Authoress here.

Sorry about the wait. Really, I am. Deal with it.

And about the therapist- Well, you asked for him, so here he is, the one, the only, the very queer Doctor Umeda!

For those of you who have not read Hana Kimi, here's a short bit about the good doctor. And the prior history to his part in this story.

Doctor Umeda, (first name unknown to this author, who highly doubts it's Alvin, who apparently works in California, according to the Google search…) at 28, worked as a school doctor at the all-male Osaka High school where he also exercised his good advice in helping cross-dresser Ashiya Mizuki. Now, at 31, he has quit his job and is seeking a new career in therapy. He's registered and backed by a degree. He's tall, dark, handsome, bespectacled and hands out nude photos of himself to unsuspecting people.

Breaking the Tie
Chapter Ten: So Says the Good Doctor

Gravitation

Doctor Umeda was a queer person.

Ever since she had met him, Aoyou could immediately sense his obvious affection for men. Not that she blamed him- she could see where he was coming from.

Maybe because of their agreement on the appeal of the male race, Aoyou and Umeda became good friends after a few sessions.

First having needed psychiatric help when she first found out she was pregnant with Toshi, Aoyou didn't have a clue of who to go to, not knowing of any therapists, or anyone who could recommend one to her. And, she didn't want Shuichi or Yuki to know. Either of them would make a big fuss about her needing a shrink, and that wasn't a bother she wanted.

So late one night, Aoyou opened Yuki's laptop secretly and typed 'Tokyo therapist' into the search bar. Scrolling down the options, she noticed one in particular.

"Men- Looking for love in all the wrong places? For instance, in a woman? Maybe you're gay. Even if this isn't your problem, if you've got one, then you need the deep and non-cryptic aid of professional therapist Umeda-sensei. (Note: Will guide and advise women as well.)

Curious and amused, she had set herself up an appointment.

She remembered, on the appointed date, walking into a deep lavender-colored room, filled with stylish furniture and post-modern art on the walls. A fuzzy rug of deep greens and golds carpeted the wood flooring, and a cute sign at the door declared: "No shoes in this happy place!"

"You know what the real draw of being a psychologist is?"

The voice from across the room made her jump, and she turned sharply. "Umeda-sensei?"

The man uncurled from a squashy blue recliner, smiling thinly. He was dressed in a way that brought 'classy male hooker' to the forefront of Aoyou's mind. A leopard print button up was left half open, revealing a toned chest, and dark slacks flattered the man's slim form. He had on dressing slippers, and his glasses were nestled among his reddish-brown hair. Cool gray eyes surveyed her as she slipped off her shoes.

He nodded, standing. "The real draw is being able to come to work and lay on a couch all day. You don't mind if I do while we talk, do you?"

"Only if I get the recliner." Aoyou said with a smile, patting her stomach. "Baby on board, you know."

They had settled down, Umeda stretching out on his couch, Aoyou settling into the squashy blue recliner. He hadn't brought out a clipboard, but still prompted her to start talking. She did, hesitantly.

About two minutes of her talking uncomfortably to the silence, Umeda sat up abruptly. "Listen, honey, I really want to listen to you, but if you keep sounding like I'm going to send you to hell if I hear anything impure I might fall asleep. Here."

He tossed her an object that rattled a little as she caught it. "A…maraca?"

"Shake it a little."

"Excuse me?"

"I said, shake it a little." Umeda had another maraca, the mate to the one Aoyou held. He gave it a little wave. "Try it."

Hesitantly, feeling foolish, Aoyou gave her maraca a shake.

"Harder."

"W-What?"

"Shake it harder. Laugh at yourself." Umeda gave his a more vigorous rattle, prompting her to follow suit. She did, shaking the maraca fiercely.

Without a change of expression, Umeda started doing a little dance, whirling his maraca around and bobbing his head. Aoyou stared, astonished for a moment. Umeda turned to her. "Keep shaking it."

She did, joining him in his dance. A bubble of laughter burst from her mouth, and she collapsed back into the recliner, giggling fit to burst.

Umeda reached over and bopped her on the knee with his maraca. "Are you feeling less stick-in-the-ass now?"

Aoyou waved hers at him, still giggling. "Yep."

"Good. Now give me my maraca. These were a present from a very attractive and fuckable friend from college."

And so their friendship had started.

Today Aoyou was desperate for some form of comfort and advice from the dry-humored man. Shuichi had left for work at six, something he never did, and Yuki had locked himself inside his office, claiming to have sudden 'inspiration.' Toshi, in a state of ignorant bliss, had happily gone to Suguru's house first thing to work on the new song.

She knocked on the wooden-oak office door, and Umeda's voice called for her to enter. Slipping off her sandals, she did.

"Aoyou-chan."

"Hello, Umeda-sensei."

"Recliner, couch or carpet?"

"Recliner."

"Good. Sit. Talk." Umeda ordered.

Aoyou sank into the comfortable chair, and started pouring out her story. "-And now they aren't talking, and I know it's just a matter of time before they get the DNA test and Yuki is disappointed."

Umeda shifted on his couch, chewing on the end of his pen thoughtfully. "Are you sure Toshi is Shuichi's?"

"Almost positive." Aoyou nodded. "The hair, the light eyes, the voice. Toshi's voice sounds just like Shuichi's. He's built the same, and he's got the same personality as Shu, too."

"Tell me, what color hair does your mother have?"

The question was so random Aoyou had to think a moment before answering. "She's a redhead."

Umeda nodded, still chewing the pen cap. "Well, do you want my opinion?"

Aoyou threw him an exasperated look. "Of course. You're my therapist."

"No, not as a therapist, as a human being." Umeda said seriously.

Aoyou looked at him for a moment. "Of course. As a human being and a friend."

"Good." Umeda sat up slowly, stretching. "I think you should get them tested before they suggest it."

"What? Why?"

Umeda shrugged. "You know they want to know. I think you want to know, too. And soon enough Toshi will start asking questions. If you are the catalyst now, now before things get too out of hand, I think you can effectively handle whatever reaction your boys have to the results."

Aoyou sighed, resting her chin on her palm. "I guess so. Do you know where I could go, for a secret test? Our family doctor thinks it's just me, Shuichi and Toshi."

"We could do it here."

Aoyou sat up. "Really? You could?"

Umeda shrugged, a ghost of a smile on his lips. "I was a doctor before I got my psychology degree. I don't have the lab technology, but I know a guy who knows a guy. And both guys owe me favors, so they won't ask if I give them blood samples to match."

The couch rocked a little as Aoyou launched herself on Umeda to give him a bone-crushing hug. "Oh, thank you, Umeda-sensei!"

End Chapter

Authoress here.

I'm tired.

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