pederasty

Part ten

Youhei opened his eyes as sunlight penetrated his closed eyelids. He blinked at the white ceiling and assumed that he’s at the hospital. He mentally checked himself of any injury and vaguely felt a numbing feeling on his side.

“So I didn’t die,” he murmured with a smile. He closed his eyes and sighed in relief. He tried to shift his hands but was surprised that something heavy was on them. He opened his eyes and was surprised to find a huge gorilla sleeping beside his bed; his head was lying on Youhei’s hand.

Youhei’s heart burst with happiness. He tried to stamp down his hope but it blossomed bigger and brighter as the seconds ticked away. He didn’t move his hands again in case Takenori woke up. He wanted to preserve the moment in a glass casing. This moment was like a dream to Youhei. And he couldn’t help but wonder if he really wasn’t dead and in heaven.

And like all dreams, the dreamer had to wake up. Or more like the dream had to wake up.

Takenori stirred and blearily sat up straight in his very uncomfortable chair. He glared at the smiling Youhei before he remembered what happened.

“Good morning,” Youhei greeted with his usual happy expression.

Takenori blinked then flushed bright red. “Good morning,” he managed to croak out.

Youhei’s smile widened at Takenori’s embarrassed appearance. “How was your sleep?” he asked so Takenori would not feel uneasy.

“Fine,” Takenori answered with a slight nod. He looked closely at Youhei and inwardly sighed with relief. He stood up and walked towards the door. “I’ll call Kogure.”

Youhei cru crushed when Takenori started moving away, but he gave a strained smile when the gorilla looked back at him. He stared at the ceiling again.

Honestly, he just couldn’t understand why he was so hung-up on Takenori. The guy wasn’t exactly good-looking. Most of the kids in the daycare were ed oed of him.

Youhei smiled as he remembered one incident. Takenori scared three children into believing that Bigfoot really existed in Kanagawa.

He wondered why it was Takenori who watched over him; he was kind of expecting Hanamichi when he woke up. But he ain’t complaining that it was Takenori. He sighed again. How pathetic could he get?

“Good morning, You-chan!” The door opened and entered the bespectacled doctor. Kiminobu smiled brightly at Youhei and walked slowly towards him. “How do you feel?”

“Like I’ve been shot,” Youhei answered with a weak smile. He noticed Kiminobu’s haggard face. “Sorry if I made you all worry.”

Kiminobu shook his head. “Please don’t apologize. It wasn’t your fault.”

Youhei smiled weakly again. He watched with little interest as Kiminobu did his routine check-up. He returned his gaze to the ceiling as Kiminobu jotted down his findings.

Kiminobu looked closely at Youhei after he finished his notes. He could guess what Youhei was thinking, and decided to answer the question that Youhei didn’t voice out.
e voe volunteered to watch over you.”

Youhei looked back at the doctor. He was obviously very skeptical about what he said. Kiminobu laughed softly.

“Hanamichi wanted to watch over you but Kaede said no. So Akagi volunteered,” Kiminobu informed the bedridden Youhei.

Youhei’s eyes screamed, ‘LIAR!’

Kiminobu chuckled again. He shook his head in denial. “You can ask him yourself. He’s just outside, you know.” After this he walked away from the bed and exited the room. He gave the huge man leaning on the wall his usual bright smile.

“He’s asking for you.”

Takenori raised an eyebrow at Kiminobu.

Kiminobu shrugged and walked away.

Takenori’s eyes followed the departing doctor then exhaled a breath that he didn’t realize he’d been holding. He leaned back on the wall and stared at the opposite side with a thoughtful scowl.

After a few minutes, he sighed again. With a hesitant expression, he reentered the room. He looked automatically at the bed and almost sighed with relief. Youhei was sleeping peacefully.

He crept closer to the bed and stared down at the sleeping man. His lips unconsciously formed a small smile when Youhei wiggled his nose as ifaminaming that he’s a bunny. Takenori looked away from Youhei to search for his chair. When he found it, he dragged it closer to the bed and sat down. He studied Youhei’s hand before enclosing it with his bigger ones.

Youhei smiled in his sleep as he dreamed of sunshine, bunnies and gorillas.

***

Kiminobu entered the doctors’ lounge and slumped down to the huge sofa. Luckily for him, the lounge was limited to three doctors only so privacy was given to him. For half a day, that is. The other two doctors that were allowed to the lounge were for night shift, and had their very own offices down on the ground floor of the hospital.

