"To the hospital," Ren gave Hibiki a brief instruction once they were seated inside the s.p.a.cious car. Hibiki nodded once and immediately started driving.

It was 6:45 AM when the car left Spring Garden. Ren looked down at his sleeping wife on his chest. Her face contorted in pain while her hands pressed on her tummy. Ren brushed her bangs away, her face was still wan and it made him felt pain in his heart.

As the road was packed with vehicles heading to work, it took them almost half an hour to reach the hospital. Hibiki drove to the entrance. He had wanted to get a wheelchair before Ren shook his head. Understanding what his Master meant, he opened the pa.s.senger door at the back.

"Tell Matsuzaki to push back everything schedule today. If it's important, call Tak.u.ma first."

"Understood, Master."

Hibiki watched his Master's figure entering the hospital lobby with his Madam in his arms. He sighed heavily. Matsuzaki would have a lot to do today. What should they do? Served them right for not having a pregnant wife.

Well, I have a lot of work to do too.

As if resigning to his fate, Hibiki left with his shoulders slumped down.

In the hospital, Tos.h.i.+ro had already been waiting for Ren and Tsubaki. He frowned when he saw his friend's anxious face as Ren carried Tsubaki to one of the beds in the emergency room. After he was done with the check-up, he felt a strong urge to do a shoulder throw toward this wife's slave.

"Her vitals are fine, she's just dehydrated," Tos.h.i.+ro placed his hands firmly inside his doctor's coat pockets. His sleep-deprived face was so obvious as purplish marks appeared under his eyes. He had just returned from a night s.h.i.+ft when he suddenly got a call from this man. "Your wife has just experienced regular morning sickness although it appears a little bad today. You should feel grateful she didn't have hyperemesis gravidarum."

"Yes. She didn't have prolonged nausea. It usually happens only in the morning and she could still eat as usual," Ren had heard of the sickness mentioned by Tos.h.i.+ro. Ever since Tsubaki got pregnant he had begun reading more about pregnancy and childcare.

Tsubaki was deep in sleep when the nurses transferred her to a private ward. Tos.h.i.+ro put her on an IV drip to replenish her fluids before he left to attend his morning rounds. Dr. s.h.i.+moto who was Tsubaki's doctor came to inspect her. She calmed the anxious husband with her further explanation.

Ren sat on a stool next to her bed once the doctor and nurses exited the room. He reached out both of his hands and grasped her left hand. Her warmth was replaced with coolness, startling him.

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"Sweetheart, you're bothered, right?"

Ren stared at her sleeping face, his gaze deepened as doubt started budding in his heart.

Her morning sickness wasn't severe as it had getting better in these few days yet today, she suddenly threw up until she nearly fainted. He suspected her regression today was due to what he told her last night. Even though she appeared fine on the surface, her emotions still fluctuated.

"Everything will be fine so please," Ren choked on his sob, he felt helpless as he could just look at her painful expression even in her sleep. He brought her hand to his lips, every kiss on her knuckles was filled with his utmost worry and fear. His voice was a whisper in the quiet room. "Please, you have to be fine too."

Ren didn't realize how long he had stayed by her side until a ringing sounded from his pocket. He quickly fished out his phone and answered the call from his personal phone. He knitted his brows once he saw the caller ID.

"What it is?"

"You're in the hospital, right? I heard sister-in-law is treated right now," Akas.h.i.+'s voice held a ghost of worry as he asked Ren. His usual goofiness was nowhere to be found.

"Tos.h.i.+ro told you? Wait a minute."

Ren pinched the s.p.a.ce between his eyebrows. He glanced at his sleeping wife. He hesitated for a moment before he quietly left her bedside after rubbing her head. After making sure he was in a proper distance, he resumed his conversation.

"I'm sure you didn't call me this early to ask about my wife being hospitalized," Ren immediately pointed out Akas.h.i.+'s real intention. "Have you found any of them?"

"Yes," Akas.h.i.+ replied briefly. He went back to business. "It's tough but I've found one of the maids who worked for the Fujioka Family before their downfall. She lives in a secluded village and I need to take some time before I could meet her. Well, I believe you have told sister-in-law about what we've concluded so far, right?"

"En."

Ren let out a low grunt. He closed his eyes, her anxious face from last night was still clear in his mind. The way her lips quivered, her eyes widened and the fluttering of her eyelashes, all of them were tinged with fear.

"Then, have you told her about the man who separated her parents forcefully?" Akas.h.i.+'s voice burst his bubble of thoughts.

Ren paused as he was thinking. He shook his head slightly even though Akas.h.i.+ couldn't see his action. "Not yet. This is not the right time. She couldn't handle the shock if I reveal everything right now."

Akas.h.i.+ sighed heavily. This was a matter between two souls so he couldn't interfere. After all, the evidence was still not much.

