I tried to use terminology I thought they’d use in the feudal era when it comes to birthing. I figured they didn’t have words like “contraction” and “dilated”. Looking for another site to post on so I can take my stories down here. FF.net has gone to the dogs, and I hate LJ. I really do. It’s so hard to post anything, so if anyone knows any other good fanfiction sites please PM.
No beta or proofing. As is.
Chapter 25
Later that night Kagome allowed Sesshoumaru to help her to settle on their futon after they shared their evening tea. Her body hurt practically everywhere and her baby seemed to think her spine was his own personal drum. He was kicking her nonstop, and she was sure she wasn’t going to be getting much sleep tonight. She’d been lucky enough today to keep almost everything she’d eaten down, only throwing up a bit of the tea she’d had earlier, and she considered that a win.
After he got Kagome settled on her side Sesshoumaru shed his sleeping yukata and slipped in behind her. Wedging his knee between her legs to help alleviate the pressure on her back that the baby weight caused, he wrapped an arm around her waist to settle atop her swollen stomach and asked, “Are you still in pain?”
“Yes. He won’t stop kicking. Can—can you flare your youki? That usually helps him to settle down.”
Sesshoumaru smirked. He loved how his pup responded to his aura already. Kagome’s soothed him from time to time too, but his son knew to respond to his alpha and calmed for him far more often than his mother. His son was mighty indeed, and he was looking forward to him finally being born. Stroking his hand along her stomach he released his youki and let it wash over Kagome and his unborn pup.
Almost immediately Kagome felt her baby slow his kicking before finally stopping. She released a heavy sigh. “Oh thank Kami! I didn’t know how I was going to get any sleep if he wouldn’t stop.”
Nuzzling her shoulder, Sesshoumaru said, “Perhaps you should go on permanent bed rest? You are getting more and more tired by the day and it worries me.”
A few months ago he would not have made it a suggestion. He would have simply ordered her to spend all of her time abed when not seeing to her human needs, but things had changed. He wanted his relationship with his mate to improve, he wanted her to stop watching him with disgust and wariness, and him forcing her into bed without her permission would not aid that cause. He had learned that Kagome hated being cooped up and confined. Detested it really. Already her heavily pregnant body forced her to greatly limit her movements. He wanted her to rest more, but he would not force it of her if she believed it wasn’t necessary.
Kagome thought his words over. She was getting increasingly tired as her pregnancy wore on, but she didn’t think that being confined to bed was the solution. She was honestly surprised that Sesshoumaru was even asking, or suggesting at all. If he thought she should be on bed rest full time she’d think he would simply force it upon her. “Are you going to make me stay in bed all day and night?”
“No. If you believe it is an unnecessary step at this point things will remain as they are, but keep in mind that it takes strength to deliver a pup, and if you are pushed past the point of exhaustion already, it could be dangerous when the time comes.”
Kagome had considered that as well, but she didn’t think round the clock bed rest was the answer. “I think if I try and lay in bed all day I’ll just end up tossing and turning, which is no better than sitting and being uncomfortable. We’re just going to have to hope for the best.”
“Hn.”
When Sesshoumaru didn’t say anything else, she asked, “Why aren’t you forcing your will on me? You’ve never asked me before what I thought would be best.”
“And I already told you that I wish to repair what is damaged between us due to my initial treatment of you. I do worry about this prolonged pregnancy resulting in your extreme fatigue, but I will not force my will upon you over it. You have more than proven that your greatest concern is our pup, and I know you would do nothing to jeopardize his welfare. If you do not believe bed rest is necessary, I will accept your judgment on the issue.”
“So does this mean you’re not going to force me to do things I don’t want to anymore?”
“When it comes to matters of safety my word will always be law, and should you fail to obey orders concerning your safety or the safety of our pups I will force you.”
Biting her lip, Kagome whispered, “And what about—uh—other things?”
Realizing what she meant, Sesshoumaru tightened his hold on her and assured, “You are my mate, Kagome. There will always be intimacy between us. I have sworn to no longer hurt you when we rut, but I will not abstain from mating with you once the pup is born. When you are healed from the birthing we will join again. I assure you that I will bring you great pleasure as I no longer derive any from your suffering. I wish you to enjoy our mating as much as I do.”
Tears filled her eyes as Kagome replied, “It hurts me worse than any of your beatings when you make me like it. Any way you look at it what you’re doing is raping me, Sesshoumaru. To make me enjoy any of it? It’s a whole new violation and makes me ashamed of myself. Why can’t you just go to your concubines? They like mating with you.”
