In Life and Death
Chapter 8: Coming Around
The next morning at dawn...
The sun was just beginning to rise; the golden rays mixing with the blues of the morning sky. Pinks, purples, blues, yellows... like colors melting on a canvas. A warm wind was blowing lazily and the beach was quiet.
A single shadow was cast as the sun began to rise up in rank. A sigh was emitted from the lips of the shadow's owner. Tear stained eyes blinked back an onslaught of new tears. It was certainly strange to think about and she wanted to push it far from her mind, but the desperation she heard in his voice... he really did need something to tell... someone to talk to... a friend. And he had chosen her.
She sighed again and hugged her knees to her chest. "Sora... pregnant... I can't even imagine..." She blinked again. "He does need a friend... and I yelled at him..." Kairi squinted slightly at the sun rose higher, brightening up her world. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She had decided. A visit would be paid to the brunette. Of course, knowing said brunette, it would be a while until he was awake and functioning.
The sand beneath his feet cushioned his arrival as he approached. "Kairi? What are you doing here?"
Opening her eyes, she turned her head up to smile meekly at her silver haired friend. "I could ask you the same thing."
Riku shrugged and dropped down in the sand beside her. "I don't sleep too well these days."
"Why?" She peered at him, concern lacing her soft features.
"No real reason. At least none that I'm aware of." He shrugged. "I sleep for a couple hours and then wake up about two or so. So instead of lying in bed for hours until normal people wake up, I take to walking the beach instead." He smiled and winked at her. "Now... what about you?"
Kairi lowered her gaze and hugged her knees again. "I couldn't sleep either. Just wanted to get some fresh air. And then the sunrise stopped me..."
Riku nodded, leaning back slightly and looking up at the early morning sky. A silence settled between them for a few moments. "Kairi..." Riku said slowly, breaking it. "Your little meeting with Sora yesterday..."
Kairi shifted slightly and released her grip on her knees. "Yeah..."
"What happened? What did he have to tell you? Was it important?"
Kairi considered how to answer for a moment. "Not a whole lot really..." She said slowly, giving him a look that said she didn't want to talk about it. "And it turns out that I should have listened to you." She laughed.
"I'm sorry Kairi..." He breathed out. "I know how much you wanted it."
She shrugged, looking back down at the sand. "We're like family, anyways. All three of us..." She glanced sideways at him.
He shifted slightly and then wrapped an arm around Kairi's shoulders, giving her a squeeze. "You'll meet someone one day Kairi. You'll go off and get married and have kids. We all will."
"Sooner than you think..." She mumbled.
"Hmm?"
She paused for a moment. "Riku... we're pretty close... right?"
He nodded. "Yeah. I would say so."
"So if something big happened..." She spoke slowly. "Like possibly life changing... you would tell me... right? You guys wouldn't keep me in the dark?" She finished softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Riku looked at her hard, slightly confused. "What exactly are you talking about?"
She sighed. "Never mind." She shook her head and stood up. "Forget I asked... please. Just the little insecure girl poking her head in."
Riku looked up at her a moment before standing up. "Yes Kairi." He grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him. "You said it yourself. We're like a family. We'll always have your back."
She smiled genuinely. "Thanks Riku... I mean I knew that... but it's nice to hear it."
He laughed and released his hold on her. "Anytime Ki."
Giggling slightly, she waved and turned to leave. "I'll talk to you later."
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
A few hours later
"I just... have a few questions..." Kairi said slowly, her eyes on the faded carpet at her feet. She was still standing in the doorway of Sora's room.
Sora nodded and pointed towards the door. "Close it please." He said softly and waited until she had before adding, "I don't want my mom to hear."
Nodding slowly, she stepped farther in the room, looking around.
Sora moved towards his bed and sat down on the edge. Then he waved his hand, inviting her to join him.
Kairi bit her lip but stayed where she stood.
Looking a bit disappointed, Sora leaned foward. "Ask away. I have nothing to hide anymore."
She nodded slowly. "How long have you known?"
Sora mentally thought in his head. "A couple weeks I guess. Since I went to hospital."
"So there's no ulcer then."
Sora shook his head. "Nope. Just a cover story my doctor came up with. She said given the circumstances, I might want to not tell anyone yet." He laughed. "You should have seen the look on the face of the Pharmacy guy when my mom went to pick up the prescription Veera gave her."
"Veera? And what prescription?" She moved towards his computer desk and pulled out his chair to sit on.
"Oh! Dr. Veronica Verse." Sora answered. "She prefers to be called Veera though. And the prescription was actually for vitamins." He said with a laugh. "The guy looked at my mom like she was an idiot until I shooed her away. And I explained to him that she refuses to take vitamins so the doctor described them to her without telling her what they were for."
Kairi shook her head. "And he believed you?"
Sora nodded. "The guy was a complete idiot."
She smiled slightly. "Sounds like it was pretty funny..."
"It was."
"How far along is it?" She tilted her head to the side.
"12 weeks." He said without having to think about it.
She stared at him a moment before her next question. "Are you... okay? Like is this safe?"
Sora nodded quickly. "Yeah. Veera assured me no harm would come to me or the babies. They will have to cut me open..." He lifted his finger and dragged it across his stomach.
