"Obligation and Duty"
Chapter 12
*****
Rei was expecting those words, but she still had a hard time taking them. She instantly broke down crying and it took her a little while to stop.
"Oh, Rei, I'm sorry," Botan soothed as she ran to Rei's side. Since both Hiei and Kurama had left that morning, Botan was the only shoulder Rei could cry on and that's exactly what she did.
"So... who's kid is it?" Rei asked between sniffles when she had finally settled down.
"Yusuke's," Botan answered. Rei nodded as she reached for a tissue and blew her nose.
"How come it's Yusuke's?" she asked.
"Because Hiei and Yusuke are the only ones you've slept with. And because you didn't want to even do it with Hiei. Remember when I told you that you could choose if you wanted pregnant or not?"
Rei nodded.
"Well, because Hiei had 'raped' you," Botan started, adding emphasis to the word raped, "you didn't even think about kids. But when you did it with Yusuke, the thoughts of children dominated both of your minds."
Rei's jaw dropped. "So I even have to be careful what I'm thinking about or else I'll get pregnant?"
Botan somewhat shook her head, "Just don't let it dominate your thoughts like it did with Yusuke. I mean, that was the ONLY thing you thought about. He was also thinking about it a little so that's why it was so easy for you to get pregnant."
Rei blew her nose again and started mumbling, "Yusuke was thinking about kids? What'll I tell the other two? Should I get an abortion? No, I would never be able to live with myself if I did..."
Botan put her hand on Rei's shoulder, "I'll take care of telling the boys, you need to get cleaned up and go to the doctors."
***
Rei did as she was told and by 2 o'clock she had gone to the gynecologist and gotten the report.
"Well, you've been pregnant for about a week. And just today you had morning sickness?" Ms. Haichi, the doctor, said.
Rei nodded, "I was sick a few days ago, but I thought it was only because of the rain."
Ms. Haichi checked her chart. "That could've been one of the reasons. But it says here that you're pregnant and everything looks normal."
Ms. Haichi gave Rei some medicine- for the mornings- and a few pointers and let her go back home. It was atleast 4 o'clock when Rei was walking up the steps to her home. She saw Hiei on the roof again, but this time he was with Kurama. Rei stopped a second and waved.
"What're you guys doing?" she asked as she shaded her eyes from the sun.
Kurama looked over the edge and answered. "We're fixing the roof. It had a leak."
Rei nodded and walked into the house. .oO{I hope Botan told them... It'd be too weird if I had to...}
Sure enough, Botan was still there; cleaning the house, no less.
"Oh, Rei-chan. What did she say?" Botan asked, taking a rest from sweeping.
Rei sat down, "I'm pregnant, it's looking alright, and she gave me some medicine to make me feel a little better."
"That's good," Botan said as she leaned her chin on the broom handle. "I told the guys. I don't know how they're taking it..."
Rei winced, inwardly wishing she didn't have to go through all this. She propped her feet up on the couch and whined, "Why does stuff like this always happen to me?"
"It's just your lot in life, I guess. Call it bad-yukai luck," Botan answered, starting to sweep again.
***
Botan left before 5:00p.m. and Rei got off the couch to start cooking supper. Her mind was screaming at her body the whole time and she was also having an interesting conversation with her it.
.oO{I hope the guys won't disown me or anything... They wouldn't do that, would they? They can't... What am I going to do when the baby is born? What'll Yusuke say? The last thing he needs right now is a baby...}
Stirring the rice, Rei started to wonder what it'd be like to be a mother. In the middle of her musings, Kurama walked in.
"What's for supper?" he asked, searching the fridge.
"Rice and whatever else you can find," Rei answered. Kurama stopped suddenly and asked, "Why didn't you tell us?"
Rei was caught off-guard and stuttered, "I-I didn't know until this morning. You were already gone by then."
He turned to her, "But I thought a woman knows when she's with child."
Rei glared at him, "Y'know, I didn't even know what a kiss felt like until about two weeks ago. Now I'm pregnant. You think I know everything there is about being a girl?"
Kurama held up his hands in surrender. "I'm sorry, I was just kinda hurt, that's all."
"I'm really moody right now... I just can't stand these last minute warnings about my powers!" Rei shook her head as she drained the rice.
Kurama only nodded and walked from the kitchen. Rei finished up making supper and started on the dishes, because she wasn't that hungry. Hiei kept his distance from her for the rest of the night, but Kurama was a little nicer. He would come in every once in a while and dry the dishes or make sure she didn't need anything.
That night, Rei started to get a little paranoid. She could feel a Jagan watching her, so she quietly walked to Hiei's room. He was laying on his bed- asleep. And it wasn't one of his fakes, he was really asleep this time.
