{These characters are not property of me. I would never attempt to claim them as my own. This story may not be used without my permission, and may not be used to make money in any way, shape or form. Characters and certain situations were created by Rumiko Takahashi, so don't try any funny stuff!}
Nabiki rubbed her hand over stomach and looked down at herself. She didn't look any different... yet. She didn't feel any different... yet. But it had only been three months, and she dreaded what would happen when she did start to show.
She had lived with the whispering at school for that time, the strange looks... No one actually had the nerve to directly ask her what had happened, so they just spread the rumors. So far, none of them knew she was pregnant; she would hide that as long as possible.
And then what? What would she do when it was obvious? She laid back on her futon and stared up at the ceiling. She wanted to take whatever it was growing inside her and rip it out. She didn't want to have to deal with it, didn't want to deal with the way people would treat her, didn't want to deal with the trouble.
She closed her eyes and clenched her hand into a fist. If she thought she could actually go through with an abortion, she would have it done and keep Kuno's guilt money. As much as she hated being pregnant, she just couldn't have an abortion; it went against every moral fiber in her body.
Kuno's guilt money. She opened her eyes and looked over at her desk. She could see the envelopes containing the checks she hadn't bothered to do anything with. She called it his guilt money to her family, but knew it wasn't. Something so simple could never alleviate Kuno's guilt; there was a blight on his soul that couldn't be removed so easily. She knew how he thought, knew that if he could do more he would; it was his duty, he owed it to his honor.
She got off her futon and sat at her desk. She picked up the first envelope, unopened, and looked at it. If she didn't do something with it soon, the check she knew was inside would become void. She read it about five times, staring at Kuno's neat handwriting. It must have been done while he was still in the hospital... She stopped herself. The medical hospital. Written before they took him away.
She opened it carefully, trying not to rip it too much, and removed the check. She looked blankly at the value filled out. It should have set her drooling, but it didn't excite her. She wished there wasn't any need for it; she wished she wasn't getting Kuno's money once a month in an envelope.
She set the check down and looked back in the envelope. She pulled out a piece of paper and unfolded it. It was a letter, and even though she didn't want to read it, she did anyway.
"I'm sorry. I can never say it enough. I can't give you any excuses for what happened. I accept full blame for it, and for the actions of my sister as well. The check is not a bribe. It is only the money owed to you and your family."
Nabiki wondered when he had written the letter. After he had talked to her in her room obviously; probably just before they got him out. She hadn't seen Sasuke, but knew he had most likely been there. She continued to read, the characters becoming shaky.
"There isn't much else I can say. I have already told you everything. Please know that I owe you my life.
Your servant,
Tatewaki Kuno"
Nabiki set down the letter, frowning. She opened the other two envelopes and pulled out the checks. She noticed the address was not written by Kuno's hand; more like Sasuke's economical script. There were two more checks, but no more letters.
Sighing, she worked out a minimal budget based on the checks, not to mention replacing the family funds drained over the past three months. There wasn't a whole lot to budget though. The checks were beyond generous and there was a lot left over after her initial numbers.
She returned to her futon, the budgeting unfinished. Laying down, her hand returned to her stomach. What would it be like? What would it be like to give birth? The prospect of lots of pain and discomfort for an extended period of time frightened her. But even more frightening was the thought of being a mother, and only being 18.
She didn't know anything about being a mother; that was Kasumi's thing. And that was, in truth, what scared her most. What if she messed up? What if she hurt the baby? What if she screwed it up emotionally and it ended up like... 'Kuno or Kodachi,' she thought and immediately regretted it. They were thoughts she could do nothing about until the baby was born.
The baby. And what if the baby wasn't OK. What if something went wrong? What would she do then? As much as she tried to believe everything would work out fine, there were far too many doubts in her head. There was too much anger also. She closed her eyes and took a shuddering breath.
She rolled to her side, not even realizing she had been rubbing her stomach the entire time. She managed to fall into a troubled sleep, a few stray tears soaking into her pillow.
"Bitch!"
Her head was rocked by the slap.
"You deserve every bit of this!"
She was backhanded and tasted blood.
"You can't possibly know how much I hate you!"
There was cold steel pressed against her stomach.
"You don't deserve this, or any of my money!"
A blade bit into her skin and she felt pain.
"You could never be a mother, you cheap, thieving whore!"
The knife plunged deep into her flesh, deep into her womb.
"I'll just take back what belongs to me..."
The knife cut her open and blood gushed out in hot rivers. She felt his hand plunge into her and root around in her body. He took hold of something and pulled. Pulled and pulled until it ripped free along with her scream.
