AN: Thank you for your patience in this update, I hope you enjoy.

Chapter Eight - Limited

Kuu bit his top lip as they arrived in the car outside the restaurant, he looked over at Julie. "I don't like this," he said as he closed his eyes. He reached out for her hand, "I can't do this," he whispered to his wife as she put both of her hands around his. "You know it's not going to be okay," he continued to say in a very quiet manner. "The last time that someone comm-"

"Well we have Kyoko now," Julie smiled. "He said that he's willing to -"

"I can hear you and I'm fine," Kuon said stubbornly as he looked away from them. "You worry too much and this isn't about me, this is about Kyoko-chan."

Kyoko smiled happily before her concerned eyes went over to the ten-year-old. She looked down. "I want Corn to be okay too," she said. "I'm happy to eat later."

Kuu smiled back at her, "So, you think take out is good?" he asked her as Kuon frowned.

"Mmhmm, it'll still be yummy," Kyoko nodded. She was scared just like Kuon's parents that someone would make a rude comment or say something hurtful that would derail Kuon's progress. Since he was moving his arm and hand little by little every day, Kyoko really wanted to protect him. She didn't like this idea if it would harm Corn.

"I'm fine," Kuon argued, "You're making too much of this. This is for Kyoko."

Kyoko shifted uncomfortably. She didn't want to talk about how the fact that Kuon couldn't move wasn't normal. She looked down. There were too many cons to consider and she didn't want to see Kuon hurt. Maybe they should go though, if they could experience a normal meal out of the house, Kuon might see some good in the world.

"Let's just try it," Julie said as she got out the car. Her nerves were catching throughout her body and she felt a painful tug at her heart. She didn't want to do this either. Immediately, she got back into the car and looked down, her whole body shaking. "I can't do this. I can't," she said as she began to sob. "Someone's going to make a comment and…and I can't do this," she said as the tears fell down her cheeks.

Kuon sighed, "Fine. We'll do takeout," he said as Kuu gave a sigh of relief. "If it's going to upset all of you so much we'll get it at home."

Kyoko smiled happily, this would mean she would get her favorite meal and it wouldn't be at the expense of her friend's comfort and happiness. "Thank you, Kuon" she grinned to him and smiled as Kuu drove them back to the house with the promise of coming out later to get the food.

….

….

As the night drew to a close, Julie kept feeling a sickening feeling of guilt twisting in her stomach. She wasn't sure what to say or how to explain it but before Kuu left in the morning, she wanted to try. After checking to see if Kyoko was asleep in her new bed, she went to her son's room and attempted to keep her mind focused on what she felt she needed to say to him.

She knocked on the door and opened it finding the ten-year-old trying to practice the muscle exercises with his arm. "Hi, baby" she whispered to him as she made her way over to his bedside. She pulled a chair over to him and smoothed out his hair in a way only a mother would. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm getting better, right?" he said as she smiled seeing him moving his arm a fraction more with each ten stretches or so.

"You're doing very very well, Daddy and I are so proud of you," she said as she pressed a light kiss to his forehead. "I know how hard all of this has been on you and you're dealing with it amazingly. I'm so happy that you're having confidence in your improvements," she said as Kuon looked up at her.

"I'm sorry that you have to stay in Japan for so long," he told her and Julie placed a loving hand on his shoulder.

"I don't mind. There are many beautiful places in Kyoto. Remember how I would tell you stories about the fairies and the wood nymphs, well I think those things might exist around here," she said as she looked upon him lovingly. "Don't you want to believe in those things."

"Yeah," Kuon nodded, he looked at her, "I'm really sorry that we couldn't go out tonight, mom," he attempted to apologize and Julie shook her head, her eyes filling with tears and she let her fingers go through his hair in the place where it hadn't been shaved off.

"Oh, sweetie, you know that that wasn't your decision and I'm so pleased that you were brave enough to try. I know that you did it at least in part for Kyoko's sake. You're so strong and brave and you take after your father in that, he was always my knight in shining armor," Julie said before looking away. "I wanted to apologize if you felt that I was holding you back tonight or hindering your progress. I just – I love you so much, Kuon. You're my baby, my little boy, even when you're older you'll still be my little boy."

"You wanted to protect me," Kuon said as he looked at her, "It's okay. I understand. I didn't mean to -"

"Honey, you don't upset me. I know that you would never choose to be in this position. I know that people might not have made judgments and comments that weren't true about your disability. The doctors say that in a few weeks you might gain full control of at least one of your arms and that's amazing. Can I make it up to you, we can go out then, okay?" she asked and Kuon nodded.

