AN: Thank you for your patience, hope you enjoy
Chapter Eight - Medicated
Kuon was feeling proud of his accomplishment and he was starting to feel a lot of hope again with how he had been able to sign contracts, get a proper job, get treated as much like an adult as a twelve-year-old could. These were things that he wanted to share with his therapist and soon, hopefully, he would be able to stop seeing him. After all that he had been through, Julie and Kuu wanted to make sure that Kuon could get the emotional and mental health that he needed. He had already endured trauma at such a young age and Kuon had agreed knowing it would make them happier.
He didn't think he was crazy though. He knew that he had anger and sadness, but he wasn't psychotic and he didn't know why he needed to see a therapist. Then again, he wasn't sure why someone as cool as Rick needed to see a psychiatrist and a therapist. He wouldn't share that secret with anyone, he cared about his friend and he knew what popularity meant to him. It still didn't make sense.
"So," the therapist smiled as Kuon sat opposite him in the wheelchair. "What's going on? Anything new that you'd like to share before we get into your week?" he asked and Kuon grinned.
"I got a part in a new TV show but there's a non-disclosure agreement so I can't really say more about the exact role," he smiled and the therapist nodded, starting to take notes down on this. "It's really exciting and I'm happy."
"I want you to be sure that you're ready," the therapist told him, "how can you show that you're ready to take on this task."
"I…well, I signed all the forms and I'm going to practice a lot. I want to give this contract all the seriousness and maturity that my dad does with all of his contracts. I think that'd be the best place to start. I know it's a lot of work but I want to act," Kuon replied as he looked down, concentrating on the carpet in the office.
"Well, congratulations," the therapist nodded. "Are you still going to physical therapy appointments?" he asked and Kuon nodded.
"I want to, I want to do physical therapy and I want to walk again. I'm not that interested in voice acting as a profession but it's always good to build a career slowly, take small steps and I'm happy that I'm going to be able to perform," Kuon grinned.
"And they'll be paying you for this work, I assume," the therapist asked and Kuon moved nervously.
"It's not as much as the professional adult actors but…but they said they could pay me $35,000 for the season. I know it's not a lot but I'm still a kid, I haven't really started my role yet and I'll be in ten episodes to start off with so it's reasonable. I'm happy with it," he said and the therapist hummed.
"To most kids that would be a lot of money," he said and Kuon's back straightened.
"No, that is…that's a lot of money for me," Kuon said quickly he put a hand to his chest, "I might come form a wealthy family but my parents don't just go around giving me money. No, my dad's really been trying to take fewer jobs so that he can spend more physical time with me. He's really concerned about that."
"You mean that he's concerned about you," the therapist said and Kuon took a weak breath in before nodding.
"Yes, you could say that, you could say that he's concerned about me," he said and the therapist leaned in towards him.
"Kuon, you want to get better for your dad, right?" he asked and Kuon paused before nodding nervously. He wanted to get better for his own sake but he did feel that he owed his parents to make the effort. He had made so many mistakes in the past and he hadn't acted mature because of his own pain and ignorance. He had caused everyone trouble but he didn't mean to. He wanted them to be happy. He wanted his family to be proud of him.
"Yeah, but I think that I am getting better. Dad says that this new role gives me a sense of purpose and that trying to work at something and get better at it might help me a lot and…and he says the feeling of accomplishment makes you happier than most other things well…he says except for the love he feels for Mom and I." Kuon said before seeing the therapist stand up and walk over to a small cupboard.
"I shouldn't really be doing this but I wanted to give you a card," he told Kuon as the little boy stared at him uncomfortably before seeing the business card for a female psychiatrist, he paused and stared at it. He wasn't this messed up that he would have to see a psychiatrist, right? It didn't matter that it was a woman, it mattered that they were a licensed psychiatrist. The therapist also slipped an orange bottle of pills into Kuon's hand.
"I don't need these, Dad says that I shouldn't take medicines unless it's absolutely necessary. He cares about me but I know that Dad doesn't want me taking anything. He thinks that spending time with him will work better than drugs," Kuon said and the therapist sighed.
"Why don't you try them for a little while?" he asked and Kuon looked at him confused. "So, let's talk more about the money. What do you want to do with the money that you'll be earning."
"Buy a present for Kyoko," Kuon said slowly as he turned the pill bottle over in his hand, what on earth was this?
….
….
Kyoko nervously sat by the window with her arms around her knees. She didn't like the fact that she had to choose between her two friends. Kanae was an important person to her, she was a friend who had taught her a lot and stayed by her side but Kanae wasn't everything to her. Kuon had helped her so much and she wanted to see him succeed in his quest to be an actor. He had suffered so much and the fact that he had kept on fighting meant that he should be praised for his hard work.
