I disclaim everything that needs to be. Your reviews are so sweet; it honestly makes it more fun to write knowing y'all actually wanna read it. (which is hard to know in my career as a poet/writer) … Please know I appreciate them SO much.
Bold means a change in location and/ or time or time period. Italics are thoughts, typically. Rin means "dignified", Kama means "love", Haru means "Eternal Treasure", Lev means "love", Kei means "blessings", Caia means "rejoice"
Love Letters- Chapter 24, Letter 25 & 26
"Kags, I don't know if you should sleep with your arm hanging off the couch like that." Inuyasha's voice was soft as he slowly moved her arm back to her stomach, near where Haru was laying.
She hummed, shifting so her arm wouldn't fall and drifted back into her nap. Souta and Hitomi were busy in the kitchen cooking dinner. Sesshomaru and Inuyasha flipped through the different TV channels, looking for any news on either their clients or Shynah. Stopping at Entertainment Tonight, they focused on the story being told.
"Shynah Higurashi-Onigumo was spotted getting lunch with a mystery man at Helium, the newest sushi restaurant in South Hollywood. Now, as we know, her husband Hiro Onigumo is currently in prison awaiting a stalking trial, so who is this man? Is this the elusive third child she mentioned in her exclusive interview? We can only wait and see!"
The screen flashed the paparazzi photos of Shynah and the "mystery man" as they left the dark doors of the restaurant. Naraku had his dark hair pulled back into a ponytail, and a gold earring was visible from one of his ears. His neck and forearms were almost completely tattooed. He looked very different, but the spider tattoo on the top of his left hand was always a dead giveaway.
"Looks like Naraku really is hanging around." Inuyasha quipped, "I wonder what they're up to."
"Nothing good." Sesshomaru shook his head, Naraku's presence in town was unsettling, even more so than not knowing their plan. Something about the man truly rubbed him the wrong way.
"agreed." Inuyasha noted, looking back down at his phone as the host started listing other points of celebrity interest.
"Is Father going to buy her book?" Sesshomaru mused, wondering just how they'd de-bunk her lies.
"He's talked the publisher into giving him advance copies. They should be at my office in a few days." Inuyasha scrolled through his phone, bored of the question.
Sesshomaru nodded, looking at Kagome asleep on the couch with their son on her chest. He smiled a little, Rin was fast asleep on his chest- his arms holding her as he watched TV with his brother. He could smell the cooking meal in the kitchen and tried to decipher it. Chicken? Maybe with rice? It smelled delicious regardless, and he knew Kagome would be hungry soon- along with their twins. Still though, he wanted to let her sleep as long as possible.
Stealing a glance at her, with their sleeping son on her chest, he smiled at the similar faces they made in their sleep. He figured when Haru wakes up, as will Kagome. Or vice versa. Already, they were deeply connected.
Rin rustled in his arms, the tiny baby turning to smile at her father. She was awake only briefly, as she yawned almost immediately and closed her eyes. Fatherhood hadn't been his job very long, but Sesshomaru was enamored with it. It was his new favorite job in the entire world, next to being married to Kagome.
As the show phased in and out of commercials Sesshomaru's attention phased in and out from his emails to the TV. Again, the entertainment channel was cycling pictures of Shynah and Naraku's trip from New York to LA. Photos of them almost every minute at the airport, and videos of Shynah delightedly talking to members of the paparazzi while Naraku lurked behind her. He never answered a single question.
"Is that weird, do you think?" Inuyasha mused, also noticing his silence.
"No," Sesshomaru thought about it, "I think it's planned. He wants to seem mysterious, and to us-menacing."
Inuyasha chuckled, "I've never been scared of that creepy little spider. And him popping up now is certainly not going to change that."
"Of course not," Sesshomaru agreed, "But that's what he's going for. Shynah is pretty obvious with wanting to be seen, especially around him. This book release has emboldened her a great deal."
"I hope she sends me a signed copy." Kagome said sleepily, drawing their attention from the TV to the couch where she lay with the mostly sleeping infant.
Inuyasha laughed, "She probably will! Highlighting all the parts about you and everything."
Kagome laughed in agreement, holding Haru to her chest as she lifted herself into a sitting position, "it's impossible not to see through her bullshit."
Standing, Kagome stretched her free arm before shifting the position Haru was in, "I'm gonna change him and check on the kids in the kitchen."
The men nodded as she exited the room.
"Are you going to check and see if Rin needs changing too?" Inuyasha asked his brother, turning his attention away from his phone and tv.
"Hm," Sesshomaru switched Rin's position in his arms, "She hasn't made the face yet. So, she's fine." Looking back at the TV, he sighed, "can't they find anything else to talk about?"
