Hello anybody reading this! Ano... This is the final 'real' chapter of Trivial Pulse. After this, all there is is the Bonus chapter, and then the epilogue. Normally I wouldn't mention this, but the last couple chapters, guys? Kinda depressing on the reviews front. For those of you not reviewing, could you review at least this once? I really would like to know what you all think of the official ending, not counting the epilogue (Which I want to write soooo bad now). Thank everyone for their support.
Purplerainn- Thank you for your concern, and please enjoy the final real chapter.
Sakimi1014- Yep! No more pain pain!
ShadowinRW- Yes, you were right. I wanted to tell you sooo bad when you guessed it too. Anyway, yes, there's going to be a sequel, and though it includes stories about the TPP's children, it actually centers around Momo and Ryoma.
DarkDemonCat- I love birthdays!
Wirbelwind- Ryuzaki might call him a baby. -Laughs.-
Kx- It was mentioned a long time ago in the story that the Trivial Pulse had happened twice before, once when Tezuka's grandfather was younger and again when Tezuka was younger. Also, he wasn't trying to stop him from seeing Fuji, he was trying to seal his bird side and erase his memories so that he wouldn't have the night pains any more. Kunimitsu is the only Positive that was sealed before that changed again. Atobe was never sealed. And I never noticed... But it is like D.N. Angel there, huh?
LoveWriterMaiko- Ohaiyou Ne-san (Even though it's not morning)! Ano... Yes, it's a C-section... But I don't know anything about them (and I was too lazy to research it) so it's probably all wrong-wrong... Oh well! Enjoy the chapter!
ImmortalTigeress- Naha! It's TIME! Oh goodness... I wrote the ending... I feel like crying...
Wizli- ... I would have never expected you to have a son... -In shock- the internet really is a strange place, isn't it? Just kidding, any way... Yes, Atobe proved himself to actually be as amazing as he claims he is... Frightening... Don't tell him that though.
Sweet Obsidian Rain- I'm going to be completely honest with you: I CAN NOT IMAGINE FUJI BAWLING! I just can't, I wrote it and then tried to imagine it, and... Nothing! -Laughs.- Also, I'd go with "Poor Yagyuu", because I'm sure Niou does the things he does on purpose, and not with good intentions. Even when it comes to Yagyuu.
Animestar73- Yeah, there were lots of hints, a couple people actually figured it out before hand, and I was pretty impressed. It was fun. Also, don't worry, I'm definitely okay, and I promise not to push myself too hard. Thank you for worrying, but please don't!
Vierblith- Actually, I think the thought of Atobe on a mission is very scary. So yeah... Here's the chapter.
Disclaimer- I do not own Prince of Tennis
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Fuji was in a state of near panic. He knew very well what was going on, but he was all alone, if you didn't count Ryoma's presence in his mind, trying to keep him in a semblance of calm. Which was nearly impossible. He was in pain, he was emotional and he was alone.
While Ryoma was trying to assure him that Dr. Hatchett was just getting something to numb the pain and was coming right up. Fuji wanted to yell at him, something along the lines of 'Like I care about that! I want Kunimitsu!' And then more pain would hit and he'd retract the statement.
Dr. Hatchett, naturally, arrived first, and shot painkillers into a vein in Fuji's hand. This calmed Fuji considerably, but he still wanted Kunimitsu to be there. Just as the drugs began to knock him out, Kunimitsu burst through the door, and was at his side, taking his hand.
And then, for Fuji, everything went black.
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As Fuji slowly fluttered back into consciousness, feeling incredibly sore around his middle (it was a C-section) and the first thing he was aware of was the sound of someone crying. Sobbing actually.
Fuji doesn't understand this at first. Sobbing, tears? The idea seems out of place as the only other people who could be in this room at this point were Dr. Hatchett or... Kunimitsu! His eyes shoot open and he sees something he's only ever seen once before: Kunimitsu Tezuka with tears in his eyes.
"Mitsu? What's wrong..." Suddenly it hits him; The Baby! "What happened?! The baby, is the baby--" A shot of pain from his lower stomach silence him and he grimaced.
"Shusuke there was three of them," Kunimitsu said, the tears continuing to flow silently. "Two of them are fine, perfectly healthy, as far as we can tell, but the other one..."
"Egg bound," Fuji said, looking horrified. A baby he didn't even know he was going to have, and now it was gone. Kunimitsu crawled onto the bed and took the tensai into his arms.
