Little Kamijou
Nowaki and Hiroki walks back down through the stairs, with Hitomi busy suckling her full milk bottle. Now that she fully awake, she look surround her curiously with her violet eyes. Nowaki could tell by the violet eye of their daughter, she was definitely exploring her curiosity with her eyes. He heard shuffling feet not far from the living room.
"Oh, you brought her down." said Naomi who's dry her hand from the sink
"Yes, Naomi-san. This hours is actually her time to awake. Ne, Hitomi?" said Nowaki, cooing Hitomi on his arm.
Hitomi didn't reply Nowaki though, still looking her unfamiliar environment. The doctor large hand stroked Hitomi's thick layer of dark hair on her head. It felt soft and yet vulnerably nice.
"Well, Hitomi. This is your grandfather and grandmother's home. Like I told you the other day, you will meet your father's father and mother." grin Nowaki, explaining freely to Hitomi who sat down on his arms.
"Since Nowaki take care of Hitomi, you help your mother preparing breakfast then, Hiroki-kun!" said Naomi
Hiroki decided to not arguing with her mother is endless and no use, since the one and only female on this household definitely win. Hmm, scratch that, not the only female on the Kamijou household now. His mother began instructing him to chop down the vegetables and preparing the dining utensils. Meanwhile the second female on Kamijou household just sat down on his father lap, staring obviously to the elder man who sitting down in front of her, reading the morning newspaper. Nowaki patted his daughter who sat down between his thigh and curling his hand to hold Hitomi's small body to not tumbling down. Even though the six months years old can sit down perfectly on her own, her body sometime swaying down, so he decided to not let Hitomi sit down for the meantime. He heard wet pop under him and saw the milk bottle already empty, hold on Hitomi's small hand.
"Finish, Hitomi?" ask Nowaki softly, take the empty bottle and put the cap on it
He pat Hitomi's back until he heard small burp and smile. The newspaper suddenly folded down with rustling voice, making Hitomi glance to Hiroto's. Behind the rustling black and white newspaper, appeared the other male.
"How old is she?" said Hiroto glancing at the baby girl and return his read on newspaper
"Going on her seventh month old, sir." said Nowaki, a bit tight from nervous
"And...her name is Hitomi?" said Hiroto, return his glance to the innocent baby girl
"Yes, sir." said Nowaki, keeping Hitomi on his arm, since Hitomi began to move down, wanting to crawl on the wooden floor under the sofa.
"You don't mind if she passing down the Kamijou's family name, do you?" ask Hiroto folded his newspaper once more
Nowaki smile softly as he guess the hidden meaning from Hiroki's father. Maybe he beginning to acknowledge her, think Nowaki. Its good then. Soon Hitomi could grow with her grandparents by her side.
"Of course, sir." smile Nowaki in satisfaction and hold Hitomi's on his lap.
"Breakfast ready! Now, where does she sit-oh! I know. I'll take the old baby seat. You boys could start your breakfast first while I'm searching on the attic." said Naomi, busily walking through the hall excitedly.
"Naomi-san, let me help you." said Nowaki, giving Hitomi to Hiroki who's just sat down on dining chair. Hiroki let a sigh, replied by the smiling Nowaki. The doctor could tell by the sound of his partner made. Hiroki tried to look cold or uncaring toward Hitomi, but in the end, Nowaki could see a hint of upper lips forming up to really, really small smile when Hiroki hold Hitomi on his arm. She may be just a month or more on their care, but he could see the older one began to attach with their daughter. Back to the present, Hiroki accepting Hitomi from Nowaki and sit the girl on his thigh, while Nowaki following his happy-chattering mother.
"So." said Hiroto, cough to his son to melting the awkward atmosphere.
Hiroki only replied with a rise on his eyebrows.
"You brought two surprise today. First, admitting you are a gay to us. Second, you bring a baby. Are you sure you're not knocked out some woman?" said Hiroto with a frown in his forehead
"Your son won't be that foolish to chase some bunch of horny woman. If he is, he won't be teaching in Literature Department. " growl Hiroki in defense
"We thought you would be with that Usami's son. Best friends of yours. Can't handle his introvert, eh? " said Hiroto, calmly reaching a cup of black tea
"You don't know what I'm capable of, father." said Hiroki, nearly growl in the last word with one of his hand clutching on underside of dinner table, prevent him to throw something.
