It has been a few months since Sakura left Kaze in her cousin's hands. There has been no news about Naraku since she saved her brother. Her stomach has grown bigger. Everyone decided to stay in Kiade's village, for the time being. Kagome and Sakura had to tell the others what happened with Sesshomaru and Sakura, since she is carrying his child. No one has seen hide nor hair of the demon lord.
"Sakura-chan, Sango and I are going to the market. You need anything?"
"Kagome-chan, you know as well as I, that I'm in perfect health to come with you two." Sakura stands up, with some difficulty. She walks out the door of the hut, everyone's been sharing for the past three months. Inuyasha and Miroku are looking for any hint of where Naraku is. Shippo hops on Kagome's shoulder.
"Shippo-chan, where is Takkun-san?"
"He's with Kiade, getting his mirror fixed."
"Oh, ok." The four walk through the streets, the villagers are starting to get used to Sakura staying there. "Sakura, are you thinking about a nice relaxing bath tonight?"
"Yeah, but I'd rather be alone so I could think." Kagome smiles in understanding. The pregnant demon puts a hand on her stomach. A lonesome tear falls silently. She has kept so much sadness from her friends. She hates to see them worry about her. If only I could see Sesshomaru, just once more.
Later that night, Sakura strips down, near her private hot spring. She walks in slowly. She sits near the edge.
"Oto no nai mahiru
Kaze wa tada akarui
Sukoshi nemutasou ni
Hanabira ga yureta
Nani ge nai kono omoi
Nee, hito wa donna kotoba de
Yondeiru no
Shiroi suna no tsuki
Toji kometa hanashi o
Hikari furasu you ni
Kikasete ne sotto
Itsuka shiru toki ga kuru no?
Mune no itami o
Soshite ima yori yasashiku
Naru no ne
Atatakai kono omoi
Nee, hito wa donna namae de
Yondeiru no
Shiroi suna no tsuki
Mabushikute mienai
Tooi mirai no koto
Kikasete ne sotto"
"That was beautiful..." The deep monotone voice sounds like it did four months ago.
"What do you want?"
"Why are you like this? Your back's to me, you sound like you don't ever want to see me again."
"Precisely, I don't want to see you again. You abandoned me, leaving me in such emotional distress that I sent my brother to train, without saying good-bye. So why don't you, and your memory, just leave me be?" She hears the rustle of leaves, and she knows that he left her again. Sakura quietly cries to herself, before heading back. She never tells anybody about her meeting with Sesshomaru.
The next morning, the demon lord barged through the door. Sakura was cooking her breakfast, so she could go and see her brother. Sesshomaru sneaks up behind her. "Sakura-chan, I need to talk to you."
"Not now Sesshomaru, I need to finish making breakfast."
"That can wait."
"I can't let it burn. It won't agree with me."
"What are you talking about?" He turns her around, and sees the size of her stomach. "When... when did..."
"Four months ago."
"You mean..."
"Sesshomaru, why are you here?" Inuyasha and Kagome walk out of their rooms.
"You apathetic, narcistic bastard! Why did you show your face around here?" Kagome seems to be pissed, maybe because he abandoned her friend.
"I just wanted to tell Sakura-chan why I left her that morning..."
"Go on." Sakura crosses her arms across her chest.
"I wanted to get Ah-Un, so you wouldn't have to walk the rest of the way to Naraku's castle. You know, to preserve your energy."
"Sakura, you're not going to forgive him so easily, are you?"
"Well I do love him, Inuyasha. But he did also leave without telling me where he went. I need to think about it." The sent of burnt food fills the room. "Shit!" Sesshomaru wraps his arm around her.
"I'll get you anything you want, then when you're finished I'll bring you to see your brother." She rests her head on his shoulder.
"Thank you, Sesshomaru. Where's Rin?"
"She's outside, playing with a demon cat."
"Please ask her to come in. I'll get breakfast, ok?"
