Because of You
Sequel to: "This I Promise You"
Building a Family series
Written by: Chochowilliams
Disclaimer: I do not own Gravitation or the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Summary: It is six years later and while Shuichi has moved on with his life, there are those who have not.
Warning: M/M, M/F, Sexual Situations, Romance, Angst, Drama, Fantasy, Infidelity, OOC, Language, M-Preg, OCs, Japan Natives: Surname first
Pairings: Shuichi/Eiri, past Hiro/Ayaka, Hiro/Suguru, Tatsuha/Ryuichi, past Maiko/OMC, OMC/OFC
Inserts: recap from chapter 3
A/N: Enjoy!
oOo
Last Time
Shuichi himself had not been able to stay away from the music business completely either. He had been asked by Tohma to write several songs over the years for various groups and singers under contract with NG Productions, Desert Star being one of them. When Eiri and he moved from Tokyo to Nara, Eiri had a fully functional studio built in the backyard for Shuichi, but to actually sing-sing as in a comeback? Shuichi had to admit he did miss the stage, the lights, the roar of the crowd, the excitement…!
Shuichi turned and looked at his husband, silently pleading for him for help.
Eiri reached out and caressed the side of Shuichi's face. "It's up to you, Shu. What do you want to do?"
Shuichi bit his lip and turned to stare out of the window over the city. That was a good question. What did he want? Was it time for Shindou Shuichi to make a come back?
oOo
Chapter 4: Introductions
Early Evening - NG Productions
"I'm sorry about the girls, Shindou-san," Fujisaki sighed as they walked through the lobby.
"Nay! Don't worry about it, Fujisaki. They were just excited."
"Well, yeah, I guess so, but still. I think they got kinda carried away."
Shuichi shrugged it off. "It's fine." He giggled, grinning brightly. "It was kinda fun actually!"
Fujisaki gapped at his friend. "Fun?" He sighed, shaking his head in amazement. "Only you would think getting mauled by a bunch of girls was 'fun'."
Shuichi laughed loudly. "It was like old times." He patted the smaller man on the back, still grinning. "Don't worry about it, Fujisaki. Really, they were harmless. Any of us would have done the same thing in their shoes."
With a raised eyebrow, Fujisaki glanced at the man out of the corner of his eye. "Yeah, right," Fujisaki said. "You maybe. I, on the other hand, would have more self-control-"
A loud bark cut off the keyboardist, causing both men to jump. Shuichi and Fujisaki looked around and saw Hiro walking towards them, chuckling.
"And what, pray tell, is so funny?" Fujisaki demanded of his lover, crossing his arms.
Chuckling, Hiro laid a hand over the smaller man's shoulder, shaking his head. "Are you telling me that if you had the chance to meet Dorothy Donegan, Jelly Roll Morton-"
Blushing, Fujisaki shook off Hiro's hand and stalked away with a 'humph'. "Of course not," he said over his shoulder.
Shuichi just glanced from one man to the other, confused.
"Uh, huh," Hiro chuckled, following him.
"I'm no stupid fan-boy, Hiro," Fujisaki continued, unconvincingly.
"Suuure, Fujisaki."
"I know how to control myself." Fujisaki flopped down into an armchair in the sitting area of the lobby of NG, his arms still crossed over his chest and a determined look on his face.
Hiro sat down in another chair, grinning madly at his lover.
Shuichi scratched his head in confusion as he walked over to the others and sat down on the couch. "Who's this Jelly Roll and Dorothy whatever?" he questioned.
"No one you'd know," Fujisaki said dismissively.
Shuichi glanced from a chuckling Hiro to a furiously blushing Fujisaki, still confused.
"Anyway," Fujisaki said, changing the subject. He threw one last look at his boyfriend before turning towards Shuichi. "Have you given it any thought? Appearing on the girls' album I mean," he clarified at Shuichi's blank look.
"Oh! Uhm…" Shuichi sighed heavily and sat back on the almost too comfortable sofa. He stared out the all glass front lobby, staring out at the sun as it slipped behind the buildings, the day rapidly fading. "I really don't know," he said truthfully in a soft voice. He bit his lip. "I mean…," he sighed, his voice fading. He cupped his chin in his palm.
Hiro slid forward, sitting on the edge of his seat and clasped his hands between his knees. He stared intently at his friend. "You don't have to do it, Shuichi," he reminded him.
"Hmm. I know," Shuichi mumbled. Dropping his hand, he stared at his linked hands in his lap. "It's not that I don't want to do it," he told them. " Because I do!" His face brightened and a flash of the old Shuichi zipped across his face. "I really would love to sing again!" His face fell. "It's just that…" He sighed. "I don't know."
"It's alright if you're scared," Hiro told his friend softly.
Fujisaki stared from his lover to Shuichi, wide eyed. "'Scared'?" That was the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard of in his entire life.
Hiro swatted Fujisaki.
"Ow!" the younger man cried, rubbing his sore arm. "Hiro! What-?"
Hiro gave him a look, shaking his head. "No one could blame you if you were, Shuichi. It's been how long? Seven years?"
Shuichi shook his head. "It's not that," he denied. At least, not entirely, he thought, though he had to admit as much as singing and being up on stage excited him, it also frightened him, thinking about all those eyes on him. What if nobody cared about him anymore as a singer? What if they thought he was just old and all used up? He hated rejection just as much, or if not more so, then being ignored.
"Then what's wrong?"
Shuichi turned to stare outside. "I'm not the same as I was six, seven years ago. A lot has happened. I'm married, have children and…"
"The accident."
"Yeah." Shuichi nodded. "As much as I would love to get back into the studio…I don't think I could do that again. Besides, I wouldn't be able to-I mean, I can't just up and move Eiri and the boys back to Tokyo. Keitaro and Kane are in kindergarten. And then there's Kira… I can't…I don't want to move to Tokyo and leave them all in Nara." He shook his head. "There's a lot to consider."
"Shindou-san-!" Fujisaki exclaimed.
"You have that studio at your house, right?" Hiro asked.
Shuichi turned towards his friend and nodded a confused expression on his face. "Yeah," he drawled.
Hiro exchanged a look with Fujisaki. "Well, you could always work out of there. I mean, you would have to come into Tokyo occasionally, or you could work around Yuki-san and the boy's schedule, ya know? Bring them with you? Get a tutor?"
Shuichi stared at Hiro, deep in thought.
Fujisaki nodded. "I'm sure Tohma would be more than willing to agree to any demands you have, Shindou-san."
Shuichi leaned back in the sofa. He was sure that Seguchi would as well, but still…it was not an easy decision. "I don't know."
"That's fine, Shu. You don't have to decide right away."
That was a relief because if he would have had to, he would have turned the offer down flat. As it was, he would have to sit down with Eiri and discuss the whole thing.
"Oh! By the way, Shu."
"Huh?"
"What song did you write for the girls?"
"Oh! It was a song I wrote with Eiri."
That surprised Hiro. "You co-wrote a song with Yuki-san?"
Shuichi grinned, his whole face beaming. He bounced happily. Sliding to the edge of the sofa, he grabbed the lip of the cushions and nodded. "Yep! Actually, Seguchi wanted each of us to write a song for them, but…When I was done with mine, I let Eiri read it and surprisingly, for some reason, our songs were similar, so we decided to combine them."
