InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Stronger ❯ Keiji ( Chapter 10 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: Fairia13 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Drama / Action | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 03.08.2005 | Pages: 4 | Words: 6.6K | Visits: 486 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Drama / Action | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 03.08.2005 | Pages: 4 | Words: 6.6K | Visits: 486 | Status: Work In Progress
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Chap ter Ten – Keiji
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Snow was falling.
It had been the first thing that Rin had noticed when she had woken up that morning. Fat white flakes blanketed the ground and fell from the sky, coating the earth in an all-consuming whiteness. Shivering slightly, Rin tossed back the blankets of her futon and struggled to her feet, feeling rather like a turtle on it’s back. Only this time, the shell was on the front, which in Rin’s opinion, made rising from her futon twice a difficult. As her stomach had grown progressively larger, she had eventually worked out a system that allowed her to get up without assistance. She would roll off the futon onto all fours, then rest back on her heels and use her legs to propel herself upwards. A faulty system at best, she grudgingly admitted, because half of the time, due to her rapidly burgeoning stomach, she would be unable to adequately balance herself and would land on her behind. However, it was either this of ask Kohaku for help.
And she flat-out didn’t want to ask for help, though she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Kohaku would be more than happy to. Kohaku had decided to stay in the village for the winter, before heading out in the spring again on his on his self-motivated mission. He had explained it to her once, when he had first arrived, how because of all that Naraku had made him do - the killing and stealing and the suffering that had been a product of his unwilling hands, he felt that he should do whatever necessary to atone for his sins. Rin hadn’t understood, not at first, how the young man could blame himself for deeds done when he had been completely under someone else’s control, but a talk with Sango late one night had cleared up any misconceptions.
It had just been the two of them sitting around the fire in Sango’s hut: the kids had been sent to bed earlier, and Miroku had retired shortly after. Kohaku had beat a hasty retreat when the talk turned to pregnancy, complete with weird cravings, frequent urination, and back pains. For his part, he had lasted through the talk of back pains, ankle swellings and weird cravings, looking a little confused when Sango confessed to craving eels and cherries when pregnant with Uta. But when the talk had focused in on frequent urination, tender breasts and other such matters, Kohaku had fairly run from the room, telling Rin that he would start the small fie pit in her room so it would be warm when she returned.
The two women had laughed quietly at his obvious haste, but continuedtheir conversation never the less, pausing only so Sango could heat some tea for them.
"Sango," Rin has asked finally, into the companionable silence, "why does Kohaku feel like he has to help? Naraku was controlling him - it wasn’t his fault."
"He feels responsible." Sango finally said, staring at the flames in the fire pit. "Even though he was being controlled, it was still his body, and his mind. When we defeated Naraku, and the shard was removed from his back, we all expected him to die. But he didn’t."
Rin’s brow frowned in perplexion, and Sango obligingly told her of how her village was decimated, and Kohaku had been grievously injured. The shard had been the only thing keeping him alive for years, and Sango had finally come to terms with the probability of his death when the shard was removed, knowing that it would probably be better than facing the memories of what he had done.
But when the shard had been removed, Kohaku remained breathing. He was fully healed, baring only a small, X-shaped scar from where the shard had been implanted. Kagome and Keade had finally come up with the explanation when the jewel had been pieced together and it had been discovered that a small piece of the shard was missing, despite the fact that they had completed the jewel.
Part of the shard Kohaku had possessed for those years had been absorbed into him, allowing him to live and giving him unknown strengths, some of which had not been discovered for years.
The first and most apparent had been increased physical strength and stamina. He second had been speed - while not as fast as Inuyasha, he was still faster than your average demon. There had been other effects of the jewel’s influence over the years, but so far none as strongly as those two. None of his other senses had increased, and all Sango could say was for now, it was a waiting game to see what else would manifest in the future.
Rin sighed, once more attempting to rise from her futon. Why did the blasted thing have to be on the floor anyway? A slight knock at the shoji screen of her door, and it slid open to reveal Kohaku, who took one look at the situation and grinned.
“Want some help?” He asked.
Rin eyed him speculatively from her position on the floor, and trying to roll over so she could actually make it up on all fours. At eight months pregnant, it wasn’t even humorous anymore, so she couldn’t possibly see what he thought he was laughing at.
“I’d like to see you try this, I truly, dearly would.” She said by way of answer, holding out a hand to allow him to assist her to her feet.
“Less than a month to go.” He said kindly, taking the proffered hand and tugging, giving Rin the momentum she needed to roll upright. Rin grimaced and placed a hand on the small of her back. It hurt just a bit more than usual…of course, her spine connecting with the floor could help that…
“At least Kagome will be arriving today.” She said. “I’ll feel a lot better when she gets here.”
Kohaku smiled sympathetically. Rin had been getting jittery the last couple of days, complaining of mild cramping in her abdomen, but also saying that she could breathe easier. Sitting down next to the cooking fire which had been banked throughout the night, Rin gently stirred it to life once more and set the water for tea while Kohaku prepared the miso. They talked quietly as they ate, eventually dropping off into an easy, companionable silence.
Kohaku studied Rin out of the corner of his eye, remembering the last time he had seen her, some several years ago. It had actually been in the Western Lands. He had been traveling and had stopped near Sesshomaru’s fortress to stay at a local inn, and while looking around the village, had seen a preadolescent girl, maybe twelve years old, with a head full of obsidian hair and laughing brown eyes run through the village, seemingly trying to scamper through every puddle left on the main road from the previous night’s rain. He had thought it was Rin, but wasn’t sure until a small green toad-like creature had come scurrying after her, yelling about “stupid ningen’s running off when there were lessons to be taught.” Laughing softly, he had turned and walked on, knowing that, here at least, all was right with the world.
However, now that happy child was a woman grown, with plenty of shadows in her eyes and in her smile. She sat, staring at the flames, neither laughing nor smiling, a small, sad smile on her face. She had grown much since he had seen her last, all those years ago. She had become quite beautiful, to be sure, but it was her inner beauty which truly made her eye-catching. Rin was innately sweet and innocent, despite all that had transpired, and Kohaku was certain that she would be a kind and caring mother to her child.
She had told him, slowly and painfully, of what had transpired between her and her Lord, one chilly night when they both had awoken. Kohaku still couldn’t believe that Lord Sesshomaru, the same demon who had held him a full meter off of the ground while poison had dripped from his claws when he had believed Kohaku to be harming Rin, who had fed and clothed her and comforted her nightmares, would be deliberately unkind to her at all. However, the shadows in Rin’s smiles were proof enough that something had happened…he just wasn’t sure what. And as tempted as Kohaku was to go inquire about it in the Western Lands, he knew he couldn’t leave Rin when she was so close to her time.
His thoughts were disrupted by Rin’s shifting as she rose. “What are you doing?” He asked, as she headed towards the door.
“I’m getting some more firewood.” She replied. “It’s getting chilly in here.” Just as she reached the doorway where the firewood was stacked however, a rapid knocking was heard, and a hyperactive blur of silver and sapphire bounced into the common room as soon as Rin opened the door, snow flying in with her.
“Hello Kimi,” Rin greeted the child once she had held still long enough for Rin to get a look at who it was. “What are you doing here?”
“I came with mama and papa.” Kimi announced, scurrying over to the fire and plunking down next to Kohaku, who merely looked at her in bemusement. “We got in last night. Keiko and Mai wanted to stay – they don’t like the cold. And Isamu stayed to help Ren – the village headman – with the hunting. Keiko and Mai are staying with Ebisu and the priest.” She added as an after thought, obviously thinking that her siblings were old enough to fend for themselves, and sounding a little perplexed that her mother had insisted that her seven-year-old brother and six-year-old sisters stay with someone. She turned to Kohaku. “Who’re you?”
