Ch. 26

In like a lion, out like a lamb; the words regarding March were well-known and carried the promise of spring. However, Mother Nature is not one to follow the sayings of humans and just as the third month of the year can begin with cold storms and end with warm breezes, the opposite can also be true. Occasionally, March will bide its time and then unleash a torrent of fierce weather as a last hurrah of winter. Such a storm broke that year on the twenty-first of March, the spring equinox.

And it was on that day, with the rain and rain at their fiercest, that Miranda Kurosaki, went into labor.

Tomoko had sensed the storm on the horizon that morning; the absence of birds in the sky and the change in the wind currents left little doubt as to what was to occur. As such, he had made an afternoon patrol of the area, assuring himself that his neighbors were well-prepared for the tempest that was to come. What the yokai was not prepared for, however, was to return home to find his wife hunched over in her chair and the smell of fluids that indicated a child ready to enter the world.

"Tomoko... the baby..." Miranda gasped from where she sat, sweat already beading on her brow.

"I know. Come, let's get you into bed before I fetch the midwife."

Tomoko led his wife to the small guest room on the first floor. At the midwife's first visit, she had insisted on a separate birthing room.

"We'll have to move medical equipment in here and have it ready at a moment's notice," she had explained. "Keeping it in your bedroom is ill-advised. Plus, it'll be easier for you to get into bed on the first floor rather than having to take stairs."

While Tomoko had never considered carrying Miranda up a few steps to be a burden, he found that he was glad for the midwife's suggestion. As soon as she was in the room, Miranda all but collapsed on her back on the bed, gasping with pain.

"Miranda."

"I'm alright." Miranda managed to smile at her husband. "But please... hurry... get the midwife... the weather..."

"Hai, I know. But are you sure-"

"I'll be alright... I promise..."

The bat demon allowed a rare growl to rip from his throat as he hurried from the room and out the front door. Having to leave his laboring wife alone, even if it was to bring help, went against every instinct in his body. But Miranda needed medical assistance and Tomoko knew that, despite his best efforts, he wouldn't be able to do much in delivering a child.

He just hoped the midwife was ready for a flight.

The bat demon soared into the air, speeding through the darkening sky as fast as he could. Tomoko could feel the warmth being sucked from the air and the first ominous rumbles of thunder were echoing over the ocean waters, like the pounding of war drums. Still, the rain hadn't yet started and the lightning was still far over the sea. That was a good sign; with any luck, Tomoko and the midwife would be able to make it back to Miranda before the true storm began.

Circling around over the beach, Tomoko spotted the seaside resort Takashi had reserved for the midwife. Below him, children were being called back from the water's edge as their parents rapidly packed up their blankets, chairs, and picnic lunches. Crowds of beachgoers were surging into the hotel and the resort pool and bar were swarming with workers as they tightened the tarp over the still-closed pool, yanked padded recliners into a storage shed, and fastened the fold-down doors over the bar. Like Tomoko's neighbors, they too were preparing for the worst and if the wind and damp air were anything to go by, the coming storm would indeed be the worst storm Southern England would see in recent memory.

Tomoko banked around the large building until he spotted the balcony of the midwife's room. The bat demon landed, but didn't fold his wings as he rapidly pounded on the sliding glass door. Fortunately, the midwife appeared almost at once and when the saw Tomoko, she held up one finger and ran out of the room. A moment later she was back with a bulging bag and she all but threw open the door to greet the yokai.

"Lord Tomoko," she said in Japanese. "Is the Lady-?"

"Hai, just now."

"I have everything," the midwife said, gesturing to her bag. "But the storm-"

"We must go, before it hits."

The midwife nodded, allowing Tomoko to grasp her around her middle. A second later and the two were airborne, Tomoko slowing his speed just enough to accommodate his human passenger.

"How was Lady Kurosaki when you left?" the midwife asked, shouting a bit over the rushing air.

"She's in pain, but trying not to show it. She can talk, but she gasps when she does so. How long-"

"If she only just started feeling contractions, it may take a while yet." The midwife jumped a bit in Tomoko's arms as the sky suddenly went black. "Oh, this is going to be a bad one and it will last some time. Your child may well be born in a storm."

"Somehow, I am not surprised." Tomoko couldn't help thinking back to his father and how Haruki's last act had been to fight a storm much like this one. Was this a sign then? Would his new child be as fierce as its grandfather? Well, he was soon to find out.