"Maybe we could go out somewhere fun?" he asked her and Julie nodded.

"Sure, you name the place and we'll go there," Julie said before hesitating again.

"Mom?" Kuon asked as he looked up at her not sure whether she was alright or not. "Is something -"

"Is it alright with you that we brought Kyoko into our home?" Julie asked as she looked at her son, "You're not…I know we should have discussed it with you first. Your father was looking into it and we're not able to adopt her, her mother is blocking her from becoming your sister but we are allowed to look after her, it seems very complicated but that's the way it is. I just want you to know that we're not trying to replace you as if you're broken or something like that?"

"Mom, it's fine," Kuon attempted to reassure her, "I don't feel that you're trying to replace me and I'm glad that Kyoko is surrounded by people who care about her. She needs somewhere she can be, but are you sure everything is legal?" he asked as Julie smiled.

"We'll have to see, your father's friend Mr. Takarada has someone looking through the paperwork. We'll have to see if he comes up with anything. You know, he might even come for a visit to see how you're doing," she laughed softly.

"Boss is coming?" Kuon asked surprised, "Well if there's any problems then Boss will be able to catch it."

"Let's hope so," Julie said, "So, is there anything that you need from us before you go to sleep?" she asked as she watched him. "You will try to get some sleep, won't you?" she said as she went to turn the nightlight on. This was something that Kuon hadn't needed before the accident and he probably didn't need it now but before he was able to turn on a light when he woke up, at least Julie could give him a little bit of light within the darkness.

"I'm good," Kuon nodded in an attempt to reassure her. "Night, mom."

"Night, Kuon" Julie smiled as she kissed his forehead and turned out the light before leaving the room. After shutting the door, ninety-percent of the way she walked over to the window in the living room. She could only hope that things were going to get better. Each and every day she could see Kuon getting stronger and making improvements but she was also scared that the moment she felt confident in his recovery that something would challenge all of that.

She hadn't expected for her child to have this disability and despite the doctor saying that he was going to get better and that the improvements were amazing and were better than they had charted for his recovery, he was still unable to do a lot of things. Being active and having these physical strengths was part of Kuon's abilities. She hadn't expected this much optimism from him. Was this Kyoko's power that he told her about?

As Julie stood gazing up at the moon, she felt her husband's arms wrap around her and gave a deep breath of relief. "You would get me the moon if I asked, wouldn't you?" she asked Kuu without even looking at him.

"I'll get my lasso ready," he joked with her. "You'll keep me updated on any progress that Kuon is making, right?" he asked her as Julie nodded. "We can video chat and you'll give me the measurements that the doctor gives about how much he can -"

"I'll make sure that you know as much about Kuon's condition as I do," Julie said and kissed her husband as she looked at him. "I'll also make sure to take care of Kyoko. You just do your best in America and give my love to our friends. I'm going to expect for you to come back here, Kuu Hizuri," she chuckled.

"As if I wouldn't return," he said as he looked in the direction of Kuon's room. "If he needs anything from me whilst I'm away you text me with his name. If I see a text that just says Kuon, I'll call you as soon as I can to make sure I can do whatever he needs," Kuu said as Julie saw how much pain he was feeling at the idea of leaving his child behind.

"I will," Julie smiled, "When you come back can we talk about how best to handle his schooling?" she asked. "I'm too tired to think about it, but unless he gets mobility of both of his arms and there isn't a possibility of him having a seizure, I don't want him to go back." She looked down and closed her eyes, "That's selfish of me, I know, but kids can be cruel even kids at a school like Kuon's."

"I know," Kuu said as he placed a hand on his wife's cheek, "Whatever we can do to help him, I know that we will," he said as Julie nodded. "I love you, Jules," he told her as Julie wrapped her arms around her husband.

"I love you too. I love Kuon so much, I really hope he's able to return and be physically better than he was before but even if he's not, I love him anyway."

"Yes, I love him too and aside from encouraging him, I think that's the best that we can do," he said as he tried to think of all the hope he had for his son's recovery.

[End Chapter Eight]

AN2: Again, thank you to those who read and support this fic, it really does mean a lot to me. A special shout out to the reviews of Chapter Seven: Angeline134, Ashenvale, brennakai, Cutielove077, Dream Idol, Fire1, Julie, Kris, ktoll9, Mainaru974, paedirt, paulagato, Sarah, Tabbytkatroses, Trace Castle