A/N: This oneshot takes place after "Mr. and Mrs. Hinata!" Please read and review, and enjoy!
The Ultimate Detective and The Ultimate Hope Gaiden: Kaito's Spring Princess!
"Thank you for all your work, Mrs. Momota." One of Maki's clients told the heavily pregnant Maki as she fished through her wallet before she pulled out a checkbook. "Here's your payment for this week's services."
Maki accepted the check and replied "Thank you. I'll be back next week, same time."
As Maki started to breathe heavily and rub her bloated belly, the client frowned and asked "Ano…Momota-chan? Are you sure you're up to this? I mean, you're almost due with your own little one. You're perfectly entitled to take maternity leave…"
"Nonsense, I'm fine…" Maki assured her with a smile. "Just a little tired, that's all. Once I get back home, I'll be as good as…"
Maki gasped once more, clutching her belly as her client asked "Momota-chan, are you…"
"On second thought…I think I will have to take that maternity leave…immediately…"
"You…you mean…?"
"Yes, call an ambulance, please!"
The Naegis came rushing into the maternity ward, greeted by Mikan who stood in the doorway.
"Mikan, how's Maki?" Makoto asked, only to be answered by Maki's pained groans.
Mikan sighed and explained "She just went into labor. Normally one of her relatives would be allowed with her, but since she has no surviving kin…"
"I'll go and stay with her." Kyoko volunteered. "She lives with us, so we're the closest thing to family she has." As Mikan hesitantly nodded, she turned to her husband and told him "Makoto, you take the kids home. I'll call you when it's okay to come visit."
As Makoto nodded, Kyoko knelt down and hugged her children, instructing them "Don't give your father a hard time, okay?"
"Okay." They agreed in unison before Makoto led them away from the maternity ward.
"F…follow me, Mrs. Na…Naegi…" Mikan instructed as she walked into Maki's room with Kyoko in tow.
Kami! How does this hurt worse than any of my assassin training?! Maki thought as she groaned in pain, clutching her belly. "Ky…Kyoko…?!" She weakly exclaimed as the former detective strode over to her.
"Yes, I'm here, Maki." Kyoko told her as she sat in a chair next to Maki's bedside. "Here, take my hand."
Maki gratefully squeezed Kyoko's hand as she continued to groan in pain, squeezing her belly tighter as she began to hyperventilate.
"It…it hurts…!"
"I know, Maki, but it'll be over before you know it." Kyoko soothed as she let Maki squeeze her hand.
"I…I want…I want Kaito…!" The normally proud former assassin whimpered, causing Kyoko to reach over and caress Maki's belly with her free hand.
"I'm sorry, Maki. I can't make Kaito be here, but I will stay here with you as long as you need me to." Kyoko assured her.
"Th…thank you, Kyoko. You're…the best friend…I ever had…AH!"
This is gonna be a long night… Kyoko thought as she continued to soothe Maki, the minutes ticking away as Maki continued to cry out in pain, her only relief being the permission to squeeze Kyoko's hand, as well as feeling Kyoko rub her belly nonstop.
"Kyoko!" Makoto exclaimed as he and his children ran up to her.
The husband and wife embraced briefly, only for Makoto to frown as he pulled away. He saw the dark bags under her eyes, worrying the young man.
"Kyoko, you didn't get a wink of sleep?"
"It's fine, I took a brief nap just before you got here." She assured him before she looked at her children. "Maki's awake with the baby, and she said we can briefly see them if you want, but you have to keep quiet. The baby's sleeping, so we don't want to disturb them."
"Okay." Kiki, Mokubo, Koto, and Kiri whispered, making Kyoko smile.
"Alright then, follow me inside."
Maki smiled at them as she swaddled her little bundle of joy in her arms, allowing them to approach her.
"How are you doing, Maki?" Makoto asked quietly.
"Better, though I'm never going through childbirth again, even if Kaito were still alive. Honestly Kyoko, I don't know how you did it three times."
"…It's never easy no matter how many times you do it, but it's worth it in the end." Kyoko commented with a wry smile.
"So what is it?" Kiki asked excitedly, making sure to keep her volume barely above a whisper. "Did you have a boy or a girl."
"…A girl." Maki told her as she gently rotated the baby in her grasp to reveal a sleeping infant with some strands of purple hair.
"Have you decided on a name?" Makoto asked, leading Maki to nod.
"Yes, her name's Haruki. Kaito talked about wanting to spoil a little princess, so now he has one, a spring princess."
"That sounds like a wonderful name." Kyoko told her with a warm smile. "Well, we'll leave you alone with your new daughter. Call us when the doctors discharge you, okay?"
"Of course. Thank you for staying up with me during the labor, Kyoko. You really are the best friend I've ever had. Now, go and get some proper sleep, okay?"
"Okay." Kyoko giggled as she waved "See you at home, Maki."
"Bye, Maki!" The others waved before they left the room.
Maki sighed before she smiled lovingly at her daughter, cradled in her arms.
"I love you, Haruki, my little spring princess…"