InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Bound to Tomorrow ❯ Chaotic Birth ( Chapter 21 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

The wonders of childbirth and demons...
(Yes, I'm aware the formatting keeps changing. I have changed computers and word processors so many times that each time I convert these into RTF it seems like I get a different format for each one)

Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Adventure | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 04.28.2013 | Updated On: 04.28.2013 | Pages: 2 | Words: 4.3K | Visits: 456 | Status: Work In Progress

Hey guys, just a heads up. If you haven't read the last chapter since I posted it on April 25, 2013. I suggest you go ahead and do so. I replaced the old chapter, which was just an announcement, with an ACTUAL chapter. So make sure you go ahead and read that one, too.
Also, I'm officially altering Shippo's name to Shippou. I believe I've been spelling it wrong for a while. Sorry about that... I'll go back and fix it when I do my re-works. Weirdly enough it seems like the Dub uses Shippou (during title sequences) and the Sub uses Shippo. If one is the ACTUAL accepted version, please, drop me a line. I'm thoroughly confused.
And... I don't have any children (*blush* yet... we're getting ready to start trying soon) hence I'm using what I can wiki on childbirth and what I remember from WAY back when I was seven and my mom had my sister. Parents, if I'm wrong, like always, let me know.
Also, skipping bits involving tons of Rin and Sesshy as I have set those aside for Carolina. Those are her bits, as promised. I am still not interested in writing them...
On a FINAL note... I was watching InuYasha on hulu to compare some notes when the ad chooser came up and asked if I preferred cats or dogs. Cats or dogs? While watching InuYasha? LOL (Yes, I chose dogs, it seemed too appropriate to ignore)
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"Damn, she's got bad timing!" InuYasha grumped as he zipped through forest. The cold crunch of semi-frozen leaves underfoot seemed to echo in the air around them. Kagome winced at the biting wind as she clung to his back.
"A baby comes when it wants--not when she wants." Kagome replied tersely. "She had nothing to do with this."
"Keh." He spat back as he dodged a branch, then used another to launch himself into the air for a good stretch. "She didn't have to be up all night pouring over those plans for the city rebuild. That ain't work for a woman to be doin'..."
"Women can do all sorts of work, InuYasha." She shot back, the ire rising in her voice. "They do all sorts of things in my time." She sniffled in an attempt to keep her nose from running in the cold.
"In your time, sure. But this time's different, Kagome. Besides, she ought'a been resting and you know it." He nearly gave a joyful shout as the trees thinned and Edo, a city in transition, appeared in the distance. In moments they were in town. InuYasha took to rooftops and scaffolding to avoid the crowds of people below. He dodged a handful of surprised roofers, then dropped back down to the street in front of the gates to the castle. He had been scolded several times over for jumping the wall, 'like a wild animal' as Sesshoumaru put it, and thus knew better than to startle the guards yet again with his sudden appearances at the castle. He was glad he did, as he found his half-brother waiting impatiently at the entrance.
"This one wonders where in the seven hells you have been, hanyou." He rumbled. The only sign of his agitation was a slight narrowing at the corners of his golden eyes.
InuYasha deposited his wife gently on the ground before responding, "I was taking my wife out to find those damned herbs you said was gonna make the pup come faster." He made a sweeping gesture with one clawed hand in the general direction of where Rin's quarters were located. "Looks like it's comin' just fine on it's own without our help."
"This one said no such thing." The great demon argued as he stalked off towards the living quarters where his mate was housed. His tone was almost-bored but to the well-seasoned ears of Kagome and InuYasha the strain he was hiding was too apparent.
"Yes you did!" The half-demon bellowed as he followed, hard on his brother's heels. "Jaken said that you said--"
He stopped dead in his tracked and turned to face his half-sibling. InuYasha came to a screeching halt mere inches from him; forced to stop so suddenly he almost barreled right into Sesshoumaru.
"Jaken sent you, did he?" He asked quietly.
"Hell yeah, he did. Didn't you know?" InuYasha grunted.
Sesshoumaru regarded his brother for a second. "No. This one will have to hurt him later for his insolence..." He muttered before he turned away and resumed his march towards the living quarters.
