Still Raining

Still Raining
Sequel to: On the Street of Dreams
Written by: chochowilliams
Disclaimer: I do not own Gravitation or the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Summary: One little setback will not stop Ayaka Usami from getting what she wants and what she wants is Eiri Uesugi.
Chapter Summary: Eiri and Shuichi head out to NG to hear the results.
Warning: fantasy, angst, drama, romance, m-preg, language, M/M, hentai, Ryuichi/Tatsuha, Eiri/Shuichi
Inserts: --
A/N: I want to thank kaname-luvr, fan girl 666, Namikaze naruko14, Selina, ferler, bakayaro onna, xunxin, sarah83654123 for your reviews. You guys continue to be the best! So, onto the story! Enjoy!

-- 21 -- 21 -- 21 -- 21--

Last Time

There was another pause. “Mrs. Aizawa…Oharu.” Tohma spoke hesitatingly. “I think you should sit down.”

That was all that needed to be said. A sob rose up within her and escaped into the silence of the foyer before she could stop it. Her vision blurred behind a veil of tears. She started shaking her head in denial and couldn’t stop. She couldn’t stop. She wouldn’t. If she did, it would be true and she did not want it to be true. It couldn’t be. It just couldn’t. She refused to believe it. She wouldn’t believe it.

“I am so sorry,” were the soft words spoken into her ear.

When her legs gave out, she staggered backwards and hit the wall. It knocked another sob out of her. The phone tumbled out of her hands and clattered to the floor, but she didn’t notice. Nor did she hear the voice calling out to her. She slid down the wall and collapsed into a heap onto the floor, sobbing quietly.

-- 21 -- 21 -- 21 -- 21--

Chapter 21: We Gather Together

En Route to NG Productions - Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan

“Why’d you assume Aizawa was Takanori’s biological father?”

With a heavy sigh, Shuichi leaned his elbow on the passenger side door, resting his chin in his cupped hand and stared out the window at the city speeding by in a blur of color. Why was Eiri bringing this up yet again? Hadn’t they been over this enough? And what did it matter anyway? What’s done was done. Nothing could be done about it.

“Why wasn’t what’s-his-name ever an option?”

Shuichi rolled his eyes.

As if they hadn’t just seen “what’s-his-name”, otherwise known as Rique Kizou, the other day. Kizou and Eiri’d even had an amicable conversation and much to his delight, Kizou and little Takanori even hit it off, so Eiri pretending he could not remember what “what’s-his-name‘s” name is was not going to work.

Acting was not one of Eiri’s strong suit. Pretending he didn’t “know nothing about nothing” was clearly a ploy to remain disconnected from a situation he was emotionally attached to. Besides, they both knew that Eiri knew who and what Kizou was. Or more accurately, who he had been. Eiri knew it because he abhorred the idea, as well as the thought of, someone other than him touching what belonged to him. Such a possessive git.

Some did not care for the thought of “belonging” to another person. The idea that they could be claimed as if they were the last slice of pizza angered and disgusted them. They argued that they were not a thing to be bought, sold, and tossed aside whenever their owner grew tired of them. They were living, breathing human beings with thoughts, emotions and feelings all their own.

He envied those people. For that was all he has ever wanted. A place to which he could belong, where he did not have to hide or pretend to be something he wasn’t or be ashamed of what and who he was or wasn’t. He’d wanted someone who could love him for whom and what he was instead of what and who that person wanted him to be. He found all that and more in Eiri. Eiri did not think of him as the “freak”. To Eiri, he was beautiful. A bit on the rambunctious side, but perfect. Eiri loved him and he loved Eiri, possessive streak and all.

Though Eiri may deny it, the man had a habit of memorizing the names and faces of people who he felt were a threat to him and his claim, which was just about everyone in the free world. At social gatherings, Eiri kept to his side as if they were crazy glued together, his golden eyes scanning the vicinity for potential threats. Eiri would even go so far as to growl at someone who was as presumptuous as to glance at him.

