Sins

Sins

Chapter 3

Daylight broke without much fanfare. The alarm sitting on the bedside table wasn't set to go off for another hour, but Suguru was wide awake. He hadn't gotten much sleep the night before. Worry over this lover's continued stomach problems weighed on his mind and it wouldn't let up. Looking at the time, it was too early to call the doctor, he decided to get up and get ready for his day. Considering the amount of alcohol consumed by everyone the night before, he knew his band mates and their managerial staff would be getting to work late. He remembered designated driver Sakano-san telling everyone they could take the morning off. That was perfect for it afforded him enough time to get Mika to call and make an appointment to go to the doctor. Knowing she would never tell her husband that she was ill, Suguru decided he would take her and find out first-hand what was the cause of her ailment.

Showered and properly groomed, Suguru went to the closet to find something appropriate to wear. He took out a maroon turtleneck sweater and pair of black jeans. He sized up the clothes and threw them on the bed. After obtaining socks and boxers from the dresser, he went over to the bed and sat down. Instinctively he ran his fingers over the spot behind his right ear. There was no pain there and by now the small hickey that had graced that place had faded. He was amazed that no one ever saw it. Perhaps Mika was correct, either his hair and clothes camouflaged the area or it just never was seen by anyone else. In any case, he was glad it was gone. He put on the shorts and socks, grabbed his clothing from the bed and finished dressing. Glancing at the clock, he knew he still had about 20 minutes before it would be safe to call Mika and start hounding her about calling the doctor. He decided to spend that time getting breakfast.

Scrambled eggs and hot tea were consumed as the clock on the kitchen wall ticked the minutes away. When the dishes were washed and put away, the time was upon the young man to start out on his mission. With the last item stored in the closet, Suguru reached for the phone. His hand was just placed on the receiver when he was startled by its ringing. Having almost dropped the phone at the shock, he jumped then picked it up. “Moshimoshi.”

“It’s me. Tohma went out last night after the party and didn’t come home. I think he stayed at Sakuma’s place.” Mika’s voice was calm but indicated annoyance at her wayward husband. “Anyway, I called and made an appointment with the doctor. I have to be there in half an hour, are you coming?”

“Do you want me to pick you up?” That was his way of saying yes.

“No, I’ll come get you. Be outside in fifteen minutes.” After being said, the phone call was disconnected.

Fifteen minutes dragged by before the red sports car turned the corner and stopped. Suguru climbed into the passenger seat and looked at the distressed features on the driver’s face. “Are you okay? You look like hell.”

“Thanks, I really needed that.” She was not in a good mood and comments like that just made her mood worsen. “If you can’t say anything nice, maybe you should get out.”

Concern over the feisty lover’s appearance and attitude kept Suguru from saying anything else. He decided that silence was indeed golden when the option was being shut out from getting the information he wanted. A hand was gently placed atop Mika’s and given a little squeeze. When their eyes met, each gave a small but loving smile to the other. The transmission was put in gear and the car was off to the next destination.

The car was parked in the underground garage attached to the doctor’s building. Nothing had been said after the initial exchange between the two. They silently walked into the building with Suguru attempting to take Mika’s hand to indicate some sign of apology and support. Fingers touched and folded around one another briefly. Two people exited into the garage when the couple approached the door and the momentary connection was broken. Each of the pair gave an inward “damn” at the loss, but neither verbalized it. This was just the way it had to be, no one could know about them.

The couple walked to the elevators and waited, intolerable moments later the doors opened and they were finally able to walk into a place of solitude. As soon as the doors closed, Suguru walked in front of his lovely lady, leaned in and kissed her. The gesture was reciprocated with zeal, but ended far too quickly when the doors opened onto the floor they needed. Since the corridor was empty and none of the offices had glass so people could look out into the hallway, Suguru was able to walk with his arm around Mika’s slender waist. At the door to the doctor’s office, Mika paused and turned to her lover. After giving him an all too-brief kiss, the door was opened and they entered.

The waiting room was vacant of other patients. Only a woman dressed in a white uniform covered over with a blue smock occupied the space. Mika walked up to the seated medical personnel and when not immediately greeted, gave a little “Ahem.”

The nurse raised her head from the chart she was perusing and smiled. “Mrs. Seguchi, it’s nice to see you. The doctor will be with you shortly so if you will have a seat, I will see if there is a room open.” No sooner had the pair taken their seats when the nurse appeared through a side door. “Mrs. Seguchi, if you will come this way, the doctor will see you now.”

Mika and Suguru arose from their chairs, but Mika put her hand on his chest and gave a gentle shove forcing the man into his seat again. “No, I go in alone. I’ll tell you what she says.”

Reluctantly, Suguru sat down and with a protruding lower lip looked sadly into her eyes. The puppy-dog look was quite endearing but wasn’t going to get him in the examination room so he sat and bided his time.

Seconds turned to minutes and minutes ticked away to almost an hour before Mika re-entered the waiting room. Pale cheeks and glassy eyes greeted Suguru when he looked up to meet her gaze. “What’s wrong? Are you really sick?” Dead silence and a blank stare were all that answered. “MIKA! WHAT IS IT?”

The loud emphasis of the last question broke the unemotional stare. “We need to get out of here.”