“And I prefer to mate with you.” He disliked her words. He disliked the way she abhorred his touch. He hated how even now she shed tears at the very thought of joining her flesh with his. She was his mate! The mother of his pup! She should delight in her place in his bed! A place he had shared with no woman before! He’d always visited his concubines in the harem. None had ever been honored with the right to share his personal chamber as Kagome was.
“Sesshoumaru, please don’t—“
“Enough!” He was getting angry, and he didn’t want his anger to upset her more than she already was. His pup had proven to be intensely tuned to his mother and if she got upset he would surely follow, causing her to throw up the dinner and late snack she’d consumed. “You know my stance on this. I can promise you no more pain when we mate, but that is all. We will not discuss this further. Sleep, Kagome, you need your rest.”
Wiping the tears that had slipped down her cheeks, Kagome reminded herself that he hadn’t told her anything that she didn’t already know. He’d made it very clear that he was greatly anticipating her finally giving birth as it would mean he could resume raping her. Well he called it “rutting” and “mating”, saying over and over it was his right and her place to accept his advances, but in her mind it would always be rape. She was not giving consent, would never give consent, and even if he did make her physically enjoy it that didn’t make it any less rape.
‘I shouldn’t have brought it up. I knew what he was going to say, and now I’m all upset again. But I don’t understand! Why can’t he go to his concubines? I’ve seen them wandering the main gardens and in the main dining area from time to time. They’re all extremely beautiful, and surely they’re much better at it than I am, so why must he force himself on me? Why can’t he just leave me alone and go to them? From the way they’re always glaring at me I know they enjoy being with him, resent my place in his bed, so surely they put a lot of effort into pleasing him? Why does he want to come to me when they’re practically begging for him?’
She didn’t know, and she was certain that asking him any of those questions would only anger him further. She didn’t like it when he was angry. It frightened her. He hadn’t raised a hand to her since she’d become pregnant, and he’d promised her he never intended to beat and torture her as he had those first few weeks she’d been in the shiro, but she didn’t believe those lies. Sesshoumaru was a cruel and vicious monster. Not because he was a demon, because she knew many demons that didn’t treat women the way he’d treated her, but because he was a man that took pleasure in causing others pain. More specifically her. He’d taken such joy and delight in hurting her, whipping her, and raping her in the beginning that there was no way she believed he was sincere about not wanting to cause her pain any more. No, it was a trick of some kind, and she wasn’t going to fall for it.
Feeling her heart sink and her stomach tighten at those truths Kagome forced herself to stop that train of thought. It would do her no good to get worked up over something she couldn’t change. She would continue with her plan to find some way to get out of the collar and make her way home with her baby. It might take years, but she would find a way. Forcing her mind to settle, Kagome set her hand on top of her belly, making sure that her hand didn’t touch Sesshoumaru’s, and evened her breathing out. It didn’t take her long to fall asleep due to her constant exhaustion.
A few hours later, in the dead of night, Kagome woke up with vicious back pain. Elbowing Sesshoumaru, she mumbled, “Sesshoumaru, rub my back. It’s killing me.”
Sesshoumaru had sensed the pain of his mate through their bond and woken just as she had. Sitting up he moved a pillow between her thighs were his leg had been to keep the pressure down before shifting beside her so he could knead her back. The muscles were tense. They both often woke up to perform this routine many times over the months so he was not surprised. He was, however, surprised when Kagome released a sharp cry of pain before liquid gushed from between her legs to wet the bedding around them. Taking in the scent he knew her water had just broken and she was going into labor.
Kagome had felt it as well, and realizing what it meant, she begged, “Sesshoumaru! Get Ami and Kaede! It’s starting!”
“Indeed.” Quickly standing from the futon Sesshoumaru made his way to the door and informed one of the Elite Guards that the midwives were needed as his mate was finally going into labor. With that task done he quickly returned to Kagome’s side and knelt beside her to brush her hair away from her face. “Are you happy it is finally time?”
“Yes, but I’m scared too. I know what is going to happen, but I’m scared about it. In my time there are medicines to help in delivery and barely any woman ever dies from it. But in this time birthing is very dangerous, and without the epidural I’ll feel all the pain.”
He didn’t know a lot about her time, but one of things she’d told him was that there were huge advancements in human healing methods that made it much harder for human’s to die due to their frail bodies. This was not a concern Kagome needed to worry about however.
Setting his hand over her stomach he said, “I can do nothing for the pain, Kagome. That you must weather on your own, as all females do in order to bring forth their young, but you do not need to worry about dying.”
“Why not?”
