Prologue:
The morning sun began to rise as the last of the darkeness of the night vanished. The already bright rays shone through the soft white cumulus clouds. Tree and plant leaves glistening from the morning dew. The sun continued to rise and as it did it brought a small village to life.
Men, women and children woke to the bright rays and prepared their morning meals before taking up their rakes and hoes and beginning their work in the fields that were to be full of rice, vegetable and more come harvest time. Children who weren't old enough to work went and played with a young girl with dark brown hair, which she had pulled in a small ponytail.
The sun still continued to rise adn as it did it came to find a house not far from a grande shrine. upon finding the house, the rays filtered through the slits in the wooden window shutters and into a room, where a young woman remained in a peaceful sleep in the arms of her beloved husband. As the rays touched the woman's closed eyes lids, she stirred opening her soft chocolate eyes. She sighed, knowing that it was time to wake up and begin her day. She went to sit up, but was held tightly in her husband's firm hold.
Smiling softly, the young raven haired woman leaned over, so she could whisper into his velvety dog ears, that lay atop his silver haired head. "Inuyasha," she cooed softly, hoping to be released from his hold so she may begin her morning. There came no reply, so she said his name again, a bit louder this time.
"Inuyasha, I'll be right back. Just going to 'go', k?" she said, emphasizing the 'go' part. She heard an annoyed sigh and was then released from the grip. "Hm, thank you..."
"Come right back." The husband's gruff morning voice spoke in a murmmer as the woman nodded.
"I will...unless of course our son wakes up, then I'll have to stay awake, you know that right?" She said and heard a slight growl. She giggled and quickly took her leave of their room, before her husband changed his mind about letting her out of their bed. The woman went down a set of wooden stairs and into another room, one that was marked 'Toilet'.
Once relieved, the woman went about preparing breakfast for her husband son and herself. She took a bucket and left the house to collect some water. She walked along the path, leading to the river. As she walked she could feel the sun's heat upon her marble skin. She was thanful for the cool breeze that seemed to caress her hot skin. She smiled "What a beautiful morning."
When she'd reached the river, the woman filled her bucket with the cool clean water and went to stand, then she spotted the water in the bucket and was instantly thirsty, so she cupped her hands, gathered the cool water in them and down it in two quick gulps. "Mmm, delicious, as water should always be." she stated satisfied. Now with her bucket full the girl headed back home. She spotted the young girl on her way, with several small children hanging off her hands. "Morning Rin," she called. The girl turned and waved back.
"Morning Lady Kagome." she said as the children tugged on the sleaves to her purple kimono. The woman, Kagome smiled and continued on her way home, where she was just in time to catch her 2 year old son, about to wake his father up.
"Kyo dear." the mother called to her son, who turned to his mother. Forgetting about waing his father the small boy towards his mother's outstretched arms.
"Mama!" the boy greeted his mother and was nearly at her, when he was lifted into the strong arms of his father. Kagome sighed as her husband came up to her, kissing her cheek. Their son still snug in his arms.
"Morning." The young father yawned as he was handed some tea. Trading the hot cup for the 2 year old squirming in his arms. He sipped it, while watching his wife.
"Good morning, Inuyasha. Did Kyo wake you?" Kagome asked, setting their son down, along with a small bowl of rice and a medium sized grilled fish. The fish Kagome had noticed in the water she'd collected earlier and decided to make it along with the rice for a treat. The small boy watsed not time. He stuck his small hand into his rice and gobbled it up, then grabbed his fish and did the same thing to it.
"Nah, you did...when you didn't come back t bed, like you said you would." The husband, Inuyasha said drinking his tea and munching on his fish.
"Sorry, but you know that when the sun rises, so do I...weird really, but I do." Kagome said taking a seat next to her husband.
"Yeah, yeah, I know...it is weird though, waking up to the sun...not just a few times, but every single day. thnak goodness for rainy days." Inuyasha joked and Kagome laughed nodding her agreement.
"Yes, those days I at least get to sleep in...until Kyo wakes us both by waking you." Inuyasha said, noticing the look that had just appeard on Kyo's young face. "See something interesting, son?" Inuyasha asked the boy, who simply nodded, then crawled over to his mother.
Kyo had noticed movement inside his mother's large pregnant belly and it made him curious. So he crawled over to his mother with profound curiousity in his golden eyes. Kagome smiled and pulled Kyo close to her. She gently took his small hand and placed it upon her tummy. A look of amazement shone upon his small face.
"What is it mama?" he asked as he felt another movement under his look of shear wonder shinning in his eyes.
Kagome smiled sweetly "It's your brother or sister inside my tummy, like you once were. Feel how active they are?"
"Wow! There's two?" That statement made Inuyasha nearly choke on his rice.
"No honey, there's only one. Though neither your father nor I know if it'll be a girl or a boy." The mother giggled as her husband washed down his food. Kyo nodded his understanding.
"Oh...in that case...I think I want a brother. K, mama?" Kagome smiled kindly.
"Well, we'll just have to wait and see what it'll be, wont we?" The little boy nodded as his mother stood, gathering the now empty dishes. "Now, would you like to come with me? Or stay with daddy today?" The boy thought "Ah..."
"Best if he goes with you, Kagome. Miroku needs me to go with him today." Inuyasha said, making Kyo sigh. "Sorry kid, not till you're alt least...10?" Kagome didn't like hearing that, but nodded.