Heading out the door in a rush, Mika bumped into a woman entering the office. She stumbled back about a foot. Suguru’s chest stopped her momentum and he instinctively wrapped his arms around her. Apologizing for her rudeness to the other woman, Mika pulled roughly out of Suguru’s arms and ran out the door.

It seemed the elevator was never going to get to their floor and Mika stood glaring at the unopened doors. She wrung her hands and nervously swayed from left to right as she cursed the slowness of the mechanical device. Her movements were halted when Suguru came from behind and grabbed onto her. His hold was as tight as a boa on its unassuming prey. “Turn around and tell me what’s wrong. You’re not going anywhere until I get answers. If you don’t tell me, I’ll march back into that office and demand them from the doctor. It’s your choice!”

Without moving, the answer was given in barely over a whisper, “I’m pregnant.”

To say that Suguru was stunned is an understatement. “Pregnant?”

A hung head was turned towards Suguru as Mika twisted around in his slightly loosened grip. “Yes, pregnant. Now do you understand why I am upset?”

Gentle fingers touched beneath her chin and guided her face up so eyes could meet. “It’s mine, right? I’m the father.” A grin formed on Suguru’s face as he asked the obvious question. “I AM the father, aren’t I!”

“Can’t be Tohma’s, we haven’t slept together since before we started planning the party. You’re the only one. We were being so careful, except that one time.” She finally noticed the grin on Suguru’s face and frowned. “Why are you so happy?”

“I’m going to be a father! That’s great!” Exuberance flowed past his lips as he made the proud proclamation.

“Hold it right there, Su. I never said you were going to be a father. I said I am pregnant but that doesn’t mean I’m having the baby!” The words flowed out as if they had formed as soon as the news had reached her ears about the impending birth.

“What are you planning?” Fear of what he was going to hear next rocked his entire being.

The agonized look on her lover’s face caused Mika to stop her ranting. Perhaps her haste in proclaiming what she was thinking was not best in this situation. Sorrow at the potential loss of his unborn child was plastered all over Suguru- facially and in body language. Taking the forlorn young man into her arms, she stood there and held him close to her as she explained. “I suspected this before we got here. I knew I would never be able to have the child if my suspicions were correct. Tohma can never find out about this.”

She would have continued but the elevator finally arrived. When the doors opened, she released Suguru and the two entered the motorized car. The entire descent to the garage level was done in emotion packed silence. Tension between the two lovers was thick and caused an invisible barrier between them. Each person stood against opposite walls and just stared at the numbers as they counted off the floors till the lowest level stopped the momentum. When the doors opened, seconds passed before either moved and then it was Mika who stoically walked out first.

The car engine stayed idle as both sat in their seats. Suguru was in shock because of Mika’s off-handed way of announcing she wouldn’t have the baby. Mika tried to think of what to say next. Heavy sighs permeated the air until Suguru couldn’t take anymore. “I love you and I love our child. I want it. There has to be a way to make this work.”

Somber eyes turned to try and read the face of the man she loved. Yes, she loved him very much but she was unwilling to go through the agony of dealing with Tohma and the public scrutiny he would put her through. She refused to let Tohma know who fathered her child. Protecting Suguru from any impending fallout was her first priority. “Have you forgotten one little fact- no one knows about our affair. I know Tohma and he will stop at nothing to find out who the father is. Once he does, all hell will break loose. That’s a risk I’m not willing to take.”

“Isn’t that my decision to make? Tohma isn’t going to say anything publically about this and you know it. One word from his mouth and he will be the one suffering.” A sly look which is unbecoming to the young man contorted his angelic features. “I know all about my cousin and his lover. He wouldn’t risk the public outcry if it was known that their precious demi-god, Ryuichi Sakuma, was being banged by his keyboardist. He would protect Sakuma faster than his own child.”

Mika was shocked. Her shy college-bound lover knew about Tohma’s relationship with Ryuichi? “How did you find out about them, Su-kun? Tohma is so private about everything. He wouldn’t even let the press find out I was pregnant with our son until I was six and a half months along, and only then because it was impossible to hide my condition.”

“Tohma has always had Sakuma on the side. He proclaims his devotion to you and Eiri but he’s always seen with Sakuma. I knew growing up that Tohma and Sakuma were sleeping together and it wasn’t sleepovers like he told me. He really believed I would fall for that.” A snicker escaped Suguru at that tidbit.
“And what about last night, wasn’t that evidence enough that it’s still going on?”

Suguru’s revelations astounded Mika. Yes, she knew about her husband’s feelings for her younger brother but even she didn’t know about Ryuichi until a few years ago. “I still don’t want to chance it. He’s ruthless and after some of the things he’s done in the past, I put nothing past him.”

“Don’t worry, love, I won’t become another Taki Aizawa. No one is going to push me in front of a car to silence me.” More revelations are revealed. The shy and reluctant lover had turned into a sly fox. “Tohma won’t hurt me or you.”

Mika needed time to think things through. Rushing into anything now would accomplish one of two things, alienating her husband or losing the man she truly loved. “I won’t do anything yet. It’s still early and I have time to decide. No final decision will be made before talking to you.” She looked at the clock on the dashboard. “You have to get to the studio. We’ll discuss this later.” She started the car’s engine and looked over to Suguru. She gave the smile that melted his heart every time he saw it.

That smile reminded him why he loved her so much.“Okay and don’t worry Mika. We’ll work it out.”

TBC