“Remember how I told you that our mating bond would allow me to track you, put a barrier around you, and lend you my healing ability in case you were wounded? Well that will also work in this instance. My youki in you will not allow you to die during this birth.”
“But you said earlier that my exhaustion during the labor could be dangerous.”
“To the pup.” Looking into Kagome’s eyes, Sesshoumaru explained, “If you do not have the strength to push the pup out when the time comes he could suffocate inside you, causing him to be still born. This is a problem among demonesses just as with humans. That is where the danger lies. My youki inside you would not allow you to die due to our mate bond. It is the pup we need to be concerned with.”
This news struck fear in Kagome’s heart. The idea that this birthing could go so bad that her baby would not survive but she would because she was bound to Sesshoumaru was terrifying. Her baby was the only good thing that had happened during all of this, and she just couldn’t lose him. Her expression went hard as stone as she swore, “I’ll birth him. I’ll be strong enough. I promise.”
Sesshoumaru smirked at her tone and expression, which were both mercenary. She meant it. She would birth their son, deliver him alive and healthy into the world. “I know you will. I chose a strong mate and mother for my pups.”
Neither had a chance to say anything more as the shoji screen was thrown open as Ami and Kaede rushed into the room with several servants bustling behind them carrying armfuls of supplies for the birthing.
“Kagome!” Ami and Kaede both greeted as they came to her side, all but pushing Sesshoumaru out of the way as the servants began setting up the room to prepare for what was to come.
Ami helped Kagome to sit up, pulling the sheet around her to preserve her modesty as she said, “Come, let’s get you into the bathing chamber and cleaned up while the maids change the bedding.”
Kaede looked at Sesshoumaru to say, “You’ll need to leave now. We’ll send word to you when the pup is born, but the birthing room is no place for you.”
Sesshoumaru glared at the old woman before looking at Kagome. “I will be right outside the door until he is born.”
Kagome simply nodded as Ami helped her up to hobble towards her and Sesshoumaru’s private bathing chamber. She knew that labor could take a long time so she could afford to take a bath while the maids changed out the sheets on the futon.
While Kagome’s midwives helped her into their bathing chamber Sesshoumaru strode into the hall and shut the shoji screen behind him. He saw most of the Elite Guards standing at attention along the hall. Only the ones assigned to guard Rin and Shippo were missing. When Kenji stepped forward Sesshoumaru ordered, “Shut down the shiro. I want full security measures in place. This is a dangerous time. My beast will be calling me to protect Kagome while she is in labor and I cannot leave her side without great difficulty. I want all guards at their posts and no one leaves or enters until my pup is born.”
Kenji nodded and strode down the hall to carry out his lord’s orders. Behind him Sesshoumaru moved to sit along the opposite wall of his and Kagome’s room. He raised one knee to rest his arm atop it and settled himself in for a long wait. His instincts told him to go to his mate’s side, to protect her and shield her fragile body during this dangerous time with his true form. The call to transform was strong in him, but he knew he could not. Kagome would only be further distressed by his presence, and if he changed into his true form she would be terrified. No, the best he could do was stand sentinel outside their bedroom door and wait to hear the cries of his pup when he finally made his way into the world.
Back in the bedroom Ami had just finished helping Kagome into the tub while Kaede instructed the maids on how to arrange all the supplies they would need for the labor and delivery.
“Do you want to wash your hair, Kagome?”
Shaking her head, Kagome replied, “No. It’s just going to get all sweaty and nasty so just put it in a braid. When it’s over I imagine I’ll be in sore need of another bath so there’s really no point in doing it now.”
“That is true.”
Kagome began to wash her body with the cloth Ami provided as she asked, “Ami, why am I not feeling any cramps or anything. My back just started hurting and all of a sudden my water broke. I thought I was supposed to feel some really bad cramps or something.”
“It’s different with every woman, Kagome. Some women feel the pains your describing from the very start, and some, like you, feel more back pain in the beginning. It’s natural.”
“Tis true, child,” Kaede chimed in as she entered the bathing chamber. “I had a woman in the village some years back that thought she had a bad case of gas. She’d been uncomfortable all through the night, but no real pain so went right to work in the fields the next morning. Thought nothing of it. Right up until her water broke and the urge to bear down came upon her all of a sudden. By the time her friend had fetched me and we made it back to the field she’d already delivered the baby. Couldn’t have taken more than a half hour. That’s how fast it happened.”
Kagome’s eyes widened in shock. “So I’m going to have the baby now? Like right now?”
