Chapter Twenty Four :: After Fifteen Months

Six Months Later - May

Kuon walked around the house early in the morning trying to get Ichigo back to sleep, he sighed and smiled at her as she smiled back at him before gurgling some words. Kuon laughed as he ran his fingers through her hair and then looked at the clock. It was four in the morning, time for most people to be in bed. He sat down with Ichigo and then heard her drift off in his arms. "Hey Ichi," he smiled to the girl using the nickname he had once reserved for his once upon a time eldest son. He heard a voice behind him and turned around as the person started speaking.

"Daddy," Ryuu spoke quietly to not wake Kyoko however his voice was still strong, serious, mature. In his hands he held a box of colored pencils and a plain, line-less notebook. He tilted his head to the side, "Daddy, I have some information that you need to know."

Kuon sighed but he was in a good enough mood to entertain Ryuu so he let him talk, hoping that Ichigo wouldn't wake up. Ryuu looked at him and nodded trying to determine whether it was best to tell his dad this information or just to leave it alone.

"Daddy, you know how I've always believed that nii-san is alive because I haven't seen his ghost," he said as Kuon looked away from his son and Ryuu sighed, "Just listen, it's alright if you don't believe me for now."

Kuon sighed before looking down at Ichigo, "Don't judge your brother when you grow up," he whispered, "Childhood schizophrenia is harder to deal with than anything I've gone through...apart from mourning your big brother."

Ryuu laughed, "I doubt you'll call it schizophrenia in about ten minutes once Leon calls up," he told him as Kuon stared at his son and how honest he thought he was being.

"He won't call Ryuu," Kuon tried to explain to his son but Ryuu had already started writing something with his pencils.

"2176 Bronson Hill Drive," Ryuu repeated to himself as he wrote it in a blue pencil and then he picked up a red pen he had put in his pencil box and wrote very clearly "241 Bear Ridge Road, Pleasantville, NY" He repeated the names again and then nodded.

"Ryuu," Kuon asked surprised his son knew of these places, "What are you doing? Why are you writing these things...I mean how do you know streets and addresses both in Hollywood and in New York"

"Ryan told me," Ryuu told him before looking away, "I know you don't believe me but I haven't seen Ryan for months now, I don't know, maybe I am crazy, maybe I need to be on medication," he shrugged, "All I know is that this," he pointed to the address in Hollywood, "Is where Justin's home is in California and this..." he pointed to the red writing "is where Nii-san is. This is where you'll find Ichiro-sorry Zack."

"Who's Zack Ryuu?" he asked in disbelief. His current thoughts were that perhaps his son, now nine years old, had done some research on his computer. "I think you've just been having a bad dream," Kuon tried gently as Ryuu stared at him.

"I woke up an hour ago to talk to Ryan," he said, "All of this I learned whilst I was awake."

"Ryuu..." Kuon groaned, "I'm going to put Ichi to bed," he smiled at the baby, "You get to bed too."

"Leon's going to call in about five minutes though," Ryuu told him.

Kuon shook his head, "No he's not," he tried to explain gently as Ryuu nearly screamed in frustration but he just did it silently so he wouldn't wake up his little sister. "Now get to bed," he told him before going upstairs and putting Ichigo in her cot. He had to talk to Nishigawa since her methods weren't working even though Ryuu was on the highest dosage it was legal to give a child.

As he watched Ichigo settle down he heard the phone ring from downstairs and looked at his watch, five minutes that Ryuu had told him had gone by and he had received a call, coincidence probably. Answering it quickly before it woke everyone in the house he said clearly, "Moshi Moshi, Hizuri Kuon speaking."

"Kuon-san," Leon said weakly, "I'm sorry to call you so late at night...or so early in the morning," he said before looking through the computer files he had finally hacked from Justin's computer. It had taken him months to learn how to get in and pass all of the security measures Justin had put on but he had done it.

"It's fine," Kuon replied with the same weakness, "What did you call for Leon?"

"I...You won't believe this but I have proof that Ichirou's alive. I've sent you an email and I'll meet you at New York airport, we'll go together." Leon answered breathlessly, "I mean...I extended my stay an extra semester because I wasn't finding anything, still...Ichirou is in New York. I've sent the address in an email but I want to go with you, I don't want you going there alone and I don't think even I can get in alone."

