Chapter 9: A New Life Together
Two weeks passed by in a heartbeat, and Rin found himself packing up his last suitcase. He moved most of his stuff over to Haruka's house the day before, and now he just needed to bring along his final necessities. He took one more peek under his bed to make certain that he wasn't forgetting anything, then closed his suitcase. Sighing, he rose to his feet and slung the black bag over his shoulder. It had taken him longer to get transferred to Iwatobi than he had originally anticipated... an entire week longer. The whole process was a bit more complicated than he expected.
After taking a final glance around his small dorm room, he started walking toward the door. However, he stopped in his tracks when he heard a soft male voice behind him. It was his room mate... well, former room mate... Nitori Aiichiro.
"U-um... Matsuoka-senpai..." The gray-haired boy's eyes were glossy with tears as he spoke. Although Rin had been rather rude to him, he still seemed like he was going to miss the red-haired male. "I w-wish you the best."
A few moments of silence ensued before the older man finally replied.
"Ai..." For the first time, he didn't call the younger boy by his surname. Turning around slowly, Rin locked both of his gorgeous crimson eyes on Aiichiro. A faint smile formed on the former's lips... and it was actually a warm, genuine smile. "...take care."
An expression of surprise appeared on Aiichiro's face upon hearing those words, and tears soon started slipping down his cheeks. He never expected Rin to say such kind words to him.
"H-hai, Rin-senpai. You take care also!" He sniffled, returning the smile in spite of his tears.
Rin nodded, giving a short wave as he turned around and walked out of the room. Through blurred vision, Aiichiro watched as his senpai closed the door behind him, never to return.
After a short walk, Rin finally arrived at his boyfriend's doorstep, and he slowly extended his right index finger, pushing in the button on the doorbell. About thirty seconds passed before the door finally slid open. Haruka stepped off to the side, giving the other male room to enter. He was only sporting his swimming trunks along with a blue apron over them. Judging from the delicious aromas wafting out from within, the blue-haired man was probably in the middle of cooking dinner.
"Sexy." Rin remarked, licking his lips as he looked Haruka's body over. Moments later, the dominant male stepped inside while his lover's cheeks turned a light shade of pink again. The submissive one shut the door behind them and started walking back into the kitchen.
"You can take the rest of your things back to the guest bedroom. Dinner will be finished shortly."
"Mmm... I have a few complaints for the sexy landlord about my accommodations first." The crimson-haired teenager's teasing smirk returned. "I don't think the guest room is gonna cut it. I'd be a lot more comfortable sleeping in the same room as you."
"I'm not the landlord, and you're not sleeping with me." Haruka responded from the kitchen. "That's the whole reason we ended up in this situation in the first place."
"Technically, you didn't end up like that because we slept together. I don't remember any sleeping being involved." As soon as those words left his lips, Rin ducked... just barely dodging a wooden spoon that came flying at his head. As the utensil slammed into a nearby wall, he straightened up again and chuckled. "Damn, someone's hormones are starting to act up... and with an arm like that, you should've joined the baseball team instead!"
"Just hurry and take your things back so we can start eating." The blue-haired male released a deep sigh and tried to focus on his cooking. It was one of the few hobbies he enjoyed aside from swimming.
"Fine, fine." Rin slipped his shoes off at the entrance and began to walk back toward the guest bedroom. He carefully examined his surroundings, taking in the "scenery." Although he had seen the inside of Haruka's house before, it felt different this time. This was now his home as well. Just thinking about it made him feel warm inside. His dream of living together with his boyfriend had finally come true. However, the circumstances were a little... different than he imagined. Nonetheless, he was happy, and that was an emotion that he had seldom experienced in his lifetime.
Once he arrived at the guest room, the crimson-haired male set down his suitcase and sighed as his gaze shifted toward a pile of cardboard boxes that were stacked in one of the corners. He was going to be quite busy unpacking after they finished eating. Slowly reaching into the left pocket of his jeans, he started to fumble around inside. He brought out a black rubber band shortly, using it to tie his hair back into a small ponytail. His bangs still hung down in his face though.
Once everything started to sink in somewhat, he finally returned to the kitchen. Haruka was preparing to carry some bowls of food out to the chabudai, but he stopped when he felt the dominant man's arm around his shoulder.
"Huh, you actually made something besides that fish you love so much?" The red-haired one raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"I already told you... since we started dating, I've been trying to prepare dishes that you'll enjoy as well."
"How thoughtful of you!" Rin pressed his lips against the other male's left cheek.
"I-if you don't hurry, it'll become cold." The blue-haired boy blushed faintly, pulling away from his lover before stepping out of the kitchen.
"Heh, fine with me. I like cold things." The dominant male muttered under his breath, checking out Haruka's body from the back side. Moments later, he shook his head and grabbed some more bowls from the counter, carrying them out next.
When their dinner table was set, both males clasped their hands together, closing their eyes briefly.
"Itadakimasu." They chanted at the same time.
Rin instantly picked up his chopsticks and started to devour his meal. His boyfriend, on the other hand, picked up a remote instead. He pushed the large red button on it, and the television blinked on in response.
"What're ya watchin', Haru?" The crimson-haired man asked with a mouthful of rice.
"The news." The other replied, setting the rectangular object down.
"I should've known." Rin swallowed.
Both young men fixed their vision on the screen, watching random commercials as they waited for the program to continue. Haruka suddenly reached out for the remote again, attempting to change the channel as a certain commercial began playing. However, his partner quickly stopped him, grabbing onto his wrist firmly.
