a/n: Hello once again! A citrusy chapter, not sooo much plot advancement ('cos I was focusing on the steamy scenes, unfortunately). Have fun, and a nosebleed, i hope. xD

Chapter 20: The meaning of giving

xxx Souichi xxx

Souichi's brow ticked. He had handed the present to Morinaga two minutes ago. Two minutes ago! But Morinaga was only standing there, frozen, a flabbergasted expression on his face. It was as though he could not quite believe what Souichi had just done.

So insulting. Was he some kind of unfeeling rock?! Souichi fumed silently. Seriously, all of this was just too bloody infuriating; he had definitely not acted like this earlier with the flowers! Souichi smacked an imaginary palm against his head. Looking at Morinaga, one might think that he had never given him a present before—!

Oh, right. This was actually the first time.

Souichi's bluster deflated, all self- righteousness escaping in a gust of hot air. He glanced at his kouhai and the bronze package in his hands, and finally understood the man's reaction.

His cheeks pinked. Suddenly, Souichi wished that he had not bought that present, had not given it to Morinaga. It was just a briefcase, for Kami's sake, not some terribly precious or valuable treasure! Morinaga was being too sentimental!

But he could not seem to tear his eyes away. As a strictly practical man, the significance of a gift had always escaped Souichi, a buzz that barely resonated in his radar. For as far as he could remember, he had never specially gotten any presents for anybody, unless one counted those souvenirs that he had bought back from Canada last year. Hell, even Kanako and Tomoe, Matsuda- san and his father had only received gifts from him a few times. This was the custom in the Tatsumi family, and Souichi had simply taken that as the status quo.

Which was why Morinaga's awed reaction was wigging him out. Yes, he was wigged out—he was not moved, at all! Souichi obstinately tried to will his blush away, unaware that he had inched closer to Morinaga. After all, presents were simply physical, material things that screamed consumerism and, and—

Warm arms settled around him. Lips pressed a kiss against his forehead. The softest words whispered against his hair, ruffling it.

"Thank you, Sempai."

The blush that he had been trying to hold back came back twofold. Engulfed in his lover's embrace, hearing the tenderness in his voice, Souichi had to admit defeat. He snaked his arms beneath the oblong package and around Morinaga's waist, hugging him back as tightly. Damn, if he had known that presents could elicit such responses from the man, then he might have starting buying them more frequently, and earlier. It was still not too late to go back to the leather- smith to buy that full- grained wallet for Morinaga…"No need for thanks," Souichi replied, voice just a little too gruff.

For the longest time, it seemed, they stood at the base of the stairs, basking in the sunlight and equally warm contentment. It was so quiet, their surroundings. Each man could hear the ticking of the wall clock, and each other's breath. Souichi was not very surprised when Morinaga's fingers caressed his face, tilted it up so that he could kiss him. His heart startled, then began beating a steady trot as his lover expressed all his emotion in a searing, amorous kiss.

Slowly, as though waltzing, Morinaga guided them towards the coffee table. There was a dull thump as he set his present beside the flower vase. The man continued to woo Souichi's mouth, distracting him from his customary protest, teeth nipping his lips open so that his tongue could plunder in. There were moans, low, involuntary. Neither knew who had made them, neither cared. With every flick of Morinaga's tongue against his own, teasing his palette, Souichi trembled, his hands grabbing on to the man's shirt, silently asking for more.

They were not supposed to do this; Morinaga was supposed to open his present, see the papers inside… However, all of such suppositions rapidly evaporated like steam against the heat that built up between them, excruciatingly, inexorably. When Morinaga's hand began to slide up his abdomen and chest, Souichi let him, each touch each contact fire that ignited his nerves, made him shiver. With practiced expertise, Morinaga started to massage his nipples, delicately chafing against the pink nubs, occasionally tweaking, sometimes pressing. Souichi forgot all about the proper order of things, wanton groans grafting his throat as his lover broke through all his barriers.

With a fluid push, Souichi was pressed against the wall. Morinaga's hand found the small of his back and he jerked him close, jade eyes scorching him. Then, his dark head swooped down, a vampire searching for his pulse. With nipping kisses, Morinaga proceeded to suck the essence out of Souichi.