Fujisaki nodded. "I was surprised when I heard it for the first time."
"You heard it, Sug?" Hiro asked him.
"Yeah, it's very depressing and gloomy."
"Depressing?" Hiro turned towards Shuichi. "That doesn't sound like you, Shu."
Shuichi shrugged. "That's just what came out," he admitted, trying for nonchalance. Actually, he wrote the song about the same time he started working on his bibliography.
Just thinking about his memoir sitting at home waiting patiently for his return, caused him to shudder. Maybe it had been a bad idea to agree to write it. He really did not want anything more to do with that evil thing. It brought back too many memories, most good, but also some bad ones he would do anything to forget.
A fine trembling shook his body as he remembered what he was in the middle of writing about. He clasped his hands tightly in his lap, his knuckles turning white. His thoughts naturally linked the book he was writing to the late night phone call from his mother informing him of the passing of his grandfather. His throat constricted over a sudden sob. Tears stung his eyes.
Was it fair to miss someone who you have had nothing to do with for twenty years?
Hiro and Fujisaki exchanged a knowing look.
"What's it called?" Hiro asked his friend, snapping the other man out of his thoughts.
Shuichi blinked, confused, as he tried to switch gears. "'Lastly'."
"What's it about?"
"Well." Shuichi scratched his head, grateful to Hiro for distracting him away from those black thoughts. "It's, um, well, it's about this couple who falls in love, but nobody believes the two of them should be together. They'll do whatever it takes to separate them."
Hiro glanced at his lover and saw that he was thinking the same thing he was. The storyline sounded vaguely familiar.
"Then there's an accident. His partner rushes to the hospital, but it's too late. Upset and depressed over the death of his partner, he ends up killing himself."
Hiro blinked, shocked. "Jeeze, Shuichi."
Shuichi nodded. He stared at his hands clasped between his knees, his chest tight.
"I don't know if I should ask you this, but could you sing some of it?"
"Sure," Shuichi whispered. His voice cracked. Clearing his throat, he sat up straight. Closing his eyes, he cleared his throat and hummed a few bars. When he got the melody in his head, he belted out the entire song. His melodious voice filled the lobby, sounding almost angelic, ethereal as it bounced off the surface, echoing back at them.
The song was everything Fujisaki said it was. It was a tale of star struck lovers who wanted to be together and defied everyone and everything in order to do so. The only things on their side were Fate, Destiny and Gravity. It was also very deceiving. There were moments where it seemed as if everything would finally be all right. There were promises of better times ahead, but then everything came crashing to a grinding halt.
The last note faded. Shuichi opened his eyes, tears flowing down his face. He wiped at them with the heel of his hand and sniffed. He lifted his head and was shocked to see them crying as well.
"Wow," Hiro breathed, shocked. "That was great Shuichi, kinda depressing, but great."
"Yeah," Fujisaki agreed. "It's different with the music. It doesn't sound as heartbreaking and you clearly hear the more uplifting moments. It might be the acoustic sound of the lobby that amplifies the emotion behind the song, but there's this lilt at the end that makes you think that it all works out."
"Yeah, there is," Shuichi agreed, his voice soft. "They're finally together." He jumped when he heard the sudden sound sweet tinkling. He breathed deeply, trying to calm his racing heart. "Hello?" A grin spread across his face, chasing away the last of the shadows.
"Baka."
"I take it, that's from Yuki-san?" Hiro guessed, whispering.
Shuichi nodded. "You done?" he asked.
"Yeah, we're outside."
Shuichi strained his neck to glance around Hiro and saw his husband's jeep waiting out front. "Okay. I'll be out in a sec," he said standing up from the couch.
"I was going to text you, but then Keitaro said you forgot your glasses at your parent's house."
Shuichi felt his face grow warm as he flushed in embarrassment. "Well, it's not my fault!" he protested in his defense. "I'm not used to wearing them."
"Whatever. Just get out here. The boys are starving."
"I wanna go to McDonalds," Shuichi heard Kane shout.
"I hate McDonalds," Keitaro said.
Shuichi giggled. "Okay, I'll be out in a sec."
"Fine."
Snapping his phone shut, Shuichi hooked it back onto his belt.
"What aren't you used to wearing, Shu?" Hiro asked.
"Huh? Oh, my glasses."
Hiro and Fujisaki blinked.
"I didn't know you wore glasses," Fujisaki said.
"When did you start wearing them?" Hiro asked.
Shuichi shrugged. "Just recently. I need them to read, but I forget all about them and when I try to read something, the boys laugh at me because I have to hold it away from my face in order to see what it says."
An angry honk shattered the still afternoon.
Shuichi glanced outside and saw Eiri gesture widely at him, a frustrated expression on his face. "Oh!" he cried, his eyes wide. "I gotta go! The boys're hungry. I'll see ya later." He waved and ran out of the building.
Hiro and Fujisaki watched the singer jog towards the waiting black truck. Shuichi opened the door, swung inside and closed the door behind him. He leaned over and kissed his husband. Then the truck signaled and pulled into traffic with a loud squeal.
"I hope he decides to do it," Fujisaki said, breaking the silence.
Hiro nodded. "Me, too, but I understand his reluctance."
oOo
En Route
The second day of the Wake was much like the first, but this time there was more formality, flowers, and time spent greeting relatives and friends. Eiri met Shuichi's aunts and uncles, great aunts and uncles, cousins, second cousins, third cousins and their families, coworkers and neighbors of his grandparents. There were relatives of relatives, relatives of relatives of relatives, friends and friends of friends. It seemed like the whole city had come for the second day of mourning. He was grateful when Shuichi and he were finally able to get away.
Eiri slowed to a stop before a red light, yawning.
Shuichi cuddled deeper into the passenger seat and reaching over, placed a hand on his husband's thigh, giving it a little squeeze. "Tired?"
"Hm."
"Me, too." He proved it by yawning loudly. "It's been a long day."
The light turned green and Eiri hurled forward.
Shuichi removed his hand. He did not want to distract Eiri while he was driving. He stared out the window at the scenery that zoomed past in a blur of color.
He still had no idea what he was going to do. Eiri and he talked about it last night after the boys were put to bed, but the only thing Eiri would say was, "I'll support you, whatever you do." That did not help him much. It was a nice sentiment and he was glad that he had the support of his husband, but it did not help his decision.
"I could take it slowly. Ya know? One step at a time?"
Eiri glanced at Shuichi out of the corner of his eye. "What're you muttering about?"
"Huh?" Shuichi blinked, confused, and then realized he must have spoken that last out loud. "Oh, nothing. I was talking to myself. Thinking out loud."
"Uh, huh."
"Oh! Don't forget that Kei and Kai are coming over later."
Eiri nodded. "Ya, I remember," he sighed.
"Oh and before I forget. We have to get to the funeral parlor a little earlier tomorrow. The Kokubetsu Shiki is at nine." (1)
"Nine? Why so early? Don't they usually begin a little later than that?"
Shuichi shrugged. "I don't know."
Eiri sighed heavily. Great. That meant that they had to get up extra early just so they could wake, dress and fed the boys and get them to Nakano's. Great. Just great. God, he hated funerals. "What about the Nobe no Okuri? Are they going to do it?" (2)
"As far as I know. I don't see why they wouldn't display Grandpa's body one last time."
