Moi-Moi: Bit of a time skip in this chapter. Just giving you guys a heads up. ALSO! I am in NO way a professional on childbirth. I've never been pregnant so I've tried to do a lot of research on the topic to try to be as accurate as possible.
Merry Christmas/Happy Hanukkah/Happy Kwanzaa to all!
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The amount of stress that she was under wasn't healthy. Fortunately, it wasn't the pregnancy that was stressing Hitomi out. It was Chase's cryptic warnings than had her constantly on edge. Her pregnancy had drawn a hypothetical line between everyone who knew about it. Chase had warned her not to trust anyone. For one reason or another, no one outside of them could be trusted with the safety of their child.
Now that she was incapable of defending herself any longer, Chase had taken to spending nearly every waking moment with her. It had annoyed her at first, but then the nightmares had set it. They would haunt her even while she was awake. Hannibal Bean had been able to get in when Chase wasn't around. What if he came back, but with Wuya? Since she couldn't even touch her toes anymore, Hitomi had willingly pushed her annoyance at being babysat aside and accepted Chase's overprotectiveness.
"Why can't this kid hurry it up?" Hitomi griped as she waddled- yes, waddled- out of the bathroom.
"They'll know when they are ready to be born," Chase replied as he watched Hitomi move back over to the bed.
"You'd be frustrated too if you gained a bunch of weight and went from walking normally to waddling like a penguin overnight," Hitomi moaned miserably while sitting on the bed.
Chase watched Hitomi slump sadly before furrowing his brows. Her mood swings were the most unpredictable thing he'd come across. Half an hour ago, she had been excitedly cooing at a picture of baby clothes. Now, he could sense the sadness rolling off her in waves. Approaching her cautiously (he'd once approached her too quickly and she'd nearly taken his head off with those chopsticks of hers), Chase released a breath while thinking of the best course of action. He decided to rest a hand on her shoulder.
"It's not fair! My feet and back always hurt. I don't even remember drinking half the amount of water I'm peeing. All these cramps are killing me. And the worst part is, I'm terrified," Hitomi said while sniffling.
Acting quickly, Chase pulled out the handkerchief he now kept on him at all times. Hitomi took the small cloth from him before burying her face in it. "Why are you terrified? I've already told you that no one will harm you while-"
"That's not it!" Hitomi exclaimed. "I appreciate the effort, Chase. I really do. But, it doesn't change the fact that dozens of people want our baby dead. I could go into labor any day now and I have no idea how I'm supposed to deal with that much less how to be a mom."
Chase's jaw clenched and unclenched several times before he sighed. He sat next to Hitomi before wrapping an arm around her shoulders. He tensed slightly with she sniffled loudly again while practically collapsing against his side. Relaxing his posture, Chase said, "I have faith in your abilities."
"You're just saying that because you want me to stop crying on you," she mumbled miserably into his side.
She wasn't completely wrong. Trying again, Chase said, "I've seen you holding your stomach and talking to the child. I've heard what you've said to it. If you hadn't told me about your worries, I would have continued thinking that you were fully equipped to be a mother."
"Talking to my stomach is easy compared to what's coming," Hitomi argued.
"I've never known you to give up," Chase chided. He nearly sighed in relief when he heard Hitomi chuckle. "No one is ever really prepared for parenthood. But, I have faith in your abilities."
"What about you?" Hitomi questioned and lifted her head. Her reddened eyes no longer held tears, but she was confused. "Don't you have faith in yourself?"
Chase frowned deeply while staring down at the floors. He was instantly lost in his memories. "I have no memories of my father. My mother died while I was young. If I hadn't trained under Dashi, I would have most likely died long before Hannibal Bean could have found me," Chase admitted.
Hitomi's eyes widened before she started to tear up again. "I'm so sorry. I never would have thought..." she said before hugging Chase tightly.
Chase had been slightly surprised when she had suddenly squeezed him with soft sniffles. What had he said to upset her this time? Chase was about to ask her, but he stopped when he felt her crawl onto his lap and wrap her arms around his neck. He wrapped his arms around her waist to keep her steady, but nearly dropped her when he felt her patting his head. "What are you doing?" Chase questioned in an incredulous tone.
"Comforting you. I had no idea that you were an orphan," Hitomi replied while patting his head and rubbing his back.
Chase nearly rolled his eyes. "It was a long time ago. I'm over it," he told her.
"I can't tell you how many times I wished I had someone to hold me after I lost my mother."
Chase didn't respond to that. He didn't feel anything when he thought about his mother. He'd gotten over the death centuries ago. He barely remembered what she looked like anymore. But if letting her stroke his head made her happy, Chase would let Hitomi have her moment. Holding her close, Chase buried his nose in her hair. He'd been completely immersed in her sweet scent (what kind of flower is that?) when he felt a wetness on his lap. Freezing up, Chase wasn't sure how to respond to Hitomi's sudden loss of bladder control. He'd been about to say something- anything- when Hitomi suddenly gripped his shoulders tightly and hunched forward. Chase pulled away to observe her only to see that Hitomi's face was contorted in discomfort. "What is it?" Chase asked in concern.
Once she was finally able to speak, Hitomi said in a soft voice, "I thought it was cramps. But I don't think it is."
"What's wrong?" Chase questioned, now highly concerned.
"Nothing. Just... I think I'm going into labor now."
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Wuya eyed the Xiaolin Temple for several seconds from where she was hidden behind a tree. There was no one around. It was so quiet that it looked like the temple had been abandoned. But Wuya knew better. The monks were probably holed up somewhere inside, waiting out the storm that was currently brewing.
