Chapter III: Soushi.

Soushi put down his cell phone and stood abruptly from his chair. It was not like her to ignore his phone calls of text messages and it was beginning to worry him. He walked over to his door and opened it, calmly walking down the hall and towards Ririchiyo's room. He knew there was no need to overreact. He thought of the possible reason as to why his Mistress was not answering. Maybe she was in the bath, maybe she was studying, or maybe she had gone to bed early. But somehow, he was not convinced that any of these things were the answers. As he came to Ririchiyo's door, his hand flew to the knob, jiggling and turning it, not in the least surprised it would be locked. He knew his Mistress valued her privacy, even if they have been lovers for over three years. Soushi knew everything about her and knew that something was not right.

"Ririchiyo-sama, please, is there anything wrong?" he said through the closed door.

There was no answer from inside. He called out for her again, the panic rising in his chest. Something was indeed wrong. He knocked on her door as calmly as he could, hoping the knocking would alert her of his presence. After several moments or rather, what seemed like hours to him, something like the sound a lock being tilted came into the hall. Soushi took a step back and the door creaked open. Ririchiyo's face appeared in the crack of the door. He could not make out her face for the long brush of her raven hair covered her eyes.

"Please.." She said as he voice cooed like a frightened dove, "I do not want to see you."

"Ririchiyo-sama, please, are you all right?"

At the sound of his words, Ririchiyo quickly began to close her door. Soushi reached out and caught the door, keeping it from shutting completely.

"Please, Ririchiyo…I know you went to the hospital this afternoon. What had the physician have to say?"

"I don't want to talk about it!" she shouted, trying to force the door closed.

Soushi then placed his foot in the doorway, barring it open. Startled, Ririchiyo took several steps back, nearly tripping over onto the hardwood. Closing the door behind him, Soushi stared at her appearance, stepping up into the foyer of the apartment. Her long, black silk hair stretched out over the floor, her beautiful violet eyes slight pink from weeping and her complexion was as white as an apparition. Her small figure trembled and her white sundress was tucked under her long legs. She looked as if she were a wounded lamb, terrified that she was going to be thrown to the wolves. Calmly and quietly, Soushi approached her, reaching out a gloveless hand for her to take. Ririchiyo shook her head and pushed her herself further away from him.

"Ririchiyo-sama, what is the matter? You are as pale as a sheet."

"I…can't tell you…not yet."

Soushi stepped forward, leaning down to look at her. He had never seen his Mistress his distraught, she was usually shy and showed very little weakness in front of her peers. Before she could react, he wrapped his arms around her small body, slowing rising to his feet, carrying her to her bed. Ririchiyo wriggled in his grasp until he gently places her on the sheets. As Soushi took a set beside her on the bed, Ririchiyo moved further away, not wanting his closeness at all. The lack of closeness and trust was beginning to weigh heavily, causing an inner chaos rise in Soushi. He wanted to know what was troubling his Ririchiyo so. It was killing him. Unable to control his concern, Soushi reached out, taking his Mistress in his arms, laying back into the pillows.

"Let me go, Miketsukami-kun. I don't want to speak to you now.."

"Forgive me, but I will not release you until you tell me what has happened."

She pushes on his chest, desperate to escape, to not face the reality of what was to come. But maybe…this was bound to happen…maybe it was time for the truth to be known. After all, she could not keep this a secret, because she would be showing in less than five months. Then it would be clear to everyone, including Soushi. He would want to know….that he was going to be a father.

"I love you, Ririchiyo-sama. Is it because you cannot trust me that you won't tell me what has you so distraught."

Ririchiyo wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his chest. This is what she wanted, what she was comfortable with. So why had she been so frightened of telling him?

"I trust you…with all my heart, I'm just so scared, Miketsukami-kun."

Soushi took her face in his hands and smiled, stroking her skin with his thumbs. His gentleness is what kept her whole, here, and sane. She sat up rubbed her bloodshot eyes, looking Soushi directly in the eyes, wanting to see his reaction properly.

"Are you going to tell me what the hospital had said?"

Ririchiyo clenched her hands in her dress and exhaled, feeling the weakness in her legs return.

"I…I was informed that the vomiting, my late cycles and….my nausea all results of.."

She held her breathe before finishing, her heart beating at an alarming speed and her body secreting a cold sweat.

"Yes?" he asked, leaning his head to touch hers.

"M-Miketsukami-kun…I'm…I'm p-p-pregnant!"

Silence brought out in the room, only the sound of her bird chirping loudly. Ririchiyo waited for his reaction, praying, hoping that it will be what she was waiting for. An ecstatic reaction.

"M-Miketsukami?" Ririchiyo said as she leaned in close to Soushi.

"Did you…say that you are pregnant, Ririchiyo-sama?"

"Yes, I did."

Before she was able to react, Soushi lurched forward, wrapping his arms around her, pinning her firmly to the bed, feathers flying from the down pillows beneath them.

"Wahh! Miketsukami-kun! What are you doing?"

Soushi buried his face in her shoulder, planting light kisses over her skin. Ririchiyo breathed a sigh of relief, all the worry lifting from her shoulder. Her prayers had been answered and her Soushi was delighted of their news. She thought carefully of the words he had said to her those four, wonderful years ago.

"I only have one dream, Ririchiyo-sama."

"Really?"

"Yes…I want a child, a family of my own."

In those years that have past, she would have dreamed that she would fulfill his dreams. Not in this lifetime, but now…it has come true. Soushi was going to have a family of his own…with her.

"Thank you, thank you so much, Ririchiyo-sama…"

"Miketsukami-kun…it's happening…your child is coming…Our child."

He wrapped himself tighter around her figure, kissing her neck and hair.

"Yes, we're going to be parents…This," he said as he touched her stomach, "is mine and you are going to mother it.."

Tears welled in her eyes, forming fat droplets on her cheeks. Although she knew this journey was going to hard and filled with anxiety, as long as she had the love of Soushi and the support of her dear friends, she would walk a wonderful path to her happiness. For she had found her happiness. Soushi Miketsukami.

"I love you, Miketsukami, Truly, I love you."

He lifted his head from her neck, gently grazing her lips with a smooth and caring kiss.