"No, we're their favorite topic," Inuyasha sighed, "especially as Shynah keeps on her bullshit."
Sesshomaru rolled his eyes, Naraku's appearance was annoying. He hadn't talked to his father about his theories, yet, and his mind was spinning. His mind went from Shynah to Haru's letters, and he frowned. He still didn't know how to breech the subject with Kagome, first relying on the recent birth as a sign of 'not the right time'. But when would be the right time? It felt like never. His concentration broke as Rin squirmed in his arms, making a face. The face.
"Jaken," Sesshomaru raised his voice slightly, "do we have diaper changing things down here?"
Without a word, he scurried into the room, a collapsible changing table under his arm and a diaper bag over his shoulder. Setting the table up near the end of the couch, and dropping the diaper bag at Sesshomaru's feet, he left as soon as he came.
"He's so fast," Inuyasha laughed, "annoying as hell, but he's efficient."
"Efficiency is key, irritation is…. inconsequential." Sesshomaru hummed, kneeling on the floor to start changing his daughter's diapers.
Laughter sparked from the kitchen at the same time as the doorbell chiming a new arrival. Voices continued as footsteps moved toward the living room.
"See, Aia," his father's voice said from the entryway, "Sesshomaru is not afraid to get his hands dirty."
"Unlike you." Aia mused before kneeling next to her son, "He didn't lift a finger in the diaper department until it was time to potty train aiming." A happy sigh came from her as she looked at Rin's face, tapping her nose with her manicured finger. When the baby giggled, she smiled and turned her attention to her son, "How are you, my Maru?"
"I'm well Mother," He hummed as he finished securing Rin's clean diaper, "Shynah is planning something, but that is the only dark cloud."
"A tiny cloud in your beautiful sky, my pet," Aia smiled, "Remember your most treasured things. All of your beautiful stars and universes." She lifted Rin out of the changing table and cradled her, "and how are you my most beloved granddaughter?" She asked, reveling in the baby's giggle.
"Sesshomaru! How have you been sleeping, my boy?" Ken asked, clapping his hand on his shoulder.
"Fine, Father I want to discuss-"
"Later, son, later." Ken waved him off before moving back into the kitchen, Aia and Rin following. Inuyasha and Sesshomaru shrugged before following into the commotion of the kitchen, where Kagome was sitting on the island counter holding Haru.
The two were giggling as Kagome tickled the baby, Ken moving to place himself right in front of the giggling boy. His love for his grandson sparkled on his face, and Kagome could tell he was missing her father every time he looked at the little boy's face. She wondered how much her son would resemble him, after all, he was still a Tashio.
Her heart warmed at the thought of a tiny Tashio face, a Sesshomaru face. So sweet looking but so very serious. Haru already had his father's eyes, mild temper, and intense look. But he held the same peaceful aura she did. As her father did, too.
It was one of the things she missed the most about him, as her mind wandered to the baby photos taken when she was an infant. The photos of her father holding her close to her bare chest as she moved through the early months of her life were among her most treasured things. She knew, knowing her Sesshomaru, that they would both have photos of their peaceful skin-to-skin moments with their twins. There were already so many photos of their lives as a twosome, her stoic sentimental husband saw to that.
Ken lifted Haru out of Kagome's offering arms and bounced him, reveling in the baby's happiness. The love in the room was palpable.
"Kagome, are you ready for dinner?" Hitomi's voice brought Kagome out of her thoughts.
She nodded as everyone filed into the dining room, with Souta and Hitomi trailing behind holding platters of food. As Kagome and Sesshomaru settled their twins into their bouncy seats on the table, the newborns weren't big enough for the formal highchairs placed in the dining room.
"So, Sesshomaru, Naraku is here for the trial," Ken started, scooping rice onto his plate. "That's all we can ascertain so far."
"There's no way they are gonna stir the pot till they can get Hiro out of jail." Inuyasha cut his piece of chicken into bite sized pieces.
"Is there any way he can get out?" Aia asked, taking a sip of wine, "I mean, I would've thought stalking such high-profile people would breed a stronger consequence."
"Honestly, we´re probably going to get a new, stronger restraining order. The judge knows we have the money to protect ourselves, so they only need to maintain the legal obligation." Ken sighed, "the system is broken, he should've been locked up a long time ago."
Kagome shrugged, eating her meal, "I'm not really worried about it. The twins won't be at the trial, he will see me, like he wants, and I will testify, and ask for the most severe restraining order possible, my mother will perform whatever rehearsed theatrics she's planned with Naraku, and then it'll be over."