"Did you ask what our contribution should be?"
"No. I'll ask Mom when we get home. Probably 10,000, but I really don't know. I mean he did disown me."
Eiri nodded. "True, but you never know." He glanced at Shuichi out of the corner of his eye. "He did try contacting you the other week, didn't he?"
Shuichi bit his lip.
"And you are one of the oldest grandchildren, right?"
"Yeah," Shuichi said over a yawn.
"So, that means, it should be 30,000."
Shuichi shrugged as he stared distantly out the window. "Yeah, but that was before he disowned me, but I'll just have to ask Mom."
Eiri pulled into the parking lot of Nakano and Fujisaki's apartment. He pulled into the closest spot he could find to the main entrance and shut off the engine. They sat in the rapidly heating car, listening to the car click. Silence lay heavy around them.
Eiri reached out and clasped Shuichi's hands, lacing their fingers together. His husbands hand was cold, clammy and trembling. He ran his thumb along Shuichi's knuckles. Giving his hand a squeeze, he lifted the smaller hand and kissed it. It was just a light brush of lips.
Shuichi turned his head to glance at Eiri, smiling.
Eiri leaned forward and brushed their lips together. Pulling away, he whispered, "We can always let Nakano and Fujisaki watch the boys for a little while longer," he suggested huskily.
Shuichi took a shuddered breath. His eyes gleamed with interest.
Smirking, Eiri kissed a trail along Shuichi's jaw and down his neck.
"We- Ah! We can't," Shuichi moaned as his husband nibbled on the side of his neck. "Kei and- Ah!" He covered Eiri's hand that was cupping him. "Mm, Eiri," he gasped when his husband squeezed him through his pants.
Eiri captured his lips and devoured him. He kissed him like he would jump down his throat. He slipped a hand up Shuichi's shirt and massaged his nipple to life, pinching and tweaking the awakening bud.
"Ngh! Ah!" Shuichi could not think, not with Eiri touching him and kissing him. Damn Eiri. And he thought he knew how to get his way. Grabbing Eiri's shoulders, Shuichi pushed him away forcibly and reached for his cell phone, panting heavily.
"Shu?" Eiri questioned him, his chest heaving. His pants were uncomfortably tight.
Raising a finger, Shuichi dialed his friends number from memory and listened to it ring.
"Hello?" shouted a voice over what sounded like chaos.
Shuichi held the phone away from his ear, wincing at the cacophony of noise that blasted over the line. He could hear the television all too clearly. It sounded like they were watching a baseball game. Fujisaki was screaming above the loud wails that could only be Kira at Kane who, it sounded like, was laughing his signature high pitched squeals. Then he heard Keitaro snap something that he had been warned several times never to say before a door was slammed somewhere in the background.
He exchanged a look with Eiri, who was chuckling, a mischievous gleam in his eye. Shuichi swatted him, which only caused Eiri to laugh harder at poor Nakano and Fujisaki's troubles.
"Hey, Hiro!" Shuichi shouted back. "I would ask how it's going but I can hear!"
Hiro groaned over the line.
Shuichi heard the sound of movement and the noise dimmed.
"Shu, how the hell do you do it?"
Shuichi shrugged. "They're not that bad at home." He heard Hiro and Eiri snort at the same time. Shuichi threw his husband another glare.
"Lucky you."
"Keitaro's usually stuck in the office with Eiri reading and writing. Kane's usually outside or at a friend's house and Kira…well, he just doesn't like anyone but Eiri and me."
"Great," Hiro snorted. "So, you done?"
Shuichi winched. It sounded like he was pleading. Besides him, Eiri chuckled. Shuichi glared at him yet again.
Eiri looked at him innocently.
"Actually, not yet. Maybe an hour or two?"
Hiro sighed heavily.
"Just order pizza or take them out for ice cream and they should be fine."
"Alright, Shu. Just-"
There was a muffled but unmistakable sound of something shattering.
Hiro cursed, and then sighed. "I gotta go, Shu. Just-hurry!"
Before Shuichi could say anything, he was listening to silence. Holding the phone away, he stared at it blankly before, with a giggle, snapped his phone shut and replaced it on the middle console. "I feel kinda bad for him."
Eiri snorted. "That makes one of us. Now," he smirked, sliding a hand on his husband's thigh.
Shuichi turned to look at Eiri as his fingers tickled his cock through the thin black cotton pants. He sucked in his breath and shuddered.
"Where were we?" Eiri breathed, leaning forward until their breathed mingled.
oOo
The Night - Shindou Residence
The only sounds permeating the Shindou household were the ticking of the clock that sounded unnaturally loud in the silence of the house and the occasional cacophony of burbles from his left. Sitting back, his legs folded under him, Shuichi leaned his elbow on the arm of the couch and gazed at the small, dark bundle cradled in Eiri's arms, sucking ravenously on a bottle. "So noisy," he exclaimed.
Eiri snorted and looked pointedly at the smaller man out of the corner of his eye. "I wonder who he takes after."
Shuichi stuck out his tongue at the man.
"Very mature," Eiri said.
"Thank you," Shuichi smiled.
Eiri sighed heavily.
Shuichi giggled, grinning widely. "Jeeze! Look at him go! He acts as if he hasn't eaten all day!" Half the bottle was gone already.
"Yeah. Poor baby is starving to death. Look at how he's wasting away," Eiri replied blandly.
Shuichi laughed. At three months, Uesugi-Shindou Saburo Kira weighed sixteen pounds, about five pounds heavier than his brothers and both of his parents when they were his age. It might have a lot to do with the fact that Kira was just a little piggy. He always seemed to be either eating or sleeping.
Little Kira had been wearing his cap earlier, but he was not wearing it anymore because Kane had spilled soy sauce on it at dinner. Apparently, though, according to Kane, he did not do it. Yeah, just like the broken vase, the marker on the wall, the muddy footprints in the hall, the water on the kitchen floor, the towel soaking in the bathtub and Keitaro's favorite book at the bottom of the pool. Nope. None of it was Kane's fault.
Kira's head full of jet-black hair was sticking up down the middle of his head like a Mohawk. Shuichi thought it would be cool if they dyed the tips of his hair an electric blue, but Eiri had been vehemently against it, to say the least. Kane and Keitaro on the other hand had both had combovers when they were babies. Shuichi had feared they would grow up to look like Donald Trump. God forbid.
The three month old was swaddled tightly in a white blanket, cradled in the crook of Eiri's arm. There was a pillow under Eiri's arm supporting both Kira and him as he fed their son. Kira looked dwarfed in his daddy's arms.
Shuichi gazed at his husband, a dreamy expression on his face as he watched Eiri watching Kira. A gentle smile was titling the writer's lips, softening his normally harsh, angular facial features. Shuichi felt warmth spread through him as he studied the love of his life. "I love you, Eiri."
Eiri turned and gave Shuichi a sweet smile that was reserved only for him. "I know."
Translation, "I love you, too."
A sudden sigh from besides Shuichi broke the spell. They both gazed down at Keitaro and Kane who were sleeping peacefully and looking again like angels on the opposite end of the couch. Their grandmother had draped a thin blanket over them earlier. The boys were sleeping amicably, curled up together. Shuichi smiled warmly at the sight.
