DISCLAIMER: I don't own Inuyasha or the book called 'Hasse Simonsdochter' written by Thea Beckman, nor do I own the characters of these two stories!! But I do own the idea of mixing these two ingredients into a new story.
Italic: thoughts
-- --: locations
"...": spoken words
~*~*~*~*~: time gap
*...* : noises
-by Kittymui-
A new life
Previously:
"Then let us go." Sesshoumaru ordered and walked into the direction
of the city gate with the rest following him.
Sesshoumaru stuck his hand in his sleeve and held the lock of Kagome's hair
in his hand.
Mother...if Kagome and our child is still alive...then I beg of you...please
guide me to her... he prayed inwardly.
~*~
It's evening and the moon hung lonely in the dark sky, granting the forest a
bright pale color.
Sesshoumaru and the rest were walking in the forest. A thick fog hung in the air as they continued their search.
"Damn it! What's with this thick fog!?" Kyoukotsu cursed.
"Yeah! I can't smell a thing in the condition." Kouga added and turned to Sesshoumaru. He wanted to ask if he could smell anything through the fog but didn't when he saw the disturbed expression on his leader's face.
Sesshoumaru was deep in thought as he continued to walk in the fog. This is bad...the fog is masking every single scent of the forest. he thought worriedly. How am I supposed to find her...if I can't even see further than 5 meters??
~*~
It's winter...I wonder if she's wearing enough clothes against the cold temperature...
The longer Sesshoumaru thought about it, the more worries came into his mind.
Kagome...where could you be...?
Sesshoumaru was so deep in thought that he didn't notice a figure in front of him and slightly bumped onto the person.
"Watch where you're going!!!! Now you've made me lose my prey!!" the person snarled angrily with a hoarse voice.
Sesshoumaru took several steps backward. "I-I'm sorry." he apologized, slightly surprised.
"Damn youkai. Your mindlessness cost me my dinner..." the person muttered brutally.
From its voice and features, the person seemed to be a young boy from around the age of 17. But it was too dark and foggy to see more than the curves of the shadow. And with this thick fog masking every single scent and all, it was impossible to smell anything coming from the boy.
Each of the party was standing in the shadowy part of the forest and a small gap of moonlight was dividing them in two. The mysterious boy standing on one side of the gap and Sesshoumaru's party on the other.
Hearing this, Kouga decided to step forward; next to Sesshoumaru. "Hey! What's your problem!! You better watch your behavior in front of us!!" he growled and reached out to grab the boy.
The boy flinched and slapped away Kouga's claw as soon as he saw it in the moonlight. "Keep your claws in your pocket or I'll cut them off for you!!" he yelled.
Sesshoumaru snapped completely out of his thoughts when some light fell on
his face for a second.
He looked around to search the origin of the light and realized it was coming
from the boy Kouga was arguing with.
It was an object on his chest that reflected the moonlight. It looked like a pendant and was probably revealed from behind his clothes when he flinched.
Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes and reached out for the pendant.
The boy smacked his hand away and as he did that, the shimmering pendant flew into the air; into the moonlight for a second.
He only caught a glimpse of the whole pendant, but it was long enough for him to realize it was the same necklace and pendant he gave Kagome.
"Don't you dare try to touch me again!!!"
"Where..." Sesshoumaru began.
"What!!?"
"Where did you get that necklace?"
"It's none of your business you thief!!" the boy spat in reply.
Sesshoumaru frowned at the sudden accusation. "Come into the light, boy." he demanded with a low growl as he began to lose his patience.
No reply.
Then Sesshoumaru decided to step forward; into the moonlight; revealing himself from the shadows of the forest.
"Sesshoumaru-sama!! Don't!!" his companions cried worriedly behind him.
Without saying anything else, Sesshoumaru reached out for the boy. "Come out or I will__" he growled angrily.
Before Sesshoumaru managed to touch the boy, the figure of the boy suddenly collapsed to the mud with his knees.
"Please!! I have never been unfaithful to you...why do you haunt me like this...!!" he shrieked with a high-pitched voice.
Sesshoumaru slowly dropped his hand to his side. This voice...!! he realized shockingly.
"K...Kagome...?" he softly called out her name.
"No!! Don't...don't do this to me...p-please..." the voice sobbed. "...y-you're dead...why don't you just let me grieve for you...Sesshoumaru..."
Sesshoumaru widened his eyes at hearing his name and knelt down in front of the figure. He realized that her eyes were shut and raised his hand to touch her cheek.
Kagome winced and jerked her head at his touch as if it was an electric shock.
