A miracle occurs
Bai had undergone subtle changes recently. She continued to practice swordplay diligently, but occasionally, after a few swings, she'd feel an inexplicable fatigue, needing to rest on Yiyong's shoulder. She'd also become more discerning about her food, sometimes frowning at a dish she usually loved, and other times suddenly dreaming of a rare wild fruit, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. Yiyong observed all this, dismissing it as the changing seasons or the rigors of training. His pity grew, and he silently took better care of her.
Until this sunny afternoon.
In the courtyard, the wind whistled as swords roared. Bai Zheng and Yiyong discussed a new approach to integrating Water Breathing and Moon Breathing. Her movements remained fluid, her silver hair drawing dazzling arcs in the sunlight. However, just as she was about to change her moves, an unexpected, intense feeling of nausea suddenly surged up from her stomach and rushed straight to her throat.
"Ugh...!" All her movements came to a sudden halt, and the Nichirin Sword fell to the ground with a clang. She covered her mouth, her face instantly turning pale. Violent retching made her double over, and her vision went black.
"Bai!" Yiyong's face suddenly changed. He took a quick step forward and, before she could collapse, he firmly took her into his arms. The person in his arms trembled slightly, and her weight seemed lighter than usual. The sudden feeling of fragility made Yiyong's heart clench violently.
He immediately picked her up horizontally, without even having time to pick up the knife on the ground, and rushed towards the Butterfly House like the wind.
The Butterfly House was filled with the delicate fragrance of herbs. Shinobu Kocho carefully examined the unconscious Bai, her fingers resting on Bai's wrist. Her violet eyes were initially focused, then flashed with a hint of surprise. That surprise gradually turned into incredible shock, and finally into a bright glow mixed with ecstasy and incredible.
She confirmed it several times before finally looking up at Giyu, who was holding Bai's hand tightly, his face as tight as ice.
"Mr. Tomioka..." Shinobu Kocho's voice was filled with the excitement of discovering a miracle, and even trembled a little, "Shiro... she is not sick."
Giyu's heart was in his throat, his deep blue eyes fixed on Shinobu, waiting for her next words.
"She is..." Shinobu took a deep breath and announced clearly, each word emphasized, "She is pregnant. And, judging by her pulse, she is already three months pregnant."
Time seemed to freeze at this moment.
Yiyong's breathing suddenly stopped, and his mind went blank. He seemed not to understand what he said, but just stood there stiffly, his eyes slowly moving from Shinobu's face to Shiro who was still unconscious and pale on the bed.
Three months pregnant?
Those details he had overlooked suddenly flooded into his mind like a tide - her recent fatigue, the satisfied and dependent look in her eyes as she rested on his shoulder; her brows that slightly frowned and then relaxed as she looked at the food; her nasal, coquettish tone when she mumbled one night that she wanted to eat some sour, wild fruit only found in the mountains...
It turns out... everything has a traceable path.
The immense, unprecedented impact swept away all his rationality like a tsunami. The water column, always calm and composed, rarely showing emotion, now stood there like a wooden man, his handsome face blank and bewildered. Only those deep blue eyes, like a lake tossed with a huge rock, stirred up a turbulent wave.
It’s not an injury…it’s…a child?
His and Bai's...child?
A brand new life with his and her blood flowing in it?
After a few seconds of dead silence, the immense impact transformed into a boiling ecstasy that threatened to overwhelm him! The joy was so overwhelming, so unfamiliar, that he didn't know how to respond for a moment. He could only subconsciously hold Bai's hand tighter and tighter, as if it was his only driftwood in the tide of ecstasy.
Shinobu Kocho looked at Giyuu's rare, completely out-of-control appearance and couldn't help but chuckle. Her tone was filled with wonder and blessing: "This is truly... an incredible miracle. The blood of humans and demons can actually blend and give birth to new life... This is simply... the most gentle answer to this cruel world."
Her gaze towards Bai was filled with maternal tenderness and a doctor's curiosity: "This child's very existence is hope."
Yiyong finally recovered from the huge shock. He slowly and carefully squatted down, knelt on one knee beside the bed, and stretched out a slightly trembling hand, wanting to touch Bai's still flat belly, but stopped just before making contact, as if afraid of disturbing the fragile miracle that was quietly growing.
His gaze moved from Bai's belly to her sleeping face. His eyes were extremely complicated - there was the helplessness of being a new father, the worry about Bai's physical condition, the confusion about the future, but more importantly, there was a deep love and joy that was almost overflowing.
He leaned down, gently rested his forehead against the back of Bai's hand, closed his eyes, and felt this unexpected gift from God in an almost pious manner.
Shinobu Kocho watched this scene unfold before quietly exiting the clinic, leaving this space for the couple about to welcome a new life. She knew this miraculous news held both hope and a harsher test for the Demon Slayer Corps as they faced their final battle. But she believed that to protect this hard-earned happiness, this man and his beloved wife would unleash unprecedented strength.
Bai slowly awoke, enveloped in a warm and comforting feeling. The moment consciousness returned, the first thing she felt was a dry throat and a lingering sense of weakness deep within her body. She opened her eyes, only to be greeted by the familiar ceiling of the Butterfly House and... Giyuu, standing by her bed, staring intently at her.
