Tohru was in the kitchen with Yuki, washing dishes as he dried them and put them away. She had been listening to Yuki talk about a parental class being held at the hospital since they had eaten breakfast with periodic protests. She didn't understand why he felt the need to attend. Tohru knew that there wasn't a bit of information about pregnancy, birth, or newborns that he didn't know about, but he was insisting books didn't give them any hands-on experience. She could only see it as an opportunity for new people to tease her about her pregnancy though.

"I don't want to go, Yuki-kun… Please?" Tohru begged softly.

"What harm can it do?" Yuki inquired, baffled by her constant pleas.

"You go. I don't want to," Tohru whispered, looking down.

"Why? What's wrong with going?"

"Everyone is going to stare at me… No one is going to be my age. They'll all be older and married."

She could already feel the eyes of twenty couples all glued onto her. Tohru shook her head slowly at the thought. Nobody seemed to consider staring offensive anymore. Nowadays, it seemed like she was on display. No one even bothered to conceal their comments anymore, regardless of how she felt. Of course, Yuki didn't understand how she felt. He did have experience with staring, just not the hateful kind. All eyes tended to drift off of her and onto him when he was around, but the gazes focused on him were always filled with love.

"You have me though… Am I not good enough?" Yuki questioned.

"No, no, no! I-I mean you are! I just don't want to go…"

"It'll be good for the baby and you."

"But weren't we supposed to go earlier? It'll be awkward to start attending this far into my pregnancy…"

"Better late than never, right? Come on, Tohru. Just once, please. If it's bad, I won't make you go ever again."

"Just once?"

Yuki nodded in conformation with a hopeful glance in her direction. Tohru frowned, finding her determination to avoid going to the class waning with the expression he was giving her. How could she refuse when he was giving her such a look? He looked helpless, defenseless. He made attending this session seem vital enough to make her feel guilty about her reluctance to go. Yuki held back a smile when he noticed her waving a white flag of defeat around in her eyes until he heard her vocal agreement.

Tohru sighed, "Okay…"

Yuki grinned and kissed her on the cheek, sending waves of red across her face. Tohru could feel the scorching heat of the blood rushing to her cheeks. After dating for nearly a month, she was sure she should have a good grasp on her embarrassment, but she hadn't even begun to be able to steady her heart or stop the blood that always seemed to gather in her cheeks when he was near. He laughed and took her hand, leading her out of the kitchen now that the sink was empty and the cabinets full.

"Where are you taking me?" she asked suspiciously.

"Don't worry. The classes start at three. It's only twelve."

Tohru followed him hesitantly, pausing frequently. She didn't want anymore surprises. He was spoiling her and the baby rotten, and the baby wasn't even born yet. She couldn't even think about how their child would be like after she was born. Tohru had never doubted that he'd be a generous father, although she hadn't been positive whether or not he'd father her baby until recently, but Yuki was already ruining her plans of how to raise their daughter.

"Stop looking at me like your holding hands with a criminal or someone like that," Yuki demanded softly.

"I am not!"

Yuki laughed as Tohru denied his words, failing to realize that he was teasing her.

Knowing Shigure well enough to be wary of him, Yuki grimaced slightly as they got near Shigure's room. As he had anticipated, as soon as they took a step in front of his office, Shigure burst out of the doors with a mischievous and slightly perverted expression. He had his arms outstretched towards Tohru, ready to attack her or grope her. Yuki wasn't sure which, but that hardly stopped him from restraining him. Yuki had his arms locked around Shigure's before he had taken two steps from the office, but that didn't stop the words from coming out of Shigure's mouth.

"Tohru-kun! Your twins! They're so big now!" Shigure cried, eying a particular part of Tohru's anatomy.

"Eh? B-But I'm not having twins," Tohru responded obliviously.

Yuki glared, understanding what Shigure really meant to say perfectly. His grip around Shigure's arms tightened as Shigure started to try to break free again. Shigure whimpered and flailed his body around immaturely in attempt to escape in vain. Yuki's hold hadn't loosened in the least bit. Tohru's hands were raised as she began to ask Yuki to release the older man, but her voice hadn't been heard under the commotion of the forming quarrel. She sighed in defeat, lowering her hand as she bit her lip worriedly.

