Daises in my Hair and Butterflies in my Stomach: Ch 8
Home

They had finely stopped for the night and eaten; now they just lounged around the fire. Sesshomaru laying in Inuyasha's arms and Rin lying in Sesshomaru's and Shippo cuddled into Kagome's arms. Sesshomaru sighed and cuddled closer into Inuyasha's chest. Miroku gave him a look and he sighed again. The monk was not going to let him rest till he spoke to Inuyasha about going home.

"Inuyasha?" Sesshomaru spoke craning his head back to be able to look at his mate and lover.

"Ya? What is it?" Inuyasha asked gently.

"Would you mind if instead of going after more jewel shards, we could go back to my castle, are home?" Inuyasha blinked.

"I believe that, that would be in the best interest. Sesshomaru will only carry the pup for six months, so he will become heavy sooner and that could be putting him in danger." Miroku spoke. Inuyasha looked from the monk to his mate. He leaned down and nuzzled the side of Sesshomaru's neck. Sesshomaru smiled and leaned into the caress.

"You only had to say something. We'll change directions and start for you home tomorrow. How far is it?" Inuyasha said gently.

"About a months travel west." Sesshomaru replied sleepily.

"That would put you . . . . . . . . . . ." Inuyasha stroked his chin.

"A month and a half pregnant." Miroku chipped in.

"I will begin to show by the end of my first month." Sesshomaru replied fallowed by a large yawn. Inuyasha chuckled. Rin had fallen asleep right after she ate as did Shippo, and now his mate was fighting to stay awake.

"Come on lay down with me." Inuyasha said gently tugging Sesshomaru down to lay on the ground.

"I really am not that tired." He yawned again and Inuyasha chuckled.

"Then just lay down with me." Sesshomaru had no more then laid down pulling Rin to his chest and snuggling into Inuyasha, using his arm as a pillow, then he'd fallen asleep. Inuyasha pulled him closer and fell asleep with him. Miroku smiled at the two of them shaking his head. He rose up and covered them with the wool blanket he was caring.

Kagome smiled. Though she had to admit that when this whole spiel started up she was kinda jealous. She had hoped that once all the shards were found that she could maybe get together with Inuyasha but now she knew she hadn't a chance and it kinda hurt. But the more she looked at their past relationship, the more it reminded her of the relationship between her and Souta, a sibling relationship. Complete with plenty of bickering.

She looked over to Miroku and Sango. They had been getting along a little better. He hadn't gotten slapped in two whole weeks! What a feet! She sighed. All the sudden she felt like she didn't fit, that she was being more of a hindrance. She decided that she would stay till they either; a) got tired of her and said that she should go home for a little while or b) they found all the jewel shards.

Kagome cradled Shippo in her arms as she went to her sleeping bag and proceeded to go to bed. Sango and Miroku stayed by the fire cuddled together. Wait . . . . . . Miroku and Sango . . . . . . cuddling! Kagome had to double take before believing it. But once it seeped in she couldn't be happier for them. She curled into her sleeping bag with Shippo.

They had been traveling for about half a month now and still had a ways to go. But it was starting to get a little tidies.

They had stopped to take a brake so Sesshomaru could sit for a moment. It wasn't because he was tired, far from it, but it was because the ethers did not want him over taxing himself. Sesshomaru sat on a rock glaring daggers at his mate.

"Don't look at me like that Sesshomaru you know very well you should rest." Inuyasha said annoyed. After that, for no apparent resin, Sesshomaru crossed his eye's and scrunched up his nose as if he was trying to look at its tip. Inuyasha blinked wide disbelieving eyes before busting out in laughed while he held his sides to keep them from splitting. Just then Inuyasha was snapped out of his laughter when he heard Sesshomaru bark.

"Would you please stop poking me!" Inuyasha looked over at his mate to see Kagome and Sango squatting down in front of Sesshomaru and gently poking at his stomach. Not seeming to take notice of his out burst.

"I think your right Sango he has gotten a nice little pug." Kagome said as if it was the most casual conversation one could have.

"I thought so, but isn't it the cutes!" Sango exclaimed as she caressed the obvious but not that obvious bulge. Inuyasha came over and knelt down between Sango and Kagome with a look of subtle curiosity. He stood up and walked be hind Sesshomaru. The girls and Sesshomaru just watched him currishly.

