Chapter Eighteen:

Youko stood in the hall way, arms crossed, watching the bat demon with his grand daughter. As much as he loved having his grand daughter here, along with his son for that matter, This castle wasn't built for so many 'families' to be inside it. So with a heavy sigh, he looked up from his grandkit to the bat, "We should talk.."

Kuronue looked up from playing with his six month old, holding the little cub carefully as she chewed on his finger, a wince crossing his face as tiny fangs bit into the soft skin next to his claw like nail. "Why do I have the sudden premonition of what it would be like to be married to you, Fox?" He joked with a smirk,

Youko rose a brow, but soon shook his head chuckling softly, "You only wish." He stated with a soft laugh.. Watching the bat with his daughter was... Nice. Kuronue looked happy. He deserved to be happy... But... "It has to do with your staying here... you know, the man is suppose to provide a home for his ... wife." Granted he didn't know if Youmaru would want to be considered as such, since it'd been his heat that caused all of this... "You need to speak to Youmaru...See if he wishes to go with you.." He knew it would kill Kuronue if Youmaru said no-since it would mean Kaoru would stay here with Youmaru, at least until she didn't need milk fed any longer.

The bat shifted, missing his hat, ragged and hole ridden as it was, he'd been asked (commanded) not to wear it inside, and blew at his bangs before eying the fox, "A few too many intruders in your den?" He leered suggestively, waggling his brows.

Youko shook his head again chuckling softly once more. "You know my mate is uneasy with you around." he stated softly, but honestly. "And at times, I can't say I blame him" he replied cheekily as he turned a bit. "Besides, this place isn't really built to handle so many families."

Kuronue scoffed a bit, "A castle, Fox. This place could house a village." Rolling his eyes, he would have given a grand gesture, were he not holding his cub, "But I get it, I'll ask him about it," he conceded at Youko's look. "If he says no, I'm not going, though." He threatened, "You know the code, Fox, family before all."

Youko gave a sigh, but he nodded, "I wouldn't even be bringing this up if a possessive dog wasn't all about his territory." he muttered a bit, but he knew Kuronue would still hear him. Fox's were normally in big communities living in large dens together, since there was strength to be found in numbers. But some particular solitary dog was getting agitated with so many here...

"This Sesshoumaru's territory is vast, Fox." Sesshoumaru growled as he stood in the doorway, arms crossed imperiously over his chest, "There are others, the Bat can live in one of them." He sniffed dismissively at Kuronue.

Youko jumped a bit in his mild surprise, turning to look at his mate. His tail flicked irritably, "What have I told you about sneaking up on me?" he growled out a bit.

Sesshoumaru arched a brow haughtily, the corner of his mouth twitching upward, "It is not this Sesshoumaru's fault if you are too distracted to notice my presence."

Youko, being in a foul mood, huffed looking away with a growl, "Maybe at times you're not worth noticing." He snapped bitterly. Who knew where exactly this anger was coming from, but it was to late to take back now. And he didn't intend to take it back-at least not yet.

Kuronue watched with thinly veiled amusement as the Fox got moody with the Dog, and Sesshoumaru's lip curled back in a show of fang at the snappy come back. "Mate," he growled, "this Sesshoumaru is Alpha. My word is law."

Youko huffed but didn't snap back this time at least, his tail twitched irritably behind him. He turned though, "I'll talk to you later Kuronue." He stated, glancing back at the bat. He honestly didn't mind him being here, shame Sesshomaru did. He glared at the dog for a moment before he just brushed past him to leave the room.

Both the men eyed the retreating kitsune, a speculative look in their eyes. As if offended to be agreeing on such a thing, Sesshoumaru gave the bat a death glare and turned after his mate. He'd better not be pregnant again...

