Breeze Chapter 24 The Final, an inuyasha fanfic

: Chapter Twenty- Four :

Kaede, roused and on her heels, buzzed about her hut collecting pots, pans, mortars and pestles; just about an kind of container she could get her hands on. She slammed a wooden wash tub down before young Shippo, hastily telling him to heat the liquid within with his Fox Fire.

The kit obeyed, his emerald eyed wide with panic.

Inuyasha rushed inside right as his elder sibling roared his pain. He came face to face with a frightened Kagome.

"Inuyasha, hold his hand!" she commanded, running out into the night to fetch some more spring water.

He didn't hesitate; he remembered what it was like the first time Kagome had told him to hold his brother's hand. He gulped, seeing his brother's face up close for the first time in a long while.

The inuyoukai's eyes were closed tightly, small beads of sweat forming on his brow. His mouth was a thin line as he concentrated on his breathing. His eyes flickered open briefly when Inuyasha clasped one of his hands, which were both very tightly clasped beneath the round of his stomach.

"Kagome told me you might need a little support," the hanyou explained weakly, his ears lowering in his embarrassment.

Sesshomaru was more grateful than he let on; he screamed like a panther as another contraction hit, his hand squeezing his younger brother's.

Naraku flew to his lover's side, laying the snowy's head in his lap and trying to calm him by whispering soothing words. His gaze quickly shifted to his former enemy, but decided that it was for the best that he help to make Sesshomaru more comfortable.

In an instant, Sango was spreading the Lord's trembling legs apart, peering in between. She called back to Kaede, "He is widening for the birth!" That was basically saying that he had dilated considerably in the short amount of time.

Miroku was chanting a prayer of peace and wellness around the hut. The last thing that was needed was for any kind of ghost-like demons or phantoms to try and terminate the birth. He paced outside, Mayu singing, "Namu, namu, namu!"

Kaede took Sango's place on the floor, telling Kagome to take the potion off of the fire-pit. Once in hand, the old priestess handled the hot bowl carefully, painting the serum over Sesshomaru's make-shift birth canal. She uttered a spell beneath her breath, her wrinkled eyes closed with deep focus. She poured hot water onto a towel, dabbing the insides of the labouring male's loins.

"Out!" Sesshomaru growled, his free hand nearly puncturing his skin from gripping it so roughly. "Out now!"

Kagome pressed a cold cloth to Sesshomaru's forehead, telling him calmly, "Sesshomaru, you must tighten your stomach muscles whenever you feel that pain." She pointed to his heaving middle as she said so, indicating to the contractions.

He panted his understanding as Naraku helped to sit him half way upright. He thought that it would be a better position to push from.

"Tighten!" Kaede commanded.

Sesshomaru leaned forward, yelling out as he constricted his abdominals. His canine-like fangs were completely visible.

Inuyasha could sense his youki rising. 'He's using a lot of strength right now.' he thought with disbelief, feeling the pressure increase on his hand. He quickly squeezed back, conveying his belief in his sibling.

Naraku's hands gripped his lover's upper arms, ensuring that he didn't collapse and fall to the side. His heart raced; the thought of his children being born becoming like a drug for him. But on the second note, his heart raced due to his thinking of the negatives.

'What should I do if Sesshomaru should succumb to comatose? If the tunnel I have created ceases to function properly, or does not function at all? If… If Sesshomaru and the pups should not survive…?'

He quickly shook his head, focusing on the positives. He could hear the ex-monk's chanting. He knew that if he thought of anything opposing the pros, then a weak spot in the barrier would allow some kind of phantasmal evil in.

"Tighten as hard as ye may!" the elderly woman sang.

A hissing yowl erupted from the drenched inu, his breathing becoming shaky from all of his strength being leeched away by the task of pushing. He threw himself backward into Naraku's embrace, panting heavily.

Kagome gasped and ordered Sango to fetch some more boiling water. "Hurry, Sango!" she pleaded.

"What is the matter!?" the darkest demon gasped, his blue shaded lids wide in horror.

"He's bleeding. More than he should be. Sango, please!" the younger priestess quickly explained, her brown eyes clouded with worry.

The taijya lowered the container of sanitizing liquid next to her best friend, careful not to splash any on the birthing male's calves. She dunked a cloth in the water, helping to sterilize the opening.

Sesshomaru hissed, but was soothed a little, it seemed. His breaths became steadier, but were still heavy. There were long, purple lines appearing beneath his closed eyes; stress lines. His lips were dry, as was his throat.

