From: Maribeth Mock ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Forgive me for inflicting this on you: it*s my first fanfic and I*m not a very good writer. I swear, I had just thought this out when I read "The Strongest Midwife" Any comments (but please, don*t flame me (^v^.) would be welcome at marimock@stanford.edu. Beware the overly positive, if you encourage me, I might do more ^ o ^;; Past Due I*m just a college student, and I mean no harm by my use and abuse of the RK characters: please don*t sue me! Text conventions indicates thought It was time, and past time. After more than nine months, everyone at the Aoiya was very ready for their diminutive okashira to give birth. For the first several months it had been nothing worse than satisfying her cravings for strange foods, requiring the joint efforts of their restaurant and spy networks to keep her supplied. When she had demanded the Western sweets called peppermints, they had gotten her peppermints, down to the last minty candy in Kyoto. Foolishly, the Oniwabannshu had breathed a sigh of relief when the cravings ceased as Misao entered her eight month. Misao had ballooned out to almost comical proportions, seeming almost as wide through her stomach as she was tall. Together with her swelling ankles and the reshaping of her bones to cradle the infant, the once swift and lithe ninja girl could barely walk in the morning. On most days, her husband Aoshi would calmly carry her downstairs to the breakfast table, then leave to begin his meditations. Other days, Misao could not look at him before lunch without yelling "This is all YOUR fault!" At such times, even the unflappable Aoshi found it convenient to begin his meditation early and allow Okon and Omasu to help her down. Misao thought, When Misao was nine and a half months gone, a set of false pangs had temporarily relived her fears about her lateness and sent everyone at the Aoiya scuttling to prepare. Everyone, that is, except Aoshi, who had remained in his meditation room, calmly sipping his tea. In the days since, Misao had been in a mood to throw kunai as well as accusations at her husband*s head. "Okon, I*m beginning to think that I*ll be pregnant forever," said Misao. She was resting on the front porch of the Aoiya, watching the evening traffic trickle by. some childish part of her mind wailed. "I know it must feel that way now, but I promise it will be over soon," soothed the older woman. Normally Okon left the kindness to Omasu and kept a sharp eye on the bottom line, but everyone was pitching in to help Misao in this trying time. she thought heatedly, making sure none of the thought reached her face to disturb Misao. A moment later, her resolve was lost as Misao stiffened and put a hand to her stomach. "Did the baby kick you?" asked Okon worriedly. "No, but it may just be false pains again," said Misao evenly, though the ring of white around her wide eyes rather contradicted her cool tone. Misao determinedly continued the conversation, but Okon noticed that she seemed to lose the thread every few minutes. "Let me get you inside," said Okon, her tone brooking no contradictions. She helped the awkward girl to her feet and supported her as they went inside. As they crossed the threshold, Misao*s grip on her wrist tightened until Okon swore she could feel the bones grinding together. "Daijoubu ka, Misao-chan?" She looked over to see Misao biting her lip, staring off into space. Looking downwards, she saw a clear pink fluid running down Misao*s legs. "This is it, Misao. Let*s just get you to the room we*ve set up." The doctor had suggested that the birth take place on the ground floor near the kitchen, so the room next to Aoshi*s had been made into a birthing room. After making sure she would be comfortable on the futon, Okon rushed away to tell the others and summon the doctor. When he came, the doctor examined Misao and pronounced her unready. He got up to leave, saying "I*ll be back tomorrow morning," only to run straight into Shiro, who was blocking the door. "Gomen nasai, sensei," said Shiro apologetically, without moving an inch. He turned to Omasu, who smiled sweetly and gently led him back into the Aoiya. "Wouldn*t you rather spend the night here? I*m sure we could find a room for you*" The doctor opened his mouth to protest, then closed it again as he noticed that Shiro was idly tossing a heavy studded armband, and Okina had just walked in from the hall testing thew balance of a throwing knife. "Aa, I guess that would be nice," he mumbled weakly. "Great!" Omasu chirped as if everything was normal. "I*ve got a room for you right here." Okon stayed with Misao, who continued to have mild contractions throughout the night. Omasu had planned to stay with them at first, but her obvious anxiety made Misao nervous as well. After only an hour of that, Okon had sent Omasu to look after the inn. The contractions kept Misao from sleeping, "But," she confided to Okon, "it*s worth it, because I know that it will all soon be over." As the sun came up the next morning, she began to regret her words. The contractions were getting longer, but no more regular, and the doctor said that she had a while to go yet. She could not feel comfortable lying or sitting, so she kept rising to walk around the room, then sitting again when she grew too tired to walk. By that afternoon, she was so tired, so completely ready to be done with it all that she was nearly crying with each contraction. As the sun touched the edge of the horizon, she could not a loud moan. She looked at Okon with shame in her eyes, but the older onmitsu only smiled wearily and said "We all love you, Misao. Scream if you want to." It grew harder and harder to withstand the pain, and by midnight Misao was shrieking with