"Was this Okaasan's idea, by any chance?" Kotoko asked her husband.

He smiled apologetically. "Yes, although I really should've thought of it myself. One last romantic dinner, while it's still just the two of us."

She gave him a small, strained smile as she speared a lettuce leaf with her fork. "Well, you're going along with it, so I'll give you the credit anyway."

He looked carefully at her. "If you're not feeling up to it, we can try again another night."

"No, no!" She waved her hands at him. "My poor mood is probably due to my enforced inactivity."

He chuckled. "Yes, you and Nobuhiro both have been suffering with that! At least yours will be coming to an end soon."

"Naoki," she stared at him intently, "what are Nobuhiro-kun's chances?"

"If a compatible kidney becomes available, he has a good chance, provided his health doesn't deteriorate much more."

Kotoko clasped her hands together and closed her eyes. "Then I pray even harder that it happens soon!"

"So do I—" He broke off as his phone rang."Sorry. It's the hospital," he apologized as he pulled it out.

She nodded at him and returned listlessly to her salad.

"When?" Naoki was staring at her with incredulity. "He actually said that?" After a pause, "I'm not sure, but we're going to find him!" He ended the call then reached out to grab Kotoko's hand. "That was Nishigaki-san. They've located a kidney for Nobuhiro. Your prayers must really be effective."

"How wonderful!" Kotoko's face lit up. "Do you need to go back for the surgery?"

"Well, yes, but Nobuhiro has disappeared."

"What?!"

"He told the doctor that he wasn't sure about it and hung up, and now he's blocking his calls."

"Oh, no!" Kotoko's hands flew to her face. "We must find him!"

"Not a problem." Naoki began running his finger over the screen. "Bingo! In the park not far from our house."

"What did you do?" Kotoko asked. "Put a tracker on his phone?"

"Yes," he grinned at her, "just a little app that lets me know its location."

"Have you done that to anyone else?" Kotoko stared at him.

"Only you. I didn't want you to go missing this far along in your pregnancy."

Kotoko got to her feet clumsily. "We'll discuss this invasion of privacy at a later date. Nobuhiro-kun is more important right now. And I think I know exactly where in that park he is!"

Just as Kotoko had predicted, Nobuhiro was idly swinging in the children's play area. "We always stop here and rest before returning to the house," she confided in Naoki. "Hey!" she called to her husband, who was at that point halfway to the younger man, then shrugged. "Doctor first, husband second right now, I guess."

The two were already in conversation by the time she arrived. "I feel like if I take this kidney that it will be my last chance. What if my body rejects it? Will my drugs be even less effective if that happens?"

"Why are you borrowing trouble? Don't you understand that this is your best opportunity at this moment?"

Nobuhiro leaned his head back and looked at the starry sky above him. "Intellectually, yes. But it's almost as if I'm being rushed into a decision."

"Yes, you are," Naoki agreed. "It's not a live donor, so there's an 'expiration date'—so to speak—on the organ."

"Rushed into a decision?!" Kotoko burst out as she joined them. "How dare you?!"

"How dare I?" he responded with equal heat. "It's easy for you to say. The probability of you being back to good health soon is much higher than mine. You and the doctors, acting so superior, like know-it-alls—"

Whack! Kotoko slapped him so hard that the swing made a half rotation. "Do you think we're pushing you just for a power trip?" she accused him, tears spurting from her eyes. "It's because we care about you! And seeing you weaken day by day," she wiped her nose with her sleeve, "well, it's not making mefeel any better."

"Kotoko, calm down…"

"Kotoko, I—"

"Both of you! Shut up!" she shouted. "Nobuhiro-kun, you get yourself in that car and let us take you to the hospital before Nishigaki-sensei calls out the army to search for you!" She stomped her foot. "And I mean now!"

A slow grin spread across Nobuhiro's face. "Yes, ma'am!"

Naoki took his wife's arm and helped her back to the vehicle, her breaths coming in fits and starts, thanks to the exertion and emotions. "Kotoko, you are amazing," he whispered.

Kotoko stood near Naoki, next to the rolling bed holding Nobuhiro, now capped and with an IV inserted. "You'll be just fine. Nishigaki-sensei is one of the best surgeons in Tokyo, plus my husband will be assisting. And my friend Tomoko-san will be one of the nurses. You couldn't have more talented people in there with you."

"I'd feel better if you could stay with me," he whispered. "Just holding my hand for luck."

