Chapter 30

Sesshomaru rushed through the halls, anxious. He needed Kagome. She was the only one that he trusted with what was happening. He had been woken by a shrill whinny just moments before, and he knew exactly what it meant. Nakoa was in labor. She was finally having the foal everyone had been waiting on.

Pushing into Kagome's room, he stepped up to her bed, took a moment to look over her sleeping form. He hated waking her, but he knew Nakoa would need to be supervised. Grabbing her shoulder, he shook her awake softly.

What he hadn't expected was for Kagome to jolt out of her sleep defensively. The moment her eyes snapped open, she grabbed a knife hidden beneath her pillow, charged it with her reiki and came for his throat. Being quicker than her, he was able to catch her wrist, keeping her from harming him. Her eyes were white, teeth bared in a fierce snarl.

Not once had Sesshomaru, or anyone for that matter, woken Kagome up. She always woke up right when the first rays of sunlight rose over the horizon. He had known she slept with a weapon tucked under her pillow, he had not realized she knew how to use it, or that she had before.

Her response time, her instant reaction to being jolted awake told him that while she traveled, she had been attacked in her sleep. Many times. "It is me, Kagome."

"Sesshomaru?" Her eyes slowly went back to the blue he remembered, the one scarred with a milky white cover over it. She dropped the blade, and it clattered between them on the bed. "I'm so sorry."

"You have been attacked before?" Sesshomaru looked at his hand, seeing the burns from her reiki. They weren't bad, but it would take time to heal.

"Oh!" Tears sprung to Kagome's eyes, and she yanked his hand down to look at it. "Sesshomaru, I'm so sorry. You caught me off guard." She paused, gently kissing his palm. It was a holy burn, and there was nothing either of them could do. It would have to heal on its own.

Kneeling in front of her, Sesshomaru cupped her face with his good hand, this thumb running over the scar he left so long ago. "Think nothing of it." He meant it. She hadn't meant to hurt him. It was pure defense on her part. The mark on her face was created by his claws on purpose. He had wanted to hurt her. She could hurt him over and over again, and he would just let it happen. "There are things about you I still don't know."

She opened her mouth to say something, then shut it again. Giving a small nod, she covered the hand on her face with her own. "I am two hundred and fifty years old. I've lived a long life. I was hunted when I was younger. While we slept, the bastards attacked. They took me from Miroku. He tried to protect me, but there were so many of them, and they were all human. I was sold to the highest bidder. For thirty years I was used for my reiki. I was forced to kill so many demons. If I disobeyed, they threatened to kill Miroku. When Miroku met Sango, they and the demon slayers came to rescue me. After that, we left and came back to Japan. We vowed never to let anyone know what I was again. It has been like that since."

Sesshomaru wanted to kill them. Talking about what happened was clearly painful for her. Her eyes were closed, locked in the memory of her past. It was a good thing those fools were long dead. "I am here. No one will ever touch you again, Kagome. I will make sure of it."

"I know. You're my perverted and secret romantic guard puppy." She gave him a small smile, and he purred, leaning forward to nuzzle into her neck. She was the only one that could get away with teasing him and calling him a puppy. He was wrapped around her finger, and she didn't even know it.

"Nakoa is in labor. That is why I came to you." Suddenly he was being pushed out of the way, Kagome jumping up and getting dressed.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner!" She threw her clothes on, not stopping to make sure it looked presentable. After that, she gathered her supplies, and then she teleported away.

Rolling his eyes as he smiled, Sesshomaru stood to his feet. Kagome was with Nakoa. Now he needed to wake the others. They had all said they wanted to be there when the foal was born, no matter what time it was. So Sesshomaru did something he hardly ever did. He released his aura, letting his power run over the shiro. Slowly he walked through the halls, listening as every person gasped and backed away from the sheer power he had released on them.

When he made it to the courtyard, he waited patiently, looking up at the starry sky. Miroku was the first to arrive, Sango behind him. They had apparently still been awake, and in the middle of "other" activities. Sesshomaru looked at them over his shoulder, smirking when he saw the awe on the monk's face. Only Touga had felt Sesshomaru's power before. It was kept on such a tight leash, that not even a tendril could escape. Now, Sesshomaru was letting it go. His eyes were glowing from within, a breeze circled around him, dancing through his hair. His feet didn't touch the ground anymore, his power keeping him afloat. He looked like the perfect monster that he was.

"There would be no stopping you if your mind was set on something, would there? I'm not even sure Kagome could kill you." Miroku scoffed, rubbing the back of his neck. Sesshomaru did not reply but lifted his burnt hand to look at it. Kagome may be the only one strong enough to kill him.

"You can stop showing off, son." Touga remarked with a yawn as he walked towards them, Izayoi and InuYasha following behind him sleepily. "Why have you gathered all of us?"

Sesshoamru still didn't answer, but instead pushed his power out farther, enveloping them all in it. Miroku, being the monk that he was, could barely catch his breath, his power reacting to such a strong demonic aura. When Touga grabbed ahold of InuYasha and Izayoi, knowing what was about to happen, Sesshomaru took off in his orb, everyone being dragged with him. The others yelled and screamed, not expecting it, but it was over in a second, and then they were at the stables. Sesshomaru drew back in his power quickly, watching as Miroku fell to his knees panting. "Nakoa is in labor."

