#Kohara Kiku

[milapurr]

[hirak0s]

Kiku's Delivery (Service)

Written by @uraharashouten and @hirak0s

As Ayame was sewing in the sewing room of the Shōten, a song came on the radio that put a smile on her face and a picture in her head: one of her and Kisuke dancing to 'Can't Help Falling in Love'. Dancing above Karakura Town on a beautiful fall night with the moon above them? It sounded so lovely.

Getting to her feet, she'd start dancing to the music. There was a stumble or two, but nothing she couldn't recover from. The woman continued dancing until... "ah?" She looked down at the floor and then up at the ceiling. A leak? From... where? It didn't look like there was one above.

Sensing something amiss, Kisuke poked his head in. “Is everything all ri—” His eyes grew wide as he took in the scene. “TESSAI!!”

“Was dancin' t' Elvis an' I think I’ve sprung a leak~” She seemed unfazed about it for the moment.

Despite a slight panic rising within, Kisuke tried to school his voice to a calm, even tone. “I can see that. TESSAI!!”

“Y'think he's sleepin'? Ah-” And now there came what must be the first of the contractions.

Kisuke rushed to hold her, rubbing her lower back firmly. “Is this it? This is it, isn’t it?”

“I s'ppose it is! Time fer our froglet t' show herself. I didn' think I'd be havin' her in the sewin' room.” She giggled and held onto Kisuke. 

“Oh, I don’t think you will be! These things take a while, I’m told… especially with the first.”

Tessai appeared in the doorway. “Tenchō?”

“Oh, I didn' know... Wish I coul'a had some'a mom's advice fer this…” but she didn't... However, she did look up at Tessai when he arrived, “She's comin'!”

His eyes widened, but he stoically squared his shoulders. “I am at your service, Ayame-dono. Let us go for a walk.”

“Walking? Now?” Kisuke was aghast.

“It helps labor to advance. But we will go slowly, and pause when Ayame-dono is struck with contractions.”

“I don' mind walkin'.” She didn't seem to be in pain at all... At least not yet. “‘Least tha’ last one didn' last very long.”

“They will get longer, and closer together.” Tessai was guiding her to the courtyard. 

Kisuke followed along. “This is so much less predictable and controllable than decanting…”

Ayame followed Tessai along and seemed to be doing fine as she walked. “Decantin'? How's ‘at work?” She spoke as she walked... While looking for some butterflies in the courtyard. Ah, butterfly-less today, it seemed… and the sky was looking dreary. Was it going to rain?

"Decanting..." Oh, this was so new, so different, where even to begin? "Ururu and Jinta didn't have a mother. —Well, let me revise that. Of course, genetically, the material came from... somewhere..." He gave a vague hand-wave. "But there was no maternal vessel, as it were, involved in the incubation process..." He'd stepped forward to be beside her, and was now applying firm but continuous counter-pressure to the small of her back. "I think... I wanted to avoid... well, this." He gave Ayame a pained smile. It would be worse, much worse, before it got better; this he knew intellectually, and now they'd both know it in their guts, in their bones, in their core... it would be unpleasant for her to endure, that much was certain. He'd have to trust in her strength, and Tessai's skills... "So: instead, I used sterile incubation chambers." He nodded to her. "Ah—jars, if you will. And when Ururu and Jinta were... ready... they were decanted."

Ayame felt his hand at her back and tried to lean forward more... but her belly... and her balance wouldn't let her. Center of gravity changed along the way, so leaning back was the way to go. "Ya wanted t' 'void someone carryin' the baby 'roun?" At least that's how she understood the situation. "Ah... So they were from large jars instead'a someone carryin' 'em 'roun' fer so long." She didn't know what she was in for, but she did read some books and things online about the process. She was strong enough to go through it.

Oops— he hadn't meant to push her forward; more to massage against the pain of contractions... he lightened his touch. He supposed he ought to allow her to let him know when it was needed, rather than presuming. "It wasn't so much carrying them around—it was the delivery process that..." His face wrinkled.  "It seemed like asking so much... from someone who wouldn't be ah... invested in the outcome." Guilt crept across his face at that. It was true, if only because that person was kept unaware of the outcome. "This, admittedly, is a different situation..."  Where was Tessai leading them? They'd been winding their way around the engawa; he seemed to be doing laps...