“My name is Kohaku.” Kohaku responded, wondering who this child was – Rin had called her Kimi? – and where she got so much energy so early in the morning. If the silvery-white mane and puppy ears where anything to go by, he could easily enough guess her parentage.
“I’m Kimi. The girl responded, bobbing her head at him. “Are you Rin-chan’s mate?”
Kohaku opened his mouth to answer, but never got the chance as Kimi furrowed her brows and porged ahead without waiting for an answer. “No, you couldn’t be, ‘cause that would mean you were my uncle…and” she sniffed experimentally, “you don’t smell like pack. You don’t look like Uncle Sesshomaru either.” She added, eyeballing him suspiciously. Kohaku made to respond once more, trying to say that he was Rin’s friend, but Kimi cut him off once more. “So, who are you then?”
“Kimi, he’s trying to tell you.” Rin said, giggling at Kohaku’s rather dumbfounded expression. “Would you like some tea? And where are your shoes?”
“I left them in Sango’s hut.” Kimi replied brightly, grinning and revealing two tiny fangs amidst her pearly white teeth. “And yes please!” As Rin reached for another cup, Kimi turned to Kohaku and looked at him expectantly.
‘What is she looking at me for?’ Kohaku wondered, staring at her in her navy blue hakama and haori, with her silvery-white hair and bright sapphire eyes. ‘Where did she get those eyes from? They look unreal.’
“So, why do you live with Rin-chan, Kohaku?” Kimi prompted, her expression darkening.
‘Deffinetly her father’s daughter,’ Kohaku thought wryly. ‘Protective streak wider than a lake.’
“Well, you see, this is actually my hut, only I do a lot of traveling and I’m not here a lot, so Rin helps me keep it from falling over.” Kohaku responded.
“Looks sturdy enough to me.” Kimi mused, accepting the cup Rin handed her and taking a sip while looking around. And so it was; Kohaku was, in fact, quite proud of the hut he had built when his sister’s growing family had become too much to deal with on a day-to-day basis. The outside door faced south, and it had a small area before the common room used for storing firewood and shoes in inclement weather, so mud, water and snow wouldn’t be tracked into the common room. The common room, the largest room of the house and contained the cooking fire in the middle and a few trunks against one wall, which held spare blankets, an extra futon (which was now in Rin’s room) and a trunk which held a few dishes, a tea pot, and an extra kettle used for whatever was necessary. A small hallway at the north end of the room held two doors, one on the left, facing east and one on the right, facing west, which led to his and Rin’s rooms. At the end of the hallway was another door, which led to a small water closet, modeled after something he had seem in a Daimyo’s home once.
Kohaku chuckled. “It is, and Rin helps with that. Where are your father and mother?” He asked.
“Papa told me that he was going to throw a snowball at mommy.” Was Kimi’s reply. “So I left one for him outside the door and came to get you so you could help mama.”
“Help Kagome?” Kohaku mused. “From what I remember, it’s going to be your father that needs the help…”
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Splat!
Kagome gasped as the icy cold snow slid down her back, whirling around to face her mate, who was bending down already packing together his next projectile. “Inuyasha!” She scolded. “What are you doing?”
“What?” Inuyasha asked, a perfectly innocent expression on his face. “Kimi was kind enough to leave a snowball outside the door, and it wasn’t my fault if you didn’t spot it.” He threw the next one at her, and Kagome ducked, squeaking in outrage.
“Inuyasha…” She growled, a sound suspiciously similar to his own aggravated growl. Scooping up some snow, she lobbed it at him, smirking with satisfaction as it slid wetly down his chest. He looked down, watching it for a bit, the looked up at her and grinned mischievously.
“It’s on.” Scooping up another handful, he threw the tightly packed ice crystals at his mate, grinning as she squealed and ducked, gathering her own ammunition. Soon the battle raged around them, snow flying everywhere, both of them thoroughly soaked. Inuyasha looked over at Kagome, whose cheeks were turning red with the chill and despite her expression, which was lit up and grinning, he noticed that her hands were trembling and her lips turning blue.
‘Okay, enough. I don’t want her getting sick.’
“Kagome,” He started to say that maybe they had enough, but was stopped when he was struck square in the face with a snowball. Wiping the snow from his eyes and growling, he charged his mate, who was barely given time to shriek when he hit her, knocking them both to the ground. Slipping an arm under her head, he made sure to cushion her fall so she didn’t strike her head on anything.
“Kagome…” He growled in exasperation, glaring down into her unrepentant eyes.
“Yes?” She queried sweetly. “Ooh, did I hurt you when I hit you in the face?” She asked innocently, not sounding the least bit sorry. “Your face is a little red…” She wriggled about underneath him trying to free her arms from his grip, writhing against him strategically.
Inuyasha’s expression darkened. “Kagome..” He growled again, however, this growl had nothing to do with irritation.
“I guess I should kiss it and make it better.” Kagome mused aloud, seemingly to herself. Lifting her head, she kissed his cheek lightly. “Better?”
“No.” Inuyasha growled playfully, “You hit my face, not just my cheek. My nose and other cheek and lips and chin too.” Tenderly, he lowered his head and nuzzled under her chin, licking it lightly in submission. ‘My mate.’
Laughing softly, Kagome obligingly kissed his other cheek, and his forehead and nose, wriggling so she could wrap her arms around his back. Heat flared in her, low and simmering in the pit of her belly as Inuyasha kissed her lips, slipping between them with his tongue and savoring her flavor, which even in the dead of winter reminded him of wildflowers and home.
Splat!
Inuyasha looked up and saw Kimi standing with Kohaku and Rin off to the side. His daughter was giggling madly as Kohaku reached down for another wad of snow.
“Oi! What was that for?” He complained loudly, eyeballing the young man who stood next to Rin. The whelp had certainly grown over the years, he mused. The last time Inuyasha had seen him had been about four years ago when a group of bandits had attacked his village, right before Kimi was born.
The bandits had attacked in the dead of the night, and Inuyasha had been having a rough time keeping them off, when Kohaku had appeared almost out of nowhere, lending assistance and helping Inuyasha and the men of the village to drive away the bandits. He had been tracking them for a while, he said, as they razed their way through a number of settlements, and was just lucky that he had caught up to them here. He had stayed for a day, helping tend the wounded and allowing Kagome to force a meal or two on him, then promptly left, waving goodbye cheerily and wishing them luck.
The boy had been eighteen then, and while he had been healthy and lean then, he had added a couple of inches to his height, and the freckles seemed to have disappeared as well.
“Kimi said her mama was going to need help.” Kohaku replied glibly as Kimi ran forward and launched her self at her father. Inuyasha let go of Kagome and caught his youngest pup, “wrestling” with her a bit before pinning her under him and tickling her madly.
“Oi pup, you think you’re mama needed saving from me?”
“No, no!” Kimi squealed, wriggling madly in her attempt to get away. She swiped at him with her tiny claws, which he easily avoided, but growled warningly anyway.
“Claws,”
Kimi stilled as she realized her mistake. You were never to use claws on pack, especially not the leader-male, unless you were training.
:Sorry,: she whined softly in Inuyoukai, remaining perfectly still.
