Surrendering
Second Trimester
The next thing Yuna knew, she was four months pregnant. A little under twenty weeks down, a little over twenty weeks to go, Kurama had joked. The morning sickness and the dizzy, tired spells had gone the second she arrived at her second trimester, and she was glowing. Her stomach was definitely showing now, the kids at the school fascinated at how their teacher managed to eat so much in such a short time. Kurama always seemed to catch Yuna rubbing her hands lightly over the top of her bump when she was thinking, which worried him and warmed his heart at the same time. The teachers at the school kept telling her that she must be having twin boys, as she was 'carrying high.' To which she would only smile and remind them that the sonogram wasn't until later in the week.
Kurama was at her apartment almost every day now, usually ending up sleeping in the guest room when he got too lazy to leave. There was always something for them to do, if it wasn't reading pregnancy books or watching Lamaze classes online or having their own fun, they usually ended up just staying up and talking for most of the night. Kurama told her about his mom, how he'd met Yusuke, Hiei and Kuwabara. Yuna, meanwhile would tell him about her family in Seoul and her craving for ddeok, hotteok and other Korean dishes. Kurama did his best to satisfy her cravings, while Yuna was extremely worried that she was getting fat and that her stomach shouldn't have been that big.
Yukina was already six months along when she'd invited Yuna, Keiko and Botan to go maternity clothes shopping. Yuna, who had recently realized that she couldn't even fit into Kurama's jeans anymore, had jumped at the chance. She met the three at the entrance to the mall, surprised at how big Yukina was. It was a little terrifying to see such a small person walk around with what seemed like such a heavy bundle. She'd guessed that Yukina was just as big as she was, but considering Yukina was the tiniest person Yuna had ever met, and that Yuna was actually carrying twins, she couldn't help but wonder why Yukina wanted to spend an entire afternoon walking around and trying on clothes. Yuna certainly felt like she wouldn't be able to do it.
But it was Botan who had first seen her, gasping out loud and giving her a hug.
"Holy cheese, Yuna, you're huge!" She exclaimed, putting her hands over Yuna's swollen belly, rubbing it. "Hello Urameshi twins! It is me, your Aunt Botan!"
"I don't think the babies can hear you yet," Keiko giggled, coming over to give Yuna a hug. "How are you feeling?" she asked, which was the question Keiko asked her almost every day. It was a big thing to Yuna, who until recently, had never had even a goldfish to share her emotions to. Keiko was an expert at understanding her crazy, hormonal self, and was especially empathic when it came to Kurama.
"Like my boobs are going to explode out of my bra," Yuna answered worriedly, unabashedly grabbing her chest in the middle of the mall. "They never used to be this big...or sensitive. Oh, and the other day, one of the kids drew a picture of me. They put a watermelon as my stomach since according to them, it's the only thing big enough to look like this," Yuna frowned, patting her belly. Keiko had to laugh.
"I think it's cute that the kids are so emotionally invested in you," she said, pushing her forward. "As for your breasts, it's nothing a new bra can't fix."
"And I'm sure Kurama is enjoying them as much as you do," Botan teased, immediately making Yuna blush as the entered the first maternity store they saw, Gingersnaps. Botan immediately ushered Yukina towards the pastel colored dresses at the back of the store while Yuna lingered towards the wide leg maternity pants that were on sale. Keiko followed behind her, as if feeling out of place.
"So how are things with you and Kurama?" She asked Yuna, who was testing the waistband of one of the jeans.
"Pretty good," she said, holding on to the pants. They were ripped, stretchy and half the price. How could she not love them? "We're just hanging out."
"Are you really?" Keiko asked, raising an eyebrow at her. Yuna wasn't sure why, but there was something about the way Keiko glared at her that let her know she was busted.
"You're not having sex, are you?"
"Oh, god no," Yuna said, walking towards the shirts. She needed something white, and she needed it in size humungous. "I mean...we have fooled around a lot...and then some..."
"Oh god, please spare me the details," Keiko said, sticking out her tongue and shaking her head, Yuna laughed, expecting her to make a cootie shot next or something. "But have you guys talked about your relationship? Because I hate to be preachy, but it's a little messed up."
