Holy crap, FOUR MONTHS?!
That is the longest gap I've taken between chapters I think! I'm so sorry! ;_;
I meant to update in late June, but I went on a month long cross-country road trip and just got back last night! Plus I was terrified to write the next chapter because my brain is fizzed out…
But I need to man up and just write! I will write this to the best of my ability and let you guys be the judge. Good luck me! *all the wink emojis*
Ritsu is now 14 weeks pregnant ^.^
Enjoy~!
-Chapter 11-
"Boy."
"Girl."
"It's going to be a boy."
"No, it's going to be a girl!"
Currently, they were sitting in the waiting room of the hospital arguing over the gender of their baby. It was Thursday after work and Ritsu was already exhausted. Dr. Nakamura was with a patient right now, so they awaited their own appointment, alone in the waiting room.
"Maybe we should have had twins, a boy and a girl," Ritsu sighed, placing his hand against his cheek in mock frustration.
"No way I want twins. That's double the trouble," Masamune rolled his eyes as he chuckled.
"Let's make a bet," Masamune suggested, "The winner gets anything they request."
"Really?" Ritsu said in interest. He thought for a couple minutes, suddenly lighting up with an idea.
"Okay. If the baby is a girl, you have to quit smoking."
"What?" Masamune groaned in disbelieve.
"Yes, you have to quit smoking! I've wanted you to stop for a while now. It smells, bad for the paint in the apartment, and extremely bad for your health. I especially don't want you to smoke while I'm pregnant. I'll let you cut down to one a day for now until you can completely quit," Ritsu explained.
"Fine," Masamune grumbled, brooding for a few moments before lighting up with his own idea.
"If it's a boy…" Masamune leaned close with a sly smirk, whispering in his husband's ear. Ritsu lit up bright red, sputtering in embarrassment and disbelieve.
"No way!"
"Why not?" Masamune whined.
Ritsu looked around, making sure no one was near before he whispered harshly, "I am not cosplaying for you for an entire week!"
"Oh come on, you've cosplayed for me before."
"Not to my enjoyment and only for one night!" Ritsu griped.
"I have to quit smoking if you win. This is minor," Masamune groused.
Ritsu tried to argue, but found a point to his retort. After much self-convincing, he mumbled a cranky, "Okay, fine."
Finally a few minutes later, Dr. Nakamura called them in. Without direction, Ritsu lay on the table and the ultrasound started almost immediately.
"Are you finally ready to learn gender?"
"The suspense has been killing me," Ritsu laughed, the fluttering in his stomach increasing in excitement.
Ritsu held his breath, watching as Dr. Nakamura moved the probe around. He located the small figure curled up in Ritsu's stomach, its pencil thin arms contrasting its large head. Ritsu laughed, "It has such a big head!"
"The baby will grow to fit its head size, don't worry," Dr. Nakamura assured with his own small laugh.
"Okay, I think I can locate its gender this time," A few moments of suspenseful silence ensued, Ritsu gripping Masamune's hand.
"Ah!" Dr. Nakamura exclaimed with a smile, "Are you ready?"
"Yes," Ritsu breathed excitedly.
"It's a…girl!"
"Yes! I win!" Ritsu exclaimed as Masamune sighed in defeat.
"So there really was a bet," Their doctor chuckled, "Congratulations!"
Masamune pecked Ritsu on the forehead, still happy for their baby. As Ritsu stood up, pulling his shirt down, Dr. Nakamura laughed with a comment, "You really have a baby bump now Onodera-san."
Ritsu looked down in curiosity, gasping as he saw he was right. He hadn't really paid attention before, but he could now clearly see a bump under his shirt.
"Oh no, they probably noticed at the office and think I'm getting fat!" Ritsu gasped in horror as Masamune snickered.
"You'll have to get bigger clothes again," Masamune said. Ritsu sighed in agreement, caressing the bump gently.
"Oh Dr. Nakamura, when should I take maternity leave?" Ritsu asked before they left.
