Chapter Twenty-One

Sesshomaru found his mate in the garden. He set Taisho in Inuyasha's lap, still asleep. "How are you doing?"

"I feel better now that I'm away from them. And worse. They were my family. And now I can't even be in the same room with them." Inuyasha stroked the soft white hair of the sleeping pup in his lap. "I want to take them and hide again."

"Too bad. I'm not letting you hide anymore. The pups need sunlight and play." Sesshomaru went back inside briefly and returned with a box of toys. He sat by the girls and dumped the toys out. They made happy noises and fell into the pile of stuffed toys. He lifted Taisho again and set the pup into his own lap. "Play with your daughters."

A slightly frightened expression crossed Inuyasha's face. "I'm not very good at that."

"Of course you are. We've been over this. Lay down and wave the toys at them." He picked up a small doll and waved it over Amaya's head. She squealed and reached up for it. "See. They are easy to entertain."

Inuyasha took the doll when Sesshomaru held it for him and watched Amaya crawl towards him, still reaching for the doll. He waved it at her and she giggled softly and bounced. "They're getting so big."

"Children tend to do that." Sesshomaru was tugging at the sleeve of Taisho's kimono. "They will need new clothes soon."

"It seems like they need new clothes every couple months." Inuyasha laid down and the girls crawled on him while he waved a couple dolls. "I don't want them to get bigger. I want them to stay little forever."

"I wish I could give you what you want, but it doesn't work like that." He put a hand on Inuyasha's head when he scooted to lay it on his knee.

Inuyasha looked up at Sesshomaru. "Do you want your own child?"

"I have three children already." He watched Inuyasha cautiously. This was a delicate subject.

"You know what I mean, Sesshomaru."

"Whether or not we have more children in the future is your decision."

"I'm asking you if you want your own child, Sesshomaru. If you want an heir. I want an answer."

Sesshomaru took a deep breath. "I would like more children, yes."

Inuyasha nodded slowly and looked down at the girls sitting against his side, each clutching a doll. "I think I might be going into heat again."

"I know."

Inuyasha's head snapped up again. "You know? How?"

Sesshomaru smiled. "I'm your mate, Inuyasha. I can smell it."

Inuyasha swallowed thickly. "Can we have more?"

"If you'd like." Sesshomaru gently rubbed one of Inuyasha's ears.

Inuyasha looked back down at his daughters. "You won't let me be alone again?"

"Of course not. If you aren't ready to have more children, you only need to say so."

"I'm going into heat. You'll get me pregnant whether I'm ready or not."

"Inuyasha, I have complete control of myself. I can refrain from taking you while you're in heat. Now that you're mated, the heat won't be very difficult for you. And your scent won't be as strong and enticing for me. When you were unmated, your scent called to any unmated male around you and made you irresistible because your demon half needed a mate. That won't happen again. You can choose to have more children or to wait. Or you can choose to never have more. I told you, it's your decision."

"I want more. I want to give you an heir, at least."

"I already have three."

"An heir of your blood, Sesshomaru. An heir for father's bloodline."

"If that's what you want, then I am happy to accept. Just tell me when you're ready."

"Maybe not this time."

"Alright."

"Maybe next time."

"That's fine."

"I'm hungry."

Sesshomaru set the still sleeping boy on Inuyasha's chest and stood. "I'll go get our lunch."