Chapter Twenty-Eight: Sheltered by the Light
"Where the hell is my wife?" Tasuki's voice boomed through the main hall of the bandit hideout. The surrounding bandits cringed and all simultaneously gave unsure responses to Atsuna's location. Tasuki's brows furrowed into impatient points and he thrust his arms over his chest, his foot tapping quickly against the hardwood floor. "Ya mean ya bastards let her go somewhere by herself? She's pregnant with my babies, an' she's gonna pop any day now, ya fuckin'—"
"Chill out, Genrou. I know where she is," Koji interrupted from behind the cowering bandits. He lifted his hand and waved the bandit leader forward. "C'mon, ya impatient bastard." Without waiting for a response from the angry tessen-wielder, Koji spun around and began walking off, whistling a quiet tune to himself, hands now stuffed in his pockets. Tasuki pushed through the group of bandits and ignored the curious mumbling behind him. He didn't care about them. He worried for Atsuna, for the growing twins inside of her. His twins. "Ya know, Genrou, ya need to chill out. Atsuna doesn't need to be dealin' with yer crap when she's so close to havin' yer brats."
Tasuki's eyes flared as if Koji just tossed him a horrible insult. "Don't be callin' my kids brats! I'll kick yer sorry ass, Koji!"
Koji shook his head and chuckled amusingly. "I'm just rattlin' yer chain, Genrou. An' besides, any kids o' yers hafta be brats. I just hope they take after Atsuna, in looks an' personality. They don't need yer ugly-ass looks."
"Funny. Now where is she? I don't want her wanderin' around. She needs to be restin'," Tasuki growled through clenched teeth.
Koji waved him off dismissively and turned over his shoulder to look at his friend. "Yeah, I hear ya. That's all we hear about around here anymore. I think as soon as Atsuna has the babies, she's gonna kick yer ass fer bein' so damned protective."
Tasuki scoffed and shrugged. "She can do whatever she wants. She deserves it fer carryin' my kids. Now stop changin' the damn subject an' show me where my wife is before I pull the tessen out an' scorch the livin' hell outta ya."
Koji stopped at the front double doors and spun on his heel, smiling knowingly. "Ya should know where she is, Genrou." He thrust his thumb towards the closed doors.
Saying nothing, Tasuki shoved the doors open and marched onto the terrace, racing around the corner to find his very-pregnant wife standing in the middle of the wildflower-engulfed field, one arm wrapped around her engorged stomach and her neck craned to stare into the wonder of the white-clouded sky. She was wearing a cerulean blue yukata that rivaled the brightness of the sky's backdrop. Her hair waved in the soft breeze that swirled around her. She looked pleasantly happy as the sun's rays graced her skin.
"Koji told me you would come looking for me," Atsuna spoke up without turning to look at him. "Of course, he didn't have to tell me anything. I knew you would."
"Ya shouldn't be out here," Tasuki scolded as he walked up next to her. "Ya need to be in bed restin'. Those babies are gonna be comin' any time now, an' I don't want ya to be out somewhere where no one can find ya." He placed his hand on the small of her back, rubbing his palm from side to side to ease her tensed muscles.
Atsuna turned to look at him and smiled. "It's okay, Tasuki. I want the babies to experience what I experience, to feel what I feel. Being out here comforts me, and it comforts them."
"Comforts them from what?" Tasuki's face wrinkled in confusion and slight concern.
Atsuna grabbed his hand and rested it on her stomach. Tasuki couldn't help but smile at the feel of his children anxiously kicking from within her, within the woman that he loved more than the air he breathed. Atsuna placed her palm over the broad hand that now smoothed over her pregnant stomach. "Your children are active ones, Tasuki. They like to move and kick quite a bit. Being out here soothes them as it does me."
"Christ, I hope they look like ya," Tasuki mumbled.
Atsuna chuckled and tilted her head. "Why? Because of what Koji said?"
Tasuki's eyes widened. "How did ya know what he said?"