The midwives shared a laugh before Ami answered, “No, Kagome. Just because your water broke doesn’t mean the pup’s about to come out of your right this instance. As I said before, every woman is different. Why some women never even notice when their water breaks. So little fluid is released that it’s just not detectable like yours was. Some women’s water breaks and it takes them a few days to actually go into active labor. With some it breaks, like Kaede said, and it is time right that moment. You had the one big labor pain centered in your back and nothing since then. You’ve got plenty of time. No need to worry.”
Biting her lip as Ami and Kaede began to help her bath, an act she’d become more than comfortable with over the months, Kagome remarked, “That worries me too. I’ve been so tired lately. I feel tired even now because this pregnancy has been so hard. Sesshoumaru’s worried I won’t have the strength to get the baby out when it’s time for him to be born. He’s afraid that the baby suffocate inside me if I can’t push him out when he needs to come out.”
“Men always worry over such things. They think that since their bodies are stronger than ours we can’t even do what we’re born to do. You’ll be fine, Kagome. When the time comes you’ll have more than enough strength to birth your babe,” Kaede assured.
Kagome was mildly comforted by their words, but until her baby was actually safe in her arms she would continue to share in Sesshoumaru’s worry that she might not have enough strength to birth her son. It didn’t take long for Ami and Kaede to help her finish bathing, dry her off, wrap her in a loose sleeping yukata and help her back to the bed which was now covered in dry sheets. Once she was settled, she asked, “So how long do you think it will take?”
“As long as it needs to,” was Ami’s less than helpful reply.
“Wow, that was informative,” Kagome joked.
Tucking some pillows behind Kagome’s back, Kaede explained, “There is no way to know. You had one labor pain and your water has broken, but you haven’t had another labor pain yet. Until the pains come closer together we won’t be able to give you any time frame for when the baby will be born.”
“Back in my time I’d have a whole lot more answers to these questions.” Kagome had never missed the modern era more than she did now. She’d feel much better about this whole birthing thing if she was hooked up to a bunch of machines that made beeping noises and numerous screens filled with information she wasn’t trained to understand.
Moving to make some tea, Kaede replied, “Well you’re not, so you’re going to have to make the best of it.”
“Kaede, you could—AH!” Kagome’s hands flew to her stomach as a pain spread throughout her abdomen. It had been much more painful than the one she experienced in her back earlier. “Wow! That hurt much more than the other one.”
“Well brace yourself because they will only get progressively worse,” Ami warned. She knew it was not time to check to see how far along Kagome was. She’d only had two labor pains so there was no way that her body had opened enough to deliver the pup.
Normally Kagome appreciated Ami’s candid nature, but she was a modern teenage girl stuck in the feudal era about to give birth to a full demon child! She deserved some consideration Damnit! “Ami, I know I’ve told you I always want the truth, but for now I want you to say things that make me feel better!”
Ami and Kaede shared a smile. They knew that Kagome was going to go through a number of emotions throughout this process, and in their many combined years of helping new mothers through their first birthing they knew it was best to let her ride out her mood swings as they came, and in some cases to humor her.
“Very well, Kagome, I assure you that the entire birth will only take a few hours and you’ll hardly feel a thing.” Ami watched Kagome send her a withering glare. “Now did that make you feel better?”
“No! That was a horrible lie! You didn’t even try!”
Kaede reached out to take Kagome’s hand and promised, “Kagome, all you need to focus on right now is the fact that very soon you’re going to be holding your son. He’ll be safe in your arms, nursing at your breast, and ready for you to love him with all your heart. That’s all that matters.”
Kagome sent Kaede a grateful smile before scowling at Ami and adding, “See what she did? You do that too until my baby’s born!”
“Very well, Kagome.” Ami simply shook her head and smiled. She knew the young girl’s surly disposition was due to her fear and growing discomfort and pain. She was not offended by it in the least.
Smoothing her hands atop her stomach, Kagome commented, “I am anxious to see him. I wonder what he’ll look like?”
“Like a pup,” Ami answered.
“Well I know all babies look like babies. I meant whether he’ll have black hair like mine, or look more like Sesshoumaru?” Over the months Kagome had gotten better about speaking of her mate in passing. She was not happy to be mated to him, but she was at least comforted by the fact he would be a good father.
Kagome’s words caused Ami and Kaede to share a worried look before Kaede explained, “Kagome, you do understand that your son will be born a pup, right?”
Looking back and forth between the two women, Kagome said, “What’s the difference? Pup is just the inu demon name for baby.”
“Well yes, Kagome,” Ami began, “but it’s mainly because that’s what he’ll be. Sesshoumaru and his line are dog demons. You’ve seen him in his true form haven’t you?”
“Yeah. He turns into a big white dog.” Kagome didn’t understand what the big deal was. Her human mind had yet to comprehend the truth.
