CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
The news had reached Matsuda-san's ears by the next evening through her conversation with Soujin. Yet again she was surprised, but had found no fault with the relationship that Souichi had formed with Morinaga-kun. Although the elder of the Tatsumi siblings hardly smiled throughout the celebration that she and the others had decided to throw the pair. The blonde haired graduate student of Nagoya University sat back from the others, watching them even as he drank.
However Isogai was trying to get him to join in on their conversation, which had irritated not just Souichi himself, but his dark haired kouhai whom had always disliked Kurokawa's friend. For different reasons both of them wished to ring Isogai's neck. However with everyone gathered they were unable to fall through with their plans to do so.
That had been weeks, no months ago, Tetsuhiro recalled, thankful that Senpai had not remained so aloof as he had during the beginning of that evening when they'd stepped into the surprise celebration of their unification. At that time his beloved had glared daggers into his back and for several days afterward had refused to even let him get within a foot of him.
Reluctantly, he knew, Senpai had forgiven him for asking his father that which should not be spoken and telling him exactly what had transpired upon Kowaku island.
They'd worked their asses off too, Senpai remaining ever tyrannical in the lab, sometimes even more so than he'd ever been least he try anything as he had done. Senpai hadn't wanted everyone to know, especially not at school, but the slightly older man was so tempting, too tempting. At least at home, unless the blonde were furious, could he hold him, love him.
Now however they were approached the island, where they'd sent a message a month or two ago detailing the information for the building of a small scale research facility. A place which gave them more reason to return and to stay longer than initially had been planned. The two were already listed as the official rulers of Kowaku, an island that was gaining attention as an upcoming star among new nations. Soon it wouldn't be considered an island, but a country albeit somewhat smaller than Japan, becoming a now chartered destination somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
At that moment his beloved was speaking with his father. If only his own were as accepting; he expelled a breath before the boat was anchored and they shuffled off onto the land where the Elder Woman, Kyoko and several others had gathered to welcome them back to Kowaku.
Kyoko smiled as he watched Ou-sama take Kisaki's hand to help him out of the vessel they had arrived in. He blinked as he noticed another man behind the couple leave the ship to set foot upon Kowaku soils. The man had hair and facial features similar to Kisaki's, though his hair was somewhat shorter and he sported facial hair. This was obviously some relation to the islands Kisaki, his gaze turned up to his grandmother before he turned back to the islands rulers and stepped up to greet them.
Kyoko bowed deeply to Ou-sama and Kisaki, "Welcome home to Kowaku Island," he straightened with a smile, "we, the islanders, have missed you."
Morinaga smiled, dipping his head, "And we too have missed you."
The young blonde beside Morinaga just muttered below his breath, unused to saying anything, just giving a nod of his head as though to agree with Ou-sama.
The older man blinked, bowing to Kyoko, "Hello, so you must have been one who took care of my son?"
Kyoko stared up, "You are Kisaki's father?"
Soujin's eyes furrowed, "Ki...saki?" Then he chuckled, "Oh, you mean Sou-kun."
"If he is the one who looks like you, then yes." He smiled, it was very much an honor to have Kisaki's father here among them, though he asked, "Where are your other children?"
"Tomoe is still in America with his husband and Kanako decided to take an extra course over her vacation so that she'll be sure to get into the high school she wishes too."
"I see," he smiled, then turned his attention back to Ou-sama and Kisaki whom were being swarmed by all of the other islanders.
Tetsuhiro looked around, his arm having been removed from around Senpai. He supposed his beloved was still too shy and unused to being watched by so many at once. Although they'd been here before and had grown close and able to show their affection easily, even if his love had at times protested less and less. However it had been several months since they'd been rescued, yet neither of them had been able to forget the people of the island or what had taken place on and prior to discovering Kowaku.
He then heard Senpai ask of one of the islanders, "How far has the construction of the research facility gotten?"
It was difficult to keep his mouth from curving into an amused smile, as always his Senpai preferred to talk about research. Although if it were finished and he highly doubted that it was despite it being just a small facility, then they could remain for longer periods of time. Still they need to complete University before they could permanently move and take over their responsibilities to the island and its inhabitants.
Kyoko whispered, "Has your son always been enamored of research?"
The older man whom Souichi took after chuckled, "Yes, I think he gets that from me."
"Though you do not seem as stubborn as he does."
"Hmmn, I don't know where that comes from, but I've always been interested in my research."
"And what research is that?"
"Entomology and Botany."
"Oh..." he had no idea what those words were.
Tetsuhiro turned around to enlighten Kyoko as he had overheard, "Tatsumi-chichi is interested in insects and plants."
At that the young islander smiled, "Oh, well then you shall have a lot of fun here. We have many insects and plants. Would you care for a tour of the island while Ou-sama and Kisaki speak with the rest of the islanders?"
Soujin nodded, "That would be spectacular."
Tetsuhiro smiled, Tatsumi Soujin really did love insects, he was a bit eccentric, though had a different way of showing it than his son. He watched as Kyoko led Soujin off to introduce to a couple island guards who would be able to show him around while he prepared something special for the islands Ou and Kisaki. There were also a few other islanders whom were interested in learning more about their Kisaki's father and perhaps hearing stories of his early years of life and so they too joined the tour.
He had not yet realized that Senpai had stepped up beside him and watched too as his father went off with people whom he'd only just met. "He's probably going to bore them with insect stories."
Whirling around he blinked, smiling down at the man he loved. "Perhaps, but I think they're interested in learning more about you through him."
At that amber-gold eyes narrowed, "He'd better not tell them anything stupid."
"Well I'm sure he'll... get distracted by the insects and plants?"
Senpai continued to frown, then shrugged. As Tetsuhiro gazed into his beloved face he was oblivious to the scene behind him. Although something had caught his lovers attention for his eyes had rounded following whatever it was. One dark eyebrow arched in question, slowly turning his head around.
His lips quirked as he watched that which had caught Senpai's attention. It was none other than the chestnut haired islander, Kou being followed around by one of the island guards, Takashi. Every few moments the young man would turn and say something to the muscular giant, looking none too happy.
Tetsuhiro wondered briefly what was going on between them, but beside him he heard Senpai gasp, his own jaw slackening momentarily as they watched Takashi grab ahold of Kou's arm and lifted him off the ground. It looked as though Kou were struggling to free himself of the others grip, only to grab ahold of the guards shoulders when the larger mans mouth collided with his.
"It looks like Kou's found someone whom can give him what he needs."
It was then he heard Senpai muttered below his breath, glaring in Kou and Takashi's direction, "As long as he doesn't try anything with you," Tetsuhiro too noticed that the slighter man whom he loved had crossed his arms over his torso.
Placing his own arm around Senpai he smiled, "You don't have to worry, the only one I need, the only one I want, the only one I love is you...Souichi."
Sharp dark honey eyes gazed into green through a pair of spectacles. Tetsuhiro knew however how saying his beloved name affected him, telltale by the shiver that he had noticed Souichi have.
Those same eyes gazed down at the ground between him as his face all the way up to the tips of his ears was consumed by a brush of crimson.
Without complaint, Tetsuhiro took Souichi's hand and led him to their home which the islanders had kept prepared for them since the day they had left the island. Though Kyoko had gone ahead of them, so the the door was open and he awaited them inside to speak for but a moment, knowing that the two preferred to be alone.
