InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Eternity ❯ Chapter 8 Part Two ( Chapter 9 )

“Are you scared?” Rin asked quietly.

 

Kagome smiled sadly as she stirred the pot. “A little. But in my world, we have much better healers. It's very rare for a woman to die in childbirth. It's also a lot safer for the baby, so I'm going to have it there,” she explained.

 

Rin looked impressed. Personally, she worried little about her own chances, as she was immortal and hanyou babies were notoriously strong. “Well, I wish you the best of luck,” she said kindly, and leaned back, thinking.

 

Kagome studied her a moment. “But you would have had no way of knowing I was pregnant,” she suddenly realized. “You must have had some other reason for coming.”

 

Rin gave a sheepish look. “Well, Sesshomaru has pretty much settled his ruling, and wanted to travel again for a while…” she began.

 

Kagome tilted her head in a knowing way. “There's something else, though, isn't there? You seem… happier.”

 

Rin gave in and smiled. “Is it really that obvious? Well, now that you've totally outdone my good news….” She pulled back the collar of her yokata to show her the new scar.

 

Kagome's eyes widened, and then she smiled. “I'm so happy for you. Sorry to ruin your surprise,” she teased.

 

Rin laughed. “No, it's alright. Just… unexpected.”

 

Kagome grinned. “Yes, quite.” They were quiet a moment longer, Kagome vaguely sensing Rin's jealousy and wondering how to deal with it. She had experienced the same emotion from other women she knew who were old enough to want children but had not yet conceived. It was even worse from those who had been pregnant, but never given live birth. But while Rin's jealousy appeared stronger than usual, she didn't think that was why. Perhaps because they were family?

 

“Have you thought about having children with Sesshomaru?”

 

Rin looked out the small window, frowning a little. “Well, we've only been… together for a few weeks, but I thought about it even before hand.”

 

Kagome nodded. “Well, that's only normal. When I was little, I once had this really bad crush on one of my friend's brother. I would write my name with his family name over and over, and imagined how many kids we would have and what they would look like,” she laughed. “But it's different when it's a possibility, isn't it?”

 

Rin hesitated, but nodded. “It's… complicated. She rubbed her lower stomach, mimicking Kagome's earlier action. “I'm not sure I can,” she explained.

 

“Hmm.” Kagome stared at the pot. She already knew of their son's existence, so she chose not to comment.

 

“Even if I could,” she sighed and looked away from the window. “I'm not sure Sesshomaru would want it.”

 

Kagome frowned at this. It was likely true. It had probably cost Sesshomaru much in pride to fall in love with and mate a human. But to have a hanyou child… Kagome imagined that might be on the border of insulting. Even if he did wish to have a child with Rin, the complicated and difficult life of a hanyou might deter him further. “Well… he might think that now, but if you were to have a child, I'm sure he would be absolutely thrilled. They say a woman becomes a mother when she finds out she's pregnant, but a man becomes a father when he first sees his child.”

 

Rin brightened a little. “That's probably true…” but then her face darkened. “The only problem is with Tenseiga. Judging by other things, I won't conceive unless Sesshomaru expressly wishes it.”

 

The older woman frowned a little. “Well… that little scar is proof that you can change his mind if you put yourself to it,” she offered. “By the way, did you ever find out what his objection was? Was it just because you were human?”

 

She shook her head. “I think after a certain point he didn't care anymore. No, he thought he had some kind of curse because every time he showed interest in a woman they died. Sort of an ironic consequence of the bad blood between him and his father, I think.” She grinned, “But he didn't know I can't die. When he found out, that was the end of that.” She nodded firmly, as if to put a cap on the topic.

 

Kagome smiled, glad to see Rin back out of her strange mood. “So you and Sesshomaru are travelling?”

 

Rin sighed heavily. “Yes, and I'm very happy to be going with him, but apparently I'm not in as good of shape as I was when I was seven,” she laughed. “I can't keep up with him anymore.”

 

“What about that dragon you used to ride on?” Kagome offered.

 

“Ah-Un? I miss him. Sesshomaru gave him as a gift to form an alliance. I was sad to see him go, but he was just getting fat sitting around the mansion.”

 

“Hmmm…. Well, Sango might actually have a solution for you when she gets back. I don't want to make decisions for her, so I won't say anymore. She should be back tomorrow, or the day after at the latest. I don't know how long you were hoping to stay…”

 

“Oh, at least that long,” Rin offered. “I wouldn't miss Sango for the world. If Sesshomaru gets bored, he'll just wander off for a while. Besides, I think as part of his travels he means to go around killing things for fun again, and I'm fairly sure he doesn't want me there for that.”

