Disclaimer: R-U-M-I-K-O! T-A-K-A-H-A-S-H-I! Now! What does that spell? RUMIKO TAKAHASHI!!!!!! And she owns the show Inuyasha…Not me…Arigatou.

Love Me as I Am

Chapter 60- Second Heartbeat

Birds left their purches in the trees, startled by yet another scream issuing through the forest.

"Lookie!" Kunara squealed, pointing at the birds flying about in the sky.

Rin chuckled and grasped Kunara's hand a bit tighter before Kunara pulled away.

"Yes dear. Sesshomaru…you are aware of whose screams those are, are you not?"

Sesshomaru nodded and looked out over the horizon. He, Rin, and Kunara were on a hill and had an amazing view of the forest.

"The taijya."

"Hai."

"I could smell that she was with child and due soon during the fight."

Rin leaned into Sesshomaru a bit more as he put his arm around her and held her closer, burying his face in her hair and taking in her scent. She could feel his warm breath on her neck. She felt almost…free. Like she hadn't a care in the world. She hadn't a clue why Sesshomaru's mere presence made her feel that way.

Rin set her hand against Sesshomaru's cheek as she lifted his head to meet her gaze. She lost herself in his eyes. Those swirling amber pools that entranced her so. There was no word that could possible describe how she felt and it was certainly no wonder why she suddenly felt the urge to kiss him.

~*~*~

"Father? Why are we coming here again?"

Shippo pushed aside some branches so Karlie could walk through and waited for the little kit to follow her.

"Because your mother wanted to help out with something and you wouldn't stay home with your brothers and sisters."

"Oh…"

"Stay close Stephen, I don't want you to get lost now." Said Karlie in a maternal voice dripping of sweetness as she extended her hand to his small one.

Slowly he wrapped his tiny fingers around it and walked beside her, looking up at the sky in wonder.

"It's so big. Momma? What are stars made of?"

Karlie smiled sweetly at him.

"I believe love…that stars are really dead spirits watching over us. Do you see how they twinkle?"

"Hai mother."

"The ancestors are happy with us."

"Really?"

"Hai love."

Stephen squeezed Karlie's hand tighter.

"I love you momma."

"I love you too. Oh…we're here." She said, pushing aside one last branch to reveal a cabin that was partially lit due to the warm fire burning inside.

"Shippo, I think you and Stephen should stay outside with Inuyasha and the others."

"Understood." Responded Shippo as she gave him a quick peck on the cheek before going inside to help.

Shippo took a seat beside Inuyasha who once again was lying against the cabin. He opened one eye to look at Shippo.

"I just wanted to say…arigatou for protecting my kids."

"Well we really didn't do much of anything…"

"I know, they told us the whole story."

Inuyasha blinked and looked down at the kit that sat happily in Shippo's lap, cocking a brow.

"Konnichiwa mister doggie person."

Both Shippo and Inuyasha suppressed laughs but eventually they couldn't keep their mouths closed any longer and broke into full out bawling. Little Stephen was confused.

~*~*~

"Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow. OW!" whined Miroku, his fingers throbbing and a painful shade of red.

Sango hadn't let go once yet and poor Miroku's hand had swollen up like a balloon. When Karlie saw, she walked over and pried Sango's fingers off him, taking his place.

"How long has she been in labor?" she asked kindly.

"Too……long…" whined Miroku as he winced, suddenly able to feel his fingers again.

"Do soak that in something Miroku. It'll hurt MUCH worse if you don't."

Miroku nodded and did as instructed. Trinity grabbed a washcloth and dabbed the beads of sweat off of Sango's head.

"She's got a history of long labor." Noted Miroku, drying his hand off after soaking it.

"How long?"

"Um…"

Realizing Miroku still didn't know how to tell time Kagome spoke up.

"Eleven hours."

"And how long has she been at it."

"Two."

Karlie looked down at Sango who whimpered slightly.

"We've still got a ways to go. Don't give up now."

~*~*~

"Daisies!" exclaimed Kunara, prancing down a hill that was heavily concentrated with the yellow flowers.

"I'll pick some for mommy!"

After being around Naraku so much and being forbidden to pick flowers unless in Kikyo's presence it felt good for Kunara to just be herself for once. A carefree eight year old with a streak of Kikyo's attitude, but also Kikyo's love for flowers and nature.

~*~*~

Yasuo tightened his hold on Suki's body as her crying ceased for the most part.

"Don't…don't ever let go…" she pleaded, holding tighter onto his arm.

Yasuo nodded and took her hand in his, placing it on his heart and holding it there. Slowly Suki turned her gaze to meet his.

"Ever since she died…there was a hold in my heart. In my very being. Once cannot live properly without their other half and when she was torn away from me I never thought I'd live again. When I met you, on the village road, I knew then that there was something quite different about you. Your eyes maybe…but something else too. It felt good to be around you. Didn't you ever wonder why I offered to take you home?"

Suki gulped and nodded.

"Well…hai, I did. But I thought…you liked me because--"

"You're beautiful?"

Yasuo smirked a bit but his eyes never left hers.

"Sure…that helped somewhat. There was definitely some…physical lust there. But that's not why."

He seemed a bit sheepish as he spoke. Suki noted his downcast view as he spoke. Was he being…shy?

"You were the first woman in the village that wasn't scared of Tobi in the least bit. The others just screamed and ran away. You were unafraid of demons."

"But that is only to be expected being that I have got demon blood running through my veins."

"Hai. I'm not sure how Suki…but I knew. I just knew."

Suki could feel his heart beat steadily as she laid her head on his chest.

Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.

And in the midst of the night, she was lulled to sleep in the arms of her one true love as Yasuo slowly slipped the ring back onto her finger.

~*~*~ Okay guys. I'm REALLY REALLY sorry for the late update. I've been so busy with school and such that I honestly haven't had time to write much much less type up what I have. I'll work on updating faster now that school is winding down. We're entering 4th quarter finally and besides, today was my first day of Spring Vacation. I get 11 days off. ^_^ Okay, well. I REALLY appreciate all the wonderful reviews you guys leave me. I wish I could write to all of them but I'm afraid it would delay the chapters even more and besides, you guys seem to not mind it anyway. Glad you're still enjoying the story and I hope you enjoy this chapter as well. Sayonara!~*~*~