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Chapter 14: Celebrations
A few days passed before Kagome, in the early hours of the morning, sprung from the bed waking Inuyasha with a start. She bolted immediately for the front door as he watched in bleary eyed confusion, trying to find some reason for her sudden movement. She flung the door open before falling to her knees over the edge of the porch and vomiting. All at once he understood, shaking off the last bit of sleep and running to her side to hold back her hair for her as she wretched. Though he was concerned for his wife, a smile crossed his face. Morning sickness… another sign. After a few moments it was over, though she stayed doubled over just in case, trying to force the quesiness back. Inuyasha rubbed her back, his contact helping to steady her. She sat back on her heels, wiping her mouth on her arm and looking at him apologetically.
"I think it's time to see Kaede…" She mumbled, feeling completely awful. She hoped either Kaede or Songo would have some way of making the mornings a little better than this. He nodded happily, helping her up to go back inside. She washed her face and arms in a bowl before dressing to go out to the priestess's hut, hoping that Inuyasha would carry her, since this was all his fault after all. Maybe only half his fault, but still. She never had to ask as he scooped her up in his arms to walk out the door.
"Should I jump, or will that make it worse?" He asked, wanting to get her there quickly but considering her weak stomach. She thought it over, feeling much better now than she had when she first woke up.
"I think it would be okay to jump… but try to land softly." She murmured, hugging his neck tightly. He nodded with determination, taking to the skies, making it to the other side of the village in only a few short leaps. As they touched down they found Kaede already waiting for them, having sensed his aura approaching. Kagome held her eyes closed, trying to let her stomach settle a bit before opening them to the bright morning sun.
Kaede saw her pale face, contorted in nausea and pain and became concerned. She was a very strong girl, not often showing such a struggle in the face of an injury or sickness. "Kagome, what ails you child?" She asked, walking close to lay her hands on her fellow priestess. She had learned to use her powers with incredible precision in her years of healing, using them to pinpoint the area that needed her attention most and coming up blank. Not an injury?
"Kaede… It's…" Kagome started shakily, pausing to not throw up on her. The jumping may not have been the best idea after all…
"We think we're expecting." Said Inuyasha, with a surprising confidence. Both of the mikos looked at him, Kaede looking more shocked than he'd ever seen as he smirked at her. It was no secret they'd been trying, and although Kaede usually discouraged their more public displays, she'd supported them in their idea to become parents.
"No…" She said, a smile dawning on her face. "Are ye certain?" Kaede could have jumped had it not been for her age. She had known how badly Kagome wanted to be a mother, but had advised her that it may not be possible with her choice of husband. There was some speculation, though mostly unfounded, that Hanyos could not produce offspring. Inuyasha was somewhat of a puzzle when it came to healing and the like, being the first of his kind she'd ever encountered. Rumor was all she had to go off of, and sometimes it was true. His human nights, for instance, she'd believed to be only a silly legend, but had now seen it with her own eyes. It had finally come down to a debate between the two oldest demons they knew, Totosai and the the flea, Myoga. The flea had told them it was true, he could not have children, and Totosai argued the opposite. After a year and a half of marriage with no result, she was beginning to side with the flea. She prayed silently they'd been wrong.
"Come inside, I'll have a look at ye." She said softly, leading the way into her hut. Once there Kaede observed her pulse, temperature, asked personal questions and finished by simply concentrating deeply, one hand pressed to Kagome with her eyes closed for several minutes. Once she pulled back to look at them both it was clear to the couple they'd been correct in their diagnosis. "It is as ye'd predicted." She said, catching Kagome as she fell into her arms for a happy hug. "I did not see it before only because I had not thought to look!" She smiled over the happy young girl's shoulder.
"Thank you, Kaede." Said Inuyasha, wearing a prideful smile as his wife returned to his arms again.
"Ah, I wish ye all the best! Let me gather some things to help with this ailment…" She bustled around her home, gathering herbs from her shelf of medicines and combining them carefully together in a small cloth before handing it off to Kagome. "Boil this into a tea, once at night and once when you wake. It should not be so troubling in a few months, but if more is required, come see me." Kagome smiled, graciously accepting the tea. She repeated her process, showing Kagome how to do it as she went along, adding it to the kettle above her fire pit before pouring her a cup.
"It would seem the tea only transfers the problem to my husband…" Kagome said jokingly, noticing the smell was making Inuyasha look a bit uneasy. He shook his head, encouraging her to drink it. It was worth it to make her feel better, but he would probably leave the door open while she brewed it at home.
It made her feel instantly stronger, like she could easily perform all of her regular duties. She was quite pleased at the change, thanking Kaede again before heading out along the path to their home, this time on her own two feet.
Another two days passed without much difficulty, thanks to Kaede's remedy. Their friends had been elated to hear about their good fortune, and Shippo was excited to have another little kid to impress with his magic tricks. Kagome was sitting on her porch with Sango, watching Shippo astound the twin girls and Rin with foxfire and giant spinning tops. She was looking over some sewing patterns that Sango had brought over for her and wondering where she could find red fabric when she felt a little pinch on her neck. With a sound slap she pulled her hand back to reveal Myoga, dazed and flattened.
"Congratulations my lady…" He mumbled, shaking off the slap.
"Myoga, what are you doing here?" she asked, only feeling a little bad for flattening him. Inuyasha came from inside when he heard the old flea's name.
"Ah- I came as soon as I heard the good news!" He said, thinking fast. Inuyasha swiped at the flea, capturing him in his claws before he could escape.
