Chapter 33: Terrifying News
Sesshomaru stood, his Poison Whip flying in all directions. Surrounded by an enemy he couldn't see wasn't the best situation.
"Sesshomaru, you have such bad aim!" The enemy yelled out. Sesshomaru whipped over there, but the enemy had already moved out of there.
"MOVE!" Someone screamed in the woods. Sesshomaru bent backwards slightly as a purified arrow shot past his face, hitting the demon that had been teasing Sesshomaru. It screamed out loud as it died. Kaori walked out into the clearing. "You always need my help."
She held a bow with a container on her back carrying arrows. She smiled at him, but the smile faded almost instantly as she sensed more demons.
"I told you not to come," Sesshomaru said as their backs were against each other.
"Well I couldn't just let you get teased by a stupid demon," Kaori said.
"If you were smart enough, you would have stayed back because there is more than one demon. Plus, that baby is still growing," Sesshomaru told her, looking around at places where crackling was heard.
"You use that excuse all the time," Kaori said. "I'm not even showing yet."
"Still, it is still growing," Sesshomaru said and killed a demon instantly as it leaped out to kill Sesshomaru.
"How about we have this conversation later?" Kaori asked, grabbing an arrow and firing it at a demon she sensed in the trees. She hit her target and the demon died.
"Well, there are thousands of demons now surrounding us," Sesshomaru told her. "Duck."
Kaori was on her knees as Sesshomaru got the Poison Whip to twirl around them, killing most of the demons surrounding them. A few survived, but did not take that attack as much of a warning and continued to hunt Sesshomaru and Kaori.
Sesshomaru helped Kaori up and saw Kaori point behind him and he killed an attacking demon. Sesshomaru saw one behind Kaori and killed that one as well. Kaori got to her feet and placed a hand on her arrows. She had a bad feeling something was about to happen. Sure enough, it did.
Darkness surrounded them as the sun hid under the horizon. Kaori was stunned by the sudden effect, but didn't have enough time to react when a demon took her by her stomach and threw her across the forest. Kaori hit a tree with a lot of force, but she was more worried about the child. The amount of force the demon hit her with might have had hurt the baby. She heard Sesshomaru call out her name, cries of slain demons and then Sesshomaru came into view.
"Are you all right?" Sesshomaru asked. He saw Kaori holding her stomach. He placed a hand on top of it. "The child-"
"-is just fine. Just a little pain," Kaori said, removing her hand from underneath Sesshomaru's. Sesshomaru helped her up and saw her collapse onto his shoulder.
"Damn it, Kaori. I told you not to come. Here is dangerous," Sesshomaru said.
"Sorry," Kaori said in a whisper.
Sesshomaru sighed before adding, "It's all right."
He helped Kaori into the village and helped her to sit down.
"Relax while I get Kaeda. She'll check you out to see if you're all right," Sesshomaru said.
"When did you get reliable onto Kaeda?" Kaori asked.
"When I found out you were pregnant," Sesshomaru told her, pausing at the door. His head shot up with alert and growled. "He always has bad timing."
"Who?" Kaori asked.
"Stay here," Sesshomaru said, looking back at her. "That's an order."
Kaori rolled her eyes and shooed Sesshomaru off. He bolted out of there to find the villagers welcoming Inuyasha and his friends.
"Sesshomaru, is Kaori around?" Inuyasha asked.
"Why?" Sesshomaru asked.
"I would, um, see her," Inuyasha said, lowing his head.
"Why?" Sesshomaru repeated.
"It's only my business. This has nothing to do with you," Inuyasha growled. Kagome patted Inuyasha's arm.
"He wants to thank her," Kagome told Sesshomaru.
"When you say it like that, it makes me look weak," Inuyasha said quietly.
"You are," Sesshomaru said.
"No one asked you!" Inuyasha barked.
"She is inside the hut. Touch her at all, and I will be told," Sesshomaru said.
"Aren't you going to watch over your prized possession while we're with her?" Inuyasha teased.
"I will return soon. By then, you better hope you are gone," Sesshomaru told Inuyasha in a threatening tone.
