Chapter 2: Light a fire within me

xxx Souichi xxx

A month had since passed since Souichi first knew of his pregnancy. Today, he and Morinaga were waiting by Dr. Hako's room for his second prenatal check-up and ultrasound scanning.

Morinaga's cell phone suddenly rang in the quiet hallway. A passing nurse frowned and gestured to the 'No cellular mobile devices to be switched on' sign pasted on the wall behind them. Morinaga apologized quickly and flipped open his cell to switch it to the vibration mode.

Souichi frowned when the other man merely closed his cell again and tucked it into his pocket. "Not going to read the message? What if it was something important?" Come to think of it, Morinaga's phone had been rather noisy of late; some nights, his phone had even rung in the wee hours. But Souichi had not pried—he would not have wanted Morinaga to hound him for every call and message that he received either.

"Oh, it's not important, just some junk message! The most important thing now is you and the baby, Sempai. I can't wait to see him for the first time!"

Souichi nodded; he must have imagined the trace of discomfort on Morinaga's face when he had asked about the text message. If and when the texts and calls became annoying, he would tell Morinaga about it then. Just at that moment, Dr. Hako stepped out from his office.

"Ah, Tatsumi- san, you are just on time for your appointment. Welcome, welcome. And I see that you have someone with you today! I'm delighted to be your acquaintance; how may I address you?"

Souichi made the introductions. "Morinaga, this is Dr. Hako, my attending physician, and this is Morinaga Tetsuhiro, my, uhh, that is, he's the father." Beside him, Souichi could feel Morinaga sucking it up. That brat. However the brilliant smile that lit up his lover's face made the embarrassment somehow worth it.

Morinaga stepped forward and shook Dr Hako's enthusiastically. "Please take care of us!"

"Indeed. Now, if you both may step into my office now…"

xxx Dr. Hako xxx

"Sempai, look, there's our baby! Ah, did he just move? Aw, he looks like he's sucking his thumb!"

Dr. Hako smiled as Morinaga jumped up from the chair and went to the sonogram, peering closely as the image of the fetus came into focus. The young man was exhilarated and not afraid to show it, unlike his patient. Briefly, the doctor thought that opposites did attract as he glanced at his stoic patient.

Souichi was lying on the examination bed, his sweater rolled up so that Dr. Hako could apply the gel. The man was much more composed than his partner, lying quietly on the bed as Dr Hako moved the sensor around his uterus to check for abnormalities. Satisfied that the scan showed no anomalies, he print- screened the image of the couple's baby and used the wet wipes to remove the gel from Tatsumi- san's skin. Morinaga had moved back to be beside Souichi. When Morinaga placed a kiss on Souichi's forehead, Dr. Hako decided that was the cue for him to exit for a moment.

"Tatsumi- san, Morinaga- san, I'm glad to tell you that your baby seems fine. I have to collect some documents from another room, so please excuse me awhile; I will be back in fifteen minutes to discuss some advice for the next trimester."

"That's great to hear, Doctor! Thank you for the help." Morinaga- san stood up again and bowed, offering Dr Hako a genuine smile of gratitude before turning back to his partner.

Dr Hako closed the door to his treatment room with a tiny click. As he walked down the hallway, he recalled the first time that he had met Tatsumi Souichi. His temper from that fateful afternoon had already become a legend in the department. Strangely, Dr. Hako had not felt that the man was scary. As they had talked in his private office, the doctor had felt that this Tatsumi Souichi possessed a rare strength of spirit that belied the man's slender build and fine-boned face. Even in the face of extreme shock and disbelief, Tatsumi- san had been determined to keep the baby. That had earned him Dr. Hako's respect. Now, after seeing how Tatsumi- san's partner was obviously committed to both the baby and his patient, Dr. Hako was glad. Strong people, even if they did not look it, also needed a sanctuary to turn to when it got too tough to be alone.

xxx Souichi xxx

Back in Dr Hako's tastefully- designed office and attached treatment room, Souichi smacked Morinaga's head before he began to roll down his sweater. The brat knew his aversion to overly affectionate displays in public. Morinaga grinned sheepishly but was otherwise unapologetic.

"Sempai, it's ok; Dr. Hako knows about our relationship anyway! He won't pass it around either, patient's confidentiality and all that. Ah, Sempai, don't pull down your shirt just yet. I want to touch our baby." Morinaga grabbed Souichi's hand, stilling his action.

"Baka, what are you trying to do?!" Morinaga was attempting to squeeze onto the narrow cot with him, his long legs dangling comically off the edge. Souichi tried to push him back down on the stool—this was the hospital! His rebuff merely caused the cheeky bastard to try harder. "This is the hospital, Morinaga-!" He glared in disbelief at his indiscreet kouhai. The infuriating man merely chuckled and scooped Souichi into his arms, scooting the both of them further into the bed. Grumbling but giving up, Souichi adjusted his body so that Morinaga could get more comfortable. Baka Morinaga.

"I can't believe it; our baby's growing right here in you. Did you see his fingers and toes? They are so perfect! Papa is so happy to see you today, baby. Grow strong and healthy okay?" Morinaga's long fingers caressed the flat but firm expanse of Souichi's womb as he spoke softly.

Souichi lay stiffly against Morinaga's shoulder; wary of the any sudden entry by other people. However, as the younger man's voice lulled him, he began to relax. If he were to be honest with himself, it felt…secure in Morinaga's arms. A month ago, the first time that he had been in this room, Souichi had felt as though he had stepped off the edge of normality into a twilight zone where the truth of his identity, sexuality, his body and even his future had all been blown to smithereens and scattered like dust in the wind. The week alone at Matsuda-san's house had been spent coming to terms with who and what he was. Not only as a father-to-be but also what it meant to be a man and to be himself, Tatsumi Souichi.

The contrast in the situation then and now was almost comical. Souichi knew he could handle things well on his own; had been doing so ever since his mother had died, leaving him with two young siblings to take care of while their father jetted to obscure locations for his work. However, having Morinaga with him was reassuring on so many levels that it was almost embarrassing; if he were to tell the brat that, Souichi was sure that it would just add an infinite amount of blackmail arsenal that Morinaga would surely milk. Such frustrating things would be better left unsaid.

"Sempai…"

Morinaga had stopped cooing to their baby and was now nuzzling Souichi's head. The sensation was oddly fuzzy; Morinaga's proximity and breath tickling and warming him simultaneously. "Hmm…?"

"I love you."

"…Baka…"

"Aww, Sempai, say it to me once again? I wanna hear it from Sempai's mouth! If not, I'll…" Morinaga's fingers traced Souichi's womb one last time before inching upwards. Souichi quivered as his long digits repeated the same tracing patterns around his nipples.

Ah, so much blackmail material against him already. Souichi tried to glare at Morinaga, which utterly failed when a moan escaped involuntarily as Morinaga began to slowly rub and press the tips of his sensitized nubs. "E-enough, stop, Morinaga…ahh…"

"Will you say it, Sempai? Just three words; it shouldn't be so difficult." Morinaga's eyes were now darkened with amusement and desire, his fingers continuing to slowly drive Souichi crazy.

"Lo…love you…you horrible, blackmailing ba—mhmm-!" Morinaga had tilted his head and kissed him deeply, a kiss that, unlike his wandering fingers just now, intoxicated him with love instead of lust. As both of them leaned further into the kiss, Souichi's last coherent thought was that it was lucky they were in a private treatment room.

To be continued.

I do hope that you enjoyed it :)