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Sesshomaru had a nagging feeling, like something was missing. It had been with him since they left the village. They had inventoried their belongings, several times. They had everything. But something seemed missing now. Nothing was actually missing. He put it from his mind.

He looked over at Melissa. She tried to be upbeat, but he could tell leaving Stinky had broken her heart. "He would have starved, Melissa."

"What?" She asked.

"I know leaving the child was hard for you, for a few minutes you thought you'd have the family you long for. I thought so as well. But we couldn't keep him. Were there a way for me to put milk in your breasts I would have let you keep him. But I can not."

"I know. I happy he safe. You are right, I wanted keep him. But I not able feed him."

"Must it be an infant? There are other children who have been orphaned. Older children who do not need to draw nourishment from a mother's breast. Children whose parents are beyond Tenseiga's reach. Could you be content with an older child?"

"Yes. I love all children." She replied, smiling up a him.

"Then I will bring you children one day." She smiled at him and wrapped her arms around one of his as they walked.

"Sesshomaru, why you wait?" She asked a short while later.

"Wait?'

"At village. Why you wait?" She asked.

"You are wondering why I did not resurrect the villagers immediately?"

"Resurrect?" She was unfamiliar with the word.

"It means restore to life. To wield Tenseiga one must posses a compassionate heart. This is something that does not come naturally to me. Tenseiga did not speak to me until I felt pity for the child's hunger."

"Oh. And you not able help all?"

"No. The body must be intact. If it is destroyed or rotten the soul can not return to it. Also Tenseiga can only call a soul back once. Rin, for instance, is beyond Tenseiga's reach because I have restored her once before."

"Rin died?!" She asked, horrified by the idea.

"Yes. Shortly after I met her and before I took her into my care she was mauled by wolves."

They continued to walk in silence. Melissa needed to take all he'd told her in. They didn't speak again until they stopped for lunch and the conversation stayed light and casual the rest of the afternoon.

Later that night after Jaken had fallen asleep Sesshomaru took hold of Melissa's hand and pulled her to her feet. He led her from camp, into the forest and once they were out of earshot he turned to face her and began stroking her cheek. Then he took her face in both his hands and kissed her.

He sat down and pulled her into his lap as he continued to kiss her and she wrapped her arms around him. They paused for breath and she leaned her head against his chest, hugging him tightly. He stroked her hair and arms and kissed the top of her hair, inhaling deeply.

She lifted her head and kissed him again. He then began licking and nipping at her ear and she made a soft whimpering sound. He began kissing down her neck, then pushed the neck of her kimono to the side to kiss her shoulder. He could feel her pulse pounding in the veins of her neck as he continued to lick and kiss her there

"May I touch you?" he breathed. He gave her just a enough time to whisper yes before capturing her lips with his. She was still sitting sideways in his lap and the arm he had around her waist moved to pull the bow from her obi so her kimono fell open. He moved that hand around her to cup her breast while the other one filled his other hand. He continued to kiss up and down her neck as he gently kneaded her breasts, feeling her nipples harden.

"Melissa, you may stop me if I go to far." He whispered, she made a soft moaning sound and nodded. He lowered his head and took one of her nipples in his mouth. His newly freed hand moved downward, stroking her smooth belly then her hip. He stroked her long strong thigh.

He could smell desire between her legs. He expected her to stop him before now, but instead she'd opened her legs to give him access. He placed his hand over her womanhood, cupping it gently. He hesitated, he had no idea what he was doing.

"Sesshomaru?" She opened her eyes and when he looked at her face she gave him a sweet, understanding smile. "Is fine if you want stop."

He wanted to stop, but he wanted to contnue too. Why was he nervous about this? Why? Stalling for time he kissed her lips, allowing his hand to just linger on top of her curls.

She took his hand and placed it around her waist instead. "Stop." She whispered, saving him from having to choose. She kissed him again then stood up and retied her obi before heading back to camp. Sesshomaru stayed behind to take care of his raging hard-on.

"I wonder if Kagome have baby yet." Melissa mused as they walked along a well worn game trail. A cool wind blew and Melissa wrapped her arms around herself as the breeze carried a couple of red leaves past.

"How long does a human carry her young in her womb?" Sesshomaru asked glancing at her. When they left here he'd take her to buy warmer clothes.

"9 months."

"If she has not birthed yet she will soon."

Soon they spotted Kagome and Inuyasha. She was cutting medicinal mushrooms off a tree trunk to be dried while her protective husband stood guard, holding her basket for her. She could barley reach the trunk for her huge belly in the way. She looked miserable.

