I paced outside the hospital room where my wife was. We were expecting our first child, and she had been in labor for three hours. The only sounds I'd heard so far were my wife's screams of agony and the doctor telling her that she was almost there. After a few seconds, a piercing cry rang out. I gasped happily. That must be him, I thought while smiling. My son is finally here! A few seconds later, the doctor came out, blood staining his blue smock. "Well? How'd it go?" I asked. The doctor smiled at me as the nurse came out with a baby wrapped in a pink blanket. Pink? Wait...Don't tell me..! "Congratulations, Mr. Urahara," he said, smiling. "It's a girl." I gasped and smiled as the nurse handed me my child. She's so beautiful, I thought, rocking her back and forth in my arms. "What about my wife?" I asked. "Can I see her now?" The doctor's smile fell, and sadness darkened his face. "I'm sorry," he said. My eyes widened with fear. "Don't..." I said. "Don't say what I think you're gonna say!"

The doctor closed his eyes and hung his head. "I'm sorry, Mr. Urahara," he replied. "Your wife...Didn't survive the delivery...She lost too much blood, and we couldn't save her." I gasped and my body began to tremble uncontrollably. "Mr. Urahara...I understand that you're upset, and I probably shouldn't have told you..." the doctor said, placing a hand on my shoulder. "No," I said, cutting him off. "It's fine. You're only doing your job." The doctor sighed sadly and walked into my wife's room. I closed my eyes and tears of pain began to fall. "Mr. Urahara?" the nurse said. "I can take the baby if you need time to compose yourself." I shook my head. "No. There's no need." "But Mr. Urahara...!" the nurse protested. "You don't understand, do you?" I said, my voice breaking. "My daughter...Is the only thing that's keeping me up right now." The nurse smiled. "I understand," she said as she left.

I stood in silence for a while, still rocking my daughter. "What a beautiful baby," a familiar voice said. I turned to see my friend, Yoruichi Shihouin, sitting in the windowsill. "Oh, hey Yoruichi," I said. "What's wrong, Kisuke? You look upset about something," she said, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Sala's dead," I replied. Yoruichi bowed her head. "I'm sorry," she replied. I nodded and stared at my child, tears staining my eyes. "What am I gonna DO, Yoruichi?" I asked. "I can't raise her by myself..!" Yoruichi just stared at me for a while, then slapped me as hard as she could. SMACK!!! I just stared at her, my eyes wide with surprise. "What the HELL, Yoruichi?!" I said, rubbing the bruise on my cheek. "Have you tried it yet?" "What?" "Have you tried raising your daughter on you own yet?!" Yoruichi asked angrily.  "No," I replied. "Then how do ya know that you can't?" Yoruichi said, her eyes narrowed. "You'll never know that unless you try, Kisuke!!! So suck it up and be a MAN!!!"  My former partner's words shook me. I stood there in silence, just staring at Yoruichi. "You know I'm right, Kisuke," she said. "Think about it." And, without saying another word, she left.

I stared at the window until I felt something move in my arms. I looked down at my daughter, who opened her eyes and stared at me. I gasped. She...She looks just like Sala...! It was true. Except for the hair and eyes, my daughters features were those of my dearly departed wife. I sighed and the nurse began to walk up to me. "Mr. Urahara?" I turned. "You still have to sign the birth certificate," she informed me. I smiled. "Yes, yes...I know," I said. The nurse handed me a small slip of paper. I signed it and handed it back to her. "There ya go." The nurse looked it over and gasped. "Oh! Mr. Urahara!" she said. "What is it?" I asked. "You forgot to fill out her name!" I gasped. That's right...I haven't given her a name yet! I thought. I stared at my daughter and thought for a while. "Well? Anything coming to mind?" she asked. My daughter needed a name that was just as beautiful as she was. "Saira," I finally said. "Saira Urahara." The nurse smiled as she filled out the name. "That's a very wonderful name." I smiled and nodded as I left the hospital.

I sighed as I walked back to Urahara Shoten. Even though Sala was dead, I knew that I had to be strong. I couldn't afford to lose my will to live. Not while I have my daughter to think about. Yoruichi's right, I thought. It's not gonna be easy...But no matter what, I refuse to abandon Saira. Come Hell or high water, I'm going to raise my child!

 And so begins the story of Saira Urahara...