Rock The Cradle
Chapter 3
After a nice moment of tea and apples, it wasn't long until Akabane prepared himself for bed and slept beside Sayaka in the same bed. As he slept, he was dreaming, but it was no ordinary dream as it was a nightmare of Sayaka in a hospital room going into labor. However, she was in major pain as not only was she losing oxygen, but so was the baby. The doctors were doing what they could to try and save her as they looked over at Akabane explaining that only one can be saved. Akabane shook his head. It couldn't be possible. This can't be real. There had to be another way where both could be saved.
Time was now 2:00 am and Akabane suddenly woke up, gasping and breathing heavily for a moment. He was back in the bed and looked over at Sayaka, who woke up to hear him gasp loudly.
"Akabane-kun? Are you okay?" Sayaka asked with concern in her eyes.
Akabane ran a hand through his hair. He didn't want Sayaka to panic, so he lied, "I'll be okay."
Sayaka smiled a little bit before laying back down and falling back asleep. However, Akabane had a hard time sleeping the rest of the night as that nightmare was on his mind throughout. Losing Sayaka and possibly the baby also from complications of birth? He couldn't even imagine, especially with how much Sayaka has been there for him and even to the point where she had gone above and beyond to protect him. There had to be another way to keep her and the baby alive. He then couldn't sleep for the rest of the night.
A couple of days of restless nights have passed, Akabane was trying hard to stay awake while sitting inside a coffee shop. Looking down at his cup of coffee, and tracing a finger around the edge of the glass, he was waiting for Himiko to show up, so they could have their morning cup of coffee together while Sayaka was back at the manor, resting and preparing for the baby's arrival.
She did indeed trust Akabane, especially the fact that she and Himiko are becoming acquainted with each other. Himiko walked in and saw Akabane fighting to stay awake at the coffee table. She knew that something was up, especially the fact that he was never usually this tired.
"Jackal, what happened to you?" Himiko questioned as she sat across from him.
"It's been a long night, Perse." Akabane answered as he took a sip of some of his coffee.
"What? Sayaka keep you up again?"
"You could say that."
Akabane looked out the window, lost in thought still about that nightmare he had. However, Himiko knew something was wrong seeing that she knew Akabane for a while now.
"Alright, spit it out. What's going on?" Himiko asked as she folded her arms over.
Akabane looked back over at Himiko, "Fine, you caught me." He commented, "Well… it turns out Sayaka is pregnant.."
Himiko snorted, "That's all? That's what you're worried about?! Knocking up your soon to be wife? If you don't want to face being a father, why not get rid of the child?"
"No… it's not that.." Akabane paused for a moment to keep himself together before resuming, "It's… something else…"
Himiko's eyes softened as she noticed the pain in Akabane's violet eyes. It was a pain she had never seen before. She raised an eyebrow, "What happened, may I ask?"
"… I have been having nightmares of Sayaka dying while giving birth to the child from complications…" Akabane explained, "Now it makes me wonder if I even want her to have this child? Because not only could I lose the woman I love, but I could possibly lose the child too…"
Akabane felt himself getting emotional as he got up for a moment, "Excuse me.."
He took a moment to head towards the men's restroom in the coffee shop. Himiko looked over the direction he walked off to and began to wonder. She had never seen him like that, at least not for a very long time. She figured while he was in the bathroom, she took that moment to go order a coffee for herself. After a moment of emotion, Akabane had come out of the bathroom, and had returned to the table with Himiko, who was sipping some coffee herself.
"Does Sayaka know about your little nightmare?" Himiko asked.
"No, because I don't want her to panic. It's already going to be rough with the fact that she can't be on her medication during her pregnancy."
"Well, I ain't no doctor, but whatever you do, don't abandon her. You know how much Sayaka loves you and cares for you. Don't end up pulling a Ban Midou."
Akabane couldn't help, but chuckle on that part, "My my, have some faith in me, my dear Lady Poison."
"Like that'll ever happen…" Himiko said jokingly before a serious look came to her, "But I am serious on that part, You better damn well take care of her, especially now."
"Do not fear, Miss Himiko, I did promise her that I would protect her and the child, especially in her condition. Shame that she won't be able to enjoy a little fun for nine months."
Himiko rolled her eyes a little bit, "Please, we know what your definition of 'fun' is."
Akabane then heard his cell phone beep and noticed he got a text message from Sayaka. He opened it up to read it.
Akabane-kun,
I was wondering if you can bring me home a chocolate pastry? Please and thank you.
Xoxo
He smiled as he answered back saying that he would before closing up his phone and putting it back into his pocket, and looked over at Himiko.
"Well, looks like I need to bid adieu for now, Miss Himiko, as I need to go pick up a pastry for Sayaka-Chan and get it back to her." Akabane commented as he got up from the table
Himiko snorted as she took another sip of her coffee, "Looks like the cravings are already starting?"
Akabane chuckled, "Only when her vomiting has subsided."
With that, he then bid farewell for now to Himiko and headed to the counter to pick out a chocolate pastry for Sayaka. Counting out the proper money he had on him, the store clerk wrapped it up to go, and he headed out the coffee shop, to head back towards the manor. It was quite a nice talk he had with Himiko in quite awhile. However, he was aware that she and Magaruma will probably make some dad jokes to him later on during a transport mission.
End of Chapter 3
