AN: I've decided that for a little while, I'm going to concentrate on fics that I want to concentrate on no matter the popularity of the fic. For a while I was trying to write for people and write the most popular fics but – not blaming anyone in particular – I've learned it's more satisfying to write for myself. Why? Because one of those so-called "popular fics" It's Just Like Magic got over 200 hits/views for its latest chapter and only one review so why not write what I want?

Anyway, thank you for choosing to read this

Kuon 6: With Family

My heart hurts and I don't think it's anything to do with my age. I know that she doesn't want to leave me and what I know more than that is I don't want to leave her. It would be best for her though. I don't know my limitations or abilities anymore, until I've figured that out then I should stay away for her own benefit. I feel very strange though, something inside of me is telling me that I'm wrong and that I should move towards her.

Maybe just saying goodbye to her one more time is enough for today. As I get my shoes and jacket on, I see that she's speaking to some of my new neighbors in this senior citizen community. I've had women flocking over me for years…the age demographic has just shifted now that I've gotten much older.

"Most handsome senior citizen I've ever seen," one of the two women says as I exit my house. "I wonder if he would make a good husband."

That causes fear to rise inside of me. A good husband? I'm only loyal to one woman and I want to be her husband but I don't know how well thought out that idea would be. I don't even know how I feel about their comments about my appearance. I guess I should be thankful that even as an old man, I'm seen as attractive.

"You were already married," the second woman jokes and it pains my heart. I don't know if I have to be present to request a divorce or whether I just have to sign some papers. No, I don't want to sign those papers.

The next move makes my eyes widen and I feel myself pulled forwards.

"Leave him alone. He's not your type so don't be such whores to talk about him in this way," Kyoko begins and I see how pained she is. I knew that she was hurt but she usually restrains herself, I can just see how damaged all of this is causing her to be. "He doesn't love you, if he pays attention to you it's only because of how sweet and kind and noble he is. Leave him alone!"

Her anger connects with me and I'm left standing outside my front door watching them. I can't even hear what they are saying to her but I see her pain and that's all that I can see. She's worried about me and she loves me despite my appearance. I walk behind her and realize that she hasn't noticed me so I put a hand on her shoulder.

She freezes and turns back to me, her eyes sparkling with tears. She puts a hand to her mouth and bends over with the pain and this alerts me further.

"She was tasked with visiting me in the place of one of my old friends, we've developed a friendship," I try to tell the two other women. I have to try to use my imagination and my quick-thinking to my advantage. I gently place my hand on her back and she turns to look at me, her eyes are showing how desperate she is.

"May I escort you home, Miss Kyoko," I ask her and she nods. She opens her mouth to speak but I let my thumb run in circles over her back. "We will be taking our leave now," I tell my neighbors with a bow and Kyoko smiles at me.

"You'll come home with me?" she asks and I nod.

"If that's okay," I tell her and Kyoko pauses. She blinks as she looks at me and nods.

"Yes, yes that's…that's more than okay," she replies and I feel relieved to be with her.

I'm nervously standing outside of my own house that Kyoko and I were able to purchase together with our savings and I'm feeling more terrified than I ever have before. My heart is telling me that I belong to this house and my head that I should stay here and it'll be safe and the best option but I'm scared. I'm scared of messing all of this up for her, of causing her to be seen as odd or strange.

Kyoko unlocks the door and turns back to me, "It's okay. It's going to be okay, you told me that your parents accepted you as you are now so please, sweetheart," she whispers to me as if I'm not this old man that she's looking at. She's acting as if nothing has changed between us in her eyes.

She must be acting very well.

"Welcome home," I hear my mother call out and she rushes to the door. Her smile widens as she sees me and tears are in her eyes again. "You convinced him to come back?" she asks before Kyoko nods and my mother rushes over to me, she kisses my cheek and pulls me close to her as if she still sees her son in my place. Can't she see how much I've changed? "Darling, we've been so worried about you," she tells me as she gently lets her fingers go through my white hair.

"See, I knew that your parents would want you back," Kyoko tells me and I look away. Mom puts two hands on my face, each hand on one of my cheeks and turns my head so that she can look into my eyes.

"Oh, darling, please don't ever think that we don't love you. You are so handsome still," she tells me and puts her arms around me again. "Kuu!" she calls out and I freeze. My dad was fine when he saw me earlier but what if he….well no one will be able to see him here. "Kuu!" she calls again and I step back nervously.

