Chapter 19

(I had fun writing this chapter. I hope you like it as much as I do. LadySesshoumaru41)

Sugumi was growing well and was now one year old. He was showing more and more of his demon heritage. His little eyes would now turn red when he was about to do something bad. when he did, of course he was immediately punished. But at least the adults knew what he was up to.

Inumouru and Shippo enjoyed their new partner in crime. They were constantly trying to play tricks on Inuyasha. One trick had Shippo disguise themselves near the fountain and when Inuyasha walked by, they splashed him.

Another time the boys hid in the bushes near the stairs for Inuyasha to come out and sit, as was his custom in the afternoons. They waited for him to settle down and get comfortable in the sunshine. As soon as he was sipping his tea quietly. The boys jumped up and sprayed him with honey.

It got that Inuyasha would sniff around for the boys everywhere he went. After the last time he got tricked by them. He went into the house dripping with juice and feathers. He grabbed Kagome and Katame and growled.

"Find those boys and bring them to me." He went to his room and changed.

The two women found the boys at the back of the garden rolling around on the ground laughing.

Katame shouted at them "That's it! You two have played your last trick on lord Inuyasha. He demands that we bring you to him now. Just what do you think he is going to do with you three. Hmmm? Get up! Back to the house now. I hope he punishes you good and hard you horrible little pups."

Kagome took Shippo and Sugumi by the ears and Katame had Inumouru.

"What will your father do when he gets back and finds out how bad you've been, Inu. You were warned about playing tricks."

Inside Inuyasha had changed and was thinking hard on how to punish the miscreants when in they were marched by their mothers. He stood in front of them arms crossed across his chest. He looked fearsome.

The little ones knelt on the floor in front of him trembling, awaiting the terrible retribution about to be delivered upon them.

"So, you think its fun to play tricks on someone as terrible as me." He gave his most fearsome glare. "Well I have just the cure for your foolishness." He showed his teeth. "You are going to pay dearly for your fun. Starting with you." He grabbed Shippo and paddled his tail. Then he spanked Inumouru then finally his own son.

"You three are going to give the servants the week off. You are going to do every bit of work in the house. You can start by heating the water for my bath. NOW!"

Inuyasha then turned his wrath on the women. "You two! Where were you when all this was happening. You're supposed to be watching them."

Katame tried to defend herself and reason with the angry lord. "It's not our fault. They hide from us and..."

"Enough! You're just lucky you're pregnant or I'd have you're tail as well, girl!" Inuyasha was furious. He wasn't going to hurt her but he was so fed up with being the butt of all the tricks that anyone was fair a target.

Katame put her hands to her face and ran to her room crying. She hid in the far corner and prayed that Inuyasha wouldn't follow and beat her.

She could hear Kagome arguing with him but couldn't hear what was said. She hoped Kagome would be ok.

Sesshoumaru came home that night after his patrol. He found Inuyasha alone at the table, sipping tea.

"Where is everyone." He asked.

"The boy's are in the kitchen preparing supper and Kagome is watching them. As for your wife. She is still hiding in her room.

"Hiding?" Sesshoumaru looked in the direction of the room in question. Then promptly went to get his wife.

Katame jumped when she heard the door open. She looked up half expecting Inuyasha, instead it was her husband.

"Did lord Inuyasha send you to punish me?" She had tear stains on her cheeks.

"Why would he do that?" Sesshoumaru didn't know about the trouble his son and the others were in. Katame explained what happened and what Inuyasha had done with the boys.

"He is still very angry with me. I think he is going to beat me." She sobbed. She was very far along in her pregnancy and was given to crying easily.

"He said nothing of this to me. Come now you must come out and eat." Sesshoumaru knew that if his brother had thought she needed a smack, he would have given it and not waited.

"NO! no I can't go out there. He's still angry. I want to stay here. Please let me stay here." She tried to pull away from him.

Sesshoumaru held her by the arm and went to the door, he called for Inuyasha to come. When he arrived he found Katame cringing beside Sesshoumaru and hanging on to him for dear life.

"Do you wish to beat my wife?" Sesshoumaru asked bluntly.

"Why would I want to do that for?" Inuyasha was a bit confused.

"See, you're safe. Come on then." He tried to guide his wife out of the room but she wouldn't go.

