Love Me As I Am

Chapter 66- Rin's Strength

'Where are the maids when you need them?'

"Mother!"

Kunara, who had just walked by in the hall, stopped dead in her tracks then ran in to help Rin.

"Kunara…" Rin winced as she was helped up onto the bed. "Go get me some warm water…hurry…"

Kunara gulped then nodded and flew out the door. She fell to the ground with a thud as she ran into something…alive.

"F-Father…it's mother…she's—"

"I know." He replied, setting down the midwife on her feet and allowing her in to help.

He nodded slowly as Kunara stood up.

"I want to help."

"You could start by doing what your mother asked of you."

Kunara smiled sweetly at Sesshomaru as she ran off to get the warm water.

"I will."

Sesshomaru shook his head and went in to be with his wife.

Rin was sweating uncontrollably and gladly welcomed the feel of Sesshomaru's hand holding her own. He squeezed it tightly to let her know he was taking care of her then set his forehead against hers. Rin winced slightly.

"C-can you…p-please…" she pleaded as she pulled his hand closer to her chest.

Sesshomaru nodded.

"I cannot give you much or the process will only last longer and take more of your strength. I can only take the edge off of your pain."

Rin nodded then closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the headboard of the bed.

"Was your brother…able to do this…for Kagome?"

Sesshomaru shook his head.

"He is but a half demon and as such that aspect of his demon nature was never developed enough to use."

"I pity Kago—Ah!"

"Shhhh…"

Sesshomaru kept his hand on her abdomen just long enough to give her one more shot of his chi. Rin let out a yelp of pain as she felt one of the babies drop down within her.

"If I had known it would hurt like this…I never would have—"

"You must concentrate Rin."

Rin was grinding her teeth and biting down as hard as she could, trying not to scream.

"Lady Rin, you may push now."

Rin did as instructed and though the over all process took well around and hour, Sesshomaru was loyal and never left her side once.

At last the first of the two twins was born.

"A boy." The midwife announced.

Sesshomaru's eyes widened at the proclamation. Finally he had an heir…and all along he had thought his younger half-brother would beat him out. He realized not only did he have an heir now, but he had a son of his own blood.

"You've demon blood running through your veins." Sesshomaru softly told his son, who was now wrapped up tightly and resting against his arm.

"But…you mustn't let that go to your head as my arrogant younger brother does."

Rin smiled tiredly at the two before another tremor of pain shot through her and her hand, which had been stroking her son's face, fell down and grasped the sheets on the bed. Sesshomaru glanced over and realized (since he only had one arm) that he couldn't hold her hand if he was holding his son.

Rin clearly wanted him. He could tell by the way her eyes pleaded. Sesshomaru reluctantly handed his son over to one of the waiting nurses that stood nearby. Rin's hand wandered, seeking his own as she found his arm, then wrist, then finally his hand. She was nearly blinded by the pain of it all, even if he had taken the edge off. Tears formed at the corners of her eyes as she wished it would all just end and another contraction took a hold of her.

"Ich…nee…san…" the midwife counted.

"Sessh…o…maru…" Rin whimpered as Sesshomaru set his forehead against her sweaty one once again.

"Concentrate as I have told you Rin. It will all be over soon." He promised.

Sesshomaru gave her hand another reassuring squeeze and suddenly Rin felt as if she had the power to move mountains, let along have his child. It was weird…how she was able to gain strength just because of him.

'But love helps you do amazing things.' Rin decided as she held her two newborn sons, right before she fell asleep.

Shippo, after not finding anything, decided to take one more look, turning his head to each side as he backed up slowly.

"I could have sworn I--"

He paused as his back brushed against something…a tree maybe?

"Ah!"

"Ah!"

"Shippo!"

"Ko…haku!"

"Holy—"

"—crap!"

"You look so…so different."

"Me?! Look at you!"

Kohaku was as tall if not taller than Shippo. His charcoal hair had grown out somewhat as it fell almost down to his shoulders and shaded his equally dark eyes. His eyes had brightened and he didn't seem as sad as he had been before. His shoulders had broadened as well and he no longer looked like the young child he used to be. On top of all his physical changes, his voice had gotten deeper as well.

"So…" said Shippo, obviously having a question to ask.

"Don't waist your breath. I'll tell you everything. But first…I need something to eat." Kohaku said, his stomach grumbling.

