Don't Look Back Chapter 34: The Gifts Of Life, a spirited away fanfic

Don't Look Back – Chapter 34

The Gifts Of Life

Chihiro's Pregnancy – 8.5 Months
Amaya's Pregnancy – 3.5 Months

((Haku's POV))

I never imagined I could ever be this nervous. A few weeks ago seems like heaven compared to right now. Right now… gah, I can't even think straight! Chihiro is down in the hospital wing, ready for the delivery… oh goodness. This is not amusing – how did my father do this? More importantly… how is Perun going to live through this?

Better yet… am I?

Okay, I need to stop being so pessimistic… it's not helping at all.

Deeming my actions as pathetic and increasingly annoying, I left our room and wandered the halls of the bathhouse. Chihiro and I had remodeled our apartments to accommodate the new arrival, and the old study was the nursery while the study moved in with our living room. It's not crammed at all like I thought it would be. As a matter of fact, it's… cozy. Like its well lived in. I kind of like it…

… Chihiro's been in the infirmary for a week now. Amaya is with her for support while preparing herself for her own delivery in about five months. Perun's steering clear, still not ready to hear about it. He's a good guy, but imagining him as a father somewhat scares me at the moment. He's just a big kid himself. Then again… I'm not sure if I'm much better than him. I'm caught up in the fighting, the wonder of love, and enjoying life. Fatherhood? I know that I wanted Fate to test me, but I'm not sure if this was exactly what I bargained for…

What am I talking about? Of course I'm ready for this… maybe… sort of…

Oh gods I'm not.

Stopping to lean against the wall, I bent my head and starred at the ground, boring holes into it and demanding it to give me the answers, the words, to soothe my frazzled nerves.

My father, Kentoku, was with Yubaba seeing as Rin was unavailable. Felix wouldn't be much comfort, he'd only laugh at my worries. Eve and Basir are missing yet again, who knows where they've gone. My father told me of what happened a month or so ago, and I smiled. Those two are a match, no doubt about it. He and Yubaba are actually making bets to see when they'll finally realize it…

I groaned, realizing that I was trying to distract myself from the problem at hand… what was it again?

I knew that I couldn't think straight.

I let my feet carry me without really watching where I was going. I found myself in the lobby before I even realized what was going on. Collapsing into an armchair and putting my head in my hands I noticed that my knees were shaking. What was wrong with me? I've never been this nervous…

Well, step one complete. I've admitted that I'm nervous.

Step two: overcome fear of being nervous and being a father.

… That's going to take a while.

I was so wrapped up in my own thoughts and nerves, yet again, that I completely missed the chaos that had enveloped the room. What a shocker.

"Haku!" Perun shouted, shaking my shoulder, "Earth to Haku!"

"What?" I asked, looking up at him with a very confused look on my face. "Are we being attacked or something?"

"Of course not!" He cried, rolling his eyes and hauling be out of my chair effortlessly, "It's just that the biggest bombshell of your life is coming this way!"

"Huh?" I replied, blinking. I knew I didn't sound very intelligent at the moment, but then again I didn't feel like I was very smart; and the look that he was giving me clearly labeled me insane.

"Where have you BEEN?" He groaned, pulling me on down along the halls, heading toward the infirmary. "Chihiro's in labor!"

The world stopped. It just… stopped, ceased to spin. I wrenched my arm out of his grasp and stared at him, eyes wide and in shock. He looked back at him with frustration, arms crossed over his chest. Then he realized that he probably could have been nicer about dropping the bomb.

"Hey-"

But I didn't hear him.

I took off down the halls, creating buffets of air at my passing, blowing women's hair and dresses into disarray. Their cries of annoyance followed me, but they were lost upon the wind. I had only one destination in mind – my fiancé's bedside.

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My father looked up once I skidded to a halt in the waiting room and chuckled. "There you are."

"When can I go in?" I asked breathlessly, my chest heaving from the run.

But he just shook his head. "You can't."

"WHAT?"

Now he laughed. "Haku, you have to let the women handle this. Men have no place in the delivery room."

"You know what, I seriously doubt that!" I cried, throwing my arms up. "I want to be in there!"

My father wasn't about to be swayed. "Kohaku… my son… just be patient. You would only get in the way. Trust me, I had to wait out here while your mother was giving birth."

I looked at him, my eyes not at all pleased. "How did you do?"

He had the guts to smile. "Horrible."

