her. With only a few months left, he would do everything in his power to prove it.

But for now…

When they broke for air, pleading tears met hers. "Please… stay with me."

Never could she resist Kuon's face when he was like this. Kyoko let go of his arm only to wrap her arms around his neck and head, drawing him in. "Always."

No more words were said. The once great and proud actor now clung to the woman he needed and loved so dearly with all his might, crying like a child.


A/N: I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT HE'S SICK WITH SO DON'T ASK! My knowledge of terminal diseases that are ignored and then terminal within a few months is nada. Could be a cancer for all I know. All I know from the song I mentioned before is that the guy only had weeks. I did the best I could with what I had. you really should look up Skip Beat and Terrible Things on youtube and watch the vid. it doesn't get enough views, and it is amazing. I'm always crying.

Almost the rest of the background is here, only a little more in the next few chapters. There are thirteen total (just counted) and like 22 pages total, so yeah, enjoy!