Progress seems slow here, I wonder if my usual readers are busy..but I'm also rather glad I got new readers. And I'm currently relaxing a little, since I don't have that much assignments on me right now other than writing 5-6 pages of this story every single weekend. Actually in truth I'd write this story everyday bit by bit, but SADLY -again I complain- I don't have Microsoft Word and it pisses me off to no end! Oh well, half a loaf is better than none when it comes to returning home every week and writing like a megalomaniac..
Before I let you off with the story, I'd like to thank everyone who favorite, reviewed and alerted this story. Though I'm sure some of you -the new readers- wonders what's going on, so I suggest you start off from Strings of Red followed by Bonds in Three, it'll make much more sense that way. So now I won't waste anymore time with this and hope you enjoy this chapter~
Does anyone even read this author's note section..?
Weeks have passed since Megumi returned the soul to Misaki and the couple had done their love-making almost every night, and yet there aren't any signs that Misaki is carrying a new life. Saruhiko could see the depressed air around the crow and tried everything he could to make his beloved cheer up, but Misaki seems to avoid his ministrations entirely and spends most of his day at the skateboarding rink. Saruhiko isn't blind or deaf to what's going on at the crow's workplace, he already heard words saying that their trainer is a bit down and isn't as fiery as he used to be.
As usual, that morning before Saruhiko goes to work, he made some coffee for himself and drinking alone downstairs in the kitchen when he heard frantic footsteps from the second floor running around. Worried, he places his cup down and went up to their bedroom to see what's going on. Much to his surprise and slight horror, Misaki is kneeling beside the toilet and emptying the contents of his stomach, his face pale and green by the time he's done before flushing the toilet. The crow lethargically sat there on the tiled floor to catch his breath just as Saruhiko walks in to cradle him against his chest whilst offering a glass of water to rinse his mouth.
All is quiet for the moment as Misaki cleans his mouth to get rid of the acidic feeling in them, until Saruhiko decides to break it. "You know, I have a decent feeling that you're pregnant again, but then again that's just me. I think we should sleep again tonight as a 'just in case', don't you agree?" Saruhiko asks with a lecherous grin on his face. The blue clansman is already dressed and ready for work, the only thing that's missing are his boots which are leaned nicely against the wall near the door. "So? I take it your silence means yes?" he continues, completely ignoring Misaki's full-on glare towards him.
"Is sex the only thing you think about, jackass?" the crow shrieks vehemently before taking a swing of his fist to Saruhiko. The blue clansman had no problem evading it and starts to carry Misaki bridal-style out of the bathroom and plops him on their king-size bed. The crow only glares at Saruhiko spitefully as his stomach threatens to release whatever contents it has left, though Misaki is sure that it's empty by now. "Go to work or you'll be late, I'll be fine here," he sighs when he notices the rather worried look Saruhiko is giving him. Saruhiko however, isn't fully convinced as Misaki's face continues to stay pale and his eyes dimming in their usual glow.
Tentatively, the blue clansman places a hand on Misaki's forehead to check his temperature before caressing his cheeks. Misaki flushes slightly at the gentle ministrations but didn't say a word about it, only letting Saruhiko does as he pleases while he tries to keep his stomach down. Truthfully, he had known this would work, only that it might take some time and to see some sort of reaction six weeks after he had retrieved the soul, it's no surprise he's gloomy. The last time he knew he was carrying was when he was a month along, this time his morning sickness came in a little late, hence why he's upset. "Are you sure you don't want me to stay here and look after you? I don't want you to get hurt like...last time," Saruhiko says after a pause.
The death of their child was hard, and to get this second chance, Saruhiko would do whatever it takes for his family to be complete again. The wish and desire to have a family to call his own overflows from his heart now that it's positive that Misaki is carrying again, but they still have to do a thorough checkup before they can truly celebrate. "I know you're worried. But I'll still go to work as usual, though I won't skate as much. My stomach's seriously pointing a knife at me and wanting me to puke again and again," the crow huffs raggedly and with a roll of his eyes. "I'll stay by the sidelines; you go to work and avoid getting killed from whoever's trying to kill you,"
A smile paints itself on Saruhiko's lips when he realizes that Misaki still retains some of his fiery attitude, but now he's a bit wary because despite those eyes dimming in their usual energy, he could sense the animosity behind them intensifying. Hormones, I need to make sure he doesn't kill me in my sleep, Saruhiko thought shakily. Looking at those eyes again, the blue clansman almost shuddered when Misaki continues to glare at him, silently telling him that if he doesn't get out to work now, the crow will throw him out of the second floor window himself without even caring where Saruhiko might land. Clicking his tongue to show he isn't scared of the sudden fierceness in Misaki's glare, he ruffles the other man's hair affectionately. "Alright, alright. Let me just finish my coffee before you decided to go King Kong on me," he says before swiftly getting out of their room.
