Friday, December 07, 2007
(Chap 10: Conception and Parting)
A/N Sorry it took so long. My mp3 was taken up at school and it had this chapter saved on it. I couldn't upload it till I got my mp3 player back. Hope it is well worth the wait!
Mika was always a sensible woman. Like all the Uesugi children Mika greatly disliked all the pomp and circumstance it took to survive in the noble world. Although she was bound to the laws of society, she was able to choose her profession unlike most noble women and wasn't forced into a life of surviving her husband.
She was luckier in some aspects than many women of her same stature and circumstances. First off her family, in particular her father, believed in the value of education. She graduated valedictorian of her class and went on to study business at University. She was the smartest noble woman you would meet in Japan, in all of Asia for that matter.
Second off she was allowed to establish her own business. Her father, for the most part, was always on the traditional side; Old Man Uesugi was not about to let his daughter become a business woman without the appropriate convincing. Mika used all of her skills she learned in university to convince her father it was beneficial, not only to her, but to the whole family to let his only daughter go into business for herself.
And thirdly, because she married of her own free will. She had met Tohma Seguchi, strangely enough, at a business party. Friend of a friend, that kind of thing; well, any way they hit it off quite nicely to say the least. Now, mind you, Mika is not a promiscuous woman, but Tohma tended to bring out the worst in her and let us just say that the night they met the servants in the kitchen got quite the earful of animalistic sounds coming from both male a female of the species.
At first the relationship was just casual sex and intelligent conversation. What more could two powerful business people want out of a relationship? Well it became more and more difficult to hide such a relationship without ruining the reputations of both persons. So, one day Mika brought up the very valid argument that since they got along so well it would be quite the business opportunity to merge their companies and create the ultimate relationship. Within a week of their "business" discussion Mika and Tohma were engaged.
They had no fears of infidelity because both humans were viewed as unfeeling, cold calculating machines. Needless to say, neither Tohma nor Mika was wanted on any relationship level other than business. Since their lust seemed to be carried over the years and never quite faded, neither one of them feared growing tired with the other or falling in love with anyone else. Tohma claimed he could never fall in love with anyone else because no one even came close to having a like Mika and her family; while Mika claimed she generally disliked the opposite sex, except for a choice few, mainly her family and of course Tohma (but that could be debatable).
All in all they were rather satisfied with their arrangement. Mika played the caring wife while Tohma played the front man for their growing hemisphere-wide company. Mika was more of a silent partner, it looked better to have a man as the company head. Only the people being tortured for reneging on a deal or a very close friend or family member that was somehow involved in the company knew that Mika owned half and controlled half of NG Trading Company.
Sure they loved each other and would probably always be together, but that didn't mean their marriage wasn't as much of a joining of two souls as it was a business arrangement. They did indeed love each other, maybe not in the traditional way, but it was there and it wasn't going any where any time soon.
Now, one might ask why such a powerful couple hasn't invested in acquiring an heir to their franchise, well the reason is simple: they had never discussed it. It had never come up until very recently when Mika started to feel a tad bit under the weather.
"Tohma! Get your good for nothing ass in here!" Mika was irate. Poor Tohma had no idea what would cause his normally docile and contemplative wife to react with such… colorful language.
"Mika darling, is everything alright?" Tohma tried his hardest to keep is normally fake and seemingly pleasant smile even as panic began to course through his chest. Mika was hunched over the toilet and emptying out her stomach of all its contents.
She looked up from her retching and glared deadly brown eyes directly at her husband. "No, everything is not alright! I've been throwing up for the last hour, my breasts hurt, I skipped my period and all you have to say is 'is everything alright?'"
Tohma took a few steps backwards to the door of their shared bathroom. "I'm just going to call the doctor to come and check up on you, alright dear?" Mika growled from the pit of her stomach just before projectile-ing the rest of last night's dinner into the white porcelain toilet.
Hour and a half later…
"Well, Seguchi-san it looks like you are indeed pregnant. Six weeks pregnant to be exact." A smiling, jolly doctor with his hands clasped behind his back and a smile splashed across his face was bouncing merrily on the balls of his feet as he looked from Mika to Tohma.
