Demon Slayer Sango

Chapter 4

"Gee Sango, do you think it was a good idea to send the inuyoukai messenger away like that? Aren't you afraid of what Sesshomaru might do?" Shippo sat with the huntress and Kirara outside Kaede's hut.

"No. He will have to wait. I can't leave Kagome like this, she's still in labor." Sango didn't take orders from demons, not even Sesshomaru. Let him try to get violent with her. Let him dare. Deep inside the girl knew she was little match for him on her own, but Inuyasha was here, and Miroku...What in the world could he want anyway? Maybe something to do with Rin. In any case it would have to wait until she was certain Kagome and the baby were safe.

After helping Yoshiro to bring the laboring young miko inside the safety of Kaede's hut Sango told him in no uncertain terms that she would not be going to the Inuyoukai Palace regardless of what the demon lord wanted.

"You must come. Lord Sesshomaru orders it," repeated the staid court messenger.

"I don't care! Can't you see my friend is about to give birth? I can't leave her now. What does he want anyway?" Sango thought she could hear Yoshiro sucking on his teeth. Inuyasha and Miroku had just arrived back at the village and were now inside, no doubt annoying Kaede.

"Idiotic human woman. It is not for me or you or anyone to question Sesshomaru-sama's reasons. You must simply obey or face the consequences."

Sango set her jaw and balled her fists. Her eyes flashed in anger. "I told you I don't care right now! And I kill demons for a living! You go back to your palace and tell Sesshomaru to wait."

"You will regret this, human." Without another word Yoshiro stalked away.

Now Sango sat with Shippo waiting. It had been several hours since Kagome had gone into labor, and her cries of pain rang out regularly as the contractions came closer and closer together. Inuyasha remained inside with her to comfort his mate as best he could, holding her hand and murmuring encouragement. Miroku was now off on Kaede's orders collecting fresh water from the stream.

All of a sudden a loud, piercing cry shot through the air, the sound of a newborn child testing its lungs for the first time. Sango gasped and turned on her good heel to hobble inside. When she arrived she saw a tall screen that separated Inuyasha, Miroku and herself from the birthing area. Normally pale-skinned, the newly minted father now looked white as a sheet. "Kaede! Is Kagome alright? What about the baby? Can I come," he croaked nervously.

"Just a minute Inuyasha..." called Kaede.

"Oh! My baby! Ohhhhh...come here little one!..." The child's crying seemed to calm once placed in Kagome's arms.

"Alright Inuyasha...come along."

As he pushed aside the cloth barrier the first thing Sango noticed was a huge smile on Kagome's face. Although clearly exhausted, the new mother glowed with unrestrained joy while gently cradling her tiny bundle swathed in a soft cloth. Inuyasha let out a whoop and bounded to her side. He kissed Kagome, kneeling beside her and the baby.

"Say hello to your son, Inuyasha..." Tears welled in Kagome's eyes as she saw the wonder, the joy in her mate's expression as he took in his child for the first time.

"Oh gods....oh Kagome--- a son? I knew it..." Feeling his knees go weak, he plopped full on the ground next to his little family and lowered his head slightly. A tear had formed that the proud new father didn't want anyone to see.

Kagome returned the second soft kiss he gave her, then spoke quietly. "Do you want to hold him?" Nodding, Inuyasha lifted his arms in imitation of Kagome's and accepted the precious bundle.

"Wow...he's so...hello there little pup." A tiny hand went to one of Inuyasha's fingers, causing him to growl softly with pride and pleasure.

By now the entire room was in tears. Sango never was the overly sentimental type but the scene touched her heart to its core, and she wiped happy tears from her face. Shippo grasped her leg tightly while Miroku took in the scene with a serious, reverent expression. He made a sign of peace over the trio and said a prayer. Just then the baby began to squall and Inuyasha reluctantly handed him back to Kagome.

"I think he's hungry..." Sure enough, the little quarter demon took happily to Kagome's breast to feed. With that, Miroku touched Sango's shoulder, indicating that they should leave the little family.