"Quit looking at her chest before I break your neck," Yuki threatened.

"That's not fair, Yuki-kun! You shouldn't keep Tohru-kun all to yourself!" Shigure whined.
"She's my girlfriend. So leave before I put you in the hospital."

"You don't own people, Yuki. That's not fair. Let Tohru share her twins. They're all grown up!"

Tohru peered at the two of them, still confused. She couldn't follow their conversation at all. She was only starting to grasp the fact that the argument involved her. Briefly glancing at both of their faces, she just got more lost. She knew Yuki was slightly embarrassed by the faint pink tint to his cheeks, and Shigure was wearing the mask of a lecher, but she couldn't connect either of their expressions. Tohru blinked a couple times in bewilderment, hesitating as she made another attempt to stop them.

"Get back to work, Shigure. Why must you make something so natural so perverted?" Yuki questioned exasperatedly.

"Natural?" Tohru asked, "What are you both talking about?"

"Yes, whatever do you mean by natural?" Shigure snickered to himself.

Yuki glared for a long moment at Shigure, malice drifting out of his eyes. Tohru tugged at his hand, demanding an explanation. Not sure whether he was even willing to answer her question, he glanced at her warily. She continued to peer back at him with a plea in her eyes that he just couldn't refuse. Sighing, he released his hold on Shigure and wrapped his fingers around her hand. He led her away from Shigure or tried to, but Shigure followed them in a manner that was the opposite of discreet.

"Breastfeeding. Shigure is being childish about your body's way of preparing for that," Yuki muttered, trying to answer Tohru's question with as few syllables as he could manage.

"Ooh! Breastfeed me, Tohru!" Shigure exclaimed with glee.

"We're leaving!" Yuki snapped without even giving Tohru an opportunity to reply.

Fighting the urge to slaughter Shigure with the nearest sharp object, Yuki dragged an embarrassed Tohru out of the room. Tohru had pieced together little of the conversation, but those bits were enough to humiliate her. Shigure didn't bother to follow, snickering from where he was. Yuki tugged her into her room, grabbed her coat, and made her put it on before he pulled her outside. Tohru stumbled behind him, gripping onto his hand tightly to keep from falling.

"But Yuki-kun, I thought you said the classes wouldn't start until three!" Tohru squealed, not wanting to leave any sooner than absolutely necessary.

"We'll stop and get you something to eat on the way. I'm sure you're getting hungry," Yuki responded in a voice with no traces of his previous annoyance.

"I-I guess…"

"Come along then," Yuki smiled.

Tohru obediently strolled along beside him, grateful that his pace had slowed. She had been having a difficult time keeping up with his long strides. Yuki peered at her, watching her eyes shimmer with happiness as her eyes drifted across the trees and shrubbery around them. He found it hard to believe that she could still be so energetic and bounce around this far into her pregnancy. He knew that the energy she seemed to have lost during the first couple of trimesters had returned by now, but carrying around a child had to be more tiring than she was making it seem. She practically had more energy than he did, and he wasn't even the one who had been up at six in the morning.

"Where are we going exactly?" Tohru inquired after a moment.

"The classes are at the hospital. It'll take a little under an hour to walk there."

After ten minutes of walking, they wound up seated at a park bench. Yuki wouldn't listen to her protests that she wasn't tired. They nearly rested there for as long as they had been walking before Yuki let her stand again. He didn't understand how humiliating it was to have to stop at every bench they passed, sit down and have him pull her feet onto his lap to massage them. It was a sweet gesture, and she appreciated it, but she really didn't feel the need. It seemed excessive at first, but after a while, her feet seemed to thank him.

The journey that shouldn't have taken more than an hour took them a little over two hours with Yuki's insistence on breaks and the half hour they used for lunch. They got there with only ten minutes to spare. They quickly followed the paper signs pointing them around the hospital to a room in the back where various pregnant women were seated with their husbands. Tohru froze outside the door, her fingers still raised, reaching for the door knob. Yuki peered at her curiously as she took a step back from the door, looking ready to bolt out of the hospital. He placed a restraining hand on her shoulder gently, trying not to startle her. Regardless, her eyes were filled with fright when she turned to face him.

"What's the matter, Tohru?"

"You lied! You told me there'd be other girls my age! There's no one here younger than twenty five!" Tohru wailed.

