"You're joking, right?" Nova frowned as she sat on the edge of the bed as she watched Sesshomaru as he fastened his armor into place.
"This one does not joke, mate. You cannot endanger yourself or the pup. You will remain here."
"But Rin gets to go? That doesn't seem fair. No one knows..."
"This is not up for discussion. You will have enough to distract you in taking care of the castle until our return," he growled as he slid his weapons into place and came over to her. "Daemon pups grow quickly."
"You shouldn't have been so rushed to pup me," she muttered. "I do not like having to be left behind to deal with your whores."
"You never complained nor are you required to entertain the females. You are more than just the Lady of the West as you rule at this one's side," he spoke before lowering his head to nuzzle her neck. "Make sure to not over stress yourself."
"Until you return safely, that I cannot promise," she whispered as she wrapped her around around his neck. "The servants will surely notice the changes as time passes and I cannot just hide away until you destroy this halfbreed. Word will get out."
"This Sesshomaru will try to return before that happens. We may not feel the mating mark, but it is unknown if pain would still be felt being separated, especially now. The pup will require energy from this one regularly as it grows..." he stopped and pulled back from her with a slight frown.
"What is it?"
"It's heart..." he murmured before falling to his knees and pressed his ear to her stomach, his arms wrapped around her waist. "Two heartbeats."
"Twins?" Nova whispered as he pulled back to look up at her before nodding. He stood and captured her lips, kissing her deeply before pulling back as there was a knock on the door. "If you can hear them, then others will too."
"My lord, northern Panther has arrived and waits in your study," she heard Jaken through the door. "The child and dragon are ready to go."
"Why is Touran here?" Nova frowned as she was pulled into Sesshomaru's arm and he carried her out to the balcony and jumped down the the study below.
"To help conceal them until it is safe," he murmured. "Touran of the Panther Tribe."
"Lord Sesshomaru, your summons did not give much detail of what it is you wish of me," Touran spoke from where she sat and he sat in his chair, adjusting nova to sit in his lap.
"Naraku had already tried to get at this Sesshomaru within this castle once. Until he has been destroyed, it is necessary to hide the development of heirs within my mate," he spoke.
"Heirs?"
"Two strong heartbeats."
"I could put a barrier around the uterus that will have to be strengthened continuously as they grow, but you would be unable to monitor their heartbeat and energy development. As her stomach grows to accommodate them, with the barrier, it would create an illusion of no changes."
"What about a piece of jewelry that could be removed only to check their growth?" Nova asked.
"That could work," Touran nodded and Nova lifted her tunic up to remove the piercing in her naval and held it out. "You are a curious inuhanyou. I will have it finished before sunset."
"You have my thanks," Sesshomaru spoke before adjusting Nova as he stood and returned to their rooms by way of jumping the balcony. "Until she returns with the seal, please remain in the room."
"I hate you," Nova whispered before rubbing her head against the underside of his chin.
"No you don't," he murmured. "Take care of yourself and our pups."
"I will," she murmured back before he pulled back and left though the bedroom doors.
"The castle seems quiet," Touran frowned.
It was midday and they were in the study while Nova went over the documents that had come in, while Khendon slept with his head on top of her foot. Touran was drinking some tea while Nova's sat untouched nearby. She was having difficulty wanting to put anything in her stomach as everything made her queasy.
"From what I hear, the castle usually is like that when Sesshomaru takes Rin and Jaken," Nova spoke as she put down the scroll and leaned back against the chair that had been layered in furs to make it more comfortable for her.
"Who would do all this work he's dumped on you?"
"The elder scholars who reside here. When one or both the lord or lady are away, they are required to not pass beyond the walls."
"Have you eating anything?" Touran asked, her eyes glancing to the tray beside her.
"Nothing seems to sit well. I should have noticed that a week ago, but just went over my head. Kagome brought medicine that will help and I take those as I should..."
"Medicine doesn't replace the nutrients in food that you require."
"I know."
"Do I have your permission to take charge of the kitchen for your meals? I do know of ways to ease nausea and still be able to get the proper nutrition taken in," Touran asked.
"You have my permission but I ask you to wait a moment. I have the healer's apprentice coming up as I trust her like I do you."
"Another who you knew before?" Touran inquired and she nodded as there was a knock on the door.
"Lady Nova, you requested my presence?" Kaya entered and closed the door behind her.
"Yes," she spoke as she stood, placing a seal on the balcony doors, creating a silencing seal around the room that Touran had adjusted so she could activate and remove it as needed. "Because of the trust I hold for your future self, I am entrusting the care of my health to you."
"But Healer Tsumi..."
"I don't know her well enough and I get that it is the same for you with me, Kaya, but I still am asking. I only ask that you to accept a seal to keep your silence when not in either my presence or Toruan's if you accept."
"I would be honored Lady Nova," Kaya bowed.
"Great. Touran?" Nova looked to the Panther as she sat back down.
"For a seal of silence, I can place it either on the exposed skin of your throat or on your tongue, Kitsune," Touran spoke as Kaya sat down.
"Do what you must," Kaya spoke before sticking her tongue out.
Nova watched as Touran used one hand to hold the appendage as the claw on her pointer finger glowed white. Drawing that claw across the tongue, drawing blood, Nova felt her stomach turn and brought a hand over her nose and mouth as she closed her eyes. Feeling Khendon place both front paws on her knees, she not and pressed her face into his fur, taking in his scent to block out the other.
"It is done. Lady Nova...?" Touran asked and she heard her walk around the desk and touch her shoulder.
"Give me a moment," she groaned quietly before taking a deep breath before sitting back up. "Okay..."
"My lady?" Kaya spoke, all signs of blood gone.
"I am carrying the heirs of the west, but because of the threats that our lord has gone to hunt, this has to be kept silent. Touran has placed a seal to conceal their sound, scent, and growth, but my health and theirs still need to be properly monitored," Nova spoke quietly as she pressing her back against the fur covered chair.
"Multiple pups?" Kaya's eyes widened. "My lady... I'm only an apprentice..."
"I have spoken to Tsumi of your training, and pregnancy and delivery was one of skills you excel at. Sesshomaru detected two heartbeats," Nova spoke as Kaya stood and came around the desk before removing her naval piercing.
Kaya pressed her hands to her abdomen and Nova flinched at the coolness of her fingers. Feeling her ease her energy forward and wrap around her abdomen, she watched the kitsune's face as she focused. Soon, she pulled her hands away and took a step back.
"From what I feel, I would say that you were successfully pupped during your the days of your mating. While you would be at 3 weeks, with their bloodline of a Silver Inuyoukai lord and of a Fire Inu, their development would be closer to 6 weeks. Now for two pure daemons, pregnancy would be half that of a human so since you are hanyou, yours would vary between five and seven months. Pups grow quickly during the first half of the term then slow down. If you had the ability to transform into a true form, your body would compel you to do so in the last month, but since you are still learning of your hanyou, that is something we will have to not forget incase you do. You need to eat more," Kaya spoke.
"So I've been told but they are making that difficult. Touran has been given my permission to take over the kitchen for my meals since she says she knows of some tricks to ease the nausea."
"Then we should head down there now before they start preparing the evening meal. Touran?"
"Do you need anything, Lady Nova?"
"Something to drink that isn't boiled tea," Nova frowned and Kaya grabbed the tray off the desk. Touran removed the seal from the wall and placed it in front of Nova on the desk.
"That will be my first priority," Touran smiled before the two women walked out of the room.