"Another letter, Yuki", Haru said as he slid the folded papers to him that he carried between his fingers. "Thanks Haru", Yuki said as he took the pages. "Wait 'till you see the pictures", Haru grinned. He had printed them off the e-mail Tohru had sent. "I think Shigure is having a good time with the digital camera he bought. He said 'you have to have a camera with a baby coming'. I think sometimes he thinks he's the father", Haru added with a smirk. "Whoa!" Yuki exclaimed as he caught sight of the first pictue; a side view of a very pregnant Tohru, "did I do that?", he said a little taken aback. "She looks like she's gonna burst", Haru snickered. "Well, it's only one more month now", Yuki said wistfully. He couldn't believe they had been separated that long. Another picture showed Tohru with a huge teddy bear, and another showed her standing by a small Christmas tree. The holiday was right around the corner, and Yuki was saddened by the thought that they would spend the first New Years of their marriage apart from each other. He wasn't allowed any contact with the outside world as of yet. Even computers were off limits, but the two of them had managed to keep in touch through Haru who received the e-mails for Yuki, and delivered Yuki's letters to Tohru. "Have you picked out a name for the little guy yet?", Haru asked. "No", Yuki said. "I'm not very good at that sort of stuff", he added, "I guess I'll let Tohru decide", he grinned thoughtfully. "How about Yuki Jr.?", Haru teased. "No way!", Yuki countered. "I want him to have a manly name, not like mine", and his face flushed. Suddenly they heard footsteps approaching. Yuki slipped the letter back to Haru. He could retrieve it later. To be caught with it would be disasterous. Kureno appeared and bowed, "Master Yuki, Akito would speak with you in her chamber". Yuki's smile evaporated, and his jaw tensed, but he said "I'll be right there". Kureno bowed and disappeared around the corner. "She's not giving up, is she", Haru said solemnly. "No", Yuki said, and shook his head. "Thanks again Haru", he added. "Sure Yuki. You know I'd do anything for you", he grasped Yuki's shoulder supportively. Yuki sighed and made his way down the hall towards Akito's room. He already knew what she wanted, and he already knew how he would answer. He also knew he would spend several more days in darkness because his answer would be an emphatic "no".
The teddy bear in the picture with Tohru had appeared early one afternoon when she returned home from buying groceries. As she walked in the door, she slipped off her shoes and turned to see a giant blue teddy bear suspended in the air right before her eyes. "Ahhh!", she gasped and jumped backwards. "Isn't it cute?", Shigure gushed and waggled the bear in her face. "I just couldn't resist buying it for the baby when I saw it". "You startled me", Tohru exclaimed, but she couldn't help but smile at how Shigure was acting concerning her little one who was due to arrive very soon. "You know Tohru-kun, I was thinking, we need to set up a nursery", he prattled on energetically. "I thought you could use Kyo's old room, or if you like, Yuki's is closer to…" Tohru's smile faded slightly at the sound of Yuki's name. She looked down and proceeded to the kitchen with the bags without letting Shigure finish his thought. Shigure stopped talking, but he followed her into the kitchen. "You know you really do need to get things ready", he admonished gently; "It's only a few more weeks". "I know", Tohru looked at the floor. "It's just that….", she paused. Shigure sensed her sadness and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I just wanted Yuki and me to do this together", she said sadly. Shigure paused a moment letting her complaint sink in. "The baby won't wait, Tohru-kun", he said softly. "And there's no telling what will happen with Akito…", "I know", Tohru interrupted him. Shigure stood silent. He realized he had been insensitive. "I'm sorry", Tohru fumbled. "No, no, I'm the one who should apologize", Shigure offered, "after all, who would know the situation better than you". He paused in recognition of her pain. "Still Tohru-kun, think about what I said. I'll help you", he said with genuine concern. He raised her downcast face up by her chin to look at him. Her watery eyes met his anxious gaze, and then she conceded, "Yuki's room", she said simply, "We'll put him in Yuki's old room". "Great!", Shigure exclaimed. "Tomorrow we can move the furniture out, and start shopping for a cradle", he said happily. He was really enjoying this baby business. Toru couldn't help but smile at his enthusiasm.
Later that afternoon Kyo stopped by from the dojo with Kagura tagging along with him. "What the hell?", he exclaimed when he saw Tohru's condition, "You're huge!" Then he added, "I'll kill him! I'll kill that damned rat for doing this to you!" Tohru just smiled and shook her head at Kyo over her knitting needles. "Don't be silly", Kagura scolded, "that's just how it is, dummy! "Come here Kyo", Tohru beckoned to him. Kyo looked at her warily, but obeyed. She took his two hands in hers and placed them flat on her bulging belly. "Whoa!" he exclaimed, and pulled his hands quickly away. "I felt it move! It's like 'Alien' or something!" "No it's not!", Kagura shouted at him. "It's a little baby", Tohru added contentedly. What are you making Tohru?", Kagura cooed, and the two women got lost in a discussion of yarn and layette patterns. Kyo shook his head at them and decided to see what Shigure was doing. Shigure sat nearby pouring through a book titled 'One Hundred Thousand Names for Baby'. Kyo peered over his shoulder. Shigure looked down his nose and through his glasses studiously, "what do you think of 'Tetsuya'?", he asked out loud to anyone who might be listening, "or maybe 'Hisaka'?", he added, and made another addition to his list. "What are you doing", Kyo screwed up his face and looked at Shigure with confusion. "Just being helpful", Shigure said without looking up from his book. "A baby has to have a proper name", he offered, "and I am a writer, a minstrel of words, shall we say?", Shigure added with flair. Kyo just rolled his eyes, "whatever", he said incredulously.