"No, you need to rest." He goes out to get the little girl. Sakura goes back to the stove, throws the burnt food on a dish for Kirara, and starts making a new meal for everyone. The demon enters again, with a human child clinging to his leg and an imp close behind. "Sakura, what did I say about rest?"
"I've been doing this for four months, what makes you think..."
"You are my mate, and I want you to be healthy! Now sit next to Rin." He leads her next to the little girl. Kagome and Inuyasha just watches in awe. Jalken gives his lord the supplies he needs, but other than that Sesshomaru did everything by himself. The food looked more or less like food. The taste wasn't that bad; he did cook with love, but that's not enough.
"Kagome-chan, can you watch over Rin, while Sesshomaru and I go see Kaze?"
"Ok, Sakura-chan." The demoness pushes the demon lord out of the hut. Ah-Un is waiting patiently for them. Sesshomaru helps his love on the demon. He hops on behind her. They take off into the sky, towards the wolf tribe's cave. He places his hand over her stomach, her hand goes over his. He buries his head in the crook of her neck. A chuckle escapes her lips.
"This is our child, Sesshomaru. Thanks to you, I now know that my one premonition wasn't a dream."
"What are you talking about?"
"Never mind, we're near where Kaze's staying." Ah-Un lands in front of the mouth of the cave. Sesshomaru jumps off first, to help Sakura down. Kaze runs out and hugs his sister. He hasn't seen her in about a month.
"Sakura, I can fight hand to hand now."
"Not just yet." Kouga strolls out. "He still has a lot to learn." He ruffles the boy's hair.
"Sakura, why is he here?"
"Sesshomaru was kind enough to give me a ride."
"You could've declined..."
"And not see my nii-san until around the end of the day, no way in hell. You know I'm getting slower every month." Sesshomaru brings her closer to him. "Don't worry, the baby and I are fine."
After a few hours of catching up, Sakura believes it's time to go. She hugs her brother good-bye, and wishes him luck with his training. The two demons hop back onto the dragon. Sesshomaru holds Sakura tightly. "I don't ever want to let you go, I will never leave you alone again."
"Really?"
"Really, and to prove it I will never leave your side. I will protect you, your brother, and the baby."
"That put you on probation... and if you keep your promise till I give birth, you will be fully forgiven." She leans on him, and naps on the way back. The demon lord looks at his sleeping mate.
Sakura is bathing in a hot spring. She's about the age of thirteen. Her kimono lain next to the pool. Finally, alone to think. She gives a sigh. The image of a powerful demon keeps popping up in her mind. She can barely see the facial features under his silver hair. There's an ominous feeling whenever she sees him in her mind's eye. She dives under the warm water. She swims surrounded by a blanket of water. She feels safe, secure, like nothing bad has happened in the past. Her parents would still be alive. Her home still like new. No worrying about Kaze. No worrying for some stupid prophecy, but these fantasies aren't true. She has to protect her brother from fate. She has to avenge their father. She has to look for a strong hanyo to help her. Her luck in finding him hasn't been too well. She surfaces, taking in the cool crisp autumn air.
Sesshomaru brings his love closer to him, as she sleeps. Night has fallen, and they still have a way to go. He wants to get her in back, so she won't sleep on the ground. "Sleep well, my love. We will soon be arriving to that hut you call a home," he whispers in her ear. Inuyasha is sitting outside, half asleep. He spots his brother and Sakura.
"Oi! Where in the seven hells have you been?"
"Visiting."
"Sakura-chan should've been here before nightfall, she could've been hurt!"
"Shut up, Inuyasha," the demon lord quietly spat. "You're going to wake..." Sakura stirres in her sleep. She sleepily looks from Inuyasha to Sesshomaru. She gives a yawn and groggily slides off Ah-Un. Her hand looks for her love's. The demon takes her hand into his. She leads him inside, and into her room. She puts on her sleeping kimono, with the help of Sesshomaru. He helps her lay down on the mat. He lies next to her, his hand over her belly.
