Chapter Twenty-Nine: It's Time


Friday night, though Hiroki could see that Nowaki was just about to pass out, he told him to get into the car. He and Niro, while waiting for him to get home had packed a weekends worth of clothes for all three of them.

Niro had asked him, "Papa, where are we going?"

"Somewhere special, but both you and Daddy will have to wear blindfolds, or sleep."

Niro had begun to yawn and had already fallen asleep, just before Nowaki got home.

He didn't trust a tried giant to carry Niro, so picked the small child up himself and carried him over to the car, after opening a door and buckling him in. He made sure Nowaki was in the front passenger side seat, with a pillow to cushion his head and the seat back as far as it would go.

He smiled as he got into the car, making sure all locks were secure after the two men in his life, one adult and one little boy's seat belts were securely buckled. Shutting his own door, he buckled himself up and began the car.

Although, to be on the safe side, he'd placed sleeper's blindfolds over both Niro and Nowaki's eyes, least they should awaken and learn the path or even suspect where he was taking them, particularly Nowaki.

As he passed through Tokyo and its various districts, he made his way into the countryside in the direction of his childhood home, where his parents still lived. Also where his childhood friend had lived as a child, not far from him, in the enormous Usami Estate home.

He only hoped that that would not upset Nowaki, especially if his mother mentioned anything about him having had sleep overs with Akihiko over at his house sleeping in his room.

Passing by the trees, where the blooms had born fruit, cherries and plums alike and other various fruits which grew on trees he smiled briefly. Though his smile was soon replaced by a fierce scowl as he had to stop and wait for a damn cow to cross the road.

Luckily for him, for times like this, he could park the car and dig out a book to read. Still he'd hoped to get to his parents house before either of the two sleeping figures in the car awoke.

However the mooing of the cow was growing on his nerves, especially when Nowaki turned his head, Niro too shifting in his seat where he slept.

Finally however the cow moved, after about twenty-seven minutes of waiting and rereading the same page for like the sixth time. He'd been too worried that the others might stir and remove their blindfolds.

Luckily that hadn't happened, for which he was most grateful to the great Kami.

Slowly releasing a breath he hadn't known he'd been holding, he came out of park, into drive and drove forward, through bending curving parts of the road.

Finally he had reached the area of the countryside, past his elementary school, past too the high school where he and Akihiko had wound up meeting Takahiro. Though the bitterness of the past was gone, because he had Nowaki and now too, they had a wonderful little boy, Niro.

Casting a superstitious glance at both of them, he turned into the driveway of the home where he'd grown up.

It was almost one in the morning, but there was still a light on in the house. He'd rung up his mother last night and had told her he'd be bringing the person whom he treasured with him tonight after they were both done with work, as they both had tomorrow off.

She already knew he'd adopted Niro, but had never met him. He didn't know which would excite his mother more. Though he feared she would not approve of him being a homosexual.

At least she had his father, otherwise he might have worried that she'd try to steal Nowaki from him, not that his mother would ever do such a despicable thing. He knew she loved him, even though she always sent everything to Akihiko's, particularly crates of peaches.

Getting out of the car he walked up to the door, which swung open just as he was about to ring the door bell.

"Hiroki-chan!" His mother grinned, hugging him tightly to him.

"Mother, you know I don't like to be called with chan!"

"You're still my little boy, even if you don't live with me any more," she scolded him, "and you never come home to visit enough either."

With a sigh, he removed her arms from around him, "I know."

Although after his mothers initial joy at having her prodigal son return for a visit, she turned her gaze upon the car.

"So you have a car now?"

"No, Akihiko just lent it to us, since we don't want Niro getting exhausted."

"Ah, Akihiko was always a good boy."

Hiroki rolled his eyes, if only his mother knew, if only, but he wasn't about to tell her.

"So, who is your treasured person Hiroki-chan? Are they in the car?"

"I said they'd be Mother, Niro too."

"I can't wait to see them, particularly what sort of woman my little boy took an interest in."

"Uhmn... Mother."

Hiroki's mother turned her eyes upon her son once more, "Yes Hiroki-chan?"

"My treasured person, isn't a woman."

He watched his mothers eyes widen, "No? Then... is your treasured person a man?"

Hiroki sighed, "Yes mother."

"Well, as long as he makes you happy."

He stared at his mother, wide eyed, "You're not against it? We're two men after all."

"Hiroki-chan, I learned a long time ago, that all's that matters in this life is respect, love and knowledge. That is the root of everything and everything else is the stem, the trunk, the branches, the leaves and the blossom. Without those three the rest cannot flourish."

Hiroki sighed, "I just hope Father feels the same."

Noticing the frown upon his mothers countenance, he did not think that things would go so well.

"Actually, he thought you were gay long before you found someone. He insisted that you were sweet on the neighbor boy, that sweet child, Akihiko."

Hiroki's face reddened, he knew he had been blushing far too much lately, but it was difficult, since he'd been trying to let more and more of his pride go, for Nowaki's sake. But this, what his mother said, had been true.

"And he never said anything?"

