COM:Rein

Mid-day, the sun was dimmed by the soft white clouds that drifted about the sky above. Birds flying by on this calm, Summer day. The officers below bustling around as their normal fashion. Paperwork to be done, missions to be completed, peace to keep, all was as it normally was..except in the division twelve barracks.

It was this day that Captain Mayuri’s wife had gone into labor. The day his new daughter would be born. As they rushed her to the birthing room, he did good to keep his hand around hers. Offering the support he could, but, it was against the law for a man to be in the delivery room. So, his love went with her as they finally broke contact and she was rushed behind the double doors. After hurrying her to the division four hospital for urgent care, he stood anxiously in the waiting room. Questioning nurse after nurse that came back and forth from the delivery room his wife was in.

“ It should not be taking this long! My last examination of the fetus revealed no complications! She is a perfectly healthy female, birth should not be this troublesome! “ He ranted, putting pressure on the nurses to do their jobs more to his definition of efficency.

Standing outside the door and peering in the window was the smoke-a-holic who supervised his captain’s wife’s pregancy, Akon. As tobacco smoke was not permitted, he had to wait in the hall-way until he had finished his cigarette. Watching his captain drive all of the nurses nuts.

He would turn to see his assistants playing a card game as they sat in a circle to the side of the hall. Staying out of the way and trying to stay out of the path of their captain’s tense rage.” We should have just had her give birth in the office. He’s going to give Captain Unohana’s nurses panic attacks. Hanataro is already a wreck...” Akon commented.” If he doesn’t calm down, the’re going to call Captain Soifon.”

The plump assistant looked up from his hand of cards.” Maybe you should go get his attention. Maybe he’s just hungry. “ And Rin squeaked.” Y-Yeah! It is almost lunch time. He does get cranky when he doesn’t get his proteins.”

Akon let out a puff of smoke from his lungs.” I am not going in there.” Looking back inside the waiting room and watching his captain strike fear into the hearts of the normally diligent men and women who had more than just his baby to deliver that day. His constant questions and impatience did nothing to help move things along.

When the unpredictable presence of the division captain appeared before the group of patient officers.” I understand your commander is terrorizing my subordinates.” With that cheeky, innocent smile on her face as she approached the waiting group.

A bead of sweat fell off Akon’s cheek. Looking back at the covered captain.” We theorize he is either hungry or worried.” The group chimed in.

She smiled at them very calmly.” There is nothing to worry about, his wife and child will be perfectly fine. We are waiting for her to become fully dilated before proceeding There is no complication.”

Rin held his chest for a second.” O-Oh, then he must have thought you were going to give her a cesarian section. “ Laughing weakly.

“ Someone should go tell him.” Akon added.

Unohana walked up and held out her hand to the tall male.” Your cigarette, please. It is bad for the people around you.”

And he handed the bud over, which she quickly threw into a silver trash can to the other side of the door and headed inside. The door closed, heavy, with a latch behind her and she approached her fellow captain to ease his chain of thought. It was always a first to him to cut and dice up, he had forgotten, in his eagerness, that healthy females give birth to their offspring.

As the group watched from the window, unable to hear the conversation, they noticed a change in their captain’s expression. He was still was as straight as every but he seemed to be accepting of the current status. Still, he wanted to see them both.

The pink captain passed the painted face of her fellow worker and went to the delivery room to check on the status of his wife personally from here on out. Slipping on rubber gloves after washing her hands, a mask to protect the mother from germs, she went to greet the expecting mother.

“ Excited? “ She asked cheerfully as she looked down at the pained expression of the young woman in the hospital bed.

Melissa forced a smile, rubbing her belly as she awaited another contraction.” Of course..just wish she’d come out already.”

“ How far apart are the pains? “ Retsu asked, checking the chart that she had been handed by the delivery nurse.

“ Thr-Three minutes.” Melissa choked.

And the flower captain smiled brightly at her.” Almost ready to start pushing. I will be supervising today, miss Annie here will be delivering the infant.”

And Melissa nodded at the black haired woman who approached her. The blonde looked back at the captain as she looked over the chart.” How much longer? “

“ You’re progressing quickly, shouldn’t be more than another hour. “ Laying the papers back on the wooden board and holding it in her hands when she peered down at the young woman.” And once the baby is born, we will have her returned to you as soon as possible and then your husband can join you.”

