Chapter Thirty-Six: Welcome Baby Kaida!
Gotta hold on easy as I let you go.
Gonna tell you how much I love you, though you think you already know.
I remember I thought you looked like an angel wrapped in pink so soft and warm.
You've had me wrapped around your finger since the day you were born.
Haku sat on the couch a few hours later, gazing into the face of his new daughter. She was a tiny, chubby baby. She had her mother's eye shape, but her father's eye color. Her hair , the little bit that stuck out beneath her cap,was mixture of light and dark brown with green highlights. Her skin was red and blotchy, but he could tell that it was beautifully pale just like her mother. He stared down at her, wrapped in a soft pink blanket. Her eyes were open and she was looking around, taking in her new surroundings. One of her tiny hands escaped the confines of the blanket and she waved it around slowly. Haku caught it and she gripped his index finger. Haku was in love instantly.
Beautiful baby from the outside in.
Chase your dreams but always know the road that'll lead you home again.
Go on, take on this whole world.
But to me you know you'll always be, my little girl.
Chihiro stood at the top of the stairs, watching father and daughter. As much as she wanted to rush over and cradle her baby, she didn't. She had been holding her baby for the past eight and a half months, but this was the first time that Haku had had any contact with the infant. So she watched them over the banister, head resting in her hand, eyes alight with happiness. She waited another five minutes until her breasts became painful and went to her baby.
Haku tore his attention away from the mewing baby cradled in his arms as his mate walked over. She kissed him on the cheek lightly and held out her arms. Haku carefully handed over the baby and Chihiro sat down beside him. She opened her yukata and brought the infant to her breast. She latched onto a nipple and began to nurse. Haku draped his arm around Chihiro and smiled. She returned the smile, even as the baby nursed painfully. Haku kissed her temple lightly.
"Do you feel okay?" he whispered.
"Mm-hmm," sighed Chihiro. She didn't realize until just now how tired she was. "It just feels like I've been hit by a train." She smiled exhaustedly. She could feel that the baby was finished with one breast, so she moved her to the other. Haku gazed down at his daughter as she suckled contently. He brushed a small lock of fine hair from her face with one finger.
"How much did she weigh?" he asked.
"Six pounds, seven ounces," replied Chihiro, cupping her daughter's head with one hand, supporting her body with the other. "And twenty inches long. Not too bad for being about three weeks early." The baby finished feeding and mewed quietly. Chihiro set her gently in her lap and closed her yukata. Then she picked her daughter up again and draped her over shoulder. She patted her infant's tiny diaper-clad bottom gently, forcing the air out of her stomach. She eventually heard the soft uurp signaling that she had burped and cradled her to her chest. The baby drooled slightly and hiccupped. Haku smiled.
"You're tired," he said. "I'll take her. You go upstairs and rest." Chihiro looked down at her baby and didn't want to leave. But when she looked into Haku's eyes, she saw how much he wanted to spend time with her. Chihiro relented and handed over her bundle. As she made her way to the stairs, she turned and said,
"We're naming her tonight. I don't want to keep calling her 'the baby.'" Haku nodded.
When he heard Chihiro get into bed upstairs, he settled back to watching his tiny daughter. She's beautiful, he thought, his lips curling into a fatherly smile. Absolutely perfect. She had her father's nose and mother's mouth. Maybe being daddy won't be so bad after all. His daughter seemed to read his mind, for she waved her arms and cooed happily. Fatherly pride swelled in his chest and he tickled his little girl under her chin.
Suddenly, he heard Zeniba come down the stairs. Once again, he was forced to tear his eyes away from his precious daughter. He looked up as the old witch came into the room and sat in the chair opposite him. She stared warmly at the sight. Haku cradling his daughter possessively to his chest.
"Well, I see we need not be worried about future suitors coming to call," she said, laughing as Haku's eyes grew wide. "Don't worry, dragon, I'm not here to part you from your baby. I just need to make sure she's alright." She looked down at the infant. "She seems just fine," she announced happily.
Someday, some boy will come and ask me for your hand.
But I won't say "yes" to him unless I know, he's the half
that makes you whole, he has a poet's soul, and the heart of a man's man.
I know he'll say that he's in love.
But between you and me. He won't be good enough!
Haku paled at the thought of potential suitors. No one was taking his little girl from him, even if he had to rip and tear through every male in the spirit world. Maybe I'm not ready for this, he thought. I hadn't even thought about boys coming for her hand…but it's not happening. Zeniba seemed to be enjoying his inner torture, as she was watching him intently.
"Something bothering you?" she asked. He shook his head. He just wanted to be alone with his daughter. Zeniba got the message and rose from her chair. She gently put a hand on his shoulder and told him, "Make sure Chihiro feeds her every two hours. Good night." And she walked back up the stairs. Hake was now free to admire his little girl again. I don't care what Chihiro tries to do; you're going to be a daddy's girl.
Chihiro came back downstairs two hours later and fed the baby, then convinced Haku to follow her upstairs so she could change her diaper. Haku went only when Chihiro promised that he wouldn't have to actually do anything.
Haku watched in awe as Chihiro skillfully removed the tiny newborn diaper and tossed it in the pail, then wiped her and sprinkled powder on her smooth bottom. She finally wrapped the infant in a new diaper and re-dressed her in a pink sleeper. She finished it off with a pink cap. She picked up her little girl and carried her back downstairs where they stayed for the rest of the evening.
Finally, Chihiro turned to Haku, cradling the baby to her chest. "Well, are you ready to name her?" she asked.