.oO{That is so creepy. It had to have been Hiei.} Rei thought as she got a quick shower, trying to wash away all her fears and doubts. She hopped into bed, but her night was anything but restful and little did she know that that would be the last time she'd see Hiei for a while.
***
Three and a half months passed and Rei's tummy was getting larger every day.
"This is kinda fun," Rei laughed one day. Kurama was helping in the garden and had helped her every day since she found out.
"Gardening or pregnancy?" he asked, digging a hole for the daisies.
"Both, actually. I've had a great helper so far," she flirted. Kurama smiled and said, "I don't think Yusuke would be happy to hear that."
"What about me?" the just-mentioned boy said. He was coming up the shrine steps with a pack over his shoulder and neither Kurama nor Rei had heard him approach. Rei was fairly frightened, because Botan hadn't told Yusuke yet.
"Hey! What're you doing here?" Kurama stood up and greeted Yusuke.
"The old Fossil let me come home for a few days, I have to go back soon, though. So I thought I'd come here," he said as he made his way to Rei. Yusuke reached out his hand and helped her up, but he didn't notice her slightly large tummy. She was a little dizzy when she stood up and only when she leaned against him for balance did he notice.
"Oh my. You're pregnant?!" Yusuke exclaimed.
Rei nodded and Yusuke asked, "Who's is it?"
"Your's," she whispered.
Yusuke dropped his bag almost as fast as his jaw did. Kurama stepped in here and ushered them into the living room before someone passed out.
"Mine... are you sure?" Yusuke asked warily. Rei nodded, "Botan came and told me that I was pregnant. I guess I had control over it, but I guess I wasn't thinking right..."
To Rei's surprise he didn't yell at her. He only smiled and said, "That's alright. I think it'll be neat to be a dad."
This time Rei's mouth was the one to drop open and Kurama decided it was time for him to leave the room.
"Wha? But... I thought?" Rei stumbled. Yusuke had to laugh at her confusion.
"What? Did you think I'd yell at you?"
Rei blushed, "Uh... not... really. I just thought the last thing you needed right now was a baby running around."
"Ah, who cares what I need? I still think it'd be nice...But wait! What would I tell Keiko?" he exclaimed. Rei's mouth fell open again and she slapped him.
Yusuke started to laugh as he held his cheek and said, "I don't care what anyone says, but I still think you hit harder than her. Don't worry, I'm not going to tell Keiko anything," he said as he wrapped his arms around her. "Though I was hoping for a good screw when I came..." Yusuke sighed.
Rei glared at him and said, "Sorry to dissapoint you." She snuggled against him and they talked about plans for the future for a few hours.
***
A few days later, Yusuke had to leave for Genkai's again. Almost as soon as he left, Hiei came back. He didn't bother saying anything to Rei but went straight for his room. Kurama and Rei exchanged glances and Kurama was the first to move for Hiei's room. Kurama didn't bother knocking and walked in with Rei close behind. Hiei was sprawled face-down on his bed and Kurama uncaringly shook him. Hiei looked up and glared and Kurama asked him, "What's wrong with you?"
Hiei looked like he had seen a lot of action the past 3 and a 1/2 months and he answered, "We're all in danger."
Rei asked, "What? What do you mean?"
"Because... there is another Jaganshi."
Rei and Kurama just about fell over and Kurama exclaimed, "What!? What do you mean? And where have you been these past months?"
Hiei rolled his eyes and answered, "Didn't you hear? Exactly what I said, and I've been collecting evidence. I've had a feeling ever since I came here that there was another Jaganshi out there."
Rei spoke up, "I've thought a Jagan was watching me, but I always thought it was you," she glared at Hiei.
"No. I wouldn't do that."
"Then who was watching me when I was in the shower that one day?" she asked, reminding him of when he walked in on her.
He glared at her and answered, "I just told you. I wouldn't do that. I DO have honor, you know."
Rei was tempted to say he didn't have much, considering her was the one that raped her, but she bit her tongue. Even though she hadn't said it out loud, Hiei looked at her. She could swear there was hurt in his eyes again, but she decided not to take pity on him.
"Then why did you walk in on me?"
"Because I was thinking and didn't notice the water running."
Rei wasn't buying his cover story and was about ready to punch him when Kurama spoke up.
"Well, why does this put us in danger?" Kurama asked averting Hiei's attention back to the situation.
"Because. He is after Rei," Hiei said, looking to her.
"Me? But why me?" she asked, pointing to herself.
Hiei gave a small nod to her stomach. Rei gasped, "What does he want with my baby?"