"Hey, Kagome! Get him some cold water, 'kay?" Inuyasha told her, sensing his relation's thirst.

The snowy drank deeply, savouring the revitalization of his vocal passage. He licked his bottom lip a few times, readying himself to push yet again.

"Tighten." Kaede whispered, her eye showing elation.

Sesshomaru breathed in greedily, leaning forward and moaning out the pain that followed. He ground his teeth together. He could feel it. He could feel his first pup leaving his body. His head felt light. He chuckled weakly, falling back onto his beloved's chest.

He could hear, past the resonating thumpa thumpa thump of the pulse in his head, a small squeaking. His nose filled with the smell of blood, amniotic fluid and a peppery stench. To him, it smelled like a cloud.

"Sesshomaru… You have a boy." Sango informed him with a voice that stumbled over happy sobs.

A moment later, he felt a weight on his chest. He cracked his eyes open, trying to push his headache to the back of his skull. His tired, golden eyes could make out a blurry shape fidgeting from within a blob of white. He sighed of pure joy; his vision cleared.

In his arms was probably the most perfect creature he had ever laid eyes upon. Tiny, but at a reasonable size. Pale, but with the pinkness of new life edging it.

The Lord of the Western Land stroked that delicate head of ebony locks that were equal the softness of a rabbit's pelt. His lips trembled in sheer awe of how something that small could make one's heart feel so heavy. He brought the infant to his nose, inhaling the particular smell, memorizing it.

The child squeaked once more. The tiny fists rubbed at the nose and eyes. From what could be seen, it was clear that the child resembled more of his 'mother' than his father. He had small, pointed, elfin ears, the same velvety porcelain skin (minus the rosy cheeks), and those same perfect lips. However, he did not bear the violet markings that decorated Sesshomaru's body.

"What will you name him?" Naraku cooed, salty tears falling onto Sesshomaru's bare shoulder, even though his expression remained neutral. He kissed his love fruitfully, not caring that there were others there to see. He touched the child gingerly at first, but came to rest his hand across the white bundle of cloth.

"He is Seishitzu. He is first born, and he is my heir." the exhausted male replied loud enough for all to hear.

All simply basked in the familial bliss for a time, that was until Kagome inhaled sharply, her eyes wide.

Sesshomaru did not understand. Not a moment after, the young priestess held up yet another bundle of white, her eyes teary. "You have another son, Sesshomaru. C-Congratulations." she stammered, scooting over to the resting couple to present the second born.

At first he was stunned. He hadn't even felt the child pass out of him, nor any kind of pain to precede the second birth. Was it because he was too focused on his first born to notice? After laying eyes on the last of his offspring, how he came to the world unnoticed did not matter any more.

The highschooler tilted her arms downward, sniffling her happiness. "Here he is," she whispered, trying to control her voice so as not to wake the sleeping babe in her grasp.

Beneath the ruffles of the bleached material lay the second born spawn of Naraku and Sesshomaru. Both parents were as taken aback by this son's beauty as they had been with Seishitzu's.

The same porcelain skin gave this babe an almost ethereal glow to him. His dark eyelashes were accented due to this. His tiny lips puckered as he dozed, and his little pointed ears stuck out to the side a little ways. Unlike his twin's, his hair was a downy grey shade, and he did indeed have a small crescent moon pattern on his forehead, but nothing more.

"Sesshaku." Naraku muttered, smiling weakly as he took the child into his own arms shakily. His body was replaced by pillows so that Sesshomaru could have both of his pups in his sight.

"Congratulations, Sesshomaru. Ye has been gifted with two fine sons." Kaede announced quietly.

Miroku entered the hut, Mayu holding his hand. Her little eyes lit up upon seeing the new infants. She gaited her way to them and patted Sesshomaru's belly.

"They came out to play with us!" she giggled, peering at Seishitzu happily. She planted a small kiss on Sesshaku's little hand, and did the same to his twin.

Miroku, although he was not a bona-fide Holy any longer, tapped his staff on the ground three times before reciting, "Seishitzu and Sesshaku: live through many years and become prosperous."

The group repeated this name prayer in unison, bowing their heads in turn.

Inuyasha inched closer. He seemed uncertain about the new little ones, but he gradually made his way close enough to peek at them. He wasn't sure if Sesshomaru would reject him and lash out. He was relieved to find that he was permitted to come close. His feline eyes widened and a small virgin flush spread across his face.

