Waking up from her bed Yumi yawned and stretched her arms, she was now at a little over four months pregnant, rolling to her side Yumi moaned and squinted her eyes as the sun shone itself through the balcony doors that were left open. Covering her head with the dark silk sheets, Yumi could hear someone running around, "Kairie for heaven's sake, it's too early..." she groaned peeking through the covers.
"I'm sorry Miss Yumi I have so much to do..." Kairie apologized, still excited to the fact that there was going to be a baby crawling within the fortress soon.
"Kairie..." Yumi sat up watching as the girl rushed to her side. "The baby will be born in another five months...trust me there is still time..." she smiled. "Now breathe and stop exhausting yourself..."
Kairie laughed, "Yes of course, I'll try..."
Yumi slowly stood and got dressed, she smiled as she felt the lump in her stomach, and giggled as she thought. 'I'll get to meet you soon little one...'
Standing by Shishio's side as he adressed his men Yumi frowned at one of the leaders of the group who took orders from Usui. Ketie always seemed to look at her with lust filled eyes, whenever he did Yumi would always finger the hilt of the dagger that was hidden within her kimono. 'Stop looking at me like that.' She growled, Shishio turned to her as he dismissed his men.
"Yumi?" Yumi looked up and smiled as he offered his right arm, resting his left one on the hilt of his katana, "You seem quite distant today...are you all right?"
"Oh yes...just thinking..." she lied.
"About?" Shishio asked knowing very well that she was hiding something.
"If it's a boy or a girl..." she smiled sweetly. "Which would you prefer?" she asked in turn.
"Doesn't matter...if it's a boy he'll be well trained to kill off any threatening opponent...While if it's a girl..." he smirked, "I'll kill off any man who would dare lay a hand on her..." he chuckled.
Yumi giggled and leaned her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes enjoying the quiet moment, until it was ruined by such an annoying voice.
"My Lord Shishio...we should start looking through the plans for the battleship ...Lord Shishio?"
"Not today Hoji..." Shishio ordered as he led Yumi through a door.
"But sir...the Purgatory?" Shishio turned to his subordinate and glared at the man, taking the hint Hoji kept his mouth shut and bowed his head. "Of course sir...tomorrow then."
Sliding the shoji shut behind him, Shishio smirked, "Are you up for a dip in the springs Yumi?"
"Mmmm that would be nice..."
Three months later
Opening a weary eye Shishio looked around the bedroom, now at seven months, Yumi seemed to glow as motherhood agreed with her, parting her yukata at her stomach Shishio gently caressed it and smiled as he felt a tiny kick. Groaning at the sudden chill Yumi turned to her right to snuggle up to her love. Shishio chuckled as he covered her with the blankets.
"Miss Yumi..." Kairie gently shook her, still feeling extremely tired Yumi opened her eyes and glared, "Time to wake up, Miss Yumi..." Kairie chirped. Yumi slowly sat up and yelped, "What wrong?" Kairie grabbed her shoulder.
Yumi smiled "This little one's going to be a fighter, that's for sure." Kairie laughed as she helped her mistress on her feet. Yumi was huge, although Kairie was always by her side she would often lose her balance and stumble.
A few hours later Yumi was walking down the hall supporting her weight on the wall she had managed to get away from Kairie. "Didn't Tetsu restrict you to bedrest Yumi?" Yumi smiled as she had been caught.
"I'm three steps away from our room, how did you know?" she frowned.
Shishio smirked, "You should be in bed..." he warned then heard a faint voice within his room.
"Miss Yumi?" Kairie called out, "Oh no not again..." Kairie rushed out of the room and screeched to a halt as she nearly plowed into Shishio. "Lord Shishio..." she gasped.
"Lose someone?" he chuckled.
"Miss Yumi, you have got to stop doing that...you scared the hell out of me." she scolded.
"Really you two worry too much..." Yumi sighed as she walked back into the bedroom, settling herself down on a sofa that was set up outside on the balcony.
"You're dismissed Kairie..." Shishio ordered as he followed Yumi to the balcony "And you...you know very well that in your condition you shouldn't be strolling off like that..."
"I just wanted to stretch my legs for a bit..."
"You can do so after the little one is born..."
"You expect me to stay on my back for two months...I'll go insane." She growled.
Shishio sighed, "While pregnant you're impossible to argue with..." he mused.
Yumi
turned to him as he sat next to her and as she smiled sweetly, Shishio
laughed. "Oh alright...Come let's go to the river..."
