Authors ramble: Hi again! I know the first part wasn't great but that was just a bit of a taster. I just wanted to explain the story a bit (this chapter will provide some background). And as for the whole male pregnancy thing I know it is not technically possible (right now) but with all the advancements in this kind of technology (i.e. ovary freezing, artificial wombs) can a pregnant man really be that far behind. So please just accept it and enjoy the story.
I've made everyone a bit older. Shuichi: 27 yrs old and Yuki: 32 yrs old.
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters.
Part Two: Engagement
Shuichi sighed as he fished out Hiro's key from the depths of his khaki's pocket. Retrieving the item he unlocked the door.
"Honey I'm home!" he called even though he knew perfectly well that the apartment was empty. With it being Saturday Hiro in Kyoto and wouldn't be returning home until Tuesday when they had their first studio time in a month was booked.
With yet another graceless sigh Shuichi began picking up yesterdays discarded from the futon shaped torture device which he had been sleeping on for the past three months. On his way to laundry bin he passed Hiro's phone which flashing with an unheard message. Clicking the small button Hiro's disembodied voice filled the room:
"Hey Shu! I must have missed you. Where are you this early in the morning? Listen I need you to come to Kyoto…"
Without letting the machine finish the recording Shuichi picked up the receiver and punched in Hiro's cell phone number his hand shaking.
"Hello?"
"What do you mean I need to come to Kyoto?!" Shuichi garbled
"Shu is that you?" even though Hiro would recognise his mad best friends voice anywhere "Where were you? I tried to call…"
"I was…uh…" now Shuichi had never been good at lying and particularly not to Hiro. He couldn't say it was music business since Hiro would know about it and Shuichi had currently no social live since walking out on a certain blonde novelist (cheating bastard).
"I had too…meet with my mom…for breakfast"
"Oh" Hiro was mildly suspicious but wrote it off to the fact that Shuichi's family was weird "Look I have an announcement. I asked Ayaka to marry me and she said yes!"
"Oh Hiro! That's wonderful!"
"I know, so I need you to come to Kyoto. Her parents are throwing us an engagement party, just close family and friends. I know you don't want to see Yuki-sans family but I want you there I need you there"
"But…"
"Please."
Shuichi mind flashed to all the times Hiro had been there for him and helped him.
"OK"
"Thank you! The parties on Monday"
"What about studio time."
"Tohma moved it to next week. He will be at the party too. With Mika and Ayaka being good friends and all"
"Oh"
"So do you want me to arrange a taxi to pick up or…"
"I'll manage."
"OK. Look I gotta go but speak too you soon yeah?"
"OK Bye."
"Bye!"
The line went dead. For several seconds Shuichi listened to the monetise sound of the dial tone. He reasoned that he would have to see Yuki's family eventually, Hell he worked with his brother-in-law. I'll be fine, he told himself. But the butterfly's holding a rave in his stomach didn't seem to be listening.
Meanwhile On answering machine across town:
"You have two new messages.
Message one: Hi! It's Leiko. Did you get my last message? Where have you been? Why aren't you calling me? Please call. Bye!
End Of message one
Message two: Eiri? It's Tohma. I need to know if you will be there on Monday. Ayaka really wants you to attend. You can bring Leiko…"
With that Eiri slammed his index finger onto the erase button. Fucking Segauchi! Why did he have to bring up Leiko?
It was all he had read in tabloid papers for the past five months: 'Eiri Yuki leaves long time lover and Bad Luck vocalist Shuichi Shindou for Japans hottest supermodel Leiko Misaki!', 'Heart broken Shindou left in the dust!", "Eiri Yuki's twisted love triangle!"
Even respected Japanese newspapers had deemed the scandal news worthy. It was everywhere. Which was why Eiri was now literally a prisoner in own home. At least the media jackals were not camping on his front lawn anymore. Eiri's lack of public appearances and Shuichi refusal to talk about the break up only fanned the flames of the high powered gossip machine that was the Japanese public. Eiri had heard it all. Shuichi was really a woman and had had a sex change operation and after Eiri found out he couldn't handle the betrayal and was sent screaming into the super models arms. Eiri was a sex addict. Drug addict. Alcoholic. Cult leader, that was good one.
Eiri sat up and stretched. He was exhausted, physically and mentally. He was also overwhelmingly lonely. The only contact he had was with Tohma, his sister and his agent (yes he had an agent now).
Despite all the rumours one fact remained he had slept with Leiko. He had been at a book launch in Nagasaki. Shuichi to join him for the week but had prior engagements this led to a fight and Yuki storming out.
