*sigh*

He looked blankly at the ceiling while sitting on the living room sofa.

The little encounter he had earlier with Yuki's mother could've been much worse without Kazuma's intervention but now he found himself in downer mood.

It's almost 10 at night but he kept sitting alone in that room with the lights off.

Kyo had already gone to sleep in his room and it was quiet, notwithstanding the occasional sound of cars passing the street in front of their apartment.

"I need a drink."

He said to himself. He no longer drank alcohol due to his faith so he poured himself another glass of fruit juice.

The silence was deafening but he knew he wouldn't stay in this situation for long.

"Dear,are you still awake."

He saw Kanae standing in the doorway to the bedroom in her night suit.

'She's so beautiful' he thought. He was indeed lucky to have an amazing person as his wife.

She walked a few steps and sat on the sofa next to him.

He extended his arm and allowed her to rest her head on his shoulder.

It was an intimate moment but his mind wasn't all there. He kept staying silent for a while and contemplating.

"Kanae" he felt his wife shift a little "no matter what happens to me, promise me you'll move on for your and Kyo's sake "

She jerked her head up to stare at him with disbelief mixed with anger.

"What are you saying? What brought this on?"

She calmed down when he saw her husband's contemplating face.

"I'm serious. We are pretty much on our own at the moment. "

He became quiet for a moment. He consider how he broached this sensitive topic with more tact.

"Our family may be cursed but we don't have to accept this. My fear is when our son comes of age they might forcefully take him away from us. You know what happened with Kazuma's Grandfather."

Her eyes opened wide as she understood the gravity of their situation. She had heard rumors in the family of a prison where the Family Head orders the one with cat curse to stay for rest of their life on being an adult.

The last one with cat spirit was Kazuma's Grandfather. Her own son would be next.

"What should we do?" her voice cracked. She was wrapped up with her own well-being she didn't consider what fate awaited her son.

He gently moved strands of her hair and kissed her forehead.

She breathed in with surprise but didn't didn't shift much other than being more comfortably close with him on his chest.

It still seemed unreal how different her husband had become. Ever since they moved away from family estate she felt bliss. No longer she was tormented by her husband blaming her for giving birth to a cursed child and hostility and suspicion from other adults in the family.

"I have a plan. It wouldn't be easy but hear me out"