The woes of Motherhood

Authors note: The only reason I am putting a warning on this is due to the adult nature of this story as it pertains to real-life situations, such as: lactation, female anatomy and motherhood.

And as always I make NO profit off of this, just enjoy playing in the sand box.

Inuyasha and his 5 year daughter Kiseki reached the edge of Inuyasha's Forest. Kiseki held bundles of cloth strapped to her back; while her father carried a few bales of rice. Kiseki huffed, as she suddenly came to a halt.

"ChiChi…I need a break, we have been walking forever. Why do you always have to be in such a hurry?" The girl whined.

Inuyasha stopped, turning his gaze towards Kiseki. He gave a smug smile. "Keh, you just took a break a little while ago. We are almost home…An' I'm in a hurry because this is the first time since your brother's been born that Mama has been left alone with him. He's only a month old, Kiseki and part yokai children are not so easy to tend to. Suck it up and come on."

Kiseki growled in a fashion much like her father. "But ChiChi…what about me? It's always about Hon! Is he more important than me now? Is it because he's got dog ears? And I don't?"

At this Inuyasha frowned. "You know damn well that you are just as important as Hon. I don't wanna hear stupid things like that from you, Kis. Ever, or you won't get any of the sweets Mama has saved from her time." Inuyasha could not help but smile when his daughters jaw dropped.

They reached their hut with a short amount of time. Inuyasha and Kiseki dropped their loads onto the varanda. Inuyasha was not shocked to hear Hon screaming his lungs out.

"Come on Kis…See I told ya, mama needs us."

The hut was actually bigger than Miroku's home and sectioned off by three different rooms, a fourth currently being added for the baby. Inuyasha wiped his feet on a bamboo mat that separated the raised platform of their home and the dirt of the ground. Kis followed in suit with a evident scowl on her face.

"Kagome…we're back! What's all that racket?" Inuyasha teased entering the main room of their home. The hearth had long gone out, something that was a little strange considering the cooling air of the end of summer. Hon still wailed and Inuyasha stiffened when his wife did not answer his call.

"Kagome…" He called again, reaching to open the sliding doors of their bedroom. Inuyasha opened it to find a scene he had not expected in a thousand years. Hon lay in his basket face red from crying and arms flailing. Kagome lay face down on the tatami mat, partially dressed in a bathing yukata. A spilled saucer of water lay beside her.

Inuyasha's eyes widened in horror. "KAGOME!" He cried jumping to her form. He picked her up gently off the mat and brushed a lock of raven hair from her face. He was relieved when he felt her soft breaths hit the 2 fingers he put over her mouth. He called her name a few more times as Kiseki watched the scene terrified.

Inuyasha rose slowly, cradling Kagome in his arms. He moved slowly to the infant who continued to scream, rubbing a hand across the little boy's browl. Inuyasha could not scent any milk on the baby, an indication that the infant was indeed very hungry.

"Kiseki…" Inuyasha's voice trembled. "Come here and take your brother…" He gestured. "Take him to Kaede's…tell her he needs milk."

"Chichi…But I can't…I mean what if I drop him…I have never carried Hon before." Kis could not help the tears that started to leak from her eyes. She did not want her Chichi to think that she was weak.

Inuyasha's eyes softened. "Yes, you can. You always tell me you want to be strong. Well, now is your chance. Inu-yokai are very strong….so you need to do this for mama and me. I have to take care of mama. I will be there very soon."

Kiseki looked at her father with the same determined gold eyes and then to her poor little brother. She nodded in agreement and then went to pick the infant up. Kiseki put the baby against her left shoulder and turned to her father with tear-filled eyes.

"Chichi, is mama going to be okay?"

Inuyasha blinked, willing his eyes to remain dry. "Yes, Kis…I think she will be fine. Please tell Kaede-baba that I will be at the river, tell her to meet me there."

Kiseki nodded and left without another word, with her crying brother out towards the village.

Kagome awoke to cool water running down her cheeks. She felt the familiar pads of her husband's slender, clawed fingers move her bangs from her brawl. The air around her was warm and the sun was intensely bright. She could not recall what had happed after she nursed Hon. One minute he was attached to her bosom and the next the world went black. She felt extremely tired and a bit woozy. Her eyes spotted Inuyasha's concerned ones.

"Inu-Yasha…" She breathed and questioned at the same time. "Wha-what happened ? I was nursing Hon and then…I can't remember what happened…"

Inuyasha released a breath he had probably been holding for quite some time. "Shhh….don't talk Kagome. I came home from Me and Kis's little trip and found you in our home….passed out with a very pissed off Hon. I knew I shouldn't have left you with him, after all the trouble he's been giving ya…" Inuyasha hugged his wife gently, arranging her to sit up and in his lap. He wrapped the robe of the Fire Rat around Kagome's form.

