Hiroki lost consciousness completely after feeling Nowaki's final kiss on his hip. Several times he would come to for a few moments and be in a different spot. The first time he woke up, he was in the arms of Nowaki. He was surrounded by warmth, and his body was being scrubbed clean. Realizing he was in the bathtub, Hiroki nodded off again, knowing he would be safe.
The next time he woke up, he was in the tub, but the water had been drained. Nowaki was bent over him, patting him dry with a towel. Knowing he would be taken care of, Hiroki let his eyes drift shut once more.
He woke up again to a grunting sound. He raised his head to see Nowaki wrestling his limp body into a pair of jeans. Hiroki let his head fall back onto the bed and fell back to sleep. Nowaki was so kind…
Hiroki finally woke up and stayed up to find himself on the bed, which had been stripped of all of the dirty sheets and replaced with new ones. Yawning, Hiroki rolled onto his back and smacked his lips. He looked down at himself groggily, seeing he was dressed in a nice white button-up shirt and his good pair of jeans.
"Are you awake, Hiro-san?" asked a voice. Hiroki yawned again and sat up, rubbing his eyes with one hand. A moment later, Nowaki walked out of the bathroom, tightening his good blue tie. He was dressed in his good black clothes- the button-up shirt and the black slacks.
"Yeah… are we going somewhere?" Hiroki asked tiredly, blinking the sleepiness from his eyes.
"Mhm. You fell asleep before we could eat any of the takeout and I had to put it away in the cooler, so I bet you're pretty hungry," Nowaki said, smiling. He came up to the bed and sat on the edge. "I got new sheets from the housekeeping staff so you could avoid the embarrassment."
Hiroki tilted his head.
"Huh…? Weren't you embarrassed?"
Nowaki blushed and chuckled a little as he scratched the back of his head.
"Yeah… I didn't understand anything they were saying, and when they saw the sheets they started giggling at me… but it's okay, because I knew you'd be really embarrassed if you had to do that."
Hiroki gazed at Nowaki, his head still cocked.
"Uh… wow, thanks. That was really thoughtful of you."
"Well, what are husbands for?"
Nowaki smiled that lovely smile of his, and Hiroki couldn't help but to grin back at him.
"Hey, sorry about the takeout, too. You must be starving. You could have eaten without me…"
"Oh, of course not! I want to spend every meal with you, even if it's just a bit of lunch. It's okay, Hiro-san. I'm fine."
Hiroki looked down, blushing.
"But, can we go out for dinner, now? I'm really hungry," Nowaki laughed. Hiroki looked up.
"Yeah."
Hiroki and Nowaki went to a buffet for dinner, and Nowaki practically tore up the entire buffet table. Hiroki, however, claimed that he was full after a single plate. Nowaki caught him repeatedly looking over at the buffet table, though, and promptly got up. Before Hiroki could protest, Nowaki got a huge plate full of various food items from the buffet table Hiroki had been looking at, then brought it back to the table.
"Hiro-san, do you think that people will stare at you if you go up for something more to eat?"
"…N-No, of course not, idiot! I'm just full!"
"You're still hungry, Hiro-san. I can see it in your face. Don't worry, nobody is going to look at you."
"That's… but I d-don't want people to think… that I-I…ugh…"
"Here… I'll go up and get anything you want, okay? That way you don't have to be embarrassed. I don't care if people look at me, as long as you're satisfied."
"O-Okay…"
As Hiroki shyly nibbled a green bean, he looked up at Nowaki. He had a small smile on his face, a smile of contentment.
So thoughtful.
So knowing.
So aware of Hiroki's needs.
Hiroki blushed and reached down to clutch at the butterflies in his stomach.
After the buffet, Hiroki and Nowaki went to get ice cream. Nowaki got an ice cream cone while Hiroki got a milkshake.
While sitting at their little café table, Hiroki moved his elbow, and gasped as his milkshake toppled to the floor. It spilled everywhere, and Hiroki blushed all the way down to his chest as nearby people turned to face him. Nowaki immediately handed Hiroki his ice cream and got down on his knees, kindly asking Hiroki for napkins as he cleaned the mess.
"Nowaki! You're going to get your pants dirty!"
"It's okay, Hiro-san. Just act like that ice cream is yours. As far as they're concerned, I'm the one who dropped the milkshake."
"But this one's yours!"
"Just eat it, Hiro-san. If you don't, it'll drip everywhere. Don't worry, baby, I know it was just an accident. We can get you another one, if you want."
"No… it's okay."
"You sure?"
"Yeah."
"Okay."
Hiroki watched as Nowaki cleaned up the mess at his feet.
So chivalrous.
So generous.
So kind.
Hiroki rubbed his knees together. Nowaki's ice cream was tasteless, as Hiroki was too busy worrying about the butterflies in his stomach.