every contraction. The doctor said that the baby would any time now, so the room began to fill with activity. Okina was heating water in the kitchen, and Shiro was helping Misao up and down when she felt the need to pace. Omasu crouched in a corner of the room, afraid to go near the laboring Misao but too worried to leave. Because she had nothing in particular to focus on she heard just a thread of a whisper between Misao*s screams. "*shi" "What did you say, Misao?" "Aoshi please*" she moaned "where are you*" Omasu thought, Omasu strode out of the room and flung back the screen leading to Aoshi*s room. At first, she thought he was meditating as usual, but then she saw his twisted face and shaking hands. He seemed unaware of her presence so she walked over and put a soft hand on his shoulder. He turned and looked at her with wide, guilt-stricken eyes and asked "Is she going to be alright?" He didn*t seem to notice that his voice cracked on the last word. For Aoshi, the last twenty-four hours had been Hell. Through the paper walls of his room, he could hear everything that Misao did, and he couldn*t stop thinking of her words "This is all YOUR fault." His mind had run in endless accusatory circles until the evening. When she had started screaming all conscious thought had faded into and endless He had lain there, too burdened with guilt to move until Omasu had brought him back to awareness. When she saw the look on Aoshi*s face, Omasu abruptly lost her anger. "Aoshi, Misao is calling for you." "Why? This is all my fault." He rasped, his searching hers for the condemnation he expected. Stunned by the lack of comprehension in his face Omasu patiently said "It takes two to get pregnant, Aoshi. She still loves you and wants you with her, whether or not she blames you for her condition. Please, she needs your strength to get through this." thought Aoshi, shocked, but as Omasu*s last words penetrated, he shot to his feet and moved to the door. Suddenly alone, Omasu caught her breath and wished that someone, someday would love her that much before she hurried back into the other room. Aoshi walked swiftly into the room, causing the Oniwabannshu to stop in their tracks. Without a word he sat beside his wife and took one of her white knuckled hands in his. She spared a breath for a smile at him, then clenched her hand on his as she entered another contraction. She did not scream, though her hand tightened on his until he thought her fingers must break, and again, and again. Between contractions she gasped "Thank you * I love you so much" Overwhelmed, Aoshi could not speak but Misao*s smile widened at something she found in his eyes. "Now PUSH" the doctor commanded, his fears forgotten in his area of expertise. "Oh, I can see its head!" exclaimed Okon. Misao seized Aoshi*s other hand and twisted to lay her head on his knees. "Dame! The tall one can move better than you can right now," reprimanded the doctor. Aoshi shifted position so he could hold her hands in his and support her back on his thighs. "Aaah, aaaaah, it*s coming!" Misao moaned. Fascinated, Aoshi saw a dark head of hair emerge from between her legs. As shoulders followed the head, the doctor grasped the baby and smoothly pulled it from the womb. He dangled it by its ankles and spanked it sharply, startling the child into a lusty bawl. "It*s a boy!" shouted Okina. Half an hour later, things had calmed down considerably. Misao had delivered the afterbirth and the baby*s umbilical cord had been tied off and cut. The doctor had washed the baby and returned him to Misao, who was holding him was he taught himself how to nurse. Quietly, so as not to disturb the infant*s rapt concentration, Aoshi said "What do you think we should name him?" Misao*s brilliant blue eyes met his as she said "I was thinking about *Hannya.*" "Shinomori Hannya, ne? I like it." Aoshi rumbled. "I love you so much. I*m so sorry I hurt you like this. I promise, you*ll never have to do this again." "What, are you kidding? We*ve got at least three more to go, or Beshimi, Hyotoko, and Shikijo will be hurt "What? After this you want to have more children?" "Well," said Misao ruefully, looking down at her now flaccid belly "maybe not right away. But later, sure, why not? I love you, and want to have your children." Aoshi just stared at her in amazement, remembering her screams only hours ago. "I might like some daughters, too" Misao mock pondered "but that might be dangerous considering your reaction to the girl babies you*ve raised*" The wicked twinkle in her eyes began to fade as she saw the corners of his mouth pull down. shrieked an anguished voice inside Misao. Then Aoshi could hold it in no longer and burst out laughing. "Whatever you want, kobito. Just wait a little while." With her son in her arms and her husband, smiling at her, Misao fell asleep the happiest person in the world. Owari!! So sorry about the messy biological details, but I wanted it to be realistic. In point of fact, twenty four hours for a first baby is a little low: it can go as high as sixty hours and still be fairly normal. I'm afraid that my program sends funny symbols sometimes, I hope it dosen't interfere with viewing it. nani nani * whatever, a little like the English yadda yadda kunai * Misao*s throwing knives daijoubu ka *Are you all right? gomen nasai * I*m sorry sensei * doctor or teacher kobito * beloved owari * the end --------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ---------------------------- GRAB THE GATOR! FREE SOFTWARE DOES ALL THE TYPING FOR YOU! Tired of filling out forms and remembering passwords? Gator fills in forms and passwords with just one click! Comes with $50 in free coupons! Click Here ------------------------------------------------------------------------