Warning: Mention of stillbirth.

It's a sad and serious one so be prepared.

Kyousuke sat with his arms in his lap, shoulders hunched over and head hung low. He could hardly bear to look at Rin as she sat up in the bed, gazing ahead with dull eyes. She hadn't said a word since the birth. Kyousuke tried to think of something, anything to say to her, but what use was it? Only time would help her to overcome the grief.

Maybe they should never have gone along with it after all. Of course he had his doubts, fearing the side effects of an incestuous union, but he hadn't been expecting this. The image of a tiny blue face floated to the front of his mind. No matter how much time went by, he could never forget that horrifying sight.

Kyousuke's eyes prickled and a lump swelled in his throat. "Dammit," he hissed through gritted teeth, placing a hand on his forehead. He couldn't cry, not now. Rin was depending on him. He had to be strong.

"Kyousuke."

Kyousuke's head shot up, his gaze meeting Rin's.

"Was this meant to be a punishment?" Her voice quivered as she forced the words through her lips. "Was God punishing us for doing something we weren't supposed to?"

Kyousuke lowered his head, slowly shaking it from side to side. It certainly did feel like fate was punishing them for breaking a taboo. Of course, it had just been bad luck. This could have happened to anyone.

"No. It was just fate. We lost our baby. The fact we happened to be brother and sister had nothing to do with it."

"Really?" Rin turned her head away, doubt creating lines in her forehead.

"Really. We just got unlucky."

Rin's head dipped and she let out a sigh. "Fate is so cruel."

"Yeah, I know."

"I was kinda scared in the beginning. I didn't know what to do. But then I was thinking maybe it wouldn't be too bad, that we could handle it and then... and then this happened." Rin's eyes welled up. "I don't get it."

Kyousuke got up and went over to embrace Rin. She leaned into him, shoulders shaking and tears streaming down her cheeks.

"I don't want to do this again," Rin whispered. "I don't ever want another baby inside me."

"Okay."

"Will it happen again? Even though we were being so careful, I still got pregnant."

"I'll get a vasectomy." A part of Kyousuke wished he had just got one in the first place, but he couldn't say that to her. "That way, we won't have to worry. Okay?" He kissed her forehead, one thought at the front of his mind:

He never wanted to see Rin be sad ever again.