I want to be your Koi Fish... - Nine Tails

~67~

He was glad he could make her happy. Seeing her smiling face made up for even whining that she couldn't eat as much as she wanted. With an amazing sense of accomplishment, he sat down on the mattress, taking off his white tie. He didn't wait long before she appeared beside him, sighing with relief, able to straighten her legs, resting them on the pillows. The last weeks of her pregnancy were taking its toll on her, and he knew it. Hanabi was petite, the smallest in the family, and he had given her material for two quite large offspring. She bravely endured the ordeal, only complaining a little about back pain and swollen feet due to the weight. She definitely looked like she was carrying twins, maybe even triplets, and yet...

- I still can't believe we're going to be parents. - he murmured, embracing her tenderly. - It's kind of... unreal...

- Give me your hand, I'll show you something. - she suggested calmly, reaching for a large paw.

He felt her gently take his fingers, exposing her belly and tickling skin at the same time. A moment later, something moved inside, kicked with great force, bulging strongly. She placed his cut hand there. He felt the warmth, and under her skin kicking children, slowly losing space for the movement. Something that hit him not long after was definitely a tiny fist. The little ones followed their father's movements, playing with him. His heart beat faster at the thought that just a moment and this thin barrier would cease to separate them. He leaned down gently to place a kiss on his wife's belly, then reached for her forehead with the same intention. She smiled blissfully, cuddling again.

- Just a moment, My Bear... - she murmured calmly. - Just a moment...

>>><<<

Hanabi wasn't happy, but she knew perfectly well that Kaoru had to go to a meeting to solve more important matters, and she herself was exhausted. So they split up, leaving Akita's house in separate cars. Recently, the twins seemed much more calm, had much less space than a few weeks earlier, but this time it was different. The boys squirmed wildly all day as if in a fight, bruising their mother's lungs, stomach, and bladder for lack of space, so that she barely ate anything, ran non-stop to the bathroom, her stomach sinking lower and lower, suggesting that the day of the birth was a matter of several days. She had no doubt that the children had taken their father, the reflection in the mirror was almost three times her size, the lion's share of which were the offspring and what was necessary for their existence for some time to come. It was probably the first time in her life that she was so dissatisfied with her appearance, but she consoled herself that "it's not long", she accepted these temporary changes. She longed to stretch her swollen, tired legs on the cold leather couch in the living room.The calendar showed only New Year's Eve, she was suffering from internal heat, and in this situation, usually not very popular in winter, especially at night, a piece of furniture was a great support. So was the elevator, which not so long ago she considered absolutely unnecessary. Before she left, Kaoru admonished her to call immediately if anything happened and he would drop everything to join her. Naito said the same, escorting her to the door and adding that he would be around in case of anything. It was amazing how in less than eight months he could change his attitude towards her, or at least he seemed to. They got along all the time, and even though he didn't always agree with the boss's wife, he tried to keep his mouth shut or choose his words very carefully. However, since he had become her head of security, he had been as helpful as possible, which surprised her immensely. She also learned a few things from him, which she did not fail to mention once or twice. She counted in her mind. It was 35 weeks... she knew twin pregnancies tended to resolve sooner, but the doctor assured her that there was no indication that boys were eager to deliver. During each ultrasound, they huddled peacefully against their mother and each other, their little hearts beating steadily, almost evenly. The body was preparing for delivery, but not in a hurry, the gynecologist even considered the possibility of induction. She texted her husband hastily to let him know she had arrived home safe and sound, and after a while, taking advantage of the fact that the kids had finally fallen asleep and finally stopped fiddling, she reached for something quick for dinner. A turkey and vegetable sandwich had to suffice for a knotted stomach. Soon after, she was sitting in the bathtub, in a pleasantly warm, not too hot bath, enjoying a moment of blissful relaxation. The moment passed extremely quickly, interrupted by a dull pain in the back, a sudden contraction of the lower abdomen and a rapidly rising water level. She had no doubts - judging by the movements under the skin, the children woke up and decided to leave. She remembered everything the sisters had said in a flash. It seemed that in her case the dilation had occurred long before the waters broke. She thought it was a painful process, for some reason it had to be different this time. Come to think of it, none of the elders talked about it. Perhaps "Kitsune shit" once more, but there was no place to think about it. She should still have time, but the boys decided otherwise. Pulling herself together, as soon as the contraction passed, she called her husband.

- What's going on? - he started right away.

- Your sons have decided to appear... - she said hastily, stifling a scream of pain, then growled impatiently - Boys! One at a time!

- But the doctor...

- I KNOW WHAT THE DOCTOR SAID! - she shouted irritably. - The only option is home birth. If you want to meet them first, hurry up!

She hung up as she felt another, growing contraction. The pain was unbearable, searing and throbbing, something she had never experienced before, but something told her she could do it, she just had to focus on the task at hand.

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