There was a knock at the door, which surprised everyone. Tohru answered it to find Hanna and Uo on the threshold. "Tohru!", they exclaimed, and the three of them hugged each other amidst greetings and exclamations. "Look at you!" "Oh, my!" "I can't believe it! Come in, come in!" The three friends clamored through the doorway. "Hey, Orangey! Long time no see!", Arisa yelled to Kyo. "Hello", Saki greeted them in her far away voice. "Well, ladies, what a surprise", Shigure said as he winked in their general direction. "How nice to see you again", he greeted them with genuine warmth. "We came to help with the nursery", Uo said, "and we brought you a few things too", she added with a grin. Hanna held out a large bag to Tohru. "Oh", she exclaimed blushing, "thank you so much!". The girs reacquainted themselves with Kagura, and Tohru opened the gifts- a mobile for putting above the crib with little animals hanging from it, a downy yellow blanket with a duck on the front, and a wallpaper border with a Noah's Ark style motif. Afterwards the three of them took the items up to Yuki's room- soon to be nursery- and set to work moving furniture, wiping down things, and putting up the wallpaper border.
"I'm glad this is working out so well", Shigure glanced up the stairs towards the sounds of giggles and chatter that were emitting from the top story. "I think this is just what Tohru-kun needed", he added with a knowing smile to Kyo and Kagura, who were still in the front room, "Is she still moping over that rat boy- turned Akito's playmate?", Kyo said angrily, if not insensitively. "Kyo Sohma!", Kagura yelled, "how can you be so cruel?" She balled up her fist and hit him squarely in the jaw. "Ouch! Stop that woman!", he yelled back at her while rubbing his chin. "If she didn't hit you I'd have hit you myself", Shigure said. There was heat behind his words; Kyo had obviously struck a chord with him as well. "I don't know why you are defending him", Kyo countered. "If that sissy rat really wanted to he could have walked right out of there and been home with her now, but I guess he's not man enough". Kyo was obviously angry. "It seems you are completely naive where Akito is concerned", Shigure countered, "either that or you are an idiot", he added. Kyo tensed his fists and scowled at Shigure. "Hey, quit that!", Kagura directed him with firmness when she saw him ready to start something. Shigure was surprised to see Kyo obey her. Kyo relaxed begrudgingly. "Akito isn't that easy to get around once she has her mind set on something", Shigure said quietly. The look in his eye was far away. "Believe me, I know", he added. "There's no changing her mind once it's made up, and she has had Yuki in her sights for quite a while". Shigure made a wry smile as he said this; a bitter-sweet tone in his voice. A kind of longing overcame him, leaving Kyo and Kagura a little uncomfortable.
Shigure thought back to a time several years ago. Kazuma-dono had brought his young students to the estate for a little exposition. Akito and Shigure watched out a window as Yuki sparred with his classmates on the lawn. "Yes, he's only a child now, but he will mature", Akito responded to Shigure's question. "But there are others", he stepped closer, "who would be suitable companions for you". He placed his hands on her shoulders rather longingly. "The rat is closest to god", Akito replied without even a glance at Shigure. "His parents brought him here to me for this purpose. It is our destiny to be together". Akito smiled with satisfaction as she watched Yuki get the better of his classmates one by one. Then her countenance changed. A rather flushed-looking, ghee-clad Kagura threw her arms around Yuki at the end of the final match. "Yun-chan! You did it! You won! You're the best!" Kagura exclaimed with joy. Yuki smiled at her, obviously pleased with himself, and appreciating the compliment. Akito's face went sour. She turned to Kureno, "bring Master Yuki to me please", she said brusquely. In a few moments Yuki was standing before her while the others drank lemonade and talked casually outside. Yuki had a pleased expression as he bowed to Akito. Akito's eye's shown with pride at him. "Well done, Yuki", she said simply. Yuki bowed deeper. "Thank you", he said quietly. "That is all. Why don't you go have a drink with the others. You look warm", Akito added sweetly. Yuki bowed again and turned to go. "Oh, Yuki", Akito added. He turned back to her expectantly. "Stay away from Kagura-san", she said firmly. Yuki looked confused for a moment, then bowed again. He wore an incredulous expression as he left.
Shigure's mind faded back from the painful memory to the moment at hand.
"Yuki didn't ask for this, and neither did Tohru", Kagura defended. "I would feel awful if that happened to you", she added with maudlin tones. Kyo rolled his eyes, "Like that's ever gonna happen to me", he said exasperated. "Come on. We were supposed to go shopping for groceries, remember?" He took the opportunity to remind her why they were out together in the first place. "Oh, right", Kagura said thoughtfully. "Well, we had better go", she chirped, and Shigure saw them both to the door. "Bye, bye!", Kagura called as she waived back at Shigure. He waived at the couple as they made their way down the walk. "Kyo, I want a baby", Kagura sighed. "What? Why would you want to look like you had a melon under your shirt?" Kyo said exasperated. "That's beside the point!", Kagura continued. Shigure watched them go from the porch. "Kagura seems calmer for some reason", he thought to himself, and then he noticed Kyo take her by the hand as they went. "Ah, that might explain it", Shigure grinned knowingly and shut the door against the winter cold.