A/N: I like writing thiiiiis. I haven't written something like this by myself in forever and it's fun. And.. I hope you like it. :D
Disclaimer: I do not own. I make money tutoring small children, not writing fic.
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Inui took a shuddering breath before he fell into the rambling tale of how he and Aiko had met. A few years ago he had testified against her client in court. That had been the first case she'd ever lost. However, the second time they met it was so he could testify on her client's behalf. He hadn't realized she was the same lawyer and was confused and irritated when she snapped at him, ignored him, and was generally unpleasant to be around for seemingly no reason. Even after she won the case she waved at him dismissively when he tried to congratulate her. He couldn't think of why she would have such an unfounded dislike for him.
But she did. Eventually, after Inui had researched her and— only for lack of a better word, he swore— stalked her for several weeks, she confronted him.
"Wait, you stalked your wife?" Kaidoh blinked incredulously. Maybe Inui hadn't changed that much since middle school.
"I did not stalk her. I collected her data. I forgot that you would understand what I mean by that…" Inui gave him a small smile.
Kaidoh nodded. If "collecting data" was anything like he remembered it to be, it was just short of stalking.
"Anyway, I was sitting on the bench across from her office reading a newspaper, and when I looked up she was standing there. She was quite angry. Apparently I'm not as subtle now as I used to be."
Kaidoh had to bite back a laugh. Inui was many things, but subtle was hardly one of them.
"She asked me to lunch."
The nurse frowned curiously. "You stalked her, and she asked you to lunch?"
"Well when you say it like that— She is a lawyer. It was the logical thing to do— get to know her enemy, so to speak."
He nodded in understanding.
"So we went to lunch and things just—" Inui shrugged. "—went from there."
"What… was she like, Inui-sempai?"
"She was a beautiful person. Smart, practical, witty, stubborn… I loved her."
Kaidoh nodded, expecting that sort of answer. "I saw your pictures…" He looked up carefully. "You haven't slept much, have you?"
"I can't," the doctor explained.
"That's understandable, and I can't make you sleep. But," Kaidoh said with a gesture at the untouched soup bowl, "I can make you eat."
Inui picked up the bowl and slowly began to spoon the warm liquid into his mouth. "I haven't been able to sleep because of Naoki…"
"Has he been up?" Kaidoh frowned. The baby should have been sleeping through the night at his age.
"No, I just," Inui muttered, "I don't want anything to happen to him." He stirred the soup absent-mindedly.
"Inui-sempai, the chances of—"
"I know. It is completely irrational."
"You haven't really let him out of your sight since it happened, have you?"
"No." Inui snorted, pushing his glasses up. "I've hardly put him down."
Kaidoh nodded.
Inui glanced at his former kouhai, setting down his now empty bowl. "Is this where you send me off to bed and sneak out when I'm asleep?"
The nurse frowned up at the doctor. "No, this is where I send you off to bed and call Kikumaru-sempai to tell him to not worry anymore."
He was quiet for a moment. "Stay?" Kaidoh knew the expression beneath the glasses was hopeful.
He nodded once.
"Thank you."
—
"Are you sure? One of us can always come over, if you'd rather."
"It's fine, Kikumaru-sempai. I already told him I'd stay, and he's asleep. I'll be fine."
"Well, if you're sure…"
"I am. Thanks."
"Hoi~! Bye, Kaidoh! Night!"
"Goodnight…" Kaidoh shut his phone and set it on the coffee table in front of him. Inui had brought him a pillow and blanket that were now sitting on the end of the couch before he scuffed to his bedroom to remove the pictures from his bed.
If he listened closely, Kaidoh could hear Inui moving about, rolling over in bed. He hadn't really thought the older man would be able to sleep, but it was still good for him to try to get back to his normal routine.
He situated himself along the couch and turned the volume up on the baby monitor next to his pillow before he fell asleep.
Kaidoh habitually reached out for his phone when he woke up the next morning. Seeing it was early, he started to set his phone back down and roll over. Inui was curled up on the floor along the couch. The baby monitor was clutched tightly in his hand.
Kaidoh sat up, rubbing his face. Carefully stepping over the doctor, he moved from the room, peeking into Naoki's. The little boy was playing quietly in his crib, chewing on the antennae of the baby monitor.
He went back into the living room and knelt to shake Inui's shoulder. "Inui-sempai…"
Green eyes blinked open quickly. "Is Naoki okay?"
"He's fine, but you have to get off the floor." He helped Inui sit up.
"Can't I check on him?"
"I will. Go back to sleep," Kaidoh ordered.
Inui pulled himself onto the couch and snuggled into Kaidoh's spot, dozing off again.
Kaidoh pulled the blanket over Inui's shoulder and turned off the baby monitor, setting it next to Inui's glasses and his cell phone. He padded into Naoki's room and lifted him out of the crib.
"Hello, there." He gave a small smile, bouncing the little boy gently as he walked over to the changing table.
Naoki gurgled as he was laid down. He kicked his feet while Kaidoh pulled clean clothes and a diaper from the small dresser. "You wiggle too much." Kaidoh tickled the underside of the baby's foot after it hit his hand.
