by Max Jager
This time, just before she was ready to stop till the next one, she felt the pressure and then an instant flood of relief. Smiling she fell back and just as her head hit the pillow there was the healthy, wondrous cry of a baby ringing through the air. Breathing hard she let tears stream down the corner of her eyes. "A son?"
Smiling as she quickly cleaned the baby in arms, the midwife nodded. "Indeed Yuki. You have a son."
Letting Honaka help her to sit up, Yuki had eyes on the baby that was still a little fussy in the arms of the midwife as she walked over and handed him down to her. Bouncing her son she looked down at him as more tears fell. He had a perfect balance of her eye color and his father's. "Dark blue eyes. My blue color but dark like his daddy."
Wiping her eyes, Honaka looked down at her grandson. An angel on earth. "Other than his eyes, he looks dead on how his father was when he was that age."
Pulling the new mother's eyes to her, the midwife smiled down at her. "Is there a name picked out?"
Looking from the midwife back down at her son Yuki nodded. "We have actually. Kaien and I talked about it, and we decided on Senri."
Her eyes going wide, Honaka just looked at Yuki. She never thought that they would name a son after Tomoya's father. She could just picture the smile on his face when he heard the name. "Really Yuki? You picked Tomoya's father's name for your son? What would it have been if you had a daughter."
With a bright smile, Yuki handed Honaka her grandson. "That's right. We talked about it. He said that before we got married, Tomoya told him he reminded him of his father. Mama used to tell me I reminded her of her mother. So it made sense to us. A boy was going to be named Senri. Our first daughter will be Yokiyo."
Looking down at her grandson, Honaka nodded with a bright smile. "Senri it is."
"I want you to do it Honaka. Please?"
Laughing as the midwife nodded and turned to collect her things, Honaka stood up with the precious boy in her arms. "I would love to Yuki."
X
Hearing the footsteps coming to the door, Tomoya stepped to the side and smiled as his son was there instantly to take his place. That same excited and worried look in his eyes that all new fathers had. Though he wasn't moving over too far as he wanted a full view of his grandchild as the midwife came to the door.
When the door opened, Kaien had two things on his mind. His wife and his child. Seeing his mother was odd, but he looked up and straight to his wife to see her smiling as she talked with the midwife. Then his eyes focused on the baby in his mother's arms as he took a deep breath. "Mom?"
Giving her son a bright smile, Honaka carefully handed him to his father. "Your son. Senri."
Gasping as his eyes went wide, Tomoya looked at his son in total shock. He never expected that! "Wait you named him….."
Keeping his eyes on his son Kaien nodded with a smile. "That's right. Yuki and I talked about it. You told me all the time, I reminded you of Grandpa. Yuki said her mother use to say she reminded her of her Grandma. So our first son was going to be Senri. Our first daughter was going to be Yokiyo." Though before anyone could say anything he brushed passed his mother with a smile and went to his wife.
A small smile for his wife, Tomoya put his arm around her as they stood and watched the new family. "Come on dear. Let's let the new family bond and tomorrow we will steal our grandson away for a while."
"I think that sounds wonderful."
X
Looking up as her husband came toward her, Yuki smiled as she wiped her tears. "You are happy we have a son then my love?"
Kneeling down next to Yuki, Kaien only smiled as he gently laid his son in her arms. Kissing the side of her head, he laughed. "I would have been just as proud and just as happy had we used the name Yokiyo too Yuki. So long as my children and my wife are happy and healthy. That is all I care about. Even if we never had a son and ten daughters."
With a giggle as Kaien then scooped her in his arms. One arm holding her son close next to his father's chest, the other arm going around his neck. "Well that is wonderful to know. But I am happy that we at least are going to have one son."
"If you are happy then I couldn't be happier. Let's go home love."
"Right."
X
A strong cry in the middle of the ringing through the middle of the night jerked Kaien from his sleep. It hadn't been that long since Yuki nursed him and he was already awake again. Looking with a smile at his wife who was so tired from the constant up and down, along with labor all day, he smiled as she slept.
Getting out of bed he went to the crib and shook his head as his son wailed loudly and shook his hands. Gently lifting him in his arms he laughed. "Easy does it there Senri. Come to Papa." Once he had his son secure in his arms he walked to the outer room so that he could at least try and let his wife sleep. "You know you really can't be hungry again boy. I think you just want to be a pain in the neck don't ya?"
Looking down to see his son's dark blue eyes drifting shut he smiled as he shook his head and walked around the fire pit. "Or you just want to be close to one of us close. Well I am just fine with that kiddo. Just fine."
As he walked around the room, Kaien watched as his son drifted off to sleep with a smile. He had great plans for his son. He would make his son go down in history for something great. His son would be known for ages to come for the greatest of good deeds. Stopping by the window he looked up at the clear sky dotted with stars. The night of a new moon. Looking back down at his sleeping son he sighed. "I want to make you famous. Known for all time. But that may not happen son. But I do promise you this. I will make sure that you grow into a good man one day. That I can promise you Senri."