"Sesshomaru." Kagome was staring at him, eyes wide. Even she had not felt his power before. Walking up to her, he kissed her temple, thinking about what she had told him earlier.

"I promised your safety. I meant it, Kagome. No one will get through me." Tilting her chin up, he kissed her tenderly and quickly, then let her go. He had another person to see. Walking into the stables, Sesshomaru walked past many of the horses that were there. Only a few stood out, Calthal and Yumi, who had become friends of Nakoa and had been friends of Alastar's. But there were two others that Sesshomaru hadn't seen in some time. Touga and Satori's horses. Toshiro and Koharu, the parents of Nakoa. Koharu kept to herself since she had been abandoned. When a demonic horse bonded to you, it was nearly cruel to leave them behind. Koharu had withdrawn into herself, and no one had been able to reach her again.

Stopping, he looked at Koharu. The horse blinked, knowing exactly who he was. Hand out, he let her decide if she wanted to be petted. Only when she pressed the bridge of her nose against him did he pet her fully. "She left you behind too, didn't she? Mother is cruel."

A soft whinny caught his attention and Sesshomaru looked towards the open stall. Kagome had walked past him and inside. Nakoa was laying on her side, panting harshly while Alastar stood beside her anxiously.

"She's pretty far along." Kagome rubbed her hand over Nakoa's belly. "She's doing good so far. I'll only be here if she needs me. Otherwise, I think she is doing just fine." Kagome smiled down at Nakoa who raised her head, then dropped it back down.

Everyone gathered in the stall, going to sit in the corner farthest away. Only Sesshomaru and Kagome sat near Nakoa, not wanting to overwhelm her. Like Kagome predicted, Nakoa hadn't needed any help. Two hours later, and a small filly was being born.

Kagome immediately rushed to the filly's side, making sure she was breathing properly. Nakoa pushed to her feet, spinning around to nuzzle at her baby. Kneeling beside Kagome, Sesshomaru looked over her shoulder at the newest little member to their family, one of his hands on Nakoa's side.

"She's healthy." Kagome wiped her hands on her clothing, getting the birthing fluid off of them. She stepped back, letting Nakoa and Alastar get a chance to meet their child. Instead, she knelt beneath Nakoa, reaching up to make sure Nakoa had produced the milk needed to feed the filly. "Everything is good."

"Hn." Sesshomaru rubbed his hand over Nakoa's neck, watching her and Alastar clean their little filly. The baby had its head up, bleating occasionally as her parent's doted on her. She was beautiful. She had her father's dark grey dapple coloring with her mother's blue swirls over her hindquarters. Her mane and little stubby tail were pure white, like both of her parents. She was going to grow to be a beautiful horse.

"InuYasha, that's close enough." Touga's warned, and Sesshomaru looked up, seeing InuYasha trying to sneak his way over. His ears went down at his father's warning, his shoulders slumping.

"He is fine." Sesshomaru motioned for InuYasha to come to him, and the hanyou practically ran to him. When InuYasha was standing beside him, Sesshomaru kept a hand on his shoulder. "She will walk soon. Foals stand almost immediately after birth. I was there when Nakoa was born, and father gave her to me. I was the same age as you."

"Really?" InuYasha was fascinated with the baby, eyes wide, his ears twitching. "She's so pretty." InuYasha knelt down but kept his hands away. He was itching to touch the foal, but he knew better than to interrupt this moment.

Looking up at Nakoa, Sesshomaru met her gaze, wondering what she would think. She was eying InuYasha, judging him. She knew what Sesshomaru was thinking. It was tradition, one that had been passed down for several years. When she bumped her nose against InuYasha's ear, Sesshomaru knew she approved.

"Keeping a horse is not easy. Especially when they are young." Sesshomaru got to InuYasha's level, watching as the little filly began to get to her feet on wobbly legs. Smiling, Sesshomaru was surprised to find himself in this moment. A year ago, he never thought he would be close enough with anyone to continue this tradition. "She is yours, InuYasha, if you accept the responsibility. Nakoa will care for her, but you will be there as well. You will have to bond with her, make sure she stays healthy and unharmed. It is a responsibility that will last your entire life, but one that is worth it. Do you accept?"

"Yes!" InuYasha didn't even have to think about it. His answer was instantaneous, bringing a chuckle out of everyone listening.

"Then name her. Once you do, she is yours." Sesshomaru stood and stepped back, letting InuYasha take a good look at the foal. Kagome came to stand beside him, and he wrapped an arm around her shoulder, pulling her close. They all waited, watching InuYasha as he thought of the perfect name for his new horse.

"Hana." Reaching out slowly, InuYasha let Hana sniff his hand. When she did, he smiled, and then watched her shakily waddle her way to her food so she could eat her first meal.

"Welcome, Hana, to the family." Touga said, his lips spread into a grin. Tonight had been good and it would be something they remembered for a long time. InuYasha would grow with Hana, and if he took care of her, they would become the best of friends. As Touga had said, they had a new member in their family.

...

This was supposed to be posted yesterday, but I was so sick I couldn't even get out of bed. Sorry guys. I am feeling a lot better today, though. Just sweaty now. I need a shower to wash off the last of this fever. But first, you get your chapter. I hope you all enjoyed it!