AN: Wow, this was a long pause between chapters and I'm not sure I made a smooth transition with this particular chapter but I hope you enjoy reading it.

Chapter Nine - Is There A Return

9.1

Surprise is an understatement at how I'm feeling right now.

I look at the people around us, wondering if Kuon knows how many people are in the room but I nod to Sawara-san and keep my hand placed on Kuon's shoulder. Unless his eyes miraculously recover or we can get a surgery performed, he'll probably choose to retire from acting. I have no idea of how much money he has saved up but Julie and I will support him however he might need us.

"You all know that Tsuruga Ren is a stage name," Kuon continues and I make sure he can feel my hand on his shoulder – hopefully a reminder of support – because once he pulls off the BandAid he can never stick it down again. "My real name, the name I was born with is Hizuri Kuon."

There is silence again before the chattering and Kuon turns in my direction. "Are y—" I begin but Kuon offers me a sad smile.

"I'm sorry, Dad," he apologizes and I sit back a little. What? Why is he apologizing to me? "I wish that I could be the son that was acting and was successful and wasn't disabled. All I can -"

"You are my son," I tell him before hugging him and letting him go. Maybe it isn't professional to hug and show these family moments in a Japanese office even in the entertainment industry but Kuon is still young and he needs help, encouragement, advice. "I can't ask for anything more."

"So, I am guessing that you're looking for Takarada-san," Sawara says and I wait for Kuon to respond, I move my hand from his shoulder hoping he doesn't find my actions as too over-protective. I squeeze his wrist for a few seconds before bringing my hand to my lap.

"I was actually hoping to speak with Matsushima-san," Kuon says as he bows his head and Sawara looks at us and nods.

"He's with Takarada-san right now, they're talking about their options with one of the actors but I didn't hear who," Sawara explains and I know that I know who it is and so does Kuon. They are discussing his future and how long to wait until a decision has to be set. A brief break from the industry would be my opinion but sometimes life doesn't work in the way that you hope.

"Then I think we should go and join them," I say before putting my hand on Kuon's back again as I see him stand up. I can't help but worry about him. Kuon drops into a bow and I give a smaller bow. My attention however is resting upon Kuon.

Kuon says his goodbyes before walking out of the office. I look behind me and hear the gossip start again but I'm mostly concerned about Kuon and if he feels I've been treating him too much like a child without giving him his freedom and independence

"Dad," he says to me and I nod before answering.

"Yes?"

"Thank you for doing this with me," he says and I smile with relief. I'm not invading his space as I feared I might be.

"You're welcome," I tell him before texting Boss that we're on our way.

9.2

Not that I doubt Kuon's abilities to do anything he sets his mind to, or Ren's for that matter, but as Shuuhei enters the office at his side I am glad to see that he has help where he requires it. I don't want to show too much pity for him but with his father playing a mediator I can worry a little less about my phrasing. Kuon would have accepted it anyway. That's what makes this even sadder, underneath all of that pain, Kuon is truly a good and decent person.

"Here?" Shuuhei asks as he gestures to the sofa where the table in front has different paperwork and documents on it. I've also provided snacks but I'm thinking that Kuon has less of an appetite than he usually does.

"Uh…" Matsushima says and I turn to him. I had told him that Ren might be coming here with his father so that explained the extra cup of tea but I hadn't actually said who his father was in case the plans had changed and the secret had to remain secret. Matsushima stands and bows deeply to Shuuhei and Kuu looks at him with a weak smile "It's really good to uh…see you again," he laughs awkwardly, "but Hizuri what are you doing here?"

"I'm the older of two Hizuris," Shuuhei smiles and Matsushima stares at him with a blank expression. At the time Kuu was leaving the country, Matsushima had taken on an entry-level position, they hadn't really spent time together in the way that Matsushima and Kuon have but it's interesting how this is playing out in front of me. I think that Kuon would find it interesting to wat-no, have to keep my mind on the goal of this meeting.

"And your brother?" Matsushima guesses and I hear Ren, Kuon speak up.

"I'm sorry. I was very private before and I should have done it more formally but whereas my stage name is Tsuruga Ren, my real name, my personal name is Hizuri Kuon, and my dad is here so that he can help me navigate both physically and in all other ways."

I see that Kuon is still well poised, very professional, and I feel the hope in him. Even if he never regains the use of his sight, when he gets back his confidence he is going to be as amazing as ever. I believe in him and I think there are a lot of us who do share that belief.

"Wow," Matsushima says as he sinks into the seat. "That is some…that's some pretty amazing news," he states and Shuuhei puts a hand on Kuon's knee for a moment. He turns to Kuon who has reached for the cup in front of him. It's easy to see that Shuuhei is teetering on the edge of whether to be an overly protective father or watch with slight agony as he gives Kuon his independence. That fact that Kuon was comfortable enough to let him accompany him might mean that the lovey-dovey father-son bond is redeveloping.

"So, how about we start with what we were talking about with Ren's future," I say as I try to steer the conversation back to where it is supposed to go. Shuuhei has kept a somewhat level head (although before Kuon left America he had had more of a blind ego and sometimes spoke a bit too arrogantly, it took losing your child to bring perspective into your life) and so talking about this should go smoothly.

"Well, I suppose the question is whether you'd prefer that Japan knows you as Hizuri Kuon," Matsushima says and I hum, interested in this as well. Since he's brought his father here with him, I think he's okay with releasing that information but it really is up to him.

"I think that's best, what would be the advantage of keeping it secret?" Kuon says. "I finally got my father back into my life and he's really been helping me even with doing the simpler things like walking into the right room, turning the right way to face people. The benefits of being Kuon right now are better than anything to the contrary."

I smile, "You need to rest and recover some more," I tell him, "but then there are options for you to model even with the scars and the burn. You're one of Japan's favorite celebrities and your physical condition is not going to detract from your ability to sell. Also, I want to test you in some other areas. We all know you can play the piano…"

Kuon almost chokes at that, "I…I can't play…I'm blind….how ca-"

"You don't need to see the piano to be able to play it," I wave my hand in the air but we all know that Kuon only learned how to play the piece in Dark Moon because he studied the hand movements of another piano player. I think that I can test him in this. He has an amazing memory and could probably locate sounds well, so he can learn by listening.

"There are a few other ways I'd like to test your abilities as well," I tell him, not revealing that I'm going to see if he can sing. When he was a boy he had a beautiful voice but he refused when he was a teenager and after the death of Eric his soul just couldn't support a singing career, all the music had died by that time.

"So," Kuon says with a weak smile, "I can still stay at the agency."

"I'd be a little angry if you didn't," I tell him in a friendly manner and he laughs a little at that. The next thing that needs to happen is to set up a press release where Kuon says what his true name is. I really feel that this could be favorable to him but then there are the people who are going to drag up his past and I will need to keep my eyes on that so that I can support him and protect him as I had been doing in Shuuhei's place.

It doesn't matter if Shuuhei is here or not, I'll continue to do it. Kuon is my family and he always has been seen as such.

9.3

As I stand in the agency building, watching Kuon doing different things but needing Father to accompany him, my heart twists in my chest. Ren Tsuruga was always such an independent person and had even said that he hadn't needed me as a temporary manager and could do it all himself. As much as that hurts, seeing him here hurts as well. He got hurt saving me.

There has to be someone who could help motivate him to start acting again even with his new disability and I want to find that person for him. It would make me feel pain inside if I learned that he would never again be able to act. I've loved the times when I've been lucky enough to act opposite Tsuruga-san.

He has always made the ideal partner.

End of Chapter Nine

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H-Nala, Kaname671, KrisXD