The sounds of Rin's labored breathing and small, pained gasps reached both dog demons several steps before Kagome. InuYasha swiveled his ears back against his skull to block out some of the noise. He'd heard it all before with Sango's child bearing but it still bothered him. He slowed down as he neared the building and Kagome hustled ahead. She disappeared into Rin's residence just as Sango came out to receive her. Jaken, unsurprisingly, was nowhere to be found.
Sesshoumaru made to follow her inside until InuYasha put a hand on his shoulder. "Trust me, you don't want to go in there. The women'll just throw you back out."
"This Sesshoumaru is not stopped by mere women." He scoffed, shaking off his hand. He took one step forward before an ear-piercing cry nearly deafened his sensitive ears. Having heard enough of his mate's suffering he strode forward, up the stairs where Shippou watched open-mouthed from the steps, threw open the sliding doors and vanished into Rin's room.
Shippou shot InuYasha a look, "Should we go get him?"
The hanyou shrugged. "Nah, let them throw 'em out. He's not gonna listen to us. I'm not partial to getting poisoned for no damned reason."
Shippou nodded sagely from his seat. Rin's cries bothered his ears as much as the next demon, but he'd been strictly instructed to keep watch over Rin and Sango. He'd been through the same process enough times with Sango to simply obey whatever was asked of him without complaint. It was clear, though, that Sesshoumaru had not had such experiences. In mere moments a chorus of indignant female shouts erupted from behind the closed rice paper doors. Rin's shrieks of "GET OUT" and "YOU DID THIS TO ME" were of particular note among the din raised alongside Kagome and Sango. The doors slid open quickly thereafter and a disgruntled Sesshoumaru breezed out.
Chastised and now itching for a fight, the great demon turned his flaming golden gaze onto his half-brother.
"You." He rumbled. "Why did you not warn me of this... behavior?"
InuYasha shifted his legs apart in anticipation of a fight. "Me? When the hell have you ever listened to me? I told you not to go in there. You went in anyway!"
The great demon stormed towards him, his fingers slid towards the hilt of Tokijin. "Then perhaps you should speak louder, wretch!" He snarled.
Shippou began burbling for the two to stop arguing. He was in no mood to risk the wrath of both Kagome and Sango should they start brawling. He was not willing to find out what Rin's rage looked like, either, for that matter. As the air grew heavy with youkai energy the two demons growled at each other and drew swords. Exasperated and terrified, Shippou fished out a leaf from one of his pockets and transformed into a small statue.
Just then, Miroku arrived riding Kirara. He had been out with Kagome and InuYasha when they were out picking herbs but had been left behind once the two had been summoned by Kirara. Miroku had stayed behind to collect their abandoned belongings so that they might make it back to Edo in haste.
As the former priest came upon the quickly escalating scene he shook his head. "I should have dropped everything and followed, shouldn't I, Kirara?"
The two tail growled her affirmative as she landed near the two squabbling brothers. By then, the two had locked swords. Sesshoumaru seemed emotionless in the face of his snarling brother but Miroku could see the feral glint in his eyes that spoke to his rage and frustration.
InuYasha called out to his friend, "Will you tell my idiot of a brother that Sango was just as bad as this?"
Their swords shrieked against each other. Sparks flew between them.
Miroku had to raise his voice to be heard over the racket. "He's right, Sesshoumaru. My Sango was much the same way--worse, in fact."
Sesshoumaru leaned into the blades, ignoring the priest's shouting. InuYasha grunted and braced his feet in the cold dirt. Neither would give an inch.
Miroku could only think of one thing to stop the brawl. His eyes darted about in a desperate search for Shippou. Violet orbs finally landed on an out of place statue perched on the edge of the stairs leading to Rin's room. He grumbled and stomped over to it, then rapped it hard on the head with his staff.
With a poof of smoke the kitsune popped back into form, swearing and rubbing his head.
"Ouu... what'd you do that for?" He whined.
Fearful he might give away what he was about to do to the sharp-eared demons, Miroku motioned with his hands towards the kitsune's pockets, then twirled a finger to indicate his spinning tops. Hesitantly the kit pulled out one and showed it to him. Miroku indicated with a second finger to pull out another. He complied. Then the priest pointed at the two feuding brothers and nodded.
