InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Special delivery ❯ Epilogue ( Chapter 91 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: saphira404 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Hentai / Drama / Comedy | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 11.26.2011 | Pages: 4 | Words: 6.8K | Visits: 250 | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Hentai / Drama / Comedy | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 11.26.2011 | Pages: 4 | Words: 6.8K | Visits: 250 | Status: Completed
Chapter 91: Epilogue
A/N: Thank you so much to all of you guys for the support you have given me through this long process of writing Special Delivery. I am very grateful to all my readers, all the people who put the story on their favorite/alert lists and my amazing reviewers whose words very often inspired me.
Disclaimer: If I owned Inuyasha, Sesshy and Kagura would be happily mated and working on silver haired baby number three by now…
“Talking”
‘ThinkingR 17;
Kagura Takahashi picked up her briefcase, and exited her red sedan, which she had just parked in her garage. Her meeting with her latest client had run late, and she had come close to missing dinner with her family. Despite the fact that she was late, she took the time to pause for a minute and take in the house she was about to enter. After her much loved family, this was her greatest accomplishment.
‘To think that only a few years ago it was just an idea in my head.’ The wind sorceress thought with pride. She had designed her dream house for a class assignment in one of her architecture classes, and had asked Sesshoumaru his opinion of it, never expecting how things would turn out. He had loved it, and had vowed to see it built. It had taken them five years to have the house done, but they had. She had also taken great joy decorating the interior, and neither she nor Sesshoumaru had spared any expenses. The girls loved the house just as much as their parents did. Kanna had at first been sad at the idea of moving in another place and leaving the beloved pony mural her grandmother had had painted on the wall of the girls’ bedroom in Sesshoumaru’s penthouse, but she had become quite happy and amendable when she was told she would be having her own bedroom, and would be able to decorate it as she wanted. Shaking herself out of her thoughts, the young mother rushed over to the front door.
“Hey everyone, mommy’s home!” She was surprised her announcement was not received with shouts of joys as it usually was. ‘Maybe they’re already having dinner.’ She thought as she dropped her briefcase and car keys on the table placed in the entryway for this purpose. With much relief she discarded her heels and unbuttoned her jacket. While making herself comfortable in the hallway, her eyes strayed to the large family portrait adorning the wall opposite from her. Sesshoumaru had had his wife and daughters pause for long hours as he put their likeness to a canvas. He had then painted himself in the back behind the armchair Kagura was seated on, each of his clawed hands resting protectively on the shoulders of Rin and Kanna who he had placed standing on each side of their mother’s seated form. He had wanted to paint a family portrait for a long time, but had decided to wait until he had completely regained the use of his injured arm to do so. The dog demon had only been able to present the final product of his work to his wife on their second wedding anniversary. He had of course left some blank spaces on the canvas in case he would need to paint additional people of his work of art. Not too long ago he had actually made use of the area he had purposely left blank on Kagura’s lap.
The wind sorceress smiled as she eyed her family portrait then following her earlier idea, she headed for the dining room where she expected to see her family sharing a meal. To her shock the table had been set, and had food full dishes on it, but the room was empty. She was about to go upstairs in search of her husband and children when the sound of shuffling feet came from behind her. She back tracked to the living room, and was nearly tackled by a fierce hug from her two teenage daughters.
“Hey mom.” Rin said happily. The shy young human had grown in a pretty teenage girl. She had become more outgoing than her younger sister in the past ten years with the love and help of her family. In fact to both of her parents’ delight, Rin had grown more confident and more trusting of others.
“You’re late again.” Kanna said accusingly with a slight pout. In the past few weeks while Kagura had been working for a very demanding client of her company, she had often times missed dinner with her family. She however always made it a point to be home before the bedtime of her daughters.
“I know honey, I’m sorry. It’s the last time though. I told Mrs. Fujimiya that if she didn’t like what I did with her living room, she could just stuff her ideas where the sun doesn’t shine.” The wind sorceress said with a chuckle.
“You didn’t!” Rin said with a gasp. She had become used to her mother’s outrageous behavior over the years, but was still sometimes uncomfortable by Kagura’s brazen ways.
“Wow.” The void demoness said with clear respect. When she became an adult in a few more years, she wanted to be just like her mom.
“Where’s your dad, and why haven’t you guys had dinner yet?”
“This Sesshoumaru is right here, and we have yet to eat because of a cranky two year old little girl.” The dog demon came downstairs to join his wife and elder daughters. He was holding Amai, the child he had had with Kagura two years ago.
Since during the early years of their marriage the wind sorceress had been working on her career, they had decided to wait until eight years after they had tied the knot to add another child to their family with the hopes of having one more shortly afterwards. However Amai, who unlike her name was far from being sweet, had quickly proved to be a little hellion who had the whole Takahashi household at her feet; especially, her doting father. Sesshoumaru and Kagura had therefore decided to wait until Amai had started school, and hopefully became less demanding, before having one last child. No matter how much of a trial their youngest had been, the wind sorceress wanted to have one last child as she did wish to give her husband a son. As happy and loving as Sesshoumaru had been upon seeing his newborn daughter, the wind demoness was convinced the dog demon had been slightly disappointed to have a third daughter.
‘He may have hid it well, but I’m sure he really wanted a son. He is a dog demon after all… Not to mention that at their yearly stupid fishing competition Inuyasha rubs it in Sesshoumaru’s face that unlike him who has three, Sessh doesn’t have any sons to pass down his fishing techniques to.’ Kagura reflected thoughtfully.
The fact that her small company was recently getting more business than ever had also been a reason for her to postpone having a fourth child. Now that she and the Fujibayashi’s real estate company, which Byakuya ran, worked hand in hand, the young woman had more clients than ever. Before Byakuya sold a house, he had his older sister work on it to update it. She used her knowledge of interior design and architecture to make the houses as attractive as possible to potential buyers. The wind sorceress also worked for clients unrelated to her brother’s company such as the skunk youkai Mrs. Fujimiya who had been making her life a living hell for the past few weeks. The older woman was never happy with any of the ideas Kagura ever came up with. She had had the young woman pour over ideas for each room of her house over and over again. This unending work had caused Kagura to see less of her family as of late, and the young demoness had had enough of it.
‘No money in the world is worth working for that damn woman.’ Kagura thought angrily. ‘Besides whenever I’m not here, Sesshoumaru indulges the girls too much.’ Just thinking about how much her husband let their youngest do as she wished caused Kagura to intervene.
“Is Amai refusing to go to bed again?” Kagura reached out to relieve her husband of their youngest daughter. She leaned down to bury her face in the young child’s wavy silver hair, and pressed a loving kiss on the little girl’s head. The fact that Amai had proved to be a real trial ever since she had been born did not mean that Kagura loved her any less than she did her older biological and adoptive daughters.
“Rin and I were singing to her, but she still won’t fall sleep.” Kanna let her mother know. A few months ago, Amai had started crying uncontrollably for no apparent reason. At first Kagura feared that Sesshoumaru’s condition had been passed down to their blood daughter despite her taking Mukotsu’s foul potion religiously during her pregnancy. It was only after they had brought the toddler to see Suikotsu that they had found out the reason for the child’s pain; her growing canines. They had tried different pain killers, and while they seldom worked, her family had found another thing that seemed to appease Amai’s pain: having her two older sisters sing to her nursery rhymes.