"Yuck..." She said, wrinkling her nose. "Does no one else really know?"
"You and the good doc." He said nodding. "Like I said, mom thinks it's an ulcer. And I haven't talked to anyone else much."
"So... this makes you..." She paused, having trouble saying it.
"The mother?" Sora supplied with a slight smile.
"Yeah..." She smiled back, feeling a bit less nervous. "Does that mean... is there... an actual father?"
Sora sighed as he nodded. He knew this question would be coming eventually. "Yes. There is."
"Are you gay then?"
Sora shrugged and looked away. "Truthfully... I don't really know. It was a onetime thing... and all I remember is waking up naked the next morning with a bad headache." He shook his head. "I don't think I'll ever drink again. But neither of us meant it to happen. And we haven't talked about it since then..."
"And we would be... you and Riku... right?"
Sora turned his gaze back to her and saw the hurt in her eyes. He could lie to her. He could tell her it was some random guy at a party. It might have hurt her less. "Yes." He said after a moment, deciding on the truth.
Kairi's lips pursed together in a hard line. "Does he know?"
Sora shook his head.
"Are you going to tell him?"
Sora laughed slightly, placing a hand on his stomach. "I'm sure when I look like I've swallowed a Blitz Ball he'll know something's up. Or at least when I come home with two babies."
"Two babies Sora..." She shook her head. "How are you so calm about this? I mean... you know I would be freaking out if I found out I was going to have a baby, let alone twins. And I'm a girl!"
Sora looked down and moved his other hand to his stomach. "I did freak out about it." He said, raising his gaze again to meet hers. "I yelled and screamed and cried. I blamed my doctor of playing a cruel joke on me. I bought a whole bunch of pregnancy tests..." He shook his head, remembering. "It wasn't until I saw the proof on the ultrasound that I started..." He paused for a moment. "Well... I'm still not used to the idea... but I couldn't deny it anymore. They are there."
Kairi looked at Sora with a new light. This wasn't the overactive, dimwitted boy that left the island a few years back. Sora really had grown up. "You really have grown up..."
Sora laughed at that. And it was a loud, hearty laugh. And it felt good. He hadn't done that in a long while. "Yeah... I guess I have. Pregnancy will do that to a guy."
Kairi joined him in his laughter that time. She asked a few more questions about the hospital and about Veera. And they continued talking for another hour. They even watched the ultrasound video.
After a bit, Kairi sighed and stood up. "Thanks Sora... for clearing this up..." She smiled. "I think I better get going though."
Sora jumped up. "Stay the night!" He said, his eyes pleading.
"No..." She shook her head. "I don't think so... I'll see you tomorrow..." She turned towards the door.
"So Kairi..." Sora asked slowly. "Are we... okay now?"
She stopped as she reached the door, her hand on the knob. She seemed to consider the question for a moment before she turned around. "I think we will be Sora. I'm sorry I've been so difficult... it's just that..."
Sora held up his hand, stopping her in mid thought. "It's okay. I understand." He smiled. "Take as long as you need. I'll be here."
She swallowed before opening the door and slipping through.
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
Two days later...
Two days passed Sora in silence. And he spent most of those two days in his house playing video games and watching movies, waiting for his phone to ring. So far though, he had heard nothing more from Kairi. "I can't really blame her, can I?" He sighed as he laid on his bed, his eyes on the ceiling. "She probably thinks I'm some fucked up mess. Probably won't ever talk to me again..."
Thoughts along those same lines had been running through his head since Kairi had left his house. So it wasn't exactly a coincidence that his phone rang at that particular moment, when he was once again thinking the worst of his good friend.
"Hello?" He said, pressing it to his ear.
"Do you know the sexes yet?"
Sora sat up in his bed, hearing Kairi's voice. "What?"
"You said week 12, right?"
"Uh... yeah..." He said slowly.
"So by week 12 you should be able to tell what they are. And their little fingers and toes should be able to move... and..." She paused and it sounded like she dropped something. "Damn... sorry! I dropped the book... And do you know what the amniotic fluid actually is? Its sterile baby urine... isn't that disgusting?"
"Kairi..." Sora laughed slightly. "Can you slow down a minute?"
"Can I come over?"
Sora rolled his eyes. What have I gotten myself into?
"I checked out some books from the library the other day..." She says before he can answer. "And one of them looks really good. Some of the stuff in here is just nasty! Really... they should tell this stuff to teenagers. It'll make them think twice before having sex."
"Kairi!"
"Oh! And what about names? Although it would be best to know if you need boy or girl names first. But have you thought about it yet? Or are you going to wait?"
Sora laughed and rubbed at his forehead. "Come on over Kairi, okay? And bring the books."
"Really? Great! I'll be right there..."
Sora laughed and laid back down as he dropped his phone beside him. His hand found his stomach again and he smiled. "See? What did I tell you? Not even born yet and she's excited."
End of Chapter 8. Stay tuned for Chapter 9: What's up doc?
Author's Notes: Wanted to say thank you to those who have read/reviewed/alerted/faved this fiction. Ya'll tickle me and make me smile.