She let out a sigh from his touch, "My lower back's buggin' me... but it's been fer a while." With the baby, of course it had been. "Oh, yeh I think I understand, they ain' keepin' the baby, but givin' it up t' you." But wasn't there something in the western world about that? A person carrying another baby for someone? She read about that once too. "But this time, they're keepin' the baby... with you." There was a sincere smile on her face, as she looked up at him.

"Well... there was a bit more to it than that." Kisuke languidly rubbed her back, kneading a bit here and there. "I wasn't... truly prepared to reveal the products of my genetic dabbling to... well, anyone else." It was a confession a long time coming. "Aside from Tessai, that is."

Tessai, for his part, stoically continued leading them on the third lap around the engawa.

"Can't wait t' see her face. Think we're gonna spoil her? Gonna have the warehouse, siblin's, uncles an' aunts, us, Tessai. Gonna be a lotta spoilin'. Oh..." She felt another contraction coming before slowing down to stop, unsure if she was supposed to stop walking while having them.

Kisuke smiled as Ayame alluded to the future... and then paused with concern as he noticed her falter. "Are you all right? Do you need a moment?"

"J-just a minute..." She was struggling for a moment as the contraction finished...  "I don' know much 'bou' genetic dabblin' but maybe ya coul' tell me more while we walk 'roun'?" Would she understand? Maybe if things were explained simply enough. Wait, had he not told her brother about this? Weren't the two quite open to each other about things? "How long d'ya think this is gonna take?" She wasn't too sure, figuring that Kiku should be born... soon. How many times have they gone around so far...? Did she already lose count?

"To explain genetic dabbling?" Kisuke seemed lost in thought for a moment. "Oh!" Labor... of course that's what she meant. He found himself at a bit of a loss there. "Tessai?"

"It should be complete within twenty-four hours. If it is not, we must take drastic measures."

She did want Kisuke to explain to her what Genetic Dabbling was... when it pertained to having Ururu and Jinta. "Hopin' soon..." She'd get back to moving forward again after that contraction.

However... Tessai's words caught her ear. Oh, she didn't like the words 'drastic measures'. "T-twenty four hours????" However, that's what came out of her mouth first, "w-what kinda drastic measures? I'm sure she's comin', just takin' her time. Own pace an’ all."

"There are methods for expediting a birth in such cases. Humans developed the forceps and the Caesarian section for doing so. But I suspect Tenchō may have a less intrusive method."

"I do?" It took Kisuke a moment to consider what Tessai must mean by that. "I do!" A device capable of removing foreign objects from souls without incurring any damage... "I suppose... that would work!"

She was thinking of what forceps were like and wanted to continue walking around for a while longer. If dancing is what got this started... Maybe she could do that again? "Kisu~pyon? D'ya wanna dance? Woul' 'at help a bit?" Walking around was getting a little boring. Was this five now? "Was doin' it 'fore the contractions started, so... shoul' maybe dance again? Wha'cha think?"

"You knoooow...." A slow smile crepts over his face as he paused beside her and turned to take her in his arms. "It miiiight~"  He shot Tessai a questioning glance.

"Ayame-dono is correct. Movement in general will shorten this phase of labor, speeding up the process as a whole."

Any movement? Then dancing will work! "I kept lookin' fer butterflies an' didn' see any while walkin' roun'... three, four? Five? Times?" She genuinely didn't count.

"Well! I believe we've exhausted the potential of the engawa," he announced, with cheerful apology, to Tessai. "One may stroll about the courtyard only so many times, after all, before it loses its charm. To the freight elevator!" And at this point, he would take the lead, steering Ayame with a gentle hand at her waist to the entrance ahead.

Ayame gasped with joy before giggling, a bright smile returning to her face as she followed Kisuke, led by his hand at her waist. "Wanna listen t' what I was listenin' t' while sewin?" Though it was on the radio... "Might not be the same song tha' was on earlier."

He gazes at her with amusement. "A problem easily solved. Iroha!"

"What is your request, Urahara-sama?" An obsequiously pandering gender-neutral voice lilted in response.

