A/N: The next chapter! So much excitement! We finally get to meet Sayomi and Kouga's children for the first time!
Tsukiko means "moon child."
Asami means "morning beauty."
Kazuhiko means "first/harmonious prince."
I'd also like to thank KeikoHayasaka, Night Neko-Jin, Daisy19971, tsukiko008, Lady Rini, and Daeth101- Fox Version for being fantastic reviewers. You all were with me during Wolf Cry and I'm so happy to have you back!
The weeks flew by blissfully as Sayomi drew nearer to the four month mark of her pregnancy. In that time the pups had begun to kick vigorously, letting their presence be known to Sayomi. Her favorite memory of those weeks had been the day that she had placed Kouga's hand on her swollen belly so that he could feel, and his eyes had grown wide in utter amazement. He had looked from her belly to her, and then back to her belly, and slowly the amazement in his eyes had turned to unbridled pride. That memory would stay with her forever.
She lay now with Kouga on their bed, humming to herself and the little ones that grew inside her, and they kicked and thumped softly in response. Kouga's hand absentmindedly caressed Sayomi's stomach as he held her in his arms.
'This is pure bliss,' Sayomi thought contentedly to herself. 'I could stay like this forever.'
She drew Kouga's face down to hers for a kiss and sighed happily when he obliged. Pulling away from the kiss Kouga ran a hand through her raven hair and smiled at her.
"So, my love, what do you feel? Anything instinctual telling you when you'll deliver, or are we just going to have to be surprised?" He kissed her forehead tenderly and then returned to caressing her belly.
Sayomi smiled at him. "I don't know, I don't have any alerts going off yet, so we may just have to wait and see."
He nodded and leaned down to put his face near her stomach. "Hey you two," he called softly. "You just make sure not to come when I'm not around," he told the pups, thinking of the hunting trip that was coming up in two days. "Wait for me, okay?" He laughed softly when he got a sharp kick in response.
He lay back down next to his mate and watched as she ran a hand over her stomach affectionately. "I think that was a yes," she laughed.
Kouga smiled as Sayomi yawned and snuggled in close to him. They soon fell asleep in each other's arms.
xxxxxx
As the hunting party prepared to set out, Kouga kissed Sayomi tenderly in the light of the rising sun, and repeated his request to his pups that they stay put until he returned.
Ginta and Hakkaku had volunteered to stay behind with Sayomi just in case, and they stood on each side of her as she said her goodbyes to her mate.
"We should be back sometime around nightfall," Kouga assured her. "I love you, Sayomi."
She smiled. "I love you too, Kouga. I think you should get going, the packs getting anxious," she said, gesturing to the group that stood fidgeting near the cave entrance. He laughed and kissed her forehead once, then, signaling to his men, he set off to hunt. Sayomi walked to the cliff above the lake to watch them go, and once they were out of sight she returned to the den.
Ginta and Hakkaku sat by the fire lazily, and she made to join them. Having trouble maneuvering to sit down, she asked Ginta to help her. After several moments, she finally succeeded in positioning her self before the fire.
She sat staring at the flames for some time, enjoying the warmth in the chill morning air. The winter would be upon them soon. The thought of the upcoming cold reminded her of the pelts that she was constructing for her daughters, and she tried to stand to go get them, only to fall over backwards.
Ginta and Hakkaku snickered and she sent them death glares, quickly shutting them up.
"Sayomi, do you need something? Maybe it would be easier if I helped you out," Hakkaku offered.
She glared at him for a few moments more before sighing in agreement.
"Could you please fetch the pelts I've been working on?" she asked him. He nodded and went to fetch them, returning a few moments later carrying a bundle of soft, brown would fur.
She took them and smiled at him appreciatively before setting to work.
She wished that she had black pelts like her own for her children to wear, but since the black wolves were now extinct, the brown would have to do. And after all, they were Kouga's children too, and should wear the pelts of their pack.
She worked for several hours cutting and sewing the pelts into little miniatures of her own outfit. Finally, when she was done, she sat back and admired her handiwork.
'Well, the pups won't be able to wear them for a few months, but by the time they are big enough for them, winter will have set in and these will be useful.'
She lay the pelts out beside her and yawned. Curling up beside the fire, she fell asleep almost instantly.
xxxxxx
She began to dream almost as soon as her eyes had shut.
