InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Time Goes By; Life Goes On ❯ And Baby Makes Three ( Chapter 9 )

Chapter Nine:

Naraku paced the sliver of woods for what seemed like the hundredth time. He could not locate her scent anywhere around the place, and for the first time his devious plan seemed to crumble before it ever took place. The urge to slaughter those that carried a grudge against him remained, but the problem was finding them and the forest did nothing to soothe him in fact it enraged him more.
The area he once knew as a forest full of life was now nothing more than a patch of trees to shield the park from most of the busy street. The trees were nothing more than mixes of maple, pine, and cedar and by the looks of it were no more than thirty years old. He looked around his surroundings and slumped to the ground. He could see the portal to his right, it was all he had connecting him to home and for the second time that night he thought about going back to his time to wait for his adversaries return. That thought however, did not sit well with him. After all, he was not one to run from problems. He was usually the cause of them. An aggravated sigh escaped his lips when heard the shuffle of feet to his left. ‘Ah Kagura, I almost forgot about her.’
He looked sideways at Kagura who was still bound to the pine tree and smirked. With one fluid motion, Naraku was off the ground and standing before her. His eyes glittering with malice as he gazed upon her flawless face, and even with her eyes closed, he could feel the hatred that bored through them.
Kagura slowly opened her ruby orbs to stare down the man she loathed with a passion. Her lips pursed together in anger as she felt his hand brush her cheek, and the rest of her body followed with a shiver of disgust. But before she could recoil, her head snapped to the right. At first, she did not know what happened until she felt the sting. He had slapped her.
“Bitch I do not know what you were trying to pull leading Inuyasha here, but I can tell you that this is the last time you betray me. I gave you a warning when you tried to get Sesshomaru to kill me. I told you then that if you cross me you would pay with your life.” Naraku said pulling her face back to his, “You should consider yourself lucky that you aren’t dead yet.”
A sound close to that of an animal escaped Kagura's lips at his threat. She knew that he could crush her very heart with one hand and yet she could not help but defy him. All she wanted was her freedom, and she was willing to do anything short of dying to get it. However, with Naraku, things were either live or die and it was as simple as that.
Kagura heard an evil chuckle come from Naraku at her defiance and she could not help but lash out. Her time of being a puppet was over. If he was going to kill her, she was going to make damn sure it was now. With as much force as she could muster in one go Kagura spat in Naraku's face and she knew he was going to finally make good with his threat when his eyes darkened.
“Kukuku Kagura you think that fazes me? Well think again. I do not care that you hate me. I actually find it amusing and this one mishap is going to go right over my shoulder because I have a bigger plan for you. One that will help me with the killing of Inuyasha and his precious miko,” Naraku said releasing her face with a sharp jerk before sitting back down with a contented sigh.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Kagome sighed as her mom rushed out of her apartment. Normally she hated being alone since she has been put on bed rest, but this time she welcomed ‘her time’. It felt like the first time she was left alone while her parents went out of town and she was going to make the best of it.
She began by straightening the living room to her liking before moving to the kitchen. She was mindful not to over exert herself and to rest often. The last thing she wanted to do was go into labor after all, she only had a little over a month and a half left of her pregnancy. With a sharp intake of breath, Kagome sat down at the kitchen table. She knew this feeling, this sharp pain that radiated at her back before rolling to the front. Yes, she knew what it meant.
Her mind began to reel and if she could have raised her leg that high, she would have kicked her own ass. Her stubbornness always got her into trouble and this was no different. Slowly she stood upright and made her way back to her room, thinking hoping really-that if she laid down the pain would subside. That however was not the case, it seemed to intensify, and for a split second she thought about calling her mom but quickly and efficiently, she pushed that thought away. She was not in the mood to be lectured, not at all.
