Chapter Nineteen
A New Mother
Disclaimer: Man, are you lawyer idiots deaf, blind AND illiterate? Let me break it down for you. I Don't Own InuYasha. OBVIOUSLY! Gah! Bakas! The lot of you!
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It had been about two and a half weeks since the announcement of Kasei and Ai's engagement and Takara couldn't be happier for her twin brother.
Her, on the other hand, hadn't found anyone even remotely suitable and both her parents knew that it would be no use trying to get her go co-operate with someone she didn't even like.
She was heading towards a village that she had been going to regularly. She had actually made quick friends with some of the girls about her age at the village and one of them was pregnant and due any day now. Takara slowed her pace a little; looking behind her to make sure her little companion that she had just kind of adopted was keeping up with her.
A smile touched her lips as she saw him laboring behind her and she stopped, waiting for him. Today, she was wearing a white kimono with a large silver dog woven on it and pink splashes with white flowers. She liked wearing pink because it contrasted so nicely with her raven black hair and ears.
Hakurei quickly caught up with her and saw her smile and smiled back. She was so beautiful, he mused while walking beside her. They came upon the hill that overlooked the village and a few women looked up and saw them, stopping and waving with smiles.
They walked into the village and stopped several times to talk with some of the villagers and to get her advice on some things from the villagers. One of the village men stopped her and smiled at her. Haku knew who he was. He was Haratshi, one of the finest bakers in the village.
"Ah, Takara!" He said with a smile, heading towards them. Takara stopped and smiled at him. He was such a sweet old man.
"Hey there, Haratshi. How are you this morning?" The man grinned at her.
"Well, these old bones are holding up well, that elixir you recommended did me good." Takara giggled slightly, her smile warming more.
"I'm glad to hear it."
"I see you're looking as beautiful and radiant as ever." Takara laughed a little. Harmless flirting with him was always part of their routine.
"With comments like that, I just might give you that kiss you're always begging me for." The old man laughed joyfully, taking her hand and patting it.
"Well, this old timer could use some of your magic and it always helped to have someone as pure as young Haku here." Haku beamed proudly. He had always liked Haratshi; from the very day he met him.
"Good morning, Haratshi! I brought you some more recipes from the castle's head cook again." Haku handed him the parchment with a smile.
"Ah, you are very kind, the lot of you. Kindred spirits is what you two are, Haku." Takara smiled a little.
"So, how are those new spring rolls coming along?" The old man's face brightened.
"Oh! I nearly forgot! Come, come, the both of you. I added a little something." He handed them each one and Takara munched happily on it, her eyes growing.
"Haratshi, you really outdid yourself this time! These are delicious! I think you might have to give your extra ingredients to Haku so he can add them to the recipe!" Haku nodded in agreement, finishing off his roll quickly.
The old man laughed a little. "Well, how about I think about it for a little kiss?" Takara chuckled a little and turned his head gently, kissing his soft leathery cheek. The old man chuckled a little, teasing her about how he'd get a real kiss from her one day. Takara smiled, shaking her head. She loved this little village.
"Oh! Are you seeing Miss Aimi this morning?" Takara nodded.
"Yes, I am actually. Is there something you would like me to bring her?" Haratshi nodded, handing her a basket of muffins and a few little cakes.
"Today is a busy day for me so I won't be able to deliver it in person. Do you mind?" Takara smiled and shook her head.
"Of course not, I'm going there right now anyways so it's certainly no trouble." Haratshi smiled.
"Well, we should be getting there. Don't want to keep her waiting." Takara said with a smile as she began walking further into the rather large village, giving a wave to the old baker.
Haku followed Takara faithfully, waving at some of the village men that were working in the fields as they quickly came upon Aimi's home.
Takara smiled when she spotted her friend sitting in her favorite chair, watching everyone hustle about as she rested a hand on her swollen belly. Her smile increased when Haku rushed past her and hugged Aimi with love.
"Good morning, Aimi. I see you still haven't taken my advice about staying inside." Takara said in her teasing voice. The young woman with the light brown hair and sparkling blue eyes turned to her and smiled a little.
"I knew you couldn't be far off, Takara." She told the teenage half demon. Takara smiled back, setting the basket down after taking out a muffin for herself, Haku and her friend.
"How are you feeling today? Any progress?" Aimi nodded a little.