"He told me that he hoped they would look like me and act like me. But he was joking. Besides, I want our children to be like you," Atsuna replied. Her chuckle echoed in the breeze around them. "I don't think they're going to have much choice in the matter. At least if they inherit your hair, they'll never be able to hide from me when they're doing something bad, more than likely with your guidance. You'll be receiving punishment right along with them."
Tasuki bent in and captured her lips with his, all the while keeping his hand firm on her stomach where his children were in the final stages of their growth. "I'd rather 'em be like you," he said after pulling away from her now swollen mouth. "They should have pretty purple eyes like yers an' that gorgeous head of blue hair. I could stare at ya fer hours."
Atsuna placed her hands on his chest and shook her head with a grin. "Well, this argument could go on for a while."
"Yer lucky you're carryin' my babies," he growled. Tasuki rolled a lock of her hair in his finger, playfully twirling it. He slanted his mouth and captured her in a kiss that was meant to rile her in her heavily pregnant state. When he pulled away, he licked his lips suggestively. "When the babies come, the first chance I get, I'm makin' love to ya all night. It hasn't been an easy thing goin' without it all this time."
Atsuna cupped his face in her hands. "Oh, but you've shown remarkable restraint. You do yourself proud."
Tasuki scoffed. "Yeah, that's restraint I don't freakin' have. Be glad I haven't ravished ya."
Atsuna slid her hands over his chest, her belly pressing into his. "Why didn't you say anything? You know there are other ways I could help you."
The bandit scoffed, arms wrapped tight around her lower back. "Hell no. I'm not goin' through with it if it ain't gonna benefit ya, too. I'm not a selfish bastard like that."
"Who's to say I wouldn't have enjoyed it?" she asked, her voice close to a purr and her eyes weighing down.
Tasuki groaned. "Yer barkin' up the wrong tree right now, woman. Ya better just stop right there before I drag ya into our room an' take care o' what problem yer makin' right now. I'm about ready to take advantage of it, even though I know it's wrong as hell."
Atsuna wrapped her arms around her husband's neck. "You have remarkable restraint, Tasuki. You don't give yourself credit. How many times did you want to take advantage of our time alone together?"
Tasuki's face softened. She made a point. Their time together during their journey had been torture for him. It was bad enough being overwhelmed with such powerful emotions after meeting her, his heart proving him that he did not hate women as he proclaimed. As a matter of fact, he fell head over heels for Atsuna the moment he laid eyes on her. And he swore he quietly thanked Suzaku every day after that for bringing her into his life, for making him a Suzaku warrior so he could come to know her.
"Anyway," Atsuna's voice cracked pleasantly through his thoughts, "my feet are starting to hurt. I think it's time to go and sit down for a bit. And the babies are hungry, I think. A meal would be good, too."
Tasuki nodded hurriedly and grabbed her hand, escorting her out of the field and back to the hideout where Koji stood patiently at the open double doors.
Koji looked up from his feet and smirked knowingly. "I told ya he'd come lookin' fer ya," he replied, winking to the pregnant woman. He ignored the frown on Tasuki's face.
Atsuna returned the amused expression and nodded. "I knew, too. I can't stay away from him for too long before he comes looking for me. Did he nearly kill everyone trying to find me?"
"Scared the hell out of 'em, is more like it," Koji said with a chuckle. "They're all hidin' from him now. I think they were more concerned about pissin' ya off than him. I guess the pregnancy hormones hit him instead. You've been all happy an' nice."
Atsuna turned her head to look at Tasuki when she felt his hand tighten over hers. She could have sworn she saw steam seeping from his ears as his face reddened and a growl barreled up his throat. "We're just teasing you, Tasuki."
"You I don't mind. You're entitled to do whatever ya want. Him I'm gonna scorch with my tessen," Tasuki snapped, shooting a scowl to his fellow bandit. "I already warned the bastard once. I guess he's tryin' to test me or somethin'."
Koji gave an incredulous scoff. "I don't think ya wanna make Atsuna a widow, not to mention make her answer yer brats—"
"I told ya not to call my kids brats!"
