My new life with the Kurosaki's has been interesting. When I first got there Masaki took me shopping. That was fun, I love to shop. But to tell you the truth time seemed to pass amazingly fast. Before I knew it my stomach was huge! That was fun. Let me tell you by the way, I 'm now seven months pregnant and this kid is becoming a real pain! Today is July fifteenth and I have about two months to go. Having to stay in this gigai all the time is getting to me, but I'm adjusting. Masaki and I are getting ready to go to the store
"Hey Masaki I am ready go when you are!"
"Okay Ran, just give me a sec."
Poor Masaki was huge, but to tell you the truth I wasn't far behind. She walked over to grab her keys and purse
"Okay lets head...oh ouch!"
"Are you okay"
"I think my water just broke, can you go get Isshin?"
"Sure thing."
I walked into the clinic. Lucky for us he was just finishing up with a patient. He looked up at me
"What's up Ran?"
"Masaki and I were getting ready to leave for the store, but she sent me in here to get you. She said she thinks her water broke."
"Oh my, I guess it's time then."
I followed him back into the house and she looked up at us.
"Isshin, it's time to go."
"Okay, Ran can you grab her bag? I'm going to get her out to the car."
"Okay I'll meet you out there."
I moved a quickly as my current condition would allow me to. I grabbed her bag and headed out the car. Isshin had just finished helping her get inside.
"Go ahead and get in Ran, I'm going to lock up."
I nodded and got in to the back seat.
"How are you doing Masaki?"
"I'm okay for now sweetie. Ow shit!"
She reached over and started honking the horn. Isshin came running to the car.
"Sorry Masaki"
He slipped into the drivers seat and we were off.
The ride to the hospital was relatively quiet accept for the occasional grunt from Masaki and us making sure that she was okay. We arrived at the hospital a few minuets later.
"Ran can you help Masaki out of the car? I'm going to get her a wheelchair."
"Sure thing"
He ran off into the hospital and I got out of the car.
"Come on Masaki, lets get that baby out of you."
She lightly laughed at me as I helped her out for the car as Isshin was coming back with her wheelchair.
"Let's get he inside."
We pushed her inside and Isshin walked to the lady at the counter.
"Hello Dr. Kurosaki."
"Hello Kimiko, my wife is in labor. We need to get her into a room."
"Will she be coming with you?"
"Yes this is my sister in law Rangiku."
She nodded and walked us back to one of the delivery rooms. It was a cozy little privet room with a bed and two chairs. I looked at Isshin
"This room looks as if it was set up for comfort as well as medical procedures."
He chuckled.
"It is. Labor and giving birth can be a long process."
"Really?"
"Yes, it can last anywhere from two ours to three days."
"What!"
"Don't worry Ran. It's rare that is last that long."
I shook my head. I don't know if I could handle three days of labor pains. Masaki still seemed to be doing okay at the moment. I looked over at her. She looked to be in a little pain.
"How are you doing?"
"Well the pain if getting a little worse."
Just then the doctor came in
"Hello Mr. and Mrs. Kurosaki I going to check and see how dilated you are."
He checked her.
"Okay Mrs. Kurosaki you are dilated to about a five. At nine you will start to push. I will be back in about an hour to check on you again."
I looked over to Masaki.
"Are you guys sure that you want me in the room while you are giving birth. I mean it is kind of an intimate moment between husband and wife."
They both looked at me.
"Ran you are part of this family. You are welcome to stay if you like."
I smiled
"I'll stay then."
Isshin and I sat down and waited, It seemed like Masaki's contractions were getting stronger. I could tell by the look on her face. Just a promised the doctor came back and check her again.
"Okay you are fully dilated now. You are going to have to start pushing."
I could tell just by looking at her that she was in a lot of pain. I could tell the exact moment that it got even worse for her. She stared sweating and crying.
"Isshin"
"I'm right here Masaki."
He walked over and took her hand. She started to squeeze. I could tell that she was squeezing hard by the look on Isshin's face. The doctor looked up
"Okay Masaki here we go, when I tell you I want you to start pushing. I'm going to count to ten then you can stop. Here we go, push."
He stated to count, when he got to ten she stopped pushing with a grunt. He gave her second to compose herself.
"Okay Mrs. Kurosaki here we go again."
Isshin looked at his wife
"Remember you breathing"
"I'm trying!"
