Chapter 7

Dream child

Sesshoumaru hated pity more than anything. He hated that feeling, especially when the pity was aimed toward him. He could not stand it. Women who entered and left the room looked at him as if... as if they pitied him, really. And Jaken's mumbling around wasn't helpful at all:

- What a terrible time for Sesshoumaru-sama! What a terrible time. Poor Rin-sama! Poor child!

Sesshoumaru's aggressive eyes locked on the green youkai. He punched the little thing and threw it outside. Still he heard Jaken's crying:

- Poor Sesshoumaru-samaaaaaa!

Sesshoumaru remained impassive and thought again about how much he hated pity. Nothing could be more miserable. Rin's cry interrupted his reveling. He could not help but notice that his abdomen's muscles had contracted when he heard her scream of pain. It had been already several hours since Rin was suffering in this room to give birth to their child. He had wanted to accompany her, but Inuyasha's miko had intervened and ordered him to stay outside the room. She had dared to tell him that his fears were too visible and it would not help Rin. Sesshoumaru promised himself to put her in her place when all this would be over. He would not refrain from telling her his way of thinking, even if she too was nearing the end of her pregnancy. He had never really felt pity for others…

Another scream echoed through the walls of the house. It seemed that they were more frequent and more intense than before. For several minutes, the women who tended to Rin had not come out the room, which didn't reassure him at all. He could hear his wife's labored breathing and the odor of blood was now mingled with the scent of the sweat rolling down his spine out of fear.

Sesshoumaru tried to control his anxiety and keep his ice-cold face. But each time he heard Rin screaming, a shiver ran through him. He told himself that Rin's body could probably endure the pain, but a little voice in his brain was doubtful: this experience seemed way too long. Sesshoumaru did not like smelling the blood of his loved one and he could not help but imagine her slowly losing her precious life.

Rin cried longer and Sesshoumaru could not restrain a roar. When would all this be finally over?

He was overwhelmed by bad thoughts... Rin suffering, because of him. If he had been more careful, she would not have become pregnant and she wouldn't be delivering a baby right now. After all, he did not need a child, he did not need it if this was the cost. All he wanted was her. Why did he have to jeopardize her life? He already hated this child who was hurting her.

Sesshoumaru despised pity and anyone who experienced so useless an emotion. He felt so helpless, waiting in the room for this nightmare to be over that he pitied himself. And he hated himself for that.

He heard his brother coming into the house and saw him press himself on the doorway. Inuyasha remained pensive for minutes. Several cries were heard, but he did not react. When there was a moment of silence, he said:

- It's almost over, I think.

Sesshoumaru didn't sigh, not willing to give his brother the satisfaction of knowing that he had calmed him down with such a simple sentence. But he could not help feeling gratitude, another feeling he did not particularly liked to experience. Inuyasha spoke again:

- Deliveries are so long... I am so impressed that women can survive such a torture.

Sesshoumaru didn't talk, but he did not think less. His brother looked at him and said:

- And Rin won't even talk about it when she'll have the baby in her arms. And you too will forget.

This time, Sesshoumaru replied:

- I doubt it.
- Mmm... It is true that you might remember it... But still...

The two brothers had gone back silent when a new whirlwind of cries and blood smell assaulted them. Sesshoumaru would have liked to feel as confident as usual and kick Inuyasha out, but he found himself hoping that the hanyou would rest a little longer. He saw no pity in his eyes and felt a surprising quietness emanating from his little brother.

They waited without saying a word. Night was falling slowly. After a final, loud cry from Rin, they heard the newborn's roar. Inuyasha looked up and stated:

- Your baby has arrived.

Sesshoumaru did not know whether to get up immediately or wait, but again, his brother answered his questions.

- Stay here, they will come get you when they're ready.

It was still very long. The screaming had stopped and he could not understand why he had to wait outside. Kagome finally went out of the room with a small bundle in her arms. She walked over to the father.

- Sesshoumaru-nii-chan. Here's your daughter.

He leaned over the little thing resting in the arms of the miko. Inuyasha also came to greet the child.

- Hey! She looks so much like you, Sesshoumaru!

"Indeed," he thought as well. "She looks like me." The small one kept her eyes and fists closed, but they could see the outline of a crescent moon on her forehead. Her youkai ears were well drawn and her white hair was already long. Sesshoumaru remained unmoved, but something was boiling inside him. He wanted to take her, but he did not dare to ask. He saw Kagome turn away and head back to the bedroom. He refrained from asking her to stay and his face adopted a bored expression.