Eiri really was a character, but…

Shuichi slid a glance at his husband behind the wheel, silently waiting for an answer.

…he wouldn’t have it any other way. For the first time in his life, he felt as if he were truly loved, as if he truly had a place where he belonged. It was a nice feeling.

“You know why,” he answered softly, turning back to gaze out the window.

Honestly, he was sick of talking about it and refused to discuss it any longer. All it did was cause him to feel worse than he already did and he already felt like complete and utter crap. The whole situation was a total mess, though, really, he had nobody to blame but himself.

Like most teenagers, he’d lived his life as if he knew all the secrets of the universe. He used to believe that nothing and nobody could touch him because everything happened to the other guy and not him, and if it did then…Oh, well. C’est la vie. That’s life. Besides, like Tatsuha said when the older man confronted him three years ago, he had been suicidal at the time. Back then, he’d believed that nobody loved him. That nobody cared about him and that nobody would miss him when he was gone. He’d been, after all, a freak and everybody knew that freaks were a waste of space and all of humanity would be better off it they were annihilated from the face of the planet.

But all that changed in an instant.

Meeting Eiri that night in the park changed his life. If it wasn’t for Eiri, he would even now be a pile of ash and bone in some third rate urn buried in the back of some coroner’s basement, if he was lucky, but his son was definitely the best thing that ever happened to him.

There was one regret he had in regards to his son and that was his naivety.

-- 21 -- 21 -- 21 -- 21--

Jumping to conclusions like they had, assuming that Aizawa was the biological father of little Takanori, assuming that Kizou could not have children, it was now all coming back to bite them on the ass. It did not matter what the results of the DNA paternity test turn out to be because either way someone was in for a major disappointment. The Aizawas could very well lose a grandchild, the only link to the son they lost, or Kizou could lose a child. His link to little Takanori was assured no matter what. He could not even begin to imagine what life was like on the other side of the fence.

He should have insisted they wait until they knew for certain before naming Aizawa the father. He should have…He didn’t know what else he should have insisted on, what he could have done differently to avoid being in the spot they were now, but he should have done more, something he could have done differently.

The public already believed, thanks to Tohma, that Shuichi and Aizawa were dating prior to the other man’s death- lie or not, he felt nauseous at the thought- but what if Kizou turned out to be little Takanori’s biological father instead? Then what? What possible scenario could Tohma pull out of his ass to explain the sudden turn of events?

This was one giant mess.

-- 21 -- 21 -- 21 -- 21--

“Where are we going Mama?”

With the introduction of his son’s inquisitive voice into the heavy silence, Shuichi felt his gloomy mood lift.

Turning around as much as the seatbelt would allow, Shuichi smiled at his two-year-old son who was strapped into his booster seat in the middle of the backseat.

That had him thinking. With one child already and two more on the way- that only they and Shuichi’s doctors knew about presently- what would they do if they were to have another child? He wasn’t even sure if Eiri wanted more children. Would three be enough? But what if, for argument’s sake, they did have another child? Then what? He would gladly give up his studio if the space were needed. But…

A sly grin spread slowly across his face. “You’d have to give up your precious Mercedes,” he whispered more to himself than to his partner.

Eiri blinked at him. “Excuse me?”

Shuichi grinned at the man. “If we have more children. You are going to have to exchange your Mercedes for a family van.”

Eiri blanched at the thought.

Shuichi laughed out loud at the expression of horror.

“Mama,” demanded the angry little voice from the backseat. “Where are we going?”

Smothering his laughter, but still grinning like a madman, Shuichi regarded his son, “We’re going to the studio again.”

After swallowing the dread at the idea of giving up his precious baby, and he wasn’t referring to his son, Eiri glanced at his son’s reflection in the rear view mirror for brief moments at a time.

“Remember?” Shuichi was saying. “We were there the other day and you played with that man who bought you pop with the marble in it?”

Eiri sneered at the memory. Yes. Give an already hyper two-year-old sugar. Brilliant idea.