Tomoko landed in front of his house just as the rain began to fall. Holding his wings over the midwife's head, he ushered her into the house, slamming the door shut just as a sheet of rain poured out of the skies so heavily it was like the clouds above had burst.

"Lord Kurosaki, I will attend to the Lady. Normally, I would have you wait out here, but I have found the the presence of the yokai parent during a hanyo birth makes the process easier. I will conduct a brief examination of your wife and let you know when you may enter the room. In the meantime, might I ask that you boil some water and prepare as many clean cloths as you can?"

"Hai. There are plenty of fresh towels and face flannels in the guest room already, but I will bring you the water. How much do you need?"

"A basin. And a small bowl of cold water as well."

"Hai."

Tomoko raced into the kitchen as the midwife went to tend to Miranda. As the bat demon set a full pot of water on the stove, he heard Miranda's gasped, but relieved greeting and the midwife's soothing reply. Relieved, Tomoko turned his attention to the weather while he waited for the water to boil. The rain was still coming down in sheets and the wind was churning the ocean into a froth. Waves were splashing over the shore, racing up the sand as far as they could reach and then speeding back into the raging sea with an irritated hiss of foam. Massive streaks of lightning lit up the sky in blinding flashes before thunder crashed loud enough to make the plates and glasses rattle in the cupboards.

"Of all the days for a child to be born." Tomoko shook his head at the thought. Of course there would be plenty of children born today, some even at the local hospital during this very storm. But Tomoko wondered if Fate itself had held off on either the arrival of the storm of the birth of his child until it was certain the two would arrive together.

Another strike of lightening lit up the beach and a huge clap of thunder followed. In the room, Miranda gave a small cry of pain and the midwife muttered words of encouragement. The bat demon shifted his wings, trying his hardest not to start pacing or simply run into the birthing room to be at his wife's side. Thankfully, the water on the stove began to bubble and just as it was reaching full boil, the midwife called out to him.

"My Lord, you had best come in. Lady Kurosaki is asking for you."

"Hai, I will be right there. And I have the water."

"Thank you, my Lord. I don't think it'll be long now."
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The room was dim, lit only by a single small lamp when Tomoko entered. Already, the smell of sweat was heavy in the air and Miranda's eyes were hazy with pain as she looked up at her husband.

"Tomoko," she whispered, reaching out her arms to him, one of which was attached to an IV line. By now, the midwife had helped Miranda into a hospital gown and a clean sheet was spread over her lower body. Miranda's bare feet rested on the baseboard of the bed and the midwife was nodding as she checked the laboring mother over.

"You're almost ready. This little one is eager to be born."

"How... how much...?"

"I'm not sure. But you must stay calm."

"Tomoko?"

"I'm here, Miranda-daarin." Tomoko sat on the bed, his arms around his wife. "I'm here."

Miranda closed her eyes, clenching her teeth as another bolt of pain shot through her. Tomoko could feel his wife trembling and the back of her gown was soaked in sweat. The midwife gestured to the bowl of cold water, which she had set by the bedside table.

"My Lord, if you could bathe her brow, that would be most helpful."

"Of course." Tomoko picked up a clean towel, dipped it in the water, and began gently running it over Miranda's face. Her soft brown eyes cracked open as the cold cloth ran over her flushed face.

"Thank... you."

"Of course. Anything you need, I will do for you."

"It..." Miranda groaned, clutching at her husband's shoulder. "It hurts."

"You're holding up beautifully, daarin. None are as strong as a mother bringing her child into the world."

Miranda tried to smile, but cried out again. "Please... help... me..."

"Is she alright? What's going on?"

"What does it feel like? the midwife asked, checking the IV line. "Are the contractions getting stronger?"

"It feels... like I'm- aahhhhhhh!" Miranda arched her back, tears beading in her eyes. "Like I'm... being torn open."

Almost immediately, Tomoko's nose caught the tell-tale sign of blood. The midwife leaned down to check and then her hands went to Miranda's stomach.

"I do not think anything is wrong. Blood is normal, but.." The midwife started as Miranda gave another cry, a soft tearing sound accompanying both the sound of her pain and the most recent clap of thunder.

"Is she alright?" Tomoko asked. "Tell me, is this normal?"

"As far as I can tell, yes. There is not enough blood to indicate anything life threatening. But... I think your child has claws."

"Can you see them?"