Kisuke spoke to the device he'd retrieved from his pocket. "Please identify and play a recording of the song that Ayame-chan will now sing." He held the phone out before her. "Just a few bars ought to do—"

"W-wait y' wan' me t' sing it, I coul' just hum it?" She was panicking slightly. All of a sudden, self-conscious of her singing voice. Of course, right when there's an audience. Even if it was an audience of two and a phone that was supposed to help her find a song.

"Oh— well, if you're comfortable. The lyrics would help... but you may try humming at first. Iroha, can you discern the song from the tune?"

"I will certainly try, Urahara-sama,” purred the device. “When you are ready.”

Ayame started humming the song 'Can't Help Falling in Love' to the phone, hoping that the assistant could help them out. If not, she could try singing... hopefully she wouldn't be too bad?

"Ayame-sama is humming the song, 'Can't Help Falling in Love', originally recorded by Elvis Presley. I will play that for you now."  A tick after the mellow, synthetic voice grew silent, the first strains of the song began.

It was at this point that Tessai would clear his throat, holding open the door to the freight elevator, at which they had been standing for the past ten seconds or so.

"Mh? Oh—" Kisuke was pulled out of his reverie long enough to usher Ayame inside. The door closed behind the three, and the music playing from the phone's speaker filled the chamber.

Ayame started humming with the music and heard Tessai's throat clear... had they been standing there that long? "Oh ah! Sorry." She followed along with Kisuke, listening to the song playing. The woman couldn't keep herself from dancing and would start. Mostly swaying her body to the melody. Her feet would move along with it, but it was mostly swaying around.

As the elevator descended, Kisuke reached for her and the two began to sway. It couldn't be said that there was any particular grace nor design to his movements; sometimes, he'd pull her in close, and sometimes he'd give her freedom to turn or twirl. It was not a perfect rhythm they kept, but somehow it was so engrossing that they'd reached the bottom before he knew it. Once again, Tessai was pointedly holding the door for them to the underground training area.

Ayame was humming along with the song and... almost singing at points. She danced along with Kisuke and twirled herself around. The woman was fully distracted by dancing before they got to the bottom. This felt like the right song for her to be having a baby to...

If this was the song that instigated the event, Kisuke reflected, it seemed fitting that it be used therapeutically to ameliorate her symptoms. And, well... not merely for that reason. He was, if he were honest, a sentimental soul. He took her by the hand and drew her with him onto the dusty terrain. It may not be a typical dance floor, but there'd been plenty of 'dancing' here before.

Ayame held his hand and followed along. Once out of the elevator, she'd get back to dancing with him... once again pausing once the contractions started... but this time rebounding from it quickly. Dancing was indeed helping her forget... or well, more ignore that pain.

"Take my hand... take my whole life too..." She did end up singing loud enough for Kisuke to at least hear her.

And so he did, smiling brightly.

After a space, he began to sing along. By and by, the song ended, only to be replaced by another in a similar vein. Iroha must have generated a playlist.

Ayame smiled, knowing this one too. Being in the world of the living for an extended period did teach her some new songs. She'd dance along to this one, not sure of the lyrics entirely. And there were two contractions through this one, spaced apart, but they did cause her to falter a little. "This is helpin' me a lot." But how much dancing was she going to have to do before Kiku came along?

 "I certainly hope so! —But not to worry, we'll give you a rest when you can no longer bear to be on your feet."  For now, though, she seemed to welcome the distraction, so he leaned into his role as lead dance partner, crooning along. "Fill my heart with song, let me sing for evermore..."

 Ayame laid her head on Kisuke's chest and danced close to him to this song... It felt like a slow dance to her. But she wasn't exactly quite a good judge. She hummed along to his crooning, since she didn't know this one quite yet.

While the pair danced across the packed earth, Tessai continued to monitor Ayame's progress. His methods might have been unorthodox if viewed from a human perspective; they were certainly far less hands-on... but he would leverage the work of months, a carefully-crafted fusion of reikaku and kaidō, to keep abreast of developments and the progression of her state.

There were giggles and joyful squeals while she danced with Kisuke. And once in a while... she'd also sing along to something she knew. It just took a moment to break that stage fright.

It was after several hours of dancing and strolling, punctuated by the essential rest, that Tessai became concerned. "Ayame-dono... I believe it would be best at this point for us to retire upstairs to the Recovery Room."