She gave him a wavering smile. "Not on your life, buddy. Needles and blood are not my thing."

Nobuhiro laughed weakly. "Says the woman who's almost nine months pregnant."

"This and that are two separate things." She leaned down and kissed him. "There! Another lucky kiss from Kotorin."

"Don't make the doctor jealous," he kidded. "Else the scalpel might slip!"

Once Nobuhiro was wheeled through the surgery doors, she backed up to the wall and breathed deeply for several seconds. "Okay!" she said aloud to herself, "now to the next step."

She walked down to the nurses' station to ask for Marina and was directed to the storage room. Nearing it, she heard her voice and walked right in, only to stagger backwards and cling to the door frame. "Marina-san," she gasped as the nurse and Funatsu broke apart from an embrace.

"Ah, Kotoko-san!" Marina exclaimed, face reddening. "We were just—"

"Yeah, yeah, I know," Kotoko panted. "I need—oops!" Her ankles were splashed by the water that suddenly hit the floor between her feet.

"Yikes!" Marina ran to stabilize her stance. "Funatsu-san! Do you want to stay with her or fetch a wheelchair?"

"I'll stay!" Funatsu placed an arm around her waist as Marina sped down the corridor.

Kotoko grinned up at him shakily. "I see things are finally going well for you two."

"Never mind that!" he chided her, blushing. "Have you been having contractions?"

"I haven't felt good all day, and I was feeling tightness every now and then. I just thought they were buxom heights, though."

Not as accustomed to Kotoko-speak, it took him a minute to understand. Just then Marina came running back behind a wheelchair. As they seated and secured her, Funatsu informed the nurse, "Contractions most of the day, mistaken for Braxton Hicks. This might be a fast one."

"Got it. Can you have her doctor paged while I get her to maternity?" She zipped down the hall as he picked up the nearest telephone. "Guess what, Kotoko-san?" she confided while on the move, "Motoki is on obstetrics duty this month!"

"Yay!" Kotoko replied while wrestling her cell phone from her purse. As she thumbed it awake, she explained, "Gotta call Okaasan! My bag's still at the house—Ow!"

"Breathe, Kotoko!" Marina urged her. "Don't push!"

"Huff, huff, Dylan-san? Huff. How did I dial you?"

"What is it, darling? You sound terrible!"

"Not feeling that great either—ow! I know, Marina-san, huff, huff! Say, Dylan-san, call Okaasan for me. Oh, that's better. Naoki's in surgery with Nobuhiro-kun and I'm having the baby. I need my hospital bag."

"What?!" Kotoko held the phone away from her ear. "You're not supposed—Wait! Nobuhiro—And Naoki's not with you?"

"Dylan! Call. Okaasan. Now," she enunciated.

"Yes, yes. And we'll get there as soon as we can too!"

"Great!" Kotoko leaned her head back to look at Marina. "Looks like it's going to be a full house tonight."

"Naoki-san?" Nobuhiro spoke before the anesthesiologist placed the mask over his face.

"Yes?" He bent down.

"You know that earlier tonight wasn't about you, don't you? I was just scared."

"I know." Since the boy couldn't see the encouraging smile under his surgical mask, he clasped his shoulder briefly. "I'll see you later."

Nobuhiro chuckled faintly. "I'll hold you to that." He looked up at the anesthesiologist. "I'm ready now."

"Okay, boys and girls," Nishigaki announced, "let's get this show on the road." He nodded at all the medical personnel gathered around the table. "And Tomoko-san, I'm counting on you to make sure that I perform the correct incisions."

Her eyes gleamed above the mask. "It will be my pleasure, Sensei!"

Kotoko was between contractions and being fitted with monitors when the Irie-Aihara contingent arrived. Mrs. Irie swung between exhilaration and anxiety. "So sorry it took us so long, Kotoko-chan, but Ai-san insisted that we stop at the restaurant on the way."

"I told you, Missus, I've been saving that bottle of sake for months, to toast the appearance of my first grandchild."

"Ai-chan," Mr. Irie put in, "I think my two bottles of champagne would be enough!"

"Sake is the drink of a true Japanese man!" Mr. Aihara argued.

"I don't mean to interrupt," Motoki nevertheless did so, "but the doctor is on the way to have a look-see. And if you stay, you might catch a glimpse of more than you want!"

"Yikes!" Mr. Aihara, Mr. Irie and Yuuki almost collided at the door in their haste to exit.