"Alright. I'm sure you know what to do. I'll head out of the city by tonight. Wait for my news."

"Be careful."

Ren lowered down his phone from his ear, he cast a conflicted look toward the screen. Her face on the screen was smiling softly toward the camera lens while the real her right now was lying weakly on the bed.

He spun on his heels and walked toward the bed. He smiled in relief as he saw her face had gradually turned rosier. His left fingertips hovered on her skin before they settled gently on one side of her face. When he looked at how fragile she appeared right now, he couldn't help but feel so afraid.

Afraid of having her slipped away from him again.

Their separation 5 years ago had ceased all of his warmth, resulting in him living in coldness. Only after he met her again did it thaw due to her presence.

She was the spring air to his winter.

"You'll be alright. Everything will be fine."

He muttered the words repeatedly under his breath as if to rea.s.sure himself.

It was already close to noon when Tsubaki finally woke up. Her gaze was blurry as she slowly opened her eyelids. She stared blankly at the unfamiliar ceiling laid in front of her. She whimpered in pain as she wanted to turn to her left side. The aching of her limbs had restricted her movements. She felt so sluggish right now.

"Sweetheart, you're awake?"

The familiar voice laced with panic grabbed her attention, making her wide awake. Tsubaki turned her gaze toward the sound she had grown to love. Her eyes brightened at the sight of him.

"Darling!"

Ren went blank once he heard her sweet voice calling for him. He immediately enveloped her in his embrace.

"Aa... darling? What's wrong?"

Tsubaki was confused when she suddenly saw him acted this way. Before he pulled her in his arms, it didn't escape her gaze how fearful and relieved he looked as she smiled at him. Even the s.h.i.+vering of his body further puzzling her.

"Nothing..." Ren held a faint smile as he felt a soft layer of moisture formed in his eyes. "I'm glad you're alright."

"Oh... I did feel better compare to this morning," Tsubaki decided to let the matter go. She gently patted his back.

"You must be hungry, sweetheart. I've asked Hibiki to bring some soup for you," Ren let her go with a heavy heart. He helped her to sit up. "You didn't wake up even when the nurses brought you to this room. Tos.h.i.+ro said you're alright. Even Dr. s.h.i.+moto has come to see you."

"I'm sorry for troubling you," Tsubaki felt bad when she recalled how anxious he looked earlier.

"There's no trouble," Ren smiled, his eyes exuding tenderness as he leaned in and kissed her lips softly. "Between a husband and wife, this kind of thing is not a trouble. Understood?"

Tsubaki nodded with a beautiful smile blossoming on her face. She wrapped her hands around his neck and returned his kiss. Ren swiftly supported her back.

After finis.h.i.+ng the chicken and herbal soup brought over by Hibiki, Tsubaki felt her tummy was really full. She sighed in relief because the urge to throw up had been pressed down. It felt so good to be able to eat properly!

"Dr. s.h.i.+moto said you could be discharged if you wanted to since your result came out fine," Ren took the empty bowl and placed it on the bedside table. He peered into her cheery face, trying to find even the slightest hint of discomfort. "You want to go home, sweetheart?"

"Of course I do!" Tsubaki quickly replied. "Please, hubby? I don't want to stay in the hospital. Plus, I'm not sick. I just need to take extra care of myself."

Ren knew he couldn't talk her out of this so he agreed. Hibiki handled the discharge procedures and after being prescribed some medicines to help with nausea and vomiting, the husband and wife left the hospital in the evening.

Tsubaki was quiet in their car ride home. She just stared at the view outside, her thought drifted far away from her. Ren didn't say anything. He just held her hand as the car heading to Spring Garden.

When she still kept her silence even after they reached home did he ask her.

"Sweetheart, what are you thinking about?" Ren extended his hands and tied the ribbon of the nightgown behind his wife's back. "You're so quiet. Did something bother you?"

"En?" Tsubaki snapped out of her trance. "I just... I feel like visiting Kou-chan."

"Kouichi?"

"Yes." Tsubaki nodded. A sad smile hung on her lips. An adorable face appeared in her mind. "It's been so long since the last time I saw him. He's my nephew. At the very least, I want to be involved in his life even for a bit."

Sensing his wife's worry, Ren couldn't say no. It was true that they hadn't met the child in weeks. Maybe because they had known the truth, Tsubaki's fondness toward Kouichi took another level, slightly made him jealous.

"Alright, we'll visit him once you're really healthy. Is that alright?" Ren carefully neatened her sweetheart collar, his mood was elevated as he saw the pink on her cheeks.

"Okay!" Tsubaki's smile turned cheerful. "Thank you, darling!"

Ren smiled tenderly. He would do anything as long as she's happy and safe.