Wounded
"That hurts mommy."
"I know sweetie but if I don't clean it, it will get infected and it will hurt more."
"Ok mommy."
Karappo cleaned the small wound with the up most care. When she was done, all that was left was a feather thin scar on Yumiko's arm. She looked to her daughter and smiled. Yumiko was a beautiful little girl. She was only 4 and a half but she already looked like her mom. She had long, dark grey hair. Her bangs were split and went down to her shoulders. She had very pale skin but not white like her moms. She had a long, bushy grey tail. She had a deep blue crescent moon on her forehead and one black strip on either side of her face. She had two red strips upon each of her arms. She also had golden eyes like her fathers. Over all, she was perfect.
"Mommy?"
"Yes sweetie?"
"What are those?"
Yumiko grabbed the edge of her mothers black kimono sleeve with her tiny hands. She then pushed the sleeve up to reveal hundreds of razor thin, peach colored scars upon the underside of Karappo's arm. Yumiko ran her hand over the scars. She then saw the large, peach colored scar upon the underside of her mothers wrist. She traced the scar and looked to her mother. Karappo's eyes were downcast. Yumiko touched her moms shoulder.
"Why do you have so many scars mommy? Did you fall down a lot too?"
"No sweetie. I didn't. Do you know what scars do?"
"No, what do they do mommy?"
"They remind us that the past is real."
"Ok mommy."
"Now go and play. But be careful."
"I will mommy!"
Karappo stood slowly, her large belly was weighing her down. She was pregnant again. The excuse this time was that SesshoMaru needed a son, not just to have the joy that children are. She frowned when she thought of what he said when she told him she was pregnant. He needed a boy. He didn't need anymore girls even though he loved them to death. Especially Yumiko. She placed a hand on her back as she turned and began walking away. She was halfway into the palace when Yumiko ran up to her with the biggest smile on her face.
"Uncle Shippo and Aunt Rin are here mommy! Let's go and see them!"
Karappo grabbed Yumiko's small hand and they walked into the palace. They went to the front door and waited for it to burst open. Yumiko began screaming when it did. She loved Shippo and Rin. It had been 4 years since Karappo had last seen the two teens. They had received letters from them. But that wasn't enough. They always sent Yumiko stuff from their journeys and wrote letters to her. But she had never seen them.
Standing in the door way was a tall male figure. He had long red orange hair that was pulled back into a ponytail. He was well muscled and wore a green harori and green hakamas. His feet were that of an adult fox's. He also had a long, fox tail. His arms were full of bags. When he spotted Karappo and Yumiko, he gave a big, toothy grin. His long fangs popping out. His green eyes sparkled as he placed the bags on the floor and gave Karappo a hug. He spoke to her with a deep yet childish voice.
"It's good to see you Kagome. I missed you a lot."
"It's good to see you too Shippo. You've grown a lot."
"I know I had my growth spurt."
"You look handsome. Very handsome."
"Thank you Kagome. Now I need to help Rin. I just came in to drop off the bags."
A few minutes later, Shippo returned with a very pregnant Rin by his side. She wore a dark blue kimono that showed her big belly. Her long black hair fell to her waist. A small piece of it was held in a side tail by a flower. She had a bright smile on her young face. Her mating mark could clearly be seen. Her big brown eyes sparkled when she saw everyone but darkened when she didn't spot SesshoMaru.
"He's working in his office. Like he does everyday Rin."
"I really wanted to see him."
"Yumiko."
"Yes mommy?"
"Could you go and get your father."
"Ok mommy."
"Yumiko!"
"Yes mommy?"
"Tell him if he doesn't come down now, I will kick his pompous but."
"Ok mommy!"
"Daddy."
"Yes Yumiko?"
"Rin and Shippo are here. Mommy wants you to come down."
"I'm very busy Yumiko. I'll be down when I can."
"Mommy said if you don't come down now, she'll kick your pompous but."
SesshoMaru sighed heavily.
"Fine, let's go Yumiko."
"Daddy?"
"Yes Yumiko?"
"What does pompous mean?"
"Your mother called me a jerk."
"It means jerk?"
"Yes."
"Ok."
After SesshoMaru joined Shippo, Rin and Karappo, the four adults talked for hours. They talked about what they had been doing the past 4 years. About the new stuff in their lives and anything else they could think of. They talked till the early hours of the morning. Once their mouths were tired, they all decided to go to bed. As SesshoMaru and Karappo turned to leave, Karappo felt a cramp. She hugged her stomach as her water broke and SesshoMaru and Shippo panicked. Rin told Shippo to find Jaken and tell him Karappo was in labor. About a minute later, Jaken and a group of nurse maids arrived with a stretcher and carried Karappo to the birthing chamber. By that time, SesshoMaru had calmed down enough to follow.
Every one waited outside the double doors for hours. It was sometime in the after noon when the screaming and cursing stopped. The elderly woman in the red and white kimono opened the door for SesshoMaru and he ran through. She then closed the door and turned to the awaiting group. She smiled to them and their tension eased. Rin was the first to speak to the woman.
"Is Kagome alright?"
"She is just fine Rin, tired but fine none the less."
"Is it a boy?"
"Yes Shippo, it's a boy."
"That's good."
"Two boys."
"WHAT?" is what everyone shouted in unison.
"Is it a boy this time?"
"Yes SesshoMaru, he is a boy."
"That's good."
Just then a young nurse maid arrived and handed Karappo another bundle. Karappo took the bundle in her other arm and stared at the two baby faces. She then looked to SesshoMaru who looked like he had seen a ghost. In her arms, she held two boys. One looked like his father while the other looked like his late uncle. This would be interesting.
"What should we name them SesshoMaru?"
"There are two?"
"Yes, one to make up for last time."
"Twins?"
"Yes, now can we name them?"
"Twins!"
"We have already established the fact that I had twins, Mr. Points Out the Obvious, now can we please name them!"
"Alright."
SesshoMaru looked at his sons long and hard trying to think of the perfect names.
"How about the one that looks like me is Taisho?"
"Ok, now how about his brother is Toshio?"
"That sounds good to me."
"Then it's settled, they are Taisho and Toshio."