InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Love, Interrupted ❯ Chapter 40 ( Chapter 40 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

The snow lay deep on the ground as Inuyasha peered outside the house. The cold was so bitter, he had resorted to creating reed covers to hang over the windows of the house to keep the chill out. A huge fire roared in the main living area.
Kagome's belly had expanded considerably, seeing as it had been seven months since the attacks and their return to the village. She never left the house due to the bitter cold. Inuyasha took care of whatever needs she or the pups had.
The pups were becoming mobile now, crawling and scooting across the floor. Taji was even trying to get onto his feet,
"My, they grow much faster than human babies." commented Kagome one afternoon.
She lay on her side on a warm futon with Inuyasha laying behind her, stroking her growing belly. He had missed her first pregnancy. He was making up for it with this one. He never missed an opportunity to rub her growing belly or place his ear against her to listen to the pup's heartbeat. He was even able to tell her that she only carried one this time.
The nights had gotten easier for Kagome as she started having fewer nightmares. They had even resumed making love, although on Inuyasha's part, it was hesitantly at first. He was afraid of hurting the growing pup inside her and it took everything Kagome could think of to convince him that it would never happen. Their first night together had started out slow, gentle and sweet. Inuyasha didn't want to scare her off and he still held fears of hurting the pup. It was Kagome who finally broke him down when she demanded him to be more forceful ... begging for him to move faster and harder has she tried to searched for the elusive climax. Something in him finally made him drop his guard and he had fucked her without abandon as she screamed his name over and over again. Hachi had to cover his ears.
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Ryouya sat back against the wall as Xin Yun approached,
"Master, the hyenas are complaining about the lack of food as are the demons. All the villages in the western province have been destroyed and other humans have moved on. The northern and eastern lands are putting up a good fight. What do you suggest we do?"
"We won't starve." Ryouya said, with a lazy wave of his hand towards the storeroom, "The hyenas are clever enough. They should be able to sneek into the other lands and get food. They are just being lazy. Now leave me." he dismissed his minion.
Anzu entered the room, "Ryouya, I brought the old witch you requested."
Ryouya stood up and greeted the old demoness, "Ahhh, Hisako. I hear you can tell the gender of a baby while it is still inside the mother."
"Hmmm. Yes, I can. Why do you want to know?"
"My wife is pregnant and I need to know that she is carrying my heir. I do not want a daughter. If she is carrying a daughter, she will have to die"
"My lord, a woman cannot control the sex of the child. Why must you kill her or the child."
"Silence woman! That is none of your concern. I am leader of these lands and I can do what I damn well please. If Midori does not provide me with a son, there are plenty of other willing females who would enjoy mating with me."
The old demoness said nothing. Ryouya took that as a sign of obedience, "Anzu, take her to Midori."
"Yes, Ryouya." said Anzu.
The women entered Midori's room. She sat by the window looking out at the snow. Her gaze turned to Anzu and the woman,
"Who's this?" she asked Anzu.
"Midori, this is Hisako. She is able to determine the sex of the child you carry." said Anzu.
"Oh." was the only reply.
"Leave us." said the old demoness, "I wish to be alone with the mother."
"As you wish." said Anzu, as she left the two alone.
Hisako walked over to the girl, "You are ready to deliver very soon, my child."
"Yes. And I know that it will be the end of my life. And my child's."
"You know this? How?"
"I am a mother. Maybe a first time mother, but a mother nonetheless. I carry within my loins a girl child. I have seen her in my dreams."
"Your dreams?"
"Yes, I see my baby but I do not hold her. I see a strange woman holding her ... nursing her ... cuddling her."
"My lady, please lie down on the futon and allow me to examine you."
"So you can tell my dear lord husband that I do not carry his heir? My child will never be born then. Is that fair to her?"
"I promise you, I will inform the lord of nothing."
"Then ... what are you doing here?"