"—when they ask why I killed ya. It wouldn't look too good on ya if she had to tell 'em their dad was an idiot," Koji continued, despite Tasuki's angry interruption.
Atsuna shook her head and rubbed her hand against Tasuki's arm. "Don't let him get to you, sweetheart. He's just teasing you." She jerked his arm, starting to lead him away from Koji. "Now, we should go before my feet swell to the size of watermelons. After all, my stomach's that size now that I'm eating for three. I need sustenance, and so do your children."
Tasuki nodded and shot Koji another warning glance before being led away, grumbling under his breath about how he'd torture Koji later. Of course, he didn't need to say anything about it, considering his glare on Koji promised his fellow bandit a thrashing later on.
"I don't think I have ever seen you so protective," Atsuna spoke up after several moments, feeling the tension in Tasuki's arm subside as she clutched to it.
"Why wouldn't I be?" he asked, casting her a serious look. "I'm not gonna have ya prancin' around an' then end up goin' into labor when I'm not there with ya. I'm keepin' an eye on ya."
She squeezed his arm and smiled. "Your hair is going to be gray if you keep this up. Relax. I've felt fine. Just a few minor aches—"
"Aches? Where?" he interrupted, halting them right before they reached the kitchens. "Ya never told me about—"
"Calm down, for the love of Hikari," she interjected with a sigh. "You're going to make yourself sick. I swear, you're more uptight than I've been since this all started. I'm surprised you haven't had a heart attack at this rate."
Tasuki grumbled and shoved his hands into his pockets. "I'm not gonna stop worryin' about ya. I find that hard enough to do as it freakin' is. I just wanna make sure yer okay."
"I'm always okay," Atsuna assured him, her voice soft. "Now come on. Let's get something to eat. Maybe we could go back outside in the field? It's a beautiful day and it shouldn't be wasted. Besides, the twins seem to calm down their kicking of my insides when we go out there."
Tasuki said nothing. Instead, he knelt down to her belly, pressing his palms against it. "Listen here, kids. Ya better stop kicking yer mom or yer gonna hafta answer to me when ya come outta there."
Atsuna chuckled, holding her palm over her mouth as she watched his brows furrow in mock irritation. He pressed his mouth over the center of her stomach before leaning back to her level, slanting his mouth over hers in a more passionate embrace.
"God, I love ya," Tasuki rasped when he pulled away from her, hands cupping her cheeks gently. "I don't know what I would do without ya around to keep me sane."
"It couldn't be any worse than what you do already," Atsuna pointed out with a playful giggle. "You certainly haven't stopped your threatening of the bandits just because you lost sight of me for a small moment."
Tasuki's brows furrowed. "I didn't see ya fer over an hour! I had to make my rounds an' ya said ya were gonna stay in the bedroom! What the hell didja think I was gonna do when I walked in the room an' found ya missin'?"
Atsuna pressed her fingers against his lips, silencing him. "I know. You worry about me. I don't see any harm in it, really. I worry about you, too. I worried about you when you and Chichiri first went to the capital for Houki when everything began with Kuro."
"Ya never told me that," Tasuki said, his voice low, as he grazed fingers along her jaw. "Why didja worry?"
"Well, I think I had every right, considering what happened not long after," Atsuna pointed out, jutting her hip. "I just had a bad feeling. It was like this constant nagging in the back of my mind. And then before I knew it, Kuro had appeared and stolen my powers. Maybe it was the opportunity he was searching for."
"Well, the bastard's gone, an' he can't do anythin' to hurt ya anymore," Tasuki said with a tone of finality. He bent down, pressing a quick kiss against her lips, sweeping up her sweet taste. "C'mon. Ya need to get some food in ya. We'll go out an' sit under a tree so ya have somethin' to lean against. Don't want yer back botherin' ya."
Atsuna flashed him an appreciative smile and followed him to the kitchens, her fingers threaded through his as if he was her lifeline. And really, he was.
