I think, this is what people call a surprise chapter? I don't know if this is drama, fluffiness and whatever overload…

Higher than the Wind

Special: The After Story

When Tsugi's pregnancy was confirmed barely three months after their marriage, chaos ensued in the Yukimura household. As a mean of comparison; if she was a Princess before her pregnancy, she was now the Empress Dowager of the house. Yukimura's parents were needless to say delighted that they were going to have grandchildren so soon, and Kurumi smiled in anticipation of the arrival of her nephew or niece.

Contrary to most first-time fathers, Yukimura was extremely relaxed when he received the news from the doctor. That wasn't to say that he wasn't happy, he just wasn't as worked up as people expected him to be.

When Renji asked him why he was so calm, Yukimura's answer turned the brown-haired male into stone.

"It's only to be expected, Renji. With the frequency of… To be honest, I'm surprised that it took three months."

And when Renji returned to reality, he looked at Yukimura with a quaint, eerie glow in his eyes which conveyed something to his cousin-in-law.

… You really didn't have to tell me about what happens behind closed doors.

As for Tsugi herself, she was surprised and elated at the same time. She had always adored children, and forming a family with the man she loves was a live fairy tale. Because she had yet to settle down on a job, it was decided that her job-hunting should be postponed until the child was delivered.

Who would know that this suspension would be forever?

When she was about six months into pregnancy, Yukimura began taking off days to accompany Tsugi on her maternity check-ups.

"You shouldn't waste your holidays now, Seiichi," Tsugi had frowned in disapproval, "There's a long way to go until the due date."

"It's fine," Yukimura assured her in return, "Atobe-kun doesn't mind." After terminating his professional sports career, Yukimura entered Atobe's company. It was only recently that the blue-haired man found out that he was working for his ex-rival too.

"Still, people might start talking about you," Tsugi shook her head, "Kurumi can accompany me in your stead if you're so worried."

Yukimura laughed and caressed her stomach with a fond expression, "Tsugi, this is our child. I want to see the record of his growth too. From the time he's still a foetus, to when he's born, an infant, a toddler, a kid, and teenager – that's when we met." His eyes twinkled. "Thinking about how he would grow up and find someone he loves just like you and I makes me feel old, and he's not even born yet." He finished off with a laugh, it was bright like she had remembered from their teens.

Time had only made minimum changes to their appearances, in their hearts they were still the same, only more mature and stronger.

Tsugi's expression softened and she said teasingly, "You've been using 'he' to refer to our child, does that mean you don't want a girl?"

"I want both a boy and a girl," Yukimura answered, "But I'd like our first child to be a boy so that he can protect his younger sister."

"Hmm," Tsugi hummed in response. She had been a single child, so she didn't know how an older sibling should act.

Smiling, Yukimura stroked her hair, "shall we make our way to the hospital? Or are you still going to drive me back to the company?" It was Yukimura's turn to tease her; he could see that she had been convinced.

Rolling her eyes, Tsugi stood up and said, "Let's go, Seiichi."

"Yes, milady."

~x~

The result of this particular maternity check-up was worrying. The ultrasound scanning revealed that the position of the foetus wasn't quite right, so there was a high possibility than Tsugi would encounter dystopia during the delivery.

Yukimura was severely upset by the news. In fact, if time could rewind… he might opt for an abortion if it was possible. Rather than sitting back and waiting for both his wife and child to be put in a dangerous situation, Yukimura was extremely sorry to say that he'd make a despicable choice. But Tsugi was already six month pregnant and an abortion now was as dangerous as childbirth. Besides, he knew her and she'd never agree to this.

"It's alright, Seiichi," Tsugi told him with a smile, "don't worry about us. We'd be safe."

To which Yukimura responded with a feeble smile of his own. There was nothing he could do other than to hope for the best.

~x~

But of course, as he had already learnt before, Fate was the vilest and most callous being on Earth.

