AN: Well, it's been a while but I finally worked up the motivation to
finish this chapter though I had parts of it done for the past month.
Enjoy, those of you who are actually reading this fic of mine. (^_~)
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CHAPTER 3: The Request
"What did you say?"
Ayame stared blankly at his friend uncomprehendingly, vaguely sure that something had gone wrong with his hearing. He'd been expecting something completely different to follow along with his nightmarish ruminations concerning the condition of the exhausted woman he'd rushed to Hatori's, a cold or even pneumonia that could possibly pull the grieving widow after her departed husband, anything but what he thought he'd just heard. That the pale and trembling woman before him, his sister-in-law, was -
"Pregnant," Hatori repeated. "She's pregnant."
Hatori sympathized as he watched golden eyes glaze over in shock, trying to process it all. It was an amazing announcement and he completely understood what his friend was going through because he was in a similar state, not expecting this kind of turn of events in the dark light of everything else that had happened recently. He'd anticipated her collapse as being brought on by an unhealthy combination of intense emotional stress, malnourishment, and the effects of being out in the cold in inadequate clothing for an indeterminate length of time and had been prepared to make a diagnosis accordingly. But the wordless replies she'd given in the form of a nod or shaking of the head in response to his questions, compounded with the examination he'd given her body, had placed a very different spin on the situation. He'd gone into just as much shock as Tohru had, indicated by the widening of her eyes and further paling of her features when he hadn't thought such a thing possible, when he'd broken the news to her just before the door had burst open, the same muddle of emotions that Ayame was taking his turn at experiencing.
"A baby?"
The tiny whisper, in a voice cracked from disuse, had both men freezing then turning hopefully to the woman on the bed who had uttered it. It had been days since any of them had heard her articulate a word of any sort. Even Ayame who had drawn comfort from her by his brother's grave marker had done so in silence until she had collapsed and then all words spoken had been by him in his frantic bid to stir her back to consciousness. Despite the scratchiness of the voice, to them it was akin to a ray of sunshine suddenly breaking through a thick layering of black thunderclouds during a long-lasting storm, a most welcome change.
"Yes, that's right," Hatori said softly, a tiny smile of relief touching his lips at her broken silence though the expression in his eyes was still worried.
"Yuki's baby?" she whispered hoarsely, face ghostly white in shock and strain as her hand slowly came to rest on the flatness of her belly.
Ayame and Hatori exchanged concerned glances, both of them wondering just how she would take the news. She'd been under enough stress the past few days and, while news of an incoming baby was usually a happy occasion, it was also a stressful one, especially when there was only one parent left to deal with the difficulties of raising a child. Not only that, but the chances were high that, as the Jyunnishi position for the mouse was open, this baby would be the one visited with the burden of the curse. To be a Jyunnishi was undoubtedly difficult and to be the parents of one was a constant trial that, more often than not, led to the child being smothered in over protectiveness or completely shunned and despised. Either way, the threat of having one's child be born under the Jyunnishi curse was rarely a happy one and the two men wondered how the shocked woman before them would take this newest revelation. They gazed worriedly upon her pale and silent features, wondering what she was feeling, what she was thinking, and what, if anything, they could do for her.
But she was unconscious of their concentrated and concerned regard as a mix of emotions assailed her, overwhelming her with their strength: despair that her husband was still gone, happiness that Yuki had left a piece of himself behind for her to hold on to, grief that the unborn babe would grow up without a father, regret that Yuki had never known about the life they had created together before he'd been taken from her, pained and saddened that Yuki wouldn't be by her side to watch their child grow, fear that she wouldn't be able to be a good single parent, ashamed of the uncommunicative way she'd been acting these past few days that she knew had caused others to worry about her greatly, despair because she confused and at a loss over how to proceed from this point on. All of the tumultuous emotions roiling within her was just too much for her to handle silently and, covering her face with her hands, she began to cry once more, just as she had in the graveyard, heaving sobs that shook her entire body with their force and further worried the two men who were concerned about her.
"Tohru-kun!" In a sudden panicked flurry of motion, Ayame was by her side in an instant. "Are you okay?" he asked, then grimaced at the stupid question.
