Whoa Ok Jan, Feb, March, AND April have just been CRAZY thx everyone for all the wonderful reviews and for patiently waiting!
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Inuyasha sputtered, "A baby? You can't be serious!" Looking down at the ground, he muttered, "I don't think I'll be good enough...I mean, a baby? A little life? Another soul to protect? Kikyo, do you think that I...I can do this? I don't mean to be selfish...but you seem so calm about this. Will I be as calm as you?"
Kikyo smiled slowly, and leaned against Inuyasha. "I am sure that when the time comes, you will make an excellent father, Inuyasha."
Inuyasha relaxed then. He wondered how Kikyo was able to always say the right thing when he was lucky to say two words that made sense. He sighed. "I hope you're right, Kikyo."
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Very slowly, the days went by. Kikyo woke up quite often with nausea in the morning, so Inuyasha had to handle the chores and the garden. Inuyasha also was able to learn an herbal remedy from a traveling monk that reduced the effects of morning sickness.
He also started constructing things for the baby. "Well, this baby is going to need a place to live, a place to play, right? He...or she won't be able to sit around all day." Kikyo smiled at that comment. As much as he didn't think so, Inuyasha was very good a doing the right thing. Soon an assortment of toys cluttered the edges of their cottage. Inuyasha also built a beautiful crib made of oak. It was sturdy, and the wood and runners were sanded as smooth as...well, as a baby's bottom.
Kikyo also developed. Her belly grew and grew, and as the days turned into weeks, and weeks slowly turned into months, it became obvious that she was indeed going to have a baby. Once it became hard for her to bend down or carry anything, Inuyasha made her quit working. "It makes no sense for you to work when I can do it by myself. Besides, you have enough of a job now anyway!"
During the evenings, when Inuyasha finished all the daily work, he and Kikyo would sit together under a tree outside their home, or inside next to the fire on rainy nights. These were the most comforting times for both of them, since during the day all they could share was a word or two thrown across fields at each other.
On one such evening, Kikyo said, "Inuyasha. Do you think I am going to have a son or a daughter? I know how much it means to have a firstborn son, but..." her voice trailed off and her face became clouded with doubt. Inuyasha stroked her hair, and then rubbed her swollen belly slowly.
"Kikyo, you know it would never matter to me what kind of child it is. I only pray that it is born healthy, so we can watch it grow and become strong." At this comment, a look of peace came over Kikyo. She smiled slowly.
"Thank you Inuyasha." She paused and a look of astonishment came over her face. "Did you feel that?"
"Feel what? What's wrong Kikyo?"
"Nothing's wrong, silly, the baby just kicked! There! It did it again! Did you feel that?"
A look of surprise came over Inuyasha's face. "Is…that….there! I felt that! Was that a kick?"
Kikyo smiled. "Yes it was. Ooh this baby is sure rambunctious! Inuyasha, I fear we may have our hands full with this little one!"
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A few weeks later, Kikyo woke up in the middle of the night moaning. Inuyasha was instantly alert to her pain. "Kikyo, are you all right? Do you need something?"
Pain wracked Kikyo's body. "Inu…Inuyasha…it is time for this baby to be born…" Kikyo heaved a breath and struggled to sit upright. "You…aahh…you must go and get the midwife."
"Kikyo, I couldn't leave you now! You-"
"INUYASHA! Do not make me ask again! The…the sooner you go…the sooner you get back. Now go!"
"But-"
"NOW!"
After leaning Kikyo up against the side of the cottage, Inuyasha sprinted as fast as he could towards the midwife's house. He was tense with anticipation, and was impatient to get back to Kikyo. He danced around the midwife as she gathered her things.
When they got back to the cottage, the midwife promptly ordered Inuyasha down to the stream for water. "And don't come back until you have two full buckets, Inuyasha! Water is a very important tool!"
Inuyasha once again sprinted down to the stream, but walked back slowly for fear of spilling any of the water. He sat the buckets down just inside the door, then returned outside to pace in the cool night air. He was restless for this child to be born, and he wanted to be there to comfort Kikyo, but the midwife had assured him it might take some time. "And besides Inuyasha, a birthing room is no place for a man to be. No, you wait outside, and when it is time for you to come in, I will call you." So he waited impatiently just outside the door for the midwife's call.
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I promise the next chapter will be out before summer starts…I am not very busy right now. )