Chapter 45: Hikari
Why was she bleeding?! Takumi quickly caught up to Misaki. The EMTs got her hooked up to oxygen and an IV.
"Takumi!" Misaki exclaimed, reaching out to him.
"I'm right here, sweetheart," he said, jogging alongside of the bed.
The nurses there helped Misaki clean up a little and change out of her ruined dress. It was beyond ruin. Takumi just told them just to throw it out.
"Don't worry," the doctor said to Misaki. "You're safe now."
Misaki nodded. She felt exhausted and the baby wasn't even here yet. The doctor checked Misaki over and got her hooked up to the monitors.
"Why is she bleeding?" Takumi asked, pulling the doctor aside.
"It's what we call a placental abruption," the doctor explained. "It is only a grade 1 though," the doctor reassured Takumi. "The complication shouldn't be very serious."
"Doctor," Takumi said, solemn. "I need both mother and child to be safe. I need both of them! Both you hear me?!"
"I understand," the doctor said. "We will do everything we can for both mother and child."
"Thank you," Takumi said.
"You are very fortunate," she said to Takumi. "If this wasn't her first child, it probably would have came on the car by now. Delivering without medical attention is very dangerous."
Takumi nodded.
"But she'll be in good hands now," the doctor reassured him. "Though she is struggling a little to deliver but it's common for first time mothers. We just need to give her time. Here, can feed her ice chips," she said, handing him a paper cup with a spoon.
Takumi went back into the room where Misaki had her back arched and was panting.
"You're okay," Takumi comforted when Misaki started panicking again. "Here have some ice chips," he said, feeding her a spoonful.
"Do I still need this?" Misaki asked, touching the oxygen tube taped under her nose.
"I-"
"Hello, Misaki," the doctor said, returning.
"Hi…" Misaki said, weakly. "This…" she said, touching the tube under her nose.
"You were panicking when you came in," the doctor said, checking her monitors. "Did you find it hard to breath?"
Misaki nodded.
"I understand this is very scary for you," the doctor said, gently. "But I can take it out if you keep taking deep breathes."
Misaki nodded and the doctor unhooked her from it. "Just try your best to relax," she said. "Once the contractions are becoming a minute apart, I'll return," she promised. "I'm sure your husband will keep you company though," she said, smiling. "The red button is for any emergency," she added before leaving.
"Takumi," Misaki said, holding out her hand. Takumi took her hand.
"We're good," he said, pressing his lips to her knuckles. "Here, let me help you out of those shoes," he said, walking over by the end of the bed. "How do you even take these off…?" he said, examining the buckles.
"I'll leave you to it," Misaki mumbled, closing her eyes.
Takumi finally unbuckled the shoes and set them on the table. Misaki stiffened again and clenched the bed rail.
"Misaki, take a deep breath," Takumi coaxed. He might as well have been talking to a brick wall. Misaki mostly ignored him which he couldn't blame her. It looked like it really hurt.
"We can get the pain medication," Takumi added. "Do you want that?"
"NO!"
"Why not?" Takumi asked. "It's perfectly safe. Most women get it-"
A tear trickled down Misaki's face. "Please just shut up!" she said, arching her back. "JUST SHUT UP! I HATE YOU!"
Takumi offered her a tissue which she pushed away. He really wanted to comfort but she looked like she wanted the perfect reason to maim him. He decided the only help he could offer was to be silent. Her contractions were getting closer together.
Takumi casually leaned over and looked under the sheet. "You're dilating," he said, eyes wide.
"Are you looking down there?!" Misaki shrieked.
"Dilating is a good sign," the doctor said, returning. "How are you feeling, honey?"
Misaki shook her head. The doctor checked her again. She placed two fingers at her pelvis.
"We're getting closer," the doctor said, smiling. "I'm going to get a few nurses. Keep breathing."
Misaki had never felt pain like this before. She just wished everyone would go away and leave her in peace to suffer.
"Misaki," Takumi said, letting Misaki hold onto him. "Don't cry."
Misaki pressed her face against his shirt. "I don't know how long I can do this…" Misaki gasped. "I'm not going to make it."
"Listen to me," Takumi said. "Think about our daughter," he said, holding her tightly. "Both of you are going to be fine. It's the 21st century. No one dies from child birth. It's very natural."
"Okay, ready?" the doctor asked. "I'm going to have you start pushing. Push for ten seconds and rest ten seconds. Ready? Push!"
Misaki felt her nails digging into Takumi's arm but she couldn't help it.
"Hold," the doctor said, calmly. "Deep breaths."
"Like this," Takumi said, inhaling and then exhaling.
Misaki gasped for oxygen.
"You're not listening," Takumi said, wiping sweat off her forehead. "You have to set a pattern for breathing. Ready? Inhale… Exhale."
"You need to push again," the doctor said. "The baby's head is crowning! Push as hard as you can!"
"I can't do it!" Misaki screamed.
"Yes, you can," Takumi encouraged. "You're a very strong able bodied person. Think about all the weights you can lift. This is nothing," he said, wiping her neck.
"I'm done," Misaki said, her face slackening. "I really can't do it," she moaned. "I don't have any energy."
"You're so close," the doctor encouraged. "It's worth it in the end," she promised. "Trust me, honey. I've delivered hundreds of babies."
"Come on," Takumi said, leaning his head gently against her's. "Once more. Push!"
Misaki tilted her head back and screamed.
"Again!" the doctor coached.
"I never want to do this again!" Misaki cried. "I swear, Takumi, if you ever come near me again, I WILL STERILIZE YOU! I'M GOING TO- AHH!"
"That's fine. Anything you want, darling," Takumi said, his eye twitching. Did she really just say that? This childbirth stuff was serious business...
"Last one. A big one," the doctor said, smiling. "So close now."