Tohma's face seemed to be frozen in an eerie smile that was caught somewhere between a nauseous flinch and a nervous twitch. Mika on the other hand had her arms crossed across her chest and a deep scowl etched into her normally smooth forehead as she sat in the king sized bed with the comforter pulled up to her waist. "Thank you for that enlightening diagnosis, Doctor Obvious."
Now one would think that Mika was just being down right rude, whether it is the hormones or just her nature toward doctors, but in this case her sarcasm only applied to the first half of the statement.
Dr. Obvious smiled once again and chuckled to himself. "Well, I'll let you two parents-to-be have some alone time. Call when you want to schedule your monthly appointment." With that the doctor patted Tohma on the shoulder and strode out of their bedroom door.
Tohma stood perfectly still with the same horrific expression plastered on his face. Mika sighed in frustration and whacked him on the back of head. He jolted out of his stupor and turned to face her. He looked her in the eyes then she watched as his gaze grew steadily lower and lower till it landed on her still flat and toned belly. His eyes grew wide and he clasped a hand to his mouth. "Excuse me. I think I have to go throw up now."
As he dashed to the bathroom Mika rolled her eyes and re-crossed her arms over her sore breasts. When the sounds of Tohma's nervous heaving reached her ears she sighed deeply. "This is going to be a long nine months."
Shuichi paced around his newly decorated room playing with the already frayed seams of his well worn sweater. He had many a problem, but so far only one of them seemed to be bothering him as of late. His "captive", Eiri, seemed to be avoiding him rather vigilantly.
It had been a week since Bad Luck had docked at Pleasure Port and had reunited a rather dysfunctional family with its biological and adoptive mother. That's a week since Shuichi had realized what kind of a dangerous venture he had taken on when he stormed the NG.
Aside from being stalked by the most notorious businessman on this side of the world all else was doing just dandy. Ryuichi and Tatsuha were more in love more than ever before, Maiko was busy roughing up the lazy drunkards that had gotten severely more lethargic since she had last "caught up on old times" with them, while Hiro and Suguru were still just close friends (to their chagrins). The only members of this happy-go-lucky group that were not at all enjoying their stay were a tall, stoic blonde and a short, energetic pirate captain.
Shuichi was well on his way to wearing a perfect figure eight in the new carpet when he slapped his thighs huffing in frustration and plopping down in the ground in severe frustration. He didn't know why, but Eiri's silent treatment was driving him mad. Every time he saw the blond it was as if everything was right in the world. Of course when the blond blatantly turned from him and disregarded his friendly advances and pleasant smiles Shuichi felt like that seemingly perfect world that appeared had crumbled away and burned.
The distraught pirate king had even gone as far as to order the rebellious writer to accompany him to the ice cream stand. Shuichi knew Eiri wouldn't refuse an order from his captor, but alas the writer only gave the minimum and the closeness they had felt only a few days before was completely dissolved. Normally under such circumstances Shuichi wouldn't bother and would let him go his own separate way, but Shuichi felt a pull toward the infuriating man and wouldn't dare let him go until he knew exactly what it was.
What was more disturbing than the stoic writer or the force that was pulling on the pirate king was intense desire to be near the blond that kept Shuichi at his wits end. With Eiri playing the cold shoulder Shuichi was never able to sate the need to be with him, near him, and even feel Eiri.
The young man Stood up from the floor and began to yank wildly on his vibrant pink locks. It was almost too much to bear. Shuichi couldn't be content with just watching the blond from a far and allowing him his space. Shuichi wanted…
A tall blond figure walked out of the back door and began to stroll through the back garden toward the small creek located near by. Shuichi's breath hitched as he watched his one torture grow smaller and smaller in the dark night air. Without thinking Shuichi bolted out the door and raced down the hall way to the top of the stairs. He was going to talk to Eiri. He had to.
Before Shuichi could reach the stairs a door swung open causing him to go flying over the railing and land in a heap on the first floor. The western import, Sarah, screamed and jumped to the railing to look down at Shuichi's battered form.
