Disclaimers: THE USUAL. Brief summary: This fic is a Hanamichi turned into baby fic. And there is no pairing in this fic. It's a little shounen ai though but no actual pairing, I hope.
Part 2
Kaede entered the silent apartment quietly. As he had hoped, Hanamichi was still out.
He walked agonizingly towards the soft brown sofa and dropped down immediately. He had sprained his ankle during practice today, and their coach barked a simple order of rest for him. He grimaced as he remembered his journey to their apartment. None of his teammates were allowed by their coach to escort him so he had walked out of the gym in agony. Luckily for him, a cab was in the campus. He had to pay extra though, but it didn't matter.
His ankle was emitting a slow painful throb. But Kaede didn't have the strength to get up and applied a cold press for the swelling.
He looked up at the door when he heard a frantic sound outside. He lay back when a redhead entered with his load of groceries.
"Are you okay, Kaede?" Hanamichi dropped everything and ran to Kaede. He laid a hand in his forehead to feel the silent man's temperature. "You don't seem to have a fever." He walked around the sofa to get a better look on his ward when he bumped into Kaede's injured ankle.
Kaede hissed as pain radiate around his body. He vaguely felt Hanamichi jumped back in surprised.
"Shit! You hurt yourself!"
"Brilliant observation," Kaede retorted coldly.
"I'll go get some ice." Hanamichi ran to the kitchen like lightning then back again. He looked at Kaede's state of dressing. The young player was still in his jersey. "Where did you sprain your ankle?" he growled.
Kaede sat up from the sofa then shrugged his shoulders.
Hanamichi's eyes darkened with anger as he marched around the kitchen. This was not the first time that one of his wards was hurt in practice. The first time was when Akira had dislocated his shoulders. The freaking coach of theirs didn't even lift a finger to help Akira but just barked an order of rest.
"Let me guess," Hanamichi growled in angry. He kneeled in front of Kaede and began snipping the rubber shoe off the injured ankle with a pair of scissors he found underneath the sofa. "You broke your ankle yet your coach just ordered you to rest."
Kaede hissed again as Hanamichi pulled the remaining parts of the shoe away from his foot. "You could say that."
"Who helped you get here?" Hanamichi carefully snipped the socks then tenderly placed a pack ice he found inside the refrigerator on the ankle before wrapping it with bandages.
Kaede didn't answer. To answer would mean a Hanamichi running back to the gym and beating their coach into a pulp. He would love to see their coach as a pulp, but he wouldn't like to see Hanamichi lose his scholarship either.
"It's not broken, just sprained."
"You didn't answer my question," Hanamichi's tone of voice held underlying anger.
"Akira brought me here," Kaede lied. He sighed in relief when he saw Hanamichi brightened up a bit.
"Okay." Hanamichi stood up. He looked down at Kaede. "I better take you to your room."
Kaede nodded. He stood up, and, with Hanamichi's help, walked to his room. His bed never looked as inviting to Kaede as of that moment.
"I think we still have some aspirin left from Akira's previous injury," Hanamichi said after he deposited Kaede on the bed. He walked out of the room and into the bathroom at the end of the hall. He opened the cupboard and searched for the aspirin. He spotted the elusive bottle, but swore vehemently when he read that the expiring date had long passed. He went back to the bedroom, and then froze when he saw the fox sleeping peacefully.
"I don't why I put up with the two of you, fox." Hanamichi smiled with fondness at the sleeping man. He looked around the room and shook his head in the messy décor. He looked back at the prone form and walked to the man quietly. With infinite care, he striped the young man down to his briefs before tucking a blanket on him.
"Sweet dreams, fox." Hanamichi placed a soft kiss on the black bangs then left the room.
Kaede smiled in his sleep.
Akira burst into the apartment with a mighty bang. He sighed when he saw Kaede calmly eating potato chips on the sofa while watching television.
"Good evening," Kaede greeted Akira coldly.
Akira smiled sheepishly at Kaede. "Are you okay?" He threw down their sports bag before closing the door.
Kaede lifted his foot and shown Akira the bandages. "Hana-mama took care of me."
Akira laughed at the nickname. He was the one that created that nickname for Hanamichi during the time of his injury. Hanamichi had fussed all over him for a week it was embarrassing.