"The only time."
"What is?" Shuichi asked, tearing his eyes away from the boys.
Eiri tipped his chin towards the twins. "The only time they get along is when they're sleeping."
Shuichi gazed back down at Keitaro and Kane with a giggle. Eiri was right.
He took in their fair complexions, dark blond hair and light brown eyes and turned to take in Kira's appearance. With his olive complexion and black hair, he looked nothing like his older brothers. If it were not for the similar facial features, it would be hard, if not impossible, to tell that they were related. It was not unlike Eiri and Tatsuha.
"You know," Shuichi said, breaking the silence.
"Hmmm."
"I don't have a brother."
"Uh huh."
"The closest thing I have to one is Hiro."
Eiri snorted in disbelief.
Shuichi ignored him.
"And your point is…?"
The singer looked at Eiri. "I don't know what it's like to have one. Is this normal?"
Eiri looked at his husband with a raised eyebrow. "Is what normal?"
"Them," Shuichi said, indicating the boys.
Eiri sighed. "I've told you, Shu-chan. They're boys. They fight."
"Well, yeah, but…"
"But what?" Eiri asked in slight exasperated. He loved his husband, he really did, but having to reiterate himself over and over again did get old very fast.
With a heavy sigh, he pulled the now empty bottle out of Kira's mouth and handed it to Shuichi, who took it and set it on the coffee table. Eiri sat Kira on his leg and grabbed the dishtowel off his knee to wipe his son's milk dribbled chin. He swore Kira got more on him then in him. Setting the dishtowel down on the arm of the chair, he cradled Kira's head by cupping his chin with his already soaked bib and starting patting the three month old's back with his free hand.
Though, he did understand Shuichi's concern. While all siblings fight, Keitaro and Kane seemed to fight more than normal children did. That may have a lot to do with the fact that they are complete opposites and tend to butt heads on just about everything. Keitaro and Kane have a little of both their parents in their personalities, but Keitaro is more like him and Kane is more like Shuichi. If Shuichi and his relationship were any indication, the boys would have one hell of a relationship.
"Shu, don't worry about it."
"Really?" Shuichi bit his lip, not entirely convinced. "I mean, Hiro and I only had one real fight."
Eiri remembered that fight all too well. The brat looked like he had been gangbanged. He shook away memories that surged to the surface.
"We never really argue," Shuichi was saying as he gazed down at the boys. "And compared to that, it's like World War III every time they're in the same room."
"That's because Hiro always lets you have your way," Eiri shot back. It was just too tiring to argue with the brat otherwise.
Shuichi frowned, opening his mouth to argue.
"Besides," Eiri continued with a sly smirk on his face, "usually to be a boy, you have to be male." He paused. "You qualify as-neither."
Shuichi threw his husband an angry glare, growling.
Eiri smiled evilly.
Shuichi grabbed the throw pillow from behind his back and whipped it at Eiri's head, being careful of his infant son. "Jerk," he pouted.
Eiri chuckled, knocking the pillow aside.
Sometimes, Shuichi just did not understand Eiri. He glanced down at Kane and Keitaro, still smiling, and noticed that Keitaro had kicked the blanket aside. Reaching out, he tucked it back around them.
Sitting back, he let his eyes roam over the living room and they landed on his bag by the front door. He was not sure how it got there but figured Kane had been playing with it earlier. Unfolding his legs, he swung them off the couch and winced as he felt how stiff and numb they had become. Stretching them out, Shuichi planted his feet on the floor and slid to the edge of the sofa. Pushing himself off, he gasped in surprise as his leg buckled underneath him.
Eiri looked at him sharply.
Shuichi caught himself on the coffee table. His heart beat wickedly in his chest. Breathing heavily, he tried to get hold of himself. Sighing, he closed his eyes and said a silent prayer. Tapping his toes against the floor, he again stretched out his leg. Taking a deep breath, he straightened and rounded the coffee table towards the front door and his bag, shaking ever so slightly.
A belch erupted suddenly from behind him, shattering the silence that had enveloped the house. Shuichi stumbled to a stop and glanced over his shoulder at his husband and son, blinking in shock. "Was that Kira?" he asked in disbelief.
"Sure as hell wasn't me," Eiri said, his lips twitching.
Shuichi stared at Eiri with a cocked eyebrow, the corner of his mouth tilted in amusement. He snorted, shaking his head. He turned back around and crouched down besides his bag. "Oh, please! Don't even try to act all innocent! You pulled this yesterday, remember? When I had to change Kira and you claimed you never stink up the bathroom?" he reminded the writer as he reached inside his bag.
"I don't."
"Ha!"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Eiri," Shuichi scolded with a sigh, halting his search, "you make more bodily noises than the boys and I combined!"
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Eiri said, turning his head away from his husbands penetrating stare. He cursed himself when he felt his face grow warm. Sometimes he did not like that Shuichi knew him so well.
"Sure. Just keep right on believing that," Shuichi said as he continued his search through the bottomless pit that was his bag. "Maybe one day, it'll even come true."
Eiri snorted. "Hate to tell you, but it's true about most things that come out of your mouth."
Shuichi threw a mock glare over his shoulder. "Ha. Ha," he said dryly. "Just remember that the next you take a shit or fart."
When his hand hit a small rectangular box, Shuichi went unnaturally still as his heart preformed a wicked summersault. Surreptitiously, he glanced over his shoulder at his husband. Eiri made no indication that he noticed anything a miss. Shuichi's heart was pounding so loud he was surprised that Eiri could not hear it. Trembling, he continued his excavation through the bowels of his bag. He felt guilty about hiding his suspicions from Eiri, but he did not want to say anything until he was sure. Besides, he was not entirely sure what Eiri's opinion on the matter was. For that matter, Shuichi was unclear what his view on the subject was.
"Found it!" Shuichi cried suddenly, when his hand hit a spiral spine underneath the box.
"Found what?"
"My notebook."
"Your what?"
"You know my notebook?" Shuichi said in a "duh" tone. "The one I use to jot down lyrics? It was at the bottom of my bag."
"Uh huh."
Pulling out a black sketchers pad, Shuichi stood up and dropped his bag to the floor. Turning around, he caught sight of Kira in his daddy's arms. A smile crossed his face. He met Eiri's piercing gaze. His smile widened. They were so cute! He giggled.
Eiri glared at Shuichi through squinted eyes. He knew exactly what the brat was thinking and was not sure how he felt about being thought of as cute, but as he thought that, he felt another blush warm his cheeks. He cursed himself when it came to Shuichi.
Shuichi giggled again. He absolutely loved the reactions he could get out of Eiri. It was priceless. "Ya know," he said as he made his way back to the couch. "I talked to Mabel today."
Eiri's mind blanked. "Who?"
"You know, she's married to my cousin Koji? He went to England for school and met her in his drawing class."
Oh, that Mabel. They maybe saw her once a year, if that, and that was once too much. She was the most annoying creature on the face of the planet. She was clingy, way too happy and peppy and would not stop talking! He was glad he had been able to avoid her at the funeral.
