A New Leaf

Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews. I hope that you all enjoy this chapter.

Chapter Notation: There was a time skip between this and the last chapter. Rin is now three months pregnant.

Chapter 17

Rin was now three months pregnant and staring at herself in the mirror in shock. It wasn't much yet, but she could see the difference. Her formerly completely flat stomach was now slightly rounded.

"You look beautiful." Sasuke smiles as he kisses her cheek. "Never doubt that."

It was only the beginning, really. The first time that she had ever 'seen' their child in a way. A happy feeling though, even if she was a bit fretful about how big she'd get later in her pregnancy.

Rin smiles at the attention from her husband as she leans back into him. "I was about to say the same to you." It was a game that she liked to play with him.

She'd call Sasuke beautiful and he would roll his eyes. That or scoff. It was all playful teasing though. The expectant mother wouldn't have done it, if she truly thought her husband hated it.

"Funny." He places a soft kiss to her neck. "How are you feeling?"

Well right now she was feeling rather good. Rin liked it when he kissed her. It didn't really matter where Sasuke kissed her. Just that he did.

Rin sighs contentedly as she snuggles against him. "Much better now." How could she feel anything else when she was currently wrapped into his powerful arms?

"Has the Morning Sickness passed?" He looks down at her. "Did those herbs that Kaede gave you work?" His eyes full of concern.

It was sweet. Sasuke was worried about everything little thing that she did now. Even though Rin had assured him that getting sick in the early stages of pregnancy was normal, her husband would still panic and fret over her well-being as if she was on her death bed.

The poor man was going to make himself sick at this rate. Everything so far had been perfectly normal for her pregnancy, but Sasuke was constantly on guard. Rin doubted that he would relax at all until their son or daughter arrived and was safely snuggled into their arms.

She nods at that. "It's passed." Maybe, a meal with their friends would help him last. "Don't worry so much about me." Rin laughs softly at him. "If I can handle Lady Midori, I think that I can handle pregnancy."

"It doesn't hurt to be careful." Sasuke frowns at her casual attitude.

That was true, but she was being careful. "Sasuke, I am being careful. Where could I possibly be safer than in your arms?" The expectant mother smiles up at him. "Now, come on. I believe that dinner will be ready soon and I told them that we would be joining them."

Thank goodness for that box that Sesshomaru had given them though. Rin might not need the pregnancy kimonos that the Inu had given them yet, but she knew in another month or two, things would be different. Their child was growing every day.

"Alright." He smiles as he opens the door for her. "We should probably get going then. It's never a good idea to leave Miroku and Sango alone for long."

Rin shoots her husband a puzzled look as the two of them walk off together. "What do you mean? They're married with three children?" They were obviously alone together quite regularly.

"That's true, but the Monk does practically beg her to slap the Hell out of him." Sasuke laughs as they begin their short trek towards Sango's and Miroku's home. "You know it, I know it, they know it, and so does everyone else."

Right. She couldn't really argue with that. Though Rin was quite certain that it was all just play fighting at this point. There were no real malice attached to it. Otherwise, Miroku would have been a dead monk by now.

"I still can't believe she actually made them a house." Kagura laughs softly as she rests her head on Sesshomaru's shoulder.

He couldn't either. His mother was certainly full of surprises. Then again, so was life in general. If anyone had told Sesshomaru that he would have been mated this early on, he would have left.

A marriage maybe. A Mating was an entirely different story. Mating was sacred and as he had explained to Rin earlier, marriages were not held in the same esteem by demon kind.

"Me neither." Sesshomaru shakes his head in amusement. "I have seen the home she built for them though." It was beautiful.

By human standards, it likely qualified as an estate. Even more impressive though was how fast the woman had built the place. In only a handful of days, she had erected a charming home for the newlyweds.

Kagura nods at that. "It is very nice." She smiles slyly at him. "Not as nice as our castle, but still quite lovely."

Yes, their castle. He'd taken the woman as his Mate. Something that would have shocked his former self. That he had Mated one of Naraku's Incarnations.