"Oh my god, it is, isn't it?" Yuna asked, guilt suddenly smacking at her face and weighing her down. Keiko saw tears brimming her eyes as she stopped in front of the sheer kimono vests and held back her sobs. "Oh my god, it's so wrong! I'm pregnant with your babies! He's your friend! Oh god, Keiko I am so sorry, I-"
"Hey, stop!" Keiko exclaimed, patting Yuna's back and laughing. "Everything in the world is messed up already. And this is a good thing. I can tell that you both needed each other. And Kurama was the one who brought you to us, so who are we to complain?"
Yuna wiped her tears away as Keiko laughed and gave her a hug. "You are so hormonal. Now lets go to the counter so I can get you those jeans."
"What? You don't have to buy them for me," Yuna said, feeling a bit disoriented as Keiko brought her to the counter.
"Why not? They're a steal, and you deserve it," Keiko shrugged handing the saleslady her credit card. Yuna hugged Keiko again as they were handed back the jeans.
"I am so glad I'm having your babies," Yuna said, looking much better. The saleslady smiled sweetly at her.
"You two make a good couple," she complimented, making Yuna laugh as Keiko placed an arm around her and thanked the lady. "You're having twins?"
"Yup, due in April," Keiko said proudly, rubbing her hand on top of Yuna's belly. "You wouldn't believe the looks we get when we tell them I'm the father. But gender reassignment is pretty amazing, right honey?" She asked Yuna who smiled and nodded. They relished the shock on the woman's face as they left the store together, Botan and Yukina not too far behind.
"Oh god!" Keiko burst into laughter, holding on to the wall to support herself while she grabbed her stomach. "That was hilarious!"
"Did you see the look on that saleswoman's face?" Yuna asked, laughing as well. "Oh my god, we have to stop! Stop Keiko, I'm going to need to pee again!"
By the time Yukina and Botan asked what was so funny, Yuna did have to pee again. After picking up a full length dress at another maternity store, Yukina declared she was exhausted and Yuna immediately concurred. While the two pregnant women sat in the booth of a cute little cafe, Keiko and Botan continued shopping. Yukina hummed a song as she sipped some tea. Yuna smiled over at her.
"Yukina, you're really glowing," she couldn't help but say.
"Oh, no, this is because I'm tired and sweating," Yukina told her, shaking her head. "I can't wait for this pregnancy to be over! Three months still feels like forever," she sighed, resting her hand on her chin.
"Tell me about it," Yuna frowned, taking a bite of her cupcake. "And I still have five to go,."
"Oh no, sweetie, trust me, you want the second trimester to last," Yukina sighed. "By the time you reach the third, you're too big to do anything, you're actually waddling and your husband becomes so overprotective you want to snap his head off..." her voice actually got a little high pitched at the end, which made Yuna's eyes grow wide form behind her decaf cup of coffee.
"Uh, are you okay, Yukina?" she asked, and the woman laughed it off.
"I must be a little tired," she said leaning backwards into her seat. "Kazuma is really a sweet guy. I just wish he wouldn't worry so much, is all."
"Is that why you wanted to go shopping? Because you needed to get away from him for a while?"
"Yes," Yukina said, a little ashamed. "Is that a bad thing?"
"Oh, not it's perfectly normal," Yuna laughed. "I mean, I'm not married or anything, but I think I understand."
"You and Yusuke weren't married when you made the babies?"
"...What?"
"Were back!" Botan exclaimed, arriving at their table with an armload of purchases. She sat in the booth next to Yuna, asking her what she'd ordered. Meanwhile, Keiko slid into the booth next to Yukina, slipping her bangs under the table.
"Oh Keiko I got you something," Yuna said, sliding her hand under the desk and easily picking up something. She passed the paper bag to Keiko, whose eyes grew wide at the store's name.
"You went into Chloe?" She asked Yuna, who smiled and nodded proudly.
"Well, when you first asked me to be your surrogate I thought about getting you a gift so I saved up a bit. They actually had a whole line of these at the store."
Keiko opened the sack containing the bag and gasped.
"Oh my!" Botan exclaimed, realizing what it was. "It's a designer baby bag!"
"Yup," Yuna said proudly. "I thought it was cute."
Keiko examined the bag for a moment before holding it to her chest in a hug. "I am so glad you're having my babies," she said to Yuna, who laughed.
"Let's drink our tea and decaf to that!" Botan exclaimed, clinking mugs with the other three girls who laughed.
