Nine Months Later
Nine months quickly flew by from their heated night, but it wasn't peaceful at all. Being pregnant demanded a lot of things and caused her many mood swings, occasionally crying at night from the unknown until he silently hushed her with gentle hands caressing her arms. Her appetite has grown drastically from before, but it was completely normal in her state. They had gotten married a few months before, as shown on those golden bands they wore, and it was the happiest day of her life, being able to see the man she dearly loved more than anything every day. It was a perfect day, the sky sunny and clear, temperatures in the comfortable zone and the place was extravagantly decorated since it was outside and filled with most of the community they lived with. Now that she was about to deliver at any day, she felt sharp cramps or just regular pains here and there, not knowing when the baby was coming.
Christmas had passed but she stayed home to share that special holiday with him and her unborn but as soon as the New Year's arrived, she was rushed to the hospital from some sort of terrible disease that no cure was meant for it. This disease, they named it Water Poison, was only to affect her family's kind from too much exposure to the water by an unknown source. It would kill her within just a few days, when Ryuichi heard about this he was devastated and refused to leave her side for a second for three days into January. However, she did recover on her own, strangely in just a few days after that but she had to remain in the hospital for constant checkups in case the disease started up again, they never did know. It wasn't until January 11th that she really started feeling intense pain in rapid encounters but it wasn't time yet. When would it be? No one could really pinpoint it but she was extremely close to her due date, in fact, it was just the 9th, so it had to be around the corner. She was given a hairnet to keep her hair out of her face in case she suddenly went into labor or if she really had pains on day and her belly was so huge when she looked down to it. She wanted her son or daughter to be out already so she could go home, pain free, except for parenting, and be with her beloved husband again who was out shopping for food on her behalf.
He had been hoping it was a boy he could teach him normal father to son things and call him his pride and joy. But if it was a girl, he would protect her from anything that went bump in the night and to treat her with love and respect, like a true gentleman and loving father. Of course, like every father-to-be, he was nervous about becoming one. Was he up to that extreme kind of commitment? Could he support his family? Will the baby be healthy and live long after birth? Would Asa survive from it? These thoughts constantly haunting him, compelling him to visit her at least ten times a day, maybe fifteen if more questions popped up from nowhere, but every time he was rest assured, sent back home to stay there the rest of the day. But once the next day, January 12th came problems started to arise. Ever since he stayed for good, he got a job, the job of the island's maintenance. Some people believe that demons exist and thrive to the forests on the cliff's peak, and it's a true fact, that's why no one but the maintenance guard is allowed to enter.
Without wearing a uniform, what they would do was help quell, or eliminate if drastic, any of those monsters that harassed the townsfolk but now they kidnapped a small girl, desperate to retrieve her ball and ran mistakenly into the forest. He would receive great amounts of money if successful for the job was extremely hazardous but lesser demons were intimidated by his glare, which is why he wasn't attacked while rushing past tree after tree until he heard a sharp shriek just ahead. He reached a very small clearing where a young girl found her ball but tripped while those monsters gained on her with drooling fangs and snarling voices. He ran past her with a blade in his hand and brutally chopped one demon in half, then sliced and diced the others until they were only pieced left at his feet. He held out his left hand, which the girl timidly took and escorted her out without saying much, his mind was too focused on his own problems.
As far as he knew, Asa wasn't in labor yet which that could happen any second, making him stick an ear out as he kindly returned the little girl to her mother, waiting anxiously at the police station. After a tearful reunion, they left happily to their home as Ryuichi collected extremely generous amounts of money and turned to leave but an officer still in uniform ran over to him from the counter. "Hey! Hey, Ryuichi! Something came up!" He turned around in curiosity towards the officer straightening his black tie. "The hospital just called. Asa's in labor!"
"What? For how long?" His pulse must've quickened when he heard that and almost shouted it out, making everyone stare at them after dropping his sword. They stared back a few moments uneasily but slowly turned to look at each other, an apprehensive expression on Ryuichi's face.
"Let's just say your kid's almost here. I can get you out for the day but you'll have to leave now." Ryuichi suddenly bolted off after his words as the others just watched him in deep curiosity. "So I'll…see you tomorrow! Say hi to Asa for me!" He called after him but the message didn't quite reach him since he already exited the building and started down the streets.
"Damn, it better be real this time." He muttered to himself while pushing past some people until he arrived at the sliding hospital entrance. He quickly rushed over to the lobby counter, butting rudely in front and demanding to have access into the room, which he got from his stern and most serious voice. He thanked the lady sincerely, apologized to everyone waiting in line then jumped up the stairs, a few steps at a time until he reached the third floor, while still in panic until he heard a high-pitched shriek from a near room. Judging by the voice, it had to be Asa calling out to him so he quickly charged down the hallway, towards the labor room and stepped inside with a few nurses after explaining he was the father.
He immediately took a seat next to her, holding her hand, letting her squeeze it violently as he gently petted her hair to comfort her. Her sweat smeared her face and dampened her hair as she screamed again and attempted to give a hard push with almost all of her last remaining strength. She calmed down with a beat red face as he removed his hand from her hair and placed it lovingly on her crushing grip, gently caressing it with his nimble fingers. "Asa, it's okay. I'm here. I made it." She opened her eyes slightly then glanced in his direction through the sweat and immense pain beyond belief and somehow managed to make a faint smile.
"R-Ryuichi, I thought you…weren't going to make it. Ugh…" She cringed from another cramp straining on her covered lower area, quickly wiping away her smile and forced her to shut her eyes tightly as her other hand crushed the iron bar of her bed.