Despite them having tried to rectify the foetus' position by exercising; eating nutritious food and even talking to the child whom was still in Tsugi's womb, the worst still occurred during the childbirth.

Yukimura gripped his fists, his usually serene ocean-blue eyes were completely bloodshot. Tsugi had been inside the delivery room for almost 18 hours already. The doctor told him that the umbilical cord was around the foetus' neck, and they had to be careful or else the foetus would be strangled to death even before his or her birth.

He accepted that explanation. But 18 whole hours? He had heard that childbirth was a painful and sometimes traumatizing experience for women, yet during the whole duration of the delivery, he didn't hear even a moan from Tsugi who was behind the doors of the delivery room.

Yukimura knew why, but can't she realize that he'd only be even more worried if she doesn't scream at all? He could only pace to and fro in front of the delivery room, waiting with a weary heart for the results to be announced.

Please, he prayed, please let them be safe. He'd trade anything for the safety of his wife and child.

Other than his own family, even members of the Yanagi family, inclusive of Tsugi's parents; Renji's parents and Renji himself along with his sister Sachiko dropped by and advised him to get some rest.

He shook his head, and politely rejected their offers to take over his position while he cleaned himself up; the stubs on his chin were starting to show; saying that he'd be alright. In the end even Atobe came by to check on him, and the King was the only one to waggle his brows and walk off without saying anything.

Nothing that they say can drive him away. He needed to feel that he was there with her.

~x~

The situation was really dire behind the doors. Even though Tsugi's body was extremely fit due to her years of tennis experience, this was nonetheless a dangerous delivery for her. Her strength had been sapped away and yet it seemed that there was no sight of her child being delivered soon. The medics even fed her some fluid food to replenish her strength; her entire body was aching and it seemed that her brains wanted nothing more than to shut down and rest.

But she couldn't. She knew she couldn't. Her child was still in her and she must help him to be born. She could feel that it was a boy now; even though she and Yukimura opted not to perform a gender check; she couldn't explain how. But she was convinced that he was a boy, an extremely strong boy at that.

She couldn't let her child suffocate to death within her womb without even having a chance to inhale a breath of air from the world he deserved. This was her responsibility as a mother.

With that thought in mind, she persevered, and finally –

"The amniotic fluid is coming out! Yukimura-san, can you still hear us? Start pushing at the count of three," the chief surgeon exclaimed, relieved that they were finally making progress.

Tsugi nodded and she closed her eyes, biting into the piece of cloth she had requested from the medical team to prevent a scream.

"One, two, three, push!"

She obliged, but she felt like there was a lack of supply of oxygen to her head.

"Hold in there, Yukimura-san, you're doing well, I can see the child's head now, just a while more! Push!"

She was feeling more and more giddy, how tiresome…

"Yes, the head is coming out nicely, you can do it, Yukimura-san, Don't blackout now! Your child needs you! You've held in there for so long already, this is the last lap! If you don't do it, your child will never be born!"

Never be born!? That spurred her on and instilled a surge of strength in her, she bit on the cloth and pushed one last time –

"Uwahhhh!" The loud cry of the newly born infant filled the room and beyond the walls.

"Congratulations, Mrs Yukimura! You bore a son!"

A son? She knew it. Tsugi smiled, her eyelids falling over, since he's born… Her job is done.

She closed her eyes and allowed darkness to take over.

~x~

When Yukimura finally heard the sound of a baby's cry, his eyes widened and he felt warm liquid attempting to squeeze out from the corners of his eyes.

It was 3am in the morning, and he was the only person there; a husband and father desperately waiting for his wife and child. When the chief surgeon came out holding a baby lined up in linen cloths, he found himself unable to control his tears.

"Congratulations, Yukimura-san, your wife bore you a son! Both mother and child are safe," the chief surgeon smiled and offered the child to Yukimura; this would be his only chance to hold his child for a while. For the next few days, he'd have to be placed in the infant room.