Once he stood behind Sesshomaru he wrapped his arms around his mate. And before any of them suspected anything Inuyasha had raised the bottom of Sesshomaru's shirt flashing of his stomach. And sure enough Sesshomaru's stomach was rounded with a slight dome. Sesshomaru gave a yelp and pulled his shirt down and glared at Inuyasha. Inuyasha looked down at him with a wide loving smile on his face. Inuyasha slowly bent down and kissed Sesshomaru lovingly. Sesshomaru blushed as he kissed back. Inuyasha broke the kiss and the smile was back on his face.

"Come on, lets get going, I want to get at least over this hill and on the ether side of the next one." Inuyasha said as he held out his hands to Sesshomaru, so his mate could pull himself up. Sesshomaru had just taken hold of Inuyasha's hands when Miroku stepped out from behind some bushes with Rin and Shippo at his heals, all three caring big baskets of berries.

"I think it best if Sesshomaru ate something before we continue on." Miroku said as he sat his basket down and took the ethers from the children. Sesshomaru sweat dropped and blinked owl eyed.

"But I'm not hungry. . . . ." He said quietly. Unfortunately for him his stomach decided to correct his statement for him. Miroku quirked an eyebrow, the expression on his face stating that he was not amused.

"Sesshomaru, you shouldn't lie to us like that. If your hungry you should eat, pregnant or not." Sango cooed. Sesshomaru closed his eyes, his right eyebrow twitched. The simple sighs of a drastic mood swing. Gritting his teeth to try and not burst out he spoke shakily.

"I was not hungry till just now. I do not need to be lectured about my eating habits." Inuyasha knew that the way Sesshomaru was suppressing his anger like this was causing stress, and Kagome said that stress was not good for the baby or him. Inuyasha decided that this was something that he was going to take care of before it became too much. He stepped up behind Sesshomaru, who still had his eyes closed trying to contain his anger. Inuyasha raised his hands up and gently gripped Sesshomarus shoulders and with slow, gentle, pressured strokes, he massaged Sesshomarus shoulders and back of his neck with his thumbs. Sesshomaru's face softens and he actually began to pure, his head lulling and slowly rocking with Inuyasha's movements. Inuyasha blinked then his face softened as he continued his ministrations, sliding his hands down to the middle of Sesshomarus back, slowly rubbing the taunt muscles loose.

The ethers sat down and munched on the berries, Rin crawling to sit on the right side of Kagome's lap while Shippo crawled on to her left side to face Rin. The two children munched on handfuls of berries and showing of colored tongs. Sango and Miroku sat next to each other popping a beery here and there. They looked up at Sesshomaru when the heard him give a sigh of contempt.

Sesshomaru had snatched a hand full of berries and was happily popping one at a time into his mouth while Inuyasha continued to rub his back. The look on his face spoke only of the blissful pleasure that he could not get enough of at this moment. They could only smile at seeing the big bad Sesshomaru happy. After all that had happened to him, one of the most painful and braking experiences, yet he was managing to recover and for the better as it was. He had gained the most wonderful relationship with Inuyasha, and even though the child he now boar was Narakus, they doubted that Inuyasha would treat the baby anything less then his own. All in all it seemed that both Inu's were becoming humbled. A very amusing thing to think of, given their past.

Inuyasha stopped his rubbing and reached gently over Sesshomaru and grabbed himself some berries. Popping the small hand full into his mouth he smiled and licked his lips in a very k-nine fashion.

"Yum, nice and sweat!" Inuyasha declared childishly.

"YUM!" Rin squealed. Sesshomaru chuckled.

"Yes very good, very sweat. Thank you Miroku." Sesshomaru commented.

"Don't just thank me, Rin is the one that said, and if I may quote; Daddy likes the sweat black, blue, and red berries!" Miroku grinned. Sesshomaru just shook his head with a chuckle.

"Home . . . . ." Sesshomaru breathed, a hand resting on his swelled stomach. Inuyasha stood close to his side with a arm gently wrapped around Sesshomaru's lower back. Miroku, Sango, Kagome, Rin, and Shippo stood behind them gazing on the sight before them.

In front of this aw gazing group was a large pond with a water fall that was at least ten feet in width. The rocks that lined the steep incline of the fall were moss covered and glistened deep onyx due to the water that ran down them. The sound of local birds added their notes to the song that was sung in this utopia of the western lands. Every one were snapped out of their gazes by Sesshomaru, who was proceeding to bleat out a series of yips, yaps and barks. Everything and everyone was silent waiting to see what this was all about.

They didn't wait long.

With a loud clap like thunder and a roar that could only be called the joyful call of a lard cat, the water fall parted and a young looking lady with snow ankle length, snow white hair that had black tips and stripes, trimmed in the front to frame her face and eye's, a set of tigers ears twitched around in the seems of her hair. She wore a ninjitsu master's outfit, tight fitting black pants and tunic top to give stealth and allow one to hide in the shadows. Her bright metallic blue eyes were wide with shock and her rosé red lips parted in a gasped.