"The lord summoned me, yes. But I refuse to do his bidding. He has destroyed the lands. Sesshoumaru never did that. Please, child, allow me to examine you."
Midori lay on the futon and the old woman pulled out a huge pendant. Holding the pendant over the girl's swollen belly, she watched its movements. She soon knew all she needed to know,
"My child, you must escape from here now."
"There is no escape." she said hopelessly, "I am in this room so I can be guarded. After our wedding night, Ryouya refused to lay a hand on me. He said mating with a pregnant bitch was disgusting and filthy. He threw me in here so that his minions could keep watch. He, on the other hand, bedded any woman, demon or human, that he desired ... mostly by force. I heard their screams of agony as he tortured them with his sadistic ways. Sometimes, after he was finished, I would continue to hear their cries for help. He usually left them to die slow, horrible, painful deaths from what he inflicted on them. If they were lucky, a wild animal would devour them and take them from their, and my, misery. I couldn't take it anymore and I tried to run and return to my home in the south. But, I was captured and returned here. After that, he made me watch what he did to those poor women, especially humans. I not only had to hear their screams but now I had to witness what he did to them. And what I had imagined was nothing compared to the brutal reality of what he actually did to them."
The old demoness looked at her with sad eyes,
"I will assist in your escape. Sesshoumaru is alive. I have seen him. I am sure Ryouya knows but feels confident behind his wall of secrecy."
"Will Sesshoumaru assist me?"
"I am positive. Please, be ready for me tonight when the moon is high. I will return for you then through your window."
Midori looked at the old woman. Could she actually trust her?
Anzu returned, "Are you finished?"
"Yes." said Hisako, "Please take me to our lord."
Anzu closed the door to Midori's chambers behind her and the two women walked back to Ryouya. He looked up at the old demoness expectantly,
"Well?" he said.
"She will birth very soon. A male child."
Ryouya clapped his hands together happily, "Yes! I'll have an heir."
"May I leave, my lord?" asked the old demoness.
"Huh? Oh yea, go." he said, with a wave of his hand.
After the old demoness left, Anzu turned to her brother,
"Brother, is it true the rumors that I hear?"
"Rumors?" Ryouya queried.
"That Sesshoumaru is alive. That his mother revived him and he walks these lands again."
"No. The rumors are not true. He is very much dead. Now leave me, I wish to be alone."
Anzu hurried away from the main room of the house, thinking, 'Oh my lord Sesshoumaru ... I wish you were still in this world. My brother is delusional and he needs to be stopped.'
Ryouya watched her go, thinking, 'If I told you the truth, Anzu, you would leave my side and run to him. My illusions would be worthless then. No, I will not have you destroy me. Dear sister, you will meet your end first.'
Midori paced her room nervously as the appointed time came. She looked out her window for any sign of the old woman when the moon reached its peak. Seeing no one outside, she started to believe the old woman had deceived her. She sat down and sighed, resigning herself to fate.
"Do not sigh like that, my child. I did not abandon you." said a voice.
Midori looked up, "Hisako? Is that you? Where are you?"
The old woman appeared in front of her, as she removed a cloak from her shoulders,
"My grandmother gave me this cloak of invisability many moons ago. It has been very helpful, as it will be tonight to remove you from this place."
Midori stood up, amazed,
"Now child, come stand by me and hold my hand. I will guide you out of danger."
Midori did as she was told and the old demoness covered them both with the cloak. The two levitated and flew through the window, unseen to the demon guards surrounding the home. Hisako flew them to safety just beyond the western lands,
"Now follow me and try not to fall behind. Being in the cold in the dead of night is no place for a pregnant woman."
Midori followed the demoness into the woods. In the distance, she saw a figure cloaked in white. It was then that her stomach began to cramp,
"Hisako ..." she croaked out, as she fell to the ground in pain.
Hisako turned, "Damn! I knew your labor was imminent. We got you out of there just in time."
"Hisako ... is that really you, old woman?" asked a monotone male voice.