"Ahh…" Helplessly, Souichi let his head loll back, expose his everything to his thirsting lover. Morinaga's hair swished against his jaw and instinctually, he raised a hand to ruffle it, press him close. This only made Morinaga's advances more ardent and soon, Souichi's pale nape was covered with dark hickeys.

They were both painfully aroused now; trouser fronts tenting outward as their members livened up. Souichi was slowly going crazy, straining for more, much more, whenever Morinaga accidentally brushed against him. Damnit, he needed to be touched. Needed warm fingers, strong fingers, that could wrap around him and stroke, and squeeze and pump—However, being the reticent person that he was, Souichi could only sink his fingers into Morinaga's hair and call out his name. "Mori—"

Just that one word, the half- uttered syllable. But Morinaga understood the request for what it was. The man kissed Souichi deeply, a smack of lips that would surely leave bruises later, then glanced down at their groins. The sight of Souichi's aroused self, the tubular outline of his shaft, made the man groan and lean his forehead against Souichi's. "Kami, Sempai…" With that heartfelt exclamation, Morinaga began to grind down suggestively.

Slowly, deliberately, Morinaga moved. His hands cupped Souichi's buttocks as they rubbed against each other. Morinaga's hard rod pressed incessantly against his own, providing a delightful pressure that made Souichi lose his breath, anticipation and excitement to course through his veins. Faster and faster. Souichi's hands gripped Morinaga's waist as the man alternated between grinding and thrusting his hips forwards into him, an allusion to what was coming. "Sempai…!"

"Hnn…!" Morinaga's attack was unrelenting. Little hics came through Souichi's nose and mouth and he leaned into the other man, trying to keep his balance as they dry- humped. Morinaga's fingers were in his hair, behind his nape, rubbing at his sensitive spot next to his ears. His glasses had fallen, somewhere he did not know where. All of his senses were screaming Morinaga, and all Souichi could think about was the heat building up in his cock, the tightening of his balls, the tell- tale dampness. Morinaga pulled his mouth towards his and all coherent thought fled Souichi, desire taking first seat. Thrusting into his mouth, thrusting into him, hot, hard…

They had been against the stairwell but now, they were halfway up the stairs, and Souichi's pants were halfway down his thighs. Their feet had carried them up, miraculously not tripping, mouths still connected. As they took another step, Morinaga's hand slipped through Souichi's briefs. His large hand clasped around his engorged member; he squeezed.

"Morinaga—!" Instantly, Souichi jerked as though electrified, his arousal so overwhelming now that it was almost unbearable. His knees buckled; he pitched forwards.

"It's all right, Sempai, I've got you…" Morinaga murmured. And indeed, he managed to stop the both of them from tumbling down the stairs. With Souichi's trembling body hugging him, Morinaga took his sweet time to stir him up, the hand still grasping Souichi's cock now squeezing, stroking.

By the time they reached the landing and landed with an "oomph!" on the floorboards, translucent pre-cum had already begun dripping down his member. Souichi lay beneath his man, trembling non- stop, fighting to stop the ferocious climax that was threatening to explode from him. Breathless, he watched as Morinaga took off his shirt, the muscles rippling in his abdomen, his arms. Then the man was hulking over him, shadowing him.

Morinaga kissed his mouth, a gentle, chaste one that belied the heat stewing underneath. Closing his eyes, Souichi wrapped his limbs around Morinaga's torso and gave himself to the moment. His kouhai seemed to understand his silent signal and immediately, the chaste kiss turned arduous. Souichi hung on for dear life, eyes shut, heart thundering.

As they kissed, as they groaned and licked and suckled, Morinaga tugged Souichi's trousers down. Now, both of them were naked, heated skin against heated skin. Morinaga leaned down towards Souichi; let their groins touch once more. The friction was glorious, magnified ten-fold now that the barrier of clothes was gone. Souichi felt himself swell impossibly further and he cried out, unable to withstand the pressure, the sheer need to let go.

Caught in a fog of lust, lost in the moment, Souichi barely felt Morinaga take hold of his hand. But when he felt the twin hardness, the hot, straining flesh with his palm, his nerves jumped to attention.