“Is it because of your teeth again Amai-chan? Open up, let mommy see.” The half dog half wind demoness reluctantly did as told, and opened her mouth widely. Kagura frowned upon seeing her daughter’s swollen upper gums where two pointed white fangs were sprouting. “My poor baby, no wonder it hurts.” Kagura cooed gently, feeling her daughter’s pain.
“I was trying to rub some of mother’s remedy on her teeth, but she is not being very cooperative, maybe you’ll have a better chance.” Sesshoumaru handed to his wife some cotton swabs and the vial his mother had given them during her latest visit. Asuka swore it would work to relieve Amai of her pain as she had used some of it on Sesshoumaru when he had been a toddler.
Throughout the past ten years, the older dog demoness had dropped in on visits once a year. She spent most of the time during her stay criticizing Kagura, who she still was not sure deserved her son. She did not pay much attention to Rin and Kanna, but to please her son she did on occasion bring the two girls gifts. However ever since Amai had been born, Asuka Watanabe-Takahashi had given her son’s family much more attention. In just the past two years she had visited them as many times as she had during the previous eight. Kagura was convinced that the reason for Asuka’s newfound interest was the uncanny physical resemblance her granddaughter had to her. In fact the dog demoness dotted outrageously on her biological granddaughter, showering her with many gifts. Asuka’s clear favoritism for Amai did not bother Rin and Kanna much as their other grandmother, Sakura, was as close to them as when they had lived with her during their father’s hospitalization ten years ago.
“I no like. It taste icky.” Amai frowned unhappily. She hoped her scowl would be enough to dissuade her mother.
Ignoring her daughter’s unhappiness, Kagura sat on the closest armchair, and placed Amai on her lap before putting some of Asuka’s medicine on a cotton swab. “Open up honey.”
“No!” Amai turned her head away from her mother.
“You know that’s the only way to get better. Now, let me see your gums again.” Kagura attempted to cajole her daughter into cooperation.
“No. Rin and Kanna sing again.” The stubborn little girl addressed her sisters. Unfortunately for her, her mother was the only member of the household who she was unable to bend to her will.
“She is so your daughter.” Kagura hissed wearily to her husband. “Your sisters have to eat their dinner before it gets cold, and will not sing to you. Enough now Amai-chan, open up. Don’t make me repeat myself, or you’ll be sorry young lady.”
Reluctantly, and with a scowl rivaling the famous one of her uncle Inuyasha and his youngest son Akira, Amai opened her mouth. Before her daughter could change her mind, Kagura quickly reached down to dab the medicine inside the child’s mouth.
“Thanks for being a good girl. You should start to feel better soon.” Kagura gave her daughter a quick kiss before coming to her feet. She walked towards her relieved husband, and after giving Sesshoumaru a quick peck, handed their handful of their daughter to him. “You need to be more firm with her Sessh.”
“Why would I when you are so good with her?” Sesshoumaru grinned, cradling his youngest child lovingly. “You girls go start on dinner while I put this little one to bed.”
“Daddy no.” Amai sent her father her best pitying look with her crimson eyes. The dog demon felt her pull at his heart strings, and wanted to give in and allow her to spend a little more time with her family, but the glare Kagura was sending him made him do the right decision.
“It is past your bedtime.” He said firmly. When he spied the bottom lip of his little girl quiver and tears pool in her crimson eyes, he quickly added, in the hopes of making her feel better, and stop the onslaught of her tears. “We will have a special breakfast tomorrow. You can eat anything you like.” His promise was enough to pacify her. Everyone in the Takahashi family knew that the one way to get to Amai was food. Therefore the promise of being able to choose whatever she wanted for breakfast was a good enough trade off to going to bed before what she deemed to be an appropriate time.
“Okay! Bed now.” Amai said brightly. She looped her arms around her father’s strong neck. “Good night everyone!”
“Ugh what happened to my fierce dog demon? The three of you have him wrapped all around your little fingers.” Kagura sighed to her two older girls making Rin and Kanna giggle as they were aware how true her words were. Everyone knew that in their household Kagura was the firm parent while Sesshoumaru got his girls whatever they wanted.
Unlike his daughters, the dog demon was not amused by his wife’s mocking words. “This Sesshoumaru is as fierce as before.” Kagura’s response came in an arched eyebrow. He knew that his statement was a bit hard to believe when he had his toddler daughter cradled in his arms, and remnants of Amai’s dinner still splattered over the front of his designer shirt. The young girl had not been very cooperative, and since she had not wanted to eat her spaghetti dinner, had decided that a good part of it would look better on her father’s shirt than inside her stomach.
“Yes, keep telling yourself that my love.” Kagura grinned before stepping forward to press a kiss to the lips of her husband of ten years. Her lips then moved on to her youngest daughter’s chubby cheek. “Good night honey. I’ll make pancakes tomorrow morning, but don’t expect it to become a daily thing, okay?”
“Okay mommy, but I want it with fruits! Good night, I love you.” Amai returned her mother’s kiss with crimson eyes twinkling in happiness. Her sweet words made the wind sorceress smile indulgently.
“It seems this Sesshoumaru is not the only one who can be manipulated.” The dog demon boasted. It amused him to no end to see how Kagura, who liked to mock him for being too lenient with the girls, often behaved just as bad as he did. When it came to the wind sorceress, she was annoyed to see how easily her husband always saw through her.
“Rin, Kanna, say good night to your sister.” Kagura said as she stepped away from Sesshoumaru and Amai. She could only hope that her husband had not noticed her embarrassed blush.
Two years ago when Kagura had been pregnant, the arrival of Amai had not been welcomed by all. In fact as loving as Rin usually was, she had been worried that having a biological child would change the way Sesshoumaru would feel towards her. When it came to Kanna, she hated the idea of not being the baby of the family anymore. However as soon as the two Takahashi girls had laid eyes on their red and squealing newborn sibling, they had fallen in love, and all their doubts had been laid to rest. For the past two years the two of them had taken an active role in helping take care of their demanding younger sister. Changing diapers and feeding bottles had become routine things for the two teenagers. No one could however believe that at some point Rin and Kanna had not wanted their parents to have another child upon seeing how lovingly the sixteen and thirteen year old sisters hugged and kissed Amai goodnight.
As soon as Kanna and Rin were done, Sesshoumaru walked back upstairs with his appeased and triumphant daughter in his arms. This time around he was determined to put Amai in her crib, and change his dirty shirt, which the toddler had so prettily decorated earlier with her dinner.
Kagura placed an arm around the shoulders of each of her two older children. As she did so she could not help but lament how much her two little girls had grown up.
‘Rin will go away to college soon and Kanna has just entered high school.’ The wind sorceress thought sadly. ‘Soon enough they won’t be needing me.’
“Well, now that the little tyrant is going to go to bed, let’s go enjoy our dinner.” Kagura brought her daughters in for one last quick hug. “Rin, you have to tell me how practice for next weekend’s track competition is going.” Then as Kagura noticed her middle daughter’s pout, she added. “And Kanna, I’m dying to know how your presentation on elemental youkai went in Mrs. Nabo’s class.”
“Well the coach said that I have a good shot at being first place!”
“I think it went well; everyone liked the props, so thanks for the fans.”
The wind sorceress chuckled at her daughters’ enthusiasm. “Girls! One at a time please.” The three of them laughed merrily as they walked towards the dining room.