"Kagome, you ok?" Melissa asked, jogging up.

"Hello you three. Yes, I am ok, just tired. My back has been killing me since last night so I didn't sleep well." She tossed the last mushroom into the basket and they all started back to town.

The girls talked happily as they trailed after the men. Kagome suddenly stopped and drew a sharp breath as she doubled over with her hands on her belly. Inuyasha was instantly at her side.

"Are you ok? Is it time or false labor again? Do you need me to carry you?"

"Calm down, Inuyasha. I'm fine, it was just a cramp." She stood straight and began walking again. A few minutes later Kagome hissed in pain, clutching her stomach with one hand and grabbing Melissa's arm to keep upright. Both men looked back at her as Kagome's gaze went down the the fluid splashing down around her feet.

Inuyasha reached for her but Kagome slapped his hands away, insisting she needed to walk. Gravity would help the labor progress. Instead of her husband she held on to Melissa as they made their way slowly to town.

Kagome stopped again and held on to Melissa for support as she breathed rapidly, trying to control the pain. Inuyasha tried to help hold her up but again she smacked his hands away. He tried once more but she lifted her head and glared at him. His eyes widened, he took a step backward, and his ears flattened.

"SIT!"

Inuyasha face planted then pried him self up, totally confused while his big brother smirked. "Kagome? Why? What..."

"SIT! This is all your fault you stupid mutt! You did this to me!" She yelled. Inuyasha looked stricken and helpless. Normally he'd yell back, but right now he couldn't. Not with his wife in such a delicate condition.

"Inuyasha, perhaps it would be wise for you to run ahead and alert Keade and Rin that your wife will be in need of their services when she arrives. I will escort the women to the village."

Inuyasha shot his brother a silent thanks, "Good idea." And he was gone before his wife could sit him again. The four made their way slowly back to town. Sesshomaru matched his pace to the women's so that he kept them in site while Jaken trailed at a respectful distance.

As soon as they reached town Rin ran up and gave Sesshomaru and Melissa a very brief greeting before leading Kagome into her house chattering excitedly. Melissa didn't know the first thing about delivering babies so she stayed outside with the men, out of the way. She sat with Sesshomaru as they watched Inuyasha pace nervously.

"You needn't be so nervous, Inuyasha." Sesshomaru told his brother as he watched him.

Inuyasha wheeled around, "Are you crazy?! I don't know anything about youkai, I was raised around humans, maybe this isn't dangerous to youkai women. Sesshomaru, human women die in childbirth. Babies die too. I could lose my wife and my child!"

"Inuyasha, do you forget what father left to me? I can not promise that neither Kagome nor the child will die. If they die, they will not remain dead. You have no need to be nervous."

"You... You would bring them back?"

"Yes."

Inuyasha stared at his brother in disbelief. "Sesshomaru..."

"Do not thank me. This has nothing to do with any tender feelings towards you. Your thanks should go to Melissa. Your wife is important to Melissa. As Alpha of my pack it is my responsibility to care for her. I believe your wife dying would distress her."

Melissa rolled her eyes and shook her head with a smile. "No lie, Sesshomaru. You are good man, good brother."

Sesshomaru frowned at her. "You are mistaken, I am neither."

Inuyasha looked from one to the other with crossed arms. "I don't think she is. Not anymore at least. Let's face it, you used to be a real asshole! You..."

Inuyasha looked at Melissa, she didn't need to know his brother's past. That Sesshomaru was a murderer. She didn't need to know the man she loved had once tried to kill everyone she cared about.

He sighed and turned away, looking at his house where his wife lay in labor. His wife whom his brother promised to save if the birth went wrong. His human wife. Before Sesshomaru had taken in Rin...

He turned back around. "look, I'm not going to lie, you were right up there with Naraku. But then you took in Rin. Sesshomaru, that kid changed you. You just offered to save my wife and child if the birth goes wrong. I couldn't ask for a better brother." Inuyasha walked away from them, sitting right beside the door of his house.

"I hope Kagome O.K." Melissa whispered.

"I believe she will be fine. Kagome is a strong woman."

"But I not hear her scream."

"Of course she's not screaming!" Inuyasha snapped at he from his post by the door.

"Do not speak to Melissa in such a voice." Sesshomaru growled back.

"She insulted my wife!"

"She made an innocent observation. I assume based on a cultural difference, she is not Japanese." He turned to Melissa, "You sound as though you expect her to be screaming right now, I assume that is acceptable in America?"

