InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ It Takes Two ❯ Equilibrium ( Chapter 9 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Xagzan 
Disclaimer: InuYasha and all its characters are the property of Rumiko Takahashi, so I make no money from this
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Hentai / Fantasy | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 01.29.2008 | Updated On: 02.03.2008 | Pages: 3 | Words: 4.0K | Visits: 2.3K | Status: Completed
Disclaimer: InuYasha and all its characters are the property of Rumiko Takahashi, so I make no money from this
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Hentai / Fantasy | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 01.29.2008 | Updated On: 02.03.2008 | Pages: 3 | Words: 4.0K | Visits: 2.3K | Status: Completed
Hey guys, fair warning in advance, this chapter isn't a lemon. It's more to explore the emotional sides of each character as they have been affected from the announcement of Sango's pregnancy. So, that's something I wanted to explore. The title of this chapter? A 2002 movie with Christian Bale and Sean Bean. Hope you enjoy the way the story advances here. If there's anything I can improve, tell me, and I might take it into consideration. I might revise this chapter anyway. So, here you go.
UPDATE
After reading over my chapters recently, along with some reviews, there is a very good chance that this will not be the last chapter, as I say it will be down below. But that will mean that the next update will take a bit longer, since I'll be thinking of new ideas to use. So, we'll see how it goes.
Equilibrium
“You guys,” Sango looked up at her two loves, “I'm pregnant…I'm carrying InuYasha's child.”
Kagome tilted her head to the side, trying to decode the words that sounded like gibberish in her head, words she couldn't quite comprehend. As for InuYasha, the tiniest of smiles flickered on his lips between nervous glances at the miko, fearing the `sit' of a lifetime.
“You're…” Kagome's head tilted to the other side, “Preg…”
“…nant, yes, Kagome,” Sango finished, chuckling slightly, trying to laugh away the anxiety she still felt in waiting for reactions from her lovers.
“I'm a… I'm gonna be a…?” the hanyou stumbled over his words. Sango watched with curiosity as the concept of being a father seemed to be turning InuYasha into an invalid.
“Father,” Sango finished once again. Reaching out slowly, she gently took InuYasha by the wrist and placed his hand softly over he stomach. When he just continued to stare, Sango repeated the word “father” slowly, as though he had no idea what the term meant.
“I'm gonna be a…father,” he finally said.
Sango noticed the miko's still slanted head. “Kagome…are you ok?” Her words seemed to break Kagome out of her hypnosis, and the girl quickly broke into a smile, rushing forward and hugging Sango.
“Congratulations!” she exclaimed, staring at the slayer for a second before giving her a brief peck on the lips. “I'm so happy for you, both of you,” she said, turning to InuYasha, laying her palm on his cheek. But the hanyou could feel a slight tremble in Kagome's touch. Whether it was of happiness, nervousness, or sadness, he could not tell.
“Are you sure you're ok with this, Kagome?” Sango wanted to be sure her friend's happiness for her wasn't being forced.
"Don't be silly, Sango! Of course I'm ok with this, but we need to start focusing on you, now that you're pregnant. Besides, it doesn't matter what I think.” Sango didn't know what to say to that, and remained silent. “And you'd better take good care of her, InuYasha, you got that?” Kagome asked with a hint of a threat in her tone.
“Kagome…” InuYasha said softly.
“No, no, stop worrying about me, please!” she insisted, still beaming at them. “All that matters is that you better know how to support your new baby.” Kagome felt the first of a series of strange feelings when she said that word. Baby. InuYasha's and Sango's baby. Sango looked at her friend for a moment. She could see that not all was as well with Kagome as she would have them think. The slayer then turned to the hanyou and placed her hands on the younger girl's shoulders.
“InuYasha,” she began, “can you let me talk to Kagome quickly, in private, if it's not too much?”
“Um…sure,” he said, still reeling from surprise as he slowly turned to walk around for a bit. He felt his feet carrying him somewhere along the path…but where? He had the brief notion of going to sit in the hut, but at the moment, concentrating on sitting down wasn't something he could do, less so than usual. So, he just let his feet plan out whatever destination they would while a whirlwind of thoughts and feelings coursed through him. Words came unbidden from his lips.
“Sango is pregnant…with my pup. MY pup.” One of the many feelings he was experiencing—pride—swelled through him at the thought. “I'm going to be a father.” A grin then quickly passed over his face. “Sango seemed happy enough about it.
