AN: I decided to do a different point of view for this chapter. Hope you enjoy it.
Chapter Sixty Two
It's been a few days that we've been in San Francisco and the girls arrive today. Boss picked out a great place for us and I was surprised to see a swimming pool outside. I've always wanted to have a swimming pool but somehow we chose a house without it. Well, in our Los Angeles home there were more trees and a pond and a stream but I like the feeling of being here. It's hard to find real estate like this this close to the city.
I know that Kyoko has commented on it, not so much on herself swimming although I am interested in seeing that and as her husband I feel no problem in admiring her, but she keeps commenting on how she wants to see me swim. I just hope that I can live up to her desires. I've been to both my new therapist and new psychiatrist. My psychiatrist is male, therapist is an older woman but both appear to be professional so far.
In fact, because they want to keep me grounded and motivated, my therapist, Diana, has already set me a task to do at home to help me with my emotions. She wants me to find a corner of the house and fill it with motivational items. Right now I just have one. A photograph of Kyoko with her arms around both Ana and Rose. I smile as I look at the grins that each of them has. I just want to do all that is within my power to keep them happy.
"I really like that picture," Kyoko says as she comes close to me and hugs me from behind. I grab her hand and squeeze it as I look at the picture. "Can I put something next to it though?" she asks and I pause. I'm not sure what my therapist would say but I don't want to deny Kyoko. Even though this is supposed to be my space, maybe what she has to give me would find a home here.
I nod and she takes out a photograph of the four of us. I look at it and look back at the picture of the three of them. This was taken before the accident and we need a new photograph and I feel conflicted by it. I am holding close to Ana whilst Kyoko is with an excited Rose to my side. I look happy.
"You think this one is better?" I ask. Well, it was done professionally, I took the other one.
"I like it better," Kyoko tells me. "You're a great daddy, Corn," she says and I put the picture up on the wall, hanging it on a hook there. "See, that looks amazing," she grins.
"You think that I'm a good father?" I ask her nervously and she nods. I feel a little guilty about this past year. I've had to take care of myself, spend a lot of time on myself when I could have given some of that time to the girls. I sigh. I really wish that I hadn't been pulled away from them. I reach into a bag and take out the Pluto toy that the girls got for me on New Years as well as a Mickey they chose for my birthday. I put these down on a chair in the corner.
"I know you're an amazing father," Kyoko tells me. I smile as I take out two more photographs. One is a candid from our wedding where I'm treating Kyoko as the princess she is, the other is a picture of me as a young boy a few years before meeting Kyoko and Mom is grinning as she crouches at my level with her arms wrapped around me whilst Dad has a hand on my back and I don't remember many times when I've seen him look happier and prouder even when it comes to his own work.
"That is one of my absolutely favorite pictures," I hear his voice in the doorway and turn to him with a weak smile. "I remember everything about that day, a day I got to spend with my wife and son. I'm glad that I bring happiness to your life."
I look at him and give a weak smile, "I hope that I continue to make you proud. I know that this past year I've -"
Dad walks over to me and puts a supportive hand on my shoulder, he looks up at me. "Always. Remember, you are always and always going to be my precious and irreplaceable son. I'm going to get dinner started for us." Dad drops silent and I see the concern in his expression. I agreed to appear on a morning talk show tomorrow morning and he's worried that it'll be overwhelming for me. I know he's felt guilty since the videos of me being tortured as a child emerged but it's not his fault that I never told him what I had been through.
"I'll be okay," I attempt to reassure him.
Dad shifts nervously and I see the guilt on his face that has appearing each time he thinks about those videos. "Kuon, if I had known what had been happe-"
"I'm fine," I try to tell him. "I have a few acting awards. I've got a good resume. I run the risk of maybe having a seizure now and again but I've recovered unbelievably well from where I was last year. I have a wife and two daughters I love. That doesn't matter." I look down, the therapist I'm seeing told me to focus on my successes. "The only thing that I would hate is if you disowned me."
Dad shakes his head and I can tell how much he loves me by his expression, "Of course I would never do that."
KyKuKyKu
I'm not sure that an early morning talk show is actually a good idea. I can tell how stiff Kuon is but I'm hopeful about it. I'm ready to step in if needed but I really hope that I'm not needed. Daddy stepping in isn't a good image. I nervously sit down in the back as I watch him on the set.
