Hiei still couldn't believe how amazing the second trimester was. Not only did he have more energy than he had during his first trimester, but he had even more energy than he did before he was pregnant. Yes, a lot of it was still going to the baby, of course, but the portion that was allotted to him seemed to be enormous. Thankfully, there were many outlets for this energy, mostly involving exercise, training, and running around outside. Despite the cold weather and the fact that it was starting to snow, Hiei spent more time outdoors than ever.
Superspeed had always made Hiei's feet his most reliable form of transport, but running was also just plain fun. He loved to feel the wind rushing through his hair, the soles of his shoes slapping the ground, the way the entire world seemed to slow down. He thought he would get tired after a few laps around the house, but he didn't. He knew that eventually he would be too big to run this fast, or perhaps even to run at all, but for now, it was an ability that was better than ever.
Another thing Hiei did was fight. Kurama had gotten him a punching bag, which he hung from the Tree of Life and practiced with every day. His mood swings were much less intense now, but if he ever did go through a rough patch, the punching bag helped him deal with it, and he enjoyed it on the good days, too.
His fighting wasn't limited to inanimate objects, either. Kurama said he couldn't bring himself to fight Hiei, but Yusuke was all too glad to have another sparring partner. Once they had set some ground rules (no energy-based attacks such as Spirit Gun, and nothing too rough), they spent most afternoons keeping their fighting skills in shape. Hiei was proud that even though some of his youki was going to the baby, he could still easily defend himself from attack. Yusuke would often bring Keiko along on his visits, so that Yusuke could fight Hiei in the backyard while Kurama and Keiko had tea, which was what they were doing today.
Hiei had just knocked Yusuke to the ground with a powerful punch and was waiting for him to get up, when he heard Kurama calling his name.
"Sorry, Yusuke, but we'll have to continue this later," Hiei told his friend, and in an instant, he was at the backdoor, where Kurama was waiting with Keiko. Both of them were smiling.
"Good news, Hiei," said Kurama. "My mom's here."
"Oh yeah, that's right," said Hiei. "Today's the day she's supposed to take us to the baby shrine."
"Yes, Suitengu," Kurama confirmed. "But first, she has a nice present for you."
"You know, she doesn't need to go to all this trouble for me," Hiei said calmly, his hands in the pockets of his athletic pants.
"Try telling that to her." Kurama smiled softly as his mom walked into the room, wearing her winter gear (Hiei had almost forgotten how easily susceptible ordinary humans like her were to the elements), and holding a wrapped package.
"Hiei!" she said gleefully, giving him a tight hug. "How are you, dear? And how's the little one?"
"We're fine," Hiei told her. "Just like yesterday, and the day before that."
"I'll go get Yusuke," said Keiko, stepping out into the backyard. "Have a good time today."
"Aren't you going to ask what she brought for you, Hiei?" said Kurama in his mind-your-manners voice.
"Oh…right," said Hiei, and she handed him the package. "What is it?"
"You'll have to unwrap it first, dear."
Hiei unwrapped the present and found himself holding an obi, a belt for a kimono.
"Well, I don't really have much use for an obi, but maybe I could give it to my sister or something," Hiei told Shiori. He thought he'd said it in a nice way, but he knew he had made a massive social blunder when he saw Kurama wince as though someone had just given him a wicked pinch. Shiori, though, seemed undeterred.
"It's a special obi for pregnant women—or pregnant men, in your case," she explained. "It helps with things like posture and backache. But it's also good for keeping the baby warm and protecting it from falls."
"I'm a fire demon, so I won't have any trouble keeping the baby warm, and since it's a demon, an ordinary fall won't hurt it," Hiei reassured her, but then he felt an elbow in his side.
"Hiei," Kurama hissed, through a plastered-on smile. "Put—the—damn—thing—on."
Only then did Hiei realize that he was being rude by refusing Shiori's gift. It was difficult; gifts were one human custom he definitely had trouble understanding. Humans seemed to exchange gifts a lot, even just for entering one another's houses, while in Makai, you were lucky if infringing on another demon's territory didn't get you killed. So he thanked Shiori and accepted the gift, but before he could try it on, Shiori shook her head, still smiling.
"You put the hara obi on when we get to your ceremony," she explained. "It's called Obiwai."
"Oh, I see," said Hiei. Truth be told, he was a little relieved; the thought of trying on the hara obi in front of Shiori made him feel a little self-conscious. As they walked through the kitchen and into the foyer, right by the front door, he asked, "So where is this place, anyway?"
"It's in downtown Tokyo, so it won't be too much of a trip, but you should use the bathroom before we go," Shiori told him.
