As the sun rose in the sky Anna woke to find Seiji still in her room. She gently nudged him and he groaned, digging his face into the pillow.
"Seiji, wake up," Anna whispered. He mumbled a no into the pillow. Anna giggled and started to tickle his side. He jumped and glared at her.
"Ugh… why'd you have to wake me up? I was having the best dream," Seiji complained throwing a pillow at her.
"The best dream where someone comes in and catches you in my bed?" Anna asked in a whisper. Seiji squinted his lavender eyes at the window. They widened and he turned to her.
"I better go," Seiji said as he jumped out of the bed. He stopped at the closed door and took another look at her. Her short brown hair was rumpled with sleep and her warm brown eyes twinkled with life. His eyes softened and a smile came to his lips. Then he snuck out of her room and made it to his own before anyone else got up. He knew he should stop doing that. He had to stop going to her room at night. If Kara found out his life would be even worse than it was now. Somehow Anna just made him feel comfortable and happy, and able to sleep better than when he's by himself. It was wrong because he knew he could never have her. Seiji sighed as he took a shower and dressed for the day.
The days of their visit went by quickly as Seiji watched Anna's smiles become contagious. He even found himself smiling more, until Kara, the Ice queen as Anna called her, would come around. Seiji used all his willpower to push Anna away. No matter how mean he was to her, she would just smile and brush it off. Anna gave him a hug before she left and Seiji wished he didn't have to let her go. Once Touma and Mia were gone as well his life went back to the bleak existence it was before. Every day was the same. Get yelled at, pressure to have a child, hateful glares from Kara, hateful glares from grandfather, the same thing day in and day out. No one here was ever happy with Seiji. It was like he could never get ahead. He was fed up with Kara, fed up with his grandfather and his parents that chose to avoid any confrontation. He grew up trying to please everyone. That was just how he was raised. Never talk back, respect your elders, do what you're told. He was always told to man up and to hide his feelings, to be void of emotion. Feelings were things that got in the way of training.
He glanced at the calendar and thought it would be close to Anna's due date. He shouldn't go to see if they needed anything. He really shouldn't… so why then did he want to go so badly? Why did he long to see Anna's warm brown eyes, and her belly large with child? Why did he wish that child were his and that Anna was his? Kara walked past him at that moment, dumping her empty plate on top of his half-eaten one as she left. He sighed. That was why he wanted to go. He couldn't stand the Ice Queen. She never cared about him. All she cared about was herself! His eyes narrowed as he made up his mind. He had to get out of here before he went crazy on her. He was sorely tempted to throw the plate back at her. Instead he cleaned it with a sigh and threw his clothes into a bag. He didn't care about responsibility right now. All he cared about was getting the hell out of this prison he was in.
Anna
Anna groaned and rubbed her back as Shin came out with a few more plates. He looked at her and frowned.
"Maybe you should take a day off," Shin suggested.
Anna laughed as she pushed off the stool behind the counter, "You guys need all the help you can get."
"I know, but there's no point in you killing yourself," Shin added, "Plus you're ankles look really swollen."
Anna looked down, "Do they? I haven't seen my feet in weeks. I have no clue what they look like anymore."
Shin laughed as he followed her out the door to his car. Anna felt bad for being so quiet, but after a long day of work with a backache from hell she was exhausted. She gazed out the window as Shin maneuvered his way through the streets and up to his house. A shiny black convertible sat in the driveway. Anna looked at Shin and he looked at her.
"What's Seiji doing here?" Shin asked.
"Is that the kind of car he drives?" Anna asked, surprised.
"Yeah, he comes from old money," Shin said pulling up next to the fancy sports car. Anna pulled herself out of his small car and waddled her way into the house behind Shin. Her back was throbbing so much that she had to push her hand into the lower part to ease some of the pain. She was going to have to lay down early tonight. She slowly made her way into the bright, warm kitchen and sat at the table across from Seiji. Seiji gave her a small smile. Anna gave him a weak smile in return and she saw his face go from happy to worried.
"Anna, are you alright?" Seiji asked sipping his tea.
"You should put your feet up," Shin put in.
"I'm fine, thank you," Anna said quietly.
"Seiji, go get her a pillow to put her feet on," Shin said. Seiji gave him a mean glare.
"Seiji, I'm putting my foot down on this. Come on, help me out," Shin said as he pulled items out of the fridge. Seiji sighed and got up. He returned moments later with a pillow from the couch, and put it on a kitchen chair, moving it closer to her. The ache in Anna's back wasn't going away. She rested her feet on the pillow, but it seemed to make the pain worse so she put them back down.