The baby squealed loudly, kicking faster.
"Shh," Kaidoh hissed softly. "I have to get you dressed, settle down." He made quick work of undoing the onesie and changing the child.
He toted the boy into the kitchen, shushing him softly when he started to say "Dada" and point to Inui.
"Your dad needs to sleep right now." He opened the cabinet where he'd found the baby's food and formula mix the night before.
After he got Naoki settled with a bottle and dry cereal in his high chair he picked up his cell phone again. Kikumaru had sent him a text.
Is everything okay? Can we come over? I want to see the baby! ~Eiji ^_^ Nya~
Kaidoh texted him back quickly. No, he's sleeping. Maybe later.
The phone buzzed before he could even set it down.
But Kaidoh~ ~Eiji ^_^ Nya~
Kikumaru-sempai, he hasn't really slept in days. Maybe later, he texted back.
Kaidoh is so mean~! ~Eiji ^_^ Nya~
Kaidoh set the phone down and glanced at the clock. Nine thirty. He ruffled Naoki's hair, making the baby look up at him curiously. In the next room, Inui was shifting on the couch.
"Kaidoh?"
"Over here."
"Naoki?"
"In here with me."
"Dada?" Naoki put his bottle down.
Inui pulled himself off the couch and scuffed into the kitchen, leaning down to kiss Naoki's forehead. "Hello." He lifted Naoki and hugged him gently. "He didn't wake you up last night, did he?"
Kaidoh shook his head. "He's great. How did you sleep?"
"Fitfully."
Kaidoh frowned a little. "Sorry to hear that…"
"I came out here after a while. I couldn't sleep there…" He turned his head a little towards his bedroom door.
"I saw…" His phone buzzed angrily from its spot on the counter. He snatched it to see a picture of Eiji flashing on the screen. "Um… Inui-sempai, would you mind if Kikumaru-sempai came over for a little bit?"
"Kikumaru…" Inui sighed. "I suppose there's no stopping it, is there?"
Kaidoh shook his head, replying to the text quickly. "I can make you something to eat…"
Inui looked at him. "I'll make something for myself," he said, resigned. "Do you need to take a shower or anything? I'm sorry for inconveniencing you…"
"I don't have work today, Inui-sempai. You're not inconveniencing anyone."
"It's your day off, though. I'm sure you had plans, a date, hanging out with friends…"
"Even if I did, this is more important." Kaidoh turned away, cheeks pinking lightly.
"Thank you."
"We've been over this… It's the least I can do."
"I—"
There was a loud knock on the door and a muffled, "Kaidoooooh! Lemme in~! Nyaaaa~!"
Kaidoh looked at his phone. There was no way he'd sent that text more than five minutes ago, and Oishi and Eiji lived at least twenty minutes away. He looked at Inui and went to the door, opening it and catching Eiji as he was about to start banging on the door again.
"Oi! Inui!" Eiji barely paused to tug off his shoes as he stomped towards the taller man. "How come you have to be so secretive! You could have told us yougot married and had a baby, you big dummy!" He pouted, moving into Inui's personal space.
Naoki started crying softly.
Inui took a step back, rocking Naoki gently. "Shh, Naoki. It's just a kitty cat. Hello to you too, Kikumaru."
"Nya?" Naoki whimpered.
"Yes, cat." Inui kissed the top of his head.
"Nyan~" Eiji meowed, softer this time. "Sorry I scared you, Nao-chan." He bent down a little, beneath Naoki's eye level, and smiled warmly. "Your daddy is just a big dummy face. He made us all worry about him, you know." He tapped the baby lightly on the nose as his tears disappeared.
"How did you get here so fast?" Kaidoh shut the door.
"I went to the coffee shop on the corner so I could be here super fast when you gave me the okay!" He winked and gave his kouhai a thumbs up.
Kaidoh blinked.
"Kaidoh should go home and get changed and take care of things at home for a while. I'll watch over Inui!" Eiji stepped over to him quickly, patting his shoulder.
"Are you sure?" Kaidoh looked up at Eiji. The redhead was nearly half a head taller than him and managed to maintain his childlike personality even though he'd matured into a handsome young man.
"Positive!" Eiji grinned. "I'll make sure Inui gets all the business stuff taken care of, and when you get back, he'll be all yours again!" He turned, the little ponytail at the back of his neck flicking Inui's nose with the man's quick spin. "Right, Inui?"
"I'm sure…" Inui deadpanned.
"We'll see you later, Kaidoh~!" Eiji pushed Kaidoh towards the door.
"Kikumaru-sempai, hold on!" Kaidoh's voice wavered as he stumbled over his feet and the redhead's shoes.
Eiji made a pouting noise and stopped shoving. "Fine."
Kaidoh slipped on his shoes and pulled on his coat. "I'll see you later, Inui-sempai."
"Goodbye, Kaidoh."
The door clicked shut behind him. He shivered as a gust of early winter wind whipped through the apartments. He knew Inui and Naoki would be okay while Kikumaru was there, and he planned on staying until he had to go back to work on Monday…. But what then?
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A/N: Reviews…usually make me happy : )