It was hard to truly associate her with that abomination anymore though. She was very little like him. The only exception was how sneaky the beautiful demoness in his arms could be. In that regard, she was exactly like the person who had created her.

"It would be humiliating, if my mother could create a grander home than the Western Castle in a few days." While Lady Inukimi was certainly talented, no one was that talented.

Kagura laughs at that and kisses him. "Yes, it would be." She smiles at him slyly. "Are you excited to be a grandfather?"

The woman was absolutely outrageous sometimes. He was not a grandfather. Lord Sesshomaru was far too young to be addressed by such a title.

Granted, he did see Rin as a daughter of sorts. That didn't mean that he was elderly though. Far from it. He wouldn't be expected to have a pup of his own blood for at least another century or two.

"I'm not a grandfather." He shakes his head in disbelief at her.

The woman did positively delight in taunting him. "Well she's pregnant, so I suppose you'll consider yourself a grandfather after the child is born." That was the only logical explanation at this point.

Kagura was quite fortunate that she was as beautiful as her tongue was vile sometimes. He did like her vile tongue in certain contexts though. Wait. He shouldn't allow himself to be distracted that easily.

"You're quite the devious vixen sometimes." He sighs and kisses her forehead. "I'm still not a grandfather though."

The Wind Mistress apparently would not be daunted from her teasing. "Of course, you are." Gales of laughter were now flowing from those luscious lips of hers. "Just think how sweet it will be when the child calls you Grandpa Fluffy."

That makes him twitch. Her lips might be luscious, but Sesshomaru had his pride. Being called Grandpa Fluffy was a bridge too far.

"Do I have to take you to the dungeon again?" The woman was quite certainly asking for it.

She smiles and kisses him. "I find it ridiculously adorable, that you actually believe that's a threat and not a promise." He kisses back and raises an eyebrow. "I quite liked what happened there last time."

Oh. Well that was true. Last time had been a rather enjoyable experience. Maybe, he'd move up that timeline for his first pup after all.

"Rin, you look beautiful." Kagome smiles at his wife as he and Rin make their way into the house.

Sasuke smiles smugly at that. "Of course, she does." She looked beautiful everyday.

Rin laughs and goes to sit down by the table. Thank goodness that there was already a feast laid out for them. A feast of fish stew and Sasuke could see some strawberries were displayed as well.

Strawberries mixed with fish stew might seem an odd combination, but this was Rin. While her Morning Sickness had gone away, her food cravings hadn't. Woe to anyone who didn't have strawberries on hand when they hit.

Sasuke still shivers at that particular memory. It was terrifying. The first time, that the strawberries weren't available when his beloved wife wanted them.

"Sorry, Rin." Sasuke shook his head as he walked back into private quarters. "It seems that the cook ran out of them."

They had still been in the Western Castle at the time. That hadn't been a phrase that Sasuke had ever had to say before, but it was true now. The Western Castle was apparently out of strawberries.

Rin threw a pillow at him. "I need them though." It was bizarre.

The woman had half cried and half growled at him. Sasuke hadn't even known if he should run or try to comfort her at the time. Women were such unpredictable creatures at the best of times and even more so when they were expecting, apparently.

"Alright!" Sasuke remembered being a bit terrified of his normally sweet wife. "I'll go out and try to find some."

So he did what any intelligent man would have done in his situation. Sasuke ran out of the room in search of strawberries.

"So when is the baby due?" Shippo smiles at them.

That was a good question. "About six months from now." Give or take a couple weeks, Sasuke decides.

It was almost impossible to predict exactly when a woman would give birth. Naturally, he was giving it his best shot. He and Sesshomaru both had their bets to see when Rin would go into labor and Sasuke was almost certain that Sesshomaru had a bet going on with Kagura about the issue as well.

Rin smiles and nods as she eats some strawberries. "Yes, we're very excited." That was an understatement.

It was finally happening. Sasuke was going to have his family back. Well a new family, anyway. A new family for a new world and a new life.

