A/N: Dear all, as a huge thank you for reading and reviewing Incendium until it went past the 100th review (first time in my life!), here is an extra story, focusing on Souichi's POV during Emi's birth. Please, enjoy :)

Omake: During birth

xxx Souichi xxx

Morinaga's hand was hot around his own as they started the short trip from the preparation ward to the operating theatre. Souichi felt his hand cramping slightly, so tightly was the younger man's grip on his but he did not protest.

Souichi had never believed in the delirium of pain until the contractions had started coming on strongly. And it was because of Morinaga, that pervy bastard! But now, as the epidural anesthesia kicked in, his temper had also ceased along with the pain.

Looking down at their linked hands, Souichi finally noted the angry red marks on his lover's arms. Some skin had even come out from where he had scratched Morinaga with his nails. His eyes flickered to the man's face, expecting to see some grimace of complaint.

Instead, the younger man was smiling at Souichi encouragingly, or rather, as encouragingly as he could with anxiety shining clearly in his eyes. The man was clearly terrified out of his wits.

The silly baka. With pregnancy, there would of course come the time where their baby had to come out, right? Well, Emi was slightly ahead of schedule but that happened all the time with childbirth!

However, as logical as Souichi could make of the situation, he himself felt the trails of apprehension as they reached the entrance of the operating theatre. He was, after all, the first male to give birth in Japan.

Morinaga was still clutching his hand in a death grip as the entourage paused outside of the metallic doors. His bottle- green eyes were welling up with unshed tears, lips trembling with the effort to keep them in.

The urge to embrace him hit Souichi, hard. However, anesthetised as he was, there was no way that he could do so. Thus, he pulled Morinaga close, tugging on the man's hand until their cheeks were almost touching.

"Idiot, what's with that face? We'll be out soon, sooner than you'd think."

He would damn well bring their daughter safely into this world! And if Morinaga thought otherwise, Souichi would send him flying! But his own throat was dry, his voice trembling just that slightly. If only…Tugging his hand free from Morinaga's scorching grip, Souichi turned away before his vulnerability was exposed even further.

"O-okay, Sempai. I'll be waiting outside for you, okay? Matsuda- san and Kanako would be here soon as well." Tetsuhiro bent close to kiss Souichi directly on the mouth, uncaring about the many eyes focused on them.

The kiss caught him entirely by surprise. Souichi's eyes widened as their lips pressed together in front of the entire group of medical personnel. The baka—! What the hell was he thinkin—

"I love you."

The whispered endearment feathered across Souichi's lips as Morinaga lifted his head, those soulful eyes burning so strongly with the sentiment that all the fear and uncertainty flew from Souichi's heart.

Emotion bubbled up, scalding the insides of his chest, his throat, and his eyes. Without even realizing that he had spoken, Souichi was wheeled away from Morinaga, the sliding metal doors cutting off the view of his lover.

"...Me too…"

"Sir, we are going to lift you up from this stretcher and onto the operating top. Are you ready?"

"Yes." Souichi now could not feel anything from his waist down. As he was lifted and transferred to the operating table, his hands curled instinctively around the swollen dome that was his womb. Their baby was in there, probably kicking up a fuss because she wanted to be let out.

"Tatsumi- san, please be assured that my team is here to assist you in a safe delivery. As I have told Morinaga- san earlier, we have studied your case as thoroughly as possible. As such, please relax during the operation and we'll soon get to see your baby!"

Dr. Hako was now fully donned in his operating scrubs, his unruly hair covered by a hairnet and his kindly face hidden by a surgical mask. Despite all these, Souichi could still see his eyes crinkled in a reassuring smile as the doctor patted his hand.

"I believe in your capabilities, Dr. Hako." Souichi's reply was simple. The two men exchanged a gaze of confidence as the nurses went about silently but efficiently in setting up the scene.

"All right! Now, please breathe in and out evenly; we are going to place an oxygen mask for you. Yes, that's right." Dr. Hako's voice was soothing as a nurse pulled the transparent mask over Souichi's mouth. The hiss of his breath was now audible and Dr. Hako looked satisfied. With a final smile at Souichi, he then turned to the rest of the staff and announced smartly, "We shall start the operation at 06:00 sharp. Everybody, at your stations."

As his doctor moved to the foot of the operating top and a screen was set up between Souichi's chest and his lower body, the atmosphere in the theatre tautened significantly. They were going into operation.

"Preparing to insert a catheter through the urinary tract!"

"Heart rate and blood pressure are stabilised and show no adverse reaction to anesthesia!"

"Ready for first incision into abdomen wall!"

The high- octane activity was contained very professionally as Dr. Hako took a scalpel from a nurse and bent forwards, his head becoming hidden by the screen. Souichi closed his eyes and concentrated on breathing normally. It would not do for him to become overly excited at this critical moment.

"—It appears that the patient's uterus has established a link with his rectum, and is thus slightly more situated to the back as compared to a female's. Our hypothesis has been proven. The low transverse incision to the uterus is still possible if we enter through this site here, till there, avoiding the link and the incomplete cervical passageway—"

As had been agreed upon at the beginning of their cooperation, Souichi's birth process would be allowed for documentation as a groundbreaking case study in obstetrics. Thus, Souichi was not surprised to hear Dr. Hako making comments and remarks as the surgery proceeded. The entire process would be recorded for reference and analysis later.

Souichi's mind was fully awake. Slightly frustrated that he could not see beyond the green screen, he tried to take the edge off his anxiety by praying. Kami, let there be no complications. Let Emi be born safely!

His thoughts turned unwittingly to Morinaga. The baka must be pacing outside the theatre, driving the nurses crazy with his fretting. He would surely have fainted if he had accompanied Souichi into the operating room! But he would make a good father—that was certain. Souichi's mouth curled up wryly and he relaxed, as he could not have until a minute ago.