:Forgiven.: Inuyasha replied in Inu adding, “Just remember not to use your claws – you could hurt your sisters.” Picking her up, he placed a hand under her bottom as her arms went trustingly around his neck and he moved towards the other. Kohaku was smiling a small smile while Kagome was examining Rin’s greatly expanded middle. ‘She’s close.’ Inuyasha realized, listening intently to the rapid beating of the infant’s heart under Rin’s breastbone. It seemed somewhat lower than where an infant usually was, and Inuyasha’s eyes narrowed a bit as Kohaku urged Rin and Kagome to come inside and warm up. He followed them into Kohaku’s hut, wiping his feet on the reed mat and making sure Kimi did the same before entering the common room and sitting down next to the fire pit. Kohaku handed him a mug of warm tea, which he accepted and shared with Kimi, while watching Kagome ask Rin a number of questions about her pregnancy.
Kagome was a wonder. Inuyasha, better than anyone else, knew this. She had been drug through a well by a demon at the tender age of fifteen, unsealed a hanyou from an enchanted sleep, produced a jewel long thought lost, shattered said jewel into hundreds of fragments, and had taken responsibility and helped gather the shards once again. Along the way she had gained the loyalty of the less-than-trusting hanyou, adopted a baby fox, befriended a lecherous monk with a cursed hand, purified multiple demons with her powers and saved a demon exterminator who had watched the destruction of her clan and the corruption of her little brother. She had been the glue that held them together; sweet and innocent, eternally friendly and forgiving, rapidly transitioning from friend to doctor to counselor to school girl at a moment’s notice. And once all was said and done, she accepted the hanyou as her mate and husband, had stayed by his side in a time five hundred years before her own, and had made the best of it, building a life and home with him, bearing his children and taking her place in their village as midwife, healer, and miko, all without – much – complaint.
Of course, she had her faults, Inuyasha noted wryly. She mumbled in her sleep, had a frightful temper when riled, and need little provocation to engage in a verbal sparring match with him at a moment’s notice, only to do a complete turn-around three minutes later, when some little kid came to the door with a scraped knee, tearfully looking for a bandage.
Kagome had completed high school, and had gone on to take a few collage courses in emergency medicine, field medicine, and several classes in herb lore, much to everyone’s befuddlement. However, when she had been able to create soothing tinctures for everything from headaches to bellyaches and had been able to successfully treat wounds and identify infections before they went septic, everyone in the village had been grateful for her training. When Kaede had passed on shortly after the birth of their first child, Kagome had been able to step in and fulfill the position as a miko for the village. Though her defensive magic’s remained weak, her offensive ones, so long as she was sufficiently motivated, were unparalleled in strength.
Inuyasha smiled, perfectly content. His mate was strong, but also caring and compassionate. Though he never would know what he had done to deserve her, he thanked whatever deity was listening that he had her.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Rin stopped next to the wood pile, panting slightly. Her abdomen clenched again, slightly more intense than a moment before, and Rin sighed, putting the wood neatly on the stack and rubbing her side.
“Okay baby, Mommy gets your point. You want out. Well, that’s okay, I want you out too, just so I can see what you look like…and my feet. Seeing my feet would be nice too.” Rin said to her stomach, knowing that the child didn’t understand her, but hoping that her voice would sooth it anyway. “Just stop the twitching for a bit and allow me to catch my breath.”
Slipping off her boots, Rin stood and walked into the common area where Kohaku was stirring the stew Sango had made earlier, listening to Kimi’s chatter.
“-and Keiko is so girly, all she can talk about is helping Ebisu at the shrine and sewing embroidery on her kimono. She won’t train with me or anything, and she hates climbing trees and-“
Rin chuckled as Kimi continuedon a similar vein throughout dinner, Kohaku merely nodding at intervals and making small noises in agreement. Whenever Kimi stopped, he would promptly ask a leading question, which would get her started again, and let her ramble. The whole time he had a small, amused smile on his face. Rin had to admit, the small girl’s chatter was amusing, soothing her stressed nerves and allowing her to ignore the slight twinges in her abdomen until she finally decided to go to bed.
Bidding the two good night, she went to her room and crawled under her blankets, still trying to ignore the twinges in her abdomen.
-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
It was a strange dream to say the least. She was sitting with her older brother in a tree and they were eating springtime cherries, the pale pink blossoms scenting the air sweetly and the petals dancing merrily on the breeze. They were both very young and somehow Rin recognized he time right before they were killed in a raid. He was happily telling her about going spear-fishing with their father as they ate, recounting his tale to a slightly wistful Rin, who wished she could accompany them instead of staying with her mother in the house. He was animatedly talking, going on about other things he had done and games he had played that day, but Rin was distracted by a stomach ache.
“The cherries weren’t ripe yet.” He brother told her.
“Yes they are.” Rin responded. “But it hurts anyway.”
Suddenly Sesshomaru was beneath the tree, watching her sadly. “Why did you leave me?” He asked.
“I didn’t,” the older Rin replied, appearing above her. “You cast me out.”
“I miss you.” The younger Rin said to Sesshomaru, knowing without being told that something was happening. He brother watched the Demon Lord with interest. The air around him seemed to twist, and for a second his hair turned silver and amber eyes shone. His ears pointed slightly as a small navy crescent appeared on his forehead and maroon stripes graced his cheeks. Small sections of his silver hair turned black, the shimmering strands becoming kissed by obsidian. He turned to Rin and he morphed, his hair turning pearlescent, with no hint of brown or black, and his eyes shone emerald.
“Kure-n.” He murmured, as if for her ears alone. “Remember Shisuta? We flew together.”
Sesshomaru stared at the two children in puzzlement. ‘Kure-n? Crane?’
“My tummy really hurts brother,” Rin said sadly.
“Where are you?” Sesshomaru asked the older Rin.
“I can’t tell you.” Both Rin’s said in perfect synchronization.
“I’m afraid.” The younger said in her high-pitched, childish voice, wincing as another pang of pain coursed through her abdomen.
“I have something to protect.” The elder said sadly, her voice deeper and melodic.
“Sister.” Rin’s brother said insistently. His hair was black once more, and his eyes were still a blazing emerald, though his hair had returned to its former deep brown, and the
ears and crescent were gone. “Rin.”
“Keiji.” The younger said.
“Brother.” The elder murmured.
“You need to wake up now imouto.” Her brother informed her.
“Why?” The younger demanded petulantly. “I like it here.” Another sharp pang tugged at her, leaving her gripping the tree branch so she wouldn’t fall. She didn’t think Sesshomaru would catch her anyway. She wasn’t sure why she thought this, but she was certain that if she fell, he wouldn’t aid her.
It was a very long way down. When had she gotten so high?
“We have something to do.” The elder Rin said cryptically, gazing at something beyond the younger one’s view.
“Tell me where you are.” Sesshomaru insisted from his place on the ground. The elder Rin merely stared at him sadly, while the younger grimaced and clutched her stomach.
“It’s hurts brother.” She wailed.
“Rin.” The boy said forcefully, reaching out to grasp her shoulder. “Wake up!”
Rin gasped and shuddered, and then abruptly they both elder and younger disappeared, leaving Sesshomaru alone with the boy. Sesshomaru’s eyes flashed angrily. “Where is my mate?” He growled.
“She had something to do.” The boy said cryptically.
“Unacceptable.” Sesshomaru said, trying not reveal how disturbed he was. He hadn’t seen her in months, now suddenly her sweet scent was invading his senses, and he was drowning gladly. “Where is she?”
The boy looked at him sadly. “I cannot tell you.”
“Why not?” Sesshomaru asked, for the first time since he was a child considering pleading. He had been without her for so long…
“I’m sorry,” The boy replied. “I’d like to tell you, but I can’t.”