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Sesshoumaru, Kagura, Rin and Kanna Takahashi had peacefully enjoyed the evening meal their elderly housekeeper, Mrs. Yaeto had put together. Kagura had been reluctant at the idea of relinquishing her role of cook for her family, but as her workload increased, she had had no choice but to hire a housekeeper. Her mother had helped her find the perfect candidate, who was a grey haired warm older demoness who loved cooking, and was great at it. After meeting the kind Mrs. Yaeto, the wind sorceress had had no choice but to like the mother like woman, and soon enough she had become a full member of the Takahashi family.
True to their usual nightly after dinner routine, Kagura and Sesshoumaru checked their daughters’ homework, giving them the opportunity to spend some time with both Rin and Kanna. Then when the two teenagers went up to bed, Kagura took a long bath to unwind while Sesshoumaru did some work on his latest advertising campaign for a cosmetics brand.
A scant hour later, the wind sorceress was lying in bed working on her latest knitting project. Even if her work had become her second priority after her family, she still made time for her favorite hobby.
“Everything is locked and secured.” Sesshoumaru announced as he lay next to her on their bed. He pressed a kiss to her shoulder left bare by her nightgown.
“I don’t understand your constant need to check the whole house. Did you not install the best security system when we built the house?” She asked her husband as she did not look away from her work.
“I only intend to make sure my family is protected.” His golden eyes lowered to her fast working fingers as he added. “Is there something you would like to tell me?”
Her crimson eyes followed his gaze, and a blush spread on her cheeks. She raised the baby socks she had been knitting.
Sesshoumaru waited breathlessly for her announcement. A part of him wanted another child, but another part of him was getting worried at the idea of it. He looked down at Kagura’s slim body, and once again marveled at her strength. While Kagome and then Sango had been pregnant, he had observed their bodies morph, and heard them complain, but was never really involved with the whole process; however, things had been different with Kagura’s pregnancy. He had seen her suffer through searing heartburn, fatigue, nausea and back and feet pain. All of this had been magnified by Mukotsu’s potion. It had been effective in preventing Amai from inheriting her father’s blood condition, but had made Kagura utterly miserable for nine months. During the whole time she had assured him she was alright, but he had been worried. Too often he had suspected Kagura had not told him the extent of her suffering. It was only when she had collapsed at work one day that he had realized how much of a toll the pregnancy and the potion were having on her. Never had he been more afraid in his life than when Byakuya had let him know about his wife’s condition. Suikotsu had strongly suggested the reluctant wind sorceress be put on bed rest, but it was only after Sesshoumaru had threatened to not go to work and force her to stay in bed that she had become more cooperative. His worry had not quit him until Amai had been delivered safely.
‘She is a strong demoness, and I know she would rather hide her pain from me than admit she is not doing alright.’ He thought, his love and respect for the woman who had shared his life for eleven years as strong as ever.
“No. This isn’t for us honey.” She smiled slightly, and then noticing the unclear look in his eyes, she quickly added. “Besides did we not agree we should wait until Amai is done with the terrible twos before having another one?” Kagura sighed, silently praying for her daughter’s demanding attitude to disappear soon. “Believe it or not, but this is for my brother.”
“Byakuya is having another child? Will you be alright at the office without Kaname for a while?” He asked referring to her business associate in her interior decorating business who had married her brother five years ago.
“You have the wrong brother. I’m talking about Hakudoushi. I talked to mom during my lunch break today, and she’s over the moon at the idea of having one more grandchild to coo over.”
“How do you feel about it?” He asked his wife. He knew she had felt uncomfortable about her youngest half brother’s recent wedding.
“When they first started dating, I thought it was… weird, but they’ve been together for over three years, so I suppose they really love each other. I guess that back then I had just expected Byakuya to be the one to end up with Ai. I can still remember how depressed Byakuya was after Ai refused to go on a date with him.” The dog demoness said as she resumed working furiously on her socks.
“He is happy with Kaname.” Sesshoumaru pointed out. “Are you still upset with the fact that you were unable to get your brother and former co-worker together? Has your ego not be stroked enough by the fact that Byakuya met Kaname thanks to you, or even that Akio and Touran have been blissfully living together majorly because of your intervention?”
‘Rather than Hakudoushi’s relationship with that tiger demoness, what I for one find weird is the fact that Touran could end up happily married to a human accountant, and a mother of three.’ Sesshoumaru could not help but think back to the hard, cold and non emotional Touran he once knew, employed and had an affair with.
“You know I don’t care about that. I’m not a matchmaker, but an interior designer and architect.” Kagura puffed up her chest proudly. “Besides I’m not upset, I just find it weird for Haku and Ai to be together. I just don’t see what she could see in that brat.”
To that Sesshoumaru could not find anything to object. In the past decade he had gotten to know his two brothers in-law, and while he got along pretty well with Byakuya, he had yet to be able to have a full conversation with Hakudoushi without wanting to strangle the arrogant younger man.
“And yet you are going to knit socks and blankets for their child.” He placed another kiss to her shoulder, causing a shiver of sexual awareness to run down her spine.
“Well I do like Ai a lot, and that poor baby will have a jackass as a father, so the least I can do for him is to give him warm feet.” The wind sorceress grinned before turning her head to the side to press a little kiss to her husband’s unsuspecting lips. Before she had the chance to lean away, Sesshoumaru took her lips in a deep passionate kiss, having their tongues entwine.
“Hum Sesshy, keep kissing me like that, and you’ll make me want to have my way with you.” She breathed out, her insides still quivering because of his passionate kiss.
He kissed her one last time before answering with a grin. “You know dear wind witch that I would never object. However there is something I wanted to ask you about.”
“I’m all ears, what’s up.” Since she could tell that only something serious could make Sesshoumaru postpone sex, she placed her knitting work away on her side table, and focused entirely on her husband.
“You told the girls you wouldn’t be working for Mrs. Fujimiya anymore.” He knew how hard Kagura had worked to get the wealthy skunk youkai as a client for her growing interior design company, and was therefore surprised to hear she had decided to stop working for her.
“She couldn’t make up her damn mind, and she kept rejecting any idea me or Kaname presented to her.” Ever since she had set up her own company, the wind sorceress had had enough satisfied customers to know that she did great work. She was therefore sure that it was not her, but rather the skunk youkai who was lacking in taste. “Besides she kept having me work overtime for no money. I just couldn’t keep missing dinner with my babies.”
“Did you not trust me to take care of them?”
“Don’t be ridiculous, you’re a great father. The girls love you.” Kagura gently teased him by adding. “Although you have a tendency to spoil them rotten; especially, Amai.”
“My dear, have we not proved earlier today that she has you eating out of her hand as well?” The dog demon asked his wife.
Kagura laughed out loud due to his words. “Amai is very persuasive indeed. She is like your mother in so many ways.” Sesshoumaru frowned even if he could still see the truth in Kagura’s words.
“When will I have a child that looks like me? Kanna took after my mom, right down to her powers, and Amai is your mother’s spitting image…”
“She does have your eyes.” Sesshoumaru reminded the wind sorceress.
“True.” Kagura said smiling briefly upon remembering the first time she had seen the eyes of her youngest which mirrored hers perfectly. Before she had met Sakura, she had hated the bloody red color of her eyes as it reminded her of Naraku’s own orbs. It was only when she had found out the crimson colored eyes were an inheritance from her biological mother that the wind sorceress had come to love that part of her anatomy. “At least Rin shares my hair color.” Her words pleased him as Sesshoumaru was glad to see how much their adoptive daughter had become a complete member of their family.