He carefully raised his legs on a nearby chair and shifted for a comfortable position. He groaned as his muscles and bones creaked with pain.

“You okay?”

Kiminobu jolted out of his makeshift bed like somebody screamed ‘FIRE!’ He stood in a defensive stance and glared at the newcomer. He glared harder when he recognized Hisashi.

“You scared me!” he accused Hisashi with a baleful glare.

Hisashi smile apologetically. “I’m sorry. I thought you saw me. I was just standing over there.” He nodded to a corner near the coffee maker. He looked back at Kiminobu. “I made coffee. Want some?”

Kiminobu closed his eyes and turned away from Hisashi. He slumped back into the sofa and chose to ignore the detective. He was pissed off big time.

Hisashi looked around the room and spotted a wooden chair. He internally battled whether to sit beside Kiminobu on the sofa or sit on the chair. He chose to sit beside Min-kun.

Kiminobu stiffened when he felt the sofa accommodate Hisashi’s weight. “You should lose weight,” he murmured coldly. He glared at the detective’s back, wishing he would go away.

“I’m working on it,” Hisashi replied. He knew why Kiminobu was pissed off. And it wasn’t because he surprised him just moments ago.

“I was just being honest last night, Min-kun,” he said humbly.

Kiminobu turned his eyes on the ceiling. “Shit!”

Hisashi laughed dryly. “Honesty deserves honesty too, Min-kun.”

“It’s no reason for you to take advantage of me,” Kiminobu growled.

“You enjoyed it,” came the soft statement.

“You ruined our friendship.”

“Did I?” Hisashi turned to look at Kiminobu, who stared back at him coldly. “Why? Because I took you when you’re hurting? Or was it because you had great sex?”

Kiminobu sprang into sitting position and punched Hisashi angrily.

“GET THE HELL OUT!” he ordered Hisashi, who had fallo tho the floor.

Hisashi stared at Kiminobu calmly as he wiped his blood off his lip. He stood up and moved closer to Kiminobu. He strategically cornered the doctor as he placed his hands beside Kiminobu. He stared at the angry brown eyes with glacier-blue eyes.

“Hit me again,” he whispered with calm tone. “And I’ll rip off your clothes and do you again and again until you can’t stand up straight.”

Kiminobu straightened indignantly. His scowl deepened and seemed so out-of-place in his usually sunny face. He felt a cold sensation on his spine at the sexual innuendo coupled with a calm, yet passionate, voice, add to that was the glacier-blue eyes that held lust and something that Kiminobu didn’t, wouldn’t want to know.

Hisashi grinned at Kiminobu’s obvious defiance. His eyes fell into the doctor’s pale, pink lips, and unconsciously licked his own.

“You’re still hurting, Min-kun? Or not?” he asked seductively. He lowered his head to kiss Kiminobu but the doctor evaded him.

“Go away,” Kiminobu ordered coldly.

“Why should I?” Hisashi calmly raised his left hand and took away Kiminobu’s eyeglasses. He smiled tenderly as Kiminobu blinked his eyes repeatedly to adjust it to the sudden optical change. “You’re so beautiful, Min-kun,” he whispered as he traced the almost-feminine face.

Kiminobu stiffened. “You’re a leech, don’t you know that?” he spat with venom.

Hisashi chucklednd ynd you’re the blood that I can’t get enough of,” he replied before he closed their distance.

Kiminobu blinked owlishly in surprise then struggled strongly at Hisashi. He didn’t want what happened last night to happen again.

With a swift move, Hisashi anchored Kiminobu’s hands behind his back. He clamped a strong hand on the small wrists before angling his head to deepen the kiss even more. He groaned when the doctor’s struggles only heightened his passion.

Kiminobu made a great effort to pull himself out of the kiss, and managed to free himself only when Hisashi started kissing his jaw and ears.

“Stop it, Mitsui-san,” he gasped furiously. “Or else I’ll scream for security.”

Kiminobu almost sighed with relief when Hisashi stopped. But his breath was caught in his throat when the detective grinned at him wolfishly. He didn’t like that grin, but his body betrayed him as it responded to that playful expression. He blushed when Hisashi started kissing his neck.