Ayame's frantic tone reaching her, Tohru's crying died down to sniffling though tears continued to trail down her cheeks. She knew she'd already caused everyone enough worries about her with her shameful behavior the past few days and wanted to make up for it a little by, at the very least, avoiding bringing them any more reason to fret over her. And she knew that, if Yuki were here, he'd scold her gently over how silly she was being. Though thoughts of him made the rain of tears fall faster from her eyes, she did her best to calm her erratic emotions enough to send a trembling watery smile into Ayame's anxious features.
"I'm okay," she whispered hoarsely.
"That's good," Ayame responded, though his expression was doubtful.
Ayame, himself, was far from being alright and knew that she had to even farther away from being so but he didn't know how else to respond. Stunned by all that had happened in the past few days, in the past few hours even, he wasn't sure what to do and it made him feel awkward and unsure. And he felt immensely guilty that, after all the shocks she'd endured, here she was trying to comfort him by working up a reassuring smile when it was obviously a great effort that he didn't feel he deserved.
Hatori's gaze was serious as he took in the tableau before him. Tohru's fragile emotional state was obvious and her reaction to the news of a baby was troubling which, given the circumstances, was perfectly understandable. Still, understandable or not, all of it made the doctor fear for her health, a fear that was behind the reason why he was even contemplating the idea in his mind. Though he was loath to support such a decision, he felt that she of all people, after all the hardships she'd already endured in her young life and those that may have yet to come, deserved the chance to make this choice.
"Tohru-san," he voiced softly, waiting until her full attention was focused on him. His expression was of the utmost solemnity, enforcing the gravity of the situation upon her before he made his offer. "As of this moment, only the three of us know about this. And we can keep it that way."
"Hatori-san?" Tohru's weak voice reflected her obvious confusion.
Hatori sighed, realizing that, with her, this wasn't a topic he could be obscure about. Face serious and reflecting his weariness, he told her, "If you think this is too much for you to handle, I'm willing to help you get an abortion. It's not too late."
"What?" She was shocked.
"Tori-san!" Ayame was horrified. "How can you suggest something like that?" He became angry. "To Yuki's child?"
"Be quiet and listen," Hatori snapped. "I don't enjoy voicing these suggestions any more than you do hearing them but it's not our decision to make. It's hers. In this world, two parents raising a child is already a difficult enough task but it's even more so for a single one. It's made even worse with the possibilities of other things." The threat of the Jyunnishi curse was left unsaid. "She has a chance to turn away from it the way the rest of us can't. If we keep this between the three of us, it's possible to avoid anyone else knowing about this until the abortion is over."
Ayame frowned, saying nothing but still looking upset while Tohru was still in silent shock.
Hatori's tone softened. "Also, with her current health, it's unlikely that she'd be able to carry the baby to term. If things continue on like this, she'd be putting herself at risk to even try."
Ayame paled, liking that thought even less. He swallowed hard and nodded, blinking back tears at the idea that he'd never see his unborn nephew. "If that's for the best, then-"
"No!"
The sharp exclamation had both men turning in surprise to see Tohru, still pale, gazing back at them with a determined expression, the lines of her face clearly conveying their upset. Obviously, she had overcome her silent shock and was ready to voice her own opinion on the matter at hand, which she did quite simply as was in her nature.
"This child is Yuki's," she said straightforwardly. "I'm keeping him. No matter what, so don't try to change my mind."
Ayame looked worried. "But your health-"
"I'll be fine if I just take better care of myself." She turned anxious eyes to the doctor. "Right, Hatori-san?"
"Well, yes." Hatori gave a little sigh of relief at her determination and decision though he was still concerned. "But it'll have to be very good care and you can't overexert yourself. I mean it." He gave her a stern look. "And expect to receive regular check-ups from me."
She gave him a wobbly smile. "Okay."
Hatori's expression turned more reflective, though no less serious. "This will change a lot of things." He hesitated for a heartbeat but finally broached the subject that had been bothering him. "First off, where do you want to stay? Here at the Honke? Or back at Shigure's?"
She was sure Hatori was recalling her panic attack the last time they were at Shigure's and knew that it was a valid question. Despite her determination to keep the child, she wasn't deluded enough to think that everything would go smoothly from this point on, not when she still felt so much grief for Yuki lying within her heart. Even now, this moment still held a surreal feel to her as a part of her couldn't believe that he was truly gone, that he wasn't waiting for her back at the home they'd made in Shigure's house. Was going back to that house so full of memories of the two of them something she could do? She wasn't sure but she wanted to try.
"I think," she said uncertainly, "I want to go back to Shigure-san's."