"No, not yet. But that could be the cause of the bleeding. Something is cutting her."

"Never... mind me... the baby..."

"A few more minutes, my Lady. Then you may push in earnest."

Miranda leaned back against Tomoko, who had grabbed a fresh cloth to bathe her face and neck. "I hope... the baby... doesn't... scratch itself...by accident."

"I'm sure it'll be fine. Plenty of hanyo children are born with claws. Isn't that so?"

"Nearly every one," the midwife answered. "And unlike human children, they seem to avoid scratching themselves."

"Thank... goodness- AHHHHHH!" Miranda gave her loudest shout of pain yet and it was all Tomoko could do to hold her still. Shuddering, Miranda leaned against him and Tomoko could hear her heart pounding.

"Miranda?"

Miranda groaned, her eyes fluttering as she started going limp in Tomoko's arms.

"She's exhausted! This is too much for her!"

"A moment, my Lord." The midwife was already pulling a small vial and a hypodermic needle from her bag. Filling the syringe, she quickly injected the medicine into Miranda's IV line. Miranda's eyes fluttered and she stirred feebly as the midwife hung an extra bottle of clear fluid on the IV pole and attached it to the line.

"It's alright; this happens in all kinds of births." The midwife returned to her former position and checked Miranda over once more. "Ahhh, you're ready."

"Ready?" Miranda's soft voice was nearly drowned out by another clap of thunder and the pounding of rain overhead.

"You can push now; the child is ready to be born."

"You're almost there, daarin." Tomoko took Miranda's sweat-soaked fingers and pressed them to his lips. "Our child will be here soon."

"Yes... I... can... do it. AHHHHH!"

Miranda shook with the effort, her eyes closed and her teeth clenched from the pain. Outside, the storm seemed to be reaching a crescendo as the sound of rain, wind and thunder shook the walls as the midwife called out,

"I see the head. One more push, my Lady!"

"AHHHHHH!" Miranda's scream was nearly lost in the sudden gust of wind and crackling lightning flash that lit up the room. This was followed by the loudest clap of thunder yet, but even over the booming clap, there rose that was, in Tomoko's ears, the sweetest sound he'd ever heard: the lusty cry of his newborn child.

"It's over! The babe is fine! It's a- AHHHHH! She bit me!"

In a the blink of an eyes, Tomoko darted forward, snatched up and clean towel, and hastily wrapped it around the small slick body that, even in the dim light, he could see was firmly attached to the midwife's hand by its tiny teeth.

"It's a girl?" Despite the horrific pain and the indescribable exhaustion she was likely still feeling, Miranda had heard the midwife's description of the child. "A girl?"

"Hai, my love." Tomoko was staring transfixed at the baby squirming against the blanket, almost oblivious to the sound of her furious cries. "We have a daughter. Our Rin."

At the sound of her name, the baby gave a last hiccupping cry and began taking great lungfuls of air, displaying two tiny sharp fangs. Despite being soaked in various fluids, Tomoko could see that his daughter already had a full head of fuzzy brown hair that was already promising to turn the familiar Kurosaki shade of fawn. Poking out from the downy fuzz were two tiny pointed ears that were already twitching like mad. The little face was scrunched up in discomfort, but the newborn managed to crack open her eyes to peer up at her father. Instead of the usual shade of light blue of a newborn human, the half-demon's eyes were the same shade of gold as her father's. Her fingers were indeed topped with little claws, each of which ended in a sharp tip, but what captured Tomoko's attention were the small bat wings under the baby's arms and attached to her sides. The leathery membranes were nearly half the size of the baby and Tomoko could see the small bony spikes that jutted out of them just like his own wings.

"My Rin, you have wings. Oh, you will know the freedom of the skies one day."

"She has wings?" Miranda was trying to sit up.

"Hai, she does. Oh, forgive me, daarin. Here she is. Oh, she is beautiful."

Somewhat reluctantly, Tomoko handed the blanketed baby over to her mother. Rin fussed a bit, but fell silent as soon as she felt Miranda's embrace at her ears cocked forward at the sound of her mother's voice.

"Oh, she is beautiful. Oh, my sweet Isuzu, my beautiful little Rin. Oh, how I love you."

"Ahh, so her name will be Isuzu, then?" The midwife had finished tending to the small bite on her hand.

"Her full name, hai, but we will mostly call her Rin."

The midwife nodded. "I know how that will be written, but I will have you look over the kanji for the birth certificate, my Lord."