To Sesshoumaru, it was like a thousand knives stabbing his heart when he felt Kagome wince. He tried to cup her cheek again and was relieved that she didn't pull away this time.
"Kagome...please open you eyes and look at me..." he pleaded.
Kagome slowly opened her eyes and found herself looking straight into two beautiful shiny orbs that were lit up by the moonlight.
"I am here, Kagome, I did not die." he reassured her. "I could not possibly touch you like this if I was dead."
Kagome didn't move for a moment, she only stared into Sesshoumaru's eyes.
Tears started to well up in her eyes as she felt the warmth coming from his
hand on her cheek.
Within a split second, Kagome had already crashed onto Sesshoumaru's chest and buried her face in his haori.
"It's you!! It's really you!!!" she cried in his chest.
Sesshoumaru wrapped his arms around her and leaned onto her hair with his cheek. "Shhh...it is okay..." he whispered comfortingly.
Kouga, Kyoukotsu and Renkotsu sighed of relief.
~*~
Sesshoumaru waited until the sobbing stopped before he pulled away a little.
"More importantly...are you unharmed?" he asked worriedly.
Kagome slightly nodded but started to sob again. "B-but Inuyasha...he...he protected me...and..."
Sesshoumaru gently dried her tears. "Calm down love...tell me what happened."
Kagome took a short moment to calm down. "...it was Musou...he attacked me and Inuyasha was there...he shielded me...I-I pulled out the firestone but he had lost a lot of blood...he isn't recovering much from the injury." she managed to say through her sobbing.
Sesshoumaru frowned. She must be talking about removing the bullet... "Where have you been hiding until now?" he asked.
"A cave...about 200 meters South from here." she replied calmly.
Sesshoumaru looked over his shoulder to his companions. "Search the forest for food and medicinal herbs and meet us at the cave." he ordered.
Kouga, Renkotsu and Kyoukotsu nodded and spread out to do as they were told.
He turned to Kagome again. "Do not worry, everything will be okay now." he reassured her as he stroked her cheek.
Kagome nodded and suddenly giggled.
Sesshoumaru gave her a puzzled look.
"Even Yuri is happy to see her daddy again." she smiled and looked down at her belly. "She kicked me."
He smiled warmly at Kagome and scooped her up in his arms before he stood up again.
Kagome naturally leaned her head onto his chest and relaxed as she inhaled his familiar scent.
Without saying anything else, Sesshoumaru walked into the direction of the cave with Kagome in his arms.
-- Back to the cave --
A dim light lit up the cave as the campfire burned peacefully.
Kouga, Kyoukotsu and Renkotsu weren't there yet when Sesshoumaru and Kagome arrived.
Sesshoumaru gently set Kagome down on her feet before he walked over to the sleeping Inuyasha.
Kagome watched him as he examined Inuyasha. "How is he? Is he going to be alright?" Kagome whispered.
Sesshoumaru silently stood up and walked over to Kagome. He leaned closer and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. "Don not worry love, he will be okay. He only needs time to recover from the blood-loss. You did a great job in healing him and preventing infections." he smiled.
Kagome smiled weakly before she suddenly lost balance, which completely surprised Sesshoumaru.
"Kagome? Are you alright?" he asked worriedly as he steadied her by grabbing her shoulders.
"I...I don't...oh my God..." she replied with a gasp.
"What is wrong?"
"M-my water broke...I...I'm going to give birth soon..." she said with a trembling voice.
Sesshoumaru widened his eyes but snapped out of it as Kagome suddenly leaned closer and clasped his haori.
"Please...Sesshoumaru...take me to the forest...to the creek...East of here..." she asked weakly.
Sesshoumaru didn't ask anything and carefully lifted her up in his arms and walked out of the cave.
-- By the creek --
"I...I'm scared...Sesshoumaru..." Kagome panted.
Sesshoumaru responded by holding her closer. "I am right here with you..." he whispered in her ear.
Sesshoumaru was leaning against a tree trunk (next to the creek) with his back, with his legs spread and pulled up and Kagome was sitting between his legs; leaning with her back against his chest. His arms were wrapped around her waist and his fingers intertwined with hers as their hands resting on her chest.
Kagome's body tensed. "Kurushii..." she groaned.
Sesshoumaru stroked her hair with his cheek. "I know love...but it will be over soon...keep breathing."
Kagome began to pant more heavily.
*HUFF PUFF PUFF*
Now and then, Kagome would jerk her head backwards and use all her strength to push.