"I'm so sorry, Shusuke," he said. "But the other two's shells are fully developed, though, they're fine. We did a candle-light test, and they're fertilized and stable, developing just as they should."
Fuji begins trying to dry tears he hadn't realized through his shock that he was actually crying. "May... May I see them? Where are they?" The fear was back again.
"They're fine," Kunimitsu promised, placing a kiss on his lover's forehead. "I put them in the other bed, and they're under a pile of blankets. Dr. Hatchett didn't think it was best to put them in with you while you were sleeping. He didn't want you to resituate into a bad position with them. I was laying with them for a while, but got up when you started to wake. Hold on." Kunimitsu moved to the other bed and pulled away several blankets to reveal two red-tinted, brown speckled eggs. He picked them up carefully, one in each arm (They're a like... ¾ the size of watermelons) and placed them next to Fuji on the bed. The tensai touched them delicately with his fingers.
"They're perfect," he marveled. Kunimitsu chuckled slightly.
"Yes, they are," he agreed. They both fell silent, thinking about the little one that didn't make it. "We can bury him, Shusuke. Tonight? I'll stay here with the eggs and keep them warm." His voice dropped. "I've already said my goodbyes."
"Right now... I just want to rest," Fuji said. "I'm very sore."
"I know love," Kunimitsu said, "You wouldn't be walking anyway."
Fuji's eyebrow rose in question.
"Mukahi-san has been working on controlling his power. They no longer lash out at random, unless he is feeling either scared or threatened. We were thinking that he could use them to get you downstairs, and then use a wheelchair from there," Kunimitsu said, but shook his head. "Just sleep Shusuke, we'll deal with it when you wake up."
"Goodnight, Mitsu," Fuji said, well aware that it was still rather early in the day. Kunimitsu just kissed his cheek before letting Fuji curl around their babies and fall asleep once more.
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The baby was buried under a sakura tree on the property, in a little, dark-wooded box, marked with a cross, engraved by Ikasu (using ice as the carving tool) with the name 'Daisuki', which was the name Fuji and Kunimitsu had settled on for the little boy they could have had. Fuji didn't cry this time, but a few of the others did. Fuji himself merely kissed the box once before it was placed in the little grave. Eiji seemed to be taking it nearly as hard as Fuji had.
"It's not fair, is it, Shuichiro?" he whimpered, buried into Oishi's shirt, his head turned sideways so he could watch the little casket as they covered it with dirt. "Just a little baby... Not even alive yet and already dead... It's not fair... Not at all..." Oishi merely held him close and said nothing at all. "How can life be... So cruel?"
"Eiji," Fuji said softly, "Come over here, please." Eiji listened to his wheel-chair-bound friend and came closer. "Thank you," the tensai said.
Eiji didn't understand. "Fujiko, I'm so sorry."
Fuji smiled slightly at his best friend. He reached out with his hand to turn Eiji's face towards him. "Don't be sorry, Eiji. It means a lot to me that you would mourn my son this much, you're a good friend." Eiji whimpered. "But, Eiji, we have to be strong. Soon there will be two little ones around here. Even in the face of depression, we have to be strong for them." Eiji nodded and did his best to dry his tears. When he had finished, Fuji nodded resolutely. "Eiji... When they hatch, I would like you to be the godfather to one of them."
"Godfather...?" Eiji asked. Fuji nodded.
"It only means that if anything happens to me and Kunimitsu, you would be the one to take him or her in, and be their legal guardian," Fuji explained, "You would be... Family, really."
"It's a real honor to be asked, Eiji," Oishi said softly from behind his boyfriend.
"Yeah, sounded like it," Eiji said, looking down at the ground. "Are you sure Buchou would be okay with that?"
"Eiji, Kunimitsu respects you very much." Eiji looked at him with disbelief written all over his face. "It's true. He has told me before that he admire the fact that you can make anyone laugh, regardless of the situation. He also admires the way you put your whole self into everything you do. I'm sure that you would do the same if entrusted with our child."
"... Then... Thank you, Fujiko," Eiji said, and kneeled down to hug his friend. Fuji simply smiled, his eyes looking tired. When Eiji let go, Oishi took him into a hug instead and congratulated him.
