In Heat

Chapter 5

Time

Saturday afternoon...

......

Kagome sat under the Sacred tree watching the clouds passed by. Her fingers reached up to brush against the marks on her shoulders. She smiled, but her heart filled with sadness. After three years, her feelings for him had not changed. She went out on a few dates to make her mom happy, but her heart was never there and they didn't amount to anything. In a distance she could hear her childrens’ laughter and calling out for their uncle to continue whatever game it was that they were playing together.

It had been three years since she left Feudal Japan and she hadn’t been back since. Over on her side of the well, she had place a Sacred Mantra to prevent InuYasha from coming over. Not that he intended to, she thought, but still, she did not want anything to remind of her the past. Her children were the only exception. Frankly, she wouldn't know what to say to InuYasha if he did decide to cross over.

She had complicated everyone’s life when she made the decision to give herself up to Sesshoumaru. It just happened really, and she could only resolved it to be the work of the Fates.

~Flashback...

She was wandering around the fields following the scent of a strange yet beautiful butterfly fluttering about. She wanted to chase it for fun, like she used to when she was a little girl. Somewhere along the way, she’d lost her way and found a hot spring. She couldn’t resist the temptation, even though it was only mid-day, so, she stripped and climbed in to relax, not knowing she’d dozed off.

When she came to half an hour later, she was thoroughly stress-free and was in the mist of trying to find her way back to the village. And that was when she heard the noises. Turning the corner and through some trees, she came to a clearing and saw the InuYokai, his armor and swords were strewn carelessly on the ground. He was bent over from what looked like pain to her. An aura emitted around him with a red glow. He looked up to catch her gazing at him curiously, his eyes flared crimson red and he growled angrily at her. She continued to watch him as he moved closer to the tree and dug his claws in for support. When she realized what he was going through, she selfishly took the opportunity to approach him and offered herself to him. She was and always will be benevolent at heart and after all the times he’d saved her, it was the least she could do to relieve his pain. And who was she kidding? She loved the InuYokai for years, even though she was always by InuYasha’s side.

(Even the last time she saw him and he tried to kill her, she couldn’t help but love him.) She already knew what she did to him was a crime, taking advantage of him at his weakest point. But she was glad and she never regretted it. She didn’t regret the tears on her mother’s face when she told her that she was with child; and not just any child, a pup, an InuYokai pup. She was an unmarried, no boyfriend 19 year-old pregnant young woman. She apologized to her mother for shaming the family. Her mother only pulled her close to hug her and told her how much she was loved.

'A mother always knows her daughter' she said to Kagome. She was crying not because of the shame but the heartache that she felt for her daughter; for her unrequited love and for the fact that the father of the child wasn’t going to be around. She was crying for her daughter who couldn't shed the tears herself.

They didn’t know how the pregnancy and birth was going to happen. There were no demons in Modern Japan and knowledge of demon birth was nonexistent and few in textbooks as an urban legend. Thankfully, when her grandfather learned of the situation, he was able to find a few scrolls that listed demon births. She took full advantage of those scrolls.

For the first three weeks she went to see her gynecologist as usual; but when her belly started to swell at such a fast rate, she stopped going and stayed home reading on what she could from the scrolls her grandfather had supplied. Her pregnancy was different from any human and was quite different from the scrolls her grandfather had given her as well. She couldn’t find anything about a miko being pregnant with a demon’s child. She remembered laughing at the thought. Obviously, because mikos set out to destroy demons, not fall in love and sleep with them! How ironic. Her family watched wide eyed at her, laughing hysterically for what they didn’t know, but watching her tiny self and her pregnant belly she looked like she swallowed a watermelon whole, they had to laugh as well.

For the rest of the time they tried to do whatever they could to make her comfortable for the long pregnancy to come. Or so they thought.

Demons are beasts by nature and a dog demon didn’t differ much from an ordinary dog. Her pregnancy thank the heavens for her family, only lasted three months. They weren’t sure how much more of her weird mood swings they could take.

