Chapter 11

(Shinta)

The months passed slowly, and the child within me grew quickly. Ken was my ultimate source of comfort besides Sano. He was absolutely fascinated with my pregnancy, and he would spend hours at a time around me.

It was in the morning, about 6 and half months through my pregnancy that I found a memory I could forever lock away. I was having trouble sleeping, my baby was restless. I was sitting out in the cool air, leaning against the wall when Ken came out holding his blanket in one hand and rubbing at his eyes with the other. "Papa?"

I smiled, moving my hand from where it rested on my swollen belly to reach out to him. "Hey Ken-chan. What are you doing up?"

He settled beside me, snuggling up to my side. "Dunno."

I smiled, putting my arm around him. We sat silently fro a moment, and then Ken put a little hand on my stomach.

"Is little brother moving Papa?" he asked, shifting so he could put both hands on my belly.

I chuckled. "What makes you think it's a little brother Ken?"

He grinned. "Just know."

I smiled, and then nodded. "Hai, he's very restless tonight."

Ken laid his head on my stomach, curling close to me under his blanket. I put my hand on his head, petting his hair gently. The baby kicked, and he giggled as it thumped against his cheek.

Sano found us a half and hour later, Ken sound asleep with his head still on my swollen belly, and me with silent tears running down my face. My husband crouched beside me, lifting my chin and gently wiping away my tears.

"Why are you crying kodora?" he asked softly.

"I-I don't k-know…" I choked out, sniffling again. I continued to pet Ken's hair gently, and he shifted in his sleep, his hand clenching in the cloth of my kimono over my belly. "I don't know…" I repeated quietly.

Sano sat beside me, pulling me close to his side and laying his cheek on my hair. "It's okay Shinta. I understand."

"Where did Daddy go?"

I sighed. "Ken, I already told you this. He went to get groceries."

"Oh."

I smiled slightly, shaking my head. My little boy had only recently turned six, but he still seemed to act younger than he really was at time. He was actually more intelligent than most children his age, at least by what I'd seen in town. He was able to amaze me every day.

Ken got up, running to the tree behind our home and climbing it rapidly by sinking his claws into its bark. I watched him, idly rubbing my stomach to try and calm my child. I was only about a week from full term, so I was expecting the baby to decide to join us soon.

Ken had made it to the top of the tree by now, and he was now hanging from a branch. "Ken," I called sternly. "Be careful."

"I will Papa, don't worry!" he called back, swinging with ease onto the branch. The boy had no fear, and he never seemed to tire of that old tree.

I stood slowly, bracing myself on the wall. My heavy belly made it increasingly difficult to stand, but I could still do it. I walked into the sun, hoping that the movement would calm the squirming child within me. It was uncomfortable, and I wanted to ease the strange feeling.

Ken hung from his knees, watching me from his upside down position. He grinned at me. "Hey Papa!"

I frowned again. "Ken, you're going to... get…oh…" My original statement trailed off into that soft word, and I put a hand on my abdomen, halting. "Oh…Kami-sama…"

Ken dropped from the tree, landing lightly on his feet. "Papa? What's wrong?"

"Oh Kami, not now," I murmured. "Oh no." I winced as pain flashed through me. I slowly sank to my knees, still holding a hand on my stomach.

Ken came forward to my side, worry in his chocolate eyes. "Papa?" I could hear the panic in his tone and I looked up at him.

"It seems…that the b-baby has d-decided now is a…." I trailed off, sucking in a breath to ease the pain. "A good t-time to be b-born…"

"Now?" Ken squeaked, his eyes getting wide. "But…But Daddy's not here!"

I clenched my eyes shut, gritting my teeth. "The baby doesn't care Ken. He's coming…" Pain roared through me and I hunched over my stomach, clutching at my kimono and letting out a soft cry. "Oh Kami… and he's coming now…"

The pain finally eased, and I breathed deep to calm myself. "Come here Ken." I murmured. My son crept closer, a little afraid. "I need you to be brave for me Ken. Okay?" I said, putting a hand on his shoulder. He nodded. "I need your help, and I know you'll do just fine."

I pushed on his shoulder, using him to stand. He stood strong, helping me to my feet slowly. I began to walk towards the house, leaning slightly against Ken. Because he'd gotten Sano's height he was taller than most 6 year olds, so I could use his support without fear.

He helped me inside, and I managed to lay on my futon. "I need you to get all the pillows we have in the house Ken, okay?"
He nodded and left the room, and at that moment pain made itself known again. I sucked in breath between my teeth, bearing it silently. 'Oh saiai…Please get back soon…'

(Sano)

I knew instantly when I got home that something was wrong. I set down the groceries, and then a scream pierced the air. I recognized Shinta's agonized voice, and instantly my mind clicked into action mode. I ran straight to our room, my face set.