She regained her composure and latterly rand on the water to jump up and wrap her slim arms around Sesshomaru. She embraced him in a firm hug bring his head down to rest on her shoulder. She had squeezed her eyes tightly shut as tears leaked out. She stepped back holding his upper arms and looked Sesshomaru over as if taking stock. Her eye's widened as her eyes rested on his swelled stomach. She gently ran a hand over the bulge. She turned him quickly so she could get a side profile, pulling his tunic taught so she could see the bulge better. She turned her head around towards the still parted water fall.

"Koishii! Come quickly! Grate Lord Sesshomaru has returned! And he is with child!" She shouted her voice joyful and rejoicing. She turned back to Sesshomaru.

"Oh My Lord how you have grown! You must tell us all of your travails and of this precious bundle you carry! It seems just yesterday I held you in my arms trying to pry you off your fathers leg so he could tend to his duties!" she crooned as she hugged him once more.

"It is wonderful to see you again Oba Ashia. Oba Ashia this is my mate, Inuyasha, are vassals, Lord Miroku, Lady Sango, Lady Kagome, my adopted daughter Rin and Kagome's adopted son Shippo. Every one this is my Oba Ashia." Sesshomaru introduced.

"Oh! Please forgive my ruddiness! It has been so long since I last saw my Osanai Oi." The ethers nodded in understanding.

"Come now! You especially Oi, should not be standing outside in the damp!" with that she lead them across the water and to opening in the stone and water. As they walked across the water, it seemed to be more like walking across glass that had been sprinkled with rain. They could watch the giant red, orange, black, and white cawed swim under them and around the pond.

Once past the 'doorway' the water fall collapsed back to it's more natural path. With just a few steps they went from a jagged stone tunnel to finely decorated wood panel walls and wooden floors graced with furs and rugs. They traveled down several halls before coming to a very large, round room where a demon with dark orange hair with similar black markings striped in it, tide in a high pony tail but only reaching mid back, with metallic green eyes just as wide and emotional as Ashia's and matching tiger ears atop his head, wearing a dark jade green vest with gold trim and sand colored pants that billowed out before being tide tightly to his ankles, sat with his arms full with two baby tiger demons looking like both mother and father. He looked their way when they came in and smiled broadly when he saw them.

"Oji Talka!" Sesshomaru called happily. The tiger demon stood up and walked over the two babies had to be at least two at the look of their size and the way they wiggled in their fathers grasp. Ashia took them allowing Talka to extend hand witch Sesshomaru accepted before being pulled into another tight embrace by his Oji. Talka stepped back and took in the sight of is Oi. He patted Sesshomarus stomach fondly before pulling him gently to sit in the giant pile of pillows that lined the wall and motioning to the ethers to do the same.

Sesshomaru looked at every one after he sat down. he noticed the confused looks he was getting about is Oji and Oba. Inuyasha sat down next to him and wrapped his arm gently around Sesshomaru's waist while he sat his ether hand atop Sesshomarus swelled stomach.

"This is my Oji Talka, yes he is mute." Sesshomaru introduced every one again. Ashia then introduced them too her son and daughter, Tenji and Lilly. For the next few hours they talked of what had happened in the past and what Sesshomaru had done when he had left 'Clear Water', as his home was called. His Oji and Oba's faces had darken and turned malice as they were informed of how their precise Princes child had been conceived. Once every thing had been explained, Ashia decided it was time every one went to bed for the night. With a snap four small ferret demons came and showed them to their rooms. Inuyasha and Sesshomaru sharing a room, of course.

Inuyasha laid in the soft feather bed with Sesshomaru gently sleeping in a dark blue yukata with his head resting on Inuyashas bare chest, having exchanged his cloths for a pair of silk draw string pants. As his mate snoozed, Inuyasha ran his figures threw the silvery silk that was his mate's hair. He couldn't sleep so instead he thought, thought about what had happened in the past two months, what was going to happen in four months and what might happen in-between. He finely decided to just let things be and aloud himself to drift into slumber where his beloved Sesshomaru awaited him in his dreams.

Trio here! SESSHOMARU'S GETTING CUDDLY! Don't you just love it! Well I put a considerable amount of Japanese into this story so here are the terms as always PLZZZZZZ R&R

Oji and Oba uncle and aunt
Osanai Oi little nephew
Oi nephew Koishii Beloved; boyfriend; girlfriend ext