Diversions

"Eh? Nothin'." Inuyasha shrugged. Kagome looked at him dubiously, just a moment before she stood to wash her dishes. She definitely wasn't convinced when upon sitting back down-intending to sort the seeds she had gathered earlier-Inuyasha wrapped his arms loosely around her waist. He was just about halfway laying over her lap, tucking his head against her belly.

"Uh, Inuyasha?" Kagome raised a brow but made no move to push her husband away. It wasn't too uncomfortable, despite the heat of the day. He acted like he didn't hear her, despite his dog ears being right next to her mouth. Kagome took a breath, letting it out with a sigh that made Inuyasha's ears flatten momentarily. It was so weird when he was like this. Like a child.

She lifted her hand to stroke his hair when he spoke.

"I don't really care how the village takes those boys, but they're bound to figure it out soon enough, but I just..." he paused, a growl interrupting his speech, "how'll they take it when they got four, six, eight hanyou runnin' around? Just... I dunno, you seem ta think folks're nicer than they are, but you ain't got the ears and white hair, so..." He trailed off.

"Eight?" Kagome counted in her head, "just how many kids are you planning? You won't be the one with swollen feet and morning sickness." She tried diverting. Inuyasha growled.

"Shut up...you know I probably couldn't deal with more'n one or two..." He grumbled.

"If this is about whatever future children we have, I've told you, exactly what I've told that guy today, actually. Sango, Miroku, Rin, Shippo, and Kaede are all on our side. They're all going to be there for us. The twins, Ichiro, and the new baby will make good friends with our baby. I know you...you didn't have much of a support system outside of your mother, but things are different now. For you and any hypothetical kids. I'm here and-"

"Oh hush that mushy crap. You talk too much to make any kind of a decent pillow," he told her, squeezing around her waist and pressing against her, so she had to lean onto her hands.

They had hardly left for Kaede's when a woman came up to Kagome, looking as if she had been up all night. She was Haru's closest neighbor.

"Ah, I was on my way to meet Kaede, but I'm glad to see you. Haru has been in labor most of the night, and I need someone else to take over." The woman set a hand on her hip.

"Oh, is she close?" Kagome had helped deliver a few babies in her year here. Normally female family members would help out, otherwise it was neighbors or the Miko to help out.

"No, but that can change, pretty fast."

"Right, right," Kagome agreed, quickly following the woman back to Haru's house as she told Kagome he had left her nine-year-old with Haru, so that at least she wouldn't be alone. She didn't notice Inuyasha following curiously behind the two women.

Haru was happy to see Kagome walk through the door, at least as happy as she could be with a tiny parasite trying to escape her body. The labor went surprisingly well, although it did go pretty quickly after Kagome got there. It was maybe three hours later that Kagome was finishing helping get the baby and Haru cleaned up, inviting Kenta in.

Kagome swallowed thickly as Kenta came to hold the small, red-faced infant. A baby boy. The baby didn't look like much of anything right now, but Kagome hoped that it would still look like Kenta as they grew. They were brothers, so there was...

Kenta had left the door cracked open when he had come in, and through the gap, Kagome was surprised to see her husband standing outside...wearing an odd expression, like he was trying to contain laughter. Kagome quirked a brow. She turned to the couple, advising Haru to take it easy for a few weeks, at least, until she had healed some and the baby was old enough to be taken in a sling. She finished washing her hands, and left through the door, giving Inuyasha a questioning gaze. Why was he still here?

"What's that expression for?"

Inuyasha waved his hand, indicating that he wanted to talk where he wouldn't be heard. Kagome followed him over and he chuckled when they stopped.

"That kid's his."

Kagome tilted her head.

"What are you talking about?"

Inuyasha sniggered-a sound pretty unlike himself.

"Kenta, that guy, actually fathered that baby that was just born." Kagome squinted, utterly confused as to the meaning of Inuyasha's words. Her eyes widened as realization slowly dawned on her.

"What are...I don't get how that could happen? Did..." She paused, folding her arms, "did she have a miscarriage? There's no way that she...the time doesn't add-"

"C'mon Kagome. Y'ain't stupid. You said that guy seemed dead-set on marrying that girl..."

"Oh Inuyasha, that's ridiculous! You could be mistaken, after all, they were brothers, so you can't be sure on the paternity just from scent alone!" Kagome gave back, a blush blooming across her face. Haru seemed like a sweet girl. Surely she wouldn't have..?

"I'm pretty sure. Works out best for her, doesn't it? That she was foolin' around with her husband's brother enough to get pregnant by him."

"Inuyasha!"

The hanyou rolled his eyes, as his wife smacked him in the arm, thoroughly flustered.

"They were already a thing, it was no wonder they were okay gettin' married right away-"

"Oh I can't believe you!" Kagome crossed her arms and spun away from her husband.

"She loved her husband. I hardly think...so soon after his death..."

"Well, she obviously had no problem cheatin' on him, so I wonder about that...anyways, they was probably in love before her uh-" he couldn't for the life of him remember the dead guy's name, "her first husband died. And you n' me both know love can make you do some pretty stupid, impulsive shit, so just stop makin' that face." Kagome didn't know what sort of face she was making, embarrassed? Indignant? Inuyasha had a point though. They both made some questionable to poor decisions the times they had been in love. Inuyasha had suffered from the snap decisions he'd made, for sure.

"It works out for 'em, so stop worrying."

Kagome groaned into her hands.

"I can't believe she cheated on her husband. And with his brother!"

"Get over it. I hate that it happens too, but what's done is done."

"With his brother!"

"Who's now her husband and the father of her kid. Get over it."

"How could such a sweet girl-"

Inuyasha cut her off with a groan. He put a hand on her back to start walking with her towards the shrine, where Kaede had gone after he'd told her where Kagome would be. Kagome barely resisted, face still buried in her hands.

"You don't think anyone else we know has cheated on their spouse like that?"

Inuyasha snorted.

"Like who? Miroku? Bah, he knows Sango's the best he could ever get. And his kids? Nah, he loves his family too much. Idiot's head still turns towards every pretty yukata that walks by, but he's not that much of a fool."

"I wasn't talking Miroku specifically," Kagome said, raising her head to roll her eyes at her husband. Diversion worked to get her to stop making that face though. He could play that game too, Kagome.

...

If you thought the writing was bad before, it's all downhill from here. And huge timeskips! Probably going to be an awkward mix of long and short chapters. I can only do it in spurts. My apologies.