It was hours later that found Youko sitting in the living room. knees propped up on the arm of the couch, letting his feet hand off the arm, laying across the entire two-person couch a book in hand as he quietly read. He was bored with reading, but it was better than harassing a mate that was probably pissed at him and he wasn't ready to apologize yet. Granted he wasn't sure why he had been so upset, but it wasn't something he was going to get into with himself, seriously not like he could ask himself for an answer he had no idea how to get. It would be pointless, and would probably make him seem crazy.

Youtaira ambled into the room, Ati and Tia dangling off her arms like little monkies, and eyed her mother considerably, "Did you talk to Kuronue yet?"

Youko slowly looked up and over from his book where he was laying down "Yes, I did."

Youtaira arched a brow, looking eerily like her father just then, "And it went..?" The twins got bored of their sister standing still and decided to dive bomb their mother instead.

Youko frowned, Starting to sit up but soon had two twins tackling into him and he yelped a bit, "Girls! You're getting to big for this" He huffed as he wrestled them both into his lap to snuggle with them. Looking up to Youtaira in a moment he sighed softly, "I told Kuronue to talk to Youmaru." and he left it at that as he started to stand, hoisting his girls up with him, "Why don't we go find a snack."

"Yay!" "Snack!" Ati and Tia shrieked in unison, clinging to their mother. Youtaira shrugged and nodded, accepting the answer and change in subject, "Sure, I'll let Rin-onee-chan know."

Youko nodded, letting Ati and Tia go to go on ahead since that's what they were aiming to do anyhow. He looked to Youtaira, "Let your father, Youmaru, and Kuronue, to see if they'd like to join us." He doubted Sesshomaru would, but he didn't need the dog grumping about not getting offered or some strange shit like that. He then moved to follow his two youngest daughters to the kitchen.

-ff to the following evening-

It was later that night that Youko sighed, feeling exhausted after wrestling his two youngest into pajamas and then into bed. He really hoped they mellowed out soon, he didn't know how much more he could take! He sighed heavily walking into his and Sesshomaru's bedroom, silently stepping in to grab his own night clothes, then headed for the baths. Once undressed he slipped into the hot water and sighed, letting his tired body relax. He knew he couldn't stay long or he would end up falling asleep, so he forced himself to sit up so he could clean off then get up and off to bed.

When Youko finished he got out of the water and headed back to his room once he was dressed in his sleeping yukata. When he opened the door he glanced around for his mate.

Sesshoumaru was at the desk, looking over some papers, the moonlight casting an ethereal halo around his white clad form. The demon seemed unaware of the irony in such a thing, as he signed his name with a flourish of his feather pen. Being a Lord wasn't all battles and riches, it involved a surprising amount of bureaucracy.

Youko watched him for a moment, staying silent. He slowly walked over though as he watched his mate make that flourishing mark, he knew he finished with that paper. Good, now to make the dog quit for the night. He pressed close from behind him, leaning over his chair a bit to let his hands run from his mates shoulders down his chest. "Come, it's time for bed" he purred playfully.

Sesshoumaru paused for a moment, quill hovering over the next page before he gave in to the inevitable and stood with his Fox, allowing the persistent sex fiend to drag him to the bed.

Youko smiled softly, watching as his mate rose from his seat, watching him silently as he slowly took his hand and tugged him over to the bed with him, slipping onto the bed and sliding across as he practically pulled his mate with him, he purred as he snuggled up to him.

Youko hadn't been after sex surprisingly, he just wanted to have someone to snuggle up to, it was a lot nicer than going to bed alone. The happy fox was purring, which was getting softer as he fell asleep, as he laid with his mate. He'd forgotten all about the anger he had for him by now, probably lucky for Sesshomaru.

Sesshoumaru glanced at his mate, fondness in his amber gaze before he allowed himself to relax. He was just being paranoid, he reasoned, one mood swing did not guarantee the kitsune was pregnant again...Right?