"You're doing fine, Irie-san," Dr. Nishikino told Kotoko after peering at and prodding her nether regions and monitoring a contraction. "Seven centimeters dilated, so we should have a baby in a few hours." She peeled off her gloves and patted Kotoko's hand. "The hospital buzz tells me that your husband is occupied with another medical procedure at this moment. You know I'm not as hard-line as some of the other doctors, so I'll let you have other family members attend you, as long as they stay out of my way. I'll come back and check on you in a half hour."

"Thank you, Sensei," she replied. "Motoki-chan," she asked when the doctor left, "can you tell them that I'm decent and they can come in?"

"Sure thing, darling!"

Dylan and Kenji entered, trailed by Yuuki.

"Where are Otosan and Otosan-Irie?" Kotoko asked.

Yuuki snorted. "Those two decided to start celebrating early. They're sampling each other's booze while still debating the best alcohol to toast a new baby!"

"They're well on their way to being soused," Dylan informed her with a laugh. "You could have a three-headed dog and they wouldn't know the difference!"

"Saeki-san!" Mrs. Irie cried, pausing in her task of tying yet another omamori for safe childbirth to the head of the bed. "Be careful what you say! You don't want to jinx the baby!"

Kotoko and Yuuki made simultaneous eyerolls as Dylan immediately tried to pour oil on her troubled waters. When Kotoko focused on Kenji, she frowned and gestured for Dylan to come closer. She grasped his necktie and pulled his ear close to her mouth. "Dylan-san, you know I like Ken-san a lot, but if he tries to take pictures of my lady parts, you're going to be back on the singles market!"

"No, no," he assured her as he eased her choking grip and took her hand in his. "The camera is for the first portrait of mother and child, not the preliminaries. So rela—ow, ow, OW!"

"Breathe, Kotoko-chan!" Motoko urged her, eyes on the monitor.

"Yes! Pant, pant, pant!" Mrs. Irie hyperventilated as she breathed in unison with her daughter-in-law.

Yuuki, feeling definitely extraneous, tugged the now-forgotten suitcase to an unoccupied chair in the corner, sat back and rested his head against the wall.

"And, done!" Motoki announced the end of the contraction.

Kotoko sagged back into the pillows, Mrs. Irie patting her hand. She looked up at a knock on the door. Marina stuck her head in. "All decent?" she asked with a grin. "Look who I found!" She pulled Keita into the room.

"Keita-san!" Kotoko called out. Mrs. Irie glared at him, remembering his infatuation with her daughter several years before.

"You handling this okay, Kotoko-san?" he asked.

"She's a trooper!" Motoki averred. "Want to take bets on how long it'll take?"

He shook his head. "I'm not going to gamble on anything to do with her. She'll surprise us every time."

Kotoko pouted and folded her hands in front of her chest, resting them on her rounded belly. "Money had better not be exchanged about this baby. Not unless I get a cut of the proceeds."

"See?" Marina elbowed Keita. "And you call me mercenary!"

He raised an eyebrow at her before turning back to Kotoko. "I checked in on the surgery your husband is assisting. It seems to be going well."

"Great!" she clapped her hands.

"Tomoko must be keeping them in line," Motoki commented. "Okay, Kotoko, here comes another one!"

"Oh, oh, OH! This one's worse!" she managed between breaths. Dylan also found himself breathing with her to manage the pain as his fingers were compressed tightly, Kotoko having gripped him automatically when the contraction began.

"Yeah, that was bad," Motoki agreed. "Let me take a quick look." She tossed the modesty sheet up. "Okay, I'm paging the doctor. You're going quicker than expected. Looks like it's just as well I didn't lay any money on you."

"We'll be outside, Kotoko-san," Marina told her. "We can stay awhile, since we just finished our shifts."

"I think this is my cue to leave, as well," Kenji said. "Coming, Dylan?"

"NO!" Kotoko grabbed hold of Dylan's arm. "Naoki's not here, so I want you to stand in for him!"

"Why, Kotoko, I'm honored," he began, trying to free himself, "but I don't know anything about birthing babies!"

"That's all right!" Dr. Nishikino entered the room. "You just need to stand there and tell her she's doing fine."

"Kotoko-chan!" Mrs. Irie hissed. "Why are you having him stay when I'm here for you? It was bad enough when Onii-chan was going to attend, but him?! This is women's work!"