~*~ about an hour later ~*~
*pant pant wheeze wheeze*
"Come on Kagome! You cannot be that weak!! You are my mate!!" Sesshoumaru growled. "Now use all your strength and push one last time, as hard as you can!"
Kagome immediately jerked her head backwards and tensed her whole body.
Sesshoumaru squeezed her hand firmly to let her know his presence.
*whè...èè...whèè*
The silent forest was suddenly filled with the cries of the newborn baby.
Kagome completely relaxed after she heard the crying. She tried to straighten herself up and see her child but was halted when strong arms pulled her back.
"Do not move...you have already exerted your body too much." she heard Sesshoumaru whisper in her ear.
Sesshoumaru carefully laid her onto the grass before he stood up and walked over to her legs.
"It is a beautiful daughter Kagome." he smiled at Kagome. "Just like you have predicted.
Kagome returned a weak smile and closed her eyes to rest.
Sesshoumaru removed his armor and started to undress himself until he was only wearing a hakama. (AN: Yup, showing his muscular chest :P~~)
He used his haori to cover Kagome's body and laid his inner shirt on the grass before he carefully picked up his crying daughter.
She stopped crying as soon as Sesshoumaru stood up with her in his arms.
Kagome had opened her eyes again when she heard the sound of water. She turned
her head to where the sound came from and tears welled up in her eyes at what
she saw.
Sesshoumaru was standing in the creek with the water touching his elbows. The
lower half of his beautiful silver hair was dancing on the calm water surface.
The bright moon above lit up the ripples on the water surface and his silver
hair; the sight was just too beautiful for words.
Sesshoumaru was holding Yuri with one arm that formed like a cradle and with
the other he scooped up small portions of water and pouted it onto Yuri's tiny
chest.
Yuri raised her tiny hand to the sky and tried to catch the small stream of
water that her father was pouring onto her.
A warm smile appeared on Sesshoumaru's face as he watched her daughter wince when several drops of water hit her small cheeks after she successfully caught the water stream.
Sesshoumaru felt Kagome's eyes on him and slowly shifted his gaze to Kagome, who was still lying on the grass.
The golden orbs met the navy blue one. Both filled with joy and happiness...but most of all...love.
~*~
After washing his daughter, Sesshoumaru walked out of the water towards Kagome.
He picked up his inner shirt that was lying on the grass and carefully wrapped
it around his daughter.
Sesshoumaru sat down on the grass next to Kagome. He slid his free arms beneath her shoulder and gently lifted her up and pulled her to his chest, while holding his daughter with his other arm.
He leaned his back onto the tree trunk.
Kagome was now leaning onto his chest with her upper body with his arm resting around her waist.
"Can I...see her?" she asked with a weak voice.
Sesshoumaru handed her the small oval shaped cocoon with his other arm.
She carefully took it and slowly removed a cloth to reveal a sleeping face.
"S-she's so pretty...our little Yuri..." Kagome said with a sob.
Sesshoumaru lowered his face a placed a soft kiss on Kagome's forehead. "Arigatou koishii...you have give us a beautiful child." he whispered proudly.
Kaogme looked up from her daughter to Sesshoumaru and raised her hand to touch his cheek. "With all my love...Sesshoumaru..." she whispered lovingly.
He took her hand in his and leaned closer until his lips were just a hairbreadth away from hers. Their eyes locked on each others.
"I was really scared when I found out that you left Mayr after Naraku told you that I dead." he said. "My instincts told me that you would be in the forest...but I was afraid...afraid that you...that you might__"
"I was scared too..." Kagome cut him off with a trembling voice. "I was completely broken when I heard about your death...but I told myself to be strong...for Yuri's sake...but still...I...I__"
Before she could finish, Sesshoumaru claimed her lips with his.
Kagome didn't pull away; instead she closed her eyes and leaned closer to kiss
him fully. How I have missed his lips...this feeling... she thought.
...so safe...
She parted her lips and Sesshoumaru didn't hesitate before he entered and savored
her fully.
I missed you so much... they thought at the same time.
~*~*~ Later ~*~*~
Renkotsu, Kouga and Kyoukotsu were sitting in the cave and waiting for Sesshoumaru
and Kagome's return. They had just arrived with all the goods that Sesshoumaru
had ordered them to gather.
Inuyasha was alerted at first when he awoke and sensed the presence of someone other than Kagome. But relaxed when he found out it was them.
While waiting, they had told Inuyasha about what happened during their mission and Inuyasha had told them the things that happened while they were gone.
Both parties were shocked and surprised after listening to each other's story.