"I think so," said Haku, taking his daughter into his arms. He carefully examined her face, thinking hard. Eventually, he spoke. "Kaida Aiko."
"Hmm…Kaida Aiko Nigihayami," said Chihiro thoughtfully. "That sounds good." She looked down at their daughter tapped her nose softly. "Hello, Kaida." The baby cooed happily. Haku smiled and carefully nuzzled his daughter's head under his chin. Chihiro kissed them both lightly. This could not possibly get any better, she thought.
Two days later, Chihiro opened her front door to reveal Lin, Kamajii, and Boh standing on their porch.
"Hey, guys," said Chihiro, letting them in. "What are you doing here?"
"We came to see the baby," said Lin, handing her a package. Chihiro opened it.
"Ooh, chocolate cake," said Chihiro, almost drooling. "Thanks."
"You're welcome," said Lin, looking around. "We didn't wake the baby, did we?"
"Oh, no," said Chihiro, putting the cake on the counter.
"So," said Lin, hands on her hips. "You've obviously had the baby (Chihiro had ended up losing around ten pounds when she delivered, and definitely looked thinner). So, what is it?" Chihiro stared for a moment, then realized what the yuna was asking.
"Oh, you don't know?" she asked, laughing.
"No, Zeniba wouldn't tell us," said Lin, annoyed. "All she said was that the baby was born and to come in two days. So…?"
"It's a girl," said Chihiro, rolling up the sleeves of her pink sweatshirt. She had looked at herself in the mirror that morning, dressed in her sweatshirt and jeans, her hair in a ponytail, and thought to herself, Oh Kami, I already look like a mom. Look, I even have a little front-butt. Oh, man, I've got to work this off.
"Aww," said Lin. "A girl. How's Haku taking it? I bet he wanted a boy."
"Actually," said Chihiro, trailing off as Haku himself entered the room, swaying Kaida from side to side and singing stupidly, making her coo happily. He stopped dead when he saw their visitors watching him, and a slow blush made its way up his neck. Chihiro had to laugh. This seemed to Bring Haku around, and he walked toward the three people.
"And to what do we owe this unexpected visit?" he said, trying to retain as much dignity as possible, but all was lost. Lin, Kamajii, and Boh all busted out laughing, making Haku blush even more. Chihiro decided to save her mate.
"Haku, Lin was just asking how you were enjoying our daughter," she said, putting a hand lightly on his arm. He smiled at her, composure returned.
"I absolutely love my little girl," said Haku proudly, showing off his pride. Everyone crowded around the baby, who was thoroughly enjoying the attention. However, when Haku smelled the cake, he turned away and Kaida fretted over the loss of her father's attention. He quickly turned back to her and she seemed happy again.
Fifteen minutes later, everyone was seated in the living room. Kaida was nestled in her bouncer on the floor by her father's feet. He tapped it lightly with his foot, making it bounce slowly, lulling his little girl.
"Oh," said Lin quietly, "We forgot to ask, what's her name?"
Chihiro smiled. "Kaida Aiko Nigihayami," she said. "Haku named her." Haku blushed slightly.
"Aww, little dragon," said Lin, smiling. "The name fits her." They gazed down at the baby a bit more before Kamajii spoke.
"Are you ready?" he asked.
"For what?" chorused Haku and Chihiro.
"Many people will be flocking to see Kaida," said Kamajii. "Word has spread that the first baby to be born from the bathhouse has arrived. Little as she may be, she has already come to be known as 'The Miracle Bath Baby.'"
"Why?" asked Chihiro.
"Because," said Zeniba, coming downstairs, "as far as we know, she is the only one, except for you and Haku of course, to break one of Yubaba's curses." She turned to the three visitors and smiled. "Hello, Lin, Kamajii, and Boh. How are you?" The three replied in unison with a "Fine."
"What's the big deal about Kaida breaking one of Yubaba's curses?" asked Chihiro, leaning forward. The baby woke and started to fuss. Haku swiftly bent and lifted her from the bouncer and cradled her to him. Chihiro smiled happily. He's gotten better at that, she though. He's becoming a regular ol' daddy.
"The big deal is that she has shown that she has a great deal of magic herself, even for being so young," said Zeniba, sitting down. She has persevered Yubaba's curse and fought for her life just to be born. Kaida has shown an immense sum of strength. She has the potential to become a very powerful witch." Everyone looked at the tiny baby snuggled in Haku's arms, all thinking the same thing; All of the spirit world is talking about this little thing? The infant, feeling everyone's gaze, opened her big eyes and burbled happily. Everyone laughed.
"I wouldn't be surprised," continued Zeniba, "if by next week, there was a line of suitors standing outside your front door. Old, young, even parents of infants, all asking for her betrothal." The old witch smiled, knowing full well it would get the dragon riled. Sure enough, at the very mention of 'betrothal,' his eyes flashed dangerously.
"Not even if I have to slay every being with a drop of testosterone in his body," he growled menacingly. Chihiro giggled and kissed his cheek.
"Protective Oyaji," she whispered so only he could hear. He sent her a thought in return.
Damn right. Chihiro rolled her eyes and smiled.
I hate country, but I just couldn't pass up the chance to add in Tim Mcgraw's 'My Little Girl.' I've been interested with the song ever since I heard it. It kind of reminds me of my Papa (grandpa) whenever I was little. When I had a new boyfriend, he would always ask me, 'Is he smart?' 'Does he have a good job?' (I was only 11 at the time). But he died right after I turned twelve. Tear Oh, well, I know he'd be proud of me taking an interest in writing. Bye guys! Please review!