Chapter 4

A Little Fairy

Although last night had been mentally, physically and emotionally draining, Kyoko had awakened feeling refreshed. She couldn't remember what her dreams had been. That was something that she hadn't been able to do for awhile now, but usually she would awaken depressed, tired and lost.

This morning she awakened, made her bed, showered and washed her now waist length hair that had been dyed back to black, dressed in a pair of faded skinny jeans with a maternity panel that Julie Hizuri had sent to her and put on a loose baby-doll styled, cap-sleeved, red top. She put in grey contacts and lotioned her face. She grabbed a pair of red peep-toed pumps and set out for the kitchen to grab some breakfast.

"How are you feeling this morning?" Ren asked as he pointed to the breakfast he had made for her when he had first heard her turn on the shower.

She looked at the meal in thought. "I... I think I feel a bit better this morning." She sighed a little, feeling a bit guilty. She wasn't sure if she should feel better than she had for the past four months.

Ren nodded. "Don't forget to take your vitamins." He sat them next to her drink and gave her a small smile. "And don't forget... I'll be taking you to see Dr. Yoshi today." He reminded her as he topped off his coffee and sat back down with his newspaper.

"Thank you for putting up with me, Ren." She mumbled.

"Kyoko... I don't mind." He reassured her. "We get to see the baby today." He reminded her, changing the subject to something a little less sombre.

She nodded as she ate the grilled fish he had learned to cook recently when he discovered from the Darumaya couple that it was her favorite. Taisho himself had been strictly teaching him to cook during his visits. She savored each bite.

He smiled at her look of contentment. "Don't we get to find out if it's a girl or, a boy today?" Ren asked.

She nodded while taking a bite of her egg roll. "Ren?" She asked quietly when she had finished her last bite. "Thank you."

He gave her a confused look. "Hmm?"

"Thank you for telling me about your best friend. It... it kind of helped last night." She told him.

He nodded. "Thank you... You helped me last night too."

"How?" She asked.

"Well... up until that point... I... I had been blaming myself too. You helped me realize that neither of us are at fault for what others do." He told her in a pensive tone. He looked up at her from his coffee and into her eyes. "Maybe we can help each other from now on?" He asked.

She gave him a small shaky nod in agreement. "That would be nice." She gave him a small smile. It kind of felt a little nice to have someone that knew what she was going through. A battle buddy of sorts in this war of life and death. Someone that could relate to her.

"Good Morning Hide-san... Tsuruga-san... are you ready to meet your baby, Hide-san?" Dr. Yoshi asked as she washed her hands then sat next to Kyoko in front of the ultrasound monitor.

Kyoko looked at Ren and squeezed his hand gently and nodded to her.

Dr. Yoshi squeezed the bottle of cold gel onto Kyoko's tiny belly that had just recently began to show. Kyoko gasped as the Dr. smoothed the gel and then turned the monitor so Kyoko could see. "Is that?" She asked as a tear of joy trickled down her cheek.

Dr. Yoshi smiled and nodded. "It sure is. Do you want to know if it's a boy or, a girl?" She asked.

Kyoko nodded excitedly. "Can I?"

"Let's see here." The doctor pondered as she focused the wand on a very specific area of Kyoko's belly. "Hmm, It looks like you have... a little girl. Congratulations." Dr. Yoshi told her as she froze the screen and explained to Kyoko how she could tell. Apparently the little fairy felt the need to flip in her mommy's tummy at the very moment and display herself proudly to the camera. There was no mistaking that she was definitely a baby girl.

"Umm, Dr. Yoshi? Could you print out two of those pictures for me?" She asked timidly.

Dr. Yoshi smiled gently. "Of course Hide-san." She told her then printed out the two photos and handed them to Kyoko. "All right, it looks like everything is okay. She's right where she needs to be in growth and weight for 18 weeks. But, you need to put on a little bit more weight. I would like for you to supplement your diet with a protein drink or, something to that effect. I want you to get an extra 25 grams a day. Here's a list of the brands that are safe for pregnant women and keep taking your vitamins. Other than that, you are doing perfectly. I will see you in another 4 weeks." Dr. Yoshi told her as she squeezed her hand then left.

Kyoko wiped the gel off her tiny baby bump and covered herself. "She's beautiful. Isn't she Ren? Like a little fairy." She beamed for the first time in a very long time. He truly missed that smile.

He smiled back. "I have no doubt she'll be just as beautiful as her mother."

She hugged Ren. "Thank you for coming with me Ren."

"It was my pleasure Kyoko." He told her as he gathered her things for her and escorted her to the receptionist to make her next OB appointment.

What he said about Rick must be the reason he's been hiding all of these years. She thought to herself as she glanced at Ren while he drove them home. Should I ask him? She had suspected he was Hizuri Kuon when she had seen him together with Kuu and Julie. She felt a little bit awful for not seeing it sooner. He was her friend after all and had done so much for her. I have been blind to so much. She silently lamented.

"Something wrong?" He asked as he turned off his car after pulling into the parking garage of their shared apartment. He had noticed her thought-filled looks and her silence throughout the trip home.

Something finally came to her and she understood. "Thank you." She murmured to him in the elevator.

He gave her a confused look.

She sighed deeply and gave him a sad smile. "Thank you for taking care of me Kuon."

He looked at her in shock. "I... I'm sorry. I'm sorry I didn't tell you." He told her in a defeated voice. "I'm so, so very sorry Kyoko." He told her with remorse.

She moved closer to him and hugged him. "It's okay... I understand." She mumbled into his shirt as he wrapped her in his arms. "I would have probably done the same if I were in your place."

The elevator dinged for their floor and she got off. "You don't hate me?" He asked.

"No..." She told him as they continued to the apartment.

"Why?" He thought she would surely hate him when she found that he had lied to her so many times.

"Because... you had your reasons and you've been there when I've needed you the most." She told him factually.

"Kyoko... I..." He started. Love you.. He finished in his mind.

"It's alright Kuon. There's really no need to apologize again." She told him as they stood in the doorway, she with a heavy heart and he with a lightened one. She doesn't hate me...I really do love you, Kyoko...

He nodded. "Kyoko...If you need anything... Please let me know. I will always be there for you. Don't forget that." He gave her a loving smile and kissed her forehead then caressed her hair.

"Thank you Kuon." She whispered then left for her room.