"You really do understand pregnancy," Hiei observed. He sniffed under one armpit and added, "Y'know what? I've been fighting all day. I could use a shower, too."
"Great!" Shiori smiled. "Shuichi and I can pick out a nice outfit for your big day."
Once Hiei had showered and dressed, they left the house, then took the car to the train station. The cold air didn't bother Hiei, but even though he tried to accept humans for Kurama's sake, he didn't think he could ever change his opinion that they were, by and large, inferior. They died from simple falls, from extreme temperatures, and from wounds that to a demon would hardly be a scratch. Even heat could make them lose consciousness! It was honestly pretty pathetic. And now he had learned that pregnant humans needed to wear a special obi to keep their unborns safe.
Demons, to be sure, were extremely protective of their offspring, but it could be that humans were, too. Hiei had recently learned that most humans gave birth in hospitals—just another significant difference between the demon and human worlds. When the time came for demons to deliver, they would just do it someplace where they felt safe and comfortable, usually their home. And since most demons lived outside, the vast majority of demon births occurred in woodland, tundra, or a body of water.
But, thought Hiei, as Kurama helped him onto the train with a gentle smile, I'd rather live in his world than live without him in mine.
The train ride was short, just as predicted, and they ended up at the temple in no time. It was very crowded; they were going on December 21, which, according to Shiori, was a "Lucky Dog Day." This was because dogs supposedly had easy births, and praying for a safe childbirth and a healthy baby on this day would be lucky. Hiei wasn't sure how much he actually believed all of this, but he would do anything if there was a chance it would help his baby. Besides, he knew Kurama saw this as a bonding activity for Hiei and Shiori, and that made Kurama happy.
There were lots of pregnant women at the temple, and lots of new moms with their babies, too (Shiori explained that it was common practice to return to the temple and give thanks after the baby's birth). Often, their partners were with them, and sometimes a mother or grandmother came along as well. Shiori looked nostalgic, no doubt remembering when she had come here when she was pregnant with Kurama.
Shiori, Hiei, and Kurama headed inside the temple. It reminded Hiei of Genkai's home, but bigger. One of the first things they encountered was a statue of a mother dog and her puppies.
"Remember, dogs have easy births," Shiori reminded the other two.
Hiei paid very close attention to what Shiori told him to do when they stopped at the dog statue. First, he touched the cold stone statue, then he touched one of the twelve markers, the one that corresponded to 1997, the year in which his baby would be born. But what to say? Kurama and Shiori were both watching him expectantly.
"Lucky dog," Hiei said finally, "please let me have a safe and easy delivery, and a healthy child."
"Wonderful!" Shiori looked elated. "Now it's almost time for your Obiwai ceremony…Oh, I just can't wait."
The ceremony was supposed to ensure that the delivery went well, and the baby would be healthy, but Hiei didn't know how much the special obi would do. Considering how it was designed, it would probably support his body in the later months, but would it really help the baby come safely? Hiei decided that if there was a chance, even a tiny one, that something would help the baby, he would do it. But he was nervous.
"I'm sure it will be fine, Hiei," said Kurama, when Hiei voiced his thoughts. "As long as they don't figure out that you're not actually a woman."
"They won't," said Hiei, "not in this getup."
"You got me there," Kurama admitted. "Your disguise is foolproof."
Hiei preferred not to wear clothes that were girly, especially ones that came in the color of pink, but the last thing he wanted was for his true identity as a demon to be revealed, especially in a place packed with unsuspecting humans. So he had donned a frilly pink maternity blouse with some black yoga pants and pink women's flats. He wore his Hiruseki stone, too, because it worked for that "feminine" look, though he had drawn the line at wearing makeup or clip-on earrings.
Of course, thanks to the hormones produced by the ninshinsu, Hiei's body was beginning to look more and more female by the day. The pecs he had developed and maintained by staying in top physical condition were long gone, replaced by his breasts, which were now the size of cantaloupes. The abs he had worked so hard on were gone as well, replaced by his baby bump. His voice was slightly higher, too, though not by much.
Hiei's ceremony was beginning, so he went into the temple with his husband and mother-in-law. The ceremony was meaningful and enjoyable in itself, and Hiei's disguise did come through for him. Nobody seemed suspicious, perhaps because his pregnant belly and developing breasts were as real as it got. The monks blessed the hara obi and helped him on with it, and he was told to wear it every day until his baby was born.
"Thank you," said Hiei, although he didn't promise anything, in case he grew tired of it. Wearing the pregnancy obi every day until his baby was born seemed to be quite a commitment, especially considering he was only on his fifteenth week.
