I am Dawn, most of you know me if you are reading this. You know that I was Kagome's pen pal for a year before I visited and I went along with her on her adventures in Feudal Japan. I fought bandits, demons, adopted a half-demon daughter, married a demon and was transformed into demon myself. I made a pair of mortal enemies and became pregnant. We destroyed my enemies and my daughters' birth mothers soul was recreated in my womb as the twin of my unborn child. And that is where the story stands now.
After these events we traveled around trying to gather more jewel shards. We recently heard rumor of a bear demon and are on the trail. And this is where the story picks back up.
I yawned as the morning light filtered down through the leaves and hit my eyes, waking me from a peaceful sleep. I got to my feet and stretched backwards running my hands over my large stomach. The orange stripes on my wrist were bright against the cool blue of my kimono. I was only standing for a few seconds before arms wrapped around me from behind. "Good morning, my little mate."
I grinned and rolled my eyes. "I don't know how little I am anymore." I patted my large belly, "After all I got two people inside of me."
"You are still short." He whispered and placed a kiss behind my ear.
"Ha ha." I said and wandered over to Kagome for some breakfast. "Hey Kagome, what is it?" I asked looking at her vacant face.
Kagome's eyes refocused and she looked up. "A Jewel shard is coming. I don't think its Kouga."
Inuyasha jumped down from the tree above us and shook his head. "Definitely not. It smells like human."
Mamoru nodded. "I agree, but something is wrong with the person." I sniffed the air and nodded in agreement as well.
Miroku and Sango ran into the clearing. "A woman…with a jewel shard. She's coming and she is covered in blood."
"Is it hers?" Kagome asked.
Miroku shook his head. "It looks like she slaughtered people than rolled in their blood."
Nozomi shivered. "What do we do?"
Inuyasha unsheathed his sword and turned to look at the trees in the direction the scent wafted from. "We wait."
A minute later a woman wandered from the trees and stopped across from us. "Ah, hello." Her voice was a pleasant alto and her eyes a dreamy lavender. "Is it time again?" I couldn't tell anything about her appearance other than she was tall, because she was covered from head to foot in blood so thick she looked all of one color. I covered my nose, the smell of the coppery fluid was disgusting in its intensity.
Inuyasha held his sword pointed at her. "Time for what?"
The woman held out a hand and pressed inside her hand was a black Shikon jewel. "I do not remember." The woman said confidingly leaning forward as she lowered her voice.
Kagome crept forward and plucked the tiny jewel shard from underneath the woman's skin instantly purifying it. "That was easy."
The woman blinked twice slowly and her eyes changed from a soft color to a dark one. Then she began to scream. For a moment no one moved then Miroku tapped her hard on the head with his staff. "Go dunk her in the river before she wakes up." He said as he gazed sadly down at her.
Sango and Nozomi dragged the woman off to the river a little ways away from our clearing and when they came back the woman was clean. "She is waking." Nozomi said setting the woman on the ground. Now that she was clean I could tell more about her, she had black hair and alabaster skin. She opened her eyes and began to sob. "Oh Kami what have I done?"
Miroku knelt beside her and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Tell us daughter of Buddha, what is it that you have done?"
The woman looked at him and threw herself at his feet. "Oh Lord Monk, I found a stone and thought it pretty. When I picked it up and went home I found my husband in the arms of another woman. I slew them in jealousy. Then my mind went blank until you pulled the stone from my hand."
"Buddha has seen the jealousy in your heart and He has seen the pain. He knows that you were under the influence of the corrupted Jewel. He has forgiven you. Present yourself to the closest Temple of Buddha and present yourself as a new temple worker." Miroku said and held her hand for a moment praying over the rosary.
"Thank you Lord Monk! I will." She said gratefully and ran out of the clearing heading for the closest village.
Shippo stuck his head out from under Kagome's hair and stared at Miroku. "You didn't do anything inappropriate."
Miroku sighed, "What little faith you have in me." He stood and reached out his hand to Sango's butt. She blushed and smacked him. "PERVERT!"
Mamoru laughed deeply beside me and we picked up our gear. "I wonder how it got into her hands. Last rumor we heard was that it was in a bear demon." I said.
"Maybe the bear demon died." Miroku said. Behind us a tree crashed over revealing a bear demon. "Or maybe it is a different shard."
Sango threw her weapon and the shard flew from the demons chest into Inuyashas hand. "Either demons are getting weaker or we are getting stronger." He said placing the jewel into Kagomes' hand.
"The latter I think," Kagome said dropping both jewels into her bottle.
"You know, I think it is about time to head in the direction Naraku disappeared in. It's been so long; we probably got all of the shards except for Kouga's and Narakus'." I said as we headed off.
Inuyasha nodded. "We are heading that way now."
"Oh." I said. I felt a sharp pain in my belly and touched my golden claws to the bulge. I stopped and everyone passed by me as I felt my stomach. "Inuyasha? Mamoru?" They turned to look at me and I gazed at them with wide eyes. "I think…" I broke off with a gasp as my water broke and I fell to my knees. "The babies!"