"10 or 12 will be fine. Preferably 12." Kagome said softly to Kyo, but firmly to her husband who nodded his agreement. He knew that his wife's firm voice meant that she was serious and if he even tried to argue it, he'd pay the price for it. "So, another dangeorus demon to exorcise?"
"I guess. Though compared to me, probably a weakling." Inuyasha said boasting. Kagome nodded.
"More than likely. Alright Kyo, let's head out to the river to wash the dishes and laundry...oh and Inuyasha,"
"Hm?"
"Please try to keep your clothes clean for at least a week or I'll be washing them tomorrow...no matter if you have to go places or not. K." Inuyasha nodded, slighty worried that she'd make him go around naked all day if he didn't agree.
"...sure, but I'm not making any promises. You know how demon slaying can get." Kagome sighed, unable to deny that slayings were usually messy.
"Ha, yeah, yeah. Be careful." She said at the door.
"Worry wart." Both parents kissed and headed out to their destinations. "Just be careful!" Kagome called to him. Inuyasha simply waved his hand, not needing to look back. Kagome sighed as a man in black and purple monk robes appeared.
"Good morning Kagome," The man said as he met up with the mother and her son. Kagome smiled.
" Morning Miroku. Take care today you two." Kagome said as the man headed up to meet up with Inuyasha. Kagome took her son's small hand and continued to the river, where they met up with another woman and her 3 children.
"Good morning Sango," Kagome called to the young woman.
"Morning Kagome. Akari, Akira, can you girls keep Kyo and your brother company please?"
"K, mama!" Two twin girls hurried upto Kyo taking his hand and their brother's hand and headed to a safe distance from the water's edge, while their mothers did the washing.
"how're you feeling today Kagome?" Sango asked, Kagome, while washing some laundry. Kagome shrugged.
"Good, really huge, but good." Kagome said patting her big belly. Both girls laughed as their children played together not far away.
"I bet, not much longer now huh?"
Kagome nodded "Yeah, I can't wait to meet him or...ooh..." Kagome suddenly felt a pang of pain in her stomache. Sango looked at the girl.
"Maybe sooner than intended..." Sango said with slight worry. Kagome just shook her head.
"No...just a pregnancy pain. My mom said she had them when she was pregnant with me and Sota, but it doens't mean...ow! Okay, maybe you're right...ahh! Ow!" Kagome went to stand and nearly fell over, if not for her quick friend.
"Okay, let's get you home...I think you're in labor." Sango said, quickly grabbing onto her freind to help stabalize her. Kagome could only nod, she was in severe pain. Sango turned to the children.
"Akari, Akira, please bring Kyo and the washing home. I have to help your Aunt Kagome home." The girls nodded and did as they were told as Sango huried to get Kagome home and in bed before another wave of pain could be felt.
Late that night, Inuyasha and Miroku returned to the village, several bundles of rice with them. Inuyasha had an irritated expression on his face. "You know, when you said you had a demon to exorcise...I didn't think it's be a demon that was the queen of many other demons! Each almost as powerful as their queen, who by the way was terribly powerful, even for me!"
"My dear Inuyasha. I honestly had no idea of such a demon. I too believed that it was only one demon. We did well though, thanks to your fang and power." the monk said to his friend. "You know I sometimes miss it..." Inuyasha looked at him
"Huh? Miss what?"
The monk held his right hand and Inuyasha sighed "You miss the windtunnel? Really?"
"Obviously not the killing me part, but the power I held with it, how demons would fear me...ha, now I'm just a human..."
"With powerful spirit power. A lot of demons fear that sort of human...I mean look at...hm?" Inuyasha's sentace was stopped when he saw his son Kyo playing with a wooden snake toy, belonging to Shippo, a kitsune child he and Kagome and taken in years before. The boy in the tourqouise kimono looked over to the returning men.
"Inuyasha you're finally back." The boy said as Kyo went to throw his spinning top toy. he quickly grabbed it, fearing that the kid would activate the magic in it by throwing it. He handed the child a horse toy instead.
"Shippo...not that it's a bad thing, but where is Kagome? Why sisn't she with you and Kyo?" Inuyasha asked wondering where his wife would have gone and left their son behind.
"Oh, well Kagome is at home with Sango and Rin in the birthng room." Shippo said simply as he went back to keeping Kyo busy.
"...Ah...okay...Wait, What!" Inuyasha exclaimed, bolting for his house, where he was immediately blocked by Sango. "Aw, come on Sango..." She shook her head. Inuyasha grolwed irritated and sat down to wait.
After what seemed like decades to the on edge father, Sango finally allowed him to enter the room, as a soft yet firm cry was heard. He was in the room in seconds, he pushed back the curtain and found his wife, their newborn snug in her arms. she looked up and smiled at him.
"Hey," Inuyasha said softly as he walked closer. He stopped and knelt beside his wife, who though she'd just given brith still looked like she could take n a horde of demons. Course Inuyasha would not have allowed that to happen. Kagome sat up a bit and handed him a small bundle.
"Here, meet your daugthter." Kagome said as she watched her husband hlding their newborn daughter. She smiled as she closed her eyes for some well deserved rest.
Inuyasha was amazed at how tiny his newborn daughter was. At how small she was in his strong manly arms. "Hm..." Was all he could muster as he just coninued to smile.