“I can assure you the next one is going to be a boy and a kaze youkai.” Even if Sesshoumaru smiled at Kagura’s enthusiasm outwardly, his heart clenched in fear. As much as a delight little Amai was, he could still remember all too well Kagura’s suffering during her difficult pregnancy.
“The next one?” He echoed, surprised.
“Yes. We’ll just keep on trying until we do get a boy.”
He smiled sadly upon hearing her words as it gave him a clear insight into the reason behind her determination. “Kagura, you do realize that I do not care whether our next child is a boy or not. I will be content with a fourth daughter.” The inu youkai reassured his wife. At first he may have wanted a boy when Kagura had been pregnant, but he was very happy with Amai, and would not want to trade her for anything.
“Aw don’t look so frightened my dear, I’m just kidding.” She smiled broadly; her heart swelling with love with the man she had married a decade ago. “Even if you did promise to give me ten babies before we moved to a farm in the countryside.” She recalled, her eyes twinkling with mockery, the way he had cheered her up in the tiny bathroom of her apartment after she had found out she was not pregnant over ten years ago.
Sesshoumaru chuckled slightly upon hearing her words. “I am surprised to see you still remember that.”
“I remember everything you ever told me.”
“That may be, but you so seldom do as I tell you to.” Sesshoumaru retorted. He could still remember how after their spring wedding Kagura had refused to let him take her to Europe for a honeymoon. She had contented herself with the two of them with Kanna and Rin going for a two weeks break at the beach house. It was only three years into their marriage that she had consented to leave their daughters with their grandparents while she and Sesshoumaru spent three weeks touring through Europe. He had reveled in showing her the ancient architecture, which had inspired her work as an architect and interior designer. The two marble columns adorning the front entrance of their house were a testament to their belated honeymoon.
“Well, you have to admit that if I did, our lives would be so boring.” The wind sorceress pointed out teasingly to her husband before giving him a quick kiss on the lips, and snuggling against his warm body. The dog demon chuckled heartily, and encircled her body in his two strong arms.
It was at times like this, when he held Kagura’s slim body close to his that Sesshoumaru realized how fortunate he was. Things had not always been easy. After he had finally been released from the hospital by Suikotsu, the dog demon had been in for a rude awakening as he had almost lost his agency. Inuyasha and Miroku had been sugarcoating things for him while his mother’s panic when she had tried to take on a greater role at his company had been warranted. Most of his large and wealthy clients had fled the agency mostly because of the scandal he had been mixed in due to the revelations about Kagura’s past, but also because of the dog demon’s prolonged absence and hospitalization.
‘I could have lost everything had it not been for father’s old friend Hosenki.’ Sesshoumaru thought to himself. Even now, ten years after the facts he still felt indebted to the one person who had helped him get his agency back on track. Just like him, the older oyster demon had followed his heart even if it meant being made fun of, and losing business.
During a business trip in Las Vegas, Hosenki had been brought by some clients to a strip club, and had fallen head over heels for one of the dancers. Once he had gone back home, everyone had laughed at a middle aged man for falling for a beautiful woman half his age whose job consisted on baring her body to strangers. They had called him a fool, and shunned the loving couple, but their love had stood strong. Twenty years and three children later people had had no choice but to recognize that their feelings were genuine. Since Hosenki knew all too well the situation Sesshoumaru found himself in, when he had heard of the troubles plaguing the advertising agency of his friend’s son, he did not hesitate to offer his help. He put Sesshoumaru in charge of a multi-million advertising campaign for his latest pearl collection, which helped the Takahashi agency regain its place. Even to this day Sesshoumaru was sure that the commercial he had designed was some of his best work. He had had once again Sondai shoot the spot, and found that having moved in with Tanuki had made the young woman calmer and easier to work with. Their work had been wonderful, and had helped him impose his company as a major agency once again. Soon enough work had come piling in again, and everything was as it should be.
“What are you thinking about so attentively?” Kagura asked her husband as she reached up to run her finger over the crease between his brows.
Her question thrust him out of his thoughts about the past. “Just work.”
“How can you think about work when you have me almost naked lying next to you in bed?” She faked a small pout, and poked him in the ribs as punishment.
“Says the one who almost missed dinner…”
“That’s not going to happen again. It seems like I have to be here from now one considering how you’re clearly unable to feed Amai without ruining your clothes in the process.” She referred to the tomato sauce splattered shirt he had had no choice but to throw away earlier.
“Your daughter is as spirited as you my dear.”
She chuckled after hearing his words. “Ah so she is mine alone? Let me guess, now that Kanna and Rin are growing into brilliant beautiful young women, they’re your children.”
“Yes indeed.” The two of them shared an intimate laugh prompted by his teasing words.
Once the mirth rushing through the two of them calmed down, Kagura stretched before telling her husband something she had meant to let him know earlier. “Oh! I forgot to tell you, I’m going to pick up the girls after school tomorrow.”
Noticing Sesshoumaru arching an eyebrow in surprise, she readily added. “I’m just doing a half day tomorrow. I deserve some time off after all the shit that damn Fujimiya put me through. Kaname can hold down the fort while I spend some time with my daughters.” Kagura had complete trust in her horse demoness sister in-law.
“Do you have any plans for your… girly afternoon?” He wondered cautiously if she was going to ask him to join in some way or other.
“Hum we’ll probably go to the center. I haven’t seen Jakotsu, Bankotsu and Mayumi in a while. It would do the girls some good to help out. Rin has been stressing out over her upcoming track competition, and Kanna’s been working so hard at school. Amai would have some younger kids to play with… or rather boss around.” While the wind sorceress knew that Rin and Kanna would be able to give a much welcomed hand to the center, which ever since Mayumi and Suikotsu had started a family was sometimes shorthanded. However as Kagura knew her Amai all too well, she suspected that her youngest would instead of helping, manage to have all the other toddlers at the center cater to her wants.
“It is good of you to want to help your friends even when you take time off work.” Sesshoumaru praised her.
“Yes. Am I not the most generous, amazing and loving person you know?” She grinned before sitting up, and throwing a leg over his body to straddle his hips.
“Ah loving, yes that is fitting indeed.” He tenderly ran a hand up her silk covered curves to gently caress her unbound long dark mane.
“And generous.” She reminded him, and as if to prove her point, she leaned forward to give him a kiss on the lips.
“Yes.” He agreed once she released his lips. “And let us not forget amazing.”
She chuckled in pure amusement at the teasing tone in his voice. “I am also the luckiest demoness in the whole world. After all I am married to you.” Hers were the last words spoken in their bedroom for a long time as Kagura proceeded to make love to her husband. She once again leaned forward to kiss him deeply, pouring all her feelings into that one action.
As Sesshoumaru accepted his wife’s kiss, and allowed her to undress him, he could not help but think that he was the lucky one. Over a decade ago, on a cold lonely night, Kagura Onigumo had entered his life. It may have taken them some time to come together, but he really could not imagine life without her anymore. Valentine’s Day would always be special to him not because it presented him with an occasion to spoil and pamper the woman he loved, but rather because of what had been delivered to him on that day eleven years ago: his heart.
THE END
A/N: There you have it. It’s done! I really can’t believe I finished Special Delivery. This story was hard labor, and will always have a special place in my heart. I’m dying to know what you guys thought about how the different characters turned out. I know most were expected, but I hope there were still some surprises :p
Thanks again for all the amazing praise, support and love. I couldn’t have kept working on this fanfic had it not been for all of my dear readers. I’ll try to have the next chapter of Secret Lovers out as soon as possible, so keep your eyes opened for that.