Her breathing became labored and she was starting to sweat from the pain. Pushing her comfort aside Kagome decided to start packing her bag and all the necessities, she would need in the hospital. With a shaky hand, she reached for her toothbrush when her lower half became sodden with a clear liquid and gasped. She became uncomfortable and mildly irritated. She needed to change before she left for the hospital if for anyone herself. Therefore, she awkwardly undid her wet and sticky pants, pulled them off, and opted for a pair of cotton maternity shorts instead. Feeling a little bit cleaner she made her way to the phone on her nightstand. This time she had more confidence in herself and she steadily dialed her doctor’s number.
Finally, after the sixth ring came a very familiar voice, “This is Dr Toshio.”
Even in her current state, she hated the sound of his voice and she began to wonder if that would ever change.
“Dr. Toshio its Kagome Higurashi. I think my water just broke so I am going to head to the hospital.”
“What… you are still early,” Dr. Toshio said with a slightly excited pitch to his voice.
“I know that, I am just worried so I am going to call an ambulance,” Kagome retorted.
“Okay I am on my way I will be there in thirty minutes,” Dr. Toshio said as Kagome hung up the phone. Now all she had to do is call for an ambulance and hope her mom would be as understanding.
Kagome sighed after hanging up the phone. The ambulance service told her it would be at least ten minutes before they could get there so with every ounce of energy she had left she began to pace, ‘I guess it is too late to stay in one place. This baby is coming today whether I like it or not.’ Kagome's thoughts became a menagerie of doubts. Would she be a good mom? Would she love her love child? Could she actually move on and live her life for her and Isamu? She couldn’t decipher anything anymore. Her heart ached for love, a love she was denied but her mind urged her to move on and live a happy life.
Ten minutes later, there came a rap at the door and in a state of discontentment, Kagome practically ran to answer.
The paramedics pulled the gurney into the apartment and ushered her off her feet. As they strapped her to the stretcher, another contraction started. Her grunts and painful moans filled the empty corridor, and she was sure the neighbors would be coming out to investigate soon or later. However, she was relieved when they made it down to the awaiting ambulance without incidence. In the short trip from her apartment to the ambulance Kagome could feel the onset of another contraction but this time she braced herself and began breathing before it started in hopes to lessen the pain.
Finally, after five minutes of build up the contraction hit and rolled around her abdomen as the baby shifted again. She could only hope he would wait until she got to the hospital to make his big entrance into the world. This contraction was longer and sharper than those prior and in her discomfort she grabbed the hand that was taking her temperature and squeezed with all her might. As the contraction worked its way out her grip lessened and with a final whimper, she released the man’s hand and shied away. On a sideways glance, she saw the poor paramedic rubbing his assaulted hand tenderly. She could not believe she did that, and she was sure the man thought she was going to break his fingers.
An uncomfortable silence wafted through the ambulance bed as she tried to console herself before muttering an apology to the man whose hand she tried desperately to break. All he could offer was a reassuring smile and continued about his duties.
Everything was happening so fast and she was wearing thin. Kagome found herself dozing between contractions only to wake every few minutes in pure hell. A hell no man will ever know and for that, she was pissed. She did not understand why women were cursed with labor pains and PMS, because if she had her way the father of every baby would go through what the mother went through. Her mind started to turn bitter at her situation, she was alone and scared and in pain. She had never felt pain like this and she was wishing upon that long forgotten star that somewhere somehow Inuyasha were feeling her pain.
They reached the hospital in record time and a strange sound of fear and agony escaped Kagome's lips. Gritting her teeth, she grabbed the side of the gurney as another contraction took over her small frame.
Kagome was pushed through the emergency doors and rushed to labor and delivery. As she was moved from the gurney to the delivery bed she could hear nurses asking what was going on, but she could not understand what the paramedics were saying all she got out of the whole conversation was ‘labor’ and ‘hypertension’. Just like their arrival the paramedics left, quietly and quickly.
‘My bag… I forgot my bag. Oh well I will just call momma and have her bring it with her. Oh shit Momma, I forgot to call her. She is really going to kill me now.’ Kagome was snapped out of her troubled thoughts as a young nurse entered the room.
“Miss Higurashi I am Sayua and I will be your nurse until three o’clock,” Sayua said noticing the young mom was alone, “Is anybody coming?”