Heh, and why shouldn't she be? The proud voice boomed. She will bear strong offspring.
“Yeah, that's right,” InuYasha admitted. “But…I wonder how Kagome feels.” His inner youkai, having no experience of such emotions, remained silent. He tilted his head back quickly to where he had left the two girls and wondered what they were talking about. Did Sango think there was a chance that Kagome was upset by this in some way? InuYasha hoped this wasn't the case. The last thing he ever wanted to do was hurt either of his mates.
“But, if she is upset, what can I do about that? I don't want Kagome to be angry or anything, but I don't plan to neglect Sango, especially now.” InuYasha's normally simpler thoughts were turning too complex for him to deal with. He still needed to focus on what it would mean to be a father now.
“How much youkai blood will it have? How do I raise it? Will it be a boy, or girl?” These were just some of the things that were on InuYasha's mind now. But still, he sincerely hoped that if Kagome were even the slightest bit unhappy, Sango would know what to say to help. And, if she couldn't, then he would have to, somehow. But, what could he do…?
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Once InuYasha was out of sight, Kagome turned her head around, the slayer's arms still on her shoulders.
“Why did you want him to go, Sango?” she asked. The girl's bright smile had lessened.
Sango sat down in the tall grass and motioned for Kagome to do the same. The miko sat down, her smile now only a shadow of what it was; a more serious look on her face as she guessed what they were going to talk about.
“Kagome,” Sango began, “how are you, really?”
“I told you, don't worry about me,” she answered, not putting in any effort to sound cheerful anymore. Sango smiled gently and reached over to Kagome's shoulder, pulling her head to rest on her.
“I know that part of you is truly happy for me, Kagome. The type of caring person you are, you couldn't not be.” The miko's head nodded, acknowledging this. Sango went on, saying “But, even though you try to hide it, it's easy to see that you're upset about it, too.”
“What kind of person would I be if I was disappointed that you are going to be the first one to have InuYasha's child…?” Kagome whispered against Sango, who could feel a slight tremble in the girl's body. The slayer held Kagome closer to her, trying her best to comfort her, running her hand through her midnight black tresses, looping some strands around her finger playfully.
“You'd be a normal person,” Sango told her. “I know it can't be easy for you. And believe me, there is a part of me that feels sorry for hurting you this way, since I know how long you've loved him.” At this, Kagome's eyes opened in protest, looking straight at the older girl.
“Sango, there is no way in HELL I'm going to allow you to feel guilty about having a baby, whoever's it is!” she said firmly, a little of her normal assertiveness peeking through her mood. Part of her smile remained as she lowered her gaze to the ground again and lowered her voice. “But…you're right. There's that part inside that wishes it was me, no matter how happy I am for you.” Sango nodded, letting Kagome's feelings come out. “I can't imagine how that makes me look, especially if InuYasha found out.”
“I just told you,” the slayer interrupted, “it makes you normal, Kagome. There's nothing wrong about a little envy, especially in a situation like this.”
“I know,” Kagome admitted. “It's not like I didn't have chances all those times I made love with him. But…I wasn't ready for a child.”
“And there's nothing wrong with knowing that,” Sango said. “And it's also not like you won't have many other chances in the future.”
“You're right about that,” Kagome replied, feeling new thoughts entering her head.
“Of course I am.” Sango hugged Kagome close to her, took her hand and placed it on her stomach. Kagome let out a little gasp.
“It kicked!”
Sango smiled at her, holding Kagome's hand in place. “You will feel a little kick of your own someday too, Kagome. It will happen, I promise you. And don't forget, even though I'm carrying InuYasha's child, it's only because I feel that I'm ready for that responsibility. InuYasha loves you more than his own life, and that's why when you feel that you're ready, he will give you what he has given me. After all, you've been mated to him longer than I have, remember?”
The miko let an honest, yet soft smile brighten her features. “You know, you're right, Sango. But, if you don't mind, could you leave me to myself, just for a bit? I have some things that I want to think about, is that ok?”
Sango rose to her feet. “Of course.”
“Go see InuYasha,” Kagome suggested, grinning. “You two definitely need a little alone time now, especially since you told him to leave us alone so soon after you gave us the news.”
“Yeah, I'll go to him right away. I wonder if he's realized the concept of being a father yet,” Sango laughed gently, then turned around and walked up the hill, off in search of the father of her child. “Come by whenever you're finished, Kagome, got it?” she called back.
