The Trials and Tribulations of Parenthood

Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Inuyasha or Yu Yu Hakusho. They are owned by their respective authors. I only claim ownership of the plot.

A/N: A special thanks to Ryukotsusei for helping me hammer out a few points and getting Hiei’s reactions right, so he stayed in character.

Chapter 13


‘Wait a minute, you mean to say you’re gonna stand there and watch some strange doctor feel up my sister?’ It had finally hit him what Kurama had said and now he was getting angry, feeling betrayed by everyone he thought he could trust. The air was growing so hot around him as his fury grew that the paint on the wall began to blister and peel. ‘I really should kill you for this.’

‘Kill me for what? Suggesting a doctor that I can trust not to be inappropriate towards Yukina while he has his hands on her? Or for suggesting this same man to Kagome, preferring that she use someone I know, rather then someone I don’t.’ Kurama was starting to get impatient and a little annoyed that Hiei wasn’t trusting his judgment. ‘Damn it Hiei, I don’t like the idea of anyone touching Yukina either, but I like the idea of her dying even less. So I sacrifice a little pride for her life. Big deal!’

Hiei didn’t have an answer for that so he shut down the link, not wanting to hear anything else Kurama had to say at the moment. He looked at Kagome again. “I’m going for a run, don’t try to follow. I’m going into the Makai, maybe I can find some useful advice there about this doctor thing you seem to be so intent on.” With that he leaped out the window and was gone leaving Kagome staring at the open window, her mouth slowly falling open in disbelief.

Once he was outside he wasn’t sure where in the Makai to start looking, only knowing that he needed to find an answer before this drove a wedge between him and Kagome. Going to talk to Mukuro was an option but he didn’t think she’d know any more about human birthing practices then he did. Hell, she might know even less and that could cause him bigger problems. ‘I’ve already had enough problems cause I listened to bad advice. Shit, looked what happened when I listened to Youko.’ As if that thought had somehow summoned him the kitsune suddenly appeared beside him. “Why the hell are you here Youko? Yukina get mad and you and Kurama again? Or do you just want to torment me some more?”

“Are you finished tearing yourself up over this? Because if you are, I might have a suggestion” Youko looked at him, his expression unreadable. When Hiei arched an eyebrow at that suggestion he glared back hotly. “What? Anyone could have been wrong once you know. Or maybe you just didn’t do it right!”

“Then I guess you don’t know how to do it right either. I heard all about how well your advice went over with Yukina. Kagome couldn’t wait to tell me all about it. Every time I pissed her off because I had listened to you!”

“She probably only got mad at you because you fart in the morning while you’re waking up. Maybe her nose has gotten more sensitive to things like that. It sure isn’t that you smell like roses.”

“If that was true, Yukina never would have allowed you near her either. Has anyone ever told you that your breath smells like Yusuke’s long dead socks in the morning?”

He felt a small twinge of satisfaction knowing he had gotten to the kitsune with that remark. Youko and Kurama both were extremely uptight and picky about their appearance and the idea they could have bad breath would most likely send Youko running for home to brush his teeth. The idea was amusing and it had him silently snickering to himself.

Youko placed a well aimed kick at Hiei’s shin but missed when the little demon moved at the last second. It didn’t surprise him that he’d missed, he hadn’t meant for it to be serious anyway, but just for once he wished Hiei wasn’t so damned fast. It was more then a little annoying and Youko let the frustration show in his voice. “Damn it to hell, hold still so I can kick you.”

“Fat chance of that Fox. Face it, you’ll never be fast enough to kick me. Or to do anything else to me unless I allow it.” A bland face was presented to the kitsune but the smug look in Hiei’s eyes was unmistakable. “Burns your ass doesn’t it.”

"Hmmph, give me half a chance and I guarantee you would enjoy every touch I allowed you to have. But what is really going to burn your ass is when I get to see my kits before they are born. You on the other hand, if you keep this up, are going to have to wait until Kagome pops like an over ripe melon." The frustration had faded from the golden eyes, to be replaced with a sly look of humor and a feral grin at knowing something that Hiei didn’t. His tail was twitching with anticipation as he waited for the little demons reaction to that tidbit of information he had just tossed out.