"Oh no you don't..." Within the first two seconds, Rin had already recognized four of his acquaintances on the screen. His grin gradually widened as the commercial progressed, and his cheeks rose in temperature as well. He was definitely enjoying this sight a lot more than he should have been. Once it finally ended and the news resumed, he released his lover's wrist and spoke again. "So that's where that mysteriously large paycheck came from."
"I only did it for the sake of our child. We'll need the extra money soon." Haruka slowly picked up his chopsticks, avoiding his boyfriend's gaze.
"True." The dominant teenager agreed, nodding. "I never knew you could dance, Haru... that was pretty damn amazing!"
"...arigatou." The emotionless boy's voice was no louder than a murmur.
A few moments of silence ensued between the two, but it was broken when a soft gasp escaped from Haruka's lips.
"What's wrong?" Rin inquired with a faint hint of concern in his expression.
"I... I don't know..." Those two sapphire eyes were wide as they moved their focus down toward his stomach. "...I felt a strange sensation..."
The red-haired man blinked, setting his chopsticks down. Then, he crawled over to his lover and started to remove the other male's apron.
"Wh-what are y-" The blue-haired male tensed up slightly.
"We're not even in public. Calm down."
"I realize that. I'm just..."
"I know you wouldn't stop me if I tried to do something."
"That's true. I wouldn't, but-"
"Don't worry. I'm not gonna do anything to you right now, Haru. I just wanna check something." Rin gave his boyfriend a gentle, reassuring smile.
"All right." Haruka nodded, allowing his partner to proceed.
Once the apron was removed and tossed to the side, the dominant male glanced down at the other boy's belly. It was certainly protruding more than it had been two weeks ago. In fact, it seemed like it grew a little with each passing week, which Haruka found rather unpleasant.
"Where'd you feel it?"
"Here." The submissive teenager pointed at the area where he felt the 'sensation.'
Rin nodded in response, placing his right palm over that very same spot. He held it there for about thirty seconds before his lips curved into another wide grin.
"The baby moved. It was really faint, but I felt it, too." Rin's voice actually sounded excited. Although he still had some worries, he was finally starting to look forward to the child's birth... the child that he and his lover had created together.
"You're... happy about it?" Haruka blinked.
"Eh, I guess I'm starting to look on the bright side of this whole situation." The dominant male replied, softly rubbing his boyfriend's stomach. "This kid's technically the result of our feelings, after all." He lifted his head slightly, trying to meet the emotionless man's gaze. "What about you? Still nervous?"
"Of course I am..." In spite of his words, the blue-haired male spoke in a calm tone. "...but I could never destroy an innocent life." He gazed down at his abdomen, and his expression became unnaturally soft. "Especially a life that we created together." As soon as those words left his lips, Haruka immediately looked away, and his cheeks turned a light shade of pink.
"Oh, Haru." Rin chuckled, gently pushing his boyfriend back onto the floor. Then, he leaned down and pressed his lips against the other male's.
"Ri-mmmhh!" Haruka's eyes widened briefly before closing. A quiet moan escaped from him as he gave into the kiss. He didn't even try to struggle.
The red-haired male closed his eyes next, still caressing the slightly-bloated stomach underneath him. However, as the kiss deepened, his hand slowly began to move lower, slipping down his boyfriend's pants instead. Of course he'd ruin a perfectly romantic moment by thinking about sex.
Later that night, both young men were laying quietly in Haruka's bed. Rin somehow managed to persuade his lover into allowing them to sleep together "just for one night." Rolling over onto his side, the dominant male finally broke the silence.
"Oi, you still awake, Haru?" He inquired in a whisper, staring at the other male's back.
"...unfortunately..." A slightly annoyed response was muttered a few seconds later.
"What? Are you still upset with me?"
"I'm not upset."
"Don't gimme that." Rin rolled his eyes. "I could tell you were upset earlier."
"If I was, it's only because you were going overboard during that kiss."
"Hey, you weren't exactly trying to stop me. Besides, I didn't do anything except feel your ass up a little."
"Yes, but it could have lead to something more..." Haruka would never admit it, but being pregnant was increasing his sexual desires. If Rin provoked him too much, his own body might go against his wishes. It felt good when the other male touched him... but he certainly wasn't ready to have more sexual intercourse just yet.
Sighing, the crimson-haired male wrapped both of his muscular arms around his boyfriend from behind.
"Gomen. I wasn't planning to go any further than that. Honestly, I thought I was restraining myself pretty well, all things considered." Rin truly was trying to be considerate of Haruka's feelings, whether it appeared that way or not. He knew that his boyfriend wasn't ready for more sex yet, and he wouldn't try it until he was given permission to do so. Rin really was changing... for the better. As his hands came to rest over the submissive teenager's stomach, he spoke again. "We'll have to tell them soon."
"What are you referring to?" Haruka slowly turned his head back to look at his partner.
"I'm talking about this kid." The red-haired man replied. "If you get any bigger, we won't be able to hide it anymore... so it's better to let everyone know the truth before your pregnancy reaches that point."
"..." The blue-haired male instantly looked away, and his muscles tensed up as he pondered over the other's words. This confession would be a hundred times more embarrassing than when Rin first admitted their relationship. There was no way they could tell everyone. Haruka was sure that he'd die of embarrassment if they did, but what other choice did they have? No matter what, people were going to find out sooner or later.
I'm back from the dead, everyone! (I think). Wow... over FOUR months without updating... yeeeah, I really need to work on that. I've had this chapter half finished for a long time, but I got distracted every time I tried to complete it... and then real life started getting in the way as well. Gotta love ADD and reality. /Sarcasm/
Anyways, I've kept you all waiting for far too long, and I'm sorry for that. I realize that an apology alone isn't enough though... I'll try to start updating more regularly again. Later, guys!