Shippou looked at the two furious demons, then back at Miroku, then back at the fight. "Aw, hell." He muttered, then glanced up towards Kirara. "You'll get me out of here if they come for my head... right?"
Miroku thumped him on the head with a fist. "Just hurry up and do it."
Shippou swore and reared back. "You so owe me for this..." Then let the spinning tops fly. They landed on each of the brother's heads with expert precision. The tops immediately grew to enormous sizes, sending the two demons slamming into the earth.
Miroku watched in awe as he saw the two strongest fighters he knew taken down to size by a mere kitsune. Dust flew in the air as the tops turned mercilessly and furiously on their skulls.
"Nice work Shippou." He muttered, then blinked. "Shippou?"
But the kitsune had gone. Shippou had wisely fled the scene.

Kagome felt the sudden decrease in the heaviness of the air when Shippou worked his magic. She turned her head towards the two sources of all that energy. Well, at least that's settled, hopefully they're not dead... she thought to herself. The miko had been told by Sango that InuYasha had thrown more than a few fits during her pregnancies and births and had come to expect the same with Rin but she had been completely blindsided by Sesshoumaru's lack of decorum. Either way, at least it seemed to be over.
"That was over quick." The miko muttered.
Sango blinked up at Kagome from the floor. She had been tending to Rin by her bedside, giving her water as needed to keep her hydrated. "I wouldn't be so sure of it. InuYasha raged for hours while I gave birth. His... brother seems much the same."
Having just endured her first series of serious contractions and now in a lull Rin chose that moment to converse. "My Lord. He is well?"
Kagome showed her most convincing smile, the one she wore while treating injuries. "Oh I'm sure he's fine. He's just worried about you, that's all." She glanced back at the closed doors. "Would you like me to go check on him?"
Rin cracked an eye open in her direction and nodded. "Please, lady Kagome. I did not mean to--"
"Oh stop that." Sango waved her palm dismissively. "This is all normal... and Sesshoumaru's simply angry because he can't make it easier on you. If he could take a sword and chop your pains away he would." She thumped the side of her left hand against the flat of her upraised right palm in a chopping motion. "But, he can't. Men cannot fight this battle for their women, thus it drives them mad."
"Remember, Rin, Sango's had, not one, but four children. She's an expert." Kagome added with a quick nod. "But, as I said, I'll go check on him..."
Rin nodded from her bedding. Her fingers curled into the comforter a hair. Sango gave the miko a pointed look to hurry. The demon slayer was certain the girl was gearing up for more serious contractions again. Kagome padded away before she could be distracted from her duty. She slid the door open an slipped outside. Outside, the sky was overcast and she buried her arms in the sleeves of her robes to ward off the chill. The miko was careful to slide the door shut behind her so that the warm air in the room, encouraged by a small wood burner in the corner, would not escape.
The grounds around her were pockmarked with chunks of dirt kicked up in the quarrel between the two brothers. Further beyond she could see a shallow crater that still smoked from some unknown source. As she squinted into the cloud she could dimly make out the lower portions of InuYasha and Sesshoumaru.
"I can't believe that little imp took down the two most powerful demons in Edo..." Miroku quipped.
Kagome started and turned her eyes in his direction, "Shippou... did... what did he do?"
"See for yourself, the smoke's clearing." Miroku pointed towards the two figures.
Kagome's eyes bugged. Two huge spinning tops wailed away on the heads of the dog demons. "Shippou... did... THAT?!" She sputtered.
"I didn't think he had it in him." The monk muttered, wonderment apparent in his voice. He absently scratched the back of his neck. "He must have caught them completely from surprise. It's rather impressive." He hesitated, "I haven't a clue how long this'll last, though. Shippou took off."
Kagome groaned and pinched the bridge of her nose with two fingers to ward off an inherent headache. "Great... so... we don't know when they'll be free..."
"... And when the time does run out, they'll be furious." Miroku finished for her.
Kagome wished, for once, her husband was able to swear profusely on her behalf. It fit the situation so nicely; and she wasn't one to swear. Subduing both demons was going to be a problem for them. Kagome couldn't use the beads, as she would be too busy helping Rin. She wouldn't have the time to come rushing out to sit him whenever he came to. Not to mention Sesshoumaru had no such limitations. There was nothing to subjugate him.
