Chapter Nine
Bittersweet

"I~ Love~ You~"

He sung his words into my lips as our continuous kisses filled the atmosphere. I could only smile back, a little too weak for response. His hands protected my waist, gracing my stomach with his gentle fingers. It protruded ever so slightly, but it was proof of the life growing within me, and I thanked the father every day for the joy to be.

I'd only be here a few more days, according to the emotionless nurse. She'd been assigned to me ever since I came here a month back, catering to my injured skull and still-hurt leg. I'd always miss the nurse who cared for me after the accident. She was transferred to another hospital, bringing light to the darkest lives and cures for the stingiest pains.

"How about…" his face glowed with bliss as he pondered our conversation, "Atsuko! If it's a girl, because it means 'Warm Child.'" He smiled and rubbed his hand over my belly. "Oh, or Manami, 'Beautiful Love.' Ahh! But I like Narumi, too! 'Growing beauty'!" He proceeded flipping furiously through a book of name meanings with one hand as the other continued stroking my stomach.

"What if it's a boy?" I giggled as his face lit up with a rush of ideas.

"Etsuo! Definitely! 'Joyous life!'" He continued flipping for awhile and suddenly stopped on a single page, his bangs covering his expression. I peered over, trying to peek at the names within the lines, but I lacked the ability to read upside down. He sat up, surprising me with a locked kiss. I closed my eyes as he embraced my jaw line with both hands and pulled me closer.

Passion.

I blinked, shocked by his sudden action, as he rested his back against the stool once more and his sapphire eyes returned to the single name resting on the page. "A name for a boy and a girl, okay? So it doesn't matter."

I listened carefully.

"Kazumi. 'Beautiful Harmony.'"

I grinned. "What if it's twins?"

He rolled his eyes and sat up once more to kiss me, ending the discussion of our child's name.


"K-Kaito," I breathed carefully and looked up at him.

"You need help don't you?" He cheekily grinned at me, igniting my face in a red flaming embarrassment.

"N-No," I hissed. Pause. "Maybe a l-little."

"Come, m'lady," he shoved his way next to me, hip-to-hip, and wrapped his arm around my waist. I slung my arm over his shoulder, using my other hand to secure my bloated stomach. He continued smiling confidently as he led me towards the bedroom of a house we bought together. My dress was too big and my hair knotted everywhere, but he still kissed me as he carefully laid my head upon the pillow. He pulled away, and I grabbed his hand.

A sweep of nostalgia took me over as he squeezed my fingers, reminding me of the accident. I shook it off as he looked at me peculiarly. "Ah," he muttered and stood up, my fingers slipping from his slowly. "I have to go get groceries, and you're in no state to come with me," he looked sorrowful as he went to the closet to take his favorite coat. "And you're due to pop any moment," he chuckled in a slightly melancholy manner. "I got you a mother-of-the-baby sitter."

I looked at him, visibly confused, and he laughed in the usual contagious way. "Someone to cater to you for an hour or two while I'm gone, okay?" He knelt by my side. "Now, don't be mad, but…" I glared into his soul and fear shone on his face. "I haven't even told you yet!" He pouted, already defeated.

I sighed, softening my tone. "Okay, what am I gonna be mad about?"

"I said don't be mad," he smiled, taking my hand and kissing it cautiously. I rolled slightly and ruffled his hair with my free hand, and he chuckled, returning my actions with another soft kiss.

It became quiet, but it was the best kind of silence.

"You're beautiful." He muttered suddenly before planting a kiss onto my lips. "Okay?" He exhaled, a tad shaky, squeezing my hand. "Now, I couldn't get Luka here, and I don't really trust Gakupo," his eyes darted everywhere but directly at me. "Rin's busy, and so is Gumi. Haku and Neru have been on vacation for awhile." He paused, waiting for me to say something, but was returned with curious eyes. "So all that was left was-"

"You're serious?" I interrupted, one eyebrow up. "You're about to say you picked up a hobo on the side of the street, right?"

He tightened his grip on my hand. "Um, try again."

"You can't be serious," my voice trembled, thoughts going everywhere in a disorganized fashion.

"Only for an hour! I swear I'll hurry!" He leapt to his feet and sped-walked to the door, leaving my heart crumpling in my chest. I reached out for him, my hand beckoning his return to my side.

