:: Warning:: Contents below contain explicit description of childbirth; intended for mature readers!::
Epilogue
Linake stretched her feet out across Kenpachi's lap as she rubbed her hands over her large belly. Takeo had decided to sprout like a weed, moving his position on her, making her feel more than fat! It had been almost four and a half month since her and Kenpachi had gotten married, and to Mayuri's calculations, Takeo was half a month late!
Kenpachi turned his gaze to Linake as he took the time to rub his wife's swollen feet; the woman had been feeling uncomfortable for weeks, even having trouble falling asleep at night; Kenpachi hadn't known what to do for her at first, but he quickly figured out that when he touched her, it seemed to calm her down enough to sleep; but tonight was proving more difficult.
" You wanna get in the bath?" Kenpachi asked her, thinkin' maybe the water would help her relax a little.
" Ugh! I just want him to come out!" Linake groaned in frustration as she rubbed her stomach.
Kenpachi chuckled at her, knowing she was frustrated, but the woman still looked beautiful, even with her large belly. Kenpachi reached his hand up, rubbing it across her stomach as he smiled.
" He'll come when he's ready..." Kenpachi stated.
Linake let out a sigh as she laid back against the pillows Kenpachi had propped up for her on the bed. Linake looked over at the clock, it was almost two in the morning already and Kenpachi had to get up early for drills.
" You should get some sleep while you can, I'll just read or something..." Linake stated, not wanting to be a further burden on her husband than she already had been these past couple weeks.
" I'm fine, woman. I wouldn't be able to sleep knowin' you're feelin' bad..." Kenpachi countered.
Linake let out another sigh as she rolled her eyes.
" This kid is sitting on my bladder, I swear!" Linake groaned as she pulled her feet from Kenpachi's lap and tried to bring herself to her knees.
"Hold on, I'll help ya..." Kenpachi demanded as he went to his knees and reached out for her, grabbing Linake by the forearms, he hoisted her up to her feet.
Kenpachi groped the cheek of her ass as he stepped down off the futon, the action making her smile down at him before she walked away towards the bathroom. Kenpachi wondered if maybe what she needed to relax was a little release; it had been about a week since they last made love-nah, the kid's makin' her miserable right now, last thing she needs is me pawing at her...
"Kenpachi!"
"What the hell?" Kenpachi grunted as he pushed himself off the bed and rushed into the bathroom; the way Linake had just yelled his name sending a chill down his spine.
Kenpachi turned the corner in the bathroom walking passed the privacy screen that stood in front of the toilet. Linake stood with her hand against the wall, her body shaking and what looked like a puddle of water at her feet.
" What is it, Linake? What's wrong!?" Kenpachi demanded as he noticed the front of her sleeping kimono was soaked as if she hadn't made it to the bathroom in time.
Linake turned her body, meeting Kenpachi's gaze.
" My water just broke!" Linake explained to him, knowing that the rush of fluid that had just vacated her body was the first sign that she had just gone into labor.
Kenpachi's eyes widened as he heard her.
" Fuck, you mean he's commin' now?" Kenpachi asked.
" I need Isane!" Linake groaned as she placed both of her hands across her stomach and began to moan loudly as if she were in pain.
" Linake..." Kenpachi stated as he walked closer to her, wanting to give his wife comfort.
"Oh god!" Linake cried out as her body hunched forward and her knees buckled from the pain of her first contraction starting.
" Fuck, woman. What the hell am I supposed to do?" Kenpachi demanded as he reached for her, all of their earlier conversations seeming to disappear from his brain at the wrong time.
" Send Ikkaku to get Isane, and hurry!" Linake yelled at him.
"Fuck!" Kenpachi spat before he turned on his heel and rushed back out into the main room. Kenpachi didn't even pause to put on his sandals before tearing the door open and running down the steps as he yelled Ikkaku's name.