Melissa smiled at the thought of showing the beautiful creature she had made to her lover. Then, a sudden kick and bewildering shock of pain ripped through her and set that happy thought in the back of her mind,” ...! “ Groaning as the pain settled in her belly. Looking up at the pale white ceiling and thinking to herself." I am going to need a long nap after this..."

--

Back in the lobby, the eager father stood in the center of the tiled floor with his daughter, Nemu, standing about arm’s length to his side. Holding a tray of tea in her hands with her head bowed and mouth closed. Her captain standing with his hands together behind his back, watching the doors and awaiting news of the child’s arrival to the world. Tapping his foot in some instances as he tried to keep from snapping the heads off of passing nurses as they carried other infants to the nursery and transported medicines and IVs throughout the hospital.

Nemu poured a few bits of crystal substance into the tea, a poison that Kurostuchi used to regulate his personally altered body chemistry, and stirred until it dissolved in the hot liquid. Changing it from green to a dirty purple. Offering it to her commander.” Sir? “

He snatched the cup and downed it before setting it back on the tray and returning to his composed position in he middle of the floor.

His assistant stepping casually back towards the double doors that led into the maternity ward. exiting with the tray in her hand. Passing Akon and his brood who slipped inside behind her to wait in the chairs in the waiting room with the males of different relationships who were almost hiding from the impatient mad man.

Akon slid his hands into the pockets of his apron, watching his captain for a minute before asking.” How’s it going? “

Mayuri’s raspy voice seemed much calmer from earlier.” Just about finished. “ Looking at the horned male from the corner of his wild eyes.” Have you finished making the play things for the infant? ” More ferocious when he inquired about his personal order.

The male pulled a receipt from his pocket and read off a list of custom toy orders.” They’re being delivered to the kid’s nursery as we speak.” Looking back up at his captain who was paying full attention to the double doors down the hall.” ..You two could have ordered a cesarian.”

Mayuri straightened his back,” Mmm...yes, but, Melissa insisted on a natural birth.”

“ Natural would be her giving birth in her bed in her home..” Akon commented.

And the blue haired captain groaned.” Yes..we compromised.”

And the nurse came out. As the doors opened, a burst of faint cries followed behind her. The nurse took her paper mask off her face and wore a soft smile as she approached the father and his cohorts.” Your daughter is very healthy and your wife is in recovery. Would you like to see them? “

And Mayuri started walking towards the door. A bit of sweat fell from the nurse’s chin,” I’ll take that as a yes.” And followed behind him.

He pushed his way past the heavy doors and went to the room where his wife rested in the hospital bed. The sun from the nearing afternoon pouring into the window and a bundle wrapped up warmly in her arms. Sitting up with pillows supporting her back. She took her eyes from the window and caught the sight of her husband. A smile stretching on her lips.” There’s your father.” Lifting the infant just a bit.

The mad man looked back at the child with the head full of hair and the brilliant red eyes that mirrored her mother’s. She was the picture of health.

Approaching the bedside, he paused only to peer down at the infant with his intimidating stare. The child seemed un-phased, looking up at him and his wide, toothy grin. He leaned down, the shining gold that framed his face seemed to attract the child’s attention as the baby reached out to try and touch it. “ Hello, little one.” Mayuri breathed. Putting a pail hand in the infant’s line of sight and letting the child grip his bony fingers.

Upon introducing himself to the new life form, he went to pet his wife’s head.” Good work.” He assured her.” What name have you picked for her? “

The mother looked at her beautiful child and thought on it for a minute.” I want to name her ‘Rein’. But, it is your decision.”

Mayuri stroked his chin and trailed off somewhere in his thought process.” If that is what you want to call her, you are her creator. You decide.”

Melissa looked, soft eyed, at her newborn and proudly proclaimed.” Rein it is.” And the blonde beamed, proud of her creation and future protege. She held the child to her bosom and let out a soft breath of relief and happiness. Petting the child’s soft, deep blue hair.

“ You’ll be a brilliant scientist someday.”