Eiri glanced down at Kira and noticed the three month old had fallen asleep. Deciding he was done for the night, Eiri picked his son up and laid him against his shoulder. Standing up, he walked to the carrier as Shuichi rambled on about how his cousin had been unsure if he wanted to go to England in the first place because he had just proposed to his high school sweetheart, but then he caught her cheating on him with his best friend and the next day he accepted the full scholarship he had been offered to the university.
Eiri sighed. How Shuichi could carry on one sided, long-winded conversations like that was beyond him.
"Anyway," Shuichi was saying, "…what was I talking about?"
Eiri sighed heavily, shaking his head as he straightened. Idiot, he thought.
"Oh yeah! You know Mabel is eight months pregnant, right?"
Now that was scary. He was not sure if the world was ready for another Mabel.
What he really wanted to know was what Cousin Koji had seen in Mabel and how he put up with her, but then again everybody asked the same thing about Shuichi and him. Hell, he asked himself that same question.
He glanced at Kira asleep in the carrier, at Keitaro and Kane on the couch and finally at his husband who was still rambling on at a million miles an hour and he knew. It was not something he could put into words, or even fathom at a conscious level, but as annoying as Shuichi could be, he could not picture his life without him. Shuichi completed him.
Eiri blinked, startled at his own thoughts. Where did that come from? As clichéd as it was, it was the god's honest truth. Without Shuichi, he would revert to what he had been before the brat came barging into his life and that was not something he wanted. It used to be a dull and pointless existence.
Shuichi's laughter snapped him out of his retrieve. "She said she would much rather be pregnant then do that!"
"Do what?" He had missed something, not that that was anything new.
Shuichi's laughter vanished with a disgusted sigh. He clucked his tongue in disappointment. "You weren't listening!" he accused.
Eiri crossed his arms over his chest and gave him a look.
"I was saying that Mabel asked me how I was able to lose all the weight I gained during my pregnancies."
"Oh," Eiri snorted, dropping his arms.
Shuichi stood up, setting his notebook on the table and crossed the room towards his husband. Curling his arms around Eiri's neck, he rose up on his tiptoes and pressed his body against the warmth of his husband in perfect alignment. He laid his cheek against Eiri's chest and heard the muffled "thump-thump" of his lover's heart. Warmth spread through him and a smile crossed his face. He sighed happily and closed his eyes.
Eiri chuckled and wrapped his arms around his brat loosely, but possessively. "You tell her you lost all the weight by having hot, steamy, passionate sex with your drop dead gorgeous husband?" he teased.
"Eiri!" Shuichi cried, his face blazing. He pulled away from the men enough to slap his chest lightly.
Eiri chuckled.
Shuichi glanced over his shoulder at the boys.
"Don't worry," Eiri assured his lover, pulling him back against him. The front of his body had gone cold. "They're asleep."
"You're such a jerk."
"I know."
Shuichi sighed in contentment and hugged his husband. "I told her that with the twins, the weight kinda…melted off. I didn't do much of anything except go to the gym for my regular sessions. Then with Kira, it was a little harder to lose the weight." He lifted his head and glared his Eiri angrily. "I still haven't forgiven you for that."
Eiri snorted. "It worked, didn't it?"
"Yeah, well," Shuichi admitted slowly, picking at some imaginary lint on Eiri's shirt. "But still! I mean a high protein diet along with a rigorous two hour full body workout session with that, that boot camp dude a day?" Shuichi shuddered. "I am never eating eggs again for as long as a live!"
Eiri chuckled, grinning.
"I mean, I told her what I ate. Ya know, chicken, turkey, lean meats and beef, fish and egg whites…and then I had to do all sorts of chest, bicep, tricep, leg, shoulder, back and especially abdominal exercises that nearly killed me and she said she's rather stay pregnant and I said I'd rather eat eggs and pasta everyday for the rest of my life and be bossed around by that drill instructor wannabe who always looked ready to pop a vein then go through go another pregnancy." His train of thought stopped dead as he realized what it was that just came out of his mouth. Never say never, he thought as he mentally berated himself.
Eiri tensed at Shuichi's words. "I think it's a little too early to be making decisions like that Shu-chan. You said the same thing after Keitaro and Kane were born, remember?"
Eiri's words shook him out of his musings. Shuichi dropped his brows in confusion. What was he saying? His heart began pounding hard in anticipation. He stepped out of Eiri's arms far enough so he could stare into Eiri's golden hazel eyes as he tried to decipher the meaning behind those cryptic words. The uncertainty soon melted away. Only to be replaced by a soft wonder and amazement. "You want another baby," he whispered in surprise.
Blushing, Eiri broke their gaze. "I have no idea what you're talking about," he muttered in embarrassment.
Giggling, Shuichi clasped his arms around Eiri's neck and rose up on his toes, pressed their lips together. He pulled away still grinning. With a giggle, he walked back to the couch with a little skip in his step, grabbing his notebook on the way. He hugged it to his chest as he sat down. "You do!" he pressed lightly. "You want another baby!" Shuichi's laughter faded and a serious expression came over his face. He felt so relieved and a little apprehensive at the same time.
Eiri grumbled and crossed his arms over his chest. He stared out the living room window feeling his face grow warm. He really did not like that Shuichi could do this to him so easily.
"Do you, Eiri? What another baby?" Shuichi asked in all seriousness as he stared down at his lap. He lifted his head and studied his husband's profile.
Eiri fidgeted, his eye twitching. God, he needed a cigarette.
"Eiri?"
Sighing, Eiri turned to face his husband, staring deeply into those exotic purple eyes. "Maybe," he found himself admitting as he melted under those intense, hypnotic eyes.
A gentle smile fluttered across Shuichi's lips and a twitch quivered in his belly.
"I wouldn't mind a-daughter." Eiri looked away; his face blushed crimson as this admission.
Shuichi's eyes widened in shock and surprise. "A d-daughter?" he cried out in astonishment, forgetting the state of agitation in his stomach. Knowing that his husband wanted another child made him even guiltier for keeping quiet, but that was why he had to remain passive about this. He did not want to get Eiri's hopes up.
Eiri shrugged, trying for nonchalant, but Shuichi knew. He could see it in his eyes, in the determined set of his jaw, the way he held his shoulders and even in his stance. It was not no big deal. Eiri really wanted a little girl. Shuichi could not stop the smile that spread across his face. The smile slipped off as he sighed and sat back. Shuichi really did not think he was ready to have another baby. "But," Shuichi continued aloud.
Eiri snapped his eyes towards his husband, waiting with batted breathe.
"I don't think it's an impossibility." He thought about the box silently waiting in his bag. It's definitely not an impossibility, he thought.
A smile lit Eiri's face.
Shuichi lifted his eyes and met his husband's gaze.
Eiri swallowed the space between them and sat himself down on the arm of the couch. He tapped Shuichi's head up with a finger under his chin. He lowered his head until his lips were a hairs breath away from Shuichi's. "Thank you, Shu-chan," he breathed into his lover's mouth. His mouth descended and brushed across Shuichi's.
Shuichi's eyes closed of their own volition. A shudder raced along his spine. When he felt Eiri pull away, he sighed dreamily and touched his tingling lips. He heard Eiri chuckle. A blush splashed across Shuichi's cheeks. His eyes fluttered open. He stared at his husband in awe, licking his lips. He still tasted Eiri on him.
"I think it'd be nice to have a girl in the house," Eiri was saying.
