Chapter 29: Shocking, and I Mean Shocking, News.
Kaori and Sesshomaru decided to head back to Kaori's time. A few days after they had arrived, Kaori started feeling very sick She would often have to bolt out of the cave suddenly. He eventually gave up on trying to keep her there. She insisted to return back home and rest, in case she was ill. He agreed and took her back to her time. At the moment, Kaori was bent over the toilet.
"I think you should see what is making you ill," he told her.
"I'll make an-" Kaori stopped and barfed. Wiping her mouth off, she finished, "- appointment."
"I'll go with you," he told her.
"Why don't you go check on Rin? I mean, it has been a long while since you've seen her," Kaori said, turning her head slightly towards him.
"Two weeks isn't long, compared to a couple of months," he told her, kneeling next to her and rubbing her back.
"I've told you to return. Wonder if it's contagious? You and I might be fighting for the bathroom in a few days," Kaori told him and barfing. Sesshomaru waited until she was finished.
"If it was contagious, I would already have gotten it. Plus, demons don't get sick," he told her.
"Just like they don't sleep and eat human food," she said with sarcasm.
He sighed and stood.
"I'll make the appointment for you, since you're in no mood to be talking on the phone," he told her.
"Just Get Me The Damn Phone!" Kaori yelled. He nearly jumped and got the phone in a rush. He hated these mood swings she was getting.
"Hello? Dr. Jun. It's Uzuha Kaori. I need to make an appointment for sometime soon," Kaori said on the phone. "Today? Really? That's great. I'll be down as soon as possible."
Kaori hung up the phone and got dressed. One more trip to the bathroom before she left to the doctor's. She explained the situation to Sesshomaru and quickly hopped onto the bus. She kept having to stop the urges to barf, and did very well.
Once she arrived, they asked for her blood and urine to run some tests. She agreed and was now lying down on a couch in the doctor's office. It helped to calm her and keep her stomach from flipping. Dr. Jun walked in and closed the door. Kaori attempted to sit up, but Dr. Jun just motioned her to stay lying down. She sat in her desk and brought out a files with many papers inside.
"Well, Kaori, this is more extraordinary than the first time we tested your mother's blood," Dr. Jun said, flipping through the papers.
"So, what do I have?" Kaori asked.
"Nothing. You're perfectly healthy," Dr. Jun said, closing the file.
"That doesn't make sense. I've been throwing up for the past week or so," Kaori said, sitting up. It felt odd talking while lying down.
"Yes. Kaori, are you seeing anyone?" Dr. Jun asked.
"I'm married," Kaori said.
"Well, that might be good news," Dr. Jun said. "Is he out of the ordinary as well?"
"He's a demon," Kaori said, holding her stomach. It was doing belly flips. She hated not knowing the great news to why she was getting sick. If she was perfectly healthy, why was she throwing up?
"Well, I tested your blood and there seems to be a strong boost in it. Your urine is also very, how do I say this... different. Kaori, you're, um, pregnant," Dr. Jun said. Kaori would have fallen to the floor if she was standing up. Pregnant? How could this be? Well, she knew how, but why so soon?
Kaori leaned back into the chair and stared at the floor.
"Kaori, are you all right?" Dr. Jun asked.
"I will be," Kaori said, trying to stand. Her knees declined her request and she fell back into the couch.
"We'll call you a cab, if you wish," Dr. Jun said, helping Kaori up.
"I would greatly appreciate it," Kaori said, Her knees finally started working properly and she was walking on her own. The cab arrived and Kaori sat in the backseat.
"Where, young lady?" The cabdriver asked.
"My house. The shrine house," Kaori said.
"On our way," the cab driver said and they started out. Kaori kept silent while he drove. How would Sesshomaru react to the news? Will he freak and leave her? That was her worst nightmare. He had called kids a nuisance.
She arrived almost immediately, to her point of view. Actually, the cabdriver had taken a long way around and had even gotten caught in traffic. Kaori was about to pay the driver, but her waved his hand at her and said it was on him. She smiled and thanked him greatly. She got to her house and stuttered at the door. What was she supposed to say when Sesshomaru asked what she had? Was she going to lie to him for a long time?
She eventually got enough courage to open the door and close it behind her.