I walked in to see Shinta lying on our futon, tears and sweat streaking his flushed face and his crimson hair plastered to his skin. It was quite obvious he'd been in labor for sometime now, but he looked worried. Ken was sitting not far from him, terror all over his face. His entire fame screamed it, and when he saw me he threw himself at me.

Unfortunately my reaction from Shinta was a little less joyful. Anger shot across my kodora's face and he shouted at me. Loudly and explicitly. I hurriedly clapped my hands over Ken's ears, my mouth hanging open a little. Shinta's voice trailed off into another scream, and he slumped against the pillows, exhausted.

"Go to your room Ken." I murmured. To my surprise the boy didn't protest, he only turned and left. I knelt beside Shinta, gathering up his hand. "Talk to me kodora. What's got you looking so worried?"

He panted for a moment, and then spoke. "It was only…15 minutes after you'd left…went into labor…"

I swore inwardly. 'So he's been like this for at least 3 hours.' I'd been gone longer than I thought I would. I promised myself I'd never do this again.

"I…I don't feel…like I did with Ken…" he panted out. "Baby's not moving…not making birth canal…"

I swore again. Something had to be wrong. I clutched Shinta's hand tighter. "Listen to me kodora. Look at me." Tired violet eyes met mine. "I'll get the baby out of you. But it's going to hurt. A lot."

His eyes widened as he realized what I was planning to do. Then he nodded. "I trust you."

I squeezed his hand, dropping a kiss on it. "I'll be back soon. Just hold on for a little longer." I stood and ran from the room, finding our medical kit and taking out the tough thread made for sewing injuries and a needle. I went into the kitchen, putting water on to boil and selecting a large knife.

I stared at the blade. I was terrified, I could kill the child, I could seriously, maybe even fatally harm Shinta, and yet he trusted me. I could sew wounds, and for that I was thankful.

I dipped all my supplies in the now boiling water, sterilizing all of them. I grabbed some numbing salve (Does Musei know if this exists? Does Musei care? NOPE!) on my way back to the room, where I saw Shinta suffering through another contraction.

I knelt beside him again, taking a deep breath to calm my nerves, and still my shaking. I had to be still for this. I pulled Shinta's kimono away from his swollen belly and spread the salve over his skin.

"Are you ready Shinta?" I asked softly. He squeezed his eyes shut and nodded. I picked up the blade, setting the tip of it against Shinta's pale skin. He sucked in his breath, and I pushed the knife down.

(Shinta)

Even with the help of the numbing salve the pain was still great. It took everything I had not to scream. Sano finished quickly, pulling the child from my body and taking it away from me to be cleaned and wrapped in a blanket. I slumped tiredly against the pillows, struggling to remain conscious.

The wail of a newborn baby cut through the haze in my brain, and I opened my eyes in time to see Sano's smile and our child as he held the bundle to me. "We have another son kodora."

I felt tears well up in my eyes as I looked into the dark eyes of our baby. His eyes were very dark brown, but I could see lavender in there, making them nearly a maroon color. He had brown hair, and I was surprised at one detail about the tiny boy in my arms.

"Sano, I understand now. Why there was no birth canal. He's completely human. He has no youkai in him." I murmured.

Sano blinked, looking up from where he was stitching the wound in my stomach. "Really. Why do you suppose that happened?"

I thought a moment. "I probably conceived on the night I had that nightmare about Enishi. My human night."

"Interesting. So he's entirely human." Sano thought out loud. He grinned. "Well that's something I never expected."

The baby squirmed in my arms and I allowed him to nurse absentmindedly. "What should we name him?"

Sano thought a moment, cutting off the thread as he finished. "How about… Kyouko(strength)?"

I smiled. "That's a perfect name."

Just as Kyouko finished nursing I spotted Ken looking in the doorway. Sano chuckled. "Well come in Ken, don't be shy."

My oldest crept over to me, wonder in his chocolate eyes. I smiled at him. "You were right Ken. Meet your new little brother, Kyouko."

Ken peered at the baby and the baby peered at him. I chuckled, and then Ken smiled. "Hi otouto-chan!"

The baby smiled back, waving his little hands. Ken laughed out loud and looked at me. "Look Papa! He said 'hi' back!"

Sano's big hands took the child from me. "Let's go get something to eat Ken. Kyouko and Papa need to get some rest."

Ken grinned. "Okay Daddy." He hugged me, putting a little kiss on my cheek. "Get rest Papa."

I hugged him back. "I love you itoshigo."

Sano turned just before leaving. "You know kodora; I never knew you could swear like that."

I chuckled. "I get it from you." I said sweetly.

As he left shaking his head I settled down against the pillows, finally allowing the darkness to claim me.