I disclaim everything that needs to be. Your reviews are so sweet; it honestly makes it more fun to write knowing y'all actually wanna read it. (which is hard to know in my career as a poet/writer) … Please know I appreciate them SO much.
Bold means a change in location and/ or time or time period. Italics are thoughts, typically. Rin means "dignified", Kama means "love", Haru means "Eternal Treasure", Lev means "love", Kei means "blessings", Caia means "rejoice"
Love Letters- Chapter 22, Letter 23
Kagome yawned, eyelashes fluttering against her cheeks before opening. She smiled softly, taking in the sight before her. She'd found him in this position every morning they woke up in the hospital, if he wasn't snuggled up behind her. Sesshomaru pulled a lounge chair up next to her bed and the cribs that held their twins. He was holding both twins, his eyes fluttering open and closed as he fought his sleep to watch them. Sleepily, she pulled her phone from the table to take a picture. At the sound of the click, he lifted his head.
His sleepy amber eyes were filled with love and admiration, "good morning, my love."
"Good morning, new daddy." She replied softly, smiling.
His eyes sparkled when he heard the title, "how do you feel, new mama?"
She sighed, moving to sit up while unbuttoning the shirt she was wearing, "I'm alright, I'm so ready to get home though. When are we released?"
"In an hour or two," Sesshomaru glanced at his phone as he handed Rin to Kagome to breast feed, "Kikyo said no more than an hour after you woke up."
Over the last three days they'd gotten in some sort of rhythm. One twin would wake; they would both get up to assess the need. Kagome would breastfeed, if needed, and Sesshomaru took over most of the diaper duty. The baby fed, burped, changed, and laid back down to sleep. The other would wake and cycle would repeat. With both of them so close, not a whimper was missed between the two new parents and their babies.
Sesshomaru watched as Kagome changed their children's clothes in preparation to leave the hospital. He sent a text to Shin, prompting him to get the car ready at the entrance with the least amount of paparazzi presence. Their release papers signed, and their clothes changed, it was finally time to go home. Sesshomaru lifted Kagome into the wheelchair and handed her their twins. Ken and Inuyasha were waiting at the back entrance, Shin parked right outside the door.
"Ready to come home?" Ken asked, smiling at his daughter-in-law.
Kagome smiled, lifting her head from her twins, "We're ready."
Ken nodded, "Then may I present…. your push present. From your husband."
Sesshomaru wheeled Kagome out to his favorite surprise. A black Mercedes SUV was waiting for them, Shin in the front seat. Big enough to hold all of her equipment, paintings, and the twins.
"Sessh…. you really didn't…" Kagome giggled, "you finally put the monster to rest." The giggle blossomed to a laugh when she heard Inuyasha cheering.
"Glad I got the extra car seats then! Time to go home!" he opened the backseat, showcasing the inside of the car. The interior was midnight blue, matching perfectly with the sparkly night-sky looking ceiling. The custom Gucci car seats Inuyasha bought revealed his impact on the car surprise, matching perfectly with the aesthetic the car exuded.
Kagome handed Haru to Sesshomaru and stood, moving to put Rin in her car seat. Sesshomaru went to the other side of the car quickly, hoping to watch and learn how to safely clip their children into their seats.
"How do you already know how to do this?" He breathed, watching her expertly pull the straps into place.
"I watched like, six tutorials on it. Plus, Mama Aia showed me." Kagome said, tugging the last strap of Haru's car seat into place.
She looked up at Sesshomaru, smiling at the nervous look on his face, "Ready? Just lay them down like this," Kagome slowly lowered Rin into her car seat, feeling Sesshomaru watch her every move as he mimicked her. Then, the twins were safely buckled into their car seats. Kagome adjusted the two little mirrors so they could both see them from the front seat and slid herself into the passenger seat of her new car. Sesshomaru slid into the driver's seat and took a deep breath.
"We did it." Kagome smiled, looking at him.
He put the key in the ignition, "I'm so proud of you Kagome. You did wonderfully."
She laughed, "and you were so worried about the pain. What was labor like….7 hours?"
He nodded, "your labor was fast, and your pregnancy was relatively easy. I'm hoping they'll all be like that.", sending a smile in her direction.