"He's….just colicky is all…I was fine until this morning. I am tired a lot from nursing, but I didn't think that I was going to faint….I don't know what happened."

"Keh, you can't full me, Kagome. I have heard you up with him constantly…your always feeding and he's always cryin'. You must have been passed out for a while. I could not smell your milk on him. You should have went to Sango's or Kaede's if he was so much trouble." Inuyasha argued softly. Kagome frowned and looked away, knowing that he was indeed right.

She sighed. "Your right, Inuyasha. He has been difficult. I feed him and feed him and it never seems to be enough. Kis was not like this at all…" Inuyasha smelled tears before they even fell from Kagome's brown eyes.

"Some- something is wrong with me Inuyasha!" She cried, curling into his chest. "I am a horrible mother…what am I going to do with myself?" She asked no one in particular.

"Oh don't start with that shit again Kagome…" Inuyasha huffed. "You are a mother of 2 part Yokai children, it ain't an easy task. But you did it, you brought them into this world. You are here…your just tired. Kaede will be here shortly to see what is wrong. And then we can help you get better for Hon and Kis."

No sooner than Inuyasha said it Kaede appeared, carrying a basket of herbs. "Inuyasha!" She called.

Kaede kneeled next to him. "Kagome, dear what happened to ye? Kis came to me telling me you passed out…I should have guessed as seeing that you have been pale these days. Have ye been over doing it with Hon?"

Kagome went to answer, but Inuyasha did it for her. "Kaede, Kagome is constantly feeding Hon and he's always crying…I ain't no expert but I think he's not getting enough or something…or he's just sucking the life from Kagome. She's too damn stubborn to say somethin' to ya." Inuyasha pointed out, getting a dirty look from his wife.

"Aye…I suspect that your wife is having lactation problems, Inuyasha." Kaede commented. She dipped a small cup into the stream and offered it to Kagome.

Kagome sipped the water and resumed her speech. "Keade….if that is true, I didn't know. I was just doing how I was taught. But he does eat a lot and very frequently. I just thought I could handle it. I had no problems with Kis…"

Kaede nodded and took the cup from Kagome. "I believe you, child. But I think it has not to do with you as much as your own body. Open your Yukata and let me see your bosom." Kaede asked quite bluntly.

Kagome blushed and knew that the women was on to something. She did not want to have her or Inuyasha see the damage done to her nipples. She cringed at just the thought."Um…why do you want to see that? Inuyasha is here…an-"

"Kagome, spare me and the old women. She and I both know I have seen your tits more than you can count. Open it up or I'll tear it up. This is important. If ya ain't making milk, than Hon gonna need some other women's milk or somethin' and whatever else Kaede instructs."

Kaede and Kagome gave the hanyou a face. Kagome sighed and untied the tie of her Yukata. She pulled the fabric loose and exposed herself. Inuyasha's eyes widened at the sight of her chest and Kaede sighed.

"Just as I thought." The woman remarked, pulling a small container from her basket. Inuyasha studied the peaks of Kagome's chest. Her nipples were, red, swollen and cracked, Clearly she was chaffed and it looked as if someone tried to bite them off.

"Kagome….why didn't you say something? Like that damn fact your tits are…I don't know bleedin!" Inuyasha astonished.

"Hush, you crass dog!" Kaede snapped as she pulled the front of Kagome's Yukata closed. "She didn't say anything because for the most that is normal the first few weeks. However, cuts like that mean, ye son has fangs and is working very hard for milk he is not getting. Isn't that right Kagome?"

Kagome looked down, clearly embarrassed. "Yes, I just didn't think he would have fangs so soon…."

"Keh, your're lucky he's not a hanyou. I had fangs when I was born." Inuyasha butted in. Keade gave him a dark stare.

"Aye, I no not of quarter-demon children, but I do know that you're not making enough milk….this poses as a problem. There are wet-nurses in the village, but they will not offer services so willingly." Kaede told the couple truthfully.

"Though the village respects ye, Inuyasha and Kagome, the don't change their beliefs on bedding and spawning with a hanyou. I'll put an ointment on ye skin. Hon will have to continue to nurse, as he is getting some milk. I shall make a gruel for Hon for a supplement, that should be suffice."

Kagome nodded while Inuyasha scowled and helped her close her yukata. Kaede waddled back to her hut with Kagome and Inuyasha in tow. It was going to be a long year ahead of them. But it was lucky that Hon was quarter demon, because as the months wore on Kagome found it harder to breast feed him and started giving him foods that Inuyasha provided, knowing that the baby needed nutrients to keep him healthy. He certainly did not think his wife was lacking in anyway.

I couldn't go on…I hated to end it there but, it is what it is, regardless, hope you enjoyed!