~I noticed that my chapters are really short. For some reason, I can't write long chapters…. Oh well.~
End of Days
By Alpha Parvani
I was going insane. Or, at least, I thought I was. It sure as hell felt like it. My son was coming home.
It was a few days after we had seen the newscast. Sango and Miroku watched me as I ran around the house, setting up a small room that had been empty for so long, watching the phone, whatever I could do to keep myself busy.
Finally the doorbell rang. We all leapt to our feet, half scared out of our wits, half excited. I practically ran to the door. Before I opened the door, I smoothed out my shirt and jeans. Carefully, I opened the door.
Tears nearly came to my eyes when I saw Shiro, his eyes clear and hopeful. He wore a simple white shirt and blue jeans, but he still looked simply wonderful to me. He stared at me for a moment, before slowly smiling. "Papa?" I dropped to my knees and choked back a sob as I pulled him into a tight hug. He hugged me back just as closely.
He was reintroduced to Sango and Miroku. Instantly, he fell in love with Kirara. The little cat was a wonderful playmate for him. It was as they were playing, Shippo came home from school. We had kept the news report a secret, so as to surprise my second son.
He came in, looking tired. "I'm home…" I smiled. "That's great. Hungry?" He nodded and sat at the kitchen counter. I quickly whipped up a bowl of ramen, but kept it near me. "Any homework? Papers for me?" He dug through his backpack. "No papers, but I do have homework… Math." I nodded. "I could help you if you want." He smiled, replying, "Sure… Where'd the ramen go?" I merely smiled.
"Here, aniki!" Shippo jumped in surprise and looked to his side. Shiro stood there, holding out the ramen bowl, a big grin on his face. Shippo took it, stunned, and set it on the counter. Then he suddenly leapt out of his chair and tackled Shiro. I jumped in alarm and peered over the counter.
He was hugging Shiro, as though he was afraid to lose him.
I smiled and looked up at Sango and Miroku, They both smiled.
That's when it happened.
Sango suddenly got a slightly alarmed look. I could smell it. Her water had broken. I looked at Miroku. He knew. He ran up the stairs to get the stuff needed for the hospital. I turned to the boys. "Shippo, why don't you go show Shiro his new room? I need to go somewhere for a few minutes." Shippo nodded and led his little otouto upstairs.
I set to calming Sango. Not that she needed it. She was relaxed and already breathing like she was supposed to. She knew what to do. She also knew not to get excited.
Losing so many children sort of puts a damper on hope.
Several minutes later, we were at the hospital. I would say what happened in those minutes, but I can barely remember, they went by so fast. So, the next thing I knew, Sango and Miroku were heading off into the birthing department. I had already agreed, after much persuasion, that I would go home and take care of my sons.
I drove back home, slower than I had driven when on my way there. There was a ton of traffic suddenly, so it took me almost forty five minutes, six middle fingers, and uncountable profanities to get home.
By the time I did, Shippo had put in a movie and the two were immersed in it, occasionally reaching out to the popcorn bowl between them. I watched them for a few moments… Shiro had already hopped back into the family, acting as though he had been there all his life.
He also didn't seem to realize why he hadn't.
Apparently, he believed he had merely been kidnapped and that's all. He'd never committed a crime. Never stolen. Never killed.
And I was going to keep it that way for as long as I could.
Late that night, as I was writing and the boys were 'sleeping' (in other words, playing video games), I got a call from Miroku. He sounded crushed, disappointed, and melancholy. I knew what it was already.
The baby hadn't made it.
He told me it was yet another lost child, but the doctors had said it was an improvement. The baby managed to live long enough to make it outside of the womb. She had lived long enough to see her mother's face.
I hung up the phone after Miroku said they were going to stay the night at the hospital. A sigh escaped me as I set the receiver in the cradle. My door creaked slightly. I turned and looked at Shippo. He had a hopeful look on his face. I shook my head. He simply drooped. His shoulders sagged and his hand fell to his side. I motioned for him. He came to me and I hugged him gently. He hugged back. "Go to bed, okay? They'll be home in the morning." He nodded and went back to his room.
I got up a few minutes later and went to his room. He was fast asleep, tear trails on his cheeks shining faintly in the moonlight coming through his window. I sighed and shut the door quietly. Then I went into Shiro's room. He, too, was asleep, clutching a stuffed dog. I smiled faintly and shut that door as well.
I myself crawled into bed a few minutes later, wearing just a pair of baggy pants. My cat hopped up next to me and immediately made herself comfortable at the foot of the bed. I chuckled, then closed my eyes, and drifted into comforting sleep.
~Woo… sorry it took so long guys. I had such an insane weekend… *shakes her head* Well, R&R! I'll get to work on chapter 24 soon.
~Alpha Parvani