She stood outside a large castle, an ominous aura hanging over it. She felt drawn to this place, as if her heart itself was tied to it in some way. As she silently entered the courtyard, a familiar scent drifted in the air to her nose, though she couldn't place why she knew it so well. Nevertheless, she followed it.
The scent lead her towards the main building of the immense castle, and as she neared she caught the sound of voices. Freezing instantly, she strained to hear what was going on.
"Naraku, you despicable bastard. You have kept us enslaved here for almost two decades, and now that I have broken free of your spell I will take your head and free my comrades!" Their was a vicious snarl, which was answered by calm voice.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. That is no way to talk to the one that holds your peoples lives. So you've managed to break free of my spell, and you've decided to kill me. If I cannot keep you enslaved to me, than you are no longer of value to me."
There was the sound of tearing flesh, and a desperate howl of pain. The sound rang through her body, and she felt as if she herself was being torn in two. She screamed for herself, but she screamed also for the other, who she knew was dying at that very moment. The pain racked her body again, and then suddenly...
She was awake, and the pain was not subsiding. Ginta and Hakkaku stood beside her, anxious looks on their faces. The pain washed over her again, and she clutched her belly fearfully. She felt her body contract repeatedly, and she realized what was happening. She was no longer in the dream, but she was going into labor.
Frantically she gestured to Ginta and Hakkaku.
"You must get Kouga and Chika! The pups will be here soon!" she told them anxiously as her face contorted in pain as another contraction hit her.
Ginta and Hakkaku stared at her, blank looks on their faces.
"GO!" she screamed at them. She would have punched them if she could have.
Ginta shook his head. "But Sayomi, there's no one else here. If we leave to fetch them there will be no one here to protect you. Kouga would never forgive us."
"I don't care!" she screamed at them. "I need them both. You must get them! I will be fine by myself!" She snapped her last words at them.
Ginta and Hakkaku glanced nervously at each other and then nodded. It was probably best to just do as she wished rather than to place more stress on her.
Hakkaku bent and took her hand. "We'll be back as fast as lightening," he told her.
"Well you can be back that fast if you never leave!" she growled, pointing to the cave entrance. "Go!"
Ginta and Hakkaku nodded and took off, splitting up to find both Kouga and Chika as fast as they possibly could.
xxxxxx
Twilight had just set in and the hunting pack was heading back to the cave when Kouga was ambushed by Ginta. The wolf stood panting before his leader, completely out of breath and trying to convey the situation to his leader by use of hand gestures.
Kouga watched as Ginta threw hand sign after hand sign at him, growing frustrated.
"What the hell is the matter, Ginta? Just spit it out all ready!"
Ginta finally caught his breath and sputtered, "Sayomi! Labor!"
Kouga froze for a moment, and then bolted, leaving his men in the dust. Ginta collapsed, exhausted, on the ground.
xxxxxx
Chika sat drinking a cup of tea before her own small fire, watching the flames dance before her. She was suddenly interrupted by a voice outside her lair.
"Chika! Healer Chika!" Someone was calling for her, and calling urgently. She set her cup of tea down and stood, making her way quickly to the entrance of her home. Stepping outside, she found a very tired wolf practically screaming her name.
"CHIKA!" Hakkaku howled at the top of his lungs. He knew the healer resided in this area, but having never been here before he didn't know precisely where to look. He was startled by the sound of someone clearing their throat.
He spun around quickly to find a female youkai standing before him. "Are you the demon healer, Chika?" he asked her, on the edge of hysterics.
"I am," she replied calmly. "By the looks of it, you have come to me on Sayomi's orders, have you not?"
Hakkaku nodded vigoriously. "Please, you must go to her now! There's no time for talk!"
Chika nodded and returned to her lair to gather up the bundle of items that she had prepared for this day. Grabbing what she needed she returned to Hakkaku, and he lead the way back to the den.
xxxxxx
Sayomi lay before the fire, sweat dripping off her face. The contractions came steadily, she had become accustomed to them by now, and they were somewhat less painful. She panted heavily, trying with all her might to keep the pups from coming before their father had a chance to return. She knew that more than anything Kouga wanted to be able to witness the birth of his daughters.
Trying to distract herself from the pain, she focused on the events that had occurred in her dream. By that point, she could remember little beside the familiar scent, and the name that kept ringing through her head: Naraku.
She had only heard the name a few times in her lifetime, and always from Kouga. Naraku was the one that was responsible for the death of the Northern tribe, the total annihilation of her people. The name made her blood boil. She wanted to know what the dream meant, but now was not the time. Instead she dedicated herself to carving the dream into her mind the best she could, so that she could ponder it later.
