POV Takao
With Akira in tow, and an emailed grocery list, I gathered up a few items at the market before returning home. I'd only had a few seconds, to turn Akira loose and greet Neko-chan, when two moody NBA players – and future Olympians – and Furihata came in, pulling luggage with them.
"Daddy!" Akira shouted in her best excited voice, i.e., without volume control, and dashed into his arms. He scooped her up, spun her around, and settled her onto his right hip, then pushed his glasses up and presented her to the Emperor.
"Akira, this is my friend Akashi Seijūrō and his companion, Furihata Kōki. Seijūrō, Kōki, this is our daughter, Akira.
"I'm Mirdorima Akira and I'm this many years old," she said, showing three little fingers proudly.
"You can call me Jiro. May I call you Akira-hime?"
"Hime, hime, hime," she sang, just like the song from the anime. She bucked in Shin-chan's arms, kicking him, but all he did was smile at our princess.
That evening after Akira went down for the night, we reconvened in the living room. Shin-chan was sprawled over the sofa, one long leg spread out, the other bent and hanging off the side. Furihata was on the floor, in front of the television, flipping through our vast array of channels, and Akashi sat rigidly, with his hands on his knees, on the straight backed chair no one ever sat in because it was too damned uncomfortable. I brought out a tray of tea, and put it on the coffee table. Shin-chan and Furihata went for the beverages immediately, but Akashi did not move, seemingly lost in thought.
"So, now that we are in private, Seijūrō, I'd like an honest answer about your injury. I've known you too long, and played with you too often to be fooled by your bullshit lies."
"It's nothing, Shintarō, don't –"
"He's got a pinched nerve in his back at L5," Furihata said.
"Kōki!" There was anger in that awful red eye.
"He's right, he knows you too well, and you're not going to be able to hide it from him. You shouldn't hide it from him. You're in pain, and if you'd gone to the doctor right after it happened instead of hiding your wound like some…. some... stray animal, you wouldn't be in pain right now," Furihata said, his voice becoming more angry and strident by the word.
Shin-chan and I exchanged glances.
Akashi took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He arms trembled as they took all the weight off his back and rested it on his knees.
"You're right," he finally said.
I heard Shin-chan exhale.
"But I can't change the past; I have to live with what I've done."
"How bad is it? You are being treated now, right?" I asked.
"The team physician did an MRI and a series of X-rays to clear me."
"And he lied to them, he told them it wasn't bothering him anymore," Furihata accused.
"Kazu, call your chiropractor, tell him we'll pay for a house call."
"I don't want that. All I want is to take a long hot bath and go to bed. It's my body and all three of you –" he turned his attention to Furihata and held his eyes for a second, "– need to respect my decisions regarding this matter."
"The bath is upstairs, Seijūrō," Shin-chan answered, no emotion leaking from his voice. "You are welcome to use it."
Akashi stood, schooling his facial features to hide the agony that accompanied each step, and went upstairs without another word.
"That's not good," I said, feeling stupid for saying it, but needing to add something.
"No, and I think its getting worse," Furihata said. He turned over on his back and stared at the ceiling.
"I have a pinched nerve in my lumbar as well," I continued. "It came from carrying Akira on the same hip all the time. I get adjusted by my chiropractor every three months and I feel fine, but I know that if it hurts enough to show, he's in agony."
Shin-chan stood and placed his hand on my shoulder. "That's enough, Kazu, Furihata already knows that."
After almost an hour, Furihata's cell phone rang. Half asleep, he scrambled for the phone and he fumbled with it until the call went to voice mail. A second later, the phone rang again.
"Jiro?" Furihata mumbled.
Shin-chan and I exchanged looks. If the Emperor was calling from upstairs, something was wrong. I nodded and Shin-chan returned the gesture.
"...I can't make my legs move..." I heard Akashi's pained voice coming from the speaker.
"I'm on my way. I'll bring your, um, pajamas."
Furihata disappeared into the back bedroom for a moment and came out with a folded bundle of laundry. He hurried up the stairs.
"There's no way Furihata's going to be able to help him out of that tub without injuring himself," I said.
"Call your Chiropractor," Shin-chan said.
"...thank you Dr. Faldeen, I appreciate that. Yes, tomorrow morning at 8am will be perfect."
Furihata came down the stairs, soaking wet and blushing red.
"I'm sorry to ask...," he stuttered.
"Of course, we'll help," Shin-chan interrupted, and we went straight up stairs.
Akashi was slumped over the side of the tub and when we entered, he glared at Furihata.
"Furihata didn't need to tell us what's wrong, baka," Shin-chan said as he got an arm under Akashi and levered him up. I wrapped a towel around him as his upper body cleared the water. "We are used to helping our daughter out of the bath. Just be still and let us do the work."
While Shin-chan held him, Furihata and I maneuvered his legs out of the water and after drying him, Shin-chan supported Akashi as he limped downstairs and into the guest bedroom/office.
"My doctor will be here at 8 am to adjust your back. He takes care of Shin-chan's injuries all the time, he's discreet." I sat down on the edge of the bed and adjusted the heating pad so that he wouldn't burn himself.
"Thank you, Kazunari," Akashi whispered, "You're a good caregiver, even to an ingrate like me."
"It comes from having two children," I chided. "Of course, the adult one is much harder to baby. I've sent Shin-chan and Furihata to look for my prescription Naproxen. Don't be too hard on Furihta, Akashi. He loves you and wants you to feel better."
"I know, I really do. We've had five furtive years together, but sometimes – especially when I'm injured – I forget that he's always on my side. I'm sure Shintarō has mentioned some of my checkered past..."
"Shin-chan doesn't tell other people's secrets, but his willingness to put up with you – even after all your dick behavior – is enough to tell me what I need to know."
Furihata hesitated in the doorway.
"If you need anything," I said, getting up and going to the door. "Just ask. Be warned that Akira is an escape artist. She tends to roam, so lock the door behind me."
I squeezed Furihata's shoulder as I left.
"What are you thinking?" I asked Shin-chan once we'd finally crawled into bed and settled so that my head rested on his shoulder.
"That for such a smart man, Seijūrō is an imbecile sometimes." He sighed and then turned toward me and tucked me in under his chin. It was a classic reflex on his part; every time he was upset, he preferred to hide.
"He'll be alright. I got through the same injury, he can too."
"I know, but you're mentally stronger than him."
A/N: I'm on vacation for the next nine days and will be out of the country! I hope you review while I'm gone, and I will respond to you once I have returned.