 

“Understandably,” Kagome said, remembering with a shudder that at one time, she had been on Sesshomaru's list. Fortunately, the list had been much longer back then. “I imagine InuYasha might like to go with him. He's been… well, sort of restless lately. I think it bothers him that he can't really do much to help me at this point.”

 

That launched them into a conversation about InuYasha's antics, which lasted until supper. InuYasha and Sesshomaru wandered in at the appropriate time, their noses guiding them, and Shippo likewise showed up out of nowhere. He was quickly sent back out the door, though.

 

“Go fetch Satsuki,” Kagome instructed, waving a ladle at the kitsune, who now resembled a young boy more than a toddler.

 

“Aw, do I have to? You know she hates me,” he whined.

 

“She must learn to trust you, and discern between good and bad demons,” she explained, sounding like it was the hundredth time.

 

“Right, I'm just part of her training. Shippo rolled his eyes and left looking dejected.

 

“It would appear,” Sesshomaru offered, “That you are already prepared for parenting.” He meant it as a joke, but Kagome savored the rare compliment.

 

Eventually Shippo could be heard outside the house, talking to a silent party. “Come on Satsuki, what is your problem?” There was a quiet sound. “Oh, that's Sesshomaru. He's pretty powerful but I don't think he'd kill you in front of Kagome,” he teased. Obviously that was a poor decision, as it was followed by a squeal and the pattering of footsteps. A moment later Shippo came through the door, carrying Satsuki on his back. It was a humerous image, as Satsuki was a good bit larger than him.

 

Kagome frowned at him. “I told you not to do that.”

 

Shippo sighed and set Satsuki down. “She wasn't going to stop running, I could tell.”

 

Kagome took one look at the frozen, ashen Satsuki and let it go. “Please forgive Satsuki,” she said calmly to Sesshomaru. “I believe this is the first time she has been exposed to such powerful jyaki as yours since her parents were killed. I've been training her as a miko since Kaede died, since I cannot perform ceremonies officially. Come, Satsuki, sit down.” She patted the mat next to her, but Satsuki didn't move.

 

“I will not harm you, child,” Sesshomaru offered, but it came out more sternly than he meant.

 

Rin, who was sitting closest to the door, reached up and put a hand to Satsuki's. The girl flinched, then looked down at Rin in confusion. “But… you're human,” she said slowly.

 

Rin frowned at Kagome, who mouthed “jyaki” at her. Rin nodded. “Yes, I am. The jyaki you sense is Sesshomaru-sama's.”

 

To her credit, Satsuki was quick. She was also tactful enough to only look surprised, and hide most of her disgust. “He won't hurt me?” she asked, trusting her nonetheless.

 

Rin shook her head. “Here's a lesson for you. What kind of demon do you suppose Lord Sesshomaru is?”

 

Satsuki studied Sesshomaru a moment, and then looked at InuYasha. “Inu Tai Yokai,” she reasoned. She had probably heard at some point that InuYasha had a full-demon brother and put the pieces together.

 

“Correct. Now, Inu Tai Yokai are big on honor, more so than some humans. So if Sesshomaru-sama says he won't hurt you, you can trust his word. But he is Lord of the Western Lands, so you do owe him some respect for this offer.”

 

Suddenly Satsuki seemed to snap out of her terror. She bowed very low to Sesshomaru, and introduced herself formally. “Thank you for your… mercy…” she managed to grind out, “and I apologize for any offense.”

 

“None taken,” Sesshomaru nodded regally, and Rin tried to hide a smile. She knew that abject terror was in fact a high compliment in his book.

 

Satsuki sat down very close to Kagome, and helped her dole out the meal. The rest of the evening went well, and Rin couldn't help but smile to be surrounded by friends once more.

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AN

 

Hello! I am not dead. Sorry I've been absent for so very long, but you know how life is. I've graduated from college, moved to another state (and soon will be moving back, and then back here again 7 months later… *shakes fist at military* But I am making an effort to write more on my stories. Now that I'm not in school, it's important for me to keep practicing, so I will be working on my fanfictions in addition to my sellable work. Much thanks to Kira1592 on deviantArt for begging so much to continue this story that I couldn't help but oblige. And a big apology to all my fans for my long absence. Hope you like the way the story is going!