There were times that he thought about his former one. Other than Naruto and his teams though, Sasuke was glad to be gone. He didn't have to worry about his past here. He could be happy with his family and not have to worry about his sins coming back to haunt him.

"Very." Sasuke nods as he kisses the top of her head.

Sango smiles at them as she sits in Miroku's lap. "Well that's good. We were all hoping that the two of you would get together." A fact that the Monk seemed positively delighted about.

After all, there was a reason why they had three children. That was definitely not a cold martial bed, Sasuke decides. Feeling slightly disturbed at his turn of thoughts, he tries to snap himself out of it. It was none of his business. Their relationship was really none of his business.

"Lady Inukimi was nice enough to build us a house." Rin giggles as Inuyasha raises an eyebrow.

He was probably thinking what Sasuke was thinking. Lady Inukimi and nice generally didn't go in the same sentence, but in this case it was accurate enough. The woman had built them a house.

"Well that's good." Inuyasha stuffs some food into his mouth. "The house is amazing. Though I wonder what she wanted. This is Sesshomaru's mother." Uh oh. "She doesn't do something for nothing." Damn it.

This conversation was going where Sasuke had been afraid that it was going. Rin wouldn't react very well to that comment.

"Lady Inukimi is Lord Sesshomaru's mother." Her eyes narrow. "I won't have you insulting her."

For a moment, it looked like Rin and Inuyasha were going to get into a catfight, but Kagome holds him back. "Inuyasha, be nice. She's pregnant." The raven haired woman gives her lover a dirty look. "You don't want to upset Rin in her condition because you know what will happen if that happens. Sasuke and Sesshomaru will pick a fight."

Pick a fight? Oh Sasuke wouldn't pick a fight. If someone was foolish enough to upset his wife in her condition, they were the ones picking a fight. They would be the ones starting things and he would damn sure finish it.

"Whatever." Inuyasha rolls his eyes. "You all know that I'm right anyway." This prompts a serious of giggles from the children as they all quickly go back to enjoying their meal.

Jaken shakes his head and grumbles as he climbs the stairs of the Western Castle. So many damn stairs and all because Rin had gotten pregnant. The child didn't realize how lucky she was to have Lord Sesshomaru's favor sometimes.

"I can't believe he wants me to send our best healer to that village." The imp snorts at the thought. "Rin will be fine." Breeding was something that humans were very good at.

Wasn't that the entire reason why Lady Midori had come to Japan in the first place? She knew what was going to happen eventually. The only difference between her and Jaken in that respect was that the toad demon trusted Lord Sesshomaru completely.

His Lord wouldn't allow such a thing to come to pass. He was far too smart to permit humans to overrun demons. While there were certainly far more humans than demons at the moment, Jaken knew that humans tended to be a lot more fragile. They would be fine.

"What is it that you desire, Jaken?" An ancient Inu woman smiles at him. "You do look quite the sight today."

Of course, he looked quite the sight. He had just gone up far too many stars. Sachi was their best healer and worked on those who needed the most privacy. So her ward was at the top of the castle.

"Lord Sesshomaru requests that you temporarily reside in Kaede's Village." He pants, desperately struggling to catch his breath. "He wishes for you to care for Rin during her pregnancy and when she goes into labor."

There. He had delivered the message. Just as his Lord had instructed him to do. There was nothing that Jaken wouldn't do for Lord Sesshomaru.

"Very well." She blinks. "I shall pack my things and leave as soon as I'm able. Will that be all?"

It wasn't shocking that Sachi had never expected to be sent off the village. After all, Kaede was known to be quite the skilled healer and Sachi was the best that they had. Her place was clearly in the Western Castle.

He sighs and nods. "Yes, that will be all." Jaken pauses and then adds. "If you desire an escort though, one shall be provided for you."

It was best to ensure that the woman would arrive at her destination safe and sound. When it came to Rin's safety, no chances could be taken. Lest they all earn Sesshomaru's ire.

"That is a good idea." She smiles at him. "Would you be so kind as to organize one for me?"