"Yea right, who'd you piss off?" He barked, holding his fist up to his face. Myoga paled, muttering something about a misunderstanding. Inuyasha was unimpressed. "Out with it." He said, shooting the old demon a menacing glare.
"Alright… It was your brother, my lord." Inuyasha cracked an amused grin.
"You'd have to be a real idiot to piss him off, what'd you do?" He dropped the flea on his shoulder, hoping silently it wasn't too bad. He had no desire to start a fight with Sesshomaru right now. The flea remained silent a long moment, considering the nature of his visit and the company.
"May I speak with you in private, my lord? And lady Kagome too." He muttered finally, not wishing to broadcast the true reason for his visit. Something in the flea's tone made him worry, knowing it usually was reserved for something serious. Inuyasha nodded, tapping Kagome's arm to silently let her know it was time for their guests to leave before heading inside. Kagome lingered outdoors for a moment, saying goodbye to Sango and the kids and seeing them off before following. Once they were all settled Myoga cleared his throat to begin his explanation. "I went to see your brother when I learned of your lady's condition. He may be of help to you both." Inuyasha and Kagome exchanged glances before returning to Myoga.
"What do you mean?" Asked Kagome, well aware of how Sesshomaru played a part in the birth of their future child, but keeping that information to herself. Myoga sighed, hating to be the bearer of bad news as he so often was.
"As you know, Inuyasha's own lady mother was a human, though you may not know the pain she endured while carrying him." Kagome looked to Inuyasha, who listened to the words a bit sadly. He knew, because she had told him. She left out the worst of it, he was sure, but he knew she'd almost died on the night of his birth, only surviving because his father had revived her with Tenseiga.
"That's true, she was sick for most of it, from what I know." He said softly, hoping it wouldn't be so rough on his own wife.
"That is an understatement, my lord. You see, human bodies are not able to handle demonic energy without struggle. Part of my reason for believing that you could not have children with Kagome at all was her ability as a priestess. Her own powers may have been coming into conflict with yours, creating… difficulty in… fertilization." Kagome paled, a hand flying to her lips at the revelation. Her own powers? Was she at risk of purifying her own child? She shook off the thought, sure it would be okay. She sometimes had to remind herself of what she already knew, having tried so hard to forget the bulk of her stay in the future.
"Not to worry, Kagome." He said, seeing her brief paic. "As you've already been proven capable of becoming pregnant, I doubt there will be any trouble now." She nodded slowly, reigning in her emotions again.
"So what does any of this have to do with Sesshomaru?" Asked Inuyasha, his patience wearing thin. This had already been too much bad news in one day, and he couldn't imagine Sesshomaru's connection would improve it.
"Ah- well, you see… Your mother was saved by Tenseiga after she was killed by a man named Takemaru." They nodded, already aware of the painful story. "The truth is, she would have died no matter what." Both Inuyasha and Kagome gasped, looking to each other. If that was the case, it was the childbirth that would have caused her death, not only the assassin's blade. There was always a risk in this era, although Kagome's knowledge from the future had helped to improve the mortality rates for mothers and children alike in their village.
"Are you saying that she would have died because she gave birth to a demon?" Asked Kagome, playing her part as well as she could. In truth, she had already known this. It had been mentioned to her long ago, although now, it all seemed a little more daunting than it had then. They would have to use Tenseiga. She even knew the words to say to convince Sesshomaru. She had been ready for this, thanks to her questions.
"That is correct." Myoga continued, wiping his brow on his sleeve. "Though Lord Inuyasha is only a half-demon, her human body was unable to go through the delivery. In a way, it is a blessing that Takemaru waited until she was already in labor to strike. Any sooner or later, and there would have been no hope for the Lady Izayoi." Myoga's audience was stunned to silence. Kagome was in deep concentration, carefully controlling her body's reactions as not to give too much away. Something Sesshomaru had helped her work on. Only he would willingly teach her how to lie to her own husband, his brother. It had all been a game to him, and while that thought filled her with anger, at this moment, she was glad to be able to project what she wanted. She tried to limit herself to emergency situations like this. Everything would fall apart if she was forced to reveal too much about what she knew, and how she knew it.
Inuyasha was like ice. Frozen in fear, and self hatred above all else. He had known, deep down they would live to regret this decision, and now he could only hope they'd be so lucky. If Tenseiga had been what saved his mother, Sesshomaru would help them. He'd force him if he had to, but even Tenseiga can only save her once. His mind raced with horrible thought after horrible thought. What if the labor is too difficult. What if she is gone before the child is even born. He would be forced to watch as her life slipped from his grasp because of the mistake that he could have prevented, had he not been so selfish. Kagome reached out to hold Inuyasha's hand, shocking him out of his mental cage.
He stared into her eyes, knowing that she didn't share his regrets. She wanted this so badly, fuck, he had too! He had only wanted to give her everything… how could he have been so stupid? Nothing… nothing could be worth losing her. He let his cold gaze shift back to Myoga as he held her hand.
"So you are saying we need Tenseiga?" He muttered, trying to keep his voice even and balanced in the face of this nightmare. Myoga nodded sagely.
"While this child will be only a quarter, it is still likely that it will be too much for Kagome's human body. Even if all goes well, Tenseiga can only be used on a person once, so this shall be your one and only child." Kagome, having been so calm, was suddenly filled with genuine dread. She stood suddenly, the hand that had held Inuyasha's covering her stomach, terror flooding her eyes.
"No!" She shrieked, backing away from them both. "That- That can't be!"