"Yes, actually. This morning, I began having small pains and just a little while before you came, my water broke." Takara smiled.
"It's not too painful, I hope." Aimi smiled and shook her head.
"Not overly though it does cause some discomfort, it isn't as bad as I thought it would be though my mother told me that it was different for every woman." Takara nodded a little.
"And the priestess from the next village is coming?" Her question was confirmed with a nod. Haku was listening intently on the ladies' conversation and he silently wondered if Takara would be his new mother …
Takara's ear swiveled a little and she looked up to a fairly toned and bronzed man who was approaching them with a smile. Haku smiled at him, glad to see that Aimi's husband was checking up on his pregnant and soon to be giving birth wife.
"Hello there, Takara." Takara smiled back.
"Hey there, Hojo. Are you staying home from the fields, today?" He shook his head sadly.
"Unfortunately not. One of the men injured himself a few days ago and is unable to work so I have agreed to help them as much as I can though they do allow me to come and check up on my lovely Aimi frequently. Even more so now that the news of her giving birth sometime today has gotten around the village." Takara smiled a little.
"Well, at least you get some breaks. Would you care for a muffin, courtesy of Haratshi?" Hojo smiled but shook his head a little.
"No thanks. I just came to check up on her but I must get back to the fields." The three nodded and waved good-bye after husband and wife shared a quite adorable kiss.
Takara was sitting on the ground, leaning against the wall of the hut, looking out at the view with Aimi sitting in the chair and Haku sitting beside her. He was unusually quiet but before she could question the boy, a pained noise caught her attention.
She looked to Aimi, who was clutching her stomach, panting a little. "I can feel it ready to join us now."
Takara paled a little, jumping up. "But, the priestess still hasn't arrived yet!" Her statement was only met by another painful moan.
Deciding that she would have to do something about it herself, she shifted before picking up her friend.
"Haku, go and find Hojo and inform him about this and then go fetch a bucket of water." Haku jumped to his feet, nodding and taking off with his legs carrying him as fast as they could.
Takara then went inside the hut and placed her friend on the futon, bringing many pillows underneath her to prop her up and then hiked up her kimono to spread her legs. She had read about this once, in a book that she had rented from her school library because she was doing a report and was actually interested in the subject.
She found lots of blankets and towels and quickly set up a station, taking a cloth from the stack that she would use for the water when Haku returned with it.
Hojo rushed into the hut in a near panic and Takara rolled her eyes a little.
"What can I do?" Just then, Haku came back with the water. Takara took the cloth and dipped it into the water that was now beside Hojo who was holding Aimi's hand, rung it out and handed it to him.
"Put this on her forehead and keep it cool and damp. You're going to have to push soon, Aimi." She silently cursed the priestess for not coming quicker!
"What can I do, Takara?" She thought for a second. Everything was pretty much taken care of but she didn't want to leave Haku out of something so important.
"You can be in charge of the towels, alright? This is very important because when I pull the baby out, you have to have a towel ready and put it on the baby and start to wipe it down." Haku nodded, taking his responsibility very seriously.
It wasn't really a major role but, it was one less thing that she had to worry about.
"Okay, Aimi, push." A pained cry came from her friend. After a few seconds, Takara told her friend to relax and breathe, which the other woman did with relief.
Haku was watching intently, never having witnessed the birth of a child before while Hojo was doing as he was told, dipping the cloth in the water and ringing it out repeatedly to put it back on her forehead and move it around so that he cooled down her face and her neck as well as her forehead.
After a few pushes, Takara could safely pull and ease the infant out of the mother and smiled a little.
"Congratulations, it's a girl." The child gave a shrill cry and Haku quickly did his job very efficiently. Takara took another cloth and cut the cord with her claws, absentmindedly wiping them clean on her kimono and then dipping a cloth into the water and wiping the child down.
She then wrapped the infant up, setting her down on her mother's chest as both parents held tears in their eyes. Her senses then detected the priestess and then stood when she entered the hut, surprised to see that everyone was well and the baby had been delivered.
Takara walked out of the hut and Haku followed her quickly as they left the priestess to do the analysis on the health and condition of both mother and child, even though her superior nose was telling her that both were fine.
Haku was looking up at Takara as he washed his hands in the same stream that he had gotten the water from and frowned when he saw the blood on her beautiful kimono.