-small ff-

When morning came, Youko felt sick. Literally. He pretty much smacked the canine's arms away as he clawed his way out of the bed. Soon rushing to the bathroom. Barely making it to the toilet to up heave. Seriously, all he did was dry heave, as his stomach had nothing to give. His silvery auds were pinned back against his head as he panted softly trying to will the feeling away. Why did he feel so sick? And all of a sudden to boot?

Sesshoumaru grunted as the fleeing male's tail smacked him in the face, and he followed after his half naked mate to the bathroom to watch him before pulling Youko's hair back from his face. "I swear to the kami, if you give me another daughter I will castrate myself," Sesshoumaru grumbled, he was not a morning person.

Youko appreciated having his hair pulled back, didn't need it in the way really. But at his mates words he managed a faint smile, a faint laugh escaping him for a moment before it faded. "You know, they say its the father who determines the baby's gender." Granted it might be different when it was two male youkai making the child, but who really knew? But he huffed, "Besides...whats wrong with your daughters?" he asked with a light growl. He loved all three of his girls, Sesshomaru should also!

But then the conversation caught up with him and his auds dropped back as he looked down at the toilet. Was he pregnant again? Granted, it would explain feeling sick so sudden now, but... Seriously, again? He didn't think he could handle having more children!

The arrogant dog scoffed, and tugged lightly on his mate's mane, "A lord needs sons, not just daughters, and you'd make my life a living hell if I tried to marry them off to other lords." He was never this open to anyone else, not even his children, it was a rare privilege for him to be so blunt. "This Sesshoumaru demands you birth another son, Fox."

Youko huffed, giving a faint growl at the tugging on his hair, it didn't hurt, but that didn't mean he had to appreciate it. When it felt like his stomach was finally done churning he slowly moved to stand, looking up at Sesshomaru. He opened his mouth to say something, but closed it thinking on it more first. Sesshomaru was right, he would be unhappy if he started trying to set their daughters up with other lords children or some shit like that. Granted he wasn't one to know much about diplomacy, as he use to be a thief, but that didn't mean he wanted his girls traded off for good graces with some pompus ass. Hell if he wasn't mated to him he would probably still be calling Sesshomaru a pompous ass.

He sighed shaking his head some, "I can't really pick the gender Sesshomaru, and you can't force one or the either as much as your ego wants you to. Time will tell, slim chance I'm not pregnant...Could of just been something disagreeing with me from last night." he stated with a shrug. After having four children he wasn't interested in even the thought of having more yet.

He sighed, stepping closer to Sesshomaru, letting his head rest against him now he wasn't feeling sick, "wanna go lay back down for a bit?" If they were lucky they could get another hour or two in before the children decided to come wake them.

Sesshoumaru chuckled softly, "This Sesshoumaru predicts the twins will come bursting in the room in ten minutes, screaming that the sun is up, we should be too." But he followed his mate back to the bed, feeling an unusual lazy streak.

Youko chuckled softly, "Could always lock the door" he mused softly. Really the twins were older now, they didn't need to come bursting into their room anymore.

Once back in the bed, Youko stretched out thoroughly before he snuggled up to his mate when he joined him, sighing a bit heavily as he allowed himself to relax. Really, the only reason he'd gotten up all ready was due to feeling sick.

"Hm..." Sesshoumaru hummed, thinking something over in his head with mixed amusement and dread.

Youko rose a brow as he looked up at his mate, "What?"

"This Sesshoumaru has noticed a trend. Two single births, then twins." He looked at his mate, the amused horror clear on his face, "Triplets?"

Youko's auds pinned back frowning, "Not funny in the least...If you want Triplets, you can have them!"

The inu snorted, pulling his mate closer as he laid his cheek on the other's forehead, "This one shall pass, that honor belongs to you." My he was the snarky one today.

Youko growled a bit, but it settled into light grumbling as he let his eyes close, relaxing in his mates hold. "bastard" was all that was mumbled as the tired fox started to drift back off to sleep all ready.

-End Chapter eighteen-

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