{These characters are not property of me. I would never attempt to claim them as my own. This story may not be used without my permission, and may not be used to make money in any way, shape or form. Characters and certain situations were created by Rumiko Takahashi, so don't try any funny stuff!}
"Tatchi, why don't you let me watch him for a while?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"I do not trust you, Father."
"I thought it was all water under the bridge, Tatchi. Why can't you give your father a break? Why can't you leave him with me?"
"You know why. Don't make me say it again."
"What? That you think your father's crazy and you don't like him very much? My daughter-in-law doesn't seem to think I'm all that bad."
"She hasn't known you as long as I have. She never had to go through the humiliation or anger, the pain and the... the heartache." Suddenly, a wall collapsed and it felt much better to be saying how he had loved his father and how terribly he had been hurt when the stranger had come to live in the home.
"You had no idea how much we missed you. Obviously, you still don't, and you don't care either." Tatewaki glared at his father, hurt plainly visible there, and started to leave the room.
In the doorway, Tatewaki turned. "I will never be like you. I will always love my son and will not abandon him. I won't make him go through the same thing I did... because of you." Then he left.
He watched his son go. "Oh, Tatchi. What have I done?" he asked quietly.
He looked down at the sleeping child and immediately felt his heart swell. It was practically glowing with love and pride, and all because of the tiny figure before him.
"I'll never hurt you the way he hurt me," Tatewaki said in barely a whisper. "Your life and well-being comes before mine." He wanted to hold his six and a half month old son, but was afraid to ruin the moment.
"I love you with all my heart and soul, and you mother too. If only I could change that into being a good father..." It was surely noble to vow never to be like his father, but noble gestures were exactly that and nothing more.
Then the child opened his eyes and looked up at his father. Seeing his son awake, Tatewaki lifted the baby and held him close.
"Did you hear me? Everything I am is for you." He kissed the child's head and carried him to the bedroom.
"Can you watch him for a bit?"
"Sure. What's the problem?"
"Nothing. I just need to have a talk with my father."
"How many times do I have to say I'm sorry, Tatchi?"
"Do not speak. I have something to say." Tatewaki was dressed in his most formal kimono and kneeling on the floor. His face was very serious. "I thought that you did not know. But maybe you simply do not understand. I will make you understand."
"Tatchi, what are..."
He held up his hand to quiet his father. "I am not finished. I suppose it wasn't fair of me to expect you to understand, you never paid that much attention to me. Did you ever know how much I loved you? Before Mother... I would have done anything you asked me. Anything. Did you know that?"
Slowly, he shook his head.
"And then Mother... and you left, and kept breaking your promises. I saw you once a month for a few hours, and it wasn't you. You don't know how much that hurt, do you?"
He shook his head again.
"Then, when you finally decided to stay, you tortured me, humiliated me... Did you know the entire school laughed at me? It was bad enough before, but after... it was far worse. I bet you didn't know that I didn't have any friends. Did you?"
He shook his head, feeling worse and worse about the whole conversation.
"I didn't think so. You took no interest in my life except for the length of my hair. And I'm sure you couldn't possibly imagine how happy I was when you left and didn't return for three years. Things didn't get any better while you were gone. In fact, I nearly drove myself to madness... No, I did drive myself to madness, but you weren't there and it was a small comfort. How does that you make feel?"
"Not... very good."
"Then you know how I felt... for five years!" His voice rose for a moment then returned to normal. "Then you came back and you were worse than before. It turned my life into a nightmare. I could only hope Kodachi was faring better than I, wherever she was. And I always hurt so much, and nobody cared. All they could see was what a... a bastard you were, and what a freak I was. And my father, who should've been there for me, only made things worse!" There were tears in the corners of his eyes.
"And you didn't care. That was what hurt worst of all. More than the insults, the beatings, the public humiliation... You didn't care. So now you want to play grandfather to my son and you don't know why I won't let you. Why don't you take a look at what you did to my life? Then, if you can answer 'why', come and talk to me."
Tatewaki stood up, bowed respectfully to his father, and left the room. Just outside the doorway, he stopped. "I don't hate you, Father, but I will protect my son with my life. The way you should've done with me. And Kodachi."
"Happy Father's day. How does it feel to be one?"
He took his son into his arms, asleep once again. "I like it very much."