After a few minutes, she sat down set to him, letting her own hands run in the stream and her thoughts were broken by a curious but cautious Haku.
"Takara?" Golden eyes turned to the boy.
"Yes?"
"Are all babies born that way?" She thought for a minute and nodded.
"Most of them are but sometimes there are complications which endangers the health and life of mother and child. This doesn't happen often, though." Haku nodded a little.
"That must be a terrible thing. For a mother to lose her child in that way …" Takara nodded a little and resumed thinking.
"Takara?"
"Hmm?"
"Was I born like that?" This made the woman turn to him, a slight frown on her beautiful features.
"Probably. I don't doubt it or that your mother parents loved you very much." Haku nodded a little and fell silent. A few questions lingered in her mind but she decided best not to ask them.
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A while later, after the priestess had left, Hojo had reluctantly returned to the fields after some convincing from both Aimi and Takara.
"Have you picked out a name for her?" Haku asked, looking at the sleeping infant curiously. She was cute.
Aimi nodded a little, gently rubbing the child's back. "Yes."
"Well, what is it?" Takara demanded, sounding almost Haku's age in her curiosity to know.
Aimi smiled, looking down at the child on her chest.
"Hana. We've decided to call her Hana." Haku looked at the child again, nodding.
"She looks like she suits the name." Takara smiled, nodding.
"Yeah, it's a really nice name, Aimi. I can't wait for her to grow older." Aimi nodded a little and then shifted.
"Takara, would you mind holding her? I have to go relieve myself."
"Oh, no, Aimi. I really couldn't … I mean … I could hurt her … with … you know … my claws." Haku looked at his adoptive mother curiously. Why was she acting this way? Normally she was so calm and collected and he knew for a fact that he wouldn't hurt anyone, big or small, old or young!
Aimi smiled a little. "It's okay, Takara. You won't hurt her." Slowly, Takara nodded and Aimi handed her the slipping infant that was loosely wrapped in a light pink blanket. The half demon could only stare down at the child that slept peacefully on, completely unaware of her current protector.
Hearing screams, Takara's eyes widened and she bounded outside, only to see a demon crashing through the village, killing anyone and everyone that was in their path.
Including the new infants parents; Aimi and Hojo.
She didn't even have time to react when the demon turned to her, smelling the new blood on her before it charged at her. Quickly, she grabbed Haku and broke through the hut, leaping into the air, holding onto both children tightly and then bounding into the forest.
Once they were safe for now, Takara quickly shed her outer kimono, slightly regretfully since it was so beautiful and obviously expensive but it had blood on it and the demon wouldn't stop until it was either killed or the smell had disappeared.
Picking Haku up again, she dashed further into the forest and once she could no longer sense the demon in any way, she stopped and her ears were sent folding back against her head with a high pitched wail from the new infant.
Sighing slightly, she gently comforted her, not even realizing how much her natural motherly instincts were kicking in.
"Hush, Hana, hush." She said softly, trying to hold back the wave of emotions that she felt. She had just witnessed an entire village of friends and good people get slaughtered and murdered. Friends, good friends, friends like Aimi and Hojo who were just celebrating the birth of their new child and were now laying on the ground, murdered in blind rage.
Haku was also shocked but his emotions flowed from him so much more freely than her own. Tears suddenly streamed down the boys' face and Takara knelt down, putting an arm around him as he cried into her under kimono.
Takara's own heart felt like it was being ripped into two but … she felt a squirm next to her breast and looked down, a small beacon of hope shining through the terrible sadness.
Aimi and Hojo were not completely gone … they lived on inside Hana, their daughter. Picking up Haku, she held him against her, one arm under his knees as he put his arms around her neck, burying his face in the crook of her neck.
Takara started back to the castle, grateful that they weren't too far and they would be there in a couple hours. With a light sigh, she kept her guard up for any new threats and began walking.
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Takara walked in with Haku and Hana sleeping and managed to get past a few people without being noticed, then she spotted her mother.
Kagome turned around and smiled at her daughter but frowned when she saw the girl's state. She wasn't dirty or anything but … she was holding two sleeping children, one looking no more than a few hours old and her outer kimono was missing and restrained pain was hardly visible but it was there.
