Hello! I'm back! As you all know...or those who follow me, I've just finished one of my story sequels. Oh it makes me happy to receive such awesome reviews! Thanks to all those people who have followed me and favorite my stories. Now back to this story, I hope you enjoy this next installment of this chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own Itazura na Kiss or it's characters. I only own my OC's and the plot line of the story. This is NOT a yaoi like most people see on my page. Please enjoy.
Chapter 4: Her Body, the Baby
It's been a week since Kotoko's been feeling a little...sick. She's been losing her appetite and losing weight. The good thing about the pregnancy was that her long awaited bump had started to appear. That itself made her really happy. So what was the reason behind her sudden loss of appetite? Kotoko soon thought that if she kept this up, her health and even the baby's health will be in danger. She decided to wait till the weekend so that she could tell Naoki.
"Wow...I'm a nurse and I don't even know my conditions. How lame am I?" She thought.
It was a regular work day for both Naoki and Kotoko. Even though it was a work day, Kotoko was really careful when it came to walking from one office to another. She listened to the doctor's words really carefully and held onto the ledge as she walked up the stairs. When it came to lunch, no matter how hard she tried, Kotoko just couldn't get the feeling to eat even though she was so close to finishing her serving. The times that she managed to finish a plate of food, it would all go to waste as she found her self throwing up minutes later. This condition was getting more serious and she had to tell Naoki before something terrible happens.
Finally it was the weekends and Kotoko was sitting in their bedroom, standing by the window and staring out to the view behind their house. Naoki came in the room with hands full of papers from work; he had just got off his weekend shift. When he came into the room, he saw his wife staring out the window with a worried expression on her face. This made him worry, too. He walked over to his wife and gave her a back hug. This surprised her but Kotoko was happy that he was home.
"Why are you lost in thought, my clumsy wife?" Asked Naoki.
"Mou~ Irie-kun," Kotoko said as she turned around to face her husband. Naoki gave her a little peck on the lips and proceeded with the questions.
"So what's wrong? What's with the worried face?"
"Irie-kun...I have to talk to you. There's something that's been really worrying me," said Kotoko.
"What is it? You can tell me," said Naoki.
"For the last two weeks, it's like...my body...it's refusing to listen or something," said Kotoko.
"What do you mean?" Asked Naoki.
"I've been having a loss of appetite," said Kotoko. "I've been trying to eat for the sake of the baby...but my body just won't let anything else in. Even if I do manage to finish my food, they end up...you know...out."
"Well, now that you mention it, you do look a little bit thinner. Even though I'm a doctor, pregnancy isn't my specialty. Why don't we go see the doctor tomorrow and ask her," said Naoki.
As promised, the next day the couple immediately went to the doctor's office. When they were called in, Kotoko explained her situation to the doctor. They ran some quick tests and the doctor came out with a relief smile on her face. She then addressed the couple and told them the reason.
"Kotoko-san. if I may call you that, I am happily to report that the baby's health is fine. Yours, on the other hand, is a little bit of a concern. The sudden loss of appetite is a little strange considering every pregnant woman would have a craving to eat more. Your body is just getting used to supporting two life forms now. However, if you don't eat the right amount, your life and the baby's could be in danger if you do not have the energy. Without the right amount of food, your body will collapse. Please do be careful," explained the doctor. "I believe that the situation will stabilize after the first month of pregnancy."
"But what can be done to be able to support her body now," said Naoki.
"Just try to get her to eat properly and whether or not her body decides to accept the nourishment it is up to her," said the doctor.
"Thank you, sensei," said Kotoko.
"Ah, right. Do the two of you wish to know the gender of the baby?" Asked the doctor.
"Well...we want to be surprised," said Kotoko.
"Okay then, please be careful on your way home," said the doctor.
The couple bid farewell to the doctor and headed home. When they arrived him, Machiko was already at the door waiting for them. Also to hear the news from the doctor, too. Kotoko explained everything to her mother-in-law and saw that her expression turned from worry to concern. She said that she will now be in charge of making Kotoko meals to boost her health and making it a portion in which she can eat it.
