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Kakucho has never been your typical omega, at least by society's standards. He always had a tight leash on his scent, not really ever having the instinct most got to throw it around. Most omegas got territorial over their pack and their mate, but he tended not to unless they were in danger. His inner omega wasn't really the jealous type either, and he never felt the need to obsessively scent mark his pack or mate. As long as he could smell his scent on them, no matter how faint, his inner omega was satisfied. He never let it get too faint, but he wasn't as obsessive as say Mikey's pack or anything like that. Even his body seemed to back up how he didn't fit the stereotypical omega, he wasn't short or dainty, he was tall and on the broader side.
Izana had always been similar to him in that regard. Most of the stereotypical alpha nonsense never really fit him either. He was protective, yes, but he was never overprotective. He was fierce, but he was never mean. He never threw his scent around or tried to dominate other alphas unless needed. He trusted his pack to take care of themselves, and his alpha never felt the need to intervene unless they were in serious danger. He was lithe and on the shorter side as well, which didn't fit the tall and bulky alpha stereotype.
The most typical omega thing Kakucho did (other than purring) was nesting, however he only made nests for himself and his mate. Despite how he and Izana were the head pack omega and alpha, they left the more instinct driven things to the others. Rin and Shion would make the pack nest every time they got together, and Mucho would be in charge of starting pack scenting sessions if he felt their intermingled scents were too faint. Of course the pack would always default to him and Izana, they were their leaders, but they weren't really good at the typical things omegas and alphas did for their packs, so they left it to the others.
Kakucho still loved skinship and non-sexual intimacy with his pack, of course. He used to only get it from Izana, and then they got out of the orphanage and made their own family, and it became commonplace. Casual scenting when the others wanted, leaning against each other and knowing the other would never get upset with it, etc. But he never felt that urge to nest that Rindou and Shion did, not even with his mate, but he did it cause it felt nice. And of course Izana loved casual skinship and scenting as much as the average person, but he never felt the need to scent that most did, not even with his mate. He only really did when he felt the urge to comfort, as that’s how he’d always been comforted by the Sano’s.
It was just how they were wired, and none of their pack, family or friends cared.
Until one day, Kakucho feels the sudden urge to nest.
-
Like most days where they had pack meetings at the Haitani's place (no outside partners or family members allowed), the first thing worked on is the pack nest. The base always stays the same, pillows and blankets assembled on a pair of king sized mattresses in their pack room. They have a closet in their pack room that they all put misc bits and bobs in for the nest every week, and that’s where Rindou and Shion head first. After that they take clothing from the people scattered around the room and kitchen who are prepping for their nesting time, stealing anything their instincts need for the nest (consensually, of course). And then they assemble everything together, putting everything in the right place that their instincts instruct. Sometimes they get Ran and Kakucho to help, but most of the time it's just the two of them.
After that debacle, with the food and drinks now made and left in the kitchen for later, the two seek their approval. Haru, being their mate, gives them each a kiss and a quick scenting. Izana praises them for their good work, while Mucho, Mochi and Ran all give reassurances. Usually Kakucho would praise them right alongside his mate with a smile, maybe let them scent him if they wanted, but something feels… wrong.
Something has felt wrong all day.
Izana had sensed it earlier in the day, and had talked to him about calling in sick, but he had refused. He had to see them, which was kind of a new feeling. He only got like this when one or more of them got hurt, but none of them were. And yet his inner omega was begging to see them. He thought it would soothe him, and it did, but the feeling hadn't gone away. He was also getting weird urges, things he didn't really think about before. Like the urge to scent his pack, which he normally didn't care about this much. He could still smell his scent on them, his sea salt mixed nicely with Izana's scent of freshly baked bread, so he didn’t understand where the urge was coming from.
He's so lost in thought that he doesn't realize everyone is looking at him until Izana gently grabs his arm.
“Kakucho?” He asks gently, eyebrows furrowed.
Kakucho focuses back, noticing how Shion and Rindou are frowning at him, their scents having shifted slightly. His throat goes dry at that, realizing he made them think he doesn't like the nest. Which, he does. But something is wrong and he doesn't know what and now his pack is upset, and he didn't mean to do that, oh no, I'm such a bad omega, don't be sad-
“Kaku,” Rindou is suddenly in front of him, hands holding his face. “Calm down, it's okay, we're not upset at you,” he reassures.
