Chapter 17: Last Lesson from Kaede
"This is the weirdest thing I have ever seen," Kaede said as she examined Ai in her hands, "It is just like a real baby, it is fascinating."
Kagome laughed a little, since arriving there with the fake baby, there had been a lot of funny expressions over it and it was certainly amusing for her.
Kaede still a little surprised handed Ai back to Kagome as Kagome told her, "It's for a class assignment, teaching us how it will be to be moms, and I'm supposed to take her back the day after tomorrow."
True to her word, Kagome only had one day with the doll and if she had anything to learn it needed to be learned fast, although Kagome was pretty sure she could handle a baby on her own when the time come.
Kagome and the rest of the group sat in Kaede's hut eating a meal she had prepared for all of them soon after their arrival, but they were now finishing up what was left of it.
Kaede was already finished and looked up at Kagome, "So ye think ye know all about babies and being a mom, do ye," it was if she had read Kagome's mind.
Inuyasha was the one to answer though, with a mouth full of food, "Oh yeah, she's great at it, she knows all there is," he managed to say through the food although it was slightly muffled.
Kagome blushed; he had complemented her once again, so it must be her lucky day.
Kaede laughed deeply to herself, she knew it was more than simply having a baby to take care of right in front of you, she was sure they didn't know the first thing in the time before the baby was born.
The others looked at her confused, "Whatcha laughin for you old hag," Inuyasha asked after swallowing his food, he didn't see anything funny in what he just said.
Kaede regained herself, "You see, being a mother isn't just about after your baby is born, have ye all forgotten ye have to go through being pregnant before ye even have a baby to take care of?"
Kagome didn't even think about that part, she was just supposed to take care of Ai, although it was ignorant to think just being a mother is being good at changing diapers and rocking a fake baby until it stops crying, there was much more to it.
Kaede smiled, "If ye like I can better prepare ye for all the other things so ye won't be shocked when it actually happens."
Kagome looked awkward with the question, but knew that Kaede was only trying to help, not make things weird, "Uh, sure."
Kaede thought for moment before getting up, "Come with me, Kagome and Sango," she told them, if she was going to show Kagome this, she mine as well Sango, somehow she knew it would come in handy for her as well.
Kagome and Sango nervously looked at one another before following the old priestess out of the hut.
"Now what's she up to," asked Inuyasha to no one in particular. The others looked equally puzzled.
"What are you doing Kaede," Kagome asked as she watched her search for something, Sango, who was beside her looked worried, she never thought about knowing what to do before having a baby.
Kaede smiled and held up two kimonos which confused the two even more.
Back in the hut Miroku and Shippo sat bored on the floor playing a card game with Kagome's cards, Inuyasha sat up against the wall watching, not in the mood to play.
"Come on Inuyasha, come join us," Miroku offered.
Inuyasha snorted and crossed his arms, "I don't want to play that dumb game."
Shippo smiled as he laid down a card, "He's just mad because last time we played everyone else kept winning."
"That's not it; I just don't feel like playing!" Inuyasha yelled, grumpily repositioning himself to face away from them.
Miroku sighed, 'Inuyasha can be so stubborn.'
After a while of playing card games and being bored, the hut door opened and in came Kaede who was followed Kagome and Sango slowly walking behind her.
The guys turned to see what was going on to find that Kagome and Sango wasn't in their usual outfits, but in big white and pastel colored kimonos and around there waste, under the kimonos, Kaede had obviously strapped something to them to make them look pregnant, either that or they had done some major eating while they were gone.
"I have tied a sack of weighted items around their wastes so they know just how it will feel once they really become pregnant and they will wear them for a while," Kaede said wisely as she sat down close to the wood pit to start dinner, she had spoke of them like they were her own children she was torturing to teach them a lesson.
Kagome looked uncomfortable with the added weight and let out a sigh, this was going to be a pain, and Sango just looked annoyed.
Miroku went over to Sango standing on one leg with one leg behind him in an anime way and opened his mouth about to say something, "Don't..say..a word," she said slowly causing Miroku to fall frontward towards the floor in a classic anime fashion also.
Inuyasha went over to Kagome, staring at her up and down, making Kagome aggravated, she wasn't something to gawk at even like she was, "Inuyasha SIT," she steamed before going over to sit by Kaede. Both had difficulty sitting down and roughly refused any help from the men.
Kaede smiled at the four, it was interesting to see how this would go. While she cooked, Ai started to cry.