Leaning against the cool bark of the tree, Atsuna felt like she were truly in Heaven. Hunger completely satisfied after a full meal of meat, potatoes, and bread, she leaned against her husband's side, staring out into the grand painting that nature offered her. Clouds hung high above their heads, gracing the cerulean blanket of the sky. The sun played hide and seek with her, its glorious light peeking through the billowing clouds and disappearing again as the breeze moved the clouds along.
"This is nice," Tasuki sighed, hand falling over hers in a gentle squeeze. "I could sit out here fer hours. It really is a nice day."
"Our children will enjoy it, to be sure," Atsuna agreed, peering up at him. "They'll have plenty of room to run around and play. There will never be a dull moment for us. I look forward to those days."
"Me too, baby."
Atsuna rested her hand over her engorged belly, smile fading, as her thoughts took off from her. "Tasuki?"
"Yeah?" He turned to look upon her, smile almost permanent until he saw the saddened look marring her features. "What's wrong?"
She tilted her head and tightened the grip she had on his hand. "I just want you to know that as a mother, I'll never favor one of our children over the other like your mother seemed to do with you and your sisters. I don't want them to have to go through anything like that. I see how painful it was for you, and I wonder if it's still painful for you that they're not a part of your life now." She watched Tasuki lower his head. "You may hold some disdain for them, and I can sympathize with that, but they're your family. I'm not even saying you have to forgive them, because they obviously hurt you a great deal. I just wanted you to know that I would never put our own children through that for you to deal with again."
"Atsuna, I woulda never thought ya to do anythin' like that to our babies," he replied, the grin returning to his face, much to his wife's surprise. "Ya don't hafta worry about anythin'. It doesn't bother me, an' I never even thought about ya doin' somethin' like that. Yer too good fer it. 'Sides, everythin' I'll ever need in my life I already have. I got ya, our babies, Chichiri. A man couldn't ask fer more than to have a wife, kids, an' a best friend that would stick his life out fer a man's family." His grin curled into a wide smirk. "An' a whole gang o' bandits that will do everythin' I say without questionin' me. So at least I know my family will always be protected. That's all I want."
His hand cupped her cheek, rubbing his thumb along the tender flesh there. "I want ya an' our babies to always be safe an' happy. I don't give a damn about my ma an' my sisters. I don't know where they are now, an' I don't care. I don't need 'em. I have ya in my life, after all."
Atsuna's lips cracked into a reassured smile. She nodded against his palm and leaned in slowly, tasting his sweet breath on her mouth.
"I seem to always drop by in the middle of something important, you know."
Atsuna and Tasuki jerked away from one another, both blushing, and peered up, finding Chichiri standing before them, staff in hand, with his signature smile painted upon his face. He was without his mask, to which both Atsuna and Tasuki were thankful for.
"How's it goin', Chichiri?" Tasuki asked as Atsuna quickly shuffled to her feet.
"Chichiri! It's so good to see you!" she exclaimed, thrusting her heavily pregnant form into the monk's lean body. She didn't give Chichiri the opportunity to answer her husband's question, as she swung her arms around his neck, pressing her mouth against his cheek.
Chichiri's face flushed and wrapped his free arm around her back, pulling her close to him, steadying her body against his. "You've grown a good deal since the last time I saw you, Atsuna. It's good to see you both, you know." He pulled away, his smile widening. "How have you been feeling?"
"Wonderful," Atsuna answered, unable to contain the giggle under her voice. She pulled away from the monk, backing up a couple steps so he could appreciate the personal space she'd excitedly violated. Tasuki was standing now, and placed a palm on the middle of her back. "Another month come and gone already. I can't believe it. How have your travels been going since your last visit here?"
"Quite well, thank you. I check in as often as possible with Lady Houki. Boushin seems to be growing just as quickly as you do," Chichiri replied with a wide grin. His eyes fell upon her belly. "You should be due very soon to give birth, you know. Are either of you nervous at all?"