"I'm not the fucking monkey here, you stupid monkey!" Misaki screams vehemently from the bedroom to which Saruhiko merely chuckled. He would've corrected saying that King Kong is an ape, but he's afraid that Misaki might maul him before he can put on his boots, so he decides to keep quiet and finish his coffee quietly before going out and locking the door. Misaki continues to glower at the door where Saruhiko had swiftly dodged his pillow, curse that man and his attitude of teasing the crow. He never changes, maybe I should let that Vice-Captain of his kill him for a change, he thought with sadistic glee. But then Ryuu might not get to know his father, and for Misaki, that won't do at all.
After leaving Misaki at home, Saruhiko got into his car and speeds off towards Scepter 4. His Captain might want to hear about this news as he was the one who had helped the two when they first knew Misaki was pregnant. Captain of Scepter 4, Fourth and Blue King; Munakata Reisi. Saruhiko clicks his tongue when he thinks of the older man as Reisi, despite being a capable man, is no longer the same man they had once known all those years ago. He's no longer as responsible, no longer as confident, no longer as cheeky and lively as he used to be. All this because of a certain King's death. I guess the burden of killing a King is heavier than I thought, the blue clansman thought bitterly.
He wouldn't know how his superior felt, he wouldn't know what his superior had to go through after all these years but he knows the pang in his chest when he remembers the previous Red King. Saruhiko never hated the man, he just disliked him for taking Misaki's attention away, but other than that he's completely fine with him. So many years had gone past without any news of a new Red King, Homra had long been disbanded and the clansmen are near nowhere to be found except a few. Bonds thicker than blood huh? What a load of bullshit, the moment their King died, everyone scattered like the scum they are, Saruhiko thought sadistically. Homra was a place he'd never want to remember; all those times filled with heartache, longing for Misaki's eyes only on him, the distance growing longer and further until his betrayal.
But now he has Misaki in his arms, a house to call their own, jobs that can easily cover their daily expenses and most importantly; a child just waiting to be born. He'd have to say; right now his life is at absolute bliss. Pulling up at Scepter 4, he parks his car in its place and stalks his way up to the monitor room as usual where he knows the Vice-Captain is waiting to chew him alive. Over the years, she hadn't changed much, except that her hair had grown longer and her waist thickening a bit, though that was short-lived as she always went to the gym to get her body back in shape. But Saruhiko don't even want to point out that she only goes there for the dumbbells, so she couldn't have lost that weight around her waist easily.
He shudders a little as a rather disturbing image crosses his mind. I don't even want to think what she did to get her waist back in shape, especially not with Kusanagi-san, he thought. It still scars him to think that she and Izumo could get a daughter only two years in their marriage, and it scars him more to see people having a child just a year into their marriage and more in the following years. Those people need a hobby, he thought disgustedly. Finally, he trudges into the monitor room where, not surprisingly, Seri is glaring at him. "Good morning to you too, Vice-Captain," he says monotonously.
"Late again, Fushimi? It's a good thing you arrived earlier than your usual time this morning or else I would've thrown you out the window," she says with a sharp glare towards his way. The motherly-like look he's receiving really isn't helping the thoughts he had earlier to disappear and he'd really just want to go back to his monitors so he can at least hack through the street cameras in case Misaki goes out. "Why the change of heart? Your partner kicked you out I suppose?" she continues in that condescending tone of hers.
Sighing, Fushimi merely clicks his tongue and shove his hands into his pockets. "He's just a bit in the cranky mood, what with carrying the kid and all. I'm pretty sure you'd know how he feels, right, Vice-Captain?" he sneers a little causing Seri to stare at him in surprise. Saruhiko only smiles at her when she lets that information sinks in and went over to his seat to go over the monitors and paperwork as he usually would. Not a while later, the woman walks over to her and looks at him strangely. "Are you saying that your partner is...carrying a child? But how is that even possible?" she asks quietly so that the others didn't hear them.