He looks over when someone grabs his hand, noticing Shion is there with an abnormal gentle look on his face.
“Can you tell us what's wrong??” He asks gently, reaching a hand out to gently card through his hair. “Is it the nest?”
“I- I don't know,” he whines softly, eyebrows furrowed. He doesn't like this feeling. He's never felt like this before, like his omega wants something that he can't provide.
“C'mon,” Rindou leads him inside the nest, sitting the three of them down on their knees. “What is your inner omega saying? Is something placed wrong? Where should we move it if so?”
“I-I think-” he pauses, taking a deep breath. “Can we move that over there?” He points at one of Ran's jackets that they had put next to one of the supporting pillows, wanting to move it closer to one of the pillows meant for resting your head.
“Do you want to move it, or do you want us to?” Rindou asks in reply, already moving over to grab it.
“Can you?” He asks shyly, hands fiddling.
Shion is quick to move close, rubbing his face against his, cheek to forehead and then cheek to cheek.
“Anything you need. Just tell us what to do, omega.”
He nods after a few seconds. Slowly but surely, the pair help him rearrange the nest to what his inner omega wants, gently leading him when they need to and guiding him through what he doesn't understand. By the time they're done it's been about 40 minutes. Which-
“Where are the others?” He asks, having finally noticed they weren't there with them.
“Your scent got super distressed, and Izana's instincts seemed to be going into overdrive, so the others took him out before his scent spurred on your distress,” Shion explains. “We weren't sure what else to do, since your scents never usually uh, change like that…”
“I think something's wrong with me,” he admits after he takes that in, burying his face in his hands. “My inner omega has never cared about this stuff before, and I swear I'm not just ignoring it or anything. But then suddenly it's upset about the nest, and it had the need to see you all earlier today, enough that I had felt like shit all day.”
“Maybe you're in pre-heat? You can get a bit clingy,” Shion suggests.
“No, I had my heat 6 weeks ago, and it's not Izana's rut either cause our cycles are in sync.”
“How about we get the rest of the pack in here, and figure it out together?” Rindou suggests. “We can all throw ideas around while we eat lunch, sound good? Plus, we have to show them your first pack nest.”
Kakucho groans as his inner omega preens at the reminder. “Don't remind me, I feel so embarrassed about what happened earlier. I'm not used to having instincts like… this.”
“Nothing to be ashamed of. You’ve never judged us once for our instincts even if yours have always been on the quieter side, why would we judge you?” Shion reassures, patting his shoulder gently.
“I'll go get the pack,” Rindou says as he stands. “Then we can eat, Haru said they made pasta.”
Kakucho nods and leans against Shion as Rin walks away. The other doesn't comment, just rubs his cheeks against his head, scenting him again. A few minutes later the pack is entering, the trays of food they prepared earlier in hand. They set them down around the nest, and the scent is quick to reach him. Before he can even process it, Kakucho is suddenly standing and rushing for the bathroom.
Sounds of surprise and worry follow him, but he can't process that. He slams the bathroom door shut behind him, and releases the content of his stomach into the toilet. He feels tears prick his eyes as everything he ate this morning comes back up. And even after there’s nothing left in his stomach, he’s left gagging over the toilet, feeling absolutely wretched.
He felt absolutely fine this morning, around food as well, and now he’s throwing up at the smell of fucking pasta? Just thinking about the food again makes him feel nauseous, and he stays hunched over the bowl uncomfortably. He’s only there for a few moments before there’s light knocking on the door.
“Kakucho?” Izana’s voice floats through the door, and his tone of voice holds immense worry. He feels bad for making his mate feel like this, but he feels even worse staring at his puke in the toilet bowl.
He flushes the toilet after a few moments, standing on shaky legs before plopping himself back down on the toilet. He feels like shit, and the nausea hasn’t gone away. However-
He wants his mate. Right now.
“Come in,” he calls weakly, feeling immense relief when the door opens and there stands Izana.
He reaches his arms out subconsciously, and the other is quick to step forward to meet him. Due to him sitting down, Izana holds his shoulders with one arm, his free hand holding the back of his head. Kakucho hides his face in his stomach, arms wrapping around his torso and pulling him as close as possible.
“Are you sick?” Izana asks gently after a few minutes of them just existing like that together.