"It's okay!" I shouted, hoping to convince him. "We can starve for awhile! We don't need groceries tonight, do we?"

"Stop being selfish," he grumbled and fumbled for the door knob, finally gaining a grip without losing his gaze at me. "Would you really do that to Kazumi?"

My guilty hands rested on my stomach. A few more days, says the doctor.

"You can just sleep the entire time," he sighed, feeling rude and apologetic. "You're going to need as much rest as possible." His smile returned. "Okay?"

I paused, thinking it over. "Okay. I love you," I confessed and relaxed my shoulders against the pillow.

"I love you, too," he breathed before exiting. I listened until the front door closed.


I yawned, taking in air as I awoke from a power nap. It'd been twenty minutes since he left. I reached over and pulled the drawer of the stand open, taking out a book I swore I'd finish before the baby was born. I was only halfway through it.

The old pages crinkled as I opened to my page. I enveloped myself so deeply into the story that I hardly noticed the blonde man step into the room and sit next to me.

"How's it going?"

The velvet voice met my ears suddenly, causing me to jerk and drop the book with a shriek.

"Ah shit, sorry," he apologized and took the book from the floor, returning it to my hands.

I looked at him carefully, trying to decipher his expression. His entire appearance seemed different after seven months. It was something new I couldn't figure out, even after being with him for four years so long ago.

He seemed more mature, his teal eyes giving off a gentle atmosphere. His thin body had grown in length as well as slightly muscular, and his hair was shorter. I took note how his white button-down was indeed buttoned down a little too much.

I pushed myself into a sitting position, placing the book beside me. I reached over and yanked his shirt closed, covering his perfectly formed figure. I worked the buttons until I reached the collar, and I even fixed the improper folds. When I'd finished, we watched each other's eyes in silence.

"What're you naming it?" He asked in almost a whisper.

"Kazumi," I smiled ever so slightly and relaxed both hands over the protruding baby bump.

"Ca-" he hesitated and paused. "May I…?"

I nodded and swept my hands to the side. His face leaned over, turning to rest his ear against my belly. He listened carefully, blushing along with me as the child kicked gently. He quickly sat up, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Th-that was amazing!" He laughed, bright and joyous as he used to be when I loved him.

I smiled, wanting to pat his reddened cheeks. "She's saying hello," I giggled and rubbed my stomach tenderly.

"Hey, can I be 'Uncle Len?'" He chattered ecstatically. "It'll be so cool; she'll have this little baby voice and say 'Uncu Ren!' whenever I come to visit!" He carried on in an elated manner. I watched him with a blissful grin, wondering what life would be like after the birth.

Then he stopped and looked to me, his delighted state vanished. "I… I'm allowed to visit, aren't I?" He asked carefully, as if the permission would mean the world to him. There was another question within the one he spoke. It remained speechless, but it screamed from the vibrant color in his eyes.

"I forgive you, Len," I watched for his reaction, and slowly his expression picked up into an embarrassed joy. It was quiet for awhile, though we seemed to have an entire conversation with our eyes. He spoke, I spoke, but neither used words. Everything was apologetic, "I'm sorry for everything," and "It's okay now." Because it is. It's all alright.

His hand was over my stomach as he pushed himself to a standing position. Swiftly, he moved forward, leaning his face over mine. My heart raced, beating cruelly against my ribcage. Thoughts darted throughout my mind, worried of what he was doing as he came so close.

I thought he'd changed.

I was forgiving him.

Isn't he different now?

Was I wrong?

The world stopped as his lips rested against my forehead. He paused there, letting the sorrow sink in.

I'm sorry, Miku.

He drifted away, his hands resting on my shoulders. I looked up at him, my eyes stinging; my face fell, pushing my head into his chest. I began sobbing as he wrapped his arms around me in a hug, pulling me closer as my tears became fiercer.

Everything I'd felt since the accident came rushing back, sweeping away just as quickly. Before long, all the weight from two years of pain had been lifted. Within his soft embrace, I lost consciousness, falling into the heaviest sleep I'd had in a long time.


I grumbled unhappily, the sun penetrating my slumber. I sat up a little too quickly, Kazumi kicking me for my action. I peered over, noticing a lump of body under the covers. Heart racing, I pulled them off and Kazumi kicked me once more.