"Why does that matter? I'm here with you, and you're here with me."

"They're already staring at me and I haven't even entered the room…." Tohru whispered in a strangled, petrified tone.

Yuki followed her worried gaze inside the room. It was true. There wasn't a single person in the room who didn't have his head turned in their direction with his mouth dropped in shock. Tohru was nearly hiding behind Yuki now, only her eyes were visible to the crowd. He shot them a quick glare before turning around to face Tohru, blocking the curious stares from her view. He took both of Tohru's hands in his, not liking how they trembled out of fright.

"Ignore them," he suggested.

"I can't."

"You don't mind when I stare at you…" Yuki pointed out.

Tohru peered at him incredulously when he said those words. How could he possibly assume that? Unless he couldn't see the color red anymore. That would explain why he was claiming not to notice the red flush that always appeared when he was near, or he had seen her blush enough that he was beginning to think her skin was naturally scarlet. Regardless, he had to notice how it always seemed difficult for her to think coherently around him. Didn't he hear how she stuttered and tripped over her words? Apparently not.

"Yes, I do," Tohru insisted.

"Hey, look!" Yuki exclaimed, gazing back into the room.

"What?"

"In the back corner. I bet she's not past twenty," Yuki murmured, gesturing to the dark haired girl huddled in the back of the room.

Following the direction of Yuki's eyes, Tohru founded the woman Yuki was referring to. She gawked at the tattoos that covered her arms and the tight, leather clothes that were still draped across her pregnant body. The last three buttons were left undone, her belly now too big too fit inside. Her skirt seemed only inches long and her boots were raised to her knees. Rows of earrings covered her ears, and she could see gem studs on the girl's nose and eyebrow. Tohru couldn't even see the women's eyes under all that dark mascara and eyeliner.

Tohru crossed her arms, now more eager to leave than ever. She didn't want Yuki in the same room with a girl who barely seemed dressed.

"I still want to go home," Tohru told him firmly.

"Fine. You can go home, and I guess I'll just have to be her partner since it doesn't look like the father joined her," Yuki sighed.

"No! You will not be her partner!" Tohru cried in horror.

"Then will you be joining me?"

Yuki didn't even turn around to see her nodding head, already aware of her answer, before leading her inside. He seated them in the center of the room with a good view of everything that would be taught. Tohru frowned as she sat beside him, leaning against him hesitantly. Yuki instantly wrapped his arm around her, keeping her near in a protective looking stance.

He glanced around, noticing all the married couples around them. More than half were not as far developed as Tohru was. Some hardly looked pregnant.

Tohru kept her eyes downcast self-consciously. She wrapped her arms around her abdomen, trying to focus on something other than the murmurs of the women around them. Regardless, their voices were still perfectly clear to her. It was hard to ignore gossip when every other sentence included a reference to her and Yuki. At school, she was used to being the center of rumors, but she didn't like the fact that complete strangers were now talking about her. They didn't know a thing about her, yet they felt that they had the right to assume things about her?

"How old do you think she is?"

"They both look no older than my oldest child…"

"I knew the value of abstinence was decreasing amongst the younger generations, but I never thought it got this bad."

"Heh. Maybe they'll both learn something through this before they're onto their second and third children."

Tohru's eyebrows knitted together sadly when she heard that. Even if she wanted another child, she wouldn't be able to. Yuki's hand found hers and his fingers instantly wrapped around hers, squeezing them lightly. She looked up at him, forcing the edges of her lips to creep upward into a smile when she spotted the concern in his face. This was nothing to make him fuss over, but even she could see that he wasn't fooled by her façade.

"They're just gossipy women with nothing better to discuss. They don't know what they're talking about. Don't be upset," Yuki whispered to her.

"It shouldn't matter what they think," Tohru agreed.

"Right."

"So why am I upset?" Tohru mused.

"Because you are an incredibly sweet girl who worries about everyone, including these women even if they don't deserve your concern. You fret because you think you hurt them by being pregnant."

"Oh."

Tohru nodded, agreeing with his conclusion. She could feel her heart fluttering excitedly in her chest. She had no idea he knew so much about her thinking process. He made it seem as if he knew her more than she even knew herself. Slightly embarrassed, she blushed lightly at the thought, but even so, she couldn't fight off a faint smile. Yuki brushed his fingertips against the edge of her mouth, his expression reflecting hers.