After the trip to the mall, Yuna came back to her apartment completely exhausted. She'd declined Kurama's request if he could come over and make dinner. For now, she just needed to close her eyes and sleep without having to think about having him next to her. She hugged her pillows, feeling warm as she closed her eyes.
Three weeks later, Yuna and Kurama were invited for a meal to Yusuke and Keiko's place. Yuna suggested that she and Kurama ought to bring something to dinner, and he proposed they cook some food to bring and spend the day together. The thought of spending an entire day with Kurama thrilled Yuna to no end. Dressing up in her wide leg pants and two loose tank tops, Kurama noticed that there was a smile on Yuna's face that never seemed to go away. He stood behind her as she examined her bump in the mirror, kissing the side of her neck.
"I've never seen you so happy," he commented with a smile.
"Yukina was right," Yuna sighed, rubbing her hands over her distended belly. "The second trimester is the best. I'm starting to feel normal again," she giggled, looping a necklace around her neck. Kurama slid his arm around her, pulling her close to him. She turned and planted a kiss on his lips.
"Thank you," Yuna murmured. "For everything."
Their first top of the day was the supermarket. They had gone to the one in Kurama's neighborhood, because he insisted it would be bigger and that they were going to be cooking his kitchen anyway. They unknowingly found themselves holding hands as the perused the aisles for the ingredients they needed, Yuna pointing out to Kurama the stuff they needed, some she had put in the cart declaring it was a 'must buy.'
"I plan on drinking wine tonight," she declared as they passed the juice boxes.
"Is that safe?" Kurama asked, wrinkling his nose.
"I talked to Dr. Kawamura," she told him, putting a jar of peanut butter and jelly into the cart. "She said just a little bit, occasionally is fine."
"Oh my gosh!" a voice suddenly exclaimed, making Yuna and Kurama look at the source of the voice, a woman who was just in front of them. She was looking at Yuna in surprise. "Are you Yuna Hwang? From the Everything Guide to Everything?"
"Yes," she smiled and nodded. "You read my blog?"
"I devour it," the woman was just about her age, shopping by herself. "Your guides have helped me countlessly, especially How to Be Calm in Public Transport! Such a funny article," she sighed. Then she seemed to really see Yuna for the first time, pregnant and all. Then she also saw Kurama, who was smiling politely at her. "Oh! I didn't realize you'd gotten married."
"Oh, I-" Yuna said, about to correct her when Kurama placed an arm around her and extended a hand towards the fan. "Hi, I'm ."
"Nice to meet you," the fan giggled, shaking his hand before turning to Yuna again. "Is this why you haven't been able to update the site lately?"
"I guess you caught me," Yuna giggled. "I've been meaning to announce it on the blog."
"That's so great! My friends love your blog too, they'll be so jealous if they found out I bumped into you," the fan smiled. "But I'll leave you two to the shopping. You guys make such a cute couple. Congratulations!"
"Thank you," Yuna called after her as she disappeared into the corner. Yuna looked up at Kurama with a raised eyebrow.
"What?" He asked, kissing the top of her forehead. "Did you really want to explain to a stranger that these aren't our babies?" he asked, rubbing the top of her stomach. Yuna sighed and shrugged.
Throughout the course of the trip, at least three more people had commented on them being such a lovely couple and asking if they were excited about having the babies. One of them was also a fan of Yuna's blog. Then Kurama noticed that Yuna's hands barely left her stomach now, the gesture naturally making him worry. She seemed to have much more energy now, no longer bogged down by dizziness and morning sickness. They had just paid for their purchases when Kurama saw someone enter the store and see him. His eyes widened as the woman looked incredibly confused. Yuna was just about to pass the door to the exit when Kurama exclaimed, "Mother!"
Yuna's back stiffened as she realized what Kurama had seen. Suuichi had told her several stories of his stepmother before, how close she was with Shuu-ani, how she'd begun to treasure Suuichi as well. Yuna had hoped to meet her one day, but not like this. Not when she was five months pregnant and holding his son's hand in a grocery store.
"Shuuichi...?" Shiori Hatenaka asked, approaching them unsteadily. "What is going on?"
"Mother," he said, placing a hand on the small of Yuna's back. "This is Yuna Hwang, a...friend. Yuna, this is my mother, Shori."