Kurama's mom seemed almost as excited about the pregnancy as Hiei and Kurama were. When she went to the snack bar, and the other two were waiting by a statue of a fertility goddess, Hiei mentioned it to Kurama.
"I suppose it's because she never had a daughter or a daughter-in-law, and she never thought she would get to be involved in a pregnancy as a grandma," Kurama mused. "But now she is. In fact, that's probably why she doesn't seem to care all that much that we're demons. You know she was just scared at first, right?"
"Sure, but I just hope she knows that I would never use the powers of the Jagan on you," said Hiei, "and I certainly wouldn't use it to make you have sex with me against your will."
"If I'm not mistaken, lesser demons like that can't survive the implantation process anyway."
"Right." Hiei nodded once. "It has a mind of its own, in a way. If the Jagan has the chance to rid the world of someone who is not worth its power, it will do it."
"Hiei!" They were interrupted by Shiori returning from the snack bar with a tray of food. "I got your favorites!"
"Thanks, Mom," said Kurama, but the smell had already hit Hiei like a truck. He looked around helplessly for a bathroom, but could find none, and a few seconds later, he emptied his stomach all over himself, the ground, and the statue. It was humiliating, but without a toilet nearby, he had no way of stopping it.
"What's the matter, Hiei?" said Shiori. "Are you ill?"
"No, Mom, sweets are his food aversion," Kurama said helplessly. Hiei wished he could just go to the bathroom to clean up, but he didn't know where it was. And even if he did, which one to use? Should they risk blowing his cover?
"I'll take you to the bathroom, dear," said Shiori, as if reading Hiei's mind, and off they went.
"That stuff had better not still be out there when I get back!" Hiei hollered.
"Don't worry about it!" called Kurama, as everyone stared.
Luckily, Shiori was able to find the women's room, and she led Hiei in. Hiei had never been in a public women's bathroom before. Truth be told, he didn't really use public bathrooms in general unless he had to, but he'd been in the men's a couple times, mostly during his pregnancy when he wasn't so good at "holding it." The women's room didn't look much different, except there were no urinals, for obvious reasons.
Unfortunately, Hiei coughed and felt sick all over again when they got inside, because somebody had been spraying air freshener everywhere. And it was lemon-scented! So it was another trip into one of the stalls before Hiei finally walked out, feeling disgusting.
"I thought this was over," he complained to Shiori. "But it's just something about…see? I can't even say the word. All I really want is meat and salt. Or meat with salt on it."
"Food aversions are common all throughout pregnancy, not just in the first trimester," said Shiori, looking down at the stain on Hiei's maternity shirt from where he threw up. "Hmm…I'm going to have to wash this when we get home. Water alone isn't going to get that out."
"I'm not going to wear it again anyway," said Hiei. "Might as well toss it."
"Do you want to go home?" Shiori asked, pursing her lips.
"Maybe, I don't know," said Hiei, turning around to stare down at the sink. Even though he didn't want to ruin this day, he was getting a little tired of Shiori constantly fawning over him. It was clear now where Kurama had gotten his nurturing side; his mom was the same way, except about a thousand times more so. And now she had a grandchild to nurture, too. "Maybe I kind of need a mom, Shiori, but I don't need a nurse. I don't want any attention. I just want to be alone."
Hiei's voice cracked on the last word, and he kept staring down at the sink, determined not to cry. This was ridiculous. Things had been going so well. Was one embarrassing incident all it took to set him off? What was the matter with him?
"I understand, Hiei," said Shiori gently, setting one hand on his shoulder. "I'll always be here if you need me, though."
"You…you aren't mad at me?" Hiei asked tentatively, raising his head to look at her. "I-I know you were just trying to be helpful."
"I'm definitely not angry with you, Hiei," she reassured him. "I'm a mom, you know, and sometimes you do need time away from it all."
"Time away from Kurama when he's in one of his nurturing moods?" Hiei smirked. "I can definitely live with that. With the two of you around, the baby has no choice but to be born healthy, fertility shrine or no."
"Kurama?" said Shiori, confused, and that was when Hiei realized he had forgotten to use Kurama's human name—not that he had ever been fond of doing so.
"I meant to say Shuichi," said Hiei quickly. "Kurama is his demon name—you know, the name he had before he was reborn as a human."
"Oh," said Shiori softly. "I suppose it only makes sense that he got a name from…" Suddenly, her face fell. "From his mother."
Hiei's eyebrows raised.
"He must miss her," she said sadly, looking down at the ground. "Does he speak of her often?"