"Thank God, you're okay. I was worried sick."
Kaede nodded gratefully. "How was practice?"
Akira sat down beside Kaede. "Grueling."
Kaede grinned. "What's new?"
"I don't have a date tonight," Akira admitted with a pathetic voice.
Kaede laughed. "I'm feeling a little better."
"That's not nice, Kae-chan." Akira looked at Kaede with a false hurt look.
"Hanamichi made beef on mushroom sauce."
"Really?" Akira brightened up at the mention of his favorite dish.
Kaede nodded. His eyes went back to the television.
"Did I just hear you, Akira?" Hanamichi sauntered into the living room wearing a towel around his waist and a smaller towel on his head. He was clearly from the shower since water was still dripping off him.
"Hello, Hana!"
Hanamichi smiled at the happy-go-lucky guy. "Kaede told me that you brought him home this afternoon. How did you get away from that monster?" He easily dropped beside Kaede.
Akira looked at Kaede.
Kaede silently warned Akira to shut up.
Hanamichi looked at the two with suspicious eyes. "What's going on?"
Akira evaded Kaede's eyes then looked at the redhead. He laughed nervously. "Well you see, Hana, I sorta mess up this afternoon," he lied with a whisper.
Hanamichi looked expectantly for Akira to continue.
Akira felt a prickle of guilt. He really didn't want to lie. But Hanamichi would surely attack their coach and lose his scholarship if he didn't.
"I was the one who broke Kaede's ankle. So I brought him here."
Hanamichi opened his mouth to day something but thought the better of it. He shook his head as he walked to his room.
"You're a lousy liar," Kaede taunted Akira coldly.
"Shit! I was feeling guilty!"
"It's for his own good."
"Have you ever lied to your mother, Rukawa?" Akira glared at the younger man.
"No. And Hanamichi is not our mother."
"Not biologically," Akira retorted with a growl. "He's been taking care of us since he moved in with us."
Kaede couldn't think of a reply.
Akira heaved a sigh. "I feel like a monster every time I lie to him."
Kaede closed his eyes. He felt the same. Though Hanamichi was their official housekeeper, the redhead had been more than that.
"Oh!" Akira suddenly bolted out of his seat and ran to his bag. He took out a small thermos and presented it to Kaede.
Kaede took the thermos, opened it and then sniffed at the contents. He cringed at the very sweet scent.
"What's in these?"
"Honey."
"Pure?" Kaede took another sniff.
Akira hesitated for a minute before answering. "No."
Kaede heard the hesitation rather than the words. "No?"
Akira pursed his lips thoughtfully. He refused to look at Kaede.
Kaede reached out to the table in front of him and took hold of a glass tumbler. He easily emptied the glass with a few gulps as he drank its contents. He then poured the thermos' viscous contents into the glass and held the glass up.
Akira looked at the glass. A pale, honey colored liquid could be seen.
"It's made of honey?" Kaede asked.
"Most of its ingredients are honey," Akira admitted.
"What are the other ingredients?"
"Essence of a tree frog, burnt viper's venom, and something else that I can't remember."
Kaede looked at Akira in horrified expression. "This is not one of your witch potions, is it?"
Akira frowned at Kaede. "Of course not. It's a sorcerer's potion, not witch."
"What's the difference?"
"Spelling."
Kaede developed a ticking vein on his forehead. With an angry hiss, he slammed down the glass in the table. He stood up and limped towards the kitchen.
Akira was right on his heel. "Come on, Kae-chan. The book says it takes away any injuries."
"Why don't you try it for yourself? You probably have injuries on your brain."
Akira shook his head. "But..."
Kaede suddenly turned around to face Akira.
Akira shut his mouth at the furious look on Kaede's face.
"Fine, no potion for you."
"Set the table," Kaede ordered. "I'll go get Hanamichi." With a final glare, Kaede limped back into the living room.
Akira rolled his eyes at the order. "I'm the eldest here, yet people treat me like I'm the youngest."
"Act like your age and we might change our attitude towards you," Kaede snapped back from the living room.
"Fine!"
Akira grumbled under his breath as he set the table. After setting the plates and glasses and silvers, he opened the refrigerator and took out a burgundy wine.
"Table's all set," he shouted.
"Come here, Akira."
