I don't own Inuyasha
Sesshomaru's demon speak
Sesshomaru's demon thoughts
Sesshomaru's thoughts
Rin's thoughts
The Festival
Recap~
"Out with it." Rin demanded.
"You're pregnant"
End Recap~
You're pregnant. You're Pregnant. Sesshomaru's words echoed in her head. Impossible, I can't be pregnant. How did this happen? When? More importantly, does he want me to keep it? Will he let me keep his baby no his pup? Rin's thoughts were racing. She was unsure of how to react.
"Are you okay?" Sesshomaru's voice cut into her thoughts. "What is wrong?" Perhaps she didn't want to have my pups. But if that were true then why would she tell me that she did? She has never lied to me before. Perhaps she is unsure as to how we feel about the pup. We have repeatedly called Inuyasha a half-breed without care as to how insulting it is. Perhaps she doesn't want to know if we will do the same with our own pup. "What are you thinking, Rin?"
"If I really am pregnant, what do you want me to do?" She asked looking at him with fear for the first time. "As you have never let your disgust at half-demons be hidden from anyone. I know you hate them, so how will this pup be different? Or will it? Will you hate your own child?"
"I could never hate my own pup, especially when it is a gift from you." Sesshomaru said with deep emotion written on his face and in his words. "Do you know why I taunt Inuyasha?" Rin shook her head. "It is funny to see his reaction. I only hated him for a few years after he was born, and only because he was the reason Father was gone. It was never really because he was a half-demon, but that was the easiest way to get under his skin in order to tease him. However over the years it became more and more easy to say half-breed with disgust, I really don't care. I have never admitted it to him but I have no hatred or disgust towards him or his mother. I just am not good with emotions so I act like I don't care." Sesshomaru took a deep breath, "I have been teasing him for years, but I guess not telling him that it would really seem as if I hate my brother."
"Sesshomaru, why don't you tell him that when we let them know about our pup?" Rin broached. "I understand it will be hard to admit it to him, but I want him to be a part of our pup's life." She looked around when the smell of cooked meat reached her nose. "I forgot the yearly festival is today." She giggled. "Can we stay for it?" She looked at Sesshomaru with 'puppy dog eyes' "Please?" She begged.
"Alright." He said, giving in without a fight. Rin giggled at the look of defeat on his face, before she playfully tugged on his hair pulling him down for a kiss.
"Thank you, love." She said softly. "Let's go then." She started off in the direction of the village. "Are you coming?" She asked. Instead of responding he zipped past her lifting her as he went, still moving at demon speed they arrived at the village in a matter of seconds. Rin's giggles could be heard ringing throughout the village. "That was fun, but you messed up my hair." She said in mock complaint.
"Hn…" She looked up at him when his monotone voice reached her ears, only to see him looking at her with amusement. "You don't fool me, Rin." He states playfully. "Where are you going now?" He asked as she slipped out of his embrace and ran into the mix of humans.
"To find Kaede." She said raising her voice to be heard. "I want to tell her first."
"How do you know how to find her?" Sesshomaru asked appearing beside her. "Even I can't smell her in this mix of people."
"I know where to look." Rin replied simply. After Sesshomaru joined her the villagers parted to let them through. Rin walked quickly towards the center of the village and found Kaede quickly. "Lady Kaede," Rin said to get her attention, "I have some good news for you."
"Rin, child what are ye doing back here?" Kaede asked quickly, for she was very busy."
"We came to visit with her friends." Sesshomaru said, quickly gaining the old woman's attention. "My mate has something to tell you personally." He said with his arm draped over Rin's shoulders.
"Well child?" Kaede asked "what is it?"
"I'm pregnant." Rin squealed. "Isn't that wonderful, I'm going to have a pup." Her face was flushed and her eyes showed her excitement. She looked at Sesshomaru. "And I would like you to be there in the place of my mother when I give birth, if that is okay with you, Sesshomaru."
"If that is what you want, then that is what you shall have." He gave her a soft smile. "Who else do you want to be there?"
"Well, I don't know everybody, but if your mother wants to be there then she is welcome. Kagome, as she is now family. Oh and Sango." She thought about it for a second. "Any demonesses you think should be there?" She asked him. He shook his head. "Okay so that should do it."
"What about me?" Sesshomaru asked. Rin shook her head, her expression sad.