“Got it!” Kagome exclaimed and watched her woman disappear behind one of the huts.
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InuYasha walked around, randomly wandering the village, his head tilted up towards the sky in thought. He figured all he could do was wait for Sango to finish talking to Kagome, whatever that was about. They had been talking for a little while now…
“There you are,” the slayer's kind voice reached his ears. InuYasha turned and watched Sango walk past him, motioning for him to follow. She quickly led him back to the hut and sat down. The hanyou followed her example. Both of them were silent for a few moments, although InuYasha noticed that Sango had a certain new glow about her, and she didn't stop smiling. Was this strange new aura a result of her pregnancy? He thought to himself that it most likely was.
“So…” he began, unsurely, “what did you guys talk about?”
“Kagome wanted to congratulate me, but part of her is also a bit confused about the fact that you gave me a baby before she got one,” she told him the truth. InuYasha gulped, his fears about Kagome's disappointment confirmed.
“I-Is she ok?” he asked, “What did you tell her?”
Sango placed her soft palm on his face, gently stroking it with her thumb. “She just asked to be left alone for a little while. I think she wants to get some things cleared up in her head. Don't worry, she'll be ok. She really is happy for us, you know,” she added.
“I know,” he replied, “both of you are pretty damn strong, you know that?”
“Of course, who do you think you're talking to?” she boastfully joked.
InuYasha put his hands on Sango's shoulder and pulled her close to him, wanting to feel her stomach again. This woman was carrying his offspring, and he was finally, though still slowly, understanding what exactly that meant. He would protect his mate and the pup with his life, he would provide for them, and hopefully, sometime soon, maybe Kagome would want the same from him. His thoughts were clearly visible to Sango through his eyes, who scooted up a little to settle herself on her mate's lap, placing her head and hands on his chest. “I know you'll be a great father, InuYasha,” she told him, catching him a little off guard at the compliment. Nevertheless, he was glad to hear it from her. It temporarily assuaged the anxieties he was feeling about impending fatherhood and replaced it with a sort of serenity. Sango took a deep breath, inhaling the hanyou's strong scent, feeling a tad sleepy. “I am truly glad that you are the father of our child,” she said.
The hanyou was pleased to hear this. It seemed so long ago now, that everyone had thought Sango was so smitten with that monk. And even if she was, it was obvious now, even to him, that she had made peace with that part of her past. Sango was his now, and only his, just like Kagome. Anyway, this certainly wasn't the time for him to be thinking about the past, hers or his. It was time to focus on the future, his, hers, and Kagome's. And his pup's. InuYasha put his hands on the back of her head possessively, stroking her long, dark hair, pressing her to him protectively.
“And before you know it,” she added, “you will get to make Kagome just as fulfilled as you have made me.”
InuYasha nodded against her, looking forward very much to that day when Kagome would be ready to carry his offspring. But for now, he would wait happily for the birth of his first child, a day that he had never been able to clearly visualize in his head. But now that it would become a reality, he found it extraordinarily easy to picture having a kid of his own running around the village. InuYasha felt a peace that he only ever felt when spending time with the two women in his life. Even his inner youkai seemed more content than it had ever been when it spoke.
One down, one to go, it chuckled. And for once, InuYasha didn't make an effort to tell it to shut up.
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Where do I go from here?
Kagome had been thinking along this line for a few hours now. She hadn't moved from her spot by the river, not because of any depression weighing her down, but simply because it was easier for her to concentrate when remaining still. The miko assumed that Sango had been using this time telling InuYasha what to expect from her as a pregnant woman. She chuckled to herself, realizing the hanyou was in for a ride just as rough as all the times she had `sat' him. There was no way InuYasha was ready to handle a pregnant Sango all on his own. Well, she thought to herself, that would be something she could help him with. Kagome had no doubt that she was more knowledgeable about pregnancy than the hanyou, thanks to classes she had taken back in junior high.
“But, besides that, is there anything else I can do? I don't know…”
She had also been running through the conversation she had had with Sango earlier. It wasn't a lie when she told the slayer that she was excited for her, but it was still the truth when they had talked about Kagome being slightly upset that it wasn't her who was carrying. Of course, she realized that this thought wouldn't help anyone, especially her. Sango was right, there was still plenty of time for InuYasha to give her a child…or children.