"What—are you doing?" His bravado seemed to have deserted him. Souichi's voice came out in a very strange croak. No way, Morinaga could not be asking that of him—

"This, Sempai." With sure and firm movements, his hand over Souichi's, Morinaga began to stroke them both.

He was touching his own. He was also touching Morinaga's. Kami, did this also count as sex? This—this was masturbation! However, as they continued, as Souichi's hand grasped both of their shafts together, the sensation was completely different from when he did his own. Instead of his own bony fingers and cold palm, there was now Morinaga's hand, Morinaga's shaft. It was pumped with blood, rod- hard, eager. It shivered when Souichi slid against it; leaked pre-cum when he teased the tip. Pressed so intimately to him, Souichi felt Morinaga's every single response and it heightened his own desire, his own satisfaction. Masturbation was solitary but this—this was togetherness.

"A-ahh!" With a firm squeeze and a swipe across his tip, Souichi came, a long, shuddering climax. The pleasure was sudden, hot- white. Souichi's vision blacked out for one glorious, spun- out moment. Above him, Morinaga groaned at the same time, face taut with naked desire as he witnessed Souichi's orgasm. Releasing their cocks, he bent down and captured Souichi's reddened lips, wanting to feel the after- tremours of his release, absorb the residual sparks of the fireworks.

"You are so beautiful, Sempai…" Morinaga whispered, tongue finding his ear, tickling, arousing. Once more, without letting him rest, without letting him fall into the vulnerability that came after climax, Morinaga's fingers began to dance down Souichi's chest, each touch igniting him, sensitizing his already triggered nerves. "Come on, let's go to our bedroom."

"Wha—Morinaga, what are you doing?!" With one scoop, Morinaga had hoisted him up, princess- style- like, and began to march purposefully to their room. Still trembly from his climax and caught by surprise, Souichi could only whack his fists against the man's shoulders as they crossed the threshold of the master bedroom and he was placed gently on the bed. "I didn't need you to carry me in!"

"Heh, but I wanted to, Sempai. Besides, I doubt that you could walk, after coming so much." With a decidedly smug smirk, Morinaga glanced down at his white- splattered chest, causing Souichi to blush deeply. The man did not waste any more time in talking, though, and he crawled onto the bed to join Souichi. Sliding up to him sensuously, Morinaga murmured, "Ne, Sempai, what are you going to do about…mine?"

"Yours—?" Of their own accord, Souichi's eyes flickered downwards but he almost immediately looked up again, face hot. Morinaga was still very…unsatisfied, if what he had just seen was correct. "T-that's none of my business!"

"But I only ever get like this with you, Sempai," Morinaga said huskily. He chuckled when Souichi turned even redder. The man stroked his thighs silkily, a finger tracing inwards, downwards. Effortlessly, he spread Souichi open, fingers inching ever closer to his centre. Without hesitation, without giving him ample warning, Morinaga leaned down and licked his entrance.

"Morinaga!" He was licking him there, the warm, flicking sensation was his tongue, encircling, probing. Souichi writhed on the mattress, his dormant manhood stirring to life once again as Morinaga serviced both his front and back. He saw stars as Morinaga, the Cheshire smile on his face once more, took his cock into his mouth and began to suck. "Tetsu—! Kami—!"

It was too much. Once again, the flames of desire flared up. Souichi's body arched up, primitive instinct taking over as he thrust up into Morinaga's hot mouth. His tongue was licking his tip, his teeth scraping his foreskin. The sensation of leaking made him tremble, try to push Morinaga away. No way, he was coming, once again. "Morinaga, I'm coming—get away—take your mouth off!"

With his words, with the white spot appearing at the tip of his fully distended cock, Morinaga stopped his ministrations. With rapid movements, his own cock as proudly erect as Souichi's, the man flicked open the bottle of lubricant, smoothed some over his own member, and more around and in Souichi's entrance. Souichi could only lie prone, panting, sweat rolling down his temple, as he once more hung on the cliff's edge, waiting desperately for his partner to join him.

Morinaga's entry was careful but sure, his hips swiveling familiarly in order to fit into Souichi's hole. He lifted up his hips and Souichi aided him, knowing the procedure, needing him to be faster and enter him. Inch by inch, Morinaga slid into Souichi, his pulsing, rigid member gradually sheathed by Souichi's inner walls.