"But you shouldn't be worried. You haven't done a thing to offend them."

"Apparently, I did," Tohru disagreed.

Yuki rubbed her hand reassuringly. For a moment, Tohru was able to forget about where she was and who was staring at them, but then the sound of clattering footsteps and the muted screech of a plastic box being dragged across tile broke her out of her trance. They both looked up as a middle-aged lady walked down the aisle, passing out plastic babies. As soon as the women was standing before them, baby in hand, Yuki took theirs with a grin before Tohru's outstretched hands could reach it.

"Remember these?" he chuckled.

"How could I forget? We almost failed because every time it cried at night you'd try to kill it," Tohru giggled.

"Luckily you always got up before I did…" Yuki trailed off.

Suddenly, Tohru glanced up at him, worried, "Please don't do that when the real baby comes!"

Yuki watched fear light up Tohru's eyes as she took the doll from him and held it gently against her chest. He stared at her incredulously. She didn't really believe he would hurt their baby, did she? Even at odd hours of the night, he knew the difference between inanimate objects and living beings. That's why he never struck at Tohru whenever she tried to wake him –although he did consider Kyo and Shigure to be inanimate if they tried to wake him. On the other hand, he had to get a new alarm clock at least every month.

"I'll try not to?"

"Don't try! Just don't! Yuki, you can't do that to a baby… It'll cry a lot in the night. Please don't," Tohru pled.

"Don't worry so much, Tohru. I won't hurt our daughter. I don't think I can."

"Good."

Tohru was still watching him cautiously when the women returned with an empty box where the plastic babies had come from. She set it on the floor and cleared her throat loudly to get everyone's attention. The endless chatter died down to a couple of quiet whispers as all heads finally turned away from Tohru's direction and towards the lady standing at the front of the room.

"Welcome everyone. I'm a nurse here, specifically for infants. Today we'll be learning the basics of parenting."

She picked up the doll she had set on the desk and carried it as Tohru was still doing as she spoke, "First, I'll teach you how to carry your little one. Support the head and neck carefully as you hold him up and as you set him down… Be gentle as you carry him."

There was a quiet murmur as the couples did this. Tohru reluctantly handed the doll over to let Yuki try, even if they had learned and practiced this numerous times a couple of months ago. Watching Yuki cradle the doll, she smiled contently. They were obviously the more experienced ones in this field. Tohru grimaced when she heard a soft thud. She stole a peek behind her and saw one of the dolls on the floor for a second before a young woman with a sheepish smile bent over to pick it up. The instructor looked at the woman exasperatedly, but she made no comment.

"Remember, do not shake your baby, ever. This is not how to wake your child or how to play with him. Shaking your newborn can kill your child. It harms the brain. Try tickling it instead."

Muted talking continued to flutter around the room with a few gasps of shock. Never having heard this before, Tohru stared up at the teacher with wide eyes. She filled her brain with reminders not to shake her baby. Yuki patted her back reassuringly. He doubted that she even had it in herself to wake a baby in such a rough manner, regardless of whether she knew this bit of information or not. However, Tohru still seemed to believe she was capable of this cruelty when she wouldn't even let him kill a spider.

"You don't have to fuss over that. You're too gentle," Yuki assured her.

Tohru nodded, not very convinced. Yuki shook his head in disbelief as he set the baby on his lap, wondering if he'd learn something that he hadn't already learned after reading every book on pregnancy and babies he could find.

The instructor sighed when she noticed a man laughing as he tossed one of the dolls to another man across the room. She was even more appalled to see their wives do nothing about this maltreatment. She seemed offended to find them bored enough to begin a game of catch with a baby. Of course, they had been in here longer than she had, but she doubted they had been here for over half an hour. She just hoped they wouldn't dare to try that with a real baby.

"Don't be rough with your newborn. He's not suited for such activity yet, and always, always make sure your child is secured in the stroller, carrier, car seat, and what not."

"We need those, don't we?" Tohru whispered to Yuki.

"I've got it taken care of."

