The Uke Flu
Chapter Forty-seven: The Last Supper
Miyagi looked at Hiroki. He rubbed the back of his head and sighed at the question. He wasn't quite sure where to start. Miyagi cast his mind back over the events of the weekend.
Saturday he and Shinobu had headed to the Takatsuki estate for dinner.
Miyagi drove them in his car. He was concerned about trying to take Shinobu on the train: ever since the day he had fucked his "Flu-ed" uke, Shinobu had been feeling increasingly queasy.
Shinobu had mentioned feeling funny almost immediately after their "coming together," as it were. Unfortunately Miyagi made the mistake of dismissing the young man's assertions as over-reactive. Because of this, ever since then Shinobu had been trying to keep his increasing discomforts to himself. Miyagi, however, wasn't fooled in the least.
The ride was quiet as both were lost in their own thoughts, uneasy about what to expect from Shinobu's parents when they made their disclosures. It was disconcerting to Shinobu to see how truly anxious his generally unflappable lover was. Miyagi was so tense Shinobu finally opened the glove box, pulled out an open pack of cigarettes, and held it out.
"What's this?" Miyagi's brow rose in surprise. Shinobu had been trying to get him to quit unsuccessfully for three years now.
"I'm tired of watching you fidget," Shinobu snapped. Seeing Miyagi's jittering just made him feel even more exhausted than he already was. Miyagi looked at the pack longingly for a moment.
"Put them away, Shu."
"What? Why?"
As they were stopped at a light, Miyagi turned to Shinobu. "Because if you really are pregnant, Brat, the last thing you need is to be breathing my smoke."
Shinobu looked down at his lean belly and blushed. He was overwhelmed by the possibility.
"Do you really think I could be, Miyagi?"
"Stranger things have happened," Miyagi said simply, turning away from Shinobu's huge, dark gray eyes reluctantly and focusing back on the road.
"Like what?" Shinobu snorted.
"Well, like my falling in love with you in the first place, for one." Miyagi kept his eyes straight ahead as he said this, but a tender smile played across his lips and he dropped one hand down off the wheel and reached out.
"There is that, I guess." Shinobu allowed a half-smile to break his usually serious countenance. He took Miyagi's hand quietly and gave it a tender squeeze. After holding on for a moment he observed: "Miyagi, your hand is really sweaty."
"I'm nervous okay!" Miyagi tried to pull his hand away, but Shinobu held it tight.
"I don't remember you being this nervous about any of this marriage stuff with my sister." A frown creased Shinobu's handsome brow.
"Well, your sister wasn't seventeen years my junior or the same sex," Miyagi muttered. Then he quickly glanced at Shinobu. His dark blue eyes were full of emotions his face refused to acknowledge. He said softly, "Besides that, I didn't love her."
Shinobu blushed hotly at this declaration and looked away. His engagement-ringed hand stroked the back of Miyagi's gently; his trademark scowl was less furious and more apprehensive.
"Should we say anything about the possible baby?"
"Let's just get through the 'I want to take your son's hand in marriage' thing first. Okay, Shinobu?" Miyagi's mouth twisted in an uneasy grin. Seeing the fear in his younger lover's eyes, Miyagi slipped his hand out of Shinobu's and gently tousled his blond hair. It was an action he did seldom these days and though neither would admit it, both of them missed it.
"I'm sure everything will be fine."
Shinobu nodded silently in response, though in their hearts neither fully believed this.
Miyagi and Shinobu slipped out of their shoes and were sliding into their guest slippers in the formal entry of the Takatsuki's European-influenced abode when the lady Takatsuki appeared. She waved off the staff who had taken the two men's light jackets.
"Bu-chan!" she greeted eyes twinkling, pleased to see her wayward son. "You never come home any more. Poor Miyagi-san, having to give up his time to drag you to your home," she scolded. She offered Miyagi a beautiful smile after she bowed. With her dark hair and dark gray eyes the lady Takatsuki, though older, was still stunning.