"Domo arigato desu. I cannot thank you enough for your services. Oh, you're not hurt, are you?"

"It is fine, my Lord. She did break the skin, but I expected nothing less from a Kurosaki. My congratulations to you both; that babe will be a force to be reckoned once she grows."

"I think she already is." Miranda laughed. She was gently brushing her fingers over her new daughter's cheek, rocking the little bundle gently as she continued staring at the newborn. "Oh, my sweet Rin, I can already tell you are going to be extraordinary."
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The storm had ceased, but the clouds remained. The grass and sand were soaked with rain and littered with branches and other debris the wind had whipped up. But now, not a drop of water fell from the skies and the blowing gales had become gentle breezes. Thunder and lighting had not entirely faded from sight and sound, but they were far over the ocean now. The waves, though choppy, were beginning to settle and Ladahlord could see a sandbar beginning to form just a few feet from shore. The sorcerer grinned; while March wasn't exactly an ideal time for swimming, he had little doubt that any children who saw the temporary structure would care and go diving straight into the waters first thing tomorrow morning.

The sorcerer turned his attention back to Tomoko's house from where he stood at the top of the dunes. A small protective spell had kept Ladahlord warm and dry as he stood out in the pouring rain and whipping winds, waiting for news of Tomoko and Miranda's child.

"As if it would be any day other than today," he said aloud. Having sensed the coming storm, Ladahlord had teleported to Tomoko's home and watched as Tomoko flew off from the house as the clouds began to gather. When the sorcerer had seen Tomoko return with the midwife Takashi had hired, he knew that he was right. Now all that remained was to wait.

And wait he did. Ladahlord had paid little notice to the storm as it raged around him, not even flinching when the thunder and lightning almost seemed to target him directly. Instead, he had kept his eyes fixed on the small bright cottage inside which a different kind of storm raged. And unlike the one outside, what awaited at the end of the storm inside was far more precious than a clear sky or a rainbow.

Not that there was much chance of a rainbow now. Ladahlord glanced up at the still-dark skies, which were now black with night rather than clouds. How the hours had flown by! Ladahlord judged it was getting on nine o'clock by the time a black taxi pulled up to the front of the house. The front door opened and an older Japanese woman exited, clutching a leather bag in one hand. She turned to bow once more at the front door before entering the taxi and being borne away into the night. A moment later and Tomoko himself strode onto the sand. Ladahlord felt his heart skip a beat as he noticed Tomoko was carrying what looked like a bundle of blankets in his arms.

"I know you're out there, Ladahlord. Come and meet Rin!"

Rin? "It's a girl?" Ladahlord dissolved the shield, his legs automatically carrying him over to his friend.

"Hai, it's a girl." Tomoko's face was stretched in a grin so wide it was a wonder the yokai's face hadn't split open. "And she is perfect."

Ladahlord approached Tomoko, his heart thudding in his chest. Over the course of his very long life, the sorcerer had seen sights that would stun, amaze, and awe humankind and there was very little that went on in the world he did not know about. But now, on the eve of the spring equinox, Fate had seen fit to gift Ladahlord the sorcerer a sight he had not yet been privy to: a newborn half-demon.

Wrapped in a white blanket, her little face scrubbed clean, the baby Rin was a sight Ladahlord knew he would never forget. Her pointed ears twitched as he approached and her eyes cracked open as she peered up at the sorcerer standing over her. The golden eyes crossed slightly as Rin focused on Ladahlord's face. Then, her eyes narrowed, her lips peeled back to expose her tiny fangs and she swiped a clawed hand at Ladahlord's gloved hand, the edge of one wing poking out of the blanket.

"Ha-ha! Oh, you are a fierce little thing, aren't you?" Ladahlord felt his own face stretch into a smile. "Oh, Tomoko, my absolute congratulations. Indeed, your daughter is a wonder to behold."

"Indeed she is." Tomoko ran his own clawed finger over his daughter's cheek, causing her to look sleepily up at him. "This is Ladahlord, Rin," the bat demon said in Japanese. "And he is one of us, just as much a Kurosaki as you are."

Rin's ears cocked forward at her father. Then the baby yawned and her golden eyes closed. Within seconds, she was fast asleep, her ears continuing to twitching as she dreamed.

Ladahlord chuckled, running a finger over the baby's hand. "The storm brought her to you and Miranda, Tomoko. And I, for one, think I know who sent this strong-willed babe to you."

