Chapter 7
Yami sighed, folding his slender hands over the top of his swollen belly as he sat on the couch. Sugoroku had gone out for the time being, leaving him alone with his thoughts, and he was really starting to get bored.
//You okay, Yami? You seem a little off.//
Yami smiled, stroking his stomach gently as Yugi spoke to him. Yugi shifted inside him, and Yami's grin grew as he felt a little hand press against his own. /I'm okay, Yugi, just alone and bored./
//You're not alone.// The hand pressed harder. //I'm here.//
Yami's smile softened, pressing his hand harder against his abdomen. /I know, my little one, but I'm still getting a little lonely./
Knocks came at the door a moment later, and then the door came open with a small bang. "Hey, Yami, you in here?"
The spirit smiled, turning his head towards the stairs. "I'm up here, Téa, come on in!"
//Téa's here? It's been a while since we've seen her.//
/How'd you know that?/ Yami asked incredulously. .
//Geez, Yami, haven't you been paying any attention to the baby books that I know Kali got you? I can hear you, if you're loud enough.// Yugi said, his tone laughing.
Yami blushed faintly, and looked over to see Téa, Ryou, Bakura, Joey, and Seto coming up the stairs. The spirit grinned. "Geez, the whole gang came? What's the occasion?"
"Gramps said you was lonely. So we came ta keep ya company!" Joey said with a grin and a thumbs up.
Yami smiled thankfully. "Thanks guys, I really appreciate it." He started to push himself to his feet, but Téa shook her head.
"No, Yami, don't stress yourself. I know that you're probably hurting, so don't put any more stress on your hips, okay?" the girl said with concern and caring in her voice.
Yami blinked, a little shocked, but then he smiled. "Alright. Thank you for your concern."
He listened to his friends talk for a while, just content to have the conversation around him. Suddenly there was a sharp movement within him, causing him to grunt softly and place a hand against his stomach, frowning slightly.
Téa was instantly at his side, worry in her eyes as she placed a hand on the spirit's shoulder. "Are you okay Yami?"
Yami nodded with a slight grin. "Yea, I'm fine. Just a bi—uh!" He frowned. "What in the world?"
Seto raised an eyebrow, and Ryou suddenly giggled. "I know what it is, Yami."
Yami looked to the white-haired boy. "You do?"
Ryou nodded. "I used to volunteer at a hospital, remember? The pregnant women
would sometimes tell me things. Yugi's got the hiccups."
Yami blinked, and then flinched as the sensation came to him again. It felt like his insides were shaking, almost like the time when he had been so cold that he shivered that hard. /You okay, Yugi?/
//Yea. –Hic- Yea, just fine… Dammit, I don't get it! How the hell can you get –Hic- DAMNIT! How can you get hiccups without air?.! –Hic-!//
Yami blinked, and then burst out laughing. The others blinked as he did this, a little confused as to what was going on. Yami wrapped his arms around his stomach, still laughing as he struggled to stop.
"Yami?" Téa murmured, raising an eyebrow.
Yami continued to laugh, tears flooding down his face as he rolled on the couch. "Yugi… he was… he was swearing!"
Ryou blinked. "Yugi? Swearing?.!"
Yami nodded, trying to wipe at his face, but he was still laughing too hard. "Swearing about hiccupping! Oh god, it was adorable! And hilarious!" After a moment the spirit managed to calm down, and then he wiped at his face. "It's moments like these t hat I'll never forget…"
Yami awoke to pain. He whimpered, wrapping his arms around his stomach and curling into a ball. He breathed deeply as the discomfort eased, opening his eyes slowly.
He reached with a shaking hand for the phone, dialing for Kali. After a few rings a sleepy voice answered. "Hello?"
"Kali?"
"Mmm? Yes Yami, what is it?"
Yami chewed his lip. "I think something's wrong. I've had pains."
"Where were they? How long did they last?" the woman asked, going into doctor mode.
"Along the front of my stomach, for about a minute, maybe a little less." Yami replied. At that moment the pain struck again, causing the spirit to gasp.
"Whoa, easy, Yami. Just breathe, alright? I want you to call your grandfather and tell him to take you to the hospital, okay?" Kali said slowly and calmly, her voice an anchor.
Yami nodded, pushing himself to his feet painfully and moving towards the door. He was panting, but the pain had fully subsided. He pushed open the door to Sugoroku's room, calling into the darkness. "Grandpa?"
There was a rustle of cloth, and then Yami saw a dark shape sit up. "What is it, my boy?"
"Kali says we need to go to the hospital because I'm feeling abnormal pains." Yami told him.
Sugoroku nodded. "Of course. Just let me dress quickly and we'll go."
Yami shut the door, and Kali spoke at that moment. "I'm on my way there Yami; I'll be waiting in the lobby for you."
Yami murmured a quick thanks, and then hung up. The pain hadn't returned yet, but his muscles were tight, instead creating a constant ache across the whole of his abdomen. He went downstairs, sitting carefully on the couch and rubbing his stomach in an attempt to get the ache to ease.
Yugi shifted within his full womb, making him feel a little nauseous for a moment. //You okay, Yami?//
/No… I think I'm going into labor…/ Yami murmured, letting out a long breath from between clenched teeth as pain tightened his muscles again.
//Labor?.! But aren't you a month early?//
/Yes. Grandpa is going to take me to the hospital in a moment./ The pain let up and Yami opened his eyes as Sugoroku jogged quickly into the room, his keys jangling in his hand. He helped Yami to his feet, and together the two went to the car.
As the elder Moto drove he kept sneaking nervous glances at Yami, who would periodically deepen his breathing as rub at his stomach as he felt a contraction. Quite frankly Sugoroku was worried. Yami was only eight months along. Would Yugi be harmed in some way?
They pulled into the hospital and were greeted by Kali and a few nurses with a wheelchair. Yami settled into the chair with a soft groan, leaning his head back.
Kali's face was pale and serious, and this caused Sugoroku to ask here what was wrong as they rushed Yami into the hospital.
The woman frowned. "I don't understand why he went into labor. A month early, as well. It's frightening. This is already high-risk, and a premature birth is not a good sign."
Sugoroku stood back as they prepped Yami for Cesarean, not really knowing what was happening. As the doctor's placed an oxygen mask over Yami's mouth and nose and shrouded his lower half Sugoroku moved forward.
"How are you doing, Yami?" the elder asked softly, taking his grandson's hand to support him.
Yami was rather pale, but he smiled slightly. "Doesn't hurt as much now…"
"Just think…" Sugoroku murmured quietly. "Soon you can hold Yugi again."
Yami nodded, his crimson eyes shining with suppressed tears. His breathing was a little rough, Sugoroku noticed, but he thought it was only because of what was happening.
The elder Moto looked up sharply as a baby's cry pierced the air. A wide wmile spread over his face, and he squeezed Yami's hand gently. "Hear that, Yami? He's okay!"
There was no response.
Sugoroku looked down to see Yami's eyes closed, his face deathly white. It was now he realized that Yami's hand was limp in his hold, and he cried out worriedly. "Doctor!"
"His pulse rate is dropping!"
"I can't stop the bleeding!"
"Damnit, he's bleeding out, someone get in here and help!"
"Come on kid, don't give up on us!"
Kali came to Sugoroku's side, careful not to touch anything. Her gloved hands were covered in Yami's blood. "I'll have to ask you to go out into the waiting room, Mr. Moto."
Sugoroku reluctantly did as she asked, worry for his grandson flooding through him. 'Come on Yami, you can pull through!'
