Chapter 8

In her eighth month, the full impact of being pregnant with two healthy, active twins, was showing on her. She was staying at home more often and despite the copious amounts of free time she used to rest, she still felt busy. She spent her time decorating, hand-crafting little blankets, booties and outfits for her boys. She had meticulously rearranged the boys' rooms at least four times a day with the aid of Kuu, who at this point had volunteered himself for the task happily, simply because it meant he could spend more time with his precious daughter and his future grandchildren.

Juli and Kuu doted upon her constantly. It was different. Never before had anyone paid so much attention to her, waited on her hand and foot or went out of their way to make sure she was completely safe, comfortable and secure. It was nice, but exhausting. She felt like a pregnant Cinderella. Well, maybe not Cinderella. Cinderella had her Prince Charming and the two princes that Kyoko had picked, turned out to be a couple of toads. She sighed at that thought.

Well, I guess there's nothing I can do except deal with it. It didn't hurt so much anymore, but it did still sting a little. Lately, it was just irritating. She wondered if she would actually be able to move on and work with him, without breaking down into a mess as before. She had accepted that some men were just that way and it was just an unfortunate occurrence that she got swept up into it. She decided to just move on and work on the career she loved, for herself and if it paid enough to support her and her children, bring her to the success that she craved, and make her happy in the end, then it was completely worth everything she had gone through to get to that point. Her boys would just be a happy little, fortunate bump in the path, that she would never regret. She decided that she would just have to be a little more cautious in the future. She had more than just herself to think of now.

She had actually built her career back up quite nicely in her pregnant months. She had a wonderful rapport with every director and producer she worked with. Her co-workers loved her to pieces and considered her a close friend, models and actors alike. Her fans had watched her closely throughout the months and some even kept scrapbooks on her progress as a new mother. One could actually say that some had baby books that were almost as extensive as the ones she had created for the boys herself.

There were many suspicions that her most ardent fans held. Rumors and conjecture flooded the internet with comparisons between Kyouko and Isabelle. Although, none actually came out completely with the accusation. They didn't wish to tarnish the reputation of their favorite actresses. Their society didn't take too kindly to single mothers, but the single mothers that were fans of Mio, Natsu, Momiji and Kyouko, made the connections, real or not, and saw her as a beacon and inspiration.

The tabloids left this particular little piece of fodder to lay dead on the floor. No one wanted to be responsible for destroying the lives of three innocent people if they were wrong, because at that point, that's exactly what the Kyouko-Isabelle comparison would have done. It would have ruined her career, her life, taken away her ability to support her family and if Isabelle wasn't Kyouko, it would have damaged a widow even further than the death of her husband. So, this was something that would remain chained quietly in the darkness where it belonged.

Kuon bolted up, out of his forgotten nightmare, just as he had done since the day Kyoko had vanished, with tears streaming down his face as usual. He hated this. Why couldn't he ever remember what was plaguing him at night? Was it Kyoko's absence that was causing this or, was it the fact that his parents had decided to settle in Japan to dote on Isabelle and treat him as a stranger? Not just any stranger either. They treated him as if he were some kind of womanizing Lothario that used women and tossed them aside after one night. Even Lory had mentioned something about that a couple of months ago and it still weighed heavily on him. What had he done to give that impression? Was it the women he dated before he'd fallen for Kyoko? It certainly couldn't have been the rumors going around about him. There had always been rumors, but that's all they were, rumors. He supposed that one of his exes might have been a little sore about his lack of attention, but he thought he'd always parted with them amicably. Well, obviously not if his own parents believed he was promiscuous enough to warn him off of Ms. Stevens.

He groaned as he left his bed and began getting ready for the day. His headache was back. The one he always got when he started trying to figure out what he'd done wrong. It felt like there was a wall in his mind that he kept slamming into. There had been vague pieces and images, but none of them ever made any sense at all. The only thing that was crystal clear in his mind, was a glass of water sitting on the table at a party. The problem was, that the party only looked vaguely familiar and he hardly ever just drank water at parties. Usually it was a mixed drink, tea, coffee, beer or, something to that effect and the water that he drank was usually bottled, all straight from the bartender. His teen years, taught him that drinking water from a glass at a party was a big no-no. There were just too many drugs that could be slipped into something casually offered like that.

He brushed off the thoughts and took a few aspirin for the headache. He had a busy day ahead of him and didn't need the distractions. He had a meeting with Director Konoe, regarding the Tragic Marker Premier coming up in a few weeks. It was something that was scraping at a raw nerve. Setsuka would definitely not be attending. He was certain that he would feel even more incomplete attending that particular mandatory engagement.

In a way he was grateful for the time that he spent with her and she had indeed been his protective charm, but he also cursed Lory for doing it. Something had happened and that was the last little bit of time with her that he felt he would ever experience again. It had been far too long since he'd seen her in something other than the photo he had safely concealed on his cell phone.