“I wonder if Sango will have just one baby after all. Hm, maybe she'll have twins!” she said, though of course that was just wild guessing. Kagome was starting to look on the positive side of things. After all, she knew InuYasha loved her with all that he was, and he would do anything for her. It wasn't anyone's fault that Sango would birth his child before her, it was just how it was meant to be, she reasoned. And Kagome knew that at the heart of her problem had been the fact that she had told InuYasha she wasn't ready for children, those several months ago when they had first made love, mated.
Breaking her circular pacing, Kagome slowly moved down the river's bank, still lost in thought. The sun was painting the sky a brilliant orange, slowly saying goodbye to the land as it sank down more and more past the horizon. And with this sunset, the girl's feelings became more and more solidified. Everything she had been thinking about alone by that river was slowly cumulating into something she felt was a resolute decision, perhaps the most resolute she had ever made in her life. But what exactly was this decision, she wondered to herself. And what would happen if she did, in fact, decide this? Kagome quickly shook her head.
“No, this is right,” she said, and it was true. She had never felt more clear about anything before in her life. And after all she had been through in this era with the others, all her experiences fighting youkai, saving people, and vanquishing Naraku, she knew that it was time. Bidding farewell to the still young sunset, Kagome turned her back to the river and walked uphill, seeking out her two lovers.
“Wonder what I'm going to say…” she said aloud. “Oh, wait, of course! That's a simple way to do it. But…maybe I shouldn't right away. Yes, they need a little time to celebrate first. It's ok, I'll wait a bit.” Kagome's plan of action was set. Now to just wait a bit…
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A week or so passed then, and Sango was beginning, ever so slightly, to show. Kagome and InuYasha took a strange, innocent pleasure in feeling her stomach, searching for any signs of a kicking foot. Sango knew that this happiness would only be topped by the birth of her baby.
“You guys really like feeling the baby,” she commented. Kagome laughed at this.
“It's just a new experience, Sango, for us as well as you.”
As for InuYasha, he noticed that Kagome's mood had lifted over the past week. That, plus the fact that he had a pregnant mate, pleased him greatly. But he was a little suspicious of something… What, he could not say. But she seemed…more mature, was it? It was something like that. The four of them, including Shippo (who had taken the news of Sango's pregnancy with great child-like excitement, once he had seen that Kagome was happy about it, too), were out in a semi-open field outside the village, partially surrounded by the trees of the nearby forest. The hanyou yawned, tired as the sun began to sink behind the trees for the day.
“Looks like someone's ready for bed,” Shippo said teasingly. The kitsune was surprised when his head remained bump-less. Turned out InuYasha was in too good of a mood lately to be bothered so easily. Shippo hopped onto the miko's shoulder.
“So, should we head back to the village?” Sango asked.
Kagome took a deep breath and briefly clenched her fist. It was now or…some other unforeseeable time in the future. But she'd rather it be now.
“Shippo,” she said, “Sango and InuYasha and I have something to discuss. Go back to the hut and we'll be there shortly.” The fox kid was confused, but ran off back to the trail leading home. Sango and InuYasha looked equally as confused as they turned to Kagome.
“Something to discuss?” InuYasha echoed.
“Yes,” Kagome nodded. “Now, before I tell you, I want you both to know, I don't want to spoil any of your celebrating. Just the opposite…I want to share in it more. I just hope…that you guys don't think I'm trying to take anything away from you.” Her voice grew a bit timid.
“What do you mean, Kagome?” Sango asked.
“Well, I've been thinking about it, getting all of my feelings for you guys into place. I still love you both, as much as ever, and that's why I've come to a decision. And I need to say it.”
“What is it?” the hanyou spoke up.
“InuYasha, do you remember when we first made love, and I told you I wasn't ready for a child?” He nodded. “And it was true, I wasn't ready. But, I've given this a lot of thought, and not just after Sango got pregnant, but before then, too. Now, her pregnancy has made me realize it clearer. No matter what uncertainity my future, our futures, may hold, I know that this is something I am ready to commit to, as Sango has. I will fully accept the responsibilities, even though I hope you two will support me in this.”
“So, what it is it?” they both asked, staring at her. Kagome took another breath.
“I wasn't ready then…but I am now.” Moving forward, the girl, gave a surprised Sango a deep, sweet kiss on the lips, almost seemingly as a reassurance. Then, turning to a wide-eyed hanyou, she took both of his hands in hers and gazed firmly into his eyes, not a cloud of hesitation in her voice as she spoke her decision.
“InuYasha, if you will let me…I am ready. I am ready to bare your child.”
