The Uke Flu
Chapter Forty-two: Tripping
"Kisa-san?"
Kisa's eyes fluttered open. The first thing he saw was his boyfriend's worried face looking down on him. Yukina's anxiety had dimmed his sparkles considerably. Kisa blinked a few times and then turned his head to the side. He saw he was lying on a futon. He blushed deeply when he realized he must be in Kamijou and Kusama's bedroom.
"What happened?" he asked hesitantly.
"Ah… Kisa-san you passed out, so Kirishima-san carried you in here so you could rest. "
"What?" Kisa shouted. He clapped his hand over his mouth when he realized how loud his exclamation was. "I mean, what?" Kisa asked much more softly, growing a deeper shade of red. He was mortified that the chief editor of Japun had carried him.
"Well, I would have done it, but he and Kamijou-san wouldn't let me or any of the other semukes lift you." At the word semukes Kisa's eyes grew wide. He suddenly remembered Yokozawa and the sales manager's swollen belly. He lay back down again, feeling dizzy once more.
The idea that Yokozawa was even remotely yaoi had never crossed his mind before. Kisa was shocked that his usually acute gaydar had failed him, though in reality he spent so much time avoiding the "Dark Horse" it really wasn't surprising. Now, however, the knowledge that not only was Yokozawa into guys, but that he was with the head editor of Japun and that he was pregnant was really overwhelming.
Kisa frowned as he thought about Takano and Ritsu, and then about how close, though adversarial, Takano and Yokozawa had been before Onodera had joined their department. He suddenly wondered if…
But no… There was no way… Was there? He shook his still-spinning head as he tried to dislodge the unpleasant image that had sprung into it: that of Takano and Yokozawa making out.
"Kisa-san are you alright?" Yukina's warm voice was full of concern. Kisa propped himself up on his elbows and frowned as he fought off the slight vertigo that remained.
"Yeah, I'm fine, Yukina. You worry too much," he snapped, dropping his eyes simultaneously. Both men looked up startled, when a gentle knocking was heard at the door. Yukina looked at Kisa who shrugged.
"Come in," Yukina offered. The door cracked open and Nowaki popped his shaggy black head through.
"I hope I'm not disturbing you gentlemen, but I just wanted to make sure that Kisa-san was doing okay after he er, 'tripped'." Nowaki's professional bedside manner automatically kicked in.
"Thank you, Kusama-san," Kisa's blush returned at the doctor's polite euphemism. "But I'm fine, really. I'm sorry for the trouble. Probably just tired, I've been working extra lately."
The fatigue and extra hours were true at least. It seemed like over the last few months Marukawa had been hit with an epidemic of absenteeism and people suddenly quitting. Besides that, he had no idea how much longer Yukina would be able to work. The younger man had already given up his apartment to cut down on expenses and they were now living together full time.
Wearing oversized clothes had kept people from asking questions, though some of Yukina's professors had been very perplexed and not particularly happy when he'd suddenly switched from using oils to acrylics in his paintings. In the last couple weeks however, his condition had become obvious. Despite this, so far Yukina had been lucky and no one at school or work had confronted him, though it was really only a matter of time.
Nowaki's eyes were warm but still concerned as he watched Kisa push himself up off the bed shakily.
"Ah, well, you should be careful about overwork, Kisa-san," he offered kindly.
"I tell Kisa-san that all the time." Yukina managed to rise gracefully from the low level of the futon, despite his swollen belly.
"Well take your time rejoining us if you need to," Nowaki assured. "Dinner is not quite ready yet. I hope you'll feel well enough to stay." He softly closed the door.
Kisa was now standing, staring at the door, rubbing his mildly aching head when two long arms snuck around from behind and embraced him.
"Are you really okay, Kisa-san?" Yukina pulled the smaller man tight against him.
"I said I'm fine!" Kisa growled with embarrassment at his lover's worried tone. He also noticed, as he often had lately, how different Yukina's back hugs felt with his ever-protruding belly.