“Who are you?” Sesshomaru demanded angrily.
“My name is Keiji.” The boy said, turning into a crane and flying away.
Sesshomaru was left staring at the cherry tree, it’s pale pink blossoms turning to strikingly emerald leaves the cherries hanging heavy and ripe from their stems.
‘How were they eating cherries from a tree still blooming?’ He wondered, just before pain blossomed across his senses.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-
Rin woke with a gasp. ‘Keiji!’ The pain came with her from her dream, coursing through her and robbing her of breath. Her blankets were soaked around her as she struggled to contain the whimper that wanted to escape her throat.
The wave receded, and she was able to catch her breath. “Kohaku!” She called, trying not to sound frightened. A few minutes later there was a sleepy knock on her door and a groggy Kohaku struck his head in.
“What is it.”
“Go get Kagome.” Rin gritted around the next contraction. Kohaku’s eyes widened, and he scrambled out, leaving the door to her room open. A few mInutes later Kagome appeared, with Sango in tow and Kohaku trailing behind. Sango started to chase him out, but Kagome stopped him.
“No don’t. Kohaku, go boil some water. Or snow or whatever. Sango, find a new blanket and please get some wood from the pile by the door.” Kohaku nodded and left, Sango following as Kagome turned to Rin and offered a reassuring smile. “I’m just going to take a quick look and see how far along your labor is, okay?” Without waiting for an answer, Kagome folded the wet blanket back and looked between Rin’s legs, looking up a few moments later, consternation written on her features. Rin was nearly dilated the complete ten centimeters and the baby was starting to “drop.”
“Rin,” She asked gently, “why didn’t you have Kohaku wake me up sooner?”
“I was asleep.” Rin gasped as another wave of pain, more intense then the last washed over her.
Kagome was puzzled. Rin was nearly through the first stage of labor. Kagome well remembered her own deliveries and there was no way she would’ve been able to sleep through those contractions. Abruptly she focused on Rin again as the girl whimpered and gritted her teeth, her features contorted with pain.
“It’s okay to yell.” Kagome assured the girl, taking Rin’s hand and allowing her to squeeze. She coached Rin through some breathing techniques as Sango appeared with two blankets and some wood. Sango helped Rin to move off the futon for a moment as Kagome picked up the blanket, wet with amniotic fluid and sweat and replaced it with a dry one from the chest in the common room, allowing Rin to lay back down once she had spread it.
Sango placed wood in the banked coals of the room’s fire pit, stirring them to life to create the heat necessary as Kohaku entered to room carrying the water as requested. Once he had left, under Sango’s orders to go “be with the rest of the men.” Kagome examined Rin, only to find her fully dilated and transitioning into the second stage.
“Okay Rin, your baby wants out, so I’ll need you to work with me.” Kagome said gently as she stroked the girls hair, which was darkened with sweat.
“I’d like my baby out too.” Rin gritted, trying not to whine.
“You’re doing great Rin.” Sango encouraged. “And it’s all worth it in the end.”
Rin didn’t bother dignifying that with a response, feeling rather irritable and desperate as something in her squeezed.
“You’re through the first stage.” Kagome said. “And heading into the second. Don’t worry, you only have another hour at most before you can see your baby.”
“Hour?” Rin squeaked, the sound turning into a deep grunt as another contraction hit. They were coming harder now, but a little further between, she realized. “What’s the second stage?” She asked, trying to distract her self from the pain.
Kagome smiled in understanding. “The second stage is the baby’s descent through the birth canal. It can last close to an hour for first time mother’s, but for those of us who have done it before it only lasts somewhat more than twenty minutes. We’re already stretched out.” She added by way of explanation. “When the contractions hit, push it you need to, and Sango and I will be here to help. You might want to try squatting, lying on your left side, or even sitting.”
Rin nodded, able to see the sense in sitting or squatting to help something go down. “Help me sit up.” She implored, gritting her teeth against the next contraction and pushing as she’d been instructed.
And so it went for what seemed like an eternity to Rin, but in reality, Kagome later told her, was really a relatively short time, especially for a first-time mother. For Rin, it was an endless round of pushing, panting and relaxing, the periods of trying to catch her breath becoming shorter and shorter as time passed. When Rin complained of a burning down below, Kagome told her that it was the baby beginning to press against her perineum and stretching the tissues. Rin wasn’t all together sure what a “perineum” was and at that point really didn’t care. What she heard and understood was that her baby was nearly here.
Kagome seemed to understand this and gently asked Rin to roll back over onto her back from her left side. Sango assisted her, making soothing noises the whole time, then moving behind her to prop her up a bit and make it easier to push. Kagome, who had kept the blanket folded back about to her waist and kept the fire built up (often sending the unprotesting Sango for more wood), leaned down and prodded a bit before looking up with a grin.
“The baby’s starting to crown. I need you to push more gently now, so you don’t tear your skin, and so I can ease the baby out, okay?”
Caught up in the midst of another contraction, Rin merely nodded. The pains were beginning to blur together, becoming on long, aching contraction as Rin struggled to gain the breath to push, Sango and Kagome murmuring encouragement and praise the whole time.
“Good job Rin.”
“Just a bit further.”
“You’re in the home stretch. Easy now.”
Finally, Rin felt a slight slip, and Kagome cried “Oh good job Rin! The head is out! Okay, ease off for a moment, I need to make sure the chord isn’t around the neck, and that there’s nothing in his mouth.
Rin forced herself to keep from pushing, despite the urge that screamed at her to push now until Kagome gave her the “okay.”
Kagome explained what she was doing, or going to do, as Rin continued pushing.
“Your baby is fine Rin. The chord wasn’t around his neck, and I cleaned out his eyes and mouth. On the next contraction, I want you to push while I rotate him and get his shoulder out. After that, we get the other shoulder, then the rest is fairly easy.”
Rin grunted and panted. Sango, who had gotten behind her and placed Rin between her own legs, leaning against the wall behind her, took the majority of Rin’s weight as she pushed, cooing reassurances and telling her that the unbelievable pressure was perfectly normal. Finally, with a last shove, Rin felt an odd release and the pressure stopped, allowing her to nearly collapse against Sango, who stroked her hair comfortingly. Seconds later a thin wail broke the silence as Kagome lifted struggling infant and cradled it close, cooing soothingly and rubbing it down with a rag Rin had never seen enter the room.
“It’s a boy!” she crowed exuberantly. “Rin, you have a son!” she said to the new mother, who was grinning exhaustedly. “Sango, come help me with the umbilical cord!” Sango, grinning like a fool, slid out from behind Rin, who was struggling to sit up.
“I want to see my baby.” She said, her voice raspy with exhaustion.
“Just let us cut the chord, and then you can hold him.” Kagome assured her, picking up her pre-cut string and tying it in two places around the cord as Sango held the infant, cooing to him. She started to hold the knife, sharpened, then sterilized first in rubbing alcohol then again in boiling water.
“You cut the cord.” Sango told her grinning. “You’re the aunt.”
Kagome grinned wider, feeling slightly euphoric herself. ‘I am aren’t I? I’m Aunt Kagome.’
Moments later the cord was cut and the fussing infant was placed in his mother’s eager arms. Rin cuddled him close, cooing to him nonsensically and inspecting him, examining each perfectly formed finger and toe, his tiny nose and tightly shut eyes. He had a cap of silver hair, she noted, and his ears were slightly pointed. At Kagome’s urging, she put him to her breast, where after a small bit of confusion, he latched onto a nipple and began sucking eagerly.