To be continued…
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Next time:
The girl, firmly resolute in her decision about the future, has come forward with a startling request. How will it be answered by those she loves? With Sango expecting, Kagome puts forth a life-changing plea, sure in her heart of hearts that she is ready for what may come of this new turn of events. Stay tuned.
My note: I hate schoolwork, as you know. Takes me away from writing. Anyway, not much to say here I guess. I've mentioned that there will almost certainly be a spin-off story after this one is done. Hope you've enjoyed so far, and I hope you enjoy the next chapter.
UPDATE
After reading over my chapters recently, along with some reviews, there is a very good chance that this will not be the last chapter, as I say it will be down below. But that will mean that the next update will take a bit longer, since I'll be thinking of new ideas to use. So, we'll see how it goes.
Equilibrium
“You guys,” Sango looked up at her two loves, “I'm pregnant…I'm carrying InuYasha's child.”
Kagome tilted her head to the side, trying to decode the words that sounded like gibberish in her head, words she couldn't quite comprehend. As for InuYasha, the tiniest of smiles flickered on his lips between nervous glances at the miko, fearing the `sit' of a lifetime.
“You're…” Kagome's head tilted to the other side, “Preg…”
“…nant, yes, Kagome,” Sango finished, chuckling slightly, trying to laugh away the anxiety she still felt in waiting for reactions from her lovers.
“I'm a… I'm gonna be a…?” the hanyou stumbled over his words. Sango watched with curiosity as the concept of being a father seemed to be turning InuYasha into an invalid.
“Father,” Sango finished once again. Reaching out slowly, she gently took InuYasha by the wrist and placed his hand softly over he stomach. When he just continued to stare, Sango repeated the word “father” slowly, as though he had no idea what the term meant.
“I'm gonna be a…father,” he finally said.
Sango noticed the miko's still slanted head. “Kagome…are you ok?” Her words seemed to break Kagome out of her hypnosis, and the girl quickly broke into a smile, rushing forward and hugging Sango.
“Congratulations!” she exclaimed, staring at the slayer for a second before giving her a brief peck on the lips. “I'm so happy for you, both of you,” she said, turning to InuYasha, laying her palm on his cheek. But the hanyou could feel a slight tremble in Kagome's touch. Whether it was of happiness, nervousness, or sadness, he could not tell.
“Are you sure you're ok with this, Kagome?” Sango wanted to be sure her friend's happiness for her wasn't being forced.
"Don't be silly, Sango! Of course I'm ok with this, but we need to start focusing on you, now that you're pregnant. Besides, it doesn't matter what I think.” Sango didn't know what to say to that, and remained silent. “And you'd better take good care of her, InuYasha, you got that?” Kagome asked with a hint of a threat in her tone.
“Kagome…” InuYasha said softly.
“No, no, stop worrying about me, please!” she insisted, still beaming at them. “All that matters is that you better know how to support your new baby.” Kagome felt the first of a series of strange feelings when she said that word. Baby. InuYasha's and Sango's baby. Sango looked at her friend for a moment. She could see that not all was as well with Kagome as she would have them think. The slayer then turned to the hanyou and placed her hands on the younger girl's shoulders.
“InuYasha,” she began, “can you let me talk to Kagome quickly, in private, if it's not too much?”
“Um…sure,” he said, still reeling from surprise as he slowly turned to walk around for a bit. He felt his feet carrying him somewhere along the path…but where? He had the brief notion of going to sit in the hut, but at the moment, concentrating on sitting down wasn't something he could do, less so than usual. So, he just let his feet plan out whatever destination they would while a whirlwind of thoughts and feelings coursed through him. Words came unbidden from his lips.
“Sango is pregnant…with my pup. MY pup.” One of the many feelings he was experiencing—pride—swelled through him at the thought. “I'm going to be a father.” A grin then quickly passed over his face. “Sango seemed happy enough about it.
Heh, and why shouldn't she be? The proud voice boomed. She will bear strong offspring.
“Yeah, that's right,” InuYasha admitted. “But…I wonder how Kagome feels.” His inner youkai, having no experience of such emotions, remained silent. He tilted his head back quickly to where he had left the two girls and wondered what they were talking about. Did Sango think there was a chance that Kagome was upset by this in some way? InuYasha hoped this wasn't the case. The last thing he ever wanted to do was hurt either of his mates.
