Chapter 51
Kagome shivered, looking out the window and to the increasingly dangerous blizzard outside. She backed away, moving back over to the couch with a wince. Braxton Hicks had started a little over a week ago and hadn't backed off. She had gone to the doctor for it, but they said it was normal, and probably wouldn't abate until the baby was born.
"I don't think we are going to make it home tonight." Kagome sat behind Miroku, and he immediately began to massage her back, helping the small cramps to recede slightly. She moaned her appreciation, leaning over slightly.
"We have plenty of rooms for all of you to stay." Izayoi smiled at them, more than happy to have her family stay overnight. Besides, it wasn't safe for them to travel right now, and she would rather them stay anyway. There had been enough car crashes to last a lifetime.
"I think we will have to take you up on that offer. I am not stepping foot outside anytime soon." InuYasha was flipping through the channels, Sango beside him. He didn't seem put off by the weather. At least they were inside, somewhere familiar.
Sesshomaru chose then to walk into the room and threw his phone on the couch between him and InuYasha. He sighed, rubbing his face in annoyance. "Kouga has struck again." Everyone fell silent, looking at Sesshomaru as they waited on him to say more. Closing his eyes, he finally spoke. "Kouga either paid off someone or managed to sneak into the police station to steal back the letter. It's gone. No trace of it ever existing."
"So, we are back at having nothing." Kagome lowered her head into her hands, blinking her eyes rapidly as frustrated tears threatened to fall. "Why can't we catch a break? Every time we think we have won; he brings us back down."
"We will find some way to beat him." Izayoi sat beside Kagome, patting her leg in reassurance. "An evil man like that can't run from the law for long. It will catch up to him. We just have to wait patiently."
"And hope nobody gets killed in that time." Kagome leaned back, wincing once more as the cramps started to get worse. The more worked up she became, the worse they got. She opened her eyes, looking at Izayoi apologetically. "I'm sorry. I'm just ready for him to leave us alone."
"We all are, Dear. This has gone on long enough, but we will find a way to bring him down." Izayoi stood, helping Kagome to stand. "Come and help me make some tea so everyone can stay warm." Thankful for the distraction, Kagome followed, more than willing to keep her mind on something other than Kouga.
When they were gone, Sesshomaru looked back to the others. "I am not sure how we will stop him. He has connections that we do not because he is willing to break the law to get them. He is smart, as much as I hate to admit it, and covers his tracks far too well."
"There has to be something." Miroku looked to the hall where Kagome had disappeared. "She only has a few weeks left. I want to keep the last of her pregnancy as stress free as possible."
"Not to mention, Kouga very well may go after the baby." Touga was sitting on a third couch, the one reserved just for him and Izayoi. "That is something we cannot allow."
Naomi spoke up then, signing that they would all protect Kagome and the baby, and they all agreed. They would all give their life for each other. They were family, and a close one. The bonds they shared weren't found in many.
"I just wish we didn't have to protect her. She is scared for everybody. I wish she could just relax and enjoy everyday life. Instead, she is forced to look over her shoulder." Miroku sighed, leaning back on the couch.
No one said anything for a few moments, unsure of what else they could add. They all wanted to live in peace, but at the moment that wasn't going to happen. Deciding to change the subject to something lighter, Sango spoke up, smiling towards Miroku. "Are you ready to be a daddy, Miroku? Kagome could pop any day now."
"More than ready." Miroku smiled, thinking of his son currently nestled in his wife's belly. "I think I am most excited to be able to hold him for the first time. That or finding out what color eyes he has. Or maybe it's watching him grow."
"You're excited for it all." Sesshomaru rolled his eyes at Miroku, not really aggravated. It was endearing to see Miroku so happy to be a father.
"Not the diapers." Miroku chuckled as Kagome walked in with Izayoi, both holding cups of tea.
Kagome bent down to set the tea on the coffee table, a sudden pressure causing her to freeze. Before she could react, warm liquid gushed down her thighs, her eyes going wide, the room silencing as they all looked at her.
"Please tell me you peed yourself." Miroku looked ready to bolt, eyes as round as they could be as he looked at the clear puddle that was forming beneath his wife's feet.
"I think my water just broke." Kagome stood ramrod straight, fear accelerating her heart. She couldn't leave. They were trapped inside until the blizzard subsided. "What are we going to do?"
Miroku jumped up immediately, wrapping his arms around Kagome. He was panicking on the inside, but he held it back, trying to stay strong for Kagome's sake. He looked to his mother, the only one to have given birth in the room.
She smiled, calming all of them in that instant. "Some births take hours. It is very possible that Kagome will still not have given birth by time the blizzard stops in the morning, and the roads are cleared." Izayoi looked at everyone, beginning to list off jobs. "For now, we stay calm and collected. InuYasha, go to the car and grab Kagome's just in case bag. Touga, in the nursery we had set up, there is a kit that has everything needed to take care of a baby, grab that, and set up a room for Kagome, preferably one where she won't have to walk far. Sango, grab as many towels as you can, as well as baby blankets, Naomi, grab the laptop, search for a step by step guide on how to deliver a baby. Miroku and Sesshomaru, you two keep Kagome calm." Izayoi spun on her heel, not saying anything else as she walked back towards the kitchen.