She started to push again as the doctor started his count. When he reached ten stopped and looked up Masaki.
"It's going well, faster expected. Your baby is crowning. It won't be long now."
I felt really bad for her. She was sweating and looked like she wanted to cry harder. The doctor had her repeat the push cycle about eight more times.
"Okay one more good push should do it."
Isshin was still holding her hand squeezed it just a little
"You can do it Masaki."
"Shut up Isshin! This is all your fault!"
"I know sweetie, it's almost over."
The Doctor spoke again
"Okay here we go, push."
He started his ten count. She sat up and pushed with all her might. The doctor finished his count.
"Just a little more keep pushing."
She did as told. After just a few seconds, we heard the doctor.
"There, it's out."
Masaki let out a loud grunt and fell back against the bed. Isshin leaned over and kissed her forehead.
"You did good Masaki."
She smiled weakly at him
"Congratulations, It's a boy."
"A boy! Masaki we have a son."
She laughed. The doctor and nurse quickly got the baby cleaned up and handed him to Masaki. She looked down at her new born son.
"Isshin hes perfect."
"He sure is,"
He leaned closer and kissed the baby on the head.
"Ran come take a look."
Walked closer to the bed. He really was beautiful. He already a full head of red hair. When he opened his eyes they were a beautiful brown color.
Isshin looked at Masaki
"Do you have a named picked out?"
She nodded
"Ichigo."
He smiled
"It's perfect. Welcome to world my little Ichigo Kurosaki."
About a month and a half later...
It's been really nice having little Ichigo around. He doesn't cry a whole lot. As a matter of fact he sleeps through the night. As for me, well I'm nine months pregnant now. My stomach is huge! I'm starting to wonder just how big this kid is going to be.
I've tried to help out with Ichigo as much as a can. But now I tire so easily. I'm not used to that. But it is just one of the things that comes with being nine months pregnant. It's September already, September the third to be exact. I'm starting to wonder if this kid is ever going to come out. With any luck it will be sooner that latter.
Masaki and I were sitting watching tv as she feed Ichigo. I suddenly got a sharp pain.
"Ow!"
"Are you okay Ran?"
"I should be fine. I'll be right back."
I got up and started to move. I made it into the dinning room. I stopped when I got another sharp pain. I stopped walking, all of a sudden my legs felt wet. I looked down and I was standing I a small puddle.
"Masaki!"
I didn't meant to yell, but it came out that way. Masaki came around the corner holding a sleeping Ichigo.
"What wrong Ran?"
"I'm standing in a puddle."
She looked at me.
"Oh my. Ran your water broke. I'll go get Isshin."
She walked into the clinic only to come back a few seconds later.
"He is coming Ran."
I nodded. Thankfully there was still almost no pain. Isshin came through the door into the house.
"Ran we are going to deliver your baby here. Do you have your soul pager?"
I took it out of my pocket and handed it to him. He opened it to make a call.
"Hello Retsu, it's Isshin... Yeah it's been a while. I need you to come to the world of the living.. Well Ran just went into labor... Okay, I'm going to call Kisuke and have him bring the babies gigai now. Okay see you soon."
He hung up the phone.
"Captain Unohana will be here soon. Lets get you into a room."
He walked me into the clinic.
"This room is the most comfortable. I'll going to call Kisuke."
He handed me a gown and walked out of the room. I quickly changed and tried to make myself comfortable. I knew that it wouldn't be long before captain Unohana arrived. Now all I could do is wait.
I waited maybe ten minuets before both Captain Unohana and Kisuke arrived. Captain Unohana smiled at me
"Hello Rangiku"
"Hello, it's been a while."
"It has, how are you feeling?"
"Okay. I expected the pain to be worse."
She chuckled
"Well this is just the beginning. Lets see how you feel in a while. Okay lets get you out of that gigai and changed shall we?"
I popped out of my gigai and took the robes that she had for me. Both Isshin and Kisuke left the room so I could change.
"Rangiku, have you talked to your Captain today?"
I shook my head.
"Not today, I usually talk to him about once a week."
"Well since both he and the head captain know your situation, they were informed that you are in labor."
"That's fine. I am just really glad that they allowed me to come here."
She nodded and opened the door.
"Okay gentlemen, you can come back in now."
Both men came back in and Isshin pulled a small medical bassinet to the side of the bed. Kisuke then place a tiny gigai inside of it. Other that having the shape of a human, it had no other distinguishing features. Kisuke smiled at me.