“But, if she is upset, what can I do about that? I don't want Kagome to be angry or anything, but I don't plan to neglect Sango, especially now.” InuYasha's normally simpler thoughts were turning too complex for him to deal with. He still needed to focus on what it would mean to be a father now.
“How much youkai blood will it have? How do I raise it? Will it be a boy, or girl?” These were just some of the things that were on InuYasha's mind now. But still, he sincerely hoped that if Kagome were even the slightest bit unhappy, Sango would know what to say to help. And, if she couldn't, then he would have to, somehow. But, what could he do…?
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Once InuYasha was out of sight, Kagome turned her head around, the slayer's arms still on her shoulders.
“Why did you want him to go, Sango?” she asked. The girl's bright smile had lessened.
Sango sat down in the tall grass and motioned for Kagome to do the same. The miko sat down, her smile now only a shadow of what it was; a more serious look on her face as she guessed what they were going to talk about.
“Kagome,” Sango began, “how are you, really?”
“I told you, don't worry about me,” she answered, not putting in any effort to sound cheerful anymore. Sango smiled gently and reached over to Kagome's shoulder, pulling her head to rest on her.
“I know that part of you is truly happy for me, Kagome. The type of caring person you are, you couldn't not be.” The miko's head nodded, acknowledging this. Sango went on, saying “But, even though you try to hide it, it's easy to see that you're upset about it, too.”
“What kind of person would I be if I was disappointed that you are going to be the first one to have InuYasha's child…?” Kagome whispered against Sango, who could feel a slight tremble in the girl's body. The slayer held Kagome closer to her, trying her best to comfort her, running her hand through her midnight black tresses, looping some strands around her finger playfully.
“You'd be a normal person,” Sango told her. “I know it can't be easy for you. And believe me, there is a part of me that feels sorry for hurting you this way, since I know how long you've loved him.” At this, Kagome's eyes opened in protest, looking straight at the older girl.
“Sango, there is no way in HELL I'm going to allow you to feel guilty about having a baby, whoever's it is!” she said firmly, a little of her normal assertiveness peeking through her mood. Part of her smile remained as she lowered her gaze to the ground again and lowered her voice. “But…you're right. There's that part inside that wishes it was me, no matter how happy I am for you.” Sango nodded, letting Kagome's feelings come out. “I can't imagine how that makes me look, especially if InuYasha found out.”
“I just told you,” the slayer interrupted, “it makes you normal, Kagome. There's nothing wrong about a little envy, especially in a situation like this.”
“I know,” Kagome admitted. “It's not like I didn't have chances all those times I made love with him. But…I wasn't ready for a child.”
“And there's nothing wrong with knowing that,” Sango said. “And it's also not like you won't have many other chances in the future.”
“You're right about that,” Kagome replied, feeling new thoughts entering her head.
“Of course I am.” Sango hugged Kagome close to her, took her hand and placed it on her stomach. Kagome let out a little gasp.
“It kicked!”
Sango smiled at her, holding Kagome's hand in place. “You will feel a little kick of your own someday too, Kagome. It will happen, I promise you. And don't forget, even though I'm carrying InuYasha's child, it's only because I feel that I'm ready for that responsibility. InuYasha loves you more than his own life, and that's why when you feel that you're ready, he will give you what he has given me. After all, you've been mated to him longer than I have, remember?”
The miko let an honest, yet soft smile brighten her features. “You know, you're right, Sango. But, if you don't mind, could you leave me to myself, just for a bit? I have some things that I want to think about, is that ok?”
Sango rose to her feet. “Of course.”
“Go see InuYasha,” Kagome suggested, grinning. “You two definitely need a little alone time now, especially since you told him to leave us alone so soon after you gave us the news.”
“Yeah, I'll go to him right away. I wonder if he's realized the concept of being a father yet,” Sango laughed gently, then turned around and walked up the hill, off in search of the father of her child. “Come by whenever you're finished, Kagome, got it?” she called back.
“Got it!” Kagome exclaimed and watched her woman disappear behind one of the huts.
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InuYasha walked around, randomly wandering the village, his head tilted up towards the sky in thought. He figured all he could do was wait for Sango to finish talking to Kagome, whatever that was about. They had been talking for a little while now…
“There you are,” the slayer's kind voice reached his ears. InuYasha turned and watched Sango walk past him, motioning for him to follow. She quickly led him back to the hut and sat down. The hanyou followed her example. Both of them were silent for a few moments, although InuYasha noticed that Sango had a certain new glow about her, and she didn't stop smiling. Was this strange new aura a result of her pregnancy? He thought to himself that it most likely was.
