OLD AN: So one of my lovely reader's said in a review that today was her/his 21st birthday. So dear Kasugami-chan, I dedicate this chapter to you. Hope your own party was filled with as much chaotic fun as this. Have an awesome 21st year!

Cerberus

The Uke Flu

Chapter Forty-three: Dinner Party Part I

Table Talk

At Yokozawa's announcement the balcony crew moved back into the apartment. Hiyori and Keito were already seated at the table.

"Look, Papa!" Hiyo waved a small card that had been set next to her plate. "I get to sit at the grownups' table. It even says so right here!"

"Is that so?" Kirishima's keen eyes traveled over the table and located his own placard. "Are you going to be okay sitting there by yourself?"

"I'm not by myself papa; you're so silly!" Hiyori giggled. "I'm sitting with Keito-san." Beside Hiyori, Keito lifted his eyes timidly to meet Kirishima's gaze.

"Ahh, how is it I didn't notice that? Please forgive me, Keito-san," Kirishima offered with a light laugh, drawing a blush from the shy boy. Hiroki moved over beside Kirishima and picked up the card that had his name on it. He was suddenly overwhelmed with flashbacks from his childhood of interminable society events.

"What the hell is this, Nowaki?" he muttered as Nowaki moved past him to set a steaming dish on the table.

"Oh, Yukina-san made those," Nowaki supplied cheerfully. "He and I thought it would be good for people to be kind of shuffled. Otherwise you just end up siting with the person you already spend most of your time with."

"What's wrong with that, Yukina?" Kisa glared at his giant, noting with mounting dread that he'd been seated right next to Yokozawa. Seeing the beatific smile Yukina shot him, the editor suddenly had no doubt his ever "helpful" boyfriend had set him next to Yokozawa on purpose. Yukina added another dish to the already packed table.

"Kisa-san, I think it's good to get to know other people."

Serizawa took his seat quietly. While normally he might feel worried about Keito, with Hiyori on one side and Yukina on the other, he knew his boyfriend would have no problems.

"Do you need any help, Nowaki?" Hiroki set the matter of the name cards aside, he had been feeling guilty since it seemed that all the kitchen duties had somehow fallen to the pregnant semukes.

"No, Hiro-san, I think we've got it. Thank you though." Nowaki smiled.

Hiroki frowned at this, but said nothing. He looked again at where Nowaki and Yukina had sat him and was disconcerted to find himself at the head of the table. Keito was seated at the other end. As big as the teen was, it was the best place for him. He could move more easily here and it also provided more room for his huge belly.

Nowaki had put the two leaves they never used into the table so that it would be large enough to accommodate everyone else at its sides. Hiroki noticed how nice everything looked and made a mental note to himself to be sure and compliment Nowaki later. Looking over at his giant, he observed his lover was absolutely beaming.

Thinking about Nowaki's hard childhood, Hiroki found himself wondering how often the younger man had envisioned similar scenarios growing up: a table flush with food and surrounded by friends and family. As Nowaki sat down, he looked up and caught Hiroki's eye. The professor allowed his usually fierce expression to soften just a bit and his gaze to linger before giving Nowaki a slight nod, which only increased the younger man's glow.

The rest of the group moved in, located their seats, and sat down. Once everyone was situated they performed the usual quick blessing. As food started being passed around, other than polite comments on how wonderful everything looked and smelled, the table fell relatively quiet. After a bit, little patches of conversation began to occur as everyone got further acquainted.

From his place at the table, Kisa watched feeling a mixture of pride and envy as Yukina easily fell into conversation with everyone around him. His sparkly giant had a lively conversation with Keito who was sitting at Yukina's right. The two young men spoke amicably about University life and made humorous complaints about faculty and classes.

Keito's seemingly perpetual blush deepened each time he spoke but it was obvious that with Yukina's easy manner, the usually awkward teen was quickly becoming more comfortable.

Yukina also exchanged small talk with Yokozawa about sales at Marimo until Kirishima interrupted and began chiding Yokozawa in a teasing tone about leaving business at the office and enjoying the evening.

This didn't seem to faze Yukina at all; the cinnamon seme just then immediately shifted his attentions to Hiyori who was sitting directly across from him. The little girl promised to put Yukina's unruly hair into a special scrunchy after dinner and in return Yukina offered to draw with Hiyori if there was time.