It was Greek to Shuichi. Nothing Eiri was saying made any sense now. He just stared at his husband, elf-struck.
Eiri reached out and cupped his hypnotized husband's cheek. Shuichi tipped his head, closing his eyes with a sigh as he savored his husband's warm touch.
With a sly look on his face, Eiri leaned forward and whispered in Shuichi's ear, "Because you don't count."
Shuichi shuddered as he felt Eiri's breathe against his ear, but then he froze as his husbands words sunk in. His eyes popped open and his head snapped up. He slapped a hand hard across Eiri's chest. "Jerk!"
Eiri chuckled, grinning mischievously. He stood up and rubbed his chest. It was the same spot where Shuichi hit him before.
Snorting in disgust, Shuichi folded his knees underneath him and settled into the corner of the couch. He pulled out the pen with his chewed up cap that was clipped onto the cover and opened his notebook, searching for the song he had been working on during the trip up from Naha. Like the one he wrote for Desert Star, this one was turning out to be dark and depressing.
Eiri meanwhile walked back over to the carrier and gently picked up Kira. "I'm going to put the boys to bed," he told Shuichi as he laid his son against his shoulder.
"Uh huh," Shuichi said distractedly, a frown on his face.
"Shu?" Eiri called.
Shuichi blinked, tearing his eyes from his notebook. "Huh?"
"I'm putting the boys to bed."
"Oh!" Shuichi set his notebook down on the couch besides him and held out his arms. "Bring me my baby!"
Eiri carried Kira to Shuichi.
"Oh," Shuichi cooed, cradling his baby boy. He planted a multitude of kisses on his soft cheek. "He's so cute!" He ran a finger lightly across Kira's chubby cheek, smiling dreamily.
"Come on, Shu."
"Aw," Shuichi whined as he handed over his son.
"You're an idiot."
Shuichi snorted. "So are you," he said as he picked up his notebook and reseated himself on the couch.
Eiri looked at his lover with a raised eyebrow. "Excuse me?"
"If I'm an idiot then so are you because you fell in love with me, an idiot." He grinned at his logic. "See?"
Eiri cocked an eyebrow. With a snort, he shook his head and started towards the stairs.
Giggling, Shuichi held his notebook away from his face at arm's length and tried to read its blurred print through squinted eyes. With a disgusted, irritated sigh, he stared over the top of the pad at his bag sitting forlornly on the other side of the room. In order to work on the song, that would mean having to get back up and walk all the way across the living room to his bag and fetch his glasses which were buried somewhere in said bag. He frankly did not have the patience or energy to do such a menial task right now. It was getting late anyway. He was exhausted and his stomach seemed to be rebelling against the rice and stir-fry they had for dinner.
o
A sly grin crept onto Kei's face. "So," he asked, "any plans for more children?"
o
Laying the notebook in his lap, Shuichi sighed heavily and stared at his bag from across the room as he lost himself in thought. He had been trying to ignore it, but after what his cousin said at the funeral, it was beginning to look as if that was an impossible.
oOo
The Next Morning - Ozaki Funeral Home
Signaling, Shuichi turned into the parking lot of the funeral home and searching the already full lot was able to find a spot, thankfully, by the front door. It looked like they were one of the last to arrive. It was not at all surprising. Nobody slept well last night, especially Kira and Eiri. Eiri spent the whole night throwing up and Kira had been fussy. Shuichi, who had not felt so well himself, was up taking care of both of them all night. Then Kane had a nightmare and trying to put him back to bed was a chore in and of itself. The only one who got a decent night sleep was Keitaro. Then the boys decided to throw hissy fits this morning.
"We don't wanna go to Uncle Hiro and Uncle Fujisaki's! They're mean!"
Shuichi had a feeling their accusation had a lot to do with the fact that Hiro and Fujisaki's patience had worn thin over the past two days and finally snapped. If Kane and Keitaro had behaved themselves then Hiro and Fujisaki would not have been "mean".
He was not sure what Kane's reason was, but Keitaro was a little upset with his uncle Hiro because Hiro told Eiri and him last night when they "returned from the Wake" about what their son said. Because of that potty mouth, Keitaro was now grounded for a week. Keitaro blamed his uncle for his getting into trouble, though Shuichi had heard him as plain as day over the phone. Keitaro was none too pleased with Shuichi either because Shuichi was the one who suggested to Eiri that they should put hot sauce on Keitaro's tongue to teach him never to say something like that again. Keitaro had not liked that very much.
Then there was the little stunt his eldest son pulled this morning, causing Shuichi to ground the boy for another two weeks and Keitaro was none too happy about that either. Of course, it did not help that all Eiri did was smack Keitaro upside the head for what he did, making Shuichi look like an even bigger bad guy.
Not in the mood to deal with either of the boys antics this morning, both Shuichi and Eiri agreed that they could stay home. Because Keitaro was upset with him, he decided he would stay home to "help take care of Daddy and Kira". Kane then decided he wanted to go with Shuichi to the funeral. Trying to find an appropriate outfit for Kane to wear to the funeral was another reason why they were so late.
Pulling cleanly into the space (which he knew was a fluke because he sucked at parking), he put the car in park and turned the ignition off. Immediately the cool air blasting from the vents dissipated. The temperature of the interior of the car rapidly rose and it became increasingly stuffy. Unbuckling his seat belt, he slid the key out of the ignition and unlocked the car doors with a "chin". As he grabbed his wallet and cellphone, his eyes floated to the rearview mirror and landed on the small, blond haired, golden hazel eyed monster in the back seat. A soft, gentle smile lit the singer's face as he took in his sleeping son. He was just like his daddy, an angel when he was sleeping, but was a devil when he was awake.
Still smiling, Shuichi opened the car door, being careful not to hit the car parked next to him-why did these parking spaces have to be so tiny? Stepping out of the car, he cringed as the intense summer heat enveloped him. He started to sweat immediately. Summer in Tokyo sucked.
Pocketing his keys, he clipped his cellphone to his belt, hiding it from view underneath his black suit coat and slid his wallet in his pocket. Shutting the car door, he walked around the car and opened the back door. Giggling softly, he studied his son.
Kane's head was tipped to one side, his mouth slightly ajar and a little drool dribbling from the corner of his mouth. His hands were palm side up and clasped lightly at his sides. He was dressed similar to Shuichi in a pair of straight lined black slacks and a white dress shirt, minus the suit jacket. His newly chopped hair framed his creamy white face. His little man looked so mature.
"So cute," Shuichi cooed. Giggling, he leaned over his sleeping son and undid his seatbelt, being careful not to wake him or get him caught in the seatbelt. Grabbing Kane under his arms, Shuichi lifted him out of the booster seat with a grunt. " God your heavy," he whispered.
In his sleep, Kane clasped his arms around Shuichi's neck and wrapped his legs around his waist. Sighing, he rested his head against Shuichi's shoulder.
"Awe!"
"Hm?" Shuichi looked over his shoulder and spotted his sister walking towards him. "Hey, Maiko," he smiled.
"Hey there, Big Brother. Here," she offered, striding past him to close the car door.
"Thanks."
Smiling, Maiko crouched down a bit to peer at her nephew. "He's sleeping?"
"Yeah. He had a nightmare last night and was up most of the night."