Again the midwives shared a worried glance before Kaede continued, “No, Kagome, Sesshoumaru is a big white dog. A dog that assumes human form, but a dog nonetheless. Your son will be born a pup. A true pup. Probably white as all of Sesshoumaru’s line have been white dogs. Many in his army are in varying colors, but the lord’s line has always been white.”
Eyes widening as she finally understood what they meant, Kagome gasped, “I’m going to have a puppy?”
“Yes.”
“Indeed.”
Seeing the shock on Kagome’s face, Ami asked, “Does this change how you feel about the pup? Will you love him less now that you know he’ll be born in his true form?”
Shaking herself out of her stupor, Kagome cried, “No! Of course not! Ami, how could you ask me that! I’m—I—well I’m just a little shocked that I really will be having a puppy.”
Smiling at the young girl’s words, Ami said, “I didn’t think it would, but I wanted to be sure.”
Looking down at her stomach, Kagome asked, “So how long will he be a puppy? I mean whenever Sesshoumaru and I talked about his childhood he always made it seem like he learned things while in human form.”
“He did. Pups tend to assume human form within a few weeks after birth. After that they must then learn how to harness their youki at will to change into their true forms.”
Now Kagome was confused. “I don’t get it. They’re born in their true forms, then they change human, and then they have to learn how to return to their true forms?”
“Yes,” Ami answered.
“Why? Why can’t they just do it at will?”
The hot water for the tea was ready and while Kaede went to make them all some cups, Ami explained, “That’s just the way it is. A demon is born in their true form and as their youki settles they turn assume human form. After that they must learn to not only access their youki, but harness and direct it in order to assume their true form at will. A demon’s power or attacks also come from harnessing their youki. Sesshoumaru’s whip for instance is simply a physical manifestation of his youki.”
Accepting the cup of tea Kaede presented her, Kagome asked, “Well why can’t they simply change back and forth once they go from pup to human?”
“Because they don’t. It is simply the way of things.”
“Sometimes things just are, Kagome,” Kaede offered. “Not all questions have an answer. Just know your son will be born a pup, will assume human form shortly thereafter, and as he grows into his power he’ll be able to change back and forth at will.”
“Well I still think—Ohhh!” Kagome nearly dropped her tea as another pain took hold of her. She breathed through it and finally said, “I don’t care what he looks like as long as he’s born safely.”
“Spoken like a true mother,” Ami laughed.
SIXTEEN HOURS LATER:
“AHHH!”
“Push, Kagome! Push hard!”
“I am pushing!”
“You must breathe through the pain, child.”
“Kaede! If you tell me to breathe one more time you’re going right out that window!”
“I can see the top of his head, Kagome. Now with the next pain push hard!”
“AHHHH!”
Outside of the bedroom Sesshoumaru sat on the floor with Rin on one side and Shippo on the other. The Elite Guard lined the hallway, blocking entrance to any and all. Morning and afternoon had passed slowly as Kagome worked through the pain of labor with night once again falling as the entire shiro waited for the new heir to be born. Sesshoumaru had not left his post all night, leaving the running of his home to Jaken. Rin and Shippo had spent much of the day with him as well, both waiting for their adoptive mother to birth their new little brother, but Sesshoumaru had insisted they go to their lessons. He’d had to promise that he’d send for them right away if the pup was born, but his pup had been in no hurry to make an appearance. Just like with the pregnancy, his son was going to make this labor last as long as he thought it should.
Throughout the day Kagome’s cries had grown not only in frequency but volume as she struggled to bring forth the new Western heir. Sometimes she’d beg and plead for the pup to hurry. Other times she scream and curse at Ami and Kaede for bothering her. In between her swiftly changing moods were her relentless cries of pain, and they set Sesshoumaru’s teeth on edge. The longer he’d been mated to Kagome the more he’d come to appreciate her presence in his life. He did not like her in pain. Add to that his worry for their pup’s safety and he was more than anxious, though no outward sign of such was visible. He sat still and stoic as he always was.
He’d heard her earlier talk with her midwives about the fact their son would indeed be born a pup and he’d been pleased with her responses. He realized he should have made sure she understood the facts of their son’s status as a full demon and how it would affect the birthing, but it had honestly never crossed his mind. Even so he was glad that Kagome didn’t care their son would be born a pup and not a human baby as she’d expected.
“OH! KAMI IT HURTS!”
“Push, Kagome! Push hard! He’s coming!”
Looking up at her Lord Sesshoumaru, Rin whispered, “Kagome-okaasan sounds like she’s in pain, Sesshoumaru-sama. Is she going to be alright?”