He sat over her, triumphant, blood covering his chest and mouth. She expected to see him lift a baby, bloody and squalling, in his stained hands. Instead, he raised into the air her still beating heart, blood spraying from the severed veins and arteries.
A child with black hair and red, glowing eyes materialized beside him. It looked at her, smiling maliciously, then at her heart. It licked it's lips and extended one clawed hand toward it...
Nabiki sat up in bed, a scream ready to escape her lips. She bit it back when she saw she was in her room alone. Slowly, she laid back down, her shirt clinging to her from the sweat on her body. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to erase the memory of her dream, but a pair of red eyes haunted her.
She hated it; she hated everything about being pregnant. She had been having nightmares about the attack ever since it happened, but her thoughts about the baby had put a new spin to things. She didn't think she could put up with nightmares like that for another six months.
Nabiki got off her futon, suddenly needing some human contact. She headed downstairs to see what the rest of her family was doing. At least she had only been asleep for an hour, otherwise her schedule would be all messed up.
"How was your nap, Nabiki?" Kasumi asked as Nabiki entered the kitchen.
Nabiki shrugged, not wanting to talk about it. "When's dinner going to be ready?" she asked instead.
"Only 15 minutes or so." She turned and smiled. "Could you tell father and Akane, and set the table?"
"Sure." Nabiki sighed and left the kitchen.
"I'm going to take a bath," Nabiki said, getting up from the table.
She headed upstairs to retrieve her pajamas. It was a little early to be getting ready for bed, but she had felt tired all week.
She returned to the bathroom and prepared to bathe. Even the cold water couldn't wake her up. She slipped into the steaming bath water and relaxed. She had left the lights off and was happy to hear, or not hear, that Akane was not practicing. She closed her eyes and sank into the water up to her chin.
It was still dark when she opened her eyes, but darker than before. She couldn't see much of anything outside the shimmering waters of the bath. She started to sit up when she realized she was leaning against someone. She could guess who it was.
His hands moved down her arms. "I love you. Don't ever forget," he whispered to her. His hands moved lower and rested on her stomach. "Now tell me how much you love me."
She wanted to laugh. She couldn't love him. "I don't..." She felt his hands tense and his fingertips dig into her skin.
"Tell me how much you love me..." His fingers pierced her flesh and dug into her stomach. "I know you love me... Say it..." He pulled her flesh apart, filling the bath with her blood.
She couldn't move, she couldn't even scream. She felt his mouth graze the back of her neck, and something burst free from her abdomen.
The water was suddenly lit from below. It had turned completely red, making her want to vomit. A human shape rose from the gore in front of her.
She struggled, tried to get away from the figure approaching her, but she was held tight. "Don't run. It's our child," he whispered in her ear.
She shook her head, trying to deny what she knew as the truth, when she saw the red eyes.
It raised one hand, the fingers ending in talons. "Mother," it hissed at her.
Nabiki awoke with a start, splashing in the water. She found herself shivering even though the water was still warm. She clambered from the bath as quickly as possible and went into the lighted changing room. She wasn't sure she'd ever be able to bathe comfortably again.
She dried herself and pulled on her pajamas. Without sparing a look back, she ran out of the bathroom and up the stairs. She shut herself in her room and sat on her futon, hugging her knees to her chest.
That night, she managed a few hours of sleep.
"No... No!"
Kasumi entered the room and sat on the bed.
"I don't love you... That's not our child..."
Kasumi's small smile vanished. "Nabiki, wake up," she said, shaking the sleeping girl's form.
"I'm sorry... I didn't mean it..." Nabiki's thrashing was becoming more violent. "I love you, just don't hurt me..."
Kasumi frowned. She took Nabiki by the shoulders and shook her. "Nabiki," she said in her sternest voice. "You must wake up."
"Kuno stop!" Nabiki was waving her hands around, nearly hitting Kasumi.
Kasumi frowned deeper at the mention of Kuno's name. She shook Nabiki's shoulders again, more forcefully. "Wake up!"
Nabiki's eyes flew open and stared fearfully at Kasumi for a moment. Realization dawned in them and Nabiki sat up. She hugged Kasumi tightly, not seeing the frown.
"Oh, Kasumi. I'm so scared," she said, holding back a sob. "Every time I fall asleep, I have awful nightmares... I just can't do it any more."
"It's OK... Go back to sleep. Tomorrow we can get something from Dr. Tofu to help you. Go back to sleep; I'll stay with you..." Slowly she rocked Nabiki, as her little sister feel asleep in her arms.
Kasumi knew that if she ever got her hands on Kuno, she would do something... not very nice.