Of Life and Love

Theme 17: Tears

Time: After “Pesadilla”

Pairings: Kazuma and Yukina

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Tears of Life

 

 

“You’re almost there Yukina, she’s crowning. Give a few more good pushes and you’ll have your baby girl.” The midwife switched to a more comfortable kneeling position before the stressed mother-to-be. “You’re doing great.”

Kazuma had taken the spot behind his wife, helping her stay up. Staying behind them helped a great deal more than just holding their hands as they writhed in pain. “Think of it, we’ll be really getting our lives started with this. I love you, Yukina.”

“I love you to-“ She was cut off by the last big contraction, and a large hiruiseki stone fell from her eyes, falling to the sheets bunched up under her. Soon, her cries weren’t the only in the room

“That’s it! She’s out!”

Yukina collapsed against Kazuma, too worn out from childbirth to hold herself up any longer. “Fuyuko.” She gazed out the window, at the snowstorm whirling around the house. “Child of winter. Fuyuko.”

The midwife cut the cord and wrapped the small newborn in a blanket, wiping the goo from her face. “Meet your mother, little one.” She placed the child into her mother’s arms, and she quieted almost instantly. Her muddy red eyes gazed intently on her parents, as if sizing them up.

Yukina smiled, eyes shining with unshed tears. “Fuyuko. I get to finally see you face to face. After all that pain, it’s worth it to be able to hold you at last.”

Kazuma’s eyes dropped down to where the gem had fallen on the blankets. Carefully, he picked it up, not daring to put a scratch on the smooth surface. “This is different from the normal ones.”

His wife took it from his grasp and held it to their child. “All koorimes shed a tear while giving birth. That tear goes to the child when they are old enough to wear it.”

The midwife left them alone in the room, to look over their daughter. At long last, the tears of pain had given way to those of happiness. And of life.