Tohru cocked her head to the side, surprised to hear this, but he told her no more of where he was keeping these things or what he had bought exactly. She was sure, however, that he had gotten more furniture than was necessary as he had already done with clothes and toys. Tohru didn't even know when he found the time to go shopping. He never left her side, and whenever they went shopping, he had never come out of a store with something large enough to be furniture of any sort. Yuki always managed to surprise her, so it shouldn't have shocked her to learn of this. He would have rather gone shopping at midnight than to let her know how much he had paid for everything.

She shook her head and gave her attention back to the nurse when she remembered where she was, hoping she hadn't been spacing out for too long.

"Remember to love your child. Spend time with him. This is vital in emotional development and growth. They need someone who will love them. Hug them, cradle them, stroke them, sing to them, talk to them… But be careful. Children are sensitive. Always be gentle, and be considerate. Lights shouldn't be too bright and sounds not too loud."

Yuki watched Tohru's face furrow with concentration as she struggled to take mental notes of every word that came out of the instructor's mouth. He tried to tell her not to stress about it too much, but she wouldn't listen. He already knew she'd be a perfect mother, even if she hadn't attended this class. It was unnecessary for her. She was a natural. He just wanted someone to come with him. Yuki couldn't doubt her parenting ability, but he wasn't so sure about his.

The nurse came along again, this time with a bag of diapers and a box of baby wipes. She gave every couple two diapers and set the box of wipes in the center of the room, right beside Tohru. Tohru scooted away from the box of wipes after grabbing one for herself, pressing against Yuki as others made their way towards her to get to the box. Feeling the shivers crawl down her back, Tohru knew everyone was looking at her again. For once, she perfectly understood how a caged animal on display felt. She was the rare spectacle being exhibited, and nobody was shy with his gazes and comments. She didn't even understand their fascination with her. Tohru doubted she was the first pregnant teenager they had seen before.

"To change a diaper, remember you need a clean one, a wash cloth or diaper wipes, and possibly more if you are using cloth diapers."

She kneeled down on the floor in front of the plastic baby and pulled out a diaper for herself.

"Lay your baby down like this, on his back, and take off the diaper. Carefully clean off your baby. If he has a rash, you must put on ointment. A rash typically is red in color and may be covered in small bumps. If you don't wish for your child to have a rash, consider changing the diapers often, and you may want to try applying a diaper rash cream. But be careful, if the rash lasts for more than a couple of days, contact a doctor."

Everyone watched carefully as the diaper was put on then taken off before sauntering back to their imitation babies.

Tohru set to work, laying her baby on the floor gingerly and wiping the plastic skin off before slipping the diaper on. She smiled and glanced up at the instructor for a nod of approval before she took it off to give Yuki a try. His came out less neat, slightly crooked on the baby, but it stayed on, and it didn't seem to be wrapped around too tightly. Despite this, the nurse seemed to be smiling more broadly than she had done for Tohru. Yuki laughed, seeing his work hadn't improved much since the first time he had tried this.

When they looked back up at the nurse, she had a stack of tubs on her desk where the bag of diapers used to be. Copying everyone else, Yuki stood up and fetched one of the plastic tubs. They all waited silently as the instructor filled her tub with a few inches of water. She set it on the floor and then beckoned them all over. She eyed each of them, making sure they had the level of water memorized before holding the tub out and making each of them feel the temperature.

"Bathe your child a couple of times a week. Don't bathe him too much or his skin will be dry. You'll have to give him a sponge bath for the first couple of weeks, between one to four, or until the umbilical cord falls off and the navel is healed. You'll need a washcloth, baby soap and shampoo, a soft brush, and a baby tub filled with a couple of inches of warm water, a diaper, and clothes."

She dismissed them for a few minutes to get the needed materials from a shelf nearby and then to get in line for water. After everyone was seated with a tub full of water and the bathing necessities beside them, she circled around, testing the water level and temperature. She had approved of everyone before stopping before Tohru and frowning after dipping her hand in the water. Tohru nearly gawked at the nurse's expression. She was positive her water temperature couldn't be greatly different from anyone else's, seeing as they had all filled their water from the same sink without altering the temperature.

"That's a little too hot," the nurse commented.