"It's nice to meet you," Yuna said, smiling and giving the woman a short bow.
"Yes, it's nice to meet you too," Shiori answered. "I didn't know Shuuichi had friends that were married."
"Oh, no she's not married," Kurama smiled. "She's a surrogate for Yusuke and Keiko."
"Surrogate?" Shiori asked, blinking. He nodded and placed an arm around her.
"Mhm," Yuna echoed, wanting to elbow Kurama away so his mother would stop looking at them like that. "They wanted a baby, so I'll deliver."
It was a joke, and Shiori had giggled. Yuna asked if she wanted some company in the grocery and Shiori politely declined.
"I can see from my son's bag that you are about to make some of my famous Shepherd's Pie," she said, taking a peek into the shopping bag and smiling. "Albeit a lesser version."
"Mother," Kurama said in a playfully threatening tone, and Shiori laughed. "Plus, I know you have that dinner at the Urameshi's tonight. I'll let you two go on your way."
The couple watched the woman enter the supermarket for a moment, Yuna immediately releasing a breath she didn't know she was holding. Kurama chuckled and pulled her closer to himself, leading her out the door.
"Now was that so bad?" he asked her.
"Ask me that when she finds out you've been living on my couch," Yuna joked. Kurama kissed the side of her temple and they walked back to his car together.
"Shall we make mediocre Shepherd's Pie?" He asked, and she agreed.
Several hours later, they found themselves in the living room of the Urameshi's house. Kurama noted that there was already a crib with a couple of toys set up in the corner, most of the breakables had disappeared, and the drawers and cabinets were baby proofed. "A little excited, are we?" he asked the two, and they smiled sheepishly.
"We couldn't help it," Keiko confessed. Yuna looked around the house, seeing the changes they had made at bit her lip as an odd pain shot through her chest. Making a face, Yuna shook her head.
"What's wrong, Yuna?" Yusuke asked, as the other two turned to her as well. She shook her head and assured the others that she was fine.
"Here, sit down," Yusuke insisted, leading her to the couch as she smiled gratefully. Kurama frowned at her, wondering what was wrong. Yuna looked a little upset.
"Oh, we haven't set dinner on the table!" Keiko suddenly remembered, pulling her husband into the kitchen. "We'll be right back, okay?"
Kurama nodded as the couple disappeared into the corner, kneeling in front of Yuna and asking if she was okay.
"I'm fine," she assured him with a smile. "I think it's just a little constipation or something."
But Kurama noticed that she had at least three more during dinner. It had been quick, a look passing her face that he couldn't identify. Yusuke had been telling them about the renovations to the nursery that they were doing to accommodate two babies.
"We aren't sure if we want to know the sex of the babies," Keiko informed them. "Although Dr. Kawamura tells us she will know by the ultrasound this Friday."
"Oh right," Yuna said, nodding. "I almost forgot. Will you guys be coming?"
"We wouldn't miss it," Yusuke promised. "They're actually going to look like babies now, aren't they?"
"This should be the first time you really get to see them," Kurama said, remembering something he'd read from the books. "Would you know if the doctor's office has 3D imaging?"
"Dude, you should come!" Yusuke exclaimed. "Let's get this freak show on the road!"
After dinner, Keiko and Yuna stayed in the dining room to eat their dessert. Yuna was finishing off her second slice of cake (one for each baby, she'd joked) when Keiko started talking about the things that still needed to be done in the house.
"Yusuke and I have barely started on the nursery, actually," she confessed. "We can't agree on a color for the walls. He wants something bright, and neon, and I keep telling him that it might freak the babies out but he insisted."
"You and Yusuke make a good team," Yuna said, taking a sip of her half a glass of wine. "I'm sure you'll have it easy when the twins come."
"Oh, I hardly think so," Keiko laughed. "I mean, I'm a little nervous. Two babies seems like a lot. Yusuke seems ready. I know he can handle this. But me? I-I dunno."
Another pang crossed Yuna's chest, and it was the worst one yet. She frowned again, but Keiko didn't seem to notice. Then she realized what was happening. Every time she sees how Keiko and Yusuke get ready to have the babies and every time she thinks about how wonderful parents they would be, the pang would hit her. It literally hurt Yuna to remember that she wasn't going to get to keep the babies after. Taking a deep breath to stop herself from crying, she shook her head to get herself together.