“What are you going to name him?” Sango asked softly, watching the infant nurse.
“Keiji.” Rin breathed.
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Chap ter Ten – Keiji
================================================================
Snow was falling.
It had been the first thing that Rin had noticed when she had woken up that morning. Fat white flakes blanketed the ground and fell from the sky, coating the earth in an all-consuming whiteness. Shivering slightly, Rin tossed back the blankets of her futon and struggled to her feet, feeling rather like a turtle on it’s back. Only this time, the shell was on the front, which in Rin’s opinion, made rising from her futon twice a difficult. As her stomach had grown progressively larger, she had eventually worked out a system that allowed her to get up without assistance. She would roll off the futon onto all fours, then rest back on her heels and use her legs to propel herself upwards. A faulty system at best, she grudgingly admitted, because half of the time, due to her rapidly burgeoning stomach, she would be unable to adequately balance herself and would land on her behind. However, it was either this of ask Kohaku for help.
And she flat-out didn’t want to ask for help, though she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Kohaku would be more than happy to. Kohaku had decided to stay in the village for the winter, before heading out in the spring again on his on his self-motivated mission. He had explained it to her once, when he had first arrived, how because of all that Naraku had made him do - the killing and stealing and the suffering that had been a product of his unwilling hands, he felt that he should do whatever necessary to atone for his sins. Rin hadn’t understood, not at first, how the young man could blame himself for deeds done when he had been completely under someone else’s control, but a talk with Sango late one night had cleared up any misconceptions.
It had just been the two of them sitting around the fire in Sango’s hut: the kids had been sent to bed earlier, and Miroku had retired shortly after. Kohaku had beat a hasty retreat when the talk turned to pregnancy, complete with weird cravings, frequent urination, and back pains. For his part, he had lasted through the talk of back pains, ankle swellings and weird cravings, looking a little confused when Sango confessed to craving eels and cherries when pregnant with Uta. But when the talk had focused in on frequent urination, tender breasts and other such matters, Kohaku had fairly run from the room, telling Rin that he would start the small fie pit in her room so it would be warm when she returned.
The two women had laughed quietly at his obvious haste, but continuedtheir conversation never the less, pausing only so Sango could heat some tea for them.
"Sango," Rin has asked finally, into the companionable silence, "why does Kohaku feel like he has to help? Naraku was controlling him - it wasn’t his fault."
"He feels responsible." Sango finally said, staring at the flames in the fire pit. "Even though he was being controlled, it was still his body, and his mind. When we defeated Naraku, and the shard was removed from his back, we all expected him to die. But he didn’t."
Rin’s brow frowned in perplexion, and Sango obligingly told her of how her village was decimated, and Kohaku had been grievously injured. The shard had been the only thing keeping him alive for years, and Sango had finally come to terms with the probability of his death when the shard was removed, knowing that it would probably be better than facing the memories of what he had done.
But when the shard had been removed, Kohaku remained breathing. He was fully healed, baring only a small, X-shaped scar from where the shard had been implanted. Kagome and Keade had finally come up with the explanation when the jewel had been pieced together and it had been discovered that a small piece of the shard was missing, despite the fact that they had completed the jewel.
Part of the shard Kohaku had possessed for those years had been absorbed into him, allowing him to live and giving him unknown strengths, some of which had not been discovered for years.
The first and most apparent had been increased physical strength and stamina. He second had been speed - while not as fast as Inuyasha, he was still faster than your average demon. There had been other effects of the jewel’s influence over the years, but so far none as strongly as those two. None of his other senses had increased, and all Sango could say was for now, it was a waiting game to see what else would manifest in the future.
Rin sighed, once more attempting to rise from her futon. Why did the blasted thing have to be on the floor anyway? A slight knock at the shoji screen of her door, and it slid open to reveal Kohaku, who took one look at the situation and grinned.
“Want some help?” He asked.
Rin eyed him speculatively from her position on the floor, and trying to roll over so she could actually make it up on all fours. At eight months pregnant, it wasn’t even humorous anymore, so she couldn’t possibly see what he thought he was laughing at.
“I’d like to see you try this, I truly, dearly would.” She said by way of answer, holding out a hand to allow him to assist her to her feet.
“Less than a month to go.” He said kindly, taking the proffered hand and tugging, giving Rin the momentum she needed to roll upright. Rin grimaced and placed a hand on the small of her back. It hurt just a bit more than usual…of course, her spine connecting with the floor could help that…
“At least Kagome will be arriving today.” She said. “I’ll feel a lot better when she gets here.”
Kohaku smiled sympathetically. Rin had been getting jittery the last couple of days, complaining of mild cramping in her abdomen, but also saying that she could breathe easier. Sitting down next to the cooking fire which had been banked throughout the night, Rin gently stirred it to life once more and set the water for tea while Kohaku prepared the miso. They talked quietly as they ate, eventually dropping off into an easy, companionable silence.
Kohaku studied Rin out of the corner of his eye, remembering the last time he had seen her, some several years ago. It had actually been in the Western Lands. He had been traveling and had stopped near Sesshomaru’s fortress to stay at a local inn, and while looking around the village, had seen a preadolescent girl, maybe twelve years old, with a head full of obsidian hair and laughing brown eyes run through the village, seemingly trying to scamper through every puddle left on the main road from the previous night’s rain. He had thought it was Rin, but wasn’t sure until a small green toad-like creature had come scurrying after her, yelling about “stupid ningen’s running off when there were lessons to be taught.” Laughing softly, he had turned and walked on, knowing that, here at least, all was right with the world.
However, now that happy child was a woman grown, with plenty of shadows in her eyes and in her smile. She sat, staring at the flames, neither laughing nor smiling, a small, sad smile on her face. She had grown much since he had seen her last, all those years ago. She had become quite beautiful, to be sure, but it was her inner beauty which truly made her eye-catching. Rin was innately sweet and innocent, despite all that had transpired, and Kohaku was certain that she would be a kind and caring mother to her child.
She had told him, slowly and painfully, of what had transpired between her and her Lord, one chilly night when they both had awoken. Kohaku still couldn’t believe that Lord Sesshomaru, the same demon who had held him a full meter off of the ground while poison had dripped from his claws when he had believed Kohaku to be harming Rin, who had fed and clothed her and comforted her nightmares, would be deliberately unkind to her at all. However, the shadows in Rin’s smiles were proof enough that something had happened…he just wasn’t sure what. And as tempted as Kohaku was to go inquire about it in the Western Lands, he knew he couldn’t leave Rin when she was so close to her time.
His thoughts were disrupted by Rin’s shifting as she rose. “What are you doing?” He asked, as she headed towards the door.
“I’m getting some more firewood.” She replied. “It’s getting chilly in here.” Just as she reached the doorway where the firewood was stacked however, a rapid knocking was heard, and a hyperactive blur of silver and sapphire bounced into the common room as soon as Rin opened the door, snow flying in with her.
“Hello Kimi,” Rin greeted the child once she had held still long enough for Rin to get a look at who it was. “What are you doing here?”
“I came with mama and papa.” Kimi announced, scurrying over to the fire and plunking down next to Kohaku, who merely looked at her in bemusement. “We got in last night. Keiko and Mai wanted to stay – they don’t like the cold. And Isamu stayed to help Ren – the village headman – with the hunting. Keiko and Mai are staying with Ebisu and the priest.” She added as an after thought, obviously thinking that her siblings were old enough to fend for themselves, and sounding a little perplexed that her mother had insisted that her seven-year-old brother and six-year-old sisters stay with someone. She turned to Kohaku. “Who’re you?”