"Kami… Sempai, you feel just wonderful…I could come just from entering you…" Morinaga bit out. The man was being gentle, trying not to take Souichi immediately, letting him adjust to his presence. Slowly, drawing out the moment, Morinaga pulled out, and then thrust in. Concern and lust mixed throatily in his voice as he caressed Souichi's flushed face. "Are you feeling okay? Does it hurt?"

No, he was not okay. His insides were hot, so hot. And Morinaga's was in him, too hard, too big. He was stretching him to the limit, filling him until he could not move without clenching around him. So, no, how could he be okay? But Souichi did not speak of all these. These things were insignificant when Morinaga was gazing down at him with that tender expression. It hitched his breath, stole his heart away. It reminded Souichi just how much he would give to the man, if it would make him happy.

And so, without a word, without protest, Tatsumi Souichi raised his arms, wrapped them around his kouhai's neck. With all of his unspoken want, he kissed Morinaga.

"I love you, Sempai." Returning Souichi's sentiments, Morinaga kissed him deeply. He pushed Souichi flat on the bed, lifted his legs so that he could get maximum access to his hole. With Souichi's silent acquiescence, the man began to move.

Rhythmically, hypnotically, Morinaga pulled out, then thrust in again. He filled every part of Souichi, strove to hit the spot of nerves that drove him crazy. Again and again, Souichi was pounded into, penetrated, invaded. Indistinguishable syllables escaped his mouth, every breath he sucked in pumped out of him as Morinaga steadily built up his speed, his hard cock sleeking in and out.

They were both going to spiral out of control. With his legs wide open, his head thrown back in surrender, Souichi's entire body rocked with the momentum of Morinaga's thrusts. Pre- cum had leaked everywhere, smeared on his inner thighs, sticky on Morinaga's pelvis. With every plunge, the man would bury himself to the hilt in Souichi. The room was permeated with the smell of sex, echoed with their desperate gasps. Neither could see each other's face clearly now, the fog of desire, of escalating lust painting stars over their eyes until finally, finally, climax was goaded out of them.

"Hahh—!"

This time, Morinaga came first, his seed spilling hot and fast into Souichi. He felt him jerk; felt his cock shudder in the very deepest part of him. The sensation was immensely fulfilling, incredibly satisfying. As Morinaga's orgasm crested over him, as he was hugged so tightly that his bones would break, Souichi also let himself go, and rode the wave with his lover.

The explosion of their feelings left them spent, exhausted. Morinaga collapsed on top of Souichi, his breaths hot, his skin warm. They were still connected in the most intimate, the most physical of ways. Neither, though, made a move to separate. They simply let their galloping hearts slow, content for the moment to lie in a heap of entangled limbs and sheets.

"…Darn, I don't wanna move from here, Sempai. This is way too comfortable…" Morinaga murmured sleepily, one green eye winking open as he gazed warmly at Souichi. He yawned, a little one that he stifled by nuzzling against Souichi's neck. "But I have to get up soon, need to prepare stuff for later tonight…"

Damnit, what, after the sex attack was the cute attack? This idiot had way too many tricks up his sleeve. Souichi ruffled Morinaga's tousled hair rigourously. No, he was definitely not cute, like a giant cuddly bear! "What else have you planned for the day? Wait, don't tell me it's for the anniversary again—breakfast and the flowers were more than enough!"

"No, it won't ever be enough, because it's my anniversary with you, Sempai," Morinaga said simply. He rolled onto his back and tugged Souichi along so that now their positions were flipped and Souichi was reclining on him. "I've waited six years just for this day. Humour me?"

"Hrmph…!" Souichi wrinkled his nose when Morinaga kissed his cheek, then recalled what they had been doing just before ending up in bed. "Your present—!"

"Hehe, I didn't forget about it, Sempai. I was just thinking of going downstairs to open it. Let's go together."

Morinaga was simply anticipating a gift from him but Souichi knew that the briefcase that he had bought contained something even more significant. He was suddenly attacked by a case of nerves. It was highly possible that he might be rejected; Morinaga might doubt his sincerity, seeing as how he had reneged on his first proposal…Shit, maybe it was too soon. What had possessed him to put the papers inside the present?! Souichi braced himself up, extracted himself from Morinaga. "U-uh, you can go downstairs first; I want to take a shower."