"Lord Sesshoumaru, I am pleased you remembered me."
"You served under my mother for many years. You were one of her most loyal servants. I would not forget one such as you. Who is the female?"
"She is Ryouya's mate, Midori."
"Ryouya?" Sesshoumaru's eyes widened, "Where can I find him? Quickly!"
"My lord, this lady is in labor with Ryouya's child. But she carried a female child that Ryouya does not desire and had promised to kill both the infant and the mother."
"I cannot see through my husband's illusions. I'm sorry." Midori choked out.
Sesshoumaru looked at the woman that labored in the snow. The scent hit him like bricks. The woman would birth the child but would not live past the birth. Death clouded her scent. Sesshoumaru leaned down and scooped up the girl,
"Follow me, Hisako." he ordered.
Sesshoumaru walked quickly through the woods. He could tell there wasn't much time. If he didn't hurry, the girl would perish before the child entered the world. He quickened his pace. The house soon came into view.
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Inuyas ha held Kagome in his arms but found sleep hard to come by. His nose twitched as the scent hit it,
"Kagome, wake up." he nudged his sleeping mate.
"Hmmm ..."
"Kagome."
"Wha ..."
"Sesshoumaru is here."
"What?" she asked, now fully awake, "It's the middle of the night."
"Maybe he has some news." Inuyasha jumped up and dressed quickly. Kagome followed suit and they headed to the door.
Sesshoumaru opend the door and walked in, carrying a young woman in his arm. An older woman followed suit,
"Kagome, you are trained in the ways of healing, are you not?" asked Sesshoumaru.
"Yes, somewhat." then the reality hit her, "She's in labor!"
Kagome sat next to where Sesshoumaru had lay the laboring dog demoness, "Inuyasha, I need blankets and water. Hurry."
Hachi had joined them and Inuyasha grabbed him and set about collecting what Kagome needed. As Kagome examined Midori, Hisako introduced herself and assisted Kagome. When Inuyasha returned, he demanded of Sesshoumaru,
"Who is she?"
"Ryouya's mate." he said simply.
"Ryouya? Then she can lead us to him."
"No. This will be her final act in this world, Inuyasha."
"Huh?"
Kagome stood up and went to Inuyasha, "She's bleeding heavily. There's nothing I can do to save her. I may not even be able to save the child. She has, what in my world, is called Placenta Previa. The placenta, the sac that provides the blood and nourishment for the child, is at the bottom of the womb. The baby cannot emerge with it there. All I can do is open her womb from her stomach to remove the baby ... it will surely kill her ... but she'll die either way. At least, by opening her womb, I have a chance to save the child."
"How can you open her womb?" asked Inuyasha.
Sesshoumaru looked at the girl writhing on the floor in pain,
"Do you have anything you can give her for the pain?" he asked Kagome.
"Yes. I have some tea I can brew. It will knock her out. She will not be in any pain and she can die in peace."
"Do it. Hurry." said the dog demon.
"Right."
Kagome prepared the herbs as Inuyasha started a fire. Placing some water to boil, Kagome brewed a very strong tea. She took it to the demoness and urged her to drink,
"It will ease your suffering."
The young girl downed the tea gratefully, before laying her head on the floor,
"Thank you." she said, the her eyes opened wide as she fully took in the woman kneeling beside her, "YOU!"
"Huh?" asked Kagome, shocked at her words,
"You were the woman in my dream. The one holding my baby. I'm positive!" said the girl, "Tell me, what is your name?"
"My name is Kagome." she answered.
"Kagome." the girl whispered, relaxing as the tea took effect, "My name is Midori. I will bear a daughter soon. Do not let Ryouya know of this child. Lead him to believe it is dead. Otherwise, he will surely hunt her down and kill her."
Kagome gasped at these words, "Surely, he wouldn't kill his own flesh and blood?"