Kagome's laughed echoed through the car, causing Rin to blink her eyes open and smile. Looking into the mirror, she quickly whirled around with her phone, taking a picture of the smiling black-haired baby. Sesshomaru steeled his focus on the road, trying to drive as quickly and as carefully as possible. He wanted to see her smile with his own eyes.
Kagome sniffled, "she's so happy!", she laughed as a tear fell from her eyes.
Rin smiled her gummy smile at her mama, mirroring the glowy happy look on her face. Sesshomaru slowed as they reached the front gate to their house. Tetsko opened it, smiling and waving as they passed.
Window lowering, Sesshomaru spoke, "My father is coming. If he is not here already. Expect everyone over the next few days, now that we've brought home the babies. Come up and we'll discuss what's been happening while we were gone when my father arrives."
He nodded, "Congrats you guys! I'm so excited to meet the new babies!"
"Thank you, T! Come up and I'll make you a coffee you like, okay?" Kagome called, twisting back to sit forward in her seat. He nodded again as Sesshomaru drove through the open gates to Kagome's new parking spot in the driveway. Inuyasha's truck was sitting outside, as well as Aia's BMW. Eri and Jaken's cars were lined up next to the row of cars used by the security teams.
Parking, Kagome and Sesshomaru moved to get their children out of their car seats. Sesshomaru rushed to Rin's side of the car to see her still smiling, now settling her blue eyes on him. He smiled back at his daughter, lifting the car seat from the car connector.
The couple gathered the diaper bag, a gift from one of Sesshomaru's clients, and moved to the door. Jaken quickly pulled it open, revealing Inuyasha, Aia, and Eri on the other side waiting for them. Sesshomaru could hear Chef Tati cooking, too.
Kagome grinned, "Hi guys! Y'all are so sweet to welcome us home!"
Eri rushed forward to take the diaper bag from Kagome's shoulder, "Of course we came! There's so much to talk about! And we all wanted to meet the talk of the town!"
Sesshomaru smiled, "Well, Haru is still sleeping so when he wakes up, he can meet people. Rin on the other hand," he raised her up, showing off her bright curious eyes, "is wide awake."
"hmm" Kagome hummed, "I wonder if she's hungry. She hasn't cried, though. Or that little whimper sound she does, has she?"
"No," Sesshomaru shook his head, "she's been happy and quiet."
"what a good baby," Aia cooed, "a treasure amongst treasures."
The group moved from the entryway to the family room, Eri and Jaken taking the bags upstairs to get unpacked and settled. Inuyasha settled on the floor next to the couch where Kagome sat with a sleeping Haru in her arms, Sesshomaru taking pictures with his phone as Aia cooed at Rin in her arms. She was reaching out toward her grandmother's face, trying to hold onto the delicately painted finger twirling in front of her face.
"I'm just obsessed with looking at him." Kagome whispered, "he's perfect. Like his dad, like his sister."
"like you, 'Gome." Inuyasha said softly, "he's a really cute kid. I want him to wake up though."
As if on cue, or he heard his uncle talking about him, Haru's eyes fluttered open with a yawn. He blinked and started at Inuyasha, before reaching out and tugging on the closest strand of hair he could find, a handful of silver locks. Kagome giggled, and Sesshomaru shifted his camera's attention to his son's antics.
"Oi! Little man! Hands off the goods," he gently tugged the baby fist from his hair before lifting the baby from his carrier. The amber eyed boys looked at each other. Haru reached his hand out again, opening and closing his fist, gurgling.
Kagome giggled at her son. Sesshomaru moved forward to sit next to his wife, watching his younger brother play with their son. She leaned into him, feeling him wrap his arms around her. Rin was giggling in her grandmother's arms and Haru was smiling at his uncle. Things were right. And it was still their secret.
Sesshomaru turned when he heard Jaken's voice, "Sir! Everyone is in the living room." Papa Inu was walking across the threshold, briefcase in hand.
"They're awake! I came at the perfect time. My son, there are a few things to discuss but work can wait." Ken knelt next to Inuyasha; eyes transfixed on the baby Haru.
"That's Papa's new best friend," Kagome smiled, "He looks a little like Daddy, too. Just with the Tashio eyes."
Sesshomaru nodded, amused, "we may have to be careful. There may be a new heir to the Tashio House now."
