"I'm fine, Yahiko! Stop fussing! Mou, you would think that
I was the first woman in the world be having a baby." Kaoru grimaced at the
tone of her own voice. She rubbed her ever-expanding belly absently and
sighed.
Yahiko didn't even blink at Kaoru's short tirade. They had all
been around Megumi when she was expecting. AND Sanosuke had kindly taken them
both aside right at the beginning to explain the changes Kaoru was going to
experience in even more detail, giving them fair warning about what was
going to happen in those next few months. They were totally prepared to
humor her, much to Kaoru's frustration. She hated when people "humored"
her.
"Kaoru, we're just trying to help you. You'd think we're torturing
you by the way you're acting." Kaoru was almost eight months along. And
big. Her slim body looked as if she would tip over from the weight she
carried before her. That was why Yahiko and Kenshin were so worried.
Kaoru looked like she was going to burst. And while Yahiko took great
pleasure in torturing Kenshin by mouthing "twins" whenever they were all
together, looking down at Kaoru it looked like a fair possibility.
Kaoru had always been so slight. She was smaller than Kenshin and
even slimmer. During the first few months of pregnancy, she had lost
weight rather than gained because of morning sickness. They both tried to
make her rest, but for almost eight months, she had defied them at ever
turn. But then, if she had just given in, she wouldn't be Kaoru. She just
complained about being smothered by them and turned around and did what she
wanted. At least Kenshin got her to stop teaching classes at four months
by getting Megumi to talk to her about over-exertion.
"Sorry. I don't know why I'm so...so grumpy today. I guess it's
just the weather. It's so cold. It's making my back ache." The air was
crisp with winter's chill. Snow covered everything, dusting the world in
white.
"That's why I keep tellin' you to come inside. Now come on. Or do
I have to carry that huge body of yours?" he teased. Yahiko could
probably do it, too. He was surprised, though, when she didn't retaliate
against his comments about her size. Kaoru would usually at least glare
at him for size remarks.
"Okay. Everything just looks so beautiful in winter."
"Kaoru...." He looked at her expectantly. She looked like she was
preparing to argue with him, just to be contrary, but she gave in
gracefully.
"Coming, 'touchan," she grumbled. She really felt like a
child whenever they did this. But she knew they meant well.
"And it looks like it's gonna snow again soon. You should be
ashamed of yourself, young lady! You don't want to catch a cold, do you?
Not in your condition." Yahiko looked up at the gray sky and tsked. Kaoru
laughed at him and waddled back inside to get warm.
"Kaoru, I made some tea." Kenshin was kneeling at the table in the
main room. Kaoru sighed with pleasure as Kenshin helped her down. She
took a sip of the hot tea, letting the heat seep through to her toes. She
wiggled them appreciatively in her tabi. At least while she was
sitting, she could see her feet. That made her feel a little better. Only
a little bit, though. She rested her cup of tea on her belly. The baby
kicked at the additional warmth.
"Oooh. That's wonderful. Thank you, Kenshin," Kaoru said, sighing
appreciatively again.
"Well, my mission's complete. I'm off to the Akabeko. Don't wait
up." Yahiko gathered a heavy winter jacket to wear over his gi and hakama.
"If the snow really starts coming down, you should stay over
there," Kaoru said, worriedly. The clouds looked more ominous now as the
sky was darkening. "I don't want you trying to get through a storm."
"Okay. If I need to, I'll stay." It was no chore for him. That
way, he could spend more time with Tsubame. "If that happens, I'll see you
two tomorrow."
"Kaoru.... Are you okay?" Kenshin looked at his wife closely. Her
cheeks were slightly flushed. He helped her get to her feet.
"Huh? Oh, I'm fine. I'm just a little achy. I think it's the
weather. And the little one seems to be really active today." Kaoru
smiled, taking his hand to where the baby kicked actively against her.
"Oh, that was a good one," she spoke quietly to their baby. "You're so
strong."
"Hmmm. Maybe you should go lie down. Megumi said you should be
resting anyway."
"Maybe I'll do that...," Kaoru replied quietly. Kenshin stared
after her as she
walked to their room.
The various aches that came with pregnancy seemed to be magnified
by the storm. That was the only reason that Kaoru could come up with to
ease her mind about the pains that she was experiencing. There was no way
that she could be in labor. It was too early. And, she thought as she
stared out at the falling snow, a storm was going to make it impossible to
get help.