"Men are forbidden to enter the birthing chambers." Kaede stated in a normal voice. "I am sorry for ye, but it would drive ye crazy to be there watching that. Especially since ye are so protective of ye mate."
"What does that have to do with anything?" Sesshomaru demanded.
"There is considerable pain and blood loss in childbearing." Rin said softly. "I don't want you to have to see that. It will be hard enough for you smelling the blood, sweat, and tears." She shook her head to clear her thoughts, "let's go find everyone else." With that they set off to find Inuyasha and Kagome. After looking for about 5 minutes Rin gave up and yelled, "INUYASHA, KAGOME, CAN I TALK TO YOU PLEASE." Within seconds both were in front of her. "I have something to tell you, but I would like to be able to speak without shouting." With that she started towards a quiet area, with Inuyasha, Kagome, and Sesshomaru following. "Much better. I want to tell you-"
"You're pregnant!" Inuyasha said cutting her off with a big grin. "Congrats sis, Sesshomaru." He intoned. Kagome echoing his sediments. "What are your plans?"
"I will have the pup in the Western Palace. Kagome, will you please help with the birthing?" Kagome nodded. "Thank you, of course Inuyasha is welcome at the palace as well. Do you know where Sango is? I want to ask her as well."
"She is home with the children." Inuyasha said. "Just like always." Rin nodded.
"Thank you, Inuyasha." Rin then turned towards Sango and Miroku's home. She arrived in a few minutes, once again dodging villagers. "Sango, are you up?" Rin called to her friend. When Sango responded with a yes Rin walked in. "I have something to tell you."
"What is it Rin?" Sango asked when Rin hesitated. "Is everything alright?"
"I'm pregnant, and I want you to be there when I give birth." Rin said in one very fast breath. "Sesshomaru already Okayed having you and your family over to the Western Palace when I give birth, but I wanted to have you come to the birthing." She smiled when Sango squealed loudly.
"Congrats, Rin, you will make a wonderful mother." She said jumping up to give Rin a hug. "Who all is going to be invited?" She asked curiosity getting the better of her.
"Lady Midori, Lady Kaede, Kagome, and you are all invited." Rin said. When she saw Sango's confused expression she explained, "Lady Midori is Sesshomaru's mother, and the former Lady of the West. She likes me." Sango's expression cleared up.
"Is Sesshomaru okay with you inviting so many humans to the Palace?" Sango asked. "I thought he hates humans, with you being an exception."
"He told me that I could have it anyway I want it. And he isn't so dead set against humans as you think." Rin explained to her confused friend. "Will you tell Miroku?" She asked Sango. Sango nodded.
"What about the children? Do you really want 2 children running around in the palace?" She asked thinking about the trouble her girls could get into.
"Of course, they are your family, aren't they? What did you think that I only meant for you and Miroku to come and have you abandoned both of your children here?" Rin said in mock anger. Then she started to giggle, followed by her laughing. "They are welcome; they might even distract Sesshomaru from my pain."
Miroku having walked in while Rin was giggling, asked, "Who is welcome, where and why would you be in pain? I pity anyone who has to distract Sesshomaru from you, for they would likely end up dead." When Rin started to laugh at his questions, he quirked an eyebrow, "what is so funny?" He asked.
"I will sum it all up with this, I am pregnant and I want your family to be there when I deliver." She began giggling when he gaped at her, and so did a baritone voice behind the monk. Miroku and Sango both whirled around to see who was laughing with Rin and were shocked to see it was Sesshomaru. "Miroku, Sango, close your mouths or bugs will get in." Rin intoned from behind them, sending Sesshomaru into another laughing fit.
"…" They both turned back to Rin to see a goofy look on her face. "We will be there." Sango said still slightly in shock.
"Thank you," Rin said jumping over to give her a hug again. She then moved over to Sesshomaru's side. "And thank you, Sesshomaru for allowing my friends to be there for me when I deliver our pup." Sesshomaru, who was glaring at Sango for the lack of a title, looked at his mate's happy face and his eyes softened.
"Anything for you, Mate." Was his nonchalant response to her?
"Aunty Rin, Aunty Rin," Kimi and Iumi chimed in when they saw her in their home, "what are you doing here?" They looked at each other excitedly, "Are you here for the festival? Will you be here long? Where have you been? Who is that beside you? Why do you look so happy? Are you going to answer us or not?" They bombarded her with their questions without giving her time to answer.