"That Naraku and Musou, I should have guessed they were related since they look so alike! The bastards!!" Kyoukotsu growled angrily.
"Yeah! They really set us up...if Inuyasha hadn't been there...things could have been worse...for Kagome-sama." Renkotsu added as he threw some wood into the fire.
Kouga had helped Inuyasha to a sitting position and was examining his wound. "He's right. If you hadn't protected Kagome-sama...she could have died, together with her baby...thank you Inuyasha."
Inuyasha smirked to hide his embarrassment. "Keh! I just did what I had
to do." But inside, he was happy to know that his brother didn't die.
I'm so happy for you Kagome... he smiled inwardly.
"Right...what happened to Hiten and Bankotsu?" Renkotsu suddenly asked.
"If I'm not mistaking, they should be almost encountering the army of the East by now." Inuyasha explained.
"So the raid wasn't a lie?" Renkotsu asked.
Inuyasha shook his head. "I don't think so. The Imperial Army was indeed traveling together with us when we were heading there."
"But we were told that the raid was going to be held several weeks ago." Kyoukotsu said.
Inuyasha shook his head again. "It's true that the enemy of the East had planned to launch a raid in Mayr but it wasn't going to be one of these weeks. Going to their camp would take the Imperial Army about 2 months, so it would be the same for them, unless they have wings."
"What are you going to do after you healed?" Kouga asked, moving Inuyasha's haori back to its original place on his shoulder.
Inuyasha thought for a while before he replied. "Well...I had planned to__"
"Oh!! They have returned!!" Kyoukotsu suddenly cut him off and stood up.
The rest also stood up except for Inuyasha, who was still sitting next to the fire. All of them looked at the approaching shadow in a distance.
The campfire lighted up the shadow and it was really Sesshoumaru. He was carrying a weak Kagome who was wearing Sesshoumaru's haori.
Sesshoumaru himself was only wearing a hakama (AN: *droooool*). He walked over to Inuyasha and knelt down next to him. "You have protected Kagome well, Inuyasha and this brother of yours is grateful for that." he said with a proud voice as he gently put Kagome on the floor next to Inuyasha.
Inuyasha smiled. "You don't have to be that grateful...I only did what__"
Before he could finish, he was surprised by Kagome who suddenly hugged him with her free arm. "Thank you Inuyasha, thank you so much." she whispered in his ear.
"Wha__" Before Inuyasha could ask, he was stopped by some soft moaning sound coming from below.
Kagome released Inuyasha and pulled back a little to reveal the small cloth
that she was holding with her other arm.
She carefully removed a part of the cloth and looked up at Inuyasha. "Look."
she smiled.
Inuyasha looked down and the rest also gathered around Kagome to look at what she was holding.
All of them widened their eyes except for Kagome and Sesshoumaru when they saw the little Yuri, who was waking up.
Inuyasha raised his hand and moved it towards the little one to touch her. He was surprised when a tiny hand grasped his index finger.
"Say hello to uncle Inuyasha, Yuri." Kagome giggled.
Everybody smiled at the sight of Yuri studying Inuyasha's hand.
Inuyasha shifted his gaze from Kagome to Sesshoumaru. "I'm so happy for you both."
Sesshoumaru put his hand on Inuyasha's shoulder. "We owe it all to you, my brother." he smiled.
A moment of silence took place until Kyoukotsu decided to speak. "Okay!!
This should be celebrated!!" he cried.
Kouga and Renkotsu stood up. "You're right!! Tonight is a very special night since we have finally found Kagome-sama and Inuyasha again!!" Kouga agreed.
"Plus we have to celebrate the birth of a new life!!" Renkotsu added.
Before Sesshoumaru could say anything, the three already dashed out of the cave to prepare the feast.
He turned to Kagome. "You must be tired. Rest, I will wake you up when they return." he suggested. "Inuyasha can take care of Yuri for you while you are resting."
Kagome turned to Inuyasha, who gave her a nod and carefully took Yuri out of her arms.
After she made sure that Yuri wasn't crying Kagome leaned her head onto Sesshoumaru's chest and closed her eyes.
Sesshoumaru responded by placing his arms around her and pulling her closer.
Inuyasha watched the little Yuri in his arms, who was playing with his silver hair and shifted his gaze to Kagome and Sesshoumaru.
He smiled. As long as she's happy...I'll be happy too... he said to himself as he looked at the serene expression on Kagome's sleeping face.
Vocabulary:
Kurushii: It hurts
Koishii: Beloved
Posted: 16 October 2003
Last Edited: 12 February 2004 (re-edited because of tag problems)
Spelling check: YES