"Then I'll wait for you—"

"No, don't! Just—just go down and open your present!" Hastily, Souichi got out of bed and picked up his errant clothes. He had almost escaped to the bathroom when Morinaga caught up with him. The man hugged him from behind, effectively trapping him, stilling him.

"It's the first gift that you've given me, Sempai. I want to open it with you. Please..." Morinaga tightened his arms, his voice tickling Souichi's ears.

This was just too bloody unfair; how was he supposed to fight against such a plea? Morinaga always played dirty! Souichi sighed, exasperated, defeated. But he had decided to be with him, was it not? Decided to be honest and upfront about everything in their relationship from now on. Whether Morinaga would accept his proposal a second time was his prerogative. Whatever the outcome, even if it ended in rejection, Souichi would just have to face it and deal with it.

"Sempai…?"

"…Just let me put on my pants first!"

Morinaga had the nerve to chuckle at his miffed tone. Knowing that he had gotten his way, the man let Souichi go amicably, picking up his own clothes and donning them.

About to pull his slacks up his legs, the ringing of his cell disrupted Souichi. A call at this time? It should be from his family. Quickly rummaging through the pockets, Souichi dug out the ringing mobile and he glanced at the caller I.D. It was, indeed, his aunt. "Hello, Matsuda- san?"

His aunt's voice transmitted through the phone line, together with the boisterous background noises. Souichi could also hear the cheerful, tinkling amusement park music, indicating that they had reached Disneyland safely. Behind him, Morinaga had already dressed up and was padding back to him. Souichi did not pay the man much attention. "Sorry, Matsuda- san, but could you speak up? It's quite noisy at your end."

"Sou- kun, can you hear me now? We are already at the amusement park! Everyone's well."

"That's good to hear—" Souichi startled when Morinaga resumed hugging him, like a koala bear with its favourite tree. He was disrupting the call! Immediately, he began a silent skirmish with Morinaga, trying to pull away, smacking the man's arms when it did not work. An involuntary shiver went through his skin as Morinaga pecked a playful kiss against the same ear that his phone was pressed against. Matsuda- san was saying something else but Souichi barely heard her. Damnit! With a warning glare at a triumphant Morinaga, he pulled his focus back on the conversation. "What? Emi has been scouted by a commercial director?!"

"Yes, a commercial for Disneyland itself. They are filming it here today. What a coincidence, isn't it? Anyway, the director wishes to have Emi- chan as the replacement for their original choice. Apparently, the first baby has fallen ill and couldn't make it for the filming."

His struggle with Morinaga had not managed to dislodge him from the man's arms but had, instead, loosened some other…things. As something began to trickle down his thighs, something wet, Souichi glanced down, and what he saw made his blood boil. Urghh, that Morinaga had not worn a condom just now! Furiously, he spun back and pummeled the other man right in the middle of his head.

"Owww!"

"Sou- kun? What's wrong? Is that Tetsuhiro- kun's voice? Is he hurt?"

"No, he's not anywhere near me now, Matsuda- san," Souichi reassured, all the while glaring at his accursed kouhai and gesturing wildly for him to grab that box of tissue right here, right now! "Uhh, is that director for real? Are you sure that he's not scamming you for anything strange?"

A tearful Morinaga moved away from Souichi and quickly went to get the tissues from their bedside table. As the man walked back, however, the sight of Souichi's naked body seemed to drive his fear away, again. Taking advantage of the long- haired man's distracted state, Morinaga took out a few pieces of napkins and tiptoed back to Souichi. A gleam was in his eye, and if Souichi had seen it then, he would have run far, far away.

"No, the director said that Emi- chan is the cutest baby that he has ever seen. Isn't that nice? He also showed us the contract and the permit to film in the amusement park. Tomoe- kun and Kurokawa- kun have read through them and it's legitimate. Sou- kun, what do you and Tetsuhiro- kun think about his proposal? Is it all right for Emi- chan to appear in the commercial?"