Inuyasha was about to reply, but Kagome nearly dragged him to the hut. Kaori looked up from her stomach to see who was visiting and saw the outline of four or five people.
"Kaori, how have you been doing?" Kagome asked, walking in first and into the light of the fire.
"Oh, Kagome. Really well, sort of," Kaori said, rubbing her arms. Only few knew about her pregnancy, and none were Inuyasha's group.
"Has Sesshomaru treating you well? If that asshole touched you at all that is inappropriate, you know I'll kill him with one swipe," Inuyasha said. At the mention of asshole of Sesshomaru, a growl was heard outside.
"He's treating me just fine," Kaori nearly laughed. Miroku, Sango and Shippo walked in and sat near Kaori.
"Well, you look as exquisite as always," Miroku said, his hand coming fairly closer.
"Uh, thanks?" Kaori asked. She caught the hand coming closer and slapped it away. Sesshomaru heard it outside, but assumed it was Inuyasha's slayer friend.
"So, why are you stuck in this hut on such a beautiful day?" Sango asked. Kagome nodded.
"I'm waiting for Sesshomaru," Kaori said.
"He's just outside," Inuyasha said.
"Oh, I know. Just never mind," Kaori said, lowering her head to her hands that were fidgeting. "What are you guys doing here? You would have known Sesshomaru would be here, so why come?"
"Inuyasha came to say something to you," Kagome said, pushing Inuyasha forward. He stumbled, growled at Kagome before looking at Kaori.
"Thanks. Now we're going," Inuyasha said, but Sango and Kagome caught his arms.
"Properly," Kagome said. Inuyasha sighed and turned to Kaori.
"Thank you for... Saving my... life..." Inuyasha stuttered. "Happy now? Let's go!"
Kagome sighed. It probably was the best she could get out of him.
"Thank you, Inuyasha," Kaori said. She smiled at him, but a huge pain in her stomach hit her and she doubled over to a bent position while sitting down.
"Kaori, are you all right?" Sango asked, kneeling next to her. Her answer was a painful moan. "Get Sesshomaru!"
"He's... not... here..." Kaori stuttered out. She just recently felt his presence leave. He always had bad timings.
Kagome gasped when Kaori's hair started reverting from brown to silver. What was going on? The same thought was going through everyone's minds.
Sesshomaru was traveling at top speeds when his transformation started. One moment he's flying in the air, the next falling, the next flying again. Playing it safe, he landed and looked at his hands. The nails were reverting back and forth. Something was going on with Kaori, but he was no one near her. Should he get Kaeda or head back to Kaori? He was closer to Kaeda and got near her village. He found a stray villager heading back to the village. Hiding behind a tree, he called out to the villager.
"Get priestess Kaeda," Sesshomaru ordered. The villager ran to the village, following the stranger's request. Kaeda came from her hut and went into the forest to find Sesshomaru looking at his hands. "Something's going on with Kaori."
"Sesshomaru-sama, we must hurry to Kaori. She will die if we do not!" Kaeda said.
Sesshomaru and Kaeda ran as possible to get to the village. The moon was nearly high in the sky when they arrived. Sesshomaru hurried to the hut to find Kaori's head resting on Inuyasha's shoulder, her eyes clenching in pain, transferring back and forth as well. Her hands were holding onto her stomach. Everyone looked up at Sesshomaru and he pushed Inuyasha aside, to hold Kaori. Inuyasha growled, but seeing the situation, he could only do that. Kaeda brought a small medicine pouch from her robes and poured some down her throat. Kaori shuttered, but was still in pain.
"Every male out, now!" Kaeda ordered. Sesshomaru gave her a look, but Kaeda didn't seem to notice it. "Sesshomaru-sama ye are allowed to stay."
Inuyasha and Miroku left, curious to know why they were to leave.
"Sesshomaru-sama, she is too far to be able to save both. She will lose the child. I am sorry," Kaeda said.