"I told him not to. Sure he wasn't happy with the idea that his one and only son, his only child was homosexual, but he's thought it for so long, he's sort of resigned to it. I thought you'd settle down with a nice young woman, but your father kept insisting after we received letter, that you were with some man."

"Father was right."

"Is it Akihiko?"

"No mother, my feelings for him were crushed long ago, it was a love that could never have withstood the test of time anyway, other than the love between friends. Not so with my lover now."

"Do bring him in, why aren't they getting out of the car?"

"They're asleep."

"Lucky I have the bedrooms prepared then."

Hiroki nodded and went to the car, shaking Nowaki's arm, "Nowaki, wake up!" He took the blindfold from over his eyes.

Nowaki blinked, "Hnn, Hiro-san? Its not morning yet is it?"

"No, but we've arrived at our destination."

Nowaki looked out the window, brows furrowed, "Where are we?"

"My parents."

Ocean blue eyes widened, Hiroki swore he'd never seen them so wide or the pupils so huge.

"Hiro-san? Am I dreaming?"

Hiroki growled, reaching over to take a bit of Nowaki's forearm skin between his thumb and forefingers, applying pressure.

"Ouch! Hiro-san, what was that for?"

"To show you, you're not dreaming."

Hiroki watched as Nowaki's eyes widened just a tiny bit further, before that soft smile and slanted eyes stared at him, causing his face to heat once more. Then Nowaki, removing his seat-belt reached for Hiroki and brought him down onto his lap and there and then, thoroughly kissed him. He continued even as Hiroki tried to lash out at him, since they were in front of his parents home, his mother standing outside there on the freaking porch.

Finally, once the giant idiot let him come up for air, he glowered at him, "Nowaki!"

Nowaki's smile began to disappear, "Sorry Hiro-san..."

Hiroki sighed, hating to see that hurt look upon his lovers face. "No, I'm sorry, but Nowaki, my mother is standing right there," he pointed at the porch of the lovely small mansion.

Nowaki blinked, "Oh... Hiro-san, your mothers pretty, do you take after her or your dad?"

"More like my great-grandfather Kamijou Masashi."

"Oh, he's not still alive is he?"

"No, died a couple years before I met you."

In the back of the car, Niro sighed, shifting, but removed the blindfold and unbuckled, seeing that he was in a car and in some strange new place.

"Papa, Daddy, where are we?"

Hiroki looked behind Nowaki into the back of the car, "My parents home, your grandparents now."

Niro grinned, clapping his hands and was helped out of the car moments later by Hiroki and Nowaki.

Hiroki as he approached the house, where his mother stood, watched as her eyes grew wide at the sight of Nowaki.

"Hiroki-chan, my, you choose someone so...so..."

"Yeah, yeah, Nowaki's a giant, no need to rub it in my face," his own height, to him, was lacking. Takahiro and Akihiko were both taller than him too, as was Miyagi. Although Takahashi and Takatsuki weren't, but they were still young yet, though they might never get tall, it was possible they'd reach his height if not an inch or two more than his own.

His shoulders rose as he heard Nowaki speak in askance.

"Hiroki-chan?" Big blue eyes blinked several times.
"Don't even try it Nowaki, no one, but my mother calls me that and I don't even like her adding chan onto my name! Never have, never will!"

Hiroki's mother sighed, "Hiroki-chan."

Hiroki did nothing but glare at her, as she let all three of them in.

She called up the stairs, "Kiro, dear, our son is home."

Hiroki sighed, watching as his father descended, placing a protective arm around Nowaki's waist.

Kiro quirked a brow at his son, "So, you are gay," he glanced at his wife with a quirked brow.

Hiromi rolled her eyes, "I know, I know, you were right, now go greet your son."

Kiro walked up to Hiroki, smiled and shook his hand, "Welcome home boy. You should come over more often and bring your young man here... or is he older than you? He's certainly taller."

Hiroki rolled his eyes, much like his mother had only seconds ago. "Mom, Dad, this is Nowaki, Kusama Nowaki. He's been with me for almost eight years."

Nowaki grinned at them as he shook Kiro's hand and received a bear hug from Hiromi.

Kiro and Hiromi gazed down at Niro, who had drawn their attention when he'd begun to yawn, still holding the teddy bear by one of its legs.

Hiromi chuckled, "Looks like someone should be in bed. I'll go tuck him in," and she lifted him up, no doubt it might be the only time she was able to since he was bound to grow.

Kiro turned to him and Nowaki, "So, Nowaki? Has my son been taking care of you? Which one of you..."

Hiroki knew where this was going, and didn't want to say it, but his mother had taken Niro up the stairs to a spare bedroom, "Mostly, Nowaki is the top, is that what you wanted to know? Do I ask you about yours and moms love life?

Kiro sighed, "No, but then, we're only concerned for your well being," he gazed at Nowaki, then back at Hiroki, "Son, I don't know how you can take it, but as long as you're both careful, but then you're both adult men so my opinion wont matter that much to you."

"Right," grunted Hiroki, though he knew that Nowaki might feel differently.