“Min-kun,” Hisashi murmured. “I’m security, remember?” he laughed softly when Kiminobu snorted. He licked a cute ear as he let his free hand wander close to the doctor’s member.

“Like that, Min-kun?” Hisashi asked when Kiminobu tried to squirm his body away.

“Damn you to hell and back, Mitsui,” Kiminobu rasped out then closed his eyes tightly to avoid looking at the knowing glacier-blue eyes. His breath became hard and harsh by the time Hisashi allowed his hand to fully grasp his member.

Hisashi watched the erotic play of emotion on his Min-kun’s face and his body buzzed with heat yet he clamped it down to see Kiminobu fly to Nirvana again. He grinned when he remembered how he got the good doctor to bed last night.

First, he started with the pretence of a good massage. Since a good massage involved the taking off of clothes, Kiminobu innocently allowed Hisashi to take off his clothes. And before Kiminobu could rationalize why Hisashi ha tak take his clothes off too, Hisashi was already down with the foreplay. The doctor was confused at first but realized what the sly detective planned a few minutes after his explosive orgasm. Kiminobu tried to talk his way out but Hisashi would have none of it. Hisashi succeeded in taking Kiminobu but with the price of the doctor’s anger.

Hisashi licked a sweat on Kiminobu’s jaw as Kiminobu climaxed. He carefully lowered the lax doctor on the sofa and sat up straight on his thigh. He traced Kiminobu’s face tenderly.

Kiminobu breathed through his mouth as his body cried for oxygen. He could only blink at Hisashi when the detective traced his face with soft caresses. He tried to speak but it came out like a strangled cry. He paused for a minute to breathe before starting again.

“Aren’t you gonna finish it?”

Hisashi smiled at the unfocused brown eyes. “Do you want me to?”

“Stupid question.”

Hisashi laughed.

Kiminobu frowned. “Why are you laughin’?”

Hisashi lowered his body and kissed Kiminobu softly. When the doctor responded, he deepened the kiss while quickly opened the doctor’s shirt and pants.

Suddenly, loud shrill cries of a cell phone buzzed on Hisashi’s pockets. He tried to ignore it but it rang insistently.

“You better answer that,” Kiminobu said softly when Hisashi paused.

Hisashi groaned as he sat straight again. “Stay there,” he ordered Kiminobu when the doctor tried to sit up. Kiminobu wordlessly followed.

The detective pulled out his phone and barked a “WHAT?” in frustration. He frowned and closed his eyes as the caller gave him information. He turned off his phone and stared down at Kiminobu in pained eyes.

“I have to go,” he whispered.

“Oh,” was all Kiminobu could answer due to his surprise. He immediately scrambled in a sitting position and straightened his clothes. He didn’t look at Hisashi in the eye as he finished straightening his clothes.

“I’m sorry.”

“No, don’t be,” Kiminobu shrugged off Hisashi’s apology. “I understand.” He then looked at Hisashi but turned his eyes away again.

Hisashi closed his eyes in frustration. He opened them then clumsily hugged the resisting doctor. “I’m sorry, Min-kun. I know how frustrating it is.”

Kiminobu stiffened. “Go now, Mitsui-san.”

“Shit! It’s Hisashi, remember?” Hisashi turned Kiminobu’s face towards him and made him look at his eyes. Its color was now soft brown.

Kiminobu blinked at the eye color. He groped around for his eyeglasses and put them on instantly. “That’s weird. I thought your eyes were glacier-blue. The kind that is almost white,” he murmured in amazement. “I thought you were wearing contacts.”

Hisashi grinned at the doctor’s observation. He shook his head slightly, and his eye color changed again; into ocean-blue this time. He chuckled as Kiminobu’s eyes widened.

“I’m one of the few people who could change eye color.”

“Like a chameleon?”

“Uh huh.” Hisashi nodded.

“Amazing.”

Hisashi grinned proudly.

“Is it hereditary?” Kiminobu continued to observe Hisashi’s eyes. His curiosity made him forgot that he should keep away from the detective.

Hisashi’s eye color went back to glacier-blue as the distance between him and Kiminobu shortened. He closed his eyes and kissed Kiminobu softly but passionately.

Kiminobu gave a start but responded. He moaned as he was again pushed into the sofa. He instinctive wrapped his arms around Hisashi’s neck.

