AN: I've been attempting to update every 10th day of the month but got excited and updated early, hope you enjoy
Chapter Twelve – Small Scenes
Kuon really wasn't sure why he felt a little threatened by the interaction between Rick and Kyoko. He was being selfish again. Kyoko and Rick could be friends, there was no reason to stop them being friends but he was hesitant about the way that Rick could hurt her. Rick had his own problems and being with him made Kuon feel a little easier about his own problems but Kyoko was unaware of that. Maybe it was because he didn't want to get any mud on his own name in front of her. Yes, that was most likely it.
Or maybe he was trying to deny some feelings that he shouldn't be having. He was sick to be attracted to Kyoko, she was so much younger than he was and their age difference made him a huge creep. He had to tell himself that just because this girl liked him, he had to see her as a little sister.
A big brother was a supportive influence to a young girl and if she fell in love with someone else that would be easier for him. He would be able to look at other girls and maybe get himself a steady girlfriend. That would be nice.
Kyoko turned to Kuon as the words came into her mind, "I'm sorry," she laughed lightly. She tilted her head to the side. Why was Kuon saying his friend was being a pervert? He hadn't touched her and he had just told her that she was beautiful, wasn't that a compliment? Americans were always more open with their compliments than Japanese people.
"Ignore him," Kuon said as Rick frowned, "Rick is a really good friend to me," he said and Rick sighed. He put two fingers to his forehead and shook his head with a deep sigh.
"Dude, you're never going to make it with a woman if you're not honest with yourself," he said before looking at Kyoko with a grin. "You like Kuon, don't you?"
"Kuon is one of my best friends," Kyoko said happily, "I have him to thank for my good life. If I hadn't met Kuon then my life wouldn't be at the place that it is right now. I'm always going to be grateful to him," she smiled and Rick nudged Kuon with his elbow.
"Don't wait too long or she'll be snatched up by somebody else," he whispered and Kuon shook his head. Kyoko was too young for him right now. He'd be fine with waiting for her to grow up and develop into a young woman and then maybe he could take a chance and be with her at that time. He wanted to see her transform into a beautiful teenager and as long as they stayed friends, he would be there for her even if it turned out that she no longer wanted him.
…
…
Kyoko squeaked happily as she sat in the princess café. Kuu and Kuon had gone with her and her dad to Disneyland and Kuu had pulled some strings to get her a special lunch in the princess café. Lory had asked whether Kuon was okay being seen there. It wasn't really the place for a tough young boy but Kuon hadn't had a problem with it. Seeing Kyoko so happy meant more to him than protecting a ridiculous reputation.
"Oh my gosh, thank you thank you thank you," Kyoko said as Cinderella handed her the dessert.
"Of course, my little princess," Cinderella told her and Kyoko blushed a deep shade of red. She picked up her fork and put it into the cake. As she slipped the fork into her mouth she smiled widely and held to Kuon's arm.
"It's so yummy" she announced and Kuon's expression softened, he tilted his head to the side as he watched her. Seeing her so happy was worth it. All that he had wanted was for her to find his happiness and even the feeling that he had in some small way contributed towards it made him feel happy. "Corn, try some, it's delicious."
Kuon laughed softly before nodding and taking a bite of the cake. He nodded as he realized that as pink and sparkly as the piece of cake was, it was tasty. He smiled before taking a sip of his drink and saw the photographer take a picture of Kyoko with the princesses. These princesses were like idols to Kyoko and Kuon just wanted her to have a life filled with beauty.
"How about we visit the costume store after this," Lory suggested and Kuon nodded to him but Kyoko shook her head.
"Kuon said that he wants to go on some of the rides that they designed for people in…his condition," she said as she looked at the wheelchair. She hated that he still had his disability but it had given him some time to think and space where he could remain humble. Kyoko hated to say it but she was glad that Kuon was seeing the world in a more realistic way. He could have died as a ten-year-old but he was pushing through with his life and keeping himself motivated.
"In my condition, a lot of the rides have been designed for those in wheelchairs," he tried to reassure her and Kyoko felt her breath catch in her throat and she turned to look at Kuu who nodded.
"Thank goodness," she said with a soft breath out. "Let's do those then,"
"We can go to the fashion shop first," Kuon told the adults as he tried to think about how to make the day special for Kyoko and she looked at him with a weak smile before nodding in agreement. She looked at him before smiling.
"Then we can go on the Haunted Mansion ride that you want to go on," Kyoko announced and Kuon laughed weakly. Although he had wanted to go on the ride, he knew that Kyoko would probably get scared and he was prepared to leave those rides for when he could go with his father.