Tohru glanced up for a second at the instructor before placing her hand in the water as well, testing it to see what was too hot exactly. She didn't get a very good feel of the water before Yuki pulled her hand out quickly. He stroked her pink hand worriedly, relieved when she didn't seem the least bit pained by his grazes. Bewildered, Tohru watched Yuki's fingers stroke her hand, not sure why he was doing so. The nurse had done the same thing a minute ago, and Yuki hadn't seemed the least bit worried then.

"Why did you do that, Tohru? You could have burnt yourself!" Yuki scolded her gently.

"I want to know how hot the water is," Tohru responded simply.

"Go change your water, please, Miss…" the nurse trailed off.

"Honda," Yuki and Tohru both said at the same time.

"Honda-san then. Go change the water."

Tohru obediently went back to the sink and dumped the warm contents out before letting cooler water run back in. She walked back over with the tub and held it out to the instructor who gave her another disapproving look after feeling the water.

"Now that's too cold. Your baby will catch a cold."

Yuki stood up to help Tohru this time, but the nurse gestured to him to take a seat again with a downward wave of her hand. Tohru's smile died as she made her way back to the sink and emptied the tub again. She was even more careful this time, sure the water had to be perfect, but she was met with another unfavorable look when she returned. Tohru struggled to keep her face expression free as giggles and laughs drifted through the crowd staring at her. Flushing, she stood stiffly and gave Yuki a look that hopefully conveyed her desire for him to inhibit his obvious urge to defend her. He seemed to get her message as he stayed where he was silently.

"That's a bit too much water, Honda-san. Work on this at home before your baby comes and you injure him or her," she muttered before settling down in front of the room.

Tohru sat back down beside Yuki, a bit upset. Peering around the room, she could notice no difference between anyone else's water height compared to her own. Tohru took a deep breath before glancing at the clock, wishing she were at home already. She was relieved to find that there were less than twenty minutes left of this class. She would have left already, but she'd stay for Yuki, even though he looked ready to leave as well.

She could tell Yuki was a bit annoyed as well by the grip he had around her fingers, but he kept quiet as the instructor continued.

"Place your tub on a flat surface in a warm room. I suggest the changing table, a counter, or even the floor. Turn off the water before setting your child in. First, undress the baby, and wet your washcloth. Use this damp cloth to wipe his eyes, inner part of the eye to the outside. Repeat the process to the other eye with a clean section of the cloth. Then wipe off his nose and ears. With a little soap and your washcloth, carefully wipe his face and dry it. Next use the shampoo to wash his head. Then with soap, wash the rest of the body. Finally dry your child and dress him."

She waved them all off to go try on their own.

Tohru gently placed the plastic doll into the tub as if it were a real baby. Yuki watched as Tohru bathed the doll, nearly mesmerized by how much care she could put into washing something inanimate. All her motions were so gentle that he was sure she could wash cake and not have it disintegrate. She smiled and handed the wet baby to Yuki when she was done for him to dry. Tohru could only watch him for five minutes before taking the baby back with the towel and drying the spots he had missed.

Yuki chuckled at her. "Exactly why you're going to be the better parent."

"No, I'm not," Tohru denied embarrassedly.

"Are you kidding? I have no idea what I'm doing."

"B-But you read all those books…" Tohru pointed out.

"And you're the natural mother. I always knew that you'd be a perfect mother."

Tohru flushed, flattered but too timid to respond. She pulled her hand from his, placing it on the doll instead. Yuki laughed, pulling her back to him when she tried to scoot away from him. He kept his arm around her thin shoulders, locking her in place. Tohru gritted her teeth together, finding it difficult not to notice how the other occupants of the room were rolling their eyes. She stared straight ahead and focused all her attention on the words of the nurse.

"Please don't try to bathe your child in a tub before a month has past. A sponge bath will do for the first weeks, which will be similar to a tub bath, just not in a tub. Remember to constantly pour water over your child to keep it warm, and never leave it unattended in the tub."

The nurse eyed Tohru particularly as she stated her last sentence. Tohru's eyebrows knitted together in a sad manner. She didn't understand why the instructor had to doubt her parenting capabilities. Yuki thought she'd be a good mother, but the expert here obviously didn't agree with that. Tohru didn't know who to believe. She sighed, left with no place to keep her eyes now. Looking at Yuki would leave her flustered, and eyeing anyone else would upset her. She decided to stare at her shoes as she listened.

"The remains of the umbilical cord will change colors as it dries. Typically from a yellow shade to brown or black."

