CHAPTER FIVE: CONFUSIONS AND DISCOVERIES

Souichi really hadn't wanted to have a reason to leave the lab of Nagoya University, but with his condition, if he started showing it would be disastrous. Particularly if someone found out that he just wasn't beginning to put on the pounds, but that he was pregnant.

He doubted anyone would believe it, but there were those entities which might, somehow, manage to get ahold of his records from the doctor he'd seen. It didn't matter if the doctor were reliable or not, things had a way of somehow getting out.

There was no way, that he was going to be a lab experiment himself, just because he was a pregnant man.

He'd rather Morinaga be the one to suffer through having another being growing inside his body.

'Impossible.'

Even if he'd stayed at the University, he couldn't very well conduct all the experiments and do all the research he'd like. This was something Morinaga constantly had to remind him of, least he should somehow harm the tiny life growing inside him.

How it got there, remained a mystery, but surely the answer lay upon the island of Kowaku. There was no other logical explanation for him to be with child. Yet even the explanation that it was because of something on Kowaku was illogical.

He kept thinking that some sort of astronomical joke was being played on him. That perhaps he was having nothing more than a nightmare he'd as yet been unable to wake up from.

What irked him the most, was how full of smiles Morinaga was. This was a serious matter. How the hell was he to give birth, for his body was not made like a woman's. Had it been, Morinaga wouldn't have thought to look twice at him. Then he wouldn't be in the mess he was now.

Leaning back against the seat of the seaplane, his brows furrowed as his thoughts went round and round. 'But I might have wound up with someone even more perverted than Morinaga.' He wanted to think that all men were perverts, yet he himself had never really been into watching porn or looking up stairs just to see up a girls skirt. Not even during high school.

His passion, had always been directed toward research and the sharpening of his mind. Not to mention having to raise Tomoe and Kanako after mother had died and father was constantly away on trips for his own research.

With a weary sigh, he finally managed to close his eyes and drift off to sleep. In time, he was certain, that all would be revealed to him. What Morinaga had said before, though he wasn't sure how he felt about it, was that there were other gay couples who wished they could have a baby together.

This particular find, would certainly put to rest the argument that two men or two women couldn't possibly have any children together. Not that there wasn't the possibility of a surrogate. Yet this way, if this weren't more than just a hoax, then views might eventually change.

Even his own, had slowly altered, but that didn't mean he approved of that bastard Kurokawa!

Once, fully asleep however, his thought processes ceased so as to give even his mind a rest.

It wasn't until much later, that he was shaken awake by his shoulder.

"Senpai, we've arrived."

Slowly, Souichi blinked open his eyes, sight unfocused till he straightened his glasses out.

He frowned at how close Morinaga's face was to his own.

Morinaga stood straight and reached up over their seats to retrieve their bags from the cabinet. "I hope we'll be able to find out what triggered our unique situation."

At least Morinaga had the fortitude not to blurt anything out, even though they were the only two, besides one flight attendant and the pilot on the plane.

Standing up, to follow Morinaga, he grumbled, "I can take one of those."

"I don't think we should risk it, there are stairs we have to walk down and its better you have both hands free for the railing."

Despite how much he really would have liked to argue, he knew what Morinaga was saying was reasonable. Damn the man anyway.

Once they were off the plane, the pilot and the flight attendant got off as they needed to get some rest, before returning to Japan. They'd be back in a months time, which Souichi and Morinaga both thought would give them plenty of time to discover the reason for a man to conceive.

Souichi blinked as several islanders came up to greet them, including Kyoko.

Kyoko smiled and bowed to them. "Welcome home to Kowaku, Ou-sama and Kisaki. We have missed you."

Souichi felt rather uncomfortable when Kyoko straightened, whose forehead didn't even reach up to his chest. Kyoko, he still couldn't believe he was a boy, not when he was so small and feminine to the eye.

"What are you doing, Kyoko?"

Kyoko smiled again, "I sense a change in you. Are you with child?"

At that, Souichi's eyes widened in shock. His eyes flashed in Morinaga's direction, who seemed to be equally as stunned. Yet the other islanders were not in the least shocked.

Instead, the other islanders whom had accompanied Kyoko giggled.

"H-h-how did you..."

"I knew, because it is in my blood and in my training. Grandmother has retired and left me in charge of the island, though I am not considered an Elder. She left me in charge too, of a special harvest."

Morinaga had to put the bags down and take hold of Souichi before he lashed out at young Kyoko.

Souichi glowered nonetheless at the feminine young man. "What do you mean by special harvest?"

"Every three to five years, a special plant grows and bears fruit. Each of these berries heightens ones fertility. Yet the berries cannot work alone. The drink you both had when you went through the unification ceremony interacts with those berries, enabling anyone who has drank as much as you did of it and who ate as many of the berries as you have, to grow a temporary womb. We believe too, that this combination will also filter some of ones sperm and change them into eggs instead."

He glanced at Morinaga, "Even you, could have become pregnant, were the two of you to switch around. In the past, two men who were a couple became pregnant at the same time."

Souichi's face was as red as the reddest rose, while Morinaga's face had paled in comparison.

To Souichi, Morinaga looked in that moment as pale as a ghost.

Already, they'd found out the culprit of their current situation, but as he thought about it, he was determined to learn more about the special unification wine and the berries.

"I'd like to study how the wine and those berries can allow such a bizarre situation. There has been no documented cases of men being able to conceive or give birth."

Kyoko blinked, frowning, "How sad. So many lovers must have felt pain, for not being able to give life to the next generation together."

The young man bowed his head and when he did so, so did the other islanders standing behind him.

"We shall allow you to research what you've asked. Perhaps you will find a way that will allow all other same sex couples too, to be able to enjoy the possibility of giving life to children that will belong to both their lineages."

Morinaga, finally seemed to have come out of his stupor, "Th-thank you Kyoko."

Kyoko smiled, "There is no need to thank me, Ou-sama. Now, allow Takashi and Shirou to take your bags and show you to your room. It has been kept up since you've been away. We hope it remains comfortable, but if not, please let us know so that we can rectify it."

Souichi nodded as did Morinaga, the two walking hand in hand in a daze as they followed the twins, Takashi and Shirou.