A day later, a simple test performed at the infirmary established Izuru to be five months, three weeks, and two days pregnant.
Lieutenant Kotetsu quizzed Kila and Navi on explanations as to why Lieutenant Kira could appear farther along than he actually was while Hana explained further procedure to the curious captain and anxious lieutenant.
"Well, he's a little farther along than we originally thought. No problems there. But the samples will undergo additional testing that should tell us more specific information. You should get the results within the next two hours, I'd say." She patted Izuru's shoulder. "Don't worry lieutenant, whatever happens is perfectly natural, I promise."
Minutes later, Gin, Izuru, and a Squad 6 member, Raed, sat in the corner of a busy cafe, chatting over beverages.
"Well," Raed sniggered, "'natural' isn't the word I would've used, but these kinds of things are getting more common, I suppose. You're what, the third, lieutenant, captain?"
"I think so," Gin replied, stroking his lieutenant's hair.
"Ah, well, I'm sure everything is actually going , like Hana implied. You might just be retaining excess fluid or something, lieutenant." Raed was a former Squad 4 member, so his words comforted Izuru some.
"I'm sure it's like you said, Raed," Gin said. "He hasn't been ill at all besides the morning sickness, and even that's pretty mild. No pain that seems worrying."
"Have you been detecting movement at all?"
"Oh yes." Gin chuckled, holding a sleepy Izuru a little closer. "Izuru tells me there's a lot of rather subtle movement. I've been able to feel it a few times myself."
Raed took a long drink of sake. "Then what did you want it to be?"
"Whatever comes."
"Names?"
"I'm afraid we're having a hard time choosing between two and two."
Raed nodded as if in silent agreement with something. "I think you two will be just fine if it turns out to be twins or something."
"I knew that you were getting at something like that. At this point, though, I'm afraid news like that would throw Izuru into a panic or some such in his condition."
"...Is he okay? He's been really quiet."
Gin started to say something to his lover, then smiled when he realized. "Oh, he's fallen asleep. The poor thing's been so tired, I'm not surprised."
An hour and forty-five minutes after they'd first left the infirmary, Captain Ichimaru received a call from Lieutenant Kotetsu for both himself and Izuru to return.
Gin reluctantly set about waking the latter; he was dozing upstairs on the bed.
"Izuru..."
The lieutenant opened his eyes partway. "'... Captain...?"
"I'm sorry to wake you, Izuru, but we have to go to the infirmary for those now."
"Oh, yeah... I just need a minute..."
"Take your time."