Shinobu rolled his eyes at both the nickname and his mother's chiding.
"Takatsuki-san," Miyagi greeted in return, pulling out one of his suaver tones and offering the woman a respectful bow. "Thank you for having me."
"I'm delighted of course, Miyagi-san. It's always a pleasure," Shinobu's mother burbled as she led the two men into the palatial residence. "I remember when you first visited us here not long after you got hired. You were what? Twenty-six? And my wee Bu-chan was only nine then."
The woman glanced back and crinkled her nose at her son, delighted at the memory. "Remember how you were then, Bu?" the lady Takatsuki whispered loudly. She turned to Miyagi. "You know he talked about nothing else but you for days after that visit."
Both men's cheeks pinked just slightly at this information. Miyagi turned and glanced at Shinobu, his expression upon seeing the young man beside him became serious. Shinobu had only been through the door of his family home for less than five minutes and Miyagi noted that his boy already had both hands shoved deep into his trouser pockets and had automatically resumed that teenage stalker slouch he had worked so hard to rid him of.
"Oi, Shinobu." Miyagi nodded at him. Shinobu sighed and straightened, though he suddenly looked much more weary.
"Oh, by the way, Miyagi-san," the lady Takatsuki fluttered. "Ri-chan was on her own this weekend. She's been on her own now actually for some time actually." Shinobu's mother smiled slyly as she said this. "So I invited her for dinner too… I hope you don't mind."
Both Miyagi and Shinobu faltered in their steps at this news. It was no secret that despite her daughter's disgrace, even after all these years, the Lady Takatsuki longed for some form of reconciliation between Risako and one of her husband's star scholars.
This was just one of the reasons Shinobu came home to visit so rarely.
"Ummmm, that's fine. I it will be nice to see Risako again," Miyagi lied. He didn't even have to turn his head to feel the furious glare Shinobu aimed at him.
"Oh that's wonderful, Miyagi-san. You've always been such a gracious man
"So when is she coming?" Miyagi had been hoping to have their conversation with Shinobu's parents after dinner, but there was no way he'd want to open up this discussion with his ex-wife in the room. He wondered if there was some way he could catch the Dean and his wife before Risako showed up.
Shinobu's mother blushed. Miyagi felt his own cheeks heat up when he found himself thinking the pink glow, while charming on the mother, looked way cuter on her son.
"Oh, my. I'm afraid you caught me, Miyagi-san." Takatsuki-san giggled like a school-girl, "She's already here." She opened the heavy wooden door to the lounge where Miyagi registered Risako sitting, chatting quietly with her father.
Risako looked up from the glass of wine she'd been gesturing with. Seeing the glass of wine, Miyagi sighed to himself at the Takatsuki's Western sensibilities. Risako faltered momentarily before she offered Miyagi a small, guarded smile.
"Yoh…" She stood to bow in greeting.
"Risako, Dean Takatsuki," Miyagi acknowledged, returning the bow.
"Father, Nee-san." Shinobu's greeting tone to his father was cordial and respectful, this slipped a bit when he addressed Risako. Not catching this shift, Shinobu earned a pleased smile from his father. Risako, however, heard her brother's tones quite clearly and her eyes narrowed.
"Ah, this is so nice. Isn't it?" the lady Takatsuki exclaimed. "Just like old times…" Risako and Shinobu both looked at their mother and rolled their eyes in stereo before turning to glare at each other.
Miyagi grinned nervously looking between the two Takatsuki offspring, knowing instantly was going to be an interminable evening.
The lady Takatsuki looked at her daughter. "Ri-chan, why don't you get something for Miyagi-san to drink?" Her voice was slightly scolding. "What can my inconsiderate daughter get for you, Miyagi-san?" While he would have loved to have something hard to relax him, Miyagi knew that tonight he needed, more than ever, to keep his head about him.
"Uh, just a glass of wine would be great. Thank you so much, Risako." At Miyagi's words, Risako's countenance darkened. She stared at her mother.