At some point, Ayame had gotten tired of being on her feet... Wanting to dance more, but the contractions just kept coming at this point. She was depending more on Kisuke to keep her moving, even if she was enjoying it. "Hmm? Okay~" There was a tired smile on her face as she turned to Tessai... Her hand reached for Kisuke's.

Tessai would usher them all back into the freight elevator to ascend, grateful for this addition to the Shōten. He would not ask of Ayame at this point to make reishi footholds. The reiatsu of the soul within her was becoming urgent, impatient, and thus it was imperative to relieve as many burdens as he could. 

Ayame would start breathing deeper after stepping foot inside the elevator. She was leaning comfortably against Kisuke, an arm wrapped around him. Her head nuzzled against the side of his chest. "Y'ready fer this?"

Kisuke regarded her with a complex mix of anxious amusement. "Am I ready? I believe I have the easy part." Though it would not be easy watching his sunshine disappear behind the coming storm... he hated to think of her in such pain.

Once back up to the ground floor, the time for rest was over, and she stepped out of the elevator. Lost in his thoughts, Kisuke walked beside her, hand-in-hand, until they reached the Recovery Room. Tessai had led them purposely to the waiting room, where Ururu was tending a steamer packed with clean hand towels. 

"Please, make yourself comfortable." Kisuke could see that there was a futon at the ready, but he couldn't possibly predict what posture she might choose at those words. From what he'd read, lying on one's back was in fact one of the worst in terms of childbirth—so he left it open to her interpretation.

Ayame walked into the Recovery Room with him and looked at the Futon. "Coul' I just sit fer a bit? Y' think that'll work?" It wasn't lying down, but that's what she felt would be comfortable. "An' ya coul' sit behind me." That'll have her lean into him and to her... that was comforting.

She got to work getting her thumbs under her waistband and eased her pants off. Thanks to how traditional her undergarments were, she was in fundoshi, which weren't hard to remove at all. Those were both wet and pushed to the side before she sat herself down on the futon, taking in a deep breath.

Kisuke watched her unceremoniously disrobe. Ever the pragmatist, wasn't she? Ayame's occasional shyness had never extended to being overly conscious of her own body, nor did it now. He appreciated that about her. "If that would be helpful..." He took a seat behind her, legs wide and bent so as to be her bolster. His hands settled atop her hips so that his thumbs could continue to massage the small of her back. "And now... we wait?"

"I'm thinkin' so? With how fast those contractions were coming." She leaned back against his chest as she hummed softly as she sat there with him. It was comfortable... Just sitting here with him—even if she wasn't pregnant, this would be a nice way to sit with Kisuke.

She felt the next one hit, and it lasted longer than the previous one. Or was this the many contractions happening at once? "Th-there's a lotta pressure!" She took a deep breath and tried to hold it for a second before letting it out.

"You seem to be bearing it well," he murmured, nuzzling at her temple. "Would you like a hot towel?" He glanced over at Ururu.

"It might feel soothing on your belly or back," she agreed. "But also, you should probably be sitting on one."

"Sittin' on one?" Well she wasn't going to argue really. Not that she was someone who would ordinarily! Ayame lifted herself up enough to get a towel under her. "Coul' use one fer my belly. Kisuke's got my back handled fer now. Thank ya Ururu."

Tessai cleared his throat delicately. "The moist heat will aid in skin elasticity. Please let us know when it grows too cool."

Ururu handed her a warm towel for her belly.

Ayame took the towel and put it on her belly. "So tell ya if both'a em get col'... Got it." She was trying to relax for a moment and another contraction came along to break up the quiet. The poor woman put out a pained groan as it went on. "Come on out, Kiku!" And it was over. "...awh." And a groan of defeat as the contractions were not yet enough.

The passage of time seemed to lose meaning; it was almost as if the two fell into a sort of trance, marked by the minutes between contractions, of cooled towels being swapped for hot ones. How much time went by? An hour, maybe two?

And then—a shift. Kisuke glanced up sharply and caught Tessai's eye—he'd noticed it too.

"Ayame..."

