The Uke Flu
Chapter Twenty-Eight: Senpai
Nowaki was in the physician's locker room at the hospital. He planned to try and call Hiro-san after he'd gotten ready, but before he started his rounds. He had just put his bag away and was donning his white smock when the evening's first strong wave of nausea hit him. He leaned heavily against his locker, closed his eyes, and took a few deep breaths.
He had started experiencing uneasy sensations in his stomach earlier, as he was making his way out of the train station on his way to the hospital. At first Nowaki had hoped it was just because he was feeling rather upset again.
As he'd been leaving the platform, he had seen a young family seated on one of the benches in the station. It was a couple, man and woman, and they had a small infant with them. The woman was cradling the baby in her arms and her partner had been leaning in, tickling the child playfully as he adjusted the blankets around its small face. Then, as the young woman was looking down saying something to the baby who was gazing attentively up at her, the man had sat back, intently watching his female partner and their child.
What had affected Nowaki the most deeply about this scene was the expression on the man's face as his gaze traveled between woman and infant. There was the most amazing look in his eyes: it was a combination of great joy, pride, and gratitude.
Nowaki had felt his chest constrict as he considered the young man and his small family. He wondered when their babies came, if it would ever be possible for Hiroki to look at him and their children like that.
"Hey, Nowaki!"
Tsumori's voice cut into Nowaki's reverie. He looked up and smiled weakly at Tsumori, who had just entered the locker room. Nowaki noticed, however, that the usual playful smirk was absent from the blond's face. In fact, Tsumori looked downright irritated.
"Senpai, is everything okay?" Nowaki was disturbed by his friend's unusual countenance.
"I could ask you the same thing, Kusama." Tsumori's face grew even more serious.
"I don't understand what you mean, Senpai?" At Tsumori's change in address Nowaki suddenly felt nervous as well as nauseated.
Tsumori reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. He scrolled through the screens and then passed it over.
"The nurses at the pediatrics' desk had this up on the screen and were all aflutter."
Nowaki took it and gazed down at the small picture on the display. It was from an entertainment website. The image showed Shuichi Shindou and Eiri Yuki leaving the Flu clinic, but even this small; one could still make out Hiroki and him clearly, behind the pop stars.
"Would you like me to tell you what the article says?" Tsumori asked.
Nowaki shook his head, but this did not dissuade the older doctor from pressing on.
"Most of the article is about the rock star and the author." Tsumori's voice was angry. "But there is this interesting little snippet about Dr. Kusama Nowaki, attending physician to Japan's first reported case of the Uke Flu and his partner, scholar and author of The Beautiful Way, Kamijou Hiroki. Are they friends with the pop stars? Is Dr. Kusama attending Shindou? Or has the celebrity doctor's partner come down with the Flu?
"Which is it, Nowaki? Inquiring minds want to know?"
"Senpai, why are you so upset about this?" The picture of he and Hiro-san left him feeling dizzy on top of everything else.
"You said he had taken the vaccine, Nowaki!" There was a strange desperation in Tsumori's voice.
"Well, he didn't." Nowaki said simply. He didn't want to get into the details with his friend and this was the most basic truth.
"I just..." Tsumori started and then stopped, he looked at Nowaki. Nowaki was surprised to see the emotions battling for control in his senpai's eyes.
"Look, Nowaki, I know this isn't my place, but I've known you for years now and I just don't think Kamijou treats you right." Tsumori's voice was filled with frustration.
"And now you're going to be stuck with him: I know how honorable you are…" Tsumori stepped up closer to Nowaki. Nowaki's eyes widened when Tsumori reached one hand out and gently brushed the side of his check.
"Nowaki, I wish you would leave him. There are a lot of men out there who would be honored to have you as their partner. Who would do anything they could to make you happy… I would do anything to make you happy." For once Tsumori didn't look to be kidding. Nowaki was so shocked by the naked affection in Tsumori's expression he couldn't move.
Tsumori leaned in.
It was obvious to Nowaki his senpai was going to try and kiss him. Just then, the next wave of nausea rocked him. This time the sensation was much more powerful. So strong in fact, it gave Nowaki back his ability to move. He put one large hand on Tsumori's chest and pushed. Not violently, but still powerfully enough to send the other man stumbling back into the lockers.
Nowaki made a beeline for the small bathroom in the locker room and barely made it to the toilet before promptly losing everything that he'd eaten before leaving home.
Though he was alarmed, Tsumori, as was his way, quickly regained his composure. He was soon standing, leaning against the open door frame of the bathroom. His eyes were filled with concern. When Nowaki had finished heaving, he looked up at Tsumori with a pained expression on his face. Tsumori grinned uneasily back at Nowaki and despite the tension attempted to joke.
"Come on, Kusama, the idea of my kissing you couldn't really have been that revolting to you now, could it?"
Then suddenly the blond's eyes widened and his jaw dropped. Seeing Nowaki there like that, after having been paying close attention to all the subtle shifts in the man over the last few months, as a physician, instantly everything fell into place.
"No fucking way…"
Nowaki wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and struggled to his feet. He stood up, quickly washed his hands, and went back out in to the locker room. Tsumori followed.
