Kenpachi had no idea what was wrong with Rai. She had been throwing up every morning now for the past 2 weeks and it made him a little concerned.
- Won't you go and see Unohana-san, he pleaded.
- It's just the flu, she shrugged, but if you insist I'll go, but you'll be going with me.
- Me too, me too, Yachiru cheered.
Rai smiled. Yachiru was all grown up now, but she had kept her cheerfull optimism and sometimes acted like she was still the little girl who used to be hanging from Kenpachi's shoulder.
Rai sat on the examination table, feeling more than a little uncomfortable. Unohana had checked her troath and temperature, she had also taken some bloodsamples.
- Well, Unohana said, it's not the flu you've got.
- What is it then?
- I do have an idea about what it can be, but to be sure I'll have to do one more test.
Unohana handed Rai a small plastic cup.
- You mean I have to pee in that thing? You've gotta be kidding me!
- Don't make such a fuss, Unohana scolded her.
Rai muttered, but went to the bathroom. She had to wait 30 mins for the testresults and she sat grumbling in the waitingroom. When Isane stuck her head out to call Rai back in she also called Kenpachi and Yachiru.
- Is it something serious, Kenpachi asked.
Unohana ignored him and walked right up to Rai and took her hands.
- Wha, wha what? Rai staggered.
- Rai, Unohana said and looked her in the eyes, you're pregnant.
At those words Rai stood dumbfounded.
- Like I'm having a baby?
- Exactly.
- Oh shit...
Rai looked at Kenpachi, wonder shining in her eyes. Not a word was spoken until Yachiru had gathered herself.
- I'm getting a sibling, she cheered, jumping up and down and then she ran off to tell everyone about her newfound source of joy.
When Kenpachi's paralyzation had let go he picked Rai up and swung her around.
- I love you, I love you, I love you, he repeated.
Rai giggled and held her arms around his neck. In euforia they walked out of the 4th squad's HQ.
- You think this will go well, Isane asked her taichou.
- With the ironwill of those 2 it will, Unohana smiled.
- Isn't this a miracle, Rai asked her husband.
- The greatest ever, was his reply.
- Imagine, in 5 months we'll have a fourth member to our family.
Kenpachi held her tight, never wanting to let go.
The following days was filled with gratulations and celebrations and preparations. Everything had to be made babyproof and all babystuff had to be gotten. Yachiru was excited, being allowed to choose clothes and toys for the little one yet to be born. When everything was set it was just left to wait. Fortunately, Rai stopped being sick after the 5th month, but instead started complaining over how clumsy she felt. She soon fell into resignation and accepted things as they were. At the start of the 41st week Rai started to feel the first contractions and she went to see Unohana who advised her to stay at the hospital. 2 days later it started for real and Kenpachi was called from his training with the new recruits.
- Where is he going, one of them asked.
- He's going to see his wife who is about to give birth to their child, Yumichika answered beaming with pride for his taichou.
When Kenpachi entered the ward where Rai lay he could hear her cry out in pain and when he tried to break into the room Isane-fukutaichou stopped him.
- Let me get in, he growled, she's dieing!
- She's just fine, Zaraki-taichou. Just wait a little while longer and you can see her.
Kenpachi sat down and anxiously waited. This wasn't his area at all and he'd have to trust Isane, no matter how hard it was. 20 minutes later he was showed into the room. Rai lay pale, but alive and by her breast lay a small bundle with a black tuft of hair sticking up.
- Ken-chan, she said with a voice weak from fatigue, we got a little boy.
Kenpachi could not speak. He felt overwhealmed. He sat down beside the bed. He finally spoke.
- He has your eyes.
Yumichika, Rangiku, Byakuya and a heap of other people tried to peak into the room through the small windows. They saw a weeping Kenpachi embracing his wife and their newborn son. They had never seen him so happy before. Life was indeed splendid.
The 3 of them stood on the graveyard watching the small tombstone. Yachiru was crying loudly, Rai was quietly sobbing and tears were streaming down Kenpachi's face blending with the rain that soaked them. Their son, Katsurou, had been dead for 2 weeks and it was his grave they were visting. He had died by an unknown illness that even Unohana-san could not cure. Neither Rai nor Kenpachi had ever feared death before, but now it had taken their most precious, it had taken their lives. Life and death was indeed unfair.
- Tell me, Rai said, tell me there is a reason to go on.
- There is, Kenpachi answered, I just can't find anyone now.
The few months the four of them had had together had been the best in their lives and they could not understand what they had done to deserve this grief and despair. Everyone had had their time giving their condoleances and today it seemed to be Yamamoto-sotaichous turn, since he came walking up the hill in the pouring rain and blasting wind.
- Zaraki-taichous, Kusajishi-fukutaichou, I'm deeply sorry for your loss, his old voice sounded.
They looked wearily at him. Words could not heal them, they could not bring Katsurou back.
- I know it's hard for you in this time of loss, he continued, but remember. There are still people here who need you. The whole of Soul Society needs you.
As Yamamoto-sotaichou walked away from them the rainclouds broke and a single ray of light shone down on the gravestone and Rai decided that she would atleast try. Try to keep on living. For Katsurou's sake. She knew the hole his death had left in her soul would and could not be filled. But Kenpachi needed her. The 11th squad needed her as their taichou and even the whole Gotei 13 needed her. But most of all, Yachiru needed her and that was a need she could not set aside. After all, they were alive.