The baby gave an obliging kick to remind her of his presence. "You
are going to be a handful, aren't you?" she whispered at him, closing her
eyes. "And you just can't wait to come out....and I really would like to
see my feet without having to sit down to do it," she said wistfully.
*****
"Kenshin." Kaoru's voice came through to him across the barrier of
dreams. He opened his eyes, coming fully awake instantly, turning to his
wife. Her beautiful face was wet with tears.
"Kaoru? What's wrong?" He rubbed away the tears with the edge of
her sleeping kimono, looking down worriedly at her face. She merely smiled
back at him, her eyes glittering with emotion. "Kaoru?"
"The baby moved." She took his hand and placed it over their
child. She had awakened with a silvery sensation tickling her from within.
Their baby. Kaoru was almost four and a half months along. She smiled
when she heard Kenshin gasp. The baby was moving, for the first time
letting his or her presence be known to them. "Kenshin, our baby."
The smile that he gifted her with took her breath. "Kaoru..." He
buried his face in the crook of her neck, breathing in her scent. Jasmine
and Kaoru. "I can't say it too many times, can I?" Under his fingers, the
baby fluttered again.
"Huh?" she asked, her voice soft as the first rays of morning began
to break through. "What can't you say too many times?"
"I love you. I'll never be able to tell you how much. No matter
how many times I tell you, I can never express how much I do."
"Kenshin...."
"You are everything to me, Kaoru. You gave me everything."
"Shhh. Kenshin." She turned to him, pushing his fine red locks
away from his face. "If you never came into my life, Himura Kenshin.....
I think I would have lived a very sad and lonely existence." He shook his
head at those words. She was wrong. If he hadn't come along, she would
have been fine. Kaoru was person who naturally attracted goodness. No,
Kaoru would have been fine without him.
"Kaoru...." She took his hand to her lips, kissing it softly. She
brought him to her belly again.
"Say good morning to your 'touchan," Kaoru whispered softly to
their baby.
"Ohayou," Kenshin whispered as the baby fluttered.
"Ohayou...."
*****
Kaoru closed her eyes against the pain. Kenshin would definitely
be worried if she said anything. But she couldn't stay quiet about this.
She was going to have the baby. And soon. The storm outside was quietly
raging. There was no way that they could get Megumi over here. Not in
that weather. Now what did Megumi do in the beginning? Walk? That was
supposed to help.
"Why couldn't you wait to be born?" she asked the baby, rubbing her
stomach comfortingly. She sucked in air as another pain hit her. The
pains were coming so close together. Wasn't it too early? Gods.
"I take that feet comment back!"
She reached down to untie her obi. She had to prepare, either
which way. She hoped that Kenshin would be up to delivering their child.
He would have to do it. No one else could.
"Kenshin," she called out softly. She didn't want to alarm him,
but she needed help. Now.
"Kaoru? Are you in here?" Kenshin paled when he saw her. She was
half dressed and wincing in pain. He looked down at the pool of water and
blood at her feet. "Y-You're in l-l-labor?"
"Yes....My water broke.... The baby is coming." She suddenly felt
calm. They would get through all of this. She totally trusted Kenshin.
"K-K-Kaoru!" His hands were shaking. Kaoru took them in her hands
and put them on her belly.
"I guess you're going to have to deliver our baby, Kenshin."
*****
I promise never to touch her again! Just please let her
survive. Please let her survive. Kenshin didn't know who he was
praying to. It didn't matter, he just hoped someone was listening.
Women died in labor all the time. No matter how many times Kaoru
had tried to reassure him, he couldn't get that fact out of his head.
Having their baby might kill her. AND they were trapped in a snow storm.
There was no way to get help if anything happened.
"Kenshin," her voice shook him from his dark thoughts. "I'm going
to be fine. I helped Megumi do this before, remember?" Kenshin tried to
swallow his panic. It wouldn't help Kaoru at all.
"But this is totally different! Kaoru, there's no one here
who knows what to do in case of any real trouble. Oro~!" he exclaimed as
she tightened her grip on his hand. The pains were coming closer
together.
"Don't worry. I'll be fine. No one in my family ever died giving
birth," she panted, instinctively trying to ease the pains. "I'm not about
to be the
first one," she smiled reassuringly at her husband, her breath coming in
sharp gasps. "Now go get some hot water ready. You'll need it afterwards.
It might be a bit messy...."
"Kaoru, you better not die on me," he whispered, his voice
roughened with emotion.
"Not me, Kenshin. I would never do that to you, remember?" She
kissed him softly. "Now we have some work to do."