Sesshomaru's head bolted up from looking at Kaori to Kaeda. He knew what the other possibility was; to lose both. He nodded and Kaeda brought out many pouches and bags. She coated a hand with some sort of paste and lifted Kaori's shirt up. Sesshomaru growled at Kaeda, but she didn't seem to mind. She rubbed the paste and Kaori's pain seemed to subside. She leaned her head against Sesshomaru's shoulder, her hands in her lap and her eyes still closed, but not clenching. Sesshomaru held her in his lap, curious to what the old priestess was doing.
"Kagome-chan, get me water in a bucket. Hurry!" Kaeda ordered. Kagome was out of there almost instantly. "Sesshomaru-sama, Kaori-chan, I am able to remove the child with my priestess powers, but there will be a slight pain. Or will ye prefer another way?"
"Any way possible," Kaori whispered. Sesshomaru nodded, using his free hand to brush some stray hairs away from Kaori's eyes.
"Sesshomaru, she will need kept still as much as possible. Sango-chan can help with this, but ye will be able to keep her down with more power," Kaeda told him. Sesshomaru looked at Kaori. He really didn't want her to be in pain, but she chose this way. He nodded and laid Kaori down on some furs. He held her legs while Sango held her hands at her sides. Kagome returned with the water, splashing it everywhere.
"Is this all right?" Kagome asked. Kaeda nodded and dipped one end of a towel with the water.
"Are ye ready?" Kaeda asked. there was a slight nod by Kaori. "All right."
Kaeda placed the towel on Kaori's head while placing her hands over Kaori's stomach. She looked somewhat upset that she had to do this, but sighed before a pink light shown. Sesshomaru turn completely to a demon while Kaori stayed as a human. A prickling sensation was touching Sesshomaru's arms, but he ignored it. Kagome watched with wonder.
The light turned to fuchsia and that when Kaori was in pain. Kaeda took another sigh before the light turn blue. Kaori's body nearly lifted completely up. Sesshomaru put force on her ankles while Sango kept a strong hold on Kaori's arms. Her head thrashed left and right while she scream. Kaeda sighed silently, holding her hands sturdy over Kaori's stomach.
"Demon, be gone!" Kaeda yelled and Sesshomaru was sent to the wall by a blue light.
Kaori seemed to be calmed after the light vanished, but the blue light remained. It hung over Kaori, moving just slightly. It twirled and seemed to be looking at Sesshomaru. He stood and put a hand on Tokijin, but Kaeda stopped him.
"Allow the light to search ye. It will kill ye if ye don't allow it to," Kaeda yelled. Sesshomaru lowered his hand to his side and the light flew at him. It hung over his body and Sesshomaru's world went blue. A baby blue world filled his vision. It disappeared quickly and he found himself looking at wood. He lifted his head up to find baby blue eyes looking at him with worry. Kaori!
"What happened?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Well, you know most of it, but it Kaeda tells me you collapsed. What happened?" Kaori asked. The hut looked like hell had hit it.
"Are you all right?" Sesshomaru asked, coming closer to Kaori. She smiled and nodded.
"I was more worried about you. It looked like your head impacted into the wood," Kaori said, pointing to a dent in the floor. It was right where Sesshomaru's head used to be.
"That's nothing," he told her, moving so he was on his knees. He found his back was against a wall. He sat down completely and Kaori crawled into his arms.
"So, I've been told I'm only looking after one life again," Kaori said in a monotone.
"Yeah. It was either it or both," he told her.
"I see. I don't remember anything after the pain in my stomach," Kaori said.
"Really? So you made a huge decision while your mind was blank?" Sesshomaru asked.
"I guess so," Kaori said, rubbing her head against his chest for a little while. "But I can't believe what had happened."
"What did happen? We were sent out and then I find Kagome running out of the hut, then running back in," Inuyasha said, walking into the hut.
"You are not welcome here!" Sesshomaru yelled.
"Cool your jets... Or so Kagome says, I think," Inuyasha said, scratching his head. He shrugged. "That isn't the issue. What the hell happened to you?"
"Uh, something. Only a few will understand," Kaori said.
"You never told us you were pregnant," Kagome said, coming from behind Inuyasha.