Linake braced herself against the wall as another contraction hit her; squeezing her eyes shut, she willed herself to keep breathing as her body continued shake violently. Linake counted in her mind, wanting to know how far apart her contractions were, so she would know how much time she had in-between. As the pain began to subside enough for her to walk, Linake turned her body and headed out into the main bathroom over to the tub and sat against it's edge, bracing herself for the next contraction just as Kenpachi rushed back into the room.
"Ikkaku's goin' now..." Kenpachi announced as he walked in front of her and hunched down, lifting his right hand to the side of her face.
" Okay..." Linake breathed as she rubbed her hands across her belly and she forced herself to breath slowly.
"Ahhhh!" Linake cried out as another contraction began to hit her, filling her lower back and abdomen with more pain than she had been expecting.
Kenpachi lowered his hand from her face pulling her small hands from her stomach and giving her something to squeeze. Linake took advantage of it, gripping Kenpachi's hands as hard as she could as the pain made her pant harsh breaths.
"What can I do?" Kenpachi asked her, his brow furrowing as he kept his gaze on his wife's face, watching the the woman he loved in so much pain and not knowing what to do about it drivin' him fuckin' crazy.
" Ugh! I'm not going to have enough time...I need to get in the bath!" Linake grunted as she let go of Kenpachi's hands and reached back behind her gripping the side of the wooden tub as her stomach kept contracting.
" Fuck..." Kenpachi spat before he reached over and plugged the tub and turned on the tap, makin' sure the water wasn't too hot before he reached down in front of her and pulled the tie to her sleeping kimono.
Linake moved her hands long enough for Kenpachi to strip her of her clothes before he scooped her up in his arms and climbed over the side of the tub, keeping the bottoms to his Shihakusho on; Kenpachi lowered the two of them down into the filling tub.
Linake let out a sigh as if the pain had subsided a little as Kenpachi positioned her between his legs and reached his hands down rubbing her bare belly. Kenpachi's eyes widened when he felt Linake's stomach move under his touch as if pulling tight and then releasing again.
" Oh fuck! There right on top of each other!" Linake whined as tears filled her eyes; not knowing any other way to deal with the pain; Linake allowed herself to cry.
"Captain?"
Kenpachi turned his head, his brow furrowing as he met Yumichika's wide violet gaze as the man filled up the doorway to their bathroom. Linake turned her gaze to Yumichika.
" She's havin' the kid!" Kenpachi growled at his subordinate.
Yumichika nodded as he stepped inside the room and walked over to the wooden cabinet that housed some clean towels. Yumichika grabbed two from it then walked back over to the tub. Linake let out a wail of pain as Yumichika bend down and secured one of the towels across Linake's breasts, and then draped the other across the bottom of her legs, giving the woman what little bit of modesty he could.
" I don't know what to do..." Kenpachi blurted, his gaze meeting Yumichika's.
" Try and rub her lower back, Captain, I am sure that is where most of the pain is centered." Yumichika instructed him.
Kenpachi leaned back on the tub allowing his hands to lower he listened to his 3rd seat and began to massage deep circles across Linake's lower back.
" Oh god, this hurts so bad!" Linake cried as she gripped the side of the tub closest to her, not understanding what was making her feel so much pain!?
" Linake!?"
Isane rushed into the bathroom sounding out of breath as she made a B-line straight for the bathtub.
" Fuck, finally..." Kenpachi growled as Isane leaned down over the side of the bathtub and met Linake's gaze.
" How far apart are your contractions, Linake?" Isane asked.
" Two minutes!" Linake grunted between clenched teeth.
" Oh my, he's coming quickly..." Isane stated before she stood to her full height and walked over to the sink in order to wash her hands.
Isane didn't bother to dry her hands before rushing over to the tub and leaning her body over it's edge, the top of her own sleeping kimono getting wet as she reached her hand under the towel Yumichika had placed over her legs.
" I'm going to check and see how dilated you are, Linake, you will feel some pressure." Isane explained before she slid her fingers inside the woman's vaginal canal.
" My goodness! You're almost fully dilated, it looks like you're going to have your son here." Isane stated as she mind began to race.
" Is that a bad thing!?" Kenpachi demanded.
Isane lifted her head, meeting Kenpachi's gaze.