"How could I not have seen it before?" Tsumori's tone was still incredulous. "It's not Kamijou you went to the clinic for, it was for you wasn't it, Nowaki?" Nowaki pulled the small toiletry bag he kept in his locker from its depths and took out a toothbrush and paste.
"I don't have any idea what you're talking about, Senpai," he replied flatly, pushing past the other doctor once again, only this time at a much more casual pace. He stepped in to the bathroom turned on the sink, and wet his toothbrush.
Tsumori stood in the door frame again, saying nothing, but his keen physician's sight took in everything about the man in front of him. After a few moments he sighed.
"I still can't believe it, Nowaki… I mean how in the hell?"
Nowaki spit into the sink and rinsed his mouth. He regarded the blond behind him in the reflection of the small mirror over the basin. His eyes were anguished.
"You were right earlier, Senpai." Nowaki looked down again as he rinsed out his toothbrush, washed his hands again, and turned off the tap.
"What?" Tsumori looked confused. Nowaki moved back to his locker.
"It isn't your place to make comments about my relationship with Kamijou-san and I ask you respectfully to keep any thoughts you have about what might be going on within it to yourself from here on out." Nowaki punctuated this firm request by closing the door to his locker a bit harder than he needed to.
"Nowaki, look I'm sorry," Tsumori stepped closer to his kouhai again and then stopped sadly, watching as Nowaki stepped back.
"My timing for this is so shitty. It's just… I've been waiting so long for you to notice and you never have…" For once, Tsumori suddenly seemed at a loss for words.
Nowaki stared at the man standing miserably in front of him. Whether it was the earlier fight with Hiro-san, the hormones, the residual morning sickness, or the implications of Tsumori's failed confession, he didn't know but he felt his eyes suddenly fill with tears again. His long form unexpectedly folded as he slid to the floor. Nowaki covered his face with one large hand.
"Your timing is shitty, Senpai... My situation is kind of complex at the moment and I could have really used a friend right now," he said miserably. After sitting like this a moment, Nowaki was surprised to feel a warm arm stretch over the back of his shoulder as Tsumori sat down alongside him. Rather than shake it off, Nowaki just sat there keeping his face hidden in his hand.
"Come on, Nowaki… I meant what I said when I told you I would do anything to make you happy, and if that means just being your friend so be it." Tsumori's usually confident voice sounded almost fearful as he said this. Nowaki removed his hand and looked over at his senpai; Tsumori's eyes were clear and earnest.
"Everything is just kind of kind of messed up right now." Nowaki sighed sadly, resuming his previous posture, closing his eyes behind the cover of his hand. Tsumori awkwardly pulled Nowaki towards him and wrapped his other arm around him.
"It will all work out, Nowaki," he assured. He sat holding Nowaki silently for a time. Then at last Tsumori drew a deep breath.
"How far along are you?"
"Nine weeks."
"And Kamijou knows?"
Nowaki nodded, not looking up.
"Well, I'm glad I know this, so now I can get rid of this ridiculous idea of us ever getting together," Tsumori said lightly.
"It would have never worked anyway." Tsumori dropped his voice conspiratorially. "You see, though I'm bi, I'm an uke too." At this admission Nowaki's head shot up, he regarded his senpai with undisguised shock. Tsumori chuckled at this a bit.
"But, Senpai, I'm not an u…"
Nowaki's voice trailed off and his eyes grew even wider. Tsumori loosened his grip on the man in his arms just slightly and followed Nowaki's gaze over to the locker room door.
There standing in the entrance looking at Tsumori holding his giant was Hiroki.
NEW AN:
Usigh, thank you for the review. I know what it is to be reading FF when I should be attending to class matters. Heh.
Lion Fish 13, I am glad you're getting greedy for this story. I am feeling the same way about your feedback. I appreciated your comments on Hiroki. And I think I owe you a few reviews too. I love your piece about Hiroki losing at scrabble to Miyagi. Still haven't read the Shinobu one, but I will.
Roocie, your impatience tickles me. And thank you for helping me reach my goal of 1000 reviews for this fic.
Ashley T, glad to have you back even if seven chapters have passed. I am glad you like the interaction in that chapter. I wanted it to be sweet but not saccharine. I like your thought about Misaki meeting Shuichi. I'll have to put my brain to work on that one. I had planned for the Gravitation couple to pop up in the future…
33, I thought it would be a nice canon reference for Nowaki to write a note and not give it to Hiroki. Some guys never learn… Glad you're happy with all the posts. It's a good way to pass the time when one feels unwell.
FujoshiNinjaNumber6, If you had a bad feeling before, how are you doing now?
Uchiha Riddle, Thank you for you kind words. I feel blessed to have such loyal readers. How do you like this new twist?
Clobojojo, happy to blow up your phone, demolition is a secret pleasure of mine. Heh.
Ashurikun, thank you, darlin'.
Silent Stare, keep reading because Romantica will show up again before too long.
OLD AN:
Technotonic, sokashi, Katsutoshi96, Tseli, kasugami-chan, Tsun Berrykinz: Thanks for adding this story to your favorites/alerts. I hope you consider dropping a review sometime,
Miss Mysty, Sergeant Dreamer, Teabags, TuffCookie1877, X, Thank you all for the reviews, they make my day and I really appreciate the comments.
As always, I'd love to hear from anyone with comments or feedback.
Sincerely,
Cerberus