Rescuing Hiei

This will be a rough scene. Consider yourselves warned. I tried not to be TOO overly graphic, though. :o(

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Scene 2 ------------------------------------------- A Couple Hours Later

* Neither Hiei, nor Shishi are sure exactly how long they've slept until they are brought awake by a sharp cry of pain. When Hiei realizes that Sabaktu is sitting up, heaving behind Shishi, he raises up to check him.

Hiei- Sabie?

* The twins who were sleeping at the foot of the bed near Sabaktu's feet sit up. Ichiro points.

Ichiro- Ewww, Papa. Sabie wet the bed.

* Shishi now jerks upright.

Hiei- Get them off the bed, Shishi!

* As the Banshee obeys, Hiei moves to embrace his straining son. He feels how weak Sabaktu is and raises a hand to clutch his earring, 'Kichiro! Dasan!'.

Sabaktu- (Weakly) F-Fath-er,.. I... I'm n-not...
Hiei- It's okay, Sabie... I'm here... Easy, son.

* Again Hiei grabs his earring to scream for his master and the mage. Sabaktu collapses back to lay and moan, exhausted already. Hiei begins to slowly feed the boy small amounts of what little energy he can afford to spare.

Sabaktu- (Weakly) Not.. g-gonna be... strong 'nough...
Hiei- Shh.. You're going to have this baby, Sabie...

* On his third attempt to reach Kichiro or Dasan, the mage finally answers, 'Shi?' Hiei sighs relieved as Sabaktu cries out again, clutching his belly, 'The baby's coming...' Kichiro's voice breaks into Hiei's mind, 'We're on our way up'. Sabaktu tries to raise up weakly again.

Sabaktu- (Weakly) Y-you know I... won't make it...
Hiei- Concentrate on the baby, son...
Sabaktu- (Weakly) You will... raise...

* Hiei leans down to embrace Sabaktu as he strains again with a moan. On the couch, the twins hide their faces against their 'momma Shishi', both sobbing as they feel the atmosphere of death in the room. The door opens and Dasan hurries to the bed. Kichiro wards the door then follows. Sabaktu grows weaker with each new wave of contractions. When he can no longer even move after nearly an hour of struggling he collapses to lay heaving on the bed again. Dasan looks up at Kichiro.

Dasan- The boy's too far gone to birth this baby...

* Hiei reaches down to grab ahold of Dasan's throat with a snarl.

Hiei- My son is going to have this baby!

* Shishi looks away to begin uttering prayers to anything that will listen, concerned more for his Alpha than anything. Dasan looks up at Kichiro when Hiei releases him to turn his attentions back to Sabaktu, but he can spare the boy no more of his reserves.

Dasan- They're both not gonna make it, Boss...
Hiei- No!! Sabie, come on... Your baby has to live, son... Fight for it!

* Kichiro opens his jagan to examine Sabaktu's clenching middle. When he 'sees' that the baby is struggling inside Sabaktu he takes out the knife he brought along just in case. Hiei looks up and snarls.

Hiei- What the h---...?!
Kichiro- If you want this baby, there's only one way to get it out now, Shiyounin.

* Hiei slowly understands and turns away to look back down at Sabaktu. He watches the boy lose consciousness.

Kichiro- It'll die if it's not removed soon...

* Silently, Hiei nods. He leans down to embrace Sabaktu's head tightly, clenching his own eyes shut. Dasan quietly indicates to Kichiro where he needs to cut after laying Sabie's yukata open.

Dasan- Here... Not too deep... I'll help to work the slit open, then... I can give him a little of my energy, but it still won't spare his life, Boss

* Kichiro nods and bends to make the cut quickly. Sabaktu's body arches reflexively, but he makes no sound. Hiei feels his son's ebbing life temporarily stabilize as Dasan and Kichiro work to remove his grandson. Dasan then holds the newborn as Kichiro cuts the cord.

Kichiro- Okay, Shi, get this Imiko and move away.

* Hiei raises up to look toward the baby and freezes until Kichiro shoves him away.

Kichiro- Move!! I need to do this before he goes!!

* Hiei looks down at the squawling, bloody baby that Kichiro now pushes into his arms. When the koorime sees the shock of orange hair he freezes again. Shishi sits the twins down on the couch.

Shishi- Stay, boys!

* The Banshee then hurries over to help Hiei off the bed. Hiei pauses to look at Kichiro who is now straddling Sabaktu's body.

Kichiro- Go... You know what I have to do, Shi.

* Hiei takes a last look at his dying son, then moves away as Kichiro opens his red jagan to stare down into Sabaktu's open, unseeing eyes. Shishi helps Hiei take the squirming baby over to the table.

Shishi- wait, I'll get a couple towels.

* Shishi hurries to the bathroom and returns with two clean towels. Hiei gently lays the crying baby on one of the towels. Shishi gets a rag and begins to clean the newborn. Kichiro and Dasan wrap Sabaktu's body up in the bed sheets and leave with him quickly. Shishi smiles weakly at Hiei who is still staring at the baby.

Shishi- It's a boy.. with... orange hair...

* Hiei swallows, then finally closes his eyes to try to gather himself.

Hiei- I can't... shed a tear... for him...

* Shishi looks at Hiei.

Shishi- (Quietly) We knew Sabie was going to...
Hiei- The baby... I'm not his... birthparent...
Shishi- You're his Grandfather... What will you name him?

* Hiei shakes his head, barely giving his answer much thought.

Hiei- The Master's already named him... Imiko.

* Shishi looks back down at the baby boy. He strokes his head gently.

Shishi- He's a strong one... This hair color looks so.. familiar...
Hiei- His.. sire.. was a.. human oaf...

* Now Shishi looks back at Hiei, putting everything together now.

Shishi- The one that died...? The human... Kuwa-something?
Hiei- Hn... Kuwabara.

* Hiei gently lifts the cleaned baby so Shishi can place a fresh towel down.

Hiei- (Quietly) I'm going to raise the fool's son.
Shishi- We're going to raise him.

* Hiei looks up at Shishi then watches the Banshee wrap Imiko up.

Shishi- I still think he's adorable, Shi.

* The koorime grows wearily speechless as Shishi moves to sit on the couch. As the samurai coaxes Imiko to begin nursing the twins scramble up onto his shoulders to watch curiously. A calmness slowly settles over the small apartment. Hiei moves to sit down on the couch, joining his family.