Yours truly,
~Saphira404
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A/N: Thank you so much to all of you guys for the support you have given me through this long process of writing Special Delivery. I am very grateful to all my readers, all the people who put the story on their favorite/alert lists and my amazing reviewers whose words very often inspired me.
Disclaimer: If I owned Inuyasha, Sesshy and Kagura would be happily mated and working on silver haired baby number three by now…
“Talking”
‘ThinkingR 17;
Kagura Takahashi picked up her briefcase, and exited her red sedan, which she had just parked in her garage. Her meeting with her latest client had run late, and she had come close to missing dinner with her family. Despite the fact that she was late, she took the time to pause for a minute and take in the house she was about to enter. After her much loved family, this was her greatest accomplishment.
‘To think that only a few years ago it was just an idea in my head.’ The wind sorceress thought with pride. She had designed her dream house for a class assignment in one of her architecture classes, and had asked Sesshoumaru his opinion of it, never expecting how things would turn out. He had loved it, and had vowed to see it built. It had taken them five years to have the house done, but they had. She had also taken great joy decorating the interior, and neither she nor Sesshoumaru had spared any expenses. The girls loved the house just as much as their parents did. Kanna had at first been sad at the idea of moving in another place and leaving the beloved pony mural her grandmother had had painted on the wall of the girls’ bedroom in Sesshoumaru’s penthouse, but she had become quite happy and amendable when she was told she would be having her own bedroom, and would be able to decorate it as she wanted. Shaking herself out of her thoughts, the young mother rushed over to the front door.
“Hey everyone, mommy’s home!” She was surprised her announcement was not received with shouts of joys as it usually was. ‘Maybe they’re already having dinner.’ She thought as she dropped her briefcase and car keys on the table placed in the entryway for this purpose. With much relief she discarded her heels and unbuttoned her jacket. While making herself comfortable in the hallway, her eyes strayed to the large family portrait adorning the wall opposite from her. Sesshoumaru had had his wife and daughters pause for long hours as he put their likeness to a canvas. He had then painted himself in the back behind the armchair Kagura was seated on, each of his clawed hands resting protectively on the shoulders of Rin and Kanna who he had placed standing on each side of their mother’s seated form. He had wanted to paint a family portrait for a long time, but had decided to wait until he had completely regained the use of his injured arm to do so. The dog demon had only been able to present the final product of his work to his wife on their second wedding anniversary. He had of course left some blank spaces on the canvas in case he would need to paint additional people of his work of art. Not too long ago he had actually made use of the area he had purposely left blank on Kagura’s lap.
The wind sorceress smiled as she eyed her family portrait then following her earlier idea, she headed for the dining room where she expected to see her family sharing a meal. To her shock the table had been set, and had food full dishes on it, but the room was empty. She was about to go upstairs in search of her husband and children when the sound of shuffling feet came from behind her. She back tracked to the living room, and was nearly tackled by a fierce hug from her two teenage daughters.
“Hey mom.” Rin said happily. The shy young human had grown in a pretty teenage girl. She had become more outgoing than her younger sister in the past ten years with the love and help of her family. In fact to both of her parents’ delight, Rin had grown more confident and more trusting of others.
“You’re late again.” Kanna said accusingly with a slight pout. In the past few weeks while Kagura had been working for a very demanding client of her company, she had often times missed dinner with her family. She however always made it a point to be home before the bedtime of her daughters.
“I know honey, I’m sorry. It’s the last time though. I told Mrs. Fujimiya that if she didn’t like what I did with her living room, she could just stuff her ideas where the sun doesn’t shine.” The wind sorceress said with a chuckle.
“You didn’t!” Rin said with a gasp. She had become used to her mother’s outrageous behavior over the years, but was still sometimes uncomfortable by Kagura’s brazen ways.
“Wow.” The void demoness said with clear respect. When she became an adult in a few more years, she wanted to be just like her mom.
“Where’s your dad, and why haven’t you guys had dinner yet?”
“This Sesshoumaru is right here, and we have yet to eat because of a cranky two year old little girl.” The dog demon came downstairs to join his wife and elder daughters. He was holding Amai, the child he had had with Kagura two years ago.
Since during the early years of their marriage the wind sorceress had been working on her career, they had decided to wait until eight years after they had tied the knot to add another child to their family with the hopes of having one more shortly afterwards. However Amai, who unlike her name was far from being sweet, had quickly proved to be a little hellion who had the whole Takahashi household at her feet; especially, her doting father. Sesshoumaru and Kagura had therefore decided to wait until Amai had started school, and hopefully became less demanding, before having one last child. No matter how much of a trial their youngest had been, the wind sorceress wanted to have one last child as she did wish to give her husband a son. As happy and loving as Sesshoumaru had been upon seeing his newborn daughter, the wind demoness was convinced the dog demon had been slightly disappointed to have a third daughter.
‘He may have hid it well, but I’m sure he really wanted a son. He is a dog demon after all… Not to mention that at their yearly stupid fishing competition Inuyasha rubs it in Sesshoumaru’s face that unlike him who has three, Sessh doesn’t have any sons to pass down his fishing techniques to.’ Kagura reflected thoughtfully.
The fact that her small company was recently getting more business than ever had also been a reason for her to postpone having a fourth child. Now that she and the Fujibayashi’s real estate company, which Byakuya ran, worked hand in hand, the young woman had more clients than ever. Before Byakuya sold a house, he had his older sister work on it to update it. She used her knowledge of interior design and architecture to make the houses as attractive as possible to potential buyers. The wind sorceress also worked for clients unrelated to her brother’s company such as the skunk youkai Mrs. Fujimiya who had been making her life a living hell for the past few weeks. The older woman was never happy with any of the ideas Kagura ever came up with. She had had the young woman pour over ideas for each room of her house over and over again. This unending work had caused Kagura to see less of her family as of late, and the young demoness had had enough of it.
‘No money in the world is worth working for that damn woman.’ Kagura thought angrily. ‘Besides whenever I’m not here, Sesshoumaru indulges the girls too much.’ Just thinking about how much her husband let their youngest do as she wished caused Kagura to intervene.
“Is Amai refusing to go to bed again?” Kagura reached out to relieve her husband of their youngest daughter. She leaned down to bury her face in the young child’s wavy silver hair, and pressed a loving kiss on the little girl’s head. The fact that Amai had proved to be a real trial ever since she had been born did not mean that Kagura loved her any less than she did her older biological and adoptive daughters.
“Rin and I were singing to her, but she still won’t fall sleep.” Kanna let her mother know. A few months ago, Amai had started crying uncontrollably for no apparent reason. At first Kagura feared that Sesshoumaru’s condition had been passed down to their blood daughter despite her taking Mukotsu’s foul potion religiously during her pregnancy. It was only after they had brought the toddler to see Suikotsu that they had found out the reason for the child’s pain; her growing canines. They had tried different pain killers, and while they seldom worked, her family had found another thing that seemed to appease Amai’s pain: having her two older sisters sing to her nursery rhymes.
“Is it because of your teeth again Amai-chan? Open up, let mommy see.” The half dog half wind demoness reluctantly did as told, and opened her mouth widely. Kagura frowned upon seeing her daughter’s swollen upper gums where two pointed white fangs were sprouting. “My poor baby, no wonder it hurts.” Kagura cooed gently, feeling her daughter’s pain.