" No, It shouldn't be a problem." Isane replied.
Isane stood up once more thinking about the easiest way for Linake to deliver her son, maybe if she had her go to her knees?
" Linake, can you move?" Isane asked her.
" No!" Linake cried
" Can't you give her somrthin' for the pain!?" Kenpachi yelled as he wrapped his arms around Linake.
" I'm sorry, Kenpachi, It's too late for that!" Isane countered as the woman reached up and turned the tap to the bathtub off now that it had filled half way.
"Linake!? I'm here! " Amaya rushed into the room with Ikkaku right behind her.
Amaya paused as she entered the room, taking in the sight of her best friend in tears, gripping the side of the bathtub. Amaya turned her head, reading the thoughts of everyone in the room. Amaya's lips parted as she took in the inner thoughts of her best friend, the pain Linake was feeling, the worry her friend was going through.
Amaya rushed forward, taking Linake's hand from the side of the tub and squeezing her.
" It will be okay, Linake, just breathe." Amaya instructed her.
" I have to push!" Linake grunted; feeling an intense pressure building as her stomach contracted.
" Kenpachi, lower your hands and hold Linake's legs open!" Amaya demanded him.
" What?" Kenpachi countered.
" Just do it! It will help her!" Amaya snapped.
" Fuck..." Kenpachi spat before he adjusted his hold on his wife, reaching down with his large hands he captured Linake's thighs and pulled her legs apart, spreading his wife's legs open as wide as they would go.
" You two, get the fuck out!" Kenpachi demanded.
" Y...yes, Captain." Ikkaku nodded as he and Yumichika both turned on their heel, exiting the bathroom.
" Why won't he come out!?" Linake yelled; gasping for breath as she pushed as hard as she could.
" Linake, stop pushing!" Isane demanded as the woman tore the towel from the top of her legs to get a better look.
" Oh, shit!" Isane blurted as she reached her hand's forward trying to slide her fingertips passed Linake's vaginal opening in order to unlodge Takeo's shoulder.
" What!? What's wrong!?" Kenpachi demanded.
" He...He's stuck!" Isane sighed.
" His shoulders, there too large for her to pass!" Isane continued as she tried to slide the child free from his mother before they were both put in serious danger.
" Get him out of her!" Kenpachi yelled.
" I'm trying!" Isane yelled back; her features giving away the woman's anxiety as she tried her best to help Linake.
"Amaya, I...I don't know what else to do, I'm trying to move him, but, I could end up hurting him!" Isane rushed.
" I...I..don't know what to do either. I...I was studying for a different field!" Amaya blurted, her inner thoughts racing.
" Kurot-suchi!" Linake grunted.
Amaya turned her head to Linake her eyes widening as she heard Linake's inner thoughts; of course, if anyone would know what to do, it would be Mayuri Kurotsuchi! Amaya didn't stop to speak or explain another word, in a flash, she disappeared from the room. Using her flash step, Amaya pushed her body harder than she ever had in her life; knowing that minutes would mean life or death for her best friend's child.
"Captain Kurotsuchi!" Amaya screamed as she pounded her fist against the thick metal door of research and development.
Amaya felt tears of frustration and fear falling from her cheeks as she continued to pound against the door, her small body shaking from her desperation.
" Answer the fucking door! I need help!" Amaya yelled as she went back on her left leg and raised her right leg, kicking the metal door as hard as she could.
" What is the meaning of this racket!?" Mayuri Kurotsuchi demanded as he pulled the giant metal door open.
Akon and Mayuri stood in the middle of the doorway, both of them with furrowed brows as they took in the sight of Amaya Aizen.
" Please! I need your help, Mayuri! Linake...she went into labor...but he's stuck!" Amaya gasped between her tears; her wide brown eyes pleading with the man.
" My goodness, very well, allow me to grab a couple supplies..." Mayuri answered her.
" Hurry! Please!" Amaya yelled at the man's back.
" What the fuck is takin' so long!?" Kenpachi growled; the worry for his wife starting to get to him; the thought of his son suffocating filling him with a sense of fear he never knew a man could feel.