Hiei shifted uncomfortably and guessed, "Maybe because it's Yusuke's baby, too, or maybe because he wants your power."
Rei sighed and thought, .oO{Gracious. The surprises never end.}
"What can we do?" Kurama mused aloud. Rei turned to him and she saw a look in his eyes that she hadn't seen before. Protection. Anger. Other unrecognizable emotions.
"We can fight him. Or we can run and then he comes after us and we all die anyways," Hiei listed the only two possibilities.
.oO{That did not sound like something Hiei would say!} Rei thought as she said, "We fight."
Both the guys looked at her, but Kurama was the first to put it into words. "You aren't fighting."
"Why not! I'm just as good as both of you," Rei protested. Kurama shook his head and motioned to her small tummy. Rei unconsciously covered it with her hand and shook her head, "I don't think it'll get hurt. I'm fighting."
Kurama started to protest again but Hiei stopped him, "She can do what she wants."
Kurama looked at Hiei with disbelief in his eyes. Hiei was staring at the floor and didn't bother repeating himself. Rei was even caught off a little, because she didn't think Hiei was one to be on her side.
"Alright, but you'll have to be extra careful," Kurama sighed in defeat. Rei nodded and asked, "When are we leaving?"
"As soon as possible," Hiei said as he stood up.
"We need food, right?" Rei asked. Hiei gave a small nod so Rei walked off to the kitchen. Finding a pack she could put it in, she packed them some food and water that would last quite a while- but was still light enough to carry. Not bothering with extra clothes she met the guys outside.
Kurama was still wary to let Rei go, but she didn't care. She could be careful. She WOULD be careful.
Hiei told them his plan and Kurama did a little fixing of it. Glaring, Hiei grunted his approval. Now ready to go, Rei was starting to have second thoughts.
"Rei, I still think you should stay," Kurama started again.
"Shut up, Kurama. She's coming with us," Hiei growled.
Sure enough, Kurama shut up, but not before flipping Hiei off. Rei stifled her laugh and Hiei said, "I could take your finger and shove it up your ass if you wanted, Kurama. Don't mess with me."
"Ohh, testy, aren't we. C'mon guys, I'll race one of you to the end of the steps," Rei laughed.
Hiei and Kurama decided to play along and they all split at one second. They all had no idea what adventure was ahead of them, though.
Chapter 12
*****
Rei was expecting those words, but she still had a hard time taking them. She instantly broke down crying and it took her a little while to stop.
"Oh, Rei, I'm sorry," Botan soothed as she ran to Rei's side. Since both Hiei and Kurama had left that morning, Botan was the only shoulder Rei could cry on and that's exactly what she did.
"So... who's kid is it?" Rei asked between sniffles when she had finally settled down.
"Yusuke's," Botan answered. Rei nodded as she reached for a tissue and blew her nose.
"How come it's Yusuke's?" she asked.
"Because Hiei and Yusuke are the only ones you've slept with. And because you didn't want to even do it with Hiei. Remember when I told you that you could choose if you wanted pregnant or not?"
Rei nodded.
"Well, because Hiei had 'raped' you," Botan started, adding emphasis to the word raped, "you didn't even think about kids. But when you did it with Yusuke, the thoughts of children dominated both of your minds."
Rei's jaw dropped. "So I even have to be careful what I'm thinking about or else I'll get pregnant?"
Botan somewhat shook her head, "Just don't let it dominate your thoughts like it did with Yusuke. I mean, that was the ONLY thing you thought about. He was also thinking about it a little so that's why it was so easy for you to get pregnant."
Rei blew her nose again and started mumbling, "Yusuke was thinking about kids? What'll I tell the other two? Should I get an abortion? No, I would never be able to live with myself if I did..."
Botan put her hand on Rei's shoulder, "I'll take care of telling the boys, you need to get cleaned up and go to the doctors."
***
Rei did as she was told and by 2 o'clock she had gone to the gynecologist and gotten the report.
"Well, you've been pregnant for about a week. And just today you had morning sickness?" Ms. Haichi, the doctor, said.
Rei nodded, "I was sick a few days ago, but I thought it was only because of the rain."
Ms. Haichi checked her chart. "That could've been one of the reasons. But it says here that you're pregnant and everything looks normal."
Ms. Haichi gave Rei some medicine- for the mornings- and a few pointers and let her go back home. It was atleast 4 o'clock when Rei was walking up the steps to her home. She saw Hiei on the roof again, but this time he was with Kurama. Rei stopped a second and waved.
"What're you guys doing?" she asked as she shaded her eyes from the sun.
