ULTIMATE SACRIFICE

Disclaimer: Yup, I don't own Inuyasha!

Beta-ed by Ceferadel.

Chapter 20 – Love in the Making: Lesson 3 (Generosity)

Sesshoumaru let out a heavy breath; beads of perspiration were on his chin and muscles. He was in his dojo, trying to relive his pent up stress by exercising his sword play. His mate's highs and lows with her sudden mood changes were tiring him out. He had learned about these mood swings from the midwife, but to experience it himself was another thing. At one time she would clutch to him, unwilling to leave his side, she even would wear his haori just to have the feeling that he was near. But in the next moment she could suddenly demand to be left alone, or angry at him for something he had no clue about.

Just like the last two nights. She had persistently asked for a kind of fruit he never heard of. What is a durian? At that time he concluded that his prided vast library truly did not held all of the knowledge of the world. She had been very disappointed when he returned with a big bowl full of sliced fruits, all kinds of fruits that existed in his land; just to find that durian was not inside the bowl. She had wept silently and objected to have a conversation with him. He was almost at the end of his limit, but he controlled himself not to lash out on her when he smelt her tears. The sadness and stress is not good for the well-being while pregnant. He then left her after promising to find her the abomination that she called durian.

He then ordered his pack of scouts to find out about and bring him the fruit at any cost.

Knocks on the shoji screen averted his attention; it was one of his scouts. He also smelt a strong aroma along with his scout. He moved to open the door quickly; his impassive face did not betray his anticipation.

"We have found it my lord." He bowed low and presented him the source of the dizzying aroma, a fruit covered with spiky skin. "We found the information from the youkai tribes from the south. It grows in the far south land where the climate is warm throughout the year."

"Hn. You have done well."

"Thank you my lord." He bowed low and left.

Sesshoumaru dressed and proceeded to walk to their chamber, along with her requested smelly fruit in his hand. The moment he opened the shoji screen of their chamber, he was attacked by his pregnant mate. She hugged him fiercely.

"Where have you been? I haven't seen you all day!"

Wasn't she the one who had denied speaking with this Sesshoumaru?

"What's this?" Her eyes widened when she saw the fruit in his hand. "No, you didn't…"

He gave her the fruit. "For my beloved mate."

She stared disbelievingly at the fruit; and then when she looked up at him, he was mesmerized. Even the brightest star in the northern sky could never compare to this; her smile. She was smiling so beautifully at him, sincere, full of gratitude only directed to him. He felt like everything around them, even the time, had stopped. And at that moment he swore that he would do anything in his power to see another smile like that from her, to be the receiver of such light.

"Thank you Sesshoumaru. You're so generous. Your effort means a lot to me." Her voice was so sweet to his ears.

And then when she left his range of vision happily to satisfy her craving, Sesshoumaru could only wonder about the growing warmth inside his chest. Was this how falling in love feels like?

-----------

Generosity: Willingness to give. A nobility of thought or action.

AN: Do you know durian? Have you ever tasted it? The smell is horrible but it tastes pretty good, very sweet!

A short chapter of Sess' POV. Too short, huh? Sorry, but I'll try to make it up in the next chapters!

Reviews are fuel, friends!

©miwa03 – 2009