Akira frowned at the soft command. Kaede's voice seemed a little squeaky too. Feeling a cold shiver down his spine, he cautiously walked to the living room. Finding no one, he took out a thick stick that Hanamichi had conveniently placed in a crack hidden beside the kitchen door. He raised it in defensive position as he crept to the sofa.
"Akira?"
Akira jumped back in surprised when Kaede spoke again. "Where are you, Kaede?" He continued looking at the living room with senses alert in any sudden movement.
Then he heard a goo-goo sound. Like that of a baby.
The stick fell to the floor as Akira twisted around to come face-to-face with a cute redheaded baby on a couch. Two towels were wrapped around the little one in disarray.
"My God!"
"Looks like your sorcerer's potion is not for injuries," Kaede spoke again.
Akira walked towards the baby in trance. "Hana?"
The baby giggled and reached out to Akira. The motion made the towels slipped to the floor, and the baby slipped with them.
"Ahhh!" Akira screamed as he bolted to catch the little one before he hit the floor. The baby gurgled a happy giggle to Akira's relief. He looked around the room, searching for Kaede.
"Where are you, Kae-chan?"
Hanamichi's squishy rubber ball bounced on Akira's head, making Akira turned his head to the sofa's corner. There sat a seven-year-old Kaede.
Silence before the storm.
"WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED!" Akira shouted in horror.
Kaede just raised his eyebrow at the stupid question. But the baby was surprised at the sudden noise.
The cute forehead frowned, the rosebud lips quivered and big brown eyes filled up with tears.
"Uh-uh!" Kaede exclaimed before covering his ears.
Akira was puzzled at first at Kaede's weird actions, but jolted in alarm when he looked down at the redhead.
"No! No! Don't cry!" Akira hugged the kid in a vain attempt to stop the upcoming loud serenade.
However, Hanamichi the baby was too startled to be comforted easily. Loud crying boomed around the whole apartment.
Akira, in his surprise, released the baby.
Kaede saw what happened and immediately jumped to catch the redhead. He clumsily cradled the little one to soothe him.
"There now," Kaede crooned softly at the red curls. "Kaede-niichan is here now, no need to cry." He glared up at the lone adult.
Hanamichi paused his crying for a second to stare at Kaede with a big teary brown eyes. Finding that the boy's attention wasn't on him, Hanamichi screamed another heartbreaking cry.
Akira was in a daze. His body froze, and the world around him seemed to be in slow motion. Even the loud crying seemed so far away.
Kaede expelled an angry breath. He looked down at the miserably crying baby in his arms, and sighed. "Go stop your crying, it will be alright," he sang softly.
The baby whimpered before calming down a bit. His lips were still quivering in a warning that he could cry again.
Kaede smiled at the baby's silence and his rapt attention. He knew that Hanamichi loved that Phil Collins song. So he continued. "Just take my hand." He reached out his free hand to the baby. Hanamichi instantly grabbed a finger with both hands. "Hold it tight. I will protect you from all around you. I will be here, don't you cry." Kaede lifted his hand and wiped the moisture on Hanamichi's cheeks. The baby giggled happily.
Akira snapped back into reality when he heard the giggle. He looked down on the floor to stare in amazement at his two roommates. He slumped down beside them and regarded the two with dilated eyes.
"What happen?" he asked almost in a whisper.
Kaede stared back at him calmly. "Hanamichi drank it all. But not before making me take a sip," he answered in his usual tone of ice.
Hanamichi looked up at Kaede when he heard his name. He twisted around to offer Akira a toothless smile then reached out to him.
Akira momentarily forgot their predicament at the innocent smile. He chuckled and grasped the small hand. With a gentleness that was never associated with him, he pulled the baby into his arms and held him close for comfort. He closed his eyes as the little one played with his nose. He automatically turned his head away when a small finger made its way into his nostrils.
"Dada!" Hanamichi cried out with a giggle.
Akira laughed. He cracked open an eye and mischievously glared at the redhead.
Hanamichi moved closer to curiously stare at the ice-blue eye. He cooed and made bubbles out of his saliva as he tried to poke the strange opening.
Akira chuckled as he again turned his head away from the curious hand. He gently placed the redhead between his thighs and clamped a firm hand on the baby to keep him in place. He looked at the seven-year old Kaede, and smirked at the silent boy.