"I get to go outside...yay." She chirped, as she took his hand. Shishio gently pulled her up and led her outside. As they walked through the forest, Yumi smiled as she saw a blanket and half a dozen pillows were laid down on the ground Yumi crossed her arms and gave a questionning look to Shishio, "You were planning on bringing me here in the first place, weren't you?"
Shishio chuckled as he helped her sit and get comfortable. Yumi leaned against her Lord Shishio and smiled as she closed her eyes and enjoyed the sounds of the forest and the warmth of the sun. Shishio growled as he suddenly sat up and turned his body to protect Yumi's. Opening her eyes Yumi looked around, and rolled her eyes as she rested her head on Shishio's back.
"I said I didn't want to be disturbed Soujiro..."
"I'm sorry Master Shishio, Miss Yumi...but Usui has sent one of his leaders here with the information that you wanted." Soujiro informed his master.
"Yes it seems that the police army will be gathering it's troops, apparently they somehow found out where the fortress is..." Ketie answered, as he glanced at Yumi for a brief moment.
Noticing the glance Shishio grunted. "When do they plan to attack?"
"They expect to be ready within the next few months..." Ketie continued.
"Is that all?" Shishio thought for a moment.
"Yes sir..." Ketie answered.
"Then you're dismissed..." Ketie bowed his head looking at Yumi again then turned to leave, the moment he was out of sight Shishio growled. "Soujiro...he's hiding something follow him."
"Yes sir...by the way how are you and the little one doing Miss Yumi?" he smiled.
"Better now that he's gone..." she scowled.
Soujiro looked at her confused. Seeing this Shishio explained. "It seems that Ketie has a thing for Yumi...make a note of this Soujiro if he ever lays a hand on her, kill him at once..."
"Yes Master Shishio...well I better get going then..." Soujiro waved at the two and turned to follow Ketie.
A few days later Soujiro had returned to the fortress, "Well?" Shishio asked.
"You were right Master Shishio, Usui is hiding something, though I'm sorry to say I was not able to find out what it was..."
Shishio smirked, he knew very well that Usui wanted him dead, he could handle him easily but what was he planning... "He probably has something planned for when the police army decide to attack." He laughed, "We'll be ready..."
Two months later
The police were surrounding Shishio's fortress within Mount Hiei, Shishio looked on as his men were getting into position. Smiling he gave the order to attack and watched the slaughter he knew very well that they wouldn't be able to get anywhere near his fortress. Though he did sense that something was wrong for a brief moment he hadn't seen Usui or any of his men on the field the thought of Ketie and the looks he gave Yumi popped in his head. '...No he wouldn't, Damnit he's using the attack as a diversion.' "Soujiro..." he called, to the boy.
"Yes Master Shishio?" he smiled.
"Something's not right...get Yumi and Kairie out of the fortress..."
"Alright..." Soujiro bowed and ran off.
Arriving at the fortress Soujiro gasped Shishio's and Yumi's room was thrashed, as if there had been a struggle, "Miss Yumi..." he called out and searched the room. "Master Shishio's not gonna like this..." Spotting a little blood on the floor near the balcony, Soujiro climbed up on the railing and leapt down as he found at least a dozen footprints. Following them Soujiro ran into a few of Shishio's soldiers led by Kamatari, getting into a Battou-joutsu stance they looked at the boy fearfully. "What are you doing here?" Soujiro asked.
"What the hell are you doing kiddo...we're not the enemy." she chirped.
"Miss Yumi and Kairie have been taken...would you please go inform Master Shishio, while I track them down?" he asked politely.
"What do you mean taken?" Kamatari continued.
"There was a struggle...they were taken...hurry..." he answered as he continued to follow the tracks.
Kamatari chuckled, "What's so funny." One of the soldier's asked.
"Ah...Lord Shishio's gonna make those assholes suffer once he gets his hands on them..." she smiled. And made her way to Shishio.
"Why would he do that?"
"Oh haven't you heard..." she turned to the soldier, "Yumi's pregnant and is about to give birth any day now." She giggled. The other soldier's eyes went wide.
As Kairie led Yumi back to her bed, Yumi winced at the pain she felt in her back, "Would you like anything else Miss Yumi?" she asked as she watched her lie down.
"No thank-you Kairie I just want to lie here, and close my eyes...that's all."
"Would you like me to open the balcony doors to let in a breeze?"
Yumi smiled, "That would be nice..."
