Chapter 2: New Member of the Family
~*~*~*~Four months and a week later~*~*~*~
"Should we tell them yet?" Izayoi asked. She held a small infant with white hair that was black tipped. The infant had small dog ears atop her head, also white with black tips. It was wrapped in a lavender colored blanket. It had golden eyes, but they were closed to the world as it was sleeping.
"They can probably already smell it." Inu-no-Tashio said.
"Well then, can they come and see her yet?" Izayoi asked.
"They'll be here in a few minutes I assure you." Inu-no-Tashio promised.
"Well then, do we just wait?" Izayoi asked dumbly.
"No." Inu-no-Tashio chuckled, the young babe stirring at the new noise. "You need to get something clean on." He told her as the babe's eyes fluttered open, she turned toward her mother's bare chest.
"Oh yeah, now I remem-OW!" Izayoi was saying until the baby's bit her. Inu-no-Tashio chuckled again as the babe began suckling, earning a glare from Izayoi. "It's not funny. That hurt." She complained.
"I'm sure it did, now we need to get you up and dressed so we can show the boys their new baby sister. But before they do, we need to name her." Inu-no-Tashio said.
"Yes, but what to name her?" Izayoi asked the air that flowed around her.
"Well, it depends on what you think, the mother always knows best. Just open your mind and let the names flow in, the first one that catches your eye will fit." Inu-no-Tashio said. Izayoi closed her eyes and took in a deep breath names started to flood her mind when one jumped out and stuck. Here eyes flew open.
"Mari." Izayoi said.
"Mari, that has a nice sound to it." Inu-no-Tashio said.
"Okaa-san! Are you okay I smelt blood an-whoa." Inuyasha said as he opened the door.
"Sorry okaa-san I told him to wait." Sesshomaru said as he pulled Inuyasha out of the room.
"Well, let's get you changed and introduce the new member of the family to the boys." Inu-no-Tashio said and helped her out of the bed she was on.
"Sounds good to me but first I want to go to the springs to clean up." Izayoi said.
"But of course. I'll get Satsuki and Kirila to help you to the springs while I get your clothes ready." Inu-no-Tashio said before two fox demons came over and grasped her arms to walk her to the springs. Inu-no-Tashio went to their bed chambers and grabbed her a silk night robe and her undergarments.
"Would you like one of us to hold her for you while you bathe? Or would you rather she lay in a basket beside the spring?" Kirila asked.
"You can hold her if you wish, but please, be careful. I don't want anything to happen to her." Izayoi said.
"Of course Lady Izayoi, we will be sure to be extra careful with her." Satsuki said as she helped her into the spring and Kirila took Mari out of her hands but stood where she could be seen by Izayoi. Izayoi cleaned up and got out with the help of Satsuki and was dried off before
Inu-no-Tashio entered the room, clothes in hand.
"Here you are koi." Inu-no-Tashio said and handed her the change of clothes.
"Comfortable." Izayoi commented as she dressed. She went over to Kirila and lifted Mari from the cradling arms before returning her into her own motherly grasp.
"She's beautiful." Inu-no-Tashio said breathlessly.
"I know, flawless. Just like our other children." Izayoi said.
Knock, Knock!
"Okaa-san can we come in?" Came a small voice. Izayoi chuckled.
"Yes you may. There's someone your father and I want you to meet." Izayoi said as the boys cracked open the door.
"Who?" Inuyasha asked automatically.
"Your new sibling." Inu-no-Tashio said.
"Ooooo, let me see, let me see!" Inuyasha said as he ran up to his mom. Izayoi knelt down to let him see his new sibling.
"Inuyasha, this is your new baby sister, Mari." She said and showed him her face. Her eyes curiously looked at her brother's face taking in all of its features.
"She's, cute." Inuyasha said and put a finger on her cheek.
"Mmmmmbah." Mari said mindlessly as she reached for Inuyasha.
"I think she likes you." Izayoi chuckled.
"Really?" Inuyasha asked excitedly receiving a nod from Izayoi. He leaned over her and smiled brightly.
"Mmmmmbah." Mari repeated and grabbed a lock of hair in each hand and pulled repeatedly.
"Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow." Inuyasha said simultaneously with every tug on his hair, but he made no attempt to break free of the young babe's hold. Izayoi gently unfurled Mari's hands, releasing Inuyasha from her grasp.
"I think she really likes you." Izayoi chuckled.
"Sesshomaru, come see your sister." Inu-no-Tashio commanded,
"If I must." Sesshomaru said and walked over to Izayoi, Inuyasha, and Mari. He looked at her and turned to Inu-no-Tashio. "There, I saw her." Sesshomaru said and received a triple eye roll.
"Can, can I hold her momma?" Inuyasha asked.
"Sure, just let me get her another blanket. And you go sit down somewhere with lots of pillows." Izayoi said and smirked as she walked to another room.
"Okay! To the pillow room!" Inuyasha cheered and ran out of the room faltering only when he slipped and nearly fell saying "I'm okay!"
"Inuyasha's going to die of clumsiness one day isn't he Otou-san?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Either that or of too much enthusiasm." Inu-no-Tashio joked and walked out of the room following Inuyasha with Sesshomaru behind him.
~*~*~*~Five minutes later~*~*~*~
"Oh there you are. Thank you Chika for helping me find them." Izayoi said and nodded her head for which she got a deep bow.
"I am happy to be of service to you my Lady." Chika said and left the room.
"Now can I hold her? Can I? Huh can I mom?" Inuyasha asked.
"Of course you can." Izayoi chuckled as she made her way to the bed Inuyasha was sitting on. He had chosen his favorite room, a crimson red theme with a large round bed covered in pillows with pillows stacked up in the corners and covering the floor.
"I'll never understand you brother. This room is, odd." Sesshomaru commented.
"Good, all the better. Then I can confuse you more." Inuyasha said as he reached up to Mari and lifted her to his lap.
"See, I told you they would like her." Inu-no-Tashio said as Izayoi stood next to him.
"No you said, 'the news of me having another child will enthrall them', you said nothing about them liking her." Izayoi argued.
"I like her Okaa-san." Inuyasha said as he nuzzled his nose into Mari's belly, tickling her, and making her giggle. She reached for some hair to pull on but instead grabbed two soft, fluffy triangles atop Inuyasha's head.
"Mmmmmbah." Mari cooed.
"I think that's your nickname now Inuyasha." Sesshomaru commented.
"Mmmmmbah, Mmmmmbah, Mmmmmbah!" Mari repeated excitedly.
"They're so adorable together." Izayoi cooed.
"I have to admit, they do look, cute together." Inu-no-Tashio agreed.
"I think they're going to get along great." Izayoi said as she watched Inuyasha smile at his overjoyed baby sister.
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