Chapter 37 Pregnancy

Contrary to all the prophets of doom about how her pregnancy would make her hair fall out or go dull and her emotions would go to pot, making her mate's life a misery; Kagome positively bloomed. She was happy and healthy, carrying her child proudly and was always ready for her mate, more often than not initiating their intimacy. Inuyasha found he had nothing to complain about even when she put her foot down to both the brothers, insisting that she did not need to be carried everywhere in arms or in a litter or on Ah-Un.

The midwife sympathised with her saying that the human body was made to live normally while pregnant. After all, if she had more than one child she wouldn't be able to do nothing all day. She would get more tired as the pregnancy advanced but let her do as her body allowed. Sesshoumaru even went as far as getting a second opinion from Kaede who assured him that the midwife was correct.

That may be alright for normal women who did not have all the resources at the Lords of the Wests' disposal. The child was the first of Inu no Taisho's grandchildren, he was special and a Prince; but his mother was of fiery temper when she did not get her way and could make life difficult especially for the Second Lord. A plan of campaign was launched as detailed as any made for war.

Kagome wanted excercise, well that was fine on the flat but if there was any hint of an incline where she wished to go she would be grabbed 'playfully' by her mate and carried up. There would always be a little servant around if she wanted a drink or snack from the table at a picnic or her mate who never left her side it seemed always had something to keep her warm or dry.

One thing both boys had worked out was not to ask her or tell her 'not to do' something. The children brought their colouring or play to her vicinity although they never wanted her to join in with any of the rougher games and when it came to her visits home; she never put a foot on the ground until she was on the carpeted floor of the shrine home.

At first she didn't notice anything particularly unusual but it did gradually come to her notice that anything she wanted or needed was almost instantly by her side including, materials and wools for the baby clothes she wanted to make herself. Some of her maids also carried the bags with all the threads and things and she couldn't want for anything that someone didn't have.

Looking at Inuyasha who was sitting beside her as usual on some cushions she watched him as he carved and whittled away at three round balls of wood. He used his claws to carve beautiful patterns into the wood and she was surprised at his eye for detail. He used the grain to follow when carving and the balls gradually thinned out and became quite fine hollow shells.

Over time he added fine leather from the ever present material bags of the maids and some beads and twisted ribbons for decoration, then he sealed the whole thing in a form of matt varnish. Although he was questioned by Kagome about these carvings, he never divulged just what they were. Then one day, he asked Kagome if she would mind him leaving for the morning and on her saying that was fine; he left her in the capable hands of everyone else, namely Sesshoumaru.

One day a week later he did the same thing and came back this time with something white that he hid from sight. The intrigue that he kept going for a few weeks served at least to take Kagome's mind off her ever present 'guards'.

They often went to the hot springs as a family and mostly Sesshoumaru accompanied them. By this time Kagome's temper was wearing a little thin and she was feeling smothered, she suddenly took off at a run up the slope and into the woods. This resulted in the first real row that she and Inuyasha had had since they became mates. Neither would see the other one's point of view and they ended up trading insults in front of a bemused Sesshoumaru.

In the end, Sesshoumaru hefted a fully dressed and seething hanyou into the water and for the first time he got angry with Kagome. He sat her down and knelt in front of her telling her in no uncertain terms that in this day and age she should listen to her mate. He was not just her mate, he was the Second Lord and should be treated with respect, it may be safer in her time to run and do other such things, but it was not always safe for a first time mother now and Inuyasha had the right to worry over her.

Kagome just burst into tears which took the wind out of Inuyasha's sails, he could not stay angry with her like this and he enfolded her in his arms ignoring the fact that he was wet. They ended up laughing and wet, this crisis averted but there was plenty of scope for others. In the end they enjoyed the rest of the afternoon coming back well before dark and before the night chill set in.

Peace settled for a while and Kagome found that as time went on and she got more rounded and tired that the concern that she was shown became more pleasant than burdensome. She was allowed to walk and go out; just not over exerte herself and she only had to look at the loving face of her mate to quell any anger that might grow. The more obviously pregnant she became, the more worried Inuyasha was and it was evident in all he did.

He did not burden her with it, but he knew that times were difficult for childbirth, they had already decided to spend the last month in the future and even Sesshoumaru agreed. Anything that would make the chances of survival for Kagome and the baby higher he would go along with willingly. Kagome was happier knowing that she would be at home for the birth as well, that made putting up with all the smothering easier.