"She's freaking out." Sesshomaru sighed, coming to stand beside Kagome, sandwiching her between himself and Miroku.
"She's planning as if I am going to have the baby here?" Kagome looked up to Miroku, and he kissed her forehead, trying to calm her.
"No. She is just preparing in case it does happen. It's just like she said, you may be in labor for hours." Miroku gave a hopeful look to his brother over the top of Kagome's head, neither really believing it. Even if the blizzard stopped in the morning, it would take nearly all day for the roads to be cleared enough for Kagome to make it to the hospital.
"I have a room ready." Touga ran back in, looking at Kagome. "Do you want to lay down, Kagome?"
"I think so." Her brows were furrowed, anxiety high in that moment. "I'm not really sure what I want."
"Try to lay down, if that doesn't work, we will try something else." Sesshomaru offered, and Kagome nodded, willing to agree to just about anything at that moment. By time she was laid down in the bed, everyone had done what Izayoi had suggested and gotten the supplies ready.
They were all scattered around the room, watching TV as they tried not to think about what was happening to Kagome. About three hours in, they knew Kagome wasn't going to last until she could get to the hospital. Her contractions were getting closer together, and far more intense.
Breathing through her most current one, Miroku walked her through it. Their hands laced together, while he wiped her sweaty hair from her forehead. "You're beautiful." She glared at him, and he chuckled softly. "You really are. You may be sweaty and having a baby, but you are still my beautiful wife."
They heard a smack and looked to see Sango hitting InuYasha playfully. "Why don't you ever tell me sweet things like that?" InuYasha grumbled, flipping off Miroku who chuckled at their antics.
Kagome finally relaxed, the contraction passing. Izayoi, who was sitting on the other side of her, patted a cool cloth against Kagome's forehead. "Just think, soon you will meet your son. It will be a beautiful moment for both you and Miroku."
"What if something goes wrong. He is two weeks early." Kagome looked up to her mother in law for reassurance, and Izayoi patted her hand.
"Nothing will go wrong. He will be strong and healthy. Two weeks early is still a good enough time for him to be born. Just you wait and see." Izayoi used that mothering tone, the one that she used to use to talk down Miroku whenever he had a breakdown. She was keeping Kagome calm the way only a mother could.
Kagome nodded, still scared, but holding onto the hope that everything would be okay. Another contraction began to seize her, this one causing her to moan out in agony. Izayoi looked to Touga, the one keeping time, and he held up three fingers. Her contractions were getting closer together.
Izayoi stood up then, getting the attention of everyone except Kagome who was still working through her contraction. She gave out orders using sign language, so she didn't disturb Kagome. The males were to leave aside of Miroku. Naomi would be Izayoi's extra hands, while Sango read out the steps of what to do.
When the males had filed out, the girls set up everything they needed based on the site Naomi had found. By the time they were finished, Kagome's contractions were back to back, not giving her a break. "Ok, Dear, we aren't going to be able to wait anymore. This baby is coming now. You ready?"
Kagome had tears in her eyes, but she nodded. One of her hands held Miroku's tightly, taking the support he offered. Izayoi removed the blankets from over Kagome, ordering Miroku to hold one of her legs while Naomi held the other.
With the next contraction, Kagome pushed, Miroku whispering words of encouragement in her ear. Those in the hall could hear Kagome's screams, and Sango, who was in the room, vowed then to never have children. The birth itself only lasted four minutes before Izayoi was catching her grandson.
Izayoi followed Sango's instructions, cleaning the baby's nose and mouth. As soon as she did, the baby let out a loud wail that had Kagome instantly sobbing. Izayoi set the boy on Kagome's chest, who gently held her son.
Miroku wiped at his own tears, rubbing his fingers over the head of his new son. He kissed Kagome's temple, letting his lips linger there as he held his new family. Izayoi finished with the birth, cleaning up Kagome, and then focused on cleaning up the bed and baby.
When everything was removed, and Kagome was once again holding her son, Miroku still there hovering over the both of them, Izayoi finally let out the sob, hugging Kagome tightly to her. When she leaned away, she looked to her grandson, and then smiled. "Can we let the others in? I am sure they are waiting at the door impatiently."
"We are." Touga's voice came through the door and they all chuckled. Kagome nodded, not taking her eyes off of her son as Izayoi moved to let the men in. They gushed over the newest member of the family, giving their congratulations.
"May I hold him?" Miroku held out his hands, and Kagome passed over their baby, watching as father and son met for the first time. Miroku smiled largely down at the little boy in his arms, heart swelling as he held him for the first time. "We need to name him, Kagome."
"He seems quiet. He hasn't really made a sound other than his initial cry." Kagome kissed his little foot, and his face scrunched up, but he continued to sleep. "Do you have any idea's"
"Yasu. It means peaceful and quiet." Miroku finally looked to Kagome, a new fatherly light in his eyes.
"Our son, Yasu. It's perfect." Kagome smiled at the two most important men in her life, leaning her head against Miroku's arm as she watched her son sleep. Soon he would wake and give them all a show of how loud he really would be, but for now, they would enjoy the peace that came with Yasu's birth.