Diary of a Young Prince_Part 3
Diary of a Young Prince
Chapter: 3/4 (oneshot in four parts)
Pairing: Tora x Saga x Oc (mainly, but there are others)
Rating: NC-17
Genre: POV, slice-of-life
Warnings: Polyamory, male x male, adult themes, foul language
Summary: The life of a young man and his highly unorthodox family.
Comments: And here is part 3, sighs, one more after this...Hope you enjoy...
***
The next one is amongst the clearest memories of my childhood.
My sister's birth.
Its mid-february and my mother looks close to bursting, she is due any day. She comes back from her morning doctor's appointment with Saga, who's carrying a few bags of groceries to the kitchen, and plops down on the couch beside my dad who's been trying to compose a song for the last hour without much success while I practice my reading on the carpet.
"Well, all is ready, the baby is in proper posture. She said we can wait for labour to start on its own, or, if we want to, we can…hmm, you know…get intimate to trigger it."
My father looks rather interested in the second option, eyeing my mom with a gleam in his eye as he puts down his acoustic guitar on the coffee table. He's been eager for the baby to arrive, full of hardly repressed excitement for the past week. He tackles her to the couch, smothering her with kisses as she tries to fend him off half-heartedly, giggling the entire time.
"How about we have that baby right now…hmm?" he murmurs against the curve of her neck.
My mother snorts, fingers tangling in his hair.
"How about later tonight? You perv…"
"Alright." he agrees, mock-grudgingly, but then his eyes get soft, and sweet, "I can't wait, you know? To hold our baby in my arms…"
"I know…me too, my love."
Later in the night, I wake for a few minutes because my mother enters the room with my dad and Saga, softly, and they are all wearing their coats. I can feel the excitement radiating from them as they get close to my bed. My mother caresses my hair softly as she sits on the edge of the bed, a little stiffly.
"Mommy and daddy and Saga are going to the hospital baby."
I sit up, suddenly worried, wrap my arms around her.
"Are you okay mommy?"
"Yes, yes don't worry. The babysitter just arrived, she's downstairs. Mommy is gonna go give birth to your little brother or sister with daddy and Saga. Saga is gonna come to take you to the hospital in the morning to see us okay."
"Okay." I mumble sleepily.
My mother kisses my forehead softly, and my father leans over to coax me back onto the bed, pressing his soft lips to my forehead too, and I can feel him smile against my skin. Saga's hand is soft on my face, down my back, and I go back to sleep before they even leave the room.
In the morning, Saga wakes me softly with a soft caress through my brown hair. Its still a little dark outside, just before sunrise when the sky is purple and pink.
"Wake up sleepyhead, I'm bringing you to meet the baby."
"Is mommy okay?"
Saga smiles, brushing my hair out of my eyes.
"Mommy is just fine, exhausted, but fine. So is the baby. We're gonna go see them, come on."
I groan and yawn, forcing my eyes to open fully. I take after my mother, I'm a little grumpy in the morning. Saga picks out some clothes for me and I dress in the semi-darkness while he goes back downstairs to get some breakfast ready. Toast, fruit, and chocolate milk because it's valentine's day. Saga only drinks coffee, he's too excited to eat. The sun is rising when we get into the car, our breaths fogging in the cool morning air.
The hospital halls are quiet at this time, and our steps echo and bounce off the walls as we make our way through corridors and staircases to the obstetrics wing. We finally reach the nurse's station, where an elderly nurse with a soft smile waves at me as we walk by. Saga's steps are hurried, excited, and I trot to keep up with him, his eagerness contagious. We get to room 137, there's a little tag beside the door that spells out Amano Eimi, and Saga gently pushes the handle.
The room is painted a muted yellow, bathed in morning light. My mother is half reclining on the narrow bed, my father sitting beside her, his arm around her delicate shoulders, she's wearing one of his Alice Nine hoodies over her pale blue hospital gown. They are both pale and drawn, shadows underneath their eyes, but they radiate happiness as they look down at the small, pink and white bundle in my mother's arms. They both look up when we enter, and my father has the brightest of smiles twisting his mouth as he gets up from the bed gently, lifts me up in his arms. He holds me tight, his hands are soft on my back, in my hair.