After the ice cream situation was all taken care of, Nowaki and Hiroki headed back to their room. When they got to the elevator, though, Nowaki froze.
"Oh, shoot! I forgot to tip our waitress at that buffet!"
"Nowaki, people don't usually tip in Sweden. It's more for really good service or fancy restaurants."
"I think she did a great job, so I'm going back."
"All the way back to the other end of the deck?"
"Yeah. You can wait here, Hiro-san. I can take care of it."
Hiroki sat down on a bench as he watched Nowaki jog away, his tie flapping over his shoulder. Hiroki's eyes glittered a little as his eyelids lowered.
So noble.
So honest.
So responsible.
Hiroki gripped his stomach. The butterflies got so intense that he felt like he was going to vomit. Before he could think too much of it, Nowaki returned with a wide smile.
"Hiro-san, on my way back I saw a sign with a picture of a park on it. Can we go check it out?"
"Mm? Okay."
Hiroki and Nowaki headed back towards the middle of the deck. Hiroki glanced down at Nowaki's hand.
"I thought you wanted to hold hands for the entire cruise."
Nowaki turned to Hiroki with a gentle smile on his face.
"I thought that you'd be embarrassed, so I stopped. Why do you ask?"
"…It's okay to… hold my hand… I guess there aren't many people around."
Nowaki beamed as he took Hiroki's hand and interlaced their fingers. Hiroki thought that it would help with the butterflies, but it only made it worse.
When they got to the sign that Nowaki saw, Hiroki's eyes lit up.
"Oh! It's an indoor garden!"
Nowaki turned to Hiroki with a smile on his face.
"Would you like to take a walk with me, Hiro-san?"
Hiroki blushed and averted his eyes. He nodded shyly, and Nowaki laughed. They entered the glass double doors.
The garden was large and dark to mimic the night, with a little artificial creek running through it that was filled with gold fish. The pathway was made up of flat, jagged stones pieced together to form a curving walkway, and lined up on either side were small, blue lights that gave the entire garden a blue hue. There were benches dotted around the entire area, and sound boxes under each bench whispered nightly noises, like crickets and bullfrogs, bringing the garden to life.
Hiroki looked up at the ceiling, which was a faceted window that gave a nice view of the stars of the night.
"Oh… so this is what that big window was. When we first got on the boat, I must have been the windows of this garden that I saw sticking out of the deck. I thought it was weird at first," Hiroki said quietly, his voice becoming naturally quiet to match the music of the garden.
"Mm…" Nowaki hummed. "It's beautiful."
Nowaki and Hiroki walked into the depths of the indoor garden together. Other couples were there, all of them too engrossed in their partners to notice the homosexual pair strolling through the garden. Hiroki didn't notice anyone else, either. He was too busy subtly bumping shoulders with Nowaki. They were affectionate bumps, and every time he touched shoulders with Nowaki, he looked up at him to see his reaction. Nowaki would only continue to smile peacefully, though.
Near the back of the indoor garden, Nowaki and Hiroki stopped at a small waterfall in the creek. There, the water tumbled over a few large rocks that had been randomly placed to create the 'babbling brook' effect.
"Hiro-san."
His voice was quiet and gentle, instantly bringing a blush to Hiroki's cheeks. Nowaki reached up to turn Hiroki's face towards him. Hiroki gulped. The blue from the garden lights had reflected off of the water and into Nowaki's pale face, making his skin appear wave-like and shimmering. Hiroki found himself quickly poisoned by Nowaki's liquid cobalt eyes, his body automatically succumbing to the toxin of their stare. He went limp in Nowaki's arms and reached up to clutch the sleeves of Nowaki's upper arms. Nowaki held him by the hips and brought him in close for a kiss. Hiroki whimpered as Nowaki tilted his head for better access. He made no move to deepen the kiss, but kissed his little husband with so much emotion and love that Hiroki felt as if they were making love right in the garden.
Flushing scarlet, Hiroki's grip on Nowaki's sleeves trembled. Nowaki's hand trailed up Hiroki's side to end at his neck, where he cupped the soft flesh. His thumb stroked Hiroki's jaw line as he backed Hiroki into the wooden railing of the creek. Hiroki leaned back against the railing as he moved his hands to Nowaki's chest and up to his collarbone, where he gripped his strong shoulders.
Suddenly, the railing shifted ever so slightly, and Hiroki gasped into Nowaki's mouth, one arm shooting back to brace himself on the railing.
"I've got you," Nowaki murmured against Hiroki's lips, his remaining hand on Hiroki's hip sliding around to hold him by the waist. Hiroki relaxed, slowly bringing his arm back up to grasp Nowaki's shoulder.
Hiroki's eyes peeled open ever so slightly. He gazed through half-lidded eyes at Nowaki, whose eyes were shut as his lips moved against Hiroki's.
