Chapter 49
A loud banging on the front door jolted Sesshomaru and Kagome awake. Kagome immediately went to stand, but Sesshomaru's hand rested on her thigh, keeping her down. One stern look from him, and she knew he was wanting her to stay put. She could feel his worry for her and the twins, so she nodded, watching as he released her to get dressed.
The banging on the door hadn't stopped once, still as loud and demanding as it had been when it woke them. Kagome grabbed her own clothing as she waited in the doorway, trying to listen as Sesshomaru opened the door. The moment she felt his relief through the bond, she rushed down the hall, stopping when she saw a guard at the door, panting. "Lord Sesshomaru, Lady Kagome! Lord Touga has sent for you, both the lady of the West and the demon slayer Sango have gone into labor. You are needed immediately."
"I'll grab my things and be there in an instant." Kagome assured, turning on her heel. Running down the steps, she grabbed her bag, filling it with anything she may need. It was likely the shiro would have all of the supplies, but she may need more than what they had to offer. Especially if Izayoi followed the same path she did with InuYasha's birth.
"I will orb you there." Sesshomaru held out his hand to Kagome, but she shook her head.
"No. I can get there faster if I teleport." Rushing up to him, she kissed his check, feeling his displeasure. "I don't want to waste a second. You will be right behind me."
"Can you handle it?" His hand rubbed over her belly, one of the twins nudging against it. "Without the twins, your teleporting took a lot of your energy. Now…"
"I'll be fine. But sitting here talking about it is wasting time I don't have. Follow behind me please." She kissed his check once again, reassuring him, and then she was gone. Within the next second, she was standing in the birthing room, panting and trying to get her footing. It really did take it out of her to use her reiki now. She knew she was going to get weaker the more the twins grew, but she hadn't expected to be this weak.
"Kagome?" Touga grabbed her arm, and Kagome wiped the sweat from her brow. Teleporting was going to be a no go until the twins were born. She was feeling faint just from the short distance she traveled. Touga guided her to a chair, and she sat down for a moment, leaning back to catch her breath. "You foolish girl! You know your energy is waning. There was no need to risk your health."
"The guard sounded urgent." Kagome explained, looking up at Touga. "How is everything progressing?"
"Splendidly so far. Miroku is not handling the stress well. He was the one who sent the guard. Sango's water had broken while Izayoi's suffering from contractions. Both women still have time." Touga shook his head, looking over Kagome more. "You're pale."
"I know. I'm sorry. I didn't realize how much my energy had waned. I'm okay though, I promise." Kagome bit her lip for a moment, looking around. "Don't tell, Sesshomaru please."
She felt the flare of anger before she saw him. "Too late, Little Mate." Sesshomaru glared at her, but luckily, he said nothing more. He let the unhappy emotions surging through the bond do his talking for him.
Huffing a breath of air, Kagome stood with difficulty. Not only were her legs wobbly, but her belly was large and heavy. Touga helped her, Sesshomaru rushing to her other side. When she was steady, she thanked them, then walked to the screens, leaving behind the males. Because there were two women in the room, the screens had been placed for privacy.
"I came as soon as I heard." Kagome smiled at both of them, looking them over. "How are you two feeling?"
"It's nothing I haven't done before." Izayoi winced through a contraction, then smiled as it eased off. Sango on the other hand wasn't taking it very well.
"I'm going to kill him, Kagome. The moment I can get up, I'm going to strangle him." She was squirming, rolling as much as she could on the bed, a hand on her back. Kagome walked over to her, feeling around Sango's stomach. It was tight, the muscles bunched up in a contraction. Kagome tried to soothe it, but she knew it wouldn't really work.
"Try to relax." Kagome paused as Sango sent her a scathing glare, trying not to laugh at her best friend. "Think of it this way, Sango. When you battle demons and get injured, you fight through the pain right? You do it because you know the reward of killing the demon is worth the pain you endure. It's kinda like that with having a baby."
"Right. So, pretend I'm fighting a demon in my womb. I can do that." Sango went limp under Kagome's hands, panting heavily. Kagome smiled, not quite meaning it like that, but whatever works.
"Whose contractions are closer together?" Kagome looked between the two, eyes settling back on Sango as Izayoi pointed at her. Immediately Sango broke out into another cursing fit, yelling about the harm she was going to do to Miroku as loud as possible. "Sango it is." Kagome stood, fighting to keep her balance. Delivering babies wasn't as easy with her own belly getting in the way.
"Kagome?" Miroku's nervous voice came from behind the curtain, and Kagome peaked around it, smiling largely at her brother.
"Are you ready? You're about to be a daddy!" She hugged him quickly, once again her own belly getting in the way. She still had three months to go, but she was ready to have these twins and get back to normal.
"If I said no?" Miroku whispered, wincing as Sango began to yell again. "What if I… mess up?"
"How many times have we been in this situation, delivering babies and the new father has said the same to us? What is it you always say to them?" She smiled at him, gripping his shoulders. When he refused to answer her, she said it for him. "You are worried about being the best you can be, and that alone, means you will be an amazing father."
"Just wait till you're holding that baby, Miroku. You won't remember these fears." Touga came up behind Miroku patting him on the back. "Kagome, I know your hands will be full for the unforeseeable future, but I must know. My daughter is coming early. A month early. Will she be okay?"
"I won't make promises, Touga. She is early, but I have delivered babies this early before, and they have been just fine. Izayoi is strong and healthy. Your daughter also has your demonic blood in her veins. She has a very good chance of being just fine." Kagome hugged Touga, and then Miroku. "Now, I have to get back before Sango starts cursing my name as well." She chuckled as the others smirked, eased of their worries.