"Do you think you're ready for that?" Hatori asked gravely.
"Probably not." She gave a weak laugh. "But I think that, the longer I wait, the harder it will be for me to try." Her expression turned sadly wistful. "And, also, if at all possible, I'd like for the baby to grow up in a place surrounded by Yuki's presence."
Hatori's face gentled. "I see." Then he frowned. "But I don't think staying in that house with just you and Shigure is a very good idea. I'm sure he'll do his best to help with as much as he can but Shigure is," he searched for fruitlessly for the words to describe him, "well, Shigure." Worried lines creased his face. "I'll get out there as much as I can but most of my time is taken up here."
"That's okay." Tohru shook her head. "I don't want to put anyone through that much trouble on my account."
"It's no trouble," he said firmly. "You're an important member of this family so your good health is a top concern." He tilted his head thinking. "Perhaps we can find someone else to stay with you. Maybe-"
"I'll do it," Ayame broke in decisively.
Hatori blinked. "Ayame?"
"I can do it." Suddenly he looked uncertain. "Can't I?"
Caught by his tone, Tohru softened. "Of course." Her smile was warm. "If Shigure-san doesn't mind and it's not too much of a bother-"
"It's not," Ayame stated emphatically. "After all, it's my rightful duty as uncle to the baby, isn't it?"
"Then I would appreciate your help very much," Tohru told him. Her expressing was bittersweet. "Yuki would like that as well, I'm sure. He would like his brother to help raise his son."
"Son?" Hatori questioned, surprised. "It's still too soon to tell."
"I'm sure it's a boy," Tohru said confidently, obviously quite sure about this.
Hatori remained silent, refraining from bursting her bubble. It was too soon to tell, after all.
"A nephew, huh?" Ayame was taken with the idea. "Well, then. We should get started with preparations." He was now a flurry of activity, gesturing his hands with every word. "I need to speak to Gure-san about staying over, then collect some things from home and move them over. Also, we need to see to collecting Tohru-kun's things from the Honke and moving them back. And then-"
"Excuse me," Tohru tentatively broke in. She wrung her hands nervously. "Before anything else is decided, I have one request to make."
Hatori and Ayame exchanged glances before turning to look back at her.
"What is it?" Hatori asked.
"Akito-san," Tohru said seriously. "I want to meet with him."
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CHAPTER 3: The Request
"What did you say?"
Ayame stared blankly at his friend uncomprehendingly, vaguely sure that something had gone wrong with his hearing. He'd been expecting something completely different to follow along with his nightmarish ruminations concerning the condition of the exhausted woman he'd rushed to Hatori's, a cold or even pneumonia that could possibly pull the grieving widow after her departed husband, anything but what he thought he'd just heard. That the pale and trembling woman before him, his sister-in-law, was -
"Pregnant," Hatori repeated. "She's pregnant."
Hatori sympathized as he watched golden eyes glaze over in shock, trying to process it all. It was an amazing announcement and he completely understood what his friend was going through because he was in a similar state, not expecting this kind of turn of events in the dark light of everything else that had happened recently. He'd anticipated her collapse as being brought on by an unhealthy combination of intense emotional stress, malnourishment, and the effects of being out in the cold in inadequate clothing for an indeterminate length of time and had been prepared to make a diagnosis accordingly. But the wordless replies she'd given in the form of a nod or shaking of the head in response to his questions, compounded with the examination he'd given her body, had placed a very different spin on the situation. He'd gone into just as much shock as Tohru had, indicated by the widening of her eyes and further paling of her features when he hadn't thought such a thing possible, when he'd broken the news to her just before the door had burst open, the same muddle of emotions that Ayame was taking his turn at experiencing.
"A baby?"
The tiny whisper, in a voice cracked from disuse, had both men freezing then turning hopefully to the woman on the bed who had uttered it. It had been days since any of them had heard her articulate a word of any sort. Even Ayame who had drawn comfort from her by his brother's grave marker had done so in silence until she had collapsed and then all words spoken had been by him in his frantic bid to stir her back to consciousness. Despite the scratchiness of the voice, to them it was akin to a ray of sunshine suddenly breaking through a thick layering of black thunderclouds during a long-lasting storm, a most welcome change.
"Yes, that's right," Hatori said softly, a tiny smile of relief touching his lips at her broken silence though the expression in his eyes was still worried.