Atsuna chuckled, casting a sideways look at her husband. "I think Tasuki is more nervous about the birth than I am. But I would be lying if I said I wasn't at least a little bit. I feel like it's going to be very soon now." She pressed both palms against her belly. "I almost hear them speaking to me. Their life forces have grown considerably."
"I can certainly sense them," Chichiri agreed with a nod. He turned to Tasuki. "And I suppose you have been just as protective as last month when I stopped to visit, Tasuki."
Tasuki folded his arms over his chest. "Well o' course I have. The woman steals off whenever she feels like it. She keeps takin' years offa my life every time I turn around." He felt Atsuna elbow him hard in the side, sending a gust of air out of his lungs. He rubbed his side and gazed upon her, exchanging a wily grin with her. "But I wouldn't trade it fer the world, Chichiri. I'm glad ya could come an' visit again."
"Well, truth be told, I knew Atsuna was due any day now, and she wished for me to be present when she gave birth, so I cut my journeys short so I could be here for it, you know," Chichiri informed. "I would rather not face her wrath, you know." He released a hearty chuckle.
"Finally someone speaks with some sense," Atsuna agreed with a chuckle of her own. "Well, I'm glad you could be here with us, Chichiri. Are you hungry? Thirsty? We could get you something if you'd like."
Chichiri shook his head. "No, I'm fine. Thank you, though. It's a lovely day, and if you prefer, we could just sit out here and enjoy the weather, you know."
Atsuna nodded and moved back to the tree, both men following her close. Tasuki and Chichiri grabbed her hands and helped her to the ground before sitting on either side of her.
"So, anythin' important goin' on that I should know about?" Tasuki asked, craning his neck forward so he could look upon his comrade.
Chichiri shook his head. "No. Everything has been well in hand, you know. It's interesting, but there has been less criminal activity in Konan since Kuro has been killed. It seems as if the darkness has indeed been balanced as Hikari said it would. Lady Houki is reassured now that her people can live safer lives. And I think we can be reassured, as well. I don't believe we'll have to deal with any surfacing enemies, you know."
A smile crept up on Atsuna's face. "That's definitely good news. I'm glad to hear that. I have also felt the darkness subside over Konan, and I suspect it has been the same with the other countries as well. I assumed it would take a long time for it to happen, but it's better now. Everything has seemingly turned to normal, and Kumori's influence over the mortal plane has been considerably lessened."
Silence fell over the three warriors for a moment as a breeze picked up around them. Atsuna peered up at the sky, watching the clouds shuffle along the skyline.
"So, have you gotten everything settled with the childrens' room and everything?" Chichiri asked, cracking through the quiet.
"Well, they're gonna stay with us until I can finish other arrangements," Tasuki answered quickly, evading Atsuna's eyes. He could tell she was looking upon him in confusion. "Houki gave us a lot o' stuff, so we don't even need anythin' right now. But gettin' stuff shouldn't be too hard. Atsuna an' me made their cribs already, but we're not gonna paint 'em until we know what we're havin'."
Chichiri nodded and smiled. "What of names? Surely you have thought of them since the last I saw you, you know."
"Ryuuen for sure, if we have a boy," Atsuna replied. "We promised Nuriko, and I would love to have our son named after him." Her cheeks flickered with scarlet. "But we honestly don't know what other names we could choose. We don't even know whether we're having boys, girls, one of each. There's no telling. We may not even have a boy at all." She turned to Tasuki. "You could very well be having daughters."
"Anythin' is fine with me," the bandit answered with a grin. "I've had enough experience with women now that I think I could handle 'em."
"Glad to know that being with me and Miaka has taught you so much about females," Atsuna said with a teasing glint in her eyes.
Tasuki released a heavy, exasperated sigh. "Well, damn, it wasn't easy dealin' with the both of ya an' yer mood swings an' all."
Atsuna's glare narrowed. "Mood swings? Surely you're not talking about me. I didn't think you harbored a death wish right before your children were born."