"Aw," she pouted. "Hey," she cried suddenly, straightening, "what happened to his hair?"
Shuichi rolled his eyes. "Keitaro happened."
"What?" Her eyes widened with a gasp.
"Uh huh," Shuichi nodded. "Keitaro chopped off his braid this morning."
"I don't believe it!"
"Yep."
"Why would he do something like that?"
Shuichi shrugged. "I have no idea. Kane knows just what to do to get Keitaro all riled up. He knows just what button to push to push his brother over the edge and when he does…? Keitaro snaps."
"I'm so glad I only have one boy. I think I'd go insane if I had three."
Shuichi rolled his eyes with a snort. "You have no idea!"
Maiko reached out and brushed the sleeping boy's soft, feathery hair. "It's strange to see him with no hair, but it looks good."
"Yeah, well, he hates it and his brother," Shuichi sighed.
"Do you know what happened?"
"Yeah. I had to run to the store to get an outfit for Kane to wear to the funeral. When I left, Keitaro and Kane were in the kitchen eating breakfast and Eiri and Kira were upstairs sleeping."
Maiko nodded. "It's good they finally got some sleep, seeing they were up all night."
"Yeah, but it didn't last long."
"Why-?" Maiko sighed in disgust. She did not even bother to finish that thought.
Shuichi nodded. "Mm hm. Their fighting woke Kira up, which in turn woke Eiri up and Eiri was pissed."
Maiko snorted. "I can imagine. What were they fighting about this time?"
Shuichi shrugged. "I think Kane was making fun of Keitaro, ya know, because Keitaro is grounded?"
"Ah! That would do it."
"It does every time," Shuichi snorted. "Anyway, Eiri grabbed Kira, trying to calm him down, and went downstairs to deal with the boys." Shuichi paused, swallowing. "Then he heard Kane scream."
Maiko's eyes widened. "Wha-?"
Shuichi nodded. "Eiri's heart just about stopped! He rushed into the kitchen and found Kane standing in the middle of the kitchen bawling his eyes out. I mean, heart wrenching, hysterical sobs-"
"Oh!" Maiko cried.
"-and Keitaro was putting a pair of scissors and a clump of hair on the kitchen table."
Maiko gasped.
Shuichi nodded. "Keitaro had cut off Kane's ponytail, though he denied doing it."
"That's crazy!"
"Eiri was none too pleased, to say the least."
"I bet!"
"He did not feel well. Kira was screaming in his ear. Kane was howling." Shuichi shook his head. "When I got back, it was a mad house!"
"So, what Eiri do?"
"He yelled at him, smacked him, and then sent him crying up to his room for a time out."
Maiko's eyes widened. "That's it?"
"That's what I said! I yelled at Eiri for being too lenient. He yelled at me for getting too worked up over it. 'It's only hair. It'll grow back.'"
Maiko shook her head. "That's not the point."
"Ya know? I went up to talk with the little criminal. I asked him why he did it and he denied it, said it wasn't him."
"Unbelievable."
Shuichi sighed. "I told him he did do it and that he can't go around doing stuff like that and said that I was grounding him for another two weeks, but if he admitted doing it and apologized, then I would reduce it to a week."
Maiko nodded. "Fair."
"He didn't take it too well."
"So, did he-?"
Shuichi snorted. "Nope. Still claims mistaken identity."
Maiko shook her head. "Nice." She was so glad that her children were so welled behaved. Well, at least compared to her brother's three little monsters anyway. "So, how's Yuki-san feeling? Any better?" she asked, breaking the silence.
Shuichi shrugged. "A little. He's not puking anymore, but he still felt like shit when I left."
"Hm. Strange. He was fine yesterday."
"I know. Must've been something he ate. Actually, I think he might have been well enough to come, but," he shrugged, "I think he's using this as an excuse not to."
Maiko stared at her brother in confusion. "Why?"
Shuichi smirked. "He hates funerals."
"'He hates funerals'?" she repeated slowly with a raised eyebrow.
"Uh, huh," Shuichi nodded.
"Isn't he a monk?"
"Yep."
"And, hasn't he, as a monk, performed several funerals?"
Shuichi dropped his brows in thought. "I think so." Kane was slipping. Shuichi shifted him, securing his hold on the boy.
Maiko snorted, shaking her head. "What about them does he hate?"
"The dead body part."
"Ah!" She nodded. "I had a friend in high school like that. Totally freaked her out. So, where are Kira and Keitaro then? At Hiro's?"
Shuichi shook his head. "No, they're both at Mom's with Eiri. I offered to take Kira to Hiro's, but Eiri said not to bother and said Keitaro would take care of them."
"Male bonding," Maiko nodded. She turned her attention back to the funeral home
Shuichi stared at his sister through squinted eyes, studying her carefully. "Maiko?"
"Hm?" Her voice sounded strained.
"Is there a reason why you're stalling?"
Maiko sniffed and rubbed her eyes. Turning around, Shuichi was not surprised to see her eyes watering. Her jaw was trembling.
"Maiko," he whispered. He stepped forward and enveloped his baby sister in a one arm hug.
Maiko leaned against her brother, taking his comfort and his warmth. Shuichi rubbed her back soothingly in slow, lazy circles as she wept quietly; choking on her tears and sobs. A deep well of sadness and despair washed over her, filling her. Her heart hurt. Her soul was crying. It was hard to explain exactly how she felt. It was almost as if the rug had been pulled out from underneath her and she was now teetering on the edge of a cliff, unable to regain her balance. If the wind were to blow hard enough and in the right direction, she would go tumbling off. Right now, she was hanging on by her thumbnails.
Getting hold of herself, Maiko pulled away from her brother and reached into her suit coat, pulling out a Kleenex. She delicately dabbed her wet face.
Shuichi watched his sister in sympathy, his own chest tightening and throat constricting around a forming sob. Tears stun his eyes. Blinking rapidly, he took a deep breath, exhaling through his mouth and leaned his head back, widening his eyes in an attempt to dispel the gathering water. He stayed like that for several long moments until the tightness in his chest loosened. Clearing his throat, he lifted his head and smiled at his sister. "I think we should get inside. It's getting late."
Maiko nodded and followed her brother towards the funeral home. Her feet suddenly felt like they were encased in blocks of cement and her legs made of lead. She let out a shuddered breath, feeling a weight in the pit of her stomach. "Ya know," she whispered, breaking the silence, "it's strange." She stopped shy of walking into the white sided building.
"What is?" Shuichi asked, stopping besides her. He turned towards her.
"I'm surprised your fans and the paparazzi aren't staking out the place. What, with you and Yuki-san being who you are?"
Shuichi nodded. "We were going to release a statement to the press, but decided not to. We want to keep it as quiet as we can. You know, for grandmother and everybody."
"Yeah," Maiko nodded. "Don't think they'd appreciate having cameras and screaming girls thrown in their faces when they're trying to mourn the loss of Grandfather."
"You forget the fan-boys, drag queens, transvestites…"
Maiko sighed heavily, rolling her eyes.
Shuichi giggled. "But," he continued with a heavy sigh, "I don't think it'll stay that way for much longer."
"Why not?" she asked in confusion.
Shuichi jerked his head over his shoulder.
"Huh?" Maiko glanced quickly over the parking lot then turned back towards him.
"Across the street."
