NEW LIFE : A SECOND CHANCE

Kyle shook his head, "Of course not. That would not solve the issue. It will take time, but he will learn."

"Then what did you mean when you told him that you can be his father figure?" Sayuri prodded.

"Just what it means," Kyle said, "Even though he has Derek, that is his grandfather. He has been yearning for a father all this time. While I am not his father, I do not mind filling in the gaps. Not a full-fledged father, of course, but at least, during this emotional time."

"Wouldn't that just confuse him further? Make him more attached to you?" Sayuri asked, frowning.

"I don't know," Kyle admitted, "But I hope not. I won't allow him to call me Dad or anything of that sort so that he won't get into the delusion. Uncle Kyle would be okay."

"I just want him to heal and grow," Kyle said, "And Samantha to get better. It will take time. A long time, I suppose."

"Yeah," Sayuri agreed, "It would also help if she fell in love with someone else as well."

Kyle certainly prayed it was so.

Then, he turned to her, and looked rather troubled.

"What is it?" she asked, though she had kinda knew what it was that he wanted to ask of her.

"I .. " Kyle began then shook his head, "Would you … I mean, could … argh! Sorry, nevermind. It's nothing."

He turned to walk away but Sayuri stopped him, holding on to his arm.

"Yes," she answered him, "But only for a year, or until Samantha gets better. Whichever comes first."

He looked guiltily at her, "Are you sure?"

Sayuri smiled at him, nodded and said, "I'm sure."

He was going to hug her out of relief, but she shook her head.

She patted his cheek instead, and said with a small smile, "But one of these days, you're going to have to find someone else to help you. I won't always be here with you, you know."

She turned and walked away to her bedroom.

Kyle watched her go silently, unable to refute nor stop her.

What she had just said hit him hard.

He knew that she was only making an obvious statement of fact, but why had he not thought about it before? No, that's not true. He did know that for their arrangement wasn't permanent but he had put it at the back of his mind for some reason.

When did he start relying on her for so many things?

He had Kay. He had MIB. He had a whole team of capable people around him.

But it was only now that he realised that there were things that only she could do for him. Things that he naturally turned to her for help without thinking about it. He knew that she would always agree.

Or he took it for granted that she would always agree.

However, this time, he couldn't ask in the end.

What he wanted to do, was a rather tall order.

He knew that it would not be fair on Sayuri, even if she was willing. This was his problem - or rather, a problem that he took up. So he found himself unable to ask her in the end.

Yet, she knew what it was that had been on his mind.

As always.

He looked at the closed bedroom door, knowing that this selfless act of hers was another thing he owed her.

The debt was certainly piling up.

He sighed, rubbed his hair on top of his head in agitation and entered his own room. There were a lot of things to do in order to get this done. He had to get Derek's agreement, get Kyle Jr.'s opinion and feelings about it before telling his own parents and starting the actual procedures.

The main person here is Kyle Jr. Would he agree? For him and Sayuri to be his foster parents?

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In her bedroom, Sayuri was lying down on her bed. The events of earlier played in her head and she sighed as she hugged the pillow tightly to her chest.

If Kyle had actually asked her, she would have rejected him outright. However, he didn't.

It was a good sign for her.

If he had asked, then it meant that he was taking her for granted. The fact that he hesitated, and eventually dismissed the notion, meant that he was starting to think about her as well.

Her feelings, that is.

He had always treated her well, but he tended to take her presence for granted. It was fine if they were an actual couple. It wouldn't be that he took her for granted, but rather, he saw her as another part of himself.

This?

She was just a 'friend' and the mother of his child.

Thus, the fact that he wasn't taking her agreement for granted meant that he was slowly starting to look at her as someone that he should not be relying too much upon. To drive the message home, she had said those words to him in parting.

It was a risky venture, of course.

If he did stop relying on her, it meant that he moved on. She was hoping he would feel agitated and upset about it, so that it would make him think more about the true value of her … in his heart.

Sayuri sighed again.

Little did she think she would be using her ninja training to get the guy she loved.

This was not her seducing him to trick him, though. This was her using her skills to make him be more aware of her.

Sayuri caressed her stomach and said, "Your Father certainly is very dense, baby. Don't be like him, okay?"

His words to Kyle Jr. earlier in her mind, 'I have Sayuri in my life, and she is the best for me'.? Tears formed and she started crying.

Stupid Kyle.