Chapter 4

The pair sat in her living room watching the fire that she had lit in her fireplace as their son sat quietly hidden at the top of the stairs listening intently and waiting for the moment she would need him.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Kuon asked softly full of hurt.

"Because I didn't want you marrying me out of some twisted sense of duty. If and that's a big if, I ever get married I want it to be for love. Not a one-sided affection to a man that doesn't see me in that light." She explained. It still hurt to think about it. To think about the night of a party that changed her life and gave her the best thing that ever happened to her.

"Damn-it Kyoko!" He railed.

Shin tensed up and was ready to spring.

"I love you... I always have! I've loved you since we were children! I've never loved anyone else! I haven't touched any woman other than you for the last 18 years!" He stood and paced.

Shin flinched at the revelation.

Kyoko stared at him wide-eyed and speechless. "Why didn't you tell me that? Why did you leave?" She whispered.

Kuon groaned. "I thought you were with Reino. Takarada told me that you needed time. That night... that night we made love... I thought... I thought I was your mistake. It killed me when I woke up and you were gone."

"I..." She started and a little tear streamed down her perfect cheek.

Shin swallowed hard as he watched the woman he loved fall apart before him while listening to their story. Uncle Reino was wrong... He thought. They still care for each other. After all this time.

He sat down next to her and took her hand. "Kyoko... Please... Please stop running from me. I'm tired and I can't take it much longer. I miss you so much. Please let me love you. Let me give you the love you deserve and let our son know his father. Please?" He begged. "I swear on my life, you will not regret it."

Shin could feel their pain and stood from where he was hiding. He quickly and quietly padded down the stairs to his sobbing mother, kneeled before her, took both her hands in his and pulled her to him. "Mom... Shh... It's okay. Don't cry." He whispered.

"Baby... I am so sorry." She sobbed. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm so stupid." She cried.

Kuon knelt down and took both into his embrace to comfort her. "You aren't stupid Kyoko. You didn't know. I'm so sorry. I should have told you. I should have stormed in and made you see." He confessed.

"You aren't mad at me?" She looked up and sniffled.

Kuon gave her a sad smile. "I'm a little upset, but that's my own fault. Kyoko... We've had too many misunderstandings. Can we please fix this? I want us to be a family. Can we do that?" He begged.

She nodded silently in the two men's arms.

Shin leaned back and grabbed the box of tissues from the coffee table and pulled one out and handed it to her. "Mom? Are you okay?"

She nodded. She looked up at Kuon. "What do we do now?" She asked in a small voice.

Kuon gave them a small smile. "You already know what I would like to do. Something I've been wanting to do since you were 17, Kyoko-chan."

She gave him a confused look.

Shin rolled his eyes. "Mom... He wants to marry you." Shin told her and shook his head. "God Mom, I'm almost 14 and even I can see that." He told her in exasperation.

Kuon looked at her lovingly. "Well... What do you say to it, Kyoko? Would you be willing to marry me?"

She stared down at the floor and nodded shyly. She felt so small. "I think I would like that." She answered quietly.

Kuon swept her into his arms and hugged her tightly then kissed her deeply.

"Eew... Gross! Get a room!" Shin backed away from the pair.

Kuon chuckled and Kyoko blushed. He looked at the boy. "Hmm... How would you like to get to know your grandparents?"

Shin looked at him quizzically and it finally hit him who he was actually related to. "Um... Would they really want to meet me?" He asked a little shyly staring at his hands.

Kuon smiled brightly. "Son... You have no idea." He turned to Kyoko. "Pack an overnight bag Love... We're getting married. I am not waiting another minute... I will not give you the chance to change your mind on this."

Kyoko gaped at him. "But what about work?"

"Kaa-san... I'll call Uncle Reino and tell him," He looked at Kuon with determination. "After you drop me off at Uncle Nikki's house."

Kuon smirked at him. "Not a chance. You'll either come with us or, stay with your grandparents." Kuon raised an eyebrow. "Your choice."

Shin was stunned. "Don't think you can boss me around old man." He told him sassily. "I guess grandparents... If that's okay..." He whispered with a small smile. "I don't want to be anywhere near you two for the next few days, if that kiss was any indication of what's to come." He grumbled.

Kuon laughed and pulled out his phone. "Alright... I'll call them and let them know they have a guest and you call Reino and let him know what's going on. Pack enough for a couple of days." He told him as Shin walked up the stairs.

Shin nodded and quickly went to pack.

"Where are we going?" Kyoko asked.

Kuon kissed her temple. "The only place we can get married right now. I'm not waiting a minute longer and neither are you. Now go pack." He kissed her nose and dialed.

Kyoko left for her bedroom in a daze to pack her things.

"Hey Yukihito... Yes... I need a suite... Las Vegas... Yeah... Umm... Honeymoon Suite..." Kuon held the phone a distance from his ear to save his hearing from the squeals. He brought the phone back once they died down. "For tonight... Check in at about..." He looked at his watch. "Midnight at the latest. I have a few things I need to take care of and it'll be a 5 hour drive. Yeah... No! Don't you dare tell him yet! I don't want a parade of elephants on the strip! Good. No... We'll deal with them later. Okay, thanks." He hung up and dialed again.

"Hey Dad? I've got someone you're gonna want to meet... We'll be over in about 20 minutes... Yeah, I'll explain when I get there. No, I'm not telling you right now..." Kuon chuckled. "Trust me... You'll understand when you meet them. Alright, Love you and see you in a few."