After a pang of pain, I peeked and noted the blue-haired man I loved so dearly resting beside me. I took a sigh of relief, somehow melancholic.

I didn't get a chance to thank Len for freeing me.

Kazumi rudely kicked again, and that was when I noticed the dampness of the bed.

"K-Kaito," I muttered in disbelief. "K-…Kaito!" I shook his shoulder desperately while the child kicked me again.

"Huh? Wha?" He yawned and rolled over. "What time is it~?"

"KAITO, MY WATER BROKE!" I screeched as a sudden pain entered my body.

He looked to me, pausing and blinking. Then he leapt to his feet, running about to collect clothing. I began breathing heavy, panic striking through me along with a new kind of pain I'd never felt before.

I trembled as he went to my side, helping me from the bed, being as gentle as possible through his quick actions. He repeatedly commanded me to breathe slowly and to save the pushes for the hospital as he led me to the car, setting me on my back in the backseat.


"It's a girl!"

I can't breathe.

It's all a blur now; I can't remember much of the process. My world stops, pausing for what feels like eternity. My eyes follow the slow motions of the small nurse as she cradles the most perfect being, new to existence. She approaches me, and my arms move to take the baby.

As I feel her heartbeat between my fingers, my lungs take in air once more.

She's small. So very small. Her skin, soft and sweet, freshly cleaned for the first time. Her eyelashes grace her cheeks and her soft fuzz of hair remains motionless. I tenderly stroke her chubby cheeks with my fingers, being careful to not startle her.

I peer to the side, finding my love by my side, his jaw dropped as he watches the small struggles of the baby. He reaches his hand over, touching her miniscule fingers with his long few. She opens her palm and grasps his middle finger with a tight grip, and I watch as a grin sweeps over his lips. He wavers slightly, lack of sleep and a drain of worry apparent in his eyes.

"Ka…" his eyes glitter as she shifts more, "K-Kazumi, I-I'm your daddy." He stands up and leans over slowly, kissing the infant upon her forehead. She coos quietly and puts all of her tiny strength into squeezing his finger. He chuckles and lowers his face, kissing her little hand carefully. "You're my princess, now." A tear slips from his cheek. "Now and forever."


"They're handling everything," he reported to me after the doctor took my child and left the room. "She's asleep in the nursery."

I smiled, a bit weak from the delivery. He approached my bedside and sat on the stool.

"We're here again, huh?" He chuckled and took my hand with both of his, moving it to his face and touching my fingers carefully with his lips. "This time we have a beautiful baby to take home."

I continued grinning, watching the new maturity overtake this man I love. He dropped his hands and sighed, while I tucked some of his preciously soft midnight hair behind his ear.

I said nothing as he looked around. "I better do this before anyone gets here to see her," he exhaled again and stood up, once more taking my hand as he kneels down on one knee.

I freeze, hardly breathing as my heart begins racing. He slips his free hand into the pocket of his jeans, pulling out a small white box.

"This probably isn't the best time," he lets out a little, completely nervous laugh. "But, we're a family now." He works his fingers to flip open the box. A ring shines brightly, studded with a fairly sized diamond. "And… I'm really, really in love with you," he glances into my eyes. "So in love, it's crazy," he laughs again, and I almost do too, his everything is contagious. "Nm…" he fidgets for a moment, searching for the right words to say. "Miku, would you marry me?"

I shift scarcely in the bed, reaching my face toward his. Halfway off the bed, I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him closer, kissing him ever so slowly. When I lean away, he takes the ring from the box, slipping it onto my finger. "It would be an honor to marry you, Kaito."

He kisses me again, this time repeating the action a few times. "I love you," he manages to say between a quick peck.

"I love you, too."

The End


*Author's Note: I'm so sorry the ending to this came so late! Almost a year after publishing! My laptop crashed and I lost everything, and when I got a new computer I lost all inspiration for it. But, this spring break, I decided I'd finish all of the stories I never got around to. I hope you liked this ending, it's kind of long but I didn't want to split it into two more chapters. I think it wraps everything up nicely, doesn't leave any questions.

I apologize for it being so bad; I tried to make it fluffy…

Thank you for reading!