InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Tomaru's Story ❯ Chapter 21

Chapter 21

 

“I would like to try and restore your arm today,” Kagome said softly, glancing over at the tai-youkai sitting next to her in the grass.

 

It was now spring and the earth was renewed once more. Sakura blossoms fell like snow, covering the soft green grass with their pink and white petals. Shippou and Rin danced and played around in the meadow near where the miko and Sesshoumaru were sitting. Tomaru, sitting impatiently on his mother's lap, was fascinated by the falling blossoms and kept trying to crawl after them.

 

The boy had grown quickly, as Sesshoumaru had warned her he would. Being a hanyou, he developed faster than ningen babies- crawling sooner, sitting up sooner, and eventually walking and talking sooner.

 

Tomaru's teeth had started to come in, but luckily he had stopped nursing once he cut his first one.

 

She had nearly winced at the thought of nursing something with fangs… she didn't think her tender breasts could handle it.

 

Sesshoumaru turned his golden gaze away from Tomaru to look at Kagome's lovely face. “Today? Any particular reason why?”

 

She shrugged, smiling. “I just thought it'd be nice to give it a go. `You never know until you try!' my mother always said.”

 

The tai-youkai said nothing for a long moment, his watchful eyes locked on Tomaru. He was very protective of the boy, which warmed Kagome's heart more each day.

 

She knew she loved him. Completely. She just wouldn't ever admit it to anyone but herself. The cold, silent Inu no Taishou had captured her weak ningen heart.

 

That was why she couldn't tell him. She was just a mortal- she would grow old and die, while Sesshoumaru, being the near-immortal tai-youkai that he was, would live on for centuries after she had gone. To her, there was no point. Her life was merely an eyeblink to him.

 

“Very well.”

 

It took Kagome a moment to realize he was giving her permission to try and restore his arm. Her thoughts always seemed to scatter when she was close to him. “Is now okay with you?”

 

He was tugging his haori out of his hakama as she asked the question. He glanced at her, his golden eyes sparkling strangely. “Unless you had other plans…” he said softly.

 

She blushed. If only he knew… She longed to be with him, to feel his arm holding her close as his lips pressed hers, as his body claimed her as she had fantasized about so many times.

 

But it was just that- a fantasy. She'd never know what it was like to join with the expressionless inu-youkai. I'm sure it'd be like touching heaven…

 

Kagome turned her attention back to Sesshoumaru, her eyes widening slightly as she caught sight of his bare upper torso. Instead of simply sliding his shoulder out of his haori to give her access to the amputated limb, he had removed the entire garment and laid it in a heap on the grass next to him.

 

Tomaru crawled off Kagome's lap and onto the silk white and orange-red haori. Blinking, he yawned and curled up in a little ball, his tiny ears twitching as he quickly fell asleep.

 

Kagome looked at her son and smiled. He certainly loves anything to do with Sesshoumaru…

 

As do I…

 

Sesshoumaru placed his hand on the little hanyou's head, giving him an affectionate pat. Something always softened in his eyes when he was around the boy.

 

He's a very devoted uncle… and the only male role-model Tomaru really has.

 

Clearing her throat, she looked closer at Sesshoumaru's arm. Or rather, what was left of it. It had, indeed, grown back some since the battle that had removed it from him, but it still had a long way to go. Longer than Kagome had time to wait for.

 

Taking a deep breath, she scooted closer and placed both her hands on his stump of an arm. Beneath his satin skin she could feel the concealed power, the incredible strength that he possessed, regardless of the fact he no longer used any part of the extremity.

 

Sesshoumaru's gaze never left her face as she focused on figuring out how to do this. She had never used her miko powers for any sort of healing before, but she had felt a latent power emerge shortly after Tomaru's birth and she was anxious to try it out.

 

Something in her face must have given away her doubt, because Sesshoumaru tipped up her chin with his fingers, gazing deep into her eyes. “Do not doubt yourself. I have every faith in your abilities.”

 

Tears almost flooded her eyes. Coming from the usually skeptical tai-youkai that was the highest praise possible. She gave him a firm nod and turned back to her task.