"Not nearly as often as he speaks of you." Hiei smiled a little and led her to the door. "Look. Kurama is not a young demon. He had been away from his demon parents for a long time before he came to your world. Back then, he had many demons at his command, but very few people he truly loved and trusted. He had a few flings, but only two romantic relationships, with me and one other demon, who died over five hundred years ago. But out of all the people he's commanded, worked with, fought, or loved, you're the one who has made the most difference in his life."
"Me?" said Shiori. "But I'm just…"
"Just a human?" Hiei finished. "It doesn't matter to Kurama. He loves humans, and all because of you. Haven't you ever wondered how you recovered from your disease all those years ago? Kurama did that for you, and almost at the cost of his life. I was very surprised he did it, myself. He never would have done such a thing for someone in his past life, especially not for a human. And for a demon that's lived for thousands of years, I find it impressive that you managed to change him so much in only fifteen."
Shiori was still silent, a look of shock on her face.
"I know he thinks of you as his true mother," Hiei continued. "Didn't he tell you that the only reason he stayed in this world was because of you? If it weren't for this infernal love of the human world that you instilled in him, we'd be living among demons right at this very moment. I certainly wouldn't be here. Kurama made me happy where I am today, but only because you made him happy first.
"When my own baby is born, I can only hope to have that kind of influence on it." The reason Hiei kept talking was because Shiori was just standing there, tears in her eyes, and he didn't know what else to do. Why was she so surprised? Didn't she know how much Kurama loved her? "I mean, my baby will probably just hate me, but still…"
"It won't hate you, Hiei," Shiori said finally. "To think I touched my son's life deeper than I could ever have imagined…Was he really thousands of years old?"
"Yes," said Hiei. "I'm only a little over one hundred, so Kurama has years of wisdom stored up that I don't. But that's a good thing, I think. We both have a lot to learn from each other, so it never gets boring with him. You never want to look at the person you're going to marry and see a copy of yourself. Trust me on this one."
"I will," Shiori reassured him tearfully. "Let's get out of here."
When they got back to the statue, Kurama was waiting there with a shopping bag. Hiei wanted to know what was inside of it.
"I'm glad you asked," said Kurama. "This is another thing expectant moms usually buy here. It's an amulet, a sort of good-luck charm."
"Well, it's like I told your mom earlier," said Hiei, taking the amulet in his hands and examining it carefully. "With the two of you around, the baby is going to be the healthiest one ever."
…
Several days later, Hiei and Kurama cuddled up before the fire as a winter blizzard raged outside. They never had to use wood, because Hiei could instantly light a fire in the grate, one so full and crackling contentedly that one would think it had been burning for hours. Hiei's body was so very warm, just as a fire demon's should be, and Kurama loved cuddling up against him on cold nights like these.
"Hiei, do you remember that Christmas is coming up soon?" Kurama asked, giving his beloved a small kiss on top of his head.
"Of course," said Hiei. "We've been doing a lot of preparing."
"Right." Kurama nodded. "So I was thinking that maybe, this year, we could invite everyone over for Christmas. Even some of our friends from Makai. I know Halloween didn't go very well, and this could be a bit of a do-over."
"Yeah, and this time I won't have to wear a stupid costume," Hiei agreed.
"Sure you will," Kurama teased. "You'll have to wear a Santa costume, with a nice little Santa hat to go with it. You're going to look even cuter than usual…if that's even possible."
Hiei glowered up at Kurama, but Kurama was trying to fight back a laugh. Teasing was great fun, and he was one of the few people who could do it without ending up with a sword at his throat.
"I'm not doing that, and I'm not cute," said Hiei.
"Whatever you say." Kurama gave Hiei another kiss. "And you know…this is going to be our baby's first Christmas."
"Good," said Hiei, rubbing his belly proudly. "Everyone will see how big it's going to be."
Kurama was pretty sure that a big belly didn't necessarily equate to a big baby, but he didn't want to rain on Hiei's parade. Besides, he knew as well as anyone that a big, fat, healthy baby was highly desirable among demons (while a small and/or sickly one was not). Kurama didn't really see this expectation as fair or even accurate, since he had known many small and sickly babies to grow up big and strong. But looking at the size of Hiei's belly, he figured most of their friends would come to the same conclusion as Hiei had: Hiei was going to push out a big one. Kurama could only hope that the birth wouldn't be too painful or difficult for Hiei, especially given his smaller figure, but he had a strong body, so he could probably manage it.
"Yes, they will," said Kurama, placing his hands on top of Hiei's, and as the blizzard showed no signs of stopping, and the fire blazed on, they continued their cuddling.
