Chapter 7

(Sano)

"What do you mean he belongs to you!" I asked fiercely. "Shinta belongs to no one!"

Enishi idly played with a long hollow tube, which I knew he had used to drug Shinta. "Correction, I claimed him long ago." He grinned wickedly. "Besides, I believe he is carrying my child."

I gasped. "How do you know that?"

He chuckled. "I've been following you both for some time. I know everything."

I cracked my knuckles, standing protectively over Shinta's unconscious form. "Well that doesn't matter. Shinta is free to make his own choices, and I know he wouldn't go with you if his life depended on it."

Enishi grinned. "Think again." He twirled another needle in his fingers. "This poison, once injected into his body, will induce labor. I've been studying half-demons, and his human body has an extremely small chance of lasting through the birth. It could kill both he and the child."

I growled. "Shimatta!"

Enishi laughed. "Indeed." He pocketed the covered needle, and drew his sword. "Then I suggest you hand him over to me."

I raised my fists. "Over my dead body!"

He grinned. "My thoughts exactly."

I barely had the time to scoop up Shinta's limp body and dodge as Enishi's sword came flying though the air. "Come on, wake up kodora!" I murmured to Shinta as I settled to the ground again.

I heard a moan from him, and I cheered mentally. He was starting to pull out of it, slowly but surely. It must not have been a very potent poison.

Enishi darted after me, swinging the sword in practiced ease, and getting closer with each swing. He lifted the sword high, and I nearly got my leg taken off.

Shinta suddenly began to move in my arms, letting out a yelp when Enishi's sword nearly hit me again. "Sano!" he asked quickly.

I gritted my teeth, setting him down. "Keep yourself out of the way; I'll get rid of him!"

He scrambled backwards, planting his back against a tree. I could see the stark terror in his now blue eyes as he watched Enishi.

I charged towards Enishi, dodging his sword and throwing a punch to his stomach. I hit him head on, and he bent over my arm. I jumped back from him, dropping back into a fighting stance.

He coughed, and then lunged for me. "Shinta, run!" I dodged around Enishi's sword again, crying out when it bit into my leg.

I let out a roar of fury when Enishi shoved the needle into the tube and brought it to his lips. I flung myself at him, slamming into him just as he blew the needle.

It was like time slowed down as I watched the needle fly through the air. It buried itself in the center of Shinta's back, and I let out a cry. "IIE!"

Shinta continued to run, until he cried out and fell heavily on his side. I watched him shake, and then turned to look at Enishi. "You bastard!"

He grinned. "Have fun." He melted into the woods, with that grin still on his face. I wanted to punch it off of his face so bad…

I was torn away from chasing him when Shinta yelled my name. I ran to his side, fear coursing through me. "Shinta!"

He was shaking, sweat already pouring down his body and soaking his hair. He groaned, curling in a ball around his belly. "Oh Kami Sano, it hurts!"

I picked him up, bringing him out into the clear night air. He shuddered against my chest, hugging his stomach with a long cry.

I was terrified, and I hastily built a fire after leaning him against a tree. I knew that I would need it to keep him warm as the night wore on."Shinta, what's going on?"

He groaned. "It feels…It feels like it's trying to claw its way out of me!" His fingers splayed over his bulging stomach, and he looked at me with pain filled eyes. "Help me…"

I was helpless. I had no idea what to do. I brought out a cloth, wetting it from my waterskin. I lay it on Shinta's forehead, wiping away sweat. "I'm so sorry Shinta…" I whispered.

He was crying now, the warm tears flooding down his flushed cheeks. He looked at me, and I was shocked to see a golden hue in his blue eyes. "Shinta?"

"You must help me Sano," he said in a pained voice. "Onegai." His harsh pain seemed to have eased for the moment, but he was still uncomfortable.

I nodded. "But what do I do?"

He slowly crawled backwards, pushing himself into a sitting position against the tree. "My kimono…" he murmured. I understood, and helped him out of his kimono, bunching the fabric down below his stomach. I could see the muscles in his stomach convulse, rippling beneath his skin.

On a sudden impulse I pulled the tie from his ebony hair, gathering the strands into a high topknot off his neck. Shinta whimpered again, shuddering.