"Kagome..." Miroku began hesitantly, "I think I have a plan."

Four hours in to Rin's labor the spinning tops' magic finally sputtered and died. In a poof of smoke they returned back to their original forms. InuYasha grunted and shuddered, then began a quiet string of blush-worthy curses. Sesshoumaru shifted quietly, uttering not a word.
A voice cut through, "I would stay where you were, if I were you."
InuYasha huffed and pushed up from the ground. "Oi, shut the hell up, monk. Now tell me, where the f--"
A sudden crackle, then a shaft of light brightened the sunset glow to daytime. InuYasha jerked away from the barrier that singed his ears and made his hair smoulder. He was forced to drop back down or risk the demonic barrier.
"What nonsense is this, monk?" Sesshoumaru hissed. He had folded his knees beneath him, arms crossed over his chest, eyes closed, as if to look upon the priest would offend his senses.
"I think you know very well what this is." Miroku answered back.
"It's a fucking BARRIER? What the hell, Miroku?!" InuYasha bellowed. "Why the HELL am I in here? I didn't start this shit, HE DID!"
Miroku scratched his head. "Well, you see, Kagome and I couldn't make a barrier around Sesshoumaru alone... you two were much too close to each other so..." He shrugged and motioned at the sutras encircling their little crater.
"Ka-Kagome helped?" InuYasha paled visibly, the fight quickly evaporating from him. "There's no way I'm gettin' outta here any time soon then... Damn."
"You may be trapped, but this Sesshoumaru will nngh--!" The barrier sparked and hissed at his fingers. Before he managed to withdraw his slender digits the barrier had managed to burn off the tips of three of his poisoned nails.
"Forget it, Sesshoumaru. Kagome and Miroku put up this barrier. We ain't goin' nowhere." InuYasha grunted. He gingerly worked his way into a position where he could lay on his side... at least, if he had to sit through Rin's delivery he'd be comfortable.
"How can you give up so easily?" Sesshoumaru seethed. He risked a few more nails at the barrier, then stopped when he could feel the tips of his fingers blister.
"Because. Miroku's done something similar to me with his own wards." The hanyou replied. "And I've seen enough of Kagome's powers to know that if Miroku's sutras hurt like hell and bind hard then, with Kagome's spiritual gift, I'd risk losing a damned limb trying to escape."
Internally, Sesshoumaru wondered if the sutras the hanyou was referring to had anything to do with the demon slayer's prior deliveries. He decided it must have been so and left it at that.
"Oi, monk, how long's it been...?" InuYasha piped up.
Miroku blinked at his friend, shifting his staff to his other hand momentarily. "...How long...Oh... do you mean Rin?"
"Who else would I mean?"
"Ah, right." He nodded, then glanced upward towards the sky. "I'd say it's been about four hours since she went into labor. If she's like Sango's first it'll probably be..."
"Another four hours." InuYasha finished with a sigh.
"Do you mean to tell this Sesshoumaru that you intend to entrap us here for four more hours?" The great demon lord queried, eyes narrowed to golden slits.
"Give or take." Miroku replied.
"What if a rival demon were to attack...Hmm? Have you and the miko thought through what I might do then if This One's Rin were endangered." He growled back.
Miroku pretended to look bored by picking at his ear. "Yes, yes. Don't worry. The barrier is easily withdrawn by anyone on the outside." After a moment he snapped his fingers, as if remembering something. "Oh, by the way, your wife asked that you be patient and bear this inconvenience."
Two sets of golden eyes glared back at him.
"You could've told him that earlier." InuYasha grumbled.
The monk shrugged dismissively but made no further comment.

Two hours had gone by. InuYasha snuck a peek at his brother out of the corner of his eye. He appeared completely calm. While InuYasha could barely contain his nervous energy most of the time (and even now) his half brother managed not to move a single muscle in all of two hours. Not a hair on his head did move. Yet, his youkai energy swirled and thrashed around him. Worse yet, the more Rin cried out from her little room, the worse the energy roiled around them. It set his teeth on edge. It was time to put an end to this... or make it worse.