"Come along Shippo-- they need some time to themselves."

~~~~~~~~~~~

"Hisako, what is that look. I know that look." The inuyoukai lord Tamaku spoke over his shoulder to his wife as he dressed in anticipation of a barracks and warrior training grounds review that afternoon with Sesshomaru. He and Hisako had been married for several years but were childless.

"You can't even see me, what are you talking about," The demoness remarked while pressing seals onto parchment-- invitations needed to get out the next morning for a coming gathering of local vassals wives.

"I know you have a look on your face that says what has gotten into Sesshomaru-sama? A mate? What sort of intrigues and nefarious plots must I extinguish once this gets out in the court? How will I ever be able to stand those silly Sato girls once they know the master is seeking permanent company..." he spoke in imitation of his wife's voice and laughed. He liked teasing his normally composed and serious mate. Tamaku, a tall grayhaired demon held a high place at court as Sesshomaru's personal secretary and advisor. He had also been close to Inutaisho, and from time to time would share reminiscenses about the late demon lord with Sesshomaru. He had recently been told along with the rest of the high-ranking nobles of their lord's desire to take a mate.

Tamaku reflected on his own complicated courtship and mating of Hisako. The marriage or mating ritual for royal or very high born nobles was different from that of regular inuyoukai. It involved a formal courtship, an open declaration of claiming and a ceremony before the assembled nobles and grandees of the land, not just inu but other varieties of high placed youkai. Although from an impeccable bloodline and respected family it had taken several months of careful negotiation, discussion and shows of devotion before he'd been able to persuade Hisako and her family to accept him. In all it had been a happy, comfortable marriage in spite of the lack of children.

"Yes well this will cause not a small bit of an uproar once it gets out-- the territory has waited years for this. Does he have a demoness in mind?"

"No. None that I know of. It is as if he plans to randomly pick a female and declare her his lady... Actually I wouldn't put it past him to do just that. Sesshomaru does not live by his heart."

"He must have feeling somewhere beneath that cold facade he wears, surely. And picking a mate isn't something to take lightly even for a prince-- choosing well is important..." she sighed. "Well, it's about time he chose someone I suppose." Hisako gathered her stack of invitations. "And yet he wants to start the courtship at the feast of the next new moon? Why is he being so public?"

Tamaku turned to face his mate and shrugged. "That demon's mind is always working. I'm sure he has a specific purpose. I think it has something to do at least in part with his hanyou half-brother."

"Inuyasha? I thought he hated him."

"He does. At least he puts on a show about disliking him greatly. It is one of those old stories of competition-- one brother outdoing the other..."

"In this case the conflict is that the younger is producing offspring before the elder."

"Yes, I think that is part of it. Sesshomaru-sama is quite sensitive to the court's desire for an heir. If his brother produces a son now, and if the master were to die--"

She hissed out her words in a harsh whisper, her face flushing red. "Hold your tongue! How can you speak such? I am your wife but what you speak of is nearly treason!"

"My dear, calm yourself." He shook his head and leaned in to pat her shoulder. No one was as loyal to Sesshomaru-sama as his Hisako. He thought at times she looked upon the cold demon lord as a surrogate son. "I am merely making a point. Sesshomaru-sama needs an heir. As estranged as Inuyasha is from the inuyoukai people and this fortress the community will look to the descendants of Inutaisho for a leader when the time comes. Those will be the children of Sesshomaru--"

"Or of Inuyasha..."

He nodded gravely. "Or of Inuyasha, if my lord fails to produce an heir."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sango took in the cool evening air as she stared out over a quickly rushing stream. All the excitement surrounding the baby's birth hadn't yet abated back at the village, and she expected there would be feasting and celebrating all night. Not normally someone who enjoyed large gatherings, she sometimes felt the need to move away and collect her thoughts. Now resting on a soft patch of grass just beyond the water's edge, Sango reflected on the day's events.

A baby boy! She giggled at the thought. So the big-mouthed hanyou had been right all along. And what a dear little thing. They would call him Takeo-- strong as bamboo. He appeared to have normal human ears and Kagome's rich brown eyes, and although his skin was still a bit blotchy and peach/pink he was of a good size-- as heavy as a small sack of sweet potatoes, according to Kaede. Already the newborn wore a soft, silky crown of white hair that immediately gave him away as Inuyasha's son. Sango smiled as she imagined him growing up to imitate his boisterous but good-hearted father.

'Will I ever be that blessed? To have a child of my own..." She allowed her mind to drift along on a wistful plane for some time. How could she fight demons and raise a little child at the same time? Would her husband understand the importance of her profession to her personally? Would he be supportive of the need to continue her work? It would take a special kind of man...not the ordinary farmer who needed someone to help him in the fields and bear his children. Just as she thought about getting up to return to the village something perked up her senses-- something was in the area-- a demon? She looked around and caught sight of a surprising vision.

"Have you forgotten something exterminator?" A chill and upright Sesshomaru spoke quietly. Alone, he stood a few feet behind her.

"How do you do that-- appear out of nowhere?" asked Sango in a shaky voice, trying to hide her shock. She had no idea he would come looking for her himself after Yoshiro went away. The taiyoukai lord didn't look happy. He didn't look angry either, but for all she knew that could mean he was furious. 'Oh well, I've faced this one before,' she mused.