Was it that wrong to want to see Kuon acting a bit more than wanting to see Kanae? Kanae was one of her two best friends but Kuon was the other and Kuon had saved her life, she had known him longer, and she had to admit that she had a love for him. She secretly wanted to become his lover, his bride.
"Hey, little girl," Lory smiled as he came over to her, he sat on the floor, dressed as an Egyptian pharaoh. Lory reached forward to his daughter, he placed a hand on her cheek softly and then tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Can I lend an ear to help?"
"Sure," Kyoko nodded as she took deep breaths. "Kanae-chan is mad at me because I think that Kuon is a better actor."
"I can see why she would be upset," Lory sighed before looking at her, "Do you really think that?"
"I think they are both wonderful actors," Kyoko told her father, "but I want to see Kuon act more. I think that he deserves to have a wonderful future to balance out all of the pain that he's been through. Still, Kanae-chan's acting work is so beautiful and she takes so much pride in it. I'm not calling her a bad actor but Kuon is more exciting to me."
"I see," Lory said patiently. "You know, I do have my top rated actors but it's all a process. Acting is completely subjective and you have to keep an open mind on what actors can do. You might notice that someone who isn't doing very well in the past is suddenly one of the most entertaining horror actors. You have to keep an open mind on all people because actors can stun you if they work hard and push themselves."
"So, I can call Kanae-chan and Kuon both my favorite actors?" Kyoko asked and Lory nodded.
"Most definitely. I think both of them are going to be stars in their own ways. Plus, they'll be compared to other actors when they are both older. I've heard that Kuon is going to be voice acting a character in a new Disney show," he said and Kyoko's mouth dropped.
"Disney!? Kuon never mentioned Disney," she said before jumping up and grinning. "I want to see his work. I want to see what he can do, I know that Kuon can do so many amazing things," she said and Lory chuckled.
"Maybe we should plan a trip to the US pretty soon, maybe Kanae-chan would like to go too," he suggested and Kyoko's face broke out in a huge grin that took over her entire expression. This was exciting. She would be able to spend time with Kanae when Kuon was busy, she really hoped that it could happen. Maybe Kanae would even want to see how acting was different in America.
…..
…..
Kuu returned home from his acting job and looked around, unfortunately it was pretty late at night and so he wouldn't be able to spend more time with his family but he was happy that he had been able to take Kuon to the therapy appointment. He was a little worried that the therapist thought that Kuon should double his sessions, but he would have to discuss whether this was something that Kuon wanted or needed. If it was then he would pay the cost for it, as long as Kuon was moving forward instead of hiding, Kuu would do anything for his twelve-year-old son.
Kuu went to the kitchen to try to get something to drink and then he saw it, a small bag stuffed in the cooking utensils drawer. Maybe he shouldn't look at it, maybe Julie had taken a pregnancy test and they were going to have another child. Still, Kuu could still fall to curiosity and he took the bag out.
He was surprised to find that there was an orange pill bottle inside the bag. Maybe Julie changed her birth control, he should put it away in their cupboard though. He looked at the pill before seeing that it was Lithium and Kuon's name was prominent on it. He froze. Kuon had Lithium pills.
Kuu held it in his hand, forming a fist with the other one. He had been there when Kuon had his therapy appointment and Kuon was just twelve, he wasn't responsible enough to make his own decisions and he wasn't well-informed on what these drugs could do. Kuu didn't want his son to go anywhere near these drugs. He was a happy and strong kid and if he was suffering from depression then talking to Kuon would be so much better than just overloading him with drugs.
"Dad, I don't want to take them," he heard a voice from the doorway and Kuu looked over to see Kuon there with his wheelchair.
"I don't want you to take them either," he said honestly before walking over to Kuon and knelt in front of him. "Are you okay?" he asked as he smoothed down his son's hair. Kuon gave a shaky nod and Kuu wrapped his arms around his son. "If you're not, let me know and we'll work through it together. I love you, my little boy."
End of Chapter Eight
Thank you for reading
Thank you to the reviewers of Chapter Seven
Ashenvale, Erza Tsuruga, H-Nala, Kotoko-98, KrisXD, ktoll9, librosmysticos, paulagato
Response to Reviews
Well, maybe Kuon can get his soul back 😉 Kuon is trying to think some things through, at this age he doesn't want to be with a girl whose too young but he doesn't see Kyoko as an age, he just sees her. They both have a lot of things that they each need to work on.