"Shuichi baby, are you alright?"
Shuichi groaned and moved his legs to make sure he wasn't paralyzed then slowly began to sit up. "Yeah, I think I'm fine. I just don't remember why I wanted to come down here in the first place." Sarah giggled and smirked.
"It wouldn't have any thing to do with a certain blond that you have been fretting about for the past couple of days would it?" Shuichi's eyes grew large and he bolted off the floor and printed out the back door into the moon lit night. Sarah smiled to her self "Well, I hope he gets what he wants." She sighed and twirled a lock of hair around her finger. "Now, if only I could find a straight man around here."
Shuichi raced through the garden and jumped head long into the forest leading to the creek. Dodging trees and leaping over roots, Shuichi raced along the path toward the shallow creek in hopes of finding Eiri. His heart was racing with excitement and nervousness; it had been a week since he had talked with Eiri, then suddenly the tall blond author became very aloof and avoided all contact with him. He was, to say the least, very, very confused.
When Shuichi broke through the wall of trees separating the forest from the creek and its banks, Shuichi came to an abrupt halt. He put his hands to his knees and leaned forward trying to catch his breath. It had been ages since he had run through the forest like that. He definitely needed more exercise.
Once he caught his breath he stood up and looked all around for any sign of blond hair and golden eyes. He glanced to his right and there stood Eiri with his hands thrust into his pockets silently watching the pirate captain. Shuichi stilled all his motions and just stared back preying that Eiri wouldn't just turn around and walk off. "Looking for me?" Shuichi didn't respond just gazed at the tall man before him.
Eiri stood and studied the pirate for sometime not saying a word or moving a muscle. Then the clouds covering the moon moved across the sky unleashing its full power and beauty upon the lonely forest. A beam of celestial light came down from an opening in the trees and fell upon Shuichi illuminating him in a haze of pure white that surrounded the pink haired man. Eiri's breath hitched and he felt his heart pump faster in his rib cage.
Shuichi looked stunning. Eiri couldn't deny how beautiful Shuichi was at that moment in time. The moonlight flooding the air around him was making his skin shimmer with an angelic glow. The moon reflected off his bright pink hair creating a look of wings around his shoulders. Eiri felt the urge to reach out a hand touch the angelic looking creature before him, but steeled himself before the, in his opinion, inevitable embarrassment. Instead of course he opted for the more bastardly approach to his undeniable attraction.
"What do you want brat?" Eiri didn't care if he sounded like an asshole all he wanted was to be back in control of his emotions and, dare I say it, desires.
Shuichi frowned and slammed his fists on top of his hips. "I chase you all the way out here and all you have to say is that?" Shuichi was so angry between the avoidance and the extremely long silence Shuichi was a hair's breath away from shooting poor Eiri in the foot to get him to at least say something.
Eiri turned away from Shu and stared off across the creek watching a doe and her fawn apprehensively drawn nearer to the water's edge keeping eyes trained on the humans before them. "Hurry up and say what you came to say or I'll just leave." Eiri was growing increasingly more uncomfortable. He began to envy the deer and their silence.
Shuichi sighed and took a step closer toward Eiri. He was about to reach his hand to touch the scowling man, but thought better of it and chose to shove his hand deep into his pocket instead. "I… I wanted to talk to you."
Eiri rolled his eyes. "I can see that. You have five seconds to say what you came here to say then your time is up and I am leaving. Ok? Five."
Shuichi began to panic. "Eiri, I just-"
"Four." How long will it take for him crack?
"All I wanted to-"
"Three, time's running out." Adding salt to the wound is always fun.
"Jesus! Eiri, I only needed to-!"
"Two." Oh how he loved to mess with Shu's head.
"Ahh Stop counting!"
"One. Time's up."
"I missed you! Ok?" Shuichi was on the verge of tears. The stress of a time restraint had really gotten to him. "I missed talking to you and seeing you. Ever since the day mom found out about Seguchi you haven't said a word to me and I hate it! Why aren't you talking to me?"