He was just… so beautiful.
So supportive.
So safe.
Hiroki's eyes slid shut once more, and his arms naturally found themselves around Nowaki's neck.
Just as they had for almost nine years.
And just as they would for years to come.
Hiroki leaned against the glass railing of his balcony as he gazed out into the Baltic, his downy hair fluttering slightly in the midnight sea breeze. In his hand, he rolled a small object around his palm with his thumb. His eyelids lowered as he willed the butterflies in his stomach to calm. He heard the balcony doors open, and he straightened, putting the small object in his pocket.
"Hey," Nowaki said as he stepped out, still in his dress clothes. He had loosened his tie. He came up to the railing and put his hand on the small of Hiroki's back before leaning in to press a chaste kiss to his temple.
"Nowaki…" Hiroki murmured. He put his hands on the railing but didn't turn to Nowaki as he spoke. "I'm having a great time with you."
There was a short pause.
"I'm having an amazing time too, Hiro-san," Nowaki said softly. He snaked his arm around Hiroki's waist, and Hiroki took the opportunity to cross his arms and lean into Nowaki. There was another long silence as they listened to the sounds of the sea; the churning of the boat, the waves lapping the hull, the dull roar from the party on the top deck.
Their heartbeats.
"Are you cold?" Nowaki asked, reaching up to rub Hiroki's arm.
Hiroki smiled and briefly shut his eyes. Thoughtful… kind…
"No. I'm just thinking."
"Thinking about what?"
Hiroki opened his eyes once more, his russet gaze soft and gentle.
"I'm thinking about you."
"That's… hehe, that's adorable."
"Shut it…" Hiroki chortled, playfully bumping Nowaki's shoulder with his head. "I'm just thinking about how… you know, you've just…"
Hiroki unfolded his arms to pantomime his words as he spoke himself into a corner.
"I've just…?"
"You've… You've just offered me so much. You have turned me from… from a devil, for a lack of a better term, to a… a um…" Hiroki said, trying to think up of a good word.
"An angel?"
"No, not an angel, you dummy. If one more person compares me to an angel, I'll-"
"But you are an angel. You've changed so much. Almost a complete one-eighty. I mean, on the outside you're definitely still a little devilish. You still insist on calling me an idiot-"
Hiroki chuckled.
"-but deep down, I think your heart has changed. It is still your beautiful, big heart, but it's sweeter. Perhaps less bitter about the world. You hold a lot of love, and I think it's because of Fuyumi."
"Fuyumi, huh…?" Hiroki trailed off. He crossed his arms again and lifted his head from Nowaki's shoulder. "Assuming what you said was true… do you think The Appendix Theory has the same effect on the carrier of the baby as it does on the baby itself?"
Nowaki furrowed his brow and looked down at Hiroki.
"Nn? What do you mean?"
"Well… The Appendix Theory is about the rapid development of babies, right? Maybe… the same things apply to the carrier. Just like the baby rapidly develops… the heart rapidly develops, too. Thoughts, feelings, personalities… they all change, all to suit the needs of the baby while it's still inside. And when the baby is born… the carrier keeps that new personality to make a perfect world for their baby.
"I think The Appendix Theory applies to Shinobu, too. I mean, he changed so much that he pretty much did a one-eighty times five. He became such an outgoing, funny kid… kind of a horny brat, but… I think he changed so much because he wanted Eiji to grow up in a happy, fun-filled world, so he doesn't have to suffer the pain of the loss of his twin brother."
"That makes so much sense to me as a doctor that I could cry," Nowaki said, laughing a little. Hiroki grinned. "But seriously… that's a completely logical explanation, there. Psychologically… yeah, that's completely possible. You could have just discovered a new scientific theory, Hiro-san."
Hiroki barked a laugh.
"Yeah, right."
"Seriously! You should call it… The Angel Theory."
Hiroki thought for a moment, tilting his head.
"Nah… I'm going to call it Fuyumi's Theory."
Nowaki was quiet for a moment.
"That's perfect, Hiro-san. Since Fuyumi is pretty much a synonym for angel, anyway."
Nowaki and Hiroki giggled at their idiocy, affectionately bumping shoulders.
"So, what do you think Fuyumi is doing right now?"
"She better be sleeping, or Mom and Dad are going to get a mouthful."
"Hehe."
They stood together for a long time in comfortable silence.
"I miss her, Hiro-san."
Hiroki glanced up at Nowaki, who was frowning out at the silver streaks of moonlight reflecting off of the Baltic.
"Oh, Nowaki," Hiroki murmured, turning to Nowaki and resting his hands on his husband's strong chest. "I know you do, honey."
Nowaki smiled a little.
"You called me honey again."
"Because I love you."