Luckily after a few weeks of Machiko's meal, Kotoko slowly began to gain her appetite back again. And after 2 month, it was like she never had an appetite loss. She went back to the doctor's office to check up on the baby and her health. To her relief, everything was still going smoothly. In fact, the baby was growing really fast for it's age in the womb. She notified Kotoko might have the possibility of an early birth. Since the baby was relatively big in the womb as it is, the logic of it being born would be the same as any baby being born on the right due date.
"Basically, the baby's size after it is born early would be the same size of any baby born on it's scheduled date," explained the doctor after Kotoko's scheduled ultrasound.
Even though she had the doctor's words, Kotoko was still worried. Her baby might be born earlier than the expected due date. When she reached home, Kotoko went to her bedroom, took out an album and stuck the picture of the ultrasound into the pages. That album was the album dedicated to their second child. She did the same thing when she had Kotomi and it still was being used; constantly being filled with pictures she took of her daughter on special occasions.
After sticking the picture in, Kotoko went to change her clothes and sat on the bed. She got permission to take the day off. She sat on the bed and then thought of the idea of choosing the baby's name. She took out a small notebook from her bedside table and started to scribble names in it. Kotoko, as she thought of the names, kept wondering what the gender would be. She also thought of the 'what if's' that usually come up in life.
"What if I had a baby girl? Would she get along with Kotomi? What about a little boy?" Thought Kotoko.
"My little baby, Mama is going to protect you just like I did with your sister," whispered Kotoko as she caressed her stomach with a smile on her face.
Suddenly there was a knock on her door. She asked who it was and it turned out that Machiko had already picked up Kotomi from school. Kotomi ran up to her mother's side and climbed onto the bed very carefully. She sat there just staring at her mother's swollen stomach. Kotoko could tell that her daughter wanted to touch it but was holding back.
"Kotomi, sweetheart, you can touch it if you want. Mama won't be in pain," said Kotoko as she stroked her daughter's growing hazel-brown locks.
With a smile on her face, Kotomi light and gently pressed her hands on her mother's stomach, feeling every part until she suddenly felt something move. Feeling frightened, Kotomi quickly moved her hands and stared at her mother with worried eyes. Kotoko gave her daughter a reassuring smile and said:
"It's okay. Mama isn't hurt," said Kotoko.
"Really?" Asked Kotomi.
"It's weird, huh? Your brother or sister knew that you were touching so they had to say 'hi' by moving inside Mama's tummy," said Kotoko.
"Wow! Hi little brother or little sister," Kotomi said as she put her face near her mother's stomach.
With that, the baby moved a little and Kotoko told Kotomi that the baby heard her. She smiled even wider knowing that her sibling was able to 'hear' her. Machiko sent her to her room to change and to let her mother rest. Kotomi quickly listened to her grandmother's words and left the room quietly. After seeing her granddaughter leave, Machiko turned her attention back to Kotoko.
"Kotoko-chan, what did the doctor say?" Machiko asked.
"The doctor said that the baby was healthy and growing really fast and strong. She told me that...I might give birth before the due date because of it's size. But there was nothing to worry about because there are a lot of babies who are big at birth.
There was nothing to worry about because even if the baby was to be born early, it's size would be the same as any baby born at the right due date," explained Kotoko.
"Really? This little grandchild of mine is growing fast a strong, Just like when I had Naoki. He grew fast. But I can't help but worry," said Machiko.
"Honestly, mother...neither can I," said Kotoko. "I worry for it's health after birth. It might be healthy now but what about the future?"
"We can only wait and see, Kotoko-chan. Oh goodness...only about seven more months...maybe even less! I'm so excited either way!" Cried Machiko.
"Me too," smiled Kotoko. "I can't wait for you to be born, my little baby."
Will this baby be born early? On time? Or late? What gender do you think it is? Girl or Boy? (tell me in the reviews) and Why? What do you think the reason behind the gender you choose?Oh right! What about the house that Naoki for them to live in? When will they move on? Find out soon!
So what do you guys think? OH that question I posted above, please try to answer it in your AWESOME reviews. Thanks and I'll come out with a new chapter soon!