As summer neared its end, Kagome felt the changes of the season settle in her bones. The air was cooling. The days were growing shorter. Slowly, steadily, the world around her was losing its luster, and she was dimming along with it.
Time had taken the raw edge off her symptoms. While she was grateful for it, with the end of that distressing newness came the beginning of a dull and wearisome sameness. Pregnancy had become the sole state of her existence. Kagome embraced this new reality of hers with a spirit of resignation.
Previously imagined or not, there was now no denying the telling roundness of her stomach. Nor the thin dark line that had come to divide it. Nor the heartburn and the muscle aches, the fatigue that had become her constant companion, day and night. All perfectly normal second trimester symptoms, Inuyasha had parroted her mother again and again—while Kagome ate calcium carbonate tablets by the handful and tried to work out the ever-present cramps in her calves.
She was tired all the time. Worn down like the dirt roads she’d taken to pacing more and more frequently now that sun was losing its sear. Even if what she was experiencing was ‘normal’, she was finding it grueling and tedious to endure. It was as if her entire life had ground to a halt, her personal wellbeing placed on hold while her body bent all its resources toward tending to the needs of another. In her bitterer moments, Kagome felt like a prisoner in her own skin.
Stuck now in such a moment, she leaned against a broken fencepost at the edge of town. As she stared out at the rolling, purple-hued hills, she thought of her life before she’d entered into this pact with Sesshoumaru. Had she really been so burdened, back then? Now that she was carrying a literal burden, it seemed hard to imagine.
Kagome clenched her teeth, shook her head. Placing a hand over her belly, she reproached herself for the thought.
Like a little warm coal, her baby’s aura glowed beneath her palm. With each passing day, this alien presence grew stronger. Warily, Kagome marveled at it. What was ‘normal’, she wondered, for a pregnancy like hers?
There wasn’t anyone she could ask about those kinds of symptoms: the youki within her that blazed and dimmed at odd intervals, the dizzying churning of her reiki that accompanied it, and the dreams—strange visions that haunted her sleeping hours. Visions that weren’t really ‘visions’ at all, but dark, formless washes of primal sensation. Gasping, she’d wake with her heart hammering, her fine hairs raised, the scent of blood or sweat or earth heavy in her nose and on her tongue.
It was disturbing. So much so that she hadn’t confided this or any of her other non-human symptoms to Inuyasha and her friends. She hadn’t shared them with anyone. Anyone except—
“Kagome.”
She turned toward the forest’s edge. Through a veil of rusting leaves, Sesshoumaru approached her. The flutter in her stomach redoubled at the sight of him.
With his white fur and snowy demeanor, her brother-in-law might well be the Lord of Winter himself, here to bring the summer season to its bitter end—if not for his eyes. Liquid gold, they bathed her in remembered heat. For a moment as she held his gaze, Kagome was stifled by the memory of the hot, humid nights she’d spent beneath him. Panting and sweat-slicked. Her burning flesh fused to his as she strove against him, melted against him.
Her cheeks flushed despite the cool breeze. Her pulse skittered little beats of fire through her veins. Digging her nails into the weathered fencepost, she braced herself against these feverish sensations. Against all the things she’d forbidden herself to feel.
His gaze trailed over her haggard features. “You seem tired,” he said.
Kagome frowned, withdrawing a little into herself. “I am tired.”
“The dreams again?” he asked, stepping over the slant of a broken beam to face her.
Sighing wearily, she nodded. “I might have gotten two hours of sleep last night, maybe. That’s three days in a row now.” Picking at a splinter in the post, she frowned in apprehension. “What if this continues?—what if the dreams keep getting worse? I rinsed out my mouth more times than I could count this morning, and I could still taste the blood.” A brittle laugh escaped her as she shook her head. “I feel like I’m losing my mind.”
“The child’s senses are developing,” Sesshoumaru said. Folding his hands into his sleeves, he studied the patterned swell of her stomach through her yukata. “If these dreams of yours are a test of them, you need only wait for it to pass.”
Kagome bit her lip. “Are you sure?”
“No,” he replied.
Her hopeful expression fell flat. Crossing her arms over her chest, she grumbled, “You’re not very good at this, you know.”
“At what?”
“At reassuring me that I’m not going insane.”
As her eyes cut back to him, Sesshoumaru arched a brow. His voice was dry when he spoke.
“What good would my reassurances be? I am not, have never been, nor do I ever expect to be, a pregnant female.”
Kagome’s lips twisted as she suppressed a laugh. “Yeah, well, none of the ‘pregnant females’ I know can reassure me, either.” Sighing again, she looked bleakly toward the village—before a sudden idea drew her eyes brightly back to him. “What about your mother?”
“My mother,” Sesshoumaru repeated without inflection.
Uncrossing her arms, Kagome stepped toward him. “Maybe she’s had these sorts of symptoms before, or knows someone who has. Maybe if you asked her, she would tell you if they’re anything to worry about, or how long they usually—”
“It would not be prudent,” Sesshoumaru said coolly, “to involve her in this matter.”