Making of a Lady Chapter 49
Smiling brightly, Yuki walked along the forest path with her husband as they watched their five year old son run along and play. From the day she was sixteen and made village miko, her life has been nearly perfect. She married the love of her life, had a perfect little boy. And looking down at her stomach, she was elated. Now nearly done with her pregnancy for her second child.
The sound of a giggle pulled her from her thoughts, looking up in time to see her son lifting a turtle and racing back toward them asking them if he could keep it. Kaien kneeling down and explaining to him why he couldn't keep it as a pet. Then both smiled as he laughed again and said okay and sat it back down to let it walk on. He really was the picture perfect son. And not only did he get a smidge of blue in his eyes to make them a dark blue, but he could also use the purification that she did as well. And was already getting training from Honaka in it.
Walking on, she looked down and once again focused on her very large stomach as she smiled. They decided to have another when Senri was three years old. Two long years and nothing. She was about ready to admit that Senri was going to be their only child. But then out of the blue she ended up pregnant.
"You alright Yuki? Something wrong?"
Looking up at her husband as her hands rested on her stomach, his arm around her waist, Yuki shook her head side to side with a laugh and a smile. "I am just fine Kaien. I was just thinking about how life has been for us since we got married. That seems like it was so many years ago now."
Laughing as he looked up at his son, Kaien had soft eyes. He remembered every moment that happened from the day he kissed her the first time and spilled his heart to her. Up to that very moment. "It was only eight years ago. It wasn't that long ago."
Giving her husband a mock glare with a half-smile, Yuki shook her head again. "Tell me then Kaien. Eight years ago. Would you have thought that we would be married, me be the village miko, have a five year old son and expecting a second child in that 'short' amount of time? Really?"
Dropping his head and letting his shoulders slump, Kaien learned long ago that when she got that look in her eye he might as well just go along with it. "Yeah I get it I get it. You don't have to…" But the sudden way that Yuki tensed made him stop and look down at her. Seconds later she fell to he
r knees as she let out a loud scream and threw her arms around her stomach. On his knees with her, his eyes were full of concern. "Yuki what is it!?"
Hearing his mother's loud scream, Senri turned to find them on the ground with his father looking worried. Racing back to them he fell to the ground just in front of them. "Mama!" Watching as his father lay her down he looked up at him with tears misting in his eyes. "She is going to be alright isn't she Papa?"
Forcing a smile through the pain, Yuki knew what this was. Soon her big boy was going to be a big brother. Holding her hand out for him she laughed as he raced to her side. "It is alright Senri Mama is going to be just fine. It is time to have the baby and see if you are going to have a brother or a sister."
Standing next to them Kaien glared around him. No one or nothing was around them, which was good. Looking down the path toward the village he fisted his hands at his side. "We are close to the village. If I carried you both and ran we could….."
Letting out another scream as the contractions were coming hard and fast Yuki had her eyes squeezed shut. "This baby isn't going to wait for the midwife like Senri did! It's coming now! Kaien you need to…" Then she ground her teeth together as another one came.
His eyes going stern, Kaien dropped to the ground at his wife's side. His eyes now locked with the dark blue eyes of his son. "Senri. I need you to be a big boy and help me right now son. This isn't how it is normally done but right now for your brother or sister me and you is all Mama has to help her okay?"
Nodding Senri had his own stern eyes. "What do you want me to do Papa?"
Moving his son so that he couldn't see anything at all, he put him by his mother's head. "You sit right here and let her head lay in your lap and keep her comfortable that way alright?" When he got another nod, Kaien moved to his wife's feet. "Alright."
Looking up at her son with a smile, though her eyes were full of pain she laid her head in his lap. Forcing herself not to scream as another contraction ripped through her body. "Thank you so much Senri. Mama is much more comfortable now."
"Good."
Helping her to lift her legs and spread them so he could see, Senri gasped as his eyes went wide. There was no way in hell that he would have made it close to the village. "Yuki you need to push."
"But…"
Giving his wife a stern look Kaien peeled his haori off. "I can see the head Yuki. I know that means it is time to push."
Fisting her hands at her side, Yuki only had to wait a second for the next contraction. Once it hit, she bore down with all she had to push. Sweat beading all over her body. This labor was even harder and more painful than her son was! Once. Twice. Finally just as she started to push a third time, she felt that same sense of relief flood through her as the pressure was gone. Once again, just like with her son followed seconds later by the wail of a healthy pair of lungs. Smiling as she lay her head back in her son's lap she took a few deep breaths. "Well Kaien. Does Senri have a little brother or a little sister?"
Ripping the sleeve of his haori off as he held his tiny daughter in one hand, Kaien smiled up at Yuki then looked down to clean her off. She had a healthy wail and a head full of jet black hair. "We did it Yuki. We have our Senri, and now we have our Yokiyo. And our daughter is perfect."