“Yeah I have to call them,” Kagome said with a small smile. She was still beating herself up because she did not call her family. It was not like her to be so forgetful but she assumed it was because of the agony that consumed her.
“Very well then, the doctor called and said he would be here in another twenty minutes. So try and get some rest until then,” Sayua said returning Kagome's smile.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Saya watched as Inuyasha paced a hole in her kitchen floor. She had just returned from Kagome's and did not have a chance to register it was him, as she was rushed into the kitchen and bombarded with a million questions.
“But she is okay?” Inuyasha asked for the tenth time in ten minutes.
“Yes Inuyasha she is fine, I will take you to see her when you calm down,” Saya tried to reason with him but it only seemed to agitate him further, “Inuyasha I told you Kagome was on bed rest. She does not need to be overly excited and I think seeing you will be enough excitement for her but if you are anxious I fear you will rub off on her and things could get out of hand rather quickly.
Inuyasha huffed in return; he was thankful she was all right and that Naraku had not found her just yet. However, there was this nagging at his heart that told him something was wrong and he knew it would be just a matter of time before the lot of them could meet their ultimate demise. Amber eyes darkened in fear as the thought about the possible outcome of their battle, he did not think he could go on much longer without Kagome and now his pup… ‘She is pupped and I never knew.’
Saya could see the restraint her daughter’s hanyou was using and before she could say another word, Miroku stood and placed a comforting hand on Inuyasha's shoulder.
“Inuyasha she is right. If Kagome was ordered by her healers to stay off her feet and relax the last thing she will need is you barging in and startling her. I think we should take Ms. Higurashi’s advice and calm down. You will be with her soon,” his violet eyes searched for his answer in the amber pools before him.
Eventually Inuyasha gave up his barrage of questions and sulked quietly in the corner as Saya, Souta, and grandpa talked to Miroku and Sango. Inuyasha listened to the mindless chatter seething with anger and confusion, when the phone let out its shrill cry causing him to plaster his ears to his head.
“Hello,” Grandpa said into the receiver. Everyone jumped when the old man gasped and all but collapsed on the floor. He did not even hang the phone up when he lowered himself to his knees.
“What is it?” Saya asked her face was an assortment of feelings ranging from fear to anger.
“It was Kagome… she is at the hospital.”
“WHAT! What happened?” The others asked in unison.
“He…her… her water broke,” He replied sinking farther into the floor.
Sango stared in complete shock at the old man when he started laughing in hysterics. Apparently, he was more relieved than anything because he bolted from the floor in a flash and was the first out the door.
“Well are you guys coming or does an old man have to hitch a ride,” he called behind him as he got in the front seat of the car.
“Well I guess we better get going to,” Saya said with a worried smile. After all, it was too early for her daughter to go into labor and yet she was at the hospital. She couldn’t help but wonder what her daughter did after she left her earlier this morning.
“Saya we have to go by her apartment and get her bag.”
Saya nodded and started the car; she started to move when she noticed the others were not in the car. Reluctantly she shut off the engine and got out find out what happened.
She nearly laughed aloud when she saw the three friends cowering near the Goshinboku tree with fear all over their faces.
“Are you three coming?” Saya asked stifling a laugh.
“I ain’t getting in that moving box,” Inuyasha growled.
“Yeah I think we are going to follow Inuyasha,” Miroku said holding Sango tightly.
“Look it is not as bad as it looks. Inuyasha I know you hate cars but you can’t very well run the streets… speaking of which we forgot your hat,” Saya stuck her head in the car and told Souta to go get a hat for Inuyasha. Inuyasha grimaced at the mention of a hat and began to slink further away but not before Saya noticed.
“Please guys this is the fastest way for us to get to the hospital and the longer I stay here persuading you the higher the chance Kagome has that baby without us. So no more sniveling and get in this car.”
Inuyasha and the others did as they were told without further persuasion. It was the first time he heard a demanding tone from his Kagome's mom and would definitely be the last. Because like her daughter she was ferocious when need be and that gave Inuyasha in the creeps.