"Daddy is really happy right now…so happy."
His voice is tight and breathy in my ear. He kisses my cheek softly before letting me down. And then my father is gently pushing me towards the bed, reaching down to take the small bundle my mother is offering him, gently lowering himself to his knees on the floor so we're of a height. Saga goes to my mother's side, kisses her temple as he settles down on the bed beside her. I come to stand beside my father, and he shows me the baby's face, pink and still wrinkled, with a tiny mouth and nose, eyes closed, strands of black hair sticking out of a tiny white hat.
"Isamu, this is your little sister, Suzume-chan."
And just like that, I became a big brother.
***
A lot of subsequent memories are captured in photographs, of different sizes and colours, all hung in black frames in the second floor hallway.
Uncle Shou at the hospital, sitting on a chair with my two-day-old sister in his arms, Hiroto standing by his shoulder, the two of them completely smitten.
My father, asleep on the couch on his back, with a six-weeks old Suzume sleeping belly-down on his chest.
Myself, sitting in the armchair, feeding her a bottle while Saga leans over the backrest with a soft smile.
Uncle Nao lying flat on the carpet, making a bear plushie come to life to entertain her as she sits across from him, entranced.
There's a small black and white one of my father napping with my mother in their bed, spooning her while she breastfeeds my sister, all three of them asleep.
My sister isn't much of a sleeper for the first few months, and she keeps them up at night, so often, all the tender photographs of her early years are of my parents or Saga slumbering in exhausted sleep.
They go on tour when she's six months old, a small tour up north to Sapporo, they're only gone for a week. My sister fusses the entire week, sleepless, whiny. My mother is patient, she deals with it, but I can see that she's getting worn thin. And so am I, she's keeping me up too, so we are both grumpy and tired. My sister has been fussing for a good hour when my father arrives home, and she quiets instantly when he picks her up from my mother's arms, cooing at her in his low voice.
My mother snorts, smily wryly as she entangles her small fingers with mine.
"Daddy's little girl eh? Well you take care of her while Isamu and I go take a nap."
Its the first time in ages that I'm eager to go sleep. I spend the afternoon cuddled with my mom in my parent's bed.
***
Shou's wife gives birth to a little girl in August that year. They call her Hanako. Only a day old and we can tell she takes after him.
We find out a week later that Hiroto's girlfriend is expecting, and my father jokes that clearly they couldn't have a better chemistry as a band, now that they'll all be tired daddies. He jokingly asks Nao when his turn is, and Nao snorts. He's still with the beautiful photographer, Yukio, they just bought a house, and their interactions are full of tenderness.
"Spoiling all of yours is good enough for me."
***
Hiroto's son is born in May, and they call him Masashi. And I'm very glad to see another boy at last, I was feeling left out with all the girls and the dolls and the talk of pink clothes. Even though we have a six year difference, I'll have someone to share my love of video-games with, or so I hope.
His girlfriend leaves him two years later, to be with another man, in another country. He gets prime custody of their son, but it doesn't bring back that shine to his eyes. I feel like he's lost a piece of that carefree innocence and it makes me sad. It makes all of us sad.
***
I'm twelve years old when uncle Shou divorces his wife.
I remember him showing up on the front porch, with a suitcase and red rimmed eyes, and my father enfolding him in a tight embrace while he just stands there and cries all the tears in his body. His face is buried in my father's chest, and his hand lets go of the suitcase, tangles in my father's sweater.
My father's voice is low and soothing.
"Its okay…let it out…"
"She…she's gonna try to take my daughter away from me…"
My father's hand slides up his back, rubs that spot between his shoulders soothingly.
"And we won't let her…we won't, trust me."
It takes a few months, lots of tears and hardship, but when the divorce papers are finalized and signed, my parents organize a little party, because Shou is finally free. And he gets joint custody of his daughter. She clings to her father the entire night, I can tell that she's happy too.
***
I'm 15 years old, and I'm getting ready to go to a party my school friends organized.
