A/N: Wow I cant even express how happy I am honestly. Thank you so much everyone. I feel like jumping around reading all the reviews.. :D :D :D

I'm kind of having a busy week and might delay the update of the next one or chapters. I'm sorry in advance. Enjoy this one!

Guidance and Reassurance (part one)

(General POV)

Naoki tried hard to stay strong. It wasn't the time to break down. It was the time to fight. To defeat the force that was threatening the love of his life. Yes, he would fight, he decided. He would fight and win the war. Nothing can take Kotoko away from him. Nothing, until he is by her side.

He started working from that night. He kept reading and analysing all her reports. All previous treatments and upcoming changes those are required. He started to study all the available information about each and every Neuroshia patients that were collected by their team. About those who survived and those who didn't. What went wrong in their treatments and possibilities of what would have happened if something different was tried. He analysed all the different theories and different outcomes.

He discussed about her treatment with their parents and decided to go to Hope in the next morning. Dr. Ayano would wait for him in the hospital. Kotoko was already half asleep in the bed when he joined her. He pulled her in his arms as soon as he lay down. That night after a really long time, Kotoko slept in his arms embracing him. A peaceful sleep. A nightmare less sleep.

...

(Kotoko POV)

A warm feeling was spread throughout my body. My heart was less burdened. A smile crept in my lips as sunlight hit on my body through the bedroom window. I slowly woke up.

Wait! Is that an arm that is holding around my waist? Is that a neck that my lips are almost touching? Is that a body that I'm tightly holding onto as if my life is depended upon it?

Irie-kun!

I stiffened immediately. Why are we in this position? At least we both have our clothes on. I sighed. I thought harder and the events of the previous day hit me like the lightening. He found out… everything!

Well at least he doesn't hate me for hurting him so much. It was all wrong. I was so wrong. I shouldn't have hidden anything from him from the start. What was I thinking when I thought I would be fine without getting him involved. I should have known he would choose me not because I'm a burden but because I'm more important to him. And it was the right thing for him to do. After all I'm his life partner. His wife. Why didn't I see it before?

And now I have hurt him so much. I even led him to think that I didn't trust him. I didn't find him worthy enough to share my pain. No! How can you even think that Irie-kun? How can I not trust you, when you are everything that I have?

I tried to do what I thought was right. I tried so hard not to hurt Irie-kun but ended up hurting him even more. Screw you Kotoko! Why do you even try? Nothing you do end up being right and instead you always bring more trouble for him. See what you did now? How are you going to make him recover from this? How are you going to put him back together? He is already broken and there's more that he is yet to know.

Dr. Ayano didn't tell him about conceiving problems did he? Damn it, I don't even know how much he knows. But he read all my reports so he probably knew everything about my condition. But what about our parents? How much they know? How am I going to face them now? They must be feeling so hurt. Irie-kun wasn't home but they were. Dr. Ayano was correct. I was right in front of them and I was dying and they didn't even have a clue. Undoubtedly they are devastated. How will I make it up to them?

I clenched on Irie-kun's shirt. I didn't dare to move until now in case I woke him up. He worked till late night and was exhausted when he slept. But he stirred as I grabbed his shirt and I stilled.

"Good morning." He said, moving his hand onto my hair from my waist.

"Good morning. Did you sleep well?" I asked him looking up at him.

"I did." He said. I could tell he was inhaling my scent as his breaths send shivers down my spine.

"Your arm must be hurting." I attempted to move away as I practically slept the entire night on his arm. He pulled me in his arms as soon as he joined me on the bed. I woke up but didn't resist him.

"Stay." He stopped me holding me tighter in his arms. "Stay with me."

I froze. The desperation pierced through me. Immediately I relaxed and hugged him back.

"It was wrong to hide anything from you. It's not that I don't trust you. Actually after I found out the whole truth, I was too scared and messed up everything. I was afraid I will ruin your life." I said softly.

Irie-kun moved his face lower and kissed on my forehead.

"You didn't have to go through it all alone Kotoko. My life? It will be ruined if only you are not a part of it. Otherwise my life is always perfect… with you."

My heart melted when I heard him. Irie-kun… Did he just say what I think he just said? It was heart-touching. A smile broke in my lips and I looked up at him pulling away slightly.

He looked down at me and smiled back. Then pulled me up and kissed me. It was a very gentle kiss. It was heart-warming. I kissed him back holding tightly.

We stayed in each other's arms for a while silently, enjoying the moment. After a while I pulled away and asked him the question that was bugging me.

"Umm… Irie-kun?"

"Hm?"

"Did… did Dr. Ayano explain everything to you? I saw you going through the reports yesterday night."

"Yes, he did."

"Then… you must know that… I... might not ever… I…"

"You will get fully cured Kotoko. Just wait until then. You will have a full recovery and then you will have a baby. You will become a mother. Mother of my child." With that he again planted a kiss on my forehead.

I looked at his face as tears formed in my eyes. My heart felt so much lighter.

"Irie-kun…"

"Trust me Kotoko. You will."

"Yes… yes I will. After all you are with me. I trust you. I love you Irie-kun. I love you so so so much." I hugged him again.

"I love you too Mrs. Irie."

A huge grin spread across my face when he said that.

He caressed through my hairs for a while. Then he traced his finger on my eyes and nose. I closed my eyes in bliss.

"Kotoko…" He sounded uncertain.

"Hm?" I opened my eyes and looked at him with question.

"Your mother was suffering from Neuroshia before you were born. This is why you have it. Your father probably doesn't know it, does he?"

I jerked and sit up. Oh no… I totally forgot about that part. Oka-san did not want otou-san to know about it. What do I do?

"Did Dr. Ayano tell you that?"

"No, I merely assumed. Dr. Ayano said it wasn't related to your condition so they will leave it up to you to tell us. I assumed it seeing your initial reports."

"I… I don't know if I should let otou-san know about this. After all oka-san didn't want."

"Hiding things hurts more than the truth Kotoko."

I flinched when I heard him say that. He just voiced unintentionally what I did to him and what he was feeling right now.

"I… I…" I tried to speak but he spoke interrupting me.

"You don't have to be sorry anymore." He squeezed my hand to assure me.

"Otou-san will be so much hurt." I said in a small voice.

"I'm sure he will understand that your mother didn't want to give you up. She was already pregnant when she was diagnosed right?"

"Yes."

"The doctors during that time didn't know that the child will also inherit the disease. If they knew then they would have suggested abortion."

"They did suggest. They weren't sure that I will inherit but they assumed I might. But oka-san knew there was no hope for her. With me or without me. So she chose to leave me with otou-san." My voice became very dry as I said that.

Irie-kun patted my back. I continued. I told him all the details about my oka-san's condition.

"How do I tell him that Irie-kun?"

"Do you want me to do that for you?" He asked me softly.

"You will?" I asked him. Then I laughed.

"What's so funny?" He frowned.

"It seems like I'm making others do all the explanations instead of me."

"But you're suffering more than anyone else."

"I hope everyone will be fine. I hope everyone will forgive me for hurting them."

"Everyone is worried about you. No one is angry for anything."

"I know." I sighed. "Help me tell this to otou-san. I will probably mess up."

"You won't." He assured me.