She was brought back to reality as a sharp pain shot up her spine. She glanced down at her belly, and watched as the violet scars there were pushed and shoved as her pups moved about. She prayed that Kouga and Chika would arrive soon. She wasn't sure how much longer she could stand this.
As if in answer to her prayers, Kouga suddenly appeared at the entrance to the den, and he rushed to her side. Taking her hand in his he squeezed it reassuringly.
"I'm here, love, I'm here."
Another contraction hit her and she grimaced, causing Kouga's face to fill with worry. He was completely helpless here. There was nothing he could do for her beside be with her.
Sayomi brought her hand up to his face, and tried to smile for him.
"I'm fine, it's over now, everything is going to be alright," she said, trying to soothe him. He nodded, but didn't look convinced.
The sound of footsteps alerted them to Chika's arrival, and Sayomi turned her head to watch the healer enter the den. She stopped beside Kouga and pointed outside.
"You better stop your men now, or soon you're going to have the whole pack in here."
Sure enough, Kouga could hear them making their way up to the den. He looked at Sayomi helplessly.
Chika placed a hand on his shoulder. "Go. She will be fine, and by the looks of things she won't give birth before you get back."
Kouga nodded and kissed Sayomi's forehead before reluctantly heading out to stop his men from eagerly storming the den.
Chika knelt beside Sayomi and looked her over quickly.
"How far apart are the contractions?"
"About two minutes," she panted.
"And are you in much pain?" Chika asked her.
Another contraction washed over Sayomi and her face twisted in pain.
"I guess that answers that," Chika said seriously.
She unfolded the bundle she carried and held out a strange looking root to Sayomi.
"Eat this, it will dull the pain."
At the prospect of easing the pain, Sayomi snatched the root from Chika and swallowed it whole. Chika had to choke back a laugh.
Kouga returned a few minutes laughter, saying that the pack was settling in at the foot of the lake for the night.
For the next few hours Kouga fetched and heated water while Chika tended to Sayomi. Finally her contractions came consecutively, and Chika knew it was time.
"Alright, Sayomi, breathe, just breathe," she told her as she positioned herself to receive the pups as they came.
"Alright now, push with the contractions. Push, Sayomi. I can see the head, once more now, push!" The sound of a baby's cry filled the air as Sayomi whelped the first pup. Chika cut the tie with the mother and held the pup out before her.
"A girl, just as I thought," she said proudly showing the pup to Sayomi.
Sayomi's face filled with the purest of love. "Tsukiko..." Sayomi breathed. Chika handed the child to Kouga, who echoed Sayomi's words.
The contractions came again, and once again cries filled the air. "Another girl!" Chika smiled, holding the pup out for Sayomi, who smiled as well.
The broke over the horizon at that moment, and Sayomi said, "Asami..."
Chika placed Asami in Sayomi's waiting arms, and Sayomi felt the purest joy she had ever known. She looked to Kouga who cradled Tsukiko in his arms, and they smiled at each other, and Kouga bent to place a kiss on Sayomi's lips.
Suddenly her face contorted with pain.
"What's wrong?" Kouga asked, looking anxiously from Sayomi to Chika. Chika's eyes opened wide.
"Quickly, Kouga, take Asami from Sayomi. There's another pup!"
"Another pup!" Sayomi and Kouga exclaimed together, shocked.
"Yes, yes, now do what I say!" Chika ordered.
Kouga took Asami from Sayomi, and Chika told her to push. Within minutes cries once again filled the air, and Chika held up a third pup.
"A boy!" she exclaimed. "Well, that would explain why we didn't know their was a third until now!" She quickly cut the ties and held him out to Sayomi, who took him in hers arms, tears streaming down her face.
"A boy..." she whispered, touching his tiny fingers. "Kazuhiko..."
Kouga shook himself out of his haze and exclaimed, "A boy! The heir to the Eastern lands!" He could hardly contain himself. He placed kisses all over Sayomi's face as Chika confirmed that there were no more pups, and started to clean up.
Sayomi's eyes began to droop, and soon she had passed out, exhausted, still holding Kazuhiko in her arms.
Juggling his daughters in his arms Kouga took Sayomi's hand. "Thank you," he whispered. "Thank you for giving my the greatest gift that I could ever recieve."