"I know that it doesn't look like much now Ran. But as soon as we put the baby in, it will take the babies appearance."
I nodded. The pain was starting to get worse. It was still bearable though, thank gods. Masaki came to the door.
"Ran, you have a visitor."
"A visitor, me? But who would..."
Before I could finish my sentence my Captain came through the door.
"Captain Hitsugaya, what are you doing here?"
"Well, it's been a while since I've seen you. Plus I figured that you could use the support."
"Thank you Captain."
Kisuke looked over at me
"Rangiku if you don't mind me asking, who is the father?"
"Well,I'd rather not day"
"I need to know how strong to make the seal on the babies reitsu."
My captain sighed
"Look Urahara, all you need to know is the that baby might have high reitsu levels. If I were you I would use a seal strong enough for a captain."
"A captain huh? Alright then."
He made the necessary adjustments.
"There all done."
Just then I felt a sharp pain.
"Ow!"
Captain Unohana came to check on me.
"Rangiku, this is moving extremely fast. It's time to start pushing."
Isshin looked at me.
"Just remember the breathing that Masaki taught you."
I nodded.
"Okay Ran here we go."
She started her count. As I pushed the pain steadily got worse. By the time she got to ten I was out of breath. She let me for a second.
"Okay Ran here we go again."
She counted as I started pushing again. With I stopped pushing she looked up at me.
"You are doing great sweetie. The baby is crowing, so it wont be long now"
I had a few minuets before the next set of contractions came.
Then next few sets of contractions came and went.
"Okay Ran one more should do it, Here we go."
She started her count and I started pushing as hard as I could. I felt a release of pressure and then I heard it. I heard my baby cry.
"Congratulations Rangiku, you have a baby girl."
I couldn't help myself, I started to cry. Captain Unohana cleaned her up and put her in the gigai that Kisuke brought for her. Kisuke then went to work sealing her reitsu.
"Isshin will you please bring Rangiku's gigai so we can put her in it?"
"Sure."
He brought it to me and laid it down for me to merge with. Unohana then handed me my daughter.
"Here you go. She's beautiful Ran."
I smiled as I held my daughter for the first time.
"She sure is."
For the first time, I found myself wondering what Byakuya would think of her. Not that it mattered. He doesn't even know that she exists. I pushed the thought from my head. My captain walked close to me.
"Do you have a name for her?"
I nodded
"Orihime"
"That's a good name."
Isshin and Kisuke walked out of the room and back in to the house.
"Masaki she had a little girl. Your should go see her, she even has orange hair like our little Ichigo."
Masaki smiled and walked into the clinic.
"Isshin, I know."
"Know what Kisuke?"
"Who the father is."
"How?"
"Simple. I'm me!"
"Not a word to anyone Kisuke I mean it."
"I won't tell, I promise."
Masaki walked into the clinic and walk over to me.
"Wow Ran, she is beautiful."
"Thank you Masaki, do you want to hold her?"
"You go ahead, I want you to spend some time with her."
Captain Unohana check both of us to make sure that we were in good health.
"Everything looks good. I'm going to head back now, if you need anything let me know."
"Thank you, for everything"
She smiled and headed out the door. My captain looked at me.
"I am going too. Do you have an idea when you will be coming back?"
"I will be back tomorrow. I don't want to the chance of getting attached to her."
"Okay then we will see you tomorrow."
With that he was gone. Masaki smiled at me.
"I'm going to check on the boys."
As she left I looked down at my new born daughter.
"You sure are beautiful. I'm going to miss you Orihime K. Kurosaki."
I feed her and put her in her bassinet. I laid down and couldn't stop my heart for breaking. As I laid there I cried until I finally drifted of to sleep.
I woke the next morning around six. I feed Orihime one last time and took her into Ichigo's room where he was asleep as well. I put her bassinet next to his. I look at him and whispered
"Take Care of my little hime Ichi."
I walked back into the kitchen and sat at the table with a pen and paper. I wrote a letter to Isshin and Masaki thanking them for everything that they had done for me. I also explained why I chose K as a middle initial. For what ever reason it was important to me. I finished up the letter and left it on the table so they would see it. I walked out the front door and opened a senkaimon back home. I looked back at the house one last time.
"Goodbye my little princess."
I turned back to the gate and started my trip home.