Kurama looked over the edge and answered. "We're fixing the roof. It had a leak."
Rei nodded and walked into the house. .oO{I hope Botan told them... It'd be too weird if I had to...}
Sure enough, Botan was still there; cleaning the house, no less.
"Oh, Rei-chan. What did she say?" Botan asked, taking a rest from sweeping.
Rei sat down, "I'm pregnant, it's looking alright, and she gave me some medicine to make me feel a little better."
"That's good," Botan said as she leaned her chin on the broom handle. "I told the guys. I don't know how they're taking it..."
Rei winced, inwardly wishing she didn't have to go through all this. She propped her feet up on the couch and whined, "Why does stuff like this always happen to me?"
"It's just your lot in life, I guess. Call it bad-yukai luck," Botan answered, starting to sweep again.
***
Botan left before 5:00p.m. and Rei got off the couch to start cooking supper. Her mind was screaming at her body the whole time and she was also having an interesting conversation with her it.
.oO{I hope the guys won't disown me or anything... They wouldn't do that, would they? They can't... What am I going to do when the baby is born? What'll Yusuke say? The last thing he needs right now is a baby...}
Stirring the rice, Rei started to wonder what it'd be like to be a mother. In the middle of her musings, Kurama walked in.
"What's for supper?" he asked, searching the fridge.
"Rice and whatever else you can find," Rei answered. Kurama stopped suddenly and asked, "Why didn't you tell us?"
Rei was caught off-guard and stuttered, "I-I didn't know until this morning. You were already gone by then."
He turned to her, "But I thought a woman knows when she's with child."
Rei glared at him, "Y'know, I didn't even know what a kiss felt like until about two weeks ago. Now I'm pregnant. You think I know everything there is about being a girl?"
Kurama held up his hands in surrender. "I'm sorry, I was just kinda hurt, that's all."
"I'm really moody right now... I just can't stand these last minute warnings about my powers!" Rei shook her head as she drained the rice.
Kurama only nodded and walked from the kitchen. Rei finished up making supper and started on the dishes, because she wasn't that hungry. Hiei kept his distance from her for the rest of the night, but Kurama was a little nicer. He would come in every once in a while and dry the dishes or make sure she didn't need anything.
That night, Rei started to get a little paranoid. She could feel a Jagan watching her, so she quietly walked to Hiei's room. He was laying on his bed- asleep. And it wasn't one of his fakes, he was really asleep this time.
.oO{That is so creepy. It had to have been Hiei.} Rei thought as she got a quick shower, trying to wash away all her fears and doubts. She hopped into bed, but her night was anything but restful and little did she know that that would be the last time she'd see Hiei for a while.
***
Three and a half months passed and Rei's tummy was getting larger every day.
"This is kinda fun," Rei laughed one day. Kurama was helping in the garden and had helped her every day since she found out.
"Gardening or pregnancy?" he asked, digging a hole for the daisies.
"Both, actually. I've had a great helper so far," she flirted. Kurama smiled and said, "I don't think Yusuke would be happy to hear that."
"What about me?" the just-mentioned boy said. He was coming up the shrine steps with a pack over his shoulder and neither Kurama nor Rei had heard him approach. Rei was fairly frightened, because Botan hadn't told Yusuke yet.
"Hey! What're you doing here?" Kurama stood up and greeted Yusuke.
"The old Fossil let me come home for a few days, I have to go back soon, though. So I thought I'd come here," he said as he made his way to Rei. Yusuke reached out his hand and helped her up, but he didn't notice her slightly large tummy. She was a little dizzy when she stood up and only when she leaned against him for balance did he notice.
"Oh my. You're pregnant?!" Yusuke exclaimed.
Rei nodded and Yusuke asked, "Who's is it?"
"Your's," she whispered.
Yusuke dropped his bag almost as fast as his jaw did. Kurama stepped in here and ushered them into the living room before someone passed out.
"Mine... are you sure?" Yusuke asked warily. Rei nodded, "Botan came and told me that I was pregnant. I guess I had control over it, but I guess I wasn't thinking right..."
To Rei's surprise he didn't yell at her. He only smiled and said, "That's alright. I think it'll be neat to be a dad."
This time Rei's mouth was the one to drop open and Kurama decided it was time for him to leave the room.
"Wha? But... I thought?" Rei stumbled. Yusuke had to laugh at her confusion.
"What? Did you think I'd yell at you?"
Rei blushed, "Uh... not... really. I just thought the last thing you needed right now was a baby running around."
"Ah, who cares what I need? I still think it'd be nice...But wait! What would I tell Keiko?" he exclaimed. Rei's mouth fell open again and she slapped him.