"We can pick a different ride," he told her and Kyoko shook her head.
"No. You've given me so much, I won't be scared. I'll be okay," she told him. "I want to do something that can help you," she told him and Kuon smiled weakly. He nodded slowly. He knew that she would be scared but she seemed confident enough that it wouldn't traumatize her for life.
…..
…
"I'll be waiting outside, okay?" Kuu told the two younger friends as they looked around the shop. He avoided getting too overly loving when it came to Kuon and gave him a simple squeeze on his shoulder. He looked to Kyoko hoping that the two of them would be able to take care of one another and went to see Lory who was compiling an inventory list which would be shipped to the agency. Kuu laughed as he realized that Lory was planning on creating outfits using the items he was collecting.
"So, you planning to change your entire wardrobe or just adding a few souvenirs into the collection?" Kuu joked and Lory turned to look over at the kids who were bonding with one another.
"You've done well, Shuuhei," Lory commented and Kuu blinked.
"Kuon is the one doing all of the work. He's a great son. He just needs a safe area to really explore and grow and I'm glad that I get to be close to him," Kuu saw Lory looking at him and shook his head. Kuon had been doing wonderfully the last couple of months and all Kuu had had to do was watch him and make sure that his activities were appropriate and weren't going to hurt him. It was a simple enough arrangement.
"Do you really think he'd grow up like this unsupervised, I mean, he's even fulfilling his work as a voice actor," Lory commented and Kuu laughed.
"Boss, thank you but I have to hope that Kuon is doing most of the work. I only want to guide him but you're right, it was a good idea to learn more about childhood development. Kuon has really had to struggle this past year. I just want to make sure he's on the right track for a successful future." Kuu looked away. He didn't want to talk about the opportunities that he had turned down so that he could spend some time with his son. Kuon could have died on numerous occasions and Kuu would rather avoid a funeral than visit a movie awards ceremony.
"Keep it up, Shuuhei," Lory encouraged him and Kuu smiled as he watched how Kuon and Kyoko were having fun with the hats that were of different Disney characters, "Continue whatever it is you're doing because you're really doing a wonderful job."
Kuu smiled and nodded, "Thanks Boss," he said as he watched his son proudly. Thank god that he hadn't lost Kuon during any of those close calls.
…..
…..
As the ride finished, Kuon looked down at the young girl who was clinging to him with her head pushed into his chest. She shivered as she felt him wrap his arms around her. Kuon had had a feeling that this ride would be too scary for her but he hadn't actually expected for her to start crying. He felt horrible that he was the cause of her tears. He stroked her hair back and kissed the top of her head before whispering.
"The ride is over," he told her and Kyoko twitched, "I'm sorry. It was too scary, we should have picked something else, I'm sorry I forced you here," he told her and Kyoko shook her head. She pulled away from Kuon so that Kuu could help transfer him back to the wheelchair.
"No, it's just…it was really sad," she said and Kuon looked at her guiltily. "It was fun," she lied with a nervous laugh. She was about to run over to him but felt her father pull her into a tight hug.
"You know, it's sad because those people, those ghosts, they were loved by others. When you are loved by others, death is tragic because it is the way we remember and show compassion," he tried to explain to her and Kyoko nodded slowly. "So we have to show our respects for the ghosts that appear at this mansion."
Kyoko blinked before smiling softly, "All right," she said as her teary eyes turned bright and she was able to smile which let Kuon feel extremely relieved. "Yes, I'll honor the memory of all the ghosts here," she told him and Kuon looked at her. She really was able to find the beauty in everything, it was amazing that she had stayed so strong when her mother had left her without much of what he had. He had to gain his strength through watching her and keeping her happy.
"Shall we go to the next ride?" Kuon asked and Kuu stepped forward.
"I'm going to see if there were any photographs from the ride," he told them and Kuon turned to Kyoko who was looking around and admiring the area of the mansion where they were standing.
"Thank you," she told the ghosts, "I hope you get to the afterlife safely," she said and Kuon laughed at that. This girl was beyond adorable.
End of Part Four – Chapter Twelve
Thank you for reading, reviews are appreciated
Thank you to the reviewers of Chapter Eleven
Brennakai, Guest, H-Nala, Kaname671, Kris XD, The Real Jackie-O, twilightserius, Umiron,
Author Response
I hope that you guys enjoy this chapter and I'm glad that people are enjoying this story. I do have plans for the future but I try and update all my fics so I don't forget about any of them so thanks for your support and your patience