"What would you do if you were out of here?"
The great demon lord refused to look at him. "First This One would tear your whelp to pieces for his insolence. Then This One would beat your monk to death with his own sutras."
InuYasha nodded sagely. "Yeah, I get going after Shippou... and Miroku's had far too much fun at our expense."
Sesshoumaru blinked at the hanyou. He hadn't expected the halfling to agree with him. Where was the raging fit? The protectiveness? The insolence? InuYasha had never made much sense to him, his own body was a contradiction to itself. Half human, half demon, all nonsense. But he'd thought, by now, that he'd known his predictable moods. Sesshoumaru was given no further time to think. InuYasha had more to say.
"But... after that. What then?"
"This One would throw out the miko and the demonslayer. They have not caused the necessary amount of trouble for death..."
"...And then?"
"... This One would..." Sesshoumaru trailed off. What would he do? He had no such power to stop Rin's suffering, save death, but that defeated the purpose of birth, did it not? There was no mid-wife as trustworthy as Sango would be. It was abundantly clear that Kagome was a far more powerful miko than the generous credit he had already given her, which mean Rin was well and truly protected from demons. In all honesty they owed him nothing but the roof over their heads, and that, they could have done without. They had so many times before.
InuYasha left him to brood. He could have nailed it home by talking about how difficult it was for him to listen to Sango's suffering during labor. Or how he'd never let Kagome go through the same agony if he could help it. But seeing as he was half-related to the demon, he supposed he'd get the idea much better if he simply thought it out on his own. Saying anything would risk pricking his pride and raising the beast within once more. Besides, the youkai energy around Sesshoumaru had returned to a slow simmer, which is really all he'd wanted to quiet, anyway.

An hour later the voices in Rin's quarters reached a fever pitch. Both demons sat forward as far as they dared, ears pricked to each cry uttered from the women within. Sango and Kagome coached Rin fervently, while Rin swung somewhere between yelps of pain and numerous complaints directed at her mate. Just when it seemed Sesshoumaru might lean so far forward his head might touch the edge of the barrier, the sliding doors slid open a hair. Kagome's pale moon of a face peeked out into the cold night air. She nodded once at Miroku and he went at once to one of the sutras lying on the ground. With a flick of his foot, he disturbed the orientation of the sutra. The barrier flickered and fizzled out.
Miroku indicated towards the building with a tilt of his head. "It's almost time, Sesshoumaru. You should stand ready to accept your child. I suggest you do not go in until you are called."
The great demon gave the man a withering look and said nothing. He rose to his feet in a single, sweeping graceful motion and stalked towards Rin's quarters. When he was almost to the steps a tiny cry filtered out.
Sesshoumaru halted, one foot still raised to step forward, his lips parted. "This is..."
The sliding doors scraped open and Sango stepped out smiling. A small bundle squirmed in her arms. "Say hello to your little girl, Sesshoumaru."
"A girl..." He murmured. He moved then. In a few strides he was up the steps and beside the demon slayer. A tiny howl from the folds of Sango's blanket caused him to smirk. She had attitude and a good set of lungs. Good. Sango gently handed the bundle to the demon lord. He pushed back the folds of the blanket to reveal her face. The pale purple mark of the crescent moon was on her brow, as was one set of matching purple stripes. The mark of a poisonous demon. Also good news. The demon thought. Her hair was spun silver and the tips of white pointed ears peeked out from the top of her head. A hanyou's ears would take some getting used to, but he could manage.
She squawked once, sniffed the air, then settled. Satisfied she was in good hands. He smirked. This one has good sense, too. "Chitose." He murmured. The baby girl opened her golden eyes at the name and smiled tiny fangs at him. Then he schooled his features and spoke more conversationally. "She'll do."
InuYasha rolled his eyes. Miroku grinned.
Kagome chose then to step out, her fingers were tangled in a towel. "She's ready to see you now."
Sesshoumaru's only indication that he had heard was to brush by the small crowd. He disappeared into Rin's quarters and slid the door shut behind him with a soft click.
Sango and Kagome silently shuffled down the stairs and towards their quarters. After more than seven hours of working with Rin they were ready to bathe, change clothes, and relax for the night. The other men followed.