Take Another Breath

As he closed the door behind him, Sesshoumaru cast his gaze across the room, wondering where his mate had gone. She was nowhere in sight. Just as panic began to well up within him, she emerged from the bath, drying her hair as she made her way to the wardrobe. At the sight of him, she smiled brightly, her turquoise eyes gleaming with joy. "Good morning, Sesshy."

"Hikari..." Sesshoumaru breathed a sigh of relief, striding swiftly to the petite kitsune's side and sweeping her up in his arms. He buried his face in her damp hair, the tension slowly ebbing out of his muscular form. "I was worried, my mate."

"Really?" Slender brows shot skyward, a vaguely amused expression flickering across her face, before she schooled her features into a blank mask. "That's sweet of you, Sesshy. Can I get dressed now?"

To say Sesshoumaru was confused was an understatement. Drawing back at Hikari's request, he scowled, looking down at her while she donned a kimono of pale yellow with a dark green obi, collar, and embroidered vine pattern at the hem and cuffs. She didn't look ill at all.. in fact, she looked like the absolute epitome of health. "..Would you mind explaining why you were so ill earlier, and now you are quite well?"

"All in good time." Pulling her hair back in a dark green ribbon, Hikari glanced over her shoulder at Sesshoumaru, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. As she turned to face him, she bit her lower lip, trying to stifle a giggle. "Perhaps you should dress.. we need to go for a walk."

Though he just wanted to find out what was wrong with his mate, he decided to humor her. Pulling on his haori, Sesshoumaru turned to Hikari, arching a brow in question. She simply laced her arm with his, and practically dragged him out of their room, down the stairs, and into the garden. They seemed to be wandering aimlessly, and after a few moments, his patience was sufficiently depleted. Dropping her arm, he whipped her around and grabbed her shoulders, staring down at her with worry and impatience evident in his golden eyes. "Hikari, I will go no further until you tell me what is wrong that made you sick this morning."

Tilting her head, Hikari smiled sweetly up at him, though her words were laced with irritation. "I won't say anything till we get where I want to go."

"..Why do I put up with you?" He was growling, but it was apparent to Hikari that he was kidding, seeing as he ran his clawed fingers back through her hair with a lopsided smirk.

"Because you like my body." Winking playfully at Sesshoumaru, she grabbed his hand and led him deeper into the gardens again. Eventually, they came to the sakura tree beneath which they had become mates. Releasing his hand and turning to face him, she smiled. Perhaps it was just a trick of the dawn light, but she seemed to be glowing. "We've been mates for over a year, Sesshoumaru. It was in this exact spot that you made me yours."

"A night I remember well, my little kitsune." Sesshoumaru actually smiled slightly at the memory, sliding both arms around her slender waist and pulling her close against him. He pressed a kiss to her forehead, rubbing her back as he gazed curiously at her. "Why did you bring me here? The healer said you wanted to tell me what was wrong..."

"I'm not sure how to say this other than to be direct and honest." Suddenly, she was nervous, curling her hands in the front of his haori as she glanced down at the grass beneath their feet. How would he react? Would he be upset? Taking a deep breath, she released it as a sigh, looking up at him again with a worried expression. "I'm pregnant, Sesshoumaru."

Silence filled the morning air, making Hikari bite her lip, terrified that he was displeased with the information. Slowly, his golden eyes wandered down her body, brow furrowing as his sights landed on the flat expanse of her stomach. "..I am going to be.. a father?"

"Yes. I carry your child." Stepping back slightly, still unsure of his feelings about the babe, she stared in shock as Sesshoumaru abruptly dropped to his knees, bringing his hands to caress her stomach.

"A child. My child." A look of pure wonder came across his handsome features, his face turning upwards, eyes wide and the hint of a smile at the corners of his lips. "Our child."

"You're not upset?" Placing her hands atop his head, she threaded her claws through his silver hair, anxiously awaiting his reply.

He seemed astounded by the question, his hands pausing in their tentative explanation of her still flat abdomen while he blinked up at her. "Upset? Why in the name of kami-sama would I be upset?"

