His face didn't crumple at the mention of his parents, but his lip quivered with holding back the impulse to.

"Father died a long time ago. And Mother hasn't been well enough to leave home during the day in years."

Kubo peered out a nearby window at the night, every terrible possibility playing itself out in his too-inventive imagination.

"I don't know what she must have done when she woke up and I wasn't there, but if she leaves home to look for me I -"

He knew that what he said probably made no sense to this stranger, but now admitting his fear in words at all was letting it win. His panic mounted, tears building in his lone eye.

"The Moon King will get her. I'll never see her again."