"The same way he got pregnant the first time, that Strain girl's blessing," Saruhiko replies back blandly, though he's giddy on the inside to see how Seri would react about that. She looks rather apprehensive and on-guard, hoping that what Saruhiko had said was just a scam to get away from her scolding, but the look in his eyes, the very same look when he's being completely serious shows that he's not joking, that Misaki really did get pregnant for a second time. Signaling him with her eyes, the two make their way to Reisi's office quietly; all eyes are on them as they exited the monitor room.
Knocking on the door once, twice, Reisi's voice could be heard on the other side granting their permission to come in. The Blue King is quite surprised to see his top two officers suddenly coming in and puts away his puzzles for the time being, curious on what the two wants. "Ah, Fushimi-kun, Awashima-kun, is there anything I can help you with?" he asks, that same, arrogant smile still plastered on his face. Despite already married to Izumo and goes by the surname 'Kusanagi', Reisi still prefers to call his second using her maiden name as he's gotten too used of it. Seri, however, didn't mind at all.
"Fushimi here has just told me that his partner, that Yatagarasu is pregnant again, and from the same method as before that is the Strain child's blessing," she says with a salute and a leer at Saruhiko who stares back at her boredly. "From the Intel that was given a few years ago, this Strain child can only bless one particular person once a lifetime. How is it that Yatagarasu got pregnant again when the blessing was cancelled with the death of your child?" she continues to question in a rather cold tone. Saruhiko flinches a little when she mentioned Ryuu's death and it took all his willpower not to strike her down.
Clicking his tongue and glaring spitefully at Seri, Saruhiko starts to explain. "The kid grew up, alright? Misaki told me that her powers had grown stronger until she can even call back Ryuu's soul from 'eternal wandering', as she'd like to put it," Saruhiko explains in a rather lethargic tone. "But I doubt her powers would be that powerful without some sort of payment to get the soul back. Misaki didn't say anything about that but that's because I think Megumi hid that information from him. If he knew, he'd never take back Ryuu's soul no matter how much he wanted to," he continues with a forlorn face he tried so hard to keep cold.
Reisi hums in content when he hears about that. He's not surprised that the Strain's powers had grown; even the former red clan's princess's powers are growing tremendously over the past few years. "And why did you say that, Fushimi-kun? How can you tell that the child's powers require payment in order for her to retrieve the soul that you have lost?" Reisi asks in an all-business tone earning another small flinch from Saruhiko.
"The Silver King's Strain clansman's power is illusion and deception, an alteration of the memory and mind. Anna's powers are that of the opposite, instead of creating what's false, she transmits what she felt to her surroundings and reaches into a person or an object's psyche, connecting with them or in short; clairvoyance. However Megumi's powers are that of spiritual, she creates what can be created similar to a God's, but with a price," Saruhiko explains lengthily hoping that his two superiors get where he's going with this.
When he sees that the two seem to be following well, he continues. "But Megumi's just a kid so she can't exactly create souls and implant them for people, nor can she create miracles out of nowhere. When she blesses someone, the payment is that something of hers gets taken away little by little. Look, I don't even know how the concept goes but for rare-type Strains such as her, normally that'd be the cause," he concludes and sits down with a huff. It's tiring being with his superiors, all he wants is to go back to work.
Seri and Reisi glance at each other and silently decide that they should pull up the folder about the girl and other rare-type Strains for some extra research. For now, Reisi just wants to congratulate his subordinate for his success in getting their child back. Smiling, the older man leans forward on his desk and Saruhiko raises a brow in question. "Well, I just want to say congratulations to you and your partner. How far along is he, if you don't mind me asking?"
Saruhiko only shrugs in response before looking at his superior dead in the eyes. "We got the soul back six weeks ago, so should be somewhere there. I was thinking on sending Misaki a checkup later and why am I telling you this?" he stops abruptly, looking at his superiors with critical eyes. Seri manages a small smile but is instantly wiped away, replaced by her cool and cold exterior, but Reisi all out chuckled at his subordinate. The Blue King then wishes Saruhiko luck in parenting before sending the two out of his office, though not before he regards Seri with a knowing look.
"Do you really think you can hide your own pregnancy as well, Awashima-kun?" the Blue King asks with a knowing smirk. Her face immediately turns red in embarrassment before she covers it with a cough while Saruhiko stares at her with a dumbfounded look on his face. "I can already tell with how you walked in today. I suppose congratulations to the both of you then," he continues with a light chuckle. The two fidgets a little before bowing their thanks to Reisi and finally walking out of the King's office.