Aia moved towards them as Rin started to fuss, "Babygirl is hungry, my darling." She passed the child to her father, who waited for Kagome to lift the t-shirt she was wearing up over her breast.
Sliding down one side of the unlined bra, Kagome took Rin into her arms and nursed, taking in the conversations. Sesshomaru turned to his mother, "How have things been, Mother?"
"Maru, the new lines are coming along flawlessly. What's more exciting is your father's help. He's helping me look for a house here, so I can get out of that hotel. I plan on relocating here for a while. After all," she looked at the people in the room and back to her son, "my muses are not in Spain."
Eri perked up, "I'll bet he sent you to Layla. She helped Sesshomaru and Papa Inu pick out this house. There was a beautiful Spanish-style property in the Hills that she should show you," she sent a text, "I'll make sure she does."
Aia smiled, "Eri, the tireless busybody. Thank you."
"Let me know what you need for the new house, Mama Aia," Kagome said, shifting Rin in her arms, "decorating this place has been so fun I want to do another house."
"I have some of your art, my dear, but I always need more. We must set up a day for family portraits."
Ken nodded excitedly, "and we are finally nearing wedding planning."
Sesshomaru sighed, "the babies aren't even a week old yet, Father. The wedding won't be for months. If not a year."
Kagome chuckled, "it takes a year to plan a wedding. At least. We can start with the small things, venue…theme…" She passed the now satiated Rin to Sesshomaru as Haru fussed in Inuyasha's arms for his feeding. She reached for her son, quickly latching him to the opposite breast Rin was on.
"She's right, you know," Aia agreed as Sesshomaru burped Rin, "my son there is much you do not know about this world. I've done many weddings, and the gowns are always one of the first things to do."
"Mother, I don't think Kagome is…" Sesshomaru started.
"Mama, we can start designing next week. We need to take some time and talk things through, Sessh and I. I'll think on the portraits, too. It's for the Christmas card, right?" Kagome interrupted, knowing he was going to comment on her healing body. He nodded.
Nodding, Aia smiled at Kagome, understanding, "of course darling. We have time."
Kagome stifled a yawn as Rin yawned in Sesshomaru's arms. Haru burped, picking up the last yawn.
Ken smiled softly, "Sesshomaru, I think it's nap time for everyone. Get them settled and I'll meet you in the office. Yash, Souta will be home soon, keep an eye out for him."
He and Inuyasha nodded, Sesshomaru nudged Kagome to stand and follow him to the nursery, each of them carrying a child. Eri and Jaken followed, carrying the baby things left behind. They laid their children in their cribs and turned on the baby monitors, lingering in the doorway for a moment before moving to their bedroom. Sesshomaru swept Kagome up into his arms, laying her gently in their bed.
"I'll be in the office. I have a baby monitor. Get some rest, love."
"hmm," Kagome yawned, "Leave a monitor in here too, and wake me when y'all are done. I told Tetsko I'd make him a coffee."
"did you pump?" He asked, looking at the diaper bag sitting near the door, next to her purse. The breast pump and bottles were still neatly packed.
Kagome shook her head, "I forgot, just wake me up if they need to eat."
Sesshomaru sighed, "okay. But after dinner you're pumping. You need to sleep through the night too."
Kagome yawned again, snuggling into her blanket, "fine, sweetie. I love you."
He dropped a kiss on her forehead before standing, "I love you too."
Leaving a baby monitor on her nightstand, Sesshomaru took his and moved to his office. His father, Tetsko, Jaken, and Shin were all waiting for him.
A few minutes passed, "So?" He asked, cutting the silence.
"While the two of you were at the hospital, Hiro tried to come onto the property here, and the other house twice. The first time Ginta and Hakkaku cornered him before he got past the first curve. The second, the police were called, and he was arrested. It seems as though one of the Paps saw Inuyasha, Souta, and me leaving the hospital and connected the dots, that's how they found out. At no time did Hiro see or interact with Souta, which seems to be Shynah's goal when she's managed to see Jaken or Eri in public. Hiro is still in jail, pending his trial. No bail. No bond. None of you have to make an appearance, though I'm sure you will want to, son." Ken explained, knowing his son had no patience for the formalities in this discussion.