"Forty minutes since the start of operation!"

Gradually, Souichi could feel a tugging and prodding sensation, even in the midst of anesthesia. It was completely surreal how something that was happening to his body could feel this detached and painless. Souichi's breath quickened despite his care. Having read up on cesarean births prior to his labour, he knew that this was the stage where his baby was going to be delivered from his womb.

"The fetus is lying in the correct position with her head faced towards the pelvis. Prepare the suction pump!"

"Yes, sir! Suction pump ready, sir!"

"Beginning to remove amniotic fluid!"

The tension in the air was shifting into tangible excitement. The actual birth had just begun. Souichi heard every single exchange and he felt his heart literally skip as his baby was mentioned.

He could imagine it—the sight of his little girl folded in the red, pulsing nest of his womb, her skin sticky with fluid, her eyes shut tightly. As yet another five minutes passed, Souichi's impatience was becoming overwhelming. Quickly! He wanted to see, to hold the precious little being that had been inside him for nine long months!

"Amniotic fluid cleared! Preparing to deliver the fetus. Prepare to cut the umbilical cord!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Incubator ready for the baby!"

The sense of tugging became more intense and Souichi could almost feel his entire lower body yielding as his baby began to make her way out into the world. Time ticked by excruciatingly. Souichi lay helplessly against the sheets, waiting, waiting—

"Uwahh! Uwahh—uwahh!"

Oh, Kami…Souichi felt an incredible pressure lift from his chest as he heard clearly, for the very first time, the sound of his baby's crying. And then Dr. Hako was coming towards him, his eyes crinkled into slits, so hard was he smiling. In his arms was the tiny being that Souichi yearned, no, ached to see.

"Tatsumi- san, you have delivered a beautiful baby girl. Congratulations on your safe delivery!"

Souichi nodded mutely at his doctor, his entire attention focused on the little bundle still wailing mightily as though she was furious at them for disturbing her rest. He strained forwards, unbelievably frustrated that he could not sit up. He reached out to touch her.

Tatsumi Emi had a thick mop of blue- black hair plastered to her head, her skin still glistening with amniotic fluid. She was crying lustily, her newborn eyes scrunched up in earnest, little cheeks dark red and wrinkled as though she were a gift just recently unwrapped.

Souichi's hand shook as he touched his daughter for the first time, his finger jolting at the heat radiating from her cheek. "Emi…" His entire palm opened to cup her tiny face, memorizing her first frown, her first pout.

Souichi breathed in shakily, tears making silent tracks down his cheeks. He loved her already—wholly, fully, and without reserve.

Dr. Hako was smiling in pride and joy, holding firmly to his little patient as Souichi connected with his daughter for the first time. The rest of the medical team were beaming as well, glad that such an unprecedented birth had been carried out smoothly.

"Tatsumi- san, you would be able to carry her once we complete the surgery. We are now going to clean her up, give her the APGAR test and then place her in the incubator over there. Once we have stitched you up, she would be brought to you immediately!"

"…Un." Reluctantly, Souichi retracted his hand. His eyes followed his daughter hungrily, straining to see her little figure as Dr. Hako passed her to the waiting nurse. He watched as she was weighed in and then wiped clean of blood and fluid, uncaring even when Dr. Hako recommenced the stitching up of his body. His entire being was focused only on his daughter.

Emi…the gladness in Souichi's heart was indescribable. She was safe, and she was healthy. Despite the turbulence of his pregnancy and early labour, his daughter had overcome all those odds to be born into this world and into their family.

She was really their miracle, a beautiful and tough survivor.

It was another hour later that Souichi was finally wheeled out into a recovery room adjacent to the operating theatre. Dr. Hako was with him as they attached a heart and oxygen saturation monitor to his finger.

Emi was pushed into the room right behind him, his little angel now clean and warm as she slept in the incubator. Dr. Hako lifted her gently from the tub, cooing to her like a doting grandfather.

"Here, Tatsumi- san. Carry her like this, yes, with your arm supporting her neck. Be careful to always do that until she is a few months old and strong enough to support her head on her own," Dr. Hako instructed Souichi softly as he carefully passed the sleeping child to him.

Light. That was the first thought that Souichi had as Emi came to rest in his arms completely. And so tiny. Nestled in the wrapper for newborns, Emi looked like a cherubic peanut in a pink shell. In wonder, Souichi patted her gently, hugging her close to his heart. "Hello, baby. Daddy has been waiting for so long to see you…! Papa would be happy, too. He's also really excited."

Dr. Hako coughed softly, finally jolting Souichi's attention to him. The long- haired man smiled apologetically but the older man waved it off. "I understand, Tatsumi- san! This is a special and precious time with your baby. I won't disturb your family time any longer!

"A nurse has already gone ahead to notify Morinaga- san. You will be wheeled to a general ward in the obstetrics ward once the anesthesia has worn off. Congratulations once again, Tatsumi- san!"

"Thank you very much, Dr. Hako. We are indebted to you." Souichi bowed, his head lowered respectfully at the doctor who had been an indispensible advisor and surgeon for his pregnancy.

"It's been my pleasure working with you three, Tatsumi- san! I'll see you later, then. Take care!" With a quiet click of the door, Dr. Hako exited the ward, leaving Souichi alone with his daughter.

The solitariness did not last for long. As Souichi sat propped up in bed while he marveled at the perfect formation of his daughter, the door opened once again.

Morinaga stepped into the ward, looking rumpled and anxious. Souichi took in the form of his lover, feeling the last traces of his insecurities slip away. Now, they were complete. A smile broke out over his face as he said:

"Come and see our daughter."

End of omake!

A/N: Hope you enjoyed this!