"I'm sorry, Kenpachi! I'm trying to move him, but if I make the wrong move I could end up hurting him!" Isane repeated.
Linake let out a whimper of pain as she turned her head, laying her cheek against Kenpachi's chest. Kenpachi dropped his gaze, looking as his wife.
" Come on, Linake, don't give up on me! You can do this, Woman!" Kenpachi encouraged her; wishing he could hold her, but he figured the grip he had on her thighs was what had allowed Takeo to come out as far as he had.
Kenpachi could see the top of his son's head and it make his stomach clench thinkin' about how much pain Linake had to be in.
" I'm sorry, Linake..." Kenpachi whispered as he lowered his head, pressing his lips to the side of her sweat soaked forehead.
" What seems to be the issue?" Mayuri Kurotsuchi asked as he filled up the doorway to the brutes bathroom.
" About fuckin' time!" Kenpachi growled.
Mayuri turned his head, his golden gaze widening as he witnessed the state of the man, his gaze fell, taking in Lianke's condition.
" My, my. This is quite the predicament." Mayuri commented before stepping into the room.
Isane pulled her hand back from Linake, knowing that her attempt at helping the woman had failed filling her with an empty sense of sadness.
" His shoulders are too large for him to pass!" Isane explained to Mayuri as the man walked forward and bent down over the edge of the bathtub.
" Yes, I see the child has taken after his father, such wide shoulders..." Mayuri grinned.
" It's no matter, I shall have him out in no time." Mayuri announced as if the answer were simple.
Linake turned her head, her gaze looking up at Mayuri as he stared back at her.
" I am afraid I am going to have to cut you, Linake." Mayuri stated.
" What!?" Kenpachi yelled.
Mayuri turned his gaze to the brute, his lips pursing as he rolled his eyes.
" I will have to make an incision across the labia, it is the only way for the child to pass through now that he has already descended." Mayuri explained.
" Okay!" Linake grunted.
" What?" Kenpachi repeated, looking down at his wife as if she were crazy.
" I will not be able to give you anything for the pain and I am afraid it will not feel very pleasant." Mayuri warned her.
Linake reached her hand up gripping the side of the bathtub as she met Mayuri's gaze head on.
" Do what you have to do!" Linake grunted.
" Very well." Mayuri replied before laying out a small portable surgical kit on the side of the wooden basin.
Mayuri pulled a small scalpel from it's place and leaned down, carefully choosing the right area in which to cut in order for the child to pass. With a flick of the wrist, Mayuri made two small incisions on each side of the woman's vaginal lips before rising and handing the bloodied scalpel to Isane.
Isane took it gladly, thinking she may as well assist captain Kurotsuchi since she had failed at delivering Takeo safely, like she had promised.
" You'll need to push down now, Linake." Mayuri stated.
Linake sucked in a deep breath as Kenpachi tightened his hold on her inner thighs, she could feel where her husband's fingers dug into her, and she was sure she would have some bruises later, but that was the last thing on her mind as Linake bared down with all of her might. Linake felt a popping sensation and cried out as Takeo finally slid forward.
Mayuri kept a firm grip on the back of Takeo Zaraki's neck as the bouncing baby boy slid free of his mother. With a wide grin, Mayuri looked up at Kenpachi and Linake before he spoke.
" There we are, nothing to it." Mayuri smiled as he lifted the child from the water and presented Takeo Zaraki to his parents.
Linake let out a sigh of what sounded like relief as the pain in her body eased, her fatigue catching up with her now that the worst was over. Kenpachi lowered his hands, allowing Linake's legs to fall back down into the water. Kenpachi's eyes widened as he got a good look at his son-fuck, he did take after me!
Mayuri continued to smile as Isane bent down and clipped the umbilical cord before Mayuri used his scalpel to disconnect the boy from his mother completely. Isane picked up a small suction device and went to work clearing Takeo's airway as Mayuri held him. The minute she did, Takeo's first cries filled the room.