“My name is Kohaku.” Kohaku responded, wondering who this child was – Rin had called her Kimi? – and where she got so much energy so early in the morning. If the silvery-white mane and puppy ears where anything to go by, he could easily enough guess her parentage.
“I’m Kimi. The girl responded, bobbing her head at him. “Are you Rin-chan’s mate?”
Kohaku opened his mouth to answer, but never got the chance as Kimi furrowed her brows and porged ahead without waiting for an answer. “No, you couldn’t be, ‘cause that would mean you were my uncle…and” she sniffed experimentally, “you don’t smell like pack. You don’t look like Uncle Sesshomaru either.” She added, eyeballing him suspiciously. Kohaku made to respond once more, trying to say that he was Rin’s friend, but Kimi cut him off once more. “So, who are you then?”
“Kimi, he’s trying to tell you.” Rin said, giggling at Kohaku’s rather dumbfounded expression. “Would you like some tea? And where are your shoes?”
“I left them in Sango’s hut.” Kimi replied brightly, grinning and revealing two tiny fangs amidst her pearly white teeth. “And yes please!” As Rin reached for another cup, Kimi turned to Kohaku and looked at him expectantly.
‘What is she looking at me for?’ Kohaku wondered, staring at her in her navy blue hakama and haori, with her silvery-white hair and bright sapphire eyes. ‘Where did she get those eyes from? They look unreal.’
“So, why do you live with Rin-chan, Kohaku?” Kimi prompted, her expression darkening.
‘Deffinetly her father’s daughter,’ Kohaku thought wryly. ‘Protective streak wider than a lake.’
“Well, you see, this is actually my hut, only I do a lot of traveling and I’m not here a lot, so Rin helps me keep it from falling over.” Kohaku responded.
“Looks sturdy enough to me.” Kimi mused, accepting the cup Rin handed her and taking a sip while looking around. And so it was; Kohaku was, in fact, quite proud of the hut he had built when his sister’s growing family had become too much to deal with on a day-to-day basis. The outside door faced south, and it had a small area before the common room used for storing firewood and shoes in inclement weather, so mud, water and snow wouldn’t be tracked into the common room. The common room, the largest room of the house and contained the cooking fire in the middle and a few trunks against one wall, which held spare blankets, an extra futon (which was now in Rin’s room) and a trunk which held a few dishes, a tea pot, and an extra kettle used for whatever was necessary. A small hallway at the north end of the room held two doors, one on the left, facing east and one on the right, facing west, which led to his and Rin’s rooms. At the end of the hallway was another door, which led to a small water closet, modeled after something he had seem in a Daimyo’s home once.
Kohaku chuckled. “It is, and Rin helps with that. Where are your father and mother?” He asked.
“Papa told me that he was going to throw a snowball at mommy.” Was Kimi’s reply. “So I left one for him outside the door and came to get you so you could help mama.”
“Help Kagome?” Kohaku mused. “From what I remember, it’s going to be your father that needs the help…”
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Splat!
Kagome gasped as the icy cold snow slid down her back, whirling around to face her mate, who was bending down already packing together his next projectile. “Inuyasha!” She scolded. “What are you doing?”
“What?” Inuyasha asked, a perfectly innocent expression on his face. “Kimi was kind enough to leave a snowball outside the door, and it wasn’t my fault if you didn’t spot it.” He threw the next one at her, and Kagome ducked, squeaking in outrage.
“Inuyasha…” She growled, a sound suspiciously similar to his own aggravated growl. Scooping up some snow, she lobbed it at him, smirking with satisfaction as it slid wetly down his chest. He looked down, watching it for a bit, the looked up at her and grinned mischievously.
“It’s on.” Scooping up another handful, he threw the tightly packed ice crystals at his mate, grinning as she squealed and ducked, gathering her own ammunition. Soon the battle raged around them, snow flying everywhere, both of them thoroughly soaked. Inuyasha looked over at Kagome, whose cheeks were turning red with the chill and despite her expression, which was lit up and grinning, he noticed that her hands were trembling and her lips turning blue.
‘Okay, enough. I don’t want her getting sick.’
“Kagome,” He started to say that maybe they had enough, but was stopped when he was struck square in the face with a snowball. Wiping the snow from his eyes and growling, he charged his mate, who was barely given time to shriek when he hit her, knocking them both to the ground. Slipping an arm under her head, he made sure to cushion her fall so she didn’t strike her head on anything.
“Kagome…” He growled in exasperation, glaring down into her unrepentant eyes.
“Yes?” She queried sweetly. “Ooh, did I hurt you when I hit you in the face?” She asked innocently, not sounding the least bit sorry. “Your face is a little red…” She wriggled about underneath him trying to free her arms from his grip, writhing against him strategically.
Inuyasha’s expression darkened. “Kagome..” He growled again, however, this growl had nothing to do with irritation.
“I guess I should kiss it and make it better.” Kagome mused aloud, seemingly to herself. Lifting her head, she kissed his cheek lightly. “Better?”
“No.” Inuyasha growled playfully, “You hit my face, not just my cheek. My nose and other cheek and lips and chin too.” Tenderly, he lowered his head and nuzzled under her chin, licking it lightly in submission. ‘My mate.’
Laughing softly, Kagome obligingly kissed his other cheek, and his forehead and nose, wriggling so she could wrap her arms around his back. Heat flared in her, low and simmering in the pit of her belly as Inuyasha kissed her lips, slipping between them with his tongue and savoring her flavor, which even in the dead of winter reminded him of wildflowers and home.
Splat!
Inuyasha looked up and saw Kimi standing with Kohaku and Rin off to the side. His daughter was giggling madly as Kohaku reached down for another wad of snow.
“Oi! What was that for?” He complained loudly, eyeballing the young man who stood next to Rin. The whelp had certainly grown over the years, he mused. The last time Inuyasha had seen him had been about four years ago when a group of bandits had attacked his village, right before Kimi was born.
The bandits had attacked in the dead of the night, and Inuyasha had been having a rough time keeping them off, when Kohaku had appeared almost out of nowhere, lending assistance and helping Inuyasha and the men of the village to drive away the bandits. He had been tracking them for a while, he said, as they razed their way through a number of settlements, and was just lucky that he had caught up to them here. He had stayed for a day, helping tend the wounded and allowing Kagome to force a meal or two on him, then promptly left, waving goodbye cheerily and wishing them luck.
The boy had been eighteen then, and while he had been healthy and lean then, he had added a couple of inches to his height, and the freckles seemed to have disappeared as well.
“Kimi said her mama was going to need help.” Kohaku replied glibly as Kimi ran forward and launched her self at her father. Inuyasha let go of Kagome and caught his youngest pup, “wrestling” with her a bit before pinning her under him and tickling her madly.
“Oi pup, you think you’re mama needed saving from me?”
“No, no!” Kimi squealed, wriggling madly in her attempt to get away. She swiped at him with her tiny claws, which he easily avoided, but growled warningly anyway.
“Claws,”
Kimi stilled as she realized her mistake. You were never to use claws on pack, especially not the leader-male, unless you were training.
:Sorry,: she whined softly in Inuyoukai, remaining perfectly still.