Tasuki released a bout of laughter, sliding his arm around her shoulders so he could press his mouth against her temple. "I'm just jerkin' yer chain, babe. Ya weren't that bad. But bein' around ya fer so long has definitely taught me just about everythin' I need to know."
"Well, just you wait. If we have a daughter, you will find yourself learning everything all over again when she hits puberty," Atsuna said with a wily grin and a knowing giggle. She watched the amused grin on his face wilt into a horrified frown. "If Tamahome were still here, he would surely have a great deal to tell you about when I was going through those changes."
"All right, woman! We don't need to be talkin' about that crap right now!" Tasuki exclaimed, snapping his head away from her. "We'll cross that bridge when we get to it. Fer now, I just wanna think about 'em bein' babies an' nothin' else. It just seems easier that way."
Chichiri chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. "Seems as if you keep him quite occupied, Atsuna," he said, looking at his female comrade.
"Naturally," she agreed with a smile. "I told you he was more worried about this whole thing than I was. You'd think he was the one giving birth."
Chichiri rested his hand on her shoulder. "Well, I'm sure everything will work out just fine, you know. You have always been quite resilient to pain, and this should be no different. Besides, both Tasuki and myself will be there with you to ease your worries." He tightened his fingers in a comforting squeeze. "You will make a wonderful mother, you know."
The monk looked upon her for a moment, concerned when he watched her face contort. He felt her life force spike. Her lips parted, and with them, a short, pained moan escaped them.
"Tasuki? We have a problem, you know," Chichiri said, his eye never leaving Atsuna as she wrapped an arm around her belly.
The bandit turned and looked at him. "What? What's goin'—" His eyes widened when he felt Atsuna slump to his side, and a choked groan echoed around him. "Christ. Atsuna, are ya all right?"
"I think…I think it may be time," she stammered, turning to look up at her husband. "I suppose now is a good time as any to inform you, but I have been experiencing contractions for two days."
"What?" Tasuki's voice carried along the wind. He scampered in front of her, one hand on her cheek and the other over her belly. "You've been in pain this whole time an' didn't say anythin' to me? Why the hell would ya do that? I coulda called a doctor to come here an' watch out for ya!"
"I knew it was just the start. I didn't want to worry you," she answered, shaking her head. "I have been using my powers to help keep the pain at a minimum so you wouldn't notice my discomfort. But…" Her voice trailed off again and she snapped her eyes shut, clenching her teeth together when she felt another contraction hit her. "Oh, gods, there's another one."
"I'll go to the capital and retrieve the physician," Chichiri announced as he took to his feet, grabbing his staff from the ground. "Carry her inside and get her comfortable, Tasuki. I won't be long, you know."
Tasuki said nothing. Instead, he watched Chichiri slide his kasa over his body, disappearing into it. He spun back to his wife and slid his hands gently under her back and knees, hoisting her against his chest. He walked as quick as he could towards the hideout, his mind reeling as he held his panting wife fast against his body.
"Tasuki?"
As soon as his name left her mouth, he looked down upon her. "Are ya okay? What's wrong? Don't ya dare have my babies until Chichiri gets back with the doctor, Atsuna. Ya have to hold on."
Atsuna shook her head. "There's still time. Chichiri will make it back in time. I…just wanted to apologize. I should have told you as soon as I felt the first contraction. But I knew—"
"Stop it," he interrupted, his voice firm and short. "Don't apologize fer anythin'. I wouldn't o' done ya any good worryin' like I am right now. It's probably better this way. Just take deep breaths an' hang on."
Atsuna curled her fingers over his crisp, white shirt, nodding against his chest. She realized then that she was wrong. She suddenly saw herself as a nervous wreck as the pain escalated, pouring into her fingers and toes. She thought she would remain collected in the eye of labor, but now, she suddenly wondered if she and Tasuki were truly more alike than she thought and would both be paralyzed by concern.
She sent out a silent plead to Chichiri, hoping he did make it in time, just as another spark of pain snapped through her. She cried out, feeling Tasuki's muscles tense under her, the sound of her pained scream echoing through the empty halls of the hideout.
