It was four years ago, when Aiji first asked him to fly to Japan, meet his family and, well officially start to date. Back then he would feel very much awkward and on edge the whole time they were here. He didn’t felt like he belonged in this world, but now, he was more confident, coming back to this annual festival.
The family has also grown fond of him. It was no surprise Karin loved having him around, mainly because he let her play dress-up. Plus she was almost the same age as him, pretty much an expert in social media, so they did have common grounds to talk. Ryou on the other hand was a harder case. Isao remembers the first night he was here, coming down to the kitchen and mistaking the other twin to Aiji and while Ryou said it was nothing, that it happened all the time, it still felt like the ground opened up and swallowed the blonde boy. He never made that mistake again.
Looking through another set of clothes that Karin strategically piled up for him – all light colors with just accents of dark, the girl had his style down to a dot – he looked over to the other side of the changing rooms where Aiji was preoccupied with Elias.
Elias came in to their lives not too long ago. The eight year old was dropped off at the start of the year, a backpack of things and a note. Apparently he was Aiji’s son. And this was new information to the supposed father too. He did admit that one of his first jobs as a bodyguard ended up with him entangled with the woman he was looking after, but he swore he never knew about any of this. That night he heard Aiji make a phone call in his room while Isao was helping the boy settle in to his. It wan’t pretty so he put on a movie to let the child have his blissful ignorance. Ignorance that his mother abandoned him because she was to marry, Aiji later told him. He never seen Aiji so mad before and it took a good while till he could calm down, just in time for Elias to seek him out and ask if he could sleep with them.
It was months after that when Aiji finally told his siblings what happened and Ryou made a logical request of a dna test.
~~~
Aiji was leaning on the kitchen island, holding the envelope in his hand that had the answer to his current predicament of being Elias’s father or not. The boy already though him to be, since his mother fed him this for years, but now he held the undoubted truth in his hand and he couldn’t bring himself to open it. His mind was racing; What will he do when he has to work? What will he tell the boy when he wants to go back home? How will he and Isao continue on with a child flung in the middle? Would Isao even want to be involved with him?
– Is that it? – Speak of the devil. – That was quick.
– Yes. – Aiji looked up as Isao made his was to him. – But I need to talk to you, before I see what’s in it.
The younger man smiled up at him reassuringly. This was a whole new side of Aiji that he saw the last few months. – I figured as much. Go on, I’m listening.
– Whatever is in this, I wanted to apologize. It’s one thing that I make my own life difficult, but you don’t deserve to have a burden you don’t have anything to do with. You gave up so much already, your space and time…
Isao held up his hand to stop him, because he knew where this was going.
– I did everything, because I wanted to. – He stepped closer, nestling his hand into Aiji’s – I can see that he is a very important part of your life. And what’s important to you, is something that I will gladly carry too. Whatever those results say, you won’t give him away, because he has been tossed around enough already, am I right?
– I couldn’t live with myself… But that doesn’t mean you have to step up like I do.
– I won’t parent him. But I won’t not be here for you either. We’ll find the balance, just like we did with everything. I promise.
Aiji leaned down to him, touching their foreheads together. He silently mouthed a ‘thank you’, afraid that his voice would crack if he had said it out right.
~~~
Isao never saw what the results were. When Aiji finished reading through them, he just tossed it in the bin. There was no question after that, Elias was staying and Aiji took up the father figure. Isao also adjusted, keeping the boy occupied when Aiji couldn’t, tutoring him when he had trouble with schoolwork and looking after him when Aiji had to work. When all three of them arrived to the family home this year, the Sato elders seemed to already know of their grandchild, and while they did have some side comments, they were soon swoon by the boy. Ryou and Karin also approached this with an open mind and a kind heart, making this trip full of happy memories for Elias.