I sat there for what seemed to be hours, listening to the women bustle around, crying out to each other… and her screams. Screams of pain. I knew that I had a very big part in this, and it killed me that I couldn't be in there with her. Every scream clawed at my heart and threatened to tear it into ribbons.

My father did not move from his position against the wall, eyes closed and arms crossed. Perun had still not shown up, and I expected him to not do so. After all, who would want to listen to something that their wife would be going through in a matter of months?

But Perun never ceased to amaze me, and he lived it up today. He came down and heard a rather high-pitched scream, but he just blinked. He sat down next to me on the bench and just sat next to me without a word, a gesture of comfort or observing me for any signs of cracking. He just… sat there, and that was the most comfort that anyone could have ever given me at a time like this.

Before I knew it, the screaming stopped, and I heard the crying of a young soul.

My heart leapt, and so did my body. I was next to the door in a flash, my heart beating a mile a minute and my eyes wide, eager to see what was behind the door. My father chuckled, and Perun began to grin like the idiot that he was. Though I bet I looked pretty similar at the moment… I could hear my child from the other room!

Then she screamed again, and I frowned worriedly; what was going on? Then the crying came back, and I relaxed. Chihiro was fine. Perun looked at me in shock, and my father looked about as if he was going to laugh, and I just looked at them both like they were insane. What was so funny?

We both looked at the door when Rin poked her head out. "Father first. Come on in Haku."

I followed her inside and marveled at how clean this place was. Didn't a birth just happen here? I saw her go behind a curtain, and I could see the silhouette of someone lying on a bed. I was about to follow when Eve herself came out from behind the curtain and pointed me to a chair, her glare daring me to take a step toward the curtain. Apparently I still wasn't allowed to see her.

But before I could sit down, Rin came out carrying a small package, and my heart froze. Eve showed me how to hold my arms, and Rin gently placed my son in my arms.

It was… I don't know what it was. I felt as if I held my entire world in my arms, and the fact that this was my son, my child, caused my pride to swell. I was afraid to move, fearful that I would hurt this small one.

"Do we have a name?" Amaya asked softly, coming out from behind the curtain just as Rin disappeared.

"Chihiro said that you would give the name if it was a boy." Eve added just as quietly, the both of them waiting for my answer… my son's name.

I looked down at my tiny son, looking at his face with gentle care, and he slowly opened his eyes to look up at me. I half expected him to cry, seeing a stranger's face, but he didn't. He seemed to become even more relaxed and closed his eyes yet again, burying himself deep into the blue blanket. But I had seen his eyes.

They were Ariadne's eyes… green and silver.

My heart warmed, and I slowly walked over to the chair and sat down, a smile upon my face.

"Enlil. Lord of the Wind." I said softly, but I knew that I had been heard. Eve smiled, and came and lifted Enlil to have me cradle him with one arm. I gazed up at her, clearly not done looking at my son. She just smiled and took a small bundle from Amaya, pink this time, and placed it in my other arm. I nearly cried – I had twins.

"Chihiro named her," Rin said quietly, watching the three of us from the entrance to the curtained room. "Her name's Melusine."

But I didn't reply. I just held them close and closed my eyes, thanking the gods and fate for giving me this special gift. They let me be for a few minutes, and I gazed at my son and daughter in turn, and my heart melted when I saw Melusine's eyes. They were just as dark and blue as Perun's… as my mother's. I kissed her tiny forehead and felt a small shock ripple through me, and I nearly cried. I held life's precious gifts in my arms, and I was never going to let them go.

Eve had taken my children away to let them get some sleep, and Rin ushered me in to see Chihiro. I went without a question, and moved the white curtain aside to see her lying under white sheets, her face tired yet proud… completely peaceful. I walked over, my long robe swishing. I hadn't even bothered to get fully dressed for a week or so – I had been too stressed. Just pants, an undershirt, and a long robe was good for me. Who knows what my hair and face looked like, but I'm pretty sure I didn't look that bad.

I sat down on the edge of the bed and placed my cool hand against her smooth cheek and smiled. "Chi…"

Her chocolate brown eyes fluttered open, and my heart was warmed by the degree of love pouring out of them. "Did you see them?"

"Yes." I replied, kissing her forehead just like I had Melusine's. "They're beautiful."

"What's our son's name?" She asked softly, reaching up to grab my hand and squeeze it tightly.

A proud smile came over my lips as I spoke his name. "Enlil."