It was early morning when it had slammed into her. The intense pain that radiated around her entire midsection and left her begging to be put out of her misery. It was coming every five minutes like clockwork. She supposed that the pains were contractions. Sure she had Braxton Hicks, but those were nothing compared to the real thing. It was strange to her that the pain came between the tightening of her muscles and not during the actual faint movements themselves. The actual muscle spasms had been relatively mild.

Before she was able to reach her phone and call Juli, another hit and she nearly collapsed on the floor. This couldn't have possibly been normal. No one told me it would hurt this much. She thought as she curled into a ball on the floor. It ebbed away and she quickly grabbed the phone that she'd dropped, then called Juli.

"Kyoko, is everything okay?" Juli asked a little worried.

Kyoko took a deep breath and tried to enjoy the little time she had with only minor pain. "Mom... I think I'm in labor."

"Oh god, stay on the line. I'll be over there shortly. Okay?" Juli told her gently. "Kuu! It's time, get the car ready!" She called back to her husband and Kyoko could hear him scrambling in the background.

"Oh god, it's another one!" She whined and then screamed out in pain.

"Try to relax honey. Try not to fight it. Remember what your classes said and try to breath. Pant... Okay?" Juli instructed as Kyoko could hear her heading out of the house and shutting the door behind her. "Kuu's bringing the car and I'm almost there." She told her in a breathless voice, as if she were running.

"It hurts so much. I don't think I can do this." She panted with a whine.

"It's okay Sweetie, I'm almost there. Keep breathing. Just remember, you'll get to hold your babies today. Okay? Don't forget that." Juli reminded her in a comforting voice. "Almost there."

"Thank you Mom... Thank you for loving me. Thank you for not hating me for what happened between me and Kuon. I'm sorry... I'm so sorry about everything." She was now crying, panting and having her contractions, but to Juli it sounded like something far more sinister. As if she were saying goodbye.

"Oh Sweetheart... That wasn't your fault. Don't think about such things. Besides, you are giving me two wonderful little grandsons. So please don't think that way." Juli told her as she fumbled for the emergency key to Kyoko's front door, with tears in her eyes.

Kyoko nodded and whispered something, just before she passed out from the intense pain.

Juli ran into the house and found her on the kitchen floor unconscious. "Kuu! I need your help! Oh god! Kuu! Help me! She passed out! I don't know what to do!" Juli screamed and Kuu came in running. He quickly scooped his daughter into his arms and carried her to the car.

"Shouldn't we call an ambulance?" Juli asked worried.

He shook his head as he settled into the car and pulled out. "She's still breathing and this way is quicker. Otherwise, we'd have to wait for them. This way, we take her there directly."

Juli nodded. "I'll call the hospital and the doctor. Let them know what happened." She told him as she stroked Kyoko's hair as her head rested in Juli's lap in the back seat. "I hope she'll be okay."

"She'll be okay, Honey. She's just been through a lot. She'll be alright." He told her, hoping he was right. She has to be alright...

"Well, for each woman it can vary. The boys were quite large for a pair of twins and we suspect that this may partially be the cause the rupture. Is there a family history of this for her?" The doctor asked after exiting the surgical theater to inform the friends and family that had been waiting for answers.

Juli sighed. "I'm really not sure. She never mentioned anything. Her mother wouldn't have told her anyway."

"Is she going to be okay?" Kuu asked with worry.

The doctor nodded. "Yes, fortunately you got to her in time and the babies made it out okay. Mother and sons will have to spend a couple of weeks in the hospital, though. They are a little early and she'll need a little time to recover. Did she tell you if she was going to nurse or bottle feed?"

Juli shook her head. "She had mentioned something about nursing."

"That should be fine. The general anesthesia should be out of her system by the time she wakes up to feed them." The doctor patted Juli's arm to comfort her. "Don't worry Dear, your daughter will be just fine and so will your grandchildren. She didn't have any internal hemorrhages, but baby A did partially exit through the tear. The amniotic sack was still intact when we delivered, so there was no leakage into her bloodstream. She'll just need to be a little careful and deliver by c-section in the future." The doctor explained. "It's not a common occurrence, but it does happen. It can be scary and life threatening, but it is something that can be easily repaired." She turned to Kuu. "Thank you for bringing her directly here. It may have saved three lives. You did a very good job, Grandpa."

Kuu sighed in relief. "Thank you. I don't know what I would have done if something had happened to them." He shivered a little at the thoughts.

"Well..." She looked at her watch. "She should be awake in a couple of hours to nurse. If you want, you can see the twins right now. Did she have names picked for them?"

Juli smiled proudly and nodded softly. "Sora and Riku Hizuri."

"Wonderful names. I'll give you a call if she wakes sooner." The doctor bade goodbye and left Juli and Kuu to deliver the news to everyone waiting.