“I don’t know,” he replies, slightly muffled by the sweater. “I felt fine and then I smelt the food, and now I’m so nauseous it’s not even funny,” he complains.
He can smell as Izana’s scent softens and curls around the pair of them, trying to comfort. Izana’s arms tighten around him ever so slightly before loosening, probably worried about his nausea.
“Do you want to go home, love?” He asks gently.
“I-” he cuts himself off. “I want to stay, but I can’t be around the food I don’t think. I could just wait for you all to be done eating before joining you guys in the nest?”
“No,” Izana replies without hesitation. “You and whoever’s not eating can stay in the nest, the rest of us will eat in the living room. You need it more than us right now, we can all join after and have our nesting session, okay?”
Kakucho nods slowly, peeking out from Izana’s stomach to look up at him. “Okay.” Normally he’d argue, feeling bad, but he feels so nauseous that he thinks it’ll be okay just this once. He just wants to lay down surrounded by a sense of safety, which the scent of his pack gives him.
Izana leaves him to go relay the plan, and the person who comes to get him is Ran.
“C’mon pretty boy, let’s go cuddle,” they offer their arm as they speak in a soft drawl.
He takes it, letting them lead him back to their pack room. Haru is also in the nest, curled up right next to Mucho’s old gang jacket that always somehow made it into the nest (Rindou and Shion knew it made their mate smile to see that jacket in the nest, so they always made sure it was somewhere, even making Mucho scent it every week). When Kakucho enters the nest, Ran at his side, Haru is quick to pull him down to lay with him. He wraps his arms around his shoulders, nuzzling his face into his shoulder. Ran is quick to lay on his other side, wrapping their arms around his torso and burying their face in his chest. He lets the pair do as they please, despite still feeling nauseous it does help him feel a bit better.
He’s pretty sure all three of them are dozing when the door opens and the rest of the pack enters. Kakucho watches them enter, Haru moving quickly to give Izana space to lay at his side. The nest fills quickly with them, Haru having moved so he could have form a little cuddle pile with Mucho, Rin, Shion and Koko. Mochi had moved to the free side of Ran, shoulder to shoulder, his head resting against their shoulder.
Like this, Kakucho feels safe. He still feels sick, but he knows he won’t puke at least. Izana nuzzles into his neck, scenting him lightly, which makes his inner omega happy. He sighs, feeling content, and ends up dozing off again.
-
It gets worse from there. First it was how fatigued he felt after doing nothing, which subsequently affected his emotions and his scent. Usually his emotions didn’t affect his scent, as he had a tight leash over it, but he’s been having such mood swings lately that it just felt harder. Izana, for some reason, was more sensitive to his scent recently, which neither of them understood but was actively happening so they had to take it seriously. And then suddenly his pecs are sore, which he finds out when he’s showering.
The worst part, though, is the fucking cramping. He gets cramps in his pelvic area, his body was one of an omega and was built to bear children thank you very much, but never this much when he wasn’t close to his heat. However he’s cramping all day every day basically at this point, his place down under hurting like a bitch for no reason. Mixed with the headaches he’s been getting recently and every day has just felt worse than the last.
He plays it off as sickness, and calls off of work for a week. Thankfully he doesn’t work too much, most of their income was from Izana since he was fucking rich thanks to his job, but he did still work. Mostly weekends and misc jobs for friends who needed help with things. He cancels any appointments he had and ends up just staying home, feeling so shitty, trying to figure out what the fuck is wrong with him.
On a day when he's feeling less shitty, he decides to visit Takemichi and his family. Takemichi, being Takemichi, had managed to get 2 mates and they had kids pretty young. Adopted kids, to be specific, as neither Mikey or Draken had wanted to actually birth kids (both being omegas). He wanted to see his niece and nephew, and subsequently his brother (in law but Mikey didn’t care about those labels).
Takemichi, who had been hearing him bitch and complain (stupid betas who didn’t get cramps, it was bullshit), had invited him over if he ever felt a bit better. Mikey had, of course, endorsed the idea, insisting his ‘favorite brother’ come and see him. So here he was, standing outside their house, waiting patiently for someone to answer the door.
The one to answer the door is Draken, looking tired and a bit exasperated.
“You okay?” Kakucho asks as he enters, slipping on the guest slippers in the genkan.