"Does that mean that we can stay then?" Only someone who knew Yukina well could have picked up the tone of quiet hope that lay just beneath his otherwise casual voice.
Kisa frowned; even pregnant Yukina was still so easy going. He knew that though it was obvious his giant wanted to stay, Yukina would no doubt leave with him agreeably if he said he wanted to. He would probably even remain relatively happy and say something sappy, like "I don't care how we spend our time together, I am just happy to be with you, Kisa-san."
Also, as much as Kisa loathed the idea, he couldn't bear the thought of the face he would lose if he ducked out now. He was sure Yokozawa had guessed why he had fainted and would equally quickly determine why he was leaving. Kisa certainly didn't want to do anything more that might upset the man and make himself a target of Yokozawa's anger, so he decided, as much as he was dreading it, that he and Yukina should stay.
"Yes, we will stay," Kisa mumbled unhappily. Some of his discontentment disappeared however, when one of Yukina's hands rose and tipped his head back and his amiable art student kissed his forehead.
"Thank you, Kisa-san." Yukina's sparkle powers instantly regenerated.
When the two men stepped out of the bedroom, Yukina quickly joined Nowaki and now Yokozawa in the kitchen.
Yokozawa frowned slightly at Yukina's appearance. He thought the tall youth looked familiar but in the excitement of Kisa's fainting, he'd not given it much thought; now however, he suddenly realized he knew the man from one of the bookstores on his route. He'd seen him working on some very creative displays for some Marukawa manga, Kisa's in fact. His brow creased when he suddenly understood why Kisa's sales were so high at that particular store. Not that he would complain about it.
"Again, so much for not knowing anyone here," he grumbled under his breath.
His glare darkened as he shot a look out the sliding glass.
Kirishima, you bastard! Out there having a fucking cigarette! Yokozawa had found that in his pregnancy his sense of smell had become more acute and he caught the scent of the smoke despite the fact the doors were sealed. His lungs suddenly ached for the burn of a drag and one of his dark eyebrows ticked in frustration.
It was bad enough, the man had started smoking again recently, but what was even more maddening was that Kirishima had not let him have a cigarette or a single drink since the moment it had been discovered he was pregnant. And now that Yokozawa was living with him and Hiyori full-time, sneaking such things had become almost impossible.
Through the glass Kirishima shot Yokozawa an apologetic smile that quickly slipped into something more sly when the sales manager scowled back. The way the editor looked at him, sent an electric current straight down Yokozawa's spine and another jolt to his cock.
As if it's not miserable enough that I'm pregnant, but to be so god damn horny all the time too...
Yokozawa grunted in disgust with himself, dropped his eyes and felt his hated flu-induced blush mount in his cheeks. He could feel without seeing, Kirishima's grin widen on the other side of the glass.
Kisa had hung back in the hal after emerging from the bedrooml, reverting to his stalker mode. He noticed Yokozawa's unhappy expression and was amazed by the way it didn't seem to faze either Yukina or Nowaki at all.
In the meantime, Serizawa, worried about his heavily pregnant young seme being on his feet too much, had coaxed Keito out of the kitchen where he was causing more mess than anything and was leading him by the hand over to the couch to sit down.
Keito knew he was fumbling things, he did his best in the kitchen when he and Serizawa cooked together. But he had been rather hesitant to leave the safety of the semuke herd, as Hiyori was perched at one end of the couch quietly digging through the pack Yokozawa had filled for her with all sorts of thing to amuse a little girl during what he'd been told would be an "adults' dinner with some relatives."
Normally Hiyori would have been in the kitchen with him helping, but Yokozawa had been concerned with all the big-footed, big-bellied giants clamoring around in such a relatively small space the little girl might get crushed. So at his order, Hiyori was staying out of the way. She didn't mind too much though: the ten-year-old was busy searching through her things for a special hair scrunchy for Yukina.
