For all of the stress and the physical issues that Rin had faced during her last month of pregnancy her labor was blessedly short.
The pressure settled into her hips forcing her to stand and pace her room. Alone she walked back and forth with her hands to her back. Feeling a wetness between her legs begin to drip down she looked to see the clear fluid.
"Oh." She muttered out somewhat in shock. "Are you ready to be born now little girl?"
Going to the door she glanced down the hallway seeing Izumi sitting with Kagome at the table. "My water is breaking."
Quickly Izumi was beside her with Kagome not far behind. Holding Hisashi in his swaddle Izumi questioned her with her eyes. "Ready to meet your daughter, Izu?"
"Yes." She breathed out excitedly. "Kagome, take Hisashi to Emi please. Summon Iku and Sesshomaru."
"Sure. I'll be right back." Bundling the blanket around Hisashis head she went outside to get everyone.
Izumi assisted Rin onto her futon for her to sit. Kneeling on the lower platform step Izumi took her hands in her own.
"I know that once your mate comes in he will be all over you so, if it's alright, I'd like to have a few moments with you."
"Of course Izu." Rin smiled placing her forehead to her friends. She put Izumis hands to her stomach as it began to tense with the start of her contractions. "I'll be honest with you, I am a little scared."
"You will do wonderfully Rin." Nuzzling her nose against hers Izumi sighed out. "You are much stronger then you give yourself credit for."
"Izumi, do you think Lord Sesshomaru will want to be in here with me? I haven't asked him."
"Nothing will keep him from you, you know that better than anyone."
"I want you to deliver our baby. Will you? I want you to be the first one to hold her." Rin said softly sucking in her bottom lip as she began to cramp.
"Yes." Izumi replied back. Closing her eyes they sat together before Sesshomaru barged in practically ripping the door from the wall.
"Rin." He said by her side in the blink of an eye. Kagome and Iku followed him in closing the door busying themselves with gathering clean sheets and cloths from the wall shelves that lined one side of the room.
"Lord Sesshomaru." Rin looked up at him as Izumi moved away from her allowing him to perch in her spot.
"Are you in pain?" Brushing her bangs aside she shook her head.
"Not yet." She assured with a small smile. Izumi tied her hair back so it wouldn't be in her way and helped her out of the kimono she had on into her yukata.
The futon was lined with extra sheets as Rin began to breath out slowly. Sesshomaru held her up as she leaned on him with her arms wrapped around his middle.
"Doing okay Rin?" Kagome asked watching her.
"Yes." She smiled gently. "It's progressing along fairly quickly."
"A few more and I want to check you. See how dilated you are."
"Sure." Burying her head into her husbands chest she trembled at the intensity of the contraction. "I need to lie down."
Once on her futon she sat up against the pillows and brought her knees up to place her feet down. Closing her eyes she felt sweat begin to form on her brow. "They're closer and stronger."
Lying down Kagome inserted two fingers into her probing her cervix. "You are wide open. This baby's just going to fall right out of you."
Nodding her head in understanding she felt the cool cloth on her forehead and Izumis presence beside her. "Thank you Izu."
"Anytime." She said. Rin began to shake uncontrollably as the pressure increased. Pushing her body down to lay flat didn't help as it put pain in her back. Sitting up was no good either.
"Perhaps Lady Rin if you knelt it may provide some relief." Iku offered. Nodding Rin was assisted by Sesshomaru to kneel down. Izumi arranged the pillows so she could lean down into them if need be.
Rocking her hips back and forth Rin breathed into her nose and out of her mouth. Placing her hands to her stomach she felt the gush of warm water exit her body as the sudden pain made her gasp.
"Here we go." Kagome said happily smiling from ear to ear. "Lay down Rin. I have to check you."
Beyond being able to help herself Sesshomaru and Izumi laid her down as she began to groan in pain.
"It hurts." She choked out.
"I know." Izumi soothed. "It will be over soon little Cho."
"Rin, start pushing honey." Kagome encouraged.
"I-Izu. The baby." Rin managed out as she gripped the back of her knees.
"Right. Rin wants me to take the child from her." Izumi explained.
"Then come on down." Kagome joked. "Sesshomaru, get behind Rin and sit her up a little bit."
"Se-Sesshomaru." Rin whimpered as he adjusted her to lean back against him. Kissing at her sweaty face he placed his hands to her stomach.
"I am here my love." Laying her head against his chest all she could see was him as he looked down at her.
"Alright Rin, push." Kagome encouraged as she put Izumis hands into position. "The head and the shoulders are the hardest to push out. Once those are cleared then the baby will come out very fast."
"Okay." Izumi nodded her head. "Is that…?"
"Yup. The head is crowning." Kagome said. Rin moaned in pain as she bared down and closed her eyes tightly.
"Oh Rin." Izumi was in awe as she watched intently more of the pups head begin to emerge.
"You didn't watch Hisashi be born?" Kagome questioned.
"No. I was in too much pain." She said.
"Understandable." A few more pushes and the head came out. "Stop pushing. Okay now, grip the back of the neck gently and clean her mouth and nose."
Doing as she was told Izumi removed the blood and fluid as Kagome instructed. "Last big push Rin."
"Y-yes." Rin grunted as the shoulders slid out of her forcing a scream to escape her throat followed by a sob. The newborn slid into Izumis hands much to her amazement.
Her mouth was a gape as her eyes were wide. "There we go." Kagome rubbed the baby down with a clean sheet. "Sure enough, it's a girl. Just like you all said."
The newborn was warm and slimy with afterbirth as she began to wail as she took her first breaths. "Do you want to wash her Izumi?"
"Don't wash her." Rin said. "She needs to keep her scent for Sesshomaru and Izumi to be able…to bond with her properly."
"Okay." Kagome stated. "Who wants to cut the cord?"
Once the newborn was swaddled and settled in her mothers arms Izumi went to Kohaku as he stood outside keeping watch.
"My lady." He greeted brightly.
"My lord." She returned. "Rin has had her daughter."
"Such happy news." He smirked.
"I am going to fetch Hisashi. Both Rin and Sesshomaru want us in their chamber." Izumi said.
"Certainly." Motioning towards one of the western soldiers to apprise him of the situation Izumi went to the servants quarters to gather her son.
"Lady Izumi, how did Lady Rin fare?" Emi asked sweetly.
"Extremely well. Our daughter is healthy." She smiled widely.
"Wonderful news. Congratulations my lady and if you would, please extend them to Lord Sesshomaru and Lady Rin as well"
"Thank you. I will." Walking back to the house Inuyasha was sitting on the roof of the deck watching her as she went back inside. Kohaku joined her feeling confident in Inuyasha, Riku, and the others abilities to protect their pack.
Sliding open the door Kagome and Iku had finished with Rin and cleaning the room. Sitting up still leaning against Sesshomaru she coddled her daughters face with her own.
Quickly looking up with a tired smile she accepted the hug from Kohaku and the cheek nuzzle from Izumi. They both sat on her side as she took Hisashi from Izumi holding both of them to her.
"My babies." She sighed out happily. "My family."
"She is beautiful Rin." Kohaku said.
"Thank you Kohaku."
"We still need a name for this one." Izumi said softly.
"Whatever we all decide will be just right." Rin replied. Looking at Sesshomaru as she stared down at both of his children he looked content. Rin smiled at him settling against him as the four sat in silence.