"Nothing's more important than you. I wouldn't want to miss this for the world. I had to run all the way here." She nodded in understanding then pushed harder as she was told to, enough to make her shriek from the huge pain until the head began to crest from her privates. With one more forceful push from the encouragement of the doctors, the little newborn finally emerged from her and into the gloved hands of a doctor. They quickly sucked out all the mucus from the tiny, squirming life form, cut the umbilical cord and carried it away to be cleaned from all the disgusting fluids after smacking its behind to make it cry and wail loudly. Asa finally laid her head back to relax, unable to move or even look away from Ryuichi as they shared affectionate smiles between them as a doctor cleaned her face from sweat with a cold rag then dried it with a clean, white towel. She released her crushing grip on him in much relief but he didn't mind the pain of his neglected hand as blood started to flow through it again. He lightly placed a feathery kiss on her forehead then pulled away and stared lovingly into her eyes, finding himself lost and deaf to the whole world except her.
Close to an hour past until the afterbirth finally arrived and went, leaving her to recover in peace as he still sat in that same seat all this time without a complaint, just extremely curious of what the gender might be, considering that he hadn't taken a full glance at the newborn, there were so many doctors in the room at the time! However, he remained patient as she quietly sipped a glass of water that has been so kindly offered to her. Although she was happy about having the birth done and over already, she couldn't help but to feel scared of becoming a full-time mother, her eyes shown lost and dazed like she didn't know where she belonged but that changed every time she glanced at him from the corner of her eye. "I love you, Asa." She looked at him with affectionate eyes as he held her held gently in his own and said it with a smile on his face. They kissed tenderly on the lips and pulled away only to playfully rub noses together and kissed once more before pulling away completely.
"I love you too, Ryuichi." She whispered softly to him and smiled in return as he rested his arm around her back to cuddle her. She fell into his warm embrace, placing her head gently on his fluffy scarf he still wore, for the hospital room was a little on the cold side, and very slowly closed her eyes, expecting to sleep there from the relaxing motions from his hand on her side. He watched her start to relax with an angelic look on her face as he very delicately cradled her hand while still caressing it. A few minutes later, they finally brought the cleaned baby back in, carefully of course, but this time it was wrapped snuggly in a soft, cloud-like, bright blue blanket. It whined from the noise around it as the kind, female doctor carefully handed it over to the mother who immediately woke up once she heard people entering.
"Here he is!" The doctor finally announced while Asa very gently took her baby into her arms and held him close while soothingly rocking him back and forth. "You have a very beautiful and healthy baby boy!" The parents finally took their first look at the chubby baby squirming in her arms to notice he had that same spiky, medium-brown hair his father had and the most adorable of eyes stare back at Asa and glance around the room in curiosity. She felt happy tears gather in her eyes and start rolling down her cheeks as Ryuichi placed his hand over one of hers holding the baby and kissed her cheek affectionately.
"He's so precious." She whispered out for only Ryuichi to hear as the baby began to whine again until she hushed him and kissed him gently on the forehead. "What should we name him?" Ryuichi started gently petting his son's small head like he would do to her and smiled happily to his new family. He felt so warm for a little squirming bundle of joy that suddenly, Ryuichi had no worries left to dread upon as their son slowly fell asleep from relaxing motions.
"How about…Seasor…?" The infant seemed to respond from his call as one doctor filled out a birth certificate and recorded that name after Asa gave her nod of approval.
"Seasor…I like that name." She admitted then Ryuichi dried her tears and kissed her soft lips again as they found themselves lost in this peaceful situation for long moments until they had to place the baby back into his crib for undisturbed slumber. Asa stayed over that night, the doctors still wanted to run some tests on her and Seasor to see if the disease had spread and it did but it remained dormant inside the little boy. She still had it and knew it deep down but it had not caused her pain or any difficulties so far, fortunately, and neither had Ryuichi experiencing problems related to that disease since he was a candidate.
They brought little Seasor home about noon the next day after Ryuichi built the crib alone and bought the needed supplies within an hour or two out of excitement that he had a son he could teach new things later on. Asa made extreme sure the little infant was comfortable on a bed of very comfortable blankets as he slept all through the day, keeping them relaxed once the sun was up. He only woke up either if he was hungry or needed to have his diaper changed which wasn't very hard, for Asa, mostly. Ryuichi took a couple of days off from work to help care for his son once his wife needed a long-deserved nap on the bed or couch, whichever was the closest. He started off very clumsy when changing diapers, like most first-time fathers were, he would forget simple tasks like using baby powder or his son might suddenly pee on him. As repulsive as it was, he still didn't stop until he job was over, then he would rush right into the bathroom and take a nice, long, three-hour shower, making sure that pee was completely off.
After that he would clean up the area, trying very dedicatedly to eliminate that smell as Seasor would giggle from his panicked actions. After changing his diaper, he would play with him for an hour or two, making him twist and turn while giggling from his funny faces until Asa would wake up from their playing, give him a bath and place him in bed all before six on the clock. The only problem they had was at night when he would cry and scream from the dark even if his parents were around until Asa picked him up and started rocking him back and forth while soothingly rubbing his back. His screaming stopped until it was just a very low mumble after she quickly kissed him on the forehead and set him back down to bed where he slept through the night, only waking up one more time from being afraid.
At eight a.m. he was crying again, acting as the alarm clock for his parents that now slept in the same room next to the baby's room. This time, Ryuichi calmed him down while Asa started her day by making breakfast for everyone with a deep and depressed look about her. It seems she was thinking about something very serious and depressing but she held no intention of telling Ryuichi for now.