Eiri was silent. All thoughts had ceased and all motion in the forest around them had seemed to freeze in time. 'The brat missed me?' He had no idea how to deal with that. He knew that the pirate hadn't wanted him to go back to Japan and to tell the truth, neither did Eiri. He had heard Shuichi tell his mother he 'can't let him go,' but it never really occurred to him that it was because he felt any closeness with Eiri. He figured it was because he made a good crew member and a smart business man. Eiri never thought the brat actually liked him.
The kid had kissed him, but the kid was weird, it could have been a mood swing or something. At least that's what he told himself. He was afraid to let himself believe that the brat actually likes him. He was afraid that he likes the brat in return. Shuichi could make Eiri do and think weird things and that scared the crap out of Eiri. He felt things when he was with Shuichi, things Eiri never thought he would be able to feel.
Shuichi stood facing the author with his fists clinched. The force of his confession had even surprised him. Of course that held nothing in comparison to what he heard next.
"I'm kind of… glad you missed me." Eiri was blushing and turned away from the deflating pirate to hide his embarrassment.
Shuichi let his anger fade, but when understanding of what Eiri had said sunk in Shuichi once again became angry. "Do you think you can just mess with me? What kind of game were you playing? The 'Ignore Shuichi' game? Who the hell do you think you are?"
"What the hell are you talking about? Of all the asinine things you could had chosen to say you choose to say that?" Eiri was getting steadily angrier. Here he was trying to tell the imbecile how he felt and he gets yelled at for playing games. What the hell?
"Well if you even cared at all about how I feel you wouldn't be playing such a cruel game for your own amusement!" Shuichi could feel the steam pulsing through his veins. The more he heard the blonde's voice the more he wanted to slap him.
"If you had even listened to what I was going to say we wouldn't be yelling at each other!" Eiri was gritting his teeth together so hard he could feel his jaw muscles screaming in protest.
Shuichi huffed in frustration and threw his arms up in the air "Fine! Then enlighten me."
Eiri unclenched his jaw and took a few calming breaths so he wouldn't explode. When he felt his nerves were under control he considered it safe to speak his piece. "I heard Rumiko-san yelling at you and every one else."
"The whole town heard her, big deal." Shuichi crossed his arms and scowled out over the creek.
Eiri's left eye twitched as he counted to ten in his mind. "I heard her telling you about Seguchi coming after my brother and me. I know Seguchi and he will stop at nothing till he gets what he wants. I…" Eiri had to hold in the sense of fear that returned at the thought of Bad Luck's crew dying at the hands of the Seguchi navy. "I couldn't stand the thought of bringing harm to Bad Luck. As much as I hated it at first I have grown to love that god forsaken ship and its dimwit crew. The short time I have spent on Bad Luck it has felt more like home to me then my home does." Shuichi slowly uncrossed his arms and turned to look at Eiri. Every thing he said sounded sincere and heart felt, despite the insults thrown in there.
Eiri turned to face Shuichi and looked into his eyes. "I heard you when you said you couldn't let me go." Shuichi's face started to turn a slight tinge of red. "I – I knew you were just saying that on behalf of your crew, but I… I just couldn't let you sacrifice your self and every one else." Eiri could feel an unfamiliar prickling behind his eyes. He took a moment to reign in his emotions before he continued.
"For the past week I have been planning a way to leave Pleasure Port." Shuichi's perfect brow creased in a deep frown of confusion and sadness. Eiri had to look away before he could continue. "I thought that if I made it back to Tohma and explained to him he would call back his navy. I thought I might be able to convince him to let Tatsuha stay with Ryuichi. Maybe I could dissuade him from continuing the global man hunt he has out for you."
Shuichi couldn't believe what he was hearing. This whole time he thought Eiri only tolerated Bad Luck, but in actuality he loved Bad Luck. He was trying to single handedly save Shuichi and the crew. He was even going to try and keep Seguchi from separating Tatsuha and Ryuichi. Shuichi could feel his heart tingle at the thought of all Eiri was trying to do for him and Bad Luck.