Beaming, little Takanori nodded enthusiastically and starting dancing around in his seat.

Shuichi laughed at his son’s antics.

Eiri shook his head in amusement. Guess he should just feel happy that this transition between Aizawa and Kizou was going so smoothly, but he could not suppress the little stirrings of jealousy.

Little Takanori did remember that man. He’d been so nice! They’d played hide-and-seek and tag! He wanted to play with him again! He was really fun! Not as much fun as playing with Mama. Nobody was as fun as Mama. Mama was the bestest ever! Maybe that man would buy him another drink! Daddy did not like him having that drink, but it was so yummy and the bubbles had tickled his nose. Maybe Mama could talk to daddy again into letting him have it. And maybe he could play with the man longer this time and they wouldn’t have to worry about Daddy being angry that they were making too much noise in public because Mama would be there and would tell Daddy to hush just like he did last time. He couldn’t wait!

-- 21 -- 21 -- 21 -- 21--

NG Productions - Executive Offices - Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan

It did not take long for them to arrive at the tall steel and glass building that housed the NG Production record company.

Eiri pulled around back to where the entrance to the underground parking garage was located. At the gate, he took the employee key card Shuichi handed him, and held it up to the scanner. A light blinked green and the barrier rose. He handed the key card back to Shuichi, who shoved it back into an inner pocket in his bag, and started forward slowly. Shuichi guided him to the reserved parking for the artists on the second level near the elevators. Considering Shuichi’s current state, Tohma had given him permission to park in one of the handicapped spots.

They piled out of the car- Shuichi shouldering his messenger bag, Eiri pocketing his keys, wallet and cellphone- and as soon as their son was free of his confining car seat and his sneakered feet hit the ground, he was off racing towards the elevators, Shuichi at his heels. Eiri locked the set the car alarm and followed.

Little Takanori rose up on his tippy toes and pressed the call button. Proud of himself, he beamed up at his parents as they trooped up behind him. “I pushed-ed it Mama!”

Shuichi pouted. “But I wanted to do it,” he whined, crossing his arms over his chest.

Little Takanori strode up to his mama and patted his leg. “You can press it next time.” He said this was a serious expression on his face.

Eiri chuckled lightly.

The elevator arrived just then with a ping that resounded in the silence of the underground parking garage. Moments later, the doors slid open.

“Alright. Let’s go,” Eiri announced. Grabbing his son’s hand, he followed his husband onto the elevator car. He pressed the button for Tohma’s floor and watched the doors slide shut.

-- 21 -- 21 -- 21 -- 21--

With their son between them, swinging from their hands and squealing with a set of lungs that rivaled those of his mother‘s, the three of them stepped out of the elevator and into a plush, but silent hall.

There were no other doors along the passageway- or at least, there were none that could be seen- other than the single door at the end, but knowing Tohma Seguchi as they both did, neither would be at all surprised if there was a concealed door, or two. In fact, Shuichi was sure there was one if he were to believe the rumors.

Shuichi, Eiri and their son made their way down the hall, their footfalls muffled by the carpet under their feet.

On either side of them, the walls were lined with plagues- awards, and platinum and gold albums, including one for Bad Luck‘s debut album Gravity- and autographed photos of the various artists signed onto the NG label.

Shuichi could not get over how many there were! In the short time since the fledgling record company was founded, less than three years ago, NG Productions has become one of the top record companies in all of Japan.

The hallway ahead of them opened up into a small foyer-like space that was filled with lush exotic and native plants, expensive antique vases and intricately carved wood furniture.

Eiri snorted. It was just like Tohma to flaunt his wealth. That man does nothing subtly.

When he felt his son’s little hand slip free of his, Eiri stopped and glanced down at the two year old sharply, his heart harming in sudden fear, but he needn’t have worried. His son was currently in the process of trying to scale Shuichi as if he were Mount Fuji.

“Up Mama,” little Takanori declared. “Up Mama. Up!”