Kiro stared for awhile, intently at the giant of a man that his son had taken as the person he treasured.

Both men, under scrutiny, shifted uncomfortably where they stood, after having taken off their shoes, before entering further into the household of the elder Kamijou's.

Kiro, "Why don't you two have a seat and I'll get you a drink. Perhaps some bourbon?"

Nowaki, "None for me, thanks."

Hiroki, "Do you have any beer?"

"Well, we do have that."

Nowaki, "I'd take one of those, though Hiro-san might like more than one."

Kiro blinked, "Hiro-san?"

Hiroki, "Only Nowaki is allowed to call me that," he frowned at his father. It was far better than being called Hiroki-chan.

"Cute, he has a nickname for you. Well as long as you're both happy," he brought each of them as well as one for himself, a beer to the table and set them before the two other men.

He sat in his chair, as usual at the head of the table.

"I almost feel like I'm talking to a man for my daughter, rather than for my son."

Hiroki growled, "Not funny."

Kiro shrugged, popping open his beer and taking a chug of it, Hiroki doing the same. However Hiroki could drink him beneath the counter with the speed of how he drank just one can down like he was parched from the desert.

Nowaki however, slowly nursed his own can of beer.

Hiromi, Hiroki's mother soon joined them, but with a glass of homemade lemonade, which had been chilled in the fridge.

She smiled at her husband, son and her son's partner.

"So, you two are together, with an adopted son. What about your parents Nowaki?"

Hiroki winced, "Mother..."

"I...was raised at Kusama Orphanage..."

Hiromi placed her hand over her mouth, "Oh, Nowaki, I'm Sorry. I didn't mean to dredge up awful memories."

"They weren't really awful."

Kiro, "Perhaps you'd consider becoming a Kamijou."

Nowaki blinked, Hiroki's parents were so approving and he hadn't even dressed for the best first impressions, because he hadn't even known that he'd be meeting Hiroki's parents.

Nowaki wrapped an arm around Hiroki's shoulders, even though he felt Hiroki stiffen, his lover didn't try to shove his arm away. In fact, after that initial cold response, to his amazement and delight, his Hiro-san snuggled up against him.

Kiro and Hiromi smiled across at them, "You two look happy."

Hiroki murmured, "We are."
Nowaki nodded in agreement. Though he had to lift his hand as he yawned, "Sorry."

Kiro and Hiromi chuckled, "Nowaki, you can call us Mother and Father if you wish. Just take good care of Hiroki-chan."

Hiroki rolled his eyes, it was pointless to yell at them.

Nowaki smiled, "I will."

Kiro, "But, what do you do for a job Nowaki?"

"I'm a pediatrician."

Kiro blinked, "Oh wow, a doctor."

Hiromi giggled, "Ah, and every mothers wish is to see their daughter marry a doctor or a lawyer, though Hiroki-chan is our darling little boy."

Hiroki groaned, "Ugh, would you stop it with the chan?!"

Kiro, "Sorry Hiroki, but your mother is never going to drop the chan."

Nowaki nuzzled Hiroki's temple, "Don't worry Hiro-san. Its only your parents calling you that after all, right?"

"Yeah," he rolled his eyes sighing tiredly. "Mother, Father, I think we're too tired to stay up any later."

The parents of Kamijou Hiroki stood up, "Of course dear, you know which room we usually put you in. Niro has the spare bedroom though."

"Yeah, my room as a kid," he rolled his eyes, "Why didn't you put Niro in there and let us have the spare room?"

His mother smirked, "Because, we assumed Nowaki might like to see your bedroom from when you were a kid."

Nowaki, "I'd like that, but I think we're just going to fall asleep as soon as we hit the pillow."

Hiroki nodded, "Probably."

Hiromi and Kiro grinned, "No problem."

However before the two men walked up the stairs Hiromi spoke, "Hiroki, before you go to sleep, I think there's something your Father and I need to tell you."

Hiroki and Nowaki, half way up the stairs gazed down at her.

"You two might want to sit down."

They sat down.

Kiro grinned, hugging his wife.

Hiromi smiled, "I'm pregnant."

Hiroki's eyes widened, "What! How? Aren't you, you know too... too..."

Kiro frowned, "Old? Well obviously not."

Nowaki smiled, "Congratulations," children were always a miracle. Even though Niro had not been born of himself and Hiroki, he was still their son, still their miracle.

Kiro, "And since she's carrying twins, I think we should all get to bed."

Hiroki's eyes widened furhter, "T-t-twins? I'm too old to be a brother to kids. I'm thirty for heavens sake!"

"Yes and your mother and I are only in still in our fourties, your mother in her mid forties at forty-seven. Not too old to have more, though we thought so."

Hiromi nodded, "Goodness, I thought it was menopause but the doctors said not. I'm only two and a half months along though."

Hiroki and Nowaki could hardly believe it, more so Hiroki, but Nowaki was a pediatrician, knew these things were quite possible.

But once in the bedroom they lay down, as soon as their heads hit the pillows they both fell asleep, curled up in each others arms, despite the news, too tired to assimilate everything. Perhaps they thought it was all a dream.