There's going to be booze, loud music, and that girl I've been crushing on for the past six months, Akane. She's tall, and slender, with a delicate, elfin face. And I dig her daring pixie-cut, bleach-blonde hair. She's good at soccer, her hands are small and nimble, full of skill when she draws. She's loud-mouthed and opinionated and she likes to ruffle feathers, and my oh my is that sexy. My heart races when I meet her brown eyes with my own. I change outfits about ten times, mess up my longish hair only to smooth it again ten seconds later, and pretty much feel like hell for caring so much. I'm the artsy guy in the back of the class, no one will care anyway.
But I cave in and call Saga upstairs.
"Saga! I need your advice on something!"
Saga climbs up the stairs, his gait is lithe and measured, nothing like my own elephant steps and he pushes my bedroom door open. His hair started greying at the temples, but his face is still a youthful mask. He comes in and I gesture for him to sit on my bed, and he does, crossing his legs and looking at me expectantly.
"So?"
"Well, there's this party I'm going to, tonight, and hmm…I really need your fashion advice."
Saga's eyes widen and he bursts out laughing, causing me to instantly pout and whine.
"Come on! Its not funny…"
"Oh but it is!" he wheezes, "Are you seriously asking me? A 43 year old man?"
"You're always so stylish, all my female friends think you're hot."
"Oh dear…ok, alright. Show me what you've got…"
We decide on some dark skinny jeans and an off-white tee with a cool print, a soft black cardigan from Saga's own closet and stylish leather boots I pilfered from my dad. He musses my hair with his fingertips, advises wearing my black-framed glasses rather than contacts that I would probably forget to remove, and sprays my wrists and neck with a hint of spicy, exotic cologne.
Its an odd feeling, but I really feel like a man for the first time.
Saga admires his handiwork with a smirk.
"You look like your father."
"Is that a good thing?"
Saga snorts.
"Its a very good thing, trust me. Your dad was always good at getting whatever he wanted with good looks alone…Come on, I'll drive you."
He parks in front of the house, and the music is so loud we can hear it through the glass. Saga smiles fondly, probably reminded of his own youth.
"You have your phone?"
"Yup."
"If you want me to come pick you up, don't hesitate. I'll come, no matter the hour, just give me a call ok?"
"Ok."
I start to unbuckle my seatbelt, but his hand on mine stops me.
"A few rules. I'm sure you know them already, but a reminder."
I sit back, fighting the urge to roll my eyes.
"Don't accept drugs from anyone, even friends. Keep your eye on your drink, don't accept drinks that you haven't seen poured or opened. Don't let anyone, anyone, pressure you into doing something you don't want to do yourself. Okay?"
"Okay."
"Oh and one more thing…"
He fishes in his coat pocket and hands me a handful of foil packets. Condoms. I feel my face get hot.
"Now, I assume there will be cute girls and boys at this party?"
"Yes." I squeak.
"Well if you feel the urge to stick this…" he points at my crotch, and my face just gets hotter, "in a girl, or a boy, in any orifice that they might have, I don't discriminate, wrap it up first. The reverse applies as well. If someone, boy, girl, wants to stick anything of theirs inside you, make sure its wrapped up properly. Am I clear?"
His tone is so serious, I wish I could just joke around and laugh it up, but I know he's not joking with this one bit.
"Yes, totally clear." I reply, shoving the handful in my jeans pocket.
"Good. And say one your friends wants to do such things and doesn't have the common sense to have protection with them, please be a gentleman and offer them some, for my sake."
"Yeah, yeah sure."
"Alright. Go, have fun. Try not to mix beer and wine okay, you'll thank me later…"
Later that night, after a few too many shots of shochu, I have sex for the first time with Akane, in the guest bedroom, fumbling in the darkness. I reach for a condom in my jeans, and she's all impressed by my level of responsible maturity. I smirk, and mentally thank Saga, even if my drunken performance is less than stellar. Its over too soon, I barely have the time to appreciate what it feels like before I spend myself in a white hot rush. But its nice to feel a warm pulse underneath my cheek when I rest my head on her chest afterwards, her small hands combing through my hair.
I wish I'd followed his advice about mixing beer and wine though, because the next day when he drives me home with a wide smile on his lips, I almost hurl in my father's brand-new Audi.
***
Its a few weeks before my 16th birthday.