"Cute…"
Nowaki stooped down to kiss Hiroki, his hands reaching up to cup his face. Hiroki smiled into the kiss, and as he did so, he dropped one hand from Nowaki's chest to reach into the pocket of his jeans. He discreetly pulled out a small object.
When he and Nowaki pulled away, Hiroki gazed confidently up at his husband. The butterflies finally landed in his stomach, calming him.
"Nowaki… a man like you deserves to find happiness," Hiroki murmured, clasping his hands above his chest.
"I already have," Nowaki breathed back.
"I know. But I sometimes feel like you do more giving than getting in this relationship. I want to give you more. You've done so much to make me happy. You know me. You keep me safe. You're kind, loving, and you're completely supportive of me."
"Hiro-san…" Nowaki whispered.
"So, I want to try. Within the best of my abilities, I will try to make you the happiest man alive-"
Hiroki reached out and took Nowaki's hand. He gently deposited the small object into his palm. Nowaki's eyes widened as Hiroki closed his fingers around it. He jerked his arm in shock, but Hiroki held fast to it.
"-just as you have made me the happiest man alive."
"Th-That's…!" Nowaki hissed in disbelief. Hiroki smiled and brought Nowaki's closed fist up to press a kiss to his knuckles. He raised his head, his eyes glimmering. He held Nowaki's hand and slowly allowed him to open his fist.
…to reveal a medium-sized, purple capsule pill.
"Wh-Wh-When did… when did y-you…?" Nowaki stammered, his eyes transfixed on the Append-X pill.
"I prescribed it right before we got married. That's what me, Shinobu, and Misaki were doing before I got ready for the wedding."
Nowaki laughed once, then again, each little chuckle breathless with incredulity.
"I… We… We thought you were practicing kissing on each other."
"…What?" Hiroki asked, squinting. Then, he shook his head. "Yeah… whatever. Anyway… I thought about this for a long, long time. I know I said that I wanted to wait until Fuyumi was out of infancy. I know. But you really, truly deserve happiness, as soon as you can get it."
"I'm so happy," Nowaki whispered. He looked up, his eyes creasing with emotion. "God damn it, Hiro-san. I'm so happy I can't see straight!"
Hiroki laughed. He reached up to cup Nowaki's face in his hands, stroking his cheeks with his thumbs.
"And I love you so much that I can't see straight."
Hiroki brought Nowaki down for a kiss. Nowaki threw his arms around Hiroki's waist and lifted him straight off the ground. Hiroki giggled, wrapping his legs around Nowaki's hips and locking his ankles.
"I love you," Nowaki whispered as he held Hiroki, supporting his bottom with one strong arm. He tilted his head back to gaze adoringly up at Hiroki. "I love you so much."
"I know, dummy," Hiroki hummed affectionately. He unwrapped his legs from Nowaki's waist, and Nowaki allowed him to step back down onto the ground. Hiroki then lowered his eyelids and walked his fingers up Nowaki's chest.
"Hiro-san…?" Nowaki murmured, a lustful glimmer appearing in his eyes. He reached around to gently grab Hiroki's bottom and knead. Hiroki grinned up at him.
"Have somethin' on your mind, Nowaki?"
"Somethin' naughty. How about we break out the champagne and-"
"Actually, I don't think I'll be needing any champagne for a while. Particularly, for nine months."
Nowaki's eyebrows shot up.
"You… You want to… tonight?"
"Why not? It is our honeymoon. It's supposed to be the most romantic time for newlyweds. We can turn the lights down low…"
"Mm, Hiro-san…"
"And we can kiss on the bed and slowly undress each other…"
"I like where this is going."
"…and we can read a few of your letters that Mom conveniently packed…"
"…I just got soft."
"Oh, come on!" Hiroki whined. "They'll get me in the mood."
"Nnn… how about no."
"Please?"
"I don't wanna."
Hiroki huffed and grabbed Nowaki's tie. He abruptly yanked him down and leaned forward to sink his teeth into his neck. Nowaki jolted and groaned as Hiroki's suckled the bit of flesh caught between his teeth. He released Nowaki, whose cheeks had reddened. His head lolled slightly as he gazed dazedly over Hiroki's head.
"…Okie-dokie, Hiro-san. Whatever you say," he cooed, licking his lips.
"Glad you see it my way," Hiroki purred. "Now…"
Hiroki reached up to pop the first button of his white shirt, and Nowaki's eyelids lowered once more. Hiroki slowly pulled Nowaki back into their room, walking backwards as he seduced Nowaki with parted lips and glinting eyes. Nowaki stumbled in after him, growling his desires.
"Oh, God, Hiro-san… you're the sexiest wife a man could ever have."
"Ugh. Just shut up and take me to bed, you moron."
"Yes, Hiro-san!"
And the sliding glass door slid shut.
Nine months later, Kusama Sayuri was born.