"Let me see, Festival: yes; how long: That is up to my husband; Where have I been: At the Western Palace; Who is beside me: Sesshomaru The dog demon lord of the west, my husband, and Inuyasha's older brother; As to why I look so happy: I am pregnant, and happy to see you in such good spirits; and now I have answered all of your questions." She responded with rapid fire answers. "Next question please." She said with a smile as she saw the twins take a deep breath.
"Does he ever talk? Do we have to call him Lord Sesshomaru? Why is his hair so long? Why does he have makeup on? Are those claws? Why is he laughing?" After a moment's thought came another, "how are you pregnant?"
"I do talk, yes you need to address me with my title, I refuse to cut it, they are demon marks not makeup, yes they are claws, and you are talking like I am not able to answer your questions. As for the pregnancy question, your parents will explain it when you are older." Sesshomaru responded in a similar fashion, to Rin, all of their questions, making Rin, Sango, and Miroku laugh.
"You must have experience answering rapid fire questions." Miroku said.
"You can thank Rin for that, as I recall she could question life and everything in a similar manner." Sesshomaru chuckled, and then grimaced when he heard an annoyingly loud voice calling, "LORD SESSHOMARU, LADY RIN, WHERE ARE YOU?" Sesshomaru growled in annoyance. Then he smirked at a thought. "Do you two want to help me?" he asked the twins with a mischievous look in his eyes. They nodded. "Take some rope and tie up that green imp. Then drag him back here." Rin started to chuckle. "His name is Master Jaken, and if you can take his staff away you won't have any problems getting him." She added giggling softly. "But don't tell him that we told you to do it." She cautioned. "Now go." She shooed them out the door. She listened at the door.
"LORD SESSHOMARU, LADY RIN, WHERE ARE YOU? HEY WHAT ARE YOU CHILDREN DOING, GIVE THAT BACK, LET ME GO, NO DON'T TIE ME UP, WHERE ARE YOU TAKING ME? LORD SESSHOMARU PLEASE HELPS ME, MY LORD." Rin giggled poor Master Jaken. We torment him so badly. But it is so fun to do.
"Silence toad," one of the twins cut through his shouts, "he will make a good dinner" she said to her twin. "Indeed, yummy, yummy toad stew is for dinner." At that point they reached their house and dragged the imp into the room only for him to faint when he saw Sesshomaru and Rin both doubled over in laughter.
"Girls, I don't think he will taste good. Why don't you let him go so we can get you ready for the festival?" Rin said between giggles.
"No, let him wake up like that." Sesshomaru said. "I want to see his expression when he sees we just played a joke on him." Half an hour later Jaken woke up so see Sesshomaru and Rin looking at him with expectant expressions.
"My lord and lady, please help me, those terrible human girls are going to make me into stew." He whined. "I don't want to be stew. I want to live and help you both out with the West. I want to see your children grow up. I-"
"Jaken, silence." Sesshomaru intoned "I tire of hearing your complaints."
"Now Sesshomaru, be nice, he is just upset." She said looking at her mate with a smile. "Girls, your guest is awake now." She called to the twins. They both ran up to her.
"Aunty Rin, Uncle Lord Sesshomaru, did we do it right?" they asked. "Did we get that imp for you? It was fun tying him up and dragging him around, can we do it again? Please, please, please?" They begged, making all the adults aside from Jaken laugh. Jaken blinked then gasped.
"It was all a trick? Why would you let them do that to me, my lord?" Jaken asked with tears in his eyes. "I can understand Rin doing that, but why would you follow along with it?"
"It was my idea." Sesshomaru said with a smirk. Rin giggled. "I wanted to see Rin laugh at something." Jaken slowly looked up when he heard amusement in Sesshomaru's voice. He gulped when he saw Sesshomaru smiling without menace in it.
"Are you amused, my lord?" He asked wearily. Sesshomaru nodded. Rin reached out behind her and grabbed a knife she walked up to Jaken and started to work on the knots holding the imp down. When she found she couldn't untie him she simply cut the ropes with the knife. "There all free, Master Jaken." She turned around and reached behind Sesshomaru pulling the Staff of two heads out of hiding. "Here you go." She said offering him his staff back. She then turned toward Sesshomaru, "Shall we go to the festival?" He nodded and took her hand, leading her out into the evening air. They danced, she ate, and just when things were starting to get fun she turned and ran to the bushes to throw up. She felt Sesshomaru holding her hair out of the way. "Thank you." She said simply. "Oh now I want grilled fish and fried mushrooms." She stated. Sesshomaru left to go get some and when Rin turned around she saw Jaken and Kagome bickering about what was wrong with her. Jaken doesn't know that I am pregnant yet so he must be worried. "Master Jaken, come here." Rin called.