Wuya had awoken this morning with a start. The hairs on the back of her neck had stood on end and she was covered in a cold sweat. She'd even lost control of her magic and accidentally summoned up several rock creatures around her palace. She'd tried to calm down, but her feelings of unease had only gotten worse as the day went on. Wuya hadn't been feeling rather peaceful lately, but today had been the worst. She had gotten such a foreboding feeling. It was like warning bells in her head that were screaming about the threat of danger. She'd only felt this way once before- the day that Dashi had locked her away.
Glancing upwards, Wuya could see the dark clouds beginning to roll in overhead. She had to act now. For months, she hadn't been able to get close to Hitomi. Chase's jungle cats had stopped her at every turn. They'd even maimed her several times! Still, Wuya felt slightly fortunate that she hadn't yet run into Chase... Slipping out from behind her tree, Wuya made sure that the dagger in her sleeve was secured before leaping over the wall of the temple. She would have to get some Wu before she tried again...
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"Young monks, I fear the moment we have anticipated has arrived," Master Fung started. His students all watched him with deep frowns before exchanging worried glances with each other. They had been in the middle of a tense lunch when Master Fung had spoken.
"I can already feel the darkness that has begun to spread," Omi said.
"You are correct, Omi. The world has been threatened several times before. Do not lose hope, young monks. Good always triumphs over evil," Master Fung said.
"I hope you're right, Master Fung," Raimundo replied with a heavy sigh.
Suddenly, the alarm for the vault blared loudly around the temple. Everyone stood up at once before dashing out of the room, their meal forgotten. Upon reaching the courtyard where the entrance to the vault was kept, the monks stopped at the sight of several other monks facing Wuya defensively.
"I do not know what business you have with us, Wuya-" Master Fung started in a brave tone.
"I didn't come for any of you. I came to borrow some Wu. If you don't mind," Wuya said while summoning a few rock creatures with a wave of her hand. "I've got business to take care of."
"Stop her!"
Everyone paused at the sound of a new voice. Looking around at each other in confusion, all of the monks were surprised to see that none of them had spoken.
"Stop that witch!" Hannibal Bean shouted down from where Ying Ying was now circling overhead.
"Is this some kind of trick or something?" Raimundo asked skeptically. "Aren't you two working together."
"Not anymore. That witch can't be trusted," Hannibal said as Ying Ying landed near the monks.
"Oh. Right. Look who's talking," Wuya responded with a roll of her eyes.
"There ain't no honor among thieves," Clay said with a disbelieving scoff.
"She's the real enemy! She wants to use the Shen Gong Wu to kill an unborn baby!" Hannibal accused. Knowing the monks, they'd easily attack Wuya with everything they had. Because it was the right thing to do. No one likes a murderer.
"Wait a second. You mean Hitomi's baby? Wuya wants to kill it? Why?" Kimiko asked.
"Cause she's evil," Hannibal replied as if he were speaking to a three-year-old.
"I'm doing what is necessary! Don't act like that demon spawn won't be the end of all of us! Good or evil. It doesn't matter. It's Chase against everyone else," Wuya shouted with a harsh glare.
"No good will come of this. Mark my word. You think Chase will roll over and let you do what you want?" Hannibal scoffed. Wuya didn't have a reply for that. The idea of facing Chase alone didn't appeal to her, but what choice did she have?
"Guys, I know you don't agree, but we have to do something. It's like Wuya said. It's Chase against all of us. We can't risk the safety of the whole world," Raimundo said to Clay and Kimiko.
"Raimundo is right. He is our leader and I am siding with him," Omi declared.
"We're not startin' this again, pardner."
"Rai, we can't."
Hannibal balked. "What kind of monks are you!? You'd really kill that child!?" Hannibal exclaimed.
"If it is necessary to save the world," Omi responded in a serious tone.
"Don't listen to the cueball. He won't do it. None of them can do it. They're too noble," Wuya interjected. "But, I can. If you can get me close enough, I'll take care of the problem."
"Now, wait just a minute there," Clay interjected.
"There's no time to wait!" Wuya shouted. "Look above you! It's already started! Like a prophecy coming true right in front of us, the darkness is spreading faster than anyone could have predicted."
The monks looked up at the storm clouds that were slowly covering up the sun. A chilly breeze blew across their feet and scattered some fallen leaves around. A flock of birds quickly flew by at a frantic pace as if they were fleeing from something. The monks exchanged a few looks.
"You don't want to kill the kid, but none of you can offer a good solution for how to fix this mess," Wuya sneered. "You won't be able to let it grow up and hope it doesn't turn out evil. It already is. You won't be able to raise it as your own. There's only one option. If you don't want to get your hands dirty, fine. The least you can do is keep Chase and his kittens busy."
Everyone exchanged more wary glances. "I... I never thought I would see the day that I would consider siding with the forces of evil," Omi said quietly.
"I believe that this is what they call a necessary evil," Hannibal said.
"What do you guys say?" Raimundo asked Clay and Kimiko.
"I still don't like this," Clay argued. "But, I'll hate it even more if I don't do somethin'."
"I agree. We have to at least stop Chase. We haven't been able to beat him before, but that can't stop us now," Kimiko said.
Raimundo nodded once before facing Wuya. The witch approached him with a smug smirk while Hannibal hesitantly approached as well. Raimundo offered his hand and Wuya immediately took it. "We'll work together this one time. But, this doesn't mean we trust either of you," Raimundo said.
"The feeling's mutual," Wuya agreed. They both turned to Hannibal expectantly.
After releasing a low groan of disgust, he hopped onto their joined hands and placed his root-like hand on top of theirs. "I'll do what I can. I trust the monks more than I trust Wuya. She'd stab you in the back just to save her own hide," Hannibal grumbled. Wuya rolled her eyes.
"Listen up. I've got a plan," Raimundo started in a serious tone.