They were all set for another visit home in a couple of days, Inuyasha had been on patrol and seeing that all the new villages were settling in. Trade routes had already started with some and negotiations were well on the way with many of the others. Once these villages were established and accepted, the next ones would spread a little further but that was still some time away. There had been no major problems yet, none that could not be solved at local level anyway.

He liked to see that things were in order before he left not wanting to burden Sesshoumaru with added work if he could help it. Keeping a high profile around the territory seemed to pay off. Trouble hadn't had a chance to ferment under the surface when all the influential beings could be applied to for justice. Satisfied that all was as well as it could be for the moment, Inuyasha picked up Kagome to lift her on to the dragon for the trip to the well.

As usual he had said his goodbye to his brother and now Sesshoumaru was standing with the three children to see them off. They would then go to school and be cared for by Shiori's mother who had been adopted by all three as a form of nanny. She was quite happy with this, she always had time for them and her rooms had all sorts of interesting things in to look at.

Sesshoumaru had seen to it that she was comfortable and although her health would never fully return, she liked to be useful and so the children had gravitated to her. Sometimes she had more than the normal three, children of the staff would also come for visits and she made them all welcome; it eased her mind to see Shiori so happy because as she said, she would not live as long as she should and would not see her daughter mature. The Western Lord however had reassured her that her little girl would always be safe with them.

Inuyahsa and Kagome soon entered the clearing and Inuyasha jumped his mate down the well, not letting her go until her very amused mother let them in on hearing Inuyasha's call. Mama and Kagome exchanged glances, Mama trying not to laugh and Kagome looking resigned to her fate. Placing her on a comfy chair and asking Mama for some tea, he then left for the Goshinboku and placed his offerings in the branches.

He sat there for a while just thinking and letting the sun shine on his face, he didn't often feel confidant when it came to the thought of fatherhood and the one person he knew that had obviously made a good job of it (as he did of everything) was rarely there to ask. A cup of tea sounded good right now and with his usual saddened sigh, he leapt down out of the tree and in for some tea.

Mama was always there to give him a tight hug which he felt he needed and make him feel better; whereas out in Goshinboku, the gifts were retrieved and the notes read.

Sesshoumaru had not been seen for the last four or five visits and Inuyasha missed him, but he no longer asked to see him; he was giving up. He heard things second hand from the twins anyway and knew that the new twins had been born.

Kentei and Suki were delighted with their tiny siblings and Mama said that they were both very pretty babies having been introduced when they were a couple of weeks old. They were now about a month old and getting noisy. They had just been given their concealments so they could be taken out in the general public, but Mama was priviliged, because of her knowledge of the youkai, she had seen their real forms; not that she would reveal that to any, not even her daughter and son-in-law.

Inuyasha sat with Kagome on his lap, his nose pressed in her hair and near his mark all the time that everyone was speaking. She rubbed his ears in comfort; not in the normal way she did it because she knew that he was missing the family closeness that his niece and nephew had with their father, mother and siblings. Sometimes he could not help feeling just a little bit jealous, and he hated himself for it.

After all, Kagome had her family here and the twins had theirs; it always seemed to Inuyasha he experienced everything that could be considered stable in his life as a slight outsider with the exception of Kagome. She was his first and only as his mate and even if he had to share her with her family, the pup was theirs alone. He suddenly felt an overwhelming love for this pup, he never thought he would be in this position and his love was already unconditional.

Inuyasha was so absorbed in his own mind and Kagome's calming scent that he nearly missed Suki's telling them that Sesshoumaru was bringing his twins round that evening to be introduced to their aunt and uncle. Feeling better almost instantly, he smiled and Kagome felt relief, she hated it when he was sad and she could do nothing about it.

Sesshoumaru too felt the loss of his little brother when he didn't see him to speak to. He knew that his father would now be pleased with him, now that he fully desired to protect the hanyou son on both sides of the well. He realised how ironic it was that because of the way the time slip worked, the elder son had become two people, both who were (barring his immediate family) the most important person in the little hanyou's life.

The responsibility for this was very tiring, trying to balance the one with the other. But he was succeeding, Inuyasha no longer had the desire to stay exclusively with him, the brother Sesshoumaru was becoming more of a friend and someone the boy could rely on and relate to. There had been no more jealous spats and no hidden messages in word or look that could be taken the wrong way, so the foundations of the relationship were proving solid.

Sesshoumaru had watched as usual, his aura hidden beneath the concealment he wore as the young couple came from the well. He smiled when he saw them, Kagome in her mate's arms, he remembered fondly all the ideas they'd had to keep her and the baby safe; cocooning her rather than recognise that nature saw to it that most of the time the baby was safe inside the womb and well protected.