"Yuki's baby?" she whispered hoarsely, face ghostly white in shock and strain as her hand slowly came to rest on the flatness of her belly.
Ayame and Hatori exchanged concerned glances, both of them wondering just how she would take the news. She'd been under enough stress the past few days and, while news of an incoming baby was usually a happy occasion, it was also a stressful one, especially when there was only one parent left to deal with the difficulties of raising a child. Not only that, but the chances were high that, as the Jyunnishi position for the mouse was open, this baby would be the one visited with the burden of the curse. To be a Jyunnishi was undoubtedly difficult and to be the parents of one was a constant trial that, more often than not, led to the child being smothered in over protectiveness or completely shunned and despised. Either way, the threat of having one's child be born under the Jyunnishi curse was rarely a happy one and the two men wondered how the shocked woman before them would take this newest revelation. They gazed worriedly upon her pale and silent features, wondering what she was feeling, what she was thinking, and what, if anything, they could do for her.
But she was unconscious of their concentrated and concerned regard as a mix of emotions assailed her, overwhelming her with their strength: despair that her husband was still gone, happiness that Yuki had left a piece of himself behind for her to hold on to, grief that the unborn babe would grow up without a father, regret that Yuki had never known about the life they had created together before he'd been taken from her, pained and saddened that Yuki wouldn't be by her side to watch their child grow, fear that she wouldn't be able to be a good single parent, ashamed of the uncommunicative way she'd been acting these past few days that she knew had caused others to worry about her greatly, despair because she confused and at a loss over how to proceed from this point on. All of the tumultuous emotions roiling within her was just too much for her to handle silently and, covering her face with her hands, she began to cry once more, just as she had in the graveyard, heaving sobs that shook her entire body with their force and further worried the two men who were concerned about her.
"Tohru-kun!" In a sudden panicked flurry of motion, Ayame was by her side in an instant. "Are you okay?" he asked, then grimaced at the stupid question.
Ayame's frantic tone reaching her, Tohru's crying died down to sniffling though tears continued to trail down her cheeks. She knew she'd already caused everyone enough worries about her with her shameful behavior the past few days and wanted to make up for it a little by, at the very least, avoiding bringing them any more reason to fret over her. And she knew that, if Yuki were here, he'd scold her gently over how silly she was being. Though thoughts of him made the rain of tears fall faster from her eyes, she did her best to calm her erratic emotions enough to send a trembling watery smile into Ayame's anxious features.
"I'm okay," she whispered hoarsely.
"That's good," Ayame responded, though his expression was doubtful.
Ayame, himself, was far from being alright and knew that she had to even farther away from being so but he didn't know how else to respond. Stunned by all that had happened in the past few days, in the past few hours even, he wasn't sure what to do and it made him feel awkward and unsure. And he felt immensely guilty that, after all the shocks she'd endured, here she was trying to comfort him by working up a reassuring smile when it was obviously a great effort that he didn't feel he deserved.
Hatori's gaze was serious as he took in the tableau before him. Tohru's fragile emotional state was obvious and her reaction to the news of a baby was troubling which, given the circumstances, was perfectly understandable. Still, understandable or not, all of it made the doctor fear for her health, a fear that was behind the reason why he was even contemplating the idea in his mind. Though he was loath to support such a decision, he felt that she of all people, after all the hardships she'd already endured in her young life and those that may have yet to come, deserved the chance to make this choice.
"Tohru-san," he voiced softly, waiting until her full attention was focused on him. His expression was of the utmost solemnity, enforcing the gravity of the situation upon her before he made his offer. "As of this moment, only the three of us know about this. And we can keep it that way."
"Hatori-san?" Tohru's weak voice reflected her obvious confusion.
Hatori sighed, realizing that, with her, this wasn't a topic he could be obscure about. Face serious and reflecting his weariness, he told her, "If you think this is too much for you to handle, I'm willing to help you get an abortion. It's not too late."
"What?" She was shocked.
"Tori-san!" Ayame was horrified. "How can you suggest something like that?" He became angry. "To Yuki's child?"
"Be quiet and listen," Hatori snapped. "I don't enjoy voicing these suggestions any more than you do hearing them but it's not our decision to make. It's hers. In this world, two parents raising a child is already a difficult enough task but it's even more so for a single one. It's made even worse with the possibilities of other things." The threat of the Jyunnishi curse was left unsaid. "She has a chance to turn away from it the way the rest of us can't. If we keep this between the three of us, it's possible to avoid anyone else knowing about this until the abortion is over."