"Having baby hurts!" She explained emphatically.

"I am sure. However it is what a woman is made for. Japanese women attempt to bare the pain in dignified silence."

"I wonder what baby will be." She said after a long period of silence.

"That depends on what it inherited from it's father. The mother is human, but Inuyasha is a hanyo, half human and half youkai. If the child has inherited his humanity it will be a full blood human. If it inherited his youkai half it will be hanyo, like it's father."

"Oh. I mean boy or girl."

"We will discover that soon."

They both fell silent for a few minutes. Melissa was deep in thought While Sesshomaru was observing the comings and goings of the town. The Monk's girls ran by in the distance laughing merrily. Sesshomaru was sure they had been up to mischief.

A moment later the monk ran by, in pursuit of his children. He had his staff in one hand and some rope in the other. Was he planning to hog tie the girls? That wasn 't a bad idea actually.

"Hanyo and human maybe make human. Hanyo and youkai maybe make youkai?" Melissa asked after a while.

"I am uncertain, I do not know that such a pairing has ever occurred. Most humans are fearful of youkai and many youkai look down on humans. It is rare for a youkai and a human to join together for a hanyou to be born.

As hanyou are often feared by humans for their youkai blood and scorned by youkai for their humanity it is rarer yet for a hanyo to reproduce. What Inuyasha and Kagome have is unusual. Usually when a hanyo produces a child it is the result of a male hanyou taking a human woman by force.

A hanyo would not likely be able to take a youkai by force. The youkai would have to be willing. However if a hanyo and a youkai did come together I see no reason why they could not bear a youkai child."

Sango approached the group with her baby on her hip. "Has Kagome had the baby yet?"

"No, not yet." Inuyasha replied, glancing at the door.

"Issa!" The baby squealed wiggling in his mother's arms and holding his arms out to Melissa.

"Yes, that is Melissa. Do you want Melissa? Would you like to hold him, Melissa?" Melissa nodded and held her hands out to take the little boy and Sango sat down beside her, she looked exhausted.

"Can you two hear what's going on in there?" Sango asked, looking from one brother to the other.

"Keade has not instructed her to push yet." Sesshomaru informed Sango.

"She might scream a little right when the baby comes, Inuyasha. It's her first"

"Nasha?" The baby asked looking around, his eyes landed on Sesshomaru. He looked closely at the silver white hair. "Nasha?"

"Oh no, Aisuko, that's not Inuyasha. That's Sesshomaru."

"I'm over here, squirt."

The child turned his head to look in the direction of Inuyasha's voice. He sucked his thumb as he thoughtfully looked from one to the other.

"Oggy?" He asked finally, pointing one grimy finger at Sesshomaru.

"Yes, Aisuko, he's a doggy. That's Sesshomaru."

"Sesmawu?"

"Sorry, Sesshomaru. He's still learning to talk."

"All must learn at some point."

"Oh my god, Aisuko, no!" Seango screamed at her son as her heart leaped out of her chest.

"Oggy!" Aisuko squealed in delight as he reached over from Melissa's lap and grabbed a fistful of silver hair. He yanked the silver hair, attempting to pull Sesshomaru down to his level. Oggies have ears, he knew, and he wanted to see them.

Faster than either Inuyasha or Sango could move to grab the baby Sesshomaru grabbed his tiny wrist in one hand and gently pried his fingers apart with the other, freeing himself. The next moment Sango had her son back in her arms. She turned the child over her knee and Sesshomaru grabbed her wrist before she made a mistake in her panic.

"Why are you attempting to spank the child?"

"He pulled your hair."

"Has he been taught not to?"

"N... No." She replied trembling. The next minute she was hugging the baby tightly against her chest. She sobbed and apologized over and over, whether to Sesshomaru or to the child was unclear. A moment later she pushed the child into Inuyasha's lap and rushed away with a hand clamped to her mouth.

Sesshomaru watched the whole display with apparent indifference. Once she had run away he turned his attention to his brother. "Does she know?"

"I think she's working it out." Inuyasha replied, not looking up from the child he was bouncing on his knee.

"Poor Sango. I maybe should invent condoms."

"Indeed."

A few minutes later Sango returned, still looking ill. "Thanks Inuyasha. But it's time for his nap now."

"Hey Sango, I can watch him if you need a break. I need the practice."

"No, no, he needs a nap." Sango insisted and walked away with her wide awake son.