“So…” he began, unsurely, “what did you guys talk about?”
“Kagome wanted to congratulate me, but part of her is also a bit confused about the fact that you gave me a baby before she got one,” she told him the truth. InuYasha gulped, his fears about Kagome's disappointment confirmed.
“I-Is she ok?” he asked, “What did you tell her?”
Sango placed her soft palm on his face, gently stroking it with her thumb. “She just asked to be left alone for a little while. I think she wants to get some things cleared up in her head. Don't worry, she'll be ok. She really is happy for us, you know,” she added.
“I know,” he replied, “both of you are pretty damn strong, you know that?”
“Of course, who do you think you're talking to?” she boastfully joked.
InuYasha put his hands on Sango's shoulder and pulled her close to him, wanting to feel her stomach again. This woman was carrying his offspring, and he was finally, though still slowly, understanding what exactly that meant. He would protect his mate and the pup with his life, he would provide for them, and hopefully, sometime soon, maybe Kagome would want the same from him. His thoughts were clearly visible to Sango through his eyes, who scooted up a little to settle herself on her mate's lap, placing her head and hands on his chest. “I know you'll be a great father, InuYasha,” she told him, catching him a little off guard at the compliment. Nevertheless, he was glad to hear it from her. It temporarily assuaged the anxieties he was feeling about impending fatherhood and replaced it with a sort of serenity. Sango took a deep breath, inhaling the hanyou's strong scent, feeling a tad sleepy. “I am truly glad that you are the father of our child,” she said.
The hanyou was pleased to hear this. It seemed so long ago now, that everyone had thought Sango was so smitten with that monk. And even if she was, it was obvious now, even to him, that she had made peace with that part of her past. Sango was his now, and only his, just like Kagome. Anyway, this certainly wasn't the time for him to be thinking about the past, hers or his. It was time to focus on the future, his, hers, and Kagome's. And his pup's. InuYasha put his hands on the back of her head possessively, stroking her long, dark hair, pressing her to him protectively.
“And before you know it,” she added, “you will get to make Kagome just as fulfilled as you have made me.”
InuYasha nodded against her, looking forward very much to that day when Kagome would be ready to carry his offspring. But for now, he would wait happily for the birth of his first child, a day that he had never been able to clearly visualize in his head. But now that it would become a reality, he found it extraordinarily easy to picture having a kid of his own running around the village. InuYasha felt a peace that he only ever felt when spending time with the two women in his life. Even his inner youkai seemed more content than it had ever been when it spoke.
One down, one to go, it chuckled. And for once, InuYasha didn't make an effort to tell it to shut up.
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Where do I go from here?
Kagome had been thinking along this line for a few hours now. She hadn't moved from her spot by the river, not because of any depression weighing her down, but simply because it was easier for her to concentrate when remaining still. The miko assumed that Sango had been using this time telling InuYasha what to expect from her as a pregnant woman. She chuckled to herself, realizing the hanyou was in for a ride just as rough as all the times she had `sat' him. There was no way InuYasha was ready to handle a pregnant Sango all on his own. Well, she thought to herself, that would be something she could help him with. Kagome had no doubt that she was more knowledgeable about pregnancy than the hanyou, thanks to classes she had taken back in junior high.
“But, besides that, is there anything else I can do? I don't know…”
She had also been running through the conversation she had had with Sango earlier. It wasn't a lie when she told the slayer that she was excited for her, but it was still the truth when they had talked about Kagome being slightly upset that it wasn't her who was carrying. Of course, she realized that this thought wouldn't help anyone, especially her. Sango was right, there was still plenty of time for InuYasha to give her a child…or children.
“I wonder if Sango will have just one baby after all. Hm, maybe she'll have twins!” she said, though of course that was just wild guessing. Kagome was starting to look on the positive side of things. After all, she knew InuYasha loved her with all that he was, and he would do anything for her. It wasn't anyone's fault that Sango would birth his child before her, it was just how it was meant to be, she reasoned. And Kagome knew that at the heart of her problem had been the fact that she had told InuYasha she wasn't ready for children, those several months ago when they had first made love, mated.