"Push!" Takumi coached. "Come on, PUSH!"
Misaki used all the energy she had left. Once her ear piercing scream faded, she heard a softer one.
"You did it," Takumi said. "You did it!"
Misaki collapsed back. She couldn't even keep her eyes open.
"Your daughter!" the doctor said, passing the infant to a nurse to wrap up in a small blanket.
Misaki managed to open her eyes and cradle her arms to hold her baby.
"She's a beauty," the doctor said. "Though with parents like you two, I'm not surprised."
Misaki weakly nodded as she looked down at their crying daughter.
"There, there," she whispered.
Takumi tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear. "This is our daughter," he said. His face was practically lighting up.
"Takumi…" Misaki said. "I'm tired. Can you hold her?"
"I need to sit down first," Takumi said, pulling up a chair. "I think I just lost ten years of my life."
The doctor and nurses all laughed. The doctor took the baby from Misaki and let Takumi hold her.
"Name?" a nurse asked, beaming.
"Misaki?" Takumi asked.
"Hikari Walker…" Misaki breathed. "Hikari...Rose...Walker."
"What a beautiful name," the nurse said, writing it down.
"She's perfect," Takumi cooed, looking down at his daughter. "My princess," he said, looking at the fragile life in his hand. "Isn't she, Mi- Misaki?!" he exclaimed.
Her face had gone slack and there was a pool of blood.
"Bleeding is normal but Mrs. Walker's is a little too heavy. We got it under control," the doctor said, already on the move. "Beatrice. Stay to take care of the baby."
"Mr. Walker," she said, holding out her arms.
Takumi planted a tender kiss on the baby and handed her back to the nurse. His phone buzzed just as the nurse left.
"Takumi?" It was Minako.
"Mom," Takumi said. "How are-"
"How is Misaki?" Minako asked. "I saw on TV. She went into labor during the ceremony. I'm flying up. I'll be at the hospital by nightfall."
"We had some complications," Takumi said. "Placental abruption," he explained. "Her post delivery bleeding was too heavy so they got her in ER right now."
"Oh dear," Minako said. "My plane's here," she said. "I'll see you soon."
"Bye."
Takumi didn't care that he was in the hallway. He just sat down on the floor. His mind was literally fried. He could barely even remember his own name.
"Mr. Walker," a nurse said, walking by. "Feel free to clean up in one of our restrooms. Mrs. Walker's conditions have been stabilized as will be placed in a patient room very soon."
"Thank you," Takumi said, trying to remember how to move his legs.
He changed into a simple t-shirt and khakis and stuck a few band aids on the scars his wife probably would permanently leave on his arm.
"Hikari Rose Walker," he said to himself and chuckled. He had a daughter. He had a daughter!
He grabbed their bags and found Misaki's patient room. She laid on a slight incline. Her breathing was soft but her heart rate was at a steady pace.
Takumi pulled up a chair and sat beside her bedside. He gently took one of her tape covered hand and placed his over her's.
"We have a daughter," he whispered. "You and I...we have a daughter."
Takumi didn't realize how worn out he was. He gently rested his head on the edge of the mattress and fell asleep.
There was a soft knock woke him up. Takumi opened the door.
"Takumi!" Minako said, hugging Takumi.
"Mom," Takumi said, patting her.
"How is she?" Minako asked, hurrying over. "Poor baby," she said, tucking the blanket around Misaki. "She's must be exhausted."
"Today's been hard on her," Takumi agreed. "They got her medication and a blood transfusion," he told Minako. "She just needs plenty of rest now."
"Takumi," Minako said. "Could I see?"
"Oh, of course," Takumi said. "This way," he said, holding open the door.
They walked down the hall. It was quiet so late into the night.
"Number 4," Takumi said, proudly as they stood behind the glass. Inside the room was a nurse monitoring all the little incubators.
"Oh, she's beautiful!" Minako whispered. "What was the name?"
"Hikari Rose Walker," Takumi said, touching the glass. "I've only held her once but I love her so much already," Takumi sighed. "It's a really strange feeling," he added. "I always pictured loving different people like dividing up your love but I still love Misaki with all my heart but I also love Hikari just as much. It's just like I can love double the amount now."
"It's parenthood," Minako said, patting his arm. "You'll make a great father, Takumi," she said. "I could never give Misaki a completed family so I think your love for Hikari will touch her deeper than you'll understand."
Takumi nodded. "I plan on giving this daughter the best family in the world. I don't want her to have a single day where she's sad or lonely." Takumi laughed to himself. "Look at me," he said. "That's impossible but I just want so much to protect her. She's so fragile, so innocent, so pure."
"Understandable," Minako agreed. "Which parent doesn't want to protect their child?"
"It's getting late," Takumi said. "I'll have a suite setup for you."
"Oh Ta-"
"Mom," Takumi said. "Misaki will actually eat me alive if I didn't."
"You're a very good son in law."
"You're a very good mom," Takumi said.
Minako got teary eyed. "You…" she said, smiling. "I'll see you tomorrow," she promised. "I brought a whole bunch of supplements. Take care of my daughter."
"Of course," Takumi said, texting a few people. "I'll have our personal driver take you to the hotel room. Please, don't worry about the cost. I have it all covered."
Minako nodded. "I can stay," she offered. "You must be exhausted," she declared. "Oh, I almost forgot," she said, opening her purse. "I picked up these snacks for you," she said, handing him a paper bag. "Don't wear yourself out."
"I'll be fine," Takumi promised. "I'll take a break tomorrow," he opening the car door for Minako.
"I'll see you bright and early tomorrow then," Minako said.
"Yes, of course," Takumi said, closing the car door.
"I'm a grandmother," Minako said as the car pulled away. "Am I really that old?" she asked, taking out a small hand mirror. "Must be…"