Characters = Rumiko Takahashi

Story = Mine

Last time:

"It's Sango!"

Kagome didn't waste any more time and began running the last stretch towards the village all the while praying.

'I hope it's not what I think it is. She still has four weeks left!'

Chapter two

New beginnings

Sango let another scream escape her lips as contraction ripped through her.

She was panting heavily while squeezing Miroku's hand tightly.

"It's okay Sango, I'm sure it's just pregnancy gas or something."

Miroku stated while chuckling nervously, trying to calm her down some.

Sango reached up and grasped the front of his robes and yanked him down to her level on the floor with eyes flaring, full of rage and pain.

"Does it look like I'm having gas?

I'm having a baby and it's coming now!"

Miroku was startled.

"But Kagome said that you're not 'due' for another four weeks!".

Sango clenched her teeth and let out a low pain filled groan.

Kikyo and Kaede left an hour ago to gather more supplies and no telling when they'll be back, and Kagome wasn't back yet from her trip to the demon infested village either.

She really didn't feel comfortable having someone that she doesn't know deliver her child, but what choice does she have?

With all three of her choices gone, she may just have to ask someone else for help.

A contraction surged forth once again and Sango couldn't hold back her scream any longer.

Miroku was a mess and Kohaku, who was waiting just outside the hut, wasn't doing any better. He missed his first nephews' birth and now he was thankful for it.

He didn't know it was going to be this hard. Just listening to Sango's screams of pain made him want to rush in there and pommel Miroku for causing his sister such distress but knew it wouldn't help. Maybe when the birthing was finished he would give Miroku a piece of his mind.

'How could something so wonderful sound so painful and cause your loved ones to feel so helpless?' he wondered.

Hearing what sounded like heavy footsteps coming towards him, he looked up and saw Kagome and Shippou running full speed through the village.

"Kagome"

Kohaku yelled running to meet her halfway.

"Tell me what happened?

Is Sango alright?"

Kagome asked while running past him, continuing for the hut that Sango and Miroku lived in.

Kohaku caught up to her,

"She suddenly doubled over in pain; I didn't know what to do. Miroku is in there with her now but I can't find Lady Kikyo or Lady Kaede anywhere!"

Kagome made it into the hut and fell to her knees, sliding a bit.

Sango was pale and dripping of sweat. Her eyes closed and brow creased in concentration.

Kagome rested her hand against Sango's forehead, gaining her attention.

She smiled, obviously relieved.

"Hey there San, sorry I couldn't be here sooner."

Kagome said softly.

Sango nodded and replied,

"Just…happy you're….here now."

She tensed slightly but immediately relaxed.

Kagome informed Sango that she was going to see how far along she was.

Seeing that she was almost fully dilated, she turned and yelled for Shippou and Kohaku.

Once they made it to the doorway she gave her orders.

"Kohaku, I need warm water and rags. Shippou, I need some calming herbs. Go now!"

After Kagome had all that she needed, she shooed all the men outside to await the arrival of the newest member of the family.

After forty long minutes of many screams and Kagome's words of encouragement, a tiny, healthy cry was heard.

Miroku sagged to the floor and Kohaku had tears of joy.

It was over. Now happiness was all that awaited them.

Kagome emerged from the hut a while later and embraced Miroku.

"Go meet your daughter"

She whispered in his ear.

Miroku was speechless.

"A…daughter?"

Sango was holding her newest little treasure when Miroku stepped through the doorway and froze at the sight that met him.

His daughter was nestled safely in her mothers' arms, fast asleep.

Sango beckoned him to come closer and offered him his daughter.

He gingerly held out his hands and once she was fully in his arms he looked down and marveled at their child.

She was so small, Miroku thought, but from what Kagome had told him, she was considered full term and healthy.

Black hair, his hair, peaked out from under the blanket that she was swaddled in.

Miroku prayed that she have Sango's eyes.

He loved her eyes.

Looking back at his beloved wife with tears in his eyes, he asked,

"What shall her name be?"

