InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Double Vision ❯ Chapter 15 ( Chapter 14 )

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

Sango had maintained strict control throughout her previous labors. This one was not the same. She had been told to expect it to get easier every time she gave birth, but this was harder, much harder. There was more pain, more blood, and she felt tired, so tired. She labored for hours, into the night, and into the next day. Kaede was encouraging, and Mayuki, who had sought help for Sango after hearing her shout, stayed to assist in the birthing.

Kaede tried to stay encouraging, but Sango was fading fast. She had lost a lot of blood. Kaede had suspected she was physically unwell for a long time, but was too intimidated by Sango to force her to submit to an examination. That stupid, foolish boy of a monk. His spiritual powers were great, far more so than Kaede’s, and he was book-smart, and well-travelled, too. But any iota of common sense he may have possessed seemed to be constantly overridden by his need for instant gratification. Thus, all these children, and Sango left behind, responsible for protecting the village from demon attacks and raids by bandits and stray samurai. Now, she would die for his selfishness. Who would take care of these poor children. Not even named yet. Sango had told Kaede why her children had no names, but asked her never to tell Miroku. The training of young demon slayers was truly brutal. Only after being taken from the village, and left in the wilderness to survive or not, could a child be named. Sango couldn’t bear to subject her babies to that, but could not abandon the ways of her tribe either. So the babies remained unnamed.

“Mayuki,” Sango gasped.

“Yes, Sango?” Mayuki held Sango’s cold yet sweaty hand in both of her own. It reminded Sango of Miroku’s two handed grasp.

“I want you to take care of my children. I’ve seen how kind you are, and I know Miroku and even Inuyasha will give you money to help take care of them and your own. I’m going on a mission, and I can’t take them with me.”

“Sango, I will take care of your children until you can. I’m sure everything is going to be fine. This baby will be born healthy and you will be all right.”

“I know that, Mayuki. I just don’t know how long I will be gone. I might even die. I want to know they have someone to love them. I know you can do that.”

Kaede had no idea what mission Sango was referring to, but she was glad to have the matter settled. She was going to need to cut the baby out, and Sango would surely die. Having a guardian for the children was a good thing to get settled. Best to let the mother name her own children, though.

“Name your children, Sango.” She also knew that all the demon slayers were named for rocks and minerals. Sango’s name meant coral, and Kohaku’s name meant amber.

“Name my firstborn daughter Toyotama (radiant pearl), and the second one Ishi (a stone).” Kaede winced at this. Sango was so blunt. The older twin did glow from within, like Kagome, and was very beautiful as well. The younger girl, however, was somewhat plain. Sango had told her she intended the plain daughter to be a dependable warrior. “Name the boy Taro (firstborn son). It is against the ways of my tribe, but I do this for my husband.” Sango swallowed. “As for the new baby, if it is a girl, name her Kagome. If it is a boy, name him for my brother, Kohaku.”

Sango could no longer push. Kaede prepared a strong sleeping potion, and forced it down her throat. She used rags to tie her hands and ankles down to the iron loops set into the wooden floor of her hut. This would not be the first time or the last she performed surgery here. She quickly cut the baby from Sango’s belly. Another girl. Minutes later, Sango died in a pool of her own blood.