"Thank you, doctor, thank you so much…" Yukimura was surprised by how raspy he sounded. He carefully took over the little bundle of joy from the surgeon, and peered down at his child. His skin was red and wrinkly, but Yukimura thought he looked beautiful. Beautiful like his mother.

Like he knew that he was being held by his father, the baby cautiously opened his eyes and peered at Yukimura curiously. Beneath the tiny eyelids were brilliant ocean-blues very much similar to his father's eyes. They were crystal-clear blues which were so very dazzling. Yukimura held his breath, and whispered softly.

"Kaito. Your name will be Kaito."

~x~

"Kaa-san, kaa-san, will tou-san be home soon?" asked the dark-haired boy whose sparkling blue eyes much resembled his father's. The little stubby figure was leaning over the sofa's armrest, lips set in a pout and toys long discarded aside. He was looking into the kitchen where a beautiful black-haired lady was standing in front of the stove. The lady, upon hearing her son's voice, turned her head and smiled tenderly at the sulky child.

"Tou-san said that he will be back before 7, Kaito just has to wait a while more, alright?" said the lady, her voice was crisp and it had a tranquilising effect.

"Okay, kaa-san," albeit unwilling, the boy could only nod as he glanced up at the clock, only to lose his vigour and listlessly hang over the sofa's armrest. 6.30. There was half an hour to go. The boy's face was downcast with disappointment.

Like most other kids of his age, seven year old Yukimura Kaito absolutely worshipped his father who – rather amusingly, used to be known as the 'Child of God' – and always stuck to his father whenever there was an opportunity to. Today especially, Kaito was looking forward to his father's return because he had finally mastered the drop shot which his father was teaching him the day before.

Tsugi's eyes twinkled with merriment when she saw Kaito's unusual restlessness. It was rare of Kaito, her first born son who took after Yukimura and her in terms of his personality to be so fidgety. He was a kid who took care of himself, quite unlike her terror of a daughter.

At that thought, a little girl waddled through the door of the nursery on the first floor.

"Mama, is Aunt Kurumi going to visit soon?" asked the girl who bore a strong resemblance to Tsugi in terms of looks and she stared up at her mother through innocuous pools of greens.

"Megumi! How did you get out from your playpen?" Tsugi frowned and scolded her daughter gently, quickly washing her hands and taking off her apron. She walked over to the three year old Yukimura Megumi and scooped her up in her arms. "Aunt Kurumi left for America just recently, Megumi can see her in two weeks' time. Sit on the sofa with Kaito and don't run around the house!" Tsugi warned the little girl. The kid had a bad record with her caretakers, often pulling pranks and vandalising the furniture in the house. In contrast to the obedient Kaito, three year old Megumi was a source of headache for the family. Funny enough, the only person who was capable of keeping Megumi in check was her reserved aunt, Yukimura Kurumi.

"Okay, mama," Megumi obediently sat down and blinked her eyes in an adorable fashion in a bid to win her mother's affection. Tsugi was unaffected, she knew her daughter best. This might work on her father but it wouldn't work on her.

Megumi pouted and lowered her head, deciding to play with her own fingers.

"Kaito, watch out for your sister. If she tries climbing off the sofa, don't hesitate and call for me, alright?" Tsugi turned to her reliable elder son and told him with a sigh.

"Okay, kaa-san," Kaito nodded, "I'll take care of Megumi!"

Tsugi smiled and ruffled Kaito's hair.

Perhaps her warning worked, or Kaito did a terrific job; until Yukimura's return, there wasn't any ruckus in the living room.

At 7, a click was heard at the main door.

"Tou-san/papa!" Kaito and Megumi cried out in unison and Kaito quickly jumped off the sofa, after which he carried Megumi down in a cautious manner. This was overseen by Tsugi who was also coming out from the kitchen, and she smiled at the sight of Kaito caring for his sister. Honestly, Kaito was alike his father in so many ways.