*****
"Kenshin," Kaoru moaned softly. The pressure was incredible. She
felt like she was being ripped apart. She fought down the urge to scream.
It would just make Kenshin more nervous. "I'm not letting you near
me for at least....6 weeks," she smiled tiredly at him.
Kenshin wiped the sweat from her face. "This is all my fault."
"If I remember correctly, I do recall there being two of us....I
could be wrong though," she teased. Another pain came. She gasped,
gripping Kenshin's already bruised hand. She would not cry. She would not
cry. She focused all her energy into bringing this new life into the
world.
"Kaoru. We are not doing this again. You are not going to suffer
like this again." Kaoru merely smiled. She kissed the hand she was
holding gently.
"Kenshin, you should have seen Megumi when she was going through
labor. I do believe she had a few choice words about Sanosuke," Kaoru
laughed at the memory. Megumi was not happy with Sanosuke at the time.
Kaoru was even having some dark thoughts about Kenshin, but she thought
that saying them would just make him feel even worse. The next one,
though, he was going to get it! "The pain....it's nothing in comparison to
what we get in the end."
"Kaoru." He loved her so much. He would rather die than lose her.
"This is happening really fast, isn't it?" she asked
contemplatively. The pains were really close together and it had been
eight hours. She knew from helping Megumi that once the pains came this
close together, the time was near. Megumi told her that first babies
usually took a long time. Sometimes all day or even longer.
"Oro? Fast? It feels like forever." Kenshin looked at the clock
that sat in the corner of the room. It was barely midnight.
"The baby will be here soon....," she sucked in air to compensate
for the pain that came crashing from within. "It's almost over."
"S-S-Soon?"
"Yesssss! DAMMIT THAT HURT!!!" she screamed. She couldn't hold
back for that one. The pain ripped through her like a knife.
"Kaoru?" Kenshin looked like he wanted to hurt something. He's
that worried, Kaoru thought, and frustrated....
"Sorry....That one hurt a lot." She looked exhausted. He gently
cooled her face with a damp cloth.
"Are you okay?" He felt totally out of control. He didn't know
what to do anymore. She was in such pain. No matter how much she tried to
keep it from him, he saw it in her eyes. Images of Kaoru dead, their baby
dead, haunted him.
"Ke-Ke-KenSHIN!!!! I have to push. I have to push NOW!" The
pressure was too much. It was time. She couldn't wait any longer.
Please. Please let them both be okay. Let them both be
okay. Kenshin moved to help her. There was so much blood. So
much.....
"Ka-Kaoru. I can see....the baby's head. The baby is coming."
"Uhg!" Kaoru pushed harder. Something within her instinctively
knew what to do. "Uhhhh! Kenshin," she panted, "we're almost there."
"I love you." They stared at each other through their tears.
Kenshin is crying? she thought, but another pain hit her, urging her
to push again. One more time.
"Uhhhg!"
"He's here. Kaoru. We have a son. Kaoru," he whispered, "we have
a son." Kenshin cut the cord and cleaned him up. His hair was dark red.
"He's beautiful. Kenshin," she said tiredly, "we're going to wait
a few months before we try this again, okay?" Kaoru gasped suddenly.
"Kenshin? I think I have to push again...."
*****
"Tadaima!" Yahiko shook the snow off his jacket. The
storm had lasted all night, totally changing the scenery of Tokyo to
white. But the sun had broken through, warming the air a few degrees.
"Okaeri!" Kenshin stood in the doorway of the main room.
He looked more than a little exhausted.
"Kenshin, didja have a rough night or something? You're still in
the same clothes as yesterday. Did Kaoru make you run around looking for
food? What was she craving last night? Onigiri with pickled daikon? She
always wants vegetables in the middle of winter!"
"No. She had the babies last night."
"Oh, so that's why. Of course, having the babies would tire both
of you out.....She HAD THE BABIES? BABIES? PLURAL?" Yahiko paled and ran
into Kaoru and Kenshin's room.
"Kaoru!"
"Shhh." Kaoru lay on the futon, her long hair spilling around her
in a black curtain. She smiled softly at him. "Yahiko, they're
sleeping...."
"Twins? Kaoru! Geesh, is there something in the water? Kenshin,
I was joking when I said that you were gonna have twins."
"No. Triplets." Kaoru smiled tiredly. "Triplets. Yahiko," she
asked softly, "do you want to meet them?" But he couldn't hear her. He
lay passed out on the ground.
"There must be something in the water...." Kaoru just shook her
head and sighed.