"You should worry about the consequences of disobeying my summons earlier, exterminator."

"I couldn't leave her." Sango stood shakily, her hurt thigh still sensitive to pressure. She noticed the demon lord looking away from her face to her leg and then calmly return his eyes to her own.

He was a vision of composed disdain. "Nonetheless when you are ordered to my court you must come human."

"Don't you even care, you heartless demon? She is my friend, and I need to know she's going to be well...You really don't care do you? That is your nephew back in that village-" He raised a hand to silence her. Insolent wench. 'This is becoming tiresome.'

When Yoshiro made his report to Sesshomaru back at the palace, the taiyoukai half decided to explain to Rin that the exterminator wouldn't be visiting after all. It just wasn't worth his time to concern himself with a disobedient human woman. And yet he was someone who honored his promises, no matter that it was made to a small human child. And so he set out to resolve the situation himself. Now the demon lord found much to his annoyance that the obviously imbalanced female still defied him.

But something was interesting. This human did not fear him. He could smell surprise, a bit of anger, insolence-- but no fear. This was odd. Normally lesser beings shook and stammered in his presence, but here was this creature-- proud, defiant. He noticed the way her lip trembled with emotion as she started to speak, and the lovely flush in her cheeks. A strange warm sensation played at the edge of the demon lord's consciousness, and he experienced a slight bewilderment. Was he attracted to this female?

"I understand the priestess whelped a male pup." He paused, and looked again at Sango's leg. "Are you in pain, exterminator." His face remained neutral, composed.

"What?"

"You seem to be in some sort of distress." His golden eyes cooly scanned back to her lame leg.

Sango fixed her expression in a sarcastic sneer and spat out her reply. "What do you care? Why don't you go back to that palace of yours and leave us lesser beings in peace." With that she began to move in the direction of the village. With no weapons of her trade nearby the demon fighter had no way to defend herself. She'd almost picked up Hirakotsu on her way out of Kaede's hut but thought the better of it, believing she'd be gone only a short time. Now she somewhat regretted it.

"Come exterminator." To her marked surprise Sango suddenly found herself whisked along in the strong grasp of the taiyoukai who had lifted her bodily off the ground. They seemed to float along, and in an instant they were back at Kaede's hut. He placed her back on the ground. Before she could gather her wits and her voice to speak, a furious hanyou burst outside to face them.

"I thought I smelled something...What do you want now, Sesshomaru?" Inuyasha bared his fangs. He'd had enough of his half-brother's obession with Tetsusaiga. This was not the time for the icy son of a bitch to come start a fight. For his part the taiyoukai lord appeared unfazed and reacted to Inuyasha's display by tilting his head slightly.

"Little brother, I understand you have become a father." He regarded the hanyou with a slight smirk.

"What's it to you, you cold bastard? No one asked you to come here."

"I believe he's here for me Inuyasha," said Sango quietly.

"What for? It can't be for anything good." Inuyasha shot her an inquisitive look.

"That is none of your concern Inuyasha," the demon lord said evenly. "But since I am here I might as well look at the child."

Inuyasha eyed him with deep suspicion. There was no way he'd let this evil bastard near his son. There was no telling what he might do. "You must be out of your mind. I'll kill you before I let you get near Kagome or the baby!" His hand went to the sword at his side. Sesshomaru made no movement but returned Inuyasha's threat with a hard look.

"You may try though you won't succeed. That offspring of yours is kin of mine and I mean to see it. It is beneath me to harm an infant child. Even you should know that, little brother."

"Inuyasha-- its alright. Let Sesshomaru come in," called Kagome.

"But Kagome--"

"Inuyasha, I don't think Sesshomaru is here to harm Kagome or the baby, and I think she knows that," said Sango. The hanyou looked at her as if she'd grown two heads. How could she trust Sesshomaru? The bastard had tried to kill Kagome on more than one occasion.

Sango could hardly believe she'd spoken the words herself, but it had come from somewhere deep in her consciousness that Sesshomaru actually did have only benign intentions. 'For once,' she huffed under her breath. Shuffling and then growling menacingly, the hanyou stood aside and allowed his brother to enter the hut.

"Priestess." He waited just inside the door. This was a human dwelling, but Sesshomaru respected the moment and would wait to be called forward. Mother and baby now sat up on a thick mat. Kagome was draped in a soft, light colored robe and the baby slept peacefully bundled in her arms.

"Sesshomaru. Come and meet your nephew. His name is Takeo-- Taki." Kagome spoke softly, acknowledging her mate's half-brother with a slight smile. She had no particular love for this cold demon leader, but in this moment she felt nothing but contentment and pride in her little Takeo. She harbored no reservations about exposing him to his kin, even Sesshomaru.

Cool, calm eyes studied the face of the little quarter demon. He sniffed the air. Yes, youkai blood was present in the child although somewhat subdued. A male pup. White hair, clearly a descendant of Inutaisho. Sesshomaru regarded Kagome cooly for a moment and then silently turned and left the hut. He'd wanted to confirm for himself that it was true. His moronic half-breed brother had produced a son. A son! And he had none.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Author's note: I know this story has been light on smut so far. Never fear-- citrus is coming so be patient, we'll see some passion probably in Chapter 6 or so. I hope you are finding the story to your liking regardless. If not, that's cool too. Just keep reading and drop me a note.