Ch. 24

Despite Ladahlord's best efforts, Miranda's pregnancy troubles began almost at once. The fatigue she had experienced came back with a vengeance and she would often have to take breaks between her household chores to lie down. Although the weather remained as fine as could be, Miranda was constantly cold and even had to pull wool blankets out of the chests where she had stored them for the winter. At her second month appointment, Dr. Vesper not only increased her iron supplement, but started making plans for possible blood transfusions.

"Let me know if you start having shortness of breath or if you faint at any point. I'm going to have you come in again next month, but I'll start checking in on you every two weeks from now on."

"But the baby's alright, isn't it?"

"As far as I can tell, yes. You're where you should be at two months."

"And I can hear its heart, even from here," Tomoko assured her. "Our child is strong, my dearest."

"Thank goodness."

Still, healthy baby or not, Tomoko did worry for his wife. He remained at home, keeping an eye on the summer tourists and corresponding with the embassy by letter. At Tomoko's insistence, Miranda would take a break from her daily tasks each day to sit in the warm summer sun for at least an hour and the bat demon was pleased to see she was retaining her good color rather than growing pale. At night, he would serve her mugs of steaming tea while Miranda took the medicines Ladahlord had given her and he always kept a fire burning in the living room fireplace. The only issue Miranda did not have to contend with was morning sickness, as the potions not only kept the nausea at bay, but seemed to increase Miranda's appetite as well.

"I don't think I've ever been this hungry in my life!" she declared, polishing off her second sandwich as she and Tomoko took lunch on the front porch. "And I'm not even three months along yet."

"Our child will likely have a healthy appetite," Tomoko replied. "Given how early it is, I would hazard a guess to say the babe will be more yokai than human."

"Do you... do you think the baby will have wings?"

"Possibly. A half-demon child is always a gamble, Miranda. Some can look completely human and simply posses an unusual hair or eye color. Others look far more like a yokai, even to the point where you can barely see the human inside them. But all posses power of some kind. It's just a question of what and how much."

"Hmmm. Well, that's going to make the surprise all the better. A newborn child of any kind is like a brand new book and how boring would it be if you knew everything before you started reading it?"

"Indeed so. But I admit, I am eager to start the story."

"Oh, so am I." Miranda rubbed a hand over her barely extending middle. "And I'm you're eager to be born, aren't you darling?"

Naturally, the unborn hanyo gave no response, but both Tomoko and Miranda were willing to bet that, in good time, their child would be only too happy to share its opinions.
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Summer's fine weather held long into September. By that point, news of the coming half-demon baby had swept through Miranda and Tomoko's social circles to the point where the couple's first anniversary was almost barely commented upon.

"To think, Miranda, you'll be the first of us to be a mother!" Helen, arguably Miranda's closest school friend, had said when Miranda invited her and a few others around to share the news.

"I know. Tomoko and I are so excited!"

"Are you hoping for a boy or a girl?"

"Oh, we don't care, so long as it's healthy."

"Aren't you worried?" one of the young women asked. "I mean, you're already looking a bit run down and the baby is going to be..."

"Oh, I'll be fine. Tomoko told me human women who give birth to half-demon children always have a bit of a rough time. But it'll be worth it in the end."

"Still, to think, a half-demon child? You're braver than I am!"

"No braver than any first-time mother, Rosie. And besides, a half-demon baby is still a baby! And I'm sure he or she will be wonderful!"

Miranda's friends had exchanged slightly skeptical looks at that, but they had let the matter drop. Tomoko's co-workers were less subtle.

"I told you this would happen!"

"What? They're married, aren't they? They can have a kid if they want."

"But a half-demon? How many of those do you see runnin' around these days?"

"Yeah, aren't they like animals?"

"I don't know. Ask Tomoko."

"Oh, right, that'll go over well. Hey, congratulations, Tomoko, by the way, is your kid gonna be a bloodthirsty monster once it grows up?"

"Like Tomoko or Miranda would let that happen!"

"Besides, I'm more worried about when it's little. Human toddlers can be enough of a handful. Imagine a half-demon's temper tantrum!"

"It seems I've caused quite a stir," Tomoko mused as he stood in his Chief's office, having stopped by to pick up a few new case files.