He had as usual seen his brother leave the gift in the tree and saw how this time he did not look for him. Somehow this made Sesshoumaru sad until he heard the sigh. Was Inuyasha so sure now that he would not show? He must be, yet still he left the present for him. Only this time there was more than just the little package of his favourite sweets awaiting him. Picking up the other gifts, wrapped in coloured silk and with the customary little note, he remembered watching his brother long ago, with the carvings he was doing. Now he knew.

He felt his throat close as emotion threatened to choke him, for all the hard work the boy had put into these gifts he had clearly not expected an answer anymore than his other little gifts had received, time after time. Maybe a 'thankyou, Pop really appreciated the sweets' given second hand from his nephew. He felt humbled again by the love that Inuyasha had for him and was glad he was to see him that evening with his new twins.

Inuyasha was excited and nervous about the thought of seeing his new niece and nephew. He was also looking forward to seeing Sesshoumaru again and his babies were said to be so cute. When the guests arrived, Inuyasha only had eyes for the babies; they brought home to him how small a baby was and the fact that soon he would have one of these tiny fragile, easily broken things depending on him for protection along with the baby's mother.

When he was seated and held his little niece in his hands he realised that he had never seen a baby this close up before let alone hold one. The girl was beautiful, her huge violet eyes and bit of black fluffy hair was enchanting to him and he just couldn't take his eyes off her. Both babies looked like himself and the older twins because of the concealment although the family resemblance was not built into the charm. Sesshoumaru would not let them see their real identities yet.

After both Kagome and Inuyasha had held and fed the twins, they had been put down for a nap in their special car seats that also rocked. It didn't take long for the babies to go off and Sesshoumaru asked Inuyasha to come with him outside to Goshinboku. They jumped to their favourite branch and looked out over the city.

"Are you worried about anything Inuyasha, you have looked concerned several times tonight?"

"I'm scared of being a father. I just don't know what to do and I only get one chance at not messing up with his life. What do I know; how do I teach him anything except how to be a complete idiot?"

"You are far from an idiot Inuyasha and you know it, all you have to do is love him, get the best you can for his needs and love his mother. Always be kind and never cruel, but you do not need telling that do you pup?"

"No, that I had figured out."

"Do not mistake needed discipline with cruelty though Inuyasha, all pups need to know their boundaries. You only have to think of Shippou and how he would turn out if no one taught him right from wrong. He used to get away with too much, it does a child no favours in the long run."

"Keh!" Inuyasha turned to watch the setting sun changing the sky into flame when he found himself sitting in his brother's lap and Sesshoumaru's claws were scratching at the base of his ears. Recognising his brother's by now familiar fascination with his ears when Sesshoumaru was unsettled concerning him, Inuyasha asked him what the matter was. Surprised, Sesshoumaru answered:

"I've never properly thanked you for all the times you leave me gifts and tonight I found the shakers you made for the twins. I felt uncomfortable that I might seem ungrateful to you when I am far from it."

"They ain't nothing special Sessh, it's silly anyway, you must have protection yourself for your kids." He suddenly found himself in the tightest grip he had ever felt, held so tight that breathing was difficult and he could feel waves of affection and gratitude rolling off his brother under the undeniable love he was being shown. "Sesshy?" He queried.

"Inuyasha, for you it is not so long ago you thought I hated you and yet you are able to set all that aside holding no grudge to make a toy for my pups that has not only a fang adapted by Totousai as a handle, but also a claw inside with the beans to make the sound. That is the strongest protection for my pups that they will need and you gave them unselfishly.

"I remember the time it took you to make these wonderful presents; it is such an irony, these are the first you made for my latest children. You will make them for all my children and they each still have them. The power still remains just as strong as when you gave them to each pup and we never let the children be without their rattle. My mate and I felt safer for them knowing that they had protection in their own grasp.

"I had never thought of something like that; I was preparing as father did, swords for my children; but for them as babies, it hadn't occured to me what I could do. You should have no fear of being a bad father; your instincts have always been good. Inuyasha I am so proud that you are my brother and I couldn't love you more if I was your father. He too would be very proud of you; I wish you could have known one another."

Inuyasha was totally red in the face with all the unexpected praise, he was embarrassed and once again overwhelmed. It was nice to have caught Sesshoumaru unawares for once but he had not banked on the display of feeling from his very reserved brother.

"Stop it Sessh, you always make me into a right wuss when you say nice things."

"You deserved to be told Inuyasha, my Little Brother Pup and you should always get what you deserve." Inuyasha wasn't sure about that last bit and Sesshoumaru laughed again.

TBC