"They're… you know… They're cute!" he said, astonished. He had never seen a really little baby up close before. He stroked Sesshaku's cheek with his claw gently, not caring that he was less than a foot away from Naraku.

The little pup opened his tired eyes, revealing that they were a bright flax colour. They fluttered, and he soon went back to sleep, but his fist was clenched around the hanyou's finger.

"Look at that. He's got me!" Inuyasha laughed, amazed by the pup.

Sesshomaru allowed a chuckle. He had his offspring's diverse scents embedded in his memory.

Seishitzu's smelled distinctly of a spicy root or powder, but mixed with something that resembled chamomile.

Sesshaku's was a gentle odor of wet hay and honeysuckle.

Speaking of, the child held in the arms of the dark youkai began to stir, his hands fumbling around for something. He nuzzled Naraku's chest.

Sango and Kagome giggled respectively.

"What is to your amusement?" Naraku demanded, feeling a little shifty because he was not 'in on the joke.'

"Looks to me that Sesshaku might be a hungry boy," Kagome hinted as the pup attempted to wriggle his way into the black silk kimono.

Sesshomaru rolled his eyes in an entertained fashion, taking the second son from his 'mate' and depositing him at his chest. At first he was startled by the sensation of the twin boys suckling from him, but after a moment, he became contented. A cat-like purring noise issued from deep within his throat.

Over the course of three hours, Sesshomaru had successfully given birth to a set of healthy twin boys. The only complications noted was minor hemorrhage of the birthing canal, Sesshomaru's light headedness and laboured breathing, and the fact that Sesshaku was born with the umbilical cord wrapped around his chest.

Seishitzu, with dark ebony locks, fair skin without decoration, and gentle honey hued eyes (as would be revealed a few hours later), was the more lively of the two boys. He would openly voice his need for food or a changing, to which Kagome would respond by giving him a clean cloth diaper. The darker child would wave his hands around, holding onto the inside hem of his 'mother's' kimono when held closely. He would coo and burble, and his eyes would always be wide, alight. He would respond actively to play and objects, not needing much stimulation to be happy.

Sesshaku, whose hair was downy grey and whose skin was porcelain perfection with the birthmark of a violet crescent upon his forehead, along with a daisy yellow gaze, was equally lively, but much more quiet when not stimulated. Unlike his elder twin, he would rest, sleep, and make softer noises similar to a humming sound. Upon desiring nourishment, he would nuzzle the chest of the person who held him; he seemed eager to get to the teat by himself. His hands and feet would always be curled up with him, making him much easier to carry because he was not as wild as his brother.

Sesshomaru left Kaede's village a mere week after giving birth. In that time, he had lost almost half of his 'baby weight,' looking about two months pregnant again by the time Naraku came to bring him back to his castle. Sesshomaru recovered fully from the minor tear in the birth canal.

It was hard for all who attended the birth to say good-bye to the twin boys. Kagome, Sango, and Mayu all wept happy tears together while waving, calling out their wishes of good luck and endearment.

Miroku simply wrapped an arm around his wife and daughter, giving Inuyasha a playful pat on the back when he noticed how the hanyou was staring at Kagome. The day after Naraku left with his mate and offspring, Miroku was shocked to find out that his Wind Tunnel had vanished completely.

Inuyasha came to accept that Naraku no longer posed a threat to him, Kagome, or the while of Japan. He remained on his toes; 'Just in case,' he said. His life-long feud and hatred for Sesshomaru had simmered down after getting to know parts of the snowy that he thought he would only experience in his imagination. His heart felt no pain after that, and his mind was clear of vengeance.

Shippo grew a good two feet and a half in the month that followed; an extreme growth spurt. It was official that he was an adult, and not long after that, the redheaded fox fell in love with a lovely kitsune vixen. He remained with the group in Kaede's village along with his newly taken mate. A year after meeting her, she became pregnant.

Kagome finished Highschool, getting an Honorary Student's Diploma. She attained her Driver's Permit, and officially moved over to the Sengoku Jidai soon after. Her final goodbyes were said to her mother, brother, and grandfather. Inuyasha asked to build her a home; a proposition in the olden days to settle down, raise family, and marry. She wept, and accepted gratefully. This was a good two years after she had completed her move to the past, making her nineteen years of age.