“Oh.” Kagome’s shoulders sank. “You’re right. I’m sorry…”
Her lashes lowered in contrition. She couldn’t believe she’d gotten so carried away, said something so flippant and unthinking. Of course it wouldn’t be right to bring his mother into this—if for no other reason than to spare Sesshoumaru the indignity of it all. What must he be thinking, where his mother was concerned? Another hanyou bastard to blight her noble house. Another demon she loved tangled up in a dangerous mess with a mortal woman—
Kagome’s eyes stung with fresh guilt at the thought. Clawed fingertips pressed to the line of her jaw, guiding her gaze up to his.
“I will learn what I can,” Sesshoumaru said.
Closing her eyes, she leaned into the warmth of his touch.
Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi
Revised 10/14/22
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<3 <3
I love the tender moments so much.
Aw thank you! Me too 🙂
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Leave Inuyasha and run away with Sesshoumaru! Leave woman before Inuyasha finds out.
Her indecisiveness is just so … What if the baby turns out to be a hanyou smelling like Sesshoumaru? How in the heck is she going to explain that to her jealous, possessive, brother-hating husband?
All great questions! If *I* were Kagome, my ass would be gone hahaha
Thanks so much for sharing, Doug!! <3
What if the baby is born with a crescent moon on his forehead?
We shall see! Thanks for sharing <3
Kagome can’t just leave. She has responsibilities to the village, she is a miko. And, running away with Sesshoumaru would have its disadvantage too. It would affect Rin as Sessh is her guardian. I would rather that she owns up to her decision because she’s an expecting female! She has to be mature. And admit to Inuyasha that the baby she is carrying is not his child. Just make the decision after and hopefully, when she does admit it, Sesshoumaru is nearby just in case Inuyasha gets crazy. Hopefully, Inuyasha and the rest of the village won’t kill her.
And that precious moment, gosh, you’re killing me Author-chan! I’m not one to encourage cheating but when it comes to this, ohmyghad, the things Sesshoumaru does for her is amazing. I can imagine the disgust and disappointment from his mother 🙁 If only she chose the right one from the start… 🙁 but I understand her. She was young when she married Inuyasha, she’s still young now.
Sesshoumaru can take Rin along with them.
Inuyasha, as portrayed in this story, isn’t going to just quietly accept this. He might attack her or the baby.
Adultery was a sin in the Feudal era (still is) and villagers did turn against the adulterers and the offsprings. It is a mess either way. She cannot stay there once the truth comes out. And more than likely, most of the villagers and her friends will side with Inuyasha.
Her days as a miko among humans is also over. What other human village will accept a miko with a part demon child?
Kagome never thought of the consequences when she made the pact with Sesshoumaru. He is her only shield left when the truth comes out. Don’t tell me the baby’s parentage will not come out eventually. Can Sesshoumaru permanently alter the scent of his own child so he/she smells of Inuyasha? I dunno. We shall see.
Yeah, I figured. It’s just that, gosh, we all know Kagome’s mindset. Despite Inuyasha’s abusive nature and her attraction to Sesshoumaru, I don’t think she’ll want to leave. I think some part of her wants to be punish for her adultery that’s why she wants to stay or she just ‘loves’ Inuyasha that much. Or maybe, some part of her thinks that adultery is her way out. I know, adultery will forever be a sin, and knowing her status and Sesshoumaru’s, Sesshoumaru being a demon lord and her husband’s brother? That would make everyone turn against them. I truly hope that Miroku and Sango doesnt, they’ve seen the way Inuyasha treated her, they saw how damaging and abusive he is, maybe, just maybe they’ll help her be with someone who would treat her better.
As per Sesshoumaru, I hope that he’ll find a way to convince Kagome to leave, they can’t hide the fact that it’s his baby. I just don’t think it’s possible to completely hide the identify of your child, and he loves Kagome. I’m scared now, it seems that his mother is now involved, what if she kills Kagome and her grandchild for ruining her son?
Aww thanks so much, Rain – so glad you enjoyed that tender moment! <3
There's a lot of blame and sympathy to go around in this story. Even as I'm writing it, I find myself switching sides haha.
So happy you're enjoying this tale! Love reading your comments <3 <3
this was a very tender, yet sad moment in time. she has no clue as to how her pregnancy is going be and she’s still worried about inuyasha. i think she should talk to yasha and tell him the truth. sesshoumaru is never to far away b/c the pup she carries is his. i think he would protect her. i hope this story is a long one b/c it has the signs of being one. keep up the great writing. c’ya’
thank you, candace! Yeah, the moment was certainly bittersweet to me as well :’)
Kagome’s in a tough spot…hope you like how the story goes from here!!
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Thanks for giving us this update! I love all of your stories but I have been on pins and needles to read about the baby. I am worried that Inuyasha will know right away by scent and that Sesshomaru will not allow Inuyasha to raise his pup under any circumstances.
Thanks, girl!! So glad you’re excited to read about the baby – hope you enjoy how the events unfold! 🙂
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