"He does not desire a daughter and promised to kill her and me dhould I bear one. I see I will not need to worry about my life anymore, but I worry for my child's. , I see you are expecting a child soon ... and I can smell that you still nurse another. Please, do not allow my daughter to die. When I pass on to the netherworld, I need to know my child will live on. If you somehow manage to get my child through this, promise me ..." her voice faded, as sleep started to overtake her.
"Okaa-san ..." Inuyasha's voice was soft, "Should Kagome succeed in bringing your child into this world, I will guard her with my very life, just as I would my own pups."
Kagome looked at Inuyasha and smiled. Becoming a father had had an incredible impact on him. He wasn't about to let another infant go through life without a family, if he could help it.
Midori smiled a grateful smile as she drifted off to sleep. Sesshoumaru knelt down next to her, "Where should I open the womb, Kagome?" he asked.
Kagome pointed to a spot below the woman's navel, "Be careful. Do not cut too deep. Slice through the layers one at a time until we reach the child."
Using his claws, Sesshoumaru did as he was instructed until Kagome indicated he was at the womb. Carefully slicing open the womb, Kagome reached in and maneuvered the child out. Blood gushed everywhere as Kagome managed to release the child from the protective sac,
"She's blue." Kagome said, worried.
Using her finger, she cleaned out the baby's mouth, throat and nose. Breathing gently into the baby's mouth, Kagome felt the child gasp and struggle. She released a throaty wail as her color returned to a normal shade,
"Good. She'll make it." said Kagome.
She then realize that four demons were staring at her,
"Are you a goddess?" asked Hisako, "I have never seen anyone breathe life into another person."
"How did you do that, Kagome?" asked Inuyasha in amazement.
Kagome blushed and said, "It's nothing, really. It's something I know from my world."
Hisako knelt and bowed, "You are a goddess. Only the gods and goddesses can bring life into a person. That child was dead when it was born."
Kagome felt it was no use arguing. The infant squirmed in her arms, attracting her attention. Kagome instructed Sesshoumaru to cut the umbilical cord after tying it off. She then proceeded to wash off the little girl and dress her in one of Sakura's old kimonos, before swaddling her and offering her breast to the newborn. The child quickly latched on and suckled deeply as she studied Kagome intently,
"She is a beautiful child." commented Kagome.
Sesshoumaru looked at the neonate. What he could see out of the swaddlung cloth was jet black hair and a pointed ear. Moving around for a closer look, something made him push her bangs out of the way. Kagome gasped,
"She has a crescent moon on her forehead! Just like Sesshoumaru!"
"What?" chorused Inuyasha and Hachi together.
"My mother's family crest." Sesshoumaru explained. "I have it, my mother has it and so does her sister ... Ryouya's mother."
Sesshoumaru then turned his attention back to Midori. Kagome, Inuyasha, Hachi and Hisako followed his gaze. Sesshoumaru knelt by the young girl and placed his hand on her forehead. Her chest heaved once more then stilled,
"She is gone." he said.
"Can't you revive her with the Tenseiga? I know we promised to take in her child, but it is always best for the mother ..." Inuyasha started, then stopped when Sesshoumaru looked at him,
"She did not desire to live. And Tenseiga respects that. Tenseiga has not requested that I draw it to save her."
Inuyasha swallowed hard and nodded, "We should build a funeral pyre for her."
"I will handle her remains, little brother. You take care of her child, like she requested. Hisako, come with me."
Sesshoumaru stood up, carrying Midori's body. He walked out the door followed by Hisako. Inuyasha looked closer at the infant, who turned her eyes to him and studied him intently,
"She's alert, I'll say that much. And her eyes are an interesting color." said Inuyasha.
"Hmmm. A light purple. I didn't know inus had eye colors other than amber." said Kagome.