"Seiji, I don't want to bother you, but could you please just rub my back for me?" Anna asked softly. Seiji looked at her and could see her eyes had gotten glassy. He knew she was in pain, but didn't want to worry anyone. He was about to say no, but the sad, pained look she gave him was so pathetic that he couldn't. He got up and started massaging her lower back. Anna moaned as he rubbed his hands up and down her back. Then she jumped up and grabbed her stomach. Seiji jumped up and took her elbow. Anna rested her forehead on his shoulder as the pain moved from her back to her stomach. It was so strong that she felt like she had to throw up. Seiji gently rubbed her back and was about to ask if she was okay when a gush of fluid distracted him. He looked down at his loafers covered in a pinkish liquid.
"Oh, my… I'm so sorry," Anna whispered looking down at the puddle on the floor. Shin looked at the scene with his jaw dropped and eyes wide. Pain shot across Anna's belly and she quickly made her way to the bathroom, praying to the porcelain god. Seiji followed her. He didn't know what to do, but he knew she needed help.
"Anna, do I need to call an ambulance? Should we take you to the hospital?" Seiji asked cautiously reaching out and pulling her short hair back. Anna heaved again and then screamed as the pain wracked her stomach again.
"I'm going to get the phone," Seiji said.
"No!" Anna shouted, "I think it's coming now!"
She grabbed his hand in a death grip.
"Help me get this dress and underwear off. I want to get into the bathtub," Anna said tugging the dress over her head. Seiji hesitantly helped her remove the filthy garment. Anna grabbed his shoulders and squatted down. Shin came running down the hallway with the phone to his ear. Seiji never felt so out of control of a situation, the thought of being helpless did not settle well with him. Anna's fingers dug into his shoulders as another scream escaped her lips. Seiji glanced down and saw the top of a head coming out. He reached out as Anna screamed again. The head was all the way out, Anna was panting and her fingers dug painfully into him, but he knew he would have to catch the infant before it hit the floor. Seiji put his hands on the baby's head and neck. Anna pushed once more and the little body slid out with another gush of pink fluid. A cry escaped the baby's mouth and his face turned red as he cried. Seiji stared at the little boy.
"It's okay, little guy," Seiji said softly. The baby stopped and opened his eyes. Seiji's jaw dropped. His eyes were Adrik's dark purple. The infant wailed again as Shin handed Seiji a towel. Seiji wrapped the little infant in the towel and held him close. Paramedics came rushing into the small bathroom and went to work right away. Seiji handed the squirming infant to Anna as the paramedics took her to the ambulance.
"You're the father, right? Do you want to ride with her?" The paramedic asked. Anna glanced at him and nodded. Seiji looked at her pale face and nodded.
"Yes," Seiji replied jumping into the ambulance next to the bed. He took her hand in his and Shin called out that he'd meet them there. The doors slammed shut and they were whisked away to the hospital. When they took the baby Seiji followed the boy to the room where they ran tests to make sure he was healthy. Anna had insisted he follow the infant, even though he was more worried about her and the paleness of her skin. He watched as the nurse cleaned the little boy. The baby was not happy about it and screamed most of the time. Seiji reached out and touched the infant's hand. The baby opened his eyes again and Seiji heard the nurse gasp. Seiji shook his head. He was used to people freaking out about a different eye color. He still couldn't believe Anna never did. Not even when they first met.
The nurse finished checking him over, swaddled him in a blanket, and they went back to the room where Anna was up walking with another nurse. She was still pale and her legs wobbled as she stepped, but Seiji breathed a sigh of relief seeing her able to move around. He came over to her other side and helped her walk back to the bed. Shin came a few hours later with a bag for her and the baby.
"Sorry, it took so long. You left quite a mess," Shin said walking over and kissing Anna's cheek. Anna smiled at him. Her face was starting to get back some of its color. Seiji sat in a chair holding the now sleeping infant. Shin turned his attention to the baby and gently touched its soft cheek. He pulled out a camera and took a picture of Seiji and the baby.
"So what is its name?" Shin asked.
"She's naming him Mason," Seiji answered handing the infant over to Shin, who gladly took him.
"He's adorable, Anna," Shin said as he walked over to the bed. Anna smiled and moved over so that he could sit with her.
"I know, he's got a good looking mom," Anna replied with a laugh. Shin looked at her and laughed.
"His eyes are purple, though," Seiji said.
"Yeah, I guess Adrik had to get in there somehow. But did you notice he's blonde? Just like my dad," Anna said smiling.