Kairie quickly made her way to the doors, and gasped as she saw six figures hiding within the shadows, "What the...NOOOO..." Kairie screamed as they rushed within the room, two men had grabbed Kairie while the other four went after Yumi as she was in her ninth month Yumi had a hard time fighting back. As the women struggled Kairie bit one of the men holding her drawing blood the man backhanded her sending her crashing into a wall, picking her up again, the men carried the women out of the fortress.
Yumi was still struggling as she was carried within a tent in the woods, Kairie had been knocked unconscious, Yumi yelped as the four men nearly dropped her to the floor. Glaring at them as they left Yumi crawled over to Kairie and shook her gently, "Kairie...Kairie wake up..." Yumi smiled as Kairie groaned slowly opening her eyes.
"Oh what hit me...owww..." Suddenly remembering what had happened Kairie quickly sat up, "Miss Yumi...oh gods...are you all right?" she cried. Yumi nodded, sighed and looked around.
Suddenly someone entered the tent. "Well now I trust that my men has treated you well...Miss Yum...what the hell?" Ketie's eyes nearly popped out of his head as he saw that Yumi was well...pregnant, aparently Shishio had kept it a secret, in order to protect her and the child, only a select few knew. Eyeing her over Ketie growled at the bruises that adorned her wrists, arms, neck and face, then glared at her stomach. Smirking he slowly made his way to her kneeling down he grasped her chin and forced her to look in his eyes. "I can't believe how a woman as beautiful as you would fall for that disfigured man...I can understand if it's for power though...that's why I joined, though I am shocked now that I find out that you are carrying his child." He chuckled as he licked the side of her face, "I didn't know he was still able...with his injuries..."
"Get away from me...don't touch me..." Yumi growled as she pushed him off her and slapped him hard in the face. In a fit of rage at her actions Ketie, back handed her, Yumi actually saw stars from the force of the blow as she fell to the ground on her side, Kairie quickly leaned over her in order to protect both mother and child. Wrapping her arms around her stomach to protect her baby Yumi turned away from him breathing deeply she leaned her head on the cool surface of the cold ground. Ketie paced the room trying to calm himself a bit then went to her, pulling Kairie off her he then fisted her hair and forced Yumi to look up, "Now you listen my little flower, soon you'll be mine...after this abomination is born..." he tapped at her stomach. "...and killed you will come to my chambers and please me as you did Shishio..." he growled and smirked as he saw the fear in Yumi's eyes. Letting her go Ketie left the tent a guard at the door, "They don't leave this tent..." he ordered. As the flaps fell to hide them from view of all the soldiers outside Yumi waited for a moment, Kairie went to her and wrapped her arms around her best friend and held her tightly as she quietly cried.
"Hi..." Kamatari chirped, "Lord Shishio..." she sang out.
"What is it Kamatari?" Shishio was leaning against a tree deep in thought watching the last of the police as they were killed off.
"Oh well Soujiro asked me to give you a message, let's see..." Kamatari looked up and tapped her lip with her index finger, "Oh yes Yumi and a...Kairie were taken...he's tracking them down as we speak..."
"What?" Shishio stood straight and growled, "Where?"
Kamatari smiled, and led him towards where she had met Soujiro. Kneeling down Shishio studied the footprints, "They seem to be heading north...isn't that where Usui's camp is?" Kamatari asked as she followed him through the trees.
"That it is Kamatari, I was expecting something from him, but not this..." he seethed.
"Miss Yumi...please try and calm down, take deep breaths...that's it..." Kairie tried everything she could to try and calm her but Yumi was too afraid for the baby.
"What are we going to do..." she whispered.
"Shhh we'll think of something...don't worry..." Kairie looked around the tent and frowned, she had no idea what the hell she was looking for. Hearing only noise at the front of the tent, Kairie tore open the bottom of her kimono and took out the two kunais that she had sewn in for her protection...just in case she was attacked, carefully Kairie slid the kunai down the side of the tent and looked outside...forest, nothing but trees, smiling she quickly looked to Yumi then frowned as she heard noise outside, piercing a small hole Kairie tore off a thin strand of her kimono and quickly tied off the tear she had made, making her way to Yumi, Kairie hid her kunai back in her kimono, and making a tear in Yumi's, Kairie slid the other within the sleeve to hide it for her. Smiling her thanks Yumi took a breath and glared at the soldier who had entered with food and water.
