CHAPTER 38: SOMETHING TO LIVE FOR

Kagome lay against Sesshomaru, her legs pulled around his knees. She was struggling. Struggling to bring her twins into the world. With having been in labor for more than eight hours, Sesshomaru was growing worried.

"My Lord. The first child has been in the sideway position for some time. I have tried several different ways to move the child to the right position, but nothing is working." The midwife was scared, just as desperate as Sesshomaru.

Kagome's pained whimper had everyone in the room looking at her. She was soaked with sweat and growing pale. Sesshomaru's eyes snapped back to the midwife, pleading silently for her to do something. She nodded and positioned herself between Kagome's legs.

"My Lady, you must forgive me for the pain I will give you. I must reach inside and move your child so they can be birthed properly."

"Do what you must...I just want to meet my children..." She had to force herself to speak. Kagome was growing weak after the hours of pained labor and difficulty.

Without hesitation, the midwife reach inside Kagome, moving both children so that they could be born. Kagome cried out in pain, tears constantly staining her face as she struggled to breathe. Sesshomaru held her, pressing his cheek against hers.

When he spoke, it was a whisper in her ear. "You cannot leave me Kagome. You cannot leave us. You are needed here. Please, My Love...You must stay..." Her pained whimper had his heart seizing and he clutched her tighter.

After several minutes, the midwife announced that the child was finally in the right position and ready for birth. Kagome summoned her strength and pushed hard with a loud scream, squeezing Sesshomaru's hands to keep her grounded.

It didn't take long before the first was out. "Another son, My Lord and Lady! A beautiful boy." The midwife said as she passed him to her assistant to be cleaned. His parents heard his soft cries and sighed in relief. "Alright, My Lady. I can see the head of the second. Whenever you are ready, push."

Kagome pushed hard once more and the baby came right out. "Another daughter!" The midwife said excitedly before passing the girl to her assistant. She cleaned Kagome and walked over to the new twins who were grunting softly.

"Let me see them..." Her whisper was heard by everyone and the midwife brought the pups to their parents, passing the boy to his father and girl to her mother.

They were beautiful. Both had black hair and blue eyes like Kagome. The difference between them were their marks. The girl had identical markings to her father, crescent moon and all. But the boy, he had one purple jagged strip on each cheek, wrists, hips, and legs.

Sesshomaru was shocked to see him and Kagome noticed. "Why are his markings different? Is something wrong?" The worry in her voice was palpable. Sesshomaru looked up to her and smiled.

"They are identical to my father, Touga. InuYasha only has the ones on his face, but our son has all my father's marks." He looked down to his newborn son, eyes tender with fatherly love.

"Can we name him after your honored father?" Her question took him by surprise but his features soften further and nodded. "That would be acceptable."

Bringing his son in close, he nuzzled his cheek and nose, purring softly into his sons cheek. "My Touga..." He purred and the boy purred back.

Kagome looked down to their daughter. "We will call you Maya." Sesshomaru purred again, approving the name his mate chose for his daughter. Holding his son to his bared chest tightly but gently, he leaned over, pressing his cheek and nose into Maya's while purring. She purred back, causing a smile to light up Sesshomaru's face.

SEVERAL WEEKS LATER

Kagome held her twins tightly as they suckled at her breast on her balcony. It was late and beginning to get cold. Fall was coming and soon the first snow of the season would fall.

Katsuro, Tomoe, and Sumiye were playing with Yuki and Atreus. The two had grown close and fallen in love. Kagome was sure they would be mated soon and having their first child not long after. Sesshomaru had agreed with her.

She felt his imposing aura behind her and smiled. "Your meetings done for the day?" She was hoping that they were but knew that she could get her hopes up. "Hnnn. For the time being." Kagome fixed her yukata and Sesshomaru gently grabbed Touga, putting him to his shoulder and patting his back. Kagome did the same with Maya.

Once they both were changed and burped, Sesshomaru took both them after he took his hankimono off and laid them on his chest in his large futon. A large hand on their back to keep them from rolling off of him, he rumbled soothing purrs, causing them to preen his chest.

The sky turned dark with bright stars shining, a full moon casting a beautiful ethereal light through the windows and balcony doors. Kagome watched as her new twins fell sound asleep snuggled tightly against Sesshomaru's chest and neck.

His eyes fell shut and Kagome smiled. Leaning down, she kissed goodnight Touga and Maya before kissing Sesshomaru. He didn't stir, just held their twins tighter. "I love you." Her whisper had him sigh in his sleep.

Walking down the family wing, she reached the nursery. Her three oldest were already asleep as well. She kissed them goodnight, told them she loved them, then made her way to the courtyard.

Atreus stood watch, bowing to Kagome as she passed. She smiled, inclining her head to him.

She laid down in the soft grass, watching the night sky and stars.

I never would have thought my life would have turned out like this. In the span of just over two years, I have had five children with the man I have loved for many years. So long ago, we were enemies. More than one hundred years later, we are mates, husband and wife.

Kagome rested her finger tips over her lips and giggled to herself. "I am a mother...Sesshomaru, the love of my life made that possible...He...He is my children's father..."

Suddenly, she was hit with the realization of all that had happened. The kidnap, the death of her twins, the heartbreak, the elation of them being brought back, having three more children, the torture and execution of Mēnomaru...Everything.

She didn't know she was crying until she felt the warm, familiar hand of her mate wiping away her tears. She didn't hear or see him approaching, but when she looked up at him, she saw his concern written all over his face. She smiled with large tears in her eyes.

"Why do you shed tears, My Love?" His voice was gentle when he spoke. "Because I'm happy..." She choked as more tears fell down her face. His smile reached his eyes. "I am glad that you are happy, Kagome. You have made me a very happy man. You have given me purpose, something to live for. Really live. The five children you have gifted me, gave me a purpose no one else would have been able to. You as their mother only adds to that purpose."

He pulled her into his lap, holding her tightly against his chest. "You have my unyielding loyalty, my undying love, and the protection of my body...Forever." Her happy sob made him smile a genuine one.

She threw her arms around his neck. "I will love you forever, Sesshomaru..." She whispered in his ear and he held her tighter.