Kagome rolled her eyes, she didn't want to have to get right back up when she just managed to sit down and after much difficulty trying, Inuyasha growled, "I'll do it, for crying out loud," and with that he got up and took care of Ai.
Kagome wasn't keen to his tone that is and after settling herself back down she glared at him.
Inuyasha turned after getting Ai quieted and saw this, he gulped and looked frightened, she had barely worn the thing and she was already in a cranky mood, Inuyasha was starting to have second thoughts about having a baby.
Miroku wasn't sure what it was, but it seemed he was more turned on by Sango now, but as he started to make his move, "I so wouldn't do that if I was you, unless you want a stub for a hand," Sango threatened.
Miroku quickly stopped what he was doing and gave up, miserably.
The guys didn't understand why the girls were in such a foul mood, but with the extra weight Kagome and Sango started feeling drained of energy and was having painful back aches, not to mention how annoying it was to carry around that much extra weight.
Dinner wasn't pleasant and was filled with silence, except Kaede and Shippo having a conversation with each other.
After dinner Kaede crushed up some herbal leaves in a wooden bowl and told Kagome and Sango to drink it in boiled water.
"This herb that I have just given you is commonly known to result in nausea and other symptoms ye may experience during pregnancy, but is otherwise safe," explained Kaede after the two had finished the whole thing.
Kagome twitched, 'Has Kaede lost her mind,' she thought to herself.
Sango looked horrified into her cup that was now quite empty, oh great!
No sooner did they drink all of the herbs, they started feeling sick, Kagome ran out of the hut, but Sango just didn't make it in time.
Miroku went over to Sango who slumped right at the door and bent down next to her and started rubbing her back softly.
After she was done, Sango looked up at Miroku surprised, "Are you alright," he asked.
Sango nodded, "Thank you Miroku," she said almost in a whisper.
Miroku smiled at her, glad he could help.
Kagome entered the hut, "Was those herbs necessary Kaede," she asked with a frown.
Kaede nodded, "Ai, if ye expect to know how to be a mother, ye need to understand all of it; I am only trying to help ye."
As Kagome sat down next to Inuyasha, Inuyasha opened his big mouth, "How long do you plan on doing this to them, I want to search for Naraku tomorrow before Kagome has to go home," he then sighed in frustration.
Kagome glared at him, why did he have to be so selfish, she then growled at the thought, "SIT," she yelled.
Inuyasha tumbled to the floor and picking himself up he said, "I'm getting really tired of you doing that."
Soon an argument started. Kaede and Shippo both shook their heads by their childish actions.
Sango winced as she held her stomach, along with the nausea she was soon getting a headache, from the arguing or herbs she wasn't really sure.
Miroku sat beside her, being unusually sensitive as he continued rubbing her back in comfort, but Sango could barely enjoy it and finally couldn't stand it anymore, "Hey, knock it off," she screamed brining Inuyasha and Kagome to quiet quickly.
"You two are acting like little kids," Shippo stated, "why can't you act more grown up like those two," he pointed at Miroku and Sango, Sango was lying down on her bed while Miroku sat beside her until she fell asleep.
Inuyasha and Kagome looked guilty and Kagome felt the same annoying nausea wave and quickly headed back outside.
This time Inuyasha followed her.
After finding her, Inuyasha went over and did the only thing he knew would help at the moment. He gently took her hair and pushed it away from her face holding it for her.
Kagome got up slowly from the ground with Inuyasha's help, "Thanks," she replied weakly. Inuyasha blushed, "Yeah, um you're welcome."
Inuyasha and Kagome went back inside the hut to find everyone was now asleep soundly.
Kagome crawled into her warm sleeping bag, "Are you sure you're alright Kagome," Inuyasha asked.
"Mmm hmm," Kagome nodded and soon drifted off to sleep.
Inuyasha watched her for a little bit before he too went to sleep, he knew it would be a lot of work if she really was pregnant, but he could get used to taking care of her just like he had done outside and secretly he didn't mind that.
A/N: alright, I finally got some ideas, lol, I hope the chapter was ok, I know Kaede seemed a little cruel, but she was just trying to help and I know that doesn't seem like Kaede to do something like that, but I couldn't think of anything else and the next chapter should be the last one and it might be another long one, hope that's ok too;) anyway, please review and thank you so much for all of you who has already reviewed, I greatly appreciate it.
And for those who wants a one-shot to read I have a new one called 'Kirara's Quest' if you want to read it :)