She gave birth to her twins while she was walking around the well, a normal habit for her each day as she caressed the mouth of the well. Her way of feeling close to him, just by touching it, soothed her soul. She’d missed him each day, each minute, and every single second. Suddenly she felt an unbearable pain and almost collapsed over, groaning as the pain increased.

Her grandfather had left for the store, her mother was at work and her brother in school. She was alone and she gripped onto the wood opening of well, cringing in pain calling out his name. Suddenly her shoulder throbbed and she cried. She laid there by the well crying in inconsiderable pain for hours before Sota found her after school. Her mother rushed home from work. They brought the necessities near the well for it pained her too much when they tried to move her, not knowing that the truth was it pained her to be apart from it.

They watched as a pink glow surrounded her and she continued to cry and suffer. Sota wasn’t allowed to come near the well, he was still too young at 10 years old they did not want him traumatized. After twelve hours of agonizing torture, the little head popped out, silver hair, and a boisterous cry. He was tiny, but beautiful. He fitted in the palm of her mother’s hand. They bundled him up after cutting the cord and were shocked when she continued to push. A second little head peaked out just as the first, silver hair and it batted its lashes and quiet. They were worried and scared. Kagome heard her mother calling to the pup telling it to cry.

Finally after almost a minute, she did. And her cries were beautiful, and Mrs. Higurashi cried along with her. So happy to see her grandchildren, both beautiful, and although, tiny they looked healthy.

Exhausted Kagome passed out. They gave the pups to Sota to look after while they tend to her as her breathing slowed to nonexistent. She’d drifted off somewhere she did not know, but she saw his face looking at her. She felt him touching her, “I love you Sesshoumaru” she whispered out from her vision. “And-I-you” he answered. Kagome heard someone calling her name again and again. She realized it was her mother, and the vision of him, disappeared as her breathing gained momentum. The two pups almost lost their mother even before they got a chance to know her.

.....

The scent of kani soup woke her up and she looked around. Her mother came in with a tray of food and smile at her, asking her how she was feeling. She nodded well and asked for her babies.

Mrs. Higurashi pushed the bassinet in and both of them fitted inside the bassinet with room to spare. “What are their names?” her mother asked.

“Well, I think I’ll call him Inu-Touga, and her…” Kagome thought about it and remembering her dream, she became creative. “She’ll be called Enaiyeu” because that’s what she’d imagine Sesshoumaru would say to her when she told him she loved him. He had said “And. I. You.”

.......~.......

FEUDAL TIME

“What is it that you want mother?” Sesshoumaru demanded, his voice detached with a hint of irritation.

“Sesshoumaru, you must inform me of who you will choose as a mate to produce an heir.” His mother’s voice came out anxious. She had been vexed with the fact that her son had been so hard-headed and unyielding.

“None of your concern, mother.” He replied dismissively.

“I’ll be damned if you think it’s none of my business Sesshoumaru” she barked at him.

He rose from his seat and turned away from her. His Mother had always lived prodigiously and he knew what she wanted as she pressed on about his personal life. She wanted to insure her opulence lifestyle. He said nothing to her and turned to look out into the garden as his little Rin was being chased by the servant boy. He growled knowing the boy was over crossing his boundaries with his little girl.

“You know as well as I do that within our clans there are rules to follow” his mother continued, “You’ve come at age where you need to produce an heir to insure the clan’s blood line. As of yet, you haven’t mated nor have you shown any interest in mating.” His mother pointed out.

I have mated. Yet, I’ve been foolish. Foolish enough to have lost her.

“Sesshoumaru..” She called out to him. She realized her son was not happy about the discussion, but she was going to get an answer out of him yet.

He wasn’t engrossed in the conversation, but he couldn’t stay silent either.

“Not interested, mother.” He tossed out, irritation continuing to trickle through him.

“Whether you’re ‘interested’ or not Sesshoumaru, it’s your duty to the clan!” she scolded. How he hated when she did that.

“I live my life for no one, especially the clan” he was getting irate by the inane conversation.