Linake stared up at her son as tears slipped down her cheeks; even though it had been horrible pain, Linake knew it had been worth it; she'd given Kenpachi his son!
" Fuck, woman...he's beautiful..." Kenpachi whispered as he pressed his lips to the side of her cheek.
" Yes he is!" Linake smiled.
" He'll probably need to nurse..." Mayuri stated as he walked around the bathtub to Linake's side and handed the new born boy to his mother.
Lianke reached her shaking hands out for her son; feeling a sense of wonder as she clutched the boy to her chest. Kenpachi reached his hand up capturing Takeo's little hand with this thumb and pointer finger.
" Is he okay?" Kenpachi asked.
" His color looks well, being stuck for such a small amount of time shouldn't have any adverse effects. Luckily, I arrived in time to be of use." Mayuri stated.
" Where is Amaya?" Linake asked as she looked up, searching the room for her best friend.
" I am afraid Mrs. Aizen was in a bit of an emotional state and decided to say outside with Lieutenant Madarame and 3rd seat Ayasegawa." Mayuri answered.
Linake's brow furrowed as she heard Mayuri's explanation. Kenpachi adjusted his body to get a better look at his son, sending a wave of pain throughout Linake, making her wince.
" What's wrong?" Kenpachi asked her, placing his hand on Linake's bicep and rubbing her softly.
" You moved and it made me move..." Linake answered.
" Fuck, I'm sorry..." Kenpachi sighed.
" It looks like you were able to pass the placenta, Linake, but, I'm going to have to stitch up the incisions Captain Kurotsuchi made." Isane informed her.
Linake looked down at the murky water her and Kenpachi were both sitting in, what had been clear was now a light pink, no doubt from the amount of blood she had been losing. Linake raised her legs once more, spreading them so that Isane could go to work with stitching her up.
" Okay." Linake replied.
" It would be wise to consult me if the two of you wish to have another; it may end up that Linake will require a surgical delivery if the next time should arise." Mayuri stated.
Kenpachi lifted his head, meeting Kurotsuchi's gaze.
" You have my thanks, Kurotsuchi." Kenpachi stated.
Mayuri shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly.
" Yes, well, let us not make a habit out of it." Mayuri countered.
" I shall step outside while Captain Kotetsu finishes up. Once you are situated, I shall give you something for your pain, Linake." Mayuri added before turning on his heel and leaving the bathroom.
" I think he fell asleep..." Linake whispered as she brushed her hand across her son's chubby cheek.
" Looks like it..." Kenpachi chuckled.
" He may wake soon, needing to eat. I've finished, Linake." Isane stated.
" Thank you, Isane." Linake smiled.
Isane nodded, her features looking forlorn.
" Hey, It's okay. This kind of thing happens a lot in the human world, it's not your fault you didn't know what to do." Linake reassured her friend.
" I guess I will have to read up more on this, that is, if you plan to have more..." Isane smiled softly.
" Not anytime soon..." Linake laughed.
" Yeah, I think we'll wait a while..." Kenpachi added.
" Alright then. I can give you something to prevent it for the time being once you have healed." Isane replied.
" Thanks." Linake answered just as Amaya walked into the room.
" Hey! We're okay, see!" Linake spoke softly to her best friend, seeing the look on Amaya's face making Linake's chest tighten with emotion.
Amaya had broken down; having no other choice when bombarded with so many emotions, some of which not even belonging to her; it had Taken her husband to calm her down. Once Sosuke had shown up outside of squad 11, Amaya had been able to finally breath once more.
" Why don't you take him while Kenpachi helps me to bed?" Linake offered.
Amaya lifted her hands to her face, wiping away fresh tears as she nodded her head and walked forward. Linake held out Takeo to her friend; Amaya bent down supporting the boy's head and cradling the baby in her arms as she smiled.
" He looks just like you, Kenpachi..." Amaya laughed.
Kenpachi grinned as he looked up at the woman, knowing she was right about that.
"Okay..." Linake whispered as she braced herself on the side of the tub and pushed herself forward in the water.