I went around in front of him, curious as to what was happening. There was no way that I could tell, so I simply sat there helplessly, watching as he breathed heavily. Another soft cry was torn from his throat, and he clenched his teeth together, sucking in his bottom lip. I held his hand, stroking his skin comfortingly.

The pain again seemed to ease, and he leaned his head against the tree, closing his eyes in weary. I wiped the sweat from his face again, and then gave him a drink. He swallowed the water gratefully, and then sank against the tree again. "Arigatou Sano…"

I frowned. "I feel so helpless Shinta. I can't do anything to help you."

He squeezed my hand, smiling at me. "You're doing wonderfully right now Sano. This is enough for me."

I smiled. "Alright then. I'll keep doing this. Anything that I can do for you, I will. You just have to tell me."

He nodded, and then sucked in his breath, and then cycle began again.

It was nearly 5 hours later when I noticed something that hadn't been there before. A tiny spot of blood was at the bottom of his belly, and I could see what looked like little claws scrabbling at it. I gasped, pulling back a little.

I watched as a small hand thrust from the hole, and then the creature stilled. I moved forward, watching for any more movement.

Shinta was shaking violently, but his whimpers and cries had quieted. After so long he was exhausted, body shaking with spasms and his breath harsh. He breathed quietly for moment, and then his body shuddered again, stomach muscles tightening.

I suddenly understood. The child had instincts to dig itself a birth canal, but now it was up to Shinta. I knew now why Enishi had said his human body may not live. The pain was too much, and added to the strain of labor Shinta's small body might give out.

Shinta suddenly cried out, and I saw his muscles clench. He was pushing! I ran to settle myself between his legs, preparing our blanket to catch the baby. Shinta's head fell back and he released the breath he'd been holding.

I began to encourage him. "You can do this Shinta! I know you can!"

He opened tired blue eyes, nodding slightly. I watched as his eyes clenched shut again and he brought his chin to his chest. A groan sounded from him, and I saw the top of the child's head come into view. "Good Shinta!" I cried triumphantly.

He relaxed, breath turning into a pant. He started to shake his head. "I can't Sano… It's too much…"

"Don't you dare tell me that!" I growled. "Now come on, push!"

A sound of frustration escaped him and he did as I said. A little more of the baby's head came into my sight, I could see closed eyes and a tiny nose. "Come on Shinta, you're doing great!"

His breathing was labored, sweat turning his black hair to ebony ropes spilling over his shoulders and sticking to his bare skin. There were still tears streaming down his flushed cheeks, and I could see his entire body trembling. He was exhausted, and I knew his strength was failing, and quickly.

"It hurts!" he wailed, shaking his head frantically. "I can't do it Sano, I can't do it!"

I growled, grabbing his slender hand. "Yes you can kodora! You are strong, you can do this!" I saw his muscles tighten again. "Push Shinta!"

The scream that escaped my kodora's throat would haunt me for weeks to come. But I was rewarded by the sight of the baby's shoulders. I supported that fragile body with my hands, a smile spreading across my face. "Good, love, good. Breathe, easy now."

He closed his eyes, though they were pinched shut in pain. I squeezed his hand with a free one, smiling at him. "Come on Shinta, a little more."

He gritted his teeth after a pause, and a little more of the baby slipped out. "Easy Shinta! Easy!" I called to him.

He took heaving pants, closing his eyes wearily. I wiped sweat away from his face gently. He sobbed slightly. "I'm so tired Sano…" he whispered brokenly. "I just want the pain to stop…"

"It will kodora…It will. Just one more good strong push and this will be over." I murmured. "One more."

He nodded, and then gritted his teeth again. I was thrilled when the baby slipped from his body into my hands. I wrapped the child in the blanket, cleaning its face. It began to cry, waving little fists. I smiled happily, starting to look up at Shinta. "A boy Shinta! It's a…" I was stopped dead by the sight that greeted me.

Shinta was limp against the tree, his mouth hanging open. His body was completely still, his skin deathly pale in contrast to his ebony hair.

I gently set the wailing child down, diving for his head. "Shinta! Shinta, wake up!" I could feel tears welling up in my eyes as I discovered he wasn't breathing. "Iie! Don't do this to me kodora! Stay with me Shinta! Breathe, love! Breathe!"

MWHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAAAAA! CLIFFHANGER! I'm evil…