"You're going to be a wonderful mother, Keiko," she told her friend, smiling as she looked at her wineglass. "I guarantee it."
Meanwhile Kurama and Yusuke snuck off outside for a beer. Kurama was mildly surprised to see his friend take out a cigarette, light it and puff up.
"Should you be smoking?" Kurama asked, in a slightly harsher tone than he'd intended.
"This is fucked up, isn't it?" Yusuke asked his friend, referring to the cigarette. "It's just that whenever I think about what's going to happen in a few months I freak out, and when I freak out I need to smoke. I'm smoking just one every couple of days now, which is a fantastic improvement but...Shit. I really need to quit." He immediately stubbed the cigarette on the porch, kicking the butt away. "Fuck, Kurama. My kids aren't even born yet and I am screwing up already. I can't stop cursing, I have a beer in one hand and a cigarette on the other, I just quit smoking a second ago...I'm not ready to be anyone's dad! I barely had one, and now I have to be one?"
The guy looked like he wanted to kick something, but Kurama just smiled and kept his hands in his pockets. "You'll be fine," he assured his friend. "Just the fact that you're thinking about these things and worrying about them already makes you a better father than most."
"Yeah, but I can't be just a better father," he said, looking out into the street. "I'm having twins. I need to be the best."
Kurama chuckled. "I'm sure Kuwabara would love to take you up on that challenge."
"Yeah, Kuwabara. How does that guy manage to stay so cool?" Yusuke asked, shaking his head. "I mean, I was just hanging out with him the other day and he wasn't freaking out at all, considering Yukina's just about ready to pop."
"He's normal, remember?" Kurama asked. "If there was any of us that was going to get out of this unscathed, it's Kuwabara."
"Tell me about it," Yusuke said, shaking his head in slight disbelief. He sighed. "Look at us. Me and Kuwabara are actually gonna be parents...you're actually in a monogamous relationship."
"Thanks," Kurama said with a chuckle.
"And Hiei...well, nobody really knows what the fuck he's up to. But he's grown a little. You can tell by the way he actually sticks around now. God, we're getting old."
"I'll drink to that," Kurama said, leaning against the railing of the porch and clinking his half-empty bottle of beer against Yusuke's.
On the day of the ultrasound, Yuna was running late. It was one of those days when she wasn't feeling happy that she had about a ten pounds of extra weight on her, and was feeling very slow and very sluggish. Kurama was being patient, sitting calmly on the couch as she scurried about the house, trying to find something to wear. She finally managed to throw on a light, loose dress, thick tights, a jacket and heels (one one thing she insisted she wasn't going to give up). It was the early beginnings of December, and the temperatures were dropping as quickly as Yuna was gaining weight. Kurama watched her throw on a scarf and smiled as she slung her bag over her shoulder and looked up at him, slightly winded.
"Ready?" He asked her. She glared at him and they went to his car, heading right for the doctor's office. Yusuke and Kieko were already waiting for them inside, and they didn't seem to happy with each other at the moment.
"What's wrong?" Yuna asked, already sweating under the three million layers of clothes she had on. Why was the office so warm? She immediately swallowed down the juice that the nurse had given her for the procedure and sat next to Keiko.
"Yusuke is being stupid," Keiko concluded, crossing her arms over her chest. "I told him I didn't want to find out the sex of the babies. He does."
"Holy-uhm...why don't you want to find out?" Yuna asked, suddenly hit by a sudden urge to go to the bathroom. Kurama looked at her from across the room, looking over a magazine as he was sitting next to Yusuke, who was frowning.
"Because I want at least one thing to be a surprise," Keiko sighed. "I barely get to experience anything in this pregnancy, and I have to know right away what my babies will be?"
"Mhmmmmmm," Yuna said, attempting to cross her legs, but it was impossible with her stomach getting larger. She snapped her knees shut. She knew that if she went to the bathroom, she had to do this all over again, but this was getting to be torture. Kurama looked like he wanted to laugh, seeing her dilemma, and she just glared at him.
"Oh wow," the woman sitting beside Kurama gasped, making both Yusuke and Kurama jump and look at her. "Aren't you two just the cutest couple? You must be what, two months along?" She asked, patting Kurama's leg like it was totally normal. Yuna, Yusuke and Keiko began to laugh as Kurama blushed profusely. Yusuke placed an arm around Kurama and smiled at the lady.