Stepping back behind the curtain, she left Touga, Miroku, and Sesshomaru on the other side. She didn't have much time before Sango would be ready to push, so she quickly set up everything she would need, getting it all around Sango's legs.
By the time she finished, Sango's contractions were back to back. Kagome knelt between Sango's legs, having the slayer hold her own thighs up, and within minutes, a small cry was heard as Kagome caught her niece. Tears flowing down her face, Kagome set the baby on Sango's chest, the slayer crying as she met her daughter for the first time.
"Can I come in?" Miroku's voice was breathless, as if hearing his daughters cry for the first time had his entire world swirling. It was likely it did.
"In a moment." Kagome called back, finishing with the birth, cleaning Sango and covering her. When she was done, she made sure Izayoi was covered, then pulled back the screen so Miroku could come in and meet his daughter.
"It's a girl." Miroku brushed his fingers over the top of his daughter's head. "She's beautiful, Sango. Just like you." He kissed Sango's sweaty head, smiling happily. "Do you still want to kill me?"
"No." Sango let out a watery laugh, running her hands over the baby's back. "Her name is Sakura."
"And her wrist?" Kagome asked, curious. Miroku looked up at Kagome, eyes wide before he gently grabbed his daughter's arm, and read the name there. "Miroku, what does it say?"
"InuYasha." Miroku looked up at Izayoi, seeing the shock on the woman's eyes. He shook his head, not wanting to believe it. "It could be anybody else. Not that I think there is something wrong with InuYasha, but my daughter was just born. I won't have her taken away by her soul bonded when I haven't even been able to hold her."
"You're being irrational, Miroku. Nobody is taking anyone away. Sakura is still a baby, and as long as we all still live together, we will all be here." Kagome gripped his shoulder, squeezing. "You won't lose your daughter. At most, InuYasha will be a helper when caring for her. He is going to protect her and make sure nothing hurts her. It's just what inu do."
Miroku looked back towards Izayoi, and then Kagome. "Okay. After Izayoi has her daughter, perhaps he can meet her." Miroku still seemed uneasy, but Kagome knew he would calm himself once InuYasha proved to be a protector to Sakura.
It took another three hours before Izayoi was ready to push. When she was, Miroku left from behind the screen, giving Izayoi the privacy she needed to birth her daughter. It took a little bit longer than Sango's did, but soon enough, another cry was heard. This baby was smaller for her size, but still healthy. Kagome followed the same steps, setting the baby on Izayoi's chest before cleaning and covering her up. When she was done, she pushed the curtains out of the way completely, letting Touga in to see Izayoi.
"You did well." Sesshomaru kissed Kagome's head, his nose twitching at the smell. She knew she needed a bath, and Sesshomaru could smell that. Still, he wrapped an arm around her, watching as the others got to know their newest additions. "This will be us in three months." He placed a hand over Kagome's belly, then his brows furrowed. "Who will birth them?"
"Either myself, or Miroku. Those are the only options we have." Kagome didn't like the idea of delivering her own children, but she wasn't comfortable with Miroku doing it either. That was something her brother wasn't supposed to see. However, she was going to have to pick one sooner or later. "What are you going to name her?" Kagome was looking at Izayoi and Touga, watching as Touga held his daughter for the first time.
"We decided on Yona." Izayoi whispered, looking up at her mate reverently. "She's beautiful. They both are."
"You four did well." Sesshomaru grinned then, standing behind Kagome as he placed both his hands on her belly. "I did better."
"Boy." Touga laughed, his entire chest vibrating as Kagome blushed a deep red. They all fell silent for a moment, relishing the happiness that came with two successful births.
"Perhaps we should bring InuYasha in now?" Miroku was still holding his daughter, who was sleeping after being fed and clothed.
"I'll take Hina and dress her. Izayoi can feed her while you get InuYasha." Kagome held out her arms, and Touga passed over his newest daughter. He stood swiftly, exiting the room to go search for his son. Kagome walked over to Sesshomaru, passing his sister to him while she gathered the clothing. Together they dressed her in simple clothes. She would get her bath and better clothing later.
Leaning up to kiss Sesshomaru's jaw, she nipped it. "You look very handsome with a baby in your arms, My Lord." She smirked as his eyes darkened, teasing him. As she turned to walk away, baby Hina in her arms, she felt him pop her backside softly. She was playing with fire, and she couldn't wait to see how he decided to play with her.
Izayoi fed Hina easily, already having practice with InuYasha. By the time she finished, she was just cleaning up when Touga arrived with InuYasha. At first, InuYasha was only interested in his mother, and then he caught sight of Sakura, still sleeping in Miroku's arms. His little ears twitched, his head cocking to the side. He walked over to her, standing on his tippy toes to look over Miroku's arm.
"She is mine." He whispered, not noticing Miroku tensing. "I will protect her." InuYasha looked up at Miroku, their eyes meeting. "Can I help you? With whatever she needs?"
"You can." Miroku swallowed, taking a deep breath. "Just don't steal her away." InuYasha gave him a confused look, then turned back to his mother. He was too little to understand what the soul bond meant at that moment. He just knew by instinct that Sakura must be protected.
Rushing over to his mom, he met his sister for the first time, curious about her. Kagome once again stood by Sesshomaru, leaning into his side. Her job was done for the night. "Sesshomaru. Take me home. I just want to bathe and sleep."
"Do I get to wash you?" He purred in her ear, and she blushed, hoping no one else heard.
Standing so she could reach his ear, she whispered. "Yes, My Lord." Immediately he whisked her away. He saw no reason not to celebrate their growing family and he was going to make sure they celebrated thoroughly.
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There's really not much to say, so everyone enjoy!