Breaking her circular pacing, Kagome slowly moved down the river's bank, still lost in thought. The sun was painting the sky a brilliant orange, slowly saying goodbye to the land as it sank down more and more past the horizon. And with this sunset, the girl's feelings became more and more solidified. Everything she had been thinking about alone by that river was slowly cumulating into something she felt was a resolute decision, perhaps the most resolute she had ever made in her life. But what exactly was this decision, she wondered to herself. And what would happen if she did, in fact, decide this? Kagome quickly shook her head.
“No, this is right,” she said, and it was true. She had never felt more clear about anything before in her life. And after all she had been through in this era with the others, all her experiences fighting youkai, saving people, and vanquishing Naraku, she knew that it was time. Bidding farewell to the still young sunset, Kagome turned her back to the river and walked uphill, seeking out her two lovers.
“Wonder what I'm going to say…” she said aloud. “Oh, wait, of course! That's a simple way to do it. But…maybe I shouldn't right away. Yes, they need a little time to celebrate first. It's ok, I'll wait a bit.” Kagome's plan of action was set. Now to just wait a bit…
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A week or so passed then, and Sango was beginning, ever so slightly, to show. Kagome and InuYasha took a strange, innocent pleasure in feeling her stomach, searching for any signs of a kicking foot. Sango knew that this happiness would only be topped by the birth of her baby.
“You guys really like feeling the baby,” she commented. Kagome laughed at this.
“It's just a new experience, Sango, for us as well as you.”
As for InuYasha, he noticed that Kagome's mood had lifted over the past week. That, plus the fact that he had a pregnant mate, pleased him greatly. But he was a little suspicious of something… What, he could not say. But she seemed…more mature, was it? It was something like that. The four of them, including Shippo (who had taken the news of Sango's pregnancy with great child-like excitement, once he had seen that Kagome was happy about it, too), were out in a semi-open field outside the village, partially surrounded by the trees of the nearby forest. The hanyou yawned, tired as the sun began to sink behind the trees for the day.
“Looks like someone's ready for bed,” Shippo said teasingly. The kitsune was surprised when his head remained bump-less. Turned out InuYasha was in too good of a mood lately to be bothered so easily. Shippo hopped onto the miko's shoulder.
“So, should we head back to the village?” Sango asked.
Kagome took a deep breath and briefly clenched her fist. It was now or…some other unforeseeable time in the future. But she'd rather it be now.
“Shippo,” she said, “Sango and InuYasha and I have something to discuss. Go back to the hut and we'll be there shortly.” The fox kid was confused, but ran off back to the trail leading home. Sango and InuYasha looked equally as confused as they turned to Kagome.
“Something to discuss?” InuYasha echoed.
“Yes,” Kagome nodded. “Now, before I tell you, I want you both to know, I don't want to spoil any of your celebrating. Just the opposite…I want to share in it more. I just hope…that you guys don't think I'm trying to take anything away from you.” Her voice grew a bit timid.
“What do you mean, Kagome?” Sango asked.
“Well, I've been thinking about it, getting all of my feelings for you guys into place. I still love you both, as much as ever, and that's why I've come to a decision. And I need to say it.”
“What is it?” the hanyou spoke up.
“InuYasha, do you remember when we first made love, and I told you I wasn't ready for a child?” He nodded. “And it was true, I wasn't ready. But, I've given this a lot of thought, and not just after Sango got pregnant, but before then, too. Now, her pregnancy has made me realize it clearer. No matter what uncertainity my future, our futures, may hold, I know that this is something I am ready to commit to, as Sango has. I will fully accept the responsibilities, even though I hope you two will support me in this.”
“So, what it is it?” they both asked, staring at her. Kagome took another breath.
“I wasn't ready then…but I am now.” Moving forward, the girl, gave a surprised Sango a deep, sweet kiss on the lips, almost seemingly as a reassurance. Then, turning to a wide-eyed hanyou, she took both of his hands in hers and gazed firmly into his eyes, not a cloud of hesitation in her voice as she spoke her decision.
“InuYasha, if you will let me…I am ready. I am ready to bare your child.”
To be continued…
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Next time:
The girl, firmly resolute in her decision about the future, has come forward with a startling request. How will it be answered by those she loves? With Sango expecting, Kagome puts forth a life-changing plea, sure in her heart of hearts that she is ready for what may come of this new turn of events. Stay tuned.
My note: I hate schoolwork, as you know. Takes me away from writing. Anyway, not much to say here I guess. I've mentioned that there will almost certainly be a spin-off story after this one is done. Hope you've enjoyed so far, and I hope you enjoy the next chapter.