"If his eyes were a little lighter he could also pass as Seiji's kid," Shin added with a laugh. Seiji shook his head at him.
"Yeah, but he isn't my kid," Seiji replied, "Don't say that around Kara. She might think it's true."
"What would it matter, it's not like you love her or even like her," Shin replied looking at Seiji.
"Yes, but you know how my family is," Seiji replied absently rubbing his shoulder and wincing.
"Something wrong?" Shin asked.
"Anna tried to kill me," Seiji replied. Anna threw a pillow at him.
"Oh, I did not! Don't be such a baby," Anna said shaking her head.
"Don't believe her, she did," Seiji replied. He pushed his shirt to the side and Shin could see the purple imprints. Anna couldn't see from her angle.
"Holy crap! Maybe you should have that looked at," Shin said.
"Is it really that bad?" Anna asked. Shin nodded and scooted away from her. Anna rolled her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Seiji. I didn't mean to hurt you," Anna said looking down at her fingers.
"Please, I'm a Samurai. You're too weak to really hurt me," Seiji replied vainly. Anna laughed and shook her head at him.
A few days later Anna returned to the house with Mason. Shin had to work, especially since they were one person down now. Seiji helped Anna around the house, making sure she didn't do anything because the doctor said she couldn't lift anything heavier than the baby. Seiji didn't think he weighed much at all so he didn't let her lift anything. Anna was getting annoyed with him, but at the same time was grateful that he showed up when he did. With the new infant Anna was exhausted and often took naps between feedings. She woke up from one of those naps to find the baby gone. She groggily walked out of the room to find Seiji holding him and talking to him. Anna couldn't help but smile. She grabbed Shin's camera and snapped a photo of the two. Seiji glanced up at her surprised.
"Sorry, it was a picture moment," Anna said sitting next to him, "So when are you going back? Or are you going to stay here until I can go back to work?"
"I don't think I can stay that long, but I'm sure Kara hasn't even noticed I left. Grandfather is probably growling at me right now," Seiji replied then looked back down into Mason's eyes, "Maybe someday I'll have a little guy of my own. I doubt that will ever happen with Kara, but I kind of want a baby, too."
"Well, he's a lot of work," Anna said, "But I'm sure you'd make a great dad."
Seiji looked up into her brown eyes and smiled. It was perfect to sit here with her. It was like playing house, almost too perfect. The thought of having to leave was difficult. He would put it off as long as he could and enjoy the time he had with them; the warm little bundle and his mom, who was just as warm and loving. They were nothing like what awaited him at home. Seiji smiled at her and Anna returned the warm smile. It was much less watery and pained than the last smile she gave him. Seiji found himself staring at her lips and remembering how soft they were when he kissed them. He quickly looked away and sighed. Shin's house was such a safe haven he didn't think he would ever want to leave, but why should he torture himself over something he could never have. He took a deep pained breath and handed the infant to Anna before getting up and leaving. He needed space and fresh air. Seiji found himself walking around the small city. He walked for hours trying to clear his head. He knew he had to return. It was hard knowing what you had to do and what you actually wanted were two completely different things. He vowed that he would only stay for two more days.
Two days became three, and then four. Seiji spent time snuggling with the sleepy newborn. The more time he spent with Shin, Anna, and Mason, the less he wanted to go. He enjoyed spending his mornings drinking coffee with them and not always having to do the dishes, not only that but he didn't have to cook after a long days work. He helped Shin out at the store a few times and got back to the house in time to smell the meal Anna made. He did the dishes to help them out, mostly because they made the meals, and he often had help with them, which was different from Kara who never offered to do any work around the house. Anna often thanked him for doing something menial like watching Mason so she could take a shower. It was nice to feel wanted for a change. His two days eventually turned into a month and guilt set in. He felt bad for making his grandfather pick up his slack.
Sadly Seiji finally said goodbye to Anna, Shin, and sweet little Mason. He was sad to say goodbye the peace and happiness he found. When he returned to the family dojo his grandfather just grunted disapprovingly at him. Seiji's happiness quickly faded. Then he made his way into the house, which once again was covered in dust and dirty dishes. Seiji went to his room and put his clothes away before getting to work on the dirty house. A few days later Seiji came home and found a letter from Shin with pictures of his stay and the baby. Seiji smiled as he looked at the innocent little face of Mason. He put the pictures on his dresser. He would have to get some frames for them. There was one of Seiji holding Mason, with Anna behind him, her arms wrapped around his neck. That was his favorite.