Feudal Affair

I don't own Inuyasha

Chapter X

The months seemed to pass quickly as her belly grew. The baby inside her seeming to become more aware of her touch, calmer with her songs. Kohaku never missed the opportunity to feel for the baby's movements. It always seemed to astonish him. And yet what astonished her more was how easy Kohaku seemed with Sesshoumaru's visits. She had to admit to herself that the meetings with the three of them together were at best awkward not to mention the prying eyes of a sister demon slayer. There were times when she felt that even Inuyasha, Kagome, Shippo, and Miroku knew the truth or in the least it all seemed strange but Sango's plan wasn't going as well as she'd hoped. Kohaku's desperation to keep her and the baby healthy meant that Sesshoumaru's presence was necessary.

Rin watched Kohaku prepare the bedding before turning back to her.

"What do you think we should name him if it's a boy? A girl?

Rin smiled but truly didn't want to attempt to come up with any names until the baby arrived.

"I hadn't thought much on names. I think you should name the baby."

Kohaku nodded leaning over to kiss her. The coloring of her skin was warm and her smile was brighter these days. He'd been relieved that Rin had seemed to recover with Sesshoumaru's return. He could only assume that Rin felt safer with the dog demon nearby. Although he, himself, wanted to be all that Rin truly needed to feel safe, he couldn't ignore that Sesshoumaru had been in her life long before and had created a special bond with her. He couldn't take away the fact that Sesshoumaru had saved her from an existence of mistreatment and solitude, brought her back to life, and saved her countless times thereafter. It wasn't possible to ask Rin to bury and erase those memories, to try and eliminate Sesshoumaru from her life.

...

Kohaku blew out the last of the candles, satisfied that Rin had fallen asleep. The air hung heavy with moisture, he could smell rain looming in the air and yet it was just as refreshing as the gentle breezes. He thought it was easier to be away from her while she slept. When they'd first been wed it was easier for him to fall asleep in the presence of Rin at his side and to wake to her every morning. Back then, he hadn't worried for her health or safety. When the attacks started, he'd awoken in the night to try and calm her. Since Sesshoumaru's return the attacks had faded to nothing and even as the baby grew inside her she remained steadily calm. But he wondered if the pregnancy was causing something else. Initially, it had been comforting to hear her gentle murmuring, mostly incomprehensible and too muddled to make out anything significant. A few nights ago, he'd awoken to the same murmurings. Her voice becoming clearer as he'd listened to her. The sleep still weighed on her closed eyes as she spoke Sesshoumaru's name. It hadn't alarmed him really but the words that came after the name had.

The sound of the creeping water along the stream and rumble of thunder in the distance kept him present as he perched himself along the rocks but he found himself lost again. What did the words that she'd said mean? It always made sense that Sesshoumaru had a connection with Rin that was unshakeable and he'd known that Rin's connection to Sesshoumaru was the same. Yet, this marriage had left him in an odd place. Rin was everything he wanted, could ever ask for in a wife. She was beautiful with a caring soul. It was her light that brightened the darkest places in his life and maybe her light had done the same for Sesshoumaru as well. But had Sesshoumaru not been the same light for her? He'd been the first one to show her love when all hope had been destroyed. How was it possible for her to deny the demon's love? It wasn't hard for him to put together the truth. He'd seen the bracelet of shells on her wrist from time to time, the kimonos that she wore were still some of the last ones Sesshoumaru had given her. Watching the two of them interact even in his presence was hard. They were cordial with each other but it seemed strained in a way, uneasy that the slightest touch or smile might draw suspicion to something more.

Kohaku tried to listen to the thunder, tried to focus his gaze to the lightening scattering between the clouds in the darkness rather than reaching the ground. The sting in the back of his throat became a constant ache with the fight to keep his emotions away. He'd been able to admit to himself that Sesshoumaru loved Rin. It was too hard to say that his wife was in love with someone else when she'd told him she loved him, when they'd spent so much time together in the village growing with each other, learning from each other over the years, and becoming best friends. Didn't it make sense that she should be his wife? Wasn't it possible to open her heart to someone else?

Sesshoumaru,you're wrong. He's yours. Kohaku closed his eyes, the words were too daunting to miss. He leaned his forehead to his fist as the tears escaped. She'd only been dreaming. How could he fault her, how could he question her for that?

...

Rin sat up gritting her teeth as her stomach tightened. She'd tried to ignore it as she'd fallen asleep but it was nearly unbearable now as the pain let off and returned again. Their home was too quiet, the room cool as she let her eyes adjust to the darkness to search for her husband.

"Kohaku...Kohaku!"

The lack of response left her feeling helpless. The feeling of panic began to set in although she tried to keep herself calm. Even with the amount of babies she'd delivered in her time, she'd never thought she would have to be by herself when her time came. She repeated his name again, calling into what seemed like a void of silence. The thunder answered her. The feeling of her water breaking left her scrambling to remove the covers. All that she could focus on was the next contraction that started. The moment gripped her as she pushed back unexpectedly into the arms that she knew would comfort her but was too afraid to call for should Kohaku be near. She immediately calmed feeling grateful of Sesshoumaru's presence. She could only assume he'd heard her calling for Kohaku

"Sesshoumaru, get Kagome. She can help with the baby."

"I'm not leaving you here alone."

"You're not supposed to see me like this."

"Does it matter?"

Even as she tried to think of a reason why, it made no sense that he shouldn't. He'd seen her in every possible capacity imaginable. Before she could answer the two of them looked up to see Kohaku. Rin could envision what their position looked like from Kohaku's perspective. She was leaned back against Sesshoumaru as he sat behind her. One of his arms was wrapped gently under her chest as the other supported the two of them. She'd inadvertently laced her fingers into his as soon as she'd felt him there. The moment seemed like an eternity only to be interrupted by the baby's impatience to enter this world.

"Get Kagome!" She hadn't meant to scream but between the frustration and the pain, it was all she could do to get the words out.

Sesshoumaru could see the contemplation, could see the warning in Kohaku's eyes even as he nodded to Rin and left without saying a word. It was the wrong time for the demon slayer to guess at the truth when he'd only be further bewildered by the fact that the child his wife was carrying is human. What could he prove then?

The pouring rain slowed Kohaku's steps toward Kagome and Inuyasha's home. Every bolt of lightening made him pause as he looked to a group of homes just west. His path shifted leading him to a familiar door as he hesitated to lift his hand against it. Even knocking seemed like a betrayal. He couldn't meet the eyes of the dwellings inhabitant despite trying. The rain soaked through his hair, ran from his finger tips and dripped to the earth. He'd wished that with it, the sorrow would wash away the same.

"You were right."

"The loyalty of family will always be greater to you than the promises of a demon's whore."

"Don't call her that. She's not that."

Sango pursed her lips expecting that Kohaku would have finally seen things her way.

"You are still willing to respect her name? Why?"

"She was already loyal to someone who wasn't loyal to her."

"That doesn't make it right Kohaku. Do you expect me to stand by and watch you suffer like this?!"

"No. I came here to ask you to honor the birth of our child."

"And if the child is not yours what do you expect of me?"

Kohaku shook his head before finally meeting Sango's eyes, "I still love her. I can't change that."

"She never deserved you. Love her or not, I will do whatever is necessary."

A/N: I will update again soon :)