Chapter Three - Too Early
Misao had been at home for four months and still hadn't woken up. Aoshi would be by her side everyday. He would give her a sponge bath, change her clothes, and make sure her water and feeding tube were full. The baby seemed to be growing, but too slowly. The child wasn't getting enough nutrients, and Aoshi feared the worst. Aoshi started working from home, afraid to leave Misao in the house alone. Sure the servants were there, but he wanted to be there just in case she woke up. He was currently asleep at her bedside, and his old butler, Hannya, had entered the room. Seeing his young master so fatigued and overworked worried him. He knew just how much he cared for the girl, heck, everyone in the house adored her! But Aoshi was pushing himself too hard. Hannya walked quietly towards his master, grabbed and extra blanket, and covered him. He had come to get Aoshi to eat something, but seeing his master finally sleeping, he decided to let him rest.
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Aoshi awoke to something warm and sticky seeping on his hand. He looked down and noticed a lot of blood coming from Misao. He was horrified by what he saw and yelled for Hannya to call Dr. Takani. Luckily, the lady doctor had just arrived for her weekly visit when she heard Aoshi's frantic raced up the stairs and arrived at the scene. Aoshi's left hand was covered in blood as well as the lower half of Misao's body. Megumi rushed over to the young girl and began to give out orders to Hannya and the other servants who had also rushed in at Aoshi's cry. Hannya went and got some clean towels while Okon, the cook, brought some boiled water. Omasu had been instructed to call for an ambulance. Dr. Takani began to operate on Misao. Aoshi was in shock, and hadn't moved from his spot next to Misao.
"Aoshi! I need you to stay together now! You're child needs to be taken out of her quickly or they both might not survive!" Dr. Takani screamed at him. This of course snapped Aoshi out of his trance and he began to assist Dr. Takani. Dr. Takani had began an emergency C-section, and was starting to remove the infant from the womb. Blood covered Misao's body, and Aoshi had to keep himself from imagining her dying. Dr. Takani had successfully delivered the baby, wrapped him in a towel, and handed him to Aoshi. Then she began to clean and stitch up Misao. She worked laboriously, making sure to check every little thing. When she was sure Misao was going to be alright, she then took the infant from Aoshi and began to clean him. He was so small. Since he was premature, Dr. Takani needed to take him to the hospital.
"Aoshi, I need to get your son to the hospital. He needs to get a thorough check-up and I don't have the equipment I need here," Dr. Takani explained.
"My son..." he whispered. Aoshi was in a state of disbelief. He had just held his son in his arms a few minutes ago.
"Yes your son. He needs to be treated."
Aoshi shook himself out of his stupor. "Aa, Dr. Takani. Please, do everything you can."
"I will," and with that, she began to leave with the infant.
"Dr. Takani," Aoshi called out, making her stop and turn back toward him. "Domo arigatou, for all that you have done," he said bowing.
"Doiitashimate," she replied with a nod. She then walked out the door, and headed to the ambulance waiting outside.
"Minna, thank you, for coming to help," Aoshi addressed the servants.
"Anything for you, Shinomori-san," Hannya said.
"Hannya, you all have known me since I was a child, there is no need to be so formal."
"Aa, Aoshi-sama."
Aoshi just shook his head at him and turned back towards his unconscious wife. "Misao, we have a son," he whispered to her. For a moment, Aoshi thought he saw her mouth twitch upward.
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