The night of his book launch party. Eiri stayed in a corner of the crowded room and tried to drown his sorrows in a vat of sickly sweet champagne. His ever blurring vision caught sight of a tall blonde woman with long legs, big tits and probably a very small brain coming towards him. When she was standing directly in front of him, he recognised as the super model Leiko Misaki. Having a major celebrity at his book launch didn't surprise him. The publishers always made sure that there were a few A-listers on the guest list.
"You're Eiri Yuki!" She cried in annoying screeching via grating voice. She began to gush at him. Eiri's champagne tainted brain reasoned that the only way to shut her up was to kiss her which he did. Half an hour later they were up in his hotel suite and Eiri fucked the brainless supermodel on the $500 silk sheets.
He didn't particularly enjoy it (she made distracting noise's) and he had betrayed his long term lover back in Tokyo.
Leiko had stupidly told a 'gal pal' about her night with the famous author who had in turn told the press. That's what hurt the most though. Shuichi had to hear it from a fucking reporter. When he finally did return to Tokyo (two days late thanks to the scandal) he came back to find his house empty. Shuichi had left.
He tried calling Shuichi's cell which was always turned off. His parents house where he was told to go to Hell and then finally Hiro's place where he was told to get fucked (that's what got him into trouble in the first place).
Eiri needed to speak to Shuichi and he was pretty certain that Shuichi would be attending Ayaka and Hiro's engagement party in Kyoto.
Lighting a cigarette Eiri picked up the phone and speed dialled Tohma's office.
At 2:30 pm Shuichi was now officially and unfashionably late. He had a lunch date with Sakuma-san that afternoon.
Opening the door of the trendy bistro Shuichi spotted Sakuma at a table in the corner hiding behind dark shades.
Ryuichi was in Japan promoting his latest film and he and Shuichi had been having quite a few conversations via e-mail and phone, this was there first time meeting face to face in at least a year.
Sakuma-san looked virtually yummy to Shuichi. He was defiantly more toned and had a healthy looking tan. Shuichi suddenly felt very stupid and fat.
Shuichi joined Sakuma and they ordered Tea and cake and talked about business. Shuichi couldn't get over how different Sakuma seemed. More…grown up.
The conversation eventually turned round to personal lives.
"So…you're pregnant?" said Ryuichi matter of factly. If Shuichi Hadn't already swallowed his gulp of tea of defiantly have done a spit take,
"What!?...How did you?..."
Ryuichi smiled and traced round the rim of his tea cup with his index finger. "Lucky guess" he explained. Shuichi was at a loss for words. "You seemed to have gained a bit of weight but only on your stomach. I do know a thing or two about male pregnancies. How did you do it?" asked Ryuichi softly placing a hand on Shuichi's trembling fist.
Shuichi recounted the whole story for Ryuichi. Seven months ago Yuki and Shuichi had decided that they wanted to start a family. Shuichi didn't understand Yuki's change in attitude he just figured that Yuki had seen Mika pregnant and had become broody or something. They decided Shuichi should have a womb insemination. Shuichi was all too eager to comply he wanted a family with Yuki more than anything. The doctor warned the couple that it was very easy to lose the baby in the first stages. Yuki said he couldn't handle a miscarriage so they decided to hold off for a bit. While Yuki was in Nagasaki Shuichi went and got the highly dangerous (and highly expensive) operation done himself. Deciding not to tell Yuki until he was defiantly pregnant.
Sobbing Shuichi told Sakuma about picking up the phone one day and hearing a reporter ask about Yuki and Leiko Misaki. And having to no money find a place to live. His bank accounts were either in Yuki's name or the record companies (Shuichi wasn't to be trusted with money) he had no way of accessing any of them.
"So Yuki doesn't know?" asked Ryuichi sympathetically handing Shuichi a napkin.
"No. No one does. I can't tell him. I don't need too. There's none of his DNA in the baby the doctor used my sperm to fertilise the egg" Shuichi explained. Then started sobbing again about going to Kyoto and not wanting to see Yuki's family.
Ryuichi put his arms round his friend and hushed him. "I'll go to Kyoto with you and I'll hep you tell everyone"
Shuichi Looked up "you would do that for me Sakuma-san"
"How many times have I to tell you call me Ryuichi. And of course I will"
They hugged again. "Shuichi" Ryuichi beamed in his childish way. Shuichi looked up "You're having a baby!"
And for the first time in days Shuichi smiled.
AR: How was that? Things to look forward to in the next chapter: A little Shuichi/Ryuichi action. Until next time.
Leiko means arrogant in Japanese -