"Don't worry, Obaasan," the doctor said, head under the sheet. "The baby won't confuse him for you!" She stood up. "Kikyou-san, it's a good thing you called me. Irie-san, after a few more contractions it's going to be time to push."

"Aargh! Ow!" Kotoko howled in anguish twenty minutes later.

"Kotoko-chan, Kotoko-chan," Mrs. Irie fretted. "Don't shout so. It will upset the baby!"

"Irie-san," the doctor interrupted, "I did a medical exchange obstetrics program in the United States. If Irie-san, um, the younger one, wants to cry out, I assure you that the baby will be uninjured."

"No, no," Mrs. Irie insisted. "When I had Onii-chan and Yuuki-kun, I never—"

"Sensei says I can!" Kotoko spun her head at her mother-in-law, startling Dylan who was patting her forehead with a cool rag. "Dammit, if I want to scream, I'll scream! And I want to, because it hurts!"

"Really, Kotoko-chan! All of your travels have made you forget your Japanese heritage!" Mrs. Irie's nerves were clearly shot, with the excitement, adrenaline and the absolute certainty that she was right. "You must listen to me! As a mother, I positively know best!"

"Not for me! Not right now!" Kotoko struggled to sit up and only the doctor's alarmed grip on her feet kept her from swinging them to the side of the bed. "Either you leave or I do!"

"Irie-san," the doctor said. Both Mrs. Iries swung around to glare at her. "I'm afraid I must insist that the younger Irie-san be the one to stay."

Mrs. Irie stamped her foot, starting her younger son awake. "I will not go! This is my first grandchild! I have the right to be here!"

"Not if you are causing the mother distress."

"Right now you're actuating me!" Kotoko yelled.

Even drowsy as he was, Yuuki murmured, "Aggravating."

"I'm sorry, you're going to have to leave my delivery room. Kikyou-san?" The doctor nodded her head.

Before Motoki could escort Mrs. Irie out, Kotoko let out another scream. The nurse wrestled her back in the proper position while Dylan put down the washcloth and straightened. "I'll take her out."

He walked over and took the older woman's arm. "Come on, Mrs. Irie," he coaxed, "it'll be more fun to see the baby when it's all blanketed and diapered."

She had no intention of going willingly and tugged forcefully against his hold. When Kotoko yelled again, Dylan's head automatically jerked around and he managed to get an eyeful over the doctor's shoulder.

"Oh my god," he got out before his eyes rolled up and he collapsed on top of Mrs. Irie, bouncing off an instrument cart on the way down.

Marina slipped in the room quietly. "I heard all the noise and screaming, and—ohmigosh, what just happened here?!"

"Get them out!" snapped the doctor. "I'm busy delivering a child!"

"Sure!" She opened the door and motioned to Keita, who was politely refusing a glass of sake from Kotoko's father. Together the two managed to get the unconscious duo out of the room and into treatment rooms of their own.

"Naoki, Naoki," Kotoko moaned.

"Sorry, baby," Motoki sponged her temples. "He's not here. But wait!" She spun around to the corner. "You! Irie-kun-junior! Over here!"

Eyes deer-in-the-headlights wide, Yuuki pointed to himself. "Me?"

"Get to the other side of the bed. Tell her she's doing great. Hold her hand. Massage her back. Do whatever she wants!" Motoki barked out the orders.

"Might've known you'd cause problems right to the end, baka," he muttered as he made his way to his assigned position, eyes averted from whatever had overcome Dylan.

Kotoko grabbed his hand and put pressure on it with the next push. "Don't! Call! Me! Baka!"

"Okay, okay!" He held onto her through the contraction. "What do you want me to call you?"

She panted, "Kotoko-sama!"

"Not happening." Yuuki wiped her forehead. "Try again."

She sank back onto the pillow. "Just my name then. No 'baka' anymore."

"Okay, that's doable."

"One more thing!" Kotoko grabbed his tee-shirt by the neckline with her other hand and twisted it tight. "Your girlfriend."

"What are you talking about, bak—Kotoko-chan?" he asked.

"Konomi-chan or Tana-chan?"

"You and Non-chan for the past six months—! Why is it so important for you to mind my business so much?"

"Because one of them may someday be the aunt for this baby!"

"Kotoko!" he howled as best he could with half his air cut off by her grip. "I'm only seventeen!"

"Tell me!" Her voice rose as the next contraction began.