Hisashi reluctantly disengaged himself from Kiminobu when he heard his cell phone ring again.

“Shit!”

Kiminobu pushed Hisashi as he sat up again. “You better go,” he said dejectedly. He shivered slightly when Hisashi stood up. He felt so cold, from inside out.

“Min-kun?” Hisashi called out softly. He bent his head when Kiminobu looked up to him, and placed a chaste kiss on the partially parted lips. “I’ll be back as soon as I can, okay?”

Kiminobu nodded. He closed his eyes and turned away from the door as Hisashi walked out.

***

Akira unconsciously reached out for his favorite pillow, and was startled in wakefulness when he encountered a body instead. He blearily opened his eyes and grinned happily when he recognized Hiroaki.

Their first night together was very memorable for both of them. But Akira was suddenly struck with cold feet. For the first time, Akira fell in love. He honestly didn’t know what to do, so he made a stupid decision to leave Hiroaki alone. It broke his heart when Hiroaki cried in front of him. And it was only pure stubborn streak that kept him from giving in. the months that followed was downright torture. He secretly kept posted on Hiroaki by Kaede. His brother frowned at his stupidity and stubbornness, but nevertheless allowed the spying.

His usual happy nature kept cracking every time he saw a couple pass by his view. Hisoka noticed his change and bluntly told him so. Akira just laughed it off. He knew though that he’s not fooling his father.

Yesterday, when he found out about the baby, unexplainable joy filled him up. Everything he ever worked for had abruptly faded into oblivion, and only Hiroaki and the baby mattered. The fear of falling in love was replaced with the fear of losing Hiroaki. He badly wanted to hold Hiroaki and tell her how much he loved her. But Youhei got shot, Hiroaki refused to listen to him, and Kaede wanted blood for blood.

Nevertheless, the night had been fruitful for him. The gang that shot Youhei was put to justice, or more like dead. Youhei would recover soon. Kaede and Hanamichi seemed to be happy together again. And he and Hiroaki would be married soon.

‘Yes, marriage is good,’ Akira thought smugly. He looked back at Hiroaki when the girl stirred from her sleep.

“Good morning!” Akira greeted with a wide grin.

Hiroaki screamed when she was shocked to see Akira beside her in bed. In a pure defensive action, she effectively kicked Akira off the bed.

“What the fuck are you doing in my bed?!” she screamed furiously. She glanced down at her body, and blushed brightly when she found herself in birth suit. She closed her eyes and tried to remember why she’s naked with Akira, who was equally naked as well. She groaned as she recalled what happened last night.

a caa cautiously peeked from under the bed when he heard Hiroaki gave a groan. He was surprised at Hiroaki’s action, but put the blame on himself. He should have pinned Hiroaki on the bed before greeting her good morning.

“Are you having morning sickness, Hiro-kun?”

Hiroaki glared at Akira. “No. I’ve passed that already,” she replied before she stood up from the bed. She clutched the blankets tight around her and started walking to the door.

Akira watched her at first but followed when she exited the room. He found her near the bathroom door and immediately entered before Hiroaki would stop him.

Hiroaki’s mouth hanged open at the ungentlemanly manners. “Get the hell out, pervert. I have to use the bathroom,” she demanded after she found her voice again.

Akira flashed her a grin. “Come on in, Hiro-kun. We could share the bathroom together.” Hiroaki glared but Akira just ignored her. He began filling up the bathtub with water and hummed songs as he poured generous amounts of bath salts into the water.

Hiroaki sighed in defeat. She entered bat bathroom but didn’t join Akira on the bath just yet. She relieved herself first on the stall in a corner, and then walked up to the bathtub. Akira carefully helped her into the bath and joined her.

“Would you like a massage, Hiro-kun?”

“That would be nice,” Hiroaki answered nonchalantly. “And the name is Hikaru.”

Akira nodded. “Okay! You’re the boss.” He ran his hands carefully but firmly on Hiroaki’s back, in a soothing motion. He smiled triumphantly when Hiroaki leaned back at him. “Hikaru?”

“Huh?” Hiroaki began to become drowsy at the massage.

“When will we get married?”

“Who’s getting married?”

“We are, of course. Would you like it next week? Or maybe tomorrow?” Akira insisted.