"Hmm…depends really on how you feel. But because of your special case, it's more than likely that the baby will be premature. I suggest ten to twelve weeks before your due date, which is in mid-November."
"Ten to twelve weeks?!" Ritsu asked in disbelieve, "My whole last trimester?"
"It's for the best," Dr. Nakamura confirmed. Ritsu nodded in understanding, a little more worried now about the situation. They left the appointment after giving their thanks, taking Masamune's car back home.
"What am I going to tell the office when I need to take maternity leave?" Ritsu shared his concern with his husband on the drive back.
"Don't worry, we'll figure it out when the time comes," Masamune squeezed Ritsu's hand in assurance.
"Oh, my mother called and wondered if we wanted to join my parents for the summer festival this weekend. There's a shrine close to their home that always gives a great festival, I remember going when I was young," Ritsu said.
"Sure, why not? We need to relax, especially since I have to quit smoking now," Masamune sighed in grief.
"Now I can buy everything pink!" Ritsu giggled.
.
.
.
"What are you doing here Riko?" Ritsu asked in disbelieve, staring at Riko and her whole family. He and Masamune had just arrived to his parents' house for the festival to find his twin sister and her family waiting for them too.
"I'd never miss the summer festival! This is also Rika and Ichirou's first experience at a Japanese summer festival," Riko exclaimed with excitement. Seven-year-old Rika was currently attached to Ritsu's waist, too short to hug him properly.
"You were here just a few weeks ago. What about work?" Ritsu asked as he picked Rika up, mindful of his growing stomach.
"Please, I'm the owner. I can do what I want," Riko scoffed. Ichirou reached out for Masamune, struggling in his mother's arms.
"It seems Ichirou likes you!" Riko commented as she passed her three-month-old son to Masamune, "It's good practice."
"It'd be better practice if I was holding Rika," Masamune replied, giving Ritsu a knowing smile.
"Wait a minute…" Riko squinted her eyes, looking back and forth between them. She suddenly gasped, her hand flying to her mouth.
"It's a girl!" Riko squealed.
"Riko, don't say that in front of everyone!" Ritsu hissed, hoping she remembered not to tell the kids.
"I only told Tamo-chan and the kids don't understand. Your secret is safe," Riko explained quickly before becoming excited again.
"So, it's a girl?!"
Ritsu nodded happily with a smile as big as his twin's. Riko squealed again, hugging both of them together.
"Congratulations! Oh my gosh, have you thought of any names yet?"
"No, not yet," Ritsu said.
"Well you know, Riko is a pretty good name," She joked with a smirk, but received no laughs from anyone else.
"You guys are no fun," She sighed.
"You're never funny Mommy," Rika said innocently.
"You little brat!" Riko growled before she started to pout. Sakura and Kei finally came into the room, greeting Ritsu and Masamune happily.
"Ah, my whole family is here! We're even getting an addition," Sakura giggled, noticing Ritsu's baby bump. Ritsu blushed and pulled at his shirt, bunching it up to cover the bump.
"Addition?" Rika asked.
"Nothing Rika," Ritsu laughed nervously.
"Now everyone has to get ready for the festival! There's no time to waste," Sakura announced.
"Get ready?" Ritsu inquired.
"You have to wear yukatas to a summer festival, duh. Don't you remember Onii-chan?" Riko responded.
"Oh no, not yukatas," Ritsu groaned.
"I've got a special one for each of you, especially you Ritsu. It's made specially to cover up your…problem," Sakura smiled calculatingly. She and Riko had to drag Ritsu with them to her bedroom to get dressed, leaving all the other boys to get ready themselves.
.
.
Masamune waited in the entrance hall with Tamotsu, Ichirou, and Kei, all wearing yukatas. Kei's was a soft silver color, a dark grey obi patterned with a white crane secured around his waist. Tamotsu and Ichirou's were a matching light blue, bringing out the lightness of their eyes. Masamune's own yukata was navy blue with a plain black obi and he was happy to see it was long enough.
