Reign Over Courts

I'm still not used to being away from my team, the students of Rikkai are nice enough in their own way, but they aren't my team. But I came here for the tennis facilities, not the people, and they are more than worth any loneliness.

Where has the time gone though? Keisuke is almost a year old already.

A few belated messages:

Congratulations Shizuka. Please look after her, Oshitari-kun.

Happy birthday, Echizen.

Congratulations Hana-chan, Shishido-kun and good luck

I hope everyone had an enjoyable Christmas and New Year.

I'm sure Keisuke now owns more clothing than the rest of my family put together, and he has enough toys to last him the rest of his life. Hana-chan, perhaps you'd like to take some of them for the girls, when they get a little older? All I can say, though, is thank god Christmas is finally over, so much fuss for a day Keisuke won't even remember.

And now it's 2008, time to start making choices I've been avoiding.

( Private )

( Inui )

( Yukimura )

Momoshiro, Kaidoh, I would like to speak to you both once classes resume.

I am exhausted. Keisuke's unwell at them moment, and not sleeping well. Which, of course, means that I'm not sleeping well either. Mother doesn't think it's anything to be too concerned about though, she thinks it's probably just a cold and he'll be over it soon enough. I'm sure she's right, so no one needs to worry too much.

Yukimura-chan, I won't be bringing Keisuke with me to visit you next time, for obvious reasons. Is there anything else you'd like me to bring since I'll have a free hand?

( Hana-chan )

I'd just like to inform everyone that I will be attending tomorrow's practice with Keisuke. I expect you all to focus on your training, not our presence even if he cries. No Keigo, you can't talk me out of this.

[EDIT] ( Keigo" )

I finally have two minutes to myself. Keisuke is healthy, and absolutely perfect. We're both rested for now, and he's asleep again, though I doubt that'll last long. For someone so small he's very demanding. But while he sleeps I think I'll try for more myself, I won't be getting much in the months to come.

It's impossible to believe that, after all these months, any day now my son will be born. I'm both looking forward to and dreading every day. It will be a relief not to pregnant any more, but I'm not at all looking forward to the labour, or the sleepless nights that come with a new baby. I'm not sure I'm maternal enough for this...

One more month. It feels altogether too soon for his birth to be approaching but at the same time... it feels like I've been pregnant forever.

There's very little for me to do now, everything that needs prepared is done, I'm currently caught up on classwork, and I can't practice. I never thought I'd say this but... I'm bored. There are ways I can distract myself, but there's only so much cooking I can do in one day though I can't complain about how much I've improved and if I try to help with the housework my mother scolds. Visiting Yukimura-chan helps though, I'm sure she's as bored as I am.

Good luck in your upcoming matches, Seigaku, I'll attend as many as I'm able. We will take the nationals this year, and I will be with you for it.

I will be glad when this is over, not being able to join my team on the courts is killing me frustrating. Though I will be back for nationals, I trust you to get us there, Shuuko.

I'm also not enjoying missing class, but I see the reasoning behind keeping me out. Causing a distraction for the other students is not something I want to do and I wouldn't want to go into labour in the middle of a classroom. But that's only until the baby is born, once he's here I should be able to get back to class without any trouble. Keeping up with the work isn't too difficult, after all.

The doctors keep trying to suggest a cesarean section, but I refuse to spend six months minimum off the courts unless there really is no choice. Besides, if I can be allowed a little vanity, I don't particularly want a scar like that. I can be back to practice sooner with a natural birth, and if I'm going to be joining you at nationals that's the important thing. And, of course, the fact that it'll be much easier to look after my son if I can move about without worrying about the stitches.

Hm, I haven't posted since the 13^th? Though I suppose that would have been difficult with everything going on. The decorating of the nursery is well under way, though after nagging to find out his gender so she could choose a "suitable colour scheme" she's settled on something gender neutral.

Still, knowing I'm having a son does make certain things easier. Naming, for example. It would have been nice to have a daughter though Everything that can be organised at the moment, is. Now it's simply a matter of waiting for him.

Atobe, is next Tuesday ok?

( Screened to Atobe, Shizuka and Shuuko )

I hope you enjoy your birthday, Yukimura-chan.

Happy birthday, Shizuka.

( Oshitari-kun )

I think they've finally realised that forcing name choices on me won't work. Though... my mother would like to meet with yours about... nursery decorations and colour schemes, Atobe. She's nagging that we don't actually know the gender yet.

Yumiko-san, thank you for the gifts, but they weren't necessary.

((OOC: Strikes deleted.))

Atobe... do you have plans for tomorrow?

((OOC: Um. She's going to cook for him, so he should be prepared for a simple meal and an annoyed girlfriend because she stays out of the kitchen unless she has to. She's also avoiding giving him chocolate because his fanclub will give him enough it's cliche. He'll get cuff links in the shape of sea lions though, since she's kinda a dork and their first 'date' was at the aquarium.))

Is it really the 12^th already? I'll have to get Would it really be worth it to get him anything? Would he actually notice, with everything his fangirls send? Why am I even worrying about this? It's only Valentine's Day, I've never bothered with it before...

I think my father might need to rethink his idea of subtlty, post-it notes with the same three names placed wherever I might see them are rather a giveaway to his intentions. At least my mother is only leaving the books where I can find them. ... isn't it a little early to be thinking about names, anyway?

I seem to be sleeping a little better, at least. If you count three hours a night as better The little one finally seems to have decided that her mother needs rest, which is a relief. And it seems I'm going to need new clothes, nothing fits any more.

It is... unsettling to have so many strangers expressing their concern for me, as if I were a member of their own family. Perhaps not as worrying as the idiots who seem to delight in telling me that I deserved what happened, but still something I could do without. At least I've tured off annonymous commenting now, I can live without waking up to read that from people too afraid to let me know who they are.

Not that I've been sleeping much anyway. Something about having your ex try to kill your unborn child makes having a restful night just a little difficult.

((OOC: Strikes deleted))

Insomnia. Wonderful. Thank you very much, body, for making following Doctors orders near impossible.

To clear up any confusion out there; yes, I am pregnant. Yes, I intend to keep it. And no, it is not any of your business. I am not interested in your opinions on the matter and any comments you may have will be ignored appropriately from now on.