“Whoah! Hold your horses, Akira Sendoh.” Hiroaki twisted to face Akira. “I didn’t agree to marry you last night.” She placed her arms on the sides of the tub and heaved herself off the tub. Akira gently supported her as she stepped out of the tub.

“But the baby has to have a name,” Akira begged at Hiroaki. But the girl ignored him; she had begun drying herself with a fluffy towel. “You don’t want to have a bastard child, Hiro. I don’t, so you don’t either.”

Hiroaki glanced at Akira briefly before she wrapped the towel around her. She walked out of the bathroom leaving a baffled man behind her.

“Hiro?”

She turned back to Akira. She took a deep breath before replying. “The baby will not be a bastard. Youprompromised to marry me after he’s out of the hospital.” She entered her room and opened her closet. She glanced at the refrigerator and pursed her lips thoughtfully. She shrugged then ransacked the refrigerator for anything edible.

That was how Akira found her.

“Hiro,” Akira said. “You can’t possibly be thinking of marrying Youhei. The guy’s nict het he’s in love with Akagi-san.”

“That’s why I’m marrying him,” Hiroaki retorted with her mouth full of cold fried chicken. She chewed her food thoughtfully while waving it in front of Akira. “My baby will have a name, and I will not touched.”

“That’s ridiculous! That has got to be most insane plan I’ve ever heard.” Akira took a bite into the fried chicken that Hiroaki waved at him, and then glared at the girl. Hiroaki just cheekily grinned at him.

Hiroaki shrugged her shoulders again. She turned her head away to stare at the bed. She blushed when she remembered how she wantonly responded to Akira last night. The thought of having those passionate nights forever with Akira was tempting. But the memory of the first rejection was still fresh in her mind.

She offered her heart to Akira in a silver platter yet Akira just flung it back coldly. He didn’t care then, now he only cared because of the baby. She couldn’t afford to givr her heart the second time, no matter how much Akira tempted her with words of forever.

Akira saw the pain in her eyes. If it were possible, he would have kicked himself by now. He knew that he had to make amends now or forever lose Hiroaki.

“Hi Aki Akira started. “I know that I hurt you before, but I mean it this time. I really do love you, and want you to be my wife. Please don’t marry Youhei just to spite me. It’s bound to hurt all of us.”

Hiroaki looked back at Akira and regarded him with a cold glare’ve ’ve made my decision, and I’m not changing it for you.”

Akira felt his world crumble into tiny pieces.

***

Hanamichi balanced his load of fruits and flowers precariously with one hand, while the othand and held Mamoru.

Mamoru held Usagi’s hand because Hanamichi had too much load on the other. He glanced briefly at the silent girl, and then tightened his hold on her hand as they neared a corner.

Usagi pouted in annoyance. She didn’t like holding Mamoru’s hand, but her Dadee ordered her to. If she didn’t do as he says, then she won’t have any sweets today. She looked at Mamoru when he tightened his hold.

“We’re here,” Hanamichi said loudly at the two kids. He looked down at Usagi and smiled brightly at her. “Please open the door, Usa-chan.”

Usagi nodded then complied. She entered first, followed by Mamoru then Hanamichi. She bounced happily towards Takenori when she spotted him near the bed. Takenori was more than happy to see his niece, but he placed a finger in his lips to warn Usagi not to make any noise. Youhei was still fast asleep. Usagi nodded vigorously in understanding.

Mamoru watched her dispassionately then walked to the bed. He peered at the sleeping man and raised an eyebrow.

“Is he okay, Uncle?” he asked Takenori softly. Takenori nodded. Mamoru saw Usagi glare at him. He just ignored her and walked towards a vacant chair in the corner of the room. He sat silently and observed the small group thoughtfully.

Takenori blinked at the boy, before averting his eyes to the busy redhead. “What did you bring?”

“Fruits, and sweets, and flowers,” Hanamichi replied. He looked behind his shoulders and smiled gratefully at Takenori. “You should eat some. I know from experience that hospital food doesn’t taste good.” He paused to arrange his gifts in a small table. “Thank you for watching over Youhei.”

Takenori shrugged his shoulders. “It was okay.”

“Kimi-kun called me this afternoon to inform me that Youhei woke up.”

“He woke up this morning. He didn’t seem to be affected by the gunshot wound.” Takenori glanced at the sleeping man and smiled. “Kogure said that he can get out of the hospital by tomorrow or the next day.”