Fuji looked down at the little grave once more, and the others decided to give him a little time alone. They left slowly, and Fuji's teammates gave him reassuring pats and hugs as they went by. Soon only Taka remained, who had sent Kabaji ahead of him in order to help Fuji return when the tensai was done.
"I love you little Daisuki," Fuji whispered to the mound of fresh earth, "Don't think that you will be forgotten. Just because you didn't make it... I don't love you any less for it." Fuji watched the grave in silence for a few more minutes before Taka came up behind him and put a hand on his shoulder. Fuji simply nodded and Taka wheeled him back up to the house.
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During the days, Fuji waited patiently, a heater in his room on full-blast, even when it wasn't cold. He kept himself curled close to the eggs and provided them with as much heat as he could. He was extremely careful about them, and just as protective. He allowed their housemates to come into the room most days, but it was very rare that he let anyone touch them. Among those with the privilege, however, were Eiji, Taka, Ryoma, and Yuta. If anyone else tried to touch them, they would receive a hiss. The hiss was a warning, and if you didn't listen, Fuji had no qualms about lashing out. On certain days, however, Fuji would not even let Kunimitsu near them. Dr. Hatchett assured him that this was perfectly normal.
Fuji was rarely seen without his wings while in their room, and was beginning to look strained from paying constant attention to the eggs. Kunimitsu decided that he needed a break. Thankfully, it wasn't one of Fuji's bad days. It took a little bit of convincing, but soon Fuji was outside their room for the first time in two weeks.
"Fujiko! You're alive!" Eiji exclaimed, tackle-glomping his best friend from behind. Fuji laughed and struggled to stay standing from Eiji's weight and the force Eiji had slammed him with. He laughed.
"Yes, yes, alive and well," he assured him. How long had it been since Eiji had been able to approach him this casually? Much too long, he was sure. Even if Eiji was one of the few allowed to touch his babies, that meant little when it came to being too rambunctious. Even Eiji was not immortal.
"Nya? What about the little ones?" Eiji asked, his eyes sparkling at the mention of his godchild and it's twin. He had chosen the lighter colored of the two eggs and fawned over it almost as much as Fuji did when he was allowed into the tensai's room.
"Kunimitsu is watching them, and keeping them plenty warm, I'm sure," he chuckled at Eiji's dubious expression. "You'd be surprised, Eiji, I'm sure."
"Actually," Eiji said with a laugh, "I'm more surprised with how you're acting. You're much more like yourself when you're out of that room, you know."
"Hmm... Perhaps it's becoming a 'comfort zone'," Fuji pondered, and ignored Eiji's questioning face as they made their way to dinner. Several surprised faces met them upon their entrance.
"Aniki!" Yuta said, moving over to give Fuji a place to sit. Eiji took a place across from him, in a seat Oishi had been saving for him. "How are you?"
"Just fine, Yuta." Fuji smiled. "I haven't seen you in a couple days," he added, looking dejected.
"Tezuka-san said you were in a poor mood," Yuta explained, looking at his older brother with a slightly peeved expression.
"Hmm... Perhaps I was, I don't quite remember," he pondered over it. A glance to his left and he saw Momo's left hand was bandaged. He nearly flinched. "... I did that, didn't I?"
"Hmm?" Momo said, but followed Fuji's gaze down to his hand, he laughed slightly, "Yeah, you did, about a week ago when I tried to touch one of your eggs. Those talons of yours really hurt, Fuji-senpai."
"... I'm sorry, Momo," he said seriously. "... I really don't have a problem with you, and I know you would never hurt my babies, but..."
"It's your bird instinct," Momo nodded, "It's no big deal, Fuji-senpai. I mean, you already lost one baby, and even if your human side can deal with it, animals handle things a lot differently, don't they? Really, I get it and I don't blame you at all." He put on a pouting face, "I'm not sure why you let him--" he mock-glared at Ryoma "--Anywhere near them."
Fuji chuckled. "Oh, didn't you know? I'm secretly in love with Ryoma-chan."
"Gah! Don't even joke about that, Fuji-senpai!" Momo exclaimed, "Against you, I might lose all of my confidence!" Fuji and a few other laughed. Fuji had a grand evening, and decided that he would have to remember to really thank Kunimitsu later.
