The rest of the school year passed for the two. The rumors abounded when school got back in session, thanks to Suki's medling. A few groups of girls went into mourning over the loss of Chichiri's eligibility. Tasuki put up with quite a bit of hateful rumors, but she just ignored them. Those that mattered to her knew the truth and the school found no favoring in her work in Chichiri's class, so she was able to keep those credits.
When she began to show, the rumors that had started to die off, sprung up anew. Once again, Tasuki and Chichiri just went with the flow, knowing they would die off eventually and eagerly planned, along with their friends, for the upcoming addition to their family.
But alas, the baby was not the only addition to join into their circle of friends. Halfway through the semester, Mitsukake got a new nurse in the clinic. Tasuki was with him when the new nurse arrived. She was sitting on an examining table, done with her exam by Mitsukake, who was qualified to deliver her child. She was chatting with him and seeing as she had some free time, she was helping him label bottles of cough syrup, sticking the premade labels to the boxes. The conversation was light and teasing between the seishi.
The woman paused in the doorway and watched as the redheaded pregnant woman sitting on an exam bed shifted, and teased the tall handsome doctor as they worked. That they were close friends was obvious. She cleared her throat slightly and the conversation stopped between them as the woman and the doctor looked up.
Tasuki stared in shock at the familiar looking woman at the doorway. 'Suzaku, could it be?'
She turned to look at Mitsukake, the dumbfounded look on his face would require teasing later, but for now she just smiled as she placed the jar back in the box and put the rest of the labels there. She moved the box farther from her and Mitsukake came out of his stupor enough to help his pregnant fellow seishi off the bed and she smiled at him and whispered low, in ancient Chinese "Good luck, Mits. I want a full report later."
With that she gave the doctor a bow and then smiled to the woman as she walked out the door, leaving Mitsukake and Shoka together.
She giggled as she made her way down towards Chichiri's classroom and came upon Chiriko walking with a cute girl. "Oh, Dokun." The youngest seishi glanced up and smiled at Tasuki. "Good afternoon, Gen-chan." She grinned and he smiled as well. "What are you so happy about?"
She laughed happily. "I'm married to the greatest man in the world, I have the best friends a woman could ask for, both here and back in New Mexico and..." She leaned closer, as if telling a secret to Chiriko, the girl listening intently. "I just left Mitsukake alone with Shoka." She grinned and straightened, fangs showing. Chiriko stared at her "Are you serious?"
She gave a nod. "I was helping him label stuff after my appointment and she walked in. I take it she is his new nurse." She was fairly bouncing on her heels at the news and Chiriko gave a slight cheer. "Have you told the others?" She shook her head. "No, you were the first I have seen. I'm just on my way to Houjun, who is having lunch with Taka. I'll tell them next."
Tasuki finally turned curious eyes to the girl. "So, Dokun, who is this?" Chiriko flushed and Tasuki grinned at him. For a moment the youngest seishi didn't see his pregnant friend, but was transported back to a different life and he could almost see the tessen's handle rising over the bandit's right shoulder. He shook his head to clear the image and then smiled at the girl. "This is Megumi. She is a friend of mine." Tasuki raised an eyebrow and then winked at the girl. "Friend eh?"
Chiriko nodded "Is she the one going to dinner with us tonight?" She grinned even more at the blush on Chiriko's face. "I see. You guys must really have something if Chiriko is inviting you to supper with the group tonight." She gave Chiriko another wink as the two blushed and then gave a slight bow in farewell. "I will see you both tonight. Don't be surprised if Mitsukake manages to bring Shoka with him." She gave a small wave on her way to find Chichiri and Tamahome. "Ja ne!"
Later that night the group covered a bigger table at Keisuke's restraunt. Chiriko had brought Megumi with him and Mitsukake had managed to convince his new nurse, Shoka, to come to dinner with him and his friends. Talk was unsurprisingly neutral, as there were outsiders in the group, but the seishi and miko welcomed the two women into their fold with ease and acceptance.
Tasuki ended up between Megumi and Chichiri. She and Miaka were making silly faces across the table at each other when Tasuki felt Megumi's eyes on her. She turned with a smile. "Are you having fun?"
Megumi nodded, studying the american student and then her eyes fell to Tasuki's stomach. Tasuki sighed. "Go ahead, you can ask."
Megumi blushed and looked at Tasuki. She saw acceptance and joy in the bandit's eyes. "So, is it true you married because of the baby?"