Eiri couldn't hold it back any longer. The fear he had been feeling that his new family was in grave danger, the stress of trying to fix it all by himself, and extreme sense of loss he had felt when he first realized he would have to leave Bad Luck in order to save them was all building up on him. He let out a strangled sob and covered his face with his hands.
Shuichi felt his heart break as he watched this intelligent, strong man cry. He could feel Eiri's pain circulating through his own body. He had to comfort the blond some how or he was going begin crying as well. Without a second thought Shuichi reach up and wrapped his arms around the taller man and held onto him as if he was going to blow away in the light summer breeze.
Eiri felt those slim, but strong arms envelope him, the scent of strawberries and the ocean spray filled his senses and warmth spread throughout his whole body from the small pirate clinging to him for comfort. He wrapped his arms around Shuichi's waist and buried his face in the pirate king's neck. The immense relief washed over him as he clung to Shuichi, it gave him the strength to let out all his built up tears. He tightened his grip on the young pirate's shirt and pulled him firmly to his chest letting his tears fall freely and unchecked.
Shuichi felt a warm, dampness soak into his shoulder, but he didn't care; all that he cared about was holding Eiri. Holding the man he loved. Yes… loved. It felt right to say he loved Eiri. Shu smiled as he let tears of happiness wash over him. He loved Eiri Uesugi! Just as his revelation hit Shuichi he felt Eiri's emotionally exhausted body begin to loose its strength and the two crying men slowly fell to their knees. Eiri's sobs were quieting down and Shuichi's tears were beginning to dry.
Shuichi leaned his face into Eiri's soft golden hair and he whispered, "Eiri… I… I love you." Eiri's body stiffened and all sounds coming from him ceased.
Eiri wasn't sure he heard Shu correctly. He pulled out of the embrace to look into Shuichi's deep violet eyes. What he saw there made his heart swell. Shuichi was gazing up at him with all honesty and determination; determination to convince Eiri that his words were true.
Eiri felt himself smile; before he knew what he was doing he had leaned forward and brushed his lips gently against those full supple lips he had been dreaming about. Pulling back he looked once again into Shuichi's now hazy eyes. "Eiri I-" Eiri crushed his lips down upon Shu's once again halting all speech. The boy tasted sweet and intoxicating. The contacted was sending jolts of electricity down his spine.
Shuichi's hands wound their way up into Eiri's soft wispy hair as he drew himself deeper into the kiss. Eiri moved his left hand behind Shu's neck to hold him in place as his right moved to cup the pirate's cheek. He swept his thumb along Shuichi's cheek bone feeling the remaining dew left from his tears. Their lips massaged each other eliciting sparks of pleasure to flow between them. Eiri's tongue slipped from between his lips and began to stroke Shu's bottom lip asking permission to meet its mate. Shuichi moaned into Eiri's mouth creating an opening that his tongue took advantage of. It glided past Shu's parted lips and began to stroke and lick Shu's tongue into a dance.
Shuichi felt tears of joy slide down his cheek which Eiri's thumb promptly swept them up. Eiri could feel his heart pounding. Never had anyone ever made him feel this way. What he felt for the pink haired pirate captain had grown into so much more than just a friendship. That is why he couldn't stay.
Eiri slowly pulled away from Shuichi, both men panting and gasping. Shuichi tried to steady his spinning head while Eiri stroked his soft cheek with both his thumbs. "Shuichi, you mean so much to me."
Shuichi smiled brightly lighting up the dark the forest around them. Eiri let a soft small smile drift past his lips. He leaned forward and gently kissed Shuichi's swollen mouth. He pulled back and rested his forehead against the pirates, whispering against Shu's lips. "Shuichi, you mean so much to me… You mean so much that I can't stay with you. I have to leave."
Shuichi's eyes squinted shut and he felt tears of sadness glide down his cheeks. Why? Why can't Eiri stay with him? Eiri lifted his head and placed a warm kiss in the saddened king's brow. He pulled Shuichi's face upward and leaned down to kiss away the fresh hot tears slipping past Shu's tightly closed lids. "Shhh… Don't cry. Please, I don't want to see you sad."