"Yes, we're really excited," he said. "This one couldn't keep her hands off me until the stick turned pink!"
"Yusuke, stop or I'll have to pee!" Yuna exclaimed, leaning against Kieko's shoulder as she laughed. Kurama furrowed his brows at her as the woman looked thoroughly confused. He was just about to explain to her what was happening when the nurse called Yuna's name. All four of them stood up, Yuna telling the others to hurry up because she really really really need to pee. Kurama helped her on to the exam table, pinching her arm playfully.
"What was that for?" she asked him as they waited for Keiko and Yusuke who said hello to Dr. Kawamura.
"That was for laughing at me," he said.
"You get mistaken for a girl a lot," she pointed out. "Shouldn't you be used to it by now?"
"Alright, let's get this show on the road!" The medical technician exclaimed as Yusuke and Keiko entered the room. She looked at the small crowd in slight confusion.
"Okay, what is this?" She asked them brusquely. "I see too many mommies and daddies in one room."
"Oh, surrogate," Yuna said, pointing to herself, "Surro-gees," she pointed to Yusuke and Keiko. "Boyfriend," she finished, pulling Kurama's sleeve. The technician studied the four for a moment.
"Alright," she said. "That's a little messed up, but who am I to judge? Are you ready to see your babies?"
"Yup!" Yuna and Keiko chimed. The technician laughed and asked Yuna to lift up her shirt. She squirted a bright blue gel on her stomach, and Kurama saw she got goosebumps because of the cold.
"Alright, and here we go," the woman said, taking the Doppler wand and spreading it all over Yuna's stomach. Kurama's eyes widened as he heard the babies' continuous and whooshing heartbeats, one overlapping with the other in what Kurama thought was a wonderful symphony. Yuna leaned back, closing her eyes for a moment and smiled. Keiko noticed she did this at each sonogram, like she was listening to a wonderful song. The technician moved the wand around the swollen area of her belly, pressing some buttons and biting her lip in concentration.
"Alright," she said, taking one last glance at the monitor. "You, boyfriend. Hold this wand in this spot, will ya?" Kurama obediently took the wand, holding it in the spot.
"Great. Here's a live look at your twins," she said, turning the monitor so all four could see. Keiko's eyes actually filled with tears at the sight of them. The screen showed shadows and images of two babies. The both of them looked like they were sleeping, with closed fists and their backs facing the monitor. Each of the babies seemed to be moving around in what seemed like such a tiny space, the one on the right moving its arm while the other moved it's foot. The technician helped guide Kurama's hand so they could see each baby up close. Keiko leaned against Yusuke's shoulder, smiling. Kurama kissed Yuna's hand. It was an amazing sight. The technician noted that the babies had their own sacs and placentas, which was normal. Their size was also pretty good.
"They look okay, don't they?" Yusuke asked, smiling. "I mean, they seem to like each other already. And nothing seems to be missing, right?"
Kurama suddenly frowned, like he'd noticed something off with the screen. He moved the wand around by himself when he realized what he was looking at.
"They're on top of each other," he suddenly said. "One of the babies seem to be breeched."
The technician peered at the screen, and agreed. "I think someone's been reading up a bit too much," she said.
"It never hurts to be cautious," Kurama said with a shrug.
"Wait, what does that mean, breeched?" Yuna asked in a high, panicked voice. Kurama smiled and squeezed her hand.
"One of the babies has their head up," he explained, "as opposed to having its head down. It's quite normal, but it increases your chances of having to have a Caesarian section."
"Is there anything I can do to change that?" Yuna asked the technician, who took screencaps of the ultrasound and took the wand back from Kurama. The wooshing sounds immediately stopped, making everyone blink at their absence.
"At this point, we can hope that the second baby will turn." She showed them a screen capture of the twins. "Luckily, the baby closest to the cervix seems to be in a normal position. If the second baby doesn't turn after the first is born, then the doctor may have to turn it himself."
"How? From the stomach?" Yuna asked, frowning a bit. The idea of someone attempting to twist her stomach moments after one baby had shot out of her vagina sounded terrifying.
"That, or the doctor will probably have to reach in and pull the baby out themselves."