Reaching up with a smile, Yuki laid her hand on her son's head. His eyes were still full of worry. "Don't worry about Mama Senri. I am just fine and you have a new baby sister who is just fine too. I promise."
Keeping his eyes locked with his mother, Senri nodded. "You are sure Mama? You are alright and my sister? You promise?"
Looking from her son to her right side as Kaien fell to his knees next to her she smiled as he laid their daughter on her chest. Tears rushing from her eyes as her eyes opened. "Yes my son. I am fine and so is your sister Yokiyo. And look. She has Senri's dark blue eyes too."
Nodding as he fixed his wife's kimono over her legs again, Kaien lifted her and their daughter into his arms. "Come on Senri. Jump and grab my neck. We gotta get your Mama and sister home. She is gonna be hungry soon and Mama needs clean clothes."
"Right Papa!"
X
Sewing a new outfit for what will be her newest grandchild, Honaka kept glancing up at the path that her son and Yuki went for their walk on. She was so pregnant and so close to giving birth that she really wanted her to stay there so that when it happened, she could be there to help her again and make sure that everything went right and she was taken care of. Another glance and she paled at what she saw this time. They were coming home alright, but Kaien didn't have his haori on, he was covered in blood, Yuki was in his arms and covered in blood, and Senri was looking down at his mother like he was still in shock about something!
Dropping the outfit to the ground she jumped to her feet and raced toward them. "Kaien! What happened!? Is she alright!?" Joined seconds later by her husband as he came from the house.
Looking up at his mother as she ran toward them with his father. Followed also by a few villagers that were around. Laughing he stopped walking and closed his eyes. "Yeah well don't worry everyone is fine. We just had an unexpected top to make so someone could make her first appearance in the world is all."
Her eyes wide as she slid to a stop next to them, Honaka looked down at the contently sleeping baby in her arms. "Her? So you had a girl?"
Her head still resting on Kaien's shoulder Yuki nodded as fresh tears fell from her eyes. "That's right. Our little Yokiyo."
Reaching out and touching the baby's cheek, Honaka gasped. "She wasn't born too long ago either. She is still slick."
Shaking his head as he walked on toward their home, Kaien smiled. "We were almost home. I was going to carry them like this and run and get her here. But Yuki said she knew we wouldn't make it so….."
"Wait Kaien did you?"
Turning his big toothy grin to his father as Senri dropped off his back Kaien nodded. "That's right dad. I didn't get to be with her when Senri was born. I swore I would when we had our second. Not only did I get to be with her, I delivered the baby." He then looked down at his mother and smiled warmly at her. "Mom, will you take Yokiyo and clean her up? I am going to take Yuki to the spring and get us both cleaned up."
"I can stay with Grandma and Grandpa right Papa?"
"Of course."
"Hold on a second." Honaka then raced inside their home and came out with a small sack with some clean clothes and things Yuki would need. She then fastened it around Kaien's neck. "You are going to need that." She then lifted her grand-daughter into her arms and smiled as she headed for the house and Kaien and Yuki went on toward the hot spring. "Well then little Yokiyo. Welcome to the family."
Watching as the baby opened her eyes, Tomoya smiled as he crossed his arms. "She got the same dark blue eyes that Senri did."
Once in the house, Senri watched his sister with big eyes as his grandmother cleaned her up and wrapped her in a clean blanket. Once she was clean, he tugged on his grandmother's kimono. "Grandma. Do you think I can hold my sister?"
Smiling Honaka nodded and then sat down next to him. "Sit down here. Now you do as I tell you to alright Senri? Yokiyo is a very tiny baby and you have to be extra careful with her. Here let her head sit here in your arm like this. There you go. Now this arm like this around her body. There you go. You are good at it. You look as though you have held a hundred babies Senri."
Smiling Senri just kept looking down at his sister. He didn't know what it was, but he wanted to make sure she was always safe. When she opened her eyes and smiled at him he laughed. "Grandma did you see that! She smiled at me!"
"She knows you are her big brother and she is safe with you."
Smiling again he looked back down into eyes that mirrored his own. "That's right. I will always make sure she is safe. That is what a big brother does. Papa told me that."
X
After they came back from the spring, Honaka and Tomoya stayed just a short time with them, then went home. Leaving Kaien and Yuki to s
pend some time with just them and their now two children.
As night fell, Kaien looked over at the baby sleeping next to their bed. Her brother right next to her. He had the world's most beautiful wife. Most handsome son. And now a daughter to match her mother's beauty. He couldn't ask for anything else in the world.
However late that night, while Yokiyo was the total opposite of her brother, something woke Senri and he found himself standing next to her bed smiling down at her. Reaching out with his hand he let out a small laugh when she giggled and grabbed his hand. "I promise you Yokiyo. I promise that I will always make sure you are safe and be there for you. No matter what."
Making of a Lady Chapter 50