Ayame had been waiting for an hour or two, the contractions doing their thing. Progress... But it sure didn't feel like it. Though they were getting stronger and closer together. She swore she held onto the futon so tight her nails embedded into it. And then... She felt it, "I'm thinkin' this is it?" 

"Oh!" He shifted his position behind her to allow her to lean back, resting her head in his lap, and Tessai moved into position.

It was a strong contraction and starting off rather painful, but it quickly ramped up as that contraction had no chance of stopping.

He motioned for more towels, and hands emitted a green glow as he applied his healing art, coaching her to push with every subsequent contraction. After several iterations, he could see the top of a scalp. "She is crowning, Ayame-dono. Just a few more pushes!"

Ayame was letting out a pained cry as her body pushed the baby out.

It would be Tessai’s joy to draw out the first new soul to be born—actually born—in the Shōten. He dabbed at the bundle with more fresh towels until…

Until... There it was, a cry. 

“It looks like I have a baby sister.” Ururu gave a tiny smile. “I’ll take these and bring more fresh ones,” she announced, gathering up soiled towels and stepping from the room.

Gently, Tessai delivered the newborn into Ayame's waiting arms. "You have already selected a name?"

And the moment she had been eagerly waiting for... the chance to see their daughter's adorable little face. The little one seemed to have calmed down for the moment. "Yeh, went with followin' the theme'a namin' girls after flowers.” A theme that seemed to have started even before her own mother. “But, Kiku can have a double meanin'.” She took the babe in her arms. "Hello there... Kisu~pyon look... Our little Kiku." Her throat was a little sore, causing her voice to crack and be hoarse.

He was staring in wonder at the bundle in Ayame's arms, eyes brimming with sudden moisture. The thickness in her voice caught at his ear. "It's all—" His voice cracked a bit; he started again in a hoarse murmur.  "It's all conceptual until the actual baby is... right there..."

Even Tessai felt the sudden need to clean his glasses, and applied the last of the fresh hot towels to his face. "My congratulations to you, Ayame-dono.  You have done well. And to you too, Tenchō, for your supporting role."

Kisuke let out a long, slow breath. "I believe congratulations for my role are a bit premature. We shall see in another eighteen years, I suppose, whether I've truly earned them..." His voice trailed off as he reached around Ayame to let his knuckles graze the silky-soft cheek of the tiny new life, wondering whether this version of events could be considered the easy way, or the hard way. "Well. Up until this point, I'd say you've put in all the effort, but..."

"Kisuke... Yer kinda the other half'a her right? Ya shoul' be congratulated too. She's both'a ours." She held the small bundle to her chest and let out long breaths... she was still a wee bit out of breath from birthing, but doing alright! The pain was mostly gone.

The other half of her…

"Half yours, half mine..." he echoed softly, feeling both the weight and the wonder. "Do you realize, I've never put anything of mine into a new soul, until now..." It must truly be said that, for once in his life, he had skin in the game.

"Well, ya sure can't be sayin' that anymore." She giggled softly, still leaning against him. "D'ya need me t' sit up an'... ya wanna hol' her too?" Then there was the fact... whose last name was this baby taking? "Wha' family name's she takin'?"

"You needn't ask—" He was already shifting beneath her, helping to prop her up, so that his eager hands could take the squawking little bundle. He held it to his chest, leaning his cheek against the top of a fuzzy head. "Kiku," he intoned softly. "Kiku..." He was at a bit of a loss, himself. "It doesn't seem right to dub her 'Urahara' when she's only half mine," he admitted.

Ayame sat herself up better, so her love could sit himself up. She shifted carefully to hand off their bundle. And squawk Kiku did, not sure what the movement was, she let out a little cry as she was moved from hand to hand. Once settled, she'd stop her fussing.

"She's half'a mine, too. Coul' we take both'a our names?" That was a solution, trying to get creative with their own family names to give to her.

"Both of them...? That seems rather a lot of complication with which to saddle a natural child..."

"Yeh I know. But..." Hyphenating a name was such a western thing, wasn't it? Not like they could do that. It was either take one of their last names or they could take their names to give her something new...

But of course, even as Kisuke said the words, he realized the answer presented itself. "Ko..." Their natural child.  "...hara?"

Ayame nodded. Hirako and Urahara together did make a very cute name, and her given name combined with it... had a good ring to it. "Kiku Kohara... Tha's such a pretty name. Our little flower."