"Alright, I'll come as soon as I've read the email," Kuon said not really believing what Leon was telling him but he wanted to. It was just fear that Leon was mistaken that was tugging at his heart. He didn't want to think he could get his son back if it was never going to happen.

"Thanks Kuon, I'll be waiting," he said as Kuon nodded. He wouldn't pack, just take his necessary things but first was to read that email. He heard the phone drop and the walked to his computer and logged onto his personal email.

All the email contained was a note Meet me at JFK Airport, with the address We're going to 241 Bear Ridge Road, Pleasantville, NY. He blinked wasn't this the same place that Ryuu was talking about, had he been talking to Leon too and knew when to call, improbable but more possible than him actually seeing ghosts and creatures. He scrolled down to find pictures of what looked like an eighteen year old Ichirou yet he wasn't wearing his glasses. There were a couple of him with Justin just looking like a regular father and son and blinked at them. What the hell was this!

He stood up and turned the computer off before packing a backpack and walked to his room to grab his American money and his passport.

Fourteen Hours Later

Kuon got off the plane and through security arriving at four in the morning when he found Leon, he looked at him feeling extremely awake and prepared for this and yet heard Leon sigh. "Well let's get him, let's kidnap him and take him now," Kuon told the twenty year old.

Leon shook his head, "It's too early to do that, let's go back to the hotel and wait until morning, I'm sure they'll find a room for you too."

"So we're not going to find him directly?" Kuon asked before looking away and then remembered the question he needed to ask Leon. "Did you call Ryuu up and tell him all of this before you called me?"

Leon blinked and tilted his head to the side, "What are you talking about?" he asked completely puzzled about the event. "I haven't talked to Ryuu in months, not since that night last year when I came over and asked to get your parent's address."

"So the ghosts..." Kuon said before his eyes widened and he looked creeped out, "What the hell?" he asked before shaking his head, "He must have logged onto my email, you gave me an email with Justin's home in LA on it right?"

"Justin's home in Hollywood?" Leon asked before Kuon nodded quickly, "He has numerous homes, which one are you talking about?"

"The one in Bronson," Kuon said slowly.

"He has one there?" Leon asked, "Anyway I never sent you an email about the houses he had in LA because there was really nothing there. Who told you these things?"

"Ryuu did," Kuon looked at Leon and took a deep breath in, "I think Ryuu actually sees ghosts," he said, "And I've been putting him on medication to help him deal with it. How else would he have this information if the ghosts weren't real? He even knew before I told him that Lory had died because he said he had seen him."

"So he really can see them," Leon said before looking at Kuon, "Let's get you to a hotel room for the night," he said and Kuon nodded.

"One night though, I'll check out tomorrow morning and then we'll go get Ichirou," he told him as Leon nodded agreeing with that plan.

Next Day – 9:00am

After the two men had defeated the security guards outside the building of which there were six of the strongest men Kuon had ever fought against and he admitted afterwards he would probably be dead if Leon hadn't been there fighting too. In the end, Leon knocked out four of the men and Kuon two, but they were like supermen. He didn't know how he'd get Ichirou out of this house if these guards were to gain consciousness.

As they arrived at the door Leon saw a couple more guards come out and looked at Kuon, "I'll deal with these guys you convince Ichirou."

Kuon looked at him nervously, "You sure?"

"Positive," Leon said before running off to fight, blood already on his clothes.

Kuon took a deep breath in and knocked on the door only for it to be opened by Zack. Kuon's eyes widened and he instantly hugged the boy already recognizing him as his son, even if he hadn't been wearing his glasses he'd recognize him.

"Excuse me," Zack said weakly, "Why are you hugging me? Who are you?"

"I'm your father and I'm hugging you because you're my son," Kuon tried to explain, tears in his eyes as the feeling of hope filled his body, however Zack pushed him away.

"I am sorry, I am Zack Warren," he spoke in perfect English with the right articulation, pitch and tone, "My father is Justin Warren, do you have an appointment?"