Sesshomaru nodded, glancing at the baby monitor on his desk at his sleeping babies. More than anything, he wanted to keep his family safe. Hiro breaking the terms of the restraining order so soon was not surprising, and he was glad the courts would allow him to be locked up for good soon.
"That's everything?"
Tetsko sighed, "Mostly. Shynah is our next worry. The post office knows to redirect any mail from her to the old house to be inspected. The last two have had notes for Souta, and old letters from Haru." He handed a large mania envelope over.
Sesshomaru nodded once, taking it. He knew Shynah would be much sneakier, Hiro was not known for his tact. The letters he would give to Kagome, they were hers to deal with.
"Make sure they are all drug tested, all fluids and hair before court, if they haven't been already," Sesshomaru directed, "Tetsko, Shin, make sure everyone knows we're on high alert. Maximum security protocol. Kagome, Souta, and the Twins will never be alone. They will not come near them; they will not lay eyes on them. If I am not with them, Inuyasha or my Father will be. They will never be out of your sight. If paparazzi ask, we're protecting the privacy of our children."
They all nodded, the family they protected treated them like family. They knew the history of Shynah and Hiro and wanted nothing more than to keep the sweet woman they worked for safe.
"Son," Ken stood, putting a hand on his eldest son's shoulder, "it's going to be alright. He will never see her, or the twins." His phone beeped, Kanna's text interrupting his pep talk.
"What is it?" Tetsko asked as he and Shin's phones started buzzing.
Ken moved to the bookshelf and pressed a button. A TV replaced one of the paintings on the wall. It flickered to life as the channel was switched to Entertainment Tonight.
"We have an exclusive preview of our interview with Shynah Higurashi-Onigumo! Our own Yura Ahiko got the scoop of the year with the mother of Kagome Tashio! She speaks on her relationship with her daughter, her late ex-husband, and her current life as well as previewing her new book- Behind the Mirror: A Model's Life."
Ken groaned, "that was the other thing, Sesshomaru. Myoga found out she's been writing a book about her life."
"That's hilarious." A voice came from the doorway of the office. Kagome stood there, holding her breast pump under her t-shirt with one hand, and a slowly filling bottle in the other. An empty bottle peeked out one pocket of her robe, the baby monitor peeking out of the other.
"Kagome! I thought you were napping, dear." Ken jumped, the rest of the men scrambling to try and turn off the TV.
"Oh please, I was. The kids are still sleeping, but Eri texted about my Mother's interview. I figured y'all were watching it." She shrugged, "I'm grown. You don't have to hide everything they do from me."
Sesshomaru nodded, "I think you pumping like that threw them off." He brushed off their real concerns, smiling at her. He sat at his desk, opening his arms for her to sit in his lap while they watched.
"Now Shynah," Yura smiled directly into the camera, "you've been out of the spotlight for so long. The last time you made headlines was your bitter divorce and custody battle, ending with the death of your ex-husband. What's been going on with you since then?"
Shynah sneered, "well, without telling any secrets…"
The clip switched to later in the interview, the voiceover continuing, "She talks about her kids…"
"I haven't seen my two in so long. It's heartbreaking to be rejected as a mother when all you've done is what's best for them. I think Kagome has a very large influence over her brother, he probably would love to see me."
Kagome laughed. The voiceover spoke, "her husband…"
"Hiro Onigumo saved my life. He's the best man, best father."
"and drops bombshells of her own!" the voiceover finished, fading to the final clip of Shynah.
"I wanted to write about my life, so my children know real me, and the truth. All three of them."
The theme music blared as the preview ended and the hosts launched into speculation about the Twins' birth.
Kagome sighed, "She's talking about Naraku."
Sesshomaru nodded, "Hiro's son. He's back? I thought he got sent off to Poland or something."
"German Military school. During 9th grade, if I recall correctly." Ken confirmed.
Kagome nodded, replacing the now full bottle of breast milk with the empty one, "He lived with us for a while. Who knows how many times I found him going through my underwear drawers or stealing my stuff from the laundry..." she trailed off, feeling Sesshomaru start to shift.
"That fight with Inuyasha is what got him sent away, right?" He tightened his arms around her, careful of the breast pump, and looked to his father, trying to remember.