Still looking at the shoji screen separating him and his mate, Sesshoumaru replied, “Yes, Rin. Kagome is going to be just fine. Birthing is painful, but it is natural. Kagome will be well once it is over and then you will be able to see my pup.”
“Will he be white like you? Or will he have black hair like, Kagome-okaasan?” Rin pressed, trying to ignore the sounds of Kagome’s screams.
“The pup will be white like me. All born into my line are white.” Glancing at Rin out of the corner of his eye, Sesshoumaru clarified, “He will be born a pup, Rin. He will not look like a human baby for several weeks until he can assume human form.”
Mouth dropping open in shock Rin suddenly let out a squeal. “Yeah! Rin gets a puppy for a little brother! A cute white puppy!”
As Rin prattled on about how she couldn’t wait to play with his pup, Sesshoumaru focused solely on the sound of his mate struggling to bring forth their son. Every cry tore at his control as his beast demanded for him to go to his mate’s side, to protect and care for her during this time. Beside him he felt Shippo shift nervously and he assured, “It will not be long now. She is fine.”
“I know, but I hate hearing her scream,” Shippo whispered sadly.
“Hn.”
“AHHHH!”
“The head is out, Kagome! You’re almost done! Push! Push with everything you’ve got!”
Inside the bedroom Kagome was braced against Ami who was supporting the majority of her weight. Kaede was between her legs, guiding the pup out of her and barking out orders. Kagome was beyond exhausted, and the pain was worse than anything she’d ever thought she could endure. Her hair was soaked from her sweat and her body glistened with it. She’d long since shed her yukata and was naked but unashamed. She’d lost all sense of modesty as the labor continued.
“Kaede! It hurts!”
“I know, Kagome,” Kaede assured, “but it’s almost over! A few more hard pushes and you’ll be done. You’ll be done and holding your pup, but now you have to push!”
Nodding her head resolutely, Kagome grabbed her knees and bore down. A pained cry escaped her throat as she pushed as hard as she could. The pain was all consuming, but she ignored it, ignored it and focused on the fact very soon she would be holding her son. “Ahhh!”
A few more pushes and a moment later the slick, placenta covered form of Kagome’s pup slid into Kaede’s waiting hands. Kagome felt the instant relief, the loss of pressure and collapsed back against Ami as she began to cry in happiness. “Is he alright? Is he ok?”
Kaede began to swiftly wipe at the placenta membrane to uncover the pup. She made quick work of the umbilical cord and then wiped as much of the birthing fluid from the pup before holding him up and saying, “Here he is, Kagome. Perfect and healthy.”
Despite her fatigue and aching body, Kagome reached out and took the wet form of her puppy into her arms. He might be in inu form, but he was truly the size of a human baby, making him a rather large puppy. “He’s not crying. Why isn’t he crying?”
Ami helped Kagome settle back against the pillows before moving to begin helping Kaede clean up from the birthing. “Pups don’t cry like human babies. Give him a minute and he’ll start whimpering and needing to suckle. Pups need to suckle very soon after birth.”
Kagome never took her eyes from her puppy as Ami spoke while she and Kaede cleaned her and the bed up. Her son was so white he was almost silver. Just like his father. He had magenta stripes stripes similar to his father’s and the same crescent moon on his forehead. He was perfect. And just as Ami said he suddenly began whimpering and snuffling against her, wiggling in her arms as he burrowed against her looking for a nipple. Kagome began to cry and laugh at the same time as she whispered, “Hi, puppy, hi my beautiful baby. I’m your Momma, and I’m going to love you forever and forever.”
Keeping him tucked against her with one arm, his furry little body lying against her with his little paws pressed against her abdomen, Kagome used her free hand to maneuver her breast so the nipple was next to his muzzle. “Come on, come on puppy.”
The pup snuffled and whimpered for a second as he nuzzled against his mother’s breast before his little muzzle enveloped his mother’s nipple so he could begin suckling. He felt safe and loved as his mother cradled him to her chest, rocking him gently as she whispered to him how much she loved him, how she would always take care of him, how he was the light of his life. The warm comforting presence of his mother soothed the pup as her scent engulfed him.
Outside Sesshoumaru had stood the second the heavy scent of his pup filled the air. From the corner of his eye he saw the Elite Guard moving closer, each man eager to see the new heir. For over an hour the hall was silent before the shoji screen finally opened as Ami and Kaede stepped out. Kaede simply nodded her head at him before heading down the hall back to her guest chambers. She was, after all, an old woman and she’d been up for a very long time. She needed to go to sleep to replenish herself. After she left Ami bowed deeply to her lord and said, “She is ready now. We’ve cleaned her and the pup up and you can see her. She will need her rest however, so keep the visit short. When she wakes up send for me and I’ll come to help her take a full bath and eat.”
