InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Harsh Changes ❯ Chapter Eleven ( Chapter 11 )

Harsh Changes

Chapter Eleven-Heartbeats of Nightmares

Sunlight streamed in through the window, lighting the room in gently gold. InuYasha awoke to the soft beating of a heart. It was a quick beat that sounded unlike most heartbeats he was use to hearing. But it was soothing all the same, reminding him of a time when he was safe and warm. It reminded him of his mother and he didn't know exactly why. Frankly he didn't care, as long as it stayed close.

He snuggled closer to it, purring slightly. This cause a giggle to vibrated through the warmth he was laying on. He opened his eyes, but the landscape was still too aliened to be recognized. He closed his eyes again, not caring about understanding where he was, continuing to listen to the gently beat. He also became away of another heartbeat, this one was slower and farther away, but just as comforting.

He felt a hand start massaging his ear. He started to purr again, snuggling into the warmth, trying to encourage the behavior. Another giggle came vibrating through causing him to open his eyes. He pushed himself up to stare into Kagome's brown eyes. She smiled at him and he realized he was draped over her, his head pressed against her belly. The heartbeat he had been listening to was that of his baby girl and of Kagome's.

"Good morning." Kagome whispered.

He just gave a goofy smile, feeling strange warmth of happiness run through him when it finally dawned on him of whose heartbeats he had been hearing in his dreams. It made him feel very content and complete. He lowered his head back down, deciding to let a few more minutes of this feeling happen before facing their day.

Later that day, they got themselves up and headed to the village to see the others. Shippou ran up to Kagome but stopped short upon seeing her belly. He just tenderly placed a hand against it, afraid that he might hurt her if he jumped up on her. Kagome let out a laugh before asking what was happening.

But no good news was to be had. Another rumor had circulated about the jewel. This one was thought to be authentic. InuYasha and the others would be leaving again, just what Kagome wanted to hear. But she made no fuss, just smiled, trying to keep up the spirits of her friends. No use in bringing them down since she was the one who started this whole thing.

"Awe, do we have to go?" asked Shippou as he stood by Kagome.

"You can stay here if you want, Shippou." offered Sango.

Shippou shook his head. He still wanted to get braver. He would have to be. His little brother or sister would need him to be strong. He'd just have to grow up. Kagome smiled, watching him as he stuck out his chest, knowing what was running through his head. Kagome knew Shippou would make a great big brother. He didn't have to try so hard.

She said her good byes, almost with her hellos and watched as they again disappeared into the woods. Well, at least something was being done she tried to tell herself. It didn't make her feel less lonely though. Kaede smiled, leading her inside.

Kaede had taken good care of Kagome. Even though Kaede didn't have much knowledge about demon's baby, she did a good job of helping Kagome, providing her with the clothes she needed, the food and other important items. Kagome sat down against the wall; this took her a little bit effort. Kaede laid her hand against the belly, and let out a small 'oh."

"What?" asked Kagome, a bit of fear tinting her voice.

"The baby. She has dropped."

"What does that mean?"

"It means ye will have the baby any day now."

A frown formed. She had hoped that InuYasha would be here for the birth. But it looked like that wasn't going to happen. Kaede saw the clouds in her eyes.

"What's seems to be the trouble, Kagome?"

"Oh, nothing. It's just InuYasha won't be here-"

"I can go get someone to fetch him, before he gets too far."

"No, he'll just be a nervous wreck."

Kaede nodded.

"Ye will have one of the local women stay with ye, since you live so far off. That way, when the times come, ye do not have to wonder through the woods to get me."

"OK."

"Do not worry yourself too much, child."

Kagome smiled.

"I won't, Kaede."

InuYasha watched the others from his place in the tree. Most of them had fallen asleep, save for him and Sango. It had been several weeks since he last saw Kagome. They were on the trail of another demon, which may or may not have a shard. Rumor has it he does. But rumor had been wrong before. He let out a sign. He didn't really want to be so far away from Kagome. But at least she was home safe.

Sango gazed up at the hanyou in the tree. He had so far, live up to his word. She tried to recall some of the burning hatred she had held for him before, but found it had long ago burnt itself up. She had to admit he had actually handled the situation in as a mature of a fashion that he was capable of. He even attempted to get along with Shippou, earning him much fewer 'sits.'