Yusuke started to laugh as he held his cheek and said, "I don't care what anyone says, but I still think you hit harder than her. Don't worry, I'm not going to tell Keiko anything," he said as he wrapped his arms around her. "Though I was hoping for a good screw when I came..." Yusuke sighed.
Rei glared at him and said, "Sorry to dissapoint you." She snuggled against him and they talked about plans for the future for a few hours.
***
A few days later, Yusuke had to leave for Genkai's again. Almost as soon as he left, Hiei came back. He didn't bother saying anything to Rei but went straight for his room. Kurama and Rei exchanged glances and Kurama was the first to move for Hiei's room. Kurama didn't bother knocking and walked in with Rei close behind. Hiei was sprawled face-down on his bed and Kurama uncaringly shook him. Hiei looked up and glared and Kurama asked him, "What's wrong with you?"
Hiei looked like he had seen a lot of action the past 3 and a 1/2 months and he answered, "We're all in danger."
Rei asked, "What? What do you mean?"
"Because... there is another Jaganshi."
Rei and Kurama just about fell over and Kurama exclaimed, "What!? What do you mean? And where have you been these past months?"
Hiei rolled his eyes and answered, "Didn't you hear? Exactly what I said, and I've been collecting evidence. I've had a feeling ever since I came here that there was another Jaganshi out there."
Rei spoke up, "I've thought a Jagan was watching me, but I always thought it was you," she glared at Hiei.
"No. I wouldn't do that."
"Then who was watching me when I was in the shower that one day?" she asked, reminding him of when he walked in on her.
He glared at her and answered, "I just told you. I wouldn't do that. I DO have honor, you know."
Rei was tempted to say he didn't have much, considering her was the one that raped her, but she bit her tongue. Even though she hadn't said it out loud, Hiei looked at her. She could swear there was hurt in his eyes again, but she decided not to take pity on him.
"Then why did you walk in on me?"
"Because I was thinking and didn't notice the water running."
Rei wasn't buying his cover story and was about ready to punch him when Kurama spoke up.
"Well, why does this put us in danger?" Kurama asked averting Hiei's attention back to the situation.
"Because. He is after Rei," Hiei said, looking to her.
"Me? But why me?" she asked, pointing to herself.
Hiei gave a small nod to her stomach. Rei gasped, "What does he want with my baby?"
Hiei shifted uncomfortably and guessed, "Maybe because it's Yusuke's baby, too, or maybe because he wants your power."
Rei sighed and thought, .oO{Gracious. The surprises never end.}
"What can we do?" Kurama mused aloud. Rei turned to him and she saw a look in his eyes that she hadn't seen before. Protection. Anger. Other unrecognizable emotions.
"We can fight him. Or we can run and then he comes after us and we all die anyways," Hiei listed the only two possibilities.
.oO{That did not sound like something Hiei would say!} Rei thought as she said, "We fight."
Both the guys looked at her, but Kurama was the first to put it into words. "You aren't fighting."
"Why not! I'm just as good as both of you," Rei protested. Kurama shook his head and motioned to her small tummy. Rei unconsciously covered it with her hand and shook her head, "I don't think it'll get hurt. I'm fighting."
Kurama started to protest again but Hiei stopped him, "She can do what she wants."
Kurama looked at Hiei with disbelief in his eyes. Hiei was staring at the floor and didn't bother repeating himself. Rei was even caught off a little, because she didn't think Hiei was one to be on her side.
"Alright, but you'll have to be extra careful," Kurama sighed in defeat. Rei nodded and asked, "When are we leaving?"
"As soon as possible," Hiei said as he stood up.
"We need food, right?" Rei asked. Hiei gave a small nod so Rei walked off to the kitchen. Finding a pack she could put it in, she packed them some food and water that would last quite a while- but was still light enough to carry. Not bothering with extra clothes she met the guys outside.
Kurama was still wary to let Rei go, but she didn't care. She could be careful. She WOULD be careful.
Hiei told them his plan and Kurama did a little fixing of it. Glaring, Hiei grunted his approval. Now ready to go, Rei was starting to have second thoughts.
"Rei, I still think you should stay," Kurama started again.
"Shut up, Kurama. She's coming with us," Hiei growled.
Sure enough, Kurama shut up, but not before flipping Hiei off. Rei stifled her laugh and Hiei said, "I could take your finger and shove it up your ass if you wanted, Kurama. Don't mess with me."
"Ohh, testy, aren't we. C'mon guys, I'll race one of you to the end of the steps," Rei laughed.
Hiei and Kurama decided to play along and they all split at one second. They all had no idea what adventure was ahead of them, though.