"Enlil…" She echoed, tasting the name of it. She grinned up at me, kissing my knuckles. "I love it."

I heard a door open, and a soft voice echoed through out the room. "Haku? Can we come in?"

I frowned, poking my head out of the curtain to see my brother and father standing in the room, looking a bit uneasy. Actually, my father looked pretty calm – he has done this before. I smiled, bringing my head back inside to look at Chihiro. She nodded and I poked my head back out.

"Come on in."

((Chihiro's POV))

"Ah… congratulations Chihiro…" Perun said, coming over to give me a gentle hug around the shoulders.

"Thank you…" I replied, flashing him a grateful smile.

Kentoku was next, and he too gave me a gentle squeeze, but gave me a soft kiss on the forehead. "You're strong, my daughter." He said in a hushed whisper only I could hear. "I have yet to see, but I know that any child of yours is going to be beautiful." He added, a bit louder this time.

I knew Haku couldn't stop the grin that flashed across his face. "You mean children."

His father looked up at him and blinked, not understanding what his son had meant. "Pardon?"

"You have two grandchildren Dad." He said, "A boy and a girl."

I almost feared for Kentoku for a second. He seemed to sway on the spot and collapse to the floor. I laughed, "Haku, maybe you should be gentle about dropping the bombshell…"

Perun chuckled, shaking his head. "We have a bad habit of not doing that in this family."

Haku and Kentoku nodded in agreement, and I felt myself slowly becoming confused. But before I could hurt myself, I heard the crying of one of my children from the cradles near the bed. Kentoku turned in an instant and walked over to the cribs, looking down into the face of his grandson.

"Ah… I bet we're hungry…" He said to the little one, reaching in a plucking him out with a gentle care I didn't know he possessed. He carried him over and placed him in my arms. "What's his name?"

"Enlil." Haku replied, watching his father handle the little one with such care. No doubt he would be inquiring how he did it later.

"Very fitting…" Kentoku observed, smiling. "Especially with his eyes."

I looked up at my visitors, clearly aware that my son was hungry, but I had no intention of feeding him with them watching. It was just… too weird. Thank the gods Kentoku got the message and gave me a final kiss on the forehead before he pushed his youngest son out of the room.

Haku watched them leave and wandered over to the occupied crib as I let Enlil get some breakfast. He looked up and nearly jumped at the sight of us, and I just giggled.

"What, jealous?" I teased, and he flushed crimson, looking down to stare at his daughter.

"Your mother is teasing me Melusine… make her stop."

I laughed in response as I watched him and our youngest child. He put a hand inside the crib, and I assumed it was to offer his pinky to Melusine's tiny fist. When it didn't come out, I knew that she had it in a steel like grip. While he was stuck there, I had the opportunity of looking at him and really seeing him for him.

He had definitely changed since he first arrived back at the bathhouse. But how he changed was almost indescribable. One might say that he looked unkempt, but I can't imagine him any other way – he's perfect no matter what he looks like. His shoulder length hair is much longer now, rivaling even Kentoku's. It's like green silk cascading down broad shoulders, tied back with one of my hair ties. A few strands were coming loose and hung around his face like curved strings on a harp. His face was harder now because of the war, but softened when he looked upon any of us, and never became the mask that resembled him when he was fighting. I think that he even grew, he's much taller than me now – we used to be almost eye level. He towers like his father, and his wide, strong shoulders carry a weight that I could never carry. Attached to those broad shoulders are arms that look like they belong on a champion fighter… not on my future husband. They protect me, yet I feel a little nervous looking at them now. I know that they can snap someone like a twig… with so little effort. But his hands… his hands were very gentle, especially when tracing the features of his daughter. They're strong when they hold me, but they're like a feather's touch against my skin. Haku seems more… put together now, like he's almost wiser.

Suddenly, my eyes widened. This was the Haku that I saw in his mental river so many months ago… he was here.

And he was mine.

A/N: Oh please don't hurt me. By the time I get around to typing up another chapter, I realize that I haven't even updated for a month. You guys, I really am sorry. This was NOT my idea of fun, and I assure you that I LOATHE updating like this. I would love to update once every week or so, but with highschool I'm slowly coming to realize that it just isn't going to happen. So, stay with me and hopefully we'll all get through this...

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Thank you all so much for being dedicated readers, and hopefully I'll be a more dedicated writer and updater!

-Vincent's Angel of Chaos-