"Maybe not. This...ah, baby. I thought you didn't like children or baby. Sadly, we're not in same page anymore." said Hiroto, placed his ceramic cup
"Oh? So you are saying you didn't want Hitomi's presence in this house?" said Hiroki, raises his eyebrow
"Tsk. Tsk. I'm not saying." said Hiroto
-o0o-
"Ah, pleased to see you helping me, Nowaki." said Naomi, smiling at Nowaki at a glance and face the old big storage room
"Pleasure is all mine, Naomi-san." smile Nowaki, followed Naomi entering the dark room
"Ah, can you switch on the lamp on that left side on the wall, please?" said Naomi, pointing at somewhere on the dark
Nowaki gropping on the wall and find some kind a switch. He tried to click or switch it. The next second, the lamp flickered on, revealing inside the storage room which is full with old furniture. Naomi began to move some small old cloth and giving some to Nowaki to put over somewhere else. While Nowaki busy helping the old lady Kamijou, he tinkering on his brain, searching for nice topic but Naomi speak first.
"How long you've been in relationship with my son?" said Naomi, while his hand still moving the old thing
"Ten year, Naomi-san." answered Nowaki quickly
"Oh-when you two meet?" ask Naomi, gasp in surprise, realized their obvious long time commitment
"I was still high school student, while Hiro-san is finishing his thesis on Literature."
"Didn't he flick you off at your first try?" said Naomi in disbelief
"Well, yeah. I'd keep following him and ask him to be my tutor." said Nowaki, grinning for his past
Both of them slowly fell in silent and soft rustling movement of Naomi moving the old plastic bag.
"You know, there was a time when Hiroki came home to us. He is quite...how I pictured it? Ah, yes, quite horrible and broken." said Naomi
Nowaki raised his eyebrows when heard this surprising news. He never thought Hiroki would came home to his parent home. Not in his knowledge, he always busy grading paper, teaching student and do his daily activities. So how came this news never reach his ear? He always with...oh.
"As his mother, I'm indeed surprised. I thought he wanted to get some fresh air after he lived in hectic Tokyo. But when I see his eyes.."Naomi stopped his speech to remember the looks on his son years ago
Yes, Nowaki could remember perfectly as fresh as vegetables on morning market. That postcard. The postcard that gives his mini heart attack. Within those days after he came back from his study on foreign country, Nowaki have been peek of Hell on his life. He could imagine the looks on his Hiro-san face.
"Dreary. I ask why he came home and he just shrugged it off as if no big deal. My son...has been...I would say-lively active through his ages and not once loose his spirit. But the way he look, its like half of his soul being ripped off by cruelty. The glimmering soul that everyday I saw on those eyes vanished. I wonder why on earth my son would be so drowned on misery and who does that to him. I know some of day, he may inherited some sharp tongue and anger problem from his father, but those boys of mine never intended to mean it. Pity me, but I reserved my opinion on my own and just watch him stay for couple days. Try my best to sooth him by some Literature talk and pampered him with love."
Nowaki gulped down as he spin his mind very carefully to reply those monolgue. What's he going to say? Lie? Not best option. But, still, he wanted good impression on this lady Kamijou. He catch the meaning behind those words. If he may add at the last words from Naomi, do you know anything about that? And what the hell have you been doing with my son? Here we go, then.
"Actually, Kamijou-san, its rather my fault." said Nowaki, decided to admitted and be honest
"Oh? And why it is your fault?"
"When our relationship was on age four years old, I decided to to the America to study." said Nowaki
"Did Hiroki know about it?"
"Uh, I told him a month before I went to America, but it seems he forgotten. The things is, I never contact him during on my stay at America. Probably you could blame me on that."
"So, this loss connection caused my son to upset?"
"Yes. I also learn from here that I shouldn't talk important matter to him while he was..distracted." said Nowaki, admitted openly
Naomi suddenly seems to be very quiet and turn around to face Nowaki. Her stare seems scanning him from hair to toe. Nowaki taken aback by this sudden interrogation and that x-ray stare. He got pretty good assumption on why the future-in-law start this talk.
