CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT


Green eyes blinked, widening as he realizes just who the middle aged man is whose sleeping just outside their door, it only being confirmed by the words that Senpai had just spoken. It really was Senpai's father. He wondered for a moment exactly what he was doing there, but before he could speak Senpai grabbed his father by his arms and helped him off the ground. Although Tetsuhiro doubted it was quite so much to help him as it was to reprimand him as he heard the graduate student of Nagoya University growl.

"What are you doing old man? Did you even let anyone know your were coming?"

Just for a second the older man sporting facial hair blinked, before standing straight, rubbing his hand over the back of his head. "I did send Matsuda-san a letter, but it might not have reached her. The postal system from certain parts of Africa aren't always that reliable."

His son continued to scowl at him.

"And I was just at Matsuda-san's, after hearing everything from her I came here to make sure you really were doing fine, Morinaga-kun too."

Tetsuhiro noticed Senpai's grip loosen, the somber man closing his eyes as he made a sound, "Tsk."

The dark haired man smiled at the pair and then shaking his head he reached into the pocket of his jeans for the key to their apartment to unlock the door. Opening it he turned to the two light haired men who happened to be father and son with differing personalities, though they both loved their family. "Why don't you come in Tatsumi-chichi."

Senpai gave him a warning glare, as if to tell him 'If you say anything, you're dead.' Just at that Tetsuhiro's lips twitched into a nervous smile as the two men walked in, he following after and closing the door behind him.

They sat down in the living room around the table they had there. Despite that warning glance that his beloved Senpai, Souichi had shot him only moments ago he simply could not allow this opportunity to slip. Standing up he said, "If you're excuse me, I'm going to take a quick shower."

Senpai nodded, "Alright, I can fill my old man in on what's been going on."

Tetsuhiro smiled softly, though he doubted for one moment that Senpai would reveal everything as he went into the bathroom to shower quickly, after digging through his closet for a rarely used suit.

He only hoped that Tatsumi Souijin, father of the man he loved, would accept him as easily as he had Kurokawa Mitsugu, Tatsumi Tomoe's husband.

Soujin whilst his sons kouihai was in the bathroom asked, "Sou-kun, Matsuda-san filled me in, but whats this about discoveries and building a research facility there?"


Souichi had pulled out a six pack of beer that they'd had in the fridge. He hadn't drank anything at the bar. Morinaga had had to open his big mouth and tell that bartender about the ceremony. This wasn't Kowaku island where things like that were normal, overlooked, even expected, it was Japan. And damn the governor of Tokyo anyway for making things that much more awkward. Though he would have been all for certain things the man said over a year or two ago, but now, no, as difficult as it was for him to admit that.

Opening a can with a click he took a swig, wiping the back of his sleeve over his mouth, as he leaned back against the couch. "Well, since Morianga and I are recognized as their kings we thought it would be good to build one there. Although it was Morinaga's brother who suggested it."

"Morinaga's brother?"

Nodding he took another long gulp from the cold Bud he had in his hand. "Yeah. Well there were many things that Morinaga discovered, since he didn't have much else to do other than..." no he did not want to think about all those pervets trying to get into Morinaga's pants. With a slight shake of his head he finished the beer like it was water and set the can down only to open another.

"What did he discover?" Soujin asked his son.

"That there are species of both plant and animal on that island, a few things I found while I was there that the idiot had overlooked, but it could be that there's something there that will help the world."

Soujin blinked, "Really?" He leaned forward, "What about insects?"

Souichi rolled his eyes, closing them as he sighed, "I'm sure there are plenty of those too, even ones that either have never been discovered before or have been thought to be extinct. Why just stop at plant and animal life?" Yet again he took a swig of his drink. He could only be glad it was something like this that his father had decided to comment on whether than asking about the islanders themselves. Those crazy islanders, yet somehow, they had helped to open his eyes, no matter how reluctantly or shockingly.

"When you go next, would it be possible for me to go with you?"

At that he just about dropped his can of beer, but nimble fingers quickly caught it before the contents spilled. "What?"

"Can I?"

"No!" If his father went, then he, he'd discover what he wasn't yet prepared for him to know. He couldn't keep all of the islanders from speaking to him and he doubted that Morinaga would be so willing to hold back there either.

Soujin blinked, "Why?"

"Augh, because!" He couldn't think of anything to say to explain, but when he heard his father sigh he glanced sharply at him.

"Sou-kun, my son, you really are too stubborn for your own good. What harm could it do to let your father go with you and Morianga when you two visit the island again?"
If only you knew, thought Souichi, but it was something he didn't want him to know.

Yet at that very moment, Morinaga decided to waltz from the bathroom, in a dark navy blue suit and tie that matched his eyes, bowing down before Soujin, his hair still damp.

Before Souichi could stand and stop him, having paused momentarily in shock, the bastard had already spoken.

"Tatsumi Souijin, please give your son to me. I love him to the very depths of my soul." Tetsuhiro hadn't been prepared for this and felt as though the hair on the back of his neck were standing up either because he was sure he could feel Senpai's anger radiating through him or the fear of his request being rejected.

Soujin's eyes widened, but, he'd been through a similar situation before, so he wasn't quite so dense. However he asked skeptically, "You want...my son? Souichi?" The last was spoken somewhat incredulously as though he could hardly believe it.

The middle aged mans eyes turned toward his son, "Have the two of you been..." but his words trailed off as he noticed the angry glare that was directed toward Morianga, but too the blush that painted his sons face and ears.

Before his eyes his son has Morinaga by the collar of his suit's jacket, hauling him up to his feet and screaming at him.

"You fucking idiot! What the hell did you have to do that for!?" He gave the man a shake, even as Morianga lifted his hands up as though to defend himself. What Soujin heard next made him feel a little relieved that this squabble wasn't because his son was in denial of the love he obviously felt toward his lover, "I wasn't ready for the old man to know!" but because he hadn't wanted it known. He knew why too, because his Sou-kun had developed a hatred of homos around the time he had met Morinaga, where before he had had a tolerance for them as long as they never tried to go after him he was certain.

Soujin smiled, his words halting Sou-kun's curled fist in mid swing, really this boy of his reacted too strongly, too violently whenever something upset him, "I gladly hand him over to you Morinaga-kun. I'm just surprised that he found someone to put up with him."

At that Sou-kun whirled around, slamming his fist down on the table, "What is that supposed to mean old man!?"

Soujin chuckled, "Nothing, but you're often too stubborn, I'm just glad you weren't too stubborn to miss out on love. Your mother would be happy for you."

He watched his son blink, his eyes for one moment seeming to water before he grunted, whirling away and stomping into the now rarely used room, clicking the lock home.

Morinaga sighed and slid down in the spot that Sou-kun had left. Soujin could only smile slightly as he opened a can of beer and offered one to his new or soon to be son-in-law. The young man gratefully accepted it.

Obviously today had been too much for his eldest son and had gone off to sulk, but he was sure eventually he'd come back around.

"I asked Sou-kun if it was okay to go with you two when you next go to Kowaku."

The dark head bowed, "Of course, we'd be more than delighted." He took a gulp of the beer, he'd need it tonight, as he was sure to feel cold now that he'd grown used to Senpai's presence in his bed whether or not they made love. He looked up and smiled. "Kowaku Island, its the best thing that ever happened to me."

Soujin blinked, "Is that so?"

"It wasn't planned, we didn't see it coming, but the islanders had I and Senpai...Souichi married through their Unification Ceremony."

Soujin couldn't help but smile, "Do tell," and so the two stayed up half the night discussing one of the most important people in both their lives - for different reasons, while the person they spoke about sulked restlessly in his old room.