Ayame frowned, saying nothing but still looking upset while Tohru was still in silent shock.
Hatori's tone softened. "Also, with her current health, it's unlikely that she'd be able to carry the baby to term. If things continue on like this, she'd be putting herself at risk to even try."
Ayame paled, liking that thought even less. He swallowed hard and nodded, blinking back tears at the idea that he'd never see his unborn nephew. "If that's for the best, then-"
"No!"
The sharp exclamation had both men turning in surprise to see Tohru, still pale, gazing back at them with a determined expression, the lines of her face clearly conveying their upset. Obviously, she had overcome her silent shock and was ready to voice her own opinion on the matter at hand, which she did quite simply as was in her nature.
"This child is Yuki's," she said straightforwardly. "I'm keeping him. No matter what, so don't try to change my mind."
Ayame looked worried. "But your health-"
"I'll be fine if I just take better care of myself." She turned anxious eyes to the doctor. "Right, Hatori-san?"
"Well, yes." Hatori gave a little sigh of relief at her determination and decision though he was still concerned. "But it'll have to be very good care and you can't overexert yourself. I mean it." He gave her a stern look. "And expect to receive regular check-ups from me."
She gave him a wobbly smile. "Okay."
Hatori's expression turned more reflective, though no less serious. "This will change a lot of things." He hesitated for a heartbeat but finally broached the subject that had been bothering him. "First off, where do you want to stay? Here at the Honke? Or back at Shigure's?"
She was sure Hatori was recalling her panic attack the last time they were at Shigure's and knew that it was a valid question. Despite her determination to keep the child, she wasn't deluded enough to think that everything would go smoothly from this point on, not when she still felt so much grief for Yuki lying within her heart. Even now, this moment still held a surreal feel to her as a part of her couldn't believe that he was truly gone, that he wasn't waiting for her back at the home they'd made in Shigure's house. Was going back to that house so full of memories of the two of them something she could do? She wasn't sure but she wanted to try.
"I think," she said uncertainly, "I want to go back to Shigure-san's."
"Do you think you're ready for that?" Hatori asked gravely.
"Probably not." She gave a weak laugh. "But I think that, the longer I wait, the harder it will be for me to try." Her expression turned sadly wistful. "And, also, if at all possible, I'd like for the baby to grow up in a place surrounded by Yuki's presence."
Hatori's face gentled. "I see." Then he frowned. "But I don't think staying in that house with just you and Shigure is a very good idea. I'm sure he'll do his best to help with as much as he can but Shigure is," he searched for fruitlessly for the words to describe him, "well, Shigure." Worried lines creased his face. "I'll get out there as much as I can but most of my time is taken up here."
"That's okay." Tohru shook her head. "I don't want to put anyone through that much trouble on my account."
"It's no trouble," he said firmly. "You're an important member of this family so your good health is a top concern." He tilted his head thinking. "Perhaps we can find someone else to stay with you. Maybe-"
"I'll do it," Ayame broke in decisively.
Hatori blinked. "Ayame?"
"I can do it." Suddenly he looked uncertain. "Can't I?"
Caught by his tone, Tohru softened. "Of course." Her smile was warm. "If Shigure-san doesn't mind and it's not too much of a bother-"
"It's not," Ayame stated emphatically. "After all, it's my rightful duty as uncle to the baby, isn't it?"
"Then I would appreciate your help very much," Tohru told him. Her expressing was bittersweet. "Yuki would like that as well, I'm sure. He would like his brother to help raise his son."
"Son?" Hatori questioned, surprised. "It's still too soon to tell."
"I'm sure it's a boy," Tohru said confidently, obviously quite sure about this.
Hatori remained silent, refraining from bursting her bubble. It was too soon to tell, after all.
"A nephew, huh?" Ayame was taken with the idea. "Well, then. We should get started with preparations." He was now a flurry of activity, gesturing his hands with every word. "I need to speak to Gure-san about staying over, then collect some things from home and move them over. Also, we need to see to collecting Tohru-kun's things from the Honke and moving them back. And then-"
"Excuse me," Tohru tentatively broke in. She wrung her hands nervously. "Before anything else is decided, I have one request to make."
Hatori and Ayame exchanged glances before turning to look back at her.
"What is it?" Hatori asked.
"Akito-san," Tohru said seriously. "I want to meet with him."