"Your inconsiderate daughter just got off working over-time from her new executive position at Usami Corp and for that reason, she doesn't feel like waiting on her ex-husband," she hissed; the anger in her voice was barely contained.
"Risako!" the lady Takatsuki gasped. "How can you be so rude to our guest?"
"Your invitation was not transparent regarding the circumstances of tonight's dinner," Risako said coolly. She resented her mother's perpetual meddling into her love life.
"Where are your manners? You're my daughter and I expect you to behave as such, Risako!" The stern tones of the Dean interrupted the conversation. At her father's harsh tone, the veneer of the career woman slipped, and beneath its hard polish, the glimpse of a bruised girl flickered.
"Yes, Father," Risako answered contritely. Before she could move to go to the bar, however, Shinobu jumped in.
"Nee-san, you can stay where you are; I'm happy to get it." While he rather liked seeing Risako humiliated, if anyone here was going to cater to Miyagi it was going to be him.
All four of the adults looked at Shinobu with mild astonishment. He ignored their looks and moved over to the bar.
"Would anyone else like anything?
"Father?"
"Maybe a bit more wine, Shinobu. If it's not too much trouble?" The elder Takatsuki forwarded uncomfortably.
Shinobu nodded at this and set about preparing the drinks. As he did he noticed the groove on his finger, where the ring he'd worn ever since Miyagi had proposed to him was missing. Miyagi had made him take it off before they entered the home, to avoid any unnecessary questions arising until he was ready for them.
Shinobu brought the wine over and presented it to his father and Miyagi.
The Dean looked at his son curiously. "Just soda water, Shinobu?" He nodded at Shinobu's glass. "I thought now that you were twenty, you'd be showing a healthy thirst for something harder." The senior Takatsuki had caught his son stealing liquor on more than one occasion when Shinobu had still been living at home. Though what he didn't know was that Shinobu was usually drinking as a means of dulling the pain of his love for Miyagi.
"Ummmm…. I have some considerable studying to do tonight still, Father. I don't want to have my thoughts clouded," Shinobu said quietly.
The Dean looked at his son with an appraising eye.
"Glad to hear it, Shinobu! So nice to see you're finally learning something about moderation. I always had concerns about this for you. You never seemed to know how to do anything minimally when you were younger."
Shinobu blushed at the criticism. Miyagi noted the slump begin to slide back into his beloved brat's shoulders.
The older Takatsuki lifted his glass and gestured to Miyagi. "I owe you a debt of gratitude, Miyagi-kun. Before he came under your good influence, Shinobu was starting to be a rather unruly and unbalanced boy. I can't tell you how much I appreciate you taking him in and showing him the correct ways as you have."
Both Miyagi and Shinobu dropped their eyes at these words, though for different reasons.
"You're far too kind, Dean Takatsuki. I am but a humble man and your son is a remarkable individual. I dare say he's taught me a thing or two as well," Miyagi offered uncomfortably. His eyes shifted over to Shinobu.
Shinobu blushed deeper, embarrassed by Miyagi's rare praise and the hidden significance in his lover's statement. Miyagi noted with a sad smile the way Shinobu straightened back up. He was still surprised at times by how tender his boy remained beneath his boisterous bravado.
"Nonsense, this is just another example of you being an excellent teacher, Miyagi-kun! You know you get the highest ranked feedback from the students, more so than any other professor in your department!
"Well, Kamijou's a close second. You know, he might even tie with you... If he ever bothered to smile." The Dean laughed at his own joke, and then he quieted and sighed. "It's only too bad my daughter didn't learn as well from you as my son." Takatsuki took a sip of his wine; not heeding the fact that Risako was standing right there.
The lady Takatsuki, well aware that things were not going as she'd hoped, offered Miyagi a false smile. "Miyagi-san, please forgive me, but I think I'd better go see how things are progressing in the kitchen."