Linake let out a moan of pain as she felt the burning pull between her legs-that's going to take some time to heal!
Kenpachi hoisted himself up from the water and swung his legs over the edge; not even caring that his soaked bottoms were makin' a mess-he'd clean it up after he helped Linake get comfortable. Kenpachi walked out of the bathroom, walking over to his wardrobe he pulled one of his tops from a metal hanger before walking back into the bathroom-he planned on wrapping Linake up in it, so she would be more comfortable.
" She's going to need some underwear, too." Amaya stated; letting Kenpachi know.
" Alright..." Kenpachi replied, walking back out into the bedroom to grab her a pair.
Isane walked over to the edge of the bathtub, taking Linake's hands in hers, Isane pulled and Linake made it to her feet as a moan escaped her.
" I was gonna help ya..." Kenpachi stated as he came back into the room.
" She needs to stand, Kenpachi..." Isane stated.
Kenpachi sighed heavily before he walked over to the cabinet and pulled another clean towel from the stack and made his way over to Linake. Kenpachi unfolded the towel, going to work drying his wife off, wanting to take care of her after all she had gone through bringing his son into the world. Linake reached out, grabbing Kenpachi's forearm in her hand as Isane left the bathroom.
Kenpachi met her gaze as she touched him.
" You scared the hell out of me, woman..." Kenpachi admitted with another sigh.
" I know...I won't do it again, I promise." Linake replied.
" You better not..." Kenpachi countered before pulling his wife into his arms, careful not to move her too much before he pressed his lips over hers; kissing the mother of his child senseless.
Kenpachi laid with his wife tucked under the blankets in front of him, after getting her ready for bed, Kurotsuchi had shot her up with something to take the edge off, making his woman feel more relaxed as she laid against his chest. Amaya had gotten Takeo cleaned up and dressed into a light blue outfit and wrapped the boy up in a yellow receiving blanket before handing him over to Linake.
As the energy in the room had calmed down, Amaya, Isane and Mayuri had all left, leaving the couple alone to enjoy their new born son. Kenpachi and Linake had sat and talked for almost an hour before the drugs Mayuri had given her had taken an effect, making Linake pass out against him. Kenpachi leaned his head back, allowing his eyes to close, thinkin' he needed to get some sleep too when the sound of his son's cry startled him.
" Shit..." Kenpachi spat as he reached his hands around Linake and adjusted Takeo in his arms.
Kenpachi felt a wave of uncertainty wash over him as he looked down at his son, wonderin' what he was cryin' for?
" Linake..." Kenpachi whispered in her ear, tryin' to get her to wake up and help him figure it out, but she was knocked out...
Takeo let out another wail making Kenpachi cruse under his breath as he laid the kid back down on his mother's lap. Kenpachi pulled the blanket from in front of Linake, then pulled the top he had put her in open revealing Linake's breasts.
" Hope this is what you need, kid. You wore your mom out, Takeo. It looks like it's just you and me..." Kenpachi stated as he reached down and gently brought his son up to his wife's breast.
Linake had tried to get him to eat before she'd passed out, but Takeo hadn't wanted to latch; Kenpachi hoped he would now. Kenpachi held his son up with his right hand, cradling the boy in his large hand as he grasped a hold of Linake's left breast with his left hand and brought Takeo up to it. Kenpachi cursed again, sighing as his son kept cryin'. Just as Kenpachi was about to give up and try and find some help, Takeo latched, and began to suckle.
" Thank fuck..." Kenpachi sighed in relief as he let out a laugh.
" Eat up, Takeo. You've gotta get your strength, kid." Kenpachi grinned as he thought about the future ahead of him.
"I'm the Captain of squad 11; Kenpachi Zaraki; the husband of Linake Zaraki, the father of Takeo Zaraki; and I've never been happier..."
Author's note: That's it for this one, everyone! Thanks to those who have been reading and giving me support on this little adventure I've created. ( Maybe now, to those who have read 'Love is Madness' some things will make a bit more sense regarding Kenpachi and Mayuri's relationship.) I hope everyone has enjoyed as much as I have!