Uncle Shou is here at home with Hanako. He comes every sunday, and while his daughter and my sister have their weekly guitar lesson with my dad in the studio, he has coffee with Saga and my mother, and Hiroto, Masashi, Nao and Yukio come by for dinner. Its Alice Nine's Sunday dinner, as Saga likes to call it. My parents had to buy a bigger table to accommodate everyone.
Hanako plays guitar, and as it turns out, Hiroto's son is definitely a vocal. The irony is not lost on them one bit.
I'm sitting at the table, working on a drawing in my sketchbook, one headphone in, while the adults chat in the neighbouring kitchen, fixing dinner. Something that my mother says catches my attention, and I sneakily lower the volume of my ipod to hear better.
"You should tell him how you feel Shou…I mean, its been dragging on your heart for years now."
"I know…I know but what if…"
"What if what?" Saga's voice interjects, clearly annoyed, "Do you think I haven't noticed the doe eyes, and the awkward silences and the excuses to touch each other longer than proper? I've played that game with Tora long enough to know…"
I can picture Saga pulling at his hair with annoyance and it almost makes me laugh. They're talking about Shou and Hiroto, and their long lasting attraction to each other forever unfulfilled. Even I noticed, with my oblivious teenage attention. The longing stares and the brushing fingertips and the too-long hugs. They are not fooling anyone. I'm sure even Mogu noticed, despite the fact that he's half-blind.
"I've known you two for more than 20 years, and this…this unfinished business between you two has to come to an end. I'm serious."
No one messes with Saga-sama when he has that tone of voice…
My mother takes Hiroto aside for a few minutes after he arrives with Masashi, who is always extremely stylishly dressed for a nine year old, and they talk in hushed voices. Hiroto hugs my mother tight at some point, smiling when they part. Dinner that night is noisy and good natured, filled with jokes and laughter and happy conversation. After the plates have been cleared and coffee served, the kids go play in the living room, Mom pulls out the board games and we all get neck-deep into a game of team Monopoly. Yukio and Nao are cleaning us out of our money, laughing the entire time, and I spot Shou whispering in Hiroto's ear across the table. Its playful of course, but I can see how Hiroto's eyes are burning bright, a light pink flush on his cheeks. Mom and Saga spot it too, and exchange some pleased looks while my father chuckles. The children protest when its time to go, despite that its very late, and that all three of them were curled up on the couch, nearly comatose, video-game forgotten. Shou picks up his daughter easily, and she clings to him like a vine.
"You know you're getting too old for me to carry you like a princess everywhere?"
"Is it hurting your back?" she mumbles against his shoulder.
"Not really."
"Then suck it up."
Shou bursts out laughing.
"She has my good looks, but she definitely picked up the attitude from her mother…"
Hiroto on the other hand, shakes his son awake softly.
"Come on boy, I'm not carrying you, you're nearly as tall as I am…"
"But I'm so tired…Uncle Tora, carry me." Masashi whines, and my father chuckles as he picks him up easily, like a potato sack.
"Hey!"
"Tut.tut.tut. You asked me to carry you. Didn't specify how…" my father teases as he carries him out the front door to the car.
Hiroto turns to me then, with a little shy smile. He still looks boyish despite the laugh lines at the corners of his eyes, and he never stopped bleaching his hair blonde, keeping to a flattering, layered jaw-length.
"I have a favour to ask of you."
I nod, puzzled.
"Would you mind babysitting Hanako and Masashi on thursday, Shou and I…well…"
I smirk as he starts stammering and blushing.
"You guys have a date?"
"Something like that yeah…"
"Sure. Well, my mom is gonna be pleased…"
Hiroto snorts.
"Ah, your mother…Her and Saga, they always have their way…"
***
Two months later they make it official, at sunday dinner, when they arrive with their fingers entwined, stars in their eyes. Its like ten years melted right off Shou's face, and he looks radiant and beautiful, truly happy for the first time in years.
Everyone drinks a little too much to celebrate, and my mother and Saga high-five unabashedly when they spot the new lovebirds kissing tenderly in the hallway. They are teased mercilessly for the rest of the evening, but take it all in stride graciously, too busy basking in their freshly legitimized love to care.
***
Phewww and the end is in part 4! http://aleksiina-26.livejournal.com/16080.html