 

Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes, seeing without actually looking at his arm. She relaxed and focused her spiritual powers as she normally would when she would fire a sacred arrow in battle, but this time she tweaked the purpose behind it.

 

She coaxed the living tissues to grow, to expand and develop into bone, firm muscle, and smooth skin. In her mind's eye she could picture the flesh forming and changing, becoming that which was lost.

 

Sweat beaded her brow as long minutes passed. The children had stopped playing and had paused nearby to watch Kagome's work. Kagome's attention, however, was completely on her task.

 

The sun began its descent under the horizon by the time Kagome finished. Tomaru had already awakened and was now being entertained by his brother and sister. Sesshoumaru had not spoken a word since she had begun and, although she did not know it, his eyes had never left her beautiful face.

 

With a final gasp, she opened her eyes and assessed her work. His arm was completely restored, right down to the twin magenta stripes on his wrist and the claws on his fingers. The only flaw was the pink scar that ringed his upper arm, right where Inuyasha had sliced it off.

 

Sweat was dripping down her temples and rings of exhaustion darkened her eyes. Her entire body felt utterly drained. She looked quite gaunt. “Gomen… I… can't… remove… the scar…”

 

Sesshoumaru stared at his new arm, completely stunned. He hadn't thought she could actually do it- at least, not in one sitting. “Do not concern yourself over the scar. It is unimportant.”

 

She gave him a weak smile just before she fell to the side, her vision going dark. She had used up so much of her energy, she had fainted.

 

The tai-youkai caught her in his arms. The sensation of having the limb back was disconcerting, but he knew he'd get used to it.

 

He enfolded her in a tender embrace, drinking in the scent of her. Rin and Shippou came closer, Shippou carrying Tomaru in his arms. “Is Mama okay?” Rin asked, worried.

 

He looked at the young girl. She was growing up so quickly… “She will be fine. She just needs rest.”

 

Shippou nodded importantly. “We'll take Tomaru inside for you. You'll take Mom to her room, onegai?” Rin reached down and picked up the tai-youkai's haori, folding it over her arms to take inside.

 

Sesshoumaru nodded as he stood up with Kagome in his arms, bridal-style. Her head snuggled up against his bare chest, her palm flat against his breastbone.

 

He took her into the house as the sun dipped under the horizon. The last orange and red rays of the sun were slowly being overtaken by the purple velvet of the night sky.

 

The hallways were growing dim as he strode toward his bedroom. He wanted his child's mother in his bed, where he could keep an eye on her.

 

Closing the door behind him with one booted foot, he walked over to the bed and carefully laid Kagome down on the coverlet, her long black hair cascading like a jet waterfall over the pillow.

 

The room was dark, but the emerging starlight slowly illuminated the miko's features. The high cheekbones, the large, soft eyes, the sweet nose… everything about her entranced him.

 

He stared down at her for a long time, wondering if he should leave her or join her. At the very least, he should unwrap that obi from around her waist- that had to be uncomfortable.

 

Lifting her carefully with his new arm, he used the other to untie the material and slide it off her slender waist. He dropped the silk to the floor and stepped back, the blood in his veins pumping hard.

 

She looked very much his mate, the mother of his children, lying there on his bed in the dark. Internally he waged war against his youkai, who wanted to take her all over again.

 

He couldn't mate with her again, but he could sleep next to her and make sure she would be okay.

 

First he had to check on Tomaru. The little hanyou slept in his father's old bassinet, which Sesshoumaru had thought had been either destroyed or thrown out long ago. After all, he was over 300 years old- it should not have lasted this long.

 

Yet it seemed the bassinet was still as sound and sturdy as it had been centuries ago when he himself had occupied it. Apparently, his father and mother had the foresight to make sure their son was safe while he slept.

 

He left the room quietly and moved like a shadow down the hall to Kagome's room, where the bassinet was set up. Tomaru lay on his back inside, his little legs covered by a red blanket. His tiny ears twitched every so often, little radars picking up every little sound.

 

Sesshoumaru smiled one of his rare smiles as he gazed down at the little boy. Leaning down he placed a kiss on the child's forehead, right on the green crescent. “Sleep well, my son,” he murmured into the darkness before he turned on his heel and left the room.

 

He never noticed the little girl hiding in the shadows in the corner.