"Well, you can't blame them. They did take their time to get used to you, after all. They probably just need to get used to the idea of a half-demon as well."

"No doubt." Still, Tomoko couldn't help feeling a bit of disappointment. It was one thing for people to be suspicious of him, but a baby? To be so mistrusting of a child before it was even born struck Tomoko as more than a little foolish, but then again, the other detectives and their secretaries had likely never even considered the possibility that they'd ever meet a hanyo. With humans living nearby on Kurosaki territory, there was always the chance of a yokai and a human falling in love. A slim chance, yes, but it was something most of the bat demons were prepared for should it actually happen.

Oh, well, maybe his work with the embassy would help with that as well. After all, more yokai meant more of possibility for human/demon romance.

"How is Miranda, by the way?"

"Holding up. We've started on the nursery, but with her being so tired, it's been slow going. She barely had it in her to enjoy our anniversary, but to be honest, I found a homecooked meal sitting by a fire to be just as enjoyable as a night out."

"Well, let me know if you need anything. My wife also wants me to tell you that if Miranda starts eating odd foods, it's nothing to worry about."

"So I've heard," Tomoko chuckled. "Thus far, she's stuck mainly to her normal diet, but she's been eating more. Actually, she hasn't gained much weight and the doctor is thinking of having her eat heavier meals just to make sure the baby grows correctly."

"Ahh? Well, my wife makes an excellent cottage pie; normally, that lasts us for a few days, but if Miranda needs to eat more, I'll ask Emily to make one for her. It's filling, but my God, is it delicious."

"Arigato desu. That would be a big help."

Indeed, Tomoko had to admit that help was one thing he and Miranda were not short on. Aside from providing Miranda with potions, Ladahlord continued to bring Takashi and his family over to check in on the expectant couple.

"I've located the best midwife," the bat demon Lord informed them during one such visit. "She's delivered at least three hanyo children in Japan, so she knows exactly what to expect for both the mother and the babe. I'll be having her come over in the beginning of March and put her up in a hotel until the child is born."

"Oh, Takashi, thank you! I hope you're not going through too much trouble!"

"No trouble at all, Miranda-imouto. I want to ensure all goes well for the birth of my niece or nephew."

"Is it just one?" Souske asked from where he and Kenta were sitting on the floor and devouring a plate of Miranda's chocolate chip cookies.

"Indeed so, Souske-chan," Tomoko answered. "There's only one heartbeat; even if the doctor was unsure, I can tell."

"Okaa-san, could you tell with us?" Kenta asked.

"Hai, I could. Although, you and your brother's hearts beat in near perfect sync. It was nearly impossible to tell where one of you ended and the other began."

"Which explains why you're so close," Miranda told her nephews with a smile. "And I get wait to introduce your new little cousin to you."

"We look forward to that as well," Suzume said. "Tell me, have you thought of a name yet?"

"We're still thinking it over, actually."

"Well, no doubt you'll pick something that suits the child," Takashi assured his siblings. "Our family has never had a hanyo before. Such a child needs the best name you can think of."
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Eventually, the summer waned into fall and fall into winter. Unlike the previous year, this winter was a more mild season, with winds that were more chilly than freezing and snows that fell softly rather than pelting from the Heavens like bullets from a gun.

"Isn't it beautiful?" Miranda sighed as she worked her way out of her chair to view another evening of gently dancing snowflakes.

"Hai it is. But why not watch it from here, daarin?" Tomoko was already pulling Miranda's vacated chair over to the window.

"Oh, I'm fine. I need to move around a bit anyway." All the same, Miranda leaned against the windowsill as she rubbed her swollen abdomen. "I think our little darling is a bit restless."

"Oh?" Tomoko walked over to wrap his arms around his wife from behind. His clawed hands came to rest perfectly on the curved dome of her belly and sure enough, the bat demon could feel the steady beat of tiny kicks against his hand. "My goodness, the babe is quite excited tonight."

"Oh, are you eager for Christmas, darling?" Miranda cooed, rubbing her stomach. "I would be if I were you. I'm sure you'll find many gifts under the tree on Christmas morning."

Tomoko chuckled. "Speaking of which, is there anything you'd like for Christmas, Miranda-daarin? Anything at all?"