:Forgiven.: Inuyasha replied in Inu adding, “Just remember not to use your claws – you could hurt your sisters.” Picking her up, he placed a hand under her bottom as her arms went trustingly around his neck and he moved towards the other. Kohaku was smiling a small smile while Kagome was examining Rin’s greatly expanded middle. ‘She’s close.’ Inuyasha realized, listening intently to the rapid beating of the infant’s heart under Rin’s breastbone. It seemed somewhat lower than where an infant usually was, and Inuyasha’s eyes narrowed a bit as Kohaku urged Rin and Kagome to come inside and warm up. He followed them into Kohaku’s hut, wiping his feet on the reed mat and making sure Kimi did the same before entering the common room and sitting down next to the fire pit. Kohaku handed him a mug of warm tea, which he accepted and shared with Kimi, while watching Kagome ask Rin a number of questions about her pregnancy.
Kagome was a wonder. Inuyasha, better than anyone else, knew this. She had been drug through a well by a demon at the tender age of fifteen, unsealed a hanyou from an enchanted sleep, produced a jewel long thought lost, shattered said jewel into hundreds of fragments, and had taken responsibility and helped gather the shards once again. Along the way she had gained the loyalty of the less-than-trusting hanyou, adopted a baby fox, befriended a lecherous monk with a cursed hand, purified multiple demons with her powers and saved a demon exterminator who had watched the destruction of her clan and the corruption of her little brother. She had been the glue that held them together; sweet and innocent, eternally friendly and forgiving, rapidly transitioning from friend to doctor to counselor to school girl at a moment’s notice. And once all was said and done, she accepted the hanyou as her mate and husband, had stayed by his side in a time five hundred years before her own, and had made the best of it, building a life and home with him, bearing his children and taking her place in their village as midwife, healer, and miko, all without – much – complaint.
Of course, she had her faults, Inuyasha noted wryly. She mumbled in her sleep, had a frightful temper when riled, and need little provocation to engage in a verbal sparring match with him at a moment’s notice, only to do a complete turn-around three minutes later, when some little kid came to the door with a scraped knee, tearfully looking for a bandage.
Kagome had completed high school, and had gone on to take a few collage courses in emergency medicine, field medicine, and several classes in herb lore, much to everyone’s befuddlement. However, when she had been able to create soothing tinctures for everything from headaches to bellyaches and had been able to successfully treat wounds and identify infections before they went septic, everyone in the village had been grateful for her training. When Kaede had passed on shortly after the birth of their first child, Kagome had been able to step in and fulfill the position as a miko for the village. Though her defensive magic’s remained weak, her offensive ones, so long as she was sufficiently motivated, were unparalleled in strength.
Inuyasha smiled, perfectly content. His mate was strong, but also caring and compassionate. Though he never would know what he had done to deserve her, he thanked whatever deity was listening that he had her.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Rin stopped next to the wood pile, panting slightly. Her abdomen clenched again, slightly more intense than a moment before, and Rin sighed, putting the wood neatly on the stack and rubbing her side.
“Okay baby, Mommy gets your point. You want out. Well, that’s okay, I want you out too, just so I can see what you look like…and my feet. Seeing my feet would be nice too.” Rin said to her stomach, knowing that the child didn’t understand her, but hoping that her voice would sooth it anyway. “Just stop the twitching for a bit and allow me to catch my breath.”
Slipping off her boots, Rin stood and walked into the common area where Kohaku was stirring the stew Sango had made earlier, listening to Kimi’s chatter.
“-and Keiko is so girly, all she can talk about is helping Ebisu at the shrine and sewing embroidery on her kimono. She won’t train with me or anything, and she hates climbing trees and-“
Rin chuckled as Kimi continuedon a similar vein throughout dinner, Kohaku merely nodding at intervals and making small noises in agreement. Whenever Kimi stopped, he would promptly ask a leading question, which would get her started again, and let her ramble. The whole time he had a small, amused smile on his face. Rin had to admit, the small girl’s chatter was amusing, soothing her stressed nerves and allowing her to ignore the slight twinges in her abdomen until she finally decided to go to bed.
Bidding the two good night, she went to her room and crawled under her blankets, still trying to ignore the twinges in her abdomen.
-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
It was a strange dream to say the least. She was sitting with her older brother in a tree and they were eating springtime cherries, the pale pink blossoms scenting the air sweetly and the petals dancing merrily on the breeze. They were both very young and somehow Rin recognized he time right before they were killed in a raid. He was happily telling her about going spear-fishing with their father as they ate, recounting his tale to a slightly wistful Rin, who wished she could accompany them instead of staying with her mother in the house. He was animatedly talking, going on about other things he had done and games he had played that day, but Rin was distracted by a stomach ache.
“The cherries weren’t ripe yet.” He brother told her.
“Yes they are.” Rin responded. “But it hurts anyway.”
Suddenly Sesshomaru was beneath the tree, watching her sadly. “Why did you leave me?” He asked.
“I didn’t,” the older Rin replied, appearing above her. “You cast me out.”
“I miss you.” The younger Rin said to Sesshomaru, knowing without being told that something was happening. He brother watched the Demon Lord with interest. The air around him seemed to twist, and for a second his hair turned silver and amber eyes shone. His ears pointed slightly as a small navy crescent appeared on his forehead and maroon stripes graced his cheeks. Small sections of his silver hair turned black, the shimmering strands becoming kissed by obsidian. He turned to Rin and he morphed, his hair turning pearlescent, with no hint of brown or black, and his eyes shone emerald.
“Kure-n.” He murmured, as if for her ears alone. “Remember Shisuta? We flew together.”
Sesshomaru stared at the two children in puzzlement. ‘Kure-n? Crane?’
“My tummy really hurts brother,” Rin said sadly.
“Where are you?” Sesshomaru asked the older Rin.
“I can’t tell you.” Both Rin’s said in perfect synchronization.
“I’m afraid.” The younger said in her high-pitched, childish voice, wincing as another pang of pain coursed through her abdomen.
“I have something to protect.” The elder said sadly, her voice deeper and melodic.
“Sister.” Rin’s brother said insistently. His hair was black once more, and his eyes were still a blazing emerald, though his hair had returned to its former deep brown, and the
ears and crescent were gone. “Rin.”
“Keiji.” The younger said.
“Brother.” The elder murmured.
“You need to wake up now imouto.” Her brother informed her.
“Why?” The younger demanded petulantly. “I like it here.” Another sharp pang tugged at her, leaving her gripping the tree branch so she wouldn’t fall. She didn’t think Sesshomaru would catch her anyway. She wasn’t sure why she thought this, but she was certain that if she fell, he wouldn’t aid her.
It was a very long way down. When had she gotten so high?
“We have something to do.” The elder Rin said cryptically, gazing at something beyond the younger one’s view.
“Tell me where you are.” Sesshomaru insisted from his place on the ground. The elder Rin merely stared at him sadly, while the younger grimaced and clutched her stomach.
“It’s hurts brother.” She wailed.
“Rin.” The boy said forcefully, reaching out to grasp her shoulder. “Wake up!”
Rin gasped and shuddered, and then abruptly they both elder and younger disappeared, leaving Sesshomaru alone with the boy. Sesshomaru’s eyes flashed angrily. “Where is my mate?” He growled.
“She had something to do.” The boy said cryptically.
“Unacceptable.” Sesshomaru said, trying not reveal how disturbed he was. He hadn’t seen her in months, now suddenly her sweet scent was invading his senses, and he was drowning gladly. “Where is she?”
The boy looked at him sadly. “I cannot tell you.”
“Why not?” Sesshomaru asked, for the first time since he was a child considering pleading. He had been without her for so long…
“I’m sorry,” The boy replied. “I’d like to tell you, but I can’t.”
“Who are you?” Sesshomaru demanded angrily.