Tohru could hear comments of disgust after that had been said. She shied away as Yuki's fingers brushed against her navel. Yuki tightened his hold around her, pulling her back and resting his head on her shoulder. She could just imagine how red her cheeks were at the moment, especially with their own personal audience who were already muttering comments about them. Yuki released her and stopped leaning against her after a minute, sensing her discomfort. He was pleased to see her relax afterwards.

"Now feeding. Feed your child every couple of hours. He'll need around sixty to ninety millimeters of formula," the nurse told them all.

Yuki pressed down on Tohru's shoulder as she tried to get up to get a bottle from the box the nurse had just set down on the floor. He got up, retrieved one, and handed it to Tohru who took it excitedly. In school, they hadn't gotten a chance to practice feeding since the doll given out by Mayu was silenced with a turn of a key. For now, she was truly glad that Yuki had dragged her here, even if feeding a baby seemed self-explanatory.

"Since babies get air into their systems as they feed, you must burp your child. To burp your child, you may hold him up with his head resting on your shoulder or seat him on your lap. For the former, cradle his head as you pat his back with your other hand. For the latter, hold your infant's chest and head. Hold his chin and pat his back."

Tohru did as instructed, pretending to feed the baby for a couple of minutes before patting her hands lightly against the plastic back.

"Honda-san, don't pat quite so hardly. You don't need that much force to burp your child. Be more gentle."

Tohru let out a soft huff of frustration. She knew the woman seated a few feet beside her was nearly hitting the plastic doll, yet she was the one getting corrected. Tohru did her best not to let the frequent comments bother her and softened her pats. The nurse wandered off without any hints of satisfaction. Tohru frowned and handed the baby to Yuki. She folded her arms across her chest. Yuki took one glance at Tohru and patted her back instead of the doll's.

"Your child sleeps for sixteen hours a day at least in time frames of three to four hours. They need to feed every few hours because of the size of their stomachs. Don't let them go past five hours without feeding. Be ready to lose some sleep for, at least, the first three months. Lay your child on his back when he sleeps, and remember to switch the position of the head each night. From right to left or vice versa to avoid flat spots."

After saying that, the instructor lined up all the boxes and gestured for everyone to return everything. Yuki tossed everything back into its rightful place before helping Tohru up and starting for the door. She gripped his hand firmly as they squeezed through the crowd forming around the boxes. Tohru could have sworn she felt someone shudder when her shoulder grazed against his. She managed to brush it off, but her teeth were still clenched together as they neared the door.

"I don't want to come here again," Tohru told Yuki quietly.

Yuki laughed, "I can tell."

"So you're not going to make me come again?"

"Of course not. I love you, Tohru. I wouldn't make you do anything you didn't want to."

"I-I love you too…" Tohru whispered into his ear in a voice hardly audible even to him.

Tohru flinched when she heard an odd cough sound seemingly filled with disapproval. She glanced back at the group of women who were currently shaking their heads. She froze where she was, a hurt expression across her face. Yuki paused and turned around with her, switching his gaze from Tohru's face to the adults a few feet from where they were. His eyes narrowed in fury, but nobody other than Tohru seemed to notice. They were all too busy criticizing his relationship with Tohru.

"Misusing the word love."

"What can you expect from teenagers?"

"What else do you think he told her to get her to conceive the child with him?"

"We are not misusing it!" Tohru denied hotly.

"And what would you know about love? You're only… seventeen?" a woman guessed with raised eyebrows.

"Almost," Tohru admitted honestly before adding, "But I don't need to be older than that to know what love is."

Noticing the daggers in the rest of the pregnant women's eyes, Yuki took Tohru's hand and led her out of the room before anyone could lay a finger on her or even respond to Tohru's statement. He didn't stop in his hasty walking until they were safely out the hospital doors even though he hadn't heard anyone chasing after them. Yuki finally slowed at a bench outside and let a tired Tohru sit down as he stood guard. She giggled, but that didn't erase the look of horror across her face.

"What's the matter, Tohru?" Yuki inquired, noticing her change in demeanor.

"I don't know what got into me… It must be the pregnancy," Tohru whispered embarrassedly.

He chuckled, "Then maybe you should stay pregnant. You need to stand up for yourself more often."