"Well, I already have everything I could want, save for our baby being born healthy. The nursery is more or less in order and we're always adding to our supply of baby necessities. But... maybe something small, like pair of fleece slippers or a new thick robe."

"Very well. I shall do my best."

"What about you, Tomoko? I know you and your family never really celebrated Christmas in Japan, but is there anything I can get you?"

"Like you said, I have everything I could ever hope for, save for the healthy birth of our child. Any small gift would be welcome, so long as it comes from you." Tomoko paused, then added,

"Actually, a leather binder for my files would be most useful, more so that I'm not needed in the Scotland Yard Headquarters as much. A binder like that will help me keep the files I take home in order."

"Alright then. Consider it done." Miranda smiled up at Tomoko before leaning against him with a sigh. "But I think I should sit back down, my dearest. I'm feeling tired again."

"Come then. I'm seeing Ladahlord tomorrow for your last round of potions. Three more months, Miranda; I can scare believe it!"
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"Right. This should do it." Ladahlord inserted a thick stopper into the last of the bottles. "Now, I want you to keep up with the main two potions; I've adjusted the mixture accordingly, but I can't get guarantee Miranda won't experience any more bouts of fatigue. But she hasn't fainted, has she?"

"No, thank goodness."

"And she's still on the iron?"

"Hai."

"Good. Now this," Ladahlord held the bottle out to Tomoko. "This is for after the birth. She'll need to drink half of it once your little one is safely delivered. That should help her sleep and she'll need to drink the other half once she wakes up. This will not only help her body heal, but she'll recover from the birth to the state she was before. Supple bones, muscles, everything. It'll also help her lose the baby weight gradually without having an impact on her and the child's nursing schedule."

"Will he have her energy back?"

"Sooner rather than later. But I would strongly advise keeping her on bedrest for a day or two after the birth. After that, smooth sailing."

"Good. I know Miranda says she doesn't mind going through this, but I know she'll be happy to feel like her old self again."

"Oh I'm sure." The sorcerer grinned. "And from what you've told me, she'll need that energy to keep up with your child."

"Hai, we're already preparing ourselves for the babe to start crawling early. Miranda said she learned how to both crawl and walk at an early age. I can only imagine what will happen once our child finds its feet."

"And imagine if it has wings. Oh, what will you do, Tomoko?"

"Try and assure my beloved Miranda that crashing into solid ground isn't going to be that big of a catastrophe for a hanyo child. Failure is how we learn, after all."

"Something to keep in mind as you begin the journey of parenthood, Tomoko."

"Well, that's a journey I wouldn't have been able to take without your help, Ladahlord." Tomoko reached into his kitsune bag and pulled out a plate of tightly wrapped cookies. "From Miranda. She sends you her best and wants to tell you that you are welcome to take Christmas dinner with us."

"Oh, how kind." The sorcerer took the plate and set them by his workstation. "I'll be enjoying those these next few days. And I would be honored to dine with you and Miranda on Christmas, Tomoko. It's been some time since I've sat at a full Christmas table."

"Then consider the invitation open every year, my friend."

"I shall." Ladahlord smiled at the yokai. "Are you headed directly home?"

"Not quite. I'm dropping by the Dover Boardwalk first. I want to see if there are any other small gifts I can get for Miranda. Plus, one of our open cases involves two teenagers who ran off from home and their last known sighting was the Boardwalk."

"I see. This wouldn't be a pair of siblings, would it?"

"No, it's a romantic couple who have been giving their respective families no end of headaches." Tomoko tilted his head at the sorcerer. "Is this pair of siblings one of your cases?"

"No, my friend, I'm afraid not. But I happen to know most of the regulars around that area. If I were you, I'd keep your purchases close and your pockets closed."

"Thankfully, no one thinks much of this." Tomoko gestured to the tiny satchel at his belt. "Nor would they think I'm carrying three large glass bottles inside it."

"That they wouldn't." Ladahlord nodded at his friend. "Take care, Tomoko. I'll see you Christmas Day!"

"Syonara, Ladahlord."

The sorcerer waited until he heard the sounds of Tomoko's wings fading into the distance. With a sigh, he opened the package of cookies and bit into one of the fresh-baked treats.

"I have a feeling you'll run into them, Tomoko. Such a shame nothing can be done about them. For their sake and yours, Miranda."