"Sesshomaru?" Kaori called out. Her voice cracked and was almost as quiet as a squeak. Even though, if Sesshomaru was around, he would have heard it. She sighed with relief when he wasn't seen coming from anywhere towards her.
Kaori went to the kitchen to find a note.
I took you up on your offer and have returned to take care of Jaken and Rin for a day or so. Be back almost immediately or as soon as possible. Kisses and hugs.
Sesshomaru Uzuha.
Kaori smiled and tossed the note into the wastebasket. She missed and had to go all the way around the counter to pick it up and put it into the wastebasket. She sighed and sat on the couch. At the moment, she had no urgent need to rush to the washroom. It didn't last long. She rushed from the couch to the bathroom and stayed most of the night in there.
Sesshomaru kept looking the way to the well while Rin sang some songs to Jaken and him.
"Lord Sesshomaru, are you listening?" Rin asked halfway through a song. Jaken sighed and removed his hands from his ears.
"Yes," Sesshomaru said, looking at her. He had been listening, but unlike Jaken, he could turn down the volume he heard.
"Well, let me continue!" Rin said, starting her song up again. Jaken sighed and covered his ears again. Sesshomaru winced slightly before he turned down the volume of Rin's voice. He looked back at the direction of the well again.
"My lord, I ask of one favour," Jaken said. Sesshomaru didn't turn to face Jaken. "My lord?"
"Ask me no favours until I punish you for making Kaori cry," he told Jaken, not facing him once. He kept looking in one direction. "I am returning to Kaori."
Jaken fell backwards as he fainted. Rin frowned but smiled as the villagers came out of their huts to relax. She hurried out of the hut in front of Sesshomaru. He headed back to Kaori's time.
When he leaped out of the well, he first noticed all the lights were out. He wondered if she was in bed and if it was that late, but the moon wasn't high enough yet. He entered the house quietly and walked upstairs. He noticed the bathroom light was on underneath the door and opened it to find Kaori resting her head on the toilet seat. He found her eyes closed and carefully carried her to bed. She must have been exhausted. He covered her up and left.
Kaori woke up and found herself in her bed. She bolted out of her room and into Sesshomaru.
"Uh, Sesshomaru. You're... back," Kaori said, keeping her head down. Was he going to ask about her appointment the day before?
"Are you hungry?" Sesshomaru asked.
"No, not really," Kaori said, walking down the steps. Sesshomaru followed.
"Did you find out why you were being sick?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Uh, yes," Kaori said, sitting on the couch. She flipped the TV on, but a clawed hand shut it off. He sat next to her and rested an arm on the couch.
"And?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Stomach flu. Should die down in a couple of months," Kaori told him.
"Months?" Sesshomaru asked, his eyebrows raised. "That is long. Any medicine?"
"No. She just told me to have lots of rest," Kaori said. She had lied through her teeth and he never noticed a thing.
"I see. Up," he said. She didn't have the time to ask. She was in her bed before she knew it.
"What is your problem?" Kaori asked.
"You need to rest. I'll bring some toast up for you," he told her exiting the room. It took Kaori a few moments to process the information.
"You don't know how to!" Kaori yelled.
"I'll learn," he said. Kaori instantly leaped from her bed. The toaster was a family item. If he broke it, she would be in trouble. She was stopped with a stiff arm on her shoulder as she exited her bedroom.
"I'm not letting you cook! You don't even know how to use the stove!" Kaori complained.
"I'll learn while you sleep," he told her, pushing her back into her room.
"The toaster has been in my family for generations! I'm not letting you use it!" Kaori yelled as she dug her heels into the carpet. It kept her stay still. Until Sesshomaru picked her up and threw her over his shoulder.
"Either you get into bed or be punished," he told her, a claw on her thigh.
"Is that a threat or promise?" Kaori asked. She yelped as he smacked her bottom.
"You're sleeping," he told her, entering the room.
"May I at least use the bathroom first?" Kaori asked. He dropped her to her feet and she bolted to the bathroom. When he threw her over his shoulder, it had rattled her stomach. He walked calmly to the doorframe of the bathroom and coolly watched her barf. She cleaned up a little bit and his eyes went wide as she embraced him. He stuttered, but wrapped his arms around her.