"Oh.. that's right.. I forgot." Now utterly depressed, Hikari sighed, letting her hands fall to dangle aimlessly at her sides. "You took me as your mate so I could provide you with an heir."

"..That may have been the case, all that time ago. But things have changed. It occurred to me, just this morning, when I thought you were ill..." Laying his head against her body, he grimaced, not wanting to look at her when he tried to express his feelings. Would she shun him? "..I care deeply for you, Hikari. I was terrified by the notion that you were ill.. that you could die, that I would lose you..."

Her heart seemed to stop in her chest. He cared about her? Tentatively, she extended her awareness along the length of their bond, exploring his feelings, or trying to. What she felt there stunned her, for it was what she'd been feeling for him since the night of Sango and Miroku's wedding. Could it be..? Gasping for air, she spoke breathlessly, almost hoping he couldn't hear her whispered utterance. "Ai shiteru, Sesshoumaru."

Sesshoumaru tensed, looking up at Hikari in silence for a moment. Then his face broke out in a genuine grin of happiness, and he leaped to his feet, snatching Hikari up in his arms and kissing her wherever he could find a place to put his lips.. her face, her neck, her ears. Her giggles were like music to his ears as he held her there, her feet dangling above the ground, and kissed her one final time on the lips. "Ai shiteru, Hikari."

----------

After Sesshoumaru told Jiro the good news, it spread like wildfire through the keep. Once Rin and Shippou had awakened, they were told the good news as well.. but rather than being happy, as their adopted parents thought they would be, both children became rather quiet, and went off to their playroom with a subdued air about them. Deciding they would discuss it with the two later, Hikari and Sesshoumaru soon dismissed the matter and began discussing the preparations they would need to make for the babe. They spent the whole day in the garden, beneath their sakura tree, reveling in their newfound feelings for each other and the joyous news of their child.

At dinner, Rin and Shippou barely touched their food, and asked to leave early. Worriedly, Hikari granted their request, only to look at Sesshoumaru with a distressed expression. They soon followed the children to their room, only to stop outside at hearing a snippet of the conversation within.

"Do you think we could run away if we tried?" Shippou's normally chipper voice was distraught. What he said made Hikari's eyes widen as she looked at Sesshoumaru.

"I doubt it. Sesshoumaru-sama's guards are very well trained.. they probably wouldn't let us out without an express order from Sesshoumaru-sama himself." Rin sounded near tears; there was a rustling of cloth, and they saw Shippou's shadow on the door as he went to Rin and hugged her.

"We'll find a way out of here, Rin. I hate to leave okaasan, but she'll be happier without us here.. then she'll be able to pay attention to the baby, without worrying about us." He sighed, and Hikari covered her mouth with a hand, tears welling up in her eyes. It seemed clear to her what they were worried about.. that she wouldn't love them anymore now that she had Sesshoumaru's child within her. Sesshoumaru decided it was time to end this nonsense. Pulling Hikari to his side, he knocked on the wooden portion of the door, before sliding it open and stepping into the room.

"..Rin. Shippou. Explain your actions today." Sesshoumaru was stern, his features blank, though his eyes were brimming with disappointment. Hikari's obvious distress made both Rin and Shippou break down in tears as they ran to cling to their adoptive mother.

"Gomen, okaasan! But.. but we though with you and otousan having a baby.. you wouldn't have enough time for us anymore." Shippou sniffled pitifully, wiping tears from his face as he looked up at Hikari.

"Oh, Shippou..." Kneeling as she fought the urge to cry, Hikari gathered Rin and Shippou into her arms, cuddling the two. She lost the battle against her tears, kissing the two on the forehead as she smiled a bit. "That would never happen. You two are our children, no matter how many other children Sesshoumaru and I may have. In fact, Rin.. there's a way that I can make you into a youkai."

Rin gaped, then became extremely excited, bouncing as she looked from Sesshoumaru, who nodded, then back to Hikari. "Really, okaasan? How? When?"

