Choice of Music: My Precious One - Celine Dion

*~* A mother's joy begins when new life is stirring inside… when a tiny heartbeat is heard for the very first time, and a playful kick reminds her that she is never alone. *~*
*~* Anonymous *~*

Chapter 2 - A Little Rose

Vice snickered slowly to himself, thinking of each and every malicious idea that ran through his mind. News had reached him of the former Slow Master, Machi Shina, was healthy and well, having escaped from his last encounter with him. Not only that, but she was pregnant now and almost to the term.

He remembered listening to her screams and sobs, tearing through skin and placenta to reach her womb and the child. The little runt never had a chance to live. But once more, she was pregnant. And more people meant more possible Masters for those fucking Good Douji.

The malevolent green Douji sneered to himself. If he was lucky, he could get both of them in one go, effectively slice her in half at the middle.

"Vice-san," K asked from the kitchen, "what's so funny?"

"None of your fucking business, K," he simply growled in return. "Just finish making my fucking meal. I've got to do some fucking work soon."

"Work? What kind of work?"

"I fucking said it was none of your fucking business!" he roared, slamming a clawed fist into the wall. The sound of glass shattering in the kitchen was the only reply he received from his so-called "Master", and then it was only silence. Fucking K had ruined the good mood Vice was in earlier when he first found out by actually being happy that she was with-child.

Leaning back, the Ultimate Evil stared up at the ceiling. 'So,' he thought. 'If she actually made it to term, I wonder what she's have. Girl or boy?'

Realizing what he was thinking, Vice smacked himself, trying to drive any innocent thoughts from his mind. "Doesn't matter, just kill her and the brat and be done with it," he mumbled.

"Well, Machi. Have you found a name for her yet?" Hiroshi asked, sitting on one end of their couch. The street punk gently massaged Machi's feet, waiting for an answer. His movements were somewhat slow and weak, but he was gaining back his strength more and more, little by little.

"I've looked through all the books that Makoto brought us," she stated, speaking of the high schooler by her first name. "But nothing I found really looks good."

"You kept saying 'rose' in your sleep when I arrived home. Honestly, I think you found one for her."

"But it's not Japanese."

"I don't think it has to be," he said, rubbing the woman's ankle. "It's a beautiful name, and it will suite her. No doubt about it."

"She'll probably have her Daddy's hair," Machi said, flipping through a magazine that modeled baby clothes for little girls.

"If she has my hair, then Rose will most likely have her Mama's lovely eyes."

Machi blushed slightly, somewhat happy that the hormones made her a little too emotional than she really was known for. Her breath hitched slightly when she felt another faint kick inside of her. "Look's like Rose knows her Daddy's here."

The woman felt his large hand gently touch her stomach. Laying her hand upon his, the black haired woman slowly guided his hand to where she had felt the infant kick. Resting their hands there, they both waited, seeing if the little one would repeat her action.

There! Another small bump as Rose kicked once more. "Hey there, sweetie," she heard Hiroshi whisper. "Daddy can't wait to see you. I think you need to spend more time with Daddy, you've been in there long enough."

Machi let out a small laugh as she felt a small squirming movement, as though she was trying to reply to her father's words. "I think she wants to see you too," she smiled.

"Well, she should be due soon, isn't she?" Hiroshi asked, wrapping an arm aroung Machi's shoulders.

"I saw Dr. Shakuji a couple days ago," she stated. "He said that the baby should be ready within the next few weeks. If something happens, Pardonner will be ready to help if need be."

The oldest member of their Good Douji club, Shakuji Koun, had retired once Machi and Hiroshi had found out that she was pregnant, and during his retirement had offered to help deliver the infant along with Pardonner. The Douji of Patience had found himself a new Master, Matsumoto Kiyose, during this time. Luckily, she was also ready to help should the need arise.

"I'm glad, Hiroshi," Machi sighed, leaning against her boyfriend. "I still don't know how I came to be the Master of a Good Douji, but I am very glad that I did."

"I am too," he replied, rubbing her shoulder.

The woman let out another sigh of content. Despite her worry of the Evil Douji, there whereabouts, and the safety of her unborn child; she was happy with the situation. She had a good home, a job, and someone to love who loved her in return. Not only that, but she carried his child along with her. They had friends who were willing and able to help out with the baby, to help her and protect her.

If she hadn't had any of those, she wasn't sure if she would have been able to carry the child. If she did, it could have been sickly or she would have given it up to a couple who wanted a child but couldn't have one of their own.

Machi felt another kick, but it felt different. It felt more like a tightening of her stomach, like she had when she had menstrual cramps. In no time, the pain went away. She felt her body relax. It was just probably a small contraction, she recieved those a couple times a month throughout her pregnancy.

Suddenly, she felt that tightening again, only that it increased in pain levels. Machi hissed, placing a hand to where she felt them begin.

"Machi, you okay?" Hiroshi asked, holding her shoulders.

"I'm fine, Hiroshi," she stated. "Just a little - ah!" Another wave of pain crashed through her stomach, and the woman felt as though something wet was running down her legs. Did her water break? "I think," she struggled. "I think Rose is ready."

"We need to get you to a hospital now," he said, standing from the couch. Machi tried to stand also until Hiroshi gently sat her back down. "Just stay here and relax, Mach," he spoke with a worried urgency in his voice. "I'm going to call Shakuji-san and let him know what's going on. Tokorozawa and Darumada will take you up to the hospital."

The woman watched silently as he left the room in a hurry, probably to find a phone. She tried to breath slowly, seeing if she could relax the pain away. Her hand ran across the moistness upon the inside of her thighs and was slightly excited for the baby. But why had Hiroshi sounded so worried, like something terrible was happening?

Machi shrugged it off. 'Maybe he's just got jitters because she's coming,' she thought. She lifted her hand to itch a small, irritated spot on her neck; and saw bright, red blood dripping from her fingers.

She felt her heart stop. Struggling to sit up, Machi could see the crimson liquid soaking through the crotch of her pants and down her legs, seeping through to the couch. Her breathing increased as her heart started to beat rapidly.

Was she going to lose her baby?

Please review. I'm sorry for any OOCness.