Kagome, being herself, went over quickly, taking Haku from her daughter and looking at her and motioned for her to follow her to her and Sesshomaru's room.
Once there, Kagome laid Haku down but Takara wouldn't put down the infant and just kept looking at her, occasionally tucking the pink blanket around her carefully.
"What happened? Where did you find that baby?"
Takara sighed a little. "You know how I told you that I was going to see my friend Aimi and her husband Hojo?" Kagome nodded.
"Well, this is their daughter." Kagome frowned a little.
"I see. Why do you have her?"
"Because … a demon that smelled the blood of a new born came and slaughtered the entire village and we barely managed to escape with our lives." Takara's voice cracked and she made a fist, trying to desperately put the mask back on, just like her father had done so many times before she was born. Kagome's heart really went out to her daughter. She just witnessed the tragic death of a whole village of innocent people that really didn't deserve to die.
"I could have saved them, Mom. If only I had refused to hold Hana for Aimi or insisted that I go with her or if I had been standing guard or something. I could have saved them … I could have … "
Kagome sighed a little, stepping up to her daughter and gently taking her hand.
"Takara, this is not your fault. You couldn't have done anything to prevent this or to save her parents, you know this, and I know you do. Besides, try and look on the bright side, not all is lost. You still managed to save a little piece of them … " Kagome stepped back slightly, gently brushing back the baby's light brown hair.
Takara looked down and slowly nodded. "You're … right. You usually are … "
Kagome smiled and kissed her daughter's forehead. "You did what you could."
Takara nodded a little, looking down at the baby as she slept in her arms, completely unaware of anything that had just happened.
"I want to keep her, Mom." Kagome frowned at her daughter's words.
"This is a baby, honey. This isn't going to be like looking after Haku who is already quite able to at least somewhat look after himself."
Takara nodded. "I know but I want to. I am really all she has … " Takara gave her mother a pleading look and sighed a little.
"Okay, okay. Just … let me talk to your father about it." Takara nodded a little and Kagome took off in search of her mate.
Just then, Katsu bounded in with a silly smirk. "TAKARA! YOU'RE BACK!" The loud noise awoke the sleeping child and a shrill cry filled her ears and echoed out into the hallway. Takara flattened her ears against the loud noise and quickly quieted the infant, glaring at her brother who was shaking his head to clear the ringing in his ears.
"Don't go yelling and jumping around like that, Katsu." She told him sternly but in a normal voice. Katsu blinked and walked over to his older sister, looking at the child.
"I didn't even notice that you were pregnant, Takara. Wait till Kasei and Shippo and Rin hear this!" Before Takara could correct him, he was gone. Sighing a little, she sat down on the bed and then laid the child down, lying down beside her.
"What am I going to do? Aimi and Hojo would want Hana to be with someone they trusted and we were such close friends and … plus … they both said that if anything ever happened to them, their child would be left in my care."
"Well it seems you've gotten yourself into quite a pickle, sis." A male voice said from behind her and Takara jumped slightly, not even realizing that Shippo was in the room using his invisible trick again.
She sighed a little and Shippo came around and looked at the infant. "She's sure cute."
Takara nodded a little. "I take it you heard what I told mom." He nodded.
"Yeah, it's sad but in a way, better that it happened now rather than later when she would have memories of her parents."
"Like Haku." Takara said absent-mindedly.
Shippo nodded. "On the other hand, it is kind of sad that she won't have any memories of her parents to remember them by." Takara nodded again.
"Double edged sword." Shippo nodded.
"Yeah. Life's full of those, I've noticed." Takara nodded a little and sighed again.
"Do you have any idea of how to care for a baby?" The fox youkai shook his head slightly.
"Sorry, no. I wonder how dad will take this. I highly doubt that mom will let him turn her away or anything like that." Takara nodded in agreement.
"He'd literally be in the dog house." Shippo laughed at the expression but made sure it was quiet so not to wake the sleeping kids.
"Indeed I would." Said a strong male voice that made her older brother jump and quickly scurry out of the room. Takara looked up and her father's figure filled the doorway and he looked slightly strained.
Walking in, he looked at the completely innocent child and his objection to having her quickly melted though he remembered how much babies needed constant care.
"She is not just some pet you can feed a couple times a day and leave to go about their own business." He started and Takara glared at him a little.