Sesshoumaru simply nodded his head before leading the way into the bedroom. He would allow Rin, Shippo, and the Elite Guard to see the pup briefly before ordering them from the room so he could be alone with his mate and son. Besides, it was late and Rin and Shippo needed their rest for their lessons tomorrow.
Kagome looked up as she watched Sesshoumaru lead her other children and guards into the bedroom. After her son had finished with his first meal Ami and Kaede had helped her take a quick sponge bath before once again changing the bedding and getting her into a new sleeping yukata. Once they’d done that they’d helped her to settle back on the bed before inviting the others in. Now, she sat in the middle of her futon as she smiled at Rin and Shippo and said, “Come see your new little brother.”
While Sesshoumaru and the guards stood near the door Rin and Shippo ran up to the side of the futon and crawled forward on either side of Kagome to get a good look at the shockingly white puppy cradled in her arms.
“Kagome-okaasan, he’s so cute!” Rin cried. Reaching out to trail one of her fingers along the puppy’s cheek, tracing the magenta stripe there. “He look’s just like Sesshoumaru-sama!”
Kagome personally thought her son was much more beautiful than her mate, of course her detest of her mate probably colored her perception. She didn’t let the similarities in her son and mate’s appearances worry her. Her son was just that, her son. She would love him with all her heart in spite of what his father had done to her. “He is adorable, isn’t he?”
“He’s perfect, Kagome,” Shippo whispered with awe as he stared down at his surrogate mother’s new pup. “His aura is strong.”
“What are you going to name him, Kagome-okaasan,” Rin asked?
Kagome’s eyes darted to Sesshoumaru as she said, “We haven’t decided yet.” Truthfully they hadn’t even discussed it yet.
“Are you tired, Kagome?” Shippo could plainly see that his mother was exhausted, but she was still glowing brightly.
Kagome laughed lightly. “I’ve never been so tired in all my life, but it’s a good tired. I feel wonderful, though I expect I’ll feel even better with a good night’s sleep.”
“Indeed,” Sesshoumaru interrupted. Moving forward he continued, “You may see my son more tomorrow, but it is late and he and his mother need rest. Time for the two of you to go to bed. Your guards will take you.”
Kenji stepped forward, sensing his lord’s desire to be alone with his mate and pup, and said, “Come children. Tomorrow you can see them again, but the Lord is right. Lady Kagome needs her rest.”
As two of the guards led the children from the room Kenji bowed to his lord and remarked, “He is perfection, Lord Sesshoumaru. He will do the West proud. We will leave you and your mate now.”
One by one the guards took one final look at the pup in Kagome’s arms before bowing and exiting the chambers. When they were gone Sesshoumaru strode forward and knelt down beside Kagome on the futon to truly look upon his son. His pup was curled up against his mother, his fuzzy white body cradled in both her arms as he slept peacefully. It would be a few weeks before his eyes opened, but Sesshoumaru knew they would be as golden as his own. His son was the spitting image of him, his powerful aura filling the room and brushing against his and his mother’s. Sesshoumaru had never felt such pride.
Kagome watched as Sesshoumaru reached forward for the pup and she drew back in fear. “You aren’t taking him from me! You promised I could raise him! You swore!”
Sesshoumaru was surprised by her outburst, but knew he shouldn’t be. Kagome had made no secret that she distrusted him immensely, and with her exhausted state she was likely to be irrational if she felt the slightest amount of fear. With that in mind he soothed, “Mate, worry not. You are his mother, and you are going to care for him. Just as we discussed. I simply wish to hold him for a moment, to imprint him with my scent. I will not hurt him or you.”
Clutching her puppy close to her Kagome eyed Sesshoumaru warily. “I don’t trust you! You’re going to take him away from me! Stay away! He’s my puppy! Mine!”
She was to exhausted to realize how crazy she sounded. Too tired to understand that even while she abhorred Sesshoumaru, she knew deep down he’d never take their pup from her. He had put her in charge of Rin after all, and brought Shippo to her. She knew one of the things he liked most about her was her natural mothering abilities. None of that entered her mind at the moment. All she knew was that he’d hurt her time and again and now he was trying to take her puppy from her arms. She wouldn’t allow it!
“Stay away from my puppy!”