The ride to Kagome's was less than eventful as Miroku and Sango were in pure awe of the car. They kept asking questions about horses, as well as rolling the windows up and down. Souta could not help but laugh and Inuyasha just rolled his eyes.
Finally, after a short stop at Kagome's Miroku and Sango's fascination with the car had ended as they found themselves drifting off to sleep.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Kagome?” Came a monochromatic voice, “How are you feeling?”
Kagome looked at the doctor with tired eyes she was ready to get this finished.
“I think I have been better,” Kagome replied with a grunt. The anesthesiologist had just left and she could already feel the effects of the epidural.
“It won’t be much longer now. Has your mom arrived yet?”
Kagome answered with a shake of her head sending black waves of hair about her pale face. She hoped her mom would get her soon because she did not know how much longer, Isamu would wait.
“Hi dear, sorry it took so long,” Saya said smiling apologetically stepping into the hospital room.
Before Kagome could answer, the doctor stepped to the foot of the bed and proceeded to put his gloves on. As soon as he was finished, dressing for the birth a barrage of nurses came in to assist.
“Okay Kagome it is time, are you ready?” Dr Toshio asked through a green facemask.
“I have been ready for a while now.”
“Okay when you feel a contraction coming on I want you to take three big breaths and on the third one I want you to push.”
Kagome did as she was told and gripped the sides of the bed while her mom and a nurse held each foot and counted.
Kagome screamed as she pushed for a count of ten and with a deep breath, Kagome relaxed out of the push. They continued the procedure repeatedly until the head was out.
“Kagome relax and breathe,” Dr. Toshio ordered while he changed position and got ready for the final leg, “Okay pull your legs up and push one more time.”
With the help of her mother and the nurse, Kagome's legs were pressed up to her chest and she with one last push her baby was brought into the world. With a sigh of relief and tears of happiness, Kagome was handed her little creation.
Weighing in at six pounds one ounce and twenty inches long, he was the epitome of beautiful. His head was coved in jet-black hair with silver highlights and the ears–he had his father’s ears only they were black with silver tips. Russet eyes set upon the violet of her son and she smiled, he had taken after his father in every aspect of the word.
With a small smile, she whispered sweet words to her infant before smiling at her teary mother.
“Meet your grandma Isamu,” Kagome said handing the little thing over to her mother, “Mom will you bring Souta and grandpa in to meet our new family member?”
Saya nodded and handed Isamu to the waiting nurse and exited the room. Her heart skipped when she saw Inuyasha sitting on the floor holding his head in his hands. He looked absolutely terrified and she knew he had heard her daughter’s blood curdling screams.
With saddened amber eyes Inuyasha tried to read her face but did not get what he wanted, “Why was she screaming like that? And why do I smell blood.”
“Because she had to push a baby out of her. I know you don’t understand the pain and frustration that comes with labor but you have to imagine pushing something as big as a watermelon out of a hole the size of a lemon,” Saya said trying to explain it the best way she could and succeeded when Inuyasha turned green around the gills and about fainted.
“I don’t know if I want to bare your children,” Sango said turning to Miroku. This whole experience scared her and she did not know if she wanted to go through it.
“My dear Sango I am sure you will change your mind later,” Miroku said waggling his eyebrows at her with unhidden intentions.
“Kagome asked me to bring Souta and Grandpa in but I think someone else needs to meet their blood,” Saya said smiling at the still wobbly hanyou.
“Huh? You mean me?”
“Of course Inuyasha it is your son in there. I think you should be the first to meet him.” Saya said opening the door and ushered him over the threshold.
Kagome did not even look up as the door opened, she was dozing lightly as the doctors cleaned up her son.
“Hey,” Inuyasha said quietly trying not to startle her.
Kagome's heart stopped or did it, she could feel it still beating in her chest but at the same time she felt nothing. She was scared to turn and face that familiar voice, she was scared it was a dream and that she would wake up and he would not be there. However, when he spoke again she finally turned to face her fears.
“In… Inu… Inuyasha? It can’t be. How did you…?” Kagome rambled. He was there but she still feared she would wake up and it would all be a dream, which was until she pinched herself.