"Kaito, Megumi," 29 year old Yukimura didn't look different from the time he was a professional tennis player, his facial features were a little deeper and well-defined perhaps, but by and large he looked the same. He knelt down and hugged his two children who rushed into his arms, each offering him a hug and kiss on the cheeks.

"Welcome back, Seiichi," Tsugi waited until he released the kids before she walked up to him, and he smiled at her softly.

"Tsugi," he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her on the lips.

Kaito blushed upon seeing his parents' intimate act; he was already 7 and had a very sketchy idea of what romance was about. Megumi on the other hand chirped happily and tugged at the fabric of her father's pants, smiling widely like she had the world if he was there.

Tsugi made a face at him and bent down to pick up Megumi. When possible, she always avoided letting Megumi run around because she tended to run into things. She set her down on her toddler's chair while Yukimura held Kaito's hand and walked over with him.

"Itadakimasu~!" Kaito and Megumi held their cutleries and chanted enthusiastically before digging in. Because Megumi was still young, she was using fork and spoon.

When nightfall came about and they tucked the kids in, Yukimura noticed that Tsugi seemed to have something to tell him. He pulled her close and asked softly, "Is there something of the matter?"

Tsugi bit down on her lower lip; it was a habit she couldn't get out of. "Yes, actually."

"What is it? I can accept anything except a divorce," said Yukimura jokingly.

Tsugi rolled her eyes at him, "You know I wouldn't – unless you cheat on me."

"And you know that's impossible," Yukimura reassured her, "so what is it about?"

"Seiichi, have you thought about having… another addition to our family?" Tsugi began striking from the periphery, looking him in the eyes.

Yukimura shook his head, "You know if it wasn't for your request I wouldn't let you have Megumi." His memory of Kaito's birth was vivid in his mind. After the birth of Kaito, Yukimura decided that one child was enough – but Tsugi wanted another one, and it took some time for her to convince him which was why the age gap between Kaito and Megumi is a little big.

"I know where you're coming from but what if I told you that you don't have a choice?" Tsugi closed her eyes after saying that, because she knew that with his intelligence Yukimura would be able to figure out where this was going.

"… Impossible, we had been taking precautions."

"There was one time you didn't," Tsugi reminded him, her face was already turning red. This was an awkward topic no matter how many years they had been married.

With just that one time? Yukimura stared at Tsugi in disbelief. Seriously?

"I went to the doctor last Saturday and the results came out today. Don't ever think about an abortion! That's plain horrible!" Tsugi glared at Yukimura when he appeared thoughtful.

He smiled, not denying because it did pop up in his mind for a moment. A very brief moment. Of course, it was immediately dissipated.

"It's… a little surprising, and if I had a choice you know what I'd choose but since it's already done," Yukimura put a hand on Tsugi's stomach, "I'm happy. Truly." But worried too.

"Seiichi, I know you're worried but this is our third," Tsugi smiled softly, "besides, Megumi's birth was nothing like Kaito's, right?" Her second child delivery was extremely smooth and took barely two hours.

"You're right," Seiichi agreed, "Have you told our parents?"

"Not yet, I figured I should tell you first," Tsugi hugged him and he pat her back.

"We'd tell them this weekend," Yukimura smiled and said in a lightly admonishing tone when he remembered what he saw earlier, "You shouldn't be carrying Megumi."

"I'll keep that in mind," Tsugi nodded and sighed softly, "Seiichi, I'm glad that I have you."

"As I am too, Tsugi," Yukimura pulled back and looked at Tsugi in the eyes. He kissed her on her forehead and said, "Rest well."

"I always do, because you're next to me," Tsugi lay down and stifled a yawn, "good night, Seiichi."

"Good night, Tsugi."

*Edit 10/5/14* You know how I said I didn't proofread this and I wouldn't do it because the fluffiness choked myself? Well my perfectionist instincts kicked in and I felt that I had to. This time it's really the final chapter :) I hope those people who were looking forward to Yukimura and Tsugi's post-marriage life are satisfied with this! It's rather brief but well – the key points are there. :)