"All right, all right! It's…"

His answer was drowned out by what Motoki and the doctor later claimed was the loudest scream ever heard in labor and delivery.

Naoki walked wearily out of the Intensive Care Unit. He had monitored Nobuhiro earlier in Recovery and had chosen to stay with him until he was convinced that he could truthfully tell his wife that the boy's condition was stable. He rubbed his eyes in exhaustion then glanced over to see Motoki leaning against the wall opposite, a knowing smirk on her face. "Hello, Kikyou-san," he greeted her.

"Hiya, Irie-san," she replied. "Did the surgery go well?"

"It appears so, his prospects look good—wait a minute, how did you know? Did Kotoko tell you?"

"Yes, and as a matter of fact, I have a message for you. You need to proceed to the fifth floor. Do not pass 'Go'. Do not collect 20,000 yen."

"I'm in no mood for your games," he answered crankily, wanting nothing more than to get home and fall in bed with Kotoko. "Why?"

"You'll see when you get there!" she trilled, running her finger and thumb across her mouth. "My lips are sealed!"

Naoki's concern grew as the elevator ascended. He stepped out and stopped dead in his tracks at the waiting area. His father and father-in-law were passed out on the sofa, draped in each other's arms, reeking of alcohol. Several empty bottles bore witness to their ailment.

"What the—?" He proceeded to Dylan, whose head sported a large bandage on one temple, asleep on the facing couch. Next to him sat his mother, her ankle propped on a magazine table that had been dragged forward. She too slept but moaned slightly as he neared. The only person who appeared to be competent and in one piece was Kenji, smiling as he reviewed pictures on his camera.

"Ken-san," he asked, "what disaster occurred here?"

"Oh! You don't know!" His grin widened as he turned the camera towards him. "A picture is worth a thousand words, man. Have a look for yourself!"

Less than a second after Kenji answered his croaked, "Where?" Naoki was running down the hall to the room. As he burst through the door, the first thing he saw was Kotoko, lying on the bed, mouth open, producing the slight snore that put him to sleep every night. Over in a side chair sat his brother with a blanketed bundle, speaking baby talk.

"Where's my pwecious wittle Kotomi? There you are! Who do you wuv? It's Uncle Yuuki, isn't it?" He looked up. "Hi, Onii-chan! How's Non-chan?"

"What—?"

"Oh, we had some excitement while you were otherwise involved."

"I see that. Uh, Nobuhiro is looking good. Can I—?" He held out his arms.

"Sure!" With surprisingly confident movements, he transferred the baby to her father. As he did so, Naoki noticed that two of his fingers were wrapped together.

"Hello, baby!" he whispered, then spoke to his brother, his eyes not straying from his daughter's solemn gaze. "What happened out there?"

"Oh? You mean ground zero? Well, Dad and Aihara-san drank each other under the table in the hall. Mom was going bonkers in the delivery room, and Dylan passed out from shock on top of her. They're under the influence of heavy-duty painkillers."

"And you?"

"Oh, uh, Kotoko-chan dislocated a couple fingers during the final push." He pushed the blanket farther away from Kotomi's face. "She's a little darling, isn't she?" he asked in a besotted voice.

"Mm? Naoki?" Kotoko's voice spoke drowsily.

"Here!" Naoki carefully handed the precious bundle back to his brother, who immediately began singing a lullaby as he bounced her gently around the room.

"Have you seen her?" Kotoko asked when Naoki took her hand.

"Yes. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you." He kissed her forehead.

"No, no!" she protested. "How is Nobuhiro-kun?"

"Resting easily now. I just left him."

"I'm glad," she murmured with a smile.

Naoki laughed. "So it appears my little brother stood in for me."

"Yes, and he did a great job." She sat up suddenly. "Darn! I finally managed to pin down Yuuki-kun on which girl he likes and then that last contraction hit and I never heard his answer! I bet I can't convince him to tell me again." She pouted as she lay back down, disgruntled.

Naoki snorted as he looked across the room. "Don't worry, Kotoko. Whoever he named has suddenly dropped in the rankings."

"Huh?"

"Our daughter has captivated him. She's beautiful, just like her mother."

She laughed sleepily. "I only hope she has your brains."

"I love you, Kotoko."

"Mm-hm. Love you too."

His whispered, "I love you more" was answered by a snore.

A/N: I believe that this is the end of the Kotoko Volant series. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. (And I have no idea which girl Yuuki likes better.)