Keito, was been apprehensive about getting too close to the girl. His track record with children wasn't so great, or most people for that matter, as his height and somewhat initially fierce countenance tended to frighten most individuals. Hiyori looked up from her hairband quest and watched curiously as the huge bellied youth eased himself down carefully and sighed slightly once he had settled.
In his attempts to get comfortable, Keito had momentarily forgotten Hiyori. Instead he was wondering how he was going to manage another two months of this. Even more so, he had no idea what was he going to do when the babies came: Serizawa didn't make enough at the bookstore to support a family and his parents had offered assistance but only if he stopped seeing the father of his children.
He would have elected for an abortion, but he was five months into the pregnancy before he'd realized what had happened and by then it was too late to be legal. Besides, he'd already felt the babies move before he'd found out about his condition (that was what had originally taken him to the doctor's) so it wasn't like he could pretend they weren't alive and with his soft heart, Keito couldn't imagine killing anything... particularly anything so helpless.
He and Serizawa had been talking about what they were going to do that evening when the call had come in inviting them for dinner. They had accepted the invitation in part because they weren't really reaching any good solutions and both wanted a distraction from the issues facing them. Stoicism had never been Keito's strong point and these thoughts made him feel overwhelmed. Tears gathered in the corners of his eyes.
Hiyori had been studying the giant seated down from her. Living with Yokozawa, she was far less influenced by appearances than most. Any remaining hesitation she might have had disappeared the moment she saw Serizawa run a tender hand through Keito's hair and noticed the single tear trickling down the pregnant youth's cheek.
This was not the first time lately that she'd seen a man cry. She'd caught her papa crying more than once, though he tried skillfully to hide it, when Onii-chan had run away from them. She'd also seen Onii-chan teary-eyed on several occasions since her papa had found him and brought him back. Her papa had told her originally it was because Onii-chan didn't feel well and that she needed to be extra kind to him. When Hiyori had started crying herself because she thought that she might lose Onii-chan like her mama, because he was ill, that was when her papa had told her about the baby.
Hiyori was delighted that she was going to have a little brother. She only wished Onii-chan was happier about it. But her papa had told her they needed to be patient with Onii-chan: it was a lot of changes becoming a daddy and that she needed to just keep being herself to show Onii-chan how wonderful children were. Hiyori had snorted at this at the time, because as far as she was concerned Yokozawa was already a daddy… Hers. Besides, she was sure Onii-chan knew children, even better than her papa did, though she felt a bit bad for thinking this.
Hiyori scooched a little bit closer to Keito, dragging her pack behind her. "Hi, I'm Kirishima Hiyori, but you can call me Hiyori if you want," she offered cheerfully.
Keito looked at Hiyori with a stunned expression, amazed that she would so easily approach him. He brushed the tear from his eye and offered her a slight smile.
"You can call me Keito," he replied shyly. Then he added, "I like your pack; it's cute." Hiyori turned her pack over thoughtfully. It was black and white and shaped like a cat face.
"Do you like cats?" Before Keito could answer she immediately began bubbling on in her Hiyori way.
"I love them. Onii-chan and I picked it out because it looked like Sorata," she said proudly.
"Who's Sorata?" Serizawa had perched himself on the arm of the sofa and was now holding Keito's hand.
"Sorata is Onii-chan's cat, well now he's our family cat," Hiyori said delightedly.
Keito smiled a bit bigger. "I love kittens."
"Me too! Their soooo cute… just like Onii-chan, papa says!"
From where he was lurking in the hallway, Kisa was surprised to hear that someone like Yokozawa would have even have a pet.
I must be "tripping again." I swear I just heard the "Dark Horse" of Marukawa being compared to a kitten.
Kisa glanced over to the kitchen where Yokozawa was stirring the curry he'd made. Apparently the "Dark Horse" had heard the comment too. Seme senses aside, Yokozawa's ears had long become acutely attuned to the sound of Hiyori's voice. His face took on a serious frown at Hiyori's words. Then Kisa watched in amazement as the stern salesman's expression eventually softened, however, the longer his gazed lingered on the little girl.
