Chapter Seventeen:
It was early. It was so early the sun wasn't even up... So why was Youmaru awake? A pain was coursing through him making him unable to sleep. It kept coming and going. He had hoped it'd pass and stay passed, but when it coming back, he eventually moved. He'd been silent this whole time. He was very much his father's son. Even though he was hurting to where most would be screaming in agony, he was silent bearing it... Slowly turning to Kuronue, he groaned, nudging the bat, trying to wake him... "Kuronue." he called softly... He didn't want to overly alarm Kuronue... Especially if this was nothing. The first time mother didn't know he was in labor.
Kuronue came awake with a start, violet eyes wide as he stared at his pregnant lover with concern, "Maru?"
Youmaru opened his mouth to say something but another pain interrupted him and he had to clench his jaw to keep from whimpering... He panted a bit after it passed, and weary golden eyes looked to the now awake bat, he didn't know what to call these pains, he didn't know what was going on.
Kuronue watched Maru's face in concern, then, obeying instinct, looked down at the male's stomach to see the muscles ripple. His eyes widened in alarm. His mate was in labor!
Once the pain finally passed, Youmaru tried to catch his breath. He felt exhausted, having not gotten much sleep since the pains had started a few hours ago... "Whats going on?" he asked him softly, noticing Kuronue's face... Perhaps he knew something he didn't...
"You're in labor." His voice was bland, almost emotionless, but his hands hovered over the swollen stomach, torn between what his instincts said to do, and what logic told him he should do. Like get Youko.
It took a moment for the word 'labor' to make sense to him, and he groaned once he did... "So what do I do?" he asked softly. He was all ready exhausted. Hopefully He wouldn't have to do to much... If he did, he was worried he wouldn't be able to.
Kuronue's wings twitched and his features pinched as he gently caressed his Maru's stomach. "I'll get your mother." He finally decided.
Youmaru gave a weak not to the bat... "okay... hurry back?" he offered with a weak smile, before another pain passed. They were very close together by this point in time... He probably should of woken Kuronue sooner.
The bat nodded, bending down to kiss the male's forehead before he vanished in a blur of color. What felt like hours, but could surely be no more than seconds, found him busting Youko's door down, "Youmaru's in labor!" He yelped, looking panicked.
At the sound of his door getting slammed open, making the wood door crack, made the fox jump and start growling at the intrusion. It was rather common knowledge not to wake a sleeping fox-especially when said sleeping fox was in his den, in his bed, curled up with his mate... Eventually the words practically yelled out at him sunk in and Youko at least stopped growling although he was still very unnerved by such a rude awakening... "Get the maids to get some extra covers and sheets and what not to his room, I'll meet you there" the fox stated as he started to get himself up, tail moved in a way to keep the bat from seeing much as the nude fox hurried to get dressed.
Kuronue, who would have otherwise taken great glee in teasing the fox over being naked in front of him, merely nodded and hurried off to go berate the maids into finding the necessary items. He was new to this whole 'male birth' thing, though he knew already that kitsune were freaks, he just wasn't sure how to handle it.
Sesshoumaru just snarled as he glared sullenly at the wall as the commotion woke him from his sleep. When the bat left, he turned to watch his mate, "Do you require assistance?"
Youko had finished getting dressed by time Kuronue was gone and his mate spoke, since it didn't take long to pull something on, he turned towards his mate as he tied it shut, thinking on it for a moment... "I'm not sure, It's Youmaru's first..." He really had no idea how things would go. With the first it was always the hardest. And Youmaru was young as it was. He sighed, "I don't know if there would be anything for you to really do, but you are welcome to come along" He finally answered-answered. Sesshoumaru was Youmaru's father, he had every right to be there.
Sesshoumaru sighed, raising a hand to his face, "I'll check on you later." He was tired enough to drop the formality in his speech, and flopped back into the bed, pulling a pillow over his face.
Youko blinked but smiled softly, He took a moment to step over, gently moving the pillow from his mates face so he could kiss his forehead, "sleep well dear, see you later" He smiled then chuckled putting the pillow back, then he turned hurrying out the room and to Youmaru's room.
It was there that Youko went inside going to his kits side, brushing his hair back from his face, "Hey, How close are they?" He asked softly... He could only watch as Youmaru winced, going through what Youko could only guess as a contraction, he doubted it was anything else.
Once the contraction passed Youmaru panted a bit to catch his breath, "m-maybe every few minutes?" he panted out softly, whining softly as it felt like something shifted making him cringe. He just wanted to curl up into a ball and not move or anything...
Youko gave his kit a nod, "All right..." He checked and spoke softly to his pup, "When the next one comes you need to push..."
-small time skip-
Due to how long Youmaru must of suffered through his contractions alone, it wasn't very long before Youko was cleaning up his grand kit. He smiled softly at the thought as he cleaned up the little one. He had helped Youmaru sit up enough to feed her for a bit.
When she finished, and Youmaru was falling asleep, Youko held the little one smiling warmly. He wondered what they'd name her... He didn't want to ask Youmaru who was pretty much out of it, and it was pretty much fox custom that the father name the first kit... If Kuronue wanted to name her something stupid he'd bite the bat...
Kuronue edged into the room then, looking antsy. He'd approached the room a few times, but chickened out on entering, but the new smell intrigued him. Was his pup born?