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Time passed quickly, and as they came closer and closer to the estimated hatching time of twenty days, Kunimitsu began to get a little bit anxious. There was no way he wanted to miss their hatching. But he had no choice, he had to go to school, and he had to go to tennis. Ryoma, once again, was keeping constant surveillance over Fuji's thoughts. It wasn't only Kunimitsu who was anxiously awaiting the news this time either; The entire house was on their toes, excited by the coming newborns. Kunimitsu had heard whispers of a baby-shower to take place after the eggs hatched and Fuji was finally allowed to leave his room indefinitely.
This time, during the waiting, Shinji's birthday rolled around (Nov. 3), and it was an... Interesting event. Once more, Kunimitsu made his lover leave their room to take place in the festivities, despite Fuji's protests that that wasn't fair to Kunimitsu. They fell on deaf ears, and once more, Fuji found himself having a marvelous time.
It was the middle of the night when Fuji awoke to movement from the eggs in his arms. As the sleepiness left him, he realized what was going on, and he turned to shake Kunimitsu awake. The Buchou was awake instantly, and moved off of the bed to turn on the lights. They watched, spell-bound, as the light of the two eggs began to twitch a bit and they could hear the sound of something tapping at the hard shell, and then they saw a black tipped beak breaking it's way through to the surface.
Fuji could hardly breathe. This was it. This was what he had been waiting so long for, the hatching of his little ones. Kunimitsu had a similar reaction, and was gripping Fuji's shoulder, perhaps a little tighter than he had to, not that either noticed.
And then the shell was gone and a little girl was sitting before them, looking up with inquisitive eyes. She certainly didn't look like a newborn, even as the beak disappeared to be replaced with thin, pink lips. She looked to be at least a month old, and her eyes held a kind of knowledge that Kunimitsu had never seen in the eyes of a child before. She didn't cry, but cooed as Fuji reached out with trembling hands to grab her and hold her close, hands running through long, curly golden-brown hair that looked so much in color and careless-disarray like Kunimitsu's. Her eyes, however, were definitely Fuji's, a striking blue that seemed to take in everything. Her wings, so small and delicate looking that Fuji hesitated to touch them, were a dazzling white, just like his own. The baby made some non-intelligible noise and reached out towards her twin's egg, which was also beginning to shake and twitch.
The beak that they saw this time was completely yellow-orange and chipped away at the egg from the inside at a leisurely pace. This time the little one who appeared before them was a boy, nearly identical to his sister, with shorter hair and midnight black wings. He looked from Fuji to Kunimitsu, looking much too alert for an average child, and seemed to decide that they were okay by him
The little girl began to cry softly and reached towards her brother, so Fuji slowly moved her forward to place them side by side on the bed, situated and looking comfortable on their backs, the two curled up together before falling asleep.
"... They're beautiful, aren't they?" Fuji asked, his voice even softer, perhaps, than it needed to be. Kunimitsu released the other boy's shoulder before replying.
"They're perfect," he answered, wrapping the tensai in his arms.
"They seem so much older than they are though," Fuji said. Kunimitsu placed a kiss on his temple reassuringly.
"We'll talk to Dr. Hatchett tomorrow, I'm sure he'll have an explanation," Fuji yawned, but tried to stifle it. Kunimitsu chuckled. "Go back to sleep, Shuu, they'll still be here in the morning.
"We should decide on names first," Fuji insisted, and Kunimitsu could see that this wasn't going to wait until the morning.
"Alright, what do you have in mind?" The buchou asked.
"I want to name the girl Atsuko," Fuji said, looking up at his boyfriend for the okay. Kunimitsu nodded his head. "And... I think that you should name the boy."
"Alright," Kunimitsu said, and donned a thoughtful expression. "... Ayumu."
"Ayumu," Fuji repeated, a warm smile on his face as he looked upon the little boy in question. "I like it. It suits him."
"I'm glad," Kunimitsu said, but was already moving Fuji back down onto the bed. He settled with Fuji and himself each on one side of the babies. "Now sleep." He watched as Fuji did as he was told and looked on his lover and children. They made a perfect picture. He then looked at the clock, to see that it was nearly two AM. It was November eighteenth, and he now had two beautiful children and a lover; a family, and he loved them all more than he had ever loved before. All was well.
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The next morning, Dr. Hatchett examined the babies to find them in perfect health. He explained to Kunimitsu and Fuji that the twins would probably grow and develop faster than human babies would, because babies operate on instinct, and for their babies, that meant they were working on a bird's time-table as well as a human one.