“The twins decided to throw their lunch at each other, so they're in time out in their room,” he explains with a sigh. “I've been picking up bits of food for the past 20 minutes,” he complains.
Kakucho chuckles. “That sucks man,” he pats his shoulder gently.
“Mitchy, Mikey, Kakucho's here!” Draken calls before walking away, presumably to continue cleaning.
He hears footsteps before suddenly Mikey is in front of him. Normally he would've jumped at him, but thankfully he was being mindful of how terrible he's been feeling recently. Instead he grabs his arm and pulls him into a hug.
“Kakucho!” He says excitedly, pulling back after a few minutes. He looks like he has more to say, but he pauses for a second, eyebrows furrowing. “Whoa, I've never smelt your scent this much.” He leans in a bit, taking a soft sniff. “Have you always had the underlying scent of taffy?” He asks curiously.
“Yeah, but I'm not used to my scent being this strong or my inner omega having loud instincts, so only Izana really knew before this,” he rubs the back of his neck with a smile.
“Sea salt and taffy,” Mikey nods, as if giving approval. “I like it. Mitchy's taking a nap in the living room, can we scent you? Please?” He pulls out his puppy dog eyes as he pulls him to the living room.
“Of course,” he nods. Mikey and the rest of the Sano family had been scenting and nesting with him since he was young. They had taken him in after Izana had begged them, not wanting to leave him behind in the orphanage, and he saw them as his family. Plus, legally being Izana's mate, they were his in-laws.
Mikey beams, and sits him down on the couch beside an asleep Takemichi. He wakes up at the couch moving, blinking blearily as he sits up fully.
“Hi Kaku-chan,” he greets, slumping against his shoulder. “You smell nice,” he hums, nuzzling into his shoulder.
Mikey sits down on his other side, already purring as he nuzzles into his other shoulder, his scent engulfing them. Mikey had always smelt like sweet bread, with an underlying smokey smell that reminded Kakucho of a fire. Not the bad kind, more like when you had a bonfire where you cook hotdogs and smores. Takemichi, on the other hand, smelt a bit like popcorn and burnt caramel. It was fainter than their scents, as he was a beta, but that didn't stop him from trying to scent him.
Actually, due to Kakucho's lacking instincts, many thought he was a beta until they could catch an actual whiff of his scent.
He purrs softly, leaning his head on Takemichi. His inner omega was very happy to have his family this close. He had seen them for family dinner just last weekend, but that was before his body had started being a bitch.
They're only like that for about 10 minutes before Kakucho hears the light patter of footsteps. He looks up to see the twins running down the hallway with matching smiles on their faces, Draken following behind them at a slower pace.
“Uncle Kaku!” They exclaim simultaneously as they barrel at him, stopping last second to stand in front of him on the couch.
“Ren, Rin!” He replies, reaching his arms out. They are quick to wiggle themselves into the cuddle pile, each sitting on one of his legs, his arms around each shoulder. “How are my favorite niece and nephew?” He asks, giving them each a peck on the forehead.
“Dad got mad, but we were just having a food fight like in the movies!” Ren says, his arms waving wildly as he explains.
“Yeah, yeah! We had to sit in our room doing nothing for forever!” The other 5 year old explains, a pout on her face.
“It was 15 minutes, and it was because you made a mess,” Draken says with a sigh, reaching his hands out to ruffle their hair at the same time. “No more food fights, leave those to the movies.”
“Okay dad!” They chorus simultaneously.
Kakucho's inner omega is very delighted to see the twins, more so than usual. He has the urge to purr up a storm, draw them close, scent them. Not that their parents would mind, they were literally scenting the fuck out of him right now, but he's not used to this. Hearing Draken scold them lightly had caused something to flare up in him, like-
Oh.
Oh.
“I need to go,” he says suddenly as he starts detangling himself from the cuddle pile. Takemichi and Mikey are quick to protest him leaving, both looking a bit sleepy and slow to process what he means. Draken helps him stand, taking the twins from him.
“Is something wrong?” He asks worriedly, his scent sharpening just slightly.
Draken had always smelt of a flowery perfume with an underlying sharp metallic scent. Right now all he can smell is flowers wafting around him, trying to assess what's wrong and to comfort.
“No, no, I just need to talk to Izana,” he explains quickly.