Shippo smiled and led Kohaku into his humble home.

"Suki…can I ask you something?"

Suki yawned and rolled over. It was about time to wake up anyway.

"Hm?"

Yasuo looked to his left and saw the two toddlers curled up together on the futon beside them. He smiled and sat up to lean against the wall, pulling Suki into his lap.

"I never did ask you…"

"Hai?"

"You said you made three wishes…right? What was the third wish? Your brother's sight…the jewel shards…and what?'

Suki yawned and leaned into him sighing deeply.

"I wished…"

Suki paused as Yasuo tangled his fingers in her hair then brushed a strand behind her ear.

"Suki, I love you. You can tell me."

"I wished…for a happy life, free of pain, free of guilt…free of sorrows…free of—"

"It wasn't granted was it…"

"No, it wasn't. So instead I wished for us all to have happy marriages and let nothing get in the way of our love for each other."

"As if you needed a wish like that…" Yasuo said smiling as he set his fingers on Suki's chin and she looked up at him.

His eyes were filled with more love and compassion than she could ever know. Not in a million years. As he stroked her cheek with his callused thumb, she knew, the wish she had made really was pointless.

But even that didn't matter now.

"You know what I just realized Kagome?" asked Inuyasha as he sat up and put his hands in his lap.

Kagome, who was already making breakfast, continued with it and simply shrugged.

"What's that Inuyasha?"

"You never explained to me what atmosphere was."

Kagome paused and pondered that. How long ago had that been? Seventeen years at the least?

"You haven't asked me for seventeen years and you ask me now? You really ARE clueless."

"Yeah? So what? If in order to woo a woman (not that I care cause I've already got you…) you have to have the right atmosphere but it DOESN'T include clouds and stuff…then what is it?"

"Well…it's kind of hard to explain. Okay. Here's an example. You want to ask a girl out and you have two choices of atmosphere. Either you could take her out to a nice restaurant or you could take her to work with you and she can help you direct traffic in the middle of the street. Which place would you go with her if you want to be romantic?"

"But…I don't direct traffic…"

"That's not the point! Okay…fine. Would you rather stuff your face at a nice restaurant of get hit by a car?"

"There ain't any cars here Kagome. You know that."

Kagome sighed and tried to think of a better example.

"Fine. Change cars to horses. Would you rather eat all the ramen you want at a nice restaurant or get run over by a horse?"

Inuyasha clapped his hands together.

"Ramen!"

"Exactly!"

"But…Kagome? What does that have to do with atmosphere?"

"Oh…well…you know. Um…Where were we again?"

"So you're saying the atmosphere in a woman's eyes is the time, place, where, and how you ask her out or…whisper sweet nothings to her. Basically the surroundings?"

"Wow…you're more perceptive than I thought…"

"I try. So, need any help with that?"

Kagome looked down at the spoon she was holding then shrugged and walked over to him, popping it in his mouth.

"Here, lick the spoon."

Inuyasha took it out of his mouth.

"Gee, thanks."

Kagome started to walk back to the food but was stopped as she was abruptly pulled into Inuyasha's lap.

"You have…batter on your nose…" he said playfully, licking it off.

"What? How'd I manage that?"

"Dunno, but hey, it gives me a reason to do…this…" he replied as he nuzzled her neck gently.

"Inuyasha…my muffins are going to burn…"

"Let um."

"No, Inuyasha. Seriously, let go. I'd like to have a house to come home to every night."

'Stupid muffins…' they both thought disdainfully.

Inuyasha sighed and let her up. He watched her longingly as she took the muffins off the fire. For once he wasn't thinking about the food.

Konnichiwa minna! I have not forgotten this story! GOMEN NASAI!!! GOMEN NASAI for not updating for SOOOOOO very long!!!! I lost my notebook and as such I wasn't able to type up an update. I found it a few weeks ago but then I went on vacation to Niagara falls so obviously I couldn't exactly type it up there. (even though my aunt and uncle that we were staying with DO have a computer...I already messed it up trying to download AIM...sweatdrop) Well anyway, I hope this makes all you guys happy. After getting death threats, fan letters, and some very...erm...interesting reviews...I'm happy that I finally got this up for ya. There will be probably 2 more chapters left after this one so it's definately winding down. I've already finished it but I'm just estimating how many chapters it will take. Well anyway, Sayonara till next time!

---Miyu