“That’s good.” Hanamichi looked around for Mamoru and smiled tenderly when he found the boy sleeping on a chair. He walked towards the boy, lifted him up and carried the sleeping boy to lie beside Youhei.

“How was the daycare?” Takenori asked as he played with Usagi. He produced a paper and pen, wrote down a simple mathematical equation, and presented it to Usagi. Usagi enthusiastically answered the equations.

“It’s closed until further notice. The parents are already informed yesterday by the evening news so only a few called the house to inquire.” Hanamichi kissed Mamoru’s forehead before facing Takenori again. He watched with interest at what Takenori and Usagi were doing. “So did my Usa-chan learned anything new in her new school?”

Takenori nodded. “She’s more adept now than before.”

“I should thank Kaede then for insisting that Usagi go to that school.”

“How’s my house?”

Hanamichi glanced behind him and smiled tearfully when he saw Youhei awake and smiling back at him. “You-chan!”

Youhei rolled his eyes. “I’m fine. And I asked you a question.”

Hanamichi sniffed theatrically. “I was so worried. And you’re house is still in one piece.”

“Thank God! The last time I left Hiro-kun and Akira in my house, I had a renovated fence, a new flowerbed, and a new kitchen table. Not to mention a new window.”

Hanamichi sweat-dropped. “You remembered well.”

“Of course, I remembered well.” Youhei glared at his best friend.

Suddenly, the door opened a bouquet of lilacs emerged followed by a grinning Akira.

“Hello, You-kun! How do you feel?” Akira walked into the room and placed his bouquet on the empty wooden chair. He peeked at Usagi’s cheeks and nodded a greeting at Takenori and Hanamichi. He grinned at Youhei afterwards. “How do you feel? When are you getting out of here?”

Youhei couldn’t help but grinned back at Akira. “I feel fine. And I’m getting out of here tonight.”

Akira’s face crumbled to the bafflement of the men around him.

“You okay, Aki-chan?” Usagi asked with a pretty frown.

When Akira failed to answer, Hanamichi took Usagi from Takenori and shook Mamoru into waking up then carried the two kids outside. Takenori and Youhei could only look as the redhead exit the room with his precious bundles.

Youhei glanced back at Akira and narrowed his eyes suspiciously at him. “Okay, buddy, spill it out. You didn’t break anything in my house again, did you?”

Akira snapped into alertness. He staredYouhYouhei with tear-filled eyes. “You can’t get out of here yet, you-kun. It’s too soon, and I haven’t convinced her yet that she has to marry me and not you.”

“Marry her? You mean Hikaru?” Takenori glared at Youhei. “You plan to marry Hikaru?”

Youhei’s face paled. But before he could defend his side of the story, Akira beat him to it.

“Hirn san said that she’d marry Youhei. But she can’t marry Youhei. She has to marry me.”

Takenori now turned furious eyes at Akira. “You broke her heart.”

“Gee thanks for stating the obvious,” Akira retorted sarcastically. “I’m sorry that I broke her heart then, I really am. So please help me convince her that I love her and I want to marry her.”

Youhei scowled when Akira’s wailing produced a nasty headache on his head.

“She’s probably thinking that you only wanted to marry her because she’s pregnant,” Takenori offered a wise word. He wanted to shut Akira up when he saw Youhei wince.

Akira immediately fell silent, for a second that is. “You think so?” he asked softly. He turned helpless puppy blue eyes at Takenori. It would have worked if he had been talking to someone else.

Takenori glared fiercely at the annoying man.

Youhei stifled a giggle at the funny scene. It made Takenori turn his glare at him. He just grinned impertinently at the gorilla.

“You think so?” Akira began pawing Takenori’s sleeve.

A big vein popped at Takenori’s forehead. He scowled angrily at Akira. “Yes! I think so! SO JUST QUIT THAT!” he boomed thunderously.

Akira acted like he was surprised. He honestly wasn’t. He just wanted to annoy someone to minimize his own frustration. He instantly turned to Youwithwith a hopeful look. “You won’t marry Hiro-kun now, would you?”

Youhei smiled at the Akira. “I don’t know.”

Akira frowned. “What do you mean?”

“I mean I don’t know,” Youhei answered honestly. “It was Hiro-kun who proposed. So ask her first.”

“But if you say no, then she will not push through with it.”