Right now they were at a high-end store the Sato’s seemed to regularly visit. The point was to get Elias a nice Yukata, for tonight’s festival and he has been very excited. He now turned around in front of Aiji in his pick, a traditional cut, but a modern print. Isao chuckled as he watched the cute catroon Shibas dance around on the fabric.
– Are you sure? I mean it’s nice, but are you sure sure you want this one?
– Yes! I love it so much! Please dad! – the boy begged and Aiji was done for by the look of huge green eyes.
It really fit him, and Elias seemed very happy with it. The world seemed perfect at that moment.
That is until it was time to leave for the festival.
– Elias you said you wanted this one, what’s the matter with it now? – Aiji asked, crouching down to be at eye-level with his son. – I thought you loved the Shibas….
– I do, I really do, but I thought… – Elias looked around then at his feet. Karin and Isao both looking over at him for clues what the problem was.
– What? C’mon you can tell. – Aiji petted his messy brown hair.
– I though everyone will have fun patterns. – Elias said in a whisper. – I already look different, if I stick out so much, people will laugh.
– Awww honey, no one will laugh at you. – Karin coed but it didn’t really do much.
– The other kids might…
Aiji and Karin looked at each other, not knowing what to do. It took a genius to figure out the perfect solution, but he couldn’t tell them just jet.
Isao quietly slipped out of the room, in search for Ryou. When he asked him for a ride, Ryou seemed hesitant, until he heard the master plan.
~~~
Aiji was checking his phone all evening. It was a miracle, but he and Karin could finally convince Elias to wear his yukata, saying that they can’t go if he doesn’t. Seems like the festival itself was enough reason. But both Isao and Ryou were nowhere to be found. He did text them, but only got a shot “We’ll be there shortly.” The three of them were already looking around for a good half hour, and now faced the problem that no matter how they tried, Elias was not enjoying himself when they got the text to come to the gates.
They arrived Aiji carrying his son, poor boy thinking, that this was it and they are going back home. When he saw Isao he couldn’t surpass his wide grin.
There he was, standing in the same pattern as his son, smiling kindly.
– Hey Elias, look, seems like Isao was jealous of your Shibas. – The boy looked up from Aiji’s shoulder, his eyes going wide and – finally – cracking a huge smile. He quickly squirmed his was out of the hold Aiji had on him and ran up to Isao, hugging him by the waist.
– Ah so you like it huh? Feeling a bit better now? – Isao petted his head.
– Yes! Come on! I saw the fish game! – And with that all the youthful joys of the festival came back. Now Elias could not contain his excitement, wanting to try everything they had, the four of them taking turns on who takes him where.
By the time close in on the fireworks he tired himself out, finding comfort in Aiji again, leaning up on his back as his father carried him, Isao walking next to them.
– How did you know that he needed this? – Aiji asked him, nodding to the sleeping boy on his back.
– Well, I stick out like a sore thumb most of my life. I know how it feels like, being the different one. Back when I was smaller, all I wanted for someone similar to me, so I wouldn’t be so alone. – He smiled and patted the boy’s back lightly. They came to a stop where people have gathered to watch the fireworks.
– Do you still feel alone? – Aiji asked, looking up at the night sky. The concept felt foreign to him. He always had someone similar to him.
– No. Now I have my people. – Isao laughed and just as he said that the first bang of colors painted the night sky.
Aiji watched him, his eyes reflecting all the sparks, blushing when he noticed the other man staring at him and then laughing it off. If he didn’t already, he would fall head over heals for him again right there.
Isao couldn’t make out what Aiji was saying from the loud explosions, but as Elias woke to the noise and climbed down he could swear he saw him grin, just like his father before running off.
Isao stepped up to him, hoping to now be in earshot.
– I couldn’t hear that! – He shouted over the next loud noise.
Aiji gave him his all too familiar smile, the one he does before…Without a heartbeat his lips were on Isao’s, hungry and demanding, and Isao could only melt into the kiss, letting himself be pulled close. Once they parted, Aiji didn’t pull back. – I said, I love you.