“How can you say that Sesshoumaru? You are Lord of the Western Land, the clan is the one that gave you that title therefore you are responsible for them, to ensure that you will protect your land and them.”

“I’ve had enough of this nonsense” with that, he proceeded to leave.

She stared at him in consternation before speaking again. “Sesshoumaru Tashio, don’t you dare walk away from me! This conversation is not over! The Canis are trying to take over the West under a new leader and they’re working with the Panther tribe from the East. You must stand up and protect your land and people. In the process you must ensure them an heir!”

“Let them try. They will not dare” he said in an austere manner.

“Sesshoumaru, at least choose a betrothed, that way it will settle the clan’s nerves somewhat” she soothed.

“Do as you wish mother” he brushed her off, leaving her standing there baffled by his insolence and indifferent toward his land and people, toward her life! However, she was pleased and somewhat relieved that he had agreed to a betrothed.

......

Crossing the hallway into his chamber a female scent tickled his nose. He growled in irritation knowing once again, his mother is trying to inveigle him. Her playing match-maker was getting on his very last nerve. He slid the door open with such force that it bounced off the end and slid almost halfway back. The gorgeous female Youkai turned from looking out of the window into the garden and turned toward him startled by the loud sound.

“Lord Sesshoumaru!” she greeted in a soft voice.

“Get out!” He bellowed.

She was indignant. She had never been treated in such a manner before. However, he was the Lord of the Western Land and at the moment, the most powerful InuYokai. She swallowed her anger and damaged pride. She took her leave. I’ll win him over yet, she thought, obstinate about her decision.

Sesshoumaru walked over toward the window. He looked out to see Rin playing in the garden still. The scent of the female Youkai filled his nostrils and he growled in anger. Leaping off the terrace of his room he approached Jaken at the gate telling the little youkai to watch over Rin in his absence.

He transformed and arrived at the place now more familiar to him than the back of his hand. Standing at the Bone Eater's Well, a well known unpleasant scent filled him. He turned to see InuYasha approaching.

"What are you doing here InuYasha?" He barked at the hanyou.

"Heh. I should be the one to ask you that Sesshoumaru. I live here, so what the fuck are you doing here?" InuYasha furrowed his eyebrows.

"Don't interfere. None of your business." He said through gritted fangs.

"She ain't coming back. You can stare into the damn thing all you want, it ain't gonna happen."

"What of it do you know InuYasha?" Sesshoumaru threw back in anger.

InuYasha turned his heels to leave. Because I tried going through, and I couldn't. She sealed it just like she said she would.

They ended their brief confrontation just like that, with InuYasha leaving Sesshoumaru at the well, staring into the dirt ground at the bottom. He'd witness his half-brother coming there often waiting, wishing. He would felt sorry for the InuYokai if he didn't hate him so much! Especially with the fact that he felt his brother had stolen his woman from him.

Sesshoumaru extended his right hand and stared at it. No longer was it the smooth pampered hand like the other, but callused and damaged. Over the years, he'd come to the well repeatedly , reaching out, reaching in to try and feel her somehow and each time, he was met with a harsh barrier, burning his hand. He didn't care for the damage that it had done. It was the only thing he had to cling onto his mate. His mate, he tried to kill. His mate, he chased away. Years of anger, regret, and sorrow filled his demon body. At times with unbearable ache! He never forgave himself for his rash mistake. He was blinded and foolish thinking about himself, his name, reputation and title.

He stood in front of the well, laughing at himself, thinking he'd trade all that and his life if only to hold her in his arms once again.

He extended his hand into the well and was met with the same pain he'd grown accustomed to. He grimaced but continued to push his hand further. At long last it was too much and blasted him back, jolts of pure aura lightning sparked and shot through him. He let out a low growl of pain, got up on his feet and tried again....

.....

....

Somewhere in Modern Japan, Kagome felt a weird prickling and she rose to go see her children and got ready to make dinner for the family. When she entered the kitchen her son had collapsed and horror filled her as she watched her little guy’s eyes rolled back into his skull.