The next thing I see is my dad. He looks at me and our eyes connect and he laughs to himself, he looks relieved and happy to have me here. Am I dreaming all of this? "Kuon," he says in relief and walks towards me. I pull back a little. "Is something wrong, son?" he asks and I look at him confused.

"Son?" I ask him and he nods.

"You'll always be my son," he tells me confidently. "I'm glad that we have you back with us. Please tell me that you're staying," he seems to beg and I nod shakily.

"Just for a little bit," I tell them and Mom shakes her head.

"Nonsense, you have to stay here with Kyoko, this is your home and your life. You can't just give up on it. If you need us to come up with a reason then we'll find a reason. Nobody is going to have you kicked out of your own home," Mom turns to look at Kyoko who is staring at me as if she's worried that I'll disappear.

I look at them and then turn to my father. I've never seen this level of concern mixed with this much relief and happiness. I didn't think that he would care about me enough to be this emotional. "And if the media finds out the truth," I tell him and he nods, "that your son is a senior citizen, old enough to be your father."

"I don't care what other people think," Dad tells me without needing a moment to think of his answer, "I want my son to be happy and safe and healthy. Speaking of which, have you set up a doctor's appointment yet?" Dad asks me and I shake my head, both Mom and Kyoko have that same concern on their faces, older men usually have more health issues. "Please do that as soon as you can," Dad tells me. "May I hug you?" he asks and I nod.

He grins as he wraps his arms around me as if I'm the age I feel on the inside. I feel myself put my arms around him, enjoying the safety and comfort that he provides.

I take a nervous look at Kyoko and then freeze. I know that Dad wants to help me by being supportive and making sure that I have everything I need but as I look at Kyoko, the guilt sets in. I'm starting to consider the offer of going back to America with them. I don't want to feel alone any longer and Kyoko has so much of her life to live, so much with our child.

"What is it?" Dad asks but I shake my head. I'm not comfortable telling him right now. Dad waits a while to see if I will respond but when I don't he looks at Kyoko. "We've decided, your mother and I, to return to Japan. Kyoko will need some help when our grandchild is born and we'd really want to help you as well," Dad says and I pause. Somehow I feel dizzy and I almost fall but Dad catches me. "Easy, okay, easy." He says as he gets me sitting down on a nearby chair. At least he's strong enough to catch me when I fall but I can't be the reason they relocate their entire lives. That's too much to ask for.

…..

…..

"Dad," I say very slowly as I approach my father later in the night, he looks at me and stands up, pulling out a chair so I can sit beside him. He remains standing until I've sat down. He turns his body to me, giving me his full concentration. "I'm sorry, should I be calling you Kuu-san?" I ask and he looks horrified by the thought.

"Dad," he says firmly, "Please call me Dad."

"Dad," I smile and he grins hearing that, "I wanted to ask you for a favor," I tell him and he looks at me before nodding. "If we find a confidential doctor," I tell him as he stares me, barely even blinking. "Could you accompany me for my appointment?"

"You're making a doctor's appointment?" Dad asks and I nod, "Didn't Kyoko want to take you?" he continues and I look down, I don't want him to judge me on the fact that I don't feel comfortable or confident with Kyoko worrying about my health. I take another shaky breath in and focus on my father before dropping my head. "Kuon," he says slowly and I feel the unexpected rush of tears flow through me. I try to cover my face and turn away from him, "Kuon, what is it? What's wrong?"

I don't know what to tell him. I'm not the type of person to cry and now I can't stop the tears. I know that seeing me like this is making Dad even more concerned. I'm so weak. I need to be stronger for her, I need to do my part in being the man that she needs for me to be.

I close my eyes to steady myself and feel my chair being turned, I struggle to calm myself down and then when I open my eyes, I see Dad kneeling before me, his eyes wide with his concern and he puts a hand to my chin, gently moving my head around so he can get a better look at it. He puts a hand to my throat and feels for my pulse, his eyes not moving from mine. I know he's more than worried now.

"Tell me," he begs with me, "Tell me where the pain is,"

"I…" I begin to speak before looking up and see Kyoko. It's as if she's sparkling but that might just be my eyes. She rushes towards us as Dad puts his fingers on some of my loose skin, massaging it a little.

"Sweetheart," she says before putting her hand over Dad's and I strangely feel comforted in both an emotional and medical way. "It's okay, it'll be okay now."

"Where have you come back from? Are you…glowing?" Dad asks and I realize we both have the same question for her.

"I have something to tell you," Kyoko says and I have no idea what she is going to tell us.

End of Kuon 6

Thank you to: Erza, Megumitasama, and PaulaGaTo for reviewing the last chapter. It really does mean a lot to me.