“You have just made three mistakes Fox. You just told me as much that you don’t take the pairing with my sister seriously, but not only that you had the nerve to proposition me as well. For that alone I should cut your tongue out. But to make things even worse, you just called my mate fat. Let me tell you her body is far from fat but even if she was, she is supposed to be getting round. And last but not least, you're lying. There is no way in all the hells to see young before they’re born unless you've been gifted with othersight and last I checked you weren't that talented.” The thought was tempting at that point to set the forest around them on fire and stand back to watch Youko try to fight his way out of the flames. His fist opened and clenched again as he fought against the urge to carry out the thoughts against the arrogant kitsune, instead he waited to see what Youko's reaction to his accusations would be.

Youko just let out a bark of laughter that put Hiei’s hair on end, clearly showing that the kitsune was in no way impressed by what had been said.. “Just for your information there is a way to see the young before they’re born. Of course I know how it’s done even if you don’t.” Youko fought to resist the childish temptation at that point of sticking his tongue out at Hiei. “But seeing that you’re going to be such an ass about it, I don’t think I’ll tell you.” With those words he turned and walked away, throwing the words back over his shoulder as he disappeared from view “Ask your mate if you don’t believe me.”

‘I’ll do just that.’ Hiei started to make his own way back home, not believing what had been said but also not at all liking the possibility that Youko might know something that he didn’t. ‘If this proves to be another of his damn lies, I’m going to chain him naked in Yusuke’s bed and paint him with purple hair dye.’ The thought had him snickering to himself, his anger slowly dying. Youko would be so humiliated he’d never dare to show his face again knowing the laughter would be directed at him.

Kagome looked up as he came back into the apartment, not sure what kind of mood he would be in. Her apprehension showed in her big round eyes as he stood regarding her silently. “Why are you looking at me like that Hiei? What did I do now?”

He stuffed his hands in his pockets and sighed, hating to see that look on her face and knowing he had been the one responsible for putting it there. He had a sinking feeling this wasn’t going to get any easier as the months went by. ‘Life was so much simpler when all I had to do was cut something to pieces. But that thinking isn’t going to change how things have ended up now.’

“I need to have a question answered.” Maybe just coming out and asking the question would be the easiest way to get this resolved and even bring some peace back into their lives, if that was possible. “Is there a way to see the young ones before they’re born?”

Kagome looked at him like he’d grown a second head and he almost regretted listening to Youko enough to bother asking the question. Only the thought of the fun he could have at the kitsunes expense kept him from telling her to forget he’d asked at all and his voice held a low growl of irritation. “Well?”

“Actually there is”. Her voice came out almost in a whisper, dreading answering his question because she knew it would bring up the issue of the doctor again. But she didn’t see any way around it and she really couldn’t not answer him. “It’s called having a sonogram. But where did you hear about that and why are you asking?”

For a minute he couldn’t believe he had heard her right. It seemed almost impossible that after everything that Youko had gotten wrong about breeding females and his bad advice, that he could possibly be right about this one thing. If he had been right, then the idea of painting him purple also went out the window and that was one idea he wasn’t going to let go so easily. “If what you say is true lets do it immediately. Tell me what I have to do.”

“What you have to do? Hiei, you don’t have to do anything. Except agree to my going to a doctor anyway. It’s the doctor that has to do it, although we would be able to see them on the screen. They have a special machine they use and we don’t have the machine or the training to use it, even if we did have one. Besides that, you do know that the doctor and the machine will be touching me right?”

“Fine, I can see you’re not going to let this doctor thing go. Find a female doctor, preferably an old ugly one. I am only allowing this because I want to see this machine do what you are claiming it can.” His arms were folded across his chest with a stubborn look on his face expecting an argument at the condition he had put on it of the old ugly female.

That’s ok Hiei. I’ll find a female if it will make you feel better. I can’t promise how old or ugly she will be but I’ll try to find that too. It’s not like I’m interested in a female as a lover anyway.” The smile of gratitude she gave him made him feel slightly bad for the hard time he had given her about the doctor in the first place. But only slightly.

“Hn. Make this appointment quickly before I change my mind.” He settled down in his lazy chair to mull over the events that had brought him to the point of having so many arguments with Kagome. ‘Some Kami has a sick sense of humor, making an activity as enjoyable as mating to such an argumentative end.’