"Is there a problem?" Sesshomaru asked. He heard sobs and felt wetness on his shoulder and assumed she was crying. But why?
The sobs slowed to sniffles and she pulled away slightly. She looked up to him and blinked some straying tears away.
"No, nothing's wrong," Kaori said as more tears fell. "I just hate..."
"Kaori, you need sleep," he told her walking away.
"You don't care!" Kaori yelled. Sesshomaru felt electricity hit his back and send him flying towards the parents' bedroom. He hit the door and nearly went through.
"What was that for?" Sesshomaru yelled. She slammed her bedroom door closed as he finished his question.
He growled behind her door before he went back to the past. Let her be angry at him. He wasn't going to be anywhere near it.
Kaori cried into her pillow. Why was she acting so strangely? Mood swings always effected her worst than normal humans. She sighed as darkness clouded all thoughts. Sleep sounded like a good idea now.
Sesshomaru nearly trashed the forest. Why was she mad at him? All he did was hug her and tell her to get into bed. He took down a tree, startling villagers in Kaori's village. One brave villager came to see what was all the noise and destruction. They found Sesshomaru and knew they must have gotten into another fight.
Rin and Jaken came running into the forest during the night.
"Lord Sesshomaru?" Both called out to him.
Sesshomaru looked at the bushes to see them come into view.
"Yes?" Sesshomaru said cooler than expected.
"Where is lady Kaori?" Jaken asked. He got a glare, but Rin assured that Jaken was not planning on making her cry again.
"We wanted to play with her," Rin pouted.
"Sure, I'll play. What game?" Kaori asked, coming out of the shadows. Sesshomaru looked at her. She seemed to have calmed down and cleaned up enough to come to the past.
"Tag. You're It!" Rin said, tapping Jaken's shoulder.
"I do not play games as insolent as that," Jaken said. He saw Sesshomaru glaring at him and crept after Rin with a nervous smiled on his face. Kaori was going to follow, but Sesshomaru caught her arm.
"We will talk after this game," he told her. She nodded and ran after them. Sesshomaru heard laughter in the distance. If only he had the spirit to play. Kaori came out of the bushes and tapped Sesshomaru on the shoulder.
"You're It," she said. She smiled and ran into the bushes. He raised an eyebrow, but followed, tapping her shoulder before using his demonic speed to outrun her. "Hey, no demonic speed!"
She saw a smirk before he disappeared into super speed. She caught up with the kids and was playing with them. Sesshomaru got touched rarely until Kaori pinned him down with her legs after finding him.
"No fair," she complained. "Cheater."
"I remember that over a year ago," he said, pushing her off. "It."
Her eyes went wide as she chased after him. It turned out lasting until morning when Rin suddenly collapsed.
"I'm tired," Rin sighed, her eyes nearly closed. Kaori carried Rin with one hand back to the village and let her rest on some furs. Jaken flopped onto Kaori's, who Sesshomaru criticized about. Kaori shooed him and told him it was all right. He could always be her bedding. He smirked and allowed her to rest in his arms. She fell asleep shortly afterwards along with Sesshomaru.
Kaori's movement awakened Sesshomaru. She squirmed out of his grasp and bolted out of the hut. She hurried to some bushes and barfed. Cleaning up at the river, she reminded herself why she truly returned to the past. She wanted to speak to Kaeda about pregnancies. If she had any advice for women who were expecting half-demons, she would greatly appreciate it.
Sesshomaru followed Kaori to the river and held a hand on her shoulder while he kneeled behind her.
"Why did you come here? You are ill and need to rest," he told her.
"And how am I supposed to do anything stuck in my house?" Kaori asked, looking behind her at him. "Plus, I got lonely."
"I could have returned, if you wanted. Or invited your mother over," he told her.
Kaori tilted her head down and away from Sesshomaru. "She's still... upset about everything with... my... dad," Kaori said, stuttering while trying to keep tears from falling. "She invited me over to go through his stuff in a week."
"Do you want me to go with you?" Sesshomaru asked.
"No. I think it would be better if it's just my mom and me," Kaori told Sesshomaru.
"Understood," Sesshomaru said. "Now, why are you here?"