Haru giggled in his bouncer as Kagome tickled his stomach. The pomegranate juice full wine glass in her other hand jostled a little with her own giggle. She'd laughed when Inuyasha brought it to her in the kitchen, too, when he explained that he didn't want her to feel left out when they drank.
"Honestly, I think there's more to Naraku's visit than just the trial," Souta trailed off, "Hitomi was telling me something she heard in the fashion sphere."
"That's right," Hitomi quipped, "my boss was talking about a new male model they have lined up for auditions. He's said to be a "new look" for the industry. Dark, pale, vampiric."
"Or spider-like," Kagome finished, finishing the last bit of vegetables on her plate, "you know I've been so hungry! My appetite hasn't gone down at all, it's weird."
"Oh no no dear," Aia laughed, "it's the breastfeeding. Your body still needs the extra energy."
Kagome nodded, watching as Sesshomaru cut his portion of chicken in half, putting one half on her plate, "that makes sense. I'm just starving all the time. Anyway, how do you think the fashion world will take to Naraku?"
Aia sighed, "unfortunately he may do very well. New York is tilting in that direction more than here, but the buzz is loud with new faces. Especially if he has a big social aura with the Hollywood starlets."
"And that, he seems to have." Hitomi added, "the girls were all so excited to talk about him."
"Well, 'Tomi, if you meet him…." Souta started
"I don't know you all, of course." She finished for him, taking a sip of her water, "I would never put you all in any kind of danger."
"Father," Sesshomaru looked for his father's attention, "we should give Hitomi a security detail that Shynah wouldn't recognize. She knows Souta's well, having confronted them several times."
Ken nodded with a mouth full of rice, before swallowing and speaking, "of course. I'll tell the boys; they'll know exactly who to choose. I'll call Diego at Moschino and let them know that we will be beefing up their security."
"Thank you, sir", Hitomi blushed.
"Fashion week is soon, too, so Moschino will be doing auditions for the collection," Aia spoke, taking a sip of her wine, "We are doing auditions as well. My line clashes deeply with the 'vampire' look- thank god- so unless my casting is completely unhinged…." She trailed off.
"I believe my mother knows better than to let Naraku walk for you, Mama Aia. She was angry enough the times you denied her." Kagome giggled, pouring herself more pomegranate juice.
Inuyasha laughed, "I hope that's in the book!"
The table laughed, continuing their meals as the conversations bounced to the updates everyone's work. Aia settled on the Spanish Style house that Eri suggested and was moving in over the next few days. Jaken came and went, clearing plates and bringing coffee, tea, and wine out periodically until Kagome looked at the time on her phone. 8:30. The twins weren't too fussy, but it was time for the last feeding, bath and bed.
Almost as if he had read her mind, Ken tapped her shoulder, "Kags, can we give them their baths and put them to bed? Izayoi and I had long missed the sweetness of a baby's bath."
Kagome smiled, "of course Papa," she lifted Haru to her chest and pulled her shirt aside so he could breastfeed. When he finished, she passed the infant to Ken, who warmly snuggled him and stood to head to the bathroom. Izayoi followed, after Kagome handed her a freshly fed Rin.
At the table; Sesshomaru, Inuyasha, Souta, Aia, and Hitomi were saying their goodnights and goodbyes. Sesshomaru's mind was on the manila folder of letters on his bedside table, and what to do with them, now that they had a bit more time before bed- he decided now was the time. Or, now was as good a time as any.
Inuyasha, drink in hand, wandered upstairs behind Souta and Hitomi as Kagome hugged Aia at the door.
"Night, Bro" Inuyasha said, "Kikyo's gonna be at our place tonight since she has an early surgery in the morning."
"Goodnight Inuyasha, we appreciate you staying with us."
"Tomorrow is Kaggie's birthday!" Inuyasha laughed, "worry about that and those twins. We're all just here to help."
Sesshomaru nodded as his brother finished climbing the stairs and moved toward the front door to say his goodbyes to his mother.
"Mother, thank you for coming." He leaned into the shorter woman's hug.
"Oh Maru, I would never miss an opportunity to see my beloveds. I was just telling Kagome that I'd be stopping by tomorrow if you all weren't too busy."
"Sango and Miroku said they'd stop by around noon," Sesshomaru said vaguely, "perhaps I'll throw something on the bbq and we can hang out by the pool?"
Aia looked up at her son, hearing the limits in his voice, "wonderful dear, I'll be by in the afternoon then."
"Get home safe Mama," Kagome kissed her mother-in-law's cheek, "thank you for coming."
"Goodnight, sweet sweet Kagome. Goodnight, Maru!" Aia kissed them both again before stepping into the backseat of the car, her driver closing the door behind them.