“I was trying to rub some of mother’s remedy on her teeth, but she is not being very cooperative, maybe you’ll have a better chance.” Sesshoumaru handed to his wife some cotton swabs and the vial his mother had given them during her latest visit. Asuka swore it would work to relieve Amai of her pain as she had used some of it on Sesshoumaru when he had been a toddler.
Throughout the past ten years, the older dog demoness had dropped in on visits once a year. She spent most of the time during her stay criticizing Kagura, who she still was not sure deserved her son. She did not pay much attention to Rin and Kanna, but to please her son she did on occasion bring the two girls gifts. However ever since Amai had been born, Asuka Watanabe-Takahashi had given her son’s family much more attention. In just the past two years she had visited them as many times as she had during the previous eight. Kagura was convinced that the reason for Asuka’s newfound interest was the uncanny physical resemblance her granddaughter had to her. In fact the dog demoness dotted outrageously on her biological granddaughter, showering her with many gifts. Asuka’s clear favoritism for Amai did not bother Rin and Kanna much as their other grandmother, Sakura, was as close to them as when they had lived with her during their father’s hospitalization ten years ago.
“I no like. It taste icky.” Amai frowned unhappily. She hoped her scowl would be enough to dissuade her mother.
Ignoring her daughter’s unhappiness, Kagura sat on the closest armchair, and placed Amai on her lap before putting some of Asuka’s medicine on a cotton swab. “Open up honey.”
“No!” Amai turned her head away from her mother.
“You know that’s the only way to get better. Now, let me see your gums again.” Kagura attempted to cajole her daughter into cooperation.
“No. Rin and Kanna sing again.” The stubborn little girl addressed her sisters. Unfortunately for her, her mother was the only member of the household who she was unable to bend to her will.
“She is so your daughter.” Kagura hissed wearily to her husband. “Your sisters have to eat their dinner before it gets cold, and will not sing to you. Enough now Amai-chan, open up. Don’t make me repeat myself, or you’ll be sorry young lady.”
Reluctantly, and with a scowl rivaling the famous one of her uncle Inuyasha and his youngest son Akira, Amai opened her mouth. Before her daughter could change her mind, Kagura quickly reached down to dab the medicine inside the child’s mouth.
“Thanks for being a good girl. You should start to feel better soon.” Kagura gave her daughter a quick kiss before coming to her feet. She walked towards her relieved husband, and after giving Sesshoumaru a quick peck, handed their handful of their daughter to him. “You need to be more firm with her Sessh.”
“Why would I when you are so good with her?” Sesshoumaru grinned, cradling his youngest child lovingly. “You girls go start on dinner while I put this little one to bed.”
“Daddy no.” Amai sent her father her best pitying look with her crimson eyes. The dog demon felt her pull at his heart strings, and wanted to give in and allow her to spend a little more time with her family, but the glare Kagura was sending him made him do the right decision.
“It is past your bedtime.” He said firmly. When he spied the bottom lip of his little girl quiver and tears pool in her crimson eyes, he quickly added, in the hopes of making her feel better, and stop the onslaught of her tears. “We will have a special breakfast tomorrow. You can eat anything you like.” His promise was enough to pacify her. Everyone in the Takahashi family knew that the one way to get to Amai was food. Therefore the promise of being able to choose whatever she wanted for breakfast was a good enough trade off to going to bed before what she deemed to be an appropriate time.
“Okay! Bed now.” Amai said brightly. She looped her arms around her father’s strong neck. “Good night everyone!”
“Ugh what happened to my fierce dog demon? The three of you have him wrapped all around your little fingers.” Kagura sighed to her two older girls making Rin and Kanna giggle as they were aware how true her words were. Everyone knew that in their household Kagura was the firm parent while Sesshoumaru got his girls whatever they wanted.
Unlike his daughters, the dog demon was not amused by his wife’s mocking words. “This Sesshoumaru is as fierce as before.” Kagura’s response came in an arched eyebrow. He knew that his statement was a bit hard to believe when he had his toddler daughter cradled in his arms, and remnants of Amai’s dinner still splattered over the front of his designer shirt. The young girl had not been very cooperative, and since she had not wanted to eat her spaghetti dinner, had decided that a good part of it would look better on her father’s shirt than inside her stomach.
“Yes, keep telling yourself that my love.” Kagura grinned before stepping forward to press a kiss to the lips of her husband of ten years. Her lips then moved on to her youngest daughter’s chubby cheek. “Good night honey. I’ll make pancakes tomorrow morning, but don’t expect it to become a daily thing, okay?”
“Okay mommy, but I want it with fruits! Good night, I love you.” Amai returned her mother’s kiss with crimson eyes twinkling in happiness. Her sweet words made the wind sorceress smile indulgently.
“It seems this Sesshoumaru is not the only one who can be manipulated.” The dog demon boasted. It amused him to no end to see how Kagura, who liked to mock him for being too lenient with the girls, often behaved just as bad as he did. When it came to the wind sorceress, she was annoyed to see how easily her husband always saw through her.
“Rin, Kanna, say good night to your sister.” Kagura said as she stepped away from Sesshoumaru and Amai. She could only hope that her husband had not noticed her embarrassed blush.
Two years ago when Kagura had been pregnant, the arrival of Amai had not been welcomed by all. In fact as loving as Rin usually was, she had been worried that having a biological child would change the way Sesshoumaru would feel towards her. When it came to Kanna, she hated the idea of not being the baby of the family anymore. However as soon as the two Takahashi girls had laid eyes on their red and squealing newborn sibling, they had fallen in love, and all their doubts had been laid to rest. For the past two years the two of them had taken an active role in helping take care of their demanding younger sister. Changing diapers and feeding bottles had become routine things for the two teenagers. No one could however believe that at some point Rin and Kanna had not wanted their parents to have another child upon seeing how lovingly the sixteen and thirteen year old sisters hugged and kissed Amai goodnight.
As soon as Kanna and Rin were done, Sesshoumaru walked back upstairs with his appeased and triumphant daughter in his arms. This time around he was determined to put Amai in her crib, and change his dirty shirt, which the toddler had so prettily decorated earlier with her dinner.
Kagura placed an arm around the shoulders of each of her two older children. As she did so she could not help but lament how much her two little girls had grown up.
‘Rin will go away to college soon and Kanna has just entered high school.’ The wind sorceress thought sadly. ‘Soon enough they won’t be needing me.’
“Well, now that the little tyrant is going to go to bed, let’s go enjoy our dinner.” Kagura brought her daughters in for one last quick hug. “Rin, you have to tell me how practice for next weekend’s track competition is going.” Then as Kagura noticed her middle daughter’s pout, she added. “And Kanna, I’m dying to know how your presentation on elemental youkai went in Mrs. Nabo’s class.”
“Well the coach said that I have a good shot at being first place!”
“I think it went well; everyone liked the props, so thanks for the fans.”
The wind sorceress chuckled at her daughters’ enthusiasm. “Girls! One at a time please.” The three of them laughed merrily as they walked towards the dining room.
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Sesshoumaru, Kagura, Rin and Kanna Takahashi had peacefully enjoyed the evening meal their elderly housekeeper, Mrs. Yaeto had put together. Kagura had been reluctant at the idea of relinquishing her role of cook for her family, but as her workload increased, she had had no choice but to hire a housekeeper. Her mother had helped her find the perfect candidate, who was a grey haired warm older demoness who loved cooking, and was great at it. After meeting the kind Mrs. Yaeto, the wind sorceress had had no choice but to like the mother like woman, and soon enough she had become a full member of the Takahashi family.