"Yes, Rin.. really. How, with a very old kitsune magic. And when.. well, not until a while after the baby is born. If I don't do it till then, I could hurt the baby, or myself." Hikari smoothed Rin's hair back from her face, then stood, looking at the elated grins on the childrens' faces.

"I'll wait as long as it takes, okaasan. I would be honored to be a youkai like you and otousan." Rin bowed, then looked over at Shippou, who was grinning happily. They were still a family!

----------

Preparations were put into effect immediately, and a little over a week later, the Hall of the West was decorated for Hikari's presentation. All the taiyoukai nobles were streaming into Sesshoumaru's home, being greeted by the mated couple. The Lord of the West was, as usual, in his vibrantly patterned haori, sans Toukijin and Tenseiga. It was the petite kitsune at his side that was the subject of much whispering amongst the nobles; she was vibrant and beautiful, standing next to her mate in the same kimono she had worn at Sango and Miroku's wedding, her hair unbound. Since it was highly irregular for mated couples to show affection when around those not of their household, they stood side-by-side but didn't touch.. though they did occasionally exchange brief looks and fleeting smiles, seeming to communicate through their bond.

Soon enough, all the nobles had arrived, and were gathered in the large banquet hall. The various people stood behind the places at the long table discreetly bearing their names, and Sesshoumaru pointed out several important figures as he guided his mate to their place at the head of the table.. such as the Lords of the North and East and their mates, the newly appointed Lord of the South, and the various underlings of all four lords. When they got to their places, Sesshoumaru laid his hand on Hikari's lower back, his powerful voice echoing in the suddenly silent room.

"I, Lord Sesshoumaru of the Western Lands, Keeper of the Setting Sun, present to you Lady Hikari.. my mate." His golden gaze roved across the hall, assessing the males within the room. Most of them were simply intrigued by the beautiful, mysterious kitsune. Sesshoumaru's gaze sharpened as it landed on the Lord of the South, however, noticing that the dragon seemed to be gazing a bit too intently at his mate. There was a growl in his tone as he spoke again, hopefully completing the task of presenting his mate. "I have bound myself to this female, and she to me; our mating took place one year, four months ago. She bears my child."

Sesshoumaru was pleased to see the Lord of the South quickly lose interest in his mate. Looking down at Hikari, he smirked, and barely managed not to laugh at her amused whisper. "That's it? Seems like a whole lot of trouble for a little dinner and some fancy proclamation of what everyone already knows."

Taking her hand and helping her seat herself on the low cushions, he settled beside her, leaning over to whisper a reply. "It has only just begun, koishii. Now we must endure their questions."

They were well into the meal when Yuji, the Lord of the East, decided it was time to start the gossip train. Looking to Sesshoumaru, the hawk taiyoukai laid his chopsticks on his plate and turned to address the newly mated couple. "So, Lord Sesshoumaru.. according to what Lord Ichiiro told us, the unfortunate timing of our last council took you from your Lady the very morning after your mating. Even though we were in council for three months, you waited more than a year to finally present her to the court. May I inquire as to why that was?"

Hikari studied the male's appearance, evaluating the differences between him and Sesshoumaru. His hair was a short, shaggy golden red, the color of a young eagle's feathers, his eyes were the sharp blue of the ocean before a storm, two slender streaks of dark blue were on his cheeks and forearms, and the crest on his brow was a pure white diamond. Dismissing the lord from her mind, Hikari simply picked up her cup of tea and sipped at it, glancing at Sesshoumaru from the corner of her eye. Her mate seemed.. amused by Yuji's boldness.

"Unfortunately, the Lady Hikari fell ill while I was away. It was only a month ago that she recovered fully." Arching a brow, Sesshoumaru barely stifled a chuckle as he saw the information veritably being passed down the table. Ichiiro spoke then, drawing Hikari's attention once more. Her curiosity was as much a source of amusement for Sesshoumaru as the prying of his guests.