Sesshomaru led Kagome up the stairs and to the bedroom before carefully sitting her on the bed.
"Sessh?" Kagome asked, "what's going on?"
"I've been struggling finding the right time to give these to you…." he started, lifting the manila envelope up from the night table. It felt so much heavier now.
"These are from your dad, to both you and Souta…but I thought you should have them both to decide when its best to give Souta his."
"…...where did you find these?"
"Father…...found them, I think when going through storage and finding the documents needed for the restraining orders. He brought it over with a big mail sorting one day."
Kagome's eyes were glossy with tears as she looked up at her husband, "thank you Sessh."
He leaned down and kissed her head, "I'll be in soon. I'm going to check on the kids and talk to Father. I love you, my Kagome."
Sesshomaru closed the bedroom door behind him, as Kagome pulled out a thick white envelope with her name on it. Her father's writing stared back at her as she read the first letter.
To my whole world,
I adore you, my sweet daughter. I tell you every time I see you, write it on the walls of every bedroom you've had in every house I've had. I write it in your lunchboxes, the inside of your ballet shoes….
You and your brother are my greatest masterpieces. Nothing will ever surpass the greatness that you two are. And on this, your 7th anniversary in my life and on this earth, I am endlessly grateful. And I give you this promise- for each huge moment in your life, you will receive a letter from your Dad.
I promise, every single event- my sweet girl. And every time a thought crosses me that you may need to know, long after I can tell you.
Happy 7th birthday, Kaggie
Love,
Daddy
Sesshomaru stopped first at the darkroom to begin processing the birth photos he wanted to print for Kagome's birthday. He focused on his extra-large photo enlarger to start printing his favorite photo. Kagome held their newborn twins in her arms, nursing them both at the same time as she looked on lovingly. Skilled as he was, he completed the print quickly and put it through the developer, fixer, and left it in a cool water wash before heading to the bathroom nearest the nursery.
Bath time was just wrapping up, with Ken and Izayoi drying and lotioning the twins before slipping them into matching dragon-print pajamas. Sesshomaru washed his hands and observed the gentleness on his father's face. He, and his stepmother were completely enamored by their grandchildren. The three of them walked back to the Master suite, where Kagome sat in bed, flipping through TV channels. The manila envelope was on her bedside table, with the thick white envelope on top. She smiled as they came into the room, getting out from the covers and meeting them at the baby bassinettes.
Ken and Izayoi kissed the tops of both twins' heads and gently places them in their beds. The older couple then kissed Kagome and Sesshomaru on their heads before whispering their goodnights, leaving the room. After the door closed, Sesshomaru turned his attention to Kagome.
"How are you feeling?" he asked as he sat next to her on the bed.
"I'm grateful you gave these to me, and I think I'll give Souta his soon too." She leaned up and kissed his cheek, "I love you Sessho."
"I love you more Kags," he kissed her softly before looking back at their children, "you have given me the greatest gifts my entire life…and now look at us…I couldn't have asked for a better person in my life," He looked at the clock, "happy birthday my love."
Kagome smiled, "thank you," she yawned, "I should sleep before the 2 AM feeding. Do you want me to get you up?"
"yes," he nodded, getting up and going to his desk, "wake me if I am not awake already."
Kagome laughed as she crawled back under the covers, the t-shirt of his that she'd chosen to sleep in riding up her backside, "of course. Goodnight Sessh."
"goodnight Kags," he replied as he started to write.
Kagome,
Again, I am brought to write to you. It's your birthday, and I will forever be your admirer. Though now, I am no longer secret. I am more and more in love with you as our days together pass, and I relish every day the world gets to celebrate you too. Your birth should be celebrated, it is celebrated by all who adore you- with me and our children at the lead. It takes everything in me to not ask you for more than our two perfect ones, but how I long to see you pregnant and glowing again. Your glow as a mother as only allowed me to fall deeper, and you outshine every wife known. To this birthday, and the rest of your life that I will spend with you, I wish you perfection. I wish you joy and love to the highest caliber, and I will spend my life giving it to you.
My love, eternally,
Sesshomaru
Folding his letter, he left it on his desk to later give with his other gifts. Quietly, he left the sleeping three and went back to the darkroom to check on his prints. It took almost a full hour to complete all of the aspects of the gift Sesshomaru was creating for Kagome, and when he finally got into bed, he wasn't sure that he would wake up so easily at the impending feeding.
*that's all folks! That's it for this chapter. Next, parenthood. I really appreciate y'all taking the time to read my stories! I know it's been SO long but I'm working on these for ya! Let me know what y'all think! –Inu'sgurl97 *