"EWWW!" Was the collective response from Yuna, Yusuke and Keiko at that revelation. Yuna was absolutely freaked out at the idea that someone would just...pull the baby out of her. She looked at her stomach for a moment and prayed that the baby would turn.
The technician laughed, but told them that for the moment, it was best to not worry about it yet. Then she asked if they wanted to find out the sex of the baby.
"Spoiler alert," she said to them. "They're fraternal twins."
"What does that mean?" Yusuke asked, and Kurama was quick to supply the short answer.
"They don't necessarily look exactly alike."
"I want to know!" Keiko suddenly exclaimed. Yusuke raised an eyebrow at her.
"Really now," he said to her, and she nodded happily.
"I'm just so excited," she said with a smile. "I mean, it doesn't really matter what sex they are, but still! Tell me!"
Yuna smiled at Keiko, ignoring the now all-too familiar pang that hit her square in the chest. The technician smiled as Yusuke kissed his wife's temple.
"Well," she said, taking another peek at the screen just to be sure. "Based on what I'm seeing, it looks like you're having a boy and a girl."
Keiko gasped, her eyes filling with tears again as she laughed, hugging Yusuke, who seemed just as ecstatic.
"That's great news, you guys!" Yuna exclaimed from where she was now sitting up.
After the session, Yuna and Kurama were walking hand in hand back to the car. She was leaning close to Kurama, her hands in his pocket because she was freezing.
"You're pretty quiet," Kurama pointed out as they reached the car. "Are you worried because one the the babies is breeched?"
"No," Yuna sighed, throwing off her scarf as Kurama turned on the heat. "I decided that I am only allowed to worry about it when I'm seven months pregnant. I...I'm actually feeling very guilty about something."
"What is it?" Kurama asked, trying to sound casual, like he was just asking her about the weather. Yuna turned up the heat, which prickled at his skin and immediately melted off the ice in his fingers.
"Well...I notice that every time Keiko talks about the babies or tells me how she's getting so excited about the babies, I get this weird pang in my chest. Like I'm angry with her for just a second. I hear it like she's trying to take something away from me," she said, sniffing back her tears. "I know they're her babies, but deep down, a part of me wishes that they were actually mine. I wish that earlier in that sonogram, I was listening to the heart beats of my own children. I hate that I have to give them up after everything. After a doctor sticks his hand up my vagina, I get nothing."
She was really crying now, keeping her hands in her face so Kurama wouldn't see her tears. Her face was already swollen enough. Kurama looked at her sadly, wishing he could say that she could be stronger than that. But even he couldn't bear it. The thought that the twins that he saw growing almost every day would be taken away from him after four months...he was just as bad as Yuna. What could he tell her?
"Yuna," he said, rubbing his hand on her back. "You don't end up with nothing. You have a precious gift that Keiko and Yusuke have been hoping and praying for. You get to be the favorite aunt of twins. They will love you unconditionally, they will come to you when their parents are driving them up the wall. If you choose to be in their life, they will never be to far away. Yusuke and Keiko will get the late nights, the fatigue, the stress, the panic. Eventually these kids will hate them, as all kids hated their parents at least once in their lifetime. But not you."
Yuna knew she was right. She absolutely knew it, but it didn't really make her feel any better. She turned to Kurama and wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his chest as he pulled her closer to him, as close as he could given that they were just sitting in the car. They were still in this entangled position when he felt something flutter against his ribcage. He jumped backwards, staring at Yuna's stomach.
"Did you just-?" He asked, and Yuna looked at him in surprise.
"I didn't do that," she said, the both of them immediately staring at her stomach like it was a completely foreign object. Kurama excitedly placed his hands on the spot where he'd felt it, Yuna's hand naturally landing next to his. They were in that position for a moment. Even Yuna mentioned that it might have just been gas bubbles. But then, it happened again. It was like a bubble had popped somewhere inside her stomach, and Kurama felt it with his hand. He gasped in surprise but laughed as the kicks continued, making Yuna giggle as well.
"Oh, the other baby's kicking too!" She exclaimed, bringing his hand to another side of her stomach, the both of them grinning like idiots at the feeling. Kurama leaned his forehead against hers.
"We're screwed," she told him.
"Worst surrogates ever," Kurama agreed, kissing her on the lips, his hands still on her stomach where the babies were making themselves known.