InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Tomaru's Story ❯ Chapter 18

Chapter 18

 

Every day, Kagome had followed the same routine. In the morning she would get up, bathe and dress, wake up Rin and Shippou, take them to eat breakfast, manage to keep the ramen she ate morning, noon, and night in her stomach where it belonged, take the children outside for their lessons, return for lunch, then play time for the kit and the little girl. Dinner would eventually roll around, and then afterwards Kagome would read to the kids until they fell asleep.

 

Not once, during the last five months, had she seen Sesshoumaru.

 

It was a lovely winter afternoon and the children were bundled up, playing with Shippou's spinning top trick. Rin was convinced to learn how to do it, and Shippou considered it a matter of pride to teach a human a kitsune illusion. Not that it was working, anyway.

 

Kagome sat on a cleared off bench situated under a nearby tree. The snow on the ground was only a couple inches deep, yet she still longed for her winter boots, back in her room in her own time.

 

Shippou had finally figured out what the strange scent coming from Kagome was when he noticed her stomach growing. He didn't seem to believe her theory that the baby was somehow Inuyasha's, but he didn't dispute her claim either. He promised Kagome that he would strive to be the best big brother Rin and the baby ever had.

 

She chuckled at the memory. A rather painful cramp made her wince slightly and the baby squirmed inside her, the warm environment having grown too tight for it to kick her properly.

 

Placing a hand on her extremely swollen belly, she sighed. Her back hurt, her legs hurt, and her heart hurt. Sesshoumaru…Often her thoughts lately turned to the Inu no Taishou, remembering the one kiss they shared so long ago.

 

Where did he go? Why did he leave without saying a word? These questions had repeated themselves in her head endlessly for the last five months.

 

Jaken, the little toad, was no help at all. He simply sniffed disdainfully and gave her the “Lord-Sesshoumaru-does-not-need-to-explain-himself-to-the-likes-of-you” speech. Then he would turn around and go about whatever business he did while his lord was absent.

 

He must stock the place with human food, Kagome mused. There's always fresh food in the kitchen for me to use, so maybe that's what Sesshoumaru has him doing…

 

Rin had formed a snowball and now threw the lopsided creation at her kitsune brother. The cold object smacked him in the chest, making him give a pathetic little growl as he scooped up some snow for his own retaliation. “Brat! I'll get you for that!”

 

Rin simply stuck her tongue out at him and ran away laughing. Shippou gave chase, tossing snowballs after her retreating form. “Mama! Mama! Mama!” she squealed in delight as she flung herself behind Kagome for protection.

 

Kagome held up her hands. “Oh, no. Don't get me into the middle of this. You have to fight your own wars.”

 

Shippou skidded to a halt in front of her, spraying snow all over her legs. “Aw, Mom!” he whined. “When are you gonna have that kit and be able to play with us again?”

 

A shadow fell over the trio, causing everyone to turn around in surprise. “I would wager she will be delivering the `kit' very soon,” Sesshoumaru drawled, his golden eyes locked on the vision of his miko round with his child.

 

Everyone blinked simultaneously. Rin launched herself at Sesshoumaru and squeezed his waist as tightly as she could. “Lord Sesshoumaru! You've come back to Rin!”

 

He raised an eyebrow at her. “Hai, Rin, I've come back to you, but I've also come back to Kagome and the kit.”

 

Shippou puffed up his chest. “I have a name, sir.”

 

The tai-youkai gave him a Look and the corner of his mouth seemed to curve slightly upward. “Pardon me. Shippou.”

 

Again with the apologizing! What is going on with him? Kagome stared up at him, entranced by his indescribable beauty. Her memories of him hadn't faded in five months, as had her memories of Inuyasha. Certainly, she could remember the good and bad times with him, but his face… his face often seemed to blur…

 

That same cramp gripped her stomach and she winced again. She'd been having them off and on for the last few days- she figured it was her body complaining about the extra weight.

 

Sesshoumaru's all-too-aware gaze snapped back to her, catching her grimace. “You need to be in the house. Now.”

 

Awkwardly she stood up, looking him right in the eye. “Why? I'm perfectly fine out here. And who are you to order me around like that? You disappear for five months and don't tell anyone where you're going, and then show up here like nothing happened!”

 

His eyes narrowed as he stepped closer to her. “You will go in the house because you are in labor,” he replied softly, in that same deadly tone he used against his brother.

 

She blinked at him. “Labor? What makes you say that?”

 

A slight trickling of clear, warm water down her legs, soaking her kimono, was her answer. She looked down, rather surprised and extremely embarrassed. I didn't feel like I had to go to the bathroom…

 

“Your birth waters have just broken. Do you need further proof?” Sesshoumaru regarded her wryly.

 

Straightening up, she gave him a Look of her own. “Why is it that you showed up here just as I was going into labor? How did you know?”

 

Because I could feel your pain, itoshii. Because my worthless soul could feel yours, reaching out for me.

 

“Does it matter? I am here now, and you will go inside.” He crouched down, looking much like Inuyasha had so long ago, making it easier for her to mount his back.

 

At her hesitation, he turned and glared at her. “I am not a patient youkai,” he murmured. “This Sesshoumaru suggests you climb on before you give birth out here in the snow.”