InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Tomaru's Story ❯ Chapter 19

Chapter 19

 

“For Kami's sake, get it out of me!”

 

Sesshoumaru barely managed not to wince at the shrill cry of his miko. He knew she was hurting- the tentative bond between them, still weak because he had not formally taken her as his mate, throbbed with the pains that were racking her body in an effort to bring his child into the world.

 

Rin and Shippou stood at the doorway to Lord Sesshoumaru's vast chambers. He had refused to take her to her own room, instead insisting that she give birth in his room, in his bed.

 

Before, she wondered at his perseverance. Now, the only thing filling her mind was the constant onslaught of cramping pains that were growing ever stronger and closer together.

 

Should've paid more attention in health class… how long is labor supposed to last, anyway?

 

She'd been in there since Sesshoumaru had returned in the afternoon, and the full moonlight shining through the window on her right showed that it was long after dark.

 

Kagome dug her nails into the mound of blankets and cloths covering the top of Sesshoumaru's bed as another pain gripped her belly. An increasing pressure had been noticeable for the last few minutes- was the baby coming out?

 

All of a sudden Rin gave a gasp, pointing at the window. “Look, Shippou-ni-chan… the moon!”

 

Kagome, Sesshoumaru, and Shippou all turned their heads to look at the full moon hovering over the trees. One side of the moon was slowly being covered by a dark shadow.

 

The tai-youkai's lip curled slightly. “A lunar eclipse. How… odd.”

 

Kagome glared at him as she panted slightly. “What… do… you mean… odd?”

 

He shook his silver head, turning his attention and those devastating golden eyes back to her. “Do not concern yourself. You have other matters to attend to.”

 

This time she growled, sounding just like an inu-youkai. “No kidding.”

 

The pressure increased, to the point where she knew she had to do something or get ripped in two. “Kami… it's coming out…” she whispered hoarsely, sitting up awkwardly with her knees lifted.

 

The tai-youkai just looked at her with a blank look on his face. “You sure?”

 

If she had fangs, she would have bared them at him. “Damn it, it's going to tear me in half!” she barked.

 

He blinked at her unusual choice of words. His Kagome never swore. That meant she had to be serious. “What… is this Sesshoumaru supposed to do?”

 

Rin was the one who answered him. “Ooo! She needs warm water and drying cloths, my lord! So the baby can be bathed after it's born!”

 

Shippou looked up at her with renewed respect. “How do you know that?”

 

The little girl shrugged. “That's what the ladies that delivered babies in my village did…”

 

Sesshoumaru nodded at Shippou, who raced off to get some water and some cloths without a word.

 

Kagome whimpered.

 

Immediately he turned back to her, his face still quite expressionless. One would think ningens gave birth in his bedchambers on a regular basis.

 

Inside, however, he was a turmoil of emotions he didn't even know he had. Anxiety, anticipation, hope, love, and, yes, even a trace of fear for her safety and that of the babe's. Yet none of these registered on his cool features.

 

Taking a deep breath, Kagome dug her fingers into the blankets on the bed and pushed as hard as she could.

 

Shippou returned with a basin of almost hot water and a pile of drying cloths on his head. He set it down next to Sesshoumaru and piled the towels at the edge of the bed before racing back to the doorway with Rin.

 

Kagome took another breath and pushed again.

 

Outside, the lunar eclipse was almost complete.

 

The laboring mother gave another whimper. Sesshoumaru got up and sat on the edge of the bed, slightly behind, slightly beside Kagome. He put his arm around her shoulder in an effort to lend her his support.

 

Trickles of sweat slid down her temples as she opened her eyes, took another deep breath and pushed with all her strength. Sesshoumaru held her as if offering his power to aid her.

 

The moon became completely covered by the shadow- the lunar eclipse was complete.

 

A soft wail filled the silent room as a slippery baby emerged into the blankets covering Sesshoumaru's bed. Kagome and Sesshoumaru leaned forward as one to stare in wonder at the tiny miracle.

 

Shippou bounced over and handed Kagome one of the drying cloths. Rin followed right behind him, anxious to see the new arrival. The baby continued to cry its discontent.

 

Slowly, carefully, Kagome wiped the remnants of the birth off the baby. She looked it over, making sure everything seemed normal.

 

Well, normal except for the adorable tiny white dog ears flattened against the child's downy silver hair.

 

Kagome stared in silent speculation at the child's forehead. A light green crescent symbol, matching Sesshoumaru's lavender one, was quite evident in the dim light.

 

Shippou and Rin both began to dance around the room in delight. “Yay! It's a boy! It's a boy! We have a baby brother!” they sang.

 

Sesshoumaru pinched the cord and sliced neatly through it with one razor-sharp claw. Kagome blinked in surprise. “Arigatou,” she whispered, still staring at the crescent on her son's forehead.

 

The inu-youkai was silent, regarding his new son in quiet contemplation. The child's aura was mostly red, with a hint of Kagome's lavender, light blue, and light green as well as his own red-orange. He narrowed his eyes.

 

Kagome wrapped the baby in an extra clean cloth and looked over at Sesshoumaru, who was still staring at the boy. “Did you want to hold him?”

 

Silently, he moved so she could place the tiny bundle on his arm. He stood, carefully cradling the infant close to his body.

 

The tiny hanyou opened his eyes and stared at his father. Familiar golden eyes blinked at the dim light.

 

The Inu no Taishou smiled. Openly grinned. Began to chuckle. Finally threw his head back and laughed out loud, a broad smile across his handsome face. His rich laughter filled the room with delight. Shippou and Rin looked at him like he was crazy.

 

Kagome stared at him in confusion. Why was he laughing?

 

Bringing himself under some semblance of control, Sesshoumaru looked back down at the golden-eyed infant staring at him intently, an unusual smile still upon his lips.

 

“Welcome back, Inuyasha. I was wondering where your soul went.”