They heard a commotion as everyone else came down the stairs with Sakura leading them. Her yukata was white with a pink rose pattern, longer in the back than the front. Rika wore a bright yellow yukata with daisies printed all over. Riko came down the stairs next, her yukata striped white and lavender with lilac flowers. All the girls' hair was pinned up, a flower matching their outfits in their hair. Riko coaxed Ritsu down the stairs, pulling him along by the wrist.
Ritsu wore a jade green yukata, patterned with mint bamboo leaves. A thick white obi wrapped around his waist, striped with thin gold lines. The color brought out his emerald eyes, making them extraordinarily gorgeous.
"I look like a girl, mother," Ritsu grumbled as he was dragged into the hall.
"Oh shut up and enjoy Ritsu," Sakura clucked her tongue, waving her son's concerns away, "You look beautiful."
"You look great Ritsu," Masamune complimented with a smile. Ritsu blushed, but smiled himself as he responded, "Thank you. You look good too."
"Am I pretty Uncle Richan?" Rika asked, turning in circles for them to view.
"You're the prettiest one here Rika," Ritsu giggled with her.
"I wanna sit on Uncle Taka's shoulders," Rika requested, reaching her arms up to Masamune. Masamune picked her up, pretending to groan as if she was heavy.
"You're getting so big Rika. Soon you'll be lifting me," Masamune teased with a laugh as Rika giggled.
The shrine wasn't far away, so they all decided to walk to the festival. Riko held Ichirou as she walked with her husband, idly chatting with her parents. Ritsu, Masamune, and Rika were in the back, taking their time with the scenic walk.
"When are you and Uncle Taka having a baby?" Rika asked.
"Well, it doesn't really work like that," Ritsu said, although he was a special case, "Only mommies can have babies."
"Then can you adopt?"
"Don't worry Rika. One day we'll have a child. Before you know it, you'll have a little cousin," Masamune explained.
"Good! I want a girl," Rika cheered.
"See? Even Rika wants a girl," Ritsu smirked at Masamune.
Soon after, they arrived at the already bustling festival. They all went their separate ways, leaving Masamune and Ritsu alone. Ritsu immediately went for food, eating enough to feed a whole family. Masamune dragged Ritsu to a booth with toys, ordering him to close his eyes.
A few minutes later, Masamune let Ritsu open his eyes to his surprise. Masamune presented to him a teddy bear with a pink ribbon around its neck and black button eyes.
"The first toy for our daughter," Masamune explained with a smile. Ritsu looked at him with wide eyes, suddenly becoming emotional. He took it with tears in his eyes, smiling as he hugged it.
"She'll love it," Ritsu wiped a tear away as he looked at the bear. Masamune wiped another tear away, giving a small kiss to Ritsu's forehead.
They continued walking around the festival, finding a quiet spot by a pond for the fireworks. Ritsu watched the koi swim around happily, hugging the bear close to his chest. He leaned his head against Masamune's shoulder, counting the stars.
"I know I've said this already, but I'm happy about this," Ritsu said with a smile, "Our child."
"Me too," Masamune put his arm around his husband, kissing the top of his head.
"I wonder what we should name her," Ritsu wondered aloud.
"How about Ritsuka?" Masamune suggested with a sly smirk.
"Nice try, but that's too similar to my name," Ritsu joked back, "What about Masamuna?"
"Oh god no," Masamune snorted.
"See, exactly! Pick something unique."
"When it's time, the perfect name will come to us," Masamune assured him.
The fireworks started soon after, sparkling in the warm night air. They reflected off the pond, making the koi fish glow. As the last firework went off, Masamune and Ritsu shared a loving kiss.
Awww, it's a girl~~~! I actually knew what I wanted it to be when I started this story. Ritsu got out of cosplaying unfortunately ;D
I actually feel very satisfied about this chapter! Time to get back in the groove! \(^o^)/
Don't forget to review and leave any ideas you have! What shall pregnant Ritsu go through next? :3
See you next chapter~! :)