After about twenty minutes, Kairie listened carefully to the soldiers who were cheering outside, aparently they were victorious during battle, that meant that Ketie would soon come back. Deciding to take the chance Kairie returned to the back of the tent and looked outside, there still was no one, "Miss Yumi the battle is over, Lord Shishio will be looking for you...we have to leave before that bastard comes back we might be able to hide out in the forest..." she whispered. Yumi nodded as Kairie helped her to her feet.
Checking again if the coast was clear Kairie held on to Yumi as she led her out of the tent.
Soujiro ran through the forest following the tracks, hearing men cheering in joy, Soujiro jumped up in a tree and looked at the men, and spotted Ketie coming out of a tent with a smug look on his face, Soujiro had to strain to hear the conversation, "Lord Usui, has given the orders we attack Shishio and his men at dawn while their resting." He ordered.
"What about the women?"
"The servant you can have, I don't care about her...Have a doctor come for Yumi...the moment that child is born I want you to drown it..."
"But sir...a baby?"
"Do as I say or you'll join it..." Ketie growled.
"Yes sir..." the soldier answered not too pleased with the task he was given.
Soujiro smirked "Well now Lord Shishio will not be too happy about that...though it might be fun to watch Ketie's futile attempts to run with his legs severed..." Soujiro smiled, then dropped down from his perch, Soujiro walked in the camp, the soldiers all stopped cheering and stared at the boy, smiling Soujiro walked up to the tent that held Yumi and her servant, "Well hello there mister soldier, tell me has any harm come to Miss Yumi and Miss Kairie, because if there was Master Shishio will not be to pleased about that he surely won't..."
"What...how did...wha..." the soldier mumbled as he looked to the boy totally shocked.
"Would you be so kind as to step aside...I'm afraid that if you don't I'll have no choice but to kill you..." Soujiro grinned as he scratched the back of his head. Fearing for his life the soldier backed off.
Soujiro entered the tent and sighed as he spotted the flap opening when a breeze passed by. "Master Shishio is definetly not going to like this..." Walking through the flap Soujiro took to the trees.
"Kairie...I can't..." Yumi breathed. "I can't..." she cried.
"Alright we'll just rest for a bit, here sit..." she whispered as she leaned Yumi against the tree, Yumi closed her eyes and started breathing deeply. Kairie took out her kunai and sat beside her.
"Say that again..." Ketie growled.
"The kid came here looking for them...he said that if they were harmed that he was going to kill us."
"How the hell would he know that we have them?" The soldier just shook his head.
"Where are they?"
"We don't know...they're not in the tent..." Ketie screamed and punched the soldier knocking him to the ground. Stomping in the tent he saw the flap, rushing out through it Ketie ran within the forest.
Yumi's eyes snapped open and she screamed in agony as a jolt of pain went through her entire body, Kairie immediately muffled her scream with her hands, as the pain seemed to cease, Kairie helped Yumi lie down flat on her back. Yumi had tears in her eyes, "Oh Kami...not yet...please don't come out yet..." she cried.
"Shhhh..." Kairie tried to calm her as she held her hand, and ran her hand on her stomach. Hearing a branch snap Kairie saw the horror on Yumi's face as another contraction hit her, bitting down on her lip Kairie saw blood trickling down Yumi's mouth, ripping up her sleeve Kairie told Yumi to bite down on that instead. "Everything's going to be alright..." Kairie assured her.
"Well it seems I won't have to wait to long until you're mine after all..." Ketie chuckled as he slowly made his way towards the women as he was about to grasp Kairie to pull her back, Kairie quickly turned and slashed the man on the chest with the kunai. "You bitch..." he growled and threw her to the ground wrapping his hands around her throat, and slowly started to suffocate her.
Suddenly Ketie felt cold steel at his throat, releasing his grip on Kairie. Ketie backed off. "I'm sorry it took me so long to find you Miss Yumi, Miss Kairie..." Soujiro smiled then turned to Ketie, "You on the other hand have a few questions to answer to..." Soujiro chirped as he leaned back and slammed his elbow in the man's jaw knocking him out. Kairie immediately scrambled to Yumi's side, "Oh dear...we better get Miss Yumi to doctor Tetsu..." Soujiro looked at them curious.
"There's no time..." Kairie lifted Yumi's kimono, and gasped... "I see a head..." she smiled.
"Is there anything I can do?" Soujiro asked.
"Yes be quiet...find something to wrap this little one in...and clean that sword of yours..." Yumi couldn't hold back anymore, taking a deep breath she let out a scream.