Then from behind Yokozawa, Yukina asked a question. Kisa watched as Yokozawa's trademark frown returned before he turned to answer.
Peeking out into the main room Kisa saw Kamijou and Kirishima now engaged in conversation out on the balcony. He made a beeline for the sliding glass doors before Yokozawa turned round again.
Now that Hiyori was talking to Keito in such a friendly manner, Serizawa offered, "You know Keito-kun saved some kittens once."
"You did?" Hiyori's big eyes widened with admiration.
"You should tell her the story, Keito-kun." Serizawa gave his sweet giant's hand a reassuring squeeze.
"Yes please, Keito-san," Hiyori chirped.
Keito began to shyly offer Hiyori his halting story about the box of kittens in the rain he'd found when he first met Seri-san and how the bookstore clerk had helped him save them. He blushed pleasurably as Hiyori asked dozens of bright and frivolous questions as his hesitant narrative unfolded. Seeing that his fragile lover was in very apt hands, Serizawa stood up from the sofa and drifted out onto the patio where the rest of the uksemes had gathered.
Kirishima had gone out on the balcony to smoke and because he was an absolute disaster in the kitchen. Hiroki had joined him because all the people in the apartment, as nice as they were, were making him nervous and by coming out to talk with Kirishima he could still pretend he was being a good host. Kisa had appeared, because it was the farthest away he could physically get from Yokozawa. He was surprised however, to find himself rather quickly drawn into the ongoing conversation.
By the time Serizawa joined the others out on the balcony they were engaged in a remarkably candid discussion on the particularities of their peculiar ukseme/semuke status and their partner's conditions.
Hiroki had just finished mentioning something he'd recently read about how devastating third stage flu was physically for some ukes initially.
"Well, I've seen a few ukes that have had it, Kamijou-san." Kisa was thinking about staff he knew from Marukawa that had gotten it. "but Yukina hasn't seemed to be anything like them. He was sick for a while and more tired than usual. But then I'm often tired from work myself... it was kind of nice when he slowed down a little."
Normally he wouldn't have spoken so plainly, but there was a certain relief in being able to share with other men who were in a similar situation. "Yukina is always so easy going," Kisa admitted blushing; hating that when he said this it almost sounded like a complaint. "So I was actually relieved at first when he started acting a little moody."
Thinking over the dramatics of the last few weeks, Hiroki nodded, understanding perfectly what the other man was saying.
"Nowaki's case is similar, I think. What about you, Serizawa-san?" Serizawa blushed.
"Well, you know…" He looked at Keito sitting on the couch with Hiyori. The little girl was showing him the books Yokozawa had packed for her to read. "Um… Keito-kun isn't your average seme." Seeing the questioning looks from the other men he explained.
"Well he's actually quite tender; he has this really domestic side that's coming up the longer were together; and he loves sweet, fluffy, sparkly things." Serizawa could see that a number of his points were resounding with the other men on the patio.
"Um, and he gets kind of emotional sometimes." Again there was a ripple of nods as the other three conversants considered the occasional tempers of their partners.
"I mean, like, he cries… a lot…"
"Oh," the other three men replied almost in unison and shifted uncomfortably. Male tears, particularly a semes were not really generally a socially acceptable subject. Serizawa blushed further at his seme's obvious difference.
"Yeah… so he was sick a bit and then cried a lot more than usual, but that about it."
After these confessions the three obvious ukes looked over at Kirishima. The editor looked up and watched his lover through the glass. Yokozawa's dark personality was even more emphasized juxtaposed with the two sparklers in the kitchen with him. Kirishima's usually sly, playful manner faded momentarily.
"I don't think the physical stuff has been really that bad for Takafumi, but the mental aspect has been very hard for him," he said this around his nearly gone cigarette.