Kagome noticed the change and explained:

- I have to bring the child back to Rin now. In a few minutes you will join them, Sesshoumaru-nii-chan. All went well and she will recover very quickly, you'll see.
- Thank you, he heard himself saying.

The miko smiled to Inuyasha and entered the room. Sesshoumaru saw his brother cast a loving look at the woman. Inuyasha noticed the look of the youkai and he said, with a smile:

- It will be our turn soon.

It was true that Kagome had a very round belly and their little child would soon follow his. But that was not part of Sesshoumaru's concerns. He was impatient to see Rin and ensure that she was well. The door opened and the women came out. Kagome invited Sesshoumaru to enter the room.

Rin was lying between the sheets, a pillow behind her back. She looked tired, but her face lit up when she saw Sesshoumaru. She held out her hand, while holding the baby against her. He walked towards her.

- Our daughter, is she not beautiful?

He nodded. It was the most beautiful baby, he had no doubt about that. Rin gave him the girl and Sesshoumaru took her in his arms for the first time. She was so little! Even more than Rin when she was a child, light as a feather. He looked at Rin and said:

- She is perfect.

Rin's lovely grin lit up her face. Sesshoumaru stroked her cheek with his hand and asked her:

- How are you?
- Mmm. I hurt all over and I'm a little tired, but it's ok.
- Then you must sleep, Rin.

She nodded and leaned back against the pillows. She closed her eyes, then opened them immediately and watched Sesshoumaru and their child. She did this several times. She could not give in to sleep, still amazed to have given life and to see her two loves together.

Sesshoumaru stepped forward and carried her easily in his arms. He laid down next to Rin on the pillow, keeping the girl close to them. At once, he felt the young woman's body relax. It was a matter of minutes before she fell asleep. Rin's breathing became deeper as he felt the steady beat of her human heart through the layers of clothing.

His wife now asleep against him, he cast a glance at the little hot ball leaning on his left arm. The little girl had opened her eyes and looked at her mother. Sesshoumaru noticed her golden eyes when she raised them toward him and she stared shamelessly. They stared at each other a long time. The small one had no marks on the cheeks, but otherwise she was his portrait. He wondered if she would also show her mother's traits. He began to speak.

- Your mother is very tired, little one. She is an extraordinary woman, you know.

The girl looked over at Rin, as if she understood. Then she locked her eyes back on her father's.

- The human race is inferior. But some humans stand out from the crowd. Your mother is a diamond in the middle of a pile of stones without interest. You'll have to watch over her, too.

A long silence followed this first responsibility. The baby's watchful eyes fascinated Sesshoumaru.

- It is a miracle that you exist, little thing. Rin died twice and I almost abandoned her in a human village.

He looked away, remembering his life since he had saved the little Rin from her first death, not knowing that this would change his destiny as drastically. He gazed back at the child:

- I'll protect you, kid. You're a hanyou, human and youkai will despise you because you do not belong to either of their world. You can despise them in return. You should seek the company of those who can see beyond the differences. Those who can understand the miracle of your existence.

Sesshoumaru thought for a moment before announcing:

- I have not discussed this with your mother, but I have a name for you. I think she will agree to join the characters 'dream' and 'child' in your name. What do you think about "Muko", little thing?

That is when the father realized that Rin had given her best trait to the child. He saw a grin identical to Rin's illuminating the face of the little one, as if she was happy with her new name. Sesshoumaru welcomed this smile as a blessing. A whirlwind of emotions swept over him when he realized that this child who resembled him had Rin's smile. He felt humbled by the miracle of life, and very proud. He allowed himself to smile back.

- Now that your mother is sleeping so well, Muko, close your eyes and rest. I will watch over you both.

He saw the child's smile slowly fade as she succumbed to fatigue. Her eyes closed and Muko's face turned very peaceful.

Sesshoumaru leaned against the pillows and he also rested, keeping his eyes opened. It was a strange scene: this powerful youkai in the middle of the room, near a human woman and a little hanyou girl. Both slept next to him confidently even though he could rip their lives so easily. But the harmony of the scene contradicted any idea of a threat whatsoever because it looked as if the daiyoukai's arms were just made for them.