Ok, short, but next few are longer I promise. I'm posting one more today, but that's it. You'll have to wait a bit to get some more, but I think I've been pretty nice doing three today and it wasn't that long ago I put up the others. lol Remember, not mine!
Ch. 11
"This is outrageous, Lord Sesshomaru!" The panther demon Eastern Lady exclaimed. "A land needs a lord and a lady!"
It had been several weeks since Sesshomaru and Kagome had rekindled with each other. Kagome moved back into the room with Sesshomaru who had taken it upon himself to make it a more permanent move by giving her room to Shippo and Riya who had just arrived not long ago. By the midwife's opinion, Kagome should be giving birth in about a month now.
The lords and ladies of the other lands had been brought to the western castle for Sesshomaru to make his announcement of his intention to remain unmated. The news was not being received very well. The northern wolves seemed to understand Sesshomaru's loyalty to the mother of his unborn pup, but the panthers and the dragons were hearing nothing of it.
"It is this Sesshomaru's choice, Lady East." Sesshomaru was becoming bored with the increasing denials to his preference. He listened when it came to matters of state, but this was his personal life. What say should they have in it?
"So you are choosing to relinquish the western throne?" The dragon lord of the south asked in his hissing, gravelly voice. Sesshomaru turned towards him with a raised brow in question. "The ancient texts state that a lord and lady must preside over a land. With your lady mother gone, you must mate or give up your title."
The other lords and ladies grew silent and watched Sesshomaru's reaction. Not betraying his inner feelings, Sesshomaru stood. "This Sesshomaru will reconvene this meeting in the morning." Ignoring the indignant scowls of the rest, he swept out of the meeting chambers and aimed for the skies. Minaru took over and they raced across the western lands, their heart and their mind in turmoil.
Kagome paced their rooms, a hand laid on top of her rather generous belly. It was growing late and Kagome was becoming more and more worried as she thought over what had happened at the meeting. "Is that all?" she asked the little fox demon who served the lords and ladies this morning.
"Yes, Priestess Kagome. At that, the Lord left to run as his demon and no one has seen him since." Kagome nodded quickly, thanked the servant and dismissed her as she thought of a solution.
Another hour passed in fret as Kagome steadily wore a tread path in the wooden floor. Her baby jumped and twisted with her nervousness that was communicated to the small child and Kagome rubbed her stomach in a futile effort to calm the small life within. She glanced and stared at everything in the room, desperately hoping an answer would make itself known. Suddenly, she had an idea, but it was risky.
Going over to the wooden puzzle box, she released the Shikon No Tama hidden within. 'This has to be worded carefully, though.' Concentrating, Kagome made a silent wish. 'I ask for Sesshomaru to be happy in his life.' The jewel glowed a brilliant, vibrant pink before disappearing from her hands.
Kagome stared at her hands in disbelief, thinking she did something wrong. Suddenly a violent spasm swept through her. She gave a scream that brought Riya bursting into the room followed closely by Shippo in a battle stance. Another spasm brought forth a scream and Kagome felt a rush of fluid soak her feet. She looked up at Riya who hollered at Shippo, but Kagome was in pain again and unable to understand the order issued. Shippo ran out into the gardens and that was the last Kagome saw before blackness swallowed her.
Minaru and Sesshomaru traveled through the skies in great bounds. They weren't going to give up the miko they had fallen in love with. They would give up their title first and learn to work with everyone else to provide a proper den. They were coming to talk to Kagome about their decision when a sudden sense of foreboding hit them. They had no idea what was wrong, but the sense to get home completely overrode them and they sped up to a silver blur. Minaru was now in full protection mode and had taken on his battle appearance. They landed in the gardens just as Shippo was about to make his transformation.
"Where is our mate?" Minaru thundered in the fox demon's head.
Shippo visibly winced and pointed to the door that shielded their rooms. "The pup" he managed before Minaru tore the garden grounds in his eagerness to be by the door. It took convincing for Sesshomaru to take control from his beast and when he managed it he saw Kagome laid on the futon with Riya preparing her. There was a puddle on the floor and Kagome, even unconscious, writhed in pain. The most astounding thing, however, was that her shape seemed vaguely blurred.
Sesshomaru raced into the room and stood looking at Kagome. He felt a very unfamiliar emotion of helpless sweep through him and didn't even budge when the bedroom door was thrown open. The midwife waddled her generous figure into the room and promptly took control.
"Out" she snapped with authority. Stunned into speechlessness, Sesshomaru and Shippo, who had just made it back in the room, were quickly shoved out into the hallway and watched as two more female maids were let in. Shippo sank down next to the door as Sesshomaru just stood, silently watching, waiting for the news about his chosen mate and his early pup.