"Yes my lady?" he asked when he reached her side.
"This is normal, for I am pregnant with Sesshomaru's pup." His eyes went wide and he bowed deeply.
"Congratulations, my lady. I will go find some herbs to help settle your stomach." He said quietly, racing off to find what he needed. Sesshomaru returned with the food Rin asked for. "The venders thought it weird to combine these foods, are you sure you want them together?" Rin nodded scarfing down the hot food.
"It is normal for pregnant women to crave food that wouldn't normally go together." Kagome assured him. "Most of the time women won't hold anything they aren't craving down. To supply what she wants is the key to having her keep food down." She said calmly. "Some advice for you, make sure she gets exercise because the more fit she is while pregnant the easier delivery will go." She said as she walked away.
"How do you know all this?" Sesshomaru asked.
"I have a younger brother, and my mother had other pregnancies after he was born, but she kept having miscarriages." Kagome said quietly. "The last one she miscarried in her 7th month. It was a little girl." Sesshomaru could smell her tears and reached out and pulled her into his arms.
"I am sorry for bringing such bad memories up for you." He said softly.
"You know I never thought you would ever care about anyone?" Kagome said "it is good to know I was wrong." She pulled away from him and walked into Inuyasha's arms.
"Are you okay?" Inuyasha asked. "He didn't hurt you did he?" She shook her head.
"He just asked me some questions that brought up bad memories. He didn't know that it was a painful subject." She said quietly.
"Brother, I wish to talk to you." Sesshomaru said.
"What is it?" Inuyasha asked surprised that Sesshomaru had called him brother.
"Walk with me?" Sesshomaru asked. Inuyasha nodded and followed his older brother.
"Wonder what Sesshomaru wants to talk to Inuyasha about." Kagome thought out loud.
"He is probably explaining a few things that he should have told Inuyasha years ago." Rin said softly. "He told me that he hasn't held a grudge against Inuyasha since Inuyasha was a young pup. He was teasing him and when the habit was formed he couldn't keep the disgust out of his voice from then on." Rin summed up for Kagome.
"He really has changed since he met you. How did you meet? If you don't mind me asking."
"Not at all. First you must know that bandits killed my entire family when I was 8. Keeping that in mind it was 2 years later of being passed around from home to home in order to work for scraps of food and more often than not their wasn't anything for me to eat unless I could find it in the forest. One day while I was walking in the forest looking for something to eat I came across Sesshomaru injured and covered in blood and dirt. I took my flask of water and as I approached him he moved growling at me in attempt to run me off. When that didn't work he just left me be. Only to jump when I poured the entire flask out on his head." She giggled at the memory. "I came back with some fish and mushrooms for him to eat, only to be refused. 'I don't eat human food' was what he said. So I went out and found some other foods for him only to be rejected again and again. Weeks went by and he was swiftly healing, all I did was provide him with water. Then one day after my evening visit I was catching myself some dinner and the villagers caught me. They hauled me up and started to beat me, accusing me of stealing fish. The next morning when I went to see Sesshomaru he noticed my bruises 'where did you get those bruises' he asked. I smiled at the thought of someone caring enough to inquire after my health. 'Why are you smiling, I don't really care, I'm just curious.' He said. When I went home to fill my flask I found a wolf demon in my burned out hut. Turns out he had stolen a shard of the sacred jewel from the wolf demon Koga. When Koga arrived with a small pack of wolves he killed the thief and set the pack on the village. I ran toward Sesshomaru hoping to lose them in the woods and protect him. He found me dead on the path that led to him. He brought me back to life and I decided that if he would allow me I would spend the rest of my life as his servant. Little did I know that 4 years later I would become his mate and the mother of his pups." Upon looking around she saw Sango, Miroku, Inuyasha and Sesshomaru were all there listening to her tale. She smiled at Sesshomaru, "I have never regretted that choice or any others when it came to you." She said softly to her mate. "And I never will."