Kisa looked surreptitiously to his left where Yokozawa was seated. Yokozawa seemed to be still sulking after receiving Kirishima's gentle reprimand. Unfortunately for Kisa, the man glanced over at just the right time to catch the brown-eyed editor scrutinizing him.

Yokozawa surprised Kisa by asking, "So, how are things going in Emerald? I hear your department has really been slammed lately." Kisa felt himself blush at the question. He tried to be careful with his response, knowing that his boss, Takano, and Yokozawa were friends as well as colleagues.

"Ah… It's getting better now," Kisa stammered. "But it was hard when Onodera-san quit so suddenly and then Takano-san had to leave to take care of his 'sick' family member."

At the mention of Onodera's name, Yokozawa's usual scowl deepened just for a moment. Kisa watched as the salesman's eyes flashed across the table to where Kirishima was sitting before dropping back down to his plate.

"I saw Takano at the office the other day, so maybe things are getting better for his relative," Yokozawa muttered.

"Well, ahh…" Kisa wondered how much Yokozawa knew about what was going on between Takano and Onodera. "He said he'd gotten another relative to relieve him for a few days, but he wouldn't be coming back to work any time soon."

Kisa had, in fact, been increasingly worried about Takano's prolonged absence. He'd been trying to step up as much as he could; putting in a ton of extra hours despite the fact he was constantly concerned about leaving Yukina alone so much in his condition.

It didn't help that the other editors in the department all seemed to be caught up in their own personal dramas at the moment. Mino's "dark side" had been making itself known quite a bit more lately for some reason and the usually overly responsible Hatori could hardly focus these days. The fact that Hatori's best manga-ka had been struck by some kind of serious illness and had all but stopped drawing had only made matters worse.

"I'm sorry, Yokozawa-san, what did you say?" Kisa realized that he'd rudely drifted off while the salesman was talking to him.

Yokozawa frowned at Kisa. He wondered if the man was fishing, as what he'd just said was not the sort of comment he normally would ever make twice. Seeing the look in Kisa's eyes however, Yokozawa determined the absurdly young looking editor really hadn't heard him.

"I said," Yokozawa growled. "Takano told me he's been impressed with how you're doing lately. Of course Hatori would seem the natural choice, but he may be taking some time off soon too, it seems. So Takano mentioned he might suggest they make you his temporary replacement."

"Waaahh... Really?" Kisa's eyes widened in shock. Then he dropped his gaze, a hot blush filling his cheeks.

Kisa found it hard to believe Takano would say such a thing. True, he felt like he was getting a better handle on the office lately, but just a few days before Takano had been on the phone raging at him and telling him if he didn't do better he would "find his ass kicked to the curb."

"I don't know… I don't think I could ever do as well as Takano," Kisa said truthfully. Noting the editor's obvious lack of confidence in himself, Yokozawa was struck with the inclination to be kind.

"Well that's what Takano told me, I couldn't imagine he would say it if he didn't mean it," he snorted. Seeing that this still hadn't helped much Yokozawa added, "I also heard before he left, the sales of your books were up again and that also that one of your artist's books was being turned into an anime. So you must be doing something right."

"Taka," Kirishima spoke from across the table, his tone light and his eyes glinting with pleasure and mischief as he reminded Yokozawa once again. "No business tonight. Remember?"

Kisa was surprised when, rather than issue a sharp response, Yokozawa scowled but looked down silently at his plate. A light blush dusted his strong cheekbones.

Yokozawa's words bolstered Kisa's weary spirits immeasurably. Looking down at Yukina, Kisa suddenly knew that if he was offered the position as Takano's temporary replacement he would take it. He wanted to be able to take care of Yukina and such an opportunity for professional advancement would only help things.

Looking at Yokozawa, who was now silently eating, Kisa suddenly felt bad that he'd always been so fearful of the man. It was obvious from the salesman's face that he was still brooding over Kirishima's comment, that or the use of a nickname in front of missed company. Hearing the dark horse referred to so palyfully as Taka, had stunned Kisa.

Given the strangeness of the evening already on so many fronts, Kisa decided to be brave and open another line of questioning.

"So, Yokozawa-san, I understand you have a cat."

Yokozawa's eyes slid back over to Kisa. The petite editor to somehow managed not to wince under the cool scrutiny of the man's gray eyes.