Tasuki shook her head "No, we did not marry because of the baby. Let's just say I have know Chi... I mean Houjun a long time and this was just the natural course of our relationship."
Chiriko glanced over at Tasuki from Megumi's other side. "Tasuki?"
She glanced past Megumi to Chiriko. "Yeah, Chiriko?" He smiled slightly "I'm going to tell her tonight." Megumi looked between the two, confused as Tasuki and Chichiri smiled at him. "Alright. That is why you wanted these then, eh?" She pulled her sketches out of her pocket of her jacket and handed them to Chiriko, who nodded and took them. "Yes."
"Tell me what?"
The group just laughed and assured her it was nothing serious. Shoka looked confused as well. The meal continued on.
Apparently Chiriko's talk with Megumi went well because after that she became a staunch supporter in Chichiri and Tasuki's relationship and even took to calling the Seishi by their warrior names, although she would still call Chiriko, 'Dokun'. Eventually Mitsukake and Shoka had the same talk and she accepted as well. Their group slowly expanding.
Tasuki was cleaning the apartment, dusting and rearranging as well. Chichiri was teaching a summer class and she was alone. She didn't know where this energy was coming from, but she was surprised. The last few weeks had been rough and Tasuki had barely had the energy to move and now she was running around her apartment like a mad pregnant woman, nearly scrubbing everything.
She was, appropriately, in the nursery when the first pain hit. She paused in her work and winced as the pain tightened around her stomach. When it was over, she stared at her stomach and blinked. "That was it? That didn't hurt at all."
She shook her head and finished straightening up the house. Over time the contractions grew closer together and by the time Chichiri made it home three hours later, her contractions were 10 minutes apart. She had retreated to the comfort of the couch and was curled up on her side when he walked in. "Tasuki?"
She glanced up and smiled at him, a contraction just finishing. "Hi Chichiri."
He glanced around "You cleaned?" She nodded. He frowned down at her. "You should take it easy love, the baby will be here soon, no da."
She grinned again 'Sooner then you know, Chichiri-chan.'
He stood and undid his tie and moved towards their bedroom to change. "Miaka wants to know if we want to go out to supper tonight." Tasuki didn't reply and when he had finished changing, he returned to the living room to find her still laying down, eyes closed, breathing even.
Thinking she had fallen asleep he paused and stared at her, smiling slightly before moving towards the phone to call Miaka and say they wouldn't be making it. Tasuki suddenly let out a shaky breathe and groaned softly, pushing up into a sitting position. "I don't think we will be able to make supper with the others tonight, Chichiri."
He stopped and turned to stare at her. "Tasuki! Have your contractions started?" She gave a nod and rested back against the couch, feet propped up on the coffee table. "Yeah. They started about 3 hours ago."
The monk sat beside her, facing her and she turned her head to look at him. "Why didn't you tell me, no da?"
She grinned "And stress you out so you couldn't finish teaching your classed today? No, I was fine, Chichiri. They are progressing slowly and only now are starting to hurt. I knew you would be home soon. I did call Mitsukake though, he knows and has been over to check on me once since then and has called three times too."
Chichiri sighed softly, a bit relieved to know Mitsukake was aware at least. "That's good, Tasuki."
The doorbell rang and Chichiri stood and opened the door to find the group on his doorstep. Mitsukake smiled at the monk. "I'm glad you made it home, Chichiri."
Tasuki looked over the back of the couch and smiled. "Come in guys, join the party."
The others were just what Tasuki needed to keep her mind off the pain, at least until the pains got so bad and close together that she couldn't think of much else. The others were amazed at Tasuki's strength. The former bandit was always one to complain about his wounds, just for attention, and now Tasuki sat, bearing the pains of childbirth quietly and with dignity.
Finally Mitsukake said it was time to go to the hospital and Tasuki stood, with their help when her water broke. "OI, that is the most disgusting feeling ever." She shivered slightly and announced she was going to go change her clothes, Chichiri following her into the room to help her. About 5 minutes later, the two came out, both a bit paler then when they had gone in. Mitsukake stood and moved towards them as Tasuki stopped walking and bent nearly double in pain. "The pains always come faster when your water has broken, Tasuki."
She panted slightly with the contraction, not speaking and a small moan of pain left her mouth, the first sound she has made during a contraction. Chichiri was the only thing keeping her on her feet.
When she finally straightened enough to lean on Chichiri, Mitsukake frowned. "How close are you contractions now?"
