As Time Passes: Chapter Five

Miharu hadn't woken from his nap yet, and it was not long before Yoite's curiosity started driving him crazy. After all, Miharu wasn't keeping anything down, he was hardly eating, so how was he gaining weight?

The brunette had wound up slipping away from the older ninja and into the kitchen. Yoite had to admit, he hadn't noticed until he heard Miharu humming and the sound of food sizzling. Blue eyes widened as he looked around, Miharu gone. He quickly got to his feet and followed the sounds, seeing the younger ninja setting food into a bowl. How long had he been up and cooking?

"...Are you sure you don't want me to cook?" Blue eyes glanced at Miharu's bowl. He knew it was fine, it's not like he could taste it himself, but... did udon noodles, pickles, corn and ham really sound appetizing?

"You don't have to eat it, I just... Just wanted it."

"Together?"

The smaller shrugged, taking a mouthful and getting an odd glance from his partner.

"I think I'll just take the noodles and ham..." He feared his stomach wouldn't be able to handle all of that. He was surprised Miharu was handling it.

"That's fine."

"Are you sure you're feeling better...?"

"A bit..." he nodded.

"I don't want you to get sick again - we won't know if it's food related or not," The dark haired tried to tease lightly.

"Very funny. It tastes fine, the textures blend."

"…I don't believe you…" Yoite stared at the smaller ninja across from him. "I think we should contact Jyuji again…."

"…We are running low on that stuff… and it doesn't seem to be working."

"If anything you seem to be getting worse…"

"Hey-!"

"I'm just being honest. Miharu, I'm worried..."

"Maybe we should talk to Kazeho too then." The brunette shrugged, not sure if this could be handled by the medical ninja.

"I'll call Yukimi… Get some rest." The taller of the two seemed to abandon his food, not feeling up to it, and pulled out his cell phone. He went into another room as he hit 'send'.

~v~

When Yukimi arrived in front of the large house, Miharu was still napping, exhausted again. Yoite looked up when the blaring horn from the car went off, making him jump in worry at rousing the Nabari no Ou in such a way. He quickly pulled the front door open, waving his arms in attempt to shut his previous guardian up.

Once he got the large smirk from the blond gunman, he let out a small sigh of relief and went to the back of the house towards his and the smaller mans bedroom. Blue eyes calmed to see Miharu at such peace again… The past few days had not been easy on him…

Still, he moved closer, touching the young man's shoulder. "Miharu."

Bright green orbs slowly opened, bringing his lover back into reality. "…hmp?"

"Yukimi is here. Come on, we should go." He offered his gloved hand, not comfortable in being so open about his state amongst the 'upper world'. After rubbing his eyes to awaken himself, the twenty one year old took the hand and allowed himself to be helped up as he nearly collided with the older.

When they reached the compact car, Yoite was surprised to see the blue haired medical ninja in the back seat, smiling lightly at them; however, the worry shone through her eyes too obviously.

Knowing she'd still take good care of the brunette, Yoite helped Miharu into the back with her as he took his spot in the passenger's seat. He couldn't help but glance back and see Jyuji was allowing the young ruler to use her smaller frame as a pillow.

"Hey, how bad is he?" The one-armed man looked at his past dependent.

"….I honestly wish I knew…." He admitted, looking down.

~v~

The hospital itself didn't seem too busy, but neither the blond nor the obsidian haired man could be more relieved when Kazuho appeared, taking in Miharu's tired appearance. "Come on…"

"May I come with you?" Jyuji stepped forward. "…I've been looking out for him too, I just want to see what's wrong…"

The woman nodded in understanding; if whatever Miharu had could be caught by others, then the medical ninja would have to know how to identify it and how to protect the other Fuuma Nin.

That left the other ex. Kairoshuu to wait outside the room the three had disappeared into. Yukimi recognized the anxious shaking the once-Kira user had, and tried to pat his back in comfort.

"Hey, he's gonna be just fine. Kazuho's going to take good care of him."

"I don't doubt that…" the twenty-three year old muttered lightly. "…I still worry…. This has never happened before…"

"I'm sure if it had, it'd be easier to take care of. Either way, he seems like he's going to be just fine in the end. He's a real fighter, ya know."

No, no of course Miharu would be just fine…

~v~

Yoite wasn't sure how long they were left to wait, but soon Jyuji slipped out of the room, looking absolutely dumbstruck as she eyed Yoite.

"…What is it? Is he alright?"

"…I…." She froze up, not sure what to say. "…Yoite, Kazuho needs to talk to you."

The tall man felt his heart sink, blue eyes shut tightly as he tried to fight off any ill thoughts of what could possibly be wrong- why Yukimi couldn't know too! He couldn't do this alone… No, he wasn't alone. He had Miharu… and right now Miharu need him.

Sharing a look with the older man, Yoite forced himself past Jyuji and into the room, closing it behind him. Miharu sat on top of the examination bed in the paper-thin gown, big green eyes turning to the man as he stepped in. What almost froze him was the two current occupant's expressions. Kazuho's look told him that he had all reason to be cautious, worried… Whereas the petite brunette looked bewildered, and somewhat… happy.

"…W-Whats wrong?"

"Well… I'm not really sure how to explain it but… "

"Yoite, I'm pregnant…" Miharu cut the doctor off, getting an odd look from the woman.

Yoite stared between the two, blue eyes shifting from his lover to his guardian's sister. What was that supposed to mean…? It wasn't funny…

"…I don't… I don't understand…"

"Well… I had to look Miharu over with the ultra sound, there's a bump on his stomach, so I wanted to check it out…" Yoite nodded, remembering the rise he'd noticed earlier. "…There seems to be a… a faux womb carrying a child…"

Kazuho handed a black and white picture from the ultrasound, letting Yoite look it over. It really… it really was a child… He looked over at Miharu, who still seemed to be thinking over what this meant. He just wanted to know how.

"The baby's actually growing at an accelerated rate, matching Miharu's illness symptoms… The vomiting, food cravings; the fevers are from his body trying to reject the entire womb itself but… it can't. At the rate Miharu's progressing, that baby's going to be born in a few weeks at least."

Miharu was still looking at him, desperate. Anyone could see, behind that usual apathetic mask, the young man was scared.

"…It's was Ms. Fairy…" he said quietly.

"We could try and take care of it." The woman offered. "I mean, we wouldn't be able to deliver the baby unless you underwent surgery-"

"But it's a miracle." Both the blond and brunette look at the tall man, surprised. "…It is…. Miharu, you- we wanted a child…"

Kazehou smiled lightly, nodding. That's when Yoite remembered- her and her husband were planning for a child of their own…

~v~

Yukimi had probably stared at all four of them for half an hour- maybe his sister and Miharu even longer after he heard what they said. After all, who would have thought? Miharu was pregnant. Sure, it was due to the Shinra Banshou, but it was still happening.

When the four arrivals had reached Miharu and Yoite's home, all but the brunette nearly jumped as they saw Thobari waiting inside. He had gone straight to Yoite, yelling and barking at him as if every last bit of this was his fault. When asked how he even knew what was going on, Jyuji admitted to calling him soon after she let Yoite in.

Still, neither Miharu nor Yoite were in the mood for Thobari; both had quickly exited their own living room and hid in the master bedroom, leaving the three to sort things out on their own. If anything, they could deal with that man after they talked amongst themselves…