"Yes, I have a cat," Yokozawa said simply, though at the thought of Sorata, the storm in his gaze lifted slightly.

"How long have you had it?"

"A long time. Since I was in college," Yokozawa murmured, the normal growl of his voice softened just a bit.

"Did you find it or did you get it from a shop?" Kisa asked curiously, working to suppress a small smile. The image of a man like Yokozawa going into a pet store to purchase a kitten struck him as humorous for some reason.

"It was Takano's," Yokozawa disclosed, his expression growing guarded once again. "He found Sorata as a kitten when he was in high school."

Kisa was shocked at this information. He'd known the two men were friends but if Yokozawa had had the cat since college, that meant he'd known Takano much longer than he had ever surmised.

"So if it was Takano's, how was it that you came to have it?" Kisa asked, curiosity outweighing caution though he did not want to push the other's limited patience too far. Both men looked up when across the table, Kirishima suddenly cleared his throat.

"Anyone who doesn't know how to care for such a wonderful and magnificent creature deserved to have it taken from him."

Understanding immediately that Kirishima was speaking about more than just Sorata, Yokozawa blushed noticeably this time.

"I think I left something in the kitchen." Yokozawa suddenly pushed himself away from the table and rising, though with a bit less grace than usual. He shot Kirishima a hard stare, but the chestnut-haired editor just smiled back and winked, leaving Yokozawa blushing deeper and muttering something about "teasing jackasses" on his way to the kitchen.

In the meantime, Hiroki and Serizawa had been discussing the bookstore the young man worked at. It turned out that in addition to his section, Serizawa was well familiar with the rest of the shop's inventory. Hiroki had mentioned a few texts he had been looking for and had been exceedingly pleased to hear that Serizawa was relatively sure that his store had at least two of the titles.

Hiroki blushed when Serizawa disclosed also the store was carrying his book and that the sales had been going incredibly well.

"I read your book, you know," Kirishima interjected from Hiroki's other side.

"Really?"

"Mmmmmmm, Yes." Kirishima was actually a voracious reader. "I thought it was quite good. You know a number of those narratives you relayed would probably make a very good manga series."

Hiroki frowned immediately at the notion of classical texts being reduced to cartoon pages. Kirishima read the professor's disapproval.

"You could think of it as a way to introduce a whole new generation to traditional stories. Who knows, it might even incite one of them to actually pick up a real book."

Kirishima reached into his pocket and pulled out his business cards. He slid one to Hiroki across the table. "As it is same sex, it could go bara, but I think yaoi would be better. I could talk to the chief editor at Sapphire for you if you like."

Hearing the word "Sapphire," and considering it as the point of origin for Akihiko's Junai BL novels, Hiroki's frowned deepened.

"I don't think so." He tried hard to keep the edge of his disapproval and his general Akihiko/Yayoi irritation out of his voice.

"Just think about it. I mean, you're a damn good writer, Kamijou-san." Kirishima's eyes lost their normally sly look and became earnest for a moment. "The way you presented your prose, it was more like reading a novel than an academic text, and I mean that in the most positive way." Kirishima looked like he was about to say something else, but a low growl emanating from the kitchen stopped him.

"Zen, no business."

The Japun editor looked back over his shoulder to see Yokozawa standing there, arms folded across his chest with a slightly satisfied smirk on his face.

"My bad," Kirishima laughed. Then he took a bite of food from his plate. "You know Takafumi, your and Hiyo's curry is as impeccable as usual."

The smirk that had been on Yokozawa's face slipped a bit at the compliment. Kirishima chuckled as Yokozawa turned away and softly sighed, "God damn it."

Hiroki put the business card in his pocket. There was no way in hell he was ever going to get involved in something as base as BL manga. It was bad enough all the humiliation Akihiko had put him through with his stupid novels over the years…

However…

Hiroki's mind suddenly flashed on a series featuring a hapless young samurai named Akihiko, who was always being assaulted by evil lords and opposing clansmen. Or maybe Akihiko would be a perverse and jaded samurai lord, corrupting a much younger man from a family of low standing. The thought of giving Akihiko back just a taste of his own medicine brought a thoughtful furrow to his forehead.

As Hiroki picked up his chopsticks and returned to eating, he decided he might just keep Kirishima's card after all.