Ken sighed, "Yes. Inuyasha found some inappropriate things in Naraku's backpack, something of yours, Kagome. And when Yash confronted him about it in the locker room…"
"I remember that," Kagome laughed a little, "Miroku came running to find me and Sesshomaru without realizing Sesshomaru was the only one who could go into the locker room to do anything about it."
Sesshomaru remembered that fight. By the time he got there, Inuyasha had broken Naraku's nose and arm. There was a large bleeding bite mark on Inuyasha's arm, which was the nail in the coffin. Naraku got expelled for that fight, his fourth that month, and court mandated to the Military school he was shipped to. It was only Inuyasha's second of the year, so he was let off with another warning.
Ultimately, Kagome was blamed for the fight. When she got home, flanked by Sesshomaru and Inuyasha, Hiro was quick to berate her for 'not protecting her brother'. With Naraku sent away, Hiro stepped up his harassment of Kagome.
Kagome laughed again before standing, "who wants coffee? Tea? A drink? The twins are still sleeping, they should be for an hour or two. Tati is cooking, right? Let's go downstairs and enjoy each other's company before dinner."
Sesshomaru shrugged and followed his wife, baby monitor in hand. The rest of the men looked at each other and turned to follow themselves, she was unfazed. Apparently Sesshomaru held enough worry about the situation for the both of them, and he was glad she wasn't focused on the potential harm. Her focus was on him, their children, and their lives together.
Kagome genuinely wasn't worried. She couldn't think of a single bad thing that could happen to them if Hiro couldn't get close, and there's no way he would get remotely close. She trusted her family, and herself to keep her and her family safe. There was nothing Hiro could do to hurt her now. Walking into the kitchen, husband in tow, she looked at the baby monitor. The kids were fast asleep, the video display showing the sleeping positions of each twin.
She settled in on the couch of the living room, listening to the men talk and joke around her as she continued to pump breast milk. Each of them had their drinks, varying coffees and cocktails as the prepared to get back to work or sit down for dinner. Sesshomaru looked at her, noticing the 4 full bottles sitting on the end table next to her.
"You're gonna pump those suckers dry, Kags." Inuyasha laughed, opening another beer.
Sesshomaru looked at his phone, his father sent him a text updating him on the tasks given to Myoga and the lawyers. Naraku would be added to the restraining orders as soon as possible. A bulletin was released to the press saying Kagome, Sesshomaru, Ken and Souta would be making no comments about Shynah and her book. If they were asked, any interview would be over immediately.
"I'm like a cow. When I eat, they fill back up." Kagome giggled, typing a message on her phone with one hand as she held the pump to her nipple with the other.
"Son, is it safe to assume you will be working from home?" Ken asked, taking a glass of whiskey from Jaken, nodding in thanks.
"hn," Sesshomaru mused, "that is correct. I'll be out of the main office for a few months, at least."
"He said six, Papa," Kagome said, "at least six months out of the main office, and he'll only take meetings, or do lunches outside here if I am somewhere nearby with the babies."
Sesshomaru shrugged, "I'm not missing a moment."
"And I love that you're going to be with us but Sessh," Kagome sighed, "it's so much time. I don't want you to miss-"
"Oh, he's not missing a thing!" Ken interrupted, "anything exciting I will hand deliver to this front door."
Chef Tati knocked on the doorway leading into the kitchen, "Y'all? Dinner's ready! Souta texted and said he's over at Hitomi's for the night. They'll be over for lunch tomorrow."
"Oh, thanks Tati!" Kagome jumped up, pulling the breast pump from under her shirt and leaving it on the side table, "I'm starved."
Sesshomaru laughed, "Thank you Chef," they followed the fast walking Kagome into the dining room to see a spread of Kagome and Sesshomaru's favorite foods.
"oh yum! There's steaks and porkchops and that stuffed chicken Kagome loves." Inuyasha settled in next to Kagome, digging into the mashed potatoes.
Sesshomaru, sitting on the other side of Kagome, watched as his family and friends ate around him. He wasn't very hungry, only eating a little bit. The afternoon learning about Shynah and Hiro's actions separated him from his appetite.
"Sessh," Kagome leaned her head on his arm, "it's gonna be okay."
As he turned to look at her, both of their attentions were turned to the baby monitors. Rin whimpered, and Kagome was standing, moving toward the stairs. Sesshomaru was right behind her.