"I told you. I got lonely," Kaori said.
"Well, I'll return with you back to your house," he told her. "If that's the case."
"Well, I don't have to be back until next week, so let's go somewhere. I just want to be somewhere where I have good memories," Kaori said. She hoped he would say the Goshinboku tree.
Sesshomaru sighed. Where was a place that held good memories? Not the caves, here at the village, at her house... Maybe the Goshinboku tree?
"We'll go to the Goshinboku tree," he told her. "If you truly want to. I really don't want to be having to stop for you every five minutes."
"It's died down to maybe once a day," Kaori told him. "Don't overreact, anyways."
He returned to Kaori's hut to get her backpack and Kaori cooled her wrists down. She was so happy he said the Goshinboku tree. Everything just might work out as planned. If she was lucky.
Sesshomaru and Kaori were oddly expected at Kaeda's village. Some huts were free for them to stay at and it wasn't Inuyasha's. The first night, Kaori warned Sesshomaru she might get up in the middle of the night and bolt out of the hut. She didn't want to wake up him if she did and they slept in different beds. Kaori found Sesshomaru's breathing evened out and snuck out of the hut to find Kaeda. This might be a great time to talk to her.
She found the old priestess's hut and had to wake her up.
"Lady Kaeda, sorry that it is so late, but I would like to chat with you," Kaori told Kaeda. Kaeda nodded and got a small fire up to keep them both warm.
"What is the problem, child?" Kaeda asked.
"Uh, just that. I'm pregnant with Sesshomaru's child. I just don't know how to deal with it," Kaori told Kaeda in a very light whisper.
"Does he know?" Kaeda asked. Kaori shook her head no. "That is a problem."
"I know. We had a small chat about kids and the way he portrayed it was that he didn't want children," Kaori said.
"Well, the first thing ye need to do is tell him before he finds out from anyone else. That will be very bad. Also, don't dump it on him. From experience, he does not like sudden news. Flow it into something," Kaeda advised. Kaori nodded. "Also, do not start getting materials for a child until later. I have watched women get ready for the child and lose it in their first week. And get help from Sesshomaru. He will want to be part of this child's life. But it is important ye tell him about the child as soon as possible."
"Yes, Kaeda. I know. I'm just... afraid," Kaori admitted.
"Since this child will most likely be a half-demon, take this," Kaeda said, giving Kaori a bottle off of a shelf in the hut. "Mothers expecting a child with any demon blood need this for the demon to have the claws and fangs. Full demons hate the taste and so do half-demons, but humans do not detest it as much."
Kaori flipped the top off and sniffed. It smelt disgusting.
"You do not have any demon blood," Kaeda said. "Why do you dislike the smell?"
"Maybe it's like me liking the demon food I tried once. I really don't know, but I thank you for this," Kaori said. She sensed Sesshomaru coming close and put the top back on the bottle.
The door of the hut opened and Sesshomaru stood in the doorway.
"What are you doing in this hut?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Kaeda here was giving me something for the illness I have. It should help ease down my barfing," Kaori told Sesshomaru. He grabbed Kaori arm and pulled her to her feet and next to him.
"Next time, tell me," he told her, walking out with her wrist in his hand.
Kaori held the bottle in the other hand and put it in her backpack when she got to their hut.
"If you wanted something to help with your illness, you could have asked me," he told her, sitting against the wall, watching Kaori put the bottle in her backpack. "Plus, that smells disgusting."
Kaori laughed and turned to him.
"Kaeda said demons wouldn't like the smell, but it will make me feel better. You trust me, right?" Kaori said, sitting next to him.
"Of course, but I don't trust that priestess," Sesshomaru said.
"Just trust me. It will make me feel better," Kaori said.
"Fine," he told her. "Now can I trust you'll stay in the hut now?"
"Yep," Kaori said. As soon as she said it, she bolted out of the hut. He sighed as a disgusting smell hit his nose and heard Kaori barfing. He hated that she was ill.
Kaori re-entered the hut and sat next to Sesshomaru, laying her head on his shoulder. Her eyes closed almost immediately and fell asleep. Sesshomaru found she was fast asleep before he knew it. He smiled and followed her into sleep.