Shu opened his eyes and looked at Eiri in the most confused and hurt expression the author had ever seen. "Why, Eiri? Why do you have to leave? You know we can handle it. Rumiko said she would help." Shuichi had large tears streaming down his face. It felt as though his heart was breaking.
Eiri pulled Shuichi into a tight hug and whispered into his ear. "Rumiko offered to help, but at the cost of how many lives? I can't let innocent people die because of me." Shuichi sobbed into his shoulder and clung to his shirt like a life rope. "Shuichi I have to do this. And who knows maybe we'll meet again under better circumstances. Maybe you'll get the opportunity to kidnap me from another ship." Eiri let out a dry laugh.
Shuichi sat up and slapped Eiri's shoulder. "Don't talk like that! You aren't going to leave! I won't let you!"
Eiri sighed and placed his hands on Shu's shoulders looking him straight in the eyes. "You really are a brat aren't you?" Shuichi gave a huge pout, Eiri laughed again and poked Shu's nose with his index finger. "Shuichi you know it's not possible to keep me here. I have to go. I have to go to save your life and every one associated with Bad Luck's life. Please be strong Shuichi. I've seen you talk back to the 'All Powerful' Tohma Seguchi; I know you can be strong for me."
Shuichi threw himself into Eiri's arms and buried his face in Eiri's chest. "I don't want you to go. I finally found you, my love, and now you are leaving me!"
Eiri stroked Shuichi's hair and kissed his temple, kissed his cheek and jaw, finally kissing Shu on his pouty salty lips. "Shuichi, I… I love you more than anything, but I won't endanger the crew for my own selfish reasons. You under stand don't you?" Shuichi nodded, tears still streaming down his face. "Shuichi I have to go. I have a boat waiting for me at the dock; it's going to take me back to Japan." Shuichi sobbed even harder.
Eiri struggled to stand with a clinging pirate death gripping him. Once he got to his feet he pried Shuichi off and placed a finger underneath the depressed pirate's chin to lift his face. Shuichi gazed into Eiri's warm comforting eyes and he managed to lessen his sobs down to one per second. "Shuichi, I want you to smile for me. I want you to be happy. I promise we will meet again." Shuichi nodded. "Good, now give me your beautiful smile." Shuichi giggled a little and gave Eiri the most heart wrenchingly beautiful smile he had ever seen. "Shuichi, I love you."
Shuichi let out a happy sob and wrapped his arms around Eiri's neck drawing him into a farewell embrace. "I love you too Eiri. Be safe and come back to me."
Eiri nuzzled Shu's neck and kissed the junction between neck and shoulder. "Say good bye to Tatsuha and Hiro and Ryu and Suguru for me." Eiri felt his throat clinch. "Tell Rumiko it was a pleasure and make sure Maiko takes good care of you." Eiri let a tear slide down his cheek.
Shuichi pulled back and kissed Eiri gently, warmly, lovingly on his soft cherry lips. "I will. Now go before they leave you here and we're stuck with you for good." He let out a dry, strained laugh as Eiri smiled back at him. He gave Shuichi one last embrace and turned away from his love walking through the trees toward the ocean.
Shuichi took a step forward shouting, "Eiri! I love you!" Eiri turned around and smiled. He placed his fingers to his lips, kissing them then reached out his arm letting the kiss drift to Shuichi on the salty sea breeze.
Shuichi closed his eyes letting the breeze caress and kiss his cheeks. When he opened them Eiri was gone.
A/N Ok so that was chapter 10. I hope you liked it. It had some humor, some tears, some fluff. It took me forever to write. I hope you enjoyed. Before ya'll start to freak thinking this is the end guess what. It isn't! Actually it's quite far from the end. Just incase ya'll were panicking, there will be no break between now and the next chapter, unless I have writer's block then it's inevitable. So I should have another chapter out within a week or so, so keep your eyes peeled.
Until next time! Love ya'll!
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