It was quite dark without a fire. So, she could barely make-out his outline. Was he asleep? He had been having trouble since they left the village. Sango shook her head. Of course he was having trouble. Even he must know time was running short for Kagome. The baby would be coming soon. And the fact he got only one night to spend with her before he had to run off again. That can't be a comforting thought.

"Why are you still up?" the shadow in the tree asked.

She jumped a little, a bit surprise to hear him talk.

"I can't sleep." she blurted out, defensibly.

"I didn't mean anything by it. I was just asking."

"Sorry. You startled me."

"Sorry, didn't mean to."

Neither spoke for the longest time, unable to think of something to say to each other.

"InuYasha."

"What?" he said a bit nervous.

"How is Kagome feeling?"

"She'll feels just fine. She kinda tired, but Kaede say that is to be expected."

"InuYasha, I'm sorry about . . ."

"Don't be. You had a right to be angry."

"Still. I-I"

"Look, don't worry about it. It's water under the bridge."

"InuYasha, I was very worried about Kagome. I didn't know if she would be OK. I was just trying to help her."

"And you did. She made it through that because of you, Sango."

Sango smiled.

"Yeah, well. She helped me through that, too."

Sango laid her head down, suddenly feeling sleepy. InuYasha waited in till her breathing slowed before attempting sleep himself. He gazed up at the stars, the cool winter air causing his breath to come out in white puffs of air. When had it gotten so cold?

He thought back to when he had fallen asleep by Kagome. He remembers the rapid heartbeat that had haunted his dreams. It was hard to believe that was the life pulse of the baby growing inside Kagome. It just seemed impossible. He looked down to see Shippou struggling to keep warm.

He quickly hoped down and started the fire that had died out during the night. After it was a good size he sat back and watched it as it flung around throwing heat out randomly. He wondered if Kagome was warm enough, if she needed something.

"You should get some sleep yourself." Sango added, with only one eye open.

He nodded and leaped back up in the tree. It was colder up there since he was away from the fire, but he felt safer. He could effectively watch the group and be ready for any danger that might come their way. But he could still feel the warmth from it and it made him groggy. So, he let his eye lids close and surrendered to sleep that had been avoiding him over past few weeks.

Kagome was surrounding by darkness. She could feel her heartbeat in her chest. It was beating wildly, driven by a horrible fear hiding in her heart. She tried to cry out, but her voice was gone, replaced with only a weak yelp. Suddenly knife shaped hands came jutting out from the darkness, stabbing her in her round belly. She found her voice and let a scream break through the air. She looked at her hands; they were covered in blood.

"No." she cried, "NO!"

"Kagome." the darkness said.

"NO!" she screamed again.

"Kagome, wake up."

She sat straight up, a worried young woman's face only inches from her owns. She starred blankly at her for a moment, before doubling over as pain shot through her. She felt a strange wetness against her inner thigh. She quickly glanced at her hand, expecting to see blood. But there wasn't any. Her mind was beginning to slow down. It was a dream, just a dream.

"Lady Kagome, I believe your water broke." the woman who's name was Alikin, told her as she saw Kagome's eyes look less frighten.

"I need to go get Lady Kaede." she added before standing up and leaving.

Kagome starred around the room. Her water had broken. That meant she would be going into labor soon. She glanced down to see a wet spot on her kimono. She quickly got up and began cleaning herself and her house. She wasn't going to let Kaede see her house like that.

Many times, she had to stop in her duties to let one of the contraction pass, almost breaking some of the weaker bits of furniture around the room. She finally deemed it cleaned and sat down. Yet another wave of intense pain ran through her, running down her legs and passed her toes. She looked out of the window to see bits of white falling outside. What was that? Her mind finally realized what was happening outside. It was snowing.

InuYasha heard the gentle beating of his baby's heartbeat. He smiled to himself. But he felt worried since he didn't hear the distance beating of Kagome's heart. He opened his eyes to be greeted by blinding light. He quickly sat up and looked around. It took a few minutes for his eyes to adjust to the bright white light that filled that space, but slowly he realized it was his hut back home.