"New parents," Ken laughed, "so jumpy."
Kagome made it to the crib first, picking Rin up to assess the issue. Sesshomaru went to Haru's crib, to check on him. Finding his son awake, blinking his soft amber eyes at the mobile circling above him. When he noticed his father standing over his crib, he smiled and reached his hands up. As Kagome burped Rin, she took the slow steps out of the nursery and down the stairs. The now giggling baby looked around the table at the attention she now commanded. Sesshomaru followed with Haru, his amber eyes curious.
Ken jumped up, moving to sit closer to Kagome "The babies!".
Giggling, Kagome watched as Rin reached her little hand out toward Ken. As she reached for him, Ken accepted her into his arms to coo at her. Sesshomaru was sitting with Haru, eating with one hand. When the baby fussed, eyes focused on Kagome, Sesshomaru nudged her.
"Your son," he said softly, "wants his mama."
Kagome reached up, spoon full of mashed potatoes in her mouth, and cradled her son with one arm as she continued to eat. He immediately stopped fussing, focused on his mother's face.
Shin looked at her, surprised, "you're so good at this already!"
"She's a natural," Aia said, taking a sip of her wine, "Kagome is a naturally compassionate force, of course she would adapt to motherhood so easily."
"I was a nanny for a long time, too," Kagome remembered, "when we were in New York. Plus, Haru is a good baby. Over the last few days Sessh's noticed that he wants me more often."
Sesshomaru nodded, "when he cries, he is usually reaching for her. Rin is content in anyone's arms, it seems."
The meal continued as the babies were slowly passed around. Tentatively, Shin and Tetsko held each twin, enamored with the soft baby skin and gummy smiles. Kagome made coffees as everyone relocated back into the living room for dessert. Inuyasha and Ken gently lowered the twins into their bassinettes, brought downstairs by Jaken and Eri sometime during dinner.
Looking around, listening to the quiet conversations as the night wound down. Shin and Tetsko left to relieve Ginta and Hakkaku, affectionately dropping a kiss to the top of Kagome's head and shaking Sesshomaru's hand.
Aia settled into one of the guest suites, not wanting to stay in her hotel for the night. Inuyasha yawned and jumped up the stairs to his own suite, a glass of whiskey in one hand and his phone in the other.
Ken, Eri, and Jaken were all that remained.
"think they'll wake up if we try to move them?" Kagome asked quietly, looking at her sleeping babies.
"they might. But we have enough bottles to last the night if they latch one more time before bed." Sesshomaru decided, standing to lift Rin into his arms. Kagome gathered Haru and neither woke as they made the slow walk up the stairs to the nursery. Jaken, Eri, and Ken followed, waiting to say goodnight.
When he moved to lower Rin into her crib, he hesitated.
"I want them in the bedroom with us." He said, turning. He found Kagome standing by the door, entranced by her sleeping son's face.
"Me too," her voice was soft.
Behind them, Ken smiled, ushering Jaken and Eri to bring the bassinettes that were once in the living room into the bedroom, setting them up at the foot of their massive bed. It was then that they laid the twins down and started their goodbyes.
After everyone had gone, with promises to return for brunch the next day, Kagome and Sesshomaru looked at each other.
"it's our first night as a family, in our home, Kags." Sesshomaru allowed the sentimentality to tinge his voice as he changed into his pajamas.
"exciting, right?" she smiled, lifting her t-shirt over her head and sliding out of her leggings.
"It is," he leaned over the bed to give her a kiss, "this is the first day of the rest of our lives."
Kagome took one last look at the twins before sliding under the covers, watching as Sesshomaru pulled out his pen and paper to write a letter.
Kagome,
You think I'm writing to our children right now. And it is their first day home with us. But I am writing to you, my beloved. You, my strength personified. My love, transcended. You are everything and more. The greatest blessing I've ever had is you. And you continue to bless me. This is our next great adventure. I would want to do it with no one else. My wife, my best friend, the stunning mother to my perfect children. My Kagome, you are everything.
Love,
Sesshomaru
*that's all folks! That's it for this chapter. Next, parenthood. I really appreciate y'all taking the time to read my stories! Let me know what y'all think! –Inu'sgurl97 *