"A wild chrysanthemum we plucked from a field," he chuckled. "When she asks where she came from, that will be the answer she gets." He nuzzled the top of her head again, inhaling her warm scent. "I wonder how long it will take her to grow too clever to be fooled, hm?"

"I'm thinkin' she's gonna be a smart one an' we're gonna be the ones try'na keep up with her at some point. Smart an' creative... We're really gonna have a time, ain' we?" She nuzzled her head against him and hummed softly.

Their little newborn let out a gurgled snort while sleeping, almost like she was agreeing with them.

Kisuke gazed fondly at the little one in his arms, then at Ayame leaning against him, then cast a sidelong glance at Tessai looking on.  “That we will, I suspect,” he agreed. “That we will.”

[apocalypta-secundus]

"Stop licking the damn thing!"

from-- okay, you know who from and whom to, even though this is not her blog and it's probably 5-6 years in the future!

Kero.

"Why?" Was she going to start twenty questions, "I know this froggy isn' poisonous! So why not lick it, Jinta?" In her hands was a frog that was trying to escape her grasp, but she was holding it so it wouldn't get away but not so tight that she was endangering it. "Look, look! Isn' he cute!?"

[milapurr]

Shinji sang a teasing song about Ayame and Kisuke sitting in a tree--

Baby carriage eventually came!

Did he learn his lesson about teasing? Absolutely not.

She loves moths and her hobby is playing string games.

[hirak0s]

Little baby Kiku! Drawn by @dollfacedbunny

[frogsonstrings]

— character outline !!

flaws

moody | short-tempered | emotionally unstable | whiny | controlling | conceited | possessive | paranoid | liar | impatient | cowardly | bitter | selfish | power-hungry | greedy | lazy | judgmental | forgetful | impulsive | spiteful | stubborn | sadistic | petty | unlucky | absent-minded | abusive | addict | aggressive | childish | callous | clingy | delusional | cocky | competitive | corrupt | cynical | cruel | depressed | deranged | egotistical | envious | insecure | insensitive | lustful | delinquent | overthinker | guilt complex | reclusive | reckless | nervous | oversensitive | perfectionist | pessimistic | naive

strengths

honest | trustworthy | thoughtful | caring | brave | patient | selfless | ambitious | tolerant | lucky | intelligent | confident | humble | generous | merciful | observant | wise | clever | charming | cheerful | optimistic | decisive | adaptive | calm | protective | proud | diligent | considerate | compassionate | good sportsmanship | friendly | empathetic | passionate | reliable | resourceful | sensible | sincere | witty | funny

skills & hobbies

art | acting | astronomy | animals | archery | sports | belly dancing | bird watching | blacksmithing | boating | calligraphy | camping | candle making | casino gambling | ceramics | racing | chess | music | cooking | crochet | weaving | exercise | swordplay | fishing | gardening | ghost hunting | ice skating | magic | engineering | building | inventing | leather-working | martial arts | meditation | origami | parkour | people watching | swimming | puppetry | pyrotechnics | quilting / sewing | reading | collecting | shopping | socializing | storytelling | writing | traveling | exotic dancing | singing | yoga | gaming | surfing

Tagged by: stolen from @historias-multorum

Tagging: R i b b i t?

[hirak0s]

Her silence can be bought with ice cream!

[hirak0s]

She hasn't learned any of the fun words from her uncle. "What's he talking about?"

[hirak0s]

"167.00 dollars? Why do we eat?"

"If we don't eat it, then who else will?"

[hirak0s]

"Trick or treat!" And she's in a frog costume... complete with a frog on the hoodie.

[hirak0s]

With every boop the baby got... a frog would be placed on the booper's hand.

[hirak0s]

This little frog lover is busy making a heart with some maroon yarn she was working with. It looked rather complex, but she was enjoying herself. "This way and that and this way~"

[hirak0s]

She's carrying around a bucket full of tadpoles... and is looking for a pond to dump them in... Once they're frogs, maybe they'll cause a bit of a scene. "Hum-de-dum~"

[hirak0s]

Picrew 🌟

[hirak0s]

🚼 for Kisuke and Ayame!

Baby Picrew, Frog Con 2023, Froggy