"My condolences, Lady Hikari. It must have been a trying illness, to keep your presentation more than a year." Ichiiro was a stark contrast to Sesshoumaru's cool poise. The tiger taiyoukai's head was shaved entirely bald, much to Hikari's puzzlement, with yellow-green eyes, the pupils slitted like a cat's; his markings were sets of two jagged orange lines, his crest an indigo claw-like shape.

Following protocol, Hikari bowed her head in respect; since she had been spoken to by a male, it was permitted for her to respond. Which is exactly what she did, after setting her teacup on the table again. "Arigatou, Lord Ichiiro. It was, indeed, rather horrible.. I was unconscious, and semi-catatonic, for several months."

"And now you are with child?" That harsh, grating voice drew the eyes of all those near the head of the table, and Sesshoumaru couldn't help a slight growl. Naota, the Lord of the South, leaned indolently against the table, eyeing Hikari in a way that made her shiver and instinctively reach to Sesshoumaru through their bond. His reassurance soothed her, but not much. Naota looked just as slimy as any reptile ever could. His shoulder-length black hair was slicked back from his face, his eyes red with slitted pupils that reminded one of a snake; sickly green lines sloped along his cheeks and forearms, and his crest was a sinuously curving dark green line.

"Hai. Lord Sesshoumaru and I shall be expecting our first child to arrive in approximately six months." Slanting a glance at Sesshoumaru, Hikari actually smiled at the pleased, proud light that seemed to emanate from his golden eyes.

"Is it not risky to impregnate your mate so soon after she has recovered from an illness, Lord Sesshoumaru?" That comment, soft yet so disrespectful, caused conversation along the length of the table to die nearly all at once. A low growl was heard from Sesshoumaru, though it seemed not to effect Naota at all. In fact, all the dragon did was smirk, thinking he'd hit a nerve.

"Were you not my equal, Lord Naota, I would have you punished for such disrespect." Eyes widened throughout the assembly at Sesshoumaru's words. He spoke of having one of his equals killed as though it were no more exciting than what was to be served for dessert. Hikari was the only one that could feel the rage filling her mate, and she hid her grin in her teacup. "Perhaps you are unaware of the unique abilities of the kitsune. Had my mate not wished to conceive, or believed she was not well enough to, she would not have. This Sesshoumaru suggests you refrain from openly displaying such ignorance in the future, lest it find you lacking your head."

Silence filled the room for several long moments as the two lords stared each other down. It was Hikari's faint snort of laughter that broke the tension, making most of the females present have to hide their amusement much as the small kitsune did.. in their drinks. Naota, looking thoroughly irate, proceeded to try and ignore Sesshoumaru, turning to speak with a lesser youkai at his side. Sesshoumaru arched a brow and glanced down at Hikari, sharing a secretive smirk with his mate. She simply beamed up at him, then turned to speak with Lord Ichiiro's mate.

----------

"I only have to do that once in my lifetime, right?" Hikari muttered sleepily, her words further muffled against Sesshoumaru's neck. The exhausted kitsune was cradled in her mate's arms, her head on his shoulder, as he carried her to their room. His smirk went unseen, but she heard it easily enough in his deep voice.

"Fortunately, yes. But there will be similar occasions.. such as when we have to present our children. Although, I am pleased to say, those will be far more simple, and much shorter." Her groan of dismay made him laugh, dropping a kiss on her forehead as he stepped into their room. Setting her on her feet near their nest, he quickly disposed of her clothing, then his, as she settled in the mass of cloth. He soon joined her, one arm wrapped around her still slender frame, his other hand resting on her lower abdomen.

"Well, we might as well add planning that to the list of things to do. We still need to get everything for the nursery, and now I can finally work on setting up separate rooms for Shippou and Rin..." Sighing, Hikari placed both of her hands atop Sesshoumaru's, basking in the love she felt resonating from his end of their bond. "There's so much to be done, and so little time in which to do it."

Sesshoumaru went still at the words, his arm tightening around her. "..What do you mean by that? Have you seen something?"