Two years after their union, Kagome found herself, after much desperate attempting, to be pregnant. She gave birth eight and one-fourth months later to a healthy daughter of one-third demon blood. The child was named 'Aijou,' meaning 'beloved daughter.' Three years later, Kagome would also give birth to her own set of twins, fraternal, and of two more girls. These beautiful children were named 'Fuu,' which means 'wind' or 'gust,' and 'Kyouki,' meaning 'pleasant surprise.' Kagome would pass away at the ripe age of ninety, while Inuyasha would pass on after another two hundred and thirty-one years. Their daughters would pass on within the next hundred years.

Sesshomaru and Naraku remained mated and parentally linked for another five hundred and sixty years, long after Kagome, Sango, Miroku, Kaede, Mayu, and Inuyasha's deaths. After the seventh birthdays (by the human timescale) of Seishitzu and Sesshaku, Sesshomaru would once more find himself to be laden with pup. This time, after an even more perilous gestation that nearly cost him his life, plus his unborn child's, he would exhaustedly birth a healthy daughter. Naraku would quietly christen her 'Kiseki,' which meant 'miracle.'

When the twin boys reached the wiser age of eighteen, Kiseki being eleven, a war between the demons and humans of the East and Sesshomaru's follower broke out in the East's attempt to take over the Western lands. During said war, Sesshomaru was defeated.

A year after the death of his lover, Naraku sent carrion eaters and his Saimyosho to plague the East, sparing the innocent but murdering those who supported the war and cheered for Sesshomaru's death. The death toll was one hundred and eighty-five thousand.

Seishitzu inherited the Lands when he reached the age of twenty. He ruled from that point on to the present day. His younger twin, Sesshaku, succumbed to a heart disorder that he had apparently had from birth, passing at the human age of twenty-four.

Kiseki took a mate and produced eight beautiful pups (two sets of twins, one set of triplets and a single born) to an allied leader of a nearby and very prosperous Wolf Tribe. She lived on the castle grounds of her elder brother along with her brood of children, but her husband coming to visit her every other day.

Naraku had shut himself away after Kiseki's triplets had been born. He resided in the darkness of the cellar of his castle, allowing his body to decompose itself. He recalled first meeting that striking white haired prince after releasing his powerful scent into the air. He remembered that he had not expected Sesshomaru of all demons to appear to court him, but he had also been (secretly) overjoyed. He scolded himself for at first thinking of the great Lord as a mere plaything; to sex and be sexed by him as he demanded. His aching, near five century-old heart slowed as his former life, the tale I have just written to you, flashed across his mind one last time like a silent movie.

The dark demon sunk a little deeper into the spread out pile of patchwork demon parts that filled the whole of the cellar. His crimson eyes, tired, empty, lonely, stared at the palpitating organ that hung before him from blood-slickened tendrils; his own heart. He smirked weakly.

'This life has been so short,' he thought, sighing and closing his eyes. He folded his pale hands across his nude torso, the last remaining human part of him within the demon junkyard. 'Either that, or I have breezed through it far too quickly.'

It was then that the cellar door opened, and an iron-booted foot stepped down onto the first platform. Waist-long sable hair seemed to float behind him as the rightful heir of the West descended. His emotionless, honey eyes cut through the darkness.

"Naraku," Seishitzu spoke in a voice doppelganging Sesshomaru's. He approached the human-like portion of his father, careful not to touch the heart which suspended itself from the ceiling.

Naraku, once the most powerful evil in all of Japan, searched the gloom with strain. His heart beat a little faster.

"S-Sessho…maru…?" he asked, his vision obsolete by that point.

The first born kneeled before the weakened youkai. "No. It is Seishitzu. Your son." He answered, bowing his head.

He shifted, reaching a shaking hand out to stroke the head of silky, black locks. "I apologize…" he managed.

The heart slowed.

Seishitzu remained on his knees before the once great man who was his father. He wrapped his pale hands around Naraku's clammy extended fist and held it while his final moment passed.

Through his exhaustion of life, Naraku's vision had returned briefly for one final look at his son. His dry lips twitched as he smiled with the last of his strength. His free hand touched that silken, porcelain cheek. He sighed happily. His eyes locked with his son's, and his ending thought…

'Your eyes… They always did express to me far more than your lips did…'

Although Seishitzu's facial expression was the mirror image of the cold, uncaring look that Sesshomaru wore before he met Naraku, his eyes, those same golden, feline eyes of his 'mother's' brimmed over with tears.

End

Author's Note: (sniffle) I apologize for ending on such a sad note, but I was trying to refer to that saying: "With all old endings there are greater new beginnings."

With granted permission, I will allow the use of these Original Characters.