Sango smiled,

"Akari"

"Light, it suits her."

Kagome let the parents be and stood outside under the warming sun and prayed for the new child.

'May her life be filled with much happiness, and her name ring true.'

She was startled out of her prayer when a mass of energy latch onto her leg.

Kouji.

Sango and Miroku's first child and what a handful he was.

She wonders how Sango is able to manage all her boys all the time.

"Auntie Gome'!"

Kouji yelled with excitement.

"Is my little brother out yet? Can I see him? Can he come and play with me now?"

He asked so quickly Kagome wasn't sure he even came up for air at all.

Laughing, she picked him up and carried him into the hut after knocking on the wooden frame to get the once again new parents' attentions.

Setting Kouji down before her, Miroku waved him over but not before putting his finger to his lips, signaling him to stay quiet.

Kouji nodded and walked up to his parents.

Miroku motioned him to sit in his lap while he adjusted the bundle in his arms so that Kouji may hold his new sibling.

"What's his name?"

"Her name is Akari."

Sango said.

Kouji pouted at this.

"Aww, I wanted a brother."

Miroku chuckled.

"Don't you worry Kouji, you'll be getting a little brother soon."

He turned to Sango and wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

Sango nudged him with her elbow.

"Yeah right; after what this one just put me through, I won't be ready for anymore 'little any things' anytime soon."

"But I want one now,"

Kouji whined.

Sango sighed and Miroku chuckled.

Their son was certainly outspoken and knew what he wanted.

Kagome's doing no doubt.

"But Kouji,"

Kagome said,

"Having a little sister is one of the best things a brother could have."

Kouji looked up to Kagome with wide purple eyes.

"Really?"

He asked.

"Of course, it's now your responsibility to look after her now, stand up for her, and protect her.

A big brother's job is never easy and it's never finished."

Kouji was drinking in everything she was saying and she could see slight fear in his eyes but it quickly vanished.

"So do you think you are up for the job?"

She asked.

Kouji looked back to his baby sister still in his arms and a sense of responsibility formed.

"Yes, I'm up for the job auntie Gome'."

He said.

"That's my boy."

Miroku said with pride.

"And that means that you get to keep icky boys away from her at all costs, you understand?"

He said with a wink to his son.

"Yes I do papa. I'll make sure no icky boys get anywhere near her, no matter what."

Sango smacked her hand against her forehead.

"Oh Miroku, what have you created?"

"Nothing you hadn't helped with my dear."

He then kissed her brow and held his family close. He was complete.

A few more minutes passed when Kagome decided to leave the family to bond over their newest addition.

Kagome soon left the sanctity of the hut and noticed Kohaku waiting off to the side.

After giving him the 'okay' to go in, she left for her own hut that she shared with Shippou to change out of her outfit. She later emerged wearing her red miko hakamas and a white tank top and began walking away from the village.

Shippou followed a distance behind Kagome.

She was heading to the well, he already knew.

It always seems to be the place that she would go when she wanted to think.

Reaching out she brushed the lip of the well with her hand and clasped her other hand over her mouth.

When the well stopped working, she was so heartbroken that she tried to forget this place but time and time again she would find herself here.

Standing before it, wishing she could see her family again.

It became a monthly occurrence for her; coming by the well and talking to it as if her words could somehow reach her family five hundred years away.

"Oh mom, I miss you guys so much."

She said holding back her tears.

"How is everybody?"

She asked.

"Everyone is doing fine here, wonderful in fact. Sango and Miroku welcomed their second child today, a girl. Miroku was so excited."

She gave a small laugh as she remembered how he acted when she told him.

"Kouji was a little upset to know that he didn't get a brother but I think he's going to love having a sister more."

Her voice cracked a bit.

"Shippou is doing very well; I wish you could see him now. He's getting so big."

Kagome couldn't hold back her tears any longer.

Kneeling to the ground, she leaned her back against the old well, drew her knees to herself and

cried into her arms.

Here you have it chapter two.

Chapter three is coming soon.

Thank-you so much for reading!

~Desert -Bandit