Mikey pouts. “Will you come back soon?” He practically begs.
“Of course,” he nods, reaching his hand out to grab his and give it a squeeze. “I just need to talk to him now. But it's all positive things, I promise.”
The 5 of them are quick to give him hugs and goodbyes. And then he races home, texting Izana that he needs to get home cause it's an emergency.
Not a bad one, but oh boy.
-
The house door slams open with no prior warning about 10 minutes after he gets home. Izana is there, his scent flared in worry and protectiveness.
“Kakucho!?” He calls, a bit strangled, quick to find him pacing in the living room. “What's wrong? What's the emergency?” He walks over to him, his scent softening as he looks him over. He scents him too, his cheek rubbing against his face, as his worry spills over.
“Nothing bad, nothing bad!” He explains, rubbing his cheek against his mate's before pushing him back.
“You scared me,” he says with a sigh as his scent starts to even out. “How are you feeling today?”
“My cramps have been minimal due to the tylenol, and I've been a bit nauseous all day but nothing I can't handle,” he replies. “But seriously! I think I know why all of that is happening.”
Izana pauses, eyebrows furrowed. “You… figured it out by going to visit our brother?” He asks, confused.
“I think I'm pregnant,” he blurts out.
He had wanted to say it more eloquently, but he couldn't help but blurt it out. He hadn't even thought about it, but after seeing the twins and his maternal instincts had flared that he had never had before, it made so much sense to him. Why his body's been being a bitch to him, why his instincts and even Izana's were changing, becoming stronger and more forthright. It's because he was pregnant, he couldn't see any other reason.
He hadn’t even remembered due to their heat and rut lasting a bit longer than usual, but he’d forgotten to take his birth control due to stress and pre-heat symptoms. And they never wore condoms due to him never having missed his birth control before, so this was all new to them.
Izana stares at him for a few seconds, eyes wide and mouth open in shock. He makes a strangled sound, tears pricking his eyes. Kakucho can't help but coo, reaching his hands up to cup his face.
“You're pregnant?” He asks quietly, subconsciously leaning into his hands. “Have you taken a test, or-”
“I just ordered one for male omegas, it'll be here soon. And after that, I want to make an appointment with an OB-GYN that specializes in male omegas. I know Koko and Inui should have some good recommendations. It's not confirmed yet, but I think that's what's happening. My heat and your rut have always been synced up, and I forgot to take my birth control around that time, which had totally slipped my mind due to the other things that happened around then.”
“So, you think our instincts are becoming more prevalent because we have a pup on the way?” Izana asks gently, his hand moving to stomach, lightly pressing against it. “Y-You really think we have a pup?”
“I don’t know what else could have my maternal instincts acting up for the twins,” he admits. “Most of the other symptoms could probably be explained for different medical reasons, honestly, but with the cramps mixed with my sore pecs, and my maternal instincts, I really think I might be pregnant.”
“Kakucho, we’ve never talked about this before,” Izana says after a few moments, seemingly having sobered up a bit. “If you don’t want to have them, I will never force you to have a baby you don’t want,-” he starts, his hand having moved off his stomach to his side.
Kakucho is quick to shut him up with a short chaste kiss. He then grabs his hand and places it against his stomach.
“If we have a pup, I want them, my King,” he reassures. “It’s definitely not planned, and there’s so many other things we’ll have to consider, but I want to have kids. With you. And only you. I know we never talked about it, so if you don’t think you’re ready, I’d never force a kid on you, but I want you to know that no matter what, I will always want to have kids with you as long as you do.”
“Of course I want to have kids with you,” he grabs his face, bringing theirs together so he can nuzzle against his cheek, his scent practically permeating the whole entire room. “I know we don’t come from the best background, but they won’t grow up like that, not with us and our giant family and pack to care for them. So if you want to have this pup, I really do too. I promise, I will always be here for you and for them. I won’t be like my parents, I would never abandon you. I know we never got married, just got mated, but I didn’t lie when I said those vows when we mated. ‘For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.’ I meant it when I said that. I’d fight God, and win, for you, you know this.”
Kakucho laughs, feeling as tears gently roll down his cheeks. Happy tears.
“Of course I do, my King. Just the same, I’d fight God for you. And I want to have your pups.”
“Good, cause I want to have pups with you too.”
“Good.”