Youhei shook his head. “If I said no, she’ll propose to someone else. She only wanted a name for the baby, nothing more.”

Akira’s eyes darkened in pain. “Please help me, You-kun,” he begged softly.

Youhei felt sorry for Akira. “I’ll try my best,” he promised.

Takenori stared at Youhei then at Akira. “Hikaru likes music. Maybe you should try serenading her.”

Akira brightened youthfully at Takenori.

Youhei nodded in agreement. “Music could tame any beast.”

“That includes women,” Takenori interjected.

Akira nodded thoughtfully. “What is Hiro-kun’s favorite music?”

Both Takenori and Youhei fell silent.

Akira raised his eyebrow at the reactions or the lack of it. “What?”

Takenori and Youhei’s eyes met, then turned back to Akira.

“We don’t know,” Youhei answered. Takenori nodded in agreement.

Akira looked puzzled. He traveled his eyes around the room to think. “Do you think Hanamichi knows?” he asked after a minute of thinking.

“Ask him,” Takenori replied.

***

“I really think that you should have stayed longer in the hospital,” Kiminobu voiced his opinions loudly at Youhei as Takenori supported the smaller man out of the car. “I mean…”

“Kimi-kun, please. I know what I’m doing,” Youhei interrupted Kiminobu’s further lectures. He happily wrapped his arms around Takenori as they walked towards the house. He frowned when he noticed that the lights were out. “Where is everybody?”

Takenori’s face remained impassive, while Kiminobu disappeared from sight. Youhei’s frown deepened. Then he blushed as nasty, and not so innocent thoughts, ran through his mind.

‘Stop being such a pervert, Youhei Mito,’ he chastised himself. ‘Just because he has been nice to you since yesterday, that doesn’t mean he has fallen for you.’

Takenori reached out to open the door as they reached it. He carefully hid his smile from Youhei, for he knew why the lights were out. He tightened his hold on the smaller man as he pushed the door open.

Suddenly, the house burst with lights and a loud “WELCOME HOME, YOUHEI!” rang around the whole house.

Youhei nearly fell in surprise if it wasn’t for Takenori’s hold on him. He laughed freely as his friends and instant family crowded around him. He nodded at their questions and hugged the two children when they were passed to him from Hanamichi and Kaede. He cried happy tears as the feeling of love washed over him from his friends.

“Come on, guys,” Akira shouted from the microphone. “Give Youhei some space.”

The small mob around Youhei dissipated, and Youhei was carefully placed on a huge sofa. Takenori went to the refreshment area and poured two glasses of fruit juice, then walked back to Youhei and offered the other glass to him. Youhei smiled gratefully at Takenori.

Akira watched everyone sit comfortably on every available space around the living room. He noted with clarity that everyone was seated with their special someone except for him and Hiroaki.

Kiminobu smiled shyly at Hisashi before sitting beside him on a large chair. Hisashi moved slightly to give space for his Min-kun. Kaede and Hanamichi contentedly sat on the floor with the two kids. Takenori perched on the armrest of Youhei’s sofa. Hir sat sat near Youhei and was eating a huge piece of cake. She didn’t seem to notice that she’s sitting all by herself. Akira badly wanted to kiss her, but clamped it down for he had a plan.

“Since all of you are seated, let’s begin the program,” Akira began with his speech on the microphone. “First of all, welcome home, You-kun!” He nodded to Youhei, Youhei nodded back. “And second, I want to thank you, You-kun and Akagi-san, for giving me this idea on how to tame a wildcat.” Akira glanced at Hiroaki, who regarded him with a curious look. Youhei chuckled and Takenori grinned at Akira. The rest of the crowd, except for Akira, looked at the two questioningly.

Akira cleared his throat to get everybody’s attention back to him. “As you all know, I’ve been trying to convince my Hiro-kun to marry me.” Hiroaki raised her eyebrow skeptically.

“And the two,” Akira nodded again to Youhei’s direction. “Gave me this brilliant idea just this afternoon. And so, without further adieu, I now will sing for my Hiro-kun.”

Hisashi groaned and leaned back his head. Kaede frowned in distaste at the news. Their partners stared at the two with a small laugh. Akira ignored the two.

He cleared his throat again. And began to sing.