True to their usual nightly after dinner routine, Kagura and Sesshoumaru checked their daughters’ homework, giving them the opportunity to spend some time with both Rin and Kanna. Then when the two teenagers went up to bed, Kagura took a long bath to unwind while Sesshoumaru did some work on his latest advertising campaign for a cosmetics brand.
A scant hour later, the wind sorceress was lying in bed working on her latest knitting project. Even if her work had become her second priority after her family, she still made time for her favorite hobby.
“Everything is locked and secured.” Sesshoumaru announced as he lay next to her on their bed. He pressed a kiss to her shoulder left bare by her nightgown.
“I don’t understand your constant need to check the whole house. Did you not install the best security system when we built the house?” She asked her husband as she did not look away from her work.
“I only intend to make sure my family is protected.” His golden eyes lowered to her fast working fingers as he added. “Is there something you would like to tell me?”
Her crimson eyes followed his gaze, and a blush spread on her cheeks. She raised the baby socks she had been knitting.
Sesshoumaru waited breathlessly for her announcement. A part of him wanted another child, but another part of him was getting worried at the idea of it. He looked down at Kagura’s slim body, and once again marveled at her strength. While Kagome and then Sango had been pregnant, he had observed their bodies morph, and heard them complain, but was never really involved with the whole process; however, things had been different with Kagura’s pregnancy. He had seen her suffer through searing heartburn, fatigue, nausea and back and feet pain. All of this had been magnified by Mukotsu’s potion. It had been effective in preventing Amai from inheriting her father’s blood condition, but had made Kagura utterly miserable for nine months. During the whole time she had assured him she was alright, but he had been worried. Too often he had suspected Kagura had not told him the extent of her suffering. It was only when she had collapsed at work one day that he had realized how much of a toll the pregnancy and the potion were having on her. Never had he been more afraid in his life than when Byakuya had let him know about his wife’s condition. Suikotsu had strongly suggested the reluctant wind sorceress be put on bed rest, but it was only after Sesshoumaru had threatened to not go to work and force her to stay in bed that she had become more cooperative. His worry had not quit him until Amai had been delivered safely.
‘She is a strong demoness, and I know she would rather hide her pain from me than admit she is not doing alright.’ He thought, his love and respect for the woman who had shared his life for eleven years as strong as ever.
“No. This isn’t for us honey.” She smiled slightly, and then noticing the unclear look in his eyes, she quickly added. “Besides did we not agree we should wait until Amai is done with the terrible twos before having another one?” Kagura sighed, silently praying for her daughter’s demanding attitude to disappear soon. “Believe it or not, but this is for my brother.”
“Byakuya is having another child? Will you be alright at the office without Kaname for a while?” He asked referring to her business associate in her interior decorating business who had married her brother five years ago.
“You have the wrong brother. I’m talking about Hakudoushi. I talked to mom during my lunch break today, and she’s over the moon at the idea of having one more grandchild to coo over.”
“How do you feel about it?” He asked his wife. He knew she had felt uncomfortable about her youngest half brother’s recent wedding.
“When they first started dating, I thought it was… weird, but they’ve been together for over three years, so I suppose they really love each other. I guess that back then I had just expected Byakuya to be the one to end up with Ai. I can still remember how depressed Byakuya was after Ai refused to go on a date with him.” The dog demoness said as she resumed working furiously on her socks.
“He is happy with Kaname.” Sesshoumaru pointed out. “Are you still upset with the fact that you were unable to get your brother and former co-worker together? Has your ego not be stroked enough by the fact that Byakuya met Kaname thanks to you, or even that Akio and Touran have been blissfully living together majorly because of your intervention?”
‘Rather than Hakudoushi’s relationship with that tiger demoness, what I for one find weird is the fact that Touran could end up happily married to a human accountant, and a mother of three.’ Sesshoumaru could not help but think back to the hard, cold and non emotional Touran he once knew, employed and had an affair with.
“You know I don’t care about that. I’m not a matchmaker, but an interior designer and architect.” Kagura puffed up her chest proudly. “Besides I’m not upset, I just find it weird for Haku and Ai to be together. I just don’t see what she could see in that brat.”
To that Sesshoumaru could not find anything to object. In the past decade he had gotten to know his two brothers in-law, and while he got along pretty well with Byakuya, he had yet to be able to have a full conversation with Hakudoushi without wanting to strangle the arrogant younger man.
“And yet you are going to knit socks and blankets for their child.” He placed another kiss to her shoulder, causing a shiver of sexual awareness to run down her spine.
“Well I do like Ai a lot, and that poor baby will have a jackass as a father, so the least I can do for him is to give him warm feet.” The wind sorceress grinned before turning her head to the side to press a little kiss to her husband’s unsuspecting lips. Before she had the chance to lean away, Sesshoumaru took her lips in a deep passionate kiss, having their tongues entwine.
“Hum Sesshy, keep kissing me like that, and you’ll make me want to have my way with you.” She breathed out, her insides still quivering because of his passionate kiss.
He kissed her one last time before answering with a grin. “You know dear wind witch that I would never object. However there is something I wanted to ask you about.”
“I’m all ears, what’s up.” Since she could tell that only something serious could make Sesshoumaru postpone sex, she placed her knitting work away on her side table, and focused entirely on her husband.
“You told the girls you wouldn’t be working for Mrs. Fujimiya anymore.” He knew how hard Kagura had worked to get the wealthy skunk youkai as a client for her growing interior design company, and was therefore surprised to hear she had decided to stop working for her.
“She couldn’t make up her damn mind, and she kept rejecting any idea me or Kaname presented to her.” Ever since she had set up her own company, the wind sorceress had had enough satisfied customers to know that she did great work. She was therefore sure that it was not her, but rather the skunk youkai who was lacking in taste. “Besides she kept having me work overtime for no money. I just couldn’t keep missing dinner with my babies.”
“Did you not trust me to take care of them?”
“Don’t be ridiculous, you’re a great father. The girls love you.” Kagura gently teased him by adding. “Although you have a tendency to spoil them rotten; especially, Amai.”
“My dear, have we not proved earlier today that she has you eating out of her hand as well?” The dog demon asked his wife.
Kagura laughed out loud due to his words. “Amai is very persuasive indeed. She is like your mother in so many ways.” Sesshoumaru frowned even if he could still see the truth in Kagura’s words.
“When will I have a child that looks like me? Kanna took after my mom, right down to her powers, and Amai is your mother’s spitting image…”
“She does have your eyes.” Sesshoumaru reminded the wind sorceress.
“True.” Kagura said smiling briefly upon remembering the first time she had seen the eyes of her youngest which mirrored hers perfectly. Before she had met Sakura, she had hated the bloody red color of her eyes as it reminded her of Naraku’s own orbs. It was only when she had found out the crimson colored eyes were an inheritance from her biological mother that the wind sorceress had come to love that part of her anatomy. “At least Rin shares my hair color.” Her words pleased him as Sesshoumaru was glad to see how much their adoptive daughter had become a complete member of their family.
“I can assure you the next one is going to be a boy and a kaze youkai.” Even if Sesshoumaru smiled at Kagura’s enthusiasm outwardly, his heart clenched in fear. As much as a delight little Amai was, he could still remember all too well Kagura’s suffering during her difficult pregnancy.