"Your age would be around..." Akira waved his hand for Kaede to supplement the missing word.
"Seven," Kaede replied. He frowned slightly when Hanamichi tried crawling away from Akira towards him. Akira kept a tight hold on him though.
Hanamichi protested with a cry at the restricting hand. He tried to pry the hand away from him but to no avail.
"Steady, Hana," Akira murmured reassuringly. He smiled brightly at the baby when he turned to pout at him. "Kaede-niichan and Daddy Akira have to talk, ne?"
The baby frowned then cooed. He tried crawling on Akira's chest again to claw at the blue eyes.
Akira sighed at the little one's curiosity. "Even as a baby, he never seemed to tire."
Kaede nodded in agreement. He watched the two with concealed amusement. Hanamichi was adamant to touch Akira's eyes, while Akira struggled to keep the hand from blinding him. Akira ended up in the floor and Hanamichi on his chest. The baby was still trying to get to his eyes.
Suddenly, Akira let out a war-like cry and held Hanamichi up in his arms as he sat up. The baby jerked in surprise but soon squealed happily when Akira buried his face on the baby chest and tickled him.
"Ah! I got you!" Akira laughed as he repeated his play with the baby.
Kaede couldn't help but smile at the comical scene. He never thought the day would come that the playboy Akira be very good with babies.
"You're good."
"Shut up, Kaede," Akira warned softly. He returned to his former position and glared at the young boy. "How come I can still talk to you like an adult?"
"You're the fucking sorcerer. Answer your own question," Kaede growled menacingly. But it had no effect with a squeaky voice.
Akira frowned distastefully at the young boy. "Don't swear. It doesn't suit you."
Kaede glared. "Find the cure for the potion, Sendoh." He nodded to the baby. "Hanamichi has a test next week."
"You know what?" Akira narrowed his eyes at Kaede. "I never get to ask this question that had been bugging me since we moved in together."
"What's that?" Kaede raised his eyebrow.
"When did you become nicer to Hanamichi?"
The baby looked at Akira when he heard his name. He cooed and giggled at the man, but pouted when he noticed that he wasn't looking at him.
Kaede calmly stared at the Akira. All emotions were absent in his face.
Akira barked a laugh. "Damn! It was stupid of me to ask." He turned to the baby and offered his hand for the baby to play with. "Forget I ask, Rukawa."
"It's none of your business, anyway."
"Yeah."
Silence issued between the two raven-haired males. Hanamichi was oblivious of the tension between the two, and continued playing with Akira's hand. He squealed with surprise when Akira unexpectedly wiggled his fingers. Akira couldn't help but laughed at the baby's antics. Kaede just observed the two.
"He needs supplies," Kaede spoke softly. The baby was completely naked but was obviously not cold because of Akira's warmth.
Akira nodded. "I'll buy him diapers tomorrow."
"Why not tonight?"
Akira looked straight at the ocean-blue eyes. "Who's gonna take care of Hana?"
"Obviously me."
"Can you handle it?"
Kaede nodded.
Akira looked back at Hanamichi.
"I need new clothes too."
For the first time that night, Akira noticed that Kaede's clothes hanged loosely around him. Very loosely. "What's your size?"
Kaede gave Akira an incredulous look.
Akira chuckled. "Sorry, I forgot."
"Idiot."
"Hey! Told you, 'no swearing'. Tender ears are listening you know."
Kaede snorted.
Akira frowned again. "You need to loosen up a bit, Kaede."
"Try being a kid again, and then tell me to loosen up."
"I don't mind being a kid."
"I'm sure."
Akira smirked at the sarcastic reply. He slowly adjusted his legs and then kneeled down. He carefully handed Kaede the squirming baby. "I'll go buy the supplies now."
Kaede nodded. He tightened his hold on the redhead when the redhead struggled to get to the floor again.
Akira chuckled again. "I'm buying lots of films too." He then stood up and skipped excitedly to his room.
Kaede's eyes widened at what Akira wanted to do. "NO PICTURES!" he shouted at the retreating back.
Akira looked back behind him to grin cheekily at Kaede. "Of course not, Kae- chan."
Kaede visibly sighed with relief.
Akira turned back to his room. "I have a video camera."
The boy on the floor froze.
"NOOOO!"