“My name is Keiji.” The boy said, turning into a crane and flying away.
Sesshomaru was left staring at the cherry tree, it’s pale pink blossoms turning to strikingly emerald leaves the cherries hanging heavy and ripe from their stems.
‘How were they eating cherries from a tree still blooming?’ He wondered, just before pain blossomed across his senses.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-
Rin woke with a gasp. ‘Keiji!’ The pain came with her from her dream, coursing through her and robbing her of breath. Her blankets were soaked around her as she struggled to contain the whimper that wanted to escape her throat.
The wave receded, and she was able to catch her breath. “Kohaku!” She called, trying not to sound frightened. A few minutes later there was a sleepy knock on her door and a groggy Kohaku struck his head in.
“What is it.”
“Go get Kagome.” Rin gritted around the next contraction. Kohaku’s eyes widened, and he scrambled out, leaving the door to her room open. A few mInutes later Kagome appeared, with Sango in tow and Kohaku trailing behind. Sango started to chase him out, but Kagome stopped him.
“No don’t. Kohaku, go boil some water. Or snow or whatever. Sango, find a new blanket and please get some wood from the pile by the door.” Kohaku nodded and left, Sango following as Kagome turned to Rin and offered a reassuring smile. “I’m just going to take a quick look and see how far along your labor is, okay?” Without waiting for an answer, Kagome folded the wet blanket back and looked between Rin’s legs, looking up a few moments later, consternation written on her features. Rin was nearly dilated the complete ten centimeters and the baby was starting to “drop.”
“Rin,” She asked gently, “why didn’t you have Kohaku wake me up sooner?”
“I was asleep.” Rin gasped as another wave of pain, more intense then the last washed over her.
Kagome was puzzled. Rin was nearly through the first stage of labor. Kagome well remembered her own deliveries and there was no way she would’ve been able to sleep through those contractions. Abruptly she focused on Rin again as the girl whimpered and gritted her teeth, her features contorted with pain.
“It’s okay to yell.” Kagome assured the girl, taking Rin’s hand and allowing her to squeeze. She coached Rin through some breathing techniques as Sango appeared with two blankets and some wood. Sango helped Rin to move off the futon for a moment as Kagome picked up the blanket, wet with amniotic fluid and sweat and replaced it with a dry one from the chest in the common room, allowing Rin to lay back down once she had spread it.
Sango placed wood in the banked coals of the room’s fire pit, stirring them to life to create the heat necessary as Kohaku entered to room carrying the water as requested. Once he had left, under Sango’s orders to go “be with the rest of the men.” Kagome examined Rin, only to find her fully dilated and transitioning into the second stage.
“Okay Rin, your baby wants out, so I’ll need you to work with me.” Kagome said gently as she stroked the girls hair, which was darkened with sweat.
“I’d like my baby out too.” Rin gritted, trying not to whine.
“You’re doing great Rin.” Sango encouraged. “And it’s all worth it in the end.”
Rin didn’t bother dignifying that with a response, feeling rather irritable and desperate as something in her squeezed.
“You’re through the first stage.” Kagome said. “And heading into the second. Don’t worry, you only have another hour at most before you can see your baby.”
“Hour?” Rin squeaked, the sound turning into a deep grunt as another contraction hit. They were coming harder now, but a little further between, she realized. “What’s the second stage?” She asked, trying to distract her self from the pain.
Kagome smiled in understanding. “The second stage is the baby’s descent through the birth canal. It can last close to an hour for first time mother’s, but for those of us who have done it before it only lasts somewhat more than twenty minutes. We’re already stretched out.” She added by way of explanation. “When the contractions hit, push it you need to, and Sango and I will be here to help. You might want to try squatting, lying on your left side, or even sitting.”
Rin nodded, able to see the sense in sitting or squatting to help something go down. “Help me sit up.” She implored, gritting her teeth against the next contraction and pushing as she’d been instructed.
And so it went for what seemed like an eternity to Rin, but in reality, Kagome later told her, was really a relatively short time, especially for a first-time mother. For Rin, it was an endless round of pushing, panting and relaxing, the periods of trying to catch her breath becoming shorter and shorter as time passed. When Rin complained of a burning down below, Kagome told her that it was the baby beginning to press against her perineum and stretching the tissues. Rin wasn’t all together sure what a “perineum” was and at that point really didn’t care. What she heard and understood was that her baby was nearly here.
Kagome seemed to understand this and gently asked Rin to roll back over onto her back from her left side. Sango assisted her, making soothing noises the whole time, then moving behind her to prop her up a bit and make it easier to push. Kagome, who had kept the blanket folded back about to her waist and kept the fire built up (often sending the unprotesting Sango for more wood), leaned down and prodded a bit before looking up with a grin.
“The baby’s starting to crown. I need you to push more gently now, so you don’t tear your skin, and so I can ease the baby out, okay?”
Caught up in the midst of another contraction, Rin merely nodded. The pains were beginning to blur together, becoming on long, aching contraction as Rin struggled to gain the breath to push, Sango and Kagome murmuring encouragement and praise the whole time.
“Good job Rin.”
“Just a bit further.”
“You’re in the home stretch. Easy now.”
Finally, Rin felt a slight slip, and Kagome cried “Oh good job Rin! The head is out! Okay, ease off for a moment, I need to make sure the chord isn’t around the neck, and that there’s nothing in his mouth.
Rin forced herself to keep from pushing, despite the urge that screamed at her to push now until Kagome gave her the “okay.”
Kagome explained what she was doing, or going to do, as Rin continued pushing.
“Your baby is fine Rin. The chord wasn’t around his neck, and I cleaned out his eyes and mouth. On the next contraction, I want you to push while I rotate him and get his shoulder out. After that, we get the other shoulder, then the rest is fairly easy.”
Rin grunted and panted. Sango, who had gotten behind her and placed Rin between her own legs, leaning against the wall behind her, took the majority of Rin’s weight as she pushed, cooing reassurances and telling her that the unbelievable pressure was perfectly normal. Finally, with a last shove, Rin felt an odd release and the pressure stopped, allowing her to nearly collapse against Sango, who stroked her hair comfortingly. Seconds later a thin wail broke the silence as Kagome lifted struggling infant and cradled it close, cooing soothingly and rubbing it down with a rag Rin had never seen enter the room.
“It’s a boy!” she crowed exuberantly. “Rin, you have a son!” she said to the new mother, who was grinning exhaustedly. “Sango, come help me with the umbilical cord!” Sango, grinning like a fool, slid out from behind Rin, who was struggling to sit up.
“I want to see my baby.” She said, her voice raspy with exhaustion.
“Just let us cut the chord, and then you can hold him.” Kagome assured her, picking up her pre-cut string and tying it in two places around the cord as Sango held the infant, cooing to him. She started to hold the knife, sharpened, then sterilized first in rubbing alcohol then again in boiling water.
“You cut the cord.” Sango told her grinning. “You’re the aunt.”
Kagome grinned wider, feeling slightly euphoric herself. ‘I am aren’t I? I’m Aunt Kagome.’
Moments later the cord was cut and the fussing infant was placed in his mother’s eager arms. Rin cuddled him close, cooing to him nonsensically and inspecting him, examining each perfectly formed finger and toe, his tiny nose and tightly shut eyes. He had a cap of silver hair, she noted, and his ears were slightly pointed. At Kagome’s urging, she put him to her breast, where after a small bit of confusion, he latched onto a nipple and began sucking eagerly.
“What are you going to name him?” Sango asked softly, watching the infant nurse.
“Keiji.” Rin breathed.
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