"I visited you father today."
Kyoya looked at her with his usual calm look, but inside he felt shock and disbelief.
"You did?"
"Yes, I wanted to tell him about the baby, but I decided not to after all."
"Did he do something?"
Ai just smiled as he rose from the desk.
"He was a perfect gentleman."
Kyoya just looked at her. He couldn't understand why she would want to contact this man who had given her so much pain.
"Why?"
"He's your father. Besides I still have a promise to keep. A child has to be a positive thing don't you think."
She looked a bit sad, and he walked over to her and wrapped his arms tight around her.
"Don't think about playing his game Ai. We can't win. And it doesn't matter, because I have you and that is all that is important."
He hadn't told her what his father had done all those years ago. He couldn't tell her.
"Now go and rest. I don't like the thought of you overworking yourself now with the baby."
"Okay doctor."
She kissed him softly, before walking out of the room. Kyoya walked back to his desk, but he couldn't concentrate. He knew she still blamed herself for him losing contact with his father.
Suddenly knocking brought him out of his thoughts.
"Come in."
It was easy to tell the twins apart now that their stile was completely different, but even without it, he had started noticing the small changes between them.
"What is it Arisu?"
"I… I need someone to talk to, and I was wondering if I might have a moment of your time."
She was so humble, very unlike her. He nodded and she took a step in, closing the door behind her. Then just lingering by it.
"Sit down."
She did, but was looking at her feet the whole time.
"What is it?"
"Is Chieko really going to work for Mr Hitachiin and Mr Hitachiin?"
"Yes."
"And is Chieko going to be a designer?"
"Maybe. If she works hard."
Arisu looked at him with tears in her eyes. Kyoya suddenly felt flustered. He wished she had gone to Ai.
"Why can't I do that?"
"I didn't know you designed."
Arisu looked away.
"I don't. I can't. I tried, but I can't."
She dried her eyes with the palm of her hand.
"Why can Chieko draw, and I can't?"
He suddenly understood.
"Arisu Chieko is gifted, but so are you. In things she isn't."
"Like what?"
"You communicate with people more than she does. For as long as I have known you have you always talked with everyone with ease. No matter if they were old, young, rich, poor, friend or stranger. That's a gift."
Arisu looked like she felt a bit better.
"You understand things as well, far more than your peers. That's a gift too you know."
"It is?"
"A deeply valued gift. A gift, unfortunately, not so many people have."
He smiled to her, and was happy and relived to find her smiling back.
"Do you feel better now?"
"Yes. Thank you."
She got up and gave him a hug, before walking out of the office. He shook his head, but couldn't deny the small smile on his lips.
"So, how are you feeling today?"Ai placed the bowl of soup on his lap.
"You don't need to baby me all the time Mrs Ootori. I'm not a child."
"Then stop acting like one."
Ai had been coming every day for three weeks, helping her father-in-law during his illness, and both she and he had grown more abrupt towards one another.
"I only act like a baby because you insist on acting like my nanny."
"Now Mr Ootori, be a good patient and eat your soup before it gets cold."
Ai was sitting on the bed, reading some papers while Mr Ootori was eating. Now and then Ai would look over her paper to look at him, and she could see how much he enjoyed the soup. It thrilled her.
"Barley eatable. As usual."
"You know that was fit for the Emperor."
"Don't flatter yourself little girl. Just be glad I eat it."
Suddenly the door opened and two of her sister-in-laws hastily forced them selves in.
Eri and Hiromi.
"Oh father we just heard the news that you weren't feeling well."
"Please father. Let us take care of you."
Ai was pushed aside as Eri and Hiromi sat down next to him. Ai felt flustered, but didn't say a word. She just grabbed the empty bowl.
"Hey let me do that."
Hiromi grabbed her hand and forced the bowl out of it.
"Hey servant."
Ai had to cover her ears as Hiromi screamed. Two of the servants ran into the room, frightened.
"Take this."
"Of course Mrs Hiromi."
Hiromi just turned her face towards the patient. Ai rose and smiled to the servants, putting them at ease. She turned to her replacements.
"Oh father have you seen what your son has done."
"Yes father, your son is really doing you honour."
Eri and Hiromi were the wives of Kyoya's two older brothers. They looked almost identical, and when spoke always spoke with a very high, shrieking voice. Like two parrots.
"You can go now Ai."
"Yes Ai, we know how busy you must be, running a corporation."
"Competing with all the men."
"You don't even have time to take care of your husband I bet."
"Or creating a family."
"Poor Kyoya."
"So just go back to your job."
"And let us do ours."
"Okay little Ai."
Ai could feel how all the blood went to her head, and really had to control her self to not kick both of them to the ground. She grabbed the dresser, having problem staying on her feet. She started to see red. The room was spinning.
"Mrs Ai?"
She could feel one of the servants grab her as everything went dark.
"It's critical."
Kyoya nodded. He knew. He knew too well just how critical it was. She was lying in the white bed, sweating, throwing her body back and forth. Most likely having a nightmare due to her high fever. He turned to his father.
"What happened?"
"I've been sick, and she nursed me back to health."
"Are you insane? She's pregnant."
Kyoya turned his back to his father and grabbed Ai's hand. She was gasping for air, and opened her eyes.
"Ai."
"I'm sorry Kyoya. I keep worrying you don't I?"
She laughed a short, sick laughter, before passing out again.
"Pregnant?"
Kyoya didn't even look at his father.
"Yes. She's pregnant."
"How far?"
Kyoya placed hand on her stomach.
"About fourteen weeks."
"That's good."
Kyoya just turned and looked at him like he was insane.
"If she had been less than twelve the child's chances could have been slimmer."
Kyoya nodded, before looking back at his wife. He felt a little better. A little. Mr Ootori turned to one of the servants.
"Is the doctor here?"
"No, doctor."
"See that she is shown in the moment she arrives."
The servant bowed and left. Mr Ootori turned.
"We don't need another doctor, we know what she's suffering from."
"Yes, but an outsider may be able to see things we are unable to."
"You mean do the sacrifice we can't?"
Kyoya just looked at his father.
"Paediatrician and gynaecology is neither my specialty nor yours, so this doctor may know things neither of us do."
Kyoya knew this, and it killed him that his father was right. He looked down at her. Her faced was flushed; she was sweating and gasping for breath. He found out that there was nothing he could do to help her, and he hated it.