Disclaimer: You know the drill. Neither "Inuyasha" nor the "Painted Veil" belong to me.
She was a fool. An utter, inveterate fool. Sobbing relentlessly in the privacy of Sesshomaru's alcove, she curled on the straw cot, longing for the musk of his arms and the comfort of his presence, one that until very recently she had taken for granted.
Now said man was in front of her, trying to get her hands out of her face to examine her, his stoic demeanor doing little to hide the panic in his eyes: "Please, let me examine you, my love" he said, his hands fretting with the locks of his medicine bag, trying to soothe her sobs, terrified of losing her so soon after finding her. Knowing that it was just a matter of time, Kagome hiccuped "I am all right, just a little shaken, that is all".
"Sango mentioned you collapsed, are you exerting yourself in the nursery?" - Sesshomaru asked, panic relieved when he saw that despite her blotchy appearance, she did not appear to have the gaunt hollow cheeks of cholera. Still, he wanted to be cautious. "We should do a culture as well, if you are sick we need to prepare you for an IV and set up this room.."
"It's not cholera", Kagome said softly
"I am sure it's not, we have been careful" - holding her hands, he kissed her forehead "yet it would put me at ease if you get tested"
"I am pregnant, Sesshomaru", she hiccuped, quickly hiding her face with her hands. "I understand if you don't want it"
Shame took precedence over his shock, embarrassed to be reminded of his callous behavior that terrible year. Rubbing her leg, he composed himself and smiled "we are in a better position than we were that time, Kagome". Drawing close to her, he hugged her, smelling the fresh jasmine of her hair "I know that I behaved terribly, but I have always wanted to have a family with you, my love..."
" I am three months along" she interrupted - only to see those golden orbs looking at her with an indefinable expression
"Is it mine?" he could only ask.
"I honestly don't know" she sobbed, and he could not help but feel as if punched. All of a sudden the reality of it all sank in, and Sesshomaru woke up from the dream of love that had ensnared him in the arms of his wife, making him forget of her betrayal. With a cold voice, he could only ask:
"How long have you known?"
"I just realized it today", she said " Last time I was more nauseous, but I have been feeling increasingly tired, and my monthlies have always been irregular when stressed". Closing her eyes, she just shook her head, and with a broken voice, she said "I am so sorry, Sesshomaru…"
"Save it" he said, turning away from her, and the silence that resulted was more oppressive than the revelations that had been uttered. Rubbing his face, he took stock of the reality that he was in: he was in the middle of a cholera pandemic, with a wife that he had welcomed again in his heart only for her to tear it out of his chest. Afraid of his building anger, he did his best to sound calm and collected.
"I think it is best for you to go home early, and rest". Doing a supreme effort to calm himself, he patted her leg, and stood up to head to the ward. "I will call Lin to escort you home. I will stay - I have a lot of pending work to do"
"Don't hide from me, please.." she begged
"Right now, that is the best I can do" Sesshomaru explained, and grabbing his coat, he headed
to the ward, wondering about the irony of falling in love anew with his wife when her womb was filled by her love of another.