"Hai, I have no doubt. Nor do I have any doubt that, one day, Rin will use that strength to defend those she cares about. I can see it in her even now, Ladahlord. My daughter is a born protector."

"That she is. And is Miranda alright?"

"Resting comfortably, thank goodness. The birth was very hard on her, but once it was over, she fought hard to stay awake just so she could keep holding Rin. Thankfully, the midwife was able to help clean her up and change the bedding so she could rest. I gave her the potion too and I can already see the color coming back into her face."

"Good. Make sure you give her the rest of the potion as soon as she wakes too. Within a day or two, she should be back on her feet as though nothing happened."

"I shall." Tomoko looked back down at his sleeping daughter. "I still can't believe I'm a father, Ladahlord. But I will do everything in my power to help Rin find her place in this world. I can feel she's meant for something amazing and I just hope I can be there to guide her on the path she was meant to follow."

"You will," Ladahlord assured him. "You, Miranda, Takashi, me. Rin will have no shortage of those who care for her. And I certainly hope that, in time, you'll let her come with me to help others. I'm sure there will be many children who could benefit from a young half-demon's help."

"Of course, Ladahlord. I'm sure my Rin will always be willing to defend those who need her."
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"Drinks all around! Come, everyone, we must drink a toast!"

Ladahlord raced through the Chocolate Room of the Wonka Factory, his voice echoing over the sucking tubes of chocolate and the swish of minty grass. At the sound of his shout, Oompa-Loompas of all ages came rushing out of the bushes and out of hidden doors, staring at the sorcerer as he conjured a wooden table on which rested several jugs and hundreds of glasses.

"Come come, everyone, don't be sure! I've broken out the best sake for tonight!"

"Ladahlord?"

Willy Wonka came hurrying out of a nearby shadowed archway, closely followed by even more Oompa-Loompas. His plum velvet tailcoats trailed out behind him like the flags of a ship as he raced over to his brother.

"Ahh, Willy, there you are! I figured you'd already be awake. Come, we have to drink a toast!" Ladahlord was already pressing glasses of sake into the hands of the nearest Oompa-Loompas.

"And to whom exactly are we toasting at this hour?" Willy asked, drumming his fingers against his ever-present cane.

"Tomoko, Miranda, and their newborn daughter Rin, of course!"

"New-born dau- IT'S A GIRL?"

"Indeed she is! And quite a fierce one at that!"

Ladahlord's words were nearly drowned out by the cheering and stamping of the Oompa-Loompas. Many of them were jumping in the air, hugging each other as they shrieked with joy. Willy Wonka himself was chortling as he accepted a glass of sake from Ladahlord.

"My, this is a cause for a celebration! Oh, we shall have to send them something as well, but that's for tomorrow. In the meantime, what does the little one look like, Ladahlord? I take it she favors Tomoko, given her name. Rin, was it?"

"She does indeed favor her yokai heritage. And while her full name is Isuzu, she will mostly be called Rin by those who know her." Ladahlord chuckled as he remembered the sight of the little hanyo. "She took a swipe at me with her claws, Willy. Trust me, that babe is going to be someone you do not want to cross."

Another explosion of laughter echoed across the room. Willy held up a hand for silence as he raised his glass.

"A toast then, to Miranda and Tomoko Kurosaki. And a very Happy Birthday to you, miss Rin Kurosaki. Banzai!"

"Banzai!" the Oompa-Loompas chorused as everyone sipped their sake. More giggles and shouts of delights followed as several of the gathered Oompa-Loompas began dancing and others pulled out drums and began to pound them with their little hands as they began making up songs to celebrate the birth of the new half-demon.

"I'm guessing Tomoko and Miranda are over the moon?"

"That they are. And no doubt there will be even more celebrations once Takashi and the other Kurosakis receive word."

"Please let Tomoko know he's welcome to bring Rin here, should he wish. I'd love to meet her."

"All in good time, I'm sure. Be warned, she already bites."

"Does she? Ha-ha, why am I not surprised? Rin is a Kurosaki, after all."

"That she is." Ladahlord gazed out the window, where a new dawn was just beginning to take shape. Despite the early hour, the sun and moon hung perfectly balanced, side by side, in the pearly grey sky. Ladahlord raised his glass.

"Banzai, Lord Haruki. Your granddaughter will be as fierce as you were."