"Congratulation, Kusama-san. You are one of capable person who could stand by Kamjious. You passed." smile Naomi sincerely
"Thank you. I assume you spot that old baby chair from the very first time in between those old chair." smile Nowaki, feeling relief
"Oh my, you boy, have sharp eye indeed. Brave and honesty is both great traits to pass on to your daughter." said Naomi, reaching the old chair, followed by Nowaki.
-o0o-
The in laws were chatting warmly about cooking and the doctor's work. when they both heard a loud noise like someone hurriedly off from the chair.
"Nowaki, we're going home!" stated Hiroki suddenly, carrying Hitomi on his hand
"W-what? But Hiro-san, we are just arrive a couple minutes ago." said Nowaki, looking very much confused by the boiling situation. He reach Hitomi from Hiroki's, who looks agitated by his other father anger.
"Yes, we are! Now." growl Hiroki furiously, while glancing at the other man
"And why?" ask Nowaki, try to reach Hiroki and halt him near the stairs
"Well, looks like that old man who sitting on the dining chair oppose me!" stated Hiroki
"If your father opposing you, does that mean you always get out from the house? Aren't we supposed to try talk first? And what is he opposing anyway?" ask Nowaki, glancing at the old man who sitting and looks amused by the scene.
"Home. Now." growl Hiroki to Nowaki
"Hiro-san." said Nowaki, trying to calm Hiroki
"Nowaki." replied Hiroki with a twitch
"At least tell me what your father said to you!" whisper Nowaki sharply
"He didn't wanted children in this house." said Hiroki finally after holding his answer for a minute full of silence
"Why?"
"Oh, bloody, how should I know ?! He just happen to dislike baby like I used to." said Hiroki with his tone getting higher
"Did he stated that clearly to you?" ask Nowaki
"It appear from his word indicating that he won't let Hitomi in. If that father of mine doesn't want Hitomi on the rest of his life, I'll not accept this! I will not accepted my daughter being rejected every time he met that old man!" yell Hiroki, couldn't really control his anger
Hitomi seeing his other father angry and scary, she let a howl of cry. The baby soon to be curl on Nowaki's chest and snuggled, seeking for some warmth, not some anger from Hiroki. Hiroki let a tired sigh and eyeing Nowaki soothing the grizzly baby.
"Oh, stop the drama right now, Hiroki-kun! You made her cry!" shushed Naomi
Nowaki glance at the older male and saw a glint of approval on his eyes.
"Glad you have those on your mind, Hiroki. It appears that you are not wasting your word. Now sit down here and let's have a breakfast." said Kamijou Hiroto
Hiroki still staring at this father with his killing glare. Nowaki just stood there, rocking Hitomi in his arm and trying to comprehend what gonna happen next. The elder lady just sigh and placing the baby chair next to the dining table.
"What do you mean, father?" said Hiroki, began to wonder if his father means anything different than his understanding.
"What I mean is, I was just testing you. I had to make sure whether my son take seriously on this adoption. Since long time ago you claim that you didn't like children and suddenly you bringing Hitomi here. I had to make sure that you didn't dispose Hitomi one day because of your dislike of children. Raising children is no joke, Hiroki. Both of you must pay extra patience and care to her." said Hiroto, reply the glare with his calm stare behind those reading glasses
"Actually sir, its your son himself initiated the adoption." said Nowaki, added politely
"He is? " mumble Hiroto
"Please sit down you two. The breakfast getting cold." said Naomi, wave his hand to the empty chairs.
"What happen about your hatred to children? Its the first I know about this." murmur Hiroki
"Oh Hiroki, if he didn't like children, any of them, he wouldn't take care of you. You melted his heart when Hiroto holding you for the first time." chuckle the elder woman.
The old woman chuckle followed by another female Kamijou on her seat. Eight pair of eyes glance at the only human being who didn't know what's going on. Nowaki swear he catch those smile on Hiroto's smile behind those ceramic cup. The same smile which a certain Literature professor has.