Chichiri raised frightened eyes to the healer. "That was about 45 seconds." The doctor gasped and turned Tasuki to go back into the bedroom and instructed her to lay down. The others stood in the living room, confused and bit frightened for their hotheaded bandit.
The door opened and Chichiri stuck his head out, even more pale. "Hotohori, call for an ambulance, no da." Mitsukake's voice called out "Chiriko, run to my car and get the bag off the back seat."
The regal figure nodded and Chichiri moved back into the room when Tasuki gave a loud scream of pain. Chiriko bolted from the apartment, only to return a minute later with the bag, which he took to the door, Chichiri taking it calmly from him and then shutting the door. Miaka and Nuriko clung to each other on the couch, Taka having mopped up the amniotic liquid. "I hope she is ok!"
Miaka's voice was quiet. "This is Tasuki we are talking about. Hard headed. If he could survive the beating that Tamahome bestoyed on him, then this will be nothing. Plus, she has Mitsukake with her."
The group nodded at Nuriko's confident voice, which did not match the fear in her eyes.
Tasuki gave out another cry of pain and the group jumped. Mitsukake and Chichiri's soft voices murmured through the door and Tasuki let out a loud "Fuck you!"
In the bedroom,
Tasuki was propped back against the headboard, glad that she had put the plastic sheet over the mattress last week. Mitsukake finished checking her and smiled. "Tasuki, we definately are not going to be moving until this baby gets here. Your water breaking was the only thing slowing your labor. You are ready to push."
Tasuki gazed dazedly at the healer and Chichiri moved towards the door and told Hotohori to call the ambulance. He stood near the door, waiting for Mitsukake's bag. When it was delivered to him, he returned to Tasuki's side.
The next few minutes were spent instructing Tasuki on how to push and she screamed with pain as a strong contraction hit. When it faded Mitsukake checked her and smiled. "Very good, this baby is not taking it's time. Now, push hard on the next contraction."
Chichiri smiled and smoothed her hair back from her face. "You are doing good, Tasuki." A contraction hit as she glared at her husband. "FUCK YOU!"
The monk pulled back in shock, a bit hurt and startled as Tasuki snatched his hand and squeezed and began to push. The monk caught Mitsukake's gaze and the healer's look told him to not take it personally. The blue haired man nodded and supported his wife as she strived to bring their baby into the world.
A few more pushes later, Mitsukake told Tasuki to stop pushing and he delivered the baby's head. Chichiri handed a nose syringe to Mitsukake and then had a blanket ready when the baby was delivered and placed on Tasuki's stomach as she cried out in relief. The cord was quickly tied and clamped and cut, the baby giving a lustful cry. The parents and healer all burst into happy tears as Mitsukake rubbed the blanket briskly over the baby.
"Congratulation guys, it's a boy."
Hours later, Tasuki was cleaned and resting in a hospital bed, the ambulance having gotten there a few minutes to late to help with the delivery. The baby was sleeping in Chichiri's arms and visiting hours were long since over. He smiled across the private room, Hotohori's doing, as usual. Tasuki smiled tiredly back. "I am sorry I cussed you out, Chichiri."
The monk's grin grew bigger. "It's ok, no da. I am just glad you two are safe and it's over." He smiled down tenderly at the sleeping baby in his arms. He rose and moved to her side, transferring their son to her. "He is the result of our love, and he could not be more perfect, no da."
She smiled and nodded in agreement. "What are we going to call him, Chichiri?"
"I don't know. We never really did discuss names, no da. I think we should name him Konan."
She burst into laughter at this. "While we are at it, we should call him Taiitsukun." The monk shook his head at Tasuki's dry laugh. "He is much cuter then Taiitsukun, no da."
She turned to stare in shock at him, this being the first time she had heard him say anything negative about the creator. He chuckled "I was use to her face, not unaware, no da."
"How about Hoshi. It means Star." Chichiri smiled at Tasuki's suggestion, a clear reference to the stars of suzaku.
"What about a middle name?"
She thought for a bit. "Genevieve's past is Irish. How about Kael for his middle name? It means warrior."
Chichiri thought it over. "Hoshi Kael. Star Warrior" He smiled and kissed her forehead. "It's beautiful. I love it."
They watched with love and fascination as Hoshi yawned and blinked up at his parents. A true testiment to a love that started a life time ago and continued to this day and would continue into the next life as well.
(A/N Man, this went two chapters farther then I had intended it. But I had somethings I wanted to add, like Shoka and I felt Chiriko needed a woman. I hope you guys liked it. I am pleased with it at least. Everqueen!)