Within seconds I was carried to the river and a blanket was stretched out on the grass on the bank. Miroku and Shippo went to gather wood for a fire but they returned fairly quickly. Mamoru knelt behind me so my back rested along his thighs and he held my head gently in his hands. Kagome and Nozomi knelt between my legs and had stretched a blanket over them so Miroku and Inuyasha wouldn't be able to see anything they weren't supposed to. I gasped as a contraction hit and I reached out blindly with my arms. One hand was grasped by calloused feminine hands and I recognized Sango's grip. The other hand was held by rough male hands with clawed fingers, they were Inuyasha's, it helped me relax to know my pack leader was there helping me. I pushed down with my abdominal muscles as the contractions came faster and more frequent. Suddenly I felt a release and then crying.
"It's a boy!" Kagome said, she used one of my daggers to slice the umbilical cord and wrapped the baby in a soft blanket before handing him to Nozomi.
I felt the afterbirth fall out of me and a little later my daughter was also brought into the world. It was four hours from the time my water broke to the time both my children were born. Nozomi and Kagome took them to the river and washed the blood and fluids from them before placing them in my arms.
Inuyasha gripped Mamoru's shoulder and smiled. "Congratulations."
Mamoru returned the grasp and gazed down at our children. "What shall we name them?"
I looked at the smiling faces of my friends around me and grinned. "Any suggestions?"
"Ichiro, 'first son'." Miroku said.
"Toshiro, it means talented." Shippo said.
"Rinji for your son." Sango supplied. "It means 'peaceful forest'."
"I like Rinji." Inuyasha said.
I grinned, "Yeah you would forest boy. But I like Rinji too." I looked at Mamoru who nodded.
"Rinji it is." He said and took his son into his arms. "What about hers?"
"What about Mai since it's Mothers soul?" Nozomi asked.
"I don't think so. It would be very confusing." Miroku said shaking his head. "Mai was her past life, it is not this one. She is your younger sister now, not your mother."
"Kohana, 'little flower'." Shippo said, "Since you are earth, dawn, and forest why not something similar."
"I like that idea but not the name. Something else?" I said. I ran a hand over my daughters soft downy curls and wondered what color it would be.
"Nagisa." Mamoru said. I turned to look at him. "It means seashore."
I smiled and reached my hand to touch his cheek, "I like it." I picked up my daughter and held her up to the light. "I name thee Nagisa." A blue shape began to come in on her forehead and I frowned and brought her closer to my face. The shape coming out onto her skin was a blue wave and her cheeks had wavy stripes not straight like mine and her fathers. I passed her to Mamoru who checked out her markings and lifted my son like I had my daughter. "I name thee Rinji." The same thing happened to him, after I named him he began to get his markings. Apparently you did not get your markings until you were named. A full circle appeared on his forehead and it was rich brown, his cheeks had no stripes that I could see yet.
I yawned and stretched, "I so need a bath. Here Rinji, this is your godfather and pack leader Inuyasha." I said as I placed Rinji into his arms.
"I don't know how to hold a baby." Inuyasha protested as I positioned his grip.
"Just like that." I said and wandered over to the lake. Sango gripped Miroku's ear and pulled him from the clearing. Kagome, Inuyasha, and Mamoru wandered a little ways away with the children and turned their backs on me.
Nozomi approached with a towel in her hands. "This is so exciting mother!"
I grinned and slipped under the water and scrubbed away the sweat, blood, and gunk. I wrapped the towel around myself as I got out nodding. "Yes it is rather exciting."
Nozomi and I shifted through my bag of clothes looking for something to wear and we settled on sweat pants and a tank top. I almost ran over to Mamoru and the others so I could see my babies. Nagisa was gazing around the world calmly, taking in everything she could see. Rinji was staring at Inuyasha with a huge grin on his face. Nagisa spotted me and reached out her arms. I took her from her father and kissed her tiny nose. "Hello Nagisa my dear. Were you having fun with daddy and your god parents?" I swear she understood me because she turned to look at the other three. I laughed and pointed to each person. "Nagisa this is your daddy, Mamoru; this is your godmother, Kagome; and the strong handsome man holding your brother is Inuyasha, your godfather and our pack leader."
Nagisa grinned at the other people and I handed her to Kagome and took Rinji from Inuyasha. "And do you want to know who the others are too sweet baby?" Rinji nodded at me. I was going to have to ask if demon's matured faster than normal babies. Shippo was still about nine or so and very small but that could be because of his breed. Foxes aren't that big even in demon form. "Rinji you met your godfather, and you have spoken with your father before this, and this is what he looks like. The attractive priestess holding your sister is your godmother, Kagome."
Rinji smiled at Kagome who laughed, "He's got your smile Mamoru! He'll grow up to be quite the charmer."
"So long as he isn't the lech Miroku is." Inuyasha said with a smirk. Not long after that Sango and Miroku returned and Miroku had a new bruise or two to show from the encounter. The five of us looked at each other with a few chuckles. We started off again and Mamoru and I traded which child we held as we walked. I fed them when they needed it and changed them as well. I grinned when we finally reached the clearing Inuyasha had decided we would stay in. "You know they are much better behaved than a human child."