Eiri frowned at his husband as the younger man squatted down. “Shu,” he warned as his husband lifted their son up into his arms.

Shuichi shushed his husband. There was nothing wrong with him giving his son a little attention. Besides, he was only twelve weeks along. It wasn’t as if he was so big that doing so would cause any sort of harm to him or the twins. Eiri was such a worrywart.

“Shuichi.”

Ignoring him, Shuichi turned with a flourish and marched off down the hall.

Eiri gazed after him. “Damn brat,” he mumbled.

“Heard that,” Shuichi called over his shoulder.

Eiri rolled his eyes.

“Saw that.”

Eiri scrubbed his hands over his face. God help him. It’s started. Stupid pregnancy hormones. Dropping his hands, the sigh he started to expel choked off when he met a pair of golden eyes staring at him over Shuichi’s shoulder. Was it him or did he son look angry? Great. This was all he needed. A mini-Shuichi.

Shaking the shudder that raced down his spin off, he hurried after them both.

-- 21 -- 21 -- 21 -- 21--

He caught up to them at the executive office of the company president. Reaching around his husband for the door, he gave the doorknob a twist, pushed the door open and stepped back. He ushered his husband and son into the office with a wave of his hand, trying to ignore the twinge of guilt he was feeling for making his husband angry with him, which was ridiculous because he didn’t do anything to cause Shuichi to become angry with him.

Honestly, dealing with Shuichi and his constantly changing moods, whether he was pregnant or not, was like being on a roller coaster ride. It was enough to give one whiplash.

Shuichi stepped over the threshold and paused. Turning towards his husband, he rose up on his tippy toes- holding his son steady on his hip with a hand on the toddler’s back- and pressed his lips to Eiri’s cheek in a chaste kiss. He giggled at the stunned expression on Eiri’s face.

Little Takanori, wanting to kiss his daddy too, leaned forward- causing Shuichi to act fast otherwise he would have ended up dropping his son- and pressed his open mouth to Eiri’s cheek like he‘d seen his mama do. Then he spun around and grinned at his mama who chuckled lightly.

“Come on. Let’s go! Let’s go!”

Little Takanori giggled as Shuichi bounced him lightly on his hip. Still smiling, he stepped into the office to greet the young woman sitting behind the desk in the outer office, leaving Eiri stunned.

He really did not understand Shuichi. Not even a little bit. Boy should come with a manual, he thought.

“Hello Nanako.”

Shuichi‘s voice stirred him from his stupor. Shaking himself, he followed Shuichi into the office and nodded at his brother-in-law’s new- not to mention extremely young- secretary.

“Mr. Shindou. Mr. Uesugi. Hello,” Nana greeted warmly.

Shuichi shifted his son in his arms. Little Takanori was definitely not a lightweight. His arms were already beginning to ache.

“Hello there,” Nana smiled at little Takanori. Her voice had gone up several octaves. It was a typical adult slip when speaking to a child.

Little Takanori stared at her silently for a moment before replying shyly, “Hi.” After which, the two year old wrapped his arms around Shuichi’s neck and buried his face in Shuichi’s shoulder.

Definitely did not get that from Shuichi, Eiri thought. Shuichi was anything but shy. He chuckled deeply.

Shuichi tossed him a glance over his shoulder. The look said everything.

Suddenly it was a lot warmer in the office.

Clearing his throat, Eiri stepped forward, wrapped an arm possessively around Shuichi’s waist and prodded the cooing woman. “Tohma is…?”

“Expecting you,” Nana replied. “Go right in.”

“Thank you,” Shuichi grinned.

Eiri nodded.

They skirted the secretary’s desk towards the door that lead into Tohma’s office. Eiri rounded his husband and reached for the doorknob. He gave it a sharp twist, pushed open the door and stepped inside.

An explosion of sound greeted them.

--TBC---

A/N: Yes. Yes. Yes. Blah. Blah. Blah. I know where I ended it. Oh, well. Too bad. You just gotta wait till next week for the next part, which is all written except for one or two scenes.

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