"You know he has a very caring side. I think he's worked very hard most of his life to hide this thinking that it's unmanly... And getting this condition…."
His eyes moved back over at the three ukes who were looking back and forth between the seemingly seme pairing. Kisa in particular was looking very perplexed. "Caring" was again never a word he would have associated with Yokozawa.
"Besides, we both came down with the flu at the same time, though we didn't admit to each other that we thought we might have it until after the fact. So I think Takafumi might have a few hard feelings that he was the one who made third stage." Kirishima remembered in particular the fact that Yokozawa had asked him to wear a condom. Unfortunately, not only had he not worn one, but he'd also not pulled out after he'd promised to. Of course there was a part of Kirishima that understood this scenario had happened between them so often, he'd believed by then it was a part of their particular dance of intimacy. Who knew, however, what the consequences of it that time would be?
The first month they'd known had been terribly hard on all three members of their small family. Yokozawa, seriously in denial, had been a few weeks past the first trimester when his condition had been discovered.
While thing were getting better now, Kirishima knew at times Yokozawa was still furious with him. The Japun editor pulled another cigarette from his pack after stubbing out the one he'd just finished. He was doing all he could to support his lover, but the stress of things had been getting to him of late. Then considering Takafumi's fury about having to be smokee free, Kirishima thought the better of this action and slipped it back into the pack.
"We just didn't know what it was at first, both of us feeling under the weather, a few months prior. I mean neither of us, versatile as we are, thought we could catch it." Kirishima explained. "I told Yokozawa I'd carry our next child... However, somehow that hasn't seemed to console him too much." Kirishima offered this information nonchalantly, ignoring the popped eyes and dropped jaws of the three ukes.
Kisa, blushed deeply at the thought of Kirishima pregnant. He himself had gone out and gotten the vaccine the minute it was available in Japan. Yukina, as usual, hadn't complained at all about his decision, for which the editorial uke was incredibly grateful. Kisa didn't think Yukina would mind what he said next as his seme was much more comfortable with their same sex pairing around others than he usually was himself, despite the fact he was so much older.
"I didn't think any semes could catch it." Kisa's dark brown eyes were huge as he looked at Hiroki and shrugged. "But Yukina had a patch of illness earlier and then one drunken night and one curious college kid who suddenly wanted to explore what it was like to be on the receiving end. He liked it and so we started, uh…" Kisa's blush deepened at what he was saying. He actually liked to top, but so many of the men he'd been with just naturally expected him to take the bottom because they thought he was so young and with height rule prevailing, so small.
"Well, anyways... a few months later, here we are."
Serizawa nodded at Kisa's scenario. "Same with me. Well Keito doesn't really drink, but he's always so worried about hurting me he wanted to feel what it was like for himself, so he would know how it was. Er... Keito-kun hadn't had a lot of experience before we met." Serizawa's already pink cheeks darkened too. "I mean, like any..." Kisa nodded in understanding.
"I was Yukina's first." He dropped his eyes. "Man, I mean." The petite editor passed the conversational baton over to Hiroki.
Hiroki felt his own face grow hot. Rather than speak, which would certainly only exacerbate this, he looked awkwardly down at the ground and simply nodded. He had been Nowaki's first as well. He lifted his head then and gazed at the other two ukes, avoiding eye contact with Kirishima. He felt, however after how frank the others had been he should at least offer some comparable disclosure.
"We've been together a long time, so we've been known to change it up occasionally." This earned him curious stares from all the balcony's other occupants. Hiroki shifted uncomfortably, wondering when the damn dinner would be served. He suddenly wished he was back inside.
"We're having a commitment ceremony in a few months," he added cautiously.
"We were going to have our commitment ceremony here and then fly to New York to get officially married afterwards." He continued "After almost nine years together it seemed like the right thing to do." Watching Nowaki setting things on the table through the glass, Hiroki allowed a light sigh to escape him.