Their baby was obviously adorable, duh. After all, Emi carried the Tatsumi blood (and her Papa's stupidly cherubic genes). Hearing a stranger reaffirm it was simply the cherry on top of the sundae. Souichi was about to reply to his aunt when he felt hands move up his thighs, around his butt, and circle around his entrance. Morinaga was grinning mischievously as he wiped the sperm now just flowing out. It was obvious that he was enjoying Souichi's pique and his inability to yell back at him. "Wahhh—!"

"Sou- kun? Is everything really all right at home?! You are worrying me!"

"Yes, everything's fine! Don't worry, Matsuda- san," Souichi gritted out. "Anyway, I'll discuss with Morinaga about the commercial." As the name rolled off his tongue, he bopped Morinaga so hard that the man fell back against the floor, grimacing. "I'll call you back in about ten minutes?"

"That'd be fine, Sou- kun. Talk to you later."

"Hai." Souichi hung up the call, his pleasant voice immediately hiking up to a roar as he rounded on his audacious kouhai. "What the heck were you doing just now, Morinaga!"

"I was just cleaning you up, Sempai!" Morinaga, hands over his abused head, pouted willfully at Souichi.

"Just cleaning up? That was sexual harassment!" Souichi was too riled up to care about the fallacy of his accusation. He rapidly pulled on his trousers, san briefs, so that Morinaga would not get any more ideas. Urghh, he would have to take a shower soon!

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry, Sempai! Don't be angry anymore, okay?" Recovering from Souichi's punches in an instant, something that he seemed to have a talent for, Morinaga stood up and went back to Souichi's side. He opened the door and both of them exited the room. "Ne, what's this about Emi- chan and a commercial?"

Still fuming at the man, Souichi did not reply him until they were down the stairs and he had found his glasses. Jamming them back to his nose, he turned to Morinaga, glared at him once more for good effect. Seeing that the man was really quite contrite, however, Souichi's anger cooled. Heading to the kitchen to get some water, he filled Morinaga in on the conversation earlier.

"I don't mind Emi- chan appearing in the CM, Sempai! She's so adorable that everybody would love her in an instant!"

"Hmm…" A mug of water in hand, Souichi pondered the pros and cons of their daughter appearing on national TV and advertisements. What Morinaga said was right but he was not sure if he was comfortable with adding more exposure on their unique family situation.

Morinaga, noting his consideration, spoke up. "She's only a baby, Sempai. I think that the company would not release her name, or her details, to the public. There shouldn't be any problems in that aspect, I should think."

Morinaga could be quite perceptive at times, when he was not acting like a pervert! Souichi lowered his mug and thought over his words. That was true; he had read somewhere that the law protected minors on such privacy issues. Still, he had not quite forgiven the Japanese media for the hoohah that they had caused when he had been pregnant with Emi. "I don't know…"

"Ne, Sempai, could you be thinking about what happened that time with the media…?" Morinaga sobered when Souichi nodded grimly. The younger man sighed as he, too, recalled the bigoted opinions that had been allowed to broadcast regarding same- gender relationships. "…I haven't forgotten them, either. But Sempai, if we don't make peace with it, the past is just gonna haunt us forever, isn't it? That's what you taught me."

"But it's about our baby, damnit!" Souichi swore, realizing as he did so that he was actually still pissed off over the unfairness of their situation. There had been some truly denigrating insults about his pregnancy on some of the talk shows: speculations about his unborn (at that time) child's authenticity, her survivability in a male body and even how bleak her future might be with two male parents. Morinaga had not watched most of those shows because Souichi had shut them off the moment he appeared, but he himself had, and the fury at those insinuations, those hurting words, had stayed.

Both men remained quiet after Souichi's outburst. Morinaga looked at him, his green eyes now filling up with belated understanding. Without a word, the man rounded towards Souichi and caught him up in a crushing hug. "…I'm sorry."

"F-for what?"

"For not protecting you, and Emi- chan, from the sharks…" Morinaga's hand cupped Souichi's head and held him close, arms shielding him, comforting him. The man was trying to make it up to Souichi, and it was heartrending. "I'm sorry."

"You are not the one who should be apologizing—it's those idiots who made those shitty comments who should! I'm not angry with you; I'm angry with them! What makes them think that they could just say shit about us, when they don't even know us, or our circumstances? That's what makes me so pissed!