"So, first of all, how are you feeling? We've all heard about the bus accident, the attempted murder, we've now seen the uploaded videos, so how are you feeling?" the talk show host asks him and Kuon bows his head before raising it.
"It's still an adjustment for me but my family is helping me. I don't know it I would be as motivated if it wasn't for my wife and my dad, my dad saved my life. Both of them are supporting me in my return and adjustment to normal life," Kuon says and I'm glad that he mentioned Kyoko first. I'm haunted by those videos I saw. I'm haunted by the fact that I never helped him even when he was begging for it. I wasn't watching him closely enough. I was self-involved and it led to a lot of pain.
"So, that's one question for you. How do you still have such a strong relationship with your family after what you've suffered. Surely, your parents must have seen the bruises on your body."
Kuon shifts, "my family didn't know about any of what I'd suffered. I think that my father had noticed that I was a little more quiet and reserved and he hoped that by taking me on a trip abroad it would help me."
"They must have noticed the bruises at least," the host says and I had the exact same thought. I should have realized, I should have protected him. It was my place to protect him and I didn't. It wasn't because I didn't care about him but I should have known. I should have done everything in my power to help him.
"I learned to apply makeup at a very early age. Stage makeup can hide anything even the worst of injuries, my parents didn't know that I did this. Maybe I had some moments of loneliness as a child but I don't blame my parents for that, they are both very important parts of my life. My dad has always been my hero and he still is. He's the mark of a good person and a good man."
I want to go out there and tell him to stop. I didn't protect him. I didn't even rush out to save him when he tried to save Rose and I've noticed that he has a stiffness in his left side from that. I didn't protect him. I can only hope he knows how much I love him.
"Has your father been supportive of your recovery?" the host asks and I just hope so. I hope that I was able to help. The truth is that I adore Kuon at the same level I love Julie but I wonder if he believes that. The time that he was away from me, when Julie wouldn't speak to me, it got me depressed when I thought about that little boy I had held in my lap and who I had failed. The videos reminded me of how badly I let him get hurt. I just hope he actually does forgive me for the crappy job I did being his parent.
"Both my parents have been," Kuon tells her. "I am fortunate enough to have a wife who prioritizes my health highly but both my parents have helped me through it," I see Kuon wince and put a hand to his forehead and my back straightens. I want to run out to him and ask him if he's okay.
"So, it looks like we don't have too much time left so let me just ask you this," the host says and Kuon smiles. I can see by his expression that something has happened to him. I don't know what or where. I'm glad that the host is seeing this too. "Are you planning on getting back to acting in the future?"
Kuon smiles trying to be calm, "Yes, I hope in the future that I'll be able to return to acting." The host wraps up the segment and Kuon immediately gets up, goes to the backstage and drops down onto his knees, a hand on his forehead. I rush over to him and see many crew members trying to help. I push through and place a hand on his back.
"Kuon, are you okay?" I ask and he moves towards me, he nods slowly and I wrap an arm over his back. I don't want him to feel crowded and insecure. I see the host and shake my head, rubbing his back. "I think we need some space," I tell them. "Could I get some ice water brought to his dressing room."
I can see in Kuon's expression something has gone wrong. He looks horrified and in shock. I rub his back again. "We just need some space," I tell them before leaning forward. "Can you stand?"
Kuon nods very slowly and I try to make sure he doesn't get up too fast. "Dad," he says as he turns towards me, he looks haunted and I just want him to tell me what he needs. "Don't leave…okay?" he asks and I watch him. I don't know if I heard him correctly. Unless he needs medical attention there is absolutely no chance of me leaving his side.
"I'm here," I tell him and help him to his feet. I walk with him over to the dressing room, trying to push the other crew members away so that they don't overwhelm him. As I get into the dressing room and take the jug of ice water and the cups, I shut the door and turn to Kuon.
"What's going on?" I ask him and he pinches the bridge of his nose. I'm worried about him but we've managed to take care of the situation or at least isolate it.
"I ju-ju-just feel really tir-red," he tells me and I nod. I pour him some water and he looks to me with a weak smile. "Did I d-do okay? Did I ma-makke you…proud?"
"You always make me proud," I tell him and then nod, "And you were amazing out there. I hope this is the start of you getting what you deserve again and your life getting back on track." He smiles to me and then exhales.
"Thanks, Dad."
End of Chapter Sixty Two
Thank you for reading, reviews are appreciated
Thank you to the reviewers of Chapter Sixty One
Kaname671