"No, Sesshoumaru. I assure you that if I do, you'll be the first person to know." Squirming around in his grasp, she rolled herself so she was facing him, her chin on his chest. There was a salacious gleam in her eyes that made him grin, both hands now roaming across her bare back. "You worry too much, my lord. Let me distract you for a time."

He growled, grasping her hips and pulling her closer as her claws raked delightfully across his chest. "Distract away..."

----------

"Ugh.. this is ridiculous." Pressing her hands to her aching lower back, Hikari carefully lowered herself to the ground, with the aid of Jiro. The young youkai had been appointed Hikari's personal bodyguard for the rare times when Sesshoumaru was away. Much to the kitsune's dismay, this was one of those times. She grimaced as she laid her hands on her vastly swollen stomach, leaning back against a cherry tree. "I'm fat, I'm cranky, my feet hurt, my back hurts, not to mention I've got a craving for a peanut butter and marshmallow fluff sandwich. I can't freaking win."

"Um.. Lady Hikari.. what are peanut butter and.. marshmallow fluff?" Jiro sat down across from his ward, watching as servants spread out a large selection of food between them. It was a routine they were used to by now, with Hikari in her fourth month of pregnancy; she refused to take lunch anywhere but in the garden.

She waved her hand dismissively at his question, plucking a slice of fig from a bowl and popping it in her mouth a moment later. "Don't worry about it. If you're still around in a few hundred years, you'll find out."

"If you say so, my lady." Shrugging, Jiro smiled when Rin and Shippou sat down on either side of their mother, attacking the food as eagerly as the kitsune did. Movement at the far corner behind Hikari caught the young guard's eyes, making him bite back a grin at what he saw. Sesshoumaru motioned for Jiro to leave, and the lesser youkai did, struggling not to laugh. "Forgive me, my lady, but I must.. uh.. attend to something.. in the kitchens."

Hikari looked completely bewildered as Jiro bowed and practically ran off, though she just shrugged her confusion aside and continued eating. A squeak of surprise escaped her as she suddenly felt strong arms lifting her, only to recognize them as Sesshoumaru's a moment later. He sat down, placing her on his lap as his hands came to rest upon her rounded belly, ignoring the faint sarcasm in her tone. "How nice of you to warn your pregnant mate before suddenly appearing out of nowhere and picking her up."

"It was rather thoughtful of me." He smirked, nuzzling her neck as he sighed. "I wanted to surprise you, since I got back earlier than I thought I would."

Of course, she couldn't ever stay mad at him for long. Especially when he was nuzzling her neck and being so sweet. She sighed, turning her head enough to give him a quick kiss, before beginning to nibble on a carrot. "Well, since you're being all loving and adorable, I'll forgive you for scaring me. This time. ..I also have a surprise of my own."

"Oh really? What might this be?" Arching a brow, Sesshoumaru watched curiously over his mate's shoulder as she and the children ate, wondering what this surprise could be. "If you mean to tell me you are pregnant, it is a bit late for that."

"You're a real card, Sesshy. Now, shut up, and wait. You'll find out soon enough." Nibbling on grapes, Hikari didn't bother to keep from smiling, mentally counting down. Five.. four.. three.. two.. one... The roundness beneath Sesshoumaru's large hands abruptly moved, making his golden eyes go wide, a swift staccato of pressure against his palms.

"..Was that...?" Those eyes turned to Hikari, who was now grinning as she looked over her shoulder at him and nodded. Pride and elation bubbled up within him at the knowledge that suddenly blared loudly in his mind; his child was kicking! "When did this happen?"

"Oh, a little over a week ago. I feel I should point out, it's very unpleasant to be awakened by having my kidneys used as soccer balls." Discomfort aside, Hikari was just as pleased by the apparent health and development of their child as he was. Laying a hand atop his, she let her head rest against his shoulder, contentment practically rolling off of her in waves. Sesshoumaru, however, looked confused.

"..What are soccer balls?" Hikari sighed.

"Nevermind."