"What are we having?" Shinobu asked with a slight bit of trepidation. If he was pregnant, his "morning sickness," had not been confining itself to the appropriate hours so far.
"Eel, among other things." The lady Takatsuki beamed, pleased to be serving one of her son's favorite dishes, while Shinobu's face lost its color.
"Risako-chan, will you come with me?" She chirped brightly. She intended to have some serious words with her daughter in the kitchen about her unbecoming behavior. Risako's sudden frown showed she was not happy with this request. She knew her parents and understood what was coming. However, she was also not that keen on hanging around Miyagi or her father at the moment.
"Fine."
"I'll send someone in as soon as things are ready. In the meantime you men enjoy yourself and don't get into too much trouble." The lady Takatsuki batted her eyes as she said this.
Once the ladies had departed, all three men sighed simultaneously.
Miyagi rubbed the back of his neck. He was worried about Shinobu; the young man looked peaked. Knowing how unhappy Shinobu had been for much of his time under his parents' roof, Miyagi suddenly felt the urge to sweep him away from this place. At the same time, he knew running away and hiding wasn't the answer any longer for either of them either. Still, his heart was pounding as he began his next sentence.
"Umm, Dean Takatsuki, since we have this moment without the ladies present, I'd like to talk with you about your son's future."
The Dean's brow rose at these words, as did Shinobu's. Shinobu couldn't believe that the moment had finally come.
"Ah, Miyagi-kun, I am sure you have some sage advice. In fact, I think I may even know what you're going to suggest. You may find me ahead of you there for once," the Dean chortled.
"Sir?"
Dean Takatsuki stepped away from the two confused men and over to the small table that sat where he and Risako had been conversing. He picked up a packet and moved back. He offered it to Miyagi.
"Knowing my son, as you do, Miyagi-kun, I am hoping you can offer him some good recommendations. It seems you are the only person he willingly listens to."
"I'm sorry, I don't understand…" Miyagi blanched as he opened the packet and was confronted with an assortment of glossy photos of young women.
"Ah… now I know you may think Shinobu is a bit young, but you're a man of traditional sensibilities, Miyagi-kun. I'm sure you can understand why I think Shinobu should get married. Besides, it is traditional for the Takatsuki's to wed at a relatively early age." The Dean looked at Shinobu as though he was awaiting some protest, but for once Shinobu was stunned into silence.
"School is obviously draining the boy. Look how pale he is. He needs someone to look after him. And then once he graduates he'll have no time for domestic activities: the work of a young lawyer is exceedingly arduous. No, he needs to get settled soon." The senior Takatsuki looked back at Miyagi, who had just stopped thumbing blankly through the sheaf of prospects.
"Plus I need not dwell on my disappointing daughter. It was my father's last wish that the Takatsuki line continue. I, being his only son." The Dean's cheeks pinked as he said this. "And my wife pines incessantly for grandchildren. I would like to see her have that pleasure."
Miyagi looked back down at the pictures.
"Who knows, Miyagi-kun, maybe you will find something in there for yourself. Though I know my wife wishes you would take Risako back." The Dean took a sip of his wine. "I only wish you had been as firm with her as you have with Shinobu. A strong willed-girl like that needs a man with firm hand."
Seeing a frown crease Miyagi's brow, Dean Takatsuki suddenly caught himself.
"Ah… please forgive me Miyagi, I meant no disrespect. "I should have been harder on her myself." Miyagi handed the packet back to the Dean with both hands.
"Well, Dean Takatsuki, that is in the past and is of no matter to me. What I am concerned with however, as you said, is Shinobu's future and I can offer my recommendation for this right now."
"Oh?" the Dean looked at Miyagi with curious interest as he raised his glass to his lips again. However, he choked on this latest swallow when he heard Miyagi's next words.
"Dean Takatsuki, I formally request that your give your son to me."
New AN: Lionfish13, I heard your plea for more and so, here it is.
FujoshiNingaNumber6, Klainer-1, Starrynights1987, Thanks guys for chiming in. You keep me motivated.