Sesshoumaru could see the hysterical glint to her eyes and realized that she was simply too exhausted to make sense of anything other than her desire to protect her son. Human she may be, but her maternal instincts were strong. If she felt he was a threat to the pup she would fight him to the death to protect their son. He knew he was to blame for this situation. His treatment of her the first few weeks after he’d taken her from Inuyasha had firmly cemented him as the enemy in her mind. When in her right mind, when strong and rational, she knew he was no threat to their pup. But when she was weakened and hurt? AS she was now from the birthing? All she knew was what her instincts told her, and his vicious actions towards her in the beginning ensured her instincts identified him only as dangerous and not to be trusted. She felt no sense of safety and comfort from his presence as a mate should.
An unfamiliar feeling filled Sesshoumaru’s chest, something akin to pain as he realized he would not be able to take his pup into his arms as he wished to in order to begin imprinting his scent upon his son. Not only that but he would not be able to then pass him back to his mother and then hold them both in the protective shelter of his arms as he not only longed to, but his own instincts drove him to. No. He could not do these things because it would cause Kagome to physically lash out at him. He had no doubt that in her state of mind she would try to kill him if he so much as moved towards their pup again. It would have to wait until she had calmed down and regained her strength from the birthing.
His whole body filled with pain at the thought he would not be able to hold his pup or mate tonight, and for the first time in his life he felt true self-loathing as he realized he was solely responsible for this truth. Had he not hurt Kagome when he’d first claimed her things would not be so terribly wrong between them. Had he not hurt her she would not now be turning her body away from him to shield her pup from him, trying to protect him from his own father.
Looking into Kagome’s wary eyes, Sesshoumaru said softly, “I will not take our pup from you, mate. I understand you feel that you must protect him from me, but I assure you that is not the case. If you fear for his safety, if you cannot even let me hold him because of this fear, I will concede to your wishes, but I must imprint my scent upon him. It is vital for inus.”
Clutching her puppy close, Kagome hissed, “Don’t you touch him! You’ll hurt him! You’ll hurt him and take him from me! He’s my puppy!”
“I’m not going to take him. I’m going to take my kimono off and hand it to you. I want you to wrap the pup in it. That will ensure my scent imprints upon him along with yours.”
Kagome looked at him distrustfully. A long moment passed between them in tense silence before she finally consented, “Fine. You can give me your kimono, but then you go sit over there.” She nodded towards the shoji screen that led to the hallway. “If you try to come near my puppy, if you try to take my son, collar or no collar, I’ll kill you!”
She wouldn’t be able to, but Sesshoumaru knew she would fight to her last breath trying. He cursed himself and his foolishness for ever treating her with such cruelty when she first arrived. His own actions separated him from his pack now. Slowly, so as not to frighten Kagome, he removed his outer kimono and gently tossed it at his mate’s feet. When she simply continued to glare at him he then stood and moved to sit with his back against the wall near the door. “I will not move from this spot. You may rest. I promise not to try and take the pup form you.”
“Your promises mean nothing to me.” Kagome slowly picked up the kimono, keeping an eye on Sesshoumaru, before gently wrapping her puppy in the silk. “Shh, puppy, shhh. Momma will protect you. I won’t ever let anyone hurt you. I love you, puppy. I love you so much.”
“Aisoku.”
Looking up sharply at Sesshoumaru, Kagome asked, “What?”
Sesshoumaru sat staring at his mate huddled on the bed, their son clutched protectively in her arms as she did her best to shield the puppy’s body from his sight, and repeated, “Aisoku. His name is Aisoku.”
“Beloved son,” Kagome translated. “You don’t want to name him after a weapon? Or give him some name that strikes fear in the hearts of his enemies like ‘Killing Perfection’?”
Still hurting from the fact he could not hold his pup because his own mate loathed him and believed he would take their son from her, a belief he knew was cause for, Sesshoumaru replied, “No. A name should fit. Aisoku fits. Sleep, Kagome. Sleep and regain your strength. Maybe tomorrow you will be prepared to trust me enough to hold him.”
“I’ll never trust you. You just stay over there and keep away from my puppy.”
Smiling down at her puppy, Kagome whispered, “Aisoku, go to sleep sweet boy. Momma will protect you.”
Sesshoumaru watched as Kagome tossed him one last withering glare before she snuggled down into the bedding, their son held safely and securely in her arms as she curled herself around him. She might distrust him, but the birthing had been hard on her and she was asleep in moments. Keeping to his vow he did not move from his place at the door as he watched them sleep. He ignored the whimpering of his beast as it begged to be allowed to hold their mate and pup, and instead whispered to the night, “You protect him, mate, and I’ll protect you both … forever.”