Confused, Maiko turned around again and glanced towards the street. She did not see anything particular or out of the ordinary. "I don't see-"
"The car."
Maiko glanced back across the street, an eyebrow raised. The Ozaki Funeral Home was not located on a major thoroughfare, but it was still quite a busy side street that connected two main streets that were especially busy during rush hour. It was now past morning rush hour and there was a couple hours until the afternoon rush, but there was still dozens of cars going by at any given moment and vehicles were parked on either side of the street. "Oh, that narrows it down," she said sarcastically. "Which one?"
"That dark blackish-grey Honda Civic in front of the bakery at the corner."
Maiko looked for a bakery at the corner across the street and found it. It was a non-descript building with flowered curtains hanging across the lower half of the front windows. A few wrought iron bistro sets sat in front of the shop. Like Shuichi said, there was a dark grey car parked in front of it. "Okay. What about it?"
"Take a look inside."
"It's a little hard to see because the windows are tinted."
"I know, but you see that guy?"
"Yeah… What's he doing? It looks like he's holding something."
"Camera."
Maiko's eyes widened in understanding. "Press?"
Shuichi shook his head. The press he could handle. This guy was something much worse. "Paparazzo."
"Damn."
"Yeah," the singer sighed. He would have to call Eiri and let him know. Shuichi shifted Kane. His arms were beginning to feel like lead. "I need to go find a chair or something. My arms are about to fall off."
"Oh!" Maiko's eyes widened in realization. "I'm sorry."
Shuichi started inside, but paused when he realized that Maiko was not following him. "Maiko?" he called over his shoulder.
"Go ahead. I'll be there in a minute."
"Okay."
As Shuichi entered the funeral parlor, he felt Kane stir against him. It was about time too. He swore Kane gained weight as he slept. Shuichi pulled his head back and watched his son as the boy lifted his head and rubbed his eyes. "Hey there sleepy head," he greeted. "Have a nice sleep?" With a frown, Kane blinked and then buried his face back in the crook of Shuichi neck, wrapping his arms around his neck. Shuichi chuckled. Some mornings were better than others.
"Hello there, Shuichi."
Blinking, Shuichi turned around and watched as his grandfather's younger half-brother strode towards him. "Good morning, Uncle Satoshi," he greeted, inclining his head as best he could.
Grinning, Uncle Satoshi glanced at the human koala strapped to Shuichi. "Who have we here?"
"This is Kane."
"Ah! So, this is the Kane I've heard so much about. He is the younger of the two?"
Shuichi nodded. "Yep."
Uncle Satoshi walked around Shuichi and bent over to get a look at his great-nephew. He was surprised to see a pair of golden hazel eyes staring back at him. "He has his daddy's eyes," he commented, glancing back at Shuichi.
Shuichi giggled with a nod. "They both do. They're like mini-clones."
Uncle Satoshi chuckled. "Hello there, Kane," he addressed the boy. "I'm your uncle Satoshi."
Kane frowned and dropped his head on Shuichi's shoulder. "Go 'way," he mumbled.
Shuichi gasped and Uncle Satoshi's eyes grew wide. He straightened, blinking at the tone of the five year old. Shuichi slapped his son upside the head. Kane in response only tightened his hold. "Watch your mouth," he scolded the boy. "You remember what happened with Keitaro?" He glanced at his uncle. "I'm sorry Uncle Satoshi. He didn't sleep much last night and fell asleep on the way over here and sometimes he can be a bit of a grouch when he wakes up." Another trait he inherited from his father.
Uncle Satoshi waved his apology aside. "Don't worry about it. It's understandable. Besides, nobody likes having a stranger stick his face in yours, especially when you just woke up."
"Satoshi," came the call.
Shuichi glanced around and spotted his uncles wife waving at him.
Uncle Satoshi waved back at her. "I better go see what she wants," he said, turning around. "It was nice talking to you, Shuichi."
"Same here."
"And it was nice meeting you Kane."
Kane glanced at his uncle through his bangs. Meeting the older man's gaze, he turned his face away and buried it in Shuichi's shoulder again, practically choking him.
Chuckling, Uncle Satoshi inclined his head and turned away.
Sighing, Shuichi bounced Kane to get his attention. "That's wasn't very nice, Kane. You were very rude to Uncle Satoshi."
Once again, Kane did not acknowledge what was said to him, only tightening his hold once again.
Sighing again, Shuichi started unhooking his son's claws in him.
Kane protested by whining loudly. "No!"
"Come on, Kane. You're too heavy. You can walk for a little bit."
Kane held on for all that it was worth.
Sighing, Shuichi decided to bribe the boy. "Hey, you want to go hand over the money?"
Kane nodded against his shoulder.
"Okay, you'll have to let go of me then."
Shuichi set Kane down with a grateful sigh and shook out his arms. They felt like they were about to fall off.
Reaching inside his suit coat, he grabbed a large envelope covered with black and white wire. Written on the front of the envelope in neat script was printed "Uesugi-Shindou". On the back was written how much money the envelope contained, the money being their funeral dues. According to his mother, Shuichi, as the eldest grandson, was to pay 30,000 yen. Shuichi had been unsure what his contribution should be because of his and his grandfather's history, but he spoke with his parents the night before and they assured him that he had been named one of his grandfather's heirs. That surprised Shuichi, but at the same time it banished the last of the doubts and shadows that lingered after he learned of his grandfathers passing.
"Here," he said handing the envelope to his son.
Kane took the envelope and turned it over, studying it, then looked up at him, waiting.
"Take this to the man at the table, okay?" Shuichi pointed to a man with salt and pepper hair standing behind a table several feet away. He was one of his grandfather's ex-coworkers.
Kane nodded and ran across the hallway. Standing on his tiptoes, he reached across the table and gave the envelope of money to the man.
"Thank you, young Shindou-san," the man said, inclining his head as he took the envelope from the boy's small hand.
Without another word, Kane raced back across the hallway and latched onto Shuichi's leg as if it was a lifeline. Shuichi ran his fingers through Kane's hair. Like him, it seemed to comfort his son.
Shima-san checked over the envelope, and then bent over to write something in a ledger. Shuichi knew he was marking down their names, relationship to the deceased and the amount they were paying.
"Is that your son, Shuichi?"
Shuichi turned around and saw his grandfather's other brother, Todono Waki, and his wife, Benio. "Yes, it is. This is Kane." Shuichi glanced down at the boy, who was still clinging to his leg. "Kane this is your uncle Waki and Aunt Benio."
Kane glanced up at him.
"Say hello."
Kane peered around Shuichi's leg, and then retracted it, burying his face against his leg and tightening his hold.
Shuichi sighed and rolled his eyes. This was one of those times when it became obvious who Kane's father was (as if the hair and eyes were not enough). Eiri despised socializing and so did Kane-that was up until the boy became comfortable with the people he was meant to socialize with.
His uncle chuckled. "He's a little shy, huh?"
"You'd never know it if you saw him at home," Shuichi admitted, looking down at the blond head. Prying the boy off his leg, he picked him back up. "Come on. I'll introduce you to Grandfather."
… To Be Continued…
(1) Kokubetsu Shiki: Announcing-the-Departure
(2) Nobe no Okuri: Putting Out to Pasture
Preview: "The Final Farewell"