The walk back out is just as awkward as the walk in, despite Saruhiko not saying anything. He wanted to say something, and yet the words seem to be stuck in his throat, constricting them and silencing him altogether. "The Captain and I will be making our research regarding the rare-type Strain such as the child. Fushimi, go back to the monitor room and keep an eye on everything," she said all of a sudden before turning around and going back to Reisi's office. The younger of the two blinks stupidly for a short moment, a little bit lost at such sudden change.
Shrugging, he went back to the monitor room while keeping in mind that he should tell Misaki about this little news, though now he wonders how far along his superior could be. Back at home, the crow had called Megumi who is extremely delighted to hear the wonderful news. "So you and your partner will be careful now? Please, Yatagarasu, don't loose the child again," she pleads through the phone and Misaki sets his jaw in a straight line.
"Don't worry, this time I plan to be careful," he says before the two bid farewell. Everyone warned him of the possibilities of loosing the child again, but Misaki had assured them that this time he'll make sure that he and his child are both safe from harm's way. And he's highly positive that Saruhiko would put him under house arrest again now that he's pregnant. That guy, sometimes I wish he'd feel how it is being under house arrest, and then I can gloat at him, the crow thought irritably. He then heads over to the kitchen after realizing that he hadn't eaten breakfast, and he's starving.
Despite so, he just couldn't bring himself to actually cook or eat something. He's hungry but his stomach won't keep the food down at the moment, and that aggravates the crow to no end. "Why the hell am I so hungry but couldn't keep anything down? This is stupid!" he yells angrily and starts pacing around the house just so he can burn more energy to trick his body that he needs refreshments. Sometime later, the crow can be seen eating his brunch happily just as Saruhiko returns.
The blue clansman raises an eyebrow when he sees his beloved just about to eat and sets both their lunches on the table. "You're just eating? Didn't you eat earlier?" he asks and Misaki sends him a look he couldn't decipher. It's a cross between annoyed and upset, and somehow that look sends chill down the blue clansman's back. His beloved is being highly emotional and it's starting to get to him. All is good, this is normal and it'll pass...hopefully, he thought just as Misaki dove for the still-wrapped food he had bought.
"I couldn't eat," the crow replies shortly earning another raised brow from his partner. "My stomach won't keep anything down and it's annoying as hell. So I walked around and ran a bit to-..."
"Hold on, you RAN?" Saruhiko questions in shocked disbelief and Misaki just nods his head as if it's the most natural thing to do while being six weeks pregnant. The blue clansman nearly fainted when Misaki even said he skateboarded around the neighborhood a little and showing the young kids some tricks and almost fell at one point. "That's it. I can't allow you to continue skateboarding and running until your pregnancy is over. Chances of miscarriage is still high at this point, I just want you to stay at home where it's safe," the finality in Saruhiko's voice made Misaki flinch, but he won't back down.
The crow can only stare at Saruhiko in disbelief when he said that and narrows his eyes dangerously. "What about my job then? You don't expect me to just suddenly quit now do you? I can still go there without skateboarding or teaching those kids, I'll be fine," he tries to reason, but Saruhiko had pushed himself off his chair and is now looming over Misaki, his eyes stone cold and set to the point where even the crow couldn't say anything. He's petrified on the spot.
"Do you understand the risk you're taking for our kid? The last time you had a miscarriage it's because you only fell from a chair! This is a skateboarding rink, Misaki! The risks are higher, it's more dangerous and even if you don't skate, everyone else does and you guys might collide into each other or someone can accidentally send one skateboard flying at you. Things like that happen!" Saruhiko tries to reason with Misaki who simply stares at him with surprised wide eyes. "For the baby's sake, just quit working,"
The crow can only hung his head, shielding his eyes from being seen by Saruhiko. He wants to continue working, but Saruhiko has a point. Chances of miscarriage are still high and at the rink, anything can happen. "I'll think about it, just give me some time," was all he replied.
Seri-chan's going to be a mother for the second time, wow! If you're wondering, no this isn't the surprise I mentioned in the summary, actually the surprise is rather sweet and I think you'd all would like it (winks). I'll try to keep the surprise as subtle as possible so none of you guys could guess what it may be, though I'm sure the quicker ones would notice, but I'm not going to say anything even if you hit the nail on the head (laughs).
Anyways, I hope you guys enjoyed this little chapter, the next one would probably come out Sunday next week, it seems I'm pulling the updates a day early now (laughs). But really, thanks for reading the whole thing.
Do give me a review and voice out your opinions, unless it's a flame, no flames please..