I can't believe I feel asleep like that- Midori said it was no big deal, being my fist time taking care of the cubs and all… I was just so tired and it was so peaceful-
"Hey, Sleeping Beauty," Midori smirked at me as I got up with a yawn and stretched out my body. "Have a nice nap?"
I nodded and smiled sleepily at her, watching as the cubs played yet another game.
"I'm surprised you lasted as long as you did…" Midori laughed, "I barely lasted an hour on my first day with the cubs."
"How long was I asleep?" I finally asked her.
"A little over an hour."
I looked towards the sun, and sure enough- it was past the middle of the sky and was preparing to set. "What are we going to do now?"
"Not much. Now, we just make sure the get all of their energy out and get them to dinner; then, others will be watching them through the night," Midori went to Kotone and grabbed the baby twin boys and sat down next to my feet.
Following Midori's lead, I walked over to Moriko and offered to take Umeko from her, which she nodded to as a response and placed the baby in my awaiting arms.
We watched and played with the orphan cubs for while longer- just until the sun began to set; once the clouds in the sky started turning orange and the torches were being lit, Midori hurried us inside to where we ate twice before.
Midori handed the babies off to the young mothers for their food, then pointed for me to go towards the 'head' once again as she took the other cubs to their spot towards the middle.
I sat where I had sat before, watching and I found that more wolf demons were in the room than I had ever seen altogether before.
"How was your day?" Kouga's deep voice came from behind me.
I smiled back at him and replied, "A little tiring, but it was fun with the cubs."
Kouga smile-smirked and turned to his pack, greeting them, and then went on with dinner.
"Did you like the cubs? Were they good for you?" Kouga asked me as he served me my cooked meat and assorted herbs.
"I can do that…" I said shyly, trying to help him serve me.
"Here, the males serve their families. The females already do enough," Kouga smiled genuinely, passing the next piece of meat down to his sister's mate.
I raised my hand and pretended to cough to hide my slight blush. When Kouga sat back down, he restated his question and I answered, "I loved the cubs. They're all so adorable. And they were all well-behaved," I smiled at him, and then took a bite of my meat. You know, come to think of it, wolves eat meat all the time- it's no wonder they're strong… it's because they eat so much protein!
"I'm glad," Kouga sat closer to me, making me even redder than before. He smirked at my slight hesitancy and the red blush across my face.
"Could I continue with it tomorrow? I still feel like I'd be… free-loading or something if I didn't do something…"
"Free-loading?" Kouga asked, his smirk falling from his face.
"Getting everything you need for nothing in return."
"Isn't that what people do when they're in love? I'd give you everything for nothing in return…" he smirked once more at me.
He's so passionate about me… so genuine and unique with his feelings towards me….
Unlike THAT DOG.
I subdued my blush then answered, "I still feel like I should do something. Plus, I like taking care of the cubs."
He smiled and we went on with dinner, talking about 'normal wolf things'- such as hinting, cubs, mating, and territory.
Long after everyone was done eating, most of the wolves were still sitting around the 'table' and chatting. The only ones who had left were the night guards and the young cubs.
We sat chatting for a long time, that is, until I yawned.
"Tired?" Kouga grinned at me.
I sheepishly smiled and replied sleepily, "Yes."
"I'll take you to bed then," Kouga stood and extended his and to me, hoisting me up to my feet and leading me back towards his room- followed by whistles and perverted growls from Kouga's underlings.
Kagome ignored her blush this time, following groggily behind Kouga.
The next morning was the same routine; I woke up to Ryouta, took a bath with Midori, and had breakfast at the head of the table with Kouga.
The only thing different was that I had to take the girls to bathe, just like Midori did for the boys yesterday.
Giving them all baths is much more… tiring than I thought. First you have to get them all undressed, then get them all in the water (while holding the ones that couldn't swim yet), and make sure they all wash every single part of their little bodies. I had babysat in the past, back when I was just a normal school girl, but none of those babysitting experiences could prepare me for washing these wolf cubs.
First of all, they have more hair than human babies, both on their head, and on their tails; both sections have to be washed perfectly.
Second, they are all hyper, except Moriko of course. They all insisted on splashing myself and each other with water and soap.
Last, even though they were girls, they liked being dirty.
(Which all this results in me having the most hectic motherhood experience of my entire life.)
After about an hour, I finally finished getting all the girls cleaned and partially tired. I still wonder how Midori can do this every day…
"I was wondering if I should send a rescue team," Midori smirked at me. "I was worried the girls would overwhelm you. But I guess you lived. No casualties, I see."
I faked a pout than sat next to her on the grass with Umeko safe in my arms, and Moriko sat down next to me.
"So… how was their baths?" Midori smiled at me, shifting her weight to face me more fully with the newborn twins in her arms.
"Well, it was hard. I've never given anyone a bath but my little brother…" I started.
"You have a little brother?!" Midori got all wide-eyed and gasped, "I didn't know that!"
I tried to laughed, but I came out as more of a muffled 'humph' and thought about my poor, unmentioned brother. "Yeah, he's cute. Sometimes a pain… but I do love him."
Midori smiled at me and told me to tell her about the cubs' behavior in the hot springs.
"Well, they were fine; I just wasn't used to all the hair…" I tied laughing again- I was a bit more successful than the last time. "My brother's hair is short and he most definitely doesn't have a tail."
"His hair is short?"
"Yes…"
Now I even held Midori's attention, some cubs even gaped at me.
"Why is his hair short?" Midori asked me, looking genuinely confused.
Oh, that's just great, how am I gonna get around this one without telling her I'm from the future? All the boys around here keep their hair long…
"I'm from Canada, remember?" Bwahaha, good thinking Kagome!
"Oh yes! You mentioned that you were from 'Cannadaa' at yesterday's breakfast," Izumi smiled at me, proud to know what I had been referring to.
"Tell us more about 'Caanadda,' Kagome!" a couple of the cubs pulled at my skit, openly showing their anticipation.
Good thing I've been to Canada, huh?
Midori smiled and urged me on along with the cubs, "Yeah, Kagome, tell us!"
I sighed softly then decided it would be best to tell them all about my 'homeland'- minus the whole fact that you know, I'm not really from Canada or the Feudal Era.
"So why does your brother have short hair?" Midori asked after a short explanation about the general idea of Canada.
"Uh, well… you see… um… In Canada, hair is a waste! We cut it short so we don't have to worry about it!" I quickly came up with it, not completely thinking about my statement.
"Then way isn't your hair so short?" Kotone inquired.
Oh crap. "Uh- well, I haven't been back to- Canada… for a long time, so my hair's grown…?"
They seemed to have accepted my explanation… for now, at least.
A/n: sorry, Canadians. I don't know much about Canada… only been there once myself… all I know is that there are A&W's EVERYWHERE. And, no, I am not implying certain things to be related to Canada. It's just a country that I thought would suffice to young 'cub' imagination. Also sorry for the short chapter- last few months have been… whoa.
Paragraph flow due to 'It Sucks to Be Me' and 'The Internet is for &$#' by Avenue Q. Hahahaha. Long story there….
ne last thing- Id lke to say thanks to all my reviewers, AND th people that add this to their story alerts and favorites. Alerts and favs make me feel as special as a review. So- Thanks.