Kagome laughed. "Oh yeah. A human child, at least from our time would be bawling their heads off by now."
Mamoru ran his hands gently over Nagisa's head and studied her face. "Demon children are hunted so they understand when silence is necessary. They are not hunted as much as half-demon children are but there is always a danger. The more important the parents are the more threat to the child. Lower demon's have no qualms about killing a baby to get to the family or to take their power."
I wrapped my arms tightly around Rinji and snarled, "Let someone try to take my babies. I'll kill them!"
Kagome wrapped an arm around my shoulders and Inuyasha 'feh'd', "No one will touch your babies while I am pack leader." He said folding his hands into his sleeves.
"How fast will they mature?" I asked.
"I'm five!" Shippo said.
Everyone turned to stare in shock at the little demon. "I thought you were around eight or nine!" Kagome said.
"Well, my body and mind are that old. But until I hit adulthood I will age close to two times faster than a human." He said shrugging. "My birth was five years ago, when you met me I was three, but in demon terms I am almost ten."
"Will my children be as small as you?" I said and Shippo bristled, I am sorry but he can ride on Kagome's shoulder! I wanted normal size kids.
"No, they'll be usual size. They'll begin speaking after a month and walking after that." Mamoru said. Nagisa was staring at him expectantly and Mamoru tossed her into the air. When she came back down, he sent her back up again. He tossed her a few times before he handed her to me and did the same with Rinji.
"The next question is…do we want to bring them with us or take them to Mrs. Higurashi?" I asked. The last time I had gone to get things from Modern Japan, Mrs. Higurashi had been so excited about me going to have children she had said that if it got to dangerous that we could leave the children with her. "I want my children near, but not at the expense of their lives." I said softly.
Inuyasha nodded. "Until we are actually on the trail of Naraku they should be fine but if we find out where Naraku is we should probably take them to Kagome's mom."
Around me everyone nodded and I turned to Mamoru, "What say you love?"
Mamoru touched a hand reverently to Rinji's cheek. "I too want them close. But I fear it would be more dangerous."
I nodded and gripped one of his hands. "Do you want to try to ask them?" Mamoru and everyone else stared at me. "Stop staring I feel like some kind of freak." I said. "When the babies were in me I could talk with them. I was asking if he wanted to try to talk to them now that they aren't in my womb. It may or may not work but I can try."
Kagome grinned. "That is a great idea. Inuyasha…" she turned to him. When he looked at her she opened and closed her mouth a few times before blushing and looking down.
I looked at her considering. Kagome…when will you tell him? I sighed. I closed my eyes and felt the groups minds around me. "You know what? I might be turning telepathic, I can sense all of you now. But how is that?" I asked aloud.
"No idea, maybe though you can only speak with the pack." Kagome said.
I shrugged and pulled Mamoru after me as I fell into Nagisa's head. I pulled her along with me into Rinji's and suddenly the four of us were able to communicate. It took you a long time to come talk to us. Nagisa said, I could hear the pout in her mental voice. She definitely was my daughter. Acting just like I did when I was young.
What do you want to talk about mama? Rinji asked, his voice was calmer, quieter, but compelling. The calmness was close to my new outlook but the power in his voice was his fathers to a tee.
Our pack is on a dangerous mission. We are afraid you might be injured while journeying with us. Kagomes' mother offered to watch you for a while if things were getting too dangerous. Would you want to go stay with her?
Mama, we know how dangerous the mission is. I remember when you were tortured. If it becomes too dangerous we will live with Kagome's mama. We understand the necessity and know she is to be trusted. Rinji responded.
We know that if we are with you, it is dangerous to you as well as us. Nagisa said.
Mamoru hugged the two of them mentally. You are wise my children.
Of course! Look who mama is! Nagisa said laughing. We pulled Nagisa back into her body and fell back into our own heads.
Mamoru chuckled and stretched out a hand to rub Nagisa's curls. "Just like her mother!"
"What do you mean?" Kagome said. "Can I hold Rinji?"
Mamoru nodded and handed our son gently to her. "Mamoru told them they were wise because they understood what we were talking about and Nagisa said that of course they were smart because they were my children." I answered, I handed Nagisa to Sango who had also wandered over and she grinned widely as she held the small child.
Kagome chuckled and tickled Rinji gently. "So they understood they might need to go to Mama?"
"And approved." I said and stood. I picked up a piece of firewood and Nozomi stood with Ebony. As we practiced I noticed the babies were staring at us in amazement. Fighters at birth. I studied the other members of the gang while I moved on to my own shadow dance. Miroku was sitting by the fire staring into the flames thinking. Sango, with Kirara sitting on her head, was learning how to change a diaper from Kagome who had Shippo on her shoulder. Inuyasha sat with Mamoru watching. Nozomi had moved to her own space to practice more as well. All of us were born fighters. Kagome fights to protect, Inuyasha and Nozomi lived fighting against others hate because they were half breeds. Mamoru is a demon noble and demons are naturally born fighters. Sango was raised to it and Miroku was born to try and kill Naraku. Every one of us was a fighter and we would always be fighters, until our dying breath.
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