Now for another set of people who have to be told. Fun stuff.

Julie Hizuri fell back into the couch with a dead thump, not wanting to believe her ears while tears welled in her eyes. Her husband Kuu shook gaping at the papers he read aloud to her. Please let this be a prank.

"It's not a prank Dad." Kuon did his best to be calm before these two, even though his throat was clenching up once more. The last thing he wanted was to make these two cry more than they already had for his sake.

Likewise, his father swallowed, trying to find his voice. "Well… we come to Japan expecting to help in your announcements and plan a wedding and you-"

"I didn't plan this." He knew his dad was just frustrated, but did he have to sound so accusatory? That was the last thing he wanted.

"No one does." Running a hand through his hair, Kuu tried to calm his breathing. Ten minutes ago they were overjoyed to be meeting their son, who called them by their titles once again, at the president's house. Now… it was worse than when he was fifteen and turned into a doll. "Are you sure there's no-"

"Not that anyone knows of so far." The younger man ran his hand through his hair, momentarily remembering that at least he was able to keep his hair. "The good news is that I'm the only one who has it. Kyoko's fine, and the baby-"

"BABY?!" Kuon was sure his hearing was going to go long before his remaining health. He really needed to sit down now. Did they have to shout in stereo?

"Uh… yeah… Kyoko's pregnant. Didn't the president-"

"Not a word." Kuu fell into a chair, too many emotions battling over his face. "You're sick and expecting a… You really don't do anything in halves do you?"

"Dad…"

"Are we supposed to be happy or sad?" He really didn't know what to do, like he was expected to perform a Greek Tragedy without a script or even an outline. Dying and… Realization grew in the man's eyes. "How's Kyoko-chan taking this? Is she alright?"

"Are you alright?" Julie finally managed to get to her feet, grabbing at her son's arm needingly. "Are you tired at all? What happens now? Do you have a fever? Oh baby, you never got sick! What am I supposed to do? Kuon-"

"I'm fine Mamka." Kuon gave his mother the best smile he could at the time, calling her by a title he hadn't in years. "Tired and a little under the weather, but the symptoms aren't too bad right now. Manageable so long as I eat right. And between Kyoko and Yuki, I'm probably eating better than I have most of my life."

"If you're tired, then sit down!" Not waiting for him to comply, his mom yanked him to a seat and sat on his lap to make sure he stayed put. "Really honey, you need to take care of yourself now more than ever! Imagine if you miss your baby's birth! You can't-"

"Mom." He cut her off, stone serious after she mentioned his greatest regrets. "That's exactly what is going to happen."

Cold silence filled the room, taking away all the warmth can comedy his mother nearly provided. Quietly, looking at the ground, he spoke more. "They say I have two months at least, four at best. That's why we're bumping up the wedding, and keeping it under wraps. My characters are being written out of my current projects, then…"

He clenched his teeth, his heart and mind in turmoil. His stubborn pride was dashed to pieces ages ago. He couldn't do this alone. "Mom… Dad… can we go home?"

"Kuon…"

"I… I want to spend what's left of my life with my family. My entire family. I promised Kyoko a fairytale. The least I can do is give her the royal family she always wanted, and castle to call home."

"Son," Kuu grabbed his knee, giving him a reassuring squeeze, "you shouldn't give up. LA has some of the best medical centers in the world. You can fight this. You can-"

"I'll fight as long as I can Dad," Kuon promised weakly, trying to smile for them. "But I want to be remembered in my last days as someone she could always depend on. I've… I've seen photographs of people in the final stages, after some of those treatments. You won't recognize me if I undergo everything.

"Let me die with some dignity." Regret entered his bitter smile. "I never did make it to your level in the end."

"Oh Kuon…" Julie wrapped her arms tight around his neck seconds before his dad took both of them into his. Receiving their love so strongly all at once, broke the dams he tried so hard to keep up. For what had to be the tenth time that week, he clung onto all he cared about and cried his eyes out. How could he be so pathetic when everyone around him was so amazing?

"You never had to push so hard to measure up to anyone," came the soft murmur from his honorable father. "From the day you were born, you were perfect for us. Never consider yourself less than the most precious child we could ever have."

"We love you Kuon," spoke his sweet mother in his ear, letting her own tears flow freely. "That is all that ever mattered. You are loved dearly by those who can never forget you. Of course you can come home. Bring your beloved princess with you. The three of you will always have a place in our home."

Relief flooded him as his last real fears were tossed aside. Who cared about what the world thought or said so long as those he cared about most understood what was going on and how he felt. This time his life would really be ending, but he wasn't going alone, and others would remember him.

A/N: Aweee... Okay, Mamka is a slightly rude way to say mom in Russian. I thought it'd be a nice thing for a teenaged Kuon to say as a petname for his mother. I bet he used to switch around ways to say mom and dad between the three languages growing up. My family did, and that was when we were learning words for language classes. Still do.

Still sad, but that's how things go. Time's gonna speed up and big events won't be show, just alluded to. Enjoy!