"Of course now that's not going to happen. Nowaki won't be able to safely travel in his condition and there's no way in hell I am flying with babies."
When Hiroki concluded this rare offering of personal information, Serizawa still looked curious, Kisa slightly horrified, and Kirishima mildly jealous. Hiroki desperately wanted to change the subject away from the uncomfortable terrain of relationships .
Serizawa, however, was not quite ready to give up the thread. "What about Yokozawa-san?"
Kirishima knew that young book clerk was returning to the issue of prior experience. He looked over and saw Yokozawa coming their direction and decided rather than open that particular can of worms at the moment, he would follow Kamijou's lead and take a more discretionary route. He smiled politely at the three smaller men who were now waiting for his answer and said mildly: "no comment."
A split second later the door slid open. Kisa almost jumped off the balcony when he heard Yokozawa growling voice behind him.
"Dinner is ready gentlemen."
NEW AN: What a splendid bunch of readers I have.
Uesugiluva, Thanks for stalking! I am glad you're enjoying the story so much. And yes, awkward may be the word for the day here.
Meggels, So great to see your name pop up dear. Glad you're finding it good still your second time through. An yes, Trifecta and Egoist are my favorite. Though I have to say I have also recently read Henshin Dekanai, an offshoot of Okane ga Nai and I have another favorite new couple there too. Try it out. You might like it.
Sakurayuri89, thank you. Hope it meets your expectations.
Kaorixra,Esta es la siguiente parte de azúcar para los golosos. Me alegra que te guste ver todas estas parejas juntas. Es muy divertido de escribir. Más por venir pronto.
Gothpandaotaku, glad you like the banter. I highly recommend the Trifecta novels and any Yokozawa chapters. It's such a great pairing for so many reasons and Yokozawa is a wonderful character. He has a lot in common with Hiroki, I think. And "Cafe Latte Rhapsody" is a sweet little story. There are a few very nice FF's for that Manga too on this site. Seme Sparkles to you!
Asdfghjklove, Always such a pleasure to see your name in my reviews. I don't know if I thanked you properly before for the wonderful note you sent leting me know you were following along again, but it was very appreciated. You always make such great comments.
JaniceP, I always want to try and retain the core of a character, even in an AU. Thank you so much for letting me know you think I'm on track. Yes, I know that feeling of wanting to read more. Glad you enjoyed yesterday's rush.
Silentstare, glad to make your weekend brighter. With regards to your question, I don't know. But you have definitely given me some ideas with your comment. *rubs hands and makes evil plans for the squeequel*
Fujoshininjanumber6, tripping uke circuits seems to be happening with some frequency in this story, huh? Heh Heh.
Lionfish13, Yes, I think there will be a lot of secrets after this dinner, at least for a bit. To answer your question... Yep, there will be a serving of "Mistake" in this epidemic somewhere... undoubtedly. And do check out CLR, as I told Gothpandaotaku, it's a sweet manga, not my usual cup of tea, but fun, nonetheless.
Spellbound Wallflower, pacing is always a tricky thing. So I am glad to hear you think it's progressing okay. I know my first time through, some readers got annoyed because it wasn't pure JR. But now SIH is so much more established and many know both. So this makes it nice. I will do my best to hold your interest. I know I shouted out at you before, but not so in depth...Your three-headed friend.
OLD AN: Okay all no artist notes today… Trying to get several chapters up this weekend.
I do want to thank you for all the reviews, however, they mean so much.
So I appreciate all you eager Egoists. Next chapter is the last of the dinner party and then were back to your favorite couple. Also, thank you for the suggestions and I do plan to go back over the holiday and write up summaries for the cameo characters so that readers who don't know them can feel okay in the chapters.
Also, if you haven't checked out the Black Flamingo's SIH Uke Flu…Please go do so…It is the most lovely angst.
Happy winter break! And as I said before all I want for Christmas is reviews. Really… I have been a good Dog… well okay; if I have been naughty… it's been in the best ways possible.