A silver ear twitched back and Youko turned and offered a soft smile, "Why don't you come over here and meet your daughter?"
Kuronue's face was unreadable as he finally made his way into the room, nose crinkling mildly at the smell of the birthing blood, but his often cold heart melted at the sight of the little pup in Youko's arms. "She's beautiful."
Youko smiled warmly, "Wish to hold her?" he asked the bat gently.
His hand reached out hesitantly, as if afraid she'd shatter like glass, and very gently caressed her cheek, tracing the little tufts of black hair on her scalp with a smile.
Youko watched his old friend, not in any need to rush him, "She'll need a name" he whispered softly to his friend, while slowly moving to let him take her.
Kuronue almost flinched, but settled his nerves after a moment and cradled the tiny thing to his chest, amethyst eyes gobbling up her delicate features. "Kaoru*." His little sister had looked just like her, and he swore to himself his Kaoru would have a happier life than the 'runt' of the litter.
Youko was mildly surprised but smiled warmly, "It's a great name..." he offered softly, turning he gently lifted his kit as a maid finally walked in, letting her change the bed, and since he had Youmaru cleaned up pretty well he gently laid him back down, watching his sleeping kit for a moment, before he looked to Kuronue... "Do you need anything?"
Kuronue looked unsure, but his wings were twitching and his jaw was flexing, clenching to keep from chasing the maids out. "Food? Maru will be hungry." Now that the sheets were changed, and extra were piled nearby in case the young hybrid took to nesting like his mother, the bat seated himself next to the slumbering male and spread his left wing over the new mother in a protective arch.
Youko gave a nod as the maids left, "want a maid or my self to bring the food in?" He asked gently with a soft smile.
Kuronue graced the fox with a crooked smirk, "What do you think, 'Rama? Of course you."
Youko chuckled shaking his head a bit, "I figured as much, just wanted to be sure. Want anything in particular?" he asked gently as he started heading for the door, not quickly so Kuronue would have time to reply.
Kuronue hummed, "Fruit? And maybe some fish." They were the things he would have gotten for his mate had she survived the premature birthing.
Youko smiled softly giving a nod, "Hai." He stated softly before he turned and quietly left the room letting the door click shut behind him.
-Time Skip-
Youmaru groaned when he came to. He felt sore and achy all over... He slowly moved starting to sit up only to grunt and give up laying back still. It took a moment, but his brain finally caught up with him completely and he blinked... He had their daughter... Turning his head he looked for Kuronue.
Kuronue was perched on the mattress next to him, staring at the little bundle in his arms with a smitten expression.
Youmaru silently watched Kuronue, who was holding their daughter, for a few moments before he finally asked gently, "Did you name her?"
Kuronue hummed, looking up at the hybrid with a soft smile, "Kaoru," he informed him, "are you hungry?"
Kaoru... Youmaru smiled softly, It was a good name. But at the question of whether he was hungry, he gave a nod, "Yea" he was. Very much so. Without their little one taking up as much room inside of him he felt starved. Granted that was probably really not the case.
Kuronue shifted his grip slightly on their daughter to hand the tray of food to his ma-... his lover, knowing that neither of them would be leaving the den for the next few days with Kurama bringing their food.
Youmaru pushed himself up into a sitting position, leaning his back against the head board of the bed, gently taking the tray, "Thanks" he stated softly.
-Time Skip-
It didn't take very long for Youmaru to start getting around again. The stubborn dog-fox didn't want to be kept in the bed any longer to be quite honest. He'd gone a bit stir crazy on that bed rest. Now his little girl was no longer in him, he had no intention of staying in that bed!
So with a slow stretch he rose from the bed without looking back. He went straight to the crib where his little girl was sleeping soundly... Youmaru was smiling softly she just seemed to be perfect... He turned looking towards where the bat slept. Seeing him asleep on the mattress he smiled softly. He wasn't very surprised. Kuronue ended up being a pretty good father, and often took care of Kaoru at night.
Youmaru slowly walked over, leaning down enough to better cover the bat up before he stood once more to leave the room. He needed to wash up, and it was still early, he didn't want to wake his sleeping daughter.
Walking quietly down the hall, Youmaru spotted his mother, and moved over to him, "hey mom" he spoke softly so as not to startle his mother.
Youko turned and smiled, "Hey Youmaru, how are you feeling today?"
"I'm good mom" Was Youmaru's answer as he watched where they were walking, both headed for the baths. "I'm feeling pretty much back to normal, hopefully I'll be able to start training again" he admitted softly. He didn't want to end up weaker than his younger sisters because he's been a vegetable for awhile in that bed...
Youko chuckled softly, "Yea, having kits sure take it out of you" He was currently working on training himself, not liking how weak he had felt during that last fight he'd been in. It's been a while now. "Just take it easy when you start, if you start to ache, take a breather. No sense in permanently hurting yourself."
Youmaru nodded, "of course mom."
-End Chapter seventeen-
As always, reviews are loved!
Kaoru = Daughter of Youmaru(Youko x Sesshomaru) & Kuronue, She has Black hair like Kuronue, Has Golden eyes like Youmaru. She does not have her Fathers Bat Wings. She also does not have a tail. She has human-like ears like Kuronue.