Chapter 48
The moment they returned home, Kagome practically collapsed on the bed. She let out a large yawn, loud and telling. She was more than just a little tired. Sesshomaru found it adorable and started to help her undress so she could at least be comfortable.
"Do you want a slip, or would you rather stay unclothed?" His eyes trailed over her naked flesh hungrily, and she chuckled, a hand rubbing over her growing belly. She was gorgeous to him, especially as she continued to grow with their children. When she didn't answer, he crawled over her, stopping to lay between her legs, his head resting against their twins. As her hands began to run through his hair, he purred, content.
"I was curious…" Kagome started, her eyes up on the roof of their room. Sesshomaru looked up at her, but kept his head on her belly, his arms around her waist. "How do you think you would have reacted to meeting me if your mother hadn't faked her death?"
Sesshomaru didn't say anything, thinking about the past that he hated. He remembered how he felt finding his mother, how it eventually led to his hatred for humans and how that led to his horrible treatment of Kagome. It was a chain reaction that started from one thoughtless act of revenge. How would he have reacted to meeting Kagome if his mother had still been alive? There was no answer.
"There is no way to know." Sesshomaru spoke softly, his own mind curious. In truth, he really didn't know. After all, his emotional state still had not matured. It was likely that he wouldn't have been ready to settle down. His treatment of Kagome wouldn't have been so harsh, that much was true, but he still would have turned his back on her. "As long as I still get you in the end, I do not think it matters."
"You're right." She smiled at him, pulling at his hair gently so he lifted his head to look at her. "I noticed it earlier while we were in the gardens with everyone. I didn't want to say anything until I talked to you first."
"What is it?" A fissure of worry went through Sesshomaru, and he pushed himself up, kneeling over Kagome's legs. His large hands covered her belly, and she grabbed them, lacing their fingers. "Are the twins okay?"
"They are perfectly fine." Kagome was still smiling, still at ease though it was easy to see her fatigue. Sesshomaru couldn't imagine how tiring it was to grow two beings at the same time. Especially ones that carried both reiki and youki. Kagome handled it well though. She squeezed her fingers around his, soothing him further. "I can feel their gender. I know what they are, Sesshomaru. Do you want to know?"
"Yes." It was hissed in excitement, no hesitation. He was desperate to know what they were having. Not only could they prepare better, but they could also begin to think of names, and imagine what it would be like to raise a boy or a girl, in this case, possibly both.
Kagome grabbed one of his hands and moved it over to the side of her belly. It was harder here, as if there was a rock inside of her. "This one is smaller. It's harder to sense because the other one protects it."
"Protects it? Is that possible?" Sesshomaru rubbed his thumb over the baby, wishing he could feel the child move.
"I guess so. It's hard to explain. Her aura is softened, as if the other twin is covering it." Kagome shrugged, watching him intently. Sesshomaru's eyes widened as he registered what Kagome said, and tears sprung to Kagome's eyes. "Yes. This is our daughter."
"A girl." Sesshomaru breathed out, flabbergasted. He knew it had been a possibility, but now, knowing for sure, it was as if he was realizing it for the first time. He was going to be a father. He was going to have a daughter. A tendril of fear washed over him then. A boy would be easy. He himself was male, and raising a son wouldn't be difficult, but a female? "There will be boys. I will kill them."
Kagome threw her head back with a laugh, her belly bouncing on their hands. Sesshomaru watched her, wondering what she found so funny. He hadn't been joking. Any boy that even looked at his daughter was going to be chased away. Violently.
When Kagome calmed, she wiped her eyes with a hand, regaining her breath. "Oh, Sesshomaru! It will be a very long time before you have to worry about boys." She grabbed another one of his hands, this time placing it on the other side of Kagome's stomach. "Besides, with how protective her brother is already, I think she is going to be well guarded."
"A son as well?" Sesshomaru smiled, looking down at Kagome's stomach. A boy and a girl. If he was being honest, that was exactly what he wanted. Leaning down, he kissed first the girl, and then the boy. He was tender and gentle, adoring them even before they were born.
A little nudge against his hand, the one above his daughter had him freezing. Kagome gasped at his reaction, her sharp mind realizing what just happened. She didn't move, didn't breathe, not until Sesshomaru felt a second nudge come from his daughter.
Leaning down, he growled softly, introducing himself. He did this often, but he had never been able to feel if there was a reaction to it before. This time, he felt the swift little movements, not only from his daughter, but from his son as well. They heard him and responded.
"Sesshomaru!" Kagome sobbed out, wiping the tears streaming down her face. He looked up at her, his entire being full of happiness and love, something he never thought he would feel years ago. This is what it meant to be with your soul bonded, to be happy and content in the best way possible.
Kagome sat up suddenly, grabbing his face in both of her hands. She kissed him fiercely, her lips wet from her tears. She was as overwhelmed as he was, both of them feeling each other through the bond. Before he knew what was happening, she had him pushed back and was straddling his hips. Her hands pulled at his clothing, and he gave her exactly what she wanted, tearing the fabric from his body. Their love making was frenzied and heady, leaving both of them exhausted and sated. After they fell asleep holding each other, Sesshomaru's hand over one of his children, feeling them move beneath his palm. He couldn't have been happier.
…
"Will you stop looking back, Son? She will be fine. She is with your father." Satori waved a hand at Sesshomaru, and he growled lowly.