"I never thought you needed to know," Kaori said, trying to hide her face into Sesshomaru's shirt.
"We are leaving. Now," Sesshomaru said, picking Kaori up. Quickly getting her backpack, he left the room with Kaori in hand. Sesshomaru got to Kaori's time and put Kaori up into bed. "You need to learn how to listen."
"I know. I shouldn't have had followed you. I shouldn't have had come to the past. I shouldn't have tried to solve everything on my own!" Kaori said, tears falling.
"Kaori, it's not your fault. I didn't protect-" Sesshomaru started but Kaori interrupted.
"No! It's not your fault. I couldn't even protect myself or my family!" Kaori yelled while tears flew at Sesshomaru's face.
Sesshomaru was silent. She seemed really upset that she lost the child.
"I bet it effected something and I can't become pregnant anymore and it proves that I have to follow that stupid queen's path!" Kaori cried.
"Kaori, remember what she said? She said they didn't have the chemistry. With you becoming pregnant, it proves we do have the right chemistry and it is possible. Plus, it's not like Kaeda did anything that damaged you. Kaeda just removed the child," Sesshomaru told her.
"Do you really think so?" Kaori asked.
"Yes. Now just relax. Everything is going to be fine. And you can take this into a positive effect. Now we know how we feel about having kids," he told her.
"You have a point," Kaori said. "And it's not just on your claws."
Sesshomaru smiled and lifted her chin up.
"So no more tears, ok?" Sesshomaru told her. She nodded and smiled. "Sleep."
"Will you join me?" Kaori asked.
"Sure," He told her, laying behind her.
It was silent for a while. Sesshomaru rested his eyes, but he knew Kaori was wide-awake next to him.
"Sesshomaru?" Kaori asked in a light whisper.
"Yes?" Sesshomaru answered.
"Do you want children?" Kaori asked. Sesshomaru sighed and sat up. They were going to be up most of the night.
"I don't know," he told her.
"Well, the child was an accident, but truthfully, do you want children?" Kaori asked while she turned onto her back and looked up at him.
"Maybe later. We still have a lot going on just now," he told her.
"I see. Well, I guess I'm going to the store tomorrow," Kaori said, turning over.
"Why?" Sesshomaru asked.
"We have things that can help prevent pregnancies. I'll do my part, but I don't expect you to," Kaori said.
"I see. What exactly will you be doing?" Sesshomaru asked. "I would like to know."
"There are pills I can take everyday that are birth control pills. If I take them everyday, it can help keep me safe," Kaori said.
"I see. But we can still... 'interact?'" Sesshomaru asked.
"Yes," Kaori sighed. "But the pills don't guarantee that I won't get pregnant. There's only one way for 100 and you would hate it."
"What is it?" Sesshomaru asked.
"No 'interactions,'" Kaori chuckled.
"You are getting those pills and taking them everyday, understood?" Sesshomaru said in a demanding tone. Kaori just chuckled. Sesshomaru laid back down and Kaori leaned into his chest.
"Just remember, it's not going to guarantee no pregnancy. I just might get pregnant," Kaori told him.
"I know, I know. Now sleep," he told her, pulling a few strands of Kaori's hair behind her ear.
Her breathing evened out and he smiled. Finally she was asleep. He closed his eyes, but sleep never overcame him. He seemed slightly bothered by this entire talk about children. Taking his arm from her waist, he turned onto his back and stared at the ceiling. How exactly did he feel about kids? He loved Kaori and would love to have children with her, but at the moment, it would be a good idea to play it safe. They both still weren't exactly settled down yet. They hadn't even chosen a place they called home. They loved each other, yes, but kids were a completely different thing. Rin was all right, but he had found her at the age of eight or something around there. He would most likely have to raise the kids and teach them their habits. That could be difficult.
He sighed and looked over at Kaori. She was so beautiful sleeping. 'Damn,' he thought. 'At this moment, maybe kids aren't such a bad idea. We'll try to tie all the loose strands up in our life and start a family. If everything goes according to plan.'
Sesshomaru sighed and smiled. Yeah, that was a good plan. He turned back to his side and fell asleep.