His eyes were extremely complicated, his deep blue eyes were filled with lingering fear, a cherishment of something lost and regained, and a soft and fiery glow that Bai had never seen before, almost overflowing.
"Husband..." Bai's voice was a little hoarse as he struggled to sit up.
"Don't move." Yiyong immediately reached out, gently but firmly pressing her shoulders. With his other hand, he had already passed the warm water to her lips. His movements were cautious, as if she were a piece of rare and fragile glass.
Bai took a few sips of water from his hand, feeling better, and then asked in confusion, "What's wrong with me? Suddenly..."
Yiyong put down the cup and clasped one of her hands in his. His palms were warm and slightly calloused, and trembling slightly. He took a deep breath, as if about to announce something extremely important and sacred. His eyes locked with hers, and his voice was low and clear:
"Shiro, you...are pregnant. Shinobu Kocho said you're already three months pregnant."
Time seemed to stand still at this moment.
The expression on her pale face froze instantly, her dark pupils dilated with extreme shock. She stared blankly at Yiyong, then subconsciously looked down at her still flat belly, as if she couldn't understand the meaning of this sentence.
Pregnant?
Her and Giyu-senpai's...child?
That wish she had expressed shyly and with infinite longing under the moonlight... that strongest desire in her heart when she drank the potion that transformed her into a human... had actually, without her realizing it, come true?
A huge, overwhelming feeling of happiness, like the warmest tide, instantly washed away all her astonishment and uncertainty, surging through her heart and rushing straight to her eyes. Without warning, scalding tears burst out, sliding down her pale cheeks and dripping onto their clasped hands.
"Really? Really?" Her voice trembled with disbelief, tears streaming down her face like beads from a broken string, "We...are having a child?"
Seeing her tears welling up, Yiyong's heart felt like it was being tugged at. He hurriedly wiped them away with his fingers, and clumsily comforted her, "Don't cry...it's a good thing."
Bai nodded vigorously, tears streaming down her face, but they were sweet, filled with indescribable joy and fulfillment. She clutched Yiyong's hand tightly, as if to draw more strength from it to confirm this miracle.
"That's great... Really... That's great..." She choked up, pulling Yiyong's hand towards her, gently pressing it against her belly. Although she couldn't feel any movement at the moment, the feeling of hope there was being nurtured was incredibly real, and it was transmitted to both of their hearts. "Our... child..."
From that day on, the focus of Tomioka Giyu's life changed drastically.
Training with the Pillar instructors continued, but Shiro was absolutely forbidden from participating in any form of combat. Even her daily swordsmanship practice was strictly limited by Giyuu, who only allowed her the most gentle breathing exercises. He stayed by her side almost every step of the way, his eyes following her every step.
When walking, he would subconsciously reach out and support her waist; when sitting down, he would immediately place the softest pillow behind her; when eating, he would carefully pick out all the ingredients that might cause her discomfort; at night, his arms were still warm, but more restrained, and the posture of his arms around her was full of protection, as if he was guarding the most precious treasure in the world.
Bai's physique was indeed different from that of an average person, and pregnancy didn't bring her much discomfort. Instead, her complexion became more rosy than usual, as her internal energy became more balanced. However, Yiyong's cautious attitude, as if facing a formidable enemy, made her feel helpless, yet at the same time, a sweet warmth of being cherished surged in her heart.
Soon, the news that "the Water Pillar's wife is pregnant" spread quietly throughout the Demon Slayer Corps as if it had wings.
As a result, some "accidental" passing figures began to appear frequently near Tomioka's house.
Rengoku Kyojuro would greet loudly: "Hmm! What a nice weather today! Miss Bai looks even better!" But his eyes couldn't help but glance at Bai's lower abdomen with curiosity.
Mitsuri Kanroji would blush and bring the snacks she had carefully made, which were said to be good for pregnant women, and look at Shiro with shining eyes, as if she was looking at some rare treasure.
Even Fushigawa Shigeya would have a sour face, glance at him from afar, then snort and walk away, but the next time he "passes by", he might have a bag of herbs in his hand that are said to calm the nerves.
Beimingyu Xingming shed tears and clasped his hands together to pray for Bai and the child in her womb.
Tokito Muichiro would stare blankly at Shiro, seemingly wondering what "pregnancy" was, before being pulled away by Rengoku or Mitsuri.
Tanjiro, Zenitsu and Inosuke became regular visitors. Tanjiro would give his sincere blessings, Zenitsu would murmur enviously, and Inosuke would clamor to be the child's "boss" and teach him the strongest swordsmanship.
Every time Shinobu Kocho came to check on Bai, she would look at Giyu's overly nervous look and couldn't help but chuckle with her hands covering her mouth: "Mr. Tomioka, relax. Bai's body is much stronger than you think, and the child is very healthy and safe. You look like you are pregnant." Although she was joking, she still carefully prescribed a mild pregnancy-maintaining medicine and told Bai to take it on time.
Amidst the excessive yet well-intentioned protection, Bai felt the miracle quietly growing within her belly. This unexpected arrival, like the warmest ray of light before the dark final battle, illuminated the tenderest corners of everyone's heart and solidified their resolve to win. She knew that she, Yiyong, and all her companions had to protect not only the present, but also a future filled with infinite possibilities.
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