He pretended to be sleeping when Kagome walked back in the room, not wanting to have another argument and having seen the phone in her hand. If she wanted to argue he would just go sleep out on his branch tonight and have some peace for a change.

“Hiei, I found a female doctor and I’ve made the first appointment. They even had an opening so we can get in tomorrow, as amazing as that sounds. They said for me not to pee before I get there because they want to get some fresh and also to expect to get some blood taken.” She paused and looked at him, taking a deep breath before she said the next sentence. “They also said no sex tonight.”

His eyes opened wide, giving up all pretense of sleep as he stared at her, crimson eyes growing dark with shock. “No sex? As in no mating? You honestly expect me to allow a mere human to tell me I can’t rut with my mate? It is absolutely unthinkable! You will inform this doctor she has no say in the matter.”

“One night without mating isn’t going to kill you Hiei. And she isn’t a mere human, she is now my doctor. Please, I need you to do this for me.” Her voice was soft, on the verge of tears once again not wanting to argue with him and hoping he would be accepting just this once. “It’s not like after the babies are born when we won’t be able to have sex for six weeks after all.”

“Six weeks?? Do you honestly expect me to go six weeks without rutting?” He shook his head, not wanting to think about any of this mess anymore. “I’m going to bed, you can come or not as you wish.” With those wards he stalked past her, not bothering to wait and see if she was coming or not. It was going to be a very long night and a longer day tomorrow.

The next day as they sat in the waiting room he was struck by the sight of all the pregnant women waiting to see the doctor. ‘No wonder there’s so many humans, they litter like rabbits. He turned to glare at the woman they sat down next to and she moved down the row a couple of seats, not wanting to be near this man who looked so strange with red eyes and was so obviously angry. She gave Kagome a pitying glance, then hurriedly looked back down to her baby magazine, pretending to read.

The nurse came to the door. “Miss Higurashi, please come this way.” Her look fell on Hiei and she bowed slightly. “You are the father? You may come in with the young lady if you wish.”

They walked into the exam room they had been directed to after the nurse had given Kagome a paper gown with instructions to take her clothes off and sit up on the table. Hiei looked at the stirrups, concern evident in his eyes “This looks strangely reminiscent of a table we use at Mukuro’s to strap prisoners down and torture information out of them. Are you sure you really want to do this?” Hiei waited for her answer silently. If she insisted he would allow it but at the first sign of this so called Doctor hurting her, the offender would be meeting with the business end of his katana which was hidden by the folds of his cloak.

“Actually no, this isn’t a part I’m going to enjoy but I have to do it.” Kagome made a face at the stirrups, dreading having her feet in them and being exposed to a complete stranger. Even if this doctor was female, it didn’t change the fact that her body was going to be violated by a complete stranger. “Please don’t kill her Hiei, you’re probably going to want to, but you can’t.”

Just at that moment the door opened and the doctor walked in. Hiei spun around with a start and his eyes narrowed as he saw one of the ugliest humans he had ever run across. Even Kuwabara could win a beauty contest standing to her. Her face was scarred where she had been slashed at some point, however it had obviously happened long ago. If it hadn’t been for that, at one time she might have even been somewhat pretty.

She looked at them out of her good eye and gave them a slight smile. “Please don’t let this face bother you. Good looks aren’t required to be a good doctor.” Her voice was kind and it immediately put Kagome at ease. A fact that didn’t go unnoticed by Hiei as he watched his mate relax. “Is there anything you would like to ask me before we begin?”

Kagome opened her mouth but Hiei beat her to it. “I have been told that I will be able to see my young before they are born. Fine, I want to see them now. His arms crossed in front of his chest, his eyes taking on a stubborn glint. He'd find out once and for all if what Youko said was possible and if it wasn't, the kitsune better pray to Inari that their paths didn't cross any time in the near future. He'd already found the perfect shade of purple hair dye and he was looking for any excuse whatsoever to use it.

Authors Note: Wow, I was overwhelmed by the number of reviews I got from the last chapter. I had considered abandoning this story thinking people had lost interest but now I don’t think I will. I love you all, thank you for the reviews.
Please if you like this chapter, take the time to review it. It means a lot and keeps the story going.