"No he's still angry with me I know it." Katame hid her face in the folds of Sesshoumaru's sleeve.

Inuyasha stepped forward and motioned for Sesshoumaru to let him try. He took Katame's face in his hand and tipped up her chin. "Katame, what color are my eyes?" It seemed a strange question but she looked at him and answered.

"Gold."

"Good. What color are they when I'm angry?" He persisted.

She bowed her head and said "Red."

"So what are you worried about. I'm not going to hurt you." He took her by the hand and brought her out to the table.

In the kitchen things were not going well for the boys Inumouru was scrubbing pots and Shippo being the oldest was stirring the food. Sugumi was in charge of cutting the vegetables seeing as he had the sharpest nails. All three had been working hard and were very tired. But Kagome wasn't about to let up.

"Hey Inumouru that pot isn't clean I can still see black marks on it. Sugumi are you done? Good now wash the counter tops were you were working and make sure you do a good job or you will do it again. Shippo hurry up the master of the house will be back soon and you know he doesn't like to be kept waiting."

The boys finished supper and brought it out. They thought that they were now allowed to join the adults. Inuyasha told them that they had more chores yet.

"What do you think you're doing. Slaves don't eat with their masters and you still have to make the beds and get lord Sesshoumaru's bath ready..." Inuyasha was being hard on the boys, but he wanted them to learn their lesson well.

"The boys all started to whine and cry. We're tired and hungry and we already did all this work..."

"Enough!" Sesshoumaru stood his whip at the ready. The boys all fell to the floor apologizing. Sesshoumaru cracked his whip on the floor in front of the frightened kids.

"I will not have this in my house. If you are to be slaves for the week then you will act it. You have your orders, now do it!" Crack! Sesshoumaru flicked his whip one more time just for emphasis.

All three boys scattered.

Katame was about to protest the harshness but Sesshoumaru stopped her with a look. He sat back down. "They were warned that there would be a price to pay if they kept up their tricks. Now they are paying. Don't worry Katame, they won't go hungry. I'll see that they eat before bed."

The boys were finally allowed to eat. The poor little men were so tired from all their labors that they hardly ate anything.

Katame got up from the table and shewed the boy's off to bed. She was just saying her good nights to Inumouru when the pains came.

"What's wrong mama? Inu asked.

"Nothi..... ughh."

"Father!" Inumouru ran from his room. "Something is wrong with momma. Come quick."

Sesshoumaru picked up his wife. He knew what was happening. The baby was coming. There was no time to get the village woman it would be up to Kagome to help with the birth.

He laid her down on the bed and told the servants to make water and clean linen ready.

"Kagome, you have to help her with this birth. It's too late now to get the old woman."

"Its ok, I think I know what to do. Inuyasha keep the kids out of here. Sesshoumaru I'm going to need you, so don't leave." Kagome was good in difficult situations. She remembered what the old woman had said and done for both their births.

"Katame you remember what the old woman said about panting right?"

Katame nodded.

"So I want you to pant every time the pain comes. And try to relax it might help."

Sesshoumaru laughed. He remembered how 'relaxed' Kagome was when she gave birth to Sugumi. "I hope you don't promise to do me harm, the way Kagome promised to harm Inuyasha when she gave birth to Sugumi.

Katame smiled and then winced with the pain. "I can't hurt you, even if I wanted to and you know it."

The labor was progressing nicely. It was getting closer now.

"Aieee...." Katame's pain was intense.

"I can see the head Katame push hard as you can he is almost out." Kagome urged.

Sesshoumaru held his wife as she struggled to bring to birth the new life.

"Unnngh....." Katame pushed and out the baby came. He cried instantly.

Kagome washed the baby as Sesshoumaru helped to clean up Katame. Soon mother and child were tucked into a fresh bed sleeping. Sesshoumaru had scented the boy and was well pleased.

Later he and Inuyasha discussed the newest addition to the family.

"He looks strong like his brother when he was born." Sesshoumaru noted.

"So what are you going to call the kid?"

"Samotoyame." He glanced back toward the bed chamber. "I have to patrol will you watch her for me?"

(please review I love to hear what you think. If you have a story of your own, tell me. I like reading other peoples stuff too.)