"And now, if I allowed Emi to appear in the CM, wouldn't I just be feeding her directly to those sharks? Do you get what I mean, Morinaga?"

"Yes, I do and I would never allow for that, either. But Sempai, this is for a Disneyland CM, isn't it? It's not those gossip or talk shows where she'd be fodder for speculations. If it were, I would never agree to it!

"I just think that, if we were truly to start afresh, to step out from the shadows that the media once cast upon us, this would be a good opportunity to do so."

As he was held in Morinaga's arms, a place where it was safe and secure, Souichi heard his lover's words and he truly tried to absorb them, align himself with the concepts. Their little family was in a good place now, one shining with sunlight and hope. But Morinaga had picked up on the one shadow that still marred their familial peace.

By creating a good memory with the media that had once scarred them, would the forgiveness also come? Souichi did not know about that but he supposed, as a scientist, the things he did not know he would just have to find out. "…I guess we could try."

"Then that means that you agree?" Morinaga leaned back in order to see Souichi's face. His smile was bright, radiating with gladness. When Souichi nodded, the man hugged him again, even more tightly. "That's great, Sempai! It's a great start."

"They'd better not have her do anything strange, though," Souichi muttered peevishly but inside, his heart had lightened, the burden that he had carried by himself for so long now finally shared, and lessened, with Morinaga. "Let's put the money from the CM into an education fund for her."

"Of course! It'd be her first salary, hehe."

"…I can't believe it. She's only three months old! Seriously…"

"That just means that she has the capability, Sempai," Morinaga teased.

The atmosphere had lightened again and both men sensed it. They shared a kiss, silently acknowledging and forgiving the past hurts. When they separated, Morinaga's eyes were suspiciously wet. Souichi tiptoed; pressed two more kisses on the man's trembling lids. Then that was it. He let Morinaga withdraw to the bathroom as he took out his cell to dial Matsuda- san's number.

"Matsuda- san? This is Souichi. Morinaga and I have discussed about it, and we are letting Emi go ahead with the commercial."

"That's wonderful. All of us were hoping that you two would agree, actually. I'll inform the director; he'll be delighted, also.

"The filming would start immediately, though. Sou- kun, I know that it's an important rest day for you and Tetsuhiro- kun but do you want to come and see the filming process? It'd make a wonderful memory for the family."

There it was again, a 'wonderful memory'. His aunt's words so jived with Morinaga's that Souichi felt a jolt. They had, perhaps, really made the right decision. Matsuda- san's invitation made him pause, though. Morinaga had said that there was more in store for their anniversary. At that moment, the man reappeared in the kitchen. Morinaga's face was washed and his eyes were no longer red. Souichi beckoned him to come over. "Matsuda- san asked if we want to join them at Disneyland. Emi's filming would start soon."

At the mention of their daughter, Morinaga immediately nodded his head, proud and enthusiastic. "Yea, sure! I want to see her being filmed!"

"Then, Matsuda- san, we'll be joining you all soon. Where is the filming location?"

"We should be moving around the various lands in the park. I'll inform you of the actual location when you reach. I'll be seeing you and Tetsuhiro- kun, then! Be safe travelling here."

"We will, Ba-chan. See you." Souichi hung up, turned around only to see a distraught Morinaga.

"Urghh, Sempai! I was so excited about seeing Emi- chan being filmed that I forgot about the picnic plans for Tokyo Towe—ah darn, I said it!" Upset that he had wrecked his own plans, Morinaga was now haranguing himself for it. "And I haven't even opened your present! Urghh, I'm so stupid!"

"Hah! I asked you, and you agreed, baaaka." Souichi grinned evilly, completely unsurprised when Morinaga's plans were revealed. The mention of his present did make him hesitate a little, before he continued to saunter out of the kitchen. He would wait for Morinaga's response but for now, for this moment, they would focus on their daughter. "I'm off to take a shower~!"

"Sempai! You could be a little more sympathetic here!" Morinaga shouted after him. Souichi merely shrugged and stuck a tongue childishly out at him before he ascended the stairs.

"Urghh, Sempai!"