*Bright Lights, Fancy Restaurants
Everything in this world that a man could want.
I got a bank account bigger than the law should allow
Still I\'m lonely now*

As he sang he started walking towards Hiroaki. Hiroaki nearly dropped the cake in surprise. Everyone else winced at the off-tune singing. Akira was no singer.

But Akira ignored them all as he poured his heart to this one song for Hiroaki. His eyes gleamed with love as he sang the verses.

*Pretty Faces from the covers of a magazine
From their covers to my covers wanna lay with me.
Fame and Fortune still can\'t find, just a grown man runnin\' out of time*

He paused when he’s right in front of Hiroaki’s chair. He kneeled down humbly at her feet.

*Though it seems I have everything
I don’t wanna be a lonely fool
All of the women, all the expensive cars, all of the money don\'t amount to you.
So I can make believe I have everything, but I can\'t pretend that I don\'t see.
That without you, girl, my life is incomplete*

Hiroaki’s eyes blurred with tears. She vaguely heard a nervous laugh and was a bit startled to know that it was she.

Akira took her left hand and kissed it. He sighed as he looked back at the teary brown eyes. He carefully dropped the microphone and pulled out a small box from his pocket. He opened the box and presented to Hiroaki a diamond-studded ring.

“Will you marry, Hikaru?” he asked softly, almost pleading with the girl.

Hiroaki’s tears fell unnoticed as she nodded. “Jerk,” she murmured as she sniffed.

Akira laughed. He carefully placed the ring on her finger, and then kissed her hand again.

The crowd around them applauded.

“When’s the wedding?” Hisashi shouted.

Akira looked behind him and grinned at Hisashi. “Tomorrow.”

Hiroaki slapped his shoulders. “That’s too soon,” she protested.

“No, its not.”

Hisashi laughed. “You won’t have any dull moments, Akira.” He then glanced at Kiminobu and smiled at the doctor. “What do you think, doctor?”

Kiminobu just smiled at Hisashi before giving Hiroaki a thumbs-up sign.

Youhei and Takenori remained silent, but nodded in approval.

Hanamichi smiled when he met Hiroakeyeseyes. He glanced at Kaede when the man suddenly stood up. Kaede tugged Hanamichi out to the lounge. The rest of the company watched them with little interest. The two children played with the blocks that Akira brought that afternoon from Hisoka so they didn’t notice their parents walked out.

Kaede dropped to a large settee in the lounge and pulled Hanamichi beside him. He nuzzled the red hair and breathed in Hanamichi’s scent.

“I love you, Hana,” he murmured.

“I love you too,” Hanamichi curled closer to him. He closed his eyes as contentment settled over him.

The world might have gone a little crazy on them, but they still have each other.

“Will you marry me?”

Hanamichi chuckled. “I thought you’re not the marrying kind?”

“Only to those I don’t like.”

Hanamichi fell silent, but his lips formed a wide smile. “We’re both males, fox.”

Kaede shifted a bit in his seat. “oesnoesn’t have to be the conventional wedding. A marriage contract is only a piece of paper anyway.” He sighed. “I just want you to wear my mark.”

“Took you five years, huh?”

“Not exactly,” Kaede whispered. He shifted again, and caught Hanamichi’s left hand. He tenderly slipped a ring on his ring finger. “I bought this the night before your high school graduation.” He placed a chaste kiss on the ring.

Hanamichi stared at the ring in surprise. He sobbed a laugh. “It’s beautiful.”

“Is that all you can say?”

Hanamichi laughed. He looked at Kaede in the eye before kissing him ravenously.

“How about that for an answer?” Hanamichi asked after a few minutes of kissing. Both of them were breathing heavily.

“I need more convincing,” Kaede insisted. He then pulled Hanamichi closer for another kiss.

***

Author’s notes:

Thank you, readers, for reading this fic. I love you all.

Majority of you complained that I made Hiroaki a girl. The reason for this was because I wanted to pacify my sister. She was my number 1 beta-reader, and didn’t like yaoi. She liked the way I wrote the romance between Hiro and Akira, and requested for a change in the whole story. She said that there should be a ‘normal’ relationship in the story since it’s so long.

And about Hisashi being fat comes up because of my number 2 beta-reader. She is a chubby girl. She didn’t like Hisashi being fat either, but she was pretty happy that I thought of her as I was writing my fic.

And so my fic ends. Thank you again.

PS. If any of you want to write a sequel, feel free.