Damn it. His work was never done. "Very well. I shall have your party ready for you as swiftly as possible." With that being said, the imp dashes off to make the necessary preparations.

The sooner Sachi was in that village, the better. Lord Sesshomaru would not be pleased, if either of them dallied in their assigned tasks.

Kaede smiles as the dinner begins to wind down. It was truly a beautiful sight. Watching young people in love and about to start families of their own.

The child had grown so much. When she first met Rin, Kaede had felt pity for the girl. To be so loyal to someone who was so cold was almost never a good thing. Slowly, but surely Rin had proven her wrong.

She had melted Lord's Sesshomaru's heart and become like a daughter to him. Not only that, but the girl had played an instrumental role in their winning a war. Girl. She really needed to stop calling Rin that.

"Would you care for some more stew?" Kaede smiles at everyone in her home.

Rin was now a woman. A grown woman who was expecting her first child and had one the love of the handsome traveler who had come to their village all those Moons ago. It was like something straight out of a fairy tale.

It seemed that miracles did happen sometimes. Her own sister had not received such a happy end to her fate. Well perhaps, that was inaccurate. Kagome was her reincarnation. So in a way, Kikyo had gotten to be with the man she loved. Just not in the way that the woman had originally planned.

"Yes, please." Almost everyone hands her a bowl at that question.

Kaede chuckles as she gives them all a second serving. Of course, she made sure that Rin got the most. The woman was eating for two now.

"Meow." Kirara apparently wanted some too.

Probably because it was fish. Some things were universal. All cats liked fish, it seemed whether they were regular felines or demonic ones.

"Don't worry, Kirara." Sango laughs softly. "I doubt that Lady Kaede would forget to give you a bowl."

That was true. So Kaede gives the neko a heaping, helping of stew. Much to the feline's delight, of course.

"Probably a good idea not to be near Rin when she goes into labor." Inuyasha shakes his head. "That stuff is terrifying. Women who are having babies are scarier than Naraku."

Sasuke shoots him a confused look. "Who is Naraku?" Oh that was right.

Sasuke wouldn't have a clue who Inuyasha was referring to. He had arrived long after that abomination was finally dispatched.

Kaede was about to explain before Rin beat her to the punch. "He was a very bad man, but he's gone now." Well that summed up what could have been an extremely complicated story, quite nicely.

"Ah." Sasuke nods. "I've met a lot of those in my time." The raven haired man smirks at that thought as he apparently relives some memories in his mind. "I've killed a few of them in my time too."

Miroku laughs at that and shakes his head. "Is that what you told Lord Sesshomaru when he wanted to know if you could protect Rin?" Yes, that was something that Kaede had pondered herself.

She knew the Demon Lord fairly well. The elderly woman also knew how fiercely protective he was of Rin. That couldn't have been easy. Gaining Sesshomaru's Blessing must have proven quite the difficult feat to accomplish, indeed.

Love. That was really the only way that someone would ever have such courage. The courage to ask the Inu Lord for his Blessing.

"That's a long story." Sasuke smiles as he caresses Rin's cheek. "It doesn't really matter though. All that matters is that Rin said yes and that Lord Sesshomaru has accepted the fact that nothing will keep us apart."

That was sweet. So romantic. It almost made Kaede regret not marrying herself. In the end though, she knew that she had chosen wisely. Her path was somewhat of a solitary one, but the old woman wasn't alone. She had her friends.

"Good." Kaede laughs, but decides that Inuyasha was likely right about one very important thing. "You should follow his advice though." She smirks as Sasuke shoots her a puzzled look. "Make sure not to be within striking distance when your wife goes into labor."

Sasuke shrugs as though he wasn't particularly worried. "Rin would never lash out at me." Rin smiles at that. "Not unless we're out of her precious strawberries, anyway. Then I would be terrified."

That statement makes the woman blush as red as her beloved fruit and Kaede laughs once more. Yes, watching two people in love and about to start a family was indeed a beautiful thing.