After they had been cleared, friends and family flocked into the room in sets of four (Fuji would allow no more). People cooed over the babies, wide-eyed little Atsuko, giggling and playing with everyone, Eiji especially, whom she seemed to adore (good, seeing as he is her Godfather), and Ayumu, who remained perfectly silent and calm, despite the best efforts of just about everyone to make him laugh or even smile. He did not bother with baby-talk, and he never cried, but Fuji really wasn't worried. He merely made it a point to say that he was Kunimitsu's son whenever anyone mentioned it.
Yuta seemed to have fallen in love, despite the fact that he tried to act indifferent, but Yumiko practically coddled them. Ayumu didn't seem to like that much physical contact too much, and wiggled out of her reach. Yumiko merely laughed it off, contributing it to 'silly boys'. Atsuko seemed enraptured by her, on the other hand. When Yumiko spoke, Atsuko had eyes for no one else. Fuji wondered if it was because Yumiko's voice was that of a woman's, but then, his voice seemed to inspire a similar reaction in her. He had never noticed before, but his and Yumiko's voices were similar, despite their different genders. Perhaps that was it; Yumiko's voice sounded to her like 'Mommy'.
Ayumu had established himself quickly as a look-don't-touch kind of person, but there was one who paid no heed to heed to his small body's struggling, or the very rare, occasional hiss that he let out. This person, of course, was Ayana, Kunimitsu's mother. She held him close to her and rocked him about and spoke in a voice that would have been fine for a normal baby, but pierced at Ayumu's sensitive ears. His little wings often came up to cover his ears with their feathered tips, and Kunimitsu was afraid he might actually cry, which would upset his mother terribly. He kindly asked her to lower her voice a bit, explaining that Ayumu's hearing was very sensitive, she took no offence, but rubbed her cheek against his hair as she complied, causing Ayumu to take on a slightly peeved looking expression.
The real surprise came later, when Taka came in to see them. Fuji wished him a happy birthday, and apologized for hogging all of the attention. Taka just laughed from where he sat next to the bed, where Ayumu, straight faced as always, had decided that Taka's eyebrows were a wonderful toy. Fuji winced: it certainly looked like Ayumu was pulling hard too.
"Kawamura-san," Kunimitsu said, getting Taka and Fuji's attention immediately. Kunimitsu shook his head, "Taka-san," he corrected himself, "... Would you like to be Ayumu's godfather?" Fuji was surprised for a moment, but then understood: Taka had helped them so much, all along. All of the times he had covered for them when he would walk in on them in the beginning of their relationship, the way he had remained Fuji's friend, even when he had begun dating his current crush, how he had always been there, silently or otherwise, all along. He was a wonderful friend, and Fuji was sure that they could always depend on him, just like they could depend on Eiji.
Taka seemed to be at a loss for words, until Ayumu gave him a particularly hard yank on his eyebrows. "Yowch! I-I'd be honored!" he answered, and Kunimitsu smiled kindly at him. Fuji felt a surge of jealousy, before he reminded himself that he couldn't keep Kunimitsu all to himself anymore: he had to share, at least with their kids. He took a deep breath and smiled at Taka as well.
"Thank you, Taka-san," Fuji said, and then added, "Happy Birthday."
"Quite the present," Taka chuckled. Ayumu gave a little laugh, surprising everyone, and released Taka's eyebrows in favor of his cheeks.
Kunimitsu looked at his family, and then at Taka, and then Eiji, who had just snuck in for an extra visit. This was only the beginning, he reminded himself. No matter how many moments passed, and no matter how wonderful this moment was, the happiest of his life, he supposed, only more could come from here. Fuji looked at the same picture through his own eyes, and saw the family he had always wanted. He had Yuta and Yumiko, of course, but now he had his own family, family that he knew would never hurt him, and who he vowed to never hurt. Thinking on his own parents, he felt no twang at his heart, no sadness, only a resolve, a promise to himself, that he would do this the right way. He wanted his family to be filled with hope, trust and love.
Always love.
OWARI
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So, that's the real end. The bonus chapter and the Epilogue will come soon, and then... The sequel! Oh my Jell-o! Anyway, I repeat, please review people!
Oh, little note- They didn't know it was more than one baby because they had no access to an ultra-sound machine. Also, it's not far-fetched that they would have (Should have) had triplets, because their half bird, and it would be odder for the bird half to have only one baby in the first place! Just wanted to make that clear, since it wasn't really touched upon in the story. Thank you all again!