It had been a week since Satori had come back, and Sesshomaru hadn't had very much time to spend with her. Part of that was because he had wanted to avoid this for as long as possible. He was happy with Kagome and his twins. He didn't want the past to come back and ruin that.
However, he didn't have a choice. That morning, Satori had demanded that just she and he go for a walk around the shiro. She had forced himto come with her and volunteered Touga to watch Kagome while she and Sesshomaru were gone.
He had tried to deny his mother, but both Touga and Kagome agreed that this could be good. Kagome promised not to leave the meadow, and Touga promised not to leave Kagome. So now, here he was, walking around the shiro with his mother.
"She is pregnant. Her balance is off, she has absurd cravings, she-"
"Sesshomaru." Satori turned to look at him, and he snapped his mouth shut, clenching his jaw. He hadn't heard that tone in a very long time. Reaching out, she grabbed his arm, squeezing. "This isn't your fathers first time with a pregnant woman. I can promise you, he is very attentive to the needs of a whelping female. I would know. He has had plenty of practice, and that isn't going to change just because it's Kagome and not me or Izayoi. She is safe. He would die to protect her and those twins. You have to remember, Sesshomaru, those twins are his grandpups and he will protect them fiercely. Do not think so little of your father. Trust me, Son...She is safe."
Sesshomaru's shoulders slumped, and he started to walk again. She was right, of course, but that didn't change how much he wanted to run back to her. He hadn't left her side once since she had become pregnant, and he didn't like the feeling of being gone now.
"Would you like to go back, Sesshomaru?" Satori offered, and Sesshomaru almost immediately agreed. However, one look at his mother, and he held his tongue. She wanted to get to know Sesshomaru again, to try and repair the bond that she had broken. As much as he wanted to return home, a part of him couldn't hurt his mother like that.
"Let us continue." He started walking once more, feeling his mother falling into step beside him. After a few minutes of tense silence, he tried to break it. "Nothing has changed since you left. It is all as it once was."
"The layout may not have changed, but everything else did." Satori replied, looking around the shiro. She stopped suddenly, looking down at the training grounds. Hiroshi was there, ordering his soldiers during training. He felt her eyes on him and looked up at her, their eyes connecting. He gave a single nod, and then looked away once more, not looking back. Satori looked away as well. "I didn't know he was here."
"He is the general of the Western army." Sesshomaru could see the hurt his mother tried to hide, but there was nothing he could do to soothe it. Only Hiroshi could help her now, and at the moment, Hiroshi didn't want to.
"So, that's how he knew what I did." Satori gave a dark chuckle, then started to walk once more.
"We were unsure what you would do. I told father so he could protect Izayoi." He didn't look down as he admitted this. He didn't want to see his mother hurt that much farther.
"I suppose I can't blame you for thinking I would track down Izayoi." Satori was quiet for a moment, and then looked up at him. "She is very forgiving. She has spoken to me the most out of everyone. It is surprising. I can see why Touga chose her."
"Even if she was not like that, he still would have chosen her. You cannot fight the soul bond." Sesshomaru looked down at his wrist while feeling for Kagome through their bond. As soon as he touched her, she sent her reassuring love back to him.
"You tried. You hated Kagome, hurt her, attacked her…" Satori grabbed his hand as he stopped walking, narrowing his eyes to glare down at her. "I know that was my fault, Sesshomaru. I put that hate in you with my actions, and I shouldn't have. I said it before, but I will say it again. I should have thought of you before I decided to fake my death, but I didn't. I failed you, and if you allow it, I will spend the rest of my days making it up to you."
"You were selfish. You are my mother, and you completely forgot about me, your son." Sesshomaru thought about his own son and daughter, trying to imagine leaving them behind as Satori had done. "My own children grow in Kagome's womb and already I can't imagine leaving them behind like you did me. It does not matter what emotional turmoil I would be in, my children would come first. You put me last."
"I know. I am sorry, Sesshomaru. I truly am." Satori let go of his hand, backing away. It was something they had always done when Sesshomaru was younger. Anytime they went on walks, they held hands, mother and son bonding. Now it didn't feel the same. There was too much history, too much hurt between them.
"Perhaps one day, I can forgive you." Sesshomaru thought of all the good memories he had with his mother. He wouldn't throw them away because of one mistake. "Only time will tell."
"I just thank you for the chance." She smiled up at him, and he sighed, holding out his hand. She grabbed it eagerly, and once again they began to walk around the shiro. Sometimes they were silent, other times they spoke of the things they did while separated. Their relationship would take time, but for now, it was a start.
...
I know. I know. I missed another week. I really am sorry. With four jobs and being a stay at home mom, finding time to post or for myself is getting harder and harder. I bought a planner so I can try and manage my time better. Today is the first day I am trying it, so we will see how it works out. Thanks for being patient with me. Also, I wanted to tell ya'll the results for Feudal Connections competition. Severed Bonds did not place. However, I am still so grateful to who ever nominated my story and for all of the votes I did receive. Thank you for the support.
Now, onto the story. We finally learned what Kagome is having! A boy and a girl. I do that a lot for my stories. lol. I'm not sure what my fascination with twins is. oh well. We also got to see a bit more of Satori. She is still suffering from the consequences of her actions, but she is working towards fixing things, and that is all she can do. Time and patience is the key.
I hope you all enjoyed and I will see you next chapter!