Down at the other end of the table, Hiyori was studying Nowaki quite seriously. Sensing the little girl's eyes on him, Nowaki looked down at her and smiled.

"Do I know you from somewhere, Kusama-san?" Hiyo asked curiously, sounding much more grown up than her ten years.

"Have you ever been to the Tokyo KoseiNenkin Hospital?" Nowaki asked.

Hiyori pondered this a moment and then nodded.

"Well I work in the children's ward there, so maybe that's where you saw me."

Hiyori considered this a minute and then her eyes lit up. "You're Doctor Panda! She exclaimed happily.

"Mmmmm…. Yes that's me." Nowaki said, pleased that Hiyori had placed him.

"Papa!" Hiyori clapped her hands, calling to her father who was sitting on the other side of Nowaki. Catching Kirishima's attention, Hiyori burbled. "It's Doctor Panda, Papa! Remember when you took me to the hospital the night I had that fever."

"Ah, of course I do now. Please forgive me Kusama-san for not recognizing you earlier,"

"No worries, Kirishima-san," Nowaki said kindly. "I know when parents bring their children in at times like that things can be a blur for them."

"What fever?" A look of severe concern was on Yokozawa's face as he sat back down at the table. Kirishima noted that Yokozawa apparently hadn't found whatever it was he "forgot" in the kitchen, as he returned to his chair empty-handed.

"Hiyori had a bad fever a few years ago," Kirishima explained. "Before we were together."

"Oh." Yokozawa looked both relived and chagrined. He was glad to know the event had not been recent, but it bothered him for Zen to articulate their status so plainly. Still as he looked around, Yokozawa's noted that no one really seemed to care about Kirishima's declaration, so he allowed himself to relax.

Sitting quietly at his end of the table, Hiroki's keen eyes took in all the small interactions taking place around him. Kirishima was playfully teasing Yokozawa across the table. Kisa was talking quietly with Serizawa about how strange it still was to be "settled" after living "loose" for so long and the two small ukesemes were lamenting how many obnoxious men there were in the world. Not that this had bothered them that much before meeting their partners.

Hiroki suddenly found himself struck with a sense of something profound.

Maybe my family life doesn't have to be a repeat of the past.

Watching all the amicable interactions, seeing the relatively easy manner with which these recent strangers were conversing, was such a far cry from the rigid formality and the unease that had existed as a perpetual state around his family's table growing up.

He was also moved, by the strange sense of community that he felt here. It far different from the collegiality he'd experienced in his professional life; interaction that usually carried so much political posturing. In truth, it was actually kind of refreshing.

Not that I'd want to do this every weekend.

Looking further down the table, Nowaki was entertaining Hiyori with story that made the little girl squeal with laughter. This sound earned soft smiles from half the men at the table and apprehensive winces from the other half. For a moment Hiroki had a vision of Nowaki's and his life a few years in the future. He could see them clearly as a couple with their children, sitting around this table as a family.

The thought brought a new furrow to Hiroki's forehead: despite the news of Nowaki's pregnancy, the idea of a family of his own had never really seemed real to him until this moment. He gazed at Nowaki laughing now with Hiyori and Yukina, Keito shyly smiling on.

In the midst of his laughter, Nowaki happened to look down the table and catch Hiroki's eye for the second time that evening. It was obvious that Hiro-san had been watching him, but for once, his professor didn't blush or look away.

Nowaki smiled at Hiroki and a slightly different smile curled the corners of his mouth as he regarded his partner.

In the midst the friendly banter, unnoticed by their guests, the two men shared an epiphanal moment.

Both were simultaneously and suddenly overwhelmed with the possibilities of what their future held for them and each felt his heart almost break as it was filled with a new and slightly different kind of love for the other.

To be Continued….

NEW AN:

Sorry for no shout outs, but I'd like to get the second part of this chapter up tonight if I can and my guess is that you's like this too...

Thank you all for you kind words and your thoughts. You're all amazing. I am fortunate to have such articulate and generous readers.

OLD AN: "Doctor Panda" was a title for Nowaki I came across in a FF by Maggie Mae from Penny Lane and I liked it so much I borrowed it.

Sorry about the long wait in between updates, if I have my way, the remainder of this chapter will be posted tomorrow.

Thank you for your patience with me and as always… please consider dropping a review. I really love hearing from you!

Cerberus