Inuyasha smiled at the newborn. She was definately a beauty ... a chubby, healthy baby. He looked at Kagome and his eyes travelled to her growing belly. Their house was becoming very full. Three pups sleeping in the room, this newborn pup, and one due in just a few weeks. His eyes travelled back to Kagome's face. She was cooing to the newborn and her face glowed like an angel's. She was definately cut out to be a mother,
"Kurayami" he said softly.
Kagome looked at him, "Girl of Darkness?" she queried.
"It is pitch black outside. And her hair is as dark as the night."
She looked at Inuyasha. She still found it strange when he waxed poetic, "Kurayami. I like it." she said.
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Sesshoumaru walked with Hisako quietly. He stopped,
"Hisako, you know where Ryouya is, do you not?"
"Yes, my lord. But, I cannot see through his illusions either. I was waiting for you to ask me that. I can only see Ryouya when he sends for me."
"And how is that?"
"Anzu comes and gets me. She sees through the illusions."
'Anzu.' Sesshoumaru thought, as his mind pictured the young dog demoness. Then his mind returned to images of Midori's newborn. 'Perhaps it is time.' he thought.
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A few weeks later, Kagome felt the first twinges of pain in her stomach. They were much stronger than her first labor. She laid down on the floor and called to Hachi,
"Hachi, hurry, get Inuyasha and the village medicine woman. The baby is coming."
Hachi ran outside and called to Inuyasha, "Inuyasha, Kagome is having the baby."
Inuyasha dropped the firewood he carried and ran inside. Kagome lay on the floor, holding her stomach, as she tried to control her breathing,
"Kagome, are you alright? What do you need?"
Kagome gasped out, "Hachi went to get the medicine woman. Just stay with me, Inuyasha."
The medicine woman came in and assessed the situation, "Lord Inuyasha, you must leave. Men do not stay in the same room when the women are giving birth."
"Like hell I'll leave. Kagome needs me ... I refuse to leave her side!"
"My lord!" the woman started but Kagome cut her off,
"He stays." she said, simply, with a tone of finality, "Uhhggghhhh ... the baby is coming, I feel it ... she gasped between breaths."
The medicine woman placed herself between Kagome's legs, "Yes, the head is visable."
Inuyasha held Kagome's hand but scooted down a bit to look at what the medicine woman was seeing. He needed to know. He couldn't wait until the medicine woman told them, he needed to know now.
As Kagome pushed, Inuyasha watched a head of black hair appear. His heart started to drop ... the child's head appeared human. The black hair was soaked in fluid and blood as it pushed through the opening. Holding Kagome's right leg up to assist her pushing, Inuyasha turned back to comfort his mate. He had promised he would raise the child no matter who had created it ... he would stick to that promise for Kagome's and the child's sake. He resigned himself to raising the child of one of her attackers. He just hoped Kagome could handle looking into the face of a child that could very well look like its father.
"It's a boy!" the medicine woman cried out as Kagome took a long, deep, breath in.
Inuyasha wrapped his arms around Kagome and smiled, "You did it, Koi." he said softly.
Kagome relaxed in his arms and breathed in deeply, trying to get her racing heartbeat to slow down. The medicine woman cleaned the baby and swaddled him, taking the newborn and placing him in his mother's arms. She smiled at the chubby cheeked baby. It didn't matter how he came to be, he was still a beautiful child and her heart leapt with joy. As she offered her breast to her son, she opened the swaddling cloth, counting fingers, toes and feeling his soft skin. The cloth wrapped around the top of his head like a bonnet ... black hair sticking out from underneath. She pushed back the cloth and gasped.
Inuyasha had his arm around her as she leaned into his chest. His head lay on top of hers, his eyes closed, as he breathed in the newborn's unique scent. Her gasp brought him to his senses,
"Huh? What is it, Kagome?" he said, looking at her.
"He's yours, Inuyasha." she said, softly.
Inuyasha looked at the baby boy. As the child's hair dried, two, soft, black, fuzzy triangles stood atop his head, twitching in every direction as the newborn took in the sounds of this strange new world.