“The next one?” He echoed, surprised.
“Yes. We’ll just keep on trying until we do get a boy.”
He smiled sadly upon hearing her words as it gave him a clear insight into the reason behind her determination. “Kagura, you do realize that I do not care whether our next child is a boy or not. I will be content with a fourth daughter.” The inu youkai reassured his wife. At first he may have wanted a boy when Kagura had been pregnant, but he was very happy with Amai, and would not want to trade her for anything.
“Aw don’t look so frightened my dear, I’m just kidding.” She smiled broadly; her heart swelling with love with the man she had married a decade ago. “Even if you did promise to give me ten babies before we moved to a farm in the countryside.” She recalled, her eyes twinkling with mockery, the way he had cheered her up in the tiny bathroom of her apartment after she had found out she was not pregnant over ten years ago.
Sesshoumaru chuckled slightly upon hearing her words. “I am surprised to see you still remember that.”
“I remember everything you ever told me.”
“That may be, but you so seldom do as I tell you to.” Sesshoumaru retorted. He could still remember how after their spring wedding Kagura had refused to let him take her to Europe for a honeymoon. She had contented herself with the two of them with Kanna and Rin going for a two weeks break at the beach house. It was only three years into their marriage that she had consented to leave their daughters with their grandparents while she and Sesshoumaru spent three weeks touring through Europe. He had reveled in showing her the ancient architecture, which had inspired her work as an architect and interior designer. The two marble columns adorning the front entrance of their house were a testament to their belated honeymoon.
“Well, you have to admit that if I did, our lives would be so boring.” The wind sorceress pointed out teasingly to her husband before giving him a quick kiss on the lips, and snuggling against his warm body. The dog demon chuckled heartily, and encircled her body in his two strong arms.
It was at times like this, when he held Kagura’s slim body close to his that Sesshoumaru realized how fortunate he was. Things had not always been easy. After he had finally been released from the hospital by Suikotsu, the dog demon had been in for a rude awakening as he had almost lost his agency. Inuyasha and Miroku had been sugarcoating things for him while his mother’s panic when she had tried to take on a greater role at his company had been warranted. Most of his large and wealthy clients had fled the agency mostly because of the scandal he had been mixed in due to the revelations about Kagura’s past, but also because of the dog demon’s prolonged absence and hospitalization.
‘I could have lost everything had it not been for father’s old friend Hosenki.’ Sesshoumaru thought to himself. Even now, ten years after the facts he still felt indebted to the one person who had helped him get his agency back on track. Just like him, the older oyster demon had followed his heart even if it meant being made fun of, and losing business.
During a business trip in Las Vegas, Hosenki had been brought by some clients to a strip club, and had fallen head over heels for one of the dancers. Once he had gone back home, everyone had laughed at a middle aged man for falling for a beautiful woman half his age whose job consisted on baring her body to strangers. They had called him a fool, and shunned the loving couple, but their love had stood strong. Twenty years and three children later people had had no choice but to recognize that their feelings were genuine. Since Hosenki knew all too well the situation Sesshoumaru found himself in, when he had heard of the troubles plaguing the advertising agency of his friend’s son, he did not hesitate to offer his help. He put Sesshoumaru in charge of a multi-million advertising campaign for his latest pearl collection, which helped the Takahashi agency regain its place. Even to this day Sesshoumaru was sure that the commercial he had designed was some of his best work. He had had once again Sondai shoot the spot, and found that having moved in with Tanuki had made the young woman calmer and easier to work with. Their work had been wonderful, and had helped him impose his company as a major agency once again. Soon enough work had come piling in again, and everything was as it should be.
“What are you thinking about so attentively?” Kagura asked her husband as she reached up to run her finger over the crease between his brows.
Her question thrust him out of his thoughts about the past. “Just work.”
“How can you think about work when you have me almost naked lying next to you in bed?” She faked a small pout, and poked him in the ribs as punishment.
“Says the one who almost missed dinner…”
“That’s not going to happen again. It seems like I have to be here from now one considering how you’re clearly unable to feed Amai without ruining your clothes in the process.” She referred to the tomato sauce splattered shirt he had had no choice but to throw away earlier.
“Your daughter is as spirited as you my dear.”
She chuckled after hearing his words. “Ah so she is mine alone? Let me guess, now that Kanna and Rin are growing into brilliant beautiful young women, they’re your children.”
“Yes indeed.” The two of them shared an intimate laugh prompted by his teasing words.
Once the mirth rushing through the two of them calmed down, Kagura stretched before telling her husband something she had meant to let him know earlier. “Oh! I forgot to tell you, I’m going to pick up the girls after school tomorrow.”
Noticing Sesshoumaru arching an eyebrow in surprise, she readily added. “I’m just doing a half day tomorrow. I deserve some time off after all the shit that damn Fujimiya put me through. Kaname can hold down the fort while I spend some time with my daughters.” Kagura had complete trust in her horse demoness sister in-law.
“Do you have any plans for your… girly afternoon?” He wondered cautiously if she was going to ask him to join in some way or other.
“Hum we’ll probably go to the center. I haven’t seen Jakotsu, Bankotsu and Mayumi in a while. It would do the girls some good to help out. Rin has been stressing out over her upcoming track competition, and Kanna’s been working so hard at school. Amai would have some younger kids to play with… or rather boss around.” While the wind sorceress knew that Rin and Kanna would be able to give a much welcomed hand to the center, which ever since Mayumi and Suikotsu had started a family was sometimes shorthanded. However as Kagura knew her Amai all too well, she suspected that her youngest would instead of helping, manage to have all the other toddlers at the center cater to her wants.
“It is good of you to want to help your friends even when you take time off work.” Sesshoumaru praised her.
“Yes. Am I not the most generous, amazing and loving person you know?” She grinned before sitting up, and throwing a leg over his body to straddle his hips.
“Ah loving, yes that is fitting indeed.” He tenderly ran a hand up her silk covered curves to gently caress her unbound long dark mane.
“And generous.” She reminded him, and as if to prove her point, she leaned forward to give him a kiss on the lips.
“Yes.” He agreed once she released his lips. “And let us not forget amazing.”
She chuckled in pure amusement at the teasing tone in his voice. “I am also the luckiest demoness in the whole world. After all I am married to you.” Hers were the last words spoken in their bedroom for a long time as Kagura proceeded to make love to her husband. She once again leaned forward to kiss him deeply, pouring all her feelings into that one action.
As Sesshoumaru accepted his wife’s kiss, and allowed her to undress him, he could not help but think that he was the lucky one. Over a decade ago, on a cold lonely night, Kagura Onigumo had entered his life. It may have taken them some time to come together, but he really could not imagine life without her anymore. Valentine’s Day would always be special to him not because it presented him with an occasion to spoil and pamper the woman he loved, but rather because of what had been delivered to him on that day eleven years ago: his heart.
THE END
A/N: There you have it. It’s done! I really can’t believe I finished Special Delivery. This story was hard labor, and will always have a special place in my heart. I’m dying to know what you guys thought about how the different characters turned out. I know most were expected, but I hope there were still some surprises :p
Thanks again for all the amazing praise, support and love. I couldn’t have kept working on this fanfic had it not been for all of my dear readers. I’ll try to have the next chapter of Secret Lovers out as soon as possible, so keep your eyes opened for that.
Yours truly,
~Saphira404
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