Shishio and Kamatari were walking through Usui's encampment, Shishio was filled with rage killing off a few soldiers to prove his point, "Where is Ketie?" he growled.
"I don't know sir he just ran off into the woods a few moments ago..." Shishio was about to cut the man's head off until they heard a scream in the woods.
"Oh my I hope that's not Yumi...that can't be her..." Kamatari for some odd reason suddenly became worried.
Quickly walking into the woods, they stopped until they heard another scream then rushed off towards it.
"Anything else Miss Kairie?" Soujiro looked at her.
"One more push Miss Yumi then he's out...just one more..." she encouraged. Taking a deep breath, Yumi groaned as she pushed, totally exhausted Yumi fell back to the ground, "There you go that's it...ohhh hello..." Kairie cooed as she cleaned off the baby and cleared out his airway, and instructed Soujiro to cut the imbelical cord. Wrapping up the now crying baby in Soujiro's shirt, Kairie went to Yumi's side, they both had tears in their eyes. "You have a son my lady..." she smiled.
Yumi wearily opened her eyes and caressed his cheek.
Soujiro tensed as he felt someone rushing to their position, getting into a defensive stance Soujiro prepared to attack.
Shishio suddenly stopped in his tracks. "Lord Shishio?" Kamatari looked around, she then saw the grin on her Lord's face. "What?"
"Listen..." he instructed.
Kamatari kept quiet for a moment, then heard a baby's cry.
"Well we better hurry don't you think?" she chirped.
"That we should..." he answered.
As Soujiro was about to swing his sword he hesitated as he saw his master, "Oh Master Shishio...it's about time you got here...see..." Soujiro moved out of Shishio's view. Yumi's and Shishio's eyes locked for a moment then she screamed again.
Kairie laid her hand on Yumi's stomach and felt a small kick. "Oh my..." Quickly standing up Kairie handed the baby to Soujiro.
"What wait..." he yelped as he held the babe awkwardly.
"Shut-up..." she growled.
"Kairie what's wrong?" Shishio asked as he knelt down next to Yumi.
"There's another..." she whispered as she guided the babe out.
"Ah how sweet twins..." Kamatari giggled.
"I can't..." Yumi cried she was totally exhausted, Shishio bent down to her ear and caressed her cheek.
"Yes you can Yumi, just take a few deep breaths and push. You were looking forward to meeting them weren't you?" Yumi smiled and nodded, Shishio gazed in her eyes as she birthed her second babe, a few moments later a cry was heard, Shishio smirked and gave Yumi a light kiss.
Soujiro gave the boy to Kamatari while he cut the cord again, Kairie cleaned up the baby, ripping apart her kimono, she wrapped the little girl in it and brought her to Yumi's side, "And now a daughter..." she smiled.
Shishio grinned as he looked at his son, then at his daughter, brushing a few strands of hair away from Yumi's face, he sighed she had passed out, "Will Yumi be all right?"
Kairie looked at her and frowned, "She's exhausted...we really should take these three back to doctor Tetsu..."
Shishio nodded as he picked up Yumi, Kamatari was babbling at the boy, while Kairie rocked the girl in her arms, Soujiro smiled as he gently shook her little hand.
"Um master Shishio, What should I do with him..."
Shishio glanced over his shoulder, "Drag him back to the fortress..."
A few hours later Yumi slowly opened her eyes, and moaned as she closed them again, suddenly flashes of Ketie invaded her mind, feeling at her stomach Yumi gasped and tried to sit up, but a bandaged hand held her down with a firm but gentle grip. "Lord Shishio?" Shishio smirked and leaned down kissing her lips softly. "Where..." Yumi panicked, Shishio pointed to her right, quickly turning her head, she gasped as her son Tamiko and daughter Teiya were asleep by her side. "Ohhh..." Yumi caressed their cheeks and ran her fingers in their auburn hair as they slowly opened their crimson eyes, "They're perfect..." she cried. Shishio chuckled, as he pulled her to him and laid her down.
"You need to rest Yumi..." Shishio ordered covering her with the blanket.
Yumi frowned... "What happened to Ketie...he..." Shishio silenced her by placing his thumb to her lips.
"Don't worry about him...he wanted to drown our children...he's suffered the same fate..." he chuckled, "...and Usui...Well his eye of the heart now has a sword through it...now sleep..." Yumi sighed as she slowly closed her eyes, glancing at her twins one last time before sleep took her.
The End...
So what ya think Good...Bad...sequel maybe...