"I think I know that. I've looked after Haku for this long, haven't I?" Sesshomaru winced a little, sighing.
"Takara, I wasn't meaning to say that in the way it came out. I know that you're quite aware of the fact that she is not a pet or anything of the sort but do you really know how much work entails an infant?" Takara glared at him again.
"I've been looking after Haku." She snapped. He nodded, realizing just how much she reminded him of her mother, soft and gentle but slightly quick to temper if she feels that her skills or morals are on the line.
"I know and I admire how good of a job you have been doing but, she is just an infant, only a few hours old to make things worse. Babies need much, much more care and attention and love than a child of Haku's age would. I know what I'm talking about, I went through it with you and your brother, at the same time, no less. Your mother went through it with Katsu. You remember what it had been like with your new baby brother, don't you?" Takara could remember fuzzily but it was there.
She remembered how much he cried and he ALWAYS seemed to be crying! Crying because he was hungry, crying because he was wet, crying because he was cold, hot, uncomfortable, fussy, feeling lonely and crying just for the sake of crying.
She also remembered how tired her mother was and how messy the apartment usually was and how, since their mother was so tired, she was also cranky and emotionally unstable, able to burst into tears or yell at them at the drop of a hat.
Takara nodded slowly. "I remember but … she needs me. I'm the only family she's got now."
Sesshomaru sighed a little again, nodding, sitting down next to her. "I know, dear. I just want to make sure that you're absolutely positive before going through with this. It's a very big decision and even though we will all help you as much as we can, she is mainly your responsibility."
Takara nodded again, looking down at Hana who was sleeping peacefully, a whimper or a sigh here and there. What could she really do? She couldn't just give Hana to some … person who didn't know her or her parents. She couldn't do that and wouldn't, her respect for herself refused to let that happen. Aimi and Hojo told her clearly that if anything ever happened to them and they wanted Takara to take her in.
Essentially, it made her Hana's godmother. The title struck something in her and she decided that she couldn't just give the child up even if she wanted to, which she didn't.
Hana had been given a second chance at life when Takara saved her and even from the heavens, Aimi and Hojo trusted Takara with their most precious possession, their daughter Hana.
Sighing slightly, she looked up at Sesshomaru and golden eyes studied golden eyes for a few minutes before Takara broke the silence.
"I accept any and all burdens, joys and responsibilities for her. I thought long and hard on this and I've decided that even from the heavens, Aimi and Hojo still trust me with their most precious possession."
Slowly, Sesshomaru nodded and he smiled, kissing her forehead before getting up. "Do you want some help moving Haku to your room?" Takara nodded a little with a smile.
"Please." Sesshomaru smiled back, easily picking up the boy and then walking into Takara's room and laying him down in the white sheets.
Takara had always liked her new room, as it was a strong contrast in colors. Reds, blues, whites, pinks, blacks, greens, purples and oranges, Takara had always thought that her room represented the rainbow that she had loved when she was a child herself.
Lying down next to Haku. She shifted over and placed a still sleeping Hana on the bed. She grabbed one of her pillows and put it under her head as she slowly drifted off to a much needed sleep while she thought about Haku and Hana, how they were both orphans but … somehow … she had been in the right place at the right time, both times and somehow, managed to save them both.
Did this make her a savior? Takara didn't know but she didn't much care. The thought that was with her as she closed her eyes and drifted to sleep wasn't of being a savior.
I guess I am classified as their mother …their new mother …and …a new mother …… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …
A/N: I know, I'm so mean! Having the poor girl's parents slaughtered when she is just a few hours old … bad Rinny! But new plots and twists keep the story moving.
Gomen nasai for not updating sooner! Fanfiction was down and I couldn't even get to the login screen or review never mind actually update! I did put up chapter eighteen today and I stayed up until 1am, just following my inspirations on this one.
Anyways … the next chapter is the BIG chapter! CHAPTER 20! YAY! –Celebrates- I've had big plans for this chapter and you know how lately, the chapters have been focusing on just one or two characters … well … chapter 20 focuses on Kasei and Ai … the newly engaged couple –grins-.
A HUGE HUGE HUGE INREDIABLY HEART FELT AND GIGANTIC THANK YOU TO EVERY SINGLE LAST ONE OF MY REVIEWERS WITH INTERESTING REVIEWS OR NOT!