When did he come home and what was this light? He lifted himself up, looking for the familiar form of Kagome. His eyes scanned the room, straining themselves against the light. Finally he found her outline. She was standing in front of the baby bed, leaning down into it. He went up to her, hoping to get some answers to why everything was the way it was. He reached out to touch her, but his hand went straight through Kagome.

He starred blankly at his hand. What happened? He tried again only to have the same effect. His hand passed straight through her. What was going on? Suddenly Kagome started whispering. He couldn't make out any words, but he knew they were sweet words of endearment. He gazed down to where she was still gazing into the baby bed. He saw a small bundle.

"The baby." he said out loud, his voice almost empty.

He reached in to try and remove the blanket that covered her face, but again his hand passed through. He frowned in frustration. He wanted to see his baby. He attempted again, but to no avail. What was going on? Why couldn't he touch his family? He looked at Kagome.

"Kagome, what's wrong with me?" he asked her, but she came no response, only continuing the baby talk to the small bundle.

She reached in and picked the baby up. He repeated her name but she still didn't react to it. She took the baby and sat down on her futon. Kagome smiled then looked up at InuYasha.

"Do you want to hold her?" she asked the words almost invisible in the blinding light.

He nodded his head and reached for the baby. But Kagome simple disappeared into the light.

"Kagome." he cried out.

The light began to fade, like the sun does at night. Blackness swallowed the area. He looked around his hut as it began to turn to ash and be blown away in the wind. Now he stood outside, but not by the god tree. He was where he had raped Kagome. The place still smelled of blood. He looked over his shoulder to see the demon he had slaughtered that day.

The darkness was complete now, hiding the bloody carcass in black. He heard growling and turned around quickly looking for the source of the sound. Suddenly red eyes appeared in the darkness. InuYasha just starred at them at first, and then he heard a baby scream.

He didn't know how he knew, but he knew that Kagome and the baby were in trouble and those eyes were responsible for it. He growled back at the eyes demanding the eyes to explain themselves. But the eyes only seemed to laugh. InuYasha launched forward toward the eyes hoping to find the owner. But he found himself on his knees looking into a lake. Those red eyes were his own. He looked down at his hands to see that they were covered in blood.

InuYasha stood up. The forest returned itself. He was back at the campsite. He glared around desperately trying to make sense of what happened. It was dream, he finally concluded. He looked down at the dying fire. He frowned. Why would it of gone out so quickly? He finally became aware of little white flakes drifting around him. At first, he feared he was still in the dream, but then realized it was snow.

Kaede was sleeping peacefully when suddenly Alikin came into her hut. She immediately told Kaede that Kagome's water had broke and that she was having contractions. Kaede quickly got up, and told Alikin to go fetch some water and return to Kagome's hut. Kaede scooped up some blankets and headed out.

To her surprise, the first winter snow was beginning to fall, covering the landscape in crisp white. She quickly made her way through the village and into the forest, heading for the god tree. As the structure came into view, she heard a muffled cry of pain. Quickly, she went inside to see Kagome crunched up on her futon.

"Kagome." she said softly drawing her from her pain.

Her eyes were filled with fear. Kaede let a smile cross her face as she took a rag and wiped Kagome's sweaty forehead. Kagome had been very brave so far, trying not to complain, apologies for her mood swings. But all the fear and uncertainty could no longer be pushed aside and it welded up in her eyes. Yet, Kaede felt no panic on her part. As she examined Kagome, she found her completely dilated and ready.

"Kaede, I don't think I can do this." Kagome said fearfully.

"Dear child, ye have no choice. You are fully open now. The baby will be coming very soon."

Kagome had no idea why that helped calm her fear. It should make her feel even more frighten, to know she's not in control. But Kaede had a way for making the truth comforting. She had a way of calming her, but only a little. The muscles in her abdomen tighten again, racking her body in pain. She let out a muffled cry through her teeth.

"Breathe." Kaede reminded her softly and Kagome forced air out through her mouth, and then sucked in through her nose before forcing it out her mouth again.

After a few moments the pain subsided, fading away to blissful nothing. But almost as soon as it would go away, she felt the rise of another one. Again she would have to reminder herself not to hold her breath. Kaede rubbed the tense muscle.

"It's almost time. Kagome. It's almost time."