Bite Back

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Wyleen came back into consciousness, spitting blood as she woke up, her vision blurred as she tried to focus. She felt weak, and the room was cold. She noticed a great deal of blood on the floor, unsure if it was primarily hers or if some of it was from the assailants she had given a good beating to in the night. She felt her belly, still safe, not sensing any harm had befallen the child inside of her. Wyleen smiled slightly to herself as she collapsed to her knees. She could feel blood still dripping down the side of her head, the drops splattering on the floor as she lost consciousness once more, her body curled up on the kitchen floor, her hands caressing her belly reassuringly.

***

“Big Brother,” Brûlée stumbled out of the mirror frantically.

Katakuri looked surprised to see his younger sister so early in the morning, as he was just getting ready for the day. “Is something wrong? There is no need to lose your composure, sister.”

“All of the mirrors, I-I couldn’t get through,” Brûlée said, out of breath.

“Where?” Katakuri narrowed his eyes, already knowing the answer. “What of my wife, my child?” His voice was coarse, his muscles tensing.

“Brother, I,” she started, a tear glinting in the corner of her eye, “I’m sorry. I wasn’t there to protect her. It all happened while I wasn’t watching.”

“Brûlée,” Katakuri put his hands on his sister’s upper arms, trying not to hold her too tightly. His face had darkened. “Take me to her, now.”

***

“Sissy!” The little girl giggled, giving chase.

Outstretched arms grabbed the little girl as she let out a squeal before continuing her laughter. “Caught you!” The older girl squeezed the little girl tightly, kissing her cheeks as the little girl giggled.

“Wylee, stop!” The little girl was trying to squirm out of her grasp, a wide smile still on her face, out of breath from the continuous laughter.

“Alright, alright, Lilly girl,” Wyleen spoke gently, taking the little girl’s hand. “You’ve had your fun in the garden; what’s say we get you washed up for dinner, eh? I’ll bet Mum is waiting for us at home.”

“‘Kay,” Lillian held Wyleen’s hand tightly, jumping over exposed roots, her sister’s grasp keeping her suspended in the air for a moment longer. “Wylee?”

“Hm?” Wyleen looked down at her younger sister.

“Are you going to get married to that guy Daddy introduced you to yesterday?” A faint sadness could be seen behind her eyes.

Wyleen tried to hide a saddened smile, “No, love. He isn’t the one for me.”

“Was he icky?”

Laughing at her younger sister’s comment, she replied, “He was quite icky, yes.”

Lillian was quiet for a moment before asking another question: “Wylee, are you gonna leave one day?”

She looked down at her younger sister, “Oh, one day, I’m sure. But you’ll be grown by then. You won’t even miss me when I’m gone, I reckon.”

“Nuh uh,” Lillian shook her head quickly. “No one else is gonna play with me. Mummy and Daddy are too busy, and no one else is as fun as you are.”

Chuckling at the sentiment of her younger sister, Wyleen assured Lillian, “I reckon I’ll be around for quite some time. Don’t worry, I’ll always be here.” Wyleen squeezed Lillian’s little hand as she smiled down at the little girl.

***

“She bloodied them up good, Master Katakuri,” the doctor said, trying to be reassuring, “but two men against a fragile woman wasn’t a fair fight from the start.”

Katakuri’s eyes were narrowed at his unconscious wife, his brow furrowed, a deep frown on his covered face. “What of the child?” His jaw was clenched, noticing his wife’s abdomen was not as round as it had been when he left.

“There was too much blood loss; we had to make a difficult choice, General.” The doctor spoke slowly, reluctantly.

“Where is it?” He growled, his gaze sharp as he glowered at the doctor.

The doctor swallowed hard before answering, “R-Right this way.” He led Katakuri to a separate room. “Congratulations, General, you have sired a healthy little boy.”

Katakuri stared down at the bassinet in shock. “Doctor,” he cleared his throat before speaking again, “I thought you said a choice was made.”

“That’s right,” the doctor nodded, “it would have been a risk to let the child gestate further, so we delivered early.”

“Leave me,” Katakuri commanded, his voice hushed. He loomed over the child, his breath shallow as the doctor left the room. “So you are what all of the fuss is about? Your mother has already sacrificed so much for you, brat. You nearly cost your mother her life, undoubtedly trying to protect you as she was being attacked.” His voice was low as he glared down at his infant son, talking as if the child could understand the gravity. “You’re damn lucky her will to survive for you was greater than the cost of her fractured skull, her broken teeth, her swollen brain.” Katakuri’s voice rose with every injury to his wife he listed. “I promised to protect that woman you made the mistake of making your mother, child.” The sleeping infant paid no mind to the man standing over him, sleeping deeply.

Katakuri tisked, leaving the room, the child untouched by him; the small body seeming almost alien as it lay in the crib. He returned to his wife’s bedside, watching her closely as she breathed through a mask, her eyes bruised and swollen, every drip of the intravenous fluid echoing in the back of his mind. The doctor didn’t know when she would be waking up, having to be induced into a coma to prevent damage to her brain due to the trauma. “Stupid girl,” he muttered as he held Wyleen’s hand. “I will return to you, kitten. But I must fulfill my duties, forgive me.” He stood, glancing back at her for a moment before exiting the infirmary into the hallway.

“How is she, brother?